Bernhard J. Berger is a Lecturer in the Department of Computer Engineering at the Institute of Embedded Systems, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH). His research focuses on software security, static code analysis, machine learning, optimization, and research data management. He has held significant roles such as Program Committee member for ICPC 2025 and MSR 2025, and has received awards including the Best Reviewer Award (ICPC 2023) and Best Engineering Paper Award (SCAM 2019). His work spans interdisciplinary applications including maritime systems security, GPU-accelerated AI, and evolutionary algorithms. Recent studies emphasize AI-driven security tools (e.g., ML-SAST) and domain-specific language approaches to optimization (EvoAl). He has contributed to over 30 peer-reviewed publications, with notable work in IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering and Science of Computer Programming. Berger collaborates closely with industry through DAAD review committees and serves on artifact evaluation boards for ISSTA and ARES conferences. Education: Doctoral Thesis (2022), Diploma in Computer Science (2007) Key Projects: ArchSec tool suite, Threat Modeling Frameworks, Bauhaus static analysis methodology Lab Affiliation: Embedded Systems Design Group His advisory roles include Deputy of TUHH's Election Verification Committee and Session Chair at IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation 2023. Current research trends integrate machine learning with static analysis for automated vulnerability detection, while also exploring explainable AI techniques for neural network optimization.
Dr. Jérôme Verny is an Associate Professor specializing in transport, logistics, and supply chain management. He is the founder and director of the research institute in innovative transport and logistics, as well as the co-founder of the DISC Master's program (Digital & Innovative Supply Chain) in Paris and the Mobility Accelerator. His expertise spans digitalization in logistics, blockchain applications, and sustainable development. Educated at the University of Lille Nord de France (PhD in Economics and Management) and engineering schools like École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, he advises both public institutions (OECD, EU) and private enterprises on transportation strategies. Research Interests: Dr. Verny focuses on supply chain innovation, digital transformation, and strategic logistics. His work integrates blockchain technology for supply chain transparency, optimizes last-mile delivery in urban environments, and analyzes the impact of geopolitical actors like China on global trade networks. He also explores sustainable practices in transportation, including CO2 reduction strategies and pandemic response logistics. Awards: Recipient of the 2009 OECD-FIT Young Researcher Prize in Transport. His contributions bridge academic research with practical applications in industry, policy, and international trade. Key Activities: Co-founded the DISC Master’s program and leads research initiatives on blockchain adoption, Arctic shipping routes, and Mediterranean trade dynamics. He actively contributes to conferences such as the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME) and publishes in journals like Structural Change and Economic Dynamics and International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics . Labs/Teams: Directs the Institut de Recherche en Transport et Logistique Innovante and collaborates with institutions like the OECD and European Commission on transport policy. His interdisciplinary approach involves engineering, economics, and data science to address global supply chain challenges.
