Sofia Kirsanova

Director of Programming

About Me: I am originally from Russia and am a second-year Ph.D. student in Computer Science at the UMN. My research uses computer vision to understand historical maps. I also serve as Outreach Lead for the Computer Science Graduate Student Association.

My Responsibilities: As Director of Communications, I will help share CIGS events, resources, and opportunities with international graduate students and make it easier for students to stay connected with the community.

Why I'm Passionate About CIGS: My research on extracting road networks from historical maps was accepted to the ACM SIGSPATIAL 2026 Applications Track. I also serve as Outreach Lead for the Computer Science Graduate Student Association.

Key Achievements: MnDRIVE Graduate Student Professional Development Award.

Fun Facts: I enjoy learning German and downhill skiing!