| Curriculum Vitae

Research Focus

Situated Visual Augmentation: AI-powered visualization systems that augment human perception, cognition, and action in physical environments.

Appointments

01/2024 - Present

Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Department of Computer Science and Engineering

10/2021 - 12/2023

Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University

Visual Computing Group, with Hanspeter Pfister

10/2020 - 10/2021

Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California, San Diego

Design Lab and Creativity Lab, with Haijun Xia

Education

09/2015 - 09/2020

Ph.D. in Computer Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Advisor: Huamin Qu

Awarded Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship, the most prestigious fellowship in Hong Kong

09/2011 - 07/2015

B.Eng. in Software Engineering, South China University of Technology

Awarded Pacemaker to Merit Student, the highest honor (top 0.01%)

Selected Awards

2026

CAREER Award, National Science Foundation

for “Situated Visual Augmentation for Human-AI Complementarity in Physical Spaces”

2023

Best Short Paper Honorable Mention Award, EuroVis'23

2023

Best Paper Award, ACM CHI'23

2022

Best Paper Honorable Mention Award, IEEE VIS'22

2022

Best Paper Honorable Mention Award, IEEE VIS'22

2022

Certificate of Distinction and Excellence in Teaching, Harvard University

2021

Best Paper Honorable Mention Award, IEEE VIS'21

2015 - 2019

Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong

Publications

41 peer-reviewed publications,

including 19 IEEE VIS/TVCG papers, 7 ACM CHI papers, 3 ACM UIST papers, 3 EuroVis/PacificVis papers.

5 best paper awards / honorable mentions.

Conference

2026 C20

Generative Proxy: Synthesizing Proxy-Based Interfaces for Real-World Interaction Across AR Glasses.Xianhao Carton Liu, William Chastek, Eric J Gonzalez, Mar Gonzalez-Franco, and Chen Zhu-Tian.ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (Proc. UIST'26)

C19

RiGS: Rigid-aware 4D Gaussian Splatting from a Single Monocular Video.Chenyu Wu, Wanhua Li, Chen Zhu-Tian, and Hanspeter Pfister.IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (Proc. CVPR'26)

C18

LangFlash: Feed-forward 3D Language Gaussian Splatting from Sparse Unposed Images.Yilong Liu, Wanhua Li, Chen Zhu-Tian, and Hanspeter Pfister.IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (Proc. CVPR'26)

C17

ViSTAR: Virtual Skill Training with Augmented Reality with 3D Avatars and LLM Coaching Agent.Chunggi Lee, Hayato Saiki, Tica Lin, EIJI IKEDA, Kenji Suzuki, Chen Zhu-Tian, and Hanspeter Pfister.ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (Proc. CHI'26)

C16

Challenges in Synchronous & Remote Collaboration Around Visualization.Matthew Brehmer, Maxime Cordeil, Christophe Hurter, Takayuki Itoh, Wolfgang Büschel, Mahmood Jasim, Arnaud Prouzeau, David Saffo, Lyn Bartram, Sheelagh Carpendale, Chen Zhu-Tian, Andrew Cunningham, Tim Dwyer, Samuel Huron, Masahiko Itoh, Alark Joshi, Kiyoshi Kiyokawa, Hideaki Kuzuoka, Bongshin Lee, Gabriela Molina León, Harald Reiterer, Bektur Ryskeldiev, Jonathan Schwabish, Brian A. Smith, Yasuyuki Sumi, Ryo Suzuki, Anthony Tang, Yalong Yang, and Jian Zhao.ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (Proc. CHI'26)

C15

Can AR-Embedded Visualizations Foster Appropriate Reliance on AI in Spatial Decision Making? A Comparative Study of AR See-Through vs. 2D Minimap.Xianhao Carton Liu, Difan Jia, Tongyu Nie, Evan Suma Rosenberg, Victoria Interrante, and Chen Zhu-Tian.ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (Proc. CHI'26)

2025 C14

Hivegen–Hierarchical LLM-based Verilog Generation for Scalable Chip Design.Jinwei Tang, Jiayin Qin, Kiran Thorat, Chen Zhu-Tian, Yu Cao, Yang Katie Zhao, and Caiwen Ding.IEEE International Conference on LLM-Aided Design (Proc. ICLAD'25)

C13

Reality Proxy: Fluid Interactions with Real-World Objects in MR via Abstract Representations.Xiaoan Liu, Difan Jia, Xianhao Carton Liu, Mar Gonzalez-Franco, and Chen Zhu-Tian.ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (Proc. UIST'25)

