Milad Soltanzadeh is a Work-study student in the Cinema Iranica project. He is pursuing his Ph.D. in computational neuroscience at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Medical Science. His research includes developing large-scale models of brain activity and connectivity to understand the underlying mechanisms of schizophrenia and depression. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Tehran in Iran and Concordia University in Canada. Milad is mainly interested in understanding human cognition and its link to the brain. Outside academia, he is interested in philosophy and writing.
“Since September 2023, I have been a work-study student at the Elahé Omidyar Mir-Djalali Institute of Iranian Studies. My main responsibility has involved participating in the team that works on the Cinema Iranica Encyclopedia Compendium, along with contributing to archival research. Working at the Institute has been a thrilling experience, especially being part of a collaborative team. I am particularly proud of my role in researching historical elements of Iranian cinema under the guidance of supportive supervisors. My time at the Institute has been immensely beneficial, allowing me to hone vital skills such as research and teamwork. Overall, the Institute is a crucial hub for learning and community.”