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Rodney Harrison is a Reader in Archaeology, Heritage and Museum Studies at the UCL Institute of Archaeology, University College London. He serves as the founding editor of the Journal of Contemporary Archaeology and has been Vice President of the Association of Critical Heritage Studies since 2012. His research focuses on critical heritage studies, contemporary archaeology, and future-making practices in heritage contexts. Harrison's work challenges traditional boundaries between past, present, and future in heritage discourse, emphasizing how heritage functions as a future-oriented practice. His research spans cultural and natural heritage, exploring connections between heritage conservation and other material legacy management systems, including nuclear waste disposal. Harrison leads the major international 'Heritage Futures' research program funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council. This project represents one of the largest critical, comparative ethnographic studies of heritage practices, examining how different forms of heritage function as distinctive future-making practices across diverse contexts. His scholarly contributions include more than a dozen books and over 60 peer-reviewed articles. Notable publications include Collecting, Ordering, Governing: Museums, Anthropology and Liberal Government (2016), Heritage: Critical Approaches (2013), Reassembling the Collection (2013), Understanding the Politics of Heritage (2011), and The Heritage Reader (2008). Harrison's work consistently engages with critical theory, challenging conventional heritage frameworks and exploring innovative approaches to understanding how material and cultural legacies shape future possibilities. His research has significant implications for heritage policy, conservation practice, and theoretical developments in critical heritage studies.

• Critical Heritage Studies
• Archaeology
• Museum Studies
• +7 more

Mikhail (Misha) Belkin is a Professor at the Halicioglu Data Science Institute (HDSI) at the University of California San Diego , with an affiliated appointment in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering . He is also an Amazon Scholar , reflecting his impactful industry collaboration. Since January 2024, he has served as the Editor-in-Chief of the SIAM Journal on Mathematics of Data Science (SIMODS) . Research Interests: Belkin's research centers on the theoretical foundations of machine learning, particularly the mathematical understanding of modern deep learning. His work investigates interpolation , over-parameterization , and feature learning in neural networks. He is renowned for introducing the double descent risk curve, which reconciles classical bias-variance trade-offs with the success of overfitted models. His recent work identifies the Average Gradient Outer Product (AGOP) as a fundamental mechanism of feature learning, applicable across architectures like CNNs and transformers. Scientific Contributions and Trends: His recent publications, appearing in Science , PNAS , and NeurIPS , demonstrate a strong trend toward unifying theories of generalization and optimization in over-parameterized systems. He explores how interpolating models can be statistically optimal, how gradient descent converges in non-convex landscapes via the PL* condition, and how kernel methods can be enhanced to perform feature learning. ACM Fellow (2023) Editor-in-Chief, SIAM Journal on Mathematics of Data Science (2024–present) Advising and Grants: Belkin actively mentors students and collaborators such as Adityanarayanan Radhakrishnan , Daniel Beaglehole , and Chaoyue Liu , who are frequent co-authors. He is a Principal Investigator (PI) in the Collaboration on the Theoretical Foundations of Deep Learning , funded by the NSF and Simons Foundation. He is also an external collaborator with the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Center at the Broad Institute and part of the NSF-funded TILOS AI Institute . Laboratories and Teams: While not explicitly named, his research group at UCSD is deeply involved in theoretical machine learning, focusing on the intersection of statistics, optimization, and deep learning. His work often involves large-scale collaborations and is closely tied to initiatives like SIMODS and TILOS.

• Machine Learning
• Deep Learning
• Theoretical Foundations of AI
• +11 more

Hossam Hassanein is a Professor and Director of the School of Computing at Queen's University. He received his B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Kuwait University in 1984, M.Sc. in Computer Engineering from the University of Toronto in 1986, and Ph.D. in Computing Science from the University of Alberta in 1990. He joined Queen's University School of Computing in 1999 and has established himself as a leading researcher in telecommunications and networking. Dr. Hassanein's research interests span wireless sensor networks, mobile ad hoc networks, edge computing, Internet of Things (IoT), radio resource management, and data-centric networks. His seminal contributions include pioneering work on WSN planning, load-balanced routing protocols, and energy-efficient network designs. He has championed research in IoT, developing frameworks for smart spaces that use contextual information to enhance IoT applications in healthcare, transportation, and infrastructure. His recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on cutting-edge areas including extreme edge computing, vehicular networks, and AI/ML integration in networking. Research trends show increasing emphasis on practical applications in telesurgery, digital twins, and industrial IoT, addressing challenges in resource allocation, task offloading, and real-time processing in constrained environments. Dr. Hassanein has received numerous recognitions for his work: Fellow of the IEEE Queen's University School of Graduate Studies Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Supervision (2015) Multiple best paper awards from top international conferences As founder and director of the Telecommunications Research Lab (TRL), Dr. Hassanein has supervised over 75 students who have made substantial contributions in academia and industry. The TRL is one of Queen's largest research groups with extensive international collaborations. Dr. Hassanein has successfully attracted significant research funding from government and industry sources in the competitive telecommunications field. The Telecommunications Research Lab has developed innovative platforms including SPROUTS, a rugged sensor platform used in mining, steel manufacturing, and smart-grid monitoring. TRL's work has had significant impact in WSN planning, data dissemination, and resource reuse in wireless networks, with contributions featured in IEEE Wireless Communications Magazine.

• Wireless Sensor Networks
• Mobile Ad hoc Networks
• Edge Computing
• +5 more

Dr. Lourdes Pena-Castillo is a Professor jointly appointed in the Departments of Computer Science and Biology at Memorial University of Newfoundland's Faculty of Science. Her research focuses on applying machine learning and bioinformatics to study bacterial gene regulation, with emphasis on transcriptomics, gene expression pathways, and microbiology. She leads the Bioinformatics Lab at MUN, developing computational tools like Promotech for promoter prediction and sRNARFTarget for sRNA target identification. Education: BSc in Information Systems Engineering, ITESM-Mexico MSc in Computer Science, University of Alberta PhD in Computer Science (Doktoringenieurin), Otto-von-Guericke Universität Magdeburg Postdoc in Bioinformatics, University of Toronto Research Interests: Bioinformatics, Genomics, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Transcriptomics, Gene Regulation, Microbiology Her work integrates computational methods with biological data to address challenges in molecular biology, including analyzing bacterial sRNA functions, promoter recognition, and disease diagnostics using machine learning. She has advised numerous graduate students, including PhD candidates Purvikalyan Pallegar and Bonita McCuaig, and MSc students like Ruben Chevez-Guardado and Kratika Naskulwar. Her lab focuses on translational research with applications in both basic science and clinical contexts. Publications span computational methods for bacterial gene regulation, bioinformatics tool development, and interdisciplinary projects in VR and healthcare informatics. Her research has contributed to understanding symbiotic relationships in marine organisms, inflammatory bowel disease diagnostics, and clavulanic acid production in Streptomyces. Grants & Collaborations: Works with interdisciplinary teams across computer science and biology, supported by grants enabling projects in bacterial genomics and computational tool development. Labs & Teams: Leads the Bioinformatics Lab at MUN, fostering collaborations with researchers in microbiology, computer science, and healthcare.

• Bioinformatics
• Genomics
• Machine Learning
• +5 more

Paul Lu is a Professor in the Department of Computing Science at the University of Alberta, Faculty of Science. His research focuses on high-performance computing, parallel and distributed systems, cloud computing, and bioinformatics. He holds a B.Sc. (1991), M.Sc. (1993) in Computing Science from the University of Alberta, and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Toronto (2000). His research explores software systems, including operating systems, virtual machines, and parallel programming. Recent work emphasizes high-performance data transfers and IaaS cloud computing. He teaches courses such as MINT 706: Internet Application and Programming, covering internet protocols and client-server programming. Publications highlight contributions to network optimization, machine learning-driven protocol selection, and distributed systems. His work bridges theoretical advancements with practical applications in cloud infrastructure and wide-area networks.

• Parallel and Distributed Systems
• Operating Systems
• Cloud Computing
• +4 more

