University Launches New
Center for Neuroengineering

The University launched a new Center for Neuroengineering (CFN) aimed at strengthening neuroengineering research among faculty in neuroscience and engineering. The CFN is part of the new Institute for Translational Neuroscience (ITN), a campus-wide initiative. The primary mission of the CFN is to accelerate interdisciplinary research in neuroengineering across the University and to increase interactions with companies with neuromodulation products.

CFN fits squarely with the department's vision for its future, including faculty hiring opportunities (see News), and it will complement the efforts of several existing faculty members with neural interests (Akkin, Netoff, He, Odde, Tranquillo). More information about ITN and CFN can be found in our 2008-2009 newsletter, which is downloadable from this website.

New BME Faculty

Another major University initiative featured in the last year's newsletter, medical devices, led to the hiring of two more faculty members this past year, Profs. Shai Ashkenazi (photoacoutstic and optoacoustic imaging) and Alena Talkachova (cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias). The full-time faculty size now has double digit status at 11, and counting.

Academic Program Growth

Our academic programs continue to grow as well, with 80 seniors expected to graduate this year, up from 66 last year. The ABET accreditation review this year was successful, leading to continued accreditation of our degrees, and our students can now participate in a year-long co-op program between their junior and senior years.

Our graduate program is also growing, with 122 students enrolled now compared to 113 students last year. As evidenced in the News Lines inside, our graduate students and postdocs, as well as our faculty members, continue to be recognized for their research achievements. We look forward to more talent joining our department this year!