Marco Bernardi is a Professor of Applied Physics, Physics and Materials Science at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). His research focuses on theoretical and computational materials physics , developing first-principles methods to investigate electron transport, ultrafast dynamics, and light-matter interactions in materials. His work has applications in electronics, optoelectronics, ultrafast spectroscopy, energy technologies, and quantum devices. Education : Ph.D. in Materials Science from MIT (2013), M.S. from University of Rome Tor Vergata (2008), B.S. from University of Rome La Sapienza (2004). Research Interests : Electron-phonon interactions, polarons, spin relaxation and decoherence, nonequilibrium electron dynamics, quantum materials, and software development for materials simulations ( PERTURBO code). Scientific Awards : NSF CAREER Award (2018) AFOSR Young Investigator Award (2017) Psi-K Volker Heine Young Investigator Award (2015) Intel Ph.D. Fellowship (2013) Franco Strazzabosco Award (2020) Teaching : Offers graduate courses at Caltech including Structure and Bonding in Materials (MS 131) , Computational Solid State Physics (APh/MS 256) , and Introduction to Computational Methods (APh/MS 141) . Group Members : Mentors current graduate students and postdocs in developing advanced computational techniques for materials research, with former advisees now in academic and industry positions.
Jindal Shah is a Professor and holds the Anadarko Petroleum Chair in Chemical Engineering at Oklahoma State University, where he also serves as the Graduate Program Director. He is affiliated with the Department of Chemical Engineering within the College of Engineering at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Shah received his educational training from prestigious institutions worldwide. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 2005, followed by an M.S. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Cincinnati in 1999, and completed his undergraduate education with a B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay in 1996. Dr. Shah's research focuses on the application of molecular simulation methodologies to understand molecular-level interactions that give rise to macroscopic phenomena. His primary research interests include Monte Carlo and Molecular Dynamics Simulations, Phase Equilibria, Ionic liquids, and Dye-sensitized solar cells. A significant portion of his work centers on designing novel biodegradable ionic liquids with properties suitable for chemical processes, with applications in next-generation batteries and carbon capture. He also investigates molecular-level interactions responsible for device efficiency in dye-sensitized solar cells to rationally design novel dye molecules. Additionally, Dr. Shah employs data science and machine learning techniques to correlate properties of ionic liquids and generate new molecules with desired properties. An analysis of Dr. Shah's recent publications reveals a strong focus on ionic liquids and their applications in energy storage and carbon capture technologies. His work consistently bridges fundamental molecular-level understanding with practical applications, particularly in developing electrolytes for batteries and CO2 capture systems. A notable trend is the integration of machine learning techniques with traditional molecular simulation methods to accelerate materials discovery and optimization. His research demonstrates a progression from fundamental molecular simulations toward applied technologies with significant environmental impact, particularly in climate action (SDG 13) and affordable clean energy (SDG 7). Dr. Shah has secured substantial research funding from multiple prestigious sources including the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and industry partners. His funded projects include 'Collaborative Research: Cyber Training-Implementation, Medium, Establishing Sustainable Ecosystem for Computational Molecular Science Training & Education' (NSF), 'Ionic Liquids for Direct Air Capture of CO2 using Electric-Field-Mediated Moisture Gradient Process' (DOE), and 'CAREER: Computation-Enabled Rational Design of Cytochrome P450 for Ionic Liquid Biodegradation' (NSF). These grants support his research in computational molecular science, CO2 capture technologies, and the development of biodegradable ionic liquids. As an educator, Dr. Shah has been actively involved in teaching graduate courses including Principles of Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, Doctoral Thesis supervision, and specialized courses such as Machine Learning for Chemical Processes and Introduction to Chemical Process Analytics. His teaching philosophy integrates cutting-edge research with educational practice, preparing students for the computational challenges of modern chemical engineering. He has also mentored numerous doctoral students through their dissertation research, contributing to the development of the next generation of chemical engineers and computational scientists.
