Shaoyu Ge is a Professor of Neurobiology & Behavior at Stony Brook University. He holds a PhD from the University of Science and Technology of China (2002) and completed postdoctoral training at Baylor College of Medicine and Johns Hopkins University. His research focuses on adult neurogenesis, synaptic integration of new neurons, and their roles in neural circuitry and disease. The Ge Lab employs molecular, imaging, and behavioral approaches to study how new neurons integrate into adult circuits and contribute to cognitive functions. Key research themes include understanding the mechanisms of hippocampal neurogenesis in health and Alzheimer’s disease, dopamine’s role in auditory processing, and microglial contributions to sleep-wake regulation. His work bridges developmental neurobiology with translational applications in regenerative medicine. The lab is affiliated with Stony Brook’s Renaissance School of Medicine and maintains a dedicated website ( GX Lab ). Current students include Adrian DiAntonio (Graduate Student), while former lab members such as Natsuko Kumamoto have transitioned to faculty positions at institutions like Osaka University. The lab’s findings frequently appear in top-tier journals like Nature Neuroscience and Neuron , emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to neuroscience challenges.
Andrew Moiseff is a Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Affairs in the Department of Physiology & Neurobiology at the University of Connecticut. He holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University. His research focuses on understanding neural mechanisms underlying animal communication behaviors, with a particular emphasis on firefly synchrony and auditory localization in barn owls. Key research areas include: Firefly communication strategies and visual signaling Neural basis of sound localization in owls Behavioral adaptations in sensory systems Publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches to understanding animal behavior, spanning entomology, neuroscience, and acoustic ecology. His work often bridges basic science and pedagogy, such as developing collaborative teaching methods. The Moiseff Lab investigates firefly behavior and owl auditory systems to explore how organisms process sensory information for navigation and communication. Professional roles include overseeing research and graduate affairs at UConn, supporting interdisciplinary initiatives in neuroscience and biology.
Mark Cypher is a Senior Lecturer and Associate Dean of Engagement at the School of Media and Communications, Murdoch University within the College of Law, Arts and Social Sciences. His academic career bridges practice and theory in contemporary art and design, with a focus on interactivity, new materialism, and actor-network theory. He is also an international new media artist, exhibiting in over 30 global venues including ISEA, Siggraph, and FILE festivals. Education: Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art and Design) at Curtin University Masters by Research (Art and Design) at University of Sydney Graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching at Edith Cowan University PhD (Art and Design) at University of Western Australia (2011) Research Interests: Cypher explores critical design practice, digital aesthetics, human-machine relations, and the nexus between art/design practice and discourse. His work interrogates non-human agency in collaboration, materiality in new media, and the ethical dimensions of interactivity. Key theoretical frameworks include actor-network theory and new materialism. Artistic and Professional Contributions: As principal of BoxCudos Design, he advises on communications design for cultural and corporate clients. His art practice engages with biotechnology, virtual environments, and participatory systems, reflecting his commitment to interdisciplinary innovation. Recognition: His PhD research was honored by the Leonardo Electronic Almanac (2012) as one of the highest-ranked abstracts. His work spans exhibitions in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, and the USA.
