Şebnem Akipek Öcal is a Professor at TED University's Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences. She holds a PhD from Ankara University and has held roles including Dean at Kadir Has University and Vice Rector at TED University. Her expertise spans Civil Law, Consumer Law, Urban Policy, and Legal Studies. Education: Bachelor's (1st in class) from Ankara University Faculty of Law LL.M. from London School of Economics (LSE) PhD in Social Sciences from Ankara University Research Interests: Focuses on consumer protection, legal contracts, urban transformation policies, and civil law principles. Her work integrates judicial precedents with contemporary issues like AI legal frameworks and healthcare contracts. Academic Contributions: Teaches courses such as Business Law, Consumer Protection Law, and Migration Law. Advised 13 theses and authored over 127 publications. Active in migration studies through the Migration Law master's program. Labs/Teams: Contributes to migration policy research through the Migration Studies Master Program at TED University.
Dr. Rebecca Balasundaram is a Lecturer and Module Director at York St John University's York Business School in London, UK, and an adjunct professor at Vellore Institute of Science and Technology, India. With over 20 years of teaching experience and a decade of research in Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity, she holds a PhD in Computer Science from Bharathiyar University. She previously served as an Associate Professor at SRMIST, India, and leads the research group 'MetaLearn AI Innovators.' Her teaching spans Python/R for Machine Learning, Cryptography, and Software Engineering. She has secured research funding, including a 2023 QR-funded project on AI for predicting premature births using Machine Learning. She actively publishes in top journals, filed five patents, and presents globally on AI, Blockchain, and security. Recent activities include keynote speeches at the International Conference on Resilience Management (2023) and a training session for Nigerian security operatives (2023). Her research focuses on AI-driven security solutions, blockchain optimization, and educational tech innovations like 'Teachable Machine Using Mixed Reality.' She mentors students through SAAR projects and collaborates with industry on applied research.
Rain Ottis is a Tenured Associate Professor at Tallinn University of Technology's School of Information Technologies, Department of Software Science. His research examines cyber operations, security strategy, and information warfare frameworks. His investigations focus on developing effective cyber defense capabilities, optimizing offensive cyber operation planning, and examining international legal frameworks governing cyber conflicts. He maintains particular expertise in military cyber workforce development and exercise design. Publication analysis reveals consistent themes in cyber conflict doctrine development, vulnerability assessment of national infrastructure, and cross-border cybersecurity cooperation models. His research frequently incorporates case studies of Estonian cybersecurity systems. Professor Ottis received the Order of the White Star, Class V in 2016 for contributions to national security. He maintains active roles in international conferences including serving on program committees for IEEE EuroS&P and European Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security.
Pankaj Pandey is a Senior Research Scientist at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), affiliated with the Department of Information Security and Communication Technology under the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering. He holds an LLM in International Law from the University of Sunderland, UK, and dual PhDs in Information Security (NTNU) and Applied Economics (University of Antwerp). He is certified in ISO standards including ISO 42001 (Lead Implementer), ISO 31000 (Lead Risk Manager), and ISO 27001 (Lead Auditor). He leads the European Commission-funded ENFIELD project (€11M), focusing on Trustworthy and Green AI. His research spans cybersecurity, blockchain applications, AI governance, cyber-physical systems, and financial instruments for risk management. Key projects include CYBERUNITY (cyber range federation), DELTA (smart grid security), and GHOST (IoT risk control). He has published extensively in journals like Frontiers in Energy Research and Lecture Notes in Computer Science , with a focus on AI, blockchain, and energy systems. His work integrates technical and legal frameworks, emphasizing digital sovereignty and ethical AI. Pandey collaborates internationally on standards development and advises EU projects like TRIANGLE (5G benchmarking) through HSbooster.eu. His expertise bridges technical innovation with regulatory compliance, driving societal impact in digital governance and resilient infrastructure.
