Kaiyuan Yang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University, leading the Secure and Intelligent Micro-Systems (SIMS) Lab. His research focuses on low-power integrated circuits and bioelectronic implants for applications like the Internet of Everything and medical devices. He holds a B.S. from Tsinghua University (2012) and M.S./Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan (2017). Research Interests: Low-power digital/analog/mixed-signal systems Bioelectronics and implantable devices Hardware security and PUF design Mixed-signal computing and emerging materials Recent work emphasizes magnetoelectric-powered implants, secure backscatter communication, and in-memory computing architectures. His publications span top venues like IEEE ISSCC, IEDM, and ACM MobiCom. Awards: 2022 NSF CAREER Award 2022 IEEE Top Picks in Hardware Security 2016 IEEE SSCS Predoctoral Achievement Award Dr. Yang serves on editorial boards for IEEE TVLSI and program committees for ISSCC/CICC. His lab develops miniature, secure, and energy-efficient systems for healthcare and IoT applications.
Beng Chin Ooi is a Lee Kong Chian Centennial Professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS), School of Computing (SoC). He holds a B.Sc. (1st Class Honors) and Ph.D. in Computer Science from Monash University. His research focuses on database systems, large-scale analytics, and distributed computing. He has held leadership roles including Dean of School of Computing (2007–2013) and Director of Smart Systems Institute (2011–2021). Key achievements include the Singapore President’s Science Award (2011), ACM Fellow (2011), IEEE Fellow (2009), and multiple best paper awards. His work emphasizes scalable data management, blockchain systems, and healthcare data analytics. Education: Monash University (B.Sc., Ph.D.) Leadership: Dean (SoC), Director (Smart Systems Institute) Awards: Over 15 major honors including ACM SIGMOD E.F. Codd Innovations Award (2020) His research spans distributed databases, big data systems, and innovative applications of blockchain technology. Recent work includes NASI (neural architecture search) and Rafiki (ML-as-a-service).
Professor Max Deeg is a leading scholar in Buddhist Studies at Cardiff University , holding a personal chair since 2009. With a career spanning institutions in Germany, Austria, and the UK, his research focuses on transcultural Buddhist history from India to East Asia, Chinese Buddhist travelogues , and interreligious encounters in medieval China. He has held visiting positions at universities in Japan, Nepal, the US, and Germany, and currently directs the Centre for the History of Religion in Asia (CHRA) . PhD from University of Würzburg (1990) Dr. phil. habil. in Religious Studies (1998) Full Professor at University of Vienna (2002-2006) His research explores Buddhist narratives as tools for constructing religious identity, foundation myths in trans-Himalayan contexts, and terminology evolution in Chinese Buddhist translations. Recent publications analyze Indian Buddhist monasticism through Chinese sources and religious concepts like xin (trust) across Buddhist, Manichaean, and Christian traditions. Awarded the KHK Visiting Research Fellowship (2016) and a DAAD Scholarship (1986-87) , Prof Deeg contributes to editorial boards of major journals. He supervises PhD students and teaches Buddhist Studies , Life of the Buddha , and Chinese Buddhist Texts .
Sarita V Adve is the Richard T. Cheng Professor of Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she conducts research spanning hardware, programming languages, operating systems, and applications with a focus on domain-specific systems. Her work bridges theoretical foundations and practical implementations, particularly in extended reality and heterogeneous computing. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. and M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1993, 1989) and a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (1987). Prior to joining Illinois, she served on the faculty at Rice University from 1993 to 1999. Adve's research centers on generalizable and scalable specialization for domain-specific systems, with current emphasis on extended reality (XR) systems including virtual, augmented, and mixed reality. She chairs the ILLIXR consortium to democratize XR research and developed the first fully open-source XR system (ILLIXR). Her foundational contributions include memory consistency models for C++ and Java programming languages, the Spandex coherence framework for heterogeneous systems, and software-driven approaches for hardware reliability. Her work spans hardware reliability (SWAT and RAMP projects), power management (GRACE system), and instruction-level parallelism. Recent publications reveal a strong focus on energy-efficient XR systems, hardware-software co-design for AI workloads, and resilience analysis. Her team explores rendering offload, visual-inertial odometry optimization, and compositional error injection frameworks, often targeting tradeoffs between energy, latency, and accuracy in mobile and edge environments. Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellow of the ACM and IEEE ACM/IEEE-CS Ken Kennedy Award Anita Borg Institute Woman of Vision in Innovation Award ACM SIGARCH Maurice Wilkes Award Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship UIUC University Scholar University of Illinois Campus Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring Adve actively mentors students and has received multiple teaching awards. She co-founded the CARES movement to address discrimination in CS research events and chairs CS@Illinois CARES. Her service includes leadership roles in ACM SIGARCH (2015-2019), DARPA/ISAT study group, ACM Council, and Computing Research Association. She has secured significant funding including DARPA initiatives and Google Faculty Research Awards. She leads the ILLIXR consortium and has established collaborative research programs such as the $8.3M DARPA Joint University Microelectronics Program. Her lab focuses on open-source XR development, heterogeneous system architectures, and reliability-aware designs, with strong industry and government partnerships.
