Sara Hägg is a Senior Lecturer at the Karolinska Institutet , affiliated with the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics . She is also a Docent in molecular epidemiology. PhD in Computational Biology (Linköping University, 2009) MSc in Molecular Biology (Stockholm University, 2003) BSc in Computer Science (Stockholm University, 2003) Her research focuses on human biological aging , including measurement of aging markers (telomere length, epigenetic clocks, frailty index), causal pathway analysis, and identification of geroprotectors for age-related diseases. She utilizes longitudinal twin studies (SATSA, GENDER, HARMONY), UK Biobank, and Swedish cohorts with methods like Mendelian randomization and genome-wide analyses . Recent articles demonstrate trends in epidemiological aging research , with emphasis on cardiovascular aging , neurological disease interactions , metabolic profiling , and epigenetic clocks . Her work often involves multivariable modeling and cross-cohort validation . Leadership roles include Director of LifeGene Core Facility (2024-) and Founding Board Member of the Nordic Aging Society (2023-). She serves on expert groups for the Swedish Twin Registry and Strategic Research Area in Epidemiology and Biostatistics .
Jan Borchers is a full professor of computer science and head of the Media Computing Group, an endowed Chair in the Computer Science Department at RWTH Aachen University. He serves as deputy member of the Faculty Council for Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences (2024-2026) and previously headed the Computer Science Department's Examination Board from 2015 until February 2025. Borchers established his research group in 2003, pioneering modern HCI academic research and teaching in Germany, and opened Germany's first Fab Lab in 2009. Borchers received his PhD 'summa cum laude' in computer science from Darmstadt University of Technology in 2000. Before joining RWTH Aachen, he held faculty positions at Stanford University and ETH Zurich. His PhD thesis, 'A Pattern Approach to Interaction Design,' became the first book to bring design patterns to HCI. His research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction with particular interest in new user interfaces for soft robotics, textile user interfaces, 3D printing and personal fabrication, augmented reality, wearable and tangible computing, interfaces for software development, deceptive patterns, and interactive guides and exhibits. He is a member of ACM, SIGCHI, SIGCHI Germany, and GI, and introduced the Interactivity format to the CHI conference in 2005. Recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on deceptive patterns/dark patterns in UI design, textile interfaces, and the impact of generative AI on creative teamwork. His work spans from fundamental research in interaction techniques to practical applications in smart homes, accessibility, and children's interfaces, with a consistent focus on usability and user-centered design. IDC 2025 Best Work in Progress: 'If They Have No Choice, They'll Accept!' CHI'25 Student Games Competition Winner: 'The Deceptive Dungeon' RWTH-Wissenschaftsnacht 2024 Best Science Slam: 'Usability: 4 Prinzipien guter User Interfaces' Multiple CHI/UIST Honorable Mentions and Best Paper awards spanning two decades Author of influential books including 'A Pattern Approach to Interaction Design' and 'Arduino In A Nutshell' Borchers has provided extensive consulting, training, and user interface design services to major clients including AirBus, Apple, ARD, Bayer, Children's Museum Boston, Daimler, Handelsblatt, OTIS, Scout24, TEDx, and Deutsche Telekom. He actively organizes the Computer Science Department's weekly Faculty Lunch since 2003 and coordinates the department's public relations and web presence since 2010. He leads the Media Computing Group, which has become a leading German lab in terms of archival publications at CHI, the top international conference in HCI. Since March 2025, he serves as faculty patron for TechLabs Aachen, a student initiative providing practical digital skills training.
Desmond Elliott is an Associate Professor in the Natural Language Processing section at the Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen (UCPH). His research focuses on multimodal and multilingual models with specific emphasis on vision-language integration and tokenization-free NLP approaches. He teaches Bachelor and Master's level courses including Advanced Topics in Natural Language Processing (since 2019), Grundlæggende Data Science (since 2023), and previously Data Science (2021-2023). His research interests center on building and understanding multimodal and multilingual models , particularly exploring vision and language interactions through billion-parameter systems. Current work investigates cultural representation disparities in vision-language models, parameter-efficient captioning, and multimodal distributional semantics across diverse domains including food culture and medical imaging. His methodology emphasizes real-world applicability in non-English contexts and ethical considerations in multimodal systems. Elliott's recent publications (2025) demonstrate leadership in multimodal NLP, with significant contributions to vision-language pretraining, multilingual evaluation frameworks, and clinical NLP applications. His work spans theoretical advancements in model architectures and practical implementations addressing challenges in low-resource languages and domain adaptation. Best Long Paper Award at EMNLP 2021 Best Poster Award at COLING 2019 As an active educator, Elliott contributes to courses on Fair and Transparent Machine Learning and previously taught Information Retrieval. His research collaborations span international institutions with particular focus on European and non-English language contexts, reflecting UCPH's recognition as Europe's #1 institution for HCI research over the past decade.
Yael Feldman Maggor is a Postdoctoral Fellow at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, affiliated with the Media Technology & Interaction Design Division and the Digital Futures research center. Her work bridges educational technologies, artificial intelligence, and science education, with a focus on enhancing pedagogy through innovative tools. Research Themes: Generative AI in education, self-regulated learning, learning analytics, chemistry education, and ethical considerations in AI integration. Key Projects: Contributions to the International Journal of Science Education, development of AI-driven evaluation frameworks, and pandemic-era online teaching analysis. Methodologies: Expertise in quantitative and qualitative research, educational data mining, and design of interactive learning platforms. Recent publications emphasize cross-cultural trust in AI, generative AI applications in chemistry education, and explainable AI for teacher professional development. She co-authored studies on nanotechnology courses for educators and self-regulation strategies in online learning environments.
Priyank Chandra is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Information and Director of the STREET Lab (SocioTechnical Resistance and Ethical Technologies Lab). His interdisciplinary research focuses on sociotechnical practices of marginalized communities, leveraging HCI, CSCW, STS, and development studies to design inclusive technologies. He holds a PhD in Information from the University of Michigan, along with MS in Economics and BE in Electronics Engineering. Chandra has received awards at ACM CHI and CSCW for his work on labor movements, digital resistance, and accessibility. Education: PhD in Information, University of Michigan (2019) MS in Economics BE in Electronics Engineering Research Interests: Chandra explores how marginalized communities reconfigure technologies to foster self-organization and resistance. His work bridges HCI/CSCW with theories from development studies and institutional analysis, emphasizing ethical, socially just systems. Recent projects include studying farmer movements in India, gig economy platforms, and weather risk communication for visually impaired Ontarians. Grants & Awards: SSHRC Grant: Repertoires of Contention in Digital Labour Platforms (2023-2024) NSERC Grant: Designing Inclusive Platforms for the Gig Economy (2022-2027) Connaught New Researcher Award (2023) ACM CHI/CSCW Awards for contributions to labor studies and accessibility Advising & Labs: Supervises students in ICTs, design, and marginality. Directs the STREET Lab at KMDI, focusing on ethical tech for vulnerable communities. Teaches courses on inclusive design and marginalized communities' ICT practices.
Dr. Koustuv Saha is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), leading the OnCARE lab. He holds a PhD from Georgia Tech and a B.Tech from IIT Kharagpur. His research focuses on computational social science, social computing, and ethical AI applications in mental health and wellbeing. His work bridges computer science with psychology, sociology, and public policy to address societal challenges. Education: PhD in Computer Science (Georgia Tech, 2021), B.Tech in CSE (IIT Kharagpur, 2012). Previous roles include Senior Researcher at Microsoft Research Montreal (FATE group) and industry research experience in Silicon Valley. Research interests include wellbeing sensing technologies, algorithmic fairness, and large language models’ societal impacts. Recent work examines caregiver mental health, deceptive wellness apps, and AI ethics in content moderation. His studies combine causal inference, NLP, and multimodal data analysis. Publications span top venues like CHI, CSCW, ICWSM, and JMIR. Notable awards include Georgia Tech’s Outstanding Dissertation Award (2022) and Snap Research Fellowship (2020). He advises on AI governance and collaborates with policymakers, clinicians, and industry. OnCARE lab explores human-centered AI for societal good, with projects on mental health support systems, ethical tech design, and algorithmic transparency in health contexts. Current focus includes caregiver AI tools, LLM-based empathetic systems, and workplace wellbeing interventions.
Steven Meikle is a Professor of Medical Imaging Physics and Head of the Imaging Physics Laboratory at the Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney. He also serves as Deputy Director (Preclinical) of Sydney Imaging and Deputy Director of the National Imaging Facility's Sydney node. His expertise spans advanced imaging technologies, with a focus on PET/SPECT instrumentation and molecular imaging. He holds a B.App.Sc.(Hons) from the University of Technology Sydney and a PhD from the University of New South Wales. Research focuses include developing novel PET systems like Open-field PET (for freely moving rodents) and Total Body PET, which enhance imaging sensitivity and enable real-time behavioral studies alongside brain function analysis. Collaborations include Tsinghua University (China) and UC Davis (USA). He leads projects on motion correction, quantitative imaging, and AI-driven analysis. Key achievements include over 180 peer-reviewed publications, editorial roles in Physics in Medicine and Biology , and leadership in professional societies. Awards include IEEE Senior Membership and Australian Institute of Physics Fellowship. Current student projects explore Total Body PET applications, motion correction, and radiopharmaceutical evaluation. Teaching roles include medical physics courses in diagnostic radiography and medical physics programs. He advises on imaging ethics, facility implementation, and translational research bridging basic science and clinical applications.
Andrew Lan is an Associate Professor in the College of Information and Computer Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he also serves as the CS Undergraduate Program Director. He was granted tenure by the UMass Board of Trustees in June 2025 and is currently on leave through Spring 2026. His research focuses on developing human-in-the-loop machine learning methods to enable scalable, effective, and personalized learning experiences in education. Dr. Lan received his BS in Physics and Mathematics from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, followed by his MS (2014) and PhD (2016) in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Rice University. He completed postdoctoral research at Rice University (2016) and Princeton University's EDGE Lab (2017-2018). His research spans artificial intelligence for education, with particular expertise in educational data mining, knowledge tracing, personalized learning systems, and human-AI collaboration in educational contexts. Dr. Lan's work leverages massive and multimodal learner and content data collected from both traditional classrooms and online learning platforms to develop systems that deliver high-quality, affordable, and personalized learning experiences. He has made significant contributions to areas including computerized adaptive testing, math word problem generation, student affect detection, and automated grading systems. His recent work increasingly focuses on leveraging large language models for educational applications while maintaining rigorous scientific validation of these approaches. Best Student Paper Award at the 2024 AIED Conference (with Alexander Scarlatos) Best Paper Nominee at LAK 2021 Best Student Paper Award at IEEE Big Data 2020 NAEP Math Automated Scoring Challenge Grand Prize Winner Dr. Lan actively mentors graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, with several of his advisees receiving recognition for their work. He has secured substantial funding from the National Science Foundation, including a $90M grant for the SafeInsights project, a secure cyberinfrastructure for educational research. His research group collaborates with institutions including Worcester Polytechnic Institute, University of Pennsylvania, and Rice University. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses including COMPSCI 240 (Reasoning under Uncertainty) and COMPSCI 590OP (Applied Numerical Optimization), with a focus on the practical application of theoretical concepts in machine learning and artificial intelligence. His educational philosophy emphasizes bridging the gap between theoretical foundations and real-world implementation in educational technology.
