Anna S. Mattila is the Marriott Professor of Lodging Management and serves as Professor-in-Charge of the Graduate Program at the School of Hospitality Management, Pennsylvania State University. Her research spans social media, service recovery, servicescape, prosocial behaviors, cross-cultural studies, and wellness in hospitality contexts. Education : B.S. and Ph.D. from Cornell University, M.B.A. from University of Hartford Mattila's work examines how emotions, cultural norms, and technological innovations like AI influence consumer decisions in hospitality. Her studies cover topics from robotic service interactions to sustainable food marketing and moral psychology in tourism. She has published extensively in journals such as International Journal of Hospitality Management and Journal of Consumer Marketing . Her recent articles focus on AI integration in hospitality, consumer trust in virtual influencers, upcycled food adoption, and the psychological effects of servicescape design. Key themes include ethical consumption, digital transformation, and cross-cultural consumer behavior. Advising : Supervised Anqi Luo's dissertation on service recovery in 2022 Mattila's office is located in 224 Mateer Building, University Park, PA. She contributes to advancing hospitality research through methodological consulting and the Penn State Biomarker Core Laboratory.
Karl Gustafsson is a Professor at Stockholm University within the Department of Economic History and International Relations. His work bridges security studies , collective memory , and digital research methods in international relations. Current Role: Professor of International Relations, Stockholm University Previous Positions: Post-Doc at Lund University, Researcher at Swedish Institute of International Affairs Visiting Appointments: University of Tokyo, Osaka University, Keio University, Academia Sinica, Nordic Institute of Asian Studies Research Focus: Karl specializes in memory politics , ontological security , and anxiety-driven international dynamics , particularly in Sino-Japanese relations and digital platforms . His studies explore how historical narratives and online memory construction influence state identity and policy. Awards & Grants: Recipient of the Wang Gungwu Prize (2014) and Stockholm University Association’s award (2011). Holds Swedish Research Council and Marianne & Marcus Wallenberg Foundation grants for projects on apologies in international politics and digital memory in East Asia . Publications: His work appears in journals such as International Studies Quarterly , European Journal of International Relations , and Memory Studies , addressing topics like narrative power in East Asia, anxiety’s role in policy change , and digital humanities applications in IR.
Kazuhiro Saitou is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan, affiliated with the College of Engineering. His research focuses on computational design synthesis, topology optimization, and manufacturing process integration. He leads the Algorithmic Synthesis Laboratory (ASL), advancing algorithms for automated design and optimization of mechanical systems. Education: Ph.D. (1996), MIT; M.S. (1992), MIT; B.Eng. (1990), University of Tokyo. He has held tenured positions since 1997, including roles as Founding CEO of Comnext, Inc. (2007–2012) and visiting professorships at École Centrale Paris and Donghua University. Research interests include multi-material topology optimization (M^3 TO), AI-driven design, and sustainable manufacturing. Key projects address additive manufacturing, composite structures, and energy-efficient production systems. He has pioneered methods for manufacturability-driven design and assembly optimization. Notable awards include IEEE Fellow (2018), ASME Kos-Ishii Award (2015), and NSF CAREER Award (1999). He serves as Editor-in-Chief for IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering and holds leadership roles in ASME and IEEE societies. Teaching includes courses on design optimization, CAD, and global product development. His lab has advised over 30 students, with alumni in academia and industry. Current research explores biomechanical modeling, traffic flow optimization, and medical image registration algorithms.
Gilbert Fridgen is Full Professor in Digital Financial Services and holder of the PayPal-FNR PEARL Chair at the University of Luxembourg's Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT). He leads the FINATRAX research group focusing on blockchain, digital identity, and sustainable digital solutions. His research explores decentralized technologies in finance, energy systems, and public administration. Current projects investigate blockchain applications in industrial demand response, NFT markets, EU digital identity wallets, and DeFi institutional adoption. Prof. Fridgen examines the intersection of technology with regulatory frameworks and user behavior in energy and financial systems. He collaborates extensively with industry partners including PayPal and Spuerkeess. Prof. Fridgen actively contributes to EU digital policy discussions, particularly regarding the European Digital Identity Wallet framework and decentralized finance governance.
