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ICAT Playdate —  Center for Future Work Places and Practices Student and Faculty Seed Grant Research

March 6, 2026

Join us for an engaging ICAT Playdate that showcases four CFWPP-funded research projects spanning intelligent augmented reality, accessible musical performance, AI-driven ergonomic assessment, and the lived workplace experiences of women of color with ADHD.

Attendees will learn how Intelligent Augmented Reality (IAR) can dynamically tailor instructional support based on user expertise, how a browser-based vocal interface empowers individuals without a larynx to reclaim creative musical expression, and how vision-language models can transform occupational health by enabling scalable, non-invasive ergonomic risk assessment. The Playdate will also highlight critical social science research examining how people with ADHD often hide or adjust their natural behaviors in order to fit in socially, a practice known as “masking.” Focusing on women of color, this study explores how fear of negative stereotypes influences this behavior and how constantly masking affects daily energy levels and sleep.

Shokoufeh Bozorgmehrian
Talk title: Inferring User State for Adaptive Instruction in Intelligent Augmented Reality (IAR)

Gala Lucia Gonzalez Barrios
 
Talk title: Singing Without a Larynx - A Vowel-Based Real-Time Interface for Embodied Vocal Performance

Mohammad Sadra Rajabi
Talk title: Development and Evaluation of Vision-Language Models for Physical Exposure Assessment in Occupational Manual Material Handling

Dr. Arturia Melson-Silimon 
Talk title: Daily Workplace Experiences among Women of Color with ADHD - Impact of Workplace Stigma on Sleep and Well-being

Speakers: 

  • Gala Lucia Gonzalez Barrios, Interdisciplinary Studies, Graduate School


  • Shokoufeh Bozorgmehrian, Industrial and Systems Engineering, College of Engineering


  • Mohammad Sadra Rajabi, Industrial and Systems Engineering, College of Engineering


  • Utkarsha Mohan, Industrial and Systems Engineering, College of Engineering

Date:

  • March 6, 2026

Time:  

  • 8:30am Eastern
     Networking & pastries at Community Assembly, Creativity and Innovation District LLC
  • 9am - 9:30am Eastern
     Presentation in the Community Assembly and live on YouTube

Virginia Tech faculty can receive Professional Development Network (PDN) credit for attending

  1. Register at https://profdev.tlos.vt.edu/?query=playdate 
  2. Check in with Phyllis Newbill during the event.

Location: Community Assembly, Creativity and Innovation District LLC