Andrew J Whalen
Associate Research Scientist
Research & Publications
Biography
Extensive Research Description
Mechanical Engineer and Neuroscientist dedicated to advancing neural engineering solutions for pressing health challenges. With a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University, my expertise lies in the modeling and stimulation of brain tissue and the development of next-gen neural prosthetics and control algorithms for therapeutic nervous system interventions. At Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, I’ve delved deep into the mechanisms of micro-magnetic stimulation, designing optimized micro-coil geometries for neuromodulation and evaluating implantable device safety. My multidisciplinary collaborations span from controlling neonatal sepsis in Africa to pioneering control strategies for migraine attacks and prosthetic neuromodulation. I’m committed to continuing research that bridges mechanical engineering and neuroscience, fostering academic partnerships, and mentoring the next generation of scientists.
Coauthors
Research Interests
Africa; Central Nervous System Infections; Electric Stimulation Therapy; Haiti; Hydrocephalus; Cortical Spreading Depression; Uganda; Vietnam; Intracranial Hypertension; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Neonatal Sepsis; Photothermal Therapy
Selected Publications
- Thermal safety considerations for implantable micro-coil designWhalen A, Fried S. Thermal safety considerations for implantable micro-coil design. Journal Of Neural Engineering 2023, 20: 046017. PMID: 37451256, PMCID: PMC10467159, DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ace79a.
- Paenibacillus spp infection among infants with postinfectious hydrocephalus in Uganda: an observational case-control studyMorton S, Hehnly C, Burgoine K, Ssentongo P, Ericson J, Kumar M, Hagmann C, Fronterre C, Smith J, Movassagh M, Streck N, Bebell L, Bazira J, Kumbakumba E, Bajunirwe F, Mulondo R, Mbabazi-Kabachelor E, Nsubuga B, Natukwatsa D, Nalule E, Magombe J, Erickson T, Ngonzi J, Ochora M, Olupot-Olupot P, Onen J, Ssenyonga P, Mugamba J, Warf B, Kulkarni A, Lane J, Whalen A, Zhang L, Sheldon K, Meier F, Kiwanuka J, Broach J, Paulson J, Schiff S. Paenibacillus spp infection among infants with postinfectious hydrocephalus in Uganda: an observational case-control study. The Lancet Microbe 2023, 4: e601-e611. PMID: 37348522, PMCID: PMC10529524, DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(23)00106-4.
- MEMS micro-coils for magnetic neurostimulationLiu X, Whalen A, Ryu S, Lee S, Fried S, Kim K, Cai C, Lauritzen M, Bertram N, Chang B, Yu T, Han A. MEMS micro-coils for magnetic neurostimulation. Biosensors And Bioelectronics 2023, 227: 115143. PMID: 36805270, DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115143.
- Verification of operational numerical weather prediction model forecasts of precipitation using satellite rainfall estimates over AfricaWang Y, Gueye M, Greybush S, Greatrex H, Whalen A, Ssentongo P, Zhang F, Jenkins G, Schiff S. Verification of operational numerical weather prediction model forecasts of precipitation using satellite rainfall estimates over Africa. Meteorological Applications 2023, 30 DOI: 10.1002/met.2112.
- Thermal effects on neurons during stimulation of the brainKim T, Kadji H, Whalen A, Ashourvan A, Freeman E, Fried S, Tadigadapa S, Schiff S. Thermal effects on neurons during stimulation of the brain. Journal Of Neural Engineering 2022, 19: 056029. PMID: 36126646, PMCID: PMC9855718, DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac9339.
- Identifiability of Infection Model Parameters Early in an EpidemicSauer T, Berry T, Ebeigbe D, Norton M, Whalen A, Schiff S. Identifiability of Infection Model Parameters Early in an Epidemic. SIAM Journal On Control And Optimization 2021, 0: s27-s48. PMID: 36338855, PMCID: PMC9634856, DOI: 10.1137/20m1353289.
