University of Advancing Technology's Official Technology Blog

At University of Advancing Technology (UAT), the Creation & Simulation Faculty are all about turning imagination into innovation. Whether you are looking to build robots, design virtual environments, or inventing the next big interactive tech, this is where hands-on creator thrive. This group of faculty teach Digital Maker & Fabrication, Robotics & Embedded Systems, Virtual Reality and Human Computer Interaction and with their backgrounds spanning design, engineering, software development and more, they provide UAT students with industry relevant education.

Ryan Murray

Professor Ryan Murray is a designer, sculptor, and digital fabricator with a passion for 3D modeling, CNC, and 3D printing. He has a Master of Fine Art in design from Rhode Island School of Design, where he learned to combine his artistic vision with cutting-edge technology. He has worked as an industrial designer and a sculptor for various clients, including the Heard Museum, Arizona Science Center, Tostito Superbowl Experience, Carvana, the City of Chandler, and RZA from Wu-Tang Clan. He also holds a patent for a product he designed and brought to market. Professor Murray has a BFA in sculpture from ASU and a certificate in teaching and learning from Brown University. He enjoys sharing his skills and knowledge with the local maker community and taught classes at Techshop Chandler the whole time it was in business. Complementing his digital fabrication, Professor Murray is also highly skilled in metal, wood, composite, plastic fabrication and mold making. 

Jake Perrine

Professor Jake Perrine graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree, Honor’s Degree, and Master’s Degree all in Biomedical Engineering from Arizona State University. Jake's professional experience involves working in the Neural Movement and Control Laboratory for 4 years looking at Haptic Virtual Reality investigating perceptual signals and rehabilitative applications. 

Matthew Prater

Professor Prater has  been working as an application architect in the financial sector. He has previously taught chemistry and Capstone research classes for 5 years at Highland High School in Gilbert, AZ. Before this, Matt made radioactive PET (Positron Emission Tomography) drugs at Cardinal Health for 13 years, working in quality, manufacturing and R&D positions. The drugs were used in diagnostic applications in the treatment of cancer, Alzheimer's disease and heart disease. As all the drugs Professor Prater made were radioactive, he had to use robotic synthesis systems to carry out the chemistry. This is where he got hooked on software and embedded systems.
 

Professor Prater has obtained his M.S. Software Engineering at Regis University and his M.Ed. from Arizona State University as well as a B.S. in Chemistry from Western Michigan University.