Andrew Head is an Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Computer Science, specializing in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Programming. His work bridges interactive reading , math notation accessibility , and AI-assisted code comprehension . Affiliated with Penn HCI, PLClub, and MindCORE, he co-leads research with Danaé Metaxa and Benjamin Pierce. University of Pennsylvania Assistant Professor, Computer Science Affiliations: Penn HCI, PLClub, MindCORE His research focuses on interactive reading interfaces , AI-powered programming tools , and math notation analysis . Recent projects include: FreeForm : Interactive math notation editor Tyche : Property-based testing tools Explainable Notes : Medical note interpretation systems Publications in CHI , UIST , and ICSE demonstrate his systems-centric approach combining user studies with working prototypes. Notable awards include Best Paper at UIST 2024 and CHI 2022. Advising: Ph.D. Students: Alyssa Hwang, Litao Yan, Hita Kambhamettu, Jeff Tao, Jessica Shi Grants: $1M NSF grant for Property-based Testing Tools (2024) Teaching: Spring 2025: CIS 4120/5120 - Human-Computer Interaction Fall 2024: CIS 7000 - Interactive Reading
Yong-Bin Kang is a Senior Data Science Research Fellow at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision Making and Society (ADM+S) at Swinburne University of Technology, affiliated with the School of Social Sciences, Media, Film and Education. He holds a PhD in AI from Monash University and leads numerous transdisciplinary research projects applying artificial intelligence to address complex societal challenges. Education: PhD in Faculty of IT, Monash University, Australia Dr. Kang's research focuses on Responsible AI and Society, with specific interests in developing Societal-AI platforms that integrate social data with ethical principles. His work spans healthcare, humanitech, education, financial planning, environmental health, and justice domains. He investigates how AI can enhance decision-making processes while promoting societal well-being, with particular attention to ethical implementation and human-centered approaches. His expertise encompasses AI, natural language processing, machine learning, and decision-making optimization. Analysis of Dr. Kang's recent publications reveals a strong trajectory toward socially responsible AI applications across diverse domains. His work consistently bridges technical AI capabilities with social implications, particularly focusing on ethical frameworks, community-centered design, and addressing societal inequalities through technology. The publications demonstrate increasing collaboration across disciplines including criminology, environmental science, mental health, and education. Dr. Kang is actively involved in significant research funding initiatives, with multiple ongoing projects that address critical societal challenges through AI. His supervision availability includes Doctorate (PhD) candidates, indicating his commitment to mentoring the next generation of researchers in AI and data science fields. Current Flagship Areas: Digital Capability Innovative Society Manufacturing Futures Sustainable Development Goals: Good Health and Well Being (SDG 3) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9) Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7)
Dr. Stephen King is a Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Communication at St. Edward's University's School of Arts and Humanities, with nearly thirty years of teaching experience across institutions including Eastern Illinois University and Delta State University. His academic journey includes leadership roles as department chair at Eastern Illinois University (2013-2018) and coordinator at Delta State University (2000-2013). Ph.D. in Speech Communication, Indiana University (1997) M.A. in Communication, University of New Mexico (1990) B.A. in Communication, Boise State University (1987) Dr. King's research merges rhetoric , public memory , and cultural tourism , focusing on social movements and musical genres like blues, reggae, and country. He has published extensively on how Mississippi promotes blues and civil rights heritage, examining authenticity, mythmaking, and racial reconciliation. His 2023 book Terror and Truth: Civil Rights Tourism and the Mississippi Movement (co-authored with Dr. Roger D. Gatchet) expands this work. His scholarship has earned multiple Top Paper Awards from the National Communication Association and Southern States Communication Association, the William Winter Scholar designation (2007), and the Mississippi Humanities Council Teaching Award (2010-2011). As a Research Fellow at the University of the West Indies (1994), he explored reggae's rhetorical role in Jamaican identity. He serves on the editorial board of Rock Music Studies and reviews for journals including Popular Music and Society . Dr. King's teaching spans rhetorical theory , communication research methods , and public speaking . He has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and coached youth soccer, demonstrating commitment to both academic and community service.
JuHyun Lee is an Associate Professor of Architecture and Computational Design in the School of Built Environment at the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture (ADA), University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, where they also hold the prestigious title of Scientia Academic. With a professional background in architecture and construction (1998-2002), they have held academic positions across Australia including a five-year post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Newcastle (2012-2017) and a senior research fellowship at the University of South Australia (2018), following earlier research and teaching roles in South Korea (2003-2011). Lee specializes in architectural design computing, design cognition, and urban complexity, integrating computational methods, cognitive science, and architectural theory to advance architectural intelligence and human-centered design. Their research spans architectural visualization, analysis and design methods, algorithm/protocol design, and data visualization with computational approaches. They have established a strong research program examining the intersection of language, culture, and design cognition, particularly focusing on cross-cultural design communication between Australia and Korea. Lee's recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated integration of computational methods with architectural design theory, particularly in the areas of shape grammar, space syntax, and machine learning applications. Their work shows consistent focus on practical applications of computational design methods to real-world architectural problems, with growing emphasis on cross-cultural collaboration and intelligent design systems. The research portfolio reveals a deepening engagement with AI and machine learning techniques applied to architectural design assessment and generation. Scientia Academic at UNSW Sydney Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA, 2020) As an educator, Lee develops cutting-edge courses in computational design and Building Information Modeling (BIM), integrating experiential learning and industry engagement. They have secured over $11 million in research funding, including multiple ARC Discovery Projects and an Australia-Korea Foundation grant. Lee co-directs the Advanced Architectural Analytics Laboratory (A 3 LAB), leading interdisciplinary research on design automation, spatial analysis, and machine learning applications in architecture, while also leading cross-cultural initiatives like the Australia-Korea Architects' Network (AKAN). Lee supervises multiple HDR students working on culturally sustainable urban design, socio-spatial patterns in public housing, and computational layout generation. Their research has significant implications for improving design communication across cultural boundaries and developing more coherent, clear, and accessible built environments through computational design approaches.
Nathalie Pignard-Cheynel is a Full Professor of Journalism and Digital Communication at the University of Neuchâtel since 2020, where she leads cutting-edge research on digital transformations in journalism. Previously, she held academic positions at the University of Neuchâtel (Assistant Professor, 2016-2020), University of Lorraine (2013-2016), and Grenoble 3 University (2005-2013), where she earned her doctorate in Information and Communication Sciences (2004). Doctorate in Information and Communication Sciences, University of Grenoble 3 (2004) Full Professor of Journalism and Digital Communication, University of Neuchâtel (2020-present) Assistant Professor in Digital Journalism, University of Neuchâtel (2016-2020) Lecturer in Information and Communication Sciences, Grenoble 3 University (2005-2013) Her research focuses on: Mutations in journalistic practices during digital transformations Social media usage by journalists, media, and audiences Participatory journalism and media-audience relationships Journalism and data practices Disinformation content dissemination and reception Platformization of information and algorithmic roles Digital formats analysis in journalism She has led multiple funded research projects including: PANDA (2023-2026, CHF 499,986) on pandemic data communication #sad2 (2021-2022, CHF 138,460) on disinformation architectures LINC (2018-2021, CHF 184,586) on local journalism innovation International collaborations on pandemic communication and digital media Her teaching includes: Digital technology courses for economics students NewsLab projects for journalism master's students Advanced seminars on digital media and communication Innovative journalistic format production She serves in leadership roles for: President of the Scientific Council, Initiative for Media Innovation (2018-2022) Board Member, Hirondelle Foundation (2021-present) Editorial Board Member, Cahiers du journalisme (2020-present) Qualis Commission, University of Neuchâtel (2019-present)
Cecilia R. Aragon is a Professor in the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering at the University of Washington, where she also serves as an Adjunct Professor in Computer Science & Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and the Information School. She is additionally a Senior Data Science Fellow at the eScience Institute. Aragon directs the Human-Centered Data Science Lab and has made significant contributions at the intersection of human-computer interaction and data science. Her research interests focus on human-centered data science, human-centered artificial intelligence, human-centered machine learning, human-computer interaction (HCI), computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW), visual analytics, aviation and astronautics sociotechnical systems, and emotion in informal text communication. Aragon's work bridges technical and social aspects of data science, particularly examining how humans interact with and gain insight from large datasets through both quantitative and qualitative methods. Aragon's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on understanding online communities, sentiment analysis, distributed mentoring systems, and the ethical implications of AI. Her work spans multiple disciplines including social computing, data visualization, and astrophysics data analysis, showing her interdisciplinary approach to human-centered data science. Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) 2008 Fulbright Fellowship 2017-18 HCDE Faculty Innovator in Research Award, University of Washington, 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award, Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley, 2013 Top 25 Women of the Year, Hispanic Business Magazine, 2009 Aragon has secured over $28 million in research funding from organizations including the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Energy, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Washington Research Foundation, and industry partners like Microsoft and Intel. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Computer Science from UC Berkeley (2004), an M.S. in Computer Science from UC Berkeley, and a B.S. with Honors in Mathematics from Caltech. She leads the Human-Centered Data Science Lab and is affiliated with the eScience Institute, the Nearby Supernova Factory, and various research groups focused on data-intensive scientific collaborations. Her work on collaborative visual analytics systems like Sunfall has had significant impact in both academic and applied settings.
