Dr. Stan Ahalt serves as the inaugural Dean of the UNC School of Data Science and Society (SDSS) and holds a professorship in the Department of Computer Science at UNC-Chapel Hill. He previously directed the Renaissance Computing Institute (RENCI) and currently acts as its executive advisor. Additionally, he is the associate director of informatics and data science at NC TraCS, the translational research institute at UNC. His academic journey includes a 22-year tenure as professor of electrical and computer engineering at Ohio State University and leadership roles at the Ohio Supercomputer Center. Ahalt’s research focuses on applying data science to societal challenges such as healthcare, climate, and judicial reform. Key initiatives include the National Consortium for Data Science and the iRODS project, which advanced enterprise data management systems. Ahalt has secured over $34.5M in grants to lead high-impact projects like the NHLBI BioData Catalyst (unifying biomedical data), the NCATS Translator (accelerating clinical discovery), and the NIH HEAL Initiative (ensuring FAIR data standards). He mentors students across doctoral and master’s programs, teaching data science fundamentals in courses like COMP 116: Introduction to Scientific Programming. His work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, evidenced by roles in RENCI, NC TraCS, and the SDSS. Ahalt’s contributions span cyberinfrastructure development, educational innovation, and translational research, positioning UNC as a national leader in data science.
Michael McAlpine is a Professor in the Mechanical Engineering department at the University of Minnesota . He also holds affiliations with the Biomedical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering departments. His research focuses on 3D printing functional materials & devices , Nanoscale inks , Biomedical devices , Bioelectronics , and Flexible Microsystems . Research Interests : 3D Printing, Biomedical Engineering, Nanotechnology, Flexible Electronics, Microfluidics Labs : ME 361/363 Contact : mcalpine@umn.edu , (612) 626-3303, ME 117 Recent Research Trends include 3D Printed Biomedical Devices , Flexible Electronics , and Bioprinting Applications . His work spans from Spinal Organoid Formation to Programmable Drug Release Capsules . Scientific Award : Circulation Research 2020 Best Manuscript Award
Verena Zimmermann serves as Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) for Security, Privacy and Society at ETH Zurich within the Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences. She leads the Security, Privacy and Society research group, focusing on human-centered approaches to safety, IT security, and privacy challenges in emerging technologies. Her academic foundation includes a PhD in Usable Security from TU Darmstadt, where her dissertation From the Quest to Replace Passwords towards Supporting Secure and Usable Password Creation earned dual awards from the German Association for Data Protection and Data Security (GDD) and the Ernst-Ludwigs-Hochschulgesellschaft. Zimmermann's research pioneers the shift from viewing humans as security vulnerabilities to recognizing them as integral solutions. Her work spans password security, phishing interventions, smart home privacy, and cybersecurity education, consistently applying human factors principles to design systems that align with natural user behavior. Current projects explore emotional dimensions of security engagement, quantum governance frameworks, and LLM-related privacy concerns through interdisciplinary lenses combining computer science, psychology, and safety science. Recent publications reveal strong thematic trends toward understanding user motivations in security behavior, developing personalized training through augmented reality and adaptive systems, and translating safety science principles to cybersecurity incident management. Her work increasingly addresses societal implications of emerging technologies like quantum computing and generative AI. Her distinguished recognitions include: GDD Dissertation Award for Usable Security research Ernst-Ludwigs-Hochschulgesellschaft Dissertation Award IANUS Award (2nd place) for Moving from a 'Human-as-Problem' to a 'Human-as-Solution' Cybersecurity Mindset Zimmermann actively mentors through ETH's Human-Centered Security and Privacy Lab while collaborating internationally with institutions including ATHENE (German National Center for Applied Cybersecurity), Abertay University's Cybersecurity Division, and the Safety Science Innovation Lab. Her research receives support from Swiss and European funding bodies focused on privacy-preserving technologies and organizational security behavior. At ETH Zurich, she directs the Security, Privacy and Society group which employs design thinking, LEGO Serious Play, and mixed-methods research to tackle real-world security challenges. The team partners with industry stakeholders to develop practical solutions for phishing resistance, smart home privacy, and cybersecurity education while maintaining strong ties to the Research Training Group 2050 Privacy and Trust for Mobile Users.
