Dr. Chengmo Yang is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Delaware, with a joint appointment. She received her PhD and MSc in Computer Science from the University of California, San Diego, and a BSc in Microelectronics from Peking University, China. PhD, University of California, San Diego MSc, University of California, San Diego BSc, Peking University, China Her research focuses on enhancing security, reliability, non-volatility, and energy efficiency in embedded systems, cyber-physical systems (CPS), and Internet-of-Things (IoT). She leads the Computer Architecture, Reliability, and Security (CARES) group and has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications. Recent publications emphasize neural network accelerators, non-volatile memory (NVM) optimization, and security frameworks for embedded systems. Her work explores fault tolerance, wear leveling, and side-channel attack mitigation in NVM-based FPGAs, STT-RAM, and SSDs. National Science Foundation Career Award (2013) University of Delaware Mid-Career Faculty Excellence in Scholarship Award (2020) Best paper award at ICESS (2019) Three best paper nominations at DAC, DATE, and GLSVLSI (2019) Dr. Yang serves as Associate Editor for IEEE TCAD and ACM TODAES. She is the Diversity & Inclusion Representative for IEEE CEDA and has organized numerous conferences including Technical Program Chair for CODES-ISSS 2022. Her lab has hosted current and former students like Fanruo Meng (PhD candidate), Fateme Hosseini (Qualcomm), and Patrick Cronin (Intel), focusing on graduate-level research in hardware security and reliability.
Nadia Figueroa is the Shalini and Rajeev Misra Presidential Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (MEAM) Department at the University of Pennsylvania. She holds secondary appointments in Computer and Information Science (CIS) and Electrical and Systems Engineering (ESE), and is a core faculty member at the GRASP Lab. Prior to Penn, she was a Postdoctoral Associate at MIT’s CSAIL and earned her PhD in Robotics from EPFL under Prof. Aude Billard. Her research focuses on physical and perceptual adaptive intelligence for robots, enabling fluid collaboration with humans in dynamic environments. Key applications include robot learning from demonstration , human-robot co-manipulation , safe navigation in human-centric spaces , and rehabilitation robotics . Her work integrates machine learning control theory artificial intelligence biomechanics psychology with guarantees of stability, safety, and robustness . Recent publications highlight advancements in reactive collision avoidance dynamical system learning intent estimation EEG-driven assistive control origami-based reconfigurable robots across platforms like autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots. She has authored a 2022 textbook on dynamical systems for robot control and received the Presidential Assistant Professorship at Penn.
Jan Madsen is a Professor at DTU Compute, Technical University of Denmark, and Head of the Embedded Systems Engineering section. His research focuses on system-level modeling and design of embedded computing systems, particularly cyber-physical systems, microfluidic biochips, and synthetic biology applications. Develops design automation tools and methodologies for embedded systems Supervises numerous PhD students and leads major research projects Research Interests Key areas include: Embedded systems-on-a-chip Cyber-Physical Systems (Internet-of-Things) Microfluidic Lab-on-Chip devices Synthetic biology with molecular computing Design, modeling, and optimization of complex systems Scientific Awards DATE Fellow (2019) IEEE CEDA Outstanding Recognition (2019) DTU Scientific Advise Award (2013) Best Paper Awards at MECO (2013) and CASES (2009) Jorck’s Foundation Research Award (1995) Publications His 14+ journal papers and 115+ conference papers demonstrate expertise in: SystemC-based modeling frameworks Energy-aware sensor networks Self-healing eDNA architectures Microfluidic biochip synthesis RTOS modeling and MPSoC exploration
