Research

Research Interests:

My research interests include biomedical signal processing, wearable device design, physiological monitoring systems, acoustic analysis, digital biomarkers, applied machine learning and data science.

To meet the compelling need for quantitative schemes for assessing disease or injury state, my research: (i) proposes wearable sensor modalities to enable continuous and non-invasive health and treatment monitoring regardless of time and environmental settings, (ii) develops algorithms to extract clinically useful information from the acoustical and vibrational signals captured through these sensors, and (iii) uses this information to derive digital biomarkers for quantifying human health.

I am the Director of the Physiological Analysis and Wearable Systems Research Lab at Koc University. If you want to learn more about our research group and projects, please visit our lab website.


Journal Publications:

  1. E.H. Savaş, R. Semerci, A. Sayın, B. Dinçer, B. Semiz, H. Urey, “A Biofeedback Based Virtual Reality Game for Pediatric Population (BioVirtualPed): A Feasibility Trial”, Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 2024, In Press.
  2. R. Minhas, S. Arbatli, Y. Celik, Y. Peker, B. Semiz“A Novel Approach to Quantify Microsleep in Drivers with Obstructive Sleep Apnea by Concurrent Analysis of EEG Patterns and Driving Attributes”IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics (JBHI), 2024, In Press.
  3. F. Tokmak, B. Semiz“Unveiling the Relationships Between Seismocardiogram Signals, Physical Activity Types and Metabolic Equivalent of Task Scores”IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering (TBME), v.70, no. 2, pp. 479-487, 2022.
  4. G. C. Ozmen, M. Safaei, B. Semiz, D. C. Whittingslow, J. L. Hunnicutt, R. Hash, J. W. Xerogeanes, O. T. Inan, “Detection of Meniscal Tear Effects on Tibial Vibration Using Passive Knee Sound Measurements”IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering (TBME), v. 68, no. 7, pp. 2241 – 2250, 2021.
  5. B. Semiz, A. M. Carek, J. C. Johnson, S. Ahmad, A. Heller, F. G. Vicente, S. Caron, C. W. Hogue, M. Etemadi, and O. T. Inan, “Non-Invasive Wearable Patch Utilizing Seismocardiography for Peri-Operative Use in Surgical Patients”IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics (JBHI), v. 25, no.5, pp. 1572 – 1582, 2021. [paper]
  6. B. Semiz, S. Hersek, M. B. Pouyan, C. Partida, L.B. Arroyo, V. Selby, G. Wieselthaler, J. Rehg, L. Klein and O.T. Inan, “Detecting Suspected Pump Thrombosis in Left Ventricular Assist Devices via Acoustic Analysis”, IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics (JBHI), v. 24, no. 7, pp. 1899-1906, 2020. Selected as the featured article in the Special Issue on Integrative Sensor Networks, Informatics and Modeling for Precision and Preventative Medicine. [paper]
  7. S. Hersek, B. Semiz, M.M.H. Shandhi, L. Orlandic, and O.T. Inan, “A Globalized Model for Mapping Wearable Seismocardiogram Signals to Whole-Body Ballistocardiogram Signals Based on Deep Learning”IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics (JBHI), v. 24, no. 5, pp. 1296-1309, 2020.
  8. J. Zia,  J. Kimball,  S. Hersek, M.M.H. Shandhi, B. Semiz, and O.T. Inan, “A Unified Framework for Quality Indexing and Classification of Seismocardiogram Signals”, IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics (JBHI), v. 24, no. 4, pp. 1080-1092, 2020. [paper]
  9. M.M.H. Shandhi, B. Semiz, S. Hersek, N. Goller, F. Ayazi, and O.T. Inan, “Performance Analysis of Gyroscope and Accelerometer Sensors for Seismocardiography-Based Wearable Pre-Ejection Period Estimation”IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics (JBHI), v. 23, no. 6, pp. 2365-2374, 2019. [paper]
  10. B. Semiz, S. Hersek, D. Whittingslow, L. Ponder, S. Prahalad, and O. T. Inan, “Using Knee Acoustical Emissions for Sensing Joint Health in Patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Pilot Study”, IEEE Sensors Journal, v. 18, no. 22, pp. 9128-9136, 2018. [paper]

Conference Publications:

