Biography

Nandhini Giri is a second year Ph.D. student in Media Arts and Sciences from the Media School at Indiana University Bloomington. She is also pursuing minors in the Cognitive Science program and Human Computer Interaction from the School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering. Her overarching research question is to understand how the design of computer generated fictional worlds, virtual characters, narratives and game play experiences affect our (human) perception of reality.  

Nandhini Giri has an educational background in computer science and engineering, with a specialization in computer graphics and simulation from University of Florida.  After graduate school, she worked as a Digital media engineer at Digital Worlds Institute  affiliated to University of Florida, prototyping virtual environments for therapeutic applications through grant funded research projects. In 2011, she moved into the entertainment industry and has worked on world class animated feature films that include Boss Baby (2017), Home (2015), Penguins of Madagascar (2014), Mr. Peabody and Sherman (2014), Rise of the Guardians (2012), Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) and other commercials, television shows and entertainment rides in the franchise.