Laurent DUPONT is a Research Engineer and Co-coordinator of the IUVTT Master’s program at ENSGSI (École Nationale Supérieure de Géologie et de Sciences Industrielles), part of the Groupe INP in Nancy, France. He also serves as Scientific Manager of the Lorraine Fab Living Lab. His work focuses on user-driven innovation, smart and sustainable territories, collaborative engineering, and immersive environments. He holds a PhD in Industrial Systems Engineering from INPL (2009), a DEA (2004), and a degree in Industrial Systems Engineering (2003) from ENSGSI. Research interests include innovation lab strategies, open innovation spaces, territorial resilience, and digital twin applications in manufacturing. He leads projects like INEDIT, exploring co-design frameworks and circular economy solutions. His articles highlight trends in collaborative innovation networks, systemic impact mapping, and the integration of extended reality in industrial contexts. Key contributions include frameworks for evaluating territorial resilience and tools for monitoring innovation lab networks. He has been involved in initiatives such as the DHDA Project for resilience assessment and the Smagrinet project on smart grid training. His work bridges academia and practice through participatory methods and cross-sector collaborations. Current projects emphasize Industry 5.0, open manufacturing, and community-driven innovation.
Dr. Yan Feng is an Assistant Professor at Delft University of Technology's Department of Transport and Planning and Director of the Mobility in eXtended Reality (XR) Lab. Her research focuses on using XR technologies (Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality) to study human mobility behavior in urban environments, including walking, cycling, automated vehicles, and public transportation. She leads interdisciplinary research at the intersection of transportation engineering, design, architecture, and human-computer interaction, aiming to advance human-centered and inclusive mobility systems. Her research interests include mobility behavior analysis, XR-based methodologies for studying wayfinding, evacuation scenarios, human-vehicle interaction, safety training, and accessibility. Key contributions involve developing XR tools for urban mobility research and addressing diversity and inclusion in transportation systems. Recent work emphasizes validating VR simulations against real-world environments and analyzing pedestrian behavior in high-risk scenarios. Articles highlight methodologies for crowd management strategies, pedestrian choice modeling, and evacuation dynamics. No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned in the provided texts. Dr. Feng’s activities include organizing conferences (e.g., XRIA 2024), delivering keynote talks on automated driving and cycling simulator studies, and serving on editorial boards like the Delft Young Academy. The Mobility in eXtended Reality Lab is central to her work, fostering collaborations across disciplines to innovate mobility solutions.
Yang Song is an ARC Future Fellow and Scientia Associate Professor at the School of Computer Science and Engineering , University of New South Wales (UNSW) . She serves as Associate Head of School (Research) and Co-Director of iCinema , focusing on AI and Computer Vision applications for social good. Education: BEng in Computer Engineering (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore), PhD in Computer Science (UNSW, 2013) Research Areas: Biomedical image analysis, human-centred AI, graph data modeling, neuro-symbolic learning, and AI trustworthiness. Her work develops domain-specific deep learning models for radiological segmentation, histopathology cancer analysis, and 3D reconstruction. Recent projects address explainability in LLMs, fairness in AI, and human-robot interaction frameworks. With over 200 peer-reviewed publications in top venues like CVPR , MICCAI , and NeurIPS , her research spans biomedical imaging, robotics, and general multimodal AI. Scientific Awards include: 2024: ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Human-Robot Teaming 2023: Google Inclusion Research Award 2022: NHMRC Ideas Grant for computational brain imaging 2021: UNSW Engineering Research Excellence Award 2020: Scientia Fellowship (UNSW) 2019: ARC Future Fellowship She supervises 24 current PhD/MPhil students and has graduated 15 advisees, including placements at Harvard University and Siemens Healthineers. Her grants include collaborations with Surf Life Saving Australia and industry partnerships for AI-driven solutions.
Dr. Omkar Prabhakar Dastane is a Senior Lecturer and Director of Postgraduate Studies at the Malaysia School of Business, Monash University Malaysia. He holds a PhD in Business from Curtin University and certifications including Certified Management and Business Educator (CMBE) from CABS, UK, and HRDF-approved trainer status in Malaysia. His research focuses on technological impacts on businesses, digital consumer behavior, and customer value perception, with publications in A-ranked journals like the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services and Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing & Logistics . He has secured MYR 157,549 in research grants and received notable awards like the Best Paper Awards (2017/2018) and Emerald Literati Award (2024). Dr. Dastane has held leadership roles including Head of MBA Programs and Head of Postgraduate Studies at top-tier institutions. He actively contributes to editorial roles for journals like Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research and reviews for SSCI/SCIE-indexed publications. His teaching emphasizes strategic branding and services marketing, integrating AR/VR tools for immersive learning. He has also led educational visits across ASEAN countries. His research interests span metaverse applications in business, immersive technologies, and contemporary consumer behavior trends. Recent work explores AI-driven services, live-stream commerce, and digital transformation's role in achieving UN SDGs. He has advised on over 200 research projects and secured multiple teaching grants including the 2025 Learning & Teaching Grant.
