Skip to main content

Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed

Associate Professor

University of North Texas

Department of Communication Studies

Email: Iftekhar.Ahmed@unt.edu

Education

  • PhD, Texas A&M University, 2009
    Major: Communication
    Specialization: Group/Organization/Technology
    Dissertation: A study of the relationship of communication technology configurations in virtual research environments and effectiveness of collaborative research
  • MA, West Texas A&M University, 2004
    Major: Coomunication

Professional Positions

  • Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. (2009 - 2012).

    • Academic - Post-Secondary

  • Associate Professor, University of North Texas. University of North Texas. (2018 - Present).
  • Research Scientist (0% time appoinment), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (2013 - 2018).
  • Assistant Professor, University of North Texas. University of North Texas. (2012 - 2018).

Teaching

Teaching Experience

    University of North Texas

  • COMM 3320 - Communication and Conflict Management, 3 courses.
  • COMM 3720 - Small Group Communication, 20 courses.
  • COMM 3820 - Social Media Perspectives, 1 course.
  • COMM 3920 - Organizational Communication, 27 courses.
  • COMM 4020 - Communication Theory, 4 courses.
  • COMM 4320 - Virtual Gaming, 11 courses.
  • COMM 4800 - Communication Internship, 7 courses.
  • COMM 4829 - Topics in Interpersonal/Organizational Studies, 2 courses.
  • COMM 4900 - Special Problems, 1 course.
  • COMM 5120 - Group Processes, 3 courses.
  • COMM 5185 - Quantitative Research Methods in Communication, 1 course.
  • COMM 5225 - Interpersonal Communication, 1 course.
  • COMM 5325 - Communication Theory, 6 courses.
  • COMM 5820 - Seminar in Communication Processes, 5 courses.
  • COMM 5910 - Special Problems, 2 courses.
  • COMM 5920 - Research Problems in Lieu of a Thesis, 2 courses.
  • COMM 5930 - Research Problems in Lieu of a Thesis, 3 courses.
  • COMM 5950 - Master's Thesis, 4 courses.

Directed Student Learning

  • Other (Mentor for New Graduate Student), Communication Studies. (September 2021 - May 2022).
  • Major Professor, Communication Studies. (September 2020 - May 2022).
  • Master's Comprehensive Exam Member or Grader, Communication Studies. (September 2020 - May 2022).
  • Master's Thesis Committee Member, Communication Studies. (September 2020 - May 2022).
  • Master's Comprehensive Exam Member or Grader, Communication Studies. (2019 - 2020).
  • Master's Comprehensive Exam Member or Grader, Communication Studies. (2019 - 2020).
  • Master's Comprehensive Exam Member or Grader, Communication Studies. (2019 - 2020).
  • Supervised Research, Communication Studies. (June 2020 - July 2020).
  • Internship Advisor, Communication Studies. (2019 - 2019).
  • Master's Comprehensive Exam Member or Grader, Communication Studies. (2018 - 2019).
  • Master's Comprehensive Exam Member or Grader, Communication Studies. (2018 - 2019).
  • Master's Comprehensive Exam Member or Grader, Communication Studies. (2017 - 2018).
  • Master's Thesis Committee Member, "THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON FOOTBALL: MAKING SENSE OF PARENTS’ DECISION TO ALLOW THEIR CHILD TO PLAY TACKLE FOOTBALL," Communication Studies. (2017 - 2018).
  • Major Professor, Communication Studies. (2015 - 2016).
  • Master's Comprehensive Exam Member or Grader, Communication Studies. (2015 - 2016).
  • Master's Thesis Committee Chair, "Tracing the Evolution of Collaborative Virtual Research Environments: A Critical Events-Based Perspective," Communication Studies. (2015 - 2016).
  • Master's Thesis Committee Member, "THE POWER OF THE SERVANT TEACHER," Communication Studies. (2015 - 2016).

Awards and Honors

  • Pathways to the Doctorate Fellowship, Texas A&M University. (2004).

