The Team
Principal Investigator
Dr. Rosana Esteller
Professor, Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Minnesota
Professor Esteller has a strong track record of translating innovative medical devices from concept to clinical use. She played a pivotal role in developing the world’s first closed-loop, brain-implantable neuromodulation device—enabled by her biomarker detection algorithms—now commercially available and improving patient outcomes worldwide. In her University of Minnesota lab, Dr. Esteller advances intelligent algorithms and neurotechnology that integrate sensing, biomarker discovery, computational modeling, and clinical studies. Her work focuses on precise neuromodulation to restore or enhance physiological function and deliver meaningful patient impact. She has 150+ patents and publications and brings 27+ years of industry leadership in neuromodulation research.
Principal Investigator
Dr. Sandipan Pati
Professor, Neurology Department, University of Minnesota
Dr. Sandipan Pati joined our team at the end of November 2024. He is an academic, dual board-certified epileptologist, and neurophysiologist at the forefront of innovation in epilepsy care and research.
With expertise in intracranial electrophysiology (Stereo EEG), precision electrical stimulation, and advanced analytics, Dr. Pati is redefining the landscape of intractable epilepsy treatment. As Director of the UMN Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, he champions cross-disciplinary collaboration to drive breakthroughs in neuromodulation and circuit therapeutics.
Post-Doctoral Fellows
Dr. Sai Sanjay Balaji
Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering
My Ph.D. research focused on data-driven computational methods for epilepsy management, including graph-based biomarker discovery for seizure onset zone identification and personalized seizure prediction models. My long-term goal is to translate these methods into clinical practice by developing and validating optimized, long-term closed-loop stimulation protocols for neurological disorders. Ultimately, I aim to use data-science frameworks to advance personalized and adaptive therapeutic solutions across healthcare and biomedical research.
balaj037@umn.edu
Dr. Ajay Deep Kachhvah
Ph.D. in Network Science and Complex Systems
Ajay aims to advance translational neuroscience by applying network science, advanced signal processing, and machine and deep learning techniques to identify reliable biomarkers of epilepsy control and neuromodulation treatment success. His research focuses on uncovering disease-related neural mechanisms and developing biomarkers that guide personalized therapeutic strategies. Ultimately, his goal is to translate computational insights into improved neuromodulation therapies and better clinical outcomes for patients with epilepsy.
akachhva@umn.edu
PhD Students
Sarah Bulur
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Sarah Bulur is pursuing her PhD in biomedical engineering at the University of Minnesota, where she investigates how computational modeling, AI, and bioinformatics can advance intelligent closed-loop neurotechnologies. Her research also explores hardware-software integration in neural devices and wearable biosensing systems.
bulur002@umn.edu
Taka Manabe
Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Taka Manabe's research focuses on brain functions and developing computational tools for neural conditions. His doctoral work investigates neural signatures for pre-ictal seizure prediction. He earned his M.S. at Northwestern (under Dr. Slutzky and Dr. Glaser), where he studied non-frontal neural signatures to decode speech intent. Prior projects include developing surgical skill metrics and studying effective connectivity in stroke neurorehabilitation.
manab005@umn.edu
Amit Dutta Roy
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Amit Dutta Roy earned his B.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering from KUET, Bangladesh, where he later held academic roles. He is now pursuing a PhD, focusing on neural engineering and non-invasive spinal sensory processing. His research investigates electrophysiological biomarkers in the cervical spinal cord to identify objective indicators of neurological disorders. Outside the lab, he enjoys online chess, anime, and spending time with his family.
Master's Students
Indrayudh Datta
Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communication Engineering, Specialising in Biomedical Engineering
Indrayudh Datta’s research interests lie in bioinstrumentation, MEMS, and neuroengineering, with the goal of developing affordable medical technologies. He has hands-on experience in CB-based sensor fabrication and in developing a Bluetooth-enabled wearable that received grant funding from his undergad university. He has also led a student chapter, contributing to R&D and technical initiatives, and organized major university events, including leading operations for a large-scale summit and managing a prototype competition where he secured venture capital support.
datta084@umn.edu
Brad Fisher
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Brad Fisher is a master’s student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. He conducts research in the Translational NeuroTechnology Lab, studying how electrical stimulation influences EEG signals and neural dynamics. After earning his degree, he plans to pursue a career in industry developing innovative neuromodulation technologies.
fish0901@umn.edu
Undergraduate Students
Connor Engels
Undergraduate Student, 1st Year
Connor is a first year student at the University of Minnesota, studying Biomedical Engineering on a pre med track. He is interested in a number of different research topics, however has an interest in neurodegenerative diseases, and medical device design.
enge0720@umn.edu
John Newburn
Undergraduate Student, 4th Year
John Newburn is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, studying biomedical engineering and pre-med. He is very passionate about studying microfluidic organ-on-a-chip systems, thalamic research to understand pathways of epilepsy presentation, mechanisms of cellular metabolism, and experimental biochemical linguistics.
newbu039@umn.edu
Linus Ng
Undergraduate Student, 3rd Year
I'm a third-year undergraduate at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, studying Biomedical Engineering with an emphasis on Neural Engineering. I hope to pursue the medical device industry, and specialize primarily in deep brain stimulation and neuro-oncology. I'm interested in researching treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders using DBS and medical technology.
ng000101@umn.edu
Faculty Collaborators
Dr. David Darrow
Professor, Neurology Department, University of Minnesota
MnDRIVE Neuromodulation Scholar
Dual board-certified Epileptologist, and Neurophysiologist
Director of the UMN Epilepsy Comprehensive Program
Dr. Robert McGovern
Associate Professor, Neurosurgery Department, University of Minnesota
Assistant Director of Residency Program
Resident Member of Congress of Neurological Surgeons
Candidate Member of American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Dr. Edgar Peña
Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota
Principal Investigator of the Precision Electroceutical Research Lab (PERL)
Recipient of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Dr. Stephen Thompson
Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota
American Clinical Neurophysiology Society Fellow
Royal College of Physicians of Canada Fellow
Dean's Teaching Excellence Award, University of Texas
