Dr. Rasmus Ibsen-Jensen is a Lecturer in Computer Science at the University of Liverpool. Previously, he held a Postdoctoral position at IST Austria under Krishnendu Chatterjee and completed his PhD under Peter Bro Miltersen. Research Focus: Algorithmic game theory, strategy complexity in two-player zero-sum games, control flow graph algorithms, edit distance for automata, and theoretical biology applications. Teaching: Module Coordinator for second-year courses in database development (COMP207), C++ programming (COMP282), and industrial placement (COMP299). His work bridges computational game theory and formal verification, with recent publications exploring memory constraints in partial-information games, algebraic path properties in concurrent systems, and evolutionary spatial dynamics. While no scientific awards are explicitly mentioned in the provided text, his contributions to algorithmic complexity and interdisciplinary research (e.g., theoretical biology) highlight his academic impact.
Prof. Daniel Memmert is a Professor at the German Sport University Cologne, leading research in Sport Informatics and Sports Games within the Institute of Exercise Training and Sport Informatics. His work focuses on cognitive aspects of sports performance, decision-making, and data-driven analysis in football (soccer) and other sports. He has published extensively on topics like penalty kick strategies, home advantage dynamics, artificial intelligence applications in coaching, and route-setting in climbing. Memmert's research bridges sports science, computer science, and psychology, with over 550 publications and 41 projects to his name. He frequently engages with media, explaining complex sports phenomena to the public. Key Research Areas: Football analytics, cognitive psychology in sports, sports technology, decision-making under pressure Media Contributions: Over 50 media features discussing topics such as AI in coaching, referee bias, and athlete creativity Projects: Includes initiatives on sports data visualization, performance metrics, and prevention of sports betting addiction His work emphasizes translating academic findings into practical tools for athletes, coaches, and sports organizations, combining rigorous data analysis with real-world applications.
Inho Hong is an Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Data Science, Chonnam National University (Gwangju, Korea), leading the Computational Social Science and Complex Systems Lab (CSL). His research explores socio-spatial systems through data science and complex systems methods, focusing on urban dynamics, human mobility, and AI's societal impact. Education: Ph.D. in Physics (2019), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) M.S. in Physics (2012), POSTECH B.S. in Physics (2010), POSTECH Research Interests: Urban Data Science : Analyzing urban scaling laws and innovation pathways Human Mobility : Modeling intra-city movement patterns Social Impact of AI : Ethical and societal challenges Natural Language Processing : Text embedding for policy analysis Complex Systems : Network approaches to protests and epidemics Recent Work Trends: Over 2020–2022, his articles centered on pandemic control, protest networks, and urban green spaces' psychological impact. Recent 2023–2025 work extends to vocational education analysis and mobility laws within cities. His methods combine network science with large-scale data analytics. Awards: Young Statistical Physicist Award (Korean Physical Society, 2021) Best Paper Award (Korea Computer Congress 2021) Global Ph.D. Fellowship (NRF, 2014–2017) Grants & Labs: Current lab focuses on socio-spatial systems. Past roles include Associate Research Scientist at Max Planck Institute for Human Development (2020–2023) and Postdoctoral Fellowships at POSTECH and APCTP.
Jason Cong is the Volgenau Chair for Engineering Excellence and Distinguished Chancellor's Professor in the Computer Science Department at UCLA's Samueli School of Engineering. He directs the Center for Domain-Specific Computing (CDSC) and the VLSI Architecture, Synthesis, and Technology (VAST) Laboratory, and serves as Associate Vice Provost for Internationalization and Co-Director of UCLA/PKU Student and Scholar Program. Dr. Cong's research spans electronic design automation, customizable computing for machine learning and big-data applications, quantum computing, and highly scalable algorithms. His work has produced over 500 publications with more than 41,000 citations and an H-index of 106. His recent work focuses on quantum computing compilation, domain-specific acceleration for AI workloads, and high-level synthesis optimization techniques that leverage machine learning. His publication trend shows a strong emphasis on quantum computing and machine learning acceleration in recent years, with numerous papers on quantum layout synthesis, LLM acceleration, and high-performance FPGA implementations. His team has developed frameworks like TAPA for task-parallel dataflow programming and RapidStream for automated parallel implementation of FPGA designs. Member of National Academy of Engineering (2017) IEEE Robert N. Noyce Medal recipient (2022) Phil Kaufman Award recipient (2024) ACM Chuck Thacker Breakthrough Award recipient (2024) 18 Best Paper Awards across major conferences Multiple 10-Year Retrospective Most Influential Paper Awards Dr. Cong has graduated 50 PhD students, many of whom are now faculty at major research universities or hold key positions at leading tech companies. He has led over 100 research projects funded by DARPA, NSF, SRC, and industry sponsors. His entrepreneurial activities include founding three successful companies (Aplus Design Technologies, AutoESL, and Falcon Computing Solutions), all acquired by major EDA players. His VAST Laboratory continues to push boundaries in domain-specific computing, with active research in quantum computing, AI acceleration, and high-performance FPGA implementations.
Dr. Jennifer Jenson serves as Professor of Digital Languages, Literacies, and Cultures within the Department of Language and Literacy Education at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Education. She joined UBC in January 2019 after 18 years at York University, where she directed the Institute for Research on Digital Learning. Her academic leadership extends to co-editing Loading: The Journal of the Canadian Game Studies Association and past presidency of the Canadian Game Studies Association. Dr. Jenson holds a Ph.D. from Simon Fraser University. Her research program critically examines digital games, literacies, and pedagogical practices through lenses of gender, equity, and decolonization. She has conducted longitudinal studies on gender and digital gameplay, developed educational games through the Play:CES lab, and authored influential reports for the Ontario Ministry of Education including “21st Century Skills, Technologies and Learning”. Her publication trajectory (2015-2023) reveals consistent focus on regendering game cultures, multimodal learning frameworks, and computational literacy in youth media engagement. Work spans critical analysis of “The Entrepreneurial Gamer” concept to contemporary digital literacies in multimodal contexts, emphasizing how game-based learning can disrupt exclusionary practices while advancing inclusive education. No scientific awards were explicitly documented in the source materials. Dr. Jenson maintains active graduate supervision, currently advising doctoral candidates like Laura Brass researching immigrant women language teachers’ identities. Her sustained research funding includes leadership of the international SSHRC Partnership Grant “Re-Figuring Innovation in Games” (2015-2021) and SSHRC Insight Grant “Think, Design, Play” (2014-2020), with collaborations spanning school boards, technology companies, and global institutions like SRI International and Nottingham University. She co-founded the CFI-funded Play:CES lab where teams developed educational games including “Contagion” and “Epidemic: Self-Care for Crisis”, and currently leads the Re-Figuring Innovation in Games (ReFiG) collective – an international consortium of scholars, community organizers, and industry partners dedicated to transforming game culture through equity-centered innovation.
Joseph Tao-yi Wang is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Economics at National Taiwan University (NTU). He holds a PhD from UCLA and previously served as a Postdoctoral Scholar and Visiting Associate at Caltech. His research spans experimental economics, neuroeconomics, game theory, and behavioral economics, with a focus on strategic decision-making, market design, and learning in games. Wang directs the Taiwan Social Sciences Experimental Laboratory (TASSEL), which hosts large-scale experimental research and conferences like the 2017 APESA. His work integrates eye-tracking, pupillometry, and machine learning to study cognitive processes in economic decisions. Wang is also active in educational innovation, developing flipped classroom models with experiments for economics courses. His publications consistently explore behavioral deviations from game-theoretic predictions, such as overcommunication in sender-receiver games and learning patterns in auctions. Recent work emphasizes reproducibility in management science and AI applications in education. Wang’s research uses diverse methodologies—from neuroimaging to field experiments—to test economic theories in real-world contexts. Wang mentors through NTU’s Berkeley Economics Student Assistant Program (BESAP) and organizes mini-courses for high school students. He has not received scientific awards per the available data.
