Dr. Ivan Puddu is a Researcher affiliated with the Institute for Information Security at ETH Zürich. His work focuses on advancing cybersecurity, particularly in the realms of Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs), hardware security, and privacy-preserving technologies. He explores vulnerabilities in modern computing systems, including attacks on enclave-based security mechanisms and side-channel exploits. His research also addresses distributed systems, blockchain, and FPGA-accelerated architectures, aiming to enhance system sovereignty and data integrity. Notable contributions include studies on code confidentiality in TEEs, disaggregated memory systems, and mitigating security threats in low-power networks.
Bonnie Berger is the Simons Professor of Mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and head of the Computation and Biology group at MIT's Computer Science and AI Lab. She holds additional appointments as an Associate Member of the Broad Institute, Faculty member of Harvard/MIT Health Science & Technology, and Affiliated Faculty of Harvard Medical School. Her career has been dedicated to pioneering computational approaches in molecular biology, where she has been instrumental in defining the field. Professor Berger's research focuses on designing algorithms to extract biological insights from large-scale data sets. Her work spans Compressive Genomics, Network Inference, Structural Bioinformatics, Genomic Privacy, and Medical Genomics. She actively collaborates with experimental biologists to maximize the power of computation for biological discovery, developing methods that address the challenges of modern high-throughput biological data. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward integrating machine learning with structural biology and genomic privacy. The articles show increasing sophistication in using deep learning for protein structure prediction, developing privacy-preserving techniques for genomic data sharing, and creating efficient algorithms for massive biological data sets. Her work bridges theoretical computer science with practical biological applications. Professor Berger's scientific recognition includes: Election to the National Academy of Sciences (2021) ISCB Accomplishments by a Senior Scientist Award SIAM Sonya Kovalevsky Lecture Prize Fellowships in ACM, ISCB, AMS, and other prestigious societies Multiple RECOMB Test of Time Awards NIH Margaret Pittman Director's Award She has mentored numerous students who have gone on to make significant contributions in computational biology, including Ellen Zhong, Yun William Yu, and Hyunghoon Cho. Her lab receives substantial research funding supporting projects in genomic privacy, structural bioinformatics, and compressive algorithms for biological data. Professor Berger serves on the Executive Editorial Board of the Journal of Computational Biology and multiple other editorial boards. The Computation and Biology group at MIT CSAIL, which she leads, is at the forefront of developing computational methods for biological discovery. The group combines expertise in algorithms, machine learning, and biology to tackle fundamental challenges in genomics and structural biology. They are currently organizing the Machine Learning in Structural Biology workshop at NeurIPS 2025, highlighting their leadership in this rapidly evolving interdisciplinary field.
Lin Zhong is the Joseph C. Tsai Professor of Computer Science at Yale University, leading the Efficient Computing Lab. He holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University and M.S./B.S. degrees from Tsinghua University. Previously, he served at Rice University from 2005 to 2019. His research focuses on optimizing computing efficiency, quantum error correction, operating systems, and mobile systems. Education: Ph.D., Princeton University M.S., Tsinghua University B.S., Tsinghua University Research Interests: His work spans quantum computing (e.g., decoding algorithms for surface codes), operating systems (safety, correctness, and lightweight kernels), and mobile/networking systems (massive MIMO, energy-efficient designs). Recent trends include integrating large language models (LLMs) into robotics and securing cloud-based AI workflows. Awards: NSF CAREER Award ACM SIGMOBILE RockStar (2014) and Test of Time (2022) Fellowships from IEEE and ACM Best Paper Awards at ACM MobileHCI, IEEE PerCom, ACM MobiSys, and more Lab & Teams: His Efficient Computing Lab explores systems for quantum error correction (e.g., FPGA-based decoders), secure embedded systems, and LLM-driven robotics. Projects include TimelyLLM (real-time LLM serving) and Blindfold (confidential memory management).
Sergey Gorbunov is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Waterloo . He holds a Ph.D. from MIT (2015), an M.Sc. and H.B.Sc. from the University of Toronto (2012 and 2011, respectively). His research focuses on Cryptography, Network Security, Blockchain Technology, Secure Protocols, and Privacy-Preserving Systems . He explores advanced cryptographic techniques for decentralized systems, privacy-enhancing technologies, and secure communication protocols. His work includes pioneering contributions to blockchain security (e.g., mitigating front-running attacks, enhancing transaction privacy) and foundational cryptographic tools like homomorphic encryption and multi-signature schemes. Recent publications emphasize resilient consensus mechanisms, anonymous payment channels, and efficient cryptographic primitives for distributed systems. Notable projects include Astrape (anonymous payment channels), Algorand Agreement (fast Byzantine consensus), and StealthDB (encrypted SQL databases). His research bridges theoretical cryptography with practical applications in secure computing and decentralized technologies.
Prof. Dr. Christian Rossow is a faculty member at CISPA – Helmholtz Center for Information Security in Dortmund, Germany. He also serves as a professor at Saarland University and an honorary professor at TU Dortmund. His research focuses on network security , system/software security , and cyber attacks and countermeasures . His recent publications include work on CSS exploitation for browser fingerprinting, Spectre mitigations on ARM, DDoS attack analysis, and hardware-assisted security extensions. Christian Rossow regularly serves as a PC member and track chair for top cybersecurity conferences like ACM CCS and USENIX Security . He advises multiple PhD students and leads a research group exploring foundational and practical security solutions.
Dr. Martin Kleppmann is an Associate Professor at the University of Cambridge, specializing in local-first software and security protocols . He leads research in distributed systems, focusing on decentralized architectures, collaborative editing tools, and cryptographic methods. As a key contributor to the Automerge open-source project, he bridges academic innovation with real-world applications. Formerly a research fellow at TU Munich (2022–2023) and Cambridge (2015–2022), he has also worked as a software engineer and startup founder, including LinkedIn (acquired 2012). Research Interests span Distributed Systems Security , Conflict-Free Replicated Data Types (CRDTs) , Collaborative Software , and Cryptography . His work addresses challenges in decentralized social networks, privacy-preserving protocols, and efficient data synchronization. Recent projects include Kintsugi (end-to-end encrypted key recovery) and Pudding (private user discovery for anonymity networks). Publications emphasize Collaborative text editing (2025: Eg-walker, 2023: The Art of the Fugue) CRDTs for JSON and trees (2021, 2017) Privacy in decentralized systems (2024: Pudding, 2025: Emission Impossible) Scientific Awards include Gilles Muller Best Artifact Award (EuroSys 2025) Distinguished Paper & Artifact Awards (OOPSLA 2017) Best Presentation Awards (Security Protocols Workshop 2018, PaPoC 2025)
Ebru Cankaya is a Senior Lecturer II in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), part of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Ege University (Turkey) and has extensive academic experience across multiple institutions, including adjunct roles at Southern Methodist University and visiting professorships at Izmir University of Economics and Earlham College. Her research focuses on cybersecurity, risk modeling in databases, lossless text compression, and cloud computing. She has received numerous teaching awards, including the 2019 Outstanding Faculty of the Year award at UTD. Educational Background: Ph.D. in Computer Science, Ege University (2004) M.S. in Computer Science and IT & Management, Ege University (2004/2009) MBA in Economics and Administrative Sciences, Ege University (2000) B.Sc. in Computer Engineering, Ege University (1994) Research Interests: Computer and Network Security: Including access control models (e.g., Bell-LaPadula, Chinese Wall) and cryptographic techniques. Risk Modeling in Databases: Focusing on privacy-preserving data storage and obfuscation strategies. Text Compression: Innovations in encoding methods like Star Encoding and hybrid techniques. Cloud Computing: Security and dependability in distributed systems. Awards and Recognition: 2022: Teaching Award, Jonsson School 2019: Outstanding Faculty of the Year 2013: Faculty of the Month (NACURH) Multiple nominations for University and System-Wide Teaching Awards TUBITAK/EBILTEM Research Awards (2003–2004) Her professional activities include organizing doctoral symposiums (e.g., COMPSAC 2012/2013), participating in faculty development programs (e.g., Working Connections IT Institute), and mentoring undergraduate researchers. She has held academic roles across Turkey and the U.S. since 1997, including research assistantships at Ege University and a decade-long tenure at Ege University as a lecturer and assistant professor.
Dr. Steven Manson is a Professor in the Department of Geography, Environment, and Society at the University of Minnesota's College of Liberal Arts, where he also served as Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs. He directs the Human-Environment Geographic Information Science (HEGIS) laboratory and leads major data science initiatives like the National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS) and IPUMS Terra. PhD in Geography, Clark University (2002) BA Honours in Geography, University of Victoria (1995) His research focuses on geographic information science and human-environment systems , using agent-based modeling and big data to analyze land use change, urban dynamics, and sustainability challenges. Recent work explores spatiotemporal data harmonization and geospatial cyberinfrastructure . The articles reveal trends in GIScience methodology , urbanization analysis , and data-intensive sustainability research . Key contributions include self-organizing map applications for health data and hybrid statistical-GIS techniques for environmental policy. Scientific accolades include: Ecological Society of America Sustainability Science Award NASA Earth System Science Fellow McKnight Land Grant Professorship As Principal Investigator for NHGIS and IPUMS Terra, he secured over $40M in NSF, NIH, and DOJ grants for spatiotemporal data infrastructure. Outreach initiatives include developing open geospatial textbooks adopted globally and collaborating with Twin Cities K-12 programs.
Dr. Nour Moustafa is an Associate Professor and ARC DECRA Fellow at the School of Systems & Computing (SysCom) , University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra , Australia. He leads the Intelligent Security Group and focuses on developing AI/ML-driven cybersecurity frameworks for smart systems. Educated at Helwan University (BSc/MSc in Information Systems) and UNSW (PhD in Cybersecurity). Research Interests include intrusion detection, threat intelligence, privacy preservation, digital forensics, and cyber resilience, with methodologies spanning statistical analysis , machine learning , and deep learning applied to IoT , Edge/Cloud , and Industrial IoT environments. His work emphasizes federated learning for privacy preservation, blockchain for secure AI, and digital twins for network self-healing. Notable contributions include the TON-IoT , Bot-IoT , and UNSW-NB15 datasets for cybersecurity evaluation. Scientific Awards : 2020 Spitfire Memorial Defence Fellowship ACM Distinguished Speaker IEEE Senior Member He has served as guest associate editor for IEEE Transactions journals and held leadership roles in conferences like IEEE TrustCom . His research bridges academia and industry, with over 75 publications in top-tier venues.
Riad S. Wahby is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University's College of Engineering. His work focuses on designing secure hardware and software systems, with recent emphasis on cryptographic proof systems. He actively mentors PhD students and collaborates across disciplines in cybersecurity, blockchain, and formal verification. PhD in Computer Science, Stanford University MEng in Electrical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology SB in Electrical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Wahby's research spans cryptography , blockchain security , zero-knowledge proofs , and secure hardware-software co-design . His work addresses challenges in verifiable computation, privacy-preserving protocols, and hardware subversion resistance. Recent publications reveal trends in zero-knowledge proof systems (SNARKs, MPC), blockchain security (anonymous blocklisting, decentralized auctions), and hardware-crypto integration (weird machines, verifiable ASICs). Technical focus areas include formal verification, side-channel analysis, and cryptographic compilers. Distinguished Student Paper Award, IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy (Oakland16), 2016 Best Paper Award, USENIX Annual Technical Conference (ATC18), 2018 Wahby collaborates with researchers across institutions and industries, including Dan Boneh at Stanford, Mike Walfish at NYU, and Silicon Labs in industrial roles. His CyLab affiliations connect him to over $400K in seed funding opportunities and blockchain initiatives at CMU.
Nuno Santos is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon, and a senior researcher at INESC-ID Lisbon. He leads the SysSec team, focusing on systems security and privacy. His research spans secure enclaves, network security, and censorship-resistant systems. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science (2013) from Max Planck Institute for Software Systems (MPI-SWS) in affiliation with Saarland University. Visiting research stints at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2018) and Technical University of Munich (2024). Research Interests: Systems security, privacy, trusted execution environments (TEEs), network security, censorship resistance, AI security, and secure cloud computing. He has pioneered work on mitigating vulnerabilities in TrustZone-based TEEs and enhancing confidential computing. Publications: Over 30+ peer-reviewed articles in top-tier venues like S&P, USENIX Security, CCS, and NDSS. Recent trends focus on AI-driven security (e.g., automated exploit generation, prompt-to-SQL injections) and confidential computing (e.g., AMD SEV-SNP analysis). Awards: IST Outstanding Teaching Award (2019/2020), 2024 Prémio Científico Universidade de Lisboa/Caixa Geral de Depósitos. Advising & Grants: Supervised MSc theses in areas like AI-powered vishing attacks and confidential VMs. Active in conference organization (e.g., USENIX Security’25 Vice Chair, IEEE EuroSP’26 Co-Chair). Labs/Teams: Leads the SysSec team at INESC-ID Lisbon, collaborating on projects like AnyTEE (TEE framework) and FlowLens (network security tool).
Murali Mani is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science, Engineering, and Physics at the College of Innovation and Technology, University of Michigan-Flint. He is actively involved in teaching courses such as Database Design (CSC 384, CSC 584) and Independent Graduate Study in Computer Science (CSC 591), and serves as Principal Investigator on multiple research grants focused on computing education and data science. His research interests span database systems, data provenance, generative AI for data augmentation, computing education, and the societal impact of technology . He has developed educational tools including epidemiology calculators and market basket analysis modules to support interdisciplinary learning. His work emphasizes integrating computing skills across disciplines such as health sciences and management. The 15 most recent scholarly contributions reflect a strong focus on data management, AI-augmented data curation, educational technology, and the cognitive aspects of learning programming. These publications appear in venues such as VLDB, IEEE FIE, and ACM conferences, with several under review or in preparation for top-tier journals like Communications of the ACM and the VLDB Journal. Scientific Awards: No awards explicitly mentioned in the provided text. Advising and Grants: Murali Mani actively mentors students through independent graduate studies and collaborative research projects. He has secured funding from the National Science Foundation (SGER grant on provenance metadata) and internal university sources, including the CIT/CHS Joint Grant and the Office of Research at UM-Flint, supporting projects on civic literacy, computational skills integration, and AI for social science data archiving. Labs and Teams: While no formal lab name is mentioned, Murali Mani leads a research group focused on data systems and computing education, collaborating with colleagues across departments and institutions. He contributes to initiatives such as the Michigan Institute for Data & AI in Society (MIDAS) and the Academic Data Science Alliance (ADSA), and has presented at conferences including IASSIST, FIE, and ICCTAC.
Ron Steinfeld is an Associate Professor at the Cybersecurity Lab of the Faculty of Information Technology , Monash University . His research focuses on lattice-based cryptography , post-quantum cryptographic protocols , and privacy-preserving technologies . He has contributed to advancements in secure multiparty computation , digital signatures , and blockchain confidentiality . Key areas: Lattice-Based Cryptography, Zero-Knowledge Proofs, Blockchain Security Recent work trends: Quantum-safe protocols, Efficient sampling algorithms, Scalable blockchain solutions Scientific Awards : BEST PAPER AWARD (ASIACRYPT 2015) He has served on program committees for major conferences including CRYPTO , EUROCRYPT , and ASIACRYPT . Ron is a member of the Discrete Mathematics Research Group and has collaborated with institutions like Macquarie University in the past.
John Breslin is a Personal Professor in Electronic Engineering at the College of Science and Engineering, University of Galway, serving as Director of the TechInnovate and AgInnovate programmes. Associated with two Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland Centres, he is a Principal Investigator at Insight Centre for Data Analytics (specializing in data analytics) and a Funded Investigator at VistaMilk (Agri-Technology), while also leading the EDIH Data2Sustain project. With an h-index of 50, over 12,000 citations, and 300+ peer-reviewed publications including seminal books on the Social Semantic Web, he ranks among Ireland's most influential researchers in digital technologies. Breslin's research fundamentally bridges Semantic Web technologies, AI-driven data analytics, and practical innovation. His co-creation of the SIOC framework—implemented across 65,000+ websites by entities like Yahoo and Boeing—demonstrates real-world impact in social data interoperability. Current work leverages blockchain and federated learning for sustainable Agri-Technology through VistaMilk, while his TechInnovate programmes translate academic research into commercial ventures across healthcare, smart manufacturing, and energy systems. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals dominant themes in AI-enhanced security (35% of works), blockchain applications for sustainability (27%), and multimodal AI for healthcare (20%). His team pioneers privacy-preserving techniques for IoT and medical devices, neurosymbolic visual reasoning frameworks, and federated learning architectures addressing data heterogeneity—directly supporting his roles in national research infrastructures like Insight and VistaMilk. John has received several prestigious awards: IIA Net Visionary Award (twice) ITAG Outstanding Contribution to the ICT Sector Award Galway Chamber President’s Award Best Irish-Published Book Award (2020 for Old Ireland in Colour) Multiple Best Paper Awards He leads major research initiatives funded by Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland: Insight Centre for Data Analytics (as Principal Investigator) VistaMilk SFI Research Centre (as Funded Investigator) EDIH Data2Sustain (as Principal Investigator) His entrepreneurial programs TechInnovate and AgInnovate have mentored 200+ startups, securing €50M+ in follow-on funding. Breslin co-founded PorterShed (Galway City Innovation District) and serves on Scale Ireland's Steering Group, creating Ireland's most active regional innovation ecosystem outside Dublin. He maintains active industry partnerships with Vodafone, Boeing, and agricultural cooperatives through VistaMilk's testbed facilities.
Vijay K. Shah is an Assistant Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at North Carolina State University, leading the NextG Wireless Lab. His research focuses on advancing wireless communication and network technologies for beyond 5G/6G systems, including O-RAN architecture, spectrum management, and AI-driven network optimization. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of Kentucky (2019) Bachelor's in Computer Science and Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Durgapur (2013) Research emphasizes open radio access networks (O-RAN), mmWave testbeds, and cross-layer optimization. Recent work highlights include ORAN-Bench-13K (LLM benchmarking), ZT-RIC (zero-trust security frameworks), and Milli-O-RAN (reconfigurable mmWave networks). His contributions span O-RAN applications (xApps/rApps), satellite-terrestrial coexistence, and AI-driven positioning systems. Experimental validations include 3GPP-compliant 5G positioning and adversarial attack defenses. Publications reflect expertise in O-RAN architecture evolution, spectrum policy tools (ASCENT), and UAV-based network coordination (GLIDE). Current projects explore LEO satellite constellations and resilient disaster response networks. Labs/Teams: Head of the NextG Wireless Lab at NC State, focusing on prototype development in O-RAN, 6G, and secure AI-driven networks.
