Dr. Cormac Lucas is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics at Brunel University London, affiliated with the College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences. His work bridges mathematical optimization with practical applications in finance and operations management. Lucas specializes in Mathematical Optimisation Stochastic Optimisation Asset and Liability Management (ALM) Risk Analytics Portfolio Optimization Supply Chain Planning Under Uncertainty His research combines theoretical advancements with industrial projects, such as US Coast Guard Cutter Scheduling, Insight Investment's ALM, and Unilever's Natural Oil Buying Policy. Recent publications (2013–2024) highlight his focus on Portfolio Rebalancing with Transaction Costs Scenario Generation for Stochastic Programming Heuristic Algorithms for Cardinality Constraints Queuing Systems with Standby Servers Robust Supply Chain Planning Financial Derivative Modeling These works utilize methods like Variable Neighbourhood Search, Differential Evolution, and Lagrangian Relaxation. Email: cormac.lucas@brunel.ac.uk
Hanyu Gu is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), part of the Faculty of Science. He holds a PhD in Power Engineering and Automation from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (1999) and has extensive industry experience in telecommunications, airline optimization, and mining. His research focuses on combinatorial optimization, decomposition methods, stochastic programming, and machine learning applications. Notable awards include second place in the 2020 ROADEF competition. He collaborates with institutions like the UTS Transportation Research Centre and has contributed to projects such as optimisation engines for airline management and underground mining algorithms. Current research explores hybrid algorithms, Bayesian optimisation, and scheduling under uncertainty. Education: Bachelor in Industrial Automation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (1994) Master in Control Theory and Application, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (1997) PhD in Power Engineering and Automation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (1999) Industry Experience: ZTE (1999–2001): Senior Wireless Communication Engineer CTI, Melbourne (2007–2011): Airline Management Optimisation Researcher NICTA (2011–2013): Underground Mining Optimisation Researcher Grants: ARC Linkage Project LP0883855 (2008–2012): Developed optimisation tools for transportation crewing, valued at $840,000. Research interests span decomposition methods for large-scale problems (e.g., airline scheduling), stochastic programming for resource sharing, and hybridisation of mathematical programming with constraint programming. Recent work includes Bayesian optimisation for knapsack problems and relax-and-solve algorithms for project scheduling. His articles frequently address optimisation in logistics, healthcare, and transportation, emphasizing practical industry applications and algorithmic innovation. Awards: Second place in the ROADEF 2020 competition for maintenance planning solutions. Advising & Grants: Supervises Masters and PhD students in operations research and optimisation. Collaborates with Ausgrid, UGL, and ANC on optimisation projects (e.g., employee training timetabling, logistics). Active in the Optimisation Group of UTS Transportation Research Centre, he bridges academic research with real-world challenges in scheduling, logistics, and resource management. Ongoing efforts include advancing metaheuristics and integrating machine learning with traditional optimisation techniques.
Dr. Franjo Cecelja is a Reader in the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the University of Surrey. He holds a Dipl. Eng. from the University of Zagreb, an M.Sc. from Cranfield Institute of Technology, and a Ph.D. from Brunel University. His research focuses on systems engineering for energy and industrial applications, optimization, decision making, and semantic technologies. He has led projects such as the FP7 (Marie Curie LTN) initiative on renewable energy systems engineering (£425k, 2013–2018). His work spans ontology engineering applications in biorefining, waste valorization, and sustainable processing. Notable contributions include semantic frameworks for model and data integration in biorefineries and decision support systems for industrial symbiosis. Education: Ph.D., Brunel University (Optical Sensors for Electric Fields) M.Sc., Cranfield Institute of Technology (Control & Signal Processing) Dipl. Eng., University of Zagreb (Aerospace Technology) His research interests integrate ontology engineering with process systems engineering to address challenges in biorefining, industrial symbiosis, and sustainable resource management. Recent publications emphasize semantic technologies for waste valorization, PFAS treatment, and decision-making frameworks in biorefining. Dr. Cecelja’s FP7 project demonstrated leadership in renewable energy systems, leveraging semantic networking facilities and value chain optimization. His work bridges academic research with industrial applications, emphasizing circular economy principles and model-driven decision support. Labs/Teams: His research is conducted within the University of Surrey’s School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering facilities, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams on biorefining and process systems engineering.
