Francis Smith is an assistant research scientist in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Iowa. He works in the Human Auditory Neuroscience Lab under his mentor, Inyong Choi. His primary research interest lies in understanding how cognitive and neural processes adapt when processing speech in challenging listening situations, such as speech-in-noise or vocoded speech. He employs multiple methodologies to investigate these changes, including EEG and eye-tracking among other techniques. His broader goal is to better understand variability in outcomes for cochlear implant recipients, as well as improve communication for individuals with hearing difficulties more broadly.