Eva Navarro LópezView profile
Professor
Eva Navarro López is a Full Professor in Computing within the School of Interactive Games and Media at the Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). She previously served as Director of the School of Information (iSchool) at RIT and directs the Artificial intelligence and DAta science Research Lab (AiDAs). Navarro is a scientist of international standing with extensive contributions across multiple fields including hybrid dynamical systems, cyber-physical systems, and computational neuroscience. She has held significant positions including member of the Science and Methodology Committee at the International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE) and affiliate at the Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy at University of Cambridge. Eva earned her Ph.D. from the Polytechnics University of Catalonia (Spain) and completed her MSc, BEng, and BSc at the University of Alicante (Spain). Her educational journey reflects her multidisciplinary approach, bridging computer science, mathematics, and engineering disciplines that would later define her research career. Her academic path has taken her through prestigious institutions across four countries: USA, UK, Mexico, and Spain, where she shadowed the footsteps of Alan Turing in Manchester and Santiago Ramón y Cajal in Madrid. Navarro's research interests defy easy compartmentalization, spanning hybrid dynamical systems, cyber-physical systems, network science, mathematical modelling, symbolic AI, control engineering, computational neuroscience, and collective intelligence. Her unique contribution lies in building bridges between traditionally separate fields , transferring ideas from one domain to another to create novel approaches. She approaches research as a 'scientist artist,' viewing both science and art as attempts to understand the world better. Her work on neuroplasticity and brain-inspired computing has led to innovative AI architectures that incorporate knowledge of astrocytes and other brain cells beyond just neurons. Analysis of Navarro's recent publications reveals a strong trend toward interdisciplinary applications of computational methods. Her work spans from fundamental theoretical contributions in hybrid systems and formal verification to practical applications in medical imaging, epidemic modeling, and gender equity in technology. A notable pattern is her consistent focus on nature-inspired models of computation across diverse domains, whether modeling brain function, urban structures, or information ecosystems. Her research increasingly addresses societal implications of technology, particularly regarding gender equity and ethical AI development. 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics - 2025 Distinguished Alumni Ambassador 2024 at University of Alicante Women Leader of the Business Ecosystem 2024 Recognized in Spain's Guide to Women Leaders of the Business Ecosystem Navarro has supervised an extensive research team across multiple institutions, mentoring numerous PhD students, postdocs, and research assistants from diverse backgrounds. Her mentoring philosophy emphasizes building communities and education as pathways to change the world. She co-founded ACM-Women Europe and the womENcourage conference series, creating spaces for women in computing. Her research has been supported by significant projects including the UK-funded 'Dynamically Driven Verification of Systems With Energy Considerations,' where she served as principal investigator for the first UK project dedicated to formal verification of nonlinear hybrid systems. As director of AiDAs (Artificial intelligence and DAta science Research Lab), Navarro leads a multidisciplinary team exploring nature-inspired models of computation, learning, and evolution for complex systems. The lab's work integrates insights from neuroscience, mathematics, and computer science to develop new paradigms in AI. Navarro also contributes to TechnoLatinas, a self-organized community focused on supporting technologists and scientists from Latin America, and serves on the Advisory Council for Gender Music Tech, demonstrating her commitment to creating inclusive technology ecosystems.








