As a cooperative research center, we are managed by individuals from Tufts University and the U.S. Army DEVCOM Soldier Center (in Natick, MA). Together, our leadership and committee members are experts spanning diverse scientific and technical domains.
Center Administration
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Sue GrodbergSenior Project Coordinator, Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences Bio: Sue received her Bachelor's degree in Assistive Technology from UMass Amherst, and a Master's in Education (Assistive Technology in the K-12 Curriculum) from Simmons University. She has served in a variety of positions, from Human Services staff to computer programmer to administrative and operations manager in research/academic and corporate settings. At the Center she serves roles in administration and operations management. Sue loves to travel, work on art projects, play games, and spend time with friends and family. Email at centerforabcs@tufts.edu |
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TJ OetingerCenter Administrative Director, Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences Bio: TJ received his Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Keene State College. Prior to coming to the Center his primary focus was Finance and Budget Analysis, with his most recent experience in the parking industry. TJ is responsible for the daily administration of Center activities, and serves as a liaison between investigators funded by the Center and US Army personnel. In addition to his work, he enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors with his wife and three children. Email at centerforabcs@tufts.edu |
Center Leadership
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Holly A. Taylor, Ph.D.Co-Director, Center for Applied Brain & Cognitive Sciences Professor, Tufts University Department of Psychology Bio: Holly received her Bachelor's degree in mathematics from Dartmouth College in 1987, her Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1992, and has been a faculty member at Tufts since 1994. As a professor in the Department of Psychology, Holly directs the Spatial Cognition Laboratory, and is an expert in spatial language, navigation, science education, and spatial thinking. In addition to her work, she enjoys running road races, hiking, and spending time with her family. |
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Caroline R. Mahoney, Ph.D.Co-Director, Center for Applied Brain & Cognitive Sciences Division Chief, U.S. Army DEVCOM Soldier Center Bio: Caroline received her Bachelor's degree in psychology from Denison College in 1997, her Ph.D. from Tufts University in 2002, and was first a cognitive scientist, then a team leader, and now division chief at the U.S. Army DEVCOM Soldier Center. As a scientist, Caroline is an expert in cognitive performance, nutrition and behavior, and interactions between physiological and cognitive workload. In addition to her work, she enjoys running and spending time with her husband and daughters. |
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Tad Brunye, Ph.D.Scientific Director, Perception, Cognition, & Action Senior Cognitive Scientist, U.S. Army DEVCOM Soldier Center Visiting Associate Professor, Tufts University Department of Psychology Bio: Tad received his Bachelor's degree in psychology from Binghamton University (SUNY) in 2002 and his Ph.D. from Tufts University in 2007, and since that time he has been a Senior Cognitive Scientist at the U.S. Army DEVCOM Soldier Center, and a Visiting Associate Professor at Tufts. Tad is an expert in a variety of cognitive science domains, holding nearly 200 publications since receiving his doctorate, and the recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). His interests include monitoring, predicting, and enhancing human performance across a range of perceptual, cognitive, physical, and emotional domains. Google Scholar profile here. In addition to his work, he enjoys entrepreneurship, skiing, running, and traveling with his wife and sons. |
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Marianna D. Eddy, Ph.D.Army S&T Integrator, Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences Team Leader, U.S. Army DEVCOM Soldier Center Instructor, Tufts University Department of Psychology Bio: Marianna received her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience from Tufts University in 2008, working with Professor Holcomb on projects related to electrophysiological indices of object perception and language comprehension. She also completed a NRSA postdoctoral scholarship at MIT working with Professor Gabrieli on projects related to visual word recognition, typical reading development in children, and impaired reading development in dyslexia. Marianna is presently the Team Lead for the Cognitive Science and Applications Team at the U.S. Army DEVCOM Soldier Center in Natick, MA, an instructor with the Tufts Department of Psychology. At the Center, she plays the critical role of ensuring the relevance, timeliness, and transition of CABCS research and development efforts to Army S&T priorities. |
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Eric Miller, Ph.D.Scientific Manager, Prediction and Data Sciences Professor and Chair, Tufts University Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Bio: Eric holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He is a professor and chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Adjunct Professor of Computer Science, and Adjunct Professor of Biomedical Engineering. Eric is a world-renowned expert in several scientific and technical domains, including the development and analysis of signal and image processing algorithms, multiscale modeling and inversion, medical image processing and analysis, and data sciences approaches to dynamic, non-linear, multivariate human performance prediction. In addition to his work, Eric enjoys spending time with his wife, three children and dogs, "Teddy Bear" and "Woody" Miller. |
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Nathan Ward, Ph.D.Scientific Manager, Technology & Cognition Associate Professor, Tufts University Department of Psychology Bio: Nate received his Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Utah in 2013 and started at Tufts in 2016 after a postdoc fellowship at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. As an Associate Professor of Psychology, Nate directs the Tufts Applied Cognition Lab where they research technology and cognition, including a focus on understanding and improving the ability to manage multiple streams of information (i.e., multitasking) both in the lab and in real-world settings. |
