Dr. Patrick Nalepka received his PhD in Experimental Psychology from the University of Cincinnati within the Center for Cognition, Action and Perception. During graduate study, Dr. Nalepka's research focused on investigating the perceptual-motor processes that underlie the emergence of stable coordinative patterns in complex and dynamic multiagent task contexts, as well as the role constraints play in how such patterns materialize. Since joining Macquarie, his focus has been on investigating the effects embodied artificial-agents (e.g., virtual avatars, robots) have in mixed human-artificial agent teams for coordination, and how such artificial systems should be used to enhance human skill acquisition in perceptual-motor tasks undergoing continual perturbations. Dr. Nalepka's research utilizes nonlinear time-series analyses, dynamical modeling, reinforcement and machine learning, and virtual reality technology.

Coordination Dynamics; Ecological Psychology; Perception-Action; Skill Acquisition; Team Cognition; Human-Machine Interaction; Complex Systems; Virtual Reality

International Research Collaborators

University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Boston University

(2021, 2022) Putting the AI in Cog Sci: Exploring Human-Technology Interactions (Macquarie University, Guest Lecturer)

(2020) Thinking, Reasoning and Decision-Making in Theoretical and Applied Settings (Macquarie University, Guest Lecturer)

(2016) Sensation & Perception (University of Cincinnati, Unit Convenor)