Farzaneh Talebhaghighi (she/her) is a Ph.D. student in the School of Information at the University of Arizona with a minor in Social Sciences, with a research focus at the intersection of archival studies, immersive technologies, and sociotechnical design. She holds an M.A. in Archival Studies and a B.A. in Library and Information Science from Al-Zahra University in Tehran, where she was among the first cohorts trained in archival science in Iran.
Farzaneh’s research explores how artificial intelligence (AI) and immersive technologies such as virtual reality (VR) can be applied to transform archival images and audiovisual materials into dynamic, experiential environments. Her work draws on participatory and speculative design to foreground the ethical, political, and cultural dimensions of archival representation. Her current projects examine “ Bringing Archives to Life: Designing an AI Module for Dynamic VR Experiences from Archival Photographs”.
She has contributed to several national research projects in Iran, including the development of standards for evaluating medical science publications and cultural needs assessments in higher education. Farzaneh’s scholarly output includes peer-reviewed journal articles, collaborative translations, and public-facing contributions such as the Wikipedia entry for “Audiovisual archive.” Her M.A. thesis focused on the feasibility of establishing a theater archive at Tehran’s City Theater Complex, reflecting a long-standing interest in documenting performance and ephemeral cultural heritage.
Outside academia, Farzaneh has served as a managing editor, student journal founder, public relations coordinator, and community organizer in Iranian professional and academic library networks. She is also a translator, Wikipedia contributor, and advocate for expanding access to digital archival knowledge.