Simon Birrer is an Assistant Professor in Physics and Astronomy at Stony Brook University, specializing in cosmology and gravitational lensing. He holds a PhD from ETH Zurich (2016) and previously served as Kavli Fellow at Stanford University. Birrer leads research probing dark matter and dark energy using gravitational lensing phenomena. His group develops computational tools for analyzing strong gravitational lensing data to study cosmic expansion and dark matter distribution. Research areas include time-delay cosmography, Hubble constant measurements, and machine learning applications in astrophysics. Recent publications focus on multi-messenger gravitational lensing (2025), LSST survey applications (2025), and AI-powered lens modeling pipelines (2025). His work consistently addresses fundamental cosmological tensions like the Hubble constant discrepancy. Awards: Kavli Postdoctoral Fellowship (2019-2022) Kugelpyramide Lifetime Achievement Award Experimental Innovation Award (ETH Zurich) Research Group: Leads the SBU Strong Lensing group with 9+ graduate students and postdocs. The group participates in major collaborations including LSST Strong Lensing Science Collaboration (co-chair), LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration, and TDCOSMO.
Marc Pollefeys is a Full Professor at the Department of Computer Science, ETH Zurich, and Director of the Microsoft Mixed Reality and AI Lab. His work focuses on advanced perception systems for HoloLens, 3D computer vision, robotics, and machine learning. Key contributions include automated 3D modeling from video, real-time reconstruction pipelines, and vision-based autonomous systems. Education: PhD from KU Leuven (1999) Previous Affiliation: Professor at UNC Chapel Hill Research interests span 3D reconstruction , computer vision , robotics , SLAM , augmented reality , and privacy-preserving mapping . His work often integrates geometric modeling , feature matching , and deep learning . Recent projects emphasize implicit 3D representations , open-vocabulary scene understanding , and robust estimation using neural-guided algorithms. Recent publications highlight advancements in neural implicit fields , line-based correspondence , and vision-language integration . Trends include hybrid point-line methods, differentiable RANSAC, and privacy-aware localization frameworks. Scientific recognition includes: IEEE Fellow (2012) David Marr Prize (ICCV 1998) DAGM Best Paper Award (1999) Advisees include current and alumni PhD students such as Yagız Aksoy, Federico Camposeco, and Sudipta Sinha. Collaborations span institutions like UNC Chapel Hill, ETH Zurich, and Microsoft Zurich. Research sponsors include Microsoft, Google, and European research initiatives.
Soumya Dutta is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK), where he leads the INSIGHT: Intelligent Scientific and Visual Computing of Big Data Research Group. He joined IIT Kanpur in October 2022 after working as a Scientist II at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) from July 2019 to August 2022, and previously as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at LANL from June 2018 to July 2019. His educational background includes a Ph.D. and M.S. in Computer Science and Engineering from The Ohio State University (2011-2018), where he was part of the GRAVITY research group, and a B.Tech. in Electronics and Communication Engineering from West Bengal University of Technology, India (2005-2009). Research Interests: Dr. Dutta's research focuses on the intersection of machine learning, visual computing, big data, and high-performance computing. His primary research areas include Machine Learning for Visual Computing and Image Analysis, Big Data Visualization and Analytics, Data Science and HPC, Machine Learning for Scientific Computing, and Explainability and Interpretability of AI Models. His work addresses various big data characteristics including the 5 Vs: Volume, Velocity, Variety, Veracity, and Value. He develops techniques that make complex machine learning models more interpretable and explainable, enabling their effective adoption in real-life applications across scientific domains, social media, IoT, healthcare, and industry applications. Dr. Dutta's research group has secured multiple funded projects including: DAVi: An Intelligent Data Analytics and Visualization Framework (funded by ISRO), Intelligent Visual Computing of Extreme-scale Data for Accelerating Scientific Discovery (IIT Kanpur Initiation Grant), Enabling Interactive Big Data Analytics and Visualization at Exascale (SERB), Development of AI-Enabled National Portal for Efficient Search of Missing People (C3iHub), and Proactive and Generalized Deepfake Defense Mechanisms (C3iHub). Best Reviewer, Honorary Mention Award for IEEE Transactions on Visualization & Computer Graphics (TVCG), 2021 Best Paper Award at ISAV 2021, co-located with Supercomputing (SC) LAAP Award at Los Alamos National Laboratory, 2021 Best Paper Award at TopoInVis 2019 Best Paper Award at ISAV 2018, co-located with Supercomputing (SC) Best Poster Award in 12th Annual CSE Student Poster Exhibition, The Ohio State University, 2018 Best Poster Award in 11th Annual CSE Student Poster Exhibition, The Ohio State University, 2017 Best Paper Honorable Mention Award at IEEE Visualization Conference (IEEE VIS) 2016 Dr. Dutta actively mentors a large group of students including Ph.D., M.Tech., and B.Tech. students. His current Ph.D. students include Shanu Saklani, Sankhadeep Bhowmick, Ananya Chaturvedi, Arpita Santra, Anubhav Dixit (co-supervised), and Robin Shah. He has supervised numerous M.Tech. students with thesis topics ranging from uncertainty-aware neural networks to deepfake detection. Dr. Dutta currently teaches courses including CS360 - Introduction to Computer Graphics and CS661 - Big Data Visual Analytics. The INSIGHT research group collaborates internationally with researchers from Meta, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and National Taiwan Normal University. The group's work focuses on building machine learning and data science-based solutions to analyze large-scale multifaceted data in a scalable way, enabling interactive and interpretable analytics of complex data from scientific simulations, social media, IoT, healthcare, and other application domains.
