Profile
Laura Jastrzab
My CV
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Education:
Minnetonka High School (USA); Bangor University and University of Glasgow (2018-present)
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Qualifications:
American schools are a little different but I took Chemistry, Biology, Calculus, and Anatomy & Physiology (as well as English, History, and Art). My undergraduate degree was in Psychology & French (with all of methods and stats modules possible). I trained as a practicing psychologist. And now I’m completing my PhD in social cognitive neuroscience.
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Work History:
I worked as a qualified Educational Psychologist and had various research roles at universities in the Bay Area and Philadelphia in the United States before starting my PhD.
I’ve had lots of odd jobs to make ends meet while I was student at uni. For example, I once worked as security at a Jewel and Def Leopard concert!
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Current Job:
PhD student at Bangor University & University of Glasgow
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About Me:
I’m a PhD student in social cognitive neuroscience who likes to chat about all things robots and brains!
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Read more
I’m American but I live by the sea in North Wales with my British husband and our cat. In my free time, I like walking in the mountains, kayaking in the sea, reading, building things, and trying to grow flowers and fruits/vegetables in my garden. Before moving to the UK, I lived in 8 US states (Michigan, Indiana, Connecticut, Minnesota, Colorado, Arizona, California, and Pennsylvania). My pronouns are she/her.
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The recipe for my work is: 1 part psychology, 1 part neuroscience, and 1 part social robotics. I am thrilled to work with a team of scientists with different specialties. I look at how our brains respond to humans and robots when we play games or learn with them. For example, do you think that robots can make their own decisions without someone telling them to do it? Do you feel bad for a robot if that robot gets bullied?
In one of my projects, children and adults get to play games with several robots while they are in a brain scanner so that I can see how their brains respond to those different robots. These projects are part of many studies that may hopefully help us design better social robots and tell us more about what the brain accepts as “social.” For the majority of us, robots can’t and won’t replace our need to interact with other humans. But cleverly designed, socially engaging robots will likely be able to offer supporting roles to help teachers and healthcare workers, for example.
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My Typical Day:
My days vary from programming, reading/writing, or working in one of the many labs either with robots or on the brain scanner.
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Read more
My days vary quite a bit. Most of my time is spent on my computer working on programming, scientific writing, answering emails, or reading about science. Some days I am working with the robots in one lab while other days I am working with the brain scanner looking at people’s brains in another lab! I really love that my days are so different.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
More robots!
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Curious, Creative, & Friendly
What did you want to be after you left school?
Psychologist, Architect, or Meteorologist
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Even though I eagerly completed all of my homework, I frequently forgot to turn it in.
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Christine & the Queens
What's your favourite food?
Tamales
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
(1) My own federation of social robots; (2) to make learning even more fun, interactive, and accessible to all; (3) to spend more time with my friends and family
Tell us a joke.
Why was the robot mad? People kept pushing its buttons.
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