Dr. David Burton is a Professor in the Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences at Dalhousie University's Faculty of Agriculture. He serves as Director of the Centre for Sustainable Soil Management and leads initiatives in soil health, greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainable agricultural practices. His teaching spans undergraduate and graduate courses in soil science, nutrient management, and climate change. Research focuses on microbial metabolism in soil, nitrogen cycling, and the environmental impacts of agricultural practices. He co-founded the Atlantic Soil Health Lab and manages the Greenhouse Gas Analysis Lab. Key affiliations include the Canadian Society of Soil Science (Fellow), Soil Conservation Council of Canada, and Fertilizer Canada's 4R Research Network. Recent work emphasizes soil's role in climate resilience, including presentations on regenerative farming and soil carbon sequestration. He collaborates with government and industry to develop climate-smart soil management policies and tools for nitrogen management optimization. Awards: Fellow of the Canadian Society of Soil Science Labs: Centre for Sustainable Soil Management, Greenhouse Gas Analysis Lab, Atlantic Soil Health Lab Grants: NSERC CREATE Climate Smart Soils
Joakim Odqvist is a Professor and Head of Department at the Structures unit within the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH). He specializes in materials science, with a focus on phase separation in alloys, nanostructure evolution, and the mechanical behavior of advanced materials. His research integrates experimental techniques like small-angle neutron scattering and atom probe tomography with computational modeling to study materials such as stainless steels, cemented carbides, and cast irons. Odqvist teaches courses in ceramic materials, material design, and materials structures, mentoring students at both undergraduate and graduate levels. His work addresses challenges in corrosion resistance, fatigue, and additive manufacturing, contributing to the development of high-performance materials for industrial applications. Research Interests: Phase separation mechanisms, spinodal decomposition in Fe-Cr alloys, nanostructure evolution in duplex stainless steels, diffusion kinetics, and the application of statistical models to hydrogen diffusion. His studies often bridge fundamental material science with practical engineering solutions, emphasizing predictive simulations and material design. Recent Articles: His publications focus on controlling nanostructures in super duplex steels, functional gradient carbides, and statistical models for hydrogen diffusion. Key themes include optimizing heat treatments to mitigate embrittlement, understanding precipitation kinetics in additively manufactured materials, and leveraging phase field modeling to predict material behavior. These studies highlight his role in advancing materials for harsh environments, such as aerospace and energy sectors.
Paul G Dupuis is the IBM Professor of Applied Mathematics at Brown University. His research focuses on applications of probability theory, stochastic processes, control theory, and numerical methods. He holds affiliations with the American Mathematical Society, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), and the Institute for Mathematical Statistics (IMS). His work emphasizes large deviation theory, Markov chain approximations, Monte Carlo simulation, and partial differential equations. Education: Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Brown University (1985), M.S. from Northwestern University (1982), and B.S. from Brown University (1981). Research Interests: Control of deterministic and stochastic processes, differential games, numerical methods, operations research, and stochastic processes. His contributions include foundational work on large deviation theory, risk-sensitive control, and queueing networks. Awards: Elected SIAM Fellow (2010), Fellow of the Institute for Mathematical Statistics (2011), IBM Professor of Applied Mathematics (2012), and AMS Fellow (2014). Previously held an NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship (1985-1988). Grants: Current funding from the Army Research Office and National Science Foundation. Key collaborations include work on stochastic approximation, constrained diffusions, and reflected Brownian motion. Teaching: Courses include Operations Research: Probabilistic Models, Information Theory, and Advanced topics in Probability and Stochastic Control.
Nicolas Thomä is a Full Professor and head of the Thomä Lab at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), where he holds the Paternot Chair in Cancer Research. He is affiliated with the School of Life Sciences (SV) and the Institute of Chemical and Biological Technology (ISREC), leading the UPTHOMAE research unit. His work bridges structural biology, chemical biology, and cancer research, with a focus on transcriptional regulation and targeted protein degradation. His research interests center on chromatin biology and the molecular mechanisms by which transcription factors access gene promoters within chromatin. He investigates how multi-protein complexes regulate gene expression, particularly focusing on the role of E3 ubiquitin ligases and molecular glues in targeted protein degradation. His lab combines structural techniques (including cryo-EM), biochemical assays, and functional genomics to unravel how small molecules can rewire protein interactions and induce degradation of disease-relevant proteins, especially transcription factors involved in cancer. The recent publications of his lab demonstrate a strong trajectory in understanding the structural basis of transcription factor binding to nucleosomes (e.g., OCT4-SOX2, MYC-MAX, CLOCK-BMAL1) and the mechanism of action of molecular glues like thalidomide. These studies highlight a shift toward therapeutic innovation through chemical biology, aiming to develop novel strategies for targeting 'undruggable' proteins in human diseases. Scientific Awards No specific awards listed in the provided text. Advising and Grants Thomä actively supervises a team of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, including David Domjan, Laurin Tim Kanis, Alessandro Minafra, and Pierre Alexander Miranda Herrera. His lab is supported by institutional funding from EPFL and likely external grants related to cancer research, structural biology, and chemical biology, though specific grants are not mentioned. The lab’s interdisciplinary approach suggests collaboration with pharmaceutical and biotech partners. Labs and Teams The Thomä Lab, based at EPFL’s SV building, includes a multidisciplinary team of scientists, technical specialists, and administrative support. Key members include Fiona Bello (Technical Specialist), Regina Baur, Alexandra Bendel, Manuel Carminati, and others. The lab is structured around two main research pillars: Transcription Factors in Chromatin Biology and Ubiquitin Biology and Molecular Glues, reflecting its dual focus on fundamental mechanisms and therapeutic applications.
Dr. Edouard Boujo is a Scientist and Lecturer at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) , affiliated with the School of Engineering (STI) and working in the Institute of Mechanical Engineering (IGM) and Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Instabilities (LFMI) . He also teaches in the SGM-ENS department of the School of Engineering. Scientist at EPFL STI IGM LFMI Lecturer at EPFL STI-SGM SGM-ENS His research focuses on Fluid Dynamics with expertise in Flow Stability , Flow Control , Aeroacoustics , Thermoacoustics , Fluid-Structure Interaction , and Coating Flow Dynamics . He employs advanced mathematical modeling and computational methods to study complex fluid behaviors. Recent publications highlight his work on stochastic modeling of fluid instabilities, adjoint-based optimization of flow systems, and nonlinear dynamics of coating flows. His 15 most recent papers cover topics ranging from symmetry-breaking bifurcations to spin coating optimization and noise-induced transitions in fluid systems. Dr. Boujo actively collaborates with institutions across Europe and New Zealand, mentoring PhD student Atharva Lagwankar . He has received research funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation for two PhD theses and contributes to major fluid dynamics conferences like the European Fluid Dynamics Conference and APS Division of Fluid Dynamics meetings. His laboratory work at LFMI involves experimental and computational studies of fluid instabilities, with applications in aerospace, mechanical engineering, and industrial coating processes. He develops adjoint-based control methods for optimizing flow systems and reducing drag in various fluid configurations.
Dr. Julia Kamenz is an Assistant Professor (Rosalind Franklin fellow) at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Science and Engineering, where she leads research in the Molecular Systems Biology group within the Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB). Her work focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate cell cycle progression and cell division. Dr. Kamenz received her undergraduate training in Biochemistry at the University of Tuebingen, completed her PhD at the Friedrich Miescher Laboratory of the Max Planck Society under Dr. Silke Hauf (defended February 2015 with highest honors), and conducted postdoctoral research at Stanford University with Prof. James E. Ferrell. Her PhD work was supported by a Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds fellowship, and her postdoc was funded by a German Research Foundation (DFG) Postdoctoral Fellowship. Her research expertise spans cell cycle regulation and dynamics, post-translational modifications, Xenopus laevis model systems, and live cell microscopy. Dr. Kamenz investigates how kinases and phosphatases intricately regulate cell proliferation and division, with particular interest in the molecular mechanisms that ensure faithful chromosome segregation during mitosis. Her recent work has revealed novel insights into mitotic checkpoint signaling, particularly in early embryonic development where these checkpoints appear to function differently than in somatic cells. Dr. Kamenz's publication record demonstrates a strong focus on the dynamics of cell cycle transitions, with recent papers appearing in high-impact journals including Nature, The Journal of Biological Chemistry, and The Journal of Cell Biology. Her research integrates experimental biochemistry, live-cell imaging, and computational modeling approaches to understand complex regulatory networks. ERC Starting Grant (November 2022) NWO Vidi Grant (July 2021) Mansour Postdoctoral Travel Award (2019) Dr. Kamenz has secured significant research funding including an ERC Starting Grant (€1.5 million) and an NWO XS grant (€50,000) for her project "What limits mitotic checkpoint signaling in the early embryo?" Her research contributes to understanding fundamental biological processes with implications for developmental biology and cancer research. She collaborates extensively within the University of Groningen and with international partners, particularly in the areas of cell cycle research and biophysical approaches to biological problems. Dr. Kamenz leads a research group focused on cell cycle regulation within the Molecular Systems Biology division of the Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute. Her lab combines biochemical approaches using Xenopus egg extracts with live-cell imaging and computational modeling to dissect the molecular mechanisms controlling cell division.
Suliana Manley is a Full Professor at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) , affiliated with the School of Basic Sciences and the Laboratory of Experimental Biophysics . She also holds teaching and research roles in EPFL's School of Life Sciences and Swiss Plasma Center , focusing on interdisciplinary biophysical studies. Education : PhD in Physics (2004), Harvard University Bachelor's in Physics & Mathematics (1997), Rice University Manley's research centers on super-resolution fluorescence imaging , single-molecule tracking , and quantitative biophysics . Key themes include: Understanding protein assembly dynamics at cellular membranes Elucidating viral assembly mechanisms (e.g., HIV-Gag) Developing 3D imaging algorithms and high-density data reconstruction tools like PALMsiever and FALCON Quantifying nanoscale organization in systems like telomeres and centrioles Her work bridges optical physics , computational image analysis , and cellular biology , with notable Nature and PNAS publications. Collaborations span bioengineering , genetics , and medical research . Scientific Awards : Featured in Nature Methods Research Highlights (3x) Very Important Paper and Cover Article (ChemBioChem, 2012) Postdoctoral Fellow, NIH and MIT Advising & Collaborations : Current PhD students in biophysics, cellular biology, and bioengineering Former students: Anna Archetti, Aleksandr Benke, Andrea Callegari, and others Co-founder of tools for high-density super-resolution microscopy and live-cell imaging Labs & Teams : Leads the Laboratory of Experimental Biophysics at EPFL, integrating physics-based methods into biological questions. The lab focuses on quantitative imaging , computational modeling , and software development for nanoscale analysis.
Brad Knox is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin . His work bridges machine learning, human-computer interaction, and computational cognitive science, with a focus on developing systems that learn from human feedback. Key research areas: Reinforcement Learning, Human-AI Interaction, Reward Design, Autonomous Systems Notable contributions: TAMER framework for human-guided learning, empirical studies on reward misdesign, and human preference modeling for autonomous agents Research Trends : His recent work (2023-2025) emphasizes reward alignment, safety in autonomous systems, and preference-based learning frameworks. Earlier studies (2012-2020) established foundational methods for integrating human feedback into reinforcement learning architectures and exploring behavioral signatures in decision-making. Scientific Honors : Bert Kay Dissertation Award (2013) Victor Lesser Distinguished Dissertation Award (IFAAMAS, Runner-up, 2013) NSF SBIR Grant (PI, 2016) NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2008-2011) IEEE Intelligent Systems AI 10 to Watch (2013) Teaching & Leadership : Knox served as Principal Lecturer for MIT's Interactive Machine Learning course (2013) and held organizational roles at major conferences including Reinforcement Learning Conference (Scheduling Chair, 2025) and RLDM workshop (Co-chair, 2022).
