People
Jean-Paul Noel, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
google scholar
CV
Jean-Paul graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College with a B.A. in Psychology in 2012. He was a Fulbright Scholar at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, and earned his PhD in Neuroscience from Vanderbilt University in 2018. He worked at Oculus VR Research (now Meta Reality Labs) in 2016. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship at New York University and in collaboration with the International Brain Laboratory. Jean-Paul joined the faculty at the University of Minnesota in November 2024. Outside the lab, he enjoys spending time with his family, skiing, and cycling.
Shizhao Liu, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Shizhao graduated from Tsinghua University with B.A.s in Biomedical Engineering and Psychology in 2019. She earned her PhD in Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the University of Rochester in 2025. Her PhD research focused on neural evidence for generative Bayesian inference in the macaque visual cortex. In the Noel lab, her goal is to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying causal inference in rodent models. Outside of work, she enjoys badminton, rock climbing, and spending time with her cats.
Jacob Gable, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Jacob earned his B.S. in Psychology from North Dakota State University. His Ph.D. work at the University of Minnesota focused on synaptic integration and the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive motor control. In the Noel Lab, his work centers on the neural mechanisms of multisensory causal inference. Outside the lab, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, exercising, traveling, and attending EDM concerts.
Huzi Cheng, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Huzi is a computational neuroscientist interested in understanding how brains solve problems by testing neurally constrained models and analyzing neural data. He earned his Ph.D. in Psychology and Neuroscience from Indiana University Bloomington, where his research focused on computational modeling of goal-directed behavior under the supervision of Prof. Joshua W. Brown. Outside of research, he enjoys cooking and reading.
Tina Liu, M.A.
Researcher – Humans
Tina Liu graduated from Furman University with a B.A. in Psychology and Studio Art in 2021. She received her Master’s Degree in Psychology from Brandeis University in 2024. Her research interests include cognitive psychology, multisensory integration, memory, and sleep. She plans to continue exploring the potential connections between different factors within the realm of cognition and perception. Outside the lab, she enjoys taking photos, handcrafting, gaming, listening to music, baking, and watching movies.
Max Bluhm
Lab Engineer
Max graduated from Middlebury College in 2024 with a B.A. in Neuroscience and Computer Science. As the lab’s engineer, he designs and builds custom research equipment and software to support the lab’s experiments. His expertise includes electrical engineering, software development, and 3D printing. Outside the lab, Max enjoys cooking, camping, backpacking, and playing games with friends.
Maria Jose Sosa
Researcher – Animal Models
Maria Jose Sosa graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a B.S. in Neuroscience. She is a neuroscientist with expertise in preclinical research involving neurovascular systems, deep brain stimulation, large scale neuronal recording, and brain disorders. She is currently working on a research project employing large scale neuronal recording techniques to characterize peri-personal space (PPS) neurons.
Shayla Brooks
Researcher – Animal Models
Shayla Brooks graduated from the University of Arizona in 2025 with a B.S. in neuroscience and cognitive science. She is broadly interested in how the mind arises from the brain, with interests spanning cognition, perception, and comparisons between biological intelligence and AI systems. She currently works on a research project using large-scale neuronal recording techniques to characterize peri-personal space (PPS) neurons in mice. When not in the lab, Shayla can often be found cooking, at concerts, or enjoying the Minnesota North Woods.
Christian Eidahl
Graduate Student – Robotics
Christian graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a B.S in electrical engineering in 2020. He is currently pursuing a M.S in Robotics at the University of Minnesota with an interest in computational neuroscience, specifically applying deep neural networks to explainable latent spaces, predictive coding, and active inference. When not working on research or coursework, he can be found on the pond playing hockey or planning his next thru hike.
Eliane Lei
Undergraduate Researcher
Eliane is a second-year Data Science and Physics student at the University of Minnesota. She is interested in how neural and complex systems at the edge of chaos, framed through physics and dynamical systems, shape decision-making. In the lab, she works with both software and hardware to explore how stimuli and computational tools reveal these dynamics in brain and behavior. Beyond academics and research, she photographs and collages fleeting scenes that emerge from the world’s flow.
Summbla Anjum
Undergraduate Researcher
Summbla is a fourth-year Neuroscience and GCD (Genetics, Cell Biology and Development) student at the University of Minnesota. She is interested in how environments can shape perception and behavior. She hopes to continue to explore this area of study by investigating peri-personal space (PPS) with other lab members. In her free time, Summbla likes to play with her cat, listen to music, and spend time with friends and family.
Sancia Mary Jerold Wilson
Undergraduate Researcher
Sancia is a third-year Biomedical Engineering major and Computer Science minor on the neural engineering pathway at the University of Minnesota. She is fascinated by how the brain makes sense of the world and how thoughtful engineering can help us study that process. In the lab, she is developing custom auditory stimulation rigs for mouse experiments, including spatial speaker arrays and motion-based platforms, combining hardware design, software control, and rapid prototyping to create precise and reliable experimental systems. When she is not being a student, she loves spending time outdoors hiking, biking, and kayaking, and is always looking for an excuse to bake something sweet.
Pesto
Lab Mascot
Pesto hasn’t made much progress as a neuroscientist. But watching his behavior and observing how his personality changes over time is endlessly fascinating. He enjoys snow and snuggling.
Alumni
Brady Chisholm (Research Assistant)
Noel Lab, Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota 