About me

 

Ph.D. in Geography and Environmental Studies at the Pennsylvania State University. Specialized in GIScience, Human Cognition, and Immersive Technologies (AR/VR) and A Certified Scrum Master (CSM)

ICDS | Department of Geography | CIE | Geoscience VFTs

email: mmm6749@psu.edu | Linkedin |Google Scholar

 

Hi, I’m Mahda (she/her). I’m a postdoctoral scholar at the Institute for Computational and Data Sciences (ICDS) and the Department of Geography at Penn State. I work under the supervision of Dr. Anthony Robinson. I received my PhD in Geography and Environmental Studies advised by Dr. Alexander Klippel. I am a UX researcher and AR/VR project lead at the Center for Immersive Experiences (CIE) working with Dr. Patrick Dudas. I’m an innovative and analytical solution professional with substantial experience in human-computer interaction (HCI), human cognition, data analytics, immersive technologies (AR/VR), geographic information science (GIS), and user experience/learning.

I have supported the Geography and GIScience community by organizing sessions at AAG 2019 and providing demos in AR/VR. I am a manuscript reviewer for journals in my field such as Frontiers in Virtual Reality. I have mentored several undergraduate students during my doctoral studies and I am continuing to advise and mentor Masters and PhD students. I have received several awards for my academic and research achievement in my graduate research, most notably the William and Amy Easterling Outstanding Graduate Research Assistant Award and the Willard Miller Award, 1st place for the Ph.D. proposal.

I am interested in geospatial data visualization in VR and improving user experience. I have worked on facilitating embodied learning by designing immersive learning experiences in VR. I am specifically interested in memory and embodied cognition research in education. Besides data visualization and UX research, I also work on procedural modeling, rebuilding historical data, and creating digital twins by integrating geospatial data in VR, including LiDAR data, DEM, shapefiles, raster data, and any point clouds.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning and a Master’s degree in Town and Regional Planning. After spending a few years consulting engineers’ firms, working on GIS and planning projects as a program manager, and gaining professional experience in GIS, I decided to gain deeper knowledge by attending Lund University for an MSc in GIS. I have gained scientific experience by attending various research labs, including the Center for Excellence in Sustainable Urban Planning (University of Tehran), Tehran Urban Planning and Research Center, Urban Futures Lab (University of Colorado Boulder),  and finally, ChoroPhronesis Lab (Penn State, Department of Geography), and Center for Immersive Experiences (CIE) at Penn State.

Graduation day at Penn State in front of the OId Main building (August 2022)

photo by Jana Scott (https://janascottphotography.com/)

Research Interests:
  • GIScience and Geospatial Analysis
  • UX Research
  • HCI
  • AR/VR
  • Human Cognition & Perception
  • Designing Embodied Learning Experiences in VR
  • 3D Modeling and 3D Visualization
  • Geospatial Data Visualization In VR
  • Virtual Field Trips
  • Place-based Education