Karan Ahuja is the Lisa Wissner-Slivka & Benjamin Slivka Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Northwestern University, directing the Sensing, Perception, Interactive Computing & Experiences (SPICE) Lab. He earned his Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction from Carnegie Mellon University (2023) and a B.Tech. in Computer Science (2017). His research focuses on creating technologies that sense and understand human behavior, with applications in mobile health, extended reality, and natural user interfaces. Key projects include LemurDx for ADHD diagnosis, EITPose for wearable hand pose tracking, and MobilePoser for full-body pose estimation via consumer IMUs. Awards include Forbes 30 Under 30 (2024), MIT 35 Innovators Under 35 Asia Pacific, and ACM SIGCHI's Outstanding Dissertation Award. He has worked at Google, Apple, Microsoft Research, Meta Reality Labs, and IBM Research. His lab emphasizes real-world deployments, with technologies licensed and integrated into products used by millions. Prospective students are invited to join his lab at Northwestern via a dedicated application form. Research spans embedded systems, computer vision, and on-device ML, with a focus on impactful applications in healthcare and XR.
Anusha Withana is a Lecturer at the School of Information Technologies , University of Sydney , Australia, where she leads research in the Cardiovascular Initiative (CVI) as EMCR (Early-Mid Career Researcher) lead. Previously, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Informatics and Saarland Informatics Campus , Germany. Her research focuses on Blended Interfaces —systems that are ubiquitous , environmentally integrated , and leverage natural affordances . She investigates design factors like interactivity in personal and shared spaces modalities (haptics, sonification) social acceptance of interfaces and technical factors such as reusability energy efficiency technology appropriation . Recent publications highlight advancements in on-skin tactile output (Tacttoo), gesture sensing (waveSense), and energy-efficient interactive surfaces (Multi-Touch Skin). Her work emphasizes thin , feel-through , and shallow-depth interaction for wearables and full-body haptics. Anusha currently advises PhD student Nisal and has secured a Faculty Equipment Grant to establish a FabLab at the University of Sydney. She actively contributes to academic service as a PC member for conferences like ACM UIST and SIGGRAPH Asia .
Professor David Abbink is a Full Professor of Haptic Human-Robot Interaction at Delft University of Technology, holding a joint appointment between the Department of Cognitive Robotics in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Design Engineering since November 2023. He founded the Delft Haptics Lab and co-founded the Cognitive Robotics Department in 2017. Abbink leads the transdisciplinary research and innovation centre FRAIM, which was awarded the prestigious NWO Stevin Premie (Dutch Nobel Prize equivalent) in June 2024. Trained as a mechanical engineer specializing in biomechanics, Abbink's research focuses on human behavior adaptations when interacting with autonomous systems. He has published over a hundred scientific articles on human-robot interaction, haptics, shared control, tele-operation, driver assistance systems, and sensorimotor control. His research has been funded by industry partners (Nissan, Boeing, Renault), RVO (Brightsky project 2022-2026), and the Dutch Science Foundation NWO through personal grants (VENI 2010-2014, VIDI 2015-2019). Abbink's recent work centers on worker-robot relations as an academic focus, collaborating with organizations like Erasmus Medical Centre for nursing work, Schiphol and KLM for baggage handling, and KLM Engine Repair Services for maintenance work. He also serves as scientific director for the Centre for Meaningful Human Control, launched in October 2024. His work bridges engineering, social sciences, and practical applications to responsibly shape the future of work with emerging robotic capabilities. NWO Stevin Premie (2024) Best IEEE SMC journal paper on Cybernetics (2019) Top 25 scientific talents according to New Scientist (2015) Best teacher of Faculty 3mE (2013, 2014) Best teacher of Department of BioMechanical Engineering (seven consecutive years) Abbink has supervised over 110 MSc students and 11 PhD students. His educational contributions include developing the Master Programme in Robotics at TU Delft and receiving international recognition for his course 'The Human Controller.' He is also a prominent science communicator, featured on national television, radio, and major Dutch newspapers, and has delivered lectures at venues like The Royal Institution and Lowlands Festival. Despite his academic commitments, Abbink maintains a drummer persona, having recorded four albums and performed over 400 shows across three continents between 1999-2014.
