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Meet Our Innovators

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Working at SRI: Interviews with SRI Staff Members

SRI's innovative thinking depends directly on the people who work here. Meet members of our team in Computing and Engineering, Chemistry, Physics and Materials, Drug Discovery, Drug Development and HealthEconomics and Education, Environment and Energy, Business Development, and Administration and Corporate Activities, and learn why they joined SRI—you may discover that you would like to join the team, too. Visit Careers at SRI for descriptions of current openings.

Meet Ken Augustyn, Assistant Director, SRI Ann Arbor

Ken AugustyneFocus at SRI
In Ann Arbor, we are developing new radar sensors and processing algorithms to help reduce risk to our armed forces. We have also established other new areas with long-term potential, such as remote sensing for ocean applications. Like the invention of synthetic aperture radar, new quantum sensors that we are developing may create an entirely new business area for SRI.

Day in the Life at SRI
The typical day hasn't arrived yet. Since the facility opened in January 2008, SRI Ann Arbor has grown from 5 to 20 technical staff; we are currently completing new office and lab construction. My days are exciting and fun; my Ann Arbor colleagues are self-starters, self-directed, client-focused, and exceptionally talented. Our colleagues at SRI Menlo Park and other locations have provided us with outstanding support since day one.

Before SRI
For 28 years, I worked in a variety of roles at the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (ERIM) and its successor organizations. Prior to ERIM, I was an independent consultant working on neural net modeling for industrial process control, crash injury modeling, and adaptive engine control. I've also worked on camera-computer automatic inspection research and algorithm development for processing crash, emissions, and vibration test data for the Ford Motor Company.

Academics
Ph.D. Neurophysiology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University
B.S. and M.A. Mathematics, Wayne State University

Why SRI?
SRI's nonprofit R&D culture and reputation for technical excellence and integrity attracted me. I am overwhelmed by the kindness and acceptance shown by long-time SRI veterans who have contributed so much to SRI Ann Arbor's success.

Inspiration and Motivation
A good idea, an effective presentation, a compelling proposal - I look at all of these as works of art intrinsically of value beyond the funding. And the ultimate results are successful proof-of-concept demos, operational deployments, and satisfied clients.

What has changed in your field since you began your career, and what new or exciting trends are you seeing?
Volumes could be written on how much technology has changed since I began my career, but just as interesting are the changes in work culture since I started. For example, one summer I had a job operating business machines (punched card sorters, collators, and other cool mechanical devices all about to become obsolete) on the midnight shift at the GM Tech Center. I had to wear a jacket and tie.

Proudest Professional Accomplishment
Some of the work I did in sensor data exploitation solved specific intelligence problems in the 1980s and thereby contributed ever so slightly to ending the cold war—or so I like to believe.

Languages
My own version of English.

Away from the Office
My wife and I enjoy taking summer boat rides in the Detroit River and Lake Erie. We take frequent car trips to Chicago and to Eau Claire, where our children and their families live. I like to listen to good bar bands and play my piano when no one is around to complain.

I'm a great fan of author Arthur Koestler and philosopher/author Karl Popper, whose clarity of thinking and writing I envy. I also follow developments in neuroscience with special interest.

Words of Wisdom for New SRI Team Members
"Be true to your teeth and they won't be false to you." - Soupy Sales

 

Meet Other Members of the SRI Team:

Computing and Engineering
Lori Adornato, Research Engineer, Optics Group, Marine Technology Program, St. Petersburg, Florida
Victor Aguero
, Program Manager, Engineering & Systems Division
Ken Augustyn, Assistant Director, SRI Ann Arbor

Derek Artz, Development Engineer, Instrumentation and Simulation Systems, Engineering & Systems

Hasan Bahcivan, Research Physicist, Geospace Studies, Engineering & Systems

John Brecht, Learning Technology Engineer, Center for Technology in Learning
Gary Bridges Director, Client Services, Cyber Security Research & Development Center
Linda Briesemeister, Sr. Research Engineer, Engineering & Systems Division
Michelle Delplanche, Software Engineer, Engineering & Systems Division

Grit Denker, Senior Computer Scientist, Computer Science Laboratory
Katherine Donaldson, Scientific Programmer/Analyst, Engineering & Systems Division
Lola Goheen, Senior Research Engineer, Applied Electromagnetics
Mike Hogsett, Senior Systems Administrator, Computer Science Laboratory
Hal Huntley, Principal Systems Administrator, Engineering & Systems Division
Hafeez Jaffer, Software Engineer, Communications and Radar Systems, Engineering & Systems Division
Jason Jenkins, Senior Systems Administrator, Artificial Intelligence Center
Mark Johnson, Program Manager, Software Engineering Program, San Luis Obispo
Theresa Keeler, Research Engineer, Engineering & Systems Division
Roy Kornbluh, Senior Research Engineer, Engineering & Systems Division
Larry Langebrake, Director, Marine Technology Program at SRI St. Petersburg
Tom Low, Program Director, Innovative Product Engineering and Technologies
Rich Mahoney, Director, Robotics Program, Engineering & Systems

Greg Myers, Program Director, Machine Vision, Engineering & Systems Division
Karen Myers, Program Director, Artificial Intelligence Center
Ron Pelrine, Program Director, Mobile Robotics and Transducers Program
Harsha Prahlad, Research Engineer, Mobile Robotics and Transducers Program

Marc Reed, Research Engineer, Marine Technology Program at St. Petersburg, Florida

