Associate Professor Mohammad Saadatfar is affiliated with the School of Civil Engineering at The University of Sydney. His research focuses on meso-scale materials, combining experiments with simulations to address challenges in environmental science, biomedical engineering, and advanced materials design. Key areas include the study of cellular solids, granular materials, and meta-materials. His work integrates physics, engineering, and biology, with applications to CO₂ geo-sequestration, bone implants, and mechanical meta-materials. He uses X-ray tomography, FE simulations, and topological analysis to explore material behavior. Recent publications span topics like additive manufactured foams, CO₂ flow dynamics in sandstone, and biomimetic wood structures. His contributions highlight interdisciplinary approaches to material science and engineering challenges. No scientific awards or student advisement details are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Alex Liu is a Researcher at the Department of Earth Sciences within the University of Cambridge. He specializes in palaeobiology , focusing on the origin and early evolution of animals, particularly the Ediacaran biota (~579–539 million years ago), and their co-evolution with Earth's environment. Research Focus: Refines understanding of animal body plan evolution, taphonomy, sedimentology, and macroevolutionary trends. Methodologies: Combines fieldwork, experimental studies, petrology, phylogenetics, and big-data analyses. Collaborations: Works with international museums and research teams on fossil sites in Namibia, Canada, and Brazil. Additional Interests: Explores meiofaunal evolution, paleogeography, paleoclimate, and conservation paleobiology. He supervises Cambridge NERC Doctoral Landscape Awards (DLA) projects and welcomes student contributions to taxonomic, paleoecological, and analytical studies.
Professor Sławomir Kaczorowski, Ph.D., has been a faculty member at the Grażyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music in Łódź since 1981, where he teaches composition and served as Head of the Department of Composition from 2011 to 2021. He previously held significant leadership roles including Vice-Rector for Artistic and Teaching Affairs (1999-2005) and Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Composition, Music Theory, Music Education and Rhythmics (1996-1999). His educational background includes diplomas in music theory (1981) and composition under Professor Bronisław Kazimierz Przybylski (1981) from the State Higher School of Music in Łódź. Awarded the title of professor by the President of Poland in 2002, he remains an active academic leader currently serving as chairman of the Art Section of the Polish Accreditation Commission. Kaczorowski specializes in contemporary composition with emphasis on instrumental works, chamber music, and choral compositions. His research interests manifest in diverse output featuring piano, accordion, and mixed ensembles, with notable focus on tango-inspired forms and liturgical reinterpretations. He pioneered the MUSICA MODERNA sessions promoting new music through biannual concerts and lectures. Analysis of his 15 most recent compositions reveals consistent exploration of Polish contemporary classical traditions with strong emphasis on instrumental timbre, cross-genre fusion (particularly tango elements), and innovative approaches to sacred music forms. His works demonstrate technical mastery across diverse ensembles from solo piano to full orchestral settings. Silver Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis (2021) Numerous national composition competition awards Jury membership at international competitions including the T. Baird Young Composers' Competition (Warsaw 2018) and National Association of Composers USA competitions (2017-2018) Professor Kaczorowski has mentored award-winning composers including Grzegorz Duchnowski and Tomasz Szczepanik. His institutional leadership includes directing the Grażyna Bacewicz International Composition Competition (2012, 2015, 2019) and serving as president of the Łódź Branch of the Polish Composers' Union until 2022. He maintains active artistic engagement through premieres across Europe, China, and the United States. His creative work is organized through departmental initiatives including the Department of Composition's performance series and collaboration with the Artur Rubinstein Łódź Philharmonic. Current activities focus on expanding Polish contemporary music's international presence through competitions and cross-border artistic exchanges.
