Christian Hilbes is a Lecturer at the School of Engineering of Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW). He serves as Deputy Head of the Institute for Applied Mathematics and Physics (IAMP) and co-leads the research focus on Safety-Critical Systems. Active projects include leadership roles in Autonomous Predictive Interlock Systems , Personnel Safety Systems , and Triggering Conditions for Autonomous Cars . He specializes in STPA (Systems-Theoretic Process Analysis) , UML-based modeling , and Dynamic Flowgraph Modeling for safety-critical applications. Email: christian.hilbes@zhaw.ch His research integrates safety analysis with emerging technologies like autonomous systems and nuclear facilities, contributing to publications at MIT STAMP Workshops and in journals like Nuclear Engineering and Design . He actively collaborates on European Spallation Source (ESS) safety frameworks and develops domain-specific languages for STPA.
Fadia Kamal, PharmD, PhD is an Associate Professor holding dual appointments in the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation and the Department of Cell and Biological Systems. She leads research at the Center for Cannabis and Natural Product Pharmaceuticals (CCNPP) with a strong publication record including 33 research outputs and an h-index of 18 based on Scopus data. Dr. Kamal's research focuses on cellular pathways that control chondrocyte homeostasis in healthy tissue and the pathological processes leading to cartilage damage in osteoarthritis. Her work investigates how chondrocytes transform into pathological cells that cause cartilage degradation, with particular interest in discovering new pathways and drugs to control chondrocyte behavior and potentially reverse osteoarthritis progression. Her laboratory also explores the therapeutic potential of non-euphorigenic cannabis compounds for bone fracture pain management and healing. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward interdisciplinary research combining orthopedics, molecular biology, immunology, and pharmacology. The work spans from fundamental cellular mechanisms in osteoarthritis to applied therapeutic development, with particular emphasis on cannabis-based treatments, immune responses in fracture healing, and novel imaging techniques. Her research shows increasing collaboration across multiple institutions and disciplines. Scientific Awards: Samuel Hinkle Junior Faculty Research Scholar Award (2022) - widely recognized with coverage by 5 news outlets, blogged by 1 source, posted by 38 X users, and shared on 1 Facebook page with 33 Mendeley readers Dr. Kamal serves as Principal Investigator on significant research projects, most notably the NIH-funded 'Therapeutic targeting of GPCR Gbetagamma-GRK2 in osteoarthritis' project (2019-2023) from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Her mentorship is evident through numerous co-authored publications with junior researchers who appear to be her students and postdoctoral fellows. She maintains active collaborations across immunology, bone healing, and natural product pharmacology research areas. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being, with research spanning osteoarthritis, heart failure progression, chondrocyte biology, and G protein-coupled receptor research. The Kamal lab maintains strong connections with the Center for Cannabis and Natural Product Pharmaceuticals, indicating a specialized research focus on natural compounds for musculoskeletal conditions.
Sara Pruss is the Esther Cloudman Dunn Professor of Geosciences at Smith College, where she has established herself as a leading researcher in geobiology and paleontology. Her work focuses on critical transitions in Earth's history, particularly mass extinctions and the evolution of early life forms. She maintains an active research program that combines field work, laboratory analysis, and theoretical approaches to understand the complex interactions between life and Earth's environments through geological time. Education: Ph.D., University of Southern California M.S., University of Southern California B.S., University of Rochester Professor Pruss's research spans several interconnected areas within geobiology and paleontology. Her primary focus is on understanding mass extinction events, particularly the end-Permian extinction and Cambrian-Ordovician transitions. She investigates how these events affected marine ecosystems and the subsequent recovery patterns. Her work on Neoproterozoic carbonates and early animal evolution has provided important insights into the environmental conditions that facilitated the emergence of complex life. Professor Pruss also examines microbial sedimentary structures and their implications for interpreting ancient environments. Her research often combines detailed field observations with geochemical analyses to reconstruct paleoenvironments and understand the taphonomic processes that affect fossil preservation. Analysis of Professor Pruss's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on critical transitions in Earth's history. Her work spans the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary, the Cambrian-Ordovician transition, and the Permian-Triassic extinction. A recurring theme is the relationship between environmental changes (particularly oxygenation and redox conditions) and biological evolution. Her research increasingly incorporates geochemical proxies like mercury chemostratigraphy to identify potential volcanic triggers for extinction events. The geographical scope of her work is global, with field sites in North America, Scotland, Namibia, and the Arctic. Scientific Awards: Outstanding Contributions to Geobiosciences by the Society for Geobiology and Geomicrobiology (2014) Sherrerd Prize for Distinguished Teaching by Smith College (2015) Professor Pruss has mentored numerous undergraduate students through her research lab at Smith College. Several of her former students, including Katie Castagno, Jana Burke, Kelsey Moore, Sophie Westacott, and Kiara Gomez, have gone on to earn PhDs from prestigious institutions like MIT, Yale, and Woods Hole. Her research has been consistently supported by major funding agencies including the National Science Foundation and the National Geographic Society. Beyond her research mentorship, Professor Pruss has been actively involved in programs aimed at supporting underrepresented women in STEM fields, demonstrating her commitment to inclusive excellence in science education. Professor Pruss leads an active research laboratory at Smith College that combines field, laboratory, and analytical approaches to geobiological research. Her lab has produced numerous publications with undergraduate co-authors, reflecting Smith's strong emphasis on undergraduate research. The lab's work often involves international collaborations with researchers from institutions around the world. Current research directions include investigating the relationship between oxygenation and early animal evolution, studying microbial influences on sedimentary structures, and examining the environmental triggers for major extinction events throughout Earth's history.
Fernando Corinto is a Research Fellow at the Department of Electronics and Telecommunications (DET) , Polytechnic University of Turin , and a member of the SmartData@PoliTO Big Data and Data Science Laboratory. He holds a European Doctorate in Electronics and Communications Engineering (2005) and was a Marie Curie Fellow (2004) at University College Dublin, focusing on cardiac fibrillation modeling and chaotic systems. Education : Laurea (2001) and Ph.D. (2005) in Electronics and Communications Engineering from Politecnico di Torino His research spans nonlinear dynamical systems , memristor devices , and complex network modeling , with over 50 publications. Key projects include RECOMMEND (2024–2027) and COSMO (2020–2024), where he served as Scientific Director . His recent work involves memristor-based neuromorphic systems and nonlinear circuit applications in biomedical and industrial contexts. He supervises PhD students Rosanna Cavazzana and Davide Rossetti and teaches Nonlinear Systems for Engineering (Mathematical Engineering) and Memristor-based Neuromorphic Systems (Electrical Engineering). His scientific contributions include the Flux-Charge Analysis Method and Bifurcations without Parameters in memristor circuits. He holds a national/international patent for skin ulcer classification algorithms and has led commercial research projects in biomedical and packaging systems.
Huan Lei is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, holding a joint appointment in the Department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering and the Department of Statistics and Probability. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Brown University in 2012 under George Karniadakis and a B.S. in Special Class for the Gifted Young from the University of Science & Technology of China in 2005. His research integrates scientific machine learning with numerical analysis to develop structure-preserving algorithms for partial and stochastic differential equations arising in multi-scale systems. His work spans multi-scale modeling , non-Markovian dynamics , coarse-grained molecular simulations , and data-driven parameterization . Recent publications focus on learning generalized Langevin equations with state-dependent memory, consensus-based free energy surfaces, and non-equilibrium coarse-grained models. His team applies these methods to fluid dynamics, biomolecular solvation, and climate systems. NSF CAREER Award (2021) Brown University Dissertation Fellowship (2012) He advises graduate and undergraduate researchers and seeks Ph.D. candidates with expertise in numerical analysis or scientific computing. His group receives funding from NSF, DOE, Ford, and MSU Foundation.
Rong Xu is a Professor of Biomedical Informatics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, where she also serves as Director of the Center for AI in Drug Discovery. She is a member of the Cancer Genomics and Epigenomics Program at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Xu's research focuses on developing innovative computational approaches including artificial intelligence, natural language processing, data mining, machine learning, and knowledge representation to advance biomedical discovery. Her work spans both computer science and biomedical science domains. Her computer science research interests include Artificial Intelligence, Natural Language Processing, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Systems Biology, Data Mining, Graph Theory, and Ontology. Her biomedical science interests encompass Drug Discovery, Drug Repositioning, Disease Gene Discovery, Gene-Environment Interactions, Human Gut Microbiome, Drug Target Discovery, Drug Toxicity Prediction, Cancer Drug Toxicity, Drug Addiction, and Neuroscience Informatics. Dr. Xu's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on applying AI and computational methods to drug discovery, particularly for neurological conditions, diabetes-related complications, and substance use disorders. Her work prominently examines the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide on various health outcomes, including Alzheimer's disease, opioid use disorder, and cancer. Fellow of American College of Medical Informatics (FACMI) 2020 American College of Medical Informatics Research Scholar 2016 American Cancer Society New Investigator Award 2015 American Medical Informatics Association AACR INNOVATOR Award 2015 Landon Foundation Director's Innovator Award 2014 National Institutes of Health Siebel Scholar 2004 Dr. Xu directs the Center for AI in Drug Discovery and has received significant grant funding for her research, including a $1.4 million grant from NIDA for developing AI technologies to identify potential medications for cocaine use disorder. Her work bridges computational science with clinical applications, focusing on translating AI discoveries into practical healthcare solutions.
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 .
Armin Kirchknopf serves as a Junior Researcher at the Media Computing Research Group within the Institute of Creative Media/Technologies, Department of Media and Digital Technologies at the University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten. His interdisciplinary work bridges artificial intelligence, computer vision, and social media analysis, with significant contributions to misinformation detection and disaster response systems. Based at Campus-Platz 1 in St. Pölten, Austria, he actively collaborates on EU-funded projects and publishes in top-tier AI venues. His educational journey spans humanities and technology: a Bachelor of Arts in Egyptology and Master of Arts in Classical Archaeology from the University of Vienna (including fieldwork at excavation sites across Austria, Germany, and Egypt), followed by a Bachelor of Science in Media Technology from FH St. Pölten. This unique background informs his human-centered AI research approach. Kirchknopf's research centers on explainable multimodal AI systems for real-world challenges. His recent work demonstrates expertise in transformer-based architectures for cross-lingual fake news detection, sexism identification, and flood monitoring through social media imagery. He pioneers techniques like Grad-CAM for object detection explainability and develops visualization tools for complex data interpretation, emphasizing transparency and social impact in AI deployment. Analysis of his 13 publications (2017-2022) reveals a strategic shift toward applied AI in societal contexts , particularly using social media data for disaster management and combating online toxicity. His projects consistently integrate computer vision with natural language processing, showing increasing sophistication in multilingual capabilities and model interpretability frameworks. His scientific recognition includes: Creative Business Award for co-developing the Tenjin learning quiz application No documented student advisement or grant leadership appears in current records, though he actively mentors through project-based collaborations. His work with the Media Computing Research Group drives innovation in educational technology and public safety applications. Kirchknopf contributes to the Media Computing Research Group's portfolio including Fake News Detection, SAiEX (Safe AI with explainable integrity), InfraBase (building footprint segmentation), and Ressel Center music therapy projects. His cross-disciplinary collaborations span computer scientists, archaeologists, and social scientists, reflecting the group's commitment to human-centric technological solutions .
Dr. Benjamin de Haas is a vision scientist and faculty member at Justus Liebig University Giessen , Germany, within the Department of Psychology and Sports Science . He currently leads the ERC-funded Indivisual project and co-leads project C9 Factors influencing categorical face processing within the Collaborative Research Centre CRC/TRR 135. He is also a principal investigator in the NeurOscientific Workflow Assistance (NOWA) infrastructure project, dedicated to open, reproducible neuroscience. Research Focus Dr. de Haas pursues two intertwined questions: How do early and late stages of visual processing interact—from the initial registration of slanted edges to the recognition of faces? How and why do our perceptions differ from one person to the next? To answer these questions his group combines psychophysics, high-resolution eye-tracking, functional and quantitative MRI, and computational modelling, with a strong emphasis on face perception, individual differences, and naturalistic viewing conditions. Publications Overview Across more than 20 publications since 2016, Dr. de Haas has advanced understanding of individual differences in face processing, gaze control, and visual salience. His work repeatedly appears in Journal of Vision , Nature Communications , PNAS , and NeuroImage , highlighting a sustained focus on eye-movement behaviour, cortical representations of faces and scenes, and methodological best practices in neuroimaging. Current Supervision & Team Dr. de Haas currently supervises two PhD students: Elaheh Akbarifathkouhi Hilal Nizamoglu Together with Dr. Katharina Dobs (co-project leader) and affiliated post-docs and research technicians, the group forms the Indivisual laboratory at Giessen. Contact & Resources Email: Benjamin.de-Haas@psychol.uni-giessen.de Department of Psychology and Sports Science Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10F, 35394 Gießen, Germany
Bern Klein is a Professor at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Applied Science, specifically within the Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering. His career spans over three decades, beginning with extensive industry experience from 1990 to 1998, followed by his academic role at UBC since 1997. He has held leadership positions including Graduate Advisor (1999-2008) and Department Head (2008-2014), and has been instrumental in establishing research centers like the Centre for Industrial Minerals Innovations and the Canadian International Resources and Development Institute. Education: PhD in Mineral Process Engineering, University of British Columbia (1992) BASc in Mining and Mineral Process Engineering, University of British Columbia (1985) Research Interests: Professor Klein's research is centered on mineral processing technologies , with a strong emphasis on energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in mining operations. His work encompasses: Comminution processes and energy optimization Rheology of mineral suspensions Sensor-based ore sorting technologies Water and energy conservation in mining Development of innovative mineral processing flowsheets His research has led to the creation of Mine Sense Technologies Ltd , a startup company that has developed novel sensor-based sorting systems for the mining industry. Scientific Awards: Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Transactions Best Paper Award (2008) Canadian Institute of Mining Distinguished Lecturer Award (2011) CEEC Medal for Best Paper (2013, 2016) CEEC Honorable Mention for Best Paper (2022) Mitacs Award for Exceptional Leadership for a Professor (2023) Teaching and Supervision: Professor Klein teaches courses including MINE 201 Mineral Resources Engineering II , MINE 434/524 Processing of Precious Metal Ores , MINE 508 Integrated Mining and Processing Systems , and MINE 579 Rheology of Mineral Suspensions . He has supervised numerous graduate students, with Uuganbadrakh Oyunkhishig being one of his Master's students. Research Teams and Labs: His research involves interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly through the Quantum Matter Institute and the Centre for Industrial Minerals Innovations. He is open to collaborations with undergraduate students and other researchers, fostering a collaborative research environment.
Professor Jonathan Erichsen serves as Professor of Visual Neuroscience and Deputy Head of School within the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences at Cardiff University. With a distinguished career spanning several decades, he has established himself as a leading researcher in visual neuroscience and eye movement disorders. Professor Erichsen's research has evolved from early work on central near response pathways in the brain, including vergence and the pupillary light reflex, to a broader focus on eye movement disorders. His primary research interests include the control of visuomotor behavior, eye movement abnormalities in neurodegenerative conditions, and visual function assessment in individuals with nystagmus. He has pioneered innovative methodologies including stereotaxic surgery, immunohistochemistry, neural pathway tracing, and microstimulation in his investigations. His recent publications demonstrate a clear trend toward clinical applications of eye movement research, particularly in developing better assessment tools for visual function in nystagmus patients. The research spans from fundamental neuroanatomy to practical clinical tools, with significant contributions to understanding infantile nystagmus, Huntington's disease-related eye movement abnormalities, and visual function in children. His work increasingly integrates advanced eye tracking technologies with clinical applications. Professor Erichsen founded the Cardiff Research Unit for Nystagmus (RUN) approximately twenty years ago, establishing a large cohort of volunteers with infantile nystagmus to study how environmental factors like stress affect visual performance. More recently, he established the Eye Movement Experimental Research Group (EMERG) to expand research into eye movement abnormalities associated with neurodegenerative conditions including Huntington's disease, schizophrenia risk, and dystonia. His research has demonstrated that traditional measures of visual performance, such as visual acuity, are not significantly affected by changes in eye movements of individuals with nystagmus, suggesting the need for developing better outcome measures in clinical practice. Professor Erichsen remains actively involved in postgraduate supervision and continues to produce high-impact research in visual neuroscience.
Jukka Tuhkuri is a Professor at Aalto University's Department of Energy and Mechanical Engineering, specializing in ice mechanics and arctic marine technology . He serves as Editor-in-Chief of Cold Regions Science and Technology and became an Honorary Professor at University College London (Department of Earth Sciences) in 2023. His work spans numerical simulations using the Discrete Element Method (DEM) and experimental research in the Aalto Ice and Wave Tank, with fieldwork in both Arctic and Antarctic regions. Research Focus : Understanding ice fracture mechanics, sea ice ridge formation, and ice-structure interaction processes. He investigates how global warming alters ice conditions and affects loads on ships/marine structures, addressing risks from increased Arctic shipping activity. Scientific Awards 2023 POAC Founders Lifetime Achievement Award Teacher of the Year 2003 Espoo Ambassador 2012 1996 Best Dissertation Stipend from Helsinki University of Technology Collaborative Impact : His research directly informs offshore wind engineering and Arctic risk management frameworks through publications like Challenges with sea ice action on structures for Offshore wind (2023) and A comprehensive approach to scenario-based risk management for Arctic waters (2022).
Professor Rob Dwyer-Joyce is a leading academic in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering at the University of Sheffield , School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering. He serves as Director of the Centre for Doctoral Training in Integrated Tribology and manages the Leonardo Centre for Tribology. A Fellow of both the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, his work focuses on developing ultrasonic sensors for real-time lubrication and wear monitoring in industrial systems. Academic Affiliation: University of Sheffield (since 1994) Education: BEng Mechanical Engineering (Imperial College), PhD Tribology Industry Experience: Former British Gas engineer (Rough gas field) His research interests center on industrial wear problems , lubrication metrology , and acoustic sensor development . Key applications include wind turbine bearings, marine diesel engines, and automotive systems. His team’s innovations in tribo-acoustic sensors have enabled non-invasive oil film thickness and viscosity measurements in challenging environments. Recent scientific contributions span lithium-ion battery monitoring, wind turbine bearing dynamics, and marine engine lubrication, with over 30 publications since 2020. Awards include the EPSRC Advanced Career Fellowship in Tribo-Acoustic Sensors and recognition as a Royal Academy of Engineering Fellow . Contact: r.dwyer-joyce@sheffield.ac.uk
Gene-Hua Crystal Ng serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Minnesota, where her research investigates dynamic interactions within the hydrologic cycle—including atmospheric, biological, soil, and geochemical processes—to understand environmental responses to climate change, land use, and contamination. Her expertise spans hydrology, hydrogeology, ecohydrology, and statistical data assimilation methods, employing computer models to analyze land surface, unsaturated zone, and groundwater aquifer connections. Current projects address soil-crop-climate controls on groundwater recharge in the High Plains, vegetation resilience in the Mojave Desert, and chemical-microbial processes affecting groundwater quality near Bemidji (MN) and Cape Cod (MA), emphasizing arid-to-temperate settings under natural and human-impacted conditions. Dr. Ng directs the Ng Hydrology/Hydrogeology Research Group and actively recruits graduate students and post-doctoral researchers for her lab. While no scientific awards are documented in the source material, her work integrates field observations with modeling to advance water resource management and ecological sustainability. Contact details include gcng@umn.edu and office location at 385-14 John T. Tate Hall.
Mikael Johansson is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Lund University, where he leads research on the cognitive and neural bases of memory and cognitive control. His academic appointments include membership in eSSENCE: The e-Science Collaboration, LAMiNATE (Language Acquisition, Multilingualism, and Teaching), LU Profile Area: Proactive Ageing, and LU Profile Area: Natural and Artificial Cognition. With 159 research outputs and leadership in 18 projects (8 active), he maintains a prominent position in cognitive neuroscience research. His research focuses on the neural mechanisms of memory using behavioral, electrophysiological (EEG/ERP), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) methods. Key interests include interactions between memory systems, formation and retrieval of episodic memories, emotion regulation and emotional memory, mechanisms underlying incidental and intentional forgetting, and the relationship between eye-movements, mental imagery and memory. His work has significant implications for understanding memory functions in psychiatric conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Analyzing his extensive publication record spanning from 2012-2025 reveals a consistent focus on memory mechanisms with increasing integration of eye-tracking methodologies and clinical applications. His research demonstrates an evolving trajectory from basic memory processes toward understanding memory in real-world contexts and clinical populations, with recent work emphasizing the role of eye movements in memory construction and the neural dynamics of memory integration. Mikael Johansson serves as a member of The Swedish National Committee for Psychological Sciences at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences since 2011 and has received significant research funding including from The Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation, Swedish Research Council, and Stiftelsen Marcus och Amalia Wallenbergs Minnesfond. His current major projects include TEAM: Transdisciplinary Approaches to Learning, Acquisition, Multilingualism (2024-2029), Tracking cognitive change as a function of normal ageing and different types of degenerative disease, and How the brain constructs the present and reconstructs the past via sequences of eye movements. He leads the Lund Memory Lab where his team investigates how the brain constructs and maintains coherent episodic memories through eye movements. His research group actively collaborates with international partners across multiple disciplines, bridging cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and clinical applications. The lab's work has gained significant attention, with several publications being highlighted in news outlets and academic discussions.
