Jeremy Blackburn is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Binghamton University. He co-founded the International Data-driven Research for Advanced Modeling and Analysis Lab ( iDRAMA Lab ) and leads its Binghamton satellite. His research focuses on large-scale measurement and analysis of social media, particularly the behavior of malicious actors and disinformation campaigns.
Lorraine van Blerk is a Professor of Human Geography at the University of Dundee's School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law. She serves as Chair of Human Geography and leads the Research Centre for Transformative Change: Educational & Life Transitions (TCELT) in Education and Society. Her work focuses on street children/youth, refugees, and global inequalities. Academy of Social Sciences Fellow (2021) Stephen Fry Awards - Public Engagement Project of the Year (2017) Market Research Society President’s Medal (2015) Research interests include: Street youth resilience mapping Intergenerational partnerships Transitions to adulthood in crises Policy development for marginalized groups Coastal socio-ecological systems Cultural geographies of homelessness Recent publications address global street youth resilience frameworks (2REST project) and cinema's role for Harare street youth. Key collaborations include universities in Pretoria, Cape Town, Makerere, and Ryerson University. Scientific contributions recognized through: 6 major research prizes 16 funded projects 149+ research outputs International visiting appointments (Toronto Metropolitan University, National University of Singapore)
Katherine McDonough is a Lecturer in Digital Humanities at the School of Global Affairs, Lancaster University . She specializes in eighteenth-century French history and spatial digital humanities, focusing on historical maps and computational methods for analyzing infrastructure and socio-political reforms. PhD, Early Modern French History, Stanford University (2013) BA, History and French Literature, Johns Hopkins University (2006) Her research bridges Enlightenment history , infrastructure development , and digital methodologies such as computer vision and text analysis. She explores how historical actors contested coercive labor systems and reimagined governance through spatial data. Her recent work includes the MapReader software library (2023 Roy Rosenzweig Prize) and collaborations with the GEODE project in Lyon. She contributes to Living with Machines and Machines Reading Maps , analyzing 57,000 digitized maps. Roy Rosenzweig Prize (2023) Fellow, Royal Historical Society Software Sustainability Institute Fellow Collegium de Lyon Fellowship She co-leads the AHRC-funded Data/Culture project and previously served as UK PI for the AHRC-NEH Machines Reading Maps initiative. Her teaching includes undergraduate courses on eighteenth-century French history and MA-level modules on text/spatial analysis.
Dr. Ronita Bardhan is Associate Professor of Sustainable Built Environment at the University of Cambridge , where she leads the Cambridge Sustainable Design Group and serves as Director of Research & Deputy Head of the Department of Architecture . She holds courtesy roles at Cambridge Public Health and the Department of Computer Science and Technology , and is a Fellow at Selwyn College . Education: BArch, MCP, MA, PhD (Urban Engineering) Her research intersects built environment , climate change , and public health , focusing on data-driven strategies for precision prevention of health and energy burdens. She pioneers algorithmic approaches to identify decarbonisation potential in buildings and urban areas, with a particular emphasis on gender-inclusive climate adaptation in the Global South. The 15 most recent articles span topics such as urban cooling with tree canopies , heatwave impacts on social systems , and machine learning applications for building energy efficiency . Her work addresses climate justice , hybrid workspace design , and thermal comfort in low-income housing . Awards: Top 50 Finalist Women in Engineering, UK 2024 Exceptional Woman of Excellence, Women Economic Forum Felicitated by Ministry of Health, Maharashtra, India She advises World Bank and ADB on affordable housing and climate resilience, and chairs the Research Ethics Committee at the Department of Architecture. Her lab, the Sustainable Design Group , develops solutions for health and low-carbon potential in built environments.