Dr. Yen-Ting (Allen) Yeh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Saskatchewan, where he leads research in Human-Computer Interaction focusing on mobile interaction techniques, collaborative tools, and creative technologies. PhD, Cheriton School of Computer Science, University of Waterloo MS, Graduate Institute of Networking and Multimedia, National Taiwan University His research explores physical and cognitive human capabilities through: Innovative phone interaction methods (folding, dexterous gestures, side-touch expansion) Collaborative writing environments with privacy controls Creativity augmentation systems for 3D modeling Augmented reality and interactive fabrication tools Recent publications demonstrate strong focus on: Acoustic input techniques using finger snapping Motion-based creative reflection tools Dynamic gesture recognition systems Collaborative editing comfort optimization Scientific recognition includes: ACM Creativity and Cognition 2021 Honorable Mention The research group at the University of Saskatchewan's HCI Lab actively seeks students interested in phone interactions, human factors, AR/VR, collaborative tools, and creative arts applications.
Dr. Indratmo is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Computer Science at MacEwan University. He holds a PhD from the University of Saskatchewan, an M.Sc. from the University of Manitoba, and a B.Eng. from Petra Christian University. His research focuses on information visualization, human-computer interaction, and social computing, with a particular emphasis on developing tools for analyzing social media data. He has contributed to projects like a visual analytical tool for sentiment analysis in Edmonton's traffic-related social media data and studies on multimedia content effectiveness in communication strategies. Indratmo teaches a range of computer science courses, emphasizing student engagement through transparent pedagogical practices. His work bridges technical innovation with social impact, aiming to enhance communication strategies for organizations through data-driven insights. He has published extensively in journals like Big Data Research and Visual Informatics , and his research spans topics from educational visualization tools to smart mirror applications and geospatial heritage systems. Outside academia, he enjoys outdoor activities in the Canadian Rockies. Notable collaborations include work on stacked bar chart efficacy, web-based course registration models, and exploratory browsing frameworks. His research portfolio demonstrates a commitment to both theoretical advancement and practical applications in computing.
Holly A. Yanco, Ph.D. , is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML), where she also serves as the Distinguished University Professor and Director of the New England Robotics Validation and Experimentation (NERVE) Center . She founded the Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) Laboratory at UML in 2001, fostering interdisciplinary research in robotics, assistive technology, and artificial intelligence. Education: Dr. Yanco earned her B.A. in Computer Science from Wellesley College , followed by an M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) . Research Interests: Her work spans human-robot interaction , robotics education , assistive technologies , urban search and rescue (USAR) , and multi-modal interfaces . She has led collaborative initiatives such as Artbotics , integrating art and robotics in K-12 and college curricula, and Pyro , a Python-based robotics platform recognized as Premier Courseware of 2005 . Grants & Funding: Her research has been supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) , U.S. Army Research Office , Microsoft Research , and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) . Notable grants include an NSF CAREER Award (2005) and leadership roles in DARPA’s Fast Lightweight Autonomy (FLA) program . Awards & Recognition: Dr. Yanco has received teaching awards from UMass Lowell and MIT , served as General Chair of the 2012 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction , and held leadership roles in AAAI’s Executive Council (2006-2009) . Lab & Outreach: The HRI Lab engages students from high school to Ph.D. levels, emphasizing K-12 outreach through Botball tournaments , STREAM teacher workshops , and the Artbotics program in collaboration with The Revolving Museum .
Michael Sedlmair is a Professor at the University of Stuttgart's VISUS (Visualization Research Center). His research focuses on visualization, augmented reality, and immersive analytics. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Ludwig Maximilians University Munich (2010). Affiliations: Department of Computer Science, University of Stuttgart Research interests span: Augmented Reality applications in collaboration and industry Immersive analytics and spatial data visualization Human-computer interaction in AR/VR contexts His work emphasizes practical applications such as human-robot collaboration, medical simulations, and molecular visualization. Over 200+ publications since 2008 highlight contributions to visualization theory and tool development.
