Unal Sakoglu

Dr. Unal 'Zak' Sakoglu is an Associate Professor of Computer Engineering at the University of Houston-Clear Lake's College of Science and Engineering. He holds a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of New Mexico (UNM). His research focuses on signal/image processing, medical imaging analysis, machine learning, and neuroimaging applications. He has contributed to the development of non-uniformity correction algorithms for infrared sensors, dynamic functional connectivity analysis in fMRI, and space-filling curve methodologies for multidimensional data analysis. His work has been supported by grants from DOD, AFOSR/AFRL, and private industry.

• Education: Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering (UNM), Albuquerque, NM
• Postdoctoral Work: UNM Neurology Department BRAIN Imaging Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Abbott Laboratories

Dr. Sakoglu's research interests include advancing brain function understanding through machine learning applied to neuroimaging data, with applications in schizophrenia, Gulf War Illness, and multiple sclerosis. He has pioneered techniques for improving fMRI classification accuracy and developing novel sampling methods for data visualization.

Recent articles highlight advancements in lesion segmentation using U-Net architectures, fMRI-based connectivity analysis, and infrared sensing for environmental monitoring. He has received teaching accolades including UHCL Piper Teaching Award nominations and multiple AFOSR/AFRL fellowships.

• Grants: DOD CDMRP Grant (2016-2018), NCSI XSEDE EMPOWER Grants (2020-2021)
• Lab Focus: Neuroimaging software development, medical data analysis tools, and interdisciplinary collaborations in neuroscience and engineering