Principal Investigator

Sam Inayat conducts research into the behavioral and neuronal mechanisms underlying movement. His primary focus lies in unraveling how the brain might encode and decode sensory-evoked and spontaneous signals during various behavioral states. These states encompass both periods of rest, whether awake or sleeping, and movements including locomotion and non-locomotor actions. This captivating line of inquiry holds significant importance from both health and fundamental scientific perspectives.

From a health science standpoint, investigating behavior-specific sensory perception is paramount in understanding impairments observed in numerous neurological disorders. For instance, in Alzheimer’s disease, deficits in spatial navigation, which rely on environmental perception, manifest as one of the earliest symptoms. Similarly, Autism Spectrum Disorders exhibit impaired translation of sensory signals into adaptive movement. Furthermore, delving into the realm of movement also offers valuable insights into stress reduction techniques such as massage, running, exercise, and environmental enrichment.

On the fundamental science front, elucidating behavior-specific sensory perception can shed light on the intricate integration of sensory, cognitive, and motor control components that harmoniously orchestrate behavior. This concept aligns elegantly with Aristotle’s renowned dictum stated above. Moreover, this line of research allows exploration of how different neural networks may have evolved to handle stationary versus dynamic events, as exemplified by the ventral (for perception) and dorsal (for action) streams within the primate neocortex.

Curriculum Vitae

Education

DegreeMajorInstitutionYear
Ph.D.Biomedical Eng.Northwestern Univ., Evanston, Illinois, USA2007-2011
M.S.Biomedical Eng.Northwestern Univ., Evanston, Illinois, USA2005-2007
M.Sc.Mechatronics Eng.Univ. of Eng. and Tech., Lahore, Pakistan2001-2004
B.Sc.Mechanical Eng.University of Eng. and Tech. Taxila, Pakistan1995-2000
DiplomaSoftware Tech.Aptech Comp Education, Lahore, Pakistan2001
CertificateManagementNorthwestern Univ., Evanston, Illinois, USA2010

Research and Teaching Appointments

YearPositionDepartment / Institution
2023Assistant Professor Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
2017-2023Imaging ScientistNeuroscience., University of Lethbridge
2022-2023Sessional InstructorMath & Computer Sci., University of Lethbridge
2016-2017Postdoctoral Fellow Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge
2011-2014Postdoctoral AssociateMech. and Industrial Eng., Univ. of Illinois at Chicago
2011-2014Postdoctoral Fellow Neurobiology, Northwestern University
2005-2011Research Assistant Biomedical Eng, Northwestern University
2008-2011Graduate Assistant McCormick School of Eng., Northwestern Univ.
2002-2005Lecturer/Lab. Engineer Mechatronics Eng., Univ. of Eng. and Tech. Lahore

Intellectual Property

YearTitleInventors
2013US Patent 8557095, “Electrode for Whole Cell and Other Testing”John Troy, Samsoon Inayat, Donald Cantrell, Yan Zhao, Dimitriy Dikin
2011US Provisional Patent Application # 61/851,601, “Patch Clamp Chip for Whole Cell and Other Testing”John Troy, Samsoon Inayat
2011Invention Disclosure: “A Novel Patch-Clamp Electrode for Minimizing Cytosol Dilution in Whole-Cell Patch-Clamp Experiments”John Troy, Samsoon Inayat, Lawrence Pinto

List of Publications 

(Google Scholar, h-index 11, i10-index 12, citations 636)

* Equal Contribution

Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications (18)

