Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Cognitive Science, Brown University, 2019
  • B.A., Cognitive Science, Vassar College, 2013
Professional Honors
  • 2022 Fellow (Neuroscience), The Italian Academy for Advanced Studies in America, Columbia University
Professional Affiliations
  • ACM Member
  • ACM Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction (SIGCHI) Member
  • IEEE Member
  • IEEE Consumer Technology Society Member
  • Society for the Neural Control of Movement Member

Dr. Evan Cesanek is an expert in human-subjects research, analytics, and software services across industries including consumer electronics, biotech, healthcare, manufacturing, and litigation. He specializes in running user studies with advanced technical needs such as capturing biometric data from diverse populations, or leveraging cloud infrastructure for decentralized studies. His proficiency extends to database engineering, exploratory data analysis (EDA), user experience (UX) design, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Dr. Cesanek has significant experience with augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR) applications for head-mounted displays (HMDs). He is an expert on human interaction with 3D environments, emphasizing user health and safety, visual comfort, and privacy.

As a data scientist, Dr. Cesanek helps clients harness data sets of any size for predictive analytics and machine learning (ML). He is knowledgeable about statistical learning theory and experienced with deep learning techniques including multimodal embedding models and large language models (LLMs) like GPT and Llama 2. He also focuses on data retrieval, digital forensics, and anomaly detection, often diving deep into device and server logs to analyze timestamps, geolocation data, and network traffic.

In the lab, Dr. Cesanek develops custom data acquisition systems using advanced sensors like high-speed cameras, inertial measurement units (IMUs), and force/torque transducers. His background in human movement science spans from wearables and motion capture systems to convolutional and recurrent neural networks (CNNs and RNNs) to biosignals including EEG and EMG. He has analyzed many user behaviors from full-body locomotion to subtle movements of the eyes, face, hands, and fingers.

As a software developer, Dr. Cesanek has worked with algorithms for signal processing, spatial computing, and statistical modeling (e.g., Kalman filters, image stabilization, digital twins, hierarchical Bayesian models, Monte Carlo simulations). He has experience with web, native, and cloud development stacks including React Native and AWS and with programming languages including Python, JavaScript, SQL, MATLAB, and C++. He is also adept with 3D graphics, modeling, and game design using Blender and Unity.