Evrim Acar Ataman is a Research Professor and Chief Research Scientist at Simula Metropolitan, where she serves as Head of the Department of Data Science and Knowledge Discovery. Her research focuses on advanced data mining techniques for complex, multi-modal datasets across biomedical and network domains. Her primary research interests include Data Mining , Matrix and Tensor Factorizations , and Data Fusion for multi-modal data analysis. She develops constrained and coupled factorization methods to extract interpretable patterns in applications spanning neuroimaging, metabolomics, and mobile network analysis, with emphasis on dynamic and longitudinal data structures. Her work integrates mechanistic models with data-driven approaches to enhance biological and system understanding. Analysis of her recent publications (2024-2025) reveals a dominant trend applying tensor and coupled matrix-tensor factorizations to biomedical data for biomarker discovery, particularly in metabolomics and neuroimaging. Key innovations include tracking evolving patterns in temporal data (tPARAFAC2), constrained fusion methods (dCMF), and integration of mechanistic models with tensor decompositions for longitudinal analysis. As Head of the Department of Data Science and Knowledge Discovery, she leads research in developing novel data mining methodologies and their real-world applications at Simula Metropolitan, with significant contributions to interpretable AI for complex systems.
Robert Jenssen is a Professor in the Machine Learning Research Group at UiT The Arctic University of Norway and serves as the Director of Visual Intelligence , an 8-year Research Council of Norway-funded SFI center. His research focuses on solving societal challenges in healthcare, marine mapping, energy, and Earth observation through collaborations with industry and public stakeholders. Director, Visual Intelligence (SFI) Center Professor, UiT Adjunct Professor, Pioneer Centre for AI (University of Copenhagen) and Norwegian Computing Center His methodological expertise spans neural networks, information-theoretic learning, self-learning, and explainable AI (XAI). Recent work emphasizes multimodal learning, uncertainty estimation, and medical image analysis. Scientific awards include: Best Paper, Pattern Recognition Letters (2024) Dissertation Award, Norwegian AI Society (2023) Best Paper, Color and Visual Computing Symposium (2022) IEEE GRS Society Letters Prize (2013) Prize for Young Researchers, University of Tromsø (2007) He contributes to international leadership as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) for the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, France's SequoIA AI Excellence Cluster, and Denmark's DIREC center.
Aleksander Madsen is a Researcher at the University of Oslo (UiO), affiliated with the Department of Sociology and Human Geography under the Faculty of Social Sciences. His primary research interests include social stratification, immigrant assimilation in labor markets, welfare state policies, and statistical methods. He holds a PhD from Oslo Metropolitan University and an MA from UiO. Education: PhD in Sociology, Centre for the Study of Professions, Oslo Metropolitan University (2014–2018) MA in Sociology, University of Oslo (2013) His research explores labor market integration of immigrants, gender disparities in male-dominated workplaces, and the impact of education-occupation mismatch on health outcomes. He has conducted longitudinal studies on long-term sickness absence and labor market trajectories using sequence analysis. Dr. Madsen has held postdoctoral and research positions at UiO and NIFU, and was a visiting scholar at Stanford University's SCANCOR (2024) funded by the Fulbright Foundation. His work spans interdisciplinary collaborations, including projects on workplace diversity, ethnic stratification, and policy evaluations. Awards: U.S. - Norway Fulbright Foundation Grant (2023–2024) His research group affiliations include the Social Inequalities and Population Dynamics team and the ORGMIGRANT project, investigating work organizations and immigrant assimilation. Recent publications address residential networks among immigrants, workplace ethnic diversity, and women’s attrition from male-dominated sectors.
Habib Ullah is an Associate Professor in Data Science at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Norway, where he conducts research at the intersection of computer vision and machine learning. He is affiliated with the Institute of Data Science under the Faculty of Science and Technology. He has previously held academic positions at COMSATS University Islamabad, Pakistan, and the University of Ha'il, Saudi Arabia, and served as a postdoctoral researcher at The Arctic University of Norway. Educational Background: PhD in Information and Communication Technology (Computer Vision), University of Trento, Italy (2011–2015) MSc in Electronics and Computer Engineering, Hanyang University, South Korea (2007–2009) BSc in Computer Systems Engineering, NWFP University of Engineering and Technology, Pakistan (2002–2006) Habib Ullah's research is primarily focused on computer vision and machine learning, with applications in aquaculture, agriculture, and human behavior analysis. He investigates underwater fish feeding sounds using audio classification, develops zero-shot learning models for recognizing unseen classes, and applies deep learning to detect stress in salmon via skin dot patterns. He also explores AI-driven controlled environment agriculture, leveraging sensors and automation for optimal crop growth. His work emphasizes practical AI solutions for real-world challenges in environmental and biological domains. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in leveraging deep learning for zero-shot and semi-supervised learning, particularly in computer vision tasks such as sea ice classification, crowd anomaly detection, and agricultural monitoring. His research spans remote sensing, biomedical signal processing, and human activity recognition, demonstrating interdisciplinary versatility. The keywords reflect a focus on robust feature representation, knowledge transfer, and model generalization. Scientific Awards and Funding: Industrial PhD grant 'Advancing Controlled Environment Agriculture AI' from The Research Council of Norway (Project number 354125, 2 million NOK, 2024) Team member (Coordinator-Participant) in the Battery Cell Assembly Twin (BatCAT) project funded by Horizon Europe (7 mEuro, 2023–2027) Development of an AI-Based Image Analysis System for Monitoring Plant Status (Funding: 1.8 mNOK, starting 2025) Habib Ullah actively supervises PhD projects and contributes to academic service through editorial and organizational roles. He has served as an Associate Editor for IEEE Access, Guest Editor for MDPI Remote Sensing, and Editor of the Springer book Machine Learning Techniques and Sensor Applications for Human Emotion, Activity Recognition, and Support (ML-SHEARS) . He has also been a Track Chair and Program Committee Member for several international conferences, reflecting his leadership in the academic community. His research is supported by significant grants and collaborative projects, indicating strong institutional and international engagement. He is involved in multiple research teams and projects, including the BatCAT project on battery manufacturing and AI applications in controlled environment agriculture with RIFT LABS AS. His lab work integrates deep learning, sensor fusion, and data analytics for environmental and biological monitoring systems.
Vasileios Mavroeidis is an Associate Professor in Digital Security at the Department of Informatics, University of Oslo (UiO). He specializes in security automation and orchestration (SOAR) and cyber threat intelligence (CTI) representation, reasoning, and sharing. He actively contributes to European cybersecurity initiatives, including Horizon Europe, Connecting Europe Facility, and the European Defense Fund, and serves as the primary representative of UiO at the OASIS standards development organization since 2017. Role : Associate Professor Department : Digital Security (SEC), University of Oslo Standardization Involvement : Chairman of OASIS Threat Actor Context (TAC), Leading Contributor to CACAO and OpenC2 Projects : Concordia, CyberHunt, JCOP (Joint Cyber Security Operations Platform), Oslo Analytics, P4C (Partnership for Cybersecurity) His research focuses on cyber threat intelligence (CTI), exploring its taxonomies, sharing standards (STIX, CACAO), and ontologies, with contributions to the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) Cybersecurity Playbooks task force. He analyzes quantum computing's impact on cryptography, develops automated threat detection systems using machine learning (e.g., recurrent neural networks for malware-generated domains), and investigates privacy issues under GDPR. Recent publications highlight his work on LLMs for code stylometry , neurosymbolic AI for cyber defense , and knowledge management systems for CACAO playbooks . His articles span 2017–2025, emphasizing formal verification, biometric data protection, and incident response automation. He collaborates with organizations like OASIS (Threat Actor Context, CACAO, OpenC2) and FIRST (Traffic Light Protocol), and participates in European research projects. His work includes standardization efforts in cybersecurity playbooks , MITRE ATT&CK representation, and quantum-resistant cryptography .