Henrik Sandberg is a Professor at the Division of Decision and Control Systems , KTH Royal Institute of Technology , Stockholm, Sweden. He holds the title of Deputy Head of Division and is affiliated with the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science . Education: MSc in Engineering Physics (1999) PhD in Automatic Control (2004) from Lund University Postdoctoral position at Caltech (pre-2007) Research Interests: Focus on cyber-physical systems security , power systems , model reduction , and fundamental limitations of control systems . Key sub-areas include attack detection , networked control , privacy-preserving estimation , and resilient control architectures . Publications: Over 150 papers across IEEE Transactions and Automatica , covering topics like stealthy attacks , distributed control , LQG optimization , and thermodynamic costs in filtering . Recent work includes LWE-based encrypted control and Bayesian deception mechanisms . Scientific Awards: Best Student Paper Award Finalist at IEEE CASE 2014; Best Student-Paper Award at IEEE CDC 2004. Grants & Projects: Leads the DYNACON project (WASP Cybersec cluster) and collaborates on CERCES (critical infrastructure resilience). Serves as examiner for multiple advanced courses in cybersecurity and control systems. Contact: Email: hsan@kth.se Phone: +46 (0)8 790 7294 Room: A:607, Malvinas Väg 10, Stockholm
Bahar Asgari is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Maryland, College Park. She holds appointments in CS, UMIACS, and ECE, and directs the Computer Architecture and Systems Lab (CASL). Her research focuses on domain-specific architecture design, near memory processing, and reconfigurable computing. Before joining UMD, she worked at Google, contributing to system optimization and memory utilization strategies. Education: Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021. Research Interests: Developing energy-efficient architectures for sparse problems, scientific computing acceleration, FPGA optimizations, and reconfigurable hardware systems. Her work addresses challenges in memory efficiency, parallelization, and hardware-software co-design across domains like machine learning and IoT. Key Awards: 2024 UMD Excellence in Teaching Award 2023 DOE Early Career Award Advising & Grants: Supervises 9 graduate students and leads projects sponsored by NSF, DOE, and industry partnerships. Her lab explores systolic arrays, near-data processing, and fault-tolerant computing. Labs/Teams: Directs CASL, which builds next-generation computing systems through hardware innovation and algorithm-architecture co-design.
Xupeng Miao is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Purdue University, holding the Kevin C. and Suzanne L. Kahn New Frontiers Assistant Professorship. Previously, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University's Catalyst Group under Professors Zhihao Jia and Tianqi Chen. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Peking University (2022) and a Bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University. His research focuses on machine learning systems, distributed computing, and data management, with notable contributions to systems like Hetu (a distributed deep learning framework) and innovations in large language model (LLM) serving (e.g., SpotServe, SpecInfer). He has received awards including the 2024 WAIC Yunfan Award and an Outstanding Paper Award at ACL 2024. Current projects emphasize efficient systems for generative AI, including optimizing LLM training and inference on heterogeneous hardware, fault-tolerant distributed training, and scalable graph-based machine learning. He teaches CS 59200-MLS: Machine Learning Systems at Purdue and actively mentors students in PhD/MS programs and internships. Key achievements include NVIDIA Academic Awards, IEEE Micro Top Picks recognition, and leadership in international conference roles (e.g., Artifact Evaluation Co-Chair for KDD 2025 and MLSys 2025). His work bridges system design, algorithmic innovation, and hardware-aware optimizations to advance scalable AI infrastructure.
Dai Zhongxiang is an Assistant Professor and Presidential Young Fellow at the School of Data Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHKSZ), where he joined in August 2024. Previously, he was a Postdoctoral Associate at MIT's Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems (January-June 2024) and a Postdoctoral Fellow at the National University of Singapore's Department of Computer Science (April 2021-December 2023). He completed his Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence at NUS under the supervision of Bryan Kian Hsiang Low and Patrick Jaillet. Dr. Dai's research focuses on the intersection of theoretical and practical AI, with particular emphasis on large language models (LLMs) and optimization techniques. His work spans both theoretical foundations of multi-armed bandits and Bayesian optimization, as well as practical applications in LLM inference, including prompt optimization, in-context learning, personalization of LLMs, LLM-based agents, and scaling up test-time computation of LLMs. His research approach often bridges theoretical principles with real-world applications, particularly in AI4Science problems. His recent publications demonstrate a clear trend toward advancing LLM capabilities through optimization techniques, with increasing focus on practical deployment challenges. The research spans both theoretical contributions to optimization theory and applied work on enhancing LLM performance in real-world scenarios. His work on dueling bandits, neural bandits, and zeroth-order optimization has been consistently published in top-tier venues including NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, and ACL. Presidential Young Fellow, CUHKSZ (2024) Dean's Graduate Research Excellence Award, NUS (2021) Research Achievement Award × 2, NUS (2019 & 2020) Singapore-MIT Alliance Graduate Fellowship (2017) Dr. Dai actively mentors multiple Ph.D. students and research assistants, with several of his students' papers accepted to top conferences. His research has received significant attention, with invitations to serve as Area Chair for NeurIPS 2025 and ICLR 2025, reflecting his growing influence in the machine learning community. His work bridges theoretical machine learning with practical applications in large-scale AI systems.
Melanie Mitchell is a Professor at the Santa Fe Institute, focusing on artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and complex systems. She is an inaugural Fractal Faculty member and originated the Complexity Explorer platform. PhD in Computer Science from University of Michigan (1990) Faculty/research roles at Santa Fe Institute, Portland State University, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and others Her research explores abstraction, analogy-making, and reasoning in AI and human intelligence. She has authored six books, including the award-winning Complexity: A Guided Tour and Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans . Recent work examines large language models, conceptual understanding, and cognitive parallels between humans and AI. Her 15 most recent publications address topics like AI reasoning, language model robustness, cognitive metaphors, and the Turing test's evolving relevance. Awards include the Phi Beta Kappa Science Book Award and the Herbert A. Simon Award. She advises numerous PhD and postdoctoral students and leads public outreach through online courses and media appearances.
John Lygeros is a Full Professor and Head of the Institute for Automatic Control at ETH Zurich's Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering. He received his B.Eng. (1990) and M.Sc. (1991) from Imperial College London, and Ph.D. (1996) from UC Berkeley. Before joining ETH Zurich in 2006, he held academic positions at the University of Cambridge and University of Patras. His research focuses on: Modeling and control of hierarchical hybrid systems Large-scale dynamical systems applied to biochemical networks Control of automated transportation systems via wireless networks Energy systems and advanced manufacturing control His research demonstrates strong emphasis on optimization methods, distributed control architectures, and machine learning applications in control systems, with significant contributions to real-time optimization algorithms and data-driven control methodologies. Major scientific awards include: HSCC Test of Time Award (2024) ERC Advanced Grant (2018) O. Hugo Schuck Best Paper Award (2018) IEEE George S. Axelby Paper Award (2016) Three Golden Owl teaching awards from ETH Zurich He leads the Automatic Control Laboratory at ETH Zurich and serves as Director of the National Centre of Competence in Research 'Dependable Ubiquitous Automation'. He has advised over 60 doctoral candidates since 2017, with research spanning optimization algorithms, power systems, autonomous systems, and machine learning applications.
Subhasish Mitra is the William E. Ayer Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Stanford University, holding dual appointments in both departments. He leads the Stanford Robust Systems Group and serves on the leadership team of the Microelectronics Commons AI Hardware Hub under the US CHIPS and Science Act. His research spans Robust Computing, NanoSystems, Electronic Design Automation (EDA), and Neurosciences, with breakthroughs in X-Compact test compression, carbon nanotube computing, and 3D integration. He has held international roles like the Carnot Chair at CEA-LETI and Visiting Professorships globally. Education & Honors: Recipient of over 40 awards including the IEEE Computer Society’s Harry H. Goode Memorial Award, ACM/IEEE’s A. Richard Newton Technical Impact Award, and the Intel Achievement Award. He earned top academic accolades from IIT Kharagpur and Jadavpur University, and is a Fellow of ACM and IEEE. Research Impact: Pioneered first-of-their-kind systems like the carbon nanotube computer and monolithic 3D integration. His work on robust computing techniques like QED validation and X-Compact compression has industry-wide adoption, saving billions in manufacturing costs. Collaborates with industry leaders like Intel, Google, and Samsung. Publications & Grants: Over 400 publications, including award-winning papers in DAC, ISSCC, and IEEE journals. Leads grants from NSF, DoE, and industry partnerships. His lab explores cutting-edge topics like neuromorphic computing, 3D thermal scaffolding, and AI hardware acceleration. Administration & Outreach: Serves as Associate Chair (Faculty Affairs) for Stanford’s Computer Science Department. Recognized by students for mentorship, and frequently invited to global forums like the World Economic Forum and National Academy of Engineering.
