Rodrigo Ventura is an Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon. He is also a senior researcher at the Institute for Systems and Robotics (ISR-Lisbon), leading the Space and Aeronautics thematic line. His research focuses on the intersection of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, emphasizing human-robot interaction, space robotics, and cognitive architectures. He coordinates the Minor in Space Sciences and Technologies at IST and the MBE on Space Systems for Tecnico+. As Adjoint Faculty at the International Space University (ISU), he contributes to global academic initiatives. His work includes experiments on the International Space Station and participation in analog space missions. Research interests span biologically inspired systems, machine learning, and teleoperation interfaces. Recent publications address reinforcement learning for UAVs, microgravity experiments, and pseudo-haptic feedback for robotic control. He teaches subjects like Artificial Intelligence and Decision Systems, Satellite Engineering, and Autonomous Systems.
Rachid Cherkaoui is a Senior Scientist at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), affiliated with the School of Engineering, specifically within the Department of Electrical Engineering. He is actively associated with research units SEL-ENS, EDEY-ENS, and DESL, contributing to the Distributed Electrical Systems Laboratory (DESL). His work focuses on advanced power system optimization, smart grids, and energy market modeling. Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, EPFL, 1992 M.S. in Electrical Engineering, EPFL, 1983 Dr. Cherkaoui's research interests include electrical power and distribution systems, distributed generation, energy storage, electricity market deregulation, and power system vulnerability mitigation. His work bridges theoretical modeling and real-world applications, particularly in flexibility provision, grid resilience, and market integration of renewable energy. His recent publications (2020–2025) reflect a strong focus on smart grid technologies, energy storage integration, and market mechanisms. Key themes include optimal dispatch of hybrid systems, TSO-DSO coordination, frequency control, and stochastic optimization under uncertainty. His work is frequently published in top-tier journals such as IEEE Transactions on Power Systems and IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid. ABB Swiss Award '83 Senior Member, IEEE Member, CIGRE Task Forces C5-2 IEEE Swiss Chapter Officer since 2005 Dr. Cherkaoui actively supervises doctoral students and collaborates extensively with researchers like Mario Paolone. He has contributed to numerous projects funded by industry, CTI/Innosuisse, and Horizon 2020. His research includes experimental validation and real-time control systems, particularly in hydropower and battery storage applications. He is also involved in national and international energy strategy discussions, including Switzerland's path to carbon neutrality.
Jozef Vleugels is a full Professor at KU Leuven's Faculty of Engineering Sciences, where he serves as Department Head of Functional Materials (SIEM) within the Department of Materials Science. He is also Chairman of the Leuven Centre for Materials and serves as contact person for the Functional Materials research unit located at Castle Park Arenberg 44 in Leuven. His research focuses on advanced materials processing, particularly in ceramics, powder metallurgy, and additive manufacturing. Vleugels has extensive expertise in zirconia-based dental biomaterials, nuclear materials, and refractory ceramics. His work integrates traditional ceramic processing techniques with cutting-edge additive manufacturing technologies, including direct ink writing (DIW) and binder jetting for complex geometries. His recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on dental applications of zirconia ceramics, laser surface modification techniques, microwave processing, and high-entropy carbide systems. His research group is actively involved in numerous EU and national projects related to additive manufacturing of multi-material components, nuclear applications, and dental biomaterials. Prof. Vleugels teaches several courses including Ceramics and Powder Metallurgy, Advanced Ceramic Materials, and project-based courses in materials science. He supervises numerous doctoral candidates and collaborates extensively with industry partners on applied research projects. He is an active member of multiple research networks including the Materials Science Division, KIEM – KU Leuven Institute for Energy and Society, and Leuven.AM – KU Leuven Institute for Additive Manufacturing. He also serves on various faculty and departmental councils including the Faculty Council of Engineering Sciences and the Departmental Council of Materials Science.
