Education

  • Ph.D., Computer Science, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), USA (2016), GPA – 3.9/4.0
    Dissertation Title: Modes and Mechanisms of Game-like Interventions in Intelligent Tutoring Systems
  • M.A., Sociology, Patan Campus, Tribhuvan University (T.U.), Nepal (2008), First Division
    Thesis Title: Gender Role Influence and Impact on Academic Performance of Adolescent Girls
  • B.E., Electronics and Communication Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, I.O.E., T.U., Nepal (2005), First Division
    Final Year Project Title: Doctor Computer: Medical Diagnosis Expert System

Work Experience

  • Research Fellow: Global Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies (GIIS), Nepal (August 2020- Present)
  • Data Visualization and Content Design Consultant, SOSIN, Central Department of Anthropology, T.U. (February 2020 - Present)
  • Scientist/ Education & Outreach Coordinator: NAAMII, Nepal (December 2018- July 2020)
  • Faculty: Emerging Technologies, Kings College, Nepal (May 2020- July 2020)
  • Member: Digitalization Framework Team, Ministry of Social Development, Province 1, Nepal (January 2020- July 2020)
  • Content Designer and Reviewer: OLE Nepal (Sep 2014 - July 2017)
  • Research Assistant: The Center for Knowledge Communication, UMass Amherst (Aug 2011 – May 2015)
  • Lecturer (Subject: Microprocessors): Department of Information Management, Prime College, Nepal (Nov 2007 – April 2008)
  • Graphics Designer: Savant Associates, Kathmandu, Nepal (Oct 2007 – April 2008)
  • Creative Engineer, D2Hawkeye Services, Kathmandu, Nepal (Feb 2006 – Aug 2007)
  • Software Engineer, D2Hawkeye Services, Kathmandu (Sep 2005 – Feb 2006)
  • Project coordinator and scriptwriter: ‘Kamala, home or away be sure be safe’, a short film (2008)
     One of the eight short films to win funding, USAID short-film competition on AIDS awareness

Selected Publications 

  • Muldner, K., Wixon, M., Rai, D., Burleson, W., Woolf, B., & Arroyo, I. (2015). Exploring the impact of a learning dashboard on student affect. In Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics). (Vol. 9112, pp. 307-317). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics); Vol. 9112). Springer Verlag. 
  • Arroyo, I., Woolf, B.P., Burelson, W., Muldner, K., Rai, D., Tai, M.  (2014). A Multimedia Adaptive Tutoring System for Mathematics that Addresses Cognition, Metacognition and Affect.  International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education 24: 387. 
  • Rai, D., Arroyo, I., Stephens, L., Lozano, C., Burleson, W., Woolf, B. P., & Beck, J. E. (2013). Repairing deactivating negative emotions with student progress pages. In Artificial Intelligence in Education - 16th International Conference, AIED 2013, Proceedings (Vol. 7926 LNAI, pp. 795-798). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics); Vol. 7926 LNAI). DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-39112-5-115
  • Rai, D., Beck, J., & Arroyo, I. (2013). Causal Modeling to Understand the Relationship between Student Attitudes, Affect and Outcomes. In proceedings of Educational Datamining Conference (pp. 344-345)
  • Rai, D., & Beck, J. E. (2012). Math Learning Environment with Game-Like Elements: An Experimental Framework. International Journal of Game Based Learning. Vol 2-2, pp. 90-110
  • Rai, D., & Beck, J. E. (2012). Math Learning Environment with Game-Like Elements: An Incremental Approach for Enhancing Student Engagement and Learning Effectiveness. Intelligent Tutoring Systems Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 90-100. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-30950-2_13
  • Rai, D., & Beck, J. (2011). Exploring User Data From a Game-like Math Tutor: A Case Study in Causal Modeling. In proceedings of Educational Datamining Conference (pp. 307-313)
  • Gong, Y., Rai, D., Beck, J. E. & Heffernan, N. T. (2009) Does Self-Discipline Impact Students' Knowledge and Learning? In Barnes, Desmarais, Romero & Ventura (Eds) Proc. of the 2nd International Conference on Educational Data Mining. pp. 61-70. ISBN: 978-84-613-2308-1.
  • Rai, D., Gong, Y. & Beck, J. E. (2009) Using Dirichlet Priors to Improve Model Parameter Plausibility. In Barnes, Desmarais, Romero & Ventura (Eds) Proc. of the 2nd International Conference on Educational Data Mining. pp. 141-150. ISBN: 978-84-613-2308-1.

Awards

  • International Fulbright Science and Technology Ph.D. Scholarship (2008-2011)
  • Graduate Research Innovation Exchange, WPI (2013): Second Prize, Sciences
  • Graduate Research Innovation Exchange, WPI (2012): Outstanding Poster Award, Computer Science Department
  • Graduate Research Innovation Exchange, WPI (2011, 2012, 2013): shortlisted for Innovation Award
  • Merit-based Full Scholarship for B.E., Government of Nepal (2001-2005)
  • National Students Conference on IT, Nepal (2006): Best Paper
  • Inter College Story Writing Contest, Nepal (2003): 2nd Position
  • Mathematics Competition, Secondary Education Development Project, Nepal (1997): 2nd Position

Skills

  • Programming: C/C++, Java, Javascript, Actionscript, HTML, HTML5, OpenLaszlo, Prolog
  • Design: Flash, Illustrator, Photoshop, Dreamweaver
  • Data, Statistics and Machine Learning: MATLAB, PYTHON, SQL, SPSS, WEKA