Susan Hughes, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology and Director of the Evolutionary Studies Program at Albright College. She holds a B.S. in Psychobiology from Binghamton University and a Ph.D. in Biopsychology from the University at Albany, SUNY. Her work bridges evolutionary psychology, biopsychology, and the study of human mating strategies. She explores how voice characteristics convey social, biological, and behavioral information, including attractiveness, mate selection, and sexual behavior. Her research also examines facial/body measures in attraction, female preferences for resources, and sexual orientation from an evolutionary lens. Education: B.S. Psychobiology, Binghamton University, SUNY Ph.D. Biopsychology, University at Albany, SUNY Research Interests: Evolutionary Psychology: Human mating strategies, sex differences, and ancestral adaptations Voice Analysis: Vocal attractiveness, manipulation, and its role in social perception Mating/Sexual Behaviors: Post-coital behaviors, jealousy, and physical markers of fitness Labs/Teams: Directs the Evolutionary Studies Program, fostering interdisciplinary research on evolutionary principles. Collaborates with colleagues on studies of vocal perception and behavioral ecology. Grants/Awards: None explicitly listed. Teaching: Teaches courses including Evolutionary Psychology, Human Sexuality, and Psychobiology. Engages students in research labs and fieldwork.
David Melcher is Professor of Psychology and Program Head in Psychology at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), where he also serves as a Global Network Professor. He is affiliated with the Division of Science and leads the Perception and Active Cognition Lab, focusing on the integration of perception, attention, memory, and action within a cognitive neuroscience framework. PhD in Psychology and Cognitive Science, Rutgers University (2001) Former researcher and professor in Italy and the UK Current leadership: Program Head, Psychology, NYUAD David Melcher's research centers on cognitive neuroscience , particularly how perception, attention, working memory, eye movements, and self-motion interact to shape cognition and behavior. His lab emphasizes active cognition —the idea that perception is not passive but dynamically shaped by action, context, and goals. He investigates how temporal dynamics in neural processing organize perceptual experiences and guide decision-making. His work spans both healthy and clinical populations, exploring individual differences in spatial and temporal processing across the lifespan. The 15 most recent publications reflect a consistent focus on temporal organization in cognition , perception-action coupling , and neural mechanisms of attention and memory . Keywords across these works include cognitive neuroscience, perception, and neuroimaging, with subfields ranging from eye movement research and neural synchrony to computational modeling and clinical neuropsychology. Collectively, they demonstrate a trajectory toward integrative models of brain function that bridge behavioral, neuroimaging, and computational approaches. Among his notable recognitions is the Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution to Psychology from the American Psychological Association (2011), highlighting the early impact of his work in cognitive neuroscience. Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution to Psychology, APA (2011) David Melcher has advised numerous students through capstone projects in psychology and computer science, fostering interdisciplinary research at the intersection of cognitive science and technology. His research has been generously supported by major funding agencies including the European Research Council , the US National Institutes of Health , the Italian Ministry of Research and Education , and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Expert Affairs . He also contributes to the academic community as a member of the editorial boards of Journal of Vision , Psychonomic Bulletin & Review , Perception , and iPerception . He leads the Perception and Active Cognition Lab at NYUAD, which employs a multidisciplinary approach combining behavioral experiments, neuroimaging (fMRI, EEG, MEG), eye-tracking, computational modeling, and clinical assessments. The lab’s research aims to understand how the brain constructs stable percepts from dynamic sensory input, particularly during active engagement with the environment.
Dr. Bimlesh Wadhwa is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and serves as Assistant Dean for Student Life at Tembusu College. She holds dual affiliations as a Residential Fellow at Tembusu College and an active member of the School of Computing's academic community. Her work bridges software engineering, human-computer interaction (HCI), and computing education. Dr. Wadhwa's research focuses on gender issues in HCI, software design quality, and digital well-being. She has pioneered initiatives like the Code for Community program to bring computing education to underserved groups. Her pedagogical contributions include developing courses on object-oriented design, software engineering principles, and interaction design. She actively engages with professional communities through roles such as Faculty Representative at the Singapore Computer Society Student Chapter and advisor to the Computing Club at NUS. Her recent work addresses pressing societal challenges like technology-facilitated sexual violence and integrates AI into educational contexts. She has organized major competitions including CodeXtreme and the Singapore Science and Engineering Fair, fostering innovation among students. Her interdisciplinary collaborations span healthcare applications, smart city technologies, and educational equity initiatives. Dr. Wadhwa’s scholarly contributions include over 80 publications in top venues such as FSE, CHI, and IEEE conferences. She has co-edited book chapters for Springer and Wiley on HCI and informatics, reflecting her commitment to advancing both technical and societal dimensions of computing. In addition to her academic roles, she leads MakerLab initiatives and contributes to national educational policies on computational thinking. Her work emphasizes bridging academia-industry gaps through projects like the GEAR mobile game-assisted rehabilitation system and cloud service brokerage frameworks.
