Khiet P. Truong is an Associate Professor affiliated with the Digital Society Institute and the Human Media Interaction group. Their research focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence, robotics, and human-computer interaction, with particular emphasis on speech emotion recognition, conversational agents for children, and multimodal interaction analysis. Recent work includes exploring how robots can restore trust through apologies, benchmarking Dutch automatic speech recognition systems, and developing child-friendly interfaces for cultural heritage archives. Truong has also investigated physiological signals like laughter and stress markers in speech across diverse contexts. Scientific Awards : Best Functional Design Award (2019) Research Trends : Analysis of speech patterns, emotion recognition, robot-human dialogue, and multimodal behavioral cues dominate their recent publications. Key subfields include Dutch language processing, laughter classification, trust indicators in child-robot interactions, and healthcare applications of speech technology. Academic Activities : Chair of the 26th ACM International Conference on Multimodal Interaction (2024) Examiner roles for PhD defenses and research evaluations (2024–2023) Contributions to workshops on emotion representation and social signal processing
Dr. Andreas Baur is a research associate at the Institute of Ethics and Technology (IZEW) , University of Tübingen, and a PhD candidate at the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR) , University of Amsterdam. He serves as fellow at the Critical Infrastructure Lab Amsterdam and contributes to the DoingIPS communication team. Education: M.A. in Peace Research and International Politics, University of Tübingen B.A. in Political Science and Economics, University of Tübingen/Universidad de Guadalajara Research Focus: Interdisciplinary analysis of IT infrastructures' political implications, particularly cloud computing's role in power dynamics, digital sovereignty (including EU's Gaia-X initiative), technology ethics, and governance of socio-technical systems. His work bridges International Relations , Science and Technology Studies , and ICT Policy . Recent Research Trends: Examines cloud infrastructure politics through lenses of sovereignty claims, hybrid cloud architectures, and material manifestations of power in digital ecosystems. Publications explore European digital governance attempts, cloud imaginaries, and multi-cloud regulatory challenges. Academic Contributions: Co-editor of Feminist Data Protection special issue ( Internet Policy Review , 2021) Participant in EU Horizon 2020 HEIMDALL project Contributor to EU FP7 SECTOR initiative Member of BMBF-funded Privacy-Arena and digilog@bw projects Teaching & Outreach: Conducts seminars on security in modern information technologies and participates in public workshops regarding AI ethics, digital sovereignty, and cyber security challenges. Regularly contributes to public debates through media appearances and policy discussions.
Professor Inge Hoff is affiliated with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, where he has served since 2009. Prior to this, he held roles as senior researcher and research leader at SINTEF. Research Interests : Materials for road construction, frost protection, laboratory testing, pavement dimensioning, road rehabilitation, state development modeling, ground-penetrating radar surveys, and concrete/natural stone coverings. Students : Mentors active PhD fellows Lisa Hannasvik, Arman Hamidi, Clara Weber, and Shoiab Ahmad. Teaching : Coordinates courses like TBA4204/BYGT1102 Transport Infrastructure , BYGT2204 Road and Railway Construction , and BA8600 Pavement Structure Dimensioning . Recent publications highlight his expertise in granular material behavior, asphalt durability under climate stressors, and advanced structural assessment techniques. Collaborations with international researchers and presentations at major conferences (TRB, International Conference on Bituminous Mixtures) demonstrate his ongoing contributions to road engineering.
Professor Dörthe Tetzlaff is a leading figure in ecohydrology, serving as Head of Department (A1) Ecohydrology at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) and as Full Professor of Ecohydrology at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Geography Department. She also holds an Honorary Professorship at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Her work bridges theoretical hydrology with practical applications for water security and environmental management. Professor Tetzlaff's research focuses on ecohydrological processes, particularly using stable water isotopes to understand water cycling, catchment functioning, and landscape connectivity. Her work spans from pristine natural systems to complex urban environments, with particular emphasis on drought resilience, water security, and nature-based solutions. She has pioneered tracer-aided modeling approaches to quantify water storage, fluxes, and ages across the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. Her publication record shows a clear trend toward increasingly sophisticated integration of multi-tracer approaches with ecohydrological modeling, with recent work focusing on urban systems, drought impacts, and nature-based solutions. The publications demonstrate expertise across hydrology, biogeochemistry, and ecological applications, with strong methodological development in isotope hydrology and modeling techniques. Polubarinova-Kochina Hydrologic Sciences Mid-Career Award of the American Geophysical Union AGU (2024) Water Resource Prize of the Rüdiger Kurt Bode Foundation (2024) Member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (2023) Fellow of The European Academy of Sciences (2022) Fellow of the Geological Society of America GSA (2020) Professor Tetzlaff actively supervises numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, with her group focusing on cutting-edge ecohydrological research. She leads multiple significant research projects including WETSCAPES2.0, ECCO, ISO-SCALE, and BiNatUr, which address critical questions about water security, climate change impacts, and nature-based solutions in urban environments. Her work is supported by substantial funding from various national and international sources. She leads the Ecohydrology research group at both IGB and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, which employs an integrative approach combining field measurements, isotope techniques, and advanced modeling to understand water dynamics across diverse landscapes. The group collaborates extensively with international partners across Europe, North America, and Asia, contributing to global understanding of hydrological processes.
