Jacob T. Robinson, PhD

Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University
Adj. Associate Professor of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine

Dr. Robinson graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a B.S. in Physics in 2003. While at UCLA, he worked in the Electrical Engineering and Physics departments in the laboratories of Professors HongWen Jiang, David Saltzberg, and Yahya Rahmat-Samii. In 2003 he entered the Applied Physics Ph.D. program at Cornell University where he worked with Professor Michal Lipson developing nanoscale silicon devices that confine light to small volumes and thereby enhance the interaction between light and matter. He also developed a novel scanning probe technique to image highly confined optical modes with nanometer spatial resolution.

Upon completing his Ph.D. in 2008, Dr. Robinson joined Professor Hongkun Park’s research group in the Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department at Harvard University. As a postdoctoral researcher he helped develop arrays of vertical silicon nanowires that can penetrate the cellular membrane without affecting cell viability. His work at Harvard showed that vertical silicon nanowires can be used to deliver biomolecules into a cell and interrogate a cell’s internal electrical activity. His current research interests include nanoelectronic, nanophotonic and nanomagnetic technologies to manipulate and measure brain activity. Dr. Robinson’s work has been recognized by several agencies including the DARPA Young Faculty Award and the John S. Dunn Foundation Collaborative Research Award.

Behnaam Aazhang

Director, Rice Neuroengineering Initiative

Behnaam aazhang is the J.S. Abercrombie Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Director of the Rice Neuroengineering Initiative (NEI).  Dr. Aazhang is a Fellow of IEEE and AAAS, and a distinguished lecturer of IEEE Communication Society and his been on faculty at Rice University since 1985. Visit the Aazhang Group Website.

Dr. Aazhang received an Honorary Doctorate degree from the University of Oulu, Finland (the highest honor that the university can bestow) in 2017 and IEEE ComSoc CTTC Outstanding Service Award “For innovative leadership that elevated the success of the Communication Theory Workshop” in 2016. He is a recipient of 2004 IEEE Communication Society’s Stephen O. Rice best paper award for a paper with A. Sendonaris and E. Erkip. In addition, Sendonaris, Erkip, and Aazhang received IEEE Communication Society’s 2013 Advances in Communication Award for the same paper. He has been listed in the Thomson-ISI Highly Cited Researchers and has been keynote and plenary speaker of several conferences.

Hunter Capoccioni

Academic Administrator, Rice Neuroengineering Initiative

Dr. Capoccioni joined the administration of the Rice Neuroengineering Initiative in 2021. He is responsible for the public relations and marketing of the NEI to the Rice Community and beyond. Additionally he works to shape the message and promote the content of InterfaceRice on a global scale by designing the conference’s digital and print materials. Questions about InterfaceRice 2023 can be directed to him by using the contact form at the bottom of the page. 

JoJo Platt

Neurotech Evangelist and CEO of Platt and Associates

With over 15 years in the field of neurotechnology, JoJo Platt is independent, trusted, respected, and connected.  She has built a unique and powerful network within the neurotech community.  Her role in the launch of the field of bioelectronic medicine, the peer-reviewed journal of the same name, and the Feinstein Institute’s Center for Bioelectronic Medicine, has afforded her the opportunity to create meaningful relationships with researchers and business leaders at all levels in neuroscience and neurotechnology , molecular biology, engineering, data science, microfabrication, materials science, signal processing, imaging, and more.  She has staffed multiple labs from postdocs to PIs.  JoJo’s network is over 5,000 strong and includes engagement with some of the field’s most influential and respected leaders.
JoJo works with a variety of clients including academic and research institutions, start-ups, industry leaders, and venture firms to accelerate business and create opportunities. She travels the world to stay connected and up-to-date, and she serves on the organizing committees of some of the field’s most important conferences including the Cleveland NeuroDesign Entrepreneurs Workshop, IEEE’s Neural Engineering Conference and Brain Initiative, EMBC, Rice University’s InterfaceRice, the Feinstein Institutes’ Bioelectronic Medicine Summit, and Neurotech Leaders Forum and Bioelectronic Medicine Forum.