Swati Aggarwal is a Professor in Artificial Intelligence at the Faculty of Logistics, Molde University College (HiMolde). Her research focuses on AI applications in healthcare, ethics, cognitive development, and neural networks. She holds a PhD in Neutrosophic Neural Networks, a Master's in Information Technology, and a Bachelor's in Computer Science and Engineering. Previously, she was a Marie Curie Postdoc Fellow at NTNU, working on AI models for cognitive assessment in infants (AIM_COACH project). Research Interests - AI in Health/Medicine - Ethics in AI and Societal Impact - EEG/BCI for Cognitive Assessment - Machine Learning and Deep Learning Publications Her recent work spans AI ethics, BCI applications, adversarial attacks, and healthcare diagnostics. Notable contributions include EEG-based infant perceptual monitoring (2025) and malaria detection via EfficientNet (2023). She also explores cross-lingual adversarial robustness and blockchain in hospitality systems. Labs/Teams - ABC-AI: Applied, Basic, and Conscientious AI Group - Virtual Technologies and Learning Research Group
Jim Torresen is a Professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), specializing in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Robotics. He earned his M.Sc. and Dr.ing. (Ph.D.) in computer architecture and design from NTNU in 1991 and 1996 respectively, followed by industry experience in hardware design before transitioning to academia in 1999. Research Interests: His work spans Machine Learning, Evolvable Hardware, and Ethical AI, with notable contributions to music technology, facial expression recognition, and healthcare monitoring systems. He actively explores interdisciplinary applications of AI in creative domains and clinical environments. Publications & Editorial Roles: Torresen has published extensively in journals like Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Genetic Programming and Evolvable Machines . He serves as a Topic Editor for Frontiers in Explainable AI and has editorial roles in robotics and biomedical AI domains.
Jianhua Zhang is a Professor of Computer Science and founding deputy head of the AI Lab at the Department of Computer Science, OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway. He holds affiliations with the Faculty of Technology, Art and Design. His career includes roles as Scientific Director at Vekia (France), Head of Machine Learning Lab, and Professorships at East China University of Science and Technology and Beijing University of Technology. He has held visiting positions at TU Berlin, TU Dresden, and the University of Catania. Educations: PhD in Electrical Engineering and Information Sciences (Ruhr University Bochum, 2005), Postdoctoral Research at the University of Sheffield (2005-2006). Research focuses on artificial intelligence, computational intelligence, cognitive human-machine systems, neuroergonomics, affective computing, and AI-driven neuroergonomics. Applications span engineering, biomedicine, finance, and business. He has led over 20 large-scale projects and published extensively (4 books, 13 chapters, ~200 papers). Leadership roles include Chair of IFAC Technical Committee on Human-Machine Systems (2017-2023), Vice Chair of IEEE Norway Section, and editorial roles at journals like Frontiers in Neuroscience and Cognitive Neurodynamics . He organized major conferences like IFAC HMS2025 (Beijing) and ICMLT 2024 (Oslo). Awards: Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientists (2023/2024), Senior Research Fellowship (CSC, 2012), Max Planck Fellowship (2011), Shanghai Pujiang Talent (2007), DAAD Scholarship (2002-2004). Grants and advising: PI for 20+ projects, advising PhD students in AI, machine learning, and control systems. Teaching includes courses on computational intelligence, IoT, and fuzzy systems at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Labs/Teams: AI Lab at OsloMet, Machine Learning Lab (Vekia), and collaborations with institutions globally. Current work emphasizes AI ethics, neuroergonomics in smart cities, and adaptive human-machine systems.
