Personal profile
Research profile
Sebastian Cmentowski is an Assistant Professor for Game Design and Digital Twins in the Industrial Design department at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). His research focuses on leveraging extended reality (XR) technologies to address contemporary societal challenges, particularly promoting physical activity through engaging exergames. By integrating immersive experiences into daily routines, Dr. Cmentowski aims to enhance user motivation for physical exercise.
With a background in computer science, human-computer interaction, and virtual reality, Dr. Cmentowski has developed innovative interaction and locomotion concepts for virtual environments. His prior work also includes exploring non-human character embodiment in VR designing concepts that make VR more accessible to outside observers. His commitment to advancing XR applications is evident in his extensive publication record and active participation in the research community.
Academic background
Dr. Cmentowski earned his Ph.D. in 2022 from the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany, achieving the highest distinction (summa cum laude). His doctoral research focused on improving and reimagining interaction in virtual environments. Following his Ph.D., he was awarded a position in the HCI Games Group, University of Waterloo, Canada, through the Provost's Program for Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Scholars. There, he focused on immersive exergame applications, furthering his interdisciplinary research agenda. In December 2024, Dr. Cmentowski joined TU/e as an Assistant Professor, where he continues to explore the intersections of game design, digital twins, and XR technologies.
Beyond his research, Dr. Cmentowski is actively engaged in academic community service. Apart from serving continuously as Associate Chair for the CHI and CHI PLAY conferences since 2023, he has reviewed over 60 papers and has taken on key roles in the CHI PLAY organizing committees since 2022, including Student Volunteer and Works-In-Progress Chair.
External positions
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Waterloo
1 Jul 2023 → 30 Nov 2024
Postdoctoral Researcher, Universität Duisburg-Essen
20 Oct 2022 → 30 Jun 2023
PhD Candidate, Universität Duisburg-Essen
1 Oct 2018 → 19 Oct 2022
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 1 Active
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New Skills And Competencies For Designers In The Netherlands
Bernhaupt, R. (Project Manager) & Cmentowski, S. (Project member)
1/10/25 → 1/04/27
Project: Third tier
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ExerCube vs. Virtual Reality: A Comparative Study of Exergame Technologies for Older Adults
Karaosmanoglu, S., Cmentowski, S., Nacke, L. E. & Steinicke, F., Oct 2025, In: Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction. 9, 6, p. 229-252 24 p., GAMES008.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus)15 Downloads (Pure) -
From Solo to Social: Exploring the Dynamics of Player Cooperation in a Co-located Cooperative Exergame
Wang, D. M., Cmentowski, S., Mogavi, R. H., Nathan, K. S., Kukshinov, E., Tu, J. & Nacke, L. E., 25 Apr 2025, CHI '25: Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Yamashita, N., Evers, V., Yatani, K., Ding, X., Lee, B., Chetty, M. & Toups-Dugas, P. (eds.). New York: Association for Computing Machinery, Inc., 16 p. 411. (Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)21 Downloads (Pure) -
Purposeful XR: Affordances, Challenges, and Speculations for an Ethical Future
Childs, E., Gosh, S., Cmentowski, S., Cuadra, A. & Ratan, R. A., 25 Apr 2025, CHI EA '25: Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Yamashita, N., Evers, V., Yatani, K. & Ding, X. (eds.). New York: Association for Computing Machinery, Inc., 6 p. 795Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile16 Downloads (Pure) -
Support Autonomy: Exploring Player Perspectives on AI-Supported Onboarding in Video Games
Choong, L., Cmentowski, S., Kukshinov, E., Tu, J. & Nacke, L. E., 25 Apr 2025, CHI '25: Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Yamashita, N., Evers, V., Yatani, K., Ding, X., Lee, B., Chetty, M. & Toups-Dugas, P. (eds.). New York: Association for Computing Machinery, Inc., 17 p. 464Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile18 Downloads (Pure) -
Towards Smart Workplaces: Understanding Mood-Influencing Factors of the Physical Workspace in Collaborative Group Settings
Wu, T.-H. (Corresponding author), Cmentowski, S., Lou, Y., Hu, J. & Bernhaupt, R., 9 Sept 2025, Human-Computer Interaction – INTERACT 2025: 20th IFIP TC 13 International Conference, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, September 8–12, 2025, Proceedings, Part II. Ardito, C., Diniz Junqueira Barbosa, S., Conte, T., Freire, A., Gasparini, I., Palanque, P. & Prates, R. (eds.). Cham: Springer, p. 309-331 23 p. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS); vol. 16109).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile5 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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Honorable Mention Award
Krekhov, A. (Recipient), Cmentowski, S. (Recipient), Emmerich, K. (Recipient), Masuch, M. (Recipient) & Krüger, J. (Recipient), 23 Oct 2018
Prize: Other › Career, activity or publication related prizes (lifetime, best paper, poster etc.) › Scientific
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Honorable Mention Award
Cmentowski, S. (Recipient), Kievelitz, F. (Recipient) & Krüger, J. (Recipient), 2 Nov 2022
Prize: Other › Career, activity or publication related prizes (lifetime, best paper, poster etc.) › Scientific
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Honorable Mention Award
Cmentowski, S. (Recipient), Karaosmanoglu, S. (Recipient), Nacke, L. E. (Recipient), Steinicke, F. (Recipient) & Krüger, J. (Recipient), 19 Apr 2023
Prize: Other › Career, activity or publication related prizes (lifetime, best paper, poster etc.) › Scientific
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Provost’s Program for Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Scholars
Cmentowski, S. (Recipient), 1 Jul 2023
Prize: Other › Scholarships › Scientific
Courses
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Design for games & play II; learning and persuasion in Games
Cmentowski, S. & van der Spek, E. D. 1/09/13 → 31/08/26
Course
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Final Master Project Proposal
Course
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Human-centered design
Bernhaupt, R., Houben, M., Cmentowski, S., Wassmer, C. & Dey, D. 1/09/16 → 31/08/26
Course
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