Ying  Feng

Objective

• Looking for a software development or a research/teaching position.
  
• Areas of special professional interest: data analysis/visualization, intelligent user interface, virtual reality, computer graphics.
• Other areas of professional interest: multimedia, database, network, web applications, computer music, computer art.

Skills

• Languages: Proficient in Java (>10 years), C/C++ (>10 years), Perl; In the past also used Pascal, Basic, Fortran, Lisp/Scheme, Prolog,  Assembly.
• IDEs: XEmacs, Netbeans, JBuilder, Visual C++ (MFC).
  
• Platforms: Familiar with Unix, Linux, Windows, Mac OS.
• Graphics & multimedia: OpenGL, CAVE, CAVERNSoft, VSS, VRML, Matlab; Experienced in GUI design.
• Database: Familiar with SQL (Oracle, MySQL, Access); Experienced in ER model design.
• Web Applications: HTML, XML, JSP, PHP, Javascript, Flash; Experienced in web application development.
• Computer music: MIDI, Performer, CSound, Humdrum.

Research/Programming Experience

• Aug 2003 - present: Research assistant at Visualization and Interactive Spaces Lab, Pervasive Technology Labs at Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN.
  
  • Working on the ArborQuest project (An Intelligent Visualization Recommendation System Based on User Interaction History). The goal is to provide recommendations to users on choosing suitable visualization tools to explore multiple data sets and achieve various data analysis tasks in more efficient ways. Investigated related work, designed a framework to model data, task, user, platform, and visualization history, on which recommendations are based, and explored various machine learning and data mining methods, in search of effective algorithms to analyze interaction history. The web-based front-end GUI is implemented in Flash and PHP, while the back-end algorithms are implemented in Java. XML stream data are passed between the two ends.
  • Took part in the RIVER project (Research, Instrumentation, and Visualization for Ecological Restoration), in association with the Lilly ARBOR Project, an ecosystem restoration and monitor system for the White River riverbank, sponsored by the Lilly Foundation. Designed and implemented the prototype of a visualization system ArborVis (Visualization of Large Unstructured Multi-dimensional Spatial-Temporal Datasets Using Synchronized Hierarchical Multi-views), to help scientists analyze multiple datasets collected over years of the ecosystem spreading across several areas along the riverbank. MySQL and JDBC were used for database management, and the visualization tools were implemented in Java.

• Feb-Aug 2003: Research assistant for Psychology Department, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. 
• Worked on a graph matching algorithm (ABSURDIST) applied to the translation between parallel conceptual systems or ontologies. Improved the original algorithm in both mapping speed and accuracy, greatly increasing the scale of applicable graphs. Carried out experiments applying the algorithm to real-world systems and had some interesting discoveries on how internal/external similarity and other node features could affect the alignment of two conceptual systems. Publications were produced based on these results. The algorithm and its applications were implemented in Java, and its online GUI was implemented as a Java applet.

• May-Jun & Oct-Dec 2002: Intern at the Imaging and Visualization Department at Siemens Corporate Research, Princeton, NJ.
  
• Worked on a pilot visualization tool for a patient record system. Researched various existing tools, and designed a framework for the visualization pipeline, which was general enough to handle a variety of applications with  multi-featured temporal data. Implemented a prototype interface using a synchronized hierarchical multi-view strategy to display patient records, which include textual, numerical, and image data. The interface was written in Visual C++ and MFC. Detailed documentation on the code and framework was also delivered.
  

• Jul-Sep 2002: Intern at the Information Sciences and Technologies Lab at Palo Alto Research Center, Palo Alto, CA.
  
• Worked on web information retrieval and visualization methods. Developed a prototype for a GUI front-end to a web information retrieval application called Blackmarket.com, to provide a novel, dynamic, and intuitive interface for a website filled with scent-rich information designed to support browsing. Applied a variety of technologies in the area of information visualization, including the Scatter-Gather algorithm, dynamic clustering algorithms, cluster layout algorithms, 2D graphics with animation, and zoomable interface techniques. The front-end GUI was written in Java, with a zoomable toolkit called Jazz, and the back-end computation was written in C++. Detailed documentation on the design and implementaion of the GUI was also delivered.

