Postdoctoral Scholar at Stanford University
San Francisco Bay Area
- Current
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- Postdoctoral Scholar at Stanford University
- Past
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- Laboratory Instructor at Princeton University
- Software Design Engineer Intern at Microsoft - Macintosh Power Point Division
- Teaching Assistant - Introduction to Computing at University of Michigan College of Engineering
- Web Development Assistant at University of Michigan Hospitals - Radiation Oncology
- Education
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- Stanford University
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Princeton University
- University of Michigan
- Connections
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26
connections
- Industry
- Research
- Websites
Katherine Armstrong’s Summary
Scientist studying how the brain encodes information. I have extensive experience with software tool development, statistical analysis and scientific communication. I enjoy combining my scientific curiosity and analytic expertise with my passion for communication. I am currently interested in studying and/or developing web-based technologies that provide users with social, intellectual, or professionally relevant resources, especially those that facilitate interaction between users.
Katherine Armstrong’s Specialties:
Neuroscience and visually-based cognition, scientific research, statistical analysis, software design (Matlab, C/C++, HTML), oral and written communication, especially in biological science.
Katherine Armstrong’s Experience
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Postdoctoral Scholar
Stanford University
(Educational Institution; Research industry)
April 2007 — Present (2 years 9 months)
I am a postdoctoral scholar studying neuroscience at Stanford University. I am working in Tirin Moore's laboratory studying the neural basis of vison. I use a combination of physiological and computational techniques to investigate how neurons in the brain encode information about visual world that can be used to guide behavior. Currently my focus is on understanding how neurons in frontal cortex (a region of the brain critical for complex cognitive functioning) can integrate visual information over time to create the persistent internal representations required for goal-driven behaviors. This work lies at the intersection of sensory processing and memory, two functions that are most often studied in isolation, despite the fact that in daily life they are often intertwined.
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Laboratory Instructor
Princeton University
(Educational Institution; Primary/Secondary Education industry)
January 2003 — May 2003 (5 months)
Led a weekly lab section for an undergraduate course on cognitive neuroscience. Activities included giving brief presentations on relevant course material, answering student questions, leading experimental exercises in neuroanatomy and perception, and editing and grading student term papers.
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Software Design Engineer Intern
Microsoft - Macintosh Power Point Division
(Public Company; Computer Software industry)
June 2000 — August 2000 (3 months)
During my time at Microsoft I developed a "print preview" capability for a program that integrated several features of Power Point into a software package for graphics design and illustration. I used CodeWarrior development tools to design and test my project, which was created in C++.
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Teaching Assistant - Introduction to Computing
University of Michigan College of Engineering
(Educational Institution; Primary/Secondary Education industry)
August 1999 — December 1999 (5 months)
Led a weekly discussion section for an introductory electrical engineering and computer science class. Course material covered fundamentals of digital representations, computer architecture and assembly coding, and C programming. Activities included designing and giving presentations to summarize the week's lectures and to give added emphasis to important concepts, to address student questions, provide consultation on problem sets, and prepare and lead review sessions before exams.
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Web Development Assistant
University of Michigan Hospitals - Radiation Oncology
(Educational Institution; Computer Software industry)
May 1999 — August 1999 (4 months)
Developed a web site that allowed doctors to securely access a database of patient scheduling information remotely. Self-taught web page development including HTML and server-side scripting using Microsoft Active Server Pages.
Katherine Armstrong’s Education
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Stanford University
Ph.D. , Neuroscience , 2003 — 2007
Stanford Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day - co-created and led a 3 hour interactive workshop for 10-13 yr old children about the brain, 2005-2007.
Palo Alto Middle Schools Brain Day - organized a series of visits to seventh grade science classrooms in 3 Palo Alto public middle schools. During the visits graduate students in neuroscience at Stanford talked to the middle schoolers about their research, led a discussion about the brain's functions and disorders, and presented human and animal brain samples to the class. -
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Computational Neuroscience 2004 — 2004
Participated in a summer course on computational approaches to studying the visual system. Topics included signal detection theory, maximum likelihood estimators, and reverse correlation techniques.
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Princeton University
Psychology and Neuroscience 2001 — 2003
Secured funding for and organized a student-run seminar series, Neurolunch, in which neuroscientists from different universities visited Princeton to deliver a scientific presentation. Unlike the existing talk-series on campus, Neurolunch gave students an opportunity to hear from scientists that they had selected themselves, and provided a chance to meet with the speaker either individually or in small groups.
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University of Michigan
B.S. , Computer Engineering , 1997 — 2001
Project Chair for Eta Kappa Nu (HKN), an Electrical Engineering and Computer Science honor society in 1999. I was responsible for coordinating and leading volunteer service opportunities for current and aspiring HKN members, as well as planning weekly meetings and social functions with the other society officers.
Participated in the New England Literature Program, an intensive 6-week program held in rural New Hampshire. The curriculum included reading New England authors, writing, and exploring New England culture and history. During this time I participated in a Creative Non-fiction writing workshop and wrote an essay that earned a University of Michigan Hopwood Award.
Starting goalie for the club water polo team from 1998-2000, during which time we won 3 Big Ten championships and qualified for the national collegiate tournament 3 times. Won All-America honorable mention in 1998.- Activities and Societies:
- Eta Kappa Nu, Club Water Polo Team, New England Literature Program, Leadershape
Additional Information
Katherine Armstrong’s Websites:
Katherine Armstrong’s Interests:
science, technology and society, writing and literature, snowboarding, knitting, nature.
Katherine Armstrong’s Groups:
Eta Kappa Nu, Society for Neuroscience
Katherine Armstrong’s Honors:
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Predoctoral Research Fellowship, 2002-2007
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, 2002 (not accepted).
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship, 2002 (not accepted).
Avery Hopwood Award (Summer Essay), University of Michigan, 2001.
University of Michigan Dean’s List, 1997-2001.
Katherine Armstrong’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- expertise requests
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