Rong Zheng is a Professor in the Department of Computing and Software and a member of the School of Biomedical Engineering at McMaster University, Canada. She holds a Tier-1 Canada Research Chair in Mobile Computing and serves as Acting Chair of the Computing and Software department from July to December 2025. She is also an Associate Member of the Electrical & Computer Engineering department. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA Master of Engineering (thesis) in Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China Dr. Zheng's research lies at the intersection of mobile computing, wireless networking, and machine learning, with a strong focus on applications for aging populations. She directs the NSERC Smart Mobility for the Aging Population CREATE program. Her work encompasses sensor development, wireless network design, and mobile data analytics to address real-world challenges in healthcare, mobility, and data center monitoring. She has developed innovative solutions like the MacQuest campus navigation app and has captured first prize in indoor localization competitions. Her recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward applying wireless sensing technologies (particularly acoustic, Wi-Fi, and mmWave) to health monitoring and mobility assessment for older adults. There's a strong emphasis on developing efficient edge computing solutions that can process data in real-time on resource-constrained devices, as exemplified by her TeamNet framework for collaborative inference on the edge. Her work bridges theoretical advances with practical applications that have social impact. Scientific Awards: Tier-1 Canada Research Chair in Mobile Computing US National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2006) Joseph Ip Distinguished Engineering Fellow (2015-2018) Dr. Zheng leads the Wireless System Research Group (WiSeR) at McMaster University, which has secured significant funding including a $1.65M NSERC CREATE grant for smart mobility research for older adults. Her research has been supported by multiple funding agencies including NSERC, NSF, UH GEAR, and DURIP. She actively mentors graduate students and has developed specialized courses including CAS 772 (Mobile Data Analytics) and CAS 781 (Mobility in the Aging Population). The WiSeR group conducts impactful research on communication, networking, and data analytics issues in Cyber Physical Systems, with applications spanning healthcare, smart infrastructure, and data center monitoring. Their work on data center infrastructure monitoring networks has been featured in EurekAlert and Data Center Dynamics, and they've made significant contributions to indoor localization technology.

• Mobile computing
• Wireless networking
• Cyber physical systems
• +4 more

Dr. Jillianne Code is an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Education, Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy, directing the ALIVE Research Lab. Her work focuses on learner agency, educational technologies, and social media's impact on student success. Specializes in immersive virtual environments for assessment Researches self-regulated learning and formative feedback Investigates health education through digital interventions Her recent publications examine pandemic-era educational transitions, digital literacy in teacher training, and cognitive tools in virtual reality. She has received Outstanding Paper Awards for her work on immersive assessment. Dr. Code leads research projects on learning analytics, student engagement in digital spaces, and technology education sustainability. Her work bridges educational theory with practical interventions through digital badges, mobile health applications, and 3D learning environments.

• Learner agency
• Educational technologies
• Technology-enhanced learning
• +9 more

Julie Rak is the HM Tory Chair and Professor in the Department of English and Film Studies at the University of Alberta. She holds a BA and PhD from McMaster University and an MA from Carleton University. Her research focuses on auto/biography, life writing, and nonfiction in North America, with specialties in gender, Canadian literature, and publishing studies. She has authored or co-edited numerous books, including False Summit: Gender in Mountaineering Nonfiction (2021) and The Routledge Introduction to Auto/biography in Canada (2023). Rak’s academic roles include interim Chair of the EFS Department (2023–2024) and leadership in the Stories of Change research group. She has received prestigious awards such as the J. Gordin Kaplan Award (2023) and the Killam Annual Professorship (2017–2018). Her research explores marginalized narratives, including Inuit literature and digital life writing, with a commitment to inclusivity and community engagement. Her teaching spans undergraduate and graduate courses on autobiography, gender theory, and Canadian literature. She actively supervises research projects and supports student initiatives like the Roger Smith Undergraduate Research Award. Rak’s work bridges academic rigor with public scholarship, with over 90 media engagements. Education: PhD in English, McMaster University MA in Canadian Studies, Carleton University BA in English, McMaster University Grants & Projects: SSHRC Insight Grant for Government Agents, Literary Agents: Inuit Books and Government Intervention, 1968–1985 Leadership in the Stories of Change initiative Awards & Honors: Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (2022) Henry Marshall Tory Chair (2019–2025) 2024 Visiting Professor at Merton College, Oxford

