Dr Harrison Smith is a Lecturer in Digital Media & Society at the University of Sheffield's School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations. He holds a PhD from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information, alongside MA and BA degrees in Sociology from Queen’s University, Canada. His research focuses on the political economy of data analytics, particularly in smart cities and consumer surveillance contexts. Education: PhD in Information Studies, University of Toronto (Canada) MA in Sociology, Queen’s University (Canada) BA (Hons) in Sociology, Queen’s University (Canada) Smith’s research examines how data infrastructures shape socio-economic inequality through processes like surveillance, classification, and market segmentation. Key areas include location-based marketing, 5G data infrastructures, and industry consolidation in data analytics. His work critiques how digital technologies reconfigure urban spaces and labor markets, particularly in 'smart city' contexts. Recent publications explore the metaverse's industrial implications, blockchain’s role in dispute resolution, and surveillance practices at music festivals. His teaching includes leading the module SCS2016: The Sociology of the Media. Smith’s expertise bridges media theory, urban informatics, and critical data studies, emphasizing ethical and political dimensions of digital technologies in everyday life.
Vincent John Mooney III is an Associate Professor at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the School of Computer Science, Georgia Institute of Technology. His research focuses on Hardware-Software Co-Design , Cyber Physical Systems Security , and Low-Power Architectures . He has authored numerous publications on topics such as probabilistic computing, hardware security, and embedded systems design. Dr. Mooney has received prestigious awards including the NSF Career Award , National Semiconductor Fellowship , and ARCS Best Paper Award . Education: Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (1998), Stanford University MA in Philosophy (1997), Stanford University MS in Electrical Engineering (1994), Stanford University Certificate of Graduate Study (1992), University of Navarra BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (1991), Yale University Research interests span hardware/software codesign, cybersecurity in embedded systems, and synthesis of reconfigurable architectures. His recent work includes Gridtrust for decentralized supply chain cybersecurity and COPPER for computation obfuscation. Dr. Mooney has supervised numerous Ph.D. students and held leadership roles in conferences such as HOST and CASES . Scientific awards include NSF Career Award (2000) National Semiconductor Fellowship (1997-1998) AT&T Engineering Scholarship Program (1987-1991) NCAA Postgraduate Scholar (1991) Senior Member, IEEE (2003) ARCS 2012 Best Paper Award Advising and grants highlight his mentorship of students like Jun Cheol Park and Yudong Tan , along with grants such as the U.S. Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship (2007). He leads the Hardware/Software Codesign for Security Group at Georgia Tech and has contributed to advancements in real-time operating systems and deadlock detection algorithms.
Ryan Kelly is an Associate Professor in the School of Computing Technologies at RMIT University, specializing in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), digital health, and mixed reality. His research focuses on technology-enabled social connection and wellbeing, including designing communication tools for close relationships, digital health initiatives like the Music-Attuned Care via eHealth (MATCH) project, and VR applications for mental health. He collaborates with industry partners such as Google, Netflix, and the Worldwide Fund for Nature, and has developed technologies for older adults, including simplified video calling systems for aged care during the pandemic. His work has been featured globally in media, including Al-Jazeera's documentary All Hail the Algorithm . He actively contributes to the HCI community as a reviewer and committee member for conferences like ACM CHI and CSCW, holding roles such as Editor for CSCW 2025 and Awards Co-Chair for CSCW 2023. Ryan supervises PhD candidates exploring human-centered AI for social connection and online safety for older adults. His research aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health), 9 (Industry Innovation), and 11 (Sustainable Cities). Key projects include the VR mindfulness application used by over 200,000 Australians and the Painpad device for pain logging in UK hospitals. He advocates for participatory design frameworks, emphasizing ethical AI and technology’s role in fostering meaningful human experiences.
