Saint Louis University Welcomes New Chair of Computer Science

06/20/2024

Saint Louis University (SLU) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Min Hyung Choi as the new Professor and Department Chair of Computer Science in the School of Science and Engineering (SSE), effective Fall 2024. Dr. Choi joins SLU from the University of Colorado Denver, where he has made significant contributions in the fields of Computer Graphics, Scientific Visualization, and Virtual and Augmented Reality.

Dr. Choi's appointment comes at a pivotal time for SSE, which is experiencing substantial growth in research, academic programs, and community engagement. With a strong background in both academia and industry, Dr. Choi is poised to lead the department toward new heights.

Dr. Choi earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Iowa in 1996 and 1999, respectively. He currently serves as a Professor and the Director of the Computer Graphics and VR Laboratory at the University of Colorado Denver. His research activities span the fields of computer graphics, AI-driven computer vision, and virtual-augmented reality, with a particular focus on human augmentation. Grounded in the theoretical foundations of core computer graphics research, he actively addresses real-world challenges in medical and industrial applications.

Dr. Choi has spearheaded numerous collaborative funded projects, partnering with researchers from neuroscience, mental and behavioral health, pulmonary and sleep medicine. These projects aim to achieve early detection of Alzheimer’s disease, assess mild traumatic brain damage, and address sleep apnea and obstructed breathing in young children. His research has garnered recognition through multiple awards, including the prestigious NSF CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation in 2003, and the University of Colorado Denver Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Activities in 2006. Additionally, he has received four Best Paper Awards at renowned international conferences.

Dr. Choi's scholarly output includes over 100 papers published in top-tier journals and conferences. His work has attracted substantial external research funding totaling over 7.8 million dollars from various sources, including industry partners like Comcast and Microsoft, as well as federal foundations such as NSF, NIH, and DARPA. Beyond academia, Dr. Choi’s entrepreneurial spirit has led to the formation of a startup company called Strivision, which focuses on innovative solutions in respiratory diagnostics. He holds seven patents (three granted, four pending) related to his research in image-based breathing analysis.

As the new Department Chair of Computer Science, Dr. Choi will be responsible for curriculum development, research and enrollment growth, and industry and community engagement. His leadership is expected to drive the department's expansion and elevate SLU's international presence through initiatives such as SLU-Madrid.