Regular biography
Saharnaz Baghdadchi is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California, San Diego. Her research focuses on encoding light fields with phase and polarization modulations for tissue imaging and optical manipulation of nanoparticles. She is also interested in scholarly teaching and uses active learning techniques to help students achieve an expert-like level of thinking. Baghdadchi designs discovery-based labs for ECE undergraduate courses and develops hands-on educational programs for K-12 students and teachers. She has implemented teaching-as-research projects to study the impact of active learning techniques on student learning. She received her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering-Photonics from UC San Diego and her undergraduate electrical engineering degree from the University of Tabriz in Iran.
Scholar-generated biography
Saharnaz Baghdadchi is an Associate Teaching Professor whose research focuses on enhancing student learning and academic integrity through innovative assessment methods. Her work explores the effectiveness of oral exams in promoting student engagement, critical thinking, and performance in engineering education. She investigates how oral assessments can serve as early intervention strategies and how they correlate with final exam outcomes. Her research also addresses the impact of active learning techniques, such as explanatory learning activities and student-designed assessments, on deep learning and conceptual mastery. Additionally, she examines the role of technology in remote education, including virtual pair programming and the use of GenAI in assessments. Her studies aim to improve educational practices in large-enrollment courses and support the transition of transfer students into 4-year institutions.