Christopher Castro serves as an Assistant Professor of Composition at Chapman University's College of Performing Arts. A composer and double bassist from Brooklyn, New York, he combines academic rigor with avant-garde experimentation. Ph.D. in Composition and Theory from University of California, Davis Bachelor of Music from Juilliard School (Double Bass & Composition) His research bridges Western Art Music traditions with contemporary innovations , creating works that merge: Johannes Ockeghem's polyphonic complexity John Coltrane's spiritual intensity Modernist structural experimentation Historical reconstruction techniques Jazz-classical hybrid forms Interdisciplinary performance formats Recent compositions demonstrate trends in flexible instrumentation , text-music relationships , and genre synthesis . His output spans chamber works, orchestral pieces, and vocal compositions with equal mastery. Scientific recognition includes: 2023 Fromm Music Foundation Commission (Harvard University) Chamber Music America's 2021 Classical Commissioning Award As a new music advocate , Castro collaborates with ensembles like: Left Coast Chamber Ensemble (artistic advisory board) New Mexico Contemporary Ensemble Los Angeles Philharmonic's Upbeat Live series Lyris Quartet and Sharon Harms
Paul Richards is a Research Foundation Professor of Music and head of the composition and theory area at the University of Florida since 1999. He previously served as Visiting Professor at Florida State University (2016) and taught at Baylor University and the University of Texas at Austin. His academic roles include teaching courses in composition, music theory, and orchestration, along with supervising graduate students. He earned a DMA in Composition from the University of Texas at Austin and degrees from the University of Arizona. Education: Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA), Composition, University of Texas at Austin, 1998 Master of Music (MM), Theory and Composition, University of Arizona, 1993 Bachelor of Music (BM), Theory and Composition, University of Arizona, 1991 Research Interests: Richards’ work spans orchestral, vocal, chamber, and theatrical compositions, including operas and wind ensemble pieces. His style blends eclectic influences—from Jewish sacred music to modernist techniques—resulting in works praised for their "strong melodic gift" and innovative orchestration. Commissions have come from prestigious organizations like the Florida Orchestra, Boston Brass, and White Snake Projects. Awards and Recognition: Recipient of numerous international composition prizes, including the St. Mary’s College/Kaplan Foundation Commission Competition and Second Prize in the International Horn Society Composition Competition University of Florida Research Foundation Professorship (2017–2020, 2010–2013) Finalist in the National Opera Association’s Dominic Argento Chamber Opera Competition (2023) Advising and Grants: Richards has advised over 40 graduate students and chaired multiple PhD committees. His grants include support from the University of Florida and the Research Foundation. He has also served as a mentor in composer-in-residence programs, including the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra’s Fresh Ink Competition. Labs and Collaborations: He co-founded the Florida Contemporary Music Festival (2013–2018), fostering collaboration between composers and performers. His work integrates interdisciplinary projects, such as music for dance and film, and he actively collaborates with choreographers and theater artists.
Dr. Jonathan Cant is an Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC). His research focuses on cognitive neuroscience, particularly visual perception and cognition using fMRI and behavioral techniques. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, educated at Western University (Psychology) and Harvard University (postdoctoral) Expertise: Object perception, ensemble processing, texture/shape perception, scene recognition The Cant Lab investigates high-level human visual cortex organization, with a focus on the ventral stream's role in perception. Key research includes dissociating shape and surface property processing, material properties in cognition, and object-scene interactions in neural systems. Recent publications highlight ensemble encoding of facial expressions (2025), cross-modal ensemble coding (2024), and texture-shape relationships in ventral cortex (2015). His work bridges modular/distributed cortical organization theories and explores neural substrates for 3D shape vs. material compliance. Teaching includes PSY5222 (Visual Cognitive Representation), PSYC75 (Cognitive Psychology Laboratory), and PSYC51 (Cognitive Neuroscience of Vision). The lab welcomes motivated students and researchers through direct email applications.