• Life Writing
• Autobiography
• Diaries and Journals
• +9 more

Lana Wells is an Associate Professor at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Social Work and holds the Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence. As Founder/Director of Shift: Primary Prevention Research Hub and Research Fellow at the School of Public Policy, she specializes in preventing gender-based violence through systems change, policy innovation, and community engagement. Key research areas: Gender equity, Indigenous sovereignty, AI ethics for social work, and male allyship in violence prevention Led over $11M in research funding and 22.5M+ in prevention initiatives 2023 Killam Professor Award recipient Recent publications focus on AI applications for violence prevention, gamification in male engagement, and rural/small-town violence reduction strategies. Her work spans interdisciplinary collaborations with public health agencies, Indigenous communities, and international organizations. Major projects: Alberta's Primary Prevention Playbook, Strong Women's Circle with Indigenous communities, ConnectED Parents virtual intervention Active in policy advisory roles for governments and NGOs Scientific awards include: 2023 Killam Annual Professor Award 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal 2019 Alberta Inspiration Award 2015 & 2013 Carthy Foundation Leadership Awards 2012 School of Public Policy Fellowship As a graduate supervisor in Social Work and Public Policy, she develops prevention workforce capacity through Shifttolearn.com. Current initiatives include data-driven dashboards for real-time violence prevention and cultural transformation in male-dominated institutions.

• Gender-Based Violence Prevention
• Social Policy and Legislation
• Systems Change and Organizational Culture
• +5 more

Aviad Levis is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto's Department of Computer Science, starting July 2024. He is affiliated with the Dunlap Astronomical Data Science and Technology Group (DADDAA) and collaborates with the Toronto Computational Imaging Group alongside Kyros Kutulakos and David Lindell. Previously, he was a postdoctoral researcher at Caltech's Computing + Mathematical Sciences department under Katherine Bouman, working with the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration. PhD in Electrical Engineering from the Technion (supervised by Yoav Schechner) Research focuses on computational imaging tools at the intersection of AI and physics Develops algorithms for 3D tomography in both cloud physics and black hole imaging Recipient of ERC Synergy grant for CloudCT space mission His research spans two major domains: Computational Climate Imaging through cloud tomography to improve climate models, and Black Hole Imaging with the EHT collaboration. He pioneered methodologies for 3D cloud structure recovery using scattered sunlight and contributes to dynamic 3D reconstructions of black hole environments. Current interests include non-linear inverse problems, equation discovery from data, and ML-accelerated scientific simulations. Recent publications highlight advancements in atmospheric tomography and black hole emission modeling. His work on CloudCT involves coordinated nano-satellites for 3D cloud imaging, while EHT contributions include first images of Sagittarius A* (2022) and ongoing development of algorithms for 3D structure recovery. The ERC Synergy grant underscores his impact on climate imaging technology. Personal Website Work Email

• Computational Imaging
• Artificial Intelligence
• Inverse Problems
• +7 more

Michael Feeley is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia (UBC), affiliated with the Institute for Computing, Information and Cognitive Systems (ICICS). His research focuses on operating systems, distributed systems, and their applications in scalable file systems, cloud storage, and mobile computing. He leads projects such as the Unico file system, Parallax storage system, and Remus virtual machine replication framework. His research interests include peer-to-peer file systems, mobile ad hoc networks, interference mitigation in wireless networks, and system software for workstation clusters. He has supervised numerous graduate students, contributing to advancements in distributed systems and networking. His work often addresses challenges in resource management, fault tolerance, and performance optimization. Publications span topics like interference detection in WiFi networks, dynamic program analysis (Tralfamadore), and distributed storage solutions. Feeley teaches courses such as CPSC 213, emphasizing operating systems fundamentals. His office is located in CISR 393, with contact details available via email and phone.

• Operating Systems
• Distributed Systems
• File Systems
• +7 more

Nick Graham is a Professor in the School of Computing at Queen's University, Canada. He holds a PhD from TU Berlin and teaches courses like Game Architecture and Digital Game Development. His research focuses on next-generation digital games, particularly exergames (combining exercise with play) and educational games. He directs the EQUIS Lab, which develops accessible gaming solutions for populations like children with cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury patients. Graham previously served as VP Research & Development at Namzak Labs and has held academic roles at York University and Queen's University. Education: PhD (Dr.-Ing.) in Engineering - TU Berlin (1995) MSc in Computer Science - Queen's University (1988) BSc in Computer Science - University of Toronto (1985) Research Interests: Exergames promoting physical activity through gaming Accessibility in game design for persons with disabilities Game networking and distributed algorithms Augmented reality tools for education Lab & Collaborations: The EQUIS Lab develops projects such as the Liberi exergame and conversion tools for existing games like Skyrim into exergames. Techniques like 'Partial Automation' enable gameplay accessibility. Professional Roles: Director, EQUIS Lab Member, IFIP Working Group 2.7 on User Interface Engineering VP Research & Development, Namzak Labs (2000–present)