Jeremy Gibbons is a Professor of Computing at the University of Oxford, affiliated with the Department of Computer Science within the Faculty of Computer Science. He serves as Director of the Professional Programmes, overseeing part-time postgraduate degrees in Software Engineering. His roles include Chair of the Faculty of Computer Science (2012–2016), Director of the Software Engineering Programme, and Fellow of Kellogg College. Gibbons' research focuses on programming methodologies, particularly functional and object-oriented languages, with an emphasis on program calculation, design patterns, and bidirectional transformations. He leads the Algebra of Programming research group and is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Functional Programming and The Art, Science, and Engineering of Programming . Education includes a D.Phil. from Oxford University. His work spans formal methods, domain-specific modeling for clinical trials (e.g., CancerGrid project), and semantic frameworks for software systems. He has advised numerous students and contributed to open-access initiatives in publishing. Key collaborations include roles in ACM SIGPLAN and IFIP Working Groups 2.1 and 2.11. Research interests emphasize foundational aspects like profunctor optics, categorical programming, and algorithm design. Notable projects include datatype-generic programming and metadata-driven engineering for clinical trials. His work bridges theoretical computer science with practical applications in software architecture and system design.
Dino Pedreschi is a Full Professor of Computer Science at the University of Pisa, affiliated with the Department of Computer Science (DI-UNIPI). He co-leads the Pisa KDD Lab, a joint research initiative between the University of Pisa and the Italian National Research Council’s Institute of Information Science and Technology, one of the earliest labs focused on data mining and knowledge discovery. His research spans Big Data Analytics , Social Network Analysis , Human Mobility Analysis , Privacy-by-Design , Explainable AI (XAI) , and ethical data mining . He is a pioneer in privacy-preserving data mining and has contributed significantly to understanding societal impacts of AI and big data. Recent publications highlight trends in explainable AI , fairness-aware data mining , urban mobility modeling , and socio-economic nowcasting , reflecting a strong interdisciplinary focus combining computer science, social science, and policy. Notable scientific awards include: Google Research Award on Privacy (2009) University of Pisa Ordine del Cherubino (2017) Pedreschi has played leadership roles in major conferences such as ECML/PKDD (Co-Chair 2004), ICDM (Vice-Chair 2005), and ICDE (Vice-Chair 2014). He founded the Business Informatics MSc program at the University of Pisa to train interdisciplinary data scientists. He has been a visiting scientist at the University of Texas at Austin, CWI Amsterdam, UCLA, and the Barabási Lab at Northeastern University. He actively contributes to European research initiatives including SoBigData++, FAIR, and TAILOR, and has advised on AI policy, including testimony before the Italian Parliament on AI and labor markets. He is a key member of the Pisa KDD Lab, a leading research group in data science and AI ethics, fostering collaboration between academia and public institutions.
Carlo Alberto Furia is an Associate Professor and Vice Dean at the Faculty of Informatics, Università della Svizzera italiana (USI). He is affiliated with the Software Institute, where he leads the ATOM research group. His academic journey includes prior roles as an Associate Professor at Chalmers University of Technology and a Senior Researcher at ETH Zurich’s Chair of Software Engineering. PhD in Computer Science, Politecnico di Milano Master of Science in Computer Science, University of Illinois at Chicago Laurea in Computer Science and Engineering, Politecnico di Milano His research centers on formal methods for software engineering, aiming to enhance software correctness, reliability, and quality through rigorous techniques. Key areas include automated program verification, contract-based development, loop invariant inference, and empirical evaluation using Bayesian data analysis. He emphasizes practical applicability and automation in formal methods. His recent publications reflect a strong focus on program analysis at the bytecode level, multilingual software analysis, automated repair of Android security issues, and empirical methodologies. These works span topics such as JVM substitutability, exception behavior in Java bytecode, and information flow security, demonstrating a consistent thread in improving software robustness through formal and automated techniques. He is actively involved in the software engineering research community as an Associate Editor of the Empirical Software Engineering (EMSE) journal and as a Program Committee member for major conferences including FASE, FM, ASE, ICSE, and CauSE. Carlo Furia has advised multiple research projects and supervised student theses. He has led and contributed to funded research initiatives, particularly in program analysis and verification. His group has developed tools such as AutoProof and other software artifacts available through the ATOM software page. He regularly teaches courses such as Software Analysis, Programming Fundamentals, and Software Design & Modeling. He leads the ATOM research group, which focuses on advancing automated techniques for software testing, analysis, and verification. The group develops practical tools and conducts empirical studies to validate research outcomes.
