Prof Christina Lim is a Professor at the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne, Australia. She serves as the Associate Dean of Research for the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (FEIT) and manages the Tucker Lab. Previously, she held roles as Research Group Leader of the Electronics and Photonics System group and Deputy Head of Department (Teaching and Operations) Education: PhD and Bachelors from University of Melbourne Research Interests: Radio-over-Fibre, Optical Wireless Communications, Microwave Photonics, Augmented Reality Displays, Reservoir Computing, Optical Crosshaul Networks Recent publications demonstrate expertise in optical waveguide design for AR, underwater optical wireless communications, photonic switching, and network optimization. Her projects focus on next-generation wireless infrastructure, including Photonics Computing Enabled Ultra-Broadband Wireless Communications (2024-2027, $598k ARC grant) and Additive Manufacturing of Optical Elements (2025). She has secured significant funding, including ARC Discovery Projects and Future Fellowships. Scientific Honors IEEE Fellow (2022) Optica Fellow (2018) ARC Future Fellow (2009-2013) ARC Australian Research Fellow (2004-2008) Professional Service Vice-President of Conferences, IEEE Photonics Society Deputy Editor, IEEE/Optica Journal of Lightwave Technology ARC College of Experts (2014-2016)
Justin A. Weibel is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University, affiliated with the School of Mechanical Engineering. He directs the Cooling Technologies Research Center (CTRC), a National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center. His research focuses on advanced electronics cooling, phase-change transport, additive manufacturing for thermal components, and machine-learning-driven design optimization. He has led projects funded by DARPA, ONR, ARPA-E, and industry partners, advancing cooling solutions for high-power electronics and energy systems. Research interests span thermal management, heat transfer, micro/nano-scale engineering, and sustainable energy. Key contributions include topology optimization for heat sinks, two-phase flow modeling, and embedded cooling systems for electric motors. His work integrates computational methods with experimental validation. Grants & Programs: DARPA TGP/ICECool, ONR NEPTUNE, ARPA-E ASCEND/COOLERCHIPS, SRC CHIRP Labs: Cooling Technologies Research Center (CTRC) Future Work: Expanding additive manufacturing applications, improving thermal efficiency in electrified transport, and advancing AI-driven thermal system design. Awards: Fellow of ASME (2023) Outstanding Faculty Mentor (2022) Multiple best paper awards from IEEE ITherm, ASME, and SEMI-THERM conferences
Raphael Hauser is an Associate Professor in Numerical Mathematics at the University of Oxford's Mathematical Institute, Director of Graduate Studies - Teaching, and Tanaka Fellow in Applied Mathematics at Pembroke College. His affiliations include membership in the Data Science, Numerical Analysis, and Mathematical and Computational Finance research groups, as well as a fellowship at the Alan Turing Institute. Education: PhD in Operations Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA Dipl. Math. ETH, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), Switzerland Research interests span data science, numerical optimisation, medical imaging, distributed computing, and applied probability/statistics. His work integrates mathematical rigor with practical applications, particularly in optimization algorithms, machine learning theory, and medical imaging technology. Publications focus on optimization theory, stochastic processes, medical imaging systems, and computational finance, with recurring themes in non-convex optimization guarantees, PCA variants, and X-ray tomography innovations. Awards: Oxford University Teaching Award (2007) SIAM Optimization Prize (2005) SIAM Student Paper Prize (2000) Advising includes 15+ DPhil students and 40+ MSc students, with projects in optimization, finance, imaging, and machine learning. Current postdocs and students are affiliated with the Alan Turing Institute and industrial partners like Siemens and Macquarie Group. He leads teams in the Mathematical Institute's research groups and collaborates with the Alan Turing Institute on large-scale data science initiatives.
Josie Hughes is a Tenure Track Assistant Professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) within the School of Engineering's Institute of Mechanical Engineering. She leads the Computer Robot Design and Fabrication Laboratory (CREATE Lab) and serves on the doctoral program committee for Robotics, Control and Intelligent Systems. Her roles include teaching courses in product development, engineering design, and data-driven manufacturing methods while maintaining active research and student supervision. Her research centers on soft robotics with emphasis on adaptive design, fabrication techniques, and real-world applications. Key areas include agricultural robotics (exemplified by the GraspBerry raspberry harvester), biomimetic materials like self-healing e-skins, and developmental robotics (BabyBot project). She pioneers approaches integrating morphological computation, variable stiffness mechanisms, and machine learning for robotic control, while championing open-source principles and diversity in robotics through accessible educational initiatives like balloon robot kits. Analysis of her recent publications reveals dominant trends in soft robotics adaptability, particularly in variable-stiffness structures, sensor integration, and task-specific optimization. Her work bridges fundamental material science with practical applications in agriculture, food science, and human-robot interaction, frequently employing computational methods like Bayesian optimization and neural networks for design and control. Scientific awards: No specific awards were mentioned in the source materials. Dr. Hughes actively supervises 16 doctoral students across diverse projects including soft grippers for agriculture, biomimetic locomotion, and robotic manipulation systems. Her advising portfolio shows strong alignment with her research themes, with current students working on topics like modular soft arms, agricultural automation, and developmental robotics. While grant details weren't specified, her high publication volume indicates robust research funding. The CREATE Lab under her leadership focuses on holistic co-design of hardware and software for soft robotic systems, with notable projects including the GraspBerry agricultural harvester and BabyBot developmental platform. The lab emphasizes open-source development and educational outreach, maintaining strong industry and academic collaborations while pushing boundaries in reconfigurable robotics and human-centered applications.
Junjian Qi serves as the Hohbach Endowed Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at South Dakota State University's College of Engineering, holding this position since 2023. His academic journey includes prior appointments as Assistant Professor at Stevens Institute of Technology (2020-2023) and University of Central Florida (2017-2020), along with research roles at Argonne National Laboratory and University of Tennessee. His educational background includes: Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China (2013) B.E. in electrical engineering from Shandong University, Jinan, China (2008) Dr. Qi's research centers on electric power systems resilience, with particular expertise in cascading failure mechanisms, microgrid control architectures, cyber-physical security vulnerabilities, and synchrophasor applications. His work integrates advanced data analytics and machine learning techniques to enhance grid stability against extreme weather events and cyber threats. Current investigations focus on developing distributed control strategies for inverter-dominated grids and modeling system interdependencies during failure propagation. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2021-2024) reveals a strong methodological shift toward data-driven approaches for power system challenges. Key trends include machine learning applications for cascading failure prediction, novel distributed control frameworks for AC/DC microgrids, and cybersecurity enhancements for inverter-based resources. His work consistently bridges theoretical models with real-world utility data, particularly evident in multiple Best Paper Award-winning publications analyzing actual outage sequences. Dr. Qi's scientific recognition includes: NSF CAREER Award (2020) Three consecutive Best Paper Awards at IEEE PES General Meetings (2022-2024) World's Top 2% Scientist designation in energy (2020-2023) IEEE PES Outstanding Working Group Award (2023) Multiple journal Best Paper Awards (IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, Journal of Modern Power Systems) He currently leads significant research initiatives including an NSF CAREER project ($500k) on cascading failure analysis and an NSF collaborative grant ($219k) for grid stability, alongside previous DOE funding ($1.8M) for cybersecurity of distributed energy resources. His service includes editorial roles for IEEE Transactions on Power Systems and IEEE Power Engineering Letters, plus leadership in IEEE PES technical committees focused on voltage control and smart grid security.
Raquel Fernández is Full Professor of Computational Linguistics and Dialogue Systems at the University of Amsterdam, where she leads the Dialogue Modelling Group at the Institute for Logic, Language & Computation (ILLC). As Vice-Director for Research at ILLC and a Fellow of the ELLIS Society, she bridges computational linguistics, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence through her research on language use in multimodal and conversational contexts. PhD in Computational Linguistics from King's College London Prior research positions at University of Potsdam and Stanford University's CSLI Her work explores how cognitive constraints, social interaction, and perception shape language use, with a focus on: Visually-grounded language processing Multimodal dialogue modeling Model uncertainty and calibration Language grounding in multimodal data Language learning and semantic change Dialogue reference resolution Recent publications analyze multimodal reasoning limitations, cross-lingual knowledge consistency, and uncertainty modeling in dialogue systems. She has received multiple accolades including an ERC Consolidator Grant , NWO VENI/VIDI/Aspasia fellowships , and EMNLP/GenBench awards . Outstanding Paper Award (EMNLP 2023) Best Data Award (GenBench Workshop 2023) ELLIS Society Fellow ERC Consolidator Grant #819455 recipient NWO VENI/VIDI/Aspasia awardee As a leader in academic service, she serves on the SIGDAT Executive Committee and chairs multiple conference committees. Her lab develops models for multimodal dialogue, visual storytelling, and grounded language understanding.
Dr. Daniel J. Preston is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Rice University, leading the Preston Innovation Laboratory (PI Lab). He holds a B.S. from the University of Alabama (2012), M.S. and Ph.D. from MIT (2014, 2017), and postdoctoral training at Harvard University (2017-2019). His research focuses on energy efficiency, soft materials, fluid mechanics, and robotics, with applications in wearable technologies and sustainable systems. Key achievements include the NSF CAREER Award (2022) and pioneering work on necrobotics using biotic materials. The PI Lab collaborates widely, with projects involving biomimetic surfaces, smart textiles, and fluidic control systems. Education: B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Alabama (2012) M.S./Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, MIT (2014/2017) Research Interests: Energy : Thermal management, heat transfer optimization, and waste heat recovery. Materials : Soft actuators, surface coatings, and functional biomaterials. Fluids : Interfacial phenomena, droplet dynamics, and fluid-structure interactions. Notable Publications: Recent work includes advancements in wearable haptic devices ( Science Advances ), necrobotics ( Advanced Science ), and fluidic logic textiles ( PNAS ). Over 50 peer-reviewed articles span multidisciplinary topics from magnetic levitation to virus decontamination. Honors: In addition to the CAREER Award, Dr. Preston has received the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, Tau Beta Pi Fellowship, and Wunsch Foundation Award. His lab fosters innovation through grants and industry partnerships. Advising & Grants: Supervises ~15 graduate and undergraduate students, including NSF GRFP recipients. Active in mentoring initiatives like the Randall Research Scholars Program and AATCC grants. Labs & Teams: The PI Lab collaborates with MIT’s DRL, Harvard’s Whitesides Group, and institutions globally. Core projects include smart wearables, energy harvesting fabrics, and autonomous soft robots.
Dr. Samir H. Mushrif is a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Alberta . Prior to this role, he served as faculty at the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore . He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from McGill University and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Delaware, USA . Education : PhD (Chemical Engineering, McGill University), Postdoc (University of Delaware) His research focuses on computational catalysis , molecular modeling , and reaction engineering for biomass conversion and CO2 reduction . He develops novel catalysts, solvents, and reactor systems using integrated quantum mechanical and classical molecular simulations , synergized with experimental data to enable sustainable energy and chemical production . Recent publications highlight trends in condensed phase chemistry for biomass reactions, machine learning applications in solvent configuration prediction, and mechanistic studies of lignin-carbohydrate complex deconstruction. His work bridges methane activation on metal oxides, hydrodeoxygenation of bio-oil compounds, and polymerization pathways in lignin structures. Scientific Awards include: NSERC Doctoral and Post-doctoral Fellowships Discovery International Award 2017 (Australian Research Council) NANYANG EDUCATION AWARD 2016 (Singapore) SCBE Teaching Excellence Awards (Silver 2015, Gold 2016) Bharat Gaurav (Pride of India) Award 2014 Dr. Mushrif's NSERC Discovery Grant (2018), CFI John R. Evans Leaders Fund Grant (2022), and AcRF Tier-2 Grant (Singapore, 2015) have advanced his work. Current PhD and Master's students include José Carlos Velasco Calderón , Arul Mozhi Devan Padmanathan , and Sagar Bathla , among others. The CARES Lab (Catalysis Research for Sustainability) under his leadership combines ab initio molecular dynamics , machine learning potentials , and Density Functional Theory to design materials for renewable energy . Collaborations span institutions in France , Canada , India , and the UK .
Giuseppe Carlo Marano is a Full Professor at the Department of Structural, Building and Geotechnical Engineering at Politecnico di Torino. He is also a component of the SISCON Interdepartmental Center for Infrastructure Safety. With expertise in civil and structural engineering, his work focuses on machine learning applications, seismic risk reduction, and sustainable structural optimization. Education Graduated cum laude in Structural Engineering from Polytechnic University of Bari PhD in Structural Engineering from University of Florence (2000) Research Interests Marano's research spans structural optimization, seismic engineering, and machine learning applications in civil infrastructure. He develops advanced computational models for: Seismic retrofitting of existing structures Optimization of steel and masonry structures Recycled materials in concrete production AI-driven structural health monitoring Multiobjective design methodologies Publication Trends His recent work emphasizes: Machine learning for concrete mix design and damage assessment Optimization of gridshells and arch structures Seismic isolation systems and vibration control Sustainable construction practices with recycled materials Multiobjective genetic algorithms for structural design Scientific Recognitions National Scientific Qualification - First Band (2013, MIUR Italy) Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Lecture (2012, China) Academic Contributions As an educator, he teaches: Consolidamento Strutturale (Structural Consolidation) Dinamica delle Vibrazioni Random (Random Vibration Dynamics) Progettazione Generativa (Generative Design) He also leads Challenge@PoliTo initiatives and contributes to national infrastructure safety regulations. Research Projects ADAPT4CE - Adaptive Digital Systems for Circular Economy (2025-2028) AI-ENVISERS - AI for Seismic Retrofit Environmental Impact (2023-2025) ADDOPTML - Additive Manufacturing Optimization (2021-2025)
