Dr. Gavin Mount is a researcher at UNSW Canberra , specializing in non-traditional security studies , ethnic conflict , and the sociopolitical implications of emerging technologies . His work bridges theoretical analysis with practical applications in conflict transformation and defense studies. Research Focus: Global politics of ethnic conflict, hybrid peace/war frameworks, and socio-political impacts of drone technology. Teaching: Courses like Ethnic Conflict in World Politics and Law, Force and Legitimacy , with a focus on military education and strategic studies. Publications: Recent work includes contributions to Thinking Swarms (2025) and Hybridity on the Ground in Peacebuilding and Development (2018). Grants: Leads the Curricula Integration of Student Wellbeing Resources project under HERDSA. Key Themes across his research include the intersection of technology and conflict, evolving defense paradigms, and pedagogical innovations in security studies.
Jan Oliver Borchers is a full professor of computer science and head of the Media Computing Group at RWTH Aachen University, where he holds the endowed Chair in Media Informatics and Human-Computer Interaction (Computer Science 10). He established his research group in 2003 and pioneered modern HCI academic research and teaching in Germany, becoming a leading lab in terms of archival publications at CHI, the top international conference in HCI. Before joining RWTH, he held faculty positions at Stanford University and ETH Zurich. His research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction with particular interest in new user interfaces for soft robotics, textile user interfaces, 3D printing and personal fabrication, augmented reality, wearable and tangible computing, interfaces for software development, deceptive patterns, and interactive guides and exhibits. He opened Germany's first Fab Lab in 2009 and has been instrumental in advancing digital fabrication and maker culture in academia. His work bridges theoretical HCI research with practical applications, as evidenced by his consulting for major companies including AirBus, Apple, ARD, Bayer, Children's Museum Boston, Daimler, Handelsblatt, OTIS, Scout24, TEDx, and Deutsche Telekom. His recent publications show a strong focus on deceptive patterns in UI design, textile interfaces, and the intersection of AI with human interaction. The research demonstrates consistent innovation in tactile interaction techniques, with numerous honorable mentions at top conferences like CHI. His lab has produced significant contributions to eyes-free interaction, textile computing, and the ethical implications of dark patterns, particularly regarding children's experiences with deceptive designs. IDC 2025 Best Work in Progress for research on children's assessment of deceptive designs CHI'25 Student Games Competition Winner for The Deceptive Dungeon RWTH-Wissenschaftsnacht 2024 Best Science Slam for Usability: 4 Prinzipien guter User Interfaces Multiple CHI Honorable Mentions spanning from 2008-2021 Best Note and Best Demo awards at ITS and UIST conferences Borchers has served in numerous leadership roles including heading the Computer Science Department's Examination Board (2015-2025), coordinating the department's public relations since 2010, and organizing the weekly Faculty Lunch since 2003. He is an active member of the ACM, SIGCHI, SIGCHI Germany, and GI, and introduced the Interactivity format to the CHI conference in 2005. His PhD thesis, A Pattern Approach to Interaction Design, became the first book to bring design patterns to HCI. The Media Computing Group under his leadership has developed significant expertise in physical computing, textile interfaces, and fabrication technologies, with a strong emphasis on both theoretical contributions and practical applications. His lab continues to push boundaries in interactive technologies while maintaining a strong ethical stance on user experience, particularly regarding deceptive design patterns.
Margaret P. Chapman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. She leads the DATA Lab (Decision Analysis for Trustworthy Autonomy), focusing on risk-averse and stochastic control theory with applications to environmental and human health. Education: B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University (2012, 2014), Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences from UC Berkeley (2020, advised by Claire Tomlin) Her research bridges robust and stochastic optimal control via risk measure theory, emphasizing safety-critical applications in healthcare and sustainable cities. Key challenges include scalable risk-sensitive control methods, integrating physics-based and data-driven models for safety analysis, and promoting technologies that enhance planetary and human well-being. Recent publications focus on risk-averse autonomous systems, CVaR-based safety analysis, and multi-time-scale modeling for cancer treatment. She has advised students in both graduate and undergraduate research roles, including NSERC awardees and thesis participants. Awards: US National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Berkeley Fellowship, Terman Engineering Scholastic Award, Leon O. Chua Award She teaches courses like ECE 557 (Linear Control Theory) and ECE 1643 (Risk-Averse Control with Learning). Her invited talks span institutions such as MIT, Princeton, and Georgia Tech, highlighting risk-sensitive analysis and control for trustworthy autonomy.
Assoc Prof Ng Teng Yong is an Associate Professor at the School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (NTU), specializing in numerical modeling and simulation. With a background as Research Manager at A*STAR Institute of High Performance Computing, his work spans materials science, nanotechnology, and aerospace engineering. Current focus on graphene-based desalination membranes Expertise in molecular dynamics simulations Investigates nanoscale fluid mechanics and structural dynamics Recent publications highlight advancements in energy-efficient electrodialysis, smart robotics, and nonlinear vibration analysis. His interdisciplinary approach integrates computational methods with experimental validation in additive manufacturing and soft material mechanics.
Leslie Ann Goldberg is a Senior Research Fellow at St Edmund Hall and Professor of Computer Science at the University of Oxford. She currently serves as Head of the Department of Computer Science (on sabbatical 2025-26) and focuses on foundational problems in Algorithms and Complexity Theory , particularly randomised algorithms for network communication, machine learning, and statistical physics models. Her research includes solving Aldous' 1987 conjecture on backoff protocol instability (with John Lapinskas), developing rigorous mathematical analysis frameworks for algorithmic efficiency, and advancing approximate counting techniques via Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods (with Andreas Galanis and collaborators). Key projects involve graph homomorphisms , Moran process dynamics , and #BIS complexity class analysis. Recent publications (2023-2024) span topics like Sybil defense mechanisms, low-temperature sampling on random graphs, and parameterised subgraph counting modulo 2. Her work demonstrates cross-disciplinary impact in computational biology, statistical physics, and database theory. Scientific Awards include Best Paper Prizes at ICALP 2016, ICALP 2010, and IPEC 2017. She supervises PhD student Paulina Smolarova and collaborates extensively with researchers in Oxford and beyond.
Lars Eriksson is a researcher at the Department of Chemistry, Stockholm University, affiliated with the Faculty of Science. He is part of Gunnar Svensson's group, which focuses on solid-state inorganic chemistry, including the synthesis of energy-related compounds and their crystal structure analysis. Research interests span inorganic chemistry, solid-state chemistry, crystallography, energy applications, organic synthesis, catalysis, and chemical education. His work bridges experimental and computational approaches, with recent publications exploring molecular design for energy storage, asymmetric synthesis, triplet-to-singlet energy transfer, and pedagogical strategies in chemistry education. Trends in his research highlight applications in materials science, environmental chemistry, and educational methodologies. While no formal scientific awards are mentioned in the provided texts, his contributions include collaborative studies on catalysis, molecular structure, and student learning processes. He has no listed grants or students, but his publications emphasize tutor-student interactions and practical epistemology analysis. The research group he belongs to investigates fundamental properties of synthesized compounds, often with energy-related applications, and maintains strong ties to the broader chemistry community through peer-reviewed publications and educational studies.
Sandy J. Wayne serves as Dean of the College of Business Administration and Professor of Management at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), where she leads academic initiatives while maintaining an active research program. An internationally recognized expert in workplace leadership, her work focuses on developing high-performing employees through effective team leadership and organizational practices that enhance motivation and performance. She also investigates systemic barriers affecting the upward mobility of women and people of color in corporate environments. Dr. Wayne earned her academic credentials from: PhD in Management, Texas A&M University MBA, Illinois State University BS in Business Administration, Illinois State University Her research program spans leadership dynamics, organizational behavior, and diversity science. She examines how manager-employee relationships impact engagement and performance, with particular emphasis on work-family balance and career trajectory barriers for underrepresented groups. Her work bridges theoretical rigor with practical applications for organizations seeking to build inclusive, high-performance cultures through evidence-based leadership development. Analysis of her recent publications (2014-2024) reveals three dominant research streams: leader-member exchange theory (particularly LMX differentiation effects), servant leadership measurement and outcomes, and diversity dynamics in advancement pathways. Her work consistently appears in top-tier journals like Journal of Applied Psychology and Academy of Management Journal , demonstrating methodological sophistication through multi-level analyses and cross-cultural investigations. Dr. Wayne's scientific contributions have earned significant recognition: Decennial Influential Article Award for 2015 publication (2025) University Scholar, University of Illinois System (2020-2023) Faculty Impact Award, UIC Business (2019) Fellow, Academy of Management (2019) Decennial Influential Article Award for 2008 publication (2018) As Director of the Institute for Leadership Excellence and Development since 1996, she has cultivated a robust research ecosystem while leading institutional initiatives like the UIC Business Cohort Program and Business Scholars Program. Her administrative leadership extends to faculty development through her former role as Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs (2014-2022), demonstrating sustained commitment to academic excellence and organizational growth.
