Tobias Batik is a Researcher in the Department of Virtual and Augmented Reality at Technische Universität Wien . His work focuses on haptic devices for virtual reality and mixed metro map visualization, contributing to projects like Action-Origami Inspired Haptic Devices for Virtual Reality (2023) and Shiftly: A Novel Origami Shape-Shifting Haptic Device for Virtual Reality (2025). His research spans Human-Computer Interaction , Computer Graphics , and Interactive Systems , with a particular emphasis on origami-inspired design and shape-shifting interfaces. Recent publications highlight trends in Virtual Reality and Data Visualization , including metro map layout algorithms and user-specified motifs. Contact: tobias.batik@tuwien.ac.at .
Wilfried Gansterer is a Professor at the Faculty of Computer Science, University of Vienna, leading the Theory and Applications of Algorithms research group. His work focuses on numerical algorithms, distributed computing, and machine learning, with notable contributions to graph neural networks and fault-tolerant systems. Active in projects such as Algorithmic Data Science for Computational Drug Discovery (2020–2028) and REPEAL (Resilience vs. Performance in Numerical Linear Algebra, 2016–2020). Research Interests: Dr. Gansterer’s expertise spans graph neural networks, matrix compression, adversarial defense mechanisms, and high-performance computing. His work addresses challenges in efficient computation, resilience against node failures, and optimizing distributed systems. Projects : Algorithmic Data Science for Computational Drug Discovery (2020–2028) REPEAL: Resilience vs. Performance in Numerical Linear Algebra (2016–2020) Verteiltes Rechnen (Distributed Computing, 2007–2014) Awards : 2023 Best Paper Award for work on Crossfire: An Elastic Defense Framework for Graph Neural Networks. Labs/Teams : Directs the Theory and Applications of Algorithms group, focusing on algorithmic innovation in distributed and high-performance computing environments.
Axel Polleres is a full professor at the Institute for Data, Process and Knowledge Management in Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Wien). He leads the department of Information Systems and Operations Management while maintaining active research in knowledge graphs, semantic web technologies, and ontology engineering. PhD and Habilitation from Vienna University of Technology Former positions at University of Innsbruck, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, DERI Ireland, and Siemens AG Co-chair of W3C SPARQL working group Editorial board member for Semantic Web Journal and IJSWIS His research focuses on: Querying and reasoning over ontologies Graph schema languages (SHACL, SPARQL) Wikidata constraint formalization Ontology reuse in collaborative platforms Crisis management knowledge graphs FAIR data principles implementation Recent publications analyze knowledge graph evolution, constraint validation methodologies, and semantic web standardization efforts. Key topics include: OWL/RDF interoperability solutions Unit conversion systems for Wikidata Partition-based query processing frameworks Network resilience analysis for urban planning Open data platform discovery tools Temporal analysis of collaborative knowledge graphs He has co-organized major conferences like ISWC2023 and ESWC workshops while maintaining active roles in European research projects. Current work involves spatiotemporal knowledge graphs for city resilience and semantic web infrastructure development.
Martin Bridson serves as President of the Clay Mathematics Institute since 2018 and holds the Whitehead Professorship of Pure Mathematics at the University of Oxford's Mathematical Institute, where he has been a Fellow of Magdalen College since 2007. Previously, he was Head of Oxford's Mathematical Institute (2015-2018), Professor of Pure Mathematics at Imperial College London (2002-2007), and Professor of Topology at Oxford (1999-2002). His academic journey began with undergraduate studies at Hertford College, Oxford, followed by PhD work at Cornell University. Bridson's research centers on Geometric Group Theory, Topology, and Spaces of Non-Positive Curvature. His work explores the deep connections between algebraic structures and geometric properties, particularly focusing on metric geometry, profinite completions, and the topology of non-positively curved spaces. His influential monograph "Metric Spaces of Non-Positive Curvature" (co-authored with André Haefliger) has become a foundational text in the field. His recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate continued leadership in geometric group theory, with significant contributions to profinite rigidity, CAT(0) geometry, and automorphism groups. These works reveal evolving research directions toward computational aspects of group theory and deeper connections with low-dimensional topology. Steele Prize for Mathematical Exposition (2020, with Haefliger) Fellow of the Royal Society (2016) Fellow of the American Mathematical Society (2015) Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award (2012) London Mathematical Society Whitehead Prize (1999) Bridson has secured major research funding including EPSRC Senior Fellowships (2007-2012, 1997-2002), EPSRC Platform Grants (2010-2015), and multiple NSF grants. His leadership extends to directing the Mathematical Institute at Oxford and presiding over the Clay Mathematics Institute, where he influences global mathematical research directions. His collaborative work spans institutions including Princeton, Geneva, and Lausanne, reflecting his international research network.
