Evolutionary biology, population genetics, plant-insect interactions and genomics.
Dr. Shuaihua Gao obtained a B.S. in Pharmaceutical Engineering from the Beijing University of Chemical and Technology where she did her undergraduate research with Prof. Guojun Zheng. During her undergraduate years, she studies the application of gamma-lactamase for the biosynthesis of anti-HIV drugs. After finishing her B.S., she started her PhD under the guidance of Prof. Guojun Zheng to focused on using microbial screening and genome mining methods to identify novel gamma-lactamases used for enantioselective reactions in preparation of anti-HIV drugs. In particular, she developed a high throughput colorimetric screening method for lactamase identification and protein engineering.
Dr. Gao joined Judith Klinman lab after finishing her PhD work within 3 years. In Klinman lab, she switched gears from translational science to basic science where she studied the fundamental and physical basis of enzyme catalysis. After obtaining her PhD, Dr. Gao returned to Klinman lab as a postdoc to continue studying the significance of protein dynamics in enzyme catalysis. She developed temperature dependent hydrogen deuterium exchange couple to mass spectrometry (TD-HDX-MS) to investigate the correlation between protein dynamics and enzyme efficiency.
Gao started her independent career in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Tulane University in summer 2023. By integrating pharmaceutical chemistry, biochemistry, enzymology, protein engineering and bioinformatics, the Gao lab is tackling the problems in the world of both translational and basic science.
Protein engineering for biomedical applications. We perform protein engineering on a variety of naturally occurring proteins to enhance their catalytic performance via rapid cell-free protein synthesis and in vivo continuous directed evolution methodologies. One of the targeted proteins will be fluorinase that demonstrates application in radiotracer preparation for PET (positron emission tomography) scan to detect cancer cells.
Biosynthetic engineering for novel therapeutics. We focus on developing metabolic pathways to produce valuable molecules, engineering genetic systems to control pathways, and exploring fundamental questions in biochemistry and microbial biology. A case study will be rational design of non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) microbial machineries to produce fluorinated novel NRPS products for antitumors, antibiotics, or immunosuppressants discovery.
Biophysical, molecular, and structural understanding of proteins relating to biological function. We apply biophysical probes including temperature dependent hydrogen deuterium exchange (HDX), NMR spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy to study the spatial and temporal resolution protein dynamics. This research emphasizes the importance of integrating dynamic factor for design of made-to-order proteins and promotes de novo design research progress.
Gao, S and Klinman, J. P., Functional roles of enzyme dynamics in accelerating active site chemistry: emerging techniques and changing concepts. Current Opinion in Structural Biology, 2022, 75, 102434. (Invited Review paper). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959440X22001130?via%3Dihub
Gao, S.; Zhang, W.; Barrow, S. L.; Iavarone, A. T.; Klinman, J. P., Temperature-dependent hydrogen deuterium exchange shows impact of analog binding on adenosine deaminase flexibility but not embedded thermal networks. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2022, 298(9), 102350. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021925822007931?via%3Dihub
Gao, S.; Thompson, E. J.; Barrow, S. L.; Zhang, W.; Iavarone, A. T.; Klinman, J. P., Hydrogen–Deuterium Exchange within adenosine deaminase, a TIM barrel hydrolase, identifies networks for thermal activation of catalysis. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2020, 142 (47), 19936-19949. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.1c01046
Zhang, J.; Balsbaugh, J. L.; Gao, S.; Ahn, N. G.; Klinman, J. P., Hydrogen deuterium exchange defines catalytically linked regions of protein flexibility in the catechol O-methyltransferase reaction. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2020, 117 (20), 10797-10805. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1917219117?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed
Gao, S.; Lu, Y.; Li, Y.; Huang, R.; Zheng, G., Enhancement in the catalytic activity of Sulfolobus solfataricus P2 (+)-γ-lactamase by semi-rational design with the aid of a newly established high-throughput screening method. Applied microbiology and biotechnology 2019, 103 (1), 251-263. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00253-018-9428-0
