Brian Ricks

Brian Ricks, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Nebraska Omaha College of Information Science & Technology. His research focuses on Computer Graphics, Virtual Reality, and Crowd Simulation, with applications in machine learning explainability, infrastructure monitoring, and medical rehabilitation. He teaches courses in computer graphics, game development, and image processing.

• Email: bricks@unomaha.edu
• Office: PKI 174H
• Lab: PKI 372

Research Interests span interdisciplinary domains, including:

• Explainable AI frameworks for ethical data science (via Model-Cart)
• Virtual reality applications in motor cortex rehabilitation
• Crowd simulation algorithms with social dynamics and 3D surface modeling
• Bridge health monitoring using machine learning and time-series analysis
• Interactive visualization tools for model transparency

Scientific Awards include:

• Best Paper Award (2015)
• Excellent Masters Student Award (2020)
• UNO Magazine Highlight (2021)

His academic service includes committee roles for graduate/undergraduate programs, doctoral committees, and the Nebraska EPSCoR First Grant program. He actively contributes to the Nebraska VR Network for Education & Research.