Bernd Fritzsch is a comparative molecular neuroembryologist at the University of Iowa, Department of Biology with a focus on ear neurosensory development and evolution. His main area of research focuses on the molecular evolution of inner ear neurosensory cells (hair cells and neurons) with the aim to elucidate crucial developmental steps that would allow hearing restoration. To this end he also works on the molecular developmental evolution of the organ of Corti, the mammalian hearing organ, the spiral ganglion cells and the brainstem auditory nuclei.