Reetika Gupta is an Associate Professor at ESSEC Business School, Singapore, with a career spanning institutions such as Lehigh University (College of Business and Economics) and City University of New York – Baruch College. Her research focuses on Marketing , Consumer Behavior , and Digital Marketing , particularly in areas like Interactive Marketing , Bottom-of-the-Pyramid Consumers , and Augmented Reality in Marketing . PhD in Marketing (City University of New York – Baruch College, 2005) PGDPC (Mudra Institute of Communications, 1996) BA (Honors) in Economics (St. Stephen's College, 1994) Her research explores: Psychological factors in ethical consumption and sustainable marketing Design of digital platforms to enhance consumer revisits and engagement Impact of social relationships on consumer behavior in emerging markets Political ideology's influence on product preferences Recent publications analyze Bottom-of-the-Pyramid Consumers , Mobile Marketing , and Healthcare Challenges . Awards include Fond de Recherche ESSEC grants and the Alfred Noble Robinson Faculty Award (2012). She has served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Consumer Marketing (2020–2022) and currently as Associate Editor.
Marc Erich Latoschik is a Professor in the Department of Human-Computer Interaction at the University of Würzburg, Germany. He previously held roles at Bayreuth University, Bielefeld University, and FHTW Berlin. His research focuses on virtual and augmented reality, embodiment, human-computer interaction, and applications in health, education, and social systems. Education: Completed his PhD in 2001 at Bielefeld University with a thesis on multimodal interaction in virtual reality. Research Interests: Embodied interaction, virtual embodiment, presence and plausibility in VR/AR, avatar design, social virtual reality, health applications (e.g., VR therapy for body image issues), and XR security/privacy. Active in developing frameworks like Reality Stack I/O and MAIL for VR/AR research. Key Projects: ViTraS study on body image exercises in VR, avatars for mass use via smartphone reconstruction, and motion-based biometrics in XR. Collaborates with medical teams on cybersickness detection and emergency training simulations. Labs/Teams: Leads research groups on immersive technologies and social VR applications. Involved in interdisciplinary projects combining HCI, AI, and healthcare.
Prof. Dr. Verena Hüttl-Maack holds the Chair of Marketing and Consumer Behavior at the University of Hohenheim's Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences. Her roles include academic leadership, research, and teaching in consumer behavior, brand management, and advertising effectiveness. She has been affiliated with the university since 2012, following her habilitation in 2013. Her research explores areas like curiosity-driven marketing, sustainability perceptions, and multilingual packaging effects. Education: Studied Business Administration at the University of Augsburg and University of Wales (UK). Doctorate (2010): Thesis on brand extensions. Habilitation (2013): University of Hohenheim. Research Interests: Her work focuses on the psychological and behavioral aspects of consumer decision-making, particularly how curiosity, language use, and brand messaging influence evaluations. Key themes include the role of art in advertising, competitive advertising effects, and sustainable consumption behaviors. Publications: Over 50 peer-reviewed articles in journals like Journal of Consumer Psychology , Psychology & Marketing , and International Journal of Advertising . Recent work addresses sustainability perceptions in food marketing and the impact of augmented reality on consumer experiences. Grants & Collaborations: Led projects on short food supply chains, consumer responses to multilingual packaging, and transformative consumer journeys. Collaborates internationally with institutions in Germany, Spain, Greece, and Hungary. Labs/Teams: Active in the Marketing and Consumer Behavior research group at Hohenheim, focusing on experimental design and applied consumer research.
Christina Youngmi Choi is a Professor in the School of Design at the Royal College of Art (RCA), specializing in emerging technologies, healthcare, and inclusive design. She holds a BFA and MA in Industrial Design from South Korea, followed by a MSc and PhD from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), where she also served as faculty, earning tenure and holding leadership roles such as Associate Chair and Director of the Graduate Program. Her research focuses on leveraging technology for assistive and inclusive design, emphasizing evidence-based and human-centered approaches. Key areas include usability assessment, assistive product design, and healthcare innovation. She has over 60 publications in journals, conferences, and books, with notable works exploring augmented reality in design and accessibility. Dr. Choi has led or contributed to significant grants, including the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) for Wireless Inclusive Technologies (2016–22), and the NSF-funded Feasibility and Usability Assessment of an Intraoral Inconspicuous Control Surface (2013–16). Her work spans collaborations with industry partners like LG Electronics and Jeju Airlines, addressing challenges in healthcare, education, and consumer technology. Awards: Best Paper Award at AHFE 2022 Georgia Tech Teaching Excellence Recognition (multiple years) National Science Foundation Women of Excellence Award (2016) Her advising and grants highlight interdisciplinary projects, such as integrating traditional wood joinery into CNC manufacturing and developing user-friendly medical devices. She is an editorial board member of the Journal of User Experience and peer reviewer for multiple journals and conferences. Her work also addresses privacy in health technologies and medication adherence systems, reflecting a commitment to societal impact through design.
Carlos Toxtli is an Assistant Professor at Clemson University where he leads the Human-AI Empowerment Lab. His research applies Human-Centered AI to create fair workplace tools, focusing on NLP, computer vision, and crowdsourcing ethics. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Northeastern University and previously worked at Google, Microsoft Research, and Snap Inc. Education: Ph.D. Computer Science, Northeastern University M.S. Innovation & Technological Entrepreneurship, Monterrey Institute of Technology MBA, IEDE Business School B.S. Computer Science, University of the Valley of Mexico B.S. Computer Engineering, National Autonomous University of Mexico Research Focus: Dr. Toxtli develops AI systems promoting workplace fairness through ethical frameworks. His work spans: 1) Human-AI collaboration for task management, 2) Bias mitigation in gig economies, 3) Multimodal interfaces for accessibility, and 4) Culturally adaptive systems. His lab explores how AI can augment human capabilities while ensuring transparency. Publication Trends: Recent works demonstrate strong focus on LLM reliability (7 papers), human-AI teaming (4 studies), and ethical AI frameworks (3 publications). Over 60% of 2024-2025 output addresses real-world deployment challenges. Awards: UNESCO IRCAI Global Top 100 project Google Apps Developer Challenge 1st Place Facebook Developers World Hack 1st Prize Intel Innovation Latin App 1st Prize NSF STIR Labs Research Grant Leadership: Founded the Human-AI Empowerment Lab securing $1.2M in NSF/industry grants. Supervises 8 PhD students in human-centered computing projects. Previously co-founded 5 tech startups including ComproPago (acquired by Coca-Cola FEMSA).
Kai-Yu Wang is a Professor of Marketing at the Goodman School of Business, Brock University. His research spans a wide range of topics in marketing, consumer behavior, and digital technologies, with a particular focus on service recovery, augmented reality, social media marketing, and brand management. Research Interests: Consumer behavior in digital environments Service recovery strategies in social media and chatbot contexts Augmented reality applications in marketing and consumer engagement Brand value co-creation and community building Cross-cultural consumer psychology His recent work delves into the nuances of consumer interactions with emerging technologies like chatbots and AR, examining how these tools influence customer relationships and decision-making processes. Contact Information: Email: kwang@brocku.ca Phone: 905 688 5550 x5597
Ryan Kelly is an Associate Professor in the School of Computing Technologies at RMIT University, specializing in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), digital health, and mixed reality. His research focuses on technology-enabled social connection and wellbeing, including designing communication tools for close relationships, digital health initiatives like the Music-Attuned Care via eHealth (MATCH) project, and VR applications for mental health. He collaborates with industry partners such as Google, Netflix, and the Worldwide Fund for Nature, and has developed technologies for older adults, including simplified video calling systems for aged care during the pandemic. His work has been featured globally in media, including Al-Jazeera's documentary All Hail the Algorithm . He actively contributes to the HCI community as a reviewer and committee member for conferences like ACM CHI and CSCW, holding roles such as Editor for CSCW 2025 and Awards Co-Chair for CSCW 2023. Ryan supervises PhD candidates exploring human-centered AI for social connection and online safety for older adults. His research aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health), 9 (Industry Innovation), and 11 (Sustainable Cities). Key projects include the VR mindfulness application used by over 200,000 Australians and the Painpad device for pain logging in UK hospitals. He advocates for participatory design frameworks, emphasizing ethical AI and technology’s role in fostering meaningful human experiences.
Dr. Daniel Hein is a researcher affiliated with the University of Bamberg's Faculty of Social Sciences, Economics, and Business Administration, specifically within the Chair of Sales & Marketing. His work focuses on Business Digitization, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies. He has contributed to studies exploring the digitization of services and CRM systems, societal implications of emerging technologies like AR smart glasses, and strategic frameworks for digital transformation in non-digital enterprises. His research emphasizes bridging theoretical concepts with practical business challenges, particularly in leveraging digital tools to enhance customer engagement and operational efficiency. Notable themes include analyzing adoption barriers for technologies like autonomous vehicles and smartwatches, and evaluating how analytics drive innovation performance. Dr. Hein has also explored ethical dimensions of wearable technologies and the psychological factors influencing consumer preferences, such as the role of disease avoidance in color choices. His publications span academic journals and conference proceedings, reflecting a keen interest in both technological innovation and its societal ramifications. While no specific grants or awards are listed, his work contributes to interdisciplinary discussions at the intersection of marketing, technology, and organizational strategy. As part of the Chair of Sales & Marketing, Dr. Hein collaborates with academic and industry partners to advance research in digital business practices, CRM effectiveness, and the strategic implications of emerging technologies.
