Meet the Team

  • Jackson J. Cone, PhD

    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. 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. He is also working on an MSc degree in Analytics from Georgia Tech (expected 2024).

    jackson.cone@ucalgary.ca

    Link to CV

  • Amira K. Fadl, MBBS

    GRADUATE STUDENT

    MSc student in Biomedical Engineering

    Amira is a young medical doctor (MBBS) who is currently pursuing her MSc in Biomedical Engineering in Dr. Cone’s lab. 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

  • Kiana Kazeminejad, BS

    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

  • Bert Kwon, BSc (Hons)

    GRADUATE STUDENT

    MSc student in Psychology

    Bertrand (Bert) is a first year masters student with a strong interest in the visually guided aspects of behavioural neuroscience. By using cutting edge tools such as optogenetics and fibre photometry Bert hopes to shed some light on dopamine and the role it plays in reinforcement and perceptual learning. Bert also enjoys snowboarding, basketball, and hiking with his dogs.

    bykwon@ucalgary.ca

  • Faye Arellano

    UNDERGRADUATE HONOURS STUDENT

    BSc student in Psychology (Hons)

    Faye is a Psychology Honours student and is deeply intrigued by the cognitive functions of the brain. Her honours thesis leverages computational and machine learning tools to assess how fluctuations in task engagement affect measured relationships between brain perturbations and task performance in a large experimental dataset. Outside the lab, Faye enjoys playing video games, learning new languages, and immersing herself in books.

    ab.arellano@ucalgary.ca

  • Jamie Sanson, BSc

    RESEARCH ASSISTANT

    BSc in Psychology

    Jamie is currently volunteering as a research assistant and plans to pursue graduate studies in the near future. With a background in psychology, Jamie supports ongoing projects and aspires to delve deeper into the field. Outside the lab, Jamie works as a volunteer firefighter, enjoys learning new languages, and competes in powerlifting

    jamie.sanson@ucalgary.ca

  • Safir Ali

    RESEARCH ASSISTANT

    Safir is currently a Psychology undergraduate student with aspirations 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