Resume | Dr. Diaa Ahmedien, PhD

Structure: study courses + practical project + thesis
Major: Contemporary media arts practices. Minor: Laser applications
Thesis: “Laser techniques as an approach to experiment in contemporary painting”
Project: "Light-Space: E-performance"
Cumulative GPA grade: 3.70/4. Ranked first in the group

[EQF: level 7]

Sep 2004- May 2008:

BA in Art & Culture

Structure: Five-year bachelor [ten semesters]
Major: Culture & Arts. Minor: Education through art
Final grade: Excellent with an honor degree
Distinction: Dean's list.

[EQF: level 6]

RESEARCH POSITIONS

WITS UNIVERSITY, STRUCTURED LIGHT LAB, SCHOOL OF PHYSICS, WITS SCHOOL OF THE ARTS.

Oct 2022 - Jul 2023:

Innovation postdoctoral research fellow.

The first art-science Innovation postdoctoral fellow at Wits University to conduct new-media art studies by a collaboration between the School of Physics and Wits School of the Arts. Received mentorship from Andrew Forbes, professor of physics and the head of the Structured Light Lab. See more >>

Developed a digital holographic spot to operationally embody the concept of digitized nature.
Defined and examined 3 structural principles of human-technology symbiosis.
Developed a methodology to track and analyze the impact of the three principles on the interactors' oscillated responsive behavior between technophilic and technophobic conduct in their relationship with the holographic hypermedium.
Created an interactive installation performance, delivered 2 seminars to academic staff, and published 2 research articles.
Designed a postgraduate course on new media arts practices as means of interdisciplinary research.

NARA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY, GRADUATE SCHOOL OF INFORMATION SCIENCES, JAPAN

Oct 2016 - Feb 2017:

Doctoral research visiting fellow.

Approved as a special research student and allowed for a mixed mode of study to develop his final PhD project. Under the supervision of Professor Christian Sandro, Professor of Interactive Media Design, at the Graduate School of Information.

Experimented with several techniques for interactive design systems based on information visualization.
Examined the behavioral aesthetics of the functional systems in virtual reality-driven creative practices.
Developed several prototypes of interactive puzzle games.

UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES BERN, THE SCHOOL OF THE ARTS BERN, SWITZERLAND

Dec 2014 - Mar 2017:

Doctoral research student.

Designed and created Ph.D. practical project. Supervised by Noberto Gramiccini, a professor of art history, and received mentorship from Rita Hofmann, a professor of art materiality. Sabine Süsstrunk, the director of the Visual Representation Laboratory at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), acted as an external referee.

Built the first holographic art lab at the School of the Arts, Bern University of Applied Sciences.
Examined the physical and aesthetic characteristics of holographic media for media art, focusing on both communicative and informative approaches, and explored their possible applications.
Invented an interactive system that used human neural responses to reconstruct holographic puzzle pieces. This enriched Neuroesthetics theory and expanded the functional role of neural brain activities in interactive artistic processes and outlined related cognitive applications in serious games.
Created 2 interactive installation and published 3 research articles.
The developed neural-holographic puzzle game system has been acknowledged as a successful model of laypeople's integration into an interdisciplinary knowledge cycle with an evidence-based practical result.

CAIRO UNIVERSITY, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENHANCED LASER SCIENCES, EGYPT

Nov 2009 - Seb 2013:

visiting researcher.

Studied applied physics as a minor discipline in new-media arts practices. Studies optical components alignment and several types of optical setups and their applications.

Carried out crucial tests on the unrestricted use of laser beams in the realm of New-Media Art.
Experimented with laser engraving and scanning techniques.
Examined several prototypes of human-light interactions in interactive and new-media arts.
Developed an applicable demo of an interactive light theatre.
Re-map light usage in art from symbolic to pictorial element, and finally to fully functional medium.
Created 2 interactive artworks and published 2 research articles.

LATEST RESEARCH PROJECTS

Nov 2022 - Oct 2023:

A Drop of Light.

An interactive new-media art research project that investigates human-technology symbiosis. It aimed at developing a computer-generated holographic spot, through which three structural principles in the interactive system were established and examined to create intuitive interactions between interactors and the system and analyze the interactors' behavioral responses to the medium. See more >>

Role: Concept developer, Designer, and creator.
Host: Prof. Andrew Forbes. the head of the structured Light Lab, School of Physics, Wits University
Funder: The Wits Innovation Center.

Jun 2020 - Present:

Humanising epidemiology: non-medical investigations into epi/pandemic phenomena.

A scientific editorial project to develop a thematic research collection to examine the role and contributions of the humanities, arts, and social sciences (HASS) disciplines and interdisciplinary efforts in shaping the global response to public health crises. See more >>

Role: Lead guest editor.
Host: Humanities & Social Sciences Communications, Nature Portfolio.
Co-guest editors: Shen Lamson Lin, Michael Ochsner, Alessandro Santirocchi, Abdou Simon Senghor.
Handled more than 100 manuscripts and accepted more than 38 research articles so far.
Selected by the cultural program of the National academy of Sciences as one of the creative responses of the pandemic.

ANNEX-1

>> See the practice statement

>> See the research statement

ANNEX-2

The list of the research-based practice projects in detail is on the separate projects page. See >>

ANNEX-3

The list of the published research articles in detail is on the separate research page. See >>

TEACHING POSITIONS

HELWAN UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF ART EDUCATION, DRAWING & PAINTING DEPARTMENT, CAIRO, EGYPT

Seb 2023 - Present:

Assistant professor of sciences of new media arts.

Teaches two undergraduate courses in new media arts practices and theories for 50 students.
Teaches one postgraduate course in scientific research in arts and art education for 37 master students.
Links the theoretical concepts to practical approaches in the studio practices.
Participates in the regular reviewing and updating of the department's under-postgraduate curriculums.
Manages regular open discussion sessions with under-post graduate students.
Leads weekly academic seminar for staff and students to discuss the latest research topics and pressing most relevant pressing issues in the field of new-media arts.

Sep 2017 - Seb 2022:

Lecturer of sciences of new media arts.

Co-managed curriculums in experimental practices in visual arts and new-media arts.
Co-designed interdisciplinary research programs in new-media art for postgraduate students.
Collaborated with lecturers who were highly regarded by their students.
Created and graded course assessments to ensure students understood the material and stayed on track.
Taught courses: New-media studio practices, Visual Communications, Interactive/Generative art.

Sep 2011 - Mar 2014:

Assistant lecturer of experimental practices in drawing, painting, and media art.

Assisted in preparing teaching material, helped students in practices, and monitor students performance.
Guided more than 70 students prepare and present their research findings.
Participated in students regular and final evaluation and academic support.
Undergraduate Courses: Drawing & Painting foundation, art education theories, technology in art practices, New-Media studio, Empirical research in practices.

Sep 2009 - Mar 2011:

Demonstrator of experimental practices in drawing, painting, and media art.

Assisted in preparing teaching material, helped students in practices, and monitor students performance.
Explained challenging concepts using planned lessons, assignments, and targeted discussions.
Participated in students regular and final evaluation and academic support.
Undergraduate Courses: Drawing & Painting foundation, Visual Communications, technology applications in art practices, New-Media studio.

ANNEX

See the teaching statement >>

EDITORIAL POSITIONS

PLOS ONE, Sections: HCI, Complexity and networks, and communications. >>

Aug 2024 - Present:

Editorial board member.

Acts as an academic handling editor for the submitted manuscripts.

Sections: Computer and information sciences - Human-Computer interactions, Complexity and networks, Digital health.

Classifications: Social sciences, Philosophy, Computer and information sciences, Artificial intelligence, Digital imaging, Computer applications, Computer vision, Computers, Engineering and technology, Navigation, Telecommunications, Physical sciences, Physics, Optics, Holography.

HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES COMMUNICATIONS, NATURE PORTFOLIO, SPRINGER NATURE. >>

Jan 2020 - Present:

Editorial board member.

Acts as handling editor for papers submitted to the journal in the interdisciplinary studies in the Arts, Communication, Digital Humanities, Media Studies, Science/Technology & Society. This involves inviting peer reviewers and sharing the editorial decision with the managing editor.

Handled more than 180 summited article so far.
Participates as guest editor in one of the journal's thematic collections.

THE JOURNAL OF ART, DESIGN, AND MUSIC, DIGITAL COMMON FROM ELSEVIER. >>

Jun 2021 - Present:

Editorial board member.

Acts as handling editor for papers submitted to the journal in the interdisciplinary studies in Arts Education and the Arts, This involves inviting peer reviewers and sharing the editorial decision with the managing editor.

PEER REVIEWING

Jan 2017 - Present:

Accredited peer reviewer, Web of Science’s database.

Active reviewer for top journal in arts, media arts, and other relevant topics.

So far, reviewed more than 308 submitted manuscripts for 41 top journals indexed in Web of Science from more than eight major publishers.
Classified as top reviewer in Web of Science's reviewers database in Cross-Field, Computer Science, and Multidisciplinary. >>
Acknowledged reviewer by: Springer's Visual Computer, Elsevier's Entertainment computing, Taylor & Francis' Cogent Arts & Humanities, MIT's LEONARDO, MDPI's ARTS

COMMITTEES

EDUCATIONAL, AUDIO-VISUAL & CULTURE EXECUTIVE AGENCY, THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, BRUSSELS

Jan 2020 - Present:

External expert. (Work contract)

Assigned to assist the European Commission as an expert in the assessment of the grant proposals received under the Erasmus+ Program (Key Action 2: Capacity-Building projects in the field of higher education). This involves participating in regular discussions regarding evaluation criteria and procedures, writing individual evaluation reports and consensus reports, and discussing the final result of the grant proposals.

Jun 2019 - Present:

Referee and selection committees.

International Journal of Education through Art. (Constant Reviewers board).
IEEE VIS Art program (Selection Committee).
LEONARDO: International association of the arts, science, and technology.

SUPERVISION, MENTORSHIP & TRAINEESHIP

Jun 2022 - Present:

Academic advisor and supervisor.

Provides academic guidance to master students in media arts.
Supervises one Ph.D. student in experimental media.
Provides regular scientific support for academic faculty staff in visual arts at Helwan University.
Delivers regular training courses and workshops on scientific research and academic writing in visual arts research for Helwan university's academic staff from fine art, applied art, and art education faculties.

COUNCILS MEMBERSHIP

Jul 2023-Present:

Hub for creativity and scientific research, Helwan University Headquarter, Egypt.

Participates in collecting and analyzing research outputs from the university's arts sector and updating the hub's database with relevant data to support arts-based innovation studies.

Jan 2021-Present:

The council of interdisciplinary studies and research, ministry of higher education, Egypt.

Participates in discussing and managing interdisciplinary studies and programs regulation and accreditation procedures in Egyptian Universities.

Jan 2021-Oct 2022:

The council of scientific research support center, on behalf of Helwan university arts sector.

Participated in determining the appropriate academic support strategy that the university should adopt. This strategy includes providing advice and academic support for faculty members, as well as offering a wide range of academic services such as finding academic journals that align with their manuscripts and scientific editing.

Jan 2021-Oct 2022:

Helwan University's ranking unit.

Participated in collecting and analyzing the data required by ranking organizations such as 'Times Higher Education' and 'QS' to improve the university's ranking position. This entails working with those organizations officers and reviewing their annual report and ranking every year and working to improve the university's position in the next annual report.

Sep 2020-Oct 2022:

Helwan University's International relation office.

Participated in managing collaboration agreements between national and international organizations and universities. This involves collecting data regarding academic programs and research agendas in other institutions, managing casual and official communications, drafting collaboration protocols, negotiating agreements, and proceeding with accreditation.

ADMISSION & COORDINATION

2024-Present:

Exams observer, Faculty of Art Education, Helwan University.

Observes students in the exam rooms and manage receiving and submitting exam papers, and manages material transferring from exam centeral camper to students and vice versa.

2017-2022:

Exams preparation and admission chamber, Faculty of Art Education, Helwan University.

Participated in preparing exam arrangements. This includes determining exam dates, collecting papers and relevant material, planning a daily schedule with professors and observers, distributing management staff roles, and updating the faculty's database with daily reports regarding the ongoing process, problems, and mitigation procedures.

2015-2016:

International students housing coordinator, University of Bern, Switzerland.

Coordinated the hosting activities. This includes registering newcomers in the international residence building's database, managing a weekly meeting to discuss any relevant issues or open topics regarding lifestyle, and managing social activities.

Jan-May 2013:

Summer school Co-organizer, University of the Arts Bremen, Germany.

