Dr. John Wickerson is an Associate Professor in the Circuits and Systems group at the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College London. His research focuses on improving the reliability of high-performance computing through formal methods, with contributions to high-level synthesis, memory models, and concurrency verification. He holds leadership roles including Course Director for the Electrical and Information Engineering degree and Deputy Tutor for PhD students. Research Interests: Formal Verification of Hardware/Software Systems High-Level Synthesis (HLS) and FPGA Compilation Weak Memory Models and Concurrency Semantics Fuzz Testing for Hardware Tools Compiler Optimization and Correctness Digit Elision and Arbitrary-Precision Arithmetic Notable Achievements: Best Paper Award at EuroSys 2024 (database isolation validation) Pioneered formal methods for HLS tools (e.g., QuteFuzz, C4) Co-developed the C4 C compiler concurrency checker Published over 60 peer-reviewed papers across top venues (ASPLOS, PLDI, FPGA) Lab/Team: Part of the Circuits and Systems group at Imperial College, collaborating with industry partners like Kaihong Yann and ARM.
Andreas Grothey is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Mathematics at The University of Edinburgh, a position he has held since 2011. He completed his MSc in Numerical Algebra and Mathematical Computing at the University of Dundee (1995) and his PhD in Optimization at the University of Edinburgh (2001), supervised by Ken McKinnon. His research focuses on stochastic programming, interior point methods, decomposition approaches, high-performance computing, and energy systems optimization. He has contributed to energy planning, power grid reliability, and emergency response strategies for power networks. Grothey has advised seven PhD students, including work on unit commitment, top-percentile traffic routing, and power flow optimization. His projects include the OOPS solver, CESI energy integration center, and the Structured Modelling Language (SML). Recent work addresses pandemic policy optimization and exascale computational challenges. Education: MSc in Numerical Algebra and Mathematical Computing (University of Dundee, 1995) PhD in Optimization (University of Edinburgh, 2001) Research Interests: Stochastic Programming Interior Point Methods Decomposition Methods High-Performance Computing Energy Systems Optimization Advising & Projects: PhD Supervision (7 students, 2007–2022) OOPS Parallel Solver Development CESI Energy Systems Integration SML Structured Modelling Language Labs/Teams: Member of the Edinburgh Research Group on Optimization, leading projects in power grid stability and energy planning.
Vahid Yazdanpanah is an Assistant Professor (Lecturer) of Computer Science at the University of Southampton and a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Twente. He holds a PhD from the University of Twente (2019), an MSc in Artificial Intelligence from Utrecht University (2015), and an MBA from the University of Greenwich (2012). His research focuses on multiagent systems, AI responsibility, and circular economy applications. He leads the Agents, Interaction and Complexity (AIC) research group and is an RRI Champion for the UKRI CDT in AI for Sustainability (SustAI). Research interests include agent-based computing, formal logics for multiagent decision-making, and socio-technical systems. Notable awards include the Best Paper Award at PRIMA 2016 and recognition at AAMAS 2021. He teaches courses such as COMP2211 (Software Engineering) and supervises PhD students in AI and sustainability. Active projects include the ARGOS (AI Resilience Governance) and AutoTrust (Internet of Vehicles) initiatives. He has served on program committees for AAAI, IJCAI, and AAMAS, and reviews for journals like AI & Society and Annals of Operations Research. His work bridges technical AI advancements with ethical, legal, and societal challenges in responsible AI deployment.
Timothy M. Jones is a Professor of Computer Architecture and Compilation at the University of Cambridge's Computer Laboratory, serving as Director of the Computer Architecture and Semiconductor Design Centre (CASCADE) and Fellow/Director of Studies at Gonville and Caius College. His research focuses on parallelism extraction in applications to enhance performance and address energy efficiency/reliability challenges in compilers, binary translators, and microarchitectures. Current work includes novel cache prefetching techniques, thread-level parallelism schemes, and advanced core prediction methods. He has an Erdős number of 4 and a Dijkstra number of 4 via collaborative networks. Research interests span computer architecture fundamentals, compiler optimizations, hardware security mechanisms, and fault tolerance strategies. Notable contributions include speculative vectorization, heterogeneous parallel error detection (MEEK/FireGuard), and security tools like MarkUs and MineSweeper. CASCADE oversees interdisciplinary projects addressing future microprocessor/system challenges. Jones supervises PhD students through CASCADE's 2025 intake program. Publications emphasize architectural innovations in memory systems, security, and energy efficiency. Key works include MASCOT (memory dependence prediction), Scalar Vector Runahead (2024), and Decoupled Vector Runahead (2023). His work integrates hardware-software co-design principles to tackle real-world processor bottlenecks.