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

    Abstracts and Proceedings

  • Ahmed, I., Poole, M.S., Trudeau, A.B. (2018). A Typology of Virtual Research Environments. 51 IEEE. https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/handle/10125/49974
  • Ahmed, I., Cai, Y., Pilny, A., Brown, C., Atouba, Y., Poole, M. (2013). SocialMapExplorer: visualizing social networks of massively multiplayer online games in temporal-geographic space. Proceedings of the Conference on Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment: Gateway to Discovery. 18. ACM. http://delivery.acm.org/10.1145/2490000/2484805/a18-cai.pdf?ip=129.120.246.12&id=2484805&acc=ACTIVE%20SERVICE&key=F82E6B88364EF649.3BFCD970B3FB0BEC.4D4702B0C3E38B35.4D4702B0C3E38B35&CFID=752387798&CFTOKEN=73125238&__acm__=1492531571_365925b9fc78fa8bb5ed4b8e62dec0d2
  • Ahmed, I., Brown, C., Poole, M., Pilny, A., Cai, D., Atouba, Y. (2012). Comparing the performance of group detection algorithm in serial and parallel processing environments. Proceedings of the 1st Conference of the Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment: Bridging from the eXtreme to the campus and beyond. 21. ACM. http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2335817
  • Ahmed, I., Pilny, A., Brown, C., Cai, D., Ada, Y., Poole, M. (2011). Identification of groups in online environments: The twist and turns of grouping groups. Proceedings of the 3rd IEEE International Conference on Social Computing (SocialCom2011). IEEE. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6113184/
  • Ahmed, I., Ahmad, M., Srivastava, J., Poole, M. (2011). Trust me, I am an expert: Trust, homophily and expertise in MMOs. Proceedings of the 3rd IEEE International Conference on Social Computing (SocialCom2011). IEEE. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6113234/
  • Weber, I., Ahmed, I. (2009). Toward a theory of online learning behavior: An environmental model for participation, interaction, and collaboration. Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference of Teaching and Learning. INTI University College. http://ictl.intimal.edu.my/ictl2009/proceedings/index.html

    • Book Chapter

  • Ahmed, I., Poole, M.S. (2023). A Process Method Approach to Study the Development of Virtual Research Environments: A Theoretical Framework. Learning, Design, and Technology. 1019-1039. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17461-7_118
  • Ahmed, I., Pilny, A., Poole, M.S. (2018). Understanding aggressive and non-aggressive individual behaviors in MMOPG. Lakkaraju, K. & Sukthankar, G. (Eds.), Social Interaction in Virtual Worlds. 1 (1) New York, USA, Cambridge University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/social-interactions-in-virtual-worlds/CC24773513E05F24CAC9AD1A6F009D9C
  • Ahmed, I., Proulx, J., Pilny, A. (2017). Causal Inference Using Bayesian Networks. Group Processes. 1 (1) 29-49. USA, Springer International Publishing. http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-48941-4_3
  • Ahmed, I., Mahapatra, A., Poole, M., Srivastava, J., Brown, C. (2014). Identifying a Typology of Players Based on Longitudinal Game Data. Predicting Real World Behaviors from Virtual World Data. 103-115. New York, NY, Springer International Publishing. http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-07142-8_7/fulltext.html

    • Encyclopedia Article

  • Poole, M.S., Ahmed, I. (2015). Decision Making Processes in Organizations. The Concise Encyclopedia of Communication. 138-139. Malden, MA, Wiley. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/book/10.1002/9781118789353
  • Poole, M.S., Ahmed, I. (2009). Group decision support systems. W. Eadie (Ed.): 21st Century Communication: A Reference Handbook. 2 550-557. Thousand Oaks, CA, SAGE. http://sk.sagepub.com/reference/communication/n61.xml
  • Poole, M.S., Ahmed, I. (2008). Organizational decision making. W. Donsbach (Ed.) Blackwell Encyclopedia of Communication. 3 1181-1188. Oxford, Wiley-Blackwell.

