Lemei Zhang is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in the Department of Computer Technology and Informatics. Their work focuses on advanced machine learning techniques for recommendation systems and social media analysis. Research interests include Deep learning architectures for news recommendation Aspect-based sentiment analysis in multilingual contexts Temporal and graph embedding methods for social recommendation Contextual augmentation in session-based systems Time series modeling for user interest prediction Creation of large-scale datasets like Adressa for media analytics Recent publications demonstrate a trajectory from foundational work on news recommendation datasets (2016-2017) to increasingly sophisticated neural approaches incorporating attention mechanisms, multimodal fusion, and real-time graph analysis across ACM Transactions, Machine Learning, and Human-Computer Studies venues.
Lada Smirnova is a Lecturer in English for Academic Purposes at the Language Centre, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures, University of Leeds, where she has been serving since 2021. Her academic work bridges educational technology, language teaching, and sociocultural theory. Her research interests include: Sociocultural and Activity Theory in education Narrative methodology and teacher experience The impact of Generative AI on EAP teaching and learning Sustainable teacher development in transnational contexts Multilingual qualitative research approaches Her recent publications and ongoing projects reveal a strong focus on how AI and digital tools are transforming language education. She explores emotional and cognitive dimensions of teaching through concepts like perezhivanie and Galperin’s framework, emphasizing reflective practice and teacher agency. Her work often centers on Russian and transnational educational contexts, with a commitment to developing sustainable, dialogical models of teacher development. Her scientific contributions include a recent book with Peter Lang and editorial roles in key publications. She is actively involved in shaping discourse around AI in language classrooms through a guest-edited special issue of The European Journal of Applied Linguistics and TEFL . Lada supervises postgraduate research and welcomes PhD proposals in language teacher education. She has professional affiliations with ISCAR, BALEAP, xMCA, and BAAL, and her prior roles include positions at HSE University and institutions in Moscow and China. She is supported by a strong educational foundation, including a PhD and MA from the University of Manchester, and certifications from the University of Cambridge.
Dr. Jonathan Kantor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. He is based in both the United Kingdom and the United States and is a leading figure in global dermatology, telemedicine, and AI-driven medical education. His work emphasizes equitable access to skin and cancer care through technological innovation and international collaboration. His research interests span a broad and impactful range, including telemedicine , artificial intelligence in dermatology , global health education , digital pathology , and surgical outcome measurement . He has developed validated tools such as the SCAR scale for scar assessment and the Oxford Pandemic Attitude Scale, demonstrating his expertise in psychometric instrument development. His focus on low-cost, high-technology solutions enables scalable implementation in resource-limited settings. The recent publications reflect a strong trend toward digital health innovation , global health equity , and pandemic response . His work integrates clinical dermatology with public health, technology, and education, often leveraging international datasets and collaborations. Themes include the use of 3D imaging, wireless transmission in pathology, AI applications, and scalable educational models. Scientific Contributions: Editor-in-Chief, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology International Author of over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts, book chapters, and abstracts Author/editor of four textbooks published by McGraw-Hill Founding editor of a major dermatology journal Dr. Kantor is deeply engaged in global health mentorship and education, particularly through the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Global Health. He advises on international trainee programs and promotes year-out global health experiences. Though specific grant details are not listed, his projects suggest support for digital health innovation, telemedicine infrastructure, and global scale validation studies. His international research spans the UK, USA, and multiple low-resource regions. He leads initiatives in digital dermatology innovation, including telemedicine platforms, 3D imaging systems, and AI-integrated diagnostic tools. His team focuses on developing feasible, valid, and reliable methods for global application, such as multilingual translation and validation of clinical scales. These efforts are coordinated through academic and global health networks, emphasizing cross-border collaboration.
Dr. Sven Strobel is a researcher at the German National Library of Science and Technology (TIB), affiliated with Leibniz Universität Hannover. Since 2013, he has served as Product Owner for the TIB AV-Portal, a scientific video platform, and founded the "Agility in Libraries" Community of Practice to promote agile methodologies within library environments. His work bridges library science and digital technology development. His educational background includes: Linguistics and History studies at the University of Stuttgart Doctorate in Linguistics through an international graduate program Dr. Strobel's research focuses on digital video platform development for academic content, with specialization in agile project management methodologies adapted for library settings. His technical expertise spans software engineering for library applications, AI integration (particularly speech recognition), and knowledge management systems . He investigates process optimization within information institutions and the adaptation of Scrum frameworks to academic library contexts, emphasizing user-centered design and iterative development approaches. His publication history reveals an evolutionary trajectory of the TIB AV-Portal from basic video repository to sophisticated platform incorporating mobile access, data sovereignty features, AI-powered enhancements, and multilingual support. The publications demonstrate consistent focus on technical reliability, user experience optimization, and the practical application of agile development principles to meet researchers' evolving needs across disciplines. Dr. Strobel has established significant collaborative networks: Founder of the "Agility in Libraries" Community of Practice Regular contributor to international workshops on scientific video platforms Active participant in the TPDL (Time-Based Media and Persistent Digital Objects) community Key developer in TIB's Non-Textual Materials research group His laboratory work centers on advancing the technical capabilities of video-based scholarly communication infrastructure while ensuring alignment with academic workflows. This includes developing features for diverse research communities who utilize video for knowledge dissemination, from lectures and presentations to research data visualizations and experimental documentation, with particular attention to accessibility and long-term preservation.
Professor Alun D. Preece is a distinguished academic at Cardiff University's Crime and Security Research Institute, UK, with significant contributions to artificial intelligence, particularly in explainable AI (XAI), social media analysis, and neuro-symbolic approaches. His research spans over three decades with continuous publication output through 2024, demonstrating sustained scholarly impact in the AI community. His research interests focus on creating transparent and interpretable AI systems that can effectively collaborate with humans in complex environments. Key areas include explainable AI methodologies, social media analysis for misinformation detection, neuro-symbolic integration for robust reasoning, and collaborative perception-cognition-communication-action frameworks. His work bridges theoretical AI foundations with practical applications in security, public safety, and coalition operations. Recent publications (2022-2024) reveal a strong focus on cutting-edge AI challenges, with particular emphasis on neuro-symbolic approaches, vector symbolic architectures, and human-AI teaming. His work consistently addresses the critical challenge of creating AI systems that are not only effective but also transparent, trustworthy, and capable of meaningful collaboration with human users. Professor Preece has established extensive collaborations across the AI research community, with notable co-authors including Dave Braines, Federico Cerutti, Ian J. Taylor, and Mani Srivastava. His research has been published in top venues including FUSION, IEEE Transactions, and AAAI workshops. His work on verifiable credentials for AI model transparency, collaborative perception frameworks, and misinformation analysis demonstrates practical applications of his theoretical contributions to real-world security and information challenges. The trajectory of his recent publications indicates continued leadership in addressing the critical challenges of trustworthy and explainable AI systems.
Nicola Capuano is an Associate Professor at the Department of Information and Electrical Engineering and Applied Mathematics (DIEM) of the University of Salerno, Italy. He is a member of the SmartLearn research group at the Open University of Catalonia and has previously held academic roles at the University of Basilicata and technical positions at the University of Salerno. Current positions: Associate Professor (University of Salerno) since 2023 Former Associate Professor (University of Basilicata, 2022-2023) Former Researcher (University of Basilicata, 2019-2022) His research focuses on machine learning applications in education, including Artificial Intelligence for Education , Natural Language Processing , and Fuzzy Systems . He has pioneered zero-shot vulnerability detection using LLMs and developed novel graph-based approaches for misinformation analysis. Key projects include the ALICE adaptive learning system and SmartLearn research initiatives. Scientific contributions span 15+ peer-reviewed publications in IEEE, Springer, and Elsevier outlets. Recent work examines persuasive comment detection in social media and optimization techniques in fuzzy genetic algorithms. Best Paper Award recipient (2017) 2nd Best Paper Award (2008) Editorial roles: Associate Editor for 3 journals since 2019 Active in academic service, he chairs conference tracks (INCoS, AINA) and serves as independent evaluator for Horizon Europe projects. His teaching portfolio includes Software Engineering, Algorithms, and AI applications.
Ricardo Muñoz Martín is a Full Professor at the Department of Interpretation and Translation, University of Bologna (Italy). His academic career spans institutions including Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, University of Granada, and University of California. He specializes in Cognitive Translation & Interpreting Studies, with expertise in translation technology, empirical research methods, and multilingual communication cognition. PhD in Hispanic Linguistics, University of California, Berkeley Diplomatura in Translation & Interpreting, Universidad de Granada Research interests integrate cognitive science with translation studies, focusing on process analysis, AI-assisted translation, and biometric metrics like heart rate variability. His work explores the indivisibility of translation acts and the evolution of empirical methodologies in the field. Recent publications emphasize quantitative empirical frameworks, cognitive load analysis in collaborative translation, and AI integration in interpreter training. Grants from Italy, Spain, Poland, and China support his research on translation technology and cognitive effort measurement. Co-director of the MC2 Lab (Cognitive Translation Summer School) Principal investigator in grants like "Big Sistah" (remote worker wellbeing) and "Attention, emotions and translation" He actively participates in international conferences, including keynote speeches at the 7th TTI Conference and panels at the 11th EST Congress.
Ion Androutsopoulos is a Professor in the Department of Informatics at Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB), where he leads the AUEB NLP Group. With over 180 publications spanning three decades, he is a prominent figure in Natural Language Processing research, particularly known for his work bridging NLP with legal informatics, Greek language processing, and biomedical applications. His research interests focus on several interconnected areas of Natural Language Processing: Legal Informatics : developing NLP systems for legal document analysis, legal judgment prediction, and legal reasoning, with recent work including GreekBarBench and Archimedes-AUEB systems Greek Language Technology : creating specialized tools for Modern Greek processing, including GR-NLP-TOOLKIT and Greeklish transliteration systems Biomedical Text Mining : working on diagnostic captioning and medical image analysis through participation in ImageCLEFmedical challenges Financial NLP : developing systems like EDGAR-CRAWLER for financial document analysis and XBRL tagging His recent publications (2023-2025) show an increasing focus on Greek-specific NLP resources and practical applications of large language models in legal reasoning. His work often combines theoretical NLP advances with practical implementations, particularly through his leadership of the AUEB NLP Group which regularly participates in international evaluation campaigns. Professor Androutsopoulos has supervised numerous PhD students who have become active researchers in their own right, including John Pavlopoulos, Prodromos Malakasiotis, and Ilias Chalkidis. His collaborative network spans multiple institutions and disciplines, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of modern NLP research.
Professor Julie Weeds is a faculty member at the School of Engineering and Informatics , University of Sussex. Her academic journey includes a DPhil in Natural Language Processing (2003), MPhil in Computer Speech and Language Processing (2000), and MA in Computer Science (1998). She has held positions including Postdoctoral Research Fellow (2003-2005, 2012-2016, part-time), Lecturer in Data Science (2016-present), and Professor of Artificial Intelligence (2023-present). MA Computer Science - Trinity Hall, Cambridge University (1995-1998) MPhil Computer Speech and Language Processing - Cambridge University (1999-2000) DPhil Natural Language Processing - University of Sussex (2000-2003) Her research spans Natural Language Processing , Machine Learning , and Computational Linguistics , focusing on semantic compositionality , vector representation analysis , and linguistic variation . Recent work applies NLP to dream reports , wildlife conservation , and mental health support . She leads grants related to hate speech analysis , suicide prevention , and illegal wildlife trade detection . Publications reveal trends in semantic entailment modeling , dream analysis using LLMs , and ecological informatics applications . Key themes include syntax-driven compositionality , multilingual modeling , and structure-aware paraphrase identification . Professor Weeds supervises research projects and teaches courses including Advanced Natural Language Engineering, Natural Language Processing, and Data Science methods. Collaborators include David Weir, Luca Bertolini, and Qi Peng, with affiliations to CASM Consulting LLP and Innovate UK projects.
