David P. Woodruff is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University, part of the Theory Group within the School of Computer Science. He is actively involved in academic leadership roles, including chairing the CATCS (Conference on Theoretical Computer Science) and serving as PC chair for SODA 2024 and ICALP 2022. His research focuses on algorithms, data streams, machine learning, numerical linear algebra, sketching, and sparse recovery. He has been recognized with awards such as the Herbert Simon Award for teaching and the PODS Best Paper Award. Woodruff has advised numerous students and postdocs, including notable scholars like Ainesh Bakshi, Rajesh Jayaram, and Hongyang Zhang. His work often addresses foundational challenges in theoretical computer science, with contributions to distributed computing, streaming algorithms, and privacy-preserving techniques. He has published extensively in top conferences like NeurIPS, ICML, FOCS, and STOC, covering topics ranging from low-rank approximation to adversarial robustness in data streams. His teaching includes courses like Algorithms for Big Data and core algorithms courses, reflecting his commitment to both research and education. Collaborations span academia and industry, with applications in genomics and secure computation. Woodruff is a key contributor to the Foundations of Data Science program at the Simons Institute.
Patrick T. Brandt is a Professor of Political Science, Public Policy, and Political Economy at the University of Texas at Dallas , affiliated with the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences . His work integrates advanced statistical methods with political science, focusing on time series analysis, machine learning, and Bayesian modeling to study political dynamics. His research spans international relations , political economy , terrorist targeting , and conflict forecasting . He specializes in developing novel models for event count time series, including the Bayesian Poisson Vector Autoregression and MS-BVAR packages for R. His NSF-funded projects focus on event data generation and real-time conflict forecasting. Recent publications emphasize domain-specific language models (ConfliBERT variants), graph neural networks for conflict prediction, and machine translation challenges in political text analysis. He maintains the OpenEvent Data Repository and develops software like MSBVAR and PESTS for academic use. Scientific Awards : Robert H. Durr Award for Best Methodology Paper, Midwest Political Science Association (2006)
Sofie Haesaert is an Assistant Professor in the Control Systems group at the Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology. Her work focuses on formal verification and control synthesis methods for cyber-physical systems, particularly through stochastic simulation relations and temporal logic specifications. Education: BSc (cum laude) and MSc (cum laude) in Mechanical Engineering and Systems & Control from Delft University of Technology; PhD from Eindhoven University of Technology (2017) Experience: Postdoctoral researcher at Caltech (2017-2018), then returned to TU/e as Assistant Professor Her research interests include: Cyber-physical systems verification Stochastic control methods Temporal logic specification Markov decision processes Formal methods in control engineering Model abstractions and simulation relations Recent publications show strong focus on: Stochastic temporal logic control Robust and risk-aware control Multi-agent system verification Formal synthesis via simulation relations AI integration in control systems Software tools for formal control Scientific achievements: Veni Grant recipient (2020) Co-developer of the SySCoRe toolset for stochastic control synthesis Contributor to formal verification benchmarks through ARCH-COMP reports She contributes to education through courses on: Control principles for engineered systems Control challenges in autonomous racing Supervisory control of cyber-physical systems Haesaert collaborates across disciplines including computer science, applied mathematics, and robotics, with over 750 citations and significant contributions to formal control theory for stochastic systems. Her work bridges theoretical developments with practical applications in autonomous systems and complex control architectures.
Luis A. Ricardez-Sandoval is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo and holds a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Multiscale Modelling and Process Systems. His research group develops advanced computational tools for optimizing chemical processes across multiple scales. Doctorate: Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo (2008) MASc: Chemical Engineering, Instituto Tecnologico de Celaya (2000) BASc: Chemical Engineering, Instituto Tecnologico de Orizaba (1997) The research group focuses on multiscale modelling and process systems engineering , particularly for CO2 capture , energy systems , and heterogeneous catalysis . Their work combines advanced mathematics, machine learning , and uncertainty analysis to optimize chemical processes before physical implementation. Recent publications emphasize dynamic system optimization under uncertainty, multiscale simulation , and CO2 conversion technologies . Key methodologies include probabilistic uncertainty quantification and economic predictive control . Scientific Awards : 1997: First Place, XII National Creativity Contest 1998: Best Student Award, Instituto Tecnologico de Orizaba 1999: Third Place, XIV National Creativity Contest 2000: J.M. Smith Award for Best MASc Student He has collaborated with international institutions like CONACyT-Mexico, China Scholarship Council, and Universidad de Los Andes. His teaching includes graduate courses in process control, optimization, and computer-aided design.
