Diego Fernandez Prado is a Researcher at the Chair of Media Technology, Technical University of Munich (TUM). He earned a B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Santiago de Compostela (2018) and an M.Sc. in Applied and Engineering Physics from TUM (2021). Since March 2021, he has pursued doctoral research in Robotics and Machine Intelligence. His research intersects Machine Learning , Computer Vision , and Teleoperation , with a focus on Reinforcement Learning for virtual fixture estimation Digital Twin environments Haptic data applications in bandwidth-limited systems Time-domain passivity control . Recent publications highlight his work in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence , particularly in teleoperation , virtual fixtures , and human-robot interaction . His articles analyze reinforcement learning integration, haptic codec optimization, and semantic segmentation for robotic tasks.
R. Scott Smith is Professor of Classics, Humanities, and Italian Studies at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), where he has taught since 2000. He also serves as Chair of the Faculty Senate and as Director of the January-term Study Abroad in Rome Program. Education: Ph.D. Classical Philology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2000) A.M. Classics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign B.A. Classics, Mary Washington College (University of Virginia) Research Interests: Smith’s scholarship centres on ancient mythography—the ways Greeks and Romans collected, organised, and interpreted their own myths—and on the philosopher-poet Seneca the Younger . Current major projects include co-editing for Oxford University Press the Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Mythography and directing the digital-humanities platform Putting Greek Myth on the Map , which spatially links mythical figures to real-world locations. Recent publications (2015-2022) range from detailed textual studies of Seneca’s tragedies and scientific prose to broad synthetic reviews of mythographic handbooks, reception studies of the Argonautic cycle, and cartographical explorations of Rome. Collectively these works trace a trajectory from micro-level philology to macro-level cultural geography, reflecting a sustained interest in how ancient narratives migrate across genres, media, and centuries. Service & Outreach: President or Chair of multiple state and regional classics organisations Speaker for New Hampshire Humanities Director, UNH January-term Study Abroad in Rome Program Labs & Teams: Smith leads the Putting Greek Myth on the Map digital humanities research group, an interdisciplinary team of students, GIS specialists, and collaborating scholars creating interactive, geolocated mythological data for public and pedagogical use.
Brach Poston, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He holds a Ph.D. in Integrative Physiology from the University of Colorado-Boulder, a Master’s in Exercise Physiology from UNLV, and a Bachelor’s in Physical Education from Missouri State University. Certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, his work bridges clinical research with practical applications. Ph.D., Integrative Physiology - University of Colorado-Boulder M.S., Exercise Physiology - University of Nevada, Las Vegas B.S., Physical Education - Missouri State University Poston’s research focuses on non-invasive brain stimulation techniques (tDCS, TMS) for motor skill enhancement across populations including Parkinson’s patients, aging adults, and young athletes. His work examines strength training adaptations, muscle fatigue mechanisms, and cognitive-motor interactions in neurodegenerative conditions. Current projects explore neurostimulation’s role in dexterous motor tasks and fatigue resistance. Recent publications highlight tDCS applications for videogame-based motor training, cortical excitability dynamics, and neurocognitive processes in online radicalization. His studies combine electrophysiological measures with behavioral outcomes across multiple populations. NIH and Michael J. Fox Foundation grants support his Parkinson’s research. Postdoctoral research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health Editorial board member: Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology Grant review panelist: NASA Human Performance
Alessandro Vespignani serves as the Director of the Network Science Institute and Sternberg Family Distinguished University Professor at Northeastern University with interdisciplinary appointments across the College of Computer and Information Science, College of Science, and Bouvé College of Health Sciences. He leads the MOBS Lab, which focuses on developing innovative mathematical models and computational tools for understanding complex networks and systems. His work bridges theoretical network science with practical applications in public health, particularly in epidemic modeling and forecasting. Vespignani's research centers on computational epidemiology and the application of network science to public health challenges. His primary interests include complex systems and networks, data-driven computational modeling of epidemics, and the integration of within-host and between-host dynamics. He investigates biological and health systems through network medicine frameworks and develops predictive models for complex systems. Recent work has expanded into examining the network structures underlying both natural and artificial learning systems, exploring human-AI coevolution. His pandemic response research has gained significant attention, particularly his work on aircraft-based wastewater surveillance as an early warning system