LaboratoryHaptics Fabrication Lab

I am the Centre Manager of the Human Interface Technology Laboratory (HIT Lab NZ)

I hold formal research training in Plant and Soil Ecology as well as Physiological Plant Ecology, and spent over a decade working as a scientist at the University of Minnesota, contributing to research in these fields.

In addition to my scientific background, I have a strong interest in Business and Organisational Management. I earned an MBA from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, where I developed a deep appreciation for the role of effective business practices in shaping institutions. I am particularly passionate about applying strategic and organisational management principles to enhance performance and innovation within the Tertiary Education sector.

I am a multi-disciplinary researcher in the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) at the Human Interface Technology Lab NZ (HIT Lab NZ). My research lies on the intersection of haptic perception, digital fabrication and Virtual Reality (VR). I build and investigate physical artifacts and representations that enhance our digital experiences. Specifically, I build fabrication methods for replicating and procedurally generating objects and structures that have a desired feeling, study user-centric design processes for creating such haptic experiences, and investigate physical representations of digital content.

My personal expertise lies with investigating human factors of virtual environments and their application to interaction design. My projects involved physical prototyping, e.g., 3D-Printing (FDM, SLA, SLS), Laser Cutting, Microcontroller Programming (Arduino, ESP32, D1mini, Raspberry Pi), digital prototyping, e.g., 2D Sketching (Inkscape, Affinity, Adobe suite), and 3D Modeling and Design (Fusion360, Blender, Unity), programming (C#, C++, C, Python, Java, JavaScript), and backend and database design (NodeJS, PostgreSQL, MySQL). Furthermore, I have actively applied (research) methods such as user centered and participatory design, qualitative and quantitative research, statistical analysis, psychophysical experiment design, numerical and statistical multi-dimensional analysis, and I have experience in research proposal writing.

I have an academic background in mechanical engineering and professional background in 3D modelling and design where I worked for the US Navy and NASA.  I created my own 3D graphics company in 2007 that shifted into game development and scripting. I released 2 games on Steam in the late 2010s.  

I work at HITLab NZ as a games developer/programmer but also support IT and hardware needs within the lab.