Angioletta Voghera is a Full Professor at the Interuniversity Department of Territorial Sciences, Planning and Policies (DIST) of Politecnico di Torino. She serves as Deputy Director of DIST and represents the department in the Task Force on Technology Transfer. Her roles include coordination of the Master of Science in Territorial, Urban, Environmental and Landscape Planning since 2021 and leadership in the National Community on Landscape and Biodiversity (INU) since 2014. Research interests: Urban & Regional Planning, Landscape Design, Ecological Networks, Protected Areas Key affiliations: IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, Responsible Risk Resilience Centre (R3C), European Centre on Nature Park Planning Her research focuses on analysis, evaluation, and design of sensitive environments , including natural parks, fluvial landscapes, and urban-rural interfaces. Recent work emphasizes collaborative governance and socio-ecological resilience through projects like RETURN Spoke TS1 and Horizon 2020 initiatives. Scientific awards include: 2018 - VIII National Table of River Contracts 2016 - RESURBE AWARD 2013 - PAN ARDITO DESIO Prize She has coordinated over 20 research projects with institutions such as IUCN, ICCROM, and the Italian Ministry of Culture, and teaches courses on Nature-Based Solutions and geospatial data applications in planning.
Mitchell Sutter is a Professor at the University of California, Davis , affiliated with the Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior and the Center for Neuroscience . His research explores auditory perception, neural coding of sound, and the role of higher brain areas in decision-making and attention during complex auditory environments. Combines neuroscience , behavior , and quantitative methods to study auditory systems. Focus on auditory cortex and its role in sound-guided behavior . Investigates attentional modulation of neural activity. Recent work emphasizes temporal modulation , amplitude modulation , and perceptual restoration in auditory processing. Publications span neurophysiological analysis , cross-species studies , and behavioral neuroscience .
Anne Roche is a Casual Academic and past researcher associated with the School of Education within the Faculty of Education and Arts. Her work focuses on mathematics education, particularly in areas such as teacher professional development, student learning strategies, and pedagogical content knowledge. She has extensively studied topics like fractions, decimals, task-based learning, and teacher noticing across international contexts, including Australia, China, and Germany. Her research emphasizes the importance of contextualized tasks and challenging mathematical problems in fostering student engagement and conceptual understanding. She has contributed to projects aimed at improving teacher knowledge, such as the 'Early Numeracy Research Project' and studies on mathematics middle leaders' aspirations for classroom learning. Roche's work also explores teacher decision-making processes, the use of visual tools like decimats for decimal place value, and strategies to build student persistence in problem-solving. Her findings have been disseminated through peer-reviewed journals such as ZDM Mathematics Education, Mathematics Education Research Journal, and The Journal of Mathematical Behavior. While her articles highlight collaborative efforts with institutions worldwide, her academic contributions lack explicit mentions of awards or grants listed in the provided texts. Her publications span over two decades, reflecting sustained engagement with foundational and applied aspects of mathematics education.
Dr. Yunbo Zhang is an Assistant Professor at RIT's Industrial & Systems Engineering department with joint affiliation to the Golisano College of Computing. His research develops AR-human-robot collaboration systems for advanced manufacturing. He leads projects funded by NSF and New York State focusing on: AR-guided robotic assembly Human-centered robot programming Tacit knowledge capture in machining Recent work includes novel depth sensing techniques and cognitive load-aware interfaces for industrial robots. He serves as Associate Editor for Frontiers in Robotics and AI.
Guillaume Caron is an Associate Professor at the Université de Picardie Jules Verne (France) and holds a delegation at the CNRS-AIST Joint Robotics Laboratory (JRL) in Tsukuba, Japan. He leads the Perception team at JRL since April 2021 and co-directs the laboratory since 2022. His academic roles include being an enseignant-chercheur (lecturer-researcher) in robotic vision and habilitated to supervise research. He has collaborated with institutions like AIST, INRIA, and companies such as Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Thales Optronique SA. Research Interests : His work focuses on robotic vision systems, adaptive cameras, visual servoing, and applications in cultural heritage preservation and medical robotics. He develops advanced imaging techniques (e.g., hyperspectral, omnidirectional) and integrates them into robotic systems for tasks like autonomous navigation, object manipulation, and assistive technologies. Recent projects include spherical vision-based wheelchair assistance and teleoperated humanoid robots in nursing contexts. Publications : His most recent work addresses multimodal navigation leveraging large language models, spherical image representations for robotics, and illumination compensation in hyperspectral imaging. He also explores cybernetic avatars for telepresence and modular assistive smart wheelchairs. Responsibilities : He co-organizes workshops on e-Heritage and chairs the IAPR Technical Committee on Computer Vision for Cultural Heritage. He serves on the CNRS-AIST JRL steering committee and the AFRIF administration board. His educational roles include leading the RVI professional license program at UPJV until 2019. Labs/Teams : Active in the MIS laboratory (Amiens) and the CNRS-AIST JRL, working on projects like the Coalas neuro-rehabilitation system and the MuSeM multispectral dataset for mobile robotics.
Guenther Knoblich is a Professor of Cognitive Science at Central European University (CEU), holding this position since 2011. His research focuses on joint action, social cognition, communication, and problem-solving. He coordinates interdisciplinary projects like the ERC Synergy project on Coordination, Communication, and Cultural Transmission (2015–2022), EuroCores EuroUnderstanding (2011–2014), and the ZiF research year on Embodied Communication (2005–2006). Knoblich has held academic roles at institutions including the Max Planck Institute for Psychological Research, Rutgers University, and the Donders Institute. He earned his PhD from Hamburg University in 1997. Education PhD in Psychology, Hamburg University, 1997 Research Interests Joint action dynamics and coordination mechanisms Sense of agency and self-other distinction Cognitive foundations of social interaction Embodied communication in human and machine systems Articles Trends Recent work emphasizes experimental studies on human and primate cooperation, infant social expectations, and the neurological underpinnings of joint action. Key themes include decision-making in collaborative settings, temporal coordination, and the role of predictability in successful interaction. Grants/Projects ERC Synergy (2015–2022) ZiF Research Year (2005–2006) EuroCores (2011–2014) Labs/Teams Leads the Somby Lab and contributes to the Social Mind Center at CEU, focusing on interdisciplinary research in cognitive and social neuroscience.
Dr. Janet L. Leasher is a Professor at Nova Southeastern University's College of Optometry in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She holds a Doctor of Optometry (1986) from Pacific University and a Master's in Public Health in International Health and Development (1999) from Tulane University. Her teaching focuses on public health didactic courses, including community health promotion, health systems, policy, economics, and ethics. She also serves as a clinical preceptor for third-year optometry students and teaches case analysis and clinical decision-making. Additionally, she is faculty in the Master of Science Clinical Vision Research program and the Public Health program at NSU's Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Leasher's research emphasizes global epidemiology, program evaluation, and equitable access to vision care. She has authored over 75 publications with 65,000+ citations and is among the top 40 optometric researchers globally. She leads the Americas region for the Vision Loss Expert Group in the Global Burden of Disease Study. She serves on the National Eye Institute's National Eye Health Education Program planning group and contributes to public health research strategy. Her professional roles include leadership in the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, American Optometric Association, American Public Health Association, and World Council of Optometry. Past roles include Director of Community Outreach at NSU and coordinator for UNESCO's Visual Health and Development initiative. Her honors include Fellowships from the American Academy of Optometry and National Academy of Practice in Optometry. She actively promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultural competency in optometric education through multiple task forces and training programs.
Dr. Jessica Botfield is a Senior Research Fellow at Monash University's Department of General Practice and a Senior Research Officer at Family Planning Australia. She holds a PhD from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and is an Adjunct Lecturer at UNSW and the University of Newcastle. Her research focuses on equitable access to contraception, particularly postpartum contraception, through nurse- and midwifery-led models. She has led projects like the ORIENT study to improve access to contraception and abortion in rural areas and received the 2024 Monash University Future Leader Postdoctoral Fellowship. Education: PhD in Sexual and Reproductive Health (UNSW, 2019), Master of Public Health (UNSW, 2012), Bachelor of Nursing (UTS Sydney, 2011). External roles include Senior Research Officer and Registered Nurse at Family Planning NSW. Awards include the Australasian Sexual Health Alliance Young Leader Award (2018). Key research areas: sexual and reproductive health, postpartum contraception, nurse/midwifery-led care models, health equity. She leads the National Multidisciplinary Primary Care Research Consortium and has authored over 70 publications. Editorial roles include Associate Editor for Contraception and Reproductive Medicine and Australian Journal of Primary Health . Current projects include improving access to midwifery-led postpartum contraception (2026–2030) and advancing women's health grants. She advises on preconception care and telehealth innovations in primary care.
Jessica Kasza is a Professor of Biostatistics at Monash University's School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. She leads methodological advancements in longitudinal cluster randomized trials, particularly in stepped wedge and cluster crossover designs. Her research interests include causal inference, healthcare provider comparison, and optimizing trial designs for efficiency. She has held leadership roles, including President of the Statistical Society of Australia (2020–2022), advocating for an inclusive statistical community. She completed her PhD at the University of Adelaide and has been at Monash since 2013. Education: PhD in Statistics, University of Adelaide (2010) Bachelor of Mathematical and Computer Sciences (Honours), University of Adelaide (2005) Bachelor of Science in Pure Mathematics and Statistics, University of Adelaide (2004) Research Interests: Her work focuses on statistical methods for longitudinal cluster trials, causal inference frameworks, and improving healthcare provider comparisons. She has contributed to SDGs related to health and well-being through methodological innovations. Recent Projects: Includes initiatives like the Flexible Stepped Wedge Design Research (2025–2028) and the Residential Aged Care Enhanced Dementia Diagnosis Study (2022–2028). She collaborates on projects addressing rural healthcare access and clinical trial design optimization. Key Awards: Includes the 2016 AMREP Best Paper Award, multiple John McNeil Early Career Researcher Prizes (2016, 2018, 2019), and the 2019 Alfred Research Alliance Best Paper Award. Grants & Teams: Active in securing ARC and NHMRC grants. Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams on trials like the Mega-ROX HIE and SCANPatient studies. Her work emphasizes practical applications in healthcare and statistical rigor.
Michelle Carlson is a Professor in the Department of Mental Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , with joint appointments in the Department of Epidemiology and the School of Nursing’s Center on Innovative Care in Aging. As a core faculty member at the Center on Aging and Health , she integrates wearable technology and data science to study lifestyle interventions for cognitive aging and dementia prevention. Education: PhD & MA in Mental Health from Duke University (1995/1993), BA from University of Minnesota (1988) Key Research Areas: Cognitive aging, dementia prevention, lifestyle interventions, neuroimaging, physical activity measurement, aging environmental interactions Her recent work explores: 3D immersive game environments for combined cognitive-physical training Neighborhood-level predictors of vascular dementia Wearable sensor applications in longitudinal aging studies Randomized trials for school-based volunteer interventions Using GPS and accelerometry, she investigates how urban environments shape cognitively enriching activities for older adults, with particular focus on underserved populations. Her 12-year follow-up study tracks volunteer service impacts on brain health and healthcare utilization.
