Atieh Taheri

Atieh Taheri is a Research Fellow (Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow) at Carnegie Mellon University's Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII), collaborating with Professors Jeffrey Bigham and Patrick Carrington. She holds a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UC Santa Barbara, where she worked in the Human-AI Integration Lab under Professor Misha Sra. Her research bridges Human-Computer Interaction and Accessibility, focusing on participatory design of assistive technologies for individuals with disabilities.

Research Focus

Taheri's work prioritizes creating holistic technological solutions that enhance quality of life beyond functional utility. Key domains include:

• Virtual reality experiences for wheelchair users
• Hands-free input systems for motor impairments
• Accessible AI interfaces (conversational AI, text-to-image tools)
• Tactile feedback mechanisms for assistive devices

Her approach emphasizes inclusive design and user agency, particularly for those with spinal muscular atrophy and quadriplegia.

Recent Publications

Taheri's 7 most recent articles (2021-2024) concentrate on accessibility innovations in VR, gaming, and AI. Dominant themes include motor impairment solutions (75% of papers), virtual embodiment studies, and AI interface accessibility. Methodologies feature strong participatory design elements, with 4/7 papers involving co-creation with disabled participants.

Awards and Recognition

• Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship (CMU, 2024)
• Best Poster Award (UIST 2023)
• CHI 2021 Student Game Competition Winner
• Multiple academic fellowships (UCSB, 2014-2021)
• Top undergraduate rankings (Sharif University, 2011)

Education and Affiliations

Education:

• PhD, Electrical & Computer Engineering, UC Santa Barbara (2024)
• MSc, Electrical & Computer Engineering, UC Santa Barbara (2019)
• BSc, Computer Engineering, Sharif University of Technology (2011)

Labs: Human-AI Integration Lab (UCSB, PhD), HCII (CMU, current).