Ahmed Karmouch is a Professor at the University of Ottawa, Canada, affiliated with the College of Engineering and Computer Science. His research focuses on Network Virtualization , Software-Defined Networking (SDN) , and Context-Aware Systems , with significant contributions to Cloud Computing Resource Allocation , Programmable Data-Planes , and Overlay Networks . He has co-authored over 161 publications since 1980, emphasizing scalable infrastructure management, QoS optimization, and autonomic network design. His recent work includes machine learning integration in P4-programmable networks (2024) and survivable IaaS management with SDN (2021). Publications span IEEE Transactions and ACM journals, with frequent collaborations with Nancy Samaan, Abdallah Jarray, and Hamid Harroud. Key research themes: Network Programmability Service Specific Overlay Networks Autonomic Network Management ML for Traffic Optimization Geographically Distributed Cloud
Dr. Sandra Scott-Hayward is a Senior Lecturer at Queen's University Belfast's School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. She is Director of the QUB Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education (ACE-CSE) and contributes to the Institute of Electronics, Communications & Information Technology. Her research focuses on SDN/NFV security, predictive analytics, network monitoring, and edge-based security. She leads projects like AIDE_NICYBER2025 and LINAS, emphasizing AI-driven solutions and secure infrastructure. Awards include the IEEE NFV-SDN Best Paper Award (2019) and Outstanding Leadership (2016). She actively advises on cybersecurity policy, collaborates internationally, and engages in public outreach through events like Belfast Pride and CyberFirst initiatives. Research interests span programmable network security, AI/ML in cyberdefenses, and secure non-terrestrial networks. Her work aligns with UN SDGs for sustainable infrastructure (Goal 9) and responsible innovation (Goal 9/17). Projects include mitigating O-RAN misconfigurations and enhancing 6G O-RAN QoS via deep reinforcement learning. She supervises PhD students in SDNFV security and advises on global cybersecurity frameworks. Recent articles address DDoS mitigation, secure data planes, and immersive cybersecurity training. Grants include £4.35M funding for R&D in AI-driven cybersecurity. Activities include speaking at NIST forums and editorial roles in journals like IEEE Transactions on Dependable and Secure Computing.
Fulvio Giovanni Ottavio Risso is a Full Professor in the Department of Control and Computer Engineering (DAUIN) at Politecnico di Torino, where he is a member of the NETGROUP Computer Networks Research Group and leads research in cloud, edge, and software-defined networking. He is the Scientific Advisor of the European EIT Digital Partnership and serves as a representative for Politecnico di Torino in EIT Digital. He teaches core courses in Computer Engineering, including Cloud Computing Technologies, Enterprise Network Technologies, and Software Networking, and supervises several PhD students in advanced distributed systems. His research focuses on cloud computing, edge computing, network functions virtualization (NFV), software-defined networking (SDN), and high-speed packet processing. He has pioneered work in eBPF-based network functions through the Polycube framework and in computing continuum orchestration via the Liqo project. His interests extend to Kubernetes networking, real-time data plane optimization, and privacy-preserving infrastructure. He has led numerous EU, national, and industry-funded projects, including FLUIDOS (PNRR), NEWTON, RESTART, TOSHI, ASTRID, and NFV@EDGE. His recent work emphasizes liquid computing, borderless data spaces, and secure, scalable network services for 5G/6G. The recent publications reflect a strong trend in edge-to-cloud orchestration, secure and efficient data plane processing, and real-time performance optimization. Key themes include the use of reinforcement learning for scheduling in the computing continuum, Kubernetes-based edge orchestration, eBPF for in-kernel networking, and energy-aware task distribution. Projects like Liqo and Polycube are central to his vision of a programmable, fluid infrastructure. The integration of machine learning, real-time monitoring, and open-source frameworks underscores a commitment to practical, scalable solutions in modern distributed systems. Scientific Awards and Recognitions: No explicit awards listed in the provided text. Advising and Grants: Fulvio Risso supervises multiple PhD students including Attilio Oliva, Daniele Cacciabue, Davide Miola, Jacopo Marino, Stefano Galantino, Carlos Mateo Risma Carletti, and Federico Parola, whose research spans cloud-edge continuum, vehicular micro-clouds, and Kubernetes networking. He has led over 30 competitive and commercial research projects, including EU-funded initiatives (H2020, EIT), national PRIN projects, PNRR missions, and industry contracts with Rakuten Mobile. These grants focus on network programmability, edge computing, 5G/6G observability, anomaly detection, and secure orchestration, reflecting strong industry-academia collaboration. Labs and Research Groups: He is a key member of the NETGROUP - Computer Networks Group (DAUIN) and leads research activities in LAB 9 - Research Laboratory (DAUIN). He is also associated with the Interdepartmental Center PIC4SeR - PoliTO Interdepartmental Center for Service Robotics. His work is deeply integrated with open-source development, particularly through Liqo and Polycube, which are actively used in both research and industrial deployments.