Paolo Gardoni is the Alfredo H. Ang Family Professor and an Excellence Faculty Scholar in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with additional professorial appointments in Industrial & Enterprise Systems Engineering and Biomedical & Translational Sciences. He also serves as Director of the MAE Center and Editor-in-Chief of Reliability Engineering & System Safety. Education Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley (2002) M.A. in Statistics, University of California, Berkeley (2001) M.Eng. in Structural Engineering, University of Tokyo (1997) Laurea (BS+MS equivalent) in Structural Engineering, Politecnico di Milano (1997) Research Interests Gardoni’s scholarship integrates probabilistic methods with large-scale infrastructure systems to advance reliability, risk, and life-cycle analysis. His work quantifies the performance of deteriorating systems under natural and anthropogenic hazards, models societal impacts of disasters, and develops decision frameworks for sustainable and resilient infrastructure. He also examines ethical, social, and legal dimensions of risk, and investigates optimal strategies for hazard mitigation, disaster recovery, and climate adaptation. Across more than 250 refereed journal papers, he has advanced sub-fields ranging from probabilistic mechanics and earthquake engineering to catastrophe bond pricing and engineering ethics, leveraging tools such as stochastic differential equations, Bayesian networks, and physics-informed machine learning. Awards & Honors Alfredo Ang Award on Risk Analysis and Management of Civil Infrastructure (ASCE, 2021) Best Paper Awards in ASCE Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment (2019) and Geotechnical Research (2018 Telford Premium Prize) Fellowships and named professorships: Alfredo H. Ang Family Professor, Excellence Faculty Scholar, and courtesy or honorary professorships at Tsinghua, IIT Guwahati, Tongji, Jianghan, and Loughborough universities. Research Leadership & Funding Gardoni has secured over $58 million in research funding from NSF, DHS, NIST, USAID, Qatar National Research Fund, and other agencies. He directs the MAE Center—formerly an NSF Engineering Research Center—focused on multi-hazard engineering approaches, and is Editor-in-Chief of Reliability Engineering & System Safety (Elsevier, IF 9.4). He founded and formerly led the journal Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure (Taylor & Francis) and serves on editorial boards of nine additional journals. Advising & Mentorship He has graduated 27 PhD and 35 Master’s students, many of whom now hold faculty positions worldwide. His group maintains an active pipeline of doctoral and post-doctoral researchers working on resilience analytics, infrastructure monitoring, and risk-informed decision-making. Laboratories & Collaborations He leads the MAE Center and is affiliated with the Critical Infrastructure Resilience Institute (CIRI) and the Biomedical and Translational Sciences group. International collaborations span the UK (Loughborough), India (IIT Guwahati), and China (Tsinghua, Tongji, Jianghan), fostering cross-disciplinary research in reliability and resilience engineering.
Manish Verma is Professor of Operations Management and Associate Dean, Graduate Studies at the DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University. His academic journey began with an MBA and PhD in Business Administration with Operations Management/Management Science specialization from Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University. Dr. Verma's research focuses on multimodal transportation of dangerous goods, risk assessment, network design and planning in transportation, humanitarian logistics, green supply chain management, and disruption/resilience in transportation systems. His current research engagements center on safety and security issues in freight transportation and humanitarian logistics, funded by NSERC and SSHRC grants. He has been frequently approached by media to comment on railroad accidents involving dangerous goods. An analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on hazardous materials transportation risk management, with significant contributions to rail-truck intermodal systems, hazmat risk modeling using value-at-risk methodologies, and emergency response planning for transportation networks. His work bridges theoretical operations research with practical transportation safety applications. $245K research grant for rail safety research from Government of Canada As an educator, Dr. Verma has taught courses including Predictive Analytics for Managers, Network Design Issues in Freight Transportation, and Management Science Research Issues. His scholarly impact is evidenced by publications in leading journals such as Transportation Research Part E, European Journal of Operational Research, and Safety Science. He actively contributes to real-world transportation safety through media commentary and research that informs policy decisions regarding dangerous goods transportation.
