Ben L. Titzer is a Researcher at Carnegie Mellon University's Software and Societal Systems Department in the School of Computer Science. He joined CMU in 2022 after 15 years in industry, including pivotal roles at Google and Sun Microsystems Laboratories. Education: Ph.D. (2007), M.S. (2004) in Computer Science from UCLA; B.S. (2002) in Computer Science from Purdue University. His research spans systems programming languages , compilers , virtual machines , and WebAssembly , with a strong focus on software security and embedded systems . He co-founded the WebAssembly project in 2014 and developed the Wizard Engine , a research-focused WebAssembly engine emphasizing simplicity and flexibility for academic experimentation. Ben's publications highlight innovations in language design (e.g., Virgil), compiler architecture , and memory optimization for resource-constrained environments. His work at Google involved mitigating Spectre vulnerabilities in Chrome's V8 engine, and he taught undergraduate compilers at Australian National University in 2020. Ben maintains active involvement in the Virgil programming language and open-source community.
Paul Downen is an Assistant Professor at the Miner School of Computer & Information Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, since Fall 2021. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer and Information Science from the University of Oregon (2017). His research bridges programming languages, logic, type theory, and compiler design, emphasizing computational duality and verification. Focus areas: Sequent calculus as a compiler intermediate language Development of Sequent Core and Join Points for GHC optimization Advocacy for functional programming in high-assurance systems His work spans both theoretical foundations and practical implementations, including contributions to Haskell compilers and the design of educational materials for programming language theory. He has received a Best Paper Award at PLDI 2017 and a Best Paper Award nomination at TFP 2025. Recent publications examine the intersection of logic and programming language design, with specific emphasis on contextual reasoning, structural coinduction, and efficient compilation techniques. He has taught courses on functional programming, logic and verification, and assembly language at UMass Lowell.
Jonathan Protzenko is a Principal Researcher at Microsoft Azure Research , focusing on advancing the theory and practice of software verification through formal methods and type systems. His work bridges critical security gaps in modern programming languages, with verified code integrated into major software like BoringSSL, Linux kernel, Python, and Firefox. PhD in Computer Science from INRIA Paris (2014) Formerly at Microsoft Research (9 years) and INRIA's Gallium team (2010–2014) His research spans verified cryptography (EverCrypt, HACL*), Rust verification (Aeneas, Eurydice), and computational law (Catala). Recent projects include: Rust verification (2022–present): Aeneas and Eurydice toolchains for bidirectional Rust-C compilation Verified protocol stacks (2019–present): Noise*, MLS*, and Signal* implementations Formal computational law (2020–2022): Catala for formalizing legal texts Open-source impact (2009–present): Maintaining Thunderbird add-ons His 15 most recent publications (2025–2021) highlight trends in Rust verification , secure messaging protocols , and formal methods for legal frameworks . Scientific accolades include the Internet Defense Prize and SIGPLAN Research Highlight . Notable advisees include Théophile Wallez and Denis Merigoux , who won the Gilles Kahn PhD Award . His work involves collaborations with startups like Cryspen and formal verification toolchains like KreMLin .
Andrea Marongiu is an Associate Professor at the Department of Physical, Computer and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, specifically affiliated with the Mathematics department. He maintains an active research profile while teaching multiple courses in computer architecture and parallel systems. His research interests span computer architecture, high performance computing, parallel programming, and embedded systems. Marongiu focuses particularly on memory systems, heterogeneous computing architectures, FPGA-based acceleration, and real-time performance analysis. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical implementation challenges in modern computing systems, with special attention to predictable execution models and quality of service guarantees. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on memory bandwidth management in heterogeneous systems, particularly focusing on FPGA-based architectures and multicore SoCs. His research trajectory shows consistent work in memory interference analysis, PREM (Predictable Execution Model) scheduling techniques, and fine-grained QoS control mechanisms. The publications demonstrate a progression from general parallel programming concepts toward increasingly specialized techniques for resource-constrained environments like autonomous vehicles and edge computing devices. Marongiu teaches several advanced computer science courses including Computer Architecture I & II, Compilers, High Performance Computing, and Electronic Calculators across multiple degree programs. His teaching approach emphasizes both theoretical foundations and practical implementation, with a focus on RISC-V architecture and modern parallel programming techniques. The course materials indicate he incorporates hands-on laboratory work as an essential component of his pedagogy, particularly in areas like compiler construction and parallel programming.
