2018-2019
Officers
President
Kelsey Mankel kmankel@memphis.edu
Kelsey Mankel is a doctoral student in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Memphis. She received a Bachelor of Science in music, neuroscience, and psychology from Central Michigan University. Kelsey is currently working with Dr. Gavin Bidelman in the Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory where her research interests include experience-dependent neuroplasticity, categorical perception, and rapid auditory learning.
Vice President
Caitlin Price cenelms@memphis.edu
Caitlin Price is a doctoral student in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She received a Doctor of Audiology from the University of Memphis and received a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Austin Peay State University. Caitlin is currently working with Dr. Gavin Bidelman in the Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory where her research interests include speech-in-noise processing, multisensory integration, and aging.
Secretary
Md Juber Rahman mrahman8@memphis.edu
Juber Rahman has been serving as the Secretary of IISSO. He is a Ph.D. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering and has been working as a Graduate Research Assistant in National Science Foundation-funded project "EAGER: Events of Interest Capture Using Novel Body-worn Fully-passive Wireless sensors for S&CC" with Dr. Bashir Morshed. His research interest includes Mobile Health for Smart and Connected Community, Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing. He has published several peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. He also served as the Vice-President of BSA for the academic year 2016-17. Before his Ph.D. enrolment, he worked in renowned power and telecommunication industries for several years. Mr. Rahman is also a recipient of the Google Developer Challange Scholarship 2018.
Research Coordinator
Alex Johnson jhnson83@memphis.edu
Alexander Johnson is a doctoral student in the Experimental Psychology program at the University of Memphis. He received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. His research interests include misinformation and false memory, the effects of interest and similar individual differences on learning, and non-literal language use (e.g., sarcasm). Additionally, he has recently begun focusing on applications of data science to psychological research (e.g., sarcasm detection algorithms).
Program Ambassadors
Steve is clinically-trained as a physician and currently pursues PhD studies in Biomedical Engineering. His primary area of research is the design and implementation of cognitive agent software for the automated diagnosis of medical conditions from electronic medical record data. An additional interest lies in brain rhythms research as it pertains to cognitive function..
Sultan Mahmud is a Ph.D. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at University of Memphis. He received Master of Science in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the University of Memphis. His research interests include signal processing, data mining and machine learning.
Valerie F. McDaniel came to University of Memphis after working as a board-certified music therapist and is currently a M.A./PhD. student studying with Eugene Buder. Her area of research interest is caregiver-infant turn taking. Valerie is especially interested in conversation development in early childhood and the acoustic phenomena that occur during social interactions. Eventually, she would like to develop some cross-discipline intervention research. Currently, Valerie tries to maintain her sanity by making music and occasionally mustering a courageous effort at a stand-up open mic when she's not spending way too much time in her office.
Amy Rebecca Jones (Becca) is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Marketing & Supply Chain Management at the University of Memphis. Additionally, while at the University of Memphis, she has also completed a Cognitive Science Graduate Certificate and a Biometric Research Certification. Becca is very active at the University of Memphis and holds an officer position for the Intelligent Systems Student Organization as their marketing ambassador. She also serves as a student peer reviewer for the Journal of Advertising. As an undergrad, Becca played collegiate softball for four years, earning the status of an All-American Collegiate Student Athlete. Prior to entering the Ph.D. program, Becca worked for Macy's, Inc. as a relationship management specialist. Prior to her current research, Becca specialized in research regarding rewards management and disabilities in the workplace. In her spare time, Becca loves camping, kayaking, hiking, and several other outdoor activities. She is an avid Bingo player and really enjoys travelling and visiting National Parks.
Zak Neemeh is a PhD student in Philosophy at the University of Memphis. His research focuses on enactivism, embodied cognition, phenomenology, and Fanonian psychiatry. He is interested in reconceptualizing mental health models, particularly in refugee and immigrant populations.
Erica Kessler is a second year doctoral student in the Experimental Psychology PhD program. Erica works with Dr. Jason Braasch in the Knowledge Acquisition Lab. Her research interests include misinformation, multiple text comprehension, academic outcomes, and epistemic cognition.