for emerging diseases. Analysis of Vespignani's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on methodological advances in epidemic modeling combined with practical public health applications. His work spans from theoretical multi-scale modeling frameworks to practical tools like Epydemix, an open-source Python package. A notable trend is the increasing integration of AI and machine learning with traditional epidemiological approaches. His research demonstrates growing focus on spatial dimensions of disease transmission and collaborative forecasting efforts across multiple disease contexts including influenza, West Nile virus, and SARS-CoV-2 variants. Vespignani has received significant scientific recognition: Named among the Highly Cited Researchers 2024 by Clarivate Recognized as one of the top 2% scientists worldwide by the 2024 Stanford University Annual Assessment Previously named among the Highly Cited Researchers 2023 by Clarivate While specific advisees aren't detailed in available materials, Vespignani's leadership of the Network Science Institute and MOBS Lab indicates substantial mentoring responsibilities. His research has attracted significant funding, including CDC collaborations to establish a 'National Weather Service' for infectious diseases and partnerships with Ginkgo Bioworks supported by the Gates Foundation. The Epistorm Innovation Center represents another major collaborative research initiative under his direction, with its first annual meeting hosted at Northeastern University. Vespignani directs the MOBS (Modeling Of Biological and Social) Lab, which maintains joint affiliations with the Department of Physics, Department of Health Sciences, and Khoury College of Computer Sciences. The lab focuses on developing mathematical models to characterize, understand, and anticipate large-scale complex networks. Current research directions include computational epidemiology for pandemic response, with particular emphasis on innovative surveillance approaches. The MOBS Lab is actively expanding its team with expertise in computational and applied statistics to address increasingly complex challenges at the intersection of network science, epidemiology, and artificial intelligence.
Dr. M M Manjurul Islam is a Research Associate in Artificial Intelligence for Smart Manufacturing at Ulster University's School of Computing, Engineering and Intelligent Systems. His research focuses on applying advanced AI techniques to solve critical challenges in manufacturing systems, with particular expertise in fault diagnosis, predictive maintenance, and semiconductor production optimization. His research interests span Artificial Intelligence , Smart Manufacturing , Fault Diagnosis , Machine Learning , Deep Learning , Predictive Maintenance , and Semiconductor Manufacturing . He has made significant contributions to the application of convolutional neural networks, support vector machines, and generative adversarial networks in industrial settings, particularly for bearing fault diagnosis and wafer defect classification. Dr. Islam's recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on practical AI applications in manufacturing, with multiple chapters in the Springer Series in Advanced Manufacturing. His work shows an evolving trajectory from traditional machine learning approaches to more sophisticated deep learning and explainable AI techniques, with increasing emphasis on semiconductor manufacturing challenges and trustworthy AI systems. His research contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in industrial innovation and infrastructure. He is an active member of professional organizations including IEEE and Advance HE, serving as Chair for both networks. According to Scopus data, Dr. Islam has accumulated 1,706 citations with an h-index of 16, reflecting the impact of his research in the field. His publication record shows consistent productivity, with research outputs spanning from 2015 to anticipated publications in 2025.
Darius Plikynas is a Senior Researcher at the Smart Technologies Research Group within the Institute of Data Science and Digital Technologies at Vilnius University . His research integrates computational intelligence methods with agent-based simulation to model cognitive and social processes. Position: Senior Researcher, Chief Researcher in the Project Address: Akademijos St. 4, room 224, Vilnius Contact: +370 5 210 9333, +370 620 95101 Email: darius.plikynas@mif.vu.lt Personal page: http://www.dariusplikynas.eu Dr. Plikynas' research spans interdisciplinary domains including neuroscience, physics methods, complexity theory, and distributed cognitive systems. He led the 2017–2019 project "Development of a metric, conceptual and simulation model of the social impact of cultural processes" under the LMT Research Group Funding Program. His recent publications (2016–2025) reflect trends in combining machine learning with social science questions (fake news analysis, propaganda detection) and agent-based modeling of cultural/social capital dynamics. Key collaborations include Leonidas Sakalauskas, Rimvydas Laužikas, and Arunas Miliauskas. Scientific supervision includes doctoral students: Andrius Budrionis (University of Tromsø, Norway) Ieva Rizgelienė (PhD topic: "Propaganda detection and classification in social media using hybrid deep learning") He also serves as an expert at Vilnius University and has contributed to projects involving: 2D financial market visualization Neural oscillation-based cognitive modeling Indoor navigation for blind individuals Cultural participation impact on social capital
