Shrikanth (Shri) Narayanan is University Professor and Niki & C. L. Max Nikias Chair in Engineering at the University of Southern California (USC), with appointments spanning Electrical & Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Linguistics, Psychology, Neuroscience, Pediatrics, and Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. He serves as Research Director of the Information Sciences Institute and Director of the Ming Hsieh Institute. PhD in Electrical Engineering (UCLA, 1995) Engineer and MS in Electrical Engineering (UCLA, 1992 and 1990) BE in Electrical Engineering (Anna University, India, 1988) His interdisciplinary research focuses on human-centered signal processing and machine intelligence , addressing societal challenges in health, education, defense, and media arts. Key areas include: Behavioral signal processing Affective computing Multimodal signal processing Computational speech science Biomedical applications Scientific Awards : IEEE James L. Flanagan Speech and Audio Processing Award (2025) Edward J. McCluskey Technical Achievement Award (2024) ISCA Medal for Scientific Achievement (2023) Claude Shannon-Harry Nyquist Technical Achievement Award (2023) ACM ICMI Sustained Accomplishment Award (2020) USC Distinguished Faculty Service Award With over 1,000 publications and 19 patents , his work has been commercialized through startups like Behavioral Signals Technologies and Lyssn . He leads transformative university initiatives and has served in editorial roles for top journals including Computer Speech and Language and IEEE Transactions on Affective Computing .
Prof. Martin Boeker is a Professor of Medical Informatics at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), affiliated with the TUM School of Medicine and Health. His work focuses on advancing healthcare through AI-driven solutions, interoperability frameworks, and precision medicine initiatives. Key projects include the German Medical Text Corpus (GeMTeX) and the MIRACUM DIFUTURE Alignment Hub. Expertise: Medical Informatics, AI in Healthcare, Federated Learning, Health Data Integration Key Contributions: FHIR-based systems, clinical decision support, patient-centered outcomes research Leadership: Director of the Institute for AI and Informatics in Medicine at TUM Hospital Right of the Isar Research emphasizes bridging clinical practice and data science through projects like modular health crawlers, automated guideline adherence monitoring, and cross-institutional medical NLP solutions. His work spans oncology informatics, rare disease management, and pandemic response data ecosystems. Recent articles highlight innovations in digital twins for precision oncology, federated analysis in oncology, and German-language medical NLP challenges. He collaborates internationally on EHR standardization and healthcare interoperability, contributing to the Medical Informatics Initiative (MII) and pandemic evidence ecosystems. Grants and collaborations involve the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, European initiatives, and industry partnerships. Educational efforts focus on training future medical informatics professionals through MII competency programs.
Dr. Robin Laycock is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences at RMIT University. He leads the Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (SoCoNeuro) Lab, focusing on behavioral and neural mechanisms of social perception in neurotypical and neurodivergent populations, including autism spectrum disorders and the neurocognitive effects of concussion. His research integrates methodologies such as eye-tracking, EEG, and fNIRS to study visual perception, face processing, and the impact of stress/anxiety on cognition. Dr. Laycock holds a PhD from La Trobe University, where he investigated visual processing pathways. His work also includes the BabyFace study, exploring social perception in pre-term infants using fNIRS. He is affiliated with RMIT’s Healthy Foundations Research Group and supervises research projects on topics like concussion neurocognition and social media’s neurobiological effects. Research interests span visual neuroscience, social neuroscience, and clinical applications of neuroimaging. He teaches undergraduate courses in Biological Psychology and supervises postgraduate research in vision science, neuropsychology, and affective neuroscience. His lab’s recent studies examine sex differences in sports-related concussion neuroimaging and the role of deepfakes in emotion perception research. He actively collaborates on projects addressing autism traits, stress effects on visual processing, and neuroimaging advancements.
Mattias Heldner is Professor of Phonetics and Head of Department at the Department of Linguistics, Stockholm University. He also serves as Director of the Phonetics Laboratory where he has developed advanced recording facilities for breathing movements and voice quality dynamics in conversation. Dr. Heldner received his PhD in Phonetics from Umeå University in 2002, completed a postdoc at TeliaSonera Sweden in 2005, became Docent in Speech Communication at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in 2007, and was appointed Professor in Phonetics at Stockholm University in 2011. His research focuses on communicative behavior relevant for turn-taking in conversation and signaling of prosodic functions such as prominence and boundaries. His work spans multiple dimensions of speech communication, including: Respiratory patterns and their role in conversation flow Voice quality dynamics as turn-taking cues Prosodic functions in spontaneous speech Physiological constraints in verbal communication Acoustic properties of child speech development Neural correlates of lexical stress Dr. Heldner's recent publications demonstrate how respiratory signals provide crucial information for predicting speech activity and managing turn-taking. His research combines physiological measurements with acoustic analysis to uncover hidden aspects of conversational organization, particularly the relationship between breathing patterns and speech timing. As an educator, Dr. Heldner has taught phonetics courses for Speech and Language Pathology students at Karolinska Institutet, University of Gothenburg, and Umeå University. He currently supervises one PhD student and has successfully supervised two PhD theses to completion. Dr. Heldner has held several Swedish research grants and served as one of the Technical Program Chairs for Interspeech 2017 in Stockholm. His Phonetics Laboratory has developed innovative systems like RespTrack for measuring respiratory movements during speech with high experimental control.
Ronnie Sircar is the Eugene Higgins Professor of Operations Research and Financial Engineering at Princeton University , where he contributes to the Department of Operations Research and Financial Engineering (ORFE). His work spans financial mathematics, stochastic modeling, and applied probability, with a focus on market volatility, optimal investment strategies, and dynamic game theory. Email: sircar@princeton.edu Office: Sherrerd Hall, Room 208, Princeton, NJ 08544 His research interests include: Stochastic Volatility: Asymptotic analysis, calibration, and impact on option pricing and portfolio optimization. Mean Field Games: Applications to cryptocurrency mining, energy markets, and interbank network formation. Portfolio Theory: Forward performance processes, drawdown constraints, and risk-averse strategies. Credit Risk: Multi-name credit derivatives, CDO valuation, and risk measures. Energy Systems: Renewable reliability, unit commitment, and electricity market design. Recent publications emphasize mean field games in energy and blockchain, stochastic volatility in portfolio optimization, and machine learning applications for financial engineering. He has advised graduate students such as Giulia Crippa, Nicolas Garcia, and Burak Aydin, often collaborating with researchers including M. Soner, P. Chan, and A.M. Reppen.
Justine Sherry is the A. Nico Habermann Associate Professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University, affiliated with the College of Engineering. She holds a PhD (2016) and MS (2012) from UC Berkeley and a BS/BA (2010) from the University of Washington. Her research focuses on networked systems, including middleboxes, cloud computing, congestion control, and hardware acceleration (e.g., SmartNICs/FPGAs). Notable projects include Pigasus (open-source 100Gbps IDS), APLOMB (cloud-based middlebox scaling), and BlindBox (encrypted traffic scanning). Her academic roles include serving on the SIGCOMM CARES Committee, DARPA ISAT Study Group, and ACM CoNEXT Steering Committee. Awards include the Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship, VMware Systems Award, and IETF Applied Networking Prize. She advises over 15 students and collaborates with industry partners like Intel and VMware. Research highlights include radical shifts in datacenter architectures (SmartNIC compute control), fairness in congestion algorithms (BBR analysis), and database-proxy innovations (Tigger with eBPF). Her teaching emphasizes systems as science labs, integrating experimental design and hypothesis testing into projects. Education: PhD UC Berkeley (2016), MS UC Berkeley (2012), BS/BA University of Washington (2010) Labs/Teams: CyLab, SNAP Research Group, CMU Portugal Collaboration Grants: NSF, Intel, Google Faculty Awards
Mats Danielsson is a Professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, leading the Medical Imaging research group within the Department of Particle Astrophysics and Medical Imaging. He has coordinated major projects like the ERC Advanced Grant for the Si3 project (starting 2024) and the EIC Pathfinder's 1MICRON project (starting 2025). His work focuses on advancing photon-counting detectors, X-ray technologies, and medical imaging systems. Notable recognitions include the 2024 KTH Innovation Award and the 2022 Hans Wigzell Science Prize. Danielsson has co-founded companies such as Sectra Mamea AB and C-RAD AB, and holds 135 patents with over 150 scientific publications. Education: MSc (1990) and PhD (1996) from KTH, followed by postdoctoral research at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (1996–1998). He joined KTH in 1999, where he has held his current professorship since then. His research spans medical imaging, detector innovation, and radiation physics applications in healthcare. Research Interests: Development of high-resolution CT detectors, photon-counting technologies, compact X-ray sources, and AI-driven image processing. His recent work emphasizes minimizing radiation exposure while enhancing diagnostic precision through novel detector designs and machine learning algorithms. Key Projects: ERC Si3 project (3D detector for nuclear medicine), EIC 1MICRON (micrometer-scale imaging), and MedTechLabs collaboration with Karolinska Institutet. He has pioneered innovations such as MicroDose mammography and advanced photon-counting spectral CT systems. Awards: KTH Innovation Award (2024), Hans Wigzell Prize (2022), IVA membership (2017), Polhem finalist (2014), and INGVAR Award (2004). Advising & Grants: Over 150 scientific publications, 135 patents, and leadership in multi-institutional projects. Teaches courses on medical imaging and modern physics at KTH. Labs/Teams: Director of the Medical Imaging Group at KTH, co-founder of MedTechLabs, and collaborator across academia and industry in medical imaging innovation.
