Liana Ermakova is a Lecturer in Computer Science at Université de Brest , associated with the research group Heritage and Creation in Text and Image (HCTI, EA 4249) . Her work focuses on Natural Language Processing , Information Retrieval , and Artificial Intelligence . Doctorate in Computer Science (2016) from the Toulouse Computer Science Research Institute (IRIT) with distinction Her research bridges computational methods and humanistic approaches, particularly through projects like JOKER (humour/wordplay translation) and SimpleText (scientific text simplification). Key publication themes include: Query expansion and tweet contextualization Humour recognition in multilingual contexts Scientific text simplification for non-experts Analysis of medical and pandemic-related discourse Evaluation metrics for summarization LLM reliability in scientific information access She actively contributes to the CLEF Association workshops and publishes in top IR/NLP venues. Current projects examine: Overcoming LLM hallucinations in scientific search Automated complexity spotting in abstracts Contextualization of short texts
Mohammad Zubair is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Old Dominion University's College of Sciences, specializing in high performance computing, digital libraries, autonomic computing, and peer-to-peer networks. His work bridges scientific computing and information systems with significant federal and industry collaborations. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (1987) B.S. in Electrical & Electronics Engineering, University of Delhi (1981) Research Interests: Dr. Zubair's expertise centers on high performance computing for scientific applications and large scale data analytics. He develops scalable algorithms for scientific simulations (e.g., particle physics, structural health monitoring) and advances digital library systems through autonomic computing, collaborative classification, and metadata extraction. His work integrates parallel computing with domain-specific challenges in finance, physics, and digital preservation. Publication Trends: His recent publications (2017-2008) show strong focus on GPU-accelerated scientific computing (particle colliders, structural monitoring) and computational finance (binomial option pricing), while maintaining digital library research in collaborative classification and metadata extraction. The work increasingly addresses energy efficiency in cloud systems and leverages parallel architectures from multicore CPUs to GPUs. Scientific Awards: IBM Faculty Award (2006) IBM Faculty Award (2005) Grants and Funding: Dr. Zubair has secured over $800,000 in research funding since 2004, including projects like 'Design AMD Impl Scalable Opt Kernels for Lrg Sc Simu USN Fund3d On Emer' ($24,890, 2017-2018), 'Graduate Research Award Program On Public Sector Aviation Issues' ($35,519, 2016-2018), and foundational digital library work with the Library of Congress and NASA. He frequently collaborates with K. J. Maly and R. Mukkamala on autonomic systems and metadata extraction. Labs and Teams: His research integrates with ODU's high performance computing initiatives and digital library projects, particularly through collaborations with federal agencies (NASA, Library of Congress) and industry partners like IBM. Current work focuses on GPU-accelerated scientific simulations and energy-efficient cloud management systems.
Dr. Waseem Afzal is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Information & Communication Studies, Charles Sturt University , with over 15 years of academic experience. His research spans Information Behaviour , Extremism Informatics , and Library Impact Assessment , while his teaching focuses on Information Organization , Research Methods , and User-Centered Design . Research Pillars : Developing theoretical frameworks for information needs and information asymmetry Analyzing extremist content and virtual reality countermeasures Quantifying library community engagement and economic value of library services Advancing affective information behavior models integrating psychology Publication Trends : Recent work examines theoretical erosion in information science , Australian pandemic information flows , and regional academic librarian perspectives . His 39 publications (2006-2025) show sustained interdisciplinary collaboration with institutions in Australia, USA, and Sweden. Scientific Recognition : Elfreda Chatman Research Award (2013) International Academy of Business & Public Administration Disciplines Award (2007) Certificate of Recognition for Information Science Contributions (2022) Academic Leadership : Chairs School Research Management Committee Peer-review roles at ASIS&T and IFLA Supervises HDR students in information science Media commentator on social media illusions and library roles
PD Dr. Jörg-W. Link is a Lecturer at the Department of Education, University of Potsdam, specializing in educational history, school reform, and reform pedagogy . He habilitated at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Augsburg (2022) with a thesis on Conditions for the Success of School Reform , focusing on educational history as a framework for understanding school development. His career spans roles as research assistant (since 2000), acting director of the Rochow Museum Reckahn (2001), and guest lecturer at the University of Kassel (2005). Education: Teacher training in history and German (Mainz, Bonn, Marburg 1985-1992); Doctorate (University of Potsdam, 1998) Research: Analyzes educational reform through historical lenses, particularly in the Weimar Republic and National Socialist contexts. Key publications include works on school camps, media pedagogy, and comparative educational systems. Recent articles explore radio as an educational medium (2022), Weimar school camps (2025), and transatlantic educational exchanges (2024), emphasizing interdisciplinary methodologies and long-term pedagogical impacts. Scientific Recognition: Awarded Potsdam University Society Prize (1998/99) and nominated for Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize (2000).