Ken Pfeuffer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Aarhus University, affiliated with the Faculty of Science. His research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) , particularly in Virtual Reality (VR) , Augmented Reality (AR) , and Extended Reality (XR) systems. He leads projects like the Interdisciplinary Center for Extended Reality (ICXR) and the XCB Lab , exploring multimodal interaction techniques, eye tracking, and user authentication in immersive environments. His work emphasizes gaze-based interaction , multimodal input fusion , and user interface design for AR/VR applications. Recent studies investigate consumer behavior in virtual retail environments and the integration of touch, gaze, and gesture inputs for natural user experiences. Pfeuffer collaborates on adaptive UI toolkits and practical methods for mobile eye-tracking systems, prioritizing real-world usability and accessibility. Key contributions include Depth3DSketch for VR sketching, PinchCatcher for multi-selection, and EyeGuide for gaze-assisted 3D sketching. His research bridges theoretical HCI principles with industry applications, addressing challenges in immersion , accuracy , and user safety in XR systems.
Dr. Bai Ziqian is an Assistant Professor in the School of Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in Shenzhen, China. Recognized as a Pujiang Scholar and Shenzhen Pengcheng Peacock Talent, she has established herself as a leading researcher at the intersection of wearable technology, textile engineering, and human-computer interaction. Her work bridges technical innovation with practical design applications, focusing on user-centered solutions that enhance human experience through technology integration. Dr. Bai's educational background includes: PhD in Smart Wearable Product Design (2011-2015), Hong Kong Polytechnic University MA in Fashion and Textile Design (2005-2006), Hong Kong Polytechnic University BA in Fashion Design and Engineering (2001-2005), South China Agricultural University Her research spans wearable technology, tangible interactive interfaces, IoTs, ergonomics, functional garments, wearables for healthcare, material innovation, smart home applications, and user-centered design. Dr. Bai has pioneered work in smart wearable fabrics and sensing mechanisms based on flexible materials, with a particular focus on human-computer interaction theory and practice. She has established a research team that has mastered key technologies in smart fabrics, interactive textiles, physiological signal monitoring, and human-computer interaction systems. Her approach consistently emphasizes user-centered design principles, ensuring that technological innovations serve practical human needs while maintaining aesthetic appeal. Dr. Bai's publication record demonstrates a clear evolution from foundational work in photonic textiles toward increasingly sophisticated wearable healthcare and human-computer interaction systems. Her recent publications focus on advanced sensor technologies, energy harvesting for wearables, and sophisticated data analysis for human motion and physiological monitoring. The interdisciplinary nature of her work is evident in publications spanning materials science, biomedical engineering, textile technology, and design methodology, with papers appearing in high-impact journals including Advanced Functional Materials (IF: 19.5), ACS Sensors (IF: 8.9), and Computers in Industry (IF: 10). Dr. Bai has received numerous prestigious awards that highlight both the technical and artistic dimensions of her work: 2024 German Red Dot Design Award for Best Design 2013 Neo-Neon, permanent collection at China Silk Museum (State grade 1 museum) 2019 Finalist, ThermoBlanket, TechStyle for Social Good International Competition 2017 1st Prize Teaching Award, Donghua University 2017 China National Textile and Apparel Council Teaching Award Multiple Service Learning Awards from Hong Kong Polytechnic University She has successfully secured research funding from prestigious sources including the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Guangdong Province's General Project. Her projects include a collaborative effort with the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education and Li Ning Company on a 'flexible wearable lower limb functional electrical stimulation system.' Dr. Bai has extensive teaching experience across multiple institutions and has guided student teams to success in national competitions. She currently leads the Human-Computer Interaction Design Laboratory (HCID) at SUSTech, which focuses on advanced design, engineering, and technology research at the intersection of disciplines, training the next generation of interdisciplinary designers and engineers.
Dr. Stuart Marshall serves as Associate Dean of Academic Development in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Victoria University of Wellington - Te Herenga Waka, where he also holds the academic rank of Senior Lecturer. Previously, he served as Head of School for the School of Engineering and Computer Science from 2015-2021 after joining the institution as a Lecturer in 2003. His academic journey includes completing his BSc, MSc, and PhD in Computer Science at Victoria University of Wellington, with his doctoral research focusing on software reuse. Marshall's research interests center on information and data visualization, particularly exploring how visualization can function as collaborative tools in team environments rather than single-user applications. He also investigates explainable AI and mobile user interface design with emphasis on promoting healthy device usage patterns. His work bridges theoretical computer science with practical applications in education and environmental analysis. Analysis of his publication record reveals a consistent focus on visualization techniques, with recent work shifting toward immersive analytics and virtual reality applications for complex data analysis, particularly in ecosystem services. Earlier publications concentrated on mobile learning applications grounded in transactional distance theory, software visualization for large codebases, and graph layout algorithms. Marshall has supervised six PhD students and eight Masters students to completion, with current doctoral supervision spanning immersive environments for reading assistance, medical diagnosis interfaces, and cardiac procedure simulation. His grant portfolio includes multiple ACM ISS 2022 projects with industry partners including Sensor Holdings Limited, Niantic, Autodesk, and Northeastern University, along with an Australian Research Council grant for digital games preservation. Teaching responsibilities encompass foundational programming, safety-critical systems, human-computer interaction, and data visualization across undergraduate and graduate courses. He teaches subjects including SWEN326 (Safety-Critical Systems), CGRA151 (Introduction to Computer Graphics and Games), and DATA301 (Data Science in Practice), with teaching assignments scheduled through 2026.
Mark Hancock is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Management Science and Engineering at the University of Waterloo's Faculty of Engineering. He directs the Touchlab research group and holds cross-appointments in Systems Design Engineering and the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science. His research focuses on designing interactive technologies that leverage human movement and perception to create novel interaction paradigms. Education: 2010: PhD in Computer Science, University of Calgary 2004: MSc in Computer Science, University of British Columbia 2002: BSc in Mathematics & Computer Science, Simon Fraser University Research Interests: Hancock's work centers on human-computer interaction, particularly technologies enabling richer physical interaction through hands, fingers, and body movements. His lab explores tabletop displays, large-screen interfaces, VR/AR systems, multi-touch interaction, 3D interfaces, and collaborative systems. Recent work examines VR applications for productivity, stress reduction through gaming, and gender-inclusive maker spaces. Publication Trends: Recent articles show strong emphasis on virtual reality applications (productivity tools, health considerations), tangible interfaces (card-based systems, physical props), and social computing (collaborative systems, community studies). Methodologies include phenomenological analysis, systematic reviews, and comparative evaluations of interaction techniques. Awards: NSERC Discovery Accelerator Supplement (2016) ACM CHI Golden Mouse Award (2016) ISS 2018 10-Year Impact Award Two ACM CHI Honorable Mentions (2019) Top Ontario Researcher recognition (2016) Teaching: Recent courses include Introduction to Computer Programming (MSCI 121), Algorithms and Data Structures (MSCI 240), Analytics and User Experience (MSCI 543), and Human-Computer Interaction (MSCI 630). Research Infrastructure: Directs the Touchlab, which develops novel interaction technologies. The lab's work bridges physical and digital interaction spaces, with applications in gaming, productivity tools, and collaborative systems.
Jaakko Timo Henrik Järvi is a Professor in the Department of Informatics at the University of Bergen, Norway, with additional affiliations at the University of Turku, Finland. His research focuses on programming language design, generic programming, and human-computer interaction, particularly in GUI frameworks and software reuse. His research interests include generic programming, programming language design (especially the Magnolia language), high-performance computing, array programming, and GUI engineering. He emphasizes formal methods and algebraic specifications to build reusable and efficient software systems. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications in software development and education. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in declarative GUI frameworks, multi-selection models, and generic programming. His work explores domain-specific languages for GUI structure manipulation, reusable selection semantics across platforms, and optimizing array computations using the Mathematics of Arrays. These efforts reflect a consistent focus on software abstraction, correctness, and reusability. Jaakko Järvi has supervised doctoral students, including Tetiana Yarygina, whose dissertation explored microservice security. While no specific grants are detailed, his work on VisAST was supported by the Research Council of Norway (Project 250683), indicating active external funding. He frequently collaborates with researchers like Magne Haveraaen, Knut Anders Stokke, and Sean Parent. He contributes to tools and frameworks such as the MultiselectJS library and the VisAST educational tool. These are outcomes of collaborative research teams focused on improving software development practices and computer science education.
