Muller Lab

We are a group of applied mathematicians and neuroscientists whose aim is to understand how the fine-scale dynamics of neural populations translates to perception and cognition.

Lyle Muller

Associate Professor, Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Dallas

Department of Mathematics, Western University

Director, Fields Lab for Network Computation

Lyle Muller's research spans neuroscience, computational modeling, and applied mathematics. His work centers on developing new approaches to large-scale recordings of neural population dynamics in cortex. After studying computational neuroscience at Brown University, Lyle completed a PhD in computational/theoretical neuroscience with Alain Destexhe (CNRS Gif-sur-Yvette). He then moved to San Diego for postdoctoral research with Terry Sejnowski in the Computational Neurobiology Laboratory (CNL) at the Salk Institute.

Ján Mináč

Collaborator

Professor, Department of Mathematics

Co-Director, Fields Lab for Network Computation

Western University

Ján Mináč is a Fellow of the Canadian Mathematical Society and was awarded the 2013 Canadian Mathematical Society Excellence in Teaching Award. Dr. Mináč is an expert in Galois theory, exploring the links between field theory and group theory and examining fundamental notions of symmetry in nature. In collaboration with Dr. Muller, Dr. Mináč is applying and developing techniques in discrete mathematics to understand networked systems in neuroscience.

Michael Thornton

Postdoctoral Scholar

Systems Neurobiology Laboratory

Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Michael is a postdoctoral scholar in the Systems Neurobiology Laboratory at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego, CA. He completed his Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Colorado and M.S. in Physiological Science at UCLA. He is interested in developing human-derived cellular models to test questions related to plasticity and neuronal network dynamics in vitro.

Ramit Dey

Postdoctoral Scholar [co-supervised with Ján Mináč]

Fields Lab for Network Computation

Fields Institute

Ramit is a postdoctoral scholar at the Fields Lab for Network Computation. He completed his PhD in theoretical physics at SISSA in Trieste. Ramit's research centers on machine learning and physics, developing new computational and mathematical methods to understand how neural networks compute.

Lawrence Oprea

Postdoctoral Scholar

Department of Mathematics

Western Institute for Neuroscience

Western University

Lawrence is a postdoctoral scholar at the Department of Mathematics and the Western Institute for Neuroscience. Lawrence has a Master's in Neuroscience and a PhD in Physiology from McGill University. His research interests include simulation of neuronal dynamics and machine learning applied to neuroscientific data. He is currently working on spatiotemporal dynamics in neural recordings and spiking neural networks.

Anif Shikder

Doctoral Student [co-supervised with Ján Mináč]

Department of Mathematics

Western University

Anif completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto and his Master’s at York University in Mathematics. His research utilizes algebra and spectral graph theory to construct analytical approaches to complex networks and random graphs. Additionally, Anif is interested in applying methods from discrete mathematics to explore symmetry properties and foundations of neural network architectures.

Priya Bucha Jain

Doctoral Student [co-supervised with Ján Mináč]

Department of Mathematics

Western University

Priya completed her Integrated Master of Science in Mathematics at Tezpur University with a gold medal and her Master of Science in Mathematics at the University of Western Ontario. Her research interests include Network Theory, study of Motifs, and Spectral Graph Theory and wishes to apply these and her experience in Pure Mathematics in the study of Neural Systems.

Mohamad Ali Kesserwan

Doctoral Student

Neuroscience Program

Western University

Mohamad completed his Bachelor of Science with specialization in Human Biology from the University of Toronto. He then completed his Doctor of Medicine at McMaster Univerity, where he is currently completing his residency in Neurosurgery. Through McMaster's Clinician Investigator Program, Mohamad was able to join our lab to pursue a doctorate in computational neuroscience. Mohamad is particularly interested in advancing brain-machine interfaces to empower patients with neurological disabilities.

Christopher Steward

Doctoral Student

Department of Computer Science

Western University

Christopher completed his Honors Bachelor of Science with Specialization in Computer Science from Western University. His research interests are in high performance computing, machine learning, scientific computing, and computer hardware (GPUs, FPGAs), and theoretical computer science. He is working to use his knowledge of computer science and programming to improve and speed up neural network simulations with the newest technology and algorithmic techniques.

Johan Joby

Doctoral Student

Department of Mathematics [co-supervised with Ján Mináč]

Western University

Johan completed his Bachelor of Science at the University of Western Ontario. He has an Honors Specialization in Integrated Science with Mathematical and Statistical Sciences. His interests lie in a variety of fields with a focus in bridging the gap between high-level pure mathematics and concrete applications. Johan’s research focuses on developing data driven predictive systems to build interpretable and scalable architectural layers.

Cathryn Dunicliff

Masters Student

Neuroscience Program

Western University

Cathryn completed her Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Paramedic practice at the University of Cumbria whilst practicing as a Paramedic in England and Canada. Her research uses theoretical models to study visual processing. Cathryn’s interests include mathematical approaches to consciousness, and philosophy of neuroscience.

LAB ALUMS