VAR Lab - Virtual/Augmented Reality (VAR) Lab

Leveraging the potential of immersive technologies 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

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

FutureSelf Smoking: Cessation Project

FutureSelf: Smoking Cessation Project The VAR Lab helped support the development of the FutureSelf Smoking Cessation Project in

AI Door Greeter

AI Door Greeter The VAR Lab developed an AI Door Greeter, a Python-based application designed to welcome lab members as

Art Installation: Interactive Projection for Gallery Spaces

Art Installation: Interactive Projection for Gallery Spaces The VAR Lab developed an interactive projector installation for the Spring 2026 Yahn

VAR at a Glance

Research, teaching, partnerships, and funding impact through January 2026.

Realized Value $2.32M

Total Value Generated

$2.32M

Labor | Facilities | Visiting Scholars

Grants, Awards and Gifts

$1.35M

38 grants funded

Student Positions

247

115 unique | 74% paid

Partnerships

150+

Academia | Industry | Nonprofits

Open Lab Deliverables

196

47% by lead contributor

Return on Investment

$18K

Seed Grant | 2019

12,800%

Conservative ROI

Excludes speculative value

$2.32M

Realized Value | 2026

XR Classroom | 2,715 Total

60

FA21

172

SP22

625

FA22

706

SP23

1,152

FA24

Individuals engaged per semester

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

Grants (38)

$1,185,796

Faculty Effort

~$630,818

Facilities

~$228,249

Visiting Scholars

$162,283

Corporate + Private

$65,895

Student Awards (14)

$41,700

+ $198,654 in proposals under review

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

VR180 Videos: Immersive Media for Local ExperiencesOrange, Remington Matthew2026-05-20T16:17:19-04:00

VR180 Videos: Immersive Media for Local Experiences
Immersive Media Production, Immersive Technology

VR180 Videos: Immersive Media for Local Experiences
Immersive Media Production, Immersive Technology
Projector Games: Interactive Projection SystemsOrange, Remington Matthew2026-05-20T16:14:35-04:00

Projector Games: Interactive Projection Systems
Spatial Interaction & Projection

Projector Games: Interactive Projection Systems
Spatial Interaction & Projection
Art Installation: Interactive Projection for Gallery SpacesOrange, Remington Matthew2026-05-20T16:13:06-04:00

Art Installation: Interactive Projection for Gallery Spaces
Immersive Technology, Spatial Interaction & Projection

Art Installation: Interactive Projection for Gallery Spaces
Immersive Technology, Spatial Interaction & Projection
AI Door GreeterOrange, Remington Matthew2026-05-20T16:11:04-04:00

AI Door Greeter
AI + Machine Learning, AI Applications & Interactive Systems

AI Door Greeter
AI + Machine Learning, AI Applications & Interactive Systems
FutureSelf Smoking: Cessation ProjectOrange, Remington Matthew2026-05-20T16:09:41-04:00

FutureSelf Smoking: Cessation Project
AI & Therapeutics, AI + Machine Learning

FutureSelf Smoking: Cessation Project
AI & Therapeutics, AI + Machine Learning
Farmstead Scattering Services: VR360 ProjectOrange, Remington Matthew2026-05-20T16:08:02-04:00

Farmstead Scattering Services: VR360 Project
Immersive Media Production, Immersive Technology

Farmstead Scattering Services: VR360 Project
Immersive Media Production, Immersive Technology
Photogrammetry Testing at the VAR LabOrange, Remington Matthew2026-05-20T16:05:43-04:00

Photogrammetry Testing at the VAR Lab
Immersive Technology, Reality Capture & 3D Digitization

Photogrammetry Testing at the VAR Lab
Immersive Technology, Reality Capture & 3D Digitization
Human-Sized Turntable for 3D ScanningOrange, Remington Matthew2026-05-20T15:03:53-04:00

Human-Sized Turntable for 3D Scanning
Autonomous Platforms, Autonomous Robotics

Human-Sized Turntable for 3D Scanning
Autonomous Platforms, Autonomous Robotics
BIOL 164 – Class IntegrationKelly Cass2023-06-12T12:48:55-04:00

BIOL 164 – Class Integration
VAR Edu

BIOL 164 – Class Integration
VAR Edu
MKTG 343 – Class IntegrationKelly Cass2023-06-12T12:49:12-04:00

MKTG 343 – Class Integration
VAR Edu

MKTG 343 – Class Integration
VAR Edu
Admissions Event – Outreach IntegrationKelly Cass2023-06-12T12:48:05-04:00

Admissions Event – Outreach Integration
VAR Edu

Admissions Event – Outreach Integration
VAR Edu
MIS 204 – Class IntegrationKelly Cass2023-06-12T13:07:04-04:00

MIS 204 – Class Integration
VAR Edu

MIS 204 – Class Integration
VAR Edu
GAME 250 – Class IntegrationKelly Cass2023-06-12T13:07:12-04:00

GAME 250 – Class Integration
VAR Edu

GAME 250 – Class Integration
VAR Edu
The Landing PlaceShelton, Chris2023-03-20T22:56:35-04:00

The Landing Place
VAR Lab

The Landing Place
VAR Lab
PSYCH 519 – Class IntegrationKelly Cass2023-06-12T13:07:19-04:00

PSYCH 519 – Class Integration
VAR Edu

PSYCH 519 – Class Integration
VAR Edu

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Our Partners

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