Steven Zucker is the David & Lucile Packard Professor of Biomedical Engineering & Computer Science at Yale University, with additional appointments in Applied & Computational Mathematics. His work bridges computational vision, neurophysiology, and differential geometry to model human visual perception and cortical computation. Research Interests : Zucker's research focuses on computational vision , leveraging differential geometry to develop theories for curve detection, shading analysis, stereo vision, and 3D shape description. He also explores interdisciplinary applications in plant biology through auxin dynamics and political science via diffusion geometry. Article Trends : Recent publications emphasize 3D shape estimation from shading and texture flows curvature-driven neural computation models applications in plant venation and heart myofibril geometry psychophysical studies of color and orientation flows Scientific Contributions : Recognized as a Packard Professor, Zucker has pioneered Hamilton-Jacobi skeletons and curve indicator random fields . His work spans computer vision, neuroscience, and mathematical modeling.
Professor Jerome Liang is a distinguished faculty member at Stony Brook University's Renaissance School of Medicine, holding professorships in Radiology, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Computer Science. He serves as Co-Director of Radiology Research and has established himself as a leading expert in medical imaging reconstruction techniques. Dr. Liang's educational background includes a Ph.D. in Physics from City University of New York, postdoctoral training at Duke University, and fellowship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. His undergraduate degree in Modern Physics was obtained from Lanzhou University in China. His primary research interests focus on advanced medical imaging techniques, particularly low-dose computed tomography image reconstruction, quantitative SPECT reconstruction, high-resolution PET imaging, tissue segmentation from multi-spectral images, computer-aided diagnosis systems, and virtual colonoscopy development. His work bridges engineering principles with clinical applications to improve diagnostic imaging capabilities while reducing radiation exposure. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on machine learning applications in medical imaging, particularly in polyp classification, dual-energy CT spectral analysis, and virtual endoscopy. His research consistently aims to enhance diagnostic accuracy while optimizing radiation dose and improving visualization techniques for various medical conditions. 1981 China-US Physics Examination and Application Program (CUSPEA) Winner (Top 25 among 250,000 candidates) 1990 NIH First Investigator Award 1996 American Heart Association Established Investigator Award 1996 Radiological Society of North America Certificate of Merit Award 2002 SUNY Chancellor's Entrepreneur Award 2007 IEEE Society Fellow 2011-2013 SBU, BNL and CSHL Certificates of Excellence in Research and Invention 2013 Stony Brook School of Medicine Award for Excellence in Translational Research Dr. Liang has secured significant research funding including NIH/NCI R01 grants for "Advanced Virtual Colonoscopy for Early Cancer Screening" and "Radiogenomics of Colorectal Polyps." He currently leads active protocols including IRB 93995-MODCR005 focused on integrating virtual and optical colonoscopies with pathological analysis. His laboratory (IRIS - Imaging Research and Informatics) continues to advance medical imaging technology while mentoring the next generation of researchers in this critical field.
LU Jiong is an Associate Professor at the Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore (NUS). He holds additional roles as Assistant Head (International Relations and Infrastructure) and Dean's Chair Professor (2023-2026). His research focuses on atomic-scale material design, quantum nanoscience, and sustainable catalytic technologies. He has earned prestigious awards including the Singapore Young Scientist Award (2024) and the Faculty Outstanding Scientist Award (2024). Education: Postdoctoral Fellow at NUS and UC Berkeley (2011-2014), PhD in Chemistry from NUS (2011), B.Sc. in Chemistry from Fudan University (2007). Research Highlights: His group pioneers atomic-scale engineering of quantum materials and catalytic systems, including Janus graphene nanoribbons, topological single-atom catalysts, and superconducting monolayers. Recent work advances next-generation energy storage and sustainable chemical manufacturing. Grants & Funding: Holds a National Research Foundation Investigatorship and leads multiple projects in quantum materials and catalysis. Labs/Teams: Directs the LU Jiong Research Group at NUS, focusing on experimental and theoretical studies of atomic-scale phenomena in 2D materials and nanocatalysts.
