Frank Gasking

Frank is a Senior Technical Specialist (Developer) in the School of Psychology, supporting staff and students with the design, development, and maintenance of experiments, applications, and online studies. He also provides training and guidance in programming and experiment design using open-source tools such as PsychoPy, aiming to share knowledge and empower others.

Frank maintains and develops key School web applications, including the online Ethics system (over 5000 applications managed over 10 years), the Kent Child Development Unit database, and lab/asset booking systems. He has contributed to Microsoft Power Platform solutions, streamlining workflows for staff and students and supporting the early adoption of new tools within the Division of HSS.

Recently, Frank has served as technical lead for the University-wide Qualtrics instance, working with Information Services to help plan, maintain, and support central services. He has also assisted with the new SISO Asset Management system, providing guidance on roles, permissions, and documentation to support departmental setup.

Frank provides general technical support during busy periods and helps maintain research equipment in laboratories, including EEG, TMS, EMG, GVS, and eye-tracking systems. He is also exploring responsible uses of AI in research and teaching, recently becoming a registered IST Practitioner in AI and assisting researchers with AI tools such as ChatGPT.

Outside the University, Frank is active in digital preservation of classic and unreleased computer games through his project The Games That Weren’t. He has authored a book on the subject, documenting over 20 years of archiving efforts, and is currently working on a follow-up publication.

Awards, grants and certifications

• IST Registered Practitioner in Artificial Intelligence (2025)
• LCS 1A Practitioner in Lean Thinking and Continuous Improvement (2024)
• Microsoft AI Azure Fundamentals (AI-900) (2024)
• Microsoft Certified Power Platform Developer (PL-400) (2023–present)
• Research and Innovation Technician of the Year Prize (2022)
• Enhancing Teaching Innovation Award (2019, £1400)
• Technical Support for Research Prize (2018)

• Introduction to PsychoPy yearly workshops
• Qualtrics
• Online tutorials

Responsibilities and expertise

Experiment Development and Support

• Design, development, and maintenance of experiments using PsychoPy (including online via Pavlovia), Gorilla, Virtual Reality (Vizard, Unity VR), Experiment Builder (EyeLink), Matlab (Psychtoolbox), and R.
• Advanced online questionnaires and customizations in Qualtrics and Pavlovia.
• Bespoke Game design, Social media, Shopping and ChatGPT faked environments for experiments.
• Prototyping, user testing, and unit testing (PHPUnit) to ensure reliable applications.
• Supporting students, staff and researchers (including on externally funded projects and bids)

Artificial Intelligence

• Creating AI models in Microsoft AI Builder
• Using ChatGPT API in research for generating fake chatrooms in Qualtrics and other systems.
• IST Registered Practitioner

Research Equipment

• Integration, maintenance, and support for Biopac MP150/MP35 (EMG, GSR), Brain Products EEG Acticap, GVS (Brainbox), EyeLink 1000/1000+, TMS, FNIRS, and Brainbox Neuro Navigator.

Web and Application Development

• Lead developer and maintainer for key School and University systems, including Ethics systems, KCDU database, Lab/Asset booking (SISO Store), IRP management, FYP/MSc and RES allocation systems, and University-wide Qualtrics and SISO Loans/Room Booking system (mapping + SSO integration).
• Power Platform and Power Automate workflows for process automation.
• Software/web technologies: Python, Matlab, Java, Perl, Ruby, C++, VB.Net, XHTML/HTML5, CSS3, PHP, JavaScript/JQuery (+ UI), WordPress, Drupal, Ruby on Rails, Laravel, Symfony.
• Authentication/data protocols: SAML (auth modules), LDAP.
• Version control: Git, SVN.
• Development/deployment environments: Homestead, Vagrant, Docker, Capistrano, Deployer.
• Database design: MySQL, SQLite, SQL Server.

Technical Support and Training

• IT and application support, including hardware, software, connectivity, and general troubleshooting.
• Managing/auditing yearly software upgrades (PsychoPy, Matlab)
• Running training workshops (PsychoPy, Qualtrics).

Project Management and Consultancy

• Agile management of large-scale projects and experimental initiatives.
• Experience with Lean and Agile methodologies (including Scrum Master for a previous team)
• Recently completed LCS Level 1a Lean Competency training for Continuous Improvement.
• Regular collaboration with external suppliers and development teams.
• Technical consultancy on new projects, including planning, specifications, and costings for research bids.

Additional Skills

• Basic building, electrical, and soldering skills (e.g., GVS cables).
• Some Fusion 360 and 3D printing experience for lab equipment casings.
• Design and editing skills in Adobe Photoshop and InDesign.

Publications

• de Lillo, Martina, Brunsdon, Victoria, Bradford, Elisabeth, Gasking, Frank, Ferguson, Heather (2021) Training executive functions using an adaptive procedure over 21 days (10 training sessions) and an active control group. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, . ISSN 1747-0218. E-ISSN 1747-0226. (doi:10.1177/17470218211002509) (KAR id:86678) 
• Gasking, Frank The Games That Weren't. Bitmap Books, Bath, UK, 644 pp. ISBN 978-1-83801-912-9. (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:86770)