Alex Sallade holds a PhD in music theory from The Ohio State University. His dissertation, “A Taxonomy for Immersive Audio Techniques in Video Game Sound Design,” categorizes 23 techniques used by sound designers and composers to enhance player immersion through audio. Drawing from music theory, ludomusicology, film studies, ludology and psychology, his work bridges multiple disciplines. Sallade is currently researching the psychological effects of interactive multimedia design in a virtual concert by AURORA in Sky: Children of the Light, employing a unique multi-parametric analytic approach informed by emotion and sound studies.

An active gamer with experience in composing music and sound effects for indie games, Sallade has presented his research on video games at the North American Conference on Video Game Music (2024) and the Music and the Moving Image Conference (2022, 2023). He also recently shared his passion for classroom engagement at the Pedagogy Into Practice Conference (2024), focusing on aural skills pedagogy.