Mary R. Austin, Ph.D.
Research Associate
Center for Vision Science and Technology and Visual Processing Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Drytown
EducationAugust, 1997–May, 2003 University of Drytown Drytown, CA
n Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering (GPA 3.60).
Dissertation: “English phoneme and word recognition by nonnative English listeners as a function of spectral resolution and English experience”.
Related courses: Structure and Management of Clinical Trials, Regulation of Medical Devices.
August, 1996–May, 1998 University of Drytown Drytown, CA
n M.S., Biomedical Engineering.
Thesis: “Speaker-Independent Vowel Recognition With Coarse Spectral Information Using a TDNN”.
August, 1988–April, 1995 Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Bogota, Colombia
n B.S., Electronic Engineering.
Thesis: “Study of Three Mathematical Models in the Cancellation of Acoustic Noise”, Co-author: Navarro, F.R.
Professional Experience
September, 2003–Present University of Drytown Drytown, CA
Postdoctoral Research Associate
§ Recruitment and screening of subjects for testing.
§ Working on visual and auditory perception and perceptual learning, using Psychophysical and fMRI techniques.
§ Processing and generation of visual and auditory signals for testing.
§ Design and implementation of an auditory lab.
§ Prepare research study protocols and submissions for IRB.
§ Supervision and training of Undergraduate and Graduate students.
May, 1997–September, 2003 University of Drytown-House Ear Institute Drytown, CA
Research Assistant
§ Used Artificial Neural Networks for speech pattern recognition.
§ Worked on the development of a Consonant database for testing.
§ Worked on speech recognition by nonnative English listeners.
§ Processed speech signals used for testing (simulation of cochlear implant hearing).
§ Recruitment and screening of subjects for testing and perform hearing tests on future subjects.
Calibration of equipment required for speech testing.May, 1995–July, 1996 Sucromiles, S.A. Cali, Colombia
Electronic Maintenance Engineer
§ Developed a program using the company truck scale.
§ Designed and implemented an Electronic Lab for the Maintenance Department.
§ Supervise personnel during absences of my supervisor, head of the Electric Maintenance Department.
August, 1990–December, 1991 Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Bogotá, Colombia
Computer Lab Assistant
§ In charge of the Engineering Computer Lab.
§ Responsible for giving courses in the use of Pascal Language.
August, 1988–December, 1988 Centro Colombo Americano Cali, Colombia
English Teacher
§ Teach English to children and adults.
Skills
n Fluent in English and Spanish.
n Knowledge of programming languages and Windows based programs.
Awards
n 2006 – Travel Fellowship for the 25th CVS symposium Statistical learning & brain plasticity.
n 2006 – WiSE Travel Grant for Graduate Students and Post-doctoral Fellows.
n 2002 – 3rd Place Poster Presentation in USC Grodins Symposium.
n 2002 – Student Travel Award for the ARO Conference.
n 2001 – Student Travel Award, 32nd Neural Prosthesis Workshop, NIH.
n 1995 – One of the best five B.S. Thesis of the Graduation class, Colombia.
n 1987 – 2nd Place in Graduation Class, Colombia.
Mentored/Supervised Students
n October, 2006-Present, Ross Gluworth (Graduate student, Neuroscience Program, USC).
n August, 2006-Present, Lester Smith (Graduate student, Biomedical Engineering, USC).
n September, 2003-Present, Jose Sanchez (Graduate student, Neuroscience Program, USC).
n August, 2005-May, 2006, Sin Wa Nu (Undergraduate student, Biomedical Engineering, USC)
publications
§ Tran, N.M. and Austin, M. (2007). “The Big Book of Biomedical Knock-Knock Jokes”, in preparation (for submission to Journal of Neural Computation).
§ Lee, E-J, Austin, M., Dixon, D.K. and Grzywacz, N.M. (2007). “The Brain Bone is Connected to the Nerve Bone”, in preparation.
§ Austin, M. and Aaronson, R.V. (2007). “Not Everybody Poops”, in preparation (for submission to Journal of Scatological Society of America).
published abstracts
§ Austin, M. and Aaronson, N.M. (2006). “How Much do Brains Weigh?”, 25th CVS Symposium, P13.
§ Austin, M. and Handel, N.M. (2006). “Pop Music Fandom: Genetic Defect, or Neural Degradation?”, Vision Science Society meeting, B42-271, 48.
§ Austin, M. and Handel, N.M. (2004). “A Defense of Skull-Drilling”, Society for Neuroscience.
§ Austin, M. and Tran, R. V. (2002). “What's the Deal with Politics?”, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 112, 2385.
meetings and Workshops
n USC CRCC, Visionaries and Vision Hunters Workshop, February 2007.
n Center for Vision & Science Technology Symposium, University of Drytown, March 2005.
n Society for Neuroscience Meeting (SFN), San Diego, CA, October 2004.
n Joint Symposium on Neural Computation, University of Drytown, May 2004.
n Acoustical Society of America Meeting, Cancun, Mexico, December 2002.
professional Membership
§ 2005-Present, Vision Science Society.
§ 2004-Present, Society for Neuroscience.
§ 1998-2004, Acoustical Society of America.
§ 1991-2003, IEEE.