Sanjit A. Seshia is the Cadence Founders Chair Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley . He is affiliated with the Group in Logic and the Methodology of Science and participates in centers like the Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems Center , Berkeley AI Research , and the Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing . Research interests include formal methods for automated verification and synthesis of dependable systems, with applications to cyber-physical systems , AI-based autonomy , and computer security . His work spans SMT solving, model counting, syntax-guided synthesis, and algorithmic improvisation, with tools like UCLID5 , VerifAI , and Scenic for verifying autonomous systems and educational platforms like CPSGrader . Students and collaborators include notable researchers such as Dorsa Sadigh (Stanford), Daniel Fremont (UC Santa Cruz), and Hazem Torfah (Chalmers). He has co-founded startups like Decyphir and 20ⁿ Labs based on his research.
Prof. Dr. Stefanie Hellweg serves as a Full Professor for Ecological Systems Design at the ETH Zürich , Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering. She is Deputy Head of the Institute of Environmental Engineering and leads groundbreaking research at the intersection of industrial ecology, life cycle assessment, and circular economy systems. PhD in Environmental Engineering (ETH Zürich, 2000) Industrial Engineering Degree (Karlsruhe University, 1996) Her research develops advanced methodologies for environmental impact assessment of products and technologies, focusing on: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with correlated uncertainty modeling Circular economy implementation in chemical and energy sectors Industrial symbiosis optimization for heat and nutrient flows Urban wastewater systems redesign for resource recovery Chemical pollution analysis in plastic materials Key publication trends reveal expertise in: Hybrid wastewater treatment systems Energy-efficient greenhouse cultivation Exergy analysis for sustainability metrics Machine learning applications in environmental modeling Policy-relevant industrial ecology studies She actively participates in global sustainability initiatives as: President of the International Society of Industrial Ecology (ISIE) Member of UN Environment's International Resource Panel Editorial board member for leading environmental journals
Professor David C. Dunand is a faculty member in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University , where he leads the Dunand Research Group . His work focuses on mechanical metallurgy of advanced metallic materials, including alloys, composites, and foams, with applications in energy-efficient transportation and biomaterials. He also investigates additive manufacturing techniques like laser powder-bed fusion and 3D ink extrusion. Research Interests: Physical and mechanical metallurgy of multiphase metals Additive manufacturing (ink extrusion, selective laser melting) Green/sustainable metal production In situ X-ray tomography for microstructure analysis Metallic foams and scaffolds Thermoelectric materials Recent Publications show expertise in redox cycling stability, precipitation strengthening, and hierarchical microstructures, with applications in batteries, shape-memory alloys, and high-entropy systems. Awards: TMS Fellow (2012) Structural Materials Division Distinguished Scientist/Engineering Award (2008) Fellow, ASM International (2007) Department Teacher of the Year (1998) He has held leadership roles including Co-Director of the Initiative for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern (2008-2015) and Visiting Professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (2000). The group operates a SISMA MYSINT 100 laser powder bed fusion machine and collaborates extensively.
Jonathan M. Baker is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, holding the Advanced Micro Devices Chair in Computer Engineering. His research centers on quantum computer architecture with emphasis on practical quantum error correction implementation across the quantum computing stack. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Chicago (advised by Fred Chong) and dual B.S. degrees in Mathematics and Chemistry and Computer Science from the University of Notre Dame. Baker's research spans quantum compilation, logic synthesis, multi-radix architectures, and error mitigation for both near-term and fault-tolerant quantum systems. His work addresses critical challenges in quantum hardware-software co-design, with particular focus on optimizing quantum circuits for real-world hardware constraints and noise characteristics. Current projects emphasize qudit-based computing, neutral atom architectures, and efficient error correction implementations. His publication record shows strong focus on quantum architecture innovations, with recent work exploring qudit advantages, modular chiplet designs, and dynamic noise adaptation. Key trends include hardware-aware compilation techniques, communication optimization across quantum systems, and practical approaches to fault tolerance. Best Paper Award Runner Up, MICRO 2020 IEEE Micro Top Pick, 2020 (Virtualized Logical Qubits) IEEE Micro Top Pick, 2020 (Extending Frontier with Qutrits) IEEE Micro Top Pick, 2021 (Emerging Technologies) Best Poster Award, MICRO 2018 Baker actively mentors graduate students in quantum computing architecture research and serves on conference review committees including MICRO and ASPLOS. His teaching includes specialized quantum systems courses at UT Austin and online EdX modules covering quantum computation fundamentals and architecture. He collaborates with the Duke Quantum Center and maintains strong industry connections through the AMD Chair position, focusing on bridging academic research with practical quantum computing implementations.
Prof. Dr. Mathias Christmann is a faculty member at the Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin , leading the research group in Organic Chemistry . His work focuses on strategic and methodological challenges in synthetic chemistry, particularly in total synthesis, organocatalysis, and renewable resource transformations. Position: Professor Contact: mathias.christmann@fu-berlin.de Location: Takustr. 3, Room 24.16, 14195 Berlin Research Interests include: Natural product-inspired small molecule synthesis for biological pathway modulation Minimizing C-C bond formations through selective functionalization of terpene building blocks Organocatalytic and metal-catalyzed reactions in multistep sequences Flow chemistry applications for scalable and sustainable synthesis Biological evaluation of TRPC channel agonists/antagonists for cancer therapy Publication Trends highlight expertise in total synthesis of complex terpenoids, organocatalysis for stereocontrolled reactions, flow chemistry for late-stage transformations, and TRPC4/5 channel modulation in renal cancer studies. His group pioneers asymmetric desymmetrization , photo-oxidation protocols , and electrosynthesis methods with minimal reagent waste. Advisees include PhD candidates Jan-Hendrik Dickoff , Mayar Elbendary , Nadine Kreidt , Tobias Olbrisch , Kamar Shakeri , and Zhen Wang , focusing on terpene-based drug discovery and catalytic reaction design.
Janis Stirna is a Professor and Unit Head at the Department of Computer and Systems Sciences (DSV), Stockholm University. He leads the PRECIS research group, focusing on theories and tools for organizational and IT solution design. PhD in Computer and Systems Sciences (2001), Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden Associate Professor (2008), Jönköping University Research Interests include enterprise modeling, requirements engineering, organizational patterns, and knowledge management. His work spans methodologies like EKP, EKD, and 4EM, with notable coordination of the EU FP7 project CaaS (Capability as a Service). He co-edited key Springer publications on enterprise modeling and capability management. Teaching: Delivers Object-Oriented System Analysis with UML to DSV BSc students. Leadership: Chairs IFIP Working Group 8.1 and co-initiated the PoEM conference series.
Prof. Dr. Peter Strasser is a faculty member at the Technische Universität Berlin , affiliated with the Institute of Chemistry and leading the Electrochemical Catalysis, Energy and Materials Sciences Group within the Faculty II - Mathematics and Natural Sciences . His research spans electrocatalysis , fuel cell technology , and high-throughput materials testing , with a focus on nanostructured catalysts for clean energy systems. Research Interests : High Throughput Testing Fuel Cells Electrocatalysis Electrochemical Materials Water Splitting CO2 Conversion Scientific Contributions highlight trends in oxygen evolution reactions , dealloyed catalysts , and non-noble metal electrocatalysts . His work bridges materials science and energy storage , particularly for hydrogen fuel cells and magnesium batteries . Awards : Otto Roelen Medal 2016 Advising notable researchers like former PhD student Mehtap Özaslan , who established a junior research group at the University of Oldenburg and won the Umicore Scientific Award. Prof. Strasser's team collaborates with UniSysCat and has secured funding from the Federal Ministry of Research for catalyst innovation.
Prof. Dr. Barbara Kraus is the Chair of Quantum Algorithms and Applications at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), affiliated with the TUM School of Natural Sciences. She previously held academic positions at the University of Innsbruck, where she founded her research group in 2010. Education : Physics and Mathematics at the University of Innsbruck; Post-doctoral work at MPI for Quantum Optics and University of Geneva. Her research focuses on foundational problems in quantum information theory, particularly entanglement in multipartite systems, quantum simulation, and verification of quantum processors. She develops theoretical tools for quantum many-body systems and explores applications in quantum computing, emphasizing error characterization and experimental validation. Recent publications highlight advancements in Hamiltonian learning, symmetry-resolved entanglement detection, and multipartite state transformations. Her work bridges theoretical quantum physics with practical implementations, including Rydberg platforms and quantum metrology. Key Awards : START Prize (2010), Ignaz L. Lieben Award (2013), Boltzmann Prize (2011), Südtiroler Sparkasse Research Prize (2019). She supervises doctoral students and postdocs in quantum information theory, with a focus on stabilizer states, quantum networks, and entanglement measures. Her courses at TUM include Quantum Information , Quantum Algorithms , and workshops on entanglement manipulation.
Frede Blaabjerg is a Professor at Aalborg University (AAU Energy) , affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering and Science . Since 1998, he has pioneered power electronics research in applications such as wind turbines , photovoltaic (PV) systems , reliability engineering , and Power-2-X technologies. Education : PhD in Electrical Engineering (1995, Aalborg University) Honorary Degrees : Honoris Causa at University Politehnica Timisoara (2017) and Tallinn Technical University (2018) His research focuses on power electronics control , system optimization , and reliability for renewable energy and electric mobility . Recent work includes grid-forming converters , virtual synchronous generators , and smart EV charging systems. Key publication trends span 15+ years , with over 3,733 peer-reviewed articles and 900+ journal papers in power electronics , renewables , and energy storage . Notable book series: Control of Power Electronic Converters and Systems (4 volumes, Elsevier). Scientific Awards : 46 IEEE Prize Paper Awards 2020 IEEE Edison Medal 2019 Global Energy Prize 2014 IEEE William E. Newell Power Electronics Award Leadership Roles : Editor-in-Chief, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics (2006–2012) Chairman, Danish Council for Research and Innovation Policy (2020–) President, IEEE Power Electronics Society (2019–2020)
Stéphane BAUDRON is a CNRS Research Director at the Laboratory for the Synthesis and Functions of Molecular Architectures within the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of Strasbourg. His research spans multiple areas of molecular materials chemistry, with particular expertise in coordination polymers, metal-organic frameworks, and supramolecular architectures. Dr. BAUDRON's educational background includes undergraduate studies at the National School of Chemistry of Paris (1998), a Ph.D. from the University of Angers under Dr. Patrick Batail (2002), and postdoctoral research at the University of California Berkeley with Prof. Jeffrey R. Long (2002-2004). He joined CNRS as a researcher in 2004, received his Habilitation from the University of Strasbourg in 2009, and was promoted to CNRS Research Director in 2019. His primary research interests focus on dipyrrin-based complexes and assemblies for luminescent materials and heterometallic frameworks, conducting coordination polymers using redox-active ligands, and the application of deep eutectic solvents for sustainable synthesis of porous materials. His work bridges fundamental coordination chemistry with practical applications in materials science. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward green chemistry approaches for synthesizing metal-organic frameworks, with increasing focus on deep eutectic solvents as environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional solvents. His research spans both fundamental coordination chemistry and applied materials science, with particular emphasis on structure-property relationships in crystalline materials. Lavoisier fellowship (French Ministry of Foreign Affairs) JSPS short-term invitation fellowship at Kyoto University USIAS fellowship ANR DEEPCatCOF project (Principal Investigator) Dr. BAUDRON has successfully mentored numerous graduate students who have gone on to careers in both industry and academia, including positions at Michelin, BASF, and various universities. His current research is supported by multiple grants, including the ANR DEEPCatCOF project focused on deep eutectic solvents for catalytic metal-organic frameworks. His laboratory maintains strong international collaborations with research groups in Japan, Portugal, and other European institutions. Based at the University of Strasbourg's Institute Le Bel, Dr. BAUDRON leads a research team within the Laboratory for the Synthesis and Functions of Molecular Architectures, which is part of the larger Faculty of Chemistry structure. His group actively collaborates with other laboratories within the chemistry faculty, particularly those working on spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and molecular modeling.
Prof. Dr. Alex Hall is an Associate Professor at the Department of Environmental Systems Science and Head of the Institute of Integrative Biology at ETH Zürich , Switzerland. He holds a PhD from the University of Edinburgh (2008), followed by postdoctoral work at the University of Oxford and ETH Zürich, including prestigious SNSF Ambizione and Marie Curie Intra-European fellowships. Research Focus: The Hall lab investigates Microbial interactions in human microbiomes Antibiotic resistance evolution Horizontal gene transfer dynamics Computational and in vitro modeling of microbial communities Evolutionary medicine applications Scientific Contributions: His recent studies analyze probiotic treatments for Staphylococcus aureus decolonization, strain-specific ecological success in gut microbiomes, and CRISPR-Cas system roles in plasmid conflicts. The lab employs computational frameworks combined with experimental validations. Scientific Awards: SNSF Ambizione fellowship Marie Curie Intra-European fellowship He also serves on the SNSF PRIMA fellowship evaluation panel and the ETH Zürich Coordination Council Medicine .
Yali Tang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), specializing in fluid dynamics and transport phenomena within multiphase flows and physicochemical conversions . Her work targets Iron Power technology , green steel production , and alkaline water electrolysis for hydrogen generation, combining advanced computational models with experimental validation . Education: Master's in Chemical Engineering from Sichuan University (2011) PhD in Mechanical Engineering at TU/e (2015) with Prof. Hans Kuipers Research Interests: She focuses on interphase interactions , interfacial transport mechanisms , and high-resolution simulations (down to 40 nm mesh) to predict bubble coalescence and film dynamics. Her studies on hydrogen bubble growth , dendritic iron formation , and gas distribution in electrolyzers aim to refine reactor design and industrial processes. Collaborations with industrial partners ensure practical applicability of her computational models. Recent Publications: Her 2025 work includes dimensional analysis of liquid film formation, solutal Marangoni effects in electrolysis, and X-ray validation of gas distribution models. Earlier studies (2020–2023) cover defluidization behavior of iron fines, CFD-DEM modeling of raceways, and acoustic field applications in particle dynamics. Labs & Collaborations: She leads computational efforts within the Power & Flow group under Prof. Niels Deen, contributing to the EIRES Research cluster. Her work bridges academic research with industrial innovation in fluid dynamics and energy transition technologies.