DEVCOM Soldier Center Personnel
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Julie Cantelon, Ph.D.Visiting Scholar, Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences Cognitive Scientist, U.S. Army DEVCOM Soldier Center Bio: Julie received her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from Tufts University in 2022, working with Dr. Nathan Ward and Dr. Robin Kanarek on studies related to stress, ambiguity and cognitive control. During graduate school, Julie held a Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) scholarship. Prior to graduate school, she worked as a Senior Research Coordinator at CABCS and the U.S. Army DEVCOM Soldier Center. Currently, her research focuses on cognitive performance during physical exercise, as well as examining interactions between physical and emotional stress on cognitive control and decision-making in applied field settings. |
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Seth Elkin-Frankston, Ph.D.Visiting Scholar, Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences Cognitive Scientist, U.S. Army DEVCOM Soldier Center Bio: Dr. Seth Elkin-Frankston is a Cognitive Scientist at the DEVCOM Soldier Center. Prior to this role, Dr. Elkin-Frankston worked in industry for 5 years where he successfully led numerous Government funded research programs in a broad range of disciplines with a focus on neuroscience and cognitive and behavioral research. His current research topics include the advancement of science and technology related to human assessment and the ability to analyze, model, and predict future performance outcomes. Dr. Elkin-Frankston received his doctorate in Neurobiology at Boston University School of Medicine from the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology. His graduate work focused on understanding how different brain areas interact to process visual information to develop techniques that could provide lasting changes to visual performance. |
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Aaron Gardony, Ph.D.Visiting Scholar, Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences Cognitive Scientist, U.S. Army DEVCOM Soldier Center Bio: Aaron received his joint Ph.D. in Cognitive Science and Psychology from Tufts University in 2016. His graduate work focused on basic and applied research topics in spatial cognition, including navigation, spatial memory, and mental rotation. During graduate school, Aaron held a postgraduate research fellowship sponsored by the Oak Ridge Institute of Science & Education (ORISE) and received numerous accolades, including the Outstanding Academic Scholarship Award (Doctoral Level). Aaron’s current research continues to examine topics in spatial cognition and navigation, using both behavioral and neural approaches, as well as with emerging virtual and augmented reality technologies. Aaron is presently a Cognitive Scientist at the U.S. Army DEVCOM Soldier Center. In addition to his scientific pursuits, Aaron enjoys hiking, biking, and playing bass. |
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Grace Giles, Ph.D.Visiting Scholar, Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences Cognitive Scientist, U.S. Army DEVCOM Soldier Center Bio: Grace received a Bachelor's degree in neuroscience from Middlebury College and Ph.D. in Psychology from Tufts University, working with Professor Robin Kanarek on projects related to nutrition, exercise, and cognitive behavior. During graduate school, Grace held the Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) scholarship. Currently, as a Cognitive Scientist at the U.S. Army DEVCOM Soldier Center and CABCS, she examines the influence of nutritional supplementation and physical fatigue on cognitive, emotional, and neural processing (e.g. functional near-infrared spectroscopy; fNIRS). |
Center Research Staff
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Kelsey BoothData Analyst, Center for Applied Brain & Cognitive Sciences Bio: Kelsey graduated from University at Buffalo (SUNY) in 2022 with a Master’s degree in Math Education Studies and in 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. She is working as a data analyst at the center. Outside of work, Kelsey enjoys playing games, attending sporting events, and spending time with her family and cat. |
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Sara Anne Goring, Ph.D.Postdoctoral Researcher, Center for Applied Brain & Cognitive Sciences Bio: Sara Anne Goring earned her PhD in Psychology from Claremont Graduate University in 2023, working with Andrew Conway on models of reading comprehension, cognitive aging, and psychometric measurement. She also holds a BA in psychology from University of Missouri Kansas City, and an MA in psychological sciences from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Sara’s research includes higher-order/psychometric modeling of individual difference factors, and language-related phenomena such as semantic illusions and disfluent speech production/comprehension. |
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Daniel GroverSenior Programmer Analyst, Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences Bio: Dan received his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Game Design from Northeastern University in 2016. His experience as a game designer led him to become a Unity programmer for the center. Dan is responsible for creating virtual environments, virtual entities, and scripted behaviors to simulate military-relevant scenarios and collect multi-modal data from streaming devices. With over 5 years of experience at the center, he has also recently taken on the important role of maintaining, updating, upgrading, and ensuring proper functioning (including software/hardware integration) of the center's virtual reality caves. In addition to his work, he enjoys sports, playing video games, food, and spending time with family and friends. |
