Giuditta Cirnigliaro is an Assistant Professor at the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) and Principal Investigator of the SNSF Starting Grant project examining Renaissance word-image narratives. She holds adjunct roles at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Milan) and collaborates with institutions in Digital/Public Humanities. Her research bridges art history, literature, and digital methodologies, focusing on Leonardo da Vinci, Renaissance creative processes, and interdisciplinary cultural analysis. She has taught at leading universities including Università degli Studi di Milano, Università Roma Tre, Rutgers University, and Université de Genève. Her publications include monographs on Leonardo’s fables, digital humanities edited volumes, and articles on visual arts/literature intersections. She actively organizes international academic events across Europe and North America. Current roles include leading the SNSF project 'Fable, Emblem, Poem, Performance,' which explores Renaissance artists' use of narrative forms. She also collaborates with museums and academic networks in digital cultural heritage initiatives.
Dr. Marcin Kisiel is a researcher at the Department of Physics, University of Basel, affiliated with the Force Microscopy Lab and Meyer Group. He leads the Nanolino Lab, focusing on Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) and surface science. His work explores nanoscale phenomena such as energy dissipation, atomic friction, and quantum device interactions, using techniques like atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Key research areas include structural and electronic phase transitions in materials like graphene, MoS₂, and topological insulators. Recent studies involve plasma surface treatments for fusion diagnostics and antibacterial nanostructured materials. Research Interests: Nanoscale energy dissipation mechanisms Atomic-scale friction and tribology Quantum phenomena in 2D materials Biomaterial surface engineering Plasma-based surface modifications for fusion applications Recent Article Trends: Focus on nanoscale dissipation in graphene systems, plasma-etched antimicrobial surfaces, and fusion-related material durability. Studies bridge fundamental physics (e.g., Majorana states) and applied technologies (e.g., dental implant coatings). Labs/Teams: Leads the Nanolino Lab, collaborating on projects like ITER diagnostic mirror optimization and on-surface synthesis of molecular spin systems.
James Irving is an Associate Professor and Head of the Cold Regions Applied Geophysics Group (CRAG) at the University of Lausanne's Institute of Earth Sciences (ISTE). He holds a Master's from the University of British Columbia and a PhD from Stanford University. His career includes postdoctoral work in Lausanne, a tenure as Assistant Professor at the University of Guelph, and roles as Senior Lecturer and Researcher before his 2023 promotion. Irving specializes in applied geophysics, focusing on cold regions, glaciers, and alpine environments, leveraging advanced geophysical methods like drone-based ground-penetrating radar (GPR) for subsurface imaging. His team developed a high-performance GPR-drone system to map glacier structures, yielding critical insights into ice dynamics and environmental changes. Key projects include studies on the Rhône and Otemma glaciers, termite mound structures, and sedimentary deposits in Botswana. Education: PhD in Geophysics, Stanford University (2006) Master's, University of British Columbia (Canada) Research Interests: James Irving’s work centers on applied geophysics in cold regions, emphasizing glaciology and alpine environments. His innovations include integrating drones with GPR for large-area subsurface surveys, improving data resolution and safety. His team’s GPR systems enable precise 3D/4D monitoring of glaciers, revealing structural dynamics hidden beneath ice. Additionally, he applies statistical and machine learning techniques to reconstruct geophysical data and model subsurface processes, such as subglacial channels and poroelastic effects in fractured media. Publications: Recent work highlights advancements in GPR data reconstruction (e.g., multiple-point statistical approaches), drone-GPR system development, and climate-driven glacier retreat studies. His articles bridge geophysics with environmental science, addressing challenges in cold region monitoring and subsurface characterization. Advising & Grants: He has supervised doctoral students including Ruols Bastien and Zhang Chongmin. His research is supported by grants focusing on glaciological technology, geophysical inversion methods, and environmental data integration. Collaborations span institutions like Stanford, ETH Zurich, and the University of Botswana. Labs & Teams: As CRAG leader, he oversees projects in applied geophysics, drone-GPR innovation, and cold region fieldwork. The group collaborates with international teams to advance glaciological and environmental monitoring techniques.
Prof. Dr. Jessica Peter is a SNSF Professor and Head of Research at the University of Bern's Department of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. She leads the Research Group Peter, focusing on cognitive functions in healthy and clinical populations using advanced neuroimaging (e.g., fMRI, 7T MRI) and non-invasive brain stimulation techniques. Her work explores aging-related cognitive decline, dementia biomarkers, and interventions like tDCS and cognitive training. Education: PhD in Experimental Psychology (University of Freiburg, 2014), Diploma in Psychology (University of Bamberg, 2011). She completed postdoctoral research at the University of Bern and held a Habilitation in Experimental Psychiatry (2018). Awards include the COMET Career Program for Female Scientists (2019) and the 2015 Society of Neuropsychology Award. Research Interests: Cognitive neuroscience of aging, neuropsychology, neuroimaging, brain stimulation, and dementia. Her group applies methods like real-time fMRI neurofeedback, electrical properties tomography, and blood-based biomarkers to study interventions targeting memory and attention. Grants: SNSF Starting Grant (2023), Empiris Foundation, Bangerter-Rhyner Foundation. She advises multiple PhD students and collaborates internationally on projects like the Velux Foundation-supported studies. Labs/Teams: Leads the interdisciplinary Research Group Peter at UPD, integrating clinical psychiatry, neuroimaging, and computational methods to address cognitive challenges in aging populations.
Markus Meierer is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Management, Geneva School of Economics and Management (GSEM), University of Geneva. He holds a Ph.D. in Business and Economics from the University of Trier, Germany, and previously served as a Senior Associate at the University of Zurich, where he led the 'Networks & Consumers' project in the University Research Priority Program 'Social Networks'. His research lies at the intersection of marketing, statistics, computational linguistics, and computer science, with a focus on customer purchase behavior, customer lifetime value, and marketing analytics. He employs advanced statistical and machine learning methods to model customer attrition, transaction behavior, and spending patterns, particularly in non-contractual settings. Meierer's recent work emphasizes uplift modeling for marketing campaigns, integration of user-generated content (images and text) for brand positioning, and the development of open-source tools like CLVTools and REndo in R. His publications appear in leading journals such as Marketing Science and Journal of Statistical Software . Rigor and Relevance Research Award, Swiss Academy of Marketing Science He teaches executive courses in Marketing Management and Applied Programming with R and Python. He actively disseminates his research through academic conferences and seminars globally and contributes to the research community via software development and open science practices. His work has practical applications in customer base analysis, marketing strategy, and decision support systems.
Prof. Dr. Gerd Simons is Head of the FHNW Institute for Sensors and Electronics and a Lecturer in Measurement and Sensor Technology at Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz FHNW. His career spans academia and industry, including roles at Kistler Instrumente AG, Baumer Electric AG, and Jaquet Technology Group. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from ETH Zurich (2005), focusing on mechanical size effects in copper foils, and a Master's in Mechanical Engineering from ETH Zurich (1998). Research interests include sensor technology, IoT applications, microstructure analysis of metals, and mechanical behavior of thin foils. His work combines experimental mechanics with materials science, particularly in copper foil tensile testing and MEMS material characterization. Recent projects involve high-order dynamic mode decomposition for vibration analysis and weigh-in-motion sensor systems. Publications span peer-reviewed journals (e.g., Materials Science and Engineering A) and conference proceedings, focusing on sensor technology, material characterization, and size effects in thin materials. He has supervised theses on copper foil mechanics and holds patents on sensor mounting techniques. Labs/teams: Leads the Sensors & Electronics Institute, collaborating with industry partners like Kistler and Augsburg University. Active in strategic R&D for automotive and agricultural sensor applications.
