Taheri: Presidential Postdoc Fellow
Atieh Taheri to join the Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon University as a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow in fall 2024
ECE Ph.D. student Atieh Taheri has received the prestigious President's Postdoctoral Fellowship, which will support her upcoming postdoctoral research at Carnegie Mellon University. The fellowship promotes diversity and inclusion in academia by providing financial support, faculty mentoring, and professional development opportunities.
Taheri goes to CMU having received her Ph.D. in 2024 from the ECE department at the University of California, Santa Barbara working under the supervision of Prof. Misha Sra in the Human-AI Integration Lab (HAL-UCSB).
Her research intersects Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Accessibility, aiming to develop innovative technologies that positively impacts the lives of individuals with disabilities. Committed to participatory design, she aims to develop solutions that address functional needs while also improving overall well-being and user experience. This approach tackles a longstanding gap in assistive technology research, as she works to create inclusive and comprehensive technologies that surpass mere basic functionality.
Taheri’s broad research interests are focused around the design and evaluation of accessible systems, combining expertise in machine learning, mixed reality, and human-AI interaction.
She will take to CMU a breadth of experience in assistive technology research, user-centered design methodologies, and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams.
- Taheri's Short Bio
-
Atieh Taheri is a researcher dedicated to improving accessibility and inclusivity through innovative technological solutions. She is nearing the completion of her Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering at UC Santa Barbara, advised by Prof. Misha Sra. She has worked on projects that enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities. Her interdisciplinary research aims to redefine the field of assistive technology (AT). Taheri's scholarly pursuit is marked by a shift from conventional AT design, adopting a holistic and inclusive design philosophy that extends beyond just functional capabilities. Her notable achievements include developing an innovative hands-free video game input technique, honored with the Student Game Competition Award for Innovative Interfaces at CHI 2021, creating tools for self-expression as well as enhancing interactions with conversational AI agents, receiving the People's Choice Best Poster Award at UIST 2023. Extending her expertise into virtual reality, Taheri is pushing the boundaries of AT, focusing on user experiences that provide assistance to individuals with motor impairments and bridging significant gaps in current AT solutions. Her methodology, combining quantitative and qualitative research, actively involves diverse user groups, ensuring her solutions meet real-world needs. Taheri's technical expertise and deep understanding of accessibility's transformative power reflect her dedication to creating technologies that are inclusive for all. Her contributions are shaping a more accessible, inclusive future in technology.
The Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow program was initially established by the University of California and later expanded through a partnership with other US schools, including Carnegie Mellon University, to support scholars who contribute to diversity and equal opportunity in higher education.
