Esther Hänggi is a Professor and Co-Head of the Applied Cyber Security Research Lab at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), within the Lucerne School of Computer Science and Information Technology. She holds a Dr. sc. ETH Zurich in quantum information and cryptography and a MSc in Physics from EPF Lausanne. Her research focuses on cyber security, quantum cryptography, and quantum computing, with emphasis on practical applications like quantum-safe cryptography and post-quantum algorithms. She has led projects such as the Quantum-safe Hardware Security Module and contributed to initiatives like the IFZ FinTech. Her work bridges theoretical advancements and real-world implementations, including privacy amplification libraries and quantum key distribution systems. Notable awards include the ETH Medal for her doctoral thesis. She actively collaborates with institutions like the Swiss Quantum Initiative and the European Cyber Security Organisation, promoting quantum resilience in security systems.
Iyán Méndez Veiga is a Research Associate and Doctoral Student at the Lucerne School of Computer Science and Information Technology, part of the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU). Their research focuses on quantum cryptography, post-quantum security protocols, and privacy amplification. They have conducted studies on adversarial wiretap channels and reproducible builds in open-source systems like Arch Linux. Education includes a BSc in Physics from the University of Oviedo, Spain, and an MSc in Physics from Ulm University, Germany. Their work bridges theoretical cryptography with practical implementations, such as developing the randextract library for validating privacy amplification algorithms. Key projects include quantum-safe hardware security modules, implications of post-quantum cryptography on certificate management, and quantum cryptography in practice. Presentations emphasize topics like quantum hardware verification and secure communication protocols. Collaborations with institutions like the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland highlight their applied research focus.
Jan von der Assen is a doctoral student at the Communication Systems Group (CSG) within the Department of Informatics at the University of Zurich . His research focuses on Holistic Cybersecurity , spanning Threat and Asset Management , Security Economics , and AI-powered Malware Mitigation . Education : MSc in Software Systems from University of Zurich (2021) Research Affiliations : Involved in 12+ national/EU projects (2021–2025) including CheeseChain , CONCORDIA , and DSI Cybersecurity . His work emphasizes Moving Target Defense (MTD) for IoT security, Decentralized Federated Learning with blockchain-based reputation systems, and Ransomware Detection using hypervisor-level system call monitoring. Recent publications include: GuardFS (JISA 2025) for Linux ransomware mitigation HyperDtct (IEEE CSR 2025) on hypervisor-based detection ThreatFinderAI (CNSM 2024) for LLM threat modeling
Victor Kristof is a researcher at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), affiliated with the INDY2 laboratory. His work spans interdisciplinary domains, combining Natural Language Processing (NLP) , Machine Learning , and Social Process Modeling to analyze legislative dynamics, vote prediction, and environmental perception. Research Focus: Kristof develops interpretable models for democratic transparency, including aligning interest group positions with parliamentary speeches. He pioneered methods for predicting legislative edit acceptance using matrix factorization and NLP. His work on Swiss referendum prediction integrates historical data with real-time analysis via the Predikon platform . Methodological Contributions: He applies Bayesian statistics , time-dynamic pairwise comparison models , and active learning algorithms to diverse problems, from carbon footprint perception to sports analytics. His War of Words framework reveals ideological patterns in EU law-making, while his Player Kernel model improves football match prediction. Labs & Collaborations: Based at EPFL's Laboratory of Dynamic Information and Networks (INDY2) , he collaborates with researchers like Matthias Grossglauser and Patrick Thiran. His datasets on legislative edits and carbon perception have advanced transparency studies.
Frank Kagan Gürkaynak is Director of the Microelectronics Design Center (DZ) and a Researcher at ETH Zurich's Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (D-ITET). He leads the PULP open-source hardware project and works closely with Prof. Luca Benini in the Integrated Systems Laboratory (IIS). His academic journey includes BSc/MSc from Istanbul Technical University and a PhD from ETH Zurich. Roles: Microelectronics Design Center Director, Senior Scientist in IIS, VLSI course lecturer Research focuses on energy-efficient digital circuits, cryptographic hardware security, and open-source processor architectures. Key projects include EU-funded initiatives like European Processor Initiative (EPI), Convolve, and NeuroSoC, along with SNSF grants Tiny Trainer and PEDESITE. Active in teaching VLSI design, embedded systems, and essential engineering skills. Publications emphasize secure cryptographic accelerators, low-power processor clusters, and GALS system design methodologies. Contributions include energy-efficient ASICs for IoT to HPC domains and pioneering work in side-channel attack-resistant hardware.