Daniel Recasens is a Full Professor in the Department of Catalan Philology at the Faculty of Arts, Autonomous University of Barcelona, where he has been a permanent faculty member since 1985. He is also affiliated with the Institute for Catalan Studies as a researcher. His academic work centers on experimental phonetics and phonology, with a focus on Romance languages, particularly Catalan. Research Interests: Daniel Recasens specializes in Experimental Phonetics , Phonology , Sound Change , and Phonetic and Phonological Universals . His research investigates articulatory and acoustic aspects of speech production, including coarticulation, assimilation, blending, and the phonetic motivations behind diachronic sound changes in Romance languages. He employs advanced techniques such as ultrasound imaging, electropalatography (EPG), and acoustic analysis to study consonant clusters, vowel-consonant interactions, and the evolution of phonological systems. Scientific Publications and Trends: His recent publications (2020–2025) reflect a consistent focus on the articulatory and acoustic foundations of phonological processes. Key themes include dynamic blending in fricative sequences, tongue configuration in stop-liquid clusters, and the phonetic causes of palatalization and vowel changes. His work combines empirical data with theoretical models such as the Degree of Articulatory Constraint (DAC) model, contributing significantly to laboratory phonology and historical linguistics. Scientific Awards: Member, Academy of Europe (Academia Europaea), 2018 Advising and Research Grants: Daniel Recasens has mentored several doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, including Clara Isabel Rodriguez Casado, Aina Espinosa, and Fernando Sánchez-Miret. While specific grant details are not listed, his extensive publication record and leadership in experimental phonetics suggest sustained research funding and collaborative projects in phonetic and phonological research. Labs and Research Teams: He is associated with the Center for Theoretical Linguistics (CLT) at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, a research group dedicated to theoretical and experimental studies of language. His work often involves collaboration with phonetics laboratories and international scholars in the fields of articulatory phonetics and historical linguistics.
Professor Nicole Metje is a Professor of Infrastructure Monitoring at the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Birmingham, and Director of the National Buried Infrastructure Facility. She also serves as Co-director of the Institute of Quantum Technology. Her research focuses on quantum sensing, geotechnical engineering, and infrastructure monitoring, with a particular emphasis on buried infrastructure detection and sustainable urban development. Education: PhD in Civil Engineering (University of Birmingham, 2001); Dipl.-Ing. in Civil Engineering (Hannover University, Germany, 1998). Key roles and affiliations include membership in EPSRC Infrastructure Strategic Advisory Team, Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors, and international advisory boards for Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She has authored/co-authored over 50 journal papers and a textbook on tunnel construction. Research areas include quantum sensor applications for buried asset detection, geophysical soil properties, and sensor development for infrastructure monitoring. She leads projects such as UKCRIC National Buried Infrastructure Facility and Quantum Technology Hub in Sensors and Metrology. Awards and fellowships include FICE, FCInstCES, CEng, FHEA, and multiple committee memberships in national/international bodies. Teaching includes MSc courses on underground construction and geotechnical engineering. She supervises doctoral research on quantum sensors, soil-structure interactions, and sustainable infrastructure.
Andrew McCallum is a Distinguished Professor and Director of the Center for Data Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Rochester (1995) and a BS from Dartmouth College (1989). His research focuses on machine learning, natural language processing, and information extraction, with applications to scientific literature and knowledge base construction. He has pioneered work on conditional random fields and probabilistic databases, and led the development of systems like Rexa, an advanced research paper search engine. Affiliations: Center for Data Science, Center for Intelligent Information Retrieval, Computational Social Science Institute Key Projects: OpenReview.net, Unified Information Extraction, Automated Knowledge Base Construction His work emphasizes extracting actionable knowledge from unstructured text, with contributions to social network analysis, entity resolution, and semi-supervised learning. McCallum has over 300 publications and has received awards including the NSF ITR Grant, IBM Faculty Partnership Awards, and ACM/AAAI Fellowships. He has advised numerous students and served as ICML General Chair (2012). Recent Research Trends: Probabilistic box embeddings, case-based reasoning for knowledge bases, scalable clustering algorithms, and applications in biomedical informatics.
Matej Varga is a Scientific Assistant and Postdoctoral Researcher at ETH Zurich's Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, working in the Geosensors and Engineering Geodesy group under Prof. Andreas Wieser since 2021. His research spans geometrical geodesy, physical geodesy, and satellite geodesy, with applications in both theoretical and practical domains. Dr. Varga's research interests focus on spatial, temporal and spectral analysis of geodetic data, with particular expertise in geodetic reference systems and frames, gravity and geomagnetic field modeling at all temporal and spatial scales, and multi-GNSS multi-frequency positioning and monitoring. His work integrates geometrical and physical aspects of geodesy to address complex Earth observation challenges, particularly in infrastructure monitoring and geophysical applications. His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward high-precision geodetic applications for major scientific infrastructure, most notably the Future Circular Collider project, alongside important contributions to earthquake impact analysis, geomagnetic network development, and gravity field modeling. His research bridges traditional geodetic methods with modern computational approaches, including machine learning applications for point cloud registration. Dr. Varga is actively involved in the GSEG research group at ETH Zurich, contributing to the development of geodetic infrastructure and reference systems. His work has practical applications in infrastructure monitoring, earthquake analysis, and scientific projects requiring extreme geodetic precision.
Prof. Dmitri Krioukov is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at Northeastern University and holds an affiliated faculty position in Electrical and Computer Engineering. He directs the DK-Lab at the Network Science Institute, focusing on theoretical aspects of complex networks, including latent network geometry, random geometric graphs, and navigation in networks. His work bridges mathematical physics and applied network science, with applications to real-world data such as the Internet's structure. Research interests revolve around the interplay between network topology and geometry, including studies of causal sets, graph curvature, and dynamics in complex systems. He has pioneered frameworks linking network growth to hyperbolic geometry, enabling efficient routing algorithms. Notable contributions include the discovery of latent geometric structures underlying real-world networks and their implications for navigation and scalability. He has been recognized for high-impact publications, including multiple Stanford University Annual Assessments placing him among the top 2% most-cited scientists in his field (2024, 2023, 2022). His lab's interdisciplinary approach integrates principles from physics, mathematics, and computer science to address fundamental questions in network science.
Dr. Derek Keir is an Associate Professor in Earth Science within the Ocean and Earth Science department at the University of Southampton. He specializes in passive seismology, remote sensing, geochemistry, and field geology to study earthquakes and volcanoes in Africa, Arabia, the Caribbean, and Italy. He leads the Geology and Geophysics research group and serves as Chief Editor of the Structural Geology and Tectonics section in Frontiers in Earth Science , and holds editorial roles in Volcanology and Structural Geology. Education: MSci Geology and Geophysics (Imperial College London, 1998-2002), PhD in Tectonics and Seismology (Royal Holloway University of London, 2002-2006). Previous roles include NERC Research Fellow (University of Leeds, 2007-2011) and Lecturer (University of Southampton, 2011-2015). Research focuses on continental rifting, magmatic systems, and geothermal resources. Notable projects include the South Tanganyika Active Rift Seismicity study (sponsored by Beach Energy) and investigations into the lithospheric structure of the Ontong Java Plateau (NERC-funded). His work combines seismology, InSAR, and geochemical analyses to understand tectonic processes. Publications highlight contributions to understanding volcanic subsidence (Dallol), rift-scale magmatic inflation in Afar, and seismic hazard in the Apennines. Awards include the 2024 Nature Paper (Coevolution of craton margins), Jason Morgan Early Career Award (2011), and Bullerwell Award (2013). Supervises PhD students in INSPIRE programs and collaborates on international projects like the Afar Dallol Drilling initiative. His research bridges field observations with advanced geophysical modeling to advance continental dynamics understanding.
David Al-Attar is a Professor at the University of Cambridge's Department of Earth Sciences, actively involved in theoretical and computational geophysics research. He serves as a supervisor within the Cambridge NERC Doctoral Landscape Awards (Training Partnerships) program, particularly in the CREATES initiative focusing on climate and environmental science. Education: While specific educational details aren't provided in the text, his extensive publication record and professorial position at Cambridge indicate advanced training in geophysics and applied mathematics. Research Interests: Professor Al-Attar's work spans several interconnected areas within geophysics. His primary focus includes theoretical and computational problems in geophysics, with particular emphasis on continuum mechanics as applied to Earth systems. He develops new physical and mathematical theories for understanding Earth processes, including rigorous function space methods for inverse problems and uncertainty quantification. His sea level change research aims to constrain ice sheet evolution during the last glacial period to better understand modern contributions to sea level rise. Additionally, he investigates solid Earth dynamics including seismic free oscillations, body tides, and Earth rotation, contributing to our understanding of deep Earth structure and mantle dynamics. Research Themes: His publications demonstrate expertise in adjoint methods, glacial isostatic adjustment, mantle viscosity, planetary seismology, and computational methods for geophysical problems. Recent work emphasizes 3-D Earth modeling, sensitivity analysis, and the integration of satellite observations with theoretical models. Current Projects: Potential projects for students include inverse problems related to deglacial sea level change with focus on uncertainty quantification, modern sea level monitoring using satellite data, and solid Earth dynamics particularly regarding outer core viscosity in tidal and rotational dynamics. Contact: He can be reached at da380@cam.ac.uk for research inquiries and collaboration opportunities.
David Simmons-Duffin is a Professor of Theoretical Physics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where he has held positions since 2016. He is part of the Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy, contributing to the Physics Department. His career progression includes roles as Visiting Associate (2016–17), Assistant Professor (2017–20), and Associate Professor (2020–21) before becoming full Professor in 2021. Education: A.B. and A.M. from Harvard University (2006), CASM from the University of Cambridge (2007), and Ph.D. from Harvard University (2012). His research focuses on conformal field theory (CFT), bootstrap methods, quantum field theory, and AdS/CFT correspondence. Key areas include precision computations in strongly coupled systems, critical phenomena, and applications to holography and quantum gravity. Research highlights include advancing the conformal bootstrap program, analyzing CFT data in 3D Ising models, and exploring connections between CFTs and gravitational theories. His work often bridges theoretical frameworks with numerical methods, yielding insights into operator product expansions (OPE), spectral gaps, and causality constraints. Affiliations include the Institute for Quantum Information and Matter (IQIM) and other Caltech research centers. His contributions have shaped modern approaches to understanding universality in critical systems and the geometric aspects of quantum field theories. Notable collaborations involve high-precision calculations, bootstrap island techniques, and studies of thermal QFT and light-ray operators. His work emphasizes interdisciplinary methods, combining analytic tools with computational advancements to tackle complex theoretical problems.
Taylor Perron is the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he also serves as the EAPS Undergraduate Officer. His research program at MIT spans multiple interdisciplinary areas within Earth and planetary sciences, with strong connections to the MIT-WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering. Dr. Perron's academic background includes an AB in Earth and Planetary Sciences and Archaeology from Harvard University (1999) and a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley (2006), followed by postdoctoral work at Harvard. His leadership roles at MIT have included serving as chair of the Program in Geology, Geochemistry, and Geobiology, and as Associate Department Head for Education. His research focuses on three interconnected areas: Landscape Evolution, Planetary Surfaces, and the Human Landscape. Within Landscape Evolution, he investigates dynamic river networks, climate-landscape interactions, grain-scale sediment transport mechanics, and the connections between landscape evolution and biological diversification. His Planetary Surfaces research examines river systems on Mars and Titan, using spacecraft data to understand extraterrestrial hydrological processes. The Human Landscape component explores archaeological applications of geomorphology, particularly in the Amazon basin. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on comparative planetary hydrology, with significant work on Earth, Mars, and Titan. His research increasingly integrates field observations, mathematical modeling, and remote sensing to address questions about landscape evolution across different planetary environments and timescales, with growing attention to anthropogenic impacts on Earth's surface processes. Scientific Awards & Honors: MacArthur Fellowship (2021) James B. Macelwane Medal, American Geophysical Union (2014) Fellow, American Geophysical Union (2014) Editorial Committee Member, Annual Review of Earth & Planetary Sciences (2017-present) Dr. Perron has established a productive research group that collaborates across disciplines and institutions, including significant partnerships with WHOI, NASA missions, and archaeological teams. His work bridges fundamental questions about planetary evolution with practical implications for understanding climate change impacts on Earth's surface systems.
György Hetényi is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Lausanne, specializing in large-scale geophysics. His research focuses on mountain-building processes, earthquake dynamics, and tectonic deformation of the Himalayas and Alps. He leads the AlpArray project, deploying the largest academic seismic network in Europe. Since 2015, he has held an SNSF Assistant Professorship, advancing to his current role in 2020. Education: Bachelor's in Geophysics at Eötvös University (Budapest) Master's and PhD at École Normale Supérieure (Paris), studying Himalayan deformation Research Interests: Combining seismic and gravity data to model crustal structures, numerical modeling of orogenic processes, and educational seismology initiatives in Nepal. Active in field campaigns across Bhutan, Nepal, and the Ivrea-Verbano Zone. Publications: Over 48 peer-reviewed articles since 2007, emphasizing crustal imaging, seismic tomography, and Himalayan tectonics. Recent work includes participatory gravity modeling challenges and pan-Alpine gravity database development. Awards: Prize of the Chancellery of the Universities of Paris (2007) for doctoral research on Himalayan deformation. Teaching & Outreach: Developed the 'Geophysics Across Scales for Geologists' module in the UNIL-UNIGE program. Co-leads the Nepal School Seismology Network, integrating low-cost seismic education tools. Grants & Projects: AlpArray, DIVE (scientific drilling in Ivrea Zone), and seismic hazard assessments in Bhutan. Collaborates with international networks like ICDP and European seismic consortia. Labs/Teams: Part of the Institute of Earth Sciences (UNIL) and leads the OROG3NY project on mountain-building dynamics.
Dr. Attila Balázs is a Senior Researcher and Lecturer at ETH Zurich's Institute of Geophysics, affiliated with the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. His research integrates numerical modeling with geological data to investigate tectonic-surface process interactions, focusing on orogen-basin systems and continental deformation. Key contributions include studies on back-arc basins, transform faults, and the Tibetan Plateau's uplift mechanisms. He holds the 2020 Flinn-Hart Award and an ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship. His work emphasizes geodynamic processes such as mantle delamination, slab dynamics, and crustal deformation patterns. Balázs collaborates with the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Group and maintains an active research portfolio spanning field observations, seismic analysis, and 3D numerical simulations. Research Foci: Tectonic modeling, basin evolution, mantle dynamics, and crustal rheology Key Regions: Pannonian Basin, Tibetan Plateau, Adriatic Sea, Himalayas His articles highlight interdisciplinary approaches to understanding continental and oceanic tectonics, with recent emphasis on transform fault mechanics, triple junction dynamics, and the interplay between tectonics and climate.
Richard Pawlowicz is a Professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences at the University of British Columbia (UBC), within the Faculty of Science. His research focuses on ocean physics, seawater properties, geophysical fluid dynamics, and coastal processes. He holds a PhD from the MIT/WHOI Joint Program and has been a faculty member at UBC since 1996. His work integrates field observations, numerical modeling, and novel instrumentation, such as neutrally buoyant floats (Swish floats) and satellite-tracked drifters, to study coastal circulation, estuarine dynamics, and double diffusion processes. He leads research in the Salish Sea, Strait of Georgia, and Gulf of St. Lawrence, emphasizing subsurface mixing, dispersion, and the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems. Education & Background: B.Sc. (Hons) from Queen's University (1987), PhD from MIT/WHOI (1994), Postdoctoral research at Institute of Ocean Sciences (1994–1996). Research Interests: Ocean circulation, nonlinear waves, estuarine mixing, double diffusion in stratified basins, and the application of TEOS-10 seawater standards. He collaborates on projects like the MEOPAR Observation Core and has developed influential software tools for oceanographic analysis. Students & Supervision: Active supervisor of graduate students and postdocs in physical oceanography. Notable supervisees include Mark Halverson, Caixia Wang, Sam Stevens, and Grace Watts. He emphasizes mathematical rigor and writing skills, requiring strong backgrounds in PDEs and fluid dynamics. Labs & Teams: Member of the MEOPAR Research Management Committee, co-chair of SCOR/IAPWS/IAPSO seawater committees, and collaborator with the Pacific Salmon Foundation's citizen science programs. His work contributes to coastal resource management and climate resilience initiatives.
