Summary

Lecturer with a passion for sharing her knowledge. Specialized in Mixed Reality, HCI, and Immersive Visualisations. PhD in HCI. MSc in Computer Science Engineering with a major in Multimedia and Video Game development. BSc in Engineering Science. Now working in Melbourne, Australia.

Work experience

Feb. 2024 - now
University of Melbourne
LECTURER IN COMPUTER GRAPHICS AND VISUALISATION
I teach novel interaction design and graphics. Research & Teaching continuing position.
C#, Unity, Design, XR

Aug. 2023 - end of Jan. 2024
University of Melbourne
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER
Our current research looks into collaborative Mixed Reality systems supporting multiple remote users. We are looking at how to blend the physical spaces of each remote user to enable working on shared tangible surfaces (e.g. whiteboards, desks). This project is part of the HCI group. Casual research contract.
C#, Unity, Oculus Quest Pro 2

Aug. 2023 - end of Jan. 2024
Monash University
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER
We are exploring the potential of Virtual Reality to facilitate the understanding of ecosystem variability and dynamics, particularly in response to shifts in climate and land usage. My responsibilities encompass the design and integration of user interactions within these VR landscapes. The ultimate goal is to empower users to manipulate environmental variables in real-time, such as rain or human activity, enabling them to observe immediate consequences and thus enhance their comprehension of ecosystems. This project is part of the Immersive Analytics lab. Casual research contract.
C#, Unity, HP Reverb, Windows Mixed Reality

Jan. 2023 - end of May. 2023
R&D developer
FREELANCE
As a self-employed contractor, I work on R&D projects. My current contract with Co-Idea is to develop software models to illustrate usage scenarios for the CARDS Augmented Reality educational system. This system allows students to collaborate in class with low-cost and easy-to-install technologies.
C#, Unity, web development (NodeJS)

Feb. 2019 - end of Jul. 2019
Thales (Mérignac, France)
SOFTWARE ENGINEER INTERN
End-to-end Development of a packet analyzer for the Arinc-485 aeronautical standard. The implemented software is an assistance solution for the integration of aircraft cabin equipment. C, Angular JS

Jun. 2018 - end of Sept. 2018
ThermoFisher Scientific (Mérignac, France)
SOFTWARE ENGINEER INTERN
Research and development of a Neural Network for biomedical image segmentation.
Keras, Python

Jul. 2017 - end of Aug. 2017
Faurecia (Valencia, Spain)
SOFTWARE ENGINEER INTERN
Design of a factory machine optimization protocol. Analysis and prediction of the production of defective parts with Deep Learning.
Keras, Python

Education

Oct. 2019 - Dec. 2022
Inria Bordeaux Sud-Ouest
Ph.D. in Computer Science, supervised by Martin Hachet and Anatole Lécuyer. I was part of the Potioc and Hybrid teams.
Title: Being a Virtual Avatar in a Real Environment: Design and Study of Avatar Embodiment in Augmented Reality
Research topics: HCI, avatars, AR, MR, Sense of Embodiment, Experimental Research
Abstract: Once reserved for virtual environments, avatars are now increasingly present in Augmented Reality (AR). This technology allows interacting with virtual content directly integrated into our physical surroundings. Combined with body tracking, it makes it possible to experience being inside a virtual body of any desired appearance and to extend one’s action capabilities. Despite the numerous opportunities for applications that this new possibility provides, little research has explored how to implement and exploit it. The way users perceive such experiences within real environments is additionally not well understood yet. In this thesis, we explore the embodiment of avatars in AR through several axes. First, we introduce a taxonomy through a body avatarization continuum to better describe embodiment experiences. Next, using an optical see-through AR display, we study the user’s sense of embodiment towards virtual hands and how mixing the virtual with the real impacts this sense. We then look at the use cases for avatar embodiment in AR and investigate interaction techniques allowing to control avatars in the third person and to explore the real world. We propose an implementation of this concept and evaluate the approach of using such a system to improve our perception of real-world affordances through a user study. Finally, we explore strategies to enhance embodiment illusions by designing transitions to become one’s avatar and methods to prepare the user for their “avatarization”.

