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Raffi Hotter

Raffi Hotter

Building magical brain computer interfaces for humanity

raffi-hotter
San Francisco, CA
Joined February 2026
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Summary

Raffi Hotter possesses deep expertise and passion for Neurotechnology and Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI), with a goal to build 'magical brain computer interfaces for humanity'. His work spans research at Harvard and Google X, leading the software team for the 'Milo' brain-controlled wheelchair at McGill, and personal projects like an ultrasound-based brain scanner and research into decoding visual imagery from the brain. vercel+6
He has a strong academic foundation in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Neuroscience from McGill University and University of California, Berkeley. This interdisciplinary background is applied to complex projects, such as developing machine learning models for EEG interpretation and contributing to open-source software for microscopy. nitter+2
Raffi is a proactive community builder and leader. He co-founded MariHacks, a hackathon for high school students, and has established multiple community houses ('School 2.0' and a new one in San Francisco) to foster collaboration, learning, and social engagement among curious individuals. vercel+4
He is driven by tackling challenging, 'science-fiction-like' problems and effectively leverages expert knowledge, as highlighted by his experiences at Google X. His approach prioritizes solving the hardest problems first and utilizing collaboration to accelerate learning and innovation in ambitious projects. youtube

Work

Education

Projects

Writing

Luminos: open-source software for bidirectional microscopy

January 1, 2025

A bioRxiv preprint describing open-source software for bidirectional microscopy, indicating involvement in tools for biological imaging.

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Functional ultrasound through the skull

October 15, 2024

A blog post (with collaborators) introducing new methods for brain-computer interfacing using acoustoelectric imaging and functional ultrasound through the skull.

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Progress Towards Decoding Visual Imagery via fNIRS

January 1, 2024

An arXiv preprint exploring methods to decode visual imagery using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), suggesting advanced research in brain activity interpretation.

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A low-cost, semi-autonomous wheelchair controlled by motor imagery and jaw muscle activation

January 1, 2019

An academic paper detailing the 'Milo' brain-controlled wheelchair project, which uses EEG signals and machine learning to interpret motor imagery and jaw clenching for navigation.

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Hobbies

Enjoys building and living in community houses, such as 'School 2.0' in New Mexico and a new community house in San Francisco, fostering an environment for collaboration and social activities. vercel+2

Actively uses a 'Curius bookshelf' to track and share his reading online, indicating a passion for continuous learning and engagement with diverse topics. vercel+1