Current Members
Principal Investigator
Jonathan Viventi
Dr. Viventi’s research uses flexible electronics to create new technology for interfacing with the brain at high resolution over large areas. These new tools can help diagnose and treat neurological disorders such as epilepsy, and help improve the performance of brain machine interfaces.
Research Scientists
Postdoctoral Fellows
Michael Trumpis
I am an electrical engineer by training, with a fondness for timeseries analysis, inverse problems, machine learning, and open source science software. As a student of timeseries, I stumbled into electrophysiology over a decade ago and have never yet gotten over the wonder of the brain's... More
PhD Students
Katrina Barth
During my undergraduate at Wake Forest University, I conducted research on organic materials for use in thin-film transistors. This work introduced me to the many applications of flexible electronics, and I became especially fascinated by their use in brain interfaces. While I have yet to find... More
Brinnae Bent
My passion for neural engineering stems from the caregiving roles I held at an Alzheimer’s nursing home and with Cerebral Palsy of Mideast Wisconsin. In my current role in the Viventi Lab, I am working towards advancing our understanding of the brain and neurological disorders through the... More
Suseendrakumar Duraivel
Being trained in electrical engineering, I got interested in neuroscience when I had an opportunity to attend deep brain stimulation surgeries at the University of Michigan. Further, examining neural signals in Parkinson patients for DBS targeting has motivated me to pursue my Ph.D... More
Mackenna Hill
I have always been interested in how the brain functions. I became involved with the brain in a research setting at the University of Michigan Depression and Anxiety clinic where I worked to develop a computer training to help treat Social Anxiety Disorder and PTSD. Although I have yet to find... More
Kay Palopoli
My current work in the lab focuses on safe and effective stimulation of the brain through minimally invasive µECOG arrays. Previously, I evaluated the long term reliability of many of these arrays, manufactured through varying methods with different materials. I also test and... More
Iakov Rachinskiy
Having both great interest in the human nervous system and in designing solutions within the medical field, I found neural engineering as a great opportunity to combine my passions. Flexible Electronics and Brain Interfaces combine disciplines like electronics, materials, neuroscience and signal... More
Gabriella Shull
I am currently exploring creating high bandwidth, novel neural interfaces in the Viventi lab. I started my career as an undergraduate researcher in an organ-in-a-chips lab modeling the small intestine to characterize drug toxicity. During my undergraduate studies I also worked in an inorganic... More
Ashley Williams
My work focuses on designing novel electrode geometries and increasing the spatial density of electrode contacts of our flexible µECoG electrodes to obtain higher spatial resolution of brain activity. I am also exploring the use of materials such as Liquid Crystal Polymer and... More
Undergraduates
Claire Dong
As a sophomore in ECE, I am interested in electrophysiology and the applications of electrical engineering in medicine. In the lab, I am currently working on fabricating μECoG electrode arrays for implantation and neural recording in rats, as well as evaluating the long-term reliability of these... More
McKenzy Heavlin
Working through the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Mentorship program, I am able to assist Viventi Labs while I expand my knowledge of the biomedical engineering field. My knowledge and experience in biomedical engineering is small but expanding rapidly; something that, I hope... More
Emily Ray
I am a sophomore studying Biomedical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis joining the Viventi Lab for the summer. After working in libraries in rural Zambia, my focus within engineering shifted to providing accessible medical devices to power the developing world. I am particularly... More
Alonso Trejo-Mora
Piqued by the evolving field of electrode development, I seek to apply my Electrical and Computer Engineering background to the improvement of electrode array development and analysis. I have begun submitting batches of electrodes to Long Term Reliability testing and learning fabrication methods... More
Megan Wong
I am a senior studying Biomedical Engineering with a concentration in bioelectricity. I am particularly interested in electrophysiology, so I enjoy pursuing investigations related to the cardiovascular system, nervous system, and the interface of electronics with the human body. In the Viventi... More