Find Academic Supervisors

Sophie RigneyView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Indigenous Peoples and International Law
• International Criminal Law
• International Law Narratives in Children's Literature
• +2 more

Sophie Rigney is a Senior Lecturer in Law at RMIT University's School of Law, based at the City Campus in Australia. Her research focuses on three core areas: Indigenous peoples' relationships with states, particularly regarding the Uluru Statement from the Heart and Indigenous international law; international criminal law's carceral abolition movement and rights of the accused; and how international law is portrayed in children's literature. She authored Fairness and Rights in International Criminal Procedure (2022) and has held roles at institutions like the University of New South Wales and Melbourne Law School. Rigney teaches across public, private, and international law, overseeing doctoral programs and advocating for decolonial pedagogy. Her career includes legal work at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and leadership roles in human rights organizations such as Amnesty International Australia. She is currently Program Manager for RMIT's LLB programs and actively supervises postgraduate research. Her work has been cited by the International Criminal Court, reflecting her influence in international law discourse. Rigney's publications span legal reform, Indigenous sovereignty, and pedagogical innovation, with recent contributions addressing the Gaza conflict and League of Nations' Indigenous diplomacy. Her research bridges historical analysis, legal practice, and educational reform, emphasizing decolonization and systemic critique.

Nima KalantariView profile

Assistant Professor

• Computer Graphics
• Computational Photography
• Rendering
• +5 more

Nima Kalantari is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering at Texas A&M University. He previously held a postdoctoral position at UC San Diego under Ravi Ramamoorthi. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. from UC Santa Barbara (ECE), an M.S. and B.S. from Amirkabir University of Technology (Electrical Engineering). His research focuses on computer graphics, computational photography, rendering, and deep learning, with emphasis on machine learning techniques for image synthesis and material generation. Education: Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2015 M.S., Electrical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, 2009 B.S., Electrical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, 2007 Research Interests: Kalantari's work bridges computer graphics and deep learning, particularly in computational photography, rendering, and view synthesis. Recent projects include 3D relightable face generation, sparse view synthesis with Gaussians, and physics-guided neural networks for fluid dynamics. Awards: 2024 Frontiers of Science Award (SIGGRAPH 2019) TEES Young Faculty Fellow Award (2024) Best Master Thesis Award, IEEE Iran Section (2010) Advising & Labs: Active mentor for 8 current Ph.D./M.S. students and advisor to alumni including Xilong Zhou (Postdoc at MPI for Informatics). His team focuses on projects like PanoDreamer (3D panorama synthesis) and PhotoMat (material generation from flash photos).

Agnes E. ThorarinsdottirView profile

Assistant Professor

• Inorganic chemistry
• Materials chemistry
• Electrochemistry
• +3 more

Agnes E. Thorarinsdottir is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Rochester's School of Arts & Sciences. She leads the Thorarinsdottir group, which focuses on designing electrochemical systems for energy, catalysis, and environmental sustainability. Her research emphasizes precise control of electrochemical interfaces to enhance energy efficiency and selectivity in reactions and devices. Key research directions include sustainable energy production, efficient energy conversion, and electrochemical sensing. Dr. Thorarinsdottir earned her PhD in Chemistry from Northwestern University in 2020. Her work spans interdisciplinary areas such as inorganic chemistry, materials chemistry, and electrochemistry. Group members gain expertise in synthetic techniques (air-free procedures, nanofabrication) and advanced characterization methods (chemical, physical, electrochemical). Her research interests include stimuli-responsive materials, catalysis for clean energy, and the development of self-healing catalysts. Recent studies involve electrolyte-induced catalyst restructuring, photo-enhanced water oxidation, and carbonate management in energy storage systems. Dr. Thorarinsdottir’s lab is equipped to address global challenges through innovative materials design. Her work has been published in high-impact journals like Nature Catalysis , Chemical Materials , and Chemical Reviews . She is dedicated to fostering a collaborative, safety-conscious research environment through student-led initiatives.

Gaurav SharmaView profile

Professor

• Data Analytics
• Cyber Physical Systems
• Signal and Image Processing
• +3 more

Gaurav Sharma is a Professor at the University of Rochester, holding joint appointments in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, and Biostatistics and Computational Biology. He is also a Distinguished Researcher at the Goergen Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. His research focuses on Data Analytics, Cyber Physical Systems, Signal and Image Processing, Computer Vision, Media Security, and Communications. Previously, he served as Director of the Center for Emerging and Innovative Sciences (2008-2010) and held roles at Xerox Research (1996-2003). He earned a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from North Carolina State University (1996), alongside degrees from Indian institutions including the Indian Institute of Science and IIT Roorkee. Education: PhD (NCSU), M.S. Applied Mathematics (NCSU), M.S. Electrical Communication Engineering (IISc), B.Eng (IIT Roorkee) Awards: Fellow of IEEE, SPIE, and IS&T; Elected Sigma Xi member Editorial Roles: Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Transactions on Image Processing (2018-2020) and Journal of Electronic Imaging (2011-2015) Leadership: Chair of IEEE Signal Processing Society committees and SPIE/EI conferences His research spans interdisciplinary areas like medical imaging analytics, cybersecurity in IoT systems, and computational methods for biomedical applications. Recent work includes studies on cardiac mortality patterns, viral protein inhibition, and federated learning for privacy-sensitive healthcare tasks. Dr. Sharma’s contributions to academic governance include roles on IEEE publication committees and strategic planning boards, reflecting his commitment to advancing technical standards and open science practices.

• Multivariate Survival Analysis
• Empirical Processes Theory
• Longitudinal Data Analysis
• +3 more

Changyong Feng, PhD, is a Professor of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Anesthesiology, and Dentistry at the University of Rochester Medical Center. He serves as Co-Director of the Department of Dentistry and holds a faculty position in the Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology. He earned his PhD in Statistics from the University of Rochester in 2002. Dr. Feng’s research focuses on multivariate survival analysis, empirical processes theory, longitudinal data analysis, and statistical methods in epidemiology and clinical trials. His work spans interdisciplinary collaborations, including studies on anticoagulant efficacy in cardiovascular surgery, microbiome data analysis, and behavioral predictors of oral health. He has contributed to clinical trials, anesthesiology practices, and veterinary pharmacology. His expertise includes developing statistical models for complex biomedical data. Dr. Feng is affiliated with multiple departments at URMC, reflecting his role in bridging statistical methodologies with clinical and translational research. His publications address diverse topics from drug dosing optimization to influenza antibody dynamics. His research underscores the application of advanced statistical techniques to real-world medical challenges.

• Serious Games
• Game Design
• Virtual Reality
• +3 more

Helmut Hlavacs is a Professor at the Faculty of Computer Science, leading the Research Group on Education, Didactics, and Entertainment Computing. His expertise spans serious games, game design, virtual reality, and health informatics. He has contributed to over 218 publications since 2005, focusing on topics like hedonic experiences in gaming, VR applications in therapy, and AI-driven behavior trees. His work intersects technology, education, and healthcare, with notable projects such as Conquer Catharsis (VR anxiety treatment) and PhyLab (VR physics experiments). Hlavacs has secured research funding for initiatives like Programmieren lernen durch Computerspielentwicklung and Dig-Equality FF , emphasizing digital equity and education. In 2019, he won the Best Poster Award at IFIP for his work on health data from serious games. Research Interests: Serious Games for health and education Virtual Reality applications in therapy and learning Game design methodologies and AI-driven NPC behavior Psychological impacts of gaming and digital consumption Procedural content generation for games Key Projects: Programmieren lernen durch Computerspielentwicklung (2008): Game-based learning for programming skills Dig-Equality FF (2020-2021): Digital competence promotion for equity TP1 PRECIOUS (2013-2016): VR conferencing and stress management Grants and Advising: Hlavacs has advised on projects involving AI in military command systems, VR therapy for anxiety disorders, and participatory design of social media literacy tools. He collaborates internationally on topics like gamification for behavior change and multicultural health interventions. Labs/Teams: His research group focuses on Serious Storytelling and Entertainment Computing , developing tools like the Prototypical game framework and InvisibleSound for blind musicians. Current work includes FiGHT (a web-based tool for eating disorder communication) and OutSmart! (a serious game for social media literacy).

• Health Economics
• Health Insurance
• Healthcare Markets
• +7 more

Prof. Dr. Stefan Felder is a full Professor of Health Economics at the Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Basel, holding the Interpharma Foundation Professorship. He is based at the WWZ (Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät) in Basel, Switzerland, and leads the Research Group Health Economics, affiliated with the Basel Center for Health Economics (BCHE). His work bridges economic theory and healthcare policy, focusing on regulation, prioritization, and decision-making under uncertainty. PhD and Habilitation, University of Bern Research stay, University of Western Ontario, Canada Professor, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg (1997–2008) Professor, University of Duisburg-Essen (2008–2011) Professor of Health Economics, University of Basel (since 2011) Stefan Felder’s research centers on health economics , particularly competition and regulation in health insurance, prioritization of medical services, and economic aspects of medical decision-making under uncertainty. His work integrates microeconomic theory with empirical analysis to inform healthcare policy and resource allocation. He investigates how health, wealth, and mortality risk influence treatment choices and evaluates the cost-effectiveness of diagnostic procedures such as cardiac MRI. His recent publications reflect a strong focus on policy-relevant health economics. Themes include pandemic restrictions and their societal burden, ethical and economic challenges in medical markets (e.g., kickbacks), and methodological rigor in public health modeling. He critically engages with controversial topics, such as lockdown policies, emphasizing evidence-based analysis. His work spans journals like Journal of Health Economics , European Journal of Health Economics , and The Economists’ Voice , indicating interdisciplinary reach and policy impact. His notable scientific recognition includes: Gérard Gäfgen-Medaille für Verdienste für die Gesundheitsökonomie (2019) Prof. Felder actively contributes to the academic community through editorial roles as Coeditor of Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy and The Economists’ Voice , and as a board member of the Round Table Antibiotics. He serves on the Swiss Medical Board Expert Council and leads the Swiss Society of Health Economics. He mentors through doctoral programs in health economics and is affiliated with the Distance University Switzerland. Though no direct students are listed, his leadership in research groups and editorial boards suggests a strong advisory and collaborative presence. He has not received mention of external grants, but his foundation professorship implies sustained institutional and donor support. He is a core member of the Research Group Health Economics and the Basel Center for Health Economics (BCHE) , which serve as hubs for interdisciplinary research on healthcare financing, policy evaluation, and economic modeling in medicine. These platforms support collaboration across economics, medicine, and public health, reinforcing Basel’s role in European health economics research.

• Theoretical Computer Science
• Theorem Proving
• Automated Reasoning
• +26 more

Jasmin Blanchette is a Professor of Theoretical Computer Science and Theorem Proving at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), where he also serves as the Dean of Studies for Computer Science since January 22, 2024. He is affiliated with the Institute for Informatics and leads the Theoretische Informatik und Theorembeweisen research unit. Additionally, he is a guest researcher in the VeriDis group at Loria, Nancy. Research Interests: His research centers on strengthening proof automation for general-purpose logics and enhancing the usability of proof assistants. He combines automatic and interactive methods, bridging human and artificial intelligence in formal verification. His work spans higher-order logic, automated and interactive theorem proving, formalization of mathematical results, and foundational mechanisms for (co)datatypes and (co)recursive functions. Key projects include Sledgehammer, Nitpick, Matryoshka, Nekoka, IsaFoL, and Lean Forward. Publication Trends: His recent publications (2023–2025) show a strong focus on higher-order automated reasoning, superposition calculus, proof automation in Isabelle/HOL, and formalization of logical and mathematical concepts. There is a consistent emphasis on verification, efficiency, and integration of SAT/SMT techniques into higher-order provers. Scientific Awards: FroCoS 2023 Best Paper Award (with Visa Nummelin and Sander Dahmen) CADE 2023 Best Paper Award for 'Verified given clause procedures' (with Qi Qiu and Sophie Tourret) IPA Dissertation Award (awarded to student Petar Vukmirović) Dutch Prize for ICT Research 2022 Advising and Grants: He supervises a large team of postdocs and PhD students at LMU and co-supervises students at other institutions. His leadership in major collaborative projects like Matryoshka indicates significant grant funding and collaborative research efforts. He is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Automated Reasoning and serves on numerous steering and program committees, reflecting strong academic leadership and visibility. Labs and Teams: He leads a research group at LMU’s Institute for Informatics, focusing on theorem proving and formal methods. He is also associated with the VeriDis group at Loria, Nancy, and collaborates widely across Europe in the automated reasoning community.

