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Thomas Bäck is a Professor at the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS) , Leiden University , Netherlands, and a member of the interdisciplinary programme Society, Artificial Intelligence and Life Sciences (SAILS) . His academic career spans roles at Leiden University (1996–present) and leadership positions at the Center for Applied Systems Analysis in Dortmund (1994–2000). Education : Diplom-Informatiker (Computer Science), Technische Universität Dortmund (1990) Dr. rer. nat. (Computer Science), Technische Universität Dortmund (1994) Research Interests : Dr. Bäck specializes in evolutionary computation , machine learning , and their applications in sustainable smart industry and healthcare . Recent work focuses on integrating large language models (LLMs) and quantum computing into optimization frameworks, with projects like CIMPLO (predictive maintenance), ECOLE (experience-based optimization), and SAPPAO (airline operations optimization). Scientific Contributions : His 526+ publications cover evolutionary algorithms, quantum optimization, and LLM-driven design, with recent trends including: Quantum computing (e.g., quantum approximate optimization, quantum advantage challenges) LLM integration (e.g., hyperparameter tuning, mutation control, code evolution graphs) Healthcare and industry (e.g., predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, melt quality prediction) Algorithm benchmarking (e.g., IOHprofiler, MA-BBOB, explainable benchmarking) Scientific Awards : IEEE Fellow (2022) Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) member (2021) Academia Europaea member (2022) IEEE Computational Intelligence Society Evolutionary Computation Pioneer Award (2015) Fellow, International Society of Genetic and Evolutionary Computation (2003) Best Ph.D. thesis award, German Society of Computer Science (GI) (1995) Advising and Grants : He supervises Ph.D. candidates in evolutionary computation and machine learning and has secured 7 major grants from organizations like the Dutch Research Council , European Commission , and The Research Council of Norway . His editorial roles include Editor-in-Chief of the Evolutionary Computation Journal and associate editorships in leading AI journals.

• Evolutionary Computation
• Machine Learning
• Natural Computing
• +5 more

Ibo van de Poel is a Full Professor at Delft University of Technology , within the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management , specifically in the Section Philosophy . He holds the prestigious Antoni van Leeuwenhoek professorship , awarded to excellent young researchers, and is a leading figure in Design for Values , engineering ethics , and technology as social experimentation . Education: Van de Poel studied Philosophy of Science, Technology and Society at the University of Twente , with a propaedeutic exam in Mechanical Engineering . He earned his PhD in Science and Technology Studies (STS) in 1998 from the University of Twente , under the supervision of Prof. Dr. A. Rip. Research Interests: His research spans three major themes: Design for Values : Investigating how moral values can be integrated into engineering design, including empirical studies on how engineers handle value conflicts. Moral Responsibility in R&D Networks : Exploring the "problem of many hands" in large-scale research and development projects, developing formalizations and empirical methods. Ethics of Emerging Technologies : Examining ethical issues in new technologies like nanotechnology and synthetic biology , with a focus on technology as social experimentation . Publications and Impact: Van de Poel has authored over 25 international peer-reviewed articles and 15 book contributions . He is co-editor of major works including the Handbook of Philosophy of Technology and the Engineering Sciences (Elsevier, 2009), Philosophy and Engineering (Springer, 2010), and Ethics, Engineering and Technology (Wiley-Blackwell, 2011). His recent work includes leading the VICI project "New Technologies as Social Experiments" , funded by NWO. Scientific Awards: Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Professorship (TU Delft) VICI Grant for "New Technologies as Social Experiments: Conditions for Morally Responsible Experimentation" Advising and Grants: Van de Poel has led and contributed to multiple high-impact projects, including: NWO Project on "Moral Responsibility in R&D Networks" (2007–2012) EU Project on ethical issues in synthetic biology (2009–2011) VICI Project on "New Technologies as Social Experiments" (ongoing) He has also supervised PhD students and contributed to educational innovations, including the development of the AGORA web-based program and the first Dutch textbook on ethics and technology . Labs and Teams: Van de Poel is an active member of 4TU.Ethics & Technology , a federation of Dutch technical universities focused on ethics and technology. He contributes to the Simon Stevin Series in the Ethics of Technology and participates in various reading groups and PhD communities within the network.

• Design for Values
• Engineering Ethics
• Moral Responsibility in R&D Networks
• +3 more

Professor Vedran Dunjko is a faculty member at the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS), Leiden University, with affiliations to the Leiden Institute of Physics (LION). He leads the Applied Quantum Algorithms group and co-founded the Quantum@LIACS initiative, focusing on the intersection of quantum computing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. His research interests include quantum machine learning, quantum-enhanced reinforcement learning, quantum heuristics, and the application of AI to quantum computing challenges. Dunjko's work bridges theoretical foundations with experimental implementations on near-term quantum devices, exploring both quantum advantages in learning and the use of classical AI for quantum system design. The recent publications show a strong trend toward proving quantum advantages in learning tasks, optimization, and topological data analysis, with publications in Nature , Nature Communications , and NeurIPS . Key themes include quantum policy gradients, quantum TDA, and reinforcement learning for quantum circuit optimization. ERC Consolidator Grant (2024) PNAS Cozzarelli Prize (2018) Editor’s Suggestion in Physical Review Letters (2014, 2018) Featured in Physics (American Physical Society) (2014, 2018) Dunjko advises several PhD candidates and postdocs, including Rahul Bandyopadhyay, Sofiene Jerbi, and Lea Trenkwalder. He has received competitive grants, most notably the ERC Consolidator Grant in 2024. His group fosters international collaborations with institutions across Europe and industry partners. The Applied Quantum Algorithms group and the Quantum@LIACS team combine theoretical investigations with practical implementations on quantum hardware, focusing on scalable quantum algorithms and AI-driven quantum discovery.

• Quantum Computing
• Quantum Machine Learning
• Quantum Artificial Intelligence
• +7 more

Matthias Schlottbom is an Associate Professor specializing in Mathematics of Computational Science, with a focus on numerical methods and their applications in physics, biology, and engineering. His research integrates advanced computational techniques with interdisciplinary problems, including radiative transfer, photonic crystals, and chemotaxis modeling. Research Interests: Schlottbom’s work spans numerical analysis, finite element methods, and machine learning. He develops high-order discretization schemes, iterative solvers for anisotropic transport, and mathematical frameworks for biological network formation. Publications: Recent articles highlight his contributions to accelerating radiative transfer simulations, extending component mode synthesis for Helmholtz equations, and analyzing diffusion limits in kinetic models. His work often bridges computational mathematics with practical applications in photonics and multiscale systems. Collaborations: He actively collaborates on datasets for optical simulations, radiative transfer algorithms, and photonic crystal modeling, contributing to open-access repositories like 4TU.Centre and Zenodo. Activities: Schlottbom has organized workshops such as the Kinetic Theory Workshop in the Netherlands and delivered keynotes on residual minimization and data-driven methods for transport equations. Scientific Awards: No specific awards or fellowships are mentioned in the provided materials. Advising & Grants: Details about students, advising roles, or grant funding are not included in the available data.

• Numerical Analysis
• Computational Mathematics
• Radiative Transfer
• +4 more

Anna Dawid-Lekowska is an Assistant Professor at the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS) and affiliated with the Leiden Institute of Physics (LION) at Leiden University, Netherlands. She leads a research group within the aQa group, focusing on the intersection of machine learning and quantum physics. Previously, she was a Research Fellow at the Center for Computational Quantum Physics, Flatiron Institute, New York. PhD in Physics and Photonics (joint, cotutelle), University of Warsaw & ICFO, Spain MSc in Quantum Chemistry, University of Warsaw BSc in Biotechnology, University of Warsaw Anna's research centers on interpretable machine learning for scientific discovery, particularly in quantum systems. She investigates how overparametrized models generalize, the role of loss landscape flatness, and double descent phenomena. Her work bridges deep learning with quantum simulations, aiming to detect quantum phase transitions and extract physical insights from trained models. She also explores ultracold molecules and novel quantum phases using simulation platforms. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong trend in applying machine learning to automate and interpret quantum experiments, such as detecting laser cooling schemes and understanding neural network initialization. The work emphasizes interpretability, aiming to make AI a transparent scientific tool rather than a black box. Anna has received significant recognition, including: 2022 FNP START laureate Participant in the 2024 Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting She is actively mentoring and expanding her group, currently recruiting PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. Her work is supported by institutional affiliations with leading research centers and collaborations across Europe and the US. Anna also engages in science communication and education, having lectured at the Nordita Winter School on Machine Learning and Physics. She is involved in the aQa research group, which focuses on quantum algorithms and AI, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between computer science and physics. Her lab integrates theoretical modeling, algorithm development, and applications to quantum experiments.

• Interpretable Machine Learning
• Explainable Artificial Intelligence
• Quantum Simulation
• +7 more

Federico Toschi is a Full Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), holding joint appointments in Applied Physics and Mathematics and Computer Science departments. His research focuses on multi-scale transport phenomena, combining statistical physics, fluid dynamics, and computational methods. He leads projects in the 4TU Centre for Multiscale Phenomena and EAISI. Education: PhD in Physics (University of Pisa, 1998) and academic background at Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa. Interdisciplinary expertise in fluid dynamics turbulence, Lagrangian turbulence, crowd dynamics, and Lattice Boltzmann methods. Recipient of APS Fellow (2015), Euromech Fluid Mechanics Fellow (2012), and Ig Nobel Prize for Physics (2021). Research emphasizes turbulence modeling, pedestrian dynamics, and active matter, with applications in environmental flows and crowd management. His work bridges computational innovations with experimental validations. Recent articles explore kinetic data-driven turbulence modeling, pedestrian flow optimization, and turbulence effects in biological systems. Projects include digital twins for seismicity modeling and rarefied gas dynamics. Teaches fluid mechanics, computational physics, and chaos theory courses. Founded Flow Matters Holding BV, applying research to practical solutions.

• Fluid Dynamics
• Statistical Physics
• Soft Condensed Matter
• +5 more

Ivana Nikoloska is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). She is affiliated with the Center for Quantum Materials and Technology Eindhoven and BIASlab (Bayesian Intelligence and Stochastic Agents Lab). Her academic career includes prior roles as a Research Associate at King’s College London and a Visiting Researcher at Aalborg University. PhD: Monash University, Australia (2023) MSc & Dipl.-Ing.: University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius, North Macedonia Research Interests span foundational and applied machine learning, quantum computing, and information/communication engineering. Her work focuses on integrating Bayesian inference, variational methods, and quantum technologies for tasks like signal processing, channel estimation, and power control optimization. Quantum Machine Learning Bayesian Simulation-Based Inference Meta-learning for Wireless Systems Hybrid Quantum-Classical Architectures Stochastic Signal Processing Quantum Sensing & Metrology Notable Trends in Publications include quantum recurrent neural networks with adaptive gating, Bayesian frameworks for quantum sensing, and meta-learning applications in communication systems. She explores variational inference for planning and robust algorithms for channel estimation under non-ideal conditions.

• Machine Learning
• Quantum Computing
• Communication Engineering
• +7 more

Robert Pollice is a Lecturer at the Faculty of Science and Engineering , University of Groningen , specializing in Homogeneous Catalysis . His research integrates computational chemistry , machine learning , and automated experimentation to accelerate molecular design and catalyst development . Research Interests focus on homogeneous catalysis , quantum chemistry , and machine learning applications. His work addresses challenges in reaction mechanism modeling , noncovalent interactions , and inverse molecular design , leveraging closed-loop optimization and large language models for chemical data analysis . Publications span quantum chemical simulations , solvation energy calculations , excited state engineering , and automated catalyst discovery . His recent studies explore inverted singlet-triplet gaps , machine learning for reaction modeling , and SELFIES for molecular string representations . Peer-review Contributions include evaluations for journals like Organic Process Research & Development , Materials Advances , and Chem , reflecting his expertise in catalysis , quantum chemistry , and AI-driven chemical discovery .

• Computational Chemistry
• Quantum Chemistry
• Machine Learning
• +6 more

Gabriele Liga is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), affiliated with the Signal Processing Systems (SPS) Group. He holds a Marie Curie Eurotech Fellowship focusing on signal shaping techniques for nonlinear optical fiber channels. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. in optical communications from University College London, followed by postdoctoral research in digital signal processing and nonlinearity compensation. Education: B.Sc. in Telecommunications Engineering from Università degli Studi di Palermo (2005), M.Sc. in Telecommunications Engineering from Politecnico di Milano (2011), and a Ph.D. in Optical Communications from University College London (2017). Research Interests: Digital communications, information theory, fiber-optic systems, nonlinearity compensation, channel coding, and multi-user optical communication theory. His work emphasizes achieving transmission limits through signal shaping and advanced signal processing techniques. Projects: Active roles in NESTOR (Next-gen optical networks), QuNEST (quantum communication security), Fun-NOTCH (nonlinear optical channel fundamentals), and SSTOC (signal shaping tailored to optical channels). Collaborations span institutions globally, focusing on optical fiber communication challenges. Awards: 2023 ACP/POEM Best Student Paper Award and 2019 OECC Best Paper Award. Serves as a reviewer for IEEE journals and OSA publications. Labs/Teams: Core member of the SPS Group and involved in interdisciplinary projects blending theory and experimental validation.

• Digital Communications
• Information Theory
• Optical Communications
• +5 more

Shuxia Tao is an Associate Professor at the Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), leading the Computational Materials Physics Group. Her research bridges quantum mechanics and macroscopic material performance through first-principles simulations and machine learning. Education: MSc in Physical Chemistry (Nankai University, China) and PhD (TU/e, 2011) in computational materials design. Roles: Affiliated with Materials Simulation & Modelling (MSM) division, Computational Center for Energy Research (CCER), and Eindhoven Institute for Renewable Energy Systems (EIRES). Her work focuses on chiral-induced spin selectivity (CISS), spin electrochemistry (SEC), and quantum phenomena in halide, oxide, and nitride materials. Recent publications analyze temperature-dependent chirality in perovskites, circular dichroism modeling, and band gap engineering for optoelectronic applications. Scientific awards include: 2024 NWO Open Competition M Grant 2024 ERC Consolidator Grant 2023 Aspasia Award 2022 NWO VIDI 2019 NWO START-UP 2016 CSER Tenure Track Fellowship She serves as Associate Editor for AI for Science (IOP Publishing) and on editorial boards of Applied Physics Letters . Her group collaborates with national and international research communities in Nano, Quantum, and Materials Physics.

• Computational Materials Physics
• Machine Learning for Materials Design
• Semiconducting Materials
• +5 more

Gianfranco Bertone is a Professor at the Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, specializing in astrophysics and theoretical physics with a focus on dark matter, black holes, and gravitational waves. His work bridges cosmology and particle physics through multi-messenger approaches. Research Interests: Dark matter detection via gravitational wave signatures Black hole binary dynamics in dark matter environments Relativistic simulations of extreme mass ratio inspirals Multi-messenger astronomy and fundamental physics Cosmological simulations for dark matter distribution Publication Trends: Recent works emphasize gravitational wave astronomy's role in dark matter studies, including waveform distortions from dark matter spikes, boson cloud effects in black hole binaries, and simulation-based inference for astrophysical observations. His research spans theoretical modeling, computational astrophysics, and observational constraints.

• Dark Matter
• Black Holes
• Gravitational Waves
• +3 more

Nikhil Bansal holds the prestigious Patrick C. Fischer Professorship of Theoretical Computer Science in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Michigan's College of Engineering. His research program has established him as a leading figure in theoretical computer science, with significant contributions to algorithm design and analysis, particularly in discrete optimization problems. Bansal's research focuses on theoretical computer science with emphasis on design and analysis of algorithms for discrete optimization problems. His work spans multiple areas including discrepancy theory, approximation algorithms, randomized algorithms, combinatorial optimization, complexity theory, machine learning theory, and probability. He has made significant contributions to understanding the limits of approximation algorithms and developing novel techniques for combinatorial optimization problems. Analysis of Bansal's recent publications reveals a strong focus on discrepancy theory, online algorithms, and combinatorial optimization. His work often bridges theoretical computer science with discrete mathematics and probability theory. A recurring theme across his publications is the development of novel algorithmic techniques for solving NP-hard problems with provable guarantees. His research has evolved from foundational work in approximation algorithms to more recent contributions in quantum computing complexity and stochastic optimization. Patrick C. Fischer Professor of Theoretical Computer Science Bansal has advised numerous PhD students including Marek Elias, Shashwat Garg, and Greg Koumoutsous, as well as mentoring several postdoctoral researchers. He has served on editorial boards for top journals including Journal of the ACM, Theory of Computing, and Stochastic Models, and has been active on program committees for major conferences such as STOC, FOCS, SODA, and ICALP, including serving as chair for ICALP 2021. Bansal has organized multiple academic workshops including the STOC 2020 Workshop on Recent Advances in Discrepancy and Applications, several SDP Days at CWI Amsterdam, and the Semester on Bridging Continuous and Discrete Optimization at UC Berkeley in Fall 2017.

