Dr. L. James Smart, Jr. (Jay) Assistant Professor of Psychology

1. Graduate study in Human Factors:Department of PsychologyMiami Universitywww.units.muohio.edu/psychology/cogsci/ Dr. L. James Smart, Jr. (Jay) Assistant Professor of Psychology

2. MU Department Profile 1 • Our program is in Brain and Cognitive sciences and consists of the following areas of interest: • Cognition & Perception • Biopsychology • Developmental (concentration) • Human Factors • Our graduate program is a full-time, doctoral program, students will receive a Ph.D. in Psychology • Students also receive master’s (M.A.) after completion of a thesis. • Currently we have 14 students and 1 post doc; 16 faculty (names, specialty) • We graduated 2 Ph.D. and 2 master’s in 2004; 4 Ph.D. and 2 master’s graduates are anticipated in 2005

3. MU Department Profile 2 Focus & Approach • The Brain & Cognitive Science (BCS) area of the Psychology department seek to understand the mental processes and structures that are involved in perceiving, learning, understanding, and acting in ones environment.  • The mental phenomena that we study include basic visual processes, categorization, expertise, spatial cognition, cognitive and motor skills, and perception-action links.  • We use a variety of methods, ranging from behavioral measurements (e.g., reaction time experiments) to mathematical modeling, to neurophysiological measurements (i.e. single-cell recording).  • The program is distinctive, in part because the faculty members balance strong interests in basic psychological research with work that applies their research interests to everyday life.  • We offer students genuine opportunities to explore applications.  That is, the focus of our graduate training is acquiring skills in basic research while providing opportunities for and an appreciation of non-academic applications.  Curriculum

4. MU Department Profile 3 Faculty and Expertise Gordon Allen – memory processes Sian Beilock – expertise Stephen Berry – learning (neuro) Phillip Best – spatial skills (neuro) Marvin Dainoff – HF/E Yvette Harris – cognitive development Yvonne Lippa – action/perception Leonard Mark - perception/action HF/E Lynn Olzak – visual perception Allan Pantle – visual perception Cecelia Shore – cognitive development Peter Simpson –psychophamacology Jay Smart – perception/action HF/E Robin Thomas – categorization HF/E David Waller – spatial cognition HF/E Back to profile 1

5. Curriculum 1 Structure • The B & C curriculum is organized into four tiers that provide progressively finer-grained (detailed) content • Tier I courses are expected to be completed in year one; Tier II & III courses are expected to be completed by end of the second year • At least two courses or seminars must be from outside the student’s immediate area. • These courses are in addition to the departmental requirements. • Most coursework is typically done by year 2, so students can focus on research. • Any internship opportunities must be approved by the student’s committee

6. Curriculum 2 Tier 1 Core Courses Tier 2 Content Courses Tier 3 Advanced Seminars Tier 4 Specialized Modules Advanced Cognitive Processes Neurobiology of Learning & Memory Sensation & Perception Math Modeling Human Factors Cog Neuroscience Etc. Vision JDM Categorization Spatial Cognition Expertise P & C Development Motor Control FEHB WSWO Etc. SDT Psychophysical Methods Color Vision Usability VE Attention Etc.

7. Sample Research by Department Faculty, Staff, and Students 1 • SPCCLab (dir: J. Smart) • Understanding the role of prospective control in adaptation and coordination • Visual Psychophysics Lab (dir: Dr. L. Olzak) • Modeling the structure of early vision centers to understand pattern recognition • Perception & Cognition Lab (dir: Dr. R. Thomas) • Modeling the structure of expertise (in cooperation with Lexis-Nexis) • Perception & Action Lab (dir: Dr. L. Mark) • Factors that determine people’s reach capabilities

8. Sample Research by Department Faculty, Staff, and Students 2 • Human Performance Lab (dir: Dr. S. Beilock) • Factors that mitigate performance of skilled behaviors in experts and novices • Berry Neuropsychological Lab (dir: Dr. S. Berry) • Neural mechanisms of learning and memory (role of hippocampal activity) • SPACELab (dir: Dr. D. Waller) • Factors influencing people’s ability to navigate in physical and virtual environments

9. Type of Jobs or Positions Graduating Students Assume / Aspire to • Our students typically seek academic or industry research positions. More than 40 percent are currently teaching and conducting research in a college or university setting. • Some graduates initially opt to obtain postdoctoral training which has opened opportunities for them to work in research institutions. • Many graduates have chosen to work in business, industry, or government service; they are often involved in research as well as applying psychology to address real-world problems. • Our graduates are employed by a variety of large and small companies, including Boeing, McDonnell-Douglas, IBM, Exxon, Mead Data, AT&T , Sprint, Klein Associates, Science Applications International, and Sonanalysts, Inc., as well as the Air Force, Navy, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) .