Dr. Amir Ghanbaripour is a Discipline Lead in Planning, Property, and Project Management at Bond University's Faculty of Society & Design, with a PhD in Construction Project Management (2020). He teaches postgraduate courses and leads the Project Management program. His expertise spans project management methodologies, systems thinking, organizational maturity, and gender equality in projects. He is an active member of the Project Management Institute (PMI) as Associate Director for Academic Outreach. Education: PhD in Construction Project Management (Bond University, 2020), MSc in Civil Engineering (Iran University of Science and Technology, 2012), BSc in Civil Engineering (Amirkabir University of Technology, 2009). Research focuses on project success models, agile methodologies, and technology integration in construction education. He leads research projects on megaprojects, sustainable practices, and gender diversity in the industry. Grants include the 2023 FSD Research Project Grant (focusing on construction project strategies) and the 2023 FSD Deans Award (exploring robotics in manufacturing). He supervises PhD candidates and collaborates with national/international organizations on project management innovation.
Ming Cao is a Full Professor at the University of Groningen (Netherlands), holding positions in the Department of Discrete Technology and Production Automation, the Engineering and Technology Institute Groningen, and serving as Chair of the Jantina Tammes School of Digital Society, Technology and AI. His academic roles include Director of the Jantina Tammes School and membership in prestigious organizations such as the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC) and the European Commission’s DG CNECT. Cao’s research focuses on multi-agent systems, autonomous robotics, complex networks, and cooperative control, with applications in robotics, epidemic modeling, and biomimetic sensors. Education: PostDoc in Mechanical Engineering from Princeton University (2008), PhD in Electrical Engineering from Yale University (2007). Research Interests: Multi-agent systems, distributed decision-making, cooperative control, robotic teams, seal whisker-inspired flow sensing, and privacy-preserving control systems. Recent Trends in Articles: Recent work emphasizes co-evolutionary dynamics in social-technical systems, privacy in control systems, and biomimetic robotics. Key topics include feedback mechanisms in cooperation, hypergraph-based epidemic models, and seal whisker mechanics for underwater sensing. Awards: European Control Award (2016), Manfred Thoma Medal (2017), ERC Grant (2012). Grants: Vidi Grant from NWO (2015) for agent coordination research. Labs/Teams: Jan C. Willems Center for Systems and Control, Research Center for Data Science and Systems Complexity (DSSC). Active in editorial roles for journals like Artificial Life and Robotics and the SIAM Journal on Control and Optimization .
Mihaela van der Schaar is the John Humphrey Plummer Professor of Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Medicine at the University of Cambridge, leading the van der Schaar Lab. She holds dual affiliations with the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP) and the Centre for Mathematical Imaging in Healthcare. Her research focuses on healthcare AI, machine learning, and operations research. She has authored over 250 journal articles and 275 conference papers, with notable contributions to synthetic data for privacy, causal inference, and clinical decision-making. Her work has led to 35 U.S. patents, including foundational innovations in streaming video compression (MPEG-4 standards). Awards include the Oon Prize (2018), IEEE Fellow (2009), and recognition as the UK's most-cited female AI researcher (2019). Leadership roles include Director of the Cambridge Centre for AI in Medicine and Co-Director of the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems. She has mentored global academic leaders and pioneered initiatives like the Inspiration Exchange for early-career researchers. Key projects include predictive models for hospital resource allocation during pandemics and AI tools for personalized medicine. Publications span machine learning theory, healthcare applications, and interdisciplinary fields like network science. Her lab's impact includes tools like AutoPrognosis (automated ML for clinical prediction) and SynthCity (synthetic healthcare data generation).