Gao, S.; Zhu, S.; Huang, R.; Li, H.; Wang, H.; Zheng, G., Engineering the Enantioselectivity and Thermostability of a (+)-γ-Lactamase from Microbacterium hydrocarbonoxydans for Kinetic Resolution of Vince Lactam (2-Azabicyclo [2.2. 1] hept-5-en-3-one). Applied and environmental microbiology 2018, 84 (1). https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/AEM.01780-17?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed
Gao, S.; Zhou, Y.; Zhang, W.; Wang, W.; Yu, Y.; Mu, Y.; Wang, H.; Gong, X.; Zheng, G.; Feng, Y., Structural insights into the γ-lactamase activity and substrate enantioselectivity of an isochorismatase-like hydrolase from Microbacterium hydrocarbonoxydans. Scientific reports 2017, 7, 44542. https://www.nature.com/articles/srep44542
Gao, S.; Huang, R.; Zhu, S.; Li, H.; Zheng, G., Identification and characterization of a novel (+)-γ-lactamase from Microbacterium hydrocarbonoxydans. Applied microbiology and biotechnology 2016, 100 (22), 9543-9553. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00253-016-7643-0
Gao, S.; Su, Y.; Zhao, L.; Li, G.; Zheng, G., Characterization of a (R)-selective amine transaminase from Fusarium oxysporum. Process Biochemistry 2017, 63, 130-136. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359511317306712
Gao, S.; Zhu, S.; Huang, R.; Lu, Y.; Zheng, G., Efficient synthesis of the intermediate of abacavir and carbovir using a novel (+)-γ-lactamase as a catalyst. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 2015, 25 (18), 3878-3881. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960894X15007581
Chen, Y.; Gao, F.; Zheng, G.; Gao, S.,* Enantioselective synthesis of a chiral intermediate of himbacine analogs by Burkholderia cepacia lipase A. Biotechnology Letters 2020, 42 (12), 2643-2651. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10529-020-02969-z
Chen, Y.; Zhang, X.; Zheng, G.; Gao, S.,* Preparation of the enantiomerically enriched precursor of lamivudine (3TC™) via asymmetric catalysis mediated by Klebsiella oxytoca. Process Biochemistry 2019, 81, 77-84. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359511319300790
Li, H.; Gao, S.; Qiu, Y.; Liang, C.; Zhu, S.; Zheng, G., Genome mining integrating semi-rational protein engineering and nanoreactor design: roadmap for a robust biocatalyst for industrial resolution of Vince lactam. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 2020, 104 (3), 1109-1123. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00253-019-10275-6
Shen, X.; Zhou, D.; Lin, Y.; Wang, J.; Gao, S.; Kandavelu, P.; Zhang, H.; Zhang, R.; Wang, B.-C.; Rose, J., Structural Insights into Catalytic Versatility of the Flavin-dependent Hydroxylase (HpaB) from Escherichia coli. Scientific reports 2019, 9 (1), 7087. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-43577-w
Su, Y.; Gao, S.; Li, H.; Zheng, G., Enantioselective resolution of γ-lactam utilizing a novel (+)-γ-lactamase from Bacillus thuringiensis. Process Biochemistry 2018, 72, 96-104. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359511318305890
Zhu, S.; Huang, R.; Gao, S.; Li, X.; Zheng, G., Discovery and characterization of a second extremely thermostable (+)-γ-lactamase from Sulfolobus solfataricus P2. Journal of bioscience and bioengineering 2016, 121 (5), 484-490. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1389172315003710
Ren, L.; Zhu, S.; Shi, Y.; Gao, S.; Zheng, G., Enantioselective resolution of γ-lactam by a novel thermostable type II (+)-γ-lactamase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Aeropyrum pernix. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology 2015, 176 (1), 170-184. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12010-015-1565-7
Zhu, S.; Gong, C.; Song, D.; Gao, S.; Zheng, G., Discovery of a novel (+)-γ-lactamase from Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 6 by rational genome mining. Applied and environmental microbiology 2012, 78 (20), 7492-7495. https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/AEM.01398-12
5088 Percival Stern Building
The Straus group specializes in problems that involve relating the structure of crystalline materials with their optical, electronic, and magnetic properties. We are interested in extended inorganic and organic/inorganic hybrid materials, such as perovskites and bronzes, as well as molecular and cluster-based materials with delocalized electronic states. Some projects involve the targeted synthesis of novel materials that we hypothesize will have a specific set of attributes. Other times, we make variants of known materials and study their properties for new applications.
