We are a group of applied mathematicians and neuroscientists whose aim is to understand how the fine-scale dynamics of neural populations translates to perception and cognition.
Lyle Muller
Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics
Brain and Mind Institute
Western University
Lyle Muller's research spans neuroscience, computational modeling, and applied mathematics. His work centers on developing new approaches to large-scale recordings of neural population dynamics in cortex. After studying computational neuroscience at Brown University, Lyle completed a PhD in computational/theoretical neuroscience with Alain Destexhe (CNRS Gif-sur-Yvette). He then moved to San Diego for postdoctoral research with Terry Sejnowski in the Computational Neurobiology Laboratory (CNL) at the Salk Institute.
Ján Mináč
Collaborator
Professor, Department of Mathematics
Western University
Ján Mináč is a Fellow of the Canadian Mathematical Society and was awarded the 2013 Canadian Mathematical Society Excellence in Teaching Award. Dr. Mináč is an expert in Galois theory, exploring the links between field theory and group theory and examining fundamental notions of symmetry in nature. In collaboration with Dr. Muller, Dr. Mináč is applying and developing techniques in discrete mathematics to understand networked systems in neuroscience.
Maryam H. Mofrad
Postdoctoral Scholar [co-supervised with Ana Suller Marti]
Department of Mathematics
Brain and Mind Institute
Western University
Maryam is a postdoctoral scholar at Western's Brain and Mind Institute. Her research interests include mathematical modeling and optimization, sequential decision making, data analytics, and machine learning. She received her PhD in operations research from University of Pittsburgh with a focus on decision making under uncertainty and its application in medical decision making. Prior to joining computational neuroscience, she worked as a quantitative modeler and data scientist in the financial sector.
Roberto C. Budzinski
Postdoctoral Scholar [co-supervised with Ján Mináč and Seyed Mirsattari]
Department of Mathematics
Brain and Mind Institute
Western University
Roberto is a postdoctoral scholar at the Department of Mathematics and Brain and Mind Institute. His research interests consist of computational neuroscience, nonlinear dynamics applied to neuroscience, and systems neuroscience. Roberto has a Ph.D. in Physics from Federal University of Paraná (Brazil) with research related to the synchronization of neural systems. He currently works on persistent neural activity and working memory, focusing on computational analysis and network mechanisms.
Tung T. Nguyen
Postdoctoral Scholar [co-supervised with Ján Mináč]
Department of Mathematics
Western University
Tung is a number theorist by training, having studied heights of motives and special values of zeta functions during graduate work. His present research interests include Galois modules, spectral graph theory, dynamical systems, and computational neuroscience. Tung has a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Chicago. He currently works on developing new mathematical approaches to study networks of nonlinear oscillators and graph spectra.
Gabriel Benigno
Doctoral Student
Department of Mathematics
Western University
Gabriel completed his Bachelor of Science with specialized honors in Biophysics at York University and his Master of Science in Medical Biophysics at Western. His Master's thesis is on a novel artifact removal technique for EEG acquired in the presence of fMRI that uses the discrete spectrum of the Schrödinger operator. Gabriel's research interests include the use of signal processing, nonlinear dynamics, and machine learning to answer neuroscientific questions.
Aishwarya Pathak
Doctoral Student
Neuroscience Program
Western University
Aishwarya completed her Bachelor of Science with specialization in Zoology from Pune University and her Master of Science in Neuroscience from University College London (UCL). Her prior research has focused on using neuroimaging techniques and bioinformatics data analysis to explore the link between brain aging, obesity and Alzheimer's Disease. Aishwarya's research in the lab aims to use signal processing, computational modeling, and neuroimaging to study neural dynamics during sleep, development, and age-related neurodegeneration.
Esther Yartey
Doctoral Student [co-supervised with Ján Mináč]
Department of Mathematics
Western University
Esther completed her Bachelor of Science with a major in Mathematics at University of Ghana, a Master's degree in Mathematical Sciences at African Institute for Mathematical Sciences-Cameroon, and her Master of Science in Computational Sciences at Laurentian University. She is using her expertise in computational science, graph theory, matrix computations, and high-performance computing to find new, innovative computational techniques and mathematical models for structure in brain networks.
Priya Bucha Jain
Doctoral Student [co-supervised with Ján Mináč]
Department of Mathematics
Western University
Priya completed her Integrated Master of Science in Mathematics at Tezpur University with a gold medal and her Master of Science in Mathematics at the University of Western Ontario. Her research interests include Network Theory, study of Motifs, and Spectral Graph Theory and wishes to apply these and her experience in Pure Mathematics in the study of Neural Systems.
Mohamad Ali Kesserwan
Doctoral Student
Neuroscience Program
Western University
Mohamad completed his Bachelor of Science with specialization in Human Biology from the University of Toronto. He then completed his Doctor of Medicine at McMaster Univerity, where he is currently completing his residency in Neurosurgery. Through McMaster's Clinician Investigator Program, Mohamad was able to join our lab to pursue a doctorate in computational neuroscience. Mohamad is particularly interested in advancing brain-machine interfaces to empower patients with neurological disabilities
Jacqueline Đoàn
Master's Student [co-supervised with Ján Mináč]
Department of Mathematics
Western University
Jacqueline is an undergraduate student pursuing an Honours Specialization in Mathematical and Statistical Sciences at Western. Her research interests are in network theory, random graph theory, and their application to neural networks. In particular, she is currently studying the theory of random matrices and random graphs.
Alex Busch
Master's Student [co-supervised with Ján Mináč]
Department of Mathematics
Western University
Alex completed her Bachelor degree at Western University with majors in Mathematics and Arts and Humanities. Her previous research experience includes using tools from network theory to better understand the spread of Covid-19. She plans to continue this research, and expand into the study of other large-scale data sets like neural and social networks. In particular, she is excited to research the differences in neural networks between individuals with Autism and healthy controls.
Christopher Steward
Master's Student [co-supervised with Mark Daley]
Department of Computer Science
Western University
Christopher completed his Honors Bachelor of Science with Specialization in Computer Science from Western University. His research interests are in high performance computing, machine learning, scientific computing, and computer hardware(GPUs, FPGAs), and theoretical computer science. He is working to use his knowledge of computer science and programming to improve and speed up neural network simulations with the newest technology and algorithmic techniques.
Federico Pasini
Now: Assistant Professor
Department of Mathematics, Huron College
London, Canada
Elma Paredes-Aragon
Now: Clinical Epileptologist
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Mexico City, Mexico
