Don Engel

Don Engel is an Assistant Professor in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He also serves as Director of the Center for Space Sciences and Technology and Associate Vice President for Research Development. His research integrates AI/ML and VR/visualization to advance scientific computing, particularly for natural science applications.

Research spans immersive visualization for earth science data, human-robot interaction in VR environments, and smart device network analysis. Recent work focuses on XR platforms for climate modeling, ice sheet visualization, and collaborative VR systems.

Publications show strong emphasis on immersive technologies (VR/AR/XR) for scientific visualization and human-computer interaction. The 2023-2025 articles cluster around three themes: 1) Extended reality for earth/space sciences, 2) Collaborative VR systems, and 3) Network analysis of IoT devices.

Awards:

• Senior Member, ACM (2023)
• Senior Member, IEEE (2023)

Advises 7 PhD students and has graduated 4 master's students. Manages significant research funding including NASA-sponsored projects exceeding $12M annually through the Center for Space Sciences and Technology.