Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal

Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal, Ph.D., is the Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Houston. He is the Founding Director of the NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) on BRAIN (Building Reliable Advances and Innovation in Neurotechnology), serving as both Center Director and University of Houston Site Director.

Dr. Contreras-Vidal is internationally recognized for his research in neural engineering, brain-machine interfaces (BMIs), and rehabilitation neuroscience. His laboratory—the Noninvasive Brain-Machine Interface Systems Lab—develops cutting-edge technologies that decode brain signals to control exoskeletons, robotic limbs, and other assistive devices. This work has led to transformative advances in restoring mobility and function for individuals with motor disabilities, including stroke, spinal cord injury, and Parkinson's disease.

A Fellow of both the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), Dr. Contreras-Vidal has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles and holds multiple patents in the field. His interdisciplinary research bridges neuroscience, engineering, medicine, and the arts—pioneering the emerging field of neuroaesthetics and exploring the neural basis of creativity through art-science collaborations.

Beyond his research, Dr. Contreras-Vidal is deeply committed to broadening participation in STEM through the BRAIN REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) program, which he directs at UH, providing hands-on research opportunities to students from underrepresented backgrounds.