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Jon Lin

Jon Lin

MD-PhD Candidate · Researcher · Ocular Toxicologist

Aspiring ophthalmic pathologist with a passion for translational research, medical device development, and teaching.

About Me

Jon Lin

I am an MD-PhD candidate at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), where I have developed a deep commitment to evidence-based medicine and translational research. My experiences have shaped my aspiration to pursue a residency in pathology.

Originally from Severna Park, Maryland, I have been fortunate to have had diverse experiences across a variety of environments that have equipped me with strong clinical reasoning skills, meaningful research contributions, and a genuine dedication to advancing medical knowledge and improving patient care.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy making moneygami (origami out of dollar bills!), creating fun trinkets and gadgets through 3D printing and electronics, mentoring pre-medical students, and exploring the potential applications of AI.

Ocular Toxicology Translational Research Medical Devices Pathology Medical Education

Education

2018 – Present

Doctor of Medicine (MD)

University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) — Galveston, TX

USMLE Step 1: 237  ·  USMLE Step 2: 274  ·  AOA Member

2020 – 2024

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Pharmacology & Toxicology

University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) — Galveston, TX

GPA: 4.0 / 4.0  ·  National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences T32 Trainee (T32ES007254-28S1)
Thesis: "Acrolein-Induced Ocular Injury: Biphasic Inflammatory Cascade in the Cornea and Progressive Retinal Damage"

2017 – 2018

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Research Fellow

US Food and Drug Administration — Silver Spring, MD

Post-baccalaureate research fellowship in the Optical Diagnostic Devices Laboratory in the Division of Biomedical Physics.
Main Project: "Quantitative Mobile Phone-Based Hyperspectral Imaging for Point-of-Care Tissue Oximetry"

2013 – 2017

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Bioengineering

University of Maryland at College Park — College Park, MD

GPA: 3.73 / 4.0  ·  Integrated Life Sciences Honors Program Scholar  ·  Dean's List  ·  AEMB Member

Research & Publications

h-index: 11  ·  i10-index: 11  ·  17 peer-reviewed publications  ·  13 abstracts

Peer-Reviewed Publications

In Preparation

Ocular toxicity of acrolein: mechanisms, assessment, and clinical implicationsIn Prep

Lin JL, Luisi J, Ameredes BT, Gupta PK, Liu H, Zhang W, Motamedi M.

Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology

In Review

Longitudinal multimodal imaging of the corneal response to topical acrolein exposureIn Review

Lin JL, Lu Z, Shi S, Chan A, Chea M, Luisi J, Ameredes BT, Gupta PK, Zhang W, Liu H, Motamedi M.

Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science

2023

Noninvasive evaluation of retinal vascular alterations in a mouse model of optic neuritis using laser speckle flowgraphy and optical coherence tomography angiographyPublished

Buscho SE, Xia F, Shi S, Lin JL, Szczesny B, Zhang W, Motamedi M, Liu H.

Cells. 2023 Nov 22;12(23):2685.

Link to article →

2023

Semi-automated micro-computed tomography lung segmentation and analysis in mouse modelsPublished

Luisi JD, Lin JL, Ochoa LF, McAuley RJ, Tanner MG, Alfarawati O, Wright CW, Vargas G, Motamedi M, Ameredes BT.

MethodsX. 2023 Apr 20;10:102198.

Link to article →

2022

Quantification of leukocyte trafficking in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis through in vivo imagingPublished

Xia F#, Lin JL#, Zhang DL#, Shi S, Buscho SE, Motamedi M. #Equal contribution.

EC Ophthalmology. 2022 Oct 6;13(11):02-10.

Link to article →

2022

Concentration-associated pathology of alkali burn in a mouse model using anterior segment optical coherence tomography with angiographyPublished

Luisi JD#, Lin JL#, Karediya N, Kraft ER, Sharifi A, Schmitz-Brown ME, Zhang W, Motamedi M, Ameredes BT, Merkley KH, Gupta PK. #Equal contribution.

Experimental Eye Research. 2022 Aug 17;223:109210.

Link to article →

2022

Spatial-temporal speckle variance in the en-face view as a contrast for optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA)Published

Luisi JD, Lin JL, Ameredes BT, Motamedi M.