Mike Grimble is a Research Professor in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, Faculty of Engineering. His work is centered on advanced control systems with applications across automotive, aerospace, marine, and industrial domains. He is actively involved in theoretical and applied research, particularly in nonlinear and robust control methodologies. Research Interests: Theory and application of nonlinear and robust control for multivariable systems Adaptive control and estimation methods Benchmarking and performance assessment of control systems Condition monitoring and industrial applications Real-time control and embedded systems His recent publications highlight a strong trend in applying predictive and adaptive control techniques to electric vehicles, battery systems, underwater robotics, and industrial machinery. These works emphasize real-time implementation, energy optimization, and robustness—critical for modern sustainable and autonomous systems. Scientific Recognition and Activities: Invited speaker on the benefits and challenges of advanced control in industrial applications (2013) Contributor to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in sustainable industry and innovation Active research output with over 158 publications, including journals, conferences, and book chapters Research Leadership and Funding: Principal Investigator on multiple EPSRC and RSE-funded projects Co-investigator in interdisciplinary initiatives such as the Medical Devices Doctoral Training Centre Organizer of international workshops on hybrid and predictive control Labs and Research Teams: He is associated with the Industrial Control Centre at the University of Strathclyde, a leading hub for control engineering research. His collaborations span departments and institutions, involving real-time LabVIEW implementations, hardware demonstrations, and partnerships with industry players like National Instruments and Quanser Inc.
Dr. Reba Wissner is an Associate Professor of Musicology at the Schwob School of Music, Columbus State University, where she also serves as Interim Associate Dean in the Honors College. She specializes in film, television, and video game music, with a strong commitment to pedagogy and accessibility in higher education. Education: PhD, Musicology, Brandeis University, 2012 MFA, Musicology, Brandeis University, 2008 BA, Music and Italian, Hunter College, CUNY, 2005 Graduate Certificate, Higher Education Administration, Northeastern University, 2019 Graduate Certificate, Instructional Design, University of Wisconsin - Stout, 2020 Levels 1, 2, and 3 UDL Credentials, UDL-IRN Quality Matters Certified Peer Reviewer and Master Reviewer Dr. Wissner’s research centers on music in screen media, particularly Cold War-era television, and the intersection of music with cultural narratives. She is a leading voice in public musicology and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), advocating for inclusive and accessible music education. Her work spans historical analysis, pedagogical innovation, and interdisciplinary media studies. Her recent publications reflect a consistent focus on sonic storytelling, with books on The Twilight Zone , The Outer Limits , David Lynch, and Twin Peaks . She explores themes of nuclear anxiety, identity, and adaptation across media. Her editorial projects include the Oxford Handbook of Public Musicology and a guide on UDL in music history classrooms. Scientific Awards and Recognitions: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award, Columbus State University, 2022 Governor’s Teaching Fellow, Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education, 2022 Quality Matters Certified Peer Reviewer and Master Reviewer UDL Levels 1–3 Credentials Dr. Wissner has secured editorial contracts with Routledge and Oxford University Press, reflecting her leadership in the field. She mentors emerging scholars through collaborative editing and public scholarship initiatives. Her work in online learning and accessibility has shaped curriculum development and peer review standards. She leads the Public Musicology Certificate program and contributes to interdisciplinary studies and honors education. She is actively involved in research teams focused on media music and pedagogical innovation, integrating digital tools and inclusive design into music history education.
Dr. Vasileios Stavropoulos is the Associate Dean, Higher Degree Research at RMIT University's Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences. His research focuses on behavioral addictions, digital phenotyping, and the psychological impacts of digital media, particularly in gaming and social media contexts. He supervises numerous research projects addressing topics like cyber-phenotyping via text mining, disordered gaming, and the interplay between digital media and mental health. Key research interests include the psychological mechanisms underlying problematic gaming and social media use, network analysis of addiction symptomologies, and the role of user-avatar bonds in behavioral disorders. His work integrates machine learning and behavioral science to predict and analyze addictive behaviors. Dr. Stavropoulos has published extensively on gaming disorder, social media addiction, and the mental health implications of digital media use. His collaborations span clinical psychology, public health, and computational methods, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to addressing modern behavioral challenges. He is actively engaged in higher degree research governance at RMIT, overseeing doctoral programs and fostering innovation in research methodologies. His contributions include developing scales for measuring addiction behaviors and advancing longitudinal studies on mental health correlations with digital engagement.
