Ebru Turanoglu Bekar is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Industrial and Materials Science, Chalmers University of Technology, specializing in Smart Maintenance and Production Systems. She contributes to the Production Service Systems & Maintenance research group. Research Interests: Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Artificial Intelligence applications in manufacturing, Multi-Criteria Decision Making, Performance Measurement systems Recent Focus: Development of data-driven algorithms for predictive maintenance, integration of digital twins in industrial contexts Key Projects: Factory SensAI (2025–2028) - Data integration for AI in manufacturing Trustworthy Predictive Maintenance TPdM (2022–2025)
Brenna Argall is an Associate Professor at Northwestern University with joint appointments in the Departments of Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation . She is also a Faculty Research Scientist at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab , the nation’s premier rehabilitation hospital. Her research focuses on robotics autonomy, machine learning, and human rehabilitation , particularly in developing assistive and rehabilitation robotics that utilize shared control and interface-aware intelligence to enhance user autonomy. Education: Ph.D. in Robotics (2009), Carnegie Mellon University M.S. in Robotics (2006), Carnegie Mellon University B.S. in Mathematics (2002), Carnegie Mellon University Research Interests: Argall's work sits at the intersection of robotics, artificial intelligence, and rehabilitation . Key themes include trust-based control systems, dynamic autonomy allocation, and human-in-the-loop machine learning . Her lab, the Assistive & Rehabilitation Robotics Laboratory (argallab) , develops semi-autonomous wheelchairs, robotic arms, and adaptive control systems tailored to users’ physical and cognitive abilities. Projects emphasize customizable shared control, intent inference, and human-robot collaboration . Article Trends: Recent publications highlight advancements in shared autonomy, interface-aware robotics, and human-robot co-adaptation . Key areas include 7-DoF robot arm teleoperation, eye gaze tracking for control, high-dimensional body-machine interfaces, and trust-based dynamic control allocation , reflecting her lab’s focus on user-centric AI and rehabilitation technology . Scientific Awards: NSF CAREER Award (2016) Crain's Chicago Business 40 under 40 (2016) NSF Convergence Accelerator Phase 1 & 2 Awards (2022, 2024) AIMBE College of Fellows (2023) Office of Naval Research (ONR) Grant Advising & Grants: Argall advises students in the Masters of Science in Robotics program and has secured significant funding from NSF, NIH, and ONR for projects on self-driving wheelchairs, intent disambiguation, and trust-aware autonomy . Labs & Teams: As founder and director of the argallab , she leads a multidisciplinary team at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab . The lab’s mission is to advance human ability through robotics autonomy , focusing on motor-impaired users and human-robot co-adaptation .
Chih-Chun Wang is a Professor at the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering , Purdue University, with additional leadership roles as Associate Head for Facilities, Planning, and Staff. He earned his Ph.D. in Information Sciences and Systems from Princeton University in 2005, following an M.S. (2002) and B.S. (1999) in Electrical Engineering from Princeton and National Taiwan University, respectively. Research Interests: His work spans Network coding (graph-theoretic capacity, wireless network coding, feedback mechanisms) Coding theory (LDPC codes, Reed-Solomon decoding, iterative algorithms) Information theory (multi-user detection, network information theory) Signal processing (turbo equalization, space-time codes) Control theory (optimal stopping theory) Scientific Contributions: He has published extensively on Age-of-Information (AoI) minimization, low-latency coding, and multi-hop relay optimization. His research trends include Integrating machine learning with network coding Wireless security for Beyond-5G systems Distributed storage networks with intelligent helper selection Delay-constrained communication protocols Awards: Recognized as an IEEE Fellow in 2024 for contributions to network coding and information theory. Teaching: He teaches undergraduate courses like ECE301: Signals and Systems and graduate courses such as ECE639: Error Control Coding , with a focus on iterative decoding, LDPC codes, and network information theory. Advising: Supervised 15+ Ph.D. students, including current advisees Pin-Wen Su (delay-oriented coding), Wonjun Lee (cyber-physical systems), and Giles Bischoff (low-latency systems). Former students hold prominent roles at institutions like Google, Meta, and Intel.
