Bissan Ghaddar is a Professor in the Department of Technology, Management and Economics at Technical University of Denmark (DTU). Her work focuses on robust optimization, edge computing, and sustainable energy systems, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to affordable and clean energy. She supervises PhD projects on sector coupling in energy models and quantum computations for power systems. Her research interests include optimizing energy consumption in electric vehicle routing and application placement in edge computing under uncertainty. She has published influential papers in journals like Transportation Research Part C and Omega , addressing latency and efficiency challenges in dynamic systems. Current projects include modeling large-scale sectoral energy systems using smart-linking approaches (2024–2027) and secure power system operation leveraging quantum computations (2021–ongoing). She collaborates internationally with experts in operations research and telecommunications.
New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)United States
Reza Curtmola is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at NJIT. His research focuses on cybersecurity, distributed systems, and network security with an emphasis on secure routing, cloud computing, and privacy-preserving technologies. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University (2007), an M.S. from the same institution (2003), and a B.S. from the Politehnica University of Bucharest (2001). Dr. Curtmola’s work addresses challenges in wireless mesh networks, vehicular communication systems, and mobile-cloud integration. His contributions include innovative solutions for secure network coding, distributed resource management (e.g., parking assignment systems), and auditable data storage mechanisms. He has developed middleware frameworks like Moitree for mobile-cloud applications and has explored defenses against side-channel attacks, cache leaks, and entropy-based network vulnerabilities. His research also extends to privacy in vehicular DSRC protocols, dynamic traffic optimization, and verifiable code review systems. He has published extensively on topics ranging from cryptographic defenses in distributed systems to practical implementations of remote data checking in untrusted clouds. Current research activities include advancing secure cloud infrastructure, improving mobile crowdsensing reliability, and mitigating threats in IoT-enabled urban environments. His work often bridges theoretical foundations with practical system implementations, emphasizing real-world applicability in smart cities and critical infrastructure systems.
Donald French is a Full Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Cincinnati, holding this position since 1999. Additionally, he has been a Contractor/Consultant at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base since 2010. He earned a PhD in Applied Mathematics from Cornell University (1985), an MS in Applied Mathematics from Cornell (1983), and a BA in Mathematics and Physics from the State University of New York at Oswego (1980). His research focuses on interdisciplinary mathematical modeling, particularly in Cellular Physiology and Neuroscience. Key areas include inverse problems in olfactory cilia dynamics, neuronal networks, and biofilms. He has also contributed extensively to numerical analysis, specializing in error analysis for finite element methods, meshfree techniques, and discontinuous Galerkin methods. Research Highlights: Development of energy-preserving numerical schemes for time-dependent PDEs in phase transitions and viscoelasticity. Analysis of meshfree and discontinuous Galerkin methods for diffusion problems. Collaboration with Steven Kleene on olfactory cilia modeling since 2001. His work spans computational neuroscience, fluid dynamics, and aerospace engineering, with recent advancements in trajectory planning for unmanned vehicles using PDE-based models. French has secured over $600,000 in NSF grants for projects like ion channel distribution modeling (2005–2009) and mathematical physiology career development (2002–2004). French has held leadership roles, including Graduate Program Director at UC (2015–2017 and 1999–2001), and served on Taft Research and departmental committees. His teaching includes advanced courses in numerical analysis, PDEs, and mathematical biology, which he helped pioneer at UC.
Abdulrahman Takiddin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the Florida A&M University–Florida State University College of Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University (2023), an M.S. in Data Analytics from Hamad Bin Khalifa University (2020), and a B.Sc. in Information Systems from Carnegie Mellon University (2014). His research focuses on cybersecurity in smart grids and cyber-physical systems, leveraging machine learning and graph neural networks to detect adversarial attacks such as false data injection and electricity theft. Key areas include resilient power systems, adversarial evasion attack mitigation, and spatio-temporal analysis of power distribution networks. Recent work emphasizes graph-based approaches for enhancing cyber resilience, including eigenvector centrality-enhanced networks and transfer learning solutions for small data scenarios. His publications address both foundational cybersecurity challenges and applied solutions for electrified transportation systems and smart grid infrastructure. Notable trends in his articles include advancements in unsupervised learning for voltage stability protection and recurrent graph networks for replay attack detection. His research also intersects with bioinformatics and artificial intelligence applications in healthcare, though the majority of his work centers on energy systems and cybersecurity.
