Christos Dimitrakakis

Christos Dimitrakakis is a Full Professor of Data Science at the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland, where he is affiliated with the Institute of Computer Science within the Faculty of Science. His research focuses on artificial intelligence, particularly reinforcement learning, fairness, and algorithmic privacy. He has held academic positions at several prestigious institutions including the University of Oslo, Chalmers University of Technology, and the University of Lille.

His educational background includes:

• 1997: BEng from the University of Manchester
• 1998: MSc from the University of Essex
• 2006: PhD from IDIAP/EPFL under the supervision of Samy Bengio

Professor Dimitrakakis specializes in reinforcement learning and decision making under uncertainty, with particular expertise in reverse reinforcement learning, preference elicitation, and human-AI collaboration. His research bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, especially in autonomous systems and privacy-preserving AI. He has made significant contributions to understanding representations of uncertainty, differential privacy, and group fairness in algorithmic decision-making. His work often combines Bayesian inference with reinforcement learning frameworks to develop robust and fair AI systems that can operate effectively in uncertain environments.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on theoretical foundations of reinforcement learning while addressing practical challenges in fairness, privacy, and decision making. The research shows an evolving trajectory from core reinforcement learning techniques toward applications in fair and transparent AI systems, with increasing emphasis on real-world constraints and ethical considerations. His work spans multiple domains including game theory, matching markets, and bandit algorithms, reflecting an interdisciplinary approach to AI research.

Notable scientific achievements include:

• Best Paper Award at Cooperative-AI@NeurIPS 2021 for "Interactive Inverse Reinforcement Learning for Cooperative Games"
• Student paper award at EAAMO'22 for "On Meritocracy in Optimal Set Selection"

Professor Dimitrakakis actively mentors PhD students and has supervised numerous researchers who have gone on to academic and industry positions. His current research group at the University of Neuchâtel includes five PhD students working on reinforcement learning, fairness, and uncertainty in AI systems. He has secured funding for projects including a national initiative to develop intelligent bird deterrent systems for crop protection, demonstrating the practical impact of his research. His group collaborates with industry partners such as Agroscope, and he maintains academic connections with institutions worldwide.

His research group at the University of Neuchâtel is actively working on interdisciplinary projects, most notably the development of an "intelligent scarecrow" system for bird pest control in agriculture. This project combines computer vision, reinforcement learning, and behavioral modeling to create adaptive AI systems that can minimize crop damage while accounting for bird behavior patterns. The group maintains expertise in both theoretical foundations and practical implementations of AI systems.