Natasha Zhang Foutz is a Research Associate Professor of Commerce at the McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia . Her work bridges Artificial Intelligence , Marketing Analytics , and Consumer Behavior , with a focus on Digital Content and Location-Based Services . She teaches Marketing Analytics , Entertainment Marketing , and Marketing Models across undergraduate to PhD programs. Ph.D. in Marketing, Cornell University M.S. in Statistics & Marketing, Cornell University B.S. in Economics, Fudan University Her research investigates: AI-Powered Entertainment Marketing : Using machine learning to analyze consumer behavior in digital content. Privacy and Ethical Data Use : Studying consumer trade-offs between privacy and public good, especially during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic . Location Analytics : Leveraging mobile data for urban economics, real estate, and emergency response modeling (e.g., MobiRescue for disaster logistics). Prosocial Consumer Behavior : Exploring how social capital and diversity drive innovation and policy compliance. Recent publications highlight trends in Reinforcement Learning for crisis management, Privacy-Preserving AI , and Freemium Pricing Models in digital markets. Her awards include the 2025 UVA Outstanding Researcher Award and the 2018 Mallen Award for motion picture studies. Natasha serves as an Area Editor for multiple journals, emphasizing Data Science in marketing. She has advised numerous PhD students and collaborated on projects analyzing Big Data in consumer mobility and platform economics.
Dr. Marcel Dettling is a Group Lead in Data Analysis and Statistics at the ZHAW School of Engineering , focusing on predictive analytics, applied statistics, and complex data analysis. He also serves as a Lecturer at ETH Zurich , teaching advanced statistical methods. Education : PhD in Mathematics (2000-2004), ETH Zurich Postdoc in Applied Statistics (2004-2006), Johns Hopkins University His research spans predictive analytics (regression, classification, time series), data mining, and applications in health economics, transportation safety, social sciences , and business analytics . Recent work includes pharmaceutical cost group analysis for Swiss healthcare and predictive maintenance for marine vessels. Selected publications highlight his expertise in flight trajectory modeling , deep learning error mitigation , and statistical frameworks for rehabilitation finance . His projects address diverse fields like crowdworking in nursing, energy optimization for shipping, and customer behavior prediction.
James Malazita is Associate Professor of Science & Technology Studies and Associate Director of the Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences (GSAS) program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). He is affiliated with the Department of Science and Technology Studies in the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, and contributes to the GEM (Games and Experiential Media) research group. Education: Ph.D. in Communication, Culture, and Media, Drexel University (2014) BS/MS in Digital Media, Drexel University (2009) Malazita's research lies at the intersection of game studies, platform studies, feminist technoscience, and social justice in computing. He critically investigates how game engines like Unreal shape technological and cultural infrastructures, particularly through the lenses of gender, race, and power. His forthcoming book, Enacting Platforms: Feminist Technoscience and the Unreal Engine (MIT Press, July 2024), offers a groundbreaking feminist and critical analysis of one of the most influential game development platforms. His work also extends to digital humanities, critical design, and the politics of computer science education. His recent publications reveal a strong thematic focus on the co-production of technology and society, with recurring interests in epistemic cultures, disciplinary formation, localization, and critical pedagogy. These works span journals in game studies, design, digital humanities, and STS, reflecting an interdisciplinary approach that bridges technical systems and humanistic critique. Scientific Support and Affiliations: Supported by NEH Office of Digital Humanities Supported by NEH Division of Educational Programs Supported by Popular Culture Association Supported by New Jersey Historical Commission Supported by Red Hat Inc. Supported by Rensselaer’s Teaching and Learning Collaboratory Member of GEM (Games and Experiential Media) ORCID: 0000-0003-3206-3682 Malazita advises graduate students in STS and Games, with former advisees placed at Yale, NYU, and UT Austin. He teaches courses in game studies, human-centered design, interpretive methods, and critical technology studies. His current course includes STSO 2610: DSIS Studio II (Spring 2024). His research raises fundamental questions about the material and cultural limits of platforms, the analyst-platform relationship, and the future of the web as shaped by game technologies.
