VAR Lab: The Emerging Technologies Hub at Penn State Behrend

Leveraging the potential of artificial intelligence, immersive technologies, and robotics for education, community, and industry in an equitable and sustainable way.

Strategic Units

AI + Machine Learning

Our unit focused on artificial intelligence development

Learn More

Immersive Technology

Our makerspace unit focused on immersive creation.

Learn More

Autonomous Robotics

Our unit focused on developing robotic and autonomous solutions

Learn More

News & Media

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly Tours VAR Lab

We were glad to welcome U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly to Penn State Behrend for a tour of VAR Lab. Rep.

VAR Lab Joins the University of Michigan’s AI & Mental Health Conference

Our Director, Dr. Christopher Shelton, and visiting researcher Jumin Seo spent a day at the University of Michigan's AI &

Our Director Receives Behrend’s Council of Fellows Excellence in Research Award

Congratulations to our Director, Dr. Christopher Shelton, associate professor of clinical psychology, on receiving Penn State Behrend's Council of Fellows

VAR at a Glance

Research, teaching, partnerships, and funding impact as of October 2026.

Realized Value $2.50M

Total Value Generated

$2.50M

External Funding + In-Kind Value

Grants, Awards and Gifts

$1.39M

Including 38 funded grants

Student Positions

247+

122 unique | 74% paid

Partnerships

150+

Academia | Industry | Nonprofits

Open Lab Deliverables

196

47% by lead contributor

Return on Investment

$18K

Seed Grant | 2019

13,800%

Conservative ROI

Excludes speculative value

$2.50M

Realized Value | 2026

XR Classroom | 2,715 Total (FA21 to FA24)

60

FA21

172

SP22

625

FA22

706

SP23

1,152

FA24

Individuals engaged per semester. Program concluded after Fall 2024.

2nd-Year Retention Rate

98.6%

VAR Lab Researchers

vs

75.4%

Behrend Average

+23.2 pp above college average

Student Composition

Humanities and SS

45%

Engineering

42%

Business

9%

Science

4%

Undergrad

80%

Graduate

20%

Paid Roles

74%

Funding Breakdown

External Funding: $1,395,777

Grants (38)

$1,185,796

Corporate + Private

$83,945

Student Awards (16)

$61,700

Visiting Scholar Awards

~$54,278

Other Awards (7)

$10,058

In-Kind Value: ~$1,108,358

Faculty Effort

~$685,687

Facilities

~$272,588

Visiting Scholar Labor

~$150,083

+ $133,654 in proposals under review (2)

AI and Tech | 20+ Tools

LLMs | Generative Media | Vision | Speech | Autonomous Systems

Penn State

7+ campuses | TLT | ICDS | All 4 schools

Higher Ed

USC | Michigan | CMU | Korea | Brazil

Industry

US Steel | Erie Insurance | Adobe | STERIS

Community

Carnegie Science | Hagen | Girl Scouts

Grants and Federal

ECGRA | Fish and Wildlife | Erie Fdn

Projects & Events

Grape Vineyard Scan2026-05-20T16:55:06-04:00

Grape Vineyard Scan
Autonomous Robotics, Drone Systems & Aerial Mapping

Grape Vineyard Scan
Autonomous Robotics, Drone Systems & Aerial Mapping
Lake Erie Lighthouse Scan2026-05-20T16:43:57-04:00

Lake Erie Lighthouse Scan
Autonomous Robotics, Drone Systems & Aerial Mapping

Lake Erie Lighthouse Scan
Autonomous Robotics, Drone Systems & Aerial Mapping
Invasive Species Drone Imaging2026-05-20T16:39:53-04:00

Invasive Species Drone Imaging
Autonomous Robotics, Drone Systems & Aerial Mapping

Invasive Species Drone Imaging
Autonomous Robotics, Drone Systems & Aerial Mapping
Autonomous Camera Leveling for Robotic Capture2026-05-20T16:38:24-04:00

Autonomous Camera Leveling for Robotic Capture
Autonomous Robotics, Custom Robotics Hardware

Autonomous Camera Leveling for Robotic Capture
Autonomous Robotics, Custom Robotics Hardware
Custom Fabricated Mounts for the Unitree Go22026-05-20T16:36:57-04:00

Custom Fabricated Mounts for the Unitree Go2
Autonomous Robotics, Custom Robotics Hardware

Custom Fabricated Mounts for the Unitree Go2
Autonomous Robotics, Custom Robotics Hardware
Turning the Unitree Go2 into a Traveling Technology Showcase2026-05-20T16:35:19-04:00

Turning the Unitree Go2 into a Traveling Technology Showcase
Autonomous Robotics, Custom Robotics Hardware

Turning the Unitree Go2 into a Traveling Technology Showcase
Autonomous Robotics, Custom Robotics Hardware
Autonomous Campus Guide2026-05-20T16:33:12-04:00

Autonomous Campus Guide
Autonomous Platforms, Autonomous Robotics

Autonomous Campus Guide
Autonomous Platforms, Autonomous Robotics
Landing Place: AI-Driven Wellness App2026-05-20T16:32:34-04:00

Landing Place: AI-Driven Wellness App
AI & Therapeutics, AI + Machine Learning

Landing Place: AI-Driven Wellness App
AI & Therapeutics, AI + Machine Learning
LabVIS: Assisted Development2026-05-20T16:31:44-04:00

LabVIS: Assisted Development
AI & Therapeutics, AI + Machine Learning

LabVIS: Assisted Development
AI & Therapeutics, AI + Machine Learning
3D-Printed CIMT Constraint Orthosis2026-05-20T16:29:16-04:00

3D-Printed CIMT Constraint Orthosis
AI & Therapeutics, AI + Machine Learning

3D-Printed CIMT Constraint Orthosis
AI & Therapeutics, AI + Machine Learning
Office Double: High-Resolution 3D Space Capture2026-05-20T16:28:08-04:00

Office Double: High-Resolution 3D Space Capture
AI + Machine Learning, Generative AI & Digital Doubles

Office Double: High-Resolution 3D Space Capture
AI + Machine Learning, Generative AI & Digital Doubles
ARVIS: AI-Powered Digital Human2026-05-20T16:26:27-04:00

ARVIS: AI-Powered Digital Human
AI + Machine Learning, Generative AI & Digital Doubles

ARVIS: AI-Powered Digital Human
AI + Machine Learning, Generative AI & Digital Doubles
Spider Measuring: 3D Scanning for Ecological Research2026-05-20T16:25:34-04:00

Spider Measuring: 3D Scanning for Ecological Research
Immersive Technology, Reality Capture & 3D Digitization

Spider Measuring: 3D Scanning for Ecological Research
Immersive Technology, Reality Capture & 3D Digitization
Shoe Scanning: 3D Digitization for Custom Footwear2026-05-20T16:21:50-04:00

Shoe Scanning: 3D Digitization for Custom Footwear
Immersive Technology, Reality Capture & 3D Digitization

Shoe Scanning: 3D Digitization for Custom Footwear
Immersive Technology, Reality Capture & 3D Digitization
Replica Liberty Bell Scan: 3D Digitization for Acoustic Research2026-05-20T16:19:36-04:00

Replica Liberty Bell Scan: 3D Digitization for Acoustic Research
Immersive Technology, Reality Capture & 3D Digitization

Replica Liberty Bell Scan: 3D Digitization for Acoustic Research
Immersive Technology, Reality Capture & 3D Digitization

View Full Portfolio

Our Partners

Explore our organization’s mission and learn more on the about page. If you have any inquiries or wish to get in touch, please visit our contact page. Your interest is highly appreciated!

About

Contact