Zhang Yi-Cheng is a Full Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, since 1992. His academic career includes visiting professorships at Nordita (Denmark) and INFN (Italy), and postdoctoral research at Brookhaven National Lab (USA). He specializes in interdisciplinary fields such as Econophysics , Statistical physics , and Complex network sciences , focusing on applications in financial markets, social systems, and global trade networks. His research explores topics like market dynamics, network structures, and algorithmic ranking systems. Notable awards include the 2011 Honorary Director of the Complexity Sciences Research Center and recognition as a 2011 Chinese '1000 Talents' awardee . His work bridges physics-based methodologies with socio-economic systems, addressing challenges in information-driven economies and networked societies. Zhang has contributed to influential studies on ranking algorithms, percolation theory in networks, and the interplay between economic complexity and trade. His interdisciplinary approach has led to advancements in understanding systemic risks, market inefficiencies, and the role of information in shaping global economic interactions.
Fajar Juang Ekaputra is a Tenure Track Assistant Professor at the Institute of Data, Process, and Knowledge Management (DPKM), WU Vienna and a part-time Postdoctoral Researcher at the Data Science research unit, TU Wien . With a focus on Semantic Web , Knowledge Graphs , and their integration with Machine Learning in Neurosymbolic AI systems, his work spans domains like Cyber-Physical Systems and Materials Engineering . Education: Dr.techn. (2018), TU Wien M.T. (2010) and S.T. (2008), Institute Teknologi Bandung (ITB) Research Interests center on hybrid AI systems combining Semantic Web and Machine Learning , with applications in Cyber-Physical Systems (e.g., smart grids, smart buildings), data privacy in smart cities, and materials engineering . His 102+ publications include frameworks like SWeMLS-KG and SHACL4Protege . Recent Articles (2024) address explainable AI in cyber-physical systems, privacy trust in data infrastructures, and neurosymbolic frameworks . Earlier works (2023–2022) explore ontology-based data management , auditable AI , and hybrid system architectures . Scientific Awards: Best Paper Awards (ICoDSE 2023, ICoDSE 2016) Best Poster Nomination (SEMANTiCS 2019) PhD Scholarship (Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation, 2012) Advising includes supervising PhD students (e.g., Majlinda Llugiqi, Katrin Schreiberhuber) and master’s theses on topics like knowledge graph characteristics and data quality assessment . He leads projects such as FAIR-AI (FFG-funded, 2024–2026) and SENSE (Horizon Europe, 2023–2025).
Wilfried Gansterer is a Professor at the Faculty of Computer Science, University of Vienna, leading the Theory and Applications of Algorithms research group. His work focuses on numerical algorithms, distributed computing, and machine learning, with notable contributions to graph neural networks and fault-tolerant systems. Active in projects such as Algorithmic Data Science for Computational Drug Discovery (2020–2028) and REPEAL (Resilience vs. Performance in Numerical Linear Algebra, 2016–2020). Research Interests: Dr. Gansterer’s expertise spans graph neural networks, matrix compression, adversarial defense mechanisms, and high-performance computing. His work addresses challenges in efficient computation, resilience against node failures, and optimizing distributed systems. Projects : Algorithmic Data Science for Computational Drug Discovery (2020–2028) REPEAL: Resilience vs. Performance in Numerical Linear Algebra (2016–2020) Verteiltes Rechnen (Distributed Computing, 2007–2014) Awards : 2023 Best Paper Award for work on Crossfire: An Elastic Defense Framework for Graph Neural Networks. Labs/Teams : Directs the Theory and Applications of Algorithms group, focusing on algorithmic innovation in distributed and high-performance computing environments.