  1. Keramidis I*, McAllister BB*, Bourbonnais J, Wang F, Isabel D, Rezaei E, Sansonetti R, Degagne P, Hamel J, Nazari M, Inayat S, Dudley JC, Barbeau A, Froux L, Godin AG, Mohajerani MH, De Koninck Y. “Restoring neuronal chloride extrusion reverses cognitive decline linked to Alzheimer’s disease mutations”, Brain, Link, Impact factor 14.5
  1. Sandhu P, Agha BM, Inayat S, Singh S, Ryait HS, Mohajerani MH, Whishaw IQ. “Information-theory analysis of mouse string-pulling agrees with Fitts’s Law: Increasing task difficulty engages multiple sensorimotor modalities in a dual oscillator behavior”, Behavioural Brain Research, 114705, 456, October 2023, Impact factor 2.7
  1. Inayat S*, McAllister BB*, Chang H, Lacoursiere SG, Whishaw IQ, Sutherland RJ, and Mohajerani MH. “Weak-hyperactive hippocampal CA1 neurons in the prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s disease in hybrid AppNL-G-F/NL-G-F ×Thy1-GCaMP6s+/- mice suggest disrupted plasticity”, Neurobiology of Aging, Volume 130, 154-171, October 2023, Impact factor 4.2
  1. Inayat S, McAllister BB, Whishaw IQ, and Mohajerani MH. “Hippocampal conjunctive and complementary CA1 populations relate sensory events to movement”, Cell iScience, Volume 26, Issue 4, April 2023, Link, Impact factor 5.75
  1. Afrashteh N*, Inayat S*, Bermudez-Contreras E*, Luczak A, McNaughton BL, and Mohajerani MH. “Spatiotemporal structure of sensory-evoked and spontaneous activity revealed by mesoscale imaging in anesthetized and awake mice”, Cell Reports, Volume 37, Issue 10, December 2021, 2 citations, Link, Impact factor 9.423
  2. Inayat S, Singh S, Ghasroddashti A, Qandeel, Edgodage P, Whishaw IQ, and Mohajerani MH. “A Matlab-based toolbox for characterizing behavior of rodents engaged in string-pulling”, eLife, June 2020. 3 citations,  Link, Impact factor 8.14 (GitHub Link)
  3. Inayat S*, Qandeel*, Nazari M, Singh S, McNaughton BL, Whishaw IQ, and Mohajerani MH. “Low acetylcholine during early sleep is important for motor memory consolidation,” Sleep Journal, E-Pub, November 2019, Volume 43, Issue 6, zsz297, June 2020. 4 citations, Link, Impact factor 5.135
       
