Lourens Waldorp is an Associate Professor at the University of Amsterdam within the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences , specifically the Department of Psychological Methods . His research focuses on network theory, causal inference, and statistical modeling in psychology and neuroscience. University of Amsterdam IAS Fellow (2024) His research interests include: Network psychometrics Causal inference in psychological models High-dimensional statistical methods Dynamical systems in psychopathology Graph theory applications Signal processing for biophysical data The trends in his recent publications center on causal modeling, network analysis of psychopathology, and statistical techniques for time-series data. He has developed methods for perturbation graphs, moderated network models, and dynamic intervention frameworks. Notable scientific awards : IAS Fellowship for 6 months (2024) He advises PhD students like Kyra Evers and collaborates with researchers across disciplines, including J. Haslbeck , D. Borsboom , and O. Ryan . His work intersects with network theory and clinical psychology .
Jakob Schoeffer is a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Artificial Intelligence department at the Bernoulli Institute for Mathematics, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen (Netherlands). His work focuses on the intersection of human decision-making and artificial intelligence, particularly in high-stakes contexts where fairness, transparency, and appropriate human-AI collaboration are critical. Dr. Schoeffer's research interests center on responsible and explainable AI, with specific focus areas including: Human-AI collaboration dynamics in decision-making processes Fairness perceptions and interventions in AI systems Appropriate reliance on AI recommendations Explainable AI techniques for high-stakes domains Transparency mechanisms that improve human-AI team performance Label indeterminacy issues in medical AI applications His recent publications (2023-2025) reveal a strong trend toward applying AI research in critical domains like healthcare (particularly neurological recovery prediction), while maintaining a rigorous focus on the human aspects of AI deployment. His work spans both theoretical foundations of human-AI interaction and practical implementations, often employing mixed-methods approaches that combine technical AI development with behavioral studies. Dr. Schoeffer actively collaborates with researchers across institutions including the University of Texas at Austin and has made significant contributions to top conferences in AI ethics, fairness, and human-computer interaction. His research has been featured in multiple news outlets and policy discussions, indicating real-world impact of his work on responsible AI development. Prior to his current appointment, Dr. Schoeffer was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin. He received his PhD from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany with a dissertation titled "On the Interplay of Transparency and Fairness in AI-Informed Decision-Making." He also holds a master's degree in Operations Research from Georgia Tech and industry experience as a Senior Data Scientist at IBM.
Pim de Vink is a doctoral researcher at Eindhoven University of Technology , affiliated with the Biomedical Engineering department and Chemical Biology group. Supervised by dr. L.-G. Milroy and prof. L. Brunsveld , his work bridges supramolecular chemistry and chemical biology , focusing on host/guest chemistry for protein complex modulation. Education: B.Sc. in Chemistry (2014) from University of Amsterdam M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering (2016) from TU/e Internship at Max Planck Institute for Molecular Physiology (2016) on gold-catalyzed synthesis Research Themes: His research develops switchable cucurbituril-based systems for light-controlled enzyme activation and artificial signaling networks. Key areas include protein-protein interaction stabilization , thermodynamic modeling , and allosteric nuclear receptor modulation . Publication Trends: Across JACS , Chemical Science , and RSC Chemical Biology , his work from 2017–2023 emphasizes supramolecular tools for biochemical applications. Notable contributions include 100-fold affinity enhancement of 14-3-3 ligands and UV-responsive cucurbituril release mechanisms . Grants: Funded by Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) through Gravity program 024.001.035 and VICI grant 016.150.366.