Willy Zwaenepoel is a Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney. He holds a B.S. from the University of Gent and M.S./Ph.D. from Stanford University. Previously, he served as Dean of the School of Computer and Communication Sciences at EPFL and was a faculty member at Rice University. His expertise spans operating systems, distributed systems, and high-performance computing. Education: B.S., University of Ghent, Belgium (1979) M.S., Stanford University (1980) Ph.D., Stanford University (1984) Research Interests: Dr. Zwaenepoel focuses on distributed systems, operating systems, and their applications in database replication, virtual machine performance, and software update mechanisms. His work includes foundational contributions to distributed shared memory (e.g., Treadmarks) and startups like iMimic Networking. Awards: ACM Fellow (2000) IEEE Fellow (1998) Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technical Sciences and Engineering (2020) Recipient of the IEEE Tsutomu Kanai Award (2007) Key Contributions: His research addresses challenges in distributed systems performance, such as latency reduction in key-value stores and efficient graph processing. Current projects explore I/O optimization in virtualized environments and causal consistency for geo-replicated systems. Students/Advising: Advises Ph.D. students and postdocs, including William in database replication. His mentorship led to the Rice University Teaching Award (2000).
Torsten Hoefler is a Full Professor of Computer Science at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, with an adjunct appointment in Electrical Engineering. He previously held roles at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) and Indiana University. Full Professor of Computer Science, ETH Zurich (2020–present) Adjunct Professor of Electrical Engineering, ETH Zurich (2020–present) Member at Large, ACM SIGHPC Executive Committee (2013–present) Leadership roles in the MPI Forum and Blue Waters project His research focuses on performance-centric system design , with emphasis on scalable networking, parallel programming models, and performance modeling. Key contributions include the Slim Fly network topology, Data-Centric Python framework, and innovations in parallel graph computations and RDMA-based systems. Recent publications span topics like LLM training networks , quantization geometry , chiplet interconnects , and AI-driven climate modeling , reflecting his interdisciplinary approach combining HPC, AI, and hardware-software co-design. ACM Gordon Bell Prize (2019) ERC Consolidator Grant (2020) IEEE TCSC Award for Excellence (2019) SIAM SIAG/SC Junior Scientist Prize (2012) Latsis Prize of ETH Zurich (2015) He has received multiple best paper awards at top conferences (SC10, SC13, SC14, SC19, IPDPS'15, HPDC'15, OOPSLA'16) and contributed to MPI-3 standardization.
Manuel Wimmer is a Full Professor and Head of the Department of Business Informatics – Software Engineering at Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria. He also serves as the Program Director for the Business Informatics master's program since 2019. His academic leadership extends to representing JKU Linz in the AutomationML society and leading significant research initiatives. Dr. Wimmer received his Ph.D. and Habilitation from TU Wien. His academic journey includes: Research associate at the University of Malaga, Spain Visiting professor at the University of Marburg, Germany Visiting professor at TU Munich, Germany Assistant professor at the Business Informatics Group (BIG), TU Wien, Austria Professor Wimmer's research focuses on Model-Driven Software Engineering and its applications, particularly in the emerging field of Digital Twins . His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical industrial applications, with special emphasis on model transformations, runtime modeling, and the integration of artificial intelligence techniques into model-driven approaches. More recently, he has been exploring the intersection of model-driven engineering with quantum computing, investigating how modeling principles can be applied to quantum software development. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward Digital Twin engineering, with approximately 40% of his 2023-2025 publications focusing on various aspects of Digital Twin technology. Another significant strand of his work involves the application of AI and machine learning techniques to enhance model-driven engineering processes. The emergence of quantum software engineering as a research direction is also notable in his most recent publications, demonstrating his ability to identify and explore cutting-edge research frontiers. From 2017-2023, Professor Wimmer led the Christian Doppler Laboratory on Model-Integrated Smart Production (CDL-MINT), where he developed engineering approaches for digital twins. He is also the co-author of the influential book "Model-driven Software Engineering in Practice" (2nd edition, 2017). Professor Wimmer is actively involved in the organization of major scientific events including the IEEE International Conference on Quantum Software (QSW) and the International Conference on Engineering Digital Twins (EDTconf), demonstrating his leadership in these emerging research communities. His research has practical applications across various domains including smart cities, industrial automation, tunneling/construction, and quantum computing. The MATISSE project represents a significant multi-partner effort to develop a framework for federated digital twins of industrial systems.
