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Applied Cognition and Technology Lab

UCF Psychology Department

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People


Faculty


Dr. Valerie Sims

Research interests: human-computer interaction, human-animal interaction, and individual differences in spatial ability

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Matthew Chin

Dr. Matthew Chin

Research interests: intergroup discrimination, social identity, human-animal interaction, and human-robot interaction


Graduate Students

Kristen Schmidt

Kristen is a fifth-year student in the Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology PhD program at University of Central Florida. She received her Bachelor’s in 2019 with a dual major in Psychology and English/Creative Writing at SUNY Binghamton. Her research interests include UI and UX design, game and simulation design, game learning, the relationship between video games and cognition, and how technology influences human communication and relationships. Kristen serves as the lab manager of the ACAT lab.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-schmidt-017336185/

 

 

Gabriela (Gabby) Flores-Cruz

Gabby is a fourth-year student in the Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology Doctoral program at the University of Central Florida (UCF). She received her Bachelor’s in Fall 2019 from UCF in Psychology with a minor in Cognitive Sciences. Her primary research interests are risk perception and visual attention. Her most recent work explores (1) people’s knowledge and risk perception of indoor and ambient sources of air pollution and (2) whether self-view in video conference platforms behaves as an attentional capturer distracting users from their primary task.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielaflorescruz/

 

 

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Codick

Lizzie is a doctoral candidate in the Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology PhD program at the University of Central Florida. She received her Associate’s degree in Applied Computer Technology (2018), Bachelor’s in Human-Centered Computing (2020), and Master’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction (2022) at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Her research interests include UI and UX design, humans’ behavior with technology as individuals within their many and varied social contexts, and accessibility/inclusive designs. Lizzie has a background in front-end development and has worked on research projects as both a researcher and developer.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-codick10298/

 

Photo of Sahara Brodsky
Sahara Brodsky

Sahara Brodsky is a doctoral candidate in the Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology PhD progrm at the University of Central Florida.  She received her Master’s degree in Religious Studies from the University of South Florida in 2024, her Master’s degree in Experimental Psychology from The Catholic University of America in 2020, and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from The University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 2017. Her research interests include how individual differences affect how people interact with technology.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahara-brodsky-8b96291aa


Undergraduate Members


Camille Allie

Claudia Allocca

Hannah Bishop

Megan Daza

Daniel Garzon

Parker Long

Deanna Mcintyre

Mackenzie Miller

Paige Mills

Koko Moore

Kayla Norman

Crystal Thai

Evan Rivas

Laura Valdes-Vega

Olivia Young

Click here to meet our alumni!

Recent News

PhD student Kristen Schmidt was accepted to the Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program (NREIP) as a summer intern working at the Naval Air Warfare Center – Training Systems Division (NAWC-TSD).

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PhD candidate Briana Sobel was awarded a $10,000 scholarship from the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC).

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PhD student Kristen Schmidt was elected President of the UCF Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) Student Chapter.

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