Dr Duncan Smith is an Associate Professor in GIS and Visualisation at the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA) at University College London (UCL). He serves as Programme Co-Director for the MSc Urban Spatial Science, focusing on digital visualisation and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) education. His research emphasizes urban sustainability, transport accessibility, and interactive urban visualisation, with a particular interest in global mega-cities like London, Singapore, and São Paulo. Dr Smith holds a PhD from UCL (2011), an MSc from the University of Edinburgh (2005), and a BA (2003). His recent projects include leading the ESRC-funded Driving Urban Transitions project (2024) exploring sustainable travel in small cities and outer metropolitan areas. Previously, he was Co-Investigator on the SIMETRI project (NSFC JPI Urban Europe) analyzing urban sustainability in London, the Randstad, and China's Greater Bay Area. His research interests span urban visualisation techniques, transport equity analysis, and polycentric urban development. Key areas include GIS-driven urban modelling, accessibility metrics, and the intersection of housing policy with sustainable urban form. His interactive visualisations, available on citygeographics.org , showcase innovative approaches to spatial data presentation. Dr Smith's work consistently addresses global sustainability challenges through geospatial methodologies. Recent studies highlight inequalities in transport accessibility and the spatial implications of urban policies. Upcoming projects will further investigate small-city mobility dynamics using multi-national collaborations with Amsterdam and Lisbon researchers.
Dr Dawn Elizabeth Cavanagh is a Researcher at Manchester Metropolitan University, affiliated with the Faculty of Health and Education. Her work focuses on healthcare equity for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism, particularly addressing systemic issues like restrictive practices and long-term segregation. She holds a PhD from the University of South Wales, where her research explored annual health checks and self-management for people with learning disabilities. Dr Cavanagh’s research has included NIHR-funded studies on psychotropic medication decision-making and the impact of the pandemic on people with learning disabilities. She is currently evaluating the HOPE(S) Programme to End Long-Term Segregation, focusing on mothers of children detained in secure hospitals. Her advocacy extends to campaigning against institutional segregation through initiatives like Stolen Lives Wales and her role as a trustee of the Paul Ridd Foundation. Her research interests intersect personal advocacy, as she is autistic and the parent of an adult son with multiple disabilities whose experiences informed her work. She co-chaired the 2023 RRN conference and has been recognized with awards for her contributions to restraint reduction and disability advocacy. Education: PhD in Intellectual Disability Healthcare (University of South Wales) Dr Cavanagh’s articles emphasize ethical healthcare practices, policy reform, and co-produced solutions for marginalized groups. Her work bridges academic research with grassroots advocacy, aiming to dismantle systemic barriers in healthcare access and institutional care. Awards: Restraint Reduction Network’s 2024 Outstanding Contribution Award, Cardiff Parents’ Federation 2024 Trustee Award She collaborates with organizations like the Rightful Lives Team and leads Stolen Lives Wales, advocating for systemic change in healthcare provision for vulnerable populations.
Teemu Roos is a Professor at the Department of Computer Science , University of Helsinki , and a Principal Investigator for the Complex Systems Computation Group under the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology. He serves as a Supervisor for the Doctoral Programme in Computer Science and leads multiple research initiatives, including Distributed AI in Supercomputing , AI & Kids , and Generation AI . Dr. Roos also holds a Docent title in Computer Science. His research spans Artificial Intelligence , Machine Learning , and Data Science , with a focus on AI education , graph neural networks , Bayesian modeling , and health informatics . He has pioneered tools like Elements of AI , a free online course now translated into 22 EU languages, and explores the ethical implications of AI-generated content in authorship and inventorship. The 15 most recent publications highlight applications in environmental forecasting (e.g., Mediterranean Sea via graph-based deep learning), healthcare (e.g., skin cancer detection with transfer learning), and social media analysis (e.g., explainable AI platforms for K-12 education). Methodologically, his work advances clustering algorithms , dimensionality reduction , and approximate nearest neighbor search . Scientific Awards: Cor Baayen Award (2009) Nokia Foundation Recognition Award (2019) Best Paper Honorable Mention Award (2013) ICT Influencer of the Year 2019 (Vuoden TiVi-vaikuttaja 2019) World Summit AI's Top-50 Innovators in 2020 Dr. Roos has supervised 2 doctoral students and contributed to 163 academic activities , including invited talks at MIT, University of Cambridge, and the Finnish Institute in Rome. He has secured funding from the Academy of Finland and the Strategic Research Council, focusing on projects like Fast AI-assisted Space Environment Prediction and Urban Exerciser .
Callie Hao is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology since 2021, holding the ON Semiconductor Junior Professorship. Her research bridges hardware efficiency and algorithmic innovation with significant industry and federal recognition. Education: Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Waseda University (2017) M.S. and B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Research Focus: Dr. Hao pioneers software/hardware co-design for edge AI, specializing in hardware-efficient machine learning algorithms, FPGA-based reconfigurable computing, graph neural networks, and electronic design automation (EDA). Her work emphasizes neural architecture search, high-level synthesis optimization, and memory-efficient systems for embedded and IoT applications, driven by the philosophy that "1 + 1 > 2" for transformative efficiency gains. Publication Impact: Her 15 most recent publications (2023-2026) reveal a strategic shift toward machine learning-driven EDA tools, with 60% focused on high-level synthesis frameworks and 40% on graph neural network acceleration. Key trends include simulation speed breakthroughs (LightningSim), automated accelerator generation (GNNBuilder), and cryptographic hardware innovations (Cryptonite), predominantly published in top-tier venues like MICRO, ICCAD, and DAC. Awards & Recognition: NSF CAREER Award (2024) and Intel Rising Star Faculty Award (2023) Best Paper Awards at MLCAD 2024 and GLSVLSI 2021 ON Semiconductor Junior Professorship (2025) and Sutterfield Family Early Career Professorship (2022) DAC-SDC competition championships (2018-2020) Mentorship & Funding: Dr. Hao advises 8+ Ph.D. students in the Sharc Lab, with Rishov Sarkar winning the Oscar P. Cleaver Award and Qualcomm Innovation Fellowship. Her research is funded by DARPA (2021) for ultra-light video intelligence systems and supported by industry awards from Amazon and Sony. She actively serves on program committees for DAC, ICCAD, and DATE conferences. Lab Leadership: As director of the Sharc Lab (Software/Hardware Co-design lab), she cultivates interdisciplinary research at the intersection of FPGA design, machine learning, and EDA, requiring expertise in Verilog/HLS, GNNs, and compiler technologies while maintaining strict focus on real-world hardware implementation.
Barbara M. Kehm is a Research Fellow at the Leibniz Research Centre for Science and Society (LCSS) , affiliated with Leibniz University of Hannover since 2018. She previously held professorial roles as Professor of Leadership and International Strategic Development in Higher Education at the University of Glasgow (2013–2017) and Professor of Higher Education Research at the University of Kassel (2003–2011), where she also served as Director of the International Centre for Higher Education Research (INCHER-Kassel) from 2004 to 2011. Education: Ph.D. (summa cum laude) from Ruhr-University Bochum (1989). Her research focuses on internationalisation and globalisation in higher education, doctoral education reform, academic work and professions , and the Europeanisation of higher education . She has extensively examined governance, management, and policy in higher education systems, with particular emphasis on organisational change and stakeholder engagement. Her publications reflect a comparative analysis of higher education systems across Europe and beyond, including collaborations with institutions in China, Argentina, Australia, and the United States. Notable works include studies on university boards , the excellence initiative in Germany , and academic career development in Europe. Advising and Grants: She has led funded projects such as 'Transformation of European Universities' (2009–2012) supported by the European Science Foundation and German Research Association, and 'Lifelong Learning and the University in Europe' (1998–2000) under the European Commission’s 4th Framework Programme. She has also contributed to editorial activities, including co-editing Tertiary Education and Management and serving on academic journal boards. Labs and Teams: Kehm is associated with the LCSS and INCHER-Kassel, both leading centers for higher education research in Europe.
Martin Pesendorfer is a Professor of Economics at the Department of Economics, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He specializes in Industrial Organization, Auctions, and Information Economics, with significant contributions to applied microeconomics. His research focuses on dynamic games, auction mechanisms, and strategic interactions in markets. He holds a PhD in Economics from Northwestern University and teaches advanced courses such as EC313 Industrial Economics and EC536 Economics of Industry for Research Students. Key research areas include the design of auctions, consumer demand modeling, and equilibrium analysis in dynamic settings. His work has been published in top journals like the American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, Econometrica, and the Review of Economic Studies. He has also contributed to practical applications such as analyzing mergers, procurement auctions, and retail pricing strategies. Pesendorfer’s teaching covers topics from industrial economics fundamentals to advanced microeconomic theory. His research spans theoretical and empirical methods, with recent emphasis on equilibrium multiplicity in dynamic games and omitted variable biases in demand models. He maintains an active presence in academic circles, contributing to research centers like STICERD's Economics of Industry Programme.
Professor Lucy Kimbell is Professor of Contemporary Design Practices at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, where she convenes the Policy Futures Studio. She is Co-Director of the Sustainable Transitions through Democratic Design Doctoral Network funded by the EU Marie Curie programme and serves as Visiting Professor at University of Ulster and Honorary Adjunct Professor at RMIT University. Her work bridges design practice, public policy, and social innovation across multiple international contexts. Professor Kimbell's educational background includes a PhD in Design from Lancaster University (2013), an MA in Computing in Art and Design from Middlesex University (1996), and a B. Engineering in Design and Appropriate Technology from the University of Warwick (1989). Her academic journey reflects a consistent integration of technical, creative, and social perspectives. Kimbell's research focuses on service design, social design, and design for policy, with increasing emphasis on sustainable transitions and democratic innovation. She explores how design methods can address complex societal challenges, particularly through transdisciplinary approaches that connect creative practice with public policy contexts. Her work examines the role of design in government, professional services, and community settings, with particular attention to AI readiness in professional service firms and antimicrobial resistance policy in India. She has pioneered frameworks for measuring design's social and environmental value, notably through the Design Value framework developed with the Design Council. Her recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward understanding design's role in public policy, sustainable transitions, and democratic innovation. The research shows increasing integration of practice-based research methods with policy development, emphasizing transdisciplinary collaboration and the application of design thinking to complex societal challenges. There's a notable focus on developing frameworks for measuring design's social and environmental value and advancing democratic innovation through design practice. Notable recognitions include: AHRC Research Fellow in Policy Lab in the Cabinet Office (2014-15) Principal research fellow at University of Brighton (2013-15) Clark Fellow in Design Leadership at Said Business School, University of Oxford (2005-10) Professor Kimbell supervises transdisciplinary PhD research connecting design with public policy, with six completions to date including four UAL-KCL joint studentships. She examines PhDs internationally and serves on the supervisory board for the PhD in Service Design for Public Sector at Sapienza University, Rome. Her grant portfolio includes major projects funded by EU Marie Curie, AHRC, ESRC, and Creative Europe, totaling millions in research funding for design-led approaches to societal challenges, including the Sustainable Transitions through Democratic Design Doctoral Network (2024-28) and the AHRC Design & Policy Research Network (2022-23). She previously directed UAL's Social Design Institute (2019-2022), which brought together university expertise in design for society through capacity building, joint research, publications, and public events. Her collaborative work extends to knowledge exchange projects with Design Council, Department of Work and Pensions, Northern Ireland Social Care Council, and Bite Back 2030, demonstrating her commitment to applying design thinking to real-world policy and social challenges.
Ian Wilson is the Deputy Director of the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR) and a Professor of Policy Research and Evaluation at Sheffield Hallam University. He holds BA and MSc degrees, with over 20 years of expertise in applied policy research and evaluation, securing £15M+ in research funding. His work spans housing policy, urban regeneration, and social welfare, collaborating with government agencies like DLUHC, DWP, and Welsh Government. Education: BA, MSc (institutions unspecified) Roles: Deputy Director (CRESR), Professor of Policy Research and Evaluation Affiliations: Social and Economic Research Institute, College of Social Sciences and Arts Research Focus: Wilson's work centers on measuring policy impacts, housing affordability, and place-based interventions addressing social inequities. He pioneered methods like shadow pricing for regeneration outcomes and developed frameworks for valuing policy effects on communities. His expertise includes econometric analysis, cost-benefit evaluation, and innovative solutions for complex societal challenges. Grants & Projects: Key projects include evaluations of the Affordable Homes Programme (£10M agreement with DLUHC), Warm Home Prescription project, and Community Renewal’s Lifting Neighbourhoods Together initiative. He has led over 100 research outputs, including studies on housing benefit reforms, urban regeneration, and third-sector subcontractor roles in EU programs. Labs/Teams: Core affiliations with CRESR and the Social and Economic Research Institute, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams on national and international projects.
Dr. Thijs Broekhuizen is an Associate Professor at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Economics and Business, specializing in Innovation Management & Strategy. He currently serves as Scientific Director of the University of Groningen Business School, Coordinator of the Northern-Netherlands Innovation Monitor, and Programme Director of the Executive MBA. His research focuses on digital transformation, value creation in innovation, and digital business models, with interdisciplinary insights bridging strategy, innovation, and digitalization. Education: PhD in Marketing (University of Groningen, 2006) MSc in Marketing (University of Groningen, 2001) Research Interests: Broekhuizen explores value appropriation in technology-driven contexts, digital business models, and strategic responses to disruptive technologies. His work emphasizes SMEs' digital transformation challenges, organizational identity during technological change, and AI-driven innovation management. Key areas include digital platforms, motion picture industries, and social media dynamics. Grants & Projects: TALENT4S3 (€165K, Interreg 2024-2028) SIRM (€189K, Interreg 2023-2027) NWO-funded studies on construction industry profitability and online customer journeys Awards: Best Paper Award at ISoF 2021 Best Short Paper Award Nomination 2021 Teaching & Leadership: Broekhuizen teaches strategy and digitalization in executive programs and has led the MScBA and EMBA initiatives. His educational roles include Programme Director of the Executive MBA (Energy Transition, Health, Sustainable Business Models tracks) and member of the Groningen Digital Business Centre. Labs/Teams: He coordinates the Northern-Netherlands Innovation Monitor (surveying 10,000+ SMEs) and collaborates with the Groningen Digital Business Centre to advance digital strategy research.
Dr Anandadeep Mandal is an Associate Professor in Finance and the Scotcoin Distinguished Chair of Digital Finance at the University of Birmingham , within the Birmingham Business School and the Department of Finance . He is the founding director of the MSc Financial Technology programme and the Programme Director for the MBA (Distance Learning), demonstrating significant leadership in academic program development. Education: PhD in Probability Distribution Fitting, Cranfield University (2016) MRes in Management Science, Cranfield University (2012) MSc in Finance and Investments, Durham University (2008) Bachelor’s in Electronics Engineering Research Interests: Dr Mandal’s interdisciplinary research lies at the intersection of mathematical modelling, artificial intelligence, finance, and digital innovation . His work focuses on AI-enabled investment strategies , blockchain for financial transparency , ESG performance measurement , and the development of the Sustainable Efficiency Index (SEI) . He also pioneers AI applications in digital education , including a patent-pending platform for automated grading of multi-modal student submissions using ensemble AI methods. Publication Trends: His recent scholarly output spans high-impact journals and conferences, reflecting a strong focus on digital finance , climate and social media analytics , cryptocurrency regulation , and AI in financial forecasting . His work combines advanced data science techniques with real-world policy and financial applications, particularly in sustainability and public health. Scientific Awards: No specific awards are mentioned in the provided text. Advising and Grants: Dr Mandal has secured over £2 million in research funding from sources including UKRI, UoB QR Funding, and industry partners. While specific students are not listed, his role as programme director and research leader suggests active mentorship. His research has direct policy impact through collaborations with the NHS Trusts , NIHR , and the UK Government . Labs, Teams, and Impact: Dr Mandal leads a research agenda that bridges academia and public policy. His work extends beyond the university through public engagement at science festivals, outreach for young learners, and expert contributions to UK Parliamentary consultations on AI, sustainability, and financial innovation. He is a key figure in advancing digital finance education and research at the University of Birmingham.
Dr. Zheng Yuan is an Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer) in the School of Computer Science at the University of Sheffield. Previously, they held roles as an Assistant Professor at King's College London and a Research Associate at the University of Cambridge's Department of Computer Science and Technology. Their primary research focuses on machine learning and deep learning applications in natural language processing (NLP), particularly in educational technology, healthcare, creativity, and multilingual contexts. Key projects include computer-assisted language learning (CALL), human-centered NLP in education, computational code-switching, and creative AI. Education includes a PhD and MPhil in Natural Language Processing from the University of Cambridge, and a BSc(Eng) from Queen Mary University of London. They hold affiliated positions at the University of Cambridge, King's College London, and are a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. They contribute to The Alan Turing Institute's Data-Centric Engineering Programme and hold FHEA status (2024-). Research interests span educational NLP, multilingual systems, transfer learning, and explainable AI. They actively organize workshops and serve on editorial boards (e.g., PeerJ Computer Science) and conference committees (ACL/EMNLP). Recent activities include co-organizing NLP workshops at ACL 2025 and NAACL 2024, alongside roles in professional societies like the ACL Professional Conduct Committee. Awards include Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (2024-) and ASEFClassNet18 Faculty Collaboration (2025-). They welcome PhD applications in NLP and machine learning, emphasizing interdisciplinary applications.
Carlos Alvarez Martinez is a faculty member at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), affiliated with the Department of Computer Architecture at the Barcelona School of Informatics (FIB). He is a key member of the Programming Models (PM) research group and collaborates closely with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC). His research focuses on high-performance computing, FPGA acceleration, task-based programming models like OmpSs, and hardware-software co-design for heterogeneous systems. His research interests center on advancing parallel computing through innovative programming models and hardware acceleration. He investigates efficient task scheduling, resource management in multicore and FPGA-based systems, and runtime support for dataflow models. His work enables high-performance execution of complex applications in domains such as scientific computing and cyber-physical systems. He actively contributes to European initiatives like TEXTAROSSA and AXIOM, aiming to develop next-generation exascale supercomputing technologies. The trend in his recent publications shows a strong focus on leveraging FPGAs for HPC, optimizing SpMV operations, improving task scheduling with hardware support, and developing frameworks for multi-FPGA clusters. His work consistently bridges theoretical models with practical implementations, emphasizing performance, scalability, and energy efficiency in heterogeneous computing environments. Scientific Awards: Premi UPC al Compromís Social 2019 Premi Disseny per al Reciclatge 2013 Alvarez Martinez has advised or collaborated with several doctoral students, including Jaume Bosch, Xubin Tan, and Fahimeh Yazdanpanah. He has been involved in numerous competitive R&D projects, often related to high-performance computing and parallel programming models. His work includes significant contributions to educational innovation, particularly in active learning methodologies and formative assessment using interactive systems. He leads and participates in research labs and teams focused on programming models and computer architecture, notably the PM group at UPC/BSC. These teams develop runtime systems, compilers, and hardware accelerators to push the boundaries of parallel computing efficiency and programmability.
Professor David Alldred is a Professor of Medicines Use and Safety at the University of Leeds' School of Healthcare, within the Faculty of Medicine and Health. His expertise spans medicines optimisation, patient safety, deprescribing, and care home medication management. He leads key research initiatives such as the NIHR Yorkshire and Humber Patient Safety Research Collaboration's 'Decluttering Safely for Safety' theme and co-leads the School of Healthcare's Quality and Safety research theme. Education: PhD (clinical research on care home medication review), MSc in Clinical Pharmacy, PGCert in Learning and Teaching, and BPharm (Hons). Professional memberships include Fellowships of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Higher Education Academy. Research focuses on improving medication use for older adults in care homes and underserved populations, employing systematic reviews, qualitative studies, and RCTs. Notable projects include the CHUMS study (Department of Health-funded medication error analysis in care homes) and leadership roles in NIHR Programme Grants like CHIPPS and CHARMER. He collaborates with NHS England to implement medicines optimisation programs and co-designed multilingual medication review resources to reduce health inequalities. Awards include the Pharmacy Practice UK Research Award (2015) and NIHR Senior Investigator status (2025). His work emphasizes translating evidence into clinical practice, with over 150 publications and supervising NIHR-funded doctoral students in critical care, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and geriatrics. Led the Care Homes' Use of Medicines Study (CHUMS), contributed to NICE guidelines for care home medicines management, and developed interventions like the Medicines at Transitions Intervention (MaTI) for heart failure patients. His research themes address polypharmacy reduction, medication safety across care transitions, and pharmacist-led deprescribing strategies.
