Bryan Tripp is an Associate Professor at the University of Waterloo, specializing in computational neuroscience, deep learning, robotics, and medical AI. He leads the BRAIN Lab, which focuses on developing neural system models that interact with the physical world through robots. His research integrates neurobiological models with advanced machine learning techniques to study visuomotor processes and robotic applications. Tripp teaches courses such as Computational Neuroscience (SYDE 552), Deep Learning (SYDE 577), and Biomedical Engineering Design Workshops (BME 461/462). His lab has achieved milestones including the OREO robotic head, the first spiking neural network model for complex action planning, and comprehensive datasets for robotic grasping. His recent work emphasizes Medical AI applications, with graduate positions available. The BRAIN Lab is affiliated with the Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience and Waterloo.AI, contributing to interdisciplinary AI research initiatives.
Professor Daniel Quevedo is a leading academic in Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Sydney. Previously, he held positions at Queensland University of Technology and Paderborn University, Germany, where he founded the Chair in Automatic Control. He earned his PhD from the University of Newcastle (Australia) and MSc/Ing. degrees from Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (Chile). His research focuses on networked control systems, cyber-physical systems, and cybersecurity, with contributions to state estimation, control of power converters, and human-in-the-loop systems. He has pioneered work integrating machine learning, behavioral economics, and advanced mathematics to address challenges in interconnected digital-physical environments. Quevedo serves as Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Control of Networked Systems and IEEE Control Systems. He chairs the Committee of Experts for Germany’s Excellence Strategy on Digital Methods and has held leadership roles in IEEE technical committees. Notable awards include the IEEE Axelby Outstanding Paper Award (2018) and multiple fellowships. Teaching includes advanced control systems courses like Reinforcement Learning and Optimal Control. He is a Fellow of the IEEE and has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles, with recent work emphasizing privacy-preserving state estimation, resilient control systems, and energy-efficient wireless control. His research labs explore topics such as human-machine collaboration, cybersecurity in Industry 5.0, and data-driven control strategies. Current projects include secure remote state estimation frameworks and adaptive control under adversarial conditions.
George T. C. Chiu is a Professor in the School of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University, with courtesy appointments in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Psychological Sciences. He holds a 50% appointment as Assistant Dean for Global Engineering Programs and Partnerships. His research focuses on mechatronics, dynamic systems and control, functional printing, and human-machine interaction, with applications in biomedical engineering, robotics, and advanced manufacturing. Education: PhD (1994), MS (1990) University of California, Berkeley; BS (1985) National Taiwan University. Research interests emphasize application-driven solutions for printing technologies, motion control, and embedded systems. Notable projects include developing inkjet printing for biomedical materials and sensor systems. Awards include ASME Fellowship (2013) and the 2024 ASME Rabins Leadership Award. Publications span topics like inkjet drop dynamics, control systems, and biofabrication. He has led initiatives such as the Purdue FIRST Programs, fostering K-12 STEM education through robotics mentorship. Editorial roles include Editor-in-Chief of IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics (2017-2019).
Hamid Mansoor is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Manitoba. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute under Prof. Emmanuel Agu, and was part of the DARPA-funded WASH project. His research focuses on data visualization, digital health, and smartphone-based behavioral analysis. He previously served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the VIXI Lab, University of Victoria, Canada, under Prof. Miguel Nacenta. Education: PhD in Computer Science, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Research Interests: Interactive data visualization frameworks for health monitoring Mobile and ubiquitous computing for behavioral analysis Smartphone-sensed human behavior and health informatics Visual representation of text-based and sensor data Publications highlight trends in visual analytics for healthcare, including tools like ARGUS and INPHOVIS for detecting bio-behavioral disruptions and smartphone-based phenotyping. His work integrates machine learning with visualization to address challenges in health data interpretation. Awards: Best short paper honorable mention (EuroVis 2020) His contributions span academic collaborations in health informatics and mobile computing, with a focus on bridging theory and practical applications in healthcare technology.
Pierre Baldi is a Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and Director of the Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). He is affiliated with the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences. His research spans artificial intelligence, machine learning, bioinformatics, and communication networks, with notable projects in protein structure prediction, gene expression modeling, and neutrino physics collaborations like DUNE. Baldi’s work bridges theoretical foundations (e.g., neural network theory) and applied domains, including medical imaging and fusion technology. Key research interests include AI-driven biomedical applications, neural network theory, and interdisciplinary projects such as the DUNE neutrino experiment. His contributions to neural network engineering were recognized with the 2023 INNS Dennis Gabor Award, highlighting his paradigm-changing impact on computational neuroscience and physics. Baldi’s academic leadership includes directing UCI’s Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics, fostering collaborations in computational biology and AI. His recent work explores AI’s role in healthcare, climate modeling (e.g., ClimSim-Online), and fundamental physics challenges like neutrino oscillation studies.
Onur Varol is an Assistant Professor at Sabanci University's Computer Science Department and leads the VIRAL Lab, which focuses on computational social science, network science, and machine learning. He has affiliations with the Center of Excellence for Data Analytics. His research spans social bot detection, misinformation analysis, and online behavior modeling.
Lizi Liao is an Assistant Professor at the School of Computing and Information Systems , Singapore Management University (SMU) , specializing in Artificial Intelligence and Conversational AI . Her research bridges Machine Learning , Natural Language Processing , and Multimodal Systems , focusing on proactive dialogue systems, multimodal conversational search, and task-oriented interactions. Education : PhD in Computer Science (2019) from the National University of Singapore (NUS) , advised by Professor Tat-Seng Chua . Research Interests center on principles of human conversational understanding and machine implementation, particularly in proactive conversational agents , multimodal dialogue systems , and target-driven conversation planning . Key applications include emotional support systems , intelligent shopping assistants , and learning companions . Recent Publications (2024-2025) highlight her work on LLM-based proactive dialogue , multimodal emotion recognition , and dynamic graph modeling , often integrating NLP , Multimedia , and Knowledge Graphs . Collaborative projects with her CoAgent Lab team emphasize human-AI interaction and ethical response generation . Scientific Awards : Google South Asia & Southeast Asia Research Award 2023 Lee Kong Chian Fellow Teaching includes Visual Analytics for Business Intelligence (undergraduate) and Text Analytics and Application (graduate). She also serves as Associate Editor for TOIS and TOMM , and organizes tutorials at ACL , SIGIR , and WSDM .
Mikkel N. Schmidt is an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). His research focuses on statistical modeling, Bayesian methods, and their applications in science and industry. He has held visiting roles at Columbia University (2007) and Cambridge University (2008-2009). His work integrates probabilistic modeling with computational inference to address complex problems in diverse fields such as molecular discovery, optical communication, and brain connectivity analysis. Education highlights include visiting scholar and postdoctoral experiences at top-tier institutions. Research interests span statistical methodology development, machine learning applications, and interdisciplinary problem-solving. Current projects involve Bayesian neural networks for molecular discovery and federated learning optimization. Advising efforts include supervising multiple PhD students in areas like molecular discovery and denoising diffusion models. Notable collaborations involve work on materials science, quantum communication, and medical signal processing. His contributions bridge theoretical advancements with practical industrial applications, emphasizing interdisciplinary innovation.
Shintaro Okazaki is a Professor of Marketing at King’s Business School, King’s College London. He holds a PhD from the Autonomous University of Madrid and has over 20 years of industry experience, including roles at a multinational corporation in Tokyo. His research focuses on marketing communications, digital marketing, social issues in marketing, international marketing strategies, and tourism marketing. He has authored over 100 articles and chapters, with a strong emphasis on advertising, AI ethics, sustainability, and consumer behavior. Research Interests: Marketing Communications: Advertising, Branded Entertainment, Cross-Cultural Advertising, Emotions in Advertising Digital Marketing: AI, Mobile Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Digital CSR Social Issues: Diversity, LGBTQ+ Inclusion, Disaster Resilience, Media Addiction, Sustainability International Marketing: Deglobalisation, Global Brand Positioning, Marketing Standardisation Travel & Tourism: Sustainable Tourism, Greenhushing, Peer-to-Peer Accommodation Awards & Roles: Former Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Advertising (2014–2019) Past-President of the European Advertising Academy Editorial Board Member for Journal of Public Policy & Marketing , International Marketing Review , and others Recipient of multiple awards, including the 2010 Journal of Advertising Best Article Award Grants & Conferences: Grant panelist for over 20 international organizations Organized/chaired 30+ academic conferences globally Labs & Teams: Research Lead of the Department of Marketing at King’s Business School, leading interdisciplinary projects on AI ethics, crisis communication, and sustainable marketing strategies.
