Dr Ruth Wood is a Senior Lecturer in Environment and Climate Change at the University of Manchester, affiliated with the Civil Engineering and Management department. She is a Research Fellow at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and Co-Director of the EPSRC Power Networks Centre for Doctoral Training. Her work focuses on emissions accounting, energy systems, and infrastructure resilience. She holds a first-class MSci in Chemistry (Environmental Science) from the University of Bristol (2001) and a PhD in environmental science from the University of East Anglia (2007). Research Interests: Climate mitigation strategies, energy demand modeling, scenario development for interdisciplinary projects, and societal-infrastructure interactions. Notable projects include the MYStore Project (energy storage) and RESNET (resilient electricity networks). She has contributed to the Climate Change Risk Assessment 2017, analyzing UK energy system vulnerabilities. Scientific Contributions: Awarded the Best Paper Prize (European Transport Conference 2008) for aviation emissions work. Over 68 peer-reviewed publications and reports, including work on decarbonizing aviation/shipping sectors and low-carbon transitions. Active in policy engagement, public lectures, and climate communication via media and comedy platforms. Collaborations: Involved in projects like the Tyndall Manchester initiative and SuLeD-BIM (sustainable design modeling). Research spans global climate policy, energy infrastructure resilience, and sustainable food systems.
Andreas Olympios is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Cyprus under the ONISILOS MSCA programme, collaborating with the Clean Energy Processes (CEP) Laboratory at Imperial College London. He holds a PhD from Imperial College London (2022) and an MEng in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nottingham (Best Student Award recipient). His research focuses on low-carbon heating technologies, energy system decarbonization, and thermo-mechanical electricity storage. He is an IMechE affiliate with awards including the Institution Best Student and Frederic Barnes Waldron Awards (2018). Research interests include optimizing heat pumps, integrating renewables with energy storage, and modeling large-scale storage systems. His work addresses systemic implications of heat/electricity decarbonization and supports policy through techno-economic analyses. Notable projects include studies on green hydrogen storage in Cyprus energy communities and solar-thermal systems in the UK. Publications emphasize holistic frameworks for energy systems, stochastic optimization in building energy, and hydrogen integration challenges. Collaborations span Imperial College’s Grantham Institute and the Science and Solutions for a Changing Planet DTP. Current affiliations include the CEP Lab and University of Cyprus engineering faculty.
Dr. Kristen Cetin is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair for Faculty/Academic Staff Development in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Michigan State University (MSU). She also serves as Director of the US Department of Energy Industrial Assessment Center and is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) and LEED AP. Her research focuses on smart infrastructure systems, building energy performance, IoT integration, and sustainable design. She leads projects funded by NSF, ARPA-E, Sloan Foundation, and industry partners. Education : Ph.D., Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Austin (2015) M.S., Civil Engineering, University of Maryland (2010) B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Maryland (2009) Research Interests : Dr. Cetin’s work bridges building science and smart technologies to optimize energy efficiency, reduce peak grid loads, and enhance occupant comfort. Key areas include: Building energy modeling and daylight analysis IoT-enabled smart building systems Inverse grey-box modeling for thermal performance Grid-interactive ready buildings Occupant behavior and energy demand patterns Awards : NSF CAREER Award (2022) ASCE ExCEED New Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award (2021) ASHRAE College of Fellows Award (2014-2015) Advising & Grants : She advises graduate students focusing on energy systems and smart technologies. Her grants include NSF funding for occupant-based control strategies and ARPA-E support for energy innovation. She collaborates with industry on real-time building performance assessment. Labs/Teams : Leads the Building Energy and Smart Technologies Research Group and manages MSU’s Industrial Assessment Center, providing energy audits for small/medium manufacturers.
