Richard A. Andersen

Richard A. Andersen is the James G. Boswell Professor of Neuroscience and Director of the T&C Chen Brain-Machine Interface Center at California Institute of Technology. He holds the T&C Chen Brain-Machine Interface Center Leadership Chair. His research focuses on neural mechanisms underlying decision-making, motor planning, and the development of brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) for paralyzed patients. Andersen earned his B.S. from UC Davis (1973) and Ph.D. from UCSF (1979). His work bridges neuroscience, engineering, and clinical applications, emphasizing restoring independence through neuroprosthetics.

Key research interests include decoding intentions from posterior parietal cortex signals, functional ultrasound neuroimaging, and somatosensory feedback in BMIs. He leads interdisciplinary collaborations with engineers, clinicians, and theorists. Notable achievements include pioneering BMI technology allowing tetraplegics to control robotic limbs and computers via thought. Andersen also explores internal speech decoding and neural repair via brain stimulation.

• Received the Prize for Outstanding Achievements in Neurological Research.
• Directs the Chen BMI Center, advancing clinical trials and translational research.
• Collaborates with institutions like USC, UCLA, and the University of Colorado on BMI development.
• Advocates for ethical neurotechnology, emphasizing human-centric applications.

Lab personnel include postdoctoral researchers and engineers working on BMI hardware, decoding algorithms, and clinical testing. Current projects include bidirectional BMIs for sensory feedback and AI-enhanced neural signal analysis.