Laxmidhar Behera is a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, specializing in Intelligent Systems and Control. With over two decades of academic experience at IIT Kanpur and international research experience at institutions including Fraunhofer Institute of Autonomous Intelligent Systems in Germany, ETH Zurich, and University of Ulster, he has established himself as a leading researcher in cognitive robotics and intelligent control systems. Dr. Behera's research spans multiple cutting-edge domains including Cognitive Robotics, Nano-robotics, Vision based Control, Soft Computing, Information Retrieval in music and language, Semantic Information Processing, Physics of Complex Systems, Cyber Physical Systems, Formation Control of UAVs, Brain-Computer Interface (BCI), and Sanskrit Computational Linguistics. His interdisciplinary approach bridges traditional control theory with modern computational intelligence techniques, creating innovative solutions for complex real-world problems. His extensive publication record in top-tier journals like IEEE Transactions demonstrates his leadership in areas such as brain-computer interfaces, visual servoing, multi-robot systems, and music information retrieval. Notably, his work on quantum neural networks for EEG filtering and multisatellite formation control has received significant attention in the research community. UKIERI Standard Research Award 2008 Best Paper at International Conf. on Intelligent Sensors and Information Processing (ICISIP-2004) Best Paper at WoSco,02, Int. Conf. High-Performance Computing (HiPC, 2002) AICTE career award for young teacher (1997) Senior Member IEEE Multiple IEEE top accessed articles (2009-2010) As an Associate Editor for Autosoft Journal and Technical Committee Member for Intelligent Control at IEEE Control System Society, Dr. Behera actively contributes to the academic community. His laboratory in the Western Lab - 212A of the Department of Electrical Engineering serves as a hub for research in intelligent systems, where he mentors students and collaborates with researchers worldwide on cutting-edge projects in robotics, control systems, and computational intelligence.
Vinkle Srivastav is a Research Scientist (Chargé de recherche R&D) at the CAMMA group, a collaborative research team between IHU Strasbourg and the University of Strasbourg, where he focuses on advancing surgical data science through novel computer vision and machine learning approaches. His work bridges the gap between clinical practice and artificial intelligence, developing methods for surgical video analysis, 3D medical imaging, and surgical workflow understanding. Education PhD in Computer Science (2018-2021) from University of Strasbourg, France. Thesis: "Unsupervised Domain Adaptation Approaches for Person Localization in the Operating Rooms." Master of Science in Computer Science (2014-2017) from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India. Thesis: "Computerized evaluation of neurosurgery skills using image processing and computer vision techniques." Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communication (2007-2011) from Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, India. Research Interests Vinkle's research spans surgical data science, with particular focus on multi-modal learning approaches for surgical computer vision. His work addresses fundamental challenges in medical AI including domain adaptation, self-supervised learning, and privacy preservation in clinical environments. He develops methods for 3D medical image analysis, multi-view human pose estimation in operating rooms, and surgical activity recognition. His recent work emphasizes multi-modal pretraining frameworks that leverage both visual and textual information to improve surgical workflow understanding. He also investigates scientific simulation techniques, particularly for therapeutic ultrasound applications, where physics-aware deep learning models can accelerate computational processes while maintaining accuracy. Publication Trends Vinkle's recent publications demonstrate a strong trajectory toward multi-modal surgical AI systems that integrate vision, language, and physics-based modeling. His work increasingly focuses on few-shot and zero-shot adaptation techniques to address the data scarcity problem in surgical AI. The publications reveal a progression from basic pose estimation to holistic surgical scene understanding, incorporating team communication analysis and surgical safety protocols. Scientific Awards IPCAI 2024 Best paper award (co-author) IPCAI 2019 Runner-up award in the bench-to-bedside category (co-author) Joint winner for the best paper award in the machine learning for CAI track, IPCAI 2025 Advising and Grants Vinkle actively mentors multiple PhD students and research interns at various levels, supervising thesis work on topics including large-scale multi-modality learning, holistic surgical scene analysis, and self-supervised video representation learning. He serves as Co-PI on two ITI-HealthTech projects: one focused on multi-modality learning for 3D medical imaging (2023), and another on physics-aware deep-learning approaches for therapeutic ultrasound simulation (2024). Laboratories and Teams Vinkle is a key member of the CAMMA research group at IHU Strasbourg, a collaborative team focused on computer-assisted medical modeling and analytics. He co-organizes the Surgical Data Science Summer School, an interdisciplinary program that brings together clinicians and computer scientists to develop AI-driven solutions with clinical impact. His work involves close collaboration with surgical teams at University Hospitals of Strasbourg and international partners including Johns Hopkins University and Technical University of Munich.
Zhaozheng Yin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics and Department of Computer Science at Stony Brook University, affiliated with the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. His research focuses on biomedical image analysis, computer vision, machine learning, and human-robot collaboration in smart manufacturing contexts. Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from Pennsylvania State University (2009) M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from University of Wisconsin-Madison B.S. in Automation from Tsinghua University Active in advancing microscopy image analysis through novel algorithmic approaches, Dr. Yin's work bridges theoretical computer science with practical applications in healthcare and industrial automation. His research emphasizes: Intelligent human-robot collaboration systems Cyber-physical sensing and augmented reality for manufacturing Medical image segmentation and classification techniques Temporal action localization and counting algorithms His publications demonstrate expertise in domain adaptation, vision-language integration, and graph-based modeling. Grant-funded projects include NSF CAREER support for microscopy analysis and NRI/CPS grants for collaborative robotics research. Best Doctoral Spotlight Award, CVPR 2009 Young Scientist Awards at MICCAI (2010-2015) NSF CAREER Award recipient (2014) Best Paper Awards at CVPR workshop (2015) and IISE (2018)
Yoshitaka Tanimizu is a Professor at the School of Creative Science and Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University. His research focuses on intelligent manufacturing systems, scheduling optimization, and human-centered production models. He holds a Doctor of Engineering degree from Osaka University and maintains an active research laboratory.
Christof Röhrig is a Professor at the FH Dortmund - University of Applied Sciences and Arts , conducting research at the Institute for the Digitalization of Work and Living Environments (IDiAL). He leads the Intelligent Mobile Systems Lab , focusing on robotics, wireless sensor networks, and kinematic modeling. His research spans mobile robotics , indoor localization , and industrial automation , with a strong emphasis on IoT , 5G networks , and rescue robotics . Key trends in his recent work include LoRaWAN localization , modular robot design , and digital twin architecture . He collaborates extensively on motion control , sensor fusion , and energy-efficient systems , though no specific students, awards, or grants are listed in the provided data. The lab at IDiAL explores robotics in emergency response and industrial IoT applications , with a focus on precision localization and collaborative automation .
Auke Jan Ijspeert is a full professor at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), where he serves as head of the Biorobotics Laboratory (BioRob). He holds a primary affiliation with the Institute of Bioengineering and a secondary affiliation with the Institute of Mechanical Engineering. His academic leadership and research excellence have established him as a leading figure in bio-inspired robotics and computational neuroscience. B.Sc./M.Sc. in Physics, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1995 Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence, University of Edinburgh, 1999 Postdoctoral research at IDSIA/EPFL and University of Southern California (USC) SNF Assistant Professor at EPFL, 2002 Promoted to Associate Professor, October 2009 Promoted to Full Professor, April 2016 His research lies at the intersection of robotics, computational neuroscience, nonlinear dynamical systems, and applied machine learning. He investigates animal locomotion and movement control using numerical simulations and robotic platforms, aiming to understand biological principles and apply them to novel robot designs and controllers. His work has led to groundbreaking robots like the salamander-inspired Pleurobot and amphibious robotic systems. He also explores applications in assistive technologies such as exoskeletons and smart furniture for people with limited mobility. The recent publications reflect a strong trend in bio-inspired robotics, neuromechanical modeling, and the use of robots to understand biological locomotion. Key themes include spinal cord modeling for gait control, amphibious and aquatic locomotion, central pattern generators, and the evolutionary transition from swimming to walking. His work integrates neuroscience, biomechanics, and robotics to create physical models that serve both engineering and scientific discovery purposes. Scientific Awards and Honors: IEEE Fellow (2020) Best Paper Prize, CLAWAR 2019 Best Conference Paper Award, SAB 2018 Best Paper Award, IEEE RO-MAN 2014 Best Paper Award, IEEE Humanoids 2007 Overall Best Paper Award, IEEE ICRA 2002 Young Professorship Award, Swiss National Science Foundation Marie Curie Scholarship, European Commission Auke Ijspeert has been actively involved in academic service, serving as an associate editor for IEEE Transactions on Robotics (2009–2013) and Soft Robotics (2018–2021), and as an associate editor for IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics and the International Journal of Humanoid Robotics. He has secured major funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation, Human Frontier Science Program, European Commission (FP7, H2020), Human Brain Project, and other international agencies. He has organized seven major international conferences and served on over 50 program committees. His laboratory, BioRob, is a hub for interdisciplinary research, training students and researchers in biorobotics, and fostering collaboration across neuroscience, robotics, and biomechanics.
