Hasan Kayalı is a Professor in the Department of History at the University of California, San Diego. He specializes in the history of the Middle East during the Islamic period, focusing on the late Ottoman Empire, nationalism, and transitions from empire to nation-states. His research bridges political, social, and intellectual histories of the region. Education : B.A. in Government, Harvard University Ph.D. in History and Middle Eastern Studies, Harvard University Research Interests : Dr. Kayalı examines Ottoman administration of Arab provinces, the impact of World War I on imperial structures, and the ideological contests between Ottomanism, Arabism, and Islamism. His work challenges traditional narratives of empire decline and emphasizes continuity in governance and identity formation. Key Publications : He authored Imperial Resilience (2021) and Arabs and Young Turks (1997), translated into multiple languages. He co-edited Empire to Nation (2006) and contributed to Archivum Ottomanicum . Labs/Teams : Engaged in collaborative projects on Ottoman archives and digital humanities initiatives to map historical networks in the Middle East.
Prof. Matthias Nießner is a Professor at the Technical University of Munich , where he leads the Visual Computing Lab . Prior to this, he held a Visiting Assistant Professor position at Stanford University . His work bridges computer vision , graphics , and machine learning , focusing on 3D reconstruction , semantic scene understanding , and AI-driven video synthesis . Prof. Nießner has published over 150 works in top venues like SIGGRAPH , CVPR , and ECCV , with several receiving best paper awards (SIGCHI’14, HPG’15, SPG’18, SIGGRAPH’16 Emerging Tech). His research has garnered international media attention, including features in the New York Times , Wall Street Journal , and MIT Technological Review , as well as TV demonstrations (e.g., Jimmy Kimmel Live for Face2Face technology). Awards : TUM-IAS Rudolph Moessbauer Fellowship (2017–ongoing) Google Faculty Award (2017) Nvidia Professor Partnership Award (2018) ERC Starting Grant (2018, €1.5M) Eurographics Young Researcher Award (2019) Research Trends : 3D Gaussian Splatting for real-time rendering Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF) with mesh supervision Audio-driven facial animation via diffusion models Latent space diffusion for 3D scenes Self-supervised and zero-shot methods for 3D and image analysis As a co-founder and director of Synthesia Inc. , he drives democratization of synthetic media. His YouTube channel has over 5 million views, reflecting his impact beyond academia.
Prof. Dr. Dennis Säring is a faculty member at the University of Applied Sciences Wedel , specifically affiliated with the School of Engineering. His academic and research activities focus on Deep Learning , Medical Image Analysis , and applications of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare and biomedical imaging. He has led seminars on Deep Learning topics and supervised student projects in Autonomous Driving at Audi's AADC 2018 competition. Research Highlights : Cardiovascular imaging, forensic age estimation via MRI, neural network-based bone segmentation, and cerebrovascular aneurysm analysis. Technical Expertise : Cardiac MRI, 3D/4D image processing, parametric mapping, and spatiotemporal data fusion. His recent publications (2018-2023) emphasize 3D MR segmentation for age assessment, CMR strain analysis in athletes, and T1/T2 mapping for myocarditis. Key collaborations include institutions like the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf and Wedler Hochschulbund, with funding for autonomous vehicle research. While no explicit scientific awards are listed, his work spans clinical cardiology, forensic radiology, and AI-driven medical diagnostics.
