Shamma, Shihab
The Institute for Systems Research
Brain and Behavior Institute
Shihab Shamma received his B.S. degree in 1976 from Imperial College, in London, U.K. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 1977 and 1980, respectively. Dr. Shamma received his M.A. in Slavic Languages and Literature in 1980 from the same institution.
Dr. Shamma has been a member of the University of Maryland faculty since 1984, when he started as an Assistant Professor in the Electrical Engineering Department. He has been associated with the Institute for Systems Research since its inception in 1985, and received a joint appointment in 1990. He is a fellow of the Acoustical Society of America and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
Dr. Shamma's research deals with issues in computational neuroscience, euromorphic engineering, and the development of microsensor systems for experimental research and neural prostheses. Primary focus has been on studying the computational principles underlying the processing and recognition of complex sounds (speech and music) in the auditory system, and the relationship between auditory and visual processing. Signal processing algorithms inspired by data from neurophysiological and psychoacoustical experiments are being developed and applied in a variety of systems such as speech and voice recognition and diagnostics in industrial manufacturing. Other research interests included (at various times) the development of photolithographic microelectrode arrays for recording and stimulation of neural signals, a VLSI implementations of auditory processing algorithms, and development of robotic systems for the detection and tracking of multiple sound sources.
Honors and awards
Fellow, Acoustical Society of America Fellow (2004)
Fellow, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (2018)
ISR Outstanding Faculty Award (2007)
Representation of the acoustic signal at various levels in mammalian auditory systems. Ranges from theoretical models of auditory processing in early and central auditory stages, to neurophysiological investigations of the auditory cortex, to psychoacoustical experiments of human perception of acoustic spectral profiles
Six Clark School Faculty Receive 2024 DURIP Awards
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Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) awards support growth of newly emerging technologies.The brain makes sense of math and language in different ways
Distinct regions in the brain use their own neural pathways and networks to process either spoken math or language.Cornelia Fermüller is PI for 'NeuroPacNet,' a $1.75M NSF funding award
The resulting "network of networks" will further the scientific grand challenge of developing neuromorphic artificial intelligence.UMD auditory cortex research featured in Nature Neuroscience
Study reveals how the brain nimbly and rapidly change responses to incoming sensory stimuli depending upon the cognitive context of the moment.Maryland researchers develop computational approach to understanding brain dynamics
This paper published in PNAS develops a signal processing framework for extracting dynamic functional networks from neuronal data at unprecedented resolutions.Five Clark School faculty part of $8 million NIH grant to combat hearing loss in older people
Multidisciplinary research will examine strategies to improve communication challenges.Shihab Shamma named to NIH advisory council
The National Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Advisory Council advises the Secretary of HHS and the directors of NIH and its NIDCD.Researchers Gain Insight into the 'Cocktail Party Effect' That Helps Us Focus in Noisy Environments
UMD's Jonathan Simon works with Columbia colleague to unlock mystery inside human brain.Shihab Shamma is PI on €3.3M European Research Council Advanced Grant
Project will investigate a radically novel view of 'active' hearing.Institute for Systems Research Hosts Iraqis
Delegation seeks partnerships, information on American universities.Clark School Researchers Help Decode Speech Recognition
Progress could aid in development of devices for those who, through illness or injury, have lost the ability to speak.Auditory researchers publish sensory processing research in PNAS
Study could lead to more effective approaches to behavioral training.Defense Department Funding Supports Research Instrumentation
Balachandran, Chellappa, Shamma win awards for micro-air-vehicle, sensing, audio-visual saliency research.Shamma selected as Blaise Pascal International Research Chair
Allocation of a chair is a major event of international scientific life.Article by auditory researchers appears in Nature Neuroscience
This is the second article by the group to appear in the journal in 2010.Auditory Cortex Study Reveals Cells' "Individuality"
Shamma and team show neurons' surprising adaptability in sound processing.Clark School Participates in MURI Programs
ECE members to work on multidisciplinary research projects awarded by DoD.Shihab Shamma named to NIH study section
Professor will contribute to U.S. biomedical research efforts in auditory systems.IEEE Spectrum Cites "Leading Labs"
Clark School faculty laboratories advance “neuromorphic engineering.”Team of Researchers Awarded Four-Year Grant under the Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience (CRCNS) Program
A team of researchers from the Clark School and two other UMD colleges were awarded a four-year grant under Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience program.Clark School Accomplishments Spring 2002
A list of Clark school accomplishments for Spring 2002Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
- Fellow, 2018
Acoustical Society of America
- Fellow, 2004