Dr. Seyed Mohammad Sadegh Khaksar is a Senior Lecturer in Technology Management at La Trobe Business School, specializing in digital transformation, innovation, and healthcare technology. He holds a PhD in Management and teaches courses like Project Management. As Head of the Project Management major, he employs innovative pedagogies such as blended learning and peer review to enhance graduate employability. His research focuses on digital excellence strategies in firms, with notable projects including an AUD 96k IoMT platform for rural healthcare and AUD 40k studies on aged care supply chain resilience. He advises startups and organizations on digital strategies, particularly in healthcare, oil & gas, and professional services. Key research areas include social robots in education and care, IoT applications, and agile-lean methodologies. He has secured over $300k in grants and serves on editorial boards like Technological Forecasting and Social Change . Awards include the 2024 Student Experience Award and 2021 Early Career Researcher Award. Current PhD supervision spans digital responsibility in healthcare and banking sectors, and IoT-driven service innovations. He leads funded projects on smart cities and pandemic logistics, reflecting his interdisciplinary impact across technology, healthcare, and education.
Jim Dowling is a distributed systems researcher at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, focusing on large-scale distributed systems, machine learning, and big data. His work emphasizes improving system dependability, performance, security, and scalability through middleware, peer-to-peer systems, and cloud-native solutions. He leads courses such as Advanced Course in Large Scale Machine Learning and Deep Learning and Scalable Machine Learning and Deep Learning , demonstrating his commitment to education in AI and distributed computing. His research spans topics like feature stores, Kubernetes integration, and AI-driven environmental analytics (e.g., ANIARA project for edge infrastructure automation and ExtremeEarth for Copernicus data analysis). He has contributed to scalable ML pipelines, cloud storage systems (HopsFS-S3), and hyperparameter optimization tools like Maggy. Key projects include the Hopsworks platform for machine learning operations and the development of cloud-native tools for big data analytics. His work bridges theoretical distributed systems research with practical applications in AI, healthcare, and environmental science. He has advised on numerous collaborative initiatives but no formal students are listed. His grants and lab activities are centered around Hopsworks and the ANIARA project, reflecting his focus on scalable, self-managing systems.
Robert B. Noland is a Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean of Faculty at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. He also serves as Director of the Voorhees Transportation Center. He holds a B.A. from the University of California, and M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in Energy Management and Environmental Policy. His research focuses on transportation planning’s economic and environmental impacts, including traffic safety modeling, infrastructure planning, and climate change mitigation. He has held roles at Imperial College London, the US EPA, and the University of California, Irvine. Noland is co-Editor-in-Chief of Transportation Research Part D and former Chair of the Transportation Research Board’s Climate Change Task Force. His work emphasizes equitable transportation policies, safety metrics, and sustainable urban design. Education: B.A., University of California M.Sc., University of Pennsylvania Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania (Energy Management & Environmental Policy) Research Interests: Economic and environmental impacts of transportation policies Traffic safety data analysis and modeling Climate change adaptation in infrastructure planning Non-motorized transportation (bikeshare, pedestrian safety) Equity in mobility access and infrastructure Key Contributions: Pioneered studies on road diet conversions and their benefits Evaluated bikeshare systems globally, including NYC and Seoul Investigated disparities in ridehailing and EV charging access Advanced pedestrian safety metrics and crash data practices Advising & Grants: Directed major transportation projects (e.g., Newark Light Rail study) Recipient of grants for climate resilience and urban mobility research Labs/Teams: Leads the Voorhees Transportation Center, a hub for innovative transportation research and policy analysis.
Jamal Atif is a Professor at Paris Dauphine University - PSL and a member of the Laboratory for Analysis and Modeling of Systems for Decision Support (LAMSADE). He also serves as program director of PEPR Artificial Intelligence for the CNRS and was scientific delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Infrastructures at INS2I until 2023. He earned his Ph.D. in medical image analysis from Paris-Sud University in 2004. His career includes a post-doctoral position at Télécom ParisTech (2004-2006), collaboration with the Research Institute for Development in French Guiana (2006-2010), and leadership as deputy head of the Learning and Optimization team at the Computer Science Research Laboratory (LRI - CNRS/Paris-Sud University) from 2013 to 2014. Professor Atif's research spans artificial intelligence and data science, with emphasis on machine learning , algorithms for data streams , and knowledge representation and reasoning . His work integrates theoretical foundations with practical applications in decision support systems through LAMSADE. He is affiliated with LAMSADE, a CNRS-Paris Dauphine joint research unit focused on operations research, decision theory, and optimization methodologies.
