Hello! My name is Zach Kaufman and I am a triple PhD student at University of Colorado Boulder studying computer, cognitive, and neural sciences. I joined CU Boulder in 2024 in the ACME Lab through the ATLAS Institute and the SHINE Lab through the Institute of Cognitive Science. My primary research interest is in developing Intelligent and Interactive Systems (primarily robots and Artificial Intelligence) for the diagnosis, treatment, and assistance with mental and cognitive health.
I am co-advised by Ellen Do in the ACME Lab and Leanne Hirshfield in the SHINE Lab. I have joined various research projects in both lab (found in research). I am also a Teaching Assistant (TA) for the Department of Computer Science at CU Boulder. I am assisting with the course CSCI 1300: Starting Computing, which is a very large class that serves as the introductory programming course for CS majors as well as a computing course for non-CS majors.
My research aims to design Socially Assistive Robots (SAR) for assisting in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of mental health disorders by developing deep learning perception models for use with non-invasive and wearable sensors to understand human physiological responses to interaction with robots. Additionally, I will explore novel methods of interacting with SARs using Virtual/Augmented Reality, fabrication, and unique visual and auditory stimuli, with the goal of adapting robots to the needs of those with mental health disorders.
Personal Email: [email protected]
School Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: @zckaufman
GitHub: @ZCKaufman