Janine Splettstösser is a Professor of theoretical physics at Chalmers University of Technology, where she directs the Nano Area of Advance and leads the Applied Quantum Physics Group . She previously held academic positions at RWTH Aachen University (2009) and the University of Geneva as a postdoc. Education: Diplom (2003) from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, PhD (2007) from Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa and Ruhr-Universität Bochum Current Research: Quantum transport in nanostructures, nanoscale thermodynamics, dynamical transport properties Research Trends in her recent work include: Quantum thermodynamics and non-equilibrium fluctuations Coherent control in optomechanical and quantum dot systems Fluctuation-dissipation relations in mesoscopic devices Thermoelectric performance of nanoscale heat engines Scientific Recognition : ERC Consolidator Grant recipient Wallenberg Academy Fellow Mercator Fellow at University of Regensburg Her projects include On-chip waste recovery in quantum and nanoscale devices (2024-2028) and Thermodynamic constraints in quantum systems (2020-2023).
Prof. Kjeld Eikema is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Science of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, affiliated with the Quantum Metrology & Laser Applications department and the LaserLaB - Physics of Light institute. He concurrently serves as a part-time group leader at ARCNL since 2014. His research focuses on ultrafast laser physics, high-harmonic generation, quantum metrology, and precision spectroscopy. Key contributions include studies on particle charge radii in quantum-degenerate helium, extreme ultraviolet vortex beams, and ptychographic imaging techniques. He has supervised 25 PhD theses and holds the Fresnel Prize 2003 for Fundamental Aspects from the European Physical Society. His work bridges fundamental physics with applied laser technologies, including innovations in laser pulse shaping and plasma-based light sources. Research interests span high-order harmonic generation, laser-matter interactions, and precision measurements . His group develops cutting-edge methods for extreme ultraviolet ptychography and coherent beam control. Recent advancements include structured illumination techniques and vortex beam applications. He teaches Ultrafast Laser Physics and contributes to interdisciplinary projects at the interface of quantum optics and metrology. Notable achievements include the first observation of the 1S-2S transition in helium ions and breakthroughs in Ramsey-comb spectroscopy. His lab, LaserLaB, is a hub for advanced laser systems and ultrafast dynamics research. Future work emphasizes quantum-degenerate gases and applications of extreme ultraviolet imaging in materials science.
Matthew Philipp is a Fixed-term Researcher at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS) of Politecnico di Torino. His research focuses on advanced structural analysis, including aeroelasticity, finite element methodologies, and nonlinear dynamics of rotating and composite structures. He contributes to the MUL2 research group, specializing in layered structures and multifield analyses. Philipp teaches courses such as Aeroelasticity and Structural Mechanics at both undergraduate and graduate levels, and supervises multiple PhD students in topics like metamaterials and composite fracture analysis. His work spans projects like ASSESS (smart composite monitoring) and DRONE-DARE (drone-based structural evaluation), emphasizing innovation in aerospace and mechanical engineering. Education & Teaching: Philipp holds a role in the Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering doctoral programs, teaching modules on structural mechanics, aeronautical legislation, and aerospace design. His courses emphasize practical applications in structural analysis and computational methods. Research Focus: His research integrates computational engineering with advanced materials, focusing on high-fidelity finite element models for dynamic systems, rotor dynamics, and composite material behavior. Key areas include wave propagation in metamaterials, thermal-structural coupling, and fracture mechanics. Grants & Collaborations: He participates in competitive grants such as PNRR Mission 4 and EU MSCA projects, leveraging interdisciplinary approaches to solve challenges in structural health monitoring and aerospace system reliability. Labs & Teams: As part of the MUL2 group, he collaborates on developing unified theories for structural analysis and contributes to labs focused on composite manufacturing and virtual testing.
Eden Furtak-Cole is an Assistant Research Professor at the Desert Research Institute (DRI), affiliated with the Atmospheric Sciences division located on the Reno Campus. Her research focuses on environmental fluid dynamics, particularly dust emission modeling, urban canopy meteorology, and wildfire impacts. She specializes in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and field measurements to study air quality, sediment transport, and atmospheric boundary layer processes. Key research areas include: Evaluation of dust emissions from off-highway vehicle recreation areas Development of fast models for pollutant dispersion in urban environments Mitigation strategies for coastal dune erosion and sediment management Wildfire effects on soil properties and subsurface heat fluxes Recent work includes collaboration with NASA and NOAA on dust emission monitoring systems, and contributions to the Salton Sea shoreline management project to reduce dust hazards. She has presented findings at major conferences including the American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics and the European Geophysical Union General Assembly. Her technical expertise spans high-resolution CFD modeling using OpenFOAM, lidar-derived meteorological data analysis, and field experiments in complex terrain. Current projects involve developing a new metric linking PM10 emissions to wind power density for environmental impact assessments.
