Hello!
I'm Biswaksen Patnaik.
ABOUT ME
Hi! I am Biswaksen.
I am a PhD candidate in Computer Science at the University of Maryland, College Park, advised by Prof. Niklas Elmqvist and Prof. Huaishu Peng.
I am a human–computer interaction researcher specializing in real-time, multimodal systems for embodied and social interaction. I build and evaluate end-to-end systems that integrate gesture, speech, and contextual signals to enable responsive system behavior in real-world environments.
My work focuses on human–AI interaction and multimodal systems, including human-in-the-loop interaction and modeling user behavior, with experience designing and conducting empirical studies to understand how users interact with and guide intelligent systems.
I am currently on the job market seeking industry and postdoctoral positions.
Human–Computer Interaction | Multimodal AI | Human–AI Interaction | Interactive AI Systems | Data Visualization | UX Research | Interaction Design
PUBLICATIONS
Current Work
Datamancer: Bimanual Gesture Interaction in Multi-Display Ubiquitous Analytics Environments
Biswaksen Patnaik, Marcel Borowski, Huaishu Peng, Clemens N. Klokmose, Niklas Elmqvist. Accepted to ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, 2025.
VisTorch: Interacting with Situated Visualizations using Handheld Projectors
Biswaksen Patnaik, Huaishu Peng, Niklas Elmqvist. In Proceedings of the ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, to appear, 2024. [1,060/4,028, 26.3% acc. rate]
Sensemaking Sans Power: Interactive Data Visualization Using Color-Changing Ink
Towards Understanding Sensory Substitution for Accessible Visualization: An Interview Study
Scents and sensibility: Evaluating information olfaction
Information Olfactation: Harnessing Scent to Convey Data
Olfactory Analytics: Exploring the Design Space of Smell for Data Visualization
Design and Development of a Novel Sit-to-Stand and Mobility Assistive Device for Ambulation and Elderly
Context-specific design interventions in blending workstation: an ergonomics perspective
Previous Work
Experience
December 2017 - Present | USA
Research
I am currently working with Dr. Niklas Elmqvist and Dr. Huaishu Peng. I am working on ubiquitous analytics.
Teaching Assistant
CMSC434: Human-Computer Interaction (Fall'24, Spring'25), CMSC425: Game Programming (Spring'24), Department of Computer Science, University of Maryland College Park
June 2025 - August 2025 | USA
Fujitsu Research of America, Pittsburgh
Research Intern
I worked with Dr. Aditi Mishra, Dr. Mose Sakashita, Dr. Aakar Gupta, Dr. Koichiro Niinuma. I worked on multimodal interaction for generative-user-interfaces.
July 2024 - August 2024 | Denmark
Center for Anytime Anywhere Analytics, Aarhus University
Visiting Scholar
I worked with Dr. Marcel Borowski, Prof. Clemens Nylandsted Klokmose, and Prof. Niklas Elmqvist. I designed gestural interaction techniques for multi-display environments.
June 2019 - August 2019 | UK
Sussex Computer Human Interaction Lab, University of Sussex
Visiting Scholar
I worked with Prof. Marianna Obrist and Prof. Sriram Subramanian. I explored mid-air haptic interfaces for human-data interaction.
May 2018 - August 2018 | Germany
Human-Computer Interaction Group, Hasso-Plattner Institute
Research Intern
I worked with Prof. Patrick Baudisch. I designed force-feedback mechanisms for haptic devices.
February 2017 - May 2017 | Australia
Wearable Computer Lab, University of South Australia
Visiting Academic
I worked with Prof. Ross Smith under the co-supervision of Prof. Bruce Thomas. I worked on designing collaborative shape display interactions.
May 2015 - July 2015 | Singapore
Keio-NUS CUTE Center, National University of Singapore
Research Intern
I worked with Prof. Ellen Yi-Luen Do and Dr. Nimesha Ranasinghe in the field of multi-sensory interactions. I worked on two projects - the Digital Taste and Designing Tactile Wearable Communication aids for Deaf-Blind.
May 2014 - June 2014 | India
Ergonomics Lab, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati
Research Intern
Worked on application of ergonomics in material handling systems and workstation design with Digital Human Modeling.
Aug 2015 - May 2016 | India
Computer-Aided Design Lab, National Institute of Technology Rourkela
Undergraduate Researcher
Designed and developed a novel sit-to-stand-mobility assistive device for early ambulation and elderly.
CONTACT
I would be happy to talk to you!
Biswaksen Patnaik
PhD Candidate, Computer Science
Student Member of CA3, Smart Lab, HCIL
University of Maryland College Park, MD, USA