- Pan-African evolution of within- and between-country COVID-19 dynamicsSsentongo P, Fronterre C, Geronimo A, Greybush S, Mbabazi P, Muvawala J, Nahalamba S, Omadi P, Opar B, Sinnar S, Wang Y, Whalen A, Held L, Jewell C, Muwanguzi A, Greatrex H, Norton M, Diggle P, Schiff S. Pan-African evolution of within- and between-country COVID-19 dynamics. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2021, 118: e2026664118. PMID: 34187879, PMCID: PMC8285917, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2026664118.
- The impact of synchronous versus asynchronous electrical stimulation in artificial visionMoleirinho S, Whalen A, Fried S, Pezaris J. The impact of synchronous versus asynchronous electrical stimulation in artificial vision. Journal Of Neural Engineering 2021, 18: 051001. PMID: 33900206, DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/abecf1.
- Correction: Association of vitamin A deficiency with early childhood stunting in Uganda: A population-based cross-sectional studySsentongo P, Ba D, Ssentongo A, Fronterre C, Whalen A, Yang Y, Ericson J, Chinchilli V. Correction: Association of vitamin A deficiency with early childhood stunting in Uganda: A population-based cross-sectional study. PLOS ONE 2021, 16: e0250138. PMID: 33831117, PMCID: PMC8031318, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250138.
- Paenibacillus infection with frequent viral coinfection contributes to postinfectious hydrocephalus in Ugandan infantsPaulson J, Williams B, Hehnly C, Mishra N, Sinnar S, Zhang L, Ssentongo P, Mbabazi-Kabachelor E, Wijetunge D, von Bredow B, Mulondo R, Kiwanuka J, Bajunirwe F, Bazira J, Bebell L, Burgoine K, Couto-Rodriguez M, Ericson J, Erickson T, Ferrari M, Gladstone M, Guo C, Haran M, Hornig M, Isaacs A, Kaaya B, Kangere S, Kulkarni A, Kumbakumba E, Li X, Limbrick D, Magombe J, Morton S, Mugamba J, Ng J, Olupot-Olupot P, Onen J, Peterson M, Roy F, Sheldon K, Townsend R, Weeks A, Whalen A, Quackenbush J, Ssenyonga P, Galperin M, Almeida M, Atkins H, Warf B, Lipkin W, Broach J, Schiff S. Paenibacillus infection with frequent viral coinfection contributes to postinfectious hydrocephalus in Ugandan infants. Science Translational Medicine 2020, 12 PMID: 32998967, PMCID: PMC7774825, DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aba0565.
- Association of vitamin A deficiency with early childhood stunting in Uganda: A population-based cross-sectional studySsentongo P, Ba D, Ssentongo A, Fronterre C, Whalen A, Yang Y, Ericson J, Chinchilli V. Association of vitamin A deficiency with early childhood stunting in Uganda: A population-based cross-sectional study. PLOS ONE 2020, 15: e0233615. PMID: 32470055, PMCID: PMC7259702, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233615.
- Control of Spreading Depression with Electrical FieldsWhalen A, Xiao Y, Kadji H, Dahlem M, Gluckman B, Schiff S. Control of Spreading Depression with Electrical Fields. Scientific Reports 2018, 8: 8769. PMID: 29884896, PMCID: PMC5993812, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26986-1.
- Effects of Symmetry on the Structural Controllability of Neural Networks: A PerspectiveWhalen A, Brennan S, Sauer T, Schiff S. Effects of Symmetry on the Structural Controllability of Neural Networks: A Perspective. Proceedings Of The 2010 American Control Conference 2016, 2016: 5785-5790. PMID: 29176923, PMCID: PMC5699861, DOI: 10.1109/acc.2016.7526576.
- Observability and Controllability of Nonlinear Networks: The Role of SymmetryWhalen A, Brennan S, Sauer T, Schiff S. Observability and Controllability of Nonlinear Networks: The Role of Symmetry. Physical Review X 2015, 5: 011005. PMID: 30443436, PMCID: PMC6234006, DOI: 10.1103/physrevx.5.011005.
- Observability of Neuronal Network MotifsWhalen A, Brennan S, Sauer T, Schiff S. Observability of Neuronal Network Motifs. 2012, 2012: 1-5. PMID: 25909092, PMCID: PMC4405257, DOI: 10.1109/ciss.2012.6310923.