Physical, Polymer/Materials, Inorganic
T. Lee, D. B. Straus, X. Xu, K. P. Devlin, W. Xie, R. J. Cava. “Ferromagnetic Coupling in Quasi-One-Dimensional Hybrid Iron Chloride Hexagonal Perovskites.” Inorg. Chem. (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c03235
T. Lee, D. B. Straus, X. Xu, W. Xie, R. J. Cava. “Tunable Magnetic Transition Temperatures in Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Cobalt Chloride Hexagonal Perovskites.” Chem. Mater. 35 1745 (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.2c03532
D. B. Straus, T. Klimczuk, X. Xu, R. J. Cava. “Antiferromagnetic Order in the Rare Earth Halide Perovskites CsEuBr3 and CsEuCl3.” Chem. Mater. 34 10772 (2022). DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.2c03051
D. B. Straus, R. J. Cava. “Self-Assembly of a Chiral Cubic Three- Connected Net from the High Symmetry Molecules C60 and SnI4.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 142 13155 (2020). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c05563
D. B. Straus, S. Guo, M. Abeykoon, R. J. Cava. “Understanding the Instability of the Halide Perovskite CsPbI3 through Temperature- Dependent Structural Analysis.” Adv. Mater. 32 2001069 (2020). DOI: 10.1002/adma.202001069
D. B. Straus, S. Hurtado Parra, N. Iotov, Q. Zhao, M. R. Gau, P. J. Carroll, J. M. Kikkawa, C. R. Kagan. “Tailoring Hot Exciton Dynamics in 2D Hybrid Perovskites through Cation Modification,” ACS Nano 14 3621 (2020). DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c00037
D. B. Straus, S. Guo, R. J. Cava. “Kinetically Stable Single Crystals of Perovskite-Phase CsPbI3,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 141 11435 (2019). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b06055
D. B. Straus, S. Hurtado Parra, N. Iotov, J. Gebhardt, A. M. Rappe, J. E. Subotnik, J. M. Kikkawa, C. R. Kagan. “Direct Observation of Electron-Phonon Coupling and Slow Vibrational Relaxation in Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Perovskites,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 138 13798 (2016). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b08175
A complete list of publications can be found at https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=sPRqWoUAAAAJ
My area of research expertise focuses on the impact of fluvial-deltaic surface processes on the development of Earth and Martian sedimentary stratigraphy and the significance of the depositional record for informing future environmental changes. My research aims to bridging sedimentology, geomorphology, surface processes, stratigraphy, and landscape evolution by examining both modern and ancient sedimentary environments. To achieve this goal, I use numerical models, physical experiments, geophysical survey methods, remote sensing, and geological survey techniques.
Dr. Goodman’s research interests include Theoretical Nuclear Physics.
A.L. Goodman, “The Romantic Revolt Against Rationalism: A Study In the Relation Between Science and Poetry,” China Media Research, 18(4), p. 80-105 (October 2022).
A.L. Goodman, “Cosmology: Where Religion Meets Physics,” China Media Research, 18(2), p. 80-96 (April 2022).
