Lorraine Li is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Pittsburgh, affiliated with the Interdisciplinary Science Program (ISP) and the School of Computing and Information. She holds a PhD from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (2022) and conducted postdoctoral research at AI2's Mosaic team. Her work focuses on NLP, machine learning, and socially responsible AI systems. Education: PhD in Computer Science (UMass Amherst, 2022) Research explores evaluation frameworks for commonsense knowledge, model interpretability, and ethical AI applications in domains like education and law. Key interests include probabilistic models, long-tail reasoning, and geographic robustness in LLMs. Recent publications address confirmation bias in reasoning chains (ACL 2025), geographically diverse prompting (CVPR 2024), and uncommon scenario reasoning (NAACL 2024). She co-organized the AAAI 2024 Make symposium and serves on committees for ACL, EMNLP, and NAACL. Grants: Pitt Cyber funding (2024) Lab: Pitt NLP Seminar group
Prof. Emil Kolev is a Professor of Technical Mechanics at Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences, specializing in Finite Element Methods (FEM), structural mechanics, and robotics. He holds a Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. degree and has over 20 years of expertise in FEM analysis, structural optimization, and failure prevention in mechanical components. His career includes roles at TU Ilmenau and as a project leader in technology transfer. Education: 1984–1985: Mechanical Engineering, Gabrovo Technical University (Bulgaria) 1985–1990: Technical and Biomedical Cybernetics (specializing in Computer Science), Ilmenau University of Applied Sciences (Germany) Research Focus: His work centers on FEM-driven analysis and optimization of mechanical systems, including vibrations, material strength, and robotics. Key areas include worm-like locomotion systems, deformable magnetic actuators, and structural integrity verification through simulation-experiment correlation. Publications highlight advancements in FEM modeling for robotics, thermal analysis in food processing, and multi-body system dynamics. Patents & Innovation: Developed novel tripod mechanisms and cutting tools for the meat industry Contributed to magnetic locomotion prototypes and ferrofluid-based actuator designs Key Contributions: His research bridges theoretical FEM methodologies with practical applications in industry and robotics, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to mechanical system design and validation.
Prof. Dr. Ingmar Ickerott is a faculty member at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, affiliated with the School of Management, Kultur und Technik (MKT, Campus Lingen) under the University management department. His academic career spans over two decades, focusing on logistics management, digitalization in supply chains, and smart technology applications like Smart Glasses and Augmented Reality . Academic Background : Diplom-Kaufmann in Business Administration (2001), Ph.D. in Economics (2006). Professional Roles : Senior Project Manager at arvato (2008–2010), Professor since 2010, Dean of MKT since 2019, Vice President for Digitalization since 2019. His research emphasizes logistics innovation , Lean Management , and digital solutions in rural healthcare . Key projects include Land.Digital (2019–2022) and LEAN 4.0 (Erasmus+, 2019–2021). Publications since 2004 cover agent-based simulation , Smart Device economics , and AR in logistics . He actively lectures on topics like Logistics 4.0 and Digital Onboarding . Projects & Grants : Land.Digital : €165,000+ (Erasmus+), 2019–2021. Dorfgemeinschaft 2.0 : €1.46M (BMBF), 2015–2021. Glasshouse : €208,557 (BMBF), 2015–2019.
Tone Bratteteig is a Professor at the University of Oslo's Department of Informatics, specializing in design of information systems and human-computer interaction. She leads the Informatics study program focusing on design, use, and interaction, and holds roles in university governance, including membership in editorial and advisory boards for journals like the Scandinavian Journal of Information Systems and Journal of Computer Supported Cooperative Work. Her research emphasizes participatory design, CSCW, and the sociotechnical implications of digital systems, particularly in public services and healthcare. Notable awards include the University of Oslo Education Prize (2016) and Olav Thon's Prize for outstanding teaching (2018). Bratteteig teaches courses such as IN1060 (Use-Oriented Design) and has supervised numerous master’s theses on topics like chatbots, elderly care technology, and digital public services. Her work explores autonomy in the information society, automation challenges, and the ethical dimensions of AI in design. She collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and contributes to international conferences like NordiCHI and Participatory Design Conferences. Education: Extensive academic background in informatics and design, including foundational contributions to the Florence Project on mutual learning in design. Research Interests: Participatory design methodologies, HCI, CSCW, digital public services, and ethical technology mediation. Grants: Active in securing funding for projects like EquiP (co-design for cooperation) and studies on automation in editorial workflows. Labs/Teams: Member of the Design of Information Systems (DESIGN) and Democracy of Silence research groups.
