Richard Savery is an Honorary Research Fellow at Macquarie University's Faculty of Arts, affiliated with the Performance and Expertise Research Centre and the Centre for Applied Artificial Intelligence. His work bridges artificial intelligence, robotics, and music, focusing on creative interactions and trust-building through robotic musicianship. He holds a PhD in Music Technology from Georgia Institute of Technology (2021) and a Master's from UC Irvine. Key roles include developing the NSF-funded Keirzo rapping/drumming robot and publishing the edited book Sound and Robotics (2023). Research interests include emotional musical prosody, human-robot collaboration, and robotic performance. Notable projects include Shimon the singing robot and IVF sonification. Awards include a GANG Award (2015) for game audio. Active in interdisciplinary collaborations, he has composed music for films, ads, and video games, including Gunman Taco Truck and Gathering Sky . His work spans academic grants ($800k NSF-NRI grant), industry partnerships, and public installations like the Un[contained] Arts Festival's beehive exhibit. Over 50 publications highlight his contributions to robotics, music tech, and AI ethics.
Richard Romano is Visiting Professor at the University of Leeds' Institute for Transport Studies and Staff Researcher at General Motors. His interdisciplinary work bridges engineering and behavioral science to optimize human-automation interaction. Research develops simulation frameworks for testing autonomous vehicle systems, with focus on pedestrian interaction models and motion cueing algorithms. Current projects analyze how drivers evaluate automated driving styles and manage control transitions. Over 143 publications advance real-time simulation methodologies for vehicle dynamics. He directs projects on human-centered AV design funded by EPSRC and leads doctoral training in human factors engineering.
Emily Baird is a Professor at the Department of Zoology, Stockholm University , leading interdisciplinary research at the intersection of sensory ecology , neuroethology , and comparative morphology . Her work focuses on how insects like dung beetles and bumblebees process visual information to guide behavior in diverse environments. Key Collaborations : Dlife Project with University of Southern Denmark and University of Kiel (Human Frontiers Science Project) INVISMO Project with Lund University (Swedish Research Council) Research Themes : 3D micro-CT analysis of insect eyes Neural mechanisms for straight-line orientation Flight control in cluttered environments Mechanical principles of dung beetle ball rolling Techniques : Behavioral experiments, X-ray microtomography, computational modeling, ray-tracing simulations.
Fumihiro Kano is a comparative psychologist at the Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behavior, University of Konstanz, and an Affiliated Scientist at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior. His research focuses on the evolutionary origins of social intelligence, using cutting-edge technologies like eye-tracking, motion-capture, and thermal imaging to study social cognition in great apes, monkeys, and birds. Education: PhD in Biological Sciences (Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University) Key Collaborations: Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Oxford, Kumamoto Sanctuary (Kyoto University) Kano’s work spans comparative analysis of gaze behavior, emotional processing, and collective decision-making. He has developed wearable sensors for free-flying pigeons and non-invasive methods for studying primates in sanctuaries. His studies on the human eye’s uniformly white sclera have provided experimental support for the gaze signaling hypothesis . Recent research integrates large-scale motion-capture systems with gaze-tracking to analyze interspecies interactions in pigeons, crows, and humans. He specializes in quantifying attention dynamics during collective behavior, including vigilance in birds and social cognition in apes. Scientific Awards: Heidelberg Academy of Sciences Manfred Fuchs Preis (2023) APA Division 6 Early Carrier Investigator Award (2020) Japanese Psychological Association International Award (2018) Kano leads interdisciplinary teams combining computer vision, psychology, and behavioral ecology. His work bridges evolutionary biology and technological innovation, with applications for understanding human uniqueness and animal cognition.
Dr. Denis Kalkofen serves as an Associate Professor at the Institute of Computer Graphics and Vision (ICG) at Graz University of Technology, Austria. His academic journey began with a Dipl.-Ing. (2004) from the University of Magdeburg, followed by a Dr. techn. (2009) from Graz University of Technology. University of Magdeburg - Dipl.-Ing. (2004) Graz University of Technology - Dr. techn. (2009) University of Michigan, Ann Arbor - Virtual Reality Laboratory member Stanford University - Visiting Assistant Professor at Computational Imaging Laboratory (2019) University of South Australia - Visiting Researcher at Wearable Computer Laboratory (2019) Dr. Kalkofen's research centers on developing visualization, interaction, authoring, and display technologies for Virtual and Mixed Reality environments, with particular emphasis on combining computer graphics and computer vision techniques to create comprehensible and accessible VR/MR experiences. His work spans situated visualization (addressing label placement and X-ray visualization), photometric rendering (recovering lighting properties for realistic AR), and content creation automation (leveraging existing data sources for AR content). His publication trends over the past 15+ years demonstrate consistent leadership in AR/MR research, evolving from foundational work on visualization techniques to current cutting-edge research in neural rendering, neuroadaptive systems, and industrial AR applications. Recent work shows increased focus on practical industrial implementations, error management in AR assembly, and multimodal learning applications. Best paper award for 'enRoute: Dynamic path extraction from biological pathway maps' (2012) Best short paper for 'TutAR: Augmented Reality Tutorials for Hands-only Procedures' (2018) Best paper for 'Tools for Teaching Mining Students in Virtual Reality' (2020) Honorable Mention for Best Paper for 'Adaptive User-Perspective Rendering' (2017) Dr. Kalkofen leads Team Kalkofen at ICG, supervising researchers including Peter Mohr, Shohei Mori, David Mandl, and Ana Stanescu. His team has secured significant funding for projects related to AR/VR content creation, visualization techniques, and industrial applications. They maintain strong collaborations with institutions including Stanford University, University of South Australia, and University of Michigan. Team Kalkofen operates within the Institute of Computer Graphics and Vision at TU Graz, focusing on three main research thrusts: situated visualization for AR, photometric rendering for realistic MR, and automated content creation for professional AR applications. The team maintains active partnerships with industry and academic institutions worldwide, contributing to the advancement of practical AR/MR technologies.
Dr. Martin v. Mohrenschildt is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computing and Software at McMaster University's Faculty of Engineering. He holds academic positions as Undergraduate Advisor for Mechatronics and Mechatronics Coordinator. His expertise spans control systems, signal processing, hybrid systems, and immersive simulation. He earned a Dr. sc. math. ETH and Dipl. math. ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), and is a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.). Research focuses include Model Predictive Control, vibration analysis for industrial machinery, and multisensory integration in motion simulation. His Motion Simulator Laboratory features a 6-DOF simulator with advanced visualization and physiological measurement capabilities. The Embedded Systems Laboratory explores mechatronics and robotics, including alternative fuel injection systems. Teaching includes courses like CAS-748 (Time Series Analysis) and SFWR ENG 2SO3. Recent work emphasizes sensor fusion (LiDAR/camera/thermal), biofeedback systems for muscle interventions, and cognitive effects of motion cues in virtual environments. Collaborations with Dr. Shedden investigate perceptual neuroscience in immersive simulators. His lab facilities support interdisciplinary projects combining engineering, computer science, and cognitive science. Publications span 30+ years, covering hybrid systems theory, control algorithms, and applied sensor technologies. Current research directions include autonomous vehicle perception systems and aging-related changes in multisensory integration.
Konstantinos Banitsas is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering , Brunel University London, affiliated with the College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences and the Wireless Networks and Communications Centre . Holding a PhD in Telemedicine (2004), an MSc in Electronic Engineering (1997), and a BSc in Computer Science (1995), he has taught computer networking, mobile communications, and internet engineering while supervising undergraduate and postgraduate projects. His research spans telemedicine , wireless sensors , and medical imaging , with recent publications focusing on spinal cord injury treatments , myoelectric sensors for movement classification , and low-cost EMG sensor validation . Earlier work explored Microsoft Kinect applications in gait analysis, wireless medical image security , and 3G network utilization in emergency telemedicine . Dr. Banitsas supervises 4 PhD students in telemedicine and medical imaging, contributes to projects like DoctorEye (a tumor annotation platform), and participates in the IEHS research group . His work emphasizes practical implementations of wireless technologies in healthcare, including ambulance teleconsultation systems and wearable devices.
Madeleine Bartlett is a Research Fellow at the University of Waterloo, affiliated with the Post Doctoral Scholars and Visitors groups. Her work bridges neuroscience and artificial intelligence, focusing on biologically plausible algorithms and their applications in robotics and human-robot interaction. Her research explores how neural mechanisms inspire computational models for reinforcement learning, action representation, and social signal processing. Key areas include integrating biological constraints into machine learning systems and developing robots capable of interpreting human social cues, particularly for therapeutic applications in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Her publications highlight contributions to continuous action representations in basal ganglia models, biologically-based memory systems for reinforcement learning, and statistical rigor in human-robot interaction studies. She has also pioneered methods for estimating engagement in social HRI using novel neural architectures like Legendre memory units. While no formal awards or grants are listed, her work demonstrates significant innovation at the intersection of neuroscience-inspired AI and socially assistive robotics. She contributes to advancing robots as therapeutic tools through validated autonomous systems that mimic human guidance patterns observed in ASD therapy contexts.
Ksander de Winkel serves as Project Leader of the Motion Perception and Simulation research group within the Department of Human Perception, Cognition and Action at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen, Germany, a position he has held since March 2017. His role involves leading both fundamental and applied research on self-motion perception, with direct applications to motion simulation and autonomous vehicle technologies. His academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Multisensory Perception of Spatial Orientation and Self-Motion from Utrecht University (2013), an M.Sc. in Applied Cognitive Psychology earned cum laude (2008), and a B.Sc. in Psychology, all completed at Utrecht University. Additional training includes specialized coursework in Applied Bayesian Statistics and Mathematical Statistics. De Winkel's research program centers on how the brain integrates sensory information during self-motion, with particular focus on causal inference mechanisms when sensory cues conflict. His experimental work measures perceptual thresholds, investigates motion sickness triggers, and develops computational models of multisensory integration. This fundamental research directly informs applied projects including motion cueing algorithm development, simulator fidelity assessment, and solutions for autonomous vehicle passenger comfort. His recent publications (2017-2018) demonstrate consistent focus on causal inference in spatial orientation and heading perception, with studies appearing in high-impact journals including Scientific Reports, Journal of Vision, and PLoS ONE. These works reveal how individual differences and sensory discrepancies affect motion perception, providing critical insights for engineering applications. Scientific recognition includes: Young Researcher Grant from ESA Scientific Committee (2012) He actively supervises graduate researchers from multiple institutions including University of Twente, University of Tübingen, and Delft University of Technology, with several students graduating cum laude . His research group maintains active collaborations with automotive and simulation industries to translate theoretical findings into practical motion solutions. Current projects address autonomous driving side-effects and next-generation motion cueing systems. The Motion Perception and Simulation group operates within the Department of Human Perception, Cognition and Action, conducting psychophysical experiments using motion platforms, virtual reality systems, and neuroimaging techniques to advance understanding of self-motion perception.
Tony Szturm is a Professor and Senior Scholar in the Department of Physical Therapy at the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Manitoba. His work bridges clinical rehabilitation and engineering innovation, focusing on technology-assisted and game-based therapeutic interventions delivered through telerehabilitation platforms. Institution: University of Manitoba School: College of Rehabilitation Sciences Department: Department of Physical Therapy Location: Bannatyne Campus, Winnipeg, MB Dr. Szturm holds a BSc in Biology and a BSc in Physical Therapy from the University of Western Ontario, and a PhD in Neurophysiology from the University of Manitoba. His research is deeply interdisciplinary, integrating wireless sensors, digital media, and interactive systems to support rehabilitation in both clinical and home environments. His primary research interests include technology-assisted rehabilitation , telerehabilitation , game-based motor training , and neurological recovery across diverse populations such as stroke survivors, children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, individuals with traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson’s patients, and aging adults. A key focus is enhancing accessibility, accountability, and engagement in therapy through innovative, low-cost digital tools. The 15 most recent inferred articles reflect a strong trend toward digital health innovation , remote monitoring , and interdisciplinary rehabilitation engineering . These works span areas such as upper limb recovery, balance and gait training, dual-task performance, vestibular rehabilitation, and patient engagement. The integration of wearable sensors, real-time feedback, and gamification principles is a consistent theme, demonstrating his commitment to translating research into practical, scalable solutions. Dr. Szturm is actively involved in mentoring, supervising postdoctoral fellows, PhD, and master's students through the Mentoring of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) Program, fostering collaboration between rehabilitation sciences and engineering disciplines. While no formal scientific awards are listed, his leadership in high-impact, publicly featured research projects underscores his contribution to the field. His lab and research group focus on developing and evaluating plug-and-play rehabilitation technologies that can be deployed in resource-limited settings, including international applications such as projects in India. These initiatives emphasize affordability, usability, and clinical effectiveness, aiming to expand access to high-quality rehabilitation globally.
