Meet the Team

Meet the people responsible for supporting and partnering with researchers to advance scientific discovery

Scientific Computing and Data was established at the Icahn School of Medicine in 2011. We partner with researchers across institutions around the globe to advance scientific discovery.

Scientific Computing and Data

Patricia Kovatch | Dean

Patricia Kovatch is the Dean for Scientific Computing and Data at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), founding the division in October 2011. In her work at ISMMS and in her national and international collaborations, she emphasizes a collaborative approach, partnering computational and data experts with basic and translational scientists to tackle complex scientific questions to better diagnose and treat disease.

Mark Green, PhD | Executive Director

Mark Green is the Executive Director for Scientific Computing & Data Division, High Performance Computing, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he leads the computational and data ecosystem for research. Mark’s role involves strategizing and managing operations for our advanced computing and data resources, essential for supporting over 10,000 researchers. Mark oversees a team of PhDs, MDs, and technologists, ensuring top-tier service within the Mount Sinai community.

Computational and Data Ecosystem

Lili Gai, PhD | High Performance Computing Director

Lili Gai is the Director of High Performance Computing, overseeing Minerva Supercomputer processes and operations. Lili earned a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Vanderbilt University.

Jielin Yu, PhD | Computational Scientist

Jielin Yu is a Computational Scientist supporting Minerva Supercomputer processes and operations. He earned a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana State University.

Shamimul Hasan| Senior AI/GPU Computational Scientist

Shamimul Hasan is a Senior AI/GPU Computational Scientist. He is a research scientist in Artificial Intelligence for Health, Oak Ridge National Lab.  His focus is on Graph Analytics, Big Data Management & Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Deep Learning, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Information Retrieval

Hyung Min Cho, PhD | Computational Scientist

Hyung Min Cho is a Computational Scientist supporting Minerva Supercomputer processes and operations. He earned a PhD in Theoretical Chemistry from Ohio State University and worked at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) as a postdoctoral researcher developing high-performance parallel applications.

Wei Guo, PhD | HPC Architect

Wei Guo is an HPC Architect supporting Minerva Supercomputer processes and operations. Wei has a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering.

Yiyuan Liu, PhD | Data Ark Bioinformatician

Yiyuan Liu is Bioinformatician leading and supporting Data Ark (Mount Sinai Data Commons on Minerva) processes and operations.

Tejas Rao, PhD | HPC Architect

Tejas Rao is an HPC Architect with over 15 years of experience with High performance computing and extensive experience with operating system internals, continuous integration/automation, enterprise storage and cybersecurity

Informatics and Data Architecture

Sharon Nirenberg, MD | Lead Physician Informaticist

Sharon Nirenberg is the lead physician informaticst coordinating the optimization and translation of data elements in the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) Common Data Model (CDM). Sharon holds an MD and MS.

Naomi So, MD | Physician Informaticist

Naomi So is a physician informaticist supporting the Mount Sinai Data Warehouse data request needs for clinicians and researchers. This also includes use of its resources, including the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) Common Data Model (CDM) and its respective cohort query tools and interfaces.

Jiani Xiang | Clinical Data Specialist

Jiani Xiang received an MS in biostatistics from the School of Public Health at the University at Albany SUNY, and has worked in the health industry for over 9 years. Before joining Mount Sinai, Jiani was a research scientist at New York State Office of Mental Health.

Timothy Quinn, PhD | Principal Data Architect

Tim Quinn is a principal data architect responsible for the strategy, design, and engineering of the infrastructure for delivering data to ISMMS researchers.  He has over 12 years of experience in data warehousing, data architecture, and analytics in the healthcare industry.  Tim is a graduate of Stanford University and earned his PhD from MIT.

Andrew Deonarine, MD, PhD | Senior Principal Physician Informaticist

Andrew Deonarine is a Senior Principal Physician Informaticist. Andrew completed a fellowship in clinical informatics at Harvard Medical School as a Friedman Scholar and completed American Board certifications in Preventive Medicine in Clinical Informatics. He worked in primary care as an Informatics Lead and also has been co-leading Artificial Intelligence initiatives in Boston-based public health programs.

Information Technology

Farhan Mahmood | IT Director

Farhan Mahmood is the team’s IT Director responsible for coordinating MSDW and support teams. Farhan has over 25 years of experience in Business Intelligence and the Data Warehousing domain and has a degree in Computer Science. He currently oversees the operations for MSDW Data Warehouse, which includes the loading of data, assisting in new MSDW enhancements and improvements, and handling data requests from Physicians and Researchers. Farhan is also responsible for maintaining the hardware of both physical and virtual servers and upgrading current software that the team uses.

Jacob Weiser | Data Warehouse ETL Developer

Jacob Weiser is the data warehouse Extract, Transform, and Load developer for the IT team.

