In this edition of Cosmographer Corner, we highlight the work of former University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduate and cosmographer Dr. Maryam Maleki. We are extremely proud of Dr. Maleki’s accomplishments!
Dr. Maleki—who is now an assistant professor at California State University-Dominguez Hills teaching systems engineering and data analytics—started her graduate education at UA Little Rock in 2018, studying for a PhD in systems engineering. In her second year, Dr. Maleki joined COSMOS, and then went on to receive her PhD in 2022. We interviewed Dr. Maleki on where her career is now and what her work at COSMOS entailed, with her responses below.
How did COSMOS fit into your university career? How did you come across COSMOS and what were you studying when you joined COSMOS?
During my first year as a Ph.D. student, I worked with a different professor. However, in my second year, I discovered Dr. Agarwal’s work and became involved with COSMOS, which aligned with my research interests. COSMOS played a significant role in shaping my academic journey and became an integral part of my university experience. Although I began a new line of research when I joined COSMOS during my Ph.D. program, I was able to successfully graduate in July 2022, thanks to the incredible support of Dr. Agarwal and his amazing team.
My Ph.D. in Systems Engineering provided me with a strong foundation in mathematical modeling and statistical analysis. I integrated this expertise with information systems, particularly in the area of social media analysis. Through my work with COSMOS, I developed epidemiological models grounded in mathematical frameworks and applied them to social media research. My background in systems engineering complemented the data science research at COSMOS, enabling me to approach social media analysis from a unique and interdisciplinary perspective.
After earning my Ph.D., I pursued my goal of becoming a professor. I applied to various universities and received multiple job offers, ultimately choosing to accept the position of Visiting Assistant Professor in the Business Department at California State University, Fresno, where I worked for one year. This role was a pivotal step in advancing my academic career, which I am now continuing in a tenure-track position at my current university.
How did COSMOS contribute to your career and program at UALR? What was Dr. Agarwal’s role in your journeys during and after?
When I began working with COSMOS and Dr. Agarwal, I had no background in information systems. However, from the start, Dr. Agarwal and his team were incredibly welcoming and supportive, ensuring I never felt isolated. Each team member helped me in unique ways, offering guidance and encouragement. I vividly remember when my first paper was rejected. Dr. Agarwal reassured me, emphasizing that it was not a significant issue and encouraging me to learn from the experience to improve my research and publishing skills. His words of encouragement, coupled with his mentorship, helped me build self-confidence and provided valuable insights into the research process and how to make progress. This unwavering support played a crucial role in my development as a researcher during my time as his student.
Dr. Agarwal’s support has continued even after my graduation. I have had the opportunity to reconnect with him at various conferences, such as AMCIS and HICSS, and I also recently visited the new COSMOS offices in Little Rock. Dr. Agarwal consistently offers valuable guidance on how I can advance in my career, achieve greater success, apply for grants, and submit proposals. His mentorship, along with his generosity in sharing his time and expertise, is deeply appreciated, as such support is not always readily available.
I am honored to continue collaborating on ongoing research with Dr. Agarwal and his exceptional team. Being part of COSMOS has been a privilege, and I am truly grateful for the experience.
How would you describe the “research pipeline” that you worked on while at COSMOS? In other words, what was the specific area in which you researched?
My background in mathematical modeling enabled me to apply epidemiological models—typically used to study the spread of viruses—to analyze the dissemination of various types of information, such as misinformation, opposing viewpoints, and toxicity. By leveraging mathematical models based on differential equations, I explored whether information like misinformation or toxic content could spread in a ‘contagious’ manner, similar to the spread of a virus. During my studies, COVID-19 was a prominent topic, and much of my research focused on misinformation and toxic content related to the pandemic. My HICSS 2023 paper was, if I’m not mistaken, one of the first to apply epidemiological modeling to the analysis of toxic content.
Since leaving COSMOS, what positions have you had? What is your current work? What positions did COSMOS and your classes at UALR best prepare you for?
I began my university teaching career as a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Business Department at California State University, Fresno, where I taught for one year. I am currently a tenure-track faculty member at California State University, Dominguez Hills, teaching various courses in the Systems Engineering program. Some of my courses focus on data analytics, drawing on my expertise in Python, coding, and machine learning—skills I developed during my Ph.D. program. Additionally, I teach foundational physics courses
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When I first joined COSMOS, I was new to the field and started from scratch, teaching myself essential skills for my research, including Python and machine learning. One key source of support was the mentorship I received from COSMOS postdocs, particularly Dr. Mead, whose mentoring approach has had a lasting impact on my own. Additionally, Dr. Wale played a crucial role in helping me identify my research interests during my time at COSMOS.
The mentorship and support I received during my Ph.D. program, especially when I needed it most, inspired me and taught me how to be an effective mentor for students new to the research world. I now apply these lessons to guide my students, many of whom are just beginning to learn how to conduct research. I currently lead a research team of seven students as research assistants, and the guidance I received has profoundly shaped my approach to mentoring others.
If you had to describe the most momentous event at COSMOS, what would it be?
During my time as a Ph.D. student in COSMOS, much of my research took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, which required us to work remotely for the majority of those years. As a result, I was unable to attend in-person conferences and had to present my papers virtually. Additionally, there were fewer events compared to what is available today.
Despite these challenges, we had the opportunity to be interviewed by local media outlets. In May 2020, we were featured on KARK, the NBC affiliate in Little Rock, where we discussed our research on the spread of COVID-19 misinformation. In May 2021, we were again interviewed by THV11, a Little Rock news station, to further explore our work on COVID-19 misinformation. These experiences were incredibly motivating and reinforced the significance of the research we were conducting.
What advice would you have for current Cosmographers?
I advise students to focus on developing both hard and soft skills simultaneously. While hard skills—such as coding, learning various tools and techniques, conducting research, and acquiring technical expertise—are essential for success, soft skills are equally important. Building a problem-solving mindset, teamwork abilities, time management, and effective communication are critical for professional growth. Professionalism and the ability to collaborate effectively are vital in any work environment.
Working in COSMOS, a team of experienced professionals, provides an excellent opportunity to practice and refine both skill sets. Although soft skills can be more challenging to assess and develop, they are fundamental in academic and career success. COSMOS offers a supportive environment where you can cultivate these essential skills, preparing you for a successful future.