Dr David Walker is a Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at the University of Exeter and a member of the Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence . He also contributes to the Environmental Intelligence @Exeter research network. Education: PhD in Computer Science, University of Exeter (2008–2013) BSc (Hons) in Computer Science, University of Exeter (2004–2007) Research Interests Dr Walker’s work sits at the intersection of multi-objective optimisation , evolutionary computation , explainable AI and hyper-heuristics . He develops algorithms and visual analytics that help engineers and scientists understand complex optimisation landscapes, with recent emphasis on renewable-energy planning (especially offshore wind farms) and trustworthy AI systems. Publication Trends Between 2022 and 2025 he produced a prolific stream of articles on explainable optimisation , many-objective wind-farm design and visual analytics for evolutionary algorithms . These works combine rigorous algorithmic innovation with real-world case studies, demonstrating a clear trajectory toward transparent, human-centred AI for engineering decision-making. Scientific Awards No specific awards or fellowships are mentioned in the provided material. Advising & Funding No explicit list of PhD students, post-docs or grant awards is supplied. Laboratory & Teams Dr Walker is affiliated with the Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and the Environmental Intelligence @Exeter network, indicating collaborative, interdisciplinary research environments.
Professor David Harvey is a faculty member at the School of Mathematics and Statistics within the University of New South Wales (UNSW), where he has held positions ranging from Courant Instructor to his current professorship. He is also a Fellow of the Australian Mathematical Society . Ph.D. in Mathematics (Harvard University, 2008) B.Sc. in Mathematics with First Class Honours and University Medal (UNSW, 2002) Harvey's research focuses on computational number theory and arithmetic geometry , with emphasis on fast polynomial and integer arithmetic algorithms. His work includes groundbreaking advancements in O(n log n) complexity for integer multiplication, leveraging techniques such as Fast Fourier Transforms , lattice reduction , and p-adic cohomology for zeta function computations. His publications from 2018–2024 demonstrate expertise in algorithm design for problems in number theory , algebraic geometry , and cryptography , with recurring themes of computational efficiency , finite field arithmetic , and polynomial operations . 2022 N.G. de Bruijn Medal (shared) 2019 Australian Mathematical Society Medal 2016 Journal of Complexity Best Paper Award Harvey has led significant research grants including the ARC Future Fellowship (2017–2021) and the ARC Discovery Project , focusing on zeta function algorithms and point-counting on algebraic surfaces . He co-organizes the UNSW Number Theory Seminar.
Dr Long Wu is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Southampton specializing in aeroacoustics and computational fluid dynamics, with research focused on high-order numerical methods and design optimization for noise reduction in aerospace systems including aeroengines and turbomachinery. Holding a PhD and BEng degree, his work centers on computational techniques for simulating and mitigating aircraft engine noise through high-fidelity simulations and adjoint-based optimization of fan and compressor components. Key research areas include boundary closure stability, tone noise propagation, and nonlinear acoustic effects in engine intakes. His 2018-2024 publications demonstrate consistent expertise in computational aeroacoustics, bridging theoretical numerical methods with practical noise control solutions for turbomachinery. Recent work emphasizes stable high-order schemes and optimization frameworks for reducing buzz-saw noise and improving aerodynamic-acoustic performance. As a member of the University's Acoustics Group, Dr Wu supervises PhD student Joseph Stephen Paul Binns on aeroengine noise propagation and accepts new PhD applicants. No scientific awards or research grants are documented in his current profile.
Dr Benjamin Cerfontaine is an Associate Professor in Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Southampton. His research focuses on geotechnical solutions for offshore renewable energy infrastructure, particularly floating and bottom-fixed offshore wind turbines. He specializes in numerical and physical modeling techniques such as finite elements, DEM, and centrifuge testing, aiming to uncover fundamental mechanisms governing foundation behavior. Education: PhD in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of Liège (2014), followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Dundee (2017–2020). Research Interests: Offshore renewable energy systems, constitutive modeling of geomaterials, and innovative anchoring solutions. Projects: Leads the ROBOCONE and TAILWIND projects, focusing on robotic ground characterization and sustainable anchor designs. Key achievements include the Geotechnical Research Medal (2023) and the Bright Spark Lecture Award (2023). He supervises three PhD students and actively collaborates with industry partners on offshore energy infrastructure. Dr. Cerfontaine is part of the Infrastructure Group and the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute, contributing to interdisciplinary research on ocean energy and coastal communities.
Samuel Fiorini is Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) , member of the Algebra and Combinatorics group (CP 216). His research centres on polyhedral combinatorics, extended formulations, combinatorial optimisation and approximation algorithms , with frequent overlap into structural graph theory. Research in depth: Fiorini’s work explores how high-dimensional polytopes can sometimes be expressed compactly through extended formulations, proving exponential lower bounds when they cannot. He has contributed new approximation algorithms for classical problems such as vertex cover, clique transversal and odd-cycle packing, and has advanced the understanding of sorting and entropy in partially ordered sets. His papers often combine tools from graph minors, communication complexity and polyhedral theory. Scientific recognition: Best Paper Award, 44th ACM Symposium on Theory of Computing (STOC 2012) Programme committees: FOCS, IPCO, APPROX, STACS, WAOA Organiser, Sixth Cargese Workshop on Combinatorial Optimization Advising & grants: He currently supervises PhD students Carole Muller and Matthew Drescher and has mentored six completed PhDs as well as more than a dozen post-doctoral researchers. His group has been supported by an ERC starting grant and other national and international projects focusing on polyhedral approaches to hard optimisation problems. Lab & team: Fiorini leads a vibrant team within the Algebra and Combinatorics cluster at ULB, maintaining active collaborations with researchers worldwide and hosting frequent visitors working on discrete optimisation and polyhedral combinatorics.
Sven Schewe is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Liverpool, affiliated with the School of Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Computer Science. He leads the AI Section and is a founding member and former leader of the Verification Group. He also has secondary affiliations with the Algorithms, Complexity Theory and Optimisation Group and the Institute for Risk and Uncertainty. Research Interests: His research centers on automata theory and game theory, particularly their applications in the verification and synthesis of reactive and safety-critical systems. He investigates infinite-duration games, automata over infinite words and trees, and develops algorithms and tools for automated verification, synthesis, and learning of optimal control strategies. His work extends to reinforcement learning with formal guarantees, cyber-physical systems, and AI safety. Recent Research Trends: His recent publications demonstrate a strong integration of formal methods with machine learning, particularly in adversarial training, neural network robustness, and model-free reinforcement learning under omega-regular objectives. He also applies formal reasoning to interdisciplinary domains such as chemical space exploration and materials science. Scientific Awards: Finalist for the ERCIM Cor Baayen Award 2010 Dr. Eduard Martin Preis 2009 GI Dissertation Award 2008 Advising and Grants: He actively supervises numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. He is Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-Investigator (CI) on multiple major grants, including EPSRC Programme Grants, Royal Society Fellowships, and Horizon Europe projects. His funded research spans topics such as game theory, verification, synthesis, reinforcement learning, and risk analysis. He has hosted visiting researchers and collaborated internationally with institutions in Germany, France, India, Taiwan, and the US. Labs and Teams: He co-founded and led the Verification Group and previously led the AI Section at the University of Liverpool. These groups focus on formal methods, automata, games, and their applications in AI and safety-critical systems.
Erik Ahlgren is Professor of Energy Technology at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden. His research centres on energy-system transitions across scales, integrating techno-economic and systems-dynamics modelling to address urban and rural energy challenges in both Nordic and East African contexts. Research focus Energy-system transitions connecting technology, economy and environment Urban energy systems and sector coupling Rural electrification and mini-grid planning in East Africa District heating and cooling futures Clean cooking with biogas He leads or co-leads 25 projects funded by the Swedish Energy Agency, Swedish Research Council (VR), SIDA, the EU and other bodies, and collaborates closely with Addis Ababa University, University of Rwanda and Eduardo Mondlane University. Teaching & outreach Responsible for the public digital evening course Climate – the science, measures and policy . Grants & projects Buildings in the integrated energy system (2024–2028, Swedish Energy Agency) A multiperspective analysis of cost-efficient batteries in rural mini-grids (2023–2026, VR) PhD Programme in Electrical Power and Control Engineering with Addis Ababa University (2018–2025, SIDA) BREEMRES – research training partnership programme (2018–2025, SIDA) Flexibility for Smart Urban Energy Systems (FlexSUS, 2019–2024) Collaborations & networks Active in international consortia including the Strategic Research Centre for 4th Generation District Heating (4DH), FutureGas, and numerous East African capacity-building initiatives.
Gizem S. Nemutlu is Assistant Professor of Data Analytics at Brandeis International Business School and a research affiliate at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Institute for Technology Assessment. Trained in stochastic modelling and health economics, she applies operations-research methods to cancer-surveillance policy and immunisation programmes. Education: Ph.D. in Management Sciences, University of Waterloo, Canada B.S. in Statistics, Hacettepe University, Turkey Research Interests: Her work integrates stochastic modelling, data-driven optimisation and health-economic evaluation to inform policy design in immunisation and cancer surveillance. Recent projects quantify cost-effectiveness of risk-stratified hepatocellular-carcinoma surveillance, evaluate HPV-related cancer trends, and forecast global breast-cancer control trajectories toward 2030 SDG targets. Publication Trends: Across 16 peer-reviewed works (2013-2025) she consistently employs Markov and decision-process models to compare surveillance strategies for liver, anal and colorectal cancers, assess biomarker-based screening, and measure population-level impacts of HPV vaccination. Studies appear in high-impact oncology and health-policy venues. Scientific Awards: None disclosed in supplied materials. Advising & Grants: No students or funded-grant details are provided in the source text. Labs & Teams: She collaborates with the Institute for Technology Assessment at Mass General Hospital, indicating ongoing interdisciplinary teamwork in health technology assessment and economic evaluation.
Rakesh Nandi is a Research Fellow at the Aviation Studies Institute (ASI) of Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). He previously held a research fellowship under Dr. Shrutivandana Sharma at the Engineering Systems and Design (ESD) school at SUTD. His work focuses on optimizing and analyzing air traffic networks, with projects such as Network Capacity and Network Collaboration under Professor Peter Jackson. Rakesh earned his Ph.D. in Mathematics from National Institute of Technology Raipur (2020) and an M.Sc. in Applied Mathematics from Guru Ghasidas University (2013). His research interests span queueing systems , stochastic modeling , numerical optimization , and network modeling/scheduling . He collaborates on projects requiring advanced computational and analytical methods for discrete-time queueing systems. His recent publications (2018–2022) emphasize queueing theory applications, stochastic processes, and optimization in discrete-time systems. Key topics include D-BMAP/G/1 queues, GI/D-MSP queue analysis, and N-policy control strategies. While no scientific awards are listed, Rakesh demonstrates active research in operations research and applied mathematics. He has no documented advisees or grants mentioned. He contributes to interdisciplinary teams at ASI and ESD, focusing on aviation systems and network efficiency.
Associate Professor John Pye leads research in high-temperature solar-thermal systems and industrial decarbonisation at the Australian National University's School of Engineering. He holds a BE/BSc (University of Melbourne) and a PhD (University of New South Wales) focused on solar thermal modelling. His work bridges engineering innovation and sustainability, with a focus on green steel production, CSP technologies, and hydrogen applications. As a Visiting Scholar at Sandia National Laboratories, he advanced solar thermal testing methodologies. Educations: Bachelor of Engineering (Mech.) and Bachelor of Science (University of Melbourne, 1997) PhD in System Modelling of Compact Linear Fresnel Reflectors (UNSW, 2008) His research interests include solar thermal energy systems, concentrated solar power (CSP), and hydrogen-based industrial processes. Notable contributions include system-level optimisation of CSP plants, techno-economic analysis of green steel production, and solar-thermal beneficiation of iron ore. His work often integrates AI for optimisation and free/open-source engineering software. Recent publications focus on solar thermal applications in steelmaking, particle-based CSP systems, and hydrogen plasma metallurgy. Projects include the Gen3 Liquids Pathway for CSP and solar-driven thermochemical processes. Collaborations span industry and academia, addressing decarbonisation challenges in steel production and energy storage. Supervises research in solar thermal engineering and low-carbon technologies, contributing to Australia's role in zero-emissions commodity production. Active in policy submissions related to green energy and manufacturing frameworks.
Salman Nazir is Professor at the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) , Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, Department of Maritime Operations. He heads the Training and Assessment Research Group (TARG) and is Scientific Leader of the national Centre of Excellence in Maritime Simulator Training and Assessment (COAST). Since 2019 he has held the rank of Professor, after serving as Associate Professor from 2015 and earlier post-doctoral and lecturer roles in Norway, Italy, South Korea and Pakistan. Education PhD in Industrial Chemistry and Chemical Engineering ( cum laude ), Politecnico di Milano, Italy, 2011–2013 MSc in Chemical Engineering (Process System Engineering), Hanyang University, South Korea, 2007–2009 BSc in Chemical Engineering, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Pakistan, 2002–2006 Research Interests Prof. Nazir’s work sits at the intersection of Human Factors, Safety and Simulation Technology . He investigates how immersive virtual- and augmented-reality simulators, novel training syllabi and evidence-based performance indices can enhance operator competence and safety in complex maritime and process-industry systems. Concepts such as Distributed Situation Awareness , multi-criteria decision making , accident analysis and learning process optimisation are central to his multidisciplinary agenda, which actively involves cognitive scientists, computer scientists, maritime practitioners and industrial stakeholders. Research Trends & Article Overview Across more than 80 peer-reviewed outputs, a clear trajectory emerges: early focus on process-industry training simulators and KPI development evolved into maritime-centric studies on simulator fidelity, VR-based education, and human-automation interaction in autonomous shipping. Recent work (2019–2021) emphasises systematic reviews and comparative European studies, validating VR-headset efficacy, performance-assessment frameworks, and sociotechnical implications of increased automation. Honours & Awards COAST designated one of 12 national Centres of Excellence in Education (SFU) by DIKU, Norway Coordinator/Leader, EU Horizon 2020 project ENHANCE (multi-million NOK) 400 000 NOK MARKOM 2020 Workshop grant PhD cum laude , Politecnico di Milano Young-researcher grants, Politecnico di Milano (2011 & 2013) Merit scholarships, Hanyang University & Korean Government Advising & Grant Portfolio Prof. Nazir currently supervises 6 master students and 1 PhD candidate in “Automated Performance Assessment in Maritime Operations”, while co-supervising additional PhD students at Liverpool John Moores University. He has successfully graduated 3 master and 6 bachelor students . External funding includes EU Horizon 2020, Norwegian SFU scheme, MARKOM 2020, Maritime Technology and Innovation (MTDI) and multiple Italian national grants. Labs & Collaborative Networks He leads TARG at USN, acts as Scientific Leader of COAST , and collaborates with leading international scholars such as Prof. Zaili Yang (Liverpool John Moores), Prof. Annette Kluge (University of Duisburg-Essen), Prof. Davide Manca (Politecnico di Milano) and Prof. Paulo Carvalho (UFRJ, Brazil). These partnerships span computer science, cognitive psychology, maritime logistics and safety engineering, ensuring a truly interdisciplinary research ecosystem.