CV

Education

• Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering
  • University of Nevada, Reno; In Progress
• M.S. in Computer Science and Engineering
  • University of Nevada, Reno; GPA 3.967; May 2020
  • Thesis: Person Profiles and Sensor Calibration for Intent Recognition in Socially Aware Navigation
• B.S. in Applied Mathematics
  • Minors: Computer Science, English Writing
  • University of Nevada, Reno; Cum Laude; GPA 3.946; Dec 2016

Honors and Awards

• 2020-2021 Differential Fees Assistantship
• Dec. 2016 Westfall Scholar
• 2011-2016 Dean’s List
• 2011-2015 Millenium Scholarship

Work experience

• Summer 2020: Participant Innovation Summit Series
  • Remote Participation at Army Research Laboratory/University of Nevada, Reno
  • Participated in weekly meetings to discuss potential research projects in human-robot teaming. Supported efforts by PIs in seeking grant funding by discussing prior research methodologies and systems.
  • Required Skills: Knowledge of current HRI research, communication, team formation and emergent properties, and data analysis and filtering.
  • Supervisor: Monica Nicolescu
• Fall 2017 - Current: Graduate Research Assistant
  • SARG LAB at University of Nevada, Reno
  • Conducting research in intent recognition for social navigation. Wrote programs to calibrate sensors, detect and track people in 3D space from 2D sensors, and determine intent of people within view using Neural Networks trained on collected data. Replication of published methods in RL, GA’s, ML, and CV also required while conducting research. General maintenance and care of the PR2 robot also included in assigned tasks.
  • Required Skills: C++, Python, ROS, OpenCV, Pytorch, Cuda, Gazebo, stochastic models, data analysis, filtering, and knowledge of current HRI research.
  • Supervisor: Monica Nicolescu
• Summer 2018, 2019: REU Mentor
  • SARG LAB at University of Nevada, Reno
  • Responsible for guiding 7 REU students, over both years, in independent research tasks. Tasks include providing critiques and information on good research techniques, helping students find relevant research papers, teaching undergraduates how to manage research and course work, and advised students on coding best practices on a weekly basis. Two of these students have had their work accepted at Humanoids and RO-MAN.
  • Skills: C++, Python, ROS, Git, data analysis, and knowledge of current HRI research.
  • Supervisors: Monica Nicolescu and David Feil-Seifer
• Fall 2015 - Spring 2016: Math Tutor
  • Math Center at University of Nevada, Reno
  • Tutoring undergraduate students in a wide range of math topics from remedial algebra to partial differential equations. Conducting group study sessions in preparation for midterms and finals across all levels of mathematics. Maintaining a constructive learning environment for large groups of students. Understanding student needs across a student body with varying abilities and skill sets.
  • Required Skills: Basic math to partial differential equations, tutoring, communication, problem solving, and speaking.
  • Supervisor: Danelle Clarke

Skills

• Programming:
  • C++, Python, ROS, OpenCV, Pytorch, Git, Linux/Unix, ubuntu, Latex, DEAP, Matlab, R, Visual Studio
• Topics:
  • Computer Vision, Reinforcement Learning, Genetic Algorithms, Machine Learning, Neural Networks, Single and Multivariable Optimization, Partial and Ordinary Differential Equations, Probability Theory, Math Modeling, Human Robot Interaction, PR2 Robot, Pioneer 3dx, NAO Robot, and Baxter Robot.

Publications

Perception of Social Intelligence in Robots Performing False-Belief Tasks

Stephanie Sturgeon, Andrew Palmer, Janelle Blankenburg, and David Feil-Seifer. (2019). "Perception of Social Intelligence in Robots Performing False-Belief Tasks." to appear in the 28th IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication – RO-MAN, New Delhi, India, October 2019.

Learning of Complex-Structured Tasks from Verbal Instruction

Monica Nicolescu, Natalie Arnold, Janelle Blankenburg, David Feil-Seifer, Santosh Balajee Banisetty, Mircea Nicolescu, Andrew Palmer, Thor Monteverde. (2019). "Learning of Complex-Structured Tasks from Verbal Instruction." to appear in the 2019 IEEE-RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robots, Toronto, Canada, October 2019.

Person Profiles and Sensor Calibration for Intent Recognition in Socially Aware Navigation

Andrew Palmer. (2020). "Person Profiles and Sensor Calibration for Intent Recognition in Socially Aware Navigation." ScholarWorks UNR,Reno,Nevada,USA May 2020.

Simple Camera-to-2D-LiDAR Calibration Method for General Use

Palmer A.H., Peterson C., Blankenburg J., Feil-Seifer D., Nicolescu M. (2020) Simple Camera-to-2D-LiDAR Calibration Method for General Use. In: Bebis G. et al. (eds) Advances in Visual Computing. ISVC 2020. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 12510. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64559-5_15

Service and leadership

• Fall 2018 – Oversaw 5 undergraduate students conducting research for my HRI Approach Behavior study. Trained students how to proctor participants as well as maneuver the robot into position and run experiment code for each trial.
• 2017-2018 – Mentored 2 high school students in robotics several times a week. Managed weekly tasks and guided the student’s progress. Demonstrated principles of robotic design as well supervised the implementation of the student’s project.
• 2017-2018 – Robotics lab tours and demonstrations to the public. Talked about the various research done in the UNR SARG lab as well as answered questions about the robots and the research.
• 2015-2016 – Vice president of the UNR Math Club. Planned and managed public events for the advancement of interests in mathematics. Math club events ranged from movie nights to guest lectures. Took the club from an idea into a group of 30+ with growing membership.