Duncan Callaway is an Associate Professor of Energy and Resources at UC Berkeley with an affiliate appointment in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He also serves as the Chair of the Energy and Resources Group (ERG) and is a Faculty Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. His work focuses on emerging energy technologies, grid operations, and data-driven solutions for energy systems. Callaway holds a Ph.D. in Theoretical & Applied Mechanics from Cornell University and has industry experience with Davis Energy Group and PowerLight Corporation. His research emphasizes quantifying impacts of new technologies on power systems, developing control systems for grid integration, and advancing energy efficiency strategies. Key areas include renewable energy integration, smart grid technologies, and environmental justice in energy policy. Callaway teaches courses on energy systems and data science applications in energy. Education: Ph.D., Theoretical & Applied Mechanics, Cornell University, 2001 B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, 1995 Callaway's recent work explores peer-to-peer energy markets, grid stability in inverter-dominated systems, and equity implications of electrification policies. He received the NSF CAREER Award (2015) and has published extensively on machine learning for grid optimization, wildfire risk mitigation, and residential energy access. His lab develops open-source simulation tools (e.g., PowerSimulations.jl) and collaborates on hardware-in-loop testing for grid technologies. Current projects address climate-aware grid planning, decentralized energy storage, and the socio-technical challenges of energy transitions.
Elie Azar , a Professor at Carleton University's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , specializes in human-centered building design and urban sustainability. His work bridges occupant behavior, energy efficiency, and computational modeling. B.Eng., Polytechnique Montréal MSc. and Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison Current teaching includes ACSE 3201 Introduction to Building Performance Simulation and BLDG 5103 Research Methods in Building Engineering . Previous courses span energy economics, green building design, and advanced optimization techniques. Research explores: Agent-based modeling of urban energy systems Machine learning applications in building simulation Energy equity across Canadian households Climate resilience in Gulf region construction Smart city transitions beyond technological determinism Occupant behavior integration in policy frameworks Recent publications examine the WELL Building Standard, energy storage for renewable communities, and urban form impacts on energy performance. His methodological focus combines: Surrogate modeling with physics-based simulations Cross-national behavioral datasets Techno-economic analysis of green building systems Multi-objective optimization under uncertainty Key collaborations involve Gulf region climate change initiatives and Canadian building energy codes reviews.
Habib Hamam is a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Moncton's Faculty of Engineering. His research spans optics, biomedical engineering, wireless communication, and AI applications. Specializations: Diffractive elements, optical interconnections, biomedical engineering, hybrid fiber/wireless systems, and AI-driven optimization. Contact: Email habib.hamam@umoncton.ca | Phone (506) 858-4762 Recent publications highlight his focus on AI integration across healthcare, energy systems, and education, combined with blockchain for security and transparent data management. Key subdomains include medical imaging, renewable energy optimization, and IoT scalability. Notable research trends involve deep learning for diagnostics (e.g., brain tumors, diabetic retinopathy), blockchain applications in smart grids and fisheries, and quantum-inspired algorithms for energy forecasting.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bettina Oppermann is a Professor of Open Space Policy and Planning Communication at the Institute for Open Space Development within the Faculty of Architecture and Landscape at Leibniz University Hannover. Her office is located at Herrenhäuser Straße 2A, 30419 Hanover, Building 4107, Room 208. She has held various leadership positions including management of the Institute for Open Space Development (2008-2010 and 2003-2005), Chair of the Diploma Examination Board (2008-2012), and Dean of Studies of the Landscape Department (2005-2007). Her educational background includes a Diploma in Landscape Management from the Technical University of Munich, Weihenstephan (1981-1988), where her thesis focused on 'Protection of the natural resource soil in regional planning,' and a doctorate from the University of Stuttgart (1999) on 'Cooperative and citizen-oriented projects as new instruments for implementation-oriented environmental and landscape planning.' Prior to her current position, she worked at KOMMA.PLAN office in Stuttgart (1999-2004), as a Research Associate at the Academy for Technology Assessment in Baden-Württemberg (1994-1999), and at the Institute for Landscape Planning and Ecology at the University of Stuttgart (1989-1994). Prof. Oppermann's research spans historical and current fields of action in open space policy and spatial environmental policy, conflict research and cooperation support, democracy development, methods of interactive planning and design, and concepts of citizen participation. She has extensively explored the use of new media in planning processes and has conducted significant research on urban forests, particularly the Eilenriede in Hanover, examining usage patterns and management challenges. Her work often bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications, focusing on how citizens can effectively participate in shaping their environments. She has also conducted important research on beautification as a cultural practice, urban sound spaces, and the relationship between landscape design and democratic processes. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on the intersection of digital technologies and landscape planning, with growing attention to sustainability transitions, citizen engagement in energy systems, and the multisensory aspects of urban environments. Her work demonstrates a consistent commitment to understanding how planning processes can be made more inclusive, democratic, and responsive to community needs, while addressing contemporary challenges like climate change and urbanization. Prof. Oppermann has been actively involved in numerous research projects including 'Open space types and open space systems: The future of allotment gardens' (2019-2021), 'Beautification as a cultural practice of the 19th century' (2017-2019), 'Urban forests - Usage patterns of the Eilenriede in Hanover' (2012-2016), and multiple phases of 'Energy systems of the future' (2014-2019). She has collaborated with various institutions including the City of Frankfurt am Main, acatech (German Academy of Engineering Sciences), Leopoldina (German National Academy of Sciences), and the German Society for Garden Art and Landscape Culture. Her advising work includes mentoring students and professionals through the 'Mentoring in Science at the University of Hanover' program (2006). She has secured funding from diverse sources including the State capital Hanover, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, acatech, German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, and EU programs like COST Action and Interreg. Her research often involves interdisciplinary teams and practical applications in urban settings. Prof. Oppermann leads research on the Eilenriede urban forest in Hanover and has developed innovative approaches to incorporating sound and sensory experiences into landscape architecture. Her work with the 'Tonspur Stadtlandschaft' initiative demonstrates her commitment to exploring non-visual dimensions of urban spaces. She has also contributed significantly to understanding how citizen participation can enhance democratic processes in spatial planning, particularly through projects like 'Democracy development from below' (2012-2013) and 'Utility analysis as a discourse vehicle' (2013-2016).
Walter Mérida is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Applied Science. He holds professional credentials as both a Professional Physicist (PPhys.) and Professional Engineer (PEng.), with academic qualifications including a B.Sc. from Trent University and M.A.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University of Victoria. His office is located in CHBE 297A and he can be reached at (604) 822-4189. Dr. Mérida's research focuses on: Hydrogen Technologies Energy Systems Cities and Communities Machine Learning Applications in Energy Systems Sustainable Transportation and Climate Policy His recent work demonstrates a sophisticated integration of artificial intelligence with traditional energy engineering, particularly in building energy management, hydrogen storage, and sustainable transportation systems. The research spans both technical innovation and policy analysis, addressing complex challenges in the energy transition at urban scales. Scientific recognition includes: Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering Peter Wall Scholar Research Award from UBC (2017) Dr. Mérida leads Merida Labs (https://meridalabs.ca), where interdisciplinary research bridges mechanical engineering, computer science, and social sciences to develop practical solutions for sustainable energy systems. His work has significant implications for urban energy planning, with projects addressing real-world applications in Vancouver and beyond.
Dr. Janet Reyna is a Senior Research Engineer at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and joint faculty in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Colorado School of Mines. Her work focuses on energy and environmental impact analysis of urban systems, building decarbonization strategies, and advanced energy modeling. PhD in Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, Arizona State University Expertise in ResStock building stock energy model development Former ORISE Science & Technology Policy Fellow at DOE Building Technologies Office Research interests center on building stock energy modeling, climate change impacts, and building-grid interactions. Key areas include life cycle assessment, energy forecasting, and spatial analysis for urban systems. Her recent work examines regional decarbonization pathways and multifamily building retrofit strategies across diverse U.S. metropolitan areas. Current research trends emphasize electrification challenges, energy equity, and scalable retrofit planning through advanced building stock segmentation. Projects analyze Los Angeles case studies, Amarillo-Lubbock-Abilene-Midland-San Angelo multifamily dynamics, and Boise-Twin Falls regional energy patterns. Dr. Reyna's collaborations span NREL's Building Technologies & Science Center and Colorado School of Mines' engineering faculty. She works with technical teams on vehicle emissions simulation, grid interaction models, and policy-informed energy forecasting frameworks for sustainable urban development.
