Raul Astudillo Marban is a Postdoctoral Scholar Research Associate in the Department of Computing and Mathematical Sciences at Caltech, hosted by Professor Yisong Yue. He will join MBZUAI as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in August 2025. His research focuses on adaptive learning and decision-making in complex, data-intensive environments, with applications in personalized healthcare, engineering design, and scientific discovery. He earned his Ph.D. in Operations Research and Information Engineering from Cornell University under Professor Peter Frazier and holds an undergraduate degree in Mathematics from the University of Guanajuato and the Center for Research in Mathematics. His work integrates Bayesian optimization and machine learning to address real-world challenges such as protein engineering, plant breeding, and computational biology. Key contributions include steering generative models with experimental data, preferential multi-objective optimization, and cost-aware Bayesian strategies. He has received recognition as a Rising Star in Management Science and Engineering (Stanford) and a Rising Star in Data Science (University of Chicago/UCSD). Recent research highlights include optimizing protein fitness through generative models, active learning in directed evolution, and Bayesian optimization for budget allocation in agriculture. His publications span top venues like NeurIPS, Nature Communications, and TMLR. He actively recruits students/researchers for projects in machine learning and optimization.
Dana Anderson is a Professor of Physics and JILA Fellow at the University of Colorado Boulder. He holds dual affiliations with the Department of Physics and JILA, a joint institute between the University of Colorado Boulder and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). His research focuses on ultracold atoms, quantum computing, and atomtronics, with applications in quantum sensing and space-based experiments. He currently serves as Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of Infleqtion (formerly ColdQuanta), a quantum technology company he co-founded. Anderson is a principal investigator in the Quantum Pathways Institute, a NASA-funded initiative to develop quantum-based Earth-sensing technologies. He collaborates with institutions like NIST, JPL, and ColdQuanta on projects such as the Cold Atom Laboratory (CAL) for space-based ultracold atom research. His work has been recognized by TIME Magazine and led to significant grants, including a $15M NASA award for quantum space research. Research interests include atomtronics (hybrid atom-electronics systems), neutral atom quantum computing, and ultracold atom gyroscopes. His group develops novel atom chip technologies, such as window atom chips enabling high-resolution imaging, and explores applications like matterwave transistors and quantum inertial sensors. Current projects include shaken lattice interferometry for navigation and Rydberg atom-based microwave sensors. Anderson has pioneered concepts like the matterwave transistor oscillator and contributed to the first neutral atom quantum computing arrays. His work bridges fundamental physics and applied technologies, with a focus on translating quantum phenomena into practical devices. He actively mentors students and postdocs in experimental atomic physics and quantum engineering.
Allison Koenecke is an Assistant Professor of Information Science at Cornell Tech and a field faculty member in Computer Science at Cornell University. Previously, she was a postdoctoral researcher at Microsoft Research New England and completed her PhD at Stanford University’s Institute for Computational & Mathematical Engineering. Her research focuses on algorithmic fairness, computational social science, and causal inference in public health, addressing disparities in automated systems like speech recognition and policy decision-making. Education : PhD, Stanford Institute for Computational & Mathematical Engineering MA/MS, Stanford University BA/BS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Interests : Dr. Koenecke’s work bridges economics and computer science, emphasizing equity in AI systems. Key areas include: Algorithmic bias in speech recognition (e.g., racial disparities in voice assistants) Fairness in policy tools like environmental justice data systems Causal analysis in public health interventions Ethical implications of large language models in education Media & Impact : Her research has been featured in outlets like New York Times , Science , and Scientific American . Notable studies include exposing racial gaps in speech-to-text systems and advocating for inclusive dataset development. She also explores societal impacts of AI in education and governance. Awards : Sloan Research Fellow in Computer Science Forbes 30 Under 30 in Science NSF Awards Cornell CIS Teaching Excellence Award (2024) Teaching & Outreach : She teaches courses like Designing Fair Algorithms and Data Science for Global Development , emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration. Her PhD Professionalization course addresses hidden curricula in academia. She advises on AI ethics for nonprofits, tech companies, and government agencies.
Todd Adams is a Professor in the Department of Physics at Florida State University . He leads research in particle physics (high energy experiment) with the CMS Experiment at CERN and previously the D0 Experiment at Fermilab , focusing on searches for new physics in underexplored datasets through long-lived particles , machine learning techniques , and charged particle detection . Education : PhD in Experimental Particle Physics from University of Notre Dame (1997); Postdoctoral researcher at Kansas State University (1997-2001) His research includes electromagnetic calorimeter studies for CMS, calorimeter upgrade investigations , and Monte Carlo simulation leadership for D0. He pioneered searches for neutral long-lived particles and top quark decay anomalies , co-authored key publications in Physical Review Letters and Journal of High Energy Physics , and served as Faculty Senate President and Board of Trustees member at FSU. Notable affiliations include: Collaborations : CMS, D0, NuTeV, NuSOnG Laboratories : CERN (Geneva), Fermilab (Chicago), Florida State High Energy Physics Group Key contributions: Co-convenor of D0 Monte Carlo Simulations and New Physics Signatures groups Expert in heavy quark production , dimuon analysis , and neutral current studies Publications on Higgs boson discovery implications, supersymmetry , and anomalous gauge couplings Scientific Awards : Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science Multiple Fermilab Result of the Week highlights (2006, 2008, 2013) Contributor to CMS Thesis Award Committee He advises graduate students in experimental particle physics and contributes to detector technology development, particularly in timing studies , calibration , and trigger systems . His research program will continue through the LHC's 2035 operations with ongoing CMS data analysis.
Marek Pycia serves as Professor of Organizational Economics at the University of Zurich and Co-Director of the Zurich Center for Market Design. His research has driven tangible policy impacts including the U.S. kidney-transplant voucher program and school system redesigns, with publications in premier journals like American Economic Review and Econometrica . His academic foundation includes a Ph.D. in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), complemented by prior faculty roles at UCLA, Pennsylvania State University, and Leon Koźmiński Academy of Entrepreneurship and Management, plus a visiting fellowship at Princeton University. Professor Pycia specializes in Market Design and Mechanism Design , where he bridges theoretical microeconomics with real-world applications in healthcare allocation and educational systems. His work emphasizes strategyproofness , simplicity , and efficiency in matching markets, influencing both academic frameworks and practical policy implementations globally. Recent publications (2024-2025) reveal a concentrated focus on simplifying mechanism design for discrete environments, advancing double auction theory, and optimizing information structures in trade. These works consistently apply game-theoretic principles to solve complex allocation problems across healthcare, education, and financial markets. Key recognition includes: Research Fellow at the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) Editorial board membership at Theoretical Economics , Journal of Economic Theory , and Games and Economic Behavior While specific grant details remain unmentioned, his editorial leadership and center directorship indicate active research funding. He supervises graduate work through the University of Zurich’s economics programs, though no named students appear in the source text. The Zurich Center for Market Design, which he co-directs, functions as an interdisciplinary hub connecting theoretical research with practitioners in healthcare, education, and public policy to implement novel market mechanisms.
Benjamin Brooks is a Professor in the Department of Economics and the College at the University of Chicago, serving as Director of Graduate Studies. He holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University (2014), an M.A. from Princeton (2010), and a B.A. in Mathematics and Quantitative Economics from Tufts University (2008). His research focuses on microeconomic theory, mechanism design, auction theory, repeated games, and computational game theory. Brooks has published extensively in top journals such as the American Economic Review, Econometrica, and the Journal of Political Economy. His work often explores informationally robust mechanisms and strategic behavior in auctions and stochastic games. Brooks has received grants from the National Science Foundation for projects on mechanism design and stochastic game algorithms. He is an Associate Editor of the American Economic Review: Insights, Theoretical Economics, and Economic Theory. His teaching spans game theory, price theory, and advanced topics in economic theory at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Brooks has also contributed to software tools like BCESolve and SGSolve for analyzing Bayesian correlated equilibria and stochastic games. Research Highlights: Contributions to auction design under incomplete information, robust mechanism design, and algorithmic solutions for stochastic games. Awards: Excellence in Refereeing Award (2017), NSF grants (2015-2025), and Fellow of the Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (2024).
Connor Coley is the Henri Slezynger (1957) Career Development Assistant Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) School of Engineering. His research bridges chemistry and machine learning, focusing on autonomous molecular discovery, predictive chemistry, and laboratory automation. Education: Ph.D., MIT (2019) M.S.CEP., MIT (2016) B.S., Caltech (2014) Research Interests: Dr. Coley’s work centers on domain-informed machine learning for chemistry, computer-aided molecular design, and autonomous laboratories. Key themes include predictive modeling of chemical reactivity, optimization of synthesis pathways, and integration of AI with experimental data for drug discovery and materials science. Publications: His recent articles highlight advancements in AI-driven reaction prediction, molecular representation learning, and laboratory automation. Trends include applications of Bayesian optimization, contrastive learning, and diffusion models to chemical discovery. Scientific Awards: Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (2025) James W. Swan Outstanding Faculty (2025) Schmidt Futures AI2050 Early Career Fellow (2022) NSF CAREER Award (2021) Forbes 30 Under 30: Healthcare (2019) Software & Tools: He leads the open-source ASKCOS software suite for synthesis planning, adopted by 35,000+ chemists and deployed at 15+ pharmaceutical companies. His team also develops tools for metabolomics and molecular representation learning.
Dr. Iason Sideris is affiliated with ETH Zürich's Department of Neue Fertigungstechnologien (New Manufacturing Technologies), holding a Researcher position within the Professorship for Advanced Manufacturing. His work focuses on advancing additive manufacturing techniques, particularly in path planning optimization, temperature control, and material processing. He contributes to fields like Direct Energy Deposition, Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM), and data-driven finite volume methods. Key Research Areas: Additive Manufacturing, Thermal Modeling, Process Optimization, Materials Science Recent research emphasizes scalable path planning for temperature uniformity in AM processes, with publications addressing challenges in WAAM thermal management and real-time simulation methods. His work combines computational modeling with experimental validation to enhance manufacturing efficiency and material properties.
Britt Adamson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics at Princeton University, where she serves as Director of the Undergraduate Program in Quantitative and Computational Biology. Her lab investigates molecular networks in human cells with focus on stress response mechanisms and genome editing technologies. She received her B.S. in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2005) and Ph.D. in Genetics and Genomics from Harvard University (2012), followed by postdoctoral training at UCSF under Jonathan Weissman supported by a Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Fellowship. Adamson's research centers on how cells organize stress response networks during DNA damage and endoplasmic reticulum stress, developing CRISPR-based functional genomics and single-cell sequencing tools to map molecular behaviors. Her work bridges fundamental cell biology with therapeutic applications in genome editing. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals dominant themes in precision genome editing (prime/base editing optimization) and systematic dissection of DNA repair pathways through combinatorial CRISPR screening. Her lab consistently integrates computational approaches with high-resolution experimental techniques to uncover context-dependent cellular behaviors. Her scientific recognitions include: Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship Princeton IP Accelerator Award (2025) STAT Who to Know: 10 Scientists leading a new generation of gene editors (2024) Adamson actively mentors eight graduate students (including alumni Ann Cirincione and Jun Hussmann) and two postdocs, with research funded through institutional awards and collaborative grants. Her lab's technological developments have enabled projects spanning virology, immunology, and developmental biology. The Adamson Lab operates within Princeton's Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, fostering an interdisciplinary environment that merges cell biology, genomics, and computational science. Current projects focus on improving prime editing efficiency and understanding stress response adaptation in disease contexts.
Dr. Heather Inwood serves as University Associate Professor in Modern Chinese Literature and Culture within the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cambridge. She is also a Fellow and Director of Studies at Trinity Hall, maintaining dual institutional affiliations that support her teaching and research activities across undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Her educational background includes a BA in Chinese Studies from the University of Cambridge (Trinity Hall), followed by advanced studies at Tsinghua University and Peking University, culminating in a PhD in modern Chinese literature from SOAS, University of London in 2008. Prior academic appointments include Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University (2008-2013) and Lecturer in Chinese Cultural Studies at the University of Manchester before returning to Cambridge in 2016. Professor Inwood's research program investigates the dynamic interactions between digital media and literary production in contemporary China, with particular focus on poetry communities, genre fiction, and transmedia storytelling. Her work bridges traditional literary analysis with digital humanities approaches, examining how online platforms transform authorship, reception, and cultural value. She has pioneered scholarship on internet poetry scenes, demonstrating their vitality despite public perceptions of poetry's decline in modern China. Her publication trajectory reveals a clear evolution from early work on poetry communities ( Verse Going Viral: China's New Media Scenes , 2014) toward broader investigations of digital narrative forms, game studies, and Sinophone cyberspace. Recent publications increasingly engage with science fiction, transmedia storytelling, and the algorithmic structures shaping literary production, reflecting both the changing digital landscape and her expanding methodological toolkit. Professor Inwood actively supervises five PhD students working on diverse projects spanning Misty poetry, queer narratives, gender studies, and poetic animality, demonstrating her commitment to nurturing next-generation scholarship in Chinese literary studies. Her research has been supported by British Academy Small Grants and similar funding mechanisms that enable sustained fieldwork and publication. Her teaching responsibilities include undergraduate courses on East Asian media and popular culture, Modern Chinese texts, and Modern Chinese literature, connecting classroom instruction directly to her research expertise. She also maintains public engagement through Chinese-language columns for BBC China and other media outlets, bridging academic and public discourse on contemporary Chinese culture.
Jan Madsen is a Professor at DTU Compute, Technical University of Denmark, and Head of the Embedded Systems Engineering section. His research focuses on system-level modeling and design of embedded computing systems, particularly cyber-physical systems, microfluidic biochips, and synthetic biology applications. Develops design automation tools and methodologies for embedded systems Supervises numerous PhD students and leads major research projects Research Interests Key areas include: Embedded systems-on-a-chip Cyber-Physical Systems (Internet-of-Things) Microfluidic Lab-on-Chip devices Synthetic biology with molecular computing Design, modeling, and optimization of complex systems Scientific Awards DATE Fellow (2019) IEEE CEDA Outstanding Recognition (2019) DTU Scientific Advise Award (2013) Best Paper Awards at MECO (2013) and CASES (2009) Jorck’s Foundation Research Award (1995) Publications His 14+ journal papers and 115+ conference papers demonstrate expertise in: SystemC-based modeling frameworks Energy-aware sensor networks Self-healing eDNA architectures Microfluidic biochip synthesis RTOS modeling and MPSoC exploration
Deval Desai serves as Reader in International Economic Law at the University of Edinburgh's Edinburgh Law School, a position he has held since 2020 after serving as Lecturer from 2020-2023. His academic career includes research positions at Harvard Law School and the Geneva Graduate Institute. Dr. Desai also brings extensive practical experience from a decade working with the World Bank on rule of law and governance in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as advising the United Nations on rule of law issues. Dr. Desai's educational background includes an MA in History and French Literature from Oxford University, followed by legal training at City University/BPP Law School (PGDipL and PGDipLP), and advanced law degrees (LLM and SJD) from Harvard Law School. At Harvard, he held prestigious fellowships including the Byse Fellowship, Program on Negotiation Next Generation Fellowship, and Institute for Global Law and Policy Fellowship. MA (Oxon), History and French Literature PGDipL, PGDipLP, City University/BPP Law School LLM, Harvard Law School SJD, Harvard Law School Dr. Desai's research centers on law and development, administrative law and regulation, theories of the state, and patterns of knowledge and authority across the Global North and South. His work examines institutional reform processes, particularly how expertise and knowledge operate within rule of law initiatives. His interdisciplinary approach draws from legal and social theory, development studies, international relations, and performance studies, as evidenced in his monograph Expert Ignorance (Cambridge University Press). His recent work focuses on fiscal sociology, administrative law in the Global South, and the politics of social welfare provision. Dr. Desai's publications span leading journals in law, political science, and development studies, revealing a consistent focus on the intersections between legal institutions, governance, and development. His work demonstrates increasing engagement with comparative methodologies and critical perspectives on knowledge production in global governance. Recent articles show particular attention to fiscal policy, welfare systems, and responses to global crises like the Covid-19 pandemic, with comparative studies between India and European contexts. Dame Muriel Spark Medal (2024, Royal Society of Edinburgh) Chancellor's 'Rising Star' Award (2023, University of Edinburgh) Member of the Young Academy of Scotland Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts Fellow of the Young Academy of Europe Dr. Desai has secured significant research funding from diverse international sources, including a £2.1 million Swiss National Science Foundation Sinergia grant titled 'Reversing the Gaze: Towards Post-Comparative Area Studies' where he serves as PI. He also leads projects funded by the British Academy, University of Edinburgh's Big Ideas Accelerator, Scottish Funding Council, and Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office. His commitment to mentoring is evident through his recognition with the Susan Manning Award for Inspiring Mentor and his leadership in establishing programs like the Global Scholars' Academy at the Geneva Graduate Institute and the Global Justice summer school at CEU. As editor-in-chief of the Cambridge University Press book series 'Elements in Legal Theory and the Global South' and serving on multiple editorial boards, Dr. Desai plays a significant role in shaping scholarly discourse. His current research projects examine 'loss' in legal institutions guiding transitional processes, constitutional implications of fiscal arrangements in fragile contexts, and social welfare provision in India and Italy.
