Tim Gardner

Tim Gardner is an Associate Professor of Neuroengineering and holds the Robert & Leona DeArmond Chair at the University of Oregon's Knight Campus. He leads the Gardner Lab, focusing on neural circuit dynamics in songbirds and developing neural interfaces. His research integrates machine learning, electrophysiology, and advanced imaging to study vocal behavior and motor learning. Prior to academia, he contributed to Neuralink Corp's brain-machine interface development. Gardner earned a B.S. in Physics from Princeton University, a Ph.D. in Biology and Physics from Rockefeller University, and completed postdoctoral work at Rockefeller and MIT.

Education:

• Bachelor’s in Physics, Princeton University
• Ph.D. in Biology and Physics, Rockefeller University
• Postdoctoral Fellowships: Rockefeller University and MIT

Research interests span neuroengineering, vocal learning in songbirds, deep learning applications, and bioelectronic medicine. The lab pioneers techniques like direct laser writing for 3D electrodes and applies reinforcement learning to understand neural self-organization. Recent work includes TweetyBERT for automated birdsong analysis and neural interface materials like amorphous silicon carbide.

Awards:

• Robert & Leona DeArmond Chair in Neuroengineering

Advising & Grants: Supervises graduate students and postdocs in neuroengineering and bioengineering. Projects include nerve regeneration studies, microscale printing, and neural interface design. Collaborates with industry (e.g., Neuralink) and startups like Mattrix Technologies.

Labs/Teams: The Gardner Lab is part of the Knight Campus, emphasizing interdisciplinary research. Current projects involve 3D printing for biomedical devices and bidirectional brain interfaces. Undergraduates and graduate students contribute to projects like nerve cuff development and computational modeling of vocal sequences.