Florian 'Floyd' Mueller is a Professor of Future Interfaces at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, where he directs the award-winning Exertion Games Lab within the Department of Human-Centred Computing (ranked among the top 20 HCI departments globally). Previously, he held positions at RMIT University, Stanford, University of Melbourne, Microsoft Research, MIT Media Lab, Fuji-Xerox Palo Alto Labs, Xerox Parc, and Australia's CSIRO. Mueller is a member of the prestigious ACM SIGCHI Academy, an honorary group recognizing leaders who have made substantial contributions to Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Professor Mueller's research focuses on the intersections between technology, the human body, and play. He originated the concept of "Exertion Interface," arguing that we should not just design "easy-to-use" interactions when "hard-to-use" interactions can also be beneficial. His work spans movement-based interactions, whole-body interfaces, uncomfortable interactions, somaesthetics, and exertion games. Mueller's research methodology often employs research through design, design ethnography, and autoethnography to explore these novel interaction paradigms, incorporating mixed-reality, augmented reality, virtual reality, electronic muscle stimulation, biosensors, wearables, and drones. His recent publications demonstrate a continued focus on bodily interactions and human-computer integration, with particular emphasis on emerging subfields like WaterHCI and SportsHCI, brain-computer interfaces, and gustosonic (taste and sound) experiences. Mueller's work has evolved from foundational exertion game concepts to more sophisticated explorations of human-computer integration where technology becomes seamlessly woven into the fabric of human experience. Professor Mueller's contributions have been widely recognized with numerous awards including: Inaugural honouree of the Australian Design Centre's Design Honours Tall Poppy award for "intellectual and scientific excellence" 10 "Best Paper Honorable Mentions" (top 5%) from premier HCI conferences 2 "Best Paper" awards (top 1%) at CHI PLAY and CHI Shortlisted for the European Innovation Games Award (alongside Nintendo's WiiFit) Nokia Mindtrek Ubimedia Award Mueller has successfully secured some of Australia's largest and most competitive research grants, achieving a remarkable 14% success rate on Australian Research Council Discovery Project applications. He has served as General co-Chair for CHI PLAY'18 and CHI'20, becoming the first Australian-based researcher to spearhead HCI's highest-ranked publication outlet, and is currently General co-Chair for CHI'24. He is Associate Editor for tier A journals including Elsevier's IJHCS (International Journal of Human-Computer Studies) and ACM's IMWUT (Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies). As director of the Exertion Games Lab, Mueller leads a research team whose innovations have been experienced by over 20,000 users across 3 continents and featured on the BBC, ABC, Discovery Science Channel, and Wired magazine. The lab has produced groundbreaking work in bodily interfaces, co-founding the CHI PLAY conference series and establishing new research directions in SportsHCI and WaterHCI through recent "Grand Challenges" papers. Mueller's lab continues to push boundaries with projects exploring brain-to-brain interfaces, lucid dreaming induction, and novel gustosonic experiences.
John Hale, Ph.D., is a Professor and Chair of Computer Science at The University of Tulsa's Tandy School of Computer Science, where he holds the Tandy Endowed Chair in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. He is a founding member of the TU Institute of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (IBCB) and a faculty research scholar in the Institute for Information Security (iSec). Education: Ph.D., Computer Science, The University of Tulsa (1997) M.S., Computer Science, The University of Tulsa (1992) B.S., Computer Science, The University of Tulsa (1990) Dr. Hale's research spans cybersecurity , bioinformatics , cyber-physical systems , and applied formal methods . His work focuses on neuroinformatics, cyber trust, attack modeling, secure software development, and information privacy. Recent publications highlight trends in large-scale graph analysis for cybersecurity, attack graph generation on high-performance computing clusters, and security frameworks for nuclear reactor control systems. His research also explores hybrid attack graph modeling, reflective deception strategies, and compliance methods for cyber-physical infrastructures. Scientific Awards: 2000 National Science Foundation CAREER Award Dr. Hale has advised numerous research projects and received funding from the U.S. Air Force, Army, NSF, NIH, DARPA, NSA, and NIJ. He has testified before Congress on cybersecurity and holds a patent for anti-piracy technology. His lab work includes developing cyber-physical testbeds and science DMZ security solutions.