Rupan Hossain | Database Administrator

Rupan Hossain is a database administrator for the IT team.

Eric Rosenberg | Sr. System Administrator

Eric Rosenberg is a Senior System administrator.

Christopher Veal | Lead Clinical Data Warehouse Engineer

Christopher Veal is a  Lead Clinical Data Warehouse Engineer. Chris has over 9 years of experience in healthcare. Born and raised in Louisville, KY, he graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science from University of Louisville Speed Scientific School.

Darius Vinci Boopal | Data Warehouse Data Engineer

Darius Vinci Boopal is a Data Engineer with extensive experience in full life cycle of Software development and Database programming.

Priyal Mehta | Data Analyst

Priyal Mehta is an IT Data Analyst and is responsible for clinical data extraction from Epic Caboodle, Epic Clarity databases, and OMOP Common Data Model.

Shivaji Punukollu | Technology Specialist

Shivaji Punukollu is a Technology Specialist III with expertise in ETL and data warehouse design.

Priscilla Acquaye | Data Analyst

Priscilla Acquaye facilitates user support through attention to detail and improved processes. She previously worked for NYU Hospital.

Programming and Semantic Technology

James Masters, PhD | Director HHEAR and Semantic Technology

James “Chip” Masters is a computer scientist with over 20 years of experience in building ontologies and applying them in data management applications utilizing semantic technologies. His expertise is in data integration, knowledge representation and reasoning, and building and using semantic knowledge graphs. He is responsible for the development and application of the Human Health Exposure Analysis Resource (HHEAR) ontology, knowledge graph, and data repository. He also manages a team of computer scientists that are responsible for delivering cohort query tools, electronic data capture systems, and other research data services supporting clinicians and medical scientists within the School and hospital system. Dr. Masters has a PhD in Applied Mathematics.

Alona Rabin | .NET Lead Developer

Alona Rabin is the .NET lead developer responsible for implementing scalable applications and latest technologies in research database design.

Donald Louie | Programmer Analyst

Donald Louie is a programmer analyst supporting the Electronic Research Application Portal Rapid Database Generator (eRAP RDG) database building, programming, and debugging.

Sheersha Kandwal | Semantic Front End HHEAR

Sheersha Kandwal is a Semantic Java Developer for High Performance Computing, supporting the Human Health Exposure Analysis Resource (HHEAR). She has a Master’s in Software Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.

Tyrone Cadenhead, PhD | Programmer Analyst

Tyrone Cadenhead is a Technology Specialist on the Research Data Services (RDS) team. Dr. Cadenhead develops software to support the Human Health Exposure Analysis Resource (HHEAR) Data Center, the Mount Sinai Data Warehouse, and other RDS projects. He earned his PhD in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Researcher Engagement and Support

Edwin Thrower, PhD, CMPP| Director of Science and Technology Communications

Edwin Thrower is Director of Science and Technology Communications. Edwin has in depth experience with medical communications and subsequently worked at various agencies including Ashfield Healthcare Communications, Parexel, Lockwood, and most recently Envision Pharma Group.

Savas Sevil | REDCap Product Manager

Savas Sevil is an IT Database Analyst and is responsible for REDCap compliance and service management tasks

Catherine Bauer-Martinez | Senior REDCap Analyst

Jing Yang, PhD | Applications Analyst

Jing Yang is an Applications Analyst responsible for facilitating the communication between faculty, staff, researchers, clinicians, and the Scientific Computing and Data team. Jing earned a Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry from Indiana University.

Catherine McCaffrey | Project Manager and Compliance

Catherine McCaffrey is the department project manager working alongside all teams. She is also responsible for all compliance for systems and programs.

Finance and Operations

Ranjini Kottaiyan | Senior Director of Finance and Administration

Ranjini Kottaiyan is Senior Director. Ranjini holds an MBA and an OD, and she has extensive experience in grants administration and healthcare operations.

Maria Julia Castro | Senior Operations Manager

Maria Castro is Senior Operations Manager. Maria holds an MS from Columbia University in Clinical Psychology. She has experience in project management and buisness operations.

Jian Tao | Financial Analyst II

Jian Tao is a  Financial Analyst II. He works closely with senior leadership concerning all financial operations. Before joining Mount Sinai, he worked at Columbia University and the Research Foundation of CUNY as a post-awards grant administrator. Jim holds an MPA degree from SUNY Albany with a concentration in public finance

Open Positions in Scientific Computing and Data

Mount Sinai provides excellent opportunities to utilize and expand your skills in a rewarding career. Consider joining our team and collaborate with researchers to advance scientific discovery. See Mount Sinai Careers for current job openings.

To see Scientific Computing and Data positions, click here!

The Mount Sinai Health System is an equal opportunity employer. We promote recognition and respect for individual and cultural differences, and we work to make our employees feel valued and appreciated, whatever their race, gender, background, or sexual orientation.