Rana Hanocka is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Chicago, leading the 3DL research group focused on AI-driven 3D geometry processing. She earned her Ph.D. in 2021 from Tel Aviv University under Professors Daniel Cohen-Or and Raja Giryes. Her work explores neural networks for unstructured 3D data, including mesh convolutional networks and self-priors for shape reconstruction. Key research areas include geometric deep learning, human-AI collaboration in 3D modeling, and interpretable neural networks. Notable contributions include MeshCNN (SIGGRAPH 2019) and Point2Mesh (NeurIPS 2020), advancing mesh analysis and point cloud processing. Awards include the 2023 Pazy Research Award and 2020 Rising Star in EECS. Education : Ph.D. Computer Science, Tel Aviv University (2021) Labs/Groups : 3DL Group at UChicago Grants : NSF Grant for AI-driven 3D modeling tools (2023) Research directions emphasize creative human-AI partnerships, unsupervised learning from shape collections, and explainable 3D neural networks. Ongoing projects include style-aware 3D synthesis, interactive segmentation, and multimodal shape interfaces.
Marcia O’Malley is the Thomas Michael Panos Family Professor in Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Bioengineering at Rice University’s George R. Brown School of Engineering. She chairs the Department of Mechanical Engineering and directs the Mechatronics and Haptic Interfaces (MAHI) Lab. Her research focuses on haptics and robotic rehabilitation, particularly wearable robotic systems for training and rehabilitation in virtual environments. She holds adjunct roles at Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas Medical School. Educated at Purdue University (B.S., 1996) and Vanderbilt University (M.S./Ph.D., 1999/2001), Dr. O’Malley has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the ONR Young Investigator Award, NSF CAREER Award, and multiple fellowships. She has twice won Rice’s George R. Brown Award for Superior Teaching. Her work bridges engineering and medicine, addressing human-robot interaction challenges in surgical training, workforce safety, and neurorehabilitation. The MAHI Lab develops devices like the hBracelet and Rice Haptic Rocker to enhance human-robot collaboration. She co-founded Houston Medical Robotics, Inc., applying her innovations to real-world medical applications. Research Interests: Haptics, wearable robotics, neural interfaces, surgical training metrics, and rehabilitation robotics. Labs/Teams: MAHI Lab (Biosciences Research Collaborative), collaborations with medical institutions. Grants/Awards: Extensive funding from NSF, ONR, and industry partnerships; leadership in editorial roles for IEEE Transactions on Haptics.
Wim Gevers is a faculty member at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and leads the CS4S – Cognitive Control & Sleep laboratory within the CRCN research centre. His work bridges cognitive psychology, neuroscience and sleep research to understand how the brain exerts control over thoughts and actions and how sleep contributes to these processes. Research Interests Cognitive Control & Metacognition: Investigating how subjective experiences such as confidence and the "urge-to-err" guide strategic adjustments in behaviour. Working Memory & Ordinal Cognition: Examining how order information is maintained and manipulated, and how these processes relate to mathematical competence. Sleep, Memory & Decision Making: Exploring how sleep-dependent consolidation influences motor learning and decision strategies. Across his 2022–2025 publications a clear trend emerges: a focus on metacognitive monitoring —how humans evaluate their own cognitive states—and the role of emotional and temporal context in shaping those evaluations. Studies range from reaction-time introspection and confidence judgements in perceptual tasks to the impact of aging and depression on metacognitive accuracy. Doctoral Supervision & Mentoring Whitney Stee (PhD 2024) – Sleep-dependent structural brain reorganization & motor learning Gaia Corlazzoli (PhD 2024) – Subjective experience in decision-making Myrtille Dewulf (PhD 2023) – Ordinal coding mechanisms in working memory Rebeca Sifuentes-Ortega (PhD 2023) – REM sleep and memory reactivation All dissertations were defended at ULB, Faculté des Sciences psychologiques et de l’éducation, with Wim Gevers formally listed as Promotor . Laboratory & Collaborative Networks As head of CS4S, Gevers coordinates a multidisciplinary team that combines behavioural experimentation, EEG/MEG, computational modelling and sleep polysomnography. The lab is embedded in the larger CRCN ecosystem, fostering collaborations with groups such as CO3 (consciousness), LCLD (language & deafness), and UR2NF (neurofunctional imaging).
