Emma McMillian

Computer Scientist

Hello, I’m Emma! I’m a PhD student at the University of Oxford in the Department of Computer Science, working on artificial intelligence (AI) and heart science. I love exploring how computers can help doctors better understand heart disease and improve patients’ lives. Keep reading to learn more about me and check out the video at the bottom for more details!

My story

I was born and raised in Washington D.C., United States of America (USA), a dynamic city that blends science, politics, history, and art. I am the youngest of three siblings and my mom and dad were also born in the USA. Growing up in Washington D.C. gave me a unique perspective on the amazing things that can happen when different people come together and learn from each other. In my childhood, I spent much of my time wandering the hallways of Smithsonian Museums. From seeing space suits at the Air and Space Museum to ancient artifacts at the Museum of Natural History, I soaked up knowledge from every corner of the Earth, right in my backyard. I found myself constantly asking big questions like “How do planes fly?” “Why do hummingbirds look like they’re floating?” “How come we see lightning before we hear thunder?” I was always curious about how the world works.

When I was 5, I decided I wanted to be an astronaut. I was lucky to have the opportunity to meet Katherine Johnson, an African American female mathematician whose calculations helped bring John Glenn (third ever American in Space) back to Earth. She told me that if I wanted to be an astronaut, I needed to be good at math. Although my career didn’t take me to space, I did find a passion for math and science. I was fascinated by numbers, shapes, geometry, and how all the weird pieces of life fit together. Everything changed when I took my first computer science class when I was 11 years old. It was that day that I changed my dream from becoming an astronaut to being a Computer Scientist. I loved how I could write lines of code and turn them into something real, like making a game or creating a picture. It felt like bringing my ideas to life on the screen.

When it was time to apply to university, I was incredibly lucky to receive a full scholarship to attend Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) studying computer science and mathematics. I had the opportunity to learn about artificial intelligence (AI), anthropology, medicine, literature, and more. I discovered my passion for AI by working on a project that used computer programs to help predict how resources could be better distributed to support homeless communities in the St. Louis area. I learned about how AI can affect our everyday lives from self-driving cars to medical disease prediction. Using that passion, I decided to pursue my Master of Science in Computer Science also at Washington University in St. Louis. In my masters, I researched how to use AI to visually divide different parts of microscopic (extremely small) cell images.

At 5, I never would have predicted my academic choices would lead me to Oxford, but I am so glad they did! Now as a researcher in AI and medicine I have the opportunity to ask big questions and find big answers.

Aside from my research, I have had the opportunity to be involved in many extracurricular activities. At WashU I was the Secretary for the National Society of Black Engineers and the Special Events Coordinator for the Society of Women Engineers. Through these societies I helped to tutor local primary school children in math, science, and computer science as well as running workshops on how to be an ally (active supporter) to underrepresented students in STEM. Now at the University of Oxford I am the Society Secretary and the Racial Diversity and Equity Officer for Reuben College graduate students as well as the Social Secretary for the Reuben College Football Team. In my positions I hope to change the classic narrative of what it “looks like” to be a scientist and show that anyone can pursue big dreams. I also enjoy traveling, dancing, hiking, and painting.

My research

My PhD research combines Artificial Intelligence (AI) and medicine, specifically in the field of computational cardiology building 3D models of the heart. Computational cardiology is a field which develops technologies that improve human understanding of heart disease, while artificial intelligence is about programming computers to think like humans. In my research I focus on how AI can improve the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. AI is an incredibly powerful technology that can be used to make decisions, solve problems, and increase efficiency in everyday life. Combining AI and computational cardiology leverages the power of innovative technology to help people with heart disease.

As a researcher, I work on coding AI computer programs that can build 3D models of the heart. I use special pictures called Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI) scans as inputs to help make these models, then the models output 3D images of heart’s shape and parts. This helps doctors understand the hearts of patients with HCM. Using my research, doctors can better understand heart disease progression, improve disease diagnosis, and reduce disease prediction times. My overall goal is to use AI to help doctors and improve patient outcomes.

To me, one of the best parts of being a PhD student is collaborating with others. On a typical day, I am travelling between my lab and college, speaking with members of my lab group, programming, reading, analysing my code, and planning my next steps for my research. Doing a PhD requires curiosity, resilience, and a positive attitude. Not everything will work the first time, and oftentimes things don’t go as planned. Most importantly I work hard and get creative to make the best impact I can on the world through research!