Find Academic Supervisors

Ralf Bierig joined Maynooth University's Computer Science Department in 2017, teaching topics including information retrieval, software testing, interaction design, and virtual reality. He is the programme director of the Higher Diploma in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and User Experience (UX). He earned his BSc (2002) from University of Furtwangen and PhD (2008) from Robert Gordon University. Research Interests His work spans information retrieval, interactive information retrieval, personalisation, information search behavior, usability (UX), and virtual reality (VR). Recent publications focus on multimodal concept indexing, hybrid IR approaches, and contextual adaptation in search systems. Publication Trends His research combines statistical semantics, graph modeling, and multimodal data analysis across academic collaborations in Austria, Germany, and international venues like ECIR and SIGIR.

• Information Retrieval
• Interactive Information Retrieval
• Personalisation
• +4 more

Dr. Dongyun Nie is an Assistant Professor at Dublin City University's School of Computing. She holds a PhD in Computer Science with a specialization in Customer Relationship Management. Her core research explores customer lifetime value, forecasting, data mining, and record linkage. Her recent publications demonstrate interdisciplinary work spanning health informatics, sports analytics, and environmental data engineering. Research predominantly focuses on machine learning applications for real-world data challenges including eye-tracking systems, lifelog analytics, and public health data infrastructure. Teaching responsibilities include modules on Machine Learning (CA4109), Enterprise Systems Configuration (CA2049), and Web Design (CA106), integrating research expertise into computing education.

• Customer Lifetime Value
• Data Mining
• Forecasting
• +2 more

Ian Pitt is a Lecturer in Usability Engineering and Interactive Media at University College Cork (UCC). He leads the Interaction Design, E-Learning and Speech (IDEAS) Research Group, focusing on multimodal human-computer interaction, auditory interfaces, and accessibility solutions for visually impaired users. Pitt holds a D.Phil from the University of York, followed by research fellowships at Otto-von-Guericke University in Germany before joining UCC in 1997. His research interests include speech-based interfaces, e-learning systems, and accessibility technologies for blind users. Key projects include the EU-funded ENABLE Network (2011–2014) and prototype development for UniWink. He has secured significant grants, including €72,009 from IRCSET for voice analysis research and €19,478 from the EU for ICT-supported learning initiatives. Pitt has advised numerous PhD students, including Flaithri Neff (2011), Emma-Kate Crowley (2014), and current candidates Aine Kearns and Patrick Egan. His publications span journals like International Journal of Game-Based Learning and conferences such as ICCHP and ACM SIGACCESS. He has contributed to committees for conferences like CHI and the Irish HCI conference. Teaching modules include Usability Engineering, Human-Computer Interaction, and Digital Media Development. His work emphasizes inclusive design principles, with projects addressing navigation systems for blind students and adaptive e-learning frameworks. Recent research trends focus on ICT-delivered aphasia rehabilitation, emotional BCI interfaces, and multimodal learning systems. Collaborations include international partners through EU grants, reflecting his global impact in accessibility and educational technology.

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Auditory & Speech-Based Interfaces
• Accessibility Technologies
• +3 more

Dr. Kata Szita serves as an Assistant Professor of Multimedia at the School of Communications. Her expertise spans extended reality technologies, human-computer interaction, and the psychological impacts of virtual environments on human behavior and cognition. Her research delves deep into understanding how virtual and augmented reality experiences affect human-to-computer and human-to-human interactions. She investigates the cognitive and neural processes involved when users engage with virtual environments, particularly focusing on the use of avatars and XR-manipulated bodies. Her work also examines social behaviors in virtual spaces and the ethical dilemmas surrounding artificial digital agents and personal data collection in XR environments. Dr. Szita currently leads interdisciplinary and cross-sector research projects aimed at developing accessible and adaptive immersive technologies. Her collaborative efforts extend to studying cognitive processing of realism in mixed reality, virtual identities, and youth behavior in virtual environments. Her research approach combines theoretical frameworks with practical applications, contributing significantly to the understanding of immersive media experiences. Her extensive publication record from 2017-2025 demonstrates a consistent focus on emerging themes in XR research. The articles reveal an evolution from early smartphone-based viewing studies to sophisticated analyses of metaverse environments, presence measurement methodologies, and the psychological impacts of virtual identities. Her work bridges cognitive psychology, media studies, and technology development, establishing her as a leading voice in understanding human experience within digital and virtual contexts.

