Meet the team members working in the Kundu Research Lab.

Team Members

Patrick Hackett

Patrick Hackett

Lab Manager

Bio

Patrick Hackett, M.S., has a graduate data science degree from Georgia Tech, a bachelor’s in neuroscience from Emory University and an applied background leading the delivery of scaled machine learning and AI solutions in the tech industry. He supports the Kundu Lab as lab manager and lead research specialist, leveraging his years of experience guiding neuroendocrinology and fMRI clinical trials at Emory University. His research goal is to develop cutting-edge electrophysiological signal processing machine learning models to improve our understanding of the human brain.

Bikash Sahoo

Bikash Sahoo

Postdoctoral Researcher

Bio

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.

Vladimir ‘Walt’ Omelyusik

Vladimir ‘Walt’ Omelyusik

PhD Student

Bio

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, PhD Student

David Fague

PhD Student

Bio

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, Graduate Research Assistant

Varun Reddy

Graduate Research Assistant

Bio

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

Tiyasha Guha

Graduate Research Assistant

Bio

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

Larissa Nogueira

Undergraduate Student

Bio

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.