Nicholas Evans is Distinguished Professor of Linguistics and Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language (CoEDL) at the Australian National University’s School of Culture, History & Language. His work bridges fieldwork-based language documentation with theoretical questions in typology, cultural evolution, and social cognition. Focus on endangered Australian and Papuan languages Director of ARC Laureate Project on 'The Wellsprings of Linguistic Diversity' Co-leader of SCOPIC (Social Cognition Parallax Corpus) study Collaborator in global linguistic diversity initiatives His research explores how micro-level community multilingualism shapes macro-level linguistic diversity, with fieldwork spanning seven years in remote Indigenous communities. Recent projects include PARABANK (paradigm syncretism analysis) and Southern New Guinea language studies, particularly Nen and Yam family languages. Scientific recognition includes the Ken Hale Award (Linguistic Society of America), Anneliese Maier Forschungspreis, and fellowships in the Australian Academy of Humanities, Australian Social Sciences Academy, and the British Academy.
Prof. Christian Holz is an Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science and Deputy Head of the Institute of Intelligent Interactive Systems at ETH Zürich. His work focuses on advancing human-computer interaction through innovations in wearable technologies, mixed reality systems, and sensor-driven applications. Key research areas include motion capture, physiological signal processing, and adaptive user interfaces. Holz leads the SIPLab (siplab.ethz.ch), producing influential work at the intersection of computer science and biomedical engineering. His research explores cutting-edge topics such as egocentric vision systems, wearable health monitoring devices, and VR/AR applications. Recent studies investigate cybersickness detection via EEG, heart rate estimation from eye-tracking cameras, and scalable motion capture using inertial/UWB sensors. Holz's work emphasizes practical applications in healthcare, education, and human-centered computing. Publications reflect a strong focus on interdisciplinary solutions, combining machine learning with sensor data analysis. Notable contributions include the EgoSim multi-view simulator, WildPPG biomedical dataset, and MiBOT cardiovascular modulation device. His research bridges theoretical advancements with real-world usability in domains like emergency response training, chronic disease monitoring, and immersive education.
Chua Tat Seng is a Professor at the School of Computing, National University of Singapore (NUS), holding the KITHCT Chair Professorship since 2009. He serves as co-Director of the NExT++ Center, a joint research center between NUS and Tsinghua University focused on Extreme Search. His academic career spans over three decades at NUS, where he has held various leadership positions including Acting Dean of the School of Computing (1998-2000) and Acting Head of the Department of Information Systems & Computer Science (1996-1998). Professor Chua's research spans unstructured data analytics , multimedia information retrieval , recommendation and conversation systems , and emerging applications in e-commerce and fintech . He established the Lab for Media Search (LMS) at the School of Computing and has been instrumental in advancing multimodal learning and search technologies. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, particularly in developing trustable AI systems for real-world deployment. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on large language models for recommendation systems , multimodal learning , and generative AI applications . The research trends show increasing emphasis on LLM-based recommendation, multimodal understanding, and addressing fundamental challenges in AI reliability, fairness, and efficiency. His work spans theoretical advancements in representation learning to practical applications in e-commerce, finance, and healthcare domains. ACM SIGMM Technical Achievement Award 2015 Multiple Best Paper Awards across ACM Multimedia, IEEE Transactions, and MMM conferences (2007-2020) Professor Chua has supervised 37 PhD students since 2004, establishing himself as a dedicated mentor in the academic community. His research has been supported by substantial grants including NExT++ ($12 million), Base Metals Price Forecasting ($200,000), and Multilingual Multimodal Knowledge Graph ($500,000). He maintains active collaborations with Tsinghua University, University of Southampton, and industry partners like Four Elements Capital and Singapore Press Holdings. As co-Director of the NExT++ Center, he leads a major research initiative focused on Web Intelligence and User Empowerment. His visiting professorships at Tsinghua University (2017-present) and Zhejiang University (2021-present) reflect his international impact in the field of multimedia and AI research.
Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)Switzerland
Prof. Dr. Roland Büchi is a Professor at the School of Engineering, Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), specializing in control systems engineering and applied AI. His affiliation includes leadership roles in research projects such as the ongoing 'Digital Bridge to Computer Science' initiative. With a career spanning decades, he maintains active research output and industrial collaborations. Research Interests: Büchi focuses on control systems optimization , particularly PID controller tuning using AI methods, system identification, and applications in robotics and drone technology. His work bridges theoretical control theory with practical implementations in mechatronics. Recent efforts explore machine learning for hysteresis modeling and swarm optimization for control systems. Publication Trends: His 15 most recent works (2018-2024) emphasize AI-driven control optimization , drone technology advancements, and engineering education. Dominant themes include PID parameter tuning for time-delayed systems, drone telemetry, and adaptive learning algorithms. A notable shift toward AI/ML applications in control engineering emerged post-2020. Labs and Teams: Büchi collaborates with researchers like Lukas Gruber and has historical ties to ETH Zurich’s robotics projects. His work involves experimental validation at ZHAW’s engineering facilities, with patents in turbocharger magnetic bearing systems.
Robert JOLIET is an Associate Professor of Finance at IÉSEG School of Management in France. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics and Management from HEC-ULg Management School (Belgium) and has held various academic leadership roles, including Director of Academic Development and Academic Director of the PGE (MSc in Management). His research focuses on finance, portfolio management, SRI (Socially Responsible Investing), and corporate finance, with a particular emphasis on international expansion, capital structure, and sustainable investment strategies. Education: 2008: Ph.D. in Economics and Management, HEC-ULg Management School, Belgium 2004: Master of Advanced Studies (DEA), Management Sciences (Finance), University of Liège, Belgium 2002: Master of Science in Business Engineering (Finance), University of Liège, Belgium Research interests span SRI fund dynamics, corporate social responsibility valuation, international debt policies, and market liquidity. Notable contributions include analyzing the impact of SRI mutual funds on corporate governance and environmental practices, and exploring the stability of sovereign debt structures in the Eurozone. Awards include the 2005 FORTIS Award (Third Prize) and the 2003 E.G. de Barsy Doctoral Fellowship. He has published extensively in journals like Economics Letters and Journal of Banking & Finance . Academic leadership roles include directing programs and departments at IÉSEG, alongside coordinating the Finance Track and managing academic development initiatives. His teaching focuses on financial data analysis, active portfolio management, and investment strategies in capital markets. He is a member of the LEM (Laboratoire d'Économie Moderne) research group and contributes to interdisciplinary research in finance and economics.
Jared M. Trujillo is an Associate Professor of Law at the CUNY School of Law. He teaches Constitutional Law, legal writing, and courses focused on the criminal and juvenile legal systems. Previously, he served as Senior Policy Counsel at the New York Civil Liberties Union, President of the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys, and as a criminal defense attorney at the Legal Aid Society NYC. He also taught as an adjunct professor at Hofstra University School of Law from 2016 through 2021. CUNY School of Law - Associate Professor New York Civil Liberties Union - Senior Policy Counsel Legal Aid Society NYC - Juvenile Defense Attorney Hofstra University School of Law - Adjunct Professor His research and advocacy focus on sentencing reform , bail policy , solitary confinement , policing of LGBTQ+ communities , Communications Decency Act Section 230 , foster care , and decriminalization of sex work . His publications analyze legislative impacts, systemic inequalities, and policy advocacy within criminal and juvenile legal systems. Jared's recent law review article on sentencing reform (2023) explores multigenerational poverty reduction through legal system changes. His 2022-2023 essays address solitary confinement ethics, policing reform, and bail system critiques, reflecting ongoing engagement with media and policy debates.