Robert Peharz is an Assistant Professor at Graz University of Technology, where he leads research at the Institute of Machine Learning and Neural Computation. His work focuses on probabilistic machine learning, with particular emphasis on tractable probabilistic models, causality, and neurosymbolic AI. Education and Career PhD from TU Graz (Austria) in 2015 Postdoc at Medical University of Graz Postdoc and Marie-Curie Individual Fellow at University of Cambridge (2017-2019) Assistant Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology (2019-2021) Current: Assistant Professor at Graz University of Technology Research Interests Peharz's research spans multiple areas of artificial intelligence with a focus on making probabilistic reasoning both theoretically sound and practically efficient. His work addresses fundamental challenges in tractable probabilistic inference and learning, probabilistic circuits as a unified framework for deep generative models, Bayesian causal inference, and neurosymbolic AI combining sub-symbolic and symbolic approaches. His research has applications in cybersecurity, healthcare, and energy systems. Research Projects VENTUS (2024-present): Physics-informed, probabilistic and causal machine learning for wind energy systems NEO DNA (2023-present): DNA-based data storage systems using computer vision and probabilistic ML VanillaFlow (2023-present): AI-guided development of novel vanillin-based molecules for redox flow batteries Bilateral AI : Cluster of Excellence focused on Broad AI combining sub-symbolic and symbolic AI approaches Awards and Recognition Finalist for TUG's Excellent Teaching Award (2023) for all 3 of his courses Marie-Curie Individual Fellow at University of Cambridge Academic Service Peharz is actively involved in the academic community through conference organization and reviewing: Area Chair: UAI (2022), ECML/PKDD (2022) Senior Committee Member: UAI (2021), IJCAI (2019, 2020) Reviewer for major conferences including ICML, NeurIPS, AAAI, IJCAI-ECAI Teaching and Mentorship Peharz supervises multiple PhD students working on diverse projects at the intersection of machine learning, causality, and neurosymbolic AI. His current advisees include Sepideh Adamiat, Irina Dobrianski, Johannes Exenberger, Giacomo Di Gobbi, Tim d'Hondt, Christian Toth, and Thomas Wedenig. Previous students include Alvaro Correia, Martin Trapp, and David Montalvan.
Michael Bronstein is a Professor & Chair in Machine Learning and Pattern Recognition at the Department of Computing, Imperial College London (2018–present). He previously held academic roles including Professor at the University of Lugano, Switzerland (2010–present, on leave since 2019), Visiting Associate Professor at Tel Aviv University (2015–2017), and Visiting Lecturer at Stanford University (2008–2009). His research focuses on geometric methods for data analysis, with applications in machine learning, computer vision, and social networks. PhD in Computer Science (2007), Technion – Israel Institute of Technology His expertise spans geometric machine learning , deep learning on graphs, manifolds, and point clouds , 3D shape analysis , and geometry processing . His work bridges theoretical and computational approaches to solving problems in computer vision , pattern recognition , and 3D depth sensors . 2020 Royal Academy of Engineering Silver Medal 2018 Fellow, IEEE and IAPR 2016 ERC Consolidator Grant 2014 Young Scientist, World Economic Forum He has led high-impact industrial projects, including the development of Intel RealSense 3D camera technology, and founded startups like Fabula AI (acquired by Twitter in 2019). His academic and entrepreneurial career includes over 150 publications, 30 patents, and leadership roles in both academia and industry.
Torsten Hoefler is a Full Professor of Computer Science at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, with an adjunct appointment in Electrical Engineering. He previously held roles at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) and Indiana University. Full Professor of Computer Science, ETH Zurich (2020–present) Adjunct Professor of Electrical Engineering, ETH Zurich (2020–present) Member at Large, ACM SIGHPC Executive Committee (2013–present) Leadership roles in the MPI Forum and Blue Waters project His research focuses on performance-centric system design , with emphasis on scalable networking, parallel programming models, and performance modeling. Key contributions include the Slim Fly network topology, Data-Centric Python framework, and innovations in parallel graph computations and RDMA-based systems. Recent publications span topics like LLM training networks , quantization geometry , chiplet interconnects , and AI-driven climate modeling , reflecting his interdisciplinary approach combining HPC, AI, and hardware-software co-design. ACM Gordon Bell Prize (2019) ERC Consolidator Grant (2020) IEEE TCSC Award for Excellence (2019) SIAM SIAG/SC Junior Scientist Prize (2012) Latsis Prize of ETH Zurich (2015) He has received multiple best paper awards at top conferences (SC10, SC13, SC14, SC19, IPDPS'15, HPDC'15, OOPSLA'16) and contributed to MPI-3 standardization.
Manuel Wimmer is a Full Professor and Head of the Department of Business Informatics – Software Engineering at Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria. He also serves as the Program Director for the Business Informatics master's program since 2019. His academic leadership extends to representing JKU Linz in the AutomationML society and leading significant research initiatives. Dr. Wimmer received his Ph.D. and Habilitation from TU Wien. His academic journey includes: Research associate at the University of Malaga, Spain Visiting professor at the University of Marburg, Germany Visiting professor at TU Munich, Germany Assistant professor at the Business Informatics Group (BIG), TU Wien, Austria Professor Wimmer's research focuses on Model-Driven Software Engineering and its applications, particularly in the emerging field of Digital Twins . His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical industrial applications, with special emphasis on model transformations, runtime modeling, and the integration of artificial intelligence techniques into model-driven approaches. More recently, he has been exploring the intersection of model-driven engineering with quantum computing, investigating how modeling principles can be applied to quantum software development. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward Digital Twin engineering, with approximately 40% of his 2023-2025 publications focusing on various aspects of Digital Twin technology. Another significant strand of his work involves the application of AI and machine learning techniques to enhance model-driven engineering processes. The emergence of quantum software engineering as a research direction is also notable in his most recent publications, demonstrating his ability to identify and explore cutting-edge research frontiers. From 2017-2023, Professor Wimmer led the Christian Doppler Laboratory on Model-Integrated Smart Production (CDL-MINT), where he developed engineering approaches for digital twins. He is also the co-author of the influential book "Model-driven Software Engineering in Practice" (2nd edition, 2017). Professor Wimmer is actively involved in the organization of major scientific events including the IEEE International Conference on Quantum Software (QSW) and the International Conference on Engineering Digital Twins (EDTconf), demonstrating his leadership in these emerging research communities. His research has practical applications across various domains including smart cities, industrial automation, tunneling/construction, and quantum computing. The MATISSE project represents a significant multi-partner effort to develop a framework for federated digital twins of industrial systems.
Johanna Ullrich is a Professor at the University of Vienna's Faculty of Computer Science and a Key Researcher at SBA Research in Vienna. She leads the Research Group Communication Technologies and serves as Head of the Networks and Critical Infrastructures Security Group at SBA Research. Her academic journey includes positions as Principal Investigator & Manager of Third Party Funded Projects at the University of Vienna and Post-Doctoral Researcher at the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Security and Quality Improvement in the Production System Lifecycle. Her educational background includes a PhD sub auspiciis praesidentis in Computer Science from TU Wien (2013-2016), an MSc in Automation Engineering from TU Wien (2010-2013), and a BSc in Electrical Engineering from TU Wien (2007-2010). She also holds a Venia Docendi for Computer Engineering from the University of Vienna. Ullrich's research focuses on the intersection of computer science and classical engineering, with particular emphasis on network security, IPv6 measurement experiments, and critical infrastructure protection. Her groundbreaking work demonstrated vulnerabilities in the IPv6 Privacy Extension that led to modifications in major client operating systems, protecting millions of users. She is renowned for her research on cyber-physical attacks against power grids, showing how coordinated load attacks can destabilize electrical infrastructure. Her work spans both theoretical security frameworks and practical implementations with significant real-world impact. Her publication record reveals a consistent trajectory from fundamental network security research toward increasingly complex interdisciplinary investigations at the boundary of computer science and physical infrastructure. Recent work emphasizes AI/ML applications for network security, power grid resilience, and socio-technical approaches to cybersecurity. Her research demonstrates a progression from protocol-level security (IPv6) to system-level security (cloud, IoT) and now to infrastructure-level security (power grids, critical national infrastructure). 2nd in the Faculty of Computer Science's Best-of-the-Best Ranking 2024 Category Third Party Funding Nomination for the Hedy Lamarr Prize 2019 and 2020 Scholarship of Excellence 2018 Research Prize of the Dr. Maria Schaumayer Foundation 2018 Promotio Sub Auspiciis Praesidentis 2017 Diploma Thesis Award of the City of Vienna 2013 Ullrich actively contributes to the academic community through extensive grant acquisition and service. She has secured numerous research projects including SPyCoDe (Semantic and Cryptographic Foundations of Security and Privacy by Compositional Design), DynAISEC (Adaptive AI/ML for Dynamic Cybersecurity Systems), and Q-Crit (Quantum-Safe Critical Infrastructure for Austria). Her leadership extends to committee roles including Program Committee Member of IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy (S&P) 2024 and Technical Program Chair of Network Traffic Measurement and Analysis Conference (TMA) 2023. At SBA Research, she leads the Networks and Critical Infrastructures Security Group, which investigates security challenges at the intersection of digital networks and physical infrastructure. The group conducts both theoretical research on security frameworks and practical measurements of real-world systems. Their work combines network measurement techniques with power systems engineering to develop comprehensive security approaches for critical infrastructure.
