Sodabe Bandali
Computer Science
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
sodabebandali02@gmail.com
About
I am a Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science at Vanderbilt University. I am working in the LIVE lab under Prof. Bobby Bodenheimer. My research focuses on Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI), with an emphasis on understanding human perception and interaction in immersive environments.
I investigate how humans perceive and interact with space, objects, and other individuals in immersive environments. My research explores how the design of virtual and augmented systems influences spatial perception, user behavior, and interaction in these environments. By studying human responses to immersive technologies, I aim to develop interactive systems that improve usability, enhance spatial understanding, and create more natural and effective experiences in virtual and augmented worlds.
I am particularly interested in the intersection of immersive technologies, human-computer interaction, and intelligent systems, and how these technologies can be used to support training, accessibility, and real-world applications.
Research & Technical Interests - Full Stack Development, Human-Computer Interaction, Artificial Intelligence, Accessibility, Data Visualization
Latest News - 2026
| Aug | 2026 | Abstract Accepted at HFES (ASPIRE) Annual Meeting Sodabe Bandali and collaborators had an abstract, “Human-Centered Design of BReaTHS: A Patient-Personalized Virtual Reality Training System for Breast Cancer Radiation Therapy,” accepted for presentation at the HFES (ASPIRE) Annual Meeting. |
| Jun | 2026 | Paper Accepted at ACM SAP 2026 (Symposium on Applied Perception) Sodabe Bandali's paper “Guiding Safe Pedestrian Navigation with Virtual Cues” has been accepted for publication at ACM SAP 2026. |
| Jun | 2026 | Paper Accepted at ACM SAP 2026 (Symposium on Applied Perception) Sodabe Bandali's paper “Real-World Clutter Improves Egocentric Distance Judgments in Optical See-Through Augmented Reality” has been accepted for publication at ACM SAP 2026. |
| May | 2026 | Poster and Abstract Accepted at AVS Sodabe Bandali's abstract and poster were accepted to Applied Vision Science (AVS) 2026, where she will present research on augmented reality perception and navigation. |
| Mar | 2026 | Paper Accepted at IEEE VR 2026 Sodabe Bandali and collaborators had a paper accepted to IEEE VR 2026 investigating how treadmill calibration, walking speed, and platform tilt influence distance perception and cybersickness in immersive virtual environments. |
Professional Service
Teaching
Teaching Assistant, Virtual Reality Course by Dr. Bobby Bodenheimer, Fall 2025 and Fall 2026
Reviewer
IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces (IEEE VR)
ICXR 2026