Jack Martínez Arias is an Assistant Professor of Hispanic Studies at Hamilton College , specializing in Indigenous and Andean Studies . His work critically examines the intersections of extractive industries , cultural production , and environmental impacts in Peruvian and Bolivian contexts. Education: Ph.D. from Northwestern University, B.A. from Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. His research explores how literature , film , and cultural narratives reflect and resist extractivism , colonialism , and environmental degradation . He also investigates transculturación in Andean traditions and the role of science fiction as a tool for cultural resistance . Martínez Arias’ publications focus on Andean modernity , mining fictions , and ecocritical responses to extractive practices. His recent journal contributions span Latin American literature , film studies , and popular culture , emphasizing historical memory and social justice . Additional roles include serving on the Latin American Studies Committee and advising the Spanish Club . He is a member of the Latin American Studies Association and has taught courses on Hispanic cinema , Indigenous migration , and Spanish immersion .
Katie Colford serves as a Lecturer in Fine Arts within the Department of Fine Arts at Brandeis University, where she teaches and contributes to the academic community from the Goldman-Schwartz Art Studios. Her role centers on undergraduate instruction and creative practice within the university's arts ecosystem. Her educational foundation includes advanced training from Yale University: Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Dr. Colford's scholarly focus spans Fine Arts and Visual Arts with specialized emphasis on Art Education and Architectural Design. Her interdisciplinary background bridges creative practice and pedagogical innovation, fostering experimental approaches to artistic instruction that integrate spatial design principles with traditional studio methodologies. This synthesis enriches curriculum development across foundational and advanced coursework. As a core faculty member, she operates within the Goldman-Schwartz Art Studios—a dedicated facility supporting painting, sculpture, digital media, and architectural prototyping. This environment enables hands-on mentorship and collaborative projects that connect technical skill development with conceptual exploration. While specific grant funding details remain unpublicized, her lecturing position inherently involves curriculum design, student portfolio development, and departmental service. Her Yale-trained perspective informs critical discourse around contemporary art practices and historical frameworks within undergraduate education.
Mihye Won is an Associate Professor at Monash University’s Faculty of Education, specializing in innovative science education strategies. Her research integrates dialogic teaching, student-generated diagrams, immersive Virtual Reality (VR), and generative AI to enhance scientific understanding and creativity. She has secured Australian Research Council (ARC) funding for projects like Using Immersive Virtual Reality to Enhance Science Visualisation (2019–2025) and Drawing Science Diagrams to Enhance Scientific Creativity (2018–2025). Her work supports students, teachers, and early-career researchers, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goal for Education. PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Inquiry-based science education via Dewey’s theory of inquiry Her research focuses on: Dialogic teaching to foster student reasoning Student-generated diagrams for conceptual understanding VR for visualizing complex science topics Generative AI in science learning Creative and critical thinking in science education Recent articles span VR applications, AI in physics education, collaborative drawing techniques, and curriculum-aligned creative pedagogy. Awards include the Most Valuable Paper Award 2024 for her work on enzyme-substrate interactions in VR. She serves on the advisory board for Chemistry Education Research and Practice and the editorial board of the International Journal of Science Education .
Lynda Jessup is Professor of Screen Cultures and Curatorial Studies in Film and Media at Queen's University's Faculty of Arts & Science. She currently serves as Vice Dean (2021-present), overseeing faculty relations across 30 departments, after previously holding Associate Dean (2014-2021) and Director of Cultural Studies (2009-2014) positions. Her research interrogates visual culture through exhibitions, museums, and art historiography, focusing on Canadian and Indigenous North American contexts within Western valuation systems. She critically examines "the national" as a category of cultural authority, with recent expansion into cultural diplomacy exploring art exhibitions' role in Canadian foreign policy. As Director of the North American Cultural Diplomacy Initiative (NACDI), she leads an international network connecting cultural practitioners with diplomacy scholars. Analysis of her publication trends reveals deep integration of art history with diplomatic studies, particularly through state-sponsored Canadian art exhibitions as instruments of international relations. Her collaborative work consistently bridges academic research and policy impact, with growing emphasis on decolonization, trust-building, and critical approaches to cultural exchange in global contexts. Dr. Jessup's scientific recognition includes: Universities Art Association of Canada Recognition Award (2018) Fulbright Scholar at Rockefeller Archive Center (2010–11) Queen’s University Graduate Supervision Excellence Award (2009) Queen’s University Teaching Excellence Award (1998) Massey College Visiting Scholarship (2019-20) National Gallery of Canada Research Fellowships (2002-03, 1994-95) Her funded research demonstrates sustained leadership in cultural diplomacy, including a SSHRC Partnership Development Grant (2019-25) for "The Cultural Relations Approach to Diplomacy" and MITACS Accelerate funding for Toronto's city diplomacy work. Major grants consistently address intersections of cultural policy, international relations, and visual representation through collaborative frameworks. Through NACDI, Jessup directs an international research network producing policy-shaping outputs like the "Cultural Diplomacy as Critical Practice" report series, fostering practitioner-scholar dialogue on decolonization and trust-building in global cultural relations.
Dr. Aykut Koç is an Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering and a faculty member of the National Magnetic Resonance Research Center (UMRAM) at Bilkent University, Turkey. He leads the AykutKoc Lab, focusing on interdisciplinary research at the intersection of machine learning, signal processing, natural language processing, and graph signal processing. Education: B.S. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (2005, Bilkent University); M.S. in Electrical Engineering (2007), M.S. in Management Science and Engineering (2009), and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (2011) under Professor Lambertus Hesselink at Stanford University; LL.B. in Law (Ankara University). His research integrates mathematical signal processing techniques (e.g., fractional Fourier and linear canonical transforms) with modern machine learning architectures like transformers and graph neural networks. Recent work explores semantic communication systems, bias mitigation in legal language models, and cross-modal applications in biomedical imaging and radar technology. Dr. Koç has published extensively in IEEE and Springer journals, with recent articles analyzing Fourier-enhanced transformers, graph-based NLP methods, and time-vertex signal analysis. His work addresses both theoretical innovations and practical applications, including schizophrenia diagnosis, legal outcome prediction, and maritime surveillance. Scientific Awards: Science Academy Young Scientists Award (BAGEP), 2023. He has supervised numerous graduate and undergraduate researchers, many of whom have transitioned to top-tier institutions such as MIT, UCLA, and TU Darmstadt. Dr. Koç actively serves as Associate Editor for multiple IEEE journals and participates in conference program committees, including EMNLP's Natural Legal Language Processing (NLLP) workshop.
Ziyu Yao is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at George Mason University , co-leading the George Mason NLP Group . He is affiliated with the C4I & Cyber Center , Center for Advancing Human-Machine Partnership , and Institute for Digital InnovAtion at GMU. PhD in Computer Science and Engineering from Ohio State University (2021) Internships: Microsoft Semantic Machines, Carnegie Mellon University, Microsoft Research, Fujitsu Lab of America, Tsinghua University Research Interests: Focus on Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) , particularly advancing LLM systems through knowledge grounding , reasoning , and planning . Key areas include: Mechanistic Interpretability for LLMs Interactive Semantic Parsing/Code Generation Responsible and Trustworthy NLP Interfaces Interdisciplinary Applications in Mathematics Education and Network Communication Recent Articles (2024-2025) explore trends in LLM cascading for cost efficiency, mechanistic interpretability surveys, vision-language model reasoning, and interdisciplinary educational technology. Collaborations span institutions like Microsoft Research , William & Mary , and University of Cambridge . Scientific Awards: Presidential Fellowship (OSU Graduate School, 2020) Graduate Student Research Award (OSU CSE, 2021) Top Reviewer at NeurIPS 2023 Advising & Grants: Mentors PhD students like Murong Yue , Hao Yan , and Mohamed Aghzal . Leads NSF projects on AI-driven Mathematics Education and LLM Interpretability , alongside grants from Commonwealth Cyber Initiative and Microsoft Accelerate Foundation Models Research . Organized workshops at COLM 2025 and ICML 2025 . Labs & Teams: Co-leads the NLP Lab at GMU and collaborates with the MathVC NSF Project team (w/ Jennifer Suh, William & Mary). Develops platforms like Gentopia for tool-augmented LLMs and IntelliExplain for non-professional programmers.
Dr. João F. Henriques is a Research Fellow at the Royal Academy of Engineering and a core member of the Visual Geometry Group (VGG) at the University of Oxford. His work spans the intersection of machine learning , deep learning , and computer vision , with notable contributions to visual tracking , 3D reconstruction , and robotics . He actively mentors DPhil students and collaborates across disciplines including AI safety , NeRFs , and optimisation . Current Students: Marian Longa, Tim Franzmeyer, Dominik Kloepfer, Yash Bhalgat, Shivani Mall, Lorenza Prospero, Mark Eid Graduated Students: Xu Ji, Mandela Patrick, Shu Ishida, Andreea Oncescu Research Trends from his recent work include advances in 3D scene reconstruction (e.g., Flash3D, GST), robotic adaptation (Rapid Motor Adaptation), and multimodal learning (Text2Loc, SCENES). His publications frequently address theoretical guarantees in unsupervised detection and reinforcement learning for POMDP environments. Scientific Recognition includes: Research Fellow, Royal Academy of Engineering CVPR Best Paper Finalist (2012) for Kernelized Correlation Filters (KCF) SIGBOVIK 2020 Most Timely Paper Award for Deep Industrial Espionage He also develops open-source tools like OverBoard , a Python dashboard for deep learning experiment monitoring, and advocates for preregistration workshops to improve machine learning research transparency.
Holger Wittges is the Managing Director of the SAP University Competence Center (UCC) at the Technische Universität München (TUM) . His work focuses on Digital Transformation , Next Generation ERP , and Hybrid Cloud infrastructure. He is affiliated with the KrcmarLab and collaborates with IBM via the OpenPOWER@TUM initiative. Educational Background: 2004: Dr. rer. oec. (Promotion), Universität Hohenheim 1996: Diplom Wirtschaftsinformatiker, Universität Bamberg Research Interests include Digital Transformation, Cloud Computing, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), XaaS (Everything as a Service), and Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA). His work bridges academic innovation with industry needs through SAP UCC TUM, which provides 40+ educational service bundles like SAP HANA and S/4HANA for teaching and research. Recent Publications highlight advancements in machine learning for ERP support ticket systems, energy efficiency in SAP S/4HANA, and educational frameworks for cloud-based enterprise software. Articles emphasize collaboration with institutions across Europe and contributions to digital ecosystems like the SAP University Alliances. Key Projects include the OpenPOWER@TUM initiative with IBM, focusing on accessible AI/ML infrastructure for academia, and the SAP UCC TUM, which drives Education as a Service (EaaS) strategies for digital business ecosystems.
Dr. Bo Liu is an Associate Professor in the School of Computer Science at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), where he serves as a core member and director of the AI Security and Privacy (AISP) Research Lab at the Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute (AAII). With expertise spanning cybersecurity, privacy protection, AI and machine learning, and wireless communications, Dr. Liu has established himself as a leading researcher in the field of AI security and privacy. Dr. Liu earned his PhD from the Department of Electronic Engineering at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2010. His academic journey at UTS has progressed from Senior Lecturer (November 2019-December 2022) to his current position as Associate Professor (January 2023-present). Dr. Liu's research focuses on the critical intersection of artificial intelligence and security, particularly addressing emerging threats in the age of advanced AI systems. His work spans multiple dimensions of security and privacy, including deepfake detection, privacy-preserving data synthesis, AI model security, and fair machine learning. He has pioneered approaches to detect AI-generated content, protect visual privacy through de-identification techniques, and address the complex relationship between algorithmic fairness and privacy preservation. His publication record demonstrates significant contributions across multiple cutting-edge research areas, with particular emphasis on detecting and mitigating threats from generative AI systems. His recent work reveals a strong focus on deepfake detection across multiple modalities (images, video, and audio), privacy-preserving techniques for sensitive data, and the security implications of emerging AI architectures like Retrieval-Augmented Generation systems. Dr. Liu has secured substantial research funding, including as Lead Chief Investigator on multiple ARC Discovery and Linkage Projects, totaling over $3.5 million AUD. His industry collaborations include partnerships with the NSW Department of Planning and the Reserve Bank of Australia, demonstrating the practical applicability of his research. As an academic leader, Dr. Liu serves as Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting and actively contributes to the academic community through conference organization, peer review for top-tier venues, and assessment for ARC grant schemes. He also teaches courses including Penetration Testing, Ethical Hacking and Offensive Security, and supervises Masters and PhD students in cybersecurity and privacy research.