  4. Afrashteh N*, Inayat S*, Mostafa Mohsenvad, and M. Mohajerani. “Optical-flow analysis toolbox for characterization of spatiotemporal dynamics in mesoscale optical imaging of brain activity,” NeuroImage Journal, (153) 58-75, June 2017. 28 citations. Link, Impact factor 5.90 (GitHub Link)
  1. Rountree CM*, Inayat S*, Troy JB, and Saggere L. “Differential stimulation of the retina with subretinally injected exogenous neurotransmitter: A biomimetic alternative to electrical stimulation,” Nature Scientific Reports. 6, 38505, November 2016. 9 citations, Link, Impact factor 4.379
  2. Inayat S*, Barchini J*, Chen H, Feng L, Liu X, and Cang J. “Neurons in the most superficial lamina of the mouse superior colliculus are highly selective for stimulus direction,” Journal of Neuroscience, 35(20), 7992-8003, May 2015. 59 citations, Link, Impact factor 6.167
  3. Inayat S*, Rountree CM*, Troy JB, and Saggere L. “Chemical stimulation of rat retinal neurons: Feasibility of an epiretinal neurotransmitter-based retinal prosthesis,” Journal of Neural Engineering, 12 (2015) 016010, December 2014. (Cover Article), 22 citations,  Link, Impact factor 4.141
  4. Inayat S, Pinto LH, and Troy JB, “Minimizing cytosol dilution in whole-cell patch-clamp experiments,” IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, vol. 60, no. 7, 2042-2051, July 2013. (Featured Article), 3 citations,  Link, Impact factor 4.42
  5. Inayat S, Zhao Y, Cantrell DR, Dikin DA, Pinto LH, and Troy JB, “A novel way to go whole-cell in patch clamp experiments,” IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, vol. 57, no. 11, 2764-2770, November 2010. 8 citations,  Link, Impact factor 4.42
  1. Zhao Y, Inayat S, Dikin DA, Ruoff RS, and Troy JB, “Impedance characterization and modeling of an improved patch clamp device,” Journal of Nanoengineering and Nanosystems, vol. 223, no. 3-4, 1-11, November 2010. 9 citations,  Link
  2. Balannik V, Obrdlik P, Inayat S, Steensen C, Wang J, Rausch JM, DeGrado WF, Kelety B, and Pinto LH, “Solid-supported membrane technology for the investigation of the influenza A virus M2 channel activity,” Pflügers Archiv European Journal of Physiology, vol. 459, no 4, 593-605, November 2009. 16 citations,  Link, Impact factor 2.765
  1. Zhao Y, Inayat S, Dikin DA, Singer JH, Ruoff RS, and Troy JB, “Patch clamp technique: review of the current state of the art and potential contributions from nanoengineering,” Journal of Nanoengineering and Nanosystems, 222, 1-11, June 2009. 81 citations, Link
  2. Maddox DM, Vessey KA, Yarbrough GL, Invergo BM, Cantrell DR, Inayat S, Balannik V, Hicks WL, Hawes NL, Byers S, Smith RS, Hurd R, Howell D, Gregg RG, Chang B, Naggert JK, Troy JB, Pinto LH, Nishina PM, and McCall MA, “Allelic variance between GRM6 mutants, Grm6nob3 and Grm6nob4 results in differences in retinal ganglion cell visual responses,”  Journal of Physiology, vol. 586, no. 18, 4409-4424, September 2008. 61 citations, Link, Impact factor 5.182
  1. Cantrell DR, Inayat S, Taflove A, Ruoff RS, and Troy JB, “Incorporation of the Electrode-Electrolyte Interface into the Finite Element Models of Metal Electrodes,” Journal of Neural Engineering, vol. 5, no. 1, 54-67, March 2008. (Cover article), 105 citations, Link, Impact factor 4.141
  1. Pinto LH, Vitaterna MH, Shimomura K, Siepka SM, McDearmon EL, Balannik V, Omura C, Lumayag S, Invergo BM, Glawe B, Cantrell DR, Inayat S, Olvera MA, Vessey KA, McCall MA, Maddox DM, Morgans CW, Young B, Pletcher MT, Mullins RF, Troy JB and Takahashi JS, “Generation, identification and functional characterization of the nob4 mutation of Grm6 in the mouse,” Visual Neuroscience, vol. 24, no. 1, 111-123, January 2007. 64 citations, Link, Impact factor 3

In-Preparation (03) 

  1. Inayat S, McAllister BB, Whishaw IQ, and Mohajerani MH. “Task induced distance and time tuning of hippocampal CA1 cells”
  2. Singh S*, Inayat S*, Mohajerani MH, Doan J, and Whishaw IQ. “Pathologic kinematic features of movements in Parkinson’s disease patients revealed with the string-pulling task”
  3. Inayat S*, Singh S*, Mohajerani MH, Doan J, and Whishaw IQ. “Periodic auditory stimulus differentially synchronizes string-pulling movements” 

Conference Papers (02)

  1. Rountree CM, Inayat S, Saggere L, and Troy JB, “Biomimetic stimulation of rat retinal ganglion cells with the neurotransmitter glutamate,” Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 36th Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, August 2014. Link
  2. Chen S, Yi J, Inayat S, Liu W, Cang J, and Zhang H, “Measuring absolute microvascular blood flow in cortex using visible-light optical coherence tomography,” Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 36th Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, August 2014. Link

Abstracts/Posters (19)

