Paul Boersma is a Professor of Phonetic Sciences at the University of Amsterdam within the Faculty of Humanities. His research explores how phonetic, phonological, and morphological phenomena emerge through computational modeling using artificial neural networks and Optimality Theory, with a focus on multi-level constraint interactions and distributional learning. University of Amsterdam Faculty of Humanities Phonetic Sciences Key research areas include: Computational Modeling : Simulations of phonological category emergence from phonetic data Optimality Theory : Gradual Learning Algorithm applications BiPhon Framework : Parallel bidirectional phonology/phonetics models Statistical Learning : Cross-situational and distributional learning mechanisms Recent publications emphasize: 2025: Inclusive speech recognition systems using Whisper model 2025: F0 ratio analysis for creaky voice diagnostics 2024: Prosodic clitics in child speech and checked tones in Shanghai Chinese 2023: Distributional learning in developmental language disorder contexts 2022: Substance-free phonological features and ghost segment phenomena He has also contributed extensively to the Praat software for phonetic analysis, with continuous updates since 1993.
Prof. Sander Bohte is a part-time full professor of Computational Neuroscience at the University of Amsterdam (Swammerdam Institute of Life Sciences) and an honorary full professor of Bio-inspired Neural Networks at the University of Groningen. He serves as a Scientific Staff Member and Group Leader in the Machine Learning department at CWI, Amsterdam. His work bridges computational neuroscience and machine learning with a focus on continuous-time information processing. Key research interests include: Spiking Neural Networks with predictive coding and multi-compartment models Biologically Plausible Learning in recurrent and deep architectures Working Memory modeling via reinforcement learning Neuromorphic Computing for real-time systems and GPU acceleration His recent publications highlight trends in neural adaptation , predictive coding , and SNN hardware-software co-design . Awards include the Veni Innovational Research Grant (2004) and ERCIM grant (2013) . He actively supervises MSc theses and leads grants like the NWO KIC project 'Selfhealing Neuromorphic Systems' (2024).
Sara Magliacane is an Assistant Professor at the University of Amsterdam , affiliated with the Amsterdam Machine Learning Lab (AMLab) and the Informatics Institute . She also holds a Research Scientist position at the MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab and has been an ELLIS Scholar since 2022. Education PhD in Artificial Intelligence (2017), VU Amsterdam MSc in Computer Engineering (2011), Politecnico di Milano BSc in Computer Engineering (2008), Università degli Studi di Trieste Research Focus : At the intersection of Causality and Machine Learning , her work addresses Causal Representation Learning from high-dimensional data (images, sequences) Causal Discovery in latent confounder scenarios Causality-inspired Reinforcement Learning for robustness and adaptability Neurosymbolic AI for theoretical guarantees Publication Trends : Her recent work explores Factored adaptation in non-stationary environments (NeurIPS 2022) Temporal causal identifiability (ICML 2022) Binary interaction-based causal discovery (UAI 2023) Safe exploration in visual RL (HSCC 2021) Structure learning lower bounds (NeurIPS 2020) Scientific Recognition : ELLIS Scholar (2022–present) Spotlight presentations at ICML 2022 and ICLR 2022 Advising & Collaborations : Currently supervising 6 PhD students at the University of Amsterdam and AUMC, with 12 alumni advisees. Collaborates with researchers at MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab, Simons Institute, and TUM.
Guy G. Drijkoningen is an Associate Professor in Applied Geophysics at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences. He is actively involved in teaching and research within the Department of Applied Geophysics & Petrophysics. Education: MSc, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands PhD, Cambridge University, UK Research Focus: His work centers on Seismic Experiments & Modelling , particularly in exploration and shallow-subsurface contexts. Key areas include: Seismic data acquisition on land Continuous seismic monitoring Shallow shear-wave imaging (land and marine) Seismic wave propagation in porous media Current projects leverage advanced sensor networks (e.g., LOFAR), full-waveform inversion for tunnel-boring machines, and novel vibrator technologies. Publications Trend: Recent works (2011–2016) emphasize seismic modeling, inversion techniques, and experimental validation across marine and terrestrial environments. Topics span poroelastic wave theory, ambient-noise interferometry, and innovative seismic source design, reflecting a blend of theoretical and applied geophysics. Scientific Awards: Best-paper award Geophysics 2015 for "A seismic vertical vibrator driven by linear synchronous motors" Professional Memberships & Editorial Roles: Member: Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) Member: European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE) Associate Editor: Geophysics Teaching: He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses including Introduction to Geophysics, Reflection Seismology, and specialized PhD-level modules on seismic data analysis.
Frank Willems is a Full Professor of Systems and Control Technology and Chair of Integrated Powertrain Control at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), holding a part-time position realized with support from TNO. He is affiliated with the Control Systems Technology group within the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and also contributes to EIRES and EAISI research initiatives. Dr. Willems obtained his MSc (1995) and PhD (2000) in Mechanical Engineering from Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). His academic journey continued with a position at TNO Automotive, where he currently serves as a principal scientist in powertrain control. Professor Willems' research focuses on developing optimal and robust control methods for automotive powertrain systems. His work addresses the critical challenge of integrating energy and emission management strategies at the powertrain system level, which is essential as traditional methods become infeasible due to increasingly strict environmental regulations. Key research areas include control-oriented modeling of internal combustion engines, cylinder pressure-based combustion control, and integrated energy and emission management. His research aims to minimize development time and costs through model-based control methods, with the ultimate goal of achieving auto-calibration where powertrain energy efficiency is optimized online using smart sensors and route information. Dr. Willems serves as an Associate Editor for Control Engineering Practice and is an active member of the IFAC Technical Committee Automotive Control. He has participated in numerous international program committees for conferences including the IFAC Conference on 'Engine and Powertrain Control, Simulation and Modeling (E-CoSM)', IFAC Symposium 'Advances in Automotive Control (AAC)', and 'Symposium for Combustion Control (SCC)'. His research has been supported by organizations including the Dutch Technology Foundation (STW) and DENSO Japan. At TU/e, Professor Willems teaches courses on 'Optimal control and reinforcement learning' and 'Advanced control for future heavy-duty powertrains.' His research group, part of the Control Systems Technology group, focuses on developing self-learning powertrain control systems to address the complexity and diversity of future ultra-clean and efficient vehicles.
Joris M. Mooij is a Professor of Mathematical Statistics at the Korteweg-De Vries Institute of the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands. His research focuses on causality, spanning causal modeling, discovery, and inference with applications in biology, medicine, fairness, and business analytics. He combines mathematical modeling with statistical and algorithmic approaches in his work. Dr. Mooij received his PhD with honors from Radboud University Nijmegen in 2007, focusing on approximate inference in graphical models. After postdoctoral work at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen, Germany, he obtained an NWO VENI grant in 2011 for further postdoctoral research at Radboud University. He became Assistant Professor at the University of Amsterdam's Informatics Institute in 2013, was promoted to Associate Professor in 2017, and became a full Professor of Mathematical Statistics in 2020. Dr. Mooij's research centers on causal inference, with particular expertise in structural causal models, cyclic causal systems, and causal discovery algorithms. His work addresses fundamental questions about when causal relationships can be identified from observational data and how to develop robust causal discovery methods that work in complex real-world settings with latent variables, cycles, and selection bias. He has made significant contributions to understanding the limitations of existing causal discovery approaches and developing new methods that overcome these limitations. His research group organizes the Amsterdam Causality Meeting series and develops theoretical frameworks for causal modeling that encompass both acyclic and cyclic systems. Dr. Mooij has collaborated extensively on applications of causal methods in biological systems, including protein signaling networks and gene expression data. The group's recent work explores performative predictions, causal domain adaptation, and robust causal discovery methods that account for selection bias and missing data. Dr. Mooij has received numerous awards for his research, including: Best paper award at UAI for "Establishing Markov equivalence in cyclic directed graphs" IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society 2011 Letters Prize Paper Award ICML Test of Time Honorable Mention Best student paper award at UAI 2010 He has secured competitive research funding through an NWO VENI grant, NWO VIDI grant, and an ERC Starting Grant, which supported the establishment of his research group consisting of 3 PhD students and 3 postdocs focused entirely on causality. Dr. Mooij has supervised several PhD students, including Tineke Blom, whose work on "Causality and Independence in Perfectly Adapted Dynamical Systems" significantly influenced his thinking about causality in complex systems. He has co-taught the MasterMath course on Causality and published lecture notes titled "A Mathematical Introduction to Causality." His research continues to push the boundaries of causal inference methodology and its applications across diverse scientific domains.
Joaquin Vanschoren is an Associate Professor of Machine Learning at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), affiliated with the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science. He leads the Automated Machine Learning group and serves as Education Director for the Data Science program. His research focuses on democratizing AI, algorithm selection, and open science platforms like OpenML. He has received awards including the Dutch Data Prize and Amazon Research Award. Education: PhD in Engineering (KU Leuven, Belgium), MSc in Computer Science (KU Leuven). Research visits included IBM, Amazon Research, and universities globally. Research Interests: Machine Learning, Automated ML, Meta-learning, AI Safety, Data-centric AI. He co-founded OpenML and chairs MLCommons' AI Safety working group. Key Projects: NeurIPS Datasets and Benchmarks track, MLCommons initiatives, OpenML platform. Supervised 78 research works and authored 200+ papers. Awards: Dutch Data Prize (2016), Amazon Research Award (2019), Microsoft Azure Research Awards (2016–2017). Labs/Teams: OpenML open source team, MLCommons collaborations, Automated Machine Learning group at TU/e.
Anna Vilanova is a Full Professor in Visual Analytics at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), and is associated with the Electrical Engineering department's Signal Processing Systems. Previously, she served as Associate Professor at TU Delft (2013-2019) and Assistant Professor at TU/e (2002-2013). Her research focuses on Visual Analytics for high-dimensional data , explainable AI , and biomedical applications including Diffusion Weighted Imaging, 4D Flow, and Pangenomics. Education: Doctorate in Computer Graphics & Visualization (2001) Master in Computer Science (1997), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Research Highlights: Vilanova leads work on Visual Analytics systems for biomedical data, with recent publications in Diffusion MRI modeling , Tractography visualization , Explainable AI frameworks , and Pangenomic variant analysis . Her work bridges dimensionality reduction , uncertainty visualization , and medical imaging applications. Scientific Contributions: NWO-Veni grant (2005): "Visualization of global tensor information for diffusion tensor imaging" NWO-Aspasia grant (2013) Best Poster Award EuroVis (2025) Best Demo/Poster Awards (2022) Leadership & Service: Vilanova serves on the IEEE VIS Steering Committee , was EUROGRAPHICS President (2019-2022), and contributes to conferences like IEEE Visualization and EG-EuroVis . She co-founded the EAISI Health research initiative at TU/e.
Rodrigo González is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, since 2022. His research focuses on data-driven modeling, estimation, and control methods for high-tech precision systems, with applications in motion control and continuous-time system identification. Education: Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 2022) M.Sc. in Electronic Engineering (Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, 2016) His work emphasizes continuous-time system identification, state-space modeling, and Bayesian estimation techniques. Key research themes include motion control tuning, multivariable systems, and noise/disturbance modeling in precision engineering applications. Rodrigo has received the Best Electronic Engineering Student Award (2016) and Best Thesis Award from Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María. He has active collaborations with institutions like Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María through visiting researcher appointments. Scientific awards include: Best Electronic Engineering Student Award (2016) Best Thesis Award (Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María)
Erik Quaeghebeur is an Assistant Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology's School of Mathematics and Computer Science, focusing on uncertainty modeling in artificial intelligence. His work spans probabilistic circuits, imprecise probability theory, and wind energy applications. PhD in Applied Mathematics (Ghent University, 2002-2009) Master's in Applied Mathematics (Université catholique de Louvain, 2001-2002) Master's in Physics Engineering (Ghent University, 1998-2001) Research interests include probabilistic modeling under uncertainty, with applications in AI and wind energy systems. His recent work explores tensor factorizations, equivariant graph neural networks, and scalable probabilistic circuits. Scientific contributions include 60 research outputs and 2 datasets . Awards encompass the ERCIM Alain Bensoussan Fellowship (2013), BOF Postdoc (2010), and B.A.E.F. Francqui Fellowship (2009). He serves on committees for the Society for Imprecise Probability and acts as editorial board member for related conferences. Foundations of Artificial Intelligence course (since 2020) Uncertainty Representations and Reasoning course (since 2021)
Geert Buelens (born 1971) is a Professor of Modern Dutch Literature at Utrecht University and guest professor at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. Affiliated with the Department of Languages, Literature and Communication within the Faculty of Humanities, he works at the Humanities Institute for Cultural Inquiry. His research focuses on the intersection of literature and society, particularly examining how writers and artists respond to moments of crisis. His areas of expertise include Environmental History, Literary History, Modern Dutch Literature, Cultural History, 1960s in Global Perspective, Avant-Garde Poetry from the First World War, and Poetry Song Culture. Buelens has published extensively on European poets of the First World War, the global cultural upheaval of the 1960s, the history of Flemish poetry, literature and decolonization, and cultural responses to the environmental and climate crisis. His notable publications include Wat we toen al wisten. De vergeten groene geschiedenis van 1972 (2022), which explores the environmental year 1972 and was awarded the Boon Prize while longlisted for the Jan Wolkers Prize; De Jaren Zestig: Een Cultuurgeschiedenis (2018), a comprehensive global perspective on the 1960s; and Europa Europa! Over de dichters van de Grote Oorlog (2008), examining WWI poetry across Europe. He has also published poetry collections including Ofwa (2020). Boon Prize for Best Fiction or Non-Fiction book of 2022 Longlisted for the Jan Wolkers Prize Buelens is actively involved in the Network for Environmental Humanities and participates in the HERA project 'Cultural Exchange in a Time of Global Conflict.' He frequently contributes to public debates on literature, environmental issues, and cultural history through media appearances and public lectures. His current research examines the relationship between literature and the climate crisis, with a particular focus on Dutch and Flemish literary responses to environmental challenges.
Bert de Vries is a Professor at the Signal Processing Systems Group at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), where he has been employed since January 2012. He maintains a dual career, also working at GN Hearing in the hearing aids industry since April 1999, where he holds both research and managerial roles. His academic journey began at TU/e, where he earned his MSc in Electrical Engineering in 1986, followed by a PhD from the University of Florida in 1991. Between 1992 and 1999, he worked at Sarnoff Research Center in Princeton, NJ, contributing to diverse signal and image processing projects. Professor de Vries's research centers on Bayesian Machine Learning, with particular focus on the Free Energy Principle and its applications to engineering problems. His work bridges theoretical neuroscience with practical signal processing systems, especially in biomedical applications. He directs the BIASlab research team at TU/e, which develops probabilistic programming tools including RxInfer.jl, ForneyLab.jl, GraphPPL.jl, ReactiveMP.jl, and Rocket.jl. His research spans active inference, variational message passing, probabilistic programming, and Bayesian neural networks, with applications ranging from hearing aids to multi-agent systems. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward practical implementations of Bayesian inference frameworks, particularly through Julia-based probabilistic programming tools. His work shows increasing focus on active inference applications, message passing algorithms, and the intersection of Riemannian geometry with probabilistic modeling. The research demonstrates consistent progression from theoretical foundations toward real-world engineering applications, particularly in biomedical signal processing and autonomous systems. Professor de Vries teaches a graduate-level course on Bayesian Machine Learning at TU/e and actively contributes to open-source software development through his GitHub profile (bertdv), with recent activity as recent as August 2025. His research team has developed several influential probabilistic programming libraries that have gained significant attention in the machine learning community. The BIASlab research group continues to advance the state of the art in Bayesian inference methods with applications in hearing technology, robotics, and signal processing.
Arno Siebes is Professor of Algorithmic Data Analysis in the Department of Information and Computing Sciences at Utrecht University's Faculty of Science. His research focuses on data mining methodologies, particularly pattern mining and Minimum Description Length (MDL) principles. Key research areas include: Developing efficient algorithms for pattern discovery Applying MDL to data characterization Creating interpretable models for complex datasets Addressing challenges in data science education Recent publications demonstrate applications in diverse domains including mobility analysis, genomic screening, and pandemic response. His work combines theoretical foundations with practical implementations for knowledge discovery.
Nikhil Bansal holds the prestigious Patrick C. Fischer Professorship of Theoretical Computer Science in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Michigan's College of Engineering. His research program has established him as a leading figure in theoretical computer science, with significant contributions to algorithm design and analysis, particularly in discrete optimization problems. Bansal's research focuses on theoretical computer science with emphasis on design and analysis of algorithms for discrete optimization problems. His work spans multiple areas including discrepancy theory, approximation algorithms, randomized algorithms, combinatorial optimization, complexity theory, machine learning theory, and probability. He has made significant contributions to understanding the limits of approximation algorithms and developing novel techniques for combinatorial optimization problems. Analysis of Bansal's recent publications reveals a strong focus on discrepancy theory, online algorithms, and combinatorial optimization. His work often bridges theoretical computer science with discrete mathematics and probability theory. A recurring theme across his publications is the development of novel algorithmic techniques for solving NP-hard problems with provable guarantees. His research has evolved from foundational work in approximation algorithms to more recent contributions in quantum computing complexity and stochastic optimization. Patrick C. Fischer Professor of Theoretical Computer Science Bansal has advised numerous PhD students including Marek Elias, Shashwat Garg, and Greg Koumoutsous, as well as mentoring several postdoctoral researchers. He has served on editorial boards for top journals including Journal of the ACM, Theory of Computing, and Stochastic Models, and has been active on program committees for major conferences such as STOC, FOCS, SODA, and ICALP, including serving as chair for ICALP 2021. Bansal has organized multiple academic workshops including the STOC 2020 Workshop on Recent Advances in Discrepancy and Applications, several SDP Days at CWI Amsterdam, and the Semester on Bridging Continuous and Discrete Optimization at UC Berkeley in Fall 2017.
Prof. Sander M. Bohte holds a part-time appointment as a Professor of Computational Neuroscience at the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS), University of Amsterdam, and is a researcher at the CWI Machine Learning group. His research focuses on computational models of neural information processing, emphasizing spiking neural networks, predictive coding, and reinforcement learning. He bridges computational neuroscience and machine learning, exploring how biological insights can improve neural network designs and vice versa. Key collaborations include work with Cyriel Pennartz (UvA), Pieter Roelfsema (NIN), and Steven Scholte (B&C). His applied research spans scientific machine learning applications in finance and genomics. He actively supervises MSc thesis students, prioritizing those from UvA, with projects ranging from biologically inspired neural architectures to efficient spiking network simulations. Research highlights include developing biologically plausible learning rules for deep networks, predictive coding models for sensory data, and spiking network models for working memory tasks. His work also addresses challenges in temporal dynamics and scalable neural computation, leveraging both theoretical and applied perspectives.
