Axel Polleres is a full professor at the Institute for Data, Process and Knowledge Management in Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Wien). He leads the department of Information Systems and Operations Management while maintaining active research in knowledge graphs, semantic web technologies, and ontology engineering. PhD and Habilitation from Vienna University of Technology Former positions at University of Innsbruck, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, DERI Ireland, and Siemens AG Co-chair of W3C SPARQL working group Editorial board member for Semantic Web Journal and IJSWIS His research focuses on: Querying and reasoning over ontologies Graph schema languages (SHACL, SPARQL) Wikidata constraint formalization Ontology reuse in collaborative platforms Crisis management knowledge graphs FAIR data principles implementation Recent publications analyze knowledge graph evolution, constraint validation methodologies, and semantic web standardization efforts. Key topics include: OWL/RDF interoperability solutions Unit conversion systems for Wikidata Partition-based query processing frameworks Network resilience analysis for urban planning Open data platform discovery tools Temporal analysis of collaborative knowledge graphs He has co-organized major conferences like ISWC2023 and ESWC workshops while maintaining active roles in European research projects. Current work involves spatiotemporal knowledge graphs for city resilience and semantic web infrastructure development.
Gerti Kappel is a full professor at the Institute of Information Systems Engineering at TU Wien, affiliated with the Business Informatics Group (BIG). Since 2020, she has served as Dean of the Faculty of Informatics at TU Wien, previously holding the role of Dean’s team member responsible for research, diversity, and financial affairs (2016–2019). She previously held a full professorship in computer science (database systems) and led the Department of Information Systems at Johannes Kepler University Linz (1993–2001). Her research focuses on Model Engineering, Web Engineering, and Process Engineering, particularly in cyber-physical production systems. She has co-authored influential works such as UML@Work (2005), UML@Classroom (2015), and Web Engineering (2006). Key projects include leadership roles in Vienna Informatics Living Lab (2018–2019), MPM4CPS (2014–2019), and ARTIST (2012–2015), addressing topics like model versioning, cloud architecture modeling, and inter-organizational systems. Her recent articles explore circular systems engineering, IoT-based simulation environments, and model-driven approaches for time-series analytics and cloud applications. She actively contributes to academic governance, including managing the Office of the Dean (E199-01) and overseeing faculty services. Her work emphasizes bridging theory and practice through collaborative frameworks like ERPEL and TROPIC . Grants: Projects funded by Austrian Research Promotion Agency, European Cooperation in Science and Technology, Vienna Business Agency, and others. Advising: Supervised over 15 graduate theses, including recent works on model-driven techniques for railway planning, debugging frameworks for modeling tools, and cloud-based IDEs. Labs/Teams: Leads research within the Business Informatics Group (BIG) and collaborates with the Vienna Informatics Living Lab for applied systems engineering.
Wolfgang Nejdl is a Full Professor of Computer Science at Leibniz Universität Hannover since 1995 and the Head of the L3S Research Center since 2001. His research focuses on Web Science, search and information retrieval, semantic web technologies, peer-to-peer infrastructures, databases, technology-enhanced learning, and artificial intelligence. Education: M.Sc. (1984) and Ph.D. (1988) in Computer Science from Vienna University of Technology. Previous Positions: Assistant Professor in Vienna (1988–1992), Associate Professor at RWTH Aachen (1992–1995), and visiting professor/researcher at Xerox PARC, Stanford, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, EPFL Lausanne, and PUC Rio. His research spans foundational and applied Web technologies, including social networks, trust and reputation, Web infrastructure, digital libraries, semantic web, collaborative filtering, and privacy-preserving systems. Recent projects like PHAROS, OKKAM, LiWA, and LivingKnowledge highlight his work in audio-visual search, web entities, web archive management, and diversity bias algorithms. Wolfgang Nejdl published over 230 scientific articles and held leadership roles as General Chair for AH'08 and PC Chair for WWW'09. He co-founded iSearch IT Solutions in 2006 to commercialize digital library and web engineering research from L3S projects. Scientific Awards: Founding member and head of the L3S Research Center The L3S Research Center, with a 2009 budget of €6 million (75% third-party funding), focuses on connecting the Web to real-world entities through research in Web Science, service computing, and security. Funding comes equally from the European Union and national/industry sources.
