Dr. Robert G. Alexander

Assistant Professor of Psychology & Counseling
Director of the HFAN Research Group

Dr. Alexander is an NIH-funded cognitive neuroscientist, mentor, and research leader dedicated to transforming how professionals interpret complex visual information. As the founder of the HFAN Lab, he designs scalable, student-powered systems that generate both scientific insight and social impact.

“Our research is about more than just collecting data. Each project is a training ground for future leaders, a contribution to public good, and a deliberate act of care.”

Dr. Alexander’s work integrates cutting-edge cognitive science with values-driven mentorship to build research systems that are rigorous, relational, and built to last. By training diverse students to lead high-impact projects, he advances scientific understanding while ensuring that every study contributes to professional growth. His lab serves as a model for how ethical, scalable infrastructure can sustain excellence. His work exemplifies sustained funding investment in research-training infrastructure that advances New York Institute of Technology’s mission and national research leadership.

His research translates cognitive neuroscience into practical insights for medical training and diagnostic accuracy, addressing critical challenges in healthcare while advancing equity and inclusion in STEM fields.

Research Focus

Perceptual expertise and medical image interpretation
Eye-tracking and performance in high-stakes environments
NIH- and NSF-aligned research priorities in medical training and equity
Designing ethical, student-centered research ecosystems

A list of Dr. Alexander's publications can be found here.

Key Highlights

5+ active projects aligned with federal priorities
Builds durable research infrastructure for federal funding and R2-caliber excellence
Expert in artificial intelligence applications
Mentored 50+ research students across psychology, health sciences, and medicine
Over $14,000 in student-led external grant funding from 2023-2025
Student-coauthored publications and international conference presentations

Lab alumni accepted to PhD programs and medical schools
Uses relational leadership to foster joy, belonging, and equity in science

Dr. Alexander in the Classroom

Dr. Alexander brings the same care, rigor, and strategic vision to his teaching as he does to his research. His courses blend scientific depth with human-centered learning. Whether mentoring capstone projects or leading high-impact seminars, he creates classroom communities rooted in curiosity and belonging, where students feel seen, challenged, and empowered.

Teaches a wide array of undergraduate psychology courses (including Introduction to Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Measurement Concepts, Personnel Psychology, and Physiological Basis of Behavior)
His courses have consistently received strong evaluations, and many students progress to graduate programs and professional careers in cognitive science and healthcare.

In addition to his research and teaching, Dr. Alexander contributes to institutional initiatives focused on research innovation, diversity, and faculty development—championing evidence-based strategies that transform academic culture.

Dr. Alexander’s work is anchored in a vision that research and mentorship are inseparable acts of care and system-building. Through funded projects and innovative training ecosystems, he advances cognitive science while cultivating diverse leaders and reshaping institutional culture. His approach exemplifies how rigorous scholarship and relational pedagogy can create lasting impact within and beyond academia.

Connect

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