Diako Mardanbegi

Diako Mardanbegi

Assistant Professor of Computer Science

American University of Beirut

Email: diako.mardanbegi at aub.edu.lb

Primary Office: Bliss Hall 236

Extension: 4279

I'm an assistant professor of computer science at the American University of Beirut. My main research interests focus on studying human vision and eye movements, particularly in:

How they can be sensed and analyzed
Their use in understanding human intention and decision-making during human-machine interaction
Exploring how various cognitive dysfunctions manifest in changes in the ocular system

I received my PhD in Computer Science from the IT University of Copenhagen in 2013, where I was advised by Dan Witzner Hansen. As part of my postdoctoral research, I worked as a research associate on an EPSRC project, Monitoring Of Dementia using Eye Movements (MODEM), in the Computing and Communications Department of Lancaster University, under the mentorship of Professor Hans Gellersen.

After six to seven years in industry, including roles as a research scientist on Google’s Android XR team and a senior eye-tracking researcher at AdHawk Microsystems, I decided to return to teaching and academia. At AdHawk, I worked on eye-tracking technology and a new generation of sensors for continuous, all-day eye movement monitoring.

Research Scientist (June 2025 - September 2026)

Google, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.

Assistant Professor (Since August 2024)

Department of computer science, American University of Beirut, Lebanon

Senior Eye Tracking Researcher (May 2019 - March 2025)

AdHawk Microsystems, Kitchener, ON, Canada

Research Associate (April 2016-March 2019)

Computing and Communications Department, Lancaster University, UK

Post-doctoral researcher (January 2016-April 2016)

Human Factor Group, Department of Management Engineering, Technical University of Denmark

Post-doctoral researcher (April 2013-December 2015)

Department of Software and Systems, IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Intern (July 2014-October 2014)

FX Palo Alto Laboratory, Inc. (FXPAL), Palo Alto, CA, US

Visiting Researcher (December 2011 & July 2012)

Department of Computer Science of University of São Paolo

Ph.D. (April 2010-April 2013)

Computer Science Department
IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Thesis: "Mobile gaze-based interaction"

M.Sc. (Fall 2006-Fall 2010)

Iran University of science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
Biomechanical Engineering
Thesis: "Design, Fabrication and Evaluation of a Video-based Eye Tracker system to Help Disable People to Communicate with Computer"

B.Sc. (Fall 2001-Fall 2006)

Amirkabir University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Mechanical Engineering, Major: Manufacturing Engineering
Thesis: "Design and Prototyping of a Software and Controller for an FDM Rapid Prototyping System (3D printing)"

Mardanbegi, D., Jalalynia, S., Hansen, J.P., A computer-implemented method of recovering a visual event, filed 25 Sep 2015; published 30 Mar 2017 (EP2016/072810).
Mardanbegi, D., Hansen, D.W., A Gaze Tracker and a Method of Gaze Tracking, filed 4 Feb 2015; published 11 Aug 2016 (DKPA201570064).
Qvarfordt, P., Mardanbegi, D., Methods and systems for gaze annotation, filed 24 Mar 2015; granted 31 Jul 2018 (US10037312B2), active until 11 Jun 2035.
Mardanbegi, D., Hansen, D.W., Computer-implemented gaze interaction method and apparatus, filed 17 Mar 2014; published 4 May 2017 (PCT/EP2015/055435); inactive/abandoned.
Mardanbegi, D., Design and Fabrication of a Mobile Eye Tracker, filed 2010, IR53589.
Mardanbegi, D., Design and Fabrication of a Video-Based Eye Tracking System, filed 2008, IR53483.

Teaching assets: interactive demos used in my teaching

Introduction to XR (CMPS297AG). AUB, Fall 2026-27
Wearable Sensing (CMPS297AH). AUB, Fall 2026-27
Computer Vision (CMPS297AC). Undergraduate. AUB, Spring 2025
Introduction to Programming. Undergraduate. AUB, Fall 2024
Global Software Development. Teaching Assistant. MSc level. ITU, Fall 2013
Mathematical Analysis and Linear Algebra. MSc level. ITU, Spring 2013
Introduction to Graphics and Image Analysis. MSc level. ITU, Spring 2011-14
Introduction to Programming. BSc level. ITU, Spring 2011-12

Relevant courses attended:

Pedagogical Teaching Development, Oct. 2011, IT University of Copenhagen.
Classroom Management, March, 2012, IT University of Copenhagen.
Exam seminar, Oct. 2013, IT University of Copenhagen.

Organizing Committees

Tutorial co-chair, ETRA (2023, Tübingen)
Tutorial co-chair, ETRA (2022, Seattle)
Program co-chair, Cogain (2019, Denver)
Tutorial co-chair, ETRA (2019, Denver)
Organizing tutorial on Eye tracking in Virtual and Augmented Reality at ETRA (2018, Poland)
Organizing workshop on Pervasive Eye Tracking and Mobile Eye-Based Interaction (PETMEI2016) (Ubicomp2016, 2016, Germany)

Invited Talks

Guest talk: An Overview to Gaze interaction, HCI talks, Lancaster University, UK, 2017.
Guest lecture: Eye Tracking and Gaze Interaction. MSCI528: Digital Innovation course, Lancaster University, UK, 2016.
Hosting and Guest talk: Eye tracking in Virtual Reality. Copenhagen VR/AR Meetup group with over 540 members. ITU, 2015.
Guest talk: An Introduction to Eye Tracking. Stanford University Graduate School of Education, 2014.

Others

Paper Reviewing

I regularly review for HCI conferences including CHI, UIST, Ubicomp, as well as eye tracking conferences and workshops including ETRA, PETMEI, and COGAIN. I have also reviewed for journals such as: Journal of Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies (IMWUT), The journal of EEE Industrial Electronics Society (IES), and Journal Sensors.

Alexander Perzi, BSc project: Gaze interaction in virtual reality, Lancaster University, UK (2017)
Ragnar Einestam and Karl Casserfelt, BSc project: Eye-cantact sensing, Malmø University, Sweden (2017)
Kalle Bornemark and Albert Kaaman, BSc project: Gaze-supported interaction with AR systems, Malmø University, Sweden (2017)
Per Mortensen, MSc project: Gaze interaction with LEGO robots, IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark (2015) | Video
Claus Bødker Wind, BSc project: 3D gaze tracking, IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark (2013)
Jacob Romme Rasmussen, BSc project: Mobile gaze-based controlling a vehicle, IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark (2013)
Jeremy Hales, BSc project: Interacting with objects in the environment by gaze and hand gestures, CSIRO, Australia (2013) | Video
Morten Høfft, MSc project: Gaze-supported object recognition, IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark (2012)
Kai tang, MSc project: Robust multiple glint detection in the remote eye trackers, IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark (2011)

About me

Work Experience

Education

Patents

Teaching

Professional Services

Student Co/Supervision