Associate Professor Naseem Ahmadpour is a leading researcher in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Design at the University of Sydney 's School of Architecture, Design and Planning. She directs the Affective Interactions Lab and serves as Associate Dean (Research) and Chair of the EDI Committee . PhD, University of Montreal MSc, Chalmers University of Technology BSc, Bahonar University Her research critically examines the ethical implications of sociotechnical systems in care and work futures, focusing on participatory design with vulnerable populations. She explores immersive technologies like VR for mental health, pain management, and clinical training, while advocating for equity in design practices. Recent work includes 15+ publications (2023-2026) on VR applications, ethical design tools, and sociotechnical critiques. She has received the SOAR Prize (2022-2023) and led grants on VR in clinical education, digital volunteering, and aging technologies. Dr. Ahmadpour supervises PhD students in projects like Collaborative Reflection in Mental Health and Cultural Bias in Digital Design . She contributes to the Design. Think. Make. Break. Repeat methodology handbook and co-leads the VirtX Community of Practice for immersive realities.
Dimitris Mitropoulos is an Assistant Professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in the Department of Business Administration, where he teaches courses on Distributed Ledger Technologies, Data Security and Privacy, Algorithms and Business Analytics, and Introduction to Programming. He also serves as Head of the Reliability Engineering Directorate at the National Infrastructures for Research and Technology (GRNET), Greece's national research and education network organization. Previously, he was a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Computer Science Department at Columbia University. Dr. Mitropoulos received his Ph.D. degree in Secure Software Development Technologies from the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) in 2014. His doctoral research was supported by the Heracleitus II Scholarship, co-financed by the European Union and Greek national funds. He is a member of prestigious professional organizations including ACM, IEEE, and USENIX. Dr. Mitropoulos conducts pioneering research at the intersection of software engineering and cybersecurity, with particular expertise in secure software development, vulnerability analysis, and blockchain security. His work spans multiple dimensions of software security including code injection attacks, infrastructure as code security, smart contract analysis, and dependency management in software ecosystems. His research methodology combines static and dynamic analysis techniques with empirical studies of real-world software systems, particularly focusing on Java, Python, and Solidity ecosystems. His recent work has made significant contributions to understanding security vulnerabilities in modern software development practices and infrastructure management. Dr. Mitropoulos has received numerous prestigious awards for his research contributions, including the Research Excellence Award from NKUA (2025), Distinguished Paper and Artifact Awards at PLDI '22, Best Data Showcase Award at MSR 2018, and multiple postdoctoral research funding scholarships. His work on "Finding typing compiler bugs" was recognized with both Distinguished Paper and Artifact Awards at PLDI '22, highlighting the significance and reproducibility of his research. He has also received recognition for his service to the academic community, including a Certificate of Appreciation from ESEC/FSE '21 for his contributions to conference organization. Dr. Mitropoulos has been actively involved in securing research funding and leading significant research projects. He currently serves as Principal Investigator for the SecOPERA project (2023-Today), funded by the European Commission under Horizon Europe. Previously, he contributed to several major EU and US-funded projects including eSSIF-Lab (2019-2022), FASTEN (2019-2022), PRIViLEDGE (2018-2021), CERTCOOP (2017-2020), PANORAMIX (2016-2019), and TREDISEC (2016-2018). His research has been supported by diverse funding sources including the European Commission's Horizon 2020 program, the National Science Foundation, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Dr. Mitropoulos plays an active role in the international research community through various leadership positions. He serves on program committees for top-tier conferences including OOPSLA (2026), ICSE (2026), ESEC/FSE (2025), and ISSTA (2025). He has previously served as Workshop Co-Chair for ISSTA 2025 and Student Volunteer Chair for ESEC/FSE 2021. His contributions to mentoring the next generation of researchers include serving as a mentor for the ICSE Student Mentoring Workshop (2022) and supervising Google Summer of Code projects (2017).
