Sam Parker

Restoration of sensation is critical for coordinated control of future neuroprosthetic devices. My work focuses on using electrical stimulation of the spinal cord, using commercially available SCS arrays, to encode sensations from below the site of a spinal cord injury. With translation as a guide, I am developing new technologies, and testing them in the clinic, to improve the lives of people living with SCI. As a part of DARPA's Intelligent Spine Interface program, we aim to "bridge the gap" in neural signalling created by complete spinal cord injury.

Tackling complex problems like spinal cord injury  cannot be done alone. I have had the good fortune to work alongside world-class interdisciplinary teams across aerospace, mining, and neural engineering. A lesson in the value of diverse thought, I've seen first-hand how effective teams can play to their strengths to push boundaries of innovation. 

I completed my Bachelors of Electrical Engineering at the University of Newcastle in Australia, where I was awarded the University Medal. I am currently finishing my PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Brown University, where I work closely with patients and the neurosurgical and research teams to deliver high-quality technical solutions, data, and patient experience.