Dragi Kimovski is a Habilitated Assistant Professor in Distributed Systems at Klagenfurt University, Austria, focusing on Edge Computing and AI. He previously held roles at the University of Innsbruck and the University of Information Science and Technology in Macedonia. His research spans Edge/Fog/Cloud computing, multi-objective optimization, and high-performance computing. He has coordinated major projects like 6GContinuum and KärtnerFog, and led initiatives such as DataCloud and ASPIDE. His teaching includes courses on Distributed Computing, Cloud Computing, and IoT. He is the co-creator of the Carinthian Computing Continuum and maintains a blog on Edge AI World. His work emphasizes sustainable and efficient computing solutions for emerging technologies. Education: Not explicitly listed in the provided text. Research Interests: Edge Computing, Fog Computing, Cloud Computing, Multi-objective Optimization, High-Performance Computing, AI in Distributed Systems. His work addresses challenges in resource management, latency reduction, and scalability across heterogeneous environments, with applications in healthcare, IoT, and 6G networks. Projects: 6GContinuum (Coordinator): Focuses on AI services over 6G networks. KärtnerFog (Scientific Coordinator): Develops adaptive Fog infrastructures over 5G. DataCloud (WP5 Leader): Manages Big Data pipelines on the Computing Continuum. ASPIDE (Scientific Coordinator): Advances exascale programming models for data processing. Teaching: Klagenfurt University: Courses include Distributed Computing, IoT, Cloud Computing, and Advanced Programming. University of Innsbruck: Taught Advanced Parallel and Distributed Systems. University of Information Science and Technology: Courses in High-Performance Computing and Network Architectures. Labs/Teams: Co-created the Carinthian Computing Continuum, an automated SDN testbed for Edge computing research. Active in interdisciplinary teams addressing extreme data processing and sustainable computing.
Stefan Nastic is an Assistant Professor at the Technische Universität Wien (TU Wien), affiliated with the Faculty of Informatics and the Distributed Systems department. He serves as Curriculum Coordinator for the Master’s program in Distributed and Next Generation Computing, and is a Substitute Member of the Curriculum Commission for Informatics. His research focuses on distributed systems, edge computing, serverless computing, IoT, and smart cities. He holds a PhD in IoT cloud systems (2016) and a BSc (not explicitly stated). Key research contributions include frameworks for serverless edge-cloud continuum (e.g., HyperDrive, GoldFish), federated learning applications (e.g., adaptive human activity recognition), and IoT infrastructure governance (e.g., Polaris Scheduler). He leads projects like RapidREC (2023–2025) on supply chain optimization and participates in initiatives like TEADAL (2022–2025) for edge-cloud workflows. Publications span 30+ peer-reviewed articles in top venues like IEEE IoT, ACM, and IEEE Cloud. He supervises graduate students on stateful serverless functions, federated learning, and edge-cloud scheduling. His work addresses challenges in resource management, latency reduction, and scalable distributed systems.
Zhang Yan is a Full Professor at the Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Norway. He previously served as Head of Department and Chief Scientist at Simula Research Laboratory (2014–2016). His research focuses on advanced communication technologies including Internet of Things (IoT), 5G/6G networks, mobile edge computing, and blockchain applications. He has held significant roles such as IEEE VTS Distinguished Lecturer (2016–2020) and Chair of IEEE TCGCC (2019–2021). His honors include IEEE Fellow (2020), election to Academia Europaea (2020), and recognition as a Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher (2018–2019). Research interests span interdisciplinary areas like network dynamics, socio-economic systems, and algorithmic design. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications in smart grids, vehicular networks, and global trade systems. Recent publications emphasize network science methodologies applied to economic complexity and information diffusion. Professional contributions include editorial roles for top journals and leadership in EU-funded projects. His awards reflect impactful contributions to both technical innovation and scientific leadership in informatics and communications.
Wenwu Zhu is a Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Computer Science and Technology at Tsinghua University. He has held prominent positions at Microsoft Research Asia, Intel Research China, and Bell Labs, establishing himself as a leading figure in multimedia computing and networking with international recognition as a FOREIGN member of the Academy of Europe (elected 2018). His educational background includes: Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from New York University (1996) Professor Zhu's research focuses on the intersection of multimedia systems, networking, and big data. His work has pioneered advancements in internet video streaming, multimedia cloud computing, and social-aware content distribution. He has made significant contributions to understanding how multimedia content can be efficiently delivered across diverse network environments, from traditional wired networks to modern mobile and social platforms. His research bridges theoretical computer science with practical applications, with his work on social-aware video content distribution being transferred to Tencent company. His publication record shows a clear evolution from foundational work on internet video streaming in the early 2000s, through multimedia cloud computing in the early 2010s, to more recent work on social-aware multimedia and network embedding using deep learning approaches. This progression reflects the changing landscape of multimedia computing from infrastructure-focused to socially-aware and AI-driven systems. Professor Zhu has received numerous prestigious honors: AAAS Fellow (2016) SPIE Fellow (2013) IEEE Fellow (2010) Minister of Education's Natural Science Award, 1st prize (2017) Chinese Institution of Electronics's Natural Science Award, 1st prize (2015, 2012) National Natural Science Award, 2nd prize (2012) Chief Scientist for NSFC Major Project (2016) Chief Scientist for Ministry of Science and Technology's 973 Project (2014) Multiple Best Paper Awards including ACM Multimedia 2012 As Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Transactions on Multimedia since 2017 and through leadership roles as General Co-Chair for ACM CIKM 2019 and ACM Multimedia 2018, Professor Zhu has significantly shaped the multimedia research community. His research has been supported by major grants including NSFC Major Projects and Ministry of Science and Technology's 973 Projects, demonstrating both academic and national strategic importance. He has published over 300 referred papers with an H-Index of 55, including 6 Best Paper Awards and 7 books or book chapters. Professor Zhu leads a research group at Tsinghua University focused on multimedia big data computing, with strong industry connections. His team has made pioneering contributions to structural network embedding using deep learning and social contextual recommendation systems, bridging theoretical advances with practical applications in social media platforms.
