Steven Zucker is the David & Lucile Packard Professor of Biomedical Engineering & Computer Science at Yale University, with additional appointments in Applied & Computational Mathematics. His work bridges computational vision, neurophysiology, and differential geometry to model human visual perception and cortical computation. Research Interests : Zucker's research focuses on computational vision , leveraging differential geometry to develop theories for curve detection, shading analysis, stereo vision, and 3D shape description. He also explores interdisciplinary applications in plant biology through auxin dynamics and political science via diffusion geometry. Article Trends : Recent publications emphasize 3D shape estimation from shading and texture flows curvature-driven neural computation models applications in plant venation and heart myofibril geometry psychophysical studies of color and orientation flows Scientific Contributions : Recognized as a Packard Professor, Zucker has pioneered Hamilton-Jacobi skeletons and curve indicator random fields . His work spans computer vision, neuroscience, and mathematical modeling.
Pere-Pau Vázquez is an Assistant Professor in AI for Visual Computing at the Computer Vision Lab, TU Wien, Austria . Previously, he held academic positions at the ViRVIG Group and Facultat d'Informàtica de Barcelona (UPC) , where he taught courses in Programming, Computer Graphics, and Visualization for over 20 years. His research focuses on Information Visualization, Scientific Visualization, Medical Data Visualization, Molecular Visualization, and AI applications to Visual Computing . Current Teaching : Data Visualization, Fast Realistic Rendering, Information Visualization, Medical Images, Scientific Visualization, Virtual Reality, and 3D Medical Visualization. Former PhD Students : Elena Molina, Alexandra Cortez, Jesús Díaz, Pedro Hermosilla, Eva Monclús. His scientific awards include the Best PhD Thesis Award (UPC, 2003), Best Student Paper Award (SPIE, 2012), and Best Paper Award (International Conference on Computer Graphics Theory and Applications, 2013). Recent publications explore AI integration in biomedical visualization, molecular data analysis, and interactive techniques for volume rendering. He serves on the EuroGraphics Executive Board as Secretary and is active in steering committees for EuroVis and Visual Computing for Biology and Medicine . His work bridges Computer Graphics, Artificial Intelligence, and Human-Computer Interaction , with applications in medical and molecular data analysis.
Hilary Nelson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Fine Art at Maharishi International University (MIU), where she teaches courses such as Art of the Self, Color Theory, Sculpture I, and graduate-level seminars. She has also served as an Adjunct Instructor at MIU and Santa Fe Community College, and as a Visiting Lecturer at Grinnell College. Her academic journey includes an MFA and MA in Painting from the University of Iowa and a BFA in Painting and BS in Environmental Science from MIU. University of Iowa, MFA Painting, 2017 University of Iowa, MA Painting, 2016 Maharishi International University, BFA Painting, 2013 Maharishi International University, BS Environmental Science, 2007 Hilary Nelson's research and creative practice focus on the intersection of art, sustainability, and regenerative design. Her fields of interest include painting, drawing, sculpture, and curatorial practice, with a strong emphasis on environmental consciousness. She has developed and taught courses like 'Regenerative Art: Sustainability in Practice and Concept,' reflecting her commitment to ecological themes in art education. The 15 most recent articles highlight her active exhibition history, spanning solo and group shows across the U.S. and internationally. These works reflect trends in contemporary visual art, including installation, public art, conceptual practice, and interdisciplinary exploration. Her exhibitions often engage with themes of space, materiality, perception, and social critique, demonstrating a consistent evolution in her artistic voice. Scientific and Artistic Awards: Mildred Pelzer Lynch Fellowship, University of Iowa (2015–2017) Graduate Teaching Assistant Scholarship, University of Iowa (2014–2016) Faculty Research and Teaching Grants, Wege Foundation (2022, 2024) Artist Residencies at Yaddo, Vermont Studio Center, and international locations (2019–2024) Arts and Environmental Sciences Honors Awards from MIU (2007, 2013) Hilary Nelson has been actively involved in academic advising, curriculum development, and grant-funded research. She has led projects supported by the Wege Foundation, focusing on regenerative art and sustainability. Her teaching spans foundational to advanced levels, and she has mentored students through studio courses and graduate seminars. She has also curated exhibitions and organized artist talks, contributing to the broader academic and artistic community. She is co-founder of the Nelson Project, a collaborative art initiative with Trilby Nelson, and previously co-founded The Beauty Shop in Fairfield, IA—a non-profit gallery and music venue. She has also served as Gallery Curator at The Times Club in Iowa City and co-directed Unity Gallery at MIU, demonstrating strong leadership in curatorial and collaborative art environments.
Philip Dutré is a full professor at the Department of Computer Science , Faculty of Engineering Science , KU Leuven. He leads the Computer Graphics Research Group and chairs the Human-Computer Interaction division . His teaching portfolio includes courses on algorithms, data structures, and computer graphics fundamentals. Research Focus : Rendering algorithms, photo-realistic and image-based rendering, perceptual-based rendering, material models, and intuitive controls for computer animation. He explores deep learning applications in global illumination and uses quantum field theory for efficient light transport in participating media. Publications : Recent work includes advancements in temporal coherence for light transport (2017–2023), functional integrals for scattering models (2025), and optimization of spatial data structures (2019). Teaching Innovations : Advocate for ungrading (feedback-only assignments), flipped classroom techniques, and interactive learning. His approach emphasizes conceptual understanding over rote memorization, with structured, self-contained lessons and active student engagement. Leadership : Serves on multiple academic councils and committees including the Commission on Research Integrity and Student Services Council .
Emily Cooper is an Associate Professor of Optometry & Vision Science at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science, University of California, Berkeley. She serves as the Chair of the Vision Science PhD Program and is a co-Director of the Center for Innovation in Vision & Optics. Additionally, she is a member of the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute and a Visiting Faculty Researcher at Google. Dr. Cooper's research focuses on 3D vision, perceptual graphics, AR/VR, computational neuroscience, visual encoding, and display system design. Her work investigates how the visual system processes information to create our perception of the 3D world, with applications in computer graphics, virtual reality, and assistive technologies for people with low vision. Analysis of Dr. Cooper's recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong focus on the intersection of vision science and emerging technologies, particularly in augmented reality and assistive vision systems. Her work spans fundamental research on visual perception mechanisms to applied research developing practical technologies for low vision rehabilitation. A significant portion of her recent work addresses visual discomfort in XR displays, perceptual guidelines for AR/VR systems, and innovative approaches to assistive vision technologies that enhance mobility and independence for visually impaired individuals. Dr. Cooper leads an active research laboratory at UC Berkeley's 391 Minor Hall, where she mentors students and collaborators in vision science research. Her lab investigates both basic questions about how vision works and translational questions about improving visual technologies. She has developed perceptual guidelines for optimizing field of view in stereoscopic augmented reality displays and created assistive technologies such as an augmented reality sign-reading assistant for users with reduced vision. Dr. Cooper is also involved in professional activities including co-organizing the Computational Neuroscience: Vision summer course at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and working with Community Resources For Science to promote science education.
Gordon Hughes is an Associate Professor of Art History in the Department of Art History at Rice University, specializing in early 20th-century European modernism with concentrated expertise in French painting and abstract art. His research significantly reinterprets foundational narratives of abstraction while extending into contemporary art and photographic history. His academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Art History from Princeton University (2004) M.A. from the University of Western Ontario (1996) M.F.A. in Studio Art from the University of Illinois at Chicago (1992) B.F.A. from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (1989) Professor Hughes' scholarship centers on re-examining abstract painting's origins through meticulous visual analysis, particularly focusing on Robert Delaunay's contributions to modernist vision. His work bridges pre-war European art with American conceptual practices from the 1960s-1980s, evidenced by influential publications on Fernand Léger, Georges Braque, Douglas Huebler, and Jenny Holzer. His theoretical approach integrates continental philosophy while prioritizing phenomenological engagement with artworks, reflected in his current book project Seeing Red: Murder, Abstraction, Machines which investigates intersections of art, technology, and violence. Analysis of his recent publications (2006-2022) reveals consistent scholarly engagement with French modernism's theoretical underpinnings while progressively incorporating contemporary critical frameworks. His work demonstrates evolving methodological sophistication through examinations of visual perception, medium specificity, and post-structuralist theory across diverse artistic movements from Cubism to Conceptual Art. His distinguished recognitions include: Getty Research Institute Scholar-in-Residence (2012-2013) Barr Ferree Foundation Publication Grant (2011) Terra Foundation for American Art support (2010) Professor Hughes mentors graduate students in Rice's Art History program with emphasis on close visual analysis and theoretical rigor. His research has received significant institutional support including Getty Research Institute residencies and major publication grants that facilitated his influential monograph Resisting Abstraction and editorial projects like October Files: Richard Serra .
David Klindt is Assistant Professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, leading research at the intersection of biological systems and artificial intelligence. His lab investigates how brains process sensory information and generalize knowledge across contexts, studying neural representations to inspire robust AI models. Research combines computational neuroscience and machine learning to develop algorithms mimicking biological learning efficiency. Current projects examine latent computing in biological neural networks through dynamical systems frameworks, sparse coding principles in neural representations, and geometric organization in visual processing. His group develops methods for mechanistic interpretability, self-supervised learning identifiability, and compute-efficient inference. Recent publications analyze toroidal representations in grid cells, retinal feature detection, and Cryo-EM structure disentanglement. Dr. Klindt's work has been recognized through publications in Nature Communications, eLife, and NeurIPS. Before joining CSHL, he was a Machine Learning Research Scientist at Meta Reality Labs and postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University and NTNU. He holds a Ph.D. in Computational Neuroscience and Machine Learning from the University of Tübingen.
Erin Manning is a Professor in the Department of Studio Arts within Concordia University's Faculty of Fine Arts, holding a research chair in Speculative Pragmatism, Art and Pedagogy. Her work bridges philosophy, aesthetics, and politics through alter-pedagogical and alter-economic practices, with deep engagement in participatory art and theoretical inquiry. Manning's research centers on process philosophy, neurodiversity, research-creation, and the ProTactile movement for DeafBlind culture. She explores material complexity through textile-based relational art, emphasizing sideways perception and textural engagement with life. Her practice investigates Black Studies, ecology, radical pedagogy, and choreographic experimentation, often manifesting in tactile propositions using tufting, hooking, and weaving techniques that challenge conventional sensory hierarchies. Her recent publications and exhibitions reveal a trajectory toward the transversality of three ecologies—social, environmental, and conceptual—through the 3Ecologies Project. This work trends toward interdisciplinary collaborations that dissolve boundaries between art, philosophy, and activism, with increasing focus on more-than-human encounters and collective fabulation in social dreaming. Manning leads the 3Ecologies Project (3e), which includes a land-based initiative north of Montreal for experimenting with living and learning. Legacies of SenseLab inform her approach to crafting collectivity through experimental pedagogy. She co-edits the Inflexions journal and the 3E Books imprint, fostering platforms for research-creation that integrate theoretical and artistic practices.
Alison Wright is Professor of Italian Art at University College London's Department of History of Art, specializing in Italian art from c. 1300-1550. She teaches across all undergraduate and postgraduate levels and welcomes doctoral supervision for thematically-conceived projects not restricted to painting. Her academic journey at UCL spans from Lecturer (1993), to Reader (through 2016), and Professor (since 2016), with additional leadership roles including Head of Department (2016-2019) and Chair of the Exams Board. Her educational background includes a PhD from the University of London (1992) and a BA (Hons) from the Courtauld Institute of Art (1987). She maintains high proficiency in Italian, French, and German, supporting her comparative cross-European research approach. Wright's research centers on the material effects and interrelation of art, ideology and ritual in European art from the 14th to 16th centuries, with particular focus on Italy. Her work examines artistic practice, materials and materiality, with recent research investigating gold's activation in European port cities across late Medieval England, North Italy and Southern Spain. She explores how art functioned in relation to broader social, political and religious interests, particularly examining commission and reception of artworks. Her publication record demonstrates consistent engagement with Italian Renaissance material culture, spanning topics from frame ornamentation to sculptural practices. Her work shows particular interest in how materials convey meaning, with recurring themes of religious context, workshop practices, and the political dimensions of artistic production. Recent publications continue this trajectory with focus on Fra Angelico's use of light, Donatello's sculptural encounters, and the transformational properties of gold. Wright's teaching spans undergraduate and postgraduate levels with courses covering Italian Renaissance portraiture, private and public sculpture, the history of the category 'Art', and specialized seminars on Place, Space and the Imagination in the Italian City (c. 1300-1520) and Seeing through Materials in the Renaissance. She has held various administrative roles including Impact Lead (2024), Research Fellow with the Leverhulme Trust (2023-2024), and Head of Department (2016-2019).
Albert H. Titus is a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York. He serves as Associate Vice President for Regulatory Support in the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development. His research focuses on analog VLSI design for neuromorphic visual processing, biosensors, wearable devices, optoelectronic systems, and neural networks. Education: PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology (1997) MS in Electrical Engineering, University at Buffalo (1991) BS in Electrical Engineering, University at Buffalo (1989) Research Interests: His work spans wearable and implantable sensors, bioinstrumentation, neural network-based visual processing, analog VLSI implementations, optoelectronics, and electronic packaging. He pioneered CMOS-based neuromorphic systems and developed patented technologies for glare sensing and RF power calorimetry. Publication Trends: His recent articles emphasize CMOS-integrated sensors, machine learning for bioimpedance analysis, implantable medical devices, and xerogel-based optical biosensors. These works bridge biomedical engineering and microelectronics. Scientific Recognition: He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and has received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Service (2017), NSF CAREER award, and Western New York Inventor of the Year (2010). His inventions include a patented low-power glare sensor (U.S. Patent 7,586,079) featured in Popular Science’s 2011 Top Ten Inventions. Academic Leadership: As a faculty member, he has supervised nearly 20 PhD and over 40 MS students, while teaching courses in circuits, IC design, sensors, and signal processing across electrical and biomedical engineering disciplines.
Sarah Carton is a Teaching Professor in the Psychology Department at Rutgers University, part of the School of Arts and Sciences. She joined Rutgers in Fall 2019 after earning her Ph.D. in the Cognition & Perception Program at New York University (2008). Her research focuses on developmental psychology, visual perception, and cognitive development in infants and young children. She teaches courses such as Introductory Psychology, Drugs & Behavior, Sensation & Perception, and Cognition, with upcoming courses like Perception of Color (PSY 2xx). Dr. Carton’s research interests include object recognition, visual illusions, perceptual categorization, infant development, and eye-tracking methodologies. Her work explores how infants perceive impossible figures, haptic exploration of objects, and transitional saccades in response to visual stimuli. She investigates foundational questions about how infants distinguish possible from impossible objects and develop spatial and dimensional understanding through multisensory interactions. Her teaching portfolio includes undergraduate courses at both Livingston and New Brunswick campuses. She actively contributes to educational initiatives in psychology, emphasizing evidence-based pedagogy. Dr. Carton’s current research trends span perceptual development, cognitive differentiation in infants, and the role of visual and haptic modalities in forming conceptual categories. Dr. Carton’s work has been published in leading journals, with recent studies examining young children’s understanding of object coherence and infants’ visual responses to paradoxical stimuli. Her research integrates behavioral experiments and eye-tracking technology to unravel early perceptual and cognitive processes.
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.
Drexler James is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and an affiliate faculty member of the Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center. His research focuses on the social and psychological determinants of health among minoritized groups, particularly African American adults and men of color who have sex with men. He also examines the health consequences of biological race essentialism, using intersectionality as a framework to understand health inequities. James holds a B.Sc. in Psychology from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in Social & Personality Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago, with a minor in Community Health Research. His specialties include racism and health, psychological essentialism, and internalized oppression. As the primary investigator of the Health, Intersectionality, Essentialism, & Stigma (HIES) Research Team, he investigates how stigma operates dynamically across perceivers and targets to reinforce health disparities. Recent work explores barriers to healthcare access, internalized racism’s mental health impacts, and the socio-cultural implications of racialized stereotypes. His academic contributions span over 20 peer-reviewed articles addressing race-related health disparities, internalized oppression, and the psychological impacts of systemic racism. While no formal awards are listed, his work demonstrates significant engagement with marginalized communities’ health challenges.
Keith Obadike is a Professor in the Department of Art at Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP), where he also serves as Director of Undergraduate Studies. He is an acclaimed interdisciplinary artist and composer, known for his collaborative work with Mendi Obadike, which spans sound art, digital media, public installations, performance, and internet-based projects. His artistic and academic work critically engages with technology, race, history, and identity. Obadike earned a B.A. in Visual Art from North Carolina Central University and an M.F.A. in Sound Design from Yale University. Prior to joining Cornell, he taught at William Paterson University and held visiting positions at Princeton University, Columbia University, Northwestern University, and the Art Institute of Chicago. His research and creative practice focus on sound art, digital media, public art, performance, and collaborative practice , with strong interdisciplinary connections to Afrofuturism, data sonification, and social justice. He explores how sound and technology mediate racial identity, memory, and liberation, notably through the concept of acousmatic blackness , which he and Mendi developed to describe the racial perception of sound when its source is unseen. Obadike’s selected works include large-scale public sound installations such as Blues Speaker (for James Baldwin) , Free/Phase , Compass Song (Times Square Arts), and GuideStar (Space Needle, Seattle). His projects often use data sonification, archival research, and mythic storytelling, blending historical inquiry with futuristic vision. Notable series include the Opera-Masquerades , Americana Suites , and Numbers Station works, which transform databases of violence into sonic experiences. His honors include: Rockefeller New Media Arts Fellowship (2004) Louis Comfort Tiffany Biennial Award (2015) New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Fiction New Music USA Creator Development Fund (2022) Obadike has received commissions and support from institutions such as the Vera List Center, Harlem Stage, Times Square Arts, the American Composers Orchestra, and the Cornell Mui Ho Center for Cities. He has exhibited and performed at The New Museum, The Whitney Museum of American Art, MoMA, and The Studio Museum in Harlem. His writings and publications include contributions to Studies into Darkness (2022), and artist books such as Four Electric Ghosts and Big House / Disclosure (both 2014). He has also released albums like Crosstalk (2008) and created internet artworks such as Blackness for Sale (2001) and The Interaction of Coloreds (2002), which are foundational in new media and critical race art. While specific advisees are not listed, his role as Director of Undergraduate Studies and Professor indicates active mentorship. His work is deeply collaborative, often co-created with Mendi Obadike, and supported by interdisciplinary teams and institutions.
Maurizio MUZZUPAPPA is a Full Professor at the Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering (University of Calabria) since 2018. His roles include Rector's Delegate for Technology Transfer, Academic Delegate for Education at DIMEG, and Head of the Physical Prototyping Laboratory at the MaTeRiA Center (UNICAL-CNISM collaboration). He supervises the Unical Racing Team in Formula SAE competitions and co-founded three university spin-offs: 3DResearch, Tech4Sea, and Q-BOT. As Scientific Director of projects like TECH4YOU (climate change adaptation technologies) and GROWN IN THE BLUE (Mediterranean reef conservation), he integrates research in industrial design, augmented reality, and underwater cultural heritage. He has authored over 200 publications (h-index 27) and holds 10 patents. His teaching includes Tools and Methods for Industrial Design and Formula SAE LAB . His research focuses on: Industrial design methodologies with parametric and sustainable approaches 3D prototyping and additive manufacturing User-Centered Design for product ergonomics Virtual/Augmented Reality applications in engineering and cultural heritage Underwater robotics and artifact restoration Recent publications highlight trends in AR for industrial maintenance, generative design tools, and mechatronic solutions for underwater heritage. He has supervised over 300 theses and 10 Ph.D. students while leading technology transfer initiatives.
