Thais Webber is a Lecturer in Software Engineering and Cybersecurity at Aston University's School of Computer Science and Digital Technologies. Her research focuses on developing secure, user-centered healthcare systems through participatory approaches and longitudinal studies. Recent work explores personalized authentication paradigms, non-invasive diagnostic technologies for conditions like endometriosis, and simulations of healthcare resource allocation during disruptions. Her publications demonstrate strong interdisciplinary collaboration, bridging computer science with clinical healthcare challenges. Methodologies include statistical modeling, system verification, and stakeholder engagement frameworks to address vulnerabilities in medical data systems and improve care delivery efficiency.
Dr. Jesse Wilcox is an Associate Professor of Biology at the University of Northern Iowa specializing in science education research. His work investigates best practices for preparing K-12 science teachers, with emphasis on authentic research experiences and standards-based assessment. Wilcox's scholarship explores: Field experience supports for preservice teachers NGSS-aligned grading reforms Elementary STEM engagement techniques Self-efficacy development in educators Recent publications demonstrate methodological diversity from case studies on teacher persistence to quasi-experimental analyses of instructional interventions.
W. Michael Petullo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Comp Sci & Comp Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and prior academic degrees from DePaul University and Drake University. Before academia, he served a 20-year career in the Army, including roles teaching in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and leading cyber operations software development. His research focuses on software and network security, operating systems, and open-source software development. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of Illinois at Chicago M.S. in Computer Science, DePaul University B.S. in Computer Science, Drake University Research Interests: His work emphasizes secure operating system design, network security protocols, and open-source tool development. Recent efforts include the Aquinas Learning System for courseware automation and PivotWall for SDN-based information flow control. He also explores user behavior in cybersecurity contexts and educational applications of cyber defense exercises. Teaching: Currently instructs CS120 (Software Design I), CS410/510 (Open Source Development), and CS455/555 (Fundamentals of Information Security). Past courses include operating systems concepts and secure software development. Labs & Projects: Maintains the Aquinas Learning System project and contributes to Ethos operating system research. Active in developing minimal-latency networking solutions and secure kernel interfaces.
Patrick (Pat) Reilly is an Assistant Professor in the Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources Division at the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business. His research focuses on the social dynamics of occupations, creativity, career development, and communities of practice, with a particular emphasis on cultural production industries like stand-up comedy and television. He employs qualitative methods in his investigations. Reilly holds a B.A. from Emory University, M.A. degrees from New York University and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), and a Ph.D. in Sociology from UCLA. His work explores themes such as non-standard work arrangements, authenticity in creative industries, and the enforcement of community norms. Recent research highlights include analyzing team composition in television creative processes (2024), examining authenticity and norm enforcement in stand-up comedy (2018), and studying career trajectories in cultural production (2017). His publications bridge organizational theory with sociological perspectives, contributing to understanding labor dynamics in creative sectors. No scientific awards are explicitly listed in the provided materials. Teaching responsibilities include courses on negotiations and power & politics in business programs. His research has implications for understanding labor markets, creative industries, and organizational behavior in winner-take-all environments. Reilly's work often intersects with questions of institutional logics, cultural capital, and the socio-economic structures shaping artistic careers. His current projects likely continue exploring these themes through ethnographic and qualitative methodologies.
Birgit Meyer is a Professor of Religious Studies at Utrecht University, affiliated with the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies. Her work focuses on material religion, postcolonial criticism, and the intersection of religion with media and globalization. She leads the research program 'Religious Matters in an Entangled World,' exploring how religion manifests through tangible forms in diverse societies. Education: Trained in cultural anthropology at Bremen University and the University of Amsterdam, she held previous roles at VU Amsterdam and Utrecht University since 2011. Key academic contributions include studies on Ghanaian Pentecostalism, missionary legacies, and religious visual culture. Research interests emphasize material and sensory dimensions of religion, including religious heritage in museums, media, and urban spaces. Awards include the Spinoza Prize (2015) and the Stewart Hoover Mentorship Award (2023). She has advised numerous PhD candidates and leads interdisciplinary teams in global collaborations. Her work bridges empirical research and theoretical reflection, addressing contemporary challenges in religious coexistence and secularization. Current projects include unpacking colonial missionary collections and studying religious plurality in urban Africa.
