Short Bio
My current postdoctoral research focuses on bridging the gap between complex data systems and users through visualization and storytelling. With my expertise in data collection, processing, and visualization, I aim to create intuitive interfaces that make advanced databases and decision support systems accessible to experts across diverse domains, such as digital humanities, cultural heritage, musicology, art history, and life sciences. I strive to enhance user engagement and comprehensive insights into sociological interconnections with techniques like faceted browsing within coupled visualizations. My work also emphasizes making these complex topics more accessible through the integration of interactive, visual storytelling, uncovering hidden narratives within both tangible and intangible subject matters. The applications I develop invite experts and casual users to explore and analyze data, enabling them to tell their own stories.
Positions & Education
Postdoctoral Researcher
Jan. 2026 – Present
University of Bergen
Bergen, Norway
Hosted by Prof. Nick Montfort
Postdoctoral Researcher
Oct. 2024 – Dec. 2025
University of Southern Denmark
Odense, Denmark
Hosted by Prof. Stefan Jänicke & Prof. Tariq Yousef
Ph.D. Student in Computer Science
Nov. 2020 – Sep. 2024
University of Southern Denmark
Odense, Denmark
Supervised by Prof. Stefan Jänicke
"Visualization-based Storytelling for Digital Humanities"
Doctoral Student
Feb. 2018 – Oct. 2020
Museum of Musical Instruments of Leipzig University
Leipzig, Germany
M.Sc. in Computer Science
Oct. 2015 – Feb. 2018
Leipzig University
Leipzig, Germany
Interests
Data Visualization
Narrative Visualization
Visual Data Science
Digital Humanities
Cultural Heritage
Information Retrieval
Life Sciences
Skills
JavaScript, Python, PHP, Java, C, C++
HTML, CSS, React, Django
Custom Visualizations via d3.js, threejs, Mapbox GL JS, Plotly
Collaborative Work in Research & Development Projects
German (native), English (advanced)
French (basic), Danish (basic)
Teaching Experience
Guest Lecture on Narrative Visualizations
13. Nov. 2024
University of Southern Denmark
Odense, Denmark
Hosted by Prof. Stefan Jänicke
Guest Lecture on Narrative Visualizations
1. Oct. 2025
York University
Toronto, Canada
Hosted by Prof. Lora Appel
Guest Lecturing in Web-Development
Mar. 2025
University of Southern Denmark
Odense, Denmark
Hosted by Prof. Tariq Yousef
Guest Lecture on Narrative Visualizations
6. Nov. 2024
University of Southern Denmark
Odense, Denmark
Hosted by Prof. Stefan Jänicke
Teaching Assistant in Introduction to Digital Humanities
Sep. 2023
New York University Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Hosted by Prof. David Wrisley
Teaching Assistant in Visualizations for Data Science
Oct. 2022 – Dec. 2022
University of Southern Denmark
Odense, Denmark
Hosted by Prof. Stefan Jänicke
Co-supervised ~110 students with 3 resulting co-authored conference papers
Teaching Assistant in Comparative Literature
Feb. 2022 – Mar. 2022
University of Southern Denmark
Odense, Denmark
Hosted by Prof. Sofie Kluge
Teaching Assistant in Visualizations for Data Science
Oct. 2021 – Dec. 2021
University of Southern Denmark
Odense, Denmark
Hosted by Prof. Stefan Jänicke
Co-supervised ~100 students with 3 resulting co-authored conference papers
Teaching Assistant in Digital Humanities
Sep. 2021 – Dec. 2021
University of Southern Denmark
Odense, Denmark
Hosted by Prof. Stefan Jänicke
Selected Publications
Visual analysis of diversity and threat status of natural materials for musical instruments
2024
Frontiers in Environmental Science 12 (2024): 1406376.
