Principal Investigator

Daniel L. Gonzales, PhD

(he/him)

Assistant Professor

Department of Biomedical Engineering

Vanderbilt Brain Institute

PhD, Applied Physics, Rice University

BS, Physics, Angelo State University

Fun facts:

  • I’m probably more well-known for BBQ and tweets than science

  • I once told a friend about the “really smart dude” I talked to at a poster session. Turns out that smart dude was a Nobel laureate

Graduate Students

Grace Adams

(she/her)

PhD Student

Department of Biomedical Engineering

BS, Biomedical Engineering, Bucknell University (2023)

Project: I'm interested in developing brain computer interfaces to study the neural circuits underlying their control and inform the design of neuroprosthetic devices

Fun facts:

  • My favorite winter activity is nordic skiing

  • I climbed the tallest mountain in Ireland (and it wasn't even that tall)

Hailey Edelman

(she/her)

PhD Student

Department of Biomedical Engineering

BS Intensive, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University (2024)

Project: I am interested in investigating how neural circuits from different brain regions contribute to the learning process of brain-computer interface controlling cells.

Fun facts:

  • I almost starred in the 2016 Ghostbusters movie

  • I had to be rescued by ski patrol while snowboarding in Utah due to an avalanche

Daniel Woods

(He/him)

PhD Student

Department of Biomedical Engineering

(Co-advised with the Constantinidis Lab)

BS, Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee Knoxville (2022)

MS, Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee Knoxville (2023)

Project: I’m developing transparent, flexible electrodes for chronic recordings and optogenetic stimulation in non-human primates

Fun facts:

  • Aspiring stained glass artist

  • I always enjoy a good run, walk, or skip

Research Technicians

Camila Romero

(she/her)

Research Technician

Department of Biomedical Engineering

BS, Neuroscience, West Virginia University (2023)

Project: I am interested in the plasticity of the brain and the development of neural interfaces to study the neural mechanisms of learning.

Fun facts:

  • I have a lot of cultural roots! I was born in Chile, my parents are Colombian, and my childhood was spent in Mexico.

  • I have done neuroscience research and fieldwork on rove beetles

Undergraduate Students

Jenna Jang

(she/her)

Undergraduate Researcher

BS, Neuroscience, Vanderbilt University, 2026 (expected)

Project: I am currently researching predictive coding in the context of artificial brain-computer interfaces.

Fun facts:

  • I get cold really easily and like to keep my room at 78 degrees all year round

  • I love to drink/eat anything with matcha in it

Maxwell Sharp

(he/him)

Undergraduate Researcher

BS, Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, 2025 (expected)

Project: I'm designing a low-cost beveler device to sharpen the tips of glass micropipettes used for surgical probe insertion.

Fun facts:

  • I auditioned for Kidz Bop when I was 6

This could be you!

We’re hiring PhD students and postdocs with starts dates in 2024 and beyond. Find more details on the Opportunities page.

Project: I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot.

Fun facts:

  • I am Groot

Alumni

2024, Runda Li, Duke University

2024, Thaissa Peixoto, Johns Hopkins Unviversity