Andrew Childs is a Professor at the University of Maryland, affiliated with the Department of Computer Science and the Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS). He serves as Director of the NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute for Robust Quantum Simulation (RQS) and is a Fellow at the Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science (QuICS). His research focuses on quantum algorithms for simulating physical systems, algebraic problems, and quantum walk protocols, with applications in quantum computing and computational complexity. University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS) Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science (QuICS) NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute for Robust Quantum Simulation Childs' research spans quantum simulation, quantum Fourier transform, phase estimation, and Hamiltonian dynamics. He has developed techniques to reduce quantum computational resources for simulating quantum systems and explored limitations of quantum computers through hidden subgroup problems and non-unitary dynamics. His publications cover diverse areas including quantum walk optimization, Hamiltonian simulation methods, and applications to cryptography and condensed matter physics. Recent works address spatial search algorithms, product formulas for commutators, and quantum routing protocols. As an educator, Childs has taught courses on quantum algorithms and information processing at both the University of Maryland and University of Waterloo, with lecture notes and materials spanning multiple years. Contact: amchilds@umd.edu | Office: ATL 3359 | Affiliated with University of Maryland's quantum research institutes.
Cyrill Stachniss is a Full Professor at the University of Bonn , where he heads the Lab for Photogrammetry and Robotics and is affiliated with the Lamarr Institute for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence . He was previously a Visiting Professor in Engineering at the University of Oxford until 2025. His academic journey includes positions at the University of Freiburg, University of Zaragoza, and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. University: University of Bonn School: Faculty of Engineering Department: Department of Photogrammetry Academic Rank: Professor His research spans robotics, photogrammetry, SLAM, autonomous navigation, perception systems, agricultural robotics, and unmanned aerial vehicles . He emphasizes probabilistic techniques for mobile robots and has made significant contributions to visual and LiDAR-based localization, scene understanding, and 3D reconstruction. The recent publications highlight a strong trend toward neural implicit representations, agricultural phenotyping, radar-based perception, and active learning . His team develops robust systems for real-world deployment in dynamic and unstructured environments, particularly in precision farming and autonomous vehicles. Scientific Awards: IEEE RAS Early Career Award (2013) Microsoft Research Faculty Fellow (2010) 7th EURON Georges Giralt Award (2008) Multiple Best Paper Awards at ICRA, IROS, RSS, and RAL Faculty Teaching Award, University of Freiburg He has advised numerous students and leads the DFG Cluster of Excellence PhenoRob and Research Unit FOR 1505 Mapping on Demand . His lab has co-founded three startups, reflecting strong industry and societal impact. He also runs the educational video series 5 Minutes with Cyrill , explaining key robotics concepts.
Supratik Guha is a Professor at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and Senior Advisor to Argonne National Laboratory's Physical Sciences and Engineering directorate. His work bridges industrial R&D with academic and national lab research, focusing on quantum computing , semiconductor materials , and sensor networks for water and soil monitoring. Guha leads Argonne’s quantum information science strategy and serves as Faculty Director for the University of Chicago Center in Delhi. Education: PhD in Materials Science (USC, 1991), BTech in Engineering Physics (IIT Kharagpur, 1985) Research interests span multiple domains: Quantum technologies focusing on erbium-doped oxides for quantum memory and quantum interconnects Sensor networks for soil and water quality monitoring using cyberphysical systems Nanofabrication techniques including controlled spalling for heterogeneous material integration Advanced memory technologies exploring ferroelectric and optically addressable memory at atomic scales Scientific awards include: Election to National Academy of Engineering (2015) APS Prize for Industrial Applications of Physics (2015) Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellow (2018) Fellow of Materials Research Society and American Physical Society IBM Corporate Award (2013) Advising notable students like Manish Kumar Singh (co-founder memQ ), Cheng Ji (now at Intel), and Vamsi Nittala (now at Micron Technology). His group contributes to major DOE , NSF , and USDA funded projects including: Q-NEXT - DOE National Quantum Information Center AIFARMS - NSF/USDA AI for Agriculture Institute Thoreau Project - Geospatial sensor networks Labs and teams operate across University of Chicago and Argonne National Lab , with facilities for molecular beam epitaxy , nanofabrication , and optical/electrical characterization . The group has spawned startups like memQ (quantum networking) and K1 Semiconductors (wide-bandgap material transfer).
