Marco Gillies

Marco Gillies is a Professor of Computing at Goldsmiths, University of London. He co-directs the Social, Empathic and Embodied Virtual Reality (SeeVR) Lab and the MA/MSc Virtual and Augmented Reality program. Previously, he served as Academic Director for Distance Learning and the Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre. He co-founded the BSc Creative Computing degree, instrumental in establishing Goldsmiths' reputation in applying computing to creative sectors. His research focuses on VR/AI integration, movement-based interaction, and social aspects of immersive technologies.

Education:

• PhD in Computer Science, University of Cambridge (2001)
• BA in Computer Science, University of Cambridge (1997)

Research Interests: Gillies explores the intersection of AI/ML with virtual reality, emphasizing full-body interaction, social dynamics in immersive environments, and interdisciplinary applications in dance, medicine, and education. His work emphasizes human-centered approaches to machine learning and embodied interaction design.

Key Projects:

• ESRC-funded study on children's embodiment in VR (2022)
• AHRC IIIE project on Sino-UK creative collaborations (2022)
• EPSRC 4i project on interactive ML for indie developers (2019–2021)

Grants & Labs: Principal investigator on multiple grants, including ESRC and AHRC funding. Leads the SeeVR Lab, collaborating with fields like developmental psychology and social neuroscience.