Andrea Giacobbe is a Full Professor of Mathematical Physics (MATH-04/A) in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Catania, Italy. His office is located in room 33, building 4 (two floors above classroom IE), with office hours held Wednesdays and Fridays from 4:00–5:00 PM by prior email appointment. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Padua, completed his PhD at the University of Maryland, College Park (USA), and conducted postdoctoral research at Utrecht University (Netherlands). After serving as Assistant Professor at the University of Padua from January 2005, he joined the University of Catania as Associate Professor in March 2016 before attaining his current Full Professorship. His research concentrates on: Geometric structures in Hamiltonian and non-holonomic mechanical systems Mathematical modeling of epidemiological dynamics Stability analysis in fluid dynamics Professor Giacobbe actively participates in the Liceo Matematico project—enhancing advanced mathematics education in Italian high schools—and serves as the official webmaster for the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science (DMI). He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses at the University of Catania, with current syllabi available from the 2022/2023 academic year onward.
Orazio Muscato is Full Professor of Mathematical Physics (MATH-04/A) at the University of Catania, Italy, where he has served as Head of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science since September 2019. He teaches in both Bachelor's and Master's programs in Mathematics, and serves on the board of the Ph.D. program in 'Mathematics and Computational Sciences' at the University of Messina. His research focuses on mathematical modeling in semiconductor physics including: Fluiddynamical and kinetic charge transport models Monte Carlo simulation for semiconductor devices Electrothermal transport in nanoscale systems Wigner transport equation solutions Big data analysis applications Professional memberships include: Unione Matematica Italiana Società Italiana di Matematica Applicata e Industriale Gruppo Nazionale per la Fisica Matematica Accademia Gioenia di Catania
Prof. Dr. Nicolas R. Gauger is Full Professor and Chairholder for Scientific Computing at the University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU), holding dual appointments in the Department of Mathematics and Department of Computer Science. He directs the university's Computing Center (RHRZ) and leads the SciComp research team, with prior roles at DLR Braunschweig, Humboldt University Berlin, RWTH Aachen University, and MIT. His academic background includes a Master in Mathematics (Dipl.-Math.) from Leibniz University Hannover (1998) and a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics (Dr.rer.nat.) from Braunschweig University of Technology (2003). 1998-2010: Research Scientist, Numerical Methods for Aerodynamics at DLR Braunschweig 2005-2010: Assistant Professor (W1), Department of Mathematics, Humboldt University Berlin 2010-2014: Associate Professor (W2), RWTH Aachen University 2014: Visiting Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Prof. Gauger's research centers on optimization under uncertainty for complex physical systems. His work integrates Algorithmic Differentiation with Machine Learning to advance Computational Fluid Dynamics, Aeroacoustics, and Structural Mechanics. Recent projects focus on medical applications like proton computed tomography (pCT) for cancer treatment through SIVERT and AI Care initiatives, alongside aerodynamic design for noise reduction and flow control. His 2025 publications reveal a dominant trend in end-to-end differentiable programming for physics-based optimization, particularly in fundamental particle physics experiments and medical imaging. Key subfields include diffusion models for detector design, reinforcement learning for particle tracking, and robust optimization frameworks applied to turbulence modeling and proton therapy. Scientific recognition includes: Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), 2018 Teaching Award from RPTU, June 2025 He has advised doctoral students including award-winning researcher Max Aehle (2025 Freundeskreis RPTU Outstanding Dissertation Award). Major grants include leadership of the Excellence Initiative-funded AICES Graduate School (2010-2019), the Center for Mathematical and Computational Modelling (CM) 2 (2014-2019), and the MathApp (2019-2024) and MSO (2024-present) research initiatives. Current projects like SIVERT and AI Care apply AI to cancer therapy. Prof. Gauger co-leads the Fraunhofer Performance Center's R&D Lab for Data Analysis and AI, serves on the Managing Board of ERCOFTAC (European Research Community on Flow, Turbulence and Combustion), and chairs the Steering Committee of ERCOFTAC's Special Interest Group on Design Optimization. His team develops critical AD tools including CoDiPack and OpDiLib within the NHR South-West high-performance computing consortium.
