The world’s most challenging problems are difficult because they are complex.
Finding the best solutions requires mapping the intricate, interwoven effects of many diverging variables and then developing a holistic understanding of the system. Computational visualization offers a way to present that complexity in a way that reveals invisible aspects of a process or problem, enabling insights that intelligently guide further research and analysis.
This detailed modeling and visualization has applications in every field of human endeavor, from understanding the expansion and collapse of entire civilizations to tracing intricate disease processes to exploring the hidden ecosystems around us.
Incorporating computational visualization into the research process can also be a complex practice — one that requires a deep understanding of not only how high-performance computing systems work, but also how humans perceive visualized data to achieve a meaningful model from which insights can be drawn.
That’s where computational scientists come into play. These are experts in both research computing and the research process itself and work as active participants on research teams to help them leverage high-performance computing in their work.
Meet Ayat Mohammed
At Virginia Tech, researchers have access to several computational scientists through the Advanced Research Computing (ARC) group, including its newest member, Ayat Mohammed, who is back at ARC for a second time.
A Virginia Tech alum, Mohammed first served as a graduate research assistant for ARC’s visualization team from 2014-17. Now, as a full-time computational scientist and visualization specialist, she brings with her a wealth of experience in scientific computing and visualization that crosses disciplinary and continental boundaries.
“Through my research in visualization I have sought to better understand the nature of human perception, and to apply what I have learned to design scientific and information visualization solutions for different research problems in the STEM field,” said Mohammed.
“While each scientific visualization case requires a unique approach, applying the principles of human perception gleaned from my research allows me to integrate a common taxonomy that can be applied to different domains ranging from aerodynamics and biochemistry to wireless communication and remote sensing, to nuclear science and engineering, and much more.”
Attending Virginia Tech through VT-MENA
Originally from Aswan, Egypt, Mohammed completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in scientific computing at Ain Shams University in Cairo, where she stayed on as a teaching assistant until she decided to pursue her Ph.D. She was accepted into the Virginia Tech Middle East and North Africa program (VT-MENA), an international outreach program offered by the College of Engineering from 2006-14.
The program served to lower barriers for top international talent to conduct research and earn a graduate degree from Virginia Tech. Participants attended Alexandria University in Egypt for much of their coursework before coming to the Virginia Tech campus, thus reducing the time and expense required to study abroad. Typically, students would study in Egypt for at least two years, but circumstances changed for Mohammed’s cohort.
“2011 was the height of the Arab Spring,” said Mohammed, referring to the political unrest that occurred in Egypt and several countries during the early 2010s. Travel between Cairo and Alexandria became precarious for Mohammed, and disruptions to internet access and other utilities needed for study were frequent. She ended up coming to Blacksburg a year early, moving here in January 2012.
Visualizing a career with ARC
While adjusting to life in a new continent and parenting three young children, she continued her coursework in computer science. “It was a hard time for me, to be honest. I felt overwhelmed at school and at home. I had this scholarship from Egypt that was about to run out, and I needed to find a way to continue paying for my education,” said Mohammed.
Her outlook grew brighter when she landed a research assistantship with ARC’s visualization group, led by Director of Visualization Nicholas Polys.
“Ayat stood out immediately as an insightful and capable student. She really wanted to see her work benefiting people and science in general. As she grew into more responsibilities and capabilities at ARC and presented more world-class innovations, it was clear she could make a positive visualization impact for any scientific domain,” said Polys.
“It was perfect,” said Mohammed. “I could use my experience dealing with data and at the same time learn more about the visualization aspect of high-performance computing and use the resources. But just as great was how at home I felt working with the ARC staff. I found my place there, and it was fun.”
Wanda Parisien is a computing expert who navigates the vast landscape of hardware and software. With a focus on computer technology, software development, and industry trends, Wanda delivers informative content, tutorials, and analyses to keep readers updated on the latest in the world of computing.