Valery Kiryukhin is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Rutgers University, where he also serves as a Member of the Graduate Faculty. His research focuses on electronic, structural, and magnetic properties of novel materials, particularly in strongly-correlated systems, quantum magnetism, and multiferroics. He leads the Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials (RCEM), emphasizing collaborations to explore spin liquids, frustrated magnets, and materials with self-organized nanostructures using advanced neutron and x-ray scattering techniques. His experimental work combines campus-based facilities with national labs like Brookhaven National Laboratory and NIST, offering students unique exposure to cutting-edge scattering facilities and crystal growth. Key areas include magnetoelectric coupling, spin-phonon interactions, and domain dynamics in antiferromagnetic materials. His group has pioneered visualization methods for antiferromagnetic domains, as seen in recent publications. Kiryukhin has received prestigious awards including the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award, NSF CAREER Award, and Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society (2014) and co-recipient of a W. M. Keck Foundation grant. His research bridges fundamental condensed matter physics with applications in quantum information technologies. Awards: Donald H. Jacob’s Chair in Applied Physics, Alexander von Humboldt Bessel Award, NSF CAREER Award Grants: W. M. Keck Foundation Award (2014), DOE and NSF projects Collaborations: RCEM, Brookhaven National Lab, NIST His lab provides advanced training in scattering techniques, crystallography, and interdisciplinary collaborations, shaping the next generation of materials physicists.
Pierre Bouilhol is a Senior Lecturer (Maître de conférences) at Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France, affiliated with the CRPG-CNRS research unit. His expertise spans petrology, geochemistry, and tectonic processes, with a focus on subduction zones, magmatic systems, and isotope geochemistry. He holds a Doctorat en Sciences (PhD) from ETH Zurich (2005-2008) and a Master in Earth Sciences from Montpellier (2002-2004). His research investigates subduction dynamics, including volatile cycling, serpentinite evolution, and magmatism linked to continental collisions. Notable contributions include studies on Archaean subduction-like magmatism and redox heterogeneities in subducting slabs. Teaching includes courses on petrology, field geology, and magmatic systems at undergraduate and graduate levels. He has held prior positions at MIT (2009-2011), Durham University (2012-2016), and the LMV in Clermont-Ferrand (2016-2017). Recent publications (2021–2025) address topics such as early Earth magmatism, slab devolatilization, and carbonate transfer mechanisms in subduction zones. Collaborations span institutions globally, focusing on fieldwork and experimental petrology. His lab work at CRPG involves advanced geochemical and isotopic analyses, contributing to understanding continental crust formation and mantle processes.
Andrew J. Schuler is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of New Mexico, where he has been since 2007. His research focuses on microbial processes in wastewater treatment and bioremediation, with particular emphasis on modeling distributed bacterial states, biofilm dynamics, and integrating molecular methods with environmental engineering. He teaches courses in water/wastewater treatment (CE 335) and biological wastewater treatment (CE 536). Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California at Berkeley (1998) M.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, UC Berkeley (1993) B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulder (1987) Dr. Schuler's research addresses critical challenges in biological wastewater treatment , including: Microbial storage products and density effects on solids separation Agent-based modeling of bacterial state distributions Integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) systems Photolytic and microbial degradation of Superfund chemicals His recent publications explore biofilm surface chemistry , algae-based wastewater treatment , and computational modeling of microbial communities . Notable funded projects include NSF CAREER grants, NIEHS Superfund subprojects, and North Carolina Biotechnology Center collaborations. National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2004) Paul L. Busch Award (2008) AEESP/CH2M HILL Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award (1999) Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Fellowship (1999) Dr. Schuler leads the Schuler Laboratory , which investigates microbial dynamics in wastewater treatment systems, develops the DisSimulator agent-based modeling tool, and provides practical solutions for activated sludge settling problems through density analysis. Current funding supports advanced research in biofilm optimization and sustainable water reuse technologies.
Marisa Carrasco-Queijeiro is the Julius Silver Professor of Psychology and Neural Science at New York University, affiliated with the Department of Psychology and the Center for Neural Science. She holds a PhD from Princeton University (1989) and has held academic positions at Wesleyan University and NYU, including department chair from 2001–2007. Her research focuses on the interplay between visual perception, attention, and neurophysiological mechanisms. She uses psychophysical methods to study visual search efficiency, spatial resolution, and how attention modulates early visual processing. Key contributions include demonstrating that attention enhances perceptual resolution at attended locations and challenging traditional serial/parallel search models through time-course analyses and cueing experiments. Her work spans visual search efficiency, eccentricity effects, perceptual organization, and contrast sensitivity. Notable findings include attention's role in reducing eccentricity-based performance declines and the modulation of spatial resolution via covert attention. Methodologies include fMRI, EEG, MEG, and computational modeling. Awards: Guggenheim Fellow (1999), NSF Young Investigator Award (1993–1999), Porter Ogden Jacobus Fellowship (1987–1988). Lab: Carrasco Lab at NYU investigates visual perception development in children and adult cognition. Located at 6 Washington Place, Room 971, NYC. Her lab integrates cognitive neuroscience and psychological approaches to understand attention's neural underpinnings. Current projects explore developmental visual perception and attention's impact on early visual processing via neuroimaging and behavioral studies.
Yashar Mohagheghi is a Researcher at the Department of German and General Literary Studies, RWTH Aachen University, where he has worked since 2018 under Prof. Dr. Caroline Torra-Mattenklott. His academic trajectory includes a postdoctoral fellowship at Bielefeld University's Graduate School of Linguistics and Literary Studies (2012–2017), a research stint at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (2015), and a Junior Lecturer position at Johns Hopkins University (2011). His research interests span Literary Theory, Cultural History, and German Literature with specialized focus on Time Theory, Festival Culture, Material Philology, and Small Literary Forms. Mohagheghi's work bridges systematic analysis of concepts like Festkultur and Zeitlichkeit with historical investigations of Early Modern literature, Goethe-era writings, Aestheticism, and Modernism. His scholarship frequently examines intersections between material culture, sensory theory, and political communication across different historical periods. Mohagheghi's publications reveal a trajectory emphasizing temporal aesthetics in Hölderlin's work, material philology in 19th-century literature, and sociological analyses of Weimar Republic culture. His research demonstrates increasing engagement with ecological perspectives in literary studies, particularly regarding resource economies in book production and sustainability in literary materiality. Publikationspreis 2021 der Philosophischen Fakultät der RWTH Aachen Dissertationspreis 2018 der Kulturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft As an active academic organizer, Mohagheghi has co-chaired significant conferences including Wissenschaften des Konkreten (2023) and Ressource ‚Schriftträger‘ (2021), demonstrating leadership in contemporary literary theory discussions. His scholarly network extends across German, French, and American institutions, with particular strength in European literary theory and cultural history.
Sergey Tulyakov is the Director of Research at Snap Inc. , leading the Creative Vision team. His work focuses on enhancing creator capabilities through computer vision , machine learning , and generative AI , with applications in 2D/3D/4D video generation, editing, and personalization. He pioneered video generation frameworks like MoCoGAN and First Order Motion Model , and has been recognized for BEST IN SHOW AWARD at SIGGRAPH Real-Time Live! 2020. PhD (2012-2017): University of Trento, Italy MSc (2010): Belorusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics B.Eng (2009): Belorusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics His research interests span computer vision , generative models , 3D reconstruction , and personalization , with a focus on making large models efficient and mobile-compatible . Recent publications highlight advancements in 4D video generation , text-guided 3D composition , and lightweight architectures . Key scientific awards include the SIGGRAPH Real-Time Live! 2020 Best in Show for Interactive Video Stylization. He has also served on technical program committees for top-tier conferences like CVPR, ICCV, SIGGRAPH, and NeurIPS since 2022. His team organizes tutorials and keynotes, including courses on Deep Generative Models and Efficient Neural Networks . While no direct student names are listed, his collaborative work spans 60+ top-tier publications.