John Evans is an Associate Professor and Jack Rominger Faculty Fellow in the Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder, affiliated with the Applied Mathematics program. He serves as Associate Chair for Undergraduate Curriculum and is part of the Aerospace Mechanics Research Center (AMREC). His research focuses on computational mechanics, particularly fluid dynamics, fluid-structure interaction, and turbulence modeling using high-order and structure-preserving methods. Evans holds a PhD (2011) and MS (2008) in Computational and Applied Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin, and dual BS/MS degrees in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2006). Before joining CU Boulder, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences (ICES). His research interests include isogeometric analysis, immersed methods, and data-driven turbulence modeling. Notable contributions include development of divergence-conforming discretizations for incompressible flows, stabilized collocation methods, and invariant subgrid stress models. He leads the AMREC lab and collaborates on plasma-fueled propulsion systems and geometrically sensitive simulations. Key Awards: 2021: Rocky Mountain AIAA Educator of the Year 2021: Gallagher Young Investigator Medal 2019-2021: Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher Professional Activities: Editor of Engineering Computations, Senior AIAA Member, Simons Visiting Professor (2019) Evans' work bridges advanced numerical methods with real-world engineering challenges. His lab develops open-source tools like XIGA for multi-material problems and focuses on immersive simulation environments. Current projects explore turbulence closure models, plasma propulsion, and topology optimization with B-spline-based approaches.
Michael S. Brown is a Professor and Canada Research Chair at York University's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). He also serves as Senior Director at the Samsung AI Center in Toronto, Canada. His research focuses on computer vision, image processing, and computer graphics, with a deep specialization in camera imaging pipelines, color theory, and AI-driven ISP optimization. He has organized major conferences like ProCams, eHeritage, WACV, and ICCV, and holds editorial roles in journals like TPAMI and IJCV. He is renowned for his work on computational color constancy, ISP hardware algorithms, and AI-based image enhancement techniques. His recent ICCV 2023 tutorial detailed modern camera pipelines and AI applications in ISP components. His research is supported by grants from NSERC, Samsung, Adobe, Google, and Microsoft. Brown advises numerous graduate students and has mentored over 30 alumni now in academia and industry roles at Meta, Samsung, Microsoft, and startups. His lab focuses on camera systems, noise modeling, and cross-platform color management, with contributions to open-source datasets and software platforms for ISP experimentation.
Antony Franklin is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH), India. He leads the Networked Wireless Systems (NeWS) Lab and is actively involved in 5G research, wireless networks, and cybersecurity. He earned his Ph.D. from IIT Madras in 2010. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Madras, 2010 Research Interests: His research spans wireless networks , 5G systems , mobile edge computing , low-latency transport protocols , and cybersecurity . He focuses on next-generation mobile systems, especially 5G, aiming to meet the demands of ultra-low latency, high data rates, and quality of experience for services like IoT, autonomous driving, and VR. He has been involved in developing testbeds and prototypes to validate real-world performance of 5G technologies, including network slicing, LTE-WiFi integration, and edge computing. Scientific Awards: Best Academic Demo Award, IEEE COMSNETS 2018 Second Best Paper Award, IEEE ANTS 2017 Grants & Projects: Network Slice Life-cycle Management for 5G Mobile Networks – SPARC, MHRD (2019–2021) DNS/IPv6 for IoT Security – NASSCOM (2018–2019) CCRAN: Energy Efficiency in Cloud RAN – Intel India (2018–2021) End-to-End 5G Test-Bed – DoT, GoI (2018–2021) M2SMART Smart Cities – SATREPS (2018–2023) Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Protocols – STINT, Sweden (2017–2018) Low Latency 5G Protocols – SERB ECR (2016–2019) Lab & Team: He leads the NeWS Lab (Networked Wireless Systems) at IITH, which focuses on 5G, wireless networks, and IoT systems. The lab is actively involved in developing real-world testbeds and publishing in top-tier conferences and journals.