Giulio Jacucci is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Helsinki, affiliated with the Helsinki Information Technology Research Institute. He serves as a Supervisor in the Doctoral Programme in Computer Science, mentoring PhD candidates in human-computer interaction and related fields. His academic career spans over two decades with continuous research productivity from 2006 through 2025. Professor Jacucci's research interests center on Human-Computer Interaction , particularly focusing on Virtual Reality , Brain-Computer Interfaces , and Neuroadaptive Systems . His work explores how technology can adapt to users' cognitive and physiological states, with significant contributions to social virtual reality environments, embodied agents, and information retrieval systems. He investigates how virtual representations affect social behavior, time perception, and communication in digital spaces. His publication record shows a clear evolution from foundational work in information retrieval toward increasingly sophisticated neuroadaptive systems. Recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate his leadership in examining social dynamics within virtual reality platforms, including votekicking mechanisms, mirror watching behaviors, and communication tools like mutes. His work bridges technical innovation with deep understanding of human social behavior in digital environments. Professor Jacucci currently leads multiple research projects funded by the Academy of Finland, including DataLit: Datalukutaito ja vastuullinen päätöksenteko (2023-2026) and MyModel: Selitettävyys suositusten hallinnassa (2023-2027). These projects focus on data literacy, responsible decision-making, and explainability in recommendation systems, reflecting his commitment to ethical and user-centered technology development. His research has received media attention, particularly around brain-computer interfaces and virtual reality applications, with coverage in outlets discussing how deep learning transforms mobile applications and sensor landscapes. He has presented his work at major conferences including CHI 2017 and continues to be an active contributor to the international research community.
Oden Groth is an Assistant Professor of Digital Marketing and Information Systems at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU), affiliated with the Department of Marketing, Management and Entrepreneurship within Silberman College. He holds a BSc from the University of York (UK), MSc from the University of Oxford (UK), and a PhD from Baruch College, CUNY. His research focuses on digital marketing strategies, consumer behavior in technology-driven markets, and sensory marketing applications. Key interests include crossmodal sensory effects on consumer preferences, authenticity perceptions in digital formats, and the role of haptic feedback in advertising. Recent publications explore topics like disability identity's impact on innovation, physical vs digital product symbolism, and multisensory consumer experiences. His work bridges marketing theory with practical applications in e-business and digitization trends. No awards or grants explicitly listed. He teaches courses including Social Media Marketing, E-Business, and Sensory Marketing.
Andreas Eklund is an Assistant Professor in the Marketing Department at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWL). He holds a Ph.D. in Marketing from Linnaeus University (Sweden), specializing in consumer psychology, and a Master’s degree from Lund University (Sweden). His research focuses on sensory marketing, branding, and service-dominant logic, exploring how sensory cues influence consumer behavior and brand experiences. He has taught courses on branding, consumer behavior, and marketing strategy at universities in Sweden, Norway, and the U.S. Education: Ph.D. in Marketing (Consumer Psychology), Linnaeus University, Sweden M.Sc. in Marketing, Lund University, Sweden Research Interests: Sensory marketing and its intersection with branding Multi-sensory consumer experiences in automotive and retail environments Experiential marketing and value proposition design Congruency theories in brand-consumer relationships Teaching: Recent courses include MKT351 (Principles of Marketing), MKT362 (Consumer Behavior), and MBA755 (Advanced Marketing) Focuses on experiential learning and real-world marketing applications Professional Background: Prior career as a chef informs his sensory marketing research Experience in Scandinavian universities before joining UWL Personal Interests: Outdoor activities (disc golf, ice skating) Swedish salt licorice enthusiast Manchester United football fan
