KNIME and the Educators Alliance team recognize outstanding educators who go beyond merely integrating KNIME software into their teaching with the KNIME Distinguished Educator Award. The award highlights the work of these educators and their educational achievements, and thanks them for their efforts.
We are pleased to announce the second recipient of this award: Professor Hamidreza Ahady Dolatsara.
Exploration of new tools and ideas to improve student learning
Prof. Ahady Dolatsara is an Assistant Professor of Business at Clark University. As a researcher, he employs data-driven analytics to improve decision-support systems. In the classroom, he actively explores new tools and educational ideas to enhance student learning. In 2021, he adopted KNIME Analytics Platform as a core teaching tool.
That same year, he began encouraging his students to take advantage of the different educational resources that KNIME offers, including the KNIME Certification Program.
Connecting students to real-world experiences
In 2024, when KNIME launched the first open call within its KNIME Student Challenges program, Ahady Dolatsara submitted a proposal. He was eager to diversify his class projects, and also bring his students closer to companies and real-world business cases.
Student success in KNIME’s Game of Nodes
This partnership had an impact on several of Ahady Dolatsara’s students. Two of his students, Vibha Srinivasa and Shubham Suman, formed a team and competed in KNIME’s first international data science competition, the Game of Nodes They placed second in the final round, held at KNIME Spring Summit 2025 in Berlin, Germany.
Partnering with Siemens Healthineers for applied learning
In 2025, Ahady Dolatsara co-organized a second Student Challenge with KNIME, this time focusing on applications in AI and healthcare. The winning team earned a summer internship at Siemens Healthineers, where they applied KNIME and analytics skills to healthcare challenges.
This sustained partnership reflects Professor Ahady Dolatsara’s role as an active contributor to the KNIME community and an advocate for accessible data science education through low-code tools. His efforts have supported students in gaining hands-on experience and building connections with industry partners.
A lasting impact on students and the KNIME community
Professor Ahady Dolatsara’s work has had a clear impact, not only on student learning but also on their professional development. Recognizing Ahady Dolatsara as a KNIME Distinguished Educator acknowledges his dedication to his students and his positive impact on the academic community.