Dr. Robert G. Alexander

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

Dr. Alexander is a cognitive neuroscientist, NIH-funded principal investigator, and research mentor whose work examines how people find, interpret, and act on complex visual information. His research focuses particularly on eye movements, perceptual expertise, and medical image interpretation, with the goal of improving performance in high-stakes professional environments.

As director of the Human Factors and Neuroscience (HFAN) lab at New York Institute of Technology, Dr. Alexander leads an interdisciplinary research program that brings together students and collaborators from psychology, medicine, health sciences, biology, computer science, and related fields.

“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.”

Research Focus

Perceptual expertise and visual cognition
Medical image interpretation and diagnostic performance
Eye tracking and oculomotor behavior
Human factors in high-stakes decision-making
Applications of artificial intelligence to professional training and decision support
Clinical and educational applications of eye-movement measurement

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

Key Highlights

Principal Investigator of a $589,210 NIH R16 award supporting research on medical image interpretation
He serves as Vice President for the Americas of the International Society for Clinical Eye Tracking, contributing to international efforts concerning the responsible development and clinical use of eye-tracking technologies.
2026 New York Tech Presidential Excellence Award for Student Engagement in Research
2026 award for outstanding service to the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM), recognizing exceptional service to the student experience and commitment to making NYITCOM a better place for students to receive their medical education
Fellow of the Psychonomic Society, recognizing independent scholarship and an emerging national and international research reputation
2024 Supervisor of the Year, New York Tech Career Success and Experiential Education
Research recognized with the 2022 Scientific Paper of the Year in Radiology
Mentor to more than 50 research students across undergraduate, graduate, medical, and high-school levels
Student mentees have secured more than $14,000 in competitive external research and travel funding
Student co-authors have presented research at national and international conferences in psychology, vision science, neuroscience, and radiology
Inventor or co-inventor on patented and patent-pending technologies involving eye movements, perceptual expertise, and professional training
New York Tech-listed expert on artificial intelligence applications

Dr. Alexander in the Classroom

Dr. Alexander's teaching and mentorship have received repeated recognition from students and the university. In 2026, he received the New York Tech Presidential Excellence Award for Student Engagement in Research and an award for outstanding service to NYITCOM, honoring his contributions to the student experience. He previously received New York Tech Career Success and Experiential Education's 2024 Supervisor of the Year Award and has received numerous student “Thank a Professor” recognitions.

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)
He also created New York Tech's three-course Supervised Research in Psychology sequence (PSYC 481, 482, and 483), expanding opportunities for undergraduates to earn academic credit while participating in authentic research.
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.

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