Valerie A. Huemer

Curriculum Vitae

Contact Information

MS 262-2
NASA Ames Research Center
Moffett Field, CA, 94035
(650) 604-5199
FAX: (650) 604-3323
email: vhuemer@mail.arc.nasa.gov

Current position: Project Associate, NASA Ames Research Center
 

Educational Background
University of California, Santa Cruz, California 1994-1997

Masters degree in Cognitive Psychology
Most recent project : EEG Mapping of Cognitive and Sensorimotor Maps of Visual Space
(Advisor:  Bruce Bridgeman, Ph.D.)
Masters thesis : Flicker Sensitivity in Myopia
(Advisor:  Melanie Mayer, Ph.D.)

University of California, Los Angeles, California 1992

Degree: Bachelor of Science
Major: Cognitive Science
Minor: Business and Administration
Honors: Psi Chi Honor Society, 1990; Dean's Honor List, Winter 1991
 

Grants and Fellowships
UCSC Psychology Department Travel Grant, 1996
UCSC Psychology Department Graduate Fellowship, 1994-1995

Professional Positions
 
Project Associate, NASA Ames Research Center  2000-Present
Currently studies human visual perception.  Specifically, assists in the design, implementation, data collection, analysis, and presentation of various experiments that examine how eye movements can provide a better understanding of the cognitive processes that shape human behavior, and develop direct tests of the usefulness of eye movements for inferring behaviors of interest.

Duties include:
Design and implementation of experimental apparatuses
Literature reviews of theory and previous experimental findings
Data collection and analysis
Fluent use of Linux and programming in html, csh and a proprietary scripting language
Maintenance and ongoing improvement of laboratory website
Design, creation, testing, and documentation of electronics boards and apparatuses
Preparation of mandatory forms (such as human subjects approval)
Assistance in preparation of publications
Preparation of presentation aids
 

Clinical Research Associate / Statistical Analyst, Southern California Research Institute  1990-1993
Tested the effects of drugs and alcohol on human performance skills via computer tasks in double blind pharmaceutical studies.  Conducted data collection on studies involving licit and illicit drugs as well as conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and diabetes.
      Duties included:
      Developing forms, screening and interviewing prospective subjects, scheduling sessions
      Administering MMPI, training subjects on computer tasks
      Performing EKGs, obtaining vital signs, monitoring study compliance via urine tests
      Maintaining drug inventory, documenting adverse effects and reactions
      Compiling case reports and checking data for relevance, completeness, and accuracy
      Conducting statistical analyses, constructing tables and graphs for final reports
      Meeting with and writing reports for pharmaceutical sponsors
      Preparing manuscripts for publication
      Maintaining, documenting, analyzing, and reporting on a data base
       
    Medical Researcher/Writer, Veteran's Administration Hospital, Los Angeles, California  1992-1994
       
      Performed literature reviews on psychiatric subjects and wrote reports for publication.

      Topics included:
      MRI comparisons of white matter changes in bipolar disorder
      Psychotropic management of premenstrual syndrome and postpartum depression
      Psychotropic treatment during pregnancy.
       
       

    Research Analyst, Applied Risk Management, Inc.   1993-1994
       
      Performed thorough literature reviews and wrote reports on a variety of subjects relating to worker's compensation and medical malpractice issues.


Professional Interests

Primary Focus:  I am interested in conducting research in psychophysics and visual perception, specifically at the fundamental levels of perception.  I would like to conduct research relevant to the mapping of brain regions using functional methods of measurement.

Secondary Focus:  I am interested in conducting research in neuroscience, particularly neuropsychopharmacology, neuroendocrinology, and neuroanatomy.  I would like to study the neural basis of emotion.