Norman Sadeh is a Professor in the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), where he has made significant contributions to cybersecurity, privacy, and AI research. He has co-founded and co-directed several groundbreaking graduate programs at CMU, including the Privacy Engineering Program (2012-present), the Ph.D. Program in Societal Computing (2003-2013), and the MBA track in Technology Strategy and Product Management (2005-2017). Carnegie Mellon University, School of Computer Science Software and Societal Systems Department CyLab Security and Privacy Institute Manufacturing Futures Institute Dr. Sadeh received his Ph.D. in Computer Science at CMU with a major in Artificial Intelligence and a minor in Operations Research. He holds an M.Sc. in computer science from the University of Southern California and a BS/MS degree in electrical engineering and applied physics from the Free University of Brussels (Belgium) as 'Ingénieur Civil Physicien.' Professor Sadeh's research spans cybersecurity, online privacy, Human-AI Interaction, AI governance, mobile computing, the Internet of Things, user-oriented machine learning, and language technologies. He is particularly known for his pioneering work on AI-based privacy enhancing technologies, including privacy assistants, automated privacy compliance tools, and NLP-based privacy solutions. His work has influenced the design of privacy features at major technology companies including Apple, Google, and Facebook/Meta, as well as privacy policies at regulatory agencies like the Federal Trade Commission and the California Office of the Attorney General. Analysis of his recent publications shows a strong focus on practical privacy solutions, particularly in mobile and IoT contexts, with an emphasis on making privacy more usable and understandable for end users. His work bridges technical innovation with policy implications, addressing both the technological and human aspects of privacy protection. 2018 Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Pittsburgh Venture Capital Association Test of time award by the AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media (ICWSM) Gartner Group's Magic Quadrant leader in Security Awareness Computer-Based Training for 4 consecutive years Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 recognition for 3 consecutive years Professor Sadeh has advised numerous students, including PhD candidates like Aerin (Shikhun) Zhang, whose dissertation focused on understanding diverse privacy attitudes. His research has been funded through various grants, including NSF SaTC projects, and has resulted in technologies that protect tens of millions of users worldwide. He also founded Wombat Security Technologies, which was acquired by Proofpoint in 2018 and whose technologies are used by over 75% of Fortune 100 companies. Professor Sadeh leads several research initiatives including the Privacy Engineering Program, the Usable Privacy Policy Project, the Personalized Privacy Assistant Project, and CMU's Privacy Infrastructure for the Internet of Things. His Mobile Commerce Lab and E-Supply Chain Management Lab have produced influential research that has been commercialized by major organizations including IBM, Raytheon, Boeing, and the U.S. Army.
Olga Kokshagina serves as an Associate Professor in Innovation & Entrepreneurship at The University of Sydney, with adjunct research appointments at Monash University's Emerging Technology Lab and the UNU Hub - Learning Planet Institute. She is also an active member of the French Digital Council. Her research program investigates technology-mediated collaboration in complex innovation systems, focusing on healthcare transformation, deep tech commercialization, and co-design methodologies. Kokshagina has led high-impact projects with global institutions including the World Health Organization, OECD, STMicroelectronics, Vall d’Hebron Hospital, and Roche, demonstrating strong translational research capabilities. Her scholarly work centers on value-based healthcare innovation, digital platform governance, and AI-enhanced collaborative systems. She examines how organizational capabilities evolve during technological transitions, particularly in healthcare ecosystems, and investigates regulatory frameworks for algorithmic control in digital markets. Kokshagina's research bridges theoretical innovation management with practical applications, evidenced by her co-founding of Ninti—an initiative advancing women's health in workplace environments—and her Open Covid-19 crowdsourcing campaign that mobilized global expertise during the pandemic. Analysis of her 2021-2025 publications reveals a cohesive trajectory examining innovation in socio-technical systems. Key themes include value digitalization in healthcare, mission-oriented interdisciplinary collaboration, and the impact of big data on technology management. Her work consistently addresses grand challenges through mixed-methods approaches, spanning conceptual frameworks in journals like Research Policy to applied studies in Technovation and R&D Management, with increasing focus on quantum readiness and AI-augmented learning systems. No scientific awards are documented in the provided materials. Kokshagina currently holds a 2025 research grant for "Co-designing societal readiness and scenario building for quantum" through the University of Sydney Nano Institute/Catalyst program. While no student supervision activities are mentioned, her collaborative projects involve multi-institutional teams across industry, government, and academic sectors. Kokshagina maintains active roles within the University of Sydney Nano Institute and contributes to international policy discourse through the French Digital Council. Her Ninti initiative exemplifies her commitment to human-centered innovation, while ongoing collaborations with healthcare providers like Roche and Vall d’Hebron Hospital demonstrate sustained engagement with real-world implementation challenges in value-based care systems.
