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Richard Zhao is an assistant professor of computer science and software engineering at the Behrend College of the Pennsylvania State University. He received his B.S. degree in Computer Science from the University of Toronto, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Computing Science from the University of Alberta in 2009 and 2015, respectively. His research focuses on the applications of artificial intelligence in games and virtual reality, as well as machine learning techniques for social media.

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Dr. Faisal Aqlan is an assistant professor of Industrial Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University, The Behrend College. He received his PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering form The State University of New York at Binghamton in 2013. He has industry experience with IBM Corporation and Innovation Associates Company. His research interests include manufacturing education, simulation and automation, process improvement, ergonomics, supply chain, and cyberlearning. He has published more than 115 peer-reviewed research articles in reputed conferences and journals and received multiple best paper awards. Aqlan also holds 7 U.S. patents/patent applications and is the recipient of two NSF grants ($800K) and several internal and in-kind grants ($30M). He has received numerous awards and honors including the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence Award, Industrial Engineering and Operations Management Young Researcher Award, School of Engineering Distinguished Award for Excellence in Research, Council of Fellows Faculty Research Award, IBM Vice President Award for Innovation Excellence, IBM Lean Recognition Award, Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Research, and Outstanding Academic Achievement in Graduate Studies. He was recently named 40 Under 40: Class of 2019 by the Erie Reader. His projects and achievements have been recognized by U.S. Senators and Representatives. Aqlan is a member of ASEE, ASQ, SME, and IEOM. He is also a senior member of IISE and has served as president of IISE Logistics and Supply Chain Division, co-founder of IISE Modeling and Simulation Division, director of IISE Young Professionals Group, founder and faculty advisor of IISE Behrend Chapter, faculty chair of IISE Northeast Conference, and track chair in IISE Annual Conference. He currently serves as IISE Vice President of Student Development and holds a seat on IISE Board of Trustees. He also serves on IISE Technical Operations Board and leads IISE Cup initiative, which is an international competition to recognize organizations for innovative and effective implementation of industrial and systems engineering principles and practices that deliver exemplary business performance improvement.

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Lisa Jo Elliott earned her PhD in Engineering Psychology at New Mexico State University where she worked at one of the first unmanned aerial systems test centers. In this role, she worked closely with the UAS pilots on training. Dr. Elliott enjoys teaching statistics, research methods, experience design, and engineering psychology to the next generation of engineers and psychologists. Her research interests include XD, metacognition in training, and haptic interfaces.

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Ethan Baxter is a sophomore studying for his undergrad at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College for Computer Science in the engineering department. He has been a part of multiple research opportunities on his campus since he started in summer of 2018. He is experienced in developing Simulations and Games in different software suites, and 3d printing practices. With passion for the university he has held positions in both the National Association of Computing Machinery chapter at Behrend and a position in the Game Developers Club at Behrend.

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