Heike Stein is a CNRS Research Fellow at the Institute of Intelligent Systems and Robotics (ISIR), a joint unit of Sorbonne University and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), where she has worked since 2025. She holds a PhD from the University of Barcelona and completed postdoctoral training at École Normale Supérieure (ENS). Her research in computational neuroscience focuses on reverse-engineering brain function through data-driven modeling. Key areas include: Analyzing neuronal population dynamics underlying perception and cognition Developing machine learning methods for neural data interpretation Modeling animal behavior via video-tracking time-series analysis Creating theoretical frameworks for large-scale neuroscience datasets At ISIR, she contributes to interdisciplinary research in intelligent systems, leveraging collaborations to address challenges in systems neuroscience.
David Hanna is a Lecturer in Management at Ulster University Business School, based in the Department of Global Business & Enterprise at the Derry~Londonderry campus. His academic position focuses on sustainable business practices, entrepreneurship, and innovation within the context of the circular economy. Dr. Hanna's research interests center on sustainable business models, entrepreneurship, innovation, and the circular economy. He is particularly focused on helping SMEs transition to more sustainable business practices and has expertise in education for sustainable development. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications, aiming to create tangible impacts in business sustainability. As an alumnus of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's From Linear to Circular programme, he is a strong proponent of Doughnut Economics and circular economy principles. His recent publications demonstrate a multidisciplinary approach that spans business management, sustainability, technology adoption, and mental health applications. The research shows a clear trajectory toward applying technological solutions to sustainability challenges, particularly in the agri-food sector through his TRACE project. His work often involves cross-cultural and international collaboration, reflecting a global perspective on sustainable business practices. Best Journal Paper Award - ACM Transactions on Computing for Healthcare David Hanna serves as Principal Investigator for the €5.9 million PEACEPLUS-funded TRACE project (Technological Revolution towards an Agri-food Circular Economy), which is establishing a cross-border innovation hub to enhance sustainability and efficiency within the agri-food sector. He has over a decade of experience managing EU-funded research projects including those through INTERREG (Northern Periphery, Atlantic Area, and North West Europe), Horizon 2020, and the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund. He recently co-led the design and validation of the MSc in Sustainable Management program launched in September 2024. Through the TRACE project, Dr. Hanna is establishing a cross-border innovation hub focused on the agri-food industry, particularly on enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of Products of Animal Origin (POAO) supply chains using cutting-edge technologies. This initiative involves collaboration between institutions in both Northern Ireland and Ireland, demonstrating his commitment to cross-border research and innovation in sustainability.
Professor Greg Maguire serves as Professor of Animation at Belfast School of Art, Ulster University. His work bridges academic research and industry practice in animation and visual effects. His research interests focus on facial animation, 3D animation techniques, and AI applications in animation . Key areas include deep learning for audio-driven facial animation, spectral mesh processing, and the intersection of animation with literary adaptation. His work demonstrates strong industry relevance through collaborations with major studios. Professor Maguire's recent publications reveal trends toward AI integration in animation pipelines , with significant focus on facial animation systems and neural network applications. His work spans academic research (peer-reviewed articles) and industry practice (game development, visual effects). Professor Maguire actively promotes industry-academia collaboration through initiatives like Northern Ireland's animation cluster 'Toody Threedy' and partnerships with Northern Ireland Screen, Skillset, and US-based companies. His work includes developing flexible learning programs for animation professionals. He has established significant industry connections through work with Lucasfilm Animation, Industrial Light & Magic, and Walt Disney Feature Animation, contributing to major productions including Avatar and Harry Potter films.
Fabrice Lamarche serves as an Associate Professor at Université de Rennes 1 within the ESIR School of Engineering, while maintaining dual affiliation with the MimeTIC research team at IRISA / INRIA Rennes. His academic career spans uninterrupted service since 2004, evolving from Assistant Professor roles at IFSIC (2003-2009) to current positions at ESIR. As co-founder of Golaem (2009), he bridges academic research with commercial application in crowd simulation technology. His institutional journey includes sequential membership in SIAMES (2004-2006), Bunraku (2007-2011), and MimeTIC (2011-present) research teams at INRIA. Lamarche earned his PhD in Computer Sciences from Université de Rennes 1 in 2003 with thesis work on virtual human autonomy. His educational foundation includes a Master of Computer Sciences specializing in Computer Graphics and AI (1999-2000), a Master of Engineering from INSA de Rennes (1997-2000), and a Technical degree from IUT de Limoges (1995-1997). His research program centers on virtual human behavior modeling with emphasis on decision-making systems, path planning under environmental constraints, and crowd simulation architectures. Key innovations include TopoPlan for human-scale navigation and frameworks integrating high-level task scheduling with low-level motion planning. This work addresses fundamental challenges in creating autonomous virtual characters capable of navigating complex 3D environments while exhibiting realistic behaviors, with applications spanning virtual reality, gaming, and simulation-based training systems. Publication analysis reveals consistent output from 2001-2014, evolving from foundational behavioral animation (2001-2004) to sophisticated crowd simulation systems (2013-2014). A notable trajectory shows increasing integration of cognitive modeling with motion planning, alongside exploration of Brain-Computer Interfaces for virtual navigation. Recent work demonstrates particular strength in semantic decomposition of urban environments and time-space constrained task scheduling. His scientific contributions have earned significant recognition: Rennes city medal (2009) for research excellence Second prize at Deutsch Telekom Awards (FMX 2008) for TopoPlan/MKM integration As an active researcher and educator, Lamarche advises students through Université de Rennes 1 while leveraging INRIA resources and Golaem industry partnerships. His publication record indicates sustained grant funding, particularly through INRIA channels, with collaborative projects extending to neuroscience applications via Brain-Computer Interface research. The MimeTIC team affiliation provides infrastructure for multimodal interaction research in complex virtual environments. Lamarche's laboratory work through MimeTIC focuses on developing practical implementations of virtual human autonomy systems. His research group maintains strong industry connections via Golaem, which commercializes crowd simulation technology. Current efforts emphasize semantic understanding of virtual urban spaces and robust path planning under dynamic constraints, building on foundational work in topological navigation and behavioral decision systems.
Dr. Henry Melki serves as a Lecturer in Animation and VFX at the Belfast School of Art, Ulster University, where he co-directs the undergraduate animation course. With extensive industry experience working with studios across Qatar, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Beirut on graphic design and 3D modeling projects for television and advertising, he brings practical expertise to his academic role. His office is located in Room BA-03-020 at 2-24 York Street, Belfast campus. Henry completed his PhD in 2019 with research developing models to enhance creative processes in generating believable characters for film and VFX. His academic journey progressed from lecturing at the University of Balamand to his current position at Ulster University, reflecting a deepening commitment to animation education and research. His research focuses on character design and development, 3D modeling techniques, photorealism, virtual production, and visual effects, with particular interest in how perception theory and aesthetic principles influence character believability. His work bridges technical innovation with creative practice, exploring how digital tools can enhance artistic expression while maintaining authenticity. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trajectory toward applied research in virtual production pipelines, particularly for theater applications, and digital heritage projects. His work increasingly integrates high-performance computing, digital twins, and real-time rendering technologies with creative practice, demonstrating a commitment to interdisciplinary research that connects digital arts with environmental and cultural concerns. Best Poster Award (May 2018) Henry actively contributes to curriculum development in animation and supervises student projects. He participates in significant research initiatives including the AHRC-funded Green Transition Ecosystem: Future Island-Island project and leads the EPSRC-funded Development and Full Integration of VP Pipelines Adapted for Theatre Affordances. His grant portfolio demonstrates successful collaboration across arts, humanities, and technology disciplines. He maintains strong community connections through outreach initiatives like 3D Dojo, which teaches computer animation basics, and Toody Threedy, a local animation community group. His recent workshop on IAA Maritime Trail 3D Scanning demonstrates his commitment to sharing digital skills with broader audiences beyond the university setting.
Sabrina Minter serves as a Lecturer in Games Design at Ulster University's Belfast School of Art, teaching across multiple programs including BDES Games Design, MA Games Design, and BA Animation courses. She holds a BA in Interactive Media Arts (1st class), an MA in Computer Games Development Art (Distinction), and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice. Her research focuses on integrating industry-standard expertise into academic work, particularly exploring how video game technologies can enhance traditional narrative practices. With a special interest in dark and supernatural themes, she investigates how technology can deepen narrative and audience engagement through cross-disciplinary collaboration in interactive media. Minter's recent publications reveal a consistent focus on folklore, witches, and immersive storytelling, with notable projects like 'The Islandmagee Witches Hub' and 'Baba Yaga: Immersive Story Experience' demonstrating her expertise in blending historical narratives with game technologies. Her work often intersects with Irish cultural heritage, creating innovative approaches to storytelling that bridge academic research and industry practice. She actively supervises research and has established high standards for critical literature reviews among students. Her teaching encompasses both technical game workflows and theoretical foundations of game design. Minter contributes to the CoStar Network Lab and has secured funding through Arts and Humanities Research Council projects including 'IAA - Unlocking a Commercialization Strategy for a New Serious Video Game' and 'IAA - Dark Arts & Difficult Heritage'. She also serves as a Game Studio Director in Northern Ireland's local games industry, maintaining strong connections between academic and professional spheres.
Daryl Randall is a Lecturer in Games Design at the Belfast School of Art, Ulster University, actively contributing to immersive storytelling and virtual production research. Based at the Belfast campus (2-24 York Street, BT15 1AP), he collaborates across engineering and arts disciplines through EPSRC-funded projects exploring real-time virtual environments for theatrical applications. His research centers on Games Design, Immersive Storytelling, and Virtual Production, with specialized focus on dome projection systems and narrative methods. Randall's work bridges digital arts and theatre, creating interactive experiences that utilize realtime animation and virtual reality to transform audience engagement in storytelling, particularly through collaborative installations. Analysis of his two major installations (2022-2023) reveals a consistent trend in developing immersive narrative frameworks using dome projection technology. These projects demonstrate cross-disciplinary integration of game design principles with theatrical production, emphasizing real-time interaction systems and virtual storytelling techniques that push boundaries in digital arts. Randall serves as Co-Investigator on significant research grants including the EPSRC-funded "Development and Full Integration of VP Pipelines Adapted for Theatre Affordances" and the "XRNetwork+: Virtual Production in the Digital Economy" project. His collaborations span computer science, engineering, and arts departments, focusing on virtual production pipelines for theatre innovation. He actively participates in academic discourse through invited talks (including Future Tuesdays 2025), conference presentations at Irish Screen Studies Seminar 2024, and live testing of virtual production techniques. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals in quality education and industry innovation, with media coverage of children's immersive storytelling initiatives.
Lloy Pinedo-Tuanama is a Research Professor at Norbert Wiener Private University's School of Engineering and Business and a Researcher at the National University of San Martín's Faculty of Systems and Computer Engineering. He serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Systems and Computer Science and coordinates the Business Digital Transformation Research Group and Smart Business Research Seedbed. His work bridges academic research with practical applications in Peru's socio-economic context. Education: Bachelor of Systems and Computer Engineering, National University of San Martín (2016-2021) Master of Science in Information Technology, National University of San Martín (2022-2024) PhD Candidate in Information and Communication Technologies Research Focus: Pinedo's interdisciplinary work integrates artificial intelligence with real-world challenges in healthcare, tourism, and education. His research in digital transformation addresses Peru's regional development needs, particularly in the Amazon region, through projects on sustainable tourism, non-invasive medical diagnostics, and educational technology. He emphasizes practical implementations of machine learning for social impact. Publication Trends: Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal a strategic focus on applied AI solutions: 40% in healthcare (anemia detection, hypertension management), 35% in tourism (visitor profiling, sustainable practices), and 25% in education systems. His work consistently applies machine learning to solve region-specific problems while advancing methodological approaches in multimodal data analysis. Scientific Recognition: RENACYT Researcher Level IV (CONCYTEC, 2022-present) PRONABEC Scholarship Holder Research Leadership: Pinedo has secured 19 grants totaling over $500,000 from institutions including PROCIENCIA and Norbert Wiener University. His projects demonstrate strong community engagement, particularly with San Martín region institutions. Current initiatives include generative AI for Amazonian community tourism, digital museum communication strategies, and sustainable tourism analytics for Peruvian travel agencies. Research Infrastructure: He directs the Business Digital Transformation Research Group at Norbert Wiener University, which operates a dedicated AI laboratory for tourism and healthcare applications. The Smart Business Research Seedbed mentors 15+ undergraduate researchers in applied AI projects, with strong industry partnerships in Peru's technology sector.