Joshua B. EvansView profile

Lecturer

• Reinforcement Learning
• Hierarchical Reinforcement Learning
• Skill Discovery
• +12 more

Joshua B. Evans is a Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Bath, Faculty of Science, where he is an active researcher and educator in artificial intelligence and reinforcement learning. He is affiliated with the Bath Reinforcement Learning Laboratory and serves as unit convenor for key on-campus and online reinforcement learning courses (CM50270, CM30359, and CM500336). His research centers on enabling AI agents to learn complex behaviors through interaction, particularly via skill discovery in reinforcement learning. Key interests include: Hierarchical Reinforcement Learning Graph-Based Skill Discovery Methods Nature and Human-Inspired Skill Discovery Intrinsically-Motivated Reinforcement Learning World Models and Representation Learning His recent publications, including a NeurIPS 2023 paper on multi-level skill hierarchies, emphasize graph-based and modular approaches to structuring agent behavior across abstraction levels. The work demonstrates strong theoretical grounding and practical application in diverse environments. Scientific recognition includes: Doctoral Recognition Award, Bath Doctoral Research Celebration Evening Bill Tutte Scholarship from the Bill Tutte Memorial Fund Dr. Evans actively supervises undergraduate and postgraduate students on a wide range of reinforcement learning projects, from game AI to healthcare applications and multi-agent systems. He has developed and delivered both on-campus and online MSc AI curricula, significantly contributing to AI education at Bath. His research includes software contributions such as SimpleOptions, SimpleEnvs, and OfficeWorld, supporting reproducibility and experimentation in HRL. He is based at 1W 4.58, Department of Computer Science, University of Bath, BA2 7AY, UK.

• Cardiac Electrophysiology
• Atrial Fibrillation
• Sinus Tachycardia
• +3 more

Rani Kronenberger is a researcher affiliated with Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Brussel (UZB). She holds roles in Observational Clinical Sciences within Heart Rhythm Research and serves as a Physician in the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy. She completed a Doctorate in Surgery and a Master after Master in the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy. Her research focuses on cardiac electrophysiology, including atrial fibrillation treatment, sinus tachycardia mechanisms, radiofrequency ablation techniques, and applications of 3D printing in surgical procedures. She has pioneered studies on hybrid ablation approaches and synthetic data generation for biomedical research. Recent articles highlight her work on echocardiography mechanics in atrial fibrillation patients, synthetic data algorithms, and anatomical insights from sinus node mapping. Her research has been cited 41 times, reflecting impactful contributions to cardiology and biomedical innovation. Rani received the 'Best BAST Trainer-Trainee Paper Presentation' award in 2022. She actively participates in academic activities, including lectures at VUB's 'Kinderuniversiteit', conferences on arrhythmia management, and collaborative projects in Belgium and internationally. Her affiliations include roles in surgical ablation teams and collaborations with institutions like the Heart Rhythm Research group. She contributes to media outreach, explaining cardiac conditions like POTS and IST through platforms like Science Figured Out.

