Profile

  • Title:
    Assistant Professor, Program Coordinator: Artificial Intelligence, Computer Information Systems, Computer Science
  • Department:
    Computer Science
Directory

Darlene Barker, Ph.D.

Contact

Background

At the convergence of virtual reality (VR), computer science, and emotion recognition is where you will find Dr. Darlene CRC Barker. While developing comprehensive expertise in designing frameworks for emotion recognition, both within the immersive environment of virtual reality and in real-world scenarios, Dr. Barker aims to help create a better system that enhances human communication despite distance. Her work advances the academic understanding of these areas and contributes to their practical application in industries such as video game development.

Degrees

  • Ph.D., Computer Science, University of Massachusetts Lowell
    Dissertation: “Creation of Thelxinoë: Emotions and Touch in Virtual Reality”
  • M.S., Computer Science, University of Massachusetts Lowell
    Thesis: “An Eulerian Path Approach to Next-Generation DNA Sequencing with Pre-Sorted Reads”
  • B.S., Computer Science, Rivier University

Specialties & Research Interests

  • Emotion Recognition
  • Machine Learning
  • Deep Learning
  • Speech and Natural Language Processing
  • Virtual Reality
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Computer Graphics
  • Video Game Design and Development

Courses Taught

  • CS557 Algorithms
  • CS610 Database Management Systems
  • CS699 Professional Seminar
  • Topics in Computer Science: Deep Learning
  • Data Mining
  • CS308 Computer Networks
  • CS664 Knowledge-Based Systems

Upcoming Courses

  • Algorithms
  • Database Management Systems
  • Topics in Computer Science: Deep Learning
  • Topics in Computer Science: Speech and Natural Language Processing
  • Professional Seminar
  • Data Mining

Publications

Journal Articles

  • D. Barker, M. K. R. Tippireddy, A. Farhan, and B. Ahmed, “Ethical considerations in emotion recognition research,” Psychology International, vol. 7, no. 2, p. 43, 2025.  doi: 10.3390/psycholint7020043.
  • D. Barker and H. Levkowitz, “Thelxinoë: Recognizing human emotions using pupillometry and machine learning,” Machine Learning and Applications: An International Journal, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 1–14, Mar. 2024.  doi: 10.5121/mlaij.2024.11101.

Conference Proceedings

  • D. Barker and H. Levkowitz, “Thelxinoë for emotion recognition and touch processing,” in 2023 IEEE International Conference on Advanced Systems and Emergent Technologies (ICASET ), Second Best Paper Certificate, IEEE, 2023, pp. 21–26.
  • D. Barker and H. Levkowitz, “Emotions in virtual reality,” in 7th International Conference on Computer Science and Information Technology (CSTY 2021), vol. 11, CS & IT – CSCP, 2021, pp. 39–46.  doi: 10.5121/csit.2021.112204.

Books and Chapters

  • A. Anthireddygari and D. Barker, “Harmonia,” in Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering, Editor1 and Editor2, Eds., vol. XX, Springer, 2025, xx–yy.
  • D. Barker and H. Levkowitz, “Thelxinoë: Partial facial emotion recognition using gradient boosting and cnn-lstm,” in Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering, Editor1 and Editor2, Eds., vol. XX, Springer, 2025, xx–yy. 

Presentations

  • Barker, Darlene. “Thelxinoë: Partial Facial Emotion Recognition Using Gradient Boosting and CNN-LSTM.” 4th International Conference on Computational Intelligence in Machine Learning (ICCIML-2024), Dec. 2024.
  • Barker, Darlene. “Harmonia.” 4th International Conference on Computational Intelligence in Machine Learning (ICCIML-2024), Dec. 2024.
  • Barker, Darlene. “Lightning Talk Presentation.” 2023 Grad Cohort Workshop for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Leadership Skills (IDEALS), Apr. 2023, Honolulu, Hawaii.
  • Barker, Darlene. “Thelxinoë for Emotion Recognition and Touch Processing.” 2023 IEEE International Conference on Advanced Systems and Emergent Technologies (IC_ASET), Feb. 2023, Hammamet, Tunisia. Awarded Second Best Paper Certificate.
  • Barker, Darlene. “IEEE ISMAR 2022 – Tutorials.” IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality Adjunct (ISMAR-Adjunct), Sept. 2022, Singapore.
  • Barker, Darlene. “Emotions and Touch in Virtual Reality.” Tutorial, IEEE Virtual Reality Conference (VR 2022), Mar. 2022.
  • Barker, Darlene, and Haim Levkowitz. “Emotions in Virtual Reality.” 7th International Conference on Computer Science and Information Technology (CSTY 2021), vol. 11, Dec. 2021, pp. 39–46.
  • Barker, Darlene. “Emotion in Virtual Reality.” Tutorial, IEEE Virtual Reality Conference (VR 2021), Mar. 2021.
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