Dr. Jerome Beetz is a Senior Scientist and Principal Investigator at the University of Würzburg , leading the Beetz Lab within the Biocenter. His research focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying spatial memory in insects, particularly honeybees and monarch butterflies, through behavioral experiments and neurophysiological recordings in freely navigating individuals. His work explores how visual landmarks and spatial parameters are processed in the insect brain, with a specific interest in spatial working and reference memory , navigation systems , and polarized light sensitivity . His recent studies include decoding compass representations in monarch butterflies and analyzing temporal tuning in bat auditory cortex. Scientific Awards : Emmy Noether-Programm grant from the German Research Council (DFG) Advising : Supervising Master's students: Nicolas Scheuring, Annabell Weßner Labs & Collaborations : Beetz Lab (University of Würzburg) Collaborations with Basil el Jundi, Christian Kraus, Wolfgang Rössler, and other neuroscientists
Daniel Baldauf serves as Associate Professor at the Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Italy, where he directs the MEG facility and leads the Attention Network Group. His academic appointments include Assistant Professor positions at CIMeC (2016-2019) and research scientist roles at MIT's McGovern Institute (2014-2018). PhD in Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (2008) Diploma in Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (2005) Graduate studies in Psychology and Neurobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (2000-2005) Fulbright Fellowship at Caltech (2006-2007) Postdoctoral training at MIT under Robert Desimone (2009-2014) His research centers on neural communication mechanisms using multimodal neuroimaging. Key interests include directed information flow between brain areas through neural oscillations, with applications to visual/auditory attention, working memory, and executive control. His lab employs MEG/EEG, fMRI, DTI, and behavioral paradigms to investigate how oscillatory synchrony orchestrates perception and sensorimotor control across five integrated projects: top-down attention mechanisms, frequency tagging methodologies, functional-anatomical connectivity mapping, attention during sequential behavior, and sleep-state connectivity dynamics. The exceptional temporal resolution of MEG enables millisecond-precision analysis of large-scale network interactions. Publication trends reveal consistent focus on attentional networks and neural synchrony, with increasing methodological sophistication in multimodal integration (MEG/fMRI/DTI) and computational approaches like 2D-Fourier frequency tagging. Recent work expands into sleep neurophysiology while maintaining core attention research. DFG Doctoral Grant (2005-2008) DAAD Study Abroad Grant (2006-2007) Fulbright Travel Grant (2007) Vision Science Society Student Investigator Award (2007) Baldauf actively mentors through CIMeC's MA and PhD programs, teaching specialized courses in MEG analysis, computational methods, brain connectivity, and research ethics. His lab collaborates with Fondazione Bruno Kessler's Neuroinformatics group on DTI-fMRI integration. Current research leverages CIMeC's state-of-the-art MEG facility to explore neural dynamics across wakefulness and sleep cycles, with emphasis on how oscillatory patterns support cognitive functions. Future directions include refining causal inference in connectivity studies through transcranial stimulation and developing machine learning approaches for neural decoding. The Attention Network Group maintains strong industry and academic partnerships, with Baldauf serving on editorial boards for Nature Scientific Reports and reviewing for 20+ top neuroscience journals including Neuron, Journal of Neuroscience, and NeuroImage.
Prof. Daniel Oberfeld-Twistel is an Associate Professor at the Department of General Experimental Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. His academic career includes a PhD from TU Berlin (2005) and Habilitation (2011) at Mainz, leading to his appointment as extraordinary professor in 2020. His research focuses on perception and cognition in traffic scenarios, time-to-contact estimation, auditory and visual integration, and the effects of color on emotion and spatial perception. He collaborates widely with institutions like Rice University and Fraunhofer ITWM, exploring topics such as electric vehicle safety, loudness modeling, and virtual reality applications. His methods include psychophysical experiments, Monte Carlo simulations, and statistical modeling. He has led DFG-funded projects on auditory cognition and spatial perception, and his teaching spans cognitive psychology, perception, and applied statistics. Research highlights include studies on pedestrians’ interaction with autonomous vehicles, audiovisual integration in traffic scenarios, and the influence of environmental factors (e.g., color, light) on perception and decision-making. He has contributed to over 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, with recent work on temporal weighting in loudness perception and user acceptance of autonomous public transport. His work bridges fundamental research and applied contexts, addressing real-world challenges in traffic safety and urban design.
Dr. Maria Kondaurova is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville . Her research focuses on speech perception, child language development, and the impact of technology like telepractice and social robots on communication. She directs the Language Acquisition Research and Exploration Lab (LAREL), studying vocal interactions in families with children with hearing loss or autism. Dr. Kondaurova holds a PhD in Linguistics from Purdue University (2008), an M.A. from Purdue (2004), and a B.A. in Linguistics, English, and French from Moscow State Linguistic University (1995). She teaches courses in quantitative methods, psycholinguistics, and speech science. Her research interests include experimental phonetics , acoustic-phonetic analysis , and telepractice efficacy . Key projects examine how modern technologies (e.g., telepractice, robots) influence child linguistic behavior and caregiver interaction. She collaborates with experts in audiology, robotics, and statistics, including Qi Zheng (Bioinformatics), Karla Welch (Electrical Engineering), and Laura Dilley (Michigan State). Dr. Kondaurova advises graduate students (e.g., Bianca Welikson, Loui Chang) and mentors undergraduates in research on topics like trauma effects on infant-directed speech and music-emotional development links. She actively recruits participants for studies on caregiver-child interactions and telepractice outcomes. Her lab’s facilities include tools for physiological monitoring (e.g., Empatica E4 sensors) and speech analysis software. Current projects validate telepractice techniques for measuring listening effort in children with hearing loss. Future work explores social robotics in autism therapy and vocal turn-taking dynamics.
