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Ben Hocking Phone: 434-981-4975 Email: benjaminhocking@gmail.com |
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in
Computer Science, Expected Fall 2011
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Dissertation: “Using Early Death to Evolve Solutions to
Computationally Expensive Simulations”
M.C.S.,
Computer Science, 2003
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Thesis: “Parallel Optimizations of Neural
Networks”
M.S. in
Physics, 1999
Concentration in Astronomy
Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
Thesis:
“Analysis and Discussion of Alternative Space-Time Metrics”
B.S. in
Physics, 1990
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Honors: President’s Scholar, National Merit
Scholar
RELATED EXPERIENCE
Software Engineer
Mustard Seed Software, LLC, Charlottesville, VA,
October 2008 – Present
Duties:
Integrate existing computational models into graphical user
interfaces. Contribute to application development involving aircraft
rotor modeling, risk assessment, fatigue crack growth, ultrasound
inspection simulations, computational geometry, and wave propagation
simulation. Perform algorithm analysis and development and improve
testing framework.
Research
Assistant/Programmer
Department of Psychology, University of Virginia,
Charlottesville, VA, Fall 2008 – Present
Duties: Develop various software for psychological experiments
Research
Assistant/Programmer
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Virginia,
Charlottesville, VA, Fall 2001 – Spring 2009
Duties: Develop neural network models of hippocampus and general brain
regions. Implement code to simulate neural network models. Design and
run hippocampal/neuron simulations and write papers. Perform
metaheuristic state space searches with an emphasis on genetic
algorithms to determine viable model settings for simulation.
Research
Assistant/Programmer
Department of Anthropology, University of Virginia,
Charlottesville, VA, Fall 2005 – May 2008
Duties: Assisted with database design and implementation for the Chaco Digital
Initiative, traveled on-site to New Mexico to create ad-hoc network and assist
in downloading historical information
Software
Developer
Restaurant Technology Inc., Marietta, GA, July 1995 - July 2001
Duties: Developed tested, migrated, and maintained software dealing with
payroll applications, labor scheduling, electronic data interchange,
communications, and menu management for fast food restaurants
TEACHING/advising
EXPERIENCE
Teaching
Assistant – Introduction to Business Computing
University
of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, Fall
2001, Fall 2002
Duties:
Administered and scored examinations, tutored students
Teaching
Assistant – Methods in Computer Software Development
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA,
Fall 2003, Spring 2007
Duties:
Taught weekly laboratory, assisted in the development of exam questions,
administered and scored examinations, tutored students
Teaching
Assistant – Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA,
Fall 2002-3, Spring 2008
Duties:
Taught as a guest lecturer, assisted in the development of exam questions,
administered and scored examinations, tutored students
Teaching
Assistant – Introduction to Astronomy Laboratory
Georgia
State University, Atlanta, GA, Fall 1998, Fall 1999
Duties:
Taught weekly laboratory, graded laboratory assignments
PUBLICATIONS
AND PAPERS
Hocking,
A. B. & Levy, W. B. (2007). Theta-modulated input reduces intrinsic gamma
oscillations in a hippocampal model. Neurocomputing, 70(10-12): 2074-2078.
Hocking,
A. B. & Levy, W. B. (2006). Gamma oscillations in a minimal CA3 model. Neurocomputing, 69(10-12): 1244-1248.
Hocking,
A. B. & Levy, W. B. (2005).
Computing conditional probabilities in a minimal CA3 pyramidal neuron. Neurocomputing,
65-66, 297-303.
Levy,
W. B., Hocking, A. B., & Wu, X. (2005). Interpreting hippocampal function
as recoding and forecasting. Neural Networks, 18(9), 1242-1264.
Drewry, D. T., Gu, L., Hocking, A. B., Kang, K.,
Pfaltz, J. L., Schutt III, R. C., & Taylor, C. M. (Unrefereed Publication)
Current State of Data Mining. University of Virginia, Department of Computer
Science, Technical Report.
CONFERENCE
POSTER SESSIONS AND PAPER PRESENTATIONS
Hocking, A. B. (2006). Theta-Modulated Input in a Hippocampal Model with Intrinsic Gamma
Oscillations. Annual Meeting of the Organization for Computational Neurosciences, Edinburgh,
Scotland.
Hocking, A. B. (2005). Gamma
oscillations in a minimal CA3 model. Annual
Meeting of the Organization for Computational Neurosciences, Madison, WI.
Hocking, A. B., (2005). Establishing
the Viability of a Uniform Model of Hippocampal CA3 Functionality. Data-Driven
Modelling and Computation in Neuroscience, Hohenwart Forum, Hohenwart, Germany
Hocking, A. B. (2004). Computing conditional probabilities in a minimal CA3 pyramidal neuron. Annual Meeting of the Organization for Computational Neurosciences, Baltimore, MD.
Last Updated: September 2010