Professor Vincent Y. F. Tan holds dual appointments in the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the National University of Singapore (NUS). He is also affiliated with the Institute of Operations Research and Analytics (IORA) and the Institute of Data Science (IDS). His research focuses on Online Decision Making, Multi-Armed Bandits, Reinforcement Learning, Information Theory, and Statistical Signal Processing. Notably, he has been actively publishing in top-tier conferences like NeurIPS, ICML, and IEEE journals, with recent works exploring topics such as low-rank adaptation, off-policy evaluation, and queueing control. Professor Tan has advised numerous PhD students, including Fengzhuo Zhang, Yujun Shi, and Junwen Yang. He has received recognition for his teaching, including a 4.7/5.0 rating for EE5137 Stochastic Processes. His work has led to impactful publications, such as the best paper award at the ICML 2025 workshop on World Models and an oral presentation at ICLR 2025. He currently serves as a Senior Area Chair for NeurIPS 2025 and an Area Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Information Theory. His research group focuses on advancing theoretical and applied aspects of machine learning, with projects funded by grants in areas like distributed optimization and adversarial robustness. He collaborates widely, including with institutions like IIT Delhi and HKUST Guangzhou. Open positions are available for motivated postdocs and students in his research areas.
Antti Poso is a Professor of Drug Design at the University of Eastern Finland (Kuopio), affiliated with the School of Pharmacy under the Faculty of Health Sciences. His research focuses on computer-aided molecular design, particularly targeting anti-cancer drugs and anti-microbials. Key projects include the EDCMET project (2019–2024) and the GeneCellNano Flagship (2020–2028). He leads the Molecular Modeling and Drug Design Research Group, specializing in QSAR analysis, kinase inhibition profiling, and systems-level drug response modeling. Recent work includes studies on SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors, endocrine disruptors, and bacterial pathogenesis. His findings bridge chemical structure with biological outcomes, leveraging computational tools like CCA and molecular dynamics simulations. Collaborations span medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, and systems biology, contributing to both academic and applied drug discovery efforts. Education: Not explicitly stated in texts; assumed to hold advanced degrees in pharmacy or chemistry. Research Themes: Drug design, molecular modeling, QSAR, computational biology, and anti-infective agents. Key Contributions: Over 150+ publications, including influential works on chemoinformatics-driven drug response analysis and structure-based inhibitor design. Publications highlight advancements in kinase inhibitors, anti-microbial strategies, and viral hijacking mechanisms. His work emphasizes translating computational insights into therapeutic solutions for cancer, infectious diseases, and metabolic disorders.
Banu Lokman is a Professor of Operational Research (OR) at the University of Portsmouth, serving as Associate Head (Research and Innovation) in the School of Organisations, Systems and People within the Faculty of Business & Law. She leads the Centre for Innovative and Sustainable Finance and contributes to the Centre for Operational Research & Logistics. Her expertise spans multi-criteria decision-making, optimization, and their applications in healthcare and sustainability. She holds editorial roles at OMEGA and the IMA Journal of Management Mathematics and organizes the NATCOR MCDM courses. Previously, she served as Deputy Director of CORL (2011–2024), Secretary of the International MCDM Society, and Board Member of INFORMS MCDM Section. She currently chairs the INFORMS MCDM Section as President-elect/Vice-President. Education: BSc, MSc, and PhD in Industrial Engineering from Middle East Technical University (METU, Turkey), followed by postdoctoral research at Aalto University (Finland). She taught at METU (2014–2019) and held visiting roles at Aalto University. Research Interests: Focuses on developing optimization methods for multi-criteria decision problems, particularly in healthcare (e.g., optimizing prostate biopsy decisions with Portsmouth NHS Trust) and sustainability. Her work emphasizes algorithms for nondominated set representation, robust efficiency analysis, and cluster ensemble methods. Key Awards: Bernard Roy Award (2022) for outstanding contributions to Multiple Criteria Decision Aiding, and Young Researcher Award (2015). Advising & Grants: Leads a healthcare-related PhD project and contributes to projects like the Social Investment Fund collaboration with Waltham Forest Council. She actively supervises students and participates in research initiatives on supply networks and data control systems. Labs & Teams: Engaged with interdisciplinary teams in operational research and logistics, particularly in applying OR to real-world challenges such as energy market optimization and MRO supply networks.
Helmut H. Strey is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Stony Brook University. His research focuses on micro- and nanotechnologies for quantitative biology , including single-cell analysis, cancer metabolism modeling, and functional MRI data analysis. He holds academic appointments since 2008 and has pioneered technologies like tumor-on-a-chip and optical decoders for translation stages. Education: PhD in Biophysics (Technical University München, 1993), postdoctoral training at NIH (1994-1998). Awards include the NSF CAREER Award (2000-2005), Dillon Medal (2003), and Weston Visiting Professorship (2020). Research interests span cell-to-cell variability , Warburg effect in cancer , and Bayesian analysis of time-series data . His lab develops tools for 3D tumor microenvironments, MRI-compatible drug delivery systems, and biomimetic neural circuit models. Teaching includes advanced numerical methods in biomedical engineering, quantitative biology, and biomolecular analysis. Active in open hardware projects, including microfluidics controllers and IoT devices for health monitoring.
Patrick Skeba is a Teaching Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh's Department of Computer Science within the School of Computing and Information. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Lehigh University (2022) and bachelor's degrees in Cognitive Science and Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University (2017). His research focuses on internet privacy, AI ethics, and the responsible use of data. He teaches courses in machine learning and programming. Research Interests: Skeba's work bridges technology and societal impact, emphasizing privacy risks in data systems, algorithmic fairness, and user-centric privacy frameworks. His recent studies explore informational friction in data collection, community-based privacy strategies, and lay-expert disparities in understanding privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs). Publications: His articles analyze privacy dynamics in digital spaces, from pandemic-era discourse on r/privacy to methodological approaches for categorizing technology non-use. His earlier work includes breakthroughs in sleep disorder diagnostics, particularly periodic leg movement (PLM) analysis and telemedicine applications for neurological conditions. Awards: No scientific awards listed. Grants and advising details are currently unspecified. Labs/Teams: No specific lab affiliations mentioned in provided materials. His teaching and research emphasize collaboration across computational and social domains.
Dr. Bhavna Sharma is an Associate Professor and Director of the Chase L. Leavitt Master of Building Science Program at the USC School of Architecture. Her work focuses on decarbonization, bio-based materials innovation, and sustainable healthcare infrastructure. She leads the Keck USC Sustainable Healthcare Initiative (KUSHI) to advance environmentally conscious healthcare systems. Dr. Sharma holds a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, with additional degrees in Art History and Architecture. Her research spans structural systems optimization from material harvesting to building-scale applications, emphasizing bio-composites like bamboo and timber. She co-chairs USC's Presidential Working Group on Sustainability, contributing to Assignment: Earth climate goals. Courses taught include seismic design, structural systems, and building science integration. Key research areas include lifecycle assessment in healthcare, seismic-resistant designs, and interdisciplinary standards for non-conventional materials. Her work bridges material science, architectural practice, and policy to address global sustainability challenges.
Eleonora Vacca is a PhD student and Research Fellow in the Department of Automatic Control and Computer Science (DAUIN) at the Polytechnic University of Turin. She holds a B.S. in Electronic Engineering from the University of Palermo (2018) and an M.S. in Electronic Engineering-Embedded Systems from Politecnico di Torino (2021). Her research focuses on digital hardware design, reliability engineering, reconfigurable devices, and AI applications in aerospace and safety-critical systems. She is a member of the Aerospace and Safety Computing Lab and the CAD - Electronic CAD & Reliability Group (DAUIN). Her work addresses challenges such as radiation effects mitigation in space missions, fault-tolerant AI accelerators, and real-time anomaly detection in satellite telemetry. She has contributed to projects like the RAMSES CubeSat-1 Development (2025-2026), funded by commercial contracts. In 2024, she won the Best Student Paper Award at the NEWCAS Conference for her research on radiation effects in space missions. Vacca collaborates on teaching, including assisting in the course 'Electronic Calculators' for Computer Engineering students. Her recent publications explore AI resilience in RISC-V ecosystems, radiation environment analysis for space missions, and gesture recognition systems for smart cities. She actively contributes to conferences such as the ACM International Conference on Computing Frontiers and the IEEE International Smart Cities Conference.