C12

SportsBuddy: Designing and Evaluating an AI-Powered Sports Video Storytelling Tool Through Real-World Deployment.Tica Lin, Ruxun Xiang, Gardenia Liu, Divyanshu Tiwari, Chenjiayi Ye, Meng-Chia Chiang, Hanspeter Pfister, and Chen Zhu-Tian.IEEE Pacific Visualization Symposium (Proc. PacificVis'25)

2024 C11

WaitGPT: Monitoring and Steering Conversational LLM Agent in Data Analysis with On-the-Fly Code Visualization.Liwenhan Xie, Chengbo Zheng, Haijun Xia, Huamin Qu, and Chen Zhu-Tian.ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (Proc. UIST'24)

2023 C10

Quantifying the Impact of XR Visual Guidance on User Performance Using a Large-Scale Virtual Assembly Experiment.Leon Pietschmann, Paul Zürcher, Erik Bubik, Chen Zhu-Tian, Hanspeter Pfister, and Thomas Bohné.IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (Proc. VIS'23)

ARrow: A Real-Time AR Rowing Coach.Elena Iannucci, Chen Zhu-Tian, Iro Armeni, Marc Pollefeys, Hanspeter Pfister, and Johanna Beyer.Eurographics Conference on Visualization (Proc. EuroVis'23) — Best Paper Nominee

iBall: Augmenting Basketball Videos with Gaze-moderated Embedded Visualizations.Chen Zhu-Tian, Qisen Yang, Jiarui Shan, Tica Lin, Johanna Beyer, Haijun Xia, and Hanspeter Pfister.ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (Proc. CHI'23)

DataParticles: Block-based and Language-oriented Authoring of Animated Unit Visualization.Yining Cao, Jane L. E., Chen Zhu-Tian, and Haijun Xia.ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (Proc. CHI'23) — Best Paper

2022 C6

Millions and Billions of Views: Understanding Popular Science and Knowledge Communication on Video-Sharing Platforms.Haijun Xia, Hui Xin Ng, Chen Zhu-Tian, and James Hollan.ACM Conference on Learning at Scale (Proc. L@S'22)

CrossData: Leveraging Text-Data Connections for Authoring Data Documents.Chen Zhu-Tian, and Haijun Xia.ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (Proc. CHI'22)

2020 C4

Augmenting Static Visualizations with PapARVis Designer.Chen Zhu-Tian, Wai Tong, Qianwen Wang, Benjamin Bach, and Huamin Qu.ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (Proc. CHI'20)

2016 C3

Animated Narrative Visualization for Video Clickstream Data.Yun Wang, Chen Zhu-Tian, Quan Li, Xiaojuan Ma, Qiong Luo, and Huamin Qu.ACM SIGGRAPH ASIA Visualization Symposium, 2016

Blossom: Design of a Tangible Interface for Improving Intergenerational Communication for the Elderly.Mingqian Zhao, Chen Zhu-Tian, Ke Lu, Chaoran Li, Huamin Qu, and Xiaojuan Ma.ACM Interactive Technology and Ageing Populations (Proc. ITAP'16)

STAC: Enhancing Stacked Graphs for Time Series Analysis.Yun Wang, Tongshuang Wu, Chen Zhu-Tian, Qiong Luo, and Huamin Qu.IEEE Pacific Visualization Symposium (Proc. PacificVis'16)

Journal

2025 J21

Programmable Reality.Ryo Suzuki, Parastoo Abtahi, Chen Zhu-Tian, Mustafa Doga Dogan, Andrea Colaco, Eric J Gonzalez, Karan Ahuja, and Mar Gonzalez-Franco.Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 2025

2024 J20

Sportify: Question Answering with Embedded Visualizations and Personified Narratives for Sports Video.Chunggi Lee, Tica Lin, Hanspeter Pfister, and Chen Zhu-Tian.IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (VIS'24)

2023 J19

RL-LABEL: A Deep Reinforcement Learning Approach Intended for AR Label Placement in Dynamic Scenarios.Chen Zhu-Tian, Daniele Chiappalupi, Tica Lin, Yalong Yang, Johanna Beyer, and Hanspeter Pfister.IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (VIS'23)

J18

VIRD: Immersive Match Video Analysis for High-Performance Badminton Coaching.Tica Lin, Alexandre Aouididi, Chen Zhu-Tian, Johanna Beyer, Hanspeter Pfister, and Jui-Hsien Wang.IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (VIS'23)

J17

VoxAR: Adaptive Visualization of Volume Rendered Objects in Optical See-Through Augmented Reality.Saeed Boorboor, Matthew S. Castellana, Yoonsang Kim, Chen Zhu-Tian, Johanna Beyer, Hanspeter Pfister, and Arie E. Kaufman.IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (TVCG'23)

