HT2 Lab Members

Jonathan is a PhD student in Luddy Health and Biomedical Informatics program. He received a double major B.A. in Biochemistry and Psychology at Case Western Reserve University. Before joining IU Indy, he worked for 2.5 years as eClinical Coordinator at a contract research organization, Medpace.  Current research focuses on novel digital approaches for chronic conditions.   Currently, he pursues research in novel digital solutions such as serious games for ADHD and virtual reality for individuals with ABI. Outside of school, he enjoys strategy game esports, swimming, and professional wrestling.

Erica is a PhD student in the Luddy Health and Biomedical Informatics program. She holds a B.S. in Media Arts and Science and an M.S. in Human-Computer Interaction from IU Indy. Her current research focuses on dementia-related diseases, specifically designing supportive technologies to enhance the quality of life for affected individuals. She is developing virtual reality systems to help people with dementia practice daily functional activities and maintain their independence. Beyond academics, Erica enjoys embroidery, running, and playing CRPG and open-world games in her free time.

Sam Brunes is a graduate student in the Luddy Human-Computer Interaction program. He holds a B.S. in Media Arts and Science from IU Indy. As a lead developer in the lab, he specializes in creating virtual reality applications using Unreal Engine and coordinating with stakeholders. During his time as a lab assistant, he has focused on designing and developing interactions within rehabilitation therapy VR applications while maintaining a positive user experience. Outside of his professional interests, he is passionate about designing and developing games for entertainment purposes.

Hanzla is an MS student in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, specializing in Computer Science. Before starting his graduate studies, Hanzla co-founded Modularity AI, where he led the development of innovative AI-driven solutions, including a zero-shot recommendation engine and domain-specific language models. He also gained industry experience as a Data Scientist at Alibaba group, where he contributed to developing deep learning neural networks. His research interests focus on brain computer interfaces and mixed reality. Outside of his academic work, Hanzla enjoys playing strategy games, and guitar.

Sampada is a graduate student in the Human-Computer Interaction Design program at IU Bloomington. She holds a B.Tech in Computer Science & Engineering and brings prior industry experience as a technical project manager and developer for early-stage startups focused on mental health technologies. Before joining the HT2 Lab, she helped develop VR interventions aimed at increasing abstinence in individuals with addiction disorders, and created XR-based prototypes for learning traditional crafts and reimagining Cognitive Behavioral Therapy activities. Her current research explores mixed reality applications in physical rehabilitation for individuals with acquired brain injuries. She unwinds by dancing, writing fiction, and wandering through museums.