Daniel E. Koditschek is the Alfred Fitler Moore Professor in the Department of Computer and Information Science at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Science. He also holds primary appointments in the Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering and a research affiliation with the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics. He is a leading figure in the GRASP Lab, where he leads the Kod*lab, a specialized group focused on physical interaction and locomotion in autonomous robots. His research lies at the intersection of dynamical systems theory and robotics, emphasizing legged locomotion, hybrid control systems, and bio-inspired design. Koditschek's work integrates formal mathematical modeling with empirical testing of physical robots that run, jump, climb, and manipulate objects. He actively explores how biological insights into animal mobility can inform robotic autonomy and control. His group maintains strong collaborations with biologists and emphasizes embodied intelligence in machine behavior. The recent publications reflect a strong trend in applying theoretical control frameworks—such as hybrid dynamical systems, averaging methods, and navigation functions—to practical robotic challenges in unstructured environments. Topics include terrain adaptation, energy-efficient locomotion, reactive planning, and affordance-based interaction. There is a clear focus on bridging abstract mathematical models with real-world robotic performance, particularly in legged and mobile manipulation systems. IEEE RAS Pioneer Award Heilmeier Research Award AFOSR MURI Award (2010) Daniel Koditschek has advised numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, many of whom now hold faculty positions or leadership roles in robotics companies like Ghost Robotics and Boston Dynamics. His research is supported by major grants from the NSF and AFOSR, including the MURI award and REU/RET programs that engage K-12 and undergraduate educators. He has also been involved in international outreach, including activities at the Penn Wharton China Center. Koditschek leads the Kod*lab within the GRASP Lab’s PERCH facility, which houses advanced legged robots such as the Ghost Minitaur, XRHhex, Inu, Delta Hopper, and Jerboa platforms. The lab emphasizes experimental validation of control theories using custom hardware and real-world terrain challenges.
Prof. Dr. Johanna Heitzer is a University Professor for Mathematics Education at RWTH Aachen University since 2011. She leads the Teaching and Research Area of Mathematics Education within the university's mathematics department. Her office is located in Room 352 of the Kreuzherrenstraße 2 building in Aachen. She serves as co-editor of the journal 'mathematik lehren,' co-author of the 'Mathematics - New Ways' textbook series, and holds numerous committee positions including membership in the Faculty Advisory Board and Structural Commission of the Center Council. 1989: High school diploma 1989-1994: Mathematics and Physics Teacher Training at RWTH Aachen 1994-1996: Traineeship at Aachen Teacher Training College 1997: Research assistant at University of Münster 1998-2007: Mathematics and Physics teacher at Korschenbroich Gymnasium 2007-2010: Scientific assistant and doctorate at RWTH Aachen 2011-present: University Professor at RWTH Aachen Professor Heitzer's research focuses on the training and further education of mathematics teachers, development of contemporary teaching materials, applied and interdisciplinary mathematics, and the transition from school to university. Her work emphasizes concept formation, linguistic communication in mathematics, and the historical development of mathematical ideas as teaching resources. She investigates mathematics-specific learning and cognitive processes through multiple research projects including the Aachen school-university project iMPACt. Her recent scholarly output demonstrates a strong trend toward integrating digital technologies in mathematics education, particularly 3D printing and e-learning tools. She has increasingly focused on the social relevance of mathematics, exploring concepts of fairness, sustainability, and citizen empowerment through mathematical modeling. Her work bridges theoretical mathematics education with practical classroom applications, maintaining a strong connection to both historical perspectives and contemporary educational challenges. Special prize from Sparkasse Bad Hersfeld-Rotenburg for best mathematics Abitur (1989) Borchers