Please contact me for a full PDF CV.
Education:
Doctor of Philosophy/Computer Science & Applications, Virginia Tech, 2011 – Present
Master of Science/Computer Science & Applications, Virginia Tech, 2011 – 2015
Bachelor of Science/Computer Science, University of Mary Washington, 2006 – 2010
Experience:
- Graduate Research Assistant, Virginia Tech
- Advisor: Dr. Chris North
- Projects related to information visualization and data analytics
- Collaborating with Drs. Leanna House and Scotland Leman in the Virginia Tech Department of Statistics developing a new curriculum to teach Bayesian Statistics and Data Analytics
- Developing a visualization tool, Andromeda, designed to aid in the analysis of high-dimensional data sets for use in the aforementioned course as well as in the Visual Analytics community
- Collaborating with Dr. Michelle Stocker from the Virginia Tech Department of Geosciences; designed Andromeda modifications for domain use in Paleontology
- Collaborating with graduate student from the Virginia Tech Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science; studying design modifications for domain use of Andromeda
- Collaborating with Dr. Charles Nichols from the Virginia Tech School of Performing Arts; applying high-dimensional data analysis to the music domain
- Previously worked on a project relating highlights made in a document by a user versus highlights made by a computer program; created a tool to aid a user in this process and focused on researching how and what aspects would be most beneficial in the process of reading and analyzing a document to find the most important and relevant information
- Software Engineer Professional, CSC
- Designed, developed, tested and integrated the AAW Target Tracker functionality into the WCS Requirements Analysis Tool Set (WRATS), a large, complex system being developed for the Navy, in MATLAB
- Updated the current program to support the new algorithms and covariance computations in order to verify it worked in accordance with the specifications
- Reviewed specification change documents to determine if the program required additional design modifications and implementations
- Honors Thesis, University of Mary Washington
- Researched the area of Human-Computer Interaction and designed usability experiments to empirically validate a prototype Semantic Web application.
- Studied the usability of OKM, a program developed by a student team that aids users in browsing and creating Semantic Web compatible data.
- Designed and performed three experiments: the first testing novice users’ ability to create data in RDF format necessary for the Semantic Web using paper and pencil, the second and the third testing their ability to use the OKM interface.
- This work shed light on the specific barriers novice users face in generating formal knowledge, and will help influence the design of next-generation Semantic Web interfaces.
Scholarships & Awards:
- Computer Science Department Doctoral Fellowship, Virginia Tech (2011-2015)
- Computer Science Departmental Honors, University of Mary Washington (2010)
Professional Service:
- Center for Human-Computer Interaction 20th Anniversary Celebration – Virginia Tech (2015)
- Presented demo of Be the Data project that immerses students in visual analytics through embodied interaction
- Student Transition Engineering Program (STEP) – Virginia Tech College of Engineering (2015)
- A summer orientation for incoming freshmen of the College of Engineering
- Taught Be the Data session to expose students to visual analytics through embodied interaction
- ICAT Day – Virginia Tech Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology (2014 & 2015)
- Taught four Be the Data sessions to expose elementary students to visual analytics of high-dimensional data
- Annual event to showcase the work and research affiliated with ICAT
- Includes interactive demonstrations, workshops, panels, and tours
- Blacksburg community and local schools are invited to attend
- C-Tech2 – Virginia Tech College of Engineering Girls’ Camp (2014)
- Taught three sessions of an Android app class to expose girls to basic programming
- Summer event that invites rising junior and senior high school girls to campus to experience and learn about college life within the College of Engineering
- Attendees participate in hands-on activities presented by faculty and graduate students across many disciplines within engineering
- AWC – Association of Women in Computing – Virginia Tech (2011 – present)
- Student-run, non-profit organization at Virginia Tech to promote the recruitment and retention of women in technology and computer oriented professions
- Hosts the annual Women in Computing Day to promote STEM to local 7th grade girls
- Leadership roles:– 2015 Women in Computing Day Session Chair for “Be the Data” (organized and led activity to four groups)– 2014 Women in Computing Day Volunteer– 2012-2013 Women in Computing Day Co-chair (organized entire event)
- PERL – Promoting, Encouraging, Recruiting & Leading Women in Technology – University of Mary Washington (2007 – 2010)
- A club, of which I was one of the founders, at the University of Mary Washington for women interested in or pursuing a career in a technology field
- Organized and hosted a career series consisting of informational sessions about internships, writing resumes and cover letters; as well as other department gatherings and activities
- Leadership role:– 2009-2010 President
Jessica Zeitz Self 