Dr. Todd D. Murphey is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Northwestern University's Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. He serves as Director of Transformative Research and Director of the Master of Science in Robotics Program at Northwestern, leading initiatives in computational dynamics, control systems, and robotics. His work bridges engineering, neuroscience, and biomedical applications, with a focus on developing systems that interact effectively with humans and their environments. Dr. Murphey received his Ph.D. in Control and Dynamical Systems from the California Institute of Technology in 2002, with a thesis titled "Control of Multiple Model Systems." Prior to that, he earned a B.S. in Mathematics, summa cum laude, from the University of Arizona in 1997. Dr. Murphey's research centers on computational methods in dynamics and control, with applications spanning neuroscience, health science, robotics, and automation. His work in the Interactive & Emergent Autonomy Lab focuses on computational models of embedded control, biomechanical simulation, dynamic exploration, and hybrid control. The group develops mathematical approaches that lead to orders of magnitude improvement in computational efficiency for real-time implementation. Key application areas include assistive exoskeleton control, stabilization of energy networks, bio-inspired active sensing, entertainment robots, robotic exploration, and software-enabled stroke rehabilitation. Analysis of Dr. Murphey's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on human-swarm interaction, algorithmic matter, and control of cyber-physical systems in uncertain environments. His work increasingly integrates information theory with physical systems, exploring how both autonomous and biological systems interact with environments to learn and improve behaviors. Recent trends show growing applications in rehabilitation technology, with particular focus on human-machine interaction in biomedical devices and embodied intelligence. Dr. Murphey has received numerous honors and awards for his contributions to robotics and engineering: Named Director of Transformative Research at Northwestern University (2025) Appointed IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Vice President of Publication Activities (2022) Co-recipient of Best Paper Award for IEEE Transactions on Robotics (2020) Appointed to Air Force Scientific Advisory Board (2019) Recipient of ABB Best Student Paper Award for CPL-SLAM research (2019) Cole-Higgins Award from Northwestern Engineering (2015) Dr. Murphey has supervised numerous graduate students including Taosha Fan, Giorgos Mamakoukas, and Ian Abraham, with research spanning robotic exploration using electrosense and mechanical contact, human-in-the-loop control, and shared control for rehabilitation devices. His lab has secured significant funding from the National Science Foundation, DARPA, and industry partners including Siemens and Ekso Bionics, supporting research in algorithmic matter, emergent behavior, and human-swarm collaboration. The Interactive & Emergent Autonomy Lab, led by Dr. Murphey, investigates how both autonomous systems and biological systems interact with their environments to learn and improve behaviors. Current projects include active learning and data-driven control, active perception in human-swarm collaboration, algorithmic matter and emergent computation, control for nonlinear and hybrid systems, cyber physical systems in uncertain environments, harmonious navigation in human crowds, information maximizing clinical diagnostics, reactive learning in underwater exploration, robot-assisted rehabilitation, and software-enabled biomedical devices. The lab collaborates with researchers across Northwestern and institutions including Georgia Tech, MIT, and industry partners.
Muhannad S. Bakir is the Dan Fielder Professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology, and Director of the 3D Systems Packaging Research Center . His research focuses on heterogeneous integration , electrical/photonic interconnects , thermal modeling , and electronics for healthcare , with over 180 publications and 12 U.S. patents. Research areas include: Advanced cooling and power delivery for emerging systems Biosensor-CMOS integration 2.5D/3D IC packaging Polylithic integration technology Nanofabrication for microsystems Scientific accolades include: 2018 IEEE EPS Exceptional Technical Achievement Award 2013 Intel Early Career Faculty Honor Award 2012 DARPA Young Faculty Award 2011 IEEE CPMT Outstanding Young Engineer Award Best paper awards at IEEE ECTC, IITC, and CICC 2020 Georgia Tech Doctoral Thesis Advisor Award His lab explores integrated 3D systems with emphasis on co-design of thermal, power, and electrical networks for machine learning and healthcare applications.
Professor Stephen Croft is a faculty member at Lancaster University , affiliated with the School of Engineering . His research focuses on Nuclear Materials Measurement Science , with expertise in radiation detection, neutron interrogation, and X-ray/gamma-ray spectroscopy. Current projects include cosmic ray neutron monitoring , active neutron interrogation of nuclear materials , and radiation damage assessment . His recent publications emphasize semi-empirical modeling of atomic interactions and advanced detection techniques for nuclear applications. He has contributed to understanding vacancy transfer probabilities , X-ray fluorescence cross-sections , and water detection in nuclear environments . His work supports nuclear security, power plant safety, and space weather monitoring. Scientific awards : None explicitly mentioned in the text. Research groups : Involved in Nuclear Space Weather initiatives.