Claudio Sansoe' is a Tenured Associate Professor at the Department of Electronics and Telecommunications (DET) , Politecnico di Torino . He teaches courses including Applied Electronics and Digital Electronic Design across Electronic, Computer Science, and Mechatronics Engineering programs. Research focus: Autonomous underwater vehicles, embedded systems, low-power electronics, and highly parallel architectures. Key contributions: Development of nanosatellite technologies, underwater control systems, and reconfigurable FPGA accelerators. His work aligns with ERC sectors like robotics, signal processing, and sustainable infrastructure (SDG 9). He leads student team PoliTOcean and has secured grants for optical network control, electromagnetic interference reduction, and rebreather systems.
Emilio Jesús Gallego Arias is a non-tenured Research Fellow at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), hosted at the Institute of Fundamental Computer Research (IRIF) of CNRS and University of Paris Cité. He is also a member of the PiCube Inria team. Previously, he held postdoctoral positions at the University of Pennsylvania (2012–2014) and MINES ParisTech (2014–2019). His research spans mechanically-verified functional and logic programming , with a focus on the Coq proof assistant and the Mathematical Components Library . He develops tools like coq-lsp (language-server for Coq IDEs) and jsCoq (web interface), replacing earlier projects like SerAPI . His work bridges programming language theory , digital signal processing , and formal verification , particularly in the ANR FEEVER project for verifying Faust programs. His 15 most recent works (2014–2024) address type systems , differential privacy , and formal verification in domains like audio processing and mechanism design . Publications span journals (e.g., Journal of Privacy and Confidentiality), conferences (ICML, POPL, FARM), and workshops (CoqPL, UITP). He contributes to open-source projects (GitHub), including DFuzz (linear dependent types), DualQuery (privacy algorithms), and RAM (relational machine). He uses formal methods in collaborative development platforms (Gitter, GitLab) and advocates for free software and accessible audio technology .
Kathleen Fisher is an Adjunct Professor in the Computer Science Department at Tufts University and currently serves as the Director of the Information Innovation Office at DARPA. She previously held roles as Professor and Department Chair at Tufts (2016-2021), Program Manager at DARPA, and Principal Member of Technical Staff at AT&T Labs Research. Her academic journey began with a PhD in Computer Science from Stanford University. Kathleen’s research focuses on advancing programming languages through domain-specific languages (DSLs), program synthesis, and formal methods. Her work addresses challenges in ad hoc data management, secure systems, and integrating machine learning with programming language design. Notable projects include the Hancock and PADS systems for data processing, Forest for filestore management, and verified parser generators. She has received prestigious accolades, including ACM Fellow, Hertz Foundation Fellow, and SIGPLAN Distinguished Service Award. Her service includes leadership roles in ACM SIGPLAN, CRA-W, and as General Chair for ICFP 2015. Kathleen has advised PhD student Matt Ahrens and led impactful DARPA programs like HACMS and PPAML. As co-founder of the Programming Language Mentoring Workshop (PLMW), she actively contributes to diversity initiatives in computer science. Her research group, TuPL, explores DSLs, program synthesis, and language-based security, maintaining projects such as Autobahn and PADS.
Matthew Flatt is a Professor in the School of Computing at the University of Utah, specializing in programming languages, runtime systems, and functional programming. He is a primary developer of the Racket programming language and focuses on extensible language design and metaprogramming tools. PhD from Rice University (1999) Active in PLDI, ICFP, and OOPSLA program committees Developed Racket's core infrastructure including submodules and chaperones His recent research trends emphasize macro systems, language composition, and runtime engineering for functional languages. Key contributions include Rhombus (2023) for macro usability and SweetPea (2021) for experimental design DSLs.
