Mark Liberman is a Trustee Professor at the University of Pennsylvania , holding appointments in the Department of Linguistics and Department of Computer and Information Science . He serves as Director of the Linguistic Data Consortium and Faculty Director of Ware College House . His career spans linguistics, speech technology, and computational methods. Education: Harvard University (1965-1969), MIT (M.S. 1972, Ph.D. 1975) Professional Experience: AT&T Bell Laboratories (1975-1990), University of Pennsylvania (1990-present) His research interests include: Corpus-based Phonetics : Analyzing speech patterns via large-scale datasets. Clinical Applications : Developing speech biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases. Tonal Phonology : Studying lexical tone and intonation in languages like Yoruba and Mandarin. Formal Annotation Models : Creating frameworks for linguistic data standardization. Recent publications highlight automated speech analysis, cross-linguistic prosody, and digital biomarkers for conditions like ALS-FTD and Alzheimer’s. His collaborations span computational linguistics , neurology , and cognitive science . Scientific awards include the IEEE James L. Flanagan Award (2017), Antonio Zampolli Prize (2010), and fellowships from the AAAS and Linguistic Society of America . He advises PhD students May Chan and Jonathan Him Nok Lee and contributes to editorial boards for journals like Cognition and Annual Review of Linguistics . His work bridges speech science , language technology , and neurocognitive research .
Gierad Laput is a Senior Engineering Manager at Apple, leading the Perception and Interaction Engineering organization under Machine Intelligence Neural Design (MIND) at Apple AI/ML (AIML). He is also an Adjunct Professor at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science and Human-Computer Interaction Institute. His research sits at the intersection of sensing systems, interactive technologies, and machine learning, with applications in ambient intelligence, wearables, and AI-driven interactive experiences. Ph.D. in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University Founding member of CMU's Future Interfaces Group Former Google Ph.D. Fellow, Disney Imagineer, and recipient of 10 Best Paper Awards/Nominations His research agenda at Apple leverages cutting-edge hardware to develop multimodal ML systems for vision, audio, and motion sensors, enabling features like head gesture detection for AirPods, Apple Intelligence integrations, and health monitoring tools. Recent collaborative projects include Vision Pro hand interaction systems and WatchOS updates for cycling/fall detection. Key research areas include human-computer interaction , machine learning for sensor fusion , and smart environment sensing . Over 35 publications cover transformative technologies like ViBand (bio-acoustic sensing), EM-Sense (touch recognition), SkinTrack (arm as touchpad), and ElectroDermis (stretchable electronics). Scientific honors include: Fast Company Innovation by Design Award (2017) Google PhD Fellowship (2018) Swartz Entrepreneurial Fellowship (2018) Best Paper Awards at ACM UIST (2016) and ACM CHI (2015) As an educator, he has taught courses at CMU and the University of Michigan on on-device machine learning , signal processing , and human-centered design . His lab has mentored numerous researchers now pursuing PhDs at MIT, UW, CMU, and Northwestern.
Vineeth N Balasubramanian is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, with affiliate faculty status in the Department of Artificial Intelligence. His research focuses on the intersection of deep learning, machine learning, and computer vision, emphasizing explainability, robustness, and real-world applications. He leads Lab 1055, which investigates problems such as Explainable and robust AI/ML systems Lifelong learning in evolving environments Multimodal vision-language models Applications in agriculture, autonomous navigation, and human behavior analysis His recent work includes causal reasoning in transformers, vision-language model capabilities, and drone-based object detection. Funded by organizations like Google, Microsoft, Intel, and DST, he has received multiple awards including the World's Top 2% Scientists (2022-23), INSA/INAE Fellowships, and Best Paper recognitions. Lab 1055 collaborates with institutions like CMU, UBC, and Monash University, contributing to cutting-edge advancements in AI.
Olga Sorkine-Hornung is a Professor of Computer Science at ETH Zurich and head of the Institute of Visual Computing. She leads the Interactive Geometry Lab, focusing on theoretical and practical advancements in digital content creation, geometry processing, and shape modeling. Current position: ETH Zurich, Department of Computer Science Previous roles: Courant Institute (NYU), Technical University of Berlin Education: BSc and PhD from Tel Aviv University, postdoc at TU Berlin Her research spans shape representation, digital fabrication, computer animation, and fundamental geometry processing. Key contributions include Laplacian surface editing, as-rigid-as-possible deformation, and generalized winding numbers. She works on applications in VR, AR, and autonomous systems. Awards include Test of Time Awards (2024), ACM Fellow (2020), ERC Consolidator Grant (2020), and EUROGRAPHICS Young Researcher Award (2008). She has supervised numerous students and co-developed software libraries like libigl and Instant Meshes . Co-chair roles for SIGGRAPH, Eurographics, and Pacific Graphics Editorial board member for ACM Transactions on Graphics and other journals Keynote speaker at VMV, CVPR, and SIAM conferences Her work bridges mathematical rigor with practical implementation, advancing computer graphics and geometry processing through intuitive algorithms that maintain surface detail while enabling efficient computation.
Prof. Stefan Leutenegger is a tenure-track Assistant Professor at Technische Universität München (TUM), leading the Machine Learning for Robotics group within the TUM School of Computation, Information, and Technology. Previously, he held roles as Senior Lecturer (2018–2021) and Lecturer (2014–2018) at Imperial College London's Dyson Robotics Lab, where he founded the Smart Robotics Lab. He earned his PhD (2014) from ETH Zurich, focusing on autonomous solar-powered aircraft navigation, and holds BSc (2006) and MSc (2009) in Mechanical Engineering from ETH Zurich. His research centers on mobile robotics, particularly enabling robots (e.g., drones) to perceive and navigate complex environments using machine learning and sensor data fusion. Key focus areas include SLAM, event-based vision, 3D reconstruction, and autonomous exploration. He has pioneered algorithms like BRISK (2011), OKVIS (2014), and ElasticFusion (2016), advancing real-time robotics perception. Notable Awards: Imperial College President's Award (2018), Best ECCV Paper (2016), ETH Medal for Dissertations (2015). Labs: TUM's Machine Learning for Robotics Group, Imperial's Smart Robotics Lab. Publications: Over 100 papers, including seminal works in CVPR, ECCV, and Robotics: Science and Systems. Current projects include DigiForests (forest inventory via robotics), aerial additive manufacturing, and object-centric semantic mapping. His work bridges theory and practice, with applications in autonomous drones, construction robotics, and human-robot interaction.
Sabrina Furtado is a Lecturer in Sport Management and Dean’s Associate Fellow at Loughborough University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences. She holds a BSc, MSc, and PhD. Previously, she taught at the Federal University of Paraná and State University of Santa Catarina in Brazil, focusing on sport management, sports law, and entrepreneurship in the sports sector. Her research focuses on sports governance, strategic planning, and policy development in public and private sports entities. Key areas include Olympic and Paralympic federations, sports financing, and the impact of media representation on disability inclusion. She contributes to the Sport, Business and Society and Lifestyle for Health and Wellbeing research groups, as well as the Inteligência Esportiva Research Institute . Recent work analyzes governance structures in Santa Catarina municipalities, business intelligence applications in sports management, and modernization processes in Brazilian Olympic federations. Her publications span topics like Paralympic organizational roles, media stigma in disability sports reporting, and funding mechanisms for sports initiatives. No scientific awards are mentioned. Sabrina advises master’s students on sport management and policy but no grant details are provided. Her current projects aim to strengthen sports policies and enhance stakeholders’ engagement in the sport system.
Sebastian Riedel is a Professor at University College London (UCL) and a Researcher at DeepMind, leading the UCL NLP Lab. His work focuses on teaching machines to read, reason, and write, integrating Natural Language Processing (NLP) with Machine Learning. He holds an Allen Distinguished Investigator award and has held roles at FAIR, UMass Amherst, Tokyo University, and the University of Edinburgh. Education: PhD in Computer Science from the University of Edinburgh (advisor: Ewan Klein), postdoctoral research at UMass Amherst (advisor: Andrew McCallum), and research at Tokyo University (advisor: Tsujii Junichi). Research Interests: NLP, machine learning, information extraction, and multimodal models like Gemini. He develops tools such as UCLEED (BioNLP event extractor), frontlets (Scala map wrappers), and thebibbrag (BibTeX to HTML converter). Awards: Allen Distinguished Investigator. Software contributions include GitHub repositories for NLP, machine learning, and data tools. Contact: s.riedel@ucl.ac.uk | Office: 1st Floor, 90 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LJ | Office Hours: Mondays 11 AM–12 PM.
Holly J. Benjamin, MD is a distinguished sports medicine specialist at the University of Chicago, serving as the inaugural Director of the Primary Care Sports Medicine Program at UChicago Medicine Student Wellness Center. She holds leadership positions including Chair of the Committee on Sports Medicine & Fitness for the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and serves as Head Medical Team Physician for the WNBA Chicago Sky and medical officer for major events including the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, US Soccer, and USA Triathlon. Her educational background includes: B.S. in Integrated Life Sciences, Kent State University (1994) Combined BS/MD, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (1994) MD, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (1994) Residency in Pediatrics, The University of Chicago Children's Hospital (1997) Fellowship in Primary Care Sports Medicine, Lutheran General Hospital (1998) Dr. Benjamin specializes in sports medicine with particular expertise in youth, adolescent, and collegiate athletes. Her research spans acute and overuse sports injuries, concussion management, sport biomechanics, and musculoskeletal ultrasound. She has made significant contributions to understanding injury prevention strategies, safe return-to-play protocols, and the psychological aspects of sports injuries. Her work frequently addresses female athletes and elite/professional athletes, with emphasis on evidence-based approaches to optimize performance while minimizing injury risk. Recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on concussion research, with multiple studies examining diagnostic approaches, recovery trajectories, and factors influencing outcomes. Her work spans biomechanics, mental health considerations in sports injuries, and innovative approaches to injury prevention across various athletic populations. Her scientific recognition includes: Election as Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (2003), becoming the second female pediatrician ever elected Election as Fellow of the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine Distinguished Alumni Award from The New Aurora High School Alumni (1999) Invitation to serve as volunteer physician for the Olympic Training Center (2008) Multiple expert contributions to national media including Runner's World and the Naperville Sun Dr. Benjamin actively mentors through her coaching roles at high school and collegiate levels, emphasizing safe return-to-play post-injury and injury prevention. She has developed educational content through video productions for the American Academy of Pediatrics and serves as head team physician for the University of Chicago Lab School and the NCAA Division III UChicago Maroons. Notably, she is one of only a few sports medicine specialists in the country offering diagnostic and procedural musculoskeletal ultrasound in her office, demonstrating her commitment to advanced diagnostic capabilities for patient care.
Professor Winston Hsu is a distinguished faculty member in the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering at National Taiwan University, where he has served as a full professor since 2015. He is the co-director of the Communications and Multimedia Laboratory (CMLab) and founder of the MiRA (Multimedia indexing, Retrieval, and Analysis) research group. Additionally, he serves as the Founding Director for NVIDIA AI Lab at NTU, the first such lab in Asia. Professor Hsu received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University in 2007 under the supervision of Professor Shih-Fu Chang. Prior to his academic career, he was a founding engineer and research manager at CyberLink Corp., now a public image/video software company. National Taiwan University (2007-Present): Professor (2015-Present), Assistant/Associate Professor (2007-2015) MobileDrive (2021-2024): CTO and Vice President (Joint Venture between Foxconn and Stellantis) IBM TJ Watson Research Center (2016-2017): Visiting Scientist Microsoft Research Redmond (2014): Visiting Researcher Columbia University (2007): Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering Professor Hsu's research focuses on machine learning, computer vision, large-scale image and video search and recognition, and embedded AI. His work spans from fundamental research in visual recognition to practical applications in automotive systems, medical imaging, and e-commerce. He has pioneered work in disguised face recognition, low-resolution face hallucination, 3D model search, and virtual try-on systems. His current research emphasizes Embodied AI, integrating perception, action, and learning technologies for applications in automotive and robotics domains. His research group has produced numerous influential publications, particularly in top computer vision and multimedia conferences like CVPR, where they won first place in the Disguised Face Recognition competition in 2018. Their work spans diverse application areas including security, medical diagnostics, automotive systems, and e-commerce solutions, demonstrating strong translation from academic research to real-world impact. IBM Research Pat Goldberg Memorial Best Paper Award (2018) First Place, IARPA Disguised Faces in the Wild Competition (CVPR 2018) Best Brave New Idea Paper Award, ACM Multimedia 2017 NVIDIA AI LAB Award (First in Asia, 2016) First Place, MSR-Bing Image Retrieval Challenge (2013) World's Top 2% Scientists (2023) Professor Hsu actively mentors students and researchers, with his group consistently recruiting PhD students, postdocs, and research assistants. He has successfully bridged academia and industry through multiple collaborations, including his role as CTO at MobileDrive (a joint venture between Foxconn and Stellantis) from 2021-2024. His research has been supported by significant industry partnerships with Microsoft, IBM, and NVIDIA, as well as government grants from Taiwan's Ministry of Science and Technology. His laboratory, the Communications and Multimedia Laboratory (CMLab), maintains strong industry connections and focuses on cutting-edge research in visual AI. The lab has produced numerous award-winning projects and maintains active collaborations with global technology companies, particularly in the automotive and consumer electronics sectors.
