About
Hi, I'm Minyoung, a researcher and XR designer based in Los Angeles. My research lies at the intersection of media psychology, cognitive science, and human-computer interaction. I investigate how immersive technologies reshape perception, embodiment, and spatial understanding through interactive prototyping and empirical research.
I currently work as a research assistant at UCLA's Zili Lab, studying visual depth perception in VR, and at UCI’s Chrastil Lab, where I contribute to research on spatial navigation and cognition using immersive VR and fMRI. Previously, I collaborated with NASA JPL through Caltech's Data to Discovery program (CLOVE and CliMAScope) on scientific data visualization, and designed VR learning experiences for the University of Notre Dame. At ArtCenter, I researched on the interplay between digital and physical materiality with Elise Co, investigated embodied interaction between humans and AI with Maxim Safioulline.
Outside of research, I organize XR Hackathons for XR beginners and collect fountain pens!
Publications
2026
Sparacino, Joo, Zheng · ACM SIGSPATIAL UMFM 2026
2025
Pham, Hu, Joo, White, et al. · IEEE VIS 2025, Vienna, pp. 86-90
Pham, Hu, Joo, White, et al. · IEEE VIS 2025, Vienna, pp. 201-205
Safioulline, Joo, Kim · ACM IMX 2025, pp. 424-429
2021
Joo, Kim, Park, Song, Chung · First author · KSDS Conference Proceedings, Seoul
Awards
2025
Graduate Fellow
Selected for the Graduate Fellows Program, a tuition-free additional term awarded to exceptional graduates (Summer 2025). Used the term to complete two IEEE VIS 2025 publications with researchers from NASA JPL and Caltech.
2023
Korean Institute of Design
Winner
2021
Spark Design Awards
Winner
2020
International Design Awards (IDA)
Bronze
Indigo Design Awards
Bronze
Cultural Heritage Art Renewal Awards
Grand Prize
2018–2023
Hongik University
Four-year full scholarship
Research Experiences
2026–Present
Research Assistant, UCLA Zili Lab
VR study on visual depth perception; hand-tracking analysis of spatial judgments across experimental conditions
2026–Present
Research Assistant, UCI Chrastil Lab
Spatial navigation and cognition research using immersive VR and fMRI
2026–Present
Design Researcher, Seekr
3D environments and navigation tasks for evaluating how embodied AI agents acquire and use spatial knowledge; co-authored paper at ACM SIGSPATIAL UMFM ’26
2025
Bolder Futures Fellow, AAPI Data
Research framing for VR project on urban visibility and safety
2025
Extended Reality Intern, University of Notre Dame
VR learning experience for Meta Quest 3 (Unity, Meta SDK)
2024
Design Researcher, ArtCenter College of Design
[with Maxim Safioulline] Real-time generative AI installation; published at ACM IMX 2025
2024
Design Researcher, ArtCenter College of Design
[with Elise Co] Spolia Lounge, a physical installation on digital materiality; On continuous display at ArtCenter since Summer 2024
2024
Immersion Lab Residency, ArtCenter College of Design
[with Jenny Rodenhouse] Observed content-dependent micro-variations in hand pressure during on-screen reading
2024
External Research Collaborator
Data to Discovery / Caltech & NASA JPL & ArtCenter
2022
Design Researcher, Samsung Card
(industry-academia collaboration) Conducted UX research for the ID Platinum Card launch, supporting product positioning and user experience decisions for a service that reached 100K+ users.
2021
Student Researcher, IDAS & LG Home Entertainment
Gen Z research for a new LG wellness brand: in-depth interviews (IDI), persona modeling, journey mapping, and service blueprinting; proposed the brand concept "Petit à petit" and a sleep-wellness device service