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Zahra MontazeriView profile

Lecturer

• Computer Graphics
• Physics-based Rendering
• Material Modeling
• +3 more

Zahra Montazeri is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Manchester. Her research focuses on physics-based computer graphics, particularly photorealistic rendering and appearance modeling for complex materials like cloth, hair, and fur. She holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of California, Irvine (UCI), and has industry experience at Disney Research, WetaDigital, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Pixar, and Luxion. **Education:** PhD in Computer Science (UCI, 2015–2021) M.Sc. in Computer Science (UCI, 2015–2017) B.Sc. in Computer Engineering (Sharif University of Technology, Iran, 2010–2014) **Research Interests:** Zahra’s work bridges academic and industrial applications, emphasizing practical and efficient rendering techniques. Her key areas include physics-based rendering, material modeling for fabrics, and virtual reality optimizations like foveated rendering. She collaborates with industry leaders such as WetaDigital and has contributed to movies like The Mandalorian and Avatar: The Way of Water . **Articles Trends:** Recent work focuses on texture-free cloth rendering, dynamic BTF synthesis, and neural-based material models. Her research often addresses computational efficiency while maintaining photorealism, with applications in film, gaming, and VR. **Awards:** Best Paper Award at EGSR (2023) Best Visuals Award at EGSR (2023) UCI Doctral Fellowship (2015) LightSpeed Venture Partners Summer Fellowship (2016) **Advising & Grants:** Advises four PhD students and has one alumni (David Petrescu). Her group actively collaborates with industry and explores applied research in rendering and virtual environments. She serves on program committees for PG, EGSR, and I3D. **Labs/Teams:** Leads a research group at Manchester focused on graphics and virtual environments, with interdisciplinary projects in computer vision, AI, and material science.

Kate LarsonView profile

Professor

• Artificial Intelligence
• Multiagent Systems
• Reinforcement Learning
• +3 more

Kate Larson is a Professor at the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science, University of Waterloo. Her research explores artificial intelligence with emphasis on multiagent systems, reinforcement learning, and AI applications for sustainability and climate challenges. She employs game-theoretic approaches to address coordination and cooperation in complex systems. Education Ph.D. in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University (2004), M.Sc. from Washington University in St. Louis (1999), and B.Sc. from Memorial University of Newfoundland (1997). Research Focus Professor Larson's work bridges theoretical AI and practical societal impacts. Key areas include: Designing cooperative AI frameworks for multiagent environments Developing value-alignment mechanisms for ethical AI Applying reinforcement learning to climate change mitigation Creating robust AI systems through game-theoretic guarantees Publication Trends Her recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate strong focus on AI safety, game-theoretic foundations, and multimodal learning systems. Dominant themes include: algorithmic alignment techniques, multi-agent risk management, and interpretable AI architectures, with increasing emphasis on real-world climate and sustainability applications. Awards & Recognition No major scientific awards mentioned in source materials. Research Infrastructure No specific labs or teams detailed in available information.

Carlotta MazzoldiView profile

Professor

• Marine Biology
• Conservation Biology
• Elasmobranch Ecology
• +12 more

Carlotta Mazzoldi is a Full Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Padua, Italy, where she conducts interdisciplinary research at the intersection of marine ecology, conservation biology, and fisheries management. Her work emphasizes the conservation of elasmobranch species, population dynamics, and the integration of local ecological knowledge into marine policy. Her research interests include: Marine and elasmobranch conservation Life-history traits of marine species Reproductive and trophic ecology Climate change impacts on marine ecosystems Citizen science and public perception of sharks Antarctic fish biology Recent publications reveal a strong trend toward interdisciplinary, data-driven approaches combining field ecology, genetics, modeling, and social science to inform marine conservation. Her work frequently addresses the impacts of overfishing, invasive species, and climate change in the Mediterranean and polar regions. She contributes to large-scale initiatives such as the Oceans Past Platform and LIFE ELIFE project. Scientific contributions and collaborations: Extensive co-authorship on elasmobranch life-history and genetics Active involvement in Mediterranean and Antarctic marine research Leadership in public engagement and shark perception studies Use of citizen science and fisher knowledge in ecological assessments She advises students and early-career researchers, though specific names are not listed. Her work is supported by national and international grants focused on marine conservation and sustainable fisheries. She is affiliated with Fabrizio Serena's Lab and contributes to interdisciplinary marine research networks across Europe.

Sean FollmerView profile

Associate Professor

• Human Computer Interaction
• Haptics
• Human Robot Interaction
• +3 more

Sean Follmer is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and courtesy faculty in Computer Science at Stanford University. He leads the Stanford Shape Lab and is affiliated with the Stanford HCI Group and Design Program. His research focuses on human-computer interaction, haptics, and human-robot interaction, emphasizing tactile interfaces and shape-changing robotics to enhance accessibility and collaboration. Education: PhD and MEng (2015/2011) from MIT Media Lab, BS in Engineering (Product Design focus) from Stanford. He has received prestigious awards including the NSF CAREER Award and Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship, alongside 17 best paper awards across UIST/CHI conferences. Research spans tangible user interfaces, haptic interaction, accessible design for visually impaired users, and robotics. Notable projects include 3D shape displays, tactile data visualization tools, and swarm robotics for haptics. His work has been showcased globally at museums like the Smithsonian Cooper Hewitt and Milan Design Week. Labs/Teams: Directs the Shape Lab, collaborating with Stanford HCI Group. His lab develops prototypes like shape-shifting tables and deformable interfaces, prioritizing iterative prototyping and human-centered design principles.

Rui YaoView profile

Lecturer

• Large-scale equilibrium modeling in multi-modal transport systems
• Individual mobility choice modeling
• Demand management strategies
• +3 more

Rui Yao is a Lecturer at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), affiliated with the College of Engineering (ENAC) and the Department of Civil Engineering. Additionally, he works as a Scientist in the Laboratory for Human-Oriented Mobility Eco-system (HOMES) within EPFL. His research focuses on large-scale equilibrium modeling in multi-modal transport systems, individual mobility choice modeling, and demand management strategies. Education: B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology Direct-track Ph.D. in Transportation Engineering, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology His research spans both theoretical and applied domains, including stochastic traffic equilibrium , multi-passenger ridesharing systems , perturbed utility models , and deep learning for choice analysis . He has contributed to advancements in data-driven route choice modeling , integrated equilibrium models for electrified logistics , and stable matching frameworks for mobility platforms . Rui Yao is affiliated with the Human-Oriented Mobility Eco-system (HOMES) lab at EPFL, which focuses on innovative transportation solutions. His work bridges theoretical modeling with real-world applications in smart mobility and transportation policy.