Research
Dr. Rahimi’s research sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, learning sciences, and educational technology. He is best known for his work on stealth assessment — an unobtrusive, ongoing method of measuring student knowledge and skills embedded within digital learning environments. His projects span game-based learning, generative AI in K–12 education, creativity assessment and support, productive failure in mathematics, and the use of large language models for psychometrically sound evaluation. Dr. Rahimi leads the CLASS Lab (Creative Learning through AI and Stealth Assessment in STEM), which develops AI-powered tools — including ProductiveMath, Physics Playground, EarSketch, and Storiza — that make learning more personalized, adaptive, and engaging.
Teaching
Georgia Institute of Technology (2026-present)
University of Florida(2021-2026)
Florida State University
Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan University College
Service
Institutional Service
2025–Present
Member, AI Student Engagement and Experiential Learning
AI² Center · University of Florida
2025–Present
Reviewer, Research Opportunity Seed Fund (ROSF)
University of Florida
2024–Present
Division Chair, External Partnerships
Institute for Advanced Learning Technologies · University of Florida
2024–Present
Committee Member, Research Advisory Committee
School of Teaching & Learning · University of Florida
View earlier institutional service
2022–2024
Committee Member, Merit & Promotion Committee
School of Teaching & Learning · University of Florida
2023–2024
Committee Chair, Long Range Planning Committee
College of Education · University of Florida
2022–2023
Committee Member, Long Range Planning Committee
College of Education · University of Florida
2018–2019
Committee Member
Instructional Systems Students Association (ISSA) · FSU
2017–2018
Committee Member & Head of Reporting
ISSA · FSU
2016–2017
Committee Member & Head of Reporting
ISSA · FSU
Professional Organizational Service
2026–Present
Committee Chair, Social Media Committee
NCME Organization
2024–2026
Committee Member, Communication Committee
NCME Organization
2024
Distinguished Paper Award Committee
FERA
Editorial Service
2024–Present
Associate Editor
Creativity Research Journal
2024–Present
Guest Editor, Special Issue on Stealth Assessment
Journal of Research on Technology in Education
Reviewer
Refereed Journals
Educational Technology Research & Development (ETR&D)
Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts (PACA)
Journal of Research on Technology in Education (JRTE)
British Journal of Educational Technology (BJET)
Computers & Education (CAE)
Computers in Human Behavior (CHB)
Journal of Computer Assisted Learning (JCAL)
Journal of Computing in Higher Education (JCHE)
International Journal of Technology, Instruction, Cognition, and Learning (TICL)
The Internet and Higher Education (INTHIG)
Computer Science Education (CSE)
Data Science Education in K-12 Conference (DSE-K12)
Journal of Science Education and Technology
Frontiers in Psychology
Grant Proposals
ITEST Panel Reviewer
National Science Foundation (NSF)
RITEL Panel Reviewer
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Awards, Fellowships & Nominations
2025–2026
B. O. Smith Professorship Award
College of Education · University of Florida · $20,000 in research support
2025
Best Poster Award
UF College of Education Research Symposium
Designing an AI-powered Platform to Support Teachers in Creating Algebra Problems for Productive Failure Teaching in K-12 Classes
2025
Best Paper Nomination
International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education · Late Breaking Results Track · July 2025
ProductiveMath: A Generative-AI-Powered App to Support Productive Failure Teaching
2025
Best Paper Runner-Up Award
UF College of Education Research Symposium
Fail Forward: Designing a Platform to Support Productive Failure in the Classroom
2024
College of Education International Educator of the Year
University of Florida
2024
Diane E. Haines Teaching Excellence Award
University of Florida · May 2024 · $1,000
View earlier awards and recognitions (2013–2024)
2024
Rising Stars of Creativity Research
Selected for a special issue of Creativity Research Journal · Spring 2024
2023
Reviewer Excellence Award
Educational Technology Research & Development (ETR&D)
2021
LASER Institute Participant
Learning Analytics in STEM Education Research Institute · NSF-funded · $1,500 · June 2021
2020
Top 3 Best Papers — Robert M. Gagné Research Award
College of Education · Florida State University
2019
Top 10 Finalist, 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition
Florida State University · $100
2018
Ruby Diamond Future Professor Award
Instructional Systems & Learning Technology · Florida State University · $500
2018
Finalist, Liliana Mühlmann Masoner Outstanding International Doctoral Student Award
Florida State University
2018
External Award Winner, Celebration of Graduate Student Excellence
Florida State University · PISA/OECD External Award · $8,000 · April 2018
2018
Nominated to Deliver a TEDx FSU Talk
2017
Featured Graduate Student
Torch Magazine · College of Education · Florida State University
2016–2017
Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award
Florida State University · $750
2014–2015
William A. Kerr Fellowship
Florida State University · $11,000
2013
Best Photographer
Parvaz Magazine · Malaysia