faculty

Dr. Christine Lisetti
Director, Affective Social Computing Laboratory
Associate Professor, School of Computing and Information Sciences
email: lisetti(at)cis.fiu.edu
homepage URL: http://www.cis.fiu.edu/~lisetti
lab URL: http://ascl.cis.fiu.edu
Christine Lisetti's long-term research goal is to create digital and engaging socially intelligent agents that can interact naturally with humans via expressive multi-modalities in a variety of contexts involving socio-emotional content (e.g. empathetic health coach, social companion, cyber-therapy, intelligent tutoring system, serious/educational game).
Director, Affective Social Computing Laboratory
Associate Professor, School of Computing and Information Sciences
email: lisetti(at)cis.fiu.edu
homepage URL: http://www.cis.fiu.edu/~lisetti
lab URL: http://ascl.cis.fiu.edu
Christine Lisetti's long-term research goal is to create digital and engaging socially intelligent agents that can interact naturally with humans via expressive multi-modalities in a variety of contexts involving socio-emotional content (e.g. empathetic health coach, social companion, cyber-therapy, intelligent tutoring system, serious/educational game).

Dr. Mihai Polceanu
Research Associate, Affective Social Computing Laboratory
Florida International University
email: mpolcean(at)cs.fiu.edu
Research Associate, Affective Social Computing Laboratory
Florida International University
email: mpolcean(at)cs.fiu.edu

Dr. Cedric Buche
Visiting Faculty, Affective Social Computing Laboratory, FIU
Associate Professor, CERV Virtual Reality and AI
Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Brest (ENIB)
FRANCE
Visiting Faculty, Affective Social Computing Laboratory, FIU
Associate Professor, CERV Virtual Reality and AI
Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Brest (ENIB)
FRANCE
Ph.D. students

Stephanie Lunn will join ASCL as a PhD student in computer science in the Spring of 2017. She has been a Research Assistant at ASCL since summer 2015, fusing her background in neuroscience with computer science.
Stephanie previously obtained a B.S. and M.S. degree from the University of Miami in Neuroscience, graduating Cum Laude and with General Honors.
Stephanie previously obtained a B.S. and M.S. degree from the University of Miami in Neuroscience, graduating Cum Laude and with General Honors.
Master students

Guido Ruiz
Guido Ruiz is a Master student in Computer Science in the School of Computing and Information Sciences starting Spring 2016. Guido joined ASCL in Fall 2013 as an undergraduate research assistant supported by research grants.
Guido has been the first ASCL 3D graphic artist since he started at ASC, auto-didactly becoming proficient in PhotoShop, Blender, Unity, and webGL. He first worked on evaluating facial expression animations for 3D characters, including their scientific validation in terms of human subjects' perception (Amini, Lisetti, and Ruiz, 2014). He then studied the state of the act in graphics for web-based browser-independent graphics, and developed a technique to create realistic 3D environments (e.g. counseling office), and human-like 3D characters in webGL (including 3D mobile eye lashes and hair), including meshes and texture maps, for the federally-funded EEVA project. He designed and developed the 3D classroom environment for the federally-funded IVT project, He is also interested in theory of mind, artificial intelligence, philosophy and politics.
Guido Ruiz is a Master student in Computer Science in the School of Computing and Information Sciences starting Spring 2016. Guido joined ASCL in Fall 2013 as an undergraduate research assistant supported by research grants.
Guido has been the first ASCL 3D graphic artist since he started at ASC, auto-didactly becoming proficient in PhotoShop, Blender, Unity, and webGL. He first worked on evaluating facial expression animations for 3D characters, including their scientific validation in terms of human subjects' perception (Amini, Lisetti, and Ruiz, 2014). He then studied the state of the act in graphics for web-based browser-independent graphics, and developed a technique to create realistic 3D environments (e.g. counseling office), and human-like 3D characters in webGL (including 3D mobile eye lashes and hair), including meshes and texture maps, for the federally-funded EEVA project. He designed and developed the 3D classroom environment for the federally-funded IVT project, He is also interested in theory of mind, artificial intelligence, philosophy and politics.
Undergraduate students

