AJ is a PhD candidate in Electrical Engineering at Stanford University in the Chichilnisky Lab working on brain-computer interfaces for vision restoration. A recipient of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, his research focuses on developing algorithms to modulate neural populations at single-cell and single-spike resolution. AJ earned BS degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from New Mexico State University and an MS degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. Outside of research, he enjoys training for long course triathlons and backpacking.
This research improves neural implants for vision restoration by reproducing natural brain activity patterns. Using a two-way stimulation approach in the retina, electrical signals are optimized to activate neurons precisely. This enables more accurate visual perception, moving beyond crude light flashes toward meaningful vision, with potential to restore recognition of familiar faces.