Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in LausanneSwitzerland
Robert West is an Associate Professor at EPFL (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne) in the School of Computer and Communication Sciences , leading the Data Science Lab (dlab) . His research focuses on Natural Language Processing , Machine Learning , and Computational Social Science , analyzing human-generated data from the web, social media, and online platforms. Education : PhD in Computer Science (2016) - Stanford University MSc in Computer Science (2010) - McGill University BSc in Computer Science (2007) - Technische Universität München Research Interests : West develops algorithms for analyzing large-scale web data, with emphasis on multilingual NLP , social network analysis , and AI ethics . His work bridges machine learning with social science to understand digital human behavior. Scientific Awards : ICWSM’22 Adamic–Glance Distinguished Young Researcher Award Google Faculty Research Award Facebook Research Award Multiple Outstanding Paper Awards at ICWSM and WWW Advising & Grants : He advises 12 PhD students and has secured funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation , Swiss Data Science Center , and industry partners. His lab maintains collaborations with Microsoft Research and CROSS . Labs & Collaborations : West leads the Data Science Lab at EPFL, which focuses on web-scale data analysis , privacy-preserving machine learning , and AI for social good . The lab develops tools like Wikispeedia and Quotebank for public data exploration.
Olga Sorkine-Hornung is a Professor of Computer Science at ETH Zurich and head of the Institute of Visual Computing. She leads the Interactive Geometry Lab, focusing on theoretical and practical advancements in digital content creation, geometry processing, and shape modeling. Current position: ETH Zurich, Department of Computer Science Previous roles: Courant Institute (NYU), Technical University of Berlin Education: BSc and PhD from Tel Aviv University, postdoc at TU Berlin Her research spans shape representation, digital fabrication, computer animation, and fundamental geometry processing. Key contributions include Laplacian surface editing, as-rigid-as-possible deformation, and generalized winding numbers. She works on applications in VR, AR, and autonomous systems. Awards include Test of Time Awards (2024), ACM Fellow (2020), ERC Consolidator Grant (2020), and EUROGRAPHICS Young Researcher Award (2008). She has supervised numerous students and co-developed software libraries like libigl and Instant Meshes . Co-chair roles for SIGGRAPH, Eurographics, and Pacific Graphics Editorial board member for ACM Transactions on Graphics and other journals Keynote speaker at VMV, CVPR, and SIAM conferences Her work bridges mathematical rigor with practical implementation, advancing computer graphics and geometry processing through intuitive algorithms that maintain surface detail while enabling efficient computation.
Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding ResearchGermany
Adam Runions is a researcher in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Calgary, leading the MPG Partner Group in computational analysis of leaf development through collaborative work with Miltos Tsiantis. His group is embedded in the Graphics Cluster, focusing on interdisciplinary problems at the intersection of computer science and developmental biology. University of Calgary - Department of Computer Science MPG Partner Group (2022) Graphics Cluster affiliation His research explores computational modeling and analysis of plant form and development across multiple scales, integrating geometric modeling, physically-based simulation, and computer-aided design. Key themes include plant morphogenesis, self-organization of natural forms, and cross-disciplinary applications in computer graphics and animation. Recent publications emphasize plant development (leaf shape, bark patterning), mathematical modeling (auxin-driven patterning), and geometric techniques (subdivision surfaces, PUPs). Collaborations span institutions like the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research. Scientific Awards Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Best Paper Award (International Conference on Cyberworlds 2015) Best Student Paper Award (Computer Graphics International 2011) The group actively recruits BSc, MSc, and PhD students with backgrounds in computer science and mathematics for projects on plant form simulation and digital content creation. Research integrates evolutionary biology, biomechanical modeling, and computational techniques.
Prof. Olga Sorkine Hornung is a Full Professor of Computer Science at ETH Zürich, leading the Interactive Geometry Lab. She holds a BSc and PhD from Tel Aviv University (2000 and 2006) and conducted postdoctoral research at Technical University Berlin. Her research focuses on computer graphics, geometric modeling, and geometry processing, with applications in shape editing, digital fabrication, and animation. She has received numerous accolades, including the ACM Fellowship (2020), ERC Consolidator Grant (2020), and the Golden Owl Teaching Award (2021). Her work bridges theoretical foundations and practical algorithms, addressing challenges in parameterization, surface compression, and interactive design tools. Her research interests span: Computer Graphics & Visualization Geometric Modeling & Processing 3D Content Creation & Digital Fabrication Garment Design & Simulation Human Motion Analysis & Animation Awards and grants include: 2024: Best Paper Honorable Mention (EUROGRAPHICS) 2023: Member of Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW) 2020: ERC Consolidator Grant 2017: Rössler Prize (ETH Zurich) Her lab focuses on developing novel methods for interactive geometry processing, with recent advancements in garment modeling (e.g., AIpparel, Rags2Riches) and motion retargeting systems like WalkTheDog. She actively collaborates on interdisciplinary projects, including biomedical applications and sustainable fashion technology.
Amy Bruckman is a Regents’ Professor and Senior Associate Chair in the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Institute of Technology. As a Fellow of The ACM and member of the SIGCHI Academy , she contributes to social computing research focusing on online collaboration, cross-cultural understanding, and content moderation. Her 2022 book "Should You Believe Wikipedia? Online Communities and the Construction of Knowledge" explores digital knowledge creation. Education: Ph.D. from MIT Media Lab (1997), B.A. in Physics from Harvard (1987) Research Affiliations: GVU Center, IRI People and Technology Her work addresses social computing challenges including: AI ethics in human-AI interaction Algorithmic bias in content moderation Epistemic justice in online communities Comparative platform analysis (Reddit, Discord, TikTok) Grassroots technology movements Recent publications examine: AI support tools for online counseling Community-driven research frameworks Racial bias mitigation in toxic language detection Designing teachable social media experiences Human trafficking intervention ethics Scientific recognition includes: ACM Fellowship SIGCHI Academy membership She has contributed to: Georgia Tech's Computing Education initiatives Research ethics frameworks for Human-Computer Interaction
Associate Professor Mark Humphery-Jenner is a distinguished faculty member at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Business School, specifically within the School of Banking and Finance. With an exceptional academic pedigree including multiple PhDs from prestigious institutions worldwide, he has established himself as a leading researcher at the intersection of finance, law, and corporate governance. Dr. Humphery-Jenner's educational background demonstrates remarkable breadth and depth, featuring PhDs from UNSW, Tilburg University, and Leiden University, along with master's degrees from Columbia University and the University of Washington. His undergraduate achievements include a BCom with First Class Honours and University Medal, and an LLB with First Class Honours, both from UNSW. This multidisciplinary foundation spanning business, law, and finance informs his comprehensive research approach. His research spans corporate finance, venture capital, and law, with particular focus on how legal frameworks shape financial decision-making and corporate behavior. Humphery-Jenner has published extensively in top-tier finance journals including the Journal of Financial Economics, Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Review of Finance, and Journal of Corporate Finance, as well as leading management journals such as Strategic Management Journal and Journal of International Business Studies. His scholarly contributions address critical issues in executive compensation, securities litigation, corporate governance, and private equity markets. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a sophisticated research trajectory increasingly focused on the relationship between litigation risk and financial reporting practices, corporate governance mechanisms, and investor protection frameworks. His work demonstrates particular attention to Australian regulatory contexts while maintaining a strong international comparative perspective, especially regarding Asian capital markets and cross-border investment. With substantial industry experience including work in investment banking and consulting for hedge funds, Humphery-Jenner brings practical insights to his academic work. He has been teaching in various capacities since 2006 and has served as an assistant professor in finance since 2012, contributing significantly to business education at UNSW. His professional background enhances his ability to bridge theoretical research with real-world financial practice.
Nasir Memon is a Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the New York University Tandon School of Engineering and concurrently serves as the Dean of Engineering at NYU Shanghai. He has been a faculty member at NYU Tandon since September 1998. Memon is a co-founder of NYU's Center for Cyber Security (CCS) and NYU Abu Dhabi, and the founder of key initiatives such as the OSIRIS Lab, CyberSecurity Awareness Week (CSAW), the NYU Tandon Bridge program, and the Cyber Fellows program. His work focuses on advancing cybersecurity education and addressing systemic biases in AI-driven systems. Education: Ph.D., Computer Science, University of Nebraska Master of Science, Mathematics, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani Bachelor of Engineering, Chemical Engineering, BITS, Pilani Research Interests: Media Forensics and Authentication Biometric Security and Privacy Data Compression and Privacy-Preserving Techniques Network Security and Incident Response AI Ethics and Fairness in Machine Learning Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development Awards and Honors: IEEE Fellow (2010) SPIE Fellow (2014) Jacobs Excellence in Education Award (2002) NSF CAREER Award (1997) Advising and Grants: Advises Ph.D. students like Anubhav Jain and Govind Mittal, and mentors Master’s students such as Rishit Dholakia. Recipient of NSF grants and funding from NYU Abu Dhabi and Indiana University Bloomington for projects like computational tools for fact-checking and AI-driven bias mitigation. Labs and Teams: Directs the OSIRIS Lab, a leading research group in cybersecurity and AI. Leads initiatives at the NYU Center for Cybersecurity (CCS) and collaborates with NYU Abu Dhabi’s Center for Cyber Security.
Dr. Muhammad Umar Farooq is a Lecturer and Module Director at York St John University's London Campus , specializing in Business, Marketing, and Project Management education for postgraduate students. He joined the university in 2022 and previously held roles as an Associate Lecturer at the University of West London, while also contributing to teaching and supervision at the University of East London and Regent’s University London. He holds a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA), an MBA, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership and Strategy, coupled with the prestigious Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) distinction. His research focuses on digital marketing, SME innovation, AI applications in content creation, and project management strategies. Notable areas include generative AI for SME competitiveness, sustainable lean practices in construction, and agile methodologies in software development. He actively contributes to academic governance as an external examiner at Northumbria University and the University of Huddersfield. Teaching modules include Marketing Communication , Digital Marketing Strategy , Strategic Project Management , and Applied Research Project . His work bridges academic rigor with industry insights, emphasizing practical applications for organizational success. Research Awards: Recognized as FHEA. Professional Contributions: External examiner roles, LinkedIn engagement, and RaY Postgraduate Research supervision.
Professor Isabella Alexander is a distinguished legal historian and intellectual property scholar at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Faculty of Law. She specializes in copyright law with a particular focus on its historical dimensions and application to cartography and visual works. As a leading researcher in her field, she holds significant research grants including ARC Discovery projects on copyright law in the 21st century and copyright in cartography. Her educational background includes: PhD from the University of Cambridge LLB (Hons) from the Australian National University BA (Hons) from the Australian National University Professor Alexander's research explores how laws inform and regulate the creation, circulation and reception of knowledge and culture from a historical perspective. Her work bridges legal history with contemporary intellectual property challenges, particularly in areas of copyright for visual works, cartography, and digital creativity. She has made significant contributions to understanding the historical development of copyright principles and their application to modern technological contexts. An analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on the intersection of copyright law with visual culture, cartography, and emerging digital challenges including AI-generated content and memes. Her work demonstrates a clear trajectory toward interdisciplinary approaches that connect historical legal frameworks with contemporary technological and cultural phenomena, showing increasing engagement with how historical understanding can inform solutions to modern intellectual property challenges. Her notable scientific achievements include: 2023 LSAANZ Award for published scholarly book/monograph for "Copyright and Cartography: History, Law, and the Circulation of Geographical Knowledge" Professor Alexander has secured significant research funding as Lead Chief Investigator on the ARC Discovery grant "Hacking Copyright Law in the 21st Century: Art, Law, History and Technology" and as sole Chief Investigator on "Copyright and Cartography: Understanding the past, shaping the future." She has actively contributed to policy development through submissions to the Australian Productivity Commission's Inquiry into IP Arrangements and on addressing copyright infringement online through secondary liability and website blocking mechanisms. She currently serves as President of the Australian and New Zealand Law and History Society and is a member of the Governing Board of the International Society for the History and Theory of Intellectual Property, demonstrating her leadership and influence in both national and international academic communities.
Professor Gabriel Brostow is a faculty member in the Department of Computer Science at University College London (UCL), where he leads research in Computer Vision and Human-Computer Interaction. He also serves as Chief Research Scientist and Senior Director of the R&D Team at Niantic, the company behind Pokémon GO. His work bridges academic research and industry applications, focusing on developing AI systems that enhance human capabilities through what he terms 'Human in the Loop AI'—now commonly referred to as Human-Centered AI. Brostow completed his BS in Electrical Engineering at UT Austin, followed by a PhD with Irfan Essa at Georgia Tech. He then pursued postdoctoral research with Roberto Cipolla's Computer Vision & Robotics Group at Cambridge University as a Marshall Sherfield Fellow, and with Marc Pollefeys in ETH Zurich's CVG Group. His research explores how AI, particularly Computer Vision, can serve as 'super-tools' for professionals across various domains including filmmaking, architecture, robotics, and scientific research. Specific interests include assistive technology for everyday life, authoring systems that maximize user effort, 3D reconstruction, depth estimation, and vision-language models. His work often involves creating systems that are validated through real-world human interaction to ensure practical utility. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on practical applications of Computer Vision that directly interact with humans. His research spans 3D scene understanding, depth estimation, sketch-based interfaces, and multimodal AI systems. There's a clear emphasis on creating benchmarks and tools that facilitate human-AI collaboration, with applications in assistive technology, urban planning, filmmaking, and biodiversity monitoring. His work frequently appears at top conferences including CVPR, NeurIPS, ECCV, and CHI. Marshall Sherfield Fellowship Brostow actively mentors PhD students, with current advisees including Ross Murphy, Skanda Koppula, Gizem Unlu, Omiros Pantazis, and Jamie Watson. His alumni include numerous PhD graduates and MSc students who have gone on to successful careers in academia and industry. He emphasizes selecting students based on passion and potential rather than just academic credentials, valuing traits like helpfulness, drive, and hunger to learn. His research is supported through collaborations with major institutions and companies including DeepMind, MIT, and the University of Edinburgh. He leads a research group at UCL that collaborates closely with Niantic's R&D team, creating a unique bridge between academic research and industry application. His team's work frequently involves developing novel Computer Vision techniques that are validated through real-world human interaction, ensuring practical utility alongside technical innovation. The group explores blue-sky research problems with applications ranging from assistive technology to professional tools for filmmakers, architects, and scientists studying diverse environments.
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUnited States
John Gallagher is Associate Professor in English and Information Sciences at UIUC. His research examines how writers adapt to participatory audiences in digital environments, including social media interactions and AI writing tools. Using case studies and computational methods, he explores algorithmic audiences, ethical implications of AI, and technical communication in institutional contexts. He teaches courses in professional writing, digital rhetoric, and research methodologies. Recent projects analyze content creators' narratives about platform algorithms, inclusive emoji design, and academic integrity challenges posed by generative AI.
Andrés Cuervo-Rubio is a Part-time Lecturer at Parsons School of Design, The New School. They are an interdisciplinary artist, programmer, and HCI researcher based in Brooklyn. As a co-founder of Folk Computer, a research consultancy focused on tangible computing hardware/software and programming languages, they explore accessible interfaces and paper-based interaction systems. They advise the W3C Immersive Web Working Group (WebAR/VR/XR APIs) and have spoken at global JavaScript conferences since 2017. Education: BA in Computer Science, Oberlin College (2017) BA in Creative Writing, Oberlin College (2017) Research Interests: Focuses on material-based interaction design, bridging physical/digital systems through accessible technologies. Current work emphasizes tangible computing interfaces and inclusive design practices. Active in developing educational frameworks for dynamic content creation in design curricula. Teaching: Recently taught Core 1: Interaction (PUCD 2035) and Core 2: Interaction Studio (PUCD 2125). Upcoming courses include CD Foundations: Interaction (PSAM 1028) in Fall 2025 and CD Studio: Dynamic Content (PSAM 2090) in Spring 2026. Professional Engagement: Serves as technical advisor for immersive web standards and collaborates with industry on accessible XR solutions. Co-leads workshops on physical computing pedagogy.
