Massimo Poesio is a Professor of Computational Linguistics at Queen Mary University of London and a full Professor of Natural Language Understanding at Utrecht University. He leads the ARCIDUCA project (EPSRC-funded) on conversational agents and the Dealing with Meaning Variation project (NWO-funded) exploring NLP applications. His research focuses on anaphora resolution, games-with-a-purpose, and applying NLP to combat deception and misinformation. He is a Fellow of the Alan Turing Institute and supervises students in PhD programs like IGGI and Health Data in Practice. Education: Previous affiliations include University of Essex and University of Trento (founded CLIC Lab). Research Projects: DALI (ERC), SENSEI (EU), AnaWiki (EPSRC), and LiveMemories (Provincia di Trento). His work combines formal semantics with empirical methods, including brain data and corpus analysis. He has developed tools like Phrase Detectives and BART for anaphora resolution, and co-founded the Lingotowns platform for language learning.
Abdoulaye Sounaye is a Research Professor at the Leibniz Center for Modern Oriental Studies (ZMO) in Berlin, Germany, and an Associate Professor at Abdou Moumouni University in Niamey, Niger. His career spans over two decades, with roles including research fellowships, editorial contributions, and academic leadership in Islamic studies, African societies, and religiosity. Habilitation in African Studies (2021, University of Vienna) PhD in Religious Studies/Anthropology (2012, Northwestern University) MA in Religious Studies (2005, Arizona State University) Research Interests Dr. Sounaye's work critically engages with Islamic reform in West Africa, focusing on Salafism, state-society relations, and the role of media in reshaping religious practices. His scholarship interrogates how Islamic authority is constructed through audiovisual tools like CDs/DVDs, and how youth movements on university campuses negotiate religious identities within political frameworks. He has extensively analyzed transnational Islamic networks between Niger and Nigeria, particularly the influence of Hausa-language preachers (wa’azi) and their role in spreading Salafi ideologies. Recent Publications His 2023 edited volume Religiosity on University Campuses in Africa synthesizes interdisciplinary perspectives on campus religious dynamics. Earlier works like Salafi Aesthetics (2017) and Islam et Modernité (2016) explore the interplay between Islamic ethics, modernity, and reislamization processes in Niger. His articles in Journal of Religion in Africa and edited collections address topics such as ritual spaces in Berlin's West African diaspora and gendered dimensions of Islamic authority. Scientific Awards Dr. Sounaye has received prestigious fellowships including the Thyssen Foundation (2023), Volkswagen Foundation's Knowledge for Tomorrow (2018-2019), and Fulbright (2003-2005). He was a Presidential Fellow at Northwestern University and a Gwendolen M. Carter fellow, underscoring his expertise in Islamic studies and African societies. Advising and Grants He has led the ZMO research unit 'Contested Religion' since 2020, examining religiosity, morality, and intellectual culture. His projects often bridge academic research with policy analysis, as seen in his work on state-led Islamic deradicalization in the Sahel. Collaborations include Lasdel, the Nordic African Institute, and the West African Research Association. Labs and Collaborations Dr. Sounaye collaborates with institutions like Abdou Moumouni University, Northwestern University, and Arizona State University. His fieldwork in Niamey and cross-border studies in West Africa reflect his commitment to ethnographic approaches in studying Islamic media, youth activism, and transnational religious networks.
