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Volker GassView profile

Adjunct Professor

• Space Systems
• Technology Innovation
• Space Policy

Volker Gass serves as Director of Strategic Initiatives at EPFL and Adjunct Professor across multiple departments including School of Engineering and College of Management of Technology. His academic background includes a PhD in Applied Micro-Systems Technologies from University of Neuchâtel and executive leadership training. Gass's research focuses on space technology innovation, including satellite systems, space materials, and educational applications of space science. His work bridges engineering development and space policy frameworks. Recent publications demonstrate three research priorities: (1) advanced space propulsion and thermal systems, (2) space qualification of terrestrial technologies, and (3) educational applications of space exploration concepts. These works balance technical innovation with practical implementation challenges. As former Director of the Swiss Space Center (Space Innovation), Gass led initiatives linking academic research with industry applications, including CubeSat development and space debris mitigation. He currently oversees strategic technology initiatives at EPFL while maintaining visiting professor status at MIT AeroAstro.

Han YanView profile

Assistant Professor

• Banking
• Climate Finance
• Voluntary Disclosure

Han Yan is an Assistant Professor at UBC Sauder School of Business specializing in banking, climate finance, and corporate disclosure practices. He holds a PhD from NYU Stern and teaches managerial accounting courses. His research bridges finance and environmental economics, with recent focus on climate risk integration in financial systems. Prior to his finance career, he conducted significant research in materials science and nuclear engineering, publishing on cyclotron target systems and cellulose-based materials. This interdisciplinary background informs his current work on sustainable finance and environmental disclosure frameworks.

Mircea Dan GrigoriuView profile

Professor

• Random Vibration
• Stochastic Calculus
• Structural Engineering
• +5 more

Mircea Dan Grigoriu is a Professor and Interim Director of Graduate Studies at Cornell University's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He holds degrees from MIT (Ph.D., 1976), the University of Bucharest (M.S., 1972), and the Bucharest Institute of Civil Engineering (B.S., 1967). Education: B.S. Civil Engineering (1967), M.S. Mathematics (1972), Ph.D. Civil Engineering (1976). His research focuses on stochastic calculus, random vibration, numerical methods for stochastic problems, and earthquake engineering. He has authored over 200 journal papers and three books, including works on non-Gaussian processes and stochastic systems. Awards: 2016 Nathan M. Newmark Medal, 2005 Norman Medal, Alfred M. Freudenthal Medal (2002), and Doctor Honoris Causa (2004). He serves on editorial boards for journals like Probabilistic Engineering Mechanics and Structural Safety . Teaching emphasizes foundational concepts in mechanics and probability. Service includes roles in faculty reappointment and graduate program committees.

Christian GenestView profile

Professor

• Statistics
• Dependence modeling
• Extreme-value theory
• +6 more

Christian Genest is a Distinguished James McGill Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at McGill University. He holds a PhD from the University of British Columbia and has been a leading figure in statistics and probability for decades. His research focuses on dependence modeling, extreme-value theory, multivariate analysis, and their applications in environmental science, hydrology, insurance, and risk management. Education: BSc (1977) Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, MSc (1978) Université de Montréal, PhD (1983) University of British Columbia. Genest has received numerous accolades, including Fellowships from the Royal Society of Canada, American Statistical Association, Institute of Mathematical Statistics, and Fields Institute. He served as SSC President (2007-2008), Director of the Institut des Sciences Mathématiques (2012-2015), and held the Canada Research Chair in Stochastic Dependence Modeling (2011-2025). He has supervised 59 MSc, 9 PhD students, and 15 postdocs, with ongoing mentorship of 2 MSc, 3 PhD candidates, and 2 postdocs. Genest is a prolific speaker, having delivered over 364 talks globally, including plenaries at major conferences like the Statistical Society of Canada and the Fields Institute. His work bridges theoretical advancements and practical applications, with contributions to copula theory, extreme-value analysis, and statistical methodology. He advocates for public engagement, delivering outreach lectures at schools and colleges across Quebec. Award Highlights: 2011 SSC Gold Medalist, 2015 Royal Society of Canada Fellow, 2023 CRM-Fields-PIMS Prize, and 2024 Emanuel and Carol Parzen Prize for Statistical Innovation. Grants and Leadership: Coordinated the CRM Risk in Complex Systems thematic program (2017), edited major statistical journals, and chaired departmental interim leadership (2022-2023).