Dr. Payam Sheikhattari is a tenured Professor of Public Health in the School of Community Health & Policy at Morgan State University with nearly two decades of experience in community-based participatory research. He is the founder of the Morgan CARES network and former director of the Prevention Sciences Research Center, fostering sustainable collaborations between academia and community organizations to address health disparities in underserved communities. His educational background includes a Post-Doctoral Fellowship from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, an MD from Uromia University of Medical Sciences in Iran, and an MPH from Tehran University of Medical Sciences. This diverse training informs his approach to public health research and practice. Dr. Sheikhattari's research focuses on advancing health equity through community engagement, with particular emphasis on tobacco cessation programs, health disparities in marginalized populations, and innovative community-academic partnerships. His work consistently centers on community-based participatory research methods that empower communities to be active partners in the research process. His publication portfolio demonstrates expertise across tobacco control, health disparities, and community engagement, with recent work examining gender differences in quit rates, electronic cigarette use among youth, and intersectional approaches to tobacco advertising exposure. His 2022 book "Practitioner Research for Social Work, Nursing, and the Health Professions" represents a significant contribution to methodological approaches in community health. $41 million (over 10 years) NIH U54 award for ASCEND Training Model $18 million (over 5 years) NIH U54 award for RCMI@Morgan $749k (over 4 years) AHA funding for IMPACT project $226k (over 2 years) Morgan State University funding for Community & Stakeholder Engagement Certificate Program As a dedicated mentor, Dr. Sheikhattari has supervised numerous undergraduate research students through programs like ASCEND and has been instrumental in developing training models to enhance biomedical research opportunities for underrepresented minorities. His leadership extends to establishing physical infrastructure for community engagement through the Morgan CARES initiative, which has become a model for academic-community partnerships in public health research.
Eli Blevis is a Professor of Informatics at Indiana University's Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, with a joint appointment as Visiting Professor at Hong Kong Polytechnic University's School of Design. His research focuses on Sustainable Interaction Design, Visual Thinking, and Transdisciplinary Design Theory. He is renowned for integrating sustainability principles into HCI practices and exploring the role of visual media in design and education. Affiliations: Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, Indiana University Visiting Professor, School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Research Interests: Sustainable Interaction Design (SID) Visual Thinking in HCI (e.g., photographic ethnography) Design Pedagogy (e.g., Design Challenge-Based Learning) Sustainability in Digital Infrastructure Cross-Cultural Design Practices His work spans over 50 publications, with awards including the CHI Best Paper and Computing Reviews Notable Paper. He advises students on projects like visible mending, nonlinear design thinking, and sustainable food systems. Blevis also curates the Visual Thinking Gallery and contributes to international conferences like NordiCHI and DIS. His lab explores tangible interfaces (e.g., MemoryReel) and eco-conscious design strategies. Awards: CHI Best Paper Award CCC Sustainability Award ACM Computing Reviews Notable Paper DIS Best Paper Award Grants and Funding: Research supported by NSF and industry partnerships.
Hilda Tellioglu is an Associate Professor and Dean of Academic Affairs for Informatics at TU Wien, leading the Artifact-based Computing and User Research department. She holds a dual role as Head of Research Unit and oversees the Office of the Dean. Her work focuses on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design Thinking, and Digital Transformation, with a strong emphasis on socio-technical systems and participatory design methodologies. Research interests span software engineering, CSCW, ambient assisted living (AAL), and digital co-creation practices in urban planning. She has spearheaded projects like aspern.mobil LAB, EnviSense, and StreetForum, exploring smart mobility, environmental sensing, and citizen participation in urban development. Her work frequently integrates tangible interfaces and model-based design approaches. Key contributions include frameworks for digital transformation evaluation (EEFCET 2020), user-centered design for informal caregivers (TOPIC platform), and crisis management systems using crowdsourcing (RE-ACTA). She has led over 20+ research projects funded by FFG, EU, and national agencies, focusing on mobility innovation, healthcare technology, and sustainable urban systems. Teaching responsibilities include courses on Design Thinking, Digital Transformation, and Research Methods across bachelor's, master's, and PhD programs. She actively promotes interdisciplinary collaboration through initiatives like the Center for Technology & Society (CTS) and Living Lab methodologies.