Academic Profile: Damir Filipovic is a Full Professor and the Swissquote Chair in Quantitative Finance at the College of Management of Technology (CDM) of École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland. He previously held academic positions at the University of Vienna, University of Munich, and Princeton University, and served as Head of the Vienna Institute of Finance. Research Focus: Quantitative finance, risk management, stochastic processes, term structure modeling, volatility risk, and machine learning applications in financial markets. Industry Collaboration: Co-developed the Swiss Solvency Test for insurance capital requirements while consulting for the Swiss Federal Office of Private Insurance. Publications: Contributed extensively to journals like Journal of Financial Economics, Mathematical Finance, and Annals of Applied Probability, with a textbook on Term-Structure Models. Academic Service: Editorial board member of multiple journals and organizer of advanced workshops on systemic risk and financial technology. Recent Research: His work emphasizes machine learning for portfolio risk management, kernel-based yield curve estimation, and robust stochastic modeling. Keynote speaker at international conferences on finance and insurance mathematics, with over 15 recent publications in 2023-2025 addressing high-dimensional financial problems, neural control systems, and causal inference in market data. Education: Ph.D. in Mathematics from ETH Zurich (2000). Graduate of ETH Zurich and University of Vienna. Teaching & Mentorship: Supervises current and former EPFL Ph.D. students in quantitative finance, including Nicolas Camenzind, Joshua Hayes, Andrea Ruglioni, and ten others. Former students like Damien Ackerer and Lotfi Boudabsa now lead research in risk management. Labs & Programs: Directs EPFL's Finance and Technology Programme, leads the Computational Finance Group (CSF) at EPFL, and contributes to Swiss Finance Institute initiatives. Scientific Leadership: Served on EPFL Committee of Academic Evaluation and Doctoral Program Finance committee.
Monica Lam is the Kleiner Perkins, Mayfield, Sequoia Capital Professor in Stanford University's School of Engineering and holds a courtesy professorship in Electrical Engineering. She leads the Stanford Open Virtual Assistant Laboratory and has pioneered work in virtual assistants, privacy protection, and compiler design. Her research includes the Almond virtual assistant, privacy-preserving IoT systems, and the ThingTalk programming language. She co-authored the seminal 'dragon book' on compilers and co-founded Tensilica (now part of Cadence). Education: Bachelor of Science (Honors), Computer Science, University of British Columbia, 1980 Master of Science, Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, 1982 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, 1987 Research Interests: Dr. Lam's work focuses on conversational AI with privacy guarantees, compiler optimization for parallel computing, and open-source virtual assistant ecosystems. She is a leader in decentralized systems, having developed frameworks like SociaLite for large-scale graph analysis and Musubi for mobile social networking without centralized platforms. Article Trends: Recent publications emphasize multimodal interactions, multilingual dialogue systems, and LLM-driven applications in areas like question answering, persuasive chatbots, and adaptive assistants. Her work bridges foundational AI research (e.g., semantic parsing) with real-world deployments (e.g., privacy-compliant IoT). Awards & Honors: Member of the National Academy of Engineering ACM Fellow Popular Science's Best of What's New Award (Security, 2019) Advising & Grants: Lam oversees the Open Virtual Assistant Initiative, a collaborative project to build open-source semantic models. Her NSF CNS grant (CNS Core) focuses on federated privacy systems. She has advised over 50 students in AI and systems research, though specific names are not listed in the provided texts. Labs & Teams: Directs the Stanford Open Virtual Assistant Laboratory, collaborates with the Stanford NLP group, and maintains ties to industry through former startup Tensilica's legacy in embedded processors.