Matthew Dunbabin is a Professor at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and Chief Investigator at the Australian Centre for Robotic Vision (ACRV). His expertise spans environmental robotics, with a focus on vision-based autonomous systems for marine conservation, water quality monitoring, and greenhouse gas management. He holds a PhD from QUT and a BEng (Aerospace) from RMIT. Dunbabin has led projects at CSIRO and QUT, developing robots like COTSBot and RangerBot to combat marine pests and promote reef restoration. His work has earned national and international awards, including the 2019 Australian Water Association Award and 2016 Google Impact Challenge. Education: PhD in Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (Queensland, Australia) BEng (Hons) in Aerospace Engineering, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (Melbourne, Australia) Research Interests: Environmental robotics and autonomous systems Vision-based perception and classification Marine habitat restoration and pest control Greenhouse gas monitoring via autonomous vehicles Cooperative robotics and sensor networks Awards & Recognition: 2019 Australian Water Association Award (SAMMI Project) 2019 Good Design Award - Sustainability (RangerBot) 2016 Google Impact Challenge People’s Choice Award (RangerBot AUV) 2010 Australian ICT Industry Association National iAward (iSnet) 2006 Queensland Engineering Excellence Innovation Award (Starbug Project) Grants & Projects: ARC Centre of Excellence for Robotic Vision (ACRV): Leading robotic vision research (2014–present) Revolutionising Protection Against Air Pollution: Air quality monitoring networks (2015–present) Establishing Advanced Networks for Air Quality Sensing: Sensor development for urban environments (2017–present) Labs & Collaborations: ACRV at QUT Institute for Future Environments (QUT) CSIRO Autonomous Systems Laboratory (2001–2013)
Gizem Kayişoğlu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Maritime Transportation and Management Engineering at Istanbul Technical University. Her research focuses on cybersecurity challenges in maritime systems, human error probability, and risk assessment methodologies. She actively explores vulnerabilities in shipboard systems such as ECDIS, VDR, and radar while emphasizing regulatory compliance and maritime safety standards. Her work integrates frameworks like CORAS, Fuzzy FUCOM, and SLIM to address cybersecurity dynamics and human factors in maritime operations. Key collaborations involve analyzing ransomware threats, AIS system vulnerabilities, and port infrastructure protection through interdisciplinary approaches. Her articles highlight trends in maritime cybersecurity, including ransomware mitigation, cyber hygiene practices, and critical infrastructure protection. She has contributed to developing risk assessment tools and checklists tailored for maritime environments, emphasizing both technological and human aspects of safety. No scientific awards have been explicitly mentioned. She has not listed formal advisees, and her professional activities focus on advancing maritime cybersecurity through academic and applied research.
Henri van Soest is a Professor of Policy Analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy and a Senior Analyst at RAND Europe. He is based at RAND, a global policy research organization, where he leads studies on energy security, artificial intelligence governance, critical infrastructure protection, and European Union policy. His work supports key institutions including the European Union, UK government, and Dutch government. His research focuses on the intersection of technology and policy, particularly in energy systems and AI. Key areas include: AI governance and trustworthy AI tools Energy security and digitalisation of the power grid Critical undersea infrastructure protection Cybersecurity in energy systems Space technology regulation Societal resilience and national security The trend in his recent publications shows a growing emphasis on the dual-use nature of AI in critical infrastructure, balancing innovation with security and resilience. His work combines technical analysis with policy recommendations, often using modeling and expert elicitation. Much of his research addresses transatlantic and European policy challenges, especially in energy and security domains. Scientific contributions and policy impact are evident through frequent publications and expert submissions to governmental bodies. Notable outputs include evidence submissions to the UK Parliament and reports for the U.S. Department of Energy. While no formal awards are listed, his influence is reflected in high-level policy engagement. He has advised on grants and policy studies involving global teams, particularly in energy transition, AI infrastructure, and resilience planning. His prior experience includes energy policy research at the University of Oslo, cleantech analysis, and corporate governance in banking. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge and a joint LL.M. from KU Leuven and the University of Zurich. Henri van Soest leads research within RAND Europe’s multidisciplinary teams focusing on science, technology, and security policy. His work often involves collaboration across international experts and institutions, particularly on EU and NATO-related security issues. He contributes to projects involving horizon scanning, Delphi studies, and quantitative modeling in policy contexts.
Dr. Marcel Dettling is a Group Lead in Data Analysis and Statistics at the ZHAW School of Engineering , focusing on predictive analytics, applied statistics, and complex data analysis. He also serves as a Lecturer at ETH Zurich , teaching advanced statistical methods. Education : PhD in Mathematics (2000-2004), ETH Zurich Postdoc in Applied Statistics (2004-2006), Johns Hopkins University His research spans predictive analytics (regression, classification, time series), data mining, and applications in health economics, transportation safety, social sciences , and business analytics . Recent work includes pharmaceutical cost group analysis for Swiss healthcare and predictive maintenance for marine vessels. Selected publications highlight his expertise in flight trajectory modeling , deep learning error mitigation , and statistical frameworks for rehabilitation finance . His projects address diverse fields like crowdworking in nursing, energy optimization for shipping, and customer behavior prediction.
Professor Chin Hoong Chor is a Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS), affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering. He specializes in transportation systems modeling, safety assessment, and congestion management. As a registered professional engineer and road safety auditor, he has contributed to numerous projects with Singapore’s land authorities and private companies. He holds leadership roles including Vice Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and Editorial Board membership for the International Journal of Transport Management. Qualifications include a BEng and MEng from NUS and a PhD in Transportation Engineering from the University of Southampton. His research interests span vehicle detection using image processing, traffic conflict analysis, and public transport optimization. Notable awards include the NUS Faculty Innovative Teaching (Gold) Award (2001/2002) and the UK Institution of Civil Engineers Webb Prize (2003). Education: BEng in Civil Engineering, National University of Singapore MEng in Civil Engineering, National University of Singapore PhD in Transportation Engineering, University of Southampton His research focuses on quantitative safety analysis, traffic flow modeling, and smart city initiatives. Recent work explores maritime collision risk modeling and sentiment analysis for transportation planning. He actively contributes to government committees and has authored over 40 peer-reviewed papers on traffic management and safety. Awards: Faculty Innovative Teaching (Gold) Award, 2001/2002 UK Institution of Civil Engineers Webb Prize 2003 Prof Chin has undertaken traffic impact studies and road safety reviews in Singapore, collaborating with public and private sectors. His work bridges academic research and practical policy implementation, emphasizing sustainable urban mobility solutions.
Hayretdin Bahsi is an Assistant Professor at the School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems at Northern Arizona University . His research focuses on cybersecurity, with expertise in malware detection, IoT security, and machine learning applications in defense mechanisms. He collaborates internationally on maritime cybersecurity, healthcare systems, and critical infrastructure protection. Research Interests include Android malware analysis, botnet detection, explainable AI in intrusion detection, and threat modeling for AI-driven systems. His work addresses challenges like concept drift in malware detection and privacy-preserving techniques for IoT networks. Publications span 66 scholarly works since 2009, emphasizing cybersecurity trends in AI, IoT, and healthcare. Recent contributions explore large language model (LLM) applications in vulnerability detection and cyber threat modeling for healthcare systems. Collaborations include projects on maritime cyber-insurance, cyber incident management in low-income countries, and datasets like MedBIoT for IoT botnet analysis. His work bridges theory and practice, addressing real-world cybersecurity challenges.
Professor Mohamed Naim is a distinguished academic at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, where he holds the position of Professor in Logistics and Operations Management. He has served in several leadership roles, including former Head of the Logistics and Operations Management Section and former Deputy Dean at the Business School. He was also the founding director of the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing Systems at Cardiff (CAMSAC). He is actively engaged in high-impact research and industrial collaboration, currently leading a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Tower Cold Chain Solutions Ltd. and contributing to major research programs such as ASTUTE, ASTUTE2020, and AFAIR. His research interests center on the development of business systems engineering approaches to resilient supply chains, with a focus on sustainability, circularity, and flexibility in lean and agile systems. He has made significant contributions to supply chain dynamics, particularly in engineer-to-order (ETO) sectors such as construction and shipbuilding. His recent work explores digital transformation in logistics, including 5G-enabled smart ports, building information modelling (BIM), and AI-driven decision-making. The analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward interdisciplinary research, integrating operations management with healthcare (trauma systems), digital technologies, and sustainable industrial practices. His work frequently employs system dynamics, simulation, and empirical case studies to address complex supply chain challenges. Scientific Awards: Institution of Electrical Engineers' Manufacturing Division Premium (1996) Royal Academy of Engineering Global Research Award (2003) Professor Naim is actively involved in research supervision and