Dr. Anita Fung is a Researcher at the Institute for Biomechanics, part of the Department of Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zürich. Her work spans interdisciplinary research in biomechanical engineering and food biotechnology. She is affiliated with the Laboratory for Orthopaedic Technology and contributes to the Professorship for Biomechanics. Her primary research focuses on hip fracture prevention through biomechanical simulations and experimental methods, as well as innovative applications of microalgal proteins in food technology. Key areas include prophylactic implant design, finite element modeling of bone-implant interactions, and structural analysis of sustainable meat analogues. Dr. Fung’s research employs advanced techniques such as high-speed x-ray imaging, ex vivo testing, and computational modeling to evaluate fracture risks and improve medical devices. Her food science work explores protein properties of microalgae for high-moisture extrusion processes, addressing challenges in sustainable food systems. She has collaborated on studies analyzing footwear effects on running injuries and long-term prosthetic bone remodeling. Her publications span topics from ceramic-based femoral augmentation to biomechanical modeling of sideways fall impacts. She actively contributes to interdisciplinary projects, blending clinical biomechanics with food biotechnology to advance medical and sustainable food technologies.
Martin Vechev is a Full Professor of Computer Science at ETH Zurich, leading the Secure, Reliable, and Intelligent Systems Lab. He is also the Founder and Architect of INSAIT, a pioneering research center in computer science and AI in Eastern Europe. Previously, he worked at IBM T.J. Watson Research Center and earned his PhD from the University of Cambridge and B.Sc. from Simon Fraser University. His research focuses on AI and programming languages, with contributions to quantum programming (e.g., Silq), AI-driven code analysis (DeepCode), and security for decentralized systems (ChainSecurity). He has co-founded three deep-tech startups and received numerous awards, including the ACM SIGPLAN Robin Milner Award. His work spans theoretical foundations and practical systems, emphasizing formal methods and security guarantees. Education: PhD in Computer Science, University of Cambridge (2003-2008) B.Sc. in Computer Science, Simon Fraser University (1996-2001) Research Interests: His work bridges AI and programming languages, addressing challenges in secure AI, quantum computing, and automated reasoning. Key areas include: AI for code analysis and security Formal verification of decentralized systems Quantum programming languages Data privacy and adversarial machine learning Key Contributions: His group built widely used systems like Silq (first high-level quantum language) and developed AI-driven tools for detecting security vulnerabilities (DeepCode). His research on watermarking and federated learning privacy has been influential in both academia and industry. Awards: ACM SIGPLAN Robin Milner Young Researcher Award ERC Starting and Consolidator Grants Google/Facebook Faculty Awards IBM Research Excellence Awards Advising & Grants: He leads the SRI Lab at ETH, supervises PhD students in AI and programming languages, and manages grants from ERC, industry partners, and Swiss national initiatives. His startups (DeepCode, ChainSecurity, LatticeFlow) address real-world challenges in AI security, blockchain, and robust machine learning. Labs & Teams: The Secure, Reliable, and Intelligent Systems (SRI) Lab at ETH Zurich focuses on safe AI, programming languages, and security. Collaborations include INSAIT, a joint venture with ETH and EPFL.
