Olga Sorkine-Hornung is a Professor of Computer Science at ETH Zurich and head of the Institute of Visual Computing. She leads the Interactive Geometry Lab, focusing on theoretical and practical advancements in digital content creation, geometry processing, and shape modeling. Current position: ETH Zurich, Department of Computer Science Previous roles: Courant Institute (NYU), Technical University of Berlin Education: BSc and PhD from Tel Aviv University, postdoc at TU Berlin Her research spans shape representation, digital fabrication, computer animation, and fundamental geometry processing. Key contributions include Laplacian surface editing, as-rigid-as-possible deformation, and generalized winding numbers. She works on applications in VR, AR, and autonomous systems. Awards include Test of Time Awards (2024), ACM Fellow (2020), ERC Consolidator Grant (2020), and EUROGRAPHICS Young Researcher Award (2008). She has supervised numerous students and co-developed software libraries like libigl and Instant Meshes . Co-chair roles for SIGGRAPH, Eurographics, and Pacific Graphics Editorial board member for ACM Transactions on Graphics and other journals Keynote speaker at VMV, CVPR, and SIAM conferences Her work bridges mathematical rigor with practical implementation, advancing computer graphics and geometry processing through intuitive algorithms that maintain surface detail while enabling efficient computation.
Brian Y. Lim is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the National University of Singapore (NUS), leading the NUS Ubicomp Lab. His research integrates Explainable AI (XAI) , Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) , and Ubiquitous Computing to address societal challenges in healthcare , wellness , and urban sustainability . He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Human-Computer Interaction from Carnegie Mellon University and a B.S. in Engineering Physics from Cornell University. Education: B.S., Engineering Physics, Cornell University M.S., Human-Computer Interaction, Carnegie Mellon University Ph.D., Human-Computer Interaction, Carnegie Mellon University His research focuses on designing human-centric AI systems that prioritize transparency and user trust. Key areas include explainable AI algorithms , context-aware computing , data visualization , and trustworthy machine learning . Projects like RexNet and Directed Diversity demonstrate his work in creating relatable AI explanations and enhancing crowd creativity through algorithmic prompting. Recent publications (2022–2025) highlight advancements in faithful visual explanations , user-centric XAI frameworks , and healthcare analytics . Notable awards include the CHI'22 Best Paper Award , IMWUT Distinguished Paper Award , and MOE Outstanding Mentor Award . He has advised numerous PhD and Masters students and leads the NUS Ubicomp Lab, which explores applications like TasteHealthy (food recommendation app) and Food Loves Fellowship (narrative data visualization).
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)United States
Antonio Rangel is the Bing Professor of Neuroscience, Behavioral Biology, and Economics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where he also serves as Head Faculty in Residence. He is a faculty member in the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) with research focusing on the computational and neurobiological basis of value-based decision-making. Dr. Rangel received his educational training at prestigious institutions: B.Sc. from Caltech in 1993 M.S. from Harvard University in 1996 Ph.D. in 1998 Professor Rangel's research lies at the intersection of neuroscience, economics, and psychology, with a focus on understanding how the brain makes decisions. His work investigates the neural mechanisms underlying value computation, choice processes, self-control, and social decision-making. Using a multidisciplinary approach that combines functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), eye-tracking, computational modeling, and behavioral experiments, his lab has made significant contributions to the field of neuroeconomics. His research has revealed how value signals are represented in the brain, how attention influences choice, and the neural basis of self-control failures. Professor Rangel has pioneered methods for studying decision processes with high temporal resolution using eye-tracking data, demonstrating how fixation patterns relate to value computations and choice outcomes. His work spans from theoretical frameworks of value-based decision-making to practical applications in behavioral public economics. Professor Rangel's work has been recognized with prestigious awards: 2019 NOMIS Distinguished Scientist Award 2018 Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science As an academic leader, Professor Rangel has mentored numerous students and researchers who have gone on to make their own contributions to neuroscience and economics. His lab, the Rangel Neuroeconomics Laboratory at Caltech, serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research, bringing together students and scholars from neuroscience, economics, psychology, and computer science. The lab has received significant funding to support its research on the neural basis of decision-making, including support from the NOMIS Foundation. The Rangel Neuroeconomics Laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including fMRI analysis capabilities, eye-tracking systems, and computational resources for modeling decision processes. The lab fosters a collaborative environment where researchers apply methods from experimental economics and cognitive neuroscience to unravel the complexities of human decision-making.