Yayue Pan is a Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) , and serves as the Director of NASA MIRO Center for In-Space Manufacturing: Recycling and Regolith Processing (CISM-R2) . Her research focuses on advancing Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies for applications in biomedical engineering , energy storage , and smart structures . Ph.D., Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Southern California (2014) M.S., Mechanical Manufacturing and Automation, Zhejiang University, China (2010) B.S., Industrial Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, China (2007) Her work addresses technical challenges in AM such as multi-material printing , multi-scale fabrication , and field-assisted processes . Notable projects include: Development of electrostatically-assisted direct ink writing (eDIW) for high-speed, high-resolution printing Continuous projection stereolithography for rapid solid object manufacturing Acoustic field-assisted particle patterning for smart composites Light-curable hydrogels for corneal repair applications Her 15 most recent publications (2022–2025) span topics in: Multi-material AM (conductive polymers, hierarchical composites) Biomedical applications (soft robotics, corneal repair) Energy components (battery electrolytes, supercapacitors) Field-assisted processes (acoustic, electrostatic, magnetic) Scientific Awards : 2024 ASME Chao and Trigger Young Manufacturing Engineer Award 2022 UIC Researcher of the Year Rising Star Award 2020 ASME CIE TC Leadership Award 2019 UIC Outstanding Teaching Award 2017 SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award NSF REU Supplements (2023–2024) Advising : Mentored 24+ graduate/undergraduate researchers, including 17 NASA/GPIP interns. Former advisees hold academic positions at University at Buffalo and University of North Carolina at Charlotte , and industry roles at Apple , GE Healthcare , and ANSYS . Grants : Recipient of a $4.65M NASA grant and multiple NSF awards. Collaborations include Northwestern University, University of Michigan, and NASA centers.
Thomas Chaney is a Professor of Economics at the University of Southern California (USC), holding the John Elliott Chair in Economics. He is affiliated with Sciences Po’s Department of Economics and leads the ERC Project HTMG. His research focuses on International Trade, Networks, and Finance, with notable contributions to historical trade dynamics and modern financial constraints. Chaney is a CEPR and CESifo Research Fellow, reflecting his academic standing. Research Interests: Chaney’s work bridges historical and contemporary economic phenomena, analyzing trade networks, collateral constraints in corporate finance, and the impact of migration on innovation and urban development. His research often employs innovative methodologies, such as combining archaeological data with economic models to study ancient trade systems. Articles Trends: Recent work examines Bronze Age trade networks, modern corporate investment dynamics, and the role of real estate collateral. His 2024 articles explore ancient trade’s end and contemporary empathy’s economic implications, showcasing interdisciplinary approaches. Earlier papers like Trade, Merchants, and the Lost Cities of the Bronze Age (2019) exemplify his historical focus. Grants & Awards: Chaney leads the ERC-funded HTMG project and holds prestigious fellowships. His work has been published in top journals and spans empirical trade analysis, financial economics, and historical methods. Labs/Teams: Active in USC’s Economics Department and collaborates with global institutions like Sciences Po and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). His research group integrates economists, historians, and data scientists for interdisciplinary projects.