Dr. Michael Schwarz is a tenured faculty member at the CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security in Saarbrücken, Germany, where he leads the RootSec research group. Since 2020 he has been investigating microarchitectural side-channel attacks, system security, CPU security, transient-execution vulnerabilities, and corresponding defense mechanisms. He previously served as a post-doctoral researcher (2019–2020) and PhD student (2016–2019) at Graz University of Technology, after earning two master’s degrees in computer science and software engineering with a security focus. Education PhD, Graz University of Technology, 2019 — “Software-based Side-Channel Attacks and Defenses in Restricted Environments” (Advisor: Daniel Gruss) MSc, Computer Science, Graz University of Technology MSc, Software Engineering, Graz University of Technology Research Interests Dr. Schwarz’s work centers on microarchitectural side-channel attacks and system security , spanning: CPU security and transient-execution vulnerabilities (Meltdown, Spectre, Fallout, LVI, ZombieLoad, ÆPIC Leak, CacheWarp) Detection, mitigation, and formal guarantees against microarchitectural leakage Hardware–software co-design for secure operating systems and trusted execution environments Reverse engineering of CPU internals, cache architectures, and prefetchers Browser and web-platform security, including sandbox bypasses and fingerprinting Compiler security and constant-time programming enforcement Scientific Awards & Recognition 2022 Busy Beaver Award for “Foundations of Cybersecurity II” 2021 Busy Beaver Award for “Side-Channel Attacks and Defenses” 2020 EuroSys Roger Needham PhD Award 2019 IEEE S&P Distinguished Paper Award (Spectre) 2019 NSA Best Scientific Cybersecurity Paper Competition Honorable Mention (Meltdown) 2019 Open Exploit Award (Meltdown & Spectre) 2018 CSAW Best Paper Award (Meltdown) 2018 Pwnie Awards: Best Privilege Escalation Bug & Most Innovative Research 2023 USENIX Security Noteworthy Reviewer Award 2023 WOOT Best Paper Award (CustomProcessingUnit) 2022 Pwnie Award for Best Desktop Bug (ÆPIC) 2022 AI 2000 Security & Privacy Honorable Mention 2021 CCSW Best Paper Award & CSAW Best Paper 3rd Place Advising & Collaborations Dr. Schwarz currently mentors numerous PhD students and post-docs within the RootSec group. His collaborations extend across CISPA, Graz University of Technology, and an international network visible through extensive multi-author publications at top-tier venues including USENIX Security, IEEE S&P, ACM CCS, NDSS, ESORICS, DIMVA, ASPLOS, WWW, FC, and specialized microarchitecture security conferences. Labs & Teams He heads the RootSec Research Group at CISPA, whose core mission is to uncover, analyze, and mitigate microarchitectural and system-level security threats. The group maintains close links with industry partners, open-source communities, and policy makers to ensure that research findings are rapidly translated into practical defenses deployed in modern operating systems and processors.
James Long is a Professor of Accountancy at the Harbert College of Business, Auburn University, where he serves as Assistant Dean of Global Programs. His career spans academic leadership, research, and teaching excellence in accounting, financial wellness, and international business. Education: PhD in Accounting, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (2009) MAcc in Accounting, Auburn University (2002) BSBA in Accounting, Auburn University (2001) Dr. Long's research focuses on how task timing affects judgment, decision-making, and performance in accounting. His work intersects behavioral accounting, audit quality, and emerging technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence, particularly in educational contexts. His scholarly output includes publications in top-tier journals such as Accounting, Organizations & Society , Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory , and Journal of Accounting Education . Recent studies examine AI's role in accounting education, cryptocurrency accounting challenges, and interruptions in financial decision-making. Scientific Awards: Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award Harbert College's Lowder and McCartney Teaching Awards School of Accountancy Outstanding Research Award (three-time recipient) National awards for educational research articles (four-time recipient) Dr. Long has also contributed to professional practice, including a Fulbright Scholar stint in Hungary (2017), and prior industry roles as a Staff Auditor and Internal Audit Manager. He holds certifications in CIA, CMA, CPA, ABV, and CGMA, and is active in major accounting associations.