Arvind Narayanan is a Professor of Computer Science at Princeton University and Director of the Center for Information Technology Policy (CITP). His research focuses on the societal impact of digital technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, with emphasis on policy implications, fairness, and privacy. He leads interdisciplinary efforts connecting technical research with real-world policy challenges. Dr. Narayanan earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas, Austin in 2009. His academic journey has established him as a leading voice in the critical examination of AI systems and their societal consequences. Narayanan's research spans multiple domains where technology intersects with society. His work on AI includes critical analysis of AI capabilities versus marketing claims (AI Snake Oil), fairness in machine learning systems, and the reproducibility crisis in ML-based science. In privacy research, he led the Princeton Web Transparency and Accountability Project which uncovered how companies track users online, developing the OpenWPM tool used in over 100 studies. His early work demonstrated fundamental limits of de-identification techniques and how machine learning reflects cultural stereotypes. His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on demystifying AI capabilities while identifying genuine opportunities and risks. Narayanan's work bridges technical computer science with policy relevance, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based approaches to AI governance. His research increasingly addresses the limitations of prediction systems, the challenges of evaluating AI systems, and the need for transparency in foundation models. Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) Privacy Enhancing Technologies Award (twice recipient) Privacy Papers for Policy Makers Award (three-time recipient) TIME's inaugural list of 100 most influential people in AI 2025 Graduate Mentoring Award Narayanan is recognized as an exceptional mentor, receiving Princeton's Graduate Mentoring Award in 2025. His policy engagement extends to congressional testimony, advisory roles, and frequent media commentary. He has secured significant research funding supporting his work on web transparency, AI policy, and cryptocurrency analysis. His research group has produced influential tools like OpenWPM for web privacy studies and contributed to foundational textbooks on cryptocurrencies and fairness in machine learning. At Princeton, Narayanan leads the Web Transparency and Accountability Project, a major research initiative that has conducted large-scale measurements of online tracking across millions of websites. He also co-founded and directs the CITP's AI Policy Initiative, which brings together researchers from multiple disciplines to address pressing AI governance questions. His work frequently involves collaboration with social scientists, legal scholars, and policymakers to develop practical solutions to technology governance challenges.
Stacey Lantagne is a Professor of Law at Western New England University School of Law , joining in 2022. Her research explores the intersection of digital creativity and intellectual property law, focusing on fanfiction and internet memes. She actively engages with pop culture and fan studies communities as a presenter and guest speaker. Education : B.A. summa cum laude, Boston College (English major, Computer Science minor) J.D. cum laude, Harvard Law School Her work addresses evolving legal challenges in digital communication, trademark expansion, and fair use doctrine. Articles like “Building a Better Mousetrap” and “Mutating Internet Memes” highlight her expertise in copyright law’s adaptation to internet culture. She serves on the Legal Committee of the Organization for Transformative Works , advocating for fan creators. Prior roles include teaching at the University of Mississippi and Loyola University New Orleans, along with intellectual property litigation experience at Goodwin Procter and Drinker Biddle & Reath.
Raquel Fernández is Full Professor of Computational Linguistics and Dialogue Systems at the University of Amsterdam, where she leads the Dialogue Modelling Group at the Institute for Logic, Language & Computation (ILLC). As Vice-Director for Research at ILLC and a Fellow of the ELLIS Society, she bridges computational linguistics, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence through her research on language use in multimodal and conversational contexts. PhD in Computational Linguistics from King's College London Prior research positions at University of Potsdam and Stanford University's CSLI Her work explores how cognitive constraints, social interaction, and perception shape language use, with a focus on: Visually-grounded language processing Multimodal dialogue modeling Model uncertainty and calibration Language grounding in multimodal data Language learning and semantic change Dialogue reference resolution Recent publications analyze multimodal reasoning limitations, cross-lingual knowledge consistency, and uncertainty modeling in dialogue systems. She has received multiple accolades including an ERC Consolidator Grant , NWO VENI/VIDI/Aspasia fellowships , and EMNLP/GenBench awards . Outstanding Paper Award (EMNLP 2023) Best Data Award (GenBench Workshop 2023) ELLIS Society Fellow ERC Consolidator Grant #819455 recipient NWO VENI/VIDI/Aspasia awardee As a leader in academic service, she serves on the SIGDAT Executive Committee and chairs multiple conference committees. Her lab develops models for multimodal dialogue, visual storytelling, and grounded language understanding.
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