Sensors (Basel). 2022 Mar 22;22(7):2447.

Link to article →

2019

Cerebral oximetry performance testing with a 3D-printed vascular array phantomPublished

Afshari A, Ghassemi P, Lin J, Halprin M, Wang J, Mendoza G, Weininger S, Pfefer TJ.

Biomedical Optics Express. 2019 Jul 2;10(8):3731-3746.

Link to article →

2019

Phantom-based evaluation of near-infrared intracerebral hematoma detector performancePublished

Wang J, Lin JL, Chen Y, Welle C, Pfefer TJ.

Journal of Biomedical Optics. 2019 Apr 15;24(4):045001.

Link to article →

2018

Biomimetic 3D-printed neurovascular phantoms for near-infrared fluorescence imagingPublished

Liu Y, Ghassemi P, Depkon A, Iacono MI, Lin J, Mendoza G, Wang J, Tang Q, Chen Y, Pfefer TJ.

Biomedical Optics Express. 2018 May 29;9(6):2810-2824.

Link to article →

2018

3D mesoscopic fluorescence tomography for imaging micro-distribution of antibody-photon absorber conjugates during near infrared photoimmunotherapy in vivoPublished

Tang Q, Nagaya T, Liu Y, Horng H, Lin J, Sato K, Kobayashi H, Chen Y.

Journal of Controlled Release. 2018 Apr 16;279:171-180.

Link to article →

2017

Imaging stem cell distribution, growth, migration, and differentiation in 3-D scaffolds for bone tissue engineering using mesoscopic fluorescence tomographyPublished

Tang Q, Piard C, Lin J, Nan K, Guo T, Caccamese J, Fisher J, Chen Y.

Biotechnology and Bioengineering. 2017 Sep 16;115(1):E-pub.

Link to article →

2017

Real-time monitoring of microdistribution of antibody-photon absorber conjugates during photoimmunotherapy in vivoPublished

Tang Q, Nagaya T, Liu Y, Lin J, Sato K, Kobayashi H, Chen Y.

Journal of Controlled Release. 2017 Aug 28;260:154-163.

Link to article →

2017

High-dynamic-range fluorescence laminar optical tomography (HDR-FLOT)Published

Tang Q, Liu Y, Tsytsarev V, Lin J, Wang B, Kanniyappan U, Li Z, Chen Y.

Biomedical Optics Express. 2017 Mar 9;8(4):2124-2137.

Link to article →

2016

Depth-resolved imaging of colon tumor using optical coherence tomography and fluorescence laminar optical tomographyPublished

Tang Q, Wang J, Frank A, Lin JL, Li Z, Chen C, Jin L, Wu T, Greenwald BD, Mashimo H, Chen Y.

Biomedical Optics Express. 2016 Nov 21;7(12):5218-5232.

Link to article →

2016

Review of mesoscopic optical tomography for depth-resolved imaging hemodynamic changes and neural activitiesPublished

Tang Q, Lin JL, Tsytsarev V, Erzurumlu R, Liu Y, Chen Y.

Neurophotonics. 2016 Nov 14;4(1):011009.

Link to article →

2015

Daily affective and behavioral forecasts in romantic relationships: seeing tomorrow through the prism of todayPublished

Lemay EP, Lin JL, Muir HJ.

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 2015 May 28;41(7):1005-1019.

Link to article →

Selected Conference Abstracts

ARVO 2025

Multimodal imaging and biochemical analysis of long-term corneal response to topical acrolein exposure

Lin J, Lu Z, Chan A, Chea M, Shi S, Xia F, Luisi J, Szczesny B, Merkley KH, Ameredes BT, Gupta P, Zhang W, Liu H, Motamedi M.

Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, ARVO, 2025. Abstract no. B0160.

Link to abstract →

OSHWA 2024

Eurus: Emergency Use ResUscitator System

Lin J, Luisi J, Escudero J, Benavidez M, Salisbury R, Patel S, Enkhbaatar P, Rojas J, Zahner C, Chacin A.

Open Hardware Summit, Open Source Hardware Association (OSHWA), 2024.