Margarita Boenig-Liptsin is a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Ethics, Technology and Society at ETH Zurich's Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences, a position she has held since September 2022. Trained in Science, Technology and Society with dual PhDs from Harvard University (History of Science) and Université Paris-Sorbonne (Philosophy), she brings interdisciplinary expertise to examining the relationship between technology, power, democracy, and ethics. Her research spans several interconnected areas focusing on transformations to human identity and citizenship in relation to information technologies across time and cultures. She investigates the social and political aspects of digital technologies, identity and selfhood in technological societies, ethics of technology, and comparative cultures of innovation. Her work uniquely bridges historical analysis with contemporary ethical concerns, examining how concepts like human dignity evolve alongside technological developments from punch cards to AI governance frameworks. Her recent publications (2023-2025) reveal a strong focus on AI ethics, data justice, and the philosophical implications of algorithmic systems. These works demonstrate her consistent interest in how technology shapes democratic processes, citizenship, and ethical frameworks. Her research shows progression from historical studies of computer literacy programs to contemporary analyses of generative AI's impact on knowledge production and everyday ethics. Her scientific recognition includes: NSF funding for her collaborative project on Silicon Valley's innovation imaginary Mozilla Foundation Responsible Computer Science Challenge grant (2018-2021) Academic Data Science Alliance support (2020-2022) Sorbonne Université's Paris IAS Chair on 'Major Changes' (2021-2022) At ETH Zurich, she leads research and teaching initiatives that build connections between engineering and social sciences. Previously at UC Berkeley, she directed the Human Contexts and Ethics Program, developing the Human Contexts and Ethics component for data science education. Her work consistently emphasizes translating social science theory for diverse audiences and connecting scholarly work to community needs in Zurich, Switzerland, and Europe. She teaches courses including 'Artificial Intelligence and Human Values' and 'Research in Ethics, Technology and Society' for the Fall 2025 semester.
Morteza Fayazi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Utah, with an adjunct position in the Kahlert School of Computing. His research focuses on Electronic Design Automation (EDA), applying machine learning to automate analog and mixed-signal circuit design, and developing high-performance computing systems. He holds a B.Sc. from Sharif University of Technology, and M.S.E./Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan. His research interests include AI-driven EDA, RF/circuit automation, and energy-efficient processors. Key achievements include the MEDAL lab’s work on terahertz radars, systolic-array processors (e.g., DAP and Versa), and open-source frameworks like FASCINET and Tablext. He has received awards such as the 2024 College of Engineering Dean’s ETR Fund and the 2017 Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis Award. Teaching responsibilities include multiple iterations of the Digital System Design course (ECE/CS 3700). His work spans over 15 peer-reviewed articles in IEEE Transactions, ACM, and top conferences like ICCAD and VLSI-SOC, emphasizing automation, efficiency, and AI integration in hardware design.
Robert Pilawa-Podgurski is a Professor in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences Department at UC Berkeley and founding director of the Berkeley Power and Energy Center (BPEC). He earned BS, MEng, and PhD degrees from MIT. His research focuses on power electronics, including renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, and high-efficiency power converters. He has received prestigious awards such as the IEEE Fellow (2024), Bakar Fellows Spark Award (2024), and the IEEE Richard M. Bass Outstanding Young Power Electronics Engineer Award (2014). His work emphasizes experimental validation through hardware prototypes. Education: BS in Physics and EECS (MIT, 2005), MEng (MIT, 2007), PhD in EECS (MIT, 2012). Research interests include power electronics for renewable energy, electric vehicles, energy harvesting, and advanced converter topologies. His lab has developed high-power density converters and innovative control techniques for flying capacitor multilevel converters. Recent publications focus on hybrid switched-capacitor architectures, voltage balancing, and ultra-high-current applications. Awards include over 17 IEEE prize papers and teaching accolades like the 2023 UC Berkeley EECS Outstanding Teaching Award. His group has advised numerous students, including postdocs and PhD candidates working on cutting-edge power electronics projects. Labs/Teams: Pilawa Research Group at UC Berkeley, collaborating on power electronics for clean energy and high-performance computing.
Professor Goran Mashanovich is a leading academic in silicon photonics at the University of Southampton's Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) , Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences. With a Dipl. Ing. and MSc from the University of Belgrade and a PhD from the University of Surrey, he serves as head of the ORC's Mid-IR silicon photonics group. His expertise spans passive and active photonic devices in silicon and germanium for communication and sensing systems. Education: Dipl. Ing. in Optoelectronics, University of Belgrade MSc in Optoelectronics, University of Belgrade PhD in Silicon Photonics, University of Surrey MSc in Innovative Teaching, University of Surrey His research focuses on Silicon Photonics , Photonics Integrated Circuits , and Sensor Development , particularly in mid-infrared applications. His recent publications demonstrate advancements in waveguide engineering, perovskite integration, and nonlinear optical effects optimization through computational methods. As Principal Investigator on grants exceeding £20 million from EPSRC and industry partners, his collaborative projects include MISSION (mid-infrared healthcare sensors), CORNERSTONE 2.5 , and PIXEurope . He also contributes to global education initiatives as a visiting professor at the University of Belgrade's Faculty of Electrical Engineering.
Prof. Dr. Oliver Reiser is a full Professor at the Institute of Organic Chemistry within the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy at the University of Regensburg. His research group focuses on cutting-edge developments in organic synthesis, particularly in the areas of photocatalysis and visible light chemistry. He leads the Collaborative Research Centre CRC 325 on "Assembly Controlled Chemical Photocatalysis," which aims to develop new frontiers in photocatalysis for organic synthesis through designed control of catalyst-substrate interactions. University of Hamburg (PhD, 1989) IBM Research Center (Postdoc) Harvard University (Postdoc) University of Göttingen (Habilitation, 1995) Prof. Reiser's research spans multiple interconnected fields with a strong emphasis on sustainable chemistry. His group extensively utilizes modern techniques for organic synthesis including flow reactors, microwaves, and high-pressure systems. The primary research thrusts include catalysis (both metal and organocatalysts), unnatural amino acids and peptide foldamers, and natural product synthesis. His work on visible light photocatalysis has been particularly influential, with numerous publications in high-impact journals like Angewandte Chemie and Nature Catalysis. The group's research integrates experimental, spectroscopic, and computational techniques to analyze catalyst-substrate interactions for more rational design of photochemical reactions. Analysis of Prof. Reiser's recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong focus on copper-based photocatalysis, sustainable chemistry using earth-abundant metals, and innovative approaches to heterocycle synthesis. His work demonstrates a clear trend toward developing more efficient and environmentally friendly catalytic processes, with particular emphasis on visible light activation, catalyst immobilization for recyclability, and applications in medicinal chemistry. The research spans from fundamental mechanistic studies to practical applications in synthesis. German Academic Scholarship Foundation Minerva Foundation NATO Fellowship German Research Foundation Support Karl Winnacker Foundation Prof. Reiser has supervised numerous doctoral students, with recent PhD theses focusing on copper photoredox catalysis, magnetic nanoparticle-supported catalysts, and the synthesis of bioactive compounds. His research is supported by multiple collaborative projects, including the Collaborative Research Centre CRC 325, and involves extensive national and international collaborations with institutions such as the University of Kansas, the National Institute of Chemistry in Pune, the Institut Chimie de Coordination du CNRS in Toulouse, and the University of Zaragoza. The group maintains strong ties with pharmaceutical research through collaborations with Prof. A. Beck-Sickinger in Leipzig on neuropeptide ligands. The research group operates well-equipped laboratories with capabilities for advanced organic synthesis and characterization. They have developed specialized expertise in flow chemistry, high-pressure techniques, and magnetic nanoparticle-based catalyst systems. The CRC 325 initiative has provided significant infrastructure for collaborative research in photocatalysis, bringing together multiple research groups with complementary expertise in organic synthesis, spectroscopy, and computational chemistry.
Lorin Schöni is a PhD candidate at ETH Zürich, actively contributing to the Security, Privacy and Society research group since October 2022. Concurrently, he serves as a Lecturer at the Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences, where he teaches the course Focus on the Human: Human-Centered Security and Privacy Lab (Autumn Semester 2025, Unit 851-0391-00L). His research focuses on human-centered approaches to cybersecurity , particularly through three key domains: Human-Computer Interaction - Investigating design decisions that influence user behavior in digital security contexts Extended Reality Applications - Developing immersive training systems for phishing prevention Usability Engineering - Creating intuitive security interfaces with explainable AI components Recent publications highlight his work at the intersection of autonomous motivation theory and personalized cybersecurity training , with notable presentations at top venues including CHI 2025 and SOUPS 2024. His research aims to transform security from a restrictive framework into a collaborative partnership between users and digital systems, as emphasized in his award-winning work on human-centered cybersecurity.