• Video Game Development
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Accessibility in Technology
• +4 more

Bilal Farooq is an Associate Professor and Program Director for the Master of Engineering in Interdisciplinary Engineering (MEIE) at Toronto Metropolitan University, holding the Canada Research Chair in Disruptive Transportation Technologies and Services within the Department of Civil Engineering. His educational background includes a PhD from the University of Toronto (2011), MASc from Lahore University of Management Sciences (2004), and BSc from the University of Engineering and Technology (2001). Dr. Farooq's research pioneers disruptive transportation solutions through cyber-physical systems, AI/machine learning applications, behavioral modeling, and optimization techniques. His work specifically targets on-demand multimodal systems, sustainable urban transportation, urban air mobility, automated vehicles, and extended reality applications, addressing critical urban mobility challenges with human-centered approaches. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward quantum-enhanced computational methods, privacy-preserving federated learning frameworks, and sustainability-focused decarbonization strategies across transportation domains, with increasing emphasis on human factors and real-world implementation. Notable scientific awards include: Ontario Early Researcher Award (2018) Canada Research Chair (2017) MassMotion Academic Pedestrian Modelling Project of the Year (2016) Québec Early Researcher Award (2014) Dr. Farooq actively supervises graduate students and secures significant research funding through his Canada Research Chair position and Early Researcher Awards. He directs the Laboratory of Innovations in Transportation (LiTrans), which develops interdisciplinary solutions integrating mathematics, engineering, computer science, and economics to address emerging transportation challenges. LiTrans focuses on disruptive transportation technologies, complete streets design, cyber-physical systems, pedestrian dynamics, resilience, and climate change impacts, collaborating with industry and government partners to translate research into practical urban mobility innovations for smart cities worldwide.

• Disruptive transportation technologies and services
• Cyber-physical transportation systems
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning
• +4 more

Lan Wei is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo, Canada. She leads the Waterloo Emerging Integrated Systems Group, focusing on device-circuit co-optimization, cryogenic CMOS for quantum computing, and emerging technologies like GaN, RRAM, and low-dimensional materials. Her work bridges nanoelectronics and system-level applications, with notable contributions to the MIT Virtual Source GaN HEMT (MVSG) compact model, an industry-standard tool. Education: B.S. in Microelectronics and Economics, Peking University (2005) M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Stanford University (2007, 2010) Research Interests: Nanoelectronic devices Cryogenic CMOS for quantum computing GaN-based circuits and systems RRAM-based neuromorphic computing Device-circuit interactive design Publications reflect her expertise in GaN modeling, quantum computing hardware, and RRAM applications. Recent work emphasizes scalable quantum control circuits and error-resilient neural networks using emerging technologies. Awards include the 2019 Ontario Early Researcher Award and the 2020 UWaterloo President's Excellence Award in Research. She has served on technical committees for IEDM, DATE, and ICCAD, and contributed to the ITRS roadmap. Teaching includes courses like ECE 240 (Electronic Circuits) and ECE 730 (Solid State Devices). Her group actively seeks graduate students with interest in integrated systems and nanoelectronics.

• Nanoelectronic devices
• Cryogenic CMOS electronics
• GaN-based devices and circuits
• +5 more

Sapha Barkati, MD, MSc is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University , and an Investigator at the RI-MUHC Glen site . Her work bridges clinical practice and research in tropical medicine, focusing on parasitic diseases affecting vulnerable populations. Affiliations: Assistant Professor, McGill University Investigator, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) McGill International Tuberculosis Centre Research Focus: Specializes in neglected tropical diseases like strongyloidiasis and tegumentary leishmaniasis, particularly among migrants and immunocompromised individuals. Studies include: Physician awareness of Strongyloides screening Prevalence patterns in non-endemic countries HTLV-1 co-infection treatment response Cost-effective screening strategies Scientific Contributions: Key publications address tropical disease management in non-endemic settings, mpox outbreak dynamics, and SARS-CoV-2 immunity patterns. Her work emphasizes evidence-based guidelines for: Parasite screening in transplant recipients Leishmaniasis treatment protocols Traveler disease prevention Collaborative Networks: Partners with institutions like Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia and participates in GeoSentinel surveillance. Leads studies on: Covid-19 health disparities Vaccine effectiveness against variants Remote patient monitoring systems

• Tropical Medicine
• Travel Medicine
• Migrant Health
• +3 more