Erin Michelle Kunz, PhD Candidate
Stanford University - Neural Prosthetics Translational Laboratory

Abstract: Brainstem trauma or neurodegenerative diseases can often result in the inability to move or speak, despite intact cognition. The inability to communicate often results in severely decreased quality of life for individuals living with these conditions. Our recent work has shown that brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), can employ neural signals to accurately decode attempted handwriting and speech at speeds that begin to enable naturalistic conversation, and thus improve quality of life.

Biosketch: Erin Michelle Kunz is currently an electrical engineering PhD Candidate in the Stanford Neural Prosthetics Translational Lab (NPTL) with Professors Jaimie Henderson and Shaul Druckmann (and formerly Professor Krishna Shenoy). Her research focuses on developing high-performance speech neuroprosthesis as well as understanding the neural basis of speech and language.

Erin received her BS in Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (EECS) from UC Berkeley and Master’s in Electrical Engineering at Stanford. Prior to joining NPTL and BrainGate she worked as a software engineer in autonomous vehicle development at General Motors.

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