Thomas Bäck is a Professor at the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS) , Leiden University , Netherlands, and a member of the interdisciplinary programme Society, Artificial Intelligence and Life Sciences (SAILS) . His academic career spans roles at Leiden University (1996–present) and leadership positions at the Center for Applied Systems Analysis in Dortmund (1994–2000). Education : Diplom-Informatiker (Computer Science), Technische Universität Dortmund (1990) Dr. rer. nat. (Computer Science), Technische Universität Dortmund (1994) Research Interests : Dr. Bäck specializes in evolutionary computation , machine learning , and their applications in sustainable smart industry and healthcare . Recent work focuses on integrating large language models (LLMs) and quantum computing into optimization frameworks, with projects like CIMPLO (predictive maintenance), ECOLE (experience-based optimization), and SAPPAO (airline operations optimization). Scientific Contributions : His 526+ publications cover evolutionary algorithms, quantum optimization, and LLM-driven design, with recent trends including: Quantum computing (e.g., quantum approximate optimization, quantum advantage challenges) LLM integration (e.g., hyperparameter tuning, mutation control, code evolution graphs) Healthcare and industry (e.g., predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, melt quality prediction) Algorithm benchmarking (e.g., IOHprofiler, MA-BBOB, explainable benchmarking) Scientific Awards : IEEE Fellow (2022) Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) member (2021) Academia Europaea member (2022) IEEE Computational Intelligence Society Evolutionary Computation Pioneer Award (2015) Fellow, International Society of Genetic and Evolutionary Computation (2003) Best Ph.D. thesis award, German Society of Computer Science (GI) (1995) Advising and Grants : He supervises Ph.D. candidates in evolutionary computation and machine learning and has secured 7 major grants from organizations like the Dutch Research Council , European Commission , and The Research Council of Norway . His editorial roles include Editor-in-Chief of the Evolutionary Computation Journal and associate editorships in leading AI journals.
Andre Berger is an Associate Professor of Operations Research at Maastricht University, affiliated with the QE Operations Research department within the School of Business and Economics. He holds a PhD in Mathematics from Emory University (2006) and completed a postdoc at Technical University Berlin. His research focuses on optimization algorithms, combinatorial optimization, and their applications in scheduling, network design, and operations research. Notable contributions include work on the many-visits Traveling Salesman Problem and cluster editing algorithms. Berger’s recent publications span scheduling theory, MRI-based clinical research collaborations, and theoretical advancements in facility location models. He is based at Tongersestraat 53, Maastricht, and can be reached via a.berger@maastrichtuniversity.nl. Education: MSc in Mathematics, Emory University (2003) PhD in Mathematics, Emory University (2006) Research Interests: Berger’s work bridges theoretical computer science and practical applications in operations research, emphasizing algorithm design for complex optimization problems. Key areas include scheduling algorithms, network flow optimization, and geometric optimization challenges such as the Apollonius problem in facility location. His interdisciplinary approach integrates mathematical programming with real-world scenarios in telecommunications and healthcare.
Mykola Pechenizkiy is a Full Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), holding the Data Mining Chair. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor in Data Mining for Industrial Applications at the University of Jyväskylä. His research focuses on predictive analytics, data mining, and responsible AI, addressing real-world challenges in industry, healthcare, and education. He leads the Customer Journey research program at the Data Science Center Eindhoven, emphasizing ethical and transparent analytics. Academically, he holds a PhD from the University of Jyväskylä (2005) and has held visiting researcher positions at institutions like Columbia University and NYU. He has co-authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications and serves on editorial boards and committees for leading conferences (e.g., AAAI, IJCAI). He is the President of the International Educational Data Mining Society (IEDMS). His research interests include concept drift adaptation, sparsity techniques in neural networks, and fairness-aware AI. He has led projects such as the TKI PPS KPN Smart Two initiative and collaborates with industries like ASML, Philips, and Rabobank. His work contributes to UN SDGs, particularly in sustainable development through AI-driven solutions. Awards: Best Demo Paper Award (IEEE ICDE 2023), Best Paper Awards (ALA 2022, LoG 2022), and SensorKDD 2009 recognition. Grants/Projects: Active projects include TKI PPS KPN Smart Two (2019–2025) and Smart One W&I TKI KPN Flagship (2018–2022). Labs/Teams: Affiliated with EAISI Health, SIKS Scientific Board, and the University of Waikato’s AI Institute.
Leonardus Cornelis Nicolaas de Vreede is a Professor at Delft University of Technology in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science. With over 237 research publications and extensive conference activities, he is a leading researcher in RF and microwave engineering with specialization in power amplifiers, digital transmitters, and mm-wave circuits for wireless communications applications. Dr. de Vreede's research focuses on the intersection of circuit design and signal processing for next-generation wireless systems: Advanced Power Amplifier Architectures including Doherty and Out-phasing techniques Energy-Efficient Digital Transmitters with high linearity and power efficiency mm-Wave Circuit Design for 5G/6G applications Machine Learning Applications for Digital Predistortion CMOS RF Integrated Circuit Implementation Wideband Signal Processing Techniques His recent publications demonstrate a clear research trajectory toward integrating machine learning with traditional RF circuit design to solve the efficiency-linearity tradeoff in wireless transmitters. This work is particularly relevant for current and future wireless infrastructure requiring high spectral efficiency across wide bandwidths while maintaining energy efficiency. Dr. de Vreede has received significant recognition for his contributions to the field: EuMC Microwave Prize (2024) for groundbreaking work on wideband Doherty amplifiers Recognition for innovative characterization techniques for high-power RF transistors (2015) As an active researcher and educator, Dr. de Vreede has supervised 16 students and regularly participates in major international conferences including serving on program committees for the IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium. His work bridges theoretical advances with practical implementations for wireless infrastructure applications, with numerous patents and industry collaborations evident from his research portfolio.
National Research Institute for Mathematics and Computer ScienceNetherlands
Serge Fehr is a Senior Researcher in the Cryptology Group at CWI (Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica) in Amsterdam and a part-time Professor at the Mathematical Institute of Leiden University. His research focuses on foundational aspects of cryptology, including post-quantum cryptography, information-theoretic security, zero-knowledge proofs, and secure multiparty computation. He participates in AMSec (Amsterdam Cyber Security Center) and leads work packages in the NWO-funded HAPKIDO consortium. Education: M.Sc. in Mathematics from ETH Zürich (1998) Ph.D. in Cryptography from ETH Zürich and University of Aarhus (2003) Postdoc at Macquarie University (2003-2004) Research Interests: Post-quantum cryptographic primitives (e.g., digital signatures, lattice-based schemes) Quantum-resistant protocols (e.g., non-resignable signatures, Fiat-Shamir transforms) Foundational security proofs in the quantum random oracle model (QROM) Secure multiparty computation and privacy-preserving healthcare systems Key Activities: Editorial Board Member: Journal of Cryptology , IEEE Transactions on Information Theory Program Committee Co-Chair: EUROCRYPT 2025 Steering Committee Member: Beyond IID Information Theory, QCrypt Co-organizer: Symposium Series on Post-Quantum Cryptography Grants/Awards: NWO Cybersecurity consortium grant (HAPKIDO - 2021) NWO Veni Grant (2005) NWO Open & Free Competition Grants (2008, 2013) Students/Advising: Supervised or served on committees for over 15 Ph.D. students, including work on post-quantum signatures, MPC applications, and lattice-based cryptography. Labs/Teams: Active in CWI’s Cryptology Group and Leiden’s Mathematical Institute, collaborating with industry partners (e.g., KPN, Microsoft) in cybersecurity initiatives.
Prof. Iris F.A. Vis is a Professor of Industrial Engineering at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Economics and Business. She specializes in logistics and operations management, focusing on optimizing processes through quantitative and qualitative methods. Her work intersects logistics with sectors like healthcare, education, and energy. She leads major projects such as SMiLES (sustainable mobility-logistics integration) and designs logistics solutions for personalized learning systems in schools. She has advised over a dozen PhD students and collaborates with industry partners globally. Awards include Fellowship in the Netherlands Academy of Engineering. Education: M.Sc. Mathematics (Leiden University), PhD in Operations Management (Erasmus University Rotterdam) Roles: Captain of Science for Topsector Logistics, Member of multiple national advisory boards Research interests span sustainable transportation networks, port optimization, healthcare logistics, and educational logistics. Key projects include LNG supply chain design, offshore wind farm maintenance planning, and synchromodal transport networks. Over 45 peer-reviewed publications and 18 media engagements highlight her impactful contributions. Teaching includes courses on supply chain network design, technology-enabled innovation, and operations management at all academic levels. She advises on industrial partnerships and digital transformation initiatives in the Northern Netherlands region.