Professor Jonathan Morrison is a Professor of Experimental Fluid Mechanics at the Department of Aeronautics, Imperial College London. He holds a PhD from the University of Durham and joined Imperial College in 1991. His research focuses on turbulent flow instabilities, drag reduction in fluid systems, and interdisciplinary applications of fluid mechanics with smart materials and control theory. He leads the UK National Wind Tunnel Facility (NWTF), a network of 22 wind tunnels across UK universities, supported by £36.3m in funding from EPSRC and UKRI. Key affiliations include Energy Futures Lab, Flow Control Group, and the Royal Society Industry Fellowship (2023–2027). He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Royal Aeronautical Society. His work bridges mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, and applied mathematics, addressing challenges in energy efficiency and transport sector emissions. Notable achievements include developing adaptive surface structures for boundary layer control, collaborating with QinetiQ on airframe drag reduction, and exhibiting at the Royal Society Summer Exhibition (2014). His experimental studies on turbulent wakes, bluff body dynamics, and boundary layer transition have advanced fundamental and applied fluid mechanics. Scientific Awards Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng) Royal Society Industry Fellow (2023–2027) Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society Grants & Collaboration £13.3m EPSRC/Aerospace Technology Institute grant (2014) for NWTF establishment £23m UKRI funding (2023) for expanding NWTF facilities Industry collaboration with QinetiQ on drag reduction for airframe design Labs & Teams Flow Control Group at Imperial College (www3.imperial.ac.uk/aeflowcontrol) focuses on experimental and numerical studies of turbulent flows. The NWTF network enables large-scale aerodynamic testing for academia and industry partnerships.
René Röpke is an Assistant Professor at TU Wien since August 2024. Previously, he conducted his PhD and postdoctoral research within the Learning Technologies Research Group at RWTH Aachen University, focusing on personalized game-based learning for cybersecurity education. His academic journey includes a Bachelor's and Master's from Technical University of Darmstadt and a study semester at Simon Fraser University in Canada. His research interests span Learning Technologies, AI-driven Education, Game-based Learning, and Open Educational Resources (OER). Notable projects include the AIStudyBuddy initiative for AI-powered study planning and the development of serious games for phishing education. He has contributed to tools like WebWriter for interactive content creation and BuddyAnalytics for educational data visualization. Röpke’s recent publications emphasize leveraging AI and process mining for personalized learning solutions, study path optimization, and collaborative learning analytics. His work bridges theoretical educational frameworks with practical digital tool development, aiming to enhance individualized and equitable access to education. He has actively participated in conferences like LAK (Learning Analytics & Knowledge) and DELFI, advocating for open science practices and transparency in educational technology. His contributions highlight a strong focus on human-centered design principles in educational technologies.
Miloš Mravik is an academic affiliated with Singidunum University's Faculty of Informatics and Computing, specializing in research involving artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data science. He holds a doctoral degree in 'Advanced Protection Systems' from Singidunum University (2020–2023), preceded by a Master’s in 'Contemporary Information Technologies' (2018–2019) and a Bachelor’s in 'Informatics and Computing' (2014–2018). His work emphasizes applying machine learning techniques to real-world challenges like healthcare diagnostics, cybersecurity frameworks, and pandemic-era education systems. Research Interests: AI-driven cybersecurity solutions for IoT and blockchain Machine learning applications in health informatics Optimization of predictive algorithms using metaheuristics E-learning strategies during crises Recent articles focus on explainable AI for metaverse security, sentiment analysis using BERT models, and blockchain node detection via XGBoost. His work bridges theoretical computer science with practical applications in emergency education and pandemic response. No scientific awards listed. Advised no formally registered students. Active in conference organizing and software prototyping, as seen in projects like a scheduling web application and network management systems.
Matthew Rodger is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Psychology Intelligent Autonomous Manufacturing Systems, Queen's University Belfast. His research focuses on perceptual-motor coordination, auditory-motor synchronization, and applications of movement sonification in motor skill learning, particularly for individuals with visual impairments and Parkinson's disease. He has supervised nine PhD students, including current advisees Bonnie Smith and Michal Toth, and former students like James Stafford and Alannah Savage. Rodger is actively involved in interdisciplinary projects such as 'Improvising Futures' and 'Dance for Parkinson’s,' and contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being. His work has been recognized with the QUB Research Culture Seed Fund (2021). Research Interests: Auditory-motor coordination, movement sonification, Parkinson's disease rehabilitation, music performance skill acquisition, and embodied cognition. Recent projects include investigating sound-based interventions for gait improvement in Parkinson's patients and exploring aesthetic dimensions in musical interaction. Key Awards: QUB Research Culture Seed Fund (2021). Collaborations: Active in Northern Ireland's Parkinson's@NI network and collaborates with experts in psychology, neurology, and music technology.
