Andrea Meilán-Vila is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Statistics at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid since 2021, holding a Juan de la Cierva Fellowship since 2023. She earned her PhD in Statistics from Universidade da Coruña (2021) and previously served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Universidade de Santiago de Compostela's Department of Statistics, Mathematical Analysis and Optimisation. Her research focuses on nonparametric methods for analyzing complex data types, including directional, spatial, and functional data. Key areas include kernel smoothing techniques, goodness-of-fit testing for regression models, and spatial trend estimation. She serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Nonparametric Statistics . Recent work emphasizes applications in climate science (temperature curve modeling), fluid dynamics (wake flow control), and biomedical imaging (hippocampus shape analysis). Her methodologies address challenges like sparse data estimation and spatial correlation in regression frameworks. Key Projects: STENED (Stein-based goodness-of-fit tests for non-Euclidean data) Awards: Juan de la Cierva Fellowship (2023) Publications span journals like Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Statistical Papers , and TEST , with a focus on methodological advancements in statistical modeling and computational validation.
Dr Paulina Quintanilla is a Lecturer in Process Systems Engineering at Brunel University of London and an academic visitor at Imperial College London. She holds a PhD in Earth Science and Engineering from Imperial College London (2023), and MEng/MSc degrees in Chemical Engineering from Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Chile. Her research focuses on dynamic process modelling, control strategies, and optimisation with a sustainable emphasis, particularly in mineral processing and knowledge representation. She has contributed to the Advanced Minerals Processing Research Group and the Future Targeted Healthcare Manufacturing Hub . Key areas of expertise include: Modelling and simulation of chemical processes Control engineering and machine learning integration Mineral processing optimisation Supply chain systems for sustainable manufacturing She serves on the Early Career Advisory Board for Control Engineering Practice (IFAC/Elsevier) and has received the MEI Young Person's Award (2021) and Society of Chemical Industry Scholarship (2020). Scientific contributions are documented via ORCID 0000-0002-7717-0556 . Advisory and collaborative opportunities at Brunel University can be pursued by contacting her at paulina.quintanilla@brunel.ac.uk or p.quintanilla@imperial.ac.uk for Imperial-related work.
Dr Francesca Pianosi is an Associate Professor in Water & Environmental Engineering at the University of Bristol 's School of Civil, Aerospace and Design Engineering. She contributes to the Cabot Institute for the Environment and leads research on data analysis, mathematical modelling, and uncertainty quantification for hydrology and water engineering. Specialises in simulation and optimisation methods for water resource management Focuses on uncertainty propagation in natural hazard models Developed the open-source SAFE Toolbox for sensitivity analysis Research Trends Her recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate expertise in: Groundwater flow and recharge in data-scarce regions Digital Twin applications for watershed management Climate change impact on landslides and droughts Multi-objective optimisation for reservoir operations Integration of machine learning with hydrological models Scientific Awards Arne Richter Award for Outstanding Young Scientists (2015) Best Research Oriented Paper - Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management (2024) Early Career Research Excellence (ECRE) award (2014) Francesca leads the Water Management and Adaptation based on Watershed Digital Twins project (2024-2027) and contributes to the USARIS project on uncertainty quantification for infrastructure systems (2023-2025).
Professor Ronny Pini is a Professor of Multiphase Systems at Imperial College London's Department of Chemical Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering. His research focuses on sustainable industrial processes, particularly carbon capture and storage (CCS), porous media dynamics, and imaging-based process design. He holds a PhD in Mechanical and Process Engineering from ETH Zurich and has held academic positions including Senior Lecturer and Reader at Imperial College since 2015. His educational background includes a Postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University (2010-2013) and prior roles at the Colorado School of Mines. Research interests span multiphase flow mechanics, adsorption science, and environmental engineering applications. Key projects include the InFUSE Prosperity Partnership and Digital Rocks Lab, leveraging X-ray tomography, positron emission tomography, and computational models to study subsurface CO2 storage and sustainable materials. Professor Pini's work integrates chemical engineering with material science and earth sciences, addressing global challenges like industrial decarbonisation. He collaborates on developing advanced imaging techniques to characterise porous media behavior and optimise processes for energy transition. Current focus areas include direct air capture technologies and enhancing oil recovery via CO2 utilisation. His research outputs include over 150 peer-reviewed articles, with recent emphasis on adsorption-based CO2 capture systems, pore-scale transport phenomena, and sustainable process design frameworks. He is actively involved in training early-career researchers through Imperial College's Chemical Engineering programs and international collaborations.