Sir Harshad Bhadeshia is a renowned Indian-British metallurgist and Professor of Metallurgy at Queen Mary University of London since 2022. Previously, he held the Emeritus Tata Steel Professorship at the University of Cambridge, where he worked from 1980 until his move to Queen Mary. His research focuses on the theory of solid-state transformations in multicomponent steels , aiming to create novel alloys and processes with minimal resource use. Education: BSc from City of London Polytechnic, PhD from University of Cambridge (1980) under David V. Edmonds Research Areas: Phase transformations in steel, computational modeling, neural networks, Bainite, welding technology, hydrogen embrittlement resistance, nanostructured materials Scientific Awards: Bessemer Gold Medal (2006), Hume Rothery Prize (1992), Rosenhain Medal (1994), Knight Bachelor (2015), Adolf Martens Medal (2017), William Menelaus Medal (2025) Editorial Roles: Editor for Materials Science and Engineering: A , Materials Science and Technology , and Science and Technology of Welding and Joining Students: Roger Reed, Rachel Thomson His Google Scholar publications (over 650) cover topics in metallurgy, phase transformations, computational modeling, hydrogen resistance, and AI in materials science, with a significant emphasis on Bainite, welds, and nanostructured steels. The SKF University Technology Centre (2009-2019) and Computational Metallurgy Laboratory (2005-18) highlight his leadership in industrial collaborations and international research. His scientific awards and fellowships (Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering, Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining) underscore his global recognition.
Ahmet Tekalp is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Koc University's College of Engineering since 2001. He holds dual citizenship in Turkey and the USA, with prior academic roles at the University of Rochester (1986-2005) and research positions at Eastman Kodak (1984-1987) and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1981-1984). He chairs the Electronics and Informatics Group at TUBITAK since 2004 as a part-time position. B.S. (1980) in Electrical Engineering & Mathematics, Bogaziçi University M.S. (1982) and Ph.D. (1984) in Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute His research focuses on digital image and video processing, including video compression, motion-compensated filtering for high-resolution applications, video segmentation, object tracking, content-based video analysis, multi-camera surveillance processing, and digital content protection. He has led numerous European and U.S. grants, including FP7 STREP projects and NSF awards, emphasizing applications in sensor networks, visual databases, and medical imaging. His scholarly work spans diverse areas such as superresolution reconstruction, head gesture animation, 3DTV streaming, and reversible data hiding. He has played pivotal roles in editorial boards, including serving as Editor-in-Chief of Signal Processing: Image Communication, and has contributed to major standards bodies like ISO MPEG and ANSI NCITS. Member, Turkish Academy of Sciences (TUBA) Fellow, IEEE Fulbright Senior Scholarship (1999) TUBITAK Science Award (2004) IEEE Signal Processing Society Distinguished Lecturer (1998) He has led multiple international research collaborations and projects, including European FP6/FP7 networks and NATO programs, with substantial grant funding from NSF, NYSTAR, and industry partners like Eastman Kodak, Xerox, and Siemens.
Dr. Tracy Ann Sykes is an Associate Professor in the Department of Information Systems at the Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas. Previously affiliated with the Research School of Business at The Australian National University, her academic career spans over a decade with a focus on technology adoption and social networks. Education: Bachelor of Science in Management Science and Statistics from University of Maryland, College Park; PhD in Information Systems from University of Arkansas. Her research leverages social network theory to explore technology-centric phenomena, particularly in e-health, organizational technology diffusion, and ICT4D (Information and Communication Technologies for Development) contexts in India. Her publications in top journals like Academy of Management Journal and MIS Quarterly highlight her expertise in enterprise systems, digital divide initiatives, and healthcare informatics. Dr. Sykes has taught statistics, social networks, and systems analysis at all academic levels. She mentors PhD students, especially women, and serves as Senior Editor for Information Technology & People . Her awards include being the most productive assistant professor in IS-2 journals and inclusion in MIS Quarterly's most prolific authors list. Key Awards: Most productive assistant professor in IS-2 journal publications Tied for most productive in Financial Times and UT Dallas lists MIS Quarterly most prolific authors list (2017) Senior Editor for Information Technology & People Service Roles: Chair of Information Systems Research and Strategic Planning committees Active in conference AE roles and editorial reviews
Daphna Harel (she/her) serves as Associate Professor of Applied Statistics and Director of the A3SR MS Program within the Department of Applied Statistics, Social Science, and Humanities at New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. She holds leadership roles including PI of the NYU QUEER data lab and membership on the steering committee for the DEPRESSD project. Education: PhD in Mathematics and Statistics from McGill University Harel's research focuses on measurement challenges in survey methodology, particularly for self-reported questionnaires in health and social sciences. Her work bridges theoretical statistics with practical applications in LGBTQIA+ data collection, differential item functioning, and patient-reported outcomes. She develops methodological frameworks for polytomous Item Response Theory and creates guidelines for statistical analysis of complex survey data. Her recent work emphasizes improving statistical practice for LGBTQIA+ populations and advancing queer data collection methods. Her publication portfolio demonstrates consistent focus on measurement validity across diverse health contexts, with recent work expanding into LGBTQIA+ data science. Her research shows increasing emphasis on methodological innovations for gender and sexuality measurement, with multiple publications presented at major conferences including AAPOR 2024 and LGBTQ+ Health Conference 2024. Research Leadership: PI of NYU QUEER data lab (founded Fall 2022) Steering committee member for DEPRESSD project Collaborator with Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network Recipient of NIH R21 funding and NYU intramural grants Harel mentors a diverse team of graduate students through the Applied Statistics for Social Science Research program, focusing on inclusive research methods for marginalized populations. Her grant portfolio includes investigations into transgender voice training, LGBTQIA+ survey methodology, and healthcare access for gender-affirming services. Laboratory Leadership: As founder and PI of the NYU QUEER data lab, Harel leads research projects examining survey question design for gender/sexuality measurement, content moderation effects on hate speech, and accessibility of transgender voice training. The lab operates through collaboration between NYU Steinhardt and the NYU BITS lab, with research assistants drawn from the Applied Statistics MS program.
Dr. Theresa Züger is an interdisciplinary researcher leading the AI & Society Lab at the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG). She investigates how AI systems can be designed to serve the common good, focusing on initiatives that promote sustainability, strengthen social inclusion, and enable technology reuse through open systems. Her work addresses societal challenges associated with artificial intelligence at political, social, and cultural levels, contributing to accurate assessment of AI's societal implications. Züger received her Ph.D. in Media Studies from Humboldt University in Berlin in 2017 with her dissertation 'Reload Disobedience,' focusing on digital forms of civil disobedience. Previously, she earned an M.A. in Theatre, Film and Television Studies as well as German and Philosophy from the University of Cologne. She also headed the office responsible for the German government's Third Engagement Report on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ). Her research centers on Public Interest AI, examining how AI development and deployment can benefit society rather than primarily maximizing profit. Current projects include 'Impact AI' (funded by Volkswagen Foundation), which develops auditing methods to assess AI projects' impact on public interest and sustainability, and 'Human in the Loop,' investigating how automated decision-making processes should be designed for successful human-machine interaction. She previously led the 'Public Interest AI' project, developing a theoretically grounded understanding of public interest AI and creating prototypes like a web accessibility tool and fact-checking application. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on bridging AI technology with societal values. Her work spans technical aspects of AI implementation, ethical considerations, and practical applications that serve public interests. Key trends include human-AI collaboration frameworks, accessibility enhancements, critical examination of AI hype, and theoretical foundations for public interest-oriented AI development. Züger serves as Vice-Chair of the UNESCO Commission on Communication and Information and participates in several juries including the Deep Tech Award, Digital Places – Land of Ideas, and the Civic Innovation Fund. She is also a regular event moderator for organizations like the Berlin-Brandenburg Media Authority, re:publica, and transmediale. As project leader of Impact AI and head of the AI & Society Lab, Züger directs significant research initiatives with funding from organizations like the Volkswagen Foundation. Her work involves extensive collaboration with academic and practical partners across Europe and globally, particularly through projects addressing women in tech and international AI governance. The AI & Society Lab functions as an interdisciplinary interface for new research approaches and knowledge transfer in AI, promoting inclusive, human rights-friendly, and sustainable AI strategies in Europe.