Prof. Dr. Werner Zorn is a renowned computer scientist and Professor of Communication Systems at the Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) in Potsdam, Germany. With a foundational role in establishing Germany's early internet infrastructure and connecting China to the global internet, his work has been pivotal in shaping international network connectivity. His academic career spans from the University of Karlsruhe, where he was appointed Professor of Computer Science in 1979, to his current position at HPI since 2001. Education: He studied electrical engineering with a focus on communications at TH Karlsruhe (1962–1967) and earned his Dr.-Ing. with distinction in 1971. Research Focus: His research encompasses performance analysis of computing systems, computer networks, and the development of quantitative modeling methodologies such as FMC-QE (Fundamental Modeling Concepts for Quantitative Evaluation). His work bridges theoretical modeling with practical applications in network design and optimization. Publications & Articles: His publications reflect a deep engagement with internet history, network performance, and system modeling. Notable works include detailed accounts of China's first email connection and the evolution of the Chinese Academic Network (CANET), as well as innovative approaches to system performance modeling. Awards & Recognition: He has received numerous accolades, including the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, induction into the Internet Hall of Fame, and the Chinese Government Friendship Award, underscoring his global impact. Current Projects: He leads projects like FMC-QE for hierarchical system modeling and the IT Services Atlas for implementing EU directives, alongside mentoring doctoral students in advanced network and system research.
Leonhard Summerer is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Mathematics, Department of Mathematics . His research primarily focuses on Diophantine Approximation , Geometry of Numbers , and Parametric Approximation . His work explores the Approximation Property in parametric settings, Lattice Theory , and Linear Dependence in number theory. Recent publications include studies on Jarník’s identity, simultaneous approximation to multiple reals, and geometric interpretations of number-theoretic problems. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and contributed chapters to educational books such as 77-mal Mathematik für Zwischendurch , emphasizing mathematical outreach and pedagogical innovation . Active in academic discourse, he has delivered talks on topics like Packings and Tilings in Z and Simultane Approximation m reeller Zahlen since 2006.
Ulrike Sattler is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Manchester, where she also serves as Deputy Head of Department and Senior Mentor. Her academic journey includes a PhD from RWTH Aachen University (1998) and a Habilitation from the University of Manchester (2003). She has held roles such as Reader and Senior Lecturer at Manchester, and previously worked as a Senior Researcher at TU Dresden and RWTH Aachen. Her research focuses on logic-based knowledge representation, automated reasoning, and Description Logics, with contributions to OWL ontology languages and standardization. Notable awards include the Friedrich Wilhelm Preis (1999) for her PhD thesis. She has co-supervised over 20 PhD students, including prominent figures like Birte Glimm and Matthew Horridge. Her service contributions include co-chairing conferences (KR 2010, IJCAR 2012), editorial roles in journals like JAR and JAIR, and leadership in the W3C OWL Working Group. She teaches courses on ontology engineering and semantic web technologies, emphasizing practical applications in molecular biology and knowledge graphs.
Donatella Sciuto is a Full Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Politecnico di Milano, serving as Executive Vice Rector overseeing research strategies. She holds a PhD from the University of Colorado, Boulder and an MBA from Bocconi University. Her research focuses on embedded systems design, low-power electronics, and cyber-physical systems, with contributions to smart cities and ICT infrastructure. Education: Bachelor's in Electronic Engineering, Politecnico di Milano (1984) PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder MBA, SDA Bocconi School of Management Research Interests: Embedded systems, multiprocessor architectures, hardware/software co-design, power-efficient computing, and building automation via IoT technologies. She leads the Embedded Systems Design research group at Politecnico di Milano and coordinates EU-funded projects in smart cities and reconfigurable systems. Awards: IBM Women Leaders in AI (2021) IEEE Fellow (2011) EDAA Fellow (2010) Outstanding Contribution Award, IEEE Computer Society (2009) Professional Roles: Board Member: Bank of Italy, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, STM, Avio Former President, IEEE Council of Electronic Design Automation (2011-2013) Executive Committee Member, Design Automation and Test in Europe (DATE) conference Labs/Teams: Leads the Embedded Systems Design and Design Methodologies group at Politecnico di Milano, collaborating with CEFRIEL on executive education programs in embedded systems and IoT.
