Graduate Students

Graduated in 2016 with a BS degree in Biomedical Engineering from Milwaukee School of Engineering. Her research is focused on modeling and developing auditory devices. She works on a project to determine the potential percepts of a novel Auditory Nerve Implant through computational modeling. Her work also focuses on using multimodal stimulation to induce neural plasticity in the auditory system.

Inderbir Sondh
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Graduated in 2017 with a BS degree in Bioengineering from the University of Pittsburgh. His research involves using multimodal stimulation strategies to induce changes in neural plasticity of brain regions in the auditory pathway (primary auditory cortex and inferior colliculus). His goal is to transition this work into a novel medical technology for selective hearing enhancement and integrate into existing assistive hearing devices. He is also interested in ultrasound neuromodulation of the immune system and ultrasound-based hearing.

Kevin Jiang
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Graduate in 2018 with a BSE in biomedical engineering from the University of Michigan. He designed curriculum as educational staff for the University of Michigan from 2018 to 2021. His research focuses on applying multimodal stimulation to generate neural plasticity and enhance hearing.

Dzifa Kwaku
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Graduated in 2020 with a master's degree in Biomedical Engineering from Arizona State University. She completed her BSE in Biomedical Engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. Dzifa’s research focuses on developing an ultrasound powered device to modulate organs for the treatment of chronic cardiometabolic or inflammatory diseases. This project is in collaboration with Dr. Matthew Johnson’s lab in University of Minnesota.

Yezihalem Mesfin
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Graduated in 2008 with a BS in Electrical Engineering from University of Minnesota. He is currently working full time at Starkey Hearing Technologies in Eden Prairie, Minnesota as a Research Engineer. His research in this lab focuses on applying neural beamforming (mSync) neuromodulation techniques for treating tinnitus in human subjects. Future research will explore incorporation of magnetic or ultrasound stimulation and integrative healing techniques into the mSync paradigm.

Kerrigan Merricks
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Kerrigan graduated in 2023 with a BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Audiology at the University of Minnesota and is expected to graduate in 2028. She has had clinical experience in the audiology field as an audiology assistant and looks forward to getting more involved in neuromodulation and tinnitus research. Outside of graduate school and work, she loves to read, spend time with her family, and be outdoors, weather permitting!