Professor Herbert Zirath is affiliated with the Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2) at Chalmers University, Sweden , where he has held the Chair in High Speed Electronics since 1996. His research focuses on MMIC design for millimeterwave/sub-THz applications using III-V and silicon technologies, with current involvement in EU projects like 6GTandem , CoreNext , and TeraGreen targeting SiGe BiCMOS-based RFIC solutions for high data rate communication. Author/co-author of 530+ refereed papers Holder of 5 patents in high-frequency electronics Expert in semiconductor technologies: InP DHBT, GaN HEMT, SiGe BiCMOS Recent work includes polymer microwave fiber communication systems (e.g., 48 Gbps D-band links), sub-THz packaging solutions (EBG structures, glide-symmetric waveguides), and graphene FET applications in microwave detection. His team develops energy-efficient transceivers and low-loss chip-to-waveguide transitions for next-generation wireless infrastructure.
Professor Andrei Gurtov is a Full Professor at the Department of Computer and Information Science (IDA) at Linköping University (LiU). He holds adjunct professorships at Aalto University, University of Oulu, and University of Helsinki. His research focuses on network security, industrial internet, 5G/6G technologies, and cybersecurity in transport systems. He leads the AEGIS research group and is part of the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems, and Software Program (WASP). Education: M.Sc. (University of Helsinki, 2000), Ph.D. (University of Helsinki/ICSI Berkeley, 2004). He has served as Head of the Secure Systems educational profile at IDA and on LiU's Departmental Board. His academic roles include IEEE Sweden Chair and Board member. Research highlights include work on secure drone communication (IETF DRIP), 6G security whitepapers, and cybersecurity for aviation systems. He has authored over 20 books and 264 publications, with notable works in IEEE and ACM journals. Awards include ACM Distinguished Scientist (2015), IEEE Distinguished Lecturer (2016-2019), and recognition in top 2% of global scientists (Stanford University). Teaching responsibilities include courses on computer networks and information security. He advises over 30 PhD students and leads projects on cyber-resilient air traffic management (SEC-AIRSPACE) and secure autonomous systems (DYNACON).
Jan Mennigen is an Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa's Department of Biology, Faculty of Science. Their research focuses on environmental influences on metabolic traits in teleost fishes, using integrative approaches from molecular to organismal levels. Key models include rainbow trout and zebrafish, with emphasis on epigenetic mechanisms like microRNAs, aquatic toxicology, and metabolic responses. Research interests span fish physiology, energy metabolism, endocrinology, molecular biology, and epigenetics. Recent work explores the impact of environmental contaminants (e.g., microplastics, PFOS alternatives) on fish development and metabolism, alongside social status effects on metabolic pathways. Experimental models include studies on hypoxia tolerance, drug toxicity, and neuroendocrine disruption. Key areas: Epigenetic regulation of metabolism, environmental toxicology, comparative physiology Models: Rainbow trout, zebrafish, goldfish Publications highlight contributions to understanding how pollutants and environmental stressors affect fish physiology, with a focus on translational implications for aquaculture and environmental health.
Wanqing Tu is an Associate Professor in Computer Science at Durham University, specializing in wireless networks and IoT systems. She serves as Editor for IEEE Internet of Things Journal and holds leadership positions in IEEE technical committees. Her research explores next-generation wireless technologies with focus areas including: Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces IoT security frameworks Multihop UAV networking Wireless protocol optimization Edge computing architectures Recent publications address critical challenges in IoT security and wireless performance optimization, particularly examining jamming detection methods and efficient resource utilization strategies. This work combines theoretical modeling with practical system implementations. Tu teaches advanced networking courses and supervises doctoral candidates in wireless communication systems. She leads international collaborations through IEEE initiatives and has organized technical committees for major conferences including IEEE MetaCom.
Timothy Drysdale is Professor and Chair in Technology Enhanced Science Education at the University of Edinburgh, where he directs the Remote Laboratories group and serves as Director of Strategic Digital Education. His practable.io platform revolutionizes laboratory education through aesthetically-designed remote experiments installed in campus foyers, saving physical space while enhancing accessibility. Research develops novel remote labs based on experiments likened to "science museum exhibits," integrating real-time equipment access via web interfaces. Additional work explores orbital angular momentum in radio communications. His £3M openEngineering Laboratory project received multiple honors including the Queen's Anniversary Prize and THE Digital Innovation Award. Global Online Laboratories Consortium Award (2024, 2018) Queen's Anniversary Prize (2024) Jisc Digital Transformation Award (2023) Guardian Teaching Excellence Award (2018) Teaches across undergraduate engineering programs and supervises doctoral projects in digital education innovation. Advocates for assessment transformation and generative AI integration in education.
