Nelson Nicolas Higuera Ruiz is a PreDoc Researcher at the Vienna University of Technology, affiliated with the Faculty of Informatics' Knowledge-Based Systems research group. His work bridges logic programming and deep learning for explainable AI. Research Focus: Neurosymbolic AI, Visual Question Answering (VQA), Answer Set Programming (ASP), and hybrid reasoning systems Projects: Leads optimization research in the LCS (2017–2025) project, developing neurosymbolic approaches for intelligent systems Key Contributions: Pioneering adaptive large-neighbourhood search algorithms for ASP optimization, modular neurosymbolic architectures, and contrastive explainability frameworks for VQA Collaborations: Active in international workshops and conferences including IJCAI, AAAI, and CLeaR, frequently collaborating with researchers like Thomas Eiter and Johannes Oetsch Publications: Focus on neurosymbolic integration, optimization algorithms, and explainability across AI, logic programming, and computer vision domains
National and Kapodistrian University of AthensGreece
Nicholas V. Sarlis is a Professor of Experimental Solid State Physics at the Department of Physics , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens since 2017. With an h-index ≥36, he has authored 2 monographs, >155 peer-reviewed publications, and 80 conference communications. B.Sc. in Physics (1991), National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Ph.D. in Physics (1997), National and Kapodistrian University of Athens His research applies Natural Time Analysis to: Earthquake precursor identification Space weather and cosmic ray studies Climate phenomenon prediction (El Niño) Fracture mechanics and complex systems Seismicity and geoelectric field correlations Non-extensive statistical mechanics applications Recent work includes analyzing seismic entropy changes under time reversal and developing earthquake nowcasting systems. Publications span 2025's Statistical mechanics in geophysical contexts to 2024's cross-disciplinary disaster prediction tools.
Alan Fern is a Professor of Computer Science and Robotics in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Oregon State University. He leads research in artificial intelligence, focusing on reinforcement learning, planning, and robotics applications like humanoid robotics and agricultural AI. His work includes co-directing the Dynamic Robotics Lab and leading the AgAID National AI Institute for agricultural solutions. Fern holds a Ph.D. from Purdue University and has contributed to over 100 publications. His recognitions include the NSF CAREER Award and multiple best paper awards. Education: B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Maine (1997) M.S. & Ph.D., Computer Engineering, Purdue University (2000 & 2004) Research Interests: His research spans machine learning, planning, and robotics. Key areas include: AI for humanoid robotics (e.g., bipedal locomotion on Cassie) Reinforcement learning algorithms and applications Agricultural AI for specialty crops Explainable AI and anomaly detection Awards: 2017 College of Engineering Research Collaboration Award 2013 AAAI Outstanding Paper Award 2006 NSF CAREER Award Advising & Labs: Supervised over 50 students. Key collaborations include the Dynamic Robotics Lab (with Jonathan Hurst) and AgAID. His teams address challenges like robot navigation, policy learning, and AI ethics. Labs/Teams: Dynamic Robotics Lab, AgAID National AI Institute, and contributions to computational sustainability initiatives.
Kangkang Yin is an Associate Professor in the School of Computing Science at Simon Fraser University (SFU). His research focuses on computer animation, computer graphics, humanoid robotics, machine learning, and multimedia analysis. He teaches courses such as Computer Animation and Scientific Computing, and holds a PhD from the University of British Columbia (2007), MSc from Zhejiang University (2000), and BSc from Zhejiang University (1997). His work bridges robotics and animation through projects like physics-based character controllers, motion diffusion models, and robotic manipulation. Key contributions include the SIMBICON biped locomotion framework and research into emotion-driven dance animation. Recent efforts emphasize reinforcement learning applications in motion synthesis and robust visual navigation for unmanned ground vehicles. Yin's publications span over two decades, addressing challenges in motion control, physics-based simulation, and machine learning applications. His lab contributes to both academic advancements and practical robotics solutions. Current research trends show strong emphasis on combining generative AI with traditional animation techniques, as seen in recent work on auto-regressive motion models (AAMDM) and physics-augmented reinforcement learning (PARC).