• Extended Reality
• Virtual Reality
• Augmented Reality
• +7 more

Cathy Ennis is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Maynooth University, Ireland, specializing in perceptually guided graphics and virtual reality. She is actively involved in research and teaching, with affiliations to the ADAPT Centre and D-REAL SFI Centre for Research Training. Education: BEng in Electronic Engineering, Maynooth University MSc in Cognitive Science, University College Dublin PhD in Computer Graphics, Trinity College Dublin PG Dip in Higher Education Teaching and Learning, DIT Research Interests: Dr. Ennis's research centers on creating realistic virtual humans and crowds, exploring multisensory perception in VR, and applying these technologies in serious games and interactive systems. Her work integrates AI, HCI, and immersive technologies to enhance user engagement and learning. Her recent publications reflect a strong focus on virtual character realism, VR-based education, and machine learning applications in animation and interaction. Notable themes include speech-animation realism, cultural VR experiences, and reinforcement learning for character control. Scientific Awards: Best Paper Award, IEEE VR 2022 Teaching and Supervision: Dr. Ennis currently teaches CS401 (Machine Learning and Neural Networks) and CS261 (Multimedia Technology). She is actively seeking PhD students and collaborators interested in VR, games, and virtual characters, particularly using machine learning for gesture generation and engagement. Labs and Teams: She is a Funded Investigator with the ADAPT Centre and D-REAL SFI Centre for Research Training, contributing to interdisciplinary research in AI, HCI, and immersive technologies.

• Perceptually guided graphics
• Virtual characters and crowds
• Virtual reality
• +4 more

Daniel Guilherme Gomes is an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Computer and Software Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering and Informatics. His research develops human-machine interfaces for autonomous vehicles and evaluates immersive driving experiences. Research focuses on: Quality of Experience in autonomous driving systems Driver situation awareness enhancement Haptic feedback interfaces VR-based driving simulations Recent projects include the HEDGEHOG steering wheel prototype for conditional vehicle automation and SM-EXO hand exoskeleton for cobotic applications. Publications demonstrate expertise in evaluating user experience through crowdsourcing methodologies and developing continuous-time feedback devices.

• Quality of Experience
• Autonomous driving systems
• Human-computer interaction
• +2 more

Dr. Enda Bates is an Assistant Professor and Deputy Course Director in the Music and Media Technologies Programme at Trinity College Dublin. He leads research in spatial music, spatial audio for VR, and electroacoustic aesthetics while maintaining active roles as a composer, producer, and performer. His work bridges academic and artistic domains, with notable contributions to immersive media, accessibility in health data design, and interdisciplinary digital humanities projects. Educated at Trinity College Dublin, he completed a PhD titled *The Composition & Performance of Spatial Music* in 2010. His research has been supported by grants from Trinity College Dublin and Rode Microphones, focusing on projects like the Trinity 360 initiative producing immersive 360-degree music videos. He collaborates widely, including with the Spatial Music Collective and on virtual reality adaptations of Samuel Beckett’s works. Research interests span spatial audio technologies, VR audio design, and the aesthetics of contemporary electroacoustic music. He explores the intersection of sound and technology in performance contexts, such as augmented instruments and site-specific compositions. His work on accessibility includes evaluating health data representations for older adults, emphasizing user-centric design principles. Recent publications highlight advancements in ambisonic decoder methodologies, VR audio systems, and interdisciplinary arts. Awards include the Gaudeamus Music Prize shortlist (2009) and Música Viva Competition Prize (2010). His music has been performed globally by ensembles like the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and Crash Ensemble. Bates advises on audio engineering projects and leads collaborative initiatives like *Virtual Play, after Samuel Beckett*, merging theater, VR, and sound design. His lab’s work often explores the technical and creative potentials of 360 media and free-viewpoint video.

• Spatial Music
• Virtual Reality (VR)
• Spatial Audio
• +4 more

Dr. Liting Zhou is an Assistant Professor at Dublin City University's School of Computing, specializing in multimedia retrieval and information systems. She completed her PhD in Computer Science at DCU under Dr. Cathal Gurrin's supervision, focusing on multimedia analysis. Her research develops algorithms for video understanding, multimodal learning, and lifelog retrieval applied to education, healthcare, and personal informatics domains. Key research areas include: Cross-modal video-text matching and retrieval Lifelog question answering systems Multimodal fusion techniques User-friendly retrieval interfaces She serves as reviewer for top conferences/journals and has chaired sessions at MMM (2023-2024) and ECIR (2023).

• Multimedia Retrieval
• Natural Language Processing
• Peer Learning
• +3 more

Dr Matt Smith serves as a Senior Lecturer at the School of Informatics and Cybersecurity within Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), where he has held academic positions since joining the institution. His role encompasses both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching responsibilities across computing disciplines. His research focuses on interactive multimedia interfaces with specialization in Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) systems. Key research areas include biometric measurement of presence in VR environments, semiotic-perceptual visual communication theory for AR interface design, and serious game development for specialized training applications. His work bridges academic research with practical industry implementations, particularly in construction training and educational technology. Smith's publication portfolio demonstrates consistent output in human-computer interaction, with recent work examining VR experimental challenges, aesthetically-driven UI design, and narrative techniques in augmented reality. His research shows strong interdisciplinary connections between computer science, educational theory, and perceptual psychology. As an active contributor to academic governance, he serves on TU Dublin's Research and Innovation Academy and has previously participated in academic council committees. His professional engagement extends to external examiner roles and subject expertise for QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland). Smith maintains significant industry connections through open-source contributions to the Symfony PHP framework and Unity game engine's Fungus dialogue system. His international collaborations span institutions including Brighton University, London Metropolitan University, Edinburgh University, and Kaunas University of Technology in Lithuania.

• Interactive Multimedia Interfaces
• Virtual Reality
• Augmented Reality
• +7 more

Graham Healy is Assistant Professor and COMSCI Programme Board Chair at Dublin City University's School of Computing. His research develops hybrid human-computer interaction systems using bioelectric signals (EEG), eye-tracking, and machine learning. Current projects include the CASTLE multimodal dataset, AMBER BCI dataset for naturalistic settings, and DERCo EEG-reading comprehension corpus. Dr. Healy creates interactive retrieval systems like VEAGLE (eye gaze-assisted video browsing) and LifeInsight (lifelog search engine), winning competitive evaluations at Video Browser Showdown and Lifelog Search Challenge events. His neuroergonomics research investigates pre-stimulus EEG for predicting driver reaction times, while health informatics projects develop machine learning models for early gestational diabetes prediction using electronic health records. With PhD expertise in brain-computer interfaces from DCU, Dr. Healy's work spans experimental neuroscience, information retrieval, and clinical applications. Recent publications address reproducibility challenges in medical AI and validate diagnostic coding in electronic health systems. His NeuroScore framework evaluates GAN performance using neural responses, advancing quality assessment in synthetic media.

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Brain-Computer Interfaces
• Eye-Tracking Systems
• +3 more

Stefano Odorico is a Lecturer at the Limerick School of Art and Design , Department of Digital Arts and Media. His research focuses on interactive documentary practices, polyphonic narratives, and participatory storytelling methods. His work addresses themes such as urban spaces, ecomedia, and the intersection of digital technologies with ethical storytelling. Odorico’s academic contributions span over two decades, with a strong emphasis on the evolution of documentary forms. His research explores how interactive media can foster collaborative, audience-driven narratives that challenge traditional linear storytelling. Key areas include the aesthetics of interactive documentaries, the role of polyphony in creating multivocal narratives, and the ethical dimensions of participatory filmmaking. His recent work highlights trends towards immersive spatial storytelling (e.g., urban studies case studies), ecomedia’s potential in environmental communication, and the theoretical underpinnings of interactive epistemology. These studies often combine practice-based research with critical analysis, bridging academic inquiry and creative production. While no explicit grants or awards are listed, his prolific publication record reflects sustained engagement with international conferences and academic discourse. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to climate action, social justice, and cultural preservation through innovative documentary practices.

• Interactive Documentary
• Documentary Film
• Polyphonic Practices
• +5 more

Yuansong (John) Qiao is a Research Fellow at the Software Research Institute (SRI), Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest. His work spans cybersecurity, blockchain, and reinforcement learning, contributing to technologies like decentralized edge environments, intrusion detection systems, and immersive 360° video analytics. He supervises PhD students and actively explores applications in robotics, digital twins, and IoT. Recent publications highlight his focus on multi-view deep learning for anomaly detection , blockchain integration with AI , and ROS-based reinforcement learning . These works address challenges in cyber threat identification, decentralized finance, and smart manufacturing. His methodological innovations include knowledge graphs for security analytics and spatial audio analysis for VR environments. Qiao’s research aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in Quality Education (through supervised student projects) and Industry Innovation (via tools like Containerchain and UniROS). His collaborations span cybersecurity frameworks, decentralized robotics, and privacy-preserving systems for smart cities.

• Cybersecurity
• Deep Learning
• Blockchain
• +7 more

Professor Cathal Gurrin is the Head of the ADAPT Research Centre and a Full Professor in the School of Computing at Dublin City University. His research focuses on lifelog retrieval and video retrieval systems, with recent work on multimodal understanding and interactive retrieval interfaces. He has led the development of several retrieval systems showcased at the Video Browser Showdown and Lifelog Search Challenge. Recent publications demonstrate strong focus on multimodal datasets (CASTLE), EEG-based behavior analysis (DERCo), and next-generation video retrieval interfaces (VideoEase, VEAGLE).

Dr. Noel Murphy is an Associate Professor and Head of the School of Electronic Engineering at Dublin City University (DCU). He has held various leadership roles, including Associate Dean for Education in the Faculty of Engineering and Computing (2005-2007), Head of School (2007-2012, 2015-2018, and returning in 2021). He has been teaching at DCU since 1986 and has contributed extensively to academic governance, including roles on Academic Council and Governing Authority committees. Dr. Murphy holds a BA (Mod) in Theoretical Physics from Trinity College Dublin (TCD), a PhD from DCU (2003) on Information Theory models for Biological and Artificial Vision, and a part-time MA in Pure Mathematics from Maynooth University (2015). His research focuses on: Biological and Artificial Vision: Including Information Theoretic models and the work of Stephen Grossberg. Secure Data Analytics: Particularly leveraging SGX-enabled applications for data ownership control. Algebraic Number Theory: Exploring elliptic curves and Apéry's Constant. IoT and Edge Computing: Focusing on secure processing for IoT applications. Human Sensory Augmentation and Multimedia Information Retrieval. In addition to his teaching and leadership roles, Dr. Murphy has supervised numerous PhD and Master's students to completion. He has secured funding as Principal Investigator or co-Investigator on national and EU-funded research projects. He is affiliated with DCU's Entwine Research Centre. Outside academia, Dr. Murphy is Honorary Secretary of the Irish Light Aviation Society, holds a Private Pilot’s License, and is involved in aircraft restoration projects, including a 1940 Piper J5 and a Vans RV-8.

• Biological and Artificial Vision
• Human Sensory Augmentation
• Secure Data Analytics
• +3 more

Jeffrey Weeter is a Professor at the School of Music and Theatre, University College Cork (UCC), with a transdisciplinary focus on music composition, audio engineering, and interactive technology. As an Emmy Award-winning audio engineer and co-investigator of the IRC-funded 'Loop Love' project, he bridges traditional composition with cutting-edge digital innovation through his Cork Audio Visual Ensemble (CAVE). His research spans Interactive new media composition Digital musical instrument design Live audio-visual performance systems Guerrilla sound techniques Sound installation art Performance dynamics with IoT devices Jeffrey's work analyzes audience-performer-technology relationships through 100+ international compositions, including collaborations with DJ Kate Simko for world tours and the 2018 TG4 Gradam Ceoil Award-winning 'Concert' project. His peer-reviewed publications in IEEE Transactions on Haptics and Organised Sound examine haptic feedback mechanisms in musical contexts. Scientific recognition includes 2009 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement 2017 UCC CACSSS Visiting Scholar Award Multiple Daytime Emmy nominations (2006-2010) 1999 Sherman Conaway Academic Excellence Award 2003 William H. Macy Scholarship He advises doctoral students in music and media technologies and serves on UCC's Academic Development Committee, IT Committee, and Research Committee. As founder of CAVE, he develops custom instruments for electronic performance.

• Music Composition
• Contemporary Music
• Interactive New Media
• +8 more