Find Academic Supervisors

Debra LaeferView profile

Professor

• Urban Informatics
• Remote Sensing
• Geo-spatial Data Management
• +7 more

Prof. Debra Laefer is a Full Professor at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, holding dual affiliations in the Civil and Urban Engineering Department and the Center for Urban Science + Progress. Her interdisciplinary career spans geotechnical engineering, urban informatics, and historic preservation, with a focus on integrating advanced technologies like LiDAR and remote sensing into community-driven solutions for urban challenges. She earned degrees from Columbia University (BS, BA), the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (MS, PhD), and NYU (MEng). Her research has been funded by prestigious grants including a €1.5M ERC award, and she serves on Ireland's Research Council. Notable achievements include pioneering computational strategies for big geospatial data and being honored in the Royal Irish Academy's 'Women on Walls' initiative. Her work bridges technical innovation and societal values, addressing flood risk communication, infrastructure resilience, and sustainable urban development. Over 160 peer-reviewed publications and 4 patents reflect her impactful contributions to urban science and engineering.

• Computer Vision
• Cognitive Robotics
• Perception
• +6 more

Fiora Pirri is a Full Professor at Sapienza University of Rome, leading the ALCOR Laboratory since 1998. She holds a PhD from Université Pierre et Marie Curie Paris VI, a DEA in Artificial Intelligence (ENPC), and dual Master's degrees in Statistics and Architecture from Sapienza. Her research focuses on Computer Vision, Cognitive Robotics, Perception, and Machine Learning, with applications in 3D reconstruction, Green AI (e.g., vertical farming), multimedia forensics, and edge vision. Current projects include Horizon2020 initiatives like Second HAND and FP7/TRADR in disaster response robotics. **Education:** PhD: Université Pierre et Marie Curie Paris VI DEA IARFAG: ENPC (Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées) Master's in Statistics: Sapienza University of Rome Master's in Architecture: Sapienza University of Rome **Research Interests:** Her work bridges visual perception and cognitive systems, emphasizing robust solutions for unstructured environments. Key areas include semantic segmentation, robotic action anticipation, SAR-optical data fusion, and plant phenotyping in controlled agriculture. ALCOR Lab's projects address challenges in urban search and rescue, environmental monitoring, and human-robot collaboration. **Grants & Projects:** Leads EU-funded initiatives such as Second HAND (2024), TRADR (FP7), and NIFTI (Cognitive Systems & Robotics). Collaborates on SARFIRE (ASI Contract) for fire susceptibility modeling. Recent publications highlight advancements in unsupervised segmentation, spatiotemporal fusion, and low-resolution action recognition. **Lab & Infrastructure:** ALCOR Lab (Rooms S012/S011, Via Ariosto 25) focuses on perception-driven robotics, with active research in XAI, adversarial learning, and edge computing. The lab integrates theoretical and applied research to advance autonomous systems in dynamic environments.

Birgit KleinschmitView profile

Professor

• Remote Sensing
• Climate Change
• Environmental Science
• +4 more

Prof. Birgit Kleinschmit is a Professor and Head of the Department of Geoinformation in Environmental Planning at Technische Universität Berlin. Her research focuses on remote sensing applications for analyzing human-environment systems, particularly in the context of climate and land-use changes. She leads projects on spatio-temporal modeling of landscapes, drought impacts, and wildfire dynamics using AI and satellite data. Member of the Scientific Advisory Board for Forest Policy (Bundesministerium) Co-Speaker of the DFG Urban Water Interfaces Research Group Recipient of the 2024 '100 Most Influential Minds in Berlin Science' award Her work integrates multisensor data (e.g., Sentinel-2, SAR) with machine learning to assess forest health, wildfire susceptibility, and urban evapotranspiration. Recent studies include drought responses in Central Europe, wildfire driver analysis, and sustainable land-use strategies. Publications emphasize environmental monitoring innovations, with over 20 peer-reviewed articles since 2022. Active in policy advising through Geo.X Research Network and federal committees.