Sept. 2017 - Aug. 2019
National School of Electronics, Computer Science, Telecommunications, Mathematics and Mechanics of Bordeaux (ENSEIRB-MATMECA)
M.S. in Computer Science Engineering, majored in Technologies of Multimedia and Video Games

Sept. 2016 - Aug. 2017
National School of Electronics, Computer Science, Telecommunications, Mathematics and Mechanics of Bordeaux (ENSEIRB-MATMECA)
B.S. in Engineering Science

Sept. 2014 - Aug. 2016
Preparatory Class for Grandes Ecoles at Lycée Janson de Sailly (Mathematics-Physics program)
Training for enrolment in “grandes écoles” (engineering). More information here: CPGE

Scientific publications

A Genay, B Syiem, E Wong, T Feuchtner, J Knibbe, JE Grønbæk, E Velloso, “Scaling Distributed Collaboration in Mixed Reality”, Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Yokohama, Japan, Apr. 2025 (workshop).
DOI: 10.1145/3706599.3706722

A Genay, E Kimura, M Hachet, A Lécuyer, Y Hirao, M Perusquia-Hernandez, H Uchiyama, K Kiyokawa, “Preparing Users to Embody their Avatars in VR: Insights on the Effects of Priming, Mental Imagery, and Acting on Embodiment Experiences”, 36th Australian Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (OzCHI), Brisbane, Australia, Dec. 2024.
HAL: hal-04822108

E Kimura, A Genay, K Nakano, Y Hirao, M Perusquía-Hernández, T Narumi, H Uchiyama, K Kiyokawa, “Reducing the Proteus Effect in Virtual Reality: A Mental and Acting Approach”, International Conference on Artificial Reality and Telexistence, Eurographics Symposium on Virtual Environments (ICAT-EGVE), Tsukuba, Japan, Nov. 2024 (poster).
DOI: 10.2312/egve.20241393

R Otono, A Genay, M Perusquía-Hernández, N Isoyama, H Uchiyama, M Hachet, A Lécuyer, K Kiyokawa, “I’m Transforming! Effects of Visual Transitions to Change of Avatar on the Sense of Embodiment in AR”, IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces (VR), Shanghai, China, Mar. 2023, pp. 83-93.
DOI: 10.1109/VR55154.2023.00024

A Genay, A Lécuyer and M Hachet, “What Can I Do There? Controlling AR Self-Avatars to Better Perceive Affordances of the Real World”, IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR), Singapore, Singapore, Oct. 2022, pp. 450-459.
DOI: 10.1109/ISMAR55827.2022.00061

R Otono, A Genay, M Perusquía-Hernández, N Isoyama, H Uchiyama, M Hachet, A Lécuyer, K Kiyokawa, “Studying “Avatar Transitions” in Augmented Reality: Influence on Sense of Embodiment and Physiological Activity”, IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR), Singapore, Singapore, Oct. 2022.
DOI: 10.1109/ISMAR-Adjunct57072.2022.00106

A Genay, A Lécuyer and M Hachet, “Being an Avatar “for Real”: a Survey on Virtual Embodiment in Augmented Reality” IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (TVCG), Christchurch, New Zealand, Jul. 2021.
DOI: 10.1109/TVCG.2021.3099290

A Genay, A Lécuyer and M Hachet, “Virtual, Real or Mixed: How Surrounding Objects Influence the Sense of Embodiment in Optical See-Through Experiences?” Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 2:679902, Jun. 2021.
DOI: 10.3389/frvir.2021.6799020

A Genay, A Lécuyer and M Hachet, “Incarner un Avatar en Réalité Augmentée : Revue de la Littérature”, WACAI 2020 - Workshop sur les Affects, Compagnons Artificiels et Interactions, Saint Pierre d’Oléron, France, Oct. 2021.
HAL: hal-02933477

Teaching

Jul. 2024 - now
University of Melbourne (Parkville, VIC, Australia)
Subject Coordinator and Lecturer for “Computer Graphics and Interactions” (COMP30019) Master of IT or Bachelor of Design elective subject. Lectures for around 250 students.

