Humanizing technology.
Current Research Projects
$1.2M NSF & NIH Smart & Connected Health Grant - An intelligent Pervasive Augmented reaLity therapy (iPAL) for Opioid Use Disorder and Recovery
This project will develop intelligent Pervasive Augmented reaLity therapies (iPAL) - a technology-enabled OUD intervention that aims to help OUD sufferers manage their cravings to reduce their risk for relapse or overdose. iPAL integrates complementary psychotherapies (cognitive behavioral therapy and heart rate variability biofeedback) with immersive technologies (augmented and mixed reality) that will offer convenience, discretion in use, in the moment/real-time through personalized strategies
$1.2M National Science Foundation- Human-Centered Computing Grant -Augmenting Human Cognition with Collaborative Robots AMELIA (AugMEnted Learning InnovAtion)
Augmenting Human Cognition with Collaborative Robots (AMELIA: AugMEnted Learning InnovAtion): Collaborative robotics is a growing application space in robot technology used in manufacturing, mining, construction, and energy industrial settings. This convergence research project will contribute new knowledge and theory of Human-Computer Interaction and Human-Robot Interaction, by augmenting human cognition for safer and more efficient collaborative robot interaction.
Bio-Feedback in Virtual Reality for Pain and Anxiety Management - Alternative Strategies in Addressing the Opioid Epidemic
Collaboration with Greenville Health System & Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology. The main contribution of this project is the development of alternative treatment in the form of immersive technology for anxiety and pain that we hypothesize will ultimately lead to better health outcomes.
Virtual Reality for Pain and Anxiety Management in AYA Cancer Patients
In data reviewed from our first year of clinic, over 50% of all AYA cancer patients expressed a need for counseling services. Anxiety and depression are more commonly experienced by young cancer survivors. While anti-depressants, anti-anxiolytics and pain medications certainly have a role in treating young adults with cancer, risk of side effects and potential for addiction or abuse remain. As a result, a variety of programs and interventions are being explored to treat the pain and anxiety associated with cancer treatments. One such “alternative” treatment for pain and anxiety involves the use of virtual reality (VR). We plan to achieve this goal by RELIEVE (viRtual rEaLity IntErVEntion), a virtual reality cancer care management intervention scheme.
Media
Virtual Reality for Anxiety, Pain, and Depression During Chemotherapy
Under a longitudinal study assessing the pain and anxiety management of cancer patients led by Dr. Stanley, associate professor and graduate coordinator, and Dr. Elizabeth Cull, a medical oncologist at Greenville Health Systems, Josh has been testing a new form of chemo patient therapy that allows patients to escape the hospital into a virtual world. We follow the effects VR therapy has on pain, anxiety, and depression
Using "artificial emotional intelligence" to deliver pain and anxiety relief via virtual reality.
Using "artificial emotional intelligence" to deliver Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to those with addictions.
Mixed Reality and Collaborative Robotics
Using "artificial emotional intelligence" for the future of work with collaborative robots.
NSF Cyber-Human Systems:$1.2M Grant
The Story of AMELIA (AMELIA: AugMEnted Learning InnovAtion)
Collaborative robotics is a growing application space in robot technology used in manufacturing, mining, construction, and energy industrial settings. This convergence research project will contribute new knowledge and theory of Human-Computer Interaction and Human-Robot Interaction, by augmenting human cognition for safer and more efficient collaborative robot interaction.
To meet these goals, the team of researchers plans to:
(1) develop a novel HRI task/scenario classification scheme in collaborative robotics environments vulnerable to observable systems failures;
(2) establish fundamental neurophysiological, cognitive, and socio-behavioral capability models (e.g., workload, cognitive load, fatigue/stress, affect, and trust) during these HRI (i.e., the mind motor machine nexus);
(3) use these models to determine when and how a human’s cognitive, social, behavioral and environmental states require adjustment via technology to enhance HRI for efficient and safe work performance; and finally
(4) create an innovative and transformative Work 4.0 architecture (AMELIA: AugMEnted Learning InnovAtion) that includes a layer of augmented reality for human and robots to mutually learn and communicate current states.
The team proposes a novel communication scheme using artificial emotional intelligence in which robots and humans collaborate in potentially dangerous situations. The robot will detect the worker’s “cognitive state” using different machine learning techniques, and then take the appropriate action. Ultimately AMELIA seeks to empower the worker to focus on complex, cognitive problem-solving tasks, performed safely and efficiently, while ensuring that it adapts to both the worker's attitudes and cognitive states.
Database Development, Code, & Non-Identifying Data
Community Outreach
Collaborative Robotics and Immersive Technology
Children's Science Museum of Bozeman Outreach Demo
Mixed Reality Demo
PhD student, Ashish Teotia, demonstrates the Mixed Reality Hololens 2.
