John van de Wetering is an Assistant Professor at the Theoretical Computer Science group of the Informatics Institute, University of Amsterdam, working with the QuSoft research center. He co-authored the open-access book Picturing Quantum Software and developed the PyZX quantum compiler. His research spans quantum computation and quantum foundations, focusing on diagrammatic methods like the ZX-calculus and ZH-calculus. Quantum circuit optimization and verification Quantum foundations via algebraic/compositional methods Co-creator of PyZX His recent publications explore multi-qutrit systems, completeness of graphical calculi, and quantum state representations. Supervises students in quantum computing, including Lia Yeh and Sarah Li. Directs the new Master's program in Quantum Computer Science at UvA. Actively contributes to open-source projects and international conferences. Notable collaborations include Aleks Kissinger, Neil J. Ross, and QuSoft researchers. Uses GitHub for DiZX development (qudit extension of PyZX). No explicit scientific awards mentioned.
Prof. Gert-Martin Greuel is a distinguished mathematician and Emeritus Professor at RPTU Kaiserslautern, where he previously held a Professorship in the Department of Mathematics. His career includes roles as Director of the Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach (2002-2013) and as editor of major journals like Zentralblatt MATH. He co-founded the Singular computer algebra system and led the Center for Computer Algebra at Kaiserslautern. Research Interests: His work focuses on singularity theory, algebraic geometry, and computational algebra. Key contributions include foundational studies on hypersurface singularities, equisingularity, and the development of mathematical software tools like Singular and swMATH. Awards: Greuel received the Richard D. Jenks Prize (2004) for Singular, an honorary doctorate from Leibniz University Hannover (2009), and the German Mathematical Society's Media Prize (2013). He pioneered public math exhibitions through the IMAGINARY project. Leadership & Outreach: He served as Chair of European Research Centres on Mathematics (2010-2013) and championed open-access initiatives for mathematical software and publications. His editorial roles span Oberwolfach Reports, Revista Matemática Complutense, and Ergebnisse series. Education: PhD (1973) and Habilitation (1980) from University of Göttingen and Bonn, respectively. His academic journey includes professorships in Osnabrück and Kaiserslautern, and supervision of over 20 PhD students in algebraic geometry and computational mathematics.
Tibor Szabó is a Professor in the Combinatorics and Graph Theory group at the Department of Mathematics, Freie Universität Berlin. He holds a PhD from The Ohio State University, advised by Ákos Seress. Prior to his current position, he held roles at McGill University, ETH Zürich, the Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton), and the University of Illinois (UIUC) as a J.L. Doob Research Assistant Professor. Research Interests: His work focuses on combinatorics and combinatorial optimization, including extremal problems, random structures and algorithms, pseudorandom graphs, positional games, and the combinatorics of linear programming. He explores tools from algebra, probability theory, and topology applied to combinatorics. Teaching: He teaches courses such as Algorithmic Combinatorics, Extremal Combinatorics, and runs the Combinatorics Seminar. His lecture notes include works on positional games and explicit constructions in extremal combinatorics. Students & Postdocs: Notable PhD advisees include Yamaan Attwa, Silas Rathke, Simona Boyadzhiyska, and Patrick Morris. Postdoctoral fellows include Olaf Parczyk and Anurag Bishnoi. His research has involved collaborations with over 50 co-authors. Funding & Grants: Supported by grants from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) and German Research Foundation (DFG), focusing on topics like positional games and extremal graph theory.
Prof. Felix Motzoi is an Associate Professor at the University of Cologne and Division Leader & Head of the 'Automatic Optimization, Control and Design' group at the Peter Grünberg Institute (PGI-8) in Jülich. His research focuses on advancing quantum technologies, including superconducting and semiconducting architectures, trapped cold atoms/ions, Rydberg qubits, and long-range entanglement. He leads theoretical efforts in quantum control theory, machine learning applications, hardware co-design, and error mitigation strategies. Key research areas include developing optimal control methodologies (e.g., DRAG, STA), numerical optimization, and dynamics modeling for quantum systems. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with experimental implementations, emphasizing practical solutions for scalable quantum computing. Recent publications highlight innovations in quantum gate design, error suppression via pulse shaping, and hybrid optimization techniques combining machine learning with physics-driven approaches. His team collaborates across disciplines to address challenges in qubit coherence, entanglement stabilization, and robust quantum processing.
Martin Grohe is a Professor at the School of Logic and Theory of Discrete Systems , part of the Department of Computer Science at RWTH Aachen University . His research spans Algorithms and Complexity , Logic , Database Theory , Graph Theory , and Machine Learning , with a focus on integrating logical frameworks into computational models. His recent work explores graph neural networks , Weisfeiler-Leman algorithms , and parameterized complexity , as seen in publications on isomorphism testing , database repairing , and probabilistic query evaluation . While no specific scientific awards are mentioned, his contributions to graph theory and machine learning are widely recognized through numerous peer-reviewed publications.
