Keynote Speaker: Edward Chang, MD Neurosurgeon at University of California, San Francisco  Dr. Edward Chang is a neurosurgeon at UC San Francisco specializing in the treatment of intractable epilepsy, trigeminal neuralgia, and brain tumors. His research focuses upon the brain mechanisms for human speech, movement, and cognition. He co-directs the Center for Neural Engineering & Prostheses at UC Berkeley and UCSF, which brings together engineering, neuroscience, neurology and neurosurgery to develop state-of-the-art biomedical devices to restore function for patients with neurological disabilities.
	Invited Speaker: Marisha Speights Atkins, PhD, CCC-SLP Assistant Professor of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Northwestern University Marisha Speights Atkins is an assistant professor at Northwestern University and the director of the Pediatric Speech Technologies and Acoustics Research Lab (PedzSTAR lab). Her research focuses on testing automated methods for tracking acoustic vocal biomarkers for the early detection of speech disorders in young children. She works in collaboration with computer and data scientists who specialize in machine learning to develop innovative computer-based approaches for classifying children with articulatory difficulties. More generally, her lab conducts research on aspects of articulatory and acoustic phonetics, child speech production, and listeners’ speech perception to develop software tools for quantitative screening of developmental speech disorders and assessment of decreased speech intelligibility.
	Invited Speaker: Adam Buchwald, PhD Associate Professor of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at New York University Adam Buchwald takes an interdisciplinary approach to understand speech and language production mechanisms, and how we can help individuals with impairment to these crucial abilities subsequent to stroke. To achieve these goals, Buchwald’s research includes detailed studies of the performance and rehabilitation of neurologically impaired populations with acquired speech and language deficits (e.g., aphasia, apraxia of speech) as well as neurologically intact populations, and incorporates the research methods of several disciplines spanning methods from Communication Sciences and Disorders, Neurorehabilitation, Psycholinguistics, and Cognitive Science, and Neuroscience. Prior to coming to NYU in 2007, Buchwald completed his Ph.D. in the Department of Cognitive Science at Johns Hopkins University in 2005, and completed a two-year post doctoral fellowship in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Indiana University.
	Invited Speaker: Kathryn Connaghan, PhD, CCC-SLP Assistant Professor of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the MGH Institute of Health Professions   Dr. Connaghan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders at the MGH Institute of Health Professions. Her research program, shaped by her experience as a speech-language pathologist, focuses on the acoustic features underlying motor speech impairments and their effect on day-to-day communication. The goal of this work is to support the development of interventions to facilitate the social interactions and communicative participation of individuals with motor disorders such as ALS and cerebral palsy.
	Delsys Sponsored Speaker: Susan Koch Fager, PhD, CCC-SLP Director of the Communication Center in the Institute for Rehabilitation Science and Engineering at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals in Lincoln, Nebraska Susan Fager, PhD, CCC-SLP is the Director of the Communication Center in the Institute for Rehabilitation Science and Engineering at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals in Lincoln, Nebraska. Dr. Fager specializes in augmentative and alternative communication/assistive technology (AAC/AT) for adults with acquired and degenerative neurologic conditions such as brainstem stroke, spinal cord injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Guillain Barré syndrome. Her research interests focus on the development and evaluation of new and emerging assistive technologies for individuals with severe physical impairments as well as the development of tools to support clinical decision-making and communication partners of individuals who use AAC.
	Invited Speaker: Daniel Lametti, PhD Assistant Professor of the Department of Psychology at Acadia University Dr. Daniel Lametti studies how we learn to produce, maintain, and remember complex movements, such as hand movements and speech production. He tackles this problem using a variety of methods including behavioural manipulations, non-invasive brain stimulation, and computational modelling. He is particularly interested in the role of the brain’s action systems in perception.
	Invited Speaker: Jennifer Zuk, PhD, CCC-SLP Assistant Professor of the Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences at Boston University Dr. Zuk is the Director and Principal Investigator of the Communication and Neurodevelopment Lab (est. 2020). She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Boston University. Dr. Zuk earned her PhD from Harvard University, and completed clinical training in speech-language pathology at the MGH Institute of Health Professions and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Jennifer received dual bachelor’s degrees in Music Education and Cognitive Science from Case Western Reserve University, and her Ed.M. in Mind, Brain, and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Dr. Zuk is committed to translating research to practice in an effort to promote effective identification, access, and inclusion for those who experience communication difficulties. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges experience in clinical speech-language pathology, developmental cognitive neuroscience, music cognition, and education.

