Publications

My publications emphasize computational methods, reproducible workflows, and interpretable models for data-intensive research in brain and health sciences. Many of these works are supported by shared pipelines, standardized evaluation protocols, and collaborative research infrastructure designed to enable reuse and validation across teams.

Underscores denote my advisees.

Selected Publications (by theme)

Neuroimaging machine learning and tract-level analysis
Computational biology and generative modeling for drug discovery
Visual analytics and interactive systems for scientific data

V. Dobromyslin and W. Zhou. "Enhancing Cerebral Infarct Classification by Automatically Extracting Relevant fMRI Features". Brain Informatics, 12(1):1–10, 2025. (Impact factor: 4.5).

L.V. Gauthier, R. Ravi, D. DeLuca, and W. Zhou. "Dose response to upper extremity stroke rehabilitation varies by individual: early indicators of treatment response". Stroke, 55(3):696–704, 2024.
High Impact Journal (IF: 10.17)

W. Zhou and S. Krishnan. "Multi-pronged computation approach identifies pixantrone as an inhibitor of oncogenic KRAS and a potent radiosensitizer of pancreatic cancer". AACR-JCA Joint Conference: Breakthroughs in Cancer Research: Translating Knowledge into Practice, 2023.

A.M. Rossetto and W. Zhou. "Gandalf: Peptide generation for drug design using sequential and structural generative adversarial networks". In 11th ACM International Conference on Bioinformatics, Computational Biology and Health Informatics, pages 1–10, 2020.

W. Zhou, A.M. Rossetto, X. Pang, and L. Zhou. "Computational Full Electron Structure Study of Biological Activity in Cyclophilin A". Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, 34:870–876, 2016. (Impact factor: 2.983).

W. Zhou, E. Walsh, and D.H. Laidlaw. "DoubleAx: In-vivo axon measurement in the human corpus callosum using angular double-PFG MRI". Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM) Annual Meeting, 2013.
Chosen for podium talk (acceptance rate < 4%)

D.F. Tate, J. Conley, R.H. Paul, K. Coop, S. Zhang, W. Zhou, D.H. Laidlaw, L.E. Taylor, T. Flanigan, B. Navia, R. Cohen, and K. Tashima. "Quantitative diffusion tensor imaging tractography metrics are associated with cognitive performance among HIV-infected patients". Brain Imaging and Behavior, 4:68–79, 2010.
High Impact Journal (IF: 10.288)

W. Zhou and D.H. Laidlaw. "Inferring axon properties with double-PGSE MRI using analytical water diffusion model". International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine–ISMRM, 18:677, 2010.
Chosen for podium talk (acceptance rate < 5%)

W. Zhou, S. Correia, and D.H. Laidlaw. "Haptics-assisted 3D lasso drawing for tracts-of-interest selection in DTI visualization". In IEEE Visualization Poster Compendium, 2008.
BEST POSTER Nominee (top 5)

W. Zhou, P.G. Sibley, S. Zhang, D.F. Tate, and D.H. Laidlaw. "Perceptual coloring and 2D sketching for segmentation of neural pathways". In ACM SIGGRAPH Poster Compendium, 2006.
BEST POSTER - SIGGRAPH 2006
1st Place - ACM Student Research Competition

Journal Articles

V. Dobromyslin and W. Zhou. "Enhancing Cerebral Infarct Classification by Automatically Extracting Relevant fMRI Features". Brain Informatics, 12(1):1–10, 2025. (Impact factor: 4.5).

W. Zhou and A.M. Rossetto. "Finding protein thermostability and spin-coupling constant using Bayesian statistics". Journal of Mathematical Chemistry, 53:151–161, 2015. (Impact factor: 1.27).

A.M. Rossetto, W. Zhou, X. Pang, and L. Zhou. "The full electron structure of the FKBP12/FK506 complex". Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, 33:388–394, 2015. (Impact factor: 2.983).

Peer Reviewed Conference Papers / Posters / Workshops

A.M. Rossetto and W. Zhou. "Novel generated peptides for covid-19 targets". In 11th ACM International Conference on Bioinformatics, Computational Biology and Health Informatics, pages 1–10, 2020.

A.M. Rossetto and W. Zhou. "GANDALF: A Prototype of a GAN-based Peptide Design Method". In Proceedings of the 10th ACM International Conference on Bioinformatics, Computational Biology and Health Informatics, pages 61–66. ACM, 2019.

