Christoph Koch is a Full Professor in the School of Computer and Communication Sciences at EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne) , Switzerland. He has held academic positions at Cornell University (2007-2010, 2006), Saarland University (2005-2007), and TU Vienna (2001-2005). His research focuses on database systems, logic, programming languages, and data management.
Jan Dreier is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Logic and Computation at Vienna University of Technology. His research centers on structural graph theory and algorithmic meta-theorems, particularly exploring the boundaries of tractability for model checking problems. Dreier's work bridges theoretical computer science and discrete mathematics, focusing on graph decompositions, parameterized complexity, and logical expressiveness. Key research themes include monadic stability in graph classes, applications of model theory to computer science, and efficient algorithms for logical queries on structured graphs. His publication record shows consistent focus on graph sparsity concepts and algorithmic applications of logic, with recent work expanding into approximation methods for counting queries. Research demonstrates sophisticated applications of combinatorial methods to fundamental problems in computational complexity.
Christoph H. Lampert is a Professor at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), leading the Machine Learning and Computer Vision (MLCV) Group. His research spans machine learning, computer vision, and trustworthy AI with emphasis on robustness and fairness. He serves as ELLIS Fellow and Unit Director for ISTA's ELLIS unit. His research program focuses on foundational challenges in machine learning including robustness against distribution shifts, fairness in algorithmic decision-making, and verification of neural networks. Key contributions include work on 1-Lipschitz networks for robust classification, multi-source learning frameworks, and federated learning architectures. The group maintains strong output in top-tier venues through theoretical and empirical approaches. Recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate consistent focus on verification, robustness, and multi-source learning, with notable recognition including the DARPA Disruptive Ideas award for logic gate neural network verification. Work frequently bridges computer vision and machine learning theory, with applications in safety-critical systems. Scientific Awards: ELLIS Fellow DARPA Disruptive Ideas award at NeuS (2025) for "Logic Gate Neural Networks are Good for Verification" Professor Lampert has supervised 12+ PhD students including recent graduates Alex Peste (2023), Nikola Konstantinov (2022), and Mary Phuong (2021), with current advisees including Max Cairney-Leeming and Egor Zverev. His group secures consistent publication placements at NeurIPS, ICML, and ICLR while editing major volumes like "Advanced Structured Prediction" (MIT Press 2015). The MLCV group comprises 10+ members including postdocs and PhD students, operating within ISTA's ELLIS unit (approved 2019). The team maintains active collaborations across Europe through the ELLIS network and regularly hosts visiting researchers.
Wolfgang Kunz is a Full Professor (C4, W3) and Chair of Electronic Design Automation at the Technische Universität Kaiserslautern since 2001. His academic career spans multiple prestigious institutions, including Goethe-University Frankfurt/Main and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He has held leadership roles such as Dean (2005-2007) and Vice-Dean (2007-2009) at TU Kaiserslautern. Habilitation (Dr. rer. nat. habil.), Computer Science, University of Potsdam (1996) Doctoral degree (Dr.-Ing.), Electrical Engineering, University of Hannover (1992) Dipl.-Ing. degree, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (1989) His research focuses on hardware verification, security, and optimization, particularly in embedded systems and processors. His work on formal verification methods has been commercialized by companies like Synopsys, Mentor Graphics, and Siemens EDA. His 2016-2021 publications address critical security issues such as Spectre/Meltdown and introduce innovative verification frameworks adopted by industry leaders like Infineon and OneSpin Solutions. Scientific awards include the IEEE Fellow (2006), German IT Society Award (2005), and TU Kaiserslautern Distinguished Teaching Award (2016). He has served on editorial boards of major journals and coordinated the Erasmus Mundus European Master Program in Embedded Computing Systems since 2010. Key students: Jörg Bormann, Raik Brinkmann, Tobias Ludwig Collaborations: Siemens EDA, Infineon, AbsInt, Intel SCAP Spin-offs: LUBIS EDA, OneSpin Solutions
Luca Cardelli is a Principal Researcher and Assistant Director at Microsoft Research Cambridge, UK, since 1997. He holds visiting professorships at Imperial College London (Department of Computing, 2004–2009) and the University of Trento (2005–2007). He earned his PhD in Computer Science from the University of Edinburgh in 1982. His research spans type theory , molecular programming , and principles of programming languages , with applications to systems biology and concurrency theory. Notable contributions include formal frameworks for modeling biochemical systems (e.g., the stochastic π-calculus) and designing DNA-based circuits. Key achievements include the AITO Dahl-Nygaard Senior Prize (2007) and multiple Most Influential Paper Awards at POPL and ETAPS. His work bridges computer science and biology, advancing both theoretical foundations and practical molecular computing.