Edith Elkind is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Oxford and a Non-Tutorial Fellow at Balliol College (leaving October 2024). Her research focuses on algorithmic game theory and computational social choice. She joined Oxford in 2013 after roles at Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), Princeton University (PhD 2005), and postdoctoral positions at the University of Warwick, University of Liverpool, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and University of Southampton. Her work addresses voting systems, cooperative games, and complexity analysis. Key contributions include studies on multiwinner elections, justified representation, and coalition formation. She has advised six PhD/Master’s students and authored/co-authored over 30 publications. Notable works include Properties of multiwinner voting rules (2017) and Justified representation in approval-based committee voting (2017), advancing fairness and efficiency in voting mechanisms. Her research spans theoretical computer science and AI, with applications in social choice theory and game dynamics. Collaborations include projects on foundational AI and computational social choice. She has contributed to foundational texts like Computational Aspects of Cooperative Game Theory (2011).
Prof. Anke Hagemann holds a guest professorship at TU Berlin's Habitat Unit since 2021, focusing on urban-rural transformations and global production networks. She earned a doctoral degree (summa cum laude) from HafenCity University Hamburg in 2023, exploring Istanbul's clothing industry networks. Her academic journey includes interim professorships at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg and teaching roles at ETH Zurich, TU Stuttgart, and HafenCity University. Her research spans global commodity production, urban mega-events, and holiday architectures. Notable projects include the DFG-funded 'Transnational Production Spaces' (2016–2019) and BMBF-funded 'Urban Rural Assembly' in China. She has published widely on spatial constellations of global production, including works on Bulgarian post-socialist tourism and Ethiopia's garment industry. Awards include her thesis distinction and grants like the DFG scientific network on global production spaces. Her teaching spans urban design studios and seminars on topics like 'Feeding the City' and 'Global City Local Spaces.' She co-curated exhibitions like 'Shrinking Cities' and contributed to initiatives like the 'Urban Rural Assembly' to address sustainability challenges.
Vivy Suhendra serves as Associate Professor of Practice and Programme Director for Master Programmes at the National University of Singapore's School of Computing, while also holding the position of Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies. Previously, she led the Singapore Cybersecurity Consortium (SGCSC) as Executive Director from 2016 to 2022, driving collaborative cybersecurity research between academia, industry, and government agencies. Her career at NUS spans over two decades, beginning as a Research Assistant before advancing to her current leadership roles. Her academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Computer Science, National University of Singapore (2009). Thesis: "Memory Optimizations for Time-predictable Embedded Software". Advisors: Abhik Roychoudhury and Tulika Mitra. B.Comp. (Honors) in Computer Science, National University of Singapore (2004). Dr. Suhendra's research integrates Software Assurance, Cybersecurity, Security and Privacy, and Embedded Systems domains. Her work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, particularly in national cybersecurity ecosystem development, smart grid security protocols, denial-of-service mitigation techniques, and real-time embedded system optimization. This interdisciplinary approach enables innovative solutions for critical infrastructure protection and time-predictable software execution in multi-core environments. Her 14 selected publications (2004-2020) demonstrate an evolving research trajectory from foundational embedded systems timing analysis to applied cybersecurity solutions. Early work focused on memory optimization for predictable execution in multi-core embedded systems, which naturally transitioned into cybersecurity applications for smart grids, cloud environments, and national infrastructure. This progression highlights her ability to translate low-level system expertise into high-impact security frameworks for complex real-world systems. Scientific recognition includes: Microsoft Research Asia Fellowship (2006) Valedictorian at NUS School of Computing Ph.D. Commencement (2010) While specific graduate student advising details aren't provided, her leadership as SGCSC Executive Director involved extensive mentorship across academic-industry partnerships. She has also contributed significantly to the research community through roles including Conference Chair for ESEC/FSE 2022 and Workshops Committee Member for ICSE 2024. Dr. Suhendra established the Singapore Cybersecurity Consortium as a national platform for collaborative R&D during her directorship (2016-2022). Though no personal laboratory is specified, her research leadership manifests through cross-institutional teams focused on cybersecurity innovation, particularly in critical infrastructure protection and embedded systems security where she maintains active publication records.
Simon Moore is a Professor of Computer Engineering at the University of Cambridge's Department of Computer Science and Technology. He leads the Computer Architecture research group, focusing on secure processors and subsystems, particularly the CHERI project. His work emphasizes formal verification, hardware-software co-design, and scalable security solutions. He is a Fellow and Director of Studies at Trinity Hall, overseeing undergraduate admissions and mentoring in Computer Science. Research Interests: Moore's primary focus is the CHERI secure processor architecture, integrating RISC-V cores with formal verification. His work spans secure hardware design, memory safety, and embedded systems. Notable contributions include the CHERI-RISC-V microarchitecture, CheriABI, and formal verification frameworks. Key Projects: CHERI, CheriBSD, Morello (ARM collaboration) Recent Achievements: Test of Time Award (IEEE Security & Privacy 2025), finalist for Bhattacharyya Award (2022) Grants: Innovate UK Digital Security by Design, DARPA Mission Oriented Resilient Clouds Publications: Over 200 papers on secure architectures, including influential work on CHERI's capability model, formal verification, and hardware security. Recent focus areas include temporal memory safety, embedded system security, and GPU-based capability systems. Labs/Teams: Directs the Computer Architecture Group and collaborates with industry partners like ARM and Microsoft on CHERI implementations.
