My research in the SHBT program involved the development of a modeling approach to relate nonlinear physiological response properties associated with the cochlear amplifier to human psychophysical performance. I showed that the dynamic-range problem can be solved at low frequencies by a simple neural mechanism that decodes across-frequency, level-dependent phase cues that are related to the cochlear amplifier.
I am developing a lab to investigate the relation between neural and perceptual responses to sound through the coordinated use of neurophysiology, computational modeling, and psychoacoustics. Although many researchers have traditionally focused on a single approach to the auditory system, the multi-disciplinary approach I am taking and that was emphasized in my SHBT training was very attractive to Purdue.
The most impressive attributes of the SHBT program are the genuine concern of the faculty for the success of the students, and the flexibility provided to the students in choosing their own research topics and thesis questions. The SHBT program is incredibly rich in the variety of approaches that students can learn and use in their research. This approach to research questions is a valuable skill that will serve students well in any career path, whether it be in a medical, engineering, or scientific discipline.
