Rachel Crockett, PhD

Chuyi Cui, PhD

Jin Woo Choi, PhD

Jin Woo graduated from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and completed his MS and PhD in Computer Science at the same university under Dr. Sungho Jo. During his time at KAIST, Jin Woo's research focused on utilizing machine learning techniques to analyze EEG signals and develop non-invasive brain-computer interfaces for immersive virtual reality and real-world scenarios. At Stanford, Jin Woo will investigate various machine learning algorithms to process neural and kinematic data and apply his findings to develop adaptive deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's Disease. In his leisure time, Jin Woo enjoys going to the gym, watching documentary films, and playing pool.

Sudeep Aditham

Research Assistant

Sudeep graduated from Emory University with a BS in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology and a Minor in Philosophy. He did research at a Parkinson’s disease research lab at Yerkes identifying pharmacological treatments that alter brain signals in non-human primates. He has also done research at a translational science primate lab studying infectious disease. At Emory, he was deeply involved with brain injury survivor support, volunteering, and social justice education. At Stanford, Sudeep hopes to deepen his understanding of the neural/kinematic signatures of PD and the evolving role of neuromodulation in patient care. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, photography, and playing with his dog.

Pranav Akella

Research Assistant

Pranav holds an Sc.M. in Biotechnology from Brown University and a B.S. in Bioengineering (Biotechnology) from UC San Diego. His Master's thesis centered around developing a machine learning algorithm that modulated deep brain stimulation parameters to reduce power in the beta band of Parkinson's Disease patients. To aid in his thesis research, Pranav interfaced with Parkinson's Disease patients intraoperatively and helped develop communication software between two systems involved in modulating the deep brain stimulation parameters. Prior to graduate school, Pranav worked as a regulatory medical writer and manufacturing associate where he developed an interest in creating integrated systems that would aid in biological research. During his undergraduate studies, he built an interest in research through his work UC San Francisco, where he studied biomechanics in the School of Dentistry, and his work at UC San Diego, where he studied cartilage tissue engineering in the Jacobs School of Engineering. At Stanford, Pranav wants to further his understanding of neural and behavioral variables that can be used to alleviate parkinsonian symptoms in PD patients. In his free time, he likes to hike, sing, and travel.

Gary Burnett

Graduate Student

Gary graduated from MIT in 2017 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and a B.S. in Brain and Cognitive Sciences. There, he did research in the Biomechatronics Group at the MIT Media Lab using sensor data from a prosthetic ankle to monitor how a patient is walking. He now works as a data scientist at NVIDIA using GPUs to accelerate machine learning workflows in healthcare. Starting in 2020, Gary became a part time Master's Student at Stanford in the Biomedical Informatics department. At Stanford, he hopes to apply his expertise in data science to explore the relationship between neural activity and the kinematics of gait. Outside of work, he enjoys graphic design, music production, weight lifting, and hip hop dance.

Aryaman Gala

Research Assistant

Aryaman graduated from the University of Washington with a B.S. in Neuroscience and a minor in data science. He has prior experience in performing computational and histological analysis to evaluate the efficacy of electrical stimulation in promoting neurorehabilitation after ischemic strokes. He has also worked with eye-tracking and EEG data to identify early biomarkers of autism. At Stanford, Aryaman hopes to understand the neural and kinematic dynamics of Parkinson's Disease and contribute to the optimization of neuromodulation therapies to improve treatment outcomes for patients with movement disorders. Outside of work, Aryaman enjoys playing soccer, listening to music, hiking, and mountain biking.

Shannon Hoffman, PT, DPT

Research Assistant

Shannon is a physical therapist with several years of experience in clinical practice, research, and education at Washington University in St. Louis, Sacramento State, and outpatient rehabilitation centers in Missouri and California. Her primary focus has been on the evaluation and treatment of neurologic disorders affecting balance and gait including peripheral and central vestibular disorders, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke. Shannon earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis in 2007 and her BA in anthropology and pre-professional studies from the University of Notre Dame in 2004. At Stanford, she hopes to develop a deeper understanding of the neural and biomechanical mechanisms underlying gait and balance impairments, the relationship between these impairments and cognition, and novel treatment options to improve patient outcomes. In her spare time, Shannon enjoys hiking, cooking and baking, and playing music with her husband and children.

Emilia Lambert

Research Assistant

Emilia graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 2021 with a B.S. in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience. She has previous experience working at a sleep clinic as a medical scribe and as an intern at a biotechnology startup focusing on digital biomarker technology. At Stanford, she hopes to explore the biomarkers of Parkinson’s disease and better understand the electrophysiology of Parkinson’s disease symptoms. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, running, and walking her dog.

Jillian Melbourne

Research Assistant

Jillian graduated from UCLA with a BS in Neuroscience and a minor in English. Previously, she did fMRI research on the comorbidity of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder using the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study as well as neuromodulation research using TMS and fUS to study the effects of the cortical silencing period on pain tolerance. Her interest in Parkinson’s disease stems from her work in the UCLA Movement Disorders Clinic wherein she was one of ten students nationwide to participate in an internship with the American Academy of Neurology. At Stanford, Jillian is interested in combining quantitative metrics for neural and kinematic signals with more qualitative metrics in cognition and gait. Outside of work, Jillian enjoys taking care of houseplants, reading, volunteering, being in nature, and anything involving music.

Gerrit Chi Luk Orthlieb

Research Assistant

Gerrit graduated from Arizona State University with a M.S. in Biomedical Engineering and a thesis on trigeminal neuromodulation's effects on proprioception. He worked with a single unit recording lab to measure locus coeruleus activity in primates undergoing trigeminal nerve stimulation and completed an independent research project under the lab involving tactile sensory feedback modalities and proprioception. During his B.S. he was lead electrical engineer designing a novel neurostimulator for trigeminal neuromodulation. At Stanford, he hopes to use and develop his neuroscience and engineering skills to improve patient care and DBS control for Parkinson's Disease. In his spare time, he enjoys gardening, building PCs, and working on microcontroller and smart home projects. 

Laura Parisi

Research Assistant

Laura graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering and a minor in Psychology. She has previous experience in assessing the effects of femoroacetabular impingement on hip cartilage through kinematic data analysis, as well as investigating the relationships between specific gene and protein signatures to determine clinical significance and predict patient outcome in individuals with lung adenocarcinoma. At Stanford, she hopes to deepen her understanding of neural and gait characteristics in individuals with Parkinson’s disease along with exploring novel treatments that can improve the lives of patients with movement disorders. Outside of work, Laura enjoys fashion, film, spending time with her friends, and trying new foods

Kevin Wilkins, PhD

Research Scientist

Kevin graduated from Boston College in 2014 with a B.S. in Psychology and a B.A. in English. He then completed his PhD in Neuroscience at Northwestern University in 2019 under Dr. Jun Yao  in the Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences Department. His research at Northwestern focused on the neural changes following device-assisted hand/arm interventions in individuals with severe chronic hemiparetic stroke, as well as the neural mechanisms underlying the observed upper extremity impairments. At Stanford, Kevin will transition towards evaluating the efficacy of adaptable deep brain stimulators in individuals with Parkinson’s Disease. Outside of lab, Kevin enjoys sports, playing with his dog, cooking, and exploring all the great food the bay area has to offer.