James C. Gumbart is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Physics at Georgia Institute of Technology, with additional affiliation to the School of Chemistry and the Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience . His research leverages molecular dynamics simulations to decode the atomic-level mechanisms of bacterial proteins and cellular structures. B.S., Physics and Mathematics, Western Illinois University, 2003 Ph.D., Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2009 Dr. Gumbart's work bridges computational biophysics and biochemistry to understand: Mechanisms of bacterial membrane protein insertion and nutrient import Structural dynamics of cell wall mechanics SARS-CoV-2 spike protein interactions with ACE2 Free-energy calculations for protein-ligand binding Applications of machine learning in biomolecular simulations His publications reflect trends in membrane protein biophysics , viral dynamics , and computational drug design , with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary techniques. Awards include multiple fellowships and grants from NSF , DOE , and NIAID . He has mentored numerous PhD students, including Zijian Zhang , David Ryoo , and Andrew Pang , whose work has advanced understanding of bacterial systems and viral proteins. The Gumbart Lab integrates high-powered supercomputing and advanced software to model biomolecular processes, fostering collaborations with institutions like the National Institutes of Health and Argonne National Laboratory .
Elias Jarlebring is a Professor in Numerical Linear Algebra at the Department of Mathematics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm. He has held the position of Full Professor since 2021, following his tenure as Associate Professor (2013-2021) and Dahlquist Research Fellow (2011-2013). His research focuses on numerical analysis, numerical linear algebra, matrix computations, and scientific computing. Jarlebring develops linear algebra algorithms to solve problems from various fields including systems and control, acoustics, electromagnetics, data science, quantum mechanics, and quantum chemistry. He is a core developer of NEP-PACK, a scientific computing software package for nonlinear eigenproblems. His recent publications demonstrate significant contributions to computational methods for nonlinear eigenvalue problems, matrix functions, and parameterized linear systems. The research shows a clear trajectory toward increasingly complex applications in quantum computing, data science, and wave propagation problems. Project grant, Swedish research council (2019) Ruth och Nils-Erik Stenbäcks foundation, junior grant (2019) Göran Gustafsson Prize for junior researchers (2014) Project grant for junior researchers, Swedish research council (2014-2018) Professor Jarlebring has supervised numerous PhD students including Vilhelm Peterson Lithell, Gustaf Lorentzon, Siobhán Correnty, Parikshit Upadhyaya, Emil Ringh, Antti Koskela, and Giampaolo Mele. He has received multiple research grants from the Swedish Research Council and serves as editor for BIT Numerical Mathematics, Linear and Multilinear Algebra, NACO Numerical Algebra Control and Optimization, and CALCOLO. He is actively involved in the numerical linear algebra community as a member of ILAS (International Linear Algebra Society), GAMM Activity Group on Numerical Linear Algebra, and the Nordic Numerical Linear Algebra Association. He also contributes to open source projects, particularly in the Julia programming language ecosystem.
Juliane Nguyen, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She serves as Vice Chair and Director of Graduate Admissions in her department and holds an adjunct appointment as Professor of Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Nguyen is also a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, where she applies molecular engineering approaches to develop innovative therapeutic solutions. Dr. Nguyen's research focuses on molecular engineering to advance protein-based therapeutics, live biotherapeutics (including engineered probiotic yeast), and extracellular vesicles. Her lab develops cutting-edge technologies to treat diverse conditions including cancer, myocardial infarction, chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity, and inflammatory bowel diseases. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates molecular engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, and bioinformatics to create complex biologics with exceptional safety and efficacy profiles. Key research areas include developing therapeutics for cardiac repair, genetically encoded materials targeting tumor-associated macrophages, live biotherapeutics for inflammatory bowel diseases using engineered probiotic yeast, and auxetic patches for dynamic organ repair. Analysis of Dr. Nguyen's recent publications reveals a strong focus on translational research with significant contributions to cardiac repair technologies, cancer immunotherapy, inflammatory bowel disease treatments, and advanced biomaterials. Her work consistently bridges fundamental molecular engineering with clinical applications, particularly in the areas of targeted drug delivery, extracellular vesicle therapeutics, and engineered live biotherapeutics. The research demonstrates a clear trajectory toward developing clinically viable solutions for previously challenging medical conditions. Dr. Nguyen has received numerous prestigious awards and honors including the NSF CAREER Award (2018), Eshelman Innovation Award (2020), and recognition as a Fellow of the Controlled Release Society (2023). She was appointed as a Standing Member of the NIH Drug and Biologic Therapeutic Delivery Study Section (2023-2025) and serves as Executive Editor of Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews since 2021. Her Galenus Guest Professorship at ETH Zuerich (2024) and keynotes at major conferences highlight her international recognition in the field. As Director of Graduate Admissions and an active mentor, Dr. Nguyen has advised numerous PhD and Master's students who have co-authored significant publications with her. Her research is supported by competitive grants including the NSF CAREER Award and other NIH-funded projects. The Nguyen Lab maintains strong collaborations across disciplines, particularly with cardiology, oncology, and biomedical engineering researchers. She leads an interdisciplinary team focused on translating molecular engineering breakthroughs into clinically impactful therapies. The Nguyen Lab operates as a dynamic, interdisciplinary research environment combining expertise in molecular engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, and bioinformatics. The lab's mission is to revolutionize medicine by developing next-generation therapeutics that target diseases at the molecular level. Current projects focus on translating cutting-edge research into life-changing therapies for patients suffering from cancer, myocardial infarction, colitis, and other challenging conditions. The lab's innovative approach to biomolecular engineering positions it at the forefront of developing safe, effective, and personalized therapeutic solutions.
