Geert Deconinck is a full professor at KU Leuven , leading the Electrical Energy Systems and Applications (ELECTA) research group within the Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT). He also serves as scientific leader of the EnergyVille research center's algorithms domain, focusing on smart electrical networks and thermal systems. M.Sc. and Ph.D. from KU Leuven Head of ELECTA since 2012 (10 professors, 8 postdocs, 70+ PhDs) Over 8 million EUR research budget in last 5 years 44 completed PhDs and 10 current advisees IEEE Transactions editorial board member His research spans smart grid architectures , distributed control , and cyber-physical security , with recent focus on EV-grid integration , renewable energy democratization , and multi-carrier energy systems . Current projects include: Smart Charging - E-Mobility meets Renewable Energy Early Detection and Defense Systems for Smart Grids Open-source P2P energy sharing platforms Microgrid control strategies for PV-battery systems Awarded IET Fellow and IEEE Senior Member status, his work combines machine learning with power systems engineering through both theoretical modeling and experimental validation . He has contributed over 575 publications with 9800+ Google Scholar citations.
Gustavo Valverde Mora is a Lecturer at ETH Zurich's Power Systems Laboratory in the Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering. His research focuses on distributed energy resources, smart grid technologies, and power system control, with expertise in behind-the-meter DER integration and hosting capacity analysis. His recent work addresses key challenges in renewable energy integration, including voltage control coordination between transmission and distribution networks, data-driven local control schemes for active distribution grids, and unsupervised load disaggregation techniques using smart meter data. He has developed novel methods for DER modeling, GIS-based system analysis, and distribution network planning. Recognized with multiple awards including the 2022 Costa Rican National Technology Award, he actively contributes to IEEE Task Forces on DER integration. His research demonstrates strong emphasis on practical grid applications, combining theoretical power systems knowledge with advanced data analytics. Dr. Valverde teaches Power System Analysis (227-0526-00L) and maintains collaborations with utilities worldwide on renewable integration challenges.
Xavier Brusset is a Professor in Supply Chain at SKEMA Business School since 2016, where he also serves as Director of the PRISM Research Center since 2017. Previously, he held professorial positions at Toulouse Business School (2015-2016) and ESSCA School of Management (2009-2015), where he was responsible for the Master 2 in Purchasing and Supply Chain Management program. His academic journey includes a PhD in Management Sciences from Université Catholique de Louvain (2010) and a Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches from Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense (2016). His research spans multiple critical areas in supply chain management, with particular focus on supply chain resilience, blockchain applications, weather risk management, and pandemic impacts on supply chains. Brusset has developed innovative approaches to understanding how supply chain partners interact, how information affects their behavior, and how external disruptions like weather anomalies and pandemics impact operational efficiency. His work bridges theoretical models with practical applications, often developing decision-support tools for managers facing complex supply chain challenges. Brusset's publication record shows a clear evolution of research interests, beginning with foundational work on supply chain contracts and information sharing, then expanding to weather risk management, and most recently focusing on pandemic disruptions and blockchain applications. His 15 most recent publications (2018-2025) demonstrate increasing sophistication in modeling complex supply chain phenomena, with particular emphasis on network effects, ripple effects, and multi-echelon optimization under disruption scenarios. Editorial board member of Logistics Research Editor of International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management (2022-2023) Recognized EU expert for CINEA research projects evaluation Organizer of the Colloquium on European Research in Retailing (CERR) Reviewer for multiple top journals including International Journal of Production Economics As an advisor, Brusset has supervised doctoral students including R. Alkhudary (co-director, Université Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas) and V. Capocasale (rapporteur). His professional experience extends beyond academia to include industry roles in financial markets and logistics technology, having co-founded WebLogistix, a platform for sharing logistics information in Argentina. His research has practical applications across multiple sectors, particularly in retail, food supply chains, and manufacturing, where he develops tools to help managers mitigate risks and optimize operations under uncertainty.
Tim Huh is a Professor and Chair of the Operations and Logistics Division at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration. He specializes in inventory control, supply chain management, and operations research, with a focus on dynamic decision-making under uncertainty. B.A., B.Math, M.Math from University of Waterloo M.A. from Regent College M.S., Ph.D. from Cornell University His research spans theoretical and applied topics including renewable energy systems, healthcare operations, and digital learning analytics. Recent work explores wind power storage optimization, asynchronous video usage in education, and multi-echelon inventory solutions. Scientific recognition includes the Canada Research Chair in Operations Excellence and Business Analytics He teaches core business analytics and operations management courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels, emphasizing quantitative decision-making and process fundamentals.
Professor Ruchi Choudhary is a Professor in Architectural Engineering at the University of Cambridge, Department of Engineering, within the School of Technology. She leads the Energy Efficient Cities initiative (EECi), a cross-disciplinary research project focused on strengthening the UK's capacity to address energy demand reduction and environmental impact in cities through research in building and transport technologies, district power systems, and urban planning. Her research interests span urban energy systems, building energy modeling, sustainable cities, geothermal energy systems, and data-driven energy modeling . She has pioneered work in digital twins for energy systems, urban subsurface thermal modeling, and building-integrated agriculture. Her research group develops numerical tools to improve energy efficiency of cities, with particular focus on modeling energy consumption of large building sets at multiple time and spatial resolutions. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trend toward integrating machine learning with physics-based modeling for energy systems, with increasing emphasis on uncertainty quantification, digital twins, and value of information analysis for decision-making. Her work bridges the gap between theoretical modeling and practical urban implementation, with significant focus on city-scale geothermal potential, underground climate change impacts, and energy equity considerations. Professor Choudhary has supervised numerous PhD students who have gone on to prominent positions at institutions including UCL, University of Cambridge, BEIS, Arup, and various international universities. Her research group includes faculty members, research associates, graduate students, and international collaborators from institutions worldwide. Her current research focuses on two parallel investigations: one on using multi-scale multidisciplinary models to address energy use questions in the built environment, and second, on quantifying uncertainties in model outcomes. Current projects include integration of food production in urban environments, analysis of underground transport systems as energy sources, large-scale integration of ground source heat pumps, and distributed energy networks.
Ji Li is the John S. and Marilyn Long Professor of U.S.-China Business and Law at the University of California, Irvine School of Law, where he joined in July 2019. Previously, he served as a Professor of Law and Zhuang Zhou Scholar at Rutgers University with associate faculty affiliations at the Division of Global Affairs. Ph.D. in Political Science, Northwestern University J.D., Yale Law School (Olin Fellow in Law, Economics, and Public Policy) Professor Li's research focuses on Chinese law and politics, international business transactions, comparative law, contracts, and empirical legal studies. His scholarship examines how Chinese multinational companies adapt to U.S. legal systems, state-owned enterprise compliance, and the intersection of U.S.-China geopolitical rivalry with international legal norms. His recent publications (2023-2024) explore topics like foreign investment screening regulations, digital age civil rights challenges, and evolving rule of law concepts in China. These works span disciplines including international law, comparative law, corporate law, and civil rights law, with a specific emphasis on cross-jurisdictional legal adaptation, regulatory compliance, and geopolitical implications. Scientific awards include: Zhuang Zhou Scholar at Rutgers University Olin Fellow in Law, Economics, and Public Policy at Yale Law School Professor Li's ongoing research projects investigate China's engagement with international legal orders and transnational actor responses to U.S.-China tensions. He has presented at prestigious venues including the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy, and international conferences in Amsterdam and New York.
Stephen Graves is the Abraham J. Siegel Professor of Management and a Professor of Operations Management at MIT Sloan School of Management, with a joint appointment in Mechanical Engineering. He holds a PhD in Operations Research from the University of Rochester. His research focuses on operations research models applied to manufacturing systems, supply chains, and service operations, including strategic inventory positioning and order fulfillment optimization. Graves has served as MIT Sloan’s Deputy Dean and Chair of MIT’s Faculty Council (2001-2003). He is a Fellow of INFORMS, recipient of the Kimball Medal, and member of the National Academy of Engineering. Education: PhD in Operations Research, University of Rochester MBA and AB in Mathematics/Social Sciences, Dartmouth College Research Interests: Graves develops analytical frameworks for supply chain optimization, inventory management, and production planning. His recent work addresses post-pandemic supply chain resilience, digital twins for production systems, and closed-loop supply chains. Current projects explore operational challenges in e-commerce fulfillment and global supply networks. Awards: INFORMS Kimball Medal (2023) Elected to National Academy of Engineering INFORMS Prize for Operations Research President of INFORMS (2020) Advising & Grants: Supervisor to 25+ PhD students across manufacturing, supply chain analytics, and healthcare operations. Active in industry collaborations with companies like Intel, Polaroid, and Monsanto. Leads MIT initiatives including the Leaders for Global Operations program. Labs/Teams: Core member of MIT’s Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS). Co-director of the MIT Operations Research Center. Involved in interdisciplinary projects combining data science with operations management.
Johannes Spinnewijn is a Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), affiliated with STICERD and multiple research centers. He holds a PhD in Economics from MIT (2009), following an M.A. from Université Libre de Bruxelles and B.A. from KU Leuven. His research focuses on Public Economics , Behavioral Economics , and Economic Theory , with emphasis on unemployment insurance design, tax compliance, health inequalities, and labor market policies. Notable contributions include analyzing optimal unemployment benefit timing, risk-based selection in insurance, and behavioral nudges in tax systems. Spinnewijn has received prestigious awards such as the ERC Starting Grant (2017-2022) , Wiley Prize (2015) , and Austin Robinson Memorial Prize (2013) . He serves as Director of the CEPR Public Economics Program and co-director of STICERD's Public Economics Program. His editorial roles include the American Economic Review , Review of Economic Studies , and Journal of Public Economics . He has advised over 15 PhD students, including those at top institutions like MIT, Chicago, and Edinburgh. His grants include €1.5 million from the ERC and £200K from the ESRC. Recent work explores health disparities, mental health determinants, and socioeconomic impacts of chronic diseases. Spinnewijn has held visiting roles at Columbia University, UC Berkeley, MIT, and KU Leuven. His teaching spans public economics, contract theory, and microeconomics at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Christopher S. Tang is a UCLA Distinguished Professor and Edward W. Carter Chair in Business Administration at the Anderson School of Management , where he researches global supply chain management with a focus on social innovation in developing countries . He also serves as Senior Associate Dean for Global Initiatives and Faculty Director of the Center for Global Management . Education: Ph.D. in Management Science (1985, Yale University) M.Phil. in Administrative Science (1983, Yale University) M.A. in Statistics (1983, Yale University) B.Sc. in Mathematics (First Class Honors, 1981, King’s College, University of London) His research explores the intersection of corporate responsibility and supply chain innovation , addressing topics like microfinancing , mobile platforms for developing economies , direct agricultural procurement , and disaster response logistics . He emphasizes visibility, integrity, and agility in uncertain environments. Recent work highlights AI adoption benefits for supply chains , strategies to reduce forced labor risks , and policy impacts on ride-sharing platforms . His research bridges operations management and social justice , advocating for environmental stewardship alongside business growth. Scientific Awards: Salzberg Medallion (2017) Lifetime Fellow, INFORMS (2011) Responsible Research in Management Award (2017) Teaching Excellence Award (multiple years, UCLA-NUS) Dean’s Excellent Service Award (2014) As an influential adviser and consultant , Tang has worked with Amazon, HP, IBM, Nestlé, GKN , and Accenture . He has taught at Stanford University, UC Berkeley, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology , and served as visiting professor at Cambridge University and the Institute of Advanced Study at HKUST .
Gioele Zardini is the Rudge (1948) and Nancy Allen Assistant Professor at MIT's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), with affiliations to the Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems (LIDS) and the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS). He holds a PhD from ETH Zurich and previously worked as a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University. His research focuses on co-design of complex systems, autonomous systems, and game-theoretic modeling of transportation networks. Education: BSc and MSc in Mechanical Engineering and Robotics from ETH Zurich (2017–2019), PhD in 2023. He has held visiting roles at nuTonomy Singapore, Stanford, and MIT. Research interests include co-design methodologies, autonomous vehicle systems, compositionality in engineering, and strategic interactions in mobility networks. Recent work emphasizes scalable fleet coordination, safety-critical robotics, and user-centric transportation solutions. Notable awards include the 2024 ETH Doctoral Dissertation Award (Silver Medal), Best Paper at ITSC 2021, and federal grants for enhancing urban transit equity. He leads the Zardini Lab, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in systems engineering and autonomy. Grants and advising: Received federal grants for transit accessibility projects. His work on Autonomy Talks has produced over 180 recorded lectures, promoting knowledge exchange in autonomous systems. Labs/Teams: Principal Investigator at LIDS, affiliate at IDSS, and founder of the Zardini Lab, focusing on systems co-design, mobility innovation, and game-theoretic frameworks.
Professor Cedo Maksimovic is a leading academic in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London, Faculty of Engineering. He is a Principal Research Fellow and heads the Urban Water Research Group (UWRG), with affiliations to the Environmental and Water Resource Engineering group, Grantham Institute, Space Lab, and Urban Systems Lab. His research focuses on urban water systems , including storm drainage, urban flooding, water supply, and the interaction between urban infrastructure and the environment. He has pioneered work in applied fluid mechanics , smart water infrastructure , and flood risk management , with innovations such as the AOFD method for urban surface flood modelling and intelligent sensor networks recognized by the ICE Telford Gold Medal. His recent research, as reflected in publications, spans urban pluvial flooding , leakage detection , integrated urban water management , and blue-green infrastructure . These works emphasize computational modelling, real-time monitoring, and climate resilience in urban environments. UNESCO/IAHR Lecturer of the Year 2001 ICE Telford Gold Medal (WINES project team) Prof. Maksimovic has led major projects funded by EPSRC, EU (Climate-KIC, Interreg), UNESCO, and ERANET_CRUE. He advises postgraduate students and has created international educational initiatives like the EDUCATE programme. He also serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Urban Water Book Series and co-founded the Urban Water journal. He leads the UNESCO-endorsed IRTCUD/CUW network with centres in Banjaluka, Belgrade, Cairo, Kuala Lumpur, London, Porto Alegre, Tehran, and Trondheim, promoting global collaboration in urban water research and education.
Ahmed Hammad is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Engineering, where he also serves as Director of Academic Integrity, ENG WIL, Co-op and Career Connections. With 25 years of industry experience as a Project Planning & Control Manager on global mega-projects (including Oil Sands, LNG, and Infrastructure across Canada, UAE, Australia, and Egypt), he brings extensive practical expertise to academia. Education: Doctorate of Philosophy, Construction Engineering & Management, University of Alberta (2009) Master of Science, Construction Engineering & Management, University of Alberta (1999) Master of Engineering, Construction Engineering and Management, Cairo University (1996) Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, Mansoura University (1989) Research Focus: Dr. Hammad's work centers on applying smart tools to achieve sustainable construction through maximizing efficiency and minimizing waste . His research employs Machine Learning , Multi-Criteria Decision Making , Knowledge-Based Decision Support Systems , and digital twin technologies to optimize project planning, resource allocation, and sustainable material selection. He investigates the integration of BIM and Augmented Reality to enhance construction processes while reducing environmental impact. Publication Trends: Recent publications (2023-2025) emphasize sustainable construction methodologies, with 60% focusing on GHG reduction, resource optimization, and decision support systems. Key themes include machine learning for labor estimation, TOPSIS/MCDM for sustainable material selection, and digital twins for production planning, reflecting his NSERC-funded projects on KBDSS and construction-oriented digital twins. Scientific Recognition: Best Paper Award at 8th International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management (2018) Best Paper Award at HBRC Green Smart Sustainable Buildings Conference (2024) Research Leadership: Dr. Hammad secures major industry-academic partnerships, including NSERC Mission Alliance Grants ($1.2M+) with 16 industry partners for GHG reduction projects and NSERC Alliance Grants with 9 partners for digital twin development. His completed projects include collaborations with the City of Edmonton and Alberta Ministry of Infrastructure on resource allocation models. Research Ecosystem: As leader of the Sustainable Construction Research Group (SCRG), he fosters industry-academia collaboration through regular workshops with construction firms and government agencies, focusing on translating research into practical tools for sustainable project delivery.
Henri van Soest is a Professor of Policy Analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy and a Senior Analyst at RAND Europe. He is based at RAND, a global policy research organization, where he leads studies on energy security, artificial intelligence governance, critical infrastructure protection, and European Union policy. His work supports key institutions including the European Union, UK government, and Dutch government. His research focuses on the intersection of technology and policy, particularly in energy systems and AI. Key areas include: AI governance and trustworthy AI tools Energy security and digitalisation of the power grid Critical undersea infrastructure protection Cybersecurity in energy systems Space technology regulation Societal resilience and national security The trend in his recent publications shows a growing emphasis on the dual-use nature of AI in critical infrastructure, balancing innovation with security and resilience. His work combines technical analysis with policy recommendations, often using modeling and expert elicitation. Much of his research addresses transatlantic and European policy challenges, especially in energy and security domains. Scientific contributions and policy impact are evident through frequent publications and expert submissions to governmental bodies. Notable outputs include evidence submissions to the UK Parliament and reports for the U.S. Department of Energy. While no formal awards are listed, his influence is reflected in high-level policy engagement. He has advised on grants and policy studies involving global teams, particularly in energy transition, AI infrastructure, and resilience planning. His prior experience includes energy policy research at the University of Oslo, cleantech analysis, and corporate governance in banking. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge and a joint LL.M. from KU Leuven and the University of Zurich. Henri van Soest leads research within RAND Europe’s multidisciplinary teams focusing on science, technology, and security policy. His work often involves collaboration across international experts and institutions, particularly on EU and NATO-related security issues. He contributes to projects involving horizon scanning, Delphi studies, and quantitative modeling in policy contexts.
Marco Brogna is an Associate Professor of Economic Geography at the Department of Methods and Models for Economy, Territory, and Finance at Sapienza University of Rome. He has been serving in this capacity since March 2007, following his position as a Confirmed Researcher of Economic Geography from 2001 to 2007. His academic work is deeply rooted in the Faculty of Economics, where he has held significant administrative roles including Delegate of the Dean for Teaching and President of the Coordination Committee for Degree Programs. Professor Brogna's research interests span Tourism Development , Sustainable Tourism , Local Economic Development , Economic Geography , Territorial Planning , and Accessible Tourism . His work consistently focuses on the intersection between tourism, regional development, and sustainable practices. He has particular expertise in analyzing tourism dynamics in the Lazio region and Rome, examining how tourism impacts local economies and how territories can be developed to maximize tourism potential while maintaining sustainability. His recent publications reveal a clear trend toward analyzing post-pandemic tourism recovery, sustainable development models, and the evolving relationship between tourism and local communities. His research demonstrates a progression from traditional tourism studies toward more complex analyses of tourism's role in territorial development, with increasing focus on digital influences, accessibility, and sustainable practices. His work spans both theoretical frameworks and practical applications, often using case studies from Rome and the Lazio region to illustrate broader principles of tourism development. Professor Brogna has been actively involved in thesis supervision for undergraduate and graduate students, encouraging students to apply one semester before their expected completion date. He has led numerous research projects funded by the Lazio Region, including innovative research on tourist industry management, tourism training, and sustainable tourism development. His most significant projects include being responsible for the 2021 research on 'Innovative Management of the Tourist Industry' and the 2020 National Report on Open-Air Tourism. Professor Brogna has also been instrumental in organizing academic events, including the 'Giovedì del Turismo' conference series at Sapienza University since 2015, as well as numerous other conferences on tourism development, sustainable tourism, and territorial planning. His work extends beyond academia into practical applications through his involvement with Rome's strategic tourism planning and various governmental advisory roles.
Filip Johnsson is a Full Professor in Energy Technology at Chalmers University of Technology, where he leads research on measures to reduce the climate impact of the energy system. His work addresses both technical issues regarding electricity and heat production and how the entire energy system can be transformed by 2050 through technical-economic studies. Professor Johnsson's research spans multiple critical areas in the transition to sustainable energy systems: Energy Systems Analysis: Comprehensive modeling of energy systems to identify cost-effective pathways for decarbonization Industrial Decarbonization: Electrification of energy-intensive industries and carbon capture technologies Renewable Energy Integration: Grid stability, storage needs, and system flexibility with high shares of variable renewables Transportation Electrification: Real-world EV usage patterns and infrastructure requirements Fluidized Bed Technology: Advanced combustion and carbon capture processes Energy Policy: Critical analysis of Swedish and European climate policies and implementation strategies Johnsson's extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on practical, implementable solutions for deep decarbonization across multiple sectors. His recent work shows increasing emphasis on industrial decarbonization pathways, grid integration challenges with high renewable shares, and critical evaluation of policy mechanisms. The research often employs technical-economic modeling approaches, combining engineering analysis with economic evaluation to identify cost-optimal pathways for climate mitigation. Professor Johnsson actively engages with Swedish energy policy debates, contributing to public discourse through newspaper articles and government reports. His work frequently addresses the practical implementation challenges of Sweden's ambitious climate goals, particularly regarding industrial decarbonization and grid infrastructure requirements.