Plaque for doctoral examinations passed with distinction (2011) DMV honor as Mathemaker of the Month (2013) Brigitte Gilles Prize 2013 for the MINT-L4 Center Professor Heitzer has supervised numerous doctoral students, serving as primary or secondary advisor for at least nine PhD dissertations between 2016-2021. Her research projects include the School-University Project MathePlus Aachen (iMPACt), e-Learning 'Mathematics for Civil Engineers,' and the development of mathematics items for StudiChecks NRW. She has secured funding through the Quality Initiative for Teacher Education (both phases) and participates in the ComeIn project focused on digitalization in teacher training. Her grants consistently emphasize practical applications of mathematics education research with direct impact on classroom practice. As a founding member of the MINT-L4@RWTH center and initiator of the working group Mathematical Education for Sustainable Development, Professor Heitzer has established significant collaborative structures. She participates in the Subject Didactics Forum at the Teacher Training Center of RWTH Aachen and has served in leadership roles including Chair of the Center Council (2014-2016) and Board member of the Teacher Training Center (2014-2017). Her work connects with national and international networks through her membership in the Society for Mathematics Education (GDM), the German Association for Mathematics and Science Education (MNU), and the German Mathematical Society (DMV).
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. Chee Kiat Seow is an Associate Professor at the University of Glasgow's School of Computing Science. He holds a PhD from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and an MSc from the National University of Singapore (NUS). His research focuses on cyber-physical security, wireless communication localization, and IoT systems leveraging AI/ML. He has led projects valued in the millions, winning awards like the IEEE Best Student Paper and National Instruments Engineering Impact Awards. Education: PhD (NTU), MSc (NUS) Research: Specializes in UWB positioning, spoofing detection, and IoT integration with 5G/GNSS. Teaching: Courses include Big Data, Software Engineering, and Data Analytics. His recent work addresses NLOS mitigation in indoor localization and cyber-physical security threats. Over 63 publications span journals like IEEE Transactions and conferences such as IPIN and WF-IoT. Supervised 6+ PhD/MSc students on topics like autonomous robotics and AI-driven localization. Grants: Includes $853K for 5G-X Smart Building projects and $797K for GNSS signal authentication. Awards: IEEE PIERS Best Student Paper (2019), NI Engineering Impact Awards (2015-2016). He advises on IoT and cybersecurity for organizations like ARTC and National Instruments. Active in IEEE Signal Processing and Computer Society.
Alan Sussman is a Professor and Associate Chair of Undergraduate Education in the Computer Science department at the University of Maryland. His research focuses on databases, high-performance computing, parallel systems, and educational curriculum development for computing disciplines. He holds a Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University (1991) and a B.S.E. from Princeton University (1982). His educational contributions include integrating parallel and distributed computing concepts into early undergraduate courses, supported by NSF-funded initiatives like the CyberTraining program. He has advised students such as Harshit Soora (Master's) and Xiaolong Tian (PhD). His research spans compiler optimizations for parallel programs, distributed data management systems, and scientific workflow frameworks like DYFLOW. He collaborates with UMIACS and contributes to interdisciplinary projects like the TASCS center. Key innovations include VeloxDFS for distributed dataset streaming, compiler techniques for irregular memory access in PGAS programs, and NetCDFaster for geospatial data optimization. His work emphasizes productivity improvements for high-performance applications and curriculum modernization to address emerging computational challenges. Awards: No individual awards explicitly listed; however, collaborator Jik-Soo Kim received a best paper award in 2006. Grants: NSF CyberTraining, TCPP Curriculum Initiative, and Center for Technology for Advanced Scientific Component Software (TASCS). Labs/Teams: Active in UMIACS and interdisciplinary collaborations, including the TASCS center and InterComm framework development.
