Prof Charles graduated from Queens University Belfast with a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Hons.) in 1988. After qualifying as a teacher at Stranmillis College, Belfast, he taught Technology and Design to A-Level at Portadown College until 1995 and, during this spell, completed an MSc in Microelectronics and Microcomputer Applications at the University of Ulster. He subsequently returned to full-time education to study for a PhD in Unsupervised Machine Learning at the University of Paisley under Prof Fyfe. His PhD focused on generative unsupervised neural networks, rectilinear functions, additive noise, and, for minimum, overcomplete neural encoding of images. While completing his PhD, he was appointed as a lecturer and subsequently a senior lecturer in Computing at Paisley before returning to Northern Ireland in 2001. 

Prof Charles specialises in AI and Games at Ulster University, where he has recently established a new BSc degree in Game Design and Development. Prof Charles is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a member of Ulster’s AI and Learning Workgroup, which looks at the impact of existing and emerging AI technologies on learning and teaching. He has applied his AI research expertise to game design, virtual reality, intelligent interactive storytelling, user modelling, cloud computing, and assisted intelligent health technologies. He has 100+ peer-reviewed publications and supervised 16 completed PhDs. His recent research projects include AI 3D Animation generation through VR Headsets & Inertial devices, 2024-25 (Innovate UK); CoStar Network Lab 2023-2029 (AHRC); Green Transition Ecosystem: Future Island-Island, 2023-25 (AHRC); 5G Film Anywhere, 2024-25 (Belfast City Council, Dept for Science & Innovation); Future Screens NI 2018- (AHRC); BTiiC (BT/InvestNI); Magic PCP VR Stroke Rehabilitation, 2016-2020 (EU Horizon 2020); My-Relief PCP, 2017-2020 (EU Horizon 2020), REMIND Dementia, 2016 (EU Horizon 2020).