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Lechner has been full Professor of Energy Economics and Energy Systems at the Technical University of Central Hesse (THM) , Giessen, since March 2015. He is affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Energy Technology and the Institute THESA – Institute of Thermodynamics, Energy Process Engineering and Systems Analysis . Additionally, he leads the Laboratory for Energy Economics and is a core member of the Competence Center for Energy Technology and Energy Management (etem.THM) . Education & Career Dr.-Ing., Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU) Cottbus, 2012 – Dissertation on steam-fluidized-bed drying of lignite. Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Mechanical Engineering, Georg Agricola University of Applied Sciences Bochum, 2002 – specialising in Future Energies. Supplementary doctoral studies & economics coursework at BTU Cottbus and FernUniversität Hagen. Professional experience at Vattenfall (plant management, power-plant planning & R&D) and Kreisel Umwelttechnik (Head of Development) before entering academia. Research Interests Prof. Lechner’s work centres on the techno-economic analysis and optimisation of energy systems in transition . Core themes include renewable energy integration , thermal energy storage (particularly Carnot batteries using ceramic high-temperature stores), sector coupling between electricity, heat and mobility, and 5th-generation cold district-heating networks (5GDHC). Methodologically, he combines experimental thermal engineering with open-source simulation frameworks , agent-based demand modelling , and electricity-market modelling . Recent activities expand into waste-heat recovery from data centres and transcritical CO₂ heat-pump systems for low-temperature district heating, always targeting cost-effective, grid-friendly and sustainable solutions . Publication Trends Between 2017 and 2024 his output highlights a clear evolution from fundamental studies on pressurized steam fluidized-bed drying and lignite heat-transfer toward system-level analyses of storage-based sector coupling . A dominant cluster addresses Carnot batteries , covering high-temperature storage materials, gas-turbine re-conversion concepts, and demonstration results. Parallel streams examine GIS-based rooftop PV potential , agent-based settlement energy-demand modelling , and regulatory frameworks for cross-sector energy markets. Scientific Awards & Honours No specific awards are mentioned in the provided material. Research Funding & Teams Prof. Lechner has secured and coordinates projects worth > €10 million (THM share ≈ €6.5 million) funded by BMBF, BMWK/BMWi, Hessian ministries (HMWK, HMWEVW), WI-Bank and ERDF : LOEWE 3 DUWä (2025-2027) – transcritical CO₂ dual-use heat pumps for cold district heating. EnEff:Stadt FlexQuartier2 (2023-2027) – hybrid storage optimisation in Giessen’s Philosophenhöhe district. KNW-Plus (2022-2023) – design & online tool for cold local heating networks. Innovative waste-heat use from data centres (2022-2023). FlexQuartier Gießen (2018-2023) – integrated hybrid storage & sector coupling in a new-build district. Kommun:E (2018-2022) – municipal energy-supply transformation under Germany’s Energiewende. High-T-Stor (2017-2019) – cross-sector high-temperature storage for renewable balancing. FES (2019-2021) – Research Center for Energy Storage and Sector Coupling. These projects involve interdisciplinary consortia including municipalities, grid operators, SMEs, and research partners across Germany. Teaching & Academic Leadership He lectures in Energy Economics and Sector Coupling, Energy Markets, Heat Transfer, Renewable Energy Technology and Energy System Analysis . He also serves as Programme Manager for the part-time continuing-education M.Sc. Energy Efficiency Management (StudiumPlus, Wetzlar) and contributes to advanced master’s courses on energy law and thermodynamics.
