NETP Seminar Series Talk: April 24, 2025

Maryam Shanechi, Ph.D.

Alexander A. Sawchuk Endowed Chair and Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, and Biomedical Engineering and Founding Director of the Center for Neurotechnology, University of Southern California

April 24th 2025 @ 9:00 a.m.
Research Auditorium, NCRB Building 10 and Zoom

Speaker Bio

Maryam M. Shanechi is the Alexander A. Sawchuk Endowed Chair and Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, and Biomedical Engineering, and the Founding Director of the Center for Neurotechnology at USC. She received her B.A.Sc. degree in Engineering Science from the University of Toronto and her S.M. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT. She conducts research at the intersection of engineering, AI, and neuroscience to develop closed-loop neurotechnology. Awards include the NIH Director’s New Innovator, NSF CAREER, ONR Young Investigator, ASEE’s Curtis W. McGraw Research Award, MIT TR35, Popular Science Brilliant 10, Science News SN10, One Mind Rising Star Award, and a DoD MURI. She is a fellow of IEEE and AIMBE and a two-time Blavatnik National Awards Finalist.

Talk Abstract

Title: AI-driven neurotechnology

I will present our work at the interface of AI/ML and neuroscience to develop next-generation brain-computer interfaces that can model, decode, and modulate the activity of large populations of neurons in brain disorders such as major depression. First, I present a dynamical modeling framework that can decode brain states such as mood from human brain network activity. Then, I show how we can also predict the effect of external inputs, such as electrical stimulation, on brain network activity toward closed-loop modulation of neural states. I also develop a novel dynamical modeling framework to jointly describe neural-behavioral data and dissociate behaviorally relevant neural dynamics. I then extend these models to admit multiple neural modalities and enable multimodal fusion. Finally, I discuss the challenge of developing AI algorithms for real-time neurotechnology. I will present a framework that combines neural networks with stochastic state-space models to enable accurate yet flexible inference of brain states causally, non-causally, and even with missing neural samples. These AI-based neurotechnologies can help restore lost motor and emotional function in millions of patients with brain disorders.


Upcoming Events

DATE

SPEAKER

TOPIC

Notes

7/24/2025NETP SymposiumTBA

Past Events

2024-2025 Academic Year

DATE

SPEAKER

TOPIC

Notes

2/6/2025Jeffrey Herron, Ph.D.Assistant Professor in Neurological Surgery, University of Washington – Research TalkNCRC B10
1/16/2025Riki Banerjee, Ph.D.CTO of Synchron – Career TalkNCRC B10
11/07/2024Erik Douglas, Ph.D.Biomedical Technologies Entrepreneur – Career TalkNCRC B10 ARC2
10/03/2024Giacomo Valle, Ph.D.Professor in Bionics, University of Chalmers – Research TalkNCRC 10
South Atrium
09/19/2024Bo Duan, Ph.D.Umich, MCDB – Research Talk

NCRC B10 ARC2

2023-2024 Academic Year

DATE

SPEAKER

TOPIC

Notes

04/18/2024Christine Grienberger, Ph.D.Brandeis University – Research Talk

NCRC B10 ARC2

03/07/2024Cameron McIntyre, Ph.D.Duke University – Research & Career Talk

NCRC B10 ARC2

02/15/2024Aysegul Gunduz, Ph.D.University of Florida – Research TalkNCRC B10 ARC2
12/14/2023Karlo Malaga, Ph.D.Bucknell University- Research TalkNCRC B10 ARC2
11/09/2023Mladen Barbic, Ph.D.HHMI/NYU Langone Health – Research TalkNCRC B10 ARC2
10/19/2023Joanna Mattis, M.D., Ph.D.Research Talk

NCRC B10 ARC2

09/14/2023Wei Tong, Ph.D.Research Talk

NCRC B10 ARC2

2022-2023 Academic Year

DATE

SPEAKER

TOPIC

Notes

5/15/2023Neural Engineering SymposiumKeynote: Jen French, Neurotech Development and Community Engagement
Neurotech Network Co-Founder and Principal Consultant
Palmer Commons
4/6/2023Nanthia Suthana, PhD.UCLA – Research Talk9:00 AM NCRC B10 ARC2
2/27/2023 – 3/2/2023MultipleNETP Commercialization WorkshopDetails
3/30/2023Matt McMahon, PhD.NIH – Career Talk9:00 AM NCRC B10 ARC2
2/2/2023Layla Houshmand, PhD.McKinsey/Boston Scientific – Career Talk9:00 AM NCRC B10 ARC2
1/19/2023Sharanya Desai, PhD.Neuropace – Career Talk9:00 AM NCRC B10 ARC2
12/1/2022John Terry, PhD.Neuronostics- Research and Career Talk9:00 AM NCRC B10 ARC2
10/21/2022Lee Fisher, PhDLunch Chat with Graduate StudentsNCRC ACR2
10/20/2022Lee Fisher, PhDSpinal cord stimulation to restore sensation and reduce phantom limb pain after limb amputationEECS Room 1500
10/3/2022Elliott Rouse, PhD.  Neurobionics Lab: Approaches to the design and control of lower-limb exoskeletons and prostheses

NCRC Building 10 G063/064

Hybrid

2021-2022 Academic Year

DATE

SPEAKER

TOPIC

Notes

5/20/2022Neural Engineering SymposiumKeynote: Dr. Brian Litt, Penn Medicine, Director, Penn Epilepsy Center; Professor of Neurology, Bioengineering; NeurosurgeryPalmer Commons
4/7/2022Charles H. Hubscher, PhD
Prof and Chair. Anatomical Sciences & Neurobiology, University of Louisville
Understanding the circuitries and neural mechanisms underlying urinary, bowel and sexual functionsIn Person
2/10/2022Vivek Pinto, PhD
Director, Division of Neuromodulation and Physical Medicine Devices at FDA
Understanding the circuitries and neural mechanisms underlying urinary, bowel and sexual functionsVirtua
1/20/2022
Kip Ludwig, PhD
Assoc. Professor BME and Adj. Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin
Bioelectric Medicines, clinical neuromodulation therapies
Career Talk follows
Virtual
12/9/2021Jen Collinger, PhD, Assoc. Professor, Physical Medicine and Rehab, University of PittsburghNeuroprosthetics for Upper Body and developing intracortical brain-computer interface technologyVirtual
12/7/2021Mihaly Voroslakos, PhD, Research Fellow, Neuroscience Inst., NYUTranscranial Electrical Stimulation (TES), neuromodulation research in rats and humansLive, Johnson Rooms, 
Virtual
11/11/2021Erika Ross, PhD, Director, Applied Research, Abbott NeuromodulationNon-invasive neuro-modulation solutions for treating essential tremorsJournal Club NCRC B10-ACR2
11/9/2021Jerrold Vitek, MD, Professor, Dept. Head, Neurology, University of MinnesotaTranslational research in neuromodulation therapies
(BioInterface Institute Seminar)
Virtual

10/21/2021

Amy L. Orsborn, PhD, Asst. Professor, University of Washington

Shaping and optimizing learning in brain-machine interfaces

NCRC Research Auditorium

8/19/2021

Zhongming Liu, PhD, Assoc. Professor, BME, University of Michigan

Integrated Brain Imaging

Virtual Event.

8/12/2021

X. Tracy Cui, PhD, Professor, University of Pittsburgh

Smart biomaterials and neural tissue /biomaterial interface

Virtual Event.