The SLAP Lab has four main projects that we are investigating at this time.

 

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence is increasingly being incorporated into a variety of fields and shaping the decision-making process traditionally managed only by humans. Our goal is to measure individuals’ comfortability with these artificial intelligence across domains such as criminal justice, marketing, and job interviews. We want to see if there is a difference between individuals’ comfort level when considering the application of predictive algorithms when in a personal context or for society as a whole.
 

 

Genomics, Biometrics, and Immigration

The U.S. government increasingly uses DNA and biometric data to identify and vet migrants entering the country. Ongoing SLAPLAB research aims to synthesize information on the existing legal frameworks related to DNA, biometrics, and immigration policy and translate them into accessible, public-facing material. We seek students with strong research and writing skills to support converting this complex information into plain language that will be useful to the public. Such students should also demonstrate an ability to think creatively about how to disseminate this information to different groups of stakeholders, including immigrant advocates, policymakers, and the media. Ideal student skills include strong research and writing abilities, science and policy communication competence, and web design knowledge. Students will work under the direction of lab staff to support the development of an academic article, fact sheets, and an interactive public-facing wayfinder.

 

Right to Likeness

As technology advances, it is increasingly possible for people’s likeness to be recreated and manipulated without their consent. Current laws and policies do little to protect the average person from the unauthorized use of their likeness. Additionally, there is currently no research on individuals’ thoughts about their likeness being used. We aim to guide future policies that protect the average persons’ right to likeness, while also preserving the public’s freedom of expression.
 

 

 

Neuroscience in the Courtroom

Neuroscience evidence (e.g., brain scans, mental-illness diagnosis, etc.) is increasingly being used in criminal cases to explain criminal behavior and lessen responsibility. With the use of our comprehensive 10-year judicial opinion data set (2005-2015), we aim to investigate the different effects that neuroscience has had on criminal cases in that time.