Full CV available in PDF format. Abridged version appears below.
| blusteincv_may2018.pdf |
Appointments
Assistant Professor
Rhodes College
Psychology, Neuroscience 2018 - Present
Contract Academic Instructor
University of New Brunswick
Biology 2017 - 2018
Rhodes College
Psychology, Neuroscience 2018 - Present
Contract Academic Instructor
University of New Brunswick
Biology 2017 - 2018
Education
Postdoctoral Fellow, Biomedical Engineering
University of New Brunswick
Project: Computational motor control and prosthesis assessment
Advisor: Dr. Jon Sensinger
April 2015 - July 2018
Ph.D. in Biology
Northeastern University Dissertation: “Biomimetic lobster control with a synthetic nervous system”
Advisor: Dr. Joseph Ayers
January 2015
BA in Biology
Kalamazoo College Thesis: “Filmic exploration of voids”
Academic advisor: Dr. Ann Fraser 2006
Environment and Ecology Program
Universidad San Francisco de Quito
Aug 2004-Mar 2005
University of New Brunswick
Project: Computational motor control and prosthesis assessment
Advisor: Dr. Jon Sensinger
April 2015 - July 2018
Ph.D. in Biology
Northeastern University Dissertation: “Biomimetic lobster control with a synthetic nervous system”
Advisor: Dr. Joseph Ayers
January 2015
BA in Biology
Kalamazoo College Thesis: “Filmic exploration of voids”
Academic advisor: Dr. Ann Fraser 2006
Environment and Ecology Program
Universidad San Francisco de Quito
Aug 2004-Mar 2005
Honors, Awards & Funding
Rising Star Researcher, New Brunswick Health Research Foundation 2017
Dissertation Completion Fellowship, Northeastern University 2014 - 2015
Prototype Fund Award (x2), Northeastern University 2014
Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellowship, AAAS 2013
Graduate Research Fellowship, National Science Foundation 2009 - 2015
Graduate Student Scholarship, Marine Technology Society 2011-2012
Outstanding Graduate Student Research Award, Northeastern Univ. 2011
Marine Science Center Graduate Travel Award, Northeastern Univ. 2011
Graduate Student Association Travel Award, Northeastern Univ. 2011
Dissertation Completion Fellowship, Northeastern University 2014 - 2015
Prototype Fund Award (x2), Northeastern University 2014
Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellowship, AAAS 2013
Graduate Research Fellowship, National Science Foundation 2009 - 2015
Graduate Student Scholarship, Marine Technology Society 2011-2012
Outstanding Graduate Student Research Award, Northeastern Univ. 2011
Marine Science Center Graduate Travel Award, Northeastern Univ. 2011
Graduate Student Association Travel Award, Northeastern Univ. 2011
Research Experience
Postdoctoral Researcher at Univ. of New Brunswick [Lab of Dr. Jon Sensinger]
--Design prosthesis assessment metrics using computational motor control.
April 2015 - Present
Research Assistant at Northeastern University [Lab of Dr. Joseph Ayers] --Designed, built & tested biomimetic robots for neuroscience investigation.
Sept. 2008 - Dec. 2014
Field Research Assistant to Dr. Roland Anderson --Conducted octopus behavioral observations on the island of Bonaire.
May 2013, Aug. 2011, May 2010
Microbiology Intern at Massachusetts Institute of Technology --Developed and tested microbial safety levels in self-contained mouse life
support systems for space flight applications.
Summer 2005
Ecology Intern at Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Ecuador --Conducted field experiments investigating invertebrate diversity along
streambeds in a tropical rainforest.
Jan.-Feb. 2005
Spaceflight and Life Sciences Trainee at NASA Kennedy Space Center --Tested antimicrobial surface treatments for use within spacecraft.
Summer 2004
Marine biology intern at the Seattle Aquarium --Conducted laboratory experiments investigating cognition in the Giant
Pacific Octopus.
July 2003
--Design prosthesis assessment metrics using computational motor control.
April 2015 - Present
Research Assistant at Northeastern University [Lab of Dr. Joseph Ayers] --Designed, built & tested biomimetic robots for neuroscience investigation.
Sept. 2008 - Dec. 2014
Field Research Assistant to Dr. Roland Anderson --Conducted octopus behavioral observations on the island of Bonaire.
May 2013, Aug. 2011, May 2010
Microbiology Intern at Massachusetts Institute of Technology --Developed and tested microbial safety levels in self-contained mouse life
support systems for space flight applications.
Summer 2005
Ecology Intern at Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Ecuador --Conducted field experiments investigating invertebrate diversity along
streambeds in a tropical rainforest.
Jan.-Feb. 2005
Spaceflight and Life Sciences Trainee at NASA Kennedy Space Center --Tested antimicrobial surface treatments for use within spacecraft.
