Professional

I am currently a Cognitive Neuroscientist/Human Factors Scientist at Infoscitex (IST), a DCS company. At IST, I work closely with U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory scientists, and our teams, with developers to create innovative human-centered Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) for multi-domain warfare, capable of seamless flexible interaction with unique intelligent agents. I have a strong interest in understanding what team work and team cognition are, and how those terms could be genuinely extended and applied to creating authentic human-agent teaming. I am excited by the dynamic collaborative environment and challenging projects provided by IST, a DoD contractor, and thoroughly enjoy learning from my valued colleagues.

Main Accomplishments

  • Becoming team lead for multiple Human Autonomy Interface teams and Chief Cognitive Scientist for Product Synergy for the Air Force Research Laboratory RHCC branch at Infoscitex

  • Becoming a subject matter expert in Human Autonomy Interaction with the Army at CCDC (U.S. Army Research Laboratory) and guiding team research efforts away from traditional 'trust in automation' paradigm towards predicting and managing human autonomy interaction

  • Getting my PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience and my dissertation research PROVING that cattle feel pain as humans do. It was the first research in the world to document a laser evoked potential in cattle- an objective measurement of pain used to study and diagnose pain system injuries in humans.

  • Being a well-loved veterinarian in Plymouth

  • Stopping the kill at a slaughterhouse because the pig weren't being stunned properly and recovering consciousness before entering the scald tank. I fought a war that week.

  • Bringing a prosecution against a transporter and a farmer for transporting pigs with septic arthritis that had to be killed on the truck because they couldn't walk.

  • Inspiring and leading the effort for Genus Breeding's new equine breeding business. Entailed creating and analyzing research for establishing a fixed-time artificial insemination (AI) protocol for horses. The first of its kind in the world. Sourcing stallion semen across Europe and leading the training for our new Equine AI technicians in Holland.

  • Setting up a charity in Old Delhi for the working animals. We provided free medical care for any animal arriving at our clinic with the proviso that we never saw abject cruelty. We found most cruelty was due to ignorance NOT intentional.

  • Spreading kindness and animal welfare to such an extent that when a man with two ponies came to us with saddle sores down to the spine the Tonga Wallas (the men using horses and donkeys to pull their wagons) almost attacked him until we stopped it telling them that at least he had eventually found his way to us.

  • Curing a pony for a young boy who had to work instead of going to school. All she needed was worming and some vitamin. He gave us a flower. One of my most treasured memories.