Michelle Borkin is an Assistant Professor in the Khoury College of Computer Sciences at Northeastern University’s Boston campus, where she co-leads the Visualization @ Khoury Lab and co-directs the Northeastern Visualization Consortium (NUVis). She additionally serves as Affiliated Faculty with the NULab for Text, Maps, and Networks and with the Information Design & Data Visualization Program in the College of Arts, Media, and Design. Education PhD, Applied Physics, Harvard University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (2014) MS, Applied Physics, Harvard University BS, Astronomy & Astrophysics and Physics, Harvard University Research Interests Borkin’s research integrates data visualization and human-computer interaction to create novel techniques that enable discovery across disciplines. Her work spans: Multidimensional brushing-and-linking methodologies 3D data visualization and selection techniques Tree and network visualization Visualization evaluation methodologies and perception/cognition theory Accessibility and visualization for social good Medical and astrophysical visualization applications Publication Trends Across more than 50 peer-reviewed papers, Borkin’s research exhibits three dominant threads: (1) foundational studies on visualization perception and memorability, (2) design and evaluation of novel interactive tools for complex data (medical, astronomical, political, and social media), and (3) methodological contributions such as the Design Study “Lite” Methodology that accelerate visualization pedagogy and community-engaged research. Awards & Honors CHI 2020 Best Paper Award IEEE VIS 2020 Best Poster Honorable Mention IEEE VIS 2018 Best Poster Award NSF Graduate Research Fellowship NDSEG Graduate Fellowship TED Fellow Advising & Grants Borkin currently advises five PhD students—Jane Adams, Mackenzie Creamer, Franc O, Aditeya Pandey, and Laura South—and has previously mentored Michail Schwab and Uzma Haque Syeda. Her research has been supported by NSF, NDSEG, and TED fellowships, as well as internal Northeastern awards. Labs & Teams Co-Lead, Visualization @ Khoury Lab Co-Director & Co-Founder, Northeastern Visualization Consortium (NUVis) Affiliated Faculty, NULab for Text, Maps, and Networks Affiliated Faculty, Information Design & Data Visualization Program, CAMD
Craig Shultz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and co-founder of Fluid Reality . His research focuses on interactive embedded systems and haptic actuation , particularly tactile interfaces for VR/AR, IoT, and wearable devices. He employs an interdisciplinary approach blending psychophysics, electrical and mechanical engineering, and human-computer interaction (HCI) to advance haptic rendering. Specializes in surface haptics , non-contact haptics , and electroosmotic pump arrays . Develops technologies for scalable shape displays , mid-air haptic interactions , and haptic-augmented spatial computing . Teaches Interactive Haptic Systems (since 2025). His research has led to 6 best paper awards and nominations at ACM and IEEE venues, including the IEEE Transactions on Haptics Best Application Paper of the Year (2018). He received the Sony Faculty Innovation Award (2025) and the IEEE Technical Committee on Haptics Early Career Award (2025) . His publications emphasize haptic rendering , low-latency touchscreens , and non-contact tactile actuation . He actively collaborates with institutions like Northwestern University and KAIST HCI . Key research areas: tactile interfaces, scientific engineering, VR/AR haptics, and haptic design practices. Technologies developed: Fluid Reality haptic gloves, DynaButtons, LRAir synthetic jets, and TriboTouch micro-patterned surfaces.
Sven Mayer is a Professor at TU Dortmund University’s Faculty of Computer Science and leads the Chair for Human-AI Interaction. He previously held a postdoctoral position at LMU Munich’s Media Informatics group and completed his PhD at Carnegie Mellon University (2014–2018). His research focuses on Human-AI/Robot Interaction , machine learning for touch systems , and sensor fusion . Recent work includes super-resolution capacitive touchscreens, pose estimation via smartphones, and city-scale sensing using retroreflective markers. The 15 most recent publications highlight trends in AI-driven interaction design , robot expressions , and smartphone-based sensing , with keywords spanning robotics, machine learning, and smart cities. Subdomains include contextual awareness, ergonomic constraints, and novel touch input paradigms. Scientific contributions recognized with Honorable Mention for 'Flyables' (2022) Honorable Mention for ISS piano learning paper (2022) . He has supervised projects in augmented reality and human-robot interaction courses , and frequently contributes to conferences like CHI, UIST, and MobileHCI as both author and organizational leader (e.g., Publications Chair at CHI 2022).
