15th Oct 2025: IEEE Day 2025 Celebration: Expert Talk by Dr. Manaswini Kar
On October 15, 2025, the IEEE Computer Society (CS) Chapter, Bhubaneswar Section, in collaboration with IIIT Bhubaneswar, hosted an insightful expert talk titled “Using Computational Tools to Understand Vocalization Processing and Attentional Modulation in Auditory Cortex” as part of the IEEE Day 2025 celebrations. The event took place at IIIT Bhubaneswar, Gothapatna, Malipada, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from 11:15 AM to 12:15 PM IST in hybrid mode.
The talk was delivered by Dr. Manaswini Kar, an accomplished neuroscience researcher and Program Officer for Biomedical Research & Consultant at Health Resources in Action (HRIA), Boston. Dr. Kar, who holds a Ph.D. in Neurobiology from the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Neuroscience (CNUP) and the Center for Neural Basis of Cognition (CNBC), captivated the audience with her expertise in cognitive and behavioral mechanisms. Her presentation focused on her groundbreaking research exploring the laminar organization of vocalization processing and attentional modulation in the auditory cortex, utilizing integrative approaches combining behavioral studies, in-vivo electrophysiology, and computational modeling.
The event, organized by the IEEE CS Chapter, Bhubaneswar Section, and coordinated by Dr. Puspanjali Mohapatra, Vice Chair (Membership drive) of the IEEE CS Chapter, attracted over 20 IEEE members, including students and professionals. Dr. Kar’s engaging delivery sparked significant interest among attendees, particularly her discussion of experiments involving guinea pigs and monkeys, which provided fascinating insights into auditory neuroscience. Her proficiency in tools such as MATLAB and Python, along with her expertise in multivariate analysis and machine learning, further enriched the session.
Dr. Kar’s notable achievements include seven peer-reviewed publications, with first-author articles in prestigious journals like eLife and PLOS Biology. Her research excellence has been recognized with the McClelland Prize (2022) and the Best Poster Award at APAN (2020). In her current role at HRIA, she oversees biomedical grant programs totaling approximately $30 million annually, promoting health equity through research translation. Additionally, her contributions to science policy leadership as Vice President of Allegheny Science Policy and Governance were highlighted during the talk.
The IEEE CS Chapter, Bhubaneswar Section, expressed heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Manaswini Kar for her inspiring and thought-provoking presentation. The event, a highlight of the IEEE Day 2025 celebrations, successfully fostered enthusiasm for computational neuroscience among students and professionals alike. The chapter extends its appreciation to Dr. Puspanjali Mohapatra and IIIT Bhubaneswar for their efforts in organizing this impactful session.