Mark Batty is a Professor in the School of Computing at the University of Kent, specializing in formal methods for concurrent systems. His work bridges hardware-software interfaces, focusing on memory models for C/C++, OpenCL, and architectures including x86, ARM, POWER, and GPUs. As a member of the Programming Languages and Systems Research Group, he develops mathematical specifications and verification tools for real-world concurrency challenges. His research centers on empirical testing of hardware/compiler behavior, formal modeling of system components, and verification of fine-grained concurrent algorithms. Key contributions address relaxed memory semantics, transactional memory, and compositional reasoning for concurrent data structures. His work combines theoretical rigor with practical tool development to ensure correctness in complex concurrent environments. Analysis of his 2015-2025 publications reveals consistent focus on memory consistency models, formal verification of weak memory concurrency, and compiler optimizations. Dominant themes include C/C++11 standards, GPU concurrency semantics, and mechanized verification techniques. His research demonstrates strong industry relevance through collaborations with hardware vendors and contributions to language standards. Mark Batty has received significant recognition: John C. Reynolds Doctoral Dissertation Award (2015) from ACM SIGPLAN CPHC and BCS Distinguished Dissertation Award (2015) Lloyds Register Foundation and Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship (2016) He actively leads major research initiatives and mentors next-generation researchers: Current Funding: EPSRC Standard Grant 'Verifiably Correct transactional memory' (2018), VeTTS Grant 'Specification and verification of C++ data structure libraries' (2018), EPSRC First Grant 'Compositional, dependency-aware C++ concurrency' (2018) PhD Recruitment: Actively seeking candidates for UKRI-funded studentship in Verified Trustworthy Software Systems Batty drives community engagement through Kent Concurrency Workshop (2016) and South of England Programming Language Seminars, fostering national collaboration in programming languages research. His leadership in organizing Royal Society discussions underscores his influence in trustworthy systems verification.
Tejendra Pherali is a Professor of Education, Conflict and Peace at University College London's Institute of Education (IOE - Education, Practice & Society). As Co-Research Director of Education Research in Conflict and Protracted Crisis (ERICC) and former Chair of the British Association for International and Comparative Education (BAICE), he bridges academic leadership with practical peacebuilding initiatives. His establishment of the open-access journal Education and Conflict Review underscores his commitment to translating research into policy. Academic Affiliations: UCL IOE, Academy of Social Sciences Fellow, Higher Education Academy Fellow Research Leadership: ERICC program, BAICE chairmanship, Compare Journal editorial board Pherali's research integrates education policy , political sociology , and peacebuilding in conflict zones. His work spans Myanmar , South Sudan , Nepal , and Syria , analyzing how educational systems both suffer from and contribute to conflict dynamics. Recent publications focus on teacher professional development during displacement, curriculum reform in divided societies, and the paradox of education as both victim and perpetrator in conflict settings. He advocates for teacher-centered peacebuilding , emphasizing their often-neglected role in crisis contexts. His Laboratories of Learning framework highlights grassroots educational initiatives in Colombia, Nepal, and Turkey that challenge dominant epistemic traditions. Current empirical work in Myanmar and Syria examines systemic educational fragmentation and pathways for integrating marginalized communities through locally-driven pedagogies. Key scientific recognitions include: Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS) Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) Editorial leadership in Education and Conflict Review His educational background spans four countries with a PhD from Liverpool John Moores University (2012), MEd from University of Sydney (2005), and MA in Sociology from Tribhuvan University, Nepal (2002). The MA Education and International Development: Conflict, Emergencies and Peace program he developed at UCL exemplifies his integrated approach to education policy and practice in unstable environments.
Simon Moore is a Professor of Computer Engineering at the University of Cambridge's Department of Computer Science and Technology. He leads the Computer Architecture research group, focusing on secure processors and subsystems, particularly the CHERI project. His work emphasizes formal verification, hardware-software co-design, and scalable security solutions. He is a Fellow and Director of Studies at Trinity Hall, overseeing undergraduate admissions and mentoring in Computer Science. Research Interests: Moore's primary focus is the CHERI secure processor architecture, integrating RISC-V cores with formal verification. His work spans secure hardware design, memory safety, and embedded systems. Notable contributions include the CHERI-RISC-V microarchitecture, CheriABI, and formal verification frameworks. Key Projects: CHERI, CheriBSD, Morello (ARM collaboration) Recent Achievements: Test of Time Award (IEEE Security & Privacy 2025), finalist for Bhattacharyya Award (2022) Grants: Innovate UK Digital Security by Design, DARPA Mission Oriented Resilient Clouds Publications: Over 200 papers on secure architectures, including influential work on CHERI's capability model, formal verification, and hardware security. Recent focus areas include temporal memory safety, embedded system security, and GPU-based capability systems. Labs/Teams: Directs the Computer Architecture Group and collaborates with industry partners like ARM and Microsoft on CHERI implementations.
Professor Sir Bashir M. Al-Hashimi is currently Vice President (Research & Innovation) at King’s College London and holds the ARM Professorship in Computer Engineering there. He is also a Visiting Professor in Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton. Prior to academia, he worked in the electronics design industry for eight years before joining the University of Southampton in 1999, where he became a personal Chair holder in 2004. His research focuses on energy-efficient computing systems, low-power testing, and energy-harvesting technologies, with a strong emphasis on smart city applications and wearable computing. He has led numerous interdisciplinary projects funded by the EPSRC and industry, including the PRiME Programme Grant and the EPSRC-funded Spatial Computational Learning consortium. He has supervised 45 PhD students and authored/co-authored nearly 400 technical papers, earning eight best paper awards and contributing to five books. His honors include a CBE (2018), knighthood (2025), Fellowship of the Royal Society (2023), and roles on the Research Excellence Framework panels. He founded the Arm-ECS industry-academia center in 2008, promoting energy-efficient computing research.
Naratip Santitissadeekorn is a Senior Lecturer in Data Assimilation at the School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Surrey, where he is affiliated with the Mathematics at the Interface Group. His work bridges mathematics, data science, and real-world applications in urban planning, crime analysis, and geophysical fluid dynamics. Dr. Santitissadeekorn received his PhD from Clarkson University in 2008, with a dissertation titled "Transport Analysis and Motion Estimation of Dynamical Systems of Time-Series data." His doctoral research was supervised by Professor Erik Bollt. Following his PhD, he completed two significant postdoctoral positions: from 2008-2011 at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, working with Professor Gary Froyland on numerical techniques for finite-time Lagrangian coherent set identification, with applications to delimiting the polar vortex and Agulhas rings; and from 2011-2014 at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, working with Professor Chris Jones on data assimilation projects. Dr. Santitissadeekorn's research focuses on inverse problems and data assimilation in geophysical fluid dynamics, the applications of Lagrangian Coherent Structures (LCS), and computational ergodic theory. His work combines theoretical mathematics with practical applications, particularly in urban growth modeling and crime analysis. He has developed innovative methods for identifying coherent structures in fluid flows, estimating transition probabilities from spatiotemporal data, and creating data-driven frameworks for urban expansion scenarios. His research demonstrates how mathematical techniques can be applied to solve real-world problems in environmental science, urban planning, and public safety. An analysis of Dr. Santitissadeekorn's recent publications (2020-2023) reveals a strong focus on urban expansion modeling and network analysis. His work on urban growth has evolved from basic cellular automata models to sophisticated frameworks that manage uncertainty through parameter clustering and growth mode identification. His research on Hawkes processes has advanced ensemble-based filtering techniques for analyzing count data in large networks. These publications demonstrate a consistent pattern of applying mathematical rigor to complex spatiotemporal phenomena, with increasing emphasis on data-driven approaches and practical applications. Dr. Santitissadeekorn has made significant contributions to data assimilation methods, particularly through the development of the extended Poisson-Kalman filter (ExPKF) for urban crime modeling. His teaching includes courses in Algebra and Bayesian Statistics, reflecting his expertise in both theoretical and applied mathematics. While specific awards are not mentioned in the available information, his extensive publication record in high-impact journals demonstrates recognition within his field. Dr. Santitissadeekorn's research has practical implications for urban planning and law enforcement. His work on urban expansion models helps planners understand different growth trajectories, while his crime modeling research contributes to improved police patrolling strategies. His interdisciplinary approach, combining mathematics, computer science, and domain-specific knowledge, positions him at the forefront of applying data science to societal challenges.
