{"688662":{"#nid":"688662","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Postdoctoral Spotlight: Molecules and Movement: Two Postdocs Designing the Future","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom the molecular design of next-generation electronic materials to the neural systems that control human movement, innovation happens at Georgia Tech.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor postdoctoral scholars Oindrila Sinha and Tanner Smith, discovery moves beyond theory. Discovery is all about building something new and understanding how it works from the inside out.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough their research disciplines of neuroscience and organic chemistry differ, their work still shares a common thread: designing complex systems that transform scientific theory into real-world applications that make an impact.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERewiring Movement: Oindrila Sinha\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESinha studies cognitive motor control in human neuroscience, investigating how the brain plans, adapts, and controls body movement, especially when those processes are disrupted by injury or disease.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhat excites me most is the possibility of translating this understanding into rehabilitation. Using cutting-edge technologies to not only study human movement, but to meaningfully improve quality of life,\u201d she says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESinha\u2019s academic journey began in India, where she obtained her undergraduate and master\u2019s degrees in life sciences, specializing in physiology. While in India, Sinha centered her work on hand-eye coordination and movement prediction. One of her most notable projects involved working on a device that utilized an electroencephalogram (EEG) and eye-blink detection to monitor driver drowsiness and prevent automobile accidents.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProjects that combined human physiology and technology deepened her fascination with cognitive movement. Eager to bridge the gap between lab research and bedside application, she came to the United States, where she earned her PhD in motor control at Pennsylvania State University.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESinha wanted to understand how humans anticipate moving objects and prepare for interaction with moving objects. Her interests to explore cognition, movement, and technology led her to Georgia Tech.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGeorgia Tech offers a uniquely rich environment where cutting-edge technology and human-centered neuroscience come together, creating opportunities to push research beyond the lab and toward real-world impact,\u201d reflects Sinha.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere, her research in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/thecmclab.com\/\u0022\u003EWheaton lab\u003C\/a\u003E centers on finding biomarkers of learning using neuromodulation to gain a deeper understanding of motor control. To put it in simpler terms, biomarkers are signals from the brain that clearly define when a person has learnt something, and neuromodulation is a technique that can change the properties of our nervous system to achieve something. Therefore, Sinha\u2019s research is examining whether we can either change the nervous system of people who are unable to learn to generate more biomarkers or, if we can use biomarkers to decide where a person stands on the continuum of learning. She believes that at Tech, she\u2019s not only conducting research; she is thriving.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Dynamic, Deeply Fulfilling Life as a Postdoc\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESinha\u2019s days as a postdoc at Tech are dynamic and deeply fulfilling.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe begins most mornings at the gym, grounding herself physically before heading into the lab. There, she collaborates with undergraduate and graduate students, conducts human-participant experiments, analyzes data, and mentors emerging researchers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHer afternoons can vary from day to day. Sinha balances research meetings and data analysis with teaching and other course-related responsibilities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGeorgia Tech offers incredible opportunities for professional growth, and on Fridays, I often join writing groups focused on developing manuscripts and grant proposals,\u201d says Sinha.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond research, Sinha is actively engaged in service. She serves on the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/research-faculty-advisory-council-rfac\u0022\u003EResearch Faculty Advisory Council (RFAC)\u003C\/a\u003E and mentors high school students through Project\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/projectengages.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EENGAGES\u003C\/a\u003E, supporting the next generation of scientists and engineers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGrounded in Wellness Inspired by Atlanta\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs committed as she is to her research, teaching, mentorship, and service, Sinha is equally committed to wellness.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStrength training and movement are both grounding and empowering for her. This is fitting for someone who has dedicated her research to studying motor control.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOutside of the lab, Sinha enjoys cooking and experimenting with different cuisines, often exploring Atlanta\u2019s diverse food markets for inspiration and ingredients.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen in need of inspiration, Sinha visits one of her favorite places in the city, Piedmont Park.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cNo matter the season, it feels like a completely different place\u2014each month bringing its own colors, energy, and beauty. Whether I\u2019m walking, running, or simply taking a moment to pause, the park offers a sense of calm and renewal. It\u2019s a space where the city feels alive yet peaceful, and one that I return to again and again.