Summer 2004
Marine biology intern at the Seattle Aquarium --Conducted laboratory experiments investigating cognition in the Giant
Pacific Octopus.
July 2003
Publications
Click DOI/reference links for PDFs. Please contact me for PDFs where indicated.
Blustein, D, A Wilson & J Sensinger. 2018. Assessing the quality of supplementary sensory feedback using the crossmodal congruency task. Scientific Reports. DOI:10.1038/s41598-018-24560-3
Marasco, P, J Hebert, J Sensinger, C Shell, J Schofield, Z Thumser, R Nataraj, D Beckler, M Dawson, D Blustein, S Gill, B Mensh, R Granja-Vazquez, M Newcomb, J Carey, B Orzell. 2018. Illusory movement perception improves motor control for prosthetic hands. Science Translational Medicine. DOI:10.1126/scitranslmed.aao6990
Blustein, D, J Sensinger. 2017. Validation of a constrained-time movement task for use in rehabilitation outcome measures. International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR). DOI:10.1109/ICORR.2017.8009410
Wilson, A, D Blustein, J Sensinger. 2017. A third arm - Design of a bypass prosthesis
enabling incorporation. International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics
(ICORR). DOI: 10.1109/ICORR.2017.8009441
Blustein, D, RC Anderson. 2016. Localization of octopus drill holes on cowries. American Malacological Bulletin. DOI:10.4003/006.034.0101 **contact for full-text**
Westphal, A, D Blustein , and J Ayers. 2013. A biomimetic neuronal network-based controller for guided helicopter flight. Lecture Notes in Computer Science. DOI:10.1007/978-3-642-39802-5_26
Blustein, D, N Rosenthal and J Ayers. 2013. Designing and implementing nervous system simulations on LEGO robots. J Visualized Experiments. DOI:10.3791/50519 [video]
Ayers, J, D Blustein & A Westphal. 2012. A Conserved Biomimetic Control Architecture for Walking, Swimming and Flying Robots. Lecture Notes on
Artificial Intelligence. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-31525-1_1
Ayers, J, A Westphal & D Blustein. 2011. A Conserved Neural Circuit-based
Architecture for Ambulatory and Undulatory Biomimetic Robots.
Marine Technology. DOI: 10.4031/MTSJ.45.4.17 [pdf]
Blustein, DH & RC Anderson. 2011. Octopuses drill crab chelae on the inside (oral
side). The Festivus, 43(1):6-7.
Blustein, D & J Ayers. 2010. A conserved network for control of arthropod
exteroceptive optical flow reflexes during locomotion. Lect Notes Artificial
Intelligence, 6226:72-81. **contact for full-text**
Blustein, DH & RC Anderson. 2010. Cone shell found in an octopus midden in
Bonaire. The Festivus, 42(10):131-132.
Anderson, RC & DH Blustein. 2006. Smart octopus? The Festivus, 38:7-9. [html]
Blustein, D, N Hinkle & A Smith. 2005. Evaluation of a quaternary ammonium salt as
an antimicrobial surface treatment. Gravitational and Space Biology , 18(2):81-2.
Marasco, P, J Hebert, J Sensinger, C Shell, J Schofield, Z Thumser, R Nataraj, D Beckler, M Dawson, D Blustein, S Gill, B Mensh, R Granja-Vazquez, M Newcomb, J Carey, B Orzell. 2018. Illusory movement perception improves motor control for prosthetic hands. Science Translational Medicine. DOI:10.1126/scitranslmed.aao6990
Blustein, D, J Sensinger. 2017. Validation of a constrained-time movement task for use in rehabilitation outcome measures. International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR). DOI:10.1109/ICORR.2017.8009410
Wilson, A, D Blustein, J Sensinger. 2017. A third arm - Design of a bypass prosthesis
enabling incorporation. International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics
(ICORR). DOI: 10.1109/ICORR.2017.8009441
Blustein, D, RC Anderson. 2016. Localization of octopus drill holes on cowries. American Malacological Bulletin. DOI:10.4003/006.034.0101 **contact for full-text**
Westphal, A, D Blustein , and J Ayers. 2013. A biomimetic neuronal network-based controller for guided helicopter flight. Lecture Notes in Computer Science. DOI:10.1007/978-3-642-39802-5_26
Blustein, D, N Rosenthal and J Ayers. 2013. Designing and implementing nervous system simulations on LEGO robots. J Visualized Experiments. DOI:10.3791/50519 [video]
Ayers, J, D Blustein & A Westphal. 2012. A Conserved Biomimetic Control Architecture for Walking, Swimming and Flying Robots. Lecture Notes on
Artificial Intelligence. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-31525-1_1
Ayers, J, A Westphal & D Blustein. 2011. A Conserved Neural Circuit-based
Architecture for Ambulatory and Undulatory Biomimetic Robots.