Jürg Nietlispach is a Senior Research Associate at Lucerne School of Computer Science and Information Technology (HSLU). His work focuses on software engineering, IT security, and distributed systems. He holds a BSc in Computer Science from University of Bern with minors in Mathematics and Philosophy of Science. Education: Matura, Gymnasium Hofwil (Müchenbuchsee) BSc Computer Science, University of Bern (Minors: Mathematics & Philosophy of Science) Research Focus: App Development for iOS/Android (native and platform-independent) App Backend/Server Development CI/CD Implementation on Linux/Docker Quantum-safe Hardware Security Module Research Security conceptualization for distributed computation systems Professional Experience: Senior Software & Security Engineer at g&o embedded systems GmbH Senior Software Engineer at Admia Solutions AG Lecturer at GIBZ Freelance Software Developer and ZEND Certified Engineer Key Skills: Realtime communication protocols (PCSC, RS485) Embedded database systems Virtualization/container technologies Security architecture for distributed systems Projects: Quantum-safe Hardware Security Module Secure distributed computation system National network for MINT education development Engagements: Member of Swiss-Army Cryptology-Section (2003-2012) Musician playing Double-Bass, Guitar, and Cittern
Pascal Wullschleger serves as Research Associate and Doctoral Student at Lucerne School of Computer Science and Information Technology, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences since 2022, concurrently working as Data Scientist at Jaywalker Digital. His expertise bridges academic research and industry applications in machine learning. His educational background includes: Master of Science in Computer Science, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences Wullschleger's research demonstrates deep specialization in Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing , with significant contributions to health informatics and recommender systems . His work spans over 20 projects including STU Recommender Systems , Adverse Event Mining , and AI for All , focusing on practical implementations in healthcare, finance, and consumer domains. Technical competencies encompass Reinforcement Learning, Deep Learning, and Linux-based development environments. Publication trends reveal evolving focus from health record analysis (2022) to explainable public health NLP (2024) and specialized LLM applications for food taxonomy (2025), indicating growing expertise in domain-specific language model adaptation. Key recognition includes: ABIZ Team Achievement for crafting first AI-generated beer recipe While no formal student advising is documented, Wullschleger actively collaborates with industry partners including Prepress Media AG, Eventfrog, and Siemens Building Technologies on revenue management, fake review detection, and financial advisory systems. His projects consistently address real-world optimization challenges through data science. He operates within the ABIZ research ecosystem at HSLU, contributing to cross-disciplinary initiatives like Skin-App for medical eczema grading and PFAS analysis in Medizintechnik, demonstrating commitment to socially impactful AI solutions.
Alberto Dassatti is a Full Professor at HES-SO University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland and Director of the Reconfigurable & Embedded Digital Systems (REDS) Institute. He is affiliated with the School of Engineering and Management of the Canton of Vaud. His work focuses on embedded systems, FPGA applications, high-performance computing, and topological data analysis. He has led and collaborated on numerous projects funded by institutions like Innosuisse and HES-SO Rectorat, totaling over CHF 1.2 million in grants. His research spans computational storage systems, medical sensor technologies, and signal processing frameworks for wireless communication. Key projects include developing the CarbonViz energy visualization tool, advancing topological methods for AI reliability, and creating the BB-Sensors system for neonatal vital monitoring. He has contributed to open-source frameworks like giotto-tda and gr-dnn, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration between hardware and software domains. His publications span topics such as FPGA-GPU communication, real-time embedded systems optimization, and heterogeneous computing architectures. He actively participates in conferences like NeurIPS and IEEE SOC, showcasing innovations in reconfigurable computing and energy-efficient systems.
