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 .
Liang Zhao, PhD, MAS, MBA, is a Professor in the Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences within the Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Prior to joining UCSF, he served as director of the Division of Quantitative Methods and Modeling (DQMM) in the Office of Research and Standards in the Office of Generic Drugs in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 2015 to 2024. His professional career spans over 19 years with experience at Pharsight, Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), MedImmune, and the FDA. Dr. Zhao's research focuses on pharmacometrics, drug delivery modeling, and artificial intelligence-based tools that impact drug development and regulatory decision-making. His work encompasses mechanistic models for brain drug delivery, regulatory science modeling and simulation, AI-driven drug discovery and development, drug interactions, biological availability, generic drugs, clinical pharmacology, therapeutic equivalency, computer simulation, and FDA regulatory processes. He has pioneered innovative approaches including model master files for model sharing and model-integrated evidence for generic product development and approval. His research integrates machine learning tools into pharmacometrics to advance drug delivery and bioequivalence assessment methodologies. Dr. Zhao has published over 120 articles and book chapters in prestigious journals. His recent publications demonstrate strong focus on applying advanced modeling techniques, machine learning algorithms, and pharmacometric approaches to solve complex problems in drug development and regulatory science. His work shows consistent innovation in developing quantitative methods to enhance bioequivalence assessment, improve drug product characterization, and support regulatory decision-making for generic drugs. FDA Group Recognition Award, FDA, 2024 Gary Neil Prize for Innovation in Drug Development, American Society for Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (ASCPT), 2023 Commissioner's Special Citation, FDA, 2021 Humanitarian Award, Victims' Rights Foundation, 2020 30+ FDA CDER team and Individual Awards, CDER, FDA, 2011 Academic Award for Executive MBA Class 2009, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, 2011 Dr. Zhao leads the Zhao Lab at UCSF, which advances drug development and regulatory science through cutting-edge research in pharmacometrics, drug delivery modeling, and artificial intelligence. His work bridges academic research with regulatory applications, demonstrating leadership in translating scientific innovations into practical regulatory frameworks. His experience across industry, regulatory agencies, and academia provides a unique perspective on drug development challenges and opportunities.
Santiago F. González is a Group Leader at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) in Bellinzona, Switzerland, and an extraordinary professor at the University of Italian Switzerland (USI). He earned dual PhDs in microbiology (University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain) and immunology (University of Copenhagen, Denmark), followed by postdoctoral work (2007–2011) at Harvard Medical School's Immune Disease Institute under Michael Carroll. PhD in Microbiology, University of Santiago de Compostela PhD in Immunology, University of Copenhagen His research focuses on immune system dynamics during respiratory viral infections, vaccination, and cancer metastasis. Key areas include influenza recognition , lymph node inflammation , and immune cell behavior in vivo. He pioneered studies on C-type lectin receptors (e.g., SIGN-R1) in viral immunity and epigenetic modulators for inflammation. Recent publications highlight his work in epigenetic drug development , nanovaccines , and computational tools for immune cell tracking. His group uses two-photon intravital microscopy and spatial-temporal modeling to dissect immune responses. Scientific awards include three EU Marie Curie Fellowships (2004–2013), enabling his transition to independent research. His collaborations span Harvard, USI, and European institutions, with grants from the EU and Swiss research bodies. His lab at IRB, established via the 2013 Marie Curie Career Integration Grant , develops novel imaging approaches and therapeutic strategies for infectious and immune-mediated diseases.
Rina Foygel Barber is the Louis Block Professor in the Department of Statistics at the University of Chicago, where she also serves as Co-chair of the Committee on Community, Diversity, and Inclusion (CCDI) and is a member of the Committee on Computational and Applied Mathematics (CCAM). Her educational background includes: PhD in Statistics, University of Chicago (2012), advised by Mathias Drton and Nati Srebro MS in Mathematics, University of Chicago (2009) ScB in Mathematics, Brown University (2005) NSF postdoctoral fellow, Stanford University Department of Statistics (2012-13), supervised by Emmanuel Candès Professor Barber's research focuses on the theoretical foundations of statistical problems in estimation, prediction, and inference, particularly in high-dimensional settings where classical methods may not be reliable. She specializes in distribution-free inference methods such as conformal prediction, multiple testing methods, algorithmic stability, and shape-constrained inference. Her work also extends to modeling and optimization problems in medical imaging reconstruction. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on distribution-free inference, with particular emphasis on conformal prediction, false discovery rate control, and algorithmic stability. Her work bridges theoretical statistics with practical applications, especially in the medical imaging domain. Professor Barber has received numerous prestigious awards: Elected to National Academy of Sciences (2025) MacArthur Fellowship (2023) IMS Fellow (2023) COPSS Presidents' Award (2020) Peter Gavin Hall Early Career Prize (2020) She actively mentors students and collaborators, with many co-authored publications across statistics, machine learning, and medical imaging. Her research has been supported by significant grants that enable her work on theoretical foundations of statistical inference and practical applications in medical imaging. Professor Barber also co-organizes the International Seminar on Selective Inference. Her research group focuses on developing and analyzing estimation, inference, and optimization tools for structured high-dimensional data problems. They work on false discovery rate control, distribution-free inference, and applications in medical imaging reconstruction.
Ashley M R Montanaro is a Professor of Quantum Computation at the School of Mathematics, University of Bristol . Active in quantum computing research since at least 2014, they lead projects at the intersection of quantum algorithms , computational complexity , and quantum information theory , affiliated with the Bristol Quantum Information Institute. Research interests focus on quantum algorithm design , computational complexity analysis , and quantum simulation . Key work includes developing variational quantum algorithms for phase transition detection, Hamiltonian simulation techniques, and quantum-classical hybrid methods for solving complex problems in physics and optimization. Recent publications demonstrate expertise in: Quantum phase diagram simulation with low-depth circuits Quantum speedups for constraint satisfaction problems Quantum communication complexity of machine learning tasks Quantum-enhanced optimization heuristics Hamiltonian simulation with time-dependent product formulas Quantum algorithm complexity analysis Scientific awards include: EPSRC Fellowship (2014-2019) - "New insights in quantum algorithms and complexity" Active in quantum software development through projects like: "Quantum Algorithms from Foundations to Applications" (ERC-2018-COG) "Quantum Computing and Simulation Hub" (2019-2024) "Prosperity Partnership in Quantum Software" (2019-2023)
Olof Runborg is a Professor in Numerical Analysis at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, Sweden. He works in the Division of Numerical Analysis, Optimization and Systems Theory within the Department of Mathematics at KTH. His research focuses on developing and analyzing numerical methods for partial differential equations, particularly for wave propagation problems. His educational background includes: MSc in Electrical Engineering from KTH (1992) BSc in Economics & Business Administration from SSE (1994) PhD in Numerical Analysis/Applied Mathematics from KTH (1998) Postdoc at Paris VI University (1999) Postdoc at Princeton University's Program in Applied and Computational Mathematics (2000-2001) Became Docent at NADA in 2003 Appointed Professor at KTH in 2010 Professor Runborg's research centers on the numerical treatment of partial differential equations, with special emphasis on wave propagation problems. His work spans multiple areas including high-frequency waves, multiscale phenomena, numerical homogenization, uncertainty quantification, multiresolution analysis, Gaussian beams, and mesh generation. A recurring theme in his research is developing methods to solve computationally expensive problems more efficiently while maintaining accuracy. His approach often involves coupling different numerical methods or reformulating equations to create more efficient computational approaches. His research has applications across physics and engineering domains where wave phenomena are important. An analysis of his recent publications (2015-2025) shows continued focus on high-frequency wave propagation with expanding applications to areas like the Landau-Lifshitz equation for magnetic materials and elastic wave propagation. His work bridges theoretical numerical analysis with practical computational techniques, often developing novel methods like the WaveHoltz iteration for solving the Helmholtz equation. The publications demonstrate increasing attention to uncertainty quantification and multiscale methods while maintaining strong theoretical foundations in error analysis. Professor Runborg teaches several courses at KTH including Numerical Methods (basic course), Applied Numerical Methods, Numerical Algorithms for Data-Intensive Science, and Selected Topics in Numerical Analysis II. He serves as examiner for degree projects in Scientific Computing. His teaching reflects his research expertise in numerical methods and computational mathematics, providing students with both theoretical foundations and practical implementation skills. Beyond his core research, Professor Runborg has engaged in interesting side projects, such as his analysis of 'Numbers on the Web' where he investigated the frequency of numbers 11-1000 in web content, revealing patterns related to dates, time, computer systems, and cultural phenomena. This demonstrates his broader interest in data analysis and computational approaches to understanding patterns in information.
Sara Zahedi is a Professor of Numerical Analysis at the Department of Mathematics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, working within the Division of Numerical Analysis, Optimization and Systems Theory. She serves as an Associate Editor for the SIAM Journal on Numerical Analysis and contributes to the SCI Faculty Board to enhance collaboration and transparency in academic decision-making. Her educational background includes a doctorate from KTH on numerical methods for fluid interface problems followed by a postdoctoral position at Uppsala University. Doctorate: KTH Royal Institute of Technology Postdoctoral Position: Uppsala University Zahedi's research bridges mathematical theory and practical applications, focusing on computational methods for partial differential equations in evolving domains. She pioneers Cut Finite Element Methods (CutFEM) to eliminate re-meshing requirements in multiphase flow simulations, ensuring accuracy and robustness when interfaces separate immiscible fluids. Her work specifically targets challenges in large deformations and time-dependent geometries. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a concentrated research trajectory in advancing CutFEM for diverse applications including Stokes flow, Darcy flow, Maxwell's equations, and hyperbolic conservation laws. Key trends include high-order conservative schemes, divergence preservation, stabilization techniques for unfitted meshes, and extensions to surface PDEs and multi-physics problems. Her scientific recognition includes: European Mathematical Society Prize (2016) for outstanding contributions by young researchers Wallenberg Fellowship (2019) with extension granted in 2024 Zahedi serves as examiner for Degree Projects in Scientific Computing (SF250X, SF259X) and course responsible for Engineering Mathematics projects (SA120X). Her Wallenberg Fellowship provides substantial research funding supporting her work on numerical algorithm development. While specific lab structures aren't detailed, her research operates within KTH's Division of Numerical Analysis, emphasizing collaborative development of simulation tools for industrial and scientific applications. Her current research focuses on extending CutFEM to complex multi-physics scenarios with emphasis on conservation properties and computational efficiency, with potential applications in aerospace, biomedical engineering, and environmental modeling.
Dana Pe'er is a Professor and Chair of the Computational and Systems Biology Program at the Sloan Kettering Institute (SKI) of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She is also an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and holds the Alan and Sandra Gerry Endowed Chair. Dr. Pe'er leads an interdisciplinary research group that combines advanced genomics approaches with machine learning to address fundamental questions in biomedical science, with particular focus on cancer biology, developmental biology, and immunology. Dr. Pe'er earned her PhD from Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel. Her academic journey includes a postdoctoral fellowship with George Church at Harvard Medical School. Before joining Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in 2016, she held faculty positions at Columbia University. Dr. Pe'er's research focuses on understanding cellular plasticity, the consequences of intra-tumor heterogeneity, cancer evolution and metastasis, and the mechanisms by which regulatory circuits go awry in disease. Her lab combines single-cell and spatial profiling technologies with machine learning approaches to investigate gene regulation, cellular plasticity, and cell-cell communication in the contexts of cancer, immunity, and development. They are particularly interested in how organisms develop from a single cell to generate diverse cell types, how epigenetic control rewires during development, and how cells communicate to execute multicellular responses. Analysis of Dr. Pe'er's recent publications reveals a strong focus on developing computational methods for single-cell and spatial genomics data analysis. Her work spans cancer types including pancreatic, prostate, colorectal, and breast cancer, with emphasis on tumor heterogeneity, metastasis mechanisms, and cellular plasticity. A significant portion of her research involves creating novel algorithms and tools like CellRank, REUNION, and SEACells that enable researchers to extract meaningful biological insights from complex genomic datasets. 2023 Class of 2023 Inductee - American Academy of Cancer Research (AACR) Academy 2023 Innovator Award - International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) 2021 Fellow - International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator (2021) 2019 Ernst W. Bertner Memorial Award - University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center 2016 Lenfest Distinguished Faculty Award - Columbia University 2014 Director's Pioneer Award - National Institutes of Health 2014 Overton Prize - International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) Dr. Pe'er is known for her dedicated mentorship approach, describing herself as "a mama bear" who cares deeply about her trainees while expecting independence, innovation, and hard work. She mentors numerous PhD students and postdocs in her lab. Her HHMI Investigator award provides approximately $9 million over seven years, enabling ambitious research directions. She also collaborates extensively with the Single-cell Analytics and Innovation Lab (SAIL) at MSK to generate new data from emerging technologies, working closely with wet-lab collaborators at MSK and beyond to apply computational methods to cutting-edge datasets across multiple disease areas. The Pe'er Lab is an interdisciplinary group of computational biologists with diverse backgrounds ranging from pure mathematics to clinical medicine. They work closely with wet-lab collaborators to apply their computational methods to cutting-edge datasets across cancer, immunology, and developmental biology. The lab is described as open, supportive, collaborative, and fun, with access to world-class facilities at the Sloan Kettering Institute. Dr. Pe'er's work continues to push the boundaries of computational biology and cancer research, with the ultimate goal of developing more effective, personalized therapies for cancer patients.
Golnoosh Farnadi is an Assistant Professor at McGill University's School of Computer Science and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Montréal. She serves as a Visiting Faculty Researcher at Google, a Core Academic Member at MILA (Quebec Institute for Learning Algorithms), and holds a prestigious Canada CIFAR AI Chair. Farnadi co-directs McGill's Collaborative for AI & Society (McCAIS) and founded the EQUAL Lab (EQuity & EQuality Using AI and Learning algorithms), which focuses on advancing algorithmic fairness and responsible AI. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Computer Science from KU Leuven and Ghent University (2017), with postdoctoral research at the University of Montreal/MILA (2018-2020) and the University of California, Santa Cruz (2017-2018). During her doctoral studies, she was a visiting scholar at UCLA, University of Washington, Tsinghua University, and Microsoft Research. Dr. Farnadi's research centers on developing mathematical tools and algorithms for fairness-aware machine learning systems. Her work addresses bias and discrimination in AI decision-making across critical domains including healthcare, criminal justice, financial services, and social media. She has pioneered approaches to ensure fairness in deep learning models, particularly in sequential decision-making under uncertainty. Her research bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, examining how AI systems can be designed to promote equity while maintaining performance. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on practical implementations of fairness mechanisms across diverse AI applications. Her work spans technical domains from generative models and large language models to recommender systems and healthcare optimization. A unifying theme is the development of mathematically rigorous frameworks that balance performance with fairness considerations, with increasing attention to cultural diversity in multilingual AI systems and privacy-preserving fairness approaches. Google Scholar Award (2021) Facebook Research Award (2021) Rising Stars in AI Ethics (2021) Google Award for Inclusion Research (2023) WAI Responsible AI Leader of the Year Finalist (2023) 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics (2023) Canada CIFAR AI Chair Dr. Farnadi advises numerous doctoral and master's students across McGill University, University of Montréal, and MILA, with research focusing on fairness, privacy, and responsible AI. Her EQUAL Lab brings together researchers from computer science, social sciences, and policy domains to address systemic challenges in AI ethics. She has secured significant research funding from Google and other major organizations to support her work on fairness-aware AI systems, with applications spanning healthcare, social media safety, and public policy. The EQUAL Lab serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research on algorithmic fairness, bringing together computer scientists, social scientists, and policy experts. The lab's work spans theoretical foundations of fairness metrics, practical implementations in real-world systems, and policy recommendations for responsible AI deployment. Current projects include developing frameworks for fair kidney exchange programs, mitigating cultural stereotypes in multilingual language models, and creating privacy-preserving approaches for detecting online harms while protecting user data.
Lee Miller is a Professor in the Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior at the University of California, Davis, College of Biological Sciences. His research integrates neural engineering, physiology, and computational methods to develop communication restoration technologies and investigate sensory processing mechanisms. His primary research interests include neural engineering for speech neuroprosthetics, electrophysiological analysis of speech production, auditory neuroscience, and geometric approaches to neuromuscular signal decoding. He employs surface electromyography (EMG), electroencephalography (EEG), and computational modeling to study brain-machine interfaces for speech restoration and multisensory integration. Recent publications reveal a dominant focus on EMG-based speech neuroprostheses, with geometric and topological analysis of neuromuscular signals emerging as a key methodology. His lab has pioneered non-invasive approaches to speech articulation decoding, created standardized EMG databases, and investigated neural mechanisms of attention in speech-in-noise processing. This work bridges engineering innovation with fundamental neuroscience to address communication disorders. Professor Miller leads the Miller Lab at UC Davis, which specializes in neural engineering for communication restoration. The lab develops real-time speech synthesis systems from neural signals and investigates the physiological basis of speech production and perception using multimodal recording techniques.
Jan Skaloud serves as an Adjunct Professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), affiliated with the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC). He holds positions across multiple departments including SSIE (Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics), EDCE (Doctoral Program in Environmental Sciences and Engineering), and leads the Earth Sensing and Observation (ESO) Lab. His office is located at GC C2 397 in the EPFL campus in Lausanne, Switzerland. Dr. Skaloud's research expertise spans satellite positioning, inertial and integrated navigation systems, sensor orientation and calibration, attitude determination, mobile mapping, airborne laser scanning, and Kalman filtering techniques. His work bridges theoretical development with practical applications in UAV navigation, photogrammetry, and remote sensing. He teaches across three EPFL sections and two faculties, demonstrating his interdisciplinary approach to education. His publication record shows consistent contributions to the field, with recent work (2023-2025) focusing on vehicle dynamic model-based navigation for various UAV platforms, including delta-wing and fixed-wing drones. His research demonstrates a clear trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated navigation systems that integrate aerodynamic modeling with traditional sensor fusion approaches. This trend reflects the growing importance of model-based navigation in achieving higher precision and autonomy in UAV operations. 2021: Samuel Gamble Award for career contribution in photogrammetry & sensing (ISPRS) 2020: U.V. Helava Award for best paper in ISPRS Journal (2016-2019) 2017: Best Demo Award at IEEE International Workshop on Metrology & Aerospace 2014: Hansa Luftbild Award for best paper in PFG journal 2012: Karl Kraus Medal for best textbook in Photogrammetry 2009: GNSS Leader to Watch Innovation Award (GPS World) Dr. Skaloud has supervised numerous PhD students whose work focuses on advanced navigation systems, sensor calibration, and UAV applications. His research has received funding for projects involving direct georeferencing, mobile mapping systems, and UAV-based search and rescue operations. The ESO lab he directs serves as a hub for cutting-edge research in Earth observation technologies. The Earth Sensing and Observation Lab under Dr. Skaloud's direction brings together researchers working on navigation systems, sensor integration, and data processing techniques for geospatial applications. The lab maintains strong connections with industry partners and international research organizations, facilitating technology transfer and collaborative research projects.
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Rebstock is a former full professor of Islamic Studies at the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, holding the position from 1993 to 2017. He specializes in Islamic history, Arabic studies, and African Islamic contexts, with a focus on Mauritania and North African intellectual traditions. His work bridges historical documentation, manuscript studies, and the analysis of administrative and legal practices in Islamic societies. Rebstock earned his doctorate in 1983 on Ibadi movements in the Maghrib and completed his habilitation in 1990 on computational practices in the Islamic Orient. Research interests include Islam in Africa, usul al-fiqh (Islamic legal theory), and Arabic mathematical history. He has led major projects such as the publication of the Mauritanian historical encyclopedia Kitāb Ḥayāt mūrītāniyā and the Moorish Literary History series. Current projects involve developing a collaborative web-based system for annotating Arabic texts to create complex indices. Key contributions include critical editions of historical manuscripts, studies on Moorish legal opinions, and analyses of reformist movements in Sudan. His work often emphasizes the intersection of textual analysis with socio-political contexts in Muslim-majority regions.
Professor Alessandra Russo leads the Structured and Probabilistic Knowledge Engineering (SPIKE) research group at Imperial College London's Department of Computing. With expertise spanning computational logic, symbolic machine learning, and neuro-symbolic AI, she develops foundational AI techniques applied to security, network management, healthcare, and adaptive systems. Professor Russo holds a PhD in Computing from Imperial College London and an MSc in Computer Science from Ionian University. Her research pioneers logic-based learning systems for intelligent adaptive technologies, with projects including declarative networking for security management, privacy-preserving federated learning, and hybrid neuro-symbolic approaches for robust reasoning. Her current work focuses on developing interpretable AI systems through neuro-symbolic integration, creating frameworks that combine neural networks with symbolic reasoning for explainable decision-making. Recent publications explore rule learning from knowledge graphs, transformer-based world models, and formal methods for representation learning. Professor Russo teaches courses on Logic-Based Learning and AI Applications, and has received the Google PhD Fellowship for her research contributions. She mentors numerous PhD students in areas spanning theoretical foundations and practical applications of computational logic and machine learning.
Peter Doerschuk is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Cornell University's College of Engineering. He joined Cornell in July 2006 after serving on the faculty at Purdue University in both Electrical and Computer Engineering and Biomedical Engineering. His educational background includes: B.S. in Electrical Engineering, MIT (1977) M.S. in Electrical Engineering, MIT (1979) Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, MIT (1985) M.D., Harvard Medical School (1987) Peter Doerschuk's research focuses on biological and medical systems through the lens of computational nonlinear stochastic systems. His work spans biomedical imaging , signal and image processing , statistical modeling , and computational inverse problems in biophysics . He develops high-performance algorithms and software systems that integrate accurate physical models with computational efficiency. His research addresses problems across multiple spatial scales—from 3D virus reconstruction using electron microscopy to modeling whole-body ethanol pharmacokinetics. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in computational biomedical imaging and physiological modeling . Key areas include 3D reconstruction of heterogeneous biological structures, cryo-EM dynamics analysis, and physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling. The work consistently combines advanced statistical and machine learning methods with domain-specific physical models, particularly in virology and neurovascular physiology. His scientific awards and honors include: Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) University Faculty Scholar, Purdue University Motorola Excellence in Teaching Award Ernst A. Guillemin Thesis Prize (MIT) Department of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Service Award (Purdue) Dr. Doerschuk has advised graduate students, including Keyuan Xu, whose M.Eng. thesis at MIT received the prestigious Ernst A. Guillemin Thesis Prize. His research has been supported through academic grants and collaborations with institutions such as The Scripps Research Institute and Indiana University School of Medicine. He has developed parallel software systems for high-performance computing applications in biophysics and biomedical signal processing. His research has involved collaboration with multiple labs and teams, including work with Professor J. E. Johnson at The Scripps Research Institute on virus structure determination and with Professor S. J. O’Connor at Indiana University on ethanol pharmacokinetics modeling. These interdisciplinary teams integrate expertise in engineering, medicine, and computational science to solve complex biomedical problems.
Faez Ahmed is an Associate Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he serves as the Doherty Chair in Ocean Utilization. He leads the Design Computation and Digital Engineering (DeCoDE) Lab, focusing on integrating machine learning and optimization with engineering design to enhance human-AI collaboration and accelerate design processes. Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland College Park (2019) B.Tech.-M.Tech., Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (2012) His research interests include generative design methodologies, AI-driven optimization techniques, and the development of algorithms that facilitate collaboration between human designers and artificial intelligence systems. This interdisciplinary work spans applications in automotive design , ship hull synthesis , and wind turbine optimization , with a strong emphasis on creating open-source tools and datasets for the engineering community. Recent publications demonstrate his lab's leadership in fields such as 3D CAD generation , multimodal design datasets , and constraint-aware generative models . These works often address challenges in design space exploration , performance prediction , and data-driven design frameworks . Scientific Awards NSF CAREER Award (2025) ASME Young Investigator Award (2024) Google Research Scholar Award (2024) 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award (2022) University of Maryland Alumni Research Award (2022) Faez Ahmed's lab has trained numerous Ph.D. candidates and postdoctoral researchers, fostering a collaborative research environment that bridges mechanical engineering , artificial intelligence , and computational methods . The DeCoDE Lab actively engages with industry partners and academic institutions, contributing to large-scale datasets and benchmarks that power the next generation of engineering design research.
