Selected Academic Activities
On advisory board, Games User Research IGDA SIG, 2009-on
Co-Chair, Games User Research Sumitt 2011
Co-Chair, International Conference on Entertainment Computing 2011
Managing Editor, International Journal on Arts and Technology (IJART)
On Editorial Board, International Journal on Intelligent Games and Simulation, 2003 on
On Editorial Board, ACM Computers in Entertainment, 2003 on
On Editorial Board, Journal of Game Development
Leader of Curriculum Sub-Committee, IGDA (International Game DevelopersAssociation), Education SIG, 2006
On Advisory Board for Pittsburgh Art Institute, Game Design Major, 2006
Finance Chair, International Confernece on Fundamentals of Digital Games , 2008.
International Conference Advisory Committee, Annual International COnference on Computer Gaming, Aimation, Virtual reality, and Allied Technology, 2008.
Chair, DIS Workshop On the Process of Game Design, 2006.
On Organizing Committee, International Conference on Multimodal Interaction, 2004
Co-Chair of AAAI Spring Symposium 2002 on Artificial Intelligence and Interactive Entertainment, 2002
On Program Committee, Internative Entertainment, 2008
On Program Committee, Interactive Storytelling, 2008
On Program Committee, AI and Interactive Digital Entertainment, 2005-2008
On Program Committee, Symposium in Interactive 3D Graphics and Games, 2008
On Program Committee, AAMAS (Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems) Special Track on Virtual Agents, 2008
On Program Committee, AAAI Symposium on Interactive Narrative Technologies, 2007
On Program Committee, Futureplay, 2006-2007
Current Funding
January 2011-July 2011, Using Visualization to Enhance A Game Designed for Health
Funders: NSERC - Engage, $20,744
January 2010-2015, Visualization and Evaluation of Virtual Worlds and Games
Funders: GRAND-NCE $275,000
July 2010-Dec 2010, User Experience Research, Game Usability, Biometrics
Funders: MITACS and Electronic Arts, $15,000
July 2010-Dec 2010, User Interfaces, Touch-based Systems, Radiology-based interfaces
Funders: MITACS and McKesson, $15,000
November 2010-April 2011, Designing Social Games to Maximize Engagement and Healthy Funders: MITACS and Ignite Play, $15,000
October 2009-March 2012, VERUS (Virtual Environments and Real User Studies, in Collaboration with Suzanne deCastle as PI.
Funders: AFRL (Air Force Research Lab), US, $380,000; $50,000 (my part).
October 2009-October 2011, Meaning of Motion; co-PI with Lyn Bartrym and Thecla Schiphorst
Funders: Canada Council and NSERC, $470,000 (NSERC part); $240,000 (my part).
March 2008-March 2012, Support Automatic Systems for Visual Design of Interactive Entertainment.
Funders: NSERC, $85,000.
March 2009-March 2011, Digital video illumination, collaborator with Robert Gardiner as PI.
Funders: SSHRC, $203,000.00, $15,000 (my part).
Awards
EA Scholar, 2008
2nd Best Paper Award received at the International Conference on Virtual Storytelling, 2003
ACM Best Student Paper Award received in the Autonomous Agents Conference, 1999
Award of Excellence, Graduate Student Council, Texas A&M University, 1998
Research Excellence Award, Computer Science Department, Texas A&M University, 1998
Leadership Award, from the Computer Science Department at Texas A&M University 1999
Research Interest
Advancements in computer graphics and 3D tools have stimulated and changed research in several fields, including health, education, design, computer science, psychology, and Human Computer Interaction. The technical contributions and design innovations of gaming environments and game development tools have a direct impact on the design of interactive applications in education, training, entertainment, and communication. Over the past ten years, I have explored several research questions within this field. My primary focus is in exploring the design and development of visual aesthetics tools for 3D environments, particularly lighting design, camera movement, and animation of believable articulate 3D characters. My secondary focus, related to the first, is directed towards understanding the user experience and developing evaluation methods to measure the impact of design decisions on different user groups. My third goal centers on using game design as a method to stimulate learning of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) concepts and creativity among high school and middle school students.
Education
Bachelor of Science, Computer Science, June 1995
American University of Cairo (AUC), Egypt
Master's of Science, May 1998
Computer Science Department, Texas A&M University.
Modeling Emotion Dynamics in Intelligent Agents
John Yen, advisor
PhD, June 2003
Computer Science Department, Northwestern University
ELE- Expressive Lighting Engine for Automating Lighting Design in Interactive Narrative
Ian Horswill, advisor
Teaching
List of courses are avaliable here
Work Experience
Assistant Professor, SIAT, Simon Fraser University, 2007 on
Adjunct Professor, Master's of Digital Media, Great Northenway Campus, 2008 on
Visiting Professor, Full Sail University, Summer 2010
Visiting Professor, Institute of Creative Technologies, University of Southern California, Summer 2009
Visiting Professor, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 2009-2010
Assistant Professor, IST, Pennsylvania State University, 2003-2007
Producer/Director/Programmer, Northwestern University, 2001-2002
Teaching Assistant, Computer Science Department, Northwestern University, 2000-2002
Assisted in teaching Game Design with Ken Forbus, Operating Systems with Jennifer Schopf
Research Assistant, Computer Science Department, Northwestern University, 1999-present
Assistant Lecturer, Computer Science Department, Texas A&M University, Summer 1998
Software Engineer - Analyst and Designer, Computer Sceince Department, Texas A&M University, summer 1999
Created a new accounting system for the computer sceince deparment
Teaching Assistant, Computer Science Department, Texas A&M University, 1997-1998
Graphics Designer/Sound Editor, Cairo, Egypt, 1995-1996