Ida-Johanne Jensen is Associate Professor at the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Her work integrates food science, marine biotechnology and sustainability to valorise marine resources, improve food quality and develop novel functional products. Education & Doctoral Training Dr Jensen obtained her PhD from UiT The Arctic University of Norway (UiT Norges arktiske universitet) in 2014 with the dissertation "Health benefits of seafood consumption – with special focus on household preparations and bioactivity in animal models" , laying the foundation for her expertise in seafood bioactivity and nutrition. Research Interests Her research agenda centres on: Protein chemistry and functionality of marine raw materials and side-streams (brewer’s spent grain, sea cucumber, fish proteins). Development of functional foods and nutraceuticals with antihypertensive, antioxidative and cardioprotective properties. Sensory and technological quality optimisation of foods for extreme environments (military rations, Arctic field meals). Smart packaging and intelligent freshness indicators using natural colorants (anthocyanin-based hydrogel beads). Life-cycle assessment and environmental sustainability of aquaculture and fisheries. Publication Trends Jensen has an extensive publication record (>60 papers since 2009). Recent work (2023–2025) demonstrates a clear pivot towards valorisation of underutilised marine resources (sea cucumbers, brewer’s spent grain) and application-oriented food engineering (freeze-drying, microencapsulation, jerky processing). Reviews on military rations and marine antihypertensive peptides highlight her translational focus on human health and performance. Scientific Awards & Recognition No specific awards are listed in the provided material; however, sustained high-output publication in top-tier journals ( Food Chemistry , npj Science of Food , Marine Drugs ) attests to strong peer recognition. Student Supervision & Grants She has supervised numerous master’s students at NTNU on topics ranging from Arctic field-ration development to protein extraction from brewer’s spent grain, indicating robust external funding and industry collaboration. Laboratories & Collaborations Research is conducted within NTNU’s Department of Biotechnology and Food Science laboratories, with active collaborations across Europe and the Indian Ocean region for marine resource assessments.
Rakesh Nagi is a Professor and Head of the Engineering Systems and Design Pillar at Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), where he joined in August 2023. He concurrently holds the Donald Biggar Willett Professorship at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), on leave. His academic leadership includes serving as Department Head of Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering at UIUC (2013–2019) and as Interim Director of the Illinois Applied Research Institute (2016–2018). Previously, he was Chair of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University at Buffalo (SUNY) from 2006 to 2012. Education: PhD (1991) and MS (1989) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park, with work at the Institute for Systems Research and INRIA, France. BE (1987) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Roorkee (now IIT Roorkee), India. Research focuses on Data Science, Machine Learning, Operations Research, GPU-accelerated computing, and military applications. Key areas include Big Graphs, High-level Information Fusion, Production Systems, and Multi-Agent Systems. His work often leverages parallel computing and optimization techniques. Recipient of prestigious awards: IISE David F. Baker Award (2022), INFORMS Koopman Award (2021, 2018), and multiple DARPA Graph Challenge recognitions. Contributions span over 100 peer-reviewed articles in top journals (e.g., Operations Research, IEEE Transactions) and conferences. Research projects include Hybrid AI/ML-Optimization for cloud workflows, GPU-accelerated algorithms for multi-target tracking, and interventions against illicit supply chains. Active collaborations with IBM-Illinois and NSF-funded initiatives address strategic resource allocation and network analysis. Labs/Teams: Leads the Engineering Systems and Design Pillar at SUTD and coordinates interdisciplinary projects at UIUC’s Coordinated Science Laboratory.
Dr Smitha Gopinath is a Lecturer in the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering at the University of Sheffield , where she leads research in sustainable engineering systems within the Sustainable Design Laboratory (SDL) . Education & Career Path PhD in Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London Post-doctoral researcher, Applied Mathematics and Plasma Physics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory Research Focus Dr Gopinath’s interdisciplinary work centres on the design, calibration and operation of sustainable engineering systems . She develops high-fidelity models and large-scale optimisation algorithms tailored to energy and materials challenges. Core interests include: Thermo-mechanical energy conversion devices (heat pumps, organic Rankine cycles) Carbon-capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) via novel solvents and separation systems Power-grid expansion and operation for renewable integration and decarbonisation Methodologically, she integrates Integrated Molecular and Process Synthesis (IMPS) with Optimisation Accelerated by domain Knowledge (OAK) to co-design molecules, materials and flowsheets that meet stringent energy and environmental targets. Publication Landscape Across 2015–2025 her publications reveal a clear trajectory from fundamental thermodynamic measurements and molecular design toward rigorous optimisation of large-scale energy systems. Early work concentrated on CO₂ solubility and carbonation kinetics of steel slag, providing essential data for carbon-sequestration schemes. Subsequent papers introduced advanced optimisation frameworks—outer-approximation algorithms, exact reformulations and feasibility-based methods—applied to solvent-based CO₂ capture, organic Rankine cycle working-fluid selection and AC optimal power flow (ACOPF). Recent contributions benchmark global optimality certificates for ACOPF problems, underscoring her drive to bridge chemical process systems engineering with electrical power systems optimisation. Teaching & Mentoring Dr Gopinath teaches undergraduate modules: CPE440 (Particle Technology) CPE170 (Particle Technology) She actively invites prospective PhD students to join the Sustainable Design Laboratory, offering supervision on projects spanning sustainable process design, renewable energy systems and algorithmic optimisation. Laboratory & Collaborative Networks She directs the Sustainable Design Laboratory (SDL), a multidisciplinary team leveraging systems engineering, multi-scale modelling, process simulation and optimisation to re-imagine a sustainable chemical and energy industry. The SDL collaborates with international partners, including Los Alamos National Laboratory and leading researchers in applied mathematics and power systems engineering.
Dr Sanjeev Gambhir is a Senior Research Fellow at the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, University of Wollongong. With over 30 years of experience in chemistry, he leads bioinks synthesis and scale-up activities at TRICEP (Translational Research Initiative for Cellular Engineering and Printing) facility. His work bridges academic research with commercial translation, particularly in 3D bioprinting of living tissues. B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry from Garhwal University Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Indian Institute of Petroleum Research focuses on 3D bioprinting technologies, graphene composites, conducting polymers, and hydrogel engineering. Key challenges addressed include biomaterial diversity limitations, bioprinted construct characterisation, and scalable bioink formulation. His work spans tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and industrial applications. Major publications appear in Nature Communications , Journal of the American Chemical Society , and Advanced Materials . With 60+ peer-reviewed papers and an H-index of 28, his research on graphene composites and conducting hydrogels has significant citations in biomedical and materials science domains. Frater Award (Australian National Fabrication Facility, 2013) Active in mentoring junior staff and students, Gambhir collaborates with Inventia Life Science Pty Ltd and Professor Fiona Wood at the University of Western Australia. Current funding includes MRFF grants for intraoperative skin regeneration systems and translational projects through University of Wollongong infrastructure grants.
Dhammika Jayalath is an Associate Professor at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in the School of Electrical Engineering & Robotics within the Faculty of Engineering. He has been with QUT since 2007, initially as a Senior Lecturer and later promoted to Associate Professor. Prior to joining QUT, he worked as a Senior Researcher at National ICT Australia Ltd and held a Fellowship at the Australian National University. His educational background includes a PhD in Wireless Communications from Monash University and a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education from QUT. He is a Senior Member of IEEE and active in multiple IEEE societies including Communications, Signal Processing, and Vehicular Technology. Research Interests: Dhammika's research focuses on Smart Systems with particular expertise in wireless communications and networking. His work spans Physical Layer Security, Massive MIMO Systems, Internet of Things, Optimum Resource Allocation, Cooperative communications, Cognitive radio, and Vehicular communications. He has made significant contributions to 5G New Radio, Chaotic Communications, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), and Space-Time Signal Processing. Publication Trends: His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on 5G/6G networking technologies, physical layer security for IoT devices, and optimization of wireless communication systems. His work bridges theoretical communications theory with practical implementation challenges, particularly in vehicular networks, secure communications, and resource allocation for heterogeneous networks. The articles show increasing interdisciplinary work, combining machine learning techniques with traditional communications engineering approaches. Scientific Awards: 2007: Early Career Academic Recruitment and Development (ECARD) award from QUT 2009: Elevated to Senior Member Grade of IEEE 2000: IEEE travel grant Multiple scholarships during graduate studies at Monash University Supervision and Grants: Professor Jayalath has supervised numerous PhD students to completion with research topics including chaotic communication systems, resource allocation in heterogeneous networks, and vehicular communication systems. He has secured multiple research grants totaling over AU $300,000, including projects from ARC, QUT internal grants, and industry partnerships with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services. His current research includes physical layer security frameworks for IoT devices and optimization of massive MIMO systems for dense mobile networks. Laboratory and Team Work: He has been instrumental in establishing wireless communications research capabilities at QUT, including securing equipment grants for Software Defined Radio platforms. His work often involves interdisciplinary collaboration with researchers in signal processing, cybersecurity, and transportation systems.
Dr. David Toal is an Associate Professor at the University of Southampton, specializing in the application of machine learning techniques to aerospace system design optimization. His research focuses on automated geometry creation, prediction of simulation outputs, and fundamental machine learning advancements. He is affiliated with the Computational Engineering and Design Group and the Institute for Life Sciences. His teaching interests include engineering design methods, optimization, reliability, and CAD integration. He supervises multiple PhD students in areas such as aerodynamic geometry generation and structural design automation. Dr. Toal has led projects funded by the European Union and EPSRC, including E-Break (FP7) and equipment grants for advanced computational tools. His work emphasizes multidisciplinary collaboration, leveraging CAD systems and deep learning for applications in advanced aerial mobility and turbine optimization. Recent publications highlight advancements in Kriging models, adversarial auto-encoders, and semantic segmentation for engineering design. Dr. Toal's research bridges computational methods with practical aerospace challenges, aiming to accelerate design processes through data-driven and AI-enhanced approaches.
Professor Bo Chen holds a position in the Department of Materials at the University of Southampton, where he focuses on high-temperature structural materials and additive manufacturing. Previously, he served as a Professor of Engineering Materials at the University of Leicester (2019–2024), Senior Lecturer at Coventry University (2017–2019), and held postdoctoral roles at the University of Bristol and Manchester. He earned his BSc in Materials Engineering from Beihang University (2003–2007) and a PhD in Engineering from the University of Bristol (2007–2011). His research interests include creep/fatigue behavior, oxidation resistance, residual stress analysis, and advanced manufacturing techniques like electron beam melting. He is actively exploring digital twins and sustainable metallurgy to enhance engineering component durability. He currently supervises PhD student Qianyu Yao and has received an EPSRC Early-Career Fellowship (2018) and HEA Fellowship (2017). Recent publications emphasize additive manufacturing of superalloys, microstructural characterization, and fatigue mechanisms in materials. He has organized major conferences (e.g., ICF15, ESIA17–ISSI2023) and served as an external PhD examiner at several universities. His work bridges fundamental material science with industrial applications in aerospace and energy sectors.
Bello Sambo is a Research Assistant in the Department of Engineering at the School of Computing and Engineering, University of Huddersfield. He is also a member of the Institute of Railway Research. His work focuses on railway engineering, particularly on wheel-rail interaction and condition monitoring. Role: Research Assistant University: University of Huddersfield Research Group: Institute of Railway Research Sambo's research expertise includes modelling and simulation , wheel-rail contact dynamics , and condition monitoring . His work addresses challenges in railway engineering, such as impact loads at crossings, crack propagation, and rail profile optimization. He employs techniques like image processing and dynamic system analysis to improve predictive maintenance and reduce fatigue damage in railway components. Recent research outputs highlight his contributions to wheel-rail interaction in switches and crossings (2023), impact load reduction (2020), and condition-based monitoring (2015). His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals by advancing infrastructure resilience and sustainable transport systems. Sambo is currently supervising PhD students and leading a 2024 project on image-based wheel profile measurement . He collaborates internationally and has an h-index of 20, with research outputs spanning 2015–2023.
Ali Karrech is a Professor at the University of Western Australia (UWA), affiliated with the School of Engineering and the Department of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering (CEME). He previously held roles as Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO (until 2012) and Assistant Professor at the Petroleum Institute of Abu Dhabi (2007–2009). His expertise spans materials science, geomechanics, mineral processing, and sustainable resource engineering. He serves as Graduate Research Coordinator in CEME and has led the Structures Laboratory (2015–2016). Education: He holds a Higher Doctorate (Habilitation) in Engineering Sciences from École Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay (2014), a PhD in Structures and Materials from École des Ponts ParisTech (2008), and a Multidisciplinary Master's from Tunisia Polytechnic School (2001). Research Interests: Focus on computational geomechanics, resource engineering (surface mining, in-situ leaching), mineral processing (hydrometallurgy), waste repurposing, and thermal-hydraulic-mechanical-chemical coupling. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to education, energy, and the built environment. Awards: Recognitions include the School of Engineering Teaching Excellence Award (2021), Prize of Best Paper in Concrete Research (2021), and CEEC High Commendations (2023). His research has produced over 194 publications and 20 grants. Teaching: Coordinates units like Engineering Materials (ENSC1004), Finite Element Method (GENG5514), and Surface Mining (MINE4503). Engages in interdisciplinary projects, including the ARC Training Centre in Critical Resources and the FBI-CRC for Future Batteries.
Jingling Xue is a Scientia Professor at the School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia. As an IEEE Fellow of the Computer Society, he leads the Programming Languages and Compilers research group, focusing on practical applications of compiler optimization and program analysis techniques. His work bridges theoretical foundations with real-world software systems, particularly in developing open-source tools for large-scale program analysis. Professor Xue received his B.Eng and M.Eng degrees from Tsinghua University in 1984 and 1987, respectively, followed by a PhD from the University of Edinburgh in 1992. His academic journey has established him as a leading figure in programming languages and compiler technology. Xue's research spans programming languages, compiler technology, and program analysis with emphasis on practical relevance. His current projects include compiler techniques for improving parallelism and locality, pointer/alias analysis for million-line-scale programs, and static/dynamic analysis for detecting bugs and security vulnerabilities in real-world applications like web browsers and Android apps. His group actively develops open-source tools to support scientific replicability and reproducibility in these areas. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on applying program analysis techniques to modern challenges including AI compilers, homomorphic encryption, security vulnerability detection, and graph processing systems. The work shows evolution from traditional compiler optimization to addressing emerging domains like privacy-preserving computation and deep learning systems while maintaining rigorous theoretical foundations. Scientific Awards: Best Paper Award at CGO'13 Best Paper Award at CGO'16 Distinguished Paper Award at ECOOP'16 Distinguished Paper Award at ICSE'18 Distinguished Paper Award at ISSTA'19 Distinguished Paper Award at ASE'19 Distinguished Artifact Award at ISSTA'23 Best Artifact Award at FSE'23 Distinguished Paper Award at ASE'23 Test-of-Time Award at CGO'21 Professor Xue has successfully supervised 30 PhD students to completion, many of whom now work as professors or researchers in academia and industry. He has served as Program Chair for major conferences including LCTES'13, CC'18, CGO'20, and General Chair for LCTES'20. His group currently focuses on memory safety in Rust, smart contract analysis, AI compilers, compilation for privacy-preserving computation, and adversarial attacks in deep learning. The Programming Languages and Compilers group maintains strong connections with industry partners, translating theoretical advances into practical tools for real-world software development challenges. Their work on pointer analysis, memory safety, and compiler optimizations continues to influence both academic research and industrial practice.
Dr. Yue Zhang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil, Maritime and Environmental Engineering at the University of Southampton, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences. Her work bridges environmental sustainability, biotechnology, and engineering, with a focus on anaerobic digestion and bioresource recovery. She leads key research projects on bioenergy, CO₂ biomethanisation, and waste valorisation, and teaches core modules in civil and environmental engineering. Research Interests: Optimisation of anaerobic digestion via trace element supplementation and microbial pathway manipulation CO₂ biomethanisation and in-situ hydrogen addition Mixed-culture fermentation for selective carboxylic acid production from protein-rich wastes Nutrient recovery from wastewater and organic residues Microbial electrochemical systems for biofuel (methane, biobutanol) production Her recent publications reflect a strong trend in process optimization, microbial community dynamics, and sustainable resource recovery, particularly in the context of food waste, energy crops, and industrial effluents. A recurring theme is the integration of biological processes with engineering controls to enhance efficiency and environmental benefit. Scientific Awards: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), 2012 Dr. Zhang actively supervises multiple PhD students and has held leadership roles in teaching, including Module Lead for Bioenergy and Urban Water and Wastewater Engineering. She has received research funding from EPSRC, BBSRC, Innovate UK, the European Union, and the Royal Academy of Engineering. Her external roles include chairing committees at BBSRC and EPSRC, and membership in the EPSRC Peer Review College. She is also involved in international collaborations, such as the EU-China ECOFUEL project. Labs and Research Groups: Water and Environmental Engineering Group Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute Environmental Biotechnology Innovation Centre