A.L. Goodman, “What is the Signature of T = 0 np Pairing in Rotating Nuclei?” in The Labyrinth In Nuclear Structure, edited by A. Bracco and C. Kalfas (American Institute of Physics, New York, 2004) p. 285.
A.L. Goodman, “T = 0 and T = 1 Pairing in Rotational States of the N = Z Nucleus 80 Zr,” Physical Review C63, 044325 (2001).
A.L. Goodman, “Shape Transitions In Hot Rotating Nuclei,” Nuclear Physics A687, 206c (2001).
A.L. Goodman, “T =0 and T = 1 Pairs in Yrast States of 80 Zr,” in Selected Topics on N = Z Nuclei, edited by D. Rudolph and M. Hellstrom (Lund University, 2001) p. 166.
A.L. Goodman, “T = 0 and T = 1 Pair Correlations in N = Z Nuclei With A = 76 – 96,” Physica Scripta T88, 170 (2000).
A.L. Goodman and M. Thoennessen, “Summary Of the Hot GDR Workshop,” RIKEN Review No. 23, 172 (1999).
A.L. Goodman, “Transition From Prolate Noncollective to Oblate Noncollective At the Second Shape Transition Temperature,” RIKEN Review No. 23, 73 (1999).
A.L. Goodman, “Proton-Neutron Pairing In Z = N Nuclei With A = 76 – 96,” Physical Review C60, 014311 (1999).
A.L. Goodman, “Neutron-Proton Pairing In N = Z Nuclei ,” in Nuclear Structure 98, edited by C. Baktash (American Institute of Physics, New York, 1999) p. 160.
A.L. Goodman, “Neutron-Proton Pair Correlations In N = Z Nuclei With A = 76 – 96,” in Highlights Of Modern Nuclear Structure, edited by A. Covello (World Scientific, Singapore, 1999) p. 401.
A.L. Goodman, “T = 0 and T = 1 Pair Correlations In N = Z Medium-Mass Nuclei,” Physical Review C58, R3051 (1998).
A.L. Goodman, “Expansion of Moment of Inertia at High Temperature,” Nuclear Physics A633, 223 (1998).
A.L. Goodman, “What Shape Is Generated By the Rotation of a Hot Spherical Nucleus?” in Progress in Particle and Nuclear Physics, edited by A. Faessler (Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1997) Vol. 38, p.173.
A.L. Goodman and T. Jin, “Second Shape Transition Temperature: Prolate Noncollective to Oblate Noncollective,” Zeitschrift fur Physik A358, 131 (1997).
A.L. Goodman and T. Jin, “Temperature Induced Shape Transition: Prolate Noncollective to Oblate Noncollective,” Nuclear Physics A611, 139 (1996).
A.L. Goodman and T. Jin, “Systematics of First and Second Shape Transition Temperatures in Heavy Nuclei,” Physical Review C54, 1165 (1996).
F.A. Dodaro and A.L. Goodman, “Statistical Orientation Fluctuations in 188 Os,” Nuclear Physics A596, 91 (1996).
A.L. Goodman, “Rotation of Hot Spherical Nucleus Creates Prolate Spheroid Rotating About Symmetry Axis,” in New Perspectives in Nuclear Structure, edited by A. Covello (World Scientific, Singapore, 1996) p.319.
A.L. Goodman, “Does Rotation of a Hot Spherical Nucleus Generate an Oblate or a Prolate Shape?” Nuclear Physics A592, 151 (1995).
A.L. Goodman, “Shape Transitions in 188 Os,” Nuclear Physics A591, 182 (1995).
A.L. Goodman, “Rotation Induced Prolate Spheroid Above the Critical Temperature,” Physical Review Letters 73, 416 (1994); 73, 1734 (1994).
G. Rosensteel and A.L. Goodman, “Kelvin Circulation in a Cranked Anisotropic Oscillator + BCS Mean Field,” International Journal of Modern Physics E: Nuclear Physics 3,1251 (1994).
