Dr. Przemysław Falkowski-Gilski serves as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Geoinformation Systems within the Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics at Gdańsk University of Technology. His research bridges geospatial engineering with computational intelligence, focusing on real-world applications in urban environments and sensor networks. His primary research domains include: Geoinformatics and GNSS positioning systems IoT infrastructure for smart cities Swarm intelligence optimization algorithms Edge computing resource allocation AI-driven data analysis for urban mobility Recent publications (2024-2025) reveal a cohesive research trajectory addressing critical challenges in smart city resource management through UAV-assisted edge computing, Android-based urban navigation, and sensor ontology integration. His work consistently applies advanced optimization techniques—such as Golden Jackal and Beetle Swarm algorithms—to solve practical problems in geospatial data processing and IoT systems, demonstrating strong interdisciplinary methodology.
Randy Babbitt serves as a Research Professor in the Department of Physics within Montana State University's College of Letters & Science. He maintains key affiliations as a Faculty Affiliate of the Spectrum Lab, Affiliate/User of the Montana Nanotechnology Facility (MONT), and member of the Optical Technology Center (OpTec), driving translational research from academic labs to Montana industry partners. His educational foundation includes a B.S. from Stanford University (1982) and a Ph.D. from Harvard University (1987). B.S., Stanford University (1982) Ph.D., Harvard University (1987) Babbitt's research program integrates digital holography, lidar systems, polarimetry, and microwave photonics to solve challenges in remote sensing and materials characterization. His work on spatial-spectral holography enables breakthroughs in microwave signal processing, while investigations into levitated particles and compressive sensing expand fundamental understanding of optical manipulation. This research directly supports defense applications through partnerships with entities like the Office of Naval Research and Air Force Research Lab. Analysis of his 2014-2022 publications reveals a consistent trajectory toward advanced imaging systems, with increasing emphasis on FMCW lidar techniques, nano-scale material characterization, and dual-beam interferometry. His work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly through the Spectrum Lab, with applications spanning defense, atmospheric sensing, and nonlinear optical material development. His scientific recognition includes: Meritorious Technology/Science Award (2008) Award for Excellence as Mentor of Recipient (2014) Babbitt secures substantial research funding for projects including Polarimetric Imaging Lidar (US Air Force Research Lab), Coherent/Enhanced Active Imaging Through Fog (Office of Naval Research), and GOALI: Nanostructure-enabled QPM Counter-Propagating Optical Parametric Oscillator (NSF). He actively mentors students through Spectrum Lab projects and engages in K-12 outreach, having delivered guest lectures at Morning Star Elementary and contributed to the Montana Science and Engineering Festival. As a core faculty affiliate of the Spectrum Lab, Babbitt contributes to its tripartite mission of advancing MSU-grown photonic technologies, establishing university-corporate partnerships with Montana companies like Bridger Photonics and S2 Corporation, and providing hands-on R&D experiences for students in team-oriented, time-critical projects.