Hua Cai is the Thomas and Jane Schmidt Rising Star Associate Professor at Purdue University's Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering with a joint appointment in Environmental & Ecological Engineering. She holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering & Natural Resources from the University of Michigan, an MS in Environmental Engineering from Penn State, and a BS from Tsinghua University. Her research integrates operations research and production systems to address sustainability challenges, with focus areas including: Environmental implications of emerging technologies Urban sustainability modeling and infrastructure resilience Industrial ecology and complex adaptive systems Sustainable transportation and mobility systems Recent publications demonstrate strong focus on sustainable transportation systems, with extensive analysis of shared mobility patterns (bike/e-scooter systems), autonomous vehicle impacts, and microgrid resilience. Her work consistently applies advanced computational methods including reinforcement learning, agent-based modeling, and spatiotemporal analysis to urban sustainability challenges. Dr. Cai has received recognition including the Thomas and Jane Schmidt Rising Star Professorship for her contributions to sustainable systems engineering. She leads research on renewable energy integration in transportation infrastructure and advises projects on climate-resilient urban systems.
Saugata Ghose is an Assistant Professor in the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), with affiliate appointments in the Coordinated Science Laboratory and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. His research focuses on data-centric computing, processing-in-memory architectures, memory systems, and hardware-software co-design. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Computer Engineering from Cornell University and dual B.S. degrees in Computer Engineering and Computer Science from SUNY Binghamton. His academic positions include roles at Carnegie Mellon University (2016–2020) and postdoctoral research at CMU (2014–2016). Ghose has received notable awards such as the 2024 HPCA Hall of Fame, 2023 Intel Rising Star Faculty Award, and the 2019 CMU Wimmer Faculty Fellowship. His work has been supported by grants from NSF, Samsung, and Sandia National Laboratories. Research Interests: His group (ARCANA) explores data-centric architectures, processing-in-memory (PIM), and emerging memory technologies. Key areas include architectures for smart cities, autonomous systems, and genomics. He teaches courses on computer architecture and systems organization. Awards: HPCA Hall of Fame (2024) Intel Rising Star Faculty Award (2023) CMU Wimmer Faculty Fellow (2019) Cornell ECE Teaching Assistant Award (2013) Grants & Projects: NSF $2M for semiconductor advancements Samsung/Sandia grants for PIM programming models UIUC/ZJU DREMES collaboration on neuromorphic PIM Labs/Teams: Leads the ARCANA Research Group, focusing on reimagining computing around new applications. Collaborates with ASAP and HYBRID centers for co-design tools and neuromorphic architectures.
Roger Chamberlain is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis , affiliated with the McKelvey School of Engineering . He has been on faculty since 1989, specializing in digital systems, parallel processing, computer architecture, embedded systems, and reconfigurable logic. Education: DSc, Washington University in St. Louis, 1989 MS, Washington University in St. Louis, 1985 BS, Washington University in St. Louis, 1983 Research Interests: His work focuses on architecturally diverse computing systems, including specialized architectures for astrophysics and biology. He explores high-performance parallel/distributed applications, energy-efficient computation, and high-capacity I/O systems. He collaborates with industry partners like Exegy, Inc., VelociData, Inc., and BECS Technology, contributing to commercialization of university-developed technologies for data analysis and microprocessor-based controls. Grants & Awards: In 2021, he was a co-investigator on a $5M gamma ray astronomy mission grant. In 2018, he led an NSF-funded project ($1.2M) to enhance streaming application efficiency on diverse architectures. His consulting and industry ties reflect a commitment to bridging academic research with practical applications. Professional Contributions: He co-founded Exegy, VelociData, and BECS Technology. His lab website and Google Scholar profile provide additional insights into his work.
