Dr. Jonathan Zong's research focuses on the intersection of data visualization, accessibility, and ethics in technology. They lead the Data & Design Group, an interdisciplinary research lab in CU Boulder's Department of Information Science that investigates how interactive systems can be designed to shift power toward people who have historically been excluded from—or harmed by—technology. A core thread of Jonathan's work addresses accessibility in data analysis. Data visualizations have become essential tools for understanding complex information, from public health dashboards to scientific research. Yet most are built in ways that exclude people who are blind or have low vision. Jonathan partners with blind collaborators and study participants to co-design tools for non-visual data exploration—making charts and graphs accessible through sound, touch, and textual description. This work includes developing open-source software libraries that help other technologists build more inclusive visualizations from the start. Jonathan also investigates data ethics and consent, asking what it means for people to have agency over how they are represented in datasets and research. Rather than treating refusal as a barrier to overcome, this research reframes non-participation as a legitimate response to extractive data practices. Jonathan builds systems and frameworks that support communities in resisting harmful data collection, and develops tools that help researchers practice more equitable forms of consent. Across both areas, Jonathan's approach emphasizes building as a form of inquiry—using design and prototyping not just to solve problems, but to surface new questions about power, participation, and justice in technology.
keywords
Human-computer interaction, accessibility, assistive technology, disability studies, interface design, data ethics, science & technology studies, media studies