Ryan Marcus is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer and Information Science at the University of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on integrating machine learning into data management systems to create adaptive tools that optimize hardware utilization, invent novel processing strategies, and interpret user intentions. Currently based in Office 407, Amy Gutmann Hall, he actively explores query optimization, index structures, intelligent clouds, programming language runtimes, program synthesis for data processing, and reinforcement learning applications to systems challenges. Key research themes include machine learning for databases , learned query optimization , intelligent cloud systems , and blockchain adaptability . Scientific achievements include the Best Paper Award at SIGMOD '21 for the Bao system and the development of AutoSteer, a cross-database learned query optimizer. Notable PhD advisees co-advised include Peizhi Wu (with Zack Ives), Jeffrey Tao (with Andrew Head), and Zixuan Yi (with Zack Ives). His recent work, presented at venues like VLDB and SIGMOD, emphasizes scalable LLM-augmented data systems (ScaleLLM), robust cardinality estimation, and adaptive Byzantine fault-tolerant consensus (BFTBrain). For full system evaluations, he created testing environments such as BFTGym. Contact: rcmarcus@seas.upenn.edu
Fernando Diaz is an Associate Professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Language Technologies Institute within the School of Computer Science . His research spans Information Retrieval , Recommender Systems , and the Societal Impacts of Artificial Intelligence , with a focus on fairness, ethics, and evaluation metrics. Education : PhD in Computer Science from University of Massachusetts Amherst Research Interests include: Information Retrieval (web search, crisis informatics, search latency) Recommender Systems (multi-interest personalization, cultural content recommendation) AI Fairness (exposure fairness, data minimization, bias mitigation) Evaluation Methodology (metric robustness, contextual meta-evaluation) Human-AI Collaboration (mouse behavior analysis, preference-based evaluation) Retrieval-Augmented Generation (fair ranking, model synthesis) His recent work analyzes scaling laws , tip-of-the-tongue retrieval , and multisided fairness in AI systems. Diaz also explores the cultural implications of AI in music recommendation and content curation. Teaching : Leads courses on Search Engines and LTI Colloquium Advisees : Shaily Jagat Bhatt, Athiya Deviyani, Alfredo Gomez, Jessica Huynh, To Eun Kim
Boyu Xu is a researcher at Utrecht University 's Faculty of Science , affiliated with the Department of Information and Computing Sciences and the Visualization and Graphics group. Her work bridges Information Visualization , Augmented Reality (AR) , and Neuroscience Data Analysis , focusing on tools for exploring scientific literature. She developed the DatAR project, which enables neurologists to analyze connections between brain regions and diseases from over 400,000 PubMed publications. Her research also explores how Generative AI can enhance creative processes in visual art and design. Prior to her PhD, she worked on graphic design , game design , and commercial AR applications , with a portfolio at xuboyumedia.com . Her publications (2024–2025) at conferences like MultiMedia Modeling and CHIIR emphasize AR-based research methodologies , interactive neuroscience tools , and timeline visualization for mapping indirect-to-direct relationships in scientific data. She collaborates with supervisors Prof. Lynda Hardman and Dr. Wolfgang Hürst , but no formal advising roles or scientific awards are listed.