Birgit Lugrin is a Professor and Chair of Computer Science V (Socially Interactive Agents) at the University of Würzburg's Institute of Computer Science since 2024. Her interdisciplinary research bridges computer science and psychology, focusing on socially interactive agents (SIAs) for education, healthcare, and cultural understanding. She leads a lab focused on human-robot interaction, virtual agents, and bias reduction. Education: B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Computer Science from Augsburg University, followed by a Dr. rer. nat. in Human-Centered AI. Research Themes: Socially interactive agents, cultural diversity in AI, educational robotics, elderly support, and bias reduction through virtual agents. Projects: Adaptive pedagogical agents, mixed-cultural speech models, robotic concierge design, and VR interventions for racial bias. Her recent work explores AI-driven robotics for elderly engagement, empathy-building in mixed-cultural contexts, and the efficacy of virtual agents in educational and social settings. She has contributed to tools like PePUT for Pepper robotics and frameworks for ingroup bias research. Scientific Awards Victor Lesser Distinguished Dissertation Award (IFAAMAS-12) Best Paper Awards at ICMI, AAMAS, and Culture and Computing Women's Representative roles at University of Würzburg As a mentor, she advises students in socially interactive agents, co-authoring studies on topics like robotic storytelling, speech perception, and user studies. Her lab engages in field studies, partnerships with institutions like USC and NII, and multi-stakeholder design processes.
Neptun Yousefi serves as a Postdoctoral Researcher (Research Fellow) in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems at Aalto University, where they lead innovative research at the intersection of cellulose chemistry, nanomaterials, and sustainable biomass conversion. Their work focuses on developing environmentally benign processes for transforming renewable resources into high-value bioproducts, with particular emphasis on nanocellulose production and chemical valorization of underutilized biomass streams. Dr. Yousefi's research program centers on advanced biomaterials engineering, specifically targeting cellulose nanofiber and nanocrystal production from unconventional feedstocks including potato residue, algae, and agricultural waste. Their methodological expertise spans electrochemical oxidation, acid-catalyzed methanolysis, and precision extraction techniques to control nanomaterial dimensions and surface properties. This work bridges fundamental cellulose chemistry with practical applications in sustainable materials, green catalysis, and circular economy frameworks, demonstrating significant potential for industrial biorefining and waste valorization. Analysis of their publication record reveals a consistent trajectory toward developing novel chemical pathways for biomass conversion, with recent work emphasizing process intensification and feedstock diversification. Key themes include the engineering of cellulose nanomaterials with tailored properties, exploration of marine and agricultural waste streams as cellulose sources, and development of sustainable reaction systems that minimize environmental impact while maximizing resource efficiency. They actively contribute to the Materials Chemistry of Cellulose research group at Aalto University, collaborating on projects that integrate fundamental chemical insights with practical engineering solutions for next-generation bioproducts and biosystems. Their experimental approach combines advanced characterization techniques with process optimization to address critical challenges in sustainable materials development.
Dr. Rubén Martín García is a Lecturer at the Universidad Politécnica de Salamanca , affiliated with the College of Computer Science and the Department of Systems Engineering and Automation . He is a member of the MARATON research group , focusing on mobile applications, internet of things, data processing, and semantic technologies. He earned his PhD in 2021 from the University of Salamanca with a thesis on anti-pheromone algorithms for urban search-and-rescue robots, supervised by Dr. Gabriel Villarrubia González and Dr. Javier Bajo Pérez. His research spans Robotics , Artificial Intelligence , and Smart Cities , with specific contributions to: Swarm robotics for disaster response Humanoid companions for elderly care Human-robot interaction in healthcare education Entropy-based modeling of shared mobility systems Stochastic navigation in urban environments AI-driven medication management systems Recent publications highlight his interdisciplinary work in medical robotics, swarm intelligence, and technology acceptance studies. His projects emphasize practical applications of IoT, semantic technologies, and open data frameworks.
Bob Sheil is Professor of Architecture and Design through Production at The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London. A registered architect with over 25 years of experience, he is renowned for his work exploring the relationship between design, making, craft, and technology in architecture. As the sixth Director of the Bartlett School of Architecture from 2014 to 2022, he led transformative changes that significantly expanded the school's physical space, student applications, and research impact, while championing equality, diversity, and inclusivity initiatives. Professor Sheil's research centers on the complex relationship between design and making in architecture, particularly how this relationship affects architectural outcomes. He advocates for 'Protoarchitecture,' a speculative approach that creates alternative pathways for architectural production through varied design and making methodologies. His work examines how new tools have dissolved boundaries between the drawn and the made, arguing that how we design has become equally important to what we design. This perspective has informed his hands-on teaching philosophy that emphasizes learning through direct engagement with evolving technologies and materials. His publication record reveals a consistent focus on digital fabrication, material innovation, and the evolving role of the designer in contemporary practice. The Fabricate conference series he co-founded has become a major international platform for research in architectural production, with publications generating over 330,000 downloads across 184 countries. Recent work shows increasing emphasis on resource efficiency, sustainable practices, and the integration of material intelligence within digital workflows. Professor Sheil's significant professional recognition includes: RIBA award for design (2010) for '55/02' with Stahlbogen GmbH As an educator and mentor, Professor Sheil has supervised PhD students since 2011 and has been instrumental in developing innovative architectural education programs. His leadership resulted in substantial growth in research funding, student applications (90% increase), and international collaborations. He co-founded the influential FABRICATE conference series and sixteen*(makers), and played a key role in establishing the Bartlett Manufacturing and Design Exchange (Bmade), which has transformed the school's workshop facilities and safety culture. Professor Sheil maintains active collaborations with institutions including the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, SHUNT, ScanLAB projects, and Thomas Pearce, creating interdisciplinary opportunities that bridge architecture with performance, digital scanning, and scenography. His current work continues to push the boundaries of architectural practice through the integration of emerging technologies and material innovation.
Dr. MARIOROSARIO PRIST serves as a Researcher at the Department of Information Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering at Marche Polytechnic University (UNIVPM) in Ancona, Italy. His institutional affiliation is maintained through the Department of Information Engineering (quota 170) at Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, with contact details including phone 071 220 4468 and email m.prist@staff.univpm.it. Dr. PRIST's research spans cutting-edge domains in artificial intelligence applications for industrial systems, with particular emphasis on neural network implementations, digital twin architectures, and Industry 4.0 technologies. His work demonstrates strong focus on lightweight AI frameworks for edge computing , anomaly detection in manufacturing processes , and resource optimization in production environments . The research portfolio reveals consistent innovation in adapting advanced machine learning techniques to practical industrial constraints, especially for small and medium enterprises. Analysis of his publication trends indicates a strategic shift toward implementing AI solutions on resource-constrained devices and bridging edge computing with cloud infrastructure for real-time industrial monitoring. Recent work emphasizes practical applications of Echo State Networks for process control and anomaly detection, while maintaining strong connections to additive manufacturing optimization and safety monitoring systems. His research consistently addresses the challenge of making advanced AI accessible for industrial implementation without requiring extensive computational resources. Dr. PRIST's work demonstrates significant contributions to the integration of cyber-physical systems in manufacturing environments, with particular expertise in translating theoretical AI concepts into practical industrial applications that enhance production efficiency, safety, and sustainability.
James D. Brooks serves as Chair and Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Grove City College, leveraging 17 years of industry experience from GE Transportation and GE Research to bridge academic theory with real-world engineering applications. His educational credentials include: Ph.D. in Systems Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Grove City College Research centers on human-automation interaction (examining how control system design impacts operator trust and performance) and queueing systems with human agents (developing mathematical models for systems like hurricane debris removal). This work integrates control theory, human factors, and operations research to solve complex socio-technical problems in transportation and disaster response. Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal dominant trends in railroad automation, with emphases on adaptive vehicle control, distributed systems coordination, safety protocol implementation, and human-machine interface optimization. Key subfields span autonomous train handling, energy management, real-time decision support, and cognitive workload reduction. Notable achievements include: Over 30 issued U.S. patents in vehicle and building automation systems He actively mentors students through senior design projects and industry-collaborative research, emphasizing curiosity, integrity, and deep system understanding. His industry partnerships with Wabtec and legacy GE entities provide students with direct exposure to autonomous vehicle development and building automation challenges. Research initiatives focus on translating theoretical models into deployable solutions, particularly through simulation platforms for industrial prototyping and human factors integration in railroad control systems.
Dr. Ahmad Hadavi is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering, serving as Deputy Director of the Master of Project Management Program. His academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Northwestern University, an MBA from the Harvard-affiliated Iran Center for Management Studies, and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Iran University of Science and Technology. His research explores: Metaverse applications in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Virtual/Augmented/Mixed Reality implementation Innovative construction methods and Lean principles International construction practices and productivity enhancement Advanced project control methodologies Dr. Hadavi teaches 'CIV_ENV 336: Project Scheduling' and 'CIV_ENV 435: Cost Engineering and Control'. His extensive professional service includes ABET program evaluation for civil engineering and construction management programs, ACCET accreditation panels, textbook reviews, and NSF review panels for STEM education initiatives. His publications demonstrate consistent focus on integrating emerging technologies like AI, XR, and BIM into construction workflows, with recent emphasis on metaverse applications and lean-digital synergies.