Geeticka Chauhan
Geeticka Chauhan is an undergraduate student in the FIU Honors College and in Computer Science at Florida International University. She is the recipient of the FIU Presidential Scholarship for Undergraduate Studies.
She joined ASCL in Summer 2015, with a keen interest in artificial intelligence, starting with logic-based agents using ontology reasoning, and toward the processing of ontological reasoning to improve current natural language dialog management techniques.
Geeticka Chauhan is an undergraduate student in the FIU Honors College and in Computer Science at Florida International University. She is the recipient of the FIU Presidential Scholarship for Undergraduate Studies.
She joined ASCL in Summer 2015, with a keen interest in artificial intelligence, starting with logic-based agents using ontology reasoning, and toward the processing of ontological reasoning to improve current natural language dialog management techniques.

Daniel Rivero
Daniel Rivero is an undergraduate computer science student at Flordia international University.
He joined ASCL in Summer 2015 with an eagerness to learn advanced computer programming, and to operate on Linux.
Daniel Rivero is an undergraduate computer science student at Flordia international University.
He joined ASCL in Summer 2015 with an eagerness to learn advanced computer programming, and to operate on Linux.

Santiago Bolivar
Santiago Bolivar is an undergraduate who joined ASCL in Fall 2013. His project involves integrating HCI principles in agent-based health interventions.
Santiago Bolivar is an undergraduate who joined ASCL in Fall 2013. His project involves integrating HCI principles in agent-based health interventions.
ASCL Alumni
Ph.D. students

Dr. Reza Amini, PhD in Computer Science, Florida International University, 2015.
Upon graduation, Dr. Amini became Senior Research Software Engineer at the multi-milion dollar Corporation - iPSoft - to continue working on the application to industry of what he studied in his PhD dissertation topic - namely, namely How to construct believable 3D models of non-verbal behavior to create realistic intelligent avatars?
He had joined ASCL in Fall 2011 with a Master in Electrical Engineering and a Bachelor in Electrical Engineering, and 2-year experience as an electrical circuits designer. He is a certified FACS coder of facial expressions.
Upon graduation, Dr. Amini became Senior Research Software Engineer at the multi-milion dollar Corporation - iPSoft - to continue working on the application to industry of what he studied in his PhD dissertation topic - namely, namely How to construct believable 3D models of non-verbal behavior to create realistic intelligent avatars?
He had joined ASCL in Fall 2011 with a Master in Electrical Engineering and a Bachelor in Electrical Engineering, and 2-year experience as an electrical circuits designer. He is a certified FACS coder of facial expressions.

Dr. Ugan Yasavur, PhD in Computer Science, Florida International University, 2014.
Upon graduation, Dr. Yasavur became a Senior Research Software Engineer at the multi-milion dollar Corporation - iPSoft - to continue working on the application to industry of what he studied in his PhD dissertation topic - namely, how to build dialog management systems to enable flowing conversations with intelligent avatars?
He had joined ASCL in Spring 2011, where he became a certified FACS coder of facial expressions.
Upon graduation, Dr. Yasavur became a Senior Research Software Engineer at the multi-milion dollar Corporation - iPSoft - to continue working on the application to industry of what he studied in his PhD dissertation topic - namely, how to build dialog management systems to enable flowing conversations with intelligent avatars?
He had joined ASCL in Spring 2011, where he became a certified FACS coder of facial expressions.

Olivier Villon, Doctorat d’État en Informatique, Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, FRANCE, 2007.

