Chris Donahue is an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science Department at Carnegie Mellon University . He also serves as a part-time Research Scientist at Google DeepMind on the Magenta team. His work focuses on leveraging generative AI to enhance human creativity, particularly in music. Education: PhD in Computer Science (UC San Diego), Postdoctoral Scholar (Stanford University) His research spans controllable generative modeling of music and audio , with a focus on real-time interactive systems. Projects like Piano Genie , Beat Sage , and Copilot Arena demonstrate his commitment to real-world deployment. His Generative Creativity Lab (G-CLef) explores AI applications beyond music, including programming and natural language. Recent publications highlight advancements in multimodal music evaluation , real-time adaptation , and AI-driven sound morphing . He co-developed Magenta RealTime , an open-weight real-time music generation model, and MusicFX DJ Mode . Scientific Awards: Best Paper Award (top 1) at NAACL Student Research Workshop 2025 Best Paper Award (top 1% of submissions) at CHI 2025 Best Paper Runner-up at ISMIR 2021 He co-advises PhD students like Wayne Chi (NDSEG Fellow) and mentors Irmak Bukey . His lab receives support from the AIxArts incubator fund at CMU .
Timothy Hampton is a Professor of French and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkeley , and serves as Director of the Doreen B. Townsend Center for the Humanities . He was previously the Director of the Designated Emphasis in Renaissance and Early Modern Studies and co-chairs the Democracy, Free Speech, and Values study group. His research explores intersections of literature and politics , poetry and song , and the history of emotion and diplomacy in Renaissance and early modern periods. Recent projects include a 2022 France-Berkeley Fund grant on poetry translation and a Diebold Foundation grant for interdisciplinary cultural studies. Notable publications include Bob Dylan: How the Songs Work (2019) and Cheerfulness: A Literary and Cultural History (2022). Upcoming works address premodern colonialism and American education through memoir and cultural critique. His scholarship appears in MLN , Critical Inquiry , and public venues like Salon and Aeon/Psyche .
Rafał Jończyk is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Pragmatics, Faculty of English, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland, where he conducts research at the intersection of psycholinguistics, affective neuroscience, and bilingualism. His work primarily investigates how emotional processing differs between native and second languages using neurophysiological methods, particularly EEG. With a Ph.D. in English Linguistics from Poznań (2015) and postdoctoral experience at Pennsylvania State University, he has established himself as a leading researcher in bilingual emotional processing. His research interests span Affective Neuroscience , Experimental Pragmatics , Psycholinguistics , Bilingualism and Emotion , and the Neurophysiology of Creativity . His methodology heavily relies on EEG to examine language processing, with particular focus on emotional language comprehension and production in bilingual contexts. His work has demonstrated how bilinguals process emotional content differently in their native versus second languages, revealing reduced sensitivity to negative content in the second language. Jończyk's research program has evolved from early work on hemispheric specialization for emotional words to sophisticated EEG studies of emotional anticipation and metaphor processing in bilinguals. His most recent work explores hyperscanning methodologies to study real-time bilingual communication and the neural correlates of creative thinking in bilingual contexts. His publications show a clear progression from foundational studies of emotional word processing to increasingly complex investigations of emotional communication in naturalistic contexts. Cognitive Neuroscience Society Post-doctoral Fellows Award (2018) START scholarship for most talented young Polish scientists (2018) Scholarship from the Minister of Science and Higher Education (2020) Travel Grant Award for International Symposium on Bilingualism (2013) As Principal Investigator, Jończyk leads two major National Science Center projects examining psychophysiological correlates of affective language processing in bilinguals (2016-2018) and neurophysiological correlates of emotional speech production in bilingualism (2021-2025). He also participates in multiple international collaborations including NSF-funded research on divergent thinking in engineering education. His editorial roles include Topic Editor for Brain Sciences and Associate Editor for Applied Psycholinguistics, reflecting his standing in the field. He teaches courses in Psycholinguistics, Emotions in Social Communication, and Creativity and Language at the university level.
