Konstantinos Spiliopoulos is a Professor and Director of Statistics at Boston University's Department of Mathematics and Statistics, part of the College of Arts & Sciences. He leads research in Applied Mathematics and Probability and Statistics groups, focusing on stochastic processes, machine learning, and mathematical finance. His research interests include stochastic analysis of complex systems, multiscale phenomena, and their applications to neural networks, PDEs, and financial modeling. Notable areas of study involve mean-field limits, rare event simulation, and asymptotic methods in stochastic differential equations. He has received grants such as DMS-EPSRC funding for analyzing online training algorithms in recurrent and deep neural networks. His work bridges theoretical advancements with practical applications in data science and computational methods. Spiliopoulos maintains an active presence in interdisciplinary research, addressing challenges in systemic risk, network dynamics, and optimization. His contributions span from fundamental probability theory to applied problems in engineering and finance.
Xiaowen Dong is an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford, affiliated with the Machine Learning Research Group and the Oxford-Man Institute. He is also a Tutorial Fellow at Lady Margaret Hall. Prior to Oxford, he was a postdoctoral researcher at MIT Media Lab and earned his PhD from EPFL. His research focuses on signal processing and machine learning for analyzing network data, with applications in social, urban, and financial systems. Education: PhD from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland. Research Interests: Graph signal processing, geometric deep learning, network topology inference, computational social science, and urban computing. He has received awards including the Turing Fellowship and outstanding paper recognitions. His work spans theoretical advancements and practical applications in network analysis, with collaborations extending to institutions like MIT, EPFL, and the Alan Turing Institute. Notable achievements include contributions to understanding urban segregation, pandemic impacts on mobility, and financial network dynamics. He advises multiple doctoral and master's students across disciplines and actively organizes workshops and conferences in graph-based learning and network science.
Charles E.H. Berger serves as Professor by Special Appointment in Criminalistics at Leiden University's Institute for Criminal Law and Criminology since November 2011, a position funded by the Stichting Leerstoel Criminalistiek. He concurrently holds a principal scientist position at the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI), where he contributes to education, R&D strategy, and research on forensic evidence interpretation. His research program centers on logically sound interpretation of forensic evidence through probability theory and computational methods. Berger specializes in applying Bayesian statistics to forensic anthropology, personal identification, and evidential evaluation. His work emphasizes moving forensic science toward activity-level interpretations while managing contextual information to prevent bias. Berger plays a pivotal international role as member of ISO technical committee TC272, serving as lead editor for Part 4 (Interpretation) of the ISO-21043 Forensic Sciences standard. His scholarly contributions focus on improving forensic reasoning frameworks and establishing objective evaluation methodologies. His publications demonstrate consistent engagement with foundational forensic science challenges, particularly in developing statistically rigorous approaches to evidence interpretation that maintain scientific integrity within legal contexts. Berger actively promotes scientifically sound practices across the criminal justice system, emphasizing the importance of clear communication between forensic scientists, legal professionals, and other stakeholders to ensure proper understanding and application of forensic evidence.
Patrick Brown is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto , affiliated with the Department of Statistical Sciences and cross-appointed to the Centre for Global Health Research and St. Michael's Hospital . His research focuses on spatio-temporal data modeling , Bayesian inference , and non-parametric methods for spatial epidemiology and environmental sciences. Fields of Interest : Spatial Statistics, Cancer Statistics, Statistical Software Education : PhD from University of Lancaster His methodological work encompasses Bayesian inference for non-Gaussian spatial data, Gaussian Markov random fields, and computational techniques like INLA and MRA. Applied research themes include disease mapping, environmental risk assessment, and public health surveillance using real-world data sources such as electronic health records and wastewater monitoring . He has developed key R packages (mapmisc, geostatsp, diseasemapping) supporting spatial statistical applications. Current collaborative projects span diverse fields: Ultra-diffuse galaxy detection with astrophysical applications Multi-pollutant mortality studies in Canadian cities SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity tracking Homelessness population estimation using EHR Geospatial cancer risk tools for Nova Scotia His work bridges statistical innovation with global health challenges , emphasizing computationally efficient solutions for large-scale spatiotemporal datasets.
Anqi Liu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University. She maintains significant affiliations with the Johns Hopkins Mathematical Institute for Data Science (MINDS) and the Johns Hopkins Institute for Assured Autonomy (IAA), while also collaborating extensively with the Center for Language and Speech Processing (CLSP) and the Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics (LCSR). Her research focuses on developing principled machine learning algorithms for building reliable, trustworthy, and human-compatible AI systems in real-world applications. Key research areas include: Distributionally robust learning under covariate shift Uncertainty quantification for AI safety and fairness Safe exploration in control systems Fair machine learning under distribution shift Active learning under label shift Dr. Liu's work addresses critical challenges in high-stakes AI applications where reliability, safety, and societal impact are paramount. Her methods ensure AI systems remain robust to changing data environments, provide accurate uncertainty estimates, and incorporate human preferences in interactions. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trajectory in trustworthy AI research with significant contributions to distribution shift handling, uncertainty quantification techniques, and safe decision-making frameworks. Her work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications across healthcare, robotics, and social media analysis. Amazon Research Award Dr. Liu actively mentors eight PhD students and teaches specialized courses on Machine Learning for Trustworthy AI and standard Machine Learning at Johns Hopkins University, preparing the next generation of researchers to address critical challenges in AI safety and reliability.
Gaurav Khanna is a Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Rhode Island (URI) and serves as the Director of Research Computing at URI. He is a key member of the UMass-URI Gravity Research Consortium (U²GRC), a collaborative effort between the gravity research groups at URI and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth focused on gravitational physics research. Dr. Khanna earned his Ph.D. in Physics from Pennsylvania State University in 2000 and his B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India in 1995. His academic journey reflects a strong foundation in both theoretical physics and engineering principles that inform his current research. His primary research focuses on theoretical and computational aspects of gravitational physics, particularly the coalescence of binary black hole systems using perturbation theory and estimation of emitted gravitational radiation properties. This work is directly relevant to the NSF LIGO laboratory and upcoming space-borne gravitational wave detection missions. His research spans black holes, gravitational waves, quantum gravity, and high-performance scientific computing. Dr. Khanna has developed advanced computational techniques for modeling extreme mass ratio inspirals and has made significant contributions to understanding black hole singularities in both classical and quantum gravity frameworks. Dr. Khanna has published nearly 100 research papers in top international journals and secured over $2 million in research funding. His work has been featured in prominent media outlets including Nature Magazine, Quanta Magazine, and Physics World. He has advised numerous graduate students, with Tousif Islam (Ph.D. '24) receiving an honorable mention in the GWIC-Braccini Thesis Prize, and Som Bishoyi earning UMass Dartmouth's Research in the Media Award. American Physical Society Fellow As Director of Research Computing, Dr. Khanna oversees high-performance computing resources and provides expertise in parallel and scientific computing. His work with the U²GRC involves collaboration with major research groups including the Simulating Extreme Spacetimes (SXS) Collaboration, Kavli Institute for Astrophysics at MIT, Black Hole Initiative at Harvard, and the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics in Germany. The consortium's research is funded through multiple National Science Foundation grants, NASA, and private foundations.
