Core Projects and Experience

Neuroscience Doctoral Candidate

Brown University
BrainGate Project
Dr. John P. Donoghue Lab

Providence, RI
Aug. 2005 - May 2017
  • Investigated brain-computer interface safety and usability factors essential for transitioning BCI technology from a controlled lab environment to the outside world.
  • Catalyzed project-wide changes to experimental design, post-implant initial evaluation, and participant instruction.
  • Analyzed, validated, and verified high volume, high resolution neural data sets across large variable spaces for dissertation study and collaborating projects, requiring precise knowledge of signal conditioning, filtering, aligning, and processing.
  • Defended thesis successfully without revision.
  • Thesis title: Volitional Strategies Engaged During Neural Interface Control: The Impact of Watching, Imagining, and Attempting Movement on Neural Activity. (Abstract)
    • Designed behavioral task technical requirements and line of scientific questioning to compensate for two major BrainGate transitions. This parallel, independent implementation allowed thesis work to progress unaffected by major changes to the larger BrainGate project, while acting as an independent data validation resource for other subprojects during early development stages of the larger system.
    • Presented personal and project-wide research at department, local, national, and international venues.
    • Coordinated programming, data analysis, and experimental protocol for a subset of researchers within the BrainGate project.

Pharmaceutical Representative

Abbott Laboratories

Abbott Park, IL
Feb. 2002 - Apr. 2005
  • Liaised between medical professionals and company research divisions, providing medical information and resources related to company products.
  • Drove territory regional ranking from bottom third to top 10%.
  • Increased sales to 125% over quota annually.
  • Developed Excel macros for physician data portability and prescription trend analysis featuring novel, effective methods of identifying key prescribers. Distributed macros and peer reviewed literature to coworkers.

Neurophysiologist/Programmer

Neural Signals, Inc.
Dr. Philip R. Kennedy Lab

Atlanta, GA
May 1999 - Feb. 2002
  • Broad duties, spanning all project facets, from working with participants to presenting to investors.
  • Trained patients with advanced ALS and brainstem stroke to communicate through the first implanted human brain-computer interface.
  • Implemented a fully mobile data analysis rack system.
  • Designed and implemented programs to aid data collection and analysis.
  • Collected and analyzed data leading to published findings.
  • Recommended, purchased, installed, and configured all business applications, research software, and hardware.
  • Created web site to solicit prospective investors and families of potential patients with degenerative diseases.
  • Full-time position while full-time student.

Ancillary Experience

Community Liaison

Mendeley Ltd.

London, UK
Mar. 2009 - Aug. 2009
  • Cofounded the Community Liaison Program, an early social media outreach program connecting the company with users and university libraries.
  • Tested and compiled community feedback on social reference management service and desktop application.

Founder / Blogger

Direct Neural Interface Blog

Providence, RI
May 2007 - June 2010
  • Maintained curated lists of recent publications used by many leading brain-computer interface research labs.
  • Posted regular articles highlighting the interactions between technology, science, and current events.

Senior Editor

DigitalTrends.com

Sherwood, OR
Apr. 2003 - Jan. 2009
  • Reviewed cutting edge consumer and prosumer hardware from technology companies prior to being released to market.
  • Engineered, produced, and hosted weekly technology news podcast.
  • Addressed questions and comments concerning products and trends in technology through online forums.

Research Assistant

Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center
Visual Science Department, Dr. James R. Wilson Lab

Atlanta, GA
1997 - 1998
  • Trained rhesus macaques on visual pursuit and fixation tasks.
  • Assisted during lateral geniculate nucleus single neuron recordings.
  • Configured and implemented experiment tasks and analyzed data.

Programmer

Emory University
Department of Psychology, Dr. Darryl B. Neill Lab

Atlanta, GA
1999
  • Designed and implemented a variety of software programs that measured research variables during rat ICSS experiments on behavior and reward.

Education

PhD in Neuroscience

Brown University
BrainGate project / Lab of Dr. John P. Donoghue

Providence, RI
Aug. 2005 - May 2017
  • Thesis title: Volitional Strategies Engaged During Neural Interface Control: The Impact of Watching, Imagining, and Attempting Movement on Neural Activity. (Abstract)
  • Regularly presented findings at lab meetings, project meetings, and visiting researcher sessions.
  • Teaching Assistant for BN1: Introduction to Neuroscience
    • Coordinated 12 undergraduate assistant TAs for class of 300+ students.
    • Led two-hour-long weekly review sessions for groups of 20-50 students.
    • Held regular office hours for tutoring and large pre-exam review sessions.

BSc in Computer Science
BSc in Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology

Emory University

Atlanta, GA
Sep. 1996 - May 2001
  • Member of the Dean’s List and Emory Neuroscience honor society, Nu Rho Psi.
  • Course work in Java, C, Lisp, SQL, system architecture, artificial intelligence, behavior, perception, and computational neuroscience.
  • Vice President of Fencing Club and Senior Writer of the Arts & Entertainment Magazine.
  • Minor in Philosophy

Skills

Programming languages:

  • Matlab, LabView, C, Java, HTML, Pascal, BASIC.
    Familiar with: Python, R, XML, C++, SQL, Lisp, CSS, Lua, shell scripting, regex.

