Zhang Daqing is a Professor at Peking University (Boya Chair Professor since 2014) and Full Professor at Telecom SudParis, France (2007–present). Previously, he held roles such as Department Head at the Institute for Infocomm Research (2004–2007) and Research Scientist positions in Singapore and Italy. He earned his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Rome 'La Sapienza' in 1996. His research focuses on urban computing, context-aware systems, wireless sensing, and big data analytics. His work has been cited over 14,400 times with an H-index of 59. Key awards include the IEEE Fellow (2019) and multiple best paper awards at conferences like ACM UbiComp and IEEE UIC. Zhang has served as General Chair for 17 international conferences and is an associate editor for journals such as IEEE Pervasive Computing and ACM Transactions on Intelligent Systems. His contributions to context modeling have significantly impacted pervasive computing and service computing communities.
Gene Tsudik is a Distinguished Professor of Computer Science at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), with a career spanning over two decades. He obtained his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1991, focusing on access control in the Internet. His research spans multiple areas including computer and network security, applied cryptography, and digital privacy, with a recent emphasis on database privacy, genomic privacy, and usable security. His notable contributions include the Inter-Domain Policy Routing (IDPR) protocol, KryptoKnight for network security, and Tree-Based Group Key Agreement protocols. He has over 210 publications and 8 patents. From 2002 to 2007, he served as Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies at UCI's School of Information and Computer Sciences and currently directs the UCI Secure Computing and Networking Center (SCONCE). Research Keywords : Cybersecurity, Cryptography, Privacy, Network Security, Digital Signatures, Genomic Data Protection. Scientific Awards : IEEE Fellow (2012), ACM Fellow (2014), AAAS Fellow (2016), Fulbright Senior Scholar (2007), and IFIP Fellow (2020). Professor Tsudik has supervised 18 PhD students and held visiting positions at universities across Europe and Asia. His recent publications focus on secure hardware attestation, biometric authentication, and social media data privacy.
Dr. Yunjie Yang is an Associate Professor at the University of Edinburgh's School of Engineering, with affiliations at the Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI), the Edinburgh Generative AI Laboratory (GAIL), and the Edinburgh Centre for Robotics. He previously held the Chancellor's Fellow in Data Driven Innovation (2018-2023) and Bayes Innovation Fellow (2023-2024) positions. His research focuses on AI-powered sensing and imaging, machine learning, and soft sensors & electronics for robotics. Yang received his PhD in Engineering Electronics from the University of Edinburgh, MSc in Control Science & Engineering from Tsinghua University, and BEng in Measurement & Control Engineering from Anhui University. After his PhD, he worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Chemical Species Tomography before securing his lectureship. His research interests center on developing intelligent sensing systems that replicate human perception capabilities for robotics and intelligent systems. He pioneers flexible sensing and imaging technologies across various scales through innovative multi-modal sensors, soft electronics, and their modeling using machine learning approaches. His work aims to enable autonomous physical artificial intelligence by bridging the gap between robotic systems and human-like perception. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on soft robotics perception, particularly through electrical impedance tomography (EIT) and transformer-based architectures. His research spans medical imaging applications, digital twin modeling for industrial processes, and machine learning approaches for sensor data interpretation. The trend shows increasing integration of physics-informed deep learning with traditional tomographic techniques to achieve higher accuracy and efficiency. European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant (2024) IEEE J. Barry Oakes Advancement Award (2024) IEEE I&M Society Graduate Fellowship Award (2015) Multiple Best Paper Awards Senior Member of IEEE Fellow of the International Society for Industrial Process Tomography Fellow of the Higher Education Academy ESI highly cited papers Dr. Yang serves as Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement and holds editorial positions with Scientific Reports and IEEE Sensors Journal. His research has been licensed to overseas research institutes and industry partners and received wide media coverage including BBC, EFE, USA Today, and STV. He has secured significant grant funding including the prestigious ERC Starting Grant. He leads the Edinburgh SMART Lab (Sensing/imaging + Machine Learning + Robotics), which aims to replicate human perception capabilities for robotics and advance flexible sensing technologies through innovative multi-modal sensors and machine learning approaches. The lab focuses on enabling autonomous physical artificial intelligence with applications spanning medical diagnostics, industrial monitoring, and advanced robotics systems.
Peter Druschel is a Professor and founding Director of the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems (MPI-SWS) in Saarbrücken, Germany. He holds adjunct professorships at Saarland University and the University of Maryland. His research focuses on distributed systems, operating systems, and privacy-preserving technologies. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Arizona in 1994 and has held roles at Rice University since 1994, including Professor of Computer Science (2002–2005). Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of Arizona (1994) Research Interests: Distributed systems, operating systems, network security, accountable computing, and privacy technologies. Current projects include privacy compliance in data systems (Thoth), secure communication (EbN), and privacy-aware image capture (I-Pic). Awards: SIGOPS Mark Weiser Award (2008) NSF CAREER Award (1995) Member of Academia Europaea and German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina Grants & Leadership: Leads the ERC Synergy Project imPACT, chairs the Max Planck Society’s Chemistry, Physics, and Technology Section, and collaborates with institutions like Cornell and Google. Advises on policy issues related to technology and privacy. Labs/Teams: Distributed Systems Group at MPI-SWS, collaborations with Microsoft Research and MIT. Current team includes students and postdocs working on privacy, security, and distributed systems.
Andrea C. Ferrari is a Professor of Nanotechnology at the Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, UK. He holds multiple leadership roles, including Director of the Cambridge Graphene Centre and EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Graphene Technology, and serves as Science and Technology Officer for the EU Graphene Flagship. Education: PhD, University of Cambridge (2001) Laurea in Nuclear Engineering, Politecnico di Milano (1997) Ferrari’s research focuses on graphene, 2D materials, and their applications in nanotechnology, photonics, optoelectronics, and Raman spectroscopy. His work bridges fundamental studies and industrial translation, emphasizing scalable synthesis and characterization techniques. His publications span over 390 peer-reviewed articles, including groundbreaking studies on graphene photonics, quantum emitters, and advanced optoelectronic devices. These works are highly cited, with an H-index of 115 and over 116,000 total citations. Scientific Awards: IMR-Lee Hsun Lecture Award (2018) Nanosmat Award (2017) Knight Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy (2017) ERC Synergy Grant (2013) EU-40 Materials Prize (2011) Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award (2010) ERC Starting Grant (2008) Philip Leverhulme Prize (2005) Ferrari has secured over £60M in research funding, including leadership roles in the EU Graphene Flagship and the EU Quantum Technology Flagship. He is a Fellow of the Optical Society, Materials Research Society, Institute of Physics, and American Physical Society.
Paolo Gamba is Full Professor in Telecommunications and Remote Sensing at the University of Pavia, Italy, where he previously led the Telecommunications and Remote Sensing Laboratory until 2021. He currently serves as Delegate of the Rector for international relations with USA and the Americas. Gamba is Principal Investigator for projects funded by the Italian Space Agency (ASI), Italian Ministry for External Affairs, and European Space Agency (ESA), and coordinates the School of Science and Technology for the Consortium of Italian Universities for Argentina (CUIA). His research focuses on urban remote sensing , image processing , data fusion , and Earth observation applications for physical exposure and risk management. He has pioneered work in remote sensing data analysis and telecommunications, with particular emphasis on developing methods for urban environment monitoring. Gamba holds significant leadership positions in scientific organizations: Current Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Magazine Former President of IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (2019-2020) Technical Chair for multiple IGARSS conferences Founding organizer of GRSS/ISPRS Joint Workshops on Remote Sensing over Urban Areas Awards & Honors: IEEE Fellow (2013) IAPR Fellow (2020) AAIA Fellow (2022) Outstanding Service Award from IEEE GRSS (2021) Multiple excellence in reviewing awards He maintains active involvement in space mission planning through membership in advisory groups for COSMO/SkyMed Constellation (ASI) and Sentinel-2 Next Generation mission (ESA). Gamba has published extensively with over 150 peer-reviewed journal articles and 300+ conference presentations.
Vladimir Kazeev is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Mathematics, University of Vienna , where he has held a faculty position since 2019. He also held previous academic appointments as a Szegő Assistant Professor at Stanford University (2017–2019), a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Geneva (2015–2017), and research positions at ETH Zurich (2011–2015), Russian Academy of Sciences (2008–2011), and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (2009). His research focuses on adaptive, data-driven numerical methods for differential equations, nonlinear low-parametric approximation, and numerical linear algebra. His work intersects computational mathematics, tensor methods, and high-dimensional problem-solving, particularly in the context of partial differential equations (PDEs) and stochastic modeling. The 15 most recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on quantized tensor-structured methods for PDEs, low-rank approximations, and high-dimensional numerical analysis. His research spans theoretical advancements in tensor decomposition, practical applications in chemical reaction networks, and novel discretization techniques for multiscale and degenerate diffusion problems. Scientific awards include the prestigious ETH Medal for outstanding doctoral theses (2016) Russian Academy of Sciences Medal for outstanding student works in mathematics (2011) Advising and teaching activities include supervising Jason Zhu (Stanford, 2019) and Simon Etter (ETH Zurich, 2014), as well as teaching advanced courses in tensor methods, numerical analysis, and PDEs at the University of Vienna, Stanford University, and the University of Geneva. His service to the community includes peer review for 15+ journals and co-organizing minisymposia at SIAM meetings.
Dr. Borivoje Dakic is an Associate Professor at the University of Vienna , affiliated with the Faculty of Physics and the Quantum Optics, Quantum Nanophysics and Quantum Information department. His research spans foundational and applied aspects of quantum theory. Operational reconstruction of quantum formalism Quantum interference as a resource for communication Tomography of large-scale quantum systems Macroscopic quantum phenomena His work includes scalable verification techniques for quantum devices and collaborations with experimental teams like Philip Walther’s and Markus Aspelmeyer’s groups. He received the Marko Jarić Prize (2025) for his contributions. Recent projects focus on diagnostics of quantum devices (FWF BeyondC SFB), information-theoretic foundations of quantum interference (FWF P36994), and local operations in quantum field theory (Cluster of Excellence QuantA). His research on quantum coherence in networks and macroscopic entanglement challenges traditional assumptions about quantum-classical boundaries. Publications emphasize resource-efficient tomography, device-independent verification, and foundational frameworks for quantum statistics and field theory. Teaching: Quantum Information (2025W), Theory in Quantum Optics (2025S), VCQ Summerschool Labs: Dakić Group at University of Vienna
Kan Haidong is a Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean at the School of Public Health, Fudan University (Shanghai, China). He holds the Chang-Jiang Scholar Professorship from the Ministry of Education and serves as an Associate Editor for Environmental Health Perspectives and International Journal of Epidemiology . His research focuses on environmental epidemiology, air pollution impacts, and climate change health effects. He has authored over 114 h-index papers and been recognized as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher and Stanford Top 2% Scientist. Education: PhD in Environmental Epidemiology, Fudan University (2003) MS in Environmental Health Sciences, Fudan University (2000) MD in Preventive Medicine, Shanghai Medical University (1997) Research Interests: Kan’s work bridges environmental exposures (air pollution, climate change) with human health outcomes. Key areas include particulate matter toxicity, heatwave mortality, and policy-driven health interventions. His studies often involve large-scale epidemiological analyses and global health collaborations. Key Awards: Wu-Jieping Paul Janssen Medical-Pharmaceutical Award (2018) US EPA Scientific Achievement Award (2015) Elsevier Top Influential Chinese Scholar (2014–2023) Grants/Editorial Roles: He leads WHO air quality guideline projects and chairs editorial boards for top journals. His grants focus on climate health adaptation and pollution mitigation strategies in China and globally. Labs/Teams: Directs Fudan’s Environmental Health Department and collaborates with global networks like the China Kadoorie Biobank and Lancet Planetary Health initiatives.
Chris Marone is a Full Professor (Professore Ordinario) at La Sapienza Università di Roma since 2020, with prior roles as Professor of Geophysics at The Pennsylvania State University (2003–2020) and Associate/Assistant Professor at MIT (1997–2000, 1992–1997). His research spans earthquake physics, geomechanics, and rock deformation. Ph.D. in Geophysics from Columbia University (1988) 40+ years of academic experience across multiple institutions His work focuses on frictional mechanics, slow earthquakes, and fault slip behaviors, integrating laboratory experiments and field observations. Recent themes include rate-state friction laws, rock-fluid interactions, and granular mechanics. Key trends in his publications reveal interdisciplinary approaches combining deep learning (2022), high-frequency seismic signatures (2022), and poromechanics (2022) with traditional geophysical methods. His research has dominated fault healing and stress dynamics for decades. ERC Advanced Grant: TECTONIC Louis Néel Medal (European Geosciences Union) Fellow of the American Geophysical Union Paul F. Robertson Award for Breakthrough of the Year Kerr-McGee Career Development Professorship
Cesare Franchini is a full Professor at the University of Vienna's Faculty of Physics, leading the Computational Materials Physics research group. His work focuses on theoretical understanding and computational modeling of quantum materials using first principles methods, particularly VASP. He maintains an active research program with numerous postdocs, PhD students, and collaborations across multiple institutions including the University of Bologna. Professor Franchini's research centers on quantum materials with many interacting degrees of freedom (lattice, spin, and electron orbital) that enable novel electronic and magnetic phases. His specific interests include metal-insulator transitions, polaron physics (electron-phonon interactions), non-collinear spin orderings, topological Dirac/Weyl phases, multiferroism, and superconductivity. He has increasingly incorporated machine learning data-driven tools and diagrammatic Monte Carlo techniques into his computational approaches. Analysis of his recent publications (2024-2025) reveals a strong focus on polaron physics across multiple material systems, with significant work on hematite, titanium dioxide, and quantum paraelectrics like KTaO3. His research increasingly integrates machine learning with traditional first-principles methods, particularly for studying hydrogen diffusion, surface science phenomena, and electronic structure calculations. There's also substantial work on single-atom catalysis and the application of advanced computational techniques to understand fundamental charge transport mechanisms in energy materials. Professor Franchini actively supervises numerous PhD students and postdocs, including Andrea Angeletti, Viktor Birschitzky, Lorenzo Celiberti, and several others working on diverse aspects of computational materials physics. He leads or participates in major research projects including TACO (Taming Complexity in Materials Modeling), DCAFM (Doctoral College Advanced Functional Materials), and the recently launched Spin-orbit entangled anharmonic polarons project. His group maintains strong collaborations with experimentalists at Charles University, Technical University of Vienna, and other international institutions.
Uwe Zdun is a Professor at the Faculty of Computer Science, University of Vienna, where he serves as Vice-Director of Studies for Computer Science and Head of the Research Group Software Architecture. His teaching portfolio includes core courses such as Software Engineering 2, Advanced Software Engineering, and Practical Software Courses for Bachelor's and Master's theses across multiple semesters (2024W-2025S). His research spans software architecture with emphasis on microservices, cloud computing, and DevOps. Key focus areas include architectural design decisions, infrastructure-as-code conformance, security in distributed systems, and the integration of machine learning operations (MLOps/RLOps). He investigates cognitive aspects of architecture practices through controlled experiments and develops model-driven approaches for quality assessment in complex systems. Recent publications (2024-2026) reveal three dominant trends: (1) Security and coupling analysis in infrastructure-as-code deployments, (2) MLOps/RLOps integration for Industry 4.0 cyber-physical systems, and (3) Performance optimization patterns for CI/CD pipelines and autoscaling. His work bridges theoretical architecture models with industrial practice, particularly in microservice ecosystems and reinforcement learning applications. Professor Zdun leads the Research Group Software Architecture at the University of Vienna's Faculty of Computer Science. The group focuses on empirical validation of architectural patterns, tool development for conformance checking, and advancing design decision methodologies in cloud-native and AI-driven systems.
Costanza Bonadonna is a Full Professor at the University of Geneva (since 2019), specializing in volcanic hazards and Earth sciences. She holds a PhD supported by the European Commission (1998–2000) and has held academic positions across institutions including the University of South Florida and University of Hawaii. Her research focuses on volcanic ash dispersal modeling, risk assessment, and physical volcanology, with notable contributions to understanding tephra deposits and eruption dynamics. Bonadonna has received prestigious awards such as the 2020 AGU Volcanology presidency and the International Galileo Galilei Award. She leads the CERG-C (Centre for Environmental Risk Studies) and has organized major international workshops on volcanic risk and ash dispersal. Her work integrates numerical modeling, field investigations, and geophysical observations to enhance volcanic hazard forecasting and community resilience strategies. Research Grants: 2019–2023: SNSF Probabilistic volcanic risk framework 2018–2021: H2020 NEWTON-g and EUROVOLC networks 2017–2020: SNSF Gravitational instabilities in volcanic clouds Awards: 2020 President elect of AGU Volcanology Division Galileo Galilei Award (2020) Outstanding Woman in Science (2004, GSA) She has advised numerous international projects and collaborates with global institutions through initiatives like MeMoVolc and NEMOH. Her research bridges geophysical observations with computational models to address multi-hazard scenarios and improve disaster preparedness.
Lars Nyberg is a Professor of Neuroscience at Umeå University's Medical Faculty and Director of the Umeå Centre for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI) since 2001. He has held concurrent roles as Guest Professor in Bergen and Oslo, Norway, and led the Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM) from 2019. His academic leadership includes directing major initiatives like the EU-funded Lifebrain project (2017–2022) and holding the Torsten & Ragnar Söderberg Research Professorship in Medicine (2012–2017). Education: PhD in Psychology (1993) and Docent (1996) from Umeå University, with postdoctoral training at the Rotman Research Institute, Toronto. His research focuses on neuroimaging techniques (MRI/PET), dopamine systems, working memory, aging, and episodic memory. Key contributions include linking dopamine receptor availability to cognitive decline and demonstrating brain maintenance mechanisms in aging. Research Interests: Neuroimaging of memory systems, dopamine's role in cognition, aging-related brain changes, and cognitive reserve. Grants: EU Horizon 2020 (Lifebrain, €10M), KA Wallenberg Scholarships (2009, 2016), Swedish Research Council funding for COBRA (2013–2017). His awards include Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences membership (2008), Mångbergs Prize in Neural Sciences (2008), and multiple Wallenberg grants. Nyberg has supervised 27 PhD students and 11 postdocs, advancing translational neuroscience and aging research through interdisciplinary teams at UFBI and WCMM.
Univ.-Prof. Aiko Voigt is a Professor and Head of the Department of Meteorology and Geophysics at the University of Vienna. Her research focuses on climate dynamics, cloud physics, and atmospheric processes. She leads the Environment and Climate Research Hub and teaches advanced courses like 'Climate Modelling Lab' and 'Cloud Physics.' Her work explores cloud-radiative interactions, climate change impacts, and extreme weather dynamics. Recent studies analyze energy imbalances, high-cloud feedbacks, and tropical precipitation patterns. Voigt's contributions bridge climate modeling with observational data, emphasizing high-resolution simulations and interdisciplinary approaches. Teaching includes courses such as 'Climate System of the Earth,' 'Scientific Communication,' and 'Introduction to Computational Meteorology.' Her research spans from present-day climate to Snowball Earth scenarios, addressing both modern and paleoclimatic challenges. Publications highlight advancements in radiative transfer algorithms, cyclone dynamics under warming, and uncertainties in climate model predictions. Her work underscores the critical role of clouds in amplifying climate sensitivity and reshaping atmospheric circulation patterns.