Dr. Hengrui Cai is an Assistant Professor of Statistics at the University of California Irvine (UCI), affiliated with the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. in Statistics from North Carolina State University (NCSU) and a B.S. in Statistics from Zhejiang University. Her research focuses on causal inference, reinforcement learning, and graphical models, with applications in precision medicine, healthcare analytics, and epidemiology. She develops interpretable solutions for individualized decision-making, particularly in healthcare settings such as ICU patient treatment optimization and pandemic analysis. Notable achievements include the NSF CDS&E-MSS Award (2024), ICS Research Awards (2023–2024), and recognition for contributions to causal discovery and policy evaluation. Dr. Cai advises graduate and undergraduate students on projects involving causal AI, machine learning, and healthcare data analysis. She teaches courses like 'Causal Machine Learning' and 'Introduction to Probability and Statistics,' emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to real-world problems. Her work integrates statistical theory with practical applications, exemplified by software tools like ANOCE-CVAE for causal mediation analysis and the Sepsis EHR Benchmark Environment for reinforcement learning. Dr. Cai collaborates widely, contributing to projects such as quantifying the impact of the 2020 Hubei lockdowns on virus spread in China through causal graph analysis.
Claudia Plant is a Professor in the Faculty of Computer Science , leading the Research Group Data Mining and Machine Learning . Her research focuses on clustering algorithms, data mining, and machine learning applications in areas like biomedical data, wind energy, and causality inference. She has contributed to projects such as Knowledge-infused Deep Learning for Natural Language Processing (2020–2028) and Hybrid Computational Sciences (2021–2021). Plant has authored over 160 publications, with recent work emphasizing deep learning, anomaly detection, and GPU-optimized algorithms. She actively engages in academic activities, including talks on clustering methods and interdisciplinary projects like Governing Algorithms: The Politics of Data and Decision-Making . Her research interests span clustering algorithms , graph neural networks , causality discovery , and ethical digital transformation . Notable projects include causal analysis of wind farm dynamics and AI-enhanced education tools. Plant’s work bridges computational methods with societal challenges, such as empowering marginalized communities through ethical technology adoption.
Alan Ritter is an Associate Professor at the School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), affiliated with the Machine Learning Center (ML@GT). His research focuses on natural language processing (NLP), machine learning, and robust computational models. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Washington and a postdoctoral fellowship at Carnegie Mellon University's Machine Learning Department. Education : - Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of Washington - Postdoctoral Research, Machine Learning Department, Carnegie Mellon University Research Interests : Ritter's work emphasizes developing models that operate across domains and languages with minimal supervision. His projects include systems analyzing social media data for cybersecurity threats, cultural bias in LLMs, and privacy-preserving dialogue agents. His group also explores efficient fine-tuning of language models and cross-lingual information extraction. Recent Activities & Awards : - NSF CAREER Award - Amazon Research Award - Best Social Impact Paper Award (ACL 2024) - Program Chair for NAACL 2025 Advising & Students : Ritter advises Ph.D. and M.S. students in Georgia Tech's ML and CS programs. Notable advisees include Yang Chen (Ph.D. 2024, now at NVIDIA) and Fan Bai (Ph.D. 2023). Labs & Affiliations : - Machine Learning Center (ML@GT) - Collaborations with institutions like AI2, Stanford, and Microsoft Research
Gamze Z. Dane is a tenured Assistant Professor at the Department of Built Environment of Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), affiliated with EAISI Mobility and EAISI Health. She leads the Digital City Program (2020-2024) and specializes in decision-support systems, GIS, urban informatics, and data analytics for sustainable urban development. Her research integrates citizens into urban decision-making using digital tools like VR twins and data-driven approaches. Education: PhD in Urban Planning, MSc in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Decision Making. Research Interests: Focuses on human-environment interaction, transdisciplinary urban projects, and the impact of digitalization on cities. She develops tools for public participation and uses big data to analyze citizen behavior and urban experiences. Projects: Principal Investigator for EU/national projects involving cities like Eindhoven, Bologna, and Lisbon. Notable projects include UBeX Urban Behavior eXtended reality lab (2024-2026) and ROCK (2017-2020). Awards: Cuperusprijs 2020 (2nd place for student thesis) Drivers of Change Exhibition 2021 ISPRS International Journal Cover Story (2020) Teaching & Innovation: Coordinates courses like Smart Cities and Urban Redevelopment. Developed online teaching materials using VR, drones, and mobile apps. Guest lectures at Istanbul Technical University and visiting scholar at National University of Singapore. Labs & Networks: Leads the UBeX lab exploring immersive technologies for urban analysis. Active in academic networks including Urban Planning journals and international conferences.
