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From the OR to GVSU: New GVSU faculty Dr. Talha Khan brings award-winning mixed reality research
April 07, 2025
Imagine a surgeon performing a complex procedure–highly focused and steady on the patient, yet constantly shifting their gaze to multiple screens around the room to interpret scans, monitor vitals, and coordinate with the surgical team. Now imagine if all that information were seamlessly projected into their field of view and right where they need it. This is not a distant dream. This is the future Dr. Talha Khan is helping to build, and now he’s bringing his vision to Grand Valley State University (GVSU).
This fall, Khan joins GVSU’s College of Computing as a faculty member supporting our newest programs in human-centered computing (pending board approval in late-April). With a passion for making technology work better for real people, especially in critical environments like healthcare. Khan’s arrival marks an exciting step forward for the college’s commitment to cutting-edge, impact-driven research in the intersections of healthcare, mixed reality, and human-computer interaction.
Khan’s passion for mixed reality took root during his doctoral studies at University of Pittsburgh when a chance call from a neurosurgeon at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center opened the door to exploring how emerging technologies could improve surgical workflows. This project laid the foundation for Khan’s research focus in human-computer interaction, computer vision, and mixed reality.
“Surgeons are often required to pull data from multiple screens positioned around the operating room, causing both cognitive and physical fatigue,” Khan explained. “I wanted to bring that data directly into their line of sight using mixed reality—condensing information spatially so they could stay focused on the task at hand.”
His research was awarded Best Paper at IEEE ISMAR 2023, and his work has been published in leading venues on MR for surgical tasks and sensing technologies. Khan’s findings are not just theoretical. They’re grounded in authentic testing environments and real-world clinical feedback, making them uniquely applicable to improving patient outcomes and practitioner workflows.
In addition to his academic credentials, Khan brings impressive professional experience. He served as research manager at the Alba Tull Center for Neuroimaging and Therapeutics, led human-computer interaction research at the Surreality Lab, and held research roles at both Carnegie Mellon University and the Toyota Research Institute.
Now at GVSU, Khan is especially excited about teaching and mentoring students. He is launching a new research lab dedicated to mixed reality, human-centered design, and immersive computing. His lab will serve as a hub for collaboration with healthcare organizations and tech industry partners, and will provide students with opportunities to contribute to real-world projects.
“Mentoring is a form of teaching,” Khan said. “It helps me connect with students, not just as learners.”
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Khan to our faculty,” said Dr. Jonathan Engelsma, director of the Applied Computing Institute. “His groundbreaking work in mixed reality, human-computer interaction, and user-centered design will be a tremendous asset to our college and the broader West Michigan community. Dr. Khan’s focus on real-world impact, particularly in healthcare, will create exciting new opportunities for student engagement and industry partnerships.”
Khan’s appointment comes at an exciting time for the College of Computing. With six new programs, the college is expanding its focus beyond technical skills to embrace interdisciplinary thinking, design, and social impact.
“Dr. Khan’s background and interdisciplinary mindset offer our students, faculty, and community a unique opportunity to learn from someone who has translated research into real-world solutions,” said Dr. Marouane Kessentini, dean of the College of Computing at GVSU. “His arrival continues to expand our college’s growing strength in human-centered and experiential computing especially in the area of mixed reality for healthcare.”
With his rare blend of technical expertise, clinical collaboration, and industry ties, Khan is positioned to shape the future of computing education and research at GVSU. He’s not just designing technology for tomorrow—he’s designing it with people in mind today.
“I’m excited to be part of a place where innovation meets community,” Khan said. “GVSU feels like the right fit for pushing the boundaries of what computing can do for people.”
Written by Shelby Harrison.