Cristin Welle

Cristin Welle is a Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery and Physiology & Biophysics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus School of Medicine, where she also serves as Vice-Chair for Research in Neurosurgery. Her academic journey includes a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania (2010) and a BS from the College of William and Mary in Virginia (2004).

Dr. Welle leads the BIOElectrics Lab which investigates how neurological medical devices interact with the nervous system. Her research focuses on dissecting circuit-level structural and functional implications of neuromodulatory and brain-computer-interface devices using advanced techniques including optogenetics, chronic electrophysiology, and longitudinal in-vivo imaging in animal models. The lab's primary goal is to understand the dynamic interactions between devices and neural circuits in the context of translational neurotechnology.

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on neural interfaces, with particular emphasis on vagus nerve stimulation mechanisms, chronic neural implant responses, and advanced imaging techniques for neural structures. The research spans from fundamental neural circuit investigations to practical applications for motor rehabilitation, brain injury assessment, and neural device safety.

Dr. Welle is an active member of the Society for Neuroscience and has contributed to multiple high-impact collaborative projects including the Deep Brain Stimulation Think Tank. Her work bridges engineering, neuroscience, and clinical applications, with significant contributions to understanding how neural interface technologies can be optimized for therapeutic use.

The BIOElectrics Lab maintains a multidisciplinary approach combining optics, electrophysiology, and neural interface technologies to push the boundaries of neurotechnology. Their research has been featured in prominent media outlets discussing emerging trends in neural stimulation and brain-computer interfaces.