Professor Peter Seligman
Prof Seligman is a Research Engineer/Mentor working part time with the Bionics Institute, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role.
Peter came to the Institute after working with Cochlear for 26 years and is an honorary Professor of the University of Melbourne.
Peter’s tertiary education began with a Bachelor in Engineering, before completing a PhD in Electrical Engineering at Monash University. During his doctoral studies, Peter worked on a model of human hearing, which gave him the perfect background to take on a role with the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Melbourne.
Peter worked at the University as a biomedical engineer under the direction of Prof Graeme Clark as a key member of the team which developed the bionic ear. In 1979 he designed the first portable Speech Processor for the University of Melbourne device. Peter continued this work at Cochlear Ltd from 1983 to 2009, working mainly in speech processor development.
After retiring from Cochlear, Peter was approached by then Director Prof Rob Shepherd to come and work at the Bionics Institute in a part-time capacity as a Research Engineer, and a mentor to younger engineers in the Institute. The focus of Peter’s work is on novel stimulator design, electrical modelling of electrodes and electrode topology of wide-view visual prosthesis electrodes.
In 2018 Peter was awarded the inaugural “Bionics Institute Award for Excellence in Medical Device Innovation” in recognition of his significant contribution to the development of Cochlear Implants.
Peter’s objective whist working at the Bionics Institute is to design and build an electrical stimulator that the Bionics Institute can call its own.
I enjoy the opportunity of working with intelligent young people on projects with worthwhile objectives Prof Peter Seligman
