From DBS Research to Synchron's BCI: Crossing Career Fields with Stephanie Cernera, PhD
Neurocareers: Doing The Impossible!
Release Date: 03/31/2024
Neuroscience Alliance at UCF with Sudeepta Matha, Andrei Nesterenko, Mae Torra, Charisse Melendez, & Prof. Kiminobu Sugaya
Neurocareers: Doing The Impossible!
How can you take your career growth into your own hands? In this episode of Neurocareers: Doing the Impossible!, we’re diving into a story of initiative, inspiration, and empowerment led by the students of the Neuroscience Alliance at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Faced with a desire to expand their educational and career opportunities, these incredible students didn’t wait for the right resources to come their way—they created them! The Neuroscience Alliance was founded with a mission to promote awareness, research, and volunteer opportunities in neuroscience while building...
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Leveraging Your PhD for the Neurotech Industry with Dr. Mustafa Hamada, at Mendi
Neurocareers: Doing The Impossible!
Are you wondering how to pivot from academia to the neurotech industry without starting from scratch? Many assume that moving from a PhD to industry means leaving much of their academic experience behind, but that’s not necessarily the case. Welcome to this episode of Neurocareers: Doing the Impossible!, where we uncover how advanced academic skills can be a powerful asset in the neurotech sector. Today, we're honored to have Dr. Mustafa S. Hamada, Chief Science and Product Officer at Mendi Innovations in Sweden, share invaluable insights on leveraging PhD skills to break into and excel in...
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Assistive Platform for BCI-AR Applications, with Andreas Forsland at Cognixion
Neurocareers: Doing The Impossible!
What if your brain could control augmented reality with just a thought? Imagine assistive devices empowering millions with ALS, stroke, or paralysis to communicate and interact like never before. Welcome to the Neurocareers: Doing the Impossible! podcast featuring visionary innovator Andreas Forsland, Founder and CEO of Cognixion. A year ago, Andreas shared his entrepreneurial journey, giving us a behind-the-scenes look at Cognixion ONE—a groundbreaking brain-computer interface (BCI) headset that merges BCI and augmented reality (AR) to revolutionize assistive technology. Today, he’s...
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AI & Surgical Data Science: Shaping Healthcare & Careers with Daniel Donoho, MD
Neurocareers: Doing The Impossible!
How is artificial intelligence transforming healthcare, and what new career opportunities are emerging at the intersection of AI and surgery? In this episode of Neurocareers: Doing the Impossible!, Milena Korostenskaja, PhD, interviews Daniel Donoho, MD, a pioneering pediatric and adult neurosurgeon at Children’s National Hospital and George Washington University. Dr. Donoho discusses the role of AI in healthcare—what’s possible now, the challenges that remain, and how to carve out a career in this innovative field. He explores how AI is reshaping surgery and healthcare delivery, from...
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Wireless Neural Implant to Study Natural Behavior with Saehyuck Oh & Janghwan Jekal
Neurocareers: Doing The Impossible!
How can we record brain activity during natural behavior without bulky, restrictive devices? This question has challenged neuroscientists for years, but Saehyuck Oh and Janghwan Jekal from the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) have devised an innovative solution! In this episode of the BCI Award Neurocareers podcast series, we dive into the world of stealthy neural recording with their project, "Behavior to Byte: Stealthy Neural Recorder." The team has developed a fully wireless, battery-free, and implantable neural interface designed for primates, allowing...
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Brainwave Authentication & Neurotech Security with Violeta Tulceanu
Neurocareers: Doing The Impossible!
What if your brainwaves could unlock doors, sign documents, and protect your most sensitive information without ever touching a keypad or fingerprint scanner? Welcome to a mind-bending episode of Neurocareers: Doing the Impossible! hosted by me, Milena Korostenskaja, a neurocareers coach and your guide into the world of neurotech! Today, I’m delighted to interview Violeta Tulceanu, a pioneering researcher from KU Leuven, Belgium, who stands at the forefront of brainwave authentication and neurotechnology security. In this episode, we dive deep into a world where your thoughts could become...
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Non-Invasive Deep Brain Stimulation: International Neurotech Career with Emma Acerbo, PhD
Neurocareers: Doing The Impossible!
Have you heard of temporal interference (TI) electrical stimulation, a revolutionary concept of non-invasive deep brain stimulation (DBS)? Curious about what it takes to develop cutting-edge neuromodulation techniques while pursuing a scientific career across two continents? Welcome to the Women in Neurotech series on the Neurocareers: Doing the Impossible! podcast! 🚀 In this series, we shine a spotlight on extraordinary women transforming the world of neurotechnology, paving paths for future generations, and breaking barriers one groundbreaking idea at a time. Meet our guest, Emma Acerbo,...
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Podcasting to Jumpstart Your Career with Stephen Hou, Harrison Canning, Mike McClellan, & Milena Korostenskaja
Neurocareers: Doing The Impossible!
Are you ready to boost your career in a unique way? Today’s epsode is designed for anyone curious about starting a podcast—whether you want to explore it as a passion project, enhance your career, or dive into science communication. Welcome to a milestone moment – the 100th episode of Neurocareers: Doing the Impossible! For this special occasion, Milena Korostenskaja, host of Neurocareers, is stepping into the hot seat! Instead of hosting, Dr. K will be interviewed by one of her incredible former guests, Dr. Courtnie Paschall. Joining...