Jesse LeCavalier is Associate Professor in the Department of Architecture at Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP), where he also serves as Director of the Master of Science in Advanced Urban Design (M.S. AUD) program. Based in New York City, his academic work bridges architectural design, theory, and urbanism with a specialized focus on logistics and infrastructure. His research explores the spatial, architectural, and social implications of logistical systems, particularly those of large-scale retailers like Walmart. He is the author of The Rule of Logistics: Walmart and the Architecture of Fulfillment (University of Minnesota Press, 2016), a seminal work that investigates how retail logistics reshape buildings, cities, and human behavior. His design research has been exhibited internationally, including at MoMA PS1, the Oslo Architecture Triennale, and the Seoul Biennale for Architecture and Urbanism, with projects such as SHELF LIFE , Alimentary Urbanism , and Machinic Wilderness . LeCavalier’s scholarly writings have appeared in prominent journals such as Places , Public Culture , Harvard Design Magazine , and Cabinet . His recent articles reflect a consistent thematic focus on the intersection of architecture, technology, and material flows, exploring topics from automated fulfillment centers to speculative urban futures. The body of work demonstrates a deep engagement with how digital and physical infrastructures co-constitute contemporary urban environments. Core77 Design Award, Writing & Commentary (2013) ACSA New Faculty Teaching Award (2014) Finalist, MoMA PS1 Young Architects Program (2018) Finalist, Sudbury 2050 Urban Design Competition (2020) Finalist, Tromsø Waterfront Laboratory Open Call (2019) LeCavalier has advised and collaborated with students and design teams on numerous projects, particularly through seminars and design studios such as the Landscapes of Fulfillment seminar at Yale. While formal PhD or Master’s advisees are not listed, his leadership roles indicate active mentorship. He has received funding and support from institutions such as the New York State Council for the Arts. His research is conducted both independently and in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, often involving engineers, designers, and technologists. His work is supported by a network of labs and collaborative initiatives, including the Landscapes of Fulfillment seminar and projects like Milgram and Test Bed Urbanism , which explore smart cities and digital infrastructure. Future research directions include regenerative urbanism, post-anthropocene landscapes, and the transformation of industrial legacies into public and ecological assets.
Francesco Strada is a Fixed-term Assistant Professor at the Department of Control and Computer Engineering (DAUIN) at Politecnico di Torino. He serves as a Course Lecturer for Virtual Reality and Technical Art for Cinema and Video Games, and as a Course Collaborator for multiple courses across Computer Engineering, Film and Media Engineering, and Architecture programs. He is an active member of the College of Computer, Film and Mechatronics Engineering and the College of Architecture and Design teaching committees. Dr. Strada's research focuses on Computer Graphics, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Human-Computer Interaction with particular emphasis on Embodied Conversational Agents, emotion recognition, and serious games applications. His work bridges technical computer science with psychological and human factors considerations to create more believable and effective virtual experiences. His research spans applications in education, healthcare, automotive interfaces, cultural heritage, and emergency response training. His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward emotionally intelligent virtual agents, VR/AR applications in specialized domains, and technical innovations in latency management and digital human representation. His work often combines psychological principles with technical implementations to enhance user experience and system effectiveness. Dr. Strada actively supervises PhD students including Alessandro Emmanuel Pecora, Stefano Calzolari, and Leonardo Vezzani, whose research focuses on Emotionally Aware Embodied Conversational Agents (E2CA) and Car AR-HUD design. He leads significant research projects including Holo-BLSD (2024-2025), a Mixed Reality tool for first aid emergency response training, and '50 shadows of AI' (2025), focusing on personalized education in corporate settings. He is a member of the CGVG - Computer Graphics and Vision Group at DAUIN, where his team develops cutting-edge applications in AR/VR, Human-Computer Interaction, User Experience, Computer Vision, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence. His research has practical applications in education, training, healthcare, automotive interfaces, and cultural heritage preservation.
Colin Holbrook is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Merced , affiliated with the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts and the Department of Cognitive and Information Sciences . His research focuses on decision-making under threat , social determinants of trust , and human-AI interaction during crises . University of California, Merced Cognitive and Information Sciences Department School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts Research interests span evolutionary psychology , group prejudice , moral psychology , and human-robot interaction dynamics . Recent work investigates overtrust in AI recommendations , physical anthropomorphism effects , and cross-cultural pandemic behavior . Publications reveal consistent patterns in threat perception , social cognition , and robot trust calibration . Collaborative efforts include partnerships with institutions like the UCLA Center for Behavior, Evolution & Culture , the AHRC Culture and the Mind Project , and the Institute of Cognition & Culture . His lab develops virtual reality experiments for robot-guided emergency scenarios while exploring cognitive adaptations through transcranial magnetic stimulation and behavioral studies across diverse populations.