Tamara Ilieva-Tsvetkova is a Senior Assistant Professor at the Department of Geodesy and Geoinformatics within the Faculty of Geodesy at the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy (UACEG) in Sofia, Bulgaria. She also serves as a Technical Associate at the Center for Quality and Accreditation and maintains her office in Cabinet 411P, with reception hours on Mondays from 11:30-12:30 during the winter semester of the 2025-26 academic year. Her educational background includes: Master's degree in Geodesy from UACEG, Sofia (2007) Master's degree in Marketing with specialization in "Advertising Management" from UNWE, Sofia (2015) Doctorate in "General, Higher and Applied Geodesy" from UACEG, Sofia (2019) Tamara Ilieva-Tsvetkova's research focuses on geospatial technologies and methodologies, with particular expertise in geodetic measurements, spatial databases, CAD and GIS systems development, engineering project management, and coordinate systems. She is proficient in English (excellent level) and Russian (basic level), and possesses extensive technical skills in AutoCAD, ArcGIS, QGIS, PostgreSQL with PostGIS, and web mapping libraries like Leaflet and OpenLayers. Her recent publications (2021-2024) show a strong trend toward web-based GIS applications, indoor positioning systems, climate change monitoring using geospatial data, and the integration of artificial intelligence with geospatial technologies. Her work spans practical applications in urban planning, transport infrastructure risk assessment, real estate management, and environmental monitoring, with a particular focus on Bulgarian territories. She is an active member of professional organizations: Chamber of Engineers in Investment Design Chamber of Engineers in Geodesy European Geosciences Union (EGU) Tamara Ilieva-Tsvetkova has participated in numerous research and construction projects: Upgrading information systems for AGKK (2013-2014) Information platform for environmental research and modeling at UACEG (2018-2019) Center of Excellence "Heritage BG" (2018-2023) Geodetic surveying for the South Stream gas pipeline Cadastral mapping for multiple Bulgarian villages and regions Geodetic survey for Sofia Metro expansion Geodetic survey for Sofia Airport infrastructure Her technical expertise spans multiple domains including geodetic measurement processing, GIS system development, spatial database management, and programming for geospatial applications using C#, SQL, JavaScript, and various GIS APIs.
Dr. Shayan Shams is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at UTHealth Houston's McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, where he has been faculty since 2019. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Louisiana State University and an MEng in Robotics from University of Malaya. His research group is affiliated with the Center for Secure Artificial Intelligence for Healthcare (SAFE). Dr. Shams' research integrates artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and big data analytics to address healthcare challenges. Key focus areas include: Unsupervised/semi-supervised deep learning for medical computer vision High-performance computing infrastructure for genomic data Hardware acceleration (GPU/FPGA) for medical AI Knowledge transfer across clinical domains (radiology, pathology, neurology) Edge device implementation for personalized medicine His recent publications (2016-2019) demonstrate evolving work in deep learning frameworks for healthcare applications, spanning medical imaging diagnostics, genomics pipelines, disaster response analytics, and distributed computing infrastructure. Research consistently leverages convolutional networks and generative models for biomedical problem-solving. Dr. Shams actively seeks graduate students and postdoctoral researchers for projects at the intersection of AI and healthcare. He has served as reviewer for premier conferences including MICCAI, IEEE ICDCS, and ACM-BCB.
Prof. Peter Weber is a full professor at South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences, leading research in digital education and commerce. He directs the Competence Center E-Commerce (CCEC) and the online MA program in International Management & Information Systems. His interdisciplinary work bridges educational technology, retail innovation, and urban digitalization. Research Focus: E-Learning methodologies, Educational Service Engineering, and digital transformation in commerce. Key projects include EU-funded initiatives like City Lab Südwestfalen (urban development) and ARSuL (AR vocational training). His work explores chatbot-enhanced education, local retail platforms, and immersive learning technologies. Career Highlights: Habilitation from Ruhr-Universität Bochum (2014) Visiting Scholar at Indiana State University (2009) Recipient of Ernst-Zander-Preis (2008) Executive Committee Member for EdMedia & Innovate Learning Awards: Ernst-Zander-Preis for doctoral research (2008) Outstanding Paper Award at EdMedia 2012
