Applied Neuroscience

Dr. R. Jacob Vogelstein (Program Manager)

R. Jacob Vogelstein received an Sc.B. degree in neural engineering from Brown University (Providence, RI) and a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Baltimore, MD). Currently, Dr. Vogelstein serves as a program manager in APL’s Research and Exploratory Development Department, where he oversees the Applied Neuroscience portfolio. In addition, he holds a joint appointment as an assistant research professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The Johns Hopkins University’s Whiting School of Engineering. Dr. Vogelstein’s research focuses on neuromimetic computing, brain–computer interfaces, neuroprosthetics, and other neural technologies that can help solve critical challenges for the Department of Defense and intelligence community. He is the author of more than thirty peer-reviewed publications, and his work has been featured in media outlets ranging from the IEEE Spectrum to the BBC World News.

Dr. Mark Chevillet (Section Supervisor)

Mark Chevillet received a B.S. in physics from Washington State University (Pullman, WA) and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Georgetown University (Washington, DC). Currently, Dr. Chevillet serves as a section supervisor in APL’s Research and Exploratory Development Department, where he oversees the activities of the Applied Neuroscience Section. His research focuses on developing applications derived from principles of computational and cognitive neuroscience. Current examples include neuromimetic models of speech recognition and an auditory brain–computer interface. Dr. Chevillet’s research also includes studies of the neural basis of human performance in areas such as speaker identification and semantic knowledge representation.

Charles Ahn

Robert Armiger

Robert Armiger received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Blacksburg, VA) in 2003 and an M.S. in biomedical engineering from The Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD) in 2006. He is Assistant Group Supervisor of the Biological Sciences and Engineering Group in APL’s Research and Exploratory Development Department. His research spans the fields of biomechanics, computer-assisted surgery, robotics, and neutrally integrated prosthetics.

James Beaty

Dr. Duane Cornish

Duane Cornish received a B.S. in computer engineering (2007) and a Ph.D. in computer science and engineering (2012) from The Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Cornish’s graduate research focused on surgical guidance software with work in image processing, computer vision, medical device modeling, and device tracking. Currently, he works in APL’s Asymmetric Operations Department on various projects combining cloud computing, neuroscience, image processing, computer vision, and visualization to make contributions to critical challenges for the defense and intelligence communities.

Charles Davis

Nathan Drenkow

Dr. Alex Firpi

Alexer Firpi received a B.S. in electrical engineering from Polytechnic University (San Juan, Puerto Rico), an M.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Puerto Rico (Mayaguez, Puerto Rico), and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI). After concluding his doctoral studies, Dr. Firpi did postdoctoral work at different institutions in diverse research areas such as intelligent control, biomedical engineering, imaging genetics, and bioinformatics. He is currently a senior staff member in APL’s Research and Exploratory Development Department. Dr. Firpi’s research focuses on machine learning, brain–computer interfaces, computational intelligence, and any other research problem that can be automated by using machine-learning approaches. He is the author of more than 20 peer-reviewed publications and two book chapters.

Kim Glasgow

William Gray Roncal

William Gray Roncal graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, and he received his M.S. in electrical engineering in 2005 from the University of Southern California. Currently, Will is a Ph.D. student in electrical engineering at The Johns Hopkins University, where he is conducting research in computer vision, machine learning, and graph analysis. He applies these techniques to a variety of domains, principally related to neuroscience and estimating wiring diagrams of the brain. Will is also a member of the technical staff at APL, where he manages projects in both the Research and Exploratory Development and the Undersea Warfare mission areas. He is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Eta Kappa Nu, and Tau Beta Pi.

Dr. Michael Gross

Michael Gross received a B.S. from Rice University as well as both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology; each degree was in electrical engineering. His dissertation concerned high-rate, short-pulse sources for optical time-division multiplexing. His postdoctoral fellowship at the Naval Research Laboratory focused on fiber lasers for optical metrology. Dr. Gross currently serves as a senior scientist and project manager at APL, where he researches wave-matter interactions and conducts test-and-evaluation studies for the U.S. government. He has authored or coauthored more than two dozen journal articles and conference presentations, and he has won numerous awards at every stage of his career.

Dr. Mark Happel

Mark Happel serves as a Senior Scientist in APL’s Research and Exploratory Development Department, where he performs research within the Applied Neuroscience Section. In addition, he holds appointments as an Associate Professorial Lecturer in Computer Science at the George Washington University and as a Lecturer at The Johns Hopkins University’s Whiting School of Engineering. Dr. Happel received a B.S.E.E. in electrical engineering from the United States Naval Academy (Annapolis, MD), an M.S.E. in electrical engineering from the University of Central Florida (Orlando, FL), and a D.Sc. in computer science from the George Washington University (Washington, DC). His research is focused on specific topics of interest to the Department of Defense and intelligence community within the areas of social neuroscience, neuroeconomics, and computational neuroscience.

Dr. Amy Haufler

Amy Haufler received a B.S. in health and physical education from Lock Haven University (Lock Haven, PA), an M.S. in motor learning and control (Kinesiology) from The Pennsylvania State University (University Park, PA), and a Ph.D. in exercise and performance psychology (kinesiology) from the University of Maryland (College Park, MD). Postdoctoral training was completed in occupational health psychology at the Uniformed Services University (Bethesda, MD). Currently, Dr. Haufler serves as a project manager in the Applied Neuroscience Section of APL’s Research and Exploratory Development Department. She also holds an affiliate appointment at the University of Maryland’s Center for Advanced Study of Language (CASL). Dr. Haufler’s research focuses on the neural basis of human performance to address critical challenges faced by the Department of Defense and the intelligence community. An integrative perspective is taken in which the mind (cognitive, behavioral, psychological, social/teamwork) and body (central nervous system, autonomic nervous system, genetics, neuroendocrine, musculoskeletal) are examined to understand performance outcome and engineering/work design. Subject-matter expertise includes neuropsychological aspects of optimization of human performance, stress resiliency, emotional/arousal regulation, self-regulation, and motor behavior (skill acquisition, control, and retention). Dr. Haufler is the author of more than 120 significant communications to include peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, technical reports, and national and international talks at scholarly societies. Her work regarding neural correlates of expert and novice marksmanship performance was featured in the public television video series By the Numbers.