Professor Hanumant Singh leads the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at Northeastern University, with a joint appointment in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering , and serves as Program Director for the Master of Science in Robotics. He earned his Ph.D. from MIT/WHOI Joint Program in 1995 and has conducted over 60 expeditions globally, focusing on marine geology, polar studies, and coral reef ecology. His research emphasizes field robotics , including SLAM, underwater manipulation, and imaging in extreme environments. He developed the Seabed AUV and Jetyak ASV , widely used in scientific research. His labs include the Field Robotics Lab and the Institute for Experiential Robotics . Research Interests: Machine Learning for Fisheries SLAM with dynamic objects Underwater imaging and manipulation Autonomous surface and aerial systems Polar and marine robotics Awards: ICRA Best Student Paper Award, IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society Distinguished Faculty Award (2025), Lifetime Achievement Award (2022), and IEEE Fellow status. His work has been featured in Nature Geoscience , Polar Biology , and media outlets like WGBH. Students & Collaborations: Advises students like Srinidhi Pattala (MS Robotics) and Dennis Giaya (PhD Computer Engineering). Collaborates with institutions on projects such as Antarctic sea ice thickness estimation and deep-sea submersible missions.
Alanson Sample is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan (since 2018), leading the Interactive Sensing and Computing Lab. His research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction, Cyber-Physical Systems, and wireless technology innovations. He holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington (2011), with prior postdoctoral work there developing implantable medical devices. Before academia, Sample held senior roles at Disney Research (2013-2018) as Executive Lab Director and Principal Research Scientist, leading teams in Robotics, AI, Computer Vision, and HCI. Earlier, he worked at Intel Labs (2008-2013) on energy harvesting for wearables and IoT. Key research themes include wireless power systems, embedded sensing, and privacy-aware technologies. Over 150+ publications span topics like magnetic sensing (MagDesk), acoustic gesture recognition (HandSAW), and privacy-preserving activity tracking (PrivacyMic). His work bridges academic and industry innovation, particularly in scalable interactive systems and medical technology. Notable projects include the Quasistatic Cavity Resonance wireless charging system, RFID-based sensing platforms (WISP), and wearable health monitoring devices. His lab develops hardware-software co-design frameworks for energy-efficient embedded systems. Current research emphasizes medical applications, smart infrastructure, and ubiquitous computing interfaces.
David W. Jacobs is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Maryland, with a joint appointment at the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS). He also served as the interim Director of the University of Maryland Center for Machine Learning starting in 2018. University: University of Maryland School: College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences Department: Department of Computer Science Academic Rank: Professor Education: He received his B.A. from Yale University, and M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science from MIT. Research Interests: His research primarily focuses on computer vision and machine learning, particularly visual object recognition, lighting variation modeling, 3D reconstruction, perceptual organization, motion understanding, and the integration of vision with graphics and human-computer interaction. A major applied contribution is the development of Leafsnap , an electronic field guide app for plant identification, which has been downloaded over 1.5 million times and used in biodiversity and educational contexts. Publication Trends: His recent scholarly output centers on deep learning, convolutional networks, residual architectures, generative models (especially GANs), and interpretability. His work often bridges theoretical insights with practical applications in vision and AI. Scientific Awards: Honorable Mention, Best Paper Award, CVPR 2000 Best Student Paper Award, UIST 2003 Best Paper Award, Eurographics 2016 2011 Edward O. Wilson Biodiversity Technology Pioneer Award for Leafsnap Teaching and Advising: He has taught advanced courses such as CMSC 422 (Introduction to Machine Learning) and CMSC 828L (Deep Learning). He mentors students through course projects and research, though specific advisees are not listed. He has collaborated with institutions like Columbia University and the Smithsonian on impactful interdisciplinary projects. Labs and Teams: He is affiliated with UMIACS and leads research efforts in vision and learning, contributing to the University of Maryland Center for Machine Learning. His team has developed several mobile applications including Leafsnap, Birdsnap, and Dogsnap, demonstrating a strong focus on real-world deployment of vision technology.
