Ryan Schmidt

Biography

Ryan Schmidt is a Research Scientist at Autodesk Research in Toronto, Canada. Ryan's research focuses on interactive 3D design systems, with the goal of making them more expressive and efficient. This work involves aspects of Computer Graphics (geometry processing, surface representations, interactive rendering) and Human-Computer Interaction (2D/3D interaction techniques, workflow optimization), as well as problems in software architecture. Ryan's graduate work resulted in several novel 3D tools, including the sketch-based implicit surface modeler ShapeShop, the easy-to-use mesh cleanup/composition/sculpting tool meshmixer, and a computer-aided 3D perspective drawing system. Currently he is exploring design interfaces in the context of emerging personal 3D fabrication workflows.

Ryan received a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Calgary in 2002, where as a student researcher he developed a spinal surgery simulation kernel and designed tiled multiprojector display walls. After a brief experiment with commercial software development in Montreal, he returned to the University of Calgary to complete an MSc in 2006, followed by a PhD at the University of Toronto in 2011.