Trine Rask Nielsen is a researcher at the Department of Computer Science , University of Copenhagen , affiliated with the Human-Centred Computing section and the Confronting Data Co-lab . Her work bridges Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) and Critical Data Studies , focusing on how data shapes asylum decision-making practices. Research Interests: Ethnographic analysis of data practices in asylum systems, digital governance, refugee agency, and ethical prototyping. Awards: 2023 David B. Martin Award 2020 award for fictional app design Collaborations: Works with cross-disciplinary teams and external partners in Denmark and internationally. Her publications examine datafication processes, algorithmic transparency, and participatory approaches in asylum casework, emphasizing ethnographic insights and critical design interventions.
Sandra Pauletto is a Professor in Media Technology specializing in Media Production and a Docent in Sound and Music Computing at the Division of Media Technology and Interaction Design (MID), School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at KTH Royal Institute of Technology. She joined KTH in 2019 after positions at the University of York and University of Huddersfield in the UK. Her work bridges the gap between artistic sound practices and technological innovation in the field of sonic interaction design. Pauletto holds a Physics degree (MPhys(Hons)) from Manchester and a Music degree in Classical Guitar from Conservatorio "G.Tartini" in Trieste, Italy. She completed her MSc and PhD in Music Technology at the University of York, UK, where her doctoral thesis focused on "Interactive non-speech auditory display of multivariate data." Her interdisciplinary background informs her approach to sound and media research. Her primary research interests focus on sound and music computing, media production, sound design, sonic interaction design, and sonification . She investigates how sound communicates both functional information (e.g., a car door shutting) and aesthetic qualities (e.g., the type of car) in interactive contexts. Her current projects apply these principles to sustainability challenges like energy consumption monitoring and environmental awareness, as well as health communication applications. She has developed methods that combine historical sound design practices with contemporary computing techniques to create more effective sonic interfaces. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trend toward applying sound design to address societal challenges, particularly through projects like SonicFunc (developing sound design methods for everyday life) and SoniHED (Sonification of Health and Environmental Data). Her work increasingly incorporates interdisciplinary approaches, collaborating with experts in astronomy, environmental science, and public health to develop effective sonic interfaces for complex data. She has received funding for significant research projects including: The SonicFunc project (Principal Investigator), developing new sound design methods for the digital society The SCORe Project (Principal Investigator), using sonification to communicate public health risk data SoniHED: Conference on Sonification of Health and Environmental Data (funded by Wellcome Trust) Chronic health issues of adolescents project (funded by Centre for Chronic Diseases and Disorders) As an educator and mentor, Pauletto has served as Principal Supervisor for 5 completed PhD students and is currently Associate Supervisor for 1 PhD student. She has extensive teaching experience across all academic levels and has held management roles including Deputy Head of the MID Division at KTH and Programme Director for the MA/MSc in Postproduction with specialisation in Sound Design. She has also been a member of the Peer Review College for the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council and an expert reviewer for EU FP7 and H2020 programmes. She leads the SonicFunc research group which investigates sound function, aesthetics, and interaction in media production to create effective sonic interaction design for everyday life. Her team includes postdoctoral researchers like Rod Selfridge and PhD students working on projects related to sustainability, health communication, and innovative sound design methodologies. She has also organized multiple conferences including the SoniHED conference series and guest edited special journal issues on data sonification and sound design.