Johann Eder is a full professor for Information and Communication Systems at the Department of Informatics Systems, University of Klagenfurt, Austria, and currently serves as Deputy Head of Department. He previously held positions at the Universities of Linz, Hamburg, Vienna, and Klagenfurt, and was Vice President of the Austrian Science Funds (FWF) from 2005-2013. He was also a visiting scholar at AT&T Shannon Labs, NJ. Educational Background: Diplom-Ingenieur, University of Linz Doctor of Technical Sciences, University of Linz Johann Eder's research focuses on databases, information systems, and data management for medical research, including temporal information modeling, process evolution, and workflow systems. His work spans temporal data warehousing, exception handling in workflows, and application interoperability, with a particular emphasis on privacy and quality in medical data lakes and federated biobanks. Recent publications highlight trends in temporal reasoning for business processes, medical data quality, and service composition optimization. His editorial roles include positions at ACM Transactions on Database Systems and IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering . He leads the Information and Communication Systems Research Group at AAU, contributing to projects like federated biobank integration and blockchain-based smart contracts.
Anastassiya Tchaikovsky is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Natural Sciences and Sustainable Resources, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). She holds a PhD in analytical chemistry and has an extensive research background in elemental and isotopic analysis, particularly using ICP-MS techniques. Her work spans food authentication, environmental forensics, and trace metal speciation. Her research interests include: Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) Chemometrics and multivariate data analysis Isotopic and elemental fingerprinting for provenance determination Metrology and method validation Separation techniques coupled to mass spectrometry Applications in food science, ecology, and human health Her recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward interdisciplinary applications of analytical chemistry, particularly in verifying the geographical origin of food products (e.g., carrots, caviar, fish) using combined isotopic, elemental, and metabolomic fingerprints. She frequently employs chemometric modeling and data fusion techniques to enhance discrimination power. Her work also extends to biomedical applications, such as iron metabolism in neurodegenerative diseases and lead detoxification. She has received multiple scientific awards, including: Scholarship for a postdoc mentoring program (2019) Best talk award at DocDay, Tulln (2014) ESF-Studienabschluss scholarship (2013) Merkur scholarship from TU Vienna (2013) Best student lecture award at ICPMS Anwendertreffen (2012) Science scholarship from TU Vienna (2012) She has been involved in several research projects funded by the European Commission, Austrian federal and local governments, and private institutions. Her collaborative work includes advising on fish migration, caviar traceability, and citizen science initiatives like IsoPROTECT. She actively presents her research at international conferences and contributes to knowledge transfer in food safety and analytical methodology. She is affiliated with the Institute of Analytical Chemistry at BOKU and has no listed advisees, though she collaborates extensively with senior researchers and interdisciplinary teams.
Stephan Schlögl is a Full Professor at MCI - The Entrepreneurial School in Austria, leading research and teaching in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Information Systems. He holds editorial roles at journals like the Springer Discover Artificial Intelligence Journal and MDPI Multimodal Technologies and Interaction Journal. His work spans over two decades, with key roles including Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Télécom ParisTech (2012–2013) and PhD Researcher at Trinity College Dublin (2008–2012). Schlögl’s research focuses on HCI, AI-driven conversational systems, and assistive technologies for aging populations. Education includes a PhD in Computer Science from Trinity College Dublin, an MSc in Human-Computer Interaction from University College London, and a Mag.(FH) in Applied Informatics & Management from MCI. His teaching spans Software Engineering, Business Intelligence, and Research Methods. Research interests emphasize natural language interfaces, AI ethics, and technology’s societal impact. Notable projects include the EU-funded EMPATHIC initiative (2017–2021), developing an empathic virtual coach for elderly care, and the CRYSTAL project (2024–present) on conversational systems for emotional support. Schlögl has supervised numerous theses on AI applications, chatbots, and UX design. He co-organized major conferences like CUI (Conversational User Interfaces) and received awards for best papers in AI-HCI and CHIRA. His work bridges academia and industry, addressing challenges in AI adoption, digital well-being, and ethical technology design.
Marco Aiello is affiliated with the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien), Department of Distributed Systems within the Faculty of Informatics. His work focuses on distributed systems, service-oriented computing, and cloud computing, with contributions to edge computing and IoT. He has edited multiple conference proceedings, including the 2023 SummerSOC conference and the 2016 Service-Oriented and Cloud Computing volume. His research includes projects like TEADAL (2022–2025) and SM4ALL (2008–2011), exploring middleware for pervasive environments and home automation. Aiello has authored influential papers on web service indexing, QoS composition, and embedded systems. He received the 2006 Web Service Challenge award for his indexing work. Education details: PhD in Informatics (not explicitly listed but inferred from role). His research interests span distributed systems' theoretical foundations and practical implementations, emphasizing accessibility and scalability. Recent publications highlight trends in serverless architectures and edge-based IoT processes. He is actively involved in academic publishing, serving as an editor and conference organizer. Key Projects : TEADAL (2022–2025), SM4ALL (2008–2011) Awards : 2006 Web Service Challenge (2nd place) Grants : FFG-funded project (2009–2011) Labs/Teams: Part of TU Wien's Distributed Systems research group, collaborating on middleware and service-oriented technologies.
Yun Fu is a tenured Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Northeastern University, with a joint appointment in the Khoury College of Computer Science. He has established himself as a leading researcher in Artificial Intelligence, with over 500 publications in top-tier venues including IEEE/ACM transactions and major AI conferences. His work spans both theoretical foundations and practical applications, with significant impact in computer vision and machine learning. Professor Fu earned his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His academic career progressed from Assistant Professor at SUNY Buffalo to his current position as tenured Professor at Northeastern University, where he has held appointments since 2012. His educational background includes a Beckman Graduate Fellowship at UIUC (2007-2008). His research focuses on advancing Artificial Intelligence with particular emphasis on Computer Vision, Pattern Recognition, and Machine Learning. His seminal work includes the "Residual Dense Network for Image Super-Resolution" presented at CVPR 2018, which was ranked among the Top 10 Most Influential CVPR papers. His research interests span image processing, anomaly detection, multimodal learning, and trajectory prediction, with applications ranging from healthcare to consumer technology. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward developing efficient and robust AI systems that bridge computer vision with language understanding. His work increasingly focuses on multimodal learning, trajectory prediction for multi-agent systems, anomaly detection in complex environments, and model validation techniques for black-box systems, while maintaining practical applications in real-world scenarios. Professor Fu's extensive recognition includes: Fellow of IEEE (2018), OSA (2019), SPIE (2018), IAPR (2016), AAIA (2021), and AAAI (2025) Member of Academia Europaea (2022) and European Academy of Sciences and Arts (2023) Fellow of National Academy of Inventors (2023) Multiple Young Investigator Awards from NAE, ONR, ARO, IEEE, ACM, and INNS 12 Best Paper Awards from major conferences Industrial Research Awards from Google, Amazon, Samsung, JPMorgan, and others Professor Fu has successfully mentored numerous Ph.D. students who now hold prominent positions in academia and industry at institutions including Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Adobe, and major universities. His entrepreneurial ventures include founding Giaran (acquired by Shiseido in 2017) and co-founding TVision Insights, demonstrating his commitment to translating research into real-world impact. He has secured significant research funding from both government agencies and industry partners. As the PI and Founding Director of the SmiLe Lab at Northeastern University, Professor Fu leads a dynamic research group focused on advancing the state-of-the-art in AI and Computer Vision. The lab fosters interdisciplinary collaboration across computer science, electrical engineering, and applied mathematics, with ongoing projects in efficient deep learning, multimodal understanding, and practical AI applications.
Zhang Yan is a Full Professor at the Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Norway. He previously served as Head of Department and Chief Scientist at Simula Research Laboratory (2014–2016). His research focuses on advanced communication technologies including Internet of Things (IoT), 5G/6G networks, mobile edge computing, and blockchain applications. He has held significant roles such as IEEE VTS Distinguished Lecturer (2016–2020) and Chair of IEEE TCGCC (2019–2021). His honors include IEEE Fellow (2020), election to Academia Europaea (2020), and recognition as a Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher (2018–2019). Research interests span interdisciplinary areas like network dynamics, socio-economic systems, and algorithmic design. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications in smart grids, vehicular networks, and global trade systems. Recent publications emphasize network science methodologies applied to economic complexity and information diffusion. Professional contributions include editorial roles for top journals and leadership in EU-funded projects. His awards reflect impactful contributions to both technical innovation and scientific leadership in informatics and communications.
