Gerald R Popelka

Gerald R. Popelka obtained a PhD degree with an emphasis in neuroscience from the University of Wisconsin followed by a two year post doctoral research fellowship in Otolaryngology at UCLA. Prior to this he earned a masters degree in Audiology from Kent State University. He was a full professor at Washington University in St. Louis when in 2004 he came to Stanford as a faculty member in Otolaryngology and as Chief of Audiology. As PI for his research lab in Otolaryngology he initiated and completed successful collaborative research projects among diverse academic divisions including Otolaryngology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Radiology, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. Popelka’s research covers both animal and human studies and has been funded continuously with grants from NIH and a wide variety of other agencies and philanthropic gifts.

Popelka is a co-inventor of the world’s first all digital hearing aid. The resulting patent forms the basis for virtually all hearing aids currently produced worldwide. In 2000, he conceived and lead the development of JARO, the peer-reviewed Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, now recognized as the premier, high impact international auditory scientific research journal.

With over 135 publications, including peer-reviewed research articles, review articles, two college textbooks and a book on hearing aid research, along with many research presentations and various achievement awards, he has an international reputation for creating and using leading-edge technology that addresses both basic science issues and clinical applications. He remains in the forefront of creating and developing innovative biomedical approaches focussed on several basic neuroscience issues. Currently his research is conducted in Radiology and is centered on understanding, creating and developing effective radiologic imaging related to non-invasive neuromodulation intervention using acoustic and transcranial focussed ultrasound signals for several chronic neurologic conditions including auditory disorders.

Popelka currently teaches in Radiology, Anatomy and Genetics and has taught previously in Otolaryngology, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. His other Stanford responsibilities include faculty affiliation with several multidisciplinary centers, institutes and initiatives, advising pre-major undergraduates. He also regularly supervises doctoral student dissertations in a variety of departments including Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and Music.