Laurel Issen!

UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER BOX 270268 BRAIN AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES DEPT! ROCHESTER, NY 14627!

lissen@bcs.rochester.edu

Education
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! University of Rochester! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Ph.D. Candidate, Brain and Cognitive Science! ! M.A., Brain and Cognitive Science! ! ! Research Advisors: David Knill, Krystel Huxlin ! Additional Thesis Committee Members: Duje Tadin, Gregory DeAngelis University of Texas at Austin !! ! B.S., Computer Science! ! Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and Special Honors ! Research Advisors: Wilson Geisler, Peter Stone 2006present anticipated February 2012 December 2009

20022006 May 2006

Publications and Presentations ! De-coupling eye and hand movement planning: the CNS integrates spatial information
!
!

!
!

from memory and vision differently to plan saccades and hand movements ! Submitted for publication in Journal of Vision! September 2011 Using optic ow to determine direction of heading: patterns of information use in hemianopic patients, simulated hemianopia, and visually normal human observers ! Dissertation proposal presentation, accepted! August 2011 Near-optimal spatial integration of optic ow information for direction of heading judgments ! Poster presented at Vision Sciences Society Annual Meeting ! Abstract published in meeting proceedings! May 2011 Saccades to objects are planned using spatial memory as well as current retinal position ! Poster presented at Cognitive Sciences Society Annual Meeting! August 2009 ! Poster presented at Vision Sciences Society Annual Meeting! May 2009 ! Abstracts published in VSS meeting and CogSci Society meeting proceedings The weight to spatial memory in visually-guided reaching increases with retinal eccentricity ! Poster presented at Vision Sciences Society Annual Meeting! ! ! Abstract published in meeting proceedings! May 2008 The role of memory in visually-guided reaching ! Sixty-minute presentation and Q&A session in the University of Rochester Brain and Cognitive
! ! Sciences Lunch Talk Series ! April 2008 May 2006

Using edge statistics for object recognition ! Undergraduate Computer Science Honors Thesis public presentation and defense! Modeling the effects of distance and clutter on visual conspicuity ! Paper presentation at Southwestern Psychological Association Meeting ! Finalist in the Undergraduate Research Competition, SWPA Meeting!

April 2006

Conferences and Professional Afliations ! Vision Sciences Society!

! Presenter! ! Member! ! Conference Attendee! Society for Neuroscience! ! ! Member! Cognitive Sciences Society! ! Presenter! ! ! Member! ! Conference Attendee! Southwestern Psychological Association! ! Presenter! ! ! Member! ! Conference Attendee! ! ! Undergraduate Research Competition Finalist!
! 2008, 2009, 2011 2007present 2007present 2011present 2009 2009present 2009 2006 20052006 2006 2006

Laurel Issen!
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER BOX 270268 BRAIN AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES DEPT! ROCHESTER, NY 14627!

lissen@bcs.rochester.edu

Research Experience ! University of Rochester

! ! Using optic ow to determine direction of heading: patterns of information use in hemianopic patients, simulated hemianopia, normally-sighted human subjects, and ideal observers
! ! ! ! ! Dissertation topic, collaboration with Krystel Huxlin and David Knill. Additional dissertation committee members Duje Tadin and Gregory DeAngelis. Extending work by Huxlin et al. in characterizing visual abilities and impairments in patients with cortical blindness. Comparing normal subjects spatial distribution of information use to ideal observer models. Will provide an important basis for evaluation of motion rehabilitation efforts by Huxlin and colleagues

Quantifying the relative contributions of visual short-term memory and the current retinal image in determining object localization for saccades and visually-guided reaching
! ! ! ! ! Collaboration with David Knill, extending previous work with Anne-Marie Brouwer. Identifying and quantifying the role that visual memory plays in reasoning about object location. Exploring potential similarities in the use of visual memory for planning hand movements and saccades. Aiming to clarify misconceptions about the use of visual memory brought by change blindness studies. Validating hypothesis that humans rely more on visual memory of target location to plan hand and eye movements, when current visual information is poorer. Here visual information is more unreliable because it is farther in the periphery when movements are planned. ! Results submitted for publication in Journal of Vision.

! ! !
!

