Professor Helen Abbott is a Professor of Modern Languages at the University of Birmingham, serving as Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Arts and Law. Her research focuses on the intersection of French poetry, music, and digital methods, particularly the work of Baudelaire. She has led major grants, including the AHRC-funded Baudelaire Song Project (2015-2019), exploring musical adaptations of Baudelaire's poetry. Abbott holds a BA from Cambridge, MA and PhD from King’s College London. She has supervised numerous PhD students and authored books such as Baudelaire in Song: 1880-1930 (2017). Awards include AHRC Standard Grant (£594,000) and an Early Career Fellowship. Her work bridges academia and practice, collaborating with musicians and digital researchers. She advises on doctoral programs and cultural initiatives, emphasizing interdisciplinary and public engagement.
Allan Larsen is a Professor and Deputy Head of Division at the Department of Technology, Management and Economics (DTU Management) at the Technical University of Denmark. He heads the Operations and Supply Chain Management Section. His academic background includes an MSc in Applied Mathematics and a PhD in Operations Research, both from DTU. He teaches courses in Operations Management and Simulation at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Research Focus: His work applies operations research methodologies to complex planning problems in supply chain management, logistics, healthcare operations, and public transport. Key areas include urban freight transport, healthcare supply chains, and optimization of public transport resources like crew and fleets. Collaborations with industries, especially in freight transport, have been extensive. He previously co-directed the Transport DTU research center and co-chaired Denmark’s Transport Innovation Network. Education: MSc in Applied Mathematics (1989–1995), PhD in Operations Research (1997–1999), both from DTU. Recognition: Recipient of the Hedorf’s transportpris award in 2022 for contributions to transport research. Research Projects: Supervises multiple PhD students (e.g., on electric freight transport, healthcare resource optimization, and Industry 4.0 applications). Active in projects like 'Pioneering Electric Heavy-Duty Freight Transport' and 'Resource optimization in healthcare.' Labs/Teams: Leads the Operations and Supply Chain Management research group and collaborates in initiatives like the Transport Innovation Network, focusing on sustainable transport solutions.
Jianjing Kuang is an Associate Professor of Linguistics at the University of Pennsylvania, affiliated with the School of Arts and Sciences. As Director of the Penn Phonetics Laboratory, they lead research in phonetics, laboratory phonology, and tonal language studies. Kuang holds a Ph.D. from UCLA (2013) and specializes in the interplay between production and perception in speech, particularly focusing on tonal systems, prosody, and cross-linguistic fieldwork. Their work integrates behavioral experiments, corpus studies, and computational modeling to explore phonological contrasts, voice quality, and sound change. Key affiliations include MindCORE and the Center for East Asian Studies. Research interests include multidimensional cues in tone processing, glottal articulations, mapping production-perception relationships, and prosodic sentence processing. Kuang has conducted fieldwork on languages such as Yi, Q’anjob’al, and Mandarin. Their studies address topics like tonal splitting in Yi, cue-changing in Korean stops, and prosodic patterns in Mayan languages. Recent work explores voice quality’s role in pitch perception and prosodic boundary detection. Awards and grants are not explicitly listed, but Kuang’s extensive publications (over 50 peer-reviewed papers) reflect sustained academic impact. They advise graduate students in phonetics and phonology, with active collaborations in computational linguistics and speech technology. The Penn Phonetics Laboratory, under Kuang’s direction, emphasizes interdisciplinary research bridging experimental and theoretical phonetics.
Peter Seele is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society at Università della Svizzera italiana (USI). He is affiliated with the Center for Climate Finance and Sustainability (CCFS), Ethics and Communication Law Center (ECLC), and the Luxury Observatory Lugano (LOLugano). His research focuses on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Business Ethics, Digital Ethics, Greenwashing, and Machinewashing. Dr. Seele holds dual PhDs in Economics (University of Witten/Herdecke, Germany) and Philosophy (University of Düsseldorf, Germany). He previously served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Basel and conducted post-doctoral research at the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (KWI) in Essen. His educational background includes studies at the University of Oldenburg and Delhi School of Economics, followed by two years as a business consultant in Frankfurt. His research explores ethical challenges in digitalization, sustainability, and technology. Notable themes include AI ethics governance, ethicswashing in corporate communication, and the interplay between blockchain and business ethics. Recent work addresses greenwashing trends, the ethical implications of algorithmic systems, and sustainable practices in luxury industries. Publications highlight critical analyses of digital ethics frameworks, sustainability backlashes, and the societal impact of emerging technologies. His interdisciplinary approach bridges philosophy, business studies, and environmental science, with a focus on practical solutions for ethical dilemmas in modern organizations. Peter Seele collaborates across academic and industrial sectors, emphasizing real-world applications of ethical theories. He advises on CSR strategies, digital transparency, and regulatory frameworks for sustainable business practices.
Paul Mohai is a Professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE). His work focuses on environmental justice, racial and socioeconomic disparities in pollution exposure, and policy development. He has contributed extensively to understanding historical and contemporary patterns of environmental inequity, particularly regarding hazardous waste siting and school proximity to industrial hazards. Mohai’s research bridges community-based activism, quantitative analysis, and policy advocacy. Education and Affiliations: Affiliated with the Program in the Environment at the University of Michigan. Research Interests: Mohai’s scholarship addresses how marginalized communities bear disproportionate environmental burdens, including air and water pollution, and advocates for equitable policy solutions. He has analyzed longitudinal data to assess demographic changes around hazardous facilities and collaborated with communities to design environmental screening tools. His work emphasizes the intersection of race, class, and environmental health outcomes. Publications: Mohai’s recent work includes studies on cumulative impacts of pollution, Michigan school siting guidelines, and the Flint water crisis. His articles span journals and conference proceedings, highlighting interdisciplinary approaches to environmental justice. Awards & Grants: No specific awards are listed, but his extensive publication record reflects sustained academic contribution. His grants likely support community-engaged research on environmental disparities. Labs/Teams: Collaborations include the Program in the Environment and the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition.
Jerold S. Kayden is the Frank Backus Williams Professor of Urban Planning and Design at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. He holds affiliations with Urban Planning and directs the Master in Real Estate Program. His expertise spans land use law, public space design, climate resilience, and urban disasters. Kayden advises governments, NGOs, and developers globally, with notable work in China, Russia, and Ukraine. He is a legal scholar with Supreme Court amicus brief experience, a Guggenheim Fellow, and recipient of the Harvard GSD 'Teacher of the Year' award. Education: Bachelor's, Law, and City & Regional Planning degrees from Harvard University Research Interests: Kayden focuses on urban legal frameworks, disaster resilience, and public-private space dynamics. His work bridges law, policy, and design, addressing climate adaptation and equitable urban development. Notable books include Privately Owned Public Space: The New York City Experience and Urban Disaster Resilience . Recent Articles: His 2022 Today’s Global contribution explores cross-cultural urban governance, while 2021's America examines legal history and urban resilience. Post-pandemic urban resilience analyses and legal analyses of Midtown Manhattan’s development highlight his recent work. Awards: Guggenheim Fellowship NEA Fellowships ACSP, ABA, ASLA, and EDRA awards Harvard GSD Teaching Excellence Advising & Grants: Principal Investigator for the Harvard-Netherlands Climate Adaptation Project (2009–2011). Advises the National Trust for Historic Preservation and leads the non-profit Advocates for Privately Owned Public Space . Collaborates with World Bank, UNDP, and the Dutch Government on land use policies. Labs/Teams: Leads urban resilience initiatives at Harvard GSD, coordinating interdisciplinary teams on climate adaptation and legal frameworks.
Professor Andrew Hudson-Smith is the Director of the Bartlett Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA) at University College London (UCL), where he holds the title of Professor of Digital Urban Systems. He leads UCL's academic and applied research in smart cities, digital twins, and urban informatics. His roles include Editor-in-Chief of the Future Internet Journal and academic lead for the Smart Queen Elizabeth Park project. He contributes to strategic initiatives such as the Greater London Authority Smart London Board and EPSRC Digital Economy Programme Advisory Board. Education: PhD (2003), MSc (1996) from UCL; BSc in Geography from the University of Plymouth (1992). Research focuses on digital urban systems, IoT applications, sustainable urban planning, and cyberphysical systems. Notable projects include urban heat island monitoring, participatory planning platforms, and metaverse-driven urban design. His work bridges technology, art, and public engagement, exemplified by initiatives like Tales of Things and the Haggle-O-Tron. Recent publications emphasize digital twins, metaverse urbanism, and IoT integration in urban environments. Awards include a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts. His work addresses SDGs 3 (Good Health) and 11 (Sustainable Cities), with a focus on equitable smart city development and public space innovation.
Marisol De La Cadena is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Davis, with affiliations in Science and Technology Studies (STS). Her work bridges anthropology, political theory, and environmental thought, focusing on ontological divergence and multispecies relations in Latin America, particularly in Peru and Colombia. Department: Department of Anthropology School: College of Letters and Science University: University of California, Davis Email: mdelac@ucdavis.edu Office: Young Hall 315 Her research centers on the intersection of modern politics and non-modern or ahistorical ontologies, especially through what she calls "ontological openings." Drawing from deep ethnographic engagement with Quechua-speaking interlocutors in the Andes, she explores how earth-beings, humans, and nonhumans co-constitute worlds that exceed Western categories. Her theoretical contributions challenge conventional boundaries between nature and culture, history and timelessness, and politics and cosmology. Her recent fieldwork in Colombia examines human-cow relations on cattle ranches and in veterinary schools, situating these practices within broader ecological crises and post-conflict transitions. Her publications reveal a consistent interest in how ethnographic concepts function as both empirical observations and theoretical tools. The body of her work, including key articles like "Uncommoning Nature" and "Runa: Human but not only," reflects a deep commitment to rethinking anthropological method and theory. Her research trends emphasize ontological politics, multispecies ethnography, and the decolonization of knowledge, contributing significantly to contemporary debates in STS and anthropology. Her scientific honors include: John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellow (2008) Lewis H. Morgan Lecture Series Invited Speaker, University of Rochester (2011) Invited Researcher, Center for Advanced Studies, Norwegian Academy of Sciences (2015) Guest Speaker, Mellon-Sawyer Seminar, University of Cape Town (2010) She has been principal investigator on several major grants, including the John E. Sawyer Mellon-Sawyer Seminar on the Comparative Study of Cultures (2012–2016), a Wenner-Gren Conference Support Grant (2009–2010), and multiple research fellowships from the Guggenheim, Wenner-Gren, and American Philosophical Societies. These grants have enabled collaborative, transdisciplinary research on cosmopolitics, indigeneity, and the anthropology of worlds. She is affiliated with research initiatives such as the Sawyer Seminar on the Comparative Study of Cultures and contributes to global academic networks in anthropology and STS. Her work fosters dialogue between indigenous thought, continental philosophy, and ethnographic practice, creating spaces for alternative modes of knowing and being.
Yi Fang is an Associate Professor of Computer Engineering and an affiliated Associate Professor of Computer Science at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), and a Global Network Associate Professor at NYU Tandon. He is a core faculty member in the Division of Engineering, specializing in Electrical and Computer Engineering. His research is centered at the intersection of Embodied AI, Robotics, and AI-driven assistive technologies, with strong support from agencies such as the US NSF, UAE ADEK, and ASPIRE. PhD, Purdue University Yi Fang's research interests span 3D Computer Vision, Multimedia Processing, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Embodied AI . He focuses on AI-driven perception, learning, and real-world applications, particularly in engineering, medicine, and accessibility. His lab, the Embodied AI and Robotics (AIR) Lab, develops intelligent robotic systems that integrate perception, learning, and decision-making to solve complex societal challenges. His work emphasizes large-scale visual computing, deep visual learning, and cross-domain/multimodal foundation models , with recent innovations in assistive AI for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community. The 15 most recent publications reflect a consistent focus on 3D vision, sketch-based 3D retrieval, point cloud learning, and assistive computer vision . His work leverages deep learning, adversarial training, metric learning, and generative models to bridge modalities such as sketches, depth images, and 3D models. There is a clear trend toward cross-modal understanding, unsupervised representation learning, and real-world assistive applications , especially for visually impaired individuals. Yi Fang actively contributes to the academic community as an Area Chair for top-tier conferences including CVPR, ECCV, ICCV, IJCAI, and IROS. He also serves in peer review and mentoring roles, shaping the future of AI and robotics research. As a dedicated educator, he teaches foundational and advanced courses such as Computer Vision, Applied Machine Learning, Data Structures, and Capstone Design . He mentors students through research seminars and honors projects, fostering innovation and technical excellence. His research is supported by major grants from US NSF, UAE ADEK, and ASPIRE, enabling high-impact interdisciplinary collaborations. He founded and directs the Embodied AI and Robotics (AIR) Lab at NYU Abu Dhabi, a dedicated research space for developing intelligent systems that seamlessly integrate perception, learning, and decision-making. The lab promotes interdisciplinary collaboration across engineering, medicine, and social sciences, advancing the frontiers of Embodied AI.
Amit Kumar is the Jaswinder and Tarwinder Chadha Chair Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Delhi. His research focuses on combinatorial optimization, online algorithms, and algorithmic fairness. He has taught courses such as Approximation Algorithms (COL 754), Design and Analysis of Algorithms (COL 351), and Numerical Analysis (COL 726). His work spans theoretical computer science with applications to clustering, scheduling, and fairness in evaluation processes. Research Interests Kumar's research emphasizes developing efficient algorithms for online and dynamic settings, particularly in constrained optimization and biased evaluation systems. He explores theoretical foundations of clustering, load balancing, and resource allocation, with recent contributions to fair food delivery systems and coreset constructions. Publications His recent work includes advancements in online convex paging (STOC 2025), consensus clustering (SODA 2025), and fairness-aware algorithms (AAAI 2024). Over 70 papers across top venues like STOC, SODA, and ICML reflect his expertise in algorithm design and analysis. Awards Best Paper Award at ISAAC 2023 for 'Clustering What Matters in Constrained Settings' Teaching & Mentorship Kumar instructs graduate and undergraduate courses in algorithms, data structures, and numerical methods. He advises students through these courses and collaborates with researchers on NSF-funded projects related to approximation algorithms and streaming systems.
Anush Tserunyan is a Professor of Mathematics at McGill University, Canada, and a Visiting Professor at the Unit of Pure and Applied Mathematics (UMPA) at École normale supérieure de Lyon from December 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025. She holds a bachelor's and master's in computer science and applied mathematics from Yerevan State University (2005–2007) and a Ph.D. in Mathematics from UCLA (2013), focusing on finite generators for group actions, equivalence relations, and recursive program complexity. Research Interests: Anush Tserunyan specializes in Ergodic Theory , Combinatorics , and Group Actions , with notable contributions to graph theory, hypergraphs, and Ramsey theory. Her work bridges combinatorial structures with analytic methods, particularly in dynamical systems and descriptive set theory. Collaborations: During her visit to UMPA, she collaborates with teams in Geometry, Groups and Dynamics , and Number Theory , alongside researchers like Benjamin Schraen and Sophie Morel. Her stay includes seminars on GGD, Number Theory, and the 'Actions!' working group. Publications: Her research spans topics like ergodic theorems, disjoint matchings in graphs, and algebraic hypergraphs, reflecting a focus on foundational mathematical structures and their applications.
Clifton R. Haider, Ph.D., is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Mayo Clinic, holding primary appointments as a Consultant in the Department of Physiology & Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. His research focuses on accelerating medical device development through a discovery platform integrating mathematical modeling, algorithmic design, and physiological sensor validation. This platform aims to identify predictive biomarkers for conditions like cardiovascular collapse, sleep disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Haider’s work emphasizes noninvasive, autonomous monitoring and real-time predictive algorithms, with a particular focus on pediatric care. Education: PhD, Physiology & Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Graduate School, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine Predoctoral Studies in Biomedical Engineering and Physiology, Mayo Graduate School BSc (Hons), Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa Research Interests: Dr. Haider’s work bridges engineering and clinical practice, targeting unmet needs in pediatric and adult healthcare. His discovery platform combines statistical modeling, sensor design, and validation to streamline medical device prototyping. Key focus areas include: Accelerated medical device design Quantitative predictive biomarkers Remote pediatric monitoring Real-time algorithm development This platform seeks to predict treatment responses and identify patients requiring advanced care, enhancing clinical decision-making. Awards: Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Program (2014–present) Grants & Labs: His research is supported by interdisciplinary collaborations at Mayo Clinic, leveraging laboratory facilities for sensor validation and algorithm testing. While specific grant details are not listed, his work aligns with Mayo’s emphasis on translational biomedical engineering.
Alexander Mathis is an Assistant Professor at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in the Brain Mind Institute (School of Life Sciences). His research bridges computational neuroscience and machine learning to decode sensorimotor behaviors and develop AI tools for behavioral analysis. Pure Mathematics MSc, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich PhD in Computational Neuroscience, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich His work focuses on understanding how the brain generates behavior through computational models and algorithms. Key contributions include the DeepLabCut toolbox, hBehaveMAE , and other frameworks for pose estimation, action segmentation, and brain-inspired AI. His group also explores proprioception, motor control, and neural coding theories. Recent publications include unsupervised hierarchical behavior modeling via masked autoencoders (ECCV 2024), synthetic basketball benchmarks (Shot7M2), and extensions of BABEL into hBABEL. These works highlight his interest in temporal hierarchies in behavior and scalable AI solutions for neuroscience. Scientific Honors Robert Bing Prize (2024) Eric Kandel Young Neuroscientists Prize (2023) Frontiers of Science Award (2023) Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes scholarship He advises PhD candidates in neuroscience and life sciences, leads courses on brain-like computation and software engineering for life sciences , and collaborates across AI4Science initiatives. His group actively participates in competitions, such as NeurIPS' MyoChallenge, where brain-inspired reinforcement learning algorithms have won awards.
Danica Kragic is a Professor of Computer Science at the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, Sweden. She serves as the Director of the Centre for Autonomous Systems and leads the Robotics, Perception and Learning Lab at KTH. Her research focuses on advancing robotics capabilities through computer vision and machine learning approaches. MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the Technical University of Rijeka, Croatia (1995) PhD in Computer Science from KTH (2001) Professor Kragic's research primarily centers on robotics, computer vision, and machine learning, with particular emphasis on robotic manipulation, grasp planning, and human-robot interaction. Her work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, exploring how robots can understand and interact with objects in complex environments. She investigates how visual and tactile sensing can be integrated to improve robotic perception and manipulation capabilities, with applications ranging from industrial automation to assistive robotics. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on advanced grasp planning techniques, tactile sensing for manipulation, and mathematical representations for robotic control. Kragic's research shows increasing integration of machine learning approaches with traditional robotics frameworks, particularly in the areas of grasp synthesis, object recognition, and human-robot collaboration. Her work spans theoretical contributions in mathematical representations of grasps to practical implementations of robotic systems capable of adapting to novel objects and situations. 2007 IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Early Academic Career Award IEEE Fellow ERC Starting Grant (2012) Member of The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Member of The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences Honorary Doctorate from Lappeenranta University of Technology Professor Kragic's research has been supported by major funding bodies including the EU, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, and Swedish Research Council. While specific student names aren't listed in the provided information, her publication record suggests extensive mentorship of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in robotics and computer vision. Her lab, the Robotics, Perception and Learning Lab, serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research connecting computer science, engineering, and cognitive science perspectives on robotic systems. As Director of the Centre for Autonomous Systems at KTH, Kragic oversees a major research initiative focused on advancing autonomous technologies. Her Robotics, Perception and Learning Lab brings together researchers working on visual perception, machine learning, and robotic manipulation, with particular emphasis on developing systems that can understand and interact with objects in unstructured environments. The lab's work spans theoretical foundations of robotic manipulation to practical implementations of systems capable of learning from experience.
Cecilie Schou Andreassen is a Professor at the Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Bergen . She specializes in behavioral addictions , including workaholism, social media addiction, and substance use interactions. Email: cecilie.andreassen@uib.no Visitor Address: Alrek Health Cluster, Årstadveien 17, 5009 Bergen Research Focus: Andreassen's work examines the psychosocial antecedents of addictive behaviors, with emphasis on personality traits , workplace dynamics , and digital platform interactions . Her research spans cross-cultural validation studies and longitudinal health outcomes related to technology and substance misuse. Article Trends (2017-2022): Analyzing 15 recent publications reveals a consistent focus on addiction scale validation , social media epidemiology , and workaholism's health impacts . Key themes include measurement invariance , digital-chemical addiction comorbidity , and psychological withdrawal mechanisms . Scientific Contributions: Co-developer of Bergen Work Addiction Scale Creator of Bergen-Yale Sex Addiction Scale Leadership in behavioral addiction epidemiology Recipient of Norwegian Research Council grants Advising & Collaborations: While no direct advisees are listed, Andreassen collaborates extensively with international researchers in work psychology , social media studies , and public health . Her work involves partnerships with Nottingham Trent University , Yale University , and National Competence Service for Sleep Disorders . Labs & Teams: Affiliated with the Department of Clinical Psychology and previously with the Department of Social Psychology at University of Bergen, she contributes to national health registry studies and cross-occupational research on addiction patterns.
