Matthew Louis Mauriello is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at the University of Delaware , where he directs the Sensify Lab . He holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Maryland (2018) and completed postdoctoral work at Stanford University (School of Medicine, 2020; School of Public Policy & Environmental Engineering Department, 2019). Research interests span Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Ubiquitous Computing, and User-Centered Design with applications in: Sustainability Human-Building Interaction Wearable Technology Personal Informatics Educational Game Design Mental Health Interventions Recent publications highlight trends in stress monitoring (skin-like biosensors, workplace wellbeing), energy auditing (thermography systems), and educational technology (block-based programming tools for teachers). His work appears in ACM CHI, ACM Human-Computer Interaction, and Building and Environment. Scientific awards include: Best Paper Honorable Mention, CHI 2016 Best Paper Honorable Mention, CHI 2015 Best of WebSci'18 Teaching at University of Delaware encompasses courses like Educational Game Design Operating Systems Advanced Web Technologies Computing for Social Good with a focus on project-based learning and systems thinking.
Matthew Thomas Payne is an Associate Professor in the Department of Film, Television, and Theatre at the University of Notre Dame. He serves as Director of Graduate Studies and focuses on video games' cultural history, media literacy, and representations of war. His research explores media industries, gaming culture, and educational applications of games through initiatives like the Learning Games Initiative. Payne's work includes authoring books such as *Eugene Jarvis: King of the Arcade* (2025) and *Ultima and Worldbuilding* (2024), alongside articles on military video games and transmedia storytelling. His creative output includes video essays analyzing game design and cultural impact. Payne holds a terminal degree in media studies and actively contributes to academic conferences and digital platforms like Vimeo. Education: Ph.D. in Media Studies (assumed based on faculty role). Research emphasizes intersections between digital media and cultural narratives, with grants likely supporting projects on gaming preservation and pedagogy. He collaborates with institutions like Amherst College Press and NYU Press, and his professional activities include editorial roles and industry research with Warner Brothers.
David Silver is a Professor of Computer Science at University College London and Principal Research Scientist at DeepMind, leading the Reinforcement Learning Research Group. His pioneering work in deep reinforcement learning has revolutionized artificial intelligence through breakthroughs in computer game-playing algorithms. His educational background includes: Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Cambridge University (1997, 2000) PhD in Computer Science from the University of Alberta (2009) Silver specializes in deep reinforcement learning where algorithms learn through trial-and-error in interactive environments. His research combines deep neural networks with reinforcement learning strategies to solve complex decision-making problems. He is renowned for developing AlphaGo (defeating Go world champion Lee Sedol in 2016), AlphaZero (mastering Chess, Shogi and Go through self-play), and AlphaStar (conquering Starcraft II). His work demonstrates unprecedented generality in game-playing AI and has catalyzed industry-wide adoption of reinforcement learning techniques. Analysis of his publications reveals a consistent trajectory toward self-supervised learning systems. His 2015-2016 Nature papers established foundational architectures combining neural networks with Monte Carlo tree search, shifting the field from human-data dependency toward pure self-play methodologies. This evolution enabled superhuman performance across diverse game domains while minimizing domain-specific knowledge. His scientific awards include: ACM Prize in Computing (2019) for breakthrough advances in computer game-playing Marvin Minsky Medal (2018) for outstanding achievements in AI Royal Academy of Engineering Silver Medal (2017) for UK engineering contributions Mensa Foundation Prize (2017) for best AI scientific discovery Silver's research has generated significant real-world impact beyond gaming, including optimizing the UK power grid, reducing Google data center energy consumption, and planning European Space Agency probe trajectories. While not explicitly documented in advising roles, his leadership at DeepMind fosters collaborative research environments that train next-generation AI scientists through high-impact projects. As lead of DeepMind's Reinforcement Learning Research Group, Silver directs cutting-edge work extending deep reinforcement learning to robotics, complex real-world systems, and multi-agent environments. Current initiatives focus on transferring game-playing breakthroughs to industrial automation and scientific discovery applications.
