Dr. Jana Kainerstorfer

Professor

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Biography

Jana Kainerstorfer is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. She holds courtesy appointments in the Neuroscience Institute and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Her research focuses on developing noninvasive optical imaging methods for disease detection and treatment monitoring, with an emphasis on diffuse optical imaging. Kainerstorfer serves on program committees for national and international conferences, including the SPIE Photonics West and OSA Topical Meetings, and was the Program Chair for the OSA Biophotonics Congress: Optical Tomography and Spectroscopy in 2020. She has served as an associate editor for the Journal of Biomedical Optics and the IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, as well as a guest editor for Opportunities in Neurophotonics and APL Photonics. Kainerstorfer has been elected as a senior member of the Optical Society of America. Her research is funded by various organizations, including the American Heart Association, NIH, ONR, DARPA, and the Air Force. Her lab focuses on developing imaging methods that improve the early diagnosis and treatment of diseases, particularly through the use of non-invasive, diffuse optical imaging with near-infrared light. Current projects include the development of a handheld device for breast cancer imaging and cerebral hemodynamic monitoring for traumatic brain injury.

Research Interests

Awards

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SPIE Fellow

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Senior Member

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NIH Trailblazer Award

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American Heart Association Scientist Development Grant

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George Tallman Ladd Award

Requirements for Carnegie Mellon University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
GRE General
Verbal
Required:158
Quantitative
Required:149
Analytical Writing
Required:4
Overall
Required:4
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related field Research experience/publications
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • GRE scores (optional but reported in profile)
  • English Proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo)
Specialization Notes

Admission is extremely competitive with no strict GPA cut-offs; holistic review is used.