Albert Hernansanz Prats is a Post-Doctoral Researcher and Lecturer at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, within the SIMBIOsys research group. He co-founded Surgitrainer, a spin-off company focused on hybrid minimally invasive surgical training and assessment platforms, which has secured multiple EU grants. His academic background includes a computer engineering degree from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (2003) and a Ph.D. from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (2016). His research focuses on advanced teleoperation systems, cognitive and cooperative control architectures for robotic systems, and multimodal user interfaces integrating virtual fixtures and augmented reality. He has contributed to numerous national and European research projects in medical robotics and intelligent systems (RMIS). As co-author of international patents and active in industry-academia collaboration, he bridges research innovation with practical applications in surgical training and robotics. His work emphasizes human-robot interaction and next-generation surgical technologies. Current affiliations include leading roles at Surgitrainer as CTO and academic contributions at UPF through teaching and research.
Professor Pietro Valdastri is a Full Professor and Chair in Robotics & Autonomous Systems at the University of Leeds. He directs the Science and Technologies Of Robotics in Medicine (STORM) Lab, the Institute of Robotics, Autonomous Systems and Sensing (IRASS), and the Robotics at Leeds network. His expertise spans surgical robotics, robotic endoscopy, and magnetic manipulation, with a focus on developing soft magnetic surgical robots (SMSRs) for minimally invasive medical procedures. Valdastri holds a Laurea in Electronic Engineering (University of Pisa, 2001) and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering (Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 2006). He previously served as Assistant Professor at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (2006–2011) and Vanderbilt University (2011–2016) before joining Leeds in 2016. His research aims to leverage magnetic actuation for surgical navigation, with applications in cancer therapy and endoscopy. Key awards include the NSF CAREER Award (2015), ERC Consolidator Grant (2019), and KUKA Innovation Award (2019). He is a Royal Society Wolfson Research Fellow, IEEE Fellow, and editor for IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters. His work has been featured in major media outlets like the BBC, New Scientist, and WIRED. Valdastri has secured over £25M in grants from NSF, NIH, ERC, EU-H2020, and industry partnerships. He co-founded WinMedical srl (acquired in 2017) and Atlas Endoscopy Limited, advancing robotic colonoscopy platforms. Current research emphasizes autonomous robotic systems, magnetic tentacles for lung therapy, and patient-specific surgical tools.
Professor Moe Thandar Wynn is a Co-Director of QUT's Centre for Data Science and holds a Professorship in the School of Information Systems at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). She leads the Process Science Academic Program and serves as the Academic Lead of Research for the School of Information Systems. Her expertise spans Process Mining, Data Quality, and Robotic Process Automation (RPA). Prof Wynn has attracted over AUD 6 million in research funding and holds an h-index of 41 with 8700+ citations. She is a member of the Australian Research Council College of Experts (2023–2025) and has received prestigious awards including the QLD Women in Technology Excellence Award (2024). Her research focuses on formal foundations of process modeling, verification, and automation. She has contributed to international conferences as a co-chair and program committee member, and co-edited special issues on RPA and process dynamics. Prof Wynn collaborates with industries like healthcare, insurance, and agriculture to optimize business processes through data-driven insights. Current research includes privacy-preserving process mining and quality-driven event log enhancement. Education: PhD (QUT, 2006), M. Information Technology (Research, QUT) Key Projects: Hospital Capacity Optimization, Liquid Process Model Collections, Risk-Aware BPM Supervision: Over 10 completed PhD/MSc students in process mining and analytics Awards: Multiple QUT Excellence Awards, ARC College Membership Her lab focuses on advancing process intelligence and RPA, with ongoing efforts in data quality frameworks and process mining standards (e.g., IEEE XES). She actively participates in industry partnerships, such as the CRC Food Agility project, to bridge research and real-world applications.