  1. E. Erin, B. Semiz, “Performance Comparison of Gyrocardiogram and Seismocardiogram Signals in Valvular Heart Disease Assessment“, 17th International Conference on Bio-inspired Systems and Signal Processing (BIOSIGNALS 2024), Rome, Italy, 2024.
  2. Z. Gundogan, B. Semiz, “Mapping Seismocardiogram Characteristics to Hemorrhage Status and Vascular Pressure: a Novel Approach for Triage Assessment“, 17th International Conference on Bio-inspired Systems and Signal Processing (BIOSIGNALS 2024), Rome, Italy, 2024. Best Student Paper Finalist.
  3. B. Kizir, B. Semiz, “A Hierarchical Framework for Apnea Detection and Respiration Pace Assessment using Seismocardiogram Signals“, 17th International Conference on Bio-inspired Systems and Signal Processing (BIOSIGNALS 2024), Rome, Italy, 2024.
  4. E.H. Savas, R. Semerci, A. Sayın, B. Dinçer, B. Semiz, H. Urey, “BioVirtualPed: A biofeedback based virtual reality game for pediatric patients“, European Society of Medical Oncology Congress, Madrid, Spain, 2023.
  5. F. Tokmak, B. Semiz, “Investigating the Effect of Body Composition Differences on Seismocardiogram Characteristics“, IEEE 36th International Symposium on Computer Based Medical Systems (IEEE CBMS 2023), L’Aquila, Italy, 2023.
  6. B. Kizir, B. Semiz, “Unveiling the Temporal and Spectral Relationships Between Seismocardiogram Signals, Systolic Time Intervals and Thorax Characteristics“, 5th International Conference on Bio-engineering for Smart Technologies (BioSMART 2023), Paris, France, 2023.
  7. E. Erin, B. Semiz, “Distinguishing Between Murmurs in Different Heart Valves Using Phonocardiogram Analysis“, 5th International Conference on Bio-engineering for Smart Technologies (BioSMART 2023), Paris, France, 2023.
  8. F. Oflaz, P. Cetinay Aydin, T. Sahin Tokatlioglu, E. Eser, N. Zemen, B. Semiz, Y.Z. Hayirlioglu, “The effect of wearable technology on psychomotor agitation in patients with diagnostic patients with schizophrenia expansion and psychosis“, 31st European Congress of Psychiatry, Paris, France, 2023.
  9. Y. Hayirlioglu, B. Semiz, A Novel Multi-Modal Sensing System Prototype for Cardiovascular and Cardiopulmonary Monitoring“, 16th International Conference on Biomedical Electronics and Devices (BIODEVICES 2023), Lisbon, Portugal, 2023.
  10. E. Erin, B. Semiz, Spectral Analysis of Cardiogenic Vibrations to Distinguish Between Valvular Heart Diseases, 16th International Conference on Bio-inspired Systems and Signal Processing (BIOSIGNALS 2023), Lisbon, Portugal, 2023.
  11. B. Ataseven, A. Madani, B. Semiz, M.E. Gursoy, “Physical Activity Recognition using Deep Transfer Learning with Convolutional Neural Networks“, 20th IEEE International Conference on Pervasive Intelligence and Computing, Calabria, Italy, 2022.
  12. M. Imirzalioglu, B. Semiz, “Quantifying Respiration Effects on Cardiac Vibrations using Teager Energy Operator and Gradient Boosted Trees“, IEEE 44th International Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference, Glasgow, Scotland, 2022.
  13. O. O. Nacitarhan, B. Semiz, “PySio: A New Python Toolbox for Physiological Signal Visualization and Feature Analysis“, IEEE 44th International Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference, Glasgow, Scotland, 2022.
  14. B.Semiz, M.E. Gursoy, M.M.H. Shandhi, L. Orlandic, V. Mooney, O.T. Inan, “Automatic Subject Identification Using Scale-Based Ballistocardiogram Signals”, EAI MobiHealth 2021, Virtual.
  15. B. Semiz, M.M.H. Shandhi, J. Fan, S. Dowling, L. Klein, and O.T. Inan, “Quantification of Hemodynamic Responses to Diuretic Changes in Patients with Heart Failure using Ballistocardiogram and Electrocardiogram Recordings”, IEEE Biomedical and Health Informatics Conference (BHI), Chicago, IL, 2019. [paper] [poster]
  16. B. Semiz, S. Hersek, D. Whittingslow, L. Ponder, S. Prahalad, and O.T. Inan, “Change Point Detection in Knee Acoustic Emissions using the Teager Operator: A Preliminary Study in Patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis”IEEE Biomedical and Health Informatics Conference (BHI), Chicago, IL, 2019. [paper][poster]
  17. B. Semiz, S. Hersek, C. Partida, L.B. Arroyo, V. Selby, G. Wieselthaler, O.T. Inan, and L. Klein, “Blood-Biomarker-Based Acoustical Feature Selection Improves Overall Classification Accuracy for Pump Thrombosis in Left Ventricular Assist Devices”, American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session, New Orleans, LA, 2019. [poster]
  18. B. Semiz, S. Hersek, M. Baran Pouyan, C. Partida, O. T. Inan, and L. Klein, “Use of Ventricular Assist Device Acoustical Signatures to Detect Device Thrombosis”, Heart Failure Society of America Meeting, Nashville, TN, 2018. (Selected for presentation in the Moderated Poster Session, 3.8% of all accepted papers.) [poster]
  19. D. Whittingslow, B. Semiz, L. Ponder, P.V. Fernandez, O.T. Inan, S. Prahalad, “Knee Joint Sounds: A Non-Invasive Modality for Classifying Knee Joint Health in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis”, American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, 2017.
  20. D. Whittingslow, B. Semiz, L. Ponder, A. Wiens, O.T. Inan, S. Prahalad, “Analysis and Implications of Non-Invasive Knee Acoustical Emissions in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis”American College of Rheumatology Pediatric Rheumatology Symposium, Houston, TX, 2017. [poster]

Dissertation:

  • B. Semiz, Digital Biomarker Discovery for Non-Invasive Health Monitoring with Acoustic and Vibration Signals”, Ph.D. Dissertation, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2020.

Projects with Media Coverage:

  • CNN: “This is what your knee sounds like: “Chhh, chhh, chhh”, Nov 2, 2017.
  • GT Research Horizons: “Mending a Broken Heart”, Feb 14, 2019.
  • Fox 5 Atlanta: “Georgia Tech researchers say knee sounds reveal secrets about joint health”, Sep 16, 2019.
  • Fox 5 Atlanta: “Georgia Tech researchers develop patch to track heart failure”, Sep 18, 2019.