Dr. Sawyer Moore Collins

Bio

I'm a first year Informatics PhD Student at IUB through the Intelligent and Interactive Systems track. I'm also pursuing a minor in Public Health.

I focus on the use and development of robotic systems that could be implemented with populations suffering from mental health conditions such as Major Depressive Disorder. I want to explore the overlap between animal assisted therapy, socially assistive robotics, and the collection of sensor data to provide support and better connections between patient and therapist.

Education

I have a B.A. in Cognitive Science, with a minor in Informatics and a minor in Human Centered Computing.

I finished my undergraduate degree at IU Bloomington May 2019 before moving directly into a PhD program.

Grants and Employment

I've worked as a research assistant in the R-House lab working with Selma Šabanović since for 3 years, starting December 2016.

Cognitive Science Summer Research Grant 2017

Research Experience for Undergraduates Student Stipend 2017-2019

Inclusion@Robotics: Science and Systems Conference Travel Grant 2018

Computing Research Association Grant, National Science Foundation 2018-2019

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Dissertation Work

For my dissertation, I focused on the use and development of robotic systems that could be implemented with populations living with mental health conditions such as Major Depressive Disorder. I wanted to explore the overlap between animal assisted therapy, socially assistive robotics, and the collection of sensor data to provide support and better connections between patient and therapist.

Education

B.A. in Cognitive Science, with a minor in Informatics and a minor in Human Centered Computing

Ph.D. in Informatics, minor in Animal Computer Interaction

Grants and Employment

Currently I work as a post-doctoral researcher at Colorado School of Mines with Dr. Tom Williams.

I worked as a research assistant in the R-House lab working with Dr. Selma Šabanović starting December 2016 to August 2025.

I have worked as an associate instructor for Intro to Social Informatics, and Immersive Storytelling and Experience Design - Disney.

Guest Researcher at Tokyo City University June 22nd - July 13th 2019

Cognitive Science Summer Research Grant 2017

Research Experience for Undergraduates Student Stipend 2017-2019

Inclusion@Robotics: Science and Systems Conference Travel Grant 2018

Computing Research Association Grant, National Science Foundation 2018-2019

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Volunteer Work

Facilitator/Outreach Coordinator for TrUSt @ IUB (Transgender Union for Students)
Guest panelist for the LGBTQ+ Speakers Bureau
GACT (Gender Affirming Care Team) Student Representative
Student advisor for the Deans Advisory Council on Diversity And Inclusion
Recorder for Graduate Informatics Student Association (GISA)
Student advisor for the United Council for Equity
Graduate student mentor for undergraduates from the Center of Excellence for Women and Technology (CeWIT)
Graduate student mentor for undergraduates in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities in Computing program (UROC)