Science is Fun with VR and MR
PhD student, Ashish Teotia, talks about the role math and science play in VR world creations.
NSF-AMELIA Technology Demonstrations
Integration of Physiological Inputs + Co-Robot Control into Mixed Reality using Microsoft's Hololens 2
Interface between human and collaborative robot - early functioning interface.
Using Hololens 2 to Control Co-Robot Remotely
Interface between human and collaborative robot - early functioning interface.
Using Mixed Reality, Machine Vision, + Voice Commands to Control Co-Robot
An intelligent Pervasive Augmented reaLity therapy (iPAL) for Opioid Use Disorder and Recovery
NSF & NIH Smart & Connected Health: $1.2M Grant
The Story of iPAL
Opioid use disorder and addiction are now characterized as a nationwide “opioid epidemic,” with overdoses now the leading cause of injury deaths in the United States. While opioid overdose deaths have increased greatly over the past two decades as compared to other chronic diseases (e.g., heart disease) the development of remote monitoring and management tools and techniques for opioid cravings, recovery, and relapse have not kept pace. This project will develop intelligent Pervasive Augmented reaLity therapies (iPAL) - a technology-enabled OUD intervention that aims to help OUD sufferers manage their cravings to reduce their risk for relapse or overdose. iPAL integrates complementary psychotherapies (cognitive behavioral therapy and heart rate variability biofeedback) with immersive technologies (augmented and mixed reality) that will offer convenience, discretion in use, in the moment/real-time through personalized strategies. This work is poised to revolutionize how individuals learn, discover, create, and heal in the broader context of developing treatment strategies for those with OUD.
Augmented, Mixed, & Virtual Reality Development, Code, & Non-Identifying Data
Coming soon...
Community Outreach - Immersive Technology and Mental Health
iPAL Technology Demonstrations
Volumetric Video Capture
Our 1st Phase in generating mixed reality content for our patients.
Early Demo of our iPAL App
Our 1st Phase in the development of our App and Augmented Reality for Opioid Use Disorder
Volumetric Video Capture in Virtual and Mixed Reality
Our 1st Phase in the development of our App and Augmented Reality for Opioid Use Disorder
Lab Director-Laura M. Stanley, PhD, CPE
Associate Professor, Gianforte School of Computing, Montana State University
Director of Human Interaction Lab, Gianforte School of Computing, Montana State University
Adjunct Associate Professor Faculty, Industrial Engineering Department, Clemson University
Clinical Associate Professor, Clemson University School of Health Research, Clemson University
Former Program Director - National Science Foundation, CISE Directorate, Cyber-Human Systems Program
Research interests include:
Education:
BS - Industrial & Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech
MS - Industrial & Management Engineering, Montana State University
Ph.D. - Engineering, Option: Industrial Engineering, Montana State University
Dr. Laura Stanley is a passionate educator and researcher and has a zest for pushing academic boundaries with her technology inspired pursuits. A professor at Montana State University where she studies human-computer interaction, e.g. projects include immersive technologies for pain and anxiety management for children with cancer and mixed reality (e.g., imagine a hologram therapist) coupled with artificial intelligence to aid those with addictions. She is also using a similar mechanism for human-robot interaction. Dr. Stanley holds three degrees in engineering, a B.S. from Virginia Tech, M.S. and Ph.D. from Montana State University and has authored 72 peer-reviewed publications and acquired $13M in research funding. She served as a Program Officer at the National Science Foundation where she helped to shape the nation’s research agenda. Inspiring Dr. Stanley is the advancement of minorities in engineering and computer science; believing in the power of STEM to help others. Her research ideas often happen while fly fishing and wandering around Montana’s open spaces.
Funding:
National Science Foundation, Montana Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Murdock Charitable Trust, General Motors, Volvo, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association, Engineering Information Foundation, South Carolina Research Authority, and Greenville Health Systems.
E-mail: laura.stanley at montana.edu
TEDx Talk
Transforming Your Mental Health Journey With Immersive Technologies
Dr. Laura Stanley, professor of engineering, digs into the opioid epidemic and the role of prescribed narcotics in this crisis. She explores the advantages of virtual and mixed reality for anxiety and pain management while discussing the success of the implementation of this technology in treatment plans. Dr. Laura Stanley is a passionate educator and researcher and has a zest for pushing academic boundaries with her technology inspired pursuits. A professor at Montana State University where she studies human-computer interaction, e.g. projects include immersive technologies for pain and anxiety management for children with cancer and mixed reality (e.g., imagine a hologram therapist) coupled with artificial intelligence to aid those with addictions. Inspiring Dr. Stanley is the advancement of minorities in engineering and computer science; believing in the power of STEM to help others. Her research ideas often happen while fly fishing and wandering around Montana’s open spaces. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community
Recent Peer Reviewed Publications
Unsolicited Advice to Proposers from a
National Science Foundation (NSF) Program Officer
Includes thoughts from my NSF service as Program Director (CISE Directorate - Cyber Human Systems Group) from 2015-2016 as well as words from those who came before me at NSF (thank you to Dr. Jeff Trinkle, former NSF Program Director, for many of the inserts below)
How to Become a Successful NSF PI? Some Inside Insights from Former Program Directors
Disclaimer -Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in these slides are those of the authors/presenters and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Is it a fundable research idea?