Stefan Rass is a Professor at the Institute of Networks and Security within the Faculty of Engineering & Natural Sciences at Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU), where he leads the LIT Secure and Correct Systems Lab. As Principal Investigator for FFG-funded projects including reSilienz (digital supply chain resilience, 2023–2025) and ITPUK (AI signature verification, 2022–2024), he bridges theoretical game theory with practical cybersecurity solutions for critical infrastructures and robotics systems. His research spans game-theoretic security models (patrolling games, defense-in-depth strategies), quantum cryptography (QKD network architectures), and cyber deception frameworks like Honeyquest for measuring honeypot effectiveness. Recent work addresses robotics security benchmarking (RobotPerf), cryptographic instruction chaining for control flow protection, and risk assessment methodologies for interdependent infrastructures. His mathematical decision-making approach integrates bounded rationality and stochastic modeling to solve real-world security challenges. Professor Rass actively shapes the field through program committee roles (ARES 2023), peer reviews, and invited talks on security transparency. His current projects focus on cost-benefit-aware monitoring for cyber-physical systems and quantum key distribution standardization, reflecting Austria’s strategic priorities in digital resilience. The LIT Secure and Correct Systems Lab under his direction develops foundational theories while deploying tools for industrial applications, particularly in critical infrastructure protection and secure robotics workflows.
Thomas Gärtner is a Professor at the Institute of Logic and Computation within the Faculty of Informatics at Vienna University of Technology, leading the Machine Learning research group (E194-06). His work bridges theoretical machine learning with practical applications in chemistry, biology, and network analysis. His primary research focuses on graph neural networks (GNNs) and geometric deep learning, with significant contributions to GNN expressivity, graph transformations, and kernel methods for structured data. He explores fundamental questions about the limitations of message-passing architectures while developing practical enhancements like path-based extensions and expectation-complete representations. His chemical informatics work applies these techniques to binding affinity prediction, reaction classification, and solvent selection, demonstrating real-world impact in computational chemistry. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) reveals three dominant research thrusts: theoretical GNN advancements (35% of articles), chemical informatics applications (40%), and novel learning frameworks (25%). The theoretical work increasingly addresses expressivity limitations through graph transformations and path-based approaches, while chemical applications show growing sophistication in molecular representation. Recent publications also indicate expanding interest in foundation models for graphs and robustness verification. He actively supervises master's students including Fabian Traxler (binding affinity prediction), Maximilian Plattner (SGD optimization), Fabian Jogl (graph transformations), and Thomas Schmied (reinforcement learning). His research is conducted through the Network Lab at TU Wien, where he serves as Principal Investigator for the Structured Data Learning with Generalized Similarities project.
Tomasz Miksa is a researcher affiliated with TU Wien's Department of Research Data Management, focusing on machine-actionable data management plans (maDMPs), semantic web technologies, and data reproducibility. He collaborates extensively on projects involving automated assessment of data management workflows, FAIR data implementation, and privacy-preserving analysis platforms. Primary affiliation: TU Wien Department: Research Data Management Key projects: WellFort, FAIR Data Austria, openEO API His research integrates semantic technologies with data governance to enhance reproducibility in scientific workflows, particularly in domains like environmental monitoring and legal informatics. Recent publications emphasize ontological frameworks (DCSO), API harmonization, and auditable machine learning systems. Notable collaborative works include: Reproducibility standards for soil moisture data Knowledge graph applications in cyber-physical energy systems Dynamic data citation mechanisms He supervises students in theses related to maDMP integration, data citation frameworks, and institutional research data planning architectures.