Dr. Johan Pauwels is a Lecturer in Audio Signal Processing at Queen Mary University of London's School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, where he is affiliated with the Centre for Digital Music and the Centre for Multimodal AI. His educational background includes: Master of Science in Electrical/Electronics Engineering from KU Leuven (2006) Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence from KU Leuven (2007) PhD from Ghent University (2016) on automatic harmony recognition from audio Johan's research focuses on making machines understand audio to the level of a trained professional. His work combines machine learning, signal processing, data science, and music theory to develop tools for musicians, listeners, and music learners. He has been working on narrowing the gap between academic research and user-centric applications, web-based music services, and the personalization of spatial and immersive audio. His specific interests include machine learning for audio, audio signal processing, music information retrieval, and binaural audio. His recent publications show a strong focus on music representation learning, with particular attention to limited data scenarios, multimodal approaches, and spatial audio processing. His work bridges theoretical music concepts with practical machine learning applications, especially in chord recognition, beat detection, and instrument recognition. He has made significant contributions to HRTF (Head-Related Transfer Function) research and development of tools for spatial audio processing. Dr. Pauwels is actively involved in research funding, with current grants including the AIM CDT Internship with Sofilab (2025), AIM CDT Studentship - Stem (2024), and AIM CDT Internship with stem.tech (2024). He currently supervises multiple PhD students, primarily through the UKRI Doctoral School in AI and Music, with research topics spanning intelligent audio editing, neural drum synthesis, source separation, graph neural networks for music recommendation, and more. In addition to PhD supervision, he typically guides 8-10 undergraduate and 8-10 master's students through their final year projects. His teaching responsibilities include ECS7013P Deep Learning for Audio and Music (MSc/PhD level) and ECS411U Signals and Information (first-year undergraduate).
Vera Khovanskaya is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Information , with cross-appointments in the Department of Computer Science and the Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources (CIRHR) . She is also a faculty affiliate with the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society . Her work focuses on the intersection of labor, technology, and data-driven advocacy. Dr. Khovanskaya holds a PhD from Cornell University, where she was advised by Phoebe Sengers, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at UC San Diego under Lilly Irani. Her research explores the role of data tools in worker advocacy, barriers to community-driven technology design, and historical labor movements' use of data. She leads the Labour Process and Technology Lab (Labour Lab) at UofT. Her recent publications analyze labor-technology dynamics, speculative design in urban planning, and accountability frameworks for future work environments. She has been recognized with the CRA/NSF Postdoctoral Computing Innovation Fellowship. Teaching includes INF2260H Speculative Design . Khovanskaya actively collaborates with labor organizations like UAW 5810 and emphasizes accessible, equitable technological solutions. She is currently accepting graduate students for the 2024-2025 cycle.
Dr. Samantha Winter is a Reader in Rehabilitation Biomechanics at Loughborough University's College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, affiliated with the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine (NCSEM). Her work bridges clinical rehabilitation, sports performance, and evolutionary biomechanics, with a focus on dysfunctional breathing and neuromuscular fatigue. Education: First Class BSc in Sport and Exercise Sciences (University of Birmingham), MSc Kinesiology, Master's in Applied Statistics, PhD Kinesiology (Penn State University), Post-graduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education, BSc Mathematics (Open University) Her research explores the application of opto-electronic plethysmography (OEP) for diagnosing breathing disorders, complexity analysis in neuromuscular fatigue, and evolutionary ergonomics of hominin hand evolution. She leads externally funded projects on real-time OEP feedback systems and fatigue mechanisms. Recent publications highlight trends in Breathing Analysis , Neuromuscular Fatigue , and Evolutionary Ergonomics , utilizing advanced methodologies like time-series modeling, EMG, and motion capture. Key collaborations include studies on chronic ankle instability and prehistoric tool use efficiency. Scientific Recognition: Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), 2019 She has influenced curriculum design and student support systems nationwide, with grants focused on breathing retraining and sports injury prevention. Her work intersects the Lifestyle for Health and Wellbeing and Sport Performance research groups.
Polly Dalton is a Professor of Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London, leading the Attention Lab. She specialises in the psychological mechanisms of human attention, awareness, and multisensory experiences. As Head of Audience Futures at the CoSTAR National Lab, she conducts large-scale interdisciplinary studies on user engagement with technologies. She also co-directs the UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in AI for Digital Media Inclusion. Her research explores attentional capture, sensory modalities (vision, hearing, touch), and applied contexts like aviation, remote vehicle operation, and VR. Projects include CoSTAR (Creative Industries R&D), StoryFutures (immersive storytelling), and HYPHEN (immersive production tools). Her work has been featured on BBC Breakfast TV, Sky News, The Guardian, and MSNBC. She collaborates internationally and contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals through pro-environmental behavior research. Key grants include funding from AHRC, Innovate UK, and Daphne Jackson Trust. She mentors graduate students and oversees labs focused on advancing understanding of human experience in technological contexts.