  1. Inayat S, McAllister BB, Chang H, Lacoursiere S, Whishaw IQ, Sutherland R, and Mohajerani MH. “Impaired spatial navigation but spared encoding of distance and time in hippocampal CA1 neurons of an APP Knock-in mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease”, Alzheimer’s Society of Alberta Fundraiser, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, September 2022.
  2. Juell D, Fazio L, Mirzagha B, Inayat S, Fraser S, Dudley J, Hagens E, Whishaw IQ, Mohajerani MH, “Characterization of Multiple Sclerosis in a mouse model using the string-pulling behavioural task,” Alberta MS Network Scientific Forum, Banff, Alberta, Canada, December 2021.
  1. Inayat S, McAllister B, Sun J, McNaughton BL, and Mohajerani MH, “Spatial encoding of a linear environment by hippocampal CA1 neurons in APP knock-in mice expressing Alzheimer’s disease-related mutations,” Promoting Healthy Brain Aging and Preventing Dementia Symposium by Campus Alberta Neuroscience, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, (Online) May 2021.
  1. Inayat S, Sun J, McNaughton BL, and Mohajerani MH, “Probing the contribution of self-motion versus sensory cues in generating responses of hippocampal CA1 place cells in mice,” Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, October 2019.
  1. Mohajerani MH, Inayat S, Singh S, Qandeel, and Whishaw IQ, “Behavioural analysis toolbox for mice engaged in string-pulling task,” Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, October 2019.
  1. Inayat S, Qandeel, Nazari M, Singh S, Whishaw IQ, Mohajerani MH, “Low acetylcholine during early sleep is crucial for motor memory consolidation: Support for the Synaptic Homeostasis Theory,” Society for Neuroscience Meeting, San Diego, California, November 2018.
  1. Inayat S, Mehla J, Sun J, Ranger J, Sutherland RJ, McNaughton BL, Mohajerani MH, “Probing neural correlates of spatial navigation deficits in a second-generation mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease,” Canadian Association for Neuroscience Meeting, Vancouver, British Columbia, May 2018.
  1. Rountree CM, Inayat S, Saggere L, and Troy JB, “Feasibility of a neurotransmitter-based retinal prosthesis: Subretinal glutamate injections produce differential responses in OFF and ON pathways of rat retina,” Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Annual Meeting, Denver, Colorado, May 2015.
  1. Inayat S, Barchini J, and Cang J. “Two-photon Calcium imaging of visual response properties of neurons in the mouse superior colliculus,” Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Washington DC, November 2014.
  1. Rountree CM, Inayat S, Troy JB, and Saggere L, “Development of a chemical retinal prosthesis: Stimulation of rat retina with Glutamate,” Engineering in Medicine and Biology, IEEE, Osaka, Japan, July 2013.
  1. Rountree CM, Inayat S, Saggere L, and Troy JB, “Chemical stimulation of a rat retina toward a neurotransmitter-based retinal prosthesis,” Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, October 2012.
  1. Inayat S, Pinto LH, and Troy JB, “Lowering series resistance in whole-cell patch clamp experiments using the Pushpen Patch Clamp Electrode,” Biophysical Society Annual Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland, March 2011.
  1. Zhao Y, Inayat S, Dikin DA, Ruoff RS, and Troy JB, “Impedance characterization and modeling of an improved patch clamp device,” International Conference on Nano-engineering and Nanosystems, Edinburgh, Scotland, April 2010.
  1. Inayat S, Zhao Y, Dikin DA, Ruoff RS, and Troy JB, “Design and development of a novel electrode to improve recordings in whole-cell patch clamp experiments,” Annual Meeting of the Society of Neuroscience, Chicago, Illinois, October 2009.
  1. Zhao Y, Inayat S, Dikin DA, Ruoff RS, and Troy JB, “Computational modeling and impedance response optimization of patch clamp electrodes,” Annual Meeting of the Society of Neuroscience, Chicago, Illinois, October 2009.
  1. Cantrell DR, Inayat S, Pinto LH, and Troy JB, “Characterization of nob4 Retinal Ganglion Cell Responses,” AVA Annual Xmas Meeting.  Birmingham, U.K., December, 2007.
  1. Cantrell DR, Inayat S, Pinto LH, and Troy JB, “Characterization of nob4 retinal ganglion cell (RGC) responses to visual stimulation,” The Aging Eye, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Annual Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, May 2007.
  1. Cantrell DR, Inayat S, Taflove A, Ruoff RS, and Troy JB, “Incorporation of the electrode-electrolyte interface into computational models of microelectrodes,” Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting 2006, Chicago, Illinois, October 2006.
  1. Inayat S, Cantrell DR, Pinto LH, and Troy JB, “Electrophysiological Testing of the ON-Pathway in nob4 retina, a mutant of the C57BL/6J mouse,” Experimental Tools in Model Systems of Translational Vision Research, Jackson Laboratories, Bar Harbor, Maine, September 2006.

