Peter Vangorp

Peter Vangorp is an Assistant Professor in the Visualization and Graphics group of the Department of Information and Computing Sciences at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. He leads research in computer graphics, visual perception, and virtual reality, with a particular focus on material perception and realistic rendering techniques.

Dr. Vangorp obtained his Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of Leuven (Belgium) in 2009. His doctoral research focused on "Human Visual Perception of Materials in Realistic Computer Graphics." Prior to his current position, he held postdoctoral positions at REVES/Inria Sophia-Antipolis (France), Giessen University (Germany), Max Planck Institute for Informatics (Germany), and Bangor University (UK). He also served as a Senior Lecturer at Edge Hill University (UK) from 2016 to 2022.

Dr. Vangorp's research interests span several interconnected domains within computer graphics and visual perception. His primary focus is on understanding how humans perceive materials and gloss in computer-generated imagery, which has direct applications in realistic rendering. He has made significant contributions to the study of hazy gloss perception, BRDF modeling, and material editing techniques. His work bridges the gap between computer graphics and human visual perception, using rigorous experimental methods to inform rendering techniques. More recently, his research has expanded into virtual reality applications, particularly in medical visualization and rehabilitation.

Analysis of Dr. Vangorp's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on material perception and realistic rendering, with increasing attention to virtual reality applications. His work often combines computer graphics techniques with psychophysical experiments to understand human visual perception. Recent publications show expansion into medical applications of VR, 3D point cloud processing, and gamification in educational contexts. The interdisciplinary nature of his research is evident in collaborations with researchers from computer science, psychology, medicine, and education fields.

Dr. Vangorp has received research funding through an NWO grant for the VR4eVR project (Virtual Reality for enhanced Visual Rehabilitation), which runs from 2024 to 2030. This project involves collaboration with multiple institutions including UMCG, Royal Visio, RUG, and UT.

Dr. Vangorp has supervised numerous graduate students, including PhD candidate Vanderfeesten (2025) and multiple Master's students in Game & Media Technology and Artificial Intelligence programs. His students have worked on diverse topics including real-time rendering techniques, neural denoising, 3D Gaussian splatting, and volumetric sampling methods. He serves as a PhD supervisor and researcher in the VR4eVR project, mentoring students working at the intersection of computer graphics and medical applications.

Dr. Vangorp is actively involved in the Visualization and Graphics research group at Utrecht University, where he contributes to research on advanced rendering techniques, material perception, and virtual reality applications. His work on the VR4eVR project demonstrates his commitment to applying computer graphics research to real-world medical challenges, particularly in visual rehabilitation.