Nikita Mae Harris

Nikita Mae Harris serves as Senior Tutor at the School of Product Design within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Canterbury, a role she has held since January 2022. Her position emphasizes teaching excellence in product design with specialized focus on human-computer interaction and immersive technology applications.

Her educational qualifications include:

• Master in Human Interface Technology from the University of Canterbury, Christchurch
• Master in Information Technology from the University of the Cordilleras, Baguio City
• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Saint Louis University, Baguio City

Harris's research integrates Virtual Reality and Serious Games to address challenges in health diagnostics and geoscience education. Her work demonstrates particular innovation in simulating sensory experiences for behavioral studies and developing gamified educational tools like "Magma Pop" for volcanic process visualization. This interdisciplinary approach bridges product design with practical solutions for food craving research and geological hazard communication.

Analysis of her publication history reveals consistent development in immersive technology applications, evolving from foundational VR interaction techniques (2017) toward sophisticated multi-sensory behavioral studies (2023) and targeted educational implementations. Current research trajectories indicate strong alignment with health technology innovation, particularly through her active grant on eye health diagnostics.

Harris currently leads the project "Building expertise in gamification for eye health diagnostics" (Te Tītoki Mataora, 2024-2025), which aims to develop novel gamified approaches for improving ophthalmological assessments. Her collaborative publication record demonstrates sustained engagement with geoscientists and psychologists across New Zealand institutions.