Biography
I have been a Lecturer at Abertay since 2021. I am passionate about exploring the interplay between games, player experience, and data analysis, with a particular interest in competitive games as a space for investigating interactions, fairness, and skill.
My research seeks to understand how we can design more engaging games and how we can effectively measure player engagement and enjoyment. I am particularly interested in applying data-driven approaches to understand and enhance player behaviour.
My PhD (Computer Science at Glasgow University with Prof Alice Miller, 2021) investigated the use of formal methods, specifically probabilistic model checking, for game balancing. In this work, I combined theoretical investigations with practical game development, creating a mobile game and using automated verification techniques which I then compared to actual player behaviour.
I am the Competitive Game Lab Lead and have established the associated research group. We have a research agenda focused on competitive gaming, player behavior, and game accessibility. Our mission is 'to widen access to competitive games', both through technological innovation and an enhanced understanding of the social and technical barriers to play, aiming to foster more inclusive and engaging gaming experiences.
I am also active in the use of games technology for social good, particularly in community-driven healthcare applications like reminiscence therapy.