Wim Gevers is a faculty member at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and leads the CS4S – Cognitive Control & Sleep laboratory within the CRCN research centre. His work bridges cognitive psychology, neuroscience and sleep research to understand how the brain exerts control over thoughts and actions and how sleep contributes to these processes. Research Interests Cognitive Control & Metacognition: Investigating how subjective experiences such as confidence and the "urge-to-err" guide strategic adjustments in behaviour. Working Memory & Ordinal Cognition: Examining how order information is maintained and manipulated, and how these processes relate to mathematical competence. Sleep, Memory & Decision Making: Exploring how sleep-dependent consolidation influences motor learning and decision strategies. Across his 2022–2025 publications a clear trend emerges: a focus on metacognitive monitoring —how humans evaluate their own cognitive states—and the role of emotional and temporal context in shaping those evaluations. Studies range from reaction-time introspection and confidence judgements in perceptual tasks to the impact of aging and depression on metacognitive accuracy. Doctoral Supervision & Mentoring Whitney Stee (PhD 2024) – Sleep-dependent structural brain reorganization & motor learning Gaia Corlazzoli (PhD 2024) – Subjective experience in decision-making Myrtille Dewulf (PhD 2023) – Ordinal coding mechanisms in working memory Rebeca Sifuentes-Ortega (PhD 2023) – REM sleep and memory reactivation All dissertations were defended at ULB, Faculté des Sciences psychologiques et de l’éducation, with Wim Gevers formally listed as Promotor . Laboratory & Collaborative Networks As head of CS4S, Gevers coordinates a multidisciplinary team that combines behavioural experimentation, EEG/MEG, computational modelling and sleep polysomnography. The lab is embedded in the larger CRCN ecosystem, fostering collaborations with groups such as CO3 (consciousness), LCLD (language & deafness), and UR2NF (neurofunctional imaging).
Dr. Emily Wall is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Emory University, leading the CAV Lab (Cognition and Visualization). She earned her Ph.D. in Computer Science from Georgia Tech (2020) and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Northwestern University before joining Emory. Ph.D., Computer Science, Georgia Tech (2020) Postdoctoral Researcher, Northwestern University Current: Assistant Professor, Emory University Her research focuses on enhancing human decision-making through data visualization and visual analytics by addressing cognitive limitations and biases. Key areas include metacognition promotion, computational strategies for bias mitigation, and human-AI collaboration in data analysis. She combines cognitive psychology principles with technical implementation using tools like D3.js and Tableau. Recent publications highlight her work on LLM applications in visual analytics, cognitive bias interventions, and trust calibration in AI systems. Current students like Mengyu Chen, Shiyao Li, and Zhongzheng Xu are presenting at top conferences such as CHI and IEEE VIS. She also explores educational applications through interactive visualization pedagogy and innovative assessment methods. Dr. Wall actively engages in academic service through graduate mentorship, conference judging, and diversity initiatives. Her lab emphasizes both technical proficiency and social justice implications in visualization design, reflected in course projects that merge artistic expression with data-driven storytelling.
Jeff Moher is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Co-Chair of the Department of Psychology at Connecticut College, where he has been teaching since 2017. He also serves as the Data, Information, and Society Pathway Co-Coordinator, demonstrating his leadership within the institution. His educational background includes a Ph.D. and M.A. from Johns Hopkins University and a B.S. from the University of Michigan. This strong academic foundation has prepared him for his research and teaching career in cognitive psychology. Moher's research focuses on cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience, particularly visual attention and cognition in action. His work investigates why distractions occur, when they are likely to arise, and what mechanisms humans can harness to avoid them. He has found that humans employ various cognitive mechanisms to minimize distractions based on explicit knowledge, task goals, object properties, and recent experience, though he has also discovered surprising limitations in attentional selection. His research is particularly relevant given that over 3,000 people are killed annually in the United States from distracted driving. His recent publications show a consistent trajectory examining attentional mechanisms, distraction, and visual processing across different contexts. His work frequently employs sophisticated methodologies to measure both cognitive and motor responses to distractions, revealing how seemingly minor distractions can accumulate to induce serious performance costs. Moher's research is currently funded by grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, indicating the significance and quality of his work. He likely mentors numerous students through the department's research groups, contributing to their development as researchers. He directs the CAMELab (Center for Attention, Movement, and Embodied Learning), which utilizes multiple methodologies including eye-tracking, electroencephalography, three-dimensional reach-tracking, and psychophysics to approach questions about attention and distraction. Current projects in his lab explore why salient distractors cause people to give up quickly during visual search, the brain mechanisms involved in learning to ignore distractions, how internal distractions impact physical interactions with the world, and how hand movement paths reveal information about attentional processes.
Dr. Jiaqi Gong serves as Associate Professor in Computer Science and Adjunct Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering at The University of Alabama's College of Engineering, while directing the Alabama Center for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. His academic foundation includes: B.S. in Engineering, China University of Geoscience (2004) Ph.D. in Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (2010) Dr. Gong's research pioneers human-AI convergence through cyber-physical systems and smart health technologies, developing mobile/wearable platforms to enhance human perceptual, cognitive, and physical capabilities. His work spans artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, and IoT with applications in healthcare, environmental monitoring, and education. The Sensor-Accelerated Intelligent Learning (SAIL) laboratory he founded drives innovation in behavior change interventions, human movement modeling, and educational data mining. Recent publications reveal strong interdisciplinary trends: healthcare AI dominates with medication adherence prediction and surgical classification systems, while environmental applications feature flood-risk communication and drought analysis. His work increasingly integrates generative AI and LLMs across domains, demonstrating methodological innovation in federated learning, knowledge graphs, and explainable storytelling frameworks. Notable recognitions include: Best Student Paper Award, IEEE/ACM Connected Health Conference (2022) Best Student Paper Award, Body Sensor Networks Conference (2019) Data Challenge Win, IEEE Biomedical Health Informatics (2018) Best Paper Award, Body Area Networks Conference (2014) Best Demonstration Award, IEEE Wireless Health Conference (2014) Dr. Gong leads significant funded projects including a $2M CDC/NIOSH grant for first responder safety and $3M NSF funding for hydrologic research. As SAIL laboratory director, he mentors students in developing clinically deployed technologies for multiple sclerosis, dementia, and mental health. Future work focuses on scaling AI applications in chronic disease management and climate resilience through the Alabama AI Center. The SAIL laboratory (founded 2017) operates as a multidisciplinary hub developing wearable/mobile systems for health applications, with active collaborations across medical clinics and engineering departments for real-world deployment of behavior change interventions and movement analysis tools.
