Staff Scientist

telgkamp@msu.edu

I received my Ph.D. from the University of Chicago (Biological Sciences Division and Pritzker Medical School), studying central respiratory rhythm generation and modulation in a mouse model. Other research projects in my past include investigations of cellular excitability and synaptic plasticity in different model systems. During my Master’s thesis at the University of Kaiserslautern, Germany, I was introduced to electrophysiological patch-clamp recordings, and I characterized AMPA/Kainate receptors in rat cerebellar astrocytes. As a postdoctoral fellow in the Raman Lab at Northwestern University I applied electrophysiological techniques to study cerebellar neuronal plasticity, and in the Smith lab at Indiana University I extended my research focus considering evolutionary adaptations and adjusted the focus of my research to include neuroethological considerations (using the weakly electric fish as a model system).  In the Pelled lab, I plan to conduct research aimed at guiding the development of novel genetic and molecular-based neuromodulation techniques.

Ph.D. Student

cywiakc@msu.edu

I completed my Master’s degree in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry in Venezuela at Universidad Simon Bolivar where I investigated a novel isoform for PKA. My Bachelor’s degree is in Medicinal Biology from Bar Ilan University in Israel. I recently joined the Pelled lab to explore novel mechanisms to reduce pain for individuals with nerve injuries via non-invasive neuronal techniques.

Ph.D. Student

hughson3@msu.edu

I received a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience from Alma College in 2014. After graduating, I worked at a neurorehabilitation facility in northern Michigan, caring for patients suffering from traumatic brain injury. After one year, I returned to academia as a laboratory research technician in the University of Michigan’s biopsychology department where I studied incentive salience attribution and how it relates to drug addiction. I joined the Pelled lab in Fall 2018 as a Ph.D. student and Graduate Research Assistant. My research involves developing therapies to improve functional outcomes after traumatic brain injury in large animal pediatric models of TBI.

Ph.D. Student

ashbau12@msu.edu

I graduated with B.S. degrees from Michigan State University in both Computer Engineering and Neuroscience. During my undergraduate studies I had the opportunity to work on a broad variety of topics including evolutionary biology, autonomous vehicles, and object detection and classification. I am a first year graduate student in a PhD program in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, and I am working in Dr. Pelled’s lab as part of an interdisciplinary effort to learn more about the ability to use the electromagnetic perceptive gene (EPG) for neuromodulation. I also plan to work with Dr. Gilad on challenges in Synthetic Biology related to biological circuits that mimic their digital counterparts from Electrical Engineering.

Masters Student

vanbur28@msu.edu

The goals I set for my career are to understand and solve the current medical needs of individuals. I began doing this right out of high school for 8 years through my work as a nursing assistant in hospitals, home health care, and nursing homes to better appreciative the current issues, complacencies, and advancements in the field; then consider how to work within these environments to promote change. This passion has led me to pursue an undergraduate degree in Biosystems Engineering as well as Masters in Biomedical Engineering. The objective of earning these degrees have been to develop technical and analytical skills in biological, electrical, and mechanical engineering. This degree has also unexpectedly equipped me with skills in engineering economics and project management that has assisted with the understanding different problems and the difficulties to solve them. During this same time while in college, I had the pleasure to work with many students and professors in the advancement of exoskeletons where over a hundred students from various engineering, biological, and non-STEM backgrounds collaborated to develop active assisting exoskeletons. These lower limb devices were developed to assist firefighters in lifting weight while reducing the energy needed to perform routine tasks. My involvement in this was being the project manager and a research of electromyography hardware and software, which was implemented in our exoskeletons for biofeedback control. This project gave me professional skills in writing human testing IRBs, presenting data at conferences, project management, and how to effectively work in a team. After that experience I began my involvement in research under Dr. Galit Pelled, within the Neuroengineering Division, where I was working with florescence imaging, electrophysiology, marine environmental setup, motion capture analysis, machine learning, and modeling. The main project I was tasked with during my time in Dr. Pelled’s lab was working with Octopuses to uncover connections between neurological activity and physical actions. The purpose of this research has been to enable better prosthetics by developing improved connections between their numerous robotic components creating improved fluid movements.

Research Assistant

mettoabi@msu.edu

I recently graduated from MSU with a B.S. in Neuroscience. As an undergraduate research assistant, my project focused on examining age- and sex-specific gene expression in brain biology/disease and identifying genes with a potential role in brain pathology. Currently, I am looking into research options at the Pelled Lab.

Graduate Research Assistant

Email: israeli2@msu.edu

I got my B.S. in Mathematics from Penn State. I then worked at Microsert Ltd. in Israel developing intraocular implants for sustained drug release. In March 2020, I joined Pelled Lab, where I research the use of electromagnetic perceptive gene (EPG) in the visual cortex for the creation of synthetic vision.

Research Administrator I

Email: marti130@msu.edu

Undergraduate Student

huntrya4@msu.edu

I am a senior at Michigan State University dual majoring in Physiology and Neuroscience. I joined Dr. Pelled’s lab due to my interest in neurological plasticity and rehabilitation. My project focuses on understanding the function of the electromagnetic perceptive gene (EPG), specifically, how it behaves within the Glass Catfish.

Technical Aide – ANIMAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT ANR

jimene39@msu.edu

I’ve went to MSU for undergrad in Chemistry and Food Science. While as an undergrad I worked in the Cellular Reprogramming Lab run by Dr. Cibelli helping out in the lab and with zebrafish husbandry. It is here that I gained an interest in working with aquatic animals in the lab setting. After graduating, I continued working for Dr. Cibelli by helping keep the fish colony healthy and within EHS, AAALAC, and IACUC regulations. This has led me to work for Dr. Galit Pelled and with the octopus. I help out with octopus husbandry and with system maintenance.