Lecturer appointed to prestigious committee

USQ engineering senior lecturer Dr Paul Wen has being recognised as a leader in his field after he was appointed as a councillor of the Institute of Complex Medical Engineering (ICME).

The ICME, which is located in Japan, is the first organisation in the world that focuses on research in the Complex Medical Engineering (CME) area and brings together CME researchers and practitioners from across the world.

With only those who have proven themselves to be at the forefront of research in CME elected as councillors, Dr Wen, who works in the field of neuro-technology, said that his appointment was an important milestone in his career.

'Generally to be a councillor you have to be recognised as a leader in this area (CME),' he said.

'The ICME has been running for four years and there are thousands of members around the world.

'I am one of only 20 ICME members worldwide to be appointed as a councillor and the only Australian in this position.'

Dr Wen has developed a reputation as a leading researcher in brain science over the past ten years.

'I have been working in the biomedical engineering and electrical and electronic engineering for about a decade,' he said.

'I successfully obtained one ARC Discovery Program grant, one ARC large grant and one ARC small grant since 1997 and am currently leading research in neural and brain science in the Centre for Systems Biology (CSBi) at USQ.

'As part of my research at the ICME I am working with another Professor who is from London University, looking at the new directions in brain and neuro-technology.'

Other areas of research undertaken by ICME members include biomedical robotics and biomechatronics, complex virtual technology in medicine and communication technology in medicine.

Dr Wen will be a councillor for two years, after which his peers will determine whether he will continue in the role.

'If someone has better research than mine in brain and neuro science then they would take my place after the two years.'

Over the past few years, Dr Wen has proven himself as a valuable member of the ICME after also helping to organise the organisations international conferences.

Media Contact: Josh Ada, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 1628