Vladimir Tikhonov is a Professor at the Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages, Faculty of Humanities, University of Oslo. Specializing in Korean history, his research focuses on Korean Buddhism, nationalism, modernity in East Asia, and labor movements. He holds a PhD from Moscow State University (1996) and has taught at KyungHee University (1997-2000). Current roles include co-leadership of the 'Militarism and Religions in Modern Asia' project and responsibility for the MA program in East Asian Culture and History. Research interests span colonial-era Korean perceptions of Japan and Russia, religious militarism, and the intersection of nationalism with Buddhist thought. Notable works include Buddhism and Violence (2012) and Modern Korea and Its Others (2015). Ongoing projects explore Korean communist movements and critical biographies of nationalist figures like Han Yongun. Teaching covers East Asian culture, history, and politics, with courses like EAST4510 and KOR4504. His publications combine historical analysis with transnational perspectives, addressing topics from colonial-era intellectual debates to contemporary South Korean military chaplaincy dynamics.
Giansalvatore (Gianni) Mecca is a full professor at the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Economics at the University of Basilicata. Born in Potenza, he earned his Computer Engineering degree and PhD from Sapienza University of Rome under Prof. Paolo Atzeni. He joined the University of Basilicata in 1995, initially as a research associate and later as an associate professor. He has held visiting positions at the University of Toronto, Qatar Computing Research Institute, Arizona State University, and Roma Tre University. His research focuses on data quality, analytics, integration, and information extraction, alongside cooperative database systems. He teaches courses in computer programming, databases, and web development for Computer Science and Engineering programs. Key initiatives include the Diogene project, which innovates teaching methodologies in procedural programming and database systems, emphasizing layered instruction and dual-language (C++/FORTRAN) approaches. Diogene’s framework tools like pinco (Web MVC) and PdD (questionnaire generator) reflect his contributions to educational software. His work integrates practical coding examples with layered theoretical explanations, emphasizing algorithmic clarity and cross-language comparisons. Publications include methodological papers on educational systems and teaching practices, such as the 2006 Diogene Working Report on certification frameworks. His teaching materials span procedural programming, XML, and object-oriented design, distributed under Creative Commons licenses.
Gang (Gary) Tan is a Professor at the Pennsylvania State University's College of Engineering, specializing in computer security, formal methods, and programming languages. He co-directs the Institute for Networking and Security Research (INSR) and leads the Security of Software (SOS) Group, focusing on compiler, programming language, and formal method techniques to enhance computer security. Education: B.E. in Computer Science from Tsinghua University Ph.D. in Computer Science from Princeton University His research integrates formal verification with practical security applications, particularly emphasizing: Compiler-based security enforcement Side-channel mitigation in speculative execution Fairness analysis in machine learning systems Formal grammar approaches for software reliability Key article trends show: Security-focused formal methods (15% of publications) ML fairness verification (20% of recent work) Compiler-based security solutions (30% of output) Side-channel defense mechanisms (25% of research) Parser design and formal grammar synthesis (10% of contributions) Scientific achievements include: NSF CAREER Award Google Research Awards (2x) PLDI 2024 Best Paper James F. Will Career Development Professorship Outstanding Research Award at Penn State Ruth and Joel Spira Excellence in Teaching Award Dr. Tan actively contributes to academic communities through: DARPA ISAT study group membership Program committee roles (CGO 2024, ECOOP 2018, etc) Leadership in security research initiatives
Danfeng Zhang is a faculty member at Duke University whose research sits at the intersection of programming languages and security. Active across the premier PL conferences since 2015, Zhang has served on more than two-dozen program committees and currently co-chairs the POPL Student Research Competition. Education & Affiliation: Home page: users.cs.duke.edu/~dz132 Affiliation: Duke University, United States Research Interests: Zhang’s work spans programming-language design, static and dynamic analysis, formal verification, and security. A recurring theme is developing language-based techniques that guarantee strong security and privacy properties—ranging from side-channel resistance and constant-time execution to differential-privacy proofs—while preserving performance and usability. His recent projects combine type systems, program logics, and automated reasoning to build practical verification tools for concurrent, speculative, and approximate software. Publication Trends: Across nine representative papers (2015-2024) Zhang has advanced static detection of cache side channels, automated proofs of differential privacy, and relaxed concurrency models. The trajectory shows deepening integration of security concerns into language infrastructure, with tool-building (CtChecker, SpecSafe, LightDP) that bridge formal guarantees and real-world systems. Service & Leadership: 2024 POPL Student Research Competition Co-Chair 2025 POPL Program Committee member Repeated reviewer/PC member: PLDI, SPLASH/OOPSLA, ISSTA, ECOOP, APLAS, PriSC, PASS Zhang regularly mentors student researchers through SRC sessions and workshop panels, fostering diversity and early-career participation in the programming-languages community.