Dean Kleissas

Dr. Jonathon Kopecky

Jonathon Kopecky received a dual B.A. in computer science and psychology from Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT), an M.A. in statistics from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI), and a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI). Currently, Dr. Kopecky serves as a senior research associate in APL’s Research and Exploratory Development Department. His research focuses on learning via multimedia to reduce cognitive biases, neuroimaging of cross-cultural adaptability, and machine learning applied to social media.

Zach Koterba

Mary Luongo

Robert Osiander

Bart Paulhamus

Bart Paulhamus received M.S. and B.S. degrees in computer science and engineering from Penn State University (State College, PA). Currently, Mr. Paulhamus serves as group supervisor of the Research and Exploratory Development Department’s Information Sciences Group. In addition, he is an adjunct faculty member and academic advisor in the Systems Engineering Program at The Johns Hopkins University’s Whiting School of Engineering. Mr. Paulhamus’ research focuses on combining neuromimetic computing and brain–computer interfaces with Big Data technologies to solve critical challenges in the Department of Defense and the intelligence community.

Pam Pittmon

Eric Pohlmeyer

Dr. Pedro Rodriguez

Pedro Rodriguez received a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus, an M.S. in biomedical engineering from The Johns Hopkins University, and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Dr. Rodriguez has been working at APL for the past nine years and currently serves as a section supervisor in the Research and Exploratory Development Department’s Analytic Capabilities Group. He has experience in developing image-detection, tracking, classification, and fusion algorithms for various sensors and modalities. His recent work has focused on developing neuromimetic algorithms for image recognition and implementing them into a Map Reduce framework. Dr. Rodriguez has been principal investigator and team leader of various projects, including Independent Research and Development projects. He is the author of several peer-reviewed publications and also serves as a reviewer for papers submitted to various journals and conferences.

Dr. Matthew Roos

Matthew Roos received a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla, an M.S. in electrical and computer engineering from Purdue University, an M.S. in biomedical engineering from Duke University, and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Currently, Dr. Roos works in the Applied Neuroscience Section of APL’s Research and Exploratory Development Department, where he is developing neuromimetic algorithms for advanced automated sound processing. He is also researching brain–computer interfaces and the applicability of modern machine-learning techniques to associated physiological signals. As a doctoral student at The Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Roos used in vivo animal models combined with linear and nonlinear neuronal network models to study the role of inhibitory neurotransmitters in shaping auditory perception. He previously worked with the defense and intelligence communities developing signal processing algorithms for communication and speech systems.

Dr. Michele Schaefer

Michele Schaefer received a B.A./M.A. in biology/biotechnology from Boston University (Boston, MA) and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (Denver, CO). Currently, Dr. Schaefer serves as a project manager and principal investigator in APL’s Research and Exploratory Development Department, where she manages the Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Program. Her research focuses on military-related brain trauma with the goal of helping solve critical challenges faced by the Department of Defense. She is the author of more than 16 peer-reviewed publications.

Ashok Sivakumar

Jason Spitaletta

Jason Spitaletta is a major in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve currently assigned to the Joint Staff J7 Deputy Director for Joint and Coalition Warfighting as an observer/trainer. Before that, he was assigned to 4th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO), where he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In civilian life, he is a researcher at APL. He received a bachelors’ degree in biochemistry from Franklin & Marshall College, obtained master’s degrees in human factors and applied experimental psychology from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Catholic University, respectively, and is currently a doctoral candidate at Catholic University. He also holds a graduate certificate from Stanford University’s Summer Institute in Political Psychology.

Dr. Francesco Tenore

Francesco Tenore received a laurea in electronics engineering from the University of Trieste (Trieste, Italy) and M.S.E. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from The Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD). Currently, Dr. Tenore serves as a project manager in APL’s Research and Exploratory Development Department, where he oversees the neuroscience, regulatory, and implantable-device efforts for the Revolutionizing Prosthetics program. His research focuses on brain–computer and brain–machine interfaces, neuroprosthetics, and other neural technologies that can help to solve critical challenges in the Department of Defense. He is the author of more than 30 peer-reviewed publications, and his work has been featured in media outlets including Nature news and NPR.

Tammy Tober

Dr. Brock Wester

Brock A. Wester received a B.S. in computer engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA) in 2004 and a joint Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University (Atlanta, GA) in 2010. Currently, Dr. Wester is a Senior Professional Staff member and serves as a project manager in the Applied Neuroscience Section of APL’s Research and Exploratory Development Department. His research areas include microelectromechanical systems microfabrication and packaging, brain–computer and neural interfaces, prosthetics, control systems, traumatic brain injury, blast injury, and virtual environments. Dr. Wester is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology (EMBS), and the Society for Neuroscience (SFN).

Dr. Michael Wolmetz

Michael Wolmetz received a B.Sc. in computer science from Yale University (New Haven, CT) and a Ph.D. in cognitive science from The Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD). He also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Laboratory of Computational Audio Perception in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The Johns Hopkins University’s Whiting School of Engineering. Dr. Wolmetz is currently a Senior Professional Staff member in APL’s Research and Exploratory Development Department, where he works on a variety of programs in the Applied Neuroscience portfolio. His research focuses on applications related to audition, language, learning, and attention.