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

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Immersive Technology

Illustration of a person wearing a VR headset reaching toward a planet

Our makerspace unit focused on immersive creation.

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Autonomous Robotics

Our unit focused on developing robotic and autonomous solutions

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News & Media

Brand New Kicks!

Through a connection with Innovation Commons at Penn State Behrend, we had the opportunity to support Emily and her dad,

Research in Progress: EEG & Immersive Virtual Reality

As part of her Fulbright research at the VAR Lab, Bibiana Mayer Steckel is leading a project focused on understanding

Scanning the Liberty Bell

The other day our director Christopher R. Shelton and student researcher Remington Orange used an Artec Eva structured light scanner

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

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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!

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