Who We Are?

Our Mission

The UCSIM | Center for Simulations & Virtual Environments Research develops world-class immersive technology applications for research, scientific collaboration, and higher education. We help researchers solve urgent real-world problems in safe virtual spaces, encourage faculty and administrators to re-imagine the university experience with virtual and augmented reality, and partner with industry to develop innovative data visualizations, training simulations, and user experiences. Our multidisciplinary approach combines subject matter expertise from the university’s scientific community with UCSIM’s technical expertise in augmented and virtual reality application development, computer simulations, 3D modeling, UX/UI, and instructional design to create applications that unleash the potential for scientific discovery, innovation, and new learning capabilities with immersive technologies. 

MEET THE TEAM

MEET THE TEAM

Chris M. Collins | Associate Director, Research Technologies

Chris M. Collins founded the UCSIM | Center for Simulations & Virtual Environments Research at the University of Cincinnati and serves as the Center’s technical lead. Her work focuses on the use of immersive technologies and virtual environments for scientific collaboration, academic research, and higher education in the Office of Research Division of Strategic Programs & Signature Initiatives. 

Prior to her current position, Chris worked in the University of Cincinnati Information Technology (IT@UC) department for twenty years in a variety of roles, as a consultant for faculty in the Faculty Technology Resources Center and serving as Business Manager for the Presentation Technology Services Group. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Cincinnati.

Chris M. Collins | Associate Director, Research Technologies

Chris M. Collins founded the UCSIM | Center for Simulations & Virtual Environments Research at the University of Cincinnati and serves as the Center’s technical lead. Her work focuses on the use of immersive technologies and virtual environments for scientific collaboration, academic research, and higher education in the Office of Research Division of Strategic Programs & Signature Initiatives. 

Prior to her current position, Chris worked in the University of Cincinnati Information Technology (IT@UC) department for twenty years in a variety of roles, as a consultant for faculty in the Faculty Technology Resources Center and serving as Business Manager for the Presentation Technology Services Group. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Cincinnati.

Eric Camper | Computer & Info Analyst

Eric Camper has an MFA in Electronic Art from DAAP. He has been working in video, 3D modeling, virtual reality, sound design, motion capture, and animation for 20 years. He has been teaching at the college level for 15 years and is currently also an adjunct assistant professor in eMedia at UC Blue Ash. Eric is a long time advocate for VR, seeing it as the last, and most powerful art medium or means of communication.

Eric Camper | Computer & Info Analyst

Eric Camper has a MFA in Electronic Art from DAAP.  He has been working in video, 3D modeling, virtual reality, sound design, motion capture and animation for 20 years. He has been teaching at the college level for 15 years and is currently also an adjunct assistant professor in eMedia at UC Blue Ash. Eric is a long time advocate for VR, seeing it as the last, and most powerful art medium or means of communication.

Ryan Gorsuch | Software Applications Developer

Ryan Gorsuch is responsible for providing software architecture for UCSIM developed applications. He develops and expands functionality of new and existing products and through code and design, creates novel and intuitive means for interacting with virtual environments. 

Ryan Gorsuch | Software Applications Developer

Ryan Gorsuch is responsible for providing software architecture for UCSIM developed applications. He develops and expands functionality of new and existing products and through code and design, creates novel and intuitive means for interacting with virtual environments.

 

ryan tinney

Ryan Tinney | Software Applications Developer

Ryan earned his Master’s in Art Education from the College of Design, Art, Architecture, & Planning at the University of Cincinnati. Ryan is a game developer, an artist, and a teacher. He has taught several game development courses ranging from middle school to college level courses. It is his goal to use game development technology as a tool for education and research.

Ryan Tinney | Software Applications Developer

Ryan earned his Master’s in Art Education from the College of Design, Art, Architecture, & Planning at the University of Cincinnati. Ryan is a game developer, an artist, and a teacher. He has taught several game development courses ranging from middle school to college level courses. It is his goal to use game development technology as a tool for education and research.