Mohsen Heidari is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Indiana University, Bloomington. He is affiliated with the IU Quantum Science and Engineering Center (QSEc) and the NSF Center for Science of Information (CSoI). He previously held positions as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Purdue University and as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at CSoI. Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (2019) and M.Sc. in Applied Mathematics (2017) from the University of Michigan His research focuses span quantum computing, theoretical machine learning, and information theory. Key themes include: Quantum algorithm design and sample complexity Fourier-based learning frameworks Quantum-classical duality in learning problems Information-theoretic approaches to biological systems Article trends show a strong emphasis on quantum-classical learning intersections (6/15 papers), Fourier analysis applications (5/15), and information-theoretic foundations (12/15). Notable venues include NeurIPS, IEEE Transactions, and ISIT. He directs research involving: Quantum Neural Network development Quantum measurement simulation Quantum data compression techniques Quantum algorithm implementation constraints
Fabrizio Lombardi is the ITC Endowed Professor at Northeastern University's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, part of the College of Engineering. He previously held faculty positions at Texas Tech University, University of Colorado-Boulder, and Texas A&M University. He earned his B.Sc. from the University of Essex (1977), M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University of London (1982). His research focuses on fault-tolerant computing, VLSI CAD, quantum computing, and configurable computing systems. He has led major projects like the NSF-funded Neural-Network-based Stochastic Computing Architectures for Machine Learning . He holds leadership roles including President of the IEEE Nanotechnology Council (2022-2023), IEEE Computer Society Vice President (2021), and IEEE PSPB member. His 200+ publications span IEEE Transactions on Computers, Nanotechnology, and Design & Test. Awards include IEEE Fellow, Søren Buus Outstanding Research Award, and multiple research fellowships. His work bridges theory and application, emphasizing defect-tolerant nanosystems and energy-efficient computing hardware. Recent innovations include approximate computing methodologies and secure PUF-based hardware designs.
Tommy Löfstedt is an Associate Professor at Umeå University , affiliated with the Department of Computing Science and the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics. His research focuses on machine learning , computer vision , and medical image analysis , with applications in life sciences, radiation therapy, and biomedical imaging. He leads multiple research projects, including AI-driven delineation in radiation therapy, quantitative MRI for radiotherapy, and machine learning for plant nutrient uptake. Current research emphasizes structured regularization methods to improve model interpretability and robustness. Key applications include medical image segmentation , Alzheimer's classification , and uncertainty estimation in MRI . Recent publications highlight his work on morphological regularization , adversarial attack mitigation , and multi-task learning in medical imaging contexts. His projects span 2022–2026 with funding for pediatric oncology automation and gynecological cancer staging. Affiliated with both computing and mathematical departments, he bridges algorithm development with applied mathematical frameworks in medical and life science domains.
Bo An is a President's Chair Professor and Head of the Division of Artificial Intelligence at the College of Computing and Data Science , Nanyang Technological University, Singapore . He also holds a courtesy appointment as Professor at the School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences and serves as Director of the Centre of AI-for-X. Previously, he was a Nanyang Assistant Professor (2014-2018), Associate Professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2012-2013), and Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Southern California (2010-2012). His academic journey began with B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from Chongqing University, followed by a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (advised by Victor Lesser). Research Interests : Artificial Intelligence Multiagent Systems Computational Game Theory Reinforcement Learning Automated Negotiation Optimization Research Impact : Applications in infrastructure security (deployed by US Coast Guard and Federal Air Marshals), e-commerce, sensor networks, and financial technology. Over 150 publications in top venues like AAMAS, IJCAI, AAAI, ICML, NeurIPS, KDD, and ACM/IEEE Transactions. Scientific Recognition : 2010 IFAAMAS Victor Lesser Distinguished Dissertation Award 2012 INFORMS Wagner Prize 2018 & 2022 Nanyang Research Awards 2017 Microsoft Collaborative AI Challenge IEEE Intelligent Systems 'AI's 10 to Watch' (2018) Leadership Roles : Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Intelligent Systems, Associate Editor for AIJ, JAAMAS, and ACM Transactions. Served as General Co-Chair for AAMAS'23 and Program Chair for IJCAI'27.
Vincent Vargas is a French mathematician and Associate Professor at the University of Geneva, where he joined in 2021 after holding a research position at CNRS. He completed his PhD in mathematics at Paris-Diderot University under the supervision of Francis Comets. His primary research interests include: Probability Mathematical Physics Statistical Mechanics Quantum Field Theory Gaussian Multiplicative Chaos Liouville Quantum Gravity Vargas has made significant contributions to the rigorous probabilistic construction of Liouville field theory and the proof of the DOZZ formula, work that was featured in Quanta Magazine. His research bridges mathematics and theoretical physics through probabilistic methods applied to quantum gravity. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on mathematical structures underlying conformal field theory, with particular attention to Liouville quantum gravity across various geometries and the connections between probability and quantum physics. His notable scientific achievements have been recognized with prestigious awards: Marc Yor Prize (2019) George Pólya Prize (2022) Vincent Vargas has mentored several PhD students including Romain Allez, Yichao Huang, Guillaume Rémy, and Tunan Zhu. He has been actively involved in the academic community through organizing conferences and workshops, including a trimester at the Institut Henri Poincaré in 2015 and a conference on 'Probability and quantum field theory' in 2019. His professional activities extend to industry applications through his previous consultancy with Capital Fund Management (2007-2013) and his current role on the board of their research foundation.
