Academic and Professional Experience

Education

University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, Graduate Student (Fall 2002-present)
Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences and Center for Visual Science
Doctor of Philosophy, Brain & Cognitive Sciences, expected Spring 2008
Master of Arts, Brain & Cognitive Sciences, October 2006

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, Dual Degree Recipient, May 1999
Majors: Psychology (Bachelor of Arts), Computer Science (Bachelor of Applied Science)
Minors: Mathematics, Cognitive Science

Professional Experience

Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences and Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
Graduate Student
Fall 2002-present
Investigated the influences of monocular and binocular visual cues on estimates of 3D orientation when grasping and placing objects and found that relative processing speeds affect how different cues are combined when planning and executing visually guided movements. Examined how visual cue integration strategies for motor control are affected by task demands and how they change when information arrives from different positions across the visual field and from different depths relative to fixation. Developed a computational model that simulates a population of binocular visual cortical neurons and decodes the activity patterns to quantify the amount of information orientation disparity, a binocular visual cue, provides about 3D orientation.

Real-Time Systems Group, Air Defense Systems Department, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD
Computer Scientist/Software Engineer
November 1999-July 2002
Created ship-based sensor displays and controls, and, as technical direction agent for the project, oversaw development and testing, assisted with problem identification and resolution, evaluated requirements, and acted as primary point of contact at JHU/APL. Modified 3-D visualization tools to support live participation in military exercises, developed simulation software for combat system testing, and created a web-based scheduler to manage facility resources. Collaborated as part of a rapid prototyping and concept development team researching topics in computer vision and image processing.

Center for Human Modeling and Simulation, University of Pennsylvania
Undergraduate Student Researcher
September 1996-May 1999
Developed real-time animated conversational human agents, created tools to manipulate 3-D polygonal objects, and experimented with various aspects of facial animation using deformable face models.

Management Department, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Research Assistant
February 1998-May 1999
Performed data analysis using structural equation models and various statistical tests to determine the impact of human resource practices on hospital performance during downsizing and reengineering for an American Hospital Association-sponsored study. Administrated data collection and managed hospital contacts.

Teaching Assistantships

Brain & Cognitive Sciences 151: Perception & Action, Fall 2002, Fall 2004, Fall 2006 (University of Rochester)
Computer Science Engineering 110: Introduction to Programming, Spring 1999 (University of Pennsylvania)

Professional Memberships

Vision Sciences Society
Society for Neuroscience
Association for Computing Machinery