Andrew Rice is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Cambridge's Department of Computer Science and Technology, and holds the Hassabis Fellowship in Computer Science. He is also the Director of Studies in Computer Science at Queens' College. His research focuses on programming languages, software engineering, and machine learning applications in software development. He leads projects like Isaac Computer Science and ALTA (Automated Language Teaching and Assessment), advancing adaptive learning technologies. His work includes static analysis tools such as Error Prone at Google, energy efficiency studies in computing infrastructure, and contributions to the Computing for the Future of the Planet initiative. His teaching emphasizes practical skill development through flipped classrooms and video lectures, earning him the 2014 Pilkington Prize for teaching excellence. He has held visiting roles at Google and collaborated on energy consumption research for mobile devices and data centers. His research spans systems, networking, and natural language processing, with a strong focus on applying computational methods to real-world challenges. Key Projects: Isaac Physics/Computer Science, ALTA, Error Prone Static Analysis Research Themes: Programming Languages, Machine Learning, Energy Efficiency Awards: Pilkington Prize (2014)
Gordon Geoffrey J. is a Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, specializing in Machine Learning , Artificial Intelligence , and Computer Science . His research spans Reinforcement Learning , Domain Adaptation , Graph-based Planning , and Relational Learning , with significant contributions to Adversarial Learning , Deep Learning Dynamics , and Mobile Sensor Networks . He has pioneered algorithms like ARA* and Anytime Dynamic A* for efficient planning under constraints. Key research areas: Transfer Learning , Bayesian Knowledge Tracing , Multi-agent Systems , Database Optimization His work has been cited thousands of times across foundational topics in AI and robotics, demonstrating sustained impact in algorithm design and applications to complex systems.
Elena Simperl is a Professor of Computer Science and Deputy Head of Department for Enterprise and Engagement at King's College London's Department of Informatics. She co-directs the King's Institute for Artificial Intelligence and serves as Director of Research for the Open Data Institute. As a Hans Fischer Senior Fellow at the Technical University of Munich's Institute for Advanced Study, she leads the Trustworthy Knowledge Graphs focus group and contributes to advancing human-centric AI research across European institutions. Professor Simperl obtained her doctoral degree in Computer Science from the Free University of Berlin and her diploma from the Technical University of Munich. Prior to joining King's, she held academic positions in Germany, Austria, and at the University of Southampton, and was a Turing Fellow. Her career trajectory demonstrates consistent leadership in bridging academic research with practical applications in data ecosystems. Her research sits at the critical intersection of AI and social computing, focusing on human-centric approaches to building sociotechnical systems that integrate data, algorithms, and human capabilities. She investigates how to make knowledge engineering more accessible, how to leverage collective intelligence for data quality improvement, and how to design participatory AI systems that address societal challenges like misinformation. Her work spans knowledge graphs, semantic technologies, crowdsourcing, and open data, with particular emphasis on the social dimensions of data-intensive systems and the governance frameworks needed for trustworthy AI deployment. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong evolution toward integrating large language models with traditional knowledge engineering practices while maintaining human oversight. There's a clear trajectory from foundational work on knowledge representation toward increasingly applied research addressing real-world challenges in media ecosystems, citizen science, and data governance, with growing attention to policy implications of AI technologies. Fellow of the British Computer Society Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts Hans Fischer Senior Fellow at TUM-IAS (2023) Ranked among top 100 most influential scholars in knowledge engineering of the last decade Included in Women in AI 2000 ranking Professor Simperl has led 14 major European and national research projects totaling millions in funding, including MediaFutures (a Horizon 2020 program tackling online misinformation), QROWD, ODINE, Data Pitch, and ACTION. She currently co-chairs the Croissant working group in ML Commons developing data standards for AI, and serves as president of the Semantic Web Science Association. Her research has directly influenced the development of data ecosystems supporting startups and citizen science initiatives across Europe, demonstrating exceptional ability to translate theoretical advances into practical impact. As Director of Research at the Open Data Institute, she oversees initiatives connecting data entrepreneurs with artists and civic organizations. Her leadership in the MediaFutures project established a data-driven innovation hub that supported 51 startups/SMEs and 43 artists through three open calls, creating a sustainable model for arts-technology collaborations addressing media challenges. Her work with the ODINE project helped create a European ecosystem for data-driven startups, demonstrating her commitment to building practical applications of open data principles.
Rick Hoyle is a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University, where he serves as Associate Chair of the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience. He is also a Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences. His academic career spans decades, with significant contributions to understanding self-regulation and adolescent development. Dr. Hoyle earned his B.A. from Appalachian State University (1983), followed by an M.A. (1986) and Ph.D. (1988) from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He progressed from Assistant to Associate to Full Professor at the University of Kentucky from 1989 to 2003 before joining Duke University. His research focuses on how adolescents and emerging adults manage goal pursuit through self-regulation, taking a broad view that accounts for personality, environment, cognition, emotion, and social influences. He employs longitudinal methods with repeated assessments, sometimes spanning years with data collection multiple times per year, or intensive studies with assessments several times daily. His lab develops innovative measurement tools including self-report measures of self-control and grit, as well as unobtrusive approaches using mobile phones and wearable devices to track goal pursuit in natural settings. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on self-regulation in digital contexts, adolescent substance use, socioeconomic influences on development, and innovative measurement approaches. His work increasingly integrates technology (social media analysis, wearable devices) with traditional psychological research methods to understand real-world behavior. Fellow, Association for Psychological Science (2013) Dr. Hoyle has secured numerous research grants totaling millions of dollars, including the current Real-Time and Randomized Tests of Social Media and Mental Health Links in Early Adolescence (2024-2029), NCCU Duke - Substance Use Research & Education (2024-2029), and Mid-Life Health Inequalities in the Rural South: Risk and Resilience (2023-2028). His grant portfolio demonstrates sustained funding for research on adolescent development, substance use, self-regulation, and health disparities. He teaches advanced courses including Applied Structural Equation Modeling and Psychology and Neuroscience Grant Writing, mentoring the next generation of researchers in quantitative methods and research design. His work through the Center for the Study of Adolescent Risk and Resilience (2008-2025) has established a significant research infrastructure for longitudinal studies of adolescent development. Current projects examine social media effects on mental health, substance use patterns, and the impact of environmental factors on adolescent well-being using innovative digital tracking methods.
Dr. Rajkumar Buyya is a Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor at the University of Melbourne and Founder & CEO of Manjrasoft , a spin-off commercializing cloud innovations. He has held visiting roles at Imperial College London , University of Birmingham , and Tsinghua University . Research Interests : His work spans Cloud Computing , Edge Computing , Grid Systems , and Energy-Efficient Computing , focusing on utility-driven resource allocation, simulation tools, and scalable IoT application frameworks. He pioneered the CloudSim toolkit and Aneka Cloud technologies. Scientific Awards : IEEE Fellow (2015), Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher (2016-2021) Khwarizmi International Award (2020), Scopus Researcher of the Year (2017) Frost & Sullivan New Product Innovation Award (2010), IEEE TCSC Medal (2009) Impact : Authored over 850 publications, including the widely adopted textbook Mastering Cloud Computing . Graduated 54 PhD students now in leadership roles at institutions like Newcastle University and companies such as IBM , Google , and Amazon . His research has driven global adoption of cloud/edge technologies in 50+ countries.
