Geonsun Lee: Rising Star in Computer Science

Geonsun Lee, a Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland’s Department of Computer Science, has been recognized as a rising talent in her field, earning a spot in the WiGRAPH Rising Stars program. This two-year mentorship and workshop program, part of the ACM SIGGRAPH community, is designed to support women and other underrepresented genders in computer graphics research as they transition from academia to the professional world.

Lee's path to this achievement is shaped by her multicultural experiences, early academic decisions and a fascination with technology’s potential to connect people.

A Cross-Cultural Beginning

Lee’s journey into computer science began not with an inherent love for coding or a childhood obsession with computers but with a deep curiosity about communication across cultures. Born in the United States, Lee moved to South Korea at five, spending most of her formative years there before returning to the U.S. for her doctoral studies. This cross-cultural experience fueled her interest in understanding the nuances of communication.

“I always had this kind of interest in the multicultural, second-generation immigrant life and the differences that come from it,” Lee said. “I was always interested in improving communication, especially where there are cultural differences and potential for misunderstanding.”

Pivot to Technology

Initially pursuing a business degree at Korea University, Lee was swept up in the technological boom of the mid-2010s. The rapid advancements in fields like 3D printing, autonomous driving and virtual reality (VR) ignited her desire to do more than just market or manage technology—she wanted to be part of its creation. This led her to double major in computer science.

“Virtual reality was particularly fascinating because it adds another dimension to communication,” Lee explained. “It’s not just about talking; it’s about using multimodal cues—haptic controls, audio, visual elements—all to create a more immersive experience.”

Lee’s interest in VR solidified her path toward advanced study in computer science, focusing on how extended reality (XR) can enhance communication and collaboration. Her research at UMD delves into how users interact in virtual environments, particularly in collaborative settings like document interaction, space design and XR-mediated meetings.

“The future of work is being transformed by XR, which allows users to operate in virtual or augmented environments from anywhere,” Lee said. “However, there’s still limited understanding of how traditional collaborative activities should transition into these new settings.”

To address this gap, Lee is developing interfaces and interactions that enhance communication and user perception in XR. Her work involves using advanced technologies like gesture and facial recognition, eye tracking and large language models to create solutions for various collaborative activities in XR. Her projects include mixed reality training, virtual world design and social VR meetings, all aimed at making virtual communication more inclusive and expressive.

Joining the WiGRAPH Community

Lee’s introduction to the WiGRAPH community came through a suggestion from her advisor, Distinguished University Professor Dinesh Manocha. WiGRAPH, the ACM SIGGRAPH Community Group for Women in Computer Graphics Research, focuses on increasing the number of women in the field through mentorship, workshops and networking opportunities. 

“I was introduced to WiGRAPH by my advisor,” Lee admitted. “He suggested that it was a good opportunity to connect with others who are at a similar stage in their Ph.D. journey, and I’m glad I took his advice.”

WiGRAPH’s Rising Stars program is tailored for students in the later stages of their doctoral studies who are about to enter the job market. The program offers workshops, mentoring sessions and the opportunity to attend the ACM SIGGRAPH conference. 

For Lee, having the support of the WIGRAPH community was pivotal.

“I had never attended SIGGRAPH before the Rising Stars program,” Lee said. “I usually go to HCI or VR-related conferences, so this was a new community for me. Having the WiGRAPH program as a starting point made it easier to get introduced to this new area.”

Supportive Workshops and Networking

The WiGRAPH program’s structure includes a full-day workshop at the start of the conference, featuring panel talks from industry and academic leaders, networking opportunities and one-on-one mentoring. Lee found the experience particularly supportive, especially as a member of an underrepresented gender group in her field.

“The workshops were very supportive because you don’t have to pretend like you have to prove something to these people,” Lee reflected. “You can be very open about your current status, what you want to achieve and what gaps you feel there are. The mentors were real about their struggles, which comforted me that I’m not the only one going through this.”

Lee also appreciated the opportunity to connect with people working in companies she’s interested in. 

“Because of the WiGRAPH connection, you can talk about your research directly,” Lee said. “It’s not like you have to go through a formal introduction phase. You can just ask questions about the projects they’re working on and see if there’s a connection with your interests.”

Future Aspirations

Lee’s experience at SIGGRAPH 2024 has further solidified her research goals and aspirations. She is focused on creating XR tools that facilitate natural, efficient interactions, aiming to make virtual communication more inclusive and expressive. Her work can potentially enhance both professional and social experiences in virtual environments, making them more accessible and effective for diverse users.

Looking ahead, Lee is excited about the mentorship and guidance she will continue to receive as part of the WiGRAPH Rising Stars program. With another year of workshops and networking opportunities, she is eager to develop her research further and explore potential career paths in academia or industry.

As Lee reflects on her journey, she recognizes the importance of stepping back and evaluating her goals, which the WiGRAPH application process prompted her to do.

“Being accepted was a really rewarding moment,” Lee said. “As a grad student, you can get tunnel vision with your research and lose track of why you started in the first place. However, writing the application made me step back and think about my goals. The process itself was as valuable as the acceptance because it made me realize I could do more.”

For Lee, the future is full of possibilities. Whether she continues her work in academia or transitions to industry, her focus will remain on using technology to bridge communication gaps and connect people in more meaningful ways. As she continues her research and participation in the WiGRAPH program, Lee’s work in XR has the potential to make a significant impact on how we interact in virtual environments, both now and in the years to come.

—Story by Samuel Malede Zewdu, CS Communications