Professor Shona Leitch is a Professor and Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education – Learning, Teaching & Quality) at RMIT University's Education Portfolio. Her role focuses on strategic educational leadership, quality assurance, and innovation in teaching and learning. She is based at the City Campus in Australia and actively supervises research students in Masters and PhD programs. Leitch's research and teaching interests span pedagogy, educational technology, human-centered systems design, and ethical issues in computing. Her work emphasizes technology integration in education and cybersecurity policy implications. Notable research areas include ePortfolio implementation in business education, social media analytics, and cybersecurity frameworks for critical infrastructure. Her publications (2013–2022) address topics such as mixed modality education, data retention policies, cybersecurity policy comparisons, and ethical implications of social media. Recent work highlights blended learning strategies and cybersecurity challenges in industrial control systems. No scientific awards are explicitly noted, but her contributions to educational technology and cybersecurity policy are prominent. She advises on research related to technology ethics and pedagogical innovation. Her work is often collaborative, with co-authors in fields like information systems and education. Labs or teams are not explicitly mentioned, but her role in RMIT's Education Portfolio suggests involvement in institutional educational initiatives and cross-disciplinary projects.
Dr. Yuchen Zhao is a Lecturer in the Cyber Security and Privacy Research Group at the University of York's Department of Computer Science. His research focuses on privacy-preserving machine learning, edge computing, and healthcare technology, particularly in smart healthcare systems using federated learning. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of St Andrews and has worked at institutions such as Imperial College London and the University of Southampton. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of St Andrews (2017) M.Sc. in Information Security, Wuhan University (2013) B.Eng in Information Security, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (2011) His research interests include user-centric systems powered by personal data and privacy protection mechanisms in IoT and edge environments. Notable projects include AI Testing Innovation (Innovate UK) and Building a Minimal Viable Digital Identity (EPSRC SPRITE+). He collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to advance usable privacy and security in healthcare and smart systems. Dr. Zhao is actively recruiting PhD students interested in privacy-preserving machine learning, edge computing, and usable privacy. His work bridges theoretical advancements with practical implementations, aiming to reform real-world systems through secure, privacy-aware technologies.
Stephen Huang is Professor of Computer Science at the University of Houston's College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. He directs the Center for Cybersecurity Research and has held administrative roles including Department Chairman and Director of Graduate Studies. He received his PhD in Computer Science from the University of Texas-Austin and served as National Research Council-NASA Senior Research Associate at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. His 40+ year career encompasses cybersecurity research, algorithm design, and academic leadership. Research focuses on intrusion detection systems, malware analysis, network security, and applied algorithms. His work integrates machine learning with security applications, particularly in anomaly detection and behavioral analysis. Recent projects include NSA-funded research on automated intrusion detection through metadata traffic analysis. Publications demonstrate progression from foundational algorithms to advanced AI applications in security. Recent articles focus on VPN detection, Android malware analysis, and large language model interpretability, consistently applying computational theory to cybersecurity challenges. He leads the GAANN Fellowship Program in Cybersecurity and Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) initiatives. His laboratory develops practical security solutions through collaborations with government agencies and industry partners.
Roberto Baiocco is a Full Professor of Developmental Psychology at Sapienza University of Rome, affiliated with the Department of Developmental and Socialization Psychology and the School of Medicine and Psychology. He holds leadership roles, including Director of the Center for the Study of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity since 2010, and President of the Master's Program in 'Developmental and Atypical Development Psychology'. His research focuses on sexual minority adolescents, coming out processes, and same-sex parenting, with over 300 international publications. Education: Clinical and Community Psychology degree, PhD in Psychology, both from Sapienza University, and a Master's in Family Psychotherapy from Scuola Romana di Terapia Familiare. Research Interests: Risk/protective factors in adolescents, LGBTQ+ mental health, family dynamics in same-sex parent families, and minority stress. Notable projects include studies on sexting, cyber dating violence, and resilience in marginalized communities. Grants & Awards: 2024 Fondazione Francesco De Sanctis Salute Sociale Award for 'Mental Health in Gender Disorders'. Active in institutional roles, including President of Sapienza’s Equality Committee and Director of the Centro Interuniversitario per la ricerca sulla genesi e sviluppo delle motivazioni prosociali e antisociali. Labs/Teams: Leads the 'Homoparenting' research group and the 'Well-being of LGBTQ+ Individuals' initiative. Affiliated with the clinical service '6 come sei' for gender and sexual orientation research/intervention.
