I work as a research assistant professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. This is a grant-supported, non-teaching faculty position. I used to spend most of my time on my own research on higher cognitive functions. Now I spend most of my time developing software and methods for the analysis of brain image data. I received my AB in cognitive studies from Princeton in 1989, and my PhD in cognitive psychology from Carnegie Mellon in 1994. For more of my professional (academic) background, see my research page or write to request my Curriculum Vitae.

I've written a book on poker, titled Serious Poker, and from 2001-2006 I wrote a regular column for Card Player Magazine, called "Thinking About Poker." I have a non-commercial poker web site at seriouspoker.com, although since poker got popular, I haven't maintained it. I don't play poker professionally. Some of my better columns can be found here, here, here, here, here, and here.

I live with my wife, daughter, and miniature schnauzer in a quiet suburb just West of Philadelphia. I was born in Center City Philadelphia, and I'm loyal to the local teams, even though they make it hard sometimes.

My interests are fluid, but as of this writing include: parenthood, writing, poker, golf, good code, tight spirals, movies, human-machine interfaces, pool, vladimir nabokov, eating out, brain imaging, buddy guy, cheesecake recipes, dave barry, cryptography, solitude, opera, the kennedy assassination, electronic gadgets, pasta, george orwell, late hours, science, anger, the band television, working memory, playing hockey, statistics, the prefrontal cortex, guitars, sunglasses, philadelphia pro sports, tennis, david bowie, cheesesteaks, the three stooges, and happiness. Not in that order, or in any other.