Dr. Saman Sargolzaei

Education

• Ph.D., Florida International University
• M.Sc., University of Tennessee at Martin
• M.Sc., University of Miami
• M.Sc., Amirkabir University of Technology
• B.Sc., Mazandaran University

Dr. Saman Sargolzaei is an Associate Professor of Computer Science and Program Chair of Artificial Intelligence at Belhaven University. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Florida International University (2015), an M.Sc. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Miami (2012), an M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology (2009), an M.Sc. in Education with a major in Educational Leadership from the University of Tennessee at Martin (2024), and a B.Sc. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Mazandaran University (2006). He completed postdoctoral training at UCLA and Georgia Institute of Technology.

At Belhaven, Dr. Sargolzaei leads teaching and curriculum development in artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, NLP, AI ethics, and AI applications. He advances the AI program, mentors students, supports interdisciplinary collaboration, and fosters program growth within the School of Mathematics and Science. He also contributes to university service, student recruitment, and the integration of Christian faith with AI education.

His research focuses on human-centered, ethical, and trustworthy AI and emerging neurotechnologies, integrating network science, computational neuroengineering, and machine learning to study complex adaptive systems. He is the founder and director of the Brain Autonomy and Resiliency Lab.

Prior to Belhaven, he served as Associate Professor of Engineering at the University of Tennessee at Martin and as Visiting Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Florida Polytechnic University.

Dr. Sargolzaei has received the University of Tennessee Alumni Association Outstanding Teacher Award (2026), the Cunningham Outstanding Teacher/Scholar Award (2025), and the NSF CMMI Game Changer Academies for Advancing Research Innovation (2024).

Outside academia, he enjoys singing in the church choir and spending time with his Golden Retriever.