Nina Thigpen

Senior Research Scientist at Oura

Nina Thigpen, PhD, is a prominent figure in the field of wearable technology and machine learning, currently serving as a Lead Machine Learning Data Scientist at Oura. She specializes in developing advanced computational solutions for the Oura Ring, focusing on health tracking through the integration of various physiological data such as temperature, heart rate, and actigraphy.2 4

Educational Background

PhD in Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience: University of Florida
Master's in Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience: University of Florida
Bachelor's in Psychology, Neuroscience, & Statistics: University of North Carolina Wilmington

Professional Experience

Oura (2020 - Present): Initially joined as a Senior Research Data Scientist and advanced to Lead Machine Learning Data Scientist. Here, she has been instrumental in developing algorithms that enhance the accuracy and personalization of health tracking.
Verily Life Sciences and X (Google's moonshot factory): Before her tenure at Oura, she led projects focused on wearable algorithms aimed at forecasting healthcare outcomes.2 4 3
Postdoctoral Fellow: Worked under Dr. Sarah Laszlo at Google X, where she researched computational methodologies for analyzing complex multi-dimensional time-series data relevant to healthcare applications.3 4

Research Contributions

Nina has authored several influential papers and holds patents related to machine learning applications in healthcare. Her research interests encompass areas like neural oscillations, emotional perception, and the use of EEG data for understanding cognitive processes.1 3

Current Role

In her current role at Oura, Nina leads efforts to create state-of-the-art algorithms that leverage longitudinal data from the Oura Ring to provide users with actionable health insights. Her work is pivotal in making health tracking more interpretable and personalized for users across diverse backgrounds.2 4