Prof. W.F.G. Haselager is a Professor of Artificial Intelligence at Radboud University Nijmegen, affiliated with the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour and the Donders Centre for Cognition. He holds dual expertise in philosophy, psychology, and AI, focusing on societal implications of emerging technologies. His research integrates empirical methods (e.g., robotics, computational modeling) with philosophical inquiry into agency, responsibility, and human self-understanding. Education: MSc degrees in Philosophy and Psychology, PhD (1995) from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Teaching responsibilities include bachelor/master programs in AI and Cognitive Neuroscience. Active in public engagement through lectures/workshops on AI ethics, neurotechnology, and free will. Key research themes include neuroethics, AI equity, and brain-computer interfacing. Current projects include the ELSA Lab (AI for Health Equity) and 'Healthy Data' initiatives addressing algorithmic bias and medical AI oversight. He advises Zander Labs on neurotechnology ethics and co-leads multi-institutional grants exploring conversational AI and neurodiverse education. Media appearances include Dutch TV/NOS coverage of brain implants and podcasts on AI sentience. Ancillary activities include the 'Pim Haselager Lectures' series and advisory roles in neurotechnology ethics.
Dr. Francisco Queiroz is a Lecturer in Digital Innovation Design at the School of Design, University of Leeds. He holds a PhD in Design from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and has academic qualifications in Digital Games Design (MA) and Advertising (BA). His research focuses on scientific software usability, immersive technologies, and gamification applied to citizen science and civic engagement. Key research interests include: Scientific software user experience (UX) Color psychology in digital environments Design for cognitive performance enhancement VR applications in education and design Gameful interfaces for scientific practice Recent work explores color's impact on cognitive tasks in virtual reality, digital material design for education, and bridging gaps between academia and industry through game-based methodologies. His editorial role with the Information Design Journal (2020–2022) reflects his commitment to advancing design communication standards. Teaching focuses on creative campaign development and digital innovation in advertising, integrating emerging technologies like AR/VR into design pedagogy.
Associate Professor Jean (Jiayu) Wen holds positions at The Australian National University (ANU), including Group Leader of The Wen Group, ARC Future Fellow, and Deputy Director of The Shine-Dalgarno Centre for RNA Innovation. She specializes in computational and molecular biology, focusing on RNA regulation, gene expression, and cancer genomics. Her affiliations include ANU’s Division of Genome Sciences and Cancer, and the Centre for Computational Biomedical Sciences. Education: BEng in Electronic Engineering (Beijing), MSc in Computer Science (Lakehead University), PhD in Computational Biology (ANU). Postdoctoral training at Copenhagen University and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Research interests span RNA structures, microRNA biogenesis, transcriptome dynamics, and epigenetic regulation. Her work addresses intragenomic conflicts, cancer mechanisms, and neural development. Notable projects include RNA-based machine learning models for RNA-RNA interactions and immune cell differentiation studies. Publications highlight contributions to RNA interference pathways, tumor development, and Drosophila genetics. Awards include the ARC Future Fellowship. She leads interdisciplinary teams advancing computational and experimental approaches in genomics and systems biology.