Anne Berit C. Samuelsen serves as Associate Professor at the Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, where she also holds the position of Head of Education. Her academic foundation includes a Cand.pharm. degree and Dr.scient. doctorate, establishing her expertise in pharmaceutical sciences. Her research centers on polysaccharides from natural sources—particularly higher plants, cereals, and fungi (Basidiomycota)—with specialized focus on β-glucans. Key interests include carbohydrate chemistry, pharmacognosy, and the development of biopolymer-based pharmaceutical applications. Her work bridges fundamental structural characterization with practical drug delivery solutions, notably through liposome coating technologies and immunomodulatory compound development. Recent publications reveal a strong trajectory in fungal polysaccharide research, particularly with Pleurotus eryngii and Albatrellus ovinus species. Her team employs advanced techniques like diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy to analyze polysaccharide structures while investigating biological activities related to immune receptor binding (Dectin-1, Toll-like receptors) and therapeutic applications. This work demonstrates consistent output in high-impact journals including Carbohydrate Polymers and ACS Applied Bio Materials . She actively contributes to academic instruction through courses such as FARM1150 (Pharmaceutically Oriented Biochemistry), FARM3100 (Pharmacognosy), and FARM5200 (Use of Biopolymers in Pharmaceuticals). Her leadership extends to the Bioactive Natural Substances and Health Effects (BioNatH) research group and the Glyconor Consortium, where she investigates natural product applications for health improvement.
Nicola Paltrinieri is a Professor of Risk Assessment at the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, NTNU (Norway), and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Bologna (Italy). His expertise spans risk assessment, hydrogen technologies, process safety, and data-driven safety management. He holds Chartered Engineer and Chartered Scientist certifications and has served on editorial boards for journals like Safety Science and Journal of Risk Research . Education: PhD in Environmental, Safety and Chemical Engineering (University of Bologna, 2012) Master’s in Chemical and Process Engineering (University of Bologna, 2008) Research Interests: Focuses on hydrogen infrastructure safety, Natech accident analysis, risk-based inspection strategies, and AI integration in safety systems. His work emphasizes sustainable energy transitions and mitigating risks in emerging technologies like hydrogen. Key Projects (2022-2026): H2Glass : Decarbonizing glass and aluminum sectors via hydrogen HyInHeat : Hydrogen technologies for industrial heating HYDROGENi : Norwegian research center for hydrogen/ammonia Awards: Onsager Fellowship (2016–2021) Frank Lees Medal (2012) for safety-related publications Grants & Leadership: Head of NTNU Energy Team Hydrogen, coordinator for EU-funded projects like SUSHy , and active in international risk committees (e.g., EFCE, ESRA). His work bridges academia and industry, with over 8 PhD examinations supervised. Labs/Teams: Leads the NTNU Energy Team Hydrogen and collaborates on initiatives like SH2IFT-2 for safe hydrogen fuel handling. His research group focuses on AI-driven risk analysis and hydrogen infrastructure resilience.
Hilde Henriksen Waage is a Research Professor at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) and a Professor of History at the University of Oslo . With a focus on Middle East conflicts , peacebuilding , and US foreign policy , she has led major projects like No Peace in Sight? The United States and Afghanistan (2020–2024) and The Geopolitics of Syria’s Reconstruction (2019–2020). Key Research Areas: Mediation in hostile conflicts US-PLO dialogue facilitation Oslo Peace Process legacy Gaza ceasefire analysis Israeli-Palestinian power asymmetry Notable Publications: 2022: Analysis of Sverre Lodgaard’s peace research journey 2021: Geopolitical challenges in Syria’s reconstruction 2018: Critique of Palestinian-Israeli negotiation failures 2013: Historical conflict patterns in the Middle East 2006: Lessons from Norwegian peacekeeping in the Middle East Awards: Admitted to the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters (2017) Media Engagement: Provided expert analysis on Gaza ceasefire (ABC News, 2025) Commented on Israel’s political instability (Dagbladet, 2025)
Bernt-Erik Sæther is a Professor in population ecology at the Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), and Director of the Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), a Norwegian Centre of Excellence (SFF). His research focuses on integrating ecological and evolutionary processes, particularly in population and community dynamics. He has led major field projects on species like the house sparrow and elk, emphasizing stochastic influences on evolutionary change and population resilience. Education and Background: Sæther has held roles including Professor II at NTNU (20% since 1996), Senior Scientific Advisor at the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), and researcher positions at the Directorate for Nature Management and Game Research institutes. His academic journey spans over four decades, with a PhD and early research in wildlife ecology. Research Interests: His work bridges population dynamics, climate change impacts, and conservation strategies. Key areas include density dependence, metapopulation dynamics, and eco-evolutionary feedbacks. He investigates how environmental stochasticity and human activities (e.g., harvesting) affect population stability and biodiversity. Awards and Recognition: He has received the Møbius Prize (2013) for outstanding research, an ERC Advanced Grant (2011–2016), and membership in prestigious academies like the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. His contributions to conservation science and ecological modeling are globally recognized. Professional Roles: Sæther chairs the Swedish Research Committee in Wildlife Research and serves on steering boards for environmental research initiatives like NORKLIMA and MISTRA. He advocates for sustainable land-use policies and improved biodiversity monitoring in Norway. Publications: Over 200 peer-reviewed articles, including seminal works on metapopulation ecology, climate-driven demographic shifts, and the evolutionary implications of stochastic processes. Recent studies highlight the effects of harvesting on population fluctuations and the role of telomeres in life-history strategies.
Benjamin Ricaud is an Associate Professor and Group Leader in Machine Learning at UiT The Arctic University of Norway's Department of Physics and Technology. His core affiliations include membership in the Machine Learning Group, Visual Intelligence center, and co-directorship of the Digital Technology Innovation Lab focused on Arctic-region tech startups. He also co-chairs the annual Northern Light Deep Learning conference. Ricaud's research spans: Fundamental ML : Graph signal processing, explainable AI, and generative models Applications : Microfossil classification, medical diagnostics (retinal aging), drug analysis, and climate data interpretation Emerging domains : Self-supervised learning and biological data analysis using Raman spectroscopy His recent publications (2020-2025) cluster in three domains: Graph ML methodologies (35%) Biomedical/biological applications (40%) Geoscience/climate informatics (25%) with consistent focus on interpretability and real-world data challenges. Teaching includes Image Processing (FYS-2010), Pattern Recognition (FYS-3012), and Machine Learning (FYS-2021). He leads outreach initiatives developing AI exhibits for Tromsø Science Centre.
Joao Carlos Amaro Ferreira is a Professor at the Faculty of Logistics, Molde University College (HiMolde), Norway. He holds PhDs in Computer Engineering and Industrial Engineering from the Technical University of Lisbon and the University of Minho, respectively. His research focuses on Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in healthcare, energy, transportation, IoT, blockchain, and smart cities. He has led over 40 projects, including 6 as Principal Investigator, and contributed to international conferences like OAIR and INTSYS. He served as IEEE CIS President (2016-2018) and is an IEEE Senior Member since 2015. His academic contributions span AI-driven solutions for public sector informatics, healthcare data quality, and cybersecurity. He actively participates in European projects such as e-Hospital4Future and explores blockchain applications in supply chains and medical records. Ferreira leads the ABC-AI research group, emphasizing ethical and applied AI. His work bridges academia and industry through projects like gamification systems for eco-driving and AI in fisheries traceability. Recent publications highlight AI's role in cardiovascular disease detection, emergency department optimization, and blockchain-enhanced healthcare interoperability. He collaborates internationally, co-editing journals like Applied Sciences , and has authored patents in edge computing for maritime monitoring.
Xuan Zhang is an Associate Professor at the Department of Information and Communication Technology, University of Agder. His research focuses on Tsetlin Machines, learning automata, and their applications in machine learning, computer vision, and hyperspectral imaging. Research Trends: Zhang’s recent work includes developing interpretable machine learning models (e.g., Tsetlin Machines), optimizing convolutional architectures for image processing, and applying automata theory to solve multi-armed bandit problems and channel selection in cognitive networks. His field spans theoretical analysis and practical implementations in AI, remote sensing, and health informatics. Scientific Contributions Co-developed advanced Tsetlin Machine variants for XOR/NOT operator convergence, disease forecasting, and image restoration Published in journals like IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence , Information Sciences , and Applied Intelligence Explored Bayesian pursuit algorithms, hierarchical learning automata, and particle swarm optimization techniques Contact: xuan.zhang@uia.no
