Varscent was a VR-based diagnostic and therapeutic tool for cognitive health that explored the documented relationship between olfactory stimulation and memory recall. As lead developer, I designed and built an immersive VR experience in Unity that integrated scent-based inputs into interactive memory and cognitive assessment games. The system leveraged scent delivery devices connected through Arduino microcontrollers, requiring me to learn C programming and embedded communication protocols to synchronize physical scent triggers with virtual events in real time.
The project combined multiple technical domains, including VR development in Unity, hardware integration via Arduino, and system-level coordination between scent hardware and interactive gameplay logic. I was responsible for architecting how scent cues were mapped to cognitive tasks such as recognition, recall, and association within the VR environment. This required careful attention to timing, synchronization, and user experience design to ensure that physical and virtual stimuli reinforced one another in a meaningful way.
Beyond engineering, I led cross-functional teams spanning software, hardware, and design disciplines. This included managing task pipelines, coordinating iterative development cycles, and ensuring alignment across teams with different technical constraints. I also pitched Varscent at the Idaho Entrepreneurship Challenge, gaining experience communicating complex research-driven technology to investors and stakeholders. The project provided deep exposure to the challenges of applied research, including non-linear development cycles, experimental iteration, and refining communication under uncertainty, while strengthening my skills in project management frameworks and interdisciplinary collaboration.