Biography
Ph.D., Educational Psychology, Purdue University, 2020
M.A., Education, University of British Columbia, 2013
M.Sc., Physics, Shahid Beheshti University, 2007
B.Sc., Physics, Shahid Beheshti University, 2003
Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology, Mississippi State University, 2021–Present
Founder and Director, UPSHOTs Lab, Mississippi State University, 2021-present
Co-founder and Co-director, Imaginarium: Creativity & STEAM Discovery Center, Mississippi State University, 2024–Present
Lecturer in Educational Psychology, Mississippi State University, 2020–2021
Research, Teaching, and Program Administration, Purdue University, 2014–2020
Physics Educator, Curriculum Leader, and Educational Administrator, NODET, Tehran,1997–2014
Professional Overview
Mehdi Garemani, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology in the Department of Counseling, Higher Education Leadership, Educational Psychology, and Foundations at Mississippi State University. He is the founder and director of the UPSHOTs Lab: Understanding Psychology of Higher-Order Thinking Skills and co-founder and co-director of the Imaginarium: Creativity & STEAM Discovery Center.
Dr. Garemani’s research examines higher-order thinking and STEM talent development, with particular emphasis on creativity, critical and scientific thinking, design thinking, wisdom, courage, and the habits of mind that support complex problem-solving and responsible decision-making. His current work also explores human and artificial creativity, artificial wisdom, K–12 engineering design, collaborative learning, and engagement in informal STEM environments. His scholarship has appeared in journals and edited volumes including Roeper Review, Frontiers in Psychology, Education Sciences, the Journal of Advanced Academics, Springer, and Palgrave Macmillan.
Through the UPSHOTs Lab, Dr. Garemani mentors graduate and undergraduate researchers and supports interdisciplinary projects connecting educational psychology, STEM education, artificial intelligence, and informal learning. His research and outreach are closely integrated with the Imaginarium, which provides guided, hands-on STEAM experiences for K–8 students while serving as a setting for research, curriculum development, student training, and university-community collaboration.
Dr. Garemani teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in educational psychology, creativity and innovation, gifted education, learning theories, motivation, research methods, statistics, assessment, and human development. His teaching is grounded in learner-centered and social constructivist principles and emphasizes collaboration, autonomy, authentic application, and the development of higher-order thinking skills. He also involves students in research, scholarly writing, conference presentations, and community-engaged educational experiences.
Before joining Mississippi State University, Dr. Garemani earned his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with a specialization in Gifted, Creative, and Talented Studies from Purdue University. He also holds an M.A. in Education from the University of British Columbia and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics. His earlier professional experience includes more than a decade as a physics teacher, curriculum leader, educational administrator, and assessment specialist within Iran’s National Organization for Development of Exceptional Talents. This interdisciplinary background continues to shape his commitment to cultivating creative, thoughtful, and socially responsible learners.
Research interests: Higher-order thinking; creativity; critical and scientific thinking; design thinking; wisdom; courage; giftedness and talent development; STEM and STEAM education; informal learning environments; collaborative learning; educational assessment; artificial intelligence; and K–12 engineering design.
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Note: Earlier publications are indexed under Mehdi Ghahremani.
