Sébastien Schmerber, MD, PhD, is a leading otologic surgeon and researcher at the University Hospital Grenoble Alpes (France), where he has served as Chair of the Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology & Head and Neck Surgery since 2018. Renowned for his pioneering work in hearing implants and auditory neuroscience, he was appointed Full Professor in 2005.

Professor Schmerber’s expertise is anchored in high-level international collaboration. From 2002 to 2003, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Tokyo (Tōdai) Graduate School of Medicine. During this period, he trained under the supervision of Professor Kimitaka Kaga, a world-renowned authority in auditory neuroscience and cochlear implantation. A trailblazer in middle-ear and bone-conduction technology, Professor Schmerber performed France’s first Bonebridge implantation in 2014 and possesses nearly three decades of experience with Vibrant Soundbridge systems. He continues to push the boundaries of surgical precision through robotics: In December 2024, his department performed France’s first cochlear implantation using the OTODRIVE robot (MED-EL, Innsbruck, Austria). He maintains a close collaboration with Zentact Robotics (Grenoble, France) to develop a next-generation robot specifically designed for oto-endoscopic ear surgery. His research spans surgical innovation to advanced neuro-monitoring. A key achievement is the development of "Cochlear-Print," a patented sampling tool designed to study perilymph in partnership with industry leaders. This technology paves the way for future robotic fluid collection during implantation procedures. For over 25 years, Clinical Vestibular Research has been a core pillar of his department. Notably, the faculty pioneered a novel objective tool for multi-frequency vestibular assessment, utilizing skull vibrations to provide more accurate diagnostic data.