Tommaso Di Ianni, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging
Andrea Boscutti, MD
Postdoc
Andrea is a postdoctoral researcher excited about the potential of focused ultrasound for personalized neuromodulation in brain disorders. He earned his medical degree from the University of Udine (Italy) and completed a psychiatry residency at the University of Milan (Italy). Before joining the Di Ianni lab, he was a postdoctoral fellow at UTHealth Houston, where he focused on neuroimaging and neuromodulation in mood disorders. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, playing the piano, and snowboarding.
Yueyi Chen, PhD
Postdoc
Yueyi received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Purdue University, where she investigated neural mechanisms underlying opioid dependence and withdrawal. Prior to her Ph.D., she worked as a research associate at MapLight Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company, and earned her B.S. in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience from the University of California, San Diego. In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing, snowboarding, and spending time with her two cats.
Valeria Grasso, PhD
Postdoc
Valeria received her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering (summa cum laude) from the Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel, Germany. She was a Marie Curie Fellow working at FUJIFILM VisualSonics in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, where she focused on the development and clinical translation of photoacoustic imaging techniques. Prior to her Phd, Valeria received a M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Pisa, Italy. She enjoys spending her free time exploring nature, traveling, and trying out new food with friends and family.
JeungEun Kum, PhD
Postdoc
JeungEun Kum received a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Science and Technology, KIST School (Seoul, Korea). She was a postdoctoral researcher at Sungkyunkwan University (Suwon, Korea) and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (Seoul, Korea) before joining the Di Ianni lab. During her PhD and postdoc, she focused on developing ultrasound-mediated brain stimulation techniques and in vivo brain monitoring methods. Prior to her PhD, she earned a BA in Philosophy from Yonsei University (Seoul, Korea). In her free time, she enjoys walking, traveling, and visiting museums.
Elena Baraznenok
BioE graduate student
Elena earned her B.S. in Bioengineering from the University of Washington and is now a PhD student in the Bioengineering program at UCSF and UC Berkeley (2025 cohort). She is interested in developing and applying novel ultrasound-based tools to image and modulate the brain. In her free time, she enjoys baking cakes, drinking tea, and chatting with family and friends.
Sarah Liu
BioE graduate student
Sarah Liu is a joint UCSF – UC Berkeley Bioengineering PhD student interested in developing computational techniques for ultrasound-based imaging and therapeutics. Sarah received her bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and computer science from Columbia University, where she studied deep learning-based signal processing methods for image analysis. Outside of lab, she enjoys reading, exploring local flea markets, or sketching at one of San Francisco’s sculpture galleries.
Lou Fourneaux
Visiting master’s student (EPFL)
Lou is a visiting master’s student from EPFL, Switzerland, and is currently working on her thesis about data-driven analyses of functional ultrasound imaging biomarkers. She is interested in new neuroengineering tools to read from and write into the brain. Outside of lab, Lou loves dancing, sailing, and enjoying the great Californian weather while visiting.
Ben Tang
Visiting undergraduate
Ben is an undergraduate at Duke University studying Electrical and Computer Engineering. He is interested in neurotechnology as a way to understand the brain and shape experience. Outside the lab, Ben loves cycling, rock climbing, and enjoying the great nature of the West Coast.
Alumni
Research staff
Edi Koehn, MS, Assistant Specialist
Undergrads
Anika Rao (UC Berkeley)
Jonny Dippery (UCLA)
Trevor Leung (UC Berkeley)
Joseph Tennyson (UC Berkeley)