has contributed to two Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) impact cases on innovative procurement and financially sustainable supply chains. He is a founding member of the Logistics Systems Dynamics Group (LSDG) and has led and co-directed multiple large-scale research initiatives. His work is characterized by strong industry engagement, particularly through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and collaborations with public sector bodies like the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO). Research Centers and Teams: Logistics and Operations Management Section, Cardiff Business School Centre for Advanced Manufacturing Systems at Cardiff (CAMSAC) Logistics Systems Dynamics Group (LSDG) ASTUTE / ASTUTE2020 / ASTUTE East programmes AFAIR project (Expert Advisor)
Professor Zoheir Sabeur is Professor of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at Bournemouth University (2019–present) and Head of the Processes and Behaviour Understanding (PRO_BU) Research Group. He concurrently serves as Visiting Professor of Data Science at Colorado School of Mines (2017–present) and held the position of Science Director at the IT Innovation Centre, University of Southampton (2009–2019). Over three decades he has led more than 30 large-scale projects as Principal Investigator, securing over £12 million of funding from the European Commission, UKRI, DSTL, NERC, EPSRC and industry. Education PhD in Theoretical Physics, University of Glasgow (1990) MSc in Theoretical Physics, University of Glasgow (1986) BSc First-Class Honours in Physics and Applied Mathematics, Université d'Oran (1984) Advanced Leadership Programme, Ashridge Business School (2011) Research Interests Professor Sabeur’s research focuses on the fundamental theory and application of data science and artificial intelligence to understand complex human, natural and industrial processes and behaviours. His work spans multi-modal sensing, big-data analytics and machine-learning algorithms that extract actionable knowledge from large heterogeneous datasets. Application domains include: Healthcare: AI-driven diagnostics and prognostics for chronic diseases such as COPD, asthma and cancers through omics and phenotypic data integration. Environmental & Climate: Earth-observation analytics for wildlife migration and climate-change impact assessment using satellite data and global grid systems. Maritime & Cyber-Physical Security: Real-time risk assessment for shipping in extreme environments, smart-city safety and critical-infrastructure protection using computer vision and sensor fusion. Recent research has produced novel AI classifiers that analyse lung-auscultation audio signals to grade COPD severity, as well as digital-twin frameworks for detecting malicious behaviour in urban spaces. Scientific Awards & Recognition Fellow of the British Computer Society (FBCS) Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (FIMarEST) Chartered Engineer (CEng) and Chartered Physicist (CPhys) Multiple ORS Awards (1987, 1988, 1989) Grants & Doctoral Supervision Professor Sabeur has secured and led more than 40 funded projects since 1996, including recent grants such as INSIGHT (NIHR, 2024) and S4AllCities (H2020, 2020). He currently supervises three ongoing PhD students at Bournemouth University and has successfully graduated three others, covering topics from computational hydrodynamics to AI-based respiratory-disease analytics. He welcomes enquiries from prospective postgraduate researchers interested in data science, AI and interdisciplinary applications under schemes such as UKRI and Horizon Europe.
Lokukaluge Prasad Perera is a Professor in Maritime Technology at UiT The Arctic University of Norway and a Senior Research Scientist in Smart Data at SINTEF Digital . He holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University (1999), MSc in Systems & Controls from the same institution (2001), and a PhD in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from Technical University of Lisbon (2012). His research focuses on Maritime and Offshore Systems , Advanced Data Analytics , Autonomous Navigation , Energy Efficiency , and Digital Twin Applications . He has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and was recognized in the World's Top 2% Scientists (2021-2022) by Stanford University. Key professional experiences include roles at SINTEF Ocean (2014–2017), Center for Marine Technology and Engineering in Portugal (2008–2012), and Wärtsilä Finland (2012–2014). He has also held academic positions at Naval & Maritime Academy and Ocean University of Sri Lanka . His work addresses challenges in emission reduction , renewable energy integration , and safety-critical systems for maritime operations. Current projects emphasize trustworthiness of autonomous ships and data-driven decision frameworks for energy efficiency.
