Who ARE WE?
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.
OUR FACILITIES
DIGITAL FUTURES AR/VR & MOTION CAPTURE LAB
The Digital Futures AR/VR & Motion Capture Lab is a premier, state-of-the-art immersive technology research facility featuring a suite of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), simulation, haptic, biometric, and motion capture systems to conduct research.
The Digital Futures AR/VR & Motion Capture Lab encompasses 3,424 sq. ft. of laboratory space, including a large volume 20’ x 30’ virtual reality play space that can accommodate up to 4 simultaneous individual or multi-player users, a VR-based driving simulator, biometric data capture stations, and a large volume 20’ x 30’ motion capture facility.
DIGITAL FUTURES CREATIVE MEDIA STUDIOS
The Digital Futures Creative Media Studios is a shared facility available for Digital Futures researchers, NPOs, and our industry partners.
The Video studio features a video production suite that includes green screen capabilities, mounted and tripod cameras for multiple angle shots, and a cozy studio space for interviews and live or recorded broadcasts. The Audio studio serves as a dedicated space for voice recording and can record using up to 8 microphones at a time.
The studios are available 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday during regular business hours
MEET THE TEAM
MEET THE TEAM
Chris M. Collins | Associate Director, Research Technologies
Director, Center for Simulations & Virtual Environments Research
Chris M. Collins founded the UCSIM | Center for Simulations & Virtual Environments Research at the University of Cincinnati. Her work focuses on the use of immersive technologies and virtual environments for scientific collaboration, academic research, and higher education. She serves in the Office of Research Strategic Programs & Initiatives department as an Associate Director IT for Research Technologies, and as Director of the Center for Simulations & Virtual Environments Research, which houses two facilities including the Digital Futures AR/VR & Motion Capture Lab and the Digital Futures Creative Media Studios.
Prior to her current position, she worked in the University of Cincinnati Information Technology (IT@UC) department for more than twenty years in a variety of roles to transform emerging technologies into sustainable, enterprise services for the university community. Chris was also a founding member of the University of Cincinnati Staff Senate and served as Secretary (2018-2019), Chair (2019-2021), and Past-Chair (2021-2022), and currently serves as a Senator (2023-2025). She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Cincinnati.
Chris M. Collins | Associate Director, Research Technologies
Director, Center for Simulations & Virtual Environments Research
Chris M. Collins founded the UCSIM | Center for Simulations & Virtual Environments Research at the University of Cincinnati. Her work focuses on the use of immersive technologies and virtual environments for scientific collaboration, academic research, and higher education. She serves in the Office of Research Strategic Programs & Initiatives department as an Associate Director IT for Research Technologies, and as Director of the Center for Simulations & Virtual Environments Research, which houses two facilities including the Digital Futures AR/VR & Motion Capture Lab and the Digital Futures Creative Media Studios.
Prior to her current position, she worked in the University of Cincinnati Information Technology (IT@UC) department for more than twenty years in a variety of roles to transform emerging technologies into sustainable, enterprise services for the university community. Chris was also a founding member of the University of Cincinnati Staff Senate and served as Secretary (2018-2019), Chair (2019-2021), and Past-Chair (2021-2022), and currently serves as a Senator (2023-2025). She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Cincinnati.
Ryan Gorsuch | Software Team Lead & Architect
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 Team Lead & Architect
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.
Mae Seay | Program Manager
Mae Seay serves as the Program Manager for UCSIM. She has over 10 years’ experience in entertainment production and systems integration across a variety of mediums and is focused on exploring all the ways virtual environments can be sued to forge new paths in research, education, and accessibility. Mae has an MFA in Technical Production and Design from The University of Alabama. She enjoys spending her free time working on one of her many house projects, building in her woodshop, or playing with her ball-crazy pup, Rosie.
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
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
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.
Student workers
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