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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Srinath Narayananng (Undergraduate Research Assistant)
Program: Computer Science
Bio: Srinath is an aspiring AI innovator dedicated to building technologies that meaningfully improve people’s lives. From developing autonomous and sensor-driven systems to creating educational platforms for underserved students, he focuses on using data, machine learning, and thoughtful design to solve real societal challenges. His experience in AGI research, software development, and community leadership reflects his commitment to making AI both accessible and ethical. He aims to continue shaping human-centered AI that empowers communities and expands opportunities for all. Aside from school and work, Srinath enjoys playing tennis and pickleball.
Country of Origin: United States
Research Interests: Artificial General Intelligence, RAG models, AI in Education.
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Leah Funderburg (Undergraduate Research Assistant)
Program: Data Science and Computer Science
Bio: Leah is an undergraduate student at the University of Tennessee studying data science with a minor in computer science. Her interests include applying predictive data analysis and machine learning to real-world societal issues. Focus areas involve AI integration in education and labour market and its impact on young adults’ early career pathways. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and going to concerts.
Country of Origin: United States
Research Interests: Machine learning, AI in education, and the labor market.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-funderburg-5a2875387/.
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Rushad Faridi (Postdoctoral Affiliate)
Bio: Dr. Rushad Faridi is an economist and data scientist with a Ph.D. in Economics from Virginia Tech. He has over two decades of experience teaching economics, statistics, and data analytics at universities in Bangladesh and the United States, including Wake Forest University and the University of Dhaka. His work bridges quantitative research and policy evaluation, with extensive experience analyzing large survey and administrative datasets for organizations such as the World Bank, UNICEF, and JICA. Currently based at the University of British Columbia campus, Dr. Faridi is pursuing research and teaching opportunities in the intersection of applied economics and data science.
Country of Origin: Bangladesh
Research Interests: Survey Data Analysis; Development Economics; Data Science Applications in Policy; Quantitative Research Methods; Machine Learning for Social Impact.
Varun Kilaru (High School Research Assistant)
Bio: Varun Kilaru is a rising senior at Ravenwood High School interested in studying the intersection of economics and technology. He is particularly fascinated with the use of AI within education and developing agents that serve as dialogical partners. Beyond his work, Varun spends his free time going running and playing chess.
Country of Origin: United States
Research Interests: Survey Data Analysis; Development Economics; Data Science Applications in Policy; Quantitative Research Methods; Machine Learning for Social Impact.
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Hanhui Bao (PhD. Student)
Program: Learning, Design, and Technology
Bio: Hanhui is a proud alumnus of 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, Technology, Educational Equity.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanhui-bao/?locale=en_US
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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
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