Sahar Niknam

She

Date of Birth: 11 Jan. 1983
Nationality: Iranian
Residence: Luxembourg

Research Interest

  • Artificial intelligence

  • Computational creativity

  • Complexity

  • Collective behavior

  • XR

Education

  • possible PhD in Computer Science, 2022-present

    University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg

    Thesis: Modulating Time Perception in Virtual Environments

  • MSc in Cognitive Science, 2017-20

    Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Lower Saxony, Germany

    Thesis: Using Convolutional Neural Networks for Development of an Eye-Tracking Application Capable of Running on Mobile Devices

    Majored in Neuroinformatics and Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, graduated with distinction

  • not an MSc in Creative Studies, 2014-15

    State University of New York, College at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA

    Dropped out after one year

  • not an MSc in Philosophy of Science, 2007-10

    Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

    Thesis: Artificial Creativity With Swarm Algorithms

    Dropped out after two chapters in my thesis

  • BSc in Robotics Engineering, 2002-07

    Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran

    Thesis: Comparative Analysis of MP3 and WMA Encoding Algorithms: Impacts on the Auditory System

  • Secondary Education in Mathematics & Physics, 1998-2001

    National Organization for Development of Exceptional Talents (SAMPAD), Shahrood, Iran

Research Projects

  • Predicting time perception accuracy with neural networks trained on eye-tracking data, 2024-present, University of Luxembourg

  • Predicting cognitive failure by training transformers on eye-tracking data, 2023-present, University of Luxembourg

  • Predicting time perception accuracy with neural networks trained on EEG signals, 2023-present, University of Luxembourg

  • Measuring time perception using EEG signals, 2023-24, University of Luxembourg

  • Modulating time perception in virtual reality, ChronoPilot project, 2022-present, University of Luxembourg

  • Investigating cognition in neural networks with gradient-based adversarial attacks, 2020-21, Osnabrück University

  • Hybrid CNNs for eye-tracking, 2020, Osnabrück University

  • Applications of AI in finance, 2019-20, Osnabrück University

  • Understanding learning in deep neural networks, 2018-19, Osnabrück University

Teaching Experience

  • Teaching assistant, Programming II: Java (Winter semester 2023), University of Luxembourg

  • Teaching assistant, Programming I: Swift (Spring semester 2022-23), University of Luxembourg

  • Teaching assistant, Machine learning (Spring semester 2020), Osnabrück University

  • Teaching assistant, Implementing ANNs with TensorFlow (Winter semester 2019-20), Osnabrück University

  • Teaching assistant, Machine learning (Spring semester 2019), Osnabrück University

Work Experience

  • Doctoral researcher, 2022-present, University of Luxembourg

  • Executive manager, 2017-18, Science Center for Children and Teenagers, Semnan Province Science and Technology Park, Shahrood, Iran

  • Communication chair, October 2016, The 2nd Exhibition of Research and Technology Week, Semnan Province Science and Technology Park, Shahrood, Iran

  • CEO, 2016-18, INNO group, a failed startup, supposed to be the first creativity consulting firm in Iran, Tehran, Iran

  • Freelancer (editor, translator,…), 2014-22, Upwork.com, Online

  • Translator, 2011-14, Eshraf: Iranian Political Think Tank, Online

  • Translator, 2011, Fars News Agency, Tehran, Iran

  • Editor and translator, Spring 2011, Donya-ye Bazi: Video Game Magazine, Tehran, Iran

  • Editor, columnist, and graphic designer, Winter 2011, Hamrah-e Irani: Hi-Tech News, Tehran, Iran

  • Graphic designer, Fall 2010, Hamsafar: Tehran Subway Magazine, Tehran, Iran

  • Researcher, Summer 2006, Pezeshkyar Pars Biomedical Co., Shahrood, Iran

  • Student volunteer

    • April 2023, CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Hamburg, Germany

    • November 2022, The 25th ACM Conference On Computer-Supported Cooperative Work And Social Computing (CSCW), Virtual

    • September 2022, IEEE International Conference on Autonomic Computing and Self-Organizing Systems (ACSOS), Virtual

    • June 2014, Creative Problem Solving Institute (CPSI) Conference, Buffalo, NY, USA

    • June 2014, Creativity Expert Exchange (CEE) Conference, Buffalo, NY, USA

Publication

  • Niknam, S., Duraisamy, S., Botev, J., & Leiva, L. A. (2025). Brain Signatures of Time Perception in Virtual Reality. In IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics. Volume 31, Issue 5 (pp. 1-11). doi: 10.1109/TVCG.2025.3549570

  • Niknam, S., Picard, S., Rondinelli, V., & Botev, J. (2024, October). Some Times Fly: The Effects of Engagement and Environmental Dynamics on Time Perception in Virtual Reality. In 30th ACM Symposium on Virtual Reality Software and Technology (pp. 1-9). doi:10.1145/3641825.3687726.

  • Niknam, S., & Botev, J. (2024, January). Predicting Cognitive Failures in Virtual Reality Using Pupillometry. In 2024 IEEE International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and eXtended and Virtual Reality (AIxVR) (pp. 261-264). doi:10.1109/AIxVR59861.2024.00043.

  • Picard, S., Botev, J., & Niknam, S. (2023, October). A Dynamic and Scriptable Environment and Framework for Stimulus-Based Cognitive Research in Virtual Reality. In 2023 IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality Adjunct (ISMAR-Adjunct) (pp. 387-392). doi:10.1109/ismar-adjunct60411.2023.00084.

  • Perry S. D. (2012). City of the Dead. (Niknam S., Trans.). Tehran: Donya-ye Bazi. (Original work published 1999). ISBN:9786009219582

  • Niknam, K., & Niknam, S. (2008, May). A Mathematical Description of Physician Decision Making. In 2008 2nd International Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedical Engineering (pp. 581-584). doi:10.1109/icbbe.2008.141.

  • Niknam, S., Ghorbani Samini, M., Mahmudi, H., & Niknam, K. (2007). How do physicians make a decision?. In 11th Mediterranean Conference on Medical and Biomedical Engineering and Computing (MEDICON) (pp. 696-699). doi:10.1007/978-3-540-73044-6_181.

Hobbies

  • Doodling and writing; as a teenager, I won a few national prizes in caricature and critical writing.

  • Disassembling mechanical wristwatches, and not being able to put the pieces back together into a working whole.

  • Doing dumb electronics projects, such as making a radio for listening to Jupiter.

  • Quantification; I can give a visually rich presentation on my water intake and excretion over the past two years.

  • Droning, trying not to hit birds.

  • Listening to absolute or human-free silence, preferably under a completely clouded gray sky, during daylight hours.

  • Hunting for musical pieces with a specific percussion seamlessly blended during a brief, silent moment.

Language

  • Persian, native

  • English, fluent

  • German, B2

  • French, B1

  • Basic: Spanish, Arabic, Hebrew, Polish, Russian, Swahili, Chinese