Alejandro Tirachini is an Associate Professor in Transport Planning at the University of Chile, specializing in transportation systems research with emphasis on public transport optimization, emerging technologies, and socio-economic impacts. His work bridges engineering, urban planning, and policy analysis to address global mobility challenges. His research spans public transport operations, road transportation systems, autonomous vehicle integration, and sustainable mobility solutions. Key methodologies include agent-based modeling, statistical analysis, and mathematical programming for optimization. Tirachini investigates environmental externalities, economic systems in transport, and behavioral responses to innovations like real-time information apps and teleworking. Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications reveals a strong focus on practical transport solutions: bus scheduling algorithms, electrification barriers, real-time information impacts, and railway barrier effects. His work consistently compares developed and developing country contexts, with significant Chilean case studies. Methodologically, he combines quantitative techniques with socio-technical analysis to evaluate policy interventions across environmental, economic, and behavioral dimensions.
Dr. Farhad Merchant is an Assistant Professor of Innovative Computer Architecture at the Bernoulli Institute, University of Groningen, since July 2024. Previously, he served as a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) at Newcastle University (2022–2024) and held research roles at Bosch Research, NTU, and RWTH Aachen University. His research focuses on emerging technology-based computing and hardware-oriented security, including neuromorphic architectures, in-memory computing, and secure hardware design. Education: PhD in Electronics Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, with a DAAD-funded visit to RWTH Aachen University. He also holds industry experience from Bosch Research. Research Interests : - Hardware Security - Neuromorphic Computing - Algorithm-Architecture Co-design - Reconfigurable Computing - Computer Arithmetic Projects : - Coordinator for the REACT project (2025–2029): Focuses on self-aware neuromorphic architectures. - Principal Investigator for Privacy-Preserving Computer Architectures (CogniGron, 2025–2029). - Completed BioNanoLock project (DFG-funded, focusing on bio-nanoelectronic security). Awards : - Best Paper Awards at ISQED 2022, NEWCAS 2023, and VLSI-DAT 2024. - Minerva Fellowship (Technion, Israel), HiPEAC Technology Transfer Award (2019). He co-founded the SeHAS workshop (since 2019) and serves on editorial and program committees for major conferences like DAC, ISLPED, and VLSI-SoC.
Karen Barad is Distinguished Professor of History of Consciousness at the University of California, Santa Cruz, with joint appointments in Philosophy and Feminist Studies. She holds a Ph.D. in theoretical particle physics from SUNY Stony Brook and previously held a tenured position in a physics department before transitioning to interdisciplinary work. At UCSC, she is affiliated with the Humanities Division and serves as faculty in the History of Consciousness Department and Philosophy Department. Barad earned her Ph.D. in Physics from SUNY Stony Brook, building a foundation in theoretical particle physics before moving toward more interdisciplinary work. Her unique trajectory from physics to philosophy and feminist studies has shaped her distinctive approach to questions of matter, meaning, and ethics. Barad's research spans multiple disciplines including science studies, multispecies studies, physics, nuclear studies, continental philosophy, epistemology, ontology, ethics, politics, and philosophy of physics. Her theoretical framework of "agential realism" has significantly influenced feminist theory, science studies, and philosophy. She approaches questions of matter, meaning, and ethics through the lens of quantum physics, developing concepts like intra-action, diffraction, and entanglement as philosophical tools. Her work challenges traditional boundaries between subject/object, nature/culture, and human/non-human. Her publications over the last two decades reveal a consistent engagement with the intersections of science, philosophy, and ethics, particularly focusing on how material-discursive practices shape reality. Barad's work increasingly addresses ecological concerns, nuclear legacies, and questions of justice, demonstrating how scientific concepts can inform ethical and political thought. Her writing moves fluidly between theoretical physics, feminist theory, and philosophical inquiry, creating new pathways for understanding the entanglement of matter and meaning. honorary doctorate from Gothenburg University Fulbright fellowship Kresge College Teaching Award Barad has received significant recognition for her scholarship and her research has been generously supported by major funding organizations including the National Science Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Hughes Foundation, the Irvine Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. As Co-Director of the Science & Justice Graduate Training Program at UCSC, Barad has mentored numerous graduate students and shaped interdisciplinary research connecting scientific inquiry with questions of social justice. Her collaborative work with scholars like Jenny Reardon has helped establish science & justice as a vital field of inquiry. Barad's approach to mentoring emphasizes the ethical responsibilities inherent in scientific and philosophical practices. Through her leadership in the Science & Justice Research Center, which she helped found, Barad has fostered innovative collaborations across disciplines, creating spaces where scientists, humanists, and social scientists can work together on pressing contemporary issues. Her work continues to influence multiple fields, with ongoing projects exploring nuclear colonialism, ecological ethics, and the material consequences of scientific practices.
