VWDG Welcomes New Research Associates

The “Virtual Worlds and Digital Games" group welcomes its new team members M. Sc. Fatma Betül Güres and M. Sc. Luís Fernando de Souza Cardoso.

The research associate Fatma Betül Güres has a strong background in software engineering, game design and development, and architecture. Fatma holds a Master of Science in Computer Software Engineering from Boğaziçi University, Turkey, and a Master of Science in Game and Interaction Technologies from Istanbul Technical University, Turkey, where she gained hands-on experience in extended reality and game development. In addition, she holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Bilkent University, Turkey.

Fatma has gained practical experience in the gaming field through industry experience and scholarships. She received a Beyond Inclusion Scholarship from XR Bootcamp, where she developed her skills as an XR Prototyper, and the Generation Google Scholarship for Women in Gaming in the EMEA region. She also received a Tübitak Scholarship, which funded her thesis research entitled “Reduction of Dental Anxiety in Children Using VR”. Before joining TU Ilmenau, Fatma worked as an XR Game Developer and Designer at various companies and as an Instructor at Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey at the Digital Games Department, teaching courses related to Game Development, Level Design and Game Narrative.

Luís Fernando de Souza Cardoso is a research associate with a background in software engineering and process development. He holds a Master’s degree in technological innovation from Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil, and a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from Universidade Estadual Paulista, Brazil.

Throughout his career, Luis has worked for over seven years in the aerospace sector, focusing on developing new processes and conducting research and development projects. He has worked on various XR application projects for activities such as assembly, integration, testing, training, and process monitoring. Additionally, Luis has worked as a contracted professor at Faculdade de Tecnologia do Estado de São Paulo, Brazil, teaching linear programming for the system analysis and development course.

With their diverse background and extensive practical experience, the new research associates are sure to make valuable contributions to the group. We look forward to seeing their work and the new insights they will bring to the field.