Ilker Yildirim is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Yale University, where he leads the Cognitive and Neural Computation Lab (CNCL). He received his Ph.D. from the University of Rochester in 2014. His research focuses on understanding how perception transforms raw sensory signals into meaningful representations of objects and scenes through computational modeling approaches. His research interests include: Computational modeling of visual perception and cognition Intuitive physics and physical reasoning Bayesian inference and probabilistic models in cognition Integration of graphics and physics engines in cognitive modeling Neural mechanisms of object representation Attention and resource allocation in dynamic scenes Yildirim's lab develops computational frameworks that bridge cognitive processes with neural mechanisms, using tools including probabilistic models, simulation engines, and deep learning. His work often involves testing these models through behavioral and neural experiments to create unified accounts of perception and cognition. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on how humans perceive physical properties of objects, particularly soft materials and liquids, and how attention dynamically allocates resources during scene perception. Among his notable achievements is receiving an NSF CAREER award for his project "CAREER: CompCog: Reverse-engineering neural mechanisms of object cognition with multilevel computational modeling," which will run from 2025 to 2030. His Nature Human Behaviour paper by Qi Lin was featured on CBS News, Germany's NZZ, and Wired Italy. Yildirim mentors a diverse group of graduate students and postdocs working on various aspects of perception, cognition, and computational modeling. His students have received prestigious awards including the Jane Olejarczyk Award and the Leonard J. Savage Prize.
Helmut Leder is a Professor at the University of Vienna, specifically within the Faculty of Psychology's Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology. He serves as Head of the Vienna Cognitive Science Hub, integrating interdisciplinary approaches to study aesthetic experiences and cognitive processes. His academic profile includes teaching courses in General Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, and Neurosciences, alongside supervising master's and doctoral thesis seminars focused on perception and neuroaesthetics. Key Research Areas : Empirical Aesthetics, Cognitive Psychology, Visual Perception, Cross-Cultural Psychology, Urban Art Impact, Mental Imagery Studies Methodological Focus : Eye-tracking, Machine Learning Analysis, Cross-Cultural Comparisons, Field Experiments, Neuroimaging Recent Contributions : Investigated urban art's role in stress reduction, developed network models of aesthetic experiences, explored non-visual color navigation for the blind, and applied machine learning to art evaluation. His work bridges psychology with cultural studies, examining how aesthetic experiences shape well-being and cognitive processes. Current projects emphasize the neural and behavioral distinctions between real and imagined art encounters, while challenging traditional gender-based perception models.
Daniel Wolpert is a Professor of Neuroscience at Columbia University , where he is also Vice-Chair of the Department of Neuroscience and a key member of the Zuckerman Mind Brain and Behavior Institute . Additionally, he holds a part-time position as Director of Research at the Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society and the Academy of Medical Sciences . Education: Medical Doctor (1989), D.Phil. in Physiology from the University of Oxford (1992) Previous Positions: Lecturer at Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience (Institute of Neurology), Professor of Engineering at University of Cambridge (2005–2018) Wolpert is a world leader in sensorimotor control , combining computational neuroscience , Bayesian inference , and robotic/virtual reality technologies to reverse-engineer how the brain generates movements. His work emphasizes the brain's role in reducing sensorimotor uncertainty through predictive modeling and has implications for understanding disorders like autism and Parkinson’s disease. His awards include: Royal Society Ferrier Medal (2020) Minerva Foundation Golden Brain Award (2010) Royal Society Francis Crick Prize Lecture (2005) Daniel Wolpert actively contributes to public science communication, including a 2011 TED Talk on the computational role of the brain in movement, and leads the Wolpert Lab at Columbia, which investigates the neural basis of decision-making , motor learning , and reinforcement learning in both healthy and clinical populations.
Gerd Bruder is an Associate Professor at the University of Central Florida , affiliated with the Department of Computer Science . He previously held positions as a Research Associate Professor at UCF's Institute for Simulation and Training (2016-2022), Post-Doc at University of Hamburg (2014-2016), and Post-Doc at University of Würzburg (2011-2014). Habilitation : Computer Science, University of Hamburg (2017) Ph.D. : Computer Science, University of Münster (2011) M.Sc. : Computer Science (minor in Mathematics), University of Münster (2009) Research Interests : Gerd Bruder's work focuses on Extended Reality (XR) systems, spanning Virtual Reality (VR) , Augmented Reality (AR) , and Mixed Reality (MR) . Key areas include human factors , digital twins , 3D user interfaces , and perceptual modeling , with applications in healthcare, military operations, architecture, and smart environments. Recent Publications highlight innovations in XR locomotion , trust calibration with autonomous agents, spatial cognition , and haptic-visual integration . His 2025 articles address task-switching efficiency in XR and collaborative mixed reality design. Scientific Awards : Best Paper at ACM VRST 2023 2021 TechConnect Innovation Award Best Demo at ACM SUI 2021 Multiple Best Paper Awards (2016-2023) Best Poster & Demo Awards (2015-2020) Patents include systems for medical simulation , smart environment interruption management , and adaptive AR interfaces . His work bridges academic research and practical applications across VR, AR, and MR domains.
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.
Matthew Garver is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Nutrition, Kinesiology, and Health at the University of Central Missouri (UCM). He joined UCM in Fall 2016 after completing his Ph.D. in Exercise Science at The Ohio State University and teaching for five years in Abilene, Texas. Education: Ph.D. in Exercise Science (The Ohio State University) Garver’s research focuses on applied human performance, with emphasis on resistance training, interlimb asymmetry in athletes, and the intersection of exercise science with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). His work spans collegiate sports, track and field, and health interventions for special populations. Recent publications highlight his exploration of artificial intelligence in sport science ethics, DEI initiatives in exercise research, and position-specific training in collegiate female soccer. His studies also address exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, biomechanical asymmetry in American football players, and affective responses to resistance training. Garver has contributed to understanding physical activity’s role in older adults, particularly patients with knee osteoarthritis, through the IMPACT-P trial. His interdisciplinary approach bridges kinesiology, physiology, and social science in promoting health and athletic performance. At UCM, he teaches courses in Kinesiology and leads research initiatives aimed at optimizing human performance and health outcomes through evidence-based strategies.
Dr. Andrew Hines is a Researcher at the School of Computer Science, University College Dublin, specializing in machine learning applications for signal processing in speech, audio, and video domains. His work focuses on Quality of Experience (QoE) modeling, speech quality assessment, and immersive media analysis. He has held leadership roles in European COST Actions like Qualinet and CryptoAction, and previously worked in industry as a Director of Engineering. University: University College Dublin Role: Director of Research, Innovation and Impact Key Collaborations: IEEE (Senior Member), Audio Engineering Society (Ireland) Research interests center on machine learning for QoE optimization, audio-visual integration, and healthcare applications like heart sound classification and stroke rehabilitation. His recent publications explore self-supervised learning, neural speech codecs, and contextual factors in speech/audio quality assessment. Scientific contributions include awards like IEEE Senior Membership, and his work spans both academic research and industrial engineering in finance and aviation sectors. He leads the QxLab research team at UCD and develops open-source platforms such as WARP-Q and AQP for quality metrics.
Lee Miller is a Professor in the Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior at the University of California, Davis, College of Biological Sciences. His research integrates neural engineering, physiology, and computational methods to develop communication restoration technologies and investigate sensory processing mechanisms. His primary research interests include neural engineering for speech neuroprosthetics, electrophysiological analysis of speech production, auditory neuroscience, and geometric approaches to neuromuscular signal decoding. He employs surface electromyography (EMG), electroencephalography (EEG), and computational modeling to study brain-machine interfaces for speech restoration and multisensory integration. Recent publications reveal a dominant focus on EMG-based speech neuroprostheses, with geometric and topological analysis of neuromuscular signals emerging as a key methodology. His lab has pioneered non-invasive approaches to speech articulation decoding, created standardized EMG databases, and investigated neural mechanisms of attention in speech-in-noise processing. This work bridges engineering innovation with fundamental neuroscience to address communication disorders. Professor Miller leads the Miller Lab at UC Davis, which specializes in neural engineering for communication restoration. The lab develops real-time speech synthesis systems from neural signals and investigates the physiological basis of speech production and perception using multimodal recording techniques.