Jubin Abutalebi, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Neuropsychology at the University Vita Salute San Raffaele's Faculty of Psychology in Milan, Italy. He holds dual appointments as Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Education and directs the Centre for Neurolinguistics and Psycholinguistics. His academic journey includes Summa cum Laude graduation from Brescia Medical School (1998) and specialization in Neurology at Vita Salute San Raffaele (2003), with postdoctoral training at Charité Hospital (Berlin), Université de Montréal, and University of Hong Kong. Graduated Summa cum Laude: University of Brescia Medical School (1998) Neurology specialization: Summa Cum Laude at Vita Salute San Raffaele (2003) His research focuses on the neurobiological basis of bilingualism, language control, and cognitive aging. He examines how multilingual experience affects brain structure/function, cognitive reserve, and neurodegenerative disease progression. His work spans neuroimaging, functional connectivity, and clinical applications in aphasia rehabilitation. Recent publications address: Language processing in multilingual speakers Cognitive aging and bilingualism Emotional processing in native/foreign languages Neuroplasticity mechanisms Impact of language distance on executive function Scientific recognition includes: Fellow, World Federation of Neurology (2006-present) Editor-in-Chief of Bilingualism: Language and Cognition (2014-present) He has held visiting appointments at: University of Montréal (2005) University of Tehran (2010-2011) Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (2011) University of Hong Kong (2015-2018) University of Utrecht Summer School (2013)
Dr. Shabnam Sodagari is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) at California State University Long Beach (CSULB). She holds a Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University and is a Senior Member of IEEE. Her research focuses on quantum computing, data science, AI, machine learning, and their applications in health and education. She teaches courses on information security, quantum computing, and machine learning. She is actively involved in organizing workshops and conferences on information security and serves on the Editorial Board of the IEEE Vehicular Technology Society Open Journal. Her outreach efforts include mentoring high school students, collaborating with AWS on security/AI workshops, and moderating panels on FinTech and machine learning careers. She has also contributed to initiatives at the CSU Chancellor's Office. Her publications span journals like IEEE Access, IEEE Transactions on Technology and Society, and Springer Nature, with a focus on quantum computing, security, and network optimization. Recent work includes studies on vaccination-related neurodegenerative events and quantum education strategies at minority-serving institutions. Dr. Sodagari’s articles highlight advancements in quantum-satellite connectivity, covert communications, and machine learning-driven privacy solutions. Her work addresses challenges in 5G/6G systems, IoT security, and cognitive radio networks. She actively engages in interdisciplinary collaborations, including telemedicine and medical wireless body area networks.
Heather Sheardown is Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Professor of Chemical Engineering at McMaster University. She holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Ophthalmic Biomaterials and Drug Delivery Systems. Her expertise spans biomaterials, drug delivery systems, contact lens materials, and polymer chemistry with a focus on ophthalmic applications. Education: B.Eng. in Engineering (1989), McMaster University Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering (1995), University of Toronto Research Interests: Drug delivery systems for anterior and posterior eye Contact lens and intraocular lens (IOL) materials Thermogels and mucoadhesive polymers for ocular drug delivery In vivo ocular testing methodologies Mathematical modeling of ocular physiology Scientific Awards: Recipient of the Brockhouse Canada Prize for interdisciplinary research (2023) Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (Ophthalmic Biomaterials) Research Initiatives: Lead of the C20/20 – ORF research hub Founder of the 20/20 Network Recipient of CIHR funding ($1M+) for glaucoma research Labs/Teams: Member of Health & Bio-innovation cluster Micro-Nano Systems research cluster leader Director of the Ophthalmic Biomaterials Lab
Roya Haratian serves as Principal Academic (equivalent to Associate Professor) in Electronic Science and Engineering at Bournemouth University's Department of Design and Engineering within the Faculty of Science and Technology. As Deputy Head of Department and Athena SWAN lead, she spearheaded the department's successful Bronze Award in 2021 for gender equality initiatives. Her leadership extends to curriculum development in Mechatronics and Robotics programs across undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Her academic credentials include a BSc (First Class Honours) and MSc (Distinction) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, followed by a PhD in Electronic Engineering from Queen Mary University of London (2014). Prior to her current role, she worked as an Associate Lecturer at QMUL and Research Associate at Bristol Robotics Lab, focusing on on-body sensing systems and bio-signal processing for human-machine collaboration. Haratian's research centers on electronic engineering applications in human-robot interaction, with particular emphasis on on-body sensing technologies, signal processing, and machine learning. Her work bridges theoretical innovation with industrial implementation, developing assistive technologies for healthcare and safety-critical systems. Recent projects address diabetic foot ulcer prevention, emotion recognition in VR, and human-machine collaboration safety protocols, demonstrating strong translational impact across medical and industrial domains. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a strategic progression from foundational signal processing techniques toward integrated human-machine systems. Her work increasingly incorporates game theory for resource allocation, AI-driven predictive modeling, and inclusive design principles, with growing emphasis on real-world implementation challenges and ethical considerations in assistive technologies. Key recognitions include: Athena SWAN Bronze Award (Advance HE, 2021) for departmental gender equality leadership Senior Fellowship of Higher Education Academy (2021) BU Doctoral College Outstanding Contribution Award (2025) Design Review Award from Institute of Mechanical Engineering (2023) Student Experience 'You are Brilliant' Award (2017) As Recognised Research Supervisor (UK Council for Graduate Education), she currently co-supervises five PhD students on topics including AI surveillance, biomechatronics, and digital twin simulation. Her £1.2M+ research portfolio features strategic partnerships with Zimmer-Biomet, Computational Mechanics Wessex Institute, and Daido Industrial Bearing, with recent grants including HEIF-funded AI emotion recognition systems (2025) and QR-funded human-machine safety protocols (2024). She actively mentors through AdvanceHE's Aurora program and leads BU's Inclusivity Curriculum Evaluation project. Haratian directs the department's Athena SWAN initiative and collaborates with the Royal Institute on STEM outreach, designing bioelectronic masterclasses for GCSE students. Her public engagement includes 'Café Scientifique' discussions on machine emotion recognition and keynote addresses at Brockenhurst STEM Awards, focusing on translating on-body sensing research into real-world health applications.
Stephen Ramsey, an Associate Professor at Oregon State University, holds dual appointments in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (College of Engineering) and the Department of Biomedical Sciences (Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine). With a PhD in Physics from the University of Maryland, his postdoctoral training in computational genomics at the University of Washington, and professional experience at the Institute for Systems Biology and Center for Infectious Disease Research, Ramsey bridges computational methods with biomedical applications. Education : Ph.D., Physics, University of Maryland; M.S., Physics, University of Maryland; Sc.B., Mathematical Physics, Brown University Ramsey specializes in computational systems biology , focusing on bioinformatics , biomedical knowledge graphs , and precision medicine . His research integrates machine learning , gene regulatory network modeling , and multi-omics data analysis to address challenges in rare disease diagnostics , drug monitoring , and inflammatory disease mechanisms . Current work includes AI-driven biomedical translation and electrochemical biosensor development for non-invasive diagnostics . Recent publications highlight knowledge graph applications in translational biomedicine , causal network inference in clinical-environmental data integration , and cross-species cancer transcriptomics . His team develops tools like RTX-KG2 and PloverDB to standardize biomedical data sharing and semantic reasoning . Scientific Awards : 2019 Zoetis Award (Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine) 2016 NSF CAREER Award 2016 PhRMA New Investigator Award 2010 NIH K25 Mentored Quantitative Research Award Ramsey advises in computational biology courses (CS 446/546) and contributes to biomedical AI through projects like mediKanren for rare disease diagnostics . His NSF-funded research explores gene expression noise and regulatory network dynamics , while NIH and PhRMA grants support his translational medicine initiatives. He leads the Ramsey Laboratory , which develops graph-based reasoning tools for biomedical data translation and multi-omics integration . The lab's work spans comparative oncology models, electrochemical biosensors , and knowledge graph infrastructure for clinical decision support .
Dr. Ka-Chun Siu is a Professor and Chair of Global Health Opportunities in the Physical Therapy program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), within the College of Allied Health Professions' Department of Health and Rehabilitations Sciences. He additionally directs the MSIA Patient-Oriented Research program and mentors graduate students in the Graduate College. His research is supported by NIH, NASA Nebraska Space Grant, NIOSH CS-CASH, and University of Nebraska Systems. Education: Post-Doc in Biomechanics, University of Nebraska at Omaha (2006-2009) PhD in Human Physiology, University of Oregon (2006) BS in Physical Therapy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan (1999) Research Interests: Dr. Siu specializes in movement science and biomechanics, with emphasis on aging populations and movement disorders. He pioneers technology-driven solutions—including virtual reality and mobile applications—to study balance control and gait biomechanics in diverse environments. A secondary focus involves human performance optimization and motor skill acquisition, particularly in advancing medical education methodologies. Publication Trends: Recent articles demonstrate concentrated expertise in virtual reality applications for surgical training and neurorehabilitation, AI integration in healthcare education, ergonomic analysis in minimally invasive surgery, and advanced biomechanical assessments of gait/mobility. Emerging themes include wearable technology validation, computational modeling of motor skills, and remote patient monitoring systems. Awards & Honors: 2023 UNMC New Investigator Award 2023 CAHP Significance in Research for Distinguished Faculty Award 2022 UNMC Distinguished Mentor Award 2022 UNMC Outstanding Faculty Mentor for Graduate Students Award 2020 UNMC Impact in Education for Research in Education Scholar Award 2015 UNMC Outstanding Professional Achievement Award 2014 SAHP Excellence in Research Award Professional Activities: Dr. Siu serves on editorial boards for scientific journals and as an external reviewer for Hong Kong's Health and Medical Research Fund. He oversees international physical therapy partnerships through UNMC's Global Health Opportunities Program and leads interdisciplinary research initiatives blending engineering, medicine, and data science.