David Lindlbauer is an Assistant Professor at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII) of Carnegie Mellon University, where he leads the Augmented Perception Lab and co-directs the CMU Extended Reality Technology Center. His research bridges human perception, extended reality (AR/VR), and computational interaction techniques, focusing on developing systems that dynamically adapt interface elements based on environmental context, user cognition, and task requirements. He completed his PhD at TU Berlin under Prof. Marc Alexa and held a postdoctoral position at ETH Zurich's Advanced Interactive Technologies lab. His work has been published extensively at top venues including ACM CHI, UIST, and IEEE VR, with research themes spanning gaze tracking, spatial audio optimization, haptic feedback, and multimodal notification systems. Media outlets like MIT Technology Review and Fast Company Design have featured his innovations. Dr. Lindlbauer has received prestigious grants from Meta, NSF, and ETH Zurich, and serves on program committees for CHI, UIST, and ISMAR. He has been recognized with Best Paper awards at ISS 2023 and CHI 2016, and his lab develops tools like MineXR for personalized XR interfaces and RealityReplay for temporal change visualization in mixed reality environments.
Dr. Jonathan Bright is a Senior Research Fellow and Associate Professor at the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford , specializing in computational approaches to the social and political sciences. His research explores how digital technologies reshape political participation and how new data sources enhance governmental decision-making. Research Interests: Focused on social media, political behavior, computational social science, and big data , Bright’s work addresses digital governance, algorithmic bureaucracy, and the dynamics of political fragmentation online. His empirical studies span open government data usage, crowdsourced geographical information, and the impact of neighborhood effects on data completeness. Scientific Contributions: Leading studies on algorithmic governance in UK local authorities (2020) Investigating geodemographic biases in crowdsourced platforms like OpenStreetMap (2018) Mapping political fragmentation in social media ecosystems (2018) Grants & Collaborations: Funded by UK taxpayers, ESRC, and Google, his work intersects with projects on vaccine misinformation, hate speech monitoring, and digital economies. Formerly held positions as Research Fellow and Research Associate at OII from 2013 to present.
Dr. Juan Alvaro Gallego is a Senior Lecturer (equivalent to Associate Professor) in the Department of Bioengineering at Imperial College London's Faculty of Engineering. He leads the Behaviour and Neural Dynamics Lab (Be.Neural), a multidisciplinary team focused on understanding neural mechanisms underlying motor control and spinal cord learning, with applications in developing neural interfaces to restore movement in conditions like Parkinson’s disease and paralysis. His research integrates behavioral experiments, neural recordings, data analysis, and computational models, funded by the ERC, EPSRC, ARIA, and industry partners like InBrain Neuroelectronics and Meta Reality Labs. Research interests include motor control, neural dynamics, and clinical applications of neural engineering. The lab collaborates across systems neuroscience and biomedical engineering, aiming to translate fundamental discoveries into therapeutic technologies. Key areas of focus include neural manifolds, synaptic plasticity in motor learning, and closed-loop neuroprosthetics for tremor management. Funding sources include the European Research Council, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, and industry collaborations. The Be.Neural Lab’s work is showcased on their dedicated website (https://beneural.ic.ac.uk).
Alexander Gorodnik is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Zurich, focusing on the interplay between dynamical systems and number theory. His work bridges ergodic theory, homogeneous dynamics, and Diophantine approximation, with applications to arithmetic counting problems and geometric distribution of lattice orbits. Current lectures include MAT121: Analysis I and MAT221: Analysis III at the University of Zurich Co-author of the book The ergodic theory of lattice subgroups (Princeton University Press, 2010) Editor of the journal Ergodic Theory and Dynamical Systems His research explores Diophantine approximation through dynamical systems, investigating how orbits of group actions distribute in homogeneous spaces. Key topics include mixing properties , central limit theorems , and metric theorems for multiplicative approximation. Recent publications address automorphic density estimates , discrepancy in intrinsic Diophantine approximation , and effective equidistribution of translated measures. His work often employs tools from representation theory and spectral analysis . Current working group members include Zhiyuan Deng , Zouhair Ouaggag , and Yuval Yifrach . He has taught courses at institutions in Zurich, Bristol, Princeton, and Mumbai, with lecture materials covering topics from ergodic theorems to Každan's property (T) .