Dr. Steve Davis is a Senior Research Fellow in Robotics at the University of Birmingham and Operational Director of The Birmingham Institute for Robotics. With over 25 years of expertise in robotics, his research focuses on soft robotics, biomimetics, advanced actuators, and robotics applications in healthcare, nuclear decommissioning, and the food industry. He holds a BEng, MSc, and PhD in Robotics from the University of Salford and a PGCert in Academic Practice. Education: BEng in Robotic and Electronic Engineering (1998), University of Salford MSc in Advanced Robotics (1999), University of Salford PhD in Robotics (2005), University of Salford PGCert in Academic Practice (2014), University of Salford Research Interests: Steve’s work spans soft robotics, biomimetic systems, and automation solutions for industries like food manufacturing and healthcare. His innovations include variable stiffness actuators, robotic hands, and grippers designed for safe human interaction. He has pioneered projects such as the Grail Robot for the food industry and contributed to EU-funded initiatives like SMART-E and FAIRSPACE. Publications Trends: His recent work emphasizes soft robotics actuators (e.g., pneumatic muscles, granular jamming grippers) and predictive maintenance methodologies. Collaborations with industry have led to practical automation solutions across sectors. Awards: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) Grants and Supervision: Steve has secured funding from UKRI, EPSRC, Innovate UK, and the EU. He has advised on MSc and PhD projects related to robotics in healthcare, space, and nuclear environments. Notable grants include the EPSRC FAIRSPACE Hub and Innovate UK’s Nuclear Decommissioning project. Labs and Teams: He leads research at the Birmingham Institute for Robotics and collaborates with the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing. His work integrates academic research with industrial applications through projects like the Food Robotics Automation Center funded by Yorkshire Forward.
Anna Jackman is a Lecturer in Human Geography at the School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science (SAGES), University of Reading. She serves as Director of Postgraduate Research Students in Human Geography and is a member of the SAGES Diversity and Inclusion leadership collective and Research Ethics Committee. Her research is situated at the intersection of feminist political geography, digital and robotic technologies, and critical militarism. Education: PhD in Human Geography, University of Exeter, 2017 Fellowship, Advance HE General Visual Line of Sight Certificate (GVC), UK A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC), UK Anna Jackman’s research focuses on the political geographies of drones, particularly how drone technologies reshape airspace, urban life, and military practices. Her work critically engages with feminist geopolitics, volumetric space, and the gendered and embodied dimensions of drone use. She explores how drones are visualized, normalized, and naturalized in public, military, and commercial contexts, especially through media and tradeshows. Her research emphasizes the ethical, legal, and social implications of drone proliferation, including issues of surveillance, security, and harm. Her recent publications examine drone sensing, feminist understandings of volume, and the concept of 'everyday droning' as a mode of homing military technologies into civilian life. She has led an ESRC New Investigator Award project titled 'Diversifying Drone Stories' (2021–2023), which investigates aerial insecurities and harms in UK airspace. Her interdisciplinary work connects geography with law, gender studies, and security analysis. Scientific Awards and Recognition: Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) New Investigator Award Advance HE Fellowship Specialist Adviser to the UK House of Commons Science and Technology Committee (2019) Expert witness for the Defence Committee on domestic drone threats Anna advises on postgraduate research in human geography and has contributed to collaborative projects such as the Royal Geographical Society and Antipode-funded 'States of Precarity' initiative. She has received research funding from the ESRC and is actively involved in public engagement, policy advising, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her work is supported by her expertise in ethnographic methods, particularly event ethnography at defense tradeshows. She is affiliated with research centers including the Human Geography Research Cluster and the Global Development Research Division at the University of Reading. She also contributes to academic discourse through her roles on the editorial boards of Digital War and Defense & Security Analysis .
Yichuang Sun is a Professor of Communications and Electronics at the University of Hertfordshire, leading the Communications and Intelligent Systems Research Group and the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department. He holds a PhD from the University of York (1996) and has over 450 peer-reviewed publications, 5 authored books, and 40+ supervised PhD students. His research focuses on wireless communications (5G/6G, RIS-aided systems), RF/microwave circuits, neuromorphic computing, and machine learning applications. He serves as Editor or Guest Editor for 12+ IEEE/IET journals and chairs technical committees for IEEE conferences. Notably ranked in the World's Top 2% Scientists since 2019, he also advises global institutions like Oxford and the Royal Academy of Engineering. Education: PhD in Electronics, University of York, UK (1996) Research Interests: Wireless/Mobile Communications and Networks RF and Microelectronic Circuits Neuromorphic Computing and Machine Learning Memristor-based Systems Secure and Energy-Efficient Communications Grants & Projects (selected): Advanced mmWave MIMO 4D Radar for Traffic Detection (2024–2027) Wireless Power Transfer for Implantable Medical Devices (2023–2025) RFID System for Sample Management (2021–present) Labs/Teams: Leads the Communications and Intelligent Systems Research Group, collaborating on 6G, neuromorphic hardware, and IoT systems.
