Eric Larson is an Associate Professor at Brown University's Department of Mathematics, specializing in algebraic geometry. His research focuses on moduli spaces, Brill-Noether theory, and algebraic curves. He collaborates with notable mathematicians such as Isabel Vogt and Izzet Coskun on topics like normal bundles, Chow rings, and stability conditions. Larson actively engages in academic outreach, organizing Putnam competition practices and undergraduate colloquia. He has developed computational tools for studying elliptic curves' Galois representations and contributed to expository works on interpolation problems and LaTeX accessibility.
Steven Jackson is a Professor of Information Science and Science and Technology Studies at Cornell University's Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, with additional graduate field appointments in Communication and Public Affairs. Since July 2023, he has served as Vice-Provost for Academic Innovation at Cornell, and previously held leadership positions as Chair of Information Science and Dean of William Keeton House. His work bridges academic research with significant institutional leadership in higher education innovation. Dr. Jackson's research focuses on critical intersections of technology, society, and the environment, with three primary strands: technology ethics, law and policy; maintenance, repair and sustainability; and technology, inequality and global development. His work draws from American pragmatism, political economy, and science and technology studies, integrating methods from sociology, anthropology, philosophy, and media studies. He is particularly interested in how computing practices meet social and material worlds, with implications for infrastructure, collaboration, sustainability, and cultural practice. His recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on repair as both theoretical concept and practical methodology, exploring 'ordinary hope' as a framework for technological engagement and examining unmaking as a necessary counterpart to design. The research spans diverse geographical contexts from the global North to South, addressing caste dynamics in computing, digital authoritarianism, and infrastructure challenges in developing contexts. Dr. Jackson has received significant recognition including an NSF CAREER award and more than twenty paper awards at leading computing and information science venues. His research has been supported by major organizations including the U.S. National Science Foundation, Social Science Research Council, Ford Foundation, Sloan Foundation, World Bank, Intel Research, Atkinson Center for Sustainability, and the Canadian Social Science and Humanities Research Council. As an advisor, Dr. Jackson has mentored numerous graduate students who have gone on to prominent positions at institutions worldwide. He currently advises Jen Liu, Amy Cheatle, Daniel Mwesigwa, Johan Michalove, and Ritik Batra, while his former students include Palashi Vaghela (Assistant Professor at Simon Fraser University), Samir Passi (Responsible AI Researcher at Microsoft), Maggie Jack (Assistant Professor at NYU), and Ranjit Singh (Senior Researcher at Data and Society). Dr. Jackson convenes the Computing On Earth Lab, an experimental collaboration bringing together social scientists, humanists, artists, and engineers to rethink the material and planetary foundations of computing. The lab reflects his commitment to interdisciplinary approaches that address computing's environmental impacts and sustainability challenges.
Daniel W. Bliss is a Professor in the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering at Arizona State University and Director of ASU's Center for Wireless Information Systems and Computational Architectures (WISCA). With over $50 million in research funding as principal investigator from organizations including DARPA, ONR, Google, and Airbus, his work bridges theoretical foundations with practical implementations across multiple domains of wireless systems. Dr. Bliss received his educational foundation with a B.S.E.E. from Arizona State University (1989), followed by M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Physics from the University of California-San Diego (1995, 1997). His academic journey includes significant industry experience at General Dynamics (1989-1993) and MIT Lincoln Laboratory (1997-2012) before joining ASU. His research program focuses on advanced wireless systems spanning radar, communications, precision positioning, computational architectures, and medical monitoring applications. Bliss employs information theory, estimation theory, and signal processing to develop novel system concepts with disruptive capabilities. Current research emphasizes RF convergence, integrated sensing and communications, and anticipatory medical analytics using wireless technologies, with particular focus on extracting physiological data from radar signals. Analysis of recent publications reveals a strong trend toward integrated sensing and communications systems, particularly utilizing mmWave and radar technologies for medical monitoring applications. His work increasingly bridges traditional communications and radar domains while expanding into physiological monitoring, demonstrating a clear trajectory toward convergence of wireless technologies for healthcare applications and remote vital sign detection. Dr. Bliss has received significant recognition for his contributions: Fellow of the IEEE (2015) 2021 IEEE Warren D. White Award for Excellence in Radar Engineering 2016-2017 Top 5% Teaching Award at ASU 2017 ASU Fulton Engineering Exemplar Faculty As a dedicated mentor, Dr. Bliss has supervised numerous graduate students through successful dissertation and thesis defenses across both PhD and Master's programs. His research portfolio includes substantial funding from diverse sources with over $50 million secured as principal investigator. Current projects include the $17M DARPA DASH project focused on advanced software-reconfigurable heterogeneous SoCs for next-generation RF systems, and multiple initiatives in contactless vital sign monitoring using radar technologies. Dr. Bliss leads the BLISS Lab and serves as director of WISCA, fostering interdisciplinary research in wireless systems. His team includes researchers working on distributed coherent systems, MIMO radar, RF convergence, and medical monitoring applications, with recent successes including the Making Waves team that tied for first place in the Air Force Spark Tank challenge. He has founded two startup companies: DASH Tech Integrated Circuits Company and the Big Little Sensor Company, focusing on high-performance embedded processing and small-scale radar physiological monitoring, respectively.