Saradha Ananthakrishnan, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Audiology Graduate Program Director in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology at Towson University's College of Health Professions. She holds a Ph.D. (2013) and Au.D. (2012) from Purdue University, and a B.S. (2008) from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences. She is licensed in Maryland and holds ASHA CCC-A certification. Her research expertise spans three primary domains: Neurophysiological representation of auditory signals in typical/atypical auditory systems Simulation applications in audiology education and clinical training Integration of machine learning methodologies in audiological research and diagnostics An analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2011-2022) reveals consistent focus on neural mechanisms of auditory processing, particularly using frequency following responses (FFR) to study pitch encoding, speech perception, hearing loss, and auditory prosthetics. Her work bridges clinical audiology, neurophysiology, and technological innovation, with frequent publications in high-impact journals like Ear and Hearing and Hearing Research . As Graduate Program Director, she leads curriculum development and oversees clinical training initiatives, including pioneering research on simulation-based audiology education. She maintains active presentation schedules at major conferences including the Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO) and American Auditory Society.
Yan Yu is a Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at St. John's University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. from the Graduate Center at City University of New York, an M.A. from St. John's University, and a B.A. from Hubei Normal University in China. Certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), her work bridges communication sciences, psycholinguistics, and cognitive neuroscience. Education Ph.D., City University of New York M.A., St. John's University B.A., Hubei Normal University, China Her research focuses on brain plasticity for auditory and cognitive processing (language and music) in neurotypical and neurologically impaired populations. She investigates interactions between experience (language/music) and brain development, and the brain's malleability through neurointervention. Her work spans communication sciences and disorders , neurolinguistics , and speech perception , with applications to autism spectrum disorders and developmental language disorders . Recent publications highlight her expertise in neuroplasticity , bilingual speech processing , and neural responses to speech sounds . She has secured significant funding including a 2022-2026 NIH R16 Grant ($820,000), multiple Faculty Summer Research Grants, and infrastructure grants at St. John's University and William Paterson University. Scientific awards include Rees Dissertation Fellowship (2011-2012) Paula Menyuk Travel Award (2011) Science Fellow (2005-2007) Student Travel Grant (2008) She has presented extensively at international conferences like the Society for the Neurobiology of Language, Acoustical Society of America, and International Association for the Study of Child Language. Her teaching portfolio includes undergraduate and graduate courses in speech science, research methods, developmental language disorders, and bilingual studies.
Les Keniston, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Anatomy at the University of Pikeville. He specializes in neural biology and holds expertise in multisensory integration and consciousness studies. Education: Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia Doctor of Philosophy in Anatomy (specialization: Neural Biology), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia Research Interests: Dr. Keniston’s work focuses on multisensory integration mechanisms, information theory applications in neuroscience, sensorimotor transformations, and theories of consciousness. He employs animal models (e.g., ferrets, rats) to study cortical plasticity and sensory processing. Advising & Grants: No formal advisees or grant details are listed in the provided information. Labs/Teams: No specific lab affiliations are mentioned.
Geoffrey Ghose, PhD is a Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota Medical School. His research focuses on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying perception, attention, and sensory processing in the brain. He employs advanced neuroimaging techniques like fMRI and electrophysiological recordings in combination with computational modeling to investigate how sensory information is processed across cortical hierarchies. Key research themes include the role of alpha oscillations in visual processing, the impact of attention on auditory and visual cortex activity, and the optimization of neuroimaging methodologies. His work bridges basic neuroscience with translational applications in neurotechnology and perceptual learning strategies. He has pioneered techniques for analyzing task-dependent cortical activity profiles and refining fMRI sensitivity without sacrificing spatiotemporal precision. Recent investigations explore the interplay between top-down microcircuitry and perceptual decision-making, as well as the neurophysiological bases of perceptual ambiguity resolution. His studies utilize both human and non-human primate models, with a particular focus on visual and auditory cortical areas such as V4, MT, and auditory cortex regions. Ghose's contributions have advanced understanding of how neural synchrony and microcircuit dynamics shape sensory perception and cognitive functions.
