Christoph Koch is a Full Professor in the School of Computer and Communication Sciences at EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne) , Switzerland. He has held academic positions at Cornell University (2007-2010, 2006), Saarland University (2005-2007), and TU Vienna (2001-2005). His research focuses on database systems, logic, programming languages, and data management.
Katja Hose is a Full Professor of Data Management at TU Wien's DBAI research unit, heading the Data Management and Knowledge-Driven AI Lab. She previously held a Poul Due Jensen Foundation Professorship at Aalborg University. Her research focuses on data and knowledge engineering, including graph databases, knowledge graphs, querying, analytics, and machine learning, with interdisciplinary applications in bioscience, healthcare, and environmental assessment. Education: PhD in Computer Science (Ilmenau University of Technology, 2009), Postdoc at Max Planck Institute for Informatics (2009–2012). Academic roles include Program Co-Chair for ISWC 2024 and EDBT 2023, and editorial board membership at VLDBJ and TGDK. She leads projects like TARGET (health virtual twins) and ARMADA (data management). Research Interests: Knowledge Graphs, Semantic Web, Big Data, Machine Learning, Data Integration, and Provenance Systems. Key contributions include SHACL shape extraction, conversational data analytics, and environmental knowledge graphs. Awards include the 2025 Distinguished Meta-Reviewer Award and 2024 Manfred Paul Award. Advising and Grants: Supervised students including E. Pürmayr (Diploma Thesis 2025). Active in EU projects (TARGET, ARMADA) and grant coordination. Labs/Teams: DMKI Lab at TU Wien, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams in healthcare and environmental science.
Huamin Qu is a Chair Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). He serves as the Founding Dean of the Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS), Founding Head of the Division of Emerging Interdisciplinary Areas (EMIA), and was the Founding Acting Head of Computational Media and Arts (CMA) at HKUST(GZ). Qu directs the VisLab and coordinates the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) group. He obtained his BS in Mathematics from Xi'an Jiaotong University and MS/PhD in Computer Science from Stony Brook University. Qu's research integrates Data Visualization , Human-Computer Interaction , and Human-Centered AI , with applications in urban informatics, social networks, and explainable AI. His work focuses on developing interactive systems for big data analytics, visual storytelling, and AI-driven decision support. Research extends to multimodal communication, fintech, and augmented reality applications. His publications emphasize visual analytics for complex datasets (mobility, social media, financial), interaction techniques for immersive environments, and AI-enhanced visualization tools. Recent works explore explainable AI interfaces and large-scale data communication frameworks. IEEE Visualization Academy (2020) IEEE VGTC Technical Achievement Award AI 2000 Most Influential Scholar (2019, 2023, 2024) 21 Best Paper/Honorable Mention awards IBM Faculty Award (2009) APICTA Merit Award (2015) Yelp Dataset Grand Prize (2018) Qu has advised 48 PhD graduates (21 now faculty at institutions like UC Davis, University of Minnesota, Texas A&M) and 30 MPhil students. He secured major grants including RGC theme-based projects (digital citizenship, air pollution), UGC AoE (slope safety), and China's 973 Program. As VisLab director, he leads 20+ researchers in visualization/HCI projects adopted by Microsoft, IBM, Huawei, and Tencent.
Lam James is a Chair Professor of Control Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering. He holds a BSc (1st Hons.) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Manchester, and MPhil/PhD degrees from the University of Cambridge. His academic journey includes roles as a Croucher Fellow, Lecturer at the University of Melbourne, and faculty member at City University of Hong Kong before joining HKU in 1993. Professor Lam serves as Editor-in-Chief for four international journals including IET Control Theory and Applications and Journal of The Franklin Institute . His research focuses on networked control systems, vibration control, control theory, and multi-agent systems. With 600+ peer-reviewed publications, he maintains an H-index of 102 (Web of Science) and 108 (Scopus), recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher in multiple fields. Education: BSc Manchester (Mechanical Engineering), MPhil/PhD Cambridge Editorial Roles: 20+ journals, including leadership roles since 2012 His awards include Foreign Membership of Academia Europaea (2024), National Academy of Artificial Intelligence membership (2025), and two State Natural Science Awards (2015, 2019). He is a Fellow of multiple institutions including IEEE, IMechE, and HKIE.
