Linguistic and Assistive Technologies Laboratory

Hernisa Kacorri
Graduated 2016, Ph.D. Computer Science, CUNY
Current: Assistant Professor, University of Maryland
Website: https://terpconnect.umd.edu/~hernisa/
Interests: User-interface design, use of eye-tracking technologies in usability experiments, predicting task performance based on user eye-tracking data.

Pengfei Lu
Graduated 2013: Ph.D. Computer Science, CUNY
Current: Intel Corportation
Email: pengfeilv (at) gmail (dot) com
Interests: Motion-capture data analysis and the computational linguistics of sign languages, animation technology for sign language, experimental evaluation of accessibility technologies with users with disabilities.

Sarah Ebling
Spring 2015: Visiting Ph.D. Student
University of Zurich
Sarah's Website
Email: ebling (at) cl.uzh.ch
Interests: Sign language machine translation technologies.

Taylor Gotfrid

Masters Student, Human Computer Interaction
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Taylor's LinkedIn
   tg3200 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Human Computer Interaction, Accessibility, Usability Testing, Prototyping.

Aakash Maddi

Masters Student, Human Computer Interaction
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Aakash's LinkedIn
   am5602 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Design of accessible and productivity tools; Currently working on designing software tools for students using text-simplification reading-assistance software.

Peter Yeung

Masters Student, Human Computer Interaction
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Peter's LinkedIn
   pxy9548 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Human-Computer Interaction, Usability Testing, Accessibility for People who are Deaf or Hard-of-hearing.

Rachel Celestine

Masters Student, Human Computer Interaction
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Rachel's Website
   rsc1904 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Research on the Efficacy of Various Methods of Training Computing Undergraduates on Computing Accessibility.

Shuishi Fang

Masters Student, Human Computer Interaction
Rochester Institute of Technology
   sf8859 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Research on eye-tracking interaction with low-cost hardware for accessibility applications.

Spandana Jaggumantri
Masters Student, Human Computer Interaction
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Spandana's LinkedIn
   sj6987 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Studying the user experience of linguistic contributors and designing the movements of a single ASL sign.

Abhishek Kannekanti
Masters Student, Human Computer Interaction
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Abhishek's LinkedIn and Website
   ak9492 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Studying/analyzing accessibility challenges and user experiences to create authoring tool for ASL animations.

Christopher Caulfield
Graduated 2017: B.S. Information Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Christopher's LinkedIn
   cxc4115 (at) rit (dot) edu

Kasmira Patel
Graduated 2016: M.S. HCI
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Kasmira's LinkedIn
  kxp3157 (at) rit (dot) edu

Aditya Padhye
Masters Student, Information Science and Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Aditya's LinkedIn
   ap8631 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Studying the user experience of linguistic contributors and designing a new interface for ASL animation software.

Nidhi Palan
Masters Student, Human Computer Interaction
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Nidhi's LinkedIn
   nxp4195 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Evaluation of the efficacy of instructional methods for promoting accessibility awareness among computing bachelors degree students.

GuanZi Min
Undergraduate Student, Applied Computer Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
   gm5929 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Collecting linguistic data necessary to support the training of models of text-complexity for reading-assistant software.

Anupama Garani
Masters Student, Information Sciences and Technologies
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Anupama's LinkedIn
  sg2495 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Analysis and authoring of ASL animations of signs and sentences, design and development of user interface for the ASL animation software.

Ashley Miller
Graduated 2016: M.S. HCI
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Ashley's LinkedIn
   abm5673 (at) rit (dot) edu

Abhishek Suhas Mhatre
Graduated 2017: M.S. in HCI
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Abhishek's LinkedIn
   asm1610 (at) rit (dot) edu

Utsav Shah
Graduated 2017: M.S. HCI
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Utsav's LinkedIn
  ups9461 (at) rit (dot) edu

Jigar Gohel
Masters Student, Information Sciences and Technologies
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Jigar's LinkedIn
   jg2252 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Machine learning, Motion Capture Data Analysis, Modeling American Sign Language.

Nicholas Rudar
Undergraduate Student, Marketing
Rochester Institute of Technology
  LinkedIn
   nar8066 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Collecting linguistic data necessary to support the training of models of text-complexity for reading-assistant software.