Ciarán MurphyView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Child Protection
• Social Work Practice
• Discretionary Behavior in Social Work
• +3 more

Dr Ciarán Murphy is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Edge Hill University's Department of Social Work and Wellbeing. He holds roles as Board Member, Trustee, and Research Lead for the Association of Child Protection Professionals (AoCPP), and serves on editorial boards for journals like Child Abuse Review and Child Protection and Practice . Prior to academia, he practiced in child protection, substance misuse, and education welfare for 10 years, developing assessment models as a consultant social worker. His PhD (2019, Manchester Metropolitan University) examined discretionary behavior of child protection social workers in post-Munro Review contexts. Research focuses on barriers to child-centred practice, including austerity impacts, Ofsted pressures, and systemic workforce instability. He frequently engages in UK media discourse on child protection challenges. Education: PhD in Social Work (2012–2019), Manchester Metropolitan University Key Roles: Editorial Board Member ( Child Abuse & Neglect ), Founder of AoCPP's Research Lead role Media Engagement: Regular commentator on England’s child protection system challenges Research highlights include exploring 'Ofsted Anxiety Disorder' and 'Baby P effect' influences on social workers. He advocates for anti-oppressive, anti-racist, and child-centred practice innovations.

Alessio FacciaView profile

Assistant Professor

• Finance
• Accounting
• Accounting Information Systems
• +16 more

Dr. Alessio Faccia is an Assistant Professor in Finance at the School of Business and Law, University of Birmingham Dubai, with a strong international academic and professional background. He holds a PhD in Business Economics (Accounting & Finance) from Università Politecnica delle Marche and has taught at institutions in Italy, UAE, UK, and Malta. He is also a qualified Chartered Accountant and Auditor in Italy, with prior experience at Accenture and as founder of an independent audit firm. Education: PhD in Business Economics (Accounting & Finance), Università Politecnica delle Marche, 2012 MBA (Hons) in Business Economics & Accounting, Università Roma TRE, 2006 BSc in Business Economics and Accounting, Università Roma TRE, 2004 LLM, Pegaso University, 2019 MSc in Criminology, Pegaso University, 2017 CA (Chartered Accountant and Auditor), Italy, 2009 Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), 2021 Certified Management & Business Educator (CMBE), 2020 His research spans interdisciplinary domains including blockchain, accounting information systems, machine learning, fraud examination, and sustainable finance. He explores how emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, and cognitive computing can enhance transparency, resilience, and innovation in financial systems. His work often bridges theory with practical applications in fintech, auditing, and regulatory compliance. His recent publications reflect a strong trend toward leveraging big data, blockchain, and AI to transform traditional finance and accounting practices. Topics include blockchain for supply chain risk, NLP for financial transparency, generative AI in education, and quantum fintech. These contributions appear in high-impact journals such as Annals of Operations Research , Sustainability , and Big Data and Cognitive Computing . Scientific Awards and Recognition: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), 2021 Certified Management & Business Educator (CMBE), 2020 Dr. Faccia actively contributes to the academic community as a reviewer for top-tier journals including Technovation , Chaos, Solitons & Fractals , PLoS ONE , and International Journal of Production Economics . He serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Accounting & Finance Review and Journal of Risk and Financial Management . He has also acted as Guest Editor for special issues and Publicity Chair for international conferences, demonstrating leadership in academic dissemination. He supervises MSc students’ dissertations in finance and accounting and teaches postgraduate modules such as Financial Statement Analysis, Risk Management, and Alternative Finance. His advisory role extends to guiding research on blockchain, fraud, and sustainable business models. He has no listed grants, but his collaborative research indicates strong engagement with international scholars. Dr. Faccia is involved in cutting-edge research teams focused on blockchain, AI in finance, and digital transformation. He contributes to initiatives like the International Conference on Cloud and Big Data Computing and participates in technical research on ERP integration, semantic web applications, and cybersecurity resilience, positioning him at the forefront of technological innovation in business education.