Corby Dale, PhD, is a Researcher at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), affiliated with the Graduate Division. His work focuses on neuroimaging, cognitive neuroscience, and understanding neural mechanisms underlying brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorders. He has contributed to advancements in MEG/EEG source reconstruction through the development of the NUTMEG software tool. His research spans topics including auditory processing, sensorimotor adaptation, neuroplasticity, and cognitive training interventions for psychiatric disorders. Education includes postdoctoral studies in the Graduate Division at UCSF. Key research areas include neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s), auditory dysfunction in schizophrenia, and genetic influences on neurodevelopmental disorders via the Simons VIP project. His publications highlight expertise in functional connectivity analysis, neural oscillations, and translational brain imaging techniques. Notable contributions include studies on sensory prediction errors in speech production, interhemispheric auditory synchronization in hearing loss, and cortical plasticity in cognitive rehabilitation. His work bridges basic neuroscience with clinical applications, emphasizing computational methods and open-source tools for neuroimaging analysis.
Steven Cheung, MD, is a Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He specializes in otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery. Dr. Cheung earned his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania and completed all clinical and research training at UCSF. He is a member of the Otology, Neurotology, and Skull Base Surgery Division. Education: BA in Chemistry from Dartmouth College (1983), MD from University of Pennsylvania (1987). Completed internships, residencies, and fellowships in General Surgery, Otolaryngology, and Skull Base Surgery at UCSF. Holds certifications including Diplomate of the American Board of Otolaryngology and Subspecialty Certification in Neurotology. Research focuses on hearing loss, tinnitus, neuroprostheses, and sensory rehabilitation. Key interests include auditory cortex dynamics, brain imaging, and surgical innovations for skull base tumors. Has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and delivered over 100 international presentations. Notable awards include the UC Academic Senate Mid-Career Leadership Award (2021), multiple teaching awards, and the Edmund Prince Fowler Award for Basic Research (2005). Active in grants as Principal Investigator for studies on brain plasticity, neuroimaging tools for tinnitus, and auditory cortical processing. Advises on clinical trials (e.g., DBS for tinnitus) and leads research teams. Collaborates on projects involving UCSF’s Neurophysiology and Neuroimaging groups. Engaged in educational initiatives, including neurosurgery teaching programs and mentorship of early-career clinicians. Labs/Teams: Active in UCSF’s Otolaryngology Division, Otology/Neurotology Unit, and Skull Base Surgery Group. Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams addressing complex neurological and audiological challenges.
Jeff Smith is a Professor in Film at the University of Wisconsin-Madison , with research expertise in film music/sound, cognitive film theory, and the American film industry. His email is jpsmith8@wisc.edu and office hours are held in Vilas Hall. His current projects explore cognitive biases in cinematic storytelling and a bottom-up history of 1930s Hollywood film music to challenge the 'masterpiece' approach to composers like Max Steiner. His work employs data from 640+ cue sheets and close analysis of scores. Key publications include the books Film Criticism, the Cold War, and the Blacklist (2014) and The Sounds of Commerce (1998), which won a runner-up award from the International Association for the Study of Popular Music. Honors: The Sounds of Commerce, 1998 (runner-up for Best Book-U.S., IASPM) Education: Ph.D. in Film, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1995 M.A. in Film, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1989 B.M. in Music, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 1985 Research Interests: Film music and sound Cognitive biases/heuristics in storytelling Hollywood production cycles and political commentary Soundtrack album commercialization Metacritical analysis of film criticism
Jessica Sullivan is a Professor in the Psychology Department at Skidmore College. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of California, San Diego, and a B.A. from Wesleyan University. Her teaching portfolio includes courses such as Statistics and Research Methods, Developmental Psychology, Cognitive Development, and Cross-Cultural Development. Dr. Sullivan's research explores fundamental questions in cognitive development including: how children acquire complex knowledge from limited evidence; the relationship between linguistic representations and other cognitive systems; and the application of developmental psychology to education, parenting, and policy. Her work integrates cognitive, social, and cross-cultural perspectives to understand learning mechanisms. Her recent publications demonstrate a focus on numerical cognition, racial socialization, pandemic understanding in children, and methodological innovations in developmental research. The research spans cognitive development, social psychology, educational applications, and cross-cultural studies, consistently examining how children construct understanding of complex concepts. Dr. Sullivan maintains an interdisciplinary approach to research, connecting psychological science with practical applications in education and child development.