Dr. Eamon C Armstrong serves as Clinical Associate Professor and Clerkship Director in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Based at the BUMG Alvernon Family Medicine Clinic and Residency Program, he provides patient care while supervising residents and medical students in Tucson. His career spans institutions across the United States and South Africa, with board certification in Family Medicine through the American Board of Family Medicine. His educational foundation includes: MD from University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (1987) MS in International Primary Health Care from University of London (2012) Family Medicine Residency at Highland Hospitals/University of Rochester (1997) Faculty Development Fellowship at University of Wisconsin (1998) Dr. Armstrong's research centers on patient-centered evidence-based medicine (EBM) at the point of care, emphasizing just-in-time clinical decision support using electronic health records. He integrates the biopsychosocial model into resident training to enhance patient-centered clinical methods. His work explores EBM curriculum interventions' impact on physician performance and patient outcomes, with strong focus on organizational change and guideline implementation in primary care settings. Scholarly output reveals consistent EBM innovation since 1998, with publications addressing clinical question formulation, database selection, and practical implementation strategies. His work bridges theoretical evidence with frontline practice, particularly in fracture prevention, cardiovascular care, and vaccine policy. His teaching excellence is recognized through: Graduating Resident Class Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching (2024) Multiple Faculty Awards for Excellence in Teaching (2024, 2022-2020) Teacher of the Year Award in Family Medicine (2004, 2001) Vice-Chancellor’s team teaching award (2013) Headley White Clinical Teacher of the Year (2002) As Clerkship Director, Dr. Armstrong mentors students through Family Medicine Clerkships (FCM 813C) and Topics courses (FCM 896U), emphasizing real-patient EBM application. His Pool Trust Grant for the EPOC Project demonstrates successful grant acquisition for point-of-care evidence systems. He cultivates resident-as-teacher skills through interactive workshops while maintaining active clinical practice. Dr. Armstrong contributes to the University of Arizona Family Medicine Residency Program's educational framework at Alvernon Clinic, focusing on biopsychosocial integration and evidence-based decision making in diverse clinical scenarios.
Michela Spagnuolo is a Research Director at the Italian National Research Council’s Institute of Applied Mathematics and Information Technology (CNR-IMATI-GE) since 2001. Her work bridges Computer Graphics , Geometry Processing , and Computational Topology , with applications in 3D Shape Analysis , Cultural Heritage , and Bioinformatics . Co-supervised 6 PhD theses (plus 2 ongoing) Associate Editor for journals like The Visual Computer and Computers&Graphics Chair of conferences including Shape Modeling International and EG Workshops on 3D Object Retrieval Research Interests : Focus on geometric and semantic modeling of 3D objects , computational topology for shape analysis , and structural/similarity evaluation . Her work enables advanced 3D search engines , semantic annotation , and medical imaging applications . Article Trends : Recent publications emphasize mesh quality indicators for Virtual Element Methods in engineering simulations and semantic-driven 3D model analysis for medical diagnostics and cultural heritage . Key subtopics include topological decomposition , data processing services , and multi-scale modeling . Scientific Awards : Fellow of the Eurographics Association (2014) Notable Contributions : Led projects like IQmulus (geospatial data analytics) and MultiScaleHuman (medical shape modeling). Pioneered CIDOC CRMdig for cultural heritage documentation and developed techniques for kernel computation in polyhedra .
