Seeking faculty positions

Samaneh Zamanifard, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Research Associate, AI4STEM Education Center, University of Georgia

I design and study AI that strengthens human reasoning and independent learning, combining eye tracking, learner modeling, and analysis of how language models reason.

Portrait of Samaneh Zamanifard

Research agenda

Two lines of work, one on people and one on models, that meet in reasoning-aware AI tutors.

How learners engage with AI explanations

Eye tracking and pupillometry show how personalized explanations change where learners look, without longer viewing time.

How language models organize reasoning

Across 30,400 solutions from eight models, internal activations cluster by reasoning approach rather than topic.

Reasoning-aware AI tutors

Tutors that adapt guidance to a learner's evolving understanding, built on the two lines of work beside it.

Tiger AI, Untwist, GENIUS, EngageAgent

Projects

Systems I've built and studies I've led.

LLM reasoning and mathematical transfer

Research co-lead, 2025 to present

Approach-matched fine-tuning beat topic-matched training across 40 comparisons in eight open-weight models.

Tiger AI: personalized learning with LLMs

Lead researcher, Clemson University, 2024 to present

A research platform running learning experiments across GPT-4o, LLaMA 3, and Gemini, used in a study with 1,317 students.

Visit Tiger AI

Visual attention in personalized explanations

Clemson University, 2025 to 2026

A within-subject eye tracking and pupillometry study comparing profile-conditioned and generic LLM explanations.

LLM adoption in higher education

Lead researcher, Clemson University, 2024

Factor analysis and structural equation modeling of 900 undergraduates' perceived benefits of LLMs and reliance on them.

Untwist: interactive video learning

Researcher, 2024 to present

Learners select a region of a video frame and get a context-aware answer from GPT-4o and computer vision.

Attention in immersive environments

Clemson University, 2023 to 2025

A VR learning platform with eye tracking and physiological sensing to study how virtual humans' gender and race relate to gaze.

Publications

Selected work. The full list is below and on Google Scholar.

  1. Perceptions of large language models among predominantly STEM undergraduate students in higher education Zamanifard, S., Goudarzi, S., Soleimani, M., & Robb, A. (2026) Discover Education DOI
  2. Bias and Reliability in Learning-Style Inference from Student–AI Dialogues: An Evaluation of GPT-4o and Gemini 2.0 Flash Zamanifard, S., Goudarzi, S., & Robb, A. (2026) Under review, preprint arXiv
  3. Mathematical Transfer in LLMs Follows Reasoning Approach More Than Topic Goudarzi, S., Zamanifard, S., Haeri, S. A. S., Nasiri, M., & Rahimian, H. (2026) Under review, preprint arXiv
  4. Evaluating Demographic Bias of Virtual Humans With Gaze: Race and Sex Concordance Diaz, D., Zamanifard, S., Volonte, M., & Duchowski, A. T. (2025) Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction (ETRA) DOI
  5. Towards Leveraging AI-based Moderation to Address Emergent Harassment in Social Virtual Reality Schulenberg, K., Li, L., Freeman, G., Zamanifard, S., & McNeese, N. J. (2023) CHI ’23 DOI
  6. Disturbing the Peace: Experiencing and Mitigating Emerging Harassment in Social Virtual Reality Freeman, G., Zamanifard, S., Maloney, D., & Acena, D. (2022) Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction (CSCW) DOI
Show all 20 publications

2027

  1. Re-streamed Validation of Real-Time Cognitive Load Measurement Duchowski, A. T., Zamanifard, S., Cecchetti, S., Cavallo, M., & Edmonds, A. Pattern Recognition. ICPR 2026 International Workshops, Part II, LNCS 17111, 557–571. Springer.Workshop DOI

2026

  1. Perceptions of large language models among predominantly STEM undergraduate students in higher education Zamanifard, S., Goudarzi, S., Soleimani, M., & Robb, A. Discover Education. Advance online publication.Journal DOI
  2. Bias and Reliability in Learning-Style Inference from Student–AI Dialogues: An Evaluation of GPT-4o and Gemini 2.0 Flash Zamanifard, S., Goudarzi, S., & Robb, A. Manuscript under review.Preprint arXiv
  3. Mathematical Transfer in LLMs Follows Reasoning Approach More Than Topic Goudarzi, S., Zamanifard, S., Haeri, S. A. S., Nasiri, M., & Rahimian, H. Manuscript under review.Preprint arXiv
  4. Math Reasoning in LLMs is Organized by Approach, Not Topic Goudarzi, S., Zamanifard, S., Nasiri, M., & Rahimian, H. Preprint.Preprint arXiv

2025

  1. Path Modeling of Visual Attention, User Perceptions, and Behavior Change Intentions in Conversations With Embodied Agents in VR Vankit, S. A., Genaro Motti, V., Do, T. D., Zamanifard, S., Diaz, D., Duchowski, A. T., Knijnenburg, B. P., & Volonte, M. Computer Animation and Virtual Worlds, 36(3), e70028.Journal DOI
  2. Exploring the Impact of Multimodal Long Conversations in VR on Attitudes Toward Behavior Change, Memory Retention, and Cognitive Load Vankit, S. A., Zamanifard, S., Diaz, D., Mousas, C., Richardson, K., Duchowski, A. T., & Volonte, M. Computer Animation and Virtual Worlds, 36(3), e70023.Journal DOI
  3. Evaluating Demographic Bias of Virtual Humans With Gaze: Race and Sex Concordance Diaz, D., Zamanifard, S., Volonte, M., & Duchowski, A. T. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 9(3), 1–17. ETRA full paper.Conference DOI
  4. Toward Standardization of Colliders for Statistical Comparison of Gaze on Virtual Humans Diaz, D., Zamanifard, S., Volonte, M., & Duchowski, A. T. ETRA ’25, Article 102, 1–5. Eyes4Access workshop.Workshop DOI
  5. Beyond Play and Pause: Turning GPT-4o Spatial Weakness into a Strength for In-Depth Interactive Video Learning Goudarzi, S., & Zamanifard, S. Preprint.Preprint arXiv

