Samantha R. Santacruz, Ph.D.

Samantha R. Santacruz joined the Biomedical Engineering (BME) department at the University of Texas, Austin, in October 2018. Previously she was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, working with Dr. Jose Carmena. Her research focuses on developing systems-based neurotherapies to both treat neural pathologies and to better understand the neural mechanisms responsible through data-driven models and analysis. Dr. Santacruz received her B.A. degree with honors in Applied Mathematics with an emphasis in Systems Theory from UC Berkeley in 2006, her M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Rice University in 2010, and her Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering at Rice University in 2014. She was awarded the Best Thesis Award for her doctoral work on engineering new methods of deep brain stimulation. Dr. Santacruz's research impact has been recognized through honors such as the NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award (2022), merit-based elevation to Senior Member in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE; 2023), and receipt of the Rice George R. Brown School of Engineering Outstanding Young Engineering Alumni Award (2024).

CV

Lab Members

Yasmine Sleiman - Graduate student 

e: ysleiman(at)utexas(dot)edu

Colin Kaeo - Graduate student 

e: cdk2234(at)my(dot)utexas(dot)edu

Colin Kaeo joined the Santacruz Lab in Fall 2025 after completing his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering at Duke University. He is eager to apply microelectrode array fabrication and optimization towards advancing treatments for psychiatric disorders. Outside of the lab, Colin enjoys language learning, travel, gaming, and listening to music.

Grace Jeanpierre - Graduate student - NSF GRFP

e: grace.jeanpierre(at)utexas(dot)edu

Grace Jeanpierre joined the Santacruz lab as an Electrical and Computer Engineering Ph.D. student in Fall 2020. She has been awarded the Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation. Grace is deeply fascinated by our ability to sense, decode, and modulate bioelectricity. This interest led her to pursue research on thin, flexible microelectrode arrays for deep brain stimulation and recording. Her hobbies include quilting, listening to true-crime podcasts, and spending time with her pets: Theo, Bunny, and Wilma.

Megan Baker - Graduate student

e: mnbaker(at)utexas(dot)edu

Megan Baker joined the Santacruz Lab as a Ph.D. student in Fall of 2021 and is currently co-advised with Dr. Deji Akinwande. She completed her Masters at Purdue in 2021 and her dndergraduate degree at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in 2019. She is currently working to fabricate biosensors with novel materials. She hopes to continue to better understand and treat various neurological and psychological disorders. She is also passionate about science education, communication, and policy. Outside of lab, she enjoys paddle boarding, hiking, camping, and playing with her two kitties.

Cole Barnett - Graduate student - NSF GRFP

e: colebarnett(at)utexas(dot)edu

Cole R. Barnett is a PhD student who joined the Santacruz Lab in Fall 2022. He graduated from Arizona State University in Spring 2022 with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. Cole has been awarded an Imaging Science and Informatics Fellowship from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as well as an Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation (NSF). He has always been fascinated with the vast complexity and elegance of the brain, and his research focuses on understanding decision-making and the brain, including how brain areas communicate with each other, how single neurons contribute to making decisions, and how electrical stimulation can affect these processes.  Outside of lab, Cole enjoys playing soccer and volleyball, paddleboarding on Ladybird Lake, and going running with friends.

Lab Alumni

Hannah Stealey, PhD - Former Graduate student (2019 - 2025) - Currently a Postdoctoral Fellow, Elston Lab, University of Texas at Austin

Hung-Yun Lu, PhD - Former Graduate Student (2019 - 2025) - Currently a Postdoctoral Fellow, Hennig Lab, Baylor College of Medicine

Yi Zhao, PhD - Former Graduate student (2019 - 2025) - Currently a Research Assistant, University of Michigan

Rodrigo Osuna-Orozco, PhD - Former Postdoctoral Fellow (2022 - 2025) - Currently at Neurolimits

Yin-Jui (Derek) Chang, PhD - Former Graduate student (2019 - 2023) - Currently a Senior Research Scientist at iota Biosciences

Enrique Contreras Hernandez, PhD - Former Postdoctoral Fellow (2019 - 2022) - Currently at the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan