As a Research Scientist at UWF’s Innovation Institute, Dave Dawson integrates emerging technologies into collaborative instructional design and development processes for online professional development, performance support, and immersive learning projects. He serves as special consultant for the Institute on human performance and systems design for government and industry clients.

Dr. Dawson's recent projects include working with a large and diverse multinational corporation to integrate responsible stewardship of the environment into the culture of their workforce using technologies like 360 degree video, developing curriculum and providing instructional oversight for the fully immersive STEM program of the National Flight Academy, deploying BLE beacon technology to create awareness and generate interest in STEM disciplines near centers of STEM actvity on campus, and serving on the program committee of the regional annual iTENWIRED IT conference in Pensacola.