Oliver Hohlfeld is a Professor at the University of Kassel where he leads the Distributed Systems Group . Prior academic appointments include professorships at Brandenburg University of Technology (heading the Computer Networks group) and RWTH Aachen University , with earlier work at TU Berlin/Deutsche Telekom Innovation Laboratories . He has served as visiting scholar at University of Wisconsin-Madison (Paul Barford's group) and holds a Dr. rer. nat. in Computer Science (2013) from TU Berlin under advisor Anja Feldmann. B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Computer Science from Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, Institute Eurecom, and Darmstadt University of Technology Former Fraunhofer IGD researcher (2004-2006) working on telemedical network architectures His research interests focus on data-driven analysis of internet performance and security through empirical network measurement, psychological user studies, and machine learning. Key areas include DDoS defense mechanisms, TLS deployment analysis, social media interaction patterns, caching strategies, and internet protocol evaluation (HTTP/2, QUIC, BGP). Recent work examines cross-border information control circumvention through unconventional user reviews. Oliver has served on technical program committees for 25+ conferences including SIGCOMM'24 , NSDI'25 , and IMC'24 . His scientific leadership includes: 2022 IETF/IRTF Applied Networking Research Prize 2020 ACM Senior Member status 2018-2021 conference co-chair roles He leads major research projects : AIDOS: AI-based DDoS Mitigation at DE-CIX Internet Exchange (BMBF funded) DFG SFB 1053 MAKI: Multi-Mechanism Internet Adaptation (2017-2020) EU Horizon 2020 SSICLOPS: Secure Cloud Operations Internet Observatory Initiative
Navid Nikaein is a Professor at EURECOM's Communication Systems department, specializing in wireless networking and 5G/6G technologies. His research focuses on advanced protocols, network slicing, and large-scale emulation using the OpenAirInterface framework. He teaches graduate courses on ad hoc networking and mobile applications development. Research Interests : Uplink channel access for mixed traffic in LTE/LTE-A systems Scheduling schemes for cellular and ad hoc networks Hardware/software co-design for wireless emulation Network slicing and runtime systems for RAN flexibility Awards : Best-in-Session Presentation Award at INFOCOM 2016 Best Paper Award at Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks for Public Safety (2011) Key Projects : OpenAirInterface.org: Open-source LTE/5G platform FlexRAN: SD-RAN programmability framework Advising & Grants : Active in technical program committees for IEEE conferences and leads EU-funded research initiatives on 5G/6G architecture. Collaborates on projects like Mosaic5G and SliceNet for network slicing innovation. Labs/Teams : Leads the Communication Systems research group at EURECOM, focusing on prototyping next-gen wireless systems through open-source collaboration.
