Alexander Skopalik is an Assistant Professor in the Mathematics of Operations Research department, specializing in Game Theory, Congestion Games, and Algorithmic Game Theory. His work explores Strategic Resource Allocation, Equilibrium Analysis, and Network Games, with significant contributions to multi-agent systems and facility location optimization. Key research areas: Congestion Games Facility Location Nash Equilibrium Strategic Resource Allocation Algorithmic Game Theory His recent publications focus on equilibrium dynamics in facility location, battery charging games, and strategic resource allocation, emphasizing the interplay between theoretical guarantees and practical applications in AI and mobility systems. He actively participates as a committee member in leading conferences such as IJCAI and AAMAS.
David Steurer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at ETH Zurich, where he leads the Institute for Theoretical Computer Science. His research bridges theoretical computer science, mathematics, and practical applications in machine learning and statistics. Steurer has made significant contributions to the understanding of sum-of-squares methods, semidefinite programming, and high-dimensional estimation problems. Steurer earned his B.Sc. & M.Sc. in Computer Science from Saarland University in 2006, followed by a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Princeton University in 2010 under the supervision of Sanjeev Arora. His doctoral dissertation, "On the Complexity of Unique Games and Graph Expansion," received an Honorable Mention for the ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award in 2011. Steurer's research focuses on algorithm design through mathematical programming relaxations, particularly semidefinite programming and the sum-of-squares method. His work addresses computational complexity of high-dimensional estimation problems including tensor decomposition, clustering, Gaussian mixture models, and stochastic block models. He also investigates algorithmic aspects of robustness and differential privacy, especially for estimation tasks. His theoretical contributions have practical implications for machine learning and data analysis in the presence of noise and adversarial conditions. Analysis of Steurer's recent publications reveals a consistent trajectory in advancing the sum-of-squares framework for high-dimensional estimation and robust statistics. His work demonstrates how sophisticated mathematical programming techniques can provide certifiable guarantees for challenging problems in machine learning. The research spans theoretical foundations while maintaining relevance to practical applications, particularly in scenarios involving corrupted or noisy data. A notable trend is the extension of sum-of-squares methods to handle increasingly complex statistical models while providing rigorous performance guarantees. ERC Consolidator Grant (2019) Michael and Sheila Held prize (2018, with Raghavendra) Invited speaker at International Congress of Mathematicians (2018) STOC Best Paper Award (2015) Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship (2014) NSF CAREER Award (2014) Microsoft Research Faculty Fellowship (2014) FOCS Best Paper Award (2010) Steurer has advised numerous PhD students and postdocs who have gone on to prominent positions, including Sam Hopkins (now faculty at MIT), Jonathan Shi, and Aaron Potechin. His research is supported by multiple prestigious grants, including an ERC Consolidator Grant, an NSF CAREER Award, and a Microsoft Research Faculty Fellowship. He has served on numerous program committees for top theoretical computer science conferences and has been recognized for his service to the community through roles such as internal member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Institute for Theoretical Studies at ETH Zurich. As head of the Institute for Theoretical Computer Science at ETH Zurich, Steurer leads a research group focused on advancing the theoretical foundations of computer science with particular emphasis on mathematical optimization methods. His team explores the boundaries of what can be efficiently computed in high-dimensional settings, with applications spanning machine learning, statistics, and data science. The group maintains strong connections with both theoretical and applied researchers across ETH and the broader academic community.
Pierluigi Salvo Rossi is a Professor at the Department of Electronic Systems , Norwegian University of Science and Technology ( NTNU ), with additional roles as Deputy Head of Department (since 2021) and Deputy Manager at the Center for Green Shift in the Built Environment (since 2022). He also serves as a part-time Research Scientist at SINTEF Energy's Gas Technology department. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Engineering, University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy (2005) Dr.Eng. (cum laude) in Telecommunications Engineering, University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy (2002) Research Interests span Wireless Communications , Digital Twins , Machine Learning , and Statistical Signal Processing , focusing on applications like Industrial IoT , Fault Detection , and Energy Systems . His recent Publications highlight trends in Federated Learning , Graph Signal Processing , and Multi-Sensor Anomaly Detection across domains from Natural Gas Pipelines to Subsea Leakages . Scientific Awards include: Exemplary Senior Editor, IEEE Communications Letters (2018) Department Ambassador, NTNU (2016) IEEE Senior Member (since 2011) Professional Roles encompass editorial leadership (e.g., IEEE Sensors Journal) and conference organization (e.g., General Chair for IEEE Sensor Array and Multichannel Signal Processing Workshop, 2022). He leads major funded research projects like PREFERENCE (RCN, 2023-2027) and AUTOSHIP (RCN, 2020-2028).
Florent Krzakala is a Full Professor at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, holding positions across multiple departments including the School of Basic Sciences (SB), School of Engineering (STI), and specifically within the Department of Physics (IPHYS) and Department of Electrical Engineering (IEM). He leads the Information, Learning and Physics Laboratory (IdePHICS) and maintains an office at ELD 239, Station 11, 1015 Lausanne. His research bridges statistical physics and computational disciplines, with significant contributions to understanding the theoretical foundations of machine learning and optimization problems. Dr. Krzakala received his MSc in Physics from Orsay, France in 1999, followed by a PhD in Statistical Physics from Orsay, Paris XI, France in 2002, and completed a postdoctoral position at Roma La Sapienza in 2004. This strong foundation in physics has informed his interdisciplinary approach to computational problems. His research interests span Statistical Physics, Machine Learning, Probability and Statistics, Computer Science, Information Theory, Inference on Graphs, Random Constraint Optimization, and Computational Optics. Krzakala's work focuses on applying methods from statistical physics to problems in theoretical computer science, probability, and machine learning. He investigates how concepts from disordered systems and phase transitions can illuminate computational barriers in optimization and inference tasks. His research has particular relevance for understanding the behavior of neural networks, compressed sensing, and high-dimensional statistical models. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward understanding the fundamental limits of learning in high-dimensional settings, with particular emphasis on phase transitions, statistical-to-computational gaps, and the theoretical properties of deep learning architectures. His work frequently bridges rigorous mathematical analysis with practical machine learning applications, demonstrating how insights from statistical physics can inform algorithm design and theoretical understanding in AI. Krzakala actively mentors the next generation of researchers, supervising numerous PhD students whose work continues to advance these interdisciplinary fields. His laboratory serves as a hub for researchers exploring the intersection of physics and computation, fostering collaborations across traditional disciplinary boundaries. He teaches advanced courses including Fundamentals of Inference and Learning, Statistical Physics, and Statistical Physics for Optimization & Learning, which examine the connections between physical principles and computational methods. His educational materials, including lecture notes on statistical physics methods in optimization and machine learning, have become valuable resources for students and researchers worldwide. As founder and scientific advisor of the startup Lighton, Krzakala has also demonstrated a commitment to translating theoretical insights into practical applications, particularly in the realm of optical computing for machine learning tasks.
Dr. Tim Oates is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County . His research spans machine learning, artificial intelligence, and brain-machine interfaces, with a focus on weakly supervised methods, human-in-the-loop reinforcement learning, and grounded policy development for robotics. Ph.D., Computer Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 2000 M.S., Computer Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1997 B.S., Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, 1989 Current research threads include: Developing non-invasive brain injury severity assessment via medical time series Modeling human brain development through computational frameworks Designing algorithms for autonomous robotic learning Recent publications highlight AI security mechanisms (backdoor detection via tensor decomposition, matrix factorization) Medical applications (3D artery reconstruction, skin lesion diagnosis, EEG denoising) Neuro-symbolic integration (holographic representations, language-guided reinforcement learning) Mathematical reasoning (schema-based problem solving, subitizing algorithms) Contact: oates@cs.umbc.edu | Office: 336 Information Technology and Engineering (ITE) Building
Fiona Sloothaak is an Assistant Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), affiliated with the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, specializing in Stochastic Operations Research. She holds the Eurandom Assistant Professor title and contributes to the Stochastic Operations Research group. Her research focuses on cascading failures in complex systems, power grids, battery swapping networks, and stochastic processes. Education: Fiona earned a PhD in Stochastic Operations Research from TU/e in 2020 and completed a Master's in Mathematics (2015). Her doctoral thesis, Criticality in power networks: a probabilistic approach , explores cascading failures in power systems. Research Interests: Fiona’s work addresses systemic risk in infrastructure systems, including power grids and transportation networks. She investigates cascading failure dynamics, load balancing in battery swapping stations, and resource pooling strategies. Her studies often employ probabilistic modeling and queueing theory. Key Projects: She co-authored the MARCONI project (2019–2022), focusing on integrated planning for maritime logistics and service systems. This involved optimizing supply chain resilience and remote control tower operations. Scientific Award: Applied Probability Trust Prize (2020) Teaching: Courses include Stochastic Networks, Insurance and Credit Risk, and Probability and Stochastics 1. Grants: MARCONI project funding for maritime logistics optimization. Labs/Teams: Active in TU/e’s Stochastic Operations Research group and Eurandom institute. Collaborations span network topology analysis and interdisciplinary systems research.
Kay C. Wiese is a Professor and Software Systems Chair at the School of Computing Science, Simon Fraser University. His research focuses on computational intelligence and bioinformatics, particularly RNA secondary structure prediction and visualization. He leads the Bioinformatics Research Lab and has contributed to RNA design and gene finding. Wiese holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Regina (1999) and degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics from the Universität des Saarlandes (Germany). He has extensive editorial roles, including Associate Editor for the IEEE/ACM Transactions on Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, and has organized major conferences like the IEEE Symposium on Computational Intelligence in Bioinformatics. His teaching interests include Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, and Discrete Mathematics. Wiese has supervised numerous graduate students, including Boris Shabash, Wenbo Jiang, and Andrew Hendriks. His research group developed tools like jViz.RNA for RNA visualization and SARNA-Predict for structure prediction. His work bridges computational methods with biological applications, emphasizing algorithmic innovation and practical software solutions.
Nick Koudas is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on large-scale data management, integrating machine learning into data systems, and developing efficient query processing techniques for unstructured and streaming data. He holds a PhD from the University of Toronto, an MSc from the University of Maryland at College Park, and a Bachelor's from the University of Patras in Greece. Research interests include data systems, big data analysis, video query processing, and natural language interfaces for databases. He leads projects like ReDD (Relational Deep Dive), SVQ (Streaming Video Queries), and Reliable Text-to-SQL, aiming to bridge human-readable queries with database execution. His work emphasizes scalability, intelligence, and real-world applicability. Recipient of the University of Toronto's Inventor of the Year Award (2011), he translates research into startups like Sysomos, Aislelabs, and Workorb. His contributions span over 200 publications in top venues such as SIGMOD, VLDB, and ICDE. Courses taught include advanced data systems, database design, and system internals. Current projects explore schema extraction from unstructured data, video query optimization, and cost-effective machine learning pipelines. Collaborations with industry and academic partners drive innovations in both theory and practical applications.
Professor Garg Vikas holds the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the School of Science. His research spans quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning with applications in computational biology, healthcare, and drug design. He leads the HEALED/Garg project focused on human-steered machine learning for drug discovery and collaborates with institutions like MIT and industry partners. He co-founded YaiYai Oy, providing AI/ML solutions to global sectors. Education: PhD from MIT CSAIL under Tommi Jaakkola, with postdoctoral and industry experience at Amazon, Microsoft, and IBM. His work aligns with UN SDGs, particularly in healthcare and sustainable energy. Research interests include graph neural networks, generative models, and quantum AI. Recent projects involve climate modeling via physics-informed neural ODEs and optimizing quantum circuits using graph autoencoders. Key collaborations include MIT’s MLPDS Consortium and the Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence. He supervises doctoral researchers like Yogesh Verma and postdocs such as Kogkalidis.
Dr. Abubakar Bello is a Senior Lecturer in Criminal Justice and Program Leader at Edge Hill University's School of Law, Policing, and Criminal Justice. Previously, he held roles at Western Sydney University, including Academic Program Advisor and Lecturer in Cyber Security and Behaviour. He holds a PhD in Cyber Criminology, an MBA in Business Law and Technology, and degrees in Computer Science. His research focuses on interdisciplinary approaches to cyber security risks, threat intelligence models, and behavioral aspects of cyber crime. Education: PhD (Cyber Criminology, Murdoch University), MBA (Business Law & Tech, Western Sydney University), MSc & BSc (Computer Science, University of Wolverhampton). Research Interests: Combating cyber crime through AI and machine learning, secure systems design, and behavioral cybersecurity. Key areas include ransomware defenses, social engineering, and cybersecurity frameworks for diverse populations. Grants & Projects: Awarded funding for initiatives such as 'Social Engineered Payment Diversion Fraud' (NSW Cyber Security Network), 'Brain-Inspired Algorithm for Network Anomaly Detection' (DST Group), and 'Cyber Security Awareness Framework' (ECR Grant). Awards: 'Award for Teaching and Learning Contributing to Public Good.' Active in professional networks like the International Centre on Racism and Centre for Applied Criminal Justice Research. Labs & Collaboration: Engages in cyber investigations, forensics, and community outreach through initiatives like Western Cyber Aid. Serves as a consultant for corporate espionage cases and a speaker on ransomware and AI in law enforcement.