Charan Ranganath is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Davis, and director of the Dynamic Memory Lab. He is affiliated with the UC Davis Center for Neuroscience and the Center for Mind and Brain, focusing on human memory and executive control using neuroimaging, electrophysiology, and behavioral methods. His research explores the neural basis of memory, including roles of the prefrontal cortex, medial temporal lobes, and hippocampus in working and long-term memory. Education: Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Northwestern University M.S., Clinical Psychology, Northwestern University B.A., Psychology, University of California, Berkeley Ranganath’s research spans hippocampal-cortical interactions, curiosity-driven memory enhancement, schizophrenia-related memory deficits, and computational models of memory systems. His work reveals overlapping prefrontal and medial temporal lobe activity in memory tasks and investigates how stress, aging, and neuromodulation affect memory dynamics. His research trends emphasize episodic memory , relational memory , neural oscillations , cortico-hippocampal networks , curiosity-driven learning , and clinical applications in mental illness. Scientific Awards: Guggenheim Fellowship Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professorship Laird Cermak Award Samuel Sutton Award Chancellor’s Fellow award Young Investigator Award (Cognitive Neuroscience Society) National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellowship (2015) He has secured grants from the Department of Defense, National Institute of Mental Health, and private foundations. His lab collaborates with Andy Yonelinas on recognition memory and with others on field potentials in hippocampal studies. He teaches Human Learning, Cognitive Neuroimaging, and Current Research in Psychology.
Associate Professor Narine Yegiyan serves in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Davis, and directs the Dynamic Interactions in Cognition & Emotion (D.I.C.E.) Lab. She teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses on media-message processing, quantitative research methods, and mass-communication effects. Education Ph.D., Mass Communication, Indiana University, 2008 M.A., Journalism, Indiana University, 2004 B.A., Journalism, 1995 (cum laude) Her scholarship explores how individuals prioritize information under cognitive and emotional overload, integrating neurobiological theories of motivated cognition with psychophysiological and behavioral methodologies. Core themes include the interplay of memory and emotion, visual-message design, and the strategic construction of health and risk communications. Across her 2003–2023 publication record, Yegiyan repeatedly investigates how emotional tone, message structure, motivational activation, and individual differences shape attention, memory, and attitudinal outcomes. Recent work has concentrated on food-cue reactivity under stress, the persuasive efficacy of health PSAs, and the cognitive demands of online news environments. Scientific Awards Distinguished Article Award, Communication and Cognition Division, National Communication Association, 2012 UC Summer Salary Research Grant, 2010 First Place, Interactive Scholar-to-Scholar Paper-Poster Competition, Mass Communication Division, International Communication Association, 2008 Indiana University College of Arts and Sciences Dissertation Year Fellowship, 2006–2007 She mentors students through the D.I.C.E. Lab, where ongoing projects examine motivated cognition in contexts ranging from food marketing to disaster news, supported by intramural UC Davis grants. Future directions include extending psychophysiological measures to immersive media and developing evidence-based guidelines for high-stakes health campaigns. The D.I.C.E. Lab, housed within the Department of Communication, provides state-of-the-art facilities for psychophysiological recording, eye-tracking, and self-report data collection, fostering collaborative research across psychology, neuroscience, and public-health disciplines.
Dr Alireza Ahadi is a PartTime Lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering & Information Technology , University of Technology Sydney. He holds a PhD in Data Analytics from UTS (2018) and has previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Macquarie University (2019-2022) focusing on skills analytics and educational data mining. Education: PhD in Data Analytics (UTS, 2018), Master of Information Technology Extended (UTS, 2013), Bachelor in Computer Science (UTS, 2010). Current Role: Teaching IT and Science subjects at UTS with expertise in databases, programming languages, and data science. Research Interests center on data-driven educational solutions , including text mining in education, skills gap analysis between academia and job markets, code comprehension studies, and miRNA regulation in cancer research. His work integrates machine learning with curriculum analytics to improve educational outcomes and workforce alignment. Recent publications (15 most) reveal trends in applying NLP to educational data, eye-tracking analysis for programming behavior, and skills analytics engines for curriculum-job market mapping. His 2022 article on skills gap identification using Burning Glass data highlights his focus on real-world educational impact. Teaching Experience includes coordination and lecturing in core subjects like Database Fundamentals, Programming Languages, and Data Structures at UTS. He also explores educational data mining , optimization of analytics engines , and recommendation system design in pedagogical contexts.
