Two NIDCD-supported Scientists Awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers

The awardees are

Leslie Vosshall, Ph.D., Rockefeller University, New York, New York

Formation of an Olfactory Sensory Map: Using the olfactory system of the fruit fly as a model, Dr. Vosshall is studying the mechanisms that determine the precise connections within the brain of the sensory neurons that respond to odorants. Olfactory sensory cells undergo replacement throughout life, and an understanding of the mechanisms that guide the axons into the brain will likely contribute to the understanding of the broader neurobiological question about how axons grow in other areas of the brain during development and following injury.

Jack Jiang, M.D., Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

Physiology and Measurement of Vocal Fold Vibration: Dr. Jiang developed a pressure sensor to be used in the larynx (voice box). He also developed an observation technique for his hemi-larynx set up with Plexiglas so that the vocal folds could be seen from the side as well as from the top. His research efforts refined techniques of imaging and measurement of the tissues of the vocal folds and their vibration. Dr. Jiang's research has enhanced our knowledge of both normal and abnormal voicing. Advancements gained from his research will translate into practical clinical applications for the millions of individuals with debilitating voice disorders.

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