Akash Srivastava is a Research Scientist and Principal Investigator (PI) at the MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab in Cambridge, MA, and Chief Architect of Large Language Model Alignment at IBM Research. His work focuses on generative modeling , Bayesian inference , and machine learning for constrained engineering design . He previously conducted PhD research at the University of Edinburgh under Dr. Charles Sutton and Dr. Michael U. Gutmann on variational inference for generative models using deep learning. His research spans Neuro-Symbolic AI , Language Model Alignment , and Synthetic Data Generation , with applications in 3D modeling , urban logistics , and material science . Recent publications highlight advancements in diffusion models , continual learning , and privacy-preserving data synthesis . As a PI, he collaborates with MIT faculty like Prof. Faez Ahmed and Prof. Rafael Gomez-Bombarelli on projects such as generative modeling for mechanical systems , synthetic data in decision-making , and greener delivery networks . He has received funding through a DARPA grant for machine common sense research.
Dr. Sameer Mulani is an Associate Professor, Associate Department Head, and Director of Graduate Programs in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics at the University of Alabama's College of Engineering. He leads the Stochastic Mechanics and Multi-Disciplinary Optimization Laboratory (SMO Lab) and is an integral part of the Remote Sensing Center and Alabama Materials Institute. Dr. Mulani's research spans uncertainty quantification, random vibrations, multi-disciplinary optimization, and composite structures' multi-scale analysis and design. His work combines computational methods with machine learning to develop innovative solutions for aerospace engineering challenges. He has made significant contributions to self-healing composite materials, uncertainty quantification techniques, and optimization of composite structures. His research group has published extensively on topics including polynomial chaos expansion for uncertainty quantification, self-healing composites, stochastic buckling analysis, and machine learning applications in structural mechanics. The publications demonstrate a strong trend toward integrating probabilistic methods with traditional engineering analysis to improve reliability and safety of aerospace structures. AIAA Associate Fellow, Class of 2025 2025 Department of the Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship Program 2024 Department of the Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship Program MSC Software Contest Winner (2011) Night on the Town: General Electric Award (2007) DAAD Fellowship (1999-2000) Dr. Mulani has advised numerous graduate students who have gone on to successful careers at institutions including Los Alamos National Laboratory, Cirrus Aircraft, L3Harris, and Lockheed-Martin. His lab collaborates with various research centers including the Remote Sensing Center where they work on antenna design, manufacturing, and integration for aircraft systems. The SMO Lab utilizes advanced software including MSC NASTRAN/PATRAN, ANSYS Mechanical/FLUENT, ABAQUS, SOLIDWORKS, and CATIA for their simulations and analyses.
Dr. Matteo Fasiolo is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Mathematics at the University of Bristol, specializing in Statistical Science. His research focuses on advanced statistical modeling with significant applications in electricity demand forecasting and medical statistics, leveraging Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) as a core methodology. His primary research interests span: Generalized Additive Models and their extensions for complex data structures Covariance matrix modeling for high-dimensional energy forecasting Probabilistic forecasting techniques for uncertainty quantification Statistical machine learning including variational inference and contrastive learning Applications in electricity grid management and medical diagnostics Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal a dual focus: developing scalable statistical methods for electricity net-demand prediction in Great Britain using additive covariance models, and applying distributional regression to medical challenges like kidney function decline and cardiovascular risk prediction. His work on SoftCVI demonstrates innovation in variational inference, while extensions to GAMs address both mean modeling and full distributional forecasting. Dr. Fasiolo has supervised at least one student as indicated by university records. His research outputs include 16 publications and 2 publicly available datasets, reflecting active contributions to methodological statistics and domain-specific applications in energy systems.