Jaap-Henk Hoepman is an Associate Professor at Radboud University Nijmegen and Guest Professor at Karlstad University. He leads the Privacy & Identity Lab and is a member of Radboud's iHub, focusing on interdisciplinary digitalization research. His work emphasizes translating legal privacy norms into engineering solutions through Privacy Design Strategies , detailed in his book The Little Blue Book . He actively engages in public discourse via a blog archived by the Dutch Royal Library. Research Interests: Privacy by Design Privacy Enhancing Technologies Identity Management Societal Impact of Technology Internet of Things Privacy Cryptography Committee Roles: Ethics committee member for Groningen municipality, organizer of the Privacy Engineering Network of the Netherlands (PEN-NL), and advisory board member for the Weizenbaum Journal of Digital Society . Labs/Teams: Principal scientist at the Privacy & Identity Lab and co-organizer of interdisciplinary privacy summer schools.
Dr. Saraju P. Mohanty is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of North Texas (UNT), where he leads the Smart Electronic Systems Laboratory (SESL). He holds honorary and adjunct positions at IIIT-Naya Raipur, MNIT Jaipur, and Oriental University, Indore, in India. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering, University of South Florida (USF), 2003 Masters in Systems Science and Automation (AI), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), 1999 B.E. in Electrical Engineering (Honors), College of Engineering and Technology, Bhubaneswar (OUAT), 1995 Dr. Mohanty's research is centered on Smart Electronic Systems, with a strong focus on IoT, VLSI, hardware security, and healthcare applications. His work integrates machine learning, embedded systems, and nanoelectronics to develop secure and efficient solutions for smart cities, agriculture, and medical devices. He has authored over 550 peer-reviewed publications and five books, including a PROSE Award-winning textbook. His recent publications reflect a growing emphasis on AI-driven solutions for synthetic media detection, smart farming, driver monitoring, and personalized health. These works demonstrate a trend toward intelligent, edge-based systems that leverage sensor data and lightweight AI for real-time decision-making. Scientific Awards and Honors: Fulbright Specialist Award (2021) IEEE Consumer Electronics Society Outstanding Service Award (2020) IEEE-CS-TCVLSI Distinguished Leadership Award (2018) PROSE Award for Best Textbook (2016) Top 2% Scientist globally (PLOS Biology, 2019–2022) Multiple Best Paper and Best Poster Awards UNT Toulouse Scholars Award (2016–2017) President’s Scout Award, India (1988) Dr. Mohanty has supervised 3 postdocs, 18 Ph.D. students, 29 M.S. theses, and over 40 undergraduate research projects. Eleven of his advisees have received outstanding student awards. He has received multiple UNT Provost’s Thank a Teacher and Honors Day recognitions. His research has been funded by NSF, SRC, US Air Force, NIDILRR, and Mission Innovation. He has held key editorial roles, including Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Consumer Electronics Magazine and founding EiC of IEEE VLSI Circuits and Systems Letter. He is actively involved in IEEE leadership and conference organization, serving on steering committees for IEEE-iSES, ISVLSI, and OCIT. Laboratories and Teams: He directs the Smart Electronic Systems Laboratory (SESL) at UNT, which focuses on cutting-edge research in IoT, edge computing, hardware security, and smart healthcare. The lab fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and has produced numerous award-winning student projects and publications.