Nashra Ahmad is a Research Fellow at Durham University, affiliated with the Department of Music and the Institute for Medical Humanities. She is a PhD candidate supported by the Durham Doctoral Studentship and holds a Master's in Cognitive Science from IIT Gandhinagar (2021) and a BA in Psychology (First Class Honours) from Aligarh Muslim University (2018). Her research focuses on rhythm perception, consonance/dissonance dynamics, and music cognition, combining neuroscience and interdisciplinary approaches. She is an active member of the Music and Science Lab and an editorial assistant for DURMS . Additionally, she teaches Psychology at the Durham Centre for Academic Development (DCAD). Key research interests include: rhythmic entrainment in North Indian classical music, sensorimotor synchronization, and neural correlates of musical perception. Her work bridges cognitive science, musicology, and technology, with publications in Data in Brief , Frontiers in Neurorobotics , and Music & Science . Awards include the Sabarmati Bridge Fellowship (2021) for pre-doctoral research and the Durham Doctoral Studentship (2022). Education: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (First Class Honours), Aligarh Muslim University, 2018 Masters in Cognitive Science, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, 2021 Her publications analyze EEG responses to music, resonance strategies in AI design, and beat prediction from neural data. She has presented at international conferences such as the International Conference of Students of Systematic Musicology (2023) and the Max-Planck-Institut für empirische Ästhetik (2022). Awards: 2022: Durham Doctoral Studentship 2021: Sabarmati Bridge Fellowship Teaching and Outreach: She teaches Psychology to foundation-year students at DCAD and has prior experience teaching guitar and music theory in India. Her creative interests include landscape painting and sculpting, reflecting her interdisciplinary engagement with art and science.
Jonathan Jeffers is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Associate Dean for Enterprise at Imperial College London's Faculty of Engineering. He leads the Medical Engineering division, focusing on healthcare technology and improving surgical treatments for osteoarthritis. His research spans biomedical engineering, clinical sciences, and materials engineering, with affiliations to networks like the Additive Manufacturing Network and the Centre for Blast Injury Studies. He co-founded OSSTEC and Additive Instruments, advancing implant and surgical tool technologies. His work emphasizes additive manufacturing in orthopedics, including stiffness-matched knee implants and regenerative biomaterials. Awards include an NIHR Research Professorship. Education: BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Trinity College Dublin and PhD from the University of Southampton. Research Interests: Development of regenerative orthopedic implants, biomechanics of joint surgery, and integration of machine learning in surgical customization. His team explores material properties of lattice structures and their application in bone scaffolds. Recent projects include optimizing hip resurfacing techniques and reducing implant revision risks via advanced materials and surgical tools. Key Contributions: Co-developed ceramic hip resurfacing implants with long-term success and pioneered automated implant customization using CT/X-ray data. His work on capsular mechanics post-arthroplasty has advanced surgical techniques. Industry collaborations include Finsbury Orthopaedics and Embody Orthopaedic, blending academic and industrial innovation. Labs/Teams: Medical Engineering division at Imperial, leading a 50-member team in healthcare tech. Active in the Institute for Deep Tech Entrepreneurship, fostering academic-industry partnerships.
Neil Spratt is a Professor at the University of Newcastle, affiliated with the School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy (Human Physiology). He is a clinical neurologist at John Hunter Hospital and leads the Stroke Translation Laboratory. His research focuses on translational stroke therapies, including hypothermia, intracranial pressure management, and advanced CT imaging. Spratt holds an NHMRC fellowship and has secured over $422,000 in grants for his work. His educational background includes a PhD from the University of Melbourne and undergraduate degrees from the University of Newcastle. Collaborations with researchers like Professors Mike Calford and Chris Levi emphasize bridging laboratory and clinical research. Education: PhD in Medicine (Neurology), University of Melbourne Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours), University of Newcastle Bachelor of Medicine (Honours), University of Newcastle Research Interests: Developing therapies to reduce brain injury post-stroke Optimizing stroke triage and imaging protocols Short-duration hypothermia for intracranial pressure management Collaborations in environmental enrichment for stroke recovery Grants & Awards: NHMRC Early Career Fellowship (2012–2015) NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship (2007–2011) $422,000 NHMRC grant for hypothermia research Labs & Teams: Stroke Translation Laboratory (University of Newcastle/HMRI), Priority Research Centre for Brain and Mental Health.