Dr. Éric Hébrard is a Senior Lecturer in Astrophysics at the University of Exeter since 2018, with prior academic roles including NASA Goddard Senior Research Fellow and CNRS Research Associate. His work bridges planetary atmospheres, astrochemistry, and combustion modeling with expertise in 3D chemical simulations. PhD in Physics and Chemistry of Planetary Atmospheres, Université Paris 7 (2006) Magna cum laude Magistère Interuniversitaire de Chimie, ENS Paris (2003) Research focuses on: Exoplanetary atmosphere modeling (hot Jupiters, TRAPPIST-1e) Photochemical kinetics and UV absorption Coupling of atmospheric circulation and chemistry Cross-disciplinary combustion-atmosphere analogs Chemical validation strategies for model accuracy Scientific contributions include: NASA-funded research on organic-rich habitable zones Development of KIDA kinetic database for astrochemistry STFC Consolidated Grant for multi-dimensional chemical models Quantum chemistry integration for Titan atmosphere studies Awards: Higher Education Academy Fellowship (ASPIRE program) NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship (2015-2017) CNES Postdoctoral Fellowship (2007-2009)
Kirsty Ogg is a Lecturer in Curating within the Art Department at Goldsmiths, University of London. She serves as Interim Director of Mimosa House, a space dedicated to promoting diversity and access in the arts. Previously, she was Director of New Contemporaries (2013-2023), where she expanded support for emerging artists, and held curatorial positions at Whitechapel Gallery (2009-2013) and The Showroom (1998-2008). Kirsty's research focuses on the intersection of emerging art practice, arts education, and access. Her work is informed by her background in grassroots, DIY artist-led organizations, with particular interest in understanding and overcoming socio-economic and cultural barriers that prevent artistic emergence. She is currently exploring parallels between artist-led cultures and pre-18th century egalitarian pirate communities, investigating how radical democratic principles from the Golden Age of Piracy might inform contemporary curatorial and institutional practices. Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on emerging artists, digital curation platforms, and the evolving landscape of contemporary art institutions. Ogg has produced numerous exhibition catalogs for the Bloomberg New Contemporaries series and has organized conferences addressing critical issues in curatorial practice, artist development, and the relationship between art schools, museums, and the academy. Kirsty serves as External Examiner for the MLitt Curatorial Practice Contemporary Art program at Glasgow School of Art (2022-2025) and previously for the Curating Contemporary Art MA at Royal College of Art (2018-2020). Her professional activities demonstrate significant engagement with artist development, institutional critique, and creating pathways for emerging talent in the contemporary art world.
Alastair F. Donaldson is a Professor and Director of Research in the Department of Computing at Imperial College London, where he leads the FastPL research group. His academic career spans over a decade at Imperial, progressing from Lecturer (2011-2014) to Senior Lecturer (2014-2017), Reader (2017-2020), and Professor (2020-present). He has also held significant industry positions, including Founder and Director of GraphicsFuzz Ltd. (acquired by Google in 2018), Senior Software Engineer at Google (2018-2021), and Visiting Researcher at both Google and Microsoft Research Redmond. Donaldson earned his PhD from the University of Glasgow under Alice Miller, following a BSc (hons, First Class) in Computing Science and Mathematics. His postdoctoral work included an EPSRC Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Oxford and a Research Fellowship at Wolfson College Oxford. His research focuses on formal analysis, software testing and programming languages techniques for improving software reliability, with special emphasis on high-performance systems. Donaldson's work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, particularly in compiler testing, GPU programming verification, and metamorphic testing. His research has significantly influenced both academia and industry, as evidenced by the acquisition of his startup GraphicsFuzz by Google. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on fuzz testing techniques applied across diverse domains including compilers, GPUs, cryptographic protocols, and large language models. His work consistently combines formal methods with practical testing approaches, addressing challenges in compiler correctness, memory models, and API verification across multiple platforms. 2017 BCS Roger Needham Award EPSRC Early Career Fellowship Best Paper Award, EuroSys 2024 Best Paper Award, MET 2021 Best Paper Award, IWOCL 2019 Best Paper Award, IISWC 2019 Best Paper Award, ICST 2016 ACM SIGSOFT Distinguished Paper Award, ISSTA 2023 ACM SIGSOFT Distinguished Paper Award, FSE 2017 ACM SIGPLAN Most Influential OOPSLA Paper Award, 2022 (for GPUVerify) As Director of Research in the Department of Computing, Donaldson oversees research strategy and development. His FastPL research group investigates novel techniques for programming, testing and reasoning about high performance systems. He has served on numerous program committees and held leadership roles including PLDI Steering Committee Chair (2022-2025) and PACM-PL Advisory Board member. His industry engagement includes testifying as an Expert Witness in the IBM UK Ltd v LzLabs GmbH & Ors case. The FastPL research group, which Donaldson leads, focuses on formal analysis, software testing and programming languages. The group has made significant contributions to compiler testing, GPU verification, and metamorphic testing techniques, with practical impact demonstrated by the acquisition of GraphicsFuzz. Current research directions include fuzzing for zero-knowledge proof circuits, randomized testing of decompilers, and systematic testing of large language models for code generation.
