Hearing Aid Research: Using Brain Signals to Measure Listening Effort

What’s your backstory and how did you come up with the idea?

I am a biomedical engineer from Iran. I did my BSc and MSc in my country. The field of biomedical engineering always fascinated me as I liked the idea of interacting with the human body through clever tricks of engineering. In my MSc, I started working with brain signals (particularly those associated with auditory stimuli) and it was an enriching experience that ultimately made me pursue a similar field for my PhD.

Please describe the process of learning, iterating, and creating the project

I guess there are two sides to this question. On one hand, it can be very enjoyable and on the other hand, it might be a grind. When it comes to developing a skillset or anything similar, I think you have to enjoy it if you want to succeed in it. In my case, the main example was when I learnt programming. Everybody who has done programming knows that it can be so frustrating at times. But in general, if you enjoy doing it and stay with it, you can get over the frustrations pretty quickly and they only make you better in the end.

Please describe the process of launching your project

I cannot talk about big scale projects because I haven’t been part of launching them. But as a PhD student, you are responsible for running several projects for your studies. In our field, most of the projects involve human test participants. So, the first step is to make sure all the ethical regulations are met. After several tries, I have realized that the most important step is the structure of the project and being sure what you want to get out of it. The devil is in the details and you never regret spending time on the details that might look unimportant at first.

Since launch, what has worked to make your project grow/successful?

In terms of the project itself, I think in HEAR-ECO the most important thing for us has been the great structure of the project. We know what we are supposed to do and when and how the deadlines should be met. This keeps everybody on the same page and makes collaboration much easier.

But for my own personal growth, the best thing has been working with inspirational people who have helped me grow both in my professional and personal life. I can’t stress enough how important it is to be surrounded by people who are ambitious and yet supportive when you need them.

How is everything going nowadays, and what are your plans for the future?

With the COVID-19 outbreak, things are not easy at the moment. I was planning to do an experiment in the next year but now the chances of that are slim. Fortunately, there are many other things for me to do like writing papers and my thesis, etc. My PhD will be over soon, so I have to consider in the near future what would be the best move for me in my career, given the opportunities.

Through your science, have you learned anything particularly helpful or advantageous?

There are many lessons, that are each circumstance specific. I came from a country that was a bit outside the global network, so it was difficult for me to put myself out there for a fair recognition. Although it worked out in the end and I could get a very desirable funding for my PhD.

I’m sure a lot of students coming from similar countries also experience similar difficulties. The process of applying for a better job or post-graduate opportunities is always frustrating and it takes a toll on everybody, but I learned that I need to be patient. If you do the best you can, the right position will come to you in the end. That’s probably the most valuable lesson I could share in my young career.

Our readers would be glad to know more about you. Please let us know what is your morning routine like.

I am actually a night owl and most efficient at night. But also, I believe that starting the day in good rhythm sets the tone for the rest of the day. I start my days with a nice breakfast and then I work immediately after that, while my mind is fresh. I usually like to do more difficult work like programming, analyzing, etc., in the morning and leave less difficult things (for example replying to emails) for the rest of the day.

And how does a typical day look for you?

It’s been several months now of working from home, so the routine for me has changed a bit. I like to work immediately after I wake up in the morning, but my favorite time to work is at night. Sometimes I don’t even notice that I’m up until 2 AM or so doing work. I also have to take a long nap during the day, because otherwise my brain becomes too tired.

Other than work, I always try to do hobbies, because if I don’t, I’ll get burned out quickly. What I do depends on my mood, but mostly they are indoor hobbies. I play video games, watch movies, watch sports and other mindless things to relax.

What does your workstation look like?

I like to work in a place with a view of nature (who doesn’t!). I’m lucky that my house offers me that. Especially with the Glasgow weather, which is always rainy, it creates beautiful scenery that freshens up my brain. I like to drink coffee or tea and listen to instrumental music during my work.