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

Luming Ma

Area: Computer Graphics, Facial Animation

• Summer Research Intern, Facebook Reality Lab, 2019
• Best PhD Student Award, UH CS Department, 2019
• MSc. (Computer Science), University of Bridgeport, USA, 2008
• BSc. (Software Engineering), Northeastern University, China, 2006

Aobo Jin

Area: Virtual Human Modeling and Animation, Sketch based Modeling

• Summer Research Intern, Aramco Inc., USA, 2019
• MSc. (Electrical and Computer 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

Kunpeng Zhang

Area: Human Computer Interaction, Humanoid Robotics

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

Gang Yu

Assistant Professor of Computer Science, East China Jiaotong University, China

• Visiting study at UH, 2/2019 – 2/2020.
• M.S. (Computer Science), East China Jiaotong University, China, 2008

[PostDoc]

Qiang Fu

PostDoc at UH: 9/2018 – 8/2019

• Ph.D. (Computer Science), Beihang University, China, 2018.
• First employment: Assistant Professor, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, China.

Yu Ding

PostDoc at UH: 3/2016 -3/2018

• Ph.D. (Computer Science), Télécom Paristech, Paris, France, 2014.
• First employment: NetEase.

[Ph.D.]

Xifeng Gao

Ph.D., 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 (New York University); Current: Assistant Professor, Florida State University, USA.

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 (Disney Research Pittsburgh); Current: Senior Research Scientist, Electronic Arts (EA) SEED Research Lab, USA.

Nikhil Navkar

Ph.D., University of Houston, 2013. (co-advised by Z. Deng and N. Tsekos)

• 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: Qatar Robotic Surgery Center; Current: Academic Research Scientist, Hamad Medical, Qatar.

Xiaohan Ma

Ph.D., 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: AMD; Current: Startup CEO.

Qing Li

Ph.D., 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: Xignite Inc., USA

Qin Gu

Ph.D., 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: Industrial & Light Magic (ILM); Current: NVidia.

Chang Yun

Ph.D., 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; Current: Instructional Associate Professor, University of Houston.

[M.Sc]

Yuting Zhang

M.Sc, University of Houston, 2018

• First employment: Expedia.com.

Mingxuan Luo

M.Sc, University of Houston, 2018

• First employment: Zhengzhou University, China.

Mayur Rajendran

M.Sc, University of Houston, 2016

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

Madhur Rajendran

M.Sc., University of Houston, 2016

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

Tanay Bhargava

M.Sc, University of Houston, 2015

• First employment: Amazon.

Cheng Chen

M.Sc, University of Houston, 2014

• MSc Thesis: Avatar Creation and Customization for Health Games.
• First employment: Midnight Game Studio; Current: Google.

Xiao Cheng

M.Sc, University of Houston, 2013

• MSc Thesis: GPU-accelerated Crowd Simulation with User-Guidance and Multi-level Uncertainty.
• First employment: CGGVeritas; Current: Schlumberger.

Harsha Nyshadham

M.Sc, University of Houston, 2013

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

Chrysanthi Chaleva Ntina

M.Sc, 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: Catalina Marketing; Current: TripAdvisor.

Mario Rincon

M.Sc, 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: Nokia.

Michael R. Jahn

M.Sc, University of Houston, 2011

• MSc Thesis: Realtime Human Animation Control Using Tri-Axis Accelerometers
• First employment: TimeGate Game Studios.

[Visiting PhD Stu.]

Huikun Bi

Visiting PhD Student (from Chinese Academy of Sciences/China)

• China CSC Scholarship (2016-2018).
• 12/16 – 12/18, visiting PhD study at UH.
• 10/15 – 4/16, visiting study at UH.
• First employment: Assistant Professor, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.

Shaojun Bian

Visiting PhD Student (from Bournemouth University/UK)

• Visiting study at UH from 5/2015 to 6/2015.

Yunyun Wei

Visiting PhD student (from China Communication University/China)

• Visiting study at UH from 10/2012 to 9/2013.
• China Government CSC Fellowship (2012-2013)

Mingyang Zhu

Visiting PhD student (from Nanjing University of Science and Technology/China)

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

[Visiting Scholars]

Tianxiang Wei

Visiting graduate student, Zhejiang Gongshang University, China

• Visiting study at UH, 4/2019 – 10/2019.
• MSc. (Computer Science), Zhejiang Gongshang University, China, 2017-2020

Long Liu

Visiting graduate student, Central South University, China

• Visiting study at UH, 8/2019 – 2/2020.
• MSc.(Traffic and Transportation Engineering), Central South University, China, 2020

Xianyong Fang

Professor of Computer Science, AnHui University, China

• Visiting study at UH, 12/2018 – 12/2019.
• Ph.D. (Computer Science) , Zhejiang University, 2005

Haiqin Cheng

Visiting Associate Professor (East China Jiaotong University, China)

• Visiting study at UH, 9/2018 – 9/2019.

Xiaosheng Huang

Visiting Associate Professor (East China Jiaotong University, China)

• Visiting study at UH, 8/2018 – 8/2019.

Dandan Dai

Visitng Assistant Professor (from East China Jiaotong University/China)

• Visiting study at UH, 12/2017 – 12/2018.

Tijian Cai

Visiting Associate Professor (from East China Jiaotong University/China)

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

Fengping Yang

Visiting Professor (from East China Jiaotong University/China)

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

Meihua Xiao

Visiting Professor (from East China Jiaotong University/China)

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

Cheng Hu

Visiting associate professor (from Wuhan University/China)

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

Xuemei Li

Visiting Associate Professor (from Shandong University/China)

• China Government CSC Fellowship (9/2013 – 9/2014)
• Visiting study at UH, 9/2013 – 9/2014.

Zhan Wen

Visiting Associate Professor (from Chengdu University of Information Technology/China)

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

Tian Yang

Visiting Associate Professor (from Central South University of Forestry and Technology/China)

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

Bingfeng Li

Visiting MSc student (from Northwestern Polytechnic University/China)

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

Tanasai Sucontphunt

PhD student at UH (2016 -2018)

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

[Undergraduates]

Irec Tabios

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

Duy Lai

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

Xin Zhou

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

Xiaoya Wang

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

Xiaojian Huang

Visiting undergraduate student (from Zhejiang University/China)

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

[High School Stu.]

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)

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