Michalis Mountantonakis is a Postdoctoral Researcher at FORTH and Laboratory Teaching Staff in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Crete, Greece. He holds a PhD (2020), MSc (2016), and BSc (2014) in Computer Science from the University of Crete, all with top grades. His research focuses on Large-Scale Semantic Data Integration, Linked Open Data, and Semantic Web technologies, with over 45 publications in top venues like ACM VLDB, ISWC, and ECML. He has been awarded the prestigious SWSA Distinguished Dissertation Award (2020) and the Maria Michael Manasaki Fellowship (2020). His work includes tools like LODsyndesis and LODChain, addressing challenges in knowledge graph connectivity and validation of AI-generated content. Education: PhD in Computer Science (2016-2020), University of Crete (Excellent GPA 9.74/10) MSc in Computer Science (2014-2016), University of Crete (Excellent GPA 9.87/10) BSc in Computer Science (2010-2014), University of Crete (2nd in class with GPA 8.42/10) Research Interests: His work bridges semantic web technologies with modern AI challenges, emphasizing large-scale data integration, knowledge graph applications, and validation frameworks. He has contributed to cultural heritage informatics, machine learning-augmented semantic systems, and cross-lingual NLP solutions. Recent trends include leveraging LLMs for query generation and semantic enrichment while ensuring factual accuracy through knowledge graph-driven validation. Key Achievements: Developed LODsyndesis, a global-scale semantic integration service Pioneered real-time validation of ChatGPT responses using RDF knowledge graphs Won Best Paper Award (ISWC 2022) for entity enrichment techniques Recipient of Stelios Orphanoudakis Undergraduate Fellowship (2013-2014) Participated in Roche Continents 2019 (top 100 European science students) Grants & Labs: His research has been supported by GSRT/HFRI. He collaborates with FORTH-ICS and leads projects in EU-funded initiatives like iMarine and BlueBridge. Current work focuses on governance models for ontologies, interoperable thesaurus creation (e.g., FoodEx2), and semantic analytics for cultural heritage datasets.
Cornelia Brantner is a Professor at Karlstad University's Department of Geography, Media and Communication, and coordinates the Centre for Geomedia Studies. She has held previous roles including visiting scholar at Carnegie Mellon University, temporary Professorships at Bremen University and TU Dresden, and research positions at the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Her research focuses on geomedia, visual communication, digital publics, and algorithmic accountability. Current projects include leading the Swedish Research Council-funded initiative on digital infrastructure sovereignty in welfare states. Education and career highlights include a background in communication studies, with expertise spanning media ethics, digital governance, and spatial media analysis. Her work interrogates intersections of online/offline spaces, visibility dynamics, and inequality in digitized environments. Research trends in her publications emphasize algorithmic accountability, AI's role in media ecosystems, and data sovereignty. Key themes include analyzing geopolitical implications of digital infrastructure, tracking visual discourse around climate change via social media, and exploring ethical dimensions of automation and social media algorithms. Her grants and leadership roles reflect a focus on bridging theoretical and applied media studies. Her lab/center, the Centre for Geomedia Studies, advances interdisciplinary research into spatially-oriented digital media practices. Notable collaborations include international teams analyzing Twitter's sociotechnical ecosystems and cross-linguistic political information retrieval systems.
