Professor Dr. James Simmons

Biography

James Simmons is a professor in the Department of Biology at Brown University, where his research focuses on biological sonar systems, specifically how bats, such as the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), utilize sophisticated echolocation techniques. His work explores the ultrasonic, frequency-modulated echolocation sounds emitted by bats and how these sounds are processed to create a neural representation of the environment. Through his research, Simmons aims to understand the natural images perceived by bats and the neural mechanisms by which the brain reconstructs target scenes. He has received several prestigious awards, including the NIMH Research Scientist Development Award and has been elected as a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America and other scientific associations. Additionally, he teaches various courses related to biology and neuroethology, contributing to the education of the next generation of scientists.

Research Interests

Awards

Courses