• May-Aug 2001: Coop Pre-Professional Engineer with the IBM Research Division's Distributed Systems & Services Department at the T.J. Watson Research center, Hawthorne, NY.
• Worked with the Intelligent Multimedia Interaction Group on the project RIA (Responsive Information Architect), doing research on Example-Based Information Graphics Generation. Helped design and implement an example-based generation engine, which could automatically generate graphics for information presentation based on users' queries and data, using CBR techniques to retrieve similar  graphics from a database of annotated information graphics, then merge the top matched examples to generate desired graphics. Technology in the field of information science, artificial intelligence, and computer graphics were learned and investigated. Coauthored a paper based on the project. Tools used included XmlSpy, XML parser written with Xerces/Xalan XML packcage, Java under JBuilder, and OpenInventor.
  

• Jun-Aug 2000: Programmer and research assistant, New Media Department, IUPUI, Indianapolis, IN.
• Worked on the Distributed Virtual Concert project, a collaborative virtual environment that targets to enable musicians at geographically  distributed sites to play MIDI music together through networks: musicians collaborate in a virtual concert room; telepresense is provided by avatars tracking the remote musicians, along with audio and video to help communication; music is generated from both local and remote MIDI messages. Technology in the field of virtual reality, computer graphics, networking, computer music, and human factor study were learned and applied. Programming tools used included C/C++, OpenGL, CAVE & CAVERNSoft, Performer, SGI MIDI lib, and pthread.
  

• May 1999 - May 2000 & Sep 2001 - Apr 2002: Independent research, Computer Science Department, IU, Bloomington, IN.
  
• Research on analysis and visualization of  hierarchically clustered data. Developed an efficient algorithm to dynamically and incrementally categorize a large set of data into a hierarchy of clusters according to their semantics, and used a stable and fast layout algorithm to display these clusters, so that their semantic closeness and relationships would be maintained and mapped into limited 2D screen space. A large collection of personal bookmarks was used as a sample data set, and a layout tool called Semantic Treemap was implemented to visualize personal web space, providing various interaction tools to facilitate manipulations on the bookmarks. The client-side GUI, implemented in Java, connected to the C++ back-end computation module through Javaservlets. Publication on this project was produced.
  
• Research on quaternion visualization. Developed an interactive animation tool (GLUT version on SGI, and a CAVE version) for interpolating 3D object positions and orientations, by interpolating both in the 3D geometry space and the quaternion space. Implemented with C, OpenGL, GLUT, and CAVE.
• Research on database security. Designed an extended model for Mandatory Access Control using Multilevel Security Labels and Row Constraints, implemented a prototype for this model using Oracle 8. 

• Jun-Aug 1998: Research Assistant, Computer Science Department, IU, Bloomington, IN.
• Extended and improved a tool for visualizing large sparse linear  systems, using C++, Matlab and X-Motif. The tool, called Emily, was  later integrated into the Linear System Analyzer as the Visual Component, using Java AWP. 
  

• Sep 1995 - Jun 1997: Research Assistant, Distributed Systems Lab at Computer Science Dept, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
• Designed and implemented a Visual Programming Environment for Distributed Systems, using Visual J++, running under Windows. 
• Participated in the project "Intelligent Human-Computer Interface for Parallel Machine", implemented the module for Natural Language Command Processing, using Lisp, Prolog, C++, and X-Motif, running under Unix.

• Sep 1993 - Jun 1994: Curriculum Practical Training, Tsinghua Computer Company, Beijing, China.
• Designed and implemented a Hypertext Documentation System used for product manuals, using Borland C++.
• Participated in a Real-Time Dynamic Control System for steel production pipeline, designed and implemented the Dynamic Data Visualization module, using Borland C++.

Teaching Experience

• Sep 1997 - May 2002: Associate Instructor, Computer Science Department, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.
  
• Undergraduate level courses: Introduction to Computer Science, Introduction to Software Systems, Data Structures, Computer Structures, Computer Graphics,Java Programming, Multimedia Communications, Java Server Pages.
• Graduate level courses: Operating Systems, Networks and Distributed Computing, Distributed Systems
  
• Responsibilities: Teach lab and discussion sessions, hold office hours, help designing and grading homework, help grading exams.