A.L. Goodman, “Shapes of Hot Rotating Nuclei,” Proceedings of the International Symposium in Nuclear Structure, Beijing, China, 1993 (CIAE, Beijing, 1994) p. 40.
A.L. Goodman, “Multiple Shape Transitions in Hot Rotating 148 Sm Nuclei,” Proceedings of the International Conference on the Future of Nuclear Spectroscopy, Agia Pelagia, Crete, 1993, edited by W. Gelletly, C.A. Kalfas, R. Vlastou, S. Harissopulos, and D. Loukas (NCSR Demokritos, Athens, 1994 ) p. 272.
F.A. Dodaro and A.L. Goodman, “Three Dimensional Cranking at Finite Temperature,” Physical Review C49, 1482 (1994).
F.A. Dodaro and A.L. Goodman, “Dynamic Inertia Tensor for a Hot Rotating Nucleus,” Nuclear Physics A573, 47 (1994).
Dr. Jian’s research interest lies in quantum many-body physics, non-equilibrium physics, and quantum information theory. In particular, current research interests of the group include quantum entanglement, open quantum systems, emergent phenomena, and quantum criticality.
1. Stefano Antonini, Gregory Bentsen, ChunJun Cao, Jonathan Harper, Shao-Kai Jian, Brian Swingle
Holographic measurement and bulk teleportation
J. High Energy Phys. 12 (2022) 124
2. Shao-Kai Jian and Brian Swingle
Chaos-protected locality
J. High Energy Phys. 01 (2022) 083
3. Subhayan Sahu*, Shao-Kai Jian*, Gregory Bentsen, and Brian Swingle
Entanglement Phases in large-N hybrid Brownian circuits with long-range couplings
Phys. Rev. B 106, 224305 (2022)
4. Pengfei Zhang, Chunxiao Liu, Shao-Kai Jian, and Xiao Chen
Universal Entanglement Transitions of Free Fermions with Long-range Non-unitary Dynamics
Quantum 6, 723 (2022)
5. Shao-Kai Jian*, Chunxiao Liu*, Xiao Chen, Brian Swingle, and Pengfei Zhang
Measurement-Induced Phase Transition in the Monitored Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev Model
Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 140601 (2021)
6. Pengfei Zhang*, Shao-Kai Jian*, Chunxiao Liu, Xiao Chen
SYK Meets Non-Hermiticity I: Emergent Replica Conformal Symmetry
Quantum 5, 579 (2021)
7. Yu-Rong Shu, Shao-Kai Jian, and Shuai Yin
Nonequilibrium dynamics in deconfined quantum critical point revealed by imaginary-time evolution
Phys. Rev. Lett. 128, 020601 (2022)
8. Shao-Kai Jian and Brian Swingle
Note on entropy dynamics in the Brownian SYK model
J. High Energy Phys. 03 (2021) 042
9. Shao-Kai Jian, Brian Swingle, Zhuo-Yu Xian
Complexity growth of operators in the SYK model and in JT gravity
J. High Energy Phys. 03 (2021) 014
10. Shao-Kai Jian, Yingyi Huang, and Hong Yao
Charge-4e superconductivity from nematic superconductors in 2D and 3D
Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 227001 (2021)
Quantum Many-body Physics, Non-equilibrium Physics, and Quantum Information Theory.
303C Stanley Thomas Hall
CMPS 4662/6662 Information Security [Spring]
CMPS 3661/6661 Intro to Software Security [Fall]
About Professor Ming
Jiang Ming is a faculty member affiliated with the Department of Computer Science at Tulane University. Before that, he was a faculty member at the University of Texas at Arlington. He received his Ph.D. degree from Pennsylvania State University in 2016. He was the recipient of UTA College of Engineering Outstanding Early Career Research Award, ACM SIGPLAN Distinguished Paper Award, and ACM SIGSOFT Distinguished Paper Nomination. His Ph.D. student won Second Place in the 2022 ACM Student Research Competition Grand Finalists.