State University of New York at BuffaloUnited States
Jee Eun (Jamie) Kang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University at Buffalo's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Research focuses on transportation modeling and applied operations research, with applications in urban mobility, shared autonomous vehicles, and sustainable transportation systems. Education includes a PhD from UC Irvine. Research emphasizes data-driven approaches to travel behavior, electric vehicle adoption, and humanitarian logistics. Publications consistently address mobility innovation, including pricing strategies for emerging services, predictive analytics for transit, and optimization of shared transportation systems.
Dr. Gregory V Cesana is an Associate Research Scientist at Columbia University's Center for Climate Systems Research (CCSR), affiliated with the Columbia Climate School. He holds a B.S. (2005) and M.Sc. (2007) in Atmosphere/Ocean/Soil Remote Sensing from the University of Toulon and a Ph.D. from Sorbonne Université (2013). His career includes postdoctoral work at Caltech/NASA JPL and current collaboration with NASA GISS to improve climate models using satellite data. Research focuses on cloud processes, radiative feedbacks, and model evaluation using A-train satellite observations (CALIPSO, CloudSat). Key interests include low-cloud feedbacks, cloud-phase transitions, and reducing climate uncertainty. Projects include applying satellite data to constrain climate model biases and developing observational frameworks for future missions. Education: University of Toulon (B.S./M.Sc.), Sorbonne Université (Ph.D.) Affiliations: Columbia CCSR, NASA GISS, and international collaborations Publications highlight advancements in cloud-radiation interactions, model evaluation techniques, and Arctic/Southern Ocean climate dynamics. Expertise spans remote sensing (lidar/radar), climate modeling, and satellite data integration.
Dr. Sara Ahmadian is a Researcher at the University of Waterloo's Department of Combinatorics and Optimization. She completed her Ph.D. in 2017 under the supervision of Prof. Chaitanya Swamy, earning the 2017 University of Waterloo Outstanding Achievement in Graduate Studies award. Her research focuses on designing efficient algorithms for optimization problems in machine learning and big data analysis, particularly in facility location and clustering. She has held visiting research positions at the University of Alberta, Hausdorff Research Institute for Mathematics, and École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne. Education: Ph.D. in Combinatorics and Optimization, University of Waterloo (2017) Master's in Combinatorics and Optimization, University of Waterloo (2010) Bachelor's in Computer Engineering, Sharif University of Technology (2008) Research interests include approximation algorithms, online algorithms, and algorithmic game theory applied to clustering and facility location problems. Her work has led to advancements in k-means and k-median problems, with a notable improvement in the fundamental k-means algorithm. Scientific Awards: 2017 University of Waterloo Outstanding Achievement in Graduate Studies (Ph.D.) designation Advising and Grants: No specific advising or grant information is provided in the text. Labs/Teams: No specific lab or team affiliations mentioned.
Juan Pedro Gómez is a Professor of Finance at IE University, specializing in the intersection of economics, data analysis, and modern financial systems. He holds a Doctorate in Economics and contributes to IE University's innovative Bachelor in Economics program, emphasizing the application of technology-driven methodologies to economic theory. His research focuses on human behavior in investment contexts, international asset pricing, and the evolving role of data in economic decision-making. Dr. Gómez's academic work bridges traditional economic principles with contemporary challenges, such as automation, big data, and global market dynamics. He has published extensively in journals like the Journal of Finance and Journal of Economic Theory , addressing topics ranging from mutual fund compensation structures to pandemic forecasting using unconventional datasets. His teaching philosophy emphasizes equipping students with skills in data analysis and econometrics to address real-world economic problems. He advocates for economics education that integrates digital transformation and global perspectives to prepare future professionals for tech-driven economies.
Jean-Marc Jezequel is a Professor of Software Engineering at University of Rennes , affiliated with CNRS , Inria , IRISA , and Institut Universitaire de France (IUF) . His research focuses on Model-Driven Engineering , Software Product Lines , Dynamic Adaptation , and Executable Meta-languages . Key Contributions : Pioneering work in aspect-oriented and model-driven approaches for software evolution Foundational research on model transformations (e.g., UMLAUT framework) Advances in testing and validation of distributed systems Research Trends from his recent publications include: Intelligent modeling assistance integrating machine learning Contextual variability modeling for complex systems Runtime model execution for self-adaptive systems Formal methods and constraint resolution for UML validation Collaborations include researchers from Luxembourg, Montreal, Colorado State University, and INRIA.