2022 J16

VCoach: A Customizable Visualization and Analysis System for Video-based Running Coaching.Jingyuan Liu, Nazmus Saquib, Chen Zhu-Tian, Rubaiat Habib Kazi, Li-Yi Wei, Hongbo Fu, and Chiew-Lan Tai.IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (TVCG'22)

J15

The Ball is in Our Court: Conducting Visualization Research with Sports Experts.Tica Lin, Chen Zhu-Tian, Johanna Beyer, Yingcai Wu, Hanspeter Pfister, and Yalong Yang.IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications (CG&A'22)

J14

Sporthesia: Augmenting Sports Videos Using Natural Language.Chen Zhu-Tian, Qisen Yang, Xiao Xie, Johanna Beyer, Haijun Xia, Yingcai Wu, and Hanspeter Pfister.IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (VIS'22)

J13

The Quest for Omnioculars: Embedded Visualization for Augmenting Basketball Game Viewing Experiences.Tica Lin, Chen Zhu-Tian, Yalong Yang, Daniele Chiappalupi, Johanna Beyer, and Hanspeter Pfister.IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (VIS'22) — Best Paper Nominee

J12

Exploring Interactions with Printed Data Visualizations in Augmented Reality.Wai Tong, Chen Zhu-Tian, Meng Xia, Leo Yu-Ho Lo, Linping Yuan, Benjamin Bach, and Huamin Qu.IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (VIS'22) — Best Paper Nominee

J11

PuzzleFixer: A Visual Reassembly System for Immersive Fragments Restoration.Shuainan Ye, Chen Zhu-Tian, Xiangtong Chu, Kang Li, Juntong Luo, Yi Li, Guohua Geng, and Yingcai Wu.IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (VIS'22)

2021 J10

Augmenting Sports Videos with VisCommentator.Chen Zhu-Tian, Shuainan Ye, Xiangtong Chu, Haijun Xia, Hui Zhang, Huamin Qu, and Yingcai Wu.IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (VIS'21) — Best Paper Nominee

TIVEE: Visual Exploration and Explanation of Badminton Tactics in Immersive Visualizations.Xiangtong Chu, Xiao Xie, Shuainan Ye, Haolin Lu, Hongguang Xiao, Zeqing Yuan, Chen Zhu-Tian, Hui Zhang, and Yingcai Wu.IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (VIS'21)

Applying Machine Learning Advances to Data Visualization: A Survey on ML4VIS.Qianwen Wang, Chen Zhu-Tian, Yong Wang, and Huamin Qu.IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (TVCG'21)

2020 J7

ShuttleSpace: Exploring and Analyzing Movement Trajectory in Immersive Visualization.Shuainan Ye, Chen Zhu-Tian, Xiangtong Chu, Yifang Wang, Siwei Fu, Lejun Shen, Kun Zhou, and Yingcai Wu.IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (InfoVis'20)

Visual Analysis of Discrimination in Machine Learning.Qianwen Wang, Zhenhua Xu, Chen Zhu-Tian, Yong Wang, Shixia Liu, and Huamin Qu.IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (InfoVis'20)

2019 J5

Towards Automated Infographic Design: Deep Learning-based Auto-Extraction of Extensible Timeline.Chen Zhu-Tian, Yun Wang, Qianwen Wang, Yong Wang, and Huamin Qu.IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (InfoVis'19)

LassoNet: Deep Lasso-Selection of 3D Point Clouds.Chen Zhu-Tian, Wei Zeng, Zhiguang Yang, Lingyun Yu, Chi-Wing Fu, and Huamin Qu.IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (SciVis'19)

2018 J3

MARVisT: Authoring Glyph-based Visualization in Mobile Augmented Reality.Chen Zhu-Tian, Yijia Su, Yifang Wang, Qianwen Wang, Huamin Qu, and Yingcai Wu.IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (TVCG'18)

2017 J2

Exploring the Design Space of Immersive Urban Analytics.Chen Zhu-Tian, Yifang Wang, Tianchen Sun, Xiang Gao, Wei Chen, Zhigeng Pan, Huamin Qu, and Yingcai Wu.Visual Informatics (VI'17)

StreamExplorer: A Multi-Stage System for Visually Exploring Events in Social Streams.Yingcai Wu, Chen Zhu-Tian, Guodao Sun, Xiao Xie, Nan Cao, Shixia Liu, and Weiwei Cui.IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (TVCG'17)

Workshop

2023 W2

Beyond Generating Code: Evaluating GPT on a Data Visualization Course.Chen Zhu-Tian, Chenyang Zhang, Qianwen Wang, Jakob Troidl, Simon Warchol, Johanna Beyer, Nils Gehlenborg, and Hanspeter Pfister.IEEE VIS'23 Workshop on VISxEdu, 2023