Prof. Plamen Angelov holds a Chair in Intelligent Systems and is Director of Research at Lancaster University's School of Computing and Communications. He leads the Lancaster Intelligent, Robotic, and Autonomous Systems (LIRA) Centre, uniting 70+ faculty across 15 departments. With a PhD (1993) and DSc (2015), he is a Fellow of IEEE, IET, ELLIS, and AAIA. His research focuses on explainable AI, evolving systems, and computational intelligence, with 400+ publications (h-index 65) in top venues like TPAMI and IEEE Transactions. Notable achievements include the Dennis Gabor Award (2020) and ranking in Stanford's Top 0.2% AI researchers (2024). He leads projects funded by UK Research Councils, ESA, DSTL, and industry. As Editor-in-Chief of Springer's Evolving Systems , he drives standards in explainable AI through IEEE's P2976 Working Group. His work spans autonomous systems, cybersecurity, and biomedical applications through initiatives like AI4EO and H-UNIQUE.
Tigran Haas is an Associate Professor and Tenured Faculty Member at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, specializing in Urban Planning and Urban Design. He serves as Director of the Halcyon Athenaeum Laboratory (HAL) and former Director of the Centre for the Future of Places (CFP). He holds roles in multiple institutions, including Affiliate at MIT's Leventhal Center and Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Local Governance (CLG). His work focuses on sustainable urbanism, public space design, post-conflict reconstruction, and urban renewal. Education: Advanced degrees in Architecture, Urban Planning, Environmental Science, and Regional Planning. Postdoctoral fellowships at MIT, UC Berkeley, and University of Michigan. Guest professor at Zagreb School of Economics and Management. Research Interests: Urban form and human behavior, authenticity in urban design, synchronicity in urban systems, and the post-urban world. Notable projects include the Trilogy on Social Housing, Ageing Society, and Loneliness. He edits over 30 academic journals and serves on international review boards. Articles Trends: Focus on public space dynamics, urban informality, heritage-driven development, and sustainable urban solutions. Recent work explores post-structural urban theory and global urban challenges. Awards: Regional Studies Association Book of the Year (2018), 15 CEO Leadership Awards, CFP Accolades. Advising & Grants: Supervised 18 PhD students and 125 MSc students. Coordinates research projects on urban form, authenticity, and synchronicity. Active in global urban networks like IMCL and RÊVE Research Institute. Labs/Teams: Halcyon Athenaeum Laboratory (HAL), former Civitas Athenaeum Laboratory (CAL). Collaborates with MIT, CLG, and the Urban Coalition ROZKVIT (Ukraine).
Kyle O'Keefe is a Professor in the Department of Geomatics Engineering at the University of Calgary's Schulich School of Engineering. He holds dual B.Sc. degrees in Geomatics Engineering (University of Calgary, 2000) and Honours Physics (University of British Columbia, 1997), and a Ph.D. in Geomatics Engineering (University of Calgary, 2004). He is a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) registered with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta since 2005. His research focuses on positioning and navigation technologies, including Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) advancements Ultra-wideband (UWB) ranging for vehicle/pedestrian navigation Indoor positioning using wireless signals Wearable sensor integration for biomechanics and navigation GNSS spoofing detection and cybersecurity Notable projects include: Development of UWB-augmented GNSS for RTK surveying (2007–present) Wearable sensor systems for rowing/kayaking motion analysis (2017–present) CanX-2 nanosatellite GPS receiver operations (2008) Igliniit project with Inuit hunters for Arctic environmental monitoring (2006–2009) Multi-constellation GNSS evaluation across 20+ years He has received prestigious awards including the Michael Richey Medal (2011) and multiple Best Paper Awards at IPIN and ION conferences. His teaching includes courses like Advanced GNSS Theory and Wireless Location. Active in professional organizations, he co-edits special journal issues and advises industry on emerging navigation technologies.
Dr. Sophie Vigneron is a Reader in Law and Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Kent's Kent Law School. Her research focuses on art and cultural heritage law, including the regulation and protection of heritage (tangible/intangible, movable/immovable) under national and international frameworks. She holds a joint PhD from the Universities of Nancy and Kent, awarded the prize for best private law thesis in 2005. Her roles include Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Cultural Property since 2023, and leadership in projects like the AHRC network on Cultural World Heritage Sites. She has served on review panels for the EU, ESRC, and AHRC. Research Interests: Regulation of art trade, heritage law intersections with human rights, protection during conflicts, restitution of cultural objects (e.g., WWII looting), and UNESCO conventions implementation. Publications span cultural heritage governance, Brexit impacts on heritage, repatriation of human remains, and authenticity in art law. She regularly contributes to legal encyclopedias and journals, with over 50 publications indexed in the Kent Academic Repository. Professional Memberships: Board Member of ISCHAL, co-convenor of the Socio-Legal Studies Association's Art & Heritage stream.
Dr. Sehrish Shahid is a Lecturer in Management at RMIT University's School of Management (since 2023) and previously held roles at the Australian Institute of Business and University of Central Punjab. Her research focuses on leadership dynamics, organizational behavior, and workplace well-being, with a particular emphasis on expatriate management, gender roles, and sustainable development goals. She has secured grants including the ECR Grant (2023) and contributed to projects like the SAFE initiative funded by the Victorian Government. Shahid actively publishes in ABDC-ranked journals and presents at conferences like the Academy of Management. She coordinates leadership courses and advocates for student-centered, work-integrated learning approaches. Her work aligns with UN SDGs such as Gender Equality and Decent Work. Education: PhD in Management from RMIT University (IPRS Scholar) Grants: Multiple research awards including 2023 ECR Grant and 2018 RMIT Publication Grant Teaching: Leadership course coordination and MBA programs Research highlights include frameworks addressing expatriate mental health post-pandemic, HRM in emerging markets, and virtual leadership effectiveness. She reviews for journals and participates in ethics advisory networks. Shahid’s interdisciplinary approach bridges psychology, management, and education to enhance professional practices.
Yunming Xiao is an Assistant Professor at the School of Data Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Shenzhen. Previously, he served as a Research Fellow at the University of Michigan and earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Northwestern University in 2024. His research focuses on computer systems, networks, and security, with emphasis on security and privacy of Internet services and performance optimization of cloud infrastructure. His work has been recognized with the Best Paper Award at APNet and Best Student Paper Award at ACM EuroSys. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science, Northwestern University (2024) B.Eng. in Computer Science, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (2019) His research bridges cloud infrastructure and security, where projects like SwiftRDMA, Conspirator, and MegaTE demonstrate innovative approaches to resource scheduling, SmartNIC integration, and traffic engineering at scale. These works highlight his focus on solving real-world performance and security bottlenecks in distributed systems. Scientific Awards: Best Paper Award, APNet'25 Best Student Paper Award, ACM EuroSys'24 Yunming actively collaborates with industry, having interned at Google, Hewlett Packard Labs, Nokia Bell Labs, and Bytedance. He serves on TPCs for major conferences including CCS'26, IMC'26, and IEEE S&P'26.
Christopher Witulski is an Associate Teaching Professor of Ethnomusicology at Bowling Green State University's College of Musical Arts, where he has served since 2016. He holds a PhD in Ethnomusicology from the University of Florida (2014). His research focuses on Moroccan ritual music, North African musical practices, and the intersection of music with religion, globalization, and cultural identity. Witulski is the author of two major works: The Gnawa Lions: Opportunity and Authenticity in Moroccan Ritual Music (2018) and Focus: Music and Religion of Morocco (2019). His articles explore how musicians navigate listener expectations, global markets, and ritual aesthetics in contemporary North Africa. Witulski is an active performer on violin, 'ud, and banjo, with professional experience in orchestras and festivals across Morocco, Florida, Georgia, and Michigan. His performance interests include Arabic music, American old-time music, and building banjos. Additional research interests incorporate computational music analysis, ethical dimensions of religious music, and interdisciplinary music studies. His scholarly articles (2014–2023) consistently analyze Moroccan musical scenes, Sufi rituals, and global music dynamics. No scientific awards are explicitly listed, though his publications indicate prestigious contributions to ethnomusicology. He previously taught at Florida State University before joining BGSU. No lab affiliations or grant details are provided in the text.
Mohammad Kamrul Hasan is an Associate Professor and Head of the Network and Communication Technology Research Lab at the Center for Cyber Security, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Communication Engineering from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and has over a decade of prior industry experience in communication systems and network design. He has held academic positions at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and IIUM, and is currently active in research and leadership at UKM. Ph.D. in Engineering (Electrical and Computer Engineering), International Islamic University Malaysia, 2016 M.Sc. in Communication Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia, 2012 His research focuses on cutting-edge areas in network and communication technologies. Key interests include Wireless Communication and Network Security , Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) , Cyber-Physical Systems , 5G and Beyond (6G) Networks , Smart Grids , and AI-driven security . He explores machine learning, federated learning, blockchain, and optimization algorithms to enhance network resilience, privacy, and efficiency in critical infrastructure and consumer electronics. His recent publications (2023–2025) demonstrate a strong trend toward intelligent and secure next-generation networks. Topics include intrusion detection in IIoT, passwordless authentication, federated learning for healthcare IoT, 6G security, and digital twins for SCADA systems. His work is frequently published in high-impact IEEE and Springer journals, reflecting a consistent and influential research output. Gold Medal for research excellence Young Scientist Award Fulbright Scholarship (Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia) Senior Member, IEEE (since 2013) Member, Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Member, Internet Society Dr. Hasan has served as an editorial member for prestigious journals including IEEE, IET, and Elsevier. He has led funded research projects such as the design of a two-way wireless communication system for medium-voltage electrical networks at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. He has mentored students and collaborated widely, with co-authors from Malaysia and international institutions. He has also contributed to professional service as Chairperson of the IEEE IIUM Student Branch and as a peer reviewer for over 13 journals including Computer Networks , Internet of Things , and Soft Computing . He leads the Network and Communication Technology Research Lab at UKM, focusing on secure, intelligent, and scalable communication systems for smart cities, industry, and healthcare. His team works on AI-powered intrusion detection, blockchain for critical infrastructure, and privacy-preserving data fusion in IoT environments.
Carsten Baum is an Associate Professor at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, working within the Cybersecurity Engineering Center for Quantum Technologies. His research focuses on cryptography, particularly post-quantum security, secure multi-party computation, and quantum-resistant protocols. Primary Affiliation: Technical University of Denmark (DTU) Academic Rank: Associate Professor Research Centers: Cybersecurity Engineering Center for Quantum Technologies Research Interests: Carsten Baum specializes in cryptographic protocols, including zero-knowledge proofs, multi-signatures, and oblivious computation. His work addresses quantum computing threats to classical cryptography and develops resilient post-quantum solutions. Key areas include: Secure multi-party computation (MPC) Post-quantum key agreement Quantum computing's impact on cryptographic security Privacy-preserving technologies Hash function security analysis (e.g., SHA-3) Time-based cryptographic primitives Advising and Projects: As a main or co-supervisor, Baum mentors multiple PhD candidates in post-quantum cryptography and secure protocols. His projects include proactive post-quantum cryptography, quantum key agreement, and long-term security frameworks, reflecting collaborations with institutions across Europe and Asia. Recent Activities: Baum actively organizes and participates in Nordic cryptography workshops, including NordiCrypt Spring 2024 and 2023, fostering academic exchange in cryptographic research.
Konstantinos Markantonakis is a Professor of Information Security in the Department of Information Security at Royal Holloway, University of London, where he also serves as Director of the Smart Card and IoT Security Centre and the Transformative Digital Technologies, Security and Society Catalyst. He is a leading figure in embedded systems and IoT security, with extensive research and consultancy experience. BSc (Hons) in Computer Science, Lancaster University, 1995 MSc in Information Security, Royal Holloway, 1996 PhD in Smart Card Security, Royal Holloway, 2000 MBA in International Management, Royal Holloway, 2005 His research focuses on securing embedded and cyber-physical systems, including smart cards, mobile devices, drones, automotive systems, and IoT. He investigates trusted execution environments, side-channel analysis, secure protocols, and hardware-software binding. His work bridges theoretical security and practical implementation, often uncovering zero-day vulnerabilities in consumer devices. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in trusted computing, remote attestation, secure embedded systems, and privacy-preserving technologies. His research integrates blockchain for secure energy trading, develops frameworks for edge machine learning, and advances forensic techniques for damaged storage media. He also explores covert channels in mobile and cloud environments, demonstrating a deep understanding of both offensive and defensive security. Best Paper Award Markantonakis has led major research projects such as EXFILES (forensic extraction from encrypted smartphones), Future TPM (quantum-resistant trusted modules), and the Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research. He has supervised numerous PhD students and delivered keynotes at international conferences. His consultancy work has impacted financial institutions, transport operators, and mobile platform security. He leads the Smart Card and IoT Security Centre, a research hub focusing on practical security for connected devices. The centre conducts cutting-edge research in side-channel attacks, secure application execution, and forensic analysis, contributing significantly to both academic and industrial advancements in cybersecurity.