Jonatan Langlet is a postdoctoral researcher at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, affiliated with the Division of Software and Computer Systems (SCS) and the Network Systems Lab (NSLab). Holding a Digital Futures fellowship, his work bridges programmable hardware, network telemetry, and machine learning, with a focus on high-speed monitoring and security technologies embedded in network switches and cards. Education: PhD in Computer Science (2024) from Queen Mary University of London, supervised by Prof. Gianni Antichi Teaching: Distributed Systems (QMUL 2021-2022), Data Structures and Algorithms (Karlstad 2019) Research spans three main areas: In-Network Intelligence : Developing machine learning inference capabilities within programmable switches (P4), optimizing neural networks for hardware constraints Telemetry Systems : Creating RDMA-based telemetry pipelines for zero-CPU, line-rate data collection (Direct Telemetry Access, ACM SIGCOMM 2023) 5G Network Innovation : Designing programmable pipelines for 5G user plane functions (IEEE TMC 2022) His publications in top venues like ACM SIGCOMM, SIGMETRICS, and HotNets demonstrate technical depth in programmable hardware, while community roles (TPC member, reviewer) highlight academic engagement. The Digital Futures fellowship supports his ongoing work on large-scale monitoring technologies.
Francesca Guerriero is Full Professor of Operations Research at the Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering , University of Calabria, Italy. She serves as Dean since 2021, Vice President of AIRO (Italian Operations Research Society), and Director of the LOGICA Laboratory. PhD in Systems Engineering and Informatics, University of Calabria (1997) Graduate in Management Engineering (1993), summa cum laude Her research spans Network Optimization , Combinatorial Optimization , Logistics , Revenue Management , and Big Data Optimization , with focus on large-scale problems in transportation, energy, and healthcare. Recent publications highlight integration of quantum computing and deep reinforcement learning in logistics. She supervises PhD projects on topics like Green Logistics , Distributed Optimization , and Smart City Applications , collaborating with institutions like MIT and Amazon. Her work includes EU/Italian Ministry-funded projects on Smart Cities , Healthcare Systems , and Biomedical Applications .
José André Rocha Sá Moura is an Assistant Professor at ISCTE - Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, affiliated with the Department of Information Science and Technology (ISTA). He is also an Integrated Researcher at the Institute of Telecommunications – IUL, where he contributes to the Radio Systems Group in Lisbon. His academic and research work is centered on advanced networking technologies and systems. PhD in Computer Science, Lancaster University, 2011 Master's in Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Porto, 2001 Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications, University of Aveiro, 1989 His research interests include software-defined networking (SDN), edge and fog computing, network management, game theory, optimization, resource virtualization, and the resilience of networked systems. He explores intelligent access to heterogeneous wireless networks and the integration of cloud and big data technologies in modern network infrastructures. His work bridges theoretical models with practical implementations in next-generation networks. The most recent publications highlight a strong trend in decentralized network control, autonomous management using AI/ML, resilience in edge systems, and efficient resource provisioning for IoT and multimedia services. His work frequently applies SDN and game theory to solve complex networking challenges in dynamic and heterogeneous environments. Scientific Awards and Recognitions: No specific awards mentioned in the provided text. Academic Supervision and Research Contributions: José Moura has supervised 1 PhD (as co-supervisor) and 10 MSc theses, covering topics such as SDN-based intrusion detection, multi-access management, fog computing, and IoT architectures. He has been involved in research projects including ImpAr, NEUF, and SAAS. He serves as a reviewer for journals like IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology and conferences such as ConfTele. His research aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to innovation and infrastructure. Labs and Research Teams: He is an active member of the Radio Systems Group at IT – Lisboa, focusing on wireless technologies and networked systems. His work is embedded in the broader ecosystem of the Institute of Telecommunications, a leading R&D unit in Portugal.
Jean Pierre David is a Full Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal. He has been with the institution since January 2006, was promoted to Associate Professor in June 2013, and became a Full Professor in June 2021. His research focuses on digital systems design, reconfigurable systems, and hardware implementations of artificial intelligence applications. David received his Electrical Engineering degree (specializing in electronics) from the University of Liège (Belgium) in 1995. He completed his Ph.D. in June 2002 at the Catholic University of Louvain, with research focused on reconfigurable systems (FPGAs). Before joining Polytechnique Montréal, he was a professor at the University of Montreal from August 2002 to January 2006. Jean Pierre David's research spans several key areas in electrical engineering and computer science. His primary focus is on digital systems design, configuration, and programming, with particular expertise in reconfigurable systems such as FPGAs and microcontrollers. He has made significant contributions to Hardware Description Languages (HDL), developing methodologies for fast, safe, and simple design of digital architectures. His work extends to Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulation, Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) for high-speed communications (10GBE, 40GBE, 100GBE), and applications of digital systems in artificial intelligence, particularly neural network implementations. David's recent research has increasingly focused on energy-efficient AI hardware, RISC-V processor design for neural network acceleration, and specialized architectures for low-precision computation. His publication record shows a clear evolution from foundational work in digital system design and FPGA implementation toward increasingly sophisticated applications in artificial intelligence and neural network acceleration. The most recent publications demonstrate expertise in creating specialized hardware for efficient AI computation, with a strong emphasis on low-precision and binary neural networks that can run efficiently on resource-constrained devices. His work bridges computer architecture, electrical engineering, and artificial intelligence, creating practical hardware solutions for emerging computational challenges. David is affiliated with several important research groups and institutions including the Strategic Microsystems Group of Quebec (ReSMiQ), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the Institute for Data Valorization (IVADO). His work has been recognized through numerous publications in high-impact journals and conferences, with a total of 108 publications to his name. Professor David has supervised an impressive number of graduate students throughout his career, mentoring 9 Ph.D. students and 24 Master's students to completion. His students have worked on diverse topics including FPGA-based neural network acceleration, hardware implementations of deep learning algorithms, energy harvesting systems for IoT devices, and specialized architectures for low-precision computation. His lab appears to maintain strong connections with industry through various research projects and collaborations with researchers like Yves Savaria. His research laboratory focuses on the intersection of hardware design and artificial intelligence, with particular emphasis on creating efficient implementations of neural networks on specialized hardware platforms. The lab maintains strong connections with industry partners and collaborates extensively on projects related to network processing, AI acceleration, and energy-efficient computing systems.
Dr Jose Santos serves as Associate Head of the School of Computing and Lecturer in the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment at Ulster University. Based at the Belfast campus (2-24 York Street), he maintains an active research profile with 54 publications since 2000 and a Scopus h-index of 9. His leadership extends to the Computer Science Research group where he contributes to the university's UN Sustainable Development Goal initiatives. Dr Santos' research centers on networking and communications, with foundational work in geographical routing protocols for mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) evidenced by his highly-cited survey (193 citations). His expertise spans quality of service optimization , location-aware routing for disaster telemedicine , and multimedia streaming in emergency scenarios . Recent expansions include Robotics: Bio-inspired control systems using reinforcement learning for coverage and navigation Emerging technologies: Blockchain-based edge computing (BECA architecture) and SLAM systems for autonomous navigation Sustainability applications: Low-cost environmental monitoring and battery health estimation His work consistently bridges theoretical networking concepts with real-world emergency response challenges. Analysis of recent publications (2021-2025) reveals strategic convergence of AI with physical systems. Key trends include sensor fusion for robotics (monocular-LiDAR SLAM), blockchain for secure IoT edge computing, and neural networks for battery diagnostics. This evolution maintains his core networking expertise while addressing sustainability through pollution monitoring and energy-efficient systems, aligning with Ulster University's focus on practical technological solutions for global challenges. Dr Santos has supervised 4 research students and secured funding for impactful projects including: KTP Programme with Fire Glass Direct Ireland Ltd (2012-2015): Transferred academic knowledge to industrial applications Ja.NET location awareness proposal (2008): Pioneered cooperative positioning techniques for indoor environments His external engagement includes serving as External Examiner at Griffith College (2015-2017), demonstrating commitment to academic standards beyond Ulster University. As part of Ulster's Computer Science Research group, Dr Santos contributes to multidisciplinary teams addressing UN Sustainable Development Goals. His current work integrates drone communications for fire emergency response, particulate matter monitoring, and blockchain architectures - reflecting a trajectory toward intelligent systems that enhance community resilience and environmental sustainability through rigorous networking research.