Can ÖZCAN is an Assistant Professor and Head of the Industrial Design Department at İzmir University of Economics (IUE) since 2006. He holds a PhD in Semiotics from Dokuz Eylül University and is the Director of EKOTAM Design Research and Application Center. His academic career includes roles at Izmir Institute of Technology and Yeditepe University, where he contributed to department establishment and curriculum development. Education: B.ID (Middle East Technical University), MSc/PhD (Dokuz Eylül University, Semiotics) Research focuses on Design Project Management, History of Industrial Design, Design Education, and Semiotics. He explores design's role in crime prevention, cultural industries, and food packaging through projects like 'Secure Urban Environments by Design' and 'Menemen Pottery Development Model'. Administratively, he led EKOTAM (2011–present) and managed industry collaborations in product/service design, brand development, and franchising. His courses include advanced topics in design management, semiotics, and design history. Notable projects include EU-funded urban security frameworks and brand identity studies for Turkish agricultural products. He has advised over a dozen graduate theses on topics ranging from yacht design to sustainability in cities.
Benjamin Eysenbach leads the Princeton Reinforcement Learning Lab, where he designs algorithms that enable artificial intelligence systems to learn intelligent behaviors through trial-and-error, specializing in self-supervised methods that eliminate the need for human labels. He joined Princeton after completing his PhD in machine learning at Carnegie Mellon University under Ruslan Salakhutdinov and Sergey Levine, supported by the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and Hertz Fellowship. His research bridges fundamental machine learning principles with practical applications in robotics and decision-making systems. Eysenbach's research focuses on developing self-supervised reinforcement learning algorithms that enable autonomous skill acquisition without external rewards. His investigations span contrastive learning methods, temporal abstraction techniques, and scalable architectures for goal-conditioned behaviors. These innovations aim to create more efficient and generalizable learning systems that can discover useful behaviors from unlabeled experience. Eysenbach's publications demonstrate consistent advancement in self-supervised RL methodologies, with recent work focusing increasingly on temporal abstraction and representation learning theory. His research shows progression from foundational contrastive RL frameworks toward more sophisticated analyses of generalization properties and uncertainty quantification. The 2025 works indicate expanding investigation into hierarchical control, probabilistic alignment, and hyper-deep network architectures. Eysenbach has been recognized with prestigious awards including the Hertz Fellowship and NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, supporting his doctoral research in self-supervised RL methodologies. His work has been presented at top machine learning conferences including NeurIPS, ICML, and ICLR. As director of the Princeton Reinforcement Learning Lab, Eysenbach oversees research initiatives in self-supervised RL, including projects on intention-conditioned modeling, horizon generalization, and contrastive learning frameworks. He has secured funding from the Princeton AI Lab to study neural correlates of temporal contrast in decision-making. Eysenbach teaches courses in reinforcement learning and has developed new benchmarks like JaxGCRL to accelerate research in goal-conditioned RL.
Ramana Nanda is a Professor of Entrepreneurial Finance at Imperial College London's Business School and Academic Lead at the Institute for Deep Tech Entrepreneurship. He is also a Research Fellow at CEPR and Visiting Scholar at Harvard Business School. His research focuses on financing mechanisms for new ventures, venture capital dynamics, and innovation policy. Education: PhD from MIT Sloan School of Management, BA/MA in Economics from Trinity College, Cambridge. Prior to academia, he worked at Oliver Wyman in capital markets and small-business banking. Research Interests: Financing frictions in entrepreneurship, venture capital syndicates, innovation ecosystems, and policy interventions for high-potential ventures. His work bridges theory and practice, advising startups and investors in deep tech sectors addressing global challenges. Notable Awards: 2020 ERC Consolidator Grant for groundbreaking research, 2015 Kauffman Prize Medal for contributions to entrepreneurship literature. Formerly Sarofim-Rock Professor at Harvard Business School (2007-2020). Grants & Projects: Co-director of Harvard's Private Capital Project, recipient of major research grants. Advises on venture capital strategies and deep tech investments. Labs/Initiatives: Leads Imperial's Deep Tech Entrepreneurship Institute, collaborating with industry and policymakers to scale breakthrough technologies.
Carlos Enrique Palau is a prominent researcher in the field of Internet of Things (IoT), edge computing, and cyber-physical systems. His work focuses on interoperability, security, and scalability in distributed systems, particularly in industrial and smart city applications. He has contributed to frameworks for cloud-edge continuum integration, blockchain-based IoT solutions, and federated computing architectures. Key areas of research include: IoT interoperability and semantic frameworks Edge computing and distributed workload management Cybersecurity for IoT and critical infrastructure Smart port logistics and real-time data analytics Cognitive services in legacy port management systems His recent work explores: Data-as-a-Product frameworks for Industry 4.0/5.0 Autonomous workload scheduling in energy-efficient edge-cloud systems Deception mechanisms for IoT security Self-* capabilities in cloud-edge nodes Palau has collaborated extensively with institutions like Universitat Politècnica de València and international partners in projects funded by EU initiatives. His research addresses practical challenges in industrial IoT deployments, smart city infrastructure, and emergency management systems.
