My research explores health behaviors through computational tools & methods
I am a Principal Research Scientist in the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Tech. Over the past 13 years, I have been collaborating with computing colleagues to forge a new interdisciplinary research area at the intersection of computing and psychology, which we call computational behavioral science. The research vision is to transform the measurement, analysis, and understanding of health-related behaviors by leveraging advances in sensing, wearable and mobile technologies, and computational analysis methods. The ultimate goal is to develop tools that can lead to better detection, monitoring, and treatment of a variety of chronic health conditions.
One key area my research has focused on is understanding early trajectories and predictors of social communication in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Simons Foundation, I have developed novel tools to objectively and automatically measure behaviors such as social gaze and gestures in naturalistic settings. In my most recent NIH-funded project, I am applying novel computational methods to longitudinal measures of communication behavior to understand different pathways to language in autism, including failure to acquire spoken language by age 5.
My research has recently expanded to include a focus on Mild Cognitive Impairment, with an eye toward understanding how artificial intelligence can be leveraged to track cognitive and functional decline in everyday activities, to deliver appropriate in-situ supports for individuals diagnosed with MCI, and to support their care networks. I am the Director of Translational Research for AI-CARING, an NSF-funded artificial intelligence institute focused on developing and evaluating AI technologies to support aging in place for older adults and their care networks.
I am passionate about deploying health technologies in real-world settings and relying on both quantitative and qualitative methods to assess their impact on individuals and care providers. On the autism side, I collaborated with Behavior Imaging to develop, deploy, and evaluate a novel tool for supporting remote diagnosis of autism using videos recorded by families in their homes. As Head of Product for Diligent Robotics, I directed activities aimed at identifying opportunities for service robots to support nurses and other clinical staff in acute care settings, and to document the impact of this robotic support on staff time and workflows. As the Programs and Research Director for the Technology Core of the Cognitive Empowerment Program, I guided the deployment and evaluation of sensors and off-the-shelf technologies into homes of individuals diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment and their care partners to evaluate their potential for supporting independence and care coordination.
One key area my research has focused on is understanding early trajectories and predictors of social communication in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Simons Foundation, I have developed novel tools to objectively and automatically measure behaviors such as social gaze and gestures in naturalistic settings. In my most recent NIH-funded project, I am applying novel computational methods to longitudinal measures of communication behavior to understand different pathways to language in autism, including failure to acquire spoken language by age 5.
My research has recently expanded to include a focus on Mild Cognitive Impairment, with an eye toward understanding how artificial intelligence can be leveraged to track cognitive and functional decline in everyday activities, to deliver appropriate in-situ supports for individuals diagnosed with MCI, and to support their care networks. I am the Director of Translational Research for AI-CARING, an NSF-funded artificial intelligence institute focused on developing and evaluating AI technologies to support aging in place for older adults and their care networks.
I am passionate about deploying health technologies in real-world settings and relying on both quantitative and qualitative methods to assess their impact on individuals and care providers. On the autism side, I collaborated with Behavior Imaging to develop, deploy, and evaluate a novel tool for supporting remote diagnosis of autism using videos recorded by families in their homes. As Head of Product for Diligent Robotics, I directed activities aimed at identifying opportunities for service robots to support nurses and other clinical staff in acute care settings, and to document the impact of this robotic support on staff time and workflows. As the Programs and Research Director for the Technology Core of the Cognitive Empowerment Program, I guided the deployment and evaluation of sensors and off-the-shelf technologies into homes of individuals diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment and their care partners to evaluate their potential for supporting independence and care coordination.
Get in touch with me
[email protected]
Georgia Institute of Technology/Health Analytics
756 W. Peachtree Street SW, 15 East
Atlanta, GA 30332-4014
My office: CODA Building, Rm. E1560B
Phone: 404-894-2304
Georgia Institute of Technology/Health Analytics
756 W. Peachtree Street SW, 15 East
Atlanta, GA 30332-4014
My office: CODA Building, Rm. E1560B
Phone: 404-894-2304