Current Lab Members

Principal Investigator

Prof. Cynthia Chestek

Full Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Robotics, Electrical Engineering and Neurosurgery

Associate Chair for Research in Biomedical Engineering

Miller Faculty Scholar

B.S./M.S.: Case Western Reserve University
Ph.D.: Stanford University

Email Policy

Staff

Eric Kennedy

Lab Manager, Senior Animal Technician

B.S.: Grand Valley State University
M.S.: Michigan State University

Fears: Unskippable YouTube ads, losing video games to “children”, forgetting to remove website admin privileges for Dr. Paras Patel

Super Smash Bros Main: Zelda

David Lemmerhirt, Ph.D.

Program Manager for Electronic Biomedical Devices

B.S.: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
M.S./Ph.D.: University of Michigan

Fears: wasps, spiders, wearing a shirt without a collar.

Research Fellows

Alex Vaskov, Ph.D.

B.S.: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M.S./Ph.D.: University of Michigan

Projects: Cortical BMI, Dexterous Finger Control, Peripheral Nerve Control

Jordan Lam

MBBS, B.Sc.: University College London, United Kingdom

Projects: carbon-fiber electrode arrays for single-unit recording in the cerebral cortex, spinal cord and peripheral nerves.

Fears: toilet brushes, chasing wild geese, betrayal

Ayobami Ward

B.S.: Johns Hopkins University
M.D.: Medical College of Georgia

Projects: Cortical BMI, Peripheral Nerve Implants for Dexterous Finger Control, Neural Coding, Neuropixels

Fears: Eating chicken wings in front of others, improper attire, daytime

Joe Letner, Ph.D.

Ph.D.: University of Michigan

Projects:

Luis Cubillos, Ph.D.

Ph.D.: University of Michigan

Projects: EMG prosthetic control, RPNI, explainable deep learning

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Majid Aalizadeh, Ph.D.

B.S.: University of Tabriz, Iran
M.S.: Bilkent University, Turkey
Ph.D.: University of Michigan

Projects: Automated carbon fiber electrode assembly, carbon fiber and mote encapsulation and longevity test

Fears: Cooked onions in food

Graduate Students

Dylan Wallace

B.S.E.: University of Nevada, Las Vegas

M.S.: University of Michigan

Projects: Error detection in Cortical BMI, Peripheral Nerve Interfaces, Prosthetic Control, Implantable Recording Modules

Fears: Gas station hot dogs

Super Smash Bros Main: Pyra/Mythra

Hisham Temmar

B.S.: Georgia Institute of Technology

Projects: Cortical BMI, Dexterous Finger Control, Neural Coding

Fears: Having a stable routine, leprechauns

Super Smash Bros Main: Piranha Plant

Madison Kelberman

B.S.: University of Florida

Projects: Invertebrate Neural Recording

Fears: Zero calorie pasta noodles, making lists

Super Smash Bros Main: Kirby

Olivia Lee

B.S.: University of Michigan

Projects: Dexterous Finger Control and Implantable Recording Modules

Fears: Skim milk

Super Smash Bros Main: Wii Fit Trainer

Miranda Copenhaver

B.S.: Washington University in St. Louis

Projects: Carbon Fibers

Fears: Anything that can’t be color-coded, disproportionate
chip-to-dip ratios, and the Creature that lays the red orbs
outside of target

Jake Joseph

B.A: Washington University in St. Louis

Projects: Dexterous Finger Control, Neurostimulation Optimization

Fears: uncoordinated potlucks, folded book pages, loose rocks

Super Smash Bros Main: Minecraft Steve