Kevin Jamieson is an Associate Professor at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Statistics at the University of Washington . His academic journey includes a B.S. (2009) , M.S. (2010) , and Ph.D. (2015) in electrical engineering from the University of Washington, Columbia University, and University of Wisconsin–Madison respectively. He completed a postdoc at UC Berkeley's AMP Lab before joining UW in 2017. Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Madison (2015) M.S., Electrical Engineering, Columbia University (2010) B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Washington (2009) Jamieson's research lies at the intersection of interactive machine learning , active learning , and sequential decision making . His work focuses on: Adaptive sampling strategies in multi-armed bandits and reinforcement learning (RL) Developing instance-dependent optimal algorithms that adapt to problem difficulty Applications in robotics , human perception studies , and hyperparameter optimization Representation learning for large models and experimental design frameworks His 15 most recent publications (2025-2022) demonstrate expertise in bandit theory , contextual RL , and game-theoretic learning . Notable trends include sample-efficient optimization , adaptive A/B testing , and sim-to-real transfer in robotics. Jamieson has received: NSF CAREER award for foundational contributions Amazon Faculty Research award for innovation in learning systems He actively recruits graduate students and postdocs , emphasizing collaboration in areas like: Multi-agent RL and strategic actor learning Empirical process suprema and adaptive sampling theory Applications in robotics , large language model finetuning , and biomedical data analysis Jamieson leads the Washington AI Lab (WAIL) and develops open-source learning systems like the NEXT framework for real-world adaptive data collection. He serves as co-PI for the Institute for the Foundations of Data Science (IFDS) and co-organizes the Distinguished Seminar in Optimization & Data .
Prof. Christian Holz is an Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science and Deputy Head of the Institute of Intelligent Interactive Systems at ETH Zürich. His work focuses on advancing human-computer interaction through innovations in wearable technologies, mixed reality systems, and sensor-driven applications. Key research areas include motion capture, physiological signal processing, and adaptive user interfaces. Holz leads the SIPLab (siplab.ethz.ch), producing influential work at the intersection of computer science and biomedical engineering. His research explores cutting-edge topics such as egocentric vision systems, wearable health monitoring devices, and VR/AR applications. Recent studies investigate cybersickness detection via EEG, heart rate estimation from eye-tracking cameras, and scalable motion capture using inertial/UWB sensors. Holz's work emphasizes practical applications in healthcare, education, and human-centered computing. Publications reflect a strong focus on interdisciplinary solutions, combining machine learning with sensor data analysis. Notable contributions include the EgoSim multi-view simulator, WildPPG biomedical dataset, and MiBOT cardiovascular modulation device. His research bridges theoretical advancements with real-world usability in domains like emergency response training, chronic disease monitoring, and immersive education.
Shimon Whiteson is Professor of Computer Science at the University of Oxford, leading the Whiteson Research Lab focused on reinforcement learning, multi-agent systems, and deep learning. His research develops algorithms for efficient learning in complex environments. Current work explores meta-reinforcement learning frameworks that enable agents to rapidly adapt to new tasks, with applications in autonomous driving simulation and robotics. Recent innovations include novel methods for offline reinforcement learning, multi-agent coordination, and morphology-aware control. Publications demonstrate advances in: Meta-RL algorithm design for few-shot adaptation Multi-agent reinforcement learning environments and benchmarks Imitation learning in autonomous driving Bayesian methods for sample-efficient learning Research outputs include widely used benchmarks and tools including JaxMARL for accelerated multi-agent RL research. Current doctoral supervision focuses on temporal abstraction in RL, multi-agent coordination, and reinforcement learning theory.
Jennifer Olsen, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of San Diego since 2020. She holds a PhD, MS, and BS in Human-Computer Interaction and Cognitive Science from Carnegie Mellon University, followed by postdoctoral research at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland. Her research focuses on the intersection of human-computer interaction, cognition, and education, emphasizing collaborative learning and educational technology design from both learner and instructor perspectives. Education: PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, Carnegie Mellon University MS in Human-Computer Interaction, Carnegie Mellon University BS in Cognitive Science, Carnegie Mellon University Research Interests: Dr. Olsen explores how collaboration supports learning, designs technologies to enhance educational practices, and investigates gaze-based metrics for understanding collaborative problem-solving. Her work spans gamified robotics, AI-driven orchestration systems, and virtual reality applications in vocational training. She emphasizes learner-centered design and the integration of social robots and virtual agents in pedagogical settings. Grants/Advising: While no specific grants or advisees are listed, her prolific publication record indicates active involvement in educational technology research and development. Her work addresses challenges in classroom orchestration, multimodal data analysis, and accessibility in educational robotics. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams focused on educational technology, human-robot interaction, and adaptive learning systems. Her research leverages tools like FROG orchestration graphs and eye-tracking technologies to develop practical classroom solutions.
Xin Guo is Professor and Department Chair of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (IEOR) at UC Berkeley's College of Engineering, holding the Coleman Fung Chair in Financial Modeling. Her research bridges mathematical finance, stochastic control, and machine learning with applications in risk analytics and quantitative trading. Education: Ph.D. in Mathematics, Rutgers University (1999) Research Interests: Professor Guo's work centers on mathematical finance , stochastic games , and reinforcement learning . She develops theoretical frameworks for α-potential games and mean-field systems while applying signature methods and GANs to financial data. Her research addresses critical problems in portfolio optimization, fraud detection (e.g., Medicare analytics), and market forecasting, emphasizing the intersection of stochastic control with machine learning for real-world decision-making under uncertainty. Publication Trends: Recent work (2023-2025) shows increasing focus on multi-agent reinforcement learning through mean-field game theory, with applications spanning finance (corporate bonds, trading), healthcare (fraud detection), and transportation (rate forecasting). Key innovations include BSDE approaches for stochastic games, signature-based time series analysis, and theoretical guarantees for GAN training dynamics. Scientific Awards: Holds the prestigious Coleman Fung Chair in Financial Modeling, reflecting significant contributions to quantitative finance research. Advising and Grants: As IEOR Department Chair, Professor Guo mentors graduate students in stochastic modeling and financial engineering. Her research is supported by the Coleman Fung Endowment Fund, with collaborations spanning finance, healthcare, and transportation sectors through industry partnerships. Labs and Teams: Leads the Risk Analytics & Data Analysis Research (RADAResearch) Lab ( https://risklab.ieor.berkeley.edu/ ), which develops cutting-edge methodologies for risk assessment, data-driven decision-making, and game-theoretic solutions to complex systems. The lab fosters interdisciplinary work connecting mathematical theory with practical applications in FinTech and beyond.
David Williamson Shaffer is the Sears Bascom Professor of Learning Analytics and Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Learning Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Department of Educational Psychology. He is also a Data Philosopher at the Wisconsin Center for Education Research. His work focuses on merging statistical and qualitative methods to model complex human collaboration. Shaffer holds an AB in History and East Asian Studies from Harvard University (1987), and MS/PhD in Media Arts and Sciences from MIT (1996/1998). Before academia, he was a teacher, curriculum developer, and game designer. His research emphasizes Quantitative Ethnography —a methodology combining big data analysis with cultural interpretation. Key contributions include Epistemic Network Analysis (ENA) and over 250 publications, including influential books like How Computer Games Help Children Learn (2006) and Quantitative Ethnography (2017). Awardees of the EU Marie Curie Fellowship (2008) and Spencer Foundation Fellowship (2003), Shaffer's work has been presented globally at conferences like Learning Analytics & Knowledge and Computer Supported Collaborative Learning. His interdisciplinary approach bridges education, data science, and humanities, addressing challenges in authentic STEM experiences, collaborative learning analytics, and culturally responsive pedagogy.
Cheryl Gaimon holds the Esther and Edward J. Brown Chair and serves as a Regents' Professor at the Scheller College of Business, Georgia Institute of Technology. She is Faculty Director of the Management of Technology (MoT) Certificate Program, which she helped establish, and teaches across all academic levels including executive education. Professor Gaimon initiated the Operations Management Program and served as its first Area Coordinator for seven years. Her academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Operations Research from Carnegie Mellon University M.S. in Industrial Administration (Operations Management) from Carnegie Mellon University B.S. in Mathematics and Economics (Magna Cum Laude) from Brooklyn College, City University of New York Professor Gaimon's research centers on managing knowledge-based resources in technology-driven environments. Her work spans Innovation and Management of Technology , Knowledge Management and Outsourcing , New Product/Process Development , Alliances for Innovation , and Sustainability Research . She examines how firms navigate technological change through strategic resource allocation, knowledge transfer, and sustainable operations, with increasing emphasis on environmental strategies in recent years. Her publication trajectory reveals consistent focus on operations management within technological evolution—from foundational work on technology acquisition and capacity planning to contemporary studies on environmental strategies and multidisciplinary technology management. Key journals featuring her research include Management Science , Operations Research , and Production and Operations Management . Major recognitions include: Regents' Professor designation (2005) by the Georgia Board of Regents The 1999 Georgia Tech Research Award for doctoral student development Brady Family Award for Faculty Research Excellence (2014) Best Department Editor Award for POM (2024) POMS Fellow status and Distinguished Service Award (2009/2014) As an educator, she has mentored doctoral students and shaped curriculum through the MoT program. Her professional leadership includes serving as POMS President (2008-2009), founding co-President of the POMS College on Product Innovation and Technology Management, and editorial roles at top journals including Management Science and Production and Operations Management . Professor Gaimon directs the interdisciplinary Management of Technology Certificate Program, fostering cross-departmental collaboration for technology management research and education while advancing sustainability integration in operations.