Shujun Li is a Professor of Cyber Security and Head of the Cyber Security Research Group at the School of Computing, University of Kent. He also holds a Visiting Professorship at the Department of Computer Science, University of Surrey. His research focuses on cyber security, privacy, AI applications, and human-centric computing. He leads the Institute of Cyber Security for Society (iCSS), a university-wide interdisciplinary research centre. Education: PhD in Information and Communication Engineering (Xi'an Jiaotong University, 2003), followed by postdoctoral research at City University of Hong Kong, Humboldt Research Fellowship at FernUniversität in Hagen, and a 5-year Zukunftskolleg Research Fellowship at Universität Konstanz. Research interests include cyber security (usable security, digital forensics, misinformation), AI safety, human factors, and socio-technical systems. He has published over 100 papers, with awards including the IEEE Guillemin-Cauer Best Paper Award and EPSRC recognition. Awards: Includes IEEE Transactions Best Paper Awards, EPSRC peer review recognition, and multiple conference best paper awards. Active in interdisciplinary projects like MACRO (cyber risks in mobility systems) and ACCEPT (reducing human-related cyber risks). Labs/Teams: Directs iCSS, co-founded Kent & Medway Cyber Cluster, and leads the Kent Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Cyber Security (KirCCS). Collaborates with industry and government agencies on cyber resilience and AI ethics.
Leonid Reyzin is a Professor and Associate Chair of Academics at Boston University, specializing in cryptography. His research focuses on enabling secure computation, communication, and collaboration in untrusted environments, with contributions to biometric security, cryptographic protocols, and privacy-preserving technologies. He earned his Ph.D. from MIT and has advised on industry standards and received prestigious awards including the NSF CAREER Award and Boston University’s Neu Family Award for Excellence in Teaching. His work spans cryptographic primitives such as fuzzy extractors, verifiable random functions, and proofs of space, addressing challenges like secure key derivation from noisy data and blockchain security. He has collaborated on standards like RFC 9381 and contributed to cryptographic tools for distributed systems and privacy-enhancing technologies. Reyzin’s research emphasizes practical applications, including secure authentication systems, cryptographic protocols for blockchain and distributed ledgers, and mitigating threats like side-channel attacks. His recent work explores advancements in proofs of space, memory-hard functions, and asynchronous authenticated data structures, reflecting a balance between theoretical rigor and real-world applicability. Awards: NSF CAREER Award, Neu Family Award for Excellence in Teaching Key Contributions: Fuzzy extractors, VRFs, cryptographic standards development, blockchain security frameworks Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science, MIT
Amiya Nayak is a Professor at the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science of the University of Ottawa. His research focuses on Fault-Tolerant Computing , Distributed Systems , and Ad hoc and Sensor Networks . He specializes in cybersecurity, IoT security, blockchain integration, and machine learning applications in healthcare and vehicular networks. His work addresses challenges in secure communication protocols, distributed learning frameworks, and energy-efficient network designs. Notable research areas include: IoT Security : Developing frameworks for threat detection, privacy-preserving systems, and blockchain-empowered IoT defenses. Federated Learning : Enhancing healthcare predictions and IoT management through decentralized, privacy-aware machine learning. Vehicular Networks : Securing Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication and optimizing QoS in cooperative internet of vehicles (IoV). Network Optimization : Leveraging deep reinforcement learning and graph neural networks for WDM network restoration and edge computing. His publications (2020–2025) highlight contributions to: Secure authentication protocols in medical sensor networks. AI-driven metaverse security solutions. Decentralized energy trading using NFTs. Energy-efficient sleep scheduling in wireless body area networks (WBANs). Nayak holds a Ph.D. and is a P.Eng. (Professional Engineer). His work bridges theoretical computer science with practical applications in telecommunications and healthcare systems.
Nima Monshizadeh Naini is a Professor in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Groningen. He holds the position of Chair of the IEM Program Committee and serves on the boards of ENTEG and YSEN. His academic journey includes a PhD in Control Systems from the University of Groningen (2013, Cum Laude), followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge (2016-2017) and the University of Groningen (2014). He has been an Assistant Professor since 2018 and was awarded the NWO Open Competition Grant in 2021. His research focuses on Cyber-Physical Human Systems (CPHS) , addressing two core areas: (1) Coordination of self-interested users in power systems and traffic networks using dynamic information design and game-theoretic mechanisms; and (2) Privacy-aware control and optimization with tailored encryption methods for dynamic systems. Applications include energy markets, microgrids, and smart grids. He has published extensively in top venues like IEEE CDC and Automatica, with key topics including privacy-preserving algorithms, distributed control, and optimal intervention design. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to affordable energy and responsible consumption. Education: PhD in Control Systems, University of Groningen (2013) Research Associate, University of Cambridge (2016-2017) Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Groningen (2014) Awards: Cum Laude distinction for PhD thesis (2013) NWO Open Competition Grant (2021) Advising & Grants: Supervised 5 PhD students Editorial roles in IEEE journals and conference proceedings Labs/Teams: Leading the Cyber-physical systems group within the Smart Manufacturing Systems institute.
