Yevgeni Berzak is an Assistant Professor at the Technion and a Research Affiliate at Mit BCS . He directs the Technion Language, Computation and Cognition (LaCC) Lab and leads the Cognitive Science Track in the Data Science and Engineering degree at the Technion. His academic background includes: PhD in Computer Science at Infolab, MIT CSAIL Postdoctoral research with Roger Levy at MIT CPL Lab Masters in Computational Linguistics at Universities of Saarland and Nancy Bachelors in Cognitive Science and Amirim Honors Program at Hebrew University of Jerusalem His research focuses on the intersection of Cognitive Science and Natural Language Processing (NLP) , studying human language acquisition and processing through computational modeling, linguistic theory, and neuroimaging. He develops datasets like OneStopQA and CELER , and explores how human gaze patterns can improve machine language understanding. Recent publications address topics such as: Eyetracking for language proficiency assessment Repetition effects in reading behavior Readability prediction via scrolling interactions Structured annotation schemes for reading comprehension The LaCC Lab under his leadership combines theoretical linguistics with machine learning to bridge human and artificial language processing.
John P. Spencer is a Professor of Psychology at the University of East Anglia , UK, and a member of its School of Psychology . He previously served as a Professor of Psychology and founding Director of the Delta Center at the University of Iowa. His research focuses on the development of executive function, working memory, attention, and word learning, with a pioneering emphasis on dynamical systems theory and dynamic neural field models of cognition and action. Sc.B. with Honors, Brown University (1991) Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology, Indiana University (1998) His work utilizes fMRI , fNIRS , and eye-tracking to explore neural-cognitive dynamics in infancy and childhood, particularly in low-resource settings. Recent articles highlight cross-situational word learning, air quality impacts on cognition, and brain network myelination studies. Scientific awards include: 2003 Early Research Contributions Award (Society for Research in Child Development) 2006 Robert L. Fantz Memorial Award (American Psychological Foundation) APA Fellow since 2007 Current projects include brain imaging centers, infant cognition in India, and theoretical advancements in dynamic systems. He leads the Developmental Dynamics Lab and collaborates with institutions worldwide.
Lesya Ganushchak is Assistant Professor in Educational Sciences at Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam. Her research employs cognitive neuroscience methods to examine language processing, reading development, and educational interventions. Using EEG/ERP and eye-tracking methodologies, she investigates cognitive mechanisms underlying self-monitoring, lexical access, and sentence production. Recent publications demonstrate her focus on evidence-based educational interventions: Meta-analyses of reading proficiency interventions (2024) Inference-making development in early readers (2023) Behavioral nudges improving online learning engagement (2022) Her ORCID profile documents extensive research output with collaborative networks spanning cognitive psychology and education research.
Scott MacKenzie is an Associate Professor at the Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, where he leads research in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto (1992) and specializes in interaction devices, mobile computing, and human performance modeling. His work emphasizes accessibility, text entry systems, and assistive technologies. He maintains an active research group focused on advancing HCI through empirical studies and innovative design. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of Toronto, 1992 Dr. MacKenzie’s research explores how interaction techniques can enhance user performance and accessibility. Key areas include touch-based interfaces, gestural input, and systems for users with disabilities. His recent work investigates eye-tracking for wheelchair control, mid-air gesture interaction, and text entry methods for VR environments. His publications reflect a focus on practical applications of HCI principles, such as improving mobile device usability and evaluating novel input methods. Notable contributions include studies on soft keyboards, tilt-based interaction, and accessibility solutions for motor-impaired users. Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the Lassonde School of Engineering’s research initiatives in interactive systems and human-centered computing.
Dr Andrew Coles is a Reader in Artificial Intelligence at the Department of Informatics, King's College London, within the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences. His research focuses on temporal and numeric planning, explainable planning, and human-robot collaboration. He leads and co-investigates multiple research projects funded by EPSRC, the Royal Academy of Engineering, and the European Commission. His research interests include Artificial Intelligence, Temporal and Numeric Planning, Planning with Rich Domain Models, Explainable Planning, Human-Robot Interaction, Autonomous Systems, Heuristic Search, and Decision-Making. He has published extensively in top-tier AI and robotics conferences such as ICAPS, IROS, HRI, AAAI, and IJCAI. His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward explainable AI in human-robot collaboration, with a focus on multimodal sensing (e.g., eye tracking), user needs for explanation, and adaptive planning. His work integrates planning algorithms with human-centered evaluation and real-world applications in robotics. Scientific Awards: International award for PhD thesis on assistive robots (2020) Advising and Grants: Dr Coles has supervised multiple students, including Lara Wachowiak, Guillem Canal, and Petra Tisnikar. He has led or co-investigated several major research projects, including: COHERENT (EPSRC): Collaborative Hierarchical Robotic Explanations Plan and Goal Reasoning for Explainable Autonomous Robots (Royal Academy of Engineering) ADE (European Commission): Autonomous Decision Making in Very Long Traverses ERGO (European Commission): European Robotic Goal-Oriented autonomous controller Labs and Teams: He is affiliated with the Reasoning and Planning research group and the Trusted Autonomous Systems Hub at King's College London, focusing on developing trustable autonomous systems through robust planning and human-centered AI.
