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About James H. Oliver

James Oliver holds the title of University Professor at Iowa State University (ISU), serves as the Larry and Pam Pithan Professor of Mechanical Engineering and is the inaugural Director of ISU’s new Student Innovation Center. In this role, Oliver provides overall leadership, vision and direction for the facility – including planning and implementing academic programming – and fosters engagement among students and external stakeholders. For the previous 15 years Oliver served as Director of ISU’s Virtual Reality Applications Center(VRAC), an interdisciplinary research center focused on emerging interface technologies. Professor Oliver also developed and directed ISU’s Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Human Computer Interaction (HCI) that complements the VRAC’s research mission by providing PhD, MS, and Professional Certificate degrees in HCI. 
 
Professor Oliver’s research spans a wide array of emerging interface technologies, encompassing computer graphics, geometric modeling, virtual and augmented reality, and collaborative networks for applications in product development, complex system operation and training. Several Federal agencies, including the NSF, NASA, ONR, AFRL, US Army, as well as numerous industry partners have funded his research. Oliver is a Fellow of the ASME, holds three U.S. patents, and is the recipient of numerous professional honors and awards. In addition to his Iowa State responsibilities, Oliver co-founded BodyViz, a technology startup focused on low-cost, easy-to-use medical visualization with sales in the medical, education, veterinary and legal markets; and he formerly headed software product development for Engineering Animation Inc., (NASDAQ: EAII)

Positions

Present Director, Graduate Program in Human Computer Interaction, Iowa State University
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Present Director, Virtual Reality Applications Center, Iowa State University
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Present Larry and Pam Pithan Professor, Iowa State University Department of Mechanical Engineering
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Present University Professor, Iowa State University Department of Mechanical Engineering
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Honors and Awards

  • Appointed University Professor, Iowa State University, 2012
  • Appointed Larry and Pam Pithan Professor, College of Engineering, Iowa State University, 2009
  • Invited Visiting Professor, Image Institute, Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Arts et Métiers, ParisTech, Chalon-sur-Saône, France, May-July 2008
  • Best Paper Award, ASME 27th Computers in Engineering Conference, 2007
  • Fellow, ASME International, 2006
  • Best Paper Award, Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference, 2005
  • Outstanding Faculty Award, Iowa State University Interfraternity Council, 2005
  • Sigma Xi – Scientific Research Society, accepted nomination as full member, 2003
  • Gustus L. Larson Memorial Award, ASME International, 1999
  • Young Engineering Faculty Research Award, Iowa State University, 1996
  • Boeing A.D. Welliver Faculty Summer Fellow, 1996
  • Computer-Aided Design (Journal) Referee Award, 1993
  • National Science Foundation (NSF) Young Investigator Award, 1992
  • Rockwell Excellence Award, Department of Mechanical Engineering, ISU, 1992
  • Carver Faculty Fellow, Iowa Center for Emerging Manufacturing Technology, 1991
  • SAE Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award, 1990
  • DuPont Fellow, Michigan State University, 1979-1980
  • Graduated Magna Cum Laude, Union College, 1979
  • Tau Beta Pi - National Engineering Honor Society, 1978
  • Dean’s List, Union College, 1977-1979

Courses

  • ME625: Surface Modeling (developed as a new course)
  • ME/WLC 484/584: Technology, Globalization and Culture
  • ME557: Computer Graphics and Geometric Modeling (developed as a new course)
  • ME415: Mechanical Systems Design
  • ME310: Mechanisms
  • ME270: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design
  • HCI592X: Entrepreneurship Workshop

Contact Information

1620 Howe Hall
537 Bissell Road
Ames, IA 50011
Phone: 515-294-2649
Fax: 515-294-5530

Email:


Peer-Reviewed Articles (23)

Pre-prints (1)

Proceedings & Presentations (36)