Sham Kakade is the Rampell Family Professor of Computer Science and Professor of Statistics at Harvard University, co-director of the Kempner Institute. His research focuses on advancing artificial general intelligence through foundational work in reinforcement learning, large-scale learning systems, and autonomous agent architectures. He earned his PhD in 2003 from the Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit at University College London. His work emphasizes scalable optimization algorithms, distributed systems for foundation models, and understanding emergent capabilities in neural architectures. Research interests include full-stack training pipelines for foundation models, mathematical principles of large-scale learning systems, and bridging language models with embodied intelligence. He advises prospective students with backgrounds in applied deep learning or theoretical computer science, offering access to the Kempner Institute's computational resources. He serves on committees for the ACM Prize in Computing and Sloan Research Fellowships, co-organizes the Simons Symposium on Theoretical Machine Learning, and chaired COLT 2011. His lab works at the intersection of theory and practice, addressing challenges in AI's societal impact and technical scalability. Labs/Teams: Co-directs the Kempner Institute, fostering collaborations between AI researchers and social scientists. Active in Harvard's SEAS community.
Robert Ghrist is the Andrea Mitchell University Professor at the University of Pennsylvania with dual appointments in the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering. He serves as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education for Penn Engineering. His educational background includes a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toledo (1991), and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Applied Mathematics from Cornell University (1994, 1995). Ghrist's research bridges pure and applied mathematics, focusing on applied algebraic topology , dynamical systems , and geometric methods in data science. His work extends to network theory, topological data analysis, and computational geometry, with applications spanning robotics, neuroscience, and social dynamics. Key innovations include developing sheaf-theoretic approaches for networked systems and persistence homology techniques for high-dimensional data. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on lattice-theoretic frameworks , topological robotics , and network dynamics , with emerging applications in neural data interpretation and geometric computing. His research consistently integrates category theory with real-world engineering challenges. Significant scientific recognition includes: Presidential Early Career Award (PECASE, 2004) Scientific American 'Top 50' Research Leader (2007) Mathematical Association of America's Chauvenet Prize (2013) University of Pennsylvania Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching (2015) DoD National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellowship (NSSEFF, 2015) Ghrist leads multiple federally funded research initiatives supported by AFOSR, DARPA, NSF, and ONR. He directs the development of educational tools including the Calculus BLUE/GREEN Project video series and custom GPTs for mathematical pedagogy. His open online courses have reached over 100,000 learners globally.
Halil Ali is a Lecturer in Data Science (Education Focused) at the School of Computing Technologies, RMIT University. His research spans privacy-preserving machine learning, blockchain technologies, and cybersecurity. Key research areas include federated learning , quantum-enhanced AI , secure biometrics , edge unlearning , and privacy in healthcare data . His recent publications focus on resilient AI systems , blockchain applications , and ethical data handling in emerging technologies. His work demonstrates expertise in integrating machine learning with blockchain security across domains like IoT, smart grids, and metaverse healthcare. He contributes to practical frameworks for zero-trust architectures , lightweight consensus protocols , and quantum-classical hybrid models .
Jiaxuan You is an Assistant Professor at the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, leading the U Lab focused on achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) in digital environments. His research spans graph neural networks (GNNs), relational data, foundation models, and machine learning systems. PhD and MS in Computer Science from Stanford University (2021) Developed GraphGym and PyTorch Geometric (PyG) for graph learning Core member at Kumo AI (2021-2023) His research explores: Graph-enhanced LLMs: Integrating relational structures into foundation models AGI Development: Self-optimizing AI agents and tool utilization ML Systems: Scalable architectures and redundancy-free computation Interdisciplinary Applications: Financial networks, crop yield prediction, and metro systems Recent publications focus on temporal reasoning, multi-agent dynamics, and hybrid architectures for LLMs. He actively develops open-source tools like DBGYM and GraphRouter. Scientific recognition includes: JPMC PhD Fellowship Baidu Scholarship Best Student Paper at AAAI 2017 World Bank Big Data Innovation Challenge winner He mentors PhD and intern students, emphasizing machine learning systems expertise. His lab collaborates on AGI workshops (e.g., ICLR 2024) and industry projects.
Wendy Ju is an Associate Professor of Information Science at Cornell Tech, with appointments in the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute, and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. Previously, she served as executive director of interaction design research at Stanford University's Center for Design Research and as an associate professor of interaction design at the California College of the Arts. Her work bridges human-computer interaction, design, and robotics with a focus on how interactive devices can communicate with people without interrupting them. PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University Master's degree in Media Arts and Sciences from MIT Professor Ju's research centers on implicit interactions, human-robot collaboration, and automotive interfaces. She investigates how people interact with automated systems in natural contexts, develops methods for early-stage prototyping of autonomous technologies, and examines the social implications of robotics in urban environments. Her work spans from theoretical frameworks to practical applications, with particular emphasis on designing systems that integrate seamlessly into human activities without demanding constant attention. Her recent publications reveal a strong trajectory toward understanding human-robot interaction in public urban spaces, with increasing focus on robot navigation in city streets, the social implications of autonomous vehicles, and the integration of generative AI in design processes. Her work consistently bridges theoretical HCI frameworks with practical applications in transportation, urban design, and everyday robotics. Inducted into the ACM SIGCHI Academy (2025) Multiple Honorable Mention Awards at ACM CHI and DIS conferences Best Paper Award at Multimodal Technologies and Interaction (2023) Best Student Paper Award at IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium (2017) Best Demonstration Award at HRI (2017) Professor Ju actively mentors numerous PhD and master's students, many of whom have become leading researchers in HCI and robotics. Her research has been supported by significant grants from NSF and industry partners, enabling extensive field studies of human-robot interaction in real-world settings. She has pioneered methodologies for studying autonomous vehicle interactions through both simulated and naturalistic driving environments. Her work with the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute supports interdisciplinary research at the intersection of computing, design, and urban technology. She has established research partnerships with transportation authorities, automotive companies, and urban planning organizations to study how emerging technologies can enhance urban mobility while respecting human needs and social contexts.
Max Planck Institute for Intelligent SystemsGermany
Celestine Mendler-Dünner is a Principal Investigator at the ELLIS Institute in Tübingen, co-affiliated with the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems and the Tübingen AI Center. She leads the Algorithms and Society research group, focusing on machine learning in social contexts and the role of prediction in digital economies. Her work bridges theoretical machine learning with practical societal impact, developing tools for safe, reliable, and equitable AI ecosystems. Her educational background includes a PhD from ETH Zurich in collaboration with IBM Research, followed by an SNSF postdoctoral fellowship at UC Berkeley hosted by Moritz Hardt. She was previously a group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems before joining the ELLIS Institute. Mendler-Dünner's research spans several interconnected themes including performative prediction (where predictions change the behavior they aim to predict), algorithmic collective action (how participants can steer AI systems toward common goals), and the role of LLMs in social science research. Her work combines theoretical foundations with practical implementations, addressing challenges in interactive machine learning, optimization in dynamic environments, and context-specific evaluation of AI systems. She particularly examines how algorithmic predictions mediate services and platforms at societal scale, exploring concepts of economic power in digital markets. Her publication record shows a clear evolution from system-aware machine learning algorithms (including foundational work on IBM Snap ML) toward increasingly sociotechnical questions at the intersection of machine learning, economics, and policy. Recent work focuses on measuring performative power in digital economies, evaluating LLMs as risk scores, and developing frameworks for algorithmic collective action in recommender systems and labor markets. Among her notable recognitions are the ETH Medal for her dissertation, the IBM Research Division Award, the Fritz Kutter Award, and the IBM Eminence and Excellence Award. She is an ELLIS Scholar, a fellow of the Elisabeth-Schiemann-Kolleg, and affiliated with several prestigious research programs including the International Max Planck Research School for Intelligent Systems and the Max Planck ETH Center for Learning Systems. ETH Medal (dissertation award) IBM Research Division Award Fritz Kutter Award IBM Eminence and Excellence Award SNSF Early Postdoc Mobility Fellowship Mendler-Dünner actively mentors the next generation of researchers, advising PhD student Patrik Wolf and supervising research interns including Joachim Baumann, Haiqing Zhu, and Anna Badalyan, as well as Master's student Dorothee Sigg. She serves as core faculty for the International Max Planck Research School and associated faculty for the Max Planck ETH Center for Learning Systems. Her group has secured significant research funding through fellowships and institutional support, enabling work on projects like Powermeter (measuring search engine influence) and Snap ML (resource-efficient machine learning library with over 1 million PyPI downloads). She leads the Algorithms and Society research group, which examines machine learning as part of broader sociotechnical ecosystems. The group explores human-population interactions with algorithmic systems and incorporates these insights into learning system fundamentals. Current projects include investigating economic incentives in digital platforms, developing tools for systematic LLM evaluation in social science contexts, and creating frameworks for collective action in algorithmic systems. Mendler-Dünner also co-organizes the Algorithmic Collective Action workshop at NeurIPS 2025, demonstrating her leadership in emerging research directions at the AI-society interface.