Sarah Xiao is a Professor of Marketing and Head of Department at Durham University Business School, with a dual role as Programme Director for the Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) at Fudan University, China. As a consumer psychologist, her work bridges technology, marketing, and behavioral analysis in retail, tourism, and digital economies. Her research spans: Behavioral Change in consumer decision-making Consumer Analytics (AI, Big Data, Machine Learning) Illicit Consumption and consumer misbehavior Neuroscience in marketing and consumer choice Mobile Commerce and Digital Marketing strategies Recent publications focus on AI-driven consumer behavior, social media revenge typologies, and predictive modeling in tourism demand forecasting. She supervises PhD students including Bai Dan, Matthew He, Coco Li, and Shujun Xiao, while collaborating with global institutions and private-sector partners. Her work has attracted significant research funding and appears in leading journals like Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science and Annals of Tourism Research .
Joel Mero is an Associate Professor at the School of Business and Economics, University of Jyväskylä , leading the Digital Marketing and Communication (DMC) research group and directing the International Master's Program in Digital Marketing and Corporate Communication (DMCC) . He holds a D.Sc. (Econ.) from Jyväskylä University (2016) and has designed over 20 courses across 10 institutions, covering all academic levels from Bachelor to Doctoral. His research focuses on B2B digital marketing management , particularly leveraging digital data and technologies in business markets. Notable achievements include two Best Paper Awards (2017 & 2019) in the Industrial Marketing Management journal. His work explores topics such as influencer marketing, big data analytics, marketing agility, and AI-driven strategies. Current research groups include the Sound Science Lab (music perception) and Digital Marketing and Communication (DMC) . He collaborates on projects like the Finnish Quantum Flagship , aiming to advance quantum technology applications. Mero emphasizes practical applications of digital tools, bridging academic insights with industry needs. Publications span conceptual frameworks, empirical studies, and industry guides, with a focus on B2B customer journeys, AI in content creation, and data-driven decision-making. His teaching and research highlight agility, innovation, and the ethical use of emerging technologies in marketing.
Prof. Dr. Philipp A. Rauschnabel serves as Professor of Digital Marketing and Media Innovation at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich's Faculty of Business Administration. Recognized as one of the world's leading scientists in augmented reality, virtual reality, and metaverse research, he bridges academic theory with practical business applications across multiple industries. His educational background includes: Habilitation, Dr. habil; PD, Otto-Friedrich University of Bamberg Dr. rer. pol. (psychological brand management, 2014, summa cum laude), Otto-Friedrich University of Bamberg M.Sc. in Marketing and Distribution Management, Georg-August University of Göttingen (best of class) BA in Business (Marketing and Business Information Systems), Merseburg University of Applied Sciences (Top 10% graduate) Rauschnabel's research centers on the practical implementation of spatial computing technologies in marketing contexts. He has developed influential frameworks including the XR framework that redefines the relationship between augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality. His work examines how these technologies transform consumer-brand relationships, workplace operations, and marketing strategies across retail, manufacturing, and service industries. He particularly investigates the psychological mechanisms through which AR/VR experiences influence consumer behavior, brand love, and purchasing decisions. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a clear progression from basic AR applications toward more sophisticated spatial computing environments and persistent metaverse experiences. His research demonstrates increasing sophistication in understanding contextual factors, emotional responses, and long-term consumer engagement with these technologies. The work consistently bridges theoretical marketing concepts with practical implementation challenges faced by businesses. His significant scientific recognition includes: Top 1% Scientist (Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher, 2023) Top 2% Scientist (Stanford List 2023) Microsoft Academics listed as one of the top 5 AR researchers worldwide based on citation output (2021) Named one of the top 15 AR marketing researchers worldwide (Kumar, 2021) Prof. Rauschnabel serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Business Research and chairs the bdvb research institute. He has provided expert consultation to the German Federal Government on XR/Web3/Metaverse (2022) and regularly advises major corporations across multiple sectors including food, home appliances, insurance, automotive, and telecommunications across Germany, USA, Switzerland, China, and Austria. His practical consulting work complements his academic research, creating a valuable feedback loop between theory and practice. He leads multiple research initiatives on augmented reality marketing and spatial computing, collaborating with industry partners to develop practical applications of these emerging technologies. His work emphasizes the importance of understanding both the technological capabilities and human factors that determine successful implementation of AR/VR in business contexts.
