Welcome to the IEEE Brain Podcasts. Here, we interview some of the top subject matter experts in brain research and neurotechnology as well as talk with students and young professionals about their research and experiences in the field.
Episode 11
Q&A with Jack Gallant, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at UC Berkeley
In partnership with IEEE EMBS. When it comes to functional mapping of the human brain, Jack Gallant, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at UC Berkeley, is at the forefront. Although we are a ways away from fully mapping the brain, Jack’s work in functional MRI has led to incredible spatial maps that are helping scientists better understand the brain. Jack shares how he got started in neuroscience, why he believes understanding the brain is important for the future of science and medicine, how those interested in a similar career path should get started, and more.
Episode 10
Q&A with Dr. Elisa Konofagou, Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Radiology at Columbia University
We sat down with Dr. Elisa Konofagou, Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Radiology at Columbia University, at the 2018 IEEE Brain Initiative Workshop on Advanced NeuroTechnologies. Dr. Konofagou gave us further insights and a deeper dive into ultrasound neuromodulation of the brain in vivo, the topic she discussed during the workshop. She shares more about her work and how her goal is to create a world where cancer, tumors, psychiatric and motor neural diseases are detected and treated using ultrasound-based technologies.
Episode 9
Q&A with Chris Berka, CEO and Co-Founder of Advanced Brain Monitoring
In this podcast, we spoke with Chris Berka, CEO and Co-Founder of Advanced Brain Monitoring, following her presentation at the IEEE Brain Initiative Workshop on Advanced NeuroTechnologies to get an inside look at how her company is using brain activity monitoring to better understand neurodegenerative diseases. Advanced Brain Monitoring uses sleep and daytime brain profiles to collect valuable data which is then used to predict advancements in diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Chris shared her end goal for observing and collecting data from brain activity, new projects her company is working on, how she got started working in neurotechnology and advice for those looking to follow the same career path.
Episode 8
Q&A with Dr. Jennifer Gelinas, Assistant Professor of Neurology in the Institute for Genomic Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center
Dr. Gelinas is focused on understanding how neural networks can be disrupted by pathologic activity, especially epileptic activity and she discusses with us how better bio markers for neuro psychiatric disease brings hope for new therapeutic targets for these types of disorders.
We sat down with Dr. Gelinas at the 2018 IEEE Brain Initiative Workshop on Advanced NeuroTechnologies in San Diego, California to discuss her research, how she came to work in neurotechnology, how collaboration has benefited her research, and much more.
Episode 7
Q&A with Dr. Kip Ludwig, Associate Director of the Mayo Clinic Neural Engineering Laboratories
In partnership with IEEE EMBS. Kip Ludwig started his career in the bio-chemical/bio-molecular field, but when a rat beat him at a video game using Brain Machine Interfaces, he knew his future was in neurotechnology. Dr. Ludwig, Mayo Clinic Neural Engineering Laboratories Associate Director, has dedicated his career and his research to the field of neurotechnology and has made incredible strides in implantable and injectable systems, bionic eyes, Deep Brain Stimulation, and more. Through his work with the White House Brain Initiative and the Mayo Clinic, he has been on the forefront of cutting-edge developments in neurotechnology that have enabled blind people to see and deaf people to hear. In this podcast, Dr. Ludwig shares his vision for the future of neurotechnology, how the IEEE Brain Initiative is essential to the development of new technology, and much more. Dr. Ludwig is well on his way to his career goal which is to solve every neural degenerative disease during his lifetime.
Episode 6
Q&A with Dr. Maryam Shanechi, Assistant Professor and Viterbi Early Career Chair in Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California (Part 2)
In this podcast, we continue our conversation with Dr. Maryam Shanechi, USC, Assistant Professor and Viterbi Early Career Chair in Electrical Engineering. Dr. Shanechi’s research focuses on decoding and manipulating brain signals. In this second podcast, she shares an overview of her work on Brain-Machine Interface (BMI) design and how she hopes to use BMIs to restore motor function, control anesthesia, and alleviate depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Shanechi also shares how collaboration between mathematicians, computer scientists, electrical engineers, biomedical engineers, neurosurgeons and neuroscientists is crucial in developing neurotechnology. In addition, she gives us a glimpse into her goal of using BMIs to not just treat disorders, but to enhance our natural functions and capabilities.
Episode 6
Q&A with Dr. Maryam Shanechi, Assistant Professor and Viterbi Early Career Chair in Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California (Part 1)
When it comes to decoding and manipulating brain signals, Dr. Maryam Shanechi is among the best. She has been recognized with awards such as the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the MIT Technology Review World’s Top 35 Innovators under 35, and the Popular Science Brilliant 10, and is genuinely passionate about her work and research. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Dr. Shanechi, USC, Assistant Professor and Viterbi Early Career Chair in Electrical Engineering, shares the challenges of studying the brain and the success she has had in her career. She also dives into the potential of Brain-Machine Interfaces to determine and treat neurological disorders, how her background in Control Theory influenced her decision to research the brain, and why she believes this is a very exciting era for engineers, mathematicians, and scientists.
Episode 5
Q&A with Dr. Jacob Robinson, IEEE Brain Co-Chair, Assistant Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Bioengineering at Rice University, Adjunct Assistant Professor in Neuroscience at Baylor College of Medicine
In partnership with IEEE EMBS. With so many challenges and complexities surrounding the brain, it is imperative that neuroscientists and engineers work together to answer the hard questions and truly make progress in the study of the brain. That’s one of the reasons Dr. Jacob Robinson is not only involved in the IEEE Brain Initiative but is the Co-Chair. In addition, Dr. Robinson is an Assistant Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Bioengineering at Rice University and is an Adjunct Professor in Neuroscience at Baylor College of Medicine. During this podcast episode, Dr. Robinson discusses the work his lab is doing in the field of Nano-neurotechnology and how they are using nanofabrication technology to create devices that can monitor and manipulate neural circuits. He shares his goals in working with engineers and other neuroscientists to understand the brain and help advance the treatment of neurological disorders. Dr. Robinson also gives us a glimpse into why he began studying the brain and how he believes that by understanding the brain, we can understand humanity and what makes us different from one another.
Episode 4
Q&A with Dr. Heather Benz, Staff Fellow at the FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health
In partnership with IEEE EMBS. Virtual reality, prosthetics, biomedical engineering and research are just a few of the areas in which Dr. Heather Benz works on a day-to-day basis. As a biomedical engineer working as a Medical Device Staff Fellow at the FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Dr. Benz experiences the sci-fi excitement that comes with working in new technology as well as using that technology to help people in need; her two passions. In this IEEE Brain podcast episode, Dr. Benz shares what it’s like working with the FDA to improve the lives of patients, how she came to be a biomedical engineer and what it’s like to be a woman in her field.