Research Interests
His research interests span Software and Systems Security, with a focus on the following specific topics:
Selected Publications
Dan's research interests focus on blue carbon and other ecosystem services in mangrove forests, threats to mangroves such as deforestation and sea-level rise, and the use of blue carbon to incentivize mangrove conservation and restoration. This research takes a mixed methods approach, including modelling and remote sensing, field data collection, and social science methods. His research is both conceptual and applied, including working closely with government and NGOs. Prior to joining Tulane, Dan was based at the National University of Singapore (2009-2022). For more information visit www.themangrovelab.com.
Selected Publications
For a full list visit www.themangrovelab.com/publications
Saintilan, Kovalenko, Guntenspergen, Rogers, Lynch, Cahoon, Lovelock, Friess, et al. 2022. Constraints on the adjustment of tidal marshes to accelerating sea-level rise. Science 377, 523-527.
Friess, Adame, Adams, Lovelock. 2022. Mangrove forests under climate change in a 2°C world. WIREs Climate Change 13, e792.
Friess, Howard, Huxham, Macreadie, Ross. 2022. Capitalizing on the global financial interest in blue carbon. PLoS Climate 1, 0000061.
Friess, Gatt, Ahmad, Brown, Sidik, Wodehouse. 2022. Achieving ambitious mangrove restoration targets will need a transdisciplinary and evidence-informed approach. One Earth 5, 456-460.
Macreadie, Costa, Atwood, Friess, Kelleway, Kennedy, Lovelock, Serrano, Duarte. 2021. Blue carbon as a natural climate solution. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment 2, 826-839.
Zeng, Friess, Sarira, Siman, Koh. 2021. Global potential and financial limits of mangrove blue carbon for climate change mitigation. Current Biology 31, 1737-1743.
Friess, Yando, Abuchahla, Adams, Cannicci, Canty, Cavanaugh, Connolly, Cormier, Dahdouh-Guebas, Diele, Feller, Fratini, Jennerjahn, Lee, Ogurcak, Ouyang, Rogers, Rowntree, Sharma, Sloey, Wee. 2020. Mangroves give cause for conservation optimism, for now. Current Biology 30, R153-R154.
Friess, Rogers, Lovelock, Krauss, Hamilton, Lee, Lucas, Primavera, Rajkaran, Shi. 2019. The state of the world's mangrove forests: past, present and future. Annual Review of Environment and Resources 44, 89-115.
Macreadie, Anton, Raven, Beaumont, Connolly, Friess et al. 2019. The future of Blue Carbon science. Nature Communications 10, 3998.
Hamilton, Friess. 2018. Global carbon stocks and potential emissions due to mangrove deforestation from 2000 to 2012. Nature Climate Change 8, 240-244.
Friess, Thompson, Brown, Amir, Cameron, Koldewey, Sasmito, Sidik. 2016. Policy challenges and approaches for the conservation of mangrove forests in Southeast Asia. Conservation Biology 30, 933-949.
Richards, Friess. 2016. Rates and drivers of mangrove deforestation in Southeast Asia, 2000-2012. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113, 344-349.
Lovelock, Cahoon, Friess, Guntenspergen, Krauss, Reef, Rogers, Saunders, Sidik, Swales, Saintilan, Thuyen & Triet. 2015. The vulnerability of Indo-Pacific mangrove forests to sea-level rise. Nature 526, 559-563.
Friess, Webb. 2014. Variability in mangrove change estimates and implications for the assessment of ecosystem service provision. Global Ecology and Biogeography 23, 715-725.
Friess, Krauss, Horstman, Balke, Bouma, Galli, Webb. 2012. Are all intertidal wetlands naturally created equal? Bottlenecks, thresholds and knowledge gaps to mangrove and saltmarsh ecosystems. Biological Reviews 87, 346-366.
