Professor Nadia Thalmann began her academic career at the University of Montreal, Canada, where she pioneered the field of 3D Virtual Humans. Her award‑winning film Rendez‑vous in Montreal was among the first works to showcase realistic 3D simulations of legendary actors. In 1989, she joined the University of Geneva as a Full Professor and founded MIRALab, a globally recognised research laboratory focused on virtual humans, social robots, computer animation, and virtual worlds.
From 2019 to 2022, she served as Director of the Institute for Media Innovation (IMI) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, where she advanced research in social robotics, including the development of Nadine, one of the world’s first emotionally expressive social robots capable of memory and social interaction.
Throughout her career, Prof. Thalmann has contributed to over 50 European research projects and interdisciplinary work spanning computer graphics, art, fashion, and cultural heritage. She holds a PhD in Quantum Physics and has received numerous prestigious honours, including the Humboldt Research Award and Eurographics Career Award.