Amy Childress is Dean's Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Southern California's Viterbi School of Engineering. She serves as director of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department's environmental engineering program and leads the Center for Water Reuse (ReWater). Dr. Childress has been with USC since summer 2013 and previously served as professor and chair of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Nevada, Reno. Dr. Childress earned her educational degrees from the following institutions: Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland College Park Master's Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California - Los Angeles Doctoral Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California - Los Angeles For over 20 years, Professor Childress' research has focused on membrane processes for addressing global water scarcity challenges. Her current research interests include membrane contactor processes for innovative solutions to contaminant and energy challenges; pressure-driven membrane processes as industry standards for desalination and water reuse; membrane bioreactor technology; and colloidal and interfacial aspects of membrane processes. She emphasizes process sustainability through reduction of discharge by-products, limiting chemical and material consumption, and minimizing energy, carbon, and infrastructure footprints of treatment systems. Her work explores the water-energy nexus to develop holistic solutions for finite water and energy resources. Professor Childress' recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on advancing membrane technologies for water treatment and desalination. Her research spans fundamental studies of membrane properties and performance to applied research on system integration and optimization. Key themes include improving membrane wetting resistance, developing mathematical models for water blending, understanding morphological changes in membranes, exploring power density limitations in osmotic processes, and investigating long-term operational effects on membrane performance. Her work consistently addresses the technical challenges of water scarcity while considering sustainability and energy efficiency. Her scientific achievements have been recognized with numerous awards and honors: National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2001) NAE Frontiers of Engineering Invited speaker (2007) AEESP President (2008) Multiple fellowships and scholarships from UCLA, AWRA, ACS, and water districts UNR Student Chapter of AWRA Excellence in Teaching Honorable Mention Award (2001) Clair A. Hill Scholarship (1995) Larson Aquatic Research Support (LARS) Scholarship (1996) Professor Childress has directed research projects funded by numerous prestigious organizations including the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, NSF, NASA, Office of Naval Research, U.S. Department of Energy, California Energy Commission, California Department of Water Resources, the U.S. EPA, and SERDP, as well as local and private agencies. She leads a productive research group that has generated numerous peer-reviewed publications, proceeding papers, and patents. Her leadership extends to service on the AEESP Foundation Board of Directors and previously as AEESP President. She also serves on the Advisory Board of Desalination journal. Dr. Childress leads the Childress Research Group at USC, which focuses on fundamental and applied aspects of membrane processes for water treatment and desalination. The group maintains laboratory facilities in Biegler Hall (BHE) at USC and conducts both experimental and modeling research to advance water treatment technologies. Their work addresses critical challenges in southern California and around the world related to wastewater reclamation and seawater desalination.
Lars Nordström is a Professor at the Division of Electric Power and Energy Systems within KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. His work bridges control systems , communication networks , and power systems , with a focus on future architectures, functionality, and quality aspects of ICT for power grid operations. He has led initiatives such as the Swedish Centre of Electric Power Engineering and served as Thematic Leader for Smartgrids in KIC InnoEnergy. In 2014, he was a Visiting Professor at Washington State University. Education : Ph.D., MSc.EE Nordström's research explores the intersection of smart grids , machine learning , and cybersecurity for power systems. Key areas include: Wide-Area Monitoring and Control (WAMC) systems Decentralized control strategies for DC microgrids Impedance modeling using neural networks Data-driven methods for islanding detection ICT reliability and protocol design for grid operations His recent publications emphasize machine learning applications in power systems, including LSTM networks for EV charging management, graph attention networks for stability monitoring, and digital twin approaches for cyber-attack mitigation. These works span disciplines such as Smart Grids, Power Electronics, and Data Science. Scientific Recognitions : Senior Member, IEEE Senior Member, CIRED Senior Member, Cigre Past Chairman, Swedish IEC TC57 Mirror Committee Nordström actively teaches and examines graduate courses like Communication and Control in Electric Power Systems and Computer Applications and Machine Learning in Electric Power Systems . His work influences industry practices through collaborations on digital substations, energy market analysis, and resilience strategies.
Irina Oleinikova is a Professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in the Department of Electric Energy, Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering. She leads the Power System Operation and Analysis research group and serves as the NTNU Smart Grid Team Leader. She is a steering committee member of the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) Joint Programme on Smart Grids and an expert in the International Smart Grid Action Network (ISGAN) WG6. Research Interests : Power System Operation, Digital Power System Protection and Control, Grid Resilience, Energy Flexibility, Cybersecurity in Power Systems, and Hydrogen Technology Integration. Her work focuses on advancing smart grids, grid flexibility, and cybersecurity through projects like FME CINELDI, HONOR, ASAP, and ZeroKyst. Key Projects : CINELDI : Developing intelligent electricity distribution grids. HONOR : Cross-sectoral energy flexibility markets. ASAP : Next-generation system protection schemes. ZeroKyst : Hydrogen and charging infrastructure along Norway’s coast. COSPAT : Stability of AC/DC transmission grids via co-simulation. Advising & Grants : Supervises PhD students in digital protection and cybersecurity. Active in projects funded by RCN, STATNETT, and EU Horizon 2020. Leads the Power System Operation and Analysis group and collaborates with SINTEF and industry partners. Labs/Teams : NTNU Smart Grid Team and the Power System Operation research group.
Thomas Demeester is an Associate Professor at the Internet Technology and Data Science Lab (IDLab), Ghent University - imec, Belgium. Appointed as Assistant Professor in 2019, he leads an AI research group focused on health applications and drug design, co-directing the Text-to-Knowledge research cluster with Prof. Chris Develder. His educational background includes: M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Ghent University (2005), completed with thesis work at ETH Zurich Ph.D. in Computational Electromagnetics from Ghent University (2009), funded by Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) Demeester's research spans artificial intelligence with emphasis on deep learning and neuro-symbolic methods. Current tracks include energy-based models (Hopfield Networks, Deep Equilibrium Models), diffusion models for drug design, and clinical reasoning systems. His work bridges NLP, healthcare informatics, and generative AI with strong industry partnerships. Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal strategic expansion from NLP into health-centric AI: BioLORD biomedical encoders (2023), synthetic medical data frameworks (UAI/NeurIPS 2024), and novel diffusion model guidance (ICLR 2025). This evolution demonstrates convergence of generative modeling, clinical data analysis, and protein design. He actively mentors 24 PhD students across diverse AI domains: Current Research: Conversational agents, emotion analysis, clinical reasoning, antibody design, and diffusion model optimization Recent Graduates: Interpretable language models, biomedical semantics, task-oriented dialogue, and social media knowledge extraction Research is supported by imec funding and collaborations with Flemish biotech companies, building on his post-doctoral experience securing media-sector projects. Within IDLab, he co-leads the Text-to-Knowledge cluster driving NLP innovations for healthcare, legal, and economic applications.
Laureate Professor Behdad Moghtaderi is a globally recognized chemical engineer at The University of Newcastle's School of Engineering. He leads research in clean energy technologies, including the GRANEX heat engine, greenhouse gas abatement, and chemical looping processes. His work addresses critical challenges in energy efficiency, renewable energy systems, and reducing fugitive methane emissions from coal mines. With over $48M in research funding and 220+ publications, he directs the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER) and holds leadership roles in national and international energy initiatives. Education: PhD (University of Sydney), MEng (University of Sydney), BSc (Shiraz University) Administrative Roles: Director of NIER, former Head of School of Engineering, and member of global energy advisory bodies Research interests span energy systems, combustion science, and sustainable technologies. Notable innovations include the VAMCO system for methane abatement and solar thermal GRANEX installations. Awards include the Carrick Teaching Citation and multiple engineering excellence recognitions. Scientific contributions include 14 PhD completions and over 20 funded projects. Current focus areas include hydrogen safety, carbon capture, and thermochemical energy storage. His labs (NIER) collaborate with industry partners like Siemens Energy and the Australian Hydrogen Council.
