Meet Our Team
We are a diverse and multidisciplinary group of researchers, scholars, designers, dreamers, and explorers. We bring together experts within artificial intelligence, cognitive psychology, virtual reality, and design. We collaborate on cutting-edge research that advances the science of experiences.
Faculty and Staff
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Rogelio E. Cardona-Rivera, Ph.D.
Director & Assistant Professor, Division of Games
(he/they)
Rogelio E. Cardona-Rivera, Ph.D.
Director & Assistant Professor, Division of Games
Dr. Rogelio E. Cardona-Rivera is an Assistant Professor and Founding Faculty of the Division of Games at the University of Utah, where they direct the Laboratory for Quantitative Experience Design. Prior to joining the faculty at Utah, Rogelio was a research scientist at Sandia National Laboratories and Disney Research, and earned their BSc in Computer Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez and PhD in Computer Science from North Carolina State University. Rogelio has authored over 40 articles and books and has obtained nearly $1.5 million in support for their research program toward establishing a science of game design, including the Early Career Scholar Award from the Mellon Foundation-funded Design Justice AI Institute, the CAREER Award and collaborative grants from the National Science Foundation, sponsorships from the games industry, and grants from the Department of Energy, IARPA, and the US Naval Research Laboratory.
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Munzer Abusham, Ph.D.
Research Scientist, and Studio Division Lead UX Specialist
Dr. Monthir Ali is a Sudanese virtual reality (VR) researcher with a PhD in Computer Science and expertise in VR perception and interaction. Monthir's research centers on gaze guidance and event segmentation within virtual reality environments. Dr. Ali is passionate about leveraging VR technology to improve gameplay experiences and learning outcomes.
R&D Division Students
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M. Gardone, M.Sc.
Computing Ph.D. Student
(they/them)
M. Gardone, M.Sc.
Computing Ph.D. Student
M. Gardone is a Ph.D. candidate within the Kahlert School of Computing at the University of Utah. Their research spans computational psychology, artificial intelligence, interactive storytelling, planning, [science of] game design, and machine learning.
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James Youngblood
Computing M.Sc. Student
James Youngblood is master's student in Computing at the University of Utah, with an emphasis on graphics and visualization. His research in the lab involves computer vision in games: predicting human visual behavior such that a designer (or the computer, as the case may be) has a better understanding of what the player has seen. His other interests include virtual simulations and emergent narrative.
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Pablo Sauma-Chacón, M.Sc.
Computing Ph.D. Student
Pablo Sauma-Chacón is a Ph.D. candidate within the Kahlert School of Computing at the University of Utah. His research spans AI in Games, Automated Planning.
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Austin Fashimpaur
Computing B.Sc. Student
(he/him)
Austin Fashimpaur
Computing B.Sc. Student
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Theodore Grant, MEAE
CRA CSGrad4US Fellow & Computing Ph.D. Student
(he/him)
Theodore Grant, MEAE
CRA CSGrad4US Fellow & Computing Ph.D. Student
Theo Grant is a professional game developer, Ph.D. student within the Kahlert School of Computing, and CSGrad4US Fellow of the Computing Research Association. Before returning to the U after completing his MEAE in the Utah Division of Games, he briefly worked in the game industry alongside various studios like Amazon Games and TiMi Studio Group. Theo’s research involves how psychology and neuroscience can better inform and optimize our design of different artificial intelligence algorithms, in particular game AI algorithms. 
Ella Violet León-Evans
Games B.Sc. Student
(she/her)
Ella Violet León-Evans
Games B.Sc. Student
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Amanda Nayes
Visiting Scholar & Information Science M.Sc. Student, University of Michigan
Amanda Nayes is a Master of Information Science student at the University of Michigan, who is currently visiting the laboratory to work on diverse projects centered on formal methods in game design. She specializes in games user research and uses mixed methodologies to explore the emotional impact of digital games on players.
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Dialma Dgarym Quiroz
McNair Scholar & Games B.Sc. Student
(she/her/any)
Dialma Dgarym Quiroz
McNair Scholar & Games B.Sc. Student
Dialma Dgarym Quiroz is an undergrad McNair Scholar with the QED Lab. Dialma's McNair Summer Intensive Research topic is Virtual Reality (VR) and its cognitive impact. They are currently working towards obtaining a B.Sc. in Games with a focus in VR, and has the ultimate goal of earning a Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction. Studio Division
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Jeongin (Theo) Lee
(she/her)
Jeongin (Theo) Lee
Theo joined the QED Lab in Summer 2024 as a UX Researcher for the Studio Division, working on Subtle Gaze Guidance in Virtual Reality environments.
QED Lab Alumni
These remarkable individuals are no longer an active part of the lab's daily activities, but they remain a part of our community. If you are one of our lab alumni and would like to update (or remove) your presence on this page, please reach out to the lab director.
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Yunxiao Cai, MEAE
Engineering Lead, Studio Division (10/2023-08/2024)
(he/him)
Yunxiao Cai, MEAE
Engineering Lead, Studio Division (10/2023-08/2024)
Yunxiao joined the QED Lab as a TA for CS 5360/6360 in Fall 2023, and stayed on to serve as the Lead Engineer for the Studio Division's MathEVRE Project until Summer of 2024.
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Cole Elder, B.Sc.
Design Scientist, Studio Division (01/2024-08/2024)
(he/they)
Cole Elder, B.Sc.
Design Scientist, Studio Division (01/2024-08/2024)
Cole first engaged the lab in the context of the Spring 2022 offering of GAMES 4900: Psychology of Games, and then joined the lab as a Design Scientist in January 2024 as part of the Studio Division for the MathEVRE Project until Summer of 2024. Cole's interests lie in psychological approaches to game design, exploring how people can connect with games, and understanding what about games elicits emotional responses in people.
First position post-graduation: Production Fellow, Schell Games.
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Vincent Huang, MEAE
Technical Art Lead, Studio Division (10/2023-08/2024)
(he/him)
Vincent Huang, MEAE
Technical Art Lead, Studio Division (10/2023-08/2024)
Vincent joined the QED Lab as an RA for the lab in Fall 2023 working on attention cues in Virtual Reality, and stayed on to serve as the Lead Technical Artist as part of the Studio Division for the MathEVRE Project until Summer of 2024.
First position post-graduation: Graphics and Rendering Engineer, Fuzzy Door Tech
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Anastasiia Murza, MEAE
Art Lead, Studio Division (01/2024 - 08/2024)
(she/her)
Anastasiia Murza, MEAE
Art Lead, Studio Division (01/2024 - 08/2024)
Anastasiia joined the QED Lab in Spring 2024 as Lead Artist for the Studio Division's MathEVRE Project until Summer of 2024.
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Akash Singh, MEAE
Production Lead, Studio Division (01/2024 - 08/2024)
(he/him)
Akash Singh, MEAE
Production Lead, Studio Division (01/2024 - 08/2024)
Akash first engaged the lab in the context of the Spring 2022 offering of GAMES 4900: Psychology of Games, and then joined the lab as a Production Lead Scientist in the Spring of 2024 for the Studio Division's MathEVRE Project until Summer of 2024. Akash's interests lie in creating amazing team environments, and he lives by the creed: people first, not profits.