Miami University - Oxford, OH
Assistant Professor of Marketing (tenure-track) - May 2017 ~ Present
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, MI
Researcher - January 2010 ~ April 2017
Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development - Pittsburgh, PA
Research & Development Associate - June 2014 ~ September 2014; Research Consultant - September 2014 ~ April 2016
Fara Design Group - Tehran, Iran
Co-Founder and CEO - December 2008 ~ August 2011
Artestan Corporation - Tehran, Iran
Research Consultant - September 2007 ~ December 2009
University of Witwatersrand - Johannesburg, South Africa
Research Associate - June 2007 ~ August 2007
Assistant Professor of Marketing (tenure-track) - May 2017 ~ Present
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, MI
Researcher - January 2010 ~ April 2017
- Conducted research project examining the relationship between sensory cues in retail environments and pro-environmental decision-making and green purchases
- Led project on context-sensitive financial risk-taking using lab studies and performance data from 8,000 hedge funds.
- Orchestrated project on feedback mechanisms in smart building user interfaces to increase sustainable behavior.
- Coordinated and led project at the University of Michigan Hospital showing how design can help reduce autistic behavior.
- Analyzed, visualized and presented a NSF-funded research project investigating the spatial and social networks involved in organizational innovation in collaboration with several large software, automotive and pharmaceutical companies.
Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development - Pittsburgh, PA
Research & Development Associate - June 2014 ~ September 2014; Research Consultant - September 2014 ~ April 2016
- Initiated and spearheaded three projects in the Behavioral Economics Group.
- Utilized behavioral experimentation and sales analysis to identify links between design factors & consumer behavior/sales at Disney Parks and Resorts.
- Developed quantitative models to optimize product placement and increase sales.
Fara Design Group - Tehran, Iran
Co-Founder and CEO - December 2008 ~ August 2011
- Launched design consulting firm promoting evidence-based design for physical and virtual environments.
- Developed effective design strategies using eye-tracking, fMRI and psycho-physical techniques.
- Participated in several design competitions and led group through two large-scale retail and healthcare projects.
Artestan Corporation - Tehran, Iran
Research Consultant - September 2007 ~ December 2009
- Developed user-centered physical planning and mobile app strategies for several retail, healthcare and educational clients.
University of Witwatersrand - Johannesburg, South Africa
Research Associate - June 2007 ~ August 2007
- Worked on the “Global Studio Project”, an international action research program initiated by the United Nations Millennium Project Task Force promoting inclusive urbanization to improve the lives of the urban poor.
- Initiated, developed and presented a cost-effective social diffusion model focusing on grassroots development efforts in education and entrepreneurship in underdeveloped countries.