Ina Fiterau Brostean is an Assistant Professor in the College of Information and Computer Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she leads the Information Fusion Lab. Previously, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University's Mobilize Center (2015–2018) and earned her PhD in Machine Learning from Carnegie Mellon University (2015). Her research focuses on hybrid systems for multimodal data integration, particularly in healthcare, aiming to develop predictive models for clinical outcomes using time series, text, and images. Key areas include disease trajectory modeling, weakly-supervised transfer learning, and adaptive representation learning. Education: PhD in Machine Learning (Carnegie Mellon, 2015), MSc in Machine Learning (Carnegie Mellon, 2012), BEng in Computer Engineering (Politehnica Timisoara, Romania, 2009). Professional roles include teaching COMPSCI 651 (Optimization in Computer Science) and organizing NeurIPS workshops on Machine Learning in Healthcare. Research interests span machine learning methodologies for healthcare applications, including interpretable models, time series analysis, and dimensionality reduction. Notable achievements include the Marr Prize (ICCV 2015) and Star Research Award (SCCM 2016). Her lab collaborates on projects like predicting Alzheimer's disease progression and surgical outcomes using Bayesian networks and deep learning. Awards and recognitions include Rising Stars Workshop (2016), Manning IALS Research Award (2019), and GE Foundation Scholar Leader Award (2007). She actively contributes to the ML4Health community through leadership roles and workshop organization.
Dr. Hongli (Julie) Zhu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Northeastern University's College of Engineering. Her research focuses on sustainable energy storage, multifunctional materials, and advanced manufacturing, with emphasis on developing environmentally friendly biomass-derived materials, all solid-state batteries, and flow batteries. She leads the ZHU Lab at Northeastern University, which is dedicated to creating safer, cheaper, and higher performance energy storage solutions while exploring multifunctional materials derived from nature. Dr. Zhu received her PhD from South China University of Technology and Western Michigan University (2004-2009). She conducted postdoctoral research at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden (2009-2011), focusing on biodegradable and renewable biomaterials from natural wood, followed by additional postdoctoral work at the University of Maryland (2012-2015), where she researched nanocellulose and energy storage. Dr. Zhu's research spans multiple disciplines at the intersection of materials science, energy storage, and sustainable manufacturing. Her work addresses critical challenges in energy storage technology, including developing all solid-state batteries, flow batteries, and high energy density battery systems. She has pioneered research in sustainable biomass-derived materials, particularly investigating cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin for applications in bendable, implantable, and biocompatible electronics. Her lab also focuses on advanced manufacturing techniques, including high-speed roll-to-roll processing for emerging advanced materials and devices. Analysis of Dr. Zhu's publication record reveals a strong focus on next-generation battery technologies, particularly solid-state systems. Her research demonstrates significant contributions to understanding and improving lithium dendrite suppression, electrode architecture optimization, and interface stabilization in solid-state batteries. She has also made substantial advances in sustainable materials derived from natural resources, developing applications for cellulose nanostructured fibers, paper, and aerogel/hydrogel systems. MRS Communications Early Career Distinguished Presenters and JMR Distinguished Invited Speakers (2024) Selected in Stanford University List of Top 2% Scientists Worldwide (2021-2024) College of Engineering Faculty Fellow (2023) Soren Buus Outstanding Research Award (2022) Women in Materials Science, Advanced Materials (2021 and 2022) Women Scientists at the Forefront of Energy Research, ACS Energy Letters (2020) Innovator of the Year 2013, Maryland Jakob Wallenberg Scholarship, Sweden Dr. Zhu has secured significant research funding from various sources, including the National Science Foundation and Department of Energy. Her current projects include "Uncovering the mechano-electro-chemo mechanism of fresh Li in sulfide based all solid-state batteries through operando studies" (NSF), "Enabling Advanced Electrode Architecture through Printing Technique" (DOE), and "Engineering the Metal Sulfide Interface in All Solid State Batteries through Operando Study" (NSF). She collaborates with industry partners including Rogers Corporation and has developed patented technologies related to sustainable materials and energy storage. Dr. Zhu serves as Codirector of Advanced & Intelligent Manufacturing, Editor of Progress in Materials Science, and on the Editorial Advisory Board of Chemical Society Reviews. The ZHU Lab at Northeastern University is a highly interdisciplinary research group that bridges scales from the nanoscopic to macroscopic and system level. The lab's work has led to numerous patents, including "Natural fiber composites as a low-cost plastic alternative" and "Fire-retardant Nanocellulose Aerogel, and Methods of Preparation and Uses Thereof." The group focuses on making energy storage safer, cheaper, and higher performing while exploring multifunctional materials derived from nature, with particular emphasis on applying high-speed roll-to-roll manufacturing to emerging advanced materials and devices.
