Theoden Netoff
Principal Investigator
Education
- BS Psychology - University of California - Berkley - 1994
- PhD Neuroscience - George Washington University - 2001
- Postdoctoral Fellow - Boston University - 2001-2006
Research Interests
Hafsa Farooqi
Staff Scientist
Education
- BS Mechatronics Engineering - International Islamic University, Malaysia
- MS in Automation and Control Engineering - Politecnico di Milano
- PhD in Information Technology - Politecnico di Milano
Bio
Projects
- Validation of LSCI for Genital Hemodynamics
- Neural Correlates of Arousal in SCI
- Neuromodulation and Arousal Synchrony
Elizabeth Bottorff
Postdoctoral Fellow
Education
- BS in Bioengineering - University of Pittsburgh - 2018
- PhD in Biomedical Engineering - University of Michigan - 2023
Bio
Projects
- Validation of LSCI for Genital Hemodynamics
- Neural Correlates of Arousal in SCI
- Neuromodulation and Arousal Synchrony
Zach Sanger
PhD Student
Education
- BS in Electrical Engineer - North Dakota State University - 2019
- MS in Biomedical Engineering - University of Minnesota - 2021
- PhD in Biomedical Engineering - University of Minnesota - In Progress
Research Interests
- Closed loop stimulation parameter optimization algorithms, closed loop dynamic controls system state estimation algorithms, and novel neuromodulation therapy design and development
Current Project
- Seizure suppression through stimulation parameter estimation algorithms
- Real time parameter optimization and state modeling system development
- Micromagnetic coil novel stimulation therapy in vivo testing
Kate Dembny
MD/PhD Candidate
Education
- BS in Neuroscience - University of Texas - Austin - 2017
- BA in Women's and Gender Studies - University of Texas - Austin - 2017
- MD/PhD in Biomedical Engineering - University of Minnesota - In Progress
Co-Advisor
- Alex Herman, MD, PhD & David Darrow, MD - LAB
Bio
Kate is a dual-degree MD/PhD student working on her PhD in Biomedical Engineering. She is co-advised by the Herman-Darrow Lab and collaborates with UMN’s Udall Center of Excellence in Parkinson’s Disease Research. Her PhD project is focused on understanding the electrophysiology and network interactions that underlie changes to working memory function in patients with Parkinson’s Disease, and how this is altered by Deep Brain Stimulation. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2017 with a B.S. in Neuroscience and a B.A. in Women’s and Gender Studies before completing three years of post-baccalaureate research at the National Institutes of Health. Kate’s long term goals include practicing as a neurologist or psychiatrist and working on research to develop neuromodulatory therapies for medically refractory patients. In her free time she likes to ice skate, hike, and spend time with her spouse and her two cats.
Projects
- Validation of network connectivity metrics
- DBS Parameter Optimization
- Intracranial electrophysiology and network connectivity in working memory function
- Physiology and network changes induced by Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson’s Disease
Spencer Eiting
PhD Candidate
Education
- BS in Biomedical Engineering - University of Utah - 2022
- PhD in Biomedical Engineering - University of Minnesota - In Progress
Co-Advisor
- Alik Widge, MD, PhD
Bio
Spencer Eiting is a PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering co-advised by Dr. Tay Netoff and Dr. Alik Widge, in collaboration with the Interventional Psychiatry Research Lab. His research interests include stimulation parameter optimization, biomarker discovery, and invasive neuromodulation for psychiatric conditions including treatment-resistant depression and obsessive compulsive disorder. Outside of research, Spencer enjoys skiing, hiking, offroading, camping, and visiting with friends and family.
