Cynthia Chestek on Her Career Bridging Neuroscience and Electrical Engineering

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Cynthia Chestek brings an electrical engineering approach to discover how to allow movement of multiple fingers simultaneously following paralysis or amputation, using a brain-machine interface. In this interview she recounts the moment she knew she'd pursue a career in neuroscience, describes the rewards of that career, and looks to the future of neural interface technology, including neural networks. She also offers advice to women in engineering for a successful graduate education and career.

This article is part of Neuronline's interview series "Entrepreneurial Women Combining Neuroscience, Engineering, and Tech," which highlights the career paths and scientific accomplishments of female leaders and role models who are creatively bridging disciplines to improve lives.

Speaker

Cynthia Chestek, PhD

Cynthia Chestek is an associate professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on brain machine interface systems using 100 channel arrays implanted in motor and pre-motor cortex, with the goal of developing viable systems to enable paralyzed individuals to control prosthetic limbs as well as their own. Research projects at her lab comprise neural control of finger motion, electrodes and electronics, and systems neuroscience. The Cortical Neural Prosthetics Lab is part of the neural engineering cluster at the University’s Biointerfaces Institute, and the Multimodal Integrated NeuroTechnology NeuroNex Technology Hub.