Josie Hughes is a Tenure Track Assistant Professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) within the School of Engineering's Institute of Mechanical Engineering. She leads the Computer Robot Design and Fabrication Laboratory (CREATE Lab) and serves on the doctoral program committee for Robotics, Control and Intelligent Systems. Her roles include teaching courses in product development, engineering design, and data-driven manufacturing methods while maintaining active research and student supervision. Her research centers on soft robotics with emphasis on adaptive design, fabrication techniques, and real-world applications. Key areas include agricultural robotics (exemplified by the GraspBerry raspberry harvester), biomimetic materials like self-healing e-skins, and developmental robotics (BabyBot project). She pioneers approaches integrating morphological computation, variable stiffness mechanisms, and machine learning for robotic control, while championing open-source principles and diversity in robotics through accessible educational initiatives like balloon robot kits. Analysis of her recent publications reveals dominant trends in soft robotics adaptability, particularly in variable-stiffness structures, sensor integration, and task-specific optimization. Her work bridges fundamental material science with practical applications in agriculture, food science, and human-robot interaction, frequently employing computational methods like Bayesian optimization and neural networks for design and control. Scientific awards: No specific awards were mentioned in the source materials. Dr. Hughes actively supervises 16 doctoral students across diverse projects including soft grippers for agriculture, biomimetic locomotion, and robotic manipulation systems. Her advising portfolio shows strong alignment with her research themes, with current students working on topics like modular soft arms, agricultural automation, and developmental robotics. While grant details weren't specified, her high publication volume indicates robust research funding. The CREATE Lab under her leadership focuses on holistic co-design of hardware and software for soft robotic systems, with notable projects including the GraspBerry agricultural harvester and BabyBot developmental platform. The lab emphasizes open-source development and educational outreach, maintaining strong industry and academic collaborations while pushing boundaries in reconfigurable robotics and human-centered applications.
José F. Martínez holds the Lee Teng-hui Professorship of Engineering at Cornell University's College of Engineering, where he leads research in computer architecture and systems. His roles include Vice Chair of ACM SIGARCH, IEEE Fellow, and past leadership roles in ISCA, MICRO, and IEEE Computer Society journals. He has received prestigious awards such as the NSF CAREER Award, IBM/Qualcomm Faculty Awards, and multiple teaching accolades including Tau Beta Pi Professor of the Year (2011). Education: Licenciado en Informática de Sistemas (1996), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia M.S. (1999) and Ph.D. (2002) in Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign His research focuses on computer architecture , including microprocessors, multiprocessors, memory subsystems, embedded systems, and processing-in-memory (PIM) innovations. He co-leads the DARPA/SRC ACE Center for Evolvable Computing and NSF's CROPPS Center, and previously co-founded Cornell's Institute for Digital Agriculture (CIDA). His work bridges hardware-software co-design and sustainable computing. Key Contributions: Advancing energy-efficient multiprocessor architectures Developing PIM frameworks like PUMICE and Membrane Market-based resource allocation systems (e.g., XChange, ReBudget) His advising spans over 15 graduate students and has guided Merrill Presidential Scholars. Current research explores evolvable computing paradigms and AI hardware acceleration, reflecting his dual focus on foundational architecture and applied systems innovation.
Dr. Yuzhang Lin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Previously, he held an Assistant Professor position at the University of Massachusetts Lowell (2018–2023). He earned his Ph.D. from Northeastern University and B.Eng./M.S. from Tsinghua University. His research focuses on smart grids, renewable energy systems, cyber-physical resilience, and machine learning applications. He leads editorial roles for IEEE Transactions on Power Systems and chairs IEEE PES Task Forces on standard test cases and distribution system operations. Dr. Lin’s research has been funded by NSF, DOE, ONR, and others. He is a recipient of the NSF CAREER Award and Northeastern’s Graduate Student Outstanding Research Award. His work emphasizes data-driven solutions for grid resilience, including state estimation, cyber-physical defense, and distributed energy integration. The Lin Group actively seeks PhD candidates interested in advancing smart grid technologies. Education: Ph.D. (Northeastern University), B.Eng./M.S. (Tsinghua University) Grants: NSF, DOE OE/EECE/CESER, ONR, NYSERDA, MassCEC Service Roles: IEEE PES Task Force Co-chair (Standard Test Cases), Secretary (Distribution System Operations Subcommittee) Publications span top journals/conferences, focusing on state estimation, inverter-based resource control, and machine learning for grid systems. His lab develops cutting-edge tools for power system resilience and renewable energy integration.
