Gregory Lewis, Ph.D.

Lab director

Dr. Lewis is an Assistant Professor at the department of Intelligent Systems Engineering at Indiana University and an Assistant Research Scientist at the Kinsey Institute. His research involves the use of contact sensors to collect physiological signals in the lab and in the field, as well as the development of non-contact sensors to extend his research into real-world environments, such as at home or in the classroom.

Sujata Punait, phd

Postdoctoral Fellow

Bioengineering Neuroengineering
Cyber Physical Systems

Dr. Punait is a dedicated researcher with expertise in developing hardware and software solutions to understand the autonomic nervous system regulation (ANS). Her work bridges the gap between engineering and healthcare, focusing on real-time tracking of ANS activity to enhance patient care and advance personalized medicine.

During her PhD in Intelligent Systems Engineering at Indiana University Bloomington, she developed ANSTracker, a real-time clinical tool for monitoring ANS activity. This tool is now being implemented at Children's Wisconsin as part of clinical trials funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These studies aim to refine the tool, driving neuroengineering and healthcare technology advancements.

As a postdoctoral fellow, she continues to explore innovative solutions to healthcare challenges, including the development of wearable physiological sensors and the application of machine learning in clinical settings. She is passionate about translating research into impactful tools that improve patient outcomes and deepen our understanding of human physiology.

Clarissa Tokash

clinical research coordinator

Clarissa has a BA in Gender Studies and handles ethical approvals, documentation, and subject recruitment and scheduling for the lab’s various ongoing studies.

Logan Holmes

laboratory research specialist

Logan has a BS in Cognitive Science, and manages physiological sensors and technical equipment for the lab. Logan collects, manages, and analyzes data from experiments, including maintaining databases and developing software for various studies.

Veda Narayana Koraganji

Veda is a Ph.D. student and an Associate Instructor in the ISE Department. He received his Bachelor's in Electrical and Electronics Engineering specializing in power distribution & industrial automation and has experience in 3D printing and multimaterial fibers. He is currently working on projects such as developing non-pharmacological interventions for people with non-verbal autism and Brain Computer Interfaces. He is interested in developing tools for early detection of neurological disorders.

mohammad aghajani

Mohammad is a PhD student at Luddy School of Informatics, specializing in Intelligent Systems Engineering. Holding a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mohammad has a fervent interest in the realm of computer vision and signal processing. His ongoing research focuses on comprehending human movement expressions and perceptions, specifically in the context of the broader autism phenotype. Mohammad is currently involved in a project aiming to develop an application for diagnosing individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using facial expression mirroring techniques.

Larry Zhang

Larry is a Dual PhD student in Neuroengineering and Complex Networks & Systems at the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering. His research focuses on applying computational and cognitive modeling methodologies to explore cheap, non-invasive measures of neuropsychiatric state. He is also interested in developing and designing tangible systems for detection and intervention for neuropsychiatric disorders.

juliette zerick

Juliette has worn many hats over the years. She trained in mathematics and computer science, then applied mathematics, followed by a brief (doomed) stint in bioinformatics, then Big Data science at AT&T, and finally engineering at IU. She works on projects on human trust of artificial intelligence, brain-computer interfaces, and building toys for human children and/or animals to destroy.

Click here for Juliette’s portfolio.
Click here for Juliette’s list of patents.

Evan Nix

Evan holds a BS in Cognitive Science from Indiana University, and serves the lab as a data analyst. He plans to pursue a PhD in community psychology.

Shyam Shah, MS, PhD

Dr. Shah is a Research Associate in the lab and Ph.D. graduate of the Luddy School at Indiana University, where his research focused on the intersection of neurophysiology, AI, and human performance optimization. His work integrates wearable and non-contact biosensors, neuroimaging techniques like fNIRS, and AI-driven data analytics to explore the neural and physiological mechanisms underlying breathing, cognitive and executive function. His dissertation, "Breath, Brain, and Behavior: Neurophysiological Dynamics through AI and Statistical Analytics," examined how respiratory control influences neural activation and executive function, applying machine learning, signal processing, and computational neuroscience to uncover novel insights.

Dr. Shah is dedicated to advancing health informatics, medical simulation, and cognitive enhancement technologies, leveraging data-driven approaches to improve clinical decision-making, human performance, and real-world applications in high-demand environments. His research blends scientific inquiry with technological innovation, aiming to create transformative solutions with broad societal impact.

Jonathan Ott

Jonathan holds a BS in Intelligent Systems Engineering and an MS in Intelligent Systems Engineering from Indiana University. He is interested in neuroprosthetics, neural synchrony, and brain computer interfaces.

andrea pichardo

Andrea is an undergraduate currently working towards a B.S. in Human Biology. She is interested in medicine and physiology and plans to continue her education and understanding of the two in medical school.

Shawn Nazarloo

Shawn is an undergraduate currently pursuing a B.S. degree in Biology. He has an interest in medicine and endocrinology. In the past, he has worked with IU’s School of Medicine as a research assistant and hopes to learn more about the applications of modern technology in clinical settings.

Dirk hildebrand

Dirk is a undergraduate currently pursuing a BS degree in intelligent systems engineering with a concentration in bioengineering. He has interests in medicine and dentistry, and is most interested in the applications of bioengineering in medical settings.

raj patel

Raj is a sophomore at Indiana University studying Intelligent Systems Engineering on the pre-med track. He’s passionate about combining engineering principles with healthcare to solve complex medical challenges.

JACEK KOLACZ, PH.D.

Research Assistant professor, ohio state university

Dr. Jacek Kolacz studies how the brain and body coordinate to shape emotional responses, the ways in which life history shapes reactions to stress and threats, and how insights about these processes can make interventions more effective. He is also managing director of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium at the Kinsey Institute.

OLIVIA ROATH

Olivia graduated from Indiana University in 2020 with a B.A. Biology and Psychology. She currently works as a research associate with Dr. Jacek Kolacz in the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. Her research interests include trauma and sexual psychophysiology.

betsy nuseibeh

Betsey is a PhD student in the School of Public Health, Department of Health and Wellness Design, Indiana University-Bloomington. She is also a predoctoral NIH T32 in Interdisciplinary Training in Biobehavioral Oncology, School of Nursing, Indiana University-Indianapolis. Betsey has worked in the field of music and music therapy for over 20 years, most recently as the founder and Executive Director of Melodic Connections, a mid-size music therapy-based non-profit in Cincinnati, Ohio. Betsey’s research focuses on improving health-related quality of life for cancer survivors through the use of music interventions to help improve vagal regulation. Currently she is examining the effects of singing on heart rate variability to improve stress response and decrease symptoms of distress such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress for breast cancer survivors.

Bund

Bund, a graduate of Miranda House, University of Delhi, India, made substantial contributions to our lab while serving as a visiting scholar at Indiana University's Luddy School. Her expertise in computational research, anthropology, and trauma studies has solidified her interest in pursuing a career in Biological and computational anthropology. She is currently planning a career in anthropology that utilizes computational tools and psychophysiology.

Mike Winters, PhD

Mike graduated with a PhD from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2020 and specializes in Brain-Computer Interfaces and Music Technology.

merve aydiner

Merve is an innovation designer experienced in intelligent textiles. She is the founder and CEO of Invamar, which develops smart advanced textiles and their IoT ecosystems for health monitoring. Invamar works on implementing physiological data monitoring to wearables and surfaces to track health data 24/7. She has a bachelor’s degree from ITU Textile Engineering and master’s from Domus Academy. She is highly motivated in developing human-centered deep-tech products that has positive impact on society.