Sunil Mittal is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Northeastern University, specializing in quantum and topological photonics. He joined Northeastern in 2021 and holds a PhD from the University of Maryland, College Park, alongside master’s degrees in Physics and Optoelectronics. His research focuses on quantum photonics, topological photonics, nonlinear photonics, and two-dimensional materials, with notable contributions to topological frequency combs and photonic quadrupole phases. Education: PhD in Electrical Engineering (University of Maryland, 2014), MS in Physics and Optoelectronics, and industry experience in optical telecommunications. Research highlights include pioneering work on topological sources of quantum light and non-Hermitian photonics systems. Recipient of 2024 and 2022 Stanford University citations (top 2% most-cited scientists) Lead co-PI on a $1.5M NSF DMREF grant (2024) for photonic materials development Recipient of Northeastern’s FY24 TIER 1 Interdisciplinary Research Seed Grant His Quantum Photonics Lab explores topological photonics applications in quantum computing and optical communication. Recent projects include using deep learning to accelerate photonic material design and studying excitonic Mott insulators in 2D heterostructures.
Niels Quack is an Associate Professor in Micro- and Nanosystems at The University of Sydney's School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. He joined the university in 2022 after serving as an SNSF Assistant Professor at EPFL (Switzerland). His roles include Academic Director of the Research and Prototype Foundry and membership in the University of Sydney Nano Institute. He holds a Dr.Sc. from ETH Zurich and an M.Sc. from EPFL. His research focuses on micro- and nanosystems engineering, integrating mechanics and photonics at the microscale. Key applications include fiber-optical communication, quantum sensing, and integrated photonics using diamond and silicon materials. Quack has pioneered silicon photonic MEMS and diamond micro-optics, with over 100 publications in journals like ACS Photonics , Optics Letters , and Nanoscale . He leads international collaborations with institutions like Ghent University (Belgium) and EPFL (Switzerland), and serves on editorial boards for IEEE Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems and SPIE Journal of Optical Microsystems . His awards include the Optica Senior Member distinction (2023) and Sydney Research Accelerator Prize (2023). Quack supervises PhD and Master's students in advanced micro- and nanosystems design, offering projects in programmable photonics and diamond-based biosensors. He actively recruits postdoctoral researchers and advises on funded projects like 'Nurturing Commercialization Opportunities for Multipoint Fiber-Optical Pressure Sensors.' His lab develops cutting-edge technologies such as vacuum-sealed silicon photonic MEMS and diamond nanopillar arrays, advancing applications in quantum sensing and optical communication systems.
Hunor Kertész is a Research Fellow at the University of Sydney's Image X Institute, affiliated with the Discipline of Medical Imaging Sciences in the School of Health Sciences. His research focuses on advancing medical imaging technologies, particularly in PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and CT (Computed Tomography) systems, with an emphasis on improving image quality, reducing radiation exposure, and developing novel imaging tools. His work spans several key areas: optimizing positron range correction in PET/CT for cardiac and oncology applications, exploring low-dose imaging techniques for pediatric patients, and creating open-source software tools like Dvgardener for medical image processing. He has contributed to the development of anthropomorphic phantoms for clinical simulations and portable CT systems for lung cancer screening. Recent publications highlight advancements in PET/MRI dose reduction for epilepsy patients, high-resolution total-body PET/CT through positron range correction, and the validation of Rubidium-82 myocardial imaging methods. His research often intersects with radiation dosimetry, image reconstruction algorithms, and 3D-printed anatomical models for quality assurance. While not explicitly mentioned, his contributions likely involve collaborations with clinical teams to translate imaging innovations into practical diagnostic solutions.