Operating systems:

  • Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android.

Neural data acquisition systems:

  • Blackrock Cerebus, Plexon, Datawave, Neuralynx.

Interface technology:

  • Neural data (spike, LFP, MUA, EEG, other field potentials), EMG, EOG, eye tracking, motion capture, assistive keyboards and devices, audio and video capture and mixing/sequencing, human interface devices, video game controllers, HTC Vive, Samsung GearVR.

Scientific and electrical equipment:

  • Oscilloscopes, amplifiers, DACs and A/D converters, signal generators, data recorders.

Other:

  • Consumer, prosumer, and enthusiast electronics and computer components. Office software (Microsoft, Libre), image/photo/video software (Adobe, GIMP), SmithMicro Poser (3D character animation, texturing, rendering), media transcoding.

Publications

Journal Articles

 

Kennedy PR, Kirby MT, Moore MM, King B, Mallory A. “Computer Control Using Human Cortical Local Field Potentials.” IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering 12.3 (2004).

Kennedy PR, Andreasen D, Ehirim P, King B, Kirby MT, Mao H, Moore MM. “Using Human Extra Cortical Field Potentials to Control a Switch.” Journal of Neural Engineering 1 (2004): 72-77.

Kennedy PR, Andreasen DS, King B, Kirby MT, Mao H, Moore MM, Ehirim P. “Correlations between human motor cortical local field potentials, action potentials, contralateral arm EMG activity and digit movements.” Submitted to Journal of Neural Engineering (2005).

Vargas-Irwin CE*, Feldman JM*, King B*, Simeral JD, Sorice BL, Oakley EM, Cash SS, Eskandar EN, Friehs GM, Hochberg LR, Donoghue JP. “Watch, Imagine, Attempt: Motor Cortex Single-Unit Activity Reveals Context-Dependent Movement Encoding in Humans With Tetraplegia.” Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 12 (2018): 1-13.
*Equal contribution


Book Chapter

 

Kennedy PR, King B. “Dynamic Interplay of Neural Signals during the Emergence of Cursor Related Cortex in a Human Implanted with the Neurotrophic Electrode.” Neural Prostheses for Restoration of Sensory and Motor Function. Ed. John Chapin. Danvers, MA: CRC Press, 2001. 221-233.


Conference Posters

 

Kennedy PR, Moore MM, King B. Directionality coding in human cortical area 4: role of phase relationships of individual action potentials. Program No. 590.10. 2000 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. New Orleans, LA: Society for Neuroscience, 2000. Online.

Kennedy PR, King B, Kirby MT, Moore MM, Blankowski M. Motor cortical control of a Cyber digit by a patient implanted with the Neurotrophic Electrode. Program No. 63.5. 2001 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2001. Online.

Kennedy PR, Kirby MT, Adams K, Mallory A, King B. (2001). The role of tactile feedback in the control of cortical neural signals two years after implantation in patient TT with mitochondrial myopathy. In Thirty Second Annual Neural Prosthesis Workshop (October 17, 2001). Bethesda, MD: NINDS, NIH.

Kennedy PR, King B, Kirby MT, Adams K. Directionality may be inherent in Local Field Potentials (LFPs) recorded via the Neurotrophic Electrode in human cortex. Program No. 357.15. 2002 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Orlando, FL: Society for Neuroscience, 2002. Online.

King B, Truccolo W, Friehs GM, Stein J, Donoghue JP, Hochberg LR. Motor cortex local field potentials and multi-unit activity during intended movements in humans with tetraplegia. Program No. 517.15/VV1. 2007 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2007. Online.

King B, Feldman JM, Hochberg LR, Donoghue JP. Verbal instructions to watch, imagine, or attempt movement differentially engage neurons in the motor cortex of humans with tetraplegia. Program No. 899.4/HHH45. 2010 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2010. Online.

Feldman JM, King B, Truccolo W, Hochberg LR, Donoghue JP. Decoding neural representations of action from motor cortex ensembles during action observation in humans with tetraplegia. 2011 Neuroscience Meeting Planner (p. 142.14). Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2011. Online.

Hochberg LR, Bacher D, Barefoot L, Berhanu E, Black MJ, Cash SS, King B, …, Donoghue JP. Use of the BrainGate Neural Interface System for more than five years by a woman with tetraplegia. 2011 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience. 2011. Online.

Public Speaking

Presentations and invited speaker events

Guest Lecturer

Implantable Neural Interfaces for Interaction and Communication

Introduction to Biomedical Technology
University Campus Bio-Medico, Dept. of Neurology
Rome, Italy
2007

Guest Lecturer

Reconnecting the Brain: Bridging the Gap Between Thought and Action for People with Paralysis

Taugavísindafélags Íslands (Icelandic Society for Neuroscience)
Reykjavík, Iceland
2009

Speaker

Annual Research Summary
Brown University, Dept. of Neuroscience
Providence, RI
2007 - 2011

Presenter

Annual Project Update
Brown University, BrainGate2 Multicenter Retreat
Providence, RI
2008 - 2010

Speaker

Technology and Analysis Update
Abbott Laboratories, Annual Sales Meeting
Chicago, IL
2003 - 2005

Contact