• Theoretical Computer Science
• Design and Analysis of Algorithms
• Discrete Optimization
• +7 more

Sjoerd van der Heide is a University Researcher at Eindhoven University of Technology, affiliated with the Electrical Engineering department and the Electro-Optical Communication group. His work focuses on advanced optical communication systems, with expertise in quantum key distribution, digital signal processing, and space-division multiplexing. Education: MSc in Optical Communication Systems (2017), thesis titled Low-complexity pre-compensation and advanced modulation techniques for high capacity intensity-modulated direct detection systems , supervised by Prof. C.M. Okonkwo. Research interests include: Quantum cryptography over free-space and fiber links GPU-accelerated real-time optical receivers Mode-division multiplexing techniques Holography-based fiber device characterization Atmospheric turbulence compensation Statistical modeling of mode-dependent loss Recent publications demonstrate trends in Continuous-variable QKD integration Co-propagation of classical and quantum signals Neural network applications for transmission High-capacity SDM systems Real-time GPU-based signal processing Off-axis digital holography techniques Scientific awards include: ECOC 2018 Student Paper Award Optica Student Paper Award (2022) OECC 2019 Best Paper Award Active in experimental validation of transmission systems, with collaborations on multi-core fiber implementations, turbulence generators, and software-defined optical receivers. Currently involved in the Zwaartekracht ECO project for integrated nanophotonics research.

• Optical Communication
• Quantum Cryptography
• Digital Signal Processing
• +3 more

Dr. Evert van Nieuwenburg is an Assistant Professor at Leiden University, affiliated with both the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS) and the Leiden Institute of Physics (LION). His research bridges the fields of Quantum Physics , Machine Learning , and Condensed Matter Physics , with a focus on quantum algorithms, reinforcement learning, and quantum game development (e.g., Quantum TiqTaqToe ). He actively contributes to the Applied Quantum Algorithms (aQa) initiative and leads the QuantumPlayed subgroup for quantum games and education. Research Interests: AI-driven quantum experiment control, quantum machine learning, variational quantum circuits, and quantum games for education and intuition-building. Publications: 15+ peer-reviewed works spanning quantum error correction, phase transitions, reinforcement learning in quantum systems, and quantum dot array simulations. Community Engagement: Developer of educational quantum games, open science advocate, and active participant in interdisciplinary initiatives. Selected Trends: His work demonstrates AI's transformative role in quantum physics, from decoding error-correcting codes with graph neural networks to merging reinforcement learning with quantum control systems. Labs & Initiatives: Affiliated with the Applied Quantum Algorithms (aQa) initiative and co-founder of QuantumPlayed , where quantum mechanics meets game theory to engage diverse audiences.

• Quantum Physics
• Machine Learning
• Condensed Matter Physics
• +6 more

Chigo Okonkwo is Full Professor and Chair of Secured Ultra High Capacity Transmission at the Department of Electrical Engineering , Eindhoven University of Technology. He leads the high-capacity optical transmission laboratory at the Institute for Photonics Integration and contributes to the Center for Quantum Materials and Technology Eindhoven (QT/e) . Academic Qualifications: MSc in Telecommunications and Information Systems, University of Essex (2002) PhD in Optical Signal Processing, University of Essex (2010) Research Interests: Professor Okonkwo focuses on: Maximizing capacity of single-mode fiber systems through advanced-coded modulation and Probabilistic/Geometrically shaped signals Developing Space Division Multiplexing (SDM) systems for Petabit/s transmission using multi-mode/multi-core fibers Quantum secure communications and cryptographic protocol development Optical vector network analyzer (OVNA) technology for SDM fiber characterization Free-space optical link deployment in urban environments Low-complexity digital signal processing algorithms Recent Publications Trends: His 15 most recent articles (2023-2025) demonstrate active research in: Quantum-classical network integration Extreme capacity fiber transmission (Petabit/s systems) Machine learning for optical diagnostics SDM fiber measurement technologies Hybrid QKD-PQC security frameworks Free-space optical urban communication Scientific Awards: Asia Communications and Photonics Conference (ACP) 2018 Best Paper Award European Conference on Optical Communications (ECOC) 2018 Student Paper Award Optica Student Paper Awards (2022) Corning Outstanding Student Paper Competition Finalist (2025) Advisory & Collaborations: Advisor to 8+ researchers including Menno van den Hout, Vincent van Vliet, and Thomas Bradley Technical Program Committee Member, European Conference on Optical Communications (ECOC) since 2014 Sub Committee Chair for Digital Signal Processing track at ECOC 2018 General Chair for OSA Advanced Photonics Congress on Signal Processing for Photonics Collaborates with EU projects (HOMTech, PhotonDelta) and industrial partners Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of CUbIQ Technologies Laboratory & Infrastructure: Maintains the world-class High Capacity Optical Transmission Lab at TU/e, featuring: Advanced SDM fiber testing equipment Quantum communication research infrastructure Free-space optical link experimental setups Multi-core fiber amplification systems Coherent transmission testbeds Machine learning-enabled diagnostic tools

• Optical Transmission Systems
• Space Division Multiplexing
• Quantum Cryptography
• +5 more