    • Journal Article

  • Ahmed, I., Poole, M.S., Norman, E., Simpson, E. (2024). An analysis of scientific group collaboration at JLESC.. Future Generation Computer Systems. 159 (1) 284-289. Amsterdam, Elsevier. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167739X24002474
  • Ahmed, I., Poole, M.S., Pilny, A.N. (2019). Stability of Membership and Persistence in Teams: Impacts on Performance. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice. 23 (3-4) 156-169. Washington DC, American Psychological Association. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/gdn0000109
  • Ahmed, I., Cooper, K., McGrath, R., Griego, G., Poole, M., Hanisch, R. (2014). A process study of the development of virtual research environments. Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series. Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems XXIII. 485 325-328. Chicago, IL, Astronomical Society of the Pacific. http://www.aspbooks.org/a/volumes/article_details/?paper_id=36243

    • White Paper

  • Ahmed, I., Poole, M.S., Simpson, E. Comparative analysis of different models of IVRO to identify similarities and differences among structural components.. http://gecat.ncsa.illinois.edu/research/publications-and-presentations/
  • Ahmed, I., Poole, M.S., Simpson, E. Identification of Factors that Facilitate IVRO Structuring to Promote Idea Generation, Collaboration, and Network Development.. http://gecat.ncsa.illinois.edu/research/publications-and-presentations/
  • Ahmed, I., Poole, M.S., Simpson, E. Identification of Tools and Technologies for IVROs.. . http://gecat.ncsa.illinois.edu/research/publications-and-presentations/

Presentations Given

  • Annual Convention of the National Communication Association, (2011 - 2011).
  • Hawaii International Conference on Systems Sciences, (2011 - 2011).
  • IEEE International Conference on Social Computing, (2011 - 2011).
  • INGRoup Conference, (2011 - 2011).
  • Annual Convention of the National Communication Association, (2010 - 2010).
  • Annual Convention of the National Communication Association, (2010 - 2010).
  • Pre-doctoral Education Conference, (2009 - 2009).
  • Annual Convention of the National Communication Association, (2008 - 2008).
  • Global Fusion Conference, (2008 - 2008).
  • Annual Convention of the National Communication Association, (2007 - 2007).
  • Education, Media and Technology Symposium (IIE2), (2006 - 2006).
  • Pathways Research Symposium, (2004 - 2004).
  • Texas Speech Communication Association, (2002 - 2002).

    • Design Work

  • Trudeau, A. (Author), Ahmed, I. (Author), 102nd National Communication Association Annual Conference, Mining communication and coordination data from electronic information repositories for group communication research, National Communication Association, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America. (2016).

    • Oral Presentation

  • Ahmed, I. (Author & Presenter), Poole, M.S. (Author), 2024 Science of Team Science Conference, Studying Teams Through Mediated Team Communication, The International Network for the Science of Team Science, Virtual, United States of America. (2024 - 2024).

    • Other

  • Ahmed, I. (Author & Presenter), Poole, M.S. (Author), Simpson, E. (Author), 2024 Science of Team Science Conference, Analysis of Different Models of IVRO to Identify Similarities and Differences Among Structural Components., The International Network for the Science of Team Science, Virtual, United States of America. (2024 - 2024).
  • Ahmed, I. (Author & Presenter), Poole, M.S. (Author), Norman, E. (Author), Simpson, E. (Author), 12th Annual International Science of Team Science (SciTS) Conference, Multiple team membership and its relationship with team performance, International Network for the Science of Team Science (INSciTS), Virtual, United States of America. (2021 - 2021).
  • Ahmed, I. (Author & Presenter), Poole, M.S. (Author), Simpson, E. (Author), Norman, E. (Author), 12th Annual International Science of Team Science (SciTS) Conference, Structuring effective collaboration, International Network for the Science of Team Science (INSciTS), Virtual, United States of America. (2021 - 2021).
  • McGlynn III, J. (Author & Presenter), Ahmed, I. (Author & Presenter), Group Communication and Conflict Resolution, UNT Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, United States of America. (2019 - 2019).
  • McGlynn III, J. (Author & Presenter), Ahmed, I. (Author & Presenter), Group Communication and Conflict Resolution, UNT Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, United States of America. (2019 - 2019).
  • Ahmed, I. (Other), McGlynn, J. (Other), Team Communication Workshop, Team Communication Workshop, UNT Health Science Center, United States of America. (2018 - 2018).

