Teresa Faucon is an Associate Professor and HDR researcher at Sorbonne Nouvelle University (Paris 3), affiliated with the IRCAV research institute. She specializes in cinema and audiovisual aesthetics, montage theory, and postcolonial film studies. Her roles include director of the Cinema and Audiovisual Master's program (2021–2023), and leadership in disability and professional training initiatives. She co-founded key research groups like Indian Cinemas (2012), CREAViS (2015), and Exotismes en champ-contrechamp (2018), focusing on decolonial cinema and exoticism analysis. Her work bridges academic research with creative projects, including the interactive Maps of Film Analysis platform. Research interests span Indian and Southeast Asian cinemas, dance-cinema interactions, and experimental film forms. She has organized 7 international conferences and co-edited major texts like Chorégraphier le film (2019). Recent publications include studies on exoticism's sonic dimensions and non-European cinema. Her digital platform Les cartes de l'analyse de film innovates in nonlinear film analysis through heuristic maps. She co-directs the Formes filmiques and Cinémas en champ-contrechamp book series, promoting global cinema scholarship.
Dr. Joyoung Lee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). He previously served as Laboratory Manager at the Federal Highway Administration's Saxton Transportation Operations Laboratory. His research focuses on Connected Vehicle (CV) systems, including applications in traffic management, signal control optimization, and autonomous vehicle infrastructure integration. Dr. Lee holds a Ph.D. (2010) and M.S. (2007) in Transportation Engineering from the University of Virginia, and a B.S. (2000) in Transportation Engineering from Hanyang University. His work emphasizes CV-based solutions for real-time traffic systems, cooperative vehicle-infrastructure systems (CVIS), and autonomous vehicle integration. Notable achievements include the 2019 IEEE CAVS Best Paper Award and multiple best paper recognitions from PTV User Group Meetings. His research also addresses traffic safety through innovations like the Virtual Guide Dog system for visually impaired pedestrians and advanced traffic monitoring frameworks using LiDAR and computer vision. Education: Ph.D., Transportation Engineering, University of Virginia (2010) M.S., Transportation Engineering, University of Virginia (2007) B.S., Transportation Engineering, Hanyang University (2000) Dr. Lee's research interests span smart city infrastructure, edge computing for traffic systems, and sustainable transportation solutions. He has pioneered algorithms for cooperative intersection management, automated platooning systems, and federated learning-based traffic optimization. His work bridges theoretical models with real-world implementation through partnerships with FHWA and industry stakeholders. Key contributions include development of the Cumulative Travel-Time Responsive (CTR) traffic signal control system, smart arrival notification systems for paratransit services, and advanced microsimulation calibration techniques. His lab focuses on translating CV data into actionable strategies for safer, more efficient transportation networks. Awards: IEEE CAVS Best Paper Award (2019) ASCE Grand Challenge Innovation Contest Honorable Mention (2017) PTV VISSIM Best Paper Awards (2012, 2008) Excellence in Research Award (University of Virginia, 2011) Ongoing projects include semi-decentralized graph neural networks for traffic forecasting and low-cost LiDAR-based traffic monitoring systems. His work addresses critical challenges in autonomous vehicle integration, incident management, and infrastructure resilience through interdisciplinary collaborations.
Professor Jason Hall-Spencer is a globally recognized marine biologist at the University of Plymouth and a full professor at the University of Tsukuba (Japan), with an adjunct role at Xiamen University. His research focuses on ocean acidification, invasive species (e.g., lionfish), and climate change impacts on marine ecosystems. He pioneered the use of underwater CO2 seeps as natural analogues for climate change studies, a methodology now adopted globally. His work has influenced policies to protect deep-water corals and Arctic reefs, and he leads projects like RELIONMED to combat lionfish invasions in the Mediterranean. Education: Studied Applied Marine Biology at Heriot-Watt University, completed a PhD on coralline algae at Millport Marine Station, and conducted fieldwork across Europe, Asia, and the Pacific. His career includes discovering UK deep-water coral reefs and Arctic reefs, leading to their legal protection. Research Interests: Ocean acidification effects on marine organisms, invasive species management, CO2 seep dynamics, coral reef ecology, and marine conservation. His work combines field experiments, policy advocacy, and community engagement to address global marine challenges. Grants and Collaborations: Secured €1.7M from the EU Life Programme for lionfish control and a $400K grant on plankton dynamics. Collaborates with organizations like the Marine Biological Association and international researchers on projects such as the Ocean Organ to visualize CO2 impacts. Labs/Teams: Leads the Marine Conservation Research Group at Plymouth, coordinating initiatives like RELIONMED and influencing global marine policies through partnerships with governments and NGOs.
