Download my full CV (as of December 2022) here.

View my demo reel (as of May 2021) here.

Or, browse an incomplete selection of accomplishments and links below.

Work Experience

Advanced Visualization Lab, National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2014-Present)

Films:

• “A Beautiful Planet”, IMAX film narrated by Jennifer Lawrence
• “Solar Superstorms”, fulldome show narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch
• “Super Tornado: Anatomy of a Mega Disaster“, 4K TV documentary
• “Seeing the Beginning of Time”, 4K TV documentary
• “Birth of Planet Earth”, fulldome show
• “Imagine the Moon”, fulldome show
• “Atlas of a Changing Earth”, fulldome show
• “Monster Black Holes”, coming soon

Software:

• Ytini, open-source middleware between the scientific analysis/visualization Python package, yt, and the 3D animation software, Houdini.
• CloudFindr, a deep learning cloud artifact masker for digital elevation model (DEM) data.
• Estra, ML-informed pipeline for colormap design around data features.
• HAVLI, the Houdini-AVL Interface, a scientific data visualization plugin for Houdini
• Blurend, a pipeline for rendering Houdini scenes on the Blue Waters supercomputer
• LAIT, the Laboratory for Audience Interactive Technologies mobile app
• Virtual Dome, a Google Cardboard web app for previewing fulldome content in VR

Certifications & Awards:

• Certified Usability Analyst (CUA) Certification, Human Factors International 2018
• Data Visualization Certification, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 2017
• “Unstumpable Award (for being able to solve any problem she is given)”, NCSA 2016

Teaching at the University of Illinois:

• BDI513: Data Storytelling co-instructor
• 3D Data Visualization for Science Communication Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)
• Scientific Visualization in Houdini Blue Waters webinar
• CS419: Production Computer Graphics guest lecturer
• MACS496: Interactive and Immersive Media guest lecturer
• ENG177: Grainger Engineering First Year Experience guest lecturer
• Introduction to Accounting Data Analytics and Visualization MOOC guest lecturer

Publications:

• Borkiewicz, K., Christensen, A., Shirah, G., Elkins, K., Berry, D., & Fluke, C. (2019). Cinematic scientific visualization. ACM SIGGRAPH Asia 2019 Courses. doi: 10.1145/3355047.3359398
• Sener, M., Levy, S., Christensen, A.J., Patterson, R., Borkiewicz, K., Stone, J.E., Isralewitz, B., Carpenter, J., & Cox, D. (2019). An accessible visual narrative for the primary energy source of life from the fulldome show Birth of Planet Earth. Supercomputing Scientific Visualization Showcase, accepted.
• Borkiewicz, K., Christensen, A., Kostis, H.-N., Shirah, G., & Wyatt, R. (2019). Cinematic scientific visualization. ACM SIGGRAPH 2019 Courses on – SIGGRAPH 19. doi: 10.1145/3305366.3328056
• Borkiewicz, K., Naiman, J. P., & Lai, H. (2019). Cinematic Visualization of Multiresolution Data: Ytini for Adaptive Mesh Refinement in Houdini. The Astronomical Journal, 158(1), 10. doi: 10.3847/1538-3881/ab1f6f
• Shih, J. Y., Borkiewicz, K., Christensen, A., & Cox, D. (2019). Interactive cinematic scientific visualization in unity. ACM SIGGRAPH 2019 Posters on – SIGGRAPH 19. doi: 10.1145/3306214.3338588
• Borkiewicz, K., Christensen, A. J., Levy, S., Patterson, R., Cox, D., & Carpenter, J. (2018). Scientific and visual effects software integration for the visualization of a chromatophore. SIGGRAPH Asia 2018 Posters on – SA 18. doi: 10.1145/3283289.3283324
• Borkiewicz, K., Christensen, A. J., & Stone, J. E. (2017). Communicating science through visualization in an age of alternative facts. SIGGRAPH Asia 2017 Courses on – SA 17. doi: 10.1145/3134472.3134488
• Naiman, J. P., Borkiewicz, K., & Christensen, A. J. (2017). Houdini for Astrophysical Visualization. Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 129(975), 058008. doi: 10.1088/1538-3873/aa51b3
• Borkiewicz, K. Cox, D., Patterson, R., Levy, S., Christensen, A.J., O’Shea, B.W., Wise, J.H., Xu, H., & Norman, M.L. (2017). First Light in the Renaissance Simulation Visualization: Formation of the Very First Galaxies in the Universe. Supercomputing Scientific Visualization Showcase.
• Borkiewicz, K. Cox, D., Patterson, R., Levy, S., Christensen, A.J., Goldbaum, N.J., Krumholz, M.R., & Forbes, J.C. (2017). Milky Way Analogue Isolated Disk Galaxy Visualization. Supercomputing Scientific Visualization Showcase.
• Borkiewicz, K., Christensen, A. J., & Stone, J. E. (2017). Communicating science through visualization in an age of alternative facts. ACM SIGGRAPH 2017 Courses on – SIGGRAPH 17. doi: 10.1145/3084873.3084935
• Borkiewicz, K. (2016). Scientific Data Visualization Accuracy & Big Data: Visualization Design for “Solar Superstorms”. International Planetarium Society – IPS.

Intelligent Medical Objects (2012-2014)

• IMO Terminology Browser for Android
• Plug(IT)In: A plugin tool for doctors to use to drill down and track diagnoses
• eClinicalWorks web applications, both internal and external
• Patient Health Record mobile app, to guide patients through filling out their medical history prior to a doctor’s appointment

Education

B.S. Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2012)
Specialization in Computer Graphics

M.C.S. Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
In progress, expected 2022