Nandini Iyer

Dr. Nandini Iyer is a Research Scientist at the 711th HPW, currently detailed as an International Program Officer at European Office of Aerospace Research and Development (EOARD). In her current role, she leads the Life Sciences and Human Performance portfolio. In her portfolio, Dr. Iyer is interested in basic research that aims to: a) gain a mechanistic understanding of bio-physical, bio-chemical, and bio-engineered principles useful in augmenting human performance, b) develop novel models and techniques for bio-sensing and protection, and
c) understand the symbiotic partnership of humans and machines that operate in agile and flexible ways.
Dr. Iyer received her doctoral degree in Speech and Hearing Science at The Ohio State University, and her dissertation explored the basic principles whereby the auditory system exploited top-down processes to fill in missing information in the incoming auditory signals. She completed her first postdoctoral studies at the Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (2001-2004), where she developed bio-inspired hearing aid algorithms that would improve spatial perception in hearing impaired listeners. Dr. Iyer was then awarded a National Academy of Science postdoctoral position at the Battlespace Acoustics Laboratory at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in 2004, where she conducted studies to assess speech communication in complex listening environments and developed algorithms to improve communication effectiveness in the battlefield. Dr. Iyer joined the Airman Systems Directorate as a Principle researcher in 2008. As a Principle Investigator, she and her teammates received the Star Team award from AFOSR for 2 consecutive terms (2008-2014). Dr. Iyer moved to EOARD in February 2018.