Dragi Kimovski is a Habilitated Assistant Professor in Distributed Systems at Klagenfurt University, Austria, focusing on Edge Computing and AI. He previously held roles at the University of Innsbruck and the University of Information Science and Technology in Macedonia. His research spans Edge/Fog/Cloud computing, multi-objective optimization, and high-performance computing. He has coordinated major projects like 6GContinuum and KärtnerFog, and led initiatives such as DataCloud and ASPIDE. His teaching includes courses on Distributed Computing, Cloud Computing, and IoT. He is the co-creator of the Carinthian Computing Continuum and maintains a blog on Edge AI World. His work emphasizes sustainable and efficient computing solutions for emerging technologies. Education: Not explicitly listed in the provided text. Research Interests: Edge Computing, Fog Computing, Cloud Computing, Multi-objective Optimization, High-Performance Computing, AI in Distributed Systems. His work addresses challenges in resource management, latency reduction, and scalability across heterogeneous environments, with applications in healthcare, IoT, and 6G networks. Projects: 6GContinuum (Coordinator): Focuses on AI services over 6G networks. KärtnerFog (Scientific Coordinator): Develops adaptive Fog infrastructures over 5G. DataCloud (WP5 Leader): Manages Big Data pipelines on the Computing Continuum. ASPIDE (Scientific Coordinator): Advances exascale programming models for data processing. Teaching: Klagenfurt University: Courses include Distributed Computing, IoT, Cloud Computing, and Advanced Programming. University of Innsbruck: Taught Advanced Parallel and Distributed Systems. University of Information Science and Technology: Courses in High-Performance Computing and Network Architectures. Labs/Teams: Co-created the Carinthian Computing Continuum, an automated SDN testbed for Edge computing research. Active in interdisciplinary teams addressing extreme data processing and sustainable computing.
Stefan Nastic is an Assistant Professor at the Technische Universität Wien (TU Wien), affiliated with the Faculty of Informatics and the Distributed Systems department. He serves as Curriculum Coordinator for the Master’s program in Distributed and Next Generation Computing, and is a Substitute Member of the Curriculum Commission for Informatics. His research focuses on distributed systems, edge computing, serverless computing, IoT, and smart cities. He holds a PhD in IoT cloud systems (2016) and a BSc (not explicitly stated). Key research contributions include frameworks for serverless edge-cloud continuum (e.g., HyperDrive, GoldFish), federated learning applications (e.g., adaptive human activity recognition), and IoT infrastructure governance (e.g., Polaris Scheduler). He leads projects like RapidREC (2023–2025) on supply chain optimization and participates in initiatives like TEADAL (2022–2025) for edge-cloud workflows. Publications span 30+ peer-reviewed articles in top venues like IEEE IoT, ACM, and IEEE Cloud. He supervises graduate students on stateful serverless functions, federated learning, and edge-cloud scheduling. His work addresses challenges in resource management, latency reduction, and scalable distributed systems.
Diana Marin is a PostDoc Researcher at TU Wien's Institute of Visual Computing & Human-Centered Technology. She holds a BSc, MEng, and Dr.techn. (PhD) in technical fields. Her research focuses on computational geometry, point cloud processing, and distributed computing for large-scale datasets. She has contributed to projects like Distributed Surface Reconstruction and RE:STOCK INDUSTRY. Education: BSc, MEng, Dr.techn. (PhD) Her work emphasizes curve and surface reconstruction from unorganized point clouds, leveraging proximity graphs and distributed computational methods. Key projects include optimizing surface reconstruction for massive datasets and developing parameter-free algorithms for connectivity analysis. Her publications span topics like SING neighborhood graphs, Riemannian manifold curve reconstruction, and distributed processing techniques. She collaborates on projects such as PostDisaster and Mixed Reality Lab.
Pavel Pevzner is the Ronald R. Taylor Chair and Distinguished Professor of Computer Science at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). He also serves as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor and directs the NIH National Technology Center for Computational Mass Spectrometry. Education: B.S. from Moscow Technological Transport Institute (1979), Ph.D. from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (1988). His research spans genomic rearrangement algorithms , de novo sequencing , proteomics , and computational mass spectrometry . Notable contributions include the SPAdes genome assembler, algorithms for sorting signed permutations by reversals, and methods for top-down proteomics. Recent publications highlight advancements in single-cell genome assembly (2016) and synthetic long-read processing (2013), alongside foundational work in DNA fragment assembly (2001) and tandem mass spectrometry (1999). Scientific Awards: ACM Fellow (2010), ISCB Fellow (2012), RECOMB Test of Time (2013), ACM Kanellakis Theory and Practice Award (2019). He has advised 28 doctoral/postdoctoral students, including professors at Harvard, Princeton, and UCSD, and co-founded Coursera's Bioinformatics Specialization (2015). His editorial roles include executiv editor of the Journal of Computational Biology.