Michael Baldea is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin . He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota (2006), with prior degrees from 'Babeş-Bolyai' University in Romania (M.Sc. 2001, Diploma 2000). His research group develops theoretical and computational methods for Process and Energy Systems Engineering , focusing on integrated decision-making, performance optimization, and process intensification with industrial validation. Education: Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of Minnesota (2006) M.Sc., Interface Process Engineering, 'Babeş-Bolyai' University (2001) Diploma, Chemical Engineering, 'Babeş-Bolyai' University (2000) Research Thrusts: Integrated decision-making in chemical/energy supply chains Process performance monitoring and optimization Process integration and intensification Key applications include grid-responsive chemical plants, intensified distillation/column designs, and renewable energy integration for building systems. Scientific Awards: Frank A. Liddell, Jr. Fellowship NSF CAREER Award (2015-2020) Moncrief Grand Challenges Faculty Award (2014) AIChE Outstanding Young Researcher Award (2017) Implementation : His group has translated research into commercial tools through partnerships with industrial test beds and is working to integrate methods into commercial simulators. They explore predictive approaches for building energy management and strategic capital investment analysis in next-generation energy systems.
Carlos G. Levi is a Research Professor in the Department of Materials at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), part of the College of Engineering. He holds the additional title of Professor Emeritus. His research focuses on microstructure evolution in inorganic materials, particularly in the design of advanced coatings, composites, and alloys for extreme environments. He has contributed significantly to thermal barrier coatings, ceramic matrix composites, and high-temperature alloys for aerospace and energy applications. Education: Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1981) M.Sc. in Metallurgical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1977) Degree in Chemical Engineering, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Mexico (1972) Research Interests: Levi’s work addresses challenges in structural materials, including advanced thermal/environmental barrier coatings resistant to molten silicates, ceramic matrix composites, hypersonic materials, and high-temperature alloys such as multi-principal element alloys. His studies explore degradation mechanisms, phase stability under extreme conditions, and novel synthesis techniques like vapor-mediated melt infiltration. Awards and Honors: 2014 TMS Morris Cohen Award 2012 Fellow of the American Ceramic Society 2008 NIMS Award (shared) for breakthroughs in materials science for energy/environment 2004 DLR Wissenschaftspreis (collaborative paper) 2002 Alexander von Humboldt Research Prize Advising and Grants: No formal student advisees are listed, though his research group likely includes graduate students/postdocs. Grant details are not specified in the provided texts. Labs/Teams: Levi’s research is conducted within UCSB’s Materials Department, leveraging advanced characterization tools (e.g., TriBeam tomography) and computational modeling to study material behavior under extreme conditions.
Professor Brent Mittelstadt is a leading academic in data ethics and AI governance at the University of Oxford's Oxford Internet Institute (OII), serving as Professor of Data Ethics and Policy and Director of Research. He coordinates the Governance of Emerging Technologies (GET) programme, focusing on ethics, law, and technology interplay. His work bridges academic research with policy impact, contributing frameworks like 'counterfactual explanations' and fairness metrics ('Conditional Demographic Disparity') used globally. He leads high-profile projects such as Trustworthiness Auditing for AI and A Right to Reasonable Inferences in Advertising and Financial Services. Research interests span AI ethics, medical ethics, technology governance, and non-discrimination law. He has pioneered ethical frameworks addressing algorithmic bias, GDPR compliance, and AI accountability. His work has influenced policy bodies like the UK Information Commissioner’s Office and the European Commission, and is implemented by tech giants such as Google and Microsoft. Awarded O2RB Excellence in Impact Awards (2018, 2021) and PLSC Best Paper (2019) Funded by Wellcome Trust, Sloan Foundation, and others Advisory roles for NHSx, GSK Consumer Healthcare, and regulatory bodies Recent work focuses on AI regulation (EU AI Act), generative AI ethics, and healthcare AI governance. He co-leads the OxonFair toolkit for algorithmic fairness and investigates societal impacts of deepfake proliferation and large language models.
