Neuroscientist Sliman Bensmaia Dies at Age 48
The neuroscience community is mourning the loss of Sliman Bensmaia, PhD, who passed away unexpectedly on August 10th, 2023 at the age of 48. Dr. Bensmaia was an associate professor in the Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy at the University of Chicago. He leaves behind important contributions to the fields of neuroscience, somatosensation, and prosthetics.
Background and Education
Sliman Bensmaia was born in 1975 in Nice, France. He attended the University of Virginia for his undergraduate studies, graduating in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in biology. He went on to earn his PhD in neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University in 2006, where he studied under advisor Kenneth Johnson.
After completing his doctorate, Bensmaia conducted postdoctoral research at Johns Hopkins Medical Institute from 2006 to 2008. He then joined the faculty at the University of Chicago in 2008 as an assistant professor.
Research on Touch and Prosthetics
The primary focus of Bensmaia’s research was on somatosensation - how touch sensations are encoded in the nervous system and processed by the brain. His lab investigated the neurophysiology of tactile perception and proprioception (awareness of body position and movement).
A major goal was to understand how tactile information could be transmitted to upper-limb prosthetics to provide amputees with a realistic sense of touch. Bensmaia contributed important discoveries about how the skin encodes complex textures and shapes.
Innovations in Tactile Prosthetics
Bensmaia was a pioneer in the development of neuroprosthetics that could restore naturalistic touch sensations to amputees. His research led to advanced tactile algorithms and feedback systems for prosthetic hands and fingers.
In particular, Bensmaia's lab focused on conveying tactile feedback through direct peripheral nerve stimulation. This involved surgically implanting electrodes to activate sensory nerve fibers.
Recent pre-clinical trials demonstrated the ability to provide amputees with nuanced sensory impressions of texture, pressure, vibrations, and limb position.
Accolades and Appointments
Bensmaia earned numerous honors during his distinguished career. He received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers in 2013 from President Obama.
He also held appointments with the University of Chicago’s Committee on Neurobiology, the Grossman Institute for Neuroscience, Quantitative Biology and Human Behavior, and the Chicago Center for Robotic Surgery.
In 2015, Bensmaia was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure at the University of Chicago. He went on to publish over 60 scientific papers and book chapters.
Passion for Mentoring Students
In addition to his research, Bensmaia was passionate about mentoring aspiring young scientists. He supervised Ph.D and postdoctoral researchers in his lab.
Former students praised Bensmaia’s intellect, creativity, and kindness. He was dedicated to training the next generation of neuroscience leaders.
Conclusion
The premature death of Sliman Bensmaia represents a major loss for the fields of neuroscience and neural engineering. However, his innovations, discoveries, and students ensure his legacy will live on. The entire community mourns his passing.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7p7%2FKoaybZpOkunC6xLCqZpuRqsCmec6fZJ2dkam1cL%2FLoqSapl2Xsq%2B%2FzJqgmmWUmq61tIRseGaqlZu5pq%2FToqWgZZ%2BjerS4yKaYp2WSmru0ucCimGankp7Btq3Rsg%3D%3D