Iman Marvian is an Assistant Professor with a joint appointment (50/50) in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Physics at Duke University. He is also a member of the Duke Quantum Center. His research focuses on quantum information and computation theory, with applications spanning quantum algorithms, quantum error correction, quantum thermodynamics, and quantum resource theories. Dr. Marvian received his Ph.D. in Physics in 2012 from the University of Waterloo and Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, Canada. His doctoral thesis was titled "Symmetry, Asymmetry and Quantum Information." After completing his PhD, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Southern California (November 2012-August 2015) and MIT (September 2015-December 2017) before joining Duke University as an assistant professor in January 2018. Marvian's research spans several interconnected areas within quantum information science. His work on symmetric quantum circuits has revealed fundamental limitations on what can be achieved with local symmetric operations, showing that generic symmetric unitaries cannot be implemented using only local symmetric unitaries. In quantum thermodynamics and resource theories, he has made significant contributions to understanding coherence, asymmetry, and the fundamental limits of quantum thermal machines. His research on quantum algorithms includes work on spectral estimation, quantum singular value decomposition, and universal quantum emulation. He has also contributed to understanding symmetry-protected topological order and quantum speed limits. Marvian's research group has produced significant results in understanding the role of symmetries in quantum computation, particularly regarding the limitations imposed by conservation laws. His work demonstrates that while 2-local unitaries can generate any unitary transformation without symmetry constraints, this universality breaks down when continuous symmetries are present. This has implications for quantum simulation, quantum error correction, and understanding the fundamental limits of quantum computing architectures. Dr. Marvian has received several prestigious awards, including: National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2021) Dr. Marvian actively mentors PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. His current group includes Postdoctoral Researchers Dr. David Jakab and Dr. Nikolaos Koukoulekidis, and PhD students Austin Hulse, Shiv Akshar Yadavalli, Yash Chitgopekar, Plato Deliyannis, Govind Sidhardh, Sujay Kazi, and Shrigyan Brahmachari (jointly supervised with Prof. Henry Pfister). His former group member Hanqing Liu is currently a Postdoc at LANL. Dr. Marvian teaches courses including PHYSICS 623: Quantum Information Theory, PHYSICS 380: Introduction to Quantum Information Science, MATH 363: Introduction to Quantum Information Science, and ECE 623: Quantum Information Theory. Dr. Marvian's research is conducted through his theoretical quantum information group at Duke University, where he collaborates with experimentalists and theorists across disciplines to advance our understanding of quantum information processing and its applications.
Dr. Annika Dix is a research associate at the Chair of Automobile Engineering, TU Dresden, where since August 2023 she has been establishing the new research group for Automotive Human Factors. She previously held research positions at TU Dresden and the interdisciplinary Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop (CeTI). Her expertise spans cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and human–machine interaction. Education & Training Diplom-Psychologin (equivalent to MSc Psychology), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, specializing in Cognitive and Neuropsychology Doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.), 2015, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin & Berlin School of Mind and Brain, dissertation: “Count on the Brain: Using EEG Oscillations and Eye Movements to Disentangle Intelligent Problem-Solving in Math” Research Interests Dr. Dix investigates how human cognition—especially problem solving and decision making—interacts with complex technological environments. Her core themes include: Automotive Human Factors: driver behavior, autonomous vehicle acceptance, and technical supervision roles. Human-Machine Interaction: effects of feedback latency, multisensory augmentation, and interface design on motor skill learning. Cognitive & Neural Mechanisms: utilizing EEG, fNIRS, pupillometry, and drift-diffusion modeling to understand mathematical cognition, incentive motivation, and aging. Scientific Contributions & Trends Across 20 peer-reviewed works (2012-2025), Dr. Dix has progressively widened her focus from fundamental mathematical cognition toward applied challenges in cyber-physical and autonomous systems. Recent outputs emphasize ethical and social dimensions of robotics (robots giving moral advice, acceptance of robo-advisors) and the impact of system latency on fine motor performance in augmented reality and tactile internet environments. Teaching & Mentoring She currently coordinates teaching and study-program development for the Chair of Automobile Engineering. Earlier instructional activities at TU Dresden and Humboldt-Universität covered Cognitive Psychology, Embodied Cognition, Embodied AI, and teacher-training courses on child development. Labs & Teams Dr. Dix leads the nascent Automotive Human Factors research group at TU Dresden and actively collaborates with CeTI’s interdisciplinary consortium, integrating psychologists, engineers, and computer scientists to design human-centered tactile internet technologies.