Rosa Ferrer is a Serra-Hunter Associate Professor at Universitat Pompeu Fabra and an Associate Research Professor at the Barcelona School of Economics. She also serves as a Research Affiliate at CEPR in London and as Co-Director of the Master in Competition, Regulation & Markets program. Her academic journey began with a PhD from Vanderbilt University, establishing a strong foundation for her research career in economics. Dr. Ferrer's research spans several key areas within economics, with a particular focus on Law and Economics, Industrial Organization, and the Digital Economy. She combines empirical and theoretical methods to explore consumer choice, demand estimation, gender economics, and law enforcement challenges. Her work is inspired by Gary Becker's view on economic incentives beyond monetary rewards, applying industrial organization and applied microeconomics to diverse applications. She has made significant contributions to understanding gender gaps in professional performance, particularly in the legal profession, as well as consumer behavior in product-harm crises and digital markets. Her publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly output across high-impact journals including Management Science, Journal of Political Economy, and Review of Economic Studies. Her recent work focuses on digital economy challenges, gender differences in media consumption, and career trajectories in professional settings. This research portfolio shows a clear progression from foundational work in law enforcement and decision theory to contemporary issues in digital markets and gender economics. As Co-Director of the Master in Competition, Regulation & Markets, Dr. Ferrer plays a significant role in shaping the next generation of economists and policy experts. Her leadership in this program reflects her commitment to bridging academic research with practical policy applications in competition and regulatory frameworks.
Aditya K. Jagannatham is a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur). With expertise in wireless communications and signal processing, he has established himself as a leading researcher in 5G/6G technologies, MIMO systems, and cognitive radio networks. His educational background includes: PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UC San Diego (2007) M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UC San Diego (2004) B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering from IIT Bombay (2001) Professor Jagannatham's research primarily focuses on next-generation wireless communication systems, with special emphasis on 5G and 6G technologies. His work spans OTFS modulation, Terahertz communications, Visible Light Communication (VLC), Intelligent Reflecting Surface (IRS) technology, Massive MIMO, mmWave MIMO, Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA), and Filter-Bank Multi-Carrier (FBMC) systems. His research integrates theoretical analysis with practical implementation challenges, addressing critical issues in modern wireless networks. His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward advanced signal processing techniques for next-generation wireless systems, particularly focusing on Sparse Bayesian Learning approaches for channel estimation, cooperative communication systems with energy harvesting capabilities, and millimeter wave MIMO technologies. His work bridges theoretical communication theory with practical implementation challenges in emerging wireless standards. Professor Jagannatham has received numerous prestigious awards and fellowships: Arun Kumar Endowed Chair Professorship (2019) Qualcomm Innovation Fellowship (2018) P.K. Kelkar Young Faculty Research Fellowship for excellence in research (2015-2018) IEEE Signal Processing Society travel grant to attend ICASSP 2015 Gopal Das Bhandari Memorial Distinguished Teacher Award (2012-13) Cal(IT)2 fellowship for graduate study at UC San Diego As an educator, Professor Jagannatham has received commendation letters from the Director of IIT Kanpur for excellence in teaching courses including EE624 Information and Coding Theory, EE670 Wireless Communications, and EE320 Principles of Communication Systems. His research has attracted significant funding, though specific grant details are not provided in the available information. He likely supervises graduate students working on cutting-edge wireless communication research. Professor Jagannatham is based in the Advanced Centre for Electronic Systems (ACES) at IIT Kanpur, where he leads research in wireless communications. His work appears to be closely connected with the Center for Developing Intelligent Systems (CDIS) and other research centers at IIT Kanpur focused on next-generation communication technologies.
