Eric P. Nichols

2/3/2008

Ph.D. Student: Computer Science, Cognitive Science, and Music

 

2471 S. Woolery Mill Dr.
Bloomington, IN • 47403

http://aimusic.net

 

Research Interests

Music cognition – specifically, the development of plausible computer models of the cognitive processes involved in listening to simple melodies. Other research interests include music informatics, computer-aided composition, and machine learning.

Education

Indiana University – Bloomington

December 2009 (expected): Joint Ph.D. in Computer Science and Cognitive Science, Certificate in Cognitive Modeling, Ph.D. Minor in Music.
Thesis advisor: Dr. Douglas R. Hofstadter.

April 2006: M.S., Computer Science.

Montana State University – Bozeman

May 2000: B.S., Mathematics and Applied Mathematics with High Honors, Minor in Computer Science.

Research experience

Music Informatics | Indiana University

September 2005 – present

With Dr. Christopher Raphael, designed and implemented novel algorithms for:

·    Cost function optimization in a trellis graph (with applications in automatic harmonic analysis and piano fingering) (using C# and Java)

·    Polyphonic audio transcription (using C)

·    Audio segmentation (using C)

 

Center For Research on Concepts and Cognition

January 2004 – present

Developing a computer model of music perception and cognition in Western tonal music as a member of the Fluid Analogies Research Group (FARG). Wrote a successful NSF grant proposal which now supports my research through 2009.

 

Industry experience

Software Engineer | IntelliChem Inc.

May 2001 – December 2003

Played a key role on a product team designing software for top-10 phamaceutical companies; IntelliChem was acquired shortly after our successful 4.0 release.

·         Designed and implemented client applications (VB 6), web services (C#), and robotic control software for laboratory liquid handlers (C#).

·         Managed summer interns working on machine learning algorithms for chemical property prediction.

·         Worked closely with clients at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, and Pfizer to develop custom software extensions.

Lead Technical Writer | Cylant Technology

August 2000 – April 2001

Wrote both technical and user documentation for prototype software engineering and security tools in a demanding startup environment. Supported the development team with math and algorithms advice. Designed the company website.

Consultant | Retronyms, LLC

September 2007 – present

Planned and implemented a new Web 2.0 community site using Django.

Conference Presentations

n  Knopke, I. and Nichols, E., "Constrained automatic chord alignment and detection of musical structure," in CIM 2008 Fourth Conf. on Interdisciplinary Musicology Proc., 2008, Thessaloniki, Greece.

n  Nichols, E. and Raphael, C., "Automatic Transcription of Music Audio Through Continuous Parameter Tracking," in ISMIR 2007 Eighth Int. Conf. on Music Inf. Retr. Proc., 2007, pp 387-392, Vienna, Austria.

n  Poster: Kasimi, A., Nichols, E., and Raphael, C., "A Simple Algorithm for Automatic Generation of Polyphonic Piano Fingerings," in ISMIR 2007 Eighth Int. Conf. on Music Inf. Retr. Proc., 2007, pp 355-356, Vienna, Austria.

n  Nichols, E. and Knopke, I., "Musical Attractors: A New Method for Audio Synthesis," in AES 31st Int. Conf. Proc., June 25-27, 2007, London, UK.

n  Short Paper: Nichols, E. and Raphael, C., "Globally Optimal Audio Partitioning," in ISMIR 2006 Seventh Int. Conf. on Music Inf. Retr. Proc., 2006, pp 202-205, Victoria, Canada.

Publications

n  Nichols, E.P., "Dynamic Melodic Expectation in the Creative Microdomain SeekWell." Available (from Center for Research on Concepts and Cognition; 510 North Fess; Bloomington IN 47408) as CRCC Technical Report #138.

n  Nagoski, E.R. and Nichols, E.P. "Risk, Choice, and Environment: an exploratory agent based model of sexual heterogeneity". In preparation.

n  Jordan, R.N., Nichols, E.P., and Cunningham, A.B. (1999). "The role of (bio)surfactant sorption in promoting the bioavailability of nutrients localized at the solid-water interface." Wat. Sci. Technol. p 91, v 39 no 7.

Awards

n  NSF SGER Grant for: "Musicat: a computational model of creativity in a musical domain," under the direction of Douglas R. Hofstadter, 2007-2009

n  Summer Research Fellowship in Cognitive Science, Indiana Univ., 2004-2006

n  NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Honorable Mention, 2003-2004

n  Barry Goldwater Fellowship, 1998

n  Presidential Scholar, Montana State University, 1995-2000

TeachinG

Instructor | Indiana University

September 2008 – December 2008 (in preparation)

Instructor for an undergraduate artificial intelligence course.

Associate Instructor | Indiana University

January 2004 – May 2005

Lab instructor for an introductory computer literacy and Microsoft Office course.

Guest Lecturer | Indiana University

January 2004 – May 2005

Ad-hoc lecturer for several graduate seminars on music informatics.

skills / Other

n  C# and the .NET Framework, Visual Basic 6, C,  C++, Java

n  Experience in Scheme, Lisp, Python, Django, PERL, Ada, and Pascal

n  Keyboardist, bass guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter with the folk-rock band Angerhard Eclectic

n  Member of Guidonian Hand, a five-person madrigal vocal ensemble

n  Studied artificial intelligence and mathematics in Lyon, France for one semester

 

References available upon request