Majid Ghayoomi is a Professor and Civil Engineering Undergraduate Coordinator in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of New Hampshire's College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. His research focuses on geotechnical engineering and geomechanics, particularly unsaturated soil mechanics and geotechnical earthquake engineering. He teaches courses such as Soil Mechanics, Engineering Behavior of Soils, and Geotechnical Modeling. Dr. Ghayoomi holds a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado at Boulder, an M.S. from Sharif University, and a B.S. from the University of Tehran. His research interests include bioremediation, hazards mitigation, soil-structure interaction, and materials testing. He leads the Geotechnical Modeling and Innovation lab, advancing bio-inspired solutions and remote sensing applications in geotechnical systems. His recent work emphasizes climate change impacts on seismic resilience, microbial stabilization of soils, and satellite-based soil moisture monitoring. Key contributions include studies on liquefaction mitigation, seismic site response, and infrastructure vulnerability in dynamic environments. His research spans theoretical, experimental (centrifuge modeling), and computational approaches to address complex geotechnical challenges.
Professor Jiyuan Tu is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering at RMIT University's School of Engineering. He specializes in computational fluid dynamics (CFD), multiphase flows, and their applications in renewable/nuclear energy, biomedical engineering, and built environment systems. His research has led to over 500 peer-reviewed articles, 9 books, and $10M+ in ARC grants. He has supervised over 50 postgraduate students and received prestigious awards such as the RMIT Research Excellence Award (2012) and Fulbright Senior Scholar Award (2008). Research interests include CFD modelling of bioaerosol transport, drug delivery systems, and thermal energy storage. He pioneered numerical models for multiphase flows, contributing to software implementations in industries. Notable works include books on CFD and multiphase flow analysis, and leadership in international conferences like COBEE 2018. He holds honorary professorships at Tsinghua University and is Editor-in-Chief of the Experimental and Computational of Multiphase Flow journal. Industry experience includes roles at ANSTO (1996-2001). Awards span fellowships from JSPS, KOSEF, and Fulbright programs. Grants include ARC Discovery, Linkage, and LIEF projects. His work ranks him among the world’s top researchers in pebble bed reactors and airborne infection studies (SciVal 2016-2025).
Ruth Mostern is Associate Professor of History at the University of Pittsburgh and Director of the Institute for Spatial History Innovation (ISHI). She is Vice-President and President-Elect (2025-2026) of the World History Association and leads the award-winning World Historical Gazetteer project. Education Ph.D. in History, University of California, Berkeley, 2003 Research Interests Mostern is an interdisciplinary historian specializing in world, Chinese, environmental, and spatial history. She investigates long-term human–environment interactions at continental and millennial scales, focusing on how societies organize space, resources, and risk. Her work integrates GIS, digital gazetteers, and environmental science to reconstruct historical geographies of empire, water management, and ecological change. Current projects include: Place: A Global History – a study of itineraries, gazetteers, and databases as technologies of spatial knowledge. The Medieval Climate Anomaly and the Global Medieval Era – cultural adaptations to climate change c. 950-1250 CE. Research Trends Her recent publications span digital environmental humanities, historical GIS, Song-dynasty political economy, and pre-industrial Asian political ecology. A dominant theme is the coupling of state power with environmental transformation, exemplified by her 2021 book The Yellow River: A Natural and Unnatural History (Yale), winner of the 2023 Joseph Levenson Prize. Awards & Honors Joseph Levenson Prize, Association for Asian Studies, 2023 NEH Digital Humanities Advancement Grant, 2023-2025 Digital Humanities Awards 2021 – Best DH Tool (World Historical Gazetteer) Fudan University Fellowship for Studies of Chinese Civilization, 2019 NEH Humanities Connections Implementation Grant, 2018-2020 Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation Summer Institute Grant, 2015-2016 NSF Collaborative Research Grant, 2013-2015 ACLS Digital Innovation Fellowship, 2011-2012 Advising & Grants Mostern welcomes graduate students interested in environmental, global, Asian, or digital history. She has directed multiple externally funded projects, including the NSF-funded Center for Historical Information and Analysis and NEH-supported initiatives on water in Central Asia and global historical gazetteers. Labs & Teams She directs the Institute for Spatial History Innovation (ISHI) at the University of Pittsburgh, a hub for interdisciplinary research integrating spatial technologies with historical inquiry. ISHI hosts the World Historical Gazetteer , providing open tools and datasets that link knowledge about historical places across world regions.
