Meet Ken Augustyn, Assistant Director, SRI Ann Arbor
Focus 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.
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
Focus at SRI
R&D Divisions