Rachel McDonnell
Papers
11
Total Citations
484
H-Index
9
About
Rachel McDonnell is a leading researcher in computer graphics, virtual humans, and human-computer interaction, whose work sits at the fascinating intersection of technology and human perception. Best known for her influential surveys on eye gaze and animation in virtual agents — her 2015 review alone has garnered over 213 citations — McDonnell has fundamentally shaped how the research community understands and designs believable artificial characters. Her investigations into the "Uncanny Valley" phenomenon examine why near-photorealistic virtual humans can feel unsettling, offering practical guidance for developers in gaming, film, and robotics. More recently, her research has expanded into the nuanced effects of synthetic voice on social presence, empathy, and affinity, revealing how mismatches between visual realism and audio naturalness shape user experience in virtual reality environments. Her contributions to the ACM Handbook on Socially Interactive Agents further demonstrate her authority in defining best practices for the field. Across disciplines spanning animation, social robotics, and conversational interfaces, McDonnell's cumulative body of work — widely cited and practically impactful — provides indispensable foundations for anyone designing the next generation of virtual agents and human-machine interactions.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 4Human or Robot?43 citations · 2021
- 5Face reality25 citations · 2010
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- 7Survival at the Museum15 citations · 2018
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- 9Appearance12 citations · 2021
- 10