Mia Consalvo is a Professor and Canada Research Chair in Game Studies & Design at Concordia University. She serves as Graduate Program Director in Communication Studies and directs the Concordia Centre for Technoculture, Art and Games. Her research focuses on game studies, qualitative methods, new media, and popular culture. Education: BA in Communications, Lyndon State College MA in Communications, University of Washington PhD in Mass Communications, University of Iowa Her recent work analyzes livestreaming platforms like Twitch, socio-economic class in gaming, feminist approaches to game studies, and the intersection of mental health with game environments. She has published extensively on game design, player culture, and digital labor. Scientific Awards: Canada Research Chair in Game Studies & Design She supervises thesis projects in Media Studies (MA) and Communication (PhD) programs, emphasizing collaborative research and critical analysis of games as cultural artifacts.
Diane Carr is a Professor of Media and Cultural Studies at the Institute of Education, University College London (UCL), where she serves as Director of the Digital Media MA Programme. Based in the Culture, Communication & Media department, Carr is an established scholar in game studies, media studies, and critical disability studies. Her work bridges academic research with practical applications in digital media education. Carr's research focuses on media studies and cultural studies perspectives on digital games and players, with particular emphasis on critical analysis, methodology, representation, and screen studies. During 2024-25, her research follows two key themes: developing ludic autoethnography to articulate real-world experiences of discrimination, and examining complicity with big tech, datafication, and AI in games and education. Her work consistently explores the intersection of disability studies with game studies, challenging normative representations of ability in digital spaces. Carr's publications reveal a sustained engagement with disability representation in games, particularly through analyses of titles like Dead Space and Deus Ex. Her research demonstrates how games function as cultural texts that both reflect and shape societal attitudes toward disability, ability, and bodily difference. She employs textual analysis and autoethnographic approaches to examine how games construct notions of normalcy and deviance. UCL Widening Participation community of practice awards (2022) ONE UCL Award for collegiality, 'Ways of Working/Working Together' (2021) UKLA Postgraduate Research Prize (2015) Carr has supervised numerous PhD students including Danielle Kleinerman (in progress), Angeliki Symeonidi (2020), Bruno de Paula (2019), and Angela Colvert (2015). Her research funding includes significant projects like 'Disability and Community: Dis/engagement, Dis/enfranchisement, Dis/parity and Dissent' (2016-2021) funded by the AHRC, 'Alternative Futures: Disability and Community' (2014-2015), and 'Digital Games: Representations of disability' (2013-2014). She has also led projects on AI education using science fiction and virtual worlds in higher education. As Director of the Digital Media MA Programme, Carr leads initiatives that connect game studies with critical media education. Her teaching includes research design and game studies on the MA Digital Media Critical Studies program. Notably, Carr is deaf, bringing lived experience to her critical disability studies work while actively contributing to academic discourse on accessibility and representation in digital spaces.
Kevin Schut, a Teaching Professor at Trinity Western University's School of the Arts, Media + Culture, is a Game Studies scholar with expertise in video games, religion, ethics, and media ecology. He earned his PhD in Communication Studies (2004) and BA in Communication Arts & Sciences, History (1996), and has held leadership roles including Associate Dean and Chair of Media + Communication. His 2013 book Of Games & God explores Christian perspectives on gaming. PhD, Communication Studies, University of Iowa (2004) BA, Communication Arts & Sciences & History, Calvin College (1996) His research focuses on moral decision-making in games, media's cultural impact, and technology-religion intersections. Recent projects include analyzing procedural generation in No Man’s Sky and faith-based game design frameworks. Key awards include the 2013 Word Guild Best Book award and TWU's 2009 Provost’s Innovative Teaching Award. He teaches courses like Video Games and Culture and Media, Culture, and Criticism .
