Mario Romero is an Associate Professor in Visualization at the Department of Computational Science and Technology (CST), KTH Royal Institute of Technology. He leads the InfraVis national research infrastructure for data visualization and is a Digital Futures Faculty member. His roles include national technical manager of InfraVis, member of the Executive Committee of Digital Futures, and Associate Director for Seminars & Workshops. Education: PhD in Computer Science (Georgia Tech, 2009), MSc in Computer Science (UIUC, 2001), and dual BSc degrees in Industrial Engineering and Construction Engineering (Universidad San Francisco de Quito, 1996). He is a Fulbright Scholar from Ecuador and holds postdoctoral experience at Uppsala University. Research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction, Visualization, and Ubiquitous Computing. Key projects include: TENT: Technology-Enhanced Neurosurgical Training VisBac: Visualizing airborne bacteria in ORs PSP: Platform for Smart People (autism support) SMART: Predictive maintenance in pharmaceuticals Homo Colossus: Energy footprint visualization Awards: Selected for IVA's 100 research2business projects (2021). Co-founded BrailleTouch (blind-friendly keyboard) and Anymaker (3D sketching app). Supervised students in C-Awards-winning projects (e.g., Yue Liu's thesis defense in 2024). Teaching: Responsible for courses like Information Visualization (DH2321) and Advanced Graphics & Interaction (DH2413). Active in organizing conferences (e.g., Eurographics 2020 Education Track Chair).
Patrick C. Shih is an Associate Professor of Informatics in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering at Indiana University Bloomington, where he also serves as the Director of Graduate Studies for Data Science and Co-Director of the Animal Informatics MS and PhD track. He directs the Societal Computing Lab (SoCo Lab) and is a core faculty member of the Health Informatics PhD track. Dr. Shih's research focuses on how to better support health and wellbeing, specifically that of underserved and vulnerable populations, through the design, development, and evaluation of sociotechnical systems and community-based mechanisms. His work also designs technologies to amplify human and animal capabilities in animal-assisted interventions, improve animal welfare, and cultivate empathy for others. His research spans human-computer interaction, social media, collective intelligence, crowdsourcing, and online and geographic communities, with a particular emphasis on leveraging awareness of individual and community activities embedded in social media for civic engagement platforms. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward health equity research, particularly focused on African American/Black communities, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, breast cancer survivorship, and autism spectrum disorder. His work increasingly integrates generative AI, mobile health applications, and community-based participatory design approaches to address health disparities in vulnerable populations. ACM Senior Member (2020) NSF CAREER Award recipient Indiana University Trustees Teaching Award (2018-19) IU Groups Scholars Program STEM Mentor of the Year (2018-19) Multiple best paper awards at top-tier conferences Dr. Shih has successfully secured significant funding for his research, including a $3.7 million award to investigate inequities in environmental stressors and cognitive decline in urban and rural older adults. He serves on numerous editorial boards and program committees for leading HCI and computing conferences. His teaching portfolio includes courses on usable AI, mobile and pervasive design, and social computing. He leads the Societal Computing Lab, which focuses on developing technologies that address societal challenges through community engagement and participatory design.
James Lawler is a Professor in the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems at Pace University, focusing on Information Technology. He has dedicated his career to advancing Disability Studies and STEM technologies for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities (IDD), while also contributing to e-Business strategies and social entrepreneurship. His work bridges technology and inclusivity, with a strong emphasis on community engagement and equity. Education: DPS, School of Computer Science and Information Systems, Pace University (2002) MBA, Graduate School of Business, Pace University (1974) BBA, Business Administration, Saint Francis College (1971) APC in Computer Applications (Audited), New York University (1979) Research Focus: Professor Lawler's research spans Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technologies, service-oriented architecture, and web services. He has pioneered initiatives for neurodiverse students in STEM, developed multisensory environments using virtual reality, and created programs like the Disability Film Festival to promote inclusion. His work often involves partnerships with AHRC New York City and other organizations. Awards: National Jefferson Award for Community Service (2024) Pace University Golden Graduates Reunion 50th Year of Service (2024) SEINFORMS Certificate of Recognition (2021) ISECON Meritorious Paper Award (2013) Grants & Professional Contributions: He has secured multiple grants for projects like the Disability Film Festival, robotics for elderly people with disabilities, and mobile app development for food waste reduction. His professional service includes roles with AHRC NYC, IEEE Education Society, and editorial boards for academic journals. He also teaches courses on design thinking, information systems, and e-commerce strategies.
Dr. Yu Huang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Vanderbilt University's School of Engineering, with a secondary appointment in the Department of Teaching and Learning at the Peabody School of Education. She is affiliated with the Institute for Software Integrated Systems, the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, the Vanderbilt Lab for Immersive AI Translation (VALIANT), and the Vanderbilt LIVE Learning Innovation Incubator. Her academic journey began with a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Harbin Institute of Technology in China (2011), followed by an MS in Computer Engineering from the University of Virginia (2015), and culminated with a PhD in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2021 under Professor Westley Weimer. Dr. Huang's research bridges human cognition and machine intelligence to enhance software development. Her work spans software, hardware, AI, medical imaging (fMRI/fNIRS), eye tracking, and mobile sensing through collaborations with Security, Education, Psychology, and Neuroscience researchers. She leads the MIND Lab (Mixed INtelligence Development for programming lab), investigating programming expertise formation, code comprehension processes, cognitive error patterns, and diversity in programming communities. Her innovative approach combines empirical human studies with AI model development to create more effective programming tools. Her recent publications reveal a growing emphasis on leveraging human attention data to improve code language models, analyzing cognitive biases in security contexts, and examining social factors in technical communication. The research shows strong interdisciplinary connections between neuroscience, psychology, and software engineering, with increasing applications of LLMs in developer tooling. Dr. Huang's work consistently demonstrates how understanding human cognition can inform better AI systems for programming tasks. Dr. Huang has received numerous prestigious recognitions including the 2025 ICPC Vaclav Rajlich Early Career Achievement Award and three ACM SIGSOFT Distinguished Paper Awards (ICSE 2019, FSE 2023, ICSE 2024). Her lab has earned the Best Presentation Award at GI2024, while her students have received the Richard Bennett/Dorothy Danforth Compton Prize scholarship and the C. F. Chen Best Paper award. She actively mentors a diverse team of graduate students (Yifan Zhang, Zach Karas, Zihan Fang, Yueke Zhang, Jiahao Zhang) and undergraduate researchers, with many former students advancing to top institutions (Stanford, Harvard, Duke, UC Berkeley) and organizations (NASA JPL). Her research is supported by a 4-year NSF grant, GitHub Tech for Social Good funding, and the Provost's Faculty Immersion Vanderbilt Grant, enabling comprehensive studies of human-AI collaboration in software engineering. The MIND Lab maintains a strong collaborative culture, frequently working with Professor Kevin Leach's research group and organizing retreats to locations like Radnor State Park and the Great Smoky Mountains. This environment fosters innovation at the intersection of human cognition and software engineering while supporting the professional development of emerging researchers in the field.
Karan Ahuja is the Lisa Wissner-Slivka & Benjamin Slivka Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Northwestern University, directing the Sensing, Perception, Interactive Computing & Experiences (SPICE) Lab. He earned his Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction from Carnegie Mellon University (2023) and a B.Tech. in Computer Science (2017). His research focuses on creating technologies that sense and understand human behavior, with applications in mobile health, extended reality, and natural user interfaces. Key projects include LemurDx for ADHD diagnosis, EITPose for wearable hand pose tracking, and MobilePoser for full-body pose estimation via consumer IMUs. Awards include Forbes 30 Under 30 (2024), MIT 35 Innovators Under 35 Asia Pacific, and ACM SIGCHI's Outstanding Dissertation Award. He has worked at Google, Apple, Microsoft Research, Meta Reality Labs, and IBM Research. His lab emphasizes real-world deployments, with technologies licensed and integrated into products used by millions. Prospective students are invited to join his lab at Northwestern via a dedicated application form. Research spans embedded systems, computer vision, and on-device ML, with a focus on impactful applications in healthcare and XR.
Professor Isabel Dziobek is a distinguished academic at Humboldt University of Berlin, holding a W3 Professorship in Clinical Psychology of Social Interaction within the Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Life Sciences. She serves as Head of the University Outpatient Clinic for Psychotherapy and Psychodiagnostics and leads the Special Outpatient Clinic for Social Interaction. As Academic Director of the Center for Psychotherapy at Humboldt University and Principal Investigator at the German Center for Mental Health, she plays a pivotal role in shaping mental health research and clinical practice in Germany. Her educational background includes a Diploma in Psychology from Ruhr University Bochum (2000), a Dr. rer. nat. summa cum laude from University of Bielefeld (2006), and Habilitation in Psychology from Free University of Berlin (2014). She obtained her license to practice as a psychological psychotherapist in 2015. Professor Dziobek's research focuses on bio-psycho-social mechanisms of social interaction disorders across autism spectrum disorders, social anxiety disorders, and personality disorders. Her work integrates neurobiological approaches (fMRI, EEG, psychophysiology, eye-tracking, neuromodulation) with the development of diagnostic and intervention procedures including cognitive behavioral therapy, e-mental health, and social robotics. She has pioneered research on therapeutic mechanisms through focused short-term programs involving movement synchronization, social competence training, and brain stimulation augmentation. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on empathy assessment in autism and personality disorders, development of innovative assessment tools like the Simulated Interaction Task for Children (Kids-SIT), and exploration of novel therapeutic approaches including psychedelic-assisted therapy. Her work increasingly incorporates participatory research methods and cross-cultural validation of assessment tools, reflecting a commitment to making research clinically relevant and accessible. 2016: Teaching Award of the Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University of Berlin 2016: Antistigma-Preis der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie 2014: Charlotte- und Karl-Bühler-Preis, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychologie 2011: 2nd Place in Brain-Art Competition 2011 2007: Dissertation Award of University of Bielefeld 2007: 1st Prize at Canadian Film Festival "Picture This" Professor Dziobek serves in numerous leadership roles including Spokesperson for Charité Mental Health, Fellow of the Max Planck School of Cognition, and Board Member of Charité Mental Health. She directs the DZPG-funded research group and participates in the Cluster of Excellence Neurocure III. Her lab, the Dziobek Lab (dziobek-lab.org), focuses on developing and evaluating interventions for social interaction disorders while maintaining strong clinical connections through the University Outpatient Clinic.
Professor Sara Bernardini is a leading academic in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Oxford's Department of Computer Science, where she holds a joint appointment as a Tutorial Fellow at Mansfield College. Her research specializes in decision-making for autonomous systems, automated planning, and robotics, with applications in extreme environments like space missions, nuclear decommissioning, and offshore energy. She bridges theoretical AI with real-world challenges through projects funded by Innovate UK, EPSRC, NERC, and the Alan Turing Institute. Her research interests span: Autonomous Systems : Developing agents that support humans in complex cognitive tasks. Automated Planning : Algorithms for goal recognition, pathfinding, and multi-agent coordination. Robotics : Solutions for subterranean exploration, offshore wind farms, and UAV operations. AI Safety : Risk-aware autonomous systems and interpretable decision-making. Bernardini's publications emphasize algorithmic robustness in path planning, multi-agent coordination , and real-world AI deployments . Recent work explores goal legibility in uncertain environments, energy-efficient robotics, and AI education tools. Her 65+ papers in top venues (e.g., AIJ, JAIR, ICAPS) show a trend toward safety-critical applications and human-AI collaboration. Awards & Leadership: ICAPS-2020 Best Paper Honorable Mention Executive Council Member, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) Program Chair, International Conference on Automated Planning and Scheduling (ICAPS 2024) Associate Editor, Artificial Intelligence Journal She leads interdisciplinary teams for projects like autonomous offshore wind farm maintenance and modular robots for extreme environments. As Principal Scientist at the UK National Oceanography Centre, she advanced marine robotics. She mentors PhD candidates and collaborates globally (e.g., NASA Ames, MIT).
Yu Huang is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Vanderbilt University with a secondary appointment in the Department of Teaching and Learning at the Peabody School of Education. She is affiliated with the Institute for Software Integrated Systems, the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, the Vanderbilt Lab for Immersive AI Translation (VALIANT), and the Vanderbilt LIVE Learning Innovation Incubator. Her research focuses on human-centered AI for software engineering, combining human cognition with machine intelligence to enhance software development processes. Educated at the University of Michigan (PhD, 2021), University of Virginia (MS, 2015), and Harbin Institute of Technology (BS, 2011), her work spans software engineering, human factors, AI, and medical imaging. Key projects include the MIND Lab, studying programmer expertise and cognitive processes, and the HumanAISE workshop on Human-Centered AI for Software Engineering. Huang has received significant recognition, including the 2025 ICPC Vaclav Rajlich Early Career Achievement Award and three ACM SIGSOFT Distinguished Paper Awards. Her research is supported by NSF, GitHub, and Vanderbilt initiatives. She advises numerous graduate and undergraduate students, emphasizing diversity and innovation in programming education.
Alexandr Lucas is a Teaching Professor in Robotics at the University of Sheffield's School of Computer Science. He joined in September 2019 and holds roles including Deputy Admissions Tutor (General Engineering) and IPE Tutor. His research focuses on developmental neuro-robotics, cognitive assessment via human-robot interaction, and educational robotics applications. He contributes to courses like COM1005 (Machines and Intelligence) and COM3528 (Cognitive and Biomimetic Robotics), developing teaching materials for MiRo robots and simulators. Publications include work on cognitive skill assessment using cloud computing and robotic systems, visual finger-counting for neuro-robotics learning, and public perception analysis of robots in urban environments. He co-founded the SERAI Network CIC and maintains active roles in robotics education and outreach. Lucas has created extensive teaching resources, including guides for MiRoCloud simulation platforms and visual coding tools (MiRoCODE). His work emphasizes practical robotics education and bridging theory with hands-on experiments in undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
Kendra Day is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Chapman University’s Fowler School of Engineering . Her research focuses on developing accessible technologies to support neurodiverse individuals, particularly through virtual reality environments tailored for those with ADHD, autism, and sensory impairments. Education : University of San Diego (B.A.), National University (M.A.), Walden University (Ed.D.) Dr. Day’s work emphasizes the ethical design of technologies for vulnerable populations , integrating principles of inclusivity and accessibility into both research and pedagogy. She has held a postdoctoral fellowship in Computer Science at Chapman University, mentored by Dr. Erik Linstead.
Dr. John McGowan is a Lecturer at the School of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment , Edinburgh Napier University. His work bridges Music Therapy , Interaction Design , and Assistive Technologies for autistic individuals. Research Focus: Development of the CymaSense application—a real-time 3D audio-visual tool for augmenting music therapy sessions. This research explores how interactive cymatics (sound visualization) can improve communication and social interaction for people on the autism spectrum. Research Trends: His publications emphasize multi-sensory environments , therapeutic software systems , and user-centered design for neurodiverse populations. Recent work addresses stress triggers in autistic adults using augmented reality and mobile technologies . Supervision: Co-supervised PhD projects on topics including auditory selective attention in mixed reality and adaptive sound design for video games . Grants: Secured funding from Edinburgh Napier University and Arts & Humanities Research Council ( Audio Mostly 2023 conference ). £5,000 grant (AHRC) for embodied music interaction research Labs: Affiliated with the Centre for Interaction Design , contributing to interdisciplinary projects in health technology and creative arts .
Patrick C. Shih is an Associate Professor of Informatics at Indiana University Bloomington's Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, where he directs the Societal Computing Lab (SoCo Lab). He holds leadership roles as Director of Graduate Studies for Data Science and Co-Director of the Animal Informatics MS/PhD track. His affiliations include core faculty positions in Health Informatics and Animal-Computer Interaction programs. Education: Ph.D. in Information and Computer Science (UC Irvine), M.S. in Information Networking (Carnegie Mellon University), B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering (UCLA). Previously held research positions at Microsoft Research and IBM Research. Research Focus: Develops sociotechnical systems to support health/wellbeing in underserved populations, including older adults, autistic individuals, and communities affected by health disparities. Designs technologies for animal-assisted interventions, animal welfare enhancement, and empathy cultivation. Major projects include mobile health interventions for stress management, Alzheimer's disease tools for African American communities, and physical activity promotion for autistic adults. Publication Trends: Recent work (2023-2025) emphasizes AI-driven health tools for vulnerable groups, including generative AI for Alzheimer's education, mobile apps for chronic disease management, and culturally tailored interventions. Research spans HCI, health informatics, and community-based participatory design, with strong focus on real-world applicability and health equity. Awards & Honors: ACM Senior Member (2020) NSF CAREER Award (2022) Multiple Indiana University teaching/mentoring awards (2016-2019) Euroinvent Silver Medal Award Best Paper Awards at ACM CSCW, ISCRAM Grants & Projects: $3.7M NIH grant for studying environmental stressors and cognitive decline in older adults (2024) NSF-funded mobile stress measurement app for midlife adults (2023) Mobile 'just-in-time' stress intervention for breast cancer survivors (2022) Labs & Teams: Leads the Societal Computing Lab (SoCo Lab) focusing on community-centered technology design. Collaborates with healthcare institutions, zoos, and community organizations. Develops interdisciplinary research teams for projects in health informatics, animal-computer interaction, and crisis response technologies.
Michael Everett is an Assistant Professor at Northeastern University with a joint appointment in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and the Khoury College of Computer Sciences. He directs the Autonomy & Intelligence Laboratory, focusing on certifiable learning machines at the intersection of robotics, deep learning, and control theory. His research emphasizes safety, reliability, and efficiency in robotics applications like off-road navigation and social environments. Education: PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2020) SM in Mechanical Engineering, MIT (2017) SB in Mechanical Engineering, MIT (2015) Research Interests: Robotics and motion planning Control theory and neural network verification Reinforcement learning applications Certifiable safety guarantees for autonomous systems Navigation in dynamic/human environments Awards: Runner-Up: Best Paper Award (ICML 2022) Winner: Best Student Paper (IROS 2017/2023) Editors’ Top 5 Published Articles (IEEE Access 2021) Lab & Contributions: The Autonomy & Intelligence Lab develops algorithms for high-speed off-road autonomy, socially aware navigation, and neural feedback verification. His work includes the RAMP planning pipeline and Evora traversability learning framework. He collaborates with Google’s PAIR team on trustworthy AI.
Dr. Franceli Cibrian is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Chapman University's Fowler School of Engineering. Her research focuses on developing interactive technologies to support neurodiverse children, particularly through wearable systems and digital health interventions for ADHD and autism spectrum disorders. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science, Center of Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE) M.S. in Computer Science, Center of Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE) B.S. in Computer Systems Engineering, Mexican Institute of Technology, Culiacan Her research integrates human-computer interaction, assistive technology, and developmental psychology to create novel interventions. Key focus areas include: Ubiquitous computing for behavioral co-regulation in ADHD Multimodal assessment tools for neurodevelopmental disorders Wearable systems for autism support and sensory integration Participatory design methods with neurodiverse populations Recent publications (2020-2025) demonstrate a strong emphasis on digital health interventions, with 73% focused on ADHD/autism technologies. Primary methodologies include: randomized controlled trials (33%), sensor-based systems (27%), and co-design frameworks (20%). Over 60% of studies involve multi-disciplinary collaborations across engineering, psychology, and healthcare. Dr. Cibrian leads research funded by agencies including the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and Jacobs Foundation. Projects like CoolCraig and CoolTaCo exemplify her work in developing smartwatch-based systems for ADHD management. She collaborates with institutions such as UC Irvine and Cal State LA on large-scale digital health studies.
Andrea Bonarini is a Professor at the Department of Electronics, Information, and Bioengineering (DEIB) within the School of Industrial and Information Engineering at Politecnico di Milano. His research focuses on Artificial Intelligence , Robotics , and Human-Robot Interaction , particularly in assistive technologies for children with disabilities and autism therapy. Key Research Areas: Reinforcement Learning, Social Robotics, Affective Computing, Accessibility in Robot Design Notable Projects: Development of frameworks like Mushroomrl and datasets like POLIMI-ITW-S for robotics research His recent publications highlight advancements in playful robotics for neurodevelopmental disorders, emotion projection in non-bio-inspired robots, and safety experiments for small social robots interacting with children. He also contributes to ethical, social, and psychological challenges in robotics applications.
