Sungwon In, a Ph.D. student in computer science, focuses his research on immersive computing, more specifically, computational notebooks and data transformation in virtual environments.

He is developing immersive computational notebooks (ICoN) that enable users to interact with data in 3D using gestures rather than code. 

This, he said, can improve accessibility and efficiency for complex data tasks.

Advanced resources and support for his area of research, especially virtual reality (VR)/augmented reality (AR) and data science, along with opportunities for National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded projects is what attracted In to Virginia Tech and the Sanghani Center.

“At the Sanghani Center, I benefit from a collaborative environment that supports cutting-edge research in immersive analytics. Access to NSF funding and advanced resources for projects, like my own interest in immersive computational notebooks, enhances both the scope and impact of the center’s research, and enables innovative solutions in data visualization and user interaction within immersive spaces,” said In, who is co-advised by Chris North and Yalong Yang.

He has published and presented his work at conferences and a number of NSF workshops, including:  "This is the Data Table I Want! Data Transformation in Virtual Reality" at IEEE VIS 2023; "Multi-Focus Querying of the Human Genome Information on Desktop and in Virtual Reality: an Evaluation" at the 2023 IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality; an "Evaluating Computational Notebook in Immersive Environments" at ACM CHI in 2024.

In earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Indiana University, Bloomington.

He is projected to graduate Spring 2025 and will be seeking a position in research or industry focusing on VR/AR, data science, or Human Computer Interaction (HCI).