Rebecca Williams is an Associate Professor in Media Audiences and Participatory Cultures at the Faculty of Business and Creative Industries , University of South Wales. She co-leads the Creative Industries Research & Innovation Group and chairs the Faculty Ethics Committee. PhD in Media & Cultural Studies (2008), Cardiff University Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching (2011), University of Glamorgan MA in Critical and Cultural Theory (2004), Cardiff University BA (First Class) in Journalism, Film, and Broadcasting (2003), Cardiff University Her research focuses on media audiences , fan engagement , transmedia storytelling , and the experience economy , particularly in media tourism and themed entertainment . Current projects explore Disney's evolving role in global culture and the commodification of fan practices. Rebecca's publications span fandom theory , transmedia analysis , and immersive media , including monographs on theme park fandom and post-object fan identity. She actively supervises PhD students in areas like celebrity studies , media tourism , and digital fan communities . She welcomes PhD applications in media audiences, fan studies, and immersive experiences, with a commitment to mentoring emerging scholars in these fields.
Ali Yaycıoğlu is an Associate Professor of History at Stanford University, serving as Director of the Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies and Middle Eastern Studies Forum. His work focuses on Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey, integrating digital tools to analyze political, economic, and legal institutions. He holds affiliations with the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law, and the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. B.S. in International Relations (Middle East Technical University, 1994) M.A. in History (Bilkent University, 1997) Graduate Studies in Islamic Studies (McGill University, 1998) Ph.D. in History and Middle Eastern Studies (Harvard, 2008) His research explores Ottoman political and financial systems, with current projects examining debt networks (The Order of Debt) and Ottoman political communities. He leads digital initiatives like Charting the Empire and Mapping Ottoman Epirus, using spatial analysis to map fiscal records and power structures. His work bridges historical analysis with digital humanities, producing visualizations of Ottoman networks. Notable publications include Partners of the Empire (2016) and essays on Ottoman global connections. He co-edited a special digital humanities issue of the Journal of Ottoman and Turkish Studies (2023). His research has been supported by grants including the Stanford Data Science Seed Grant (2018). Yaycıoğlu advises the Stanford Ottoman World Series and engages in public scholarship through media commentary on Turkish politics. His artistic projects under 'Critical Imagination' explore historical themes through visual arts, further bridging academic and creative domains.
Thijs Weststeijn is a Professor of Art History at Utrecht University's Department of History and Art History (Humanities). He specializes in early modern European art, particularly Dutch Golden Age art and global cultural exchanges. His research focuses on cross-cultural interactions between Europe, China, and Asia, with notable projects like the 'Histories of Global Netherlandish Art, 1550-1750.' Weststeijn holds a PhD from Amsterdam University Press (2008) and has held fellowships at institutions like the Getty Research Institute and the Max Planck Institute. He is a founding editor of History of Humanities and contributed to exhibitions such as Barbaren en Wijsgeren . His recent media engagements include discussions on climate change impacts on cultural heritage (2023) and re-evaluations of Rembrandt's global influences. Key publications include Art and Antiquity in the Netherlands and Britain (2015) and Foreign Devils and Philosophers (2020).
Andrea Prosperetti is a Full Professor at the University of Twente's Physics of Fluids department within the MESA+ Institute. His research focuses on multiphase flow dynamics, bubble behavior, and fluid mechanics, contributing to Sustainable Development Goals through advanced fluid dynamics studies. He has published extensively with over 224 research outputs and 70 h-index. Key research areas include fluid instabilities, interfacial phenomena, and numerical simulations of complex flows. Recent work explores particle-resolved convection, Taylor bubble dynamics, and hydraulic jumps on conical surfaces. His collaborations span international institutions, emphasizing computational modeling and experimental validation. Prosperetti has delivered numerous presentations on particulate flow simulations and fluid dynamics, and has held editorial and committee roles in organizations like the Institute for Cavitation Research and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).
Dr. Dijiang Huang is an Associate Professor in the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence at Arizona State University (ASU). He joined ASU in 2005 after completing his Ph.D. in Telecommunications and Computer Networking from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (2004). His research focuses on cybersecurity, mobile computing, and cloud computing, supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Office of Naval Research (ONR), and industry partners like HP. He has received prestigious awards, including the ONR Young Investigator Award and HP Innovative Research Award. Education: B.E. in Telecommunications, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (1995) M.S. in Computer Science, University of Missouri-Kansas City (2001) Ph.D. in Telecommunications and Computer Networking, University of Missouri-Kansas City (2004) Research Interests: Huang’s work emphasizes secure communication protocols, privacy-preserving techniques, and resilient network architectures. He has pioneered frameworks like Secure Group Communication (SeGCom) and Attribute-Based Cryptography , addressing challenges in VANETs, SDN, and edge computing. His recent projects include developing Waterfall for SDN security and SmartDefense for DDoS mitigation. Grants & Awards: ONR Young Investigator Award (2008) HP Innovative Research Award (2008) NSF grants for secure mobile cloud frameworks and cyber-physical systems Professional Contributions: Huang has served as a reviewer for journals like IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications and conferences such as ACM MobiArch. He co-developed the Open Human-Robotic Mobile Networking and Security Testbed (OHReST) and the Virtual Laboratory (VLab) for cybersecurity education.
Abraham Silberschatz is the Sidney J. Weinberg Professor of Computer Science at Yale University. He previously served as Vice President of the Information Sciences Research Center at Bell Laboratories and held a chaired professorship at the University of Texas at Austin. His research focuses on database systems, operating systems, and network management. Silberschatz has advised over a dozen PhD students, many now in academia and industry. Education: Ph.D., Computer Science, Stony Brook University (SUNY) Research Interests: His work spans database systems, operating systems, storage systems, and network management. Notable contributions include foundational textbooks like Operating System Concepts and Database System Concepts , which have become industry standards. He has also developed innovative systems like DataPlay and contributed to projects such as NetInventory. Publications: His 15+ years of research include influential papers on database architecture, network routing, and distributed systems. Recent work explores leveraging non-volatile memory technologies in systems design. Awards: ACM Karl V. Karlstrom Outstanding Educator Award (1998) IEEE Taylor L. Booth Education Award (2002) VLDB Test of Time Award (2019) Multiple Bell Laboratories President's Awards for innovation Grants & Patents: Recipient of over two dozen grants and over four dozen patents, including foundational IP in multimedia storage and distributed systems. His team's HadoopDB project merged MapReduce and DBMS technologies. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with Prof. Robert Soulé on projects in database systems and networking, focusing on next-gen memory technologies. Active in mentoring graduate students and postdocs in their research group.
Dr. Angelina Vernetti is a Research Scientist at Yale University's Child Study Center, affiliated with the Social and Affective Neuroscience of Autism (SANA) Program. She holds a PhD in Developmental Neuropsychology from Birkbeck, University of London, and completed postdoctoral training at Yale. Her research focuses on social attention, reinforcement learning, and emotional regulation in children with autism, using advanced methodologies like eye-tracking and physiological recordings. Education: PhD in Developmental Neuropsychology, Birkbeck, University of London (2018) MSc in Neurosciences and Neuropsychology, University of Toulouse (2010) BSc in Cell Biology, University of Angers (2008) Research Interests : Dr. Vernetti investigates the neural and behavioral foundations of social difficulties in autism, including social attention mechanisms, emotional regulation abnormalities, and language processing deficits. Her work integrates experimental paradigms with neuroimaging and physiological measures to identify biomarkers for early intervention. Collaborations: She collaborates with prominent researchers like Katarzyna Chawarska and Suzanne Macari, focusing on neurodevelopmental mechanisms and translational research. Her team explores innovative approaches to autism assessment, including live eye-tracking and puppet-based interventions. Labs & Affiliations: Member of the Chawarska Lab and the Center for Brain & Mind Health. Active in training undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students in autism research methodologies.
Julian Jauk is a Researcher at the Institute for Architecture and Media, TU Graz. His work focuses on innovative material systems, digital fabrication, and sustainable architectural design. He explores the integration of clay composites, mycelium-based materials, and knitted structures with advanced manufacturing techniques like 3D printing. Key research themes include lightweight ceramic structures, biocomposite materials, and computational design methodologies. His research emphasizes material-driven innovation, structural optimization, and environmental sustainability. Notable projects include MyCera (clay-mycelium composites) and ClayKnit (3D-printed clay-knitted hybrids). He also investigates mixed reality tools for architectural sketching and kinetic architectural prototypes. Publications from 2021–2024 highlight trends in bio-based materials, additive manufacturing, and material-property analysis. His work bridges traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge digital fabrication, aiming to redefine sustainable building practices.
Markus Friedrich is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Wayne State University, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on insect development, gene family evolution, and arthropod visual systems, with a particular interest in cave-adapted species. He has held roles including Editor-in-Chief of the Molecular Biology and Genomics Section for the journal Insects and advised on the Australian Research Council project DP230100731 (2023-2024). Education: PhD in Zoology from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (1995), postdoctoral training at Caltech (1996–1999). His research interests span comparative genomics, evolutionary developmental biology, and the genetic basis of sensory adaptations. Notable work includes studies on opsin gene evolution, cave animal adaptations, and the genomic basis of arthropod diversification. Recent publications highlight discoveries in harvestmen relict eyes, horseshoe crab Pax6 homologs, and cave beetle sleep behavior. Teaching includes courses like BIO4220 Biological Dimensions of Evolutionary Psychology and BIO1500 Basic Life Diversity . He has supervised numerous students and volunteers, fostering a dynamic research lab environment. His work integrates genomic, developmental, and evolutionary approaches to unravel mechanisms of trait evolution in insects. Grants/Awards: Australian Research Council funding, editorial leadership in entomology journals. Labs/Teams: The Friedrich Lab focuses on evolutionary genetics, with projects involving Tribolium beetles, cave organisms, and comparative genomics.
Thomas Michael Sattich is an Associate Professor at the University of Stavanger , affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences and Department of Media and Social Studies . His research focuses on geopolitical implications of sustainability transitions, particularly energy policy interdependence and EU-China relations. PhD in Political Science and Economics Expertise in qualitative methods, mixed methods (cluster analysis), and data visualization Lead researcher on EU-funded digital climate negotiation simulation projects His recent publications examine renewable energy geopolitics, industrial policy competition, and sustainability education frameworks. Methodologically, he specializes in Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and network analysis, contributing to debates on energy security and regional cooperation.
Josh McDermott is a Professor in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT and an Associate Investigator at the McGovern Institute. He holds roles as Associate Department Head and Principal Investigator of the Laboratory for Computational Audition. His work bridges psychology, neuroscience, and engineering to study auditory perception, with a focus on sound interpretation, hearing impairment treatments, and machine hearing systems. Education includes a B.A. from Harvard (summa cum laude), an MPhil from University College London, and a PhD from MIT. Postdoctoral training included NYU and the University of Minnesota. Research interests encompass computational principles of sound perception, natural sound statistics, music cognition, and machine hearing. Key areas include sound localization, auditory scene analysis, and the role of generative models in perception. Recent publications highlight advancements in auditory neural networks, cross-cultural music perception, and noise schema processing. Awards include the Troland Research Award, BCS Excellence in Advising, and NSF CAREER Award. Advising includes over 20 graduate students and postdocs, with notable contributions to auditory neuroscience and machine learning. Major grants support projects on auditory models and sensory systems. The lab develops tools like cochleagram generation and headphone screening software. The Laboratory for Computational Audition operates at MIT, focusing on biological and computational approaches to hearing. Collaborations span engineering, psychology, and neuroscience to advance understanding of auditory processing.
Michael Stonebraker is a renowned computer scientist and Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at MIT's CSAIL. He is a pioneer in database technology, having developed foundational systems like INGRES and POSTGRES at UC Berkeley. His work spans database management, distributed systems, and data integration. He has founded multiple startups to commercialize his research and holds numerous awards, including the ACM Turing Award (2014) and IEEE John von Neumann Medal (2005). He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan and undergraduate degrees from Princeton and Michigan. His research focuses on advancing database systems, operating systems, and big data analytics. Recent work includes contributions to video data management, cloud computing optimization, and data discovery systems. Education: Ph.D., Computer, Information and Control Engineering, University of Michigan (1971) M.S.E., Electrical Engineering, University of Michigan (1966) B.S.E., Electrical Engineering, Princeton University (1965) Research Interests: Database Technology, Distributed Systems, Data Integration, and Big Data Analytics. His work bridges theory and practice, emphasizing scalable architectures and real-world applications. Awards & Recognition: ACM Turing Award (2014) ACM SIGMOD Systems Award (2015) MIT Tech Review TR7 (2016) C&C Prize (2020) Grants & Labs: His research is supported by grants from NSF, DARPA, and industry collaborations. He leads MIT's efforts in database systems and is affiliated with CSAIL labs focused on data management and high-performance computing.