Link to abstract →

SOT 2023

Exposure assessment of acrolein-induced corneal injury through non-invasive monitoring of biomarkers

Lin J, Luisi J, Karediya N, Chea M, Merkley KH, Ameredes BT, Gupta P, Liu H, Zhang W, Motamedi M.

Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting, 2023. Abstract no. 3142.

Link to abstract →

The 15th Annual CounterACT Research Network Symposium

Detection and quantification of image-based biomarkers for monitoring acrolein-induced ocular injury using optical coherence tomography

Lin J, Luisi J, Karediya N, Szczesny B, Merkley KH, Ameredes BT, Gupta P, Motamedi M.

The 15th Annual CounterACT Research Network Symposium, CounterACT, 2022.

Link to abstract →

SPIE 2022

Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) for the visualization and quantification of dose-dependent ocular toxicity

Lin J, Luisi J, Karediya N, Kraft E, Sharifi A, Schmitz-Brown M, Merkley K, Gupta P, Motamedi M.

Proceedings of the SPIE 11941, 2022. Abstract no. BO109-28.

Link to abstract →

SOT 2021

Assessment of corneal alkali injury in a murine model with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT)

Lin J, Luisi J, Kraft ER, Giannos SA, Schmitz-Brown ME, Motamedi M, Gupta P.

Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting, 2021. Abstract no. 2268.

Link to abstract →

SPIE 2021

Single-frame optical coherence tomography angiography for the quantification of corneal neovascularization in a mouse model

Lin J, Luisi J, Kraft ER, Giannos SA, Schmitz-Brown ME, Gupta P, Motamedi M.

Proceedings of the SPIE 11623, 2021. Abstract no. BO107-71.

Link to abstract →

SPIE 2018

Hyperspectral imaging with near-infrared-enabled mobile phones for tissue oximetry

Lin JL, Ghassemi P, Chen Y, Pfefer J.

Proceedings of the SPIE 10485, 2018. Abstract no. 10485-11.

Link to abstract →

Awards & Honors

Sep 2025

Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Medical Honor Society

UTMB School of Medicine — Top 20% of graduating class

June 2025

Harry B and Marie S Kelso Endowed Blocker Scholarship

University of Texas Medical Branch

June 2025

Minnie and Ward Savage Endowed Award Scholarship

University of Texas Medical Branch

Dec 2023

The George Palmer Saunders II Memorial Graduate Student Scholarship

University of Texas Medical Branch

Dec 2023

Edith and Robert Zinn Presidential Scholarship

University of Texas Medical Branch

Dec 2023

Travel Award in Memory of Christina Fleischmann

University of Texas Medical Branch

Aug 2023

Pharmacology and Toxicology Summer Research Symposium: Excellence Among Senior-Level Students

University of Texas Medical Branch

Mar 2023

I2 (Innovation and Impact) Award — Ocular Toxicology Specialty Section

Society of Toxicology (SOT), Sponsored by Biomere

Mar 2023

Covance-OSOD Graduate Student/Postdoctoral Fellow Research Award

Society of Toxicology, Ocular Toxicology Specialty Section

Jan 2023

Edith and Robert Zinn Presidential Scholarship

University of Texas Medical Branch

Aug 2022

Pharmacology and Toxicology Summer Research Symposium: Excellence in Rationale and Approach Award

University of Texas Medical Branch

Mar 2022

SOT Graduate Student Travel Award

Society of Toxicology

Jan 2022

SPIE Graduate Student Travel Award

Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers

Dec 2021

Blackstone Launchpad IDEA Competition Finalist — Consumer Products & Services

University of Texas Medical Branch

Mar 2021

Poster of the Year Award — Ocular Toxicology Specialty Section

Society of Toxicology

Dec 2020

Travel Award in Memory of Christina Fleischmann

University of Texas Medical Branch

2013–2017

President's Scholarship

University of Maryland

2013–2017

Dean's List

University of Maryland

2013–2017

Integrated Life Sciences Honors Program Scholar

University of Maryland at College Park

Jan 2017

ASPIRE Research Award

University of Maryland at College Park

Aug 2015

ASPIRE Research Award

University of Maryland at College Park

June 2014

Maryland Summer Scholars Award

University of Maryland at College Park

Contact

I welcome inquiries from residency programs, fellow researchers, and medical colleagues. Feel free to reach out through any of the channels below.