Israa Azzam

Israa is a Ph.D. student at Purdue University, specializing in digital technologies and control systems. She received her B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Beirut Arab University (BAU) in 2019 and her M.E. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the American University of Beirut (AUB) in 2021, specializing in Robust Control. Israa is a Research Assistant on the National Science Foundation-funded Project "Research Initiation: Developing Spatial Visualization and Understanding of Complex Systems via Interactive Mixed Reality Modules. Israa leads research endeavors focusing on improving cognitive skills through extended reality (XR). Additionally, Israas contributions extend to integrating control system analysis and design into XR, where she has developed and implemented multiple interactive Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR) modules and platforms. These modules have been effectively utilized in mechanical design, training, remote operation, and engineering education. Israa has received recognition for her contributions, including the best poster and presentation awards for her work, the 2024 Bravo Award for Employee Recognition, and induction into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. Her academic journey reflects a commitment to advancing knowledge and contributing to technological innovation in XR control systems. Her professional aspirations include applying for an Assistant Professor position upon completing her Ph.D. This career trajectory aligns with her desire to leverage her accumulated experience and knowledge to mentor and guide emerging talents. A central component of her vision is inspiring and supporting aspiring scholars in pursuing academic and professional excellence, facilitating impactful change within our field.