I am an Assistant Professor at UC Santa Barbara, where I direct the Geometric Intelligence Lab and co-direct the REAL AI for Science Initiative and the AI Core of the Bowers Women’s Brain Health Initiative.

My research sits at the intersection of mathematics, artificial intelligence, and neuroscience. In my lab, we study the geometry of intelligence: the mathematical rules that govern how brains and machines organize, transform, and adapt information to make sense of the world. Using these rules, I design next-generation AI that succeeds where most models fail—delivering up to +66% higher accuracy or the same accuracy with 10× faster models—even when datasets are small, noisy, or complex (e.g., networks, and 3D shapes).

At REAL AI for Science, I use my AI models to build digital twins of the brain—integrating imaging, cognition, and molecular data to forecast brain health, detect disease early, and support personalized care. With the Bowers Women’s Brain Health Initiative, I focus on women’s brains, building digital twins across pregnancy, menopause, and aging—to close long-standing gaps in women’s health research.

Breakthroughs from my research are regularly featured in the media. I am often quoted as an expert on AI for Science, with my perspectives featured in leading media outlets as part of my role as a Public Voice Fellow with the OpEd Project (mission: changing who writes history).

My work has been recognized by the Hellman Fellowship, the NSF CAREER, the UC Regent’s Junior Faculty Award, and the L’Oréal-Unesco Award for Women in Science.

Find me on: Github, LinkedIn, Twitter: @ninamiolane, Bluesky: @ninamiolane.bsky.social, Google Scholar, ORCID.

Contact: ninamiolane at ucsb.edu.