Sina Fazelpour

My core research areas are in philosophy of science, cognitive science, and politics and ethics of science and technology (particularly artificial intelligence). I’m currently focusing on two research projects: the first project involves developing a framework for understanding, evaluating, and improving algorithm-based decision-making in an ethical manner. David Danks and Zack Lipton are my collaborators in this project. The second project examines group decision-making as well as individual decision-making in group settings. Here, I am particularly interested in how diversity (especially demographic diversity) impacts group dynamics and decision-making. Dan Steel is a regular collaborator in this project. In addition to these two core projects, I have also worked and continue to work on counterfactual explanation, attention, and cognitive modeling.

Publications

Norms in counterfactual selection. Forthcoming. Philosophy and Phenomenological Research.

Affect-biased attention and predictive processing (with Madeleine Ransom, James Kryklywy, Jelena Markovic, Rebecca Todd & Evan Thompson). Forthcoming. Cognition.

Algorithmic fairness from a non-ideal perspective (with Zack Lipton). 2020. Proceedings for AIES 2020.

Information elaboration and epistemic effects of diversity (with Dan Steel, Biance Crewe & Kinley Gillette). 2019. Synthese

Multiple diversity concepts and their ethical-epistemic implications (with Dan Steel, Biance Crewe & Kinley Gillette). 2018. European Journal for Philosophy of Science

Attention in the predictive mind (with Madeleine Ransom & Chris Mole). 2017. Consciousness and Cognition

The Kantian brain: brain dynamics from a neurophenomenological perspective (with Evan Thompson). 2015. Current Opinion in Neurobiology

Multiple description coding of video using phase scrambling (with Parsa Hojjat & Shahram Shirani). 2007. IEEE Pacific Rim Conference on Communications, Computers and Signal Processing

In Progress

Diversity, trust, conformity: a simulation study (with Dan Steel). R&R.

Algorithmic bias (with David Danks). Commissioned by Philosophy Compass.

Teaching and learning guide for Algorithmic bias (with David Danks). Commissioned by Philosophy Compass.

Teaching Awards

In 2017-2018, I was awarded the The Don Brown Graduate Teaching Award from University of British Columbia’s Philosophy Department.

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Course Instructor

Understanding and Designing Cognitive Systems

Cognitive Systems Program, University of British Columbia, 2017-18 and 2018-19

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Introduction to Scientific Reasoning

Philosophy Department, University of British Columbia, 2016-17

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Teaching Training

Certificate Program in Advanced Teaching and Learning at University of British Columbia.

“The Certificate Program in Advanced Teaching and Learning is a year and a half long (September 2017 – December 2018) teaching development program that supports the development of graduate students’ expertise in teaching and learning. It serves both graduate students seeking excellence in teaching and learning in their future roles as faculty, as well as those who will apply the skills outside of traditional faculty roles. The Certificate Program in Advanced Teaching and Learning prepares graduate students who seek faculty positions focused on teaching and learning specifically, and more broadly creates a cohort of graduate students positioned for future educational leadership.”

Instructional Skills Workshop, UBC Graduate Pathways to Success.

“The workshop consists of teaching practice, theory application, and topical sessions specifically relevant to Teaching Assistants and Graduate Students at UBC. During the workshop you will teach three short lessons and receive feedback from your peers. You will work closely with peers and trained facilitators (who are themselves UBC graduate students). In this supportive atmosphere you will have a chance to begin to develop new teaching skills, to enhance existing skills, and/or to try new and challenging ideas.”

Here is my CV (updated June 2020): PDF

Email

sinaf [at] andrew.cmu.edu