A.M. Rossetto and W. Zhou. "Improving Classification with CNNs using Wavelet Pooling with Nesterov-Accelerated Adam". In the 11th International Conference on Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BICOB), volume 60, pages 84–93, 2019.
BEST PAPER Finalist

A.M. Rossetto and W. Zhou. "Deep Learning for Categorization of Lung Cancer CT Images". In IEEE/ACM International Conference on Connected Health: Applications, Systems and Engineering Technologies (CHASE), pages 272–273. IEEE, 2017.

A.M. Rossetto and W. Zhou. "Ensemble Convolution Neural Network with a Simple Voting Method for Lung Tumor Detection". In the 8th ACM International Conference on Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, and Health Informatics (ACM-BCB), pages 729–734. ACM, 2017.

R. Ross and W. Zhou. "Lessons learned: designing a mobile application for teaching computer science concepts to middle school girls". In Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction with Mobile Devices and Services Adjunct (MobileHCI), pages 831–838. ACM, 2016.

V. Jani, M. Uppuladinne, U. Sonavane, A. Jayaraj, W. Zhou, R. Joshi, B. Jayaram, P. Prasanna, S. Lagu, A. Srivastava, C.N. Coleman, and M.M. Ahmed. "An In silico Approach to Identify and Repurpose FDA Approved Drugs to Target KRas". In First International RAS Initiative Symposium at NIH, 2015.

C. Cortes, W. Zhou, M. Barremkala, M. Malhan, S. Kosmidis, and T. Moldovan. "Creation of an innovative interactive learning tool for anatomy". In 9th Annual Conference on Teaching and Learning, 2015.
Special Recognition Prize

C. Cortes, W. Zhou, M. Barremkala, M. Malhan, S. Kosmidis, and T. Moldovan. "Creation of an innovative interactive learning tool for anatomy". In 4th Annual William Davidson Medical Education Week, 2015.

W. Zhou. "In-silico analysis of radiation protein targets: protein-target folding/stress data". International Conference of Radiation Biology (ICRB), 12th Annual Meeting of Indian Society of Radiation Biology (ISRB), 2014.

W. Zhou and A.M. Rossetto. "Bayesian statistics analysis for spin coupling constant and thermostability of proteins". IEEE 7th International Symposium on Computational Intelligence and Design (IEEE ISCID), 2014.

R. Jianu, W. Zhou, R. Cabeen, D. Dickstein, and D.H. Laidlaw. "Visualizing tractography metrics of cortical-connectivity integrity in diffusion imaging". International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine–ISMRM, 20:3614, 2012.

W. Zhou and D.H. Laidlaw. "Measurement of axon radii distribution in orientationally unknown tissue using angular double-pulsed gradient spin echo (double-PGSE) NMR". International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine–ISMRM, 19:3938, 2011.

W. Zhou, M.G. Hall, and D.H. Laidlaw. "Inferring microstructural properties using angular double pulsed gradient spin echo NMR in orientationally unknown tissue". Computational Diffusion MRI (CDMRI) Workshop at MICCAI, 2010.
Chosen for podium talk

W. Zhou and D.H. Laidlaw. "An analytical model of diffusion and exchange of water in white matter from diffusion-MRI and its application in measuring axon radii". International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine–ISMRM, 17:263, 2009.
Chosen for podium talk (acceptance rate < 5%)

W. Zhou, S. Correia, and D.H. Laidlaw. "Evaluation of design features in interactive 3D tracts-of-interest selection tools in DTI". In IEEE Visualization Poster Compendium, 2008.

D. Jianu, W. Zhou, Ç. Demiralp, and D.H. Laidlaw. "Visualizing spatial relations between 3D-DTI integral curves using texture patterns". In IEEE Visualization Poster Compendium, 2007.

M. Kostandov, J. Schwertfeger, O.C. Jenkins, R. Jianu, M. Buller, D. Hartmann, M. Loper, A. Tsoli, M. Vondrak, W. Zhou, and M. Fiala. "Robot gaming and learning using augmented reality". ACM SIGGRAPH Poster Compendium, 2007.

M. Kostandov, R. Jianu, W. Zhou, and T. Moscovich. "Interactive layered character animation in immersive virtual environments". ACM SIGGRAPH Poster Compendium, 2006.