Jan Emblemsvåg is a Professor at NTNU’s Department of Ocean Space Operations and Civil Engineering in Ålesund, Norway. He has held senior industry roles including Shipyard Director at Vard, SVP Ship Design & Systems at Rolls-Royce Marine, and Managing Director at Midsund Bruk. His academic positions span BI Norwegian Business School, Ålesund University College, and NTNU since 2006. Emblemsvåg’s expertise bridges engineering and management, focusing on sustainable development through rigorous analytical frameworks. Education: PhD from Georgia Institute of Technology (1999), MSc (1995), and Civil Engineering degree from Norwegian Institute of Technology (1994). R&D focuses on six core areas: 1) Product/process development with Lean methodologies, 2) Life-Cycle Costing/Analyses (integrating cost, environmental, and social dimensions), 3) Risk management and uncertainty analysis using Monte Carlo methods, 4) Operations/General management under Lean principles, 5) Project management with Lean integration, and 6) Renewable energy (especially nuclear power’s role in maritime and industrial sectors). Publications emphasize energy policy critiques, nuclear propulsion feasibility, and sustainable shipping. Recent work highlights nuclear energy’s potential as a cost-effective, low-emission solution for maritime transport and industrial needs. Active in policy debates advocating evidence-based energy strategies. Labs/Teams: Leads NTNU’s research initiatives on nuclear propulsion for merchant ships (NuProShip project) and collaborates internationally on maritime safety and evacuation modeling.
Dr. Mojgan A. Jadidi serves as Associate Professor in the Teaching Stream and Director of Common Engineering & BSc Science within the Department of Civil Engineering at York University's Lassonde School of Engineering. A Professional Engineer (P.Eng) and founder of the GeoVA Lab, she leads research at the intersection of geospatial analytics, digital infrastructure, and innovative engineering education aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals. Education: PhD in Geomatics, Université Laval (2014) MSc in Earthquake and Seismology Engineering, ROSE Center (Italy) & Université Joseph Fourier (France) BSc in Civil-Survey Engineering, Iranian University of Science and Technology Research Focus: Her pioneering work in Geospatial Visual Analytics spans 2D/3D environments, Building Information Modeling (BIM) and 3D GIS integration, and Spatial Quantum Computing applications for smart cities. She develops Infrastructure Digital Twins using sensor data fusion while revolutionizing engineering education through gamification and augmented/virtual reality pedagogies that transform complex spatial concepts into immersive learning experiences. Research Trends: Recent publications (2021-2023) demonstrate convergent innovation across three domains: (1) Building energy optimization through BIM-graph analytics, (2) Transportation safety via AI-driven situational awareness, and (3) Educational technology using VR sandboxes and visual-verbal comics. These works consistently integrate quantum computing principles and UN SDG frameworks to solve urban sustainability challenges. Scientific Recognition: ASEE Zone III Best Paper Award (2023) ASEE Saint Lawrence Best Research Paper & Poster (2022) 3D GeoInfo Conference Best Paper (2018) NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship (2016) ESRI Student Award (2011) Erasmus Mundus Scholarship (2006) Research Leadership: As Associate Director of York's ESRI Center of Excellence, she manages multi-source funding from NSERC, Mitacs, and York University internal grants. Her professional service spans global organizations including ISPRS Commission IV (Secretary), IEEE Women in Engineering (Member), PEO Etobicoke (Chair), and buildingSMART Canada (Committee Member), driving standards for BIM and digital twin implementation in urban infrastructure. Lab Innovation: The GeoVA Lab develops cutting-edge tools including the TopoSurvey Game for immersive surveying education, PAN-Lassonde XR Sandbox for virtual lab experiences, and quantum computing frameworks for bike-sharing optimization, establishing new paradigms in spatial data interaction and engineering pedagogy.
