People

Professor

Zhigang Deng

Professor of Computer Science
Director of the UH CGIM Lab

  • Ph.D.(Computer Science), University of Southern California, 2001 – 2006
  • M.Sc.(Computer Science), Peking University, China, 1997 – 2000
  • B.Sc.(Mathematics), Xiamen University, China, 1993 – 1997

PHD Students

Luming Ma

Area: Computer Graphics, Computer Animation

  • MSc. (Computer Science), University of Bridgeport, USA, 2008
  • BSc. (Software Engineering), Northeastern University, China, 2006

Yuting Zhang

Area: Computer Graphics, Computer Animation

  • BSc.(Computer Science and Technology), East China Normal University, China, 2015

Aobo Jin

Area: Computer Graphics, Affective Computing, HCI

  • MSc. (Electrical Engineering), University of Houston, USA, 2016
  • BSc. (Electrical Engineering), Dalian University of Technology, China, 2011

Qixin Deng

Area: Computer Graphics, Computer Animation

  • MSc. (Electrical and Computer Engineering), Purdue University, USA, 2017
  • BSc. (Electronic Information Engineering), Zhengzhou University, China, 2014

MSc Students

Mingxuan Luo

Area: Computer Graphics, Computer Animation

  • B.E. (Software Engineering), Northwestern Polytechnical University, China, 2013

Kunpeng Zhang

Area: Computer Graphics and Animation

  • MSc. (Computer Science), Tianjin University of Technology, China, 2009
  • B.S. (Computer Science), Tianjin University of Technology, China, 2006
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    Visiting Scholars

    Huikun Bi

    (visiting PhD Student from Chinese Academy of Science)

    • China CSC Scholarship (2016-2018).
    • 12/16 – 12/18, visiting PhD study at UH.

    Tijian Cai

    Associate Professor of Information Engineering, East China Jiaotong University, China

    • Visiting study at UH, 6/2017 – 6/2018.

    Fengping Yang

    Professor of Electrical and Automation Engineering, East China Jiaotong University, China

    • Visiting study at UH, 8/2017 – 8/2018.

    Dandan Dai

    Assistant Professor of Interactive Media, East China Jiaotong University, China

    • Visiting study at UH, 1/2018 – 1/2019.

    Undergraduate Students

    Duy Lai

    Area: Computer Graphics and Animation

    • B.Sc(Computer Science), University of Houston, 2015 – .

    Irec Tabios

    Area: Computer Graphics and Animation

    • B.Sc(Computer Science), University of Houston, 2017 – .
    • B.Sc(Engineering), Texas A&M University, 2016.

    Group Alumni

    Yu Ding

    PostDoc at UH: 3/2016 -3/2018

    • First employment: Research Scientist, NetEase, China.

    Jordan M. Mitchell

    ARL Summer Internship High School student (summer 2017)

    Noah S. McCollum

    ARL Summer Internship High School student (summer 2017)

    Leah Lewis

    ARL Summer Internship High School student (summer 2017)

    Lethan A. Hampton

    ARL Summer Internship High School student (summer 2017)

    Xin Zhou

    Area: Computer Graphics and Animation

    • B.Sc(Computer Science), University of Houston, 2017.

    Xiaoya Wang

    Area: Computer Graphics and Animation

    • B.Sc(Computer Science), University of Houston, 2014 – .

    Meihua Xiao

    Prof/Vice Dean of Software School, East China Jiaotong University, China

    • Visiting study at UH, 6/2016 – 12/2016.

    Xifeng Gao

    Ph.D. (Computer Science), University of Houston, 2016. (co-advised by Z. Deng and G. Chen)

    • PhD Dissertation: Towards High Quality Hexahedral Meshes: Generation, Optimization, and Evaluation.
    • Best PhD Student Award (UH CS Department), May 2015
    • Best Junior PhD Student Award (UH CS Department), April 2013
    • First employment: PostDoc Researcher, New York University ==> Assistant Professor, Florida State University, USA.

    Mayur Rajendran

    M.Sc (Computer Science), University of Houston, 2016

    • MS Thesis: Academia Arcana: A Gamified and Game-based Review Tool.
    • First employment: Software Engineer, Cerner Company.

    Madhur Rajendran

    M.Sc (Computer Science), University of Houston, 2016

    • MS Thesis: Nightmare Runner: A Personalized Avatar and Physical Activity Game.
    • First employment: Software Engineer, Cerner Company.

    Huikun Bi

    (visiting PhD Student from Chinese Academy of Science)

    • 10/15 – 4/16, visiting study at UH.

    Cheng Hu

    (visiting professor from Wuhan University)

    • 12/14 – 3/2016, visiting study at UH.

    Jure Demsar

    Visiting PhD student (from Slovenia)

    • 8/2015 -9/2015 visiting study at UH.

    Ashley Balkum

    NSF REU student (summer 2015)

    • Computer Science undergraduate student, Rice University.

    Erinn Gentry

    ARL Summer Internship student (summer 2015)

    • Junior, St. Agnes Academy.

    Harold Owens

    ARL Summer Internship student (summer 2015)

    • High School Senior

    Shaojun Bian

    Visiting PhD Student (from UK)

    Area: computer graphics, computer animation, geometric modeling

    • PhD Candidate (2013 – ), Bournemouth University, UK.
    • M.Sc. (GIS) Ocean University of China, 2012
    • B.Sc. (GIS) China University of Petroleum, 2009

    Tanay Bhargava

    M.Sc (Computer Science), University of Houston, 2015

    • First employment: Software Engineer, Amazon.