Parastoo Abtahi is an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science Department at Princeton University. She leads the Situated Interactions Lab (Ψ Lab) as part of the Princeton HCI Group, focusing on AR/VR and spatial computing. Prior to Princeton, she worked at Meta Reality Labs Research. PhD in Computer Science from Stanford University BSc in Electrical and Computer Engineering from University of Toronto (Engineering Science program) Her research explores wearable interactive technologies that augment human intelligence in physical contexts through: Input on-the-go: Low-effort, privacy-preserving multimodal interfaces Intelligent output: Timely, minimal multisensory systems Situated AI: Personalizable, predictable, safe physical-digital interaction Recent publications analyze: Drone-based haptic illusions for AR/VR Microgestures for mobile AR input Interactivity in explainable AI systems Temporal dynamics in VR haptics Awards include: 2025 Google Research Scholar Award CHI 2019 & 2018 Honorable Mentions She teaches courses like: COS 436: Human-Computer Interaction COS IW: AR Meets AI
Floyd Mueller is a Full Professor of Future Interfaces in the Department of Human Centred Computing at Monash University, where he also directs the award-winning Exertion Games Lab. His work bridges human-computer interaction, interaction design, and game and play design, with a focus on bodily engagement and physical activity through technology. He has held prior academic and research positions at RMIT University, the University of Melbourne, and CSIRO, and has been affiliated with elite institutions such as Stanford University, MIT Media Lab, and Microsoft Research Asia. PhD in Interaction Design – University of Melbourne (2011) MS in Media Arts and Sciences – Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2002) Diplom-Informatiker (Medieninformatik) – Hochschule Furtwangen (2000) BSc in Multimedia – Griffith University (1999) Floyd Mueller’s research centers on human-computer interaction with a strong emphasis on bodily interactions, exertion interfaces, and playful technologies. His work explores how digital systems can support physical activity, human values, and novel forms of expression through games, wearables, augmented reality, and immersive experiences. He employs methodologies such as design ethnography, autoethnography, and Research Through Design to investigate the phenomenology of human-computer integration. His recent publications (2024–2025) reflect a continued focus on the future of bodily interfaces, including lucid dream mediation, extended reality for fear reduction in water, sonic gastronomy, and shared bodily control in augmented human systems. These works are published in top-tier venues like CHI and Human-Computer Interaction journal, highlighting trends toward immersive, sensory-rich, and human-centered computing that challenge traditional boundaries between body and machine. His scientific awards include being an inaugural honouree of the Australian Design Honours, receiving 9 Best Paper Honorable Mentions and 2 Best Papers at CHI and CHI PLAY, and being recognized as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar and Microsoft Research Asia Fellow. His games have been featured by BBC, ABC, Discovery Science Channel, and New Scientist, and won a Media Star Award. Floyd Mueller actively supervises PhD students through the Exertion Games Lab and Supervisor Connect platform. He has secured major research grants, including Australian Research Council Discovery and Linkage Projects. His current projects include Advancing Australia’s hospitality industry through interactive food and Designing digital aquatic play to foster Australians' engagement with water . He also serves as associate editor for IMWUT and IJHCS, co-founded the CHI PLAY conference series, and was general co-chair for CHI PLAY’18 and CHI’20. He leads the Exertion Games Lab, an interdisciplinary research team focused on inventing the future of bodily play. The lab investigates how technology can support active lifestyles through exertion games, wearables, drones, and immersive environments. The lab’s work spans design, prototyping, user studies, and real-world deployment, often in collaboration with chefs, athletes, and underwater explorers.
