My research is in the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Virtual Reality (VR), and healthcare technologies. I directs the V-ARE Lab (Virtual healthcARe Experiences Laboratory) at UIC where I conduct research on the design and development of virtual experiences that enable effective communication of health information. The virtual experiences developed from my research have been used by more than 4000+ users in real-world settings across different health behavior change contexts, such as improving mental health among college students, supporting suicidal patients, and increasing awareness of colon cancer screening among the elderly population. I frequently collaborates with interdisciplinary teams of domain experts in health, education, communication science, and social psychology. My work has been recognized with the Best Paper Award by the Intelligent Virtual Agents conference in 2019 and an Innovation of the Year from the University of Florida in 2021. 

Year in school: Senior

Major: Biological Science

Hello! I am Zion Lim, a pre-med student, studying at the University of Illinois, Chicago. I am from South Korea, and it has been only 3years since I lived in the USA. (But I do speak English) I have several work experiences as a paramedic, tutor, and mechanic.

My research interest is mainly, but not limited to, improving and learning medicine. The current research that I am participating in interests me because it aims at the improvement of general health.

Fun fact: My Korean name is JunSung Lim, but some find it hard to pronounce my name, so I choose to be called Zion.

Year in school: Transfer Junior (1st year at UIC)

Major: Applied Statistics (Pre-Med student)

I’m a transfer student who is of Hispanic origin. I live an hour away from Chicago in a city called Elgin, Illinois. I’m 20 years old and have received my high school diploma at Larkin High School in Elgin, Illinois and my Associates in Science with honors degree at Elgin Community College. I’m currently a Junior at the University of Illinois at Chicago and plan to go for my Bachelors degree in Applied Statistics. Afterwards, I either plan on going to medical school or graduate school; this depends on the outcome of my future.

I’m interested in any research that prepares me for medical school, including any research that wasn’t focused on enough in the past. My interests include those that concern the medical area, understanding human behaviors and why they imitate those kinds of behaviors. Previously, I didn’t have much research experience as my only prior knowledge was either reading from other researchers or writing a paper using the information from researchers as my sources. I hope by learning from this project I don’t just gain experience but increase my critical thinking skills and expand my knowledge of material that concerns our world presently.

Secret talent: From elementary school to high school, I played the violin and was a part of the orchestra of the three schools I attended.

Year in school: 1st Year at UIC

Major: Neuroscience (Pre-med)

Hi, I’m Avdhan Kandikattu, a current pre-med student at the University of Illinois Chicago. I’m part of the GPPA Medical Scholars Program, and I’m majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Computer Science. I’m from Peoria, IL, which is around 3 hours south from Chicago in the central Illinois area, and I went to high school at the Illinois Math and Science Academy in Aurora, IL.

I’m interested in the research of current technological advancements that can be applied to the healthcare field. I have previously participated in research in the field of Medicinal Chemistry, specifically in antiviral drug discovery which involved computationally creating compounds beforehand using SeeSAR and other digital tools, and then synthesizing them in real life. I hope to dive deeper into the technology aspect through this project, and understand how it can be used to improve medical training, doctor-patient interactions, and other improvements that can be made in the healthcare field.

Hobby: Outside of medicine, I have a hobby for filmmaking, including cinematography and film editing. I want to work on short films with the goal of submitting them to film festivals.

Year in school: 1st Year at UIC

Major: Integrated Health Studies (Health Science concentration)

Hi, my name is Nitya Jani, and I am majoring in Integrated Health Studies with a concentration in Health Science. I am also a part of UIC’s GPPA Dental program. My hometown is Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, and I attended Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois.

In the past I have conducted research for the CDC, and I want to continue exploring my passion for public health education through my research. In general, I plan on conducting research related to oral health as I want to use that work to better myself as a future dentist and healthcare professional.

Fun Fact: I am a super picky eater, so my favorite food is ice-cream.

Year in school: Masters (Graduated)

Major: Computer Science

I am a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Chicago with a background in networking, computer programming, and healthcare data analytics. I have experience in several programming languages such as Python, R, MATLAB, SQL, and Java, and am proficient in Linux. I have also published 2 papers in the field of healthcare data analytics which showcases my interest and expertise in the field. I am now eager to explore the field of virtual reality and artificial intelligence in healthcare as I believe it aligns well with my background and career goals. I am looking forward to the opportunity to grow personally and professionally under the guidance of Dr. Mohan Zalake in the field of Virtual Healthcare and I am available for any questions about my work or educational background.