Aaron D. Ames is the Bren Professor of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Control and Dynamical Systems, and Aerospace at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He serves as the Booth-Kresa Leadership Chair and Director of the Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies since 2025. His academic journey includes a BS in Mechanical Engineering and BA in Mathematics from the University of St. Thomas (2001), followed by an MA in Mathematics and a PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences from UC Berkeley (2006). Research Interests span theoretical and experimental work in hybrid systems, nonlinear control, and bipedal robotic locomotion. Specific focus areas include: Control Barrier Functions (CBFs) for safety-critical systems Powered prostheses and robotic assistive devices Legged locomotion for bipedal and quadrupedal robots Cyber-physical systems and autonomous control Model predictive control and real-time optimization Humanoid robotics and geometric safety filters Recent publications emphasize risk-aware control, safety verification, and locomotion on constrained environments, with applications to drones, exoskeletons, and quadrupedal robots. His work often integrates theoretical advancements with practical validation through the AMBER Lab. Scientific Awards & Honors : NSF CAREER Award (2010) Donald P. Eckman Award (2015) Leon O. Chua Award (2005) Bernard Friedman Prize (2006) Teaching includes graduate courses on nonlinear control, hybrid systems, and robotics at Caltech, alongside prior roles at Georgia Tech and Texas A&M. He leads the AMBER Lab (Bipedal Robotics) and has secured major grants from the National Science Foundation, NASA, and industry partners like Miso Robotics and SRI International.
Dr. Yildiz Bayazitoglu is the Harry S. Cameron Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Professor of Materials Science and NanoEngineering at Rice University since 1996. She joined Rice in 1977 and has held prior roles as an assistant professor at Middle East Technical University (1973–74) and a visiting assistant professor at the University of Houston (1975–76). Her education includes a B.S. from Middle East Technical University (1967), and M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan (1969 and 1974). Her research focuses on convective heat transfer with phase change , micro/nano-scale heat transfer , and radiation heat transfer . Key areas include thermal modeling of biomedical systems, containerless materials processing, and fuel cell design. She has pioneered work on nanofluids, interfacial thermal resistance, and radiation shielding for aerospace applications. Dr. Bayazitoglu has published over 200 technical papers and holds patents in thermal engineering. She authored two heat transfer textbooks and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Thermal Sciences . Her honors include ASME’s Heat Transfer Memorial Award, AAAS and AIAA Fellowships, and membership in the Turkish Academy of Sciences. Education: B.S., Middle East Technical University (1967) M.S., University of Michigan (1969) Ph.D., University of Michigan (1974) Leadership Roles: Former Vice-President of the International Center for Heat and Mass Transfer (2019–2021) Member of Turkish Academy of Sciences Energy Sources Committee (2017–2018) Her work bridges thermal engineering with biomedical, aerospace, and materials science applications, emphasizing practical solutions to complex thermal challenges.
Daniel Gottesman is the Brin Family Endowed Professor in Theoretical Computer Science at the University of Maryland, affiliated with the Department of Computer Science, Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS), and the Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science (QuICS). He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from Caltech (1997) and has held positions at institutions like the Perimeter Institute and Quantum Benchmark. His research focuses on quantum computing, quantum error correction, and fault-tolerant systems, with contributions to stabilizer codes and quantum teleportation-based gates. Education: Bachelor's in Physics, Harvard University (1992) Ph.D. in Physics, California Institute of Technology (1997) Research Interests: Quantum error correction and fault-tolerant architectures Quantum cryptography and secure communication protocols Quantum complexity theory and algorithm design Applications of stabilizer codes and topological quantum computing Scientific Awards: Fellow of the American Physical Society CIFAR Senior Fellow in Quantum Information Science Three U.S. Patents (e.g., quantum key distribution systems) Advising & Grants: Supervised over 30 students/postdocs and served on numerous thesis committees. Active in securing funding for quantum research through endowed professorships and industry partnerships (e.g., Quantum Benchmark). Labs/Teams: Member of QuICS and UMIACS, collaborating on quantum hardware-software integration and error correction challenges.
