Students Mentored by R. C. Lacher

Doctoral:

• Dusan Repovs
  • PhD, Mathematics, April 1983
  • Dissertation: "Generalized Three-Manifolds with Zero-Dimensional Singular Set", 113 pp.
  • Currently Research Professor of Mathematics, Institute of Mathematics, Physics, and Mechanics, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.; previous positions include Associate Dean for Research, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Ljubliana.
  • Ambassador at Large for Science, Republic of Slovenia
• Keith D. McCroan
  • PhD, Computer Science, August 1990
  • Dissertation: "Displaying Geographic Information: Efficient Methods for Raster Displays", 172 pp.
  • Currently Chief Software Engineer, Environmental Protection Agency NAREL Environmental Radiation Laboratory, Montgemery, AL.
• David C. Kuncicky
  • PhD, Computer Science, April 1991
  • Dissertation: "Isomorphism of Reasoning Systems with Applications to Autonomous Knowledge Acquisition", 89 pp.
  • 1993-98: faculty member in Electrical Engineering and Director of Computing and Multimedia Services for the FAMU/FSU College of Engineering
  • Currently Director of Engineering, Bioreason, Inc., Santa Fe, NM [www.bioreason.com].
• Byungjoo Yoon
  • PhD, Computer Science, April 1994
  • Dissertation: "Rule Extraction using Destructive Learning in Artificial Neural Networks", 140 pp.
  • Currently Associate Professor of Computer Science, Department of Computer Science, Myong-Ji University, Seoul, Korea.
• Frank Wenzhen Fang
  • PhD, Computer Science, August 1994
  • Dissertation: "Constructive Neural Network Learning for Autonomous Rule Acquisition", 124 pp.
  • Currently Software Engineer, Image Technology Inc., Greensboro, NC.
• Lili Yuan
  • PhD, Computer Science, April, 1997
  • Dissertation: "Aging in Artificial Neural Networks: Causes and Prevention of Repitition Induced Incompetence in Reinforcement Learning"
  • Currently Senior Software Engineer with Knights Technology, "Sillicon Valley", CA
• Renee Renner
  • PhD, Computer Science, April, 1999
  • Dissertation: "Improving Generalization of Constructive Neural Networks Using Ensembles"
  • Currently Professor of Computer Science, California State University, Chico, CA.
• Larry Weinstein
  • PhD, Computer Science, December, 1999
  • Dissertation: "The Image Node: An Image Processing Neural Network Component"
  • Currently in his second startup: BitPlayer, a 3D Multimedia Entertainment Company. See www.bitplayer.net.

Masters:

• Michael E. Whitted
  • MS, Mathematics Education, June 1975
  • Research area: Mathematics education in secondary schools.
• Richard Hitt
  • MS, Mathematics, June 1975
  • Research area: Knot theory
  • Currently Professor of Mathematics at University of South Alabama.
• Dusan Repovs
  • MS, Mathematics, June 1979
  • Research area: Resolution problems in generalized manifolds.
  • (See PhD listing above.)
• Clinton R. Braswell
  • MS, Computer Science, April 1987
  • Thesis: "Optical Mark Recognition and Data Resolution".
  • Currently in sales for Object Design, an object oriented database company in Merritt Island, FL. Formerly in engineering at Lockheed and sales at Verdix. Quote: "I can't say I enjoy it as much as engineering, but its hard to turn down the money." Also co-owner of a retail sporting goods store. Major pastime: fishing, usually in his 25' offshore rig.
• Holmes S. Liao
  • MS, Computer Science, December 1988
  • Thesis: "Applicative Frame-Based Languages".
• Cynthia E. Martin
  • MS, Computer Science, December 1988
  • Project: "An Expert System for Managing Computation on a Remote Host: The KNODE Job Controller".
  • Currently with DISA, a DoD agency in Reston, VA. Assigned to various special projects, including: Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF); design, development, and deployment of a long-haul WAN ATM network in a joint effort with the Naval Research Laboratory, Oregon State University, and the University of Miami; and Post FTS2000, a network security working group.
• Bai-Heng Henry Wang
  • MS, Computer Science, April 1989
  • Thesis: "A Chemical Notation Editor for a Chemical Kinetics Scientific Language Interface".
• Mitch Myers
  • MS, Computer Science, December 1989
  • Project: "Real Time Instrument Controller".
• John Diehl
  • MS, Computer Science, April 1990
  • Thesis: "Developing an Interactive Application for Novice Users: Translating Theory into Practice".
• Nancy Kellett
  • MS, Computer Science, April, 1990
  • Project: "NCAR2DI: A Metafile Translator Program".
  • Currently software consultant, high performance computing systems, Academic Computung and Network Services, FSU.
• Michael Sloderbeck
  • MS, Computer Science, April 1990
  • Project: "A Distributed Fractal Rendering System".
  • First job: Assistant in Research and Computing Resources Manager, Program in Structural Biology, FSU.
• Chi Lou
  • MS, Computer Science, April 1990
  • Project: "PC-DOCTOR: An Expert System for Microcomputer Diagnostics".
• Richard Hopkins
  • MS, Computer Science, April 1990
  • Project: "Priority Queue Algorithm Animation".
• Hue-Hsiung (Ellen) Cheng
  • MS, Computer Science, August 1990
  • Project: "Library Automation Systems".
• Xiantu T. Peng
  • MS, Computer Science, August 1990
  • Thesis: "Representation and Reasoning in Factor Spaces".
• Tom Tobiassen
  • MS, Computer Science, August 1990
  • Project: "Using Lindemayer Systems for Graphical Image Generation".
• Michael E. Manausa
  • MS, Computer Science, April 1991
  • Thesis: "Chaos in Backpropagation Neural Networks".
  • Currently system manager and applications programmer for Beaches and Shores, an applied research division of FSU.
• Jill S. Weaver
  • MS, Computer Science, April 1991
  • Thesis: "A Model for the Total Cost of Software".
  • First job with BELLSOUTH, Atlanta, GA.
• Shanker J. Sharma
  • MS, Computer Science, August 1991
  • Thesis: "A Connectionist Tool for the Estimation of the Financial Health of a Firm".
  • Subsequently graduated from the doctoral program in Accounting at University of North Texas.
• Stephen Marx
  • MS, Computer Science, August 1991
  • Project: "Horizontal Disparity as Applied to Depth Perception: An Artificial Neural Network Simulation".
• Mark J. Putriment
  • MS, Computer Science, December 1992
  • Thesis: "An Artificial Neural Network Simulation of Associative Learning".
• Kingsley F. Kerce
  • MS, Computer Science, August 1993
  • Thesis: "Evolution of Artificial Neural Networks Grounded in Virtual Ecosystems".
  • Currently System Administrator at FSU/CSIT.
• Ke Hu
  • MS, Computer Science, April 1994
  • Thesis: "A Study of Feed-Forward Neural Networks in High Energy Physics".
  • First job: system administrator with Claircom Communications in Seattle. Claircom is in the air-to-ground communications service industry.