Oya Celiktutan is a Reader (Associate Professor) at King’s College London in the Department of Engineering, leading the Social AI & Robotics (SAIR) Lab within the Centre for Robotics Research. She holds a BSc in Electronics Engineering from Uludag University, and an MSc and PhD in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Bogazici University, Turkey. Her doctoral work included a visiting research period at the National Institute of Applied Sciences in Lyon, France. She has held postdoctoral positions at Queen Mary University London, the University of Cambridge, and Imperial College London before joining King’s College in 2018. Her research focuses on multimodal machine learning for autonomous agents, addressing challenges in human-robot interaction, social awareness, and navigation. Key areas include human behavior analysis, generative models, and continual learning. Her work is supported by EPSRC, The Royal Society, EU Horizon, and industry partners like Toyota and NVIDIA. Notable awards include the EPSRC New Investigator Award (2021) and a Best Paper Award at IEEE Ro-Man 2022. Dr. Celiktutan’s lab explores socially assistive robotics, extended reality systems, and ethical AI. Recent projects include the LISI initiative to enable robots to learn social interactions from human-human data and the CL-HRI project advancing continual learning in human-centric robotics. Her research has led to datasets like MHHRI and RICA, and collaborations with companies like SoftBank Robotics. She teaches modules on Sensing and Perception, and Sensors and Actuators, emphasizing practical applications in robotics and mechatronics. Current research interests span socially-aware navigation, algorithmic fairness, and multimodal data fusion for robotics in healthcare and urban environments.
Rodrigo Ventura is an Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon. He is also a senior researcher at the Institute for Systems and Robotics (ISR-Lisbon), leading the Space and Aeronautics thematic line. His research focuses on the intersection of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, emphasizing human-robot interaction, space robotics, and cognitive architectures. He coordinates the Minor in Space Sciences and Technologies at IST and the MBE on Space Systems for Tecnico+. As Adjoint Faculty at the International Space University (ISU), he contributes to global academic initiatives. His work includes experiments on the International Space Station and participation in analog space missions. Research interests span biologically inspired systems, machine learning, and teleoperation interfaces. Recent publications address reinforcement learning for UAVs, microgravity experiments, and pseudo-haptic feedback for robotic control. He teaches subjects like Artificial Intelligence and Decision Systems, Satellite Engineering, and Autonomous Systems.
Ehsan Azimi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Computer Science at the University of Arizona, where he is also a member of the Graduate Faculty. His research bridges human-AI interactive systems, extended reality, robotics, and human-centered design, with a strong focus on medical applications. His research interests lie in creating synergistic human-AI systems that enhance medical procedures through advanced technologies. Key areas include extended reality for surgical navigation , robotics in minimally invasive surgery , and intelligent user interfaces . His work has led to innovations in smart glasses calibration, intraocular robotic snakes, needle steering, and digital twins for surgical training, all aimed at improving precision, safety, and learning in medicine. The recent articles highlight a consistent trend in medical robotics , augmented reality in surgery , and human-robot collaboration . These works span from hardware development to AI-driven interfaces, emphasizing real-time interaction, user experience, and clinical applicability across disciplines like ophthalmology, otology, and surgical education. Scientific Awards: Siebel Scholar Provost Postdoctoral Fellowship Link Fellowship Ehsan actively mentors students and scholars in research projects, indicating a strong commitment to academic advising. While specific grant details are not listed, his patented technologies and publication record suggest successful funding and translational research outcomes. His work has been featured in Engineering Magazine and other media, reflecting its impact and innovation. His research is conducted within an interdisciplinary lab environment focused on human-centered AI and medical robotics, integrating expertise from computer science, engineering, and clinical medicine to develop next-generation surgical and training systems.
