Francielly Rodrigues

Track
Research Frontiers

Faculty Mentor
Doug Bowman
Professor, Director of the Center for Human-Computer Interaction

Research Focus
As a postdoctoral associate at Virginia Tech, I will engage in research on Intelligent Extended Reality (iXR) technology, immersive environments that blend the physical and digital worlds and have the potential to transform how people work, learn, and interact. Technologies like smart XR glasses are anticipated to become as essential to daily life as smartphones are today.

My research focuses on exploring how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can enable XR systems  to automatically understand a user’s context - including their environment, tasks, and even emotions - reason about it, and adapt the experience accordingly. This adaptability is essential for XR to be practical and effective in everyday life.

The broader impact of my work is to create XR solutions that enhance productivity, communication, well-being, and accessibility across a wide range of applications, from education and medicine to everyday tasks. I believe technology should help people do things that might otherwise be hard or impossible. Ultimately, I want to create intelligent XR tools that are intuitive, affordable, and inclusive, helping everyone overcome barriers and fully participate in society.

Why did you choose to pursue postdoctoral training at Virginia Tech?
I chose to pursue postdoctoral training at Virginia Tech because of my positive experiences here during my Ph.D. as a visiting researcher, where I had the opportunity to collaborate closely with Dr. Doug Bowman and the 3DI Lab team. Virginia Tech’s supportive research environment, strong focus on Human-Computer Interaction, and collaborative community make it an ideal place for my career growth. Returning here gives me access to excellent resources and allows me to continue expanding my skills and professional network as I work toward my long-term goals in Intelligent Extended Reality systems.

What are you most looking forward to as you begin in this fellowship at Virginia Tech?
I’m looking forward to joining Virginia Tech’s strong research community and benefiting from the resources of the Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship. The university’s supportive research structure and collaborative environment will help me advance my work in Intelligent Extended Reality and grow professionally.