Shweta Shinde is an Assistant Professor at ETH Zürich's Department of Computer Science. She leads the Secure & Trustworthy Systems (SECTRS) group and is affiliated with the Institute of Information Security and the ZISC Center. Her research focuses on foundational and practical aspects of trusted computing, system security, and program analysis to protect devices ranging from smartphones to cloud servers. Key areas include AMD SEV-SNP, Arm CCA, Intel SGX, and hardware-software co-design for security. Dr. Shinde has made significant contributions to confidential computing, including frameworks like OpenCCA and tools for analyzing hardware vulnerabilities. Her work has been recognized with Best Paper Awards and Distinguished Paper Awards at top venues. She advises a group of PhD students, including Mark Kuhne, Supraja Sridhara, and Benedict Schlüter. Her service includes program committee roles at IEEE Security & Privacy, USENIX Security, and as Track Co-Chair for AsiaCCS 2026.
Rakesh Kumar is a Professor and John Bardeen Faculty Scholar in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His work focuses on computer architecture, system-level design automation, and low-power computing. PhD in Computer Engineering from University of California, San Diego BS in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur His research spans all layers of the computing stack, with key contributions to flexible computer systems , waferscale computing , error-resilient architectures , and approximate computing . He has pioneered work on voltage-reliability tradeoffs and peak power management techniques. Recent publications highlight trends in space microdatacenters , printed microprocessors , and neural graph accelerators . His work on plastic chips was recognized as one of the three biggest semiconductor headlines of 2022 by IEEE Spectrum. IEEE Fellow (2024) ISCA Influential Paper Award MICRO Test-of-Time Award ICCAD Ten Year Retrospective Most Influential Paper Award Best Paper Awards at CASES, SELSE, HPCA He has received teaching accolades including the Stanley H. Pierce Faculty Award and Ronald W. Pratt Outstanding Teaching Award . His research group explores hardware-software co-design for emerging applications in AI, IoT, and sustainable computing.
Anoosheh Heidarzadeh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Santa Clara University's School of Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carleton University (2012) and previously served as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University (2018-2022) and Associate Research Scientist at the same institution (2015-2017). His postdoctoral research was conducted at the California Institute of Technology (2013-2014). His research focuses on: Information and coding theory : Fundamental limits of data transmission and storage systems Private and secure computing : Protocols for confidential data processing in networked environments Fault-tolerant distributed systems : Resilient computation frameworks for large-scale applications Distributed machine learning : Scalable algorithms for collaborative learning architectures Recent publications (2021-2022) demonstrate strong emphasis on privacy-preserving computation (covering 73% of articles) and distributed coding techniques (67% of articles), with innovations in private information retrieval, matrix operations, and group testing methodologies. Theoretical contributions dominate (87%), while 13% address applied challenges like COVID-19 screening.
Gert Cauwenberghs is a Professor of Bioengineering at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), affiliated with the Jacobs School of Engineering. He co-directs the Institute for Neural Computation and holds a visiting professorship at MIT. His research focuses on neuromorphic engineering, energy-efficient neural interfaces, and wearable biosensors. Key contributions include silicon-based adaptive neural circuits, implantable neural recording systems, and in-ear biosensing devices. Education: M.Eng. in Applied Physics (University of Brussels, 1988), M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (Caltech, 1989–1994). Prior roles include Professorships at Johns Hopkins University and Visiting Professor at MIT. Research Interests: Biomedical integrated circuits, neuromorphic computing, brain-machine interfaces, and energy-efficient neural systems. His work bridges neuroengineering and clinical applications, emphasizing adaptive intelligence and low-power designs. Recent Work: Development of femtojoule-efficient neural chips, high-density neural interfaces, and closed-loop wearable systems. Projects include neurobench benchmarking frameworks and RRAM-based neuromorphic hardware. Awards: NSF Career Award (1997), ONR Young Investigator (1999), PECASE (2000), IEEE Distinguished Lecturer (2003–2004). Grants & Labs: Active in NIH and DoD-funded projects, co-directs the UCSD Institute for Neural Computation. Collaborates with industry on neural interface technologies. Labs/Teams: Cauwenberghs Lab at UCSD focuses on integrated neuroengineering systems, including neural recording systems and neuromorphic computing architectures.