Dr. Leah Perlmutter is a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Computer Science Department at Grinnell College, focusing on inclusive pedagogy and student belonging in post-secondary CS education. She earned her Ph.D. (2023) and M.S. (2020) in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Washington, and her B.A. (2012) in Computer Science and Engineering from Colby College. Her research examines how course policies and teaching assistant interactions impact student inclusion in computer science, with a particular emphasis on resubmission opportunities and justice-centered approaches to teaching. Her work also includes human-robot interaction projects like GestureCalc (an eyes-free calculator for touchscreens) and EMAR (a social robot for emotional clarity support). Recent publications explore themes such as algorithmic ethics in education, student belonging in CS, and accessible interface design. She received the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2017) and the Outstanding Female Engineer Award (2018). At Grinnell, she teaches courses like Functional Problem Solving, Software Design, and Algorithms, Ethics, and Society.
Dr. Angelina Vernetti is a Research Scientist at Yale University's Child Study Center, affiliated with the Social and Affective Neuroscience of Autism (SANA) Program. She holds a PhD in Developmental Neuropsychology from Birkbeck, University of London, and completed postdoctoral training at Yale. Her research focuses on social attention, reinforcement learning, and emotional regulation in children with autism, using advanced methodologies like eye-tracking and physiological recordings. Education: PhD in Developmental Neuropsychology, Birkbeck, University of London (2018) MSc in Neurosciences and Neuropsychology, University of Toulouse (2010) BSc in Cell Biology, University of Angers (2008) Research Interests : Dr. Vernetti investigates the neural and behavioral foundations of social difficulties in autism, including social attention mechanisms, emotional regulation abnormalities, and language processing deficits. Her work integrates experimental paradigms with neuroimaging and physiological measures to identify biomarkers for early intervention. Collaborations: She collaborates with prominent researchers like Katarzyna Chawarska and Suzanne Macari, focusing on neurodevelopmental mechanisms and translational research. Her team explores innovative approaches to autism assessment, including live eye-tracking and puppet-based interventions. Labs & Affiliations: Member of the Chawarska Lab and the Center for Brain & Mind Health. Active in training undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students in autism research methodologies.
Dr. Tatsuya Mori is a Professor at the Department of Computer Science and Communication Engineering , Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University . He also holds visiting researcher positions at RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project (since 2018) and National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (since 2019). Education: Ph.D. in Information Science (2005), Waseda University Research Interests: Spanning information security and privacy across emerging technologies like autonomous driving , AI , 3D sensing , VR , biometric measurement , and Web3 . His work focuses on offensive security and interdisciplinary research , including physical-layer attacks on sensors and behavioral studies on phishing detection. Scientific Awards: Recipient of multiple prestigious awards, including the Distinguished Paper Award Runners-Up at IEEE EuroS&P 2024 , IPSJ Outstanding Paper Award 2024 , and CSS2024 Concept Research Prize . His research has been recognized in top conferences like USENIX Security , NDSS , and ACM CCS . Professional Leadership: Active in academic governance as Chief Investigator for NISC Working Groups and Committee Member for JST Research Areas . He serves on program committees for NDSS , IMC , and ACM CCS .
Professor Vicky Chondrogianni holds the Personal Chair of Bilingualism and Language Development at the University of Edinburgh's School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences. She is affiliated faculty at CUNY Graduate Center's Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences. Her research focuses on first/second language acquisition, child bilingualism, psycholinguistics, and developmental language disorders. She has held positions at Bangor University, Aalborg University, and the University of Reading before joining Edinburgh. Education: BA in Linguistics and Classics (University of Athens), MPhil in English and Applied Linguistics (University of Cambridge), PhD in Second Language Acquisition (University of Cambridge). Research interests include cross-linguistic aspects of acquisition in typically-developing and impaired children, production/comprehension relationships, and cognitive-language interactions. She currently supervises PhD students in topics like morphosyntax in bilingual children and employs eye-tracking methods. Grants/Projects: Includes studies on Gaelic-medium education, heritage children's eye-tracking data, and language disorders in multilingual settings. She has led over 20 projects since 2002, including work on Welsh-English bilingualism and L2 Greek acquisition. Labs/Teams: Active in Bilingualism Matters, a research center promoting bilingualism awareness. Serves as Editor for Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism and holds roles in international associations like IASCL.