Giovanni Gallipoli is a Professor at the Vancouver School of Economics, part of the Faculty of Arts at the University of British Columbia. His research focuses on macroeconomics and applied microeconomics, with particular emphasis on economic inequality, labor market dynamics, firm heterogeneity, and computational methods. He holds a Ph.D. from University College London. Key professional roles include Associate Editor of the Journal of Political Economy , Faculty Associate at the Stone Centre on Wealth and Income Inequality, and membership in the CEPR and HCEO. His work bridges theoretical rigor and empirical analysis, exploring topics such as general equilibrium effects of policies, household responses to shocks, and skill dispersion across workers and firms. Notable awards include the Killam Research Prize and the Young Economist Award from the European Economic Association. His research outputs span influential journals in economics, with recent studies addressing structural transformation, digital intensity impacts, and intergenerational transfers. He actively contributes to policy discussions through affiliations with institutions like the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID).
David Shrier is a Professor at Imperial College Business School, specializing in AI & Innovation. He co-directs the Trusted AI Alliance and serves as interim Academic Director of the Centre for Digital Transformation. His work bridges academia and industry, focusing on digital transformation, fintech, and ethical AI. He holds visiting roles at MIT School of Engineering and has pioneered educational innovations, including creating highly successful online courses that generated over $1 billion in academic revenue. Founder of Trusted AI Alliance and co-developer of the Trust::Data Initiative. Interim Academic Director, Imperial's Centre for Digital Transformation. Visiting Scholar at MIT School of Engineering, collaborating on commercialization models. His research interests include AI governance, fintech innovation, cybersecurity, and data privacy. He has advised governments and organizations globally, including the European Parliament and Commonwealth Secretariat. His books, such as Global Fintech (2022) and Basic AI (2024), explore technology's societal impact. He chairs startups like Orbu.AI and serves on NASDAQ-listed GRIID's board. Recipient of the 2022 Choice Award for Global Fintech . Launched initiatives such as the Oxford Cyber Security for Business Leaders program and the UN Data Academy.
Prof. Anika Groß is a Professor for Database Systems and Programming at the Department of Computer Science and Languages at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences in Köthen, Germany. She holds a PhD from the University of Leipzig (2014) and has held roles as a PostDoc in strategic research at Daimler AG and as a research assistant at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Bioinformatics (IZBI). She is actively involved in academic governance, serving on the faculty council, board of examiners, and various sustainability and research data management committees. Her research focuses on database systems, knowledge graphs, and ontology engineering, with applications in environmental science, medicine, and material sciences. Education - PhD (Dr. rer. nat.) in Computer Science, University of Leipzig (2014) - Diploma in Bioinformatics, MLU Halle-Wittenberg (2007) - Postdoctoral research at University of Leipzig's Database Group (2008–2013) Research Interests Her work emphasizes temporal graphs, ontology evolution, and semantic data integration. She develops tools like Region Evolution eXplorer (REX) and contributes to projects such as AgriRestore (ecosystem restoration) and MeineWaldKI (AI-based forest monitoring). Her recent focus includes wearable device applications in healthcare and digital twins for lithium value chains. Recent Research Trends Recent publications highlight interdisciplinary applications of knowledge graphs in agriculture and environmental science, leveraging temporal analysis and machine learning for tasks like chemical transformation prediction and bladder monitoring. She also explores cross-lingual semantic annotations in medical forms and holistic clustering of linked data. Professional Roles - Executive Committee Member, GI Database Systems Group - Fellow, Institute for Technologies and Economics of Lithium (ITEL) - Co-Chair of multiple workshops including FGDB-Workshop @ LWDA 2018 and BigDS@BTW 2017 Labs & Collaborations She leads research teams in projects funded by DFG, European Union (EFRE), and ITEL, collaborating with organizations like Daimler AG and ANU. Her lab focuses on advancing database systems and interdisciplinary data science applications.
