Dr. Max Kwiek is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Southampton and serves as Deputy Head of School (Education). His research focuses on applied microeconomic theory, political economy, committee design, and auctions. He teaches microeconomics modules, including principles, game theory, and advanced topics. His research interests include voting systems, game theory applications, and experimental economics. Key projects involve analyzing voting mechanisms, intermediary communication, and conclave dynamics. He has supervised PhD student Yanchi Zhang and led a project funded by the British Academy on experimental investigations of conclaves. Externally, he is a committee member of the Virtual Seminars in Economic Theory and Poleconuk Webinars. His work bridges theoretical models with real-world applications in political and economic decision-making processes.
Pierre Vandergheynst is a Full Professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) in the Department of Electrical Engineering, with a courtesy appointment in Computer and Communication Sciences. He serves as EPFL’s Vice-Provost for Education since 2015 and leads the Signal Processing Laboratory 2 (LTS2). His research spans harmonic analysis, sparse approximations, mathematical data processing, and applications in signal/image processing, computer vision, machine learning, and graph-based data analysis. PhD in Mathematical Physics (1998), Université catholique de Louvain Postdoctoral Researcher at EPFL (1998-2001) Assistant Professor at EPFL (2002-2007) His research explores geometry/symmetry in high-dimensional data, redundant dictionaries for dimensionality reduction, and computational harmonic analysis on manifolds. Recent work focuses on protein structure modeling, geometric deep learning, and graph-based signal processing. Key article trends include graph neural networks for protein analysis, geometric deep learning in neuroscience, and structured knowledge priors in neural models. His 2023-2025 publications emphasize interpretable AI, long-range dependencies in graphs, and molecular representation learning. Scientific Awards: IEEE Signal Processing Magazine Best Paper Award (2023) Signal Processing Society Best Paper Award (2022) Apple ARTS Award (2007) De Boelpaepe Prize, Royal Academy of Sciences of Belgium (2009-2010) He has supervised over 30 PhD theses and contributed to foundational work in graph signal processing, compressive sensing, and geometric deep learning. His lab develops tools for data science on non-Euclidean structures, with applications in medicine, astronomy, and wireless systems.
Professor Kathy Bowrey is a leading academic in Intellectual Property Law at UNSW Sydney's Faculty of Law. Her work explores laws shaping knowledge creation, technology, and culture, with expertise in IP, Indigenous rights, and open research advocacy. She holds a Doctor of Juridical Studies from the University of Sydney and a BA LLB from Macquarie University. Her research focuses on historical and contemporary IP frameworks, including their impact on creators, Indigenous communities, and global innovation systems. Notable projects include the ARC-funded 'Producing, Managing and Owning Knowledge in the 21st Century University' (2019–2022), which shaped Australia's open research policies. Awards include the 2022 ANZLHS Book Prize for *Copyright, Creativity, Big Media & Cultural Value* and fellowships at the State Library of NSW and Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. She co-authored *Adventures in Childhood* (2023), examining IP in toy and media industries, and *David Unaipon* (2023), exploring Indigenous innovation. Professor Bowrey co-leads the International Society for the History and Theory of Intellectual Property (ISHTIP) and advises on national research policies. Her grants include ARC Discovery Projects on Australian copyright history and IP commercialization.