Dr. Darya Frank is a Royal Society University Research Fellow at the Division of Psychology Communication and Human Neuroscience at the University of Manchester. She leads research into neural mechanisms of memory formation and ageing, using techniques like virtual reality, MRI, and computational modeling. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to education and health. Education: PhD in Neuroscience, University of Manchester (2019) MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London (2015) External Roles: Marie Curie Research Fellow, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (2022–2024) Postdoctoral Researcher, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (2019–2022) Research Interests: Her lab investigates adaptive memory formation , neuromodulation , and memory reactivation . They employ behavioral tasks, neuroimaging, and computational models to study how emotions, surprise, and expectations shape memory processes. Current projects include modeling dopamine's role in brain-state dynamics (funded by a 2025 PhD project). Articles Overview: Recent work explores emotional salience's impact on memory flow (2024), structural brain changes in ageing (2022), and surprise's temporal effects on memory encoding (2022). These studies highlight interdisciplinary approaches linking cognitive psychology with neuroscience. Awards: Royal Society University Research Fellowship (2024) Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (2022) Grants & Labs: Accepting PhD students (e.g., dopamine neuromodulation project) and planning additional funded positions (Q3 2025). Collaborates with platforms like Dementia@Manchester and Digital Futures to advance translational neuroscience.
Stefana Parascho serves as Assistant Professor of Architecture at Princeton University's School of Architecture, where she directs the CREATE Laboratory Princeton (Computation and Robotics Enabling Architectural Technologies). She joined Princeton in 2019 after completing her PhD at ETH Zurich's Gramazio Kohler Research. Parascho received her Diploma in Architectural Engineering in 2012 from the University of Stuttgart and has professional experience with DesignToProduction Stuttgart and Knippers Helbig Advanced Engineering. Her research bridges computational design, structural engineering, and robotic fabrication to develop new construction methodologies. Her work focuses on strengthening the connection between design, structure, and fabrication through computational tools and robotic systems. She specifically explores cooperative robotic assembly techniques for self-supporting structures, including spatial constructions, bending-active systems, and masonry. Rather than replacing human labor, her approach leverages robots for tasks humans perform poorly, such as holding heavy materials with precision for extended periods. Parascho's publications demonstrate a consistent focus on robotic construction of complex geometries without traditional scaffolding, with particular emphasis on glass structures, material efficiency, and sustainable building practices. Her research shows how precision robotics can enable architectural forms that would be difficult or impossible to construct using conventional methods. ACADIA Board of Directors (2020) Parascho mentors PhD students including Isla Xi Han, who worked on developing the LightVault prototypes. Her CREATE Laboratory serves as a hub for research on robotic fabrication techniques and their integration into architectural practice. The lab's work has significant implications for sustainable construction, particularly through resource reduction by eliminating scaffolding needs and improving structural efficiency. Her research has practical applications in dangerous work environments and locations with limited human access, while also pushing the boundaries of architectural expression through previously unattainable forms.
Prof. Rüdiger von der Weth holds a professorship in Business Administration / Human Resources Management and Labour Sciences at Dresden University of Applied Sciences (HTW Dresden) , specifically within the Faculty of Business Administration . His academic career includes prior roles as a professor at HTW Dresden since 2003 and earlier at HfT Stuttgart (2000–2003). He specializes in work psychology, knowledge management, and complexity management, with a focus on human-centric digitalization strategies in complex organizational environments. Education: Studied Psychology (Diploma) and Software Engineering at TU Berlin (1979–1985). His habilitation (1999) focused on complexity management at TU Dresden. Professional experience includes roles as a management trainer (1991–1995) and academic positions at the University of Bamberg. Research Interests: Examines digitalization’s impact on work efficiency, motivation, qualification needs, and health consequences. Develops strategies for technology integration in SMEs, recruitment/qualification strategies, and human-oriented digitalization frameworks. Collaborates with companies like Infineon and academic institutions through the Human Factors and Resources working group with the HR Management chair. Teaching Responsibilities: Offers modules such as Work and Organisational Psychology, Knowledge Management, Ergonomics, and Management of Complex Leadership Tasks across multiple programs including Business Administration, Production Engineering, and International Management. Courses emphasize practical application in technical and organizational contexts. Advising & Collaboration: Supervises theses on digitalization’s societal impacts, technology implementation strategies, and SME innovation. Oversees cooperative doctoral projects and serves as university supervisor for FH Nordwestschweiz. Active in research projects funded through third-party collaborations.
