Sahar Niknam

She

Research Interests

  • Machine learning, Artificial intelligence, Artificial super intelligence

  • Virtual reality, Virtual perception, embodied AI

  • Cognition, eXtended Cognition, eXtended reality

  • Computational Creativity

Education

  • PhD in Computer Science

    University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg

    Member of the ChronoPilot project, funded by the EU Horizon 2020 programme

    Thesis: extended Cognition: Measuring, Modeling, and Modulating Perception in XR

  • MSc in Cognitive Science

    Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, 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

    Buffalo State University, Buffalo, NY, USA

    I joined the program to study the neuroscience of creativity but left after two semesters,

    as I realized it was oriented toward applied creativity.

  • not an MSc in Philosophy of Science

    Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

    Thesis: Artificial Creativity Through Swarm Algorithms

    I left the program with only one chapter remaining to complete my thesis;

    I did not want to dignify philosophy as a scientific discipline that can argue against the possibility of AGI.

  • BSc in Robotics Engineering

    Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran

    Thesis: Comparative Analysis of MP3 and WMA Audio Formats: Effects on Auditory Perception

    For two semesters, I went to the final exams and handed in the answer sheets blank.

  • Pre-University and High School Diplomas in Mathematics & Physics

    National Organization for Development of Exceptional Talents, Shahrood, Iran

Apr. 2022 - May 2026

Apr. 2017 - Jun. 2020

Jan. 2014 - Jun. 2015

Sep. 2007 - Jun. 2010

Sep. 2002 - Jun. 2007

Sep. 1997 - Jun. 2001

Academic Activities

  • Co-organizer, NeuroXR Workshop @ IEEE ISMAR, 2025

  • Program Committee Member, 22nd EuroXR Conference, 2025

  • Technical supervisor, BSc theses and semester projects, University of Luxembourg, 2023-2025

  • Student Volunteer, CHI, CSCW, ACSOS, CPSI, CEE, 2014-2023

  • Teaching assistant, Programming 2022-2023, Machine Learning 2019-2020, DL with TensorFlow 2019

Research Projects

  • Predicting time perception accuracy with neural networks trained on eye-tracking data

    University of Luxembourg, 2024-2025

  • Predicting cognitive failure by training transformers on eye-tracking data

    University of Luxembourg, 2023-2025

  • Predicting time perception accuracy with neural networks trained on EEG signals

    University of Luxembourg, 2023-2025

  • Measuring time perception using EEG signals

    University of Luxembourg, 2023-2024

  • Modulating time perception in virtual reality, ChronoPilot project

    University of Luxembourg, 2022-2025

  • Investigating cognition in neural networks with gradient-based adversarial attacks

    Osnabrück University / Independent researcher, 2019-2021

  • Deep learning for eye-tracking on mobile devices

    Osnabrück University / Scicovery GmbH, 2020

  • Hybrid CNNs for eye-tracking

    Osnabrück University, 2020

  • Applications of AI in finance

    Osnabrück University, 2019-2020

  • Understanding learning in deep neural networks

    Osnabrück University, 2018-2019

  • Mathematical modeling of medical diagnosis

    Shahrood University, Pezeshkyar Biomedical Ltd., 2006

Work Experience

  • Founder & Director — INNO Group, 2015-2018

    Created and led a consultancy focused on creative strategy and innovation.

  • Executive & Communications Lead — Science & Technology Park, 2016–2017

    Managed public outreach, directed a children’s science center, and chaired a major research-technology exhibition.

  • Online Freelancer — Upwork.com, 2014-2022

    Translated political posts and legal documents, with 100% job success rate.

  • Journalist — Tehran, 2010–2013

    Produced visual and written content for national hi-tech magazines and delivered strategic editorial and translation work for policy think tanks.

Publication

  • Niknam, S., Duraisamy, S., Botev, J., and Leiva, L. A. (2025, October). EEG-Based Prediction of Perceptual Timing Errors in Virtual Reality. In Proceedings of the IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality Adjunct (ISMAR-Adjunct).

    10.1109/ISMAR-Adjunct68609.2025.00037

  • Niknam, S. (2025, October). eXtended Cognition: Measuring, Modeling, and Modulating Perception in XR. In Proceedings of the IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality Adjunct (ISMAR-Adjunct).

    10.1109/ISMAR-Adjunct68609.2025.00294

  • Niknam, S., Duraisamy, S., Botev, J., and Leiva, L. A. (2025, May). Brain Signatures of Time Perception in Virtual Reality. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics. Volume 31, Issue 5 (pp. 2535-2545).

    10.1109/TVCG.2025.3549570  |  Medium  |  Feature Piece  |  Dataset will be published.

  • Niknam, S., Picard, S., Rondinelli, V., and Botev, J. (2024, October). Some Times Fly: The Effects of Engagement and Environmental Dynamics on Time Perception in Virtual Reality. In Proceedings of the ACM Symposium on Virtual Reality Software and Technology (VRST).

    10.1145/3641825.3687726  |  Medium  |  Dataset will be published.

  • Niknam, S., and Botev, J. (2024, January). Predicting Cognitive Failures in Virtual Reality Using Pupillometry. In Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and eXtended and Virtual Reality (AIxVR).

    10.1109/AIxVR59861.2024.00043

  • Picard, S., Botev, J., and Niknam, S. (2023, October). A Dynamic and Scriptable Environment and Framework for Stimulus-Based Cognitive Research in Virtual Reality. In Proceedings of the IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality Adjunct (ISMAR-Adjunct)

    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., and Niknam, S. (2008, May). A Mathematical Description of Physician Decision Making. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedical Engineering (ICBBE).

    10.1109/icbbe.2008.141

  • Niknam, S., Ghorbani Samini, M., Mahmudi, H., and Niknam, K. (2007, June). How do physicians make a decision?. In Proceedings of the Mediterranean Conference on Medical and Biomedical Engineering and Computing (MEDICON)

    10.1007/978-3-540-73044-6_181

Language

  • Persian, native

  • English, fluent

  • German, B2

  • French, B1

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

  • Beginner: Korean

Hobbies

  • Walking. Silence. Satire. Music. Breaking News.

  • Absurd movies and quirky comedies.

  • Books without detailed, lengthy description of trivial things.

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

  • Quantifying and data visualization.

  • Buying devices for my personal home lab that I barely use.

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

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

Interviews and Outreach