Granger Morgan is the Hamerschlag University Professor of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, holding joint appointments in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the Department of Engineering and Public Policy, and the H. John Heinz III College. His research focuses on science, technology, and public policy, particularly energy systems, climate change, risk analysis, and regulatory frameworks. He co-directs the NSF Center for Climate and Energy Decision Making and the Electricity Industry Center. Education: Ph.D., Applied Physics and Information Science, University of California, San Diego (1969) M.S., Astronomy and Space Science, Cornell University (1965) B.A., Physics, Harvard College (1963) Research Interests: Energy decarbonization and electric power resilience Climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies Risk assessment and policy analysis Hydrogen and nuclear energy systems Global technology adoption dynamics Awards and Affiliations: FAS Public Service Award (2016) Member, National Academy of Sciences Fellow, AAAS, IEEE, and Society for Risk Analysis National Academies Report Review Committee Co-Chair Advisory roles at DOE, PNNL, and international energy councils Advisory and Grants: Leadership in national studies on electric grid resilience and hydrogen infrastructure Recipient of NSF and industry-funded research grants Guidance on global energy policy and regulatory frameworks Labs and Teams: NSF Center for Climate and Energy Decision Making (co-director) Carnegie Mellon Electricity Industry Center Interdisciplinary energy policy research groups
Andrew Postlewaite is the Harry P. Kamen Professor of Economics and Professor of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts and Sciences. He holds dual roles in the Department of Economics and the Ronald O. Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics. As a distinguished academic, he is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and serves as a director at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Additionally, he is the founding editor of the American Economic Journal: Microeconomics and a research associate at Penn's Population Studies Center and Institute for Law and Economics. Postlewaite's research focuses on game theory, behavioral economics, and social norms, with contributions to mechanism design, repeated games, and intergenerational transmission of preferences. His work bridges theoretical foundations with applied economic analysis, particularly in areas like consumer behavior, decision-making, and institutional design. He has held visiting positions at institutions including Caltech, Harvard, and Stanford, reflecting his academic prominence. His scholarly contributions include pioneering studies on future-oriented decision-making, interdependent valuations in markets, and equilibrium concepts in repeated games. Recent publications explore topics such as the impact of local media accessibility in the digital age and the welfare implications of consumption fluctuations. His editorial leadership at journals like Econometrica and International Economic Review underscores his influence in shaping economic discourse. Awarded prestigious fellowships and editorial roles, Postlewaite's career exemplifies a blend of rigorous theoretical research and practical applications in economics. His current research trends emphasize behavioral insights and the methodological underpinnings of economic models, reflecting a commitment to advancing both theory and real-world relevance.
Srijan Kumar is an Assistant Professor in the School of Computational Science and Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology's College of Computing. His research focuses on data science, AI for security, and online safety, addressing challenges in detecting malicious users, misinformation, and enhancing AI robustness. His work has been deployed in platforms like Flipkart and Wikipedia, and recognized through awards such as the NSF CAREER and Forbes 30 Under 30. Education: B.Tech from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur Ph.D. in Computer Science from University of Maryland, College Park Postdoctoral training at Stanford University Research Interests: Multi-modal/multi-lingual detection of harmful content and users Adversarial robustness of AI models Graph and network analysis for early detection Responsible recommender systems Awards & Grants: NSF CAREER Award (2023) Kavli Fellow (2022) Facebook/Adobe Faculty Awards NSF Convergence Accelerator Phase II grant ($5M) Advising & Labs: Leads the CLAWS Lab, advising over 20 students. Active in mentoring through conferences and NSF-funded projects.
Adam Zylbersztejn is an Assistant Professor (Maître de conférences HDR) at Université Lumière Lyon 2 and affiliated with GATE Lyon Saint-Etienne, a research group in economics. He holds a PhD from the Paris School of Economics (2013) and previously conducted postdoctoral research at WU Wien (Vienna University of Economics and Business). His research focuses on behavioral economics using experimental methods to study individual and interactive decision processes, particularly in contexts involving trust, strategic uncertainty, and cultural variability. Key research areas include behavioral game theory, experimental finance, and the impact of nonverbal communication in economic interactions. His work has been published in top journals such as Journal of Economic Psychology , Games and Economic Behavior , and Experimental Economics . Recent studies examine topics like anonymity effects in charitable giving, trust in market exchanges under oath, and cognitive processes in asset markets using eye-tracking technology. His ongoing projects include research on risk-incentive tradeoffs and ambiguity framing in decision-making. While no formal academic awards are listed, his work has received press coverage in outlets like Le Monde and CORTEX Mag . He collaborates widely with institutions such as GATE-LSE and the Paris School of Economics, contributing to both theoretical and applied economic inquiry.
Jennifer Wilcox is the Presidential Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering and Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Engineering and Applied Science. She holds the James H. Manning Chair and directs the Clean Energy Conversions Lab, which focuses on carbon management strategies to mitigate climate change. Wilcox also served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management at the U.S. Department of Energy from January 2021. Her research spans carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), direct air capture (DAC), mineral carbonization, life cycle assessment, and techno-economic analysis of carbon management technologies. Wilcox's work examines both mitigation and adaptation strategies to minimize negative climate impacts associated with society's dependence on fossil fuels. She takes a multi-perspective approach that includes experimental work, materials characterization, geo-spatial analyses, systems modeling, and techno-economic analysis while considering environmental and social contexts. Wilcox's research has been featured in major publications including the first textbook on Carbon Capture and Storage, the California Getting to Neutral report, the CDR primer, Greenhouse Gas Removal Technologies, the State of CDR Volume 2, and the Roads to Removal report. Her work has received recognition including the DOE Secretary's Achievement Award for contributions to the Getting to Neutral report. Secretary's Achievement Award for work on the Getting to Neutral Report Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (2021) Author of the first textbook on Carbon Capture and Storage Lead contributor to the California Getting to Neutral report Co-author of the CDR primer with nearly 40 subject matter experts Wilcox mentors several PhD candidates and research associates including Maxwell Pisciotta, Shelvey Swett, Hélène Pilorgé, Shrey Patel, Aline Uwase, Katherine Vaz Gomes, and Abby Lunstrum. Her lab examines various carbon management strategies from technology development to deployment optimization, with a focus on maximizing climate change mitigation while minimizing adverse social and environmental impacts. The Clean Energy Conversions Lab tracks public funding for carbon management projects across the United States and analyzes lessons from recent legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act to identify opportunities for carbon management.
Nate Foster is a Professor of Computer Science at Cornell University and currently serves as the Associate Dean for Research in the Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science. He is also a Visiting Researcher at Jane Street and served as a Visiting Professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne during the 2023-24 academic year. His research uses ideas from programming languages to solve problems in networking, databases, and security. BA in Computer Science, Williams College (2001) MPhil in History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge (2008, all work completed in 2003) PhD in Computer and Information Science, University of Pennsylvania (2009) Foster's research focuses on developing languages and tools that make it easy for programmers to build secure and reliable systems. His current work centers on the design and implementation of languages and tools for programmable networks, particularly using the P4 language. His past work includes bidirectional languages (also known as 'lenses'), database query languages, data provenance, type systems, mechanized proof, and formal semantics. His research group at Cornell has made significant contributions to network verification, software-defined networking, and formal foundations for programmable data planes. Analysis of Foster's recent publications reveals a strong focus on network verification and programming language foundations for networking. His work consistently applies formal methods to practical networking problems, with a particular emphasis on the NetKAT and P4 languages. Over the past five years, his research has evolved toward more complex network verification techniques, including infinite state verification, active learning of network models, and dependently-typed approaches to network programming. His work bridges theoretical computer science with practical networking systems, making formal methods accessible to network engineers. ACM Fellow (2025) ACM SIGPLAN Robin Milner Award (2023) ACM SIGCOMM Rising Star Award (2018) NSF CAREER Award (2013) Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship (2012) Multiple distinguished paper awards across top conferences including POPL, PLDI, and SIGCOMM Foster has advised numerous PhD and Master's students who have gone on to prominent positions in both industry and academia, with many continuing work in programming languages and networking. He has led multiple significant research grants including an NSF CAREER Award and has been involved in the P4 Language Consortium, serving as Chair of the P4 Language Governing Board. His work has been supported by various organizations including NSF, DARPA, and industry partners like Intel and Jane Street. Foster is also active in the programming languages research community, serving on numerous program committees and as Vice Chair of DARPA's Information Science and Technology (ISAT) study group. Foster leads a vibrant research group at Cornell focused on programming languages for networks, with collaborators from academia and industry. His group has developed several influential tools and frameworks including NetKAT, Petr4, and KATch. They maintain strong connections with the P4 community and work closely with industry partners to ensure their research has practical impact on real-world networking systems.
Ishan Sharma is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur), specializing in Mechanics and Applied Mathematics. His research focuses on granular materials, planetary science, contact mechanics and adhesion, soft materials, dynamics, structural vibrations, wave propagation, stability, and fluid-structure interaction. Dr. Sharma's research interests include modeling granular systems for geophysical and industrial applications, with specific emphasis on dynamics of granular minor planets and segregation in granular mixtures. His work bridges theoretical mechanics with practical applications in both space science and engineering contexts. The research spans multiple disciplines, connecting planetary science, materials science, and mechanical engineering through mathematical modeling and computational approaches. His scholarly contributions demonstrate significant trends in applying mechanical principles to celestial bodies and industrial processes. The work on granular materials has important implications for understanding asteroid formation, while his contact mechanics research informs material science and engineering design. His publications reveal a consistent focus on stability phenomena across different physical systems. INAE Young Engineer Award Dr. Sharma leads the Mechanics and Applied Mathematics research group at IIT Kanpur, supervising research projects that examine fundamental properties of materials under various mechanical conditions. His work combines theoretical analysis with computational methods to address complex mechanical problems with both academic and practical significance. He maintains an active research program with ongoing projects examining the mechanical behavior of granular systems in space environments. Based in office NL-102 in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Sharma contributes significantly to the academic community through his teaching, research supervision, and scholarly publications in high-impact journals.
Ronald McGarvey is a Full Professor at IÉSEG School of Management since 2022, with prior roles including Associate Professor with Tenure at the University of Missouri (2013-2022) and Senior Operations Researcher at RAND Corporation (2002-2022). He holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from Pennsylvania State University and an H.D.R. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Paul Sabatier, France. Education : H.D.R. (2024), Industrial Engineering, University of Paul Sabatier Ph.D. (2002), Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, Pennsylvania State University His research focuses on Operations Research and Robust Optimization applied to diverse domains: Healthcare Logistics : Modeling access disparities in rural obstetric care for American Indian populations Environmental Sustainability : Analyzing biomass energy systems, forest carbon impacts, and waste management frameworks Network Design : Developing optimization models for supply chain resilience, military logistics, and urban transit safety Policy Analysis : Evaluating multi-state environmental collaborations and localized food systems His publications demonstrate strong interdisciplinary applications of mathematical programming and spatial optimization to real-world challenges in healthcare access, energy sustainability, and transportation systems. Key Collaborations : Working with researchers in public health (Thorsen, Noble), environmental science (Aguilar), and engineering (Mirzaee, Gutierrez-Lopez)
Ji Zhu is the Susan A. Murphy Collegiate Professor of Statistics at the University of Michigan, Department of Statistics. He holds affiliations with the Michigan Institute for Data Science (MIDAS) and the Michigan Integrated Center for Health Analytics and Medical Prediction (MiCHAMP). His research focuses on statistical machine learning, network analysis, and health science applications. Education: B.Sc. in Physics (Peking University, 1996), M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Statistics (Stanford University, 2000 and 2003). Notable awards include the NSF CAREER Award (2008), Fellowships from the ASA (2013) and IMS (2015), and recognition as a Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher (2014–2020). Research interests span statistical methodologies for networks, survival analysis, and high-dimensional data. He co-authored influential papers on community detection, network cross-validation, and latent space models. Current editorial roles include Editor-in-Chief of the Annals of Applied Statistics and Action Editor for the Journal of Machine Learning Research. Advising: Supervised over 50 students and postdocs, many now in academia and industry. Notable former advisees include Tianxi Li (University of Minnesota), Yuan Zhang (Ohio State University), and Weijing Tang (Carnegie Mellon University). Labs/Teams: Active in interdisciplinary projects at MIDAS and MiCHAMP, focusing on healthcare analytics and predictive modeling for diseases like hepatitis and cardiovascular outcomes.
Leigh Oakes is Professor of French and Linguistics in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures within the School of Languages, Linguistics and Film at Queen Mary University of London. He has held progressive academic positions at the institution since 2000, advancing from Lecturer to his current professorship. His international academic background includes a PhD from the University of Melbourne and research at Stockholm University's Centre for Research on Bilingualism. His educational qualifications include a PhD (2001) and BA (Hons) (1996), both from the University of Melbourne. Oakes specializes in language policy and planning, with particular focus on language and national identity in France, Quebec, and Sweden. His research has expanded into linguistic justice debates in political theory, advocating for normative and interdisciplinary approaches to language policy. Oakes' publication trends reveal a consistent focus on ethical dimensions of language policy, with increasing emphasis on pluricentric justice and linguistic integration since 2016. His work bridges sociolinguistics and political philosophy, demonstrating strong interdisciplinary connections between language attitudes, national identity construction, and policy implementation across Francophone contexts. The 2018 co-authored monograph 'Normative Language Policy' represents a significant theoretical contribution to the field. 2008 Pierre Savard Prize for 'Language, Citizenship and Identity in Quebec' Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grant for 'The Ethics of Linguistic Integration' project Co-editor-in-chief of Sociolinguistica: European Journal of Sociolinguistics Co-editor of Multilingual Matters book series Member of editorial boards for Language Policy and Modern Languages Open Oakes actively supervises PhD candidates in sociolinguistic topics, with current research focusing on linguistic integration in Quebec and adaptation among mobile French speakers. His major Leverhulme-funded project 'The Ethics of Linguistic Integration' examines moral implications of language requirements for immigrants across England, Quebec, and Wales. He serves on several international academic committees including the Association internationale des études québécoises and the British Association of Canadian Studies. He leads the interdisciplinary 'Ethics of Linguistic Integration' research team, which combines expertise from applied linguistics, sociolinguistics, and political theory to investigate language integration policies. His work connects with broader university initiatives through Queen Mary's research highways in social justice and global challenges.
Mario Berges is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), with a courtesy appointment in Electrical and Computer Engineering. He holds leadership roles as Co-Director of the IBM Smart Infrastructure Analytics Lab and Director of the Intelligent Infrastructure Research Lab (INFERLab). His work focuses on applying information/communication technologies to enhance the operational efficiency and resilience of built environments amid evolving resource constraints and climate changes. Education: PhD in Civil & Environmental Engineering from CMU (2010). Research Interests: Berges' research integrates smart infrastructure systems, energy efficiency, and machine learning. Key areas include non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM), structural health monitoring of pipelines, building automation systems, and urban heat risk modeling. He develops data-driven frameworks for energy disaggregation, sensor placement optimization, and real-time infrastructure diagnostics. Awards: Recognized with the 2010 FIATECH Outstanding Early Career Researcher Award and 2015 Dean’s Early Career Fellowship from CMU. Grants & Labs: Leads INFERLab, collaborating with IBM on smart infrastructure projects. His work spans academic-industry partnerships focused on building analytics, smart grid technologies, and sensor networks. Future Directions: Expanding research into AI-driven energy systems, resilient urban infrastructure, and cross-disciplinary solutions for climate adaptation.
Salikoko S. Mufwene is the Edward Carson Waller Distinguished Service Professor of Linguistics at the University of Chicago. He holds additional appointments on the Committees on Evolutionary Biology, Conceptual and Historical Studies of Science, and African Studies. His research integrates ecological perspectives into evolutionary linguistics, focusing on language contact, creole genesis, language endangerment, and the impact of colonization and globalization on linguistic diversity. Education: PhD in Linguistics, University of Chicago (1979) Key Themes: Language evolution, creole languages, population structure, decolonial linguistics, language policy Mufwene’s work emphasizes the role of population dynamics in language change, drawing parallels with biological evolution. His recent articles examine topics such as the cultural-artifact nature of language, the ecological drivers of creole hybridization, and the decolonization of linguistic paradigms. He has also contributed extensively to debates on language endangerment and multilingualism in super-diverse societies. Scientific Awards: Fellow, Linguistic Society of America (2018) Fellow, American Philosophical Society (2022) Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2023) Collège de France lectures (2003, 2023-24) Summer Institute of the Linguistic Society of America (1999, 2005, 2015, 2017)