Registration

Registration opening day: 03 January 2023
Early registration deadline: 17 April 2023
Late registration deadline: 15 May 2023

Register here! Questions regarding registration should be directed to the BSMCS organizing committee (bsmcs@bu.edu).

The in-person registration fee for BSMCS 2023 is US $60.00 (late $100), or $20.00 (late $40) for enrolled students. The virtual registration fee (talks only) is US $10, or $5.00 for enrolled students.

Note: All refunds will be processed three weeks prior to the symposium date and will subtract 20% of the registration cost for the administration fee.

Information for Presenters

Submit your abstract here!

Abstract submission opening day: 02 January 2023
Abstract submission deadline: 06 March 2023

All submissions will be considered for a podium presentation, with a select few being accepted through that format. Most will be considered for posters.

Check back April 2023 for the abstracts and the list of BSMCS 2023 presentations.

Poster Presentations:

All posters must be no larger than 36″ wide by 42″ tall.  Please note that this is in portrait orientation, NOT landscape!

To be considered for a Poster Award, please email a PDF of your poster to bsmcs@bu.edu by 9:00 am, Monday June 05, 2023.

Podium Presentations: 

For podium presentations, please bring your presentation slides on a USB drive or email them to bsmcs@bu.edu. Slides can be uploaded to the computer between 7:00 am – 8:00 am or during the coffee break prior to your presentation. 

Travel Fellowships

The Boston Speech Motor Control Symposium will be awarding travel fellowships to undergraduate students, graduate students, doctoral candidates, and post-doctoral trainees. Fellowship awardees will have an opportunity to meet with invited speakers at a special lunch the day of the conference. Interested applicants may apply for a travel fellowship. Fellowship recipients will receive free registration and a $500 travel award.

 Apply here! Questions regarding travel fellowships should be directed to the BSMCS organizing committee (bsmcs@bu.edu).

Travel fellowship submission opening day: 02 January 2023
Travel fellowship submission deadline: 06 March 2023

Note: Those applying for a travel fellowship should not register until they have heard back from the BSMCS organizing committee; selected applicants will be notified on April 10th, 2023.

🔔 Roundtable Discussions 🔔

One of the key goals of BSMCS is to provide accessible experiences for trainees (students/post docs). Trainees will have an opportunity to meet with invited speakers at a special pre-conference event the afternoon of Sunday, June 11, 2023. This event will include an introduction by Dr. Christopher Moore followed by roundtable discussions on the theme of “Career Planning in Speech Motor Control.” This optional event offers a great opportunity for trainees to gain insight from the speakers regarding their future career paths. Check back for more details on round table topics.

Symposium Agenda

To tweet during the conference please use: #2023BSMCS

BSMCS Inclusion Policy

The Boston Speech Motor Control Symposium strives to be an inclusive event for all, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or physical ability. If you have any comments or concerns throughout the symposium, please contact us at bsmcs@bu.edu.

Organization and Contact

Program & Organizing Committee:

• Cara Stepp
• Jason Bohland
• Frank Guenther
• Christopher Moore
• Melanie Matthies
• Nicole Tomassi
• Kimberly Dahl
• Jackie Kim
• Mara Kapsner-Smith
• Saul Frankford
• Kara Smith

Questions? Feel free to contact us at bsmcs@bu.edu with any inquiries.

Sponsors