Spring 2026 AJC Merit Research Mentors
Bouvé/ECE Assistant Professor Mathew Yarossi and MIE/ECE Professor Yongmin Liu will mentor two recipients of Northeastern’s AJC Spring 2026 Merit Research Scholarship, which will fund a co-op in the laboratory of a Northeastern University STEM faculty member.
AJC Merit Research Scholar: Aditi Swamy, COS’27, Behavioral Neuroscience
Mentor: Mathew Yarossi, Bouvé/COE, Physical Therapy, Movement, + Rehabilitation Science; Electrical + Computer Engineering
Aditi Swamy will be working in the Movement Neuroscience Lab this spring, investigating the brain communicates with muscles to produce precise movement. Using novel technology like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and high-density electromyography (HDsEMG), her work will focus on how cortical activity changes with force output of voluntary contractions in healthy subjects and patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A behavioral neuroscience major, Aditi’s interest in understanding neurodegeneration, especially for patients with motor neurological disorders, led to the work of this co-op. Aditi has been an active member in the Movement Neuroscience Lab since her first year at Northeastern, and after completion of two PEAK award-funded projects, looks forward to expanding her role in the lab as an AJC Merit Research Scholar. Through this co-op, Aditi hopes to bridge fundamental neurophysiology with clinical applications for motor neurological conditions, as she prepares to pursue medical school after graduation. Outside of academics, Aditi is on the executive board of the NU Science Magazine and enjoys running, reading, and crocheting in her free time.
AJC Merit Research Scholar: Aaron Zhou, Khoury’28, Computer Science, Mathematics
Mentor: Yongmin Liu, COE, Electrical + Computer Engineering
Aaron Zhou will be working in the lab of Professor Yongmin Liu this spring, where he will conduct research at the intersection of machine learning and photonics. He is a Computer Science and Mathematics major at Northeastern University, with a minor in Physics, and has a strong interest in scientific machine learning and physics-based modeling. Aaron was drawn to this co-op by the opportunity to work on impactful, technically challenging problems while developing strong skills in data-driven modeling, analytical problem solving, and applied machine learning.
Outside of his research, Aaron is a member of Sandbox at Northeastern, a student-led software consultancy, where he collaborates on real-world engineering projects. He is also an avid runner and enjoys training for the Boston Marathon, which he sees as a way to maintain discipline and balance alongside his technical pursuits.