Dr. Fatima T. Zahra (Founder and Principal Investigator)
Assistant Professor
Program: Evaluation, Statistics, & Research Methodology
Bio: Dr. Fatima T. Zahra (Dr. Z), an Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She holds a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Development from the University of Pennsylvania. Beyond her quest to tackle inequalities, Dr. Zahra cherishes time with her multicultural family and finds balance in boxing, meditation, music, and poetry.
Country of Origin: Bangladesh
Research Interest: Culturally Responsive Evaluation; Future of Learning and Labor Market; Sustainable Development; Artificial Intelligence in Education and Evaluation.
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Dr. Yilang Zhao (Postdoctoral Research Associate)
Program: Center for Enhancing Education in Mathematics and Sciences
Bio: Dr. Yilang Zhao is a postdoctoral research associate at the Center for Enhancing Education in Mathematics and Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He is interested in transdisciplinary data science education and application of AI technologies in educational settings. Outside academia, he enjoys hiking and fishing.
Country of Origin: China
Research Interests: Data science education, AI education, game-based learning, and computational research methods
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Hanhui Bao (PhD. Student)
Program: Learning, Design, and Technology
Bio: Hanhui is a proud alumni from Johns Hopkins University. She is an avid reader and enjoys exploring new things (indoor), but she is not nerdy and boring! She hopes to have a puppy or kitty once she settles down in a few years.
Country of Origin: China
Research Interests: STEM Ed, Ed Technology, Educational Equity.
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Anirudh Gajjala (Research Affiliate)
Program: Computer Science
Bio: Anirudh Gajjala graduated with a Master’s Degree in Computer Science (Spring 2024) from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His hands-on internship experiences as a Data Engineer and Software Engineer have equipped him to apply his foundational knowledge to solve real-world challenges.
Country of Origin: India
Research Interests: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science.
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Wei Wang (PhD. Student)
Program: Learning, Design, and Technology
Bio: I’m Wang Wei（also call me Vino, a Ph.D. student in the LDT program. Since the advent of ChatGPT, I’ve developed a keen interest in the integration of AI and education, exploring topics like AI’s role in dissemination, usage, and integration in educational settings.
Country of Origin: China
Research Interests: AI in education, The Integration of ICT Technology and Education
LinkedIn
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Mehdi Rajeb (Research Affiliate)
Program: Education Research and Statistics
Bio: Dr. Rajeb is a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama, where he earned his Ph.D. in Educational Statistics and Research Methodology. Previously, he was an Assistant Professor at the ULAB School of Business and held various research positions at the Center for Enterprise and Society (CES). He has also served as a research consultant for projects funded by institutions such as Bath University (UK), the Dutch Funding Agency, USDA, and IFC-SEDF (World Bank Group).
Country of Origin: Bangladesh
Research Interests: Bayesian methods in psychometric analysis, Cognitive diagnostic modeling, Predictive modeling.
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Dr. David M. Bowers (Research Assistant Professor)
Program: Theory & Practice in Teacher
Bio: Dr. David M. Bowers (they/them) is a Research Assistant Professor of Teacher Education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. They hold Masters Degrees in STEM Education and Mathematical Sciences from The Ohio State University and a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from Michigan State University. Outside of academia, Dr. Bowers is loves engaging deeply with art of all kinds and cherishes time spent with their partner and children.
Country of Origin: United States of America (Appalachia)
Research Interest: Sociopolitical and Ethical Analysis of Education; Critique of Power, Domination, and Ideology; Methodologies Informed by Direct Action
Dr. Jiangen (Research Affiliate)
Program: Information Sciences, College of Communication and Information
Bio: Dr. Jiangen He (he/him) is an Assistant Professor in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He earned his Ph.D. in Information Studies from Drexel University, a Master’s degree in Information Science from Wuhan University, and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and Computer Science from Nanjing Tech University. Dr. He’s research spans science of science, human-AI interaction, and visual analytics, with a keen interest in how AI impacts knowledge learning and creation. He enjoys practicing yoga, hiking scenic trails, and weightlifting in his free time.
Country of Origin: China
Mehzabeen Ahmad (Research Manager)
Program: Master of Public Affairs
Bio: Mehzabeen Ahmad is the Research Manager at AIRE Lab, with over six years of experience in policy research, program evaluation, and data analysis across humanitarian, education, and urban development sectors with the World Bank and IPA. Her work on RCTs, stakeholder coordination, and longitudinal research in the Rohingya camps fueled her interest in the intersection of education and humanitarian policy. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Affairs at the LBJ School, University of Texas at Austin.
Country of Origin: Bangladesh
AIRE LAB 