Jessica Li
Undergraduate Student, REU
Vassar College
   jlreu (at) rit (dot) edu
 Subtle gaze guidance for accessible captioning.
Summer 2019

Matthew Luettgen
Undergraduate Student, REU
Indiana University
   mrlreu (at) rit (dot) edu
 Eye-tracking based magnification for people with low-vision.
Summer 2019

Natalie Maus
Undergraduate Student, REU
Colby College
   nmreu (at) rit (dot) edu
 Eye-tracking based magnification for people with low-vision.
Summer 2019

Dalton Rutledge
Undergraduate Student, REU
Westminster College of Salt Lake City
   drreu (at) rit (dot) edu
 Subtle gaze guidance for accessible captioning.
Summer 2019

Jeremy Sheffield
Undergraduate Student, ASL English Interpretation
Rochester Institute of Technology
   jts4568 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Analyzing videos of ASL for language variations, gender differences, and occurrences of epenthesis and deletion in signs

Gillian Trommer
Undergraduate Student, ASL English Interpretation
Rochester Institute of Technology
  LinkedIn
   grt4646 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Linguistically analyzing videos of ASL signers, improving feedback mechanisms, making ASL recording and feedback software more user friendly.

Andre Webster
Undergraduate Student, Electrical Engineering
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Andre's LinkedIn
   agw1754 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Collecting linguistic data necessary to support the training of models of text-complexity for reading-assistant software.

Lexa Frail
Undergraduate Student, School of Individualized Study
Rochester Institute of Technology
  LinkedIn
   axf6941 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Sociolinguistics, accessibility, linguistically analyzing videos of signers to identify and match key grammatical features both on the hands and on the face.

Dara Levy
Undergraduate Student, Dietetics and Nutrition
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Dara's LinkedIn
   dl9794 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Collecting linguistic data necessary to support the training of models of text-complexity for reading-assistant software.

Jason Durek
Undergraduate Student, Computer Science
Rochester Institute of Technology
Jason's LinkedIn
Email: jad8251 (at) rit (dot) edu
Interests: American Sign Language linguistic analyst, Automatic Speech Recognition Technologies, Sign Language Technologies.

Evans Seraphin
Undergraduate Student Researcher
Rochester Institute of Technology
Interests: Conducting surveys with deaf and hard-of-hearing participants, American Sign Language linguistic analyst, design of ASL signs for animation software.
Videos: High School Students Video 2012.
Spring 2015
Formerly a high school student researcher, Summers 2012 and 2013, Lexington School for the Deaf.

Kellie Menzies
Undergraduate Student Researcher
Rochester Institute of Technology
Interests: Conducting surveys with deaf and hard-of-hearing participants.
Spring 2015 to Spring 2016

Abigail Spring
Undergraduate Student Researcher (NSF REU)
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Interests: Usability Testing of Captioning Technologies
Summer 2016

Daniel Saavedra
Undergraduate Student Researcher (NSF REU)
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Interests: Research on Understandability of Captioning Technologies
Summer 2016

Paul Bayruns
Undergraduate Student Researcher (NSF REU)
Rowan University
Interests: Experimental Stimuli for Evaluation of Captioning Technologies
Summer 2016

Kevin Rathbun
Undergraduate Student Researcher (NSF REU)
University at Buffalo
Interests: Eye-Tracking Research on Captioning Technologies
Summer 2016

Saish Vaniyamparambath
Masters Student, HCI
Rochester Institute of Technology
Fall 2016

Jonathan Lamberton
Research Assistant
Research Foundation of CUNY
Project Staff 2008-2014, Interests: Collection and annotation of ASL motion-capture data, experiments involving Deaf research subjects, and educational outreach activities.

Jennifer Marfino
Undergraduate Student Researcher (NSF REU)
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Interests: Design and creation of of experimental stimuli, analysis of video and motion data.
Summer 2013

Fang Zhou Yang
Undergraduate Student Researcher (NSF REU)
Gallaudet University
Interests: Designing animations of sign language for experiments, analysis of video and motion data..
Summer 2013

Meredith Turtletaub
Research Consultant / Linguistic Analyst
Teacher's College - Columbia University Graduate School of Education
Interests: Collection and annotation of ASL motion-capture data; elicitation of ASL corpora; design of linguistic annotation procedures.
Summer 2011, Summer 2010
Formerly an undergraduate student researcher (NSF REU), Summer 2010, visiting from University of Pennsylvania

Wesley Clarke
Undergraduate Student Researcher (NSF REU)
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Interests: Laboratory coordination, management of American Sign Language linguistic analysis team, collection and annotation of ASL motion-capture data.
Summer 2012 and 2011
Videos: Wesley's Research Experience Video Blog, Lab Tour 2009, Lab Equipment 2009.
Formerly a high school student researcher, Summer 2009 and 2010, Lexington School for the Deaf.