Christopher SchmidtView profile

Professor

• Family Law
• Child and Youth Law
• Direct Democracy
• +3 more

Christopher Schmidt is a Professor at Esslingen University of Applied Sciences, specializing in Family Law , Child and Youth Law , and Direct Democracy . He serves as Co-editor of the Esslinger Writings on Society, Law, and Social Issues and holds a position as Deputy Inclusion Officer at the university. His research intersects legal frameworks with social work, focusing on child protection, guardianship reforms, and democratic decision-making processes. Doctorate in Law (summa cum laude), University of Hanover (2006) Baden-Württemberg Certificate for University Didactics (2018) His scholarly work emphasizes the legal and ethical challenges in child welfare, including court rulings on vaccine mandates, custody disputes, and youth rights. He has contributed extensively to legal commentaries and case analyses in journals like NJW and NZFam . Schmidt’s recent publications explore AI’s impact on education and the constitutional implications of local governance models. Notable awards include recognition for outstanding academic achievements by the Legal Studies Society of Hanover (1999). He is actively involved in editorial and advisory roles, such as co-editing the Esslinger Schriften für Gesellschaft, Recht und Soziales and participating in the German-French expert network on vocational training. His professional background spans judicial roles (2008–2015) and academic leadership, including founding the Doctoral Center of Universities of Applied Sciences in Baden-Württemberg (2022). As a member of the Institute for Educational and Social Research and the Baden-Württemberg Center of Applied Research , Schmidt engages in interdisciplinary projects. His teaching integrates practical legal insights, and he has reviewed works on conflict resolution, social law, and child rights. Current research investigates the interplay between legal reform, technology (e.g., ChatGPT), and youth services, with a focus on pandemic-era policies and guardianship under the SGB VIII.

• Risk research
• Renewable energy
• Wind energy
• +13 more

Markus Drapalik is a researcher at the Institute for Safety and Risk Sciences within the Department of Landscape, Water and Infrastructure at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). His work spans risk research, renewable energy systems, radiation protection, and technology assessment, with a strong focus on wind energy safety, particularly ice throw phenomena. He holds a doctoral degree in Natural Resources and Life Sciences and previously pursued physics doctorate studies at the University of Vienna. His research interests include risk assessment in renewable energy, particularly urban small wind turbines, photovoltaics, biogas, and nuclear safety. He has led multiple research projects on ice throw simulation, risk analysis of small wind turbines, and safety considerations for small modular reactors. His work integrates experimental physics, engineering modeling, and policy-relevant technology assessment. His recent publications reflect a strong trend in renewable energy risk mitigation, especially concerning wind turbine icing, alongside contributions to nuclear safety standards and advanced materials assessment. These works appear in journals related to cold regions science, sustainable energy, and safety research, demonstrating interdisciplinary engagement. Scientific awards: No specific awards listed in the provided text. Advising and Grants: Markus Drapalik has supervised numerous master’s theses on topics including wind turbine recycling, seasonal energy storage, and photovoltaic applications. He has been involved in multiple externally funded research projects, supported by entities such as FFG, EU, and the Austrian Federal Environment Agency, often serving as project leader or key contributor in areas of energy risk and safety. Labs and Teams: He is a core member of the research team at the Institute for Safety and Risk Sciences at BOKU, collaborating with colleagues such as Friederike Frieß, Nikolaus Müllner, and Christian Gepp. He has co-organized the Vienna Nuclear Symposium series and contributed to EU-level foresight projects on security scenarios and disaster management.

• Jurisprudence
• Private Law
• Corporate Law
• +3 more

Renato Mangano is a Full Professor in the Department of Law at Università degli Studi di Palermo (UNIPA), specializing in Jurisprudence and Private Law. His office hours are held weekly at the Department of Law in Palermo and the Trapani University Campus. University: Università degli Studi di Palermo (UNIPA) Department: Department of Law Email: renato.mangano@unipa.it Professor Mangano's research focuses on corporate law, financial regulation, and comparative legal frameworks. His work addresses topics such as bankruptcy procedures, consumer protection, and cross-border legal cooperation. The articles he has edited reflect expertise in modern legal challenges, including digital commerce, cooperative governance, and microfinance. His recent publications highlight trends in hybrid restructuring mechanisms, international legal harmonization, and evolving liability standards in corporate governance. While no explicit scientific awards are documented, his contributions to legal scholarship remain significant through academic advising and collaborative research.