Natalie Enright Jerger is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. She holds the Canada Research Chair in Computer Architecture and serves as Director of the Division of Engineering Science (2023-2028). Previously, she was the Percy Edward Hart Professor (2016-2019). She received her B.S. in Computer Engineering from Purdue University (2002), and M.S./Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from University of Wisconsin-Madison (2004/2008). Her research focuses on: Multi/many-core architectures and on-chip networks Cache coherence protocols and memory hierarchy optimization Approximate computing and sustainable systems Intermittent computing for energy-harvesting devices Hardware acceleration for machine learning Her publications demonstrate strong emphasis on networks-on-chip (NoC) innovations, including routing algorithms, deadlock handling, power-efficient designs, and topology optimizations. Recent work expands into approximate computing, mobile architectures, and ML-driven hardware design. Major Awards: Fellow of Engineering Institute of Canada (2023) McLean Senior Fellow (2019) IEEE Micro Top Picks (2016) ACM/IEEE Microarchitecture Hall of Fame (2015) Sloan Research Fellowship (2015) Canada Research Chair (current) Distinguished Scientist, ACM Fellow, IEEE She leads the NEJ research group and collaborates with industry partners including Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, and IBM. Her work is funded by NSERC, CFI, and industrial grants. She co-chaired ASPLOS 2023 and HPCA 2014, and actively promotes diversity through WICARCH and ACM initiatives.
Nathan Youngblood is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh , with a secondary appointment in the Department of Physics and Astronomy . His research focuses on reconfigurable photonic materials and devices for energy-efficient artificial intelligence applications. Educational Background: PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Minnesota Postdoctoral research at the University of Oxford (2017–2019) His work explores photonic in-memory computing, neuromorphic systems, and phase-change materials to minimize computing latency and energy consumption. Recent publications highlight advancements in magneto-optical non-reciprocity, coherent crossbar arrays, and plasmonic-enhanced phase-change devices. Scientific Awards: NSF CAREER Award (2024) AFOSR Young Investigator Award (2024) William Kepler Whiteford Faculty Fellowship (2024) Dr. Youngblood's lab develops photonic accelerators like LightML and LightBulb for machine learning, emphasizing scalable integration and novel material applications in silicon photonics.
Wan Shou is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Arkansas. His research focuses on multiscale manufacturing, advanced materials, and functional devices, with applications in wearables, robotics, and sustainable technologies. Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette B.E., Textile Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, China Dr. Shou’s research spans laser-based manufacturing , nanomanufacturing , machine learning-assisted processes , and bioresorbable electronics . He explores 3D printing of polymer and metal composites, energy materials , and functional textiles for wearable sensors and environmental applications. Recent publications highlight his work in additive manufacturing , computational design of composites, and self-powered sensing systems . His team integrates machine learning with materials discovery to optimize performance. Editor’s pick of Science Magazine US Patent 11,752,700: Data-driven material formulation US Patent 11,993,850: Laser-assisted nanoparticle printing Dr. Shou’s patents and publications reflect a commitment to innovative manufacturing and environmentally conscious design . His work bridges materials science , robotics , and smart systems , advancing energy and water technologies.
Danyang Zhuo is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Duke University, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, with expertise in datacenter/cloud computing and machine learning systems. He joined Duke in 2020 after postdoctoral research at UC Berkeley under Ion Stoica and a PhD at the University of Washington advised by Tom Anderson and Arvind Krishnamurthy. Education: PhD in Computer Science (University of Washington, 2019) His research focuses on improving cloud infrastructure through systems like Phoenix (application-level abstractions) and Phantora (GPU cluster simulation). Recent work explores LLM verification, tensor compression via video codecs, and fairness in LLM serving. His 15 most recent publications span operating systems, machine learning, and networked systems conferences like HOTOS, NSDI, SIGCOMM, and OSDI. Scientific honors include NSF CAREER Award (2023), USENIX Security Distinguished Paper (2023), and multiple industry research awards. He has secured major NSF grants for projects including "OS-Managed Remote Procedure Call" and "Campus-level RDMA Networking." At Duke, he advises PhD students and teaches courses such as Introduction to Operating Systems (CompSci 310) and Systems for Machine Learning (CompSci 590.05). His work appears in leading conferences and journals, with collaborations across institutions including UC Berkeley, University of Washington, and industry partners.
Zita Vale is a Full Professor at the Institute of Engineering (ISEP) of the Polytechnic of Porto (IPP), where she holds the first Full Professor position since 2017. She is a co-founder of GECAD (1999) and coordinates GECAD's Power and Energy (PES) activities. GECAD is recognized by FCT since 2004 and classified as Excellent. She has served as GECAD director (2010-2017), vice-director (1999-2009, 2017-present), and is a member of the administration board. She is also co-founder and member of the coordination board of the National Associated Laboratory on Intelligent Systems. Her educational background includes a PhD (1993) and Agregação/Habilitation (2003) in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Porto. She began her academic career at the University of Porto as a Teaching Monitor (1985), Assistant (1985-1993), and Professor (1993-1998) before moving to ISEP in 1998. Zita Vale's research focuses on the design and development of artificial intelligence-based models for Power and Energy Systems. Her work spans knowledge-based systems, multiagent systems, machine learning, metaheuristics, and semantics, with applications in smart grids, energy management, electricity markets, and renewable energy integration. She has an extensive international network and has participated in 80 R&D projects, raising over 22 million Euros for GECAD. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on optimization techniques, explainable AI, energy storage systems, and the integration of distributed energy resources in power systems. She serves as Editor-in-Chief of Applied Energy (Elsevier), a leading journal in the field with an Impact Factor of 11.2. Her citation metrics are impressive, with over 17,000 citations on Google Scholar and an H-index of 64. Editor-in-Chief of Applied Energy (Elsevier) Over 17,000 citations on Google Scholar H-index of 64 Zita Vale has supervised 29 PhD students (25 completed) and 72 MSc students (66 completed), demonstrating her strong commitment to academic mentorship. She has also been involved in numerous international and national evaluation processes, including project proposals, faculty positions, and PhD juries across 15+ countries. She has contributed to over 225 evaluation processes from 2018-2023, including 150+ project proposals/execution, 50+ Faculty/Researchers positions, 2 Habilitation juries, and 25+ PhD juries. She leads GECAD's involvement in several major research initiatives, including the National Associated Laboratory on Intelligent Systems and various European projects such as IoTalentum, TRADERES, DOMINOES, and EcoRural-IoT from Horizon 2020, as well as PRODUTECH EU DIH from Horizon Europe. Her leadership extends to international organizations where she serves as President of Intelligent Systems Applications in Power (ISAP) and Technical Committee Program Chair of IEEE PES Analytic Methods for Power Systems Committee.
Stephen W. Keckler is an Adjunct Professor at the Department of Computer Science , The University of Texas at Austin , and serves as Vice President of Architecture Research at NVIDIA . He is an ACM Fellow , IEEE Fellow , and Sloan Foundation Research Fellow . Education: BS in Electrical Engineering, Stanford University (1990) SM in Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1992) PhD in Computer Science, MIT (1998) Research Interests focus on computer architecture for deep learning , GPU computing , and energy-efficient systems . His work explores memory compression , network-on-chip designs , and heterogeneous computing . Publication Trends highlight advancements in deep learning accelerators , GPU memory systems , and energy-efficient architectures . Notable themes include sparsity exploitation , multi-chip modules , and fault-tolerant GPU pipelines . Scientific Recognition : ACM Fellow IEEE Fellow Sloan Foundation Research Fellow Best Paper Awards at ASPLOS 2009 and ISPASS 2011 Laboratory Affiliations : Computer Architecture and Technology Laboratory (CART) TRIPS Project (Tera-Op Reliable Intelligently adaptive Processing System) NVIDIA Research
Massimo Figari is a Full Professor at the University of Genoa , affiliated with the Department of Naval, Electrical, Electronic, and Telecommunications Engineering (DITEN) . He serves as the Course Coordinator for the Maritime Science and Technology course and teaches a range of subjects including naval systems reliability, military ship design, and maritime economics. His research spans naval architecture , maritime safety , autonomous shipping , and decarbonization technologies . He is actively involved in developing battery energy storage systems for naval applications, certification frameworks for autonomous ships, and simulation-based training for maritime education. His work emphasizes sustainability, safety, and innovation in marine engineering. Recent publications reflect a strong focus on emission reduction , alternative marine fuels like methanol, and autonomous navigation systems . These contributions position him at the forefront of maritime engineering research and education. Contact: He is available via email at massimo.figari@unige.it and holds office hours on Fridays from 4–5 PM at Villa Cambiaso, Office No. 322.
Henry Liang, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), with adjunct appointments in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at Texas Tech University. His lab focuses on bridging biology with synthetic systems through membrane biophysics and bioengineering. Research Interests: Dr. Liang's work spans membrane protein reconstitution, nanodisc technology, antimicrobial nanoparticles, blood-brain barrier targeting, and immunotherapy platforms. Key areas include: Design of synthetic proteomembranes for protein function studies Development of environmentally responsive nanoantibiotics Nanoparticle-based theranostic systems for cancer Light-driven energy transduction in biohybrid materials Publication Trends: His 15 most recent articles (2011-2023) demonstrate consistent focus on nanotechnology solutions for biomedical challenges, with evolving emphasis on antimicrobial nanostructures (35%), membrane protein platforms (30%), cancer nanomedicine (20%), and sustainable nanomaterials (15%). Methodological strengths include polymer synthesis, X-ray scattering, and biomimetic system design. Training: The Liang Lab actively recruits graduate students and postdoctoral researchers for projects in membrane biophysics and bioengineering. Current research infrastructure includes capabilities for synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering, molecular dynamics simulations, and nanomaterial characterization.
Tariq Iqbal is an Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia , with joint appointments in the Department of Systems and Information Engineering and Department of Computer Science . He leads the Collaborative Robotics Lab (CRL) , specializing in human-robot teams and embodied AI . Previously, he was a Postdoctoral Associate at MIT's CSAIL , advised by Prof. Julie Shah , and earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from University of California San Diego (UCSD) under Prof. Laurel Riek . Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of California San Diego (2017) M.S. in Computer Science, University of Texas at El Paso (2012) B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (2007) His research lies at the intersection of artificial intelligence and robotics , focusing on human-robot collaboration in dynamic environments. Key areas include motion prediction , multimodal fusion , trust modeling , and collaborative learning . His work integrates cognitive science and deep learning to enhance robotic fluency in naturalistic settings. Recent publications (2023–2025) highlight advancements in human-robot team dynamics , multimodal dataset creation , and motion prediction algorithms . Notable works include Energy-Based Transformers for scalable AI, PoseTron for motion prediction, and Accessible Navigation Mapping for assistive robotics. These contributions span trust modeling , cloud robotic infrastructure , and safety in close-proximity collaboration . National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Young Investigator Program (YIP) Award Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM) Innovation Award As faculty, he has secured grants from NSF and AFOSR , mentored research students, and taught courses like Stochastic Modeling I (SYS 6005) and Robots and Humans (SYS 4582/6465, ECE 4502/6465, CS 6465) . His prior industry roles at IBM Watson Lab and Grameenphone Ltd. inform his applied research in telecom infrastructure and cognitive robotics . He leads the Collaborative Robotics Lab (CRL) at UVA, which develops multimodal datasets , real-time coordination algorithms , and adaptive pathfinding systems . Current projects explore human motion prediction , team synchrony , and embodied question-answering , reflecting his commitment to advancing human-robot fluency and contextual AI .
Prof. Jeroen Anton van Bokhoven is a Full Professor at ETH Zurich's Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences and Head of the Laboratory for Catalysis and Sustainable Chemistry at Paul Scherrer Institute. His research focuses on establishing structure-performance relationships in heterogeneous catalysts to enable sustainable chemical processes through advanced catalyst design. Education: B.Sc. in Chemistry, Utrecht University (1995) Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis (with honours), Utrecht University (2000) Research Focus: Van Bokhoven's group pioneers operando characterization techniques, particularly X-ray absorption spectroscopy and scattering methods, to study catalysts under realistic reaction conditions. Key research thrusts include methane conversion to value-added products (methanol, methyl esters), zeolite catalysis for olefin production, and design of stable catalysts for high-temperature oxidation processes. His work bridges fundamental surface science with industrial applications in sustainable energy and chemical manufacturing. Scientific Recognition: Swiss Chemical Society Werner Prize (2008) Academic Leadership: Van Bokhoven leads a multidisciplinary research group spanning ETH Zurich and Paul Scherrer Institute, supervising doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers. His group maintains strategic partnerships with industrial catalyst manufacturers and operates specialized facilities for in situ spectroscopy at the Swiss Light Source synchrotron. Current projects address carbon dioxide utilization, biomass conversion, and fundamental mechanisms of catalyst deactivation. Research Infrastructure: The group leverages state-of-the-art capabilities at the Laboratory for Catalysis and Sustainable Chemistry (PSI), including custom operando cells for XAS, XPS, and electron microscopy under reactive gas environments, enabling atomic-scale observation of catalytic transformations.
Mykola Oleksiyovych Zhuravel serves as a Senior Lecturer at Zaporizhia Polytechnic National University within the Department of Occupational Safety and Environmental Protection, part of the Faculty of Construction, Architecture and Design. With over 37 years of service since 1987, he has established himself as a dedicated educator and researcher in occupational safety, civil defense, and environmental protection fields. His research interests span occupational safety, civil defense, environmental safety, life safety, industrial safety, ergonomics, and risk management. Zhuravel's scholarly work consistently addresses practical safety concerns in Ukrainian industrial and educational settings, with a particular focus on regional environmental challenges in Zaporizhzhia. His publications demonstrate a progression from foundational safety principles to contemporary concerns like ecological energy security and digital workplace safety. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on practical applications of safety science, with recurring themes in environmental protection, workplace hazard mitigation, and emergency preparedness. His work bridges theoretical safety frameworks with practical implementation strategies, particularly relevant to Ukrainian industrial contexts. Zhuravel maintains active professional development, with numerous certifications through 2024 in occupational safety, civil defense, and academic integrity. He is an associated member of the European Community for Occupational Safety and Health (EUOP register number 13823000211, registered June 12, 2023). As an educator, he teaches multiple safety-related disciplines including Safety of Life of a Specialist with Basics of Labor Protection, Protection of Human Living Environment and Occupational Safety, and Civil Protection and Occupational Safety in Industry. His teaching approach integrates theoretical knowledge with practical safety applications relevant to Ukrainian industrial contexts.
Ahmad Al-Dabbagh is an Assistant Professor in Manufacturing Engineering and holds a Principal's Research Chair in Control Systems (Tier 2) with the School of Engineering at The University of British Columbia. As a Senior Member of IEEE and ISA, he contributes significantly to the field of resilient automation and control systems through research, teaching, and professional service. His academic journey includes postdoctoral fellowships at Imperial College London, the University of Toronto, and the University of Alberta, where he also earned his PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Dr. Al-Dabbagh's research focuses on designing resilient automation and control systems by addressing critical challenges in fault diagnosis, cyber security, and alarm management. His work spans theoretical foundations and practical applications in industrial control systems, with particular emphasis on detection and isolation of faults and cyber attacks, control reconfiguration, event-triggered control, remote state estimation, and alarm systems design. His research interests also extend to causality analysis, prediction methods, and root cause analysis for industrial processes. His extensive publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to control systems security and reliability, with recent work focusing on sophisticated methods for detecting false data injection attacks, analyzing alarm correlations using advanced machine learning techniques, and developing recommender systems for human operators in industrial environments. The trajectory of his research shows an evolution from foundational control theory toward increasingly complex applications in cyber-physical security and human-system interaction in industrial settings. NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship NSERC Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS – D3) Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship Governor General's Academic Medal (Gold) As a graduate student supervisor, Dr. Al-Dabbagh mentors the next generation of control systems engineers while maintaining an active research program. He serves as an Associate Editor on the IEEE Control Systems Society Conference Editorial Board and is a licensed Professional Engineer in British Columbia and Ontario. His teaching portfolio includes courses such as System Identification, Digital Enterprise, Systems and Control, and Internet of Things, reflecting the breadth of his expertise. Dr. Al-Dabbagh leads the Okanagan Laboratory for Control Systems Research, where his team develops innovative approaches to enhance the security and reliability of industrial automation systems. The laboratory serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research that bridges theoretical control engineering with practical industrial applications, particularly in the energy, manufacturing, and process industries.