Rafail Ostrovsky is the Norman E. Friedman Chair in Knowledge Sciences at UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, where he serves as a Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and Mathematics. He also directs the Center for Information and Computation Security at UCLA. His academic leadership extends to his role as a foreign member of Academia Europaea and his fellowship in multiple prestigious organizations including the National Academy of Inventors, AAAS, ACM, IEEE, and IACR. Professor Ostrovsky's research spans multiple domains in theoretical computer science, with primary focus on cryptography, secure computation, and algorithms. His work on garbled circuits, zero-knowledge proofs, and private information retrieval has had significant theoretical and practical impact. He has pioneered research in secure multi-party computation, oblivious RAM, and cryptographic protocols that maintain privacy while enabling complex computations on sensitive data. His research bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications in secure systems, ranging from database security to hardware-based cryptographic primitives. Ostrovsky's publication record shows a consistent trajectory of innovation in cryptographic theory and its applications. His recent work focuses on optimizing secure computation protocols for efficiency while maintaining strong security guarantees, with particular attention to communication complexity, round complexity, and practical implementations. He has made significant contributions to homomorphic encryption, non-malleable commitments, and zero-knowledge proofs, often developing techniques that transform theoretical constructs into practically viable solutions. 1993 Henry Taub Prize 2017 IEEE Computer Society Edward J. McCluskey Technical Achievement Award 2018 RSA Award for Excellence in Mathematics (RSA Prize) 2022 W. Wallace McDowell Award (highest award from IEEE Computer Society) Fellow of National Academy of Inventors, AAAS, ACM, IEEE, and IACR Foreign member of Academia Europaea With over 350 peer-reviewed publications and 16 issued USPTO patents, Professor Ostrovsky has significantly shaped the field of cryptography and secure computation. His mentorship has cultivated numerous students and postdocs who have gone on to make their own contributions to the field. His editorial roles on prestigious journals including Journal of ACM and Algorithmica reflect his standing in the theoretical computer science community. His leadership extends to chairing major conferences including FOCS 2011 and serving on over 40 international conference program committees. As Director of the Center for Information and Computation Security at UCLA, Professor Ostrovsky leads a team focused on advancing the theoretical foundations and practical applications of secure computation. His center serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research connecting cryptography with systems security, network protocols, and hardware security. The center's work spans from foundational cryptographic primitives to real-world applications requiring privacy-preserving computation.
Andrew D. Ker is Professor and Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of Oxford's Department of Computer Science, and Tutorial Fellow in Computer Science at University College, Oxford since 2009. He received his BA in Mathematics & Computer Science (1994-1997) and DPhil in Computer Science (1997-2000) from Oxford, followed by academic appointments including Junior Research Fellow (2000-2003), Special Supernumerary Fellow (2003-2009), and Royal Society University Research Fellow (2003-2011). His research focuses on information hiding, particularly steganography (covert communication in digital media) and steganalysis (detection of hidden data), with additional interests in digital media forensics and programming language semantics. His foundational work includes the mathematical formalization of the 'square root law of steganographic capacity'. Recent publications explore practical implementations in social media platforms, GPU-accelerated steganalysis, and linguistic steganography techniques. He has received multiple scientific awards including Best Paper Awards at ACM Workshops on Information Hiding & Multimedia Security, SPIE conferences, and the International Workshop on Digital Watermarking. As Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security, he maintains active involvement in the academic community. Professor Ker has supervised numerous graduate students in computer security and steganography research, including doctoral candidates and master's students. He leads research within Cyber Security Oxford and has developed four major lecture series: Lambda Calculus and Types, Discrete Mathematics, Computer Security, and Advanced Security: Information Hiding. He remains active in teaching despite administrative responsibilities as Tutorial Fellow.
Charles Gillan is a Senior Lecturer at Queen's University Belfast's School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, affiliated with the High Performance and Distributed Computing department and the Institute of Electronics, Communications & Information Technology. His research bridges HPC systems, AI applications in healthcare, and computational physics. Key projects include managing ICU patient care via neural networks, exascale-ready mathematical packages, and edge computing architectures. Research interests focus on high-performance computing (HPC), quantum computing, real-time data analytics, and electron-molecule scattering simulations. Notable contributions include developing microserver architectures for edge analytics and advancing AI-driven clinical decision support systems. Gillan has collaborated on interdisciplinary projects like food authenticity testing using spectroscopy and improving ventilator management in intensive care units. Publications span AI in healthcare, HPC system design, and computational methods for physics problems. He has secured funding for initiatives such as the KTP partnership with Foods Connected Ltd and the HANDHELD olfactory detection project. Gillan's work emphasizes practical applications of advanced computing across healthcare, engineering, and cybersecurity domains.