Mooi Choo Chuah is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering at Lehigh University. She serves as the associate director of I-DISC and previously held the NSF Advance Chair at Lehigh (2011). A renowned expert in autonomous systems, cyber-physical systems security, and healthcare technologies, she holds over 78 patents (63 U.S. + 15 international) in networking and AI domains. Her work spans efficient computer vision, autonomous vehicle perception, mobile healthcare systems, and resilient smart grid networks. Dr. Chuah earned her Ph.D. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from UC San Diego, and a B.Eng. (1st Class Honors) from the University of Malaya. Her research focuses on cross-disciplinary innovations in AI-driven healthcare solutions, cybersecurity for industrial systems, and advanced vision systems for autonomous technologies. Her publications emphasize cutting-edge advancements in 3D human pose estimation, low-light imaging, and autonomous system robustness. Recent work addresses adversarial attacks on trajectory prediction models and novel semantic segmentation techniques for UAV inspections. Her 2021–2025 articles reflect a growing focus on multimodal fusion, event-based sensors, and real-time cybersecurity solutions. Awards: IEEE Fellow (2023), NAI Fellow (2023) Grants: Extensive NSF and industry-funded projects on smart grids and healthcare AI Labs: Leads I-DISC initiatives in interdisciplinary computing and security
Roya Haratian serves as Principal Academic (equivalent to Associate Professor) in Electronic Science and Engineering at Bournemouth University's Department of Design and Engineering within the Faculty of Science and Technology. As Deputy Head of Department and Athena SWAN lead, she spearheaded the department's successful Bronze Award in 2021 for gender equality initiatives. Her leadership extends to curriculum development in Mechatronics and Robotics programs across undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Her academic credentials include a BSc (First Class Honours) and MSc (Distinction) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, followed by a PhD in Electronic Engineering from Queen Mary University of London (2014). Prior to her current role, she worked as an Associate Lecturer at QMUL and Research Associate at Bristol Robotics Lab, focusing on on-body sensing systems and bio-signal processing for human-machine collaboration. Haratian's research centers on electronic engineering applications in human-robot interaction, with particular emphasis on on-body sensing technologies, signal processing, and machine learning. Her work bridges theoretical innovation with industrial implementation, developing assistive technologies for healthcare and safety-critical systems. Recent projects address diabetic foot ulcer prevention, emotion recognition in VR, and human-machine collaboration safety protocols, demonstrating strong translational impact across medical and industrial domains. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a strategic progression from foundational signal processing techniques toward integrated human-machine systems. Her work increasingly incorporates game theory for resource allocation, AI-driven predictive modeling, and inclusive design principles, with growing emphasis on real-world implementation challenges and ethical considerations in assistive technologies. Key recognitions include: Athena SWAN Bronze Award (Advance HE, 2021) for departmental gender equality leadership Senior Fellowship of Higher Education Academy (2021) BU Doctoral College Outstanding Contribution Award (2025) Design Review Award from Institute of Mechanical Engineering (2023) Student Experience 'You are Brilliant' Award (2017) As Recognised Research Supervisor (UK Council for Graduate Education), she currently co-supervises five PhD students on topics including AI surveillance, biomechatronics, and digital twin simulation. Her £1.2M+ research portfolio features strategic partnerships with Zimmer-Biomet, Computational Mechanics Wessex Institute, and Daido Industrial Bearing, with recent grants including HEIF-funded AI emotion recognition systems (2025) and QR-funded human-machine safety protocols (2024). She actively mentors through AdvanceHE's Aurora program and leads BU's Inclusivity Curriculum Evaluation project. Haratian directs the department's Athena SWAN initiative and collaborates with the Royal Institute on STEM outreach, designing bioelectronic masterclasses for GCSE students. Her public engagement includes 'Café Scientifique' discussions on machine emotion recognition and keynote addresses at Brockenhurst STEM Awards, focusing on translating on-body sensing research into real-world health applications.
