Hi, I'm Amon McAllister. I'm a VR-focused software engineer and graduate researcher at Iowa State University, designing and delivering high-fidelity VR training simulations that prepare first responders for real-world emergencies. I enjoy turning complex training procedures into immersive, hands-on experiences—from interactive UI and digital twins to real-time monitoring and AI-assisted prototypes. I'm excited to keep pushing the boundaries of immersive training technologies.

Amon McAllister

Hi, I'm Amon McAllister. I'm a VR-focused software engineer and graduate researcher at Iowa State University, designing and delivering high-fidelity VR training simulations that prepare first responders for real-world emergencies. I enjoy turning complex training procedures into immersive, hands-on experiences—from interactive UI and digital twins to real-time monitoring and AI-assisted prototypes. I'm excited to keep pushing the boundaries of immersive training technologies.

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Amon McAllister. I’m a VR-focused software engineer and graduate researcher at Iowa State University, designing and delivering high-fidelity VR training simulations that prepare first responders for real-world emergencies. I enjoy turning complex training procedures into immersive, hands-on experiences—from interactive UI and digital twins to real-time monitoring and AI-assisted prototypes. I’m excited to keep pushing the boundaries of immersive training technologies.

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Experience Level

Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Graduate Research Assistant at Iowa State University
January 1, 2025 - September 8, 2025
Designed and delivered high-fidelity VR training simulations that replicate real-world objects and radiological emergency scenarios, providing immersive, hands-on training for first responders. Developed a specialized VR module focused on radiological incident response to enhance situational awareness. Contributed to the development of multiple interdisciplinary projects spanning AI research, VR-based training, and user experience design, supporting prototype development and innovation in immersive training technologies.
Virtual Reality Engineer & Unity Developer at VirtuTrace Labs
January 1, 2024 - September 8, 2025
Led development of a VR training simulation for a $250,000 Iowa DOT contract. Designed interactive UI systems and digital twins to replicate real world training procedures and equipment. Developed user tracking and action-recording systems enabling users to review the actions they’ve taken. Tailored software features to evolving client requirements, focusing on adaptability. Designed and implemented a robust, zero-latency audio recording system with dynamic buffering for real-time capture and playback with seamless integration into multiple training programs. Architected and developed modular, reusable code packages enabling seamless integration across multiple projects to reduce duplication, improve maintainability, and accelerate development timelines. Refactored several legacy systems to modernize and reduce edge case and error rates for current applications.
Graduate Research Assistant at Iowa State University
January 1, 2025 - September 8, 2025
DesignEd and delivered high-fidelity VR training simulations that replicate real-world objects and radiation emergency scenarios, providing immersive, hands-on training for first responders. Developed a specialized VR module focused on radiation incident response to enhance situational awareness. Developed custom 3D vector algorithms and real-time monitoring systems to simulate radiation exposure. Contributed to the development of multiple interdisciplinary projects spanning AI research, VR-based training, and user experience design, supporting prototype development and innovation in immersive training technologies.
VR Virtual Reality Software Engineer & Unity Developer at Virtu Trace Labs
January 1, 2024 - September 8, 2025
Led development of a VR training simulation for a $250,000 Iowa DOT contract. Designed interactive UI systems and digital twins to replicate real-world training procedures and equipment. Developed user tracking and action-recording systems that enabled users to review the actions they've taken. Tailored software features to align with evolving client requirements, focusing on adaptability of the systems. Designed and implemented robust, zero-latency audio recording system with dynamic buffer management to deliver real-time capture and playback with seamless integration into multiple training programs. Architected and developed modular, reusable code packages enabling seamless integration across multiple projects to reduce duplication, improve maintainability, and accelerate development timelines. Refactored on several legacy systems to modernize and reduce edge-case and error rate for current applications.
Graduate Research Assistant at Iowa State University
January 1, 2025 - September 19, 2025
Designed and delivered high-fidelity VR training simulations replicating real-world radiological emergency scenarios; developed a VR module focused on radiation incident response; created real-time monitoring and 3D visualization tools; contributed to AI, VR-based training, and UX design across multiple interdisciplinary projects; implemented modular, reusable code, enabling cross-project integration; modernized legacy systems to reduce edge-case errors.
Graduate Research Assistant at Iowa State University
January 1, 2025 - September 19, 2025
Designed and delivered high-fidelity VR training simulations that replicate real-world objects and radiological emergency scenarios, providing immersive, hands-on training for first responders. Developed a specialized VR module focused on radiation incident response to enhance situational awareness. Developed custom 3D vector algorithms and real-time monitoring systems to simulate radiation exposure. Contributed to the development of multiple interdisciplinary projects spanning AI research, VR-based training, and user experience design, supporting prototype development and innovation in immersive training technologies.
VR Software Engineer & Unity Developer at Virtua Trace Labs
January 1, 2024 - September 19, 2025
Led development of VR training simulations; designed interactive UI systems and digital twins to replicate real-world training procedures and equipment; developed user tracking and action-recording systems enabling users to review actions taken; tailored software features to evolving client requirements focusing on adaptability of the systems; designed and implemented a robust, zero-latency audio recording system with dynamic buffering for real-time capture and playback with seamless integration into multiple training programs; architected modular, reusable code packages enabling seamless integration across multiple projects to reduce duplication, improve maintainability, and accelerate development timelines; refactored several legacy systems to modernize and reduce edge cases and error rates.
Graduate Research Assistant at Iowa State University
January 1, 2025 - September 19, 2025
Designed and delivered high-fidelity VR training simulations that replicate real-world radiology emergency scenarios, providing immersive, hands-on training for first responders. Developed a specialized VR module focused on radiology incidents to enhance situational awareness. Built custom 3D vector algorithms and real-time monitoring systems to simulate radiatio n exposure. Contributed to multiple interdisciplinary projects spanning AI research, VR-based training, and user experience design, supporting prototype development and innovation in immersive training technologies. Architected and developed modular, reusable code packages enabling seamless integration across multiple projects to reduce duplication, improve maintainability, and accelerate development timelines. Refactored several legacy systems to modernize and reduce edge-case and error rates for current applications.
Graduate Research Assistant at Iowa State University
January 1, 2025 - September 19, 2025
Designed and delivered high-fidelity VR training simulations that replicate real-world objects and radiation emergency scenarios, providing immersive, hands-on training for first responders; developed specialized VR module focused on radiation incident response to enhance situational awareness; developed custom 3D vector algorithms and real-time monitoring systems to simulate radiation exposure; contributed to the development of multiple interdisciplinary projects spanning AI research, VR-based training, and user experience design, supporting prototype development and innovation in immersive training technologies.
VR Software Engineer & Unity Developer at VirtuTrace Labs
January 1, 2024 - September 19, 2025
Led development of a VR training simulation for a $250,000 Iowa DOT contract; designed interactive UI systems and digital twins to replicate real world training procedures and equipment; developed user tracking and action-recording systems that enable reviewers to review the actions they’ve taken; tailored software features to align with evolving client requirements focusing on adaptability of the systems; designed and implemented a robust, zero-latency audio recording system, dynamic buffer management to deliver real-time capture and playback with seamless integration into many different training programs; architected and developed modular, reusable code packages enabling seamless integration across multiple projects to reduce duplication, improve maintainability, and accelerate development timelines; refactoring on several legacy systems to modernize and reduce edge cases and error rate for current applications.
Graduate Research Assistant at Iowa State University
January 1, 2025 - September 19, 2025
Designed and delivered high-fidelity VR training simulations that replicate real-world objects and radiation emergency scenarios, providing immersive, hands-on training for first responders. Developed a specialized VR module focused on radiation incident response to enhance situational awareness. Developed custom 3D vector algorithms and real-time monitoring systems to simulate radiation exposure. Contributed to the development of multiple interdisciplinary projects spanning AI research, VR-based training, and user experience design, supporting prototype development and innovation in immersive training technologies.
VR Software Engineer & Unity Developer at VirtuTrace Labs
January 1, 2024 - September 19, 2025
Led development of a VR training simulation for a $250,000 Iowa DOT contract. Designed interactive UI systems and digital twins to replicate real world training procedures and equipment. Developed user tracking and action-recording systems that enable users to review the actions they’ve taken. Tailored software features to align with evolving client requirements. Designed and implemented a robust, zero-latency audio recording system with dynamic buffer management for real-time capture and playback. Architected modular, reusable code packages enabling seamless integration across projects and reducing duplication; refactored legacy systems to modernize and reduce edge cases.