Britt Adamson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics at Princeton University, where she serves as Director of the Undergraduate Program in Quantitative and Computational Biology. Her lab investigates molecular networks in human cells with focus on stress response mechanisms and genome editing technologies. She received her B.S. in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2005) and Ph.D. in Genetics and Genomics from Harvard University (2012), followed by postdoctoral training at UCSF under Jonathan Weissman supported by a Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Fellowship. Adamson's research centers on how cells organize stress response networks during DNA damage and endoplasmic reticulum stress, developing CRISPR-based functional genomics and single-cell sequencing tools to map molecular behaviors. Her work bridges fundamental cell biology with therapeutic applications in genome editing. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals dominant themes in precision genome editing (prime/base editing optimization) and systematic dissection of DNA repair pathways through combinatorial CRISPR screening. Her lab consistently integrates computational approaches with high-resolution experimental techniques to uncover context-dependent cellular behaviors. Her scientific recognitions include: Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship Princeton IP Accelerator Award (2025) STAT Who to Know: 10 Scientists leading a new generation of gene editors (2024) Adamson actively mentors eight graduate students (including alumni Ann Cirincione and Jun Hussmann) and two postdocs, with research funded through institutional awards and collaborative grants. Her lab's technological developments have enabled projects spanning virology, immunology, and developmental biology. The Adamson Lab operates within Princeton's Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, fostering an interdisciplinary environment that merges cell biology, genomics, and computational science. Current projects focus on improving prime editing efficiency and understanding stress response adaptation in disease contexts.
Dr. Birgit Frauscher is the Lincoln Financial Group Distinguished Professor in Neurobiology at Duke University School of Medicine, where she serves as Professor of Neurology and holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Duke Pratt School of Engineering. She is currently the Director of the Duke Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and leads the Analytical Neurophysiology (ANPHY) Lab. Her clinical and research work focuses on epilepsy and sleep medicine, utilizing both invasive and non-invasive electrical recordings to study brain activity in humans. Dr. Frauscher completed her medical training, neurology residency, and subspecialty training in electroencephalography, epilepsy, and sleep medicine at the Medical University of Innsbruck in Austria. After completing her clinical training in 2008, she earned her habilitation degree in 2011. She further specialized in intracranial EEG and signal analysis during a visiting professorship at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University (2013-2015), where she later served as an Attending Epileptologist and Group Leader of Epilepsy. Her research interests focus on developing novel seizure-independent EEG markers for the epileptogenic zone, investigating sleep-epilepsy interactions, and using intracranial EEG to study brain physiology during wakefulness and sleep. Her work aims to improve epilepsy diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment outcomes by better localizing the epileptic focus. Dr. Frauscher's recent publications demonstrate her continued leadership in epilepsy research, with over 170 peer-reviewed papers and an H-index of 62. Dr. Frauscher has received several prestigious awards including the Clinician-Scientist awards of the FRSQ (2018-2023), the Michael Prize of the International League against Epilepsy (2019), and the Ernst Niedermeyer Prize from the Austrian Epilepsy Society (2015). Her scholarly work has significantly advanced clinical knowledge in epilepsy and sleep medicine, establishing her as a leading figure in the field. As Director of the Duke Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and head of the ANPHY lab, Dr. Frauscher oversees a research program dedicated to advancing neuroscience through innovative approaches to studying brain activity. Her lab employs quantifiable tools to investigate neurophysiological and pathological processes related to epilepsy and sleep, with the ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes through better understanding of brain function.