Dr. Simon A. Morrison is a Senior Lecturer in the Division of Communication, Screen & Performance within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Chester. He serves as Programme Leader for the Music Journalism degree, which he helped design, build and deliver from its first cohort in 2014. With 25 years of experience as a writer, broadcaster, and academic, Morrison brings extensive industry knowledge to his teaching and research, having worked as a music journalist reporting from locations worldwide including Beijing, Brazil, Moscow, and Marrakech. Dr. Morrison holds a PhD from the University of Leeds (completed 2018), an MA from the University of Manchester (1995-1997), and a BA Hons from the University of Manchester (1989-1992). Prior to his position at Chester, he worked as an Associate Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University (2012-2014) and as a Visiting Lecturer at Leeds University (2011-2013). His academic journey follows a substantial career in media where he presented TV for Rapture TV, hosted radio shows in Ibiza, produced and presented for Kiss Radio, and appeared on BBC Breakfast and BBC 5 Live. Dr. Morrison's research centers on the intersection of words and music , with particular focus on Popular Music , Musico-Literary Intermediality , and Electronic Dance Music Culture . His work explores how music subcultures, particularly rave and dance music scenes, are represented in literature and journalism. He examines the connections between different countercultural movements, notably drawing parallels between the Beat Generation writers and contemporary 'Chemical Generation' authors who write about club culture. His research also investigates the relationship between music journalism and subcultural movements across different historical periods. His recent publications reveal a clear trajectory connecting historical dance music developments across continents and eras. Morrison's work traces the evolution of electronic dance music from its American roots in Chicago and Detroit through its transatlantic journey to Europe and back again, examining how cultural exchange shaped musical innovation. His analyses of Pink Floyd demonstrate how rock bands interact with media landscapes, while his investigations of music journalism document the changing nature of music criticism in digital eras. The recurring theme across his scholarship is the examination of how subcultural experiences are translated into written form, whether through journalism, fiction, or academic analysis. Dr. Morrison actively supervises undergraduate dissertation projects and Negotiated Study production projects across all three years of undergraduate study. He has successfully supervised an MRes project to completion and examined PhDs (including one internal and two external, one being an Australian PhD by Artefact & Exegesis). He has served as an External Examiner for Music Journalism programs at Southampton Solent University (2016-2019) and BIMM London, Birmingham and Manchester (2016-2020). His teaching spans modules including Introduction to Journalism, Live Journalism, Dancing About Architecture: Popular Music Media, Histories and Technologies, The Cultural Politics of Music Journalism, The Politics of Social Media, Magazine Publishing and Music PR and Promotional Writing.
Joanna Pawlik is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Art History at the University of Sussex, within the School of Media, Arts and Humanities. Her research focuses on modern art and literature, emphasizing transnationalism, avant-gardism, and protest movements. She has been funded by prestigious grants like the Leverhulme Trust and the AHRC. Her 2021 monograph Remade in America , awarded the MSA First Book Prize, examines Surrealism's role in American activism post-1940. Current research explores fascist iconography in American art (1945–1980), funded by a Leverhulme Fellowship. Education: PhD in Art History, University of Sussex (2003–2008) MA in Art History, York University, Canada (2021–2022) BA Hons in Art History, University of East Anglia (2018–2021) Research Interests: Her work investigates surrealism's transnational legacies, anti-fascist art, feminist/queer methodologies, and postwar American visual culture. She examines how surrealist principles intersect with race, gender, class, and activism in movements like the Beat Generation and Black Arts Movement. Grants & Awards: Leverhulme Research Fellowship (2020–2022) Leverhulme Trust Grant 'Radical America: Afterlives' (2016) MSA First Book Prize (2021) Professional Activities: Co-director of the SAVAnT Doctoral School promoting interdisciplinary American visual studies. Supervises PhD projects on postwar American art, anti-fascism, and feminist/queer art history. Engages in public scholarship through interviews and exhibitions.
Dr. Yuri Rostovtsev is a Professor at the University of North Texas, specializing in quantum optics and atomic physics. He holds a Ph.D. from the Russian Academy of Sciences (1991). His office is located in GAB 525I and he can be contacted at (940) 565-3281. Research Interests: Dr. Rostovtsev's research focuses on quantum coherence phenomena, electromagnetically induced transparency, and matter-field interactions. His work spans theoretical and experimental investigations in quantum optics, including studies of quantum refraction, biophotons, and ultrafast processes in atomic and molecular systems. Recent Publications: His recent articles explore advanced quantum phenomena including single-photon interactions with atoms, quantum state engineering, plasmonic structures, and ultrafast dynamics in molecular systems. These publications demonstrate a consistent focus on quantum coherence effects and light-matter interactions at the quantum level. Scientific Awards: No awards mentioned in the provided text. Advising and Labs: No information available about students or research laboratories.
Mikhail Ivanov is a Professor at Humboldt University Berlin (S-W3 Professor) and Imperial College London (Professor and Chair in Attosecond Physics, 20% part-time). He leads the Theory Department at the Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics. His academic journey includes a PhD from the General Physics Institute, Moscow, and a M.Sc. in Mathematical Physics from Moscow State University. Research Interests: Ivanov specializes in extreme nonlinear optics, attosecond science, quantum control, and strong-field physics. He pioneered theoretical frameworks for attosecond pulse generation and light-matter interaction, with applications in chemical physics and ultrafast dynamics. His work bridges fundamental quantum phenomena with practical advancements in ultrafast spectroscopy and topological materials. Awards & Recognition: He received the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Award (2004) and the Rutherford Medal (2003). His contributions have been recognized through over 30,000 citations and an h-index of 71. Key Achievements: Established the Theory Department at Max Born Institute, employing 35 researchers/students. Published extensively in Nature Photonics , Nature Physics , and Physical Review Letters , focusing on high-harmonic spectroscopy, topological lightwave control, and quantum dynamics in materials.
Michael Rauhut is a Professor at the University of Agder where he leads the PhD specialization in popular music performance and represents subject teachers within scientific disciplines at the Department of Rhythmic Music . His academic work focuses on popular music studies and musicology, with supervisory responsibilities for master's and doctoral candidates. Rauhut's research explores the intersection of music, politics, and society, with particular emphasis on: Popular music history in socialist contexts (especially the GDR) Cultural transfer during the Cold War Blues, rock, and jazz as forms of cultural expression Youth cultures and music under authoritarian systems Church-state dynamics in musical expression His work demonstrates how music functioned as both state propaganda and vehicle for dissent. Analysis of Rauhut's publications reveals consistent focus on: Cultural mechanisms in socialist states (75% of recent works) Transnational music exchanges across the Iron Curtain Archival methodologies for reconstructing musical histories Identity formation through popular music State censorship and artistic resistance strategies His documentary filmography expands these themes into visual media. As PhD supervisor, Rauhut guides research in popular music performance and musicology. His extensive conference participation includes keynote addresses in Germany, USA, Georgia, and Ukraine, covering topics from blues reception to music's role in political revolutions.
Chao Liu is a Research Scientist at CNRS (French National Center for Scientific Research) since 2008, affiliated with the DEXTER team and the Department of Robotics, LIRMM at University of Montpellier, France. He earned his Ph.D. in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2006). Current research focuses on surgical robotics , haptics , teleoperation , and nonlinear control theory with applications in computer vision. His work addresses challenges in robotic-assisted telesurgery, including: Stable and transparent human-robot interaction through wave variable compensators and passivity filters Physiological motion compensation using spatio-temporal LSTM and dual Kalman filters EMG-based motion recognition for surgical skill assessment 3D soft-tissue reconstruction with stereo-endoscopes and deep learning Dr. Liu leads European and French projects like: TS2RT (CNRS-funded): Safer teleoperation with motion compensation ROBACUS (ANR-funded): Needle positioning with MPC control HaTUMoCo (CNRS-funded): Haptic teleoperation with uncertainty handling ARAKNES (EU-funded): Microrobotic systems for endoluminal surgery Scientific honors include Senior Member of IEEE and Member of Sigma Xi . He supervises Ph.D. and Master's students working on topics such as concentric tube robot optimization, haptic teleoperation, and EMG-based force estimation. Dr. Liu serves on IEEE Technical Committees for Telerobotics and Haptics , and as Technical Editor of IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics.
Prof. Pierre Jaïs serves as University Professor in Cardiology and Cardiac Electrophysiology at the University of Bordeaux and Head of the Electrophysiology Unit at Bordeaux University Hospital. He concurrently leads the Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute (LIRYC) as CEO since 2021, driving innovation in cardiac rhythm disorder treatments through multidisciplinary research. His research revolutionized cardiac electrophysiology by identifying pulmonary veins as primary sources of atrial fibrillation, establishing pulmonary vein isolation as the global treatment standard. Current work focuses on pulsed field ablation—a non-thermal technique with potential to replace conventional ablation—and developing advanced imaging for precise arrhythmia targeting, reflecting his commitment to translating scientific discovery into clinical solutions. Analysis of recent publications (2017-2021) reveals dominant trends in pulsed field ablation optimization, comparative ablation techniques, and AI integration in cardiovascular imaging. These works consistently address atrial fibrillation treatment efficacy, safety profiles, and technological innovation, positioning him at the forefront of electrophysiology advancement. His distinguished contributions are recognized through prestigious awards including: 2019: Eli S. Gang Most Innovative Abstract Award (Heart Rhythm Society) 2018: Eric N. Prystowsky Lectureship Award 2012: Academy of Medicine Membership (Paris) 2009: Circulation Best Paper Award Multiple National Academy of Medicine honors Prof. Jaïs actively mentors electrophysiology trainees and secures substantial research funding, notably leading an EU-funded randomized trial comparing pulsed field versus thermal ablation. His LIRYC institute integrates cardiology, engineering, and computational expertise to accelerate therapeutic innovation. The LIRYC institute operates as a collaborative hub where clinicians, biomedical engineers, and data scientists develop next-generation electrophysiology tools. Current projects include real-time arrhythmia mapping systems, tissue-selective ablation protocols, and AI-driven predictive models for treatment personalization, fostering seamless translation from bench to bedside.
Dr. Jonathan Skinner is a Reader (equivalent to Associate Professor) in English and Comparative Literary Studies at the University of Warwick's Faculty of Arts, where he researches and teaches ecocriticism, contemporary poetry, and creative writing. He founded and edits the journal ecopoetics , exploring intersections between writing and ecology. His research examines: Ecopoetic theory and environmental literature Intersections of sound studies and ethnopoetics North American avant-garde poetry (Olson, Kyger, Eigner) Translation and transnational poetics Third Landscape theory and urban wildness He leads a research network facilitating cross-cultural poetry exchanges along avian migration routes. Skinner's publications predominantly explore ecocritical frameworks through poetry analysis, with recent work examining climate change poetics, multispecies communication, and Anthropocene aesthetics. His scholarship connects literary studies with environmental science, acoustics, and landscape theory. He currently supervises five PhD students researching multispecies poetics and environmental literature through AHRC-funded projects, and has successfully supervised two doctoral candidates studying deindustrialization and extractive urbanism. Previously supervised MA theses span modernist poetry, ecocriticism, and creative writing.
Khurram K. Afridi is a Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Cornell University's College of Engineering. With a BS from Caltech and SM/PhD from MIT, he leads the High-Frequency Power Electronics and Control (HFPEC) research group. His work focuses on high-frequency power electronics, wireless power transfer systems, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Dr. Afridi's research spans capacitive wireless power transfer systems for electric vehicles, high-frequency power converters , impedance control networks , and power density optimization . His team has developed innovative approaches for multi-MHz wireless power transfer, reduced-fringing-field systems, and high-efficiency power conversion architectures. Recent work emphasizes practical implementation challenges including thermal management, pavement-embedded systems, and dynamic charging applications. His publications reveal a strong focus on high-power-density systems , wireless charging technologies , and advanced power conversion techniques . The research spans both theoretical modeling and practical implementation, with numerous papers in top conferences like APEC, ECCE, and IEEE journals. Key themes include improving power transfer efficiency at multi-MHz frequencies, developing novel matching network designs, and creating practical systems for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. First Place Prize Paper Award, IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics, 2023 First Place Best Contribution Award, IEEE WPTCE, 2023 Second Place Prize Paper Award, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2022 Distinguished Lecturer, IEEE Vehicular Technology Society, 2022 Cornell Engineering Research Excellence Award, 2021 NSF CAREER Award, 2016 Dr. Afridi has successfully advised numerous graduate students who have received multiple Outstanding Presentation Awards at major conferences. His research has been supported by significant funding including the NSF CAREER Award. The HFPEC group maintains strong industry connections and focuses on translating theoretical advances into practical power electronics solutions with real-world impact. Current research directions include electrified roadways, dynamic wireless charging systems, and high-power-density power conversion architectures for next-generation applications.
Beate Volker is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Geosciences , University of Utrecht , specializing in Human Geography and Spatial Planning . Her research focuses on Social Network Analysis , Social Capital , and Personal Network Dynamics , with particular interests in Dutch society, neighborhood effects, and urban sociology. Institutional affiliation: University of Utrecht Academic rank: Associate Professor Department: Human Geography and Spatial Planning Her scholarly work examines how life course events , urban densification , and social stratification shape personal and community-level networks. She investigates network segregation in Chilean and Dutch contexts, prisoner reintegration challenges, and the health impacts of social capital . Her methodological expertise includes field experiments, panel data analysis, and relational data collection. Recent publications highlight trends in acquaintanceship networks in the Netherlands, collective efficacy in neighborhoods, and person-centered care in long-term facilities. She contributes to the Dynamics of Youth and Pathways to Sustainability research programs. As a supervisor and researcher, Volker explores network consequences of entrepreneurship , pet ownership , and romantic relationships . Her work frequently appears in journals like Social Networks , British Journal of Sociology , and Health and Place , with peer-reviewed studies on network homogeneity, tie decay, and expert-driven causal modeling.
Dr. Beat Arnet is an active academic partner with expertise in power electronics, embedded software, and model-based development. His career spans industry and academic collaborations. Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (1997) Research focuses on power converter design, control systems, and continuous integration tools. At Plexim Inc. since 2012, he develops simulation and code-generation platforms for power electronics engineers. Scientific contributions include: 6 U.S. patents as primary inventor Senior Member of IEEE He also serves as an advisor to the robotics shop at Medford Vocational Technical High School and has authored numerous technical papers.
Benoit Rosa is currently a CNRS Researcher within the Robotics, Data science, and Healthcare technologies Team at the ICube Laboratory, University of Strasbourg. Previously, he was a Research Fellow at the Pediatric Cardiac Bioengineering Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School (2015-2016), and a postdoctoral fellow in the Robot Assisted Surgery group at the Mechanical Engineering department of KU Leuven, Belgium (2013-2015). He received his Ph.D. in 2013 from Pierre & Marie Curie University (now Sorbonne University) under the supervision of Pr. Guillaume Morel and Pr. Jerome Szewczyk. His PhD was awarded the best PhD thesis award by the CNRS research group on robotics for 2013. Prior to his PhD, he obtained an Engineering Degree (equivalent to a Master's) from Ecole Centrale Paris. Rosa's research focuses on surgical robotics and image-guided control, with particular expertise in the design and control of miniature, distally-actuated and flexible systems for minimally invasive surgery. His work spans from mechatronic design of minimally invasive surgical devices to advanced control algorithms for surgical robots. Key areas include continuum robotics, visual servo control, surgical tool segmentation, and OCT-guided interventions. His research has significant applications in cardiac surgery, endomicroscopy, and various minimally invasive procedures, with a strong emphasis on translating theoretical robotics into practical clinical solutions. His recent publications demonstrate a growing trend toward applying deep learning techniques to enhance surgical robotics, with focus on autonomous systems that improve precision and reduce surgeon cognitive load while addressing challenges in medical imaging and surgical navigation. Scientific Awards: Best PhD thesis award by the CNRS research group on robotics (2013) Rosa has led multiple significant research projects including Image-based tracking of continuum robots (ongoing), Robot-assisted endomicroscopy (2010-2013), Beating heart intracardiac cardioscopy-guided interventions (2015-2019), and Intuitive control of active catheters (2014-2015). His work has resulted in numerous patents and collaborations with leading medical institutions worldwide, securing research funding for advancing surgical robotics technology. He actively participates in the academic community through invited talks and workshops, and maintains strong collaborations with institutions including Harvard Medical School, KU Leuven, and various French research entities, bridging theoretical robotics with practical clinical applications across multiple medical specialties.
