Fabio Sigrist is a Professor of Applied Statistics and Data Science at the Institute of Financial Services Zug (IFZ) , part of the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts . He also holds a Senior Scientist and Lecturer position at the Seminar for Statistics, ETH Zurich . His career spans academic research, industry consulting, and project leadership in finance and data science. PhD in Statistics (2013), ETH Zurich MSc in Mathematics with distinction (2008), ETH Zurich MEd in Mathematics Education (2008), ETH Zurich Sigrist’s research focuses on integrating Machine Learning with Spatial Statistics for applications in Financial Econometrics and Credit Risk . His work includes developing novel algorithms like GPBoost and KTBoost , advancing spatio-temporal modeling , and applying tree-based boosting to financial problems. Projects such as CreHos (credit risk in hospitality) and NISMO (interpretable real estate modeling) highlight his interdisciplinary approach. His publications address challenges in large-scale spatial data , loss given default modeling , and stock volatility prediction . He contributes to software development with tools like spate (R package) and varycoef (spatially varying coefficients).
Justin Wan is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Waterloo. His research focuses on scientific computing, medical image processing, computational finance, and machine learning. He holds a Ph.D. from UCLA (1998), an M.A. from UCLA (1995), and a B.Sc. from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (1992). Wan’s work bridges numerical methods, optimization, and deep learning, with applications in financial modeling, medical imaging, and fluid dynamics. His research interests include advanced techniques in scientific computing (e.g., multigrid methods), computer graphics simulation, and medical image enhancement (e.g., CT scan artifact reduction). He has pioneered applications of machine learning to computational finance, including option pricing and hedging using deep neural networks and GANs. His recent work explores denoising diffusion models and multi-agent systems for optimal execution in finance. Publications span topics like volatility surface computation, optimal mass transport for image registration, and parallel solvers for fluid dynamics. His methods address challenges in high-dimensional problems, robust numerical valuation, and scalable algorithms for large datasets. Wan collaborates across disciplines, integrating mathematical rigor with practical engineering solutions.
Petter N. Kolm serves as a Clinical Professor of Mathematics and Program Director at New York University, with his office located in Warren Weaver Hall (520). He can be contacted at petter.kolm@nyu.edu or 212-998-4855, and holds an editorial board position at the Journal of Portfolio Management. His academic qualifications include: Doctorate in Mathematics from Yale University M.Phil. in Applied Mathematics from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm M.S. in Mathematics from ETH Zurich Dr. Kolm's research centers on quantitative finance, with primary focus areas including quantitative trading strategies, delegated portfolio management, financial econometrics, risk management, and optimal portfolio strategies. His work integrates advanced mathematical modeling with practical investment applications, bridging theoretical frameworks and real-world market dynamics through rigorous empirical analysis. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals consistent emphasis on portfolio optimization techniques—particularly Bayesian methods and the Black-Litterman model—alongside significant contributions to algorithmic trading systems, factor-based equity portfolio construction, and machine learning applications for financial sentiment analysis. His scholarly output demonstrates evolution from foundational portfolio theory toward contemporary computational finance challenges. As Program Director, Dr. Kolm oversees academic programming and likely mentors graduate students in quantitative finance, though specific advisee details are not documented. His prior industry role at Goldman Sachs Asset Management provided direct experience in developing hedge fund strategies, informing his applied research approach. Dr. Kolm's professional trajectory includes significant industry engagement through his tenure in Goldman Sachs' Quantitative Strategies Group, where he developed quantitative investment systems. His current academic leadership position leverages this practical experience to shape quantitative finance education and research at NYU.
John Psarras is a Professor at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, specifically within the Division of Industrial Electric Devices and Decision Systems. He serves as the Director of the Decision Support Systems Laboratory (DSSlab) and the University Research Institute of Communication and Computer Systems. He holds a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (1982) and a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering (1989), both from NTUA. His research specializes in decision support systems with applications in energy management, environmental analysis, and information systems. Key areas include: Multi-criteria analysis for energy policy and renewable integration AI-driven optimization of smart grids and building efficiency Sustainable finance mechanisms for green projects Blockchain applications in education and data security His recent publications (2023–2025) demonstrate a strong focus on AI-enhanced decision tools for energy transitions, smart infrastructure, healthcare diagnostics, and cross-border renewable cooperation, reflecting interdisciplinary innovation. He has supervised 22 PhD theses and coordinates EU-funded projects in energy policy, clean technology, and capacity building. No scientific awards are listed in available sources. He leads the Decision Support Systems Laboratory (DSSlab), advancing research in energy analytics, and directs the University Research Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, facilitating large-scale interdisciplinary collaborations.
Mohsen Lesani is an Associate Professor in the Computer Science and Engineering Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz's Baskin School of Engineering. His research focuses on reliability and security of software systems, particularly concurrent and distributed systems, with recent emphasis on secure replicated systems and distributed machine learning. Dr. Lesani received his PhD from UCLA, MS in artificial intelligence from Sharif University of Technology, and BS in software engineering from University of Tehran. He was previously a postdoc at MIT. His educational background provides a strong foundation for his interdisciplinary research spanning programming languages, distributed systems, and security. His research interests center on creating reliable and secure distributed systems. Current projects include resilient and secure distributed systems, heterogeneous and reconfigurable secure distributed systems, automatic analysis and synthesis of replicated objects, verification of distributed systems, data analytics, secure exchange across blockchains, machine learning for performance models, domain-specific languages and type systems, and automatic fence insertion for concurrent systems. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical implementations to address real-world challenges in distributed computing. Lesani's research has been recognized with several prestigious awards including the NSF CAREER award in 2020 and DARPA YFA award in 2022. His work has also received the SIGPLAN Research Highlight in 2019, a distinguished paper award at OOPSLA 2018, and a best paper award at ISSRE 2015. These accolades reflect the impact and quality of his contributions to the field. He actively mentors PhD students in the Safe and Secure Software (S3) lab, including Xiao Li, Eric Chan, Javad Saber-Latibari, and Tejas Mane. His research has been supported by multiple NSF grants, demonstrating sustained funding for his innovative work. Lesani serves on program committees for major conferences including POPL, PLDI, OOPSLA, and DISC, contributing to the academic community. Lesani leads the Safe and Secure Software (S3) lab at UC Santa Cruz, where his team works on cutting-edge research in distributed systems, programming languages, and security. The lab fosters a collaborative environment where theoretical insights are translated into practical systems that address real-world challenges in reliability and security of distributed applications.
Fangzhou LU is an Assistant Professor of Finance at the HKU Business School, The University of Hong Kong, since 2020. His research focuses on fintech, cryptocurrency, behavioral finance, and China's economic development. He received his academic training at prestigious institutions: PhD and MS in Financial Economics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 2020 BS in Business from New York University, Stern School of Business, 2014 Dr. Lu's research interests encompass Fintech, Cryptocurrency, Behavioral Finance, Entrepreneurial Finance, Household Finance, Emerging Markets, consumption, fiscal stimulus, bond markets, and China's economic development. His work often leverages large datasets from China to examine how technological innovations and government policies impact financial markets and firm behavior, particularly during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward applied research in emerging markets, with significant contributions on SPAC IPOs, government subsidy effectiveness for failing firms, and stock market informativeness in China. These works appear in top finance journals including the Journal of Financial Economics and Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, highlighting his expertise at the intersection of finance, technology, and policy analysis.
Özüm Asirim is a Researcher at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) under the Associate Professorship of Computational Photonics led by Prof. Christian Jirauschek. Her work focuses on computational photonics , quantum optics , and nonlinear optical phenomena , particularly in micro-resonators and semiconductor devices. Education: Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Middle East Technical University (Ankara, Turkey). Research spans optical parametric amplification , Fourier domain mode-locked lasers , self-phase modulation , and machine learning applications in photonics . Her studies include optimizing gain factors, enhancing harmonic generation, and modeling supercontinuum sources via carrier injection. Recent publications (2019–2023) highlight interdisciplinary approaches, merging photonics with computational finance and nonlinear dynamics . She contributes to EU Project QOMBS and teaches courses like Python for Engineering Data Analysis and Quantum Engineering and Machine Learning seminars. Collaborations include Prof. Christian Jirauschek (TUM), Prof. Mustafa Kuzuoğlu (Middle East Technical University), and teams in computational photonics and quantum optics. Her work impacts semiconductor physics , laser technology , and adaptive optical systems .
