VITA
Katja Wiemer-Hastings
Education
University of Memphis
Degree: Ph.D., May 2000
Program: Cognitive Psychology / Cognitive Science
Committee chair: Arthur C. Graesser
Dissertation: Contextual sources for the acquisition and representation of
abstract concepts
University of Bonn, Germany
Degree: M.S.; July 1996
Program: Cognitive Psychology
Comprehensive exams in subjects: Cognitive Psychology, Diagnostics, School
Psychology, Social Psychology
Minors: Linguistics, Psychopathology
Honors: Masters summa cum laude (GPA of 4.0 on 4-point scale)
Committee chair: Joachim Funke
Thesis: Abstract concept representation
University of Bonn, Germany
Degree: B.S., July 1993
Program: Psychology
Research Assistantships
August 1996 – present
University of Memphis
Abstract concept representation
NSF grant developing a computer-tutor (speech act classification, word tagging, Latent
Semantic Analysis)
Development of a computerized question
design aid
Advisor: A.C. Graesser, The University of Memphis
August 1994-June 1996
Project: Cognitive Biases
University of Bonn, Germany
Advisor: E. Erdfelder, University of Bonn, Germany
November 1993 - July 1994
Project: Design of Robust Human-Machine Interaction
University of Bonn, Germany
Advisor: J. Funke, University of Heidelberg, Germany
Practical Internships
Feb / March 1994
Project on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work, Research Institute for
Technology and Communication, Bonn, Germany
Writing of technical reports, development of questionnaire for design
evaluation and marketing research
Feb / March 1995
Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Clinic, Bad Godesberg, Germany
Memory and Orientation Training of neurological patients
Teaching Experience
Introduction to Psychology (Cognitive and neurological bases),
Spring 1999
Four guest lectures in Psychology of Perception (Object recognition), Junior /
Senior Level, Spring 1998
Team-teaching of Cognitive Psychology, Junior / Senior Level, Fall 1997
Teaching Assistantship: Computer Literacy for Psychologists (SPSS & Text
processing), 1994-1996
Research interests
Language: Abstract concept representation,
discourse processes, embodied cognition, lexical acquisition, lexical
semantics, perceptual grounding of concepts, text-based quantitative
constructions of semantic representations, representation of linguistic context
Knowledge representation: connectionism, embodied cognition
Other interests: human-computer interaction, music perception,
philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, vision
Teaching interests
Undergraduate classes: Cognitive
modeling, Cognitive psychology, Cognitive science, Introductory physiology,
Introductory psychology, Introductory statistics, Research methods, Sensation
& perception
Graduate classes: Embodied cognition, Methods for language research,
Psychology of language, Semantics
Mentorship experience
|
Supervision of undergraduate research
assistants |
May May 1998 - present |
|
Supervision of research internship |
June - July 1998 |
|
Tutor in Psychology computer laboratory
(SPSS, text processing) |
|
Student Service Activities
|
Graduate Student Coordinating Committee
(GSCC)
representative |
|
|
Mentor for the APSSC student – student mentorship program |
Since 1999 |
|
Phi Kappa Phi, local chapter at the
University of Memphis: Vice president |
1999 - 2000 |
Professional affiliations / memberships
|
American Psychological Society (Member) |
Since 1997 |
|
Cognitive Science (Member) |
Since 1997 |
|
American Psychological Association (Member) |
Since 1998 |
|
Psychonomic Society (Associate) |
Since 2000 |
|
Society for Computers in Psychology (Student
member) |
Since 1998 |
|
Society for Text and Discourse (Member) |
Since 1998 |
Fellowships / awards
Conference fellowship for the 3rd International Conference on
Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University / DARPA / ONR ($1000), May 1999
Graduate Student Coordinating Committee Service award, 1997 - 1998
Frye Achievement Award in Experimental Psychology, Department of Psychology,
University of Memphis ($500), May 1998
Phi Kappa Phi member since spring 1998
Castellan Student Paper Award, for paper presented at the 27th Annual Meeting
of the Society for Computers in Psychology, Philadelhpia, PA ($100, 1-year
membership, journal subscription), November 1997
Scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer
Austauschdienst, DAAD), covering tuition and living expenses (about $15,000),
September 1996 - June 1997