Participated in both informal and formal interactions with the designated office to arrange visual communication classes and workshops during the University of the Arts Bremen's summer school, which included 10 postgraduate students, two professors from the Faculty of Art Education, and an equal number from the University of the Arts Bremen. This includes managing the booking of tickets and accommodations, preparing the training program, and overseeing recreational and social activities.

2009 - 2013:

Exams Control Room for the fifth year students, Faculty of Art Education, Helwan University.

participated in managing exam papers, communication with professors regarding evaluation procedures, collecting results, reviewing the grading system, and the accreditation of the final grade points for final-year students.

FELLOWSHIPS

Oct 2022 - Sep 2023:

Wits innovation fellowship grant, the university of Witwatersrand

The first postdoctoral innovation fellowship in the arts. It was jointly managed by the Structured Light Laboratory (SLL) at the School of Physics and the Wits Arts School.

May - Aug 2021:

Fundación ́ace Para El Arte Contemporáneo fellowship, Argentine

For creating generative experiments in digital data waste.

Dec 2014 - Feb 2016:

University of Applied Sciences Bern grant, Switzerland

Fully funded practices to build holography labs.

Oct 2014 - Aug 2016:

Egyptian Government Excellence Scholarship, Egypt

Monthly salary for covering living fees in Switzerland, Doctoral studies.

GRANTS

May 2019:

Innovalia Foundation Grant, Technarte, Spain

For Traveling and living costs for conference and exhibition in Bilbao, Spain.

Dec 2016 - Mar 2017:

The Ellen J. Beer Foundation's Grant, Switzerland

For good dissertations, Institute of Art History, University of Bern.

Jun 2016:

OSA grant for international students, USA-Germany

Traveling and living costs for conferences.

Oct 2013 - Nov 2014:

The British Council grant for artists, Egypt

For covering a one-year artistic research project in Holographic art (Cairo-Paris). >>

May - Sep 2013:

The German Academic Exchange (DAAD) Grant, Germany

For covering living and work fees, University of the Arts Bremen, Germany.

HONOURS

Sep 2018 & 2019:

The Medal of Sentinel of Science and research

For placing in the top 1% of reviewers in Cross-Field on the Web of Science Group’s Publons global
database, determined by the number of peer-review reports performed during the 2018 & 2019
award years.

Aug 2017:

Elsevier Outstanding Reviewer Award

In recognition of the contribution made to Entertainment Computing.

Updates plan

According to Vitae's researcher development framework (RDF), every six months I review and update my RDF plan to analyze the impact of my previous training on my skills in the framework's four domains and determine my needs for courses and training for the next six months.

My RDF Plan

All training courses, workshops, and private studies have been classified depending on the Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF). This provides an evidence-based, efficient training plan.
Every quarter of the above circle refers to a domain of training that addresses particular skills and qualifications.
Hover any quarter to see its qualification scope categorized into three levels, and click it to see the required skills for each level.
To see the related training courses attended, click on the menu icon in the corner of each quarter.

Jan 2018 - Present:

SciArt Center. New York >>

Jan 2017 - Present:

ACM SIGGRAPH >>

Jan 2017 - Present:

LEONARDO: The International Society of the Arts, Science, and Technology >>

Jan 2017 - Present:

Association for Computing Machinery >>

Jan 2017 - Present:

Swiss artistic research network. >>

Jan 2017 - Present:

Figshare ambassador. >>

Jan 2017 - Present:

EUROPEANA Project >>

Jan 2014 - Present:

International Society for Optics and Photonics >>

DIGITAL COMPETENCES

Information processing	Communication	Content creation	Safety
Proficient user	Proficient user	Proficient user	Proficient user

SOFTWARE

Operating systems	Text editing	Photo editing	Video editing	Modeling & simulation	Real-time	VR
Apple macOS	MS Office	Light box	DaVinci resolve	Autodesk 3Ds Max	Touch Designer	Unreal
Microsoft Windows	Google Derive	Adobe Photoshop		Fusion
Linux	Latex			Blender
	Endnote and Mendeley

PROGRAMING LANGUAGES

Hardware controlling	Creative coding	Code editing
Python	Java script	VS code
	Processing	Atom
		Spider

HARDWARE

Microcontroller board	Material fabrication	Specific setup
Arduino boards	3D printing	Optics components
Raspberry Pi	3D scanning	DMD boards
	Laser cutting and engraving	Microscopic visualization
		Biological kits