Diego Patiño is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), a position he began in September 2024. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from the National University of Colombia in 2020, following M.S. and B.S. degrees from the same institution. Prior to joining UTA, he served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Drexel University and a Postdoctoral Researcher at the GRASP Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania. B.S. in Computer Engineering, National University of Colombia, 2010 M.S. in Computer Engineering, National University of Colombia, 2012 Ph.D. in Computer Engineering, National University of Colombia, 2020 Dr. Patiño's research centers on geometric computer vision and machine learning, with applications in robotics and 3D vision. His primary interests include 3D reconstruction, graph neural networks, symmetry detection, physics-informed machine learning, and reinforcement learning. He develops algorithms that integrate geometric priors and physical constraints into deep learning models to improve robustness and generalization in real-world robotic systems. His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend in leveraging implicit neural representations for 3D shape reconstruction, applying graph neural networks to swarm robotics, and enhancing computer vision tasks with self-supervised and physics-informed learning. Work spans high-impact venues such as IEEE RA-L, ICRA, ICPR, and MICCAI, showing a consistent focus on geometric reasoning, robotic perception, and medical imaging applications. His scientific contributions have been recognized with awards from the UTA Division of Student Affairs for exceptional dedication and positive impact (2024 and 2025). He is actively involved in securing research funding, with multiple grants under review from NSF, Air Force SBIR, and industry partners like Sony. Exceptional dedication and positive impact recognition, UTA Division of Student Affairs (December 9, 2024) Exceptional dedication and positive impact recognition, UTA Division of Student Affairs (April 30, 2025) Dr. Patiño advises and serves on committees for multiple graduate students in computer science and engineering, including doctoral and master’s candidates. He is also leading or co-leading several research grants under review, covering topics such as aerial swarm navigation, neuromorphic sensing, and industrial computer vision. He teaches graduate courses in computer vision and is involved in service roles including PhD admissions and faculty appointments committees. He is affiliated with research initiatives at UTA, including the UTARI Research Institute, where he has presented on geometric modeling and physics-informed learning. His lab focuses on developing next-generation computer vision algorithms for robotics, industrial inspection, and safety-critical systems.
Mohamed Sarwat is an Associate Professor at Arizona State University specializing in databases , spatial data management , and recommender systems . His research focuses on GeoSpark —a cluster computing framework for spatial data—and its extensions like GeoSparkViz for visualization and GeoSparkSim for traffic simulation. Key Contributions: LARS* (Location-Aware Recommender System), Horton* (Graph Reachability), Sindbad (GeoSocial Platform), and Riso-Tree (Graph Database Indexing) Research Themes: Integration of spatial/temporal data with machine learning, efficient indexing for big geospatial datasets, and scalable frameworks for mobility data science His work spans collaborations with 23+ co-authors across institutions like University of Minnesota, University of Melbourne, and University of Salzburg. Current projects emphasize GeoTorchAI —a spatiotemporal deep learning system—and mobility data science infrastructure.
Hsiao-Dong Chiang is a Professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Cornell University. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and has made significant contributions to nonlinear system theory and power system stability. His research spans theoretical development and practical applications in electric power systems, nonlinear optimization, and machine learning. B.S., Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, 1979 M.S., Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, 1981 Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 1986 Chiang's research interests focus on nonlinear system theory , power system stability and control , nonlinear optimization , and their applications to modern power grids with high penetration of inverter-based resources. He is renowned for developing the BCU method and TRUST-TECH methodology , which have enabled fast direct stability assessment and global optimization in complex systems. His work bridges fundamental theory with industrial deployment through his companies, Bigwood Systems, Inc. and Global Optimal Technology, Inc. His recent publications (2024–2025) reflect a strong trend toward integrating machine learning and deep neural networks with power system analysis , particularly in state estimation, optimal power flow, and voltage control. There is a clear emphasis on handling uncertainty, non-convexity, and multi-scale dynamics in active distribution networks and integrated energy systems . His work increasingly focuses on resilience , real-time control , and user-centered methodologies for modern grid operations. Chiang has received numerous scientific honors, including: IEEE Fellow (1997) United States Presidential Young Investigator Award (1989) Multiple DOE Grid Optimization Challenge Awards (2020–2023) Best Paper Awards from IEEE Transactions and Conferences Outstanding Education Award, Cornell University (1990) He has successfully managed over 100 research projects and holds 28 U.S. and international patents. As the founder of Bigwood Systems, Inc., he has commercialized advanced software for utility companies across the U.S. and Japan. His team has published over 480 refereed papers and received more than 17,500 citations. He advises a large research group and leads innovations in computational methods for energy systems. His lab is actively involved in developing next-generation tools for grid security, optimization, and machine learning integration.
