My research is centred on the development of autonomous, anthropomorphic virtual humans and bridges the domains of psychology, computer science, robotics, and neuroscience. 
In my Cybernetic Human Lab at Aston University (cs.aston.ac.uk/chl) we research virtual humans on the one hand for the application in computer games, training, etc, and on the other hand, we use virtual humans to develop and test models of human cognition, affect, personality, and behaviour regulation. Current projects with interactive virtual characters include an online, real-time Breathing relaxation system (Dar et al., 2022), social group influence (Cracco et al., 2022), the development of an architecture of reflexive behaviours (Bernardet et al., 2016), expression of personality in nonverbal communication (Bernardet & DiPaola, 2014; Saberi et al., 2014), and social-spatial behaviour (Karimaghalou et al., 2014). 
I have developed and implemented several installations and studies that explore the realm of immersion and real-time mixed-reality interaction. We have designed and conducted experimental studies that investigate the subjective sense of presence, navigation in virtual environments, enhancement of neurofeedback using VR, non-symbolic emotion expression, agency attribution human recollection performance, and mixed-reality social interaction I have worked in the domain of motivation and behaviour regulation since my master on social motivation.

Phone number:  0121 204 3893

Email:  [email protected] 

Room Number: MB214F