Feb. 2024 - now
University of Melbourne (Parkville, VIC, Australia)
Subject Coordinator and Lecturer for “Designing Novel Interactions” (INFO30009) Master of IT core subject. Lectures for around 100 students.

Nov. 2021 - Jan. 2022
ENSEIRB-MATMECA (Talence, France)
Tutor for “Computer Architecture and Microprocessing”.
Engineering cycle, year 1 students. Hands-on courses for groups of 20 students, during a total of 20 hours of in-class time.

Sept. 2019 - Jan. 2021
University of Bordeaux (Talence, France)
Tutor for “Advancecd C Programming”.
Bachelor of Science, year 2 students. Hands-on courses for groups of 20 students, during a total of 38 hours of in-class time.

Sept. 2019 - Jan. 2020
University of Bordeaux (Talence, France)
Tutor for “Introduction to Programming”.
Bachelor year 1 students (cross-major). Courses for groups of 40 students. Participated in exercise and exam design, and in the supervision and correction of exam papers. Total of 32 hours of in-class time.

Current Supervisions

Andrew Mahisa Halim, PhD candidate: 40% of supervision load. Thesis title: “Multiscale Physics Simulation for Scientific Visualizations”. Expected submission date: 05/08/2027.

Benjamin Loveridge, PhD candidate: 30% of supervision load. Thesis title: “The Role of Expressive Visual Cues for Interaction in Immersive Virtual Reality Musical Experiences”. Expected submission date: 20/02/2029 (part-time student).

YuHin Li, Master thesis: 100% of supervision load. Thesis title: “Design of Visual Metaphors to Represent the Passage of Time in Virtual Reality”. Expected submission date: 26/06/2025.

Past Supervisions

XuanMing Liang, Master thesis: 100% of supervision load. Thesis title: “Exploring how to support Food Addiction research through Supermarket Simulation in VR”. Submission date: 28/10/2024.

Certifications

Jun. 2021
Mental Health First Aid
Rescuer certificate
PSSM France® Pessac, France

Dec. 2017
Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC)
Score: 975 (C1)
ETS Global-France® Talence, France

Scientific Outreach

Dec. 2024
Contribution to the artwork “Guài”, Science Gallery (Melbourne, Australia)
RESEARCHER
This artwork is exhibited at the SCI-FI: Mythologies Transformed exhibition of the Melbourne Science Gallery.

Apr. 2022
Participation to “Moi Mathématicienne, Moi Informaticienne” (Talence, France)
SCIENTIFIC SPEAKER
Workshop for middle and high school girl students on careers in science as a women.

Oct. 2021
“Can avatars replace our bodies?”, The Conversation (Talence, France)
WRITER Article on the sense of embodiment of virtual avatars. Written for the online scientific magazine The Conversation. Link

Jun. 2021
Episode 9 of “Thèse et Vous !” (Talence, France)
INTERVIEWEE
Podcast where Ph.D. students are interviewed and explain their research subjects to the general public over a one-hour episode. Link

Apr. 2021
Participation to “Moi Mathématicienne, Moi Informaticienne” (Talence, France)
SCIENTIFIC SPEAKER
Workshop for middle and high school girl students on careers in science as a women.

Mar. 2021
Three Minute Thesis (Talence, France)
FINALIST OF THE COMPETITION IN BORDEAUX
National competition where PhD students present their research in 180 seconds. Link

Feb. 2020
“From human being to virtual being: what relationship do we have with our avatars” (Pessac, France)
SCIENTIFIC GUEST
Round-table discussion animated by a Antoine Philippeau on the subject of avatars, for the general public.

Additional Information

Traveling: I lived 9 years in China (Shanghai) and 2 years in Brazil (São Paulo) as a child of expatriate parents.

Hobbies: I enjoy sailing and diving.