Dr. Frank Loh is a researcher at the Department of Computer Science III, University of Würzburg, specializing in energy efficiency, network performance, and Quality of Experience (QoE) in communication networks. His work focuses on optimizing LoRaWAN deployments, serverless computing, and edge-cloud environments, with an emphasis on reducing message collisions and improving resource utilization. He actively contributes to methodologies for gateway placement, traffic modeling, and energy consumption metrics. Research Areas Energy Efficiency in Communication Networks Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) LoRaWAN Network Planning Edge and Serverless Computing Network Resource Analysis Recent Publications 2025: Energy modeling for 6G base stations 2025: Server cluster resilience via Markov models 2024: Serverless computing in edge-cloud environments 2024: LoRaWAN channel access optimization
Hua Ge is a Professor in the Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering at Concordia University's Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science. She holds a Tier II Concordia University Research Chair in High Performance Building Envelope for Climate Resilient Buildings and leads extensive research in building science and climate adaptation. Her research focuses on wind-driven rain analysis , hygrothermal performance of building envelopes , advanced building facades , innovative wood-frame construction , and low-energy buildings . Current work examines climate change impacts on wind-driven rain loads, urban micro-climate effects, climate-resilient building envelopes, dynamic facades, and low-carbon healthy buildings. Her methodology combines large-scale laboratory testing, field monitoring, and computational modeling. Her 15 most recent publications demonstrate strong trends in nature-based climate resilience solutions , overheating risk mitigation in educational buildings , advanced hygrothermal modeling of wood-frame systems , and carbon sequestration strategies for buildings. The work spans multiple sub-disciplines including computational fluid dynamics, life cycle assessment, stochastic modeling, and field validation studies across Canadian climates. Tier II Concordia University Research Chair (CURC) in High Performance Building Envelope for Climate Resilient Buildings Professional Engineers of Ontario American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers ASHRAE TC4.4 Building materials and building envelope performance (Subcommittee Chair) Professor Ge has supervised 42 graduate students (26 PhD, 16 MASc), including current advisees working on nature-based solutions, climate-resilient envelopes, and building integrated photovoltaics. Her research is supported by Concordia University Research Chair funding and collaborative projects with institutions like BCIT. She directs activities at Concordia's Building Envelope Test Facility and contributes to national standards through ASHRAE.
Professor Darren Robinson holds the Chair in Architectural and Urban Sciences at the University of Sheffield 's School of Architecture and Landscape, where he serves as Director of Research. His work bridges social, building, and urban physics through multiscale modeling approaches. RCUK Innovation Fellowship (2018-2021, £268k) Leverhulme Research Programme Grant (2015-2020, £3.4M) EPSRC grant for Model-Predictive Control in buildings (2016-2019, £541k) His research focuses on statistical modeling of human behavior in buildings, urban energy simulation , and integrated assessment modeling for climate policy. Key contributions include stochastic occupant behavior models and urban metabolism frameworks. Notable awards include the Sustainability Science Best Paper Award (2020) , CIBSE Napier-Shaw Medal (2007), and Fellowships from FIBPSA and the Research Council of Norway. He leads the People, Environments and Performance and Multiscale Simulation research groups.
Daniel J. Sorin is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering, where he also serves as Associate Chair of Education. He holds joint appointments in both the Electrical and Computer Engineering department and Computer Science department, and is recognized as a Bass Fellow for his contributions to education and research. His research focuses on computer architecture with specific expertise in memory systems, cache coherence protocols, fault tolerance, and verification-aware design. Dr. Sorin's work bridges theoretical computer architecture with practical implementations, often incorporating coding theory to solve architectural challenges. His research group has made significant contributions to automated protocol generation, hardware acceleration, and robot motion planning systems. Dr. Sorin's publications reveal a consistent focus on memory consistency models, cache coherence protocols, and verification techniques. His recent work has expanded into robot motion planning acceleration, FPGA resource management, and novel error correction techniques for emerging memory technologies. The trend shows increasing interdisciplinary work connecting computer architecture with robotics and machine learning applications. Program Chair of HiPEAC 2017 Co-chair of IEEE Micro's Top Picks selection committee (2016) Lois and John L. Imhoff Distinguished Teaching Award (2011) NSF CAREER Award recipient IEEE Micro Top Pick awards (2011, 2015) ACM Senior Member As an advisor, Dr. Sorin has mentored numerous PhD students who have gone on to successful careers at leading technology companies including Google, Microsoft, Oracle, and Nvidia. His research group maintains strong industry connections and has produced influential work in cache coherence protocols, memory systems, and fault-tolerant architectures. He has also authored the widely-used textbook 'A Primer on Memory Consistency and Cache Coherence' (2nd edition). Dr. Sorin leads an active research laboratory focused on next-generation computer architecture challenges, with ongoing projects in hardware acceleration, memory systems, and robot motion planning. His group collaborates with researchers across multiple disciplines including robotics, coding theory, and semiconductor design.
Lisa Wu Wills is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke University, leading the APEX Lab (Application-driven Programmable Efficient Accelerated Systems Lab). Her research focuses on hardware acceleration for big data analytics in genomics, graphs, and databases to advance healthcare and natural sciences. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science, Columbia University, 2014 Research Interests: Dr. Wills pioneers computer architecture and hardware-software co-design to create efficient accelerators for emerging applications. Her work targets genomics , graph analytics , and database systems , emphasizing simplified hardware deployment and energy efficiency for scientific breakthroughs in healthcare and AI. Publication Trends: Her 2022-2025 publications reveal a strong focus on open-source frameworks (Beethoven, PyTFHE) for accelerator development, hardware acceleration in privacy-preserving computing, and optimization for large language models. Key themes include transfer learning for EDA, domain-specific architectures for genomics, and energy-efficient image processing. Scientific Awards: Google ML and Systems Junior Faculty Award (2025) Advising and Grants: Dr. Wills mentors three PhD students: Chris Kjellqvist (Beethoven framework architect), Mason Ma (PyTFHE lead for FHE applications), and Mansi Choudhary (COCOSSim simulator creator). Her 2025 Google award funds research on accelerating vector databases and retrieval-augmented generation for LLMs. Labs and Teams: She directs the APEX Lab at Duke, developing tools like Beethoven (open-source accelerator composer) and PyTFHE for hardware-software integration, enabling domain scientists to leverage custom acceleration with minimal hardware expertise.
Dr. Charles Rougé is a Senior Lecturer in Water Resilience at the Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Sheffield. He holds an MSc and PhD, and his career spans top institutions in France, the US, Canada, and the UK. 2018–present: University of Sheffield (Lecturer → Senior Lecturer) 2023–2026: Principal Investigator, EPSRC-funded project on water-energy systems under climate change and energy transition Research Focus: Modelling complex water resource systems to enhance resilience against climate change, with a growing emphasis on water-energy nexus challenges. His work integrates hydrology, power systems engineering, economics, and decision theory. Key Trends: 15 most recent articles span climate-perturbed hydrological models, water-energy system coupling, socio-hydrology applications, and transboundary water governance. Many showcase interdisciplinary approaches to water infrastructure flexibility and uncertainty quantification. Scientific Awards: 2019 Quentin Martin Best Practice Award (JWRPM) 2015 Editor's Citation for Excellence (WRR) Grants: EPSRC grant (UKRI) for 'Flexible design and operation of water resource systems' (2023–2026) Team Leadership: Leads the 'Water resilience' research group at Sheffield, mentoring early-career researchers in water system sustainability and low-carbon energy transition.
Professor James Im serves as Professor of Materials Science in the Departments of Earth and Environmental Engineering and Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics at Columbia University, with an office at 1106 S.W. Mudd (Mail Code 4701). His academic career spans over three decades at Columbia, where he progressed from Assistant Professor (1991-1994) to Associate Professor (1995-2002), and ultimately to full Professor (2002-present), including a tenure as Chair of the Materials Science and Engineering Program (2002-2014). His educational background includes a B.S. with Distinction in Materials Science from Cornell University (1984) and a Ph.D. in Electronic Materials from MIT (1989), followed by postdoctoral research at Caltech (1989-1991). Cornell University: B.S. Materials Science (1984) MIT: Ph.D. Electronic Materials (1989) Caltech: Postdoctoral Scholar (1989-1991) Im's research centers on ultra-rapid phase transitions in beam-irradiated thin films, specifically focusing on laser crystallization of silicon films , energy-beam-induced melting and solidification , and nucleation in discontinuous phase transitions . His work employs experimental, computational, and theoretical approaches to develop innovative semiconductor materials for advanced displays, solar cells, and integrated circuits. Notably, his invention of Sequential Lateral Solidification (SLS) technology has been licensed to major display manufacturers (Samsung, LG, Sharp) and implemented in products by Apple, Blackberry, and Nokia. Current research focuses on advancing the Spot-Beam Crystallization (SBC) platform using fiber lasers for next-generation microelectronics. His publication record spans environmental aerosol studies (2019-2024), oilfield operations technology (2002-2014), and foundational atmospheric research (1980s), reflecting interdisciplinary expertise bridging materials science, environmental engineering, and petroleum technology. The most recent works emphasize low-cost sensor development and aerosol monitoring. Professional recognition includes membership in prestigious societies: Bohmisch Physical Society Sigma Xi Alpha Sigma Mu Materials Research Society American Physical Society Im's research group maintains strong industry connections through technology licensing and collaborative projects, particularly in display manufacturing. His leadership as former department chair demonstrates administrative commitment alongside scientific innovation. The laboratory leverages state-of-the-art laser systems and beam delivery optics for materials development, with recent focus shifting toward environmental monitoring applications while maintaining core semiconductor research.