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Julia HellmanSenior Research Coordinator, Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences Bio: Julia received her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from High Point University in 2021 and a Master’s in Sport Psychology from Florida State University in 2023. While at FSU, she worked with Dr. Svenja Wolf in the Lab for Emotions in Groups and Organizations, as well as Dr. Jon Maner in the Evolutionary Psychology Lab, which focused on the interplay of motivation, emotion, and social cognition. After graduation, Julia worked with the R2 Performance Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, teaching soldiers and DOD personnel mental performance skills that could be applied to tactical and professional situations. She will be assisting with a variety of projects at the center. |
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Marissa Marko Lee, Ph.D.Postdoctoral Researcher, Center for Applied Brain & Cognitive Sciences Bio: Marissa received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from American University in 2023. During that time, she worked with Dr. Catherine Stoodley examining the role of the cerebellum in cognition and developmental disorders (e.g., developmental dyslexia, autism) using a wide variety of methodologies including neuroimaging and neuromodulation. Her research interests include continuing to investigate neuromodulatory methods in humans and how they could potentially be applied in real-world settings. Outside of work, she enjoys reading sci-fi and fantasy novels, listening to live music, and spending time with her cat, Avocato. |
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James McIntyreResearch Engineer, Center for Applied Brain & Cognitive Sciences and Tufts Institute for Artificial Intelligence Bio: James received his Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering (2020) and a Master’s in Electrical Engineering (2022) from the University of Rhode Island. During this time, he was a Research Assistant in an academic lab working with non-invasive neuroimaging modalities such as electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). His research interests focus on the intersection of machine learning and neuroscience. In addition to his work, he enjoys weight lifting, video games, and spending time with his dogs. |
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Kana Okano, PhDCognitive Scientist, Principal Investigator, Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences Bio: Kana received her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from Tufts University in 2012, working with Professor Phillip Holcomb on visual word recognition using ERP. Before becoming a Research Associate at CABCS, she completed her post-doctoral work at MIT with John Gabrieli and Susan Whitfield-Gabrieli and a Research Scientist position at MIT Integrated Learning Initiative. Her background involves using various neuroimaging techniques (EEG, MEG, fMRI) to understand the neural underpinnings and functions underlying higher-level cognitive processes. |
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Madelyn K. SandoneSenior Research Coordinator, Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences Bio: Madelyn graduated from the University of Tampa in 2022 with a B.A. in Psychology. While at UT, she worked with Dr. Sarah Orban as a research assistant, examining the role of ADHD and executive functioning in symptoms of boredom, smartphone usage and nomophobia, and emotion regulation. She assists with experimental execution and development for a variety of projects at the center. In addition to her work, Madelyn enjoys traveling to new places, dancing, sunshine, and a good smoothie. |
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Marisa SmithSenior Research Coordinator, Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences Bio: Marisa graduated from Temple University with a B.A in Psychology. Before joining the center, she worked as a Research Assistant in the Research in Spatial Cognition Lab at Temple. Additionally, she worked as a Research Assistant for the All of Us Research Program at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. She will be assisting with a variety of projects at the center. |
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Eric Streeter, BFA, AASGraphic Designer, Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences Bio: Eric received his BFA in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and an AAS in Geodetic Survey and Mapping from the Defense Mapping School at Fort Belvoir. Prior to joining CABCS in 2018, Eric worked as a Creative Director at CGI Concepts, an Adjunct Professor at RISD, and a Senior Artist at LG Balfour. As a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Eric applies his military background to the design of photorealistic technical visualizations, including operational environments and adaptive camouflage patterning. |
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Andrew WhitigData Analyst, Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences Bio: Andrew graduated from Rice University in 2022 with a Master's degree in Statistics. He previously attended Bucknell University where he obtained a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics. In addition to his work as a data analyst, he enjoys watching sports, playing board games, and trying new restaurants. |
Research Advisory Committee
The research advisory committee (RAC) is comprised of individuals from within and outside of Tufts University and DEVCOM Soldier Center. The RAC is called upon for expert inputs into initial program reviews, annual reviews, and proposals for continuation. They also play an important role in guiding Center research agendas, identifying and supporting transition goals, and maintaining center visibility across the services. Several individuals on the RAC additionally play a special role as Scientific Liaisons, embedding themselves within projects and guiding and supporting project work.
Dr. Christoph Börgers, Professor of Mathematics, Tufts University
Dr. Kevin Gluck, Principal Scientist, Air Force Research Laboratory
Dr. Jay Goodwin, Chief, Foundational Science Research Unit, Army Research Institute
Dr. Fred Gregory, Program Manager, Army Research Office
Dr. Tom McKenna, Project Officer, Office of Naval Research
Dr. William Messner, John R. Beaver Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Tufts University
Dr. Andy McKinley, Biomedical Engineer, Air Force Research Laboratory
Dr. Kelvin Oie, Cognitive Neuroscientist, U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL)