Graham Dobereiner is an Associate Professor and Robert L. Smith Early Career Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Temple University's College of Science and Technology. He received his Ph.D. from Yale University (2011) and completed postdoctoral research at MIT (2012-2014) after earning his B.S. from Brandeis University (2007). His research group develops novel homogeneous transition metal catalysts for synthetic chemistry applications spanning fine chemicals manufacturing, petrochemical processing, and drug discovery. The work integrates organometallic chemistry principles, combining organic molecular diversity with inorganic compound reactivity. Research areas include catalytic isomerization, oxidative synthesis, ligand design, and mechanistic studies of transition metal complexes. Analysis of his recent publications demonstrates strong emphasis on reaction mechanism elucidation, catalyst design for stereoselective transformations (particularly Z-selective isomerizations), and development of novel catalytic systems for sustainable synthesis. His group employs computational and experimental approaches to advance synthetic methodology.
Professor Thomas Meier is a Visiting Professor at the Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London (since 2015), and Director of the Centre for Structural Biology (2017–2021). He leads research on ATP synthase structure, drug targets for tuberculosis, and molecular mechanisms of disease. Previously, he was a Group Leader at the Max-Planck-Institute of Biophysics (2006–2015) and ETH Zurich's Institute of Microbiology. His work combines structural biology (X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy) with biochemical studies. Education: Dr. sc. nat. (2002) and Dipl. sc. nat. (1998) from ETH Zurich. Awards include the Wellcome Trust Investigator (2015–present). Research focuses on ATP synthase's role in energy conversion, drug development, and structural biology. His lab includes postdocs and students like Lisa Uhrig and Anthony Cheuk. Key affiliations: Centre for Structural Biology, Membrane Biology Group, and Bacterial Pathogenesis studies. Languages: German, English, French (fluent), Latin (read/write). Publications span structural biology, planetary science, and drug discovery. His work on ATP synthase inhibitors for TB has clinical implications, while astrophysical studies explore planetary formation via giant impacts.
Jiaoyang Li is an Assistant Professor at the Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University , where she leads research in large-scale multi-robot coordination. She earned her Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Southern California (2022) under Professor Sven Koenig and holds a B.Eng. in Automation from Tsinghua University (2017) . Ph.D. (2022): University of Southern California B.Eng. (2017): Tsinghua University Research Focus : Jiaoyang Li's work centers on algorithms for multi-robot coordination in dynamic environments. Key areas include: Multi-Agent Path Finding (MAPF) Lifelong Planning for Autonomous Systems Kinodynamic Motion Planning Warehouse and Transportation Automation Human-Robot Collaboration Integration of Planning and Machine Learning Swarm Robotics Publication Trends : Recent work spans 2023-2025 , showing emphasis on: Scalable coordination for 10,000+ robots Bézier curve optimization for dual-arm assembly Diffusion models in multi-robot motion planning Guidance graph optimization for airport/railway traffic Multi-objective search in warehouse automation Temporal plan graphs for switchable passing orders Scientific Honors : ICAPS-24 Best Student Paper Award Three top dissertation awards (ICAPS-23, IFAAAMAS, USC) 2023 League of Robot Runners champion Outstanding student paper award at ICAPS-20 Technology Commercialization Award from USC Student Leadership : Advises 5 Ph.D. students and 1 Master's student at CMU, with alumni now at MIT (Ying Feng) and USC (Yimin Tang). Collaborates with visiting students from National University of Singapore and Tsinghua University. Lab Affiliation : Directs the Artificial Intelligence for Robot Coordination at Scale (ARCS) Lab , focusing on: Warehouse automation with thousands of robots Multi-arm LEGO assembly systems Railway coordination algorithms Cooperative assembly with multiple manipulators
Leslie Lok is an Associate Professor in the Department of Architecture at Cornell University, directing the Rural-Urban Building Innovation Lab (RUBI Lab). She co-founded H.A.N.N.A.H, an experimental design practice focused on innovative construction methods like 3D printing and robotic fabrication. Her research bridges technology, materials, and urbanization, emphasizing adaptable housing and sustainable design. Lok holds a Master of Architecture from MIT. Her work explores computational protocols, mixed reality (MR), and non-standardized materials to address spatial and material challenges in rural-urban contexts. Exhibitions include the Total Museum of Contemporary Art (South Korea), the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam, and the Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture in Shenzhen. Awards include the 2020 Architectural League Prize and recognition as Best New Practices by ArchDaily (2021). Lok teaches courses such as Option Studio: The Sectional City — Urban Housing Fabric for Chongqing and Spatial Tensions — Mapping Global Spatio-politics Through China . Her grants include the International Cornell Curriculum Grant (2022) and the NYSCA Creative Project Grant (2020). She serves on ACADIA's board and has published widely in journals like FABRICATE and Rob|Arch.
Charles A. Bouman is the Showalter Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University, with a courtesy appointment in Mathematics. He is a leading researcher in computational imaging, integrating statistical signal processing, physics, and computation for applications in healthcare, scientific, and industrial imaging. Education: B.S.E.E., University of Pennsylvania, 1981 M.S., University of California at Berkeley, 1982 Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Princeton University, 1989 His research focuses on computational imaging , including statistical image models, multiscale techniques, tomographic reconstruction, and fast algorithms. Key areas include Model-Based Iterative Reconstruction (MBIR), Plug-and-Play priors, document processing, and multiscale segmentation. His work has led to foundational contributions in total variation regularization and sparse-view reconstruction. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in integrating machine learning with physical models for image reconstruction, particularly through Plug-and-Play methods. His work spans optical tomography, halftoning, image scaling, and document compression, demonstrating consistent innovation in both theory and practical software implementation. Scientific Awards and Honors: Member, National Academy of Inventors Life Fellow, IEEE Fellow, IS&T; Honorary Member (2022); Service Award (2023) Fellow, SPIE and AIMBE IEEE Signal Processing Society Claude Shannon-Harry Nyquist Award (2021) Electronic Imaging Scientist of the Year (2014) SIAM Imaging Science Best Paper Prize (2020) Founder, IS&T Computational Imaging Conference (2003) Co-Founder, IEEE Transactions on Computational Imaging Vice President, IS&T; Former VP of Publications (2000–2004) Bouman has advised numerous graduate students and leads a vibrant research group developing open-source tools like MBIRJAX , SVMBIR , and OpenMBIR . His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, General Electric, Intel, Xerox, Hewlett-Packard, and the State of Indiana 21st Century Fund. He maintains an active presence through tutorials, conference leadership, and educational resources including video lectures and a textbook on Foundations of Computational Imaging. Labs and Research Teams: His group develops cutting-edge software for tomographic reconstruction, clustering, segmentation, and dynamic sampling. Projects include Gaussian Mixture modeling (GMCluster), Plug-and-Play implementations, Sparse Matrix Transforms, and UAV sensing datasets. The research is highly interdisciplinary, bridging engineering, mathematics, and biomedical applications.
Marcella Lusardi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the Princeton Materials Institute at Princeton University, leading interdisciplinary research at the intersection of materials synthesis, catalysis, and sustainability. Her educational background includes: Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT (2018) B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Columbia University (2012) Dr. Lusardi's research focuses on designing advanced catalytic materials for environmental challenges, with core expertise in surface science, light-matter interactions, and complex materials processing. Her group develops natural and engineered materials for energy and sustainability applications, emphasizing CO 2 capture/reduction, pollution abatement, and photocatalysis through molecular-level catalyst design. The MatCat Lab integrates experimental techniques like NMR spectroscopy with computational guidance to create scalable solutions for closed carbon cycles and greener chemical processes. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2019-2025) reveals a dominant focus on zeolite-based catalysis for CO 2 conversion and carbonylation reactions, with growing emphasis on supramolecular assemblies and water-tolerant acid catalysts. Her work consistently bridges fundamental material properties with practical sustainability applications, showing progression toward integrated systems for direct air capture and light-mediated reactions. The MatCat Lab employs a highly interdisciplinary approach centered on defect engineering in silica matrices and molecular recognition for supramolecular networks. Current projects target tailored reaction environments for CO 2 reduction and microplastic oxidation, utilizing advanced synthesis methods and structural elucidation to develop practical catalytic technologies for a sustainable future.
Prof. Dr. Patrick Huber is a leading physicist and Institute Director at the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) , heading the Institute for Materials and X-Ray Physics (M-2) . He also leads the High-Resolution X-Ray Analytics of Materials group at DESY through a cooperative professorship. His research spans condensed matter physics , nanoporous materials , and X-ray analytics , with significant contributions to molecular water science and soft matter in confinement . Education: PhD in Physics (1999, Saarland University), Diploma in Physics (1995, Saarland University) Professional Career: Full Professor at TUHH (2020-present), Member of CRC 1615 (2023-present), Spokesperson for CMWS (2024-present), Cluster of Excellence BlueMat (2025) Research Interests focus on multi-scale material behavior under extreme confinement, particularly hierarchical porous silicon and silica systems . His work examines adsorption-induced deformation , elastocapillarity , fluid transport in nanopores, and metamaterial design principles using electrolytes , polymers , and liquid crystals . Fundamental studies include fluid interface thermodynamics and microscopic hydrodynamics . Scientific Awards include the Top Reviewer Award (2018) from Applied Physics Letters and the Dr.-Eduard-Martin Award (2000) for his dissertation. He contributes to 130+ publications with an h-index of 36 (2021). Advising and Grants involve supervising 18 doctoral and master's students , including Manuel Brinker , Marc Thelen , and Stella Gries . He participates in Collaborative Research Centre CRC 1615 , Cluster of Excellence EXC 3120 BlueMat , and the United Nations University Hub on Climate Engineering . Laboratory and Teams include the Institute for Materials and X-Ray Physics (M-2) at TUHH, the High-Resolution X-Ray Analytics group at DESY, and contributions to the Centre for Hybrid Nanostructures (CHyN) .
Kyle C. Hale is an Associate Professor at Oregon State University's School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (College of Engineering). He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. from Northwestern University (2016, 2013) and a B.S. in Computer Science from UT Austin (2010). Prior to joining Oregon State in 2024, he served as an Associate Professor at Illinois Tech in Chicago. His research spans operating systems, high-performance computing (HPC), virtualization, computer architecture, and system security. Current work focuses on specialized system software stacks for emerging computing paradigms like memory disaggregation and parallelism optimization. He leads the HExSA Lab and collaborates with the HiPCastor group. Scientific Awards: NSF CAREER Award (2023-2028) Illinois Tech College of Computing Excellence in Research (2023) Illinois Tech College of Computing Excellence in Teaching (2021) Illinois Tech Department of Computer Science Teacher of the Year (2020) EuroSys '22 Best Artifact Award Recent Research Trends: His publications emphasize compiler techniques for memory-disaggregated systems, optimizing parallel runtimes through hardware-software integration, virtualization at fine granularities, and accelerating machine learning workloads via system-level innovations. Keywords include HPC, virtualization, parallelism, and secure execution contexts. Teaching: Courses taught include Computer Architecture (CS/ECE 472), System Security (CSP 544), Operating Systems (CS 450), and advanced topics in serverless/edge computing. He actively recruits PhD students to the HExSA Lab.
Dr. Michael Baym is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics at Harvard Medical School with affiliate appointments in Microbiology and the Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, and as an Associate Member of the Broad Institute. He leads the Baym Lab, which studies microbial evolutionary genomics and antibiotic resistance through a hybrid of experimental, computational, and theoretical approaches. His research focuses on: Antibiotic Resistance Evolution and practical interventions Mobile Genetic Elements (plasmids, phages, transposons) Computational Genomic Algorithms for big data analysis Synthetic Biology tools and technologies Key recent publications explore phage discovery systems , phylogenetic compression of microbial genomes, and RNA-guided gene drives in plasmids. His work is supported by multiple NIH/NIGMS and NSF grants including a MIRA award. Scientific honors include: Packard Fellowship (2018) Pew Biomedical Scholarship (2020) Sloan Research Fellowship (2020) A. Clifford Barger Excellence in Mentoring Award (2021) SSQBio Mentorship Award (2022) The lab actively trains PhD students and postdoctoral fellows with alumni occupying academic and industry positions globally. Current team members include researchers from interdisciplinary backgrounds working at the intersection of experiment, computation, and theory .
Kumar Varoon Agrawal is an Associate Professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), holding the Gaznat Chair for Advanced Separations. He is affiliated with the School of Basic Sciences (SB), the Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (ISIC), and the Laboratory of Advanced Separations (LAS) in Sion, Switzerland. Additionally, he contributes to the Swiss Doctoral School in Chemical and Bioengineering (SCGC) and serves as Vice President of the Confédération des Chimistes et des Génie Chimique (CCE). Research Focus: Material Chemistry & Engineering at the Ångström scale for high-performance inorganic and hybrid membranes, emphasizing energy-efficient molecular separations. Teaching: Courses include Fundamentals of separation processes , Diffusion and mass transfer , and Chemical engineering product design . Scientific Contributions: His 15 most recent publications (2025-2020) span topics like graphene pore engineering , 2D material synthesis , carbon capture , and gas separation membranes , with keywords such as Nanotechnology , Materials Science , and Molecular Transport . Subfields include Atomic-Scale Pores , Membrane Stability , and Industrial Scalability . Students and Collaborations: He advises 10 current PhD students and has mentored 9 past PhD candidates in areas like graphene membranes , ion separation , and MOF films . He is an Academic Referent for the EPFL Carbon Team and a committee member for the EDCH Doctoral Program in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.
Saumya Debray is a Professor at the Department of Computer Science , University of Arizona , with research interests in Compilers , Program Analysis and Optimization , and Programming Language Implementation . Their work bridges theoretical and applied computer science, focusing on security implications of program transformations and compiler-assisted system optimization. Education: Ph.D., The State University of New York at Stony Brook (1986). Contact: Office: GS 735 | Phone: 520-621-4527 | Email: debray@cs.arizona.edu. Research Themes: Debray’s research spans three decades, with core contributions in: JIT Compiler Analysis: Bug localization, dynamic code generation, and exploitation frameworks. Code Obfuscation & Stylometry: Evading detection through optimization-based obfuscation. Malware Analysis: Deobfuscation techniques, taint analysis, and dynamic defense modeling. Binary Rewriting: Energy optimization, code compaction, and kernel specialization. Their work intersects compiler design , cybersecurity , and system optimization , with applications in executable analysis , malware detection , and undergraduate CS education .
Mark Billinghurst is a Professor and Director of the Australian Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments at UniSA STEM, University of South Australia. His work focuses on Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and empathic computing, emphasizing remote collaboration, human-computer interaction, and inclusive design. He has authored influential books like Computer-Supported Collaboration: Theory and Practice (2024) and pioneered systems such as Empathy Glasses and gaze-tracking interfaces for collaborative tasks. Education & Affiliations: Mark Billinghurst is affiliated with the Empathic Computing Laboratory and has collaborated globally with institutions like Keio University, Nokia, and the University of Canterbury. His research spans AR applications in manufacturing, healthcare, and social interaction, with a focus on improving accessibility and user experience. Research Interests: Dr. Billinghurst’s research explores AR/VR for remote guidance, wearable technologies, and emotional interfaces. He investigates how gaze cues, multimodal feedback, and AI can enhance collaboration and empathy in virtual environments. His work bridges technical innovation with human-centric design, addressing challenges in industrial assembly, mental health, and workplace transformation. Publications & Impact: His 2016 study on gaze tracking in remote collaboration (cited over 100 times) and 2024 book on AR collaboration highlight his contributions. Recent projects include Vibe360 (group emotion analysis) and CAEVr (biofeedback-driven empathy systems). He actively contributes to conferences like IEEE VR and CHI, shaping the future of immersive technologies. Labs & Future Work: His lab develops tools like the SAR system for aircraft drilling and empathic agents (EMiRAs). Future directions include AI-driven emotional interfaces, inclusive metaverse design, and VR solutions for cognitive rehabilitation.
Abigail Jacobs is an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan , jointly appointed in the School of Information and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts . She is also affiliated with the Center for Ethics, Society, and Computing (ESC) and the Michigan Institute for Data Science (MIDAS) . Education: PhD in Computer Science, University of Colorado Boulder (2015-2019) BA in Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences and Mathematics, Northwestern University (2011-2015) Research Interests: Dr. Jacobs examines measurement and validity in machine learning , focusing on hidden assumptions in AI systems, governance structures in sociotechnical systems, and inequality in algorithmic design. Her work bridges AI, data science, and social science methodologies, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration. Recent Publications (2024-2025) explore generative AI evaluation, algorithmic transparency in government (e.g., US Census Bureau), motion capture data ethics, and sociotechnical frameworks for AI governance. Earlier works (2023) address fairness in ranking systems and racial categorization in algorithmic bias studies. Scientific Awards: Microsoft Research AI & Society Fellowship (2024) NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (during PhD) Advising & Grants: She co-advises Ph.D. students Amina Abdu and Meera Desai . Her research includes a Notre Dame-IBM Tech Ethics Lab grant on AI audits and collaborations with institutions like UC Berkeley, Microsoft Research, and the National Academies .
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Zwick is a full professor and director of the Institute of High Frequency Engineering and Electronics (IHE) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). He holds a Dipl.-Ing. (M.S.E.E.) and Dr.-Ing. (Ph.D.E.E.) from the University of Karlsruhe. His career includes roles at IBM Research (2001–2004), Siemens AG (2004–2007 managing automotive radar teams), and KIT since 2007. He leads research in high-frequency technologies, antennas, radar systems, and wireless communications. Research interests include radio wave propagation, antenna design, automotive radar architectures, and millimeter-wave systems. He has authored/co-authored over 400 papers, 20 patents, and received IEEE Fellow status (2018), honorary doctorate from Budapest University (2022), and membership in the Heidelberg Academy and acatech. His work emphasizes integrating sensing and communication systems, 3D-printed RF components, and high-frequency measurement techniques. Teaching focuses on high-frequency engineering, electronic circuits, and radar systems. He oversees the IHE’s laboratories, including the Microwave Engineering Lab and Student Innovation Lab. Recent work explores sub-THz communication, RIS-aided ISAC systems, and beamforming for reduced EMF exposure in urban scenarios.
Simon Sharpe is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Toronto and a Senior Scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children. His research focuses on the structural and dynamic properties of self-assembling proteins, particularly those involved in degenerative diseases, elastomeric proteins, and biological phase separation. The Sharpe Lab utilizes advanced biophysical techniques such as NMR spectroscopy, X-ray scattering, and electron microscopy to investigate these phenomena. BSc: Memorial University of Newfoundland (Cell Biology and Biochemistry, 1997) PhD: University of Western Ontario (Biochemistry, 2002) Postdoctoral Training: NIH (Solid-State NMR, 2002-2006) Research interests include: Protein self-assembly mechanisms Amyloid formation in neurodegenerative diseases Elastin and resilin biophysics Lipid-protein interactions Biological phase separation Structure-function relationships Lab members include Research Associate Dr. Sean Reichheld and PhD students James Otis, Asal Nady, and Robert Lu. The lab has dedicated access to 600 and 700 MHz NMR spectrometers and collaborates with SickKids facilities including the SBC Facility and Imaging Facility. Scientific awards: Canada Research Chair (2006-2016) Ontario Early Researcher Award (2010) Dr. Sharpe has taught courses including BCH374Y1 (Research Project in Biochemistry) and BCH425H (Structural Biology: Principles and Practice). His recent publications examine topics ranging from serum amyloid A structure to bacterial phase separation defenses, with methodologies combining solid-state NMR, fluorescence microscopy, and computational approaches.