Sky Lo Tian Tian is an Assistant Professor at the School of Design, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His research focuses on "Spatial Phygital Interaction", integrating technologies like XR (Extended Reality), BIM (Building Information Modeling), and gamification to bridge virtual and physical environments through human-centred architectural design. Key expertise includes computational architecture, digital fabrication, and interactive design Developed novel concepts like Human-Virtual Reality Interaction (HVRI) and phygital-aided construction systems His notable projects include the Green Weaved Corridor bamboo pavilion in Chaozhou, China, and the Meta Archive platform for 3D model archiving. He actively organizes workshops at international venues like DigitalFuture, CCD-ASC, and POLAR. Scientific Awards : Full Doctoral Scholarship recipient from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Victoria University of Wellington
David Lindlbauer is an Assistant Professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII), where he leads the Augmented Perception Lab and co-directs the CMU Extended Reality Technology Center. His research focuses on advancing Mixed Reality (MR) and Extended Reality (XR) interfaces through computational interaction methods that optimize spatial, temporal, and multimodal feedback.
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.
Dr. Aniket Bera is an Associate Professor in Computer Science at Purdue University and holds an Adjunct Associate Professor role at the University of Maryland at College Park (UMIACS). He directs the IDEAS Lab at Purdue and previously served as a Research Assistant Professor at UNC Chapel Hill. His research focuses on Affective Computing, Computer Graphics (AR/VR), AI & Robotics, Social Robotics, and medical AI applications for mental health diagnostics. Affiliations: Purdue University (Primary), University of Maryland (Adjunct), UMIACS Career: Joined Purdue in 2017, extensive industry collaborations with Disney Research, Intel, and C-DAC Research Interests: Affective Computing: Emotion perception via gait analysis, speech, and facial/body expressions AR/VR: Redirected walking, virtual environments, and human motion modeling Medical AI: AI-driven mental health detection systems (e.g., VidSole dataset) in collaboration with medical schools Key Contributions: Developed Project Dost (mental health initiative) Received 2020 Brain & Behavior Seed Grant ($X) for emotion-gait research Authored 65+ papers (1,800+ citations) with awards at IEEE VR 2021 Funding & Leadership: Serves as Senior Editor for IEEE RA-L (Planning/Simulation) Conference Chair for ACM SIGGRAPH MIG 2022 Labs/Teams: IDEAS Lab (Purdue), UMD GAMMA Group
David Lindlbauer is an Assistant Professor at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII) within Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science. He leads the Augmented Perception Lab and co-directs the CMU Extended Reality Technology Center (XRTC) . His research bridges Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Graphics, and Computer Vision to create adaptive interfaces that enhance human-digital interaction. Education : PhD (summa cum laude) from Technische Universität Berlin , MSc and BSc from University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria Previous Affiliation : Postdoctoral Researcher at ETH Zurich (2018-2020) David's research focuses on understanding human perception of digital information and developing computational approaches to optimize AR/VR interface usability. Key areas include: Context-aware adaptive interfaces Visual saliency and attention modeling Spatial audio-haptic systems Optimal placement algorithms Object manipulation in Remixed Reality Diminished/ambient MR interfaces His 15 most recent publications (2024-2025) span topics in adaptive XR interfaces, multimodal notifications, haptic systems, and spatial cognition. These works appear at venues like ACM CHI, ACM UIST, IEEE VR, and Frontiers in VR. Common themes include: Machine learning for interface adaptation Human factors in XR design Real-time environment analysis Privacy-aware display systems Collaborative MR interfaces Accessibility enhancements Scientific Recognition : Best Paper Honorable Mention Award (ACM CHI 2024) Best Paper Award (ACM ISS 2023) ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship Multiple best paper recognitions at CHI, UIST, and IEEE VR Teaching & Leadership : Course developer for CMU's "Interactive Extended Reality" Mentor for NASA SUITS Challenge team Co-chair roles at CHI and UIST Overseeing PhD students and research interns
Bo Chen is a postdoctoral researcher at the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science and the Coordinated Science Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His work focuses on AI-system co-design for immersive computing, particularly in extended reality (XR) and multi-modal content delivery over wireless networks. Ph.D. in Computer Science (2022), advised by Klara Nahrstedt B.S. in Computer Science from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (2016) His research integrates AI techniques with system-level optimizations to address challenges in XR infrastructure , including multi-view video streaming , NeRF-based content delivery , and uncertainty management in video transmission . He has pioneered methods like Loose Frame Referencing for learned codecs and Context-Aware NeRF Serving for mobile XR applications. Bo Chen's recent publications span top venues like ACM MobiSys, ACM SenSys, and USENIX NSDI. Key themes include AI-driven compression , dynamic 3D rendering , and reliable streaming over mobile networks . He has received recognition including the Rising Star Best Presentation Award (ACM MobiSys 2025) and Best Student Paper Award (ACM MMSys 2022). Bayesian optimization for XR systems Multi-view video aggregation at edge networks 3D Gaussian Splatting for immersive media