Dr. Shamaila Iram is a Senior Lecturer in Data Science at the Department of Computer Science, School of Computing and Engineering, University of Huddersfield. She serves as the programme leader for the MSc Data Analytics and is an active member of the Centre for Industrial Analytics and the Centre for Autonomous and Intelligent Systems. Dr. Iram is currently accepting PhD students and is involved in cutting-edge research in data science, machine learning, and smart systems. Research Interests: Her work spans Big Data Analysis, Data Mining, Machine Learning, Data Visualization, Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Cities, Smart Homes, and Smart Manufacturing. She applies these technologies to domains such as energy efficiency in buildings and early detection of neurodegenerative diseases using gait and EEG signals. Her research contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in sustainable cities and industries. Publication Trends: Her recent and upcoming publications (2022–2025) focus on machine learning applications in energy efficiency, explainable AI for building analytics, digital twins in industrial systems, and stakeholder engagement in energy assessment. These works reflect a strong interdisciplinary approach combining computer science with real-world engineering and environmental challenges. Scientific Service and Leadership: Dr. Iram has organized research conferences such as the 1st International Workshop on Big Data Analytics for Sustainable Environments (BDASE2018). She is a reviewer for high-impact journals and actively contributes to academic discourse in smart systems and data analytics. Supervision and Collaboration: She supervises PhD students and has led collaborative research projects, including the EU Framework Programme ProSEco. Her work involves multi-institutional and interdisciplinary teams, particularly in energy and healthcare applications. Laboratories and Research Groups: Dr. Iram is affiliated with the Centre for Industrial Analytics and the Centre for Autonomous and Intelligent Systems at the University of Huddersfield, where she contributes to research on intelligent systems, digital twins, and industrial data science.
Edy Portmann is a Professor at the Department of Informatics, University of Fribourg, where he leads the Resilient Systems Group at the Human-IST Institute and chairs the Mobiliar Cluster for Resilience. He holds a doctorate in fuzzy logic and has extensive experience in both academia and industry, having worked at Swisscom, PwC, and EY, and conducted research at the National University of Singapore, UC Berkeley, and the University of Bern. His research interests include Fuzzy Logic , Cognitive Cities , Computational Intelligence , Digital Ethics , and Human-Computer Interaction . He explores how fuzzy systems can enhance knowledge representation, decision-making, and urban governance, particularly in smart and resilient city contexts. His work integrates digital humanities and connectivist learning theories to bridge the social and semantic web. The recent publications (2022–2025) highlight a strong trend toward ethical AI , explainable systems , public participation , and the application of fuzzy logic in conversational agents , decision support , and urban informatics . He frequently publishes on topics such as digital ethics, emotional chatbots, and systemic consensus in group decision-making. HMD Best Paper Award 2018 He advises several PhD and research students and collaborates extensively with researchers such as Sara D’Onofrio, Patrick Kaltenrieder, and Luis Terán. His work often involves interdisciplinary grants and partnerships with public institutions like Swiss Post. He leads a dynamic research team focused on resilient, human-centered computing and cognitive city technologies.
Musbah Abdulgader is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Norfolk State University, affiliated with the College of Science, Engineering and Technology. His research focuses on interdisciplinary applications of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and smart systems. Academic Rank: Assistant Professor Department: Computer Science University: Norfolk State University Research Interests His work spans Artificial Intelligence , Machine Learning , Cybersecurity , Data Science , and Smart Systems . Key areas include emotion recognition, healthcare technology, blockchain systems, and energy management. Publication Trends Recent publications (2024-2019) emphasize AI applications in education and healthcare, blockchain-based voting , cyber-physical systems , and grey wolf optimization in smart energy contexts. Earlier works focus on fuzzy logic and cybersecurity protocols . Advising & Grants No student advising or grant information is currently available in the provided texts.
