The Human eXtended Reality Interaction (HXRI) Lab at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign was pleased to host Neha Sharan, a senior at Saratoga High School in California, for a week-long research experience from June 8–12, 2026.
During her visit, Neha was immersed in the lab’s interdisciplinary research environment, working alongside Dr. Avinash Gupta and HXRI Lab graduate researchers. Throughout the week, she explored the fundamentals of Unity development while gaining exposure to research at the intersection of extended reality (XR), neuroscience, and healthcare. She explored how technologies such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and human-centered design can be applied to support brain health and improve healthcare outcomes.
Neha also spent time interacting with the lab’s PhD students, learning about their diverse research projects spanning virtual and mixed reality, human-computer interaction, and health technology. These discussions provided valuable insight into the research process and the collaborative nature of graduate research, while reinforcing her interest in pursuing a career in scientific research.
Reflecting on her experience, Neha shared:
“My one-week experience at UIUC was incredibly interesting, as I spent each day working alongside Dr. Gupta and the PhD students. My time was split between learning Unity and exploring Alzheimer’s disease research involving chess and cognitive health. Seeing how virtual reality and emerging technologies can be used to improve people’s health and well-being was incredibly inspiring and reinforced my desire to pursue research.”
Neha Sharan is a senior at Saratoga High School in California with interests in neuroscience, psychology, cognitive health, artificial intelligence, and healthcare innovation. She is the founder and president of Girls4Chess.org , a nonprofit dedicated to increasing girls’ participation in chess through free instruction, mentorship, and tournaments, reaching over 1,000 + students around the globe through its programs. Neha is a recipient of a U.S. Chess Federation grant (2026–2027) supporting her work in expanding access to chess and empowering young players. She has participated in more than 230 chess tournaments and has served as a Tournament Director and Assistant Tournament Director for 69 events, helping organize scholastic and community competitions. Her outreach includes supporting elementary school chess programs through events and chess set donations, as well as volunteering with senior centers, including the ICC Senior Center in Milpitas and the Cupertino Senior Center, where she teaches chess and helps conduct tournaments that promote cognitive engagement and player mental well-being. Through these experiences, she has developed a strong interest in psychology, player mental health, and the relationship between cognitive training, brain signal processing, and decision-making, and she plans to pursue interdisciplinary research in neuroscience in college.
The HXRI Lab is committed to providing meaningful research experiences for students at all levels and is delighted to support aspiring researchers like Neha as they explore careers in science, engineering, and healthcare innovation.