Ahmed Ezzeldin Khaled is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) in Chicago, USA, and a Visiting Associate Professor in the Masters Program in Computer Science at The University of Chicago since March 2024. He joined NEIU in August 2018 after completing his Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from the University of Florida. His educational background includes: Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from University of Florida (2018) M.S. in Computer Engineering from Cairo University (2013) B.S. from Cairo University Dr. Khaled's research focuses on designing systems and applications for distributed systems with the Internet of Things (IoT) as a primary use case. His work spans three main areas: smart healthcare systems and e-Health applications, location-aware services for smart spaces, and utilizing data management techniques for descriptive and predictive analytics. He has developed the Atlas IoT Framework, which includes IoT Device Description Language (IoT-DDL), Atlas Thing Architecture, and Inter-Thing Relationship Framework. His research involves software and hardware platforms from different vendors with various operating environments, focusing on creating interoperable systems for smart spaces. Analysis of Dr. Khaled's recent publications shows a strong trend toward practical implementations of IoT frameworks, particularly in healthcare applications. His work bridges theoretical concepts with real-world deployments, emphasizing context-aware systems, data pipelines, and location-based services. The research demonstrates expertise in creating frameworks that can work across different hardware platforms and communication protocols while addressing specific challenges in healthcare monitoring and smart space development. Dr. Khaled actively mentors students across multiple research domains including IoT applications, healthcare systems, and cloud architecture. His advising approach emphasizes connecting research with teaching, believing that "through the teaching process, we gain a deeper perspective of the subjects we teach and a better view on how the various concepts are linked into a 'bigger picture'." He has developed courses related to operating systems, computer networks, parallel computing, database systems, and the Internet of Things, bringing his research expertise directly into the classroom. Dr. Khaled leads the IoT & Systems Lab at NEIU, which focuses on developing practical IoT solutions for real-world applications. Current active projects include the Atlas IoT Framework for smart spaces, IoMT and Digital Healthcare systems, IoT Emulator (E-IoT) for application development and testing, and Location Based Services for smart tourism. The lab works with various hardware and software platforms to develop and test IoT applications before deployment in real environments, with a particular emphasis on healthcare applications and location-aware services.
Keng-Chi Chang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Quantitative Social Science at Dartmouth College. His research employs computational tools including AI and Large Language Models to investigate how technology and media shape political processes. Specific interests include censorship circumvention, online image-sharing behavior, and algorithmic recommendation systems for short-form video content. Education: • Ph.D. Political Science (Computational Social Science), University of California San Diego • M.S. Computer Science, University of California San Diego • B.A. Economics, National Taiwan University Research Focus: Chang explores the intersection of digital technology and political behavior, with emphasis on visual media analysis, censorship dynamics, and social media algorithms. His work examines how crises like COVID-19 trigger information-seeking behaviors and how platform features like live-stream chats influence political perceptions. Publications: Recent works demonstrate a strong focus on computational methods applied to political communication, including neural network interpretability, meme propagation patterns, and image-based credibility assessment. Publications span PNAS, Journal of Communication, and premier CS conferences. Funding & Awards: • NSF/APSA Dissertation Grant • Rapoport Family Foundation Research Grant
Mike Richison serves as an Associate Professor and Departmental Advising Coordinator in the Department of Art and Design at Monmouth University, where he teaches motion graphics, history of graphic design, and typography while guiding students through academic planning and senior thesis projects. He holds an MFA in Painting from Cranbrook Academy of Art, which informs his interdisciplinary approach to artistic creation and instruction. Richison's practice as a multimedia artist critically engages with consumer culture and technological obsolescence through repurposed materials—both physical (discarded plastics, appliances) and digital (TV commercials, social media content). His signature projects like Electo Electro (voting booth video remix installation), Spin Stack (turntable-based sound/projection system), and Augmented Asbury Park (geolocated AR boardwalk tour) blend custom electronics, audience participation, and political commentary. These works manifest across sculpture, video, printmaking, and interactive software, often utilizing Max/MSP/Jitter programming environments to transform found media into rhythmic, participatory experiences that deconstruct language and consumer narratives. As Departmental Advising Coordinator, Richison mentors students in capstone projects including Senior Year Experience: Client/Thesis courses. His exhibited works have been featured at FRG Objects and Design/Art (2017), Spectre Arts (2017), and Coburn Gallery (2017), with coverage in CDM.link and The Creators Project. Community engagement remains central to his practice through guided tours for Augmented Asbury Park and presentations at TEDxNavesink and MakerFaire NYC.
