Dawn Y. Sumner is a Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of California, Davis. Her research focuses on geobiology, paleobiology, and planetary science, particularly reconstructing ancient environments on Earth and Mars. She is a key member of NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory team, contributing to the Curiosity rover’s exploration of Gale Crater on Mars. Sumner’s work integrates field studies, lab analyses, and interdisciplinary approaches to understand microbial life’s role in shaping Earth’s history and potential habitability on other planets. Education: Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1995). Research interests include microbialite formation, Antarctic lake ecosystems, and the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis. She investigates modern microbial communities in ice-covered lakes (e.g., Lake Vanda) to understand ancient environments and their biosignatures. Her scientific awards include the California Academy of Sciences Academy Fellow (2020) and Geological Society of America Fellow (2014). Sumner emphasizes inclusive education and supports student success in STEM through feminist research practices. Labs/Teams: W.M. Keck Center for Active Visualization in the Earth Sciences (KeckCAVES), Antarctic Lake Research Group.
Barbara Caputo is a Full Professor at Politecnico di Torino, leading the VANDAL Laboratory and directing the AI@PoliTo Interdepartmental Lab. She holds a double affiliation with the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) and has held roles at Idiap-EPFL and Sapienza University. Her research focuses on AI, computer vision, domain adaptation, and federated learning. She contributes to national AI policy, including the Italian Strategy on AI and the National PhD on AI for Industry 4.0. She is an ERC Laureate and ELLIS Fellow, co-founding ELLIS society. Her work spans visual place recognition, action recognition, and cross-domain learning. Education: PhD in Computer Science from KTH Royal Institute of Technology (2005). Major roles include Rector’s Advisor on AI at PoliTo, Board Member of ELLIS, and coordinator of the AI & Industry 4.0 vertical in the National PhD program. Awards include ERC Laureate (2017), ELLIS Fellow (2019), and Inspiring Fifty Italy (2018). Her research emphasizes federated learning, domain adaptation, and AI ethics. Recent articles explore domain generalization, resource-efficient federated models, and AI-environment interactions. She collaborates with institutions like MUR, CNR, and the European Commission on AI policy and tech initiatives.
Robert Jenssen is a Professor in the Machine Learning Research Group at UiT The Arctic University of Norway and serves as the Director of Visual Intelligence , an 8-year Research Council of Norway-funded SFI center. His research focuses on solving societal challenges in healthcare, marine mapping, energy, and Earth observation through collaborations with industry and public stakeholders. Director, Visual Intelligence (SFI) Center Professor, UiT Adjunct Professor, Pioneer Centre for AI (University of Copenhagen) and Norwegian Computing Center His methodological expertise spans neural networks, information-theoretic learning, self-learning, and explainable AI (XAI). Recent work emphasizes multimodal learning, uncertainty estimation, and medical image analysis. Scientific awards include: Best Paper, Pattern Recognition Letters (2024) Dissertation Award, Norwegian AI Society (2023) Best Paper, Color and Visual Computing Symposium (2022) IEEE GRS Society Letters Prize (2013) Prize for Young Researchers, University of Tromsø (2007) He contributes to international leadership as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) for the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, France's SequoIA AI Excellence Cluster, and Denmark's DIREC center.
James K. Russell is a Full Professor in Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences at The University of British Columbia, where he has been faculty since 1999. He directs the Volcanology and Petrology Laboratory and maintains an active research program in volcanology and petrology with significant international collaborations including appointments at LMU Munich, University of Torino, and Monash University. His educational background includes a Ph.D. (1984) and M.Sc. (1980) from the University of Calgary, and a B.Sc.(H) (1976) from the University of Manitoba. He previously worked at Cominco Exploration Ltd in Vernon, British Columbia before joining UBC. Russell's research focuses on understanding magmatic processes through multiple approaches. His primary interests include glaciovolcanism as a tool for paleoclimate reconstruction, predictive modeling of magma transport properties, and high-temperature rock mechanics experiments. His work bridges theoretical modeling with field observations, particularly in the Canadian Cordillera. He has developed influential models for magma viscosity that are widely cited in the volcanology community. His publication record shows consistent high-impact research over several decades, with recent work focusing on ultramafic melt viscosity, kimberlite transport mechanisms, and glaciovolcanic interactions. The research demonstrates a strong emphasis on quantitative approaches combining thermodynamics, rheology, and field-based observations to solve fundamental problems in volcanology. Scientific Awards: 2024 Research Award of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, LMU, Munich, Germany 2022 DAAD Research Stay for Visiting Academics Scholarship (3 months) 2019 Visiting Professorship, University Roma Tre 2019 Visiting Fellow at Centre for Advanced Studies, University of Munich 2016 Fellow of Mineralogical Society of America 2013 NSERC Discovery Accelerator Supplement Award 2010 Career Achievement Medal, Volcanology Division, Geological Association of Canada 2008 Peacock Medal, Mineralogical Association of Canada Russell has served in numerous editorial and professional capacities, including as Co-Editor-in-Chief for Journal of Volcanology & Geothermal Research (2016-2022), Associate Editor for multiple prominent journals, and as evaluator for research grants including ERC Consolidator grants and NSERC competitions. He has provided media consultation for National Geographic and Nova/Pioneer Productions. He maintains active laboratory facilities for volcanology and petrology research at UBC, with equipment for high-temperature experiments and magma rheology studies. His research group collaborates internationally with institutions in Germany, Italy, and Australia, reflecting his extensive network built through sabbatical visits and visiting professorships.
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyUnited States
Raffaele Ferrari is the Cecil & Ida Green Professor of Oceanography and Co-Director of the MIT Lorenz Center within the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS). He holds a BS/MS from Università di Torino and a PhD from Politecnico di Torino and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. His research focuses on ocean dynamics, climate modeling, and paleoclimatology, with emphasis on turbulence, carbon cycling, and climate system interactions. Key projects include the Climate Modeling Alliance (CliMA) and the Bottom Boundary Layer observational program. He has been recognized with awards such as the Harald Sverdrup Lecture (2022) and the Nicholas P. Fofonoff Award (2007). His work integrates high-resolution modeling, observational data, and theoretical frameworks to advance climate science. Education: BS/MS (Università di Torino), PhD (Politecnico di Torino/Scripps) Affiliations: MIT Lorenz Center, CliMA collaboration (Caltech/JPL), MIT-WHOI Joint Program Research spans ocean turbulence, paleoclimate dynamics (e.g., Last Glacial Maximum, Eocene), and climate model development using AI/ML. He advises numerous students across these themes, contributing to breakthroughs in submesoscale dynamics and ocean energetics.
Neha Sharma is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Auburn University. Her research focuses on nutrient recovery, electrochemical resource recovery, water reuse, trace metal cycling, and pollutant fate and removal.
Bhaskar Reddy Sudireddy is an Associate Professor in the Department of Energy Conversion and Storage at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). His research focuses on advanced materials for energy technologies, including solid oxide fuel cells, electrocatalysts, and ceramic processing. He contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to affordable and clean energy (SDG 7) and industry innovation (SDG 9). His work emphasizes the development of high-performance electrodes, metal-supported solid oxide cells, and gas sensors. He leads projects on eco-friendly fabrication methods for energy storage systems and collaborates on piezoelectric materials sintered in humid air. His research group, Applied Ceramics and Processing, explores novel ceramic materials for applications in renewable energy and environmental monitoring. Advises five PhD students working on projects like high-temperature electrolysis cells and antiferroelectric materials. Supervises interdisciplinary research spanning electrochemistry, materials synthesis, and device fabrication. Located at DTU’s campus in Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark, with extensive international collaborations.
David Stradling is the Zane L. Miller Professor of Urban History and Interim Director of the School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Cincinnati. He has held academic positions since 1999, progressing from Assistant Professor to his current full professorship. His research focuses on urban and environmental history, with notable works including Where the River Burned and The Nature of New York . Stradling earned his PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1996) following degrees from Colgate University. His research interests span urban development, environmental policy, and Cincinnati's historical narrative. He co-authored a global history of dredging and has explored topics like climate justice, sustainability frameworks, and the interplay between cities and natural systems. Stradling actively participates in interdisciplinary projects, including a 2024 NSF-funded conference connecting Earth and health scientists. His scholarship emphasizes historical analysis of environmental challenges, from air quality regulation to modern sustainability strategies. Recent work addresses urban resilience, equitable development, and the moral dimensions of environmental decision-making. Stradling’s academic leadership includes roles in faculty governance and institutional reform initiatives.