Michel Mandjes is a Professor at the University of Amsterdam's Faculty of Science and holds a Visiting Professor position at the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB). His research focuses on stochastic processes, queueing theory, and probability theory, with applications in risk modeling, network analysis, and operations research. Recent publications highlight his contributions to multivariate Hawkes processes , Lévy-driven systems , and dynamic random graphs , emphasizing large deviations, rare event simulation, and statistical inference. His work bridges theoretical probability with practical challenges in traffic flow, financial risk, and social network modeling. The trends in his research include the development of stochastic models for network stability, appointment scheduling optimization, and inference techniques for non-stationary processes. His methodological innovations often leverage advanced probability theory and queueing frameworks to address real-world problems in transportation, healthcare, and finance.
Aida Abiad Monge is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), where she chairs the Algebraic Combinatorics group. She holds a 0.1fte position as an Associate Professor at Vrije Universiteit Brussel and is a guest researcher at Ghent University. Her research focuses on algebraic graph theory, including spectral graph properties, combinatorial optimization, and applications in quantum information theory and coding theory. Her academic career includes postdoctoral fellowships at Ghent University (2020-2023) and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (2020-2023). She has been awarded grants such as the NWO VIDI and BOF Postdoctoral Fellowship. Her editorial roles include serving on the boards of the Electronic Journal of Linear Algebra and The Electronic Journal of Combinatorics. Research Interests: Spectral graph theory, coding theory, quantum information, finite geometry Key Achievements: Over 60 publications, including works on sum-rank metric codes and cospectral hypergraphs Teaching: Courses like Algebraic Combinatorics and Combinatorics and Applications Her work bridges theoretical advancements with practical applications, particularly in optimizing coding schemes and analyzing graph structures through algebraic methods.
Jan Draisma is a full professor of Mathematics at the University of Bern and a part-time full professor of Applied Algebra and Geometry at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), where he is affiliated with the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, specifically in Discrete Algebra and Geometry and Coding Theory and Cryptology. He obtained his Master's and Ph.D. degrees from TU/e cum laude and held a postdoctoral position at the University of Basel (2002–2005). He returned to TU/e as an assistant professor, later advancing to associate professor (2011–2016), and served as a part-time full professor at VU Amsterdam (2015–2016). His research focuses on the interplay between combinatorics, statistics, and algebraic geometry. Key areas include tropical geometry, algebraic statistics, symmetric systems of polynomial equations in infinitely many variables, and representation stability. His work often explores the structure of infinite-dimensional algebraic objects and their finite approximations. The most recent publications highlight trends in polynomial functors, topological Noetherianity, amoebas of linear spaces, and the geometry of tensor representations. These works reflect a deep integration of algebraic geometry with combinatorics and category theory, emphasizing stabilization phenomena and symmetry in algebraic structures. NWO Vici Award: Stabilisation in Algebra and Geometry (2015) NWO Vidi Award: Finite thanks to symmetry (2010) Draisma has received significant research funding, including the NWO Vidi and Vici grants, and two NWO Free Competition grants (2008, 2012). He has supervised 16 students and is actively involved in the academic community as an associate editor for Experimental Mathematics, SIAM Journal on Applied Algebra and Geometry, and Linear and Multilinear Algebra. He has held leadership roles in major conferences such as MEGA 2015 and SIAM AG 19. He is affiliated with the research groups in Discrete Algebra and Geometry and Coding Theory and Cryptology at TU/e and leads research activities centered on algebraic methods in discrete mathematics and statistics.