Prof. Magnus Fröhling is a Full Professor of Circular Economy and Sustainability Assessment at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), leading the Chair of Circular Economy and Sustainability Assessment at TUM Campus Straubing. He holds a doctorate and habilitation from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), specializing in material flow analysis and resource efficiency. His career includes roles as a professor at TU Bergakademie Freiberg before joining TUM in 2018. Fröhling’s research focuses on quantitative approaches for circular economy systems, including industrial value chains, built environments, and bioeconomy. He co-leads the TUM Mission Network Circular Economy, an interdisciplinary platform for research and innovation. **Education:** Bachelor/Master in Industrial Engineering, Karlsruhe University (TH) PhD in Industrial Engineering (2005), Karlsruhe University Habilitation in Business Administration (2011), KIT **Research Interests:** Circular economy concepts for automotive industry, buildings, and energy systems; sustainability assessment in bioeconomy; policy instruments for resource efficiency. His work emphasizes lifecycle analysis and closed-loop systems. **Awards:** TUM Sustainability Award (2021) and recognition for groundbreaking research on sustainability in industrial biotechnology (2020). **Advising & Grants:** Leads research initiatives like CirculaTUM, focusing on interdisciplinary collaboration. His work integrates policy analysis, technological innovation, and industrial ecology to advance sustainability goals. **Labs/Teams:** Active in TUM’s Green Fuel Center and SynBioFoundry@TUM, promoting sustainable energy and biotechnology solutions.
A. Michael Knemeyer is a Professor of Logistics at The Ohio State University's Max M. Fisher College of Business, where he contributes to research and teaching in supply chain management. His work focuses on supply chain relationships, risk and resilience, vendor relations, and sustainability integration. Educational Background: PhD from the University of Maryland, BSBA from John Carroll University Research Areas: Supply chain relationships, international logistics, sustainability, vendor relations, risk management Key Awards: 2013 IJPDLM Outstanding Paper Award, 2013 Bernard J. La Londe Best Paper Award Knemeyer's publications in journals like Harvard Business Review and Journal of Business Logistics explore critical themes in logistics outsourcing relationships, supply chain integration, and sustainable practices. His work often examines cross-cultural dynamics and institutional factors affecting supply chain performance. Selected Courses: Strategic Supply Chain Management, Contemporary Issues in Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Decision Making
Jon Singletary serves as Dean and holds the Diana R. Garland Endowed Chair of Child and Family Studies at Baylor University's Diana R. Garland School of Social Work. He joined Baylor in 2003 after earning his PhD in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), alongside an MSW from VCU and MDiv from Baptist Theological Seminary. His career includes prior roles as Associate Dean (2010–2015) before becoming Dean in 2015. Before academia, Singletary worked as a pastor, community organizer, and social service administrator. His research focuses on strengthening congregational ministries, community development, and advocacy for vulnerable populations. Notable projects include launching the Texas Hunger Initiative and directing the Strengthening Congregational Community Ministries Project. He co-founded the Faith and Service Technical Education Network (FASTENnetwork.org) to bridge faith-based organizations and social service sectors. His publications explore spirituality's role in social work, faith-based program development, and community organizing strategies. Recent work examines career resilience among professionals in aging care and leadership development through Enneagram frameworks. Earlier research addressed child food security, orphan care in Kenya, and rural community capacity building. Singletary's leadership emphasizes integrating faith and practice, evidenced by his edited volumes on Christianity and social work, and his advocacy for competency-based education models. He holds leadership roles in national organizations like the North American Association of Christians in Social Work and has advised global initiatives in Africa.
Huaxiu Yao is an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, holding a joint appointment in the School of Data Science and Society and the Department of Computer Science (College of Arts & Sciences). His research focuses on building reliable large-scale AI models (foundation models) with applications in healthcare, robotics, genomics, and transportation. He leads the AIMING Lab, which explores adaptive intelligence through alignment, interaction, and learning. Education: Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University (2021), Postdoctoral Scholar at Stanford University (hosted by Chelsea Finn). Research Interests: Generalizable AI agents, preference alignment, out-of-distribution generalization, embodied AI, and multimodal reasoning. Key applications include biomedicine, robotics, and vision-language systems. Notable Awards: KDD Best Paper Award (2024), Amazon Research Awards (2025), TMLR Outstanding Paper Award (2024). Advising & Labs: Recruits Ph.D. and intern students. Leads the AIMING Lab, affiliated with UNC NLP Group. Organizes workshops on foundation models (ICML 2024) and trustworthy AI systems. Publications: Over 40 peer-reviewed papers, including top venues like ICLR, NeurIPS, and ICML. Focuses on AI alignment, multimodal systems, and domain generalization.
Bahar Asgari is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Maryland, College Park. She holds appointments in CS, UMIACS, and ECE, and directs the Computer Architecture and Systems Lab (CASL). Her research focuses on domain-specific architecture design, near memory processing, and reconfigurable computing. Before joining UMD, she worked at Google, contributing to system optimization and memory utilization strategies. Education: Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021. Research Interests: Developing energy-efficient architectures for sparse problems, scientific computing acceleration, FPGA optimizations, and reconfigurable hardware systems. Her work addresses challenges in memory efficiency, parallelization, and hardware-software co-design across domains like machine learning and IoT. Key Awards: 2024 UMD Excellence in Teaching Award 2023 DOE Early Career Award Advising & Grants: Supervises 9 graduate students and leads projects sponsored by NSF, DOE, and industry partnerships. Her lab explores systolic arrays, near-data processing, and fault-tolerant computing. Labs/Teams: Directs CASL, which builds next-generation computing systems through hardware innovation and algorithm-architecture co-design.
Ram Rajagopal is an Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Electrical Engineering at Stanford University, and a Senior Fellow at the Precourt Institute for Energy. He leads the Stanford Sustainable Systems Lab (S3L), focusing on large-scale monitoring, data analytics, and stochastic control for infrastructure networks, particularly power systems. His research emphasizes renewable energy integration, smart distribution systems, and demand-side data analytics. Education: PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences & MA in Statistics (UC Berkeley), MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering (UT Austin), and BEng in Electrical Engineering (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro). Research interests include power grid optimization, renewable energy systems, and data-driven approaches to infrastructure challenges. He has pioneered work in grid flexibility, distributed energy resources, and machine learning applications for energy systems. His lab develops technologies like Smart Dim Fuses and the EV-EcoSim platform for EV charging infrastructure optimization. Received NSF CAREER Award, Powell Foundation Fellowship, and Berkeley Regents Fellowship Over 30 patents and best paper awards Advises/founded companies in sensor networks, power systems, and data analytics Labs/Teams: Stanford Sustainable Systems Lab (S3L), Powernet Project. His work spans grid resilience, energy equity, and scalable energy solutions.