Nicole Koschate-Fischer is Professor and holds the GfK Chair for Marketing Intelligence at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), where she currently serves as Dean of Research at the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences. She is spokesperson for the interdisciplinary research focus "Customer Insights" and founding director of the Experimental Lab for Business Insights Nuremberg (ELAN). Previously, until September 30, 2024, she served as spokesperson for the Institute of Marketing and head of the Master's in Marketing program. Professor Koschate-Fischer earned her doctorate and habilitation from the University of Mannheim after completing a degree in business administration and psychology. Her academic journey includes membership in the interdisciplinary Collaborative Research Center "Concepts of Rationality, Decision Behavior, and Economic Modeling" at Mannheim, along with research stays as visiting scholar at University of Florida and University of Texas at Austin. She has held professorships at Technical University of Kaiserslautern and HEC Paris, and served as visiting professor at University of Vienna and Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing. Research Interests Professor Koschate-Fischer's research spans customer insights , digital marketing , pricing and product management , and marketing analytics . Her work investigates consumer behavior in digital contexts, brand partnerships, life event impacts on purchasing decisions, and the psychological aspects of pricing. She employs experimental research methods and mediation analysis to understand causal relationships in consumer decision-making processes. Her publication record demonstrates consistent high-impact research in leading journals including Journal of Marketing, Journal of Marketing Research, and Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science. Recent work focuses on digital communication phenomena like emoji usage in electronic word-of-mouth, conversational agent interactions, and the application of behavioral pricing principles in charitable contexts. Professional Recognition Full member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities Member of the Board of Academic Trustees of the Center for Advanced International Marketing Knowledge (AiMark) Editorial board member of Journal of International Marketing Professor Koschate-Fischer regularly serves as reviewer for leading international academic journals and presents her research at both academic and practitioner-oriented conferences. Her work receives funding from organizations including the German Research Foundation (DFG), and she maintains active collaborations with renowned companies across various industries. She has directed the Experimental Lab for Business Insights Nuremberg (ELAN) since its founding, creating a hub for interdisciplinary customer insights research that bridges academic rigor with practical business applications.
Navid Azizan is the Alfred H. (1929) and Jean M. Hayes Career Development Assistant Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), holding dual appointments in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (in Control, Instrumentation & Robotics) and the Schwarzman College of Computing's Institute for Data, Systems & Society (IDSS). He is also a Principal Investigator in the Laboratory for Information & Decision Systems (LIDS), and a faculty member of the MIT Statistics and Data Science Center, the Center for Computational Science and Engineering, and the Operations Research Center. Dr. Azizan received his PhD in Computing and Mathematical Sciences from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 2020, his MSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California in 2015, and his BSc in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Physics from Sharif University of Technology in 2013. Prior to joining MIT, he completed a postdoc at Stanford University's Autonomous Systems Laboratory and was a research scientist intern at Google DeepMind. His research spans the intersection of machine learning, systems and control, mathematical optimization, and network science. Dr. Azizan's work focuses on developing principled learning and optimization algorithms for reliable intelligent systems, with applications to autonomy and sociotechnical systems. His research has significant implications for creating trustworthy AI systems that can operate effectively in complex, uncertain environments. Dr. Azizan's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on uncertainty quantification, reliable AI systems, constrained optimization, and control-oriented learning. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, particularly in autonomous systems where safety and reliability are paramount. His research group has made notable contributions to areas including neural network verification, multi-agent reinforcement learning, and adaptive inference techniques for large language models, with several papers featured on MIT News and selected for oral presentations at top conferences. Alfred H. (1929) and Jean M. Hayes Career Development Professorship (2025-present) Frank E. Perkins Award for Excellence in Graduate Advising (2025) List of Outstanding Academic Leaders in Data from the CDO Magazine (2024, 2023) Amazon Science Hub Research Award (2023) Outstanding UROP Faculty Mentor (2023) Esther and Harold E. Edgerton (1927) Career Development Chair (2022-2025) Information Theory and Applications (ITA) Gold Graduation Award (2020) Dr. Azizan has been recognized for his excellence in graduate advising, receiving the Frank E. Perkins Award for Excellence in Graduate Advising in 2025. During the pandemic, he founded and co-organized the 'Control meets Learning' virtual seminar series, connecting researchers across disciplines. His work has attracted significant research funding from industry partners including Google, Amazon, and MathWorks, supporting both fundamental research and practical applications in reliable intelligent systems. The Azizan Lab at MIT brings together researchers from mechanical engineering, computer science, and applied mathematics to tackle challenges at the intersection of learning and control. The lab emphasizes both theoretical foundations and practical implementations, with a particular focus on developing algorithms that provide guarantees of performance and safety. Current research directions include uncertainty quantification in AI systems, constrained optimization for neural networks, and control-oriented learning for autonomous systems, with applications spanning robotics, transportation, and complex sociotechnical systems.