Elisa Fernández Rei is a Professor in the Department of Galician Philology at the University of Santiago de Compostela. She has been affiliated with the Instituto da Lingua Galega (ILG) since 1991 and currently serves on the ILG Standing Committee. Her academic career spans over three decades with continuous contributions to Galician linguistics research and language documentation. Her educational background includes: Bachelor's degree in Galician Philology (1992) Doctorate/PhD in Galician Philology (2002) Professor Fernández Rei's research primarily focuses on Galician intonation and prosody, linguistic change, and language contact phenomena. She has made significant methodological contributions to dialectometric analysis of prosodic variation and has pioneered research on Galician-Portuguese prosodic boundaries. Her work bridges theoretical linguistics with practical applications for language preservation. Her recent publication trajectory reveals a strategic expansion from traditional phonetic research toward computational applications for the Galician language. While maintaining her core expertise in prosody and intonation, she has increasingly focused on developing language resources and technologies, particularly through the Nós project which addresses speech synthesis and recognition for Galician. This evolution demonstrates her commitment to applying linguistic theory to practical language technology development for minority languages. Professor Fernández Rei has served as principal investigator on multiple research projects including the Perceptual Study of Dialectal Prosodic Variation in Galician and the Prosodic Multimedia Atlas of the Romanesque Space (AMPER-Gal). She has been instrumental in developing the Computerized Oral Corpus of the Galician Language (CORILGA), creating valuable resources for linguistic analysis. She coordinates the Galician committee for the international AMPER project since 2003 and has been a member of the Editorial Board of Estudos de Lingüística Galega since its foundation in 2008, serving as secretary since 2018. Her leadership extends to the Nós project, which develops speech technologies specifically for the Galician language, addressing the digital gap for minority languages.
Yuning Ding is a PhD Student and Research Assistant in the junior research group 'EduNLP' at the Research Center CATALPA (Center of Advanced Technology for Assisted Learning and Predictive Analytics), FernUniversität in Hagen, since January 2022. Her work focuses on Natural Language Processing applications for educational technology, specifically developing systems for automatic essay scoring and generating formative feedback for learners and summative feedback for teachers. Her educational background includes: M.Sc. in Applied Cognitive and Media Science with Specialization in Cognition & Artificial Intelligence at University of Duisburg-Essen (2017-2019) B.Sc. in Applied Cognitive and Media Science at University of Duisburg-Essen (2014-2017) B.A. in Communications at University of International Relations, Beijing (2009-2013) Ding's research centers on leveraging NLP to enhance writing education through AI-driven assessment and feedback systems. Her work bridges computational linguistics and pedagogy, with particular emphasis on argument mining, cohesion analysis, and cross-lingual content scoring. She investigates how transformer models and multi-task learning can improve the reliability and educational value of automated writing evaluation, while addressing critical issues like fairness and adversarial vulnerability in scoring systems. Her research demonstrates how NLP can provide actionable insights for both students and educators in writing development. Analysis of her publication trends reveals a strategic progression from foundational work on content scoring and error analysis toward sophisticated integrated systems. Recent work emphasizes multimodal feedback generation, argument-cohesion integration, and cross-lingual transfer, with increasing focus on real-world implementation challenges including fairness, robustness, and user experience. Her research spans multiple languages and educational contexts, reflecting a commitment to globally applicable educational technology. Within CATALPA, Ding actively collaborates across disciplines through the center's vibrant knowledge-sharing culture. She participates in project presentations and colloquia that facilitate cross-pollination of ideas between computer science, linguistics, and educational theory. Her work on the DARIUS corpus and FEAT-writing system demonstrates tangible contributions to educational resource development and interactive learning environments.
Prof. Dr. Mascha Kurpicz-Briki is a computer science professor at the Bern University of Applied Sciences, leading the Applied Machine Intelligence research group within the Institute for Data Applications and Security (IDAS). Her work focuses on human-centered applications of natural language processing in mental health and societal challenges, particularly addressing bias mitigation in AI systems. Education: PhD in energy-efficient cloud computing from University of Neuchâtel Expertise: Applied NLP, fairness in AI, augmented intelligence for health Leadership: Deputy lead of Applied Machine Intelligence Research Group Her research emphasizes augmented intelligence - creating AI systems that support rather than replace humans. Current projects investigate NLP applications for: Burnout and depression detection in clinical psychology Fairness measurement in word embeddings and language models Human augmentation through AI in industrial and healthcare settings Recent publications highlight her contributions to: Bias detection frameworks for European languages Machine learning in eating disorder diagnostics Generative AI integration in art therapy She maintains active memberships in IEEE, ACM, ACL, and the Swiss Center for Augmented Intelligence, with expertise in German, English, and French language technologies.