Arie E. Kaufman is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Stony Brook University, serving as Chief Scientist of the Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT) and Director of the Center of Visual Computing (CVC). He additionally holds a Distinguished Professorship in Radiology, with a 40+ year career at Stony Brook since joining in 1985 and chairing the CS department from 1999-2009. His seminal research spans computer graphics, visualization, and virtual reality with biomedical applications, pioneering breakthroughs including 3D Virtual Colonoscopy (FDA-approved colon cancer screening), Cube hardware architectures (commercialized as VolumePro), the Reality Deck (1.5 billion-pixel immersive display), and foundational work in volume visualization. His interests focus on real-time rendering, medical imaging, and immersive analytics, with recent work integrating machine learning for healthcare and environmental risk visualization. Recent publications demonstrate continued leadership in high-resolution immersive displays (Silo), XR analytics with LLMs, storm surge visualization, and neural reconstruction techniques. His work bridges theoretical innovation with practical applications, particularly in pancreatic cancer prognosis and disaster preparedness. Major honors include: IEEE Visualization Career Award (2005) Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (2017) ACM Fellow (2009) IEEE Fellow (1998) Long Island Technology Hall of Fame (2013) European Academy of Sciences membership (2002) As PI on 100+ research grants, Kaufman's work has generated 300+ refereed papers, 40+ patents, and extensive media coverage (New York Times, Science, Wall Street Journal). He leads the Center of Visual Computing with focus on translational research, including VolVis software (5,000+ installations) and Reality Deck deployments for big data analytics. His lab develops cutting-edge visualization infrastructure for medical diagnostics and environmental modeling, with current projects advancing immersive storm surge analytics, neural structure extraction, and VR-based risk communication systems. Future work emphasizes AI-enhanced visualization for precision medicine and climate resilience planning.
Satoshi Miyazaki is a Professor at Waseda University's Graduate School of Japanese Applied Linguistics and affiliated with the Faculty of International Research and Education . With a Ph.D. from Monash University, his work bridges Japanese language education, second language acquisition, and cross-cultural communication. Education Background: Doctor of Philosophy (Japanese Applied Linguistics) - Monash University (1997) Graduate School of Japanese Applied Linguistics - Waseda University (1982) Research Interests focus on Japanese language pedagogy, natural acquisition mechanisms, and interactional strategies for non-native learners. His innovative use of Eye Mark Recorders (EMR) and Event-Related Potentials (ERP) has advanced understanding of cognitive processes in language learning. Recent Articles (2011-2001) reveal trends in Japanese language education reform, cross-cultural learning challenges, and technology-enhanced teaching methods. Key themes include correctional language programs for foreign inmates, immersion environments, and brain processing studies using advanced neuro-linguistic techniques. Research Projects have received continuous funding from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, including prison language education programs, foreign care worker competence frameworks, and EMR-based lecture comprehension analysis. His work extends to international collaborations with institutions in Australia, the U.S., and Europe.
Dr. Emma Axelsson is a Lecturer at the School of Psychological Sciences, University of Newcastle, Australia. Her research focuses on cognitive and social development in typically and atypically developing children, with specific interests in early word learning, sleep-related memory consolidation, screen time effects on development, and infants' social category representations using eye-tracking technology. Doctor of Philosophy, University of East London Bachelor of Arts (Honours in Psychology), University of Queensland Dr. Axelsson's research spans multiple disciplines including cognitive neuroscience, memory and attention, and child development. She explores how sleep patterns interact with learning outcomes, investigates screen time's impact on preschoolers' cognition, and examines visual processing of bodies and faces in developmental contexts. Her recent publications highlight trends in screen time research, with 2025 studies analyzing executive function and sleep interactions, and 2024 work examining cross-species social evaluation mechanisms. Earlier articles (2022-2013) cover temperament effects on word learning, body perception mechanisms, and longitudinal developmental studies. Dr. Axelsson supervises multiple PhD and Masters projects related to screen time, sleep, and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Her research team collaborates internationally through networks like ManyBabies and Healthy Minds (Hunter Medical Research Institute).
Keir Moulton is an Associate Professor and Graduate Chair in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Toronto. He holds a PhD from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a BA (Honors) from the University of Toronto. His research focuses on the syntax-semantics interface, experimental linguistics, and formal approaches to clause structure and anaphora. He has conducted extensive experimental work on pronoun resolution, ellipsis, and binding theory, with a particular interest in exploring how structural constraints influence language processing. His academic career includes roles as co-editor of NELS 34 and contributions to major linguistics conferences such as SALT and WCCFL. Moulton's recent work examines topics like underspecified pronoun interpretation, Korean VP anaphora, and the cognitive processing of syntactic structures. His methodologies blend formal theoretical analysis with experimental techniques, including eye-tracking studies and acceptability judgments. Key research areas include: experimental syntax-semantics interaction, binding theory, ellipsis resolution, and the typology of clausal complementation. He has published over 50 articles in journals like Language , Linguistic Inquiry , and Journal of Cognitive Science , as well as book chapters and edited volumes. Moulton’s work has been supported by grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada. His teaching focuses on graduate courses in syntax, semantics, and experimental methods.
Dr. Radu Jianu is a Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at City, University of London , where he has been a faculty member since 2016. He is affiliated with the giCentre , a leading research group in information visualization. He earned his PhD and MSc in Computer Science from Brown University, USA, and a Diploma in Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Timisoara, Romania. His academic career includes a previous role as Assistant Professor at Florida International University (2012–2016). His research focuses on Data Visualisation, Visual Analytics, and Human-Computer Interaction . He conducts interdisciplinary collaborations with domains such as biology, food policy, and energy decarbonisation, aiming to develop interactive visual tools that enhance data understanding and decision-making. His methodological approach includes user studies, eye-tracking, and the design of novel visualization techniques. Dr. Jianu teaches Programming in Java and Cognition and Technologies , and he coordinates the Programming Bootcamp. He also holds administrative responsibilities as the Progression and Support Director in the Computer Science Department and is a member of its Executive Committee (ExCo). His recent publications reflect a growing interest in LLM-assisted visual analytics, gaze-aware systems, and collaborative human-AI analytical frameworks . He has published in top venues such as IEEE TVCG, CHI, EuroVis, and Nature Immunology, with several best paper awards. His work on the RAMPVIS project highlights his contributions to visualization in public health emergencies. Scientific Awards: Best Paper Award, Symposium on Graph Drawing (2018) Best Short Paper Award, EuroVis (2020) Advising and Grants: Dr. Jianu supervises multiple PhD and MSc students, including Dany Laksono (Energy Decarbonisation) and Maeve Hutchinson (NLP-mediated Visualization). His students have co-authored high-impact, award-winning papers. He has been involved in funded research initiatives such as RAMPVIS, which received support from UKRI/EPSRC for developing visual analytics infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Labs and Teams: He is an active member of the giCentre at City, University of London, a hub for visualization research. He also collaborates with interdisciplinary teams in epidemiology, immunology, and computer science, contributing to large-scale projects like the Immunological Genome Project and RAMPVIS.
Dr. Lauren Emberson (she/her/hers) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Arts. She directs the Baby Learning Lab, which is part of UBC's Early Development Research Group, a consortium focused on infant and child development. Prior to her position at UBC, Dr. Emberson was an Assistant Professor at Princeton University where she co-founded and co-directed the Princeton Baby and Princeton Kid Labs. Education: Postdoctoral Associate, University of Rochester (PI Aslin) Ph.D, Cornell University (PIs Amso, Goldstein, Spivey) B.Sc, University of British Columbia Dr. Emberson's research focuses on learning, perception (audition, vision, crossmodal or multisensory), language development, face/object perception, and attention in infants. She investigates these capacities using behavioral and neuroimaging techniques, particularly fNIRS (functional near infrared spectroscopy), working primarily with very young infants (birth through 1 year) and preterm/premature infants. Her work examines how infants' learning capacities contribute to rapid development of perception in ecological contexts, with implications for understanding how early life experiences affect later outcomes. Analysis of Dr. Emberson's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on infant perception, learning mechanisms, and neuroimaging methodology. Her work increasingly incorporates advanced fNIRS techniques while maintaining focus on fundamental questions about how infants learn from their environment. There's a growing emphasis on individual differences, cross-cultural comparisons, and applications to infants facing developmental challenges. Dr. Emberson serves on the editorial board of Infancy (journal of the International Congress of Infancy Studies) and is a consulting editor for the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience . Her research has been published in top journals including PNAS, Current Biology, Psychological Science, Cognition, Developmental Science, and the Journal of Neuroscience. Dr. Emberson has secured significant research funding from prestigious organizations including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, James S. McDonnell Foundation, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She collaborates with clinicians at BC Women's and Children's Hospitals to understand how different early life experiences impact learning and brain development. Dr. Emberson is currently accepting graduate students into her research program. The Baby Learning Lab, under Dr. Emberson's direction, is part of UBC's Early Developmental Research Group and collaborates with multiple institutions. The lab strives to provide interactive research experiences for infants and families while advancing scientific understanding of early cognitive development. The lab acknowledges that it operates on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people.
