Jona Ballé

Jona Ballé is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at New York University Tandon School of Engineering. His research focuses on visual media compression, leveraging machine learning and end-to-end optimization to advance compression techniques for traditional and emerging modalities (e.g., AR, plenoptic imaging). He holds a PhD in signal processing from RWTH Aachen University (2012), followed by postdoctoral work at NYU’s Center for Neural Science and a Research Scientist role at Google (2017–2024). His contributions include foundational work on JPEG AI and leadership in conferences such as CLIC and DCC.

Education:

• PhD in Signal Processing, RWTH Aachen University (2012)
• Master’s in Signal Processing, RWTH Aachen University (2007)

Research: Ballé bridges machine learning and perceptual science to improve compression efficiency. Key areas include perceptual metrics, end-to-end optimization, and distributed coding. His work on Wasserstein distortion and Fourier basis models reflects cutting-edge advancements in compression theory.

Impact: As co-organizer of the Challenge on Learned Image Compression (CLIC) and program committee member of the Data Compression Conference (DCC), he drives community progress. His industry collaborations and leadership in the JPEG AI standard highlight his translational research.