Co-Op Students

Branden Bodnar | 3D Modeling & Animation

Branden Bodnar is a third year student at UC pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Digital Media with an 3D generalist focus. He has been working in Unity and Maya since 2017 and now works as a 3D generalist at UCSIM.

Branden Bodnar | 3D Modeling & Animation

Branden Bodnar is a third year student at UC pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Digital Media with an 3D generalist focus. He has been working in Unity and Maya since 2017 and now works as a 3D modeler and animator at UCSIM.

Brandon Griffin | Audio & Hardware Engineer

Brandon Griffin is a second year student at UC pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in IT for Game Design & Simulation. He graduated in 2020 from Butler Tech Career center with a love for computers and has since then has built, studied & troubleshooted them. As an Audio Engineer & Hardware Specialist, he gets hands on with all kinds of computers, consoles, VR’s while also designing audio and voiceovers for projects.  

Brandon Griffin | Audio & Hardware Engineer

Brandon Griffin is a second year student at UC pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in IT for Game Design & Simulation. He graduated in 2020 from Butler Tech Career Center with a love for computers and has since built, studied, and enjoyed troubleshooting them. As an Audio Engineer & Hardware Specialist, he is responsible for maintaining UCSIM’s hardware assets while also designing audio and voice overs for AR and VR projects.  

Thomas Martin | Software Developer

Thomas Martin is a student in UC’s IT program. He is in both the Software Application Development track, and the Game Development and Simulation, and is working towards a Bachelor’s Degree. This is his fourth co-op cycle. He has worked in unity before in school, and even did a senior project involving Unity. 

Thomas Martin | Software Developer

Thomas Martin is a student in the CECH  IT program. He is working towards a Bachelor’s Degree in both the Software Application Development track and the Game Development & Simulation program. This is his fourth co-op and he previously worked with Unity in high school, including a senior project using the Unity game development engine. 

Lucas Thielmann | Software Developer

Lucas Thielmann is a third year student at the University of Cincinnati, majoring in Information Technology with a focus on game design and simulation. He graduated from Walnut Hills High School in 2019 and is currently spending his first co-op rotation working on the dev team at UCSIM. He works in Unity to develop software for VR and is glad to be at the forefront of implementing virtual reality as a practical tool that can be used for a variety of purposes. 

Lucas Thielmann | Software Developer

Lucas Thielmann is a third year student at the University of Cincinnati, majoring in Information Technology with a focus on Game Design & Simulation. He graduated from Walnut Hills High School in 2019 and is currently spending his first co-op rotation working on the development team at UCSIM. He works with the Unity game development engine to develop AR/VR applications and is excited to be at the forefront of implementing virtual reality as a practical tool that can be used for a variety of purposes. 

Student workers

Summer Gasaway | Software Developer

Summer is a third year at UC pursuing a Bachelor’s in IT with a focus in game development. She graduated from Hilliard Darby High School in 2018 with honors and eighteen credit hours of college completed. She currently works in Unity as a software developer, assisting Ryan and Zach with developing, debugging, and play testing games for AR and VR. She also helps with the management and regulation of the UC Sim website through WordPress, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Summer Gasaway | Software Developer

Summer is a third year at UC pursuing a Bachelor’s in IT with a focus in game development. She graduated from Hilliard Darby High School in 2018 with honors and eighteen credit hours of college completed. She currently works in Unity as a software developer, developing, debugging, and play testing games for AR and VR. She also helps with the management of the UCSIM website through WordPress, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Zach Filla | Software Developer

Zach Filla is a third year student at UC pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in IT with a cybersecurity focus. He graduated with honors from Batavia High School in 2018 and since then has pursued virtual reality first as a hobby and now as a student software developer with UCSIM. As a software developer, he has been able to use new and emerging technologies as they are released while also working on the medium he believes will define the future. 

