Dr. Foad Hamidi
Associate Professor · Tenure-Track
Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Department of Information Systems
College of Engineering and Information Technology
He/Him/His/Himself
About
I am an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). I have a PhD in Computer Science from York University, Toronto. Prior to my current position, I was a Postdoctoral Research Associate and a Research Assistant Professor at UMBC.
Research interests
My research interests include Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Participatory Design, Living Media Interfaces and DIY Assistive Technology. I conduct interdisciplinary community-engaged research and collaborates regularly with diverse community partners and stakeholders.
Teaching interests
My teaching interests include teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and prototyping and design. I also supervise research-focused independent studies and serve on thesis and dissertation committees
Education
-
Ph D, Computer Science
— York University (2016) Rafigh: A Living Media System for Motivating Target Application use for Children
-
MS, Computer Science
— York University (2007) Cost-Based Analysis and Automatic Derivation of Containment Hierarchies for Text Composition Facilities
- BA, Computer Science — York University (2004)
Publications
- "I'm ok because I'm alive": Understanding Socio-cultural Accessibility Barriers for Refugees with Disabilities in the US 2022
- Community biology labs in practice: A Pasteur’s quadrant 2022
- Community Labs in the United States: BioMakerspaces for Life Science Learning. 2022
- Note: “Fear is Grounded in Reality”: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Refugees’ Access to Health and Accessibility Resources in the United States. 2022
- Raaz: A Transdisciplinary Exploration at the Intersection of Bioart, HCI, and Community-Engagement 2022
- Using Arduino Kits and Discord to Implement a Fully Remote Laboratory Course During the COVID-19 Pandemic. 2022
- Raaz: A Transdisciplinary Exploration at the Intersection of Bioart, HCI, and Community Engagement 2022
- AI-Enhanced Adaptive Assistive Technologies: Methods for AI Design Justice 2021
- Exploring the Possibilities of Distributed Making for Storytelling Using 3D Printing Pens 2021
- Perspectives of Bioartists and Community Lab Organizers on Working with Living Organisms 2021
- “Turning the Invisible Visible”: Transdisciplinary Bioart Explorations in Human-DNA Interaction 2021
Presentations
- Controlling Transformation: Youth Experience of Synthetic Biology Competition 2024
- Participatory Approaches for Technology-rich Learning Across Generations 2023
- Infinite Transformations: Multimedia Explorations of Embodied Persian Poetry 2022
- Interactive Systems Research Center (ISRC) 2022
- Interdisciplinary Research Panel 2022
- Revitalizing Class Discussion Panel 2022
- What does Research Look Like in COEIT? 2022
- Making with Purpose Panel 2022
- Panelist for UMBC Information Systems NSF CAREER Awardees’ Panel 2022
- Community Labs: Deep Root Spaces for Bio Making 2022
- “I’m Ok Because I’m Alive”: Understanding Socio-cultural Accessibility Barriers for Refugees with Disabilities in the US 2022
- Exploring Program Administrator Technology Views and Use in Support of Informal Maker Education 2021
Grants and Contracts
- Collaborative Research: Space for All: Creating Accessible Technology-Rich Makerspaces and Learning Activities for Youth and Young Adults with Autism 2024
- Synthetic Biology and Me: Co-Designing Culturally Responsive BioMaker Activities for Family Engagement in Underserved Communities 2024
- IRC Faculty Research Fellowship (IRC-FRF) 2022
- RAPID: Responding to COVID-19 using High-speed Mesh Wireless Community Internet (REU Supplement) 2021
- Rec-to-Tech: Understanding the Role of Rec Center Educators in Creating Maker-based Technology and Computer Science Learning Hubs for Urban Youth 2020
- RAPID: Responding to COVID-19 using High-speed Mesh Wireless Community Internet 2020
- Diversity and Inclusion Lunch at the 2019 ACM C&C/DIS Conferences 2019
- Making Opportunities for Baltimore Inner City Youth in a 3D Print Shop 2016
- Biotech Demystified: Co-Designing Hands-on Interventions for Community Engagement with Synthetic Biology
- Biotech Demystified: Co-Designing Hands-on Interventions for Community Engagement with Synthetic Biology
- CAREER: An Equity-based Approach for Using Living Media Interfaces for Community Engagement
- CAREER: Developing an Equity-based HCC Design Approach Using Living Media Interfaces
- CAREER: Investigating Transdisciplinary Participatory Approaches for Designing Living Media Interfaces
- CIVIC-PG Track B: Piloting a community-based approach to affordable broadband Internet connectivity in low-income Baltimore City apartment buildings.
- Collaborative Research: NRI: FUNstration Bot: a Personal Coach for Perseverance in Mathematical Problem-Solving (2022)
- EAGER: Collaborative Research: SaTc: Supporting A Safe and Healthy Immersive Environment for Teenagers
- Rec2Tech+: Building the Capacity of Community Rec Centers to Deliver Computer Science and Maker Education
- SaTC: CORE: Developing a Participatory Elicitation Approach for Understanding the Privacy Concerns of Vulnerable Users towards Adaptive Assistive Systems
- SaTC: CORE: Small: A Privacy-Ability Tradeoff Design Framework for Adaptive Assistive Technologies
- SCC-CIVIC-PG Track B: FloodNet: Community-driven Cyber-Physical Network for Resilient Flood Monitoring and Alerting in Urban Environment
- SCC-CIVIC-PG Track B: FloodNet: Community-driven Cyber-Physical Network for Resilient Flood Monitoring and Alerting in Urban Environment
- SCC-PG: Co-designing an Adaptive Platform for Accessing Language and Workforce Resources for Forced Migrants with Disabilities
Research in Progress
- Infinite Transformations 2021
- Raaz 2020
- Raaz 2020
Performances and Exhibits
- infinite Transformations 2025
- infinite Transformations 2025
- infinite Transformations 2025
- Inifinite Transformations 2024
- infinite Transformations 2024
- infinite Transformations 2023
- Raaz 2022
- Raaz 2021
- Raaz 2021
- Raaz 2021
Courses Taught
- Computer Interaction
- User Interface Prototyping and Development