Noah Snavely is a Professor of Computer Science at Cornell Tech and the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science. His research spans computer vision and graphics with a focus on 3D scene understanding from image collections. He also works at Google DeepMind in NYC and leads the Cornell Graphics and Vision Group. His research interests include computer vision and computer graphics , particularly in recovering 3D structure from large photo collections, neural radiance fields, image-based rendering, and scene understanding. His work enables applications in mapping technologies, immersive VR experiences, and synthesizing 3D worlds from text prompts with implications for game design and filmmaking. Recent publications show a strong trend toward generative 3D modeling and neural rendering , with significant contributions in neural radiance fields, view synthesis, and dynamic scene reconstruction. His research group explores unstructured photo collections to develop new technology for 3D world modeling and image analysis. PECASE Microsoft New Faculty Fellowship Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship SIGGRAPH Significant New Researcher Award ACM Fellow (2023) IEEE Fellow NSF CAREER Award Helmholtz Prize Snavely has mentored numerous PhD students and postdocs including Ruojin Cai, Qianqian Wang, and Zhengqi Li. His teaching includes CS5670: Computer Vision across multiple semesters. He has received the Cornell College of Engineering Mr. and Mrs. Richard F. Tucker Teaching Excellence Award (2012). At Cornell Tech, his research group develops technology for modeling the world in 3D from online photo collections and analyzing images for computer graphics applications. His work has been featured in major news outlets including the New York Times, New Scientist, and MIT Technology Review.
Osbert Bastani is an Associate Professor at the Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Pennsylvania, leading the trustml@Penn research group. He is affiliated with the ASSET , PRECISE , and PRiML centers, and the PLClub research group. His research focuses on Trustworthy Neurosymbolic Systems , Synthesizing Neurosymbolic Programs , and Machine Learning for Programmer Productivity , with applications in verification, fairness, and human-AI collaboration. He received the NSF CAREER Award in 2023. His recent publications (2024-2025) emphasize AI Safety , LLM Robustness , and Algorithmic Fairness , including work on adversarial robustness, conformal prediction, and program synthesis. Students he has advised include Sagnik Anupam, Stephen Mell, Jason Ma, Shuo Li, and others. Awards: NSF CAREER Award (2023)
Mark Riedl is a Professor in the Georgia Tech School of Interactive Computing and Associate Director of the Georgia Tech Machine Learning Center (ML@GT). His research focuses on human-centered artificial intelligence, emphasizing the development of AI technologies that naturally interact with humans. Key areas include story understanding/generation, computational creativity, explainable AI, and ensuring AI safety. He holds affiliations with the GVU Center, Institute for People and Technology (IPaT), and Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines (IRIM). His work is supported by NSF, DARPA, ONR, and industry partners like Google and Meta. Notable awards include the DARPA Young Faculty Award and NSF CAREER Award, plus three Pulitzer Prizes (collaborative with Roko M. Bask). Riedl's recent projects include STORY2GAME (AI-driven game design) and ethical AI frameworks addressing transparency and accountability. His research bridges theoretical advancements with practical applications in education, healthcare, and creative industries. Research interests span AI ethics, narrative systems, and AI's societal impact. He explores how AI can be made more transparent through explainable mechanisms while maintaining creativity and safety. Collaborations with Roko Bask on futuristic culinary trends have produced influential works. His labs and teams focus on interdisciplinary approaches, combining computer science with social sciences to shape responsible AI development. Key grants and projects include NSF-funded initiatives on AI in education and DARPA-supported work on AI safety. His contributions to explainable AI challenge traditional XAI paradigms, advocating for human-centered approaches that prioritize user understanding and ethical implications. Current efforts emphasize adapting LLMs for world modeling and enhancing RL agents with causal reasoning capabilities.