Professor Haijiang Li is a Chair in BIM for Smart Engineering at Cardiff University's School of Engineering. His roles include leading the Computational Mechanics and Engineering AI Research Group, directing the BIM for Smart Engineering Centre, and overseeing the BIM MSc programme. He holds editorial roles for journals like Construction Innovation and Automation in Construction , and chairs the European Group of Intelligent Computing in Engineering (EG-ICE). Research focuses on smart computational engineering platforms integrating BIM, AI, and big data for sustainable infrastructure. Key areas include digital twins, disaster management, and resilient urban systems. He has secured £40M in research funding, including £9M as PI, and led over 70 research staff and students. Prof. Li is a Standards Committee Technical Executive at buildingSMART, driving international BIM standards. His work includes co-authoring a book on BIM standards across China, the US, and the UK. Awards include Fellowships from the British Computer Society (FBCS) and the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). His research outputs span over 250 publications, covering topics like AI-driven bridge maintenance, ontology-based decision-making, and energy-efficient urban systems. Collaborations with industry and global partners emphasize practical applications of BIM and smart technologies.
Max Planck Institute for Intelligent SystemsGermany
Christoph Keplinger serves as Managing Director of the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) in Stuttgart, Germany, leading the Robotic Materials Department since 2020 and assuming overall institute leadership in 2023. He holds dual academic appointments as Honorary Professor at the University of Stuttgart and Eminent Visiting Professor of Soft Robotics at the University of Colorado Boulder, establishing him as a pivotal figure in bridging fundamental materials science with advanced robotics. His interdisciplinary approach integrates physics, chemistry, and engineering to pioneer breakthroughs in soft robotic systems. Keplinger's academic foundation includes a PhD in Soft Matter Physics from Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria, followed by postdoctoral research at Harvard University focusing on mechanics and chemistry of soft materials. This unique background enabled his transition into robotics innovation, particularly in electrohydraulic actuation systems. His research program centers on three synergistic pillars: (I) soft robotics development through novel actuator technologies like HASEL artificial muscles; (II) energy capture mechanisms using soft materials; and (III) functional polymers engineered for robotic applications. This work produces transformative hardware that mimics biological functionality, with significant implications for human-robot interaction, medical devices, and sustainable robotics systems. His group employs cutting-edge materials synthesis and characterization techniques to create lifelike robotic components. Analysis of recent publications reveals dominant trends in wearable haptic interfaces, electrohydraulic actuation systems, and tremor-suppression technologies. The research consistently leverages HASEL (Hydraulically Amplified Self-healing Electrostatic) technology to achieve muscle-like performance in soft actuators, with applications spanning from fingertip haptic feedback to underwater manipulation systems. This trajectory demonstrates a clear progression from fundamental material properties toward practical implementations in medical rehabilitation and human augmentation. His exceptional contributions have earned prestigious recognition: 2017 Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering, awarded for high-impact interdisciplinary research 2021 Alexander von Humboldt Professorship (declined to remain at MPI-IS), Germany's most valuable international research award 2013 EAPromising European Researcher Award from the European Scientific Network for Artificial Muscles As principal investigator, Keplinger leads a dynamic interdisciplinary research group while securing competitive funding for frontier projects. His entrepreneurial vision materialized in 2018 through co-founding Artimus Robotics, where he serves as Chief Science Officer to commercialize HASEL technology. This dual commitment to academic research and industry translation exemplifies his dedication to real-world impact, particularly in creating biodegradable and sustainable soft robotic solutions. The Robotic Materials Department operates state-of-the-art facilities for materials fabrication, robotic integration, and haptic interface development. The team maintains strong collaborations across MPI-IS departments and external institutions including the University of Colorado Boulder, fostering innovation in sustainable robotics through initiatives like biodegradable electrohydraulic actuators. Current projects focus on wearable tremor suppression systems, electrohydraulic locomotion platforms, and energy-autonomous soft robots that address critical challenges in medical rehabilitation and human augmentation.
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyUnited States
Benoit Forget is the Korea Electric Power Professor of Nuclear Engineering and the Department Head of Nuclear Science and Engineering at MIT. He joined MIT in 2008 and leads the MIT Computational Reactor Physics Group (CRPG), which focuses on advancing computational methods for reactor simulation. His research spans Monte Carlo and deterministic transport methods, multiphysics coupling, and uncertainty quantification. He co-developed OpenMC and OpenMOC, open-source tools for reactor analysis. Forget holds a PhD from Georgia Tech and has received awards including the 2013 Landis Young Member Engineering Achievement Award. He teaches courses such as 22.05 Neutron Science and Reactor Physics, and actively contributes to MIT’s computational science initiatives. Educations: PhD in Nuclear Engineering (Georgia Tech, 2006), MS and BS in Energy Engineering (École Polytechnique de Montréal, 2003). Research Interests: Computational reactor physics, radiative transport, high-performance computing, Monte Carlo and deterministic methods, multiphysics coupling, nuclear data uncertainty. Labs/Teams: MIT Computational Reactor Physics Group (CRPG), Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors (CASL).
