Oliver Hall lobby buzzed with conversation yesterday as about 80 students and more than 10 CGI professionals came to
Congratulations to Dr. Christoph Borst and Mr. Brian West for receiving Eminent Faculty Awards
Fri, 11/06/2026 - 12:00am
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has recognized two members of the School of Computing and Informatics with Eminent Faculty Awards. Computer Science professor Dr. Christoph W. Borst received the Distinguished Professor Award, and Informatics master instructor Mr. Brian West received the Dr. Ray P. Authement Excellence in Teaching Award. Both teach in the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences.
Christoph W. Borst
Borst established UL Lafayette’s virtual reality research lab after joining the University in 2003. In 2005, he introduced Louisiana’s first virtual reality course. The lab now gives prospective students a chance to explore the technology at campus events such as Preview Day and Science Day. Borst has held the Hardy Edmiston Endowed Professorship in Computer Science II since 2015.
His research explores how people use their hands, receive touch feedback, and work together in virtual environments. It also examines how virtual reality can control robots. Borst has authored or coauthored more than 130 scholarly publications and secured several million dollars in research funding, including support from the National Science Foundation and the Louisiana Board of Regents. He developed courses in computer graphics, virtual reality, and scientific visualization; supervised dozens of master’s theses and doctoral dissertations; and published with many of his students.
Brian West
West has taught at UL Lafayette for more than 17 years and serves as the undergraduate coordinator for Informatics and a 2026 Honors Faculty Fellow. He brings experience running a technology company and serving 27 years in the Louisiana Air National Guard to courses that ask students to solve practical problems in areas such as networking, cybersecurity, and IT project management.
Through his work chairing the Informatics Curriculum Committee, West helped shape a curriculum that prepares students for careers in computing and cybersecurity. He also helped the University expand into online and hybrid instruction. His previous honors include UL Lafayette’s Award for Excellence in Advising and an Excellence in Teaching Award from the National Society of Leadership and Success.