Ashwani K. Gupta is a Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland, holding the Minta Martin Professorship in Engineering. He serves as Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Professor at the Institute of Physical Science and Technology, and Affiliate Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering. With over 45 years of experience in combustion engineering since graduating from Southampton University in 1970, Gupta has established himself as a leading authority in advanced combustion technologies. Dr. Gupta earned his Ph.D. from the University of Sheffield in 1973, followed by a D.Sc. from the same institution in 1986 and another D.Sc. from Southampton University in 2013. His academic journey includes six years at MIT as a research staff member and three years at Sheffield University as an independent research worker before joining the University of Maryland in 1983. Gupta's research focuses on revolutionizing combustion technology through innovations in swirl flows, high-temperature air combustion (HiTAC), and distributed combustion systems. His pioneering work on 'colorless distributed combustion' has enabled ultra-low emission combustion processes with significant applications in gas turbine engines and waste-to-energy conversion. His research spans biofuels, CO2 utilization, sulfur chemistry, waste conversion, and advanced laser diagnostics, addressing critical challenges in sustainable energy and environmental protection. Analyzing his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on waste-to-energy conversion, biomass processing, and CO2-assisted technologies. Gupta's work demonstrates a clear trajectory toward sustainable energy solutions, with increasing integration of artificial intelligence for combustion optimization and emission control. His research bridges fundamental combustion science with practical engineering applications for cleaner energy systems. Among Gupta's numerous accolades are: Election to Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering (2023) Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Aeronautical Society (2020) Recognition as one of the top 2% of scientists worldwide by Stanford University (2022-2024) Multiple prestigious medals from ASME and AIAA including the Soichiro Honda Medal (2018) and AIAA Air Breathing Propulsion Award (2014) Honorary doctorates from three international universities Gupta has secured substantial research funding throughout his career, resulting in over 850 technical papers, three books, 18 edited books, and 22 book chapters. He has delivered over 100 plenary/keynote/invited presentations at international conferences. His mentorship has shaped numerous graduate students who continue to contribute to the field of combustion engineering. Gupta directs the Combustion Laboratory at the University of Maryland, which serves as a hub for cutting-edge research in sustainable combustion technologies. The Combustion Laboratory, under Gupta's leadership, has become a center of excellence for advanced combustion research, particularly in distributed combustion systems, waste-to-energy conversion, and alternative fuels. The lab maintains strong collaborations with industry partners and international research institutions, facilitating technology transfer and practical implementation of research findings. Gupta's team employs state-of-the-art diagnostics and computational tools to advance fundamental understanding while developing practical engineering solutions for cleaner energy systems.
Antonia Holzapfel is a doctoral researcher at the Institute for Data Science in Mechanical Engineering (DSME) of RWTH Aachen University. Supervised by Prof. Sebastian Trimpe, her work focuses on safe and explainable machine learning (XAI) for robotics and time-series modeling, with applications in mechanical engineering and medical technology. Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering (Design Engineering specialization) Master's in General Mechanical Engineering (Simulation Technology and Medical Technology specializations) Her research addresses safety in learning processes , including Bayesian optimization for quadcopters and concept extraction for model interpretability. Her Friedrich-Wilhelm Award -winning thesis (2024) explored safe online learning in time-varying environments, presented at the L4DC conference. She contributes to DFG-funded projects on data-driven process modeling in forming technology. Key scientific contributions include: Advancing safe Bayesian optimization for autonomous systems Developing explainable AI methods for time-series analysis Improving model robustness through internal representation patterns Scientific awards: Friedrich-Wilhelm Award for outstanding Master's thesis (2024) Antonia's work bridges machine learning safety with practical applications in robotics and industrial processes.
Prof. Dr. Andreas Butz is a Full Professor and Chair for Human-Computer Interaction at the Department for Informatics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich). He leads the Media Informatics Group, focusing on innovative interaction techniques and interfaces in immersive environments like VR/AR, automotive systems, and smart spaces. His research emphasizes perceptual user interfaces, social robotics, and designing systems that balance invisibility with transparency. Key research areas include: Virtual/Augmented Reality interfaces for productivity and social interaction AI-driven decision support in safety-critical domains (aviation, healthcare) Haptic and wearable interaction technologies Automotive UI design for driver assistance systems Principles of explainable AI and human-AI collaboration His work bridges theory and practice through projects like: VR-based movement training systems AI trust calibration mechanisms Multi-modal interaction frameworks for automotive environments Systems for analyzing long-term music listening behavior Recent articles explore topics ranging from AI support in pilot decision-making to haptic wearables and creative writing interfaces. His team collaborates with industry partners on electric vehicle information systems and in-car interaction challenges.