    • Paper

  • Norman, E. (Author & Presenter), Ahmed, I. (Author), Poole, M.S. (Author), 2022 Science of Team Science Conference, Advancing Science of Team Science by Examining Collaboration in a Multinational Virtual Research Laboratory., International Network for the Science of Team Science, Virtual, United States of America. (2022 - 2022).
  • Tran, J. (Author & Presenter), Ahmed, I. (Author), 2022 Science of Team Science Conference, Developing a Theory of Deception for Team Science., International Network for the Science of Team Science, Virtual, United States of America. (2022 - 2022).
  • Tran, J. (Author & Presenter), Norman, E. (Author), Ahmed, I. (Author), McGlynn, J. (Author), 12th Annual International Science of Team Science Conference, Screens and vaccines: Examining the influence of Twitter features on credibility judgments of COVID-19 misinformation., International Network for the Science of Team Science, Virginia Tech (Virtual), USA, United States of America. (2021).
  • Norman, E. (Author & Presenter), Tran, J. (Author), Ahmed, I. (Author), 12th Annual International Science of Team Science Conference, ) Developing a Networked Misinformation Risk Model, International Network for Science of Team Science, Virginia Tech (Virtual), United States of America. (2021 - 2021).
  • Ahmed, I. (Author), Trudeau, A. (Author), Simpson, E. (Author), Lambert, N. (Author), Poole, M. (Author), Science of Team Science Conference, A Dynamic Ecology of Teams in an International Virtual Research Organization: What Makes Teams Productive?, Science of Team Science, Clearwater, FL, United States of America. (2017).
  • Pilny, A. (Author), Ahmed, I. (Author), Poole, M.S. (Author), Yannick, A. (Author), The 67th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association, Constructing Communication Theory From Machine Learning Algorithms, International Communication Association, San Diego, CA, United States of America. (2017).
  • Ahmed, I. (Author), Poole, M.S. (Author), Simpson, E. (Author), Lambert, N. (Author), Science of Team Science Conference, Toward an understanding of low-overhead, action oriented team science, Science of Team Science, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America. (2016).
  • Trudeau, A. (Author), Ahmed, I. (Author), Science of Team Science Conference, Tracing the Evolution of Collaborative Virtual Research Environments: A Critical Event Based Perspective, Science of Team Science, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America. (2016).
  • Ahmed, I. (Author), Scott, P.M. (Author), International Communication Association Annual Conference, A Proposed Technology Implementation Scheme for Virtual Research Environments, International Communication Association, Puerto Rico, United States of America. (2015).
  • Ahmed, I. (Author), Poole, M.S. (Author), International Communication Association Regional Conference, A Typology of Virtual Research Environments: Communication, Collaboration, and Research Technologies, International Communication Association, Lodz, Poland, Poland. (2015).
  • Ahmed, I. (Author), Pilny, A.N. (Author), Poole, M.S. (Author), International Communication Association Regional Conference, Aggression and Individual Behavior in Virtual Worlds, International Communication Association, Lodz, Poland, Poland. (2015).
  • Ahmed, I. (Author), Poole, M.S. (Author), McGrath, R. (Author), 99th Annual Convention of the National Communication Association, A Process Method Approach to Study the Development of Virtual Research Environments: A Theoretical Framework, National Communication Association, Washington DC, United States of America. (2013).
  • Ahmed, I. (Author), Poole, M.S. (Author), 99th Annual Convention of the National Communication Association, Scientific Cyberinfrastructures Connecting Dispersed Scientists: A Comparison between Social Science and other Domains' Virtual Research Environments, National Communication Association, Washington DC, United States of America. (2013).
  • Atouba, Y. (Author), Ahmed, I. (Author), Brown, C. (Other), Poole, M.S. (Author), Pilny, A.N. (Author), Dora, C. (Other), 99th Annual Convention of the National Communication Association, Using group communication theories to identify groups in virtual worlds: Challenges, opportunities, and case study, National Communication Association, Washington DC, United States of America. (2013).
  • Ahmed, I. (Author), Cooper, K. (Author), McGrath, R. (Author), Greigo, G. (Author), Poole, M.S. (Author), Hanisch, R. (Author), 23rd Annual Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems (ADASS) Conference, A process study of the development of virtual research environments, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Waikoloa, Hawaii, United States of America. (2013).
  • Ahmed, I. (Author), Mahapatra, A. (Author), Poole, M.S. (Author), Srivastava, J. (Author), Brown, C. (Other), ASE/IEEE International Conference on Social Computing, Identifying a typology of players based on llongitudinal game data, IEEE, Washington DC, United States of America. (2013).

