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Hi, I’m Ayaan! I’m an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Cal Poly.

My research in Computing Education focuses on improving student self-regulation in software development (e.g., testing, debugging, help-seeking), fostering motivation to learn computing through autonomy and culturally relevant pedagogy, and expanding opportunities to learn through service.

For more details, visit my research and teaching pages, or see master’s theses I have supervised.

I also advise the Cal Poly chapter of Hack4Impact and the CSSE student tutoring centre.

About me

I obtained my PhD in Computer Science at Virginia Tech in 2020, under the joint advisement of Cliff Shaffer and Steve Edwards. Before that I obtained a BS in Computer Science at the University of West Georgia in 2015.

I’m originally from Mumbai, India.

I like playing and listening to folk music, reading fiction (sci-fi, fantasy, historical fiction) and non-fiction (history, anthropology, and the occasional biography). I also like hiking and cycling and a good TV binge.