Gregory F. Welch

Gregory F. Welch serves as the Florida Hospital Endowed Chair in Healthcare Simulation at the University of Central Florida, with primary appointments in the College of Nursing, Department of Computer Science, and Institute for Simulation & Training. He also holds an Adjunct Professor position in Computer Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. With a Ph.D. from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1996, his career spans academia, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Northrop-Grumman's Defense Systems Division.

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1996
• Degree in Electrical Technology, Purdue University (with Highest Distinction), 1986

Dr. Welch's research spans human-computer interaction, virtual and augmented reality, motion tracking systems, 3D telepresence, and stochastic estimation, with significant applications to healthcare training and education. His work focuses on creating seamless interactions between physical and virtual environments, particularly through innovations in tracking technology, view synthesis, and the Kalman filter. A notable contribution is his internationally-recognized website dedicated to the Kalman filter, which has become a standard reference in the field.

Dr. Welch's recent publications (2016-2017) demonstrate a strong focus on social presence in virtual and augmented reality environments, particularly examining how physical-virtual interactions affect user experience. His work explores nuanced aspects like spatial coherence, gesturing, vibrotactile feedback, and environmental effects on social presence. A recurring theme is the development of "human surrogates" - physical manifestations of virtual humans that bridge the gap between real and virtual spaces, with direct applications to healthcare simulation and training.

• IEEE Senior Member
• 2nd Prize Best ICDSC 2011 Paper

While specific student names aren't listed in the available materials, Dr. Welch has advised numerous researchers in virtual reality, human-computer interaction, and healthcare simulation. His work has attracted significant research funding, particularly through his role as the Florida Hospital Endowed Chair in Healthcare Simulation. His research spans multiple domains including medical applications, military training, and emergency response scenarios, suggesting diverse grant support from NIH, NSF, and defense-related agencies.

Dr. Welch is affiliated with multiple research entities including the Institute for Simulation & Training at UCF and maintains connections with UNC-Chapel Hill's Computer Science department. His work often involves interdisciplinary collaborations between computer scientists, medical professionals, and educators. Notably, he co-developed the HuSIS (Human Surrogate Interaction Space), a dedicated facility for studying human interactions with virtual surrogates, demonstrating his commitment to creating specialized research environments for advancing virtual and augmented reality applications.