Professor Emily S. Cross is a cognitive and social neuroscientist holding dual appointments at the University of Glasgow's School of Psychology & Neuroscience (UK) and Western Sydney University's MARCS Institute (Australia). She directs the Social Brain in Action Laboratory (SoBA), specializing in how embodied experiences shape social perception. Cross earned a BA in psychology and dance from Pomona College, MSc from University of Otago as a Fulbright Fellow, and PhD in cognitive neuroscience from Dartmouth College, followed by postdoctoral training at University of Nottingham and Max Planck Institute. Her research explores experience-dependent plasticity through dance, robotics, and neuroimaging techniques (fMRI, TMS), focusing on four key areas: neural signatures of embodied expertise, neuroaesthetics, visual learning across lifespan, and social engagement with robots. This interdisciplinary work bridges neuroscience, performing arts, and robotics. Cross's research shows strong focus on human-robot interaction dynamics, cultural perceptions of robotics, and the neural correlates of aesthetic experiences. Recent work investigates how social experience shapes human-robot interaction, cross-cultural differences in robot acceptance, and computational approaches to movement analysis. Publications consistently demonstrate methodological innovation through VR, economic games, and large-scale motion capture libraries. Honors & Awards: Jacob Brownowski Award (British Science Association, 2017) Philip Leverhulme Prize in Psychology (2018) World's 50 Most Renowned Women in Robotics (2020) Elected member: Young Academy of Europe Elected member: Royal Society of Edinburgh's Young Academy of Scotland Her ERC Starting Grant funds groundbreaking work on human-robot interaction. Cross leads the Social Brain in Action Lab with focus on mentoring next-generation scientists and research ethics training. The lab employs neuroimaging, training paradigms, and diverse methodologies to study action observation across dance, music, and robotics domains.
David Melcher is Professor of Psychology and Program Head in Psychology at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), where he also serves as a Global Network Professor. He is affiliated with the Division of Science and leads the Perception and Active Cognition Lab, focusing on the integration of perception, attention, memory, and action within a cognitive neuroscience framework. PhD in Psychology and Cognitive Science, Rutgers University (2001) Former researcher and professor in Italy and the UK Current leadership: Program Head, Psychology, NYUAD David Melcher's research centers on cognitive neuroscience , particularly how perception, attention, working memory, eye movements, and self-motion interact to shape cognition and behavior. His lab emphasizes active cognition —the idea that perception is not passive but dynamically shaped by action, context, and goals. He investigates how temporal dynamics in neural processing organize perceptual experiences and guide decision-making. His work spans both healthy and clinical populations, exploring individual differences in spatial and temporal processing across the lifespan. The 15 most recent publications reflect a consistent focus on temporal organization in cognition , perception-action coupling , and neural mechanisms of attention and memory . Keywords across these works include cognitive neuroscience, perception, and neuroimaging, with subfields ranging from eye movement research and neural synchrony to computational modeling and clinical neuropsychology. Collectively, they demonstrate a trajectory toward integrative models of brain function that bridge behavioral, neuroimaging, and computational approaches. Among his notable recognitions is the Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution to Psychology from the American Psychological Association (2011), highlighting the early impact of his work in cognitive neuroscience. Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution to Psychology, APA (2011) David Melcher has advised numerous students through capstone projects in psychology and computer science, fostering interdisciplinary research at the intersection of cognitive science and technology. His research has been generously supported by major funding agencies including the European Research Council , the US National Institutes of Health , the Italian Ministry of Research and Education , and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Expert Affairs . He also contributes to the academic community as a member of the editorial boards of Journal of Vision , Psychonomic Bulletin & Review , Perception , and iPerception . He leads the Perception and Active Cognition Lab at NYUAD, which employs a multidisciplinary approach combining behavioral experiments, neuroimaging (fMRI, EEG, MEG), eye-tracking, computational modeling, and clinical assessments. The lab’s research aims to understand how the brain constructs stable percepts from dynamic sensory input, particularly during active engagement with the environment.
Rhonda Hadi is an Associate Professor of Marketing at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. She is also a Fellow of Green Templeton College and an Associate Editor at the Journal of Consumer Psychology , serving on editorial review boards for Journal of Consumer Research , Journal of Marketing Research , and Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science . Her research focuses on emerging technologies reshaping consumer experiences, including augmented reality, AI, and wearable/mobile computing. She explores crossmodal perception, cultural influences on consumer behavior, and sensory-driven decision-making. Rhonda teaches the Core Marketing course for the MBA programme and contributes to Executive MBA, Diploma in AI for Business, and executive education courses. Her engagements span industry collaborations with Fortune 500 firms, startups, and non-profits, emphasizing practical applications of her research. She is a key member of the Oxford Future of Marketing Initiative , fostering academic-industry partnerships for thought leadership. Her research interests prominently feature technology-augmented consumer behavior , particularly in multisensory interactions (e.g., haptics, temperature, scent) and how cultural contexts modulate these responses. She has pioneered studies on anthropomorphic products, chatbot ethics, and the psychological impact of digital tools like AR and the Metaverse. Rhonda received the John Elliot Teaching Award and regularly engages with media outlets like the BBC to disseminate her findings. She has delivered over 50 invited talks globally, addressing North America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. In advising and grants, she mentors students across MBA and executive programmes and secures funding via Oxford’s initiatives. Her work intersects with the Major Programme Management and Private Equity Institute , though direct grant references are not explicitly detailed. She actively participates in interdisciplinary teams at Oxford Saïd, such as the Oxford Future of Finance and Technology Initiative and the Social Thermoregulation Project , integrating insights from psychology, technology, and business strategy.
Gaetano Valenza is an Associate Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Pisa, Italy, where he leads the Neuro-Cardiovascular Intelligence Lab at the Enrico Piaggio Research Centre. He holds affiliations with the Neuroscience Statistics Research Laboratory at MIT and has served as a Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. His academic work spans bioengineering, computational physiology, and affective computing. His research focuses on statistical and nonlinear biomedical signal and image processing , cardiovascular and neural modeling , and physiologically interpretable artificial intelligence . He develops wearable systems for physiological monitoring, with applications in autonomic nervous system assessment, brain-heart interactions, and mental health. His work has led to novel metrics such as the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic activity indices derived from ECG. The 15 most recent publications reflect a consistent trend in brain-heart interplay , complexity analysis of physiological signals , explainable AI in healthcare , and virtual reality applications in mental health . His work integrates advanced signal processing, nonlinear dynamics, and machine learning to decode emotional and cognitive states from physiological data. Dr. Valenza is a Senior Member of IEEE and serves on several technical committees. He is an active editorial leader, currently serving as Associate Editor for IEEE-EMBC , Plos One , Complexity , and Scientific Reports , and has guest-edited special issues in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A and IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics . He has led or participated in numerous international research projects, including FP7 and H2020 initiatives such as NEVERMIND and EXPERIENCE. He teaches courses in Biostatistics, Probability & Biostatistics, and Advanced Image Processing at the University of Pisa. As lab head and project coordinator, he leads a multidisciplinary team working on neuro-cardiovascular intelligence, wearable systems, and AI-driven mental health interventions.
Ian Ewart is an Associate Professor at the University of Reading's School of the Built Environment, serving as Head of Construction and Engineering Management and Research Group Lead for Organisation, People and Technology. He chairs the Research Ethics Committee since 2016 and supervises undergraduate/postgraduate dissertations. His academic journey spans engineering and anthropology: DPhil Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Oxford, St Hugh's College (2007-2012) MSc Material Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, University of Oxford, St Hugh's College (2006-2007) BA (Hons) Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Oxford, Harris Manchester College (2003-2006) Diploma in Management Studies, University of the West of England (1990-1994) BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering, Staffordshire University (1983-1987) Ewart's research integrates ethnographic methods with digital technology studies, examining human-technology interactions in construction and domestic settings. His work bridges engineering practice and social anthropology, focusing on skill transmission, sustainable design, and multisensory experiences in virtual environments. Publications from 2025-2013 reveal a dominant trajectory in digital twins for socio-ecological sustainability, VR-based occupant behavior prediction, and HBIM for heritage conservation. The corpus demonstrates consistent cross-disciplinary innovation, merging archaeological reconstructions with healthcare applications while maintaining anthropological rigor. Key recognition: ESRC Future Research Leader fellowship (2013) for Designing Healthy Homes project He supervises PhD candidates like Afolabi Dania (Nigerian sustainable construction) and Joanna Hull (Heritage BIM), leveraging ESRC funding for ethnography-VR health studies. His grants emphasize participatory design and real-world impact assessment in built environments. Leaders the Organisation, People and Technology research group, developing multisensory Roman town reconstructions with sound/smell integration to advance archaeological and architectural experience modeling.