Naomi Rogers, Ph.D. (She/Her) is Professor of the History of Medicine in the Section of the History of Medicine and the Program in the History of Science and Medicine at Yale University. She holds courtesy appointments in the History Department and the Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program, and serves on Yale's Dean's Advisory Council for LGBTQI Affairs. Professor Rogers teaches undergraduate, graduate, and medical students, regularly lecturing on the history of AIDS, reproduction, health economics, eugenics, nutrition, disability, and health activism. Professor Rogers' educational background includes: PhD in History from University of Pennsylvania (1986) MA from University of Pennsylvania (1986) BA in Music from Melbourne University (1980) BA with Honors from Melbourne University (1979) Her research focuses on 20th and 21st century history of medicine with emphasis on health inequities and social justice. Professor Rogers' historical interests span gender and health, disease and public health, disability studies, feminism, alternative medicine, health policy, and health activism. Her work critically examines the intersection of medical practices with social movements, particularly how marginalized communities have challenged medical orthodoxy throughout American history. She has published extensively in journals such as American Journal of Public Health, Bulletin of the History of Medicine, Journal of Medical Humanities, Radical History Review, Social History of Medicine, and Women and Health. Professor Rogers' recent scholarship demonstrates a consistent focus on the historical dimensions of contemporary health issues, particularly vaccine politics, abortion history, and community health activism. Her publications reveal patterns of resistance to medical authority, the role of race and gender in shaping health outcomes, and the historical roots of current health justice movements. Her work bridges academic history with public engagement, as evidenced by her frequent media commentary on COVID-19 and other health issues in outlets including BBC Radio, CNN, Huffington Post, National Public Radio, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post. Among her notable recognitions: AAHN's Lavinia L. Dock Award for Exemplary Historical Research for 'Polio Wars: Sister Kenny and the Golden Age of American Medicine' (2014) Presenter of the AAHM's Garrison Lecture: 'Radical Visions of American Medicine: Politics and Activism in the History of Medicine' (2017) Professor Rogers has been actively involved in academic leadership and mentoring. She has served as Director of Graduate Studies for the 2022-23 academic year, Chair of the Women's Faculty Forum, and Liaison to the Committee on Status of Women in Medicine. Her service extends to editorial boards including the Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences since 2018. She has also contributed to public understanding of medicine through consultations for documentaries including 'The Polio Crusade' (PBS), 'On the Basis of Sex' (Focus Features), and 'War on Science' (in process). Currently, Professor Rogers serves on the Medical School's OBGYN 'Dobbs' Sessions Planning Committee, which has organized webinars for the Yale community, and was co-organizer of the history-themed session 'Rooted in History: Abortion, Law and American Health Care.' She is working on her book project 'Health Radicalism and the Humanization of American Medicine' (under contract with Oxford), examining critics of medical orthodoxy since 1945 including civil rights, consumer, and feminist activists. She also conducts ongoing research on antisemitism in American medicine in the decades before and after World War II.
Istvan Albert is a Research Professor of Bioinformatics at Pennsylvania State University , affiliated with the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology . He leads the Bioinformatics Consulting Center and teaches BMMB 852: Applied Bioinformatics . Research Interests: Specializing in bioinformatics, large-scale biological data analysis, microarray and sequence analysis, scientific programming, algorithm development, and database-driven web development. His work spans gene ontology visualization , RNA-Seq analysis , and coronavirus research . Software Development: Created GeneScape for gene function visualization and bio for bioinformatics workflows. Maintains the Biostar Handbook series and the Biostars Q&A Forum , a leading bioinformatics resource.
