Maryam Majedi, an assistant teaching professor in UC Santa Barbara’s Computer Science Department, has received the 2026 Chancellor’s Faculty Award for Undergraduate Research Mentoring. The award recognizes one faculty member campuswide each year for their exceptional mentorship of undergraduate researchers.

For Majedi, the award belongs as much to her students as it does to her.

“This award is not an individual achievement,” she said. “It reflects the hard work, creativity, dedication, and success of the undergraduates in the Embedded Ethics Lab, whom I have had the privilege to mentor. Watching them grow from learners into researchers, scholars, and leaders has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career.”

Majedi leads UCSB’s Embedded Ethics Lab, where undergraduates conduct research at the intersection of computing, education, ethics, and society. The lab encourages researchers to look beyond what technology can do and consider how it affects people and communities, an approach that has led to work in computer science education, accessibility, and socially responsible technology.

“In the Embedded Ethics Lab, we strive to conduct research that is both innovative and ethically grounded,” Majedi said. “We encourage students to think not only about what technology can do, but also about how it affects people and society.”

That approach has helped undergraduates to develop as researchers while producing work in computer science education, ethical computing, accessibility, and socially responsible technology. Majedi’s group members have contributed to top conference publications, educational innovations, and projects aimed at making computing more ethical, inclusive, and accessible.

“I take immense pride in my students; you will rarely find me not talking about their achievements,” Majedi said. “Their growth and success are my mission and the reason I do what I do.”

The past two recipients of the College of Engineering’s Tirrell Award for Distinction in Undergraduate Research, which recognizes exceptional promise in undergraduate research, were both mentored by Majedi.

Tianle Yu received the 2025 Tirrell Award after creating Innostruction, an AI-supported educational platform designed to improve learning for students and provide instructors with real-time feedback and course planning tools. That platform, developed under Majedi’s supervision, has served as the foundation for several related initiatives, including a question repository currently in use by students.   

This year’s recipient, Sammy Lesner, worked with Majedi on a computer science education project exploring how search-engine design can contribute to the spread of misinformation. Lesner designed an educational module that teaches both the technical foundations of search engines and their ethical implications. The project resulted in a publication in the Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE) 2026, one of the leading conferences in computer science education.

“Professor Majedi gives so much to all her students. She is a big inspiration for me as a researcher and a mentor,” said Lesner, who was also selected by faculty as the Outstanding Senior of Computer Science. “I see how her values have shaped the way that I show up for others. I am generous with my time and energy for others, because she is for me.”

Majedi said that seeing undergraduates she has mentored receive major research honors is especially significant because it reflects what undergraduates can accomplish when they are given opportunities, encouragement, and support to pursue their potential.

“To me, the Tirrell Award reflects two things: dedicated students who are eager to learn and contribute, and a supportive academic community that provides them with a platform to shine,” Majedi said. “And I share the pride with the many faculty members and staff in the Computer Science Department who have supported and encouraged our students throughout their journeys.”

For Majedi, mentoring is ultimately about helping undergraduates develop skills and values that extend beyond a single project, publication, or award.

“When students learn how to ask questions, think critically, collaborate with others, and consider the ethical implications of their work, they develop skills that extend far beyond research,” she said. “They become thoughtful professionals, engaged citizens, and future leaders who can make a positive impact on the world.”

“If my students leave UCSB as ethical, compassionate, capable, and confident contributors to society,” she added, “then I feel I have accomplished my mission.”