Marta Kersten-Oertel

Dr. Marta Kersten-Oertel is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering at Concordia University, where she also serves as Director of the Undergraduate Program for the Bachelor of Computer Science in Health and Life Sciences (BCompSc). Her academic role centers on advancing visualization and interaction methodologies specifically tailored for medical applications, with emphasis on surgical contexts.

Her research program systematically investigates medical image visualization, augmented reality, human-computer interaction, and image-guided surgery. She focuses on improving spatial and depth understanding of volume-rendered medical data through perceptual studies and evaluates how augmented reality visualization impacts surgical task performance. Her work addresses critical challenges in 3D perception, surgical tool integration, and real-time visualization for neurosurgical procedures, aiming to enhance both precision and safety in operating environments.

Analysis of her publication trajectory (2006-2016) reveals a clear evolution from foundational mobile clinical decision support systems toward sophisticated augmented reality frameworks for image-guided neurosurgery. Key contributions include establishing taxonomies for mixed reality visualization, developing depth-enhancing perceptual cues for vascular data, and conducting pioneering clinical validations of AR systems directly in operating rooms. Her research consistently bridges theoretical visualization principles with practical surgical applications.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Best Paper award at the 4th Workshop on Clinical Image-based Procedures: Translational Research in Medical Imaging

No information was provided regarding graduate student advising or specific research grants in the source material.

She leads the AP Lab, which functions as an interdisciplinary research hub developing applied visualization and augmented reality solutions for medical imaging, surgical guidance, and intraoperative decision support systems.