Oral Presentations (11)

  1. Inayat S, “The encoding of sensory, spatial, and temporal content by neuronal populations in the hippocampus”, Harley-Hotchkiss Memorial Lecture Series, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, November 2021.
  2. Inayat S, “Information coding in CA1 Hippocampus in an air induced treadmill running task,” Mohajerani-Murphy-Raymond Labs Joint Meeting (Zoom), University of Lethbridge and University of British Columbia, October 2021.
  3. Inayat S, “Quantitative Analysis of Neural Activity with Calcium Imaging,” Murphy Lab NeuroData Seminar (Zoom Meeting), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, September 2020.
  4. Inayat S, “Quantitative Analysis of Neural Activity with Calcium Imaging,” Computational Neuroscience Workshop, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, June 2019 and May 2020.
  5. Inayat S, “Self-motion computations in Hippocampal CA1 region,” Computational Neuroscience Workshop, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, November 2018.
  6. Inayat S, Singh S, Qandeel, Whishaw IQ, and Mohajerani MH, “Let’s pull a few strings with Matlab: Analysis of video data of string-pulling behavior in mice,” Canadian Spring Conference on Behavior and Brain, Fernie, British Columbia, February 2018.
  7. Inayat S, “Neural Signal and Imaging Processing: Quantitative Analysis of Neural Activity,” Sattelite Meeting, Canadian Association for Neuroscience Meeting, Montreal, Quebec, May 2017.
  8. Inayat S, “Mesoscale spatiotemporal dynamics of cortical activity through the eyes of optical flow analysis,” Polaris Meeting, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, March 2017.
  9. Inayat S, “Visual responses of neurons in the superficial layer of mouse superior colliculus,” Neurobiology Department Seminar, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, October 2014.
  10. Inayat S, “A novel patch-clamp electrode for improving whole-cell patch-clamp recording,” Biomedical Engineering Department Seminar, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, November 2011.
  11. Inayat S, “Impaired ON responses of the retinal ganglion cells of nob4 retina,” Advanced Topics in Vision Seminar, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, March 2007.

