Principal Investigator
Shahab Vahdat, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Shahab joined the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology at the University of Florida (UF) in 2019 as an Assistant Professor. Before starting at UF, he was a postdoctoral scholar in the Departments of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, and Neurosurgery at Stanford University, where he studied neurotreatment and pathophysiology of ischemic stroke in rodent models. His earlier postdoctoral fellowship was at University of Montreal, focused on of spinal cord functional neuroimaging and electrophysiology in humans. He received his PhD degree in the field of human motor neuroscience from McGill University, Canada, in 2012. He obtained his MSc and BSc degrees in Biomedical and Electrical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology and University of Tehran.
His areas of research include neuroplasticty in motor learning and stroke recovery, with a particular focus on spinal cord circuits using advanced neuroimaging and neurostimulation techniques.
Assistant Professor
Shahab joined the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology at the University of Florida (UF) in 2019 as an Assistant Professor. Before starting at UF, he was a postdoctoral scholar in the Departments of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, and Neurosurgery at Stanford University, where he studied neurotreatment and pathophysiology of ischemic stroke in rodent models. His earlier postdoctoral fellowship was at University of Montreal, focused on of spinal cord functional neuroimaging and electrophysiology in humans. He received his PhD degree in the field of human motor neuroscience from McGill University, Canada, in 2012. He obtained his MSc and BSc degrees in Biomedical and Electrical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology and University of Tehran.
His areas of research include neuroplasticty in motor learning and stroke recovery, with a particular focus on spinal cord circuits using advanced neuroimaging and neurostimulation techniques.
Ph.D. Students
Vishwas Jindal
Applied Physiology and Kinesiology
Vishwas is a first year Ph.D. student in the Applied Physiology and Kinesiology Department at the University of Florida. He has graduated with a B.S. and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering and has worked in the industry prior to starting his PhD. He is keen on learning the deep-rooted concepts of Neural System and Neuroimaging and aims to develop novel engineering solutions to problems associated with neurological limitations and dysfunctions.
In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, exploring the outdoors and binging on Bollywood movies.
His research primarily involves determining the neural and behavioral mechanism of intact and lesioned mice undergoing motor skill learning and optogenetic stimulation.
Applied Physiology and Kinesiology
Vishwas is a first year Ph.D. student in the Applied Physiology and Kinesiology Department at the University of Florida. He has graduated with a B.S. and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering and has worked in the industry prior to starting his PhD. He is keen on learning the deep-rooted concepts of Neural System and Neuroimaging and aims to develop novel engineering solutions to problems associated with neurological limitations and dysfunctions.
In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, exploring the outdoors and binging on Bollywood movies.
His research primarily involves determining the neural and behavioral mechanism of intact and lesioned mice undergoing motor skill learning and optogenetic stimulation.
Pouneh Baniasad
Applied Physiology and Kinesiology
Pouneh is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Applied Physiology and Kinesiology Department at the University of Florida. She received her M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees in Medical Physics and Physics from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences and the Sharif University of Technology. Before starting her Ph.D., she worked as an R&D expert to develop professional medical software to identify potential lesions and abnormalities in MRI images. She is passionate about developing novel rehabilitation treatments for various neurological disorders using neuroimaging techniques. Her Ph.D. research aims to understand the spinal–brain circuit mechanisms that contribute to sensory processing and motor recovery after stroke using fMRI. In her spare time, she likes hiking, camping, doing yoga, and listening to podcasts.
Applied Physiology and Kinesiology
Pouneh is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Applied Physiology and Kinesiology Department at the University of Florida. She received her M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees in Medical Physics and Physics from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences and the Sharif University of Technology. Before starting her Ph.D., she worked as an R&D expert to develop professional medical software to identify potential lesions and abnormalities in MRI images. She is passionate about developing novel rehabilitation treatments for various neurological disorders using neuroimaging techniques. Her Ph.D. research aims to understand the spinal–brain circuit mechanisms that contribute to sensory processing and motor recovery after stroke using fMRI. In her spare time, she likes hiking, camping, doing yoga, and listening to podcasts.
Sushain Kaul
Applied Physiology and Kinesiology
Sushain is currently a Ph.D. student in the Sensorimotor Plasticity Lab. He joined our research team in 2019 while doing his Masters in Biomedical Engineering. His time in the lab helped him develop an ardent interest in Neuroscience, especially in the use of optogenetics for stroke rehabilitation. Hence, after graduating in 2021, he decided to continue his research in the lab as a Ph.D. student in the department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology (APK). His current research focuses on studying various spinal pathways involved in motor control and their potential to help in stroke recovery using optogenetic stimulation.Other than research, Sushain loves to travel around the world and take pictures. He also loves to go on bike trails and outdoor adventures.
Applied Physiology and Kinesiology
Sushain is currently a Ph.D. student in the Sensorimotor Plasticity Lab. He joined our research team in 2019 while doing his Masters in Biomedical Engineering. His time in the lab helped him develop an ardent interest in Neuroscience, especially in the use of optogenetics for stroke rehabilitation. Hence, after graduating in 2021, he decided to continue his research in the lab as a Ph.D. student in the department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology (APK). His current research focuses on studying various spinal pathways involved in motor control and their potential to help in stroke recovery using optogenetic stimulation.Other than research, Sushain loves to travel around the world and take pictures. He also loves to go on bike trails and outdoor adventures.
Undergraduate Students
Anthony Avila
Caeley Reever
Claudia Galindo
Erick Ojeda
Jack Callaway
Caeley Reever
Claudia Galindo
Erick Ojeda
Jack Callaway