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A Canary songbird. Photo by Héctor Berganza on Pexels.
 
Research

Leveraging AI models, neuroscientists parse birdsongs to better understand human speech

A new AI tool from the Knight Campus, called TweetyBERT, can automatically segment and classify the songs of canaries, and it might change our understanding of how the brain learns and processes language.

To understand how humans and other animals learn, organize, and produce complex vocalizations, neuroscientists have long studied canary song birds, who have incredibly detailed and structured songs that they can re-learn over time.  For decades, scientists have manually decoded canary songs syllable by syllable, but Tim Gardner, an associate professor of bioengineering at the Knight Campus, believed a computer could do it better.

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The new café opened April 20 and operates Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is designed to be a flexible, comfortable space for students, employees and campus visitors alike.

Professionals, bioengineering faculty, PhD students and undergraduates from the Knight Campus lead hands-on training in partnership with Slocum Research and Education Foundation and the Perry Initiative

Danielle Benoit, Lorry Lokey Chair of the Department of Bioengineering spent the day at Capitol Hill meeting with congressional members and UO Government Relations to advocate for science funding as an American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering Fellow. While there, she met with the offices of Senator Ron Wyden, Senator Jeff Merkley, Representative Val Hoyle, Representative Cliff Bentz, and Governor Tina Kotek. 

50% of this year’s eligible cohort of first year PhD students received the NSF GRFP award, which will support their bioengineering research for three years.

Members from the department of bioengineering tabled an event at the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation's week of research and innovation, to showcase bioengineering research for undergraduate students. 

Armaan Hajar, the Leonard Miller Knight Campus Undergraduate Scholar at the University of Oregon, has been selected as a 2026 Barry Goldwater Scholar — one of the most prestigious awards in the United States for students pursuing research careers in science, engineering, and mathematics.

The Knight Campus had strong representation at both the Society for Biomaterials (SFB) conference and the Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) annual meeting last week.

Riverfront Bistro, the UO's newest dining destination located on the southeast side of Knight Campus Building 2 on Riverfront Parkway, will open to the public on Monday, April 20. 

Bioengineer Marian Hettiaratchi is the inaugural recipient of the Lary Simpson Professorship.

Tickled Peachy Keen, an unusual fruity, sour beer designed by students as a capstone project and made in collaboration with commercial brewers, will be on tap at Claim 52 Brewing from 5-6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 10

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