Professor Dr. James O Brien

Biography

James O'Brien is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He specializes in computer graphics, computer animation, physical simulations, human perception, rendering, image synthesis, and forensic analysis of images and videos. Beyond his academic work, O'Brien has collaborated with film and game companies, integrating advanced simulation and physics into games and special effects, contributing significantly to over 200 feature films and game titles. He has served as the Chief Scientist at Pixelux and Avametric and is currently a technical advisor for Juice Labs and co-founder of Get Klothed. His expertise has made him an expert witness in multiple patent cases. In 2015, he was honored with an Academy Award for Technical Achievement by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his work in destruction modeling. O'Brien received his doctorate from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2000, where his thesis was awarded the Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award. He has also been recognized as a Sloan Fellow and received several awards for excellence in teaching and research, including the Jim and Donna Gray Endowment Award, and has been featured in Technology Review's TR-35.

Research Interests