The center’s summer programs offer participants a chance to learn about neurotechnology in a hands-on, interactive and immersive way. Read an overview and learn what two students are hoping to get out of their summer program experience this year.
Feature Stories
These articles cover many different aspects of the Center for Neurotechnology and its faculty, student and staff members. For more stories, visit the Engage and Enable blog
![2017 REU participant, Jesse Woodbury (left), worked side-by-side with CNT member, Dr. Rajiv Saigal (right), in Saigal’s lab on the UW campus. Two researchers in white coats and safety glasses study a circuit board](https://centerforneurotech.uw.edu/sites/centerforneurotech.uw.edu/files/styles/large/public/web_20170801-CSNE_Saigal-075.jpg?itok=IMMlnwOe)
A new research finding contributes to the development of neuroprosthetics (assistive devices that supplant or supplement the input and output of the nervous system) by revealing the need to close a performance gap between artificial and natural touch.
![CNT student member, David Caldwell, working on an electrocorticographic (ECoG) grid in the lab CNT student member, David Caldwell, working on an electrocorticographic (ECoG) grid in the lab](https://centerforneurotech.uw.edu/sites/centerforneurotech.uw.edu/files/styles/large/public/web_20160130_Raj%20Lab%20CSE_Bio%20Engineering_0220_1.jpg?itok=WPdzWSyM)
The CNT and UW DO-IT co-hosted the ERC-INCLUDES Capacity Building Institute on April 4 and 5, 2019. This event enabled attendees from across the nation to share strategies to recruit, retain and engage underrepresented and underserved groups in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
![Attendees of the institute chat between sessions. Three people stand in a circle and smile at each other as they talk.](https://centerforneurotech.uw.edu/sites/centerforneurotech.uw.edu/files/styles/large/public/web_CNT%20ERC%20Includes%20event%20April%202019%20MD201065.jpg?itok=XBNkmy0v)
This CNT-led and facilitated course at the University of Washington teaches students about engineering design principles, particularly the importance of empathizing with neurotechnology end users.
Prior to entering his role as the Director of Industry and Innovation at the Center for Neurotechnology (CNT), Scott Ransom spent 20 years at Medtronic working in a range of roles related to medical device development.
“There wasn’t a week where a patient or their relatives weren’t expressing gratitude for the work we were doing,” Ransom said. “It was very fulfilling to see patients benefit. I want to inspire students to use bioengineering, electrical engineering [and other disciplines] in the neurotechnology space. I can’t imagine a more fulfilling career.”
![A member of team Frequent Fusion holds a model showing a segment of the spinal column after spinal fusion surgery, which is commonly used to fuse bones in the spinal cord to reduce chronic neck pain. For their prototype, the team designed an implantable rod connected to an electrical stimulator. The device encourages bone growth in the spinal column after surgery. A member of team Frequent Fusion holds a model showing a segment of the spinal column after spinal fusion surgery, which is commonly used to fuse bones in the spinal cord to reduce chronic neck pain. For their prototype, the team designed an implantable rod connected to an electrical stimulator. The device encourages bone growth in the spinal column after surgery.](https://centerforneurotech.uw.edu/sites/centerforneurotech.uw.edu/files/styles/large/public/web_Frequent%20Fusion_Neural%20Engineering%20Tech%20Studio%202019%20MD207561.jpg?itok=a5mIdkiV)
The Brain Awareness Week Open House, organized by CNT Executive and Education Director, Eric Chudler, brings neuroscience to life every year for hundreds of elementary, middle and high school students from the Greater Seattle Area.
Many K-12 students learn about the brain and nervous system in their science coursework. However, most of these students don’t ever get the opportunity to talk to a neuroscientist and learn about his or her research. Founded by the Dana Foundation and the Society for Neuroscience, Brain Awareness Week promotes these kinds of unique interactions and encourages people of all ages, including K-12 students, to learn about the field of neuroscience and its applicability to everyday life.
![800 K-12 students from the Greater Seattle Area, along with their parents and teachers, participated in the 2019 Brain Awareness Week Open House. The event was held on the University of Washington Seattle campus, in the Husky Union Building. 800 K-12 students from the Greater Seattle Area, along with their parents and teachers, participated in the 2019 Brain Awareness Week Open House. The event was held on the University of Washington Seattle campus, in the Husky Union Building.](https://centerforneurotech.uw.edu/sites/centerforneurotech.uw.edu/files/styles/large/public/web_photo%201.jpg?itok=Lp9HxbBk)