Rahim Rahimi is an Assistant Professor of Materials Engineering at Purdue University, associated with the College of Engineering. His research focuses on advanced materials for biomedical applications, environmental sensing, and flexible electronics. Key interests include developing smart sensors for healthcare, antibacterial coatings for medical implants, and sustainable agricultural monitoring systems. Research emphasizes targeted drug delivery systems via smart capsules, environmental sensor networks for water quality and soil health, and nanotechnology applications in wearable devices. Notable projects include oxygen-generating surgical meshes for wound healing and low-cost wireless sensors for precision agriculture. His work bridges materials science with clinical and environmental challenges, leveraging plasma deposition techniques and nanomaterial functionalization. Recent efforts focus on self-calibrating sensors and integrating machine learning for manufacturing optimization. No scientific awards are explicitly listed in the provided information. His advisory role and grant activities are inferred through his research outputs in materials engineering and biomedical innovation. Rahimi collaborates across disciplines within Purdue's engineering ecosystem, contributing to labs focused on bio-inspired materials and flexible electronics. Future work aims to advance implantable medical devices and scalable sensor technologies for global health applications.
Sveta Zinger is a Full Professor in context-informed dynamic image analysis for clinical decision support at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). She holds affiliations with the Biomedical Diagnostics Lab, NeuroPlatform, and EAISI Health. Her research focuses on medical image/video analysis, temporal data analysis, and machine learning for clinical applications. She has led projects funded by ZonMw, NWO, Philips, and others. She is also Co-Editor-in-Chief of Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine and serves on the Vidi committee for NWO. Education: MSc (2000) from Dnepropetrovsk State University; PhD (2004) from École Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications, France. Postdoctoral roles at the French Atomic Agency and University of Groningen. Research Projects: Includes FORSEE (video monitoring for adverse events in healthcare) and NEUROTREND (fMRI biomarkers for depression). Awards: Second place in the CAMELYON17 challenge for metastases detection. Her teaching includes courses on DSP fundamentals, medical image processing, and cognitive neuroscience. She collaborates with clinical and industrial partners to advance biomedical diagnostics and healthcare technology.
Steven Devleminck is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at KU Leuven's Faculty of Engineering Technology, concurrently serving as coordinator of the School of Arts (Associated Faculty) in Brussels. His dual appointment bridges engineering and arts through the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) group at Group T Leuven Campus and Unit Art & Technology in Brussels, with active membership in DigiSoc – KU Leuven Digital Society Institute. His research centers on human-centered computing and speculative design methodologies , with core expertise in tangible interaction for emotion regulation and multispecies futures. Key themes include biofuturing as co-creative response to climate crises, squeeze-based interfaces for workplace stress, and artistic AI collaborations. His work uniquely integrates computer science with choreography, film studies, and anthropology through projects like “Youth TikTok production as public pedagogy” and “Imagining the Post-Anthropocene in BioFutures Living Lab”. Analysis of recent publications reveals three dominant trajectories: (1) Advancement of squeeze interaction techniques for affective computing, (2) Development of biofuturing frameworks for multispecies speculation, and (3) Critical examinations of AI's role in artistic mediumship. Cross-cutting themes include post-anthropocentric design, climate-responsive technologies, and decolonial approaches to digital pedagogy. Devleminck actively mentors doctoral candidates including Ula Sickle (choreographic exhibitions) and J. Verbesselt (cinema studies), while leading major funded projects such as: Living Corpora (2025-2029): Pioneering human-AI collaboration in digital humanities as Co-promotor Experiential Futuring (2022-2026): Co-creative methodology for social media outage response as Co-promotor Deradicalizing the City (2021-2025): Urban intervention research as Promotor He serves on the Computer Science Department Council and Doctoral Committee for the Associated Faculty of Arts. His laboratory ecosystem spans the HCI Group T Leuven Campus for technical development, Brussels-based Unit Art & Technology for artistic integration, and BioFutures Living Lab for participatory multispecies experimentation. This tripartite structure enables transdisciplinary work connecting squeeze sensor engineering with climate futures speculation and museum interface design.