Jing Lei is a Professor at Syracuse University , serving as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs . Her research explores how information and communication technologies can prepare future citizens for a globalized, digitized world. Education: Ph.D. in Learning, Technology, and Culture, Michigan State University M.S. in Higher Education and Comparative Education, Peking University B.S. in School Education, Henan University Her scholarly focus includes technology integration in schools , social-cultural and psychological impacts of technology , emerging technologies for education , and technology-supported subject learning . Recent publications address critical edtech challenges and cultural perspectives in Asian education. Her work has been funded by organizations like the Kauffmann Foundation , National Science Foundation , and IREX . She has also served as a review expert for the NSF and contributed to influential journals such as The Teachers College Record . Dr. Lei teaches courses in technology integration , instructional design , and development and evaluation . Her research has been highlighted in media outlets like USA Today , US News & World Report , and Education Week .
Kaiyuan Yang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University, leading the Secure and Intelligent Micro-Systems (SIMS) Lab. His research focuses on low-power integrated circuits and bioelectronic implants for applications like the Internet of Everything and medical devices. He holds a B.S. from Tsinghua University (2012) and M.S./Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan (2017). Research Interests: Low-power digital/analog/mixed-signal systems Bioelectronics and implantable devices Hardware security and PUF design Mixed-signal computing and emerging materials Recent work emphasizes magnetoelectric-powered implants, secure backscatter communication, and in-memory computing architectures. His publications span top venues like IEEE ISSCC, IEDM, and ACM MobiCom. Awards: 2022 NSF CAREER Award 2022 IEEE Top Picks in Hardware Security 2016 IEEE SSCS Predoctoral Achievement Award Dr. Yang serves on editorial boards for IEEE TVLSI and program committees for ISSCC/CICC. His lab develops miniature, secure, and energy-efficient systems for healthcare and IoT applications.
Brendan Russo serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, Construction Management, and Environmental Engineering at Northern Arizona University, where he conducts influential research in transportation safety and traffic engineering. His work focuses on improving safety outcomes for vulnerable road users through rigorous analysis of crash data, traffic operations, and emerging mobility technologies, with significant contributions to Arizona-specific transportation challenges and national safety practices. Russo's research program centers on bicycle and pedestrian safety, crash severity analysis, and the integration of autonomous systems into transportation networks. He employs advanced methodologies including spatial analysis, statistical modeling (e.g., random parameters bivariate probit models), and observational studies to investigate traffic stress levels, intersection safety, and the impacts of infrastructure treatments. His work consistently bridges theoretical transportation engineering with practical applications for safer community design. Analysis of Russo's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on emerging transportation technologies and their safety implications, particularly regarding autonomous delivery robots and vehicle-pedestrian interactions, while maintaining core focus on traditional safety concerns like bicycle crash frequency and severity. His research demonstrates increasing integration of spatiotemporal analysis and scenario-based testing methodologies, with a clear geographic concentration on Arizona metropolitan regions that provides valuable localized insights applicable to broader transportation contexts. No scientific awards were mentioned in the provided text. No specific information about advising responsibilities or grant funding was provided in the text, though his extensive publication record and dataset contributions indicate active research leadership. Russo collaborates within a robust research network centered on transportation safety, frequently partnering with colleagues including Gehrke, Smaglik, and Holliday on projects involving field data collection, bicycle infrastructure evaluation, and safety performance metrics. His work leverages both observational studies and simulation approaches to develop data-driven guidance for transportation practitioners, with particular attention to Arizona's unique transportation environment and metropolitan planning challenges.