Georgia Zellou is an Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of California, Davis, where she co-directs the Phonetics Lab and conducts award-winning research at the intersection of phonetics, speech perception, and human-AI interaction. Her work investigates how phonetic detail is cognitively represented through variations in speech production, with significant contributions to understanding speech alignment with voice assistants, face-masked speech intelligibility, and cross-linguistic perception of synthetic voices. Her academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Colorado at Boulder (2012), an M.A. in Linguistics from Stony Brook University (2007), and a B.A. in Linguistics & Anthropology from the University of Florida (2005, Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa). Ph.D., Linguistics, University of Colorado at Boulder (2012) M.A., Linguistics, Stony Brook University (2007) B.A., Linguistics & Anthropology, University of Florida (2005) Professor Zellou's research program centers on laboratory phonology approaches to real-world communication challenges, examining how acoustic-phonetic details influence speech perception across contexts. Her studies span speech alignment with voice-AI systems (e.g., Amazon Alexa), sociophonetic variation in bilingual speech, and the cognitive mechanisms underlying perceptual compensation for coarticulation. She employs experimental methods including eye-tracking, acoustic analysis, and perceptual testing to uncover how phonetic variation functions pragmatically in human communication and human-machine interaction. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) human-AI voice interaction dynamics, including prosodic alignment and social evaluation of TTS voices; (2) intelligibility optimization in challenging contexts (face masks, clear speech for diverse listeners); and (3) cross-linguistic phonetic variation in vowelless words and consonant clusters. These works consistently bridge theoretical phonology with applied speech technology, demonstrating how fine-grained phonetic detail influences communication effectiveness in both human-human and human-machine contexts. Her scientific recognition includes: Fulbright Scholar (2022) for research in France Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring (2019) Fellow of the Linguistic Society of America (2020) Amazon Faculty Research Award (2019) for Alexa-related speech studies Dean’s Fellow designation at UC Davis (2020-2023) Professor Zellou maintains an active mentoring practice recognized with the Chancellor’s Award, supervising undergraduate researchers in the Phonetics Lab while teaching core linguistics courses from introductory to advanced graduate levels. Her research program is supported by competitive grants including NSF funding, Amazon Research Awards, and UC Davis internal grants (Hellman Foundation, ISS Junior Faculty Grant), reflecting the translational value of her work for speech technology development. She has co-directed major initiatives including the 2019 LSA Linguistic Institute. The Phonetics Lab she co-leads serves as a hub for experimental phonetics research, focusing on speech production-perception relationships through projects investigating vocal accommodation to voice assistants, nasal coarticulation dynamics, and cross-linguistic prosody. Current collaborations with industry partners aim to implement human speech adaptation principles into voice assistant design to enhance naturalness and engagement.
Dr. Sabine Krabbe is a Group Leader at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in Bonn, Germany, where she leads research on neural circuit mechanisms underlying adaptive learning and state-dependent decision-making. Her work integrates neuroscience, molecular biology, and behavioral approaches to understand how internal states influence behavior and how these processes are disrupted in neurological disorders. Dr. Krabbe's research focuses on the interactions between midbrain circuits of the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area with their output structures such as the striatum and amygdala. She investigates how these networks integrate internal states with environmental cues to produce appropriate behavioral responses. Her laboratory employs state-of-the-art techniques including deep-brain calcium imaging at single-cell resolution in mice, opto- and pharmacogenetic manipulations, anatomical tracings, and molecular approaches to characterize neural circuit elements in detail. Her recent publications reveal significant insights into amygdala interneuron plasticity during fear learning, brain-wide representational drift in memory consolidation, and the molecular mechanisms underlying Parkinson's disease progression. Her work demonstrates how activity patterns within specific neural circuits change in early stages of neurodegenerative diseases and how this dysfunction contributes to cognitive deficits and emotional disturbances. Dr. Krabbe is actively involved in the neuroscience community, organizing the BonnBrain Conference 2026 and sharing research through social media platforms. She has established herself as an emerging leader in the field of systems neuroscience with a particular focus on the neural basis of emotional states and decision-making processes.
Dr. Emma Li is a Senior Lecturer in Responsible & Interactive Artificial Intelligence at the University of Glasgow's School of Computing Science. She directs the Interactive and Trustworthy AI Lab, developing secure human-robot collaboration frameworks for applications in healthcare, industry, and nuclear decommissioning. Her research pioneers behavioral biometric authentication methods that verify users through robotic motion patterns, enhancing security in teleoperation systems. Recent projects include cyber-physical teleoperation for nuclear decommissioning funded by the RAICo Programme. Li leads the Understandable Autonomous Systems research theme and contributes to the UKRI Centre for Doctor Training in Socially Intelligent Artificial Agents. Her publications demonstrate consistent innovation in human-robot trust establishment, adversarial robustness, and secure communication for robotic systems operating in sensitive environments.