Louise Parkin serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Networks and Telecommunications at the University Institute of Technology of Blois (IUT Blois), University of Tours, with additional affiliations at the Polytechnic School of the University of Tours (EPU) and the Fundamental and Applied Computer Science Laboratory of Tours (LIFAT). Her academic profile centers on advancing cooperative methods for knowledge base interrogation and semantic data management. Her research specializes in Semantic Web technologies, focusing on resolving critical challenges in RDF and SPARQL query processing including plethoric answer sets, unexpected results, and scalability limitations. She develops cooperative frameworks that enhance user interaction with knowledge bases like Wikidata through query explanation mechanisms, adaptive result filtering, and on-demand analysis architectures. Her work bridges theoretical database concepts with practical knowledge engineering applications. Within LIFAT laboratory, Parkin contributes to cutting-edge research in semantic data management systems. Her recent projects include Rankingdom's cooperative architecture for Wikidata analysis and scalable techniques for knowledge base exploitation, demonstrating sustained innovation in query processing methodologies from 2020 through 2025 publications.
Dr. Borja Sanz Urquijo serves as a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Deusto, and has been a core researcher at DeustoTech-Computing since 2008, including a tenure as Head Researcher (2015-2018). He holds a cum laude PhD in Information Systems (2012) from the University of Deusto, specializing in Android malware detection. Education PhD in Information Systems, University of Deusto (2012, cum laude) His research spans machine learning, big data, and knowledge discovery, with critical expansion into AI ethics, fairness, accountability, and societal impact. He investigates AI applications in domestic violence intervention, health rights, law enforcement transparency, and Edge Computing optimization, consistently bridging technical innovation with social responsibility. His work demonstrates rigorous methodology in small-dataset machine learning and genomic sequence analysis. Dr. Sanz Urquijo's publication trajectory reveals evolving expertise from foundational cybersecurity (Android malware analysis, spam filtering) to contemporary societal challenges (feminist AI frameworks, quantum software security). Recent articles emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly in feminist technology studies and ethical AI governance, while maintaining technical depth in Edge Computing and genomic analytics. Advising and Projects He has supervised multiple theses including doctoral work on Edge Computing for digital twins and cybersecurity competency frameworks. As lead researcher in over 50 projects (H2020, national, private), he currently directs BEACON (industrial AI systems) and contributes to EU initiatives like IMPROVE (domestic violence response) and ELKARTEK (Industry 5.0 ethics). His collaborations span social organizations, enterprises, and research centers globally. Research Environment As a pillar of DeustoTech-Computing, he operates within a multidisciplinary unit advancing AI, cybersecurity, and Edge Computing applications. His leadership in projects like AI-Driven Cognitive Robotic Platforms and REal tiME control systems demonstrates integration of theoretical research with industrial implementation in smart manufacturing contexts.
Craig Evans serves as a Lecturer at the School of Information Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, teaching undergraduate database courses and professional development. He holds an MS in Library and Information Science from the same institution, with office located at Room 303, 501 E. Daniel St., and contactable via csevans2@illinois.edu. Education: MS, Library and Information Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign His research integrates database technologies, social network analysis, and unmanned aviation systems, drawing from 25+ years of cross-industry experience in IT consulting, manufacturing, and drone operations. He emphasizes how aggregated data insights transcend individual data points, with specific interests in data curation, information retrieval, and network science. Publications from 2002-2016 reveal consistent focus on social network dynamics, including corporate communication patterns, sentiment analysis applications, and entity resolution challenges. Earlier work explores adaptive web interfaces and wiki-based collaboration, demonstrating enduring engagement with information systems design and human-computer interaction evolution. Evans teaches multiple sections of Intro Database Concepts & Apps (IS206), Consulting for Info Pros (IS380A), and Graph Databases (IS390GDB), connecting academic theory to real-world industry contexts through his extensive professional background. Professionally, he is an FAA Certificated Part 107 Pilot who co-founded a university-spinoff drone operations business, actively applying academic research to entrepreneurial unmanned aviation systems development.