Pamela J. Hinds is the Rodney H. Adams Professor and Fortinet Founders Chair in Stanford University's School of Engineering, holding a joint appointment in the Department of Management Science and Engineering. She co-directs the Center on Work, Technology, and Organization and serves on the Director's Council for the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design. Her research focuses on technology's impact on teams, collaboration, and innovation in global and cross-cultural contexts. She earned her Ph.D. in Organizational Science and Management from Carnegie Mellon University (1997). Research Interests: Dr. Hinds explores cross-boundary work teams, particularly those spanning national borders, examining cultural dynamics, language barriers, and site visits' role in knowledge sharing. She investigates human-robot interaction in workplaces and emerging technologies' effects on work practices, including AI, 3D printing, and open innovation systems. Her work bridges organizational behavior, human-computer interaction, and global work dynamics. Awards & Recognition: Lasting Impact Award (2018) Senior Editor of Organization Science Co-editor of Distributed Work (MIT Press) Advising & Leadership: As department chair, Hinds shapes educational and research agendas. Her grants include NSF-funded studies on digital technologies in agriculture and crowd-based innovation. She advises initiatives at the intersection of technology, work design, and global collaboration. Labs & Teams: Co-leads the Center on Work, Technology, and Organization, fostering interdisciplinary research on modern work environments. Engages in Stanford's Design School (d.school) to integrate human-centered design principles into workplace innovation.
Ana Marques is a Visiting Professor at Norwich Business School (University of East Anglia), specializing in accounting and quantitative methods. She previously served as head of research at the Nova School of Business and Economics in Lisbon and held visiting roles at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore. Her academic background includes a PhD in Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master's in Management from Instituto Superior de Gestão (Portugal), and a 5-year Licenciatura in Management from the same institution. Her research focuses on non-GAAP earnings disclosures, corporate governance, ESG/CSR, and voluntary disclosures. Key funding includes a €80,000 Marie Curie grant and over €120,000 from Portugal's Foundation for Science and Technology. She has published in top journals like Review of Accounting Studies and European Accounting Review . Marques holds editorial roles at European Accounting Review and Accounting in Europe , and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the EAA's Accounting Research Center. She has organized major conferences like JIAR 2023 and the Lisbon Accounting Conference, and contributes to professional bodies such as the American Accounting Association (AAA) and European Accounting Association (EAA). Her work addresses disclosure strategies, sustainability assurance, and regulatory impacts, with recent focus on gender diversity policies and ESG-investment linkages. Research outputs emphasize global accounting practices and regulatory effectiveness across diverse sectors.
