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Education

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) – PhD Candidate
Faculty of Computer Science · 02/2025–ongoing

  • Researching human-computer interaction and digital entertainment games.

  • Examining digital games as a way for older adults to experience competence and self-determination.

  • Deriving design practices for the accessibility of digital games. Supervised by Prof. Dr. Kathrin Gerling

University of Applied Sciences Berlin (HTW) – M.A. in System Design (Games)
2020–2021

  • Acquired a deeper understanding of game system design, critically discussed the cultural importance of digital and analog games, and practiced compliance with scientific methodology and academic writing.

  • Master Thesis: “Augmentation of interpersonal communication mechanisms through game methods using the example of the gamification of pro and con discussions.”

  • Honored with the award for the highest grade of the academic year 2021.

University of Applied Sciences Berlin (HTW) – B.A. in Game Design
2014–2018

  • Designed five interactive game applications in team environments using a broad range of devices and software, especially XR technology.

  • Bachelor Thesis: “Conception and development of a user interface framework for virtual reality applications.”

Work Experience

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) – Research Associate
Department of Anthropomatics and Robotics · HCI and Accessibility Group · 11/2025–ongoing

  • Conducting qualitative and quantitative user studies in human-computer interaction.
  • Researching human-AI interaction in software development, with a focus on motivation, collaboration, and self-determination in complex software systems.
  • Teaching “Praxis der Softwareentwicklung (PSE)” on the topic of emotional accessibility in game development and “Digitale Spiele”, led by Prof. Dr. Kathrin Gerling.

University of Applied Arts Vienna – Senior Artist
09/2024–02/2025

  • Teaching game design methods at the Design Investigations department.
  • Organising and conducting workshops on game prototyping and design.
  • Conducting weekly tutorials and coachings with student teams.
  • Selection and invitation of guest tutors and jury experts.

THQ Nordic GmbH – UX Researcher
12/2022–06/2024

  • Coordinating internal and external game user experience research studies.
  • Implementing game user experience research methods into production cycles.
  • Creating and distributing internal and external game user research reports.
  • Gathering, analyzing, and processing user data in compliance with GDPR.

DE:HIVE Institute – Center for Digital Entertainment – Research Associate
06/2019–06/2022

Research Project: BM=x³
Funded by InnoVET – Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung · 2020–2022

  • Developed the prototype of an XR game for teaching nanotechnology processes.
  • Supervised a team of one artistic associate and three student assistants.
  • Implemented gamification methods for an educational platform for vocational training in nanotechnology.

Research Project: Baltic Sea Game Incubation
Funded by Interreg – European Union · 2020–2021

  • Organized and hosted the international workshop “Bridging the Gap”.
  • Administered the project’s communication, dissemination, and reporting.
  • Contributed to the BSGI incubation roadmap guide.

Research Project: Baltic Game Industry
Funded by Interreg – European Union · 2019–2020

  • Designed and developed the therapeutic XR application ALCAVOID.
  • Planned and executed usability testing, and selected participants according to eligibility criteria.
  • Led a team of two student assistants.
  • Collaborated on the creation of publications about transferring approach-avoidance training into virtual reality.

DE:HIVE Administration & Teaching
2019–2022

  • Contributed to three additional successful project applications.
  • Selected 40 students out of 500+ applicants for the Game Design B.A. program in 2021.
  • Consulted four interdisciplinary workshops on game design and XR hardware.
  • Led courses in the Game Design B.A. program as a lecturer in various design and research methods.

Independent Work – Consulting & Design
2020–2022

Center for Innovation in the Arts, Juilliard School, New York
12/2021–02/2022

  • Developed the art experience “The Atrium – An Ambisonic Music Installation”.
  • Acted as Creative Technologist, programming in Unreal Engine 5.
  • Contributed to the visual design of the experience.

Paradigm Shift by Maria Bürger
03/2020–09/2020

  • Realized the interactive XR art experience “Paradigm Shift” in Unity Engine.
  • Acted as Unity Engine programmer, technical advisor, and interaction design consultant.
  • Awarded with the DIVR Science Award for Best Concept.

EXPANDING FOCUS – Creative Technologist
01/2019–05/2019

  • Led the technical development of the interactive XR experience “A Ride in 2049” in Unity Engine.
  • Supervised the asset production pipeline and asset implementation in Unity Engine.

VR NERDS – Level Designer
08/2017–01/2018

  • Designed and implemented three levels for the competitive XR game Tower Tag in Unity Engine.
  • Conducted internal and usability testing for quality assurance.

Publications

Relevant Skills

Design Skills

Accessible Game Design; Game Thinking; Prototyping; Concept Communication & Negotiation.

Research Skills

Qualitative Research; Quantitative Research; Academic Publishing; Game UX Research.

Education and Facilitation Skills

Teaching; Project Management; Workshop Hosting; Interdisciplinary Communication.

Administrative Skills

Public Funding Acquisition; Usability Testing; Project Dissemination.

Software Development Skills

Unreal Engine 4; Unreal Engine 5; Unity Engine; C#; Visual Scripting.