• Sep-Dec 1994: Teaching Assistant, Computer Science Department, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
• Helped teaching undergrad level course (Data Structures), supervised lab sessions.
  

Education

• Ph.D. in Computer Science (in progress), Computer Science Department, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.
• Candidacy acquired; Current GPA: 3.91/4.0.

• M.S. in Computer Science (Dec. 1999), Computer Science Department, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.
  
• GPA: 3.85/4.0
• Awards: Graduate Fellowship (1998-1999, by Indiana University)
  
• Relevant course projects
• Operating Systems: Enhancement of a simulated operating system, with management for multitasking, virtual memory and distributed file system; implemented in C++.
• Networks and Distributed Systems: Implemented a simple HTTP server, TCP/UDP and IP protocol, and the Token Ring protocol, using Java network packages.
• Software Engineering: Participated in the design of an online evaluation system for BEST at IU, including feasibility study, requirement specification, ER model design, user interface design, involving intensive writing and documentation.
• Data Mining: Participated in the design and implementation of a personalized knowledge base management system called Knownspace, responsible for the user modeling module written in Java.
• Programming Languages: Implemented a simple interpreter for a scheme-like language using Java.
• Scientific Visualization: Simulation of a dynamics system, with GUI and data visualization, implemented as a Java applet.
• Machine Learning: Participated in a disaster response planning system with introspective adaptation learning, implemented the Case-Based Adaptation module using Scheme.
• Computer Vision: Implemented various image processing algorithms using Matlab, applying techniques such as image compression and decompression with Laplacian pyramid, pattern recognition, face recognition with PCA and ICA.
• Virtual Reality: Implemented several CAVE applications using OpenGL/CAVE, applying UI design techniques.

• M.S. in Computer Science (Jun. 1997), Computer Science Department, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
• GPA: 8.8/10.0
• Awards: Huawei Scholarship (1994-1995, by Nanjing University)
  

• B.S. in Computer Science & Engineering (Jul. 1994), Department of Computer Science and Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
• GPA: 8.6/10.0
• Awards: Scholarship for Excellent Students (1992-1993, by Tsinghua University)

Publications

• Ying Feng, Robert Goldstone, Vladimir Menkov. A Graph Matching Algorithm and its Application to Conceptual System Translation. International Journal on Artificial Intelligence Tools, 14, 77-99, 2005.
  
• Goldstone, R. L., Feng, Y., & Rogosky, B. Connecting Concepts to each other and the world. In D. Pecher and R.Zuann (Eds.) Grounding cognition: The role of perception and action in memory, language, and thinking. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 292-314, 2005.
• Ying Feng, Robert Goldstone, Vladimir Menkov. ABSURDIST II: A Graph Matching Algorithm and its Application to Conceptual System Translation. Proceedings of FLAIRS, AAAI Press, Miami, FL, May 2004.
  
• Michelle X Zhou, Sheng Ma, & Ying Feng. Applying Machine Learning to Automated Information Graphics Generation. IBM Systems Journal, Vol. 41, No. 3, p504-523, 2002,
• Katy Borner, Ying Feng, & Tamara McMahon. Collaborative Visual Interfaces to Digital Libraries. The Second ACM+IEEE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries, Portland, OR, Jul. 2002.
• Ying Feng & Katy Borner. Using semantic treemaps to categorize and visualize bookmark files. Visualization and Data Analysis, Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 4665, p218-227, St. Jose, CA, Jan. 2002.
  
• Y. Feng & X. Yuan. Mandatory Access Control - An Extension to Security Policies in DBMS. IRMA 2000.
• X. Yuan & Y. Feng. The Optimization of Class Hierarchy in Object-Oriented Design. ACM SIGSOFT Software Engineering Notes, Vol. l25 No.2, Mar. 2000
• Ying Feng. Knowledge-Based HCI For Parallel Machines. Computer Aided Engineering, Shanghai, China, No.3, 1997.
• Ying Feng. A Visual Interface Model For Object-Oriented Distributed Programming. Micro Computer, Chongqing, China, Sep. 1997.