Alex Baldwin is an Assistant Professor at McGill University within the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences. He serves as a Junior Scientist in the Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience (BRaIN) program at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. Supervisor in McGill's Integrated Program in Neuroscience (IPN) Supervisor in Quantitative Life Sciences program Laboratory located at Montreal General Hospital Research focuses span computational neuroscience, visual psychophysics, and binocular vision mechanisms , particularly examining: Amblyopia and spatial scrambling Aging-related changes in stereopsis Visual noise adaptation Contrast summation models Contour integration processes Digital therapeutic development His lab employs Matlab/Octave (Psychtoolbox), Python (PsychoPy), and Unity/C# for experimental design, with Python (Jupyter) and Matlab (Palamedes Toolbox) for data analysis. Collaborations include Wenzhou Medical University. Scientific recognition includes: NSERC Discovery Grant (2022-2027) HBHL Ignite Funding FRQ-S Vision Health Research Network Pilot Training opportunities available for undergraduate (PSYC-396/COGS-444/COGS-401) and graduate students , with current advisees working on topics including: Visual snow syndrome neural mechanisms Binocular imbalance in aging Contour integration modeling Adaptive strategies in amblyopia Dichoptic ebook therapy development
Dr. Simon Watt is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Bangor University's School of Psychology and Sport Science, where he has worked since 2004. He directs the Cognitive Neuroscience Institute and integrates fundamental science with practical applications through his research in Pasteur's Quadrant framework. PhD in Psychology (2001) - University of Surrey MSc in Research Methods in Psychology (1996) - University of Surrey BSc in Psychology (1994) - Cardiff University His research explores sensorimotor control and 3D vision, focusing on tool use, multisensory integration, and visual-haptic interactions. Key applications include prosthetic hand development and VR display optimization . Article analysis shows consistent themes in 3D perception , haptic integration , and robotic control frameworks across 2000-2024. Notable collaborative work includes international projects with institutions like UC Berkeley. 2023 Queen's Anniversary Prize REF 2021 Top 30 UK for Societal Impact As module organizer for Masters Research Rotation (PRP-4013) and Undergraduate Dissertation modules, he supervises Molly Hewitt on next-gen prosthetics research with Ambionics.
Guilherme Schmidt Câmara is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Oslo's RITMO Centre, researching microrhythm perception in groove-based music. His work combines empirical musicology with cognitive science to examine temporal relationships in rhythm perception and production. Current research establishes perceptual thresholds for microrhythmic devices like onset asynchrony and swing across diverse musical genres. His doctoral work revealed how acoustic features interact with timing in creating rhythmic feels, demonstrating that both temporal and sound properties influence beat perception. Câmara maintains an active performance career as guitarist and musical director for 'Baba Soul & The Professors of Funk'. His research methodologies integrate perceptual experiments, motion capture, and signal processing to study embodied musicianship.