    • Poster

  • Ahmed, I. (Author), First Annual International Science of Team Science Conference, A study of communication technology configurations in virtual research environments, Science of Team Science, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America. (2010).

Contracts, Grants, Sponsored Research

    Grant - Research

  • Ahmed, I. (Principal), "GECAT: Global Initiative to Enhance @ Scale and Distributed Computing and Analysis Technologies to Address Grand Challenge Problems Around the World," sponsored by National Science Foundation, Federal, $142751 Funded. (2014 - 2020).
  • Ahmed, I. (Principal), "VOSS: Research on the process of development of virtual research environments," sponsored by National Science Foundation, Federal, $248551 Funded. (2012 - 2017).
  • Ahmed, I. (Principal), "GECAT- Global Initiative to Enhance @ Scale and Distributed Computing and Analysis Technologies to Address Grand Challenge Problems Around the World," sponsored by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, NFP, Funded. (2014 - 2020).
  • Ahmed, I. (Principal), "VOSS: Research on the Process of Virtual Environment," sponsored by National Science Foundation, FED, Funded. (2012 - 2017).

Service

University Service

  • Director, Director of Graduate Studies. (August 17, 2021 - Present).
  • Program Coordinator, Digital Media Certificate. (2019 - Present).
  • Member, IGST Gaming Narrative and Design Degree Ad-hoc Committee. (2019 - Present).
  • Member, Integrative Studies Faculty Committee. (2019 - Present).
  • Faculty Mentor, New faculty mentoring program. (2018 - Present).
  • Committee Member, Graduate Curriculum Committee. (2021 - 2025).
  • Committee Member, Executive Committee. (September 1, 2020 - August 31, 2024).
  • Committee Chair, Graduate Standards Committee. (September 1, 2020 - August 31, 2024).
  • Committee Member, Curriculum Committee. (September 1, 2021 - August 31, 2022).
  • Committee Member, Reappoinment, Promotion, and Tenure Committee. (September 1, 2021 - August 31, 2022).
  • Committee Member, CLASS Strategic Planning Steering Committee. (2020 - 2021).
  • Chairperson, Personnel Affairs Committee. (September 1, 2020 - August 31, 2021).
  • Chairperson, Reappoinment, Promotion, and Tenure Committee. (September 1, 2020 - August 31, 2021).
  • Member, Curriculum Committee. (2019 - 2020).
  • Member, Personnel Affairs Committee. (2018 - August 31, 2020).
  • Member, Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure (RPTC) Committee. (2018 - August 31, 2020).
  • Member, Curriculum Committee. (2018 - 2019).
  • Member, CLASS Faculty Council. (January 2019 - May 2019).
  • Committee Member, Faculty Research Committee. (2012 - 2018).
  • Committee Member, Executive Committee. (2015 - August 2018).
  • Member, Curriculum Committee. (2016 - 2017).
  • Member, Online Exploration Committee. (2016 - 2017).
  • Other (Co-chair), Faculty Search Committee. (2015 - 2016).
  • Committee Member, Research Committee. (2014 - 2016).
  • Member, Digital Studies Certificate Development. (2012 - 2016).
  • Committee Chair, Curriculum Committee. (2014 - 2015).
  • Committee Chair, Research Committee. (2013 - 2014).
  • Program Organizer, New Voices New Perspective Conference Organizing Committee. (2013 - 2013).
  • Committee Member, Curriculum Committee. (2012 - 2013).
  • Committee Member, Research Committee. (2012 - 2013).