Christine Singh
Undergraduate Student Researcher (NSF REU)
Formerly a high school student researcher (Forest Hills High School)
Interests: American Sign Language linguistic analyst, design of ASL signs for animation software.
Videos: High School Students Video 2012.
Summer 2016, Summer 2012 and 2013

Giovanni Moriarty
High school student researcher
P.S. 47 ASL and English Secondary School
Interests: American Sign Language linguistic analyst, collection and annotation of ASL motion-capture data, design of ASL signs for animation software.
Videos: Gio's Research Experience Video Blog, High-Speed Campus and Lab Tour, Equipment and Software 2011.
Summer 2011, Summer 2012

Allen Harper
Graduated 2015: Ph.D. Computer Science, CUNY
Current: Assistant Professor, Bowdoin College
Website: Bowdoin College Faculty Website
Email: avrharper (at) gmail (dot) com
Interests: User-interface design, use of eye-tracking technologies in usability experiments, predicting task performance based on user eye-tracking data.

Josh Waxman
Graduated 2014: Ph.D. Computer Science, CUNY
Current: Assistant Professor, Yeshiva University
Email: joshwaxman (at) gmail (dot) com
Interests: Computational linguistic techniques for low-density languages, techniques for bridging natural language processing tools and resources from high-density languages to related low-density languages.

Lijun Feng
Graduated 2010: Ph.D. Computer Science, CUNY
Current: Data Scientist, Standard and Poors
Email: lijun7 (dot) feng (at) gmail (dot) com
Interests: natural language processing (NLP), in particular readability, text comprehension and text simplification, and machine learning.

Harshad Golwalkar

Masters Student, Human Computer Interaction
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Harshad's LinkedIn
   hg3583 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Game engine programming and 3D animation technologies for producing virtual human animations of American Sign Language (ASL).

Amelia Milling

Undergraduate Student, Visual Media
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Website  LinkedIn
   arm8465 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Collecting linguistic data necessary to support the training of models of text-complexity for reading-assistant software.

Konce Quispe

Undergraduate Student, Computer Science
Rochester Institute of Technology
  LinkedIn
   skq8614 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Accessibility, Human Computer Interaction, Usability Testing.

Alex Kramer

Masters Student, Information Sciences and Technologies
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Alex's LinkedIn
   ak6709 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Mobile Web Applications and Integration for Supporting Scheduling and Logistics for User-Based Studies of Accessibility.

Mackenzie Willard
Graduated 2017: M.S. Information Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Mackenzie's LinkedIn
  mtw2935 (at) rit (dot) edu

Neckeya Brown
Undergraduate Student, Occupational Studies
Rochester Institute of Technology
   nnb2060 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Collecting linguistic data necessary to support the training of models of text-complexity for reading-assistant software.

Keith Cahalane
Undergraduate Student, Sustainable Construction
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Keith's LinkedIn
   kjc2182 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Collecting linguistic data necessary to support the training of models of text-complexity for reading-assistant software.

Marlena Rauber
Undergraduate Student, Administration Support Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
   mxr8579 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Collecting linguistic data necessary to support the training of models of text-complexity for reading-assistant software.

Jason Antal
Undergraduate Student, Government and Information Technology
Gallaudet University
   jason.antal (at) gallaudet (dot) edu
 Programming, Accessibility for People who are Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, Technology/policy integration

Jonathan Gomes
Undergraduate Student, School of Individualized Studies
Rochester Institute of Technology
   jag8637 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Analyzing videos of ASL students and native signers in order to identify linguistic constructions or production errors.

Sree Pillutla
Masters Student, HCI
Rochester Institute of Technology
  LinkedIn
   sp6252 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Human Computer Interaction, Accessibility, Prototyping, Usability Testing, User Experience.

David Hoppough
Undergraduate Student, ASL English Interpretation
Rochester Institute of Technology
   dbh1397 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Analyzing videos of native ASL users in order to identify language variations related to ethnic backgrounds.

Erin Ireland
Undergraduate Student, ASL English Interpretation
Rochester Institute of Technology
   exi9428 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Linguistically analyzing videos to identify and match key grammatical features both on the hands and on the face.

Nicole Baldwin
Undergraduate Student, School of Individualized Study
Rochester Institute of Technology
   nlb9888 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Collecting linguistic data necessary to support the training of models of text-complexity for reading-assistant software.
2018-2020

Jennifer Meyers
Undergraduate Student, School of Individualized Study
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Jennifer's Handshake Page
   jlm6695 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Collecting linguistic data necessary to support the training of models of text-complexity for reading-assistant software.
2018-2020

Kellie Mullaney
Undergraduate Student, ASL English Interpretation
Rochester Institute of Technology
   kxm8890 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Linguistically analyzing videos of American Sign Language (ASL), collecting sign language linguistic data.
2018-2020

Ben Kassman
Undergraduate Student, Math and Computer Science
Lewis and Clark College
  LinkedIn
  GitHub
   kassmanben (at) gmail (dot) com
 Using stat analysis techniques to develop requirements for software for students using ASL

