The RATLAB is a collective of two research labs at WPI: the Interactive Music Systems Lab (IMSLab) and the Electric Guitar Innovation Lab (EGIL).

Students working in the RATLab are designated as Lab Researchers and Technologists (Lab RATs) and work closely with the PI on a variety of projects in both of labs including externally-sponsored research and RATLab's internal research agenda. The structure of the RAT Lab was informed by the work of Fiske (1992) and Heyman & Ariely (2004) who posited that people are happier and work more passionately when they feel personally connected to the work through a social reward structure than with the typical monetary reward structure. Since incentives like course credits, teaching load requirements, assistantships, and stipends are seemingly antithetical to the social reward structure as noted in this research, they have been removed as best as possible from the RATLab: everyone's participation in the RATLab is in a voluntary capacity. We all share a sense of ownership of each project and, ultimately, we all take credit for our collective successes. When grants and opportunities for paid or credited projects and unique career-building opportunities in the field do come into our lab, those involved in the RATLab are offered the first opportunity to participate.

To become a Lab RAT, a student must first complete an individual voluntary project (a RAT-of-Passage project) with the PI—something that can be done indepedently like learning to modify and 3D printing a small part or soldering and assembling an electronics device from a kit; this project and process is necessary for both the PI and the prospective RAT to understand what it’s like to work together; if the fit is good, that student is invited to commit to a two-term position as a RAT. RATs have exclusive 24/7 access to the lab, which is filled with interesting equipment, musical instruments, snacks, and knowledgeable people with shared interests. RATs are permitted to work on their own projects at any time in addition to working on new research projects that come into the lab. Each RAT is expected to have at least one voluntary lab project in development at any given time, and most RATs have multiple projects in development; we operate as a team and many of the RATs work on projects together. In many ways, RATs function like a family: we eat meals together, discuss creative and professional goals over coffee and snacks (often while sitting in bean bag chairs), explore professional opportunities by reaching out to industries and universities that align with their interests, and so on. RATs can borrow musical instruments and equipment from the lab as well as pieces from the PI's collection. As noted, RATs are given credit for our lab’s successes via publications and, most notably, our many research project websites: when one project team in our lab wins, we all win.

Similarly, the PI created a volunteer position at WPI for professionals external to WPI called the Affiliate Research Associate (ARA), which designates exceptional individuals from the music profession who become formally connected with the research activities in the RATLab. ARAs are officially recognized at WPI as volunteer researchers and are given access to lab spaces, labraries, workshops and spaces on campus. ARAs help RATs with projects, some of which are in the ARA’s area of focus. A few distinguished individuals in the ARA positions include luthiers Ken Parker, Rachel Rosenkrantz, and electronics pioneer Bob Palmieri, all of whom have worked in our lab with RATs and given special public campus-wide lectures and presentations. In addition to grants and sponsored projects we explore in the lab, the Burton ‘84 Endowment, the Holec Prometheus Trust, and donations have supported RATs and the ARAs working in the RATLab. Through the ARA collaborations, RATs have the unique opportunity to learn from and apprentice with these individuals through additional independent projects and hands-on mentorship programs. ARAs benefit from the opportunity to involve RATs in their research pursuits. On more than one occasion, an ARA has offered employment opportunities to a RAT after graduation and ARAs frequently help RATs forge career paths through job opportunities, graduate school recommendations, and mentorships.

See some of our research

Please note: our labs are infested with Lab Researchers and Technologists (Lab RATs), a highly-talented and appropriately-caffeinated group of students who work with me on various projects related to music technology. If you step on them, they will bite.