Rebecca L - Research Program Mentor | Polygence
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Rebecca L

- Research Program Mentor

PhD candidate at University of California Irvine (UCI)

Expertise

Game Development, Game Design, Game Audio, Unity, Unreal Engine (Blueprints and MetaSounds), Computer Music, Music Production, Music Composition, Music Performance, Music Improvisation

Bio

Hello! I'm Rebecca and I make video games! My PhD research lies at the intersection of game development and music performance, and I am curious about what happens when developers make games that challenge the player to expressively perform music. Game mechanics can be used in clever ways to tell compelling stories, and if you are interested in making these games or writing about your favorites, you've come to the right person! I look forward to learning more about your project and interests!

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

Designing Games with Musical Storytelling

Imagine playing. a video game where music and art told the whole story. Adventuring through a mysterious path, audio and visual cues are what direct the player onward in their quest and YOU get to design this experience for the player. Your creativity is the limit! I encourage you to use as many of your own music/sound/art assets as you can, but we will find open source solutions to fill in any gaps. We can get started with any level of experience and you'll leave with a video game prototype!

Coding skills

Unity/C#, Unreal/Blueprints, Unreal/Metasounds, Cycling '74 Max

Teaching experience

I have taught and tutored students at the college and high school levels in a variety of subjects, including game development, public speaking, essay writing, and music.

Credentials

Work experience

Storytelling Reviewer (2025 - Current)
Wevr
University of California Irvine (2025 - Current)
Music & Game Development Research Mentor
Freelance (2023 - Current)
Creative Technologist in Game Development
Freelance (2015 - Current)
Composer for Games and Interactive Media

Education

Ohio Wesleyan University
BMus Bachelor of Music (2014)
Flute Performance
University of Oregon
MM Master of Music in Composition (2018)
Music Composition
University of California Irvine (UCI)
PhD Doctor of Philosophy candidate
Integrated Composition, Improvisation, and Technology

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