Hedayat Zarkoob

Hedayat Zarkoob is a Researcher in the Department of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia (UBC), where he completed his PhD under Prof. Kevin Leyton-Brown. His work focuses on AI applications in education, particularly in peer grading systems, active learning, and large-scale classroom engagement. He is actively involved in teaching within UBC's Master of Data Science (MDS) program and the Computer Science department, leading courses on privacy, algorithms, communication, and societal impacts of technology.

Education:

• PhD in Computer Science, UBC (supervised by Kevin Leyton-Brown)
• MSc in Computer Science, Simon Fraser University (supervised by Andrei Bulatov)

Research Interests: Zarkoob's research bridges AI and education, with emphasis on scalable assessment tools (e.g., Mechanical TA 2), classroom engagement platforms (Agora), and AI-driven conference review systems. His work combines algorithm design, educational technology, and human-AI collaboration.

Recent Projects: Agora, an open-source tool for student participation in large courses; Mechanical TA 2, a peer-grading system with algorithmic support; and AAAI 2021 workflow innovations.

Teaching Roles: Upcoming courses include DSCI 541, 553, 542, 512, and CPSC 430. He has co-taught CPSC 430 (Computers and Society) since 2023.