Doga Demirel

Dr. Doga Demirel is an Associate Professor and Director of the Virtual Reality, Interactive Simulation, and Biomedical (VRISB) Lab at the University of Oklahoma's School of Computer Science. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (2018), an M.Sc. from the University of Central Arkansas (2015), and a B.Sc. from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (2013).

His research focuses on designing medical simulations using VR/AR, haptics, AI, and computer graphics. Notable projects include NIH-funded initiatives such as the Virtual Bariatric Endoscopic (ViBE) Simulator and the Virtual Rotator Cuff Arthroscopic Skill Trainer (ViRCAST). He has received multiple awards, including the 2024 IEEE VR Best Paper Award and the 2023 American College of Gastroenterology Presidential Poster Award.

Key Projects:

• NIH-funded 'Enhancing robotic head and neck surgical skills using simulated simulation' ($3M, 2023-2027)
• 'Physically Realistic Virtual Surgery' collaboration with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($2.4M, 2020-2025)
• 'Virtual Colorectal Surgical Trainer (VCOST)' ($3M, 2018-2024)

Grants & Collaborations:

• Multi-institutional partnerships including FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Indiana University School of Medicine
• Total NIH funding exceeding $20M across projects

Labs & Teams: Directs the VRISB Lab, focusing on medical simulation development and validation. His team includes researchers specializing in computer graphics, AI, and biomedical engineering.