Dr. Li Baowen is Chair Professor at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) with joint appointments in the Department of Physics and Department of Materials Science and Engineering. A pioneer in phononics and thermal metamaterials, he previously held endowed professorships at University of Colorado Boulder and UC Berkeley. His research focuses on controlling heat transfer at nano scales, developing thermal metamaterials like thermal cloaks, and applying complex networks to physical systems. Dr. Li has published over 400 papers including 3 in Reviews of Modern Physics and 30 in Physical Review Letters, with more than 34,800 citations (H-index 98). He is recognized with the Brillouin Medal from the International Phononics Society and is a Fellow of the American Physical Society. He founded research centers including the China-EU Joint Lab for Nanophononics at Tongji University. His current research explores quantum phononics, machine learning applications in thermal materials, phonon lasers, and quantum sensing technologies.
Dr. Albert Ruhi is Associate Professor in Environmental Science, Policy and Management at UC Berkeley. His research examines freshwater ecosystem responses to global change, with focus on hydrologic alteration and drought impacts across river networks. The Ruhi Lab integrates field experiments, time-series analysis, and hydrologic modeling to understand metacommunity dynamics and ecosystem resilience. Educational background: PhD in Ecology, University of Girona BS in Biology, University of Girona Research explores: Drought impacts on aquatic communities Climate change effects on stream metabolism Wetland restoration outcomes Metacommunity recovery pathways Ecohydrological feedbacks Recent publications address: Phenological shifts in estuarine food webs Flow alteration cascades in river networks Beaver-mediated drought resilience Groundwater-riparian interactions Awards and honors: NSF CAREER Award (2021) California Sea Grant Award (2021) Hellman Fellowship (2020) Winkler Scholar (2023) Research group includes 7 graduate students and postdocs studying: Urban river restoration Tidal marsh food webs Alpine stream thermal regimes Vernal pool seedbanks Field sites span Sierra Nevada streams, San Francisco Bay wetlands, and Mediterranean rivers.
Carla P. Gomes is a Professor of Computer Science at Cornell University with joint appointments in the Department of Computer Science and the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management. She holds a PhD in computer science from the University of Edinburgh and an M.Sc. in applied mathematics from the University of Lisbon. Her research focuses on artificial intelligence, constraint reasoning, optimization, and computational sustainability. As Director of the Institute for Computational Sustainability (ICS) and co-director of the Cornell University AI for Science Institute, she leads efforts to integrate AI with sustainability challenges. Her research themes include the integration of constraint reasoning, machine learning, and operations research to solve large-scale problems. She pioneered the field of Computational Sustainability, addressing environmental, economic, and societal challenges through AI. Gomes directed two NSF Expeditions in Computing awards and established CompSustNet, a large-scale sustainability research network. Key awards include the 2021 ACM–AAAI Allen Newell Award, AAAI Feigenbaum Prize, and fellowships from AAAI, ACM, and AAAS. Her work spans over 200 publications, with contributions to AI, sustainability, and materials discovery. She advises numerous PhD students and oversees postdocs in AI, sustainability, and interdisciplinary projects. Gomes' lab focuses on AI for scientific discovery, including autonomous materials synthesis and crystal-structure phase mapping. She collaborates with institutions like JCAP and the Materials Project, advancing AI-driven solutions for energy and environmental challenges. Current projects include Schmidt AI in Science postdoc initiatives and AI-driven materials discovery platforms like DRNets and SARA.
Ugur Cetintemel is the Khosrowshahi University Professor of Computer Science at Brown University, where he has been since completing his PhD at the University of Maryland in 2001. His research focuses on data management systems, database systems, distributed systems, and stream processing, with recent work integrating AI techniques into database systems. He teaches courses such as Database Management Systems and Data Science fundamentals. Notable contributions include the Aurora and Borealis stream processing engines, S-Store for transaction processing, and DBPal for natural language interfaces. His work emphasizes scalable, efficient systems for large-scale data challenges. Education: PhD in Computer Science, University of Maryland, 2001 MS in Computer Science, Bilkent University, 1996 BS in Computer Science, Bilkent University, 1994 Research Interests: Data management, stream processing, distributed systems, predictive analytics, and AI integration with databases. Key projects include optimizing database systems for modern hardware, developing real-time stream processing frameworks, and exploring interactive data exploration techniques. Grants & Advising: Extensive contributions to grants and collaborations, though specific grant details are not listed. Supervises graduate students in areas like database systems and machine learning integration. Part of the Brown Data Management Group. Labs/Teams: Leads research within the Brown Data Management Group, focusing on advancing database systems for big data and real-time analytics.
Sebastian Pfotenhauer is a Carl von Linde Professor for Innovation Research at Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Deputy Head of the STS Department. He specializes in the societal dimensions of innovation, including governance of emerging technologies, regional innovation cultures, and responsible innovation practices. His work bridges academic research and policy, with leadership roles in major initiatives like the €50M Munich Cluster for the Future of Mobility (MCube) and the EU-funded SCALINGS project on co-creation in innovation. He holds a PhD in Physics from the University of Jena and postdoctoral training at MIT and Harvard. Research interests include innovation policy, science governance, and the interplay between technology and societal change. Notable projects include comparative studies of innovation cultures, governance frameworks for AI and neurotechnology, and global partnerships in science and innovation. He advises governments and international bodies like the OECD and the German Engineers’ Association (VDI). Publications span journals like Research Policy , Social Studies of Science , and Nature Biotechnology , addressing topics from regulatory sandboxes to neurotechnology ethics. Awards include the Leading Technology Policy Fellowship (MIT) and NSF grants for studying complex international partnerships.
Dr. Steven H. H. Ding is an Assistant Professor at McGill University's School of Information Studies, specializing in cybersecurity, machine learning, and data mining. His research focuses on AI-driven solutions for malware detection, software vulnerability analysis, and reverse engineering. He holds a PhD from McGill University and has been supported by BlackBerry Cylance and DRDC. His work bridges theoretical advancements with practical applications in military systems and avionics cybersecurity. Dr. Ding earned his PhD in 2019 with notable awards including the FRQNT Doctoral Research Scholarship and McGill's Dean’s Graduate Award. His educational background includes degrees from McGill, Concordia University, and the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology. His research interests span cybersecurity domains such as zero-day malware identification, code obfuscation countermeasures, authorship verification for digital forensics, and AI applications in avionics anomaly detection. He actively contributes to open-source tools like the Kam1n0 MapReduce-based assembly clone search system. Recent work emphasizes adversarial machine learning for evasive malware generation, transformer-based anomaly detection in avionics, and automated SBOM generation for firmware analysis. His publications reflect a focus on real-world cybersecurity challenges in both civilian and defense sectors. Dr. Ding leads the L1NNA Lab and collaborates with industry partners on cutting-edge projects. His contributions include novel techniques for phishing detection leveraging large language models and innovative approaches to reverse engineering software composition in JavaScript applications.
Ningning Hou is a Lecturer in Computing (IoT/Networking) at Macquarie University's School of Computing. They are affiliated with the Future Communications Research Centre and Data Horizons Research Centre. Previously, they served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and earned their PhD in Computer Science from PolyU in 2021, followed by a B.Eng. in Telecommunication Engineering from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (2017). Research Interests: Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWANs) Internet-of-Things (IoT) Wireless Sensing and Networking Wireless Security Recent research focuses on enhancing LoRa communication through innovations like full-duplex gateways (FDLoRa) and scalable logical channels (XGate), addressing challenges in network scalability, signal interference, and security threats. Their work spans topics such as data aggregation efficiency, antenna diversity, and covert channel mitigation. Advising: Actively seeking self-motivated PhD students and researchers for projects in LPWANs, edge computing, and wireless security. Labs/Teams: Involved with Future Communications Research Centre and Data Horizons Research Centre.
Aditya Prakash is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair for Academic Affairs in the School of Computational Science and Engineering at Georgia Tech. He holds a PhD from Carnegie Mellon University (2012) and a B.Tech from IIT Bombay (2007). His research focuses on data science, machine learning, and AI applied to epidemiology, healthcare, security, and urban computing. His work has led to impactful tools used by organizations like CDC, ORNL, and Walmart. Notable awards include the NSF CAREER Award (2018) and IEEE's 'AI Ten to Watch' (2017). Education: PhD (Computer Science, CMU, 2012), B.Tech (IIT Bombay, 2007) Research Interests: Epidemic forecasting, network analysis, healthcare informatics, and large-scale data-driven solutions for societal challenges. He has authored over 80 papers and holds two patents. His lab develops methods for disease modeling, urban infrastructure analysis, and cybersecurity. Key projects include the NSF-funded BEHIVE initiative for pandemic prediction and collaborations with MIDAS network for infectious disease modeling. Awards: NSF CAREER, Facebook Faculty Award, IEEE AI Recognition, and multiple best-paper awards. His group advises students across PhD, MS, and undergraduate levels, with notable alumni in academia and industry. Labs & Affiliations: Core faculty at ML@GT (Machine Learning Center) and IDEaS (Institute for Data Engineering and Science). Active in organizing conferences like AAAI, KDD, and SIGMOD.
Tamás Budavári is an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics at Johns Hopkins University (JHU), with joint appointments in Physics and Astronomy and a secondary appointment in Computer Science. He is affiliated with the Whiting School of Engineering and the Institute for Data-Intensive Engineering and Science (IDIES). His research focuses on computational and statistical methods for big data in astronomy and interdisciplinary applications such as urban blight analysis. Education: PhD in Astrophysics (2001), Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest Master’s in Theoretical Physics (1997), Eötvös Loránd University Research Interests: Budavári develops algorithms for handling large astronomical datasets, including Bayesian inference, streaming algorithms, and GPU-accelerated processing. His work includes SkyQuery (an online astronomy data tool), photometric redshift estimation, and cross-matching catalogs. He also applies computational methods to urban planning, such as optimizing strategies to address vacant housing in Baltimore City. Publications & Tools: Budavári’s recent work spans topics like deep learning for astronomical image restoration, combinatorial optimization for urban policy, and probabilistic catalog matching. His tools, such as CUDAHM and NWAY, enable scalable analysis of multi-epoch survey data and N-way catalog cross-identification. Awards & Grants: Recipient of the Gordon and Betty Moore Fellowship and SAMSI Research Fellowship Funded by NSF, STScI, NIH, and others Leadership & Outreach: He serves on the Steering Committee of the 21st Centuries Cities Initiative and is a founding editor of the Journal of Astronomy and Computing. His interdisciplinary work bridges astrophysics, data science, and urban systems.
Prof. Alexander Pretschner is a Professor of Software & Systems Engineering at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Founding Director of the Bavarian Research Institute for Digital Transformation (bidt). He also serves as Scientific Director of fortiss, a Bavarian research institute for software-intensive systems. His research focuses on software engineering, testing, information security, and ethical software development. Pretschner holds a PhD from TUM and has held academic positions at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and TU Kaiserslautern. He is a co-editor of several prestigious journals, including IEEE Transactions on Reliability and the Journal of Software Testing, Verification and Reliability. Education: PhD in Computer Science, Technical University of Munich MSc in Computer Science, University of Kansas (on Fulbright Scholarship) Diplom in Computer Science, RWTH Aachen University Research Interests: His work spans testing methodologies, secure software design, and ethical considerations in agile development. Notable contributions include frameworks for metamorphic testing, distributed data usage control, and accountability mechanisms for cyber-physical systems. Awards: IBM Faculty Award (2012, 2013) Google Focused Research Award (2011, 2012) EARTO Innovation Prize (2014) 2nd Platz Supervisory Award (2020) Advising & Grants: Pretschner has supervised numerous PhD and Master’s students, contributing to over 200 publications. He leads projects like EDAP (Ethical Deliberation in Agile Processes) and collaborates with industry partners on cybersecurity and AI ethics initiatives. Labs & Teams: His work is anchored in bidt, fortiss, and TUM’s Chair of Software & Systems Engineering, focusing on societal impacts of digitalization and trustworthy AI systems.
