The NeuroTech Institute is changing the way we think, interact and impact each other, and helping to technologize accordingly.

In 2018 Dr Fiona Kerr founded The NeuroTech Institute to bring together academic and applied research and industry interests, focused on translating leading edge research into practical outcomes via customised design solutions and consulting services.

The NeuroTech Institute is a transdisciplinary group with expertise in the neurophysiology  and psychology of human interaction, how this alters with technologization, leader cognition, and complex systems dynamics and adaptation.

We also work internationally with small teams of experts in neuroscience, engineering, AI and robotics, and policy, with a major aim of building flourishing human systems, and optimizing the effective design and use of AI for an efficient yet compassionate future where technology is a true enabler. 

The NeuroTech Institute’s research specialty is ideally suited to the current environment as there is increasing demand for science based clarification on human connectivity, the complex benefits of both technology and humans in specific situations including hybrid and virtual work and service settings, and building adaptive systems for emergent environments. 

So, applied research projects are currently being carried out in the areas of hybrid work environments, virtual leadership, digital vs F2F impacts in health and aged care, proximity and complex decision making (Defence), and ethical AI policy design. 

Examples of Current Work:

  • Creating and Leading Adaptive Organisations (the nature and practice of emergent logic) – Dr Fiona Kerr’s thesis combines cognitive neuroscience and complex systems dynamics. 
  • Department of Defence Project (US Ground Vehicles Systems Centre) – The NeuroTech Institute procured a two year project to inform and improve  human-autonomous teaming, including the impact of the presence of a trusted human on complex decision-making, and the neurobiological issues of human-automation interaction.
  • The Neurophysiology of human touch and eye gaze and its effects on therapeutic relationships and healing: a scoping review – authors Kerr, F., Wiechula, R., Feo, R., Schultz, T. & Kitson, A. for the Joanna Briggs Institute Journal.
  • Building a Human Centred Technologized Health System – the NSW regional government body
  • YOP-X App Collaboration – Worked with the tech designers to match functional design to the unique requirements of the user to maximise interaction, usability and behaviour change.

Publications

The Effect of Human Presence and Interaction on Complex Decision Making 

Year 2 Report A; Research Project “Using Systems Complexity and Cognitive Neuroscience to inform and design Trusted Human Synthetic Partnerships”

Fiona Kerr, Hugh Gockowiak

Choosing between Humans and AI in structuring the organisation for the emerging digital value creating paradigm

Fiona Kerr, Göran Roos

 Creative Management of Complex Systems

Jean-Alain Heraud, Fiona Kerr, Thierry Burger-Helmchen 

The Art & Science of Looking Up

Written by Dr Fiona Kerr, edited and designed by Lekki Maze

An ageing well collaboration: opportunity or wicked problem

Lois Marjorie Hazelton, Laurence Murray Gillin, Fiona Kerr, Alison Kitson, Noel Lindsay 

Neurophysiology of human touch and eye gaze in therapeutic relationships and healing: a scoping review

Fiona Kerr, Rick Wiechula, Rebecca Feo, Tim Schultz, Alison Kitson

Operationalizing Innovation: Hotwiring the creative organisation

In book – Integrating Innovation: South Australian Entrepreneurship Systems and Strategies

Fiona Kerr

Using value chain mapping to build comparative advantage

Dr Fiona Kerr, Charlie Tulloch. Goran Roos 

Creating and leading adaptive organisations: the nature and practice of emergent logic 

Fiona Kerr

‘It Is What we are Here for – A Once In A Lifetime Chance’: A tale of inspirational leadership

Fiona Kerr