Jorge Bernal Bernabé is an Associate Professor at the Department of Communications and Information Engineering (DIIC) of the University of Murcia (UMU). He focuses on security, trust, and privacy management in distributed systems , particularly in Internet of Things (IoT), Software-Defined Networking (SDN), Network Function Virtualization (NFV) , and blockchain technologies . His work spans European projects like Resilmesh, RIGOUROUS, ERATOSTHENES, and INSPIRE-5Gplus. His research emphasizes Automated security policy enforcement Privacy-preserving credentials Federated learning for anomaly detection Network slicing for 6G security Cyber situational awareness Scientific awards include Best PhD Thesis Award (2015) AXA Postdoctoral Scholarship (2019) ANECA Associate Professor accreditation (2020) Best Paper Award (2009) He serves on editorial boards for journals like Frontiers in Blockchain (Blockchains Security and Privacy section), Electronics (Networks Section), and Security and Communication Networks . As a program committee member, he co-chaired SecSoft 2025 and organized workshops like ECoSP 2018.
Zuzana Kurucová is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Legal Communication in Foreign Languages at Faculty of Law , Pan-European University PEVŠ. She teaches multiple English language courses and specialized legal communication subjects. Position: Head of Department, Associate Professor Department: Legal Communication in Foreign Languages Office: Room 2.11 Consultation: Mondays 2:00 PM-3:00 PM Contact: +421 2 4820 8856 Her research focuses on: Anglo-American legal systems Professional language training for international relations E-learning applications in legal education Virtual communication risks Recent publications examine e-learning during pandemics, digital evidence admissibility, and virtual environment ethics. She organizes study stays in London, Brussels, and Washington DC to enhance students' practical language skills.
Professor Tanveer Zia at Charles Sturt University is a leading researcher in cybersecurity, focusing on wireless sensor networks, IoT security, and privacy-preserving data sharing. He leads the Privacy-Preserving Data Sharing in Hyperconnected World research theme and serves as CSU lead in the Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre (CRC). PhD in Information Technology from the University of Sydney Active in cybersecurity research for over 15 years Extensive publications on wireless sensor network security, biometric security, and cloud security His work spans human-centric cybersecurity , machine self-control , and biomedical signal processing . Recent projects include developing frameworks for local differential privacy and security awareness programs for regional NSW youth. Key article themes include: advanced privacy mechanisms, IoT vulnerabilities, and deep learning applications in biometric systems. Notably, he explores user-driven privacy and cyber diversity metrics for resilient systems. Scientific Awards Emerging Researcher Award (2010) Research Excellence Awards (2010, 2011) Leadership Excellence Award (2013) Academic Excellence Award (2014) Prof Zia supervises doctoral students in digital forensics and contributes to cybersecurity education. His media engagements include appearances on identity theft, computer scams, and youth cybersecurity initiatives.
Aleksander Kuczabski, Ph.D., Professor at the University of Gdańsk , serves in the Faculty of Social Sciences , specifically within the Institute of Socio-Economic Geography and Spatial Management 's Department of Regional Development . His work focuses on regional development, public administration, and post-communist transformation. Research Themes : Cross-border cooperation, socio-economic geography, crisis management, and urban toponymy reform. Publications : Analyzes Ukraine-Poland regional dynamics, geopolitical impacts of war, and post-Soviet institutional reforms. Collaborations : Engaged in EU integration studies and spatial management frameworks for Eastern Europe.
Aniket Kesari is an Associate Professor at Fordham Law School within Fordham University . His work bridges law & technology , data science , and public policy with a focus on empirical legal studies, machine learning, and natural language processing. Cyber and Data Security Law Information Technology Law Intellectual Property Law and Economics Law and Social Science He teaches courses such as Cybersecurity Law , Law & Technology Survey , and Torts , emphasizing hands-on technical and legal integration. Research Highlights : 2025 - Federal Open Data as an AI Resource 2024 - Data Breach Notification Laws Efficacy 2023 - Computational Social Science Training 2022 - Privacy-Fairness-Utility Tradeoffs 2021 - AI in Hate Speech Analysis 2019 - The Tethered Economy
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