Alumni

Allison received her Ph.D. in Human Factors & Cognitive Psychology from the University of Central Florida’s Performance Research Laboratory in 2024. Her research focused on the effects of the social environment on vigilance. 

She currently works as a Senior Research Psychologist for StraCon Services Group, LLC in support of the Naval Airwarfare Center – Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD). –Updated December 2024

Dissertation: Human Performance in Context: Exploring the Effect of Social Support on Vigilance 

Dr. Victoria L. Claypoole is currently a Research Associate III with Design Interactive, Inc. With previous experience at the Air Force Research Lab and her current work with the United States Navy, Dr. Claypoole’s research interest lies at the intersection of increasing warfighter readiness and advancing scientific knowledge. Her previous work has examined how individual differences and social cues can improve attention and enhance enemy threat detection. Currently, her work is centered on leveraging emerging technology to develop next-generation training and operational support for the warfighter. Dr. Claypoole has earned numerous professional awards, including the University of Florida’s 40 under 40, the University of Central Florida’s 30 under 30, and several Best Paper awards at various conferences. She received a Ph.D. in Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology and a Master’s in Modeling and Simulation from the University of Central Florida. -Updated December 2020

Dissertation: Understanding Human Performance and Social Presence: An Analysis of Vigilance and Social Facilitation

Dr. Fraulini is currently employed by StraCon Services Group, LLC as a Senior Research Psychologist in support of the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) in Orlando, Florida. He received a Ph.D. in Human Factors & Cognitive Psychology from the University of Central Florida in 2017, where his research interests included training for vigilance, signal detection theory, mental workload, and stress. He also received a Master of Science degree in Modeling and Simulation from UCF in 2015. Previously, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Villanova University in 2011. -Updated September 2018.

Dissertation: Examining Energetic and Structural Components of Knowledge of Result Using a Vigilance Paradigm

Dr. Lexi Neigel is an AR/VR technology strategist and experienced researcher. Dr. Neigel’s current work at Microsoft focuses on understanding the intersection of customer needs and interaction within AR and VR systems. Dr. Neigel translates research insights from rigorous qualitative and quantitative studies into actionable design recommendations used by program managers, funding sponsors, designers, and engineers to improve AR and VR experiences across several customer bases.

Prior to her work at Microsoft, Dr. Neigel helped research and design AR and VR training systems for the United States Navy and Army. A former academic, Dr. Neigel has educated 1200+ students on topics in statistics, research methods, psychology, engineering, and human factors. She has 30+ publications in the field of human factors, many of which focus on vigilance, decision making, and motivation.

Most recently, Dr. Neigel was selected as a 2020 University of Central Florida 30 Under 30 scholar for her accomplishments in the field of human factors. She was also selected as a 425 Business Magazine 30 Under 30 2020 awardee for her research supporting the development of the militarized HoloLens 2. -Updated December 2020

Dissertation: Beyond Compliance: Examining the Role of Motivation in Vigilance Performance

Gaby Hancock received her Ph.D. in Applied Experimental & Human Factors Psychology from the University of Central Florida’s Performance Research Laboratory in 2017. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at California State University, Long Beach. As the Director of the Stress & Technology Applied Research (STAR) Laboratory, Dr. Hancock’s research focuses on human performance under stress and workload, psychophysiological assessment of cognitive and affective states, individual differences, and human-technology interaction. -Updated September 2018

Dissertation: An Exploration of the Feasibility of Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy as a Neurofeedback Cueing System for the Mitigation of the Vigilance Decrement

Grant Taylor received his Ph.D. in Applied Experimental/Human Factors from the University of Central Florida in May 2012. His interests include task and person factors that influence human-automation interaction, as well as the application of physiological and neurological methods to augment cognition. He is currently working as a post-doctoral researcher in the ACTIVE Lab at the Institute for Simulation and Training at UCF. -Updated September 2018