Didier Hans is Associate Professor in Research and Development in the field of bone diseases at the Faculty of Biology and Medicine of the University of Lausanne (UNIL) and Head of the CHUV Bone Disease Center, appointed on December 1, 2012. He holds an 80% activity rate, indicating a part-time academic role. His work bridges academic research, clinical innovation, and industrial development in medical imaging for bone disorders. PhD in Medical Physics, Claude Bernard University, Lyon (1993) Master of Science in Medical Engineering, Claude Bernard University, Lyon (1991) Executive Master of Business Administration, Haute École Commerciale de l'Université de Genève (2004) Didier Hans specializes in medical imaging applied to bone diseases, particularly osteoporosis and fracture risk assessment. His research focuses on two main axes: validating new imaging technologies and developing clinical algorithms to improve patient care. He is a world leader in clinical densitometry and bone microarchitecture analysis, with over 160 publications and leadership in international research collaborations. The recent articles reflect a strong trend in translational research, combining engineering, physics, and clinical medicine. Key areas include optimization of bone measurement technologies, integration of imaging into multidisciplinary platforms, and development of risk prediction models using large cohort data (OstéoLaus, Ostéomobile). His work spans technology validation, clinical implementation, and educational standardization through global societies. Scientific awards and leadership roles include: President of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) – first non-North American and non-physician in this role Initiator of collaboration between ISCD and International Osteoporosis Foundation for unified teaching Founder of Synarc, now the world’s largest centralized imaging analysis lab for clinical trials Founder of two companies: Med-imaps and Ascendys Privat-docent at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva (later transferred to UNIL) Didier Hans has advised numerous scientific collaborations worldwide, with over 50 ongoing studies. His grants and research projects focus on optimizing bone and body composition measurements across macro and micro levels. He leads R&D at the CHUV Bone Disease Center and has played a key role in expanding clinical activity and patient care models since 2008. He leads the OstéoLaus and Ostéomobile research cohorts, involving over 3,000 women, which serve as critical platforms for longitudinal bone health research. His multidisciplinary team integrates expertise from radiology, nuclear medicine, engineering, and data science to advance diagnostics and personalized care in bone diseases.
Shanghua Gao serves as a Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School's Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard University, where he develops foundation models and universal representation learning methods to advance artificial general intelligence across computer vision, biomedical applications, and time series analysis. His research focuses on creating generalizable AI techniques including AI agents, generative modeling, and self-supervised learning frameworks. Gao emphasizes resource-efficient architectures that maintain high performance while minimizing computational demands, with notable contributions in salient object detection and biomedical AI systems. His work bridges theoretical innovation and practical deployment, with several projects transitioning into real-world applications. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strategic shift toward foundation models for biomedical reasoning (e.g., TxAgent for therapeutic applications) and unified time-series frameworks (UniTS), while maintaining expertise in efficient computer vision systems. His research consistently prioritizes model generalizability across domains, evident in cross-disciplinary applications from medical diagnostics to creative AI systems.
Prof. Sami El-Boustani is a Group Leader at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, where he leads a research laboratory focused on the neural mechanisms of perception, learning, and decision-making. His work bridges experimental and computational neuroscience, utilizing advanced imaging and electrophysiological techniques in mouse models. Research Interests: His research centers on how internal representations of the world are formed through experience and how these representations shape sensory processing and behavior. He investigates the dynamics of cortical circuits, particularly the roles of specific inhibitory neuron types (e.g., PV+ and SOM+ neurons) in modulating sensory responses and perceptual decisions. His work integrates in vivo two-photon imaging, electrophysiology, wide-field imaging, molecular biology, and behavioral paradigms in mice performing multisensory tasks. Publication Trends: His recent publications, appearing in high-impact journals such as Nature Communications , Neuron , and Science , reveal a strong focus on cortical inhibition, synaptic plasticity, thalamocortical circuits, and the functional organization of sensory cortices. A recurring theme is the dynamic, context-dependent role of inhibitory interneurons in shaping neural computations. Scientific Awards: No specific awards are mentioned in the provided text. Advising and Grants: Prof. El-Boustani actively mentors a team of graduate students, master’s students, and postdoctoral researchers, indicating an active grant-funded research program. His lab’s technical sophistication suggests support from major funding agencies in neuroscience. Labs and Teams: He leads a research group at the CMU (Centre Médical Universitaire), C08.1534.A, University of Geneva. His team includes multiple students and researchers working on various aspects of neural circuit function, indicating a collaborative and multidisciplinary research environment.