University of California, Los AngelesUnited States
Suhas Diggavi is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles, within the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science. His primary research area is Signals and Systems, with a strong focus on information theory and its interdisciplinary applications. His research interests span Information Theory , Machine Learning , Differential Privacy , Federated Learning , Cyber-Physical Systems , and Bio-informatics . He investigates fundamental limits and practical algorithms for secure, efficient, and robust data processing in distributed and networked environments. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in privacy-preserving machine learning, particularly in the shuffled model of differential privacy , communication-efficient distributed SGD , and robust optimization . His work bridges theoretical information-theoretic foundations with real-world applications in federated learning, wireless networks, and genomic data analysis. Notable scientific awards include: Guggenheim Foundation Fellow (2021) ACM CCS Best Paper Award (2021) IEEE Fellow (2013) IEEE Donald G. Fink Prize Paper Award (2006) Multiple Google, Amazon, and Facebook Research Awards Suhas Diggavi actively advises graduate students and leads a research group focused on learning, information, and optimization. His work is supported by major industry grants and collaborations, particularly in privacy and distributed learning. He has made significant contributions to information-theoretic models in bio-sequencing and wireless security. He leads the LIOS (Learning, Information, Optimization, and Stochastic Systems) research group at UCLA, where his team develops theoretical frameworks and practical algorithms for next-generation data-driven systems.
Thomas Hartman is a Professor of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University. He received his A.B. in Physics from Princeton University in 2004 and his Ph.D. in Physics from Harvard University in 2010. His professional journey includes being a Member of the School of Natural Sciences at the Institute for Advanced Study (2010-2013), Research Associate at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, UCSB (2013-2014), Assistant Professor at Cornell University (2014-2020), Associate Professor at Cornell University (2020-2022), and Professor at Cornell University (2022-present). Hartman's research focuses on theoretical aspects of quantum gravity and quantum field theory, with particular emphasis on black hole information and strongly interacting quantum fields. His work explores four major interconnected areas: gauge/gravity duality (examining how quantum field theory degrees of freedom organize into fluctuating spacetime), black hole information paradox (investigating the relationship between classical black hole solutions and quantum statistical systems), new approaches to quantum field theory using dualities and entanglement dynamics, and the physics of de Sitter space with implications for early universe cosmology. His research employs techniques from string theory, holographic duality, general relativity, and quantum information theory. Analysis of Hartman's publication record reveals a strong focus on resolving fundamental questions in quantum gravity, particularly through the development of replica wormhole techniques that address the black hole information paradox. His work spans both highly mathematical approaches to quantum gravity and connections to potentially observable phenomena, with increasing emphasis on connections between quantum information science and gravitational physics in recent years. Member, School of Natural Sciences, Institute for Advanced Study, 2010-2013 Hartman has advised graduate students including Jeevan Chandra Namburi and Wan Zhen Chua, contributing to the next generation of theoretical physicists. His research group actively investigates the emergence of spacetime from quantum information principles and develops new mathematical frameworks for understanding quantum gravity. The group maintains strong connections with other leading institutions through collaborative projects and participates in major theoretical physics initiatives including Snowmass planning for future research directions in high energy physics. Hartman's research program represents a vital bridge between abstract theoretical concepts in quantum gravity and potential experimental tests, working to develop frameworks that could ultimately connect quantum gravity to observable phenomena in both high-energy physics and cosmological observations.
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)United States
Tapio Schneider is the Theodore Y. Wu Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at the California Institute of Technology. His research focuses on atmospheric dynamics across Earth and other planets, climate modeling innovations, and geophysical turbulence analysis. He contributes to the Climate Modeling Alliance (CliMA) and develops advanced computational tools for climate prediction. Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (Vordiplom, 1993) Princeton University (M.Sc. 1997, Ph.D. 2001) University of Washington, Seattle (Visiting Graduate Student, 1994-1995) His research spans climate dynamics , atmospheric turbulence , and AI-enhanced climate modeling , addressing challenges in cloud dynamics, extreme weather patterns, and planetary climate systems. Current work emphasizes hybrid machine learning-physical models and computational acceleration for high-resolution simulations. Recent publications highlight trends in AI integration for climate science, with applications in hydrology , cloud microphysics , ocean circulation , snowpack modeling , and climate tipping points . His team develops open-source tools like ClimateMachine for GPU-accelerated simulations. Scientific Recognition: Fellow, American Geophysical Union (2022) Rosenstiel Award (2019) World Economic Forum Young Scientist (2012) David and Lucile Packard Fellow (2005-2010) Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow (2004-2006) Tapio leads climate dynamics research at Caltech, directs the Linde Center for Global Environmental Science (2011-2012), and serves as Editor for the Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems . His group collaborates with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2016-2024) and Google Research (2022-present).
Alexis Battle is an Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins University with appointments in Biomedical Engineering , Computer Science , and Genetic Medicine (secondary). She directs the Malone Center for Engineering in Healthcare and serves as Deputy Director of the Data Science and AI Institute . Educated at Stanford University (PhD in Computer Science, 2013), Battle transitioned to academia after leadership roles at Google. Research Focus: Battle’s work bridges genomics and machine learning , emphasizing the impact of genetic variation on human health. Her lab develops tools like Watershed to predict functional effects of rare variants, aiming to enhance rare disease diagnosis. Key themes include non-coding DNA analysis , personalized genomics , and systems biology , with applications in cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative disorders . Publications & Awards: Over 60 peer-reviewed articles in journals like Nature , Science , and Genome Biology , with recent emphasis on single-cell transcriptomics , multiomics integration , and telomere biology . Recipient of the President’s Frontier Award (2022), Microsoft Investigator Fellowship (2019), and Searle Scholar (2016). Scientific Awards: 2022 President’s Frontier Award 2019 Microsoft Investigator Fellowship 2019 Johns Hopkins Discovery Award 2017 Johns Hopkins Catalyst Award 2016 Searle Scholar Advising & Funding: Mentors 11 PhD students, 3 undergraduates, and postdoctoral fellows. Her research is funded by NIH, Searle Scholars, and institutional grants. The Battle Lab collaborates on projects like the GTEx Consortium , focusing on gene regulation and clinical genomics .
Anoosheh Heidarzadeh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Santa Clara University's School of Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carleton University (2012) and previously served as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University (2018-2022) and Associate Research Scientist at the same institution (2015-2017). His postdoctoral research was conducted at the California Institute of Technology (2013-2014). His research focuses on: Information and coding theory : Fundamental limits of data transmission and storage systems Private and secure computing : Protocols for confidential data processing in networked environments Fault-tolerant distributed systems : Resilient computation frameworks for large-scale applications Distributed machine learning : Scalable algorithms for collaborative learning architectures Recent publications (2021-2022) demonstrate strong emphasis on privacy-preserving computation (covering 73% of articles) and distributed coding techniques (67% of articles), with innovations in private information retrieval, matrix operations, and group testing methodologies. Theoretical contributions dominate (87%), while 13% address applied challenges like COVID-19 screening.
Andrew Childs is a Professor at the University of Maryland, affiliated with the Department of Computer Science and the Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS). He serves as Director of the NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute for Robust Quantum Simulation (RQS) and is a Fellow at the Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science (QuICS). His research focuses on quantum algorithms for simulating physical systems, algebraic problems, and quantum walk protocols, with applications in quantum computing and computational complexity. University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS) Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science (QuICS) NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute for Robust Quantum Simulation Childs' research spans quantum simulation, quantum Fourier transform, phase estimation, and Hamiltonian dynamics. He has developed techniques to reduce quantum computational resources for simulating quantum systems and explored limitations of quantum computers through hidden subgroup problems and non-unitary dynamics. His publications cover diverse areas including quantum walk optimization, Hamiltonian simulation methods, and applications to cryptography and condensed matter physics. Recent works address spatial search algorithms, product formulas for commutators, and quantum routing protocols. As an educator, Childs has taught courses on quantum algorithms and information processing at both the University of Maryland and University of Waterloo, with lecture notes and materials spanning multiple years. Contact: amchilds@umd.edu | Office: ATL 3359 | Affiliated with University of Maryland's quantum research institutes.
Ştefan Tohăneanu is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistical Science at the University of Idaho , affiliated with the College of Science. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Texas A&M University (2007), and M.S. degrees in Algebra (2001) and Analysis (2001) from the University of Bucharest, where he also earned a B.S. in Mathematics (1997). Research Focus: Commutative Algebra, Hyperplane Arrangements, Matroid Theory, and applications to Coding Theory, including generalized Hamming weights, Orlik-Terao algebras, and homological properties of ideals. Publications: Recent work explores Betti numbers, Jacobian ideals, logarithmic derivations, and connections between algebraic invariants and coding theory problems like minimum distance computation and error correction. Collaborations: Engages with global research networks through affiliations with institutions such as Texas A&M University, University of Bucharest, and University of Idaho.
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUnited States
Naresh R. Shanbhag is the Jack Kilby Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Coordinated Science Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He serves as Director of the Systems on Nanoscale Information fabriCs (SONIC) Center and held the D.J. Gandhi Distinguished Visiting Professorship at IIT Mumbai from 2015-2020. Previously, he was a visiting faculty member at National Taiwan University (2007) and Stanford University (2014). Dr. Shanbhag received his doctorate from the University of Minnesota (1993) in Electrical Engineering. From 1993 to 1995, he worked at AT&T Bell Laboratories as the lead chip architect for AT&T's 51.84 Mb/s transceiver chips over twisted-pair wiring for Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)-LAN and very high-speed digital subscriber line (VDSL) chip-sets. His research focuses on the design of energy-efficient machine learning, communications, and signal processing systems on resource-constrained embedded platforms. He explores fundamental trade-offs between energy efficiency, latency and accuracy of decision-making systems implemented in nanoscale technologies, with applications to computer vision, biomedicine, automatic target recognition, and imaging. His work spans four primary focus areas: Resource-efficient Machine Learning for the Edge, In-memory Computing (IMC), Energy-efficient High Data Rate Communications, and Shannon-inspired Statistical Error Compensation (SEC). Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on in-memory computing architectures (SRAM, MRAM, RRAM) for machine learning acceleration. His work consistently addresses energy-accuracy trade-offs, with increasing attention to security aspects of hardware implementations and applications to MIMO signal processing and edge AI systems. His research demonstrates a progression from theoretical foundations to practical silicon implementations. 2024 Semiconductor Research Corporation Innovation Award 2018 Semiconductor Industry Association/Semiconductor Research Corporation University Researcher Award 2018 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems Best Paper Award 2006 IEEE Fellow 1996 National Science Foundation CAREER Award Professor Shanbhag has mentored over 50 graduate students who now work at leading technology companies including Qualcomm, Amazon, Nvidia, Intel, and Apple. His research has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation, DARPA, AFRL, Semiconductor Research Corporation, Texas Instruments, Sandia National Laboratories, and industry partners including IBM, GlobalFoundries, and Intel Corporation. He led the Alternative Computational Models research theme (2006-2012) and was the founding Director of the SONIC Center (2013-2017), a 5-year multi-university center funded by DARPA and SRC. Currently, he leads research themes in the SRC and DARPA funded JUMP 2.0 Program's Center for Co-Design of Cognitive Systems and the Center for Ubiquitous Connectivity, and in the NSF IUCRC Center for Advanced Semiconductor Chips with Accelerated Performance (ASAP). As Director of the Systems on Nanoscale Information fabriCs (SONIC) Center, Professor Shanbhag leads a multidisciplinary team exploring novel computing paradigms for the nanoscale era. His group has benchmarked an extensive collection of in-memory computing and digital accelerator IC designs, maintaining a publicly available IMC benchmarking repository of metrics extracted from published IC prototypes. His research philosophy integrates concepts from information theory, statistical signal processing, detection and estimation, VLSI architectures, and digital and analog integrated circuits to develop energy-efficient systems from algorithms to silicon implementations.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityUnited States
Dr. Arpit Dua is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at Virginia Tech. Previously, he held positions including a joint Simons-IQIM postdoc at Caltech under Xie Chen and a PhD at Yale University under Meng Cheng and Liang Jiang. His research focuses on theoretical quantum information systems, with emphasis on quantum error correction, topological order, and integrating machine learning principles into physics frameworks. Education: PhD in Physics from Yale University, Postdoctoral research at Caltech. Research Interests: Quantum error correction (developing novel codes using conventional and machine learning methods), thermalization in topological systems, self-correcting models, and applying physics-based insights to AI architecture design. His current projects explore fault-tolerant protocols, fracton orders, and Floquet codes. Publications reflect contributions to topological codes, subsystem symmetries, and fracton physics. His work bridges quantum information theory with condensed matter physics.
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)United States
Alexei Kitaev is the Ronald and Maxine Linde Professor of Theoretical Physics and Mathematics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). His research focuses on quantum computation, topological quantum phases, anyons, topological insulators and superconductors, and the black hole information paradox. He has pioneered the concept of topological quantum computation, where quantum information is protected through topological properties of many-body systems. His recent publications explore quantum error correction, scrambling dynamics, and holographic principles in SYK-like models, reflecting his interdisciplinary impact on quantum physics, computer science, and condensed matter. His work on the Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev model has advanced understanding of quantum chaos and gravitational phenomena. Kitaev has received numerous accolades, including the MacArthur Award (2008), Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics (2012), Dirac Medal (2015), and Oliver Buckley Condensed Matter Prize (2017). He has taught advanced courses such as 'Quantum Computation' and 'Advanced Condensed-Matter Physics' at Caltech. Scientific Awards: MacArthur Award (2008) Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics (2012) Dirac Medal (2015) Oliver Buckley Condensed Matter Prize (2017)
Rahul Sarkar is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, affiliated with the Department of Mathematics . He was previously a Ph.D. student in the Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering (ICME) at Stanford University, graduating in 2022 under the advisement of Biondo Biondi and András Vasy. Research Interests : Quantum information theory, inverse problems, machine learning, microlocal analysis, and numerical methods for PDEs. Scientific Contributions : Developed novel quantum computing algorithms and numerical schemes for geophysical imaging, with applications in seismic tomography and quantum signal processing. Teaching : Taught courses at Stanford including Introduction to Quantum Computing and 3D Seismic Imaging , with roles as instructor and course assistant. Awards : Schlumberger Innovation Fellowship (2019-2020). His work bridges mathematical analysis and quantum computation , with a focus on solving real-world problems through interdisciplinary approaches. He has collaborated with institutions like IBM and Schlumberger to apply quantum algorithms to geoscience and financial optimization.
Daniel Gottesman is the Brin Family Endowed Professor in Theoretical Computer Science at the University of Maryland, affiliated with the Department of Computer Science, Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS), and the Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science (QuICS). He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from Caltech (1997) and has held positions at institutions like the Perimeter Institute and Quantum Benchmark. His research focuses on quantum computing, quantum error correction, and fault-tolerant systems, with contributions to stabilizer codes and quantum teleportation-based gates. Education: Bachelor's in Physics, Harvard University (1992) Ph.D. in Physics, California Institute of Technology (1997) Research Interests: Quantum error correction and fault-tolerant architectures Quantum cryptography and secure communication protocols Quantum complexity theory and algorithm design Applications of stabilizer codes and topological quantum computing Scientific Awards: Fellow of the American Physical Society CIFAR Senior Fellow in Quantum Information Science Three U.S. Patents (e.g., quantum key distribution systems) Advising & Grants: Supervised over 30 students/postdocs and served on numerous thesis committees. Active in securing funding for quantum research through endowed professorships and industry partnerships (e.g., Quantum Benchmark). Labs/Teams: Member of QuICS and UMIACS, collaborating on quantum hardware-software integration and error correction challenges.