Danny Poo Chiang Choon is a tenured Associate Professor at the School of Computing (SOC), National University of Singapore (NUS). As Curriculum Chair of the Department of Information Systems and Analytics, he plays a key role in designing and implementing Information Systems and Computer Science curriculum at NUS. Dr. Poo earned his BSc (Honours), MSc and PhD in Computation from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), United Kingdom. His academic journey has established him as a leader in health informatics and information systems at NUS. His research spans multiple domains with strong focus on Healthcare Informatics , where he investigates mobile health interventions, health analytics, and systems for improving patient care. His work in Data Science & Business Analytics explores knowledge management, information sharing, and effective search strategies. In Intelligent Systems , he examines software engineering approaches, object-oriented systems, and knowledge classification frameworks. His recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward mobile health applications, particularly in coronary heart disease prevention and diabetes management. Dr. Poo's work consistently bridges technical computing with practical healthcare applications, focusing on user-centered design and evidence-based interventions. His research shows strong interdisciplinary integration between computer science, healthcare systems, and behavioral science, with emphasis on practical implementation in Singapore's healthcare context. Dr. Poo has served in numerous leadership roles including as the founding Director of the Centre for Health Informatics at NUS (2012-2015) and as a member of the Steering Committee of the Asia Pacific Software Engineering Conference (APSEC) since 1994, serving as Vice-Chairman from 2003-2005. He has been invited to speak at international forums including the Japanese Government's "USA, Kyushu and Asia International Exchange Project" and as a keynote speaker at the 2009 Arabic Scripts Second Symposium in Abu Dhabi. His expertise is recognized through invitations to speak on knowledge management topics at conferences in Singapore. Dr. Poo has authored five books in the Information Technology area: "Enterprise JavaBeans for Students" (2014), "Object-Oriented Programming and Java" (1998, 2007), "Learn to Program Enterprise JavaBeans 3.0" (2009), "Learn to Program Java" (2009), and "Learn to Program Java User Interface".
Luigi Acerbi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Helsinki, where he leads the Machine and Human Intelligence research group. He is also an active member of the Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence (FCAI) and ELLIS (European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems). His research focuses on probabilistic machine learning and computational neuroscience, particularly on developing efficient methods for statistical inference, Bayesian models of perception, and resource-constrained rationality. His work bridges machine learning and cognitive science, with applications in Bayesian optimization, simulation-based inference, and image completion. The recent publications highlight a strong trend toward unifying probabilistic conditioning across diverse tasks using transformer-based meta-learning frameworks like the Amortized Conditioning Engine (ACE). These works emphasize amortized inference, flexible latent variable modeling, and the integration of prior knowledge at runtime, enabling efficient and scalable Bayesian methods for complex problems. Scientific Affiliations: University of Helsinki, Department of Computer Science Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence (FCAI) ELLIS (European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems) Education: PhD in Computational Neuroscience, Doctoral Training Centre, Edinburgh, UK Advisor: Sethu Vijayakumar and Daniel Wolpert Visiting work at Computational and Biological Learning Lab, Cambridge Postdoctoral Experience: Alex Pouget’s lab, University of Geneva, Switzerland Wei Ji Ma, New York University, USA Collaboration with the International Brain Laboratory Luigi Acerbi mentors PhD students including Daolang Huang and Nasrulloh Loka, and collaborates widely with researchers such as Samuel Kaski. He has contributed to open-source tools like PyVBMC and is involved in community initiatives such as the EurIPS conference. His work is supported by grants from the Research Council of Finland, Business Finland, and the UKRI Turing AI World-Leading Researcher Fellowship. He leads a research lab focused on amortized probabilistic inference, with ongoing projects including PriorGuide and Stacked VBMC, aiming to make Bayesian methods more practical and accessible for real-world scientific and engineering applications.
Professor Axel Bruns is a Research Professor at Queensland University of Technology’s (QUT) Digital Media Research Centre (DMRC), an institution renowned for its leadership in media and communication studies. His work focuses on the digital transformation of media, the role of social media in public communication, and the dynamics of political polarization in online environments. Bruns is an internationally recognized innovator in computational methods for social media analysis, emphasizing interdisciplinary mixed-methods approaches to study complex societal phenomena. Research Interests: His research addresses critical challenges such as polarization’s threat to democracy, the role of algorithms in shaping public discourse, and the spread of disinformation. Notable areas include filter bubbles, platform governance, and the interplay between social media and political systems. He has pioneered concepts like 'gatewatching' to analyze news curation practices of digital intermediaries. Key Achievements: Bruns leads a prestigious Australian Laureate Fellowship project examining polarization drivers and dynamics. His work combines rigorous methodological innovation with policy relevance, evidenced by submissions to parliamentary committees on social media regulation. He has mentored numerous doctoral students who have become leading methodologists in their fields. Awards and Collaborations: Recipient of the Australian Laureate Fellowship (2023), Bruns collaborates widely with institutions globally, including Algorithm Watch, the Centre for Responsible Technology, and the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society. These partnerships enable cross-border research into digital media’s societal impacts.