Research Experience

  • Imaging Scientist – Research Associate (10/2017 – 06/2023) ~ 6 years
    Postdoctoral Research Fellow (03/2016 – 09/2017) ~ 1 year, 7 months
    Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
    Mentors: Drs. Majid Mohajerani, Bruce McNaughton, and Ian Whishaw
    • Developed a Matlab based toolbox for analyzing video data of mice engaged in the string-pulling task (work published in eLife) – First Author
    • Developed a Matlab based toolbox for analyzing traveling waves of brain activity in mesoscale wide-field imaging data (work published in NeuroImage) – Co-First Author
    • Studied how acetylcholine levels during early sleep affect motor memory consolidation using mouse behavior and pharmacology (work published in Sleep Journal) – First Author
    • Studied the contribution of sensory cues and self-motion in the generation of responses of mouse hippocampal CA1 place cells using two-photon calcium imaging and by developing a novel behavioral paradigm in which head-fixed animals run on a treadmill in response to an airstream (manuscript in preparation) – First Author
    • Studying spatial and temporal encoding properties of neurons in the mouse hippocampus and retrosplenial cortex using calcium imaging in healthy mice and mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease (manuscript in preparation)
    • Studying the characterization of motor deficits in Parkinson’s disease patients using the human string-pulling task (manuscript in preparation)
  • Postdoctoral Fellow (01/2012 – 11/2014) ~ 2 years, 11 months
     Neurobiology Department, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
    Mentor: Dr. Jiahnua Cang
    • Studied cellular plasticity and response properties of neurons in the mouse visual system (visual cortex and superior colliculus) using calcium imaging and psychophysics
    • Developed a behavioral setup for visual psychophysics
    • Work published in Journal of Neuroscience – First-Author
  • Postdoctoral Associate (01/2012 – 11/2014) – Part time ~ 2 years, 11 months
    Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA
    Mentor: Drs. Laxman Saggere and John Troy
  • Research Assistant (09/2005 – 12/2011) ~ 6 years, 3 months
     Biomedical Engineering Department, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
    Mentors: Drs. John Troy and Lawrence Pinto
    • Developed a micro-mechanism based novel patch clamp electrode
      • to obtain intracellular access by impaling cell membrane with a conical wire inside patch pipette while in cell-attached configuration
      • to minimize cytosol dilution by removing excess pipette solution
    • Modeled cytosol diffusion into patch pipette using COMSOL Multiphysics Software
    • Investigated the reversibility of influenza-A virus M2 protein from amantadine induced inhibition using patch clamp combined with fluorescence measurements with Chinese Hamster Ovarian cells
    • Characterized retinal ganglion cells using multielectrode array electrophysiology
    • Modeled metal microelectrodes using COMSOL Multiphysics Software
    • Work published in Journal of Neural Engineering, Journal of Physiology, Visual Neuroscience Journal, Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, Journal of Nanoengineering and Nanosystems, European Journal of Physiology – 2 First Author, 4 second author, and 2 middle author

Teaching Experience

  • Sessional Instructor (09/2022 – 12/2022) ~ 3 months Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
    • Teaching “Calculus for Management and Social Sciences” in-person and using online teaching tools including Moodle (a learning management system), WeBWork (a homework delivery system for mathematics), and ePoll (for in class quizzes)
  • Graduate Assistant – Technology Tutor (09/2008 – 05/2011) ~ 2 years, 3 months (15 hours/week)McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
    • Tutored undergraduate students in math, engineering, and science subjects
      • Basic and Advanced Calculus, Linear Algebra, Statistics, Numerical Analysis, Physics, Thermodynamics, Statics and Dynamics, Mechanics of Materials, Electric Circuits, Signal Processing, and Computer Programming
  • Lecturer / Laboratory Engineer (06/2002 – 06/2005) ~ 3 years (average 15 hours/week)
     Mechatronics Department, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan
    • Instructed undergraduate courses
      • Digital Systems, Digital Signal Processing, Instrumentation and Measurements, Dynamics, Basic Mechanical Engineering
    • Supervised and executed mechatronics engineering projects
      • Human Pulse Rate Measurement, Mechanized Target Chaser, Line Tracking Car, Automatic washing machine, DC motor speed control, Control Software for 3-axis robotic arm
    • Managed Digital and Analog Systems Laboratory
    • Served on equipment purchase committees
  • Visiting Lecturer (2001) ~ 3 months (3 hours/week)
    Touchstone College of Information Technology, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Instructed courses including C++, Microsoft Visual Basic, Physics