Guillaume Pierre is a Professor and research leader at Univ Rennes, affiliated with Inria, CNRS, and IRISA, where he leads the Magellan research team. He is based at the Institute of Science and Technology of Information and Communication (ISTIC), Department of Computer Science and Electronics. His research focuses on fog computing, cloud computing, and large-scale distributed systems, with applications in scalable web hosting and edge intelligence. Research Interests: Fog and Edge Computing Cloud Computing and Resource Management Scalable Web Application Hosting Peer-to-Peer and Decentralized Systems Stream Processing and Kubernetes Orchestration Elasticity and Energy Efficiency in Distributed Environments His recent publications highlight a strong trend in geo-distributed systems, particularly focusing on Kubernetes cluster federation, fog-based environmental monitoring, and elasticity in stream processing. His work bridges theoretical advances with practical implementations in real-world fog and cloud infrastructures. Scientific Awards: Best Paper Award, IEEE International Symposium on Applications and the Internet (2005) Best Paper Award, IEEE International Conference on Cloud Engineering (IC2E 2014) Guillaume Pierre has advised numerous PhD students, many of whom now hold positions at Google, Amazon, Ericsson, and Ansys. He has coordinated major research projects such as the H2020 FogGuru initiative and the DiPET project on distributed data stream processing. His work is supported by EU funding and institutional collaborations. Labs and Teams: He leads the Magellan research team at the INRIA/IRISA lab, which is at the forefront of innovation in fog and cloud computing technologies.
Hamidreza Marvi is an Associate Professor in the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy at Arizona State University , with additional affiliations as a Senior Global Futures Scientist . His work bridges bio-inspired robotics , soft robotics , and mechanics of animal locomotion . Education : Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (Georgia Tech, 2013), M.S. in Biomedical Engineering (Sharif University, 2007), M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Clemson, 2009), B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Iran University of Science and Technology, 2004). Marvi’s research focuses on biological systems interacting with solid, granular, and fluidic environments , translating these insights into bio-inspired robotic systems for search-and-rescue, medical, and planetary exploration. His work has been featured in Science , PNAS , and popular media like the New York Times and BBC . Recent publications highlight trends in magnetic microrobotics , soft robot control , and locomotion in granular media , with applications in medical devices, underwater inspection, and space exploration. His BIRTH Lab develops programmable interfacial structures and adaptive locomotion systems. Scientific Awards : KEEN Professorship (2017), Peebles Award (2015), Sigma Xi Best Ph.D. Thesis (2014), TechSTAR Award (2012), Emerald Publishing Literati Network Award (2011). Marvi has supervised teams for NASA competitions, co-organized robotics workshops, and served as a reviewer for journals like Nature-Scientific Reports and conferences including IEEE-IROS. His teaching portfolio includes courses in system dynamics, robotic control, and applied projects .
Soroosh Sorooshian is a Professor at the Samueli School of Engineering , University of California, Irvine, with joint appointments in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth System Science . He serves as Founding Director of the Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing (CHRS) and holds the Samueli Endowed Chair in Engineering . His expertise spans hydrometeorology, climate-water interactions, remote sensing applications, and water resource management in arid regions. Education : Ph.D. in Engineering (1978), Engineer Degree in Systems Engineering (1977), M.S. in Operations Research (1973), B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (1971). Leadership & Affiliations : Member of US National Academy of Engineering , International Academy of Astronautics , and multiple scientific bodies (AAAS, AGU, AMS, IWRA). Former advisor to NASA, NOAA, and UNESCO initiatives. Recent research focuses on machine learning integration for hydrological modeling , satellite precipitation product development , and climate change impact assessments . Key trends include deep learning for bias correction , multi-sensor precipitation fusion , and atmospheric river hydrology in California. Awards include the AGU Horton Medal , NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal , and Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Water Prize . He consults on urban flooding and surface hydrology challenges. Scientific Honors : Chinese Academy of Sciences Einstein Professorship (2014) UNESCO Great Man-Made River Water Prize (2007) AMS Walter Orr Roberts Lecturer (2009) Multiple Distinguished Educator Awards Advisory Roles : Served on committees for NASA, DOE, and World Climate Research Programme's Hydrology Commission.
Sean B. Andersson is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Boston University's College of Engineering. His research focuses on optimal estimation, system identification, single particle tracking, robotics, and control theory. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, College Park. Education : Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (University of Maryland, College Park) His work integrates control algorithms with applications in microscopy, nanofabrication, and multi-agent systems. Recent research trends highlight persistent monitoring, trajectory optimization, MRI reconstruction, and dip-pen nanolithography. He has mentored numerous graduate and undergraduate students, many of whom now hold positions at institutions like MIT Lincoln Labs, University of Pennsylvania, and Juniper Networks. Scientific Contributions : Developed robust multi-agent control policies for data harvesting Advanced single particle tracking with real-time feedback Innovated in non-raster scanning probe microscopy Optimized sensor scheduling via minimax and semidefinite programming His lab team combines theoretical and applied research in robotics and control systems, with alumni contributing to academia, industry, and research labs globally.
Dr. Boyin Ding is an Associate Professor at the University of Adelaide , serving as Academic Director at Haide College and researcher in the Mechanical Engineering department within the Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology. He leads the Wave Energy Research initiative established in 2014, while also contributing to Robotics and Biomechanics through his work with the Flinders Medical Device Research Institute. Research Areas: Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting Control Systems for Renewable Energy 6DOF Robotic Testing Spine Biomechanics Transnational Education Programs Key Collaborations: Australia-China Joint Research Centre for Offshore Wind & Wave Energy Acoustics, Vibration and Control Research Group Scientific Awards: Australian Endeavour Fellowship Malcolm Kinnaird Engineering Excellence Award (2012) His recent publications focus on hybrid offshore energy systems, nonlinear hydrodynamics in wave energy converters, and biomechanical testing technologies. He has developed control algorithms for floating offshore wind-wave systems and pioneered 6DOF robotic platforms for medical applications. As an eligible PhD supervisor, he actively collaborates with global industries and academic institutions.
Vikram Iyer is an Assistant Professor at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering and holds an Adjunct Appointment in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington. He co-directs the CS for Environment Initiative , focusing on interdisciplinary solutions that bridge computing, biology, and physical systems for environmental sustainability. Education : Ph.D. in Electrical & Computer Engineering (University of Washington), B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (UC Berkeley) Research Interests revolve around bio-inspired wireless systems , environmentally sustainable electronics , and miniaturized autonomous robotics . His work includes: Biodegradable circuit boards Battery-free wireless sensors Insect-scale vision systems Wind-dispersed environmental monitors AI tools for sustainable design Article Trends highlight contributions to green hardware , energy-autonomous robotics , and environmental sensing networks , often integrating machine learning with physical world interaction . Awards include: NSF CAREER Award SIGMOBILE Dissertation Award Marconi Society Paul Baran Young Scholar Best Paper Awards (SIGCOMM 2016, Sensys 2018) Google/Amazon Research Awards Students advised include Kyle Johnson (NSF Fellow), Vicente Arroyos (GEM Fellow), and Qiuyue Xue (co-advised with Shwetak Patel). His lab collaborates with the Networks & Mobile Systems Lab and Urban Innovation Initiative .
Thijs Defraeye is a Senior Scientist at Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology) and Adjunct Professor at Dalhousie University. He holds a PhD in Building Physics from KU Leuven (2011) and a Master's in Civil Engineering (2006). His work focuses on optimizing food supply chains through multiphysics simulations and digital twins, addressing challenges in refrigerated transport, postharvest quality preservation, and energy-efficient food processing. He leads the SimBioSys group, developing solutions for perishable goods logistics and electrohydrodynamic technologies. Research interests include: Biophysics of food systems Digital twin applications in agriculture Electrohydrodynamic drying Thermal management in cold chains Sustainable food technologies Recent work emphasizes reducing food loss through physics-based modeling of refrigerated containers, ventilated packaging optimization, and scalable evaporative cooling systems. His studies bridge engineering principles with biological processes, aiming to enhance global food security and environmental sustainability.
Guoquan Huang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Delaware. He holds a B.Eng. in Automation from the University of Science and Technology, Beijing (2002), and M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Robotics from the University of Minnesota (2009 and 2012). Prior to his current role, he was a Postdoctoral Associate at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). His research focuses on robotics, computer vision, and autonomous systems, emphasizing probabilistic perception, estimation, and control for ground, aerial, and underwater vehicles. He leads the development of the OpenVINS platform for visual-inertial estimation and has contributed to advancements in SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), sensor fusion, and multi-robot coordination. Education: B.Eng in Automation (Electrical Engineering), University of Science and Technology, Beijing, 2002 M.Sc. in Robotics, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, 2009 Ph.D. in Robotics, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, 2012 His research interests span robotics, computer vision, and autonomous systems , with a focus on: Visual-inertial navigation and SLAM Sensor fusion (LiDAR, IMU, camera) Autonomous vehicle control and safety Multi-robot cooperative localization His recent publications (2023–2025) emphasize robust algorithms for navigation in GPS-denied environments, real-time sensor calibration, and dataset development for aerial visual localization. He has pioneered techniques like decoupled error-state estimation and consistent parallel frameworks for SLAM. Labs/Teams: Leads the development of the OpenVINS research platform, focusing on visual-inertial state estimation. Collaborates on projects involving human-swarm interactions and resilient ground vehicle navigation.