Dr. Alexis Hervais-Adelman is a Group Leader at the Dynamics of Brain and Language Lab, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva. His research centers on the neural mechanisms of language, including speech perception, multilingualism, and the evolutionary origins of human language. Research Interests: His work spans neuroscience, cognitive science, linguistics, and neuroimaging . He investigates how the brain processes speech in challenging environments, the role of the motor system in perception, and how multilingual experience shapes brain structure and function. A key focus is prenatal language development and its implications for language evolution. Publication Trends: His recent publications (2023–2025) emphasize in utero language exposure, auditory cortex anatomy in multilinguals, and co-activation in simultaneous interpreters, reflecting a strong interdisciplinary approach combining evolutionary theory, developmental neuroscience, and cognitive linguistics. Scientific Awards: No awards are mentioned in the provided text. Advising and Grants: He leads a research lab with postdocs (Christopher Ritter, Sophie Slaats), doctoral students (Martina Dordijevic), and staff (Enrico Varano). His research is supported by major grants, including from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the Wellcome Trust, notably as part of the NCCR Evolving Language program. Labs and Teams: He directs the Dynamics of Brain and Language Lab at Campus Biotech, Geneva, and is an integral member of the NCCR Evolving Language consortium, fostering collaborative research on the origins and evolution of human language.
Prof. Jürgen Schmidhuber is a renowned computer scientist and AI researcher affiliated with the Swiss AI Lab IDSIA at the University of Italian Switzerland (USI) and the Technical University of Munich . His work spans foundational contributions to deep learning , reinforcement learning , and universal AI , with applications in pattern recognition, speech/image processing, and art. Research Interests Self-improving artificial intelligence systems Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) and their applications Algorithmic complexity and information theory Mathematical frameworks for creativity and curiosity Scientific Awards 2013 Helmholtz Award 2016 IEEE Neural Networks Pioneer Award Seven Best Paper/Best Video Awards European Academy of Sciences and Arts member since 2009
Naoaki Okazaki is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Tokyo Institute of Technology's Graduate School of Information Science and Engineering, with joint research affiliations at AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology). He serves as a leading researcher in Natural Language Processing with particular expertise in grammatical error correction, bias evaluation in language models, and Asian language processing. His research interests span multiple critical areas of contemporary NLP including: Natural language processing for educational applications Bias evaluation and mitigation in pre-trained language models Machine translation, especially for Japanese and Korean Subword tokenization techniques and vocabulary optimization Multimodal learning and vision-language models Development of evaluation metrics for NLP tasks Professor Okazaki's publication record demonstrates consistent high-impact contributions to top NLP conferences (ACL, EMNLP, NAACL) from 2021-2025. His recent work shows increasing focus on the challenges posed by large language models, including membership inference attacks, prompt sensitivity in bias evaluation, and developing native Japanese resources rather than relying on translation approaches. His research group regularly achieves state-of-the-art or competitive results across multiple NLP tasks. As Program Chair for ACL 2023, Professor Okazaki contributed to improving conference peer review processes and increasing transparency in academic decision-making. His leadership extends to mentoring numerous graduate students who frequently appear as co-authors on his publications.
Robert Zboray is a research group leader at the Center for X-ray Analytics (CXA) at Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology), where he leads efforts in developing beyond state-of-the-art X-ray imaging and analytical methods. His work bridges materials science, engineering, biomedical engineering, and life sciences. He is also a lecturer in the Biomedical Engineering master's program at the University of Bern, contributing to advanced biomedical imaging education. His research focuses on advanced multi-modal X-ray imaging for life science, biomedical, and personalized health applications. He has extensive experience in X-ray and neutron-based imaging at both laboratory and large-scale facilities. His group operates a diverse suite of multi-energy and multi-modal X-ray imaging systems and manages the Empa Imaging and Image Analysis Platform , supporting non-standard image processing challenges. He is actively involved in the scientific community, with memberships in the International Society of Neutron Radiography , the Swiss Society for Optics and Microscopy (SSOM) , and EXCITE Zurich (Center for Experimental and Clinical Imaging Technologies Zurich), fostering collaboration across institutions. While no specific scientific awards are listed in the provided text, his leadership role, teaching activities, and technical platform development underscore his significant contributions to imaging science. He advises research staff and potentially graduate students through Empa’s collaborations, though no formal advisees are listed. His team engages in in-situ studies and supports a broad range of research topics, including space-related activities (ESA PRODEX) and international projects (SESAME).
