Azhar Zam is an Associate Professor of Bioengineering at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) and associated faculty at NYU Tandon School of Engineering's Biomedical and Electrical Engineering departments. He holds a B.Sc. from University of Indonesia, M.Sc. from University of Luebeck (Germany), and Ph.D. from Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg (Germany). His research focuses on developing smart optical devices for medical imaging/diagnostics, including laser surgery, OCT, photoacoustics, and AI-driven imaging systems. He leads the Laboratory for Advanced Bio-Photonics and Imaging (LAB-π) at NYUAD and has authored 85+ publications/patents. Education: Bachelor of Science, University of Indonesia M.Sc. Biomedical Engineering, University of Luebeck Ph.D. Engineering, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg Research Interests: Innovations in biomedical optics, optical-based smart sensors, AI-enhanced diagnostics, and miniaturized medical imaging systems. His work integrates advanced optical technologies with surgical robotics and clinical applications. Professional Contributions: Associate Editor for Frontiers in Photonics Biophotonics section; Reviews Editor for Frontiers in Ophthalmology Retina section. Previously held positions at University of Basel (Assistant Professor), University of Waterloo, and other institutions globally. Labs & Teams: Directs NYUAD's LAB-π lab focusing on bio-photonics innovations. Collaborates across NYU's global network and international partners.
Mark Bo Jensen is an Assistant Professor (tenure track) at the Department of Engineering Technology and Didactics, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), specializing in Energy Technology and Computer Science. His research is centered on Perception Engineering and Extended Reality technologies, particularly Virtual Reality (VR), with applications in human cognition, computer graphics, and scientific visualization. His research interests lie at the intersection of engineering and cognitive sciences, focusing on creating immersive and convincing extended reality experiences. Jensen applies his over 10 years of expertise in real-time computer graphics to advance VR systems for perception modeling, geometric data visualization, and material appearance simulation. His work contributes to fields such as medical diagnostics, 3D annotation, and photorealistic rendering. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in leveraging VR for scientific tasks, such as anatomical landmark annotation and visual field testing, as well as advancing core graphics techniques like meshlet optimization and diffusion-based stereo image generation. His research integrates computer vision, graphics algorithms, and human-centered design. While no scientific awards are currently listed, his active participation in research projects and consistent publication output indicate a growing academic profile. He has contributed to interdisciplinary collaborations involving medical, biological, and engineering domains. Jensen has been involved in advising and research projects, including serving as a PhD student in the 'Virtual Reality-Based Visualization of Geometric Data' project and currently as a project participant in 'AL-EYE: The Visual Aid'. These projects reflect his focus on applied VR solutions and data understanding. His work is conducted within the Energy Technology and Computer Science division at DTU, where he contributes to advancing perception-driven technologies and their practical implementation in scientific and medical contexts.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Reimar Lenz is an Associate Professor at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) within the TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology. His research focuses on digital image acquisition, cooled cameras for microscopy, color image reconstruction, and videometry. He founded CCD Videometrie GmbH in 1999 and co-developed the 'Arriscan' film scanner, earning a Technical Oscar in 2010. Education: Studied electrical engineering at Technical University of Stuttgart and TUM (diploma 1980). PhD in 1986, habilitation in videometry/image processing (1989). IBM postdoc (1987-1988). Key achievements include the microscanning patent (1990), high-resolution museum cameras (MARC project), and CMOS sensor innovations. Awards include the Academy Scientific & Engineering Award (2010) and Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Medal. Manages CCD Videometrie GmbH and holds adjunct roles. Active in both academia and industry, bridging sensor technology and digital imaging applications.
Harvey Ballard is a Professor in the Department of Environmental and Plant Biology at Ohio University's College of Arts and Sciences. He serves as the Internships Coordinator, Herbarium Director, and Curator of Vascular Plants at the Floyd Bartley Herbarium. His work bridges molecular biology, taxonomy, and conservation, with strong institutional ties to national botanical networks and research centers. Research Interests: Dr. Ballard’s research focuses on plant systematics, phylogenetics, molecular ecology, and conservation genetics. His lab investigates evolutionary processes in plants, particularly in the genus Viola and the family Violaceae. Using molecular tools such as microsatellites and next-generation sequencing, his team studies hybridization, polyploidy, and breeding systems like chasmogamy and cleistogamy. His work has broad implications for understanding species formation and plant diversity. Publications & Research Trends: His recent publications reflect a strong emphasis on taxonomic revisions, phylogenetic analyses, and floristic contributions. The research spans new species descriptions, generic reclassifications, and molecular phylogenies, primarily in Violaceae and related families. The integration of traditional morphology with modern genomics underscores a multidisciplinary approach to plant systematics. Scientific Service & Recognition: Adjunct Faculty, Ohio State University Department of Horticulture and Crop Science Research Associate, Missouri Botanical Garden Research Associate, Carnegie Museum Member, BRAHMS Database System International Advisory Group Editorial Board, Acta Botanica Cracoviensia Program Director, U.S. Virtual Herbarium Database Network Member, Ohio Rare Plant Technical Advisory Committee Member, Ohio Flora Committee Violaceae Working Group, Species Plantarum Programme Advising and Grants: Dr. Ballard coordinates undergraduate internships and advising in plant biology. He led a National Science Foundation grant to digitize herbarium collections across Appalachian Ohio, creating a regional databasing and imaging network. He also engages in contract research with the U.S. National Arboretum for microsatellite development in ornamental shrubs. Laboratories and Teams: His lab collaborates with Dr. Sarah Wyatt on the genetic basis of mixed breeding systems in Viola . The team employs molecular techniques including ISSRs, microsatellites, and 454 shotgun sequencing. The Floyd Bartley Herbarium, under his curation, is a hub for botanical research and education, utilizing BRAHMS software for specimen management.
Özlem Özgöbek is an Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Technology and Informatics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Her research spans artificial intelligence, machine learning, and recommender systems with a focus on privacy, fake news detection, and educational technology. NTNU - Department of Computer Technology and Informatics Her work explores multimodal fake news detection, privacy implications in recommender systems, and technology-enhanced classroom interaction. Recent publications analyze digital education trends and classroom tools. Özgöbek collaborates with international researchers and contributes to news recommendation workshops. Her projects address ethical AI, environmental sustainability, and real-time information processing.
Dr. Julia Mierau is a researcher at the Institute of Movement and Neuroscience, German Sport University Cologne. She is actively involved in projects related to digitalization in sports teacher education, cognitive performance, and exercise neuroscience. Her work bridges pedagogy and neuroscience, with a strong focus on EEG, motor performance, and digital learning tools. Institution: German Sport University Cologne Department: Institute of Movement and Neuroscience Email: j.mierau@dshs-koeln.de Phone: +49 221 4982-8613 Her research interests include electroencephalography, cognitive performance, exercise psychology, sports pedagogy, and digital media in education. She investigates how physical activity influences brain function and learning, particularly in educational contexts. The recent publications reflect a strong trend in digital innovation in sports education, EEG-based monitoring of exercise effects, and cognitive performance in athletes and children. Her work combines experimental neuroscience with practical pedagogical applications. Scientific Awards: ECSS Young Investigators Award (2011) Fellowship for Digital Higher Education Innovation (2019) Graduiertenstipendium (2007) Reisestipendium (2011, 2014) Dr. Mierau has been principal or co-investigator in multiple externally funded projects, including ComeSport, ComeIn, and S.P.O.R.T.S., focusing on digital competence development in teacher training. She also served as co-editor of the Journal for Study and Teaching in Sports Science in 2021 and 2022, demonstrating academic leadership. She collaborates extensively with researchers such as Jens Kleinert, Heiko Strüder, and Andreas Mierau, contributing to a robust network in sports neuroscience and pedagogy.