Elizabeth Davis is an Extension Associate Professor at Utah State University (USU) and serves as the Kane County Director. She works in the Home and Community Department, focusing on youth development, STEM education, and family engagement activities. Education: MS in Family Consumer and Human Development (Adolescent Focus), Utah State University (2010) Research Interests: Social-emotional learning for youth Integrating STEM into family and community settings Improving college and career readiness Enhancing relationships through educational programs Publications: Her work includes peer-reviewed articles on behavioral medicine, STEM curriculum development, and technical reports on relationship-building initiatives. Key themes span youth development, educational outreach, and health interventions. Scientific Awards: 2nd Place Marketing Public Relations (2021) Excellence in 4-H STEM Programming (2021) Extension Innovator Award (2021) 1st Place Innovative Program (2021) Marketing/Public Relations Award (2020) Achievement of Service Award (2020) Innovative Program Award (TEAM) (2020) Grants & Teams: She contributes to Utah State University Extension projects, including the Hidden Gems adventure guides and 4-H STEM programming. Her work emphasizes community-based learning and health outcomes.
Marios Polycarpou is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Director of the KIOS Research and Innovation Center of Excellence at the University of Cyprus. He holds honorary positions at Imperial College London and is a member of Academia Europaea. His expertise spans intelligent systems, adaptive control, machine learning, and critical infrastructure. Education: B.A. Computer Science (Rice University, 1987) B.Sc. Electrical Engineering (Rice University, 1987) M.S. Electrical Engineering (University of Southern California, 1989) Ph.D. Electrical Engineering (University of Southern California, 1992) Research Focus: Polycarpou’s work emphasizes fault diagnosis in cyber-physical systems, water distribution networks, and adaptive control. He pioneers digital twin technologies for infrastructure resilience and develops algorithms for real-time anomaly detection and system optimization. Article Trends: His recent publications address adaptive control strategies, cybersecurity in networked systems, and AI-driven solutions for water management. Key themes include distributed control, event-triggered mechanisms, and transformer-based anomaly localization. Awards: 2023 IEEE Frank Rosenblatt Technical Field Award 2016 IEEE Neural Networks Pioneer Award Fellow of IEEE and IFAC Grants & Leadership: He secured prestigious grants including ERC Advanced and Synergy Grants. He led KIOS CoE’s Horizon 2020 projects and served as IEEE Computational Intelligence Society President (2012–2013). Labs & Teams: Directs the KIOS CoE, a hub for AI in critical infrastructure. Collaborates on projects like ERC Water-Futures, focusing on long-term water system transitions and contamination mitigation.
Ketika Garg is a Postdoctoral Scholar Research Associate in the Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), with an office in the Broad Center for Biological Sciences. Her research focuses on the interplay between individual and social decisions, using experimental and computational methods to explore how social environments influence decision-making and collective behavior. She investigates contexts ranging from traditional foraging paradigms to modern social media landscapes, developing innovative experimental frameworks to study these dynamics. Her research interests span computational neuroscience, social media analysis, and collective behavior, with a particular emphasis on understanding exploration-exploitation trade-offs in both natural and digital environments. She has contributed to studies on hunter-gatherer foraging networks, online toxicity dynamics, and the evolution of search strategies in collective foraging systems. Her work bridges disciplines such as psychology, ecology, and computer science to address fundamental questions in decision-making and social interaction. Dr. Garg’s publications reflect her interdisciplinary approach, covering topics like synergy in collective problem-solving, the roots of online toxicity, and the application of Lévy walks in virtual foraging experiments. While no formal awards or grants are explicitly listed in the provided materials, her research trajectory demonstrates a commitment to advancing methodologies in computational social science. Contact: kgarg@caltech.edu Office: Broad Center for Biological Sciences (96) Phone: 626-395-1755
Dr. Karen Cochrane is an Assistant Professor at the University of Waterloo, specializing in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) with a focus on wearable and tangible computing for mental health and accessibility. Her research integrates soma design, autoethnography, and design fiction to address the needs of underrepresented communities, particularly those with disabilities. Key projects include developing assistive technologies for queer/crip identities, accessible gaming wearables, and tactile interfaces for sensory exploration. She explores embodied experiences through multidisciplinary approaches, blending traditional craft practices with modern computational tools. Her work prioritizes participatory design methodologies, collaborating with occupational therapists, disabled communities, and neurodivergent individuals to co-create inclusive technologies. Recent innovations include VARitouch (a haptic feedback device), Breathing Scarf (for emotional regulation), and adaptive switches for children with motor disabilities. Her research extends into sensory narratives, exploring how fabric and data can articulate bodily experiences through projects like Sensory Data Dialogues and Queer/Crip Body Mapping. While no formal grants or awards are listed, her publications reflect a strong focus on ethical technology, accessibility, and embodied interaction. Current projects emphasize the intersection of wearable tech with identity expression, mindfulness practices, and neuromotor rehabilitation. She actively designs prototypes that bridge clinical needs with creative technology solutions, though specific lab affiliations or team collaborations are not detailed in available texts.
Morgan G. Ames is an Assistant Adjunct Professor at the UC Berkeley School of Information and serves as Associate Director of Research for the Center for Science, Technology, Medicine & Society. She chairs the Designated Emphasis in Science and Technology Studies and is affiliated with multiple research centers including the Algorithmic Fairness and Opacity Working Group, the Center for Science, Technology, Society and Policy, and the Berkeley Institute of Data Science. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Communication with a minor in Anthropology from Stanford University (2013), an M.S. in Information Management and Systems from UC Berkeley (2006), and a B.A. in Computer Science from UC Berkeley (2004). Prior to her academic career, she worked as a researcher at Google, Yahoo!, Nokia, and Intel. Ames researches the ideological origins of inequality in the technology world, with a focus on utopianism, childhood, and learning. Her work critically examines how technology design practices shape identities and social structures. Current projects include 'Seeing Like a Valley: the Moral Visions of Silicon Valley,' 'Algorithms in Culture,' and 'Countercultures of Technology Use.' She has published extensively on One Laptop per Child, Minecraft, and the social implications of algorithmic systems. Her publication record shows a consistent focus on the cultural dimensions of technology, particularly examining how utopian visions shape technology design and implementation. Recent work increasingly addresses algorithmic systems and their cultural impacts, while maintaining her longstanding interest in educational technology and youth technology practices. Ames has received significant recognition for her scholarship, including: 2020 Best Information Science Book Award 2020 Sally Hacker Prize 2021 Computer History Museum Prize She advises students on interpretive research methods, particularly ethnography, and serves on doctoral committees though cannot be a primary advisor for PhD students. Her research has been supported by multiple interdisciplinary collaborations, including the 'Algorithms in Culture' conference series she co-organized through the Center for Science, Technology, Medicine & Society. Ames leads the 'Seeing Like a Valley' research collective that brings together scholars from across UC Berkeley and Silicon Valley to examine how the region's industrial practices shape moral visions that influence global technological development and social values.
Jan Borchers is a full professor of computer science and head of the Media Computing Group, an endowed Chair in the Computer Science Department at RWTH Aachen University. He serves as deputy member of the Faculty Council for Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences (2024-2026) and previously headed the Computer Science Department's Examination Board from 2015 until February 2025. Borchers established his research group in 2003, pioneering modern HCI academic research and teaching in Germany, and opened Germany's first Fab Lab in 2009. Borchers received his PhD 'summa cum laude' in computer science from Darmstadt University of Technology in 2000. Before joining RWTH Aachen, he held faculty positions at Stanford University and ETH Zurich. His PhD thesis, 'A Pattern Approach to Interaction Design,' became the first book to bring design patterns to HCI. His research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction with particular interest in new user interfaces for soft robotics, textile user interfaces, 3D printing and personal fabrication, augmented reality, wearable and tangible computing, interfaces for software development, deceptive patterns, and interactive guides and exhibits. He is a member of ACM, SIGCHI, SIGCHI Germany, and GI, and introduced the Interactivity format to the CHI conference in 2005. Recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on deceptive patterns/dark patterns in UI design, textile interfaces, and the impact of generative AI on creative teamwork. His work spans from fundamental research in interaction techniques to practical applications in smart homes, accessibility, and children's interfaces, with a consistent focus on usability and user-centered design. IDC 2025 Best Work in Progress: 'If They Have No Choice, They'll Accept!' CHI'25 Student Games Competition Winner: 'The Deceptive Dungeon' RWTH-Wissenschaftsnacht 2024 Best Science Slam: 'Usability: 4 Prinzipien guter User Interfaces' Multiple CHI/UIST Honorable Mentions and Best Paper awards spanning two decades Author of influential books including 'A Pattern Approach to Interaction Design' and 'Arduino In A Nutshell' Borchers has provided extensive consulting, training, and user interface design services to major clients including AirBus, Apple, ARD, Bayer, Children's Museum Boston, Daimler, Handelsblatt, OTIS, Scout24, TEDx, and Deutsche Telekom. He actively organizes the Computer Science Department's weekly Faculty Lunch since 2003 and coordinates the department's public relations and web presence since 2010. He leads the Media Computing Group, which has become a leading German lab in terms of archival publications at CHI, the top international conference in HCI. Since March 2025, he serves as faculty patron for TechLabs Aachen, a student initiative providing practical digital skills training.
Claudia Plant is a Professor in the Faculty of Computer Science , leading the Research Group Data Mining and Machine Learning . Her research focuses on clustering algorithms, data mining, and machine learning applications in areas like biomedical data, wind energy, and causality inference. She has contributed to projects such as Knowledge-infused Deep Learning for Natural Language Processing (2020–2028) and Hybrid Computational Sciences (2021–2021). Plant has authored over 160 publications, with recent work emphasizing deep learning, anomaly detection, and GPU-optimized algorithms. She actively engages in academic activities, including talks on clustering methods and interdisciplinary projects like Governing Algorithms: The Politics of Data and Decision-Making . Her research interests span clustering algorithms , graph neural networks , causality discovery , and ethical digital transformation . Notable projects include causal analysis of wind farm dynamics and AI-enhanced education tools. Plant’s work bridges computational methods with societal challenges, such as empowering marginalized communities through ethical technology adoption.
Kevin Schut, a Teaching Professor at Trinity Western University's School of the Arts, Media + Culture, is a Game Studies scholar with expertise in video games, religion, ethics, and media ecology. He earned his PhD in Communication Studies (2004) and BA in Communication Arts & Sciences, History (1996), and has held leadership roles including Associate Dean and Chair of Media + Communication. His 2013 book Of Games & God explores Christian perspectives on gaming. PhD, Communication Studies, University of Iowa (2004) BA, Communication Arts & Sciences & History, Calvin College (1996) His research focuses on moral decision-making in games, media's cultural impact, and technology-religion intersections. Recent projects include analyzing procedural generation in No Man’s Sky and faith-based game design frameworks. Key awards include the 2013 Word Guild Best Book award and TWU's 2009 Provost’s Innovative Teaching Award. He teaches courses like Video Games and Culture and Media, Culture, and Criticism .
Rayadurgam Srikant is the Fredric G. and Elizabeth H. Nearing Endowed Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, affiliated with the Coordinated Science Lab. He co-directs the C3.ai Digital Transformation Institute, focusing on AI-driven solutions for global challenges. His research spans machine learning, communication networks, stochastic systems, and game theory. Srikant has authored influential textbooks including Communication Networks: An Optimization, Control and Stochastic Networks Perspective . He holds IEEE Fellow status and has received prestigious awards like the ACM SIGMETRICS Achievement Award (2021) and IEEE Koji Kobayashi Award (2019). Over 20 of his advisees hold faculty positions globally. Education: PhD (1991), MS (1988) in Electrical Engineering from UIUC; B.Tech (1985) from IIT Madras. He has taught advanced courses on optimization, stochastic systems, and game theory. His work bridges theory and practice, with contributions to congestion control, cloud computing, and reinforcement learning. Current projects include AI applications for pandemic response and digital transformation initiatives. Research highlights include foundational work on Lyapunov drift methods for network stability and distributed algorithms. He serves as Area Editor for Mathematics of Operations Research and has led editorial roles for IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking. His lab collaborates with industry leaders like Microsoft and C3.ai, leveraging supercomputing resources for societal impact.
Dr. Frederick Li is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Durham University, UK. He holds editorial roles as Associate Editor of Frontiers in Education (Digital Education) and Editorial Board Member of Virtual Reality & Intelligent Hardware. His research focuses on Computer Graphics, Machine Learning, Geometric Modelling, Collaborative Virtual Environments, Visual Aesthetics, and Educational Technologies. He earned his B.A. (Hons) and M.Phil. from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and his Ph.D. in Computer Graphics from City University of Hong Kong. Prior roles include Assistant Professor at HK PolyU and project manager of a Hong Kong Government ITF-funded project. **Education**: B.A. (Computing Studies) and M.Phil. from HK PolyU; Ph.D. in Computer Graphics (CityU Hong Kong). **Research Interests**: His work spans mesh saliency detection, human-object interaction recognition, cloud modeling, face beautification, and educational technology. Recent achievements include awards for papers (e.g., Best Paper at ITiCSE 2014) and recognition such as EPSRC Peer Review College membership. He leads Durham's Undergraduate Board of Examiners and has been an external examiner at Northumbria University. **Awards**: Best Paper (ACM ITiCSE 2014), Outstanding Paper (ICALT 2013), EPSRC Peer Review College (2024), Outstanding BMVC 2024 Reviewer. **Grants & Labs**: His research is supported by grants from EPSRC and others. He collaborates with the Centre for Vision and Visual Cognition, VIViD, and AIHS group at Durham.
Matt Easterday is an Assistant Professor in the Learning Sciences Department at Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy, co-directing the Delta Lab. He holds a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction from Carnegie Mellon University (2010), preceded by an MS in the same field and a BA in Psychology and Mathematics from Reed College. His research focuses on technology-enhanced civic education, aiming to develop evidence-based tools that foster informed citizenship capable of addressing societal challenges like climate change and inequality. Core areas include deliberation systems, cognitive games for policy analysis, and platforms like The Loft and NextGenIL for collaborative civic innovation. Easterday's work emphasizes design research methodologies, bridging theory and practice through frameworks like the 'Design Risks Framework' and 'Research Slices.' His projects integrate iterative design, participatory governance, and scalable learning networks to address real-world policy problems. Awards: Siebel Scholar, Searle Center Fellow, Ver Steeg Advising Award Labs/Teams: Delta Lab (civic tech innovation), The Loft (online learning platform) He advocates for human-centered design in education, advancing tools like Critiki for formative feedback and StandUp for professional coaching in project-based learning.
Retsef Levi is the J. Spencer Standish (1945) Professor of Operations Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management, affiliated with the MIT Operations Research Center. He co-directs the Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) Program. His work focuses on data-driven decision models for healthcare systems, supply chain optimization, and risk management. Levi holds a PhD in Operations Research from Cornell University and has led industry collaborations with major hospitals and organizations like the FDA and Walmart Foundation. Education: PhD in Operations Research, Cornell University, 2005 Bachelor’s in Mathematics, Tel-Aviv University, 2001 Research Interests: Levi’s research addresses complex decision-making under uncertainty in healthcare, supply chains, and logistics. Key areas include food safety analytics, risk-based sampling, and predictive modeling for zoonotic diseases. He designs algorithms for inventory control, appointment scheduling, and healthcare resource allocation. Articles Overview: Recent work spans AI-driven epidemiological models, supply chain cybersecurity, and agricultural market interventions. His articles emphasize practical applications of operations research in healthcare and public health. Awards: NSF Career Grant INFORMS Optimization Prize (2008) Wagner Prize (2013) Harold W. Kuhn Award (2016) Advising & Grants: Advised 10 PhD students and 34 master’s students. Led multi-million-dollar projects like the Walmart Foundation initiative for China’s food safety. Active in hospital process optimization and FDA risk management contracts. Labs & Teams: Runs MIT’s Food Supply Chain Analytics and Sensing Initiative, collaborating with global partners on predictive risk tools and healthcare analytics.
![](https://bond.edu.au/profile/"https://bond.edu.au/sites/default/files/styles/quote_portrait/public/2023-08/amir-ghanbaripour.jpg?h=10090962&itok=bsqp1mtc")