Matthieu Sozeau is a prominent researcher at Inria in the Gallinette team in Nantes, France, and a key contributor and coordinator of the Coq/Rocq proof assistant project. His work bridges theoretical computer science and practical software development, focusing on creating reliable formal verification tools. His research interests span Type Theory, Proof Assistants, Functional Programming, and Unification. He has made significant contributions to the development of Coq (recently renamed to Rocq Prover), particularly through the MetaCoq project which aims to verify Coq's kernel within Coq itself, the Equations plugin for dependent pattern matching, and CertiCoq, a verified compiler from Coq to assembly. His work enables stronger guarantees about formalized mathematics and verified software. Sozeau's publications reveal a consistent focus on foundational aspects of proof assistants. His recent work includes verified type checking ('Coq Coq Correct!'), verified extraction from Coq to OCaml, and sort polymorphism for proof assistants. These contributions advance both theoretical understanding and practical implementation of dependently-typed programming languages. Distinguished paper award for Verified Compilation from Coq to OCaml at PLDI'24 As an academic mentor, Sozeau has supervised PhD students including Théo Winterhalter and Antoine Allioux. He regularly teaches courses on proof assistants, notably at MPRI (Master Parisien de Recherche en Informatique), and actively participates in the academic community through program committees, invited talks, and workshops. His work has significantly influenced both the theoretical foundations and practical applications of interactive theorem proving.
Sandra Keiper is a Lecturer at the Institute of Mathematics within Faculty II - Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Technical University of Berlin. She has held academic positions since at least 2011, including roles as Tutor, Assistant, and Lecturer, with teaching responsibilities in Analysis, Linear Algebra, and Partial Differential Equations for both mathematicians and engineers. Research interests include: Compressed Sensing and Sparse Signal Recovery Numerical Linear Algebra with applications to high-dimensional data Wavelet and curvelet transforms for geometric multiscale analysis Approximation theory for finite-valued and cartoon-like functions Deep learning and graph approximation techniques Professional activities : Active in teaching since 2011 (Analysis I-III, Functional Analysis, Integral Transforms) Supervising theses since 2015 on topics like Compressed Sensing and Deep Learning Invited lectures at Caltech, ETH Zurich, and Alan Turing Institute Research stays at Hausdorff Institute, ETH Zurich, and Duke University
Holger Dette is a Professor and Chair Holder of Stochastics (specializing in Statistics) at the Faculty of Mathematics, Ruhr University Bochum. He leads the prominent Group Dette within the Institute of Statistics, overseeing a team of researchers, doctoral students, and administrative staff including Birgit Tormöhlen as team assistant. His research group is deeply integrated within the university's mathematical ecosystem, collaborating with other research groups across algebra, analysis, numerics, and topology. Dette's research spans mathematical statistics with strong applications in real-world problems. His primary interests include optimal experimental design, time series analysis, functional data, change point problems, nonparametric regression, biostatistics, special functions, goodness-of-fit tests, and random matrices . His work bridges theoretical statistics with practical applications, particularly evident in his collaborations with pharmaceutical giants Novartis and Bayer AG in biostatistics, as well as Quasol, a spin-off company from his statistics institute. His recent publications (2024-2025) reveal a research program increasingly focused on high-dimensional and functional data analysis, privacy-preserving statistics, and novel methodological approaches to longstanding statistical problems. Dette's work shows strong interdisciplinary connections, particularly with biomechanics (analyzing joint angles during fatigue phases) and data science (addressing challenges in the era of big data). His research group is actively involved in multiple DFG-funded projects including the newly established 'Small Data' collaborative research center (Sonderforschungsbereich 1597) and the Spatio-temporal Statistics for the Transition of Energy and Transport (Transregio 391). Dette has received significant recognition including the prestigious Humboldt Research Award . His paper 'With Great Power Come Great Side Channels: Statistical Timing Side-Channel Analyses with Bounded Type-1 Errors' achieved second place at the CSAW'24 Applied Research Competition MENA. His research group has also secured multiple significant funding awards from the German Research Foundation (DFG). As an advisor, Dette supervises numerous doctoral and master's students including Pascal Quanz, Marius Kroll, and Carina Graw. His group offers statistical consulting services for scientists and students across bachelor's, master's, and doctoral phases. The group maintains strong industrial partnerships, particularly in biostatistics applications, demonstrating Dette's commitment to translating theoretical statistics into practical solutions for real-world challenges.
Prof. Dr. Sören Laue is a Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Hamburg's Department of Informatics. His research focuses on optimization algorithms, machine learning frameworks, and high-performance computing. He leads the Machine Learning research group and developed the GENO optimization framework and the Matrix Calculus toolset. His work emphasizes GPU acceleration, tensor operations, and scalable solutions for classical machine learning problems. Projects: GENO solver (Python-based optimization), Matrix Calculus (derivative computation), and SQL-based tensor operations. Key Research Themes: Optimization frameworks, GPU computing, neural network scalability, and algorithm design. Selected recent publications highlight contributions to tensor calculus benchmarks, GPU-optimized machine learning pipelines, and novel optimization methods. His work bridges theoretical foundations and practical software tools for the machine learning community.
Prof. Dr. Christian Plessl is a W3 Professor of High-Performance Computing at the Institute of Computer Science, University of Paderborn. He leads the Paderborn Center for Parallel Computing (PC²), a national HPC center within the NHR alliance. His roles include Director of PC², Board Member of the NHR association, and member of the Sonderforschungsbereich 901. Education: PhD (Dr. sc. ETH) in Computer Engineering, ETH Zürich (2006) MSc in Electrical Engineering, ETH Zürich (2001) Postdoc at ETH Zürich (2007–2011) Research Interests: Architecture and tools for high-performance parallel and reconfigurable computing, FPGA acceleration, quantum chemistry, scientific computing, adaptive systems, and energy-efficient HPC solutions. Key projects include EKI-App (FPGA-based neural networks), FPGA4XPCS (X-ray spectroscopy), and HighPerMeshes (unstructured grid frameworks). Publications: Over 100 peer-reviewed works, focusing on FPGA acceleration, HPC frameworks, and quantum computing. Recent trends emphasize energy-efficient neural networks, FPGA-based quantum computing, and scalable HPC algorithms. Awards: Best Paper Awards at HEART 2023, ReConFig 2012/2014 Paderborn University Research Awards (2018, 2009) SEW-EURODRIVE Student Award (2001) Grants & Projects: Principal investigator in DFG, BMBF, and EU-funded projects. Collaborates with AMD/Xilinx, Intel/Altera, and Fujitsu. Leads initiatives like PerficienCC (custom computing) and HighPerMeshes. Labs/Teams: Directs the High-Performance Computing group at PC², focusing on FPGA supercomputing and HPC infrastructure. Active in the NHR alliance for national HPC coordination.
Matthew K. Tam is an Associate Professor at the School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne, specializing in Operations Research. He is also an investigator at the Melbourne Centre for Data Science and an associate investigator in the ARC Training Centre OPTIMA. PhD in Mathematics (2016) from University of Newcastle under Jonathan Borwein Postdoctoral research at University of Göttingen with RTG-2088 and Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Junior Professor at University of Göttingen (2017-2020) His research focuses on continuous optimization, monotone operator theory, and variational analysis, with applications in wavelet construction and inverse problems. Key trends include distributed algorithms, resolvent splitting, and convergence analysis for feasibility problems. Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship He collaborates with institutions like ANZIAM, Springer, and IEEE, with publications spanning mathematical optimization, harmonic analysis, and computational mathematics. His work emphasizes algorithmic design for complex data systems and real-world applications in imaging and industrial modeling.
Christian Engwer is a full Professor at the University of Muenster in the Institute for Applied Mathematics, specializing in Analysis and Numerics. He leads the Engwer Group focused on Applications of Partial Differential Equations and is actively involved in the Cells in Motion initiative as a supervisor in the CiM-IMPRS Graduate Programme. His research centers on developing numerical methods for partial differential equations, particularly addressing challenges in complex geometries and multi-physics applications. He specializes in Unfitted Discontinuous Galerkin methods, which allow simulations on complex geometries without requiring domain-fitted meshes. His work spans porous media modeling, biological systems, and bioelectromagnetism applications, with significant contributions to EEG/MEG forward modeling in neuroscience. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on model order reduction techniques, stabilized numerical schemes for cut-cell meshes, and applications in bioelectromagnetism. His work demonstrates a consistent trajectory toward developing robust, efficient numerical methods applicable to real-world problems in medical imaging and biological modeling, with increasing emphasis on high-performance computing implementations. Professor Engwer actively supervises doctoral students, with recent completions including Lukas Renelt (2025), Michael Wenske (2021), and Maria Carla Piastra (2019), among others working on topics related to numerical methods and biomedical applications. He leads several major research projects including BrainStorm: Highly Extensible Software for Advanced Electrophysiology and MEG/EEG Imaging (NIH-funded since 2019), multiple EXC 2044 Cluster of Excellence projects through 2025, and the InterKI interdisciplinary teaching program on machine learning and artificial intelligence. His group develops several important software packages including DUNE (Distributed and Unified Numerics Environment), duneuro (for bioelectromagnetism applications), and TPMC (Topology Preserving Marching Cubes). These tools support research in numerical methods and their applications to complex scientific problems.
Ori Lahav is a faculty member in the School of Computer Science at Tel Aviv University. His research is generously supported by an ERC Starting Grant and an ISF Grant. He actively supervises PhD and MSc students, and seeks highly motivated candidates for postdoc, PhD, and MSc positions in programming language theory, concurrency, and formal methods. Dr. Lahav completed his PhD at Tel Aviv University under the supervision of Arnon Avron. In 2014, he was a postdoctoral researcher at Tel Aviv University hosted by Mooly Sagiv. From 2014 to September 2017, he was a postdoctoral researcher at MPI-SWS in Germany hosted by Viktor Vafeiadis and Derek Dreyer. His primary research areas focus on programming languages and verification, with specialization in concurrency and relaxed memory models. He also has significant interests in proof-theory, semantics of non-classical logics, and automated reasoning. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications in programming language design and implementation. Dr. Lahav's publication record shows a consistent trajectory of high-impact research in top-tier conferences including PLDI, POPL, OOPSLA, and ESOP. His recent work (2023-2025) demonstrates continued leadership in memory models, concurrency semantics, and verification techniques. His research spans both theoretical contributions in denotational semantics and practical tools for verification. Best Paper Award DISC 2024 Best Student Paper Award DISC 2024 Distinguished Artifact Award ESOP 2022 Distinguished Paper Award OOPSLA 2021 Kleene Award for Best Student Paper LICS 2013 Dr. Lahav actively advises students including Yoav Ben Shimon, Yotam Dvir, Amir Karniel, and Roy Margalit (PhD students), Yuval Katsman Ezra (MSc student), and has alumni including Ori Saporta (MSc) and Abhishek Kr Singh (postdoc, now Assistant Professor at IIIT Hyderabad). He has organized significant events including VMCAI 2024 and Dagstuhl Seminars on persistent programming. His teaching portfolio includes courses on Shared Memory Concurrency Semantics, Programming Language Foundations, and Software Foundations in Coq.
Claire Vernade is a Group Leader at the University of Tübingen within the Cluster of Excellence Machine Learning for Science. She holds an Emmy Noether award (2022) and an ERC Starting Grant (2024) for her projects FoLiReL and ConSequentIAL , focusing on theoretical reinforcement learning and non-stationary environments. Education: PhD from Telecom ParisTech (2017) Post-doctoral researcher at University of Magdeburg (2018) Her research bridges sequential decision making, bandit problems, and reinforcement learning theory. Recent work explores lifelong learning, distributional RL, and game-theoretic approaches to PCA, emphasizing mathematical rigor and algorithmic innovation. Recent publications highlight trends in non-stationary RL , continual learning , and bandit algorithms with complex feedback structures. Key subfields include meta-learning, adaptive control, and theoretical guarantees in dynamic programming. Scientific Awards: Emmy Noether Award (2022) ERC Starting Grant (2024) Outstanding Paper Award & Oral Presentation, ICLR (2021) She mentors PhD and master's students in theoretical machine learning, with current advisees including Nicolas Nguyen, Onno Eberhard, and Ziyad Sheebaelhamd. Her lab actively recruits candidates in bandit algorithms and RL theory through the IMPRS-IS and ELLIS doctoral programs. Claire co-leads diversity initiatives like Tübingen Women in Machine Learning and Women in Learning Theory, advocating for inclusivity in AI research. She has organized workshops at ICML and EWRL, and contributed to union activism in the tech industry.
James Reed Farre is a Researcher and Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences (MPI MiS) in Leipzig, leading the Geometry on Surfaces group since October 2023. Previously, he held roles including Juniorprofessor (W1/Assistant Professor) at Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg (2022–2023), Gibbs Assistant Professor at Yale University (2021–2022), and an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at Yale (2019–2020). He earned his PhD in Mathematics from the University of Utah in 2019 under Kenneth Bromberg. His research focuses on hyperbolic geometry, dynamics of earthquake flows, Teichmüller theory, and geometric group theory. Notable areas include affine laminations, hyperconvex representations of surface groups, and ergodic theory in geometric contexts. Farre has contributed to understanding minimal surfaces in hyperbolic 3-manifolds and has explored applications of bounded cohomology to discrete groups. Publications span topics like shear-shape cocycles, horocycle orbit closures, and Hamiltonian flows for pseudo-Anosov mapping classes. His work bridges pure geometry with computational methods, as seen in CAD algorithm development for rigid subsystems. Farre is actively involved in mentoring and has contributed to STEM education initiatives, including the Freshman Research Initiative.