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Decoding Internal Speech with Neural Engineer Sarah Wandelt, PhD
Neurocareers: Doing The Impossible!
What’s the most significant impact you can make with your career—medicine or engineering? For Sarah Kim Wandelt, PhD, this question has a personal twist! While Sarah originally set out to become a medical doctor, her career led her to the fascinating world of neuroengineering and neurotechnologies. Meanwhile, her twin sister, who had dreamed of being an engineer, is now a medical doctor. So, how did they end up switching roles, and what insights can Sarah share with aspiring professionals in neuroscience and neurotechnology? In this episode of Neurocareers: Doing the Impossible!, your...
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Your Gateway to Neurotech: The NeuroTech Micro-Credential Program with Susan Boehnke, PhD
Neurocareers: Doing The Impossible!
Have you ever wondered where you can find the right educational path to dive into the cutting-edge world of neurotechnology? Whether you're an engineer eager to explore brain-computer interfaces or a neuroscientist looking to shift specializations, the challenge of finding accessible and credible educational resources can be daunting. Enter Dr. Susan Boehnke, PhD, a passionate neuroscientist and educator who is helping to bridge the gap between emerging neurotechnologies and society. As the Director of the Neurotech Micro-Credential Program at Queen's University, Dr. Boehnke is at the...
info_outlineWhat does it take to successfully navigate a career in the ever-evolving landscape of neurotechnologies? What is adaptive deep brain stimulation (DBS), and how is it transforming the lives of those with movement disorders? Today, on "Neurocareers: Doing the Impossible!" we dive into these questions with Dr. Stephanie Cernera, DBS research and development specialist, particularly for Parkinson's disease.
Dr. Cernera, with her rich background in Biomedical Engineering from Purdue University and a PhD from the University of Florida, has been at the forefront of pioneering DBS strategies. Her groundbreaking work on closed-loop DBS, utilizing wearable sensors for essential tremor patients, has set new standards in the field. Currently, at the prestigious Starr Lab at UCSF, she develops adaptive DBS protocols that leverage local field potentials for more tailored and responsive treatments for Parkinson’s disease and dystonia sufferers. Moreover, Stephanie is making a bold career shift by joining Syhchron - a leader in the neurotech industry.
In this episode, Dr. Cernera shares her personal career journey through the realm of neurotech. She offers valuable insights on navigating graduate school and postdoctoral applications and discusses the courage it takes to transition from academia to industry. Her story is not just one of scientific innovation but also of personal resilience and the drive to make a significant impact.
Dr. Cernera emphasizes the critical importance of teamwork and effective collaboration in today's research environment. As projects expand in complexity, particularly with the vast amounts of data being collected and the intricate questions needing answers, the ability to work harmoniously within a team becomes indispensable. She points out that a well-coordinated team can offer invaluable feedback on data analyses and methodologies, playing a pivotal role in ensuring the success of developed approaches. Dr. Cernera's insights underline the significance of fostering strong team dynamics and the impact of collaborative effort on achieving breakthrough outcomes in neurotech research.
Join us as Dr. Cernera delves into her own neurocareer journey from academic DBS research to her pivotal role at Synchron and shares her expert advice for those looking to forge their own paths in this dynamic field. This episode is a must-listen for anyone intrigued by the nexus of technology, healthcare, and neurotech research, promising to inspire and guide future leaders in neurotech.
Tune in to uncover the narrative of a neurocareer that has crossed fields, from the academic study of DBS to the cutting-edge industry work at Synchron, with Dr. Stephanie Cernera.
About the Podcast Guest:
Stephanie is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Starr Lab, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco and she is currently transitioning to her new role in the neurotech industry at Synchron.
All the adaptive work Stephanie has been doing in Dr. Starr's lab has been a massive team effort, and there are two co-first authors on the paper besides Dr. Stephanie Cernera. These are Dr. Carina Oehrn and Dr. Lauren Hammer. The preprint of the paper is available here: https://www.medrxiv.org/
Stephanie encourages anyone to reach out if they have career questions or research questions - she'd be happy to chat! If you are interested in connecting on LinkedIn - Stephanie's profile is https://www.linkedin.com/in/
Stephanie's e-mail is [email protected]
About the Podcast Host:
The Neurocareers podcast is brought to you by The Institute of Neuroapproaches (https://www.neuroapproaches.org/) and its founder, Milena Korostenskaja, Ph.D. (Dr. K), a neuroscience educator, research consultant, and career coach for people in neuroscience and neurotechnologies. As a professional coach with a background in the field, Dr. K understands the unique challenges and opportunities job applicants face in this field and can provide personalized coaching and support to help you succeed.
Here's what you'll get with one-on-one coaching sessions from Dr. K:
- Identification and pursuit of career goals
- Guidance on job search strategies, resume and cover letter development, and interview preparation
- Access to a network of professionals in the field of neuroscience and neurotechnologies
- Ongoing support and guidance to help you stay on track and achieve your goals
You can always schedule a free neurocareer consultation/coaching session with Dr. K at https://neuroapproaches.as.me/free-neurocareer-consultation
Subscribe to our Nerocareers Newsletter to stay on top of all our cool neurocareers news at updates https://www.neuroapproaches.org/neurocareers-news