Salam Daher

Dr. Salam Daher is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Informatics at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), with courtesy faculty status at the University of Central Florida (UCF). She holds a PhD in Modeling and Simulation from UCF (2018) and completed a postdoctoral fellowship there in 2019, focusing on augmented reality applications in healthcare simulation.

Her educational background includes an MS in Digital Arts and Sciences from the University of Florida (2006) and a BS in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics from the Lebanese American University (2004).

Dr. Daher's research is centered on healthcare simulation and technology, particularly through the development of augmented reality systems. She pioneered the concept of Physical-Virtual Patients (PVP), which integrate real-time tactile, auditory, and visual cues to create immersive medical training environments. Her work bridges computer graphics, virtual and augmented reality, synthetic environments, and 3D character modeling with realistic facial expressions and body language. This research has applications in healthcare, education, and military training.

Her publications from 2015 to 2020 reflect a consistent focus on interactive simulation technologies, especially AR-based patient simulators, touch sensing interfaces, and social presence in virtual environments. The work demonstrates interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly with medical and human-computer interaction experts.

• National Center for Women and Technology (NCWIT) National Award Winner (2018)
• RADM Fred Lewis (I/ITSEC) Scholarship (2017)
• Link Fellowship for Modeling, Simulation and Training (2016)
• UCF Modeling and Simulation Scholarship (2013, 2014, 2015)
• IEEE VR 2017 Doctoral Consortium
• Nominated for UCF’s Order of Pegasus Award (2018)
• Nominated for UCF’s Outstanding Dissertation Award (2019)

Dr. Daher has advised and collaborated with students and researchers on projects involving augmented reality patient simulators, virtual humans, and interactive environments. Her work has been supported through competitive fellowships and scholarships. Prior to her academic career, she worked as a multimedia software developer at Vcom3D, leading simulation projects for education, healthcare, and military applications, including a multilingual cultural translator for the U.S. Army.

She has been involved in the development of 3D synthetic environments and virtual human models, particularly through her work at UCF's Synthetic Reality Lab and the Digital Worlds Institute. Her projects often involve interdisciplinary teams focused on creating realistic, interactive simulations for training and education.