Christopher Potts is Professor and Chair of Linguistics at Stanford University, with a courtesy appointment as Professor of Computer Science. He serves as Director Emeritus of the Stanford Center for the Study of Language and Information (CSLI) and leads the Pragmatic Enrichment & Contextual Interface Lab. His work bridges theoretical linguistics and computational approaches to language understanding. Education: B.A. in Linguistics from New York University (1999) Ph.D. in Linguistics from University of California, Santa Cruz (2003) Potts' research focuses on how computational methods can illuminate linguistic phenomena, particularly in the areas of semantics, pragmatics, and sentiment analysis. His work explores how emotion is expressed in language and how linguistic production and interpretation are influenced by context. He has made significant contributions to understanding conventional implicatures, sentiment analysis frameworks, and the application of neural networks to linguistic problems. His recent work has increasingly focused on the interpretability of large language models and the development of frameworks like DSPy for building reliable AI systems. An analysis of Potts' recent publications reveals a strong trend toward the intersection of linguistic theory and practical AI applications. His work spans theoretical linguistics (e.g., compositionality, preposing constructions), neural network interpretability, and practical NLP systems (e.g., ColBERT, DSPy). The research demonstrates consistent focus on making language models more transparent, controllable, and linguistically informed, with particular attention to how context shapes meaning. Scientific Awards: Best Paper Award at 2024 ACL for 'Mission: Impossible Language Models' Outstanding Paper Award at 2024 ACL for 'CausalGym' ACL Test of Time Award 2023 Dean's Award for Distinguished Teaching (2015-2016) Best New Data Set or Resource Award at 2015 EMNLP Potts has secured numerous research grants as PI or Co-PI from major organizations including Google, Amazon, NSF, Office of Naval Research, and Stanford's HAI institute. His current projects focus on evaluation of retrieval-augmented generation systems, LLM-mediated communication in organizations, interpretability techniques for language models, and frameworks like DSPy for building next-generation AI systems. He has mentored numerous researchers who have gone on to make significant contributions in NLP and computational linguistics. As Director of CSLI (2013-2020) and current Chair of Linguistics at Stanford, Potts has played a key leadership role in shaping interdisciplinary research at the intersection of language, computation, and cognition. His Pragmatic Enrichment & Contextual Interface Lab continues to be a hub for innovative research combining formal linguistic theory with cutting-edge computational methods.
Dr. K. Max Zhang is a Professor in the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University. He is the director of the Energy and the Environment Research Laboratory (EERL) and a fellow at the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future. His research is deeply interdisciplinary, focusing on sustainable energy systems, air quality, and environmental justice, with significant impacts on policy and community development in New York and beyond. Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of California-Davis, 2004 B.S., Thermal Engineering, Tianjin University, 1998 B.A., English Language, Tianjin University, 1998 Dr. Zhang’s research centers on the integration of energy and environmental systems. He investigates air pollution dynamics using advanced numerical models like CTAG, with applications in near-source pollution, indoor air quality, and environmental justice. His work on renewable energy systems includes designing sustainable solar farms and managing distributed energy resources such as heat pumps to enhance grid flexibility. He also leads a pioneering initiative to create the first statewide public IoT network in the U.S., enabling hyperlocal weather forecasting and microclimate monitoring. His recent publications reflect a strong trend toward agrivoltaics, peer-to-peer energy markets, and IoT-based environmental monitoring. These works demonstrate a consistent focus on data-driven modeling, community-scale energy solutions, and the integration of social considerations into technical systems. The keywords across his articles highlight expertise in sustainability, machine learning, air quality, and energy transition. Cornell Town-Gown Achievement Award (2022) Engaged Scholar Prize, Cornell University (2017) People's Choice Sign of Sustainability Award, Sustainable Tompkins (2016) Scientific and Technological Achievement Award, Environmental Protection Agency (2015) Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Dr. Zhang is actively involved in mentoring students and securing research grants from agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). His projects often involve interdisciplinary collaboration across eight Cornell colleges and 16 academic departments. He has led initiatives such as the Cornell Atkinson Academic Venture Fund projects and the development of a county-level energy roadmap for Tompkins County. He also teaches courses in engineering thermodynamics, future energy systems, and air quality, emphasizing experiential and community-based learning. Dr. Zhang leads the Energy and the Environment Research Laboratory (EERL) and collaborates with the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future. His lab functions as a hub for innovation in sustainable communities, combining advanced modeling with real-world applications. Through partnerships with community organizations, government agencies, and industry, his team develops science-driven solutions to urban and rural sustainability challenges.