Professor Louis Schmidt is a leading academic in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour at McMaster University , with a research focus on developmental psychophysiology, temperament, and the long-term effects of early adversity. His work bridges neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral science, emphasizing the interplay between brain function and socio-emotional development across the lifespan. Key research themes: Shyness, social anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and outcomes of extremely low birth weight. Recognized for mentoring postdoctoral fellow Kristie Poole, who was celebrated as a role model in the Child Emotion Laboratory. Scientific Awards : Royal Society of Canada recognition for contributions to research and scholarship. Research Trends from 15 recent publications include: Neurophysiological mechanisms of shyness (EEG, ERP, RSA) Impact of antenatal corticosteroids on adult brain function Intergenerational effects of maternal mental health interventions Cross-cultural comparisons of temperamental shyness Developmental consequences of preterm birth Behavioral and neural correlates of social anxiety in diverse populations Grants & Collaborations : Led the SNACS randomized controlled trial on antenatal corticosteroids, with applications in obstetrics and developmental neuroscience. Collaborates extensively on topics like autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and emotion regulation. Labs & Teams : Directs the Child Emotion Laboratory at McMaster University, fostering interdisciplinary research on developmental psychopathology and neural mechanisms of temperament.
Professor Thomas Lukasiewicz is a Full Professor and Head of the Artificial Intelligence Techniques research group at the Faculty of Informatics, Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien). His research focuses on enabling machines to mimic human-like intelligence through techniques spanning deep learning, symbolic reasoning, and predictive coding. Key areas include explainable AI, hybrid neurosymbolic systems, and applications in healthcare and law. He teaches courses such as Deep Learning for Natural Language Processing, Scientific Research and Writing, and multiple seminars in artificial intelligence and knowledge representation. His research projects include Explainable AI in Healthcare (2023–2027) and foundational work on predictive coding networks. His publications (15+ recent articles) address medical image segmentation, neurosymbolic frameworks, and language model evaluation in mathematics. Notable work includes neurosymbolic hybrid models (CCN⁺), reinforcement learning for medical report generation, and theoretical foundations of predictive coding networks.
Yiguang Ju is the Robert Porter Patterson Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University, affiliated with the HMEI Grand Challenges Program. His research focuses on plasma-assisted combustion, alternative fuels, and nano-material synthesis via flame processes. He investigates energy-efficient systems for microscale energy conversion, catalytic reactions, and low-temperature plasma chemistry. Research interests include non-equilibrium plasma dynamics, ammonia synthesis, and high-pressure oxidation kinetics. He develops advanced diagnostics like hybrid laser spectroscopy and machine learning models to study reaction mechanisms. Recent work explores plasma-enhanced combustion for hydrogen and alternative fuels, with applications in energy storage and emission reduction. His studies address challenges in plasma-chemistry interactions, material synthesis, and high-pressure combustion systems. His articles highlight innovations in plasma catalysis, combustion kinetics, and atmospheric chemistry. Collaborative projects include plasma-based material recycling and supercritical-pressure reactor analysis. He leads initiatives in clean energy technologies and sustainable chemical processes.
Ki-Woong Park is a tenure-track full Professor in the Department of Computer and Information Security at Sejong University. He leads the System Security and Computer Engineering Research (SysCore) Lab, which focuses on system security research with numerous ongoing projects funded by major Korean research institutions including IITP, NRF, and KRIT. Sejong University, Department of Computer and Information Security System Security and Computer Engineering Research (SysCore) Lab Leader Member of IEEE, IEEE Computer Society, and ACM Education: Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, KAIST (Advisor: Prof. Kyu-Ho Park) M.S. in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, KAIST (Advisor: Prof. Kyu-Ho Park) B.S. in Computer Science, Yonsei University (Summa Cum Laude) Exchange Student at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Professor Park's research focuses on designing, building, and analyzing secure systems, particularly for cloud computing, networked systems, and embedded systems. His work often involves reevaluating existing security mechanisms and actual system implementations with subsequent evaluation in real computing environments. He has made significant contributions to areas including cloud security, IoT security, ransomware detection, moving target defense, and metaverse security. His research approach emphasizes both theoretical foundations and practical implementation, with numerous publications in top-tier security and systems venues. His recent publications (2023-2024) demonstrate a strong focus on emerging security challenges in modern computing environments, particularly in metaverse platforms, UAV systems, and edge computing. These works span both theoretical security frameworks and practical implementations, with an emphasis on visualization techniques, hardware-based security mechanisms, and AI-enhanced security analysis. His research shows a clear progression from traditional cloud and network security toward next-generation security challenges in immersive virtual environments and cyber-physical systems. Scientific Awards: Microsoft Research Fellowship (2009-2010) Best Poster Gold Award at WISA 2020 Best Paper Award at MobiSec'18 Professor Park actively mentors numerous graduate and undergraduate students through the SysCore Lab, with current members including Ph.D. students, MS students, and undergraduate researchers. His research is supported by multiple significant grants, including the NRF Outstanding Researcher-Mid-career Researcher project, IITP Information Security Core Source Technology Development, and Defense Technology Advancement Research Institute projects. These grants total tens of billions of Korean won and address critical national security challenges in cyber defense, cloud security, and metaverse technologies. The SysCore Lab, under Professor Park's leadership, maintains a strong industry and government collaboration network, with part-time researchers from organizations including Hyundai Duty Free, Astron Security, Korea University, and various military cyber commands. This unique structure enables the lab to address both theoretical security challenges and practical implementation issues in real-world systems.
