Rickson C. Mesquita
Associate Professor
School of Computer Science
University of Birmingham
About
I am an Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of Birmingham, UK. My research lies at the intersection of optical imaging, computational modelling, and network science, with a particular focus on using near-infrared light to study biological tissue non-invasively. I am particularly interested in combining optical and wearable sensors with computational methods for transforming optical signals into precise and accurate estimates of physiological meaningful quantities that inform about human physiology.
A central goal of my work is to advance optical techniques (including functional near-infrared spectroscopy, fNIRS, and speckle-based methods such as diffuse correlation spectroscopy, DCS) as robust tools for longitudinal assessment of brain health and plasticity. My research spans clinical neurophotonics, biophysical modelling, and the study of brain complexity and dynamics in health and disease, with a focus on brain injuries, neurodegenerative disorders, and mental health.
Research Interests
Diffuse Optics
I develop and apply near-infrared optical techniques to non-invasively study tissue physiology, with a focus on forward and inverse modelling to improve the accuracy and precision of quantitative measurements and support clinical translation.
Systems Neuroimaging
My work explores the brain’s functional connectivity and network dynamics using diffuse optics, with a particular interest in longitudinal measurements and plasticity, at the mesoscopic scale where systems neuroscience meets physiology.
AI & Signal Processing in Medicine
I use informed AI and spatiotemporal signal processing to extract physiologically meaningful parameters from optical and wearable data, enhance signal quality, and support prediction and monitoring of clinical and functional outcomes.
STEM Education
My teaching draws from and feeds into my research, and includes developing and evaluating STEM learning approaches informed by cognitive neuroscience and data-driven educational analytics.
Latest Publications
J. Cao, S. Montero-Hernandez, R. C. Mesquita, A. T. Eggebrecht, H. Dehghani (2025). NIRFASTerFF: an accessible, cross-platform Python package for fast photon modelling. J. Biomedical Optics [link]
M. C. Lindino, L. F. Bortoletto, B. S. de Lima, A. Soriano-Vargas, R. C. Mesquita, A. Rocha (2025). Distinguishing stressor, stress, and state-anxiety: semantic and physiological insights with machine learning approaches. IEEE Sensors Journal [link]
M. A. Yücel, R. Luke, R. C. Mesquita, A. von Lühmann et al. (2025). fNIRS reproducibility varies with data quality, analysis pipelines, and researcher experience. Communications Biology [link]
G. G. Martins, R. M. Forti, R. C. Mesquita (2025). Influence of tissue curvature on the absolute quantification in frequency-domain diffuse optical spectroscopy. Spectroscopy Journal [link]
V. Sánchez, L F. Bortoletto, C. G. Mazala, A. Quiroga, S. Novi, R. C. Mesquita (2025). Disrupted functional connectivity in carotid artery stenosis patients: insights from fNIRS during a vasoreactivity test. Brain Organoid and Systems Neuroscience Journal [link]
Noteworthy Publications
M. A. Yücel, R. Luke, R. C. Mesquita, A. von Lühmann et al. (2025). fNIRS reproducibility varies with data quality, analysis pipelines, and researcher experience. Communications Biology [link]
K. Kazazian, A. Abdalmalak, S. L. Novi, L. Norton, R. Moulavi-Ardakani, M. Kolisnyk, T. E. Gofton, R. C. Mesquita, A. M. Owen, D. B. Debicki (2024). Functional near-infrared spectroscopy: a novel tool for detecting consciousness after acute severe brain injury. PNAS [link]
H. Ayaz et al. (2022). Optical imaging and spectroscopy for the study of the human brain: status report. Neurophotonics [link]
W. B. Baker et al. (2017). Noninvasive optical monitoring of critical closing pressure and arteriole compliance in human subjects. J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. [link]
S. L. Novi, R. B. M. L. Rodrigues, R. C. Mesquita (2016). Resting state connectivity patterns with near-infrared spectroscopy data of the whole head. Biomed. Opt. Express [link]
C. G. Favilla, R. C. Mesquita, M. Mullen et al. (2014). Optical bedside monitoring of cerebral blood flow in acute ischemic stroke patients during head-of-bed manipulation. Stroke [link]
R. C. Mesquita, A. D’Souza, T. V. Bilfinger et al. (2013). Optical monitoring and detection of spinal cord ischemia. PLOS One [link]
R. C. Mesquita, T. Durduran, G. Yu, . M. Buckley, M. N. Kim, C. Zhou, R. Choe, U. Sunar, A. G. Yodh (2011). Direct measurement of tissue blood flow and metabolism with diffuse optics. Phil. Trans. Royal Soc. A [link]
R. C. Mesquita, A. G. Yodh (2011). Diffuse Optics: fundamentals and tissue applications. Proceedings of the International School of Physics “Enrico Fermi” [link]
R. C. Mesquita, M. A. Franceschini, D. A. Boas (2010). Resting state functional connectivity of the whole head with near-infrared spectroscopy. Biomed. Opt. Express [link]
R. C. Mesquita, T. J. Huppert, D. A. Boas (2009). Exploring neuro-vascular and neuro-metabolic coupling in rat somatosensory cortex. Phys. Med. Biol. [link]
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Contacts
Address
Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK B15 2TT