AUA Visiting Researcher Eager to Return to Armenia

2 min read

Dr. Tadamasa Sawada, assistant professor at Higher School of Economics (HSE) university in Moscow, is in Armenia as a visiting researcher at the American University of Armenia (AUA) Zaven & Sonia Akian College of Science and Engineering (CSE). During his spring semester sabbatical advancing his research at AUA, Dr. Sawada has felt at home in what he calls a familiar American environment complemented with Armenian hospitality. He mentions his former Armenian students in Russia motivating him and fueling his desire to visit Armenia. The wonderful weather combined with a welcoming culture were among the factors that attracted Dr. Sawada to Armenia. 

Dr. Sawada is originally from Japan, where he obtained his Ph.D. from the Tokyo Institute of Technology. After completing his studies, he held several postdoctoral research appointments over a period of eight years at Purdue University, the Ohio State University, and the State University of New York. He then moved to Moscow to work as an assistant professor at HSE. His research focuses on the human visual system and its various applications. This field of research is referred to as vision science and is highly multidisciplinary, drawing from information science, psychology, applied mathematics, physiology, and optometry. Dr. Sawada is particularly interested in studying how the visual system reconstructs and perceives 3D information from a 2D image. 

After completing his sabbatical, Dr. Sawada is eager to return to Armenia to continue his research activities and teach at the Russian-Armenian University and the European University of Armenia. Dr. Sawada believes that there is significant potential in Armenia for offering new educational programs in cutting-edge fields such as human vision and perception. With that in mind, he is looking forward to the next chapter of collaborative research and innovation with colleagues from AUA and other higher education institutions in Armenia. 

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.