List of Students Mentored or Co-Supervised

  • Graduate Level
    • Zahra Rezai, PhD Candidate, 2020-2023, Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge
    • Luca Fazio, PhD Candidate, 2020, Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Germany
    • Navvab Afrashteh, PhD Candidate, 2016-2022, Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge
    • Surjeet Singh, PhD, 2017-2021, Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge
      Currently postdoctoral fellow at The Jackson Laboratories, Bar Harbor, Maine
    • Megan Okuma, MS student, 2018-2020, Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge
      Currently PhD student at McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
    • Qandeel, MS, 2016-2018, Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge
      Currently preparing to take Dentistry Licensing Exams in Canada
    • Jad Barchini, PhD, 2012-2014, Neurobiology, Northwestern University
      Currently postdoctoral fellow at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience
    • Corey Rountree, PhD, 2012-2014, Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University
      Currently research scientist at AxoSim, New Orleans, Louisiana
    • Gaurav Chenji, MS/MD, 2013-2014, Neurobiology, Northwestern University
      Currently resident physician at Cleveland, Ohio
  • Undergraduate Level
    • Pradeep Sandhu, 2022-2023, Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge
    • Davis Juell, 2021-2023, Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge
    • Pramuka Egodage, 2018-2019, Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge
    • Arashk Ghasroddashti, 2018-2020, Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge
    • Natasha Patel, BS, 2017-2018, Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge
      Currently MS student in Public Health Department at the University of Lethbridge
    • Jaira Ranger, BS, 2016-2017, Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge
      Currently health care aide for Alberta Health Services
    • Andrew Kuang, BS, 2012-2014, Neuroscience, Northwestern University
      Currently MD student at the University of Illinois at Chicago
    • Sameera Pahwa, MD, 2012-2013, Neuroscience, Northwestern University
      Currently resident physician at New Orleans, Louisiana

Funded Grants

  1. Principal Investigator, Prototype to product development of hardware and software toolbox for rodent string-pulling behavior, Campus Alberta Neuroscience Entrepreneurship Seed Grant, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, November 2020 – November 2021, (CAD 30,000)
  2. Proposal Writing Experience with Dr. Majid Mohajerani (PI), Probing the link between amyloid deposition, cortico-hippocampal network dysfunction and cognitive impairment in a second generation of transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, 2018-2023, (CAD 688,500), Link

Honors and Awards

  1. Grant to attend Advanced Neuro-Imaging course at Max Planck Institute, Jupiter, Florida, USA, 2017, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (US $3200)
  2. Affiliate Member CREATE Program Biological Information Processing, 2016 – 2017, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada
  3. Key Personnel on National Institutes of Health Grant R01EY020950 to Dr. Jianhua Cang, National Institutes of Health, USA
  4. Significant contributor on National Science Foundation Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation Grant 0938072 to Dr. Laxman Saggere, National Science Foundation, USA
  5. Palmer Roberts Endowment (Support for two Quarters of PhD), 2011, Northwestern University (US $15,000)
  6. Graduate Assistantship, stipend and fee waiver, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Northwestern University, USA (~US $80,000)
  7. US Fulbright Fellow (MS Biomedical Engineering), 2005 – 2007, US Department of State (~US $110,000)
  8. Split PhD Scholarship Award 2004 (declined), Higher Education Commission, Pakistan
  9. Outstanding Teaching Evaluation, 2003 and 2004, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan
  10. Indigenous PhD Scholarship Award 2003 (declined), Ministry of Science and Technology, Pakistan
  11. Award of Distinction, B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering Final Project
  12. Merit Scholarships during undergraduate and high school studies

Professional Affiliations

Present

  1. Autism Society of Alberta, Calgary, AB, Canada
  2. Canadian Association for Neuroscience, Victoria, BC, Canada
  3. Society for Neuroscience (SFN), Washington DC, USA
  4. Pakistan Engineering Council, Islamabad, Pakistan

Past

  1. Biomedical Engineering Society, Maryland, USA
  2. Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), New York, USA
  3. Biophysical Society, Maryland, USA