Malcolm McCulloch serves as Professor of Energy Systems and Group Leader of the Energy and Power Group within the Department of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford. He also holds the position of Co-Director for the Oxford Martin Programme on Integrating Renewable Energy and maintains affiliation with Christ Church college. His research spans four primary domains: domestic energy systems, electric vehicle technology, renewable generation, and energy solutions for developing regions. McCulloch's research focuses on practical energy transition challenges. His domestic energy work develops user-centric demand side management technologies and behavior change interventions, leading to the spin-out Intelligent Sustainable Energy (now Navetas Energy Management). In transportation, he pioneered the Morgan LifeCar hydrogen sports car project, resulting in high-efficiency motors and the Oxford Yasa Motors spin-out. His renewable generation research includes lightweight tidal turbines through Kepler Energy, while his Energy for Development work creates nano/micro grid solutions for distributed electrification. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on integrating variable renewables through innovative market mechanisms, grid flexibility solutions, and electric vehicle integration. His work consistently addresses the technical and economic barriers to decarbonization, with increasing focus on peer-to-peer energy trading, thermal storage, and climate-resilient cooling solutions since 2020. McCulloch previously served as Co-Director of the Institute for Carbon and Energy Reduction in Transport (2008-2013) under the Oxford Martin School. His leadership extends to creating the Integrated Transport Network for Oxford and developing practical applications through multiple successful spin-out companies that bridge academic research and commercial implementation.
Giovanni De Micheli is a Full Professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), holding appointments in both the School of Computer and Communication Sciences (IC) and the School of Engineering (STI). He is affiliated with the Integrated Systems Laboratory (LSI) and serves as Scientific Director of EcoCloud. His primary office is located in INF 341 building at EPFL's Lausanne campus where he conducts research and teaching activities. Professor De Micheli's research spans multiple domains in electronic design automation and integrated circuit design. His primary interests include: Integrated Circuit Design and Hardware Synthesis Logic Optimization and Boolean Methods Nanoelectronics and 2D Electronics Quantum Computing and Emerging Technologies Low-Power Electronics and Energy-Efficient Systems Electronic Design Automation for Novel Computing Paradigms His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on advancing logic synthesis techniques for both conventional and emerging technologies. Professor De Micheli's work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, particularly in adapting traditional EDA methods to novel computing paradigms like quantum computing and superconducting electronics. His research group has made significant contributions to the development of efficient algorithms for circuit optimization across multiple technology domains, with particular emphasis on area, power, and delay optimization while maintaining functional correctness. Professor De Micheli has supervised numerous doctoral students throughout his career at EPFL, mentoring over 40 PhD candidates whose research spans various aspects of electronic design automation, circuit design, and emerging technologies. His students have gone on to make significant contributions in both academia and industry. As Scientific Director of EcoCloud, Professor De Micheli leads research initiatives focused on energy-efficient computing systems and sustainable cloud infrastructure. His laboratory, the Integrated Systems Laboratory, serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research connecting computer science, electrical engineering, and materials science, with particular focus on next-generation computing technologies.
Vesna Terzic is a Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering Management at California State University Long Beach's College of Engineering. Her research specializes in seismic performance assessment, infrastructure resilience, and probabilistic risk analysis of structures. Education includes a PhD in Structural Engineering from UC Berkeley, MS in Earthquake Engineering from Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, and BS in Structural Engineering from University of Belgrade. Research focuses on developing advanced computational frameworks for evaluating post-earthquake functionality of buildings and bridges. Her work integrates performance-based engineering with resilience quantification, emphasizing practical applications for seismic design and retrofitting. Recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on functional recovery modeling, structural health monitoring, and optimization of protective systems. Research trends show progression from component-level analysis to regional recovery simulation frameworks. Major awards: ACI Chester Paul Siess Award for Excellence in Structural Research (2017) Popert Fellowship, UC Berkeley (2009) Professional service includes membership on FEMA P-58 project committees and contributions to OpenSees development. Current projects investigate soil-structure interaction effects on tall buildings and recovery-based design methodologies.