CMPS 1500 – Intro to Computer Science I
CMPS 2300 – Intro to Systems and Networking
Matthew Toups is a Professor of Practice in Computer Science at Tulane University. His focus is on undergraduate education with an emphasis in computer systems, networking, and security topics.
Prior to joining Tulane he served as IT Director for the Computer Science department at the University of New Orleans. There he managed a datacenter dedicated to research and teaching for the CS department. He also taught Systems Programming Concepts at UNO, and served as sponsor for the Cybersecurity Capture-The-Flag team, in which his students competed with teams from around the world in solving security challenges.
Intro to Computer Science II
Intro to Discrete Mathematics
Game Programming
Alireza Shirvani is a Professor of Practice of Computer Science at Tulane University. His research area is in Game Development and Artificial Intelligence, with a focus on Computational Narrative and Narrative Planning. His research interests include applying Artificial intelligence to automatically generate interactive narratives and improve the behavior and believability of virtual characters in games. He previously led the development of a customizable virtual environment, Camelot. Camelot acts as a 3D presentation layers to an external program that may be written in any programming language and implementing any AI algorithm.
Game Development, Computational Narrative, Artificial Intelligence for Games
1. Alireza Shirvani, Stephen G. Ware, Personality and Emotion in Strong-Story Narrative Planning, in IEEE Transactions on Games, doi: 10.1109/TG.2022.3227220
2. Stephen G. Ware, Edward Garcia, Mira Fisher, Alireza Shirvani and Rachelyn Farrell, Multi-Agent Narrative Experience Management as Story Graph Pruning, in IEEE Transactions on Games, doi: 10.1109/TG.2022.3177125.
3. Alireza Shirvani, Stephen G. Ware. A formalization of emotional planning for strong-story systems. In Proceedings of the 16th AAAI international conference on Artificial Intelligence and Interactive Digital Entertainment, pp. 116-122, 2020.
4. Alireza Shirvani, Stephen G. Ware. Camelot: A Modular Customizable Sandbox for Visualizing Interactive Narratives. In Proceedings of the Intelligent Narrative Technologies workshop at the 16th AAAI international conference on Artificial Intelligence and Interactive Digital Entertainment, 2020.
5. Alireza Shirvani, Stephen G. Ware. A plan-based personality model for story characters. In Proceedings of the 15th AAAI international conference on Artificial Intelligence and Interactive Digital Entertainment, pp. 188-194, 2019.
6. Alireza Shirvani. Towards more believable characters using personality and emotion. In Doctoral Consortium at the 15th AAAI international conference on Artificial Intelligence and Interactive Digital Entertainment, pp. 230-232, 2019.
7. Stephen G. Ware, Edward T. Garcia, Alireza Shirvani, Rachelyn Farrell. Multi-agent narrative experience management as story graph pruning. In Proceedings of the 15th AAAI international conference on Artificial Intelligence and Interactive Digital Entertainment, pp. 87-93, 2019.
8. Alireza Shirvani, Stephen G. Ware. On automatically motivating story characters. In Proceedings of the Experimental AI in Games workshop at the 15th AAAI international conference on Artificial Intelligence and Interactive Digital Entertainment, 2019.
9. Alireza Shirvani, Rachelyn Farrell, Stephen G. Ware. Combining intentionality and belief: revisiting believable character plans. In Proceedings of the 14th AAAI international conference on Artificial Intelligence and Interactive Digital Entertainment, pp. 222-228, 2018.
10. Ben, Samuel, et al. "Playable experiences at AIIDE 2018." Fourteenth Artificial Intelligence and Interactive Digital Entertainment Conference. 2018.
11. Alireza Shirvani, Stephen G. Ware, Rachelyn Farrell. A possible worlds model of belief for state-space narrative planning. In Proceedings of the 13th AAAI international conference on Artificial Intelligence and Interactive Digital Entertainment, pp. 101-107, 2017.
