Assistant Professor, Coventry University 2021-Present

College of the Arts and Society

Course Director, MA in Virtual & Augmented Reality

APiRE Fellow, Center for Dance Research

University of Kent, UK

PhD, Digital Art, 2023

Arizona State University

MFA, Interdisciplinary Digital Media & Performance

Universiteit Utrecht, NL

MA, Theatre Studies

ASPiRE Fellow, Centre for Dance Research Current

US State Department Exchange Program, Kinnaird College, Lahore, Pakistan September 2015

Center for Science and the Imagination, ASU 2012-2013

Fulbright Fellow, Netherlands 2006-2007

Branch, B., P. Mirowski, S. Ppali, A. Covaci. "Designing and Evaluating Dialogue LLMs for Co-Creative Improvised Theatre." In *Proceedings of the IEEE International Congress on Cognitive Computing*, 2025 (Accepted).

S. Pali, M. Scorer, E. Ppali, B. Branch, A. Covaci. "Remote Rhythms: Audience-Informed Insights for Designing Remote Music Performances." In *Designing Interactive Systems*, 2025 (Accepted).

Branch, B., P. Mirowski, S. Ppali, P. Allain, R. Von Jungenfeld, C. Efseratiou. "Mirror Placement Matters in Remote Collaboration." *Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer-Interaction*, 2023. DOI:10.1145/3544549.3585798.

S. Pali, L. Vali, B. Branch, C. Ang, A. Thomas, B. Wohl, A. Covaci. "Keep the VRhythm Going: A Musician-Centred Study Investigating How VR Can Support Creative Musical Practice." *Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer-Interaction*, 2022. DOI: 3491102.3501922.

Branch, B., P. Mirowski, K. Mathewson. "Collaborative Storytelling with Human Actors and AI Narrators." In *Proceedings of the IEEE International Congress on Cognitive Computing*, 2021. arXiv preprint arXiv:2109.14728.

Branch, B., C. Efseratiou, P. Allain, P. Mirowski, K. Mathewson. "Tele-Immersive Improv: Effects of Immersive Visualisations on Rehearsing and Performing Theatre Online." *Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer-Interaction*, 2021. DOI:10.1145/3411764.3445310.

P. Mirowski, K. Mathewson, B. Branch, T. Winters, B. Verhoeven. "Rosetta Code: Improv in Any Language." In *Proceedings of the IEEE International Congress on Cognitive Computing*, 2020. ISBN: 978-989-54160-2-8.

Branch, B., & E. Hughes. "Embodied Historiography: Rupture as the Performance of History." *Performance Research*, 2014. DOI: 10.1080/13528165.2014.985118.

Branch, B. "Immersive Design for Live Performance." In Oliszewski, A., Fine, D., & Roth, D., *Digital Media, Projection Design, and Technology for Theatre* (2nd ed.). Arbingdon: Taylor & Francis Group, 2024.

Branch, B. "Virtual Director." In Paul Sermon & Steve Dixon, *Telepresence Stage Handbook*. University of Brighton, UK, 2022.

Branch, B., & P. Mirowski. "Artificial Theatres of the Absurd." In *The Routledge Handbook of AI and Literature*, Eds. Will Slocombe & Genevieve Liveley, Routledge, 2025.

Branch, B. "Technology in Actor Training." In *Milestones in Actor Training*, Eds. Paul Allain & Frank Camilleri, Routledge, 2025.

Branch, B. "Digital Media Design Process and Workflow." In Oliszewski, A., Fine, D., & Roth, D., *Digital Media, Projection Design, and Technology for Theatre*, pp. 135–138. Arbingdon: Taylor & Francis Group, 2017. DOI: 10.4324/9781315666976-3.

SALT program, New York Academy of Science. Two-day residency teaching improvisational science communication workshops. August 2016.

Lahore in Miniature: a three-week residency at Kinnaird College in Lahore, Pakistan, September 2015, with multiple master classes and lectures. Presented research and/or worked with at least 600 students. Sept. 2015.

“Communicating Science Through Improvisation,”  The International Symposium on Sustainable Systems and Technology (ISSST). Dearborn MI. May 2015

“Improv for Science Communication,” Ecological Sciences and Engineering Symposium. Purdue University. Sept. 2014.

“Improvisation and Science Diplomacy.” Science Diplomacy and Leadership Program, Consortium for Science, Policy, and Outcomes at ASU. Washington DC. June 2015.

“The Veterans Project: Embodied History.” Presented at the Responsibility, Morality and the Costs of War Symposium at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. Nov. 2015.

“Edge Habitats: Platforms for Exchange Between the Arts and Sciences“ Paper presented at the National Annual Conference of the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities. Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. Oct. 2015.

“Hacking the Young Mind.” A workshop presented at the annual AATE Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Aug. 2015.

“Beyond Disciplines: Teaching Artistry as Applied Transdisciplinarity.” Workshop presented at the annual New York University Forum on the Teaching Artist, New York City, NY. April 2014.

“The Theatre of Science: Devising Science Based Theatre Experiences”

Paper presented at the International Science Fiction Theatre Conference Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, UK. April 2014

Institute for Humanities Research Seed Grant, $5,000. “sideCoach: A digital tool for coaching public performers.” Awarded April 2016.

Institute for Humanities Research Seed Grant, $12,000. “Embodied Historiographies: The Veterans Project.” Awarded November 2013.

Herberger Research Council Project Grant, $3,000. “Lived Histories: The Veterans Project.” Awarded October 2013.

Walton School of Sustainability, $12,000. “Blue Bike Presents: Shoe-Pocalypse”. February 2014.

Mesa Center for the Arts and The ASU Center for Science and the Imagination (CSI), $12,000. “Neuro: A Chemical Romance.” Presented at CSI’s Emerge Festival April 2013, and the Spark! Festival of creativity. March 2013.

Mesa Center for the Arts, Festival of Creativity. $8,000. “Desert Flow.” March 2011

Mesa Center for the Arts Arizona Centennial Festival, $8500. “Blue Bike Presents: Flight-Ovation.” April 2011.

Designed over 25 media installations for theatre, dance, musical concerts, museums, and festivals in the United States, Netherlands, and Pakistan.

AZ: nominated for four ‘Zoni’ awards for media/scenic design.

Regional: La Jolla Playhouse, Childsplay. Off-off Broadway: New Ohio Theatre.

Directed over 12 productions including two U.S. premieres and five original productions at regional theatres, festivals, colleges, and high schools throughout Arizona.

Acted in 8 professional theatrical productions throughout Arizona and the Netherlands.