Associate Professor Nicole Hartley serves as MBA Director at UQ Business School and Future of Health Research Hub Lead at The University of Queensland. With 19 years of academic experience across institutions in Sydney and Queensland, she holds appointments across multiple faculties including Business, Economics and Law; Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences; and Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology. Her academic affiliations span the Centre for the Business and Economics of Health, Centre for Enterprise AI, and Queensland Digital Health Centre. Dr. Hartley is an internationally recognized research academic specializing in services marketing and digital technology. Her research interests encompass service technology, virtualized services, customer preference and adoption, new media, service innovation, and corporate digital responsibility. She particularly focuses on customer perceptions in response to technological disruption in service delivery, with special emphasis on healthcare services. Her work bridges business, technology, and healthcare domains, examining how digital transformation affects consumer behavior and service experiences. Her extensive publication record demonstrates consistent research output across multiple disciplines, with recent work concentrating on telehealth implementation, corporate digital responsibility, consumer trust in digital environments, and healthcare service innovation. The interdisciplinary nature of her research connects marketing theory with practical healthcare applications, particularly in the context of digital transformation and service delivery. Dr. Hartley has successfully supervised numerous PhD candidates to completion and currently mentors several doctoral students working on topics ranging from sustainable consumption to healthcare innovation and digital service experiences. Her research has been supported by significant funding from Queensland Health, NHMRC, and other organizations, focusing on telehealth, digital service transformation, and healthcare innovation. As Director of MBA and Executive Education at UQ Business School, Dr. Hartley combines her academic expertise with practical industry experience, having previously worked as Marketing Manager/Director in tourism, education, and communication industries in Australia and the UK. She is an award-winning educator with expertise in marketing strategy, digital media, consumer behavior, and experiential industry-based projects.
Arjan F. Kirkels is an Assistant Professor and University Lecturer in the Department of Technology, Innovation & Society within the School of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). His work focuses on sustainability assessments, decision-making in transitions, and interdisciplinary education for sustainable innovation. His research interests include Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Multi-Criteria Assessment (MCA), sustainability transitions, industrial ecology, and systems engineering. He applies these to emerging technologies such as batteries, hydrogen systems, and heat pumps, with a strong emphasis on integrating stakeholder values and addressing deep uncertainties in sustainability decisions. The recent articles highlight a consistent focus on assessing emerging technologies, particularly in renewable energy and circular economy applications. Trends include prospective LCA, experience curves in solar technology, socio-technical impact assessment, and educational innovations in sustainability. His work bridges technical analysis with social and governance dimensions of sustainability transitions. Best Teacher Award, 1st year Bachelor Sustainable Innovation, for course 0SV20 'Industrial Ecology' (2013) Best Teacher Award, 1st year Bachelor Sustainable Innovation, for course 0SV20 'Industrial Ecology' (2018) Best Teacher Award, 1st year Bachelor Sustainable Innovation, for course 0SV20 'Industrial Ecology' (2020) Educational award nomination, bachelor Sustainable Innovation, course 0SK30 Inter-University Sustainability Challenge (2023) Education Award 2024 - master Innovation Sciences (2025) Arjan F. Kirkels has supervised over 100 thesis students and more than 100 interdisciplinary student groups. He has developed and taught over 20 courses and co-authored 4 textbooks and 7 publications on educational innovation. He is currently supervising four researchers: Huiying Liu, Prapti Maharjan, Rishi Bhatnagar, and Seyed Mousavi. His research is supported by projects such as the EU-funded cVPP (Community-based Virtual Power Plant) and studies on Dutch sustainability transitions. He is actively involved in educational initiatives, including MOOC development and challenge-based learning, and contributes to public discourse through media appearances and workshops on sustainability education and systems thinking.