Dr. Yunyang Ye is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alabama, College of Engineering. He joined the faculty in Fall 2023 after serving as a Research Scientist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). He is affiliated with the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure and contributes to interdisciplinary research in sustainable building systems. Ph.D., Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, 2019 M.E., Power Engineering (HVAC), Tongji University, 2016 B.E., Building Environment and Facilities Engineering, Tongji University, 2013 Dr. Ye's research focuses on sustainable buildings, energy efficiency, and grid-interactive efficient building applications. His work spans urban-scale electrification, distributed energy resources, occupant-centric controls, and building retrofit analysis. He employs advanced modeling and machine learning techniques to evaluate energy-saving potentials and policy impacts. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in integrating building energy systems with smart grids, using AI for demand forecasting, and assessing economic and environmental impacts of energy policies. His work frequently involves large-scale simulations and case studies on U.S. commercial and educational buildings, demonstrating practical applications for future energy policy and building design. Dr. Ye has received several prestigious recognitions: IBPSA-USA Emerging Contributor Award (2024) 2022 ASHRAE Homer Addams Award Reviewer of the Year, Journal of Solar Energy Engineering (2021) As a principal investigator at PNNL, Dr. Ye led research on urban-scale electrification and has extensive mentoring experience. He maintains strong collaborations with national laboratories including PNNL, ORNL, NREL, and LBNL, as well as academic institutions such as Penn State and Georgia Tech. His research is supported by interdisciplinary teams and has resulted in over 40 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Ye is actively involved in sustainable infrastructure research through the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure at the University of Alabama, where he continues to advance innovative solutions for energy-efficient and resilient building systems.
Blanca Ferrer Fabon is a Research Fellow at the Chair for Computational Analysis of Technical Systems (CATS) within RWTH Aachen University's Institute for Computational Engineering Science. Since joining CATS in April 2021, she has contributed to the Collaborative Research Center 1120 "Precision Melt Engineering" (funded by the German Science Foundation) as a key member of subproject B5, focusing on adaptive computational grids for simulating moving phase boundaries in material processing. Her academic journey began with a B.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering (2014-2018) from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, where her thesis optimized gear transmission systems for the UPC ecoRacing Formula Student vehicle. She then completed an M.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering (2018-2020) at the same institution, including an Erasmus+ year at RWTH Aachen, with thesis work on visualizing non-crimp fabrics using hybrid Lagrangian/Eulerian methods. Ferrer's research integrates computational mechanics and numerical methods to tackle challenges in polymer processing. Her expertise includes finite element analysis of fluid-structure interactions, two-phase flow modeling via Level-Set methods, and crystallization dynamics in semi-crystalline polymers. This multidisciplinary approach bridges aerospace engineering principles with advanced manufacturing applications. As an educator, she conducts exercise sessions for "Finite Elements in Fluids", mentoring students in computational fluid dynamics techniques. Her research is supported by the German Science Foundation, and she collaborates within CATS' dynamic team housed in Aachen's Rogowski building since 2009.
Prof. Jürgen Adamy is a Professor at Technische Universität Darmstadt, leading the Control Methods and Robotics lab since 1998. His research focuses on Control and Systems Theory, Mobile Robotics, Autonomous Systems, and Artificial Intelligence. He previously held engineering roles at Siemens AG (1992–1998) and was a Scientific Assistant at Universität Dortmund (1987–1991). His work integrates theoretical advancements with practical applications in robotics, energy systems, and autonomous vehicles. Research interests span nonlinear control, autonomous navigation, and multi-objective optimization. Notable contributions include PRORETA systems for urban driving safety and UAV path-planning algorithms. Recent articles emphasize remote driving performance, energy management, and bioengineering's role in societal progress. His lab develops technologies for smart grids, human-robot cooperation, and advanced control systems. Collaborations include Siemens and interdisciplinary projects like bio-engineering applications. He has advised numerous projects in robotics and control theory, though specific student names are not listed here.