Jaron Rehkop
Undergraduate Student, Information Technology
Gallaudet University
  LinkedIn
   jarics (at) rit (dot) edu
 Accessibility for People who are Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing

Catherine Seita
Undergraduate Student
Cornell University
  LinkedIn
   cesics1 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Accessibility for People who are Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing

Rahul Shah
Undergraduate Student, Human Centered Computing
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Rahul's Website
   rps9771 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Instructional technology, automatic captioning, access technology for people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

Affifi Ishak
Graduated 2017: Undergraduate Student
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Afifi's LinkedIn
   mbi1316 (at) rit (dot) edu

Anmolvir Kaur
Undergraduate Student
Rochester Institute of Technology
  Anmol's LinkedIn
   ak7336 (at) rit (dot) edu

Aiko Resendiz
Graduated 2017: B.S. ASL English Interpretation
Rochester Institute of Technology
   ar6915 (at) rit (dot) edu
 Linguistically analyzing videos to identify and match key grammatical features both on the hands and on the face.

Dhananjai ("Jai") Hariharan
Masters Student, HCI
Rochester Institute of Technology
Jai's Website
Interests: Use of eye-tracking technologies in usability experiments; analysis of data from eye-tracking, motion-capture, and other human sensors.

Brian Penly
Masters Student, HCI
Rochester Institute of Technology
Brian's LinkedIn
Interests: Gathering requirements for educational software for students learning American Sign Language (ASL); evaluation studies and video recording sessions involving ASL students.

Jackson Yeh
Graduated Spring 2010: M.A. Student, Computer Science
CUNY Queens College
Email: jackson.yeh (at) qc (dot) cuny (dot) edu 
Interests: Virtual human animation programming, arm movement planning for sign language.

Caleb Van Der Werf
Undergraduate Student Researcher
Rochester Institute of Technology
Interests: Game engine programming and 3D animation technologies for producing virtual human animations of American Sign Language (ASL).
Spring 2016

Priscilla Diaz
Undergraduate Student Researcher
Queens College
Interests: Collection, indexing, and organization of data from experimental studies.
Spring 2014

Miriam Morrow
Research Assistant
Research Foundation of CUNY
Project Staff 2013-2014, Interests: Designing animations of sign language for use in experiments.

Molly Sachs
Research Consultant / Linguistic Analyst
Gallaudet University
Interests: American Sign Language linguistic analyst, annotation of ASL motion-capture data and video.
Project Staff 2013-2014, Formerly an undergraduate student researcher (NSF REU), Summer 2012, visiting from Gallaudet University.

Adrienne Howad
Undergraduate Student Researcher
Rochester Institute of Technology
Interests: Linguistically analyzing videos and motion-data of American Sign Language (ASL).
Spring 2016

Rea Bhasin
Undergraduate student researcher
Queens College
Interests: Accessibility, experiment design.
Fall 2010

Amanda Krieger
Undergraduate student researcher (NSF REU)
Gallaudet University
Interests: American Sign Language linguistic analyst, collection and annotation of ASL motion-capture data.
Video: Lab Tour 2009.
Summer 2009

Fatimah Mohammed
High school student researcher
Murry Bergtraum High School
Interests: American Sign Language linguistic analyst, design of ASL signs for animation software.
Videos: High School Students Video 2012.
Summer 2012

Kaushik Pillapakkam
High school student researcher
Lexington School for the Deaf
Interests: American Sign Language linguistic analyst, design of ASL signs for animation software.
Summer 2013

Raymond Ramirez
High school student researcher
Blind Brook High School
Interests: American Sign Language linguistic analyst, collection and annotation of ASL motion-capture data.
Videos: Ray's Research Experience Video Blog, High-Speed Campus and Lab Tour, Equipment and Software 2011.
Summer 2011

Kenya Bryant
High school student researcher
Murry Bergtraum High School
Interests: American Sign Language linguistic analyst, collection and annotation of ASL motion-capture data.
Videos: Kenya's Research Experience Video Blog, High-Speed Campus and Lab Tour, Equipment and Software 2011.
Summer 2011

Jaime Penzellna
High school student researcher
Lexington School for the Deaf
Interests: American Sign Language linguistic analyst, collection and annotation of ASL motion-capture data.
Video: Jaime's Research Experience Video Blog.
Summer 2010

Kelsey Gallagher
High school student researcher
Oyster Bay High School
Interests: American Sign Language linguistic analyst, collection and annotation of ASL motion-capture data.
Videos: Kelsey's Research Experience Video Blog, Lab Tour 2009, Lab Equipment 2009.
Summer 2009

Aaron Pagan
High school student researcher
Middle College High School
Interests: American Sign Language linguistic analyst, collection and annotation of ASL motion-capture data.
Summer 2009