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMolecular Blueprint: Tanner Smith\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile Sinha focuses on cognitive motion at the neural level, Tanner Smith builds innovation on the molecular scale.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESmith is a synthetic organic chemist focused on organic electronic materials and designing and synthesizing new molecules and polymers with electronic and magnetic properties.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI like being a part of the whole process,\u201d he says. \u201cFrom designing new materials, synthesizing them, and analyzing their properties.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESmith, who is from Central Illinois, earned his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2018 before completing his Ph.D. in organic chemistry at the University of Kentucky in 2023. His doctoral research centered on designing\u0026nbsp;new\u0026nbsp;carbon-based materials for use in flexible, lightweight, and low-cost electronic devices. Common examples of commercial technologies that use similar materials include OLED lighting and displays, organic solar cells, and flexible smartphones and displays.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a researcher in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/azoulaygroup.org\/\u0022\u003EAzoulay Lab\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech, Smith develops organic molecules and polymers with magnetic properties for next-generation electronic applications.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022My post-doctoral research also focuses on the development of similar carbon-based electronic materials, with a focus on organic molecules with magnetic properties,\u201d explains Smith. \u201cMy research focuses on the more fundamental studies of these materials and what causes their unique magnetic properties. These carbon-based electronic materials are uniquely suited for commercial applications such as flexible transistors and circuits for next-generation displays, energy storage, quantum computing, and data storage.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Day in the Life: From Synthesis to Simulation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA typical day for Smith involves alternating between hands-on lab synthesis, which is his favorite part, writing, simulations, and equipment oversight. Because his lab is multidisciplinary, he also collaborates on projects analyzing the electronic and magnetic properties of the materials he creates.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELike Sinha, mentorship is a meaningful part of his work. He also regularly supports graduate and undergraduate researchers in the lab while balancing his own research and publications.\u0026nbsp; Smith was nominated for this Postdoc Spotlight by Rachel MacDonald, an undergraduate researcher, who shared that \u201cDr. Tanner Smith embodies the most crucial traits of an amazing teacher. He is patient, encouraging, and palpably excited to share his knowledge.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOutside of research, Smith prioritizes movement and wellness. He enjoys lifting weights, running, hiking, yoga, and exploring Atlanta\u2019s outdoor spaces. During the warmer months, Smith spends time walking or running through Piedmont Park and along the Beltline. He also likes to explore cafes in Midtown and Downtown with friends and colleagues.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EProgress and Service: The Tech Way\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom molecules engineered for electronic performance to neural systems that guide human movement, Sinha and Smith showcase the interdisciplinary spirit that defines postdoctoral research at Georgia Tech.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoth were drawn to the Institute\u2019s collaborative environment and reputation for innovation. And both are committed to advancing research, mentorship, growth, and most importantly, impact on a larger scale.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough their research occurs at vastly different ends of the spectrum, their work shares a common goal: to advance science and improve the human condition.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETwo Georgia Tech postdoctoral scholars\u2014Oindrila Sinha and Tanner Smith\u2014demonstrate how innovation at both the neural and molecular levels is transforming scientific discovery into real-world impact.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Two Georgia Tech postdoctoral scholars\u2014Oindrila Sinha and Tanner Smith\u2014demonstrate how innovation at both the neural and molecular levels is transforming scientific discovery into real-world impact."}],"uid":"36363","created_gmt":"2026-03-03 18:32:09","changed_gmt":"2026-03-12 12:58:01","author":"Brittani Hill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-03T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-03-03T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679600":{"id":"679600","type":"image","title":"Molecules and Movement: Two Postdocs Designing the Future","body":"\u003Cp\u003EPostdoc Spotlight: Oindrila Singh and Tanner Smith\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1773320142","gmt_created":"2026-03-12 12:55:42","changed":"1773320240","gmt_changed":"2026-03-12 12:57:20","alt":"Photographed Above: Oindrila Sinha and Tanner Smith","file":{"fid":"263780","name":"March-Postdoc-Spotlight-Sinha-and-Smith.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/12\/March-Postdoc-Spotlight-Sinha-and-Smith.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/12\/March-Postdoc-Spotlight-Sinha-and-Smith.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1327198,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/12\/March-Postdoc-Spotlight-Sinha-and-Smith.png?itok=2fs_K45O"}}},"media_ids":["679600"],"groups":[{"id":"249231","name":"Postdoctoral Services"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"132281","name":"Postdocss"},{"id":"74421","name":"Office of Postdoctoral Services"},{"id":"190936","name":"Graduate and Postdoctoral Education"},{"id":"194954","name":"postdoc spotlight"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBrittani Hill\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMarketing \u0026amp; Communications Manager\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOffice of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brittani.hill@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}