Tracy BeckerView profile

Associate Professor

• Structural dynamics and design
• Earthquake engineering
• Isolation & high-performance systems
• +4 more

Tracy Becker is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, holding the Ed & Diane Wilson Presidential Chair in Structural Engineering. She serves as Vice Chair for Research & Technical Support and leads projects in structural dynamics, earthquake engineering, and novel material applications. Education: B.S. in Structural Engineering, University of California, San Diego (2006) M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering (SEMM), University of California, Berkeley (2007) Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering (SEMM), University of California, Berkeley (2011) Becker's research focuses on enhancing structural resilience through advanced isolation systems, hybrid simulation methodologies, and machine learning-driven design optimization. Her work addresses collapse behavior under extreme seismic loads, model updating techniques, and innovative steel component design to improve rotational capacity while minimizing damage. Recent publications highlight trends in base isolation performance evaluation, hybrid simulation advancements, and uncertainty modeling for infrastructure management. Key topics include friction pendulum systems, Gaussian process surrogate modeling for collapse prediction, and life-cycle analysis of bridge bearings. Scientific Awards: Best Paper Award at ICOSSAR International Conference Becker's contributions include experimental validation of isolation systems, development of data assimilation frameworks for structural models, and educational initiatives within the Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Materials (SEMM) program. She actively collaborates on full-scale testing and computational modeling projects.

• Structural Engineering
• Structural Reliability
• Earthquake Engineering
• +2 more

Ziqi Wang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in structural reliability, earthquake engineering, and uncertainty quantification. His research develops computationally efficient methods that integrate domain-specific knowledge for analyzing infrastructure resilience under natural hazards. Education: Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, China (2015) B.S. in Civil Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, China (2010) Research Interests: Professor Wang's work centers on interpretable probabilistic analysis for structural reliability, emphasizing methods that leverage civil engineering domain knowledge. Key focus areas include computational reliability techniques for high-dimensional problems, statistical physics applications for regional-scale hazard impact analysis, and physics-informed machine learning for seismic response prediction. His research bridges civil engineering with computational science to address challenges in infrastructure resilience. Publication Trends: Recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate a strong shift toward hybrid modeling approaches combining physics-based principles with data-driven techniques. A recurring theme is the development of interpretable surrogate models for high-dimensional reliability analysis, particularly for lifeline networks and structural systems under seismic events. His work increasingly integrates statistical physics concepts to model systemic infrastructure behavior during disasters. Scientific Awards: Society of Hellman Fellows Fund Award (2024) Advising and Teaching: Professor Wang mentors graduate students through Individual Research (CIVENG 299) and teaches specialized courses including Uncertainty Quantification for Engineering (CIVENG 293), Engineering Risk Analysis (CIVENG 193), and Structural System Reliability (CIVENG 229). His teaching emphasizes practical computational methods for real-world engineering challenges. Laboratories and Research Groups: While specific lab names aren't detailed in source materials, his research aligns with Berkeley's Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER) initiatives, focusing on collaborative infrastructure resilience projects involving structural dynamics and regional risk modeling.

Sankaran MahadevanView profile

Professor

• Uncertainty Quantification
• Risk and Reliability Analysis
• Machine Learning
• +7 more

Dr. Sankaran Mahadevan is the John R. Murray Sr. Professor of Engineering at Vanderbilt University's School of Engineering, with dual appointments in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. He directs the Master's program in Risk, Reliability, and Resilience Engineering and co-directs the Laboratory for Systems Integrity and Reliability (LASIR). His research focuses on uncertainty quantification, risk analysis, machine learning, and decision-making under uncertainty, with applications to aerospace, civil, and mechanical systems. He leads NSF, NASA, DOE, and industry-funded projects on digital twin methodologies for aircraft, ship structures, and additive manufacturing. Education: PhD from Georgia Tech, MS from Rensselaer, BS from IIT Madras Professional Roles: Managing Editor of ASCE-ASME Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Vice-President of ASCE Engineering Mechanics Institute Research interests include probabilistic modeling for infrastructure resilience, AI-driven prognosis, and safety-critical systems. He has authored 600+ publications, including two textbooks, and advised 70+ graduate students. Awards include AIAA, ASCE, and PHM Society Fellowships, and the SEC Faculty Achievement Award. Current projects include NASA-funded air traffic safety modeling and DOE-supported power grid reliability studies. His work bridges computational methods with real-world engineering challenges, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration across academia and industry.

Ghina AbsiView profile

Assistant Professor

• Risk and Reliability
• Structural Engineering
• Hypersonic Structures
• +3 more

Ghina Absi is an Assistant Professor of the Practice of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Vanderbilt University's School of Engineering. Her teaching focuses on structural engineering, blending academic rigor with industry-relevant practices. Education Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering, Vanderbilt University M.S., St. Joseph University B.S., St. Joseph University Research & Professional Background Dr. Absi's research centers on risk and reliability in hypersonic structures, with a novel method for fusing multi-fidelity models in parameter estimation. Before academia, she worked as a structural engineer designing high-rise and complex steel structures in seismic and corrosive environments. She actively promotes project-based learning in engineering education, emphasizing hands-on experience. Affiliations & Links For further details, visit her LinkedIn profile: LinkedIn .

• Algebraic statistics
• Experimental design
• Industrial statistics
• +3 more

Roberto Fontana is a Full Professor at the Department of Mathematical Sciences (DISMA) of the Polytechnic University of Turin. He is a member of the Interdepartmental Centre R3C (Responsible Risk Resilience Centre) and actively involved in the College of Management and Production Engineering and the Planning and Design Board. His research focuses on algebraic statistics, experimental design, industrial statistics, and multivariate statistics, with an emphasis on statistical analysis of physical and computer experiments. Fontana holds leadership roles in academic societies, including being an Effective Member of ERCIM (European Research Consortium for Informatics and Mathematics), ENBIS (European Network for Business and Industrial Statistics), and SIS (Italian Statistical Society). He serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied Statistics since 2017. His teaching spans multiple levels, including PhD courses on statistical modeling and machine learning, as well as undergraduate and graduate courses in statistics across disciplines like Management Engineering and Territorial Planning. He leads the ELBA project (2019–2022), establishing training centers for Intelligent Big Data analysis. Fontana’s recent publications emphasize advancements in contingency tables, Bernoulli distributions, and the integration of design of experiments with machine learning. He currently supervises PhD student Davide Ronco in the Mathematical Sciences program. His work bridges theoretical statistics with industrial applications, emphasizing robust experimental design and computational methods. Fontana actively collaborates on interdisciplinary projects, including environmental and material science applications.

Stefano CascinoView profile

Associate Professor

• Disclosure Regulation
• Business Groups
• Credit Markets
• +3 more

Stefano Cascino is an Associate Professor in the Department of Accounting at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). His research focuses on Disclosure Regulation, Business Groups, Credit Markets, Corporate Governance, and Financial Reporting. He teaches courses such as AC332 Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation and AC215 Business Analysis and Valuation. Cascino has received significant recognition, including the 2020 EAR Conference Best Discussant Award and multiple LSE Excellence in Education Awards for teaching excellence. His research has been supported by grants like the 2023 La Caixa Foundation grant and ICAS-EFRAG funding. Cascino serves on editorial boards for journals such as Accounting and Business Research and Journal of International Accounting Research .

• Structural Dynamics
• Wind Energy Systems
• Renewable Energy
• +4 more

Dr. Breiffni Fitzgerald is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), where he also serves as a Fellow. He holds the senior role of Director of Postgraduate Teaching and Learning for TCD's School of Engineering, overseeing doctoral education strategy and postgraduate policy development. His research focuses on structural dynamics, wind energy systems, and machine learning applications to enhance wind turbine performance and resilience. He has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications and serves as an editor for Wind Energy . Dr. Fitzgerald's engineering credentials include Chartered Engineer status from both the Institution of Engineers of Ireland and ASCE. He has received awards such as the 2023 TCD Teaching Excellence Award and the 2024 IStructE Research into Practice Award. His projects emphasize advanced control systems for wind farms, structural health monitoring, and offshore wind energy innovation. His recent work includes developing TMDI (Tuned Mass Damper Inerter) systems for vibration control, machine learning models for blade deformation prediction, and analyzing wind-wave misalignment impacts in Irish coastal zones. Collaborative initiatives like the MeLodiC project aim to optimize wind farm performance using AI-driven control algorithms. Key Projects: Machine Learning for Wind Farm Aerodynamics and Control (MeLodiC) - funded by SFI Data-Driven Digital Twin of Wind Farms (TwinFarm) - SEAI-funded REMOTE-WIND: Drone-Based Monitoring - SEAI-funded Dr. Fitzgerald's research bridges theoretical advancements with practical industry applications, addressing challenges in offshore wind energy reliability and operational efficiency.