Dr. Fatma Nasoz, PhD in Computer Science, University of Central Florida, 2004.
Dr. Nasoz became Assistant Professor in the Department of Informatics, University of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Dr. Nasoz became Assistant Professor in the Department of Informatics, University of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Master students
- Shakil Md Ahamed, graduated from ASCL FIU in 2014.
- Tessa Verhoef, visiting FIU ASCL from the University of Groningen, The Netherlands in 2008.
- Damien Birraux, graduated from ASCL when located at Institut Eurecom/ENST-Sophia Antipolis, FRANCE in 2007.
- Eric Bahini, graduated from ASCL when located at Institut Eurecom/ENST-Sophia Antipolis, FRANCE in 2007.
- Charles Lecoq, graduated from ASCL when located at Institut Eurecom/ENST-Sophia Antipolis, FRANCE in 2007.
- Agnes Abastado, graduated from ASCL when located at Institut Eurecom/ENST-Sophia Antipolis, FRANCE in 2007.
- Mikko Lethonen, graduated from ASCL when located at Institut Eurecom/ENST-Sophia Antipolis, FRANCE in 2006.
- Marco Paleari, graduated from ASCL when located at the Institut Eurecom/ENST-Sophia Antipolis, FRANCE in 2006.
- Guillaume Bastard, graduated from ASCL when located at the Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, FRANCE in 2005.
- Andreas Marpaung, graduated from ASCL when located at the University of Central in Orlando, Florida, USA in 2004.
- Russ Tardif, graduated from ASCL when located at the University of South in Tampa, Florida, USA in 2003.
Undergraduate students

Jorge Travieso
Jorge Travis graduated with a Bachelor in Computing Science in 2015 and had joined ASCL in Fall 2013. He is now a software engineer working at iPSoft since he graduated.
He worked with Ugan Yasavur (above) on sentiment analysis and emotion recognition from text, funded by a grant from Numedeon-NSF. His work has been published in conferences.
Jorge Travis graduated with a Bachelor in Computing Science in 2015 and had joined ASCL in Fall 2013. He is now a software engineer working at iPSoft since he graduated.
He worked with Ugan Yasavur (above) on sentiment analysis and emotion recognition from text, funded by a grant from Numedeon-NSF. His work has been published in conferences.

Shadeh Ferris-Francis
Shadeh Ferris-Francis is an undergraduate student who joined ASCL in Spring 2014.
Shadeh works on building virtual characters with a personality.
Shadeh Ferris-Francis is an undergraduate student who joined ASCL in Spring 2014.
Shadeh works on building virtual characters with a personality.

Karen Fernandez Silva
Karen Fernandez Silva joined ASCL in 2012 as a McNair Program Fellow.
Karen is interested in human-computer interaction (HCI). She was involved in applying HCI principles to an existing ASCL system for promoting healthy lifestyles.
Karen has been accepted in the computer science graduate program at the University of Michigan.
Karen Fernandez Silva joined ASCL in 2012 as a McNair Program Fellow.
Karen is interested in human-computer interaction (HCI). She was involved in applying HCI principles to an existing ASCL system for promoting healthy lifestyles.
Karen has been accepted in the computer science graduate program at the University of Michigan.

Claudia de Leon
Claudia de Leon was an ASCL intern funded by grant from Vcom3D–NSF throughout 2011. She is also a certified FACS coder of facial expressions.
At ASCL, she worked on emotion recognition of human facial expressions based on the Facial Action Coding System (FACS), and became a certified FACS coder of facial expressions.
Claudia then joined Ultimate Software where she is a Software Test Engineer.
Claudia de Leon was an ASCL intern funded by grant from Vcom3D–NSF throughout 2011. She is also a certified FACS coder of facial expressions.
At ASCL, she worked on emotion recognition of human facial expressions based on the Facial Action Coding System (FACS), and became a certified FACS coder of facial expressions.
Claudia then joined Ultimate Software where she is a Software Test Engineer.
- Gabriel Lizarraga, ASCL intern funded by grant from Computing Research Association Women (CRA-W) Distributed Mentoring Program, Gabriel then accepted in FIU SCIS Ph.D program, 2008.
- Karen Perez, ASCL intern funded by grant from Computing Research Association Women (CRA-W) Distributed Mentoring Program, 2008.
- Sarah Brown, ASCL intern funded by grant from Computing Research Association Women (CRA-W) Distributed Mentoring Program, 2003. Received Grace Hopper Scholarship; then accepted as CS Graduate Student, Simon Fraiser University, Canada.
- Eric Baumer, Received UC Irvine Dean’s Scholarship; then accepted as Ph.D. student, University of California Irvine, 2002.