People

Graduate Students

Rachel Benton

Rachel graduated from North Carolina State University in 2016 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a B.A. in International Studies. Since then, she’s been working in the automation industry. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Human Factors and Applied Cognition and is particularly interested in autonomous systems and attention during complex tasks.

Emily Hartkop

Emily graduated from the University of Dayton with an M.A. in 2017 and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Human Factors and Applied Cognition. Emily is primarily interested in cognitive and perceptual changes with expertise in both real-world and virtual environments, and the use of interactive technology in education.

Emily Jackson – CV

Emily graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in psychology, human relations, and studio arts. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in Human Factors and Applied Cognition. Emily is primarily interested in individual differences in learning complex tasks, particularly the contribution of working memory capacity.

Imani Murph – CV

Imani graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a B.A. in Psychology in 2017, and again in 2020 with a M.S. in Human Factors from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D in Human Factors and Applied Cognition and is interested in AR/VR, perception and attention.

Mak Pryor

Mak graduated from New College of Florida in 2013 and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Human Factors and Applied Cognition. Mak is interested in visual perception and aging, and how older adults interact with the world.

Khalaeb Richardson

Khalaeb graduated from NC State University with a Bachelor’s in Psychology in 2020, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Human Factors and Applied Cognition. He is interested in tailoring training and technology to individuals, as well as VR/AR.

Andrea Macedo Salas

Andrea graduated from Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City, with a B.A. in Psychology and a Major in Educational Psychology. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Human Factors and Applied Cognition. Andrea is interested in human focused design, as well as the tailoring of technology to individuals.

Lab Director

Anne Collins McLaughlin – CV

Education

Ph.D., Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2007

M.S., Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2003

B.A., Double major:Psychology & English, Trinity University, 1998

Dr. McLaughlin also Co-Directs the Gains Through Gaming Lab with Dr. Jason Allaire.

Research Interests

Motivation for cognitively complex activities
Age-related changes in cognitive abilities
Learning at older ages
Training to use technology
Cognitive ergonomics
Training for maintenance of cognitive ability