Amilcare Porporato is the Thomas J. Wu '94 Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Princeton University, with joint appointment at High Meadows Environmental Institute. His research integrates hydrology, ecology, and thermodynamics to study soil-water interactions and sustainable resource management. Education includes: Ph.D. Polytechnic of Milan (1996) M.S. Civil Engineering, Polytechnic of Milan (1992) Research explores nonlinear hydrologic systems, soil moisture dynamics, ecohydrology, and environmental complexity using theoretical and experimental approaches. His work advances understanding of water-biota interactions across scales from pore-level processes to landscape evolution. Honors and Awards: Hydrologic Sciences Award, AGU Borland Lecturer American Geophysical Union Fellow Inaugural Landolt Chair, EPFL Teaches courses on Environmental Thermodynamics (ENV 385/CEE 385) and Ecohydrology (CEE 587/ENV 587).
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in LausanneSwitzerland
Christophe Ancey is an Associate Professor at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), where he serves in the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), specifically in the Institute of Civil Engineering (IIC) and the Environmental Hydraulics Laboratory (LHE). He also holds teaching appointments in SGC-Teaching and EDME-Teaching departments at EPFL. His office is located at GC A1 401, Station 18, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. Dr. Ancey holds both a PhD and engineering degree from Ecole Centrale de Paris and Grenoble National Polytechnic Institute. After completing his doctoral work (1994-1997) on rheology of granular flows under Pierre Evesque, he worked as a researcher at Cemagref before joining EPFL in 2004. He directs the Environmental Hydraulics Laboratory and serves as associate editor for Water Resources Research, a leading journal in hydrology. Dr. Ancey's research spans fluid dynamics, rheology, and hydraulics with emphasis on geophysical flows and natural hazards. His work focuses on three interconnected themes: rheology of concentrated suspensions (particularly granular flows in avalanches and mudflows), inverse problems in rheology (determining microscopic behavior from macroscopic measurements), and particle entrainment in turbulent suspensions (erosion and sediment transport processes). His recent publications (2022-2025) demonstrate continued innovation in sediment transport modeling, experimental techniques like PIV for complex flows, and integration of machine learning approaches. The research shows progression from fundamental fluid mechanics to practical applications in natural hazard assessment and river engineering, with particular attention to granular segregation, avalanche-obstacle interactions, and river morphodynamics. Associate Editor, Water Resources Research Co-founder of Toraval, an engineering consulting firm specializing in avalanche risk management Dr. Ancey teaches courses on Fluid Mechanics, Flood and Dam Break Waves, Hydrological Risks and Structures, and Similarity and Transport Phenomena in Fluids. He has supervised numerous PhD students whose work spans environmental hydraulics, granular flows, and sediment transport, with current students including Chen Yanan, Farazande Sofi, and Giboulot Axel Loïc among others.
N.K. Anand is a Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University, holding the James J. Cain III Regents Professorship. He leads research in advanced computational methods and thermal-hydraulic systems, with affiliations to Multidisciplinary Engineering and Nuclear Engineering programs. His work focuses on physics-informed machine learning, finite volume methods, and aerosol transport in nuclear reactor contexts. Education: PhD (Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 1983), M.S. (Kansas State University, 1979), and B.E. (Bangalore University, 1978). Awards include the ASME James Harry Potter Gold Medal (2020) and multiple teaching/administrative excellence awards from Texas A&M. Research emphasizes fluid dynamics modeling (e.g., PINNs for periodic flows, turbulent deposition studies), heat pipe systems, and nuclear reactor thermal-hydraulics. His Versatile Test Reactor (VTR) contributions include cartridge loop designs and aerosol transport experiments. Active in high-temperature reactor safety, with facilities studying pebble beds, helical coil exchangers, and HTGR upper plenum dynamics. Publications span physics-informed ML applications, finite volume techniques, and nuclear thermal systems. Grants supported development of advanced CFD tools and reactor safety infrastructure. His lab collaborates on international nuclear energy projects and emerging AI-driven simulation methodologies.
Robert M. Holt is a Professor in the Department of Geology and Geological Engineering at the University of Mississippi. His research focuses on geological CO2 sequestration, fluid transport in porous media, and hydrogeological