Gordon Wetzstein is an Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and, by courtesy, Computer Science at Stanford University. He leads the Stanford Computational Imaging Lab and co-directs the Stanford Center for Image Systems Engineering (SCIEN). His research focuses on computational imaging, wearable computing, and neural rendering, blending computer graphics, vision, AI, and optics. Education: Ph.D., Computer Science, University of British Columbia (2011) Diploma, Media Systems Science, Bauhaus University (2006) Research Interests: His work spans computational displays , holography , non-line-of-sight imaging , and AI-driven optical systems . Key projects include Autofocals (gaze-contingent eyeglasses) and neural holography systems. He explores applications in AR/VR, medical imaging, and scientific visualization. Publications: Recent work includes advances in 3D holography, gaze-tracking systems, and AI-optics integration. His papers address challenges in display efficiency, light-field processing, and real-time imaging. Awards: Fellow of Optica NSF CAREER Award (2016) PECASE (2019) ACM SIGGRAPH Significant New Researcher Award (2018) Advising & Grants: He advises over 20 doctoral and postdoctoral students. His lab collaborates with industry (e.g., Raxium, Google) and has secured grants from NSF, DARPA, and private foundations. Labs & Teams: His lab develops cutting-edge systems like neural holography and non-line-of-sight imaging. The SCIEN center fosters interdisciplinary image systems research.
Brian Scholl is a Professor of Psychology at Yale University, specializing in visual cognition, perception, and cognitive science. His research explores how visual perception interacts with higher-level cognition, including object persistence, event perception, causality, and intuitive physics. He leads the Yale Perception & Cognition Lab, focusing on dynamic events, attention, and computational models. He earned his Ph.D. from Rutgers University in 1999. His work spans experimental psychology, neuroscience, and computational modeling, with a focus on phenomena like inattentional blindness, scaffolded attention, and event segmentation. He has authored numerous papers and presented at international conferences, contributing to debates on perception vs. cognition interactions. Key research areas include the perception of dynamic event types, the role of intuitive physics in visual processing, and the influence of event boundaries on memory and decision-making. His lab employs computer-based experiments and collaborations with computational models to study perception across species and clinical populations.