Thoma Yann is a Professor at the Haute école d'Ingénierie et de Gestion du Canton de Vaud (HEIG-VD), leading the Reconfigurable and Embedded Digital Systems (REDS) Institute. His work focuses on FPGA-based systems, hardware accelerators, and bio-medical applications. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from EPFL and has led multiple projects in therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and embedded systems. Research interests include FPGA design, bio-medical signal processing, and precision medicine. Notable projects include the SpikeOnChip neural activity analysis platform, TUCUXI TDM software, and the TheraPer POC system for drug dosage optimization. His work spans collaborations with institutions like CHUV, University of Geneva, and international partners. Funding includes projects like DNoC FPGA design (CHF 261,100), MOVABLE POC diagnostics (CHF 143,774), and therapeutic drug monitoring initiatives. Awards and recognitions are not explicitly listed in the provided text. Current roles include academic leadership at HEIG-VD and collaborative research in embedded systems and medical technology. No retirement status or former staff indication is present.
Rishabh Iyer is an Assistant Professor in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences department at the University of California, Berkeley. His research bridges computer systems, networking, and formal methods with a focus on performance predictability and reliability. Prior to Berkeley, he completed his PhD at EPFL and undergraduate studies at IIT Bombay. His educational background includes: PhD in Computer Science from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Bachelor's degree from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) Iyer's research centers on performance interfaces for computer systems – creating succinct abstractions that allow engineers to reason about system performance without understanding implementation details. His work spans three major directions: (1) Extracting performance interfaces from implementations, (2) Designing systems with predictable performance, and (3) Formally verifying performance claims. This research combines operating systems, networking, computer architecture, and formal verification techniques to address performance unpredictability in modern systems. His group develops tools like PIX for network functions, KFlex for kernel extensions, and Software LPN for hardware accelerators. His publications reveal strong focus on performance modeling for network functions, kernel extensions, and hardware accelerators, with recent work expanding into real-time systems and SD-WAN validation. The research consistently targets practical impact, with deployments at companies like Meta and Alibaba. Scientific recognition includes: ACM SIGOPS Dennis M. Ritchie Award Eurosys Roger Needham PhD Award Dimitris N. Chorafas Award Best Paper at VDAT 2019 Iyer actively advises students at UC Berkeley and teaches courses including CS 294-262 (Performance Analysis) and CS 168 (Internet Architecture). Previously at EPFL, he taught Principles of Computer Systems, Software Engineering, and Vector Calculus. His group seeks talented students interested in building reliable, high-performance systems. Current research directions include performance interfaces for distributed applications, next-generation kernel extensions, and formally verified network systems. He leads research within UC Berkeley's systems community and maintains strong connections with EPFL's Dependable Systems Lab where he completed his PhD.
Erich Styger serves as Lecturer and Researcher at Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture's Institute of Electrical Engineering. Since 2008, he has taught courses including Advanced Embedded Systems, Real-Time Operating Systems, and Microcontroller Programming. His technical expertise spans embedded Linux, low-power applications, and industrial communication protocols. Research investigates security frameworks for microcontrollers, embedded system diagnostics, and robotic control systems. Styger coordinates the Computer Science profile in the Master of Science in Engineering program and maintains McuOnEclipse, an open-source platform for embedded development tools. Industry Experience: Former development roles at HIWARE AG, Freescale Semiconductor Awards: Community Choice and Favorite Project awards from SourceForge Projects: Forensic analysis of GPS devices, light-dosimeter development, digital forensics
Silvan Wegmann is a Lecturer at the Lucerne School of Computer Science and Information Technology, part of the Lucerne School of Applied Sciences and Arts. He holds a degree in Computer Science from ETH Zürich with a minor in Chip-Design. His professional experience spans over two decades in software engineering roles, including positions at bbv, Ubidyne, and BridgeCo, focusing on embedded systems and IoT. His technical competencies include C/C++ programming, Agile methodologies (e.g., Scrum, Test-Driven Development), and Linux systems. He actively engages in industry conferences, delivering talks on embedded software and engineering practices. Education: 1998–2004: Computer Science Degree (ETH Zürich), Minor in Chip-Design 1991–1998: Matura Typus C (Gymnasium Kantonsschule Rämibühl, Zurich) Wegmann’s research interests emphasize practical software development methodologies, embedded systems, and IoT applications. He has contributed to industry projects across various domains, including semiconductor design and secure software architectures. His professional engagements include speaking at the Embedded Computing Conference and Embedded Software Engineering Kongress.
