About me

I am a postdoctoral researcher at KTH Royal Institute of technology. My research interests lie in integrating multiple imaging modalities with computational biomechanical modeling to better understand the complex biomechanical environment of the brain and the surrounding fluids.

More details on how to contact me: https://www.kth.se/profile/sarahva

Current Research

My research aims to understand how the brain’s microstructure influences its mechanical behavior. To do this, I combine advanced diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, specifically multidimensional diffusion imaging (MD-dMRI), with finite element modeling. These computational models simulate how the brain responds to different types of mechanical loading, including static compression and periodic vibrations. The latter simulates the vibrations applied during magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), an imaging technique that measures the mechanical properties of the brain in vivo.

By linking imaging measurements with computational models, I investigate how variations in brain microstructure give rise to differences in mechanical behavior. The overarching goal is to improve our understanding of how microstructural changes influence brain mechanics and how these changes contribute to ageing and neurodegenerative disorders.