Aleksei Talonov is an Associate Professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), specializing in mathematical modeling and applied mathematics. His research focuses on interdisciplinary applications, including geomechanics, porous media dynamics, and innovative educational strategies in STEM fields. He has contributed to advancing understanding of wave propagation in heterogeneous materials, failure mechanisms in rocks, and calculus pedagogy through modeling. Research Interests : Mathematical modeling of physical phenomena (e.g., heat transfer, gas transport, elastic waves) Development of active learning approaches in precalculus and calculus education Computational analysis of fractured and porous geological media Recent Work Trends : Recent publications emphasize integrating real-world problems into teaching (e.g., modeling diabetes pathways, heat exchangers) and exploring multiscale mechanics of complex materials. His work bridges theoretical mathematics with practical engineering challenges. Teaching & Advising : Talonov actively designs curricula for calculus and precalculus courses, emphasizing student engagement via modeling projects. No specific grants or advising roles are detailed in the provided texts. Labs/Teams : No lab affiliations are explicitly mentioned, though collaborations with geoscience and engineering departments are implied by his research topics.
Jeff Mortensen is a Teaching Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). He holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis (1993). His roles include serving as Math Center Director (2000-2005), Core Mathematics Director (2007-2008), and Interim Department Chair (2017-2018). His research focuses on Analysis, Fractional Calculus, and Differential Equations, with applications in environmental modeling and nonlinear systems. Education: Ph.D. in Mathematics, University of California, Davis, 1993 Research interests emphasize analytical and numerical solutions to differential equations, fractional calculus frameworks for advection-dispersion processes, and symmetry methods in nonlinear PDEs. His work bridges pure mathematics with applications in fluid dynamics and groundwater flow modeling. Teaching and innovation include developing web-based testing systems with dynamic question generation (2001), reflecting his commitment to educational technology. He has advised no listed graduate students but has extensive undergraduate teaching experience in mathematics. Affiliations include the College of Science at UNR, located at Davidson Mathematics and Science Center, Reno, NV.
Dr. Francesco Caponi is a Lecturer at ETH Zurich's Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, where he researches interactions between river morphodynamics and riparian ecosystems. His work combines numerical modeling with field observations to understand feedback mechanisms between vegetation and fluvial processes. Research focuses on hydrochory (seed dispersal by water), vegetation establishment patterns, and hydropeaking impacts in alpine rivers. Developed the BASEveg Python package coupling BASEMENT hydro-morphodynamic simulator with vegetation dynamics models. Current projects include Lagrangian seed dispersal modeling and sediment-habitat relationships in river widenings. Field investigations conducted in the Ticino Rivers Lab collaboration with Canton Ticino authorities. Awarded Best Student Presentation at 2019 RCEM symposium for research on vegetation-morphodynamic feedbacks. Leads the TiRiLab initiative enabling student research on Swiss rivers through BASEMENT simulations and GIS analysis. Teaches river engineering concepts through MSc projects focused on hydrological assessment and ecosystem services in Alpine environments.
Dr. Horst Punzmann is a researcher at the Research School of Physics, The Australian National University, specializing in experimental fluid physics with a focus on nonlinear phenomena, turbulence, surface waves, and plasma physics. His work explores interactions between fluid dynamics and complex systems, including granular matter and microbial processes. Research Projects: Transport control in multi-species fluid suspensions (2019–2024) Novel methods of spill containment on water surfaces (2017–2020) Liquid metamaterial facility for active matter studies (2017) Passive and active swimmers in complex flows (2015–2018) Research Interests: Dr. Punzmann investigates turbulence-driven phenomena, surface wave dynamics, and their applications in fields like biofilm formation and microbial transport. His studies often bridge fluid dynamics with interdisciplinary areas such as biophysics and materials science. Grants & Collaborations: Collaborations include projects on turbulence control, spill mitigation, and metamaterial design. His work is supported by grants focusing on fluid dynamics and active matter systems. Labs & Facilities: He contributes to the Liquid Metamaterials facility, enabling advanced studies of active matter and bacterial flow interactions.
Dr. Yubin Yan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer and Engineering Sciences at the University of Chester, UK. He leads the BSc Mathematics program and previously served as Programme Leader for the MSc Mathematics (2012–2019). Recognized as 'Most Inspiring Lecturer' (2016), he teaches advanced mathematical topics including stochastic calculus, partial differential equations, and fractional calculus. His research focuses on numerical methods for stochastic/deterministic differential equations, finite element methods, and fractional calculus, with over 80 peer-reviewed publications. He holds editorial roles in five international journals and organized minisymposia at major conferences like the Biennial Numerical Analysis Conference (2019, 2023, 2025). Research Interests: Specializes in numerical analysis for stochastic and deterministic equations, finite difference/element methods, fractional calculus applications in science/engineering/finance. His groundbreaking 2005 framework for error estimation in stochastic parabolic equations remains a standard reference. Current trends in his work include high-order numerical methods for fractional PDEs, stochastic sub/superdiffusion, and multiplicative noise modeling. Editor: Numerical Applied Mathematics and four other journals Guest Editor: Special issues in Mathematics (2021) and Discrete Dynamics (2017) Grants: EPSRC (UK), NSFC (China), University of Chester Advising: Supervised 5 PhD students and 30 MSc dissertations in Applied/Computational Mathematics. Active in international academic service, including refereeing for over 30 journals and conference organization.