Karl Michael Göschka is an Associate Professor at Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) in the Department of Distributed Systems (E194-02) within the Faculty of Computer Science. His academic title of Privatdozent indicates he has completed habilitation, the highest academic qualification in the German/Austrian system. He maintains an active research and teaching profile with courses scheduled through 2026S, including Bachelor Thesis supervision, Computer Science Projects, and PhD Seminars. His research spans over two decades with consistent publications from 2004 to 2022. Göschka's primary research interests focus on Dependable Distributed Systems, Web Engineering, and the convergence of voice and data technologies. His work demonstrates particular expertise in middleware, service-oriented architecture, wireless sensor networks, and fault tolerance mechanisms. He has supervised numerous master's and diploma theses since 2006, with his most recent doctoral supervision completed in 2022. Göschka's publication record shows a clear evolution from foundational work in distributed systems and replication (2004-2013) to more recent contributions in wireless sensor networks and dependable computing (2020-2022). His research consistently addresses the challenge of balancing dependability, performance, and security in distributed environments, with notable contributions in temporal decoupling techniques and adaptive systems. GIT-Preis des Österreichischen Vereins für Elektrotechnik (1999) Würdigungspreis des Ministeriums für Wissenschaft und Forschung (1998) GIT-Förderpreis des Österreichischen Vereins für Elektrotechnik (1994) Göschka has led and participated in multiple significant research projects including TRADE (2008-2011) on adaptive performance optimization, COMPASS (2005-2007) for automotive software systems, S-Cube (2008-2012), ALL-TIMES (2007-2010), and DeDiSys (2004-2007) on dependable distributed systems. His research has strong practical applications in automotive systems, online auctions, and critical infrastructure monitoring.
Ian Horrocks is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Oriel College. His research focuses on knowledge representation, description logics, automated reasoning, and semantic web technologies. He has held academic positions at the University of Manchester (2003–2007) and served as Chief Scientist at Cerebra Inc. (2001–2006). Horrocks earned his BSc (1st class), MSc, and PhD in Computer Science from the University of Manchester (1981–1997). His work includes foundational contributions to ontology languages (e.g., OWL) and reasoning systems such as HermiT and ELK. He has supervised over twenty doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers. His honors include Fellowships from the Royal Society (2011), ECCAI (2009), and the British Computer Society (2005). He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Transactions on Graph Data and Knowledge and leads initiatives in semantic web standards and knowledge graph applications. Key Roles: Editor-in-Chief (Journal of Web Semantics), Co-Chair (W3C OWL Working Group) Grants: EPSRC Senior Research Fellowship (2005), numerous international collaborations Labs: Oxford Semantic Technologies, involvement in projects like RDFox and PAGOdA
Dr. Rajkumar Buyya is a Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor at the University of Melbourne and Founder & CEO of Manjrasoft , a spin-off commercializing cloud innovations. He has held visiting roles at Imperial College London , University of Birmingham , and Tsinghua University . Research Interests : His work spans Cloud Computing , Edge Computing , Grid Systems , and Energy-Efficient Computing , focusing on utility-driven resource allocation, simulation tools, and scalable IoT application frameworks. He pioneered the CloudSim toolkit and Aneka Cloud technologies. Scientific Awards : IEEE Fellow (2015), Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher (2016-2021) Khwarizmi International Award (2020), Scopus Researcher of the Year (2017) Frost & Sullivan New Product Innovation Award (2010), IEEE TCSC Medal (2009) Impact : Authored over 850 publications, including the widely adopted textbook Mastering Cloud Computing . Graduated 54 PhD students now in leadership roles at institutions like Newcastle University and companies such as IBM , Google , and Amazon . His research has driven global adoption of cloud/edge technologies in 50+ countries.
Staffan Kjelleberg is a Distinguished University Professor at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, and Director of the Singapore National Biofilm Consortium (SNBC) and Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE). He holds previous positions as Scientia Professor at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia, and has led major research initiatives globally. His academic career spans over four decades, with roles including Head of School at UNSW and Professorships at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Education: BSc (Chemistry and Biology, 1975), PhD (Microbiology, 1981), and Docent (Microbiology, 1983) from the University of Gothenburg. He has authored over 384 journal papers with significant citations, reflecting his leadership in microbial biofilm research. Research focuses on microbial biofilms and microbiomes, addressing environmental sustainability, public health, and industrial applications. He employs an interdisciplinary approach to study biofilm community dynamics, matrix properties, and translational technologies for biofilm control. Key contributions include discoveries on quorum sensing inhibitors, biofilm dispersal mechanisms, and eDNA roles in biofilm structure. Honours include Fellowships from the Australian and American Academies of Microbiology, Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher status, and Editor roles for 15 international journals. He leads major programs like the Marine Climate Change Science initiative and has co-directed global research centers such as the Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation. Advising and grants: While specific student names are not listed, his extensive leadership in research programs indicates mentorship of numerous scholars. His work bridges fundamental and applied microbiology, impacting environmental and biomedical fields. Labs/Teams: Directs SCELSE and SNBC, co-founded the Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, and collaborates internationally on biofilm and microbiome research.
Marco Di Renzo is a CNRS Professor (Directeur de Recherche Titulaire) at University of Paris-Saclay, affiliated with CentraleSupelec and the Signals and Systems Laboratory (L2S). He serves as Coordinator of the Communications Networks Area at the DigiCosme Laboratory of Excellence and Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Communications Letters. His academic leadership includes membership in the Ph.D. School on ICT Admission Committee at Paris-Saclay University. His educational background includes a Laurea (cum laude) and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from University of L'Aquila, Italy (2003, 2007), and a Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches from University Paris-Sud (2013). Laurea (cum laude), Electrical Engineering, University of L'Aquila (2003) Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, University of L'Aquila (2007) Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches, University Paris-Sud (2013) Di Renzo's research focuses on next-generation wireless communications, particularly reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), 6G technologies, and stochastic geometry modeling. His work bridges theoretical communication theory with practical implementations in cellular networks, millimeter-wave communications, and ultra-wide band systems. Recent publications demonstrate leadership in holographic metasurfaces, integrated sensing and communication (ISAC), and AI-empowered network design, establishing him as a pioneer in electromagnetic wave manipulation for future networks. His award-winning publications span RIS-aided communications, channel modeling, and security frameworks. Analysis of his recent work reveals consistent focus on three pillars: (1) fundamental electromagnetic theory for wave manipulation, (2) practical RIS implementations across frequency bands, and (3) integration with AI for network optimization. His articles frequently address industrial applications including factory automation and space-air-ground networks. Di Renzo's scientific recognition includes: IEEE Fellow (2020) and IET Fellow (2020) Highly Cited Researcher (Web of Science, 2019) SEE-IEEE Alain Glavieux Award (2017) Multiple Best Paper Awards (IEEE ICC, EURASIP) Nokia Foundation Visiting Professorship (2020) As Principal Investigator for CNRS, he coordinates multiple Horizon 2020 projects including SURFER, PathFinder, and MetaWireless. His leadership extends to serving as Project Coordinator for H2020 5Gwireless, 5Gaura, MAPNET, and REDESIGN. With over 350 publications, 17,000+ citations, and h-index of 66+, his research group maintains strong industry partnerships with Nokia and other telecommunications leaders. Di Renzo directs the Signals and Systems Laboratory (L2S) at Paris-Saclay and coordinates the DigiCosme Excellence Lab's Communications Networks Area. His team specializes in electromagnetic modeling for wireless networks and has pioneered the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Industry Specification Group on RIS. The group maintains active collaborations with Aalto University (Finland), University of Technology Sydney (Australia), and University of L'Aquila (Italy).
Johanna Pirker serves as an Associate Professor at the Institute of Human-Centred Computing, Graz University of Technology, where she holds teaching authorization in Applied Computer Science. Her work bridges academic research with practical applications in interactive technologies, maintaining active consultation hours for students every Monday morning. Her research centers on human-centered computing with emphases on virtual/augmented reality systems, serious game design, and AI-driven interactive experiences. She investigates player behavior, user experience optimization, and therapeutic/educational applications of immersive technologies across diverse contexts including rehabilitation, engineering education, and social platforms. Recent 2025 publications reveal strong trends in AI integration for gaming ecosystems (toxicity detection, dialogue systems), VR-based educational tools across disciplines, and cross-cultural analyses of gaming communities. Her work consistently combines experimental user studies with novel system development to address real-world challenges. While specific grant details and student advising records aren't documented in source materials, her extensive publication output across venues like FDG and iLRN indicates active leadership in interdisciplinary collaborations focused on advancing immersive technologies for societal benefit.
Emanuel Sallinger is a Full Professor at TU Wien's Databases and Artificial Intelligence Group and Vice Dean of Academic Affairs for Business Informatics and Data Science. He leads the Knowledge Graph Lab, focusing on scalable knowledge-based systems, reasoning in knowledge graphs, and AI integration. His research spans computational logic, database theory, and blockchain applications. Education: PhD in Computer Science (awarded 'sub auspiciis praesidentis rei publicae'), Master's degrees in Computational Intelligence and Informatics Management, and a Bachelor's in Software and Information Engineering. Research Interests: Knowledge graphs (construction, reasoning, scalability), logic-based systems, AI/ML integration with databases, enterprise architecture modeling, and financial knowledge systems. His work emphasizes practical applications like enterprise modeling, sustainable waste management, and regulatory compliance. Grants & Projects: Lead Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF)-funded Knowledge Graph Lab. Involved in projects like 'Knowledge Graph-driven Tour Management' (sustainability), 'SustainGraph' (waste processing), and 'Enterprise Architecture Knowledge Graphs'. Teaching: Offers courses on Knowledge Graphs, Generative AI, Database Systems, and research methodology. Supervises doctoral and master's students in AI, databases, and knowledge representation. Labs/Teams: Knowledge Graph Lab at TU Wien, collaborating with industry on blockchain-based systems, financial AI, and enterprise architecture frameworks.
Victor Vianu is a Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of California, San Diego and holds the INRIA International Chair at INRIA-Saclay in Paris. He has maintained continuous faculty status at UC San Diego since 1983 while developing extensive international collaborations, particularly with French research institutions including INRIA, ENST-Paris, ENS-Paris, and the University of Paris. His academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Southern California (1983) and undergraduate studies in Mathematics and Informatics at the University of Bucharest (1974-1977). Professor Vianu's research spans computational logic, database systems and theory, and automatic verification. His work uniquely bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications in XML processing, workflow systems, and data-driven applications. He has made seminal contributions to understanding the theoretical underpinnings of database query languages and their expressive power, particularly in the context of XML technologies and workflow systems. His research demonstrates a consistent trajectory from theoretical computer science to practical database systems applications. His publication record reveals significant contributions to database theory spanning over three decades, with particular emphasis on XML technologies, workflow systems, and formal methods for data-driven applications. His work shows a clear evolution from foundational theoretical work to practical applications in business processes and web technologies. INRIA International Chair (2013) Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (2013) ACM PODS Alberto O. Mendelzon Test-of-Time Award (2010) Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) (2006) Professor Vianu has held significant leadership roles including Editor-in-Chief of the prestigious Journal of the ACM, numerous program committee chair positions for major database conferences (PODS, ICDT, ASIAN), and General Chair for ACM SIGMOD conferences. He has served on the executive committees of SIGMOD (1998-2000) and PODS (1993-2004), and was a member of the ICDT Council (1997-2007), demonstrating sustained influence in the theoretical database community. His extensive invited talks at major conferences including College de France, ACM PODS, and International Conference on Database Theory highlight his international recognition.
Annemie Bogaerts is a Full Professor at the University of Antwerp since 2014 and head of the PLASMANT research group , which she established independently after her supervisor's retirement. The group now has 37 members including 2 professors, 15 postdocs, 18 PhD students, and 2 technical coworkers. Academic Career: Lecturer (2004-2007), Senior Lecturer (2008-2011), Francqui Distinguished Research Professor (2013-2016), Full Professor (2012-now) Current Leadership Roles: Chair of Department of Chemistry, Head of PLASMANT group Research Focus : Computer modeling of plasmas, plasma-surface interactions, plasma catalysis for CO 2 conversion into value-added chemicals. Her work combines experimental and computational approaches to develop sustainable plasma-based chemical processes. Scientific Achievements : Over 400 peer-reviewed publications (H-index 52 in Web of Science, 64 in Google Scholar) 11,000+ citations (16,000+ in Google Scholar) 20+ major scientific awards including: Winter Plasma Award 2009 for laser ablation modeling Lester W. Strock Award 2008 for plasma/surface modeling Academia Europaea member since 2011 Koninklijke Vlaamse Academie member since 2012 Academic Service : Editor of Spectrochimica Acta Part B , guest editor for 10 special issues including 'Plasma & Cancer', Chair of International Symposium on Plasma Chemistry (2015), and active in university governance through multiple commissions.
Andreas Ekelhart is a Researcher at TU Wien's Department of Information and Software Engineering. His work focuses on cybersecurity, cyber-physical systems, and industrial control systems. He specializes in developing frameworks like SLOGERT for automated log analysis and Kyrstal for attack discovery using knowledge graphs. His research also explores digital twin technology for threat detection and semantic web applications in machine learning systems. Key contributions include the VloGraph framework for distributed security log analysis and the QualSec approach for automated security risk identification in production systems. He collaborates on standards like AutomationML and emphasizes privacy-preserving data analysis through semantic architectures.
Maria Papathoma-Köhle is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Alpine Natural Hazards , University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna. She holds a PhD in Tsunami Vulnerability Assessment from Coventry University (UK) and has held roles as Academic Coordinator of the MSc 'Risk Prevention and Disaster Management' at University of Vienna. Her research focuses on natural hazard vulnerability , particularly wildfire and flood risks in alpine regions, with methodological expertise in indicator-based vulnerability assessment and physical vulnerability indices . Education: PhD in Natural Hazards (Coventry University, UK) MSc in Environmental Management (University of Durham, UK) Geology Degree (University of Athens, Greece) Research: Specializes in wildfire vulnerability indices, flood risk modeling, and climate change adaptation frameworks. Developed the Physical Vulnerability Index (PVI) for buildings and contributed to EU-funded projects like FLOODLABEL and EXTEND. Awards: Elise Richter Scholarship (2016) Back to Research Grant (2012) Young European Scientist Award (2002) Projects: Led FWF-funded research on physical vulnerability indicators and collaborated on EU programs for wildfire preparedness. Current work includes climate change adaptation tools for Austrian infrastructure. Advising: Supervised 6 Master's/PhD students on wildfire and flood vulnerability topics. Publications: Over 106 peer-reviewed works; recent articles focus on wildfire indices, IPCC risk diagrams, and dynamic flooding assessment.