Now an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Florida Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, the start of Dr. Aysegul Gunduz’s (pictured) professional journey was encouraged by a female mentor, an experience that inspired her to join the Association for Academic Women at the University of Florida. Today she leads the group as its president and uses her platform to support up-and-coming women in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM.

“All of our membership dues go to dissertation awards for female doctoral students who are emerging scholars in their fields. … I also approached the National Science Foundation, and they supported the funding for me to generate a new emerging STEM award for female students,” Gunduz said.

Gunduz was honored by the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology as this year’s recipient of the ABIE Award for her groundbreaking work in neurological research, as well as her dedication to improving diversity in her field. The impact she’s had in both her areas of focus is significant for patients, providers and the industry at large.

Gunduz spoke with Rebecca Knight (@knightrm), host of theCUBE, SiliconANGLE’s mobile livestreaming studio, during the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing event in Orlando, Florida. They discussed her innovative work with neurosurgical patient populations and the efforts she continues to make to increase opportunities for women in STEM.

Innovating in technology and culture

In her neuroscience research, Gunduz’s work is revolutionizing the way brain disorders are treated. “I work with a lot of neurosurgical patient populations that receive electrode implants as part of their therapy. We are trying to improve these technologies so that we can record these brain signals and decode them in real time,” Gunduz said. 

With this information, Gunduz and her team can ensure implants only deliver electricity when the patient is having a pathology, improving the overall benefit of the therapy for patients.

Gunduz approaches her diversity work with just as much passion. As president of the Association for Academic Women, she strives to ensure female faculty have a consistent presence among students.

“Just the fact that you’re there, that you’re a successful female in the field, really makes an impact. You can’t be what you can’t see,” Gunduz concluded.

Watch the complete video interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing.

Photo: SiliconANGLE