Paul Richmond is a Professor of Research Software Engineering at the University of Sheffield's School of Computer Science. He holds an EPSRC Early Career Research Software Engineering Fellowship focused on accelerating scientific discovery through GPU-accelerated architectures. With a strong interdisciplinary research track record, he develops software solutions for complex systems simulation using high-performance computing architectures. His research spans GPU computing, agent-based modeling, complex systems simulation, and high-performance computing methodologies. Richmond leads the development of FLAME GPU, a framework enabling large-scale agent-based simulations on GPUs, applied to domains including computational biology, transportation systems, and neural simulations. Analysis of his recent publications reveals strong emphasis on GPU-accelerated scientific computing, computational biology applications (particularly oncology and neuroblastoma modeling), transportation simulations, and parallel algorithm development. His work consistently bridges theoretical computer science with practical engineering applications. EPSRC Early Career Research Software Engineering Fellowship Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Richmond has secured substantial research funding including £4.3M as PI/CI over five years. Major grants include leadership roles in PRIMAGE (childhood cancer diagnostics), ExaTEPP (particle physics), and industrial collaborations with Fujitsu, Siemens, and Department for Transport. He founded and led the University of Sheffield's Research Software Engineering group, growing it to 13.5 FTEs supporting £13M in research projects. He established the GPUComputing@Sheffield group, leads the FLAME GPU development team, and served as Engineering Lead for Cambridge's Institute of Computing for Climate Science. Richmond is also former President of the Society for Research Software Engineering.
Dr. Michael Schwarz is a tenured professor at CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security in Saarbrücken, Germany. His research focuses on microarchitectural side-channel attacks and system security , with notable contributions to vulnerabilities like Meltdown , Spectre , and ZombieLoad . He leads the RootSec Research Group and is a regular speaker at top-tier conferences including Black Hat and IEEE S&P. PhD in Computer Science from Graz University of Technology (2019) Two master’s degrees in Computer Science and Software Engineering His work spans CPU security , transient execution attacks , and side-channel defenses , with 15 recent publications on topics like cache timing analysis, browser sandbox breaches, and compiler-induced vulnerabilities. Awards include multiple Busy Beaver Awards , Pwnie Awards , and recognition for foundational papers like Meltdown . Collaborated with Daniel Gruss (PhD advisor) Advises on hardware-software security interactions Publications reveal a trend toward microarchitectural attack surfaces and practical exploitation frameworks , often leveraging hardware features (e.g., CPU caches, prefetchers) for security analysis. He has also contributed to secure memory allocation and browser-based fingerprinting research.
Dominik Helm serves as an interim professor at the University of Duisburg-Essen and is a researcher at the Software Technology Group, Technical University of Darmstadt since 2018. He holds a Dr.-Ing. degree and serves as the lead maintainer of the OPAL static analysis framework. Helm is also affiliated with ATHENE (National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity) and CRISP, where he contributes to cybersecurity research focusing on 'Security at Large' for comprehensive systems. Dr. Helm's research centers on modularization and automatic parallelization of collaborative static analyses to improve precision, soundness, and performance. His work specifically targets the OPAL framework for Java VM bytecode, with expertise spanning purity and immutability analyses, modular call graphs, and bug/security vulnerability detection. His research bridges theoretical foundations with practical implementation, addressing real-world challenges in static analysis. His publication record shows consistent contributions to top-tier conferences (PLDI, ISSTA, ESEC/FSE, ASE) with recent work focusing on cross-language analysis, modular call graph algorithms, and evaluation of static analysis precision. Helm has demonstrated particular interest in making static analysis more practical through modularity and parallelization. As an educator, Helm teaches courses including Software Engineering, Type Systems, Quality Assurance, and Program Analysis at the University of Duisburg-Essen. He has supervised multiple student teams through bachelor and master projects, guiding research on call graphs for dynamic languages, IDE solvers, alias analysis, and immutability analysis. Dr. Helm actively contributes to the academic community through program committee service for ICSE, ISSTA, ASE, and other major conferences. His work with the OPAL framework represents a significant contribution to the static analysis community, providing a platform for developing and composing modular analyses for Java bytecode processing and analysis.
