About Me
I am a PhD candidate at the City University of Hong Kong Department of Data Science conducting research in digital health and aging epidemiology. I am supervised by Dr. Xinyue Li and funded by the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS).
I am actively looking for postdoctoral research positions (expected graduation: July 2025)!
Education
🎓 PhD in Data Science, 2025 (Expected)
The City University of Hong Kong
🎓 MSc in Health Data Science, 2021
University of New South Wales (UNSW)
🎓 BA in Statistics and Mathematics, 2019
The State University of New York at Buffalo (UB)
Research Interests
Digital health (wearable device data analysis)
Aging epidemiology
Physical activity
Sleep
Applied functional data analysis
Applied machine learning
Selected Publications
Sakal, C., Li, T., Li, J. et al. Predicting poor performance on cognitive tests among older adults using wearable device data and machine learning: a feasibility study. npj Aging 10, 56 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41514-024-00177-x
Sakal, C., Zhao, W., Xu, W. et al. Effects of caffeine on accelerometer measured sleep and physical activity among older adults under free-living conditions. BMC Public Health 24, 3299 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20115-6
Sakal C, Li T, Li J, Yang C, Li X. Association Between Sleep Efficiency Variability and Cognition Among Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Accelerometer Study. JMIR Aging 2024;7:e54353. doi: 10.2196/54353
Sakal C, Li T, Li J, Li X. Identifying Predictive Risk Factors for Future Cognitive Impairment Among Chinese Older Adults: Longitudinal Prediction Study. JMIR Aging 2024;7:e53240, doi: 10.2196/53240
Collin Sakal, Juan Li, Yu-Tao Xiang, Xinyue Li. Development and validation of the Chinese Geriatric Depression Risk calculator (CGD-risk): A screening tool to identify elderly Chinese with depression, Journal of Affective Disorders, Volume 319, 2022, Pages 428-436, ISSN 0165-0327, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.09.034.
Awards
Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme Award
— Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, Apr 2021
Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies Entrance Scholarship
— City University of Hong Kong, Apr 2021
International Academic Excellence Award
— University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sep 2019
Summa Cum Laude
— The State University of New York at Buffalo (UB), Jun 2019
Excellent Scientific Presentation Award.
— Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Aug 2018
Elevator Talk Award.
— Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Aug 2018
Teaching Assistant Experience
Semester A 2024/25 - Python for Data Science (SDSC 2001), City University of Hong Kong
Semester B 2023/24 - Statistical Methods and Data Analysis (SDSC 2102), City University of Hong Kong
Semester A 2023/24 - Python for Data Science (SDSC 2001), City University of Hong Kong
Semester B 2022/23 - Data Visualization (SDSC 2004), City University of Hong Kong
Semester A 2022/23 - Python for Data Science (SDSC 2001), City University of Hong Kong
Spring 2018/2019 - Mathematical Analysis for Management (MTH 131), The University at Buffalo
Spring 2018/2019 - Linear Algebra (MTH 309), The University at Buffalo (Grader)
Spring 2018/2019 - Multivariable Calculus (MTH 241), The University at Buffalo (Grader)
Reviewer Experience
Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR)
JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
JMIR mHealth and uHealth
Scientific Reports
BMC Public Health
BMC Geriatrics
Annals of General Psychiatry
JMIR Aging
JMIR Medical Informatics
JMIR Formative Research
JMIR Research Protocols
Online Journal of Public Health Informatics
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research