Andrew Gozzard is a Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering at the University of Western Australia's School of Physics, Maths and Computing. He holds a PhD from UWA (2023), a BSc in Physics, and a BSc (Honors) in Computer Science. Education : PhD in Computer Science (2023), BSc in Physics, BSc (Honors) in Computer Science His research focuses on algorithms, data structures, graph theory, and functional programming. He has contributed to probabilistic reasoning in multi-agent systems and developed algorithms for geometric intersection graphs. His work intersects computer science with mathematical logic. Key publications include studies on aleatoric dynamic epistemic logic and efficient graph algorithms. He previously worked as a programmer with UWA's Gravitational Wave Data Analysis team and completed five software engineering internships at Google. His teaching philosophy emphasizes collaborative learning and co-founding the UWA Programming Competition Society.
Adam Watts is a Visiting Professor at the School of Physics, Maths and Computing , The University of Western Australia . His research focuses on galaxy evolution, particularly environmental effects on cold gas dynamics in clusters like Virgo. Research Interests: Using observational data (e.g., SAMI-Hi, VERTICO) and machine learning (GalProTE), he investigates Star formation suppression in clusters HI gas distribution and asymmetry Ionized vs neutral hydrogen gas interactions Galaxy rotation curves and stellar mass . Key Publications: Recent work includes studies on bipolar outflows (MAUVE, 2024), environmental evolution of cold gas (VERTICO V, 2023), and H I asymmetry datasets (IllustrisTNG, xGASS, 2020). His articles often integrate multi-wavelength data and computational methods.
Shrish Parmeshwar is a Research Fellow at CY Cergy Paris University , focusing on Nonlinear PDEs and Mathematical Fluid Mechanics . He works under the supervision of Prof. Philippe Gravejat , with prior postdoctoral experience at Imperial College London , University of Warwick , and University of Bath (under Prof. Monica Musso ). His doctoral research at King’s College London was advised by Prof. Mahir Hadžić and centered on compressible fluid dynamics and singularity formation in PDEs. His research program explores Free Boundary Problems , Vortex Dynamics , and Singular Limits in fluid mechanics, particularly through collaborations with experts like Juan Dávila , Manuel del Pino , and Monica Musso . Recent publications in J. Differential Equations and Quart. Appl. Math. analyze self-similar vortex configurations and global existence criteria for nonlinear systems. As an educator, he has served as a Tutor for advanced mathematics courses at University of Bath (Vector Calculus, Analysis 2A) and King’s College London (Fourier Analysis, PDEs and Complex Variables). His teaching emphasizes analytical methods and their applications to fluid dynamics.