Gordon Geoffrey J. is a Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, specializing in Machine Learning , Artificial Intelligence , and Computer Science . His research spans Reinforcement Learning , Domain Adaptation , Graph-based Planning , and Relational Learning , with significant contributions to Adversarial Learning , Deep Learning Dynamics , and Mobile Sensor Networks . He has pioneered algorithms like ARA* and Anytime Dynamic A* for efficient planning under constraints. Key research areas: Transfer Learning , Bayesian Knowledge Tracing , Multi-agent Systems , Database Optimization His work has been cited thousands of times across foundational topics in AI and robotics, demonstrating sustained impact in algorithm design and applications to complex systems.
Amitai Shenhav is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in Cognitive Neuroscience. His research explores the neural and computational mechanisms underlying motivation, affect, decision-making, and cognitive control, as detailed on the Shenhav Lab website . Ph.D., Harvard University Key research themes include: Explaining motivated behavior through affective gradients Modeling decision-making with mutual inclusivity and value integration Investigating cognitive control allocation under varying motivational contexts Understanding neural dynamics in target-distractor interactions Recent publications (2025–2024) highlight his work on value-based decision-making, effort allocation, and computational models of cognitive control. These studies often bridge behavioral experiments with neural recordings and theoretical frameworks. Scientific contributions include: NSF CAREER Award (2021) for research on motivation in cognition He mentors students and collaborators in his lab, focusing on psychophysiological experiments, computational modeling, and neuroeconomic paradigms. His work intersects with psychology, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence, particularly in attention training applications.
Marcelo Mattar is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Neural Science at New York University, leading the Mattar Lab. His research focuses on the neural computations underlying memory, decision-making, and reinforcement learning. He holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and has held academic positions at NYU, UC San Diego, and postdoctoral roles at Princeton University and the University of Cambridge. His work bridges computational neuroscience and artificial intelligence, aiming to model how the brain uses internal models for planning and decision-making. Education: Ph.D. in Psychology (Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience), University of Pennsylvania, 2016 M.A. in Statistics, University of Pennsylvania, 2016 B.A. in Electronics Engineering, Instituto Tecnologico de Aeronautica, Brazil, 2010 Research Interests: The lab develops mathematical models of learning and decision-making, leveraging reinforcement learning, Bayesian statistics, and neural networks. Experiments involve human behavioral studies and neuroimaging, with collaborations in animal electrophysiology and computational psychiatry. Key Contributions: His work explores how episodic memory and hippocampal replay support flexible decision-making. Recent studies highlight parallels between human cognition and AI systems, such as language models' metacognitive abilities and brain-inspired algorithms. Awards: Newton International Fellowship, Royal Society (2018–2019) Lab Team: The lab includes postdocs, PhD students, and undergraduates from diverse fields like cognitive science, neuroscience, and computer science. Current members are listed on the lab's website. Lab Location: Meyer Hall, 6 Washington Place, New York, NY 10003.
Brad Knox is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin . His work bridges machine learning, human-computer interaction, and computational cognitive science, with a focus on developing systems that learn from human feedback. Key research areas: Reinforcement Learning, Human-AI Interaction, Reward Design, Autonomous Systems Notable contributions: TAMER framework for human-guided learning, empirical studies on reward misdesign, and human preference modeling for autonomous agents Research Trends : His recent work (2023-2025) emphasizes reward alignment, safety in autonomous systems, and preference-based learning frameworks. Earlier studies (2012-2020) established foundational methods for integrating human feedback into reinforcement learning architectures and exploring behavioral signatures in decision-making. Scientific Honors : Bert Kay Dissertation Award (2013) Victor Lesser Distinguished Dissertation Award (IFAAMAS, Runner-up, 2013) NSF SBIR Grant (PI, 2016) NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2008-2011) IEEE Intelligent Systems AI 10 to Watch (2013) Teaching & Leadership : Knox served as Principal Lecturer for MIT's Interactive Machine Learning course (2013) and held organizational roles at major conferences including Reinforcement Learning Conference (Scheduling Chair, 2025) and RLDM workshop (Co-chair, 2022).
Kevin Crowston is a Distinguished Professor of Information Science at Syracuse University's School of Information Studies (iSchool), where he examines how information technology enables new organizational forms through empirical studies, theoretical modeling, and system design. His work focuses on coordination-intensive processes in virtual settings, with significant contributions to citizen science, data science teamwork, and journalism transformation. Education A.B. in Applied Mathematics (Computer Science), Harvard University, 1984 Ph.D. in Information Technologies, MIT Sloan School of Management, 1991 Research Focus : Crowston investigates coordination mechanisms in human-AI collaboration, particularly through projects like Gravity Spy (combining citizen scientists with machine learning for gravitational wave analysis) and journalism innovation (e.g., ReelFramer for AI-assisted news-to-video translation). His framework addresses how intelligent systems reshape work design, knowledge production, and team dynamics in scientific and media contexts. Publication Trends : Recent articles (2024-2025) reveal three dominant threads: (1) Human-AI co-creation in journalism (deskilling/upskilling dynamics, creative tool adoption), (2) Citizen science evolution with AI (co-learning systems, lexical entrainment), and (3) Socio-technical governance of intelligent machines (control-accountability alignment, project archetypes). These reflect his central inquiry into how technology reconfigures work structures. Scientific Recognition ACM Distinguished Speaker Research Leadership : Crowston currently directs two major NSF initiatives: (1) HCC grant 21-06865 on intelligent support for non-expert information navigation, and (2) FW-HTF grant 21-29047 exploring human-technology collaboration in journalism. He spearheaded a Research Coordination Network establishing socio-technical frameworks for work in the age of intelligent machines, culminating in a special issue of Information, Technology & People . Collaborative Infrastructure : He co-leads the Gravity Spy citizen science ecosystem (integrating LIGO physicists, machine learning systems, and volunteers) and serves as co-editor-in-chief of Information, Technology and People , previously editing ACM Transactions on Social Computing . His MIDST platform research advances stigmergic coordination for data science teams.
Suyi Li is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech's College of Engineering, where he leads the Dynamic and Architected Robot and structurE (DARE) Lab. Previously, he served as an Assistant Professor at Clemson University from 2016-2022 after completing postdoctoral research at the University of Michigan. Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (2014) M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University (2008) B.S. Summa Cum Laude in Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (2006) Dr. Li's research focuses on pioneering new paradigms of intelligent robots and functional structures by exploiting the interplay between geometry, mechanics, actuation, and computation. His work spans origami-inspired morphing structures, physically computing materials that perform machine learning tasks without traditional electronics, and soft/reconfigurable robots that can move like animals or grow like plants. His innovative approach combines mechanical engineering principles with computational thinking to create systems with 'mechano-intelligence'. Analysis of Dr. Li's recent publications reveals a strong trajectory toward embodied intelligence and mechanical computing, where physical structures themselves perform computational tasks. His work increasingly integrates origami/kirigami principles with advanced materials to create systems that can sense, process information, and actuate without conventional electronics. The research shows progression from fundamental mechanics of adaptive structures to sophisticated applications in robotics and computing. Dean's Awards of Excellence – Faculty Fellow, Virginia Tech (2024) C.D. Mote Jr Early Career Award, ASME Design Engineering Division (2022) Gary Anderson Early Achievement Award, ASME Aerospace Division (2021) Junior Researcher of the Year Award, College of Engineering, Clemson University (2020) CECAS Dean's Faculty Fellow, Clemson University (2018) CAREER Award, National Science Foundation (2018) ASME Freudenstein Young Investigator Award Dr. Li has secured nearly two million dollars in research funding, including the prestigious NSF CAREER award and an NSF EFRI project to build mechano-bio hybrid reservoir computers. He advises multiple Ph.D. and Master's students in the DARE Lab, with recent successes including Vishrut Deshpande's Ph.D. defense. His research has generated close to 80 journal and conference papers, demonstrating significant impact in the fields of adaptive structures and materials systems. Dr. Li also serves on editorial boards for several prominent journals including Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures and Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A. The DARE Lab at Virginia Tech comprises a multidisciplinary team of researchers working on origami-inspired meta-structures, physically computing materials, and soft robotics. Current projects include developing electronics-free crawling robots with mechanical central pattern generators, creating kirigami-based wearable medical devices, and engineering metamaterials with programmable mechanical properties. The lab actively collaborates with institutions across the country and has received recognition for its innovative approaches to combining mechanical design with computational capabilities.
Professor Christian F. Doeller is a leading cognitive neuroscientist serving as Director of the Department of Psychology at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI CBS) in Leipzig and Vice President of the Max Planck Society (since 2023). His roles include honorary professorships at the University of Leipzig (2019) and TU Dresden (Cognitive Neuroscience of Learning and Memory). He holds a PhD in Psychology from Saarland University (2005) and has held positions at institutions such as UCL (London), Radboud University (Nijmegen), and NTNU (Trondheim). His research focuses on spatial navigation, memory systems, and cognitive mapping in the human brain, leveraging neuroimaging (fMRI, EEG) and computational modeling. Key areas include hippocampal/entorhinal cortical function, grid cells, and the neural basis of spatial and conceptual representations. Recent work explores non-Euclidean spatial cognition, value-based decision making using grid-like maps, and hormonal influences on navigation. His lab combines experimental psychology, neuroimaging, and theoretical neuroscience to understand how brains build predictive models of environments and concepts. Publications emphasize cognitive maps, neural representations of space/value, and memory formation mechanisms. Over 100 journal articles span high-impact journals like Nature Neuroscience , Neuron , and Current Biology . His work bridges basic research and translational applications in neurodegenerative disorders and spatial cognition deficits.
Lev Kirischian is an Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering , Toronto Metropolitan University. He established the Embedded and Reconfigurable Systems Laboratory in 1999 for research and graduate studies. His expertise spans reconfigurable computing, parallel systems, and embedded design. BSc/MASc in Aerospace Control Systems, Moscow Institute of Aviation Technology (MAI) PhD in Parallel and Reconfigurable Computing Systems, Moscow Power Engineering Institute (MPEI) Research Interests : Task-adaptive reconfigurable computing systems Automated architectural synthesis of data-flow parallel computers FPGA-based stream processors Article Trends : His recent research focuses on reconfigurable computing architectures, modular system optimization, and FPGA applications in aerospace and industrial systems. Work includes radiation protection for FPGAs, multi-parametric architecture optimization, and frameworks for parallel multi-tasking environments.
Petar Kormushev is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Robotics at the Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London, and the founder/director of the Robot Intelligence Lab. He holds a PhD in Computational Intelligence from Tokyo Institute of Technology. His research focuses on robotics and machine learning, particularly reinforcement learning for autonomous robots. Key projects include the WALK-MAN humanoid robot for disaster response and contributions to the PANDORA and STIFF-FLOP EU projects. He has received the 2013 John Atanasoff Award for scientific excellence in ICT. His lab develops machine learning algorithms applied to humanoid robots like COMAN and iCub, with interests in robot learning, compliant control, and autonomous systems. He has supervised numerous PhD students and led research teams at IIT and Imperial College.