| Department News
Note our new name!
It's official. The Board of Regents, at their March 2008 meeting, approved changing the name of the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology to the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. The change was initiated to more accurately represent the breadth of department’s teaching and research missions. We will use both the old and new names -- for a while at least -- to help both old and new users find us.
New training grant announced
The University of Iowa's Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology has developed an enhanced training program for doctoral students in two specific areas which we have identified as particular needs for speech and hearing. This NIH-funded training grant will support students studying these areas.
Molecular biology and genetics of speech and hearing: Advances in molecular biology and genetics now provide tools that allow researchers to investigate mechanisms underlying behavior in both normal and impaired systems. In Dr. Ingo Titze‘s laboratory, they are studying the micromechanics of vocal tissues. Dr. Bruce Tomblin's research team is investigating genetic aspects of childhood language disorders. Other laboratories in Departments of Otolaryngology and Biology are collaborating with individuals relative to projects hearing impairment and possible treatments.
Doctoral students supported by this program will receive both academic training and laboratory experience in order for them to address research questions from a broad perspective. Ideally, by the end of their doctoral programs, the students will have not only expertise in speech and hearing, but who are conversant with issues of molecular biology and genetics. This will prepare them for career-long collaborations with other scientists in the fields of molecular biology, genetics and neuroscience.
Auditory prostheses: While many departments offer clinical and laboratory studies of cochlear implants, there is also a need for a multidisciplinary approach to the area of auditory prostheses research. Doctoral students in this area will receive a broad perspective that includes study of auditory physiology, engineering principles, speech and music perception as well as language development. These experiences will provide students with the background needed to both develop new ideas and applications for auditory prostheses as well as to assess their utility. Examples of this approach which have already been successful at Iowa include the development of electrophysiological evaluations of cochlear implants and the short-electrode (hybrid) implant.
Program benefits: Students will be accepted into these programs as part of the normal application procedure for the PhD program.
Tuition waivers and stipend support will be awarded to two qualified doctoral students each year for a period of two years in their programs of study. Generally, this funding will support the first two years of the individual's doctoral program to allow students to take appropriate coursework, participate in research rotations in different labs, and to use those experiences to develop more concrete plans for dissertation research. Funding for subsequent years of study will be provided through the department or through the mentor's research grant.
Participating Faculty
Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology: Paul Abbas, PhD; Sandie Bass-Ringdahl, PhD; Ruth Bentler, PhD; Carolyn Brown, PhD; Richard Hurtig, PhD; Karla McGregor, PhD; Charles Miller, PhD; Ingo Titze, PhD; J. Bruce Tomblin, PhD; Chris Turner, PhD; Richard Tyler, PhD.
Other participating preceptors: Bruce Gantz, MD; Kate Gfeller, PhD; Steven Green, PhD; Marlan Hansen, MD; Charles Miller, PhD; Jeffrey Murray, MD; Richard JH Smith, MD.
Contact Paul J. Abbas (paul-abbas@uiowa.edu) for additional questions about the program. A flyer is available in pdf.
Vicki Samelson named outstanding teaching assistant
Vicki Samelson, PhD candidate, was named one of 31 UI Outstanding Teaching Assistants for 2007-08. This honor is given to teaching assistants who have demonstrated outstanding ability. It carries a $1,000 award.
AuD student's work garners awards
James Lewis, UI AuD student, received several honors for his work developing a new measure of the internal noise of hearing aids. At the annual meeting of the American Auditory Society in March, his poster was awarded an NIH-AAS mentored doctoral student research grant resulting in an invitation to present the work at an S3.22 ANSI working group meeting. A poster describing this research was also presented at University of Iowa's 10th annual Jakobsen Graduate Conference, where it was awarded 2nd place in the Biological and Health Sciences Division.
James is mentored by Dr. Shawn Goodman. Additional details of their research is available on the Auditory Research Lab website.
Richard Hurtig honored
Richard Hurtig, has been named a Starch Faculty Fellow, carrying an annual recurring research fund to be used to enhance scholarly work and professional travel.
Hurtig also received an "Honors of the Council" award at the April meeting of the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CAPCSD). In addition to past efforts, Hurtig currently chairs the CAPCSD advisory committee working on a centralized application service for speech-language pathology and audiology clinical programs.
ASA honors Titze for voice research
Ingo Titze, Ph.D., UI Foundation Distinguished Professor,was honored with the Silver Medal in Speech Communication from the Acoustical Society of America. He is being recognized for making fundamental contributions to the physics and biomechanics of vocal fold vibration and for interdisciplinary work in voice studies.The award was presented Nov. 29 at an ASA meeting in New Orleans.
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