Zachary (Zak) Rubin

Assistant Teaching Professor

Location: UW1-146
Email: zarubin@uw.edu

Background

Dr. Zak Rubin received their Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2017, working in the assistive technology, experiential design, and biotechnology engineering labs. Prior to joining UW, they directed a bachelor’s program in network engineering. Outside of academia, they worked in the entertainment industry with Columbia Records, Blizzard Entertainment, Insomniac Events, and other major industry players. They are credited in a number of AAA titles including Starcraft, World of Warcraft, and Diablo.

Research

Dr. Rubin’s research interests include novel forms of interaction and engagement, serious games, assistive technology, and technology’s impact on humans. Dr. Rubin is particularly interested in the design and development of technologies intended to benefit underrepresented and marginalized populations. Dr. Rubin specializes in prototyping and evaluation of technologies in applied environments.

Courses

• CSS 301 Technical Writing
• CSS 350 Management Principles for Computing Professionals

Education

University of California, Santa Cruz – Santa Cruz, CA

• Ph.D. – Electrical and Computer Engineering Rose-Hulman

Institute of Technology – Terre Haute, IN

• B.S. – Computer Engineering