    Xuemei Li

    Visiting Associate Professor (from SDU/China)

    • China Government CSC Fellowship (9/2013 – 9/2014)

    Binh H. Le

    Ph.D., University of Houston, 2014

    • PhD Thesis: Example-based Rigging and Real-time Animation of Characters with Linear Skinning Models.
    • Summer Research Intern (2013), Nokia Research
    • Friends of NSM Fellowship (2013), University of Houston
    • Best PhD Student Award (UH CS Department), April 2013
    • Vietnam Education Foundation Fellowship (2008-2010)
    • First employment: PostDoc Researcher, Disney Research at Pittsburgh ==> Research Scientist, EA Research Lab.

    Cheng Chen

    M.S., University of Houston, 2014

    • MSc Thesis: Avatar Creation and Customization for Health Games.
    • First employment: Game Design Engineer, Midnight Game Studio ==> Software Engineer, Electronic Arts.

    Zhan Wen

    Visiting Associate Professor (from CUIT/China)

    • 9/2013 – 3/2014, visiting study at UH.

    Tian Yang

    Visiting Associate Professor (from CSUFT/China)

    • 1/2013 – 1/2014, visiting study at UH.

    Xiao Cheng

    M.S., University of Houston, 2013

    • MSc Thesis: GPU-accelerated Crowd Simulation with User-Guidance and Multi-level Uncertainty.
    • First employment: Software Engineer, CGGVeritas ==> Software Engineer, Schlumberger.

    Yunyun Wei

    Visiting PhD student (from CUC/China)

    • China Government CSC Fellowship (2012-2013)

    Xiaojian Huang

    Visting undergraduate student (from ZJU/China)

    • Visiting study at UH from 3/2013 to 7/2013.

    Harsha Nyshadham

    M.S., University of Houston, 2013

    • MSc Thesis: Visual Comparison Models for Transportation Data of the Great Britain.
    • First employment: Software Engineer, Ford Motor Company.

    Chrysanthi Chaleva Ntina

    M.S., University of Houston, 2013.

    • Best MSc Thesis Student Award (UH CS Department), April 2013
    • MSc Thesis: Stereo Calibration of Depth Sensors with 3D Correspondences and Smooth Interpolants
    • First employment: Software Engineer, Catalina Marketing ==> Senior Software Engineer, TripAdvisor.

    Nikhil Navkar

    Ph.D., University of Houston, 2013

    • PhD Thesis: Visual Force-Feedback Interfacing for Image-Guided Telemanipulated Robotic Surgical System
    • Friends of NSM Fellowship (2012), University of Houston
    • “Outstanding PhD Student” Award (2012), UH CS Department
    • Finalist of Best Medical Robotics Paper Award, ICRA 2012
    • First employment: R&D Executive, Qatar Robotic Surgery Center ==> Research Scientist, Hamad Medical.

    Bingfeng Li

    Visiting MSc student (from NWPU/China)

    • Visiting study at UH from 4/2012 to 9/2012.

    Mingyang Zhu

    Visiting PHD student (from NUST/China)

    • Visiting study at UH from 2010 to 2012.
    • China Government CSC Fellowship (2010-2012)
    • Current employment: VP Technology, Peak AI Solutions.

    Mario Rincon

    M.S., University of Houston, 2012

    • MS Thesis: Cost-based Workload Balancing for Ray Tracing on a Heterogeneous Platform
    • Summer Research Intern (2012), AMD Research
    • First employment: Senior Software Engineer, Nokia

    Xiaohan Ma

    PhD, University of Houston, 2012

    • PhD Thesis: Perceptual Analysis and Modeling of Facial Animation
    • Research Intern (2010 & 2011 Summers), NVidia Research
    • “Outstanding PhD Student” Award (2012), UH CS Department
    • “PhD Student of the Year” Award (2010), UH CS Department
    • First employment: Member of Technical Staff, AMD Research ==> Huawei.

    Qing Li

    PhD, University of Houston, 2011

    • PhD Thesis: Algorithms for Dendritic Spine Detection and Tracking in Time-Lapse Microscopy Neuron Images
    • Summer Research Intern (2011), Nokia Research Center at Palo Alto
    • “Excellence in Doctoral Studies” Award (2011, UH CS department)
    • First employment: R&D Engineer, Xignite Inc

    Qin Gu

    PhD, University of Houston, 2011

    • PhD Thesis: Agent based Approaches for Stylizing Motion Variations and Formations in Crowd Simulation
    • Summer Research Intern (2010), Rhythm & Hues Studio
    • First employment: R&D Engineer, Industrial & Light Magic (ILM) ==> Senior Software Engineer, NVidia

    Michael R. Jahn

    MSc, University of Houston, 2011

    • MSc Thesis: Realtime Human Animation Control Using Tri-Axis Accelerometers
    • First employment: Software Engineer, TimeGate Game Studios ==> Software Engineer, Terrific Studios

    Chang Yun

    PhD, University of Houston, 2009

    • PhD Thesis: Improving Gaming Experience Using Real-Time, Adaptive Game Difficulty Adjustments by Utilizing Physiological Feedback
    • First employment: Instructional Assistant Professor, University of Houston

    Tanasai Sucontphunt

    PhD student at UH (2016 -2018)

    • Current employment: Assistant Professor, National Institute of Development Administration, Thailand