2017 W1

Immersive Urban Analytics through Exploded Views.Chen Zhu-Tian, Huamin Qu, and Yingcai Wu.IEEE VIS'17 Workshop on Immersive Analytics, 2017

Technology Report

2025 T2

Vitessce Link: A Mixed Reality and 2D Display Hybrid Approach for Visual Analysis of 3D Tissue Maps.Eric Mörth, Morgan L Turner, Cydney Nielsen, Xianhao Carton Liu, Mark Keller, Lisa Choy, John Conroy, Tabassum Kakar, Clarence Yapp, Alex Wong, Peter Sorger, Liam McLaughlin, Sanjay Jain, Johanna Beyer, Hanspeter Pfister, Chen Zhu-Tian, and Nils Gehlenborg.ArXiv, 2025

2024 T1

Sketch Then Generate: Providing Incremental User Feedback and Guiding LLM Code Generation through Language-Oriented Code Sketches.Chen Zhu-Tian, Zeyu Xiong, Xiaoshuo Yao, and Elena Glassman.ArXiv, 2024

Poster

2025 P1

Enhancing User Performance and Human Factors through Visual Guidance in AR Assembly Tasks.Leon Pietschmann, Michel Schimpf, Chen Zhu-Tian, Hanspeter Pfister, and Thomas Bohné.ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI'25)

Mentoring

PhD Student

2026

Harshvardhan Chandirasekar, UMN CS

2026

Yilong Song, UMN CS

2025

Yushen Hu, UMN CS

2024

Xianhao (Carton) Liu, UMN CS

External PhD Student

2024

Chunggi Lee, Harvard

Master Thesis Advisor

2025

Amanda Elvarsdóttir, UMN CS

2025

Sai Surya Vamsi Krishna Kocherla, UMN CS

2024

Omar Elgohary, UMN CS

Graduate Research Intern

2025

Nanditha Naik, UMN CS

2025

Divyanshu Tiwari (Div), UMN CS

2025

James Yang, UMN CS

2025

Qinghong Fan, UMN CS

2024

Xiaoan (Sean) Liu, NYU

2024

Liwenhan Xie, HKUST

2024

Xiaoshuo Yao, USC

2024

Zeyu Xiong, HKUST(GZ)

UROP Student

2024

Kira Jiang, UMN CS

2024

Difan (Bobby) Jia, UMN CS

2024

Lulin (Loren) Liu, UMN CS

2024

Kevin Vo, UMN CS

Summer REU Student

2025

Olivia Avila, Columbia University

2024

Junior Emilio Chaj Mejia, U of Central Florida

Direct Research

2025

Jiaxi Tang, UMN CS

Recent Teaching

Instructor

2026 Spring

CSCI 5629: AI-enabled Visual Information Systems, UMN CS

2025 Fall

CSCI 5609: Data Visualization, UMN CS

2025 Spring

CSCI 5980/8980: AI-enabled Visual Information Systems in MR, UMN CS

2024 Fall

CSCI 8980: Visualization for Intelligent AR Systems, UMN CS

Teaching Fellow

2023 Fall

CS171: Data Visualization, Harvard

2022 Fall

CS171: Data Visualization, Harvard

2022 Spring

CS271: Topics in Data Visualization, Harvard

Teaching Assistant

2018 Fall

COMP2711: Discrete Mathematical Tools for CS, HKUST

2018 Spring

COMP4901f: Data Visualization, HKUST

Selected Services

I regularly server as reviewers for conferences and journals related to my research and thus haven’t listed them here.

Organizational Roles / Chairs

2026

Tutorial Chair, ACM ISS

2026

Proceeding Chair, ACM UIST

2026

AgenticVis Workshop, IEEE VIS

2025

AgenticVis Workshop, IEEE VIS

Associate Chair of Program Committee

ACM UIST (2025 - 2026), EuroVis (2026), ACM CHI (2024 - 2026), IEEE VIS (2023 - 2025), ChinaVis (2022 - 2024), PacificVis (2022 - 2024), ACM IUI (2023), PacificVis Journal Track Paper (2027), EuroVis Short Paper (2023 - 2025), ACM CHI Late-Breaking Work (2024)

Federal Grant Reviewer

2024

Panelist, NSF

2024

Reviewer, Department of Energy

Selected Press Coverage

2025

Proxies Could Be The Key To Interacting With Physical Objects In Mixed Reality, UploadVR

2024

From game footage to great footage, Harvard SEAS