Dr. Han Du is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He holds a PhD from the University of Notre Dame and leads the Du Research Lab. His methodological expertise includes Bayesian statistics, longitudinal data analysis, structural equation modeling, meta-analysis techniques, and machine learning applications in psychological research. Dr. Du's substantive research applies quantitative methods to developmental, clinical, cognitive, educational, and health psychology. His recent publications focus on transgender adolescent stress assessment, LGBTQ+ mental health in military contexts, social network interventions for HIV prevention, and minority stress theory applications. He teaches advanced statistical methods and supervises graduate students in quantitative psychology.
Fethiye Irmak Dogan is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Cambridge's Department of Computer Science and Technology, working in the Affective Intelligence and Robotics Laboratory. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from KTH Royal Institute of Technology (2023), an M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Computer Engineering from Middle East Technical University (METU). Her research focuses on human-robot interaction, continual learning, and socially appropriate robot behaviors leveraging explainability. She has conducted robotics research at KTH's Division of Robotics, Perception and Learning and collaborated internationally, including a visiting scholar stint at Georgia Institute of Technology. Education highlights include: B.Sc., Computer Engineering, METU (2015) M.Sc., Computer Engineering, METU (2018), with research at Kovan Robotics Lab Ph.D., Computer Science, KTH (2023), with visiting research at Georgia Tech Research interests emphasize deploying autonomous robots in human environments, resolving ambiguous user instructions through explainability, and enabling socially intelligent robot behaviors. Recent work explores continual learning for context adaptation, multimodal frameworks for human-robot collaboration, and vision-language models for wellbeing assessment in children. Key projects include BT-ACTION (modular instruction understanding), GRACE (LLM-driven socially appropriate actions), and STREAK (continual learning for household tasks). Her contributions span robotics, AI ethics, and human-centered design, with a focus on real-world applications in healthcare and education.
Kevin Schut, a Teaching Professor at Trinity Western University's School of the Arts, Media + Culture, is a Game Studies scholar with expertise in video games, religion, ethics, and media ecology. He earned his PhD in Communication Studies (2004) and BA in Communication Arts & Sciences, History (1996), and has held leadership roles including Associate Dean and Chair of Media + Communication. His 2013 book Of Games & God explores Christian perspectives on gaming. PhD, Communication Studies, University of Iowa (2004) BA, Communication Arts & Sciences & History, Calvin College (1996) His research focuses on moral decision-making in games, media's cultural impact, and technology-religion intersections. Recent projects include analyzing procedural generation in No Man’s Sky and faith-based game design frameworks. Key awards include the 2013 Word Guild Best Book award and TWU's 2009 Provost’s Innovative Teaching Award. He teaches courses like Video Games and Culture and Media, Culture, and Criticism .
Suranga Chandima Nanayakkara is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the National University of Singapore (NUS), leading the Centre for Holistic Inquiry into Lifelong Learning (CHILL) and the Smart Systems Institute (SSI). He holds roles such as AI+HCI Theme Lead at NUS+CNRS IPAL Lab and Residential Fellow at NUS College. His research focuses on assistive human-computer interfaces, emphasizing technologies that enhance perceptual and cognitive capabilities for individuals with sensory deficits. He earned his PhD and BEng from NUS, followed by postdoctoral work at MIT Media Lab. Notable projects include the Augmented Human Lab, iTILES for rehabilitation, and the FingerReader device for visually impaired shoppers. His work has garnered awards like the MIT TR35, TOYP, and INK Fellowship. Research interests include Intelligent Systems, Human Augmentation, and Design Science. He explores applications in assistive technologies, healthcare informatics, and educational tools. Over 15 publications highlight innovations in wearables, stress management, and multimodal interaction. Awards: 40+ accolades, including MIT TR35, TOYP, and multiple design awards for projects like Kiwrious and FingerReader. Grants: Led projects funded by institutions like NUS and Singapore’s innovation initiatives. Labs: Augmented Human Lab (founded 2011), focusing on humanizing technology through natural interfaces.
Kathryn Lanouette is an Assistant Professor of Learning Sciences and Science Education at William & Mary’s School of Education. She holds faculty affiliate appointments in the Arts & Sciences (ENSP, IIC). Her research explores place-based pedagogies, emerging technologies, and their roles in fostering joyful, ethical science and data science learning for K-8 students. She collaborates with schools, museums, and youth-serving organizations to design curricula and outdoor learning experiences. Education: Ph.D. in Learning Sciences and Human Development, University of California, Berkeley (2017) M.A. in Museum and Childhood Education, Bank Street Graduate School of Education B.A. in Politics, Oberlin College Research Interests: Lanouette focuses on intersections between emotion, place, and data literacy, emphasizing participatory approaches to environmental and socio-ecological education. Her work bridges theory and practice, advocating for equitable, interdisciplinary STEM+ curricula that connect students to local ecosystems and global challenges. Recent Trends in Publications: Her articles emphasize participatory methodologies (e.g., digital mapping, data storytelling), socio-political dimensions of learning, and ethical frameworks for data science education. Recent work highlights collaborations between educators and community organizations to co-create knowledge about climate change and socio-ecological systems. Awards: Outstanding Short Paper Award (2025), International Society of the Learning Sciences NSF-funded ‘Writing Data Stories’ postdoctoral research (2017–2020) Teaching & Mentorship: Lanouette teaches courses on education research, science pedagogy, and applied conservation sciences. She mentors students through interdisciplinary projects, such as the NSF-funded ‘Writing Data Stories’ initiative and NOAA’s Teacher at Sea program. Labs/Teams: Collaborations include partnerships with UC Berkeley’s Science Education Lab, museums, and K-12 schools to develop place-responsive curricula and community-driven data projects.
LaRonda M. Lockhart-Keene is an Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy at Widener University. She holds dual roles in clinical practice and academia, specializing in dementia care and occupational justice. With over 20 years of clinical experience across diverse settings including NICU, geriatric care, and HIV/addiction services, she actively mentors students in community-based practice. Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy (1997), Temple University Postprofessional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD, 2017), Philadelphia University (now Thomas Jefferson University) Her research focuses on teaching pedagogy, clinical reasoning, and bridging police-community relations through healthcare. She previously served as Program Director at Thomas Jefferson University’s OTA program and held adjunct roles at Penn State Berks and Philadelphia University. Professional leadership includes chairing POTA’s Commission on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Her work emphasizes occupational justice and trauma-informed approaches, with publications exploring adjunct faculty readiness and student clinical reasoning development.
Dr. Donald Osborn is an Assistant Professor and Program Director of the Graduate Addictions Counseling Division at Indiana Wesleyan University. With over three decades of experience, he serves as a licensed clinical addictions counselor, mental health professional, and ordained minister in the Christian Church/Church of Christ. His career spans roles as a Psychiatric Case Manager, Clinical Supervisor, and Medical Administrative Officer in community mental health and government sectors. Education includes a PhD in Guidance and Psychological Services (Indiana State University, 2013), Master of Arts in Theology (Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, 1987), and a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministries (Lincoln Christian University, 1979). He holds certifications as a National Board Certified Counselor and Master Addiction Counselor. Research interests focus on ethics in behavioral sciences, integration of psychology and theology, addictions education, clinical supervision, and licensure standards. He has authored articles on addiction policy, curriculum development, and professional practice. Notable leadership roles include National President of NAADAC and Chair of the Indiana Behavioral Health Licensure Board. Professional Memberships: NAADAC, ACA, AAMFT, ACES Awards: Senior Fulbright Scholar in Addictions Presentations: Over 20 national and international talks on addiction counseling, licensure, and clinical supervision (2006–2016). Dr. Osborn’s work bridges clinical practice, education, and policy, emphasizing ethical standards and professional development in addiction counseling.
Hasan Davulcu is a Professor in the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence at Arizona State University (ASU). He holds a B.S. in Mathematics from Middle East Technical University (Turkey) and M.S./Ph.D. in Computer Science from Stony Brook University (NY). His research focuses on sociocultural modeling, AI, machine learning, and behavioral analytics for fraud detection. He leads the CIPS-AI Lab, developing data mining tools for semantic information extraction from social media and web data. Affiliations: Senior Global Futures Scientist (Global Futures Scientists and Scholars Program), Co-founder & CIO of ARTIS MAGI (AI-driven behavioral analysis startup). Education: Ph.D. Computer Science (Stony Brook, 2002), M.S. Computer Science (Stony Brook, 1995), B.S. Mathematics (METU, 1993). Research interests include: Sociocultural modeling and persuasive AI. Web/social media mining, information extraction, and database systems. Behavioral analytics for fraud detection and countering extremist influence. Key achievements: 2011 HSCB Focus Exceptional Scientific Achievement Award for work on sociocultural modeling in the DOD Minerva project. Principal Investigator on NSF and DoD grants, including behavioral analytics for financial fraud and social influence analysis of extremist groups. Grants & Projects: NSF PFI:BIC Grant (2014-2019): Behavioral analytics for fraud detection via visual analytics infrastructure. DoD Minerva (2015-2019): Measuring social influence of extremist groups. ONR Projects (2018-2021): Modeling polarization, adversarial framing, and disinformation tracking. Labs/Teams: Cognitive Information Processing Systems (CIPS-AI) Lab, which pioneers data mining techniques for unstructured social media data and semantic representation systems.
Adrián Lozano-Durán is an Associate Professor of Aerospace at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), affiliated with the Guggenheim Laboratory for Aeronautics (GALCIT). He holds a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (2010–2015) and joined Caltech as a Visiting Associate in 2024 before becoming a faculty member in the same year. His research focuses on fluid dynamics, turbulence, and machine learning applications in computational fluid dynamics (CFD), particularly for aerospace systems. He leads the Aerofluids, Learning & Discovery (ALD) Lab, collaborating with MIT’s AeroAstro department. Key research areas include causal inference in fluid systems, reduced-order modeling, and machine-learning-based closure models for large-eddy simulation (LES). His work addresses challenges in low-speed aerodynamics, supersonic, and hypersonic flows. Notable recent contributions include advancements in LES wall models and information-theoretic approaches to turbulence control. He frequently presents at international conferences and has co-authored high-impact papers in Nature Communications , Journal of Fluid Mechanics , and Physical Review Research . Education: B.S., Polytechnic University of Madrid (2010) M.S., Polytechnic University of Madrid (2012) Ph.D., Polytechnic University of Madrid (2015) Affiliations: GALCIT, Caltech AeroAstro, MIT (collaboration) Advising focuses on students like Álvaro Martínez-Sánchez and Tristan, whose work spans causality in turbulence and flow control. He actively engages in interdisciplinary research, bridging fluid mechanics with machine learning and information theory to advance aerospace engineering solutions.
Rayadurgam Srikant is the Fredric G. and Elizabeth H. Nearing Endowed Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, affiliated with the Coordinated Science Lab. He co-directs the C3.ai Digital Transformation Institute, focusing on AI-driven solutions for global challenges. His research spans machine learning, communication networks, stochastic systems, and game theory. Srikant has authored influential textbooks including Communication Networks: An Optimization, Control and Stochastic Networks Perspective . He holds IEEE Fellow status and has received prestigious awards like the ACM SIGMETRICS Achievement Award (2021) and IEEE Koji Kobayashi Award (2019). Over 20 of his advisees hold faculty positions globally. Education: PhD (1991), MS (1988) in Electrical Engineering from UIUC; B.Tech (1985) from IIT Madras. He has taught advanced courses on optimization, stochastic systems, and game theory. His work bridges theory and practice, with contributions to congestion control, cloud computing, and reinforcement learning. Current projects include AI applications for pandemic response and digital transformation initiatives. Research highlights include foundational work on Lyapunov drift methods for network stability and distributed algorithms. He serves as Area Editor for Mathematics of Operations Research and has led editorial roles for IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking. His lab collaborates with industry leaders like Microsoft and C3.ai, leveraging supercomputing resources for societal impact.
Natacha Crooks Dr. Natacha Crooks is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at UC Berkeley. Her research focuses on distributed systems, databases, and security, with a particular emphasis on consistency models, BFT protocols, and cloud computing. She is a founding member of the SkyLab and a core contributor to the Data Systems and Foundations Group at Berkeley. She holds a Ph.D. in Distributed Systems from the University of Texas at Austin (2019) and a BA in Computer Science and Law from the University of Cambridge (2012). Affiliations & Roles: Assistant Professor, UC Berkeley EECS Visiting Researcher at Azure Research, Security & Privacy Founding Member of SkyLab Member of Berkeley Center for Decentralized Intelligence Former Scientific Advisor at Improbable and Astronomer Research Interests: Her work bridges distributed systems and database research, addressing challenges in transactional consistency, fault-tolerant protocols, and cloud resource optimization. Key themes include: Designing scalable BFT consensus algorithms Secure multi-cloud storage solutions Optimizing distributed transaction processing Privacy-preserving distributed systems Awards & Recognition: Sloan Research Fellow (2025) NSF CAREER Award ACM SIGOPS Dennis M. Ritchie Doctoral Dissertation Award (2020) IEEE CS TCDE Early Career Award (2024) Teaching: Fall 2025: CS 294-282 (Research Culture and Community Norms), Wheeler 130. Industrial Collaboration: Prior roles include visiting researcher at Cornell University, Microsoft Research (DMX group), and Imperial College London. Industrial partnerships include work with Materialize, Astronomer, and Improbable.
Brad Hayes is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of Colorado Boulder within the College of Engineering and Applied Science, where he directs the Collaborative AI and Robotics (CAIRO) Laboratory. He also serves as Chief Technology Officer at Circadence, leading efforts in developing AI-enabled products for cybersecurity training and assessment. Undergraduate degree from Boston College PhD in Computer Science from Yale University Postdoctoral Associate at MIT Professor Hayes' research focuses on developing techniques that enable autonomous agents and robots to learn from and collaborate with humans safely, reliably, and productively. His work occurs at the intersection of pervasive and personalized artificial intelligence, human-robot teaming, and decision support. He has made significant contributions to collaborative robotics, dependable explainable AI, and imitation learning, with applications spanning manufacturing, healthcare, disaster response, autonomous vehicles, and space exploration. His recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on human-robot interaction, with particular focus on improving predictability in collaborative tasks, developing explainable AI systems that build trust, leveraging augmented and virtual reality for enhanced collaboration, and creating more efficient learning algorithms from human demonstrations. His work increasingly integrates large language models and advanced neural network architectures while maintaining a strong human-centered design approach. Sustainability Recognition (2025) for computational efficiency in motion planning Best Student Paper Runner-up at AAMAS 2022 Nominated for Best Technical Paper at HRI 2024 Best Technical Paper Runner-up at HRI 2019 Hayes has successfully mentored numerous graduate students through the CAIRO Lab, including multiple PhD graduates in 2024 alone. His lab receives funding from various organizations supporting research in human-robot interaction and collaborative AI. He frequently collaborates with industry partners and has established connections with major technology companies through his research and speaking engagements. The CAIRO Lab, under Hayes' direction, is a vibrant research environment focused on turning theoretical concepts into practical applications through hands-on work with real robots and human participants. The lab's research spans multiple domains including manufacturing, disaster response, autonomous vehicles, and space exploration, with a consistent emphasis on safe and effective human-machine teaming.
Dominic Thibault is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Music, Université de Montréal . His research-creation explores human-machine interaction in musical contexts, focusing on embodied cognition through electroacoustic compositions, audiovisual performances, and musical software development. Co-director, Laboratoire Formes·Ondes Active member, CIRMMT (Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology) Research axis leader, Expanded Musical Practice (CIRMMT) Member, Québecor Millénium entrepreneurship committee Scientific committee member, ACFAS
Narelle Lemon is a Professor of Education and Vice Chancellor’s Professorial Research Fellow at Edith Cowan University , affiliated with the School of Education . She previously served as Associate Dean (Education) at Swinburne University of Technology. Her research areas include: Wellbeing literacy for educators and students Creative research methods (poetry, visual narratives) Digital literacy in academic contexts Pedagogy of Belonging framework Positive psychology applications Recent publications focus on: Self-care practices during pandemic Time as a wellbeing resource Academic collaboration through creative methods Teacher resilience and institutional care Notable awards: 2021 Citizenship Award (Swinburne) 2020 AUUT National Teaching Citation 2018 VC Team Award for Diversity & Inclusion Multiple early/mid-career research recognitions She supervises PhD students in topics like: Autistic student voice in education Academic staff capabilities in Communities of Practice Gender equity in decision-making Connect via email , ORCID , or @rellypops on social media. Her podcast Teachers Supporting Teachers is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify .
Jordi Perelló Muntan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Architecture at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain, where he is also affiliated with the Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria de Telecomunicació de Barcelona (ETSETB). He is a member of the Broadband Communications Systems and Architectures (CBA) and IDEAI-UPC research groups, focusing on advanced optical and future internet networking technologies. Research Interests: His research spans telecommunications networks, optical fiber and optical networking, resource optimization, network architectures, and the Future Internet. He investigates performance optimization in 5G transport networks, Spatial Division Multiplexing (SDM), Recursive Inter-Network Architecture (RINA), elastic optical networks, and cognitive networking. His work integrates SDN, network virtualization, and green networking principles for scalable and efficient infrastructures. Publication Trends: His recent publications focus on probabilistic constellation shaping in multicore fiber networks, cognitive strategies for optical margin reduction, RINA-based QoS assurance, and migration planning toward spectrally-spatially flexible optical networks. These reflect a strong trend toward intelligent, adaptive, and energy-efficient network design for future communication systems. Scientific Awards: Co-recipient of the 2020 Fabio Neri Best Paper Award Runner-up (Elsevier Journal of Optical Switching and Networking) Co-recipient of the ONDM 2021 Best Paper Award Co-recipient of the 2019 IEEE Communications Society Charles Kao Award Co-recipient of the ONDM 2012 Best Student Paper Award Advising and Grants: He has advised multiple PhD students on topics including RINA, optical network planning, and virtual provisioning. He has led or participated in major European (H2020, FP7) and national (PID, TEC) research projects such as SLICENET, PRISTINE, TRAINER, and ALLIANCE, focusing on 5G, RINA, and sustainable network infrastructures. Labs and Teams: He is an active member of the CBA research group at UPC, contributing to experimental and theoretical advancements in optical and programmable networks. His team collaborates internationally on testbed development and standardization efforts in next-generation networking.
