On November 15, 2023, the Ohio Federal Research Network (OFRN), managed by Parallax Advanced Research in collaboration with The Ohio State University and the Ohio Department of Higher Education, hosted a virtual opportunity day where Ohio government, academic, and industry innovators and researchers learned about current R&D opportunities concerning digital engineering. The event featured an OFRN program overview, presentations from government thought leaders, an overview of the cognitive research efforts at Parallax, and a discussion with Q&A on federal R&D funding opportunities.
The goal of the event was to enable industry and academia to
- Understand new R&D opportunities to win R&D business for Ohio
- Pursue the opportunities presented at the event
- Position OFRN as a key R&D collaborator for the State of Ohio
Event recap: Download the consolidated event PowerPoints for all speakers, here.
Welcome! OFRN Overview & Program Goal
Mark Bartman, Major General (Ret.), VP for Advanced Development at Parallax Advanced Research supporting the OFRN. He was the adjutant general for the Ohio National Guard from 2015 to 2019 and a member of former Ohio Governor Kasich’s Cabinet.
Dr. Joseph Lyons, Senior Scientist for Human-Machine Teaming, 711 Human Performance Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB
Dr. Joseph B. Lyons is the senior scientist for Human-Machine Teaming within the 711th Human Performance Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. Dr. Lyons received his PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Wright State University in Dayton, OH, in 2005. Some of Dr. Lyons’ research interests include human-machine teaming, trust in autonomy, human factors, and influence. Dr. Lyons is an AFRL Fellow, a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and a Fellow of the Society for Military Psychologists.
Dr. Eric Robinson, Research Psychologist, Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton (NAMRU-D)
Dr. F. Eric Robinson is a research psychologist at the Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton (NAMRU-D) where he studies issues related to human performance in the aeromedical domain. His current research interests include the role of cognition in pilot spatial disorientation, the performance implications of respiratory challenges in the cockpit, and coordination behavior among critical care air transport teams. Dr. Robinson earned his PhD in Human Factors Psychology from Wright State University in 2017. His graduate research focused on expertise in the medical domain, including contextual effects on decision making in the emergency department and ways to measure performance during surgical training.
Dr. Mary Frame, Director of Cognitive Research, Parallax Advanced Research
Dr. Mary Frame is the director of Cognitive Research at Parallax Advanced Research working as part of the Joint All Domain Integrated ISR (JADII) group at the Air Force Research Laboratory. Dr. Frame obtained her PhD in Psychology from Miami University in 2017 and MBA from Wright State University in 2020. Her research specializes in mathematical modeling of decision-making, leveraging a variety of physiological sensors and behavioral data to better understand higher-order cognitive processes.
Opportunity Review with Steven Price, OFRN Associate
Steven Price is an associate with the Ohio Federal Research Network (OFRN). He supports OFRN by connecting academic, industry, and federal partners to collaborate on government areas of interest. Steven began working with OFRN during round 6 opportunities, where he successfully assisted the team by reaching out to more Ohio academic institutions, leading to higher proposal involvement.
The funding opportunities covered during the Opportunity Day include:
- Technical Applications for Optical Space Situational Awareness (TAOS) - Solicitation #: FA9451-19-S-0007
- Extramural Biomedical and Human Performance Research and Development - Solicitation #: HT9425-23-S-SOC1
- Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Capabilities - Solicitation #: TBD
- Strategic Technology Office (STO) Office-Wide - Solicitation #: HR001124S0001
- Innovative Approaches to Studying Cancer Communication in the New Information Ecosystem - Funding Opportunity #: PAR-22-164
- Tools for Decentralized Clinical Trials for Substance Use Disorder (R41/R42) - Funding Opportunity #: RFA-DA-25-051
- Tools for Decentralized Clinical Trials for Substance Use Disorder (R43/R44) - Funding Opportunity #: RFA-DA-25-052
All solicitations can be viewed here: https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/submissions/login
Conclusion & Next Steps
Thank you to the attendees for supporting this event and engaging in fruitful conversations. Thank you also to the event speakers for their insightful presentations. Join us at upcoming OFRN events. Stay tuned for more information by subscribing to our newsletter, here.
