Thank you for your interest in the Dynamic Reality Lab (DRL) at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln🌽.

To help us better understand your research background and technical skills, please complete our Prospective PhD Student Interest Form at the link below:

Once your information is in our system, a member of the lab will review your application. We will reach out directly if your profile is a strong match to schedule a Zoom interview or begin further communication.

Financial Transparency & Living Standards

All PhD students in the Dynamic Reality Lab (DRL) are fully funded. Under the supervision of PI, Dr. You-Jin Kim, students receive a monthly stipend of $2,700 ($2,800 from Fall 2026), distributed year-round including summer. This package includes full health insurance and total tuition remission (covering both in-state and out-of-state rates).

To provide local context: a standard one-bedroom loft in downtown Lincoln is approximately $1,090 per month (April 2026). This ensures that our researchers can maintain a comfortable quality of life while focusing on the research.

What we do at DRL

Under the supervision of Director You-Jin Kim, the Dynamic Reality Lab (DRL) at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln provides a collaborative environment dedicated to the future of Spatial Computing, Augmented Reality (AR), and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), with a specific focus on Human-AI Interaction (HAI) within Mixed Reality.

We transform exploratory concepts into reality through rapid prototyping and rigorous user studies, sharing our innovations with the global research community to shape the next generation of immersive technology.

DRL Facilities  

Located in the newly renovated Nebraska Hall (NH 192), the Dynamic Reality Lab is a 1,200-square-foot facility specifically engineered for controlled XR research and experimentation. The space is thoughtfully partitioned into four distinct areas: a conference room, a dedicated data center (W192C) with its own secure door, student offices, and a main research area. Each room (excluding the data center) features floor-to-ceiling, west-facing windows that provide ample natural light throughout the day.

Research Infrastructure & Hardware

• GPU Workstations (192C): Ten (10) custom-built high-performance nodes powered by Intel Core i7-14700K processors. Our rendering stack includes:

  • Two (2) NVIDIA RTX A6000 (48GB VRAM)

  • Two (2) NVIDIA RTX Quadro 5000 (16GB VRAM)

  • Six (6) NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti (16GB VRAM)

• Augmented Reality (AR): Industry-standard HMDs including two (2) Magic Leap 2 and two (2) Microsoft HoloLens 2 units.

• Video Passthrough & VR: A robust fleet featuring ten (10) Meta Quest 3 and two (2) Meta Quest Pro units.

• Spatial Capture & Reconstruction: Professional-grade tools for environment modeling, including an XGRIDS PortalCam scanner, Matterport, and specialized LiDAR cameras.
  
  

Collaborative Environment

• Student Workspace (Room 192): A dedicated office area featuring six temporary workstations equipped with Alienware desktops and Quest 3 headsets for rapid prototyping.

• DRL Graduate & URA Space (Room 192A): Dedicated assigned seating for PhD, Master’s, and Undergraduate Research Assistant (URA) students.

• Amenities (Room 102B): A modern coffee room featuring an espresso machine and a fully stocked snack corner.

Lab History

The Dynamic Reality Lab (DRL) was established in early 2024, with its official logo debuting in March of that year. Its foundations and initial concepts were developed at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and its first physical presence was formalized at Texas A&M University. 

In January 2026, the DRL entered its next major chapter by relocating to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where we continue to advance the research of Human-AI Interaction in mixed reality and pioneer large-scale wide-area outdoor AR experiments.

Join the Lab

We are always looking for motivated students who are passionate about pushing the boundaries of reality. If you are interested in joining the Dynamic Reality Lab (DRL), please follow these steps:

1. Research Our Mission

Begin by exploring our projects on the DRL website. Ensure our research focus aligns with your goals, and that your workflow fits our lab culture.

3. Review Lab Expectations

Please carefully read the Expectations Document. This outlines the standards and collaborative spirit we maintain within the lab.

3. Submit the Official Application

To be considered for an interview, all prospective students must complete our internal application form: https://forms.gle/QrrC1ytTcdz8eCjq9