Professor Peter Smith serves as the Head of School for the School of Built Environment at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). With extensive expertise in project cost management and digital construction technologies, he leads academic initiatives focused on addressing global challenges in construction project delivery, cost overruns, and housing affordability. His leadership extends to international professional organizations in the field of cost engineering and quantity surveying. Professor Smith specializes in international research into Project Cost Management practices and the implementation of digital technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the construction industry. His research primarily focuses on addressing the global problem of project cost overruns and extends to housing affordability through project life cycle costing applications. His work has significant implications for measuring the long-term cost of housing and understanding its societal impacts. He teaches across multiple domains including project management, procurement and contract management, project cost management, project risk management, and professional practice. His recent research outputs demonstrate a clear trend toward integrating artificial intelligence and computer vision technologies with traditional construction management practices. The most recent publications focus on deep learning applications for construction progress monitoring, particularly for indoor construction elements. This represents a shift toward more automated, data-driven approaches to construction management that complement his longstanding work on international standards for project cost management and BIM implementation strategies across different global contexts. Professor Smith has received numerous prestigious awards for his contributions to the field: DAB Outstanding Academic Leadership Award (2020, 2021, 2022) South American Cost Engineering Award (2016) Distinguished International Fellow Award (2016) ICEC Chair Award for significant global contribution (2016) AIQS Academic Teaching & Research Award - Runner Up (2014) Multiple PAQS Best Academic Paper Awards (2010, 2013) Professor Smith actively supervises Masters Research and PhD students through the University of Technology Sydney. His funded research projects include "International Project Cost Management Practices," "Digital Technologies Implementation in the Construction Industry," "Project Management," "Housing Affordability Measurement," and "Life Cycle Costing." These projects have received support from various organizations including Beverly Homes Pty Ltd, Leighton Holdings, and the RICS Education Trust, with recent funding extending through 2028. As Secretary-General of the International Cost Engineering Council and a Distinguished International Fellow, Professor Smith maintains strong connections with global professional bodies. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors. His work bridges academic research with industry practice, particularly through his role as an industry expert providing advisory and expert witness services for construction litigation matters.
Kia Bazargan is an Associate Professor and the Leroy and Ruth Fingerson Co-op Professor at the University of Minnesota, College of Science and Engineering. He currently serves as Director of the Co-op Program and focuses on VLSI-CAD, FPGA physical design, and hybrid binary-unary computing. University: University of Minnesota School: College of Science and Engineering Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering His research emphasizes stochastic computing and unary computing, where numbers are encoded as streams of bits. He explores techniques to reduce hardware costs while maintaining efficiency, particularly for edge computing and neural network applications. Recent publications highlight his work on hybrid binary-unary computing, FPGA-based inference acceleration, and lossless compression of lookup tables. Grants from Cisco Systems and the National Science Foundation support his projects. Scientific Awards: PFI-TT Grant (2020-2024): Commercializing hybrid computing for modern applications Uniqomp NSF Grant (2020-2021) EAGER Grant (2015): Studying complex dynamical systems His lab (4-162 EE/CSci) investigates scalable computing paradigms to bridge the gap between ASICs and FPGAs in performance and energy efficiency.
Priyanko Guchait is a tenured Full Professor and Program Director of the Doctorate in Global Hospitality Leadership (DGHL) at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership , University of Houston. His research focuses on organizational behavior, leadership, human resources, and service management in hospitality contexts, with over 75 peer-reviewed articles published. Education: B.E. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Pune, India M.S. in Hospitality Management, University of Missouri M.S. in Human Resources and Employment Relations Ph.D. in Hospitality Management, The Pennsylvania State University Research Interests include error management culture, psychological safety, service recovery performance, leader behavioral integrity, and AI’s impact on hospitality workers’ mental health. His work examines shame, forgiveness climate, and team dynamics in service environments. Article Trends show a focus on multi-level error management, human-robot collaboration in service recovery, diversity inclusion climates, and cross-cultural leadership studies. Recent papers explore AI ethics, pandemic response strategies, and emotional labor in hospitality roles. Awards & Honors Stephen Rushmore/HVS Research Excellence Award (2023, 2015) Donald Greenaway Excellence in Research, Teaching, and Service Award (2022) Best Paper Award, The Service Industries Journal (2023) ICHRIE Faculty Collegiality Award (2021) ICHRIE McCool Breakthrough Award (2021) Honored as 50-in-5 Scholar (2021) Provost’s Excellence Award (2015) Best Reviewer Awards (IJCHM 2016-2017) Committee & Editorial Roles include Associate Editor of IJCHM, Coordinating Editor of IJHM, and leadership positions at ICHRIE (President 2020-2021, Vice President 2019-2020). He has served on university curriculum, research, and Ph.D. selection committees.
Alessandro Di Vita is an Associate Professor at the Department of Psychological, Pedagogical, Physical Exercise and Training Sciences, School of Medicine and Surgery, Università degli Studi di Palermo (UNIPA). His work centers on educational psychology, career orientation, and pedagogical methodologies for adolescents and university students. Research Interests: Expressive writing for life planning, self-efficacy development, performance anxiety management, peer tutoring, and intercultural education. Key Projects: «Telemaco» (remote peer tutoring), «FOrCe» (career guidance interventions), and «FOrP» (school-university transition). Collaborations: Worked with international institutions like Universidad Austral (Argentina) and Universidad de Estudios de Palermo (Italy). His publications from 2007–2025 reflect a consistent focus on adolescent relationships, educational reform, and digital pedagogy. He has contributed to validation studies for psychological scales like the Worry Emotionality-Junior (WE-J) and developed methodologies such as «SeCo» for post-diploma decision-making. Alessandro also emphasizes Student Voice in educational processes, promoting active participation and resource utilization. Recent works include international comparative studies on peer tutoring and training programs for secondary school teachers.
François Goulette is a Professor and Deputy Director of the Computer Science and Systems Engineering Unit (U2IS) at ENSTA Paris, part of Institut Polytechnique de Paris. His research focuses on 3D point cloud processing, LiDAR perception, and autonomous systems within the Robotics Center (CAOR). His primary research interests lie in 3D point cloud processing , LiDAR perception , and autonomous systems . His work spans fundamental algorithm development to practical applications in autonomous driving, cultural heritage digitization, and robotics. He has made significant contributions to domain generalization of LiDAR perception, semantic segmentation of 3D point clouds, and point cloud registration techniques. The analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on domain generalization for LiDAR perception systems, with multiple papers addressing challenges in 3D semantic segmentation across different environments. His work combines multi-scale architectures , unsupervised learning , and dataset creation to advance the state-of-the-art in autonomous systems perception. The research spans both theoretical algorithm development and practical applications in urban environments. François Goulette leads research activities within the Robotics Center (CAOR) at ENSTA Paris. His team develops advanced techniques for 3D environment understanding, with applications in autonomous vehicles, cultural heritage preservation, and industrial robotics. The research combines computer vision, machine learning, and robotics to solve challenging problems in 3D perception and scene understanding.
Mahdi Fazeli is an Associate Professor at the School of Information Technology, Halmstad University, Sweden, specializing in hardware security and trust, energy-efficient computing, and embedded and cyber-physical systems. His academic journey began with a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from Sharif University of Technology, Iran, in 2011. His career progression includes positions as Associate Professor at Bogazici University (2019-2021) and Iran University of Science and Technology (2016-2019), and Assistant Professor at the same institution (2011-2016). His research interests focus on hardware security and trust, reliable VLSI circuits and systems, energy-efficient computing, and dependable embedded systems. His work bridges the gap between theoretical security concepts and practical implementations in real-world systems, particularly in IoT and embedded environments. He has established himself as a leading researcher in Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs), hardware trojans detection, and energy-efficient security solutions for resource-constrained devices. His publication record shows a clear progression and deepening expertise in hardware security, with recent work focusing on cutting-edge applications in edge computing, vehicular networks, and IoT security. His 2023-2025 publications demonstrate significant contributions to magnetic memory-based security primitives, anomaly detection systems, and energy-efficient security mechanisms. Throughout his career, Fazeli has led multiple research initiatives including the Dependable Systems and Architecture Lab (DSA) and the Networked and Embedded Systems Lab at Iran University of Science and Technology. His leadership extends to heading the Hardware Group and serving as Vice Chair for Educational Affairs, demonstrating his commitment to both research excellence and academic administration.
Leila De Floriani is a Professor at the University of Maryland, with appointments in the Department of Geographical Sciences and the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS). She previously served as a professor at the University of Genova (Italy) since 1990, where she developed Italy's first undergraduate and graduate curricula in computer graphics and directed the Ph.D. program in Computer Science for eight years. Her professional activities include serving as the 2020 President of the IEEE Computer Society and currently as IEEE Division VIII Director for 2023-24. Professor De Floriani's research spans geometric modeling, data visualization, spatial data representation and processing, computer graphics, shape analysis, and topological data analysis. Her work focuses on developing mathematical models and algorithms for representing, analyzing, and visualizing complex spatial data, particularly through hierarchical models, mesh-based representations, and topology-based approaches. Her research group, the GeoVis group, investigates applications in terrain modeling, environmental data analysis, and forest structure mapping using LiDAR technology. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on terrain representation and processing, with increasing emphasis on topological data analysis, machine learning integration, and efficient algorithms for large-scale spatial data. Her work bridges theoretical foundations in computational topology with practical applications in geospatial sciences, demonstrating consistent innovation in data structures and visualization techniques. Scientific Awards & Recognitions Fellow of IEEE (2016) for contributions to geometric modeling and scientific visualization Fellow of International Association for Pattern Recognition (IAPR) (1998) for contributions to geometric modeling and image analysis Fellow of Eurographics Association (2020) for outstanding contributions to computer graphics and visualization Pioneer of Solid Modeling Association (2017) for seminal work in solid and feature-based modeling Inducted Member of IEEE Visualization Academy (2020) IEEE Computer Society Golden Medal Award (2018) Inducted Member of IEEE Honor Society Eta Kappa Nu (2019) Multiple best paper awards at major conferences including Shape Modeling International (2015), IEEE/EG Symposium on Volume and Point-Based Graphics (2008), and ACM SIGSPATIAL (2008) Professor De Floriani has successfully advised numerous PhD students including Xin Xu, Yunting Song, and Noel Dyer, whose recent dissertations focused on topology-based individual tree mapping, efficient terrain analysis, and bathymetric data visualization respectively. Her research has been funded by prestigious agencies including the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the European Commission. As the leader of the UMD GeoVis group, she oversees a research program that develops open-source tools for spatial data analysis available on GitHub, with current projects focusing on forest point cloud processing and topology-based geospatial data visualization. The GeoVis group, affiliated with the Department of Geographical Sciences, UMIACS, and the Center for Geospatial Information Sciences, maintains a strong collaborative environment with ongoing projects in geometric modeling, spatial data structures, topology-based machine learning, and mesh-based terrain modeling. The group has received recent funding from NASA's HPOSS program for developing an open-source library for forest point cloud processing based on topological data analysis.
Niamh Nic Daeid is Professor of Forensic Science and Director of the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science (LRCFS) at the University of Dundee, leading the £15m Just Tech Institute for Innovation. She holds fellowships with the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Royal Society of Chemistry, and multiple forensic science bodies while serving on committees for INTERPOL, the International Criminal Court, and the United Nations. Her research focuses on forensic chemistry applications in prison drug analysis, explosives detection, and fire investigation. Recent work emphasizes science communication, particularly using comics to improve juror comprehension of forensic testimony. She leads major projects including Clarus (bias prevention in digital forensics) and the Smart Digital Forensic Advisor initiative. Nic Daeid's publications span forensic methodology development, from quantum dots for fingerprint detection to machine learning for footwear impression analysis. Her team's 2025 research includes prison drug studies using seized Scottish evidence and advanced cartridge case imaging techniques. European Network of Forensic Science Institutes Distinguished Forensic Scientist award (2018) Royal Society of Edinburgh Senior Medal for Public Engagement Peter Ganci Award for fire investigation services Gold Engage Watermark for Public Engagement (2019) Best Short Paper Award, International Conference on eXtended Reality (2022) She supervises 13 research students and early-career academics across forensic chemistry, digital forensics, and science communication projects. Current grants include the Leverhulme Trust's £10m LRCFS (2016-2026), UK government's Tay Cities Regional Deal funding, and Dundee City Council's VR/5G initiative. Her team maintains active collaborations with Scottish prisons, international forensic networks, and law enforcement agencies.
Ard Nieuwenhuizen is a Researcher at Wageningen University & Research in the Agro Field Technology Innovations department. His expertise spans Agricultural Engineering , Robotics , and Machine Learning , focusing on AI-driven solutions for crop management and harvesting automation. Agro Field Technology Innovations, Wageningen University & Research Research Interests Robotics and intelligent systems for agricultural operations Digital twin technology and precision agriculture Computer vision for weed and crop detection Human-robot collaboration in farming Machine learning for agricultural automation Publication Trends : His recent work emphasizes agricultural robotics , digital twins , and AI-driven crop monitoring , with applications in apple/pear harvesting, soybean weed detection, and spray optimization. Articles highlight collaborations with European institutions and contributions to journals like Smart Agricultural Technology . Projects : He leads initiatives such as Smart Autonomy for Precision Agriculture (SMP25029) and Redesigning future food production systems through AI and robotics (KB-53-000-010), focusing on integrating robotics and data science into sustainable farming practices.
