Andrew McNutt

Andrew McNutt is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Utah, affiliated with the School of Computing and the Scientific Computing and Imaging (SCI) Institute. He holds a PhD from the University of Chicago (UChicago CS) and previously served as a Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Washington's Interactive Data Lab. His research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), visualization systems, and programming interfaces, with a particular interest in linters, creative coding, and 'polite' systems that balance assistance and user agency.

Education:

• PhD in Computer Science, University of Chicago (2023)
• Masters Thesis on Table Cartograms, University of Chicago
• Undergraduate Thesis in Physics, Reed College

Research Interests: Andrew explores visualization systems (e.g., grammars/DSLs, linters), programming interfaces (e.g., notebooks), and visualization theories. He emphasizes 'polite systems' that assist without compromising user control. Recent work includes color palette design, participatory budgeting visualization, and accessible descriptive texts for UpSet plots.

Key Contributions:

• Developed Color Buddy, an interactive color palette tool
• Advocated for zines as a medium for visualization and education
• Received multiple Honorable Mentions at CHI and IEEE VIS

Awards & Recognition:

• Siebel Scholarship (PhD)
• Best Poster in Visualization (2019)
• Honorable Mention for Best Paper at ACM CHI (2020, 2025)

Labs & Teams: Leads the HAVOC Lab at the University of Utah, focusing on visualization, HCI, and notation systems. Collaborates with institutions like Tableau Research and Microsoft Research.