The Mind Guild Collective

Kevin Schmidt

Cognitive neuroscientist · AI research leader

Dr. Kevin D. Schmidt provides near-term operational application of Artificial Intelligence to human performance while translating principles of biological learning and memory to artificial implementations. Dr. Schmidt is an avid rock and mountain climber, which he pursues passionately in parallel to the quest for artificial consciousness.

• Consciousness engineering
• Flexible memory
• Brain-inspired AI
• Human-machine teaming
• Cognitive architectures

Brian Aufderheide

Chemical engineer · Modeling & control

Brian Aufderheide is an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at Hampton University. He develops models and control methods for chemical, biological, and biomedical systems, including glucose regulation and bioprocesses. He earned his Ph.D. at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and combines research, industrial design, and hands-on engineering education with extensive student mentorship.

• Dynamical systems
• Model predictive control
• Biomedical modeling

Luis El Srouji

Neuromorphic computing researcher · Photonic neural networks

Luis El Srouji researches brain-inspired computing at the University of California, Davis. His work explores photonic and optoelectronic neural networks, biologically motivated learning rules, and computing architectures that reflect the diversity of neural dynamics. He also writes for Mind Guild about how primary and learned value can inform adaptable artificial intelligence.

• Neuromorphic computing
• Photonic neural networks
• Value learning

Tetiana Grinberg

Machine learning researcher · Embodied intelligence

Tetiana Grinberg is a machine learning researcher and co-founder of Symbiokinetics. Her research explores how intelligent systems form concepts, learn through embodied interaction, and develop values compatible with human needs. Her background includes work in Intel Labs’ Emergent AI group and AI-assisted robotic interfaces for neurological rehabilitation.

• Embodied intelligence
• Concept formation
• Human-compatible AI

Doyle Groves

Data scientist · Health informatics

Doyle Groves applies data science to questions about health and human experience. An analyst listed with Indiana University’s School of Nursing, he has collaborated on research using machine learning and topic modeling to understand what people share online. His published work includes studies of nurses’ experiences and the concerns of people living with epilepsy.

• Data science
• Topic modeling
• Health informatics

Patryk Laurent

Computational neuroscientist · AI & robotics technologist

Patryk Laurent builds intelligent software and devices across AI, robotics, computer vision, and edge computing. He founded Lighthill Technologies and holds a Ph.D. in computational cognitive neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh. His work spans reinforcement learning and human decision-making research, robotics software, and the translation of machine learning into working products.

• Computational neuroscience
• Reinforcement learning
• Robotics & edge AI

Minda Myers

AI engineer · Human-centered systems

Minda Myers has worked at the intersection of AI safety, alignment, and engineering for over a decade. A former MIRI visiting fellow, she evaluated early AI companies including DeepMind, supported the emergence of CFAR and Effective Altruism, and develops interpretable AI systems, including few-shot models accelerated 1500× through custom CUDA kernels.

• Interpretable AI
• Multi-agent AI
• Whole-brain emulation
• User experience

• Building Safe & Verifiable Neuromorphic AgentsEssay · October 13, 2026

Katrina Schleisman

Cognitive neuroscientist · Principal Scientist, Galois

Dr. Katrina Schleisman is a Principal Scientist at Galois Inc. Trained as a cognitive neuroscientist, she has a record of peer-reviewed research applying evidence-based principles of human cognition to technology. She brings expertise in cognition, neuroscience, and philosophy to socio-technical systems research and design, drawing on human memory, cybernetics, complexity science, and learning theory to advance artificial intelligence.

She designs, develops, and evaluates technologies grounded in biologically inspired theories of cognition, using rigorous experimental and measurement methodologies. From 2019–2022, she was Principal Investigator for an NIH-funded research program developing and evaluating neuroscience educational technology for clients in substance use disorder treatment.

Since then, her research has focused on human-centered technology and AI in defense, with funding from agencies including AFRL, ONR, the Army, and DARPA. She actively publishes research on machine consciousness, memory, and AI cognitive modeling.

• Learning & memory
• Biologically inspired AI
• Human-centered design
• Machine consciousness
• AI cognitive modeling

Bogdan Udrea

Aerospace engineer · Spacecraft autonomy

Bogdan Udrea is an aerospace engineer and founder of VisSidus Technologies. His research spans spacecraft dynamics and control, formation flying, mission design, and onboard autonomy. He earned his Ph.D. in aeronautics and astronautics at the University of Washington. His work on cooperative satellite missions connects distributed control with the challenges of operating in complex physical environments.

• Spacecraft autonomy
• Distributed control
• Satellite swarms