Jacob Krüger is an Assistant Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology , specializing in the development and evolution of variant-rich software systems. He holds a PhD from Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg (2021) and has held academic and research positions at institutions including Ruhr-University Bochum, Chalmers University of Technology, and the University of Toronto. His research focuses on the interplay between human cognition and software quality, particularly in complex systems requiring frequent adaptation. Education: PhD in Computer Science, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg (2021) MSc Business Informatics, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg (2016) Research Interests: Variant-Rich Systems Program Comprehension Software Product Lines Human Factors in Software Engineering Architecture Smells and Quality Assurance Articles Trends: Recent work emphasizes fork ecosystem visualization (VisFork tool), the impact of AI on scientific practices, and crisis-driven software development (e.g., Corona-Warn-App). Key themes include empirical studies, tool development, and industry collaboration. Awards: Best Dissertation Award (2022) Frank Anger Memorial Award (2019) Multiple conference best-paper and review awards Advising & Grants: Supervises 12+ PhD students across multiple institutions. Active in funding projects like INKleSS (German Research Foundation) and FOSD Meeting 2024 (NWO). Leads collaborations with ASML, Danfoss, and Axis AB. Labs/Teams: Member of the Software Engineering and Technology (SET) group at TU Eindhoven, focusing on industrial-strength software systems and cognitive aspects of development.
Mykola Pechenizkiy is a Full Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), holding the Data Mining Chair. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor in Data Mining for Industrial Applications at the University of Jyväskylä. His research focuses on predictive analytics, data mining, and responsible AI, addressing real-world challenges in industry, healthcare, and education. He leads the Customer Journey research program at the Data Science Center Eindhoven, emphasizing ethical and transparent analytics. Academically, he holds a PhD from the University of Jyväskylä (2005) and has held visiting researcher positions at institutions like Columbia University and NYU. He has co-authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications and serves on editorial boards and committees for leading conferences (e.g., AAAI, IJCAI). He is the President of the International Educational Data Mining Society (IEDMS). His research interests include concept drift adaptation, sparsity techniques in neural networks, and fairness-aware AI. He has led projects such as the TKI PPS KPN Smart Two initiative and collaborates with industries like ASML, Philips, and Rabobank. His work contributes to UN SDGs, particularly in sustainable development through AI-driven solutions. Awards: Best Demo Paper Award (IEEE ICDE 2023), Best Paper Awards (ALA 2022, LoG 2022), and SensorKDD 2009 recognition. Grants/Projects: Active projects include TKI PPS KPN Smart Two (2019–2025) and Smart One W&I TKI KPN Flagship (2018–2022). Labs/Teams: Affiliated with EAISI Health, SIKS Scientific Board, and the University of Waikato’s AI Institute.
Fethiye Irmak Dogan is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Cambridge's Department of Computer Science and Technology, working in the Affective Intelligence and Robotics Laboratory. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from KTH Royal Institute of Technology (2023), an M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Computer Engineering from Middle East Technical University (METU). Her research focuses on human-robot interaction, continual learning, and socially appropriate robot behaviors leveraging explainability. She has conducted robotics research at KTH's Division of Robotics, Perception and Learning and collaborated internationally, including a visiting scholar stint at Georgia Institute of Technology. Education highlights include: B.Sc., Computer Engineering, METU (2015) M.Sc., Computer Engineering, METU (2018), with research at Kovan Robotics Lab Ph.D., Computer Science, KTH (2023), with visiting research at Georgia Tech Research interests emphasize deploying autonomous robots in human environments, resolving ambiguous user instructions through explainability, and enabling socially intelligent robot behaviors. Recent work explores continual learning for context adaptation, multimodal frameworks for human-robot collaboration, and vision-language models for wellbeing assessment in children. Key projects include BT-ACTION (modular instruction understanding), GRACE (LLM-driven socially appropriate actions), and STREAK (continual learning for household tasks). Her contributions span robotics, AI ethics, and human-centered design, with a focus on real-world applications in healthcare and education.