Zach Filla | Software Developer

Zach Filla is a third year student at UC pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in IT with a cybersecurity focus. He graduated with honors from Batavia High School in 2018 and since then has pursued virtual reality first as a hobby and now as a student software developer with UCSIM. As a software developer, he has been able to use new and emerging technologies as they are released while also working on the medium he believes will define the future.

Chris Brady| Software Developer

Chris Brady is a third year IT student with a focus in Gaming and Simulation. He has worked with game SDKs since 2014, has worked with Unity since 2017, and has worked with JavaScript since 2020. He is starting at UC Sim as a developer. 

Chris Brady | Software Developer

Chris Brady is a third year IT student with a focus in Gaming and Simulation. He has worked with game SDKs since 2014, has worked with Unity since 2017, and has worked with JavaScript since 2020. He is starting at UC Sim as a developer. 

Isaiah Wolf | 3D Modeling & Animation

Isaiah Wolf is a third year in UC’s DMC program and is perusing 3-D animation and or modeling, but with a generalist view on all media types. Isaiah is working at UCSIM as a 3-D modeler and animator.    

Isaiah Wolf | 3D Modeling & Animation

Isaiah Wolf is a third year in UC’s Digital Media Collaborative program and is pursuing a degree in 3-D animation and modeling, but with a generalist view on all media types. Isaiah is working at UCSIM as a 3-D modeler and animator.    

Logan Herbst | Animation

Logan Herbst is a fourth-year student at the University of Cincinnati, pursuing a bachelor’s in digital media with a focus in 3D Animation and Illustration. He has been working with Maya since 2019 and has been using Krita and Adobe Illustrator since 2015. His talent in illustration has been utilized by multiple organizations over the years, including The University of Cincinnati, CVS and America’s Foot Center. Currently, he is using his newfound 3D animation prowess to produce virtual and augmented reality simulations with UCSIM. 

Logan Herbst | Animation

Logan Herbst is a fourth-year student at the University of Cincinnati, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Digital Media with a focus in 3D Animation and Illustration. He has been working with Maya since 2019 and has been using Krita and Adobe Illustrator since 2015. His talent in illustration has been utilized by multiple organizations, including the University of Cincinnati, CVS and America’s Foot Center. Currently, he is developing 3D animations to produce virtual and augmented reality simulations with UCSIM. 

Arunesh Mishra| Student Worker Admin/ Software Developer

Arunesh is a 4th year student majoring in Computer Engineering with focus on Deep Learning. He has completed 3 Internships so far and will be working with Volvo Group for upcoming Spring as a Mechatronics Intern. He also working as Battery Lead for UC’s Formula SAE electric car developing Lithium-Ion battery pack. Outside classes, Arunesh loves hiking, exploring new paces and trying different cuisines!

Arunesh Mishra| Student Worker Admin/ Software Developer

Logan Herbst is a fourth-year student at the University of Cincinnati, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Digital Media with a focus in 3D Animation and Illustration. He has been working with Maya since 2019 and has been using Krita and Adobe Illustrator since 2015. His talent in illustration has been utilized by multiple organizations, including the University of Cincinnati, CVS and America’s Foot Center. Currently, he is developing 3D animations to produce virtual and augmented reality simulations with UCSIM. 

Scott Lanham | UI/UX Designer & 3D Modeler

Scott is a Game Developer and 3D Modeler currently studying in UC’s School of IT.  He has worked with UCSIM on and off since 2018 and has worked on UI design, 2D and 3D asset creation, UX design, and some sound editing.  He has worked on several exciting projects here and looks forward to doing more. 

Scott Lanham | UI/UX Designer & 3D Modeler

Scott is a Game Developer and 3D Modeler who has just received a Bachelor’s in Game Design from University of Cincinnati’s School of IT.  He has worked with UCSIM since 2018 and has worked on UI design, 2D and 3D asset creation, UX design, and some sound editing.  He has worked on several exciting projects, including Hope After Hate, the Medicaid Equity Simulation Project, Patient Decontamination Virtual Training, and the UC Bicentennial project.