Lucas Goehring is a Professor in the Physics and Maths department at Nottingham Trent University (NTU), where he leads an experimental research group studying pattern formation and complex fluids. His work spans fundamental physics of mechanical instabilities to interdisciplinary applications in geophysics and biophysics. He teaches condensed matter physics, forensic image processing, and first-year physics labs, with prior teaching experience in environmental physics, non-linear dynamics, and soft matter physics. Goehring's educational background includes a PhD from the University of Toronto on columnar joints (e.g., Giant's Causeway), followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge studying colloidal drying and cracking. He later habilitated while teaching at the University of Göttingen during his tenure as a research group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organisation. His research centers on complex fluids and solids – multi-phase materials where microscopic structure determines macroscopic properties. Key themes include: Mechanical instabilities (fractures, wrinkling, buckling) Geophysical pattern formation (salt polygons, columnar joints, mud cracks) Colloidal dispersion dynamics (drying paint, biogenic systems) Cross-scale physics connecting nano/micro to macro behavior This work addresses fundamental questions about structural emergence in nature, applying solid mechanics and complex systems theory to diverse phenomena from reptile scales to Martian permafrost. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals dominant trends in porous media convection (salt lakes, dry soils), biophysical pattern formation (cyanobacteria mats), and colloidal drying mechanics . These span interdisciplinary fields including geophysics, soft matter physics, and active matter, with consistent focus on experimental validation through microfluidics and advanced imaging techniques. Goehring actively supervises PhD students including P.S. Atkinson (2024) and M. Emerse (2023), with research opportunities available in MPhil/PhD programs at NTU. His major international collaborations include Bernard Cabane (ESPCI ParisTech), Ran Holtzman (Hebrew University), Eleni Katifori (University of Pennsylvania), and Max Planck Institute researchers in biophysics. He maintains an affiliated position at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organisation and serves on the editorial board of Proceedings of the Royal Society A , while leading an experimental lab focused on pattern formation in complex materials.
Yasanthi Kottegoda serves as Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Physics within the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of New Haven, where she has been a faculty member since 2014. Originally from Sri Lanka, she actively contributes to undergraduate mathematics education and research while co-directing the University of New Haven All Girls Summer Math Academy to promote female engagement in mathematics. Education: Ph.D. in Mathematics, Southern Illinois University Carbondale M.S. in Mathematics, Southern Illinois University Carbondale B.S. in Mathematics, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka Research Interests: Dr. Kottegoda specializes in finite fields with concentrated research on quadratic forms over finite fields. Her scholarly pursuits extend to algebraic coding theory and cryptography, reflecting her commitment to theoretical mathematics with potential practical applications. She integrates research with pedagogy, believing mathematics teaching is an art that simplifies complexity without trivializing concepts. Academic Leadership: Chair of Mathematics & Physics Department since appointment Co-founder and co-director of University of New Haven All Girls Summer Math Academy (2015–present) Active participant in undergraduate mathematics research initiatives
Kathleen Rondinone serves as a Practitioner in Residence in the Department of Mathematics and Physics within the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of New Haven. Education: Ph.D. in Mathematics Education, University of Maryland, College Park Master of Arts in Mathematics, Central Connecticut State University Dr. Rondinone specializes in mathematics education with a focus on helping students overcome challenges in quantitative subjects. She has dedicated her career to improving student success in mathematics, particularly through her work in the Math Zone where she helps students fulfill their mathematics requirements. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes building student confidence and demonstrating that success in mathematics is achievable even with previously inaccessible concepts. Affiliations: Department of Mathematics and Physics, College of Arts and Sciences Math Zone teaching and support program Dr. Rondinone joined the University of New Haven in Spring 2013 as adjunct faculty in the Math Zone before advancing to her current Practitioner in Residence position. She actively participates in the ongoing improvements to the Math Zone and expresses enthusiasm for working with students who need to complete their mathematics requirements. Her approach centers on recognizing and nurturing the excitement students feel when they overcome mathematical challenges.
Brunetto Piochi is an Adjunct Faculty member at the University of New Haven, affiliated with the Department of Mathematics and Physics - Math. He works at the Tuscany Campus in Prato and serves as a Study Abroad Contact. Born in Florence (1951), graduated in Mathematics from the University of Florence (1973) Has over 40 years of teaching experience at Italian universities (Sassari, Siena, Florence) Author/co-author of 70+ books and publications His research focuses on Semigroup Theory , Informatics , and Mathematics Education for Students with Special Needs . He currently engages in teacher training and national/international math education projects. At the University of New Haven, he teaches Calculus I and provides tutoring through Mathzone. He has held guest lecturer roles and conducted study periods at multiple universities globally.