Elena Katok is a Professor of Supply Chain Management at the University of Texas at Dallas, Naveen Jindal School of Management. She serves as Co-Director of the Center and Laboratory for Behavioral Operations and Economics (LBOE) and holds editorial positions as Department Editor for Management Science (Operations Department) and Associate Editor for Manufacturing and Service Operations Management. Her research focuses on Behavioral Operations Management (BOM), Behavioral Market Design, and Auctions, with particular emphasis on using laboratory experiments to understand human behavior in operational contexts. Her work bridges the gap between traditional analytical operations models and actual human decision-making in supply chain and procurement settings. The analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent research trajectory examining how psychological and behavioral factors influence operational decisions. Her work spans auction design, contract theory, trust mechanisms, and behavioral aspects of supply chain coordination. A notable pattern is her focus on the intersection of behavioral economics and traditional operations management problems, particularly how fairness concerns, risk perception, and trust impact procurement and supply chain decisions. Professor Katok has developed and implemented numerous classroom games to teach supply chain management concepts, demonstrating her commitment to translating research into practical pedagogy. She has created simulation tools through the SoPHIE platform to enhance experiential learning in operations management courses. Her teaching portfolio includes OPRE 6371: Purchasing, Sourcing and Contract Management for SCM MS and MBA students, OPRE 7309: Behavioral Operations Management at the PhD level, and OPRE/MECO 6355: Deal Making Strategies. She has also authored several case studies including eBay sniping, Winter Gear, Sears Logistics, Spectrum, and General Hospital to facilitate hands-on learning. As co-editor of The Handbook of Behavioral Operations published by Wiley, she has helped establish Behavioral Operations Management as a significant subfield that incorporates insights from psychology and behavioral economics to study how individuals make decisions in operational contexts.
Ruohan Gao is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Maryland, College Park , with affiliate appointments at the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS) , Maryland Robotics Center (MRC) , and Artificial Intelligence Interdisciplinary Institute at Maryland (AIM) . His research focuses on Computer Vision and Machine Learning , emphasizing Multisensory Machine Intelligence that integrates sight, sound, and touch . He aims to enable machines to perceive, understand, and interact with the world as humans do, with applications in robotic manipulation , audio-visual localization , and differentiable rendering . Article Trends : Span 2018–2025 , centering on audio-visual perception , multisensory datasets , and robotics . Recurring themes include object-centric learning , sound synthesis , and cross-modal consistency . Scientific Awards : Michael H. Granof Award (UT Austin’s Top 1 Doctoral Dissertation, 2021) Best Paper Award Runner-Up (BMVC 2021) Best Paper Award Finalist (CVPR 2019) Highlight Paper (CVPR 2023) He leads the UMD Multisensory Machine Intelligence Lab and collaborates with institutions like Stanford and The University of Texas at Austin . Contact: rhgao@umd.edu .
Ravid Shwartz-Ziv is an Assistant Professor and Faculty Fellow at NYU's Center for Data Science, with a dual role as Senior Research Scientist at Wand AI. His research bridges theoretical foundations and practical applications in artificial intelligence, focusing on Large Language Models (LLMs), information theory, and neural network interpretability. Ph.D. in Computational Neuroscience, Hebrew University of Jerusalem (2021) B.Sc. in Computer Science and Computational Biology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem (2014) His research spans: Developing min-p sampling for LLM text generation Preventing representation collapse in Transformers Creating contamination-free LLM benchmarks like LiveBench Advancing information-theoretic frameworks for neural networks Exploring representation learning and model adaptation Recent publications demonstrate expertise in LLM efficiency, self-supervised learning, and multi-agent systems. Notable awards include the Google PhD Fellowship, Moore-Sloan Fellowship, and multiple best paper recognitions. He has led research initiatives at Intel and Google AI, focusing on neural network compression, XGBoost comparisons for tabular data, and innovative benchmarking frameworks.