Abbreviated Resume

Note: My CV is posted as an attachment under my professional biography.

Walter Masami Yamada, III. May 2009

Scientific Programmer/Analyst and Biological Signals Processing Researcher

“I am most happy when given an impossible problem and a fast computer to solve it!”

walter.mas.yamada@gmail.com

http://sites.google.com/site/wmyamadaiii/

Summary

Scientific Programming: Analysis/Models. (Programming in C/CPP with visualization in MATLAB)

    • Non-linear functional systems analysis of auditory end-organ responses to sound and vibration

  • Dynamic artificial neural networks for sound classification in noise

  • Bio-Membrane dynamics and reaction-diffusion equations

  • Basic statistical, Bayesian, and information theoretic methods

  • Genetic algorithms

Software Design.

    • GUI for visualizing systems of PDEs describing neural dynamics (C/X10.4)

  • Interface for two and three channel A/D data acquisition with solution of linear filter functions using cross correlation (ATT/DSP / C)

  • Software package for solution of second order Wiener (Volterra) kernels for both single and dual channel input / single output systems (C)

  • Dynamic synapse neural networks package (C/CPP)

  • Numerous small programs for data analysis and data visualization in MATLAB

Acoustic Neurobiology/Electrophysiology. Intracellular glass electrode recording of auditory and/or vibratory response of the ear

  • Experiment design / validation

  • Surgical techniques to expose auditory nerve; including anesthesia and care of small animals

  • Sound-isolation chamber design and acoustic stimulus balancing

    • Mechanical circuit design for flat spectral vibration supply to a small animal

Laboratory Administration/Management. Co-director Laboratory for Neural Dynamics, USC Dept. of Biomedical Engineering – Mission of lab: To develop biologically based sensors for security applications. Aided Principle Investigator in all aspects of funding procurement and acted as the middle-manger for all laboratory operations.

Computer. MATLAB, C/CPP. Working knowledge of UNIX/LINUX System Administration, MicroSoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite.

Accomplishments / Education

PhD in Neurobiology, Aug. 1997. UC Berkeley. Dept. of Mol. and Cell Biology.

Author of 14 peer-reviewed articles, 7 book chapters, and 16 international conference proceedings chapters/presentations.

Co-Principal investigator on 3 grants.

AB in Neurobiology, Aug. 1986. UC Berkeley. Dept. of Mol. and Cell Biology.

Memberships / Associations

Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Biomedical Engineering Society

New York Academy of Science

Society for Neuroscience

International Brain Research Organization

References on Request

Work History

2001 – 3/31/2009

Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California.

Research Assistant Professor and Co-director of the Laboratory for Neural Dynamics

Design of bio-based network algorithms for waveform classification and identification of security threats.

Supervisor: Prof. Theodore W. Berger.

2004 – 2008

Safety Dynamics, Inc.

Science Consultant in acoustics, dynamic synapse neural networks, sound recording, and software design.

1997 – 2000

Department of Physiological Science, University of California at Los Angeles.

Postdoctoral Fellow in Physiological Science (Auditory Mechanics)

Second-order Wiener (Volterra) kernel analysis of auditory axons responding to seismic or/and auditory vibrations.

Advisor: Prof. Peter Narins.

1989 – 1997

Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California at Berkeley.

Graduate Student Researcher

Computer study of intracellular reaction-diffusion equations and Calcium control of presynaptic facilitation.

Advisor: Prof. Robert Zucker (Dept. of Molecular and Cell Biology)

Second-order Wiener (Volterra) kernel analysis of frog and gerbil auditory nerves responding to noise and tones.

Thesis Advisor/Mentor: Prof. Edwin Lewis.

1986 – 1989

Department of Computation and Neural Systems. California Institute of Technology.

Biotechnician

Computational study of membrane dynamics (system of partial differential equations) and reaction-diffusion equations in a spherical volume.

Supervisor: Prof. Christof Koch