Rachael Booker, Ph.D.

Research Associate

Center for Vision Science and Technology and Visual Processing Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Edu-Tech University

Education
August, 2000–May, 2006 Edu-Tech University Los Angeles, CA
Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering (GPA 3.60).
Dissertation: “English phoneme and word recognition by nonnative English listeners as a function of spectral resolution and English experience”.
Related courses: Structure and Management of Clinical Trials, Regulation of Medical Devices.
August, 1999–May, 2001 Edu-Tech University Los Angeles, CA
M.S., Biomedical Engineering.
Thesis: “Speaker-Independent Vowel Recognition With Coarse Spectral Information Using a TDNN”.
August, 1991–April, 1998 Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Bogota, Colombia
B.S., Electronic Engineering.
Thesis: “Study of Three Mathematical Models in the Cancellation of Acoustic Noise”, Co-author: Navarro, F.R.
Professional Experience
September, 2006–Present Edu-Tech University Los Angeles, CA
Postdoctoral Research Associate
  • Recruitment and screening of subjects for testing.
  • Working on visual and auditory perception and perceptual learning, using Psychophysical and fMRI techniques.
  • Processing and generation of visual and auditory signals for testing.
  • Design and implementation of an auditory lab.
  • Prepare research study protocols and submissions for IRB.
  • Supervision and training of Undergraduate and Graduate students.
May, 2000–September, 2006 Edu-Tech University-House Ear Institute Los Angeles, CA
Research Assistant
  • Used Artificial Neural Networks for speech pattern recognition.
  • Worked on the development of a Consonant database for testing.
  • Worked on speech recognition by nonnative English listeners.
  • Processed speech signals used for testing (simulation of cochlear implant hearing).
  • Recruitment and screening of subjects for testing and perform hearing tests on future subjects.
  • Calibration of equipment required for speech testing.
May, 1998–July, 1999 Sucromiles, S.A. Cali, Colombia
Electronic Maintenance Engineer
  • Developed a program using the company truck scale.
  • Designed and implemented an Electronic Lab for the Maintenance Department.
  • Supervise personnel during absences of my supervisor, head of the Electric Maintenance Department.
August, 1993–December, 1994 Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Bogotá, Colombia
Computer Lab Assistant
  • In charge of the Engineering Computer Lab.
  • Responsible for giving courses in the use of Pascal Language.

Awards
2009 – Travel Fellowship for the 25th CVS symposium Statistical learning & brain plasticity.
2009 – WiSE Travel Grant for Graduate Students and Post-doctoral Fellows.
2006 – Student Travel Award for the Conference on Implantable Auditory Prosthesis.
2005 – 2nd Place Student Paper Competition, Acoustical Society of America.
2005 – 3rd Place Poster Presentation in Edu-Tech Grodins Symposium.
2004 – Student Travel Award, 32nd Neural Prosthesis Workshop, NIH.
2000-2006 – Research Assistanship, Edu-Tech University & House Ear Institute.
1999 – Colfuturo Scholarship for Graduate Studies, Colombia.
1998 – One of the best five B.S. Thesis of the Graduation class, Colombia.
1990 – Andres Bello Medal for Top High School Students, Colombia.
1990 – 2nd Place in Graduation Class, Colombia.
Mentored/Supervised Students
October, 2009-Present, Benjamin Files (Graduate student, Neuroscience Program, Edu-Tech).
August, 2009-Present, Junkwan Lee (Graduate student, Biomedical Engineering, Edu-Tech).
January-June, 2009, Phoebe White (Undergraduate student, Biomedical Engineering, Edu-Tech).
August, 2008-May, 2009, Aaron Wong (Undergraduate student, Biomedical Engineering, Edu-Tech)
publications
  • Cook, N.M. andBooker, R.(2010). “Bayesian Generalization of Statistical Learning Theory for Noisy Neural Representations”, in preparation (for submission to Journal of Neural Computation).
  • Lee, E-J, Booker, R., Merwine, D.K.and Cook, N.M. (2010). “Visual experience regulates the integrity of Horizontal cells in the mouse retina”, in preparation.
  • Booker, R. and Shannon, R.V. (2010). “English phoneme and word recognition by nonnative English speakers as a function of English experience and spectral resolution”, in preparation (for submission to Journal of Acoustical Society of America).
  • Booker, R. and Cook, N.M. (2010). “Different Types of Perceptual Learning in a Speed-Segmentation Task”, in preparation (for submission to Vision Research).
  • Lee, E-J, Merwine, D.K., Booker, R.and Cook, N.M. (2010). “Choline AcetyltransferaseImmunoreactive Neurons in the retina of normal and dark-reared turtle”, Journal of Comparative Neurology (accepted).
Booker, R., Fogleman, A., Bitel, L. and Cook, N.M. (2010). “Effects of Culture on Sensory Perception and Their Possible Implications for Religious Visions”, Visionaries and Vision Hunters Workshop, pp. 1-21.

published abstracts
  • Booker, R. and Cook, N.M. (2009). “Does Perceptual Learning acquire the prior?”, 25th CVS Symposium, P13.
  • Booker, R. and Cook, N.M. (2009). “Is Statistical Learning Theory applicable to the Human Brain?”, Vision Science Society meeting, B42-271, 48.
  • Booker, R. and Cook, N.M. (2007). “Perceptual Learning in a Motion-Segmentation task”, Society for Neuroscience.
  • Booker, R. and Cook, N.M. (2007). “What can we learn in Perceptual Learning?”, Joint Symposium on Neural Computation.
  • Booker, R. and Shannon, R. V. (2005). “Could lack of experience with a second language be modeled as a hearing loss?”, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 112, 2385.

meetings and Workshops
Edu-Tech CRCC, Visionaries and Vision Hunters Workshop, February 2010.
Vision Science Society Meeting, Sarasota, FL, May 2009
Center for Vision & Science Technology Symposium,Edu-Tech University, March 2008.
Society for Neuroscience Meeting (SFN), San Diego, CA, October 2007.
Joint Symposium on Neural Computation, Edu-Tech University, May 2007.
Conference on Implantable Auditory Prosthesis,Asilomar Conference Grounds, CA, August 2006.
Grodins Graduate Research Symposium,Edu-Tech University, March 2006.
Acoustical Society of America Meeting, Cancun, Mexico, December 2005.
professional Membership
  • 2008-Present, Vision Science Society.
  • 2007-Present, Society for Neuroscience.
  • 2001-2007, Acoustical Society of America.
  • 1994-2006, IEEE.