Visualization-based Storytelling for Digital Humanities
2024
Ph.D. Thesis
Every Thing Can Be a Hero! Narrative Visualization of Person, Object, and Other Biographies
2024
Informatics 11 (2), 26
A Workflow Approach to Visualization-Based Storytelling with Cultural Heritage Data
2023
IEEE 8th Workshop on Visualization for the Digital Humanities (VIS4DH)
Visualization-based Scrollytelling of Coupled Threats for Biodiversity, Species and Music Cultures
2023
Workshop on Visualisation in Environmental Sciences (EnvirVis), The Eurographics Association
The Multiple Faces of Cultural Heritage: Towards an Integrated Visualization Platform for Tangible and Intangible Cultural Assets
2022
IEEE 7th Workshop on Visualization for the Digital Humanities (VIS4DH)
A Timeline Metaphor for Analyzing the Relationships between Musical Instruments and Musical Pieces
2020
Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Information Visualization Theory and Applications (IVAPP)
musiXplora: Visual Analysis of Musicological Data
2020
Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Information Visualization Theory and Applications (IVAPP)
A Survey on Visualizations for Musical Data
2020
Computer Graphics Forum, 2020
Design and Implementation of an Application for the Interactive Visualization of Computed Tomography Data in the Context of Museums
2018
Master Thesis, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
In Viso – An Interactive Application for Controlling and Visualizing of Chromatin Simulations
2016
Bachelor Thesis, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
To find a complete list of publications please refer to:
Projects
LEAD AI
Jan. 2026 - now
University of Bergen
Bergen, Norway
Hosted by Prof. Nick Montfort
https://www.uib.no/en/leadaiAlgaeProBANOS
Jul. 2025 - Dec. 2025
University of Southern Denmark
Odense, Denmark
Hosted by Prof. Tariq Yousef
https://algaeprobanos.euMEMORISE
Nov. 2023 - Dec. 2025
University of Southern Denmark
Odense, Denmark
Hosted by Prof. Stefan Jänicke
https://memorise.sdu.dkMusEcology
Nov. 2019 - now
University of Southern Denmark
Odense, Denmark
InTaVia - Visual Analysis, Curation & Communication for In/Tangible European Heritage
Oct. 2020 – Oct. 2023
University of Southern Denmark
Odense, Denmark
Hosted by Prof. Stefan Jänicke
https://intavia.euTASTEN
Feb. 2018 – Jul. 2020
University of Southern Denmark
Leipzig, Germany
Hosted by Prof. Josef Focht
https://mfm.uni-leipzig.de/dt/Forschung/Tastenprojekt.phpExtracurricular Activities
Student Volunteer Chair EuroVis Conference 2024
May 2024
University of Southern Denmark
Odense, Denmark
Supervised ~30 student volunteers for a week
Board member of Philos network
Sep. 2021 - Jan. 2024
University of Southern Denmark
Odense, Denmark
Organizing scientific and social events for PhD students at the Faculty of Science
Presentations & Workshops
Mapping Algae: Connecting Farmers, Products, and Markets
30. Oct. 2025
J. Kusnick
Constanța, Romania
EX-AQUA
Presentation
Part of the Workshop “Advancing algae aquaculture: innovative pathways for the Black Sea region”, 30. Oct. 2025
https://ex-aqua.eu/highlights-from-the-workshop-advancing-algae-aquaculture-innovation-and-collaboration-for-the-black-seaSanta Clara 3D: Digital Reconstruction and Storytelling of a Francoist Concentration Camp
21. Oct. 2025
S. Zacho, C. Hall, J. Kusnick, and S. Jänicke
Marbella, Spain
CHIRA 2025
Presentation
Part of the 9. International Conference on Computer-Human Interaction Research and Applications (CHIRA), 20.–21. Oct. 2025
https://www.insticc.org/Primoris/api/TechnicalProgram/DownloadBookofAbstract?id=3991Teaching Difficult History with Digital Tools: Telling the Story of Nazi Euthanasia
25. June 2025
E. Rachow, C. Vang Østergaard, J. Kusnick, and C. Hall
Sussex, United Kingdom
University of Sussex
Half-Day Workshop
Part of the Connective Holocaust Commemoration Expo I, 24.-26. June 2025
https://reframe.sussex.ac.uk/digitalholocaustmemory/connective-holocaust-commemoration-expo-i/Opening Ceremony of the Ferramonti 3D Exhibition Panel
13. June 2025
O. A. Bendorf, C. Hall, R. Mreisheh, J. Kusnick, and S. Jänicke
Tarsia, Italy
Ferramonti di Tarsia
/Ferramonti-Opening.jpegVisualization-Based Storytelling in Holocaust Education: The Integration of Testimonies, Art, and Technology
7. Aug. 2024
J. Kusnick
Arlington, VA, United States
George Mason University
Poster
Part of the Digital Humanities Conference 2024, 6.-9. Aug. 2024
/DHWashingtonPoster.pngWorking with the InTaVia Platform
26. Sep. 2023
S. Beck, and J. Kusnick
Ljubljana, Slovenia
There’s History in All Men’s Lives
Presentation
https://intavia.eu/newsletters/intavia-4th-newsletter/Narrative Visualization of Cultural Information
9. July 2023
C. Doppler, J. Kusnick, and E. Mayr
Graz, Austria
Digital Humanities Conference 2023
Presentation & Podium Discussion
Part of Smashing the Silos! The Future of Cultural Heritage Information and Visualization, 9. July 2023
https://intavia.eu/activities/smashing-the-silos-the-future-of-cultural-heritage-information-and-visualization/Data Driven Storytelling for Cultural Objects and Biographies
14. Mar. 2023
J.Liem, J. Kusnick, S. Jänicke, C. Doppler, M. Passecker, E. Mayr, and F. Windhager
Belval, Luxembourg
Digital Humanities Conference 2023
Half-Day Workshop
Part of the 'Digital Humanities im deutschsprachigen Raum' Conference, 13-17 Mar. 2023, Belval, Luxembourg
http://dhd2023.dig-hum.de/Portfolio
