Every year, one voice researcher around the world receives the prestigious Sataloff Award for Young Investigators. This year, the award went to Maryam Naghibolhosseini, a postdoctoral research associate for the Voice and Speech Lab at ComArtSci. She is the first researcher at MSU to be honored with the award, co-sponsored by Elsevier and The Voice Foundation.
“Getting this award and being recognized by the voice community at this early stage in my career means a lot to me,” Naghibolhosseini said.
Researching Mechanisms of Sound Production
Her research focuses on how vocal folds produce sound and how they could possibly lead to voice abnormalities in people with voice disorders. She is working on developing new methodologies for capturing images of the vocal fold function.
“If you put your hand on your throat and say ‘aaaaa’, you can feel the vibrations of your vocal folds while producing sounds,” Naghibolhosseini said.
Using Innovative Technology to Revolutionize Clinical Voice Practice
Naghibolhosseini uses data obtained from a high-speed video camera connected to a flexible fiberoptic endoscope to record the motion of the vocal folds during running speech. The camera takes 4,000-20,000 images per second. Her research is unique because it is the first study that uses recordings of high-speed videoendoscopy during connected speech to study laryngeal mechanisms of sound production.
“My research can revolutionize clinical voice practice,” said Naghibolhosseini. “My ultimate goal is the clinical implementation of high-speech videoendoscopy in connected speech that would be beneficial for people with voice disorders.”
Additionally, Naghibolhosseini believes her research can help speech-language-pathologists and otolaryngologists to develop new therapeutic, medicinal or surgical treatment strategies.
Finding a Home at MSU
Naghibolhosseini conducts research under Dimitar Deliyski, MSU Foundation Professor and Chair. She enjoys working under his mentorship and values his global perspective on voice research and emerging research areas.
“He is an effective educator and communicator, always thinking positively towards finding optimal solutions,” Naghibolhosseini said. “Beyond his leadership and mentoring skills, Dimitar has an incredible personality, and I have learned a lot from him in work and life over the past two years.”
Naghibolhosseini began working in the ComArtSci Voice and Speech Lab in 2015.
“My experience at MSU has been extraordinary,” Naghibolhosseini said. “MSU provides unique opportunities for conducting collaborative and synergetic cutting-edge research. I am delighted to be a part of the MSU family.”
In addition to research, Naghibolhosseini co-mentors graduate students and stays up to date on department activities, including faculty search, teaching responsibilities, bylaws and policy making.
Naghibolhosseini hopes to further develop her career in the area of voice research because of its scientific challenges and potentials for developing mathematical models and statistical analysis.
“Beyond its research and academic attractions, working in this area will allow me to better serve people through employing my engineering and scientific skillsets in solving health-related problems, particularly people with voice disorders,” Naghibolhosseini said.
By Rianna N. Middleton