Bonnie Berger is the Simons Professor of Mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and head of the Computation and Biology group at MIT's Computer Science and AI Lab. She holds additional appointments as an Associate Member of the Broad Institute, Faculty member of Harvard/MIT Health Science & Technology, and Affiliated Faculty of Harvard Medical School. Her career has been dedicated to pioneering computational approaches in molecular biology, where she has been instrumental in defining the field. Professor Berger's research focuses on designing algorithms to extract biological insights from large-scale data sets. Her work spans Compressive Genomics, Network Inference, Structural Bioinformatics, Genomic Privacy, and Medical Genomics. She actively collaborates with experimental biologists to maximize the power of computation for biological discovery, developing methods that address the challenges of modern high-throughput biological data. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward integrating machine learning with structural biology and genomic privacy. The articles show increasing sophistication in using deep learning for protein structure prediction, developing privacy-preserving techniques for genomic data sharing, and creating efficient algorithms for massive biological data sets. Her work bridges theoretical computer science with practical biological applications. Professor Berger's scientific recognition includes: Election to the National Academy of Sciences (2021) ISCB Accomplishments by a Senior Scientist Award SIAM Sonya Kovalevsky Lecture Prize Fellowships in ACM, ISCB, AMS, and other prestigious societies Multiple RECOMB Test of Time Awards NIH Margaret Pittman Director's Award She has mentored numerous students who have gone on to make significant contributions in computational biology, including Ellen Zhong, Yun William Yu, and Hyunghoon Cho. Her lab receives substantial research funding supporting projects in genomic privacy, structural bioinformatics, and compressive algorithms for biological data. Professor Berger serves on the Executive Editorial Board of the Journal of Computational Biology and multiple other editorial boards. The Computation and Biology group at MIT CSAIL, which she leads, is at the forefront of developing computational methods for biological discovery. The group combines expertise in algorithms, machine learning, and biology to tackle fundamental challenges in genomics and structural biology. They are currently organizing the Machine Learning in Structural Biology workshop at NeurIPS 2025, highlighting their leadership in this rapidly evolving interdisciplinary field.
Emily Falk is a Professor of Communication, Psychology, Marketing, and Operations, Information, and Decisions at the University of Pennsylvania, where she serves as Vice Dean of the Annenberg School for Communication, Director of the Communication Neuroscience Lab, and Director of the Climate Communication Division of the Annenberg Public Policy Center. Her interdisciplinary work bridges communication science, psychology, and neuroscience to understand behavior change and message effectiveness. Dr. Falk received her B.A. in Neuroscience from Brown University and her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her educational background reflects the interdisciplinary approach that characterizes her research program. Dr. Falk's research focuses on the science of behavior change, examining what makes messages persuasive, why and how ideas spread, and what makes people effective communicators. Her work employs tools from psychology, neuroscience, and communication to investigate neural predictors of message effectiveness, social influence, and the spread of ideas through networks. Key research areas include health communication (particularly tobacco use), climate communication, political communication, and the neuroscience of choice and decision-making. Her groundbreaking work has demonstrated how fMRI brain imaging in small groups can predict large-scale public health campaign success. Dr. Falk's research has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including early career awards from the International Communication Association and the Society for Personality and Social Psychology Attitudes Division, a Fulbright grant, Social and Affective Neuroscience Society award, DARPA Young Faculty Award, and the NIH Director's New Innovator Award. She was also named a Rising Star by the Association for Psychological Science. As an advisor, Dr. Falk has mentored numerous graduate students who have gone on to successful careers in academia, government, non-profit, and business sectors. Her lab, the Communication Neuroscience Lab, is funded by major organizations including DARPA, NIH, Google, and the Mind & Life Institute. The lab operates with a mission to increase health and happiness for people and the planet through communication science. The Communication Neuroscience Lab is an interdisciplinary research group that uses tools from biological, social, and network sciences to motivate choices that benefit individuals, communities, and the planet. Current major research projects include BB-PRIME (Brain-based Prediction of Message Effectiveness), BB-PRIME Phase II focusing on climate change interventions, and the GeoScan Smoking Study examining tobacco marketing effects.
Golnoosh Farnadi is an Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science and Operational Research at the University of Montreal and an Assistant Professor at the School of Computer Science at McGill University. She holds a Canada-CIFAR Chair in Artificial Intelligence and serves as a Senior Academic Member at Mila - Quebec Institute for Artificial Intelligence. Her interdisciplinary work bridges computer science, operations research, and ethical AI considerations. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Computer Science from KU Leuven and Ghent University (2017), followed by postdoctoral positions at the University of Montreal/MILA (2018-2020) and the University of California, Santa Cruz (2017-2018). Her research focuses on algorithmic fairness, responsible AI, deep learning, and probabilistic models, with applications spanning healthcare, recommender systems, and public policy. Farnadi's recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on addressing fairness in machine learning systems, with particular attention to cultural diversity in recommender systems, fairness in healthcare optimization (particularly kidney exchange programs), and mitigating hallucinations in large language models. Her work consistently combines theoretical rigor with practical applications, often employing novel mathematical frameworks to tackle complex ethical challenges in AI. Among her notable recognitions are the Google Scholar Award (2021), Facebook Research Award (2021), Google Award for Inclusion Research (2023), and being named one of the 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics (2023). She was also recognized as a Rising Star in AI Ethics in 2021. Farnadi supervises numerous graduate students through her EQUAL Lab (EQuity & EQuality Using AI and Learning algorithms), which focuses on developing AI systems that promote fairness and equity. Her teaching includes courses on Responsible AI, Machine Learning, and Trustworthy Machine Learning at both McGill University and HEC Montreal.
Daniel B. Neill is a Professor of Computer Science, Public Service, and Urban Analytics at New York University (NYU), jointly appointed across the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, and the Center for Urban Science and Progress (Tandon School of Engineering). He also serves as the Director of the Machine Learning for Good Laboratory (ML4G) and is affiliated with NYU's Center for Data Science and Tandon Department of Computer Science and Engineering. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University M.S. in Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University M.Phil. in Computer Speech, Cambridge University Research Interests: Dr. Neill's research focuses on developing novel machine learning methods for social good, with applications in disease surveillance (e.g., early outbreak detection), healthcare (e.g., anomalous care patterns), and urban analytics (e.g., predicting citizen needs). He also explores algorithmic fairness , causal inference , and pre-syndromic surveillance using unstructured data. His work bridges theoretical machine learning with real-world policy challenges, collaborating with health departments, hospitals, and city governments to deploy data-driven tools that enhance public health, safety, and security. Scientific Awards & Honors: NSF CAREER Award NSF Graduate Research Fellowship IEEE Intelligent Systems' "Top Ten AI Researchers to Watch" Yelp Dataset Challenge Winner Hidden Signals Challenge Runner-Up (DHS) Grants & Funding: He has received significant funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), including grants on fairness in AI (IIS-2040898), bias in urban analytics (IIS-1926470), and others. He also acknowledges support from UPMC, MacArthur Foundation, and Richard King Mellon Foundation. Laboratory & Leadership: He directs the Machine Learning for Good Laboratory (ML4G) at NYU, focusing on AI for social impact. He previously co-directed NYU's Urban Initiative (2019-2022) and led the Event and Pattern Detection Laboratory at Carnegie Mellon University.
Dr. Bo Liu is an Associate Professor in the School of Computer Science at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), where he serves as a core member and director of the AI Security and Privacy (AISP) Research Lab at the Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute (AAII). With expertise spanning cybersecurity, privacy protection, AI and machine learning, and wireless communications, Dr. Liu has established himself as a leading researcher in the field of AI security and privacy. Dr. Liu earned his PhD from the Department of Electronic Engineering at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2010. His academic journey at UTS has progressed from Senior Lecturer (November 2019-December 2022) to his current position as Associate Professor (January 2023-present). Dr. Liu's research focuses on the critical intersection of artificial intelligence and security, particularly addressing emerging threats in the age of advanced AI systems. His work spans multiple dimensions of security and privacy, including deepfake detection, privacy-preserving data synthesis, AI model security, and fair machine learning. He has pioneered approaches to detect AI-generated content, protect visual privacy through de-identification techniques, and address the complex relationship between algorithmic fairness and privacy preservation. His publication record demonstrates significant contributions across multiple cutting-edge research areas, with particular emphasis on detecting and mitigating threats from generative AI systems. His recent work reveals a strong focus on deepfake detection across multiple modalities (images, video, and audio), privacy-preserving techniques for sensitive data, and the security implications of emerging AI architectures like Retrieval-Augmented Generation systems. Dr. Liu has secured substantial research funding, including as Lead Chief Investigator on multiple ARC Discovery and Linkage Projects, totaling over $3.5 million AUD. His industry collaborations include partnerships with the NSW Department of Planning and the Reserve Bank of Australia, demonstrating the practical applicability of his research. As an academic leader, Dr. Liu serves as Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting and actively contributes to the academic community through conference organization, peer review for top-tier venues, and assessment for ARC grant schemes. He also teaches courses including Penetration Testing, Ethical Hacking and Offensive Security, and supervises Masters and PhD students in cybersecurity and privacy research.
Masayuki Goto is a Professor in the Department of Industrial Systems Engineering, School of Creative Science and Engineering at Waseda University, Japan, where he has served since 2011. He earned his Doctor of Engineering from Waseda University and leads research integrating statistical science, machine learning, information theory and management engineering to solve business-analytics, marketing, AI ethics and industrial optimisation problems. Education: Doctor of Engineering, Waseda University Research Interests: His work spans data science, machine learning, business analytics, statistical learning theory, generative AI, deep neural networks, natural language processing, network analysis and information theory, with recent emphasis on trustworthy AI and synthetic data generation. Publication Trends: Over 2024-2025 his group has published extensively on deep learning for tabular data, vision-language models, recommender systems, causal inference and ethical AI, demonstrating a shift toward generative-AI-driven business analytics and interpretable models. Scientific Awards: Best Paper Award, CIE51 2024 Outstanding Paper Award, APIEMS 2023 Best Paper Award, APIEMS 2022 Best Paper Award, 20th ANQ Congress 2022 2022 PC Conference Best Paper Award Best Paper Award, JASMIN 2021 Best Paper Award, 19th ANQ Congress 2021 Encouragement Award, AAMSA 2021 IDR User Forum 2020 Enterprise & DBSJ Special Awards Best Paper Award, APIEMS 2019 Best Paper Award, ANQ Congress 2018 World CIST'18 Best Paper Award Best Paper Award, ANQ Congress 2017 JSPS Grant Review Commendation 2016 JIMA Distinguished Research Award 2015 Best Paper Award, Journal of JIMA 2015 IPSJ National Convention Best Paper Awards (2015 & 2012) Advising & Grants: He has mentored a large cohort of graduate students evidenced by co-authorship on over 100 recent papers. He has served as PI on numerous JSPS KAKENHI grants and industry projects focused on data-driven management, AI marketing and ethical AI frameworks. Labs & Teams: He heads the Goto Laboratory within the Waseda Institute for Advanced Study, leading interdisciplinary projects on business AI, data-ethics education and industrial optimisation.
Hayato Yamana serves as Professor at Waseda University's Faculty of Science and Engineering and concurrently holds the position of Vice President for IT Promotion and Chief Information Officer since October 2020. His academic journey began with a Dr. Eng. degree from Waseda University in 1993, followed by positions at the Electrotechnical Laboratory of MITI, before joining Waseda University as Associate Professor in 2000 and becoming full Professor in 2005. He has held significant leadership roles including Director of the Database Society of Japan and the Information Processing Society of Japan, as well as Vice Chair of IEICE's Information and Communication Society. Waseda University, Faculty of Science and Engineering (2005-Present) National Institute of Informatics, Visiting Professor (2005-Present) Waseda University, Vice President for IT Promotion (2020-Present) Deputy Chief Information Officer (2015-2020) His research spans homomorphic encryption, big data analysis, and computer architecture, with notable contributions in privacy-preserving computation, recommender systems, and secure data processing. His work bridges theoretical cryptography with practical applications in smart cities, healthcare, and e-commerce security. Recent publications demonstrate strong focus on accelerating homomorphic encryption operations, improving recommendation system diversity, and developing novel authentication mechanisms. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals consistent emphasis on privacy-preserving technologies (particularly homomorphic encryption applications), innovative recommender system architectures, and biometric security solutions. His research group produces highly cited work at the intersection of cryptography, machine learning, and systems security, with practical implementations in real-world scenarios including smart grids, e-commerce, and healthcare. Fellow, Information Processing Society of Japan (IPSJ), 2020 Golden Core Award, IEEE Computer Society, 2018 Fellow, Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers (IEICE), 2018 IBM Faculty Award, 2009 Multiple Best Paper Awards from IEICE, IPSJ, and ITE Yamana has secured substantial research funding for projects in homomorphic encryption, smart city infrastructure, and privacy-preserving systems. His leadership extends to advising numerous doctoral students and directing major research initiatives including the Smart Systems and Services Innovative Professional Education Program. He maintains active collaborations with industry partners through projects involving secure computation and data analytics. His research group operates at the forefront of secure computing, with specialized laboratories focused on homomorphic encryption acceleration, privacy-preserving machine learning, and secure mobile authentication. The team actively develops practical implementations of cryptographic protocols for real-world applications in healthcare, finance, and smart city infrastructure, bridging theoretical cryptography with deployable security solutions.
Larry Abbott is the William Bloor Professor of Theoretical Neuroscience at Columbia University, with joint appointments in the Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics (within Biological Sciences) and the Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute. He serves as Co-Director of the Center for Theoretical Neuroscience and is a Senior Fellow at HHMI Janelia Farm. PhD in Physics (1977), Brandeis University His research focuses on computational and mathematical modeling of neurons and neural networks, emphasizing spike-timing-dependent plasticity, sensory encoding in olfaction, and dynamics of internally generated neural activity. He explores how chaotic neural activity is harnessed for motor output and how perception involves dynamic inference and synaptic plasticity. Recent publications highlight applications of recurrent neural networks, hierarchical control mechanisms, and sensory-motor integration. Collaborative work spans institutions like MIT, Hebrew University, and the Allen Institute for Brain Science. Awards include the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award and the Swartz Prize in Theoretical Neuroscience. NIH Director’s Pioneer Award (2004) Swartz Prize (2010) First Annual Prize in Mathematical Neuroscience (2013) Irving Institute Mentor of the Year (2013)
Muhammad Ali Gulzar is an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science Department at Virginia Tech and an Amazon Scholar at Amazon Web Services. His research focuses on improving developer productivity through automated debugging and testing for applications in emerging domains, including data-intensive software such as dataflow programs, ML/AI applications, and computational notebooks. Education Ph.D. in Computer Science from University of California, Los Angeles (Google Ph.D. Fellow 2017-2020) Research Interests Gulzar's research spans three primary areas: (1) automated tracking-code localization techniques in web applications, (2) re-engineering testing and debugging for data-intensive applications, and (3) advancing current testing and debugging practices in Federated Learning Applications. His work addresses the challenges of debugging in complex systems where traditional approaches fail due to the scale and distributed nature of modern applications. His research has significant implications for improving software quality, developer productivity, and accessibility in web applications. Research Trends Recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on debugging and testing challenges in emerging application domains. His work bridges traditional software engineering with machine learning, data-intensive systems, and web technologies. Notably, he has made significant contributions to Federated Learning debugging (FedDebug), accessibility challenges in ad-driven web applications, and semantic caching for Large Language Models. His approach often combines novel algorithmic insights with practical implementations that address real-world challenges in software development and maintenance. Scientific Awards Google Ph.D. Fellow (2017-2020) $1.1 million NSF award for Federated Learning research ACM CCS 2024 Distinguished Artifact Award Advising and Grants Gulzar leads a productive research group with multiple students contributing to publications in top-tier venues. His NSF-funded research on Federated Learning demonstrates his ability to secure competitive funding for innovative projects. His advising style appears to emphasize practical impact alongside theoretical contributions, with students often taking lead roles in publications. Current research directions include debugging techniques for Large Language Models, accessibility challenges in modern web applications, and novel testing approaches for distributed data processing systems.