Morgan Bonanno, a high school student researcher, made significant strides this spring under the mentorship of the Data Driven Decision-Making Lab at Penn State University. Her research, titled “Virtual Reality Enhanced with AI to Treat ADHD”, explores how immersive technologies can support cognitive therapies for individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Morgan was mentored by undergraduate student Anmol Garg and faculty lead Dr. Sayed Reza, gaining hands-on experience in data analysis, visualization, and interdisciplinary research techniques. Over the course of Spring 2025, she learned to process, interpret, and present complex datasets related to user engagement and response in virtual environments.
Her work culminated in a compelling poster presentation at the 2025 EnvironMentor Symposium, where she showcased her findings to faculty, peers, and researchers from across Penn State. Her presentation highlighted the potential of combining artificial intelligence with virtual reality to create adaptive, personalized therapeutic interventions for ADHD patients.
Morgan’s involvement exemplifies the lab’s mission to nurture the next generation of data-driven scientists and to foster early research experiences through mentorship and applied innovation.
We congratulate Morgan on her accomplishments and look forward to seeing where her research journey leads next!