Adlen KSENTINI is a Professor at EURECOM's Communication Systems department, specializing in advanced networking technologies. His research focuses on Mobile and Wireless Networks, Software Defined Networking (SDN), Mobile Edge Computing (MEC), Network Function Virtualization (NFV), and Content Delivery Networks (CDN), with an emphasis on performance evaluation and network virtualization. He has contributed to projects like AC3 and 6G-BRICKS, exploring cloud-edge continuum integration and 6G infrastructure. Key research interests include virtualized mobile core networks, carrier cloud systems, and AI-driven network management. He has received Best Paper Awards at IEEE WCNC 2018 and IWCMC 2016 for works on network slicing and LTE modeling accuracy. His work often integrates machine learning for optimization, sustainability, and security in 5G/6G networks. Distinctions: Two Best Paper Awards Labs/Teams: Involved in EU-funded projects like AC3 and 6G-BRICKS Grants: Not explicitly listed, but active in collaborative research initiatives
Xing Xinyu is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering. Their research focuses on kernel security, reverse engineering, and AI security, with a strong emphasis on fuzzing techniques, adversarial machine learning, and vulnerability discovery. They hold a PhD from Georgia Institute of Technology, an MS from the University of Colorado Boulder, and a BASc from Beihang University. Research interests include advanced cybersecurity methodologies such as heap memory protection, automated exploit generation, and defense mechanisms against adversarial attacks on large language models. Their work bridges theoretical computer science with practical applications in system security and AI ethics. Publications span topics like LLM jailbreak assessments, reinforcement learning optimization, and blockchain anomaly detection. Notable contributions include frameworks like BandFuzz for collaborative fuzzing and SeaK for secure kernel allocators.
Sara Bellettato is a Contract Lecturer in the Department of Asian and North African Studies at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, where she teaches advanced Thai language courses. She is actively involved in teaching within the 'Languages, Cultures and Societies of Asia and Mediterranean Africa' degree program. Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Japanese, Chinese, and Thai Language and Literature, Ca' Foscari University of Venice (2002) Master in Human Rights and Conflict Management, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa (2004) Her research and professional interests lie at the intersection of Asian languages, intercultural communication, human rights, and humanitarian assistance. She has extensive experience in refugee integration, cultural mediation, and language teaching across diverse contexts in Italy, Thailand, Canada, and Japan. Her work emphasizes experiential and inclusive education, with a focus on marginalized communities and cross-cultural understanding. Her publications and translations reflect a deep engagement with Southeast Asian spiritual traditions, particularly Theravada Buddhism and Shinto, as well as the human dimensions of conflict in regions like Darfur. She combines academic rigor with fieldwork, producing reportage and educational materials that bridge scholarship and public awareness. Scientific Awards: Villa Morosini Prize (essays), June 2011 Prize from the International Shinto Foundation, Tokyo Sara Bellettato has advised and trained volunteers, social workers, and students in intercultural communication and conflict management. She has contributed to NGO projects focused on refugee integration, legal documentation, and fundraising, often in collaboration with Italian government and EU bodies. Her teaching extends beyond formal academia through crash courses, public lectures, and community-based language programs. She has been involved in cultural and educational initiatives including the USE-IT travel map project and online dissemination of Buddhist teachings. Her work in Thailand included organizing multicultural educational activities and teaching English at the university level. No formal lab or research team is mentioned, but her collaborative projects with NGOs and international institutions highlight her networked, interdisciplinary approach.
Associate Professor Wayne Wobcke is a faculty member in the School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), where he has been employed since 2002. His academic career includes previous positions at the University of Sydney until 1998, British Telecom Labs in the UK for three years, and the University of Melbourne for one year. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Essex (1989), an MSc from the University of Queensland (1985), and a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics/Computer Science from the University of Queensland (1984). Dr. Wobcke's research spans both theoretical and practical aspects of artificial intelligence and data science. His work encompasses intelligent agents, data mining, agent-based modeling, dialogue management, personal assistants, recommender systems, and computational social science. He has collaborated extensively with industry through three Cooperative Research Centres (Smart Internet Technology CRC, Smart Services CRC, and Data to Decisions CRC), where he served as a Programme Manager and Project Leader for over 10 years. Notable achievements include developing a voice-controlled mobile application for email and calendar interaction (a precursor to Apple's Siri) and deploying a people-to-people recommender system for online dating on one of Australia's largest dating sites. His recent research focuses on data science in humanitarian contexts and machine learning applications in official statistics, conducted in collaboration with BPS (Statistics Indonesia) and STIS (Politeknik Statistika, Indonesia). His publication record shows a consistent trajectory of impactful research, with recent work concentrating on poverty targeting, domain adaptation, natural language processing for recommender systems, and political opinion mining. Scientific Awards: Best Paper Nomination, 11th Workshop on Argument Mining (2024) UNSW Arc Postgraduate Research Supervisor Award (2017, 2018) AAAI Deployed AI Application Award, Twenty-Sixth Annual Conference on Innovative Applications of Artificial Intelligence (2014) Best application paper runner up, 17th Pacific-Asia Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (2013) Dr. Wobcke has successfully supervised numerous research students, with Irwan Rahadi currently working on 'Causal Modelling and Machine Learning for Official Statistics'. His grant portfolio includes significant funding from the Australian Research Council and various Cooperative Research Centres, totaling over $3.7 million since 2003. He teaches COMP9414 Artificial Intelligence and COMP9727 Recommender Systems at UNSW.