2024

  1. Initial Investigations into Information Retention and Perception on Virtual Human Race Diaz, D., Zamanifard, S., Duchowski, A. T., & Volonte, M. IEEE VR 2024 Abstracts and Workshops (VRW), 1078–1079.Poster DOI

2023

  1. Towards Leveraging AI-based Moderation to Address Emergent Harassment in Social Virtual Reality Schulenberg, K., Li, L., Freeman, G., Zamanifard, S., & McNeese, N. J. CHI ’23, Article 514, 1–17.Conference DOI
  2. A Surprise Birthday Party in VR: Leveraging Social Virtual Reality to Maintain Existing Close Ties over Distance Zamanifard, S., & Freeman, G. iConference 2023, LNCS 13972, 268–285. Springer.Conference DOI
  3. Social Virtual Reality Is My Therapist: Overcoming Social Anxiety Disorder Through Using Social Virtual Reality Zamanifard, S., & Robb, A. CHI EA ’23, Article 252, 1–6.Extended abstract DOI

2022

  1. Disturbing the Peace: Experiencing and Mitigating Emerging Harassment in Social Virtual Reality Freeman, G., Zamanifard, S., Maloney, D., & Acena, D. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 6(CSCW1), Article 85, 1–30.Journal DOI

2020

  1. Anonymity vs. Familiarity: Self-Disclosure and Privacy in Social Virtual Reality Maloney, D., Zamanifard, S., & Freeman, G. Equal contribution. VRST ’20, Article 25, 1–9.Conference DOI
  2. An empirical study on effective factors on adoption of cloud computing in electronic banking: a case study of Iran banking sector Alizadeh, A., Chehrehpak, M., Nasr, A. K., & Zamanifard, S. International Journal of Business Information Systems, 33(3), 408–428.Journal DOI
  3. My Body, My Avatar: How People Perceive Their Avatars in Social Virtual Reality Freeman, G., Zamanifard, S., Maloney, D., & Adkins, A. CHI EA ’20, Article LBW250, 1–8.Late-breaking work DOI

2019

  1. “The Togetherness that We Crave”: Experiencing Social VR in Long Distance Relationships Zamanifard, S., & Freeman, G. CSCW ’19 Companion, 438–442.Poster DOI

2015

  1. An Incremental Approach to Manage Variability in Software Product Line Requirements Zamanifard, S., Khosravi, R., & Sabouri, H. International Journal of Computer and Electrical Engineering, 7(1), 47–69.Journal DOI

Teaching and mentoring

Twelve courses at Clemson, from intro programming to graduate HCC, and research mentoring at UGA.

Human–Computer Interaction

CPSC 4140/6140, four offerings

Taught Figma and coached prototyping and usability evaluation.

Applied Data Science

CPSC 4300/6300, lab instructor, three offerings

Taught Python labs and designed and ran quizzes.

Mentoring

Mentor undergraduate and graduate researchers at UGA, including students in the Vertically Integrated Projects for Research (VIPR) program.

Writing pedagogy

Graduate Writing Across the Curriculum Fellow, 2020 to 2022.

Also supported: Java programming, discrete structures, software development, computer organization, operating systems, databases, usable privacy and security, system administration, game design, and a graduate seminar on online relationships.

Experience

Research, leadership, and twelve years in industry building products with users at the center.

Academic and leadership

  1. 2026 to present

    Postdoctoral Research Associate

    AI4STEM Education Center, University of Georgia

    Lead design and evaluation of AI-supported STEM learning environments (GENIUS, EngageAgent), built a multi-agent framework for team workflows, and mentor student researchers.

  2. 2020 to 2022

    President

    Clemson Iranian Students Organization

    Led a graduate-student organization that supports incoming students and shares Iranian culture through community events.

Industry

  1. 2016 to 2018

    Product Owner

    Appson Co.

    Led UI/UX, development, and QA teams, turning user insights into backlogs and release priorities.

  2. 2014 to 2016

    Senior System Analyst

    Hasin Co.

    Requirements, user stories, and use cases for Ubiprocess BPMS, the Myket app store, and a banking loan system.

  3. 2011 to 2014

    Senior System Analyst

    Soroush High Tech Co.

    Competitive analysis, use cases, and interface prototypes for IPTV features.

  4. 2006 to 2011

    System Analyst

    Fanap Insurance System

    Stakeholder interviews and ethnographic studies at two insurance companies to design a reusable insurance platform.

Education

  1. 2019 to 2026

    Ph.D. in Human-Centered Computing

    Clemson University. Advisor: Andrew Robb

    Dissertation: Personalizing Education with Large Language Models: Learner Characteristics, Style Inference, and Adaptive Engagement.

  2. 2011 to 2014

    M.S. in Computer Engineering, Software

    Islamic Azad University, Tehran

    Thesis: An Incremental Approach to Manage Variability in Software Product Line Requirements.

  3. 2004 to 2006

    B.S. in Computer Engineering, Software

    Islamic Azad University, Tehran

Honors and service