Barry Babin is the Phil B. Hardin Professor of Marketing and Chair of the Department of Marketing, Analytics and Professional Sales at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) School of Business Administration. He also serves as Executive Director of the Academy of Marketing Science®. Education: B.S. in Industrial Engineering, Louisiana State University (1982) M.B.A. in Business, University of Central Florida (1987) Ph.D. in Business Administration, Louisiana State University (1991) Barry's research focuses on customer experience design , wine marketing , value creation , and marketing analytics . He has published over 200 works, including books like Multivariate Data Analysis and CB: A Consumer Value Framework , with an h-index of 88. His meta-analyses and sensory marketing studies have significantly influenced service and retail marketing practices. Recent publications highlight trends in augmented reality marketing , robotic shopping assistants , and sustainable packaging . His work spans consumer behavior , salesforce management , and digital innovation . Awards: AMS Harold W. Berkman Distinguished Service Award Barry has directed over 20 dissertations/theses and consults on graduate program structures. He is a sought-after speaker in France and globally on marketing research topics.
Federico Becattini is a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor at the Department of Information Engineering and Mathematics (DIISM), University of Siena, Italy. He is an active member of the Siena Artificial Intelligence Lab (SAILab), where he contributes to cutting-edge research in computer vision, deep learning, and artificial intelligence. His work spans multiple interdisciplinary domains, including autonomous driving, human behavior understanding, cultural heritage, neuromorphic vision, and fashion recommendation. His research interests center on memory-based neural networks , which he has applied in numerous publications at top-tier venues such as CVPR, ECCV, IEEE TPAMI, and ACM TOMM. He has also delivered tutorials on this topic at international conferences including ICIAP 2022 and ACM MM 2022, and taught a Ph.D. course at the University of Florence. His recent work is aligned with the Collectionless AI paradigm, which emphasizes continual learning and interaction with dynamic environments. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in human-centric AI , focusing on understanding people through multimodal analysis of face, body, and clothing, as well as generating 3D virtual avatars. There is also a clear emphasis on memory-augmented architectures for temporal reasoning, explainability, and adaptive learning. His editorial role as Associate Editor of the International Journal of Multimedia Information Retrieval further underscores his standing in the research community. Associate Editor, International Journal of Multimedia Information Retrieval (IJMIR) Organizer, Workshop on Facial and Body Expressions (ICPR2020) Co-organizer, T-CAP Workshop (ICIAP2021, ICPR2022) Co-organizer, MCFR Workshop (ACM MM 2022) Co-organizer, WCPA Workshop and Challenge (ECCV 2022) Federico Becattini actively advises students and researchers within SAILab, particularly in the context of Ph.D. theses and research projects related to Collectionless AI and memory-based models. While specific grants are not mentioned, his extensive publication record and leadership in workshops and editorial roles suggest involvement in funded research initiatives. He collaborates with both academic and international research communities, serving as a reviewer for top-tier conferences and journals. He is a core member of the SAILab research group, which is pioneering the Collectionless AI initiative—a framework for continual learning over time, interacting with humans and agents without relying on pre-built static datasets. This lab serves as a hub for innovation in adaptive and sustainable AI systems.
Peter H.N. de With is a Full Professor at the Video Coding & Architectures group within the Department of Electrical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). He is an international expert in video compression and image analysis for health, surveillance, and automotive applications, with over 35 years of R&D experience. He leads the Video Coding & Architectures Group (SPS-VCA) and contributes to initiatives like the Center for Care & Cure Technology Eindhoven and Eindhoven MedTech Innovation Center. De With's research focuses on video/image signal processing, machine learning, and their applications in healthcare (e.g., esophageal cancer detection), security, and automotive systems. His work includes collaborations with hospitals, EU projects, and industry leaders like Bosch Security Systems and ASML. His recent publications emphasize real-time 3D processing, assembly state recognition, driver action analysis, and medical imaging advancements, reflecting his expertise in computer vision and AI. Notable scientific awards include IEEE Fellowship and multiple paper awards (CE Chester Sall, SPIE, Elsevier). Scientific Awards IEEE Fellow CE Chester Sall Award SPIE Paper Award Elsevier Journal Award Best Paper Award (2017) Second Place in CAMELYON17 Challenge De With has supervised numerous research projects and contributed to datasets in noise reduction, augmented reality, and medical imaging. He actively collaborates on AI-driven innovations for healthcare and industrial applications.
Pasquale Cascarano is a fixed-term Assistant Professor at the University of Bologna , affiliated with the Department of the Arts . His research bridges computer science with creative industries (cinema, art, fashion) and biomedical applications, focusing on Artificial Intelligence and Extended Reality paradigms. He collaborates with national and international institutions on interdisciplinary projects. Institutional Affiliation: University of Bologna Academic Role: Assistant Professor (fixed-term) Research Interests center on integrating AI and XR into creative sectors and healthcare, with emphasis on: Generative AI for immersive environments Medical imaging and diagnostics Digital heritage preservation XR-based educational tools 3D visualization techniques Creative technology applications Recent Publications highlight trends in: Medical XR for surgical training AI-driven image restoration LLM integration with AR/VR Privacy in collaborative AR Fashion and cultural heritage digitization Deep learning for video enhancement