• Frank A. Dwyer
  • MS, Computer Science, August 1994
  • Thesis: "DMAKE: A Generic Parallel Compilation Utility".
  • First job: Unix System Manager and Web Manager, SCRI, FSU.
• Alexander Stuy
  • MS, Computer Science, December 1994
  • Thesis: "Optimization of Hebbian Neural Networks Using Genetic Algorithms".
  • Currently Manager of Computing Resources for Biological Sciences, FSU.
• Bumghi Choi
  • MS, Computer Science, April 1995
  • Thesis: "Seperately Trained Two-Layered Networks with the Target Values of Hidden Units".
• Dennis K. Shores
  • MS, Computer Science, August 1995
  • Thesis: "An Adapted K-Means Algorithm for Discovering Independent Partitions of Surface-To-Air Defense Units."
  • Currently a Systems Engineer with the Development Planning Directorate of the Aeronautical Systems Center [ASC/XREW], Eglin AFB, FL.
• Robert W. Eger
  • MS, Computer Science, December 1995
  • Project: "Generalization Performance of the Cascade-Correlation Learning Architecture on the Concentric Circles Problem in Two and Three Colors"
  • Currently a Computer Scientist with SCIENTECH, Special Projects Group, Idaho Falls, ID.
• Anne P. Schwarz
  • MS, Computer Science, April 1996
  • Thesis: "Design of a Hierarchical Assignment-Tracking System using Relationship Database Methods"
  • Currently Software Specialists with the Department of Management Services, State of Florida, Tallahassee, FL.
• James Caldwell, Jr.
  • MS, Computer Science, December 1996
  • Project: "The Virtual Shopping Basket: A Secure WWW System Facilitating On-Line Commerce"
  • Currently System Administrator, Florida Depertment of Environmental Regulation, Tallahassee, FL.
• Michelle M. Taylor
  • MS, Computer Science, April, 1997
  • Thesis: "Seeing is Believing: A Donation Data Visualization Prototype"
  • Currently Director of Information Systems, Leon County, FL
• Ken Baldauf
  • MS, Computer Science, August, 1997
  • Project: "AirMusic: Interpreting Movement with Sound"
  • Currently Lead Instructor for Computer Literacy, FSU
• Justin Lloyd
  • MS, Computer Science, August, 1997
  • Project: "ROSTERS: ReOrganizational Systems Tool for Enhancing Roster Services"
  • Currently Computer Systems and Network Engineer with Harris Corporation, Melbourne, FL
• Brock Stitts
• MS, Computer Science, April 1999
• Thesis: "Object-Oriented Predicate Logic Expert Networks"
• Previously with Intelligent Software Associates, Chandler, AZ
• Currently Knowledge Engineer with Applied Systems Intelligence, Atlanta, GA
• Pramod Koshy
• MS, Computer Science, April 1999
• Project: "A World Wide Web Course Delivery Service"
• Egbert, Allan
• MS, Computer Science, April 2000
• Thesis: "The Knowledge Pipeline: A New Procedure for Generating Emycin Expert Systems from Raw Data Sources"
• Huey-Ling Toh
• MS, Computer Science, December 2002
• Thesis: "Computerized Adaptive Student Help: Experiments in Low-Cost Artificially Intelligent Automation of Student-Tutor Interaction"
• Currently in PhD program at FSU
• George Gilman
• MS Computer Science, April 2006
• Thesis: "A reflection-based framework for automation of parameter variations in simulations"
• US Navy Surface Warfare Support Laboratory
• Kenneth Ayers
• MS Software Engineering, December 2008
• Thesis: "Expert System Ruleset Portability"
• Currently Staff Computer Scientist, Applied Research Associates, Inc.
• Entering PhD Program Fall 2009

Undergraduate Honors Thesis:

• Prem Subrahmanyam
• BS, Computer Science, April, 1992
• Thesis: "An Improved Algorithm for Ray Tracing Using Spatially Sorted Lists"
• First job: software engineer with CMS Data, Inc., Tallahassee, FL
• Matthew Shore
  • BS, Computer Science, April 1994
  • Thesis: "Global Optimization by Simulated Tempering"
  • First job in the Networking Group at Oracle
  • Currently head of a development group at Hyperion, Sunnyvale, CA [www.hyperion.com]
• Zachariah Kramer
• BS, Computer Science, April 2001
• Thesis: "The use of Python in a Programming Course for Non-Majors"
• First job: Developer Support Engineer, Microsoft
• Aaron Shumaker
• BS, Computer Science, August 2006
• Thesis: "A Neural Network Approach to the Game of Life".
• First job: Lead Software Engineer, College of Engineering FSU