Stenka VulovaView profile

Researcher

• Machine Learning
• Deep Learning
• Remote Sensing
• +7 more

M.Sc. Stenka Vulova is a Scientific Associate at the Technical University of Berlin's Department of Geoinformation, specializing in environmental planning through geoinformation processing. Her doctoral work focuses on the DFG Research Training Group 'Urban Water Interfaces' (UWI). She holds an International Master in Applied Ecology (IMAE) from the University of Poitiers and University of Kiel, and a B.S. in Ecology and Anthropology (Summa Cum Laude) from the University of Georgia. Research Interests : Machine learning/deep learning, remote sensing applications (climatology/hydrology), urban remote sensing, vegetation dynamics, heat/vapor flux analysis, and crowdsourced geographic information. Her work bridges AI techniques with environmental challenges, particularly wildfire prediction, drought impact analysis, and urban climate resilience. Publications : Over 15 peer-reviewed articles since 2020, focusing on wildfire drivers, urban evapotranspiration modeling, and environmental justice in cooling services. Key journals include Ecological Indicators , Science of the Total Environment , and Remote Sensing of Environment . Grants & Collaborations : Involved in DFG-funded projects (e.g., 'Food Deserts', 'Urban Water Interfaces'), and collaborations with the Earth Observation and Modeling (EOM) Laboratory. Her research emphasizes open data and reproducible methods. Professional Experience : Prior roles include Student Research Assistant at the University of Kiel, Environmental Analyst at Adrian Collaborative, and internships at the Georgia Department of Defense and Sustainable Human Ecosystems Laboratory (SHEL). Currently based at TU Berlin's Geoinformation lab (Room EB 234).

Ann-Kathrin HoltgraveView profile

Researcher

• Remote Sensing
• Environmental Planning
• Agricultural Land Management
• +3 more

Ann-Kathrin Holtgrave is a Researcher at the Department of Geoinformation in Environmental Planning at the Technical University of Berlin. She has held roles including Research Assistant (2021–2024) for the CopGruen project and Research Associate (2017–2021) at the Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute. Her work focuses on remote sensing applications for environmental and agricultural monitoring, particularly soil moisture estimation and grassland management. Education: Master of Science in Environmental Planning, TU Berlin (2014–2017) Bachelor of Science in Ecosystem Management, Georg-August-University Göttingen (2010–2013) Research Interests: She specializes in integrating satellite data (Sentinel-1/2, Landsat) with machine learning to monitor agricultural practices (e.g., mowing events, catch crops) and environmental parameters (soil moisture, vegetation dynamics). Her work bridges remote sensing techniques with policy-driven monitoring needs. Recent Contributions: Developed methods for detecting grassland mowing events using multi-sensor time series. Explored CRNS-based soil moisture monitoring and its synergy with optical/SAR data. Advanced Sentinel-based tools for large-scale agricultural land use assessment. Contact: Email a.holtgrave@tu-berlin.de , Room EB 203.

Robert K. PeetView profile

Research Professor

• Vegetation Science
• Community Dynamics
• Ecoinformatics
• +3 more

Robert K. Peet is a Research Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, affiliated with the Curriculum for the Environment and Ecology. He holds a Ph.D. in Ecology from Cornell University and has dedicated his career to vegetation science, ecoinformatics, and biodiversity conservation. His research focuses on community dynamics, vegetation classification, and the vegetation of the Carolinas. Professional service includes leadership roles in the International Association for Vegetation Science (President 2007-2011), Ecological Society of America (Editor-in-Chief of Ecology 1996-2001), and co-founding the Journal of Vegetation Science . He has received prestigious awards including the ESA Distinguished Service Award (1995) and IAVS Honorary Membership (2016). Key projects include the Carolina Vegetation Survey (35+ years), VegBank (Federal Standard), and global initiatives like the Global Index of Vegetation Plot Databases (GIVD). His research spans vegetation dynamics, invasive species, and climate impacts on forest ecosystems. Over 200 peer-reviewed publications reflect his contributions to ecological theory and applied conservation.

Alan S. WeakleyView profile

Adjunct Professor

• Plant Systematics
• Community Ecology
• Biogeography
• +3 more

Alan S. Weakley is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He serves as Director of the UNC Herbarium at the North Carolina Botanical Garden and holds affiliations with the UNC Curriculum in the Environment and Ecology and the North Carolina Natural Heritage Trust Fund. His research focuses on plant systematics, community ecology, biogeography, and conservation in the southeastern U.S., including the development of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification and conservation planning. Weakley’s career includes roles with the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, The Nature Conservancy, and NatureServe. He has led conservation efforts through the North Carolina Natural Heritage Trust Fund, securing over $328 million for land conservation. He authored Flora of the Southern & Mid-Atlantic States and co-authored Flora of Virginia , awarded the Thomas Jefferson Award for Conservation. He is a key figure in the Flora of North America project and co-founded the Carolina Vegetation Survey. His work integrates academic research with applied conservation, emphasizing policy, biodiversity preservation, and ecosystem management. Weakley has advised students on topics like plant systematics and biogeography and remains active in editorial and leadership roles within botanical and conservation organizations.

Elisabeth AddinkView profile

Associate Professor

• Remote Sensing
• Hydrology
• Geo-computation
• +3 more

Dr. Elisabeth Addink is an Associate Professor in Physical Geography at Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences. Her research focuses on remote sensing applications for vegetation and ecosystem monitoring, particularly in dynamic environments like tidal flats, rivers, and agricultural landscapes. She integrates techniques such as object-based image analysis (GEOBIA), deep learning, and UAV-based sensing to study landscape functioning, geo-computation, and hydrological processes. Dr. Addink's work addresses challenges in land degradation, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience, with projects spanning Europe, Africa, and Asia. Her research interests include the use of geospatial technologies to map ecological variables, assess irrigation water consumption, and model channel networks in estuaries and braided rivers. She has contributed to initiatives like the 'Future Delta' program and collaborates on projects analyzing subsidence in the Mekong Delta and plague host distribution in Kazakhstan. Dr. Addink is actively involved in academic activities, including editorial roles for remote sensing journals and organizing international conferences like GEOBIA. Dr. Addink's publications reflect a focus on advancing methodologies for environmental monitoring, with recent work emphasizing deep learning-enhanced remote sensing and the application of UAV technology for vegetation and floodplain analysis. She teaches courses in earth sciences and geospatial techniques, and her lab is part of Utrecht's Pathways to Sustainability research theme.

Wiebe NijlandView profile

Assistant Professor

• Remote Sensing
• GIS
• Hydrology
• +4 more

Dr. Wiebe Nijland is an Assistant Professor at Utrecht University within the Faculty of Geosciences , Department of Physical Geography. His research focuses on remote sensing applications in geomorphology, hydrology, and ecological monitoring, with specialization in landscape functioning , geo-computation , and land degradation . He holds a PhD in Mediterranean vegetation dynamics from Utrecht University (2011). His work integrates UAV photogrammetry , deep learning , and electrical resistivity tomography to study processes like solifluction, debris flow dynamics, and tidal flat ecology. Recent projects include analyzing marine subsidies' effects on island ecosystems and improving landslide displacement tracking via satellite imagery. Teaching: Courses include Data Analysis and Statistics 2 and Remote Sensing . He collaborates with teams in Switzerland (Illgraben), Canada (coastal kelp ecosystems), and the Netherlands (Wadden Sea tidal flats). His research outputs emphasize high-resolution spatial-temporal analysis across scales, from periglacial processes to global remote sensing applications.

• Ecosystem Ecology
• Soil Science
• Environmental Restoration
• +4 more

M. Derek MacKenzie is an Associate Professor in the Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta, specializing in Ecosystem Ecology. His research focuses on soil organic matter dynamics, disturbance impacts, and land reclamation in boreal ecosystems, particularly addressing challenges in the Athabasca Oil Sands region. He emphasizes pyrogenic carbon's role in soil biogeochemistry and ecosystem resilience. Teaching includes REN R 210 (Soil Science fundamentals) and REN R 305 (Land Reclamation Techniques), emphasizing practical applications of soil classification, nutrient cycling, and vegetation restoration. His work bridges ecological theory and applied solutions for industrial reclamation, climate change impacts, and sustainable land management. Key research themes include: 1) Soil stability and nutrient bioavailability, 2) Fire-driven pyrogenic carbon effects, 3) Anthropogenic disturbance responses, and 4) Spatial ecology of reclaimed ecosystems. Recent studies explore biochar applications, microbial community dynamics, and fungal-soil interactions under climate change.

Daniel SpalinkView profile

Assistant Professor

• Plant Systematics
• Biogeography
• Evolutionary Ecology
• +3 more

Daniel Spalink is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology at Texas A&M University and Director of the S.M. Tracy Herbarium. His work focuses on plant biodiversity, biogeography, and evolutionary ecology. He holds a B.S. in Biology from Calvin University and a Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research addresses three core questions: 1) spatial structure of biodiversity, 2) drivers of diversification, and 3) conservation strategies under climate change. He leads the Spalink Lab, which integrates phylogenetics, ecological modeling, and morphometrics to study lineage evolution and conservation. Education: B.S. Biology, Calvin University Ph.D., Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison Research interests span plant systematics, niche evolution, and biodiversity quantification. His work bridges evolutionary processes with applied conservation, using species distribution models and phylogenetic approaches. Recent publications focus on Cyperaceae taxonomy, sedge diversification, and global plant biodiversity assessments. He is a member of Texas A&M AgriLife and collaborates on initiatives like the State of the World's Plants report. Labs/Teams: Director of S.M. Tracy Herbarium and leader of the Spalink Lab at Texas A&M University.

Francisco OliveraView profile

Associate Professor

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Water Resources Engineering
• Hydrology
• +3 more

Francisco Olivera is an Associate Professor in the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Texas A&M University, part of the College of Engineering. His research focuses on applying geographic information systems (GIS) to water resources engineering, including flood risk assessment, climate change impacts, and hydrological modeling. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin (1996). Key research interests include hurricane surge modeling, urban hydrology, and environmental monitoring. His work integrates GIS tools with hydrological studies to address challenges in disaster resilience, transportation infrastructure vulnerability, and sustainable resource planning. Notable projects include studies on Texas watersheds, coastal wetland protection in Corpus Christi, and climate change adaptation strategies. Olivera’s publications span over two decades, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to environmental engineering problems. His recent work explores extreme rainfall prediction, carbon sequestration potential in vegetated areas, and holistic water-energy-food nexus frameworks. He collaborates globally, including projects in Brazil and Spain, and has developed tools like ArcGIS-SWAT for hydrologic modeling. No scientific awards are explicitly listed, but his contributions to flood risk methodologies and GIS integration are widely recognized. He leads educational initiatives, including international study abroad programs in Greece, Spain, and Peru. His research often bridges academic and applied contexts, addressing real-world challenges in environmental and civil infrastructure systems.

Frank DavisView profile

Professor

• Landscape Ecology
• Conservation Planning
• Climate Change Impacts
• +3 more

Frank Davis is a Distinguished Professor at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management and the Department of Geography at the University of California, Santa Barbara. His research focuses on landscape ecology, conservation planning, and climate change impacts on California ecosystems. He leads the Biogeography Lab and directs the La Kretz Research Center at Sedgwick Reserve and the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network Office. Education PhD, Geography and Environmental Engineering, Johns Hopkins University (1982) BA, Biology, Williams College (1975) Research Interests Frank Davis investigates landscape ecology, conservation strategies for California plant communities, and climate change effects on ecosystems. His work integrates remote sensing, GIS, and field studies to address biodiversity conservation, fire management, and protected-area design. Recent projects include oak woodland restoration and socioecological resilience in Mediterranean climates. Key Achievements 2021: Lead author on studies on postfire recovery and drought impacts in California chaparral. 2016: Elected Fellow of the Ecological Society of America. 2010: Google Science Communication Fellow and AAAS Fellow. Recipient of multiple grants for LTER Network coordination and biodiversity monitoring. Labs/Teams Directs the Biogeography Lab (archived) and collaborates with the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) and the UC Natural Reserve System. Active in the La Kretz Research Center at Sedgwick Reserve.

Richi NayakView profile

Professor

• Text Mining
• Data Mining
• Machine Learning
• +2 more

Professor Richi Nayak is an internationally recognized expert in data mining, text mining and web intelligence at Queensland University of Technology's School of Computer Science. As the Applied Data Science Program Leader of the Centre for Data Science, she develops novel methods for text classification, clustering, and information extraction using deep learning, matrix factorization, and ranking-centered approaches. Her research spans three main streams: Text Mining for data organization and understanding, applications of data mining in solving real-world problems across domains including education, healthcare and transportation, and algorithms for automation and personalization. She has successfully commercialized technologies including marketing strategy automation and bias detection systems deployed by Fortune 500 companies. Professor Nayak's recent publications focus on practical applications of machine learning including traffic crash analysis, multimodal learning, biomass modeling, and offensive text detection. Her work consistently addresses real-world problems through innovative machine learning approaches.

Thirunavukarasu BalasubramaniamView profile

Research Fellow

• Tensor Factorization
• Machine Learning
• Data Mining
• +2 more

Thiru Balasubramaniam is a Research Fellow in Computer Science at QUT specializing in tensor/matrix factorization for data science applications. With a PhD from QUT, his work applies computational methods to IoT, social media analysis, and agricultural informatics, with recent focus on climate-pasture yield relationships and misinformation detection. Developed efficient NMF/CMTF algorithms for high-dimensional data. Current projects analyze COVID-19 misinformation dynamics, EV usage patterns, and pasture monitoring using remote sensing. Recipient of QUT-CDS research funding. Teaches data mining, analytics, and web computing courses across undergraduate and postgraduate programs.