Jeff Shamma is the Department Head and Professor of Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering (ISE) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, holding the Jerry S. Dobrovolny Chair. He is also courtesy Professor in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Science and Engineering. Formerly, he held the Julian T. Hightower Chair at Georgia Institute of Technology and faculty positions at KAUST. Dr. Shamma earned his PhD in Systems Science and Engineering from MIT (1988) and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech (1983). He is a Fellow of IEEE and IFAC, recipient of the IFAC High Impact Paper Award, AACC Donald P. Eckman Award, and NSF Young Investigator Award. His research spans Decision and Control , Game Theory , and Multi-Agent Systems , focusing on human-machine networks, distributed autonomy, and adaptive robotic systems. Recent work examines crowd dynamics, risk-sensitive control, and feedback linearization for constrained optimization. Jeff has served as Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Transactions on Control of Network Systems (2020–2024) and held editorial roles in journals like Annual Reviews in Control and IEEE Transactions on Robotics . His 15 most recent publications (2024–2025) analyze learning dynamics, multi-agent optimization, and UAV-crawler systems, reflecting trends in autonomous systems, game-theoretic modeling, and industrial inspection technologies. Scientific distinctions include: Fellow of IEEE and IFAC IFAC High Impact Paper Award (2020) AACC Donald P. Eckman Award (1996) NSF Young Investigator Award (1992) Mohammed Dahleh Distinguished Lecture Award (2013) Dr. Shamma advises current PhD students Hassan Abdelraouf, Aya Hamed, and Nawaf Otaibi, with former advisees including Sarah Toonsi (2025) and Fat-hy Rajab (2025). His lab integrates theoretical research with applied projects like FalconScan, a UAV-crawler system for industrial inspection, and develops magnetic legs for curved surface UAV landing.
John Armour is a Professor of Law and Finance at the University of Oxford, serving as Dean of the Faculty of Law and Chair of the Law Board. He holds fellowships at the British Academy and the European Corporate Governance Institute. His research focuses on integrating legal and economic analysis, particularly in corporate governance, financial regulation, and corporate insolvency law. He previously held roles at the University of Cambridge and has been a visiting scholar at institutions such as the University of Chicago and the Max Planck Institute. Armour’s educational background includes an MA and BCL from the University of Oxford and an LLM from Yale Law School. He has contributed to major policy projects for the UK government, the World Bank, and the European Commission. His editorial roles include Executive Editor of the Journal of Corporate Law Studies and Journal of Law, Finance and Accounting . Research Interests: Corporate law, financial regulation, insolvency frameworks, and the real-world economic impacts of legal changes. Policy Engagement: Advised UK regulators (BEIS, FCA) and international bodies on corporate governance and financial stability. Awards: Fellow of the British Academy and European Corporate Governance Institute. Armour teaches courses such as Company Law, Principles of Financial Regulation, and Comparative Corporate Law. His recent work explores climate-related corporate commitments and AI’s role in legal practice, including initiatives like the Unlocking the Potential of AI for English Law project.
George Athanasopoulos is Professor and Head of the Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics at Monash University, a position he has held since 2022. He was appointed Professor in 2019 and has established himself as an internationally recognized expert in forecasting, time series analysis, and applied econometrics. He serves as Past President (since 2024) and former Director (2014-2024) of the International Institute of Forecasters, and is Associate Editor of the International Journal of Forecasting since 2014. His research focuses on hierarchical and grouped time series forecasting, where he has pioneered methods for forecast reconciliation and cross-temporal coherence. His work has significantly influenced forecasting practices across diverse fields including national statistics offices, energy markets, and public health. He is particularly renowned for his contributions to tourism forecasting and macroeconomic modeling in big data environments. Awarded the Australian Awards for University Teaching in 2022 for outstanding contributions to student learning, Professor Athanasopoulos has also received multiple Dean's Awards from Monash Business School for research excellence, teaching innovation, and publication quality. His research output includes over 49 publications and leadership of six major research projects, including the ARC-funded 'Macroeconomic forecasting in a Big Data world' and the RACE for 2030 CRC project on clean energy forecasting. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals through applications in economic forecasting, energy modeling, and sustainable tourism development. He has supervised numerous research students and collaborated extensively with institutions including Australian National University, Griffith University, and international partners across multiple continents.
Prof. Dr. Peter Gomber is a Professor of e-Finance at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration , Goethe University Frankfurt, since 2004. He co-chairs the Data Science Institute (efl) and holds adjunct professorships at the University of Bamberg (2004), Mannheim (2009), and Luxembourg (2018). His roles include board memberships at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, Clearstream Banking AG, and advisory positions for European regulatory bodies. Education : Diplom-Kaufmann in Economics, University of Gießen (1999), PhD in Business Informatics. Research Interests focus on market microstructure , FinTech , electronic trading , and regulatory impacts on financial markets. His work explores algorithmic trading , liquidity dynamics , and AI-driven compliance . Publication Trends (15 most recent) emphasize digital finance , market fragmentation , regulatory analysis , and AI applications in trading and compliance. Key subfields include blockchain , high-frequency trading , and news-driven liquidity shocks . Scientific Awards : Reuters Innovation Award (2000) Hochschulpreis des Deutschen Aktieninstituts (1999) IBM SUR Grant (2007) Best Paper Awards (multiple conferences) Best Information Systems Publications Award (2020) Advising & Grants : Teaches in executive programs (Goethe Business School, Amsterdam Institute of Finance). Secured grants from public/private institutions, including a U.S. patent for market model innovation. Labs & Teams : Leads the e-Finance professorship and contributes to the Data Science Institute (efl) , fostering industry-academia collaborations with Deutsche Börse, Capveriant, and others.