Roozbeh Torkzadeh is a researcher with expertise in smart grids, synchrophasor technologies, and power quality. He completed his M.Sc. (Hon.) in Electrical Engineering at Yazd University (2013) and earned his Ph.D. from the Department of Electrical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) in 2023. His Ph.D. project was funded by Netbeheer Nederland. He has held research roles at Universidad Loyola Andalucía (Spain) and TenneT TSO BV (Netherlands), and is currently a guest researcher at TU/e while working as a Senior Electrical Engineer at Shell Global Solutions International, focusing on grid connection, renewable integration, and decarbonization. Education: M.Sc. (Hon.) in Electrical Engineering, Yazd University (2013) Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology (2023) Roozbeh’s research spans power systems, renewable energy integration, and grid stability. He has contributed to voltage dip assessment, energy transition impacts on network quality, and PMU placement optimization. His work emphasizes practical challenges in wide-area measurement systems, fault current injection, and synthetic inertia control for low-inertia grids. Recent publications highlight trends in energy transition-driven grid modifications, voltage dip analysis, and synchrophasor applications. Key subfields include network modeling, renewable energy markets, and hydrogen scheduling. Scientific Awards: Next Generation Network (NGN) Showcase Presentation Award (CIGRE, 2021) His Ph.D. grant from Netbeheer Nederland and collaborations with Dutch grid operators underscore his industry-academia engagement. Current roles in Shell and TU/e reflect his focus on electrification and decarbonization projects.
Mazdak Nik-Bakht is an Associate Professor at Concordia University's School of Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering. His work bridges construction engineering with digital innovation, focusing on smart infrastructure and sustainable development. PhD, Construction Engineering & Mgmt., University of Toronto PhD, Structural Engineering, Iran University of Science & Technology MASc & BASc, Structural and Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science & Technology His research integrates Artificial Intelligence and Social Network Analysis into construction management systems. Key areas include: Smart infrastructure and urban computing Deconstruction and circular economy principles Building Information Modeling (BIM) and digital twinning Process mining in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry Decision models in construction project management Semantic computing and computational linguistics applications Recent publications show a focus on BIM analytics , urban resilience , and social media's role in infrastructure planning . Papers often combine AI and network theory to solve complex construction challenges. 2015 Outstanding paper award - Built Environment Project and Asset Management journal He teaches courses on: Big Data Analytics for Smart City Infrastructure Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Construction Building Economics Project Cost Estimating
Michael Kjær is a Clinical Professor at the Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. He specializes in Internal Medicine: Rheumatology and leads research groups focused on exercise physiology, sports injuries, and aging. His work addresses the impact of physical activity on the human organism, with particular emphasis on tissue damage and repair mechanisms. Dr. Kjær's primary research interests center around sports medicine, physiology, and exercise science. His work investigates tendon pathology, muscle physiology, sports injuries, and the effects of exercise on aging populations. He has made significant contributions to understanding sports-related injuries, particularly tendon overuse conditions, and the physiological responses to physical activity across different age groups. His recent publications (2025) demonstrate a strong focus on tendon research, sports injury treatment dilemmas, effects of anabolic steroid abuse, muscle physiology, and bone health in athletes and older adults. The research spans from basic science investigations of cellular mechanisms to clinical studies addressing practical sports medicine challenges. His work shows particular strength in connecting molecular and tissue-level changes with clinical outcomes in sports medicine. With 415 research outputs including 369 journal articles, 15 book chapters, and 15 reviews, Dr. Kjær maintains an active research program with substantial impact. His work has been referenced in Wikipedia pages, cited by Bluesky users, and picked up by news outlets, demonstrating its relevance to both academic and public discourse. Dr. Kjær leads multiple research groups within the Center for Healthy Aging Damage and Repair at the Department of Clinical Medicine. His laboratory work focuses on tissue response to injury and exercise, particularly examining tendon and muscle physiology using both in vivo and in vitro approaches. His research bridges basic science with clinical applications in sports medicine and rehabilitation.
