Micromachined electrodes offer the potential to extend small ensemble studies to tissue volume studies consisting of dozens if not hundreds of cells. The center is in the College of Engineering involving the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, and Material Science and Engineering Departments but interacts with several people on campus whose interests are neurobiology. The strongest connection is with the Kresge Hearing Research Institute. Indeed, we have several international connections. A service component custom designs devices and distributes standard devices to over one hundred users.
Neurobiologists can order devices that can be used directly in their experiments.
The most advanced users help with new designs and often share their knowledge of the devices with us. A training component that gives instruction to neurobiologists in the use of our technology. Graduate and Undergraduate students are involved in the research projects of the Center and some of the routine distribution work is done by hourly undergraduates. In addition it has its own packaging and testing facilities located in the EECS Department.