In my research group, we are interested in serious games: these are games and gaming-related technologies for the purpose of training, learning, and education.

"Game" does not narrowly refer to only entertainment, as modern game engines (such as Unreal and Unity) are used everywhere from media and simulations to digital twins. We deploy immersive technologies (virtual reality, eye-tracking technology) as part of the experience.

We develop AI algorithms (search and machine learning) to provide adaptive and personalized experiences, and for automated content generation.

Research Programs and Projects

• Click here.

Graduate Students

• Matthew McConnell. Ph.D. Computer Science. 2025-present. Thesis-based M.Sc. Computer Science. 2024-2025.

• Farhan Aslam. Thesis-based M.Sc. Computer Science. 2021-2025.

• Mahdi Farrokhimaleki. Thesis-based M.Sc. Computer Science. 2023-present.

• Parsa Rahmati. Thesis-based M.Sc. Computational Media Design. Co-supervised by B. Barton. 2024-present.

• Tarif Ashraf. Thesis-based M.Sc. Computer Science. 2024-present.

• Setareh Abhari. Thesis-based M.Sc. Computer Science. 2025-present.

• Olga Koldachenko. Thesis-based M.Sc. Computer Science. 2025-present.

Research Assistants

• Amy Wiebe (B.Sc. student). 2025.

• Sam Gaudet (B.Sc. student). 2025.

• Ryan Nguyen (B.Sc. student). 2025. PURE award. 2025.

• Rebekah Leslie (B.Sc. exchange student, University of Aberdeen). 2025. Mitacs Globalink award. 2025.

• Joseph Tandyo (B.Sc. student). 2024-2025. Alberta Innovates scholarship. 2024.

• Talaal Irtija (B.Sc. student). 2023-2025. Alberta Innovates scholarship. 2023.

• Avery Keuben (B.Sc. student). 2023-2025.

Honours Students

Capstone Project Students

Students under Co-Supervision

• R. Aubut. Thesis-based M.Sc. Computational Media Design. 2024-present.

Students under Thesis Supervisory Committee

• M. Shopon. Ph.D. Computer Science. 2022-present.

• R. H. Majdabadi. Ph.D. Computer Science. 2021-present.

Past Graduate Students

• M. Elzohbi. Ph.D. Computer Science. 2020-2025. [Thesis]

• N. Shishir. Thesis-based M.Sc. Computer Science. 2022-2024. [Thesis]

• K. Saadat. Thesis-based M.Sc. Computer Science. 2021-2024. [Thesis]

• M. Shomoye. Thesis-based M.Sc. Computer Science. 2021-2023. [Thesis]

• O. Brierley. Ph.D. Computational Media Design. Graduated 2023. Interim Co-Supervision. [Thesis]

• S. Windsor. Thesis-based M.Sc. Computational Media Design. 2023. Interim Co-Supervision.

Past Honours Students

• A. Alcocer-Iturriza. B.Sc. Computer Science. CPSC 502. 2024-2025.

• C. Asrani. B.Sc. Computer Science. CPSC 502. 2024-2025.

• J. Choi. B.Sc. Computer Science. CPSC 502. 2024-2025.

• I. Mahbub Prutik. B.Sc. Computer Science. CPSC 502. 2023-2024.

• T. Hartleb. B.Sc. Computer Science. CPSC 502. 2022-2023.

• K. Mitchell. B.Sc. Computer Science. CPSC 502. 2022-2023.

• K. Burns. B.Sc. Honours. Computer Science. 2018-2019. [Thesis]

Past Capstone Project Students

• J. Van Lierop. B.Sc. Computer Science. CPSC 503. Fall 2024.

• M. Reyes. Master of Data Science and Analytics. Summer 2024.

• K. Cherukupally. Master of Data Science and Analytics. Summer 2024.

• J. Nguyen. B.Sc. Computer Science. CPSC 503. Winter 2024.

Past Research Assistants

• N. Ben Sghaier (B.Sc. exchange student, ENSTAB). 2024. Mitacs Globalink award. 2024.

• A. Zaghloul (B.Sc. student). 2024. NSERC USRA. 2024.

• R. Agarwal (B.Sc. student). 2024.

• S. Raza (B.Sc. student). 2023.

• D. Garcia (B.Sc. student). PURE award. 2022.

• J. Cabueños (B.F.A. student). Alberta Innovates scholarship. 2022.

• H. A. Sloan (B.Sc. student). 2021.

• R. Zhu (Ph.D. candidate). 2020-2021.

• M. Maromonte (B.Sc. student). 2020-2021.

• E. Baxter (B.Sc. student). 2019-2020.

• G. Anderson (B.Sc. student). 2019-2020.

• J. Wilfong (B.Sc. student). 2019-2020.

• S. Hopson (B.Sc. student). 2019-2020.

• H. Rios-Jaime (B.A. student). 2019.

• J. Osborne (B.Sc. student). 2019.

• J. Sutton (B.Sc. student). 2019.

• T. Nguyen (B.Sc. student). 2019.

• A. Pio (B.Sc. student). 2018-2019.

• F. Carrillo (B.Sc. student). 2018-2019.

• A. Zheng (B.Sc. student). 2017.

• J. LaRiccia (B.Sc. student). 2016-2017.

• G. Louchart (B.Sc. student). 2016-2017.

• A. Meanor (B.Sc. student). 2016-2017.

Past Students under Mitacs Business Strategy Internships

• J. Tijunelis (B.Sc. student). 2024.

• J. Van Lierop (B.Sc. student). 2023-2024.

• M. Lawrence (B.Sc. student). 2023.

• C. Davitt (B.Sc. student). 2023.

• T. Dow (M.Sc. student). 2023.

Past Visitors

• Y. Zhang (B.Sc. student, Beijing Normal University). 2023.

• G. Roy (Visiting Research Assistant). 2023.

Past Students under Thesis Supervisory Committee

• L. Hardner, B.Sc. Software Engineering with Honours in Game Development. 2017-2018.

Past Students under Thesis Examination Committee

• M. Buhler, M.Sc. Computer Science. 2025.

• I. Luchak, M.Sc. Computer Science. 2024.

• S. Farajian, M.Sc. Computer Science. 2024.

• B. Graham, M.Sc. Computer Science. 2024.

• M. Friedel, M.Sc. Computer Science. 2023.

• S. Ganesh, M.Sc. Computer Science. 2023.

• C. Smith, M.Sc. Computer Science. 2023.

• A. Aminbeidokhti, M.Sc. Computer Science. 2023.

• A. A. Mehmuda, M.Sc. Computer Science. 2022.

• S. N. Tumpa, M.Sc. Computer Science. 2022.

• B. Sieu, M.Sc. Computer Science. 2021.

• Z. Niu, M.Sc. Geophysics. 2021.

• F. Anzum, M.Sc. Computer Science. 2021.

• A. Eidelberg, M.Sc. Computer Science. 2021.

• L. Rey, M.A. Linguistics. 2021.

Past Students under Doctoral Candidacy Examination

• H. Hornbeck, Ph.D. Candidacy. Computer Science. 2023.

• Tiered Behaviour Architecture Model for Virtual Characters