Ran Dai is a Professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University's College of Engineering. His research focuses on optimal control theory, trajectory optimization, and robotics applications, with an emphasis on aerospace systems and energy-efficient solutions. He leads the Autonomous Optimization Lab (AOL) and has contributed extensively to advancements in learning-based control, mixed-integer programming, and deployable space systems. His work spans applications such as spacecraft guidance, unmanned vehicle path planning, and energy management for solar-powered systems. Notable contributions include algorithms for fuel-optimal powered descent, real-time trajectory optimization, and origami-inspired deployable mechanisms. He holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering and has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles. Research interests include: Optimal control and trajectory optimization Reinforcement learning for decision-making Autonomous systems and robotics Energy-efficient aerospace engineering Recent work emphasizes meta-reinforcement learning frameworks and adaptive optimization engines for complex systems.
Maria Paz Linares Herreros is a Lecturer at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), affiliated with the School of Mathematics and Statistics (FME) and the Department of Statistics and Operations Research. She is a member of the IMP (Information Modeling and Processing) research group and collaborates with inLab FIB on intelligent transportation systems. Research interests: Transportation systems, smart cities, traffic simulation, data-driven modeling, environmental impact assessment Specializes in applying machine learning and simulation to urban mobility challenges Her recent publications focus on: Parking availability prediction using deep learning Traffic emission modeling linked to urban policies Dynamic ride-sharing system optimization Integration of IoT data in transportation planning Scientific recognition: Recipient of the IV International Award on Transport Infrastructure Management Research (2018) Active contributor to projects like CitScale and Virtual Mobility Lab Collaborator in European initiatives like KIC Urban Mobility
Fabrizio Riguzzi is a Full Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science of the University of Ferrara, Italy. His academic career spans over two decades at the same institution, having served as Associate Professor (2014-2020) and Assistant Professor/Ricercatore (1999-2014). He is an active researcher in the fields of Logic Programming and Statistical Relational Artificial Intelligence with numerous publications and leadership roles in international conferences. His educational background includes: PhD in Electronic and Computer Engineering from the University of Bologna (1999) Laurea in Computer Engineering from the University of Bologna (1995) Riguzzi's research focuses on probabilistic approaches to artificial intelligence, particularly probabilistic logic programming and statistical relational AI. His work bridges symbolic reasoning with probabilistic methods, developing frameworks for uncertain knowledge representation and reasoning. He has made significant contributions to probabilistic answer set programming, neuro-symbolic integration, and applications in areas like network intrusion detection and knowledge graph completion. His research demonstrates how logical formalisms can be enhanced with probabilistic reasoning to tackle real-world problems with uncertainty. An analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward integrating neural and symbolic approaches in AI, with significant work on probabilistic answer set programming frameworks. His research spans theoretical foundations of probabilistic logic programming, practical implementations, and applications in cybersecurity, knowledge graphs, and decision-making under uncertainty. The interdisciplinary nature of his work connects computer science theory with practical AI applications. His notable awards include: Alain Colmerauer 10-Year Test-of-Time Award at ICLP 2021 Best Paper Award for "BUNDLE: A Reasoner for Probabilistic Ontologies" at RR-2013 Highly Commended Paper Award for "Probabilistic declarative process mining" at KSEM 2010 Riguzzi has supervised several PhD students to completion, including Elena Bellodi, Riccardo Zese, and Giuseppe Cota, who have gone on to win prestigious awards for their theses. He has served in numerous editorial roles, including Associate Editor of the Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research and Editor in Chief of Intelligenza Artificiale. His leadership extends to organizing major conferences like ILP 2018 and serving on program committees for top AI venues including IJCAI, AAAI, and ECAI. He is a member of the ML@unife research group and has developed several online systems including cplint, TRILL, and an Online AUC calculator. His work has fostered collaborations across the AI research community, particularly in the areas of probabilistic logic programming and neuro-symbolic AI.