Dr. Gualbert Oude Essink is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Geosciences , Department of Physical Geography at Utrecht University . He is also a senior hydrogeologist at Deltares, specializing in coastal groundwater systems, saltwater intrusion, and delta sustainability. His work focuses on improving freshwater availability in vulnerable coastal zones under climate change, subsidence, and anthropogenic pressures. Dr. Essink holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from Delft University of Technology and has extensive experience in applied hydrogeology. He leads research projects globally, including in the Netherlands, Egypt (Nile Delta), Bangladesh (Kulna region), Singapore, and Vietnam (Mekong Delta). Key initiatives include GO-FRESH (Aquifer Storage and Recovery) and Rise and Fall (Mekong Delta subsidence strategies). His research integrates modeling, geophysical surveys, and stakeholder engagement. Notable areas include variable-density groundwater flow, airborne electromagnetic surveys for salinity mapping, and sustainable groundwater management. He supervises multiple PhD candidates and teaches at IHE Delft, contributing to global water education. Dr. Essink has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles, focusing on delta sustainability, climate impacts, and groundwater systems. His work bridges academia and practice, addressing freshwater security challenges in coastal regions through innovative solutions like managed aquifer recharge and saltwater intrusion mitigation.
Dr. Damian Arellanes is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Computer Science at Lancaster University, UK, affiliated with the Software Engineering Group and Lancaster Centre for Intelligent, Robotic and Autonomous Systems (LIRA). He holds a PhD from The University of Manchester (2020) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice from Lancaster University (2023). His research focuses on theoretical foundations of algebraic composition for high-level computation models, including emergent/self-organising systems and software composition. He has contributed to areas such as category theory, control-flow separation, and compositional programming for IoT systems. Education: PhD in Computer Science, University of Manchester (2020) Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, Lancaster University (2023) MSc in Computer Science, supported by CONACYT (2012–2014) BEng in Computer Engineering, supported by PRONABES (2009–2012) Research Interests: Damian’s work emphasizes algebraic semantics, compositional models for software, and theoretical computer science principles. He explores how abstract mathematical frameworks (e.g., category theory) can formalize computational systems and enable scalable IoT solutions. Publications: Damian has published extensively on algebraic composition, IoT systems, and formal methods. Key themes include compositional programming, self-organizing software, and scalable service architectures. Awards: Official Nominator for the VinFuture Prize (2024) Honourable Mention for Most Outstanding Mexican Student in STEM (2021) Nick Sanders Kickstarter Fund (2019) Outstanding Doctoral Paper Award (2019) Best MSc Thesis in AI (2015) Advising & Grants: Damian supervises PhD students, such as Mina Yavari, and actively reviews for journals like IEEE TSC and conferences like TASE. He has secured scholarships and fellowships from CONACYT and the Mexican government. Labs/Teams: Member of LIRA’s Fundamentals Section and the Software Engineering Group at Lancaster University.
Professor Glen Tian is a Professor at the School of Computer Science , Queensland University of Technology . He holds two PhDs: one in computer and software engineering from the University of Sydney (2009) and another in industrial automation from Zhejiang University (1993) . His academic career spans institutions including Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Curtin University, and the University of Maryland at College Park. Editor-in-Chief of the Handbook of Real-Time Computing (Springer) Associate Editor for Information Sciences (Elsevier) and Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering (Wiley) His research focuses on big data computing , cloud computing , computer networks , smart grid communication and control , networked control systems , and cyber-physical system security . Applications include power systems , medical big data , vehicular networks , and transport systems . Recent publications highlight advancements in smart grid communications , distributed optimization , secure multi-agent systems , and medical imaging analysis . He has led QUT's Big Data Lab and served as Leader of QUT's Networks and Communications Discipline . Scientific achievements include Over 20 research grants totaling >$6M 6 Australian Research Council (ARC) grants 1 MRFF-TTRA grant ($745,623) 1 ATN-DAAD Australia-Germany Collaborative Grant 1 DEST International Science Linkage grant He supervises PhD students in big data bioinformatics , smart grid optimization , and cyber-physical security , while mentoring 30+ postdocs and research fellows. Current projects include mitigating cyberattacks on power systems and developing AI-based atheroma diagnostic tools .