Tim Baarslag is a Senior Researcher and group leader of the Intelligent and Autonomous Systems group at CWI (The Dutch research institute for Mathematics and Computer Science). He holds the title of Professor of Mathematics of Cooperative AI at Eindhoven University of Technology and serves as a Visiting Associate Professor at Nagoya University of Technology, Visiting Fellow at the University of Southampton, and Visiting Scholar at MIT. His research focuses on automated negotiation systems for collaborative decision-making in smart energy trading, IoT, autonomous vehicles, and digital privacy. Education : MSc (cum laude) and BSc (cum laude) from Utrecht University; PhD (cum laude) from Delft University of Technology Tim pioneered the COMBINE project (NWO Vidi grant) for coordinating multi-deal negotiations and developed the widely-used Genius negotiation environment. His work appears in prestigious venues like Science Magazine , Artificial Intelligence , and MIT Technology Review . He also leads the International Automated Negotiating Agent Competition and contributes to policy through memberships in The Young Academy and Netherlands Academy of Engineering . Recent research trends emphasize multi-deal negotiation protocols (2024), preference uncertainty modeling in privacy negotiations (2022), and scalable algorithms for handling outcome spaces as large as 10²⁵⁰ possibilities. His 2023 work on search algorithms for large negotiation domains has applications in energy trading and supply chain management. Scientific Awards : Cor Baayen Young Researcher Award (2017), Springer Theses Award (2016), multiple Best Paper Awards (AAMAS 2022, WI-IAT 2015, IJCAI 2014), and recognitions as Science Talent (2018), Academic Pioneer (2020), and Young Talent (2019) As a grant recipient , Tim leads NWO Vidi project COMBINE and previously held a Veni grant for preference uncertainty research. He mentors through organizing competitions, serving on conference PCs (AAAI, IJCAI), and reviewing in top journals like Artificial Intelligence . His work bridges theory and practice through the Genius framework and real-world implementations in smart grid and vehicular platooning.
Dr. Abdallah Chehade is an Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering at the University of Michigan-Dearborn , where he leads the Informatics, Reliability, and Data Analytics (IRDA) lab . He holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2017), with minors in Computer Sciences and Statistics, alongside an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering from the American University of Beirut. Research Interests span safe and robust deep learning solutions , explainable AI , data fusion for degradation modeling , and Bayesian statistical modeling . His work integrates AI/ML with prognostics and Internet of Things (IoT) to address challenges in reliability analytics and industrial data science . Publications highlight advancements in deep autoencoders , LSTM networks , and hybrid models for warranty forecasting , with applications in battery cells , sheet metal stamping , and rail transportation . His grants from Ford, Honda, and the U.S. Army focus on smart manufacturing , AI for sensor modeling , and digital twins . Lab Members include Ph.D. students working on topics like physics-based AI , computer vision , and deep learning for prognosis . He serves on the INFORMS Quality, Statistics, and Reliability (QSR) Council and maintains affiliations with IEEE , INFORMS , and IISE .
James A. Evans is the Max Palevsky Professor of Sociology and Data Science at the University of Chicago, where he is a faculty member in the Department of Sociology within the Division of the Social Sciences. He is the director of Knowledge Lab and the Faculty Director of the Masters Program in Computational Social Science . He holds additional affiliations as an External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute , External Faculty at the Complexity Science Hub, Vienna , and Visiting Faculty Researcher at Google . Education: B.A. in Anthropology, Brigham Young University (1994) M.A. in Sociology, Stanford University (1999) Ph.D. in Sociology, Stanford University (2004) His research centers on the collective system of thinking and knowing , exploring how ideas emerge, spread, and evolve through social and technical systems. He investigates innovation, collective intelligence, and the science of science , using large-scale data modeling, machine learning, generative AI, and network analysis to study knowledge creation. His work spans domains including science, technology, law, and religion, with a focus on how AI is reshaping discovery processes. The most recent publications highlight trends in AI and scientific discovery , with a strong emphasis on innovation, knowledge systems, and human-machine intelligence . His research increasingly explores AI as a transformative agent in science , including the concept of 'alien intelligence' and the development of complementary AI to augment human capacity. Projects like the $20M NSF-funded APTO initiative aim to build language models that predict technological outcomes by analyzing historical data. Scientific Recognition and Funding: Research supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) , National Institutes of Health (NIH) , Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) , and philanthropic sources Work published in Nature, Science, PNAS , and leading social science journals Featured in The New York Times, The Economist, The Atlantic, Wired, NPR, BBC, Le Monde , and others James Evans advises on science policy and funding strategies, emphasizing the importance of diversity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and demographic balance in fostering innovation. He critiques current academic incentives and proposes alternative discovery regimes. He leads Knowledge Lab , a collaborative research environment that conducts seminars, grants, and employment opportunities in computational social science and AI.
