Kenny Gruchalla leads the visualization efforts in the Computational Science Center at NREL. His current research is focused on developing interactive scientific visualization techniques that provide tools for finding meaning in increasingly large and complex data. Kenny has more than 25 years of professional experience in scientific programming and scientific visualization, spanning several scientific disciplines, including aerospace, geophysics, molecular biology, and environmental engineering. Gruchalla's dissertation work focused on the development of a general framework to define multi-scale, multivariate, non-Cartesian regions of interest in large-scale turbulent flow data. His master's thesis research evaluated scientific workflows in immersive virtual environments. His current research interests include scientific visualization, immersive visualization, GPU computing, human-computer interaction, and energy-systems analysis. 

Scientific visualization

Immersive visualization

GPU computing

Human-computer interaction

Energy-systems analysis

Senior Scientist, NREL Computational Science Center (2009–present)

Research Scientist, Red Canyon Engineering & Software (2003–2009)

Visitor, National Center for Atmospheric Research Data Analysis Services Group (2006–2008)

Professional Research Assistant, University of Colorado at Boulder (2001–2006)

Senior Analyst, United States Antarctic Program (2000–2001)

Senior Software Engineer, Raytheon (1995–2000)