Deming Chen is the Abel Bliss Professor of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, holding appointments in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department within the Grainger College of Engineering. He serves as a research professor in the Coordinated Science Laboratory and an affiliate professor in the Computer Science department. Additionally, he is the Director of the AMD-Xilinx Center of Excellence and the Co-Director of the IBM-Illinois Discovery Accelerator Institute. Dr. Chen earned his B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh in 1995, followed by his M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science from UCLA in 2001 and 2005, respectively. After working as a software engineer during two periods (1995-1999 and 2001-2002), he joined the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2005 and became a full professor in 2015. His research spans reconfigurable computing, AI hardware acceleration, high-level synthesis, cloud computing, and hardware security. Dr. Chen's work has significant industry impact, with open-source solutions like Medusa being integrated into NVIDIA's TensorRT-LLM, improving LLM execution speed by 1.9-3.6x. His research group pursues system-level and high-level design automation, machine learning and cognitive computing, hybrid cloud systems, hardware/software co-design, and FPGA and GPU computing. His recent publications show a strong trend toward AI acceleration and large language model optimization, with projects like SnapKV and Medusa addressing critical challenges in LLM efficiency. His work consistently bridges theoretical innovation with practical implementation, as evidenced by numerous open-source projects that have been adopted by industry. IEEE Fellow (2019) Abel Bliss Professor of Engineering (2020-present) Google Faculty Award (2020) IBM Faculty Award (2014, 2015) NSF CAREER Award (2008) Ten Best Paper Awards TCFPGA Hall-of-Fame paper award DAC International System Design Contest wins (2017, 2019) Dr. Chen has served as PI/Co-PI on over 40 research grants from US Federal agencies and industry partners. He has led numerous open-source projects including FCUDA, DNNBuilder, SkyNet, ScaleHLS, and Medusa, many of which have been adopted by industry. As Editor-in-Chief of ACM TRETS (2019-2025), he increased the journal's impact factor by 3.8x. He actively mentors students and has been recognized as an excellent teacher by UIUC students in 2008 and 2017. His research group operates at the intersection of hardware and AI, with projects spanning from low-level hardware design to high-level AI applications. The AMD-Xilinx Center of Excellence and IBM-Illinois Discovery Accelerator Institute provide substantial infrastructure for his team's research in hybrid cloud systems and AI acceleration.
Ludovic Apvrille is a Professor at Telecom Paris (Institut Polytechnique de Paris), where he leads research in the Communications and Electronics (Comelec) department and previously headed the LabSoC (Laboratory on System on Chip). His work focuses on embedded systems design , with particular emphasis on safety, security, and formal verification of complex systems including automotive applications, drones, and cyber-physical systems. Research Areas: Embedded Systems, Cybersecurity, Model-Driven Engineering, Formal Verification, AI-assisted Design Key Tools: TTool, SysML-Sec, AVATAR, SMASHUP, DIPLODOCUS His recent publications analyze security vulnerabilities in RISC-V architectures using the gem5 simulator, while his ongoing work explores AI integration in system modeling and unified verification techniques for hardware/software co-designs. He actively supervises research projects in safety-security-performance trade-offs and microarchitectural security , with applications to autonomous vehicles and critical infrastructure systems. Grants & Projects: EVITA project, PEPR-5G HISEC, MoVe4SPS, PEPR-Security ARSENE