Sotiris Christodoulou is an Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering within the College of Engineering at the University of Peloponnese. He also serves as a research associate at the 'Diofantos' Institute of Computer Technology and Publishing. His academic career spans multiple institutions where he has taught graduate and undergraduate courses across seven different universities since 2004. Dr. Christodoulou earned his B.A. in Computer Engineering and Informatics from the University of Patras in 1994 and completed his PhD in Web Engineering from the same institution in 2004. His educational background established the foundation for his extensive research career focused on web technologies and applications. His primary research interests include Web Engineering, Web Application Performance Optimization, Web Code Quality, Semantic Web technologies, Hypermedia Systems, and emerging Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 technologies. His work extends to Virtual Interactive Environments, 3D and Augmented Reality applications, and Spatial Hypertext systems. Christodoulou's research bridges theoretical web engineering principles with practical applications in cultural heritage, education, and urban infrastructure systems. His research output comprises over 45 publications in international journals, book chapters, and conferences, accumulating more than 450 citations. He has participated in over 23 European and National Research and Development Projects focused on web software technology, hypermedia applications, and 3D educational and cultural applications. Professional member of ACM Professional member of IEEE Member of organizing committees for over 15 international scientific conferences Reviewer for recognized international journals (ACM, IEEE, etc.) Christodoulou has extensive teaching experience across seven universities, specializing in programming languages, web software engineering, software quality, and data management. His research projects typically combine applied research with cutting-edge technology implementation for real-world problems in large organizational information systems. He maintains regular office hours at Building K, Office K2.02 at the University of Peloponnese, with appointments available on Mondays and Thursdays.
Andrea D. Wenzel serves as Associate Professor in Temple University's Department of Journalism within the Lew Klein College of Media and Communication, and holds Faculty Advisory roles at the Center for Community-Engaged Media. Her educational foundation includes a PhD from USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, complemented by MA and BA degrees from the University of Chicago. Wenzel's research pioneers community-centered journalism frameworks that address systemic inequities in news ecosystems, with groundbreaking work on antiracist journalism practices and solutions-oriented reporting for marginalized communities across rural, suburban, and urban landscapes. She examines how newsrooms can build cultural competence and trust through inclusive sourcing and collaborative storytelling networks. Her publication portfolio reveals consistent innovation in local journalism models, with recent works analyzing pandemic-era news adaptation, mutual aid networks for news sustainability, and the intersection of food storytelling with racial identity in ethnically diverse communities. Key recognitions include: International Communication Association’s Journalism Studies Division Public Engagement Award (2021) Temple University Faculty Senate Outstanding Faculty Service Award (2021-22) As a Knight News Innovation Fellow at Columbia University’s Tow Center, she led initiatives serving marginalized groups globally. She co-founded the Germantown Info Hub community journalism project and contributes to industry discourse through editorial board service for Journalism Practice and commentary in Columbia Journalism Review and Nieman Lab.
