Kundu Lab Team Members

Bikash Sahoo graduated with a PhD in Brain and Cognitive Sciences from the University of Rochester, New York. His research combines neurophysiology, neural network-based modeling, dynamical systems, and multivariate analytical approaches. He has experience working with both humans and non-human primates, and is broadly interested in the neural processes underlying working memory, selective attention, and decision-making.

Hamid Nourbakhshi holds an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Tehran, a second M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and an M.A. in Psychology also from Mizzou. He came to Mizzou in 2021 as a Ph.D. student in the Department of Philosophy and in Spring 2023 moved to the Department of Psychological Sciences to pursue a Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience in Dr. Nelson Cowan's Working Memory Lab. There, he studies how visuospatial working memory, visual perception, and visuospatial imagery interact. In the Kundu Lab, he extends this work into intracranial human electrophysiology, using iEEG recordings to study perception, imagery, and working memory in patients undergoing pre-surgical epilepsy monitoring.

Walt Omelyusik has a Bachelor of Science in Economics, a Master of Science in Data Science and is pursuing his PhD in the College of Engineering’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He is interested in finding ways to push the boundaries of machine learning with insights from neuroscience.

David Fague is a PhD student in the College of Engineering’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. David is from Fulton, Missouri, and attended the University of Missouri for an undergraduate degree in biological engineering, minoring in computational neuroscience with certificates in neural engineering systems & signals. In the Kundu Lab, David is analyzing spectral power data during object encoding and maintenance to contribute to the object working memory study. David also works in Dr. Satish Nair’s research lab where his research focuses on designing and simulating biophysical single-cell neuronal models for realistic dendritic computation and algorithms for model computational reduction using cable theory for dendrites.

Varun Reddy holds a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and is currently pursuing his Master’s in the College of Engineering’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He is driven by a passion for integrating technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning into practical solutions, with the goal of addressing complex challenges in areas such as neuroscience and data-driven decision-making.

Tiyasha Guha is a Master’s student in Data Science and Analytics at the University of Missouri. She has a background in electronics and communication engineering and professional experience as a software development engineer. Her academic and research interests center on applying statistical modeling, machine learning, and data visualization to address challenges in public health and neuroscience. She is particularly motivated by opportunities to integrate computational methods with real-world applications that can improve healthcare outcomes and societal well-being.

Larissa Nogueira is an undergraduate biology major with plans to attend medical school. She is currently an undergraduate research assistant in the Kundu Lab. Her project currently focuses on how individual thalamic nuclei behave in human patients and its connectivity with other brain regions.

Durdona Tolibjonova is an undergraduate student at the University of Missouri majoring in Biological Sciences with minors in Chemistry and Computational Neuroscience. She is interested in exploring the intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence to better understand brain function. Her research interests focus on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of nerve degeneration and repair, particularly across neurodegenerative diseases and peripheral neuropathies, with the goal of identifying shared pathways that could inform innovative therapeutic strategies.