Cinzia Di Dio is an Associate Professor at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan, Department of Psychology, affiliated with the Research Center on Theory of Mind and Social Competence in the LifeSpan (CeRiToM). She holds academic roles in the Faculty of Education and contributes to interdisciplinary studies on human-robot interaction and developmental psychology. Education : PhD in Neuroscience, University of Parma (2012) MSc in Research Methods and Data Analysis in Psychology, University of Hertfordshire (2003) BSc (Hons) in Psychological Sciences, University of Hertfordshire (2002) Training in fMRI at Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome (2006) Research Focus : Investigates social cognition, moral judgment, and decision-making in human-human and human-robot interactions across the lifespan. Key topics include Theory of Mind, trust dynamics, embodiment effects, and ethical implications of AI. Collaborates with institutions like Harvard University, Kyoto University, and the Italian Institute of Technology. Key Awards : National Scientific Entitlement for Developmental Psychology (2018–2027) Elected ISSBD Executive Committee Member (2024) Teaching & Grants : Lectures courses on developmental neuroscience, psychology of education, and robotics ethics. Oversees doctoral training in Psychology and chairs ethics committees. Active in securing research grants for interdisciplinary projects. Labs & Teams : Leads CeRiToM, focusing on lifespan social competence and directs studies on robotics in education and healthcare.
Malachy Mc Elholm serves as a Lecturer in Electrical Engineering at Ulster University's Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, based at Magee Campus in Londonderry. His research integrates hardware engineering with neuromorphic computing to address critical system reliability challenges. His research specializes in fault detection mechanisms for RISC-V architectures and self-repairing hardware systems using spiking neural networks . Key contributions include novel watchdog mechanisms for real-time fault tolerance in processors and neuromorphic solutions for structural health monitoring. Work spans hardware security , transient fault mitigation , and biologically inspired computing , with applications from processor integrity to civil infrastructure resilience. Recent publications (2020-2025) reveal a concentrated focus on applying spiking neural networks to RISC-V fault detection, yielding three 2025 papers on "Smart Watchdog" systems. Parallel work extends these principles to structural health monitoring, demonstrating cross-domain applicability from computer architecture to agricultural engineering through dairy farm energy studies. Scientific Awards No awards documented in available information Advising and Grants Advises PhD researcher David Simpson on RISC-V fault detection systems. Leads public engagement initiatives including a 2025 NI survey on dairy farm renewable energy generation and a 2021 pilot study comparing energy consumption in robotic versus conventional dairying , reflecting applied research in sustainable technology transfer. Labs and Teams Core member of Ulster University's neuromorphic computing research collective collaborating with Professors Harkin and McDaid. The team develops spiking neural network hardware for real-time critical applications, maintaining active projects in processor security and infrastructure monitoring with significant industry partnerships.
Jie Ding is an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota's School of Statistics with graduate faculty appointments in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and the Data Science Program. He serves as a core faculty member of the Data Science and AI Hub and holds an Amazon Scholar position with the Amazon AGI Team focusing on foundation model training. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences from Harvard University (2017), postdoctoral work at Duke University (2018), and a B.S. from Tsinghua University where he participated in both the Math & Physics Academic Talent Program and Electrical Engineering program. Ding's research sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, statistics, and scientific computing, with focus areas including Agentic AI for autonomous data science workflows, AI Foundations for interpretability and trustworthiness, Scalable Modeling for broader AI accessibility, Decentralized and Collaborative AI systems, and AI Safety addressing privacy and security concerns. He developed the STAT 8931 Generative AI course with open-source materials available at genai-course.jding.org . His recent publications demonstrate strong activity across multiple AI subfields, particularly in value alignment (MAP framework), AI safety mechanisms, federated learning innovations, and statistical foundations for modern AI systems. The breadth of venues (ICML, ICLR, NeurIPS) indicates significant impact across the AI research community. NSF CAREER Award (2024) Army Early Career Program (Young Investigator) Award (2023) Cisco Research Award (2022-25) AWS Cloud Credits for Research (2021-22) Meta/Facebook Faculty Research Award (2021-22) UMN Thank-A-Teacher Teaching Award (2019-20) Ding leads the Agentic AI for Data Science Benchmark initiative, collaborating with University of Minnesota colleagues and Minnesota industry partners to evaluate AI agent capabilities across healthcare, insurance, retail, energy and other sectors. His research group actively recruits PhD students interested in AI/Statistics intersections, with focus on developing theoretically grounded yet practically impactful AI systems.
Professor Paul Carding is a distinguished academic and researcher at Oxford Brookes University, where he serves as Professor and Director of the Oxford Institute of Allied Health Research (OxInAHR) within the Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery. He also holds esteemed affiliations as Senior Research Fellow at University College London and Honorary Professor at Newcastle University and Australian National Catholic University. His research expertise lies in multidisciplinary clinical practice, with a focus on voice and swallowing disorders, complex healthcare interventions, and supportive cancer care. Collaborations span surgery, psychology, nursing, oncology, and palliative care. He has secured over £5 million in research funding from NIHR, MRC, Wellcome Trust, and Cancer UK. Paul Carding’s recent publications reveal a strong trend in clinical trials and systematic reviews related to voice therapy, dysphagia management, laryngeal surgery outcomes, and healthcare team dynamics during the pandemic. His work integrates clinical practice with rigorous research methodology, particularly in evaluating interventions for head and neck conditions. Honorary Professorial roles at Newcastle University and Australian National Catholic University Senior Research Fellow at University College London National Research Advisor to RCSLT (1998-2002) Non-Medical Fellow of Royal Society of Medicine (2006-present) Highly commended grants from NHMRC and NIHR He has supervised over 22 PhD and MPhil students to completion and currently mentors three PhD candidates. His grant portfolio includes major projects funded by NIHR, UKRI, and Health Education England, focusing on persistent throat symptoms, COVID-19 team dynamics, and remote consultations. He is Chair of the Oxford Brookes Healthy Ageing and Care Research and Knowledge Exchange Network and leads multiple research groups within OxInAHR. Professor Carding leads key research entities including the Oxford Institute of Allied Health Research (OxInAHR), which hosts the Centre for Movement, Occupational and Rehabilitation Sciences (MOReS), the Centre for Healthcare Research, and the Centre for Healthy Living Research. He is also involved in the NIHR Speech Pathology Research Group and the NIHR Academy Incubator for Robotic and Minimally Invasive Surgery.
Professor Elizabeth Thurbon is a leading academic in International Political Economy at UNSW Sydney, affiliated with the School of Social Sciences within the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture (ADA) . She serves as Deputy Head of School, Director of Research, and Director of the Green Energy Statecraft Project , a multi-university collaboration. Education: PhD in Government (International Political Economy) from the University of Sydney; BEc. (Soc. Sci) with First-Class Honours and University Medal. Her research focuses on developmental states , clean energy transitions , and economic statecraft , particularly in East Asia. Her work synthesizes Schumpeterian and Developmental State theories to analyze green energy strategies, including hydrogen fuel cells , smart grid technology , and electric vehicle industries . Recent research trends include: Strategic state interventions in renewable energy sectors Impact of geostrategic rivalry on global green shifts Policy frameworks for energy transition governance Scientific Awards: AIPEN Richard Higgott Journal Article Prize (2019) for 'Power Paradox' She has secured major grants including: Australian Research Council Discovery Project (DP190103669) Academy of Korean Studies Laboratory Grant (AKS-2018-LAB-1250001) Commonwealth Department of Defence Strategic Policy Grant (Weaponised Trade) UNSW Scientia Fellowship (2019-2022)
Valerie Sessions serves as an Adjunct Professor of Computer Science and is concurrently employed by the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC), Atlantic as a computer scientist. Her academic appointments and defense sector work demonstrate active engagement in both higher education and applied technology fields. Her educational qualifications are: PhD in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of South Carolina MS in Computer and Information Science from the University of Charleston and the Citadel BS in Computer Science from the College of Charleston with minors in Mathematics and Physics Dr. Sessions' research spans critical computer science domains with strong defense applications. Her focus on data quality addresses reliability in information systems, while exoskeleton standards development intersects robotics and military technology. She also pioneers video management systems and video analytics , emphasizing real-time data processing for security contexts. These interests reflect practical innovation in national defense and information infrastructure. Her notable recognitions include: 40 Under 40 award by the Charleston Regional Business Journal Crow of the Year from the Palmetto Roost Chapter of the Association of Old Crows Stuart Madnick Best Paper Award at the International Conference on Information Quality (MIT) Dr. Sessions provides significant professional service through advisory roles. She contributes to the U.S. Department of Justice's Global Privacy and Information Quality Working Group (GPIQWG), serves as Board Member for Charleston Women in Tech, and acts as Educational Director for the Palmetto Roost Chapter of the Association of Old Crows. She also participates in the Program Committee for the International Conference on Information Quality and maintains membership in the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM), highlighting leadership in both academic and defense communities. Her dual affiliation with academia and NIWC Atlantic positions her within defense-focused research teams addressing information warfare challenges. The Palmetto Roost Chapter involvement specifically ties her to electronic warfare and signals intelligence initiatives, leveraging her technical expertise in government contexts.
