Merna Kamal
Independent Researcher @Columbus State University
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WORK HISTORY
Independent Researcher @Columbus State University
Analyzed genomic data from human sural nerve biopsies of type 2 diabetic patients to identify transcriptomic biomarkers predictive of nerve regeneration-Identified 166 DEGs (FDR 0.5) using Welch’s t-test and multiple testing correction. Confirmed class separation via PCA and hierarchical clustering-Built Random Forest and Neural Network classifiers (AUCs 0.98–1.00), validated using bootstrapping, nested CV, and label-shuffling controls. Applied SHAP to rank top features (e.g, MALAT1, C1QB, ITGB4)-Performed GO/KEGG enrichment revealing pathways in axon growth, ECM remodeling, and immune modulation. Conducted GSEA and LINCS drug perturbation analysis, prioritizing 9 neuroprotective, repurposing candidates (e.g, Imatinib, Dasatinib)-Reduced false positives by >90% via empirical p-values and permutation testing-Delivered clinically actionable insights for neuroregenerative drug discovery by integrating omics data science, systems pharmacology, and interpretable ML.
EDUCATION
Columbus State University
Master of Science - MS
Ahmos International School
High School Diploma
Smith College
Bachelor's degree
ABOUT MERNA KAMAL
Welcome to my profile! I’m a data scientist with a Master\'s degree in Computer Science (AI/Data Science concentration) and a Bachelor\'s in Neuroscience (psychology minor), specializing in leveraging machine learning, deep learning, statistical modeling, and bioinformatics to drive innovations in pharmaceutical drug discovery and neurotechnology. Experienced in analyzing complex biological datasets—including genomics, neuroimaging, and clinical trial data—to extract actionable insights for drug development and personalized medicine. Passionate about research in neural regeneration, psychopharmacology, brain-computer interface (BCI), and leveraging AI to accelerate discoveries in neurotechnology and therapeutics. Adept at integrating interdisciplinary knowledge to develop data-driven solutions that enhance human health and improve treatment outcomes. Always happy to connect!
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