Paul has research interests which include signal processing, underwater acoustics and bioacoustics (the way animals, especially marine mammals, use sound). He is primarily concerned with developing tools to assist in the computer-aided analysis of underwater sounds and understanding the role of those sounds in the marine environment.
Acoustics, in the form of sonar, is an important tool for the exploration of the marine environment. It is used by the seismic industry to locate oil and gas reserves, by the military to detect objects, by oceanographers to make measurements and by marine mammals to survive.
Man-made underwater acoustic systems rely upon computers to process the data coming from sensors to interpret the environment. The processing methods within the computer systems are a critical component often defining the overall success of the instrument.
My research interests lie in the intersection of hearing science, audiology, and signal processing, with a particular focus on:
Bio-inspired Auditory Modeling: Developing computational models of the auditory system to better understand how humans process sound and how hearing impairments affect this process.Speech Intelligibility in Noise: Investigating how noise affects speech understanding in both normal-hearing and hearing-impaired individuals, and developing algorithms to improve speech intelligibility in noisy environments.Cochlear Implants and Hearing Aids: Developing and evaluating signal processing strategies for cochlear implants and hearing aids to improve speech perception and sound quality for hearing-impaired individuals.Auditory Evoked Potentials: Investigating the use of auditory evoked potentials as an objective measure of auditory function and as a tool for evaluating the effectiveness of auditory rehabilitation.Psychoacoustics: Studying the relationship between the physical properties of sound and the perceptual experience of hearing, with a focus on how hearing impairments affect this relationship.
My research combines experimental, computational, and clinical approaches to address these key areas, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life for people with hearing impairments.
