The Department would like to congratulate Nicol Harper and Dan Li, who have been awarded the title of Associate Professor. Both senior researchers formerly held the title of University Research Lecturer.
Associate Professor Harper investigates the neural basis for auditory perception as part of the King group. Last year, he and his colleagues discovered a novel form of adaptation in the auditory system. They found that the auditory system adapts to the changing acoustics of reverberant environments by temporally shifting the inhibitory tuning of cortical neurons to remove reverberation.
On receiving the new title, Prof Harper said: "I am sincerely grateful for this title. It is inspiring and a pleasure working with the people in the Auditory Neuroscience Group, DPAG and the University and I look forward to exploring the brain together further."
Associate Professor Dan Li studies how the autonomic nervous system influences cardiac function in health and disease in the Paterson and Herring groups. Notably, she developed a primary culture system of sympathetic ganglion neurons, using cellular and molecular approaches to investigate the interactions between different signalling cascades.
On receiving the new title, Prof Li said: "I am deeply honoured and grateful to be awarded the title of Associate Professor. This achievement would not have been possible without the unwavering support and guidance of my mentors and colleagues. I am excited to build on my previous work and pursue my long-term research vision in this position, with a renewed sense of purpose and enthusiasm."