PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Assistant Professor of Psychology

Canada Research Chair (Tier II)
Member, Hotchkiss Brain Institute

Jackson did his undergraduate studies in Molecular and Cell BIology at UC Berkeley. He then joined Dr. Mitchell Roitman’s lab at the University of Illinois, Chicago where he earned a PhD in Neuroscience. He did his postdoctoral studies in Dr. John Maunsell’s lab at the University of Chicago. He opened the lab at UCalgary in July 2022 and completed an MSc in Analytics from Georgia Tech in 2025. Outside the lab, Jackson spends time outdoors (hiking, snowboarding, cycling), plays drums, makes art, and spends time with his partner and their menagerie of pets.

jackson.cone@ucalgary.ca

Link to CV

GRADUATE STUDENT

PhD student in Biomedical Engineering

Amira is a young medical doctor (MBBS) who is currently pursuing her PhD in Biomedical Engineering. Amira is interested in systems and computational neuroscience, particularly in studying the dynamics of brain activity in sensory processing, both locally and across large-scale networks. Her research aims to estimate precise spatiotemporal mappings of neuronal activity in visual areas that contribute to visually-guided behaviors. As an aspiring physician-scientist, Amira is passionate about applying computational and engineering tools to neuroscience research while bridging the gap between fundamental discoveries and clinical applications.

amira.fadl1@ucalgary.ca

GRADUATE STUDENT

MSc student in Biomedical Engineering

Kiana, a master’s student in Biomedical Engineering, is deeply passionate about the convergence of data science and neuroscience. She's a firm believer in the transformative power of understanding the brain, viewing it as a key to significant advances in machine intelligence. Her research applies data science tools to unravel interactions between attention, arousal, and neuronal population activity in visual cortex. Outside academia, Kiana enjoys the serenity of piano playing and loves diving into the diverse worlds of movies and TV shows - her perfect escape into different worlds and stories.

kiana.kazeminejad1@ucalgary.ca

GRADUATE STUDENT

MSc Student in Psychology

T. Boone Pickens Emerging Leaders Scholar

Jamie has a background in psychology paired with a keen interest in technology. Jamie is developing a versatile, low-cost closed-loop experimental control system for his MSc that he will utilize during his PhD research. Outside the lab, Jamie works as a volunteer firefighter, enjoys learning new languages, and competes in powerlifting

jamie.sanson@ucalgary.ca

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Adriana completed both a PURE fellowship and her Psychology Honours research in the lab. During which, she developed a novel subjective decision making task. Currently she is learning now to collect neurophysiological data in her task to understand the underlying neurobiology underlying subjective valuation in the brain. Adriana plans to further her educational journey in the field of behavioral neuroscience and medicine. Outside the lab, Adriana works as a volunteer at South Health Campus and likes traveling around the world while immersing herself in new cultures.

adriana.quinteronarv@ucalgary.ca

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Safir is recently graduated from UCalgary with a degree in Psychology and aspires to attend medical school in the near future. He is interested in supporting ongoing projects and creating a deeper understanding of the biological nature of behavioural neuroscience. Outside the lab, Safir works as a crisis line responder, he enjoys spending time with his cats, working out at the gym, and exploring different food places around the city.

safir.ali@ucalgary.ca

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

BSc student in Software Engineering

Jose is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering at the University of Calgary, where he actively engages in technical and leadership initiatives. His research interests focus on the integration of embedded systems with neuroscience, leveraging software engineering principles to solve complex problems, and understanding the power of artificial intelligence for innovative engineering solutions. Through his academic work and practical experiences, such as his internships at VCPU and BitLearns, as well as his leadership as President of BRASA at the University of Calgary, Jose has developed a robust foundation in both technical and managerial skills.

josepaulo.pereirajun@ucalgary.ca

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER

BSc (Hons.) student in Psychology

Sophia is an undergraduate student in Psychology completing both her PURE fellowship and Honours research in the lab. Her research leverages widefield calcium imaging to explore the “flow” of information through the visual system from stimulus to response. With this she hopes to shed light on the relationship between brain activity and perception on a precise timescale. Outside the lab, Sophia also works as a legal assistant in civil litigation and is an avid volunteer with Canadian Blood Services. She loves reading, making art, adding to her vinyl collection, and hiking the Rocky Mountains.