Dr. Andrea Grover is an Associate Professor in the Department of Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis at the University of Nebraska Omaha’s College of Information Science & Technology. Her research focuses on citizen science, technology design, and collaboration systems in data-intensive environments. She holds a Ph.D. in Information Science & Technology from Syracuse University, an MS in Information from the University of Michigan, and a BA in Mathematics from Alma College. Her research interests include organizational impacts of technology, open collaboration frameworks, and ethics in information systems. She teaches courses on management and IT ethics, employing ungrading techniques to enhance student engagement. Notable contributions include work on citizen science data quality, cyber-security tools leveraging crowdsourcing, and barriers in STEM education equity. Dr. Grover has been recognized with the 2022 Rising Star Distinguished Ecologist award and serves on editorial boards (e.g., Frontiers in Ecology) and conference committees (e.g., ACM CSCW DEI Co-chair). She has secured grants such as the NSF-funded “Streamlining Embedded Assessment to Understand Citizen Scientists' Skill Gains” (2017–2019) and contributed to media discussions on citizen science via National Public Radio. Her recent publications explore hybrid human-AI tools, agile citizen science methodologies, and systemic barriers in education. She actively participates in interdisciplinary initiatives, bridging technology, ecology, and social sciences to advance participatory research practices.
Kathy Fontaine serves as Senior Lecturer in Information Technology and Web Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Program Manager for the RPI-IBM AI Research Collaboration. She joined RPI in 2014 after 25 years at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center where she developed international data access policies through CEOS WGISS, GEO, and USGEO. Her educational background includes: B.S. in Physics with Astrophysics Option from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (1984) M.A. in Science, Technology and Public Policy from The George Washington University (2002) Ph.D. in Public Policy and Public Administration from Walden University (2013) Dr. Fontaine's research integrates data science policy with ethical frameworks, focusing on international data sharing cultures and volunteer organization dynamics. She develops courses like Big Data Policy and Ethical Informatics that address data scientists' societal responsibilities. Her work examines how policy implementations affect global earth observation systems and research data ecosystems, with particular attention to cross-cultural collaboration challenges in scientific consortia. Analysis of her publications reveals strong interdisciplinary connections between earth sciences and computer science, with emerging trends in data dexterity training, knowledge graph applications for social equity, and mineral inventory data legacies. Her research increasingly bridges technical data infrastructure with ethical considerations in data sharing. Dr. Fontaine actively contributes to scientific communities through the Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP), where she serves on GEO's Programme Board, and maintains affiliations with AGU, ACM Web Science, IEEE GRSS, and IEEE SSIT. Her current leadership in the RPI-IBM AI Research Collaboration extends her mission to develop responsible AI frameworks.
Seth Frey is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Davis, with affiliate status at Indiana University's Ostrom Workshop and as Research Director at Metagov. His research focuses on computational social science approaches to understanding self-governance in complex social systems, particularly through the lens of online communities as model institutions. Education: Ph.D. in Cognitive Science and Informatics (complex systems), Indiana University, 2013 B.A. in Cognitive Science, UC Berkeley, 2004 Research Interests: Frey specializes in computational approaches to institutional analysis and the cognitive science of strategic behavior . His work examines how communities design governance systems to overcome collective action problems, with emphasis on: Emergent institutional structures in digital commons Policy-as-data through NLP and institutional grammar frameworks Cognitive mechanisms underlying cooperative behavior Design principles for participatory change in online platforms His methodology integrates large-scale data analysis, web-based experiments, and computational modeling across diverse contexts including Minecraft, Reddit, and professional sports ecosystems. Publication Trends: Recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate a cohesive trajectory toward computational institutional analysis, with increasing focus on NLP-driven policy analysis (e.g., NLP4Gov), decentralized governance architectures (DAOs, multi-level platform governance), and the cognitive foundations of collective action. His work consistently bridges theoretical institutional analysis with practical applications in digital community design, showing particular growth in translating Ostrom's design principles into computational frameworks. Awards: Honorable Mention Award for Best Paper at ACM CSCW 2019 Advising and Grants: Frey mentors students interested in data science applications at the intersection of communication, cognition, and complex systems, emphasizing resourcefulness and intellectual curiosity. His research has secured substantial funding from: National Science Foundation (NSF) NASA Ford Foundation Google Open Source Foundation He actively encourages aspiring graduate students with strong self-directed research skills to explore computational approaches to social phenomena. Labs and Teams: He leads the Computational Communication Lab at UC Davis and co-directs the Institutional Grammar Research Initiative. Through Metagov, he develops the 'Governance API' framework for modular community governance. His past affiliations include Disney Research (Walt Disney Imagineering) where he applied complexity science to theme park systems, and the New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI). Current collaborations span Ethereum governance, Minecraft server ecosystems, and Colorado's cannabis monitoring infrastructure.
Dr. Corey B. Jackson is an Assistant Professor in The Information School at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, affiliated with the Robert & Jean Holtz Center for Science and Technology Studies, Institute for Diversity Science, and Data Science Institute. His research bridges human-centered computing, CSCW, and design epistemologies, focusing on socio-technical systems for equitable participation in AI and citizen science. He teaches courses in Interaction Design, User Experience, and Digital Information. Education: Ph.D. Library & Information Science, Syracuse University, 2019 M.S. Library & Information Science, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2012 B.A. Political Science, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2010 Research Interests: Jackson’s work emphasizes designing systems for transparency, accountability, and democratic participation in technologies. He explores AI fairness, citizen science, and civic technology. His methodologies include mixed methods and socio-technical analysis. Key Awards: ACM CSCW 2020 Honorable Mention (Best Paper) NSF HCC Grant (2021–2024) Rockefeller Foundation Grant (2021) Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Grant (2022–2023) Advising & Grants: Jackson mentors Ph.D. students in HCI and citizen science. His grants total over $612k, supporting projects like AI audit tools and environmental justice initiatives. He co-directs the Collaborative Computing Group. Labs & Teams: Collaborative Computing Group at UW-Madison; affiliated with interdisciplinary institutes advancing data science and diversity in science.
Travis Desell is a Professor in the Department of Software Engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), part of the B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences. His research focuses on data science and machine learning applied to large-scale datasets using high-performance and distributed computing. He specializes in neuro-evolution, combining evolutionary algorithms with neural networks, particularly through his EXACT and EXAMM algorithms. He leads the D2S2 Lab and has developed the SALSA programming language based on the actor model. Currently funded projects include the National General Aviation Flight Information Database (NGAFID) and an NSF award exploring contextual bandits for decision-making in cyber-physical systems. His work emphasizes practical scientific applications, including stock forecasting, power plant data prediction, and explainable time series models. Education details are not explicitly provided, but his roles and publications indicate advanced academic credentials. Research interests span neuro-evolutionary techniques, recurrent neural networks, and distributed computing frameworks. Key projects include EXAMM for time series forecasting and NGAFID for flight safety analysis. Collaborations involve students and teams at RIT and beyond, with a focus on advancing AI-driven solutions in dynamic environments. Lab affiliations include the D2S2 Lab, where he mentors students and conducts cutting-edge research. Current opportunities exist for PhD students with backgrounds in software engineering and expertise in areas like NLP, web development, and distributed systems.
Kjerstin Thorson serves as the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Colorado State University, a position she assumed on August 1, 2024. Previously, she was the Brandt Endowed Professor of Political Communication and Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives at Michigan State University’s College of Communication Arts & Sciences. An internationally recognized scholar, her research centers on digital platforms and their impact on civic life and culture. Her educational background includes: BA in English from Macalester College MA in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia PhD in Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Thorson's research explores the intersection of digital media, political communication, and civic engagement. She investigates how social media platforms shape political participation, news consumption, and civic discourse, with a particular focus on young adults and historically marginalized communities. Her work addresses critical issues such as equity in digital civic infrastructure, the role of algorithms in political exposure, and the dynamics of online moderation and community governance. She examines both the empowering potentials and the challenges of digital media for democratic participation. Her recent publications (2023-2025) reveal a sustained investigation into platform governance, volunteer moderation, and the urban-rural divide in digital civic engagement. She also delves into Gen Z's civic behaviors, the spread of misinformation, and the evolving landscape of political learning on social media. Her work often employs mixed-methods approaches, combining digital trace data with surveys to understand complex media effects. Thorson has received notable recognition for her contributions: Michigan State University’s Teacher-Scholar Award 2022-2023 Fellow of the Big 10 Academic Alliance Leadership Program Her research has been supported by prestigious organizations including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Social Science Research Council, and the Spencer Foundation. In her administrative roles, she has prioritized student success through initiatives like the Ignite the Future program, which supports first-generation and marginalized students, and has championed faculty development through the creation of a Center for Teaching and Learning. While specific advisees are not listed, her leadership in student success programs underscores her commitment to mentoring. Under her leadership at Michigan State University, the College of Communication Arts & Sciences expanded its revenue-generating partnerships, created a college-wide Center for Teaching and Learning, launched the Ignite the Future family of programs, and grew the esports initiative. She has also focused on improving culture and climate through promotion pathways for non-tenure track faculty, climate surveys, and community-building events.
Nicholas Vincent is an Assistant Professor in the School of Computing Science at Simon Fraser University. His research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Responsible Artificial Intelligence, and Human-Centric Machine Learning. He holds a Ph.D. in Technology and Social Behavior from Northwestern University (2022) and a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from UCLA (2016). Education: Ph.D., Northwestern University (2022); B.Sc., UCLA (2016) Affiliations: Simon Fraser University School of Computing Science His work examines the societal implications of AI, including data labor rights, algorithmic governance, and ethical design. Notable contributions include frameworks for measuring attentional agency on digital platforms and studies on collective action in tech contexts. He received the SIGCHI Outstanding Dissertation Award in 2024. Recent publications explore topics like AI ethics, governance of generative models, and Wikipedia's role in content ecosystems. He actively participates in policy discussions through media engagements and conference talks, advocating for public-oriented AI development.
Ryan Giordano is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Statistics at the University of California, Berkeley. He holds a PhD in Statistics from UC Berkeley (2019), advised by Michael Jordan, Tamara Broderick, and Jon McAuliffe, an MSc in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics from the London School of Economics (2009), and undergraduate degrees in Mathematics and Theoretical/Applied Mechanics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior to academia, he worked as an engineer at Google and HP and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kazakhstan. His research focuses on variational methods , Bayesian robustness , sensitivity analysis , and statistical computing , with applications in machine learning, environmental science, and astronomy. He is particularly known for developing scalable Bayesian inference techniques and quantifying the robustness of statistical models to data perturbations. Giordano’s recent work includes studies on Laplace approximation accuracy, MCMC sensitivity to data removal, and robustness metrics for differential expression analysis. He has contributed to open-source statistical software and collaborates with Tamara Broderick’s group at MIT on postdoctoral work (pre-2019 position). His academic trajectory combines theoretical innovation with practical applications, emphasizing reproducibility and computational efficiency in statistical methodology.
Raja Alomari is an Associate Teaching Professor at Northeastern University's Multidisciplinary Graduate Engineering Programs. He holds a PhD in Computer Science and Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo (2010), an MSc and BSc from the University of Jordan (2004 and 2002, respectively). His expertise spans machine learning, data engineering, MLOps, and cloud security, with over 30 publications in academic journals and conferences. Education: PhD, Computer Science, SUNY Buffalo, 2010 MSc, Computer Science, University of Jordan, 2004 BSc, Computer Science, University of Jordan, 2002 Research & Industry: Dr. Alomari has 22+ years of academic teaching experience across institutions like the University of Jordan, Wayne State University, and SUNY Buffalo. He also served as a Staff II Machine Learning Engineer at VMware Inc., focusing on cloud-based data pipelines and AWS-driven security solutions. He is a cofounder of Pextra Inc. Advocacy & Community: A strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, he has led mentoring programs and inclusive hiring initiatives. He volunteers extensively in community organizations, emphasizing talent development in technology.
Dr. Marzieh Amini is an Associate Professor at Carleton University, cross-appointed to the School of Information Technology and Department of Systems and Computer Engineering . She coordinates the Optical Systems and Sensors undergraduate program and leads research in computer vision, sensor fusion, and biomedical signal processing . PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering (2016), Concordia University Postdoctoral Fellow (2020), McGill University Research Interests focus on autonomous vehicle perception systems integrating machine learning and statistical modeling . Her work addresses multi-sensor integration for reliable operation in diverse environments, including biomedical applications and critical infrastructure monitoring . Recent publications emphasize wildfire management , LiDAR-based infrastructure monitoring , and adverse weather adaptation in autonomous systems . She has received grants from NSERC, NRC, and FRQNT . Honors & Awards include: Volunteer Recognition Awards (IEEE Montreal, 2022 & 2019) FRQNT Postdoctoral Fellowship (2018) IEEE ISCAS Travel Support (2016) Professional Service includes leadership roles in IEEE committees and conference organization.
Dcn. Stephen Frezza is a Professor of Software Engineering and current Director of the Software Engineering Program at Franiscan University of Steubenville . Prior to this, he served as a professor and three-time chair of the Computer and Information Science Department at Gannon University for 26 years. His expertise spans requirements engineering, project management, software testing, and embedded systems . Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh Professional Software Engineering Master (PSEM) Active in industry-university partnerships His research bridges engineering with theology , focusing on philosophy of engineering, affective-domain assessment, competency modeling, and software engineering education . He has authored numerous scholarly works on virtue formation, educational frameworks, and the philosophical foundations of computing. Recent publications highlight his contributions to computing curricula (CC2020), virtue-based educational models , and Lonergan’s epistemology applied to engineering . His work integrates faith and reason in pedagogical contexts, emphasizing the ethical dimensions of engineering education . Senior Member of the IEEE Computer Society Volunteer for IEEE-CS Special Technical Committee on Education Professional member of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Dcn. Frezza’s leadership in curriculum design and industry collaboration has shaped software engineering programs globally. His teaching and research underscore the interplay between technical rigor and moral development , advocating for holistic engineering education.
Aleksandar Mihajlovic is a researcher and Art Director at Singidunum University, Serbia. With a doctoral degree in Contemporary Business Decision-Making (2022), a master's in Business Economics (2014), and a bachelor's in Computer Graphics and Design (2008), he combines academic rigor with creative leadership in the university's marketing strategy. Doctoral studies: Contemporary Business Decision-Making, Singidunum University (2022) Master studies: Business Economics, Singidunum University (2008–2014) Undergraduate: Computer Graphics and Design, Faculty of Informatics and Management (2005–2008) High school: Robotics and Flexible Production Systems Technician, Polytechnic Academy (1995–1999) His research spans visual communication , digital marketing , and artificial intelligence applications in creative industries. Key contributions include Co-authoring 11 academic papers (2015–2025) on topics like Instagram ad effectiveness, techno-feudalism, and responsive logo design. Developing the scientific research portal 'Singipedia' and international magazine 'SingiLogos'. Participating in 7 global projects including Erasmus+ and TEMPUS initiatives. His scientific awards include the JISA Discobolos Special Award (2010), IT Globus Award (2010), and Grafima Fair Special Award (2025). He serves on the organizing committee for conferences like Sinteza and Sitcon , and has judged marketing competitions while volunteering for NGOs like the City Organization of the Deaf of Belgrade.
James D. Herbsleb is a Professor at Carnegie Mellon University in the Software and Societal Systems Department under the School of Computer Science . He served as Department Head from 2019-2024 and holds a PhD in Psychology and an MS in Computer Science. Education PhD in Psychology MS in Computer Science Research interests focus on the intersection of software engineering , computer-supported cooperative work , and socio-technical systems . Key areas include global software teams, open source ecosystems, and the limits of modularity in complex projects. His work explores decision networks , interface translucence , and scientific software sharing through NSF-funded initiatives. Recent publications examine API management in ecosystems like Eclipse and Node.js, coordination theory in distributed teams, and transparency in open source practices. Awards include the ACM Outstanding Research Award (2016) and Alan Newell Award (2014) . Scientific Awards ACM Outstanding Research Award (2016) Alan Newell Award for Research Excellence (2014) Most Influential Paper Award (ICSE 2010) Best Paper Award (Academy of Management 2010) Best Paper Award (CSCW 2006) Students advised include Patrick Wagstrom (COS PhD), Anita Sarma (postdoc), Uri Dekel (SE PhD), and current PhD candidates like Ben Towne. Research is supported by NSF, Sloan Foundation, and industry partners including Google and IBM.