Riccardo Lazzeretti serves as Associate Professor at Sapienza University of Rome since September 2022, following progression from Assistant Professor roles (RTD-A/B) at the same institution from 2017-2022. His academic trajectory includes post-doctoral research at the University of Siena's VIPP group, a research grant at the University of Padua, and industry experience at Italian startup Cynny s.p.a. His educational foundation comprises: MSc in Computer Science Engineering, University of Siena (2007) PhD in Information Engineering, University of Siena (2012) Lazzeretti's research centers on privacy-preserving technologies with emphasis on Secure Multi-Party Computation for encrypted signal processing. His work spans biometric security (including multi-biometric authentication), IoT security protocols, blockchain applications in healthcare, and social network misinformation detection. Recent publications demonstrate deep integration of cryptographic techniques with machine learning for resource-constrained devices and critical infrastructure protection. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals dominant trends in IoT/drone security (32% of works), browser/API vulnerabilities (13%), and privacy-preserving architectures (27%). His research consistently bridges theoretical cryptography with practical system implementations, particularly for emerging technologies like NDN and programmable data planes. His scholarly recognition includes: SIGMM Test of Time Paper Honourable Mention (2021) for Multimedia Security contributions IET Biometrics Premium Best Paper Award (2021) Lazzeretti has supervised graduate students at the University of Siena and secured research funding through collaborations with NATO's CMRE, Digital Catapult (UK), and IMT Lucca. Current projects include privacy-preserving consensus algorithms for IoT and blockchain-based health applications. He maintains active partnerships with European research entities including Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation and Digital Catapult. His laboratory affiliations encompass the VIPP research group at University of Siena and ongoing collaborations with Sapienza's cybersecurity initiatives, focusing on cross-disciplinary teams integrating signal processing, cryptography, and machine learning expertise.
Boris Koldehofe is a Professor of Computer Networks at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Science and Engineering, where he leads research in distributed systems and network technologies. He also maintains significant academic connections as an Adjunct Professor at TU Darmstadt (as part of the DFG Collaborative Research Centre 1053 MAKI) and recently joined TU Ilmenau as Professor heading the Distributed Systems and Operating Systems Group. His educational background includes a Habilitation in Communications and Distributed Systems from Technische Universität Darmstadt (2019), a Ph.D. from Chalmers University of Technology (2005), and a Diplom in Informatik from Universität des Saarlandes (1999). Throughout his career, he has held positions at prestigious institutions including Technische Universität Darmstadt, Universität Stuttgart, EPFL, and Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg. Koldehofe's research focuses on networked and distributed systems with particular emphasis on middleware, event-based systems, software-defined networking, and the emerging field of in-network computing. His work has evolved significantly toward energy-efficient cognitive computing, especially through the exploration of memristor-based technologies for network functions. His research addresses critical challenges in distributed systems performance, privacy, and adaptability in increasingly complex network environments. His recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward energy-efficient network computing, with a significant portion of his work in the last three years focusing on memristor applications for cognitive network functions, in-network data stream processing, and privacy-preserving analytics. His research bridges theoretical distributed systems concepts with practical networking implementations, particularly leveraging programmable data planes and novel hardware architectures. 2019 ACM Service Recognition Award for organizing the 13th ACM Conference on Distributed and Event-Based Systems 2017 Best Research Paper at ACM USENIX Middleware Conference 2015 Ausgezeichneter Ort Land der Ideen (Excellent innovation with CRC MAKI) As an academic advisor, Koldehofe has supervised several doctoral students including Manisha Luthra (awarded KUVS Dissertation Award for 'Network-centric Complex Event Processing') and Saad Saleh (who successfully defended his PhD on memristor-based computing architectures). His research has been supported by numerous grants including DFG-funded projects like 'DynSDN', industry collaborations with Deutsche Telekom, and participation in the CogniGron research center focused on cognitive systems and materials. He leads the Distributed Systems Group at University of Groningen and collaborates extensively with research teams at TU Ilmenau and TU Darmstadt through the MAKI research center.
