Research Scientist
Research Laboratory of Electronics
M.I.T.
Cambridge, MA
profile date: sep '05
HST Thesis Research
My work involved measurements of the motion of cellular and sub-cellular structures in response to sound stimulation in a simple cochlea, that of the alligator lizard. This work was motivated by the desire to gain a basic understanding of the micromechanical processes involved in sound transmission through the cochlea. I found evidence that the motion of individual hair bundles in the alligator lizard cochlea is mechanically tuned, and that the tuning properties vary with the height of the hair bundle. I also showed that basilar papilla motion is not simply proportional to basilar membrane motion, as previously suggested. Rather, the basilar papilla simultaneously undergoes both translation and rotation, so that the motion at a given point is elliptical. These results provide the first thorough demonstration of multiple modes of motion in a single cochlea.
Current Professional Activities
I am currently working on a variety of experimental and modeling projects that fall into three general categories: measuring properties of the tectorial membrane (TM), measuring sound-induced motions of the mammalian cochlea, and modeling the mechanical properties of the cochlea. I employ a variety of techniques, including microscopy, microfabrication, and computer vision.
Personal Statement about SHBT training
My training in the SHBT program has continued to serve me well after graduating. The broad training that the program provides in topics related to speech and hearing enables me to better understand and explain how my research fits into a broader context. In addition, the SHBT program has given me ample practice with both public speaking and writing, which are arguably the two most important skills of a professional researcher.