Steven Maley is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Wilfrid Laurier University. His research focuses on computational chemistry , catalysis , and machine learning applications in chemical systems. He explores catalyst design for polymerization reactions, non-covalent interactions in catalytic systems, and reaction mechanisms using quantum mechanical methods like DFT and CCSD(T). His work bridges computational modeling with experimental outcomes to advance materials science and catalytic process optimization. Dr. Maley’s office is located in BA418, and he holds regular office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2–4 p.m. He actively supervises student research opportunities in computational chemistry and catalysis, encouraging graduate and undergraduate involvement in cutting-edge projects. His publications emphasize machine learning integration with computational chemistry to predict reaction outcomes, optimize catalysts, and analyze electronic structures. Recent trends include studying chromium and zirconium-based catalysts for ethylene trimerization, understanding σ-bond metathesis dynamics, and resolving structural dilemmas in organic molecules like isothiirane. His research also applies catastrophe theory to explain symmetry-breaking phenomena in molecular systems. While no specific grants or awards are listed, his work demonstrates strong methodological innovation in combining theoretical approaches with data-driven analysis. He maintains a lab focused on computational simulations and collaborates across disciplines to address challenges in catalytic reaction design and materials discovery.
Victor Boussange is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) and the Department of Environmental Systems Science (D-USYS) at ETH Zurich. His research focuses on integrating scientific machine learning with ecological and evolutionary modeling to understand complex systems dynamics. He holds a PhD in Environmental Sciences from ETH Zurich (2022) and an MSc in Energy and Environmental Sciences from INSA Lyon (2018). Primary affiliation: Dynamic Macroecology Group at WSL Secondary affiliation: D-USYS, ETH Zurich Research Interests: Development of hybrid mechanistic-machine learning frameworks to model ecosystem responses to disturbances, ecological connectivity analysis, and eco-evolutionary dynamics. His work emphasizes interpretable models and scalable computational methods. Publications highlight contributions to high-dimensional PDE solvers (HighDimPDE.jl), inverse modeling frameworks (PiecewiseInference.jl), and ecological connectivity prioritization (JAXScape). His work bridges theoretical ecology with computational tools for real-world applications like biodiversity conservation and climate change impact assessment.
Rafael Roldán is a Researcher at the Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (ICMM-CSIC), Spanish National Research Council, specializing in nanoscale materials and two-dimensional heterostructures. His work explores electronic, optical, elastic, magnetic, and superconducting properties of graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (e.g., MoS 2 ), and black phosphorus, with significant contributions to strain engineering and quantum phenomena in low-dimensional systems. He earned his PhD at ICMM-CSIC (2003-2007) under M.P. López Sancho, with research stays at Boston University, UC Riverside, and ETH Zurich. Postdoctoral positions followed at Laboratoire de Physique des Solides (Université Paris-Saclay, 2007-2009) and Radboud University's Institute for Molecules and Materials (2009-2011). Roldán's research integrates theoretical modeling and experimental analysis to investigate piezoelectric effects in hexagonal boron nitride, hyperbolic plasmons in black phosphorus, and defect-induced quantum states in transition metal dichalcogenides. His work reveals how strain, defects, and anisotropy tune optoelectronic properties for applications in nanoelectronics and quantum technologies, emphasizing fundamental mechanisms in 2D material heterostructures. Recent publications demonstrate consistent innovation in manipulating 2D material properties through strain engineering, defect control, and plasmonic design, with strong focus on black phosphorus anisotropy, transition metal dichalcogenide bubbles, and valley-dependent phenomena. These studies bridge condensed matter theory with practical device applications in flexible electronics and quantum information. Scientific recognition includes: Ramón y Cajal fellowship (2017) Juan de la Cierva fellowship (2012-2015) As Principal Investigator of project FIS2014-58445-JIN (2015-2018) on 2D crystal applications, he secured competitive national funding. While no formal student advising is documented, his collaborative network spans ICMM-CSIC, international universities, and research institutes, evidenced by extensive co-authorship in high-impact journals. He contributes to CSIC's leadership in theoretical condensed matter physics through active participation in the institute's materials science division and specialized workshops on 2D quantum materials.
