Alison Galvani is the Burnett and Stender Families Professor of Epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health and Yale School of Medicine, where she serves as founding director of the Center for Infectious Disease Modeling and Analysis (CIDMA). Her interdisciplinary work bridges epidemiology, evolutionary ecology, and health economics to inform public health policies for diseases including HIV, Ebola, influenza, and COVID-19. Her research focuses on optimizing vaccination strategies and healthcare interventions through mathematical modeling. Recent studies examine SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics, RSV vaccine impact, and integration of social determinants into infectious disease models. She has pioneered frameworks for conflict-induced migration analysis and pharmaceutical policy evaluations. Notable scientific awards include the Bellman Prize, Blavatnik Award for Young Scientists, and Guggenheim Fellowship. Her publications span top journals like The Lancet , Nature Communications , and PNAS , with media coverage in major outlets and policy references.
Gabriele Facciolo is a Professor at the Centre Borelli, ENS Paris-Saclay, France. He is a Senior Member of the Institut Universitaire de France (IUF) and holds an Innovation Chair (2025). His research focuses on image and video processing, remote sensing, and super-resolution techniques. Current affiliations: Centre Borelli (ENS Paris-Saclay), Institut Universitaire de France His research explores advanced algorithms for satellite stereo pipelines, real-time deblurring, denoising, and explainable AI systems for legal evidence enhancement. He coordinates projects like ANR SURECAVI (Super-resolution for visible camera systems) and ANR IMPROVED (video enhancement for judicial use), with recent work on Gaussian Splatting for Earth Observation and multi-date satellite super-resolution. Notable scientific achievements include the IGARSS 2025 Top 10 Student Paper Award and leadership in projects funded by ANR (€890k) and Prime Minister's entities (SGDSN/ANSSI). His work bridges computational imaging, defense applications, and digital forensics. Project leadership: SURECAVI, IMPROVED, BOFOR Key technologies: GPU acceleration, real-time processing, optical flow estimation, RPC refinement Gabriele actively contributes to open-source tools like S2P (Satellite Stereo Pipeline), MGM (MultiGlobal Matching), and OMNIflip. He teaches in the Master MVA program and collaborates across institutions (ENPC, UPF).
Dr. Anas Iftikhar is an International Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Lancaster University's Management School, United Kingdom. He is affiliated with the Centre for Productivity and Efficiency and contributes to the Supply Chain Management department with research focusing on contemporary supply chain challenges. Dr. Iftikhar completed his Ph.D. in Economics, Management, and Quantitative Methods from the University of Salento, Italy in May 2021. During his doctoral studies, he held visiting researcher positions at Ghent University (Belgium) and Cardiff Business School at Cardiff University (UK), gaining valuable international research experience. Prior to his academic career, he accumulated industry experience in inventory planning and operations management. Dr. Iftikhar's research primarily investigates how supply chain capabilities enhance resilience in disruptive and complex environments. His work explores the intersection of supply chain complexity, digital technologies, and resilience strategies. He employs methodological approaches including systematic literature reviews, meta-analysis, and structural equation modeling. His research has significant implications for organizations navigating geopolitical uncertainties, digital transformation, and supply chain disruptions. His publication portfolio demonstrates a clear evolution from foundational work on network trust and ripple effects to more sophisticated examinations of digital transformation's role in supply chain resilience. Recent publications increasingly focus on the synergistic effects of multiple capabilities (network capability, innovation ambidexterity) in addressing complex challenges like geopolitical turmoil. The research trajectory shows a progression from single-factor analyses to more complex, integrated models that better reflect real-world supply chain dynamics. Dr. Iftikhar actively participates in the academic community through presentations at major conferences including the European Operations Management Association (EUROMA) annual conference, IFAC Conference on Manufacturing Modelling, Management & Control, and Industrial Engineering Operations Management (IEOM) society events. He has also delivered invited talks such as 'Contemporary Issues in Logistics Management' at Bukhara State University. As an educator, Dr. Iftikhar is willing to supervise PhD students in supply chain resilience, disruption management, supply chain complexity, and innovative technologies in supply chain management. His industry experience enriches his teaching approach, bridging theoretical concepts with practical applications. His research outputs have been published in leading Operations and Supply Chain Management journals including International Journal of Production Research, Production Planning and Control, Annals of Operations Research, and Journal of Business Research.
Michele Ciavarella is a Full Professor at the Polytechnic University of Bari (Politecnico di Bari) in the Department of Mechanics, Mathematics & Management (DMMM). His research focuses on contact mechanics, adhesion, friction, and viscoelastic materials, with applications in mechanical design, wear analysis, and surface topography. His work includes theoretical modeling, experimental testing, and computational approaches to understanding interactions between materials under mechanical stress. He can be contacted at michele.ciavarella@poliba.it.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Müller is a Full Professor at the Chair of Structural Mechanics within the TUM School of Engineering and Design at Technical University of Munich (TUM). Since 2004, he has held this distinguished position, and since 2014, he has served as Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at TUM. His research focuses on structural dynamics and vibroacoustics, with specific expertise in dynamic soil-structure interaction, sound radiation analysis, and seismic risk assessment. Professorship: Structural Mechanics University: Technical University of Munich School: TUM School of Engineering and Design Department: Chair of Structural Mechanics in Civil Engineering Prof. Müller's research spans multiple domains, including: Structural Dynamics : Examining building and vehicle vibrations, seismic soil-structure interaction, and advanced model order reduction techniques Vibroacoustics : Investigating sound radiation from vibrating structures and developing acoustic metamaterials for noise control Computational Methods : Pioneering hybrid deterministic-statistical approaches, Wave Based Methods (WBM) for saturated elastodynamic structures, and parametric model order reduction His recent publications demonstrate expertise in: Wave propagation analysis in poroelastic media Bayesian parameter updating for structural models Acoustic metamaterials for vibration control Advanced numerical methods for seismic risk assessment Hybrid ITM-FEM approaches for soil-structure interaction Energy flow analysis in timber structures Awarded the Spindler Prize in 1984 , Prof. Müller also holds significant academic leadership roles: President of European Association for Structural Dynamics (EASD) Chairman of Bavarian-French University Center (BayFrance) Active member of ASIIN accreditation agency and Bavarian Chamber of Engineers Previously served as Dean of Civil Engineering and Surveying at TUM (2010-2014) He leads the Structural Dynamic Lab (formerly Vibroacoustics Lab) and has developed interactive web apps for engineering education. His work bridges theoretical advancements with practical applications in construction acoustics, transportation noise control, and geothermal energy infrastructure analysis.
Maria Elena Valcher is a Professor at the Department of Information Engineering, University of Padova, Italy. She is an IEEE Fellow (since 2012), IFAC Fellow (since 2023), Socio Effettivo of Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti (since 2017, previously Socio Corrispondente 2008-2017), and Socio Effettivo of Accademia Galieliana di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti in Padova (since 2022, previously Socio Corrispondente 2017-2022). She currently serves as Administrator of the Istituto Veneto and holds leadership positions including EUCA President (2024-2025) and IEEE Control Systems Society Past President. Her research focuses on control systems, systems theory, optimization, Boolean control networks, multi-agent systems, and consensus problems. She has made significant contributions in distributed control, data-driven methods, and network optimization, with recent work exploring applications in opinion dynamics and social networks. Recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on data-driven approaches to control systems, particularly in distributed state estimation, unknown-input observer design, and multi-agent coordination. Her work shows consistent development in theoretical frameworks for networked systems with practical applications. Awards and Honors: IEEE Fellow (2012) IFAC Fellow (2023) Socio Effettivo, Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti (2017-present) Socio Effettivo, Accademia Galieliana di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti in Padova (2022-present) She teaches 'Controlli Automatici' (Bachelor in Information Engineering) and 'Systems Theory' (Master in Control Systems Engineering) during the 2024/2025 academic year. She has chaired major conferences including the 61st IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (CDC 2022) and serves as Program Chair for ICSTCC 2025.
Professor Vinayak Dixit serves as the IAG Chair of Risk in Smart Cities and Director of the Research Centre for Integrated Transport Innovation (rCITI) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), within the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. With a distinguished career spanning academia and research leadership, Professor Dixit has established himself as a leading expert in transportation risk analysis and smart city infrastructure. Professor Dixit's research focuses on studying risk in transportation infrastructure systems, with particular emphasis on highway safety, travel time uncertainty, and resilience against natural and man-made disasters. His work integrates cutting-edge approaches including quantum computing applications for transportation network optimization, analysis of connected and automated vehicles, and development of models for transportation resilience. His research interests span multiple disciplines, bridging civil engineering, transportation science, risk analysis, and computational methods. Professor Dixit has secured significant research funding from prestigious organizations including the United States National Science Foundation, Federal Highway Administration, and the Strategic Highway Research Program of the Transportation Research Board. His leadership extends to directing the Research Centre for Integrated Transport Innovation (rCITI), where he oversees a comprehensive research program addressing critical transportation challenges in smart cities through multiple focus areas including Connected Mobility Services, Deep Data and Digitization, Engineering Smart Cities & Logistics, Human-Centred And Automated Systems Design, and Integrated Infrastructure Strategic Planning. Professor Dixit previously served as the Associate Director of Research for the Gulf Coast Centre for Evacuation and Transportation Resiliency at Louisiana State University, where he founded the Driving Simulator Laboratory in collaboration with other faculty members. This demonstrates his longstanding commitment to innovative research infrastructure development and interdisciplinary collaboration across engineering, economics, computer science, and urban planning to address complex transportation challenges in the 21st century.
Sheldon Katz is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), with a joint appointment in the Department of Physics. He holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Princeton University (1980) and a B.S. from MIT (1976). Previously, he was a Regents Professor of Mathematics at Oklahoma State University before joining UIUC in 2001. Katz's research focuses on algebraic geometry and mathematical physics, particularly string theory and supersymmetric quantum field theories. His work bridges geometry and physics, exploring topics like Gromov-Witten theory, toric varieties, and F-theory. He co-authored the influential book Mirror Symmetry and Algebraic Geometry (1999), a cornerstone in the field. His recent research includes studies on BPS invariants, Calabi-Yau manifolds, and topological string theory. Key contributions include analyses of F-theory, mirror symmetry, and geometric dualities in string compactifications. He teaches advanced courses in algebraic geometry and mathematical physics at UIUC. While no explicit awards are listed, his extensive publication record and academic leadership reflect significant contributions to the field. Katz’s work continues to explore the interplay between algebraic geometry and fundamental physics.
Christian Bick is an Associate Professor at the Department of Mathematics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam). He holds visiting roles as a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Oxford's Mathematical Institute, Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Exeter, and Visiting Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study (TUM-IAS), Technische Universität München. His research focuses on dynamical systems and applications, particularly in network dynamics, coupled oscillator networks, and higher-order interactions. He has received prestigious awards such as the Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship (2015) and the Hans Fischer Fellowship (2019). Education and Career: Bick obtained his PhD from Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (2012) and held postdoctoral positions at Rice University and the University of Exeter. His work bridges theoretical and applied mathematics, with interdisciplinary collaborations in neuroscience, physics, and engineering. Research Interests: Bick explores dynamics of coupled oscillator networks, asynchronous networks, and higher-order interactions. His recent work includes studies on heteroclinic networks, chimera states, and synchronization phenomena in complex systems. He leads projects like BeyondTheEdge (Marie Skłodowska–Curie Doctoral Network) and has contributed to grants such as the EPSRC New Investigator Award (2020–2023). Teaching: He teaches Dynamical Systems at VU Amsterdam and has lectured on Stochastic Processes, Mathematical Methods, and Dynamical Systems and Chaos at the University of Exeter and Oxford. Awards and Grants: His honors include the DAAD Doktorandenstipendien (2010, 2012) and Fulbright support (2008). Active grants include projects on higher-order networks and neurodegenerative disease modeling.
Catherine Guastavino is a Professor at McGill University's School of Information Studies (within the Faculty of Arts) and an Associate Member at the Schulich School of Music. She also contributes to the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology (CIRMMT). Her roles include leading research projects and supervising graduate students in music technology and related fields. She holds a PhD in Psychoacoustics from Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris VI), an MSc from IRCAM (France), and a BSc in Mathematics from McGill University. Her research focuses on auditory perception, soundscape analysis, human-computer interaction, and urban acoustics. Notable projects include the 'Sounds in the City' partnership addressing urban noise policy and the development of immersive soundscape simulation tools. She leads or co-leads grants from SSHRC, NSERC, and MITACS, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to sound in urban environments. Guastavino's work bridges academic research with practical applications, such as designing sound installations for public spaces and improving acoustic environments in transportation and performance venues. She collaborates with city planners, musicians, and engineers, reflecting her commitment to making cities sound better through evidence-based strategies. Key Projects: SSHRC Partnership Grant for urban soundscape management (2018-2023) NSERC Discovery Grant on auditory localization (2019-2024) MITACS projects on Montreal festival soundscapes and noise policy Labs & Partnerships: Multimodal Interaction Laboratory (MIL) Collaborations with Ville de Montréal and Quartier des Spectacles Education: PhD: Psychoacoustics (Paris VI) MSc: Computer Science & Music Technology (IRCAM) BSc: Mathematics (McGill) Her teaching includes courses like Music Information Retrieval, integrating computational methods with artistic and scientific applications.
Gabriela V. Cohen Freue is an Associate Professor in the Department of Statistics at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver Campus, and holds a Canada Research Chair (CRC Tier 2). She leads an interdisciplinary research program focusing on developing robust statistical methodologies for analyzing high-dimensional data in genomics and proteomics, with applications in medical sciences. Her work addresses challenges such as outliers, collinearity, and measurement errors, with applications in biomarker discovery for diseases like multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disorders, and asthma. Her academic journey includes collaborations across disciplines, including with the BC Cancer Agency, PROOF Centre of Excellence, and iCAPTURE. She has pioneered methods like the Penalized Elastic Net S-Estimator (PENSE) and contributed to proteomic data analysis tools such as the Protein Group Code Algorithm (PGCA). She also co-developed the MDQC quality control method for microarrays. Research interests include robust regression, biomarker development, and statistical methods for big data. Her team includes postdocs, PhD, and MSc students, with a focus on training in both statistical rigor and interdisciplinary collaboration. Notable grants include a CANSSI Collaborative Research Team Project (CRT) award for robust causal inference and prediction modeling. Teaching responsibilities span statistical consulting, high-dimensional biological data analysis, and generalized linear models. She emphasizes active learning and real-world problem-solving in her courses. Her lab’s work is supported by grants from the Data Science Institute (DSI) and collaborations with institutions like the PROOF Centre. Alumni of her group hold positions in academia (e.g., George Mason University) and industry (e.g., Merck, BC Cancer Research Centre).
Professor Kellogg Stelle is a distinguished academic in the Department of Physics at Imperial College London, affiliated with the Faculty of Natural Sciences. He holds the title of Professor of Physics and is part of research groups including the Physics of Universe and Theoretical Physics. His academic career includes a PhD from Brandeis University (1972–1977) and an AB in History and Science from Harvard University (1966–1970). His research focuses on Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics; Mathematical Physics; Quantum Physics; Astronomical and Space Sciences; Pure and Applied Mathematics. He has made significant contributions to supergravity, string theory, and cosmology, exploring topics like higher-order gravity, braneworld models, and quantum gravity phenomena. His work often bridges theoretical frameworks and cosmological implications, emphasizing unification theories and symmetry principles. Professor Stelle’s publications reflect a deep engagement with advanced topics such as compactification on Calabi-Yau manifolds, localized gravity in braneworld scenarios, and the ultraviolet problem in supergravity. His research often intersects with cutting-edge areas like quantum geometry and holography, contributing to foundational debates in theoretical physics. Affiliations include the Physics of Universe and Theoretical Physics groups at Imperial College, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to fundamental physics. He is fluent in French, Russian, Italian, and German, enhancing his international collaborations.