Burak KantarciView profile

Professor

• Internet of Things (IoT)
• AI-based Security
• Vehicular Networks
• +6 more

Dr. Burak Kantarci is a Full Professor at the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ottawa. He holds a University Research Chair in AI-Enabled Secure Networking for Smart Critical Infrastructures and a courtesy faculty appointment at Clarkson University. His research focuses on IoT, AI-based security, vehicular networks, and edge computing. Education and Career: Previously an Assistant Professor at Clarkson University (before joining University of Ottawa) and a Research Fellow at University of Ottawa (2009–2014). He is a Professional Engineer (P.Eng) in Ontario. Research Interests: Includes continuous authentication, communication models for big data, crowdsensing, and vehicular sensing. He leads the NEXTCON-SCVI Labs and has published over 200 peer-reviewed works. Articles Trends: Recent work emphasizes AI-driven security solutions, autonomous systems safety, and 5G/6G networking challenges. Topics include adversarial detection, UAV optimization, and edge computing efficiency. Awards: Distinguished Lecturer (IEEE Communications & Systems Societies), ACM Distinguished Speaker, Senior Member (ACM/IEEE). Grants & Advising: Principal Investigator on NSERC/CFI/NSF-funded projects. Advises on grants focused on smart infrastructure and secure networking. Labs/Teams: Founder of NEXTCON-SCVI Labs, focusing on communications, computing networks, and smart vehicles innovation.

• Energy Economics
• Environmental Economics
• Renewable Energy Policy
• +4 more

Matthew E. Oliver is an Associate Professor in the School of Economics at Georgia Tech's Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Wyoming and a B.A. from the University of Memphis. His expertise spans energy economics, environmental policy, industrial organization, and renewable energy markets, with a focus on natural gas infrastructure and solar/wind integration. Research explores regulatory impacts on energy infrastructure, market effects of renewable deployment, and climate-economy linkages. Recent work examines electricity market volatility, solar adoption behaviors, and carbon pricing mechanisms. Publications (2019-2025) demonstrate consistent focus on renewable energy economics, policy design, and market dynamics. Key themes include: Grid integration challenges for wind/solar Behavioral responses to energy policies Carbon tax optimization Infrastructure regulation Cross-national environmental policy analysis

Kam ArnoldView profile

Associate Professor

• Cosmic Microwave Background
• Cosmology
• Polarimetry
• +4 more

Dr. Kam Arnold is an Associate Professor in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of California, San Diego. His research centers on precision measurements of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), specializing in intensity and polarization observations to probe inflationary cosmology and fundamental physics. He contributes significantly to major CMB projects including the Simons Observatory (SO), Simons Array, and the future CMB-S4 experiment. Instrumental development focuses on next-generation detector and telescope technologies, particularly cryogenic polarization modulators, calibration systems, and superconducting magnetic bearings for millimeter-wave applications. Recent work (2023-2025) emphasizes anisotropic birefringence constraints, polarization modulator engineering, and validation of power spectrum reconstruction methods for SO. He plays key roles in system engineering for CMB-S4 and optical characterization of achromatic half-wave plates.

• Advanced Ceramics Manufacturing
• Biodegradable Medical Implants
• Computer Modeling in Materials Science
• +3 more

Professor Jingzhe Pan is a Chair in Mechanics of Materials and Dean of the Dalian Leicester Institute (DLI) at the University of Leicester. He specializes in advanced ceramics manufacturing and biodegradable medical implants, with over £2 million in UKRI and industry grants for digital twin research in ceramics. His work combines computational models to predict ceramic behavior at high temperatures and polymer behavior in biological environments. He leads DLI, a joint initiative with Dalian University of Technology, which enrolls 1,200 students in China. Research interests include polymer degradation, finite element analysis, and material modeling. Awards include the 2018 Verulam Medal from the IoM3. Grants and collaborations focus on advancing ceramics manufacturing and biomedical applications. Advising and leadership roles span UK universities since 1990, including roles as Programme Director and College Director of Research. Labs/Teams: Dalian Leicester Institute (DLI) collaboration with Dalian University of Technology focuses on undergraduate engineering education and cross-disciplinary research.