Spiro Sarris, Research Engineer, Engineering & Systems Division, Communication and Radar Systems

Allen Takahashi, Senior Research Engineer, Communications and Signal Technology Laboratory
L. Lynn Voss, Software Engineering Program Manager at SRI in Helena, Montana

Kevin Willoh, Research Engineer, Engineering and Systems Division

Chemistry, Physics and Materials
Yigal Blum, Program Manager, Chemistry of Materials, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory
Jim Colton, Director, Poulter Laboratory of Applied Mechanics
Christine Cuppoletti, Research Scientist, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory
David Flamm, Principal Scientist/Program Manager, Applied Optics Laboratory
Indira Jayaweera, Senior Chemist/Hydrothermal Program Leader, Materials Research Laboratory

Jordi Perez, Materials Scientist, Materials Research Laboratory
Jeff Simons, Senior Computational Engineer, Center for Fracture Physics, Materials Research Laboratory
Priscila Spagnol, Senior Research Engineer, MicroScience Engineering Laboratories, Largo, Florida
David Stout, Chemical Engineer, Chemical Science and Technology, Physical Sciences Division
Robert E. Tokheim, Associate Department Director, Poulter Applied Mechanics
Diane Walter, Senior Research Engineer, Applied Optics Laboratory

Drug Discovery, Drug Development, and Health
Nathan Collins, Executive Director, Drug Discovery, Biosciences Division

Annalisa D'Andrea, Senior Director, Immunology and Inflammation, Biosciences Division
Amit Galande, Associate Director, Proteomics and Protein Biochemistry, Shenandoah Valley
Mary Ann Greco, Program Director, Behavioral Biochemistry, Biosciences Division
Carol Green, Senior Director, Toxicology and Metabolism, Biosciences Division
Ling Jong, Program Director, Medicinal Chemistry Department
Lisa Jack, Assistant Director / Public Health Researcher, Center for Health Sciences
Keith Laderoute, Director, Cancer Biology Program
Juan Orduna, Drug Efficacy Program Biologist, Medicinal Chemistry Department, Biosciences Division
Helen Parish, Director, Analytical Chemistry Department
Torsten Rohlfing, Senior Research Scientist, Neuroscience Program, Center for Health Sciences
Gita Shankar, Senior Scientist/ Project Leader, Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Biosciences Division
Rajeev Vaidyanathan, Associate Director, Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases, CADRE, Shenandoah Valley
Jennie Wang, Program Director, Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Biosciences Division
Chun Yang, Chemist, Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Biosciences Division

Education, Science and Technology Policy, and Economic Development
David Cheney, Director, Science and Technology Policy Program, SRI in Washington, D.C.
Geneva Haertel, Director of Assessment Research and Design, Center for Technology in Learning
Daniel Humphrey, Associate Director, Center for Education Policy
Melissa Koch, Senior Educational Developer, Center for Technology in Learning
Vera Michalchik, Research Social Scientist, Center for Technology in Learning

Mary Wagner, Director, Center for Education and Human Services

Environment and Energy
Jim Colton, Director, Poulter Laboratory of Applied Mechanics
Anne Elston, Environmental Analyst, Envirotechnical Program, Policy Division
Barbara Heydorn, Director, Center of Excellence in Energy

Indira Jayaweera, Senior Chemist/Hydrothermal Program Leader, Materials Research Laboratory

Roy Kornbluh, Senior Research Engineer, Engineering & Systems Division

Ron Pelrine, Program Director, Mobile Robotics and Transducers Program

Jordi Perez, Materials Scientist, Materials Research Laboratory
Harsha Prahlad, Research Engineer, Mobile Robotics and Transducers Program

Business Development
Maggie Baxter-Pearson, Contracts Manager, Engineering & Systems Division
Ed Davis, Senior IP Advisor and IP Office Manager
Kurt Fulkerson, Manager, Business Development, Transportation Markets
Phil Harman, Director, Congressional Relations, SRI in Washington, D.C.

Barbara Heydorn, Director, Center of Excellence in Energy
Youssef Iguider, Director of Business Development, SRI Japan
Osamu Karatsu, Executive Director, SRI Japan

Chris Lantman, Director of Commercial and International Business Development, Physical Sciences Division
John McIntire Associate General Counsel, Legal and Business Affairs
Nancy Moy, Research Analyst, Federal Business Development, SRI in Washington, D.C.
Satomi Ouchi, Senior Manager, Business Development, SRI Japan
Mary Scott, Administrative Analyst, Business Development, SRI in Washington, D.C.
Laleh Shayesteh, Director of Intellectual Property, Biosciences
Christine Stensig, Specialist Technical Writer/Editor, Engineering & Systems Division
Philip von Guggenberg, Director of Business Development, Engineering & Systems Division

Administration and Corporate Activities
Louise Aryapour, Senior Business Manager, Information and Computing Sciences Division
Richard Bullert, HR Records Specialist, Human Resources Department
Sandy Hinzmann, Manager Staff Programs & Transportation
Walt Kyle, Supervisor, Information Protection, Corporate Security Department
Marty Mallonee, Manager, Corporate and Marketing Communications
Yamini Namasivayam, IT Project Manager, Information Technology Services
Roger Sherman, Information Specialist, Information Technology Services, Archiving and Research (SRI Library)
Jan Teichman, Director, Environmental Heath & Safety
Lori Truitt, Administrative Analyst, Computer Science Laboratory

 

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