Dr. Oscar Meruvia-Pastor is a faculty member in the Department of Computer Science at Memorial University of Newfoundland, within the Faculty of Science. He holds a B.Sc. from ITESM-Monterrey, Mexico, an M.Sc. from the University of Alberta, and a Ph.D. from Otto-von-Guericke Universität Magdeburg, Germany. His research focuses on interactive 3D graphics, non-photorealistic rendering, and biomedical visualization, with applications in telepresence systems, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR). He has developed tools like OMARC for respiratory condition training and GeNET for gene co-expression network analysis. Dr. Meruvia-Pastor has supervised numerous graduate students and contributed to over 50 publications. His work includes evaluating stereo correspondence methods in AR, robot arm manipulation via depth sensors, and smartphone integration in immersive VR. He has been recognized with awards such as the Best HCI Poster at Graphics Interface 2014 and a semi-finalist poster at SIGGRAPH 2015. He teaches courses in computer science, including computer graphics, multimedia development, and introductory science modules. His research lab focuses on 3D telepresence, medical visualization, and human-centered VR/AR solutions. His academic contributions span software tools for medical imaging analysis, interactive visualization systems, and educational technologies. He actively collaborates with health professionals to advance telemedicine and remote procedural training through AR platforms. His work bridges computer graphics with real-world applications in healthcare, education, and environmental advocacy.
Ian Hawkins is an Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham , focusing on Media Psychology , Intergroup Conflict , and Collective Action . He holds a Ph.D. in Communication and Media from the University of Michigan, with prior M.S. and B.S. in Psychology from Central Michigan University. His research employs social scientific methods to analyze how media representations of marginalized groups shape societal attitudes and policy preferences. Current work explores cross-device news consumption dynamics using eye-tracking to assess attention patterns in headline processing. He publishes in New Media and Society , Journal of Communication , and Psychology of Popular Media . Teaching responsibilities include Mass Communication History and Effects and Social Media Use courses. Contact: ihawkins@uab.edu
Tengfei Ma is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at Stony Brook University, with affiliations to Computer Science and Applied Mathematics & Statistics. He holds a Ph.D. from The University of Tokyo, M.S. from Peking University, and B.E. from Tsinghua University. Previously, he was a Research Scientist at IBM T.J. Watson Research Center. His research focuses on machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), and biomedical informatics, particularly deep graph learning, scalable graph methods, and healthcare applications. He has contributed to frameworks like EvolveGCN for dynamic graphs and IGB datasets for graph benchmarks. Key awards include ISWC 2021 Best Paper (Research Track) and IBM Outstanding Research Accomplishments (2019, 2022). His work bridges theory and practice, addressing challenges like over-dilution in GNNs and interpretable time series analysis. Collaborations span interdisciplinary areas, such as AI for wound monitoring and code summarization. He teaches BMI530: Software Development for Biomedical Informatics and is open to graduate students from CS, BMI, and AMS departments. Research highlights include: Deep Graph Learning: Scalability (FastGCN, IGB), dynamic graphs (EvolveGCN), and topology-enhanced GNNs. Healthcare: Models for EHR analysis, medication recommendation (GAMENet), and wearable wound monitoring. NLP: Document summarization, code summarization (CP-BCS), and commonsense generation via knowledge graph compression. Recent projects include AI tools like Influencer for promotional content creation and neural-symbolic models for interpretable time series analysis. His lab explores foundational AI for healthcare, code analysis, and graph systems.
Tarmo Tamm is a Researcher at the Intelligent Materials and Systems Lab, University of Tartu. His work focuses on conducting polymers, soft actuators, and biomaterials , with emphasis on applications in biomedical engineering, nanotechnology, and electrochemistry. He holds a primary affiliation with the University of Tartu and has authored/co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles since 2002. His research spans material characterization, actuator design, and polymer electrolyte systems. Key projects include development of biocompatible hydrogels (e.g., sea cucumber-derived materials), soft exoskeletons inspired by spider leg mechanics, and sustainable paper recycling processes . Tamm’s publications highlight interdisciplinary collaboration with institutions globally, addressing topics like ion mobility in PEDOT films, microbial interactions with silicone foams, and encapsulation techniques for biomedical actuators. His work often bridges fundamental material science with practical applications, such as energy storage systems and medical devices. Current research trends emphasize electrochemomechanical systems and bioinspired materials , with growing focus on sustainable materials engineering.
