Dr. Balaraman Ravindran is a Professor and Head of the Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAI) at IIT Madras. He also leads the Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science & Artificial Intelligence (RBCDSAI) and the Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI). His research focuses on reinforcement learning, geometric deep learning, and ethical AI deployment. Education includes a PhD from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (2004) and MSc from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (1996). He holds prestigious fellowships from AAAI and INAE, and is an ACM Distinguished Member. Key contributions include work on class imbalance learning (e.g., TODUS algorithm) and applications in healthcare, transportation, and social networks. He has advised over 20 students and secured grants from Google, TCS Research, and others. Labs/Teams: Heads RBCDSAI and CeRAI, collaborates with TCS Research and Google.
Xin Guo is Professor and Department Chair of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (IEOR) at UC Berkeley's College of Engineering, holding the Coleman Fung Chair in Financial Modeling. Her research bridges mathematical finance, stochastic control, and machine learning with applications in risk analytics and quantitative trading. Education: Ph.D. in Mathematics, Rutgers University (1999) Research Interests: Professor Guo's work centers on mathematical finance , stochastic games , and reinforcement learning . She develops theoretical frameworks for α-potential games and mean-field systems while applying signature methods and GANs to financial data. Her research addresses critical problems in portfolio optimization, fraud detection (e.g., Medicare analytics), and market forecasting, emphasizing the intersection of stochastic control with machine learning for real-world decision-making under uncertainty. Publication Trends: Recent work (2023-2025) shows increasing focus on multi-agent reinforcement learning through mean-field game theory, with applications spanning finance (corporate bonds, trading), healthcare (fraud detection), and transportation (rate forecasting). Key innovations include BSDE approaches for stochastic games, signature-based time series analysis, and theoretical guarantees for GAN training dynamics. Scientific Awards: Holds the prestigious Coleman Fung Chair in Financial Modeling, reflecting significant contributions to quantitative finance research. Advising and Grants: As IEOR Department Chair, Professor Guo mentors graduate students in stochastic modeling and financial engineering. Her research is supported by the Coleman Fung Endowment Fund, with collaborations spanning finance, healthcare, and transportation sectors through industry partnerships. Labs and Teams: Leads the Risk Analytics & Data Analysis Research (RADAResearch) Lab ( https://risklab.ieor.berkeley.edu/ ), which develops cutting-edge methodologies for risk assessment, data-driven decision-making, and game-theoretic solutions to complex systems. The lab fosters interdisciplinary work connecting mathematical theory with practical applications in FinTech and beyond.
Amitabha Bagchi is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Delhi. His research spans data algorithmics, probability, networks, and theoretical computer science, with applications in distributed systems, social networks, and AI-driven platforms. He has published extensively in leading venues such as SIGMOD, VLDB, ICDE, AAAI, and KDD, often collaborating with students and researchers on problems involving graph algorithms, fairness, and large-scale data analysis. Research Interests: His primary research interests include Data Algorithmics, Probability and Networks, Theoretical Computer Science, Distributed Algorithms, Graph Algorithms, and Machine Learning Theory. He investigates algorithmic foundations for real-world problems such as food delivery optimization, social network analysis, and efficient data structures for streaming and large graphs. Publication Trends: Recent publications focus on fairness in gig economy platforms, efficient solvers for graph Laplacians, generalization in neural networks, and temporal graph querying. His work combines theoretical rigor with practical impact, often involving GPU acceleration, distributed computing, and data-aware algorithm design. Scientific Service: Editor, Algorithms (2020–present) Editor, Journal of Discrete Algorithms , Elsevier (2006–2018) Guest Editor, special issue on Algorithms for Shortest Paths in Dynamic and Evolving Networks , Algorithms (2021) Volume Editor for proceedings of ESA, ATMOS, COCOON, and others Conference Leadership: He has served on numerous program committees and as chair for conferences including ESA (Engineering Track, 2016), ATMOS (2020), and ICALP (2019). His involvement spans algorithmic engineering, transportation optimization, and theoretical computer science forums. Teaching: He currently teaches COL863: Special Topics in Theoretical Computer Science on concentration inequalities and their applications. He has previously taught advanced courses in algorithms and data structures.