Dr. Alexander Linsbichler serves as Senior Postdoc and Principal Investigator at the Institute of Philosophy and Scientific Method at Johannes Kepler University Linz. He leads the FWF ESPRIT project 'Adverse Allies: Logical Empiricism and Austrian Economics' and will assume Principal Investigator duties for the OeNB (Austrian National Bank) Anniversary Fund Project 'Carl Menger as a Central Banker?' starting January 2025. Concurrently, he holds faculty appointments at the Vienna Doctoral School of Philosophy (University of Vienna) and the Department of International Economics (Vienna International School), and lectures at multiple economics departments across Vienna and Graz institutions. Dr. Linsbichler earned his doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Vienna with highest distinction in September 2020 through the Doctoral Program 'The Sciences in Historical, Philosophical and Cultural Contexts.' His academic foundation includes an MA in History and Philosophy of Science (2014) and a Mag.rer.nat. in Mathematics: Mathematical Logic and Foundations (2012), both completed with highest distinction from the University of Vienna and Vienna University of Technology. His research centers on the philosophical foundations of economics, with particular emphasis on the Austrian School of Economics within historical context. Dr. Linsbichler investigates the complex relationship between Logical Empiricism and Austrian Economics, the evolution of economic methodology, and the history of economic thought from Viennese Enlightenment through 20th century debates. His work frequently examines intellectual connections between figures like Otto Neurath, Ludwig von Mises, and members of both the Vienna Circle and Mises Circle, challenging conventional narratives about these philosophical and economic traditions. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a scholarly trajectory focused on re-examining foundational assumptions in economic thought, particularly regarding the socialist calculation debates, the role of formal methods in economics, and the historical development of Viennese economic philosophy. His interdisciplinary approach integrates philosophy of science, economic methodology, and historical analysis to provide nuanced perspectives on longstanding debates in economic theory. 2nd place RHETM Paper Prize 2020 for 'Rationalities and Their Limits: Reconstructing Neurath's and Mises's Prerequisites in the Early Socialist Calculation Debates' As Principal Investigator of major research projects funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) and the Austrian National Bank, Dr. Linsbichler manages substantial research resources. His FWF ESPRIT project 'Adverse Allies' explores historical connections between Logical Empiricism and Austrian Economics, while his upcoming OeNB project will investigate Carl Menger's central banking contributions. These projects demonstrate his ability to secure competitive funding and lead interdisciplinary research teams examining foundational questions in economic thought. Dr. Linsbichler actively participates in multiple research initiatives including 'Adverse Allies: Logical Empiricism and Austrian Economics' (FWF), 'Carl Menger as a Central Banker?' (OeNB), and 'Normative Framework for Measuring Lifespan Inequity' (NORM_LIFE). These projects unite scholars from philosophy, economics, and history to investigate methodological questions in economic theory and policy formation, with particular attention to how philosophical frameworks shape economic reasoning.
Folker Hanusch is a Professor and Vice Dean at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Vienna, where he also serves as Vice-Director of Studies for Mass Media and Communication Science. He is based in the Department of Communication and teaches advanced seminars on journalism theory, research methods, and master's level courses. His educational qualifications include: BA (Hons) PhD Professor Hanusch's research focuses on: Journalistic cultures and role perceptions across national contexts Lifestyle journalism and boundary work with peripheral actors Cultural impacts on journalistic practices in Pacific Islands and Austria Phenomenological approaches to media trust and social identity Digital transformation challenges including audience analytics Commercial pressures on journalistic autonomy His recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate concentrated exploration of peripherality in journalism, showing how lifestyle journalists negotiate authority against influencers while navigating platformization and commercial demands. Cross-cultural comparisons reveal how local contexts fundamentally shape journalistic values and practices. As Vice-Director of Studies, he oversees academic programs but no specific student advisees are documented in available sources.
Emanuel Sallinger is a Full Professor at TU Wien's Databases and Artificial Intelligence Group and Vice Dean of Academic Affairs for Business Informatics and Data Science. He leads the Knowledge Graph Lab, focusing on scalable knowledge-based systems, reasoning in knowledge graphs, and AI integration. His research spans computational logic, database theory, and blockchain applications. Education: PhD in Computer Science (awarded 'sub auspiciis praesidentis rei publicae'), Master's degrees in Computational Intelligence and Informatics Management, and a Bachelor's in Software and Information Engineering. Research Interests: Knowledge graphs (construction, reasoning, scalability), logic-based systems, AI/ML integration with databases, enterprise architecture modeling, and financial knowledge systems. His work emphasizes practical applications like enterprise modeling, sustainable waste management, and regulatory compliance. Grants & Projects: Lead Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF)-funded Knowledge Graph Lab. Involved in projects like 'Knowledge Graph-driven Tour Management' (sustainability), 'SustainGraph' (waste processing), and 'Enterprise Architecture Knowledge Graphs'. Teaching: Offers courses on Knowledge Graphs, Generative AI, Database Systems, and research methodology. Supervises doctoral and master's students in AI, databases, and knowledge representation. Labs/Teams: Knowledge Graph Lab at TU Wien, collaborating with industry on blockchain-based systems, financial AI, and enterprise architecture frameworks.
Stefan Woltran is a Full Professor in the Databases and Artificial Intelligence department at TU Wien. He serves as Vice Dean of Academic Affairs for the Informatics Master program and leads the Research Unit for Databases and Artificial Intelligence. His research focuses on logic-based AI, including Propositional Logic, Nonmonotonic Reasoning, Argumentation frameworks, Knowledge Representation, and Logic Programming. He coordinates the Double-Degree Program Logic and Computation. His research projects include analyzing formal properties of logic-based AI approaches, complexity analysis, and developing algorithms via logic and dynamic programming. Notable projects include the HYPAR and REVEAL-AI initiatives exploring abstract argumentation and AI problem-solving. He has contributed to over 150 publications since 2001, focusing on argumentation frameworks, computational complexity, and formal methods. Woltran teaches courses such as Abstract Argumentation, Formal Methods in Computer Science, and Theoretical Computer Science. His work integrates theoretical advancements with practical solver development, such as the ASPARTIX system for argumentation tasks. He actively participates in international conferences and competitions in computational argumentation, emphasizing the application of formal methods to real-world problems.
Victor Vianu is a Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of California, San Diego and holds the INRIA International Chair at INRIA-Saclay in Paris. He has maintained continuous faculty status at UC San Diego since 1983 while developing extensive international collaborations, particularly with French research institutions including INRIA, ENST-Paris, ENS-Paris, and the University of Paris. His academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Southern California (1983) and undergraduate studies in Mathematics and Informatics at the University of Bucharest (1974-1977). Professor Vianu's research spans computational logic, database systems and theory, and automatic verification. His work uniquely bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications in XML processing, workflow systems, and data-driven applications. He has made seminal contributions to understanding the theoretical underpinnings of database query languages and their expressive power, particularly in the context of XML technologies and workflow systems. His research demonstrates a consistent trajectory from theoretical computer science to practical database systems applications. His publication record reveals significant contributions to database theory spanning over three decades, with particular emphasis on XML technologies, workflow systems, and formal methods for data-driven applications. His work shows a clear evolution from foundational theoretical work to practical applications in business processes and web technologies. INRIA International Chair (2013) Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (2013) ACM PODS Alberto O. Mendelzon Test-of-Time Award (2010) Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) (2006) Professor Vianu has held significant leadership roles including Editor-in-Chief of the prestigious Journal of the ACM, numerous program committee chair positions for major database conferences (PODS, ICDT, ASIAN), and General Chair for ACM SIGMOD conferences. He has served on the executive committees of SIGMOD (1998-2000) and PODS (1993-2004), and was a member of the ICDT Council (1997-2007), demonstrating sustained influence in the theoretical database community. His extensive invited talks at major conferences including College de France, ACM PODS, and International Conference on Database Theory highlight his international recognition.
Saharon Shelah is an Israeli mathematician renowned for his groundbreaking work in mathematical logic and set theory. He currently holds the Robinson Chair for Mathematical Logic at Hebrew University, a position he has held since 1978, and has been a Professor at Hebrew University since 1974. Additionally, he serves as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Rutgers University since 1986. His educational background includes: B.Sc. from Tel Aviv University (1964) M.Sc. from Tel Aviv University (1967) M.Sc. from Hebrew University (1968) Ph.D. from Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1969), summa cum laude, supervised by Michael Rabin Shelah's research primarily focuses on mathematical logic, particularly model theory and set theory. His work has revolutionized these fields through the development of stability theory, PCF theory, and proper forcing. He has made significant contributions to understanding the connections between logic and other mathematical disciplines including algebra, computer science, and combinatorics. His approach often involves creating general frameworks that solve multiple problems simultaneously, demonstrating extraordinary depth and breadth in mathematical thinking. An analysis of Shelah's extensive publication record reveals consistent innovation across mathematical logic. His work shows a progression from foundational model theory in the 1970s through the development of stability theory, to groundbreaking set theory results in the 1980s and 1990s, particularly in cardinal arithmetic and PCF theory. Recent publications continue to expand abstract model theory while finding new applications across mathematics. His research demonstrates remarkable consistency in quality and originality over five decades. Shelah's exceptional contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards: 2013 AMS Steele Prize 2011 EMET Prize in Mathematics 2001 Wolf Prize in Mathematics 2000 Bolyai Prize 1998 Israel Prize for Mathematics 1992 SIAM George Pólya Prize 1991 Honorary Foreign Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 1988 Member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities 1983 Karp Prize 1982 Rothshild Prize 1977 Erdös Prize Throughout his career, Shelah has mentored numerous students and collaborated with over 200 coauthors. His research has been supported by multiple grants from prestigious organizations including the Israel Science Foundation and the National Science Foundation. Shelah's work has fundamentally shaped modern mathematical logic, with his classification theory providing frameworks that continue to guide research directions. His ability to connect seemingly disparate areas of mathematics through logical structures has made his contributions exceptionally influential. Shelah maintains an active research group at Hebrew University, where he continues to supervise doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers. His research program, known for its depth and technical sophistication, continues to generate new directions in mathematical logic. The Shelah Archive (http://shelah.logic.at) serves as a comprehensive repository of his extensive publication record, which surpassed 1190 papers by the end of 2024.
Achille Varzi is a Full Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University since 2006, specializing in analytic metaphysics, logic, and mereology . His academic journey includes an Assistant Professorship at Columbia (1995–1999) and research roles in Artificial Intelligence at Trento’s Institute for Scientific and Technological Research (1989–1995). He earned his PhD from the University of Toronto (1994) under Hans G. Herzberger and holds an honorary professorship at Trento. Research Focus: Leading authority in mereology , exploring part-whole relations through numerous publications, edited volumes, and a forthcoming book with A.J. Cotnoir. His work bridges logic, ontology, and philosophy of language. Public Engagement: Active as a public intellectual with media contributions and a philosophical TV program on Italian national television. Publications Trends: Recent works emphasize classical mereology , ontological neutrality , and vagueness . Earlier contributions include foundational texts on spatial reasoning, identity, and paradoxes in logic. Scientific Awards: Recognized with prestigious fellowships and prizes in Italy and Canada, including the David Savan Dissertation Prize for his groundbreaking PhD thesis. Editorial Leadership: Serves as editor of The Journal of Philosophy since 2001.
Hans Tompits is an Associate Professor in the Department of Knowledge-Based Systems at Technische Universität Wien (Vienna University of Technology). His research focuses on computational logic, declarative logic programming, and formal methods, with a particular emphasis on Answer-Set Programming (ASP). He coordinates the Master's program in Logic and Computation and leads projects in areas such as formal methods for optimization, fault-tolerant autonomous systems, and algorithmic composition. His work bridges theoretical advancements with practical applications, including tools like SeaLion (an ASP IDE with debugging support) and dlvhex (an ASP-based semantic web reasoner). He has contributed to foundational topics like program equivalence, debugging techniques, and integration of ASP with external systems. His recent projects address challenges in autonomous vehicle architectures, music composition algorithms, and safety-critical system design. Tompits has published extensively on topics ranging from nonmonotonic reasoning and modal logics to the development of declarative programming tools. His interdisciplinary approach spans computer science, mathematics, and AI, with applications in both academic and industrial contexts.
Ana Sokolova is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Salzburg. She is affiliated with the Faculty of Digital and Analytical Sciences and actively contributes to research in theoretical computer science. University: University of Salzburg Faculty: Faculty of Digital and Analytical Sciences Department: Computer Science Email: ana.sokolova@plus.ac.at Her research focuses on probabilistic systems , concurrency theory , convex algebras , and formal verification . This work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications in distributed computing and programming semantics. Recent publications highlight advancements in trace semantics , determinization , probabilistic anonymity , and coalgebraic modeling . Key trends include the integration of Markov chains , nondeterministic systems , and algebraic structures for formal verification.
Stefan Büttner is Professor of Classics (Greek) at the University of Vienna , serving as Deputy Head of the Department of Classical Philology, Medieval and Neo-Latin Studies. His academic career spans institutions including Philipps University Marburg, University of Konstanz, and University of Vienna since 2011. Born 1986–1997: Studied Classical Philology and Philosophy at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, and Philipps University Marburg. 1997: Doctorate at Marburg on Plato's Literary Theory. 2007: Habilitation in Classical Philology. 2011: Appointed Professor at University of Vienna. His research focuses on Ancient Philosophy , Antique Aesthetics , Greek Tragedy , and Reception History . Current projects include analyzing the modern self-perception of antiquity , the Euripides reception , and Artes Liberales educational programs . Recent publications explore: Euripides 's shifting image from antiquity to modernity. Mimesis in Platonic dialogues. Homeric elements in Aristotle's Rhetoric. Symmetry as a foundational concept in ancient aesthetics. He serves on editorial boards for Wiener Studien für Klassische Philologie and Eisodos. Zeitschrift für Antike Literatur und Theorie , and chairs the Society for Ancient Philosophy Austria . Supervised theses at University of Vienna include topics on Aristotelian analytics, Platonic deconstruction, and Chrysippus' Medea adaptation. Büttner leads research seminars on ancient rhetoric, metaphor theory, and the interplay of philosophy and tragedy. He co-founded the book series Philosophie und Literatur and Studien zu Literatur und Erkenntnis , emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to classical studies.