Jorge Garcia Vidal is a Professor in the Department of Computer Architecture at the School of Computer Science, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). He is a key member of the CNDS - Computer Networks and Distributed Systems research group, with a sustained record of research activity from the late 1980s to the present, including publications projected into 2025. His work bridges theoretical network performance analysis and applied IoT systems, particularly in environmental monitoring. His research interests center on Computer Networks , Internet of Things (IoT) , Sensor Networks , and Data Quality in IoT . He has made significant contributions to ATM network performance, medium access control, and traffic modeling. More recently, his focus has shifted to air quality monitoring using low-cost sensor networks, employing techniques in Graph Signal Processing , Machine Learning , and Anomaly Detection to improve data reliability and estimate pollutants like black carbon. The recent article trends show a strong emphasis on developing data-driven frameworks, virtual sensors, and robust models for environmental IoT platforms. His work integrates advanced signal processing and machine learning to address the challenges of heterogeneous, low-cost sensor data in urban settings. His scientific achievements have been recognized with awards including the Premio Extraordinario de Doctorado and the Premio Mejor Tesis Doctoral . He has advised several doctoral students, including Pau Ferrer-Cid, David Fusté Vilella, Steluta Iordache, and Julian David Morillo Pozo. He is actively involved in numerous competitive and non-competitive R&D projects, such as those related to digital twins, IoT platforms for smart cities, and nature-based urban solutions, often funded by state and regional programs. He collaborates extensively within UPC and with external partners. His research is conducted primarily within the CNDS research group at UPC, a collaborative environment focused on computer networks and distributed systems, with connections to broader initiatives in smart cities and environmental monitoring.
Federico Battiston is an Associate Professor of Network Science and Director of the PhD Program in Network Science at Central European University (CEU), the first such program in Europe. He holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics from Queen Mary University of London and degrees in statistical physics from Sapienza University of Rome. His research focuses on network science, complex systems, and computational social science, with contributions in leading journals like Nature Physics , Physical Review Letters , and Science Advances . He coordinates the software project Hypergraphx and was Chair of NetSci2023, the largest Network Science conference. He has received awards including the Complex Systems Society's Junior Award (2022) and the European Physical Society's Early Career Prize (2021). Education: PhD in Applied Mathematics, Queen Mary University of London MSc in Theoretical Physics, Sapienza University of Rome BSc in Physics, Sapienza University of Rome Research Interests: Battiston explores generalized network structures (e.g., multilayer and higher-order networks), dynamics on networks (epidemics, social/cultural dynamics, synchronization), and their applications in social systems, neuroscience, and ecology. He emphasizes how network topology influences collective behavior and emergent phenomena. Key Contributions: His work includes hypergraph modeling, collaboration in escape rooms, and the role of higher-order interactions in brain networks. He co-authored the book Higher-order systems and guest-edited a Focus Collection on higher-order networks in Communications Physics . Awards & Roles: Junior Award of the Complex Systems Society (2022) Early Career Prize, European Physical Society (2021) Elected Member, Complex Systems Society Council Editor, Communications Physics Advising & Grants: Advised PhD students such as Milan Janosov, Luis Natera, and Rebeka Szabo. Two students received CEU Advanced Awards. His projects include Mapping the Higher-Order Dynamics of Neurodegeneration and DYNASNET . Labs/Teams: Leads the Hypergraphx team and collaborates on interdisciplinary projects in network science, including ecological networks and urban mobility analysis.