William Chueh is a Professor in the Departments of Materials Science and Engineering and Energy Science & Engineering at Stanford University. He serves as Director of the Precourt Institute for Energy and Faculty Director of the Energy Innovation and Emerging Technologies Program. His research focuses on redox-active materials for energy storage, conversion, and carbon-neutral energy cycles. Education: PhD, Materials Science, Caltech (2010) BS, Applied Physics, Caltech (2005) Research Interests: Energy storage and conversion systems (batteries, fuel cells, electrolyzers) Multi-scale electrochemical and chemical reaction dynamics Materials design rules for redox-active solids Thermodynamic frameworks for sustainable energy Publication Trends: His work spans fundamental materials synthesis, electrochemical characterization, and modeling of redox reactions. Key themes include solar thermochemical cycles, ceria-based systems for CO2/H2O conversion, and advanced battery technologies. Scientific Honors: Outstanding Young Investigator Award (MRS, 2018) Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (2016) Sloan Research Fellowship (2016) CAREER Award (NSF, 2015) Advising: He advises students in energy technologies, materials science, and electrochemistry, including doctoral and master’s candidates. Contact: wchueh@stanford.edu
David B. Shmoys is the Laibe/Acheson Professor of Business Management & Leadership Studies at Cornell University's School of Operations Research and Information Engineering (ORIE) and holds a joint appointment in the Department of Computer Science. He is a leading researcher in approximation algorithms, stochastic optimization, and computational sustainability. His work emphasizes data-driven decision-making in enterprise and society, with applications ranging from healthcare logistics to environmental conservation. Shmoys has advised 27 Ph.D. students and served as an editorial board member for top journals like Operations Research and Mathematics of Operations Research. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley (1984). Postdoctoral positions at MSRI and Harvard University, followed by faculty roles at MIT before joining Cornell. Research Interests: Design and analysis of approximation algorithms for NP-hard problems, stochastic optimization, scheduling, facility location, and inventory management. Applications include computational sustainability, epidemiological modeling, and political districting optimization. Articles Trends: Focus on optimization under uncertainty, computational sustainability, and real-world applications like air ambulance routing, bike-sharing systems, and gerrymandering analysis. Notable works include the 2018 Wagner Prize-winning paper on bike-sharing analytics and the 2013 Lanchester Prize-winning textbook on approximation algorithms. Awards: Lanchester Prize (2013), Daniel H. Wagner Prize (2018), Fellowships from ACM, INFORMS, and SIAM, NSF Presidential Young Investigator (1987). Advising & Grants: Over 27 advised Ph.D. students, with former students at MIT, Waterloo, Brown, and D-Wave. Active in grants related to data science and sustainability. Labs/Teams: Involved in the Institute of Computational Sustainability at Cornell, focusing on applying algorithms to environmental challenges. Collaborates with organizations like Motivate (bike-sharing) and Ornge (air ambulance services).
Dr. Amin Keramati is an Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Management at Widener University’s School of Business Administration. He holds a PhD in Transportation & Logistics from North Dakota State University and previously served as a graduate research assistant at the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute. His work includes federally funded projects like the Mountain-Plains Consortium’s MPC-550 project, focusing on highway-rail grade crossing safety. Dr. Keramati teaches courses in enterprise resource planning, decision analytics, database management, transportation/logistics, project management, and data analytics. Education: PhD in Transportation & Logistics, North Dakota State University Graduate Research Assistant at Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute Research Focus: Dr. Keramati develops mathematical, statistical, and machine learning approaches to solve complex problems in transportation, supply chain, and logistics. Key areas include data mining, big data decision support, transportation network analytics, project scheduling, smart manufacturing, and accident analysis. His interdisciplinary work bridges supply chain optimization with emerging technologies like blockchain for healthcare and clinical trials. Awards & Recognition: Student Paper Award, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (2017) Grants & Projects: Lead researcher on the Mountain-Plains Consortium’s MPC-550 project, which expanded his dissertation work on safety systems for highway-rail crossings. Collaborates on federally funded transportation safety initiatives and supply chain optimization for bioethanol and pharmaceutical industries. Labs/Teams: Active in Widener’s School of Business research groups focusing on supply chain innovation and interdisciplinary projects combining logistics with emerging technologies.
Wendy Ju is an Associate Professor of Information Science at Cornell Tech, with appointments in the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute, and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. Previously, she served as executive director of interaction design research at Stanford University's Center for Design Research and as an associate professor of interaction design at the California College of the Arts. Her work bridges human-computer interaction, design, and robotics with a focus on how interactive devices can communicate with people without interrupting them. PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University Master's degree in Media Arts and Sciences from MIT Professor Ju's research centers on implicit interactions, human-robot collaboration, and automotive interfaces. She investigates how people interact with automated systems in natural contexts, develops methods for early-stage prototyping of autonomous technologies, and examines the social implications of robotics in urban environments. Her work spans from theoretical frameworks to practical applications, with particular emphasis on designing systems that integrate seamlessly into human activities without demanding constant attention. Her recent publications reveal a strong trajectory toward understanding human-robot interaction in public urban spaces, with increasing focus on robot navigation in city streets, the social implications of autonomous vehicles, and the integration of generative AI in design processes. Her work consistently bridges theoretical HCI frameworks with practical applications in transportation, urban design, and everyday robotics. Inducted into the ACM SIGCHI Academy (2025) Multiple Honorable Mention Awards at ACM CHI and DIS conferences Best Paper Award at Multimodal Technologies and Interaction (2023) Best Student Paper Award at IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium (2017) Best Demonstration Award at HRI (2017) Professor Ju actively mentors numerous PhD and master's students, many of whom have become leading researchers in HCI and robotics. Her research has been supported by significant grants from NSF and industry partners, enabling extensive field studies of human-robot interaction in real-world settings. She has pioneered methodologies for studying autonomous vehicle interactions through both simulated and naturalistic driving environments. Her work with the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute supports interdisciplinary research at the intersection of computing, design, and urban technology. She has established research partnerships with transportation authorities, automotive companies, and urban planning organizations to study how emerging technologies can enhance urban mobility while respecting human needs and social contexts.
Dr. Alex Bigazzi is an Associate Professor and Associate Head (Undergraduate Program) in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC), with a joint appointment in the School of Community and Regional Planning. He leads the REACT Lab, focusing on active transportation, micromobility, and sustainable infrastructure design. His research emphasizes the intersection of physics, physiology, and behavior in active travel, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists, and addresses emissions reduction and equitable urban mobility. Bigazzi holds a B.M. in Jazz Saxophone from the University of Miami and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Portland State University. His career includes academic and practical contributions, such as founding the REACT Lab and leading projects on e-bike incentives, air pollution exposure, and infrastructure design. His work has earned awards like the 2024 Wall Legacy Award for inclusive transport design and the 2023 Climate Action Award. He teaches courses on pedestrian/bicycle facility design and capstone projects, mentoring students through UBC’s Civil Engineering programs.
Clifford Stein is a Professor of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (IEOR) and Computer Science at Columbia University, and Associate Director for Research at the Data Science Institute. He holds a Ph.D. (1992), M.S. (1989), and B.S.E. (1987) from MIT and Princeton University, respectively. His research focuses on algorithms, combinatorial optimization, operations research, scheduling, and computational biology. A co-author of the best-selling textbook Introduction to Algorithms , Stein has published widely in top venues and holds prestigious awards like ACM Fellow and NSF Career Award. His work includes foundational contributions to minimum cut algorithms, scheduling theory, and network optimization, supported by NSF and Sloan Foundation grants. Stein has advised over 40 graduate and undergraduate students, many now in academia and industry.
Kenneth P. Birman is the N. Rama Rao Professor of Computer Science at Cornell University, where he has had a long and impactful career in distributed systems, cloud computing, and AI/ML infrastructure. He is known for foundational contributions to reliable and scalable distributed systems, and for leading high-impact projects such as Cascade, Vortex, and Derecho. He is also the author of a widely used textbook on reliable distributed systems and has founded multiple companies based on his research. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley M.S. in Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley B.A. in Computer Science, Columbia University Research Interests: Professor Birman's research focuses on building reliable, secure, and scalable distributed systems . His current emphasis is on AI and ML infrastructure , particularly in reducing latency and improving performance through hardware acceleration, RDMA-based communication, and edge computing. He explores how to eliminate data movement bottlenecks in AI pipelines and how to support real-time, mission-critical applications in domains like healthcare, smart grids, and industrial IoT. His work spans systems programming, cloud computing, fault tolerance, and formal verification . He has designed systems that have been deployed in high-stakes environments such as the New York Stock Exchange, the Swiss Exchange, and the French Air Traffic Control system. Scientific Awards: ACM Fellow (1999) IEEE Fellow (2014) IEEE Tsutomu Kanai Award for innovations in distributed computing Teaching and Mentorship: Professor Birman teaches two courses in the fall semester: CS4414: Systems Programming and CS5416: Cloud and ML Systems Programming . He has advised numerous Ph.D. and M.S. students, including Alicia Yang, Tiancheng Yuan, Yifan Wang, Weijia Song, Edward Tremel, Sagar Jha, Jonathan Behrens, and Mae Milano. He has announced that Fall 2025 will be his last semester teaching, and he is no longer recruiting new students, though he will continue supervising current ones. Labs and Projects: He leads the Derecho Project and the Cascade/Vortex Project , both focused on high-performance distributed systems. These projects are collaborative efforts with students and industry partners, and the software is released under open-source licenses. He also maintains strong ties with Cornell's systems group and collaborates with faculty across CS, ECE, IS, and the Cornell Tech NYC campus.
Hadi Meidani is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine , specifically within the Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign . He teaches courses in Civil and Environmental Engineering, including topics like Systems Engineering & Economics , Machine Learning in CEE , and Uncertainty Quantification . Ph.D., Civil Engineering, University of Southern California (2012) M.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California (2012) M.S., Structural Engineering, Sharif University of Technology (2005) B.S., Civil Engineering, K.N. Toosi University of Technology (2002) Dr. Meidani's research focuses on uncertainty quantification , scientific machine learning , and optimization under uncertainty for engineering systems. His work spans stochastic multiscale analysis , physics-informed machine learning , and model reduction techniques. His recent publications emphasize machine learning for infrastructure systems , graph neural networks , physics-informed models , and traffic assignment . Key trends include deep learning , multi-fidelity modeling , and neural operator transformers applied to metamaterial design , seismic reliability , and autonomous freight delivery .
Prof. Dr. Thomas Brinkhoff is Chair of the Institute Board and Chair of Geoinformatics at Oldenburg University of Applied Sciences. He leads the Institute for Applied Photogrammetry and Geoinformatics (IAPG) and contributes to institutions like the Association for the Promotion of Geoinformatics in Northern Germany (GiN e.V.) and the Oldenburg Research and Development Institute for Computer Science (OFFIS e.V.). Education: Diploma in Computer Science (Informatik), Universität Bremen (1990) Doctorate in Computer Science (Dr. rer. nat.), Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (1994) Brinkhoff's research spans geodatabase systems, spatiotemporal data processing, geosensor analytics, and location-based services. His work addresses Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI), web-based geospatial visualization, and mobile data integration, with applications in traffic management and forensic science. Recent projects include ProSaDi (Digital Provenance and Collection Research) and contributions to the Laboratory for optical 3D metrology . He has served on program committees for ACM SIGSPATIAL (2002-2019), AGILE conferences (2010-2025), and editorial boards of journals like GeoInformatica and TGIS. Notable Lectures: 2024: Forensic applications of tachograph data 2023: Geoinformatics in homicide investigations 2022: Spatiotemporal analysis for sustainability projects 2015: Open geodata standards at FOSSGIS 2014: Mobile sensor data processing
Ram Rajagopal is an Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Electrical Engineering at Stanford University, and a Senior Fellow at the Precourt Institute for Energy. He leads the Stanford Sustainable Systems Lab (S3L), focusing on large-scale monitoring, data analytics, and stochastic control for infrastructure networks, particularly power systems. His research emphasizes renewable energy integration, smart distribution systems, and demand-side data analytics. Education: PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences & MA in Statistics (UC Berkeley), MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering (UT Austin), and BEng in Electrical Engineering (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro). Research interests include power grid optimization, renewable energy systems, and data-driven approaches to infrastructure challenges. He has pioneered work in grid flexibility, distributed energy resources, and machine learning applications for energy systems. His lab develops technologies like Smart Dim Fuses and the EV-EcoSim platform for EV charging infrastructure optimization. Received NSF CAREER Award, Powell Foundation Fellowship, and Berkeley Regents Fellowship Over 30 patents and best paper awards Advises/founded companies in sensor networks, power systems, and data analytics Labs/Teams: Stanford Sustainable Systems Lab (S3L), Powernet Project. His work spans grid resilience, energy equity, and scalable energy solutions.
Dr. K. Max Zhang is a Professor in the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University. He is the director of the Energy and the Environment Research Laboratory (EERL) and a fellow at the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future. His research is deeply interdisciplinary, focusing on sustainable energy systems, air quality, and environmental justice, with significant impacts on policy and community development in New York and beyond. Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of California-Davis, 2004 B.S., Thermal Engineering, Tianjin University, 1998 B.A., English Language, Tianjin University, 1998 Dr. Zhang’s research centers on the integration of energy and environmental systems. He investigates air pollution dynamics using advanced numerical models like CTAG, with applications in near-source pollution, indoor air quality, and environmental justice. His work on renewable energy systems includes designing sustainable solar farms and managing distributed energy resources such as heat pumps to enhance grid flexibility. He also leads a pioneering initiative to create the first statewide public IoT network in the U.S., enabling hyperlocal weather forecasting and microclimate monitoring. His recent publications reflect a strong trend toward agrivoltaics, peer-to-peer energy markets, and IoT-based environmental monitoring. These works demonstrate a consistent focus on data-driven modeling, community-scale energy solutions, and the integration of social considerations into technical systems. The keywords across his articles highlight expertise in sustainability, machine learning, air quality, and energy transition. Cornell Town-Gown Achievement Award (2022) Engaged Scholar Prize, Cornell University (2017) People's Choice Sign of Sustainability Award, Sustainable Tompkins (2016) Scientific and Technological Achievement Award, Environmental Protection Agency (2015) Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Dr. Zhang is actively involved in mentoring students and securing research grants from agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). His projects often involve interdisciplinary collaboration across eight Cornell colleges and 16 academic departments. He has led initiatives such as the Cornell Atkinson Academic Venture Fund projects and the development of a county-level energy roadmap for Tompkins County. He also teaches courses in engineering thermodynamics, future energy systems, and air quality, emphasizing experiential and community-based learning. Dr. Zhang leads the Energy and the Environment Research Laboratory (EERL) and collaborates with the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future. His lab functions as a hub for innovation in sustainable communities, combining advanced modeling with real-world applications. Through partnerships with community organizations, government agencies, and industry, his team develops science-driven solutions to urban and rural sustainability challenges.
Gretchen A. Macht is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Rhode Island, College of Engineering. She specializes in Human Systems Engineering, with research emphasizing team performance, sustainability, electric vehicles, solar energy systems, and voting systems. Her work bridges engineering, ergonomics, and public policy. Her research interests focus on understanding and optimizing human-centered systems. She investigates team communication and performance through fuzzy cognitive maps and entropy modeling, develops sustainable design practices for products and energy systems, and analyzes user behavior in electric vehicles and solar installations. A significant portion of her research is dedicated to election systems, where she uses simulation to improve accessibility, safety, and efficiency of in-person voting, particularly during public health crises. Her recent publications span topics such as EV charging behavior, solar installation safety, voting simulation, and team dynamics. These works reflect interdisciplinary trends combining systems engineering, data analytics, ergonomics, and sustainability science. She frequently employs simulation, naturalistic data analysis, and human factors methodologies. Dr. Macht has secured substantial grant funding from organizations including the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, National Science Foundation, MIT, and Democracy Fund. She serves as Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI on projects related to election systems (e.g., SMILE, URI VOTES), ergonomic redesign of protective gear, and community solar development. She leads the SIS Lab and the URI VOTES initiative, fostering collaborative research on simulation and system design. Her lab supports graduate students in conducting impactful research at the intersection of engineering and societal challenges. Notable grants include: PI, MIT: “Voting in Person - White Paper” (2023) PI, US EAC: “SMILE 2.0” (2022) PI, Democracy Fund: “URI VOTES Pocket Guide Tool” (2022) Co-PI, NSF: “Election Science: Convergence Accelerator Workshop Proposal” (2021) PI, US EAC: “SMILE: Simulation Models for an Immersive Learning Environment” (2021) She has advised several graduate students, including Mehrsa Khaleghikarahrodi, Nicholas D. Bernardo Jr., and Tim Jonas, whose research aligns closely with her focus areas in EVs, elections, and team performance.