Mr. Jean-Charles Billaut is a Professor at the Polytechnic School of Tours (EPU) within the University of Tours, affiliated with the Computer Science Department and the Fundamental and Applied Computer Science Laboratory of Tours (LIFAT). His primary research focuses on Operational Research, particularly in scheduling theory, production planning, and logistics optimization, with notable contributions to healthcare and food supply chain systems. He has held leadership roles, including Director of the Computer Science Laboratory since 2007 and Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Operational Research since 2007. His work bridges theoretical advancements and real-world applications, addressing challenges in multi-agent scheduling, robust production systems, and emergency logistics. Key collaborations include optimizing chemotherapy production and medical sample dispatching, reflecting his commitment to impactful operational research. His research often employs metaheuristics and exact methods to solve complex scheduling and routing problems, emphasizing sustainability and resilience in supply chains.
Blagoja Markovski is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies (FEIT), Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. He holds a PhD (2019), MSc (2012), and BSc (2009) in Electrical Engineering from FEIT. His research focuses on electromagnetic compatibility, grounding systems analysis, lightning protection, and power systems engineering. He has contributed to projects assessing electromagnetic impacts on infrastructure and public exposure to electromagnetic fields from energy equipment. His work emphasizes the analysis of grounding systems under lightning and transient conditions, with applications in transmission lines, wind turbines, and pipelines. He has developed novel methodologies for efficient grounding system analysis using circuit models, GPU parallelization, and analytical approximations. His recent studies include optimizing grounding configurations for communication towers and evaluating human exposure near high-voltage systems using finite-element methods. Collaborations span international conferences and industry projects, addressing challenges in electromagnetic compatibility and renewable energy systems. His publications span IEEE journals and conferences, focusing on grounding systems, lightning protection, and computational electromagnetics.
Sandra Gordon-Salant, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences at the University of Maryland’s College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. She holds editorial roles at major journals like the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research and has served on National Academy of Sciences committees addressing hearing impairments. Her research focuses on aging and hearing loss effects on auditory processes, signal enhancement for hearing-impaired listeners, and speech understanding in older populations. Dr. Gordon-Salant earned her Ph.D. in Audiology at Northwestern University (1981). Her work has been continuously funded by the NIH’s National Institute on Aging since 1986. Key honors include the James Jerger Career Award (2009), ASHA’s Al Kawana Award (2013), and the University of Maryland’s Distinguished Scholar-Teacher title (2017). Her research interests span speech perception, psychoacoustics, aging-related hearing changes, cognitive influences on auditory processing, and assistive signal processing technologies. Over 110 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, including co-editing The Aging Auditory System , highlight her contributions. Current studies explore age-related deficits in temporal processing, cochlear-implant user performance, and audiovisual speech recognition under challenging conditions. Notable grants include NIH support since 1986, and she leads the UMD Hearing Lab. Former advisees include prominent audiologists like Sarah Hargus Ferguson and Susan L. Phillips. Her recent work (2020–2024) emphasizes training interventions for older cochlear-implant users and real-world speech recognition challenges like those posed by masks and noise.
Souheil Ben Smida is an Associate Professor at the School of Engineering & Physical Sciences at Heriot-Watt University, affiliated with the Institute of Sensors, Signals & Systems. His research focuses on power amplifiers, signal processing, radar systems, and biomedical applications, with a particular emphasis on integrating neural networks and wireless communication technologies. His work spans areas such as nonlinear systems, 5G technology, and healthcare innovation, leveraging radar and machine learning for non-invasive monitoring. Recent contributions include dual-band radar systems for vital signs detection, low-complexity neural network-based channel estimation, and predistortion techniques for power amplifiers. Key research trends include biomedical applications using radar and neural networks, optimization of communication systems for 5G, and hardware implementations on FPGA platforms. His publications reflect a balance between theoretical advancements and practical applications in electronics, healthcare, and telecommunications. Dr. Ben Smida's expertise contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in advancing health technologies and sustainable industrial innovation.
