Michael Riegler is a Researcher at the AI Department, Simula Research Laboratory , focusing on interdisciplinary applications of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare, sports analytics, and multimedia systems. His work bridges Machine Learning , AI Alignment , and Applied AI across clinical and real-world domains. Key Affiliations: Simula Research Laboratory (AI Department Head) Research Themes: Explainable AI in medicine, multimodal data analysis, and AI-driven health monitoring Research Interests include: Developing AI/ML algorithms for medical imaging (e.g., polyp detection, embryo analysis) Addressing missing data challenges in healthcare through novel imputation techniques Creating multimodal virtual avatars for investigative interview training Designing edge AI systems for sports analytics and sustainable fishing Recent Publications highlight collaborations with institutions in Norway and globally, with a focus on: Medical Applications: Polyp segmentation, ECG analysis, and explainable models for disease detection Sports Analytics: Athlete performance prediction and soccer video processing Data Infrastructure: Lifelogging datasets (ScopeSense), semantic representation frameworks Labs & Teams include leadership in Simula’s AI Department and participation in projects like Medico Multimedia Task , ImageCLEF , and MediaEval workshops. His work emphasizes responsible AI innovation in public sectors and privacy-preserving systems for edge environments.
Emie Yiannaka is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, affiliated with the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Her research focuses on the economic impacts of new technologies and policies in the agri-food sector, including genetically modified products, food fraud, and consumer behavior. Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics, University of Saskatchewan (2002) M.Sc. in Agricultural and Resource Economics, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute at Chania, Greece (1996) M.A. in Agricultural Policy, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute at Chania, Greece (1995) B.Sc. in Agricultural Economics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece (1994) Her research spans topics such as innovation economics, intellectual property strategies, consumer acceptance of food technologies, and the economic effects of corporate social responsibility. Recent work examines food fraud deterrence, information avoidance behavior, and ecosystem services valuation. She has published extensively in journals like Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics , PLOS ONE , and American Journal of Agricultural Economics . Yiannaka has taught courses including Agricultural Marketing in Multinational Environments, Applied Welfare Economics, and Innovation Strategies. She has mentored numerous advisees, including Mavroutsikos C., Deka A., Britwum K., and Meerza S.I.A., who co-authored key publications on food fraud and consumer behavior.
Ines M. L. Azevedo is a Professor in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at Stanford University, with courtesy appointments in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth System Science. As a Senior Fellow at the Precourt Institute for Energy, her research bridges environmental, technical, economic, and policy dimensions of energy systems. Research Focus: Energy system transitions, air pollution impacts, climate change mitigation, and equity in electrification. Awards: C3E Women in Clean Energy Research Award (2017) Philip L. Dowd Fellowship (2017) World Economic Forum Young Scientists Under 40 (2014) Advising: Mentors doctoral and master's students in energy systems and environmental research. Recent Article Trends: Analyzes air quality in India, lifecycle impacts of battery recycling, and equity dimensions of transportation electrification.
Ping He is a Professor in the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. His research focuses on plant immunity mechanisms, particularly using Arabidopsis as a model system to study pathogen defense activation, signaling pathways, and the interplay between immunity and environmental stress responses. He also leads the Molecular, Plant-Microbe Interaction Laboratory, applying interdisciplinary approaches (genetics, biochemistry, cellular biology) to enhance crop resilience through foundational plant science discoveries. His work bridges plant biology and computational biology, with recent contributions to AI-driven medical imaging applications such as bladder cancer treatment response assessment, lung cancer early detection, and breast tomosynthesis denoising. These efforts emphasize integrating machine learning into clinical workflows and establishing best practices for AI in healthcare. Research Highlights: Plant immunity signaling and environmental stress crosstalk Radiomics and deep learning for cancer diagnosis/prognosis AI model validation and multi-institutional clinical trials Medical imaging artifact correction (e.g., motion blur, noise) Publications emphasize AI applications in oncology imaging, radiologist decision support systems, and multimodal data fusion. He has contributed to AAPM task group guidelines for AI in computer-aided diagnosis and advocates for rigorous quality assurance frameworks in medical AI deployment.
Dr. Laura L. Van Eerd is a Professor of Sustainable Soil Management at the University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus, affiliated with the School of Environmental Sciences. Her research focuses on biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen and carbon in agroecosystems, emphasizing cover crops, soil health, and sustainable agriculture. She holds a BSc (Env), MSc, and PhD from the University of Guelph. Her research addresses: (1) cover crop roles in soil health and productivity, (2) nitrogen use efficiency, and (3) mitigating environmental impacts of agricultural practices. Current projects include cover crop nitrogen losses, remote sensing for crop nitrogen deficiency, and pest control product environmental impacts. She has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles, including the 2018 Best Paper in the Canadian Journal of Plant Science. Education: BSc (Environmental Science), University of Guelph MSc, University of Guelph PhD, University of Guelph Her awards include recognition as one of Canada’s Influential Women in Agriculture (2020), the Dr. Ron Pitblado Teaching Excellence Award (2016), and the OAC Distinguished Extension Award (2011). Her work bridges research, teaching, and extension to support Ontario’s agricultural sector. Advising and grants: Laura leads research teams at Ridgetown Campus, focusing on vegetable production systems and sustainable soil management. Her grants include funding for cover crop nitrogen dynamics and soil health indicator studies. Labs/teams: Active in Ridgetown Campus’s agricultural research initiatives, collaborating with growers and government to develop practical solutions for soil health and environmental sustainability.
Dr. John M. Ruter is the Allan M. Armitage Professor and Director of the UGA Trial Gardens within the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences at the University of Georgia. His work integrates plant breeding, genetics, and sustainable nursery crop production, focusing on ornamental plants for southeastern landscapes. Education: B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture, California Polytechnic State University (1984) M.S. in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design, University of Tennessee (1986) Ph.D. in Horticultural Science, University of Florida (1989) Research interests include developing climate-resilient ornamental plants (e.g., Camellia oleifera , hibiscus, crape myrtle), mutation breeding via gamma irradiation, and optimizing nursery production systems. Recent projects focus on polyploid conifer evaluation and tea oil crop development for the southeastern U.S. Recent publications highlight advancements in induced mutagenesis (EMS, gamma irradiation), disease resistance screening (Cercospora leaf spot), and genetic characterization of native and ornamental species. Key subfields include ornamental breeding , genomic analysis , and sustainable production practices . As Director of the UGA Trial Gardens, he leads plant evaluation programs that inform regional landscaping decisions and cultivar development.
Dr. Cristina Rosell is a Professor and Head of the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba. Her research focuses on grain-based food innovation, starch properties, and sustainable bakery processes. Education: PhD and BSc in Pharmacy from Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain Dr. Rosell specializes in cereal science, enzymatic food modification, and gluten-free product development. Her current projects include optimizing bakery processes with computational tools, tracing rice supply chains via blockchain, and integrating bioactives into gluten-free foods. Her work bridges food chemistry, nutritional science, and industrial bakery technology. Her recent research trends emphasize gluten-free bread using legume and root starches, starch-plant compound interactions , and sustainable food processing via microwave-assisted extraction, high-pressure treatments, and fermentation. Key subfields include dough rheology, polyphenol bioactivity, and techno-functional ingredient development. Dr. Rosell’s teaching includes graduate seminars in food science (HNSC 7130). She supervises graduate students in breadmaking, starch hydrolysis, and functional food design. Her lab explores grain quality, enzymatic treatments, and bakery product optimization through interdisciplinary approaches combining chemistry, nutrition, and process engineering.
Kayvon Fatahalian is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Stanford University. His research focuses on real-time graphics, high-efficiency simulation engines for entertainment and AI, and large-scale image/video analysis platforms. He explores intersections of computer graphics, machine learning, and high-performance computing to advance systems for interactive applications and AI-driven tasks. His work includes innovations in rendering pipelines, embodied AI simulations, and generative models for 3D content creation. Recent projects address challenges in multi-agent systems, motion synthesis, and scalable rendering architectures. Fatahalian’s contributions span technical systems, algorithmic frameworks, and foundational research in graphics and AI. Notable areas of exploration include: Real-time rendering optimizations for complex scenes AI-driven motion and style generation from sparse inputs Efficient simulation frameworks for deep reinforcement learning Weak supervision techniques for rare category detection His publications emphasize practical systems with theoretical grounding, often bridging hardware/software co-design principles with modern AI methodologies. Current work includes developing agile hardware accelerators and scalable architectures for next-generation interactive systems.
Tiffany M Jamann is an Associate Professor in Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois, where she holds the Monsanto Fellowship in Plant Breeding. Her research program focuses on understanding and improving disease resistance mechanisms in maize through integrated genetic, genomic, and phenotypic approaches. Dr. Jamann's work spans multiple disease systems with particular emphasis on foliar diseases such as Northern Leaf Blight and ear diseases like Gibberella ear rot. Her research interests include: Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping for disease resistance in maize Development of near-isogenic line populations for gene discovery Comparative studies of resistance mechanisms across different pathosystems Investigation of pattern-triggered immunity in maize Standardization of pathogen inoculation and disease rating methodologies Analysis of Dr. Jamann's recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strategic integration of traditional plant breeding with cutting-edge genomic approaches. Her work demonstrates increasing use of comparative genomics and transcriptomics to identify host-specificity genes in pathogens while maintaining strong focus on practical breeding applications. A notable trend is her development of standardized methodologies for pathogen inoculation across multiple disease systems, enabling more reliable resistance evaluation. Monsanto Fellow in Plant Breeding Multiple publications featured in news outlets and academic discussions Active research with significant social media engagement (46 X users mentioning her work) Dr. Jamann's research program likely involves extensive collaboration with other plant pathologists and breeders, as evidenced by her numerous co-authored publications. Her work on multi-environment trials suggests substantial field research across different geographical locations. The development of specialized maize germplasm, including near-isogenic lines, indicates long-term investment in genetic resources for disease resistance research. Her laboratory maintains sophisticated capabilities for pathogen characterization, high-throughput phenotyping using fluorescence microscopy, and genetic mapping approaches. The emphasis on both fundamental plant-pathogen interactions and applied crop improvement demonstrates a research program that bridges basic science with practical agricultural outcomes.
Chiu Ping Cheng is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Minnesota, USA, specializing in Molecular Biology and Plant-Microbe Interactions . With over two decades of research on Ralstonia solanacearum and its interactions with solanaceous crops, Dr. Cheng has pioneered studies on plant defense mechanisms against bacterial wilt, regulatory gene functions, and biocontrol agent applications. Current research: Plant-pathogen interactions Special techniques: Genomic screening, bacteriophage-derived proteins Key pathogens: Ralstonia solanacearum, Pectobacterium carotovorum His recent publications (2024) explore tomato cultivar resistance variation , NADPH oxidase-effector interactions , and phenylpropanoid metabolism in wild mungbean . Though no formal scientific awards are listed, his work has been featured in leading journals like Plant Cell & Environment and New Phytologist . Dr. Cheng operates from the Life Science Building R942 laboratory.
Nick Haddad is a Professor of Integrative Biology at Michigan State University and serves as the Director of the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) site at Kellogg Biological Station. His research focuses on ecological experimentation, particularly examining how habitat loss and fragmentation impact biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. He specializes in reversing these negative effects through landscape connectivity strategies and diversified working landscapes, with a strong emphasis on insect conservation, including critically endangered butterfly species. Role: Professor, Integrative Biology Directorship: KBS LTER Site Location: 322 Kellogg Biological Station Email: haddadn3@msu.edu Haddad's research spans habitat fragmentation, biodiversity conservation, climate change impacts, and agricultural sustainability. His lab conducts large-scale experiments like the Corridor Project and studies rare butterflies (e.g., St. Francis’ satyr, Miami blue) to understand extinction risks and recovery strategies. Recent work explores pesticide effects, prairie restoration, and long-term ecological trends. The 15 most recent publications highlight habitat fragmentation's ecological impacts, climate-driven phenological shifts, and innovative conservation approaches. Key themes include biodiversity monitoring, pesticide-driven declines, prairie restoration for pollinators, and climate adaptation strategies. His work leverages long-term datasets (e.g., 40-year LTER) and integrates theory with applied conservation. Lab activities include mentoring undergraduate and graduate students at KBS, leading the Haddad Lab, and collaborating on projects like the KBS-LTER and SRS Corridor initiatives. Research spans both terrestrial and agroecosystems, emphasizing actionable solutions for conservation and sustainable land use.
Nancy G. Love is the Borchardt and Glysson Collegiate Professor and JoAnn Silverstein Distinguished University Professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of Michigan, affiliated with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the African Studies Center. Her research focuses on water infrastructure, public health, and environmental systems, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to address challenges in both domestic and global contexts. Education: Ph.D. (1994) in Environmental Systems Engineering from Clemson University; MS (1986) and BS (1984) in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois. Research interests include water quality, pathogen fate and transport, sustainable resource recovery (e.g., urine-derived fertilizers), and infrastructure resilience in shrinking cities. She leads the Love Research Group, which integrates chemical, biological, and computational methods to develop technologies for contaminant removal, resource recovery, and public health protection. Her work addresses pressing issues like drinking water equity in Detroit, Legionella outbreaks in Flint, and global sanitation in Ethiopia. She advocates for transdisciplinary collaboration and community-informed solutions to environmental challenges. Awards include prestigious professorships at the University of Michigan. She serves on editorial boards (e.g., ACS ES&T Engineering) and contributes to policy initiatives on water infrastructure and environmental justice. Labs/Teams: Love Research Group; Collaborations span academia, industry, and NGOs, including projects on urine diversion, sensor-mediated wastewater treatment, and civic engagement in infrastructure decisions.
Ben Seiyon Lee is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Statistics at George Mason University's College of Science. His work bridges computational statistics, climate modeling, and environmental risk assessment. Education: PhD in Statistics, Pennsylvania State University (2020) Lee specializes in computational methods for high-dimensional spatiotemporal data and uncertainty quantification in climate models. His research explores climate change impacts on extreme hydrological events, wildfire emissions, and medical decision-making. Recent publications focus on Bayesian spatiotemporal frameworks for extreme precipitation analysis, zero-inflated spatial models, and multisector uncertainty quantification. His work addresses challenges in flood risk assessment, agricultural yield projections, and healthcare compliance metrics.
Professor Sylvia Urban is a distinguished academic at RMIT University, serving as a Professor of Chemistry in the School of Science. She leads the Marine and Terrestrial Natural Product (MATNAP) research group and is the Program Manager for the Bachelor of Science degree, the largest and flagship program in the School of Science. Professor Urban also holds significant leadership roles including Reconciliation and Responsible Practice Facilitator in the School of Science (STEM College) and member of the Nugulu Committee at RMIT University. Her expertise spans natural products chemistry and separation science, with particular focus on chromatography for purification and instrumental analysis for structural characterisation and elucidation. Professor Urban's research interests encompass natural product chemistry isolation and structural elucidation, NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry for characterisation of natural products, High Performance/Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and other chromatographic techniques for natural product purification, hyphenated spectroscopic techniques such as HPLC-NMR and HPLC-MS for natural product profiling, and biological evaluation of natural products for drug discovery applications. Her work primarily focuses on exploring the biodiversity of Australian marine and terrestrial organisms including plants, fungi, sponges, and algae to discover new compounds with therapeutic potential. She has developed various dereplication and chemical profiling strategies to expedite the discovery process. Professor Urban's publication record demonstrates a strong focus on natural products derived from Australian flora and marine organisms, with particular emphasis on their chemical characterisation and biological evaluation. Her research spans ethnobotanical studies of Indigenous Australian medicinal plants, phytochemical profiling of Australian species, anthelmintic and antimicrobial assessments of natural compounds, and development of analytical methodologies for natural product research. The interdisciplinary nature of her work connects chemistry with pharmacology, ethnobotany, and sustainable development goals related to health, education, and gender equality. STEM College Learning & Teaching Award (Award for Values in Action) 2024 STEM College Athena Swan Award 2023 Top STEM College Media Star 2022 School of Science Reconciliation Champion Award for 2021 School of Science Associate Dean's Impact Award (Applied Chemistry) for 2021 STEM Female Educator of the Year Award in the STEM College in 2021 Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) in 2020 2019 Australian Award for University Teaching (AAUT) Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning Professor Urban actively supervises Masters and PhD students, with recent projects focusing on nanoparticle synthesis, natural product evaluation from Australian plants and marine organisms, food science applications, and biomedical imaging agents. She has received numerous teaching grants including the SteLR Grant 2017 for Pen-enabled, Real-time Student Engagement for Teaching in STEM Subjects, SteLR Plus Learning and Teaching Grant 2016 for Contextualizing Learning Chemistry, and Global Learning by Design (GLbD) Learning and Teaching Grant 2014. As the leader of the MATNAP research group, Professor Urban oversees a team focused on exploring Australian biodiversity for drug discovery. She has been instrumental in establishing the VICS Molecular Resolution Facility (chromatography node at RMIT University) as part of "The Pipeline – An Integrated Approach to Drug Design and Development." Her research involves collaborations both within and external to RMIT University, including Australian and international university and industry partners.
David Lillis is an Associate Professor in the School of Computer Science at University College Dublin (UCD). His research focuses on Natural Language Processing (NLP), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and their applications in legal and forensic contexts. He leads projects like CeADAR (Ireland’s Applied AI Center) and the Transpire project, collaborating with organizations such as Corlytics and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. He holds adjunct roles as a Guest Professor at Beijing University of Technology’s Data Mining and Security Lab and has been a Fulbright Scholar at the University of New Haven’s Cyber Forensics Research and Education Group. Education: B.A. (Hons) in Law and Accounting, University of Limerick Higher Diploma in Computer Science, UCD M.Sc., Ph.D. in Computer Science, UCD Professional Certificate in University Teaching & Learning, UCD Research Interests: Legal AI, digital forensics, machine learning, multi-agent systems, and information retrieval. Recent work includes NLP for regulatory analysis, crop yield prediction via neural networks, and AR-driven decision support systems. Grants & Projects: Principal Investigator: Transpire (AI Platform for Regulation) SFI Funded Investigator: CONSUS (Crop Optimization) PI: CeADAR Technology Centre Teaching roles include Deputy Programme Director for Software Engineering at Beijing-Dublin International College (BDIC) since 2014. Labs & Groups: UCD Forensics and Security Research Group, ML-Labs (SFI Centre for ML Training), and the Data Mining and Security Lab (BJUT).