Prof. Alexander Pretschner is a Professor of Software & Systems Engineering at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Founding Director of the Bavarian Research Institute for Digital Transformation (bidt). He also serves as Scientific Director of fortiss, a Bavarian research institute for software-intensive systems. His research focuses on software engineering, testing, information security, and ethical software development. Pretschner holds a PhD from TUM and has held academic positions at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and TU Kaiserslautern. He is a co-editor of several prestigious journals, including IEEE Transactions on Reliability and the Journal of Software Testing, Verification and Reliability. Education: PhD in Computer Science, Technical University of Munich MSc in Computer Science, University of Kansas (on Fulbright Scholarship) Diplom in Computer Science, RWTH Aachen University Research Interests: His work spans testing methodologies, secure software design, and ethical considerations in agile development. Notable contributions include frameworks for metamorphic testing, distributed data usage control, and accountability mechanisms for cyber-physical systems. Awards: IBM Faculty Award (2012, 2013) Google Focused Research Award (2011, 2012) EARTO Innovation Prize (2014) 2nd Platz Supervisory Award (2020) Advising & Grants: Pretschner has supervised numerous PhD and Master’s students, contributing to over 200 publications. He leads projects like EDAP (Ethical Deliberation in Agile Processes) and collaborates with industry partners on cybersecurity and AI ethics initiatives. Labs & Teams: His work is anchored in bidt, fortiss, and TUM’s Chair of Software & Systems Engineering, focusing on societal impacts of digitalization and trustworthy AI systems.
Mike Kirby is a Professor at the Kahlert School of Computing, University of Utah. He also holds adjunct professorships in the Department of Bioengineering and the Department of Mathematics. His current roles include leadership in scientific computing and informatics initiatives, including former directorships of the Utah Informatics Initiative (2019-2023) and the Multi-Scale Multidisciplinary Modeling of Electronic Materials (MSME) Collaborative Research Alliance (2016-2022). He has extensive experience in strategic research initiatives, including serving as Assistant Vice President for Research (2024-2025). Education: Dr. Kirby earned a PhD in Applied Mathematics (2002) and MS in Computer Science (2001) from Brown University, and a BS in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from Florida State University (1997). Research Interests: Focus on large-scale scientific computing, physics-informed machine learning, computational science and engineering, high-order numerical methods, and visualization. His work bridges applied mathematics and computer science to address real-world engineering challenges. Publications: Over 150 peer-reviewed articles, including high-impact contributions in journals like Journal of Computational Physics and SIAM Journal on Scientific Computing . Recent work emphasizes machine learning for differential equations, topology optimization under uncertainty, and multi-fidelity modeling. Awards: Recognized for leadership in computational science and informatics, including contributions to University of Utah’s Clery Compliance Program. Advising & Grants: Supervised over 50 graduate students and postdocs. Secured funding from NSF, DOE, and industry partnerships, totaling millions in research grants. Active in interdisciplinary collaborations across engineering, materials science, and medicine. Labs/Teams: Scientific Computing and Imaging (SCI) Institute, Utah Informatics Initiative, and the Center for Multiscale Modeling of Electronic Materials (MSME).
Gunnar Kusch is a Senior Research Associate at the Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy, University of Cambridge. His research focuses on defects in semiconductors, porous AlGaN materials, and advanced characterization techniques like cathodoluminescence (CL) and atom probe tomography (APT). He holds a PhD from the University of Strathclyde and leads projects on UV-B LED optimization, nanoscale defect behavior analysis, and semiconductor device design. His work bridges materials synthesis, characterization, and device performance, with applications in energy-efficient lighting and solar cell technology. Key research areas include: Defect engineering in III-nitride semiconductors Porous AlGaN templates for high-efficiency UV emitters Correlative microscopy techniques (CL, EBSD, APT) Composition-structure-property relationships in photovoltaic materials Notable contributions include developing CL-based methods for nanoscale defect analysis and demonstrating improved Cu(In,Ga)S₂ solar cell efficiencies through compositional engineering. His laboratory focuses on translating microscopic insights into macroscopic device improvements.