Samuel Frei serves as a Lecturer at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts – School of Design, Film and Art, where he teaches Visual Communication and Data Visualization across Bachelor's and Master's programs including the Applied Information and Data Science and MA Design curricula. His academic journey began after a career shift from biology and finance, completing a Master's in Design in 2011 followed by dissertation research at University College Dublin's SMARTLab (2012-2020). His research focuses on the intersection of analog and digital media, particularly in immersive technologies (AR/MR/VR) , cultural heritage digitization , and data storytelling . Key projects include the Digital Storytelling Lab, ALE (UNESCO World Heritage mobile experiences), and IDN-Kommunale Energie-Transformation. His work consistently explores how mobile and immersive technologies transform learning in cultural institutions and tourism contexts. Frei's 2024-2022 publications reveal a strong trend toward geospatial data visualization in tourism, cultural heritage preservation through mixed realities , and participatory digital archiving , often involving Swiss parks, museums, and indigenous communities like Amazonian collectives. His work bridges technical development with human-centered design principles. Nomination for Swiss Design Prize 2017 (Research category) Best of Swiss App Award 2016 (2x Bronze for ALE project) As former coordinator (2013-2023) and director (4 years) of continuing education programs, he managed interdisciplinary collaborations with cultural institutions, nature conservation groups, and educational organizations. His current leadership of the Investigative Methods in Research Practice module (2025) demonstrates ongoing curriculum development. Frei also maintains professional practice as an illustrator and concept designer, applying research to real-world projects in conservation and cultural sectors. His Visual Narrative research group serves as the primary laboratory context, producing projects like the Digital Storytelling Lab and Virtuelles Museum that integrate mobile technologies, indigenous knowledge systems, and emerging AI/AR platforms for cultural engagement.
Sarah Jane Hughes is a Professor and University Scholar in Commercial Law at Indiana University Maurer School of Law. She teaches courses including Sales, Negotiable Instruments, Secured Transactions, and Banking Law, and supervises the semester externship program in Washington, DC. Professor Hughes earned her A.B. cum laude from Mount Holyoke College in 1971 and her J.D. from the University of Washington in 1974, where she served on the board of editors for the Washington Law Review. Professor Hughes is a nationally recognized expert in payment systems, including domestic, international, Internet banking, smart cards, wire transfers, checks, embezzlement, and credit cards. Her expertise also extends to public and private methods to deter, detect, and prosecute domestic and international money laundering, as well as consumer protection and financial privacy. She has served as Attorney-Advisor at the Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection (1974-1988) and has been a Reporter for the Standing Committee on Payments Systems, Permanent Editorial Board for the Uniform Commercial Code since 2003. She is an elected member of the American Law Institute (2000-present) and serves on the American Bar Association liaison to the Money Services Act Drafting Committee. Professor Hughes' recent scholarly work focuses on virtual currencies, blockchain technology, and the evolving regulatory landscape for electronic payments. Her publications demonstrate a consistent trend toward examining the intersection of emerging financial technologies with traditional legal frameworks, particularly in the areas of consumer protection, money laundering prevention, and cybersecurity. She has been particularly active in analyzing regulatory approaches to cryptocurrencies at both state and federal levels, including her work as Reporter for the Uniform Regulation of Virtual Currency Business Act. Professor Hughes has received several prestigious awards for her teaching excellence: Leon Wallace Teaching Award (1993) Gavel Award (1996, 1997, 2000) As Faculty Supervisor and Instructor for the Washington DC Semester Program since Fall 2013, Professor Hughes has mentored numerous law students through externships in the nation's capital. She has provided expert testimony before Congressional committees on consumer protection issues in mobile payments and the present and future impact of virtual currency. Professor Hughes is actively involved in professional organizations including the American Bar Association's Cyberspace Law Committee, where she co-chairs the Working Group in Electronic Payment Services, and the Business Law, Antitrust and International Law Sections. Her work bridges academic scholarship with practical legal application in the rapidly evolving field of financial technology regulation.