Supratik Guha is a Professor at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and Senior Advisor to Argonne National Laboratory's Physical Sciences and Engineering directorate. His work bridges industrial R&D with academic and national lab research, focusing on quantum computing , semiconductor materials , and sensor networks for water and soil monitoring. Guha leads Argonne’s quantum information science strategy and serves as Faculty Director for the University of Chicago Center in Delhi. Education: PhD in Materials Science (USC, 1991), BTech in Engineering Physics (IIT Kharagpur, 1985) Research interests span multiple domains: Quantum technologies focusing on erbium-doped oxides for quantum memory and quantum interconnects Sensor networks for soil and water quality monitoring using cyberphysical systems Nanofabrication techniques including controlled spalling for heterogeneous material integration Advanced memory technologies exploring ferroelectric and optically addressable memory at atomic scales Scientific awards include: Election to National Academy of Engineering (2015) APS Prize for Industrial Applications of Physics (2015) Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellow (2018) Fellow of Materials Research Society and American Physical Society IBM Corporate Award (2013) Advising notable students like Manish Kumar Singh (co-founder memQ ), Cheng Ji (now at Intel), and Vamsi Nittala (now at Micron Technology). His group contributes to major DOE , NSF , and USDA funded projects including: Q-NEXT - DOE National Quantum Information Center AIFARMS - NSF/USDA AI for Agriculture Institute Thoreau Project - Geospatial sensor networks Labs and teams operate across University of Chicago and Argonne National Lab , with facilities for molecular beam epitaxy , nanofabrication , and optical/electrical characterization . The group has spawned startups like memQ (quantum networking) and K1 Semiconductors (wide-bandgap material transfer).
Alexey Gorshkov is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland (UMD) affiliated with the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI) and the Quantum Information and Computer Science Laboratory (QuICS). His primary academic role is in theoretical physics, focusing on quantum optics, quantum information science, and condensed matter physics. He leads a research group exploring quantum magnetism with alkaline-earth atoms, driven-dissipative systems, topological matter, and strongly interacting photons. His work bridges AMO (atomic, molecular, and optical) systems with high-energy and condensed matter physics, emphasizing quantum simulation and novel quantum technologies like precise clocks and quantum computers. Education details are not explicitly listed, but his research collaborations with institutions like JQI and UMD suggest advanced academic training in theoretical physics. His research interests revolve around understanding and controlling quantum many-body systems, particularly in far-from-equilibrium scenarios, entanglement dynamics, and dissipation effects. He has contributed to studies on Rydberg atoms, quantum routing protocols, and error mitigation in quantum simulators. Recent articles highlight his work on quantum protocols for verifying speedups, time-independent information flow, and entanglement dynamics. His group's achievements include demonstrating one-dimensional anyons and developing methods for correlated noise estimation with quantum sensors. Awards and grants are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text, but his prolific publication record indicates sustained research impact. Labs and teams associated with him include the JQI and QuICS, where he collaborates on experimental and theoretical projects. Graduate student and postdoc positions are available in his group, focusing on areas like quantum magnetism and topological systems. His work often involves close ties with experimental groups, emphasizing practical applications of theoretical breakthroughs.
Roland Theiss is an Adjunct Professor affiliated with Berkeley City College and the Department of Geography at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on geomorphology and glaciology, particularly using finite element analysis to study glacier-bedrock interactions and their implications in a warming climate. He holds an M.A. in Geomorphology and a B.A. in Atmospheric Science, both from UC Berkeley. Education: Geomorphology M.A., UC Berkeley Atmospheric Science B.A., UC Berkeley Teaching Experience: Graduate Student Instructor for EPS 117 (Geomorphology), UC Berkeley (Fall 2021) Adjunct Professor for GEOG 1L & 1 (Intro Physical Geography Lab/Course), Berkeley City College (Spring 2018/Fall 2017) Graduate Student Instructor for GEOG 40 (Earth System Science) and ESPM 2 (The Biosphere), UC Berkeley (Spring 2016/Fall 2015) Research Interests: Glacier dynamics, rock mechanics, and fluid mechanics in Earth System Science contexts.
