João Luiz Dihl Comba

João Luiz Dihl Comba is a Professor at the Institute of Informatics, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil. With a PhD in Computer Science from Stanford University (1993-2000) under advisor Leonidas J. Guibas, he has established himself as a leading researcher in visualization and computer graphics. His academic journey includes a M.Sc. in Systems Engineering and Computing from UFRJ (1988-1991) and a B.Sc. in Computer Science from UFRGS (1983-1987), along with a sabbatical at the University of Utah (2010-2011).

Comba's research focuses on data and scientific visualization, visual analytics, computer graphics, and their applications in medical imaging, sports analytics, and pandemic response. His work bridges theoretical advances in multidimensional projections with practical applications in healthcare, oil and gas, and digital twins. Recent publications demonstrate his continued leadership in applying machine learning techniques to visualization problems, particularly in biomedical contexts.

His publication record spans over three decades with consistent output through 2025, showing evolution from foundational computer graphics work to contemporary applications of AI in visualization. The publications reveal strong collaborations with researchers across Brazil and internationally, with particular emphasis on solving real-world problems through visual analytics.

As an advisor, Comba has mentored numerous graduate students who have become active researchers in visualization and computer graphics, with several continuing to collaborate with him on publications. His research group at UFRGS appears to be particularly strong in medical visualization applications, as evidenced by multiple recent publications related to COVID-19 analysis and medical image processing.