CV

View Full CV (updated October 2025)

Research Interests

• Human-computer interaction (HCI), especially interfaces incorporating haptic and auditory feedback.

• Movement as an interaction design element, including gestural input and motion display.

• Embodied Cognition and its application within HCI.
  
  

Education

• Ph.D in Computer-based Music Theory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 1994-2000, Dissertation: “Playing by Feel: Incorporating Haptic Feedback into Computer-based Musical Instruments”

• Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education and Training, Queen’s University Belfast, 2008

• M.S. in Music Technology, University of York, York, England, 1988-1989, Project: “Computerized Processing of 3-Dimensional Sound”

• Licentiate. Piano Teaching Diploma, Trinity College London, England, 1989

• B.A. in Music, with honors, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, 1984-1988
  
  

Appointments

1. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 2024 - Present. Professor, Department of Performing Arts Technology, School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Professor of Information, School of Information.

2. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 2023 - 2025. Chair, Department of Performing Arts Technology.

3. NewHaptics Corporation, Ann Arbor, MI. 2018 - Present. Cofounder and Chief User Experience Officer (CXO).

4. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 2014-2024. Associate Professor, School of Information.

5. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 2011-2024. Associate Professor, Department of Performing Arts Technology, School of Music, Theatre & Dance.

6. Queen’s University Belfast, Sonic Arts Research Centre, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 2005-2011. Senior Lecturer, Director of Research.

7. Media Lab Europe, Dublin, Ireland, 2001-2005. Principal Research Scientist, Director, Palpable Machines Group.

8. MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, MA, 2000-2001. Postdoctoral Researcher, Program in Media Arts and Sciences.

9. Stanford University, Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics, Stanford, CA, 1994-2000. Ph.D. Thesis: “Playing by Feel: Incorporating Haptic Feedback into the Design of Computer-based Musical Instruments”.

10. Immersion Corporation, San Jose, CA, 1998-2000. Consultant.

11. Stanford University, Center for the Study of Language and Information, Stanford, CA, 1994-1998. Research Assistant.

12. Interval Research Corporation, Palo Alto, CA, 1996. Research Internship.

13. British Broadcasting Corporation Radio, London, England, 1990-1993. Studio Manager and Producer.
    
    

Awards

1. James T. Neubacher Certificate of Recognition, Council on Disability Concerns, University of Michigan. 2024. Awarded for work on the design and development of a full-page interactive braille display.

2. Mauli Pandey, Vaishnav Kameswaran, Hrishikesh Rao, Sile O’Modhrain, and Steve Oney. (2021). Understanding Accessibility and Collaboration in Programming for People with Visual Impairments. The Association for Computing Machinery’s Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing. Toronto, Canada. (Recognition for Contribution to Diversity and Inclusion).

3. Distinguished Diversity Leaders Team Award: The Student Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Board, December 2019.

4. Kameswaran, Vaishnav; Gupta, Jatin; Pal, Joyojeet; O’ Modhrain, Sile; Veinot, Tiffany; Brewer, Robin; Parameshwar, Aakansha; Yellareddy, V; O’Neill, Jacki. “‘We can go anywhere’: Understanding ‘Independence’ through a case study of ride-hailing use by people with visual impairments in metropolitan India”. Proceedings of the Association for Computing Machinery on Human-Computer Interaction. Volume 2, Issue Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing (CSCW), Article 85 (November 2018), pp. 1–24. (Best Paper Award).

5. Russomanno, A., Xu, Z., O’Modhrain, S. and Gillespie, R. (2017) “A Pneu Shape Display: Physical Buttons with Programmable Touch Response,” in IEEE World Haptics Conference (WHC). (Best Demonstration Award).

6. James T. Neubacher Certificate of Recognition, Council on Disability Concerns, University of Michigan. 2016. Awarded for work on on-line accessibility carried out in conjunction with the Office of Corporate Compliance.

7. Advanced Summer Writing Program Award (UofM), April 2016.

8. Visiting Fellowship, Deutsche Telekom Laboratories, TU, Berlin, Germany, 2008.

9. S. O’Modhrain & I. Oakley, “Touch TV: Adding Feeling to Broadcast Media,” presented at European Conference on Interactive Television: from Viewers to Actors?, Brighton, England, 2003. (Best Paper Award).

10. Stanford Alumni Dissertation Fellowship, 1998-1999.

11. Stanford University Centennial Teaching Award, 1998.

12. Stanford University Graduate Fellowship and Teaching Assistantship, 1998-1999.

13. Fulbright Scholarship, 1994.

14. Citizenship Award, conferred by National Council of the Blind of Ireland (presented by President Mary Robinson), 1991 “For the outstanding achievement by a blind person in the fields of education and employment”.
    
    

Patents

1. Russomanno, Alexander; Gillespie, Brent R; O’Modhrain, Sile; Burns, Mark. “Microfluidic Actuators with Integrated Addressing,” United States Patent No. 10,991,269. Issue date, April 27, 2021.

2. Russomanno, Alexander; Gillespie, Brent R; O’Modhrain, Sile; Burns, Mark. “Microfluidic Actuators with Integrated Addressing,” United States National Phase Application No.: 15/737,195, Filing Date: December 15, 2017.

3. Kuber, Ravi; O’Modhrain Sile; Sears, A. “Method and System for Using Haptic Cues to Maintain Levels of Activity,” United States Provisional Patent No. 61/286,083 file 12/14/2009, filed, December 14, 2009.

4. O’Modhrain, Sile; Essl, Georg. “Particle Based Touch Interaction for Creation of Media Streams,” Patent, US 7,427,711 B1, September 23, 2008.

5. O’Modhrain, Sile; Oakley, Ian; Hughes, S.; Bradey, A.; Cannon, C. “Creation and display of haptic content for audio & video presentations,” Patent, US2006/0061545 A1, March 23, 2006.

6. Hughes, S.; Oakley, Ian; Angesleva, J. and O’Modhrain, Sile. “Motion-activated control with haptic feedback,” US60/568,59, May 6, 2004.