Data designer | audio-visual storyteller | researcher | artist

Combining data, audio, and visuals to present information in unique and creative ways.
Applying data science and programming towards visualizations, sonifications, and audio stories.

www.aurawalmer.com   •   aurawalmer@gmail.com

Technical Skills

• Code: R, Python, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SPSS, SAS, Unix / Bash scripting, XML
• Data Visualization: Observable, D3.js, p5.js, SVGs, Datawrapper, Highcharts, Figma, Flourish, QGIS
• Adobe Creative Suite: Illustrator, After Effects, Photoshop, Express, Premiere Pro
• Frameworks / Database: GitHub, GitBook, SQL, Django
• Audio: Logic Pro X, Sonic Pi, Ableton Live, Python

Professional Experience

Processing and enhancing the data and documentation of research studies submitted to ICPSR. This includes writing code for batch processing, data cleaning, quality review, and metadata creation. This work often involves using R, Python, SPSS, and/or SAS to process data.

Building a data sonification toolkit designed to centralize the wide array of sonification resources. The aim of this project is to help journalists and information designers learn about sonification and encourage them to use this unique and accessible storytelling method.
Toolkit: www.sonificationkit.com | Monthly Articles: RJI Online

• Developed accessible, sound-based educational resources with the Georgia Tech Sonification Lab.
• Presented at the International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD). Publication: "Accessible Sonification of Total Solar Eclipse 2024."
• Built a custom website, wrote scripts in Python, and generated sonifications in Highcharts.

Data visualization and sonification projects, research collaborations, and freelance journalism. See portfolio for project listings: www.aurawalmer.com/data.

Built R Shiny web tools to automate biological data analysis and generate data visualizations. These tools were used for Covid-19 research efforts during 2020. Conducted data analysis using R and Python to support research scientists. Wrote parsing scripts in Python to systematically format data for centralized storage. Built a data dictionary and helped design database structure for improved data access. Co-authored a scientific paper presenting new methodology (mAbs Journal 2022).

Assisted a development economics study (longitudinal, randomized controlled trial) measuring long-term impacts of a scholarship treatment on Ghanaian youth. Conducted econometric data analysis, monitored data collection, coded electronic surveys, and trained surveyors.

Assisted a development economics study (longitudinal, randomized controlled trial) measuring the impact of an informational treatment on beliefs about education in Peru. Conducted data cleaning and analysis, monitored data collection in rural regions, coded electronic surveys, and trained surveyors.

Education

Courses: Linear Algebra for Machine Learning, Practicum for Deep Neural Networks, Probability & Statistics for Deep Learning, Data Science in R

Presentations

• ICAD Conference 2024
  Presented research paper on sonification project with Georgia Tech. Discussed accessible multimodal methods for experiencing the 2024 eclipse. Find conference proceedings here. (June 2024)
• AIGA Design Conference 2024
  Presented data sonification applications to information design. Shared research, examples, and my fellowship project. Watch presentation recording here. (October 2024)
• Cumulus Design Conference 2024
  Presented a speculative research paper proposing the adoption of design-conscious data sonification in information design. Find conference proceedings here. (October 2024)
• NICAR Conference 2025
  Led a data sonification workshop for journalists. Presented my fellowship project, The Data Sonification Toolkit, as a supportive resource for participants. Find workshop description here. (March 2025)
• IRE Conference 2025
  Led a data sonification workshop for journalists. With reference to my Data Sonification Toolkit project, I guided participants through hands-on exercises. Find workshop description here. (June 2025)
• SRCCON Conference 2025
  Presented methods of sensory-driven journalism, such as data sonification, ambient soundscapes, and multimodal design as an alternative to anxiety-inducing news formats. Find workshop description here. (July 2025)

Publications

• "High-throughput profiling of antibody self-association in multiple formulation conditions by PEG stabilized self-interaction nanoparticle spectroscopy"
  mAbs Journal | July 2022
• "Accessible Sonification of Total Solar Eclipse 2024: Accessible Map and Multimodal Virtual Reality Experience"
  ICAD Conference Proceedings 2024 | Project webpage | June 2024
• "The Data Diaries: Data Sonification of the Total Solar Eclipse"
  Nightingale Magazine | July 12, 2024
• "Data Sonification and the Power of Audio: Breaking Boundaries of Information Design with Creativity, Accessibility, and Innovation"
  Cumulus Design Conference Proceedings 2024 | October 2024
• Journalism Fellowship Articles
  Embracing data-driven audio as a storytelling method | August 8, 2024
  Breaking down the barriers to data sonification | September 12, 2024
  Toolkit overview: Examples, tutorials, resources | October 3, 2024
  Why journalists should care about design-conscious sonification | November 4, 2024
  Customization is key to a compelling sonification | December 3, 2024
  Listening for feedback on a dynamic resource | January 21, 2025
  You’re not alone | February 19, 2025
  Introducing the Data Sonification Toolkit | February 27, 2025
  

References are available upon request.

Visit www.aurawalmer.com for respective portfolios on data-driven projects, artwork, and audio.

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