Headshot of Ryan Mattfeld

Ryan Mattfeld

Associate Professor of Computer Science

Department: Computer Science

Office and address: Duke, Office 101E 2320 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244

Phone number: (336) 278-6239

News & Notes

Education

2018 - PhD in Electrical Engineering (Clemson University)

2014 - MS in Electrial Engineering (Clemson University)

2012 - BS in Electrical Engineering (Clemson University)

Courses Taught

  • CSC 1300 Computer Science 1
  • CSC 2044 Organization and Architecture
  • CSC 2300 Computer Science 2
  • CSC 3211 Database Systems
  • CSC 3350 Programming Languages
  • CSC 3360 Computer and Network Security
  • CSC 3710 Internet of Things
  • COR 3640 Technology and Society

Research

I have two primary areas of research: applying sensors to novel applications to improve people's lives and the scholarship of teaching and learning. I have experience with a variety of sensors and applications including accelerometers (for detecting when a person takes a bite of food and for detecting when a person takes a step), scales (for detecting when a bite of food is taken), cameras (image processing), HMDs (Head mounted displays), LiDAR, and a variety of other sensors. Summaries of some of my research projects can be found in the links below:

Using accelerometers in a wrist-worn device to detect when bites of food are eaten.

Using a table-embedded scale to detect when and how much food is eaten.

Using a camera to identify when parts are missing or incorrect an a vehicle assembly line.

Using accelerometers to detect when steps are taken - particularly in challenging real-world scenarios.

I am currently working on several projects applying LiDAR to problems that benefit from three-dimensional depth sensing. Examples include autonomous fire detection using drones, contactless respiratory rate detection, and a navigational device for people with visual impairments.

I also research different methods for improving the learning experience for students including investigating practices that can improve a sense of belonging for women in computer science, exploring alternative grading systems that can more accurately assess student ability, and a variety of other techniques that can aid students in the learning process.

Publications

E. von Briesen, S. Duvall, R. Mattfeld, and S. Spurlock. “Mind the Gap: Exploring Differences in Student
Perceptions of Belonging and Inclusion in Computer Science”, The Journal of Computing Sciences in
Colleges. (in publication)

E. von Briesen, R. Dutton, S. Duvall, D. Hutchings, R. Mattfeld, and S. Spurlock. "Interventions for
Increasing Belonging and Inclusion in Undergraduate Computer Science Classrooms", Proceedings of
the 56th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE TS 2025).

E. von Briesen, S. Duvall, R. Mattfeld, and S. Spurlock. “Mind the Gap: Exploring Differences in Student
Perceptions of Belonging and Inclusion in Computer Science”, in 38th CCSC Southeastern Regional
Conference 2024, Furman, SC, 2024.

R. Mattfeld. “Improving Student Motivation Through an Alternative Grading System”, in 37th CCSC
Southeastern Regional Conference 2023, Conway, SC, 2023.

R. Mattfeld, E. Jesch, and A. Hoover, "Evaluating Pedometer Algorithms on Semi-Regular and Unstructured Gaits," Sensors, vol. 21, no. 13, p. 4260, Jun. 2021.

M. Wilson, S. Beadle, A. Kinsella, R. Mattfeld, A. Hoover, and E. Muth, "Task performance in a head-mounted display: The impacts of varying latency," Displays, vol. 61, 2020.

R. Mattfeld, “Evaluation of Pedometer Performance Across Multiple Gait Types Using Video for Ground Truth,” PhD dissertation, Holcombe Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Clemson University, SC., 2018.

R. Mattfeld, E. Jesch and A. Hoover, "A new dataset for evaluating pedometer performance," 2017 IEEE International Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedicine (BIBM), Kansas City, MO, pp. 865-869, 2017.

R. Mattfeld, E. Muth, and A. Hoover, "A comparison of bite size and BMI in a cafeteria setting," in Physiology & Behavior, vol. 181, pp. 38-42, 2017.

R. Mattfeld, E. Muth and A. Hoover, "Measuring the consumption of individual solid and liquid bites using a table embedded scale during unrestricted eating," in IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics, vol. PP, no. 99, pp. 1-1, 2016.

A. Kinsella, R. Mattfeld, E. Muth and A. Hoover, “Frequency, not amplitude, of latency affects subjective sickness in a Head-Mounted Display,” in Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, vol. 87, no. 7, pp. 604-609, 2016.

I. Walker, R. Mattfeld, A. Mutlu, A. Bartow, and N. Giri, "A novel approach to robotic climbing using contimuum appendages in in-situ exploration", in 2012 IEEE Aerospace Conference, March 2012.