Erin Strumpf is a Full Professor jointly appointed in the Department of Economics and the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health at McGill University. She is a founding member of McGill’s Public Policy and Population Health Observatory (3PO) and holds the distinguished William Dawson Scholar title. Her work bridges economics and population health, focusing on evaluating health and social policies through rigorous causal inference methods. Education: PhD in Health Policy and Economics, Harvard University BA, Smith College Research Interests: Prof. Strumpf’s research agenda centers on the impacts of health policies on health care delivery, population health outcomes, and health inequalities. She employs quasi-experimental designs and large-scale administrative data to assess interventions such as cancer screening programs, primary care reforms, and paid family leave policies. Her work spans multiple jurisdictions, including Canada, the United States, and France, and actively informs policymakers at provincial and national levels. Her recent projects include evaluating the cost-effectiveness of population-based cancer screening guidelines, assessing the health system impacts of integrated primary care in Quebec, and exploring how paid family leave policies reduce infant respiratory infections and promote equity. She is also a key contributor to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Drug Safety and Effectiveness Network. Scientific Awards & Honors: William Dawson Scholar, McGill University Chercheur-boursier Junior 1 & 2, Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Santé Collaborations & Funding: Prof. Strumpf collaborates extensively with ministries of health and finance across Canadian provinces and with international agencies. She leads multidisciplinary teams that leverage rich administrative health data to generate actionable evidence for decision-makers. Her research is primarily aligned with the Centre on Population Dynamics’ Social and Economic Determinants of Health axis, and intersects with the Aging axis. Affiliations & Labs: She is affiliated with McGill’s Department of Equity, Ethics, and Policy, Family Medicine Department, Department of Oncology, and the Centre on Population Dynamics. Previously (2019-2022), she was an affiliated researcher with the cancer unit at l’Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS).
Professor Ana Ferreira is a leading seismologist at University College London, focusing on deep Earth structure and earthquake source processes. Her research integrates seismic and geodetic data to understand planetary dynamics from the surface to the lowermost mantle. Her work includes pioneering seismic tomography, such as the SGLOBE-rani 3D anisotropy model, and earthquake source analysis using InSAR and normal mode data. She leads the Seismological Laboratory and teaches Seismology II and Field Geophysics. Recent projects include the UPFLOW experiment, which deployed 49 ocean bottom seismometers in the Atlantic, and studies on Greenland ice sheet evolution and Tonga volcanic eruptions. Her EU-funded research emphasizes multidisciplinary data integration and numerical modeling. Key article trends cover mantle anisotropy, global tomography, earthquake source inversion, cosmology-inspired machine learning, and ocean bottom seismology applications in geodynamics and cryospheric processes.
Todd Millstein is a Professor in the Computer Science Department at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He served as the Computer Science Department Chair from 2022-2025 and is also an Amazon Scholar. His research focuses on making software systems more reliable through programming languages techniques, with significant contributions to network verification and probabilistic programming. Millstein received his Ph.D. from the University of Washington Department of Computer Science, where he was a member of the Cecil group led by Craig Chambers. Prior to that, he completed his undergraduate studies at Brown University under the guidance of Paris Kanellakis and Pascal Van Hentenryck. Millstein's research spans several areas of programming languages and systems with a focus on reliability. He has made significant contributions to network verification, developing the Batfish network configuration analyzer which is now managed by Amazon Web Services and forms the basis of Oracle Cloud's Network Path Analyzer. His work has been recognized with the ACM SIGCOMM Networking Systems Award in 2025. He also works on interactive program verification through lemma synthesis and scalable reasoning methods for probabilistic programming languages. His research bridges programming languages theory with practical systems challenges, as highlighted in his SPLASH/OOPSLA 2024 keynote "Everything is a Program (even if it's not)". Millstein's recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on verification and reliability across multiple domains. His work shows a progression from foundational programming language techniques to practical applications in networking and probabilistic systems. Key themes include data-driven approaches to program analysis, synthesis of verification artifacts, and applying programming languages techniques to non-traditional domains like network configuration. Millstein's scientific achievements have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards including an NSF CAREER Award, an ACM SIGPLAN Most Influential PLDI Paper Award, an ACM SIGCOMM Networking Systems Award, IEEE Micro Top Picks selection, best-paper awards from PLDI, OOPSLA, and SIGCOMM, a Microsoft Research Outstanding Collaborator Award, an Okawa Foundation Research Grant, an IBM Faculty Award, and a Facebook Research Award. He has also received both the Northrop Grumman Excellence in Teaching Award (for junior faculty) and the Eon Instrumentation Inc. Excellence in Teaching Award (for senior faculty) from UCLA Engineering. Millstein advises several Ph.D. students including Ana Brendel, Poorva Garg (co-advised with Guy Van den Broeck), Rajdeep Mondal (co-advised with George Varghese), and Rathin Singha (co-advised with George Varghese). His research has been supported by various grants including an NSF CAREER Award, Okawa Foundation Research Grant, IBM Faculty Award, and Facebook Research Award. He has also been a Co-Founder and Chief Scientist of Intentionet, which was later acquired by Amazon Web Services. Millstein is actively involved in the Batfish project, an open-source network configuration analyzer that has had significant practical impact. Batfish is now managed by AWS, powers Oracle Cloud's Network Path Analyzer, and is used by dozens of companies. His research group continues to work on network reliability, developing techniques for scalable BGP policy verification and behavioral testing of protocol implementations.