Dr. Siyuan Ji is a Reader in Model-based Systems Engineering (MBSE) at Loughborough University, serving as Deputy Head of the Manufacturing, Systems & Management Academic Community and Deputy Director of the Doctoral Training Centre in MBSE. He previously held a Senior Lecturer position in Systems Engineering at the University of York, where he led the MSc Programme in Safety-Critical Systems Engineering. His academic journey includes a PhD and MSc in Physics from the University of Nottingham, followed by research roles in model-based systems engineering at Loughborough University. His research focuses on advancing model-based techniques for systems engineering, particularly in safety-critical systems, formal methods, and complex system design. He has contributed to areas such as hazard management (e.g., BSafeML framework), response time analysis in real-time systems, and model synchronization for requirements engineering. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications in automotive systems, embedded software, and educational technology. Dr. Ji holds the title of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has published extensively on topics ranging from quantum technology reporting to conversational tutoring systems. His research emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, evident in projects like the EPSRC-funded analysis of vehicles as complex systems. He actively contributes to both academic and industrial advancements in systems engineering methodologies and education innovation. His professional roles include managing doctoral training programs, overseeing academic communities, and advancing systems engineering education. Collaborations span industry partnerships and international academic networks, reflecting his commitment to impactful research and training the next generation of systems engineers.
Sharad Mehrotra is a Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), leading the Center for Emergency Response Technologies (CERT) and directing the NSF-funded RESCUE project. He previously served at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin (1993). His research focuses on data management, IoT systems, privacy-preserving technologies, and smart spaces, with contributions to frameworks like TIPPERS and MARS. Education: Ph.D., Computer Science, University of Texas at Austin, 1993 Research Interests: His work bridges database systems, security, and IoT, emphasizing privacy in smart environments. Notable projects include sentient space technologies for disaster response, cryptographic methods for encrypted data queries, and semantic IoT integration. Recent efforts address privacy in multi-owner data systems and resilient community water infrastructure. Awards & Recognition: ACM Fellow (2024) SIGMOD Best Paper (2001), DASFAA Best Paper (2004) NAVWAR Innovation Award (2021) Outstanding Graduate Mentor (2005) Grants & Leadership: As RESCUE PI, he managed $12.5M NSF funding, developing crisis-response software deployed by emergency agencies. Collaborations include the Cal-IT2 institute (UCSD/UCI) and the US Navy’s TIPPERS platform. He co-leads initiatives like the NSF Civic Innovation Challenge for disaster resilience in aging communities. Labs & Teams: Directs UCI’s Information Systems Group and CERT, fostering interdisciplinary research with 60+ members. His teams produce open-source tools (e.g., SEMIoTIC, PrivacySphere) and engage in global partnerships via Fulbright Visiting Scholar programs.
Dr. Danesh Tarapore is an Associate Professor at the University of Southampton specializing in robotics and AI. He focuses on human-robot interaction, swarm intelligence, and autonomous systems. His current research involves developing resilient robotic teams and optimizing learning algorithms for constrained environments. He supervises 6 PhD students in the iPhD MINDS and Computer Science programs. Dr. Tarapore's work bridges theoretical advancements with practical applications in autonomous navigation, multimodal dataset creation, and quality-diversity optimization. His publications span conferences like HRI and journals in robotics and AI. He collaborates with institutions like the University Hospital Southampton and the Boldrewood Innovation Campus. Research Interests: Human-robot collaboration, swarm systems, machine learning, and adaptive control Key Contributions: HRI-SENSE dataset, evolutionary subset selection algorithms, forest navigation frameworks Grants and Funding: Active projects in multi-agent systems and resilient robotics Dr. Tarapore maintains active roles in the robotics community through conference participation and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Beth Smith, PT, DPT, PhD is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Biokinesiology & Physical Therapy at the University of Southern California. She directs the Infant Neuromotor Control Laboratory, where she leads research on neural control of movement during infancy and develops interventions for infants with or at risk for developmental delay. Dr. Smith's research focuses on several critical areas in pediatric development: Neural mechanisms underlying infant motor development Application of wearable sensor technology for objective movement measurement Early identification of developmental delays through quantitative analysis Evaluation of intervention effectiveness for at-risk infants Cross-cultural studies of infant development in diverse settings including rural Guatemala Her work demonstrates a strong integration of technology and clinical practice, with recent publications highlighting innovative approaches to measuring infant movement in natural environments. Dr. Smith's research on algorithmic detection of developmental disabilities using wearable sensors represents a significant advancement in early identification methods. Her studies on telehealth administration of developmental assessments have gained particular relevance following the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially expanding access to early intervention services globally. As director of the Infant Neuromotor Control Laboratory, Dr. Smith oversees a research program that bridges neuroscience, engineering, and clinical practice to improve outcomes for infants with developmental challenges. Her work has important implications for developing evidence-based interventions that can be implemented across diverse healthcare settings.