Jeannette Bohg is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University, directing the Interactive Perception and Robot Learning Lab. Previously, she was a group leader at the Autonomous Motion Department (AMD) of the MPI for Intelligent Systems (2012-2017). She holds a PhD from KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Stockholm) and degrees from Chalmers University and TU Dresden. Her research focuses on perception, learning, and real-time multi-modal methods for autonomous robotic manipulation and grasping, aiming to bridge principles of human sensorimotor coordination with robotic implementation. Education: PhD in Robotics (KTH), MSc in Art & Technology (Chalmers), Diploma in Computer Science (TU Dresden) Research interests include developing goal-directed, real-time robotic systems capable of meaningful feedback for execution and learning. Key areas are dexterous manipulation, imitation learning, and cross-embodiment policy transfer. Notable contributions include the TidyBot platform and work on force-aware surgical robotics. Awards include the 2019 IEEE ICRA Best Paper Award, 2019 IEEE RA Early Career Award, and 2020 RSS Early Career Award. Her lab explores intersections of robotics, ML, and computer vision. Advising: Actively mentoring students/postdocs in manipulation, perception, and learning. Grants and collaborations span NSF, Stanford AI Lab, and industry partnerships. Future work emphasizes robust real-world deployment and human-robot collaboration. Labs/Teams: Leads the Interactive Perception and Robot Learning Lab, contributing to Stanford’s AI ecosystem. Previously managed the MPI AMD group, fostering interdisciplinary research in autonomous systems.
André DeHon is the Oliver C. Boileau Jr. and Nan Eleze Boileau Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, affiliated with Electrical and Systems Engineering (ESE) and Computer and Information Science (CIS). He chairs the Computer Engineering (CMPE) program and directs the CyberSavvy Security Center. His research focuses on reconfigurable computing, FPGA architectures, computer security, and energy-efficient hardware design. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. from MIT and a B.S. from MIT's Lincoln School. Research interests include reconfigurable computing, FPGA interconnect, hardware security, and fault-tolerant systems. Notable achievements include the SEVER & PROTECT DARPA award and IEEE/ACM Fellowships. Recent work addresses fast FPGA compilation (HiPR, PLD), security through compartmentalization (μSCOPE, SCALPEL), and partial reconfiguration techniques. Teaching includes courses on hardware security, system-on-chip architecture, and digital audio basics. Over 200 publications span FPGA design, network-on-chip optimization, and molecular-scale computing. His labs (Implementation of Computation Group) explore physical implementation of computations through hardware-software co-design.
Sascha van Schendel is an Assistant Professor in Data Protection & Cybersecurity at the Department of Law & Markets, Erasmus School of Law, Erasmus University Rotterdam. She is affiliated with the Erasmus Centre of Law and Digitalization and contributes to the Sectorplan SSH-Breed research initiative on the influence of digitalization on work, prosperity, and entrepreneurship. Her research lies at the intersection of law, technology, and fundamental rights, with a focus on data protection, privacy, algorithmic governance, and the regulation of emerging technologies in public and environmental domains. She has published widely on topics including GDPR compliance, privacy by design, smart energy systems, AI in criminal justice, and the legal implications of predictive policing. The recent publications reflect a strong trend toward the regulation of data in public infrastructure (e.g., energy grids), algorithmic accountability in law enforcement, and the integration of legal and technical perspectives in privacy-preserving systems. Her work spans environmental law, criminal procedure, and digital constitutionalism, demonstrating interdisciplinary reach. Scientific Awards: No awards explicitly mentioned in the provided text. Advising and Grants: While no formal PhD or Master’s students are listed, Dr. van Schendel has been involved in significant research projects such as the NWO-funded Megamind project on smart energy grids, indicating experience with competitive grant funding. She actively collaborates with legal scholars and contributes to public policy debates, including responses to national legislation like the Dutch Cybersecurity Bill. Labs and Teams: She is a core member of the Erasmus Centre of Law and Digitalization, a research hub focusing on the legal challenges of digital transformation. Her work is embedded in interdisciplinary collaborations involving law, technology, and public policy experts.
