Open to Research Collaborations

ShamimKheirani

Graduate Researcher · Cognitive Science, HCI & AI

Exploring the frontier of the human mind — bridging cognitive science, human–computer interaction, and artificial intelligence to build a deeper understanding of how we think, learn, and interact with technology.

Cognitive ScienceHCIArtificial IntelligenceNeuroscienceUX Research

Publications

Years Research

Institutions

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A Little About Me

I am a graduate researcher in Cognitive Science and Human–Computer Interaction, currently based in Italy. My interest in the human mind and cognition did not begin with my formal academic training; it emerged much earlier as a sustained curiosity about how thinking, understanding, and experience take shape. This long-standing interest gradually found expression through different stages of my education and work, well before my entry into cognitive science as a formal field of study.

Before pursuing advanced academic training, I worked as a teacher in preschool and early childhood settings. During this period, my curiosity about cognition took a practical form, centered on observing how cognitive abilities emerge and develop in children. This experience allowed me to engage directly with questions about perception, learning, and understanding at an early developmental stage, and played an important role in shaping the direction of my later academic path.

Over time, this enduring curiosity led me toward cognitive science as a necessary lens for understanding the mind in a systematic and interdisciplinary way. What began as an intuitive interest has continued to evolve into a focused academic trajectory, grounded in the study of cognition and sustained by a long-term commitment to understanding the human mind.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

23/09/2018 - 10/10/2022•Isfahan, Iran

Bachelor's Degree — University of Isfahan

EQF 6

Field(s) of study

Educational Sciences

Final grade

17.31/20

Type of credits

ECTS (equivalent)

Number of credits

140(program total)

Website

https://uiold.ui.ac.ir/en

11/10/2023 - Current•Messina, Italy

Master's Degree — University of Messina

EQF 7

Field(s) of study

Cognitive science and Theory of Communication

Final grade

29.20/30 (current GPA)National classification: Level 7

Type of credits

ECTS

Number of credits

120(program total)

Website

https://international.unime.it

Research Interests

My research interests are situated at the intersection of cognitive science, human–computer interaction, philosophy of mind and Artificial intelligence, with a primary focus on embodiment and agency.

The Human Aspect

I am interested in human subjectivity, motility, and embodied experience, particularly in relation to perception, consciousness, and the sense of agency. I am drawn to embodied and enactive approaches to cognition, as well as to the cognitive mechanisms underlying learning and decision-making.
These interests inform my approach to designing and evaluating interactive systems that are sensitive to human perception, action, and meaning-making.

Subjectivity & MotilityEmbodied ExperiencePerception & ConsciousnessConscious IntentionSense of AgencyEnactive ApproachesLearning & MotivationHuman–Centered InteractionCognition in Interactive ContextsEmbodied Interaction

The Artificial Aspect

In parallel, I am interested in artificial intelligence and large language models as interactive systems, particularly in relation to human cognition, human–computer interaction, and learning environments. Rather than treating AI as a purely technical artifact, I approach it as a system that mediates understanding, decision-making, and agency through interaction.

My interests focus on how AI-driven interface design shapes user expectations, trust, and engagement, and how cognitively informed interaction design supports meaningful use of intelligent systems. I am also interested in comparative perspectives on human and artificial cognition and in applying insights from embodiment to the design and evaluation of interactive technologies.

Human–Computer InteractionArtificial IntelligenceLarge Language ModelsArtificial CognitionEducational TechnologiesSystemic Analysis

Projects

HCI RESEARCH PROJECT

SkillFusion: Designing an AR-Enhanced Skill-Sharing Platform

SkillFusion is a human–computer interaction project focused on designing an augmented-reality-based platform for skill exchange. The project explores how AR, gamification, and user-centered design can support motivation, learning, and social interaction in both online and in-person learning environments.

Research & Design Goals

Core objectives and research questions

Support efficient and affordable skill exchange
Increase user motivation through gamification
Explore AR as a tool for embodied and interactive learning
Address trust, safety, and usability in peer-to-peer learning systems

HCI Methods & Process

User-centered design methodology

User research and persona development
Scenario-based design and use-case modeling
Interaction design for AR-supported learning
Gamification design (badges, leaderboards, streaks)
Usability evaluation using SUS (System Usability Scale)

Key Features

Platform capabilities and functionality

AR-supported skill demonstrations
Visual skill maps and profile-based matching
Gamified learning system (badges, points, streaks)
Community interaction and peer feedback
AI-assisted skill and course recommendations

Evaluation & Results

Usability testing outcomes and findings

The system was evaluated through usability testing with multiple users using the System Usability Scale (SUS). Results indicated high overall usability, satisfaction, and confidence in using the system, with an average SUS score above industry benchmarks. Key improvement areas were identified in learnability and memorability, informing future design refinements.

What This Project Demonstrates

Skills and competencies showcased

Ability to apply HCI theory to real design problems
Experience with user-centered and iterative design
Interest in embodied interaction and AR-based learning
Practical engagement with usability evaluation and design trade-offs

Master’s Thesis (In progress)

Master's Thesis (In progress)

Human and Artificial Cognition:
Embodiment, Agency, and the LLM Gap

My master’s thesis examines the cognitive gap between human cognition and large language models, with a specific focus on embodiment and agency. The thesis is motivated by the question of why artificial systems can produce behaviorally similar outputs to humans while lacking experienced agency and ontological grounding.

Drawing on Floridi’s claim that large language models exhibit agency without intelligence, Gahrn-Andersen’s account of the absence of ontological grounding, and the 4E cognition framework, the thesis situates this gap as a substantive cognitive difference rather than a merely technical limitation.

Methodological Approach

Methodologically, the thesis adopts a comparative approach informed by experimental cognitive psychology, following the proposal of Taylor and Taylor. Human participants and large language models are compared on tasks that require embodied knowledge and sensitivity to real-world constraints.

Diagnostic Error Analysis

Rather than focusing on successful performance, the analysis centers on systematic differences in error patterns, using failures as diagnostic indicators of underlying cognitive and agentive limitations.

Through this approach, the thesis aims to clarify how the absence of embodiment and sensorimotor grounding in artificial systems fundamentally distinguishes them from human cognition.

Things I'm Good At

Research Methods

Literature review (systematic & narrative)Experimental MethodsConceptual and philosophical analysisQualitative analysisCognitive task analysisUser-centered research methods

Computational & AI-Related Skills

Python (basic data analysis, experimentation support)Prompt engineering for Large Language ModelsAI-assisted research workflows

Design & Prototyping

Figma (research-oriented prototyping)Adobe Photoshop, IllustratorKrita (illustration and animation)

Academic & Digital Tools

Digital content creation for educational and research purposesAcademic writing and presentation tools

Certifications

Professional certifications and training programs that have shaped my expertise in cognitive science, educational psychology, and modern AI tools.