MARY CARMEN PORTILLO
2730 Bellaire Blvd.
Houston, TX 77025
(713) 592-9837
mcport@rice.edu
Ph.D. Rice
University Cognitive
Psychology (expected) 2007
M.A. Rice University
Cognitive Psychology
(expected) 2005
B.A. Fort Lewis College Psychology 2000
B.Sc. Colorado School
of Mines Geological Engineering 1996
My primary research
interest is in the area of Gestalt Psychology, more specifically, the study of
grouping through the identification of emergent features.
A secondary research
interest involves the study of visual illusions.
Portillo, Mary C. “The Search for Emergent Features: Looking at Configural Superiority Effects with the Odd-Quadrant Task”. Rice University Cognitive Research Seminar, Spring 2003.
Pomerantz, James R., Portillo, Mary C., Jewell, Stephen W., and Agrawal, Apu. The Genesis of Perceptual Organization: Basic Emergent Features in Vision. 44th Annual Meeting of the Psychonomic Society, November 2003.
Teaching Assistant –
Statistical Methods. Rice University,
Texas, Fall 2001
Conducted two lab sessions a week (about 15 students each), held office
hours, graded homeworks, provided assistance on term project.
Substitute Teacher –
Various classes as needed. Farmington
Municipal Schools, New Mexico, December 1999
Available to substitute for Math, Geology and Spanish classes as
required (classroom had about 20 students)
Rice University
Graduate Student Fellowship, 2001-2007
Galileo Scholarship
for undergraduate studies, 1991-1996. A
highly selective program from the government of Venezuela to study abroad
(estimated amount $75,000)
Professional Affiliations
American Psychological
Association
Spanish, native
(Venezuelan citizen with U.S. residency)
English, fluent
Program
Coordinator. Bloomfield Boys and Girls
Club. Bloomfield, NM. July to August 2000.
Planned and carried out educational and recreational activities for
children, participated in fundraising events, performed general office
duties. Volunteer and paid work.
Office and counselor’s assistant. Southwest Safehouse-Volunteers of
America. Durango, CO. February to March 2000.
Assisted during intake interview process and created files for newcomers, updated database on donors and community participants, performed general office duties. Volunteer work.
Junior Production
Geologist. Shell Venezuela, S.A. Maracaibo, Venezuela. 1996-1999.
Identified locations and prepared proposals for drilling of oil wells in
three different reservoirs, analyzed borehole
imaging data for identification of fractures, performed on-site PE duties
during logging and drilling operations, team-managed training needs and budget
for the development department (about 30 employees).
Office assistant. International Student Office at Colorado School
of Mines. Golden, CO. 1994-1995.
Assisted on preparation of new student orientation program, selected
candidates for Andes Scholarship, performed general office work, translated
documents (English-Spanish/Spanish-English), distributed new international
student applications, updated student database, assisted in the organization of
cultural events.
Beverly Chew -
Professor, Psychology Department
Fort Lewis College
1000 Rim Drive
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-7512
Janet Jones - Professor,
Psychology Department
Fort Lewis College
1000 Rim Drive
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-7486
James Pomerantz – Professor, Psychology Department
Rice
University
Psychology
Department - MS-25
6100
Main St.
Houston,
TX 77005
(713) 348-3419