Lab Members
Arun Singh, PhD
Assistant Professor
Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences
Department of Neuroscience
Sanford School of Medicine
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, SD, 57069
Email ID: arun.singh@usd.edu
Lab: +1 605 658 6470
Dr. Singh obtained PhD in systems neuroscience from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich in Germany. His doctoral research delved into the analysis of basal ganglia local field potentials recorded from externalized deep brain stimulation electrodes, as well as scalp EEG activities, in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) during various upper- and lower-limb motor performances.
Following his PhD, Dr. Singh pursued a postdoctoral fellowship at Emory University in Atlanta, USA. During this fellowship, he conducted research within both the Neurology department and the Yerkes National Primate Research Center. His investigations primarily revolved around studying the intricate striatal networks in animal models with Parkinsonian characteristics and patients diagnosed with PD.
Prior to joining the distinguished faculty at the University of South Dakota, Dr. Singh made valuable contributions to the Neurology department at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. His research efforts in this role were primarily focused on unraveling the intricacies of cognitive and motor control in individuals living with Parkinson's disease.
Dr. Singh's academic journey showcases his commitment to advancing the understanding of PD and related disorders and his expertise in systems neuroscience. His research accomplishments have established him as a respected authority in the field, contributing to the broader scientific community's knowledge and paving the way for improved treatments and interventions for patients with PD.
Matt Leedom
Senior Researcher / Collaborator
Matt Leedom is a physical therapist and assistant professor of Physical Therapy at the University of South Dakota. He holds a board-certification as a Neurologic Clinical Specialist, through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. He teaches in the areas of rehabilitative neuroscience, pathophysiology and differential diagnosis, and physical therapy management of neuromuscular conditions. His research interests include motor control, postural control, and neurophysiologic effects of exercise on people with Parkinson’s disease. He also has extensive clinical expertise in the areas of neuromuscular function, clinical neuroanatomy, motor control, and management of symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease and parkinsonism. He is a member of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapists, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), and the South Dakota Physical Therapy Association (SDPTA). He is also an APTA credentialed Clinical Instructor, a certified Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery (PWR!) therapist, and holds a certification in Neurologic Clinical Practice from the NeuroRecovery Training Institute.
Taylor Bosch, PhD
Senior Researcher
Taylor Bosch is the Human Functional Imaging Core manager at USD interested in neuroimaging techniques like electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as well as neurostimulation techniques like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial electrical stimulation (tES). He received his PhD from USD in 2018 and now works with investigators from diverse research backgrounds to apply neuroimaging and neurostimulation techniques to their research projects. His own research interests are in motor learning and the skilled manipulation of objects using hand-held tools.
Jamie Scholl, MS
Senior Research Associate
Jamie Scholl is the project manager for the Center for Genetics and Behavioral Health Laboratory and our research collaborator. Singh lab collaborates with her to work on the gut microbiota project. Her primary research interests involve biological and behavioral analysis including substance-use disorders, anxiety/depression, and biological markers (e.g. cortisol, oxytocin, genetics, and inflammatory markers). As the director of our department’s Behavioral Core, she also has been involved in and coordinated research that includes models of cognition and memory impairments, early-life stress, anxiety/depression-like behavior testing and analysis, drug-induced behavior testing, as well as neuropharmacology. She currently works in and maintain a BSL-2 laboratory and that processes and maintains a variety of biological human samples for analysis.
Shotabdi Roy
Research Associate
Shotabdi Roy has completed B.Sc. in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from Leading University, Sylhet, Bangladesh and M.Sc. in Computer Science at the University of South Dakota, USA. During her undergrad period, her research was based on Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence-based Object Sensing Robot, Arduino based line Following Prototype Robot to distinguish different colored paths, PLC based Robotic Hand to hold and move different objects. Her undergrad thesis “A Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence-based Cost-effective Object Sensing Robot” has been published in the International Journal of Intelligent Robotics and Applications (IJIRA).
Shomoita Jahid Mitin
Research Assistant
Shomoita Jahid Mitin has completed her BSc in Computer Science and Engineering from East West University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. While doing her undergrad, she has worked as both Undergraduate Teaching Assistant and Graduate Teaching Assistant under the supervision of renowned professors in the Computer Science and Engineering department at East West University. After completing her bachelor's, she worked as a Software Developer in Vivid Technologies Limited, a USA-Client based software firm in Bangladesh. Then she joined as a Lecturer at Asian University of Bangladesh. She worked there till 2022 then she decided to get a master's degree in CS at USD. She is currently a Graduate Student in Computer Science at the University of South Dakota. Her research interests are based on AI, Machine Learning, Deep Learning and Reinforcement Learning. She has published many papers in the same fields.
Isaac Kieti
Student Volunteer
Isaac Kieti is a Neuroscience and Psychology Major with a minor in Biology at the University of South Dakota. He enjoys reading and writing on philosophy and psychology in his free time. He aims to be a physician specializing in psychiatry.
Sara Alhasnawi
Medical Student
Sara Alhasnawi graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in ACS Biochemistry and Spanish from Augustana University with Civitas Honors. During her undergraduate studies, she conducted medicinal chemistry research on the synthesis of chemopreventive glucosinolates through the nitronate pathway at Augustana University. She has also done research at the University of Minnesota Thayer Lab studying the TRPM4-NMDAR complex's excitotoxic impacts on neurodegenerative diseases and potential inhibitory therapeutics. As graduate students in the Thayer Lab continue the work, Sara awaits authorship on the future publication due to her contribution once the research is finalized.