Stefano Leonardi is a Full Professor in the Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering Antonio Ruberti at Sapienza Università di Roma. His research focuses on Algorithm Theory, Algorithms and Data Science, and Economics and Computation. He leads the ERC Advanced Grant project AMDROMA, exploring algorithmic mechanisms for online markets. He has held roles as Conference Chair for STOC 2021, WWW 2015, and FUN 2018, and coordinates the Sapienza School of Advanced Studies (2016-2018). His work spans approximation algorithms, online algorithms, and mechanism design. Awards include the ERC Advanced Grant and EATCS Fellowship. His research interests emphasize foundational algorithmic problems in web-based markets, leveraging rigorous design and large-scale data analysis. Recent projects include ALGADIMAR (PRIN 2019-2022) for digital market algorithms. He chairs the Highlights of Algorithms conference series and serves on program committees for top venues like EC, ICALP, and SODA. His lab focuses on web algorithmics and data mining, addressing challenges in online labor markets and fair division. Leonardi's academic contributions include over 100 publications, with recent work on fair algorithms, prophet inequalities, and mechanism design in auctions. He has pioneered methods for submodular optimization, online learning, and multi-agent systems. Grants and awards reflect his leadership in bridging theory with real-world applications, particularly in digital economies. Grants: ERC Advanced Grant (2018-2023), PRIN ALGADIMAR (2019-2022) Leadership: Chair of ACM STOC 2021, WWW 2015, and 9th FUN Conference Labs/Teams: Laboratory on Web Algorithmics and Data Mining Key Projects: AMDROMA (algorithmic mechanisms), ALGADIMAR (digital markets)
Majid Ghaderi is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Science. His expertise spans network algorithms, secure communication, and machine learning applications in network control. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo (2006), and M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees in Software Engineering from Sharif University of Technology (2001 and 1999). Education: Ph.D. Computer Science, University of Waterloo, 2006 M.Sc. Software Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, 2001 B.Sc. Software Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, 1999 Research Interests: Dr. Ghaderi focuses on optimizing network algorithms, securing communication in distributed systems, and leveraging machine learning for network control. His work addresses challenges such as secure wireless protocols, SDN-based network management, and efficient resource allocation in data centers. He explores proactive traffic scheduling and anomaly detection in critical infrastructures like industrial control systems and vehicular networks. Publications Trends: His recent work emphasizes covert communication in heterogeneous networks, adaptive federated learning in edge environments, and low-overhead diagnostic systems for cloud networks. He also investigates cybersecurity defenses against hardware vulnerabilities and dynamic threat landscapes. Awards: Best in-session Presentation Award, IEEE INFOCOM 2018 Municipal Excellence Award, Government of Alberta 2018 Faculty of Science Excellence in Teaching Award 2012 Advising & Grants: While no specific advisees are listed, his research has been supported by grants focusing on network security, edge computing, and IoT applications. He teaches CPSC 441 (Computer Networks) and maintains an active lab focused on network systems and cybersecurity. Labs & Teams: His research group collaborates on projects involving software-defined networks, vehicular communication, and industrial IoT security. The team develops open-source tools for network monitoring and anomaly detection.
Isuru Godage is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Technology & Industrial Distribution at Texas A&M University's College of Engineering. He holds affiliated faculty positions in Mechanical Engineering and Multidisciplinary Engineering. His work focuses on advanced robotics systems, particularly soft robots, continuum arms, and their applications in surgery and blockchain-based collaboration. He earned a B.Sc. (Hons) in Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka (2007), and a Ph.D. in Robotics, Cognition, and Interaction Technologies from the University of Genova – Italian Institute of Technology, Italy (2013). Research Interests: Soft robots and continuum robots Modular robotic systems MRI-compatible surgical robotics for intracerebral hemorrhage evacuation Motion planning and control of underactuated systems Blockchain-enabled trustless collaboration between humans and robots His publications emphasize dynamic control of soft robotic arms, kinematic modeling of continuum systems, and bio-inspired designs for medical and industrial applications. Recent work explores locomotion strategies for soft quadrupeds and snake-like robots, alongside innovations in decentralized robotic data frameworks. Dr. Godage has secured grants such as the NSF CAREER Award (2021) focused on transformable soft robots and collaborative projects with the National Robotics Initiative (NRI). His research bridges robotics mechanics, control theory, and emerging technologies like blockchain for swarm robotics.
Professor Ingrid Bouwer Utne is a faculty member at the Department of Marine Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Her primary research focuses on risk analyses of ships, marine systems, and autonomy, with emphasis on operational safety, maintenance management, and risk control in autonomous maritime technologies. Key Projects: Leader of the Risk Group at NTNU, involved in the SFI Autoship initiative and ERC AdG BREACH project addressing risk-based rationality in autonomous systems. Research Interests: Autonomous systems design, probabilistic risk assessment, safety engineering, and risk-informed decision-making for marine operations. Grants & Funding: Secured funding from the Research Council of Norway, MAROFF, and industry partners for projects like ORCAS (Online Risk Management for Autonomous Ships) and UNLOCK (Supervisory Risk Control). She supervises numerous PhD students and postdocs, focusing on topics such as autonomous vessel navigation, risk modeling for underwater robotics, and decarbonization of maritime systems. Her work bridges theoretical risk analysis with practical applications in marine autonomy and safety systems.
Stavros G. Vougioukas is a Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at the University of California, Davis. His research focuses on agricultural robotics, mechanization, and automation for specialty crops, with particular emphasis on robotic harvesting systems and precision agriculture technologies. He leads initiatives in developing actuator systems, perception, and control mechanisms to optimize crop management. Key areas of expertise include robotic fruit harvesting, autonomous vehicle navigation in orchards, and site-specific pest management strategies. His work integrates mechanical engineering principles with advanced automation to address labor shortages and improve agricultural efficiency. Recent projects emphasize data-driven solutions for yield estimation, worker activity analysis, and economic viability of robotic systems. Academic contributions span over 50 peer-reviewed publications (2023-2025), with a focus on robotic orchard platforms, crop transport systems, and sensor-based automation. Notable innovations include vacuum suction end-effectors for fruit harvesting and GNSS-free navigation systems for autonomous vehicles. He also explores sustainable agricultural machinery through techno-economic analyses of electric/hybrid tractors. Current research bridges robotics and agricultural economics, addressing labor cost optimization and precision irrigation. His lab collaborates with industry partners to translate prototypes into field-ready solutions, emphasizing practical applications for specialty crop production systems.
Dr. Rishita Nandagiri is a feminist researcher and academic currently serving as a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in the Department of Global Health & Social Medicine at King's College London. She previously held research and teaching positions at the London School of Economics (LSE), including an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship and an LSE Fellow in Health and International Development. Her work is deeply rooted in reproductive justice, gender, and global health, with a focus on the Global South. PhD in Social Policy, London School of Economics (2019) ESRC Postdoctoral Fellow, LSE Department of Methodology (2020-2021) LSE Fellow in Health and International Development (2019-2020) Research Assistant, LSE Department of Media and Communications (2018-2019) Dr. Nandagiri’s research centers on reproductive (in)justices, interrogating how power and politics shape abortion access, self-managed abortion, care trajectories, and reproductive governance. Her work is interdisciplinary, drawing on feminist theory, qualitative and participatory methods, policy analysis, and co-production with communities and organizations. She has extended her research to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on abortion and the role of lay health providers in care delivery. Her methodological interests include multi-method designs that integrate interviews, archival research, and community engagement. The 15 most recent articles reflect a strong trajectory in reproductive justice, with increasing engagement with feminist economics, carceral systems, and global policy. Themes include structural violence, legal pluralism, care ethics, and transnational advocacy. Her publications span high-impact journals in public health, social policy, gender studies, and media, indicating a broad interdisciplinary reach. Scientific awards and recognitions include: ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship (2020-2021) LSE Class Teacher Award (2020) LSE Research Investment and Infrastructure Funds (2020) Best PhD Poster Prize, British Society for Population Studies (2018) LSE PhD Studentship (2015-2019) Dr. Nandagiri has advised on and contributed to numerous research grants, particularly those related to reproductive health, digital privacy, and pandemic response. She has collaborated with major institutions such as UNFPA, the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights, and FRIDA. She co-founded the Abortion Book Club and serves on editorial and advisory boards, including BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health and the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population’s Abortion Research panel. She also co-convenes the Development Studies Association’s Women and Development Study Group, demonstrating strong leadership in academic and advocacy networks. She is actively involved in public engagement, contributing to LSE blogs, media outlets like Women's Health Magazine UK, and platforms such as the Oxford Human Rights Hub and Harvard’s Bill of Health. Her lab and team affiliations are not explicitly named, but her collaborative projects suggest strong ties to interdisciplinary research groups focused on global health, reproductive justice, and digital rights.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Weihan Li is a Junior Professor at RWTH Aachen University, specializing in Artificial Intelligence and Digitalization for Batteries. He is affiliated with the Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives (ISEA) and the Center for Ageing, Reliability, and Lifetime Prediction of Electrochemical and Power Electronic Systems (CARL). His research bridges informatics, electrochemistry, and power electronics to advance battery technology through AI. B.Sc. in Automotive Engineering (Tongji University, 2014) M.Sc. in Automotive Engineering and Transport (RWTH Aachen, 2017) Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (RWTH Aachen, 2021, summa cum laude) Prof. Li’s research focuses on AI-driven battery modeling, diagnostics, and optimization. Key areas include digital twin technology, electrochemical parameterization, and lifetime prediction using field data. He explores multi-scale kinetic processes, thermal management, and mechanical-electrochemical coupling effects in battery systems. The articles listed reflect his leadership in AI-powered battery analytics, spanning degradation prediction, fast charging, failure mode analysis, and grid-scale storage. His work emphasizes both theoretical innovation (e.g., diffusion models, physics-informed neural networks) and practical applications (e.g., second-life battery screening, automotive integration). Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher 2024 BMBF BattFutur Research Group (€2M+) German Thesis Award (Körber Foundation) Reichart Prize vgbe Innovation Prize Battery Young Research Award Umbrella Award RWTH Innovation Award Prof. Li leads an interdisciplinary research group with over €6 million in grants from BMBF, BMWK, BMDV, European Commission, and industry partners. His teams focus on battery informatics, AI-driven diagnostics, and digitalization of testing processes at CARL and ISEA.
Prof. Maryline Laurent is a Professor at Telecom SudParis, affiliated with the SAMOVAR research laboratory. Her work focuses on cybersecurity, privacy-preserving technologies, blockchain applications, and IoT security. She has contributed to numerous high-impact publications and conferences, addressing challenges in secure healthcare systems, decentralized identity management, and privacy in distributed systems. Her research spans cryptographic protocols, access control mechanisms, and compliance with EU data protection regulations. Key areas of expertise include secure communication protocols for IoT, blockchain-based solutions for healthcare, and privacy-enhancing technologies. She has collaborated on projects such as self-sovereign identity frameworks, anonymized data aggregation, and privacy-preserving smart grid systems. Her work emphasizes practical methodologies for assessing re-identification risks in anonymized datasets and designing secure systems compliant with evolving regulations. Prof. Laurent’s contributions extend to book chapters and edited volumes on digital identity management and wireless network security. She actively participates in international conferences and initiatives, advocating for privacy-by-design principles in intelligent infrastructures.