Tomasz Strzalecki is a Professor in the Department of Economics at Harvard University. His research centers on decision theory, with a focus on ambiguity aversion , temporal preferences , stochastic choice , and bounded rationality . He earned his PhD in Economics from Northwestern University in 2008. Education: PhD in Economics (2008), Northwestern University His scholarly work spans theoretical and applied economics, including key contributions to random utility models , dynamic decision-making , and neuroeconomic modeling . Recent publications, such as Stochastic Choice Theory (2025) and Variational Bayes and non-Bayesian Updating (2024), reflect his ongoing exploration of Bayesian inference and behavioral deviations. Earlier work in Econometrica and American Economic Review established foundational models for choice aversion , time inconsistency , and ambiguity evaluation . Tomasz’s research has been published in top journals like Econometrica , American Economic Review , and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , covering themes such as probabilistic sophistication , decision timing , and collective action in development economics. His co-authors include prominent economists like Drew Fudenberg, Mira Frick, and Larry Epstein.
Professor Paul A. Raschky is affiliated with the Department of Economics at Monash University , where he also directs the SoDa Labs and co-founded the KASPR Datahaus PTY LTD and IP Observatory . His academic focus spans Political Economy , Environmental Economics , Insurance Economics , and Development Economics , with a specialization in natural hazards and data science applications. Education: PhD (University of Innsbruck, 2008), with a postdoctoral research visit at the Wharton School . Research: Explores intersections of disaster risk , governance , and economic development , leveraging machine learning and big data . Recent Publications: Focus on generative AI productivity , ethnic favoritism , disaster insurance , and conflict economics . Awards: Recipient of the ABDC Award for Innovation and Excellence in Research (2022) and Dean’s Excellence in Research Award (2016) . Projects: Leads initiatives on internet suppression in Myanmar , news media availability , and AI-driven policy insights in South-East Asia and the Pacific. Future Work: Will be on sabbatical in 2025 , likely expanding on AI applications and disaster resilience .
Liu Lili is a Lecturer (Educator Track) in the Department of Computer Science at the School of Computing, National University of Singapore. She holds a Ph.D. from Nanyang Technological University and a Master's in Computer Science from Shanghai University. Prior to NUS, she served as a Senior Research Scientist at Singapore Polytechnic and a Scientist at A*STAR's Institute of High-Performance Computing. Her research focuses on Machine Learning, Computer Vision, and Multi-modal Learning, with applications in FinTech, Social Media Analysis, and Algorithms & Theory. Notable projects include AI-driven coating inspection systems for marine assets and behavioral competency assessment tools for navigational safety. She has contributed to robotics for construction quality assessment and interactive virtual environments for rehabilitation. Liu's publications span AI applications in finance, robotics, and material science, reflecting her expertise in bridging theoretical computer science with practical industrial solutions. Her work emphasizes automation, anomaly detection, and multi-modal data integration.
Dr. Liyi Zhou is a Lecturer in the School of Computer Science at the University of Sydney, specializing in systems security, blockchain, and AI. His research focuses on developing automated and adaptive security tools using machine learning and reinforcement learning. He co-founded D23E.ch, a platform addressing blockchain security and privacy challenges. Research interests include AI-driven vulnerability detection, large security models, real-time intrusion prevention, advanced program analysis (fuzzing/symbolic execution), and privacy-preserving systems. He actively recruits PhD students for projects advancing AI in cybersecurity. Notable achievements include pioneering 'sandwich attacks' discovery in DeFi protocols, contributing to Ethereum Foundation grants, and receiving bug bounties from Flashbots and Ethereum Foundation for vulnerability disclosures. His work has been published in venues like IEEE S&P, USENIX Security, and SIGMETRICS. Teaching includes the course INFO2222. He seeks collaborations and funding to bridge academic research with real-world industry problems, emphasizing practical impact.
