Hi, I'm Pierre Mikhiel

I ama Creative Technologist

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Pierre

Who?

I'm a Creative Technologist, Researcher, and Artist combining expertise in Computer Science, Film, and Interactive Media to create innovative and immersive systems at the forefront of emerging technology.

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Highlights

2026

NYUAD Interactive Media

B.A. in Interactive Media with minors in Computer Science and Film & New Media.

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IMX + EMRN

Published Research

Presented vER research on virtual companions for preoperative care at IMX ACM 2025 and EMRN Barcelona 2025.

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Louvre

Museum Exhibition

Created Mondrian's Mirage, a VR installation exploring abstraction and embodied perception in museum space.

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Top 10

Swissnex Finalist

Recognized globally for a sustainability diplomacy concept exploring Rights of Nature and ecological governance.

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Practice

I build emotionally resonant systems that translate scientific, environmental, and human complexity into embodied public encounters.

XR storytelling Machine learning interfaces Projection and DMX Biometric research Performance systems

Research Experience

ASL Trainer word mode screenshot

ASL Trainer: HandPose Fingerspelling Practice

Developed through my ML research assistantship with Prof. Jack B. Du and Daniel Shiffman, ASL Trainer is an accessibility-focused p5.js and ml5.js prototype for practicing American Sign Language fingerspelling with real-time gesture recognition. I shaped the project direction, trained and tested the recognition dataset, refined model behavior, and designed the A-Z and Word mode UI/UX with reference visuals, progress feedback, and deployment-ready polish.

Accessibility ASL Fingerspelling Computer Vision ml5 HandPose p5.js ML Research UI/UX Interactive Learning
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VR Emotion Induction Toolkit

VR Emotion Induction Toolkit

As a Research Assistant at Aim Lab NYUAD, I contributed to a modular VR toolbox for systematically inducing and studying the six universal emotions and stress. I spearheaded the design of the "Anger" module, engineering interactive scenarios using social unfairness and time pressure to trigger a targeted response. My role also involved implementing biometric and behavioral data analysis protocols to empirically validate the emotional states elicited by the VR toolkit.

VR Research Emotion Induction Biometric Data UX Design Unity 3D C#
Virtual Human Companionship for Preoperative Care

vER: Virtual Human Companionship for Preoperative Care

As a Co-Author, I designed virtual agents that leverage social presence to mitigate patient anxiety in simulated pre-operative hospital settings. I validated the agents' efficacy by conducting a pilot study that integrated biometric tracking with qualitative post-study surveys. The findings have been presented at prestigious international venues including IMX ACM Conference 2025 and EMRN Barcelona 2025.

Healthcare Tech Virtual Agents Biometric Tracking User Studies Preoperative Care
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How I work

From concept to public encounter

01

Frame the question

Start from a perceptual, emotional, or social tension worth making tangible.

02

Prototype the body

Use VR, ML, sensors, light, sound, and performance to test how the system feels in motion.

03

Measure and refine

Combine user feedback, biometric signals, and observation to tune clarity, pacing, and interaction.

04

Stage the experience

Shape the final work for an audience, venue, or learning context without losing the core idea.

Projects & Installations

V!Real(ity) banner

V!Real(ity)

A room-scale installation about perception, priming, judgment, and the reality we think we see.

Interactive ML Portrait Builder placeholder

Interactive ML Portrait Builder

A research assistantship tool that helps first-time ml5.js users combine vision models and export custom starter projects.

UR20 Attachement prototype placeholder

UR20 Attachement Prototype

A robotics attachment concept placeholder for mechanical interface and testing documentation.

Memories in Frames

Memories in Frames

An evocative VR experience bringing images to life, linking reality and virtual reality in an expedition to understand memory.

Mondrian's Mirage

Mondrian's Mirage

A VR installation that was exhibited at Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Whispers from the Depth

Whispers from the Depth

An XR performance piece presented at the NYUAD Black Box Theater.

Beat-Hoven

Beat-Hoven

An interactive, Arduino-based musical game featured in the IM Showcase.

The MindPortal

The MindPortal

An interactive and generative portal created using p5.js.

Alien Meta Rave

Alien Meta Rave

A live VR music performance in New York, featuring a virtual world projected behind the performer.

Short Films

Short Films

A collection of short films and cinematic projects.

The Spiral

The Spiral

A large-scale kinetic installation exhibited at NYU New York, integrating physical suspended structures with virtual counterparts.

Work Experience

Mental.ae

Internship

Mental.ae | Abu Dhabi, UAE | Nov 2024 - Jan 2025

I executed comprehensive QA testing on interactive food safety training modules, identifying critical UX flaws to enhance usability. Utilizing Cinemachine within Unity 3D, I utilized dynamic camera systems that significantly increased user engagement and collaborated with a cross-functional team to ensure all project milestones were met.

QA Testing UX Design Unity 3D Cinemachine Project Management
Capabilities

Toolkit & Recognition

Technical Stack

XR & Game Engines

Unity3D C# XR Interaction Toolkit Cinemachine VR prototyping Virtual agents

Creative Coding & ML

JavaScript Python C++ p5.js ml5.js TensorFlow.js HandPose FaceMesh

Physical & Spatial Systems

Arduino Projection systems DMX QLC+ Biometric systems Interactive installation

Media & Production

Blender OBS DaVinci Resolve Ableton Performance systems UX research
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Presentations & Venues

  • IMX ACM 2025Virtual Companions in Preoperative VR
  • EMRN Barcelona 2025Affective Presence in Immersive Tech
  • Louvre Abu DhabiVR immersive experience exhibition
  • La MaMa NYCHybrid live-digital performance
  • ArtsIT 2025Organizer and media lead
  • ml5.js WorkshopModerated a show-and-tell for artists, faculty, undergraduate, and graduate students across NYU campuses.
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Let’s build the impossible thing carefully

Available for research, immersive media, and creative technology collaborations.

Based in Abu Dhabi and available to relocate for the right research, immersive media, or creative technology opportunity.

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