Marine Technology. DOI: 10.4031/MTSJ.45.4.17 [pdf]
Blustein, DH & RC Anderson. 2011. Octopuses drill crab chelae on the inside (oral
side). The Festivus, 43(1):6-7.
Blustein, D & J Ayers. 2010. A conserved network for control of arthropod
exteroceptive optical flow reflexes during locomotion. Lect Notes Artificial
Intelligence, 6226:72-81. **contact for full-text**
Blustein, DH & RC Anderson. 2010. Cone shell found in an octopus midden in
Bonaire. The Festivus, 42(10):131-132.
Anderson, RC & DH Blustein. 2006. Smart octopus? The Festivus, 38:7-9. [html]
Blustein, D, N Hinkle & A Smith. 2005. Evaluation of a quaternary ammonium salt as
an antimicrobial surface treatment. Gravitational and Space Biology , 18(2):81-2.
Teaching and Mentoring Experience
Student mentor at University of New Brunswick
-- Train and supervise undergraduate and graduate students.
April 2015 - Present
Undergraduate mentor at Northeastern University
--Trained and supervised undergraduate students working in the lab: 6 NEU coop students, 4 NEU directed study students and 3 non-NEU interns.
Sept. 2009 - Dec. 2014
Laboratory course designer at Northeastern University
--Developed and led computational neuroscience lab activities in Neuroethology
course.
Spring 2014
High school mentor at Lynn Vocational Technical Institute - --Trained and supervised 3 high school co-op students working in the lab (32
hours per week, every other week).
Sept. 2010 - Aug. 2013
Activity leader at Buckingham Browne and Nichols School, Cambridge, MA --Developed and ran two-6 week implementations of a novel biorobotics
curriculum for middle schoolers at an after school science club.
Sept. 2010 - May 2013
Substitute Lecturer at Northeastern University --Taught Comparative Neurobiology & Neuroethology classes for Joseph Ayers.
Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012
Teaching Assistant at Northeastern University --Planned and taught laboratory section of Neuroethology course.
Fall 2008
Teaching Assistant at Kalamazoo College --Assisted with running laboratory section of Organism Diversity course.
Fall 2005
-- Train and supervise undergraduate and graduate students.
April 2015 - Present
Undergraduate mentor at Northeastern University
--Trained and supervised undergraduate students working in the lab: 6 NEU coop students, 4 NEU directed study students and 3 non-NEU interns.
Sept. 2009 - Dec. 2014
Laboratory course designer at Northeastern University
--Developed and led computational neuroscience lab activities in Neuroethology
course.
Spring 2014
High school mentor at Lynn Vocational Technical Institute - --Trained and supervised 3 high school co-op students working in the lab (32
hours per week, every other week).
Sept. 2010 - Aug. 2013
Activity leader at Buckingham Browne and Nichols School, Cambridge, MA --Developed and ran two-6 week implementations of a novel biorobotics
curriculum for middle schoolers at an after school science club.
Sept. 2010 - May 2013
Substitute Lecturer at Northeastern University --Taught Comparative Neurobiology & Neuroethology classes for Joseph Ayers.
Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012
Teaching Assistant at Northeastern University --Planned and taught laboratory section of Neuroethology course.
Fall 2008
Teaching Assistant at Kalamazoo College --Assisted with running laboratory section of Organism Diversity course.
Fall 2005
Professional Service
Reviewer for PLOS Comp. Biology and Trans. on Neural Systems and Rehab. Eng.
2015 - Present
Conservation Commissioner at the City of Revere
Nov. 2011 - Dec. 2014
Community Outreach Representative at the Mystic River Watershed Association Dec. 2010 - Jan. 2015
Co-president of Graduate Biology Club at Northeastern University Sep. 2009 - Jan. 2015
Co-founder and chair of Marine Technology Society Student Section March 2012 - Jan. 2015
Math Tutor at Harriett Tubman House Feb. 2011- June 2012
Team mentor at the Museum of Science, Boston, MA June 2011, June 2009
Chief editor of the Amer. Soc. for Gravitational and Space Biology Student Assoc.
2004-2007
2015 - Present
Conservation Commissioner at the City of Revere
Nov. 2011 - Dec. 2014
Community Outreach Representative at the Mystic River Watershed Association Dec. 2010 - Jan. 2015
Co-president of Graduate Biology Club at Northeastern University Sep. 2009 - Jan. 2015
Co-founder and chair of Marine Technology Society Student Section March 2012 - Jan. 2015
Math Tutor at Harriett Tubman House Feb. 2011- June 2012
Team mentor at the Museum of Science, Boston, MA June 2011, June 2009
Chief editor of the Amer. Soc. for Gravitational and Space Biology Student Assoc.
2004-2007