Nicolas Peyre is a Lecturer and Researcher in Information and Communication Sciences at the University of Toulouse Capitole, where he is affiliated with the Institute of Space, Territorial, Cultural and Communication Law (IDETCOM). He serves as Director of Studies for the Master 2 program in "Administration and Communication of Cultural Activities." His teaching includes Diplomacy of Influence (M2), History of Cultural Policy (M2), Business Intelligence (M1), Communication Law (L3), and Management of Cultural Events and Festivals (M2). Nicolas Peyre's research centers on cultural diplomacy and influence , examining how institutions like the French Institute and Alliance française function as instruments of soft power. His work explores the globalization of museum brands (particularly the Louvre and Centre Pompidou), the cultural and creative industries , and business intelligence in cultural contexts. He investigates how French cultural policy adapts to globalization through both traditional networks and digital platforms, with special attention to diplomatic applications. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on museum branding in international contexts , particularly analyzing the Centre Pompidou Málaga as a case study of cultural diplomacy. He critically examines how social media platforms like Instagram both support and challenge the globalization of museum brands, and connects sport, communication, and diplomacy to analyze how sporting events serve as vehicles for cultural influence. His work spans academic journals, book chapters, and critical commentary on current cultural partnerships. Nicolas Peyre actively contributes to academic discourse through his role as a consulting editor for The Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society , membership on the editorial board of Hermès, La Revue (CNRS), and as co-founder of Lélia Productions. He has organized numerous international conferences and seminars on cultural diplomacy and influence, including the "Culture & Influence" research seminars at Toulouse Capitole University and co-organizing major international events on French cultural diplomacy.
Lana Salman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto . A scholar of international development and urban politics, her research focuses on everyday statecraft, social reproduction, and urbanism in the Middle East and North Africa. PhD, University of California, Berkeley (City and Regional Planning, Global Metropolitan Studies) MUPP, American University of Beirut Her research explores how urban populations negotiate citizenship and state formation through: Land access and infrastructure development Microfinance institution operations Post-revolutionary governance practices Transdisciplinary north-south comparative analysis Current projects include: Tunisia State-Making: Ethnographic study of urban poor communities' role in statecraft Brussels-Beirut Comparison: Analysis of social workers' roles in refugee resettlement and urban displacement
Prof. Dr. iur. Dipl.-Soz. Marion Albers holds the Chair for Public Law, Information and Communication Law, Health Law and Legal Theory at the Faculty of Law, University of Hamburg. She has been a Full Professor at Hamburg University since October 2009 and serves as Managing Director of multiple research institutions including the Cyber Law Clinic and the Hamburg Center for Bio-Governance. Her academic career spans prestigious positions at the University of Augsburg, Humboldt-University Berlin, and international collaborations with institutions in Brazil, Japan, and the United States. Education: Studies of Law, Sociology, Political Sciences and Economy at the Free University of Berlin and University of Bielefeld State Exam in Law and Diploma in Sociology Doctorate of Law in Crime Prevention and Provisions for Prosecution at University of Bielefeld Habilitation in Informational Self-Determination at Humboldt-University Berlin Professor Albers' research focuses on the intersection of law, technology, and human rights, with particular expertise in data protection law, digital constitutionalism, bioethics, and health law. Her work examines how traditional legal frameworks adapt to emerging technological challenges, especially regarding informational self-determination in the digital age. She has pioneered research on the horizontal effect of fundamental rights, the legal implications of biotechnologies, and the balance between security measures and privacy protections. Her scholarship consistently bridges theoretical legal concepts with practical applications in rapidly evolving technological contexts. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trajectory toward digital constitutionalism, with increasing focus on data subject rights within digital governance frameworks. Her work demonstrates sophisticated engagement with EU data protection regulations while simultaneously exploring comparative approaches across jurisdictions including Japan and Brazil. A consistent thread throughout her scholarship is the exploration of how constitutional principles apply in digital environments, particularly regarding the protection of personal data as a fundamental right. Scientific Awards and Fellowships: Scientific award of the Claussen-Simon-Foundation (2015) Opus Magnum-Fellowship of the Volkswagen Foundation (2015-2016) Fellow at Alfried Krupp Wissenschaftskolleg Greifswald (2014) Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study Berlin (2017/2018) Professor Albers has secured significant research funding including the Volkswagen Foundation's Opus Magnum Fellowship and has served as Principal Investigator for the German/Brazilian DAAD/CAPES PROBRAL Research Project "Internet regulation and internet rights" (2015/2018). She has supervised numerous doctoral candidates and established productive international research collaborations, particularly with Brazilian institutions. Her advisory work extends to governmental bodies including service as an expert in the German Council for Scientific Information Infrastructures (RfII) since 2018 and previous membership on the Bundestag's Advisory Committee "Ethics and Law of Modern Medicine" (2003-2005). She directs the Hamburg Center for Bio-Governance (since 2013) and the Cyber Law Clinic at the Faculty of Law (since 2012), creating interdisciplinary research environments that bridge legal scholarship with practical applications in bioethics, health law, and digital governance. Her leadership extends to editorial roles including the book series "Schriften zum Bio-, Gesundheits- und Medizinrecht" and numerous edited volumes on data protection and constitutional law.
Terje Andreas Eikemo is a Professor at the Department of Sociology and Political Science , Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) , and Head of the CHAIN research center . His work focuses on the intersection of social inequality , public health , and global policy , emphasizing how socioeconomic factors like education , income , and welfare systems influence mortality , chronic diseases , and mental health . He combines theories from sociology , epidemiology , and medicine to address health disparities across diverse contexts, including pandemics , climate change , and migration . 2009: Prize for Young Researchers in the Humanities 2010: SINTEF Prize for Outstanding Research 2014: NTNU Star Program Eikemo has published extensively in top journals like The Lancet and BMJ Open , with research themes spanning social determinants of health , policy interventions , and global health equity . His work includes GBD studies , European Social Survey analyses , and refugee health assessments. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Scandinavian Journal of Public Health and collaborates with international bodies like WHO and UNESCO .
Professor Yvonne Rydin is Chair of Planning Environment and Public Policy at The Bartlett School of Planning, University College London (UCL), where she has been based since 2006. She currently holds a 50 % part-time appointment at UCL and previously spent 16 years at the London School of Economics in the Department of Geography and Environment. Education PhD in Urban and Regional Planning Studies, University College London (1984) BA (Hons) in Land Economy, University of Cambridge (1978) Research Interests Professor Rydin is an internationally recognised scholar in governing for sustainability. Her work spans urban green space management, community energy, retail planning, and post-growth urban futures. Conceptually, she mobilises network metaphors (including social capital) and discourse analysis to unpack governing processes, while also drawing on socio-technical studies to examine large-scale energy infrastructure. A long-standing strand of research interrogates knowledge production within planning, scrutinising classificatory systems such as BREEAM and sustainability indicators and exploring the implications of socio-materiality. Her forthcoming monograph Planning without Growth (Policy Press, 2025) extends her agenda on low-growth planning by investigating how embedded and new knowledges can support alternative local economic models. Research Outputs & Trends Since 2018 she has published extensively on post-growth planning, regulatory theory, digital tools in participation, and diverse economies. Recent articles in Planning Theory, Built Environment and Planning Practice & Research articulate critical perspectives on moving beyond pro-growth orthodoxies and re-tooling the planning profession. Scientific Awards & Recognition While no specific awards are listed, Professor Rydin has held numerous prestigious roles: member of the RAE 2014 panel, invited oral evidence to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, participant in the Raynsford Review of Planning, and repeated evaluator for the Norwegian Research Council, Finnish Academy, ESRC and FORMAS. Advising & Grants She has supervised collaborative Engineering Doctorate (EngD) studentships with industrial partners BRE Global and Buro Happold (2011-2020), and co-taught on the MSc Sustainable Urban Development at Oxford University’s Department for Continuing Education (2014-2018). Labs & Teams Professor Rydin served as Director of the UCL Environment Institute (2010-2013) and leads teaching on the postgraduate module Planning for Sustainability and Inclusion alongside Dr Yasminah Beebeejaun.
Frank Fitzek serves as Full Professor holding the Deutsche Telekom Chair of Communication Networks at Dresden University of Technology, where he directs the Centre for Tactile Internet (CeTI) Cluster of Excellence and maintains association with the Faculty of Computer Sciences. His work is institutionally anchored within the School of Engineering Sciences and actively engages with 5G Lab Germany and 6G-life Hub initiatives, positioning him at the forefront of next-generation communication research. Fitzek's research spans communication networks, tactile internet systems, 5G/6G mobile technologies, network coding, quantum networking, virtual twinning, and haptic feedback systems. His recent publications demonstrate emphasis on resilient network architectures through quantum security protocols, cloud-native 5G implementations, theoretical communications frameworks, and human-computer interaction in mixed reality environments. This work consistently bridges theoretical innovation with practical testbed validations across multiple emerging technology domains. As Director of CeTI, Fitzek leads a major interdisciplinary research cluster focused on ultra-low latency networks enabling remote physical interaction. His affiliations with 5G Lab Germany and 6G-life Hub facilitate industry-academic collaboration on standardization and deployment of future communication infrastructures, with particular emphasis on network coding techniques and tactile internet applications that transform industrial automation and teleoperation scenarios.
Trevor Goodyear is an Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Faculty of Applied Science, School of Nursing. His research explores substance use, mental health, and health equity among marginalized populations, particularly 2S/LGBTQ+ youth and people who inject drugs. Education: MSN, MPH, PhD Research Interests: Harm reduction, LGBTQ+ health, mental health, public health, health equity, social determinants of health His recent work examines harm reduction strategies, structural vulnerabilities, and health narratives in urban drug scenes. Publications analyze cannabis use, overdose prevention, conversion practices, and the intersection of gender identity with substance use. His research employs qualitative methods like photovoice and narrative analysis to center marginalized voices. Key trends in his articles include the role of stigma in healthcare, policy implications of substance use research, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health disparities. He advocates for evidence-informed policies and community-driven interventions to address systemic inequities.
Leonardus Cornelis Nicolaas de Vreede is a Professor at Delft University of Technology in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science. With over 237 research publications and extensive conference activities, he is a leading researcher in RF and microwave engineering with specialization in power amplifiers, digital transmitters, and mm-wave circuits for wireless communications applications. Dr. de Vreede's research focuses on the intersection of circuit design and signal processing for next-generation wireless systems: Advanced Power Amplifier Architectures including Doherty and Out-phasing techniques Energy-Efficient Digital Transmitters with high linearity and power efficiency mm-Wave Circuit Design for 5G/6G applications Machine Learning Applications for Digital Predistortion CMOS RF Integrated Circuit Implementation Wideband Signal Processing Techniques His recent publications demonstrate a clear research trajectory toward integrating machine learning with traditional RF circuit design to solve the efficiency-linearity tradeoff in wireless transmitters. This work is particularly relevant for current and future wireless infrastructure requiring high spectral efficiency across wide bandwidths while maintaining energy efficiency. Dr. de Vreede has received significant recognition for his contributions to the field: EuMC Microwave Prize (2024) for groundbreaking work on wideband Doherty amplifiers Recognition for innovative characterization techniques for high-power RF transistors (2015) As an active researcher and educator, Dr. de Vreede has supervised 16 students and regularly participates in major international conferences including serving on program committees for the IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium. His work bridges theoretical advances with practical implementations for wireless infrastructure applications, with numerous patents and industry collaborations evident from his research portfolio.
Dominik Wermke serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at North Carolina State University. He is affiliated with multiple research entities including the Secure Computing Institute (SCI), the Wolfpack Security and Privacy Research (WSPR) Lab, and the Secure Software Supply Chain Center (S3C2). His educational background includes: Ph.D. in Computer Science from Leibniz University Hannover (2023) M.Sc. from Saarland University (2016) B.Sc. from Saarland University (2015) Wermke's research focuses on computer security with emphasis on human-centered security, examining how security mechanisms align with software professionals' and end users' needs, practices, and limitations. His work employs mixed-methods approaches including interviews, user studies, surveys, and large-scale ecosystem analyses to identify behavioral patterns and systemic risks in secure software development. His expertise spans cybersecurity, human-computer interaction, and user experience with particular focus on software supply chain security and open source ecosystems. His publication record shows a clear trend toward addressing software supply chain security challenges through empirical studies of developer practices, trust mechanisms in open source communities, and reproducible builds. Recent work increasingly examines the human factors in security implementations, with publications appearing in top venues including IEEE S&P, USENIX Security, ACM CCS, and NDSS. His notable recognition includes: Distinguished Paper Award at the 43rd IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy (2022) Wermke actively mentors students interested in security research, with his lab focusing on empirical security studies that bridge technical and human aspects of software security. His research has been supported through institutional affiliations with NC State's security research centers which provide infrastructure for large-scale security ecosystem analyses. He maintains active collaborations with researchers at CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security and other institutions, evidenced by multi-institutional publications. His current research agenda continues to explore security challenges in modern software development practices with particular attention to supply chain vulnerabilities and trust mechanisms in distributed development environments.
Mahnoosh Alizadeh is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), affiliated with the Institute for Energy Efficiency and the Center for Control, Dynamical Systems and Computation (CCDC). She directs the Smart Infrastructure Systems laboratory and focuses on scalable control frameworks, data analytics, and market mechanisms for sustainable cyber-physical systems in smart grids and electric transportation. PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UC Davis (2014) Recipient of the National Science Foundation CAREER award (2019) Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Control of Network Systems and IEEE Open Journal of Control Systems Her research spans theoretical work in networks, optimization, and AI, with applications in smart grids , electric transportation , and resilient infrastructure . She has contributed to safe optimization algorithms, decentralized learning, and game-theoretic approaches in resource allocation. Recent publications highlight advancements in safe optimization (safe linear bandits, conservative linear bandits), decentralized learning (robust federated learning), game theory (General Lotto games, resource allocation), and smart charging (mobility-aware EV scheduling). These works emphasize real-time decision-making under constraints, security, and robustness in cyber-physical systems. NSF Early CAREER Award Northrop Grumman Excellence in Teaching Award Her research group includes PhD students Spencer Hutchinson, Arghavan Zibaei, Nanfei Jiang, and Sajjad Ghiasvand, with alumni placed at institutions like Apple, Toyota, and the University of Colorado.
Ryan P. Huang is an Associate Professor in the Computer Science & Engineering department at the University of Michigan, College of Engineering, where he leads the Order Lab. Previously, he was an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins CS department from 2017 to 2022. His research focuses on computer systems, particularly operating systems and distributed systems, with emphasis on reliability, efficiency, and defensibility across cloud data centers and mobile devices. Dr. Huang's research interests center on pushing the boundaries of cloud systems availability and observability. His work addresses critical challenges such as gray failures and partial failures in distributed systems, developing principled techniques for failure detection and localization. His research spans multiple thrusts including Panorama for enhanced observability, Watchdog for runtime checking, OmegaGen for partial failure localization, and Narya for predictive failure mitigation. He also investigates energy-efficient mobile systems and system misconfiguration prevention. His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward addressing silent failures in distributed systems, with multiple papers accepted to top-tier conferences including SOSP and OSDI in 2025. His work bridges theoretical principles with practical system implementations, focusing on real-world challenges in cloud infrastructure and distributed computing environments. NSF CAREER award recipient Multiple Best Paper Awards (OmegaGen, Argus, LeaseOS) CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award honorable mentions for advisees Dennis Ritchie doctoral dissertation award honorable mention Dr. Huang actively mentors PhD students including Yuzhuo Jing, Wanning He, Yuxuan Jiang, and others. His lab has produced graduates who have gone on to faculty positions at institutions like University of Virginia and Boston University. He serves on program committees for major systems conferences including SOSP, OSDI, and NSDI, contributing significantly to the academic community. The Order Lab maintains active research collaborations and regularly publishes in top-tier venues, with multiple papers accepted to SOSP and OSDI in 2025.