Industry Experience

YearPosition / Company
2001 (5 months)Software Engineer, Fastrack Information Technology, Lahore, PakistanDeveloped an inventory control software using MS SQL and Visual BasicDeveloped system to create users online for e-Commerce applications
2001-2005Independent Contractor – EntrepreneurshipInstalled and commissioned programmable logic controllers and instrumentation on compressed-natural gas stationsDesigned and fabricated electronic circuits for automatic control of rolling advertisement boards

Skills 

Experimental Design

  • Factorial Design
  • Machine learning based experimental design

Analytical

  • Quantitative and Statistical Analysis
  • Principal Component Analysis, Independent Component Analysis
  • Computer Vision – Optical Flow and Machine Learning based Methods
  • System Modeling and Simulation
  • Machine learning based methods: Bayesian encoding/decoding, classification/clustering algorithms

Electrophysiology

  • Intracellular Electrophysiology (Patch clamp technique combined with fluorescence measurements, Two-electrode voltage clamp technique)
  • Extracellular Electrophysiology (Single electrode, Multielectrode array, Spike Sorting and Analysis)
  • Two-photon microscopy guided patch-clamping in-vivo

Imaging

  • Two-photon laser scanning microscopy (calcium imaging), Wide-field optical imaging using voltage-sensitive dyes, Epifluorescence microscopy

Mechatronic Design

  • Mechanical and Electronic hardware design and fabrication
  • Computer and microcontroller interfacing with analog and digital electronic circuits

Computer and Software

  • Programming (GitHub Link)
    • Matlab, Python, C/C++/Visual C++, SQL, HTML, PHP, ASP, Visual Basic, Java
  • Operating Systems
    • MS-DOS, Windows, Linux (Ubuntu), Mac OS
  • Software packages
    • COMSOL Multiphysics, Offline Sorter, Microsoft Office, Circuit Maker 2000, Electronics Workbench, Macromedia (Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash, Swish), DeepLabCut 

Animal Behavior

  • Design of operant and classical conditioning tasks
  • Rotarod task, skilled reach task, string-pulling task, air induced treadmill running

Surgical

  • Craniotomy and cranial window implant for chronic brain imaging (two-photon laser scanning microscopy), Cortical and sub-cortical viral or Dye injections for imaging, Isolated retinal preparation for electrophysiology (mice and rats), Harvesting xenopus oocytes

Molecular Biology 

  • DNA amplification, Mini/Maxi preparation, RNA Transcription, RNA injection in oocytes, Transfection of mammalian cells with plasmid DNA

Cell Culture

  • Chinese hamster ovarian and Pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells

Animal Breeding

  • Mice and rats (keeping a colony)

Communication Skills

  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • Verbal
    • Fluent in English, Urdu, Hindi, and Punjabi
    • Conversant in Arabic
  • Written
    • Proficient in writing scientific literature in English (manuscripts that I have written have received excellent comments from reviewers such as “fine submission” and “well written”)

Scientific Community Service

  • Reviewed manuscripts independently for the following journals
    • Behavioral Brain Research, 2022
    • Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2022
    • Sensing and Bio-Sensing Research, 2022
    • Applied Physics B (Lasers and Optics), Sensors, 2012
  • Participated in reviewing manuscripts with Drs. Jianhua Cang and Majid Mohajerani for the following journals: Neuron, Cerebral Cortex, Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, Communications Biology, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019
  • LeST Fellowship application reviewer, www.lestnow.org, 2021
  • Presenter, Brain Awareness Week, 2017, 2018, 2019

Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

  • Judge, Science Fair, 2017

University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

  • Elected Vice President (Operations), Postdoctoral Association, 2016-2017

University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

  • Instructor, Accelerated Weekend Experience program for kids, 2013

Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA

  • Demonstrator, Science for Kids, 2009

Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA

  • Presenter, Engineering Outreach Program, 2004

University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan

Social Service

  • Builder, Habitat for Humanity, 2010

Evanston, Illinois, USA

  • Dish washer, Soup Kitchens, 2010-2014

Evanston, Illinois, USA

  • Helper, Soup Kitchens, 2018-2019

Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada