Leadership

Lab directors

  • Kendall H. Lee, M.D., Ph.D.
    • Director, Neural Engineering Laboratory

    • Dr. Lee is a functional neurosurgery consultant at Mayo Clinic, with joint appointments in the Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He is also a professor of neurosurgery and physiology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. Dr. Lee's clinical practice focuses on neuromodulation treatment of various neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases.

      Dr. Lee is responsible for strategic leadership of the lab, oversight of all lab research, and mentoring junior faculty and students. He also performs all of the human neurosurgery procedures conducted as part of the lab's research studies.

  • Kevin E. Bennet, Ph.D., M.B.A.
    • Co-Director, Neural Engineering Laboratory
    • Chair, Division of Engineering

    • Dr. Bennet has more than 30 years of experience in industry and technology development and has also founded several technology-based companies. He joined Mayo Clinic in 1990, transitioning from industry with degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, and holds the rank of assistant professor at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science and an appointment in the Mayo Clinic Department of Neurosurgery Research.

      The Division of Engineering builds custom medical systems and devices to enhance patient care and advance research. The division employs engineers and technologists specializing in biomedical, electrical, software, mechanical and chemical engineering, and maintains a prototype shop and a custom glass blowing facility.

Associate director

  • Charles D. Blaha, Ph.D.
    • Associate Director of Research

    • Dr. Blaha is a longtime collaborator of the Neural Engineering Laboratory, a role that started in his former position as a faculty member and distinguished professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Memphis. Dr. Blaha joined Mayo Clinic full time in 2015.

      Dr. Blaha oversees animal research, experimental design and data analysis and reviews work authored by junior lab members.