Sojung Bahng

Sojung Bahng is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Film and Media at Queen’s University, with a cross-appointment to the DAN School of Drama and Music. Her work bridges multidisciplinary art, practice-based research, and digital media innovation. She holds a PhD from Monash University’s SensiLab (Australia), recognized with the 2020 Mollie Holman Medal for her thesis on cinematic VR. Her research focuses on digital storytelling, VR aesthetics, and the intersection of technology with cultural narratives.

Education:

• PhD in Information Technology (SensiLab, Monash University)
• Masters in Culture Technology (KAIST, South Korea)
• BFA in TV/Film Production & Art Theory (Korea National University of Arts)

Research explores VR’s potential for reflexive storytelling beyond immersion, emphasizing ethical engagement and cross-cultural narratives. Notable projects include Sleeping Eyes (narcolepsy simulation), Anonymous (VR identity exploration), and Floating Walk (autobiographical documentary). She curates Somplexity, a posthumanist art project funded by Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture.

Awards include the Mollie Holman Medal (2020) and Excellence in Experience Design (Sleeping Eyes). Current SSHRC-funded project Meta-Metaverse investigates digital art approaches to the metaverse. Her work is exhibited globally at venues like Heide Museum (Melbourne), ISEA (Dubai/Montreal), and festivals such as BIAF and TSFM.

Grants and collaborations include SSHRC funding and leadership in Research-Practice, a framework exploring research/practice intersections. Her academic contributions span peer-reviewed journals (SIGCHI, ACM Interactions) and conferences (ISEA, ICIDS).