David Harvey is a Distinguished Professor of Anthropology and Geography at the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center and Director of Research at the Center for Place, Culture and Politics. He has been teaching and writing about Karl Marx’s Capital for over 50 years, earning recognition as a leading Marxist scholar and urban theorist. Research Interests Cultural anthropology Political economy Urbanization and capitalist development Environmental justice Geographical theory Advanced capitalist countries Publications & Trends Harvey’s work spans Marxist theory, neoliberalism, and urban studies, with recent focus on Grundrisse and capitalist contradictions. His scholarship connects historical materialism to contemporary crises, emphasizing spatial fixes, environmental limits, and anti-capitalist resistance. Awards & Honors Outstanding Contributor Award (Association of American Geographers) Centenary Medal (Royal Scottish Geographical Society, 2002) Isaac and Tamara Deutscher Book Prize (2010) for The Enigma of Capital Honorary degrees from University of Bristol, Goldsmith College, Kent, Buenos Aires, Roskilde, Uppsala, and Ohio State University
Jae Eun Chung is a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Howard University's School of Communications. Her research focuses on new media technologies, their psychosocial impacts, and health communication, with a particular emphasis on community engagement and digital discourse. Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Southern California M.A. in Telecommunications from Indiana University at Bloomington Dr. Chung's work explores the intersection of social media and health, analyzing how digital platforms influence public health perceptions, patient-doctor interactions, and health equity. She has published extensively in journals like Journal of Communication , Computers in Human Behavior , and Health Communication , often employing community-based participatory research (CBPR) to address disparities in asthma care, maternal health, and HPV-associated cancer awareness. Recent publications highlight trends in leveraging social media for health interventions, examining misinformation dynamics during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, and analyzing digital ecosystems. Her methodological approaches include network analysis, narrative studies, and assessments of digital engagement metrics. Howard University RCMI Grant: Enhancing recruitment of African-Americans and Hispanics in health research NSF HDR Grant: Collaborative research on data analytics for community enrichment PACRI Grant: Improving health outcomes for asthmatic children in public housing Bezos Earth Fund: Indoor environmental quality disparities in underserved communities Dr. Chung collaborates with interdisciplinary teams, including public health experts and data scientists, to advance health communication strategies. She has mentored students and researchers in projects analyzing social media's role in health promotion, digital privacy, and community-academic partnerships.
Paul R Moorcroft is a Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University and an Affiliate in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). His research focuses on ecological dynamics of terrestrial plant communities, biosphere-atmosphere interactions, and mechanistic models of animal movement. He collaborates with institutions like NASA JPL on projects such as the ECOSTRESS mission, which investigates environmental processes using satellite data. His lab, the Moorcroft Lab, emphasizes fieldwork and interdisciplinary approaches, as seen in recent collaborations in Italy and Southeast Asia. Key research areas include tropical forest ecology, carbon cycling in peatlands, and the application of remote sensing technologies to environmental monitoring. His work bridges theoretical models with empirical data, addressing global challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss. Recent publications highlight contributions to quantifying carbon emissions from peatland drainage and improving satellite-based mapping of forest functional traits. His advising activities include mentoring graduate students like Rhemi Toth. Collaborations with NASA and academic partners underscore his role in advancing Earth systems science through interdisciplinary research.
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)United States
Zongyi Li is a Research Fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology , hosted by Kaiming He. They are currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Computing and Mathematical Sciences at Caltech (2019-2025), mentored by Anima Anandkumar and Andrew Stuart. Ph.D. candidate: Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Caltech (2019-2025) B.Sc. in Computer Science and Mathematics with a Jazz minor from Washington University in St. Louis (2015-2019) They focus on Neural Operators for learning solution operators in Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) , particularly in fluid mechanics and earth science . Their work models physical simulations with chaotic behaviors and complex geometries, showing applications in weather forecasting , carbon storage , and aerodynamics simulation . Publications emphasize resolution-invariant models , chaotic systems , and zero-shot super-resolution capabilities. Their research combines Fourier analysis , graph networks , and physics-informed loss functions to achieve state-of-the-art performance in PDE solving with up to 1000x speedup over traditional solvers. Fellowships: Kortschak Scholarship PIMCO Fellowship Amazon AI4Science Fellowship Nvidia Fellowship MIT Novo Nordisk AI Fellowship Code & Open-Source: Co-developer of the NeuralOperator library Implementations for Fourier Neural Operators , Graph Neural Operators , and Tensorized Neural Operators Media Recognition: Quanta Magazine MIT Tech Review NVIDIA Features Towards Data Science