Professor Thomas Astell-Burt is a Professor of Cities and Planetary Health at the University of Sydney's School of Architecture, Design and Planning. His work focuses on the intersection of urban environments, green spaces, and public health. He is a member of the Sydney Environment Institute and the Charles Perkins Centre. His research examines how urban planning and green infrastructure can mitigate health inequities, combat climate change, and improve mental/cardiometabolic health. Key areas include nature prescriptions, heat-related mortality, and the role of green spaces in reducing loneliness. Recent grants include projects on aged care workforce sustainability, nature-based strategies for loneliness reduction, and the PANDA Trial for cardiometabolic disease prevention. Over 180+ publications span peer-reviewed journals like Scientific Reports , Climate , and PloS One , with a focus on global health trends and urban environmental policies. His work bridges epidemiology, urban design, and interdisciplinary collaboration to inform evidence-based health policies. Key affiliations include leadership roles in global health initiatives and collaborations with institutions like the University of Glasgow. His research has been cited in policy frameworks addressing urban sustainability and planetary health.
Pragya Sur is an Assistant Professor of Statistics at Harvard University and currently on leave as a Visiting Professor at MIT’s Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems (LIDS). Her research focuses on high-dimensional statistics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, particularly in overparametrized models, causal inference, and learning under distribution shifts. She has held postdoctoral positions at Harvard’s Center for Research on Computation and Society (hosted by Cynthia Dwork) and was a Simons Institute Long-Term Participant at UC Berkeley. She earned her Ph.D. in Statistics from Stanford University under Emmanuel Candès, and completed her B.Stat and M.Stat at the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata. Sur’s work has been supported by NSF awards, the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fund, and the William F. Milton Fund. She was named an International Strategy Forum (ISF) Fellow (2023) and led the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (IMS) New Researchers Group (2022–2024). She serves as an Associate Editor for Statistical Science and Guest Co-Editor for a special issue on AI and statistics. Her research contributions span theoretical guarantees for machine learning, transfer learning, and debiasing techniques in high-dimensional inference. Awards: NSF CAREER Award, Theodore W. Anderson Dissertation Award, Ric Weiland Fellowship Education: Ph.D. in Statistics (Stanford, 2019); M.Stat (ISI Kolkata, 2014); B.Stat (ISI Kolkata, 2012) Professional Roles: Associate Editor, Statistical Science ; ISF Fellow (2023); former IMS New Researchers Group Lead Her current research emphasizes statistical theory for modern machine learning, including foundational work on overparametrized models and robust inference across heterogeneous environments.
Wojciech Jarosz is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Dartmouth College, affiliated with the College of Engineering and Computer Science. His research focuses on computer graphics, particularly light transport simulation, rendering algorithms, and digital fabrication. He co-founded the Visual Computing Lab and previously led the rendering group at Disney Research Zürich. Jarosz holds a Ph.D. and M.S. from UC San Diego and a B.S. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His educational background includes studies in computer science and engineering, with a strong emphasis on graphics and rendering. Research interests span light transport simulation, Monte Carlo methods, appearance capture, and fabrication. Notable achievements include the Eurographics Young Researcher Award (2013) and the NSF CAREER Award (2019). Jarosz's work integrates theoretical rigor with practical applications, such as real-time rendering techniques and volumetric light transport. His lab develops tools for artistic authoring, including intuitive metaphors for volumetric lighting in animated films. Recent projects explore wave-optics BSDF models, optical heterodyne rendering, and unifying radiative transfer models. Key awards include the SIGGRAPH 2024 Best Paper Award and Neukom Institute prizes. His teaching includes courses on rendering algorithms, computer graphics, and computational photography. Jarosz collaborates with industry (e.g., Disney, NVIDIA) and advocates for diversity in computer graphics research.
