Rikky Muller takes on the challenge of reverse-engineering the brain

EE Assistant Prof. Rikky Muller will make a presentation on the theme of Reverse-Engineering the Brain at this year’s Global Grand Challenges Summit (GGCS).  Muller is co-founder of Cortera Neurotechnologies, a company which designs medical devices for the treatment of incurable neurological conditions. “We can use devices that record brain signals directly from the the motor cortex of the brain and interpret those signals as movements,” she says, “and we can use those signals to control robotic arms, for example, or mouse cursors on a screen.”  The GGCS,  sponsored by the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), was created to help find solutions for 14 major engineering challenges critical to the future well-being of humanity and the planet.  Muller will also be awarded an NAE Gilbreth Lectureship, established to recognize outstanding young engineers.