Michael Villano

Biography

Dr. Mike Villano is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology where he provides research computing consultative services in all phases of the research software development life cycle: feasibility studies, requirements gathering and analysis, software architecture and user interface design, implementation (coding in more than 20 computer languages/environments), testing/calibration, deployment and maintenance. He collaborates with faculty, graduate students and undergraduate research assistants to facilitate and promote effective and efficient use and integration of research computing resources and audio/video technologies within their labs, the department and the university. Dr. Villano conducts research in human robotic interaction and applications of VR, video game and robot technology to a variety of health and social issues. Current projects include investigating moral decision-making of drone pilots in a simulated 3D game environment and utilizing VR for the study of proxemics (personal space) and human-robotic interaction. Dr. Villano is also the Co-Director of the Virtual Reality Laboratory where he developed a VR simulation of an on campus building atrium to study VR acrophobia exposure therapy, a shopping mall for the study of prospective memory and a virtual boardroom to study corporate strategic decision-making.