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

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

The conept of a "game" extends beyond entertainment, as modern game engines (such as Unreal and Unity) are widely used for media production, simulations, and digital twins. We integrate XR immersive technologies (including virtual reality, eye-tracking technology) as part of the experience.

Research Programs and Projects

• Click here.

Graduate Students

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

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

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

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

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

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

Research Assistants

• Amy Wiebe (B.Sc. student). 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

• Sam Gaudet. B.Sc. Computer Science. CPSC 502. 2025-2026.

• Rishabh Agarwal. B.Sc. Computer Science. CPSC 502. 2025-2026.

• Arian Safari. B.Sc. Computer Science. CPSC 502. 2025-2026.

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.

Past Graduate Students

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

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

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

• S. Gaudet (B.Sc. student). 2025.

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

• 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

• R. H. Majdabadi. Ph.D. Computer Science. 2021-2025.

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

Past Students under Thesis Examination Committee

• M. Al Nahian, M.Sc. Computer Science. 2025.

• C. Zhang, M.Sc. Psychology. 2025.

• R. Hedayati, Ph.D. Computer Science. 2025.

• H. Afzaal, M.Sc. Computer Science. 2025.

• H. Beheshtifard, M.Sc. Computer Science. 2025.

• Z. Ghods, M.Sc. Computer Science. 2025.

• A. Motamedi, M.Sc. Computer Science. 2025.

• M. Buhler, M.Sc. Computer Science. 2024.

• 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