Principal Investigator:
Aviad Hai, PhD
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Also: Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering
& Grainger Institute for Engineering
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Engineering Centers Building
1550 Engineering Dr
Madison, WI 53706
PhD Student: Jack Phillips, BME (BSc: UChicago)
Jack is using electrophysiological and
computational methods to develop tetherless
neural sensors. They are interested in every step
of developing new types of brain machine
interfaces: from fabrication to neurobiological
validation and eventual clinical use.
PhD Student: Suyash Bhatt, ECE (BSc: Carnegie Melon)
Suyash is focused on developing new technologies
for wireless sensing of brain activity. His work
revolves around combining resonators with
ion-sensitive field effect transistors and
their subsequent validation from fabrication
to clinical use.
PhD Student, lab manager: Ilhan Bok, ECE (BSc: UW-Madison)
Ilhan is interested in developing methods
for recording and stimulating brain activity
using tools such as injectable sensors and nanoparticles.
He is involved in all aspects of the process
from simulation to fabrication, construction
and experimental validation.
PhD student: Jamie Sergay, BME
Jamie is focused on multiplexed electrophysiological
characterization of 2D and 3D neuronal models using
microelectrode arrays in parallel with novel
fluorescent probes. Her research interests revolve
around the mechanical and electrical characteristics
of neurons impacted from mild traumatic brain
injuries. Jamie is jointly advised by Christian Franck
at the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
PhD student: Adam Vareberg, BME (BSc: Harvard BioE/EE '19)
Adam is working on adapting new devices and
computational methods to decipher brain networks
based on low-temporal resolution measurements
relevant to MRI. He is interested in providing
new tools and techniques to mitigate the trade-off
between resolution and invasiveness in neuroscience.
PhD student: Emily Blick, BME (BSc: University of Maryland)
Emily is interested in studying secondary
injury processes and neuroinflammation following
traumatic brain injury (TBI)—by correlating neural
signaling dynamics with inflammatory biomarkers.
She is especially interested in the long-term impacts
of mild TBI and its link to the onset of a variety
of neurodegenerative disorders.
PhD student: Xiaoxuan Ren, ECE
Xiaoxuan is working on computational models
of neural networks by combining both spontaneous
and evoked neuronal activity to decode brain
connectivity.
PhD student: TShawn Zhu, ECE
TShawn is working on novel nanofabricated resonators
and optimized code for high speed vector network
analyzer to pick up neural sensor frequency
responses wirelessly. He is interested in the
practical use of neurobiology and neuroengineering.
PhD student: Ido Haber, BME (Bsc: neurobiology & psychology, UW Madison
Ido is interested in the neural correlates of
consciousness, altered SoC, and electrophysiology.
Ido aims to use novel noninvasive modalities for
conducting basic research and clinical studies.
While working at Hai’s lab in the biomedical
engineering department, he gained technical
experience working with in vitro neural cultures,
micro-electrode arrays, calcium imaging, and
protein labeling. Ido is co-advised by
Dr. Giuglio Tononi.
PhD student: Arvin Chen, BME
Arvin focuses on using multiple techniques, including
advanced neuroimaging, for the timely detection and
mitigation of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by
different insults. He is interested in exploring
neuroscience and neuroengineering from a mechanical
perspective and providing innovative insights for
clinical treatments.
Undergraduate Researcher: Lydia Malen, Computer Engineering and CS'26
Lydia is working on developing 3D printed
radio frequency coils for wireless MRI applications.
She is interested in the applications of
computer hardware and software for the
biomedical engineering field.
Undergraduate Researcher: Maya Nornberg, BME '26
Maya is focused on studying the effects of psychedelics
on neuronal plasticity using multiplexed
electrophysiological tools such as microelectrode arrays
and large scale calcium imaging. She is interested
in biomedical engineering as a means to develop
reatments for neurological conditions