Education

Master of Science at Iowa State University
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2025
Bachelor of Science at Iowa State University
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2023
Master of Science at Iowa State University
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2025
Bachelor of Science at Iowa State University
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2023
Bachelor of Science at Iowa State University
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2023
Master of Science at Iowa State University
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2025
Master of Science in Human Computer Interaction & Industrial Agricultural Technology at Iowa State University
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2025
Bachelor of Science at Iowa State University
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2023
Master of Science at Iowa State University
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2025
Bachelor of Science at Iowa State University
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2023
Master's of Science at Iowa State University
January 1, 2024 - January 1, 2025
Bachelor's of Science at Iowa State University
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2023

Qualifications

I/ITSEC Conference – Co-Author
January 11, 2030 - September 19, 2025
Thesis – Iowa State University
January 11, 2030 - September 19, 2025
Master of Science in Human Computer Interaction & Industrial Agricultural Technology
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2025
Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2023
Thesis: Enhancing emergency preparedness through immersive virtual reality: A comparative study of stress responses in radiological simulations
January 11, 2030 - September 19, 2025
Co-authored After Action Review embedded app for supporting maintenance training in VR
January 11, 2030 - September 19, 2025

Industry Experience

Software & Internet, Gaming, Media & Entertainment, Education, Professional Services, Healthcare, Government, Transportation & Logistics