Projects
- Stimulation optimization in cortical stimulation for treatment-resistant depression
- Biomarker discovery using EEG in psychiatric conditions
- Investigating mechanisms of cognitive control in the context of psychiatric disorders
Emily Haag
PhD Candidate
Education
- BS Biomedical Engineering (Biomechanics) - Marquette University - 2022
- PhD Biomedical Engineering - University of Minnesota - In Progress
Co-Advisor
- David Darrow, MD
Bio
Emily is a Biomedical Engineering PhD student in the Neural Netoff Lab, and collaborates with the Restorative Neurotrauma Lab team at Hennepin Health Research Institute on the Epidural STimulation After Neurologic Damage (ESTAND) clinical trial. She earned her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Marquette University with a major in Biomechanics and a concentration in Innovation Leadership. Her research interests are rooted in her mission to improve quality of life for individuals living with spinal cord injury. These include neuromodulation, neurorehabilitation, and patient-centered solutions.
Projects
- Quantifying restored leg movement after spinal cord injury using sEMG, video capture
- Optimizing selection of effective epidural spinal cord stimulator electrode configurations
- Assessing outcomes of ESTAND clinical trial by viewing spinal cord injury as a whole-body condition
- Quantitatively assessing priorities of the spinal cord injury community to maximize research impact
Jack (Xinbing) Zhang
PhD Student
Education
BS in Computer Science - The Pennsylvania State University - 2023
BS in Psychology - The Pennsylvania State University - 2023
PhD in Biomedical Engineering - University of Minnesota - In progress
Bio
Jack is a Biomedical Engineering PhD student in the NeuralNetoff Lab. He earned his B.S. degrees in Computer Science and Psychology with a focus on quantitative methods from the Pennsylvania State University. His research focuses on deep brain stimulation optimization for Epilepsy and seizure forecasting using long-term cycles in neural activity. Jack enjoys cooking, snowboarding, and spending time with his partner, Corgi, and two cats.
Projects
- Deep brain stimulation parameter optimization
- Seizure forecasting in refractory epilepsy
Brandon Hoang
PhD Student
Education
- BS in Neuroscience - University of California Riverside - 2023
- PhD in Neuroscience - University of Minnesota - In Progress
Co-Advisor
- Esther Krook Magnuson, PhD
Bio
Brandon Hoang joined the NeuralNetoff Lab in 2024 as a doctoral student in the Graduate Program in Neuroscience. He completed his B.S. in Neuroscience with a minor in Computer Science at the University of California, Riverside. During his undergraduate studies, Brandon worked with Dr. Michael Adams, Dr. Heyrim Cho, and Dr. Viji Santhakumar. His research interests include neural activity decoding, predictive modeling of neural signals, neuromodulation techniques, epilepsy research and treatment, and brain circuit physiology. In addition to his academic pursuits, Brandon enjoys weightlifting, writing, reading, and video games.
Projects
- Seizure risk assessment using predictive models and electrically evoked responses
- Optimization of Cerebellar electrical neuromodulation to reduce seizure risk or frequency
Kenna McRae
PhD Student
Education
- BS in Physics, BA in Global Health - Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University - 2021
- MA in Bioethics and Science Policy - Duke University - 2022
- MS in Bioengineering - Stanford University - 2024
- PhD in Biomedical Engineering - In Progress
Bio
Kenna is a Biomedical Engineering PhD student in the Netoff Lab. She’s interested in all things STEM and humanities, with undergraduate degrees in Physics and Global Health and master's degrees in Bioethics + Science Policy and Bioengineering. Outside of academics, she's an outdoors lover and is passionate about applying ethics and science policy to health equity and sustainability.
Projects
- Using machine learning methods to analyze features of electrographic and non-electrographic seizures
Jordan VanArsdale
PhD Student
Education
BS in Biomedical Engineering - Purdue University - 2024
PhD in Biomedical Engineering - University of Minnesota - In Progress
Bio
Jordan completed his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Psychology at Purdue University. During his undergraduate studies, he worked with Dr. Krishna Jayant studying motor action in Parkinsonian mice models. His research interests include deep brain stimulation, neuromodulation for motor restoration, and cognitive deficits in Parkinson’s Disease. In his free time, Jordan enjoys hiking, skiing, board games, and video games.
Projects
- Evaluating and treating cognitive deficits in Parkinson’s Disease using deep brain stimulation (Non-human Primates)
- Spatial optimization of deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s Disease