University of Texas at Austin ! Using edge statistics for object recognition ! ! ! Collaboration with Wilson Geisler, Psychology, and Peter Stone, Computer Science.
! ! ! ! ! ! Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Honors Thesis, external committee member Risto Miikkulainen. Used edge statistics to create, test, and ne-tune object-recognition algorithm for detecting black-and-white soccer ball in static images. Analyzed data using MATLAB and shared ndings in paper and presentation to peers and faculty. Results indicated the potential uses of edge statistics for algorithm and new approaches needed.

!
! ! !

!
! ! !

Identifying and solving challenges in autonomous multi-agent systems via competition in the RoboCup robotic soccer league ! ! Contributed to group led by Peter Stone to program a team of autonomous Sony Aibo robots to play soccer.
! ! ! ! ! ! Wrote, tested and revised code to be manifested as a ball-stopping behavior in pass-reception. Gained exposure to topics such as machine learning and computational vision. Hosted student tours and press representatives, explaining efforts of the research team and providing information as requested.

! ! !

Clemson University, NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates ! Modeling the effects of distance and clutter on visual conspicuity ! ! ! Collaboration with Ben Stephens.
! ! Followed project from experimental design through data analysis, investigating effects of distance and clutter on object salience. Results indicated signicant main effects and interaction of distance and clutter on salience.

College Teaching Experience

Neural Foundations of Behavior, University of Rochester! ! Teaching Assistant, Recitation Section Leader! ! ! Conducted a weekly recitation session for 30 students.
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Covered topics in neurobiology, anatomy, neural development, sensation, attention, and behavior in introductory course. Collaborated with instructor Alex Pouget and three teaching assistants to write multiple-choice exams. ! Conducted two-hour review sessions for each of four exams with another teaching assistant, attended by 100+ students.

Fall 2009

Page 2 of 3

Laurel Issen!
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER BOX 270268 BRAIN AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES DEPT! ROCHESTER, NY 14627!

lissen@bcs.rochester.edu

College Teaching Experience, cont.

Perception and Action, University of Rochester! ! Teaching Assistant, Exam Writer, Review Session Leader! ! ! Guest lecturer ! ! ! Volunteered to give 5 lectures throughout the semester
! ! ! Assisted students in developing ideas for research paper topics, which ranged from extensive literature reviews to original experiment proposals. ! Provided extensive feedback on the nal papers for 7585 students each semester. ! Wrote and graded three 50-question multiple-choice exams and 100-question nal exams each term. ! Conducted two-hour review sessions for each exam. ! Covered advanced topics in visual, vestibular, auditory, chemical, sensory and proprioceptive senses, perceptual processing, and motor behavior. ! Worked with instructor David Williams to conduct elaborate and exciting in-class demonstrations.

Fall 2008, Fall 2007 Fall 2008

! !

! !

Awards and Honors ! University of Rochester

!
!

Center for Visual Science NSF Training Grant Fellow! Robert L. and Mary L. Sproull Fellow!

2008present 20062008 2005 2004

! ! ! ! ! !
!

University of Texas at Austin ! Natural Sciences Council Scholar! ! Unrestricted Endowed Presidential Scholar ! ! National Merit Scholar ! ! Deans Scholar, College of Natural Sciences! ! Turing Scholar, Department of Computer Science Southwestern Psychological Association ! Undergraduate Research Competition Finalist!

! !

2006

Program Coordination, Advising, Mentoring Experience

University of Rochester Office of Undergraduate Research Graduate Student Intern ! ! ! Assisted with planning, scheduling, and ordering supplies for the
! ! ! ! ! Undergraduate Research Expo, an all-day event where 42 students presented ! research as talks and posters ! Identied resources for undergraduates seeking research opportunities with Rochester-area museums and galleries

Rochester, NY Spring 2009Spring 2011

The University of Texas at Austin! Honors Colloquium and First Bytes Mentor !
! Provided guidance and assistance to talented high school seniors ! Worked closely with young women interested in Computer Science, ! conveying benets of UT Computer Science

Austin, TX July 2003

!
! !

!
! !
!

Deans Scholars Council Representative and Math/Science Tutoring & Mentoring Program Organizer !
! Recruited and organized 1525 students per semester to visit high-need ! elementary schools to mentor and tutor students in math and science

20032006 2006 2006 2003-2006

! ! !

Middle School Enrichment Program Mentor! Deans Scholars Organ Donor Awareness Drive Coordinator! Phi Beta Chi Womens Fraternity Member and Committee Chair!

Page 3 of 3