Ramón M. Figueroa-Centeno is an Associate Professor in the Mathematics Department at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, affiliated with the College of Natural and Health Sciences. His career spans institutions including Pittsburg State University and Western Michigan University, where he earned his Ph.D. in Pure Mathematics with a focus on Graph Theory. Education: Ph.D., Western Michigan University (1998) M.A., Western Michigan University (1994) B.S., Western Michigan University (1992) Universidad Metropolitana, Venezuela (Administrative Sciences, Systems Engineering, Pure Mathematics) Primary/Secondary education in Venezuela and England Research Focus: Specializing in Graph Theory, particularly Super Edge-Magic Labelings of graphs. Collaborations with Rikio Ichishima and Francesc Antoni Muntaner-Batle since 1998 have produced significant work on graph labelings, their properties, and applications. His research bridges topological graph theory and number theory. Publications Trends: Over 15 years, his work explores chromatic polynomials, graph imbeddings, and advanced labelings like super edge-magic graphs. He investigates structural properties of graphs, including cycles, trees, and 2-regular graphs, contributing to combinatorial algorithms and theoretical proofs. Scientific Awards: Colegio Humboldt Scientific Fair Awards (1982, 1984, 1985) Honorary Mention in Apple Macintosh Applications Contest (1986) Associate Fellow, Institute of Combinatorics and its Applications (2000–present) Nominated for Distinguished Faculty Award (2000, 2001) and Advisor of the Year (1998) Advising & Grants: Mentored students from undergraduate research to doctoral studies, including Francesc Antoni Muntaner-Batle (Ph.D., 2001) and William Bierman, Leilani Lee Loy, Chelsea N. Rice, Justin DiPaola-Allen, Tien Chih at UHH. Collaborated on interdisciplinary projects with Physics and Computer Science faculty. Labs & Teams: Active in the UHH Math Tutoring Lab, providing resources for students. Co-advisor to the UHH Math Club and involved in student organizations like H.O.T. and CCCP-MIR at PSU.
Dr. Liang Kong is a Full Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS), with research spanning the intersection of dynamical systems and machine learning. His work develops AI-enhanced mathematical frameworks for complex systems, computational epidemiology, and analog computing. Ph.D. in Mathematics from Auburn University (2013) His research focuses on: Data-driven dynamical systems Physics-informed neural networks Nonlinear evolution equations in life sciences Mathematical epidemiology Recent publications analyze epidemic modeling with deep learning, SEIR dynamics using PINNs, and spreading speeds in ecological competition systems. Awards include the 2024 Pinnacle of Discovery Award and multiple Faculty Mentor Awards. He leads the MAA PIC Math program and co-founded UIS's Interdisciplinary Scientific AI Supercomputing Hub. Scientific Awards Pinnacle of Discovery Award (2024), College of Health, Science and Technology (CHST) Faculty Mentor Award (2024), Provost's Office MAA PIC Math program award (2019) Dr. Kong has mentored students in computational epidemiology, AI education, and dynamical systems research, including Christopher Denq (CISE Graduate Fellowship), Abhishek Soni (UIC PhD admission), and Maria Corpuz (DRR Program completion). His work is supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Energy and Illinois Innovation Network.
Dr. Karsten Matthies is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Bath . He actively contributes to research in Analysis Group , the Probability Laboratory , and the Centre for Nonlinear Mechanics , with affiliations to KineticNet and the EPSRC Network on generalized PDE solutions. Research Interests : Infinite-dimensional dynamics (PDEs, lattice ODEs), many-particle systems and kinetic equations, averaging/homogenisation for PDEs, and exponentially small effects. Teaching : Courses include Dynamical Systems (MA40045) and Functional Analysis (MA40057) for 2024/25. Recent Publications focus on kinetic equations derived from particle models, solitary waves in nonlinear systems, and geometric analysis in Hamiltonian frameworks. Key themes include wave propagation in lattices, thermodynamic interpretations of fast-slow systems, and rigorous derivations of PDEs from microscopic models. Collaborations & Grants : Co-Investigator in EPSRC network on nonlinear PDEs , Leverhulme grant with Florian Theil , and funding through SAMBa for PhD students. Advising : Supervised PhD candidates include Theodora Syntaka (2020-2024), Matthias Klar (2017-2021), and others with joint supervision.