Prof. Maja Horst is a Visiting Professor of Science and Technology Policy at the Department of Science, Technology and Society (STS) at Technical University of Munich. She holds a PhD in Science Communication from Copenhagen Business School (2003) and has held academic roles including Head of the Department of Media, Cognition and Communication at the University of Copenhagen (2011–2014) and Professor of Responsible Technology at DTU Technical University of Denmark (2019). Her research focuses on public communication of science, societal responsibility in technology, and innovation governance. She chairs DTU’s Responsible Technology group and is a member of the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences. Key roles include Chair of the Danish Independent Research Fund Board and President of the European Association for the Study of Science and Technology (EASST). Education: MA in Social Science and Communication, Roskilde University (1996) PhD in Science Communication, Copenhagen Business School (2003) Research Interests: Public communication of controversial technologies Social responsibility in science and technology Innovation governance and ethics Sociology of science and technology Recent Focus: Her work emphasizes interactive installations for science communication and co-creation in energy transitions. Over 20+ publications address topics like gene editing ethics, public debate frameworks, and trust in science. Awards: 2021: Hans Fischer Senior Fellowship (TUM-IAS) 2019: Danish Science Minister’s Communication Prize Leadership & Service: President, European Association for the Study of Science and Technology Chair, Danish Independent Research Fund Board
Takako Fujioka is an Associate Professor of Music at Stanford University, affiliated with the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA). Her research focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying auditory perception, auditory-motor coupling, and music-supported therapy for neurorehabilitation. She holds a Ph.D. in Physiology from the Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Japan, and M.Sc./B.Eng. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Waseda University. Her work combines neurophysiological techniques such as MEG and EEG to study brain plasticity in development, aging, and stroke recovery. Notable contributions include investigating how music influences motor and cognitive recovery in stroke patients, as well as exploring the neural basis of musical perception through rhythmic synchronization and pitch discrimination studies. Supported by awards from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research during her postdoctoral work at the Rotman Research Institute, her research bridges clinical neuroscience and music cognition. Dr. Fujioka’s expertise spans auditory neuroscience, neurorehabilitation, and technology-assisted music therapy. She has pioneered studies on tactile mapping for cochlear implant users and networked music performance systems, emphasizing cross-modal perception and human-technology interaction. Her findings contribute to both theoretical understanding of auditory processing and practical applications in medical and educational settings. Awards: Canadian Institutes of Health Research Awards (postdoctoral phase) Labs/Teams: CCRMA, Stanford Music Perception Laboratory, Rotman Research Institute collaborations Key Themes: Neuroplasticity, Music-Mediated Rehabilitation, Auditory-Motor Integration, Multisensory Processing Her recent work examines aging-related changes in binaural hearing and the role of beta/gamma oscillations in rhythmic processing. She advocates for translational research that connects neural mechanisms with real-world therapeutic interventions.
Andrew R. Meyer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation at Baylor University, where he teaches courses in Sport Psychology and Religion and Sport. His academic work bridges the fields of sport sociology, cultural studies, and theology, with a particular focus on the enduring influence of muscular Christianity in American sports. His research interests include: Contemporary American Sport Culture and Religion Muscular Christianity and its modern manifestations Hero-celebrity athletes in popular culture Character development through sport and education Traditional and contemporary Indigenous sport cultures Sport's cultural impact on communities The themes across his publications reveal a consistent exploration of the moral, spiritual, and cultural dimensions of sport. His work analyzes how religious values, particularly those rooted in Christian traditions, shape athlete identity, media narratives, and public perception of sports figures. He has developed the Contemporary Muscular Christian Instrument (2017, 2020) to measure these values across global sport contexts. His articles appear in interdisciplinary journals spanning religion, sociology, public health, and cultural studies, reflecting the broad relevance of his research. Scientific awards and recognitions include: Baylor Teaching Fellow (2017) Dr. Meyer has been active in academic and public discourse, serving as a keynote speaker at international conferences on sport and Christianity and being featured on media outlets such as NPR and the Sport, Faith, Life podcast. His teaching emphasizes character formation in the classroom, aligning with his research on moral development through sport. While specific grant funding is not mentioned, his extensive publication record in peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes indicates sustained scholarly productivity. He has contributed to discussions on mega-sport events, cycling culture, and the redemption narratives of fallen athletes like Lance Armstrong. He is affiliated with the College of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation at Baylor University, contributing to both graduate and undergraduate education in sport studies.
Fiona Lee is the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan, with affiliations in Organizational Studies and the Advisory Committee. She holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University. Her research focuses on three core areas: Identity Integration (how individuals navigate multiple identities), Power Dynamics (effects of power on behavior), and Cultural Differences (impact of cultural contexts on organizations and individuals). She teaches courses on Organizational Psychology and Research Methods in Personality/Social Contexts. Lee’s work bridges social psychology and organizational behavior, emphasizing multicultural experiences and adaptation. Her recent studies explore refugee well-being, racial discrimination coping strategies, and the role of family in resettlement processes. Notably, she investigates how cultural identity integration influences creativity, decision-making, and social tolerance. Her publications span cross-cultural communication, biculturalism, and institutional barriers faced by minorities. Lee’s research often combines qualitative and quantitative methods to address real-world challenges in workplace dynamics and global mobility.