Barbara Bordalejo is a Professor at the University of Lethbridge with dual appointments in Digital Humanities and English . She serves as President of the Canadian Society for Digital Humanities/Société canadienne des humanités numériques and has held leadership roles in Global Outlook:: Digital Humanities and the European Association of Digital Humanities . Her work focuses on: Digital Editions : Leading the CantApp project (2020) for mobile access to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales , co-developing the Textual Communities platform with Peter Robinson, and editing Darwin’s Origin of Species . Textual Scholarship : Exploring phylogenetic methods for manuscript analysis, collation techniques, and the intersection of bioinformatics with textual criticism. Equity in Digital Humanities : Investigating gender and minority representation through publications like Minority Report (2018) and co-organizing ADHO diversity workshops (2017–2022). AI and Academic Integrity : Analyzing false positives in AI detection software (2025) and advocating for responsible AI policies in education. Her research projects include collaborations with Richard North and Peter Robinson on digital tools, work with Roopika Risam on intersectional DH, and contributions to global DH initiatives across disciplines and regions.
Gerasimos (Jerry) Spanakis is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Advanced Computing Sciences and Maastricht Law+Tech Lab, Faculty of Law, both at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. His research focuses on Social Computing, including computational social media modeling, dialogue systems, information retrieval, and multimodal pattern discovery using Large Language Models. Member of Cognitive Systems research area at DACS/UM Member of Maastricht Law and Tech Lab Principal Investigator for EU project VOXReality Researcher for NSMD, HumanAds, RegTech4AI Technical expert for European Commission E-enforcement academy project Coordinator of MaastrichtNLP reading group Jerry leads the supervision of bachelor's and master's theses across various computational topics and has advised numerous ongoing and completed students. His work intersects AI ethics, legal tech, and behavioral modeling, with a focus on responsible AI deployment and social bias detection in language models. Technical expert for European Commission Co-organizer of the Natural Legal Language Processing (NLLP) Workshop Active in Open Science Community Maastricht
Professor Mari Jones serves as Professor of French Linguistics and Language Change in the Department of French at the University of Cambridge's Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics. She holds a Fellowship at Peterhouse College and maintains visiting positions at the University of Bamberg (Linguistics) and University of Canterbury (Christchurch, New Zealand), while also serving as a Fellow of the International Centre for Language Revitalisation. Her research centers on endangered languages, with particular expertise in French linguistics, language death theory, and dialectology. Jones has conducted extensive fieldwork on Welsh, Breton, and Insular/Mainland Norman dialects, focusing on language change, contact phenomena, and standardization processes. Her work demonstrates exceptional commitment to documenting linguistic diversity and developing revitalization frameworks for minority languages, especially Norman varieties in the Channel Islands. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals consistent thematic focus on language endangerment, with increasing emphasis on technological applications and policy frameworks since 2013. Her scholarship bridges theoretical linguistics with practical community-based revitalization, showing particular strength in Norman dialect documentation and cross-linguistic comparisons of obsolescence patterns. Scientific recognition includes: 2016 Vice-Chancellor's Impact Award for School of Arts and Humanities 2021 Cambridge SU award for Inclusive Practice Fellowship of the Learned Society of Wales Fellowship of the International Centre for Language Revitalisation Professor Jones actively supervises graduate research and directs major funded projects including an AHRC-supported network on urban language structures in France, alongside collaborations with Caen and Rennes universities. She founded the Cambridge Endangered Languages and Cultures Group and the Cambridge Conferences in Language Endangerment series, establishing vital infrastructure for endangered language research. Her leadership extends to community engagement through the Cambridge Language Collective and Polyglossia Magazine, while her inclusive teaching practices earned specific student recognition in 2021. Current initiatives focus on Norman language preservation in Normandy and Channel Islands through the 'Patrimoine Linguistique en Normandie' project.