Dr. Song Jiang is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). He holds a PhD from the College of William and Mary (2004) and has held academic positions at institutions such as Wayne State University and Los Alamos National Laboratory. His research focuses on system infrastructure for large language models (LLMs) and big data processing, including GPU/CPU memory systems, file and storage systems, and high-performance computing (HPC) I/O systems. He has received significant funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and industry partners like VMware and Tencent. Education: B.S. and M.S. from University of Science and Technology of China (1993, 1996), Ph.D. in Computer Science from College of William and Mary (2004). Postdoctoral research at Los Alamos National Laboratory (2004–2006). Research interests include file and storage systems, data management, big data analytics, and optimizing computing architectures for AI/ML. Key contributions include the LIRS replacement algorithm (adopted in MySQL and NetBSD), CLOCK-Pro page replacement (used in Linux), and swap token algorithms (Linux kernel). Awards include the 2022 ACM SIGMETRICS Test of Time Award and 2009 NSF CAREER Award. His work has led to 15+ patents and impactful industry collaborations with Facebook, Baidu, and others. Advising: Supervised 14+ PhD/Master’s students, including current advisees Chen Zhong and Sujit Maharjan. Active roles in doctoral committees and thesis supervision. Grants: Over $2.5M in NSF funding for projects like 'Software Defined Cache for Index Search' and 'Taming Small Data Writes'. Industry grants include VMware’s $240K project on distributed key-value storage. Labs/Teams: Leads research on persistent memory systems, key-value stores, and LLM infrastructure through UTA’s CSE department and collaborations with industry partners.
Forest Agostinelli is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, University of South Carolina, where he is also affiliated with the AI Institute. His research focuses on designing AI algorithms for pathfinding problems, integrating deep learning, reinforcement learning, heuristic search, and formal logic. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of California, Irvine, an M.S. from the University of Michigan, and a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from The Ohio State University. Research Overview : Agostinelli’s work emphasizes solving pathfinding problems in domains like robotics, theorem proving, and molecular optimization. His group develops explainable AI methods to enable collaboration between humans and machines. Key projects include DeepCubeA (solving the Rubik’s Cube via deep reinforcement learning) and neural activation function research. Funding & Awards : He has secured grants from NSF, NASA EPSCoR, and South Carolina’s ASPIRE and MADE programs. Notable awards include the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and the Graduate Education for Minority Students Fellowship. Teaching : He teaches courses in Artificial Intelligence (CSCE 580) and Deep Reinforcement Learning and Search (CSCE 790), mentoring over 15 students at undergraduate and graduate levels. Labs & Collaborations : Active in AI-driven education and interdisciplinary projects, his lab contributes to tools like ALLURE for children’s learning and Bioinformatics platforms like CircadiOmics.
Banu Lokman is a Professor of Operational Research (OR) at the University of Portsmouth, serving as Associate Head (Research and Innovation) in the School of Organisations, Systems and People within the Faculty of Business & Law. She leads the Centre for Innovative and Sustainable Finance and contributes to the Centre for Operational Research & Logistics. Her expertise spans multi-criteria decision-making, optimization, and their applications in healthcare and sustainability. She holds editorial roles at OMEGA and the IMA Journal of Management Mathematics and organizes the NATCOR MCDM courses. Previously, she served as Deputy Director of CORL (2011–2024), Secretary of the International MCDM Society, and Board Member of INFORMS MCDM Section. She currently chairs the INFORMS MCDM Section as President-elect/Vice-President. Education: BSc, MSc, and PhD in Industrial Engineering from Middle East Technical University (METU, Turkey), followed by postdoctoral research at Aalto University (Finland). She taught at METU (2014–2019) and held visiting roles at Aalto University. Research Interests: Focuses on developing optimization methods for multi-criteria decision problems, particularly in healthcare (e.g., optimizing prostate biopsy decisions with Portsmouth NHS Trust) and sustainability. Her work emphasizes algorithms for nondominated set representation, robust efficiency analysis, and cluster ensemble methods. Key Awards: Bernard Roy Award (2022) for outstanding contributions to Multiple Criteria Decision Aiding, and Young Researcher Award (2015). Advising & Grants: Leads a healthcare-related PhD project and contributes to projects like the Social Investment Fund collaboration with Waltham Forest Council. She actively supervises students and participates in research initiatives on supply networks and data control systems. Labs & Teams: Engaged with interdisciplinary teams in operational research and logistics, particularly in applying OR to real-world challenges such as energy market optimization and MRO supply networks.
