Patrick Nalepka

Patrick Nalepka is a Lecturer at the School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, and a member of the Performance and Expertise Research Centre. His research focuses on perceptual-motor and social interactive processes in skill acquisition, decision-making, and human-machine interaction. He develops novel technologies like social artificial agents and immersive virtual reality systems to enhance skill learning and social inclusion. Nalepka holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Cincinnati (2013–2018).

He teaches courses such as Biopsychology and Learning (2024, Unit Convenor) and Principles of Psychological Assessment (2024, Unit Co-convenor). Earlier roles include Guest Lecturer positions in AI-Embedded Cognitive Science and Sensation & Perception. His research spans collaborative problem-solving, team cognition, and the design of human-centered artificial agents.

Nalepka’s work emphasizes multidisciplinary collaboration, with projects funded by initiatives like the Control and User Interface Design Factors for the Metaverse (2022–2023) and Enhancing Collaborative Problem-Solving in Human-Machine Groups (2020–2023). His recent articles explore gaze dynamics in joint attention, human-inspired swarm control, and virtual reality applications for neurodiverse interactions.

He actively supervises students and collaborates on grants evaluating human-artificial agent congruence, social VR, and team dynamics biomarkers. His lab employs advanced behavioral monitoring and computational modeling to bridge human capabilities with machine systems.