Ralf Haefner is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Brain & Cognitive Sciences and Physics & Astronomy at the University of Rochester, holding this joint appointment since 2014. His interdisciplinary research bridges neuroscience and physics to investigate computational principles of perception and decision-making. Education and professional background: PhD, Oxford University, 1999 Visiting Research Fellow, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School Swartz Fellow, Sloan-Swartz Center for Theoretical Neurobiology, Brandeis University Haefner's research program centers on computational neuroscience , with primary focus on how the brain forms perceptual beliefs and uses them for decisions through Bayesian modeling . He employs machine learning tools to construct mathematical models explaining neural responses and behavior, particularly in the visual domain. His work addresses neural representation of uncertainty, causal inference mechanisms, and probabilistic computation in cortical circuits. Analysis of recent publications (2023-2025) reveals three dominant trends: (1) causal inference frameworks applied to motion perception and segmentation, (2) Bayesian modeling of perceptual biases and confidence computations, and (3) integration of generative and discriminative neural computations. His work extends beyond traditional neuroscience into scientific methodology through 'Generative Adversarial Collaborations' for improving research discourse. Honors and Awards: Swartz Fellowship, Sloan-Swartz Center for Theoretical Neurobiology NSF CAREER Award (2022) for 'Approximate inference at the intersection of neuroscience and machine learning' Haefner secured significant research funding through his NSF CAREER award, which supports foundational work on probabilistic inference at the neuroscience-ML interface. While specific students aren't listed, his active publication record and lab infrastructure suggest ongoing mentorship of graduate students and postdocs. His research has clinical relevance as shown by studies on perceptual abnormalities in autism spectrum disorder, indicating translational potential for understanding neurological conditions.
Miguel Ángel Bernal Merino serves as a Part-Time Lecturer in the Department of Modern Philology, Translation and Interpretation at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Concurrently, he acts as convener of the MA in Translation at the University of Roehampton in London, managing its Specialised Translation, Audiovisual Translation, and Intercultural Communication pathways since 2005. His academic profile bridges theoretical research and industry application in localization disciplines. PhD in The Localisation of Video Games, Imperial College London MSc in The Localisation of Multimedia Interactive Entertainment Software, Imperial College London Certificate in Software Localisation, University of Limerick CELTA, University of Cambridge MPhil in Lip-Synched Dubbing, Universidad de Alicante MA in Hispanic Literature, University of Rhode Island BA in English & Spanish Linguistics, Universidad de Alicante Bernal Merino's research pioneers the expansion of Translation Studies into interactive media domains. His work on video game localization examines interactivity, cultural adaptation, glocalisation, and playability, while his audiovisual translation research investigates creativity in lip-synched dubbing, subtitling, and audiodescription. He extends these frameworks into gaming-based language learning through haptic environments and multisensory reinforcement, exploring physiological aspects of multilingual cognition and polysemiotic neural networks. This multidisciplinary approach fundamentally challenges traditional boundaries in translation theory. His publication trajectory reveals evolving industry-academia integration, shifting from foundational game localization frameworks (2008-2015) toward user-centered research and educational applications (2018-2024). Recent work emphasizes measurable business impacts through quality localization, regional market adaptations, and crowd-sourced methodologies, demonstrating consistent influence on professional standards across gaming and translation sectors. Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Bernal Merino supervises doctoral research on mobile game localization, transmedia fan experiences, and historical game content translation while developing industry-academia pipelines through projects like AHRC's Media Across Borders. His funded initiatives—including Maximising ROI through Quality Game Localisation and Video Games for Language Learning—bridge theoretical innovation with commercial implementation, focusing on glocalisation strategies, interactivity metrics, and playability optimization. These collaborations connect European universities, gaming studios, and localization service providers. As chair of the IGDA Localization SIG and member of GIR Discourse, Communication and Society, he directs international forums for game localization discourse. His work with Routes into Languages promotes audiovisual media in language education, while REF-readiness collaborations enhance research excellence across European institutions through his professional network spanning industry conferences like GDC Summit and Game Global.