Ping He is a Professor in the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. His research focuses on plant immunity mechanisms, particularly using Arabidopsis as a model system to study pathogen defense activation, signaling pathways, and the interplay between immunity and environmental stress responses. He also leads the Molecular, Plant-Microbe Interaction Laboratory, applying interdisciplinary approaches (genetics, biochemistry, cellular biology) to enhance crop resilience through foundational plant science discoveries. His work bridges plant biology and computational biology, with recent contributions to AI-driven medical imaging applications such as bladder cancer treatment response assessment, lung cancer early detection, and breast tomosynthesis denoising. These efforts emphasize integrating machine learning into clinical workflows and establishing best practices for AI in healthcare. Research Highlights: Plant immunity signaling and environmental stress crosstalk Radiomics and deep learning for cancer diagnosis/prognosis AI model validation and multi-institutional clinical trials Medical imaging artifact correction (e.g., motion blur, noise) Publications emphasize AI applications in oncology imaging, radiologist decision support systems, and multimodal data fusion. He has contributed to AAPM task group guidelines for AI in computer-aided diagnosis and advocates for rigorous quality assurance frameworks in medical AI deployment.
Lise Vermeersch is a Chemistry doctoral student and researcher at the Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Her work focuses on polymer chemistry, computational chemistry, and materials science, particularly in self-healing and recyclable polymer networks. She collaborates on projects funded by the Research Council, exploring Diels-Alder reaction kinetics and molecular dynamics. Vermeersch has supervised multiple master's theses and participates in academic committees, conferences, and outreach activities like the New Bauhaus 2025 initiative. Her research integrates computational predictions with experimental synthesis to develop dynamic materials. Her projects include 'Accelerating the Diels-Alder kinetics of self-healing polymer networks' (2022–2026) and 'Backup mandate Research Council: Understanding and accelerating Diels-Alder kinetics' (2021–2022). She has published extensively on topics such as Lewis acid catalysis, hydrogen-bond effects, and quantum chemical analysis of Diels-Alder reactions. Her contributions bridge theoretical insights with practical applications in sustainable materials. Vermeersch has advised students on projects like 'Benchmarking Multiscale Model of Self-Healing Materials' and 'Predicting global and local reactivity descriptors.' She actively engages in academic events, including the Chemistry Day 2023 as a chair and talks at workshops like TADA. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to material design and sustainability.
Professor Gregor Verbic is a faculty member at the University of Sydney in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering , where he serves as Director of the Centre for Future Energy Networks . Previously, he held an assistant professor position at the University of Ljubljana and was a NATO-NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Waterloo. His career spans academic research, industry leadership as Head of Interenergo's Investment Department, and extensive collaboration with IEEE. PhD in Electrical Engineering (University of Ljubljana) Senior IEEE Member Research Interests focus on transforming power systems to zero-carbon grids through: Aggregation and control of distributed energy resources (DERs) Frequency control with wind generation and electric vehicles Stochastic optimization for multi-energy systems Smart home energy management with phase change materials Notable Contributions include: 2006 IEEE prize paper for voltage instability prediction 2010-2024: 15 recent publications on DER coordination, network tariffs, and low-inertia grid stability Teaching includes courses on: ELEC3203/ELEC9203: Electricity Networks ELEC5213: Engineering Optimisation ELEC5206: Sustainable Energy Systems Labs & Initiatives Centre for Future Energy Networks The Net Zero Institute