Whether you have a firm idea of the research direction you want to pursue or not, following the steps below will help you home in on a competitive research direction.
Some keys to preparing a competitive proposal ...
Some advice from others
Preparing for a productive meeting with a Program Director:
(1) What is the problem?
(2) Why is it important to solve?
(3) Which parts of the problem will you solve and how?
(4) What is the intellectual merit of your proposal?
(5) How does this fit Cyber Human Systems (CHS) program?
How to Approach your National Science Foundation Program Director
1. If you don’t hear back on your first contact (phone or email), what is the best next step and where is the line between persistence and annoyance?
It is generally suggested that you start with an e-mail, because many PDs are out of the office for various reasons (meetings, panels, conferences, independent research activities, etc.). PDs are very busy so give them a week to respond, many will respond within a day or two. If the PD does not respond after 2x, then try to contact another PD within that program. It is recommended that you contact one PD in the program, instead of all PDs in that program. By sending a note to all it often times because unclear who should respond, risking the chance of it falling deeper in their mailbox, resulting in no response at all.
2. How much about your grant idea should you share when reaching out via email? 1 page, 2 pages? What should that info include?
Because time is of essence most PDs will only want a one-page summary, definitely no more than two pages. They always work to treat everyone fairly, so what they do for they must do for everyone. This is why they cannot read an entire 15-page proposal to provide feedback, there is not enough time in doing so for everyone. In your project summary, you should strive to answer these questions clearly and concisely: (1) What is the problem? (2) Why is it important to solve? (3) Which parts of the problem will you solve? (4) How will those problems be attacked? (5) How does this fit the particular program of interest? Pertaining to question #5, this tells the PD whether you have done the homework necessary to determine the proper fit for the idea. Or it may help them in providing “fit” advice. That is many times a proposer may think their idea fits a certain program, division, or directorate but often times it doesn’t and this is where the PD can help. Work with mentors who have been successful on proposals to NSF, seek out those who will give you honest and constructive feedback, rather than those who simply say “looks great, submit”. Critical feedback from more experienced folks is critical to success at NSF!
3. What are some of the best questions you have had/asked? Don’t be shy to bring forth “crazy” ideas; NSF is the place for such ideas!
NSF is one of the only agencies that funds work on potentially “crazy” ideas that may lead to transformative ideas in terms of intellectual merit and broader impacts.
4. Are there any questions you would recommend NOT asking?
Gather what your interests and passions are and write for that. Don’t ask the PD what they would like funded and what their interests are in and write to that. PDs, for the most part, were once/are academics so they understand the granting process, funding students, publishing students, tenure process, etc. They have a very good understanding of the university system and how to navigate that path. PDs encourage communication, there will never be any negative consequences to speaking with PD, e.g. won’t hurt your chances for future funding etc. Feel comfortable asking them questions. Seek them out early in the grant writing process to ensure your idea is a good fit and if not where a good fit may be.
5. What is the goal of the program officer in these conversations? What is the goal of the faculty member?
The goal of the faculty member is to of course secure funding to fund your research, students, obtain tenure so forth and so on. The NSF PD knows this but what they want to hear is what it is that you are excited and passionate about in a clear and concise manner. PDs may not have expertise in your area, most likely they will not, so you will need to be generalists to some degree when conveying your idea. The PDs role is to encourage you to submit assuming it’s a good fit for their program or to help you navigate where may be the better home. As a proposer realize that you will be declined, the funding rate within my own program is from ~6% (CHS: LARGE) ~25% (CHS:CRII) depending on the solicitation. As a new faculty member write your PD and ask them if you can serve on a panel (send an e-mail with your CV attached) so that you can understand the review process. It is OK if you have never served or have not been successful via NSF funding mechanisms.
(Thank you to PDs in Cyber-Human Systems Program!)
Student Resources
Your resource for conducting research...
Scientific Writing Guidelines
Citation Management Software Guides (Mendeley, EndNote, Zotero)
IRB Forms and Process, CITI Training, Logging your Hours Worked in MSU MyInfo
Human Computer Interaction Tools
How to - Physiological Data Collection & Analysis
Dissemination Tools - Research Posters and Presentations