Kamil Sarac is a Professor and Associate Head for Faculty Affairs in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas), part of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara (2002), an M.S. in Computer Science from the same institution (1997), and a B.S. in Computer Engineering from Middle East Technical University (1994). His research focuses on computer networks and protocols, including network monitoring, software-defined network (SDN) security, future Internet architecture, energy-efficient broadcast in ad hoc networks, and overlay networks. He leads projects such as the UTD Cyber Service Academy Scholarship Program and teaches courses like Network Security (CS 6349) and Computer Networks Lab (CS 4396). He directs cybersecurity education initiatives, managing NSF-sponsored CyberCorps and DoD programs, advising scholarship students, and mentoring them toward federal government careers. His lab work includes SDN security exercises and cybersecurity competition management systems like CTF-PM.
Dr. Ali Khoshkholghi is a Lecturer in Computing Science at Middlesex University's Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science. He leads modules on Operating Systems, Computer Networks, and Network Security while conducting research at the intersection of cloud/edge computing, 6G networks, and AI-driven network optimization. His research develops intelligent frameworks for next-generation networks, focusing on performance optimization of service function chains in NFV-enabled environments, federated learning for multi-operator systems, and security protocols for IoT ecosystems. Recent projects include blockchain-IoT integration for smart environments, UAV network optimization, and threat detection systems for intelligent transportation. Dr. Khoshkholghi's publications demonstrate consistent innovation in network architectures, with work on in-band telemetry optimization (IntOpt), edge intelligence deployment, and federated learning models for telecommunications. His security research addresses vulnerabilities in messaging protocols, malware detection in smart homes, and cryptographic evaluation using formal methods.
Diego López Pajares is a Lecturer at the Department of Automática within the Universidad de Alcalá, Spain. His research focuses on Software-Defined Networking (SDN), Internet of Things (IoT), edge computing, and AI-driven network optimization. He is a member of the NetIS research group (Networks and Intelligent Systems), which explores programmable networks and intelligent systems for future communication infrastructures. He earned his Doctorate in Engineering from Universidad de Alcalá with a thesis titled Nuevos conmutadores de red para redes integradas con SDN (New SDN-enabled network switches for integrated networks), supervised by Dr. Juan Antonio Carral Pelayo and Dr. Elisa Rojas Sánchez. His work addresses challenges in scalable network protocols, hybrid SDN architectures, and AI applications in telecommunications. Key research trends include edge computing IIoT systems, fault prediction in smart grids, and 6G-enabling technologies. His publications emphasize in-band control protocols, disjoint path algorithms, and P4-programmable switches. Collaborative efforts with industry and academia aim to bridge theoretical advancements with practical network deployments. Notable contributions include the BareFlow protocol for Layer-2 plug-and-play routing, MDTA algorithm for dynamic environments, and eHDDP for heterogeneous network discovery. These innovations address scalability, security, and interoperability in modern network ecosystems. López Pajares' work intersects with military deployable networks, autonomous vehicle traffic systems (SYROPS), and cloud continuum architectures. His research bridges traditional networking domains with emerging paradigms like AIoT and software-defined infrastructures.