Sadaf Salehkalaibar is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. She holds an office in the EITC building (E2-416) and has previously held academic positions at the University of Tehran, University of Toronto as a research associate, and visiting roles at McMaster University, Telecom Paristech, and National University of Singapore. Her research focuses on explainable artificial intelligence, generative models, and information theory with an emphasis on rate-distortion-perception tradeoffs in video and image processing. Her educational background includes teaching courses such as Signals and Systems, Digital Signal Processing, and Network Security at the University of Tehran. She currently teaches COMP4190 (Artificial Intelligence) at the University of Manitoba. Research interests revolve around developing efficient algorithms for AI systems, with key contributions in learned video compression, federated learning, and privacy-preserving techniques. Notable work includes the M22 algorithm for communication-efficient federated learning and the NSERC Discovery Grant-funded project on data-driven learning efficiency. Recent publications highlight advancements in perception loss functions, Gaussian vector source analysis, and secure distributed hypothesis testing. She actively serves on editorial boards (e.g., IEEE Transactions on Communications) and conferences (ISIT, ITW). Awards include the prestigious NSERC Discovery Grant (2025). Supervision highlights 13 MSc students at the University of Tehran, focusing on topics like privacy-preserving systems and distributed learning. Labs/teams: Leads research group at University of Manitoba focusing on AI and information theory applications in multimedia systems.
Brian Vermeire is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering at Concordia University. His research focuses on computational fluid dynamics, aerodynamics, high-performance computing, turbulence modeling, numerical methods, and optimization. He leads the Computational Aerodynamics Laboratory, emphasizing scale-resolving simulations and high-order numerical techniques. Key interests include large eddy simulation (LES), direct numerical simulation (DNS), and gradient-free optimization. His work often involves developing advanced algorithms for unstructured grids and high-performance computing platforms. Research Interests: High-order numerical methods Implicit/explicit time integration schemes Polynomial adaptation for adaptive meshing Aeroacoustic shape optimization Large eddy simulation (LES) and direct numerical simulation (DNS) Software development for CFD (e.g., PyFR) Recent work trends show strong focus on hybridized flux reconstruction methods, energy-conservative algorithms, and industrial adoption of high-fidelity simulations. Major contributions include scalable implementations for petascale computing and open-source tools like PyFR. His group collaborates on applications such as wind turbine aerodynamics and low-pressure turbine design. Labs/Teams: Computational Aerodynamics Laboratory (website: link )
Dr. Lata Narayanan is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering at Concordia University, Montreal, Canada. Her research spans theoretical and applied aspects of distributed systems, with a focus on algorithms for mobile agents, communication networks, and sensor networks. Department: Computer Science and Software Engineering University: Concordia University Research Interests Lata Narayanan specializes in algorithms for mobile robots and ad hoc networks , with expertise in routing on distributed networks , parallel algorithms , and social network analysis . Her work addresses challenges in sensor network optimization, barrier coverage, and time-energy tradeoffs for evacuation systems. Article Trends Her recent publications (2021-2025) emphasize game theory for network dynamics, cloud resource allocation , and temporal graph exploration . Key themes include strategic diversity, truck-drone delivery logistics, and energy-sharing protocols for mobile agents.
Leon Shpanin is a Senior Lecturer in Electronic and Electrical Engineering at Sheffield Hallam University, where he serves as Course Leader for MSc Automation Control and Robotics. He holds an MSc in Radio Frequency Engineering and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Liverpool. His research focuses on electrical engineering applications including renewable energy systems, HVDC circuit interruptions, and electromagnetic techniques for current interruption. He received the RAEng Award (2020) for developing next-generation circuit breakers for rail networks. Key projects: Development of Novel Energy Efficient Magnetic Scroll Air Motor (EPSRC) Smart control of multirotor drone propellers for vibration energy harvesting