Professor Howard Schwartz is a distinguished academic in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carleton University , with a career spanning academia, industry, and robotics research. He earned his BEng in Civil Engineering from McGill University (1982), followed by MSc (1984) and PhD (1986) in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering from MIT. His academic leadership includes serving as Department Chairman (2009-2013) and authoring the seminal text Multi-Agent Machine Learning: A Reinforcement Approach (Wiley, 2014). As an Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics , he shapes discourse in cybernetic systems and machine learning. Research Focus Professor Schwartz's research bridges theoretical and applied domains: Machine learning for robotics and autonomous systems Adaptive control theory and multi-agent systems Reinforcement learning algorithms with fuzzy logic integration Real-time video analytics and GPS receiver development Nonlinear control systems for UAVs and wind energy optimization Industry Experience His career includes impactful industry engagements: Early development of high-performance GPS receivers at Canadian Marconi Co. (1982-1984) Sabbatical at March Networks (2001-2002) for video analytics Software quality control at CMC Electronics (2008) Software development for TV set-top boxes at Espial Inc. (2014-2015)
Jordan Schweidenback is a Lecturer and Coordinator of the Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program in the Department of Population Health and Leadership at the School of Health Sciences, University of New Haven. He is currently a doctoral candidate in the Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) program. Education Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) - University of New Haven (Current) Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) - University of New Haven Bachelor of Science - Medical Imaging, Nuclear Medicine Concentration - Rhode Island College Research & Expertise Jordan focuses on healthcare leadership , organizational theory , and behavioral dynamics in healthcare systems , with a specific emphasis on implementing healthcare innovation . His clinical background spans nuclear medicine , PET imaging , and CT scanning , with experience in strategic business development and operational efficiency in healthcare institutions. Awards & Recognition Academic Excellence Award in Educational Leadership Professional Experience He has held roles as Perioperative Business Manager at Yale New Haven Health's Lawrence and Memorial Hospital, Westerly Hospital, and Pequot Surgery Center, where he led initiatives like implementing a robotic surgery program. He also secured a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification and worked in clinical radiology at Lifespan's Rhode Island Hospital.
Pauline Leonard is Professor of Sociology and Associate Dean (Research & Enterprise) in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Southampton. As a Director of the Web Science Institute and founding member of the Work Futures Research Centre, she holds fellowships with the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS), Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), and Alan Turing Institute. Her research examines diversity and changing nature of work through lenses of gender, race, age and social background. Core interests include: Impact of technological change on working lives and careers Skilled migration and whiteness studies Organizational transformation in digital economies Trustworthy human-AI collaboration systems Recent publications (2022-2024) demonstrate strong focus on technology's societal impacts, particularly AI ethics in security systems, automation effects on labor, and racial/gender dynamics in tech industries. Research consistently addresses inequality mechanisms through socio-technical frameworks. Awards and honors: Fellow, Academy of Social Sciences (2016) Turing Fellow (2021) Fellow, Royal Society of Arts (2018) Currently leads multiple UKRI-funded projects including 'Trustworthy Human Robot Teams' and 'Verifiably Safe and Trusted Human-AI Systems'. Supervises five PhD students researching sociology, social policy, and web science. Maintains active speaking engagements on migration, digital futures, and post-pandemic work.