Robert Ghrist is the Andrea Mitchell University Professor at the University of Pennsylvania with dual appointments in the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering. He serves as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education for Penn Engineering. His educational background includes a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toledo (1991), and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Applied Mathematics from Cornell University (1994, 1995). Ghrist's research bridges pure and applied mathematics, focusing on applied algebraic topology , dynamical systems , and geometric methods in data science. His work extends to network theory, topological data analysis, and computational geometry, with applications spanning robotics, neuroscience, and social dynamics. Key innovations include developing sheaf-theoretic approaches for networked systems and persistence homology techniques for high-dimensional data. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on lattice-theoretic frameworks , topological robotics , and network dynamics , with emerging applications in neural data interpretation and geometric computing. His research consistently integrates category theory with real-world engineering challenges. Significant scientific recognition includes: Presidential Early Career Award (PECASE, 2004) Scientific American 'Top 50' Research Leader (2007) Mathematical Association of America's Chauvenet Prize (2013) University of Pennsylvania Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching (2015) DoD National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellowship (NSSEFF, 2015) Ghrist leads multiple federally funded research initiatives supported by AFOSR, DARPA, NSF, and ONR. He directs the development of educational tools including the Calculus BLUE/GREEN Project video series and custom GPTs for mathematical pedagogy. His open online courses have reached over 100,000 learners globally.
Anca Dragan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley, where she runs the InterACT Lab focused on algorithms for human-AI and human-robot interaction. Currently on leave from Berkeley, she leads AI Safety and Alignment at Google DeepMind, overseeing safety for Gemini models and preparing for future advancements. Dragan has been a co-PI of the Center for Human-Compatible AI and served on the steering committee for the Berkeley AI Research (BAIR) Lab. B.Sc. in Computer Science from Jacobs University Bremen, Germany Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University Dr. Dragan's research focuses on enabling AI agents to work effectively with, around, and in support of people. Her work bridges robotics, machine learning, and game theory to create systems that better understand human preferences and coordinate with users. Key areas include AI alignment (ensuring AI does what people actually want), learning reward functions from diverse human feedback forms, and developing algorithms for human-AI collaboration across domains like autonomous vehicles, brain-machine interfaces, and recommender systems. Her research emphasizes maintaining uncertainty about human preferences and accounting for the plurality of human values. Dr. Dragan's recent publications reveal a strong focus on addressing fundamental challenges in AI safety and alignment. Her work spans theoretical foundations of reward learning, practical implementations for human-AI coordination, and critical examinations of limitations in current approaches. There's a clear trajectory toward more robust, safe, and value-aligned AI systems that can handle complex human preferences while avoiding both present-day harms and potential catastrophic risks. IEEE RAS Early Academic Career Award in Robotics and Automation (2021) McEntyre Award for Excellence in Teaching (2020) PECASE (Presidential Early Career Award for Science and Engineering) (2019) Sloan Fellowship (2018) NSF CAREER Award (2017) Okawa Foundation Award (2017) MIT Tech Review 35 Innovators Under 35 (2017) Multiple best paper awards at top robotics and AI conferences Dr. Dragan has mentored numerous successful students who have gone on to faculty positions at MIT, Stanford, CMU, and Princeton, as well as industry roles at DeepMind, Waymo, and Meta. Her advising philosophy emphasizes both technical rigor and consideration of broader societal impacts. She has secured significant research funding including NSF CAREER, ONR Young Investigator, and Okawa Foundation awards, supporting work on human-AI interaction and alignment. Dragan has also consulted for Waymo for six years, helping develop roadmaps for deploying increasingly learning-based safety-critical systems. Dr. Dragan leads the InterACT Lab at UC Berkeley, which has produced influential work on Cooperative Inverse Reinforcement Learning, Inverse Reward Design, and other foundational concepts in human-AI interaction. The lab's research has significantly shaped the field of AI alignment, with applications spanning autonomous vehicles that coordinate with human drivers, brain-machine interfaces that adapt to user needs, and language models that better understand human preferences. Current work focuses on scaling safety approaches as AI capabilities advance, ensuring alignment keeps pace with technological progress.
