About

Jump to Photos | Personal Bio

I'm a PhD candidate in the Computer Science Department at Tufts University. My research sits at the intersection of information visualization, visual analytics, and HCI. For the uninitiated: I study how humans understand, analyze, and make decisions with data -- typically through the use of visual interfaces. One of the highlights of my job is collaborating with diverse end-users across a variety of domains with unique skillsets and expertise. I've had the pleasure of developing visual analytic solutions for power grid engineers, nutrition scientists, cyber operators, cell biologists, and many others. By designing intuitive and engaging tools, I strive to make data science (and more broadly, computer science) more accessible to those without highly-technical backgrounds.

Before joining Tufts, I completed my B.S. in computer science & mathematics at the University of South Florida in my hometown of Tampa, FL. Excited by the prospect of pursuing a career in academia, I searched out for research opportunities as an undergraduate. I was lucky to find a research home in the Graphics & Visualization Lab run by Dr. Paul Rosen (now at the University of Utah). Data visualization research jumped out to me as a unique opportunity to combine my own creativity and passion for design with computer science. During this time, I focused on visualizing complex graph data using techniques from Topological Data Analysis (TDA). I co-wrote a proposal to the CRA-W and my research was selected for funding during my first year as an REU. I was invited to present a poster on my work at the IEEE VIS 2017 conference, and the rest is history!

Life in Photos

Marathon photo

Post-5k with my fiancé, Brooks

Bar in Berlin

VIS '18 with Remco, Ab, Kristi (Berlin, Germany)

Mountain hiking

Mt. Lafayette with Jordan, Brooks

Exploring Rome

Roman Forum (Rome, Italy)

Playing cello

Performing Fauré's Piano Quartet No.1

Fall trees

VIS '19 with Paul (Vancouver, BC)

Kitty hiding in plants

The beloved Mr. Kitty in his jungle

Pet dog Nika

Our family's klee kai, Nika

Kitty and his stroller

Welch-Dickey Trail (White Mtns, NH)

Apple pie

Surviving grad school with Shannon, Ab

Personal Bio

I currently live in Cambridge, MA. I'm doing a co-op with MIT Lincoln Laboratory while I finish my PhD at Tufts.

I was a music performance major for three years at Florida State University and Principal Cellist of the FSU Philharmonic. I started playing cello when I was 11 years old and piano when I was 8. I won the FSMTA Senior and Collegiate String Competition with the Shostakovich Cello Concerto. I attended the prestigious Brevard Music Festival and played alongside the Florida State Orchestra. Favorite composers: Dvořák, Ravel, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, Brahms.

I went to Howard W. Blake High School, a performing arts high school. I played soccer through middle and high school (de-fense!). I grew up in Tampa, FL - going to Tufts for grad school was the first time I've lived outside of FL.

Other fun facts:

  • I was a barista and baker at a local roastery during college. Some of my latte art: 4oz. cortado, snow man latte, bear-uccino
  • I'm half Korean. My dad immigrated here with his parents from South Korea in 1977. My mom is mostly-Irish.
  • My proudest accomplishment is winning the FSU Mario Kart (Wii) tournament :)