Yulia Gel is a Professor in the Department of Statistics at Virginia Tech and serves as a Part-Time Program Director-Expert at the National Science Foundation (NSF). She holds a MSc (summa cum laude) and PhD in Mathematics from Saint Petersburg State University (Russia) and completed a postdoc in Statistics at the University of Washington. Her research focuses on uncertainty quantification in AI, statistical foundations of data science, spatio-temporal processes, and applications in climate science, healthcare, and blockchain analytics. She has received prestigious awards including the NSF Director’s Award (2023), ASA Distinguished Achievement Medal (2018), and TIES Abdel El-Shaarawi Award (2014). Gel has led grants on wildfire prediction, climate informatics, and blockchain data science. She serves on editorial boards of Statistica Sinica, Electronic Journal of Statistics, and Technometrics, and organizes workshops on AI for climate sustainability and fragile Earth systems. Her research group develops topological and geometric methods for graph neural networks, with applications to digital twins, environmental justice, and public health. Education: MSc (1997), PhD (2000) in Mathematics from Saint Petersburg State University; Postdoc in Statistics at University of Washington (2001–2003). Past roles include Professor at University of Texas at Dallas (2015–2024) and Associate Professor at University of Waterloo (2004–2014). Selected visiting positions include NASA Jet Propulsion Lab (2016–2017) and Isaac Newton Institute (2016–2017). She has pioneered statistical software packages like snowboot and funtimes for network inference and time-series analysis. Awards highlight her contributions to environmetrics and statistical methodologies. Current projects include NSF-funded research on AI-driven wildfire prediction and blockchain analytics for climate resilience. Her lab’s recent work emphasizes topological methods (e.g., zigzag persistence) for graph-based forecasting and adversarial robustness.
Dr. Chenang Liu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering & Management at Oklahoma State University's College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology (CEAT). Their research focuses on smart manufacturing systems, real-time quality monitoring, and machine learning applications in manufacturing and healthcare. Ph.D., Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2019 M.S., Statistics, Virginia Tech, 2017 B.S., Mathematics (Statistics track), Zhejiang University, China, 2014 B.S., Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, China, 2014 Research Interests: Dr. Liu develops advanced sensing and data analytics methodologies for smart manufacturing, statistical frameworks for real-time quality control, and mathematical models integrating machine learning with healthcare applications. Their work bridges industrial engineering principles with cutting-edge data science techniques. Publication Trends: Recent articles demonstrate expertise in diabetic retinopathy prediction via interpretable AI, supply chain coordination mechanisms, EHR analytics for disease progression modeling, and combinatorial optimization algorithms. Key themes include healthcare data science, resilient manufacturing systems, and stochastic resource allocation. Scientific Recognition: Featured Article in ISE Magazine, IISE, 2019 Gilbreth Memorial Fellowship, IISE, 2018-2019 Best Poster Award, INFORMS Annual Meeting, 2018 Best Student Paper Finalist, IISE Annual Conference, 2018 Best Paper Awards at INFORMS (2017) and IISE (2017)
Garrett M. Morris is an Associate Professor in Systems Approaches to Biomedicine at the University of Oxford, affiliated with the Department of Statistics and Green Templeton College. He holds roles as Deputy Director of Graduate Studies, Co-Director of the SABS R³ Centre for Doctoral Training, and Research Fellow at Green Templeton College. His research focuses on computational chemistry, drug discovery, and AI integration in biomedicine. He earned his DPhil from Oxford under Prof. W. Graham Richards, with subsequent work at The Scripps Research Institute and Oxford spinouts like InhibOx and Crysalin. Research interests include protein-ligand docking, virtual screening, and machine learning applications in cheminformatics. Notable contributions include the AutoDock software and the FightAIDS@Home project. He co-organizes conferences like the Royal Society of Chemistry’s 'AI in Chemistry' and founded Comp Chem Kitchen. His lab, Oxford Protein Informatics Group (OPIG), develops novel methods for drug discovery and evaluates AI-based docking methods' validity (e.g., PoseBusters). Recent work critiques AI docking methods' physical plausibility and generalizability. He advises numerous graduate students in statistics and drug discovery, with alumni in academia, pharma, and venture capital. Publications span molecular generation, scoring functions, and computational tools for drug design. Collaborations emphasize reproducibility, responsible research, and cloud computing in biomedicine.