Francisco José García-Vidal Full Professor at the Autonomous University of Madrid since 2007, García-Vidal is a leading theoretical physicist specializing in plasmonics, metamaterials, and nanophotonics. He founded the Condensed Matter Physics Center (IFIMAC) in 2012, recognized by Spain's MINECO as an Excellent Research Center under the María de Maeztu program. His work has advanced surface plasmon manipulation, quantum plasmonics, and near-field heat transfer. He has directed over 15 grants as PI, including an ERC Advanced Grant (2012), and supervised 15 PhD students and >15 postdocs. Education BSc in Physics, UAM (1988) PhD in Physics, UAM (1992) under Profs. Fernando Flores and Alvaro Martín-Rodero Research Contributions His seminal contributions include: Surface-enhanced Raman scattering and metamaterial absorbers Extraordinary optical transmission through subwavelength apertures Conceptualization of spoof surface plasmons Quantum plasmonics and polaritonic chemistry Awards & Recognition ERC Advanced Grant (2012) Fellow of the Optical Society of America (2020) Jaume I Prize in Basic Research (2020) Blas Cabrera National Prize in Physics (2021) Miguel Catalan Prize (2024) 7x Most Influential Physicist by Thomson Reuters (2014–2022) Editorial & Leadership Divisional Associate Editor, Physical Review Letters (2017–2021) Chair of Physics Panel, AEI (Spain's agency) (2021–present) Organized 12 international conferences Labs & Teams Founder and director of IFIMAC, a world-leading center for condensed matter physics research.
Dr. Jian Zhou serves as a Reader in the Department of Computing and Mathematics at Manchester Metropolitan University, specializing in fluid mechanics and numerical methods for coastal and environmental engineering applications. His research focuses on developing mathematical models for coastal, estuarine, and river systems with particular emphasis on sediment transport and wave dynamics. Dr. Zhou earned his BSc in River Mechanics and Engineering from Wuhan University, followed by an MSc in Fluvial Mechanics from Tsinghua University, and completed his PhD in Fluid Mechanics at the University of Leeds. His educational background established the foundation for his expertise in computational hydraulics and environmental modeling. His research interests center on numerical methods for fluid dynamics, particularly lattice Boltzmann methods, high-resolution Riemann solvers, Cartesian cut-cell methods, and pressure correction techniques (SIMPLE, SIMPLER, SIMPLC). These computational approaches are applied to coastal engineering challenges including wave overtopping, sediment transport, and environmental pollutant dispersion. His work bridges theoretical computational methods with practical engineering solutions for coastal defense and water resource management. Dr. Zhou's publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to computational hydraulics, with recent work focusing on wind effects on wave overtopping, antibiotic transport in aquatic environments, and advanced lattice Boltzmann implementations. His research shows strong interdisciplinary connections between fluid mechanics, environmental science, and computational mathematics. Lloyds Science of Risk Prize (2012) Editor-in-Chief of European Journal of Mathematics and Applications Academic Editor for British Journal of Applied Science & Technology Associate Editor for Canadian Journal of Applied Mathematics Editorial Board Member for multiple mathematics and engineering journals Dr. Zhou supervises PhD students including Elysia Barker and leads the Digital Simulation for Hydrodynamics (DiSH) research group. His externally funded projects include NERC grants for wave overtopping assessment tools and UK-Africa network initiatives addressing antimicrobial resistance in Lake Victoria Basin. He maintains strong industry connections with organizations including Royal HaskoningDHV, HR Wallingford, Environment Agency, and EDF Energy. The DiSH research group, led by Dr. Zhou, focuses on developing computational tools for hydrodynamic simulation with applications in coastal engineering, environmental management, and water resource protection. The group's work integrates numerical modeling with practical engineering solutions for real-world challenges.
Dr. Paul Arpin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at California State University, Chico. His research focuses on ultrafast optical spectroscopy, quantum optics, and nonlinear phenomena in molecular and condensed matter systems. He leads experimental and theoretical investigations into femtosecond coherence spectroscopy, high-harmonic generation, and light-matter interactions in biological systems like photosynthetic proteins. Key research areas include: Molecular aggregates and excitonic dynamics Ultrafast X-ray and soft X-ray generation Vibrational coherence and quantum beats Coherent multidimensional optical spectroscopy His work bridges theoretical modeling with advanced laser spectroscopy techniques, contributing to understanding energy transfer mechanisms in both synthetic and biological systems. Recent studies highlight advancements in femtosecond coherence spectroscopy for analyzing vibronic coupling and Duschinsky rotation effects. Dr. Arpin’s experimental setups involve cutting-edge ultrafast laser systems and parametric amplifiers, enabling exploration of attosecond-to-femtosecond timescales. His lab collaborates on projects related to tabletop X-ray sources and phase-matched high-harmonic generation.