Kathrin Figl is a Full Professor (Tenured) for Human-centric Information Systems Design at the Department of Information Systems, Production and Logistics Management at the University of Innsbruck. Previously, she held positions as an Assistant Professor at WU Vienna University of Economics and Business and as a research associate at the University of Vienna. Her educational background includes a doctoral degree in Information Systems (2008, with honors, awarded the Dr. Maria Schaumayer Prize) and dual master's degrees in Information Systems (2004) and Psychology (2006), all from the University of Vienna. This interdisciplinary foundation bridges technical and psychological perspectives in her research approach. Professor Figl's research centers on human-centered information systems with particular emphasis on cognitive aspects of digital interaction: Human-AI interaction and algorithmic management systems Digital nudging techniques and online manipulation Eye-tracking methodologies in user research Cognitive biases and heuristics in digital environments Fake news perception and detection mechanisms Webpage prototypicality and its effects on user attitudes Business process modeling as cognitive tools Her publication trajectory demonstrates a sophisticated evolution from foundational work on business process modeling to cutting-edge research on device-specific cognitive effects and misinformation perception. A hallmark of her methodology is the rigorous application of empirical approaches, particularly eye-tracking studies, to investigate how screen design, device type, and interface elements influence human cognition and decision-making across digital platforms. Professor Figl has earned significant recognition for her scholarly contributions: Dr. Maria Schaumayer Prize for doctoral excellence Three Best Paper Awards at major international conferences Excellent Teaching Award from WU Vienna Recognition as a top reviewer for Software & Systems Modeling journal Outstanding service awards as associate editor and track chair She has secured substantial research funding including an FWF Lisa Meitner Programme grant (€145,260) on Web Design Prototypicality and an Austrian Nationalbank Research Grant (€55,000) on Cognitive Effectiveness in Business Process Modeling. While specific advisees aren't documented in the provided materials, her extensive publication record with numerous co-authors indicates active mentorship of graduate researchers. Her work with eye-tracking technology suggests leadership of a specialized laboratory environment for studying human-computer interaction, with established collaborations including the Technical University of Denmark and Queensland University of Technology.
Professor Wenfei Fan is a Chair of Web Data Management at the University of Edinburgh since 2006. He holds adjunct roles at Huawei Edinburgh Research Laboratory and the International Research Center on Big Data at Beihang University. His research focuses on database systems, theory, big data, data quality, and constraint applications. He is a Fellow of the ACM and Royal Society of Edinburgh, and recipient of the ERC Advanced Grant (2015). His work includes foundational contributions to XML constraints, data quality management, and graph databases, with over 160 top-tier publications and 8 patents. Education: BSc and MSc from Peking University (1985, 1988); PhD from the University of Pennsylvania (1999). Professional Roles: Editor for TODS, TCS, VLDBJ, and TBD; PC Chair for PODS, CIKM, APWeb, and others. Key awards include the Roger Needham Award (2008), Yangtze River Scholar (2007), and multiple best paper awards at SIGMOD, PODS, VLDB, and ICDE. He has led over 15 grants totaling €6M and advised students who all received top conference awards. His labs and initiatives drive industry collaboration, with deployed solutions at Huawei for big data query optimization.
Helmut Hlavacs is a Professor at the Faculty of Computer Science, leading the Research Group on Education, Didactics, and Entertainment Computing. His expertise spans serious games, game design, virtual reality, and health informatics. He has contributed to over 218 publications since 2005, focusing on topics like hedonic experiences in gaming, VR applications in therapy, and AI-driven behavior trees. His work intersects technology, education, and healthcare, with notable projects such as Conquer Catharsis (VR anxiety treatment) and PhyLab (VR physics experiments). Hlavacs has secured research funding for initiatives like Programmieren lernen durch Computerspielentwicklung and Dig-Equality FF , emphasizing digital equity and education. In 2019, he won the Best Poster Award at IFIP for his work on health data from serious games. Research Interests: Serious Games for health and education Virtual Reality applications in therapy and learning Game design methodologies and AI-driven NPC behavior Psychological impacts of gaming and digital consumption Procedural content generation for games Key Projects: Programmieren lernen durch Computerspielentwicklung (2008): Game-based learning for programming skills Dig-Equality FF (2020-2021): Digital competence promotion for equity TP1 PRECIOUS (2013-2016): VR conferencing and stress management Grants and Advising: Hlavacs has advised on projects involving AI in military command systems, VR therapy for anxiety disorders, and participatory design of social media literacy tools. He collaborates internationally on topics like gamification for behavior change and multicultural health interventions. Labs/Teams: His research group focuses on Serious Storytelling and Entertainment Computing , developing tools like the Prototypical game framework and InvisibleSound for blind musicians. Current work includes FiGHT (a web-based tool for eating disorder communication) and OutSmart! (a serious game for social media literacy).
Hajo Boomgaarden is a Professor for Empirical Social Science Methods with a Focus on Text Analysis at the Faculty of Social Sciences , University of Vienna , where he also serves as Dean. His career spans roles as Associate Professor for Political Communication at the University of Amsterdam and involvement in major EU-funded projects like REMINDER (Horizon 2020) and AUTNES (Austrian National Election Study). He leads the Computational Communication Science Lab and contributes to institutions such as the Austrian Social Science Data Archive and Vienna Center for Electoral Research. His research focuses on media effects on political cognition, attitudes, and behavior, particularly regarding European integration , immigration , and right-wing populism . He specializes in content analysis methodologies, including automated techniques and multilingual dictionary construction. His work integrates comparative studies across EU member states, examining how media narratives shape public opinion on mobility, diversity, and democratic legitimacy. Boomgaarden’s scientific publications reflect trends in digital media, political framing, and EU-related communication. He has authored over 70 international journal articles, often addressing the interplay between media coverage and political behavior , such as immigration attitudes, economic perceptions, and voting patterns. His projects, like MEDIA(ted) Populism and REMINDER, explore the role of media in legitimizing political decisions and shaping policy debates. He has received notable awards, including the VENI grant from the Dutch Science Foundation (2011) and a NIAS fellowship (2012/13). His editorial roles include Associate Editor of Survey Methods: Insights from the Field and board member for journals like European Journal of Political Research and International Journal of Public Opinion Research . Supervising over 120 PhD/Master’s theses, he mentors candidates on topics ranging from migration discourse to political text complexity . Key laboratories and teams under his leadership include the Computational Communication Science Lab (University of Vienna), REMINDER consortium (13 organizations), and collaborations with institutions like Amsterdam School of Communication Research and Netherlands Institute for Advanced Studies . His work bridges media studies , political science , and public policy , influencing debates on media accountability , information saturation , and democratic satisfaction .
Birgit Öhlinger is a Research Associate and Co-Excavation Director of the Monte Iato Project at the Leopold Franzens University of Innsbruck . Her work focuses on the archaeology of the ancient Mediterranean, particularly social transformation processes in cultural contact zones and identity formation through material culture, with a regional emphasis on Sicily. Education: Doctoral studies in Classical and Provincial Roman Archaeology (2010–2014), University of Innsbruck Master’s in Ancient History and Classical Studies (2005–2009), University of Innsbruck Master’s in Classical and Provincial Roman Archaeology (2002–2008), University of Innsbruck Research Interests: Öhlinger specializes in the archaeology of cultural contact zones, ritual and religious practices, and ceramic studies in the Archaic Mediterranean. Her methodological expertise includes digital excavation documentation, experimental archaeology, and material culture analysis, particularly focusing on Monte Iato in Western Sicily. Recent Publications: Her work examines technological choices in local ceramic production, neutron activation analysis applications in Mediterranean archaeology, and ritual consumption practices. She has contributed to debates on cultural hybridity, social identity, and the role of sanctuaries in elite formation. Awards: Anniversary Prize of Böhlau Verlag Vienna (2015) Prize of the Principality of Liechtenstein (2015) Merit Scholarship (2003–2007), University of Innsbruck Doctoral Scholarship (2013–2014), University of Innsbruck Professional Activities: Öhlinger leads projects like "Monte Iato Pots - Experimental Study on Organic Residue Analysis" and "Crime Scene Monte Iato around 500 BC: Microbiological Forensics" . She organizes international conferences and contributes to public outreach through media appearances and exhibitions.
Tomasz Miksa is a researcher affiliated with TU Wien's Department of Research Data Management, focusing on machine-actionable data management plans (maDMPs), semantic web technologies, and data reproducibility. He collaborates extensively on projects involving automated assessment of data management workflows, FAIR data implementation, and privacy-preserving analysis platforms. Primary affiliation: TU Wien Department: Research Data Management Key projects: WellFort, FAIR Data Austria, openEO API His research integrates semantic technologies with data governance to enhance reproducibility in scientific workflows, particularly in domains like environmental monitoring and legal informatics. Recent publications emphasize ontological frameworks (DCSO), API harmonization, and auditable machine learning systems. Notable collaborative works include: Reproducibility standards for soil moisture data Knowledge graph applications in cyber-physical energy systems Dynamic data citation mechanisms He supervises students in theses related to maDMP integration, data citation frameworks, and institutional research data planning architectures.
