Dennis M. Freeman

Professor Dennis M. Freeman is a Professor of Electrical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), affiliated with the Research Laboratory of Electronics (RLE) and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). His work focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular basis of human hearing, particularly the role of the tectorial membrane in cochlear mechanics.

Education: B.S., Pennsylvania State University (1973); S.M. and Ph.D., MIT (1976, 1986).

Research Interests: Professor Freeman’s group pioneers measurements of inner ear mechanics, revealing how sound-induced motions in sensory cells and structures like the tectorial membrane govern hearing sensitivity and selectivity. Their discoveries include the role of tectorial membrane waves in hearing deficits and nonlinear auditory processing.

Awards: Recipient of the MacVicar Faculty Fellow for Teaching (2006), recognizing excellence in education. His work has been supported by grants such as the d’Arbeloff Grants (2006).

Administration: Served as Dean for Undergraduate Education at MIT (appointed 2013).

Labs/Groups: Leads the Micromechanics Group within RLE, dedicated to interdisciplinary research at the interface of engineering and biology.