2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

1. Gayathri Boopathy University of Massachusetts Lowell [biography]

   Gayathri Boopathy is a Ph.D. student in Computer Engineering whose research focuses on augmented reality (AR), machine learning, physical therapy, MediaPipe, and human–computer interaction. Her work integrates immersive technology with Machine Learning and AI to design intelligent systems for motion analysis, gesture recognition, and rehabilitation support. Building on her previous research on AR-based hand tracking and movement classification, she explores the fusion of spatial computing and biomechanical modeling to advance digital health and interactive computing. Gayathri’s interdisciplinary approach bridges engineering, healthcare, and data science to develop impactful solutions for next-generation human–machine interfaces.

2. Emi Aoki University of Massachusetts Lowell [biography]

   Emi Aoki is a PhD student in Electrical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Her previous research experience has been in data analysis, computational modeling, and augmented reality application development and design. Her current research interests focus on modeling and simulation for digital twins and Model-Based Systems Engineering.

3. Flore Stécie Norcéide University of Massachusetts Lowell [biography]

   Flore Stecie Norceide is a PhD student in Electrical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Her research focuses on benchmarking hardware and software architectures for event driven computation with a focus on its application to object detection, tracking and pose estimation.

4. Ravi Kkumaar Sivasankar Venkata University of Massachusetts Lowell [biography]

   Ravi Kkumaar Sivasankar Venkata is a Master’s student in Computer Science at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. My work focuses on augmented reality, virtual reality, spatial computing, and human-computer interaction using AR devices and Unity. His research explores gesture-driven interaction systems, real-time hand tracking, immersive XR application and AI-integrated AR applications, with focus on rehabilitation, education and assistive technologies.

5. Dr. Erika S. Lewis University of Massachusetts Lowell [biography]

   Erika S. Lewis, PT, Ed.D., MS, CHT is an Associate Professor of Physical Therapy and Kinesiology Department at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She has expertise as a physical therapist (licensed since 1992) and a Certified Hand Therapist (credentialed since 1998). Dr. Lewis is co-founder of the UMOVE UMass Movement Research Center. Her research interests are musculoskeletal hand and upper extremity injuries, Augmented Reality for hand tracking and rehabilitation, Virtual Reality for Rehabilitation, specifically Virtual Reality Wheelchair Training, and 3D scanning and 3D printing wrist orthoses for people with chronic wrist pain and Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome. Other research topics include treatment outcomes, orthosis fabrication, emotional intelligence, stenosing tenosynovitis (trigger finger), and reliability in instruments.
   Dr. Lewis teaches the Musculoskeletal Lower Extremity and Upper Extremity Evaluation series lectures and labs in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program. Additionally, she is co-founder of the Exercise Science elective called “Adaptive Devices for Better Life” an interprofessional experiential undergraduate course with interdisciplinary teams (PTK, Art & Design, Mechanical Engineering) who meet community members and design and create devices to make participation and activities easier for people with alternate abilities. One student group, ZipperBuddy won first place in 2023, winning $5,000 at the Kennedy College of Engineering Prototype Competition to develop their invention. ZipperBuddy obtained a patent and became a company.
   Dr. Lewis is currently practicing at Rehab Health 360, Acton, MA where she evaluates and treats Hand and Upper Extremity patients including orthopedic, plastic surgery and neurological conditions and diagnoses.

6. Prof. Charles Thompson PhD University of Massachusetts Lowell [biography]

   Charles Thompson is Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Director of the Center for Advanced Computation and Telecommunications and formerly Associate to the Dean for Research and Graduate Study at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. He received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from New York University, a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of NewYork, and a Ph.D. in Acoustics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

   Upon graduation he became an Assistant Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. In 1987 he joined the Department Electrical and Computer Engineering at UMASS Lowell as its Analog Devices Career Development Professor. Dr. Thompson has served on the executive boards of the Cooperative Research Fellowship program of Bell Laboratories (1991-1999) and the AT&T Labs Fellowship Program (1996-2006).

   At Bell Laboratories Dr. Thompson created with the Vice President of Research and Nobel laureate, Arno Penizas, the W. Lincoln Hawkins Mentoring Excellence Award (1994). This award is given to a member of the research staff for fostering the career growth of Bell Labs students and associates. This award is Research’s highest honor for mentoring contributions. In 1998, AT&T Labs instituted a similar award named for Dr. Thompson.

   Charles Thompson is Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Director of the Center for Advanced Computation and Telecommunications and formerly Associate to the Dean for Research and Graduate Study at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. He received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from New York University, a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of NewYork, and a Ph.D. in Acoustics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

   Upon graduation he became an Assistant Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. In 1987 he joined the Department Electrical and Computer Engineering at UMASS Lowell as its Analog Devices Career Development Professor. Dr. Thompson has served on the executive boards of the Cooperative Research Fellowship program of Bell Laboratories (1991-1999) and the AT&T Labs Fellowship Program (1996-2006).

   At Bell Laboratories Dr. Thompson created with the Vice President of Research and Nobel laureate, Arno Penizas, the W. Lincoln Hawkins Mentoring Excellence Award (1994). This award is given to a member of the research staff for fostering the career growth of Bell Labs students and associates. This award is Research’s highest honor for mentoring contributions. In 1998, AT&T Labs instituted a similar award named for Dr. Thompson.

   His awards include the US Presidential Award for Excellence in Mentoring; Tau Beta Pi Eminent Engineer; James E. Blackwell Scholar; AT&T Bell Laboratories Cooperative Research Fellowship. He is cited in Who’s Who among African Americans, Education, and Technology Today; American Men and Women of Science, West Babylon Alumni Hall of Fame; He is a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America and cited for his fundamental contributions to theoretical and computational acoustics. He is senior member of IEEE, and a member of the American Physical Society and Sigma Xi. He has published reesearch in acoustics, control theory, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, linear and nonlinear systems, and telecommunications.

7. Prof. Kavitha Chandra University of Massachusetts Lowell [biography]

   Kavitha Chandra is the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Francis College of Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She directs the Research, Academics and Mentoring Pathways (RAMP) to Success summer bridge and academic program for new engineering students, preparing them with research, communication and leadership skills. Her research interests are in computational and data-driven modeling of physical systems in acoustics and communication networks, model-based systems engineering, user-centric design of emerging technology and engineering education.

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 21, 2026, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 24, 2026