Dr. Zachary Pardos

Associate Professor

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Biography

Zachary Pardos is an Associate Professor in the Berkeley School of Education at the University of California, Berkeley, where he studies adaptive learning and artificial intelligence. His research primarily focuses on knowledge representation and recommender systems designed to enhance upward mobility in postsecondary education, employing behavioral and semantic data analytics. Pardos earned his PhD in Computer Science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. His dissertation addressed computational models of cognitive mastery, leading him to work extensively with K-12 educators and students on integrating educational technology into curricula. He completed a Postdoctoral fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. At UC Berkeley, he directs the Computational Approaches to Human Learning research lab, teaches data science courses, and is an affiliated faculty member in Cognitive Science.

Research Interests

Experience

Postdoctoral Associate

2012-09-01 — 2013-09-01

Massachusetts Institute of Technology • Cambridge, MA, USA

Conducted research in learning sciences, focusing on the integration of AI in educational contexts.

Associate Professor

2013-09-01 — Present

University of California, Berkeley • Berkeley, CA, USA

Directs the Computational Approaches to Human Learning research lab and teaches courses in data science.

Requirements for University of California, Berkeley

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
GRE Subject
Overall Score
Required:500
Overall
Required:500
TOEFL
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or recognized equivalent Preparation comparable to undergraduate major at Berkeley in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics 2 full years lower-division work (Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Multivariable Calculus) 8 one-semester upper-division courses (Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Abstract Algebra, Linear Algebra)
Application Checklist
  • Graduate Application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Personal History Statement
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Unofficial Transcripts
  • C.V./Resume
  • Course and Textbook List
Specialization Notes

The Mathematics Subject GRE is required for the Fall 2026 admissions cycle. General GRE is optional.