Jonathan Cullen is Professor of Sustainable Engineering at the University of Cambridge and President of Fitzwilliam College, specializing in resource efficiency and decarbonization through top-down analysis of industrial material and energy systems. His work bridges academic research with industry applications across energy-intensive sectors. Education: Bachelor's in Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Canterbury, New Zealand MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development, University of Cambridge PhD in Engineering Fundamentals of Energy Efficiency, University of Cambridge His research develops metrics for quantifying energy and material consequences of production systems, focusing on circular economy implementation, minimum energy requirements, and zero-carbon transition pathways. Key applications target cement, steel, plastics, and petrochemicals where he pioneers methods like exergetic analysis and material flow accounting to expose carbon lock-ins and circularity opportunities. Recent publications reveal three dominant trends: (1) Frameworks for theoretical minimum energy requirements across industrial processes, (2) Geopolitical analysis of critical mineral flows and ownership structures, and (3) Circular economy metrics for plastics and construction materials. These consistently employ system-scale modeling validated through industry partnerships. Research Funding: Lead: C-THRU ($4M, VKRF) - carbon clarity in petrochemical supply chains Co-I: UK FIRES (£5.2M, EPSRC) - industrial decarbonization program Co-I: CirPlas (£1.25M, UKRI) - plastic waste elimination 7+ projects (EPSRC, Innovate UK, Horizon 2020) Academic Leadership: Teaching: Energy Systems and Policy (MPhil in Energy Technologies) Undergraduate supervision in Materials/Mathematics Graduate Tutor at Fitzwilliam College IPCC AR6 Lead Author (Industry Chapter) He directs the Resource Efficiency Collective, which develops open-source tools like Mat-dp for material demand projections and Starter Data Kits for energy planning. Current work focuses on scaling circular business models for construction retrofitting and quantifying geopolitical risks in critical mineral supply chains.
Professor Yusuf Karbhari is a Professor of Accounting at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University. With a distinguished career spanning several decades, he has established himself as an expert in accounting, particularly in the areas of public sector accounting, Islamic finance, and corporate governance in emerging economies. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications across diverse economic contexts, from the UK public sector to Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian financial systems. Professor Karbhari holds a PhD and MBA from institutions in Wales, along with a BA (Hons) degree. His educational background has provided the foundation for his extensive research career focused on accounting practices in both developed and emerging economies. Professor Karbhari's research interests encompass a wide range of topics including Accounting and Accountability in government sectors across the Middle East and Malaysia, Accounting practices of UK Executive Agencies, International Government Accounting, Communicative Effectiveness of International Auditor's Reports, Financial Reporting and Performance Measurement in UK Central Government, and Managerial and Accounting Reforms in the Public Sector. His work particularly emphasizes the intersection of traditional accounting principles with cultural and religious contexts, especially in Islamic finance systems. His extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on accounting practices in emerging economies, with particular attention to Islamic banking and finance, corporate governance structures, and public sector accounting. Over the past decade, his research has increasingly examined the role of Sharia boards in Islamic financial institutions, environmental disclosure practices, and the relationship between governance mechanisms and financial performance in diverse economic contexts. Professor Karbhari is available for postgraduate supervision and has research interests that align with his expertise in Accounting and Auditing in Emerging Economies, International Public Sector Accounting, Corporate Governance in emerging economies, and Islamic Banking and Finance. He teaches undergraduate courses in Accounting for Decision Making and Control (Year 2) and Public Sector Accounting (Year 3).
Daniele Venturi is a Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he has been faculty since 2015, rising from Assistant Professor to full Professor by 2021. Previously, he was a Research Assistant Professor at Brown University from 2010-2015. His academic journey began at the University of Bologna, where he earned both his combined B.S./Sc.M. in Mechanical Engineering (2002) and Ph.D. in Applied Physics with a focus on thermo-fluid dynamics (2006). University of Bologna: B.S./Sc.M. Mechanical Engineering (2002), Ph.D. Applied Physics (2006) Brown University: Research Assistant Professor (2010-2015) UC Santa Cruz: Assistant to Associate to Full Professor (2015-present) Professor Venturi's research spans multiple cutting-edge areas in computational mathematics. His primary interests include stochastic modeling and uncertainty quantification, numerical tensor methods for high-dimensional PDEs, data-driven modeling approaches, approximation of functional-differential equations, and theoretical/computational fluid dynamics. His work bridges theoretical mathematical frameworks with practical computational implementations, particularly focusing on overcoming the curse of dimensionality in complex systems. His recent research has been heavily focused on hierarchical tensor methods for solving high-dimensional partial differential equations. The analysis of his publication record reveals a strong emphasis on developing computational frameworks that address high-dimensional challenges in uncertainty quantification and model reduction. His work frequently intersects machine learning techniques with traditional numerical methods, particularly in developing physics-informed neural networks and multifidelity modeling approaches. A consistent theme across his publications is the development of mathematical frameworks that maintain computational tractability while preserving physical fidelity in complex systems. Professor Venturi has secured substantial research funding from major agencies including the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), Department of Energy (DoE), National Science Foundation (NSF), Army Research Office (ARO), and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). His most significant current grant is a 2024-2029 AFOSR MURI award totaling $7.5M as co-PI for 'Tensor Network for simulating kinetic systems.' 2024-2029: AFOSR MURI, $7.5M (co-PI) 2023-2027: DoE, $3.8M (co-PI) 2023-2026: AFOSR, $2.5M (co-PI) 2020-2025: NSF TRIPODS, $2.3M (co-PI) At UC Santa Cruz, Venturi teaches a range of courses including Fundamentals of Uncertainty Quantification, Applied Dynamical Systems, Nonlinear Dynamical Systems, and Numerical Methods for Differential Equations. His teaching spans both undergraduate and graduate levels, reflecting his expertise across theoretical and computational mathematics. His lecture notes for these courses are publicly available and demonstrate his commitment to pedagogical excellence in complex mathematical subjects.
Jaal Ghandhi is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research focuses on combustion and fluid mechanics in internal combustion engines, utilizing laser-based diagnostics to study temperature and concentration fields. He holds significant academic roles and has received multiple prestigious awards, including the John Bollinger Chair and ASME/Society of Automotive Engineers Fellowships. Education: PhD 1995 (Princeton University), MS 1988 (UW-Madison), BS 1986 (UW-Madison) His research interests include laser diagnostics, turbulent flow, and advanced engine design. Recent work emphasizes thermal barrier coating performance, diesel engine efficiency, and hydrogen-based fuels. Over 20 years, his publications span combustion dynamics, material durability, and engine thermodynamics. Awards include the NSF CAREER Award, Grainger Professorship, and multiple teaching accolades. He teaches graduate courses in energy sustainability, combustion, and engine experiments. His research contributes to sustainable engineering through improved engine efficiency and reduced emissions, with collaborations in automotive and energy sectors.
Phillip J Ansell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Illinois. He serves as the Director of the Center for High-Efficiency Electrical Technologies for Aircraft (CHEETA), focusing on advancing sustainable aviation through innovative propulsion and energy systems. His research interests include aerodynamics optimization, hydrogen propulsion, electric aircraft integration, and cryogenic technologies. Ansell has received prestigious awards such as the AFOSR Young Investigator Award (2015), ARO Young Investigator Award (2017), and the Lawrence Sperry Award (2023), recognizing his contributions to sustainable aviation and flow control technologies. His work spans interdisciplinary areas like hydrogen fuel cell systems, airfoil design, and electrified aircraft architectures. Recent research emphasizes sustainable aviation frameworks, cryogenic hydrogen storage, and propulsion-airframe integration. Ansell has collaborated on projects involving distributed propulsion systems, wind energy optimization, and advanced plasma actuators for flow control. His leadership in CHEETA drives innovations in superconductivity and high-temperature superconducting components for next-generation aircraft. Notable contributions include studies on laminar flow control, transonic aerodynamics, and the technical challenges of integrating MW-scale hydrogen propulsion systems. His publications reflect a blend of theoretical modeling, experimental validation, and systems engineering approaches to address aviation's sustainability challenges.
Christopher Evans is an Associate Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois, affiliated with the Materials Research Lab. His research focuses on polymer chemistry and materials science, particularly dynamic covalent bonds, ionic liquids, and polymer networks. He has received notable awards including the 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award (2020) and NSF CAREER Award (2018). His work explores topics like ion transport in block copolymers, dynamic network viscoelasticity, and solid electrolyte conductivity improvements through helical peptide structures. Recent studies include investigations into penetrant diffusion, crosslink density effects, and thermal conductivity in vitrimers. Evans collaborates widely, addressing challenges in recyclable materials, energy storage, and polymer morphology.
Professor Washington Yotto Ochieng serves as Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Chair Professor in Positioning and Navigation Systems at Imperial College London. He directs the Centre for Active Resilience and Security (CARS) and maintains key affiliations with the Centre for Systems Engineering and Innovation, Centre for Transport Engineering and Modelling, Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering, and Space Lab. His extensive advisory roles include the Science Museum Group Board of Trustees, Royal Institute of Navigation Presidency, and Royal Academy of Engineering Africa Steering Committee. His educational background includes a BSc (First Class) in Engineering from the University of Nairobi and MSc (Distinction) and PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Nottingham. He received an honorary DSc from Technical University of Kenya in 2023. Ochieng's research pioneers critical infrastructure resilience, user-centric mobility, and positioning/navigation/timing (PNT) systems. He has designed satellite navigation systems (including Europe's EGNOS and GALILEO) for multi-domain applications and advanced Air Traffic Management and Intelligent Transport Systems. His work integrates geomatics, transportation engineering, and sustainable mobility to solve global urban infrastructure challenges, with recent emphasis on decarbonization and AI-driven solutions. His 2024-2025 publications reveal strong trends in sustainable transportation decarbonization, AI-optimized traffic management, and resilient urban positioning systems. Research focuses on hydrogen fuel cell trains, carbon-efficient aviation, and deep reinforcement learning applications for emission reduction, demonstrating interdisciplinary integration of engineering, environmental science, and artificial intelligence to address climate challenges. Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (2013) Harold Spencer-Jones Gold Medal from Royal Institute of Navigation (2019) Doctor of Science (honoris causa) from Technical University of Kenya (2023) Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (EBS) from Kenya (2023) Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) (2024) Ochieng provides strategic guidance to UK Government bodies (Government Office for Science, Department for Transport, FCDO), European Parliament, and European Court of Auditors. His advisory work shaped the Blackett Review on Satellite-derived Time/Position, UK Space Strategy, and Future of Mobility report. He chairs the Science Museum London Advisory Board and leads FCDO's Sustainable Urban Economic Development program in Africa, with significant grant influence through UK National Physical Laboratory and Department for International Development. He directs the Centre for Active Resilience and Security (CARS) and leads Space Lab initiatives, focusing on mission-critical PNT systems and infrastructure resilience. His teams collaborate with international consortia including RTCM Special Committee 134 and US Institute of Navigation, developing next-generation navigation solutions for safety-critical applications across transport, aviation, and urban environments.
Benjamin Safdi is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, affiliated with the Berkeley Center for Theoretical Physics. He holds a PhD from Princeton University (2014), a Master of Advanced Study from Cambridge University (as a Churchill Scholar), and an undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Prior to UC Berkeley, he was a Pappalardo Fellow at MIT (2014–2017), an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan (2017–2020), and part of LBNL before joining Berkeley in 2021. Research Focus: Dr. Safdi specializes in dark matter physics, particularly axion dark matter detection via novel laboratory experiments and astrophysical probes. His work integrates high-performance computing simulations, data analysis techniques for astrophysical datasets, and collaborations with experimental facilities like the Fermi gamma-ray telescope and the Green Bank radio telescope. He co-founded the ABRACADABRA axion dark matter experiment. Awards: Department of Energy Early Career Award (2018) IUPAP C11 Young Scientist Prize (2020) His research bridges theoretical particle physics and observational astrophysics, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to uncovering dark matter's microscopic nature.