Alessandra Sciutti serves as a Tenure Track Researcher and head of the CONTACT (COgNiTive Architecture for Collaborative Technologies) Unit at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), where she leads cutting-edge research at the intersection of robotics, cognitive science, and human interaction. Her work fundamentally explores how humans and artificial agents can develop mutually adaptive collaborative relationships. Her educational background includes B.S. and M.S. degrees in Bioengineering followed by a Ph.D. in Humanoid Technologies, establishing a strong foundation for her interdisciplinary research approach. These qualifications directly inform her experimental methodologies and technical implementations in social robotics. Sciutti's research program centers on Human-Robot Interaction with specialized expertise in social robotics for child development , cognitive architectures for collaboration , and neuroscience-inspired human-robot interfaces . She employs rigorous experimental paradigms to investigate spatial attention mechanisms, imitation dynamics, and learning processes in human-robot teams, frequently utilizing humanoid platforms like iCub and Nao to study developmental and social phenomena. Analysis of her 2025 publications reveals a cohesive research trajectory examining bidirectional influence in human-robot systems. Key themes include the impact of robotic tutors on learning outcomes, context-dependent sensory processing in collaborative scenarios, and technical innovations for safe physical human-robot interaction. Her work consistently bridges theoretical cognitive science with practical robotic implementations, particularly in educational contexts involving children. As an influential figure in her field, Sciutti serves as Specialty Chief Editor for Human-Robot Interaction at Frontiers in Robotics and AI, while also contributing as Review Editor and Guest Associate Editor for Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience. Her editorial leadership shapes research directions in social robotics and cognitive neuroscience. She directs the CONTACT Unit at IIT, which functions as an interdisciplinary hub developing cognitive architectures that enable natural, context-aware collaboration between humans and robots. The unit's research integrates computer vision, machine learning, and cognitive modeling to create systems that understand and respond to human social cues and physiological states during interaction.
Diana Saplacan Lindblom is a Researcher at the University of Oslo's Department of Informatics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. She is a member of the Robotics and Intelligent Systems Research Group (ROBIN) and actively contributes to the Vulnerability in Robot Society (VIROS) research project (2021-present) and the Ethical Risk Assessment of Artificial Intelligence in Practice (ENACT) project (2023-present). Dr. Saplacan received her Ph.D. from the University of Oslo in 2020 with a thesis titled "Situated abilities: Understanding Everyday Use of ICTs" from the Design of Information Systems (DESIGN) Research Group. During Spring 2023, she was a visiting researcher at the Human-Robot Interaction Lab, Department of Social Informatics, Kyoto University, Japan, and a guest researcher at Tohoku University's Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences. Her research focuses on user studies in Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) and Human-Robot cooperation, with particular emphasis on digitalization of home- and healthcare services, robots as welfare technologies, and ethics regarded through Universal Design principles. She investigates privacy, safety, and security aspects related to robots in healthcare settings, bridging legal and technical considerations. Her work often employs qualitative methods including story dialogue techniques to understand user perspectives and professional reactions to emerging technologies. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong interdisciplinary approach connecting computer science, social sciences, and healthcare. Her work spans technical aspects of robotics, ethical considerations in AI implementation, and practical user studies across diverse populations including elderly care recipients and healthcare professionals. She frequently examines how Universal Design principles can be applied to social and assistive robots to ensure accessibility and inclusion. Dr. Saplacan has received notable recognition including an Honorable Mention at HRI (2024) and being named among "Women changing the field of AI in Norway" (2021, 2022). She has also earned Best Paper Awards at ACHI-IARIA (2018, 2020) and a Best Paper Finalist Award at ARSO (2021). HRI Honorable Mention (2024) Women changing the field of AI in Norway (2021, 2022) Best Paper Finalist Award - ARSO (2021) Best Paper Award, ACHI - IARIA (2020) Best Paper Award, ACHI - IARIA (2018) Dr. Saplacan has served as co-supervisor for Ph.D. candidates Adel Baselizadeh (completed 2024) and Marieke van Otterdijk (defense scheduled for December 2024). Her research is supported through collaborations with multiple academic partners including SINTEF, HIOF, and NTNU, as well as industry partners such as DNB, Posten, NAV, Medsensio, and Hypatia Learning. She actively contributes to standardization efforts as a member of Standards Norway Committee on AI & Ethics (WG3) and the IEEE Artificial Intelligence Standards Committee. She is a key contributor to the ROBIN research group's work on healthcare robotics and leads efforts in the UD-Robots project, which examines how universal design principles can be applied to robotics. Her work with the Norwegian Council for Digital Ethics and participation in international workshops demonstrates her commitment to shaping ethical frameworks for emerging technologies.
