Dr. Srinivas Peeta is the Frederick R. Dickerson Chair and Professor in Transportation Systems Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He previously held the Jack and Kay Hockema Professorship at Purdue University, where he served for 24 years. He is also the Associate Director of the USDOT Center for Connected and Automated Transportation. Education: B. Tech. from IIT Madras, M.S. from Caltech, and Ph.D. from UT Austin, all in Civil Engineering. His research focuses on large-scale transportation systems, infrastructure interdependencies, and connected/automated vehicles. He has authored over 345 publications and secured over $48M in research funding. Research Interests: Dynamic traffic networks and driver behavior modeling Information-based navigation in vehicular systems Systems perspectives for complex adaptive infrastructure Autonomous vehicle integration and human-vehicle interactions Key Achievements: Developed DYNASMART software for traffic operations Recipient of NSF CAREER Award (1997) and ASCE Walter Huber Prize (2009) Directed NEXTRANS UTC and pioneered USDOT’s real-time route guidance systems Grants & Outreach: Secured funding from USDOT, NSF, FHWA, and international agencies Initiated NEXTRANS internship programs and K-12 outreach Labs/Teams: Active in Georgia Tech’s ACT Lab, focusing on autonomous transportation systems and human-vehicle-environment interactions.
Sauvik Das is an Associate Professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII), directing the SPUD Lab. His research focuses on the intersection of HCI, AI, and cybersecurity, emphasizing user agency over personal data online. He previously held roles at Georgia Tech and co-founded FuguUX, an early-stage startup improving web usability. Key research areas include socially-aware cybersecurity, privacy collective action, and physically-intuitive privacy interfaces. Notable contributions include work on seed phrase management for cryptocurrency users, anti-surveillance RFID systems, and tools like Purpose Mode to combat social media distractions. His work has received accolades such as a CHI Best Paper (2024) and a USENIX Security Distinguished Paper (2024). He has secured grants from NSF, CMU, and industry partners, and his research is covered in outlets like The Atlantic and Dark Reading. Current projects include designing subversive AI systems against surveillance, exploring ethical agent simulations, and advancing privacy governance through collective action frameworks.
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.
Javad Dargahi is a Professor of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering at Concordia University, Montreal. His research focuses on haptic sensors, robotic systems for minimally invasive surgery, and smart sensor fabrication using micromachining and piezoelectric polymers. He leads projects in teletaction, embedded force sensing for soft robots, and medical device innovation. Research interests include tactile sensor design for robots and endoscopes, nonlinear impedance matching in surgical robotics, and deep learning-driven force estimation for catheters. His work bridges mechanical engineering with biomedical applications, emphasizing safety and precision in interventional surgeries. Recent publications explore multitask neural architectures for intracardiac catheters, real-time force control algorithms, and biomimetic soft robotics. His lab develops miniature optical sensors and stiffness-adaptive systems for surgical tools, with applications in cardiac ablation and vascular navigation.
Jeffrey P. Bigham is an Associate Professor at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute within the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University . His research spans human-computer interaction , human-AI interaction , accessibility , dialog systems , NLP , and crowdsourcing . Current PhD Students: Hamza El Alaoui, Jessica Yin Huynh, Sara Kingsley, Peya Mowar, Yi-Hao Peng, Atieh Taheri PhD Graduates: Erin Brady, Yu Zhong, Ting-Hao Huang, Anhong Guo, Cole Gleason, Prakhar Gupta, Stephanie Valencia, Kundan Krishna, Jason Wu His work is funded by Apple , Bosch , DARPA , Google , Microsoft , the National Institute of Disability Rehabilitation Research , the National Science Foundation , and Yahoo! He also holds a CMU HCII Career Development Fellowship . Selected Awards: NSF CAREER Award 2019 Best Paper at ASSETS 2021 Best Paper Nomination at CHI 2024 Best Paper Nomination at CHI 2021 Best Paper Nomination at DIS 2021
Yiyu Yao is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Regina, Faculty of Science. He holds a B.Eng. from Xi'an Jiaotong University and earned both his M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University of Regina. His office is located in College West 308.6, and he can be reached at Yiyu.Yao@uregina.ca or by phone at (306) 585-5226. Dr. Yao's research spans multiple interconnected domains in intelligent systems. His primary focus is on three-way decisions, which serves as a unifying framework for his work in granular computing, rough sets, and decision-theoretic models. He has developed significant theoretical contributions to decision-theoretic rough sets (DTRS) and probabilistic rough sets, creating bridges between uncertainty management and practical decision-making applications. His work extends to web intelligence, information retrieval systems, and multiview data analysis, where he applies his theoretical frameworks to real-world problems in data science and artificial intelligence. Analysis of Dr. Yao's recent publications reveals a strong continuing focus on three-way decision theory, with increasing applications across diverse domains. His work demonstrates evolution from foundational theoretical contributions to sophisticated applications in multi-criteria decision making, conflict analysis, and explainable AI. The research shows integration of granular computing principles with modern machine learning techniques, particularly in handling uncertainty and developing interpretable models. Recent publications indicate growing interest in the intersection of three-way decisions with fuzzy sets, shadowed sets, and cognitive approaches to data analysis. Dr. Yao has mentored numerous graduate students and has hosted many visiting scholars, primarily from Chinese institutions including Nanjing University Posts and Telecommunication, Harbin Normal University, Shaanxi Normal University, and others. He serves as Area Editor on Rough Sets for the International Journal of Approximate Reasoning and as Associate Editor for Information Sciences. He is also Associate Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Emerging Technologies in Web Intelligence and serves on multiple editorial boards including LNCS Transactions on Rough Sets and Web Intelligence and Agent Systems. He has organized significant conferences including the International Joint Conference on Rough Sets (IJCRS 2017) and served on the Steering Committee for the International Symposium on Fuzzy and Rough Sets.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Zwick is a full professor and director of the Institute of High Frequency Engineering and Electronics (IHE) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). He holds a Dipl.-Ing. (M.S.E.E.) and Dr.-Ing. (Ph.D.E.E.) from the University of Karlsruhe. His career includes roles at IBM Research (2001–2004), Siemens AG (2004–2007 managing automotive radar teams), and KIT since 2007. He leads research in high-frequency technologies, antennas, radar systems, and wireless communications. Research interests include radio wave propagation, antenna design, automotive radar architectures, and millimeter-wave systems. He has authored/co-authored over 400 papers, 20 patents, and received IEEE Fellow status (2018), honorary doctorate from Budapest University (2022), and membership in the Heidelberg Academy and acatech. His work emphasizes integrating sensing and communication systems, 3D-printed RF components, and high-frequency measurement techniques. Teaching focuses on high-frequency engineering, electronic circuits, and radar systems. He oversees the IHE’s laboratories, including the Microwave Engineering Lab and Student Innovation Lab. Recent work explores sub-THz communication, RIS-aided ISAC systems, and beamforming for reduced EMF exposure in urban scenarios.
Dr. José del R. Millán is a Professor and holds the Linda Steen Norris & Lee Norris Endowed Chair in Neuroengineering at The University of Texas at Austin's Chandra Family Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He also serves as a Professor in Dell Medical School's Department of Neurology, a courtesy Professor in Biomedical Engineering, and is affiliated with the Mulva Clinic for the Neurosciences, Institute for Neuroscience, Texas Robotics, and the UT CARE Initiative. His work focuses on brain-machine interfaces (BMI), neuroprosthetics, and translating BMI technologies for individuals with motor/cognitive disabilities and able-bodied users. Education: PhD in Computer Science (1992, Technical University of Catalonia). Previous roles include Defitech Foundation Chair in Brain-Machine Interface at EPFL (Switzerland) and visiting scholar positions at Berkeley, Stanford, and the International Computer Science Institute. Research Interests: Neuroengineering, BMI applications in healthcare and assistive robotics, statistical machine learning for neural signals, and neurorehabilitation. Key contributions include EEG-based BMI systems, closed-loop neurostimulation, and wearable neurotechnology. Awards: IEEE Fellow (2017), Norbert Wiener Award (2011), and Fellow of the International Academy of Medical and Biological Engineering (2020). Grants & Labs: Co-director of UT CARE, leader in clinical neuroprosthetics and neurorobotics. Active in developing BMI-driven wheelchairs, VR integration for BCI, and EEG-based speech prosthetics. Research outputs emphasize translational neurotechnology, with projects funded by industry and governmental agencies. Labs/Teams: Clinical Neuroprosthetics & Brain Interaction Lab, Texas Robotics, Wireless Networking and Communications Group (WNCG).
Xuezhe Ma is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Southern California's Viterbi School of Engineering. Previously, he was a Ph.D. student at Carnegie Mellon University's Language Technologies Institute, where he worked under the supervision of Professor Eduard Hovy. His academic journey includes a Master's degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Center for Brain-like Computing and Machine Intelligence and a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the same institution. Ph.D. in Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University (completed ~2020) M.S. in Brain-like Computing, Shanghai Jiao Tong University B.S. in Computer Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Dr. Ma's research spans multiple areas at the intersection of Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning, with particular focus on structured prediction, syntactic and semantic parsing, machine translation, language generation, and deep generative models. His recent work has expanded into vision-language models, large language model architectures, and applications across computer vision tasks. His research combines theoretical foundations with practical implementations, as evidenced by his development of tools like NeuroNLP2 and MaxParser. His publication record shows a clear trajectory from foundational NLP work during his PhD (including papers on dependency parsing and sequence labeling) to more recent contributions in generative models and large language systems. The 15 most recent publications reveal a strong focus on addressing fundamental challenges in generative modeling, context handling, and multimodal integration, with applications spanning literary translation, medical imaging, and news diffusion analysis. AI2 Outstanding Intern Award (2018) Dr. Ma has secured research funding supporting his work in generative models and language technologies, with projects focusing on improving the efficiency and capabilities of large language models. His research group at USC is actively working on next-generation language understanding and generation systems, with particular emphasis on context-aware modeling and multimodal integration. He has established collaborations with industry partners including the Allen Institute for AI and has contributed to open-source projects like Texar. At USC, Dr. Ma leads research in the Information Sciences Institute, directing projects on efficient large language model architectures and multimodal reasoning systems. His lab focuses on developing novel approaches to context handling, model efficiency, and multimodal integration, with applications across diverse domains including healthcare, literary analysis, and news media.
Hanbyul Joo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Seoul National University (SNU). Prior to joining SNU, he was a Research Scientist at Facebook AI Research (FAIR) in Menlo Park. He completed his Ph.D. in the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, working with Yaser Sheikh, and received his M.S. in Electrical Engineering and B.S. in Computer Science from KAIST, Korea. Dr. Joo's educational journey began at KAIST, where he earned both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees. He then pursued his Ph.D. at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute, completing his dissertation titled "Sensing, Measuring, and Modeling Social Signals in Nonverbal Communication." His doctoral work focused on developing the Panoptic Studio, a unique sensing system with over 500 synchronized cameras for capturing social interactions. Dr. Joo's research primarily focuses on endowing machines and robots with the ability to perceive and understand human behaviors in 3D . His goal is to build "social Artificial Intelligence" that can interact with humans using social signals (body languages). He pursues this direction using data-driven methods where data is collected by measuring the wide spectrum of social signals transmitted during interpersonal social interaction. His research spans computer vision, machine learning, computer graphics, and robotics , with particular emphasis on 3D human pose estimation, human-object interaction, and social signal processing. His recent publications demonstrate a clear trend toward leveraging diffusion models for 3D reconstruction and generation tasks, with a focus on human-centric applications. His work bridges the gap between 2D image understanding and 3D scene reconstruction, often utilizing pre-trained models to overcome data limitations. The research consistently addresses fundamental challenges in understanding human behavior, interaction with objects, and social dynamics in 3D space. Dr. Joo is a recipient of several prestigious awards including the Samsung Scholarship and the CVPR Best Student Paper Award in 2018 . His paper "Total Capture: A 3D Deformation Model for Tracking Faces, Hands, and Bodies" received this honor at CVPR 2018. His research has been widely recognized in top computer vision and AI conferences, with multiple oral presentations at venues like CVPR, ICCV, and ECCV. Dr. Joo actively mentors a large group of students, with approximately 15 current students working toward MS/PhD degrees under his supervision. His lab, the SNU VCLab, focuses on cutting-edge research in computer vision and graphics. He has secured significant research funding through his work, though specific grant details aren't provided on his website. Dr. Joo frequently serves as an area chair for major conferences including CVPR, ICCV, and NeurIPS, demonstrating his standing in the academic community. Dr. Joo leads the SNU VCLab, which has developed several notable datasets and tools including SNU ParaHome, FrankMocap, and the CMU Panoptic Studio Dataset. His lab maintains strong industry connections, with students interning at leading companies like Meta. The lab's research focuses on building the infrastructure and algorithms needed for social AI, with an emphasis on practical applications that can be deployed in real-world settings.
Jim Smith is a Professor in Interactive Artificial Intelligence at the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol, affiliated with the School of Computing and Creative Technologies and the Department of Computer Science and Creative Technologies. He serves as Director of the Computer Science Research Centre and leads the AI@UWE theme. His research is supported by UKRI, Innovate UK, and partnerships with organizations including Health Data Research UK, Office for National Statistics, NHS Scotland, and DSTL. University: University of the West of England School: School of Computing and Creative Technologies Department: Department of Computer Science and Creative Technologies Role: Professor in Interactive Artificial Intelligence Leadership: Director, Computer Science Research Centre Research Interests : Jim Smith's work focuses on Interactive Artificial Intelligence, particularly at the intersection of AI and privacy preservation when using sensitive data for public good. His research includes statistical disclosure control, privacy leakage from AI models, evolutionary computation, machine learning, and systems that learn through human interaction or self-adaptation. He explores how AI can automate privacy checks in research outputs and assess vulnerabilities in trained models. Recent Publications : His recent work spans AI privacy in trusted research environments (e.g., SACRO, SDC-Reboot), dialogue act classification, human-robot interaction, and visualization of deep learning models. Themes include privacy-preserving AI, automated disclosure control, interactive machine learning, and neuromorphic computing. Machine Learning & Privacy Evolutionary Computation Interactive AI Systems Human-Computer Interaction Statistical Disclosure Control Federated Learning Security Scientific Awards : No specific awards are mentioned in the provided texts. Advising and Grants : He currently supervises PhD students on topics including spatio-temporal air quality modeling, federated learning privacy, and threat detection in mobile networks. He leads Innovate UK and UKRI-funded projects such as SACRO and SDC-Reboot, focusing on AI-driven solutions for data confidentiality in public sector research. Interactive Machine Learning for Claim Settlement (Innovate UK) SDC-Reboot (DARE UK/Health Data Research UK) Threat Identification in Mobile Networks (Ribbon Communications) Labs and Teams : He leads the AI@UWE initiative and the Computer Science Research Centre at UWE. His work involves collaboration through DARE UK and open-source development via the AI-SDC GitHub organization, which hosts tools from SACRO and GRAIMATTER projects.
Jihyun Lee is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at the Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary. She was awarded the Anna Boyksen Fellowship by the Technical University of Munich Institute for Advanced Study (TUM-IAS) in 2021, hosted by Prof. Michael Zäh. Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (2016) Prior post at Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (2016-2019) Her research focuses on mechatronics, robotics, manufacturing automation, and control systems , with applications in machine tools, additive manufacturing, and precision measurement. She integrates artificial intelligence and optimization to enhance industrial automation. Recent publications highlight work on vibration control , sensor fusion , and flexible manufacturing systems . Her team explores dynamic modeling , nanocomposite sensors , and human-in-the-loop robotics for industrial and marine applications. 2020 Remote Teaching Award, Schulich Engineering 2020 Early Achievement Award, Association of Korean-Canadian Scientists and Engineers 2018 Best Achievement Award, KIMM She supervises doctoral and master’s students at the University of Calgary, emphasizing hands-on experience and MATLAB/Python simulation skills in her lab. Her work bridges quantum logic and industrial robotics through interdisciplinary collaborations.
Prashant Mehta is a Professor of Mechanical Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , affiliated with the Coordinated Science Laboratory . His research focuses on controlled interacting particle systems and machine learning applications , particularly in human activity recognition using motion sensors. Education: Ph.D. in Mathematics, Cornell University (2004) M.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst (1996) B.E. in Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology & Sciences (1993) Mehta's work has pioneered the feedback particle filter (FPF) algorithm for nonlinear estimation, applied in robotic systems and gesture recognition. His research spans control of combustion instabilities in jet engines, mean-field games , and dynamical systems in aerospace engineering. His publications emphasize nonlinear control theory and stochastic filtering , with recent trends in sensor data pattern recognition and cyber-physical systems . He has received multiple scientific awards , including the MURI award for the Cyberoctopus project and Excellence in Undergraduate Advising Awards . Scientific Honors: MURI Award (2019) for Cyberoctopus Excellence in Undergraduate Advising (2010, 2008) Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award (1994) Senior Member, IEEE Control Systems Society Member, ASME Energy Systems Subcommittee Member, SIAM Dynamical Systems Group Mehta has supervised students like Jin Kim (IEEE CDC Best Student Paper, 2019) and co-founded the startup Rithmio , acquired by Bosch Sensortec . His laboratory develops gesture-detection filters for applications in soft robotics and human-machine interfaces .
W. Hong Yeo is a Professor in the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and Program Faculty in Bioengineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he also directs the WISH Center. He holds adjunct appointments in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering. Previously, he was an Assistant Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University (2014-2016) and a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Beckman Institute. Dr. Yeo's research integrates nanomechanics, soft materials, and nano-microfabrication to develop bio-interfaced systems. Key areas include: Flexible Bioelectronics : Wearable/implantable sensors for health monitoring Human-Machine Interfaces : Neural prosthetics and soft robotics Translational Nanoengineering : Nanoparticle biosensing and diagnostics His publications (2023-2025) demonstrate strong focus on wireless health technologies, including multi-modal wearable systems, implantable sensors for cardiovascular/neurological monitoring, and AI-integrated diagnostics. Trends show increasing emphasis on closed-loop therapeutic systems and scalable manufacturing. Awards & Recognition : BMES Innovation and Career Development Award Virginia Commercialization Award Blavatnik Award Nominee NSF Summer Institute Fellowship Research funding sources include MEDARVA Foundation, NIH, DARPA, and industry partners like CooperVision. He leads the Center for Human-Centric Interfaces & Engineering , developing next-generation bio-interfaced systems.
Cathy Wu is an Associate Professor at MIT, with affiliations in the Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems (LIDS), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), and Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS). Her research group focuses on integrating machine learning with model-based optimization to solve complex problems in transportation systems and cyber-physical systems. Academic Leadership: Class of 1954 Career Development Associate Professor (MIT) Research Grants: NSF CAREER Award, Amazon Robotics, Mathworks, MIT Mobility Initiative, US DOT, Microsoft Research, Cintra, Symbotic Research Interests : Wu's work bridges AI and engineering challenges in transportation. Key areas include: Hybrid ML/Model-based Optimization (large neighborhood search, branch-and-cut) Sustainable Mobility (Project Greenwave, eco-driving) Multi-Agent Coordination (warehouse automation, cooperative driving) Cyber-Professional Systems (generalization in RL, transfer learning) Recent work demonstrates significant advances in eco-driving (11-22% emissions reduction), large-scale multi-agent path finding (1000+ agents), and foundational RL methods for traffic control. Her group has produced 15+ major publications since 2015, with notable media coverage in Science, Wired, and NewScientist. Selected Scientific Awards NSF CAREER Award (2023) Ole Madsen Mentoring Award (2025) IEEE ITSS WiE/YP Fellowship (2024) Harold L. Hazen Teaching Award (2022) Her lab has advised 12+ graduate students and postdocs, including: Vindula Jayawardana (PhD '24, now at Anthropic) Sirui Li (PhD '25, now at Microsoft Research) Yining Ma (Postdoc, active researcher) Zhongxia Yan (PhD '24, now at Anthropic)
