Karen Rafferty

Professor Karen Rafferty is a prominent academic and Head of the School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Queen's University Belfast. She holds the rank of Professor and specializes in Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR), and Multi-sensory Interaction technologies, with a focus on their applications in Health & Training and Industry & Automation. Her research emphasizes disruptive technological practices, leveraging software engineering, sensor fusion, and real-time systems.

Prof. Rafferty has led or contributed to numerous national and EU-funded projects, including roles as Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Investigator (CoI) in grants such as the ARISE project on steel erection robotics and the PWC Research and Development Centre. She is actively involved with professional bodies like the IET, serving as a registration interviewer and evaluator for EU research programs (H2020, FP7, FP6).

Her awards include the Best Paper Award at the 33rd International Manufacturing Conference and recognition for contributions to Digital Enterprise Technology. She teaches Engineering Entrepreneurship and VR/AR technologies, emphasizing interdisciplinary innovation.

Key research themes span AI-driven systems, blockchain for sustainable decision-making, and haptic feedback integration in immersive environments. Her work often bridges academia and industry, with practical applications in manufacturing automation and healthcare training.