Darlene Barker

Darlene Barker serves as Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Computer Science Programs in the Department of Computer Science at Rivier University. Her research bridges virtual reality, computer science, and emotion recognition to develop systems enhancing human communication across physical distances, with significant applications in video game development and human-computer interaction.

Her academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Computer Science from University of Massachusetts Lowell (Dissertation: "Creation of Thelxinoë: Emotions and Touch in Virtual Reality")
• M.S. in Computer Science from University of Massachusetts Lowell (Thesis: "An Eulerian Path Approach to Next-Generation DNA Sequencing with Pre-Sorted Reads")
• B.S. in Computer Science from Rivier University

Dr. Barker's research spans Emotion Recognition, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Speech and Natural Language Processing, Virtual Reality, Entrepreneurship, Computer Graphics, and Video Game Design. She pioneers frameworks like Thelxinoë for multimodal emotion detection using pupillometry, facial analysis, and touch processing within immersive environments. Her work uniquely integrates physiological sensing with machine learning to address real-world communication challenges.

Analysis of her 2021-2025 publications reveals a clear trajectory: evolving from foundational VR emotion studies (2021) toward sophisticated multimodal frameworks combining gradient boosting, CNN-LSTM networks, and ethical considerations (2025). Her research consistently bridges academic theory with industry applications, particularly in gaming, while addressing emerging challenges in biometric privacy and model interpretability.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Second Best Paper Certificate at IEEE International Conference on Advanced Systems and Emergent Technologies (ICASET), 2023

Dr. Barker teaches core computer science courses including Algorithms, Database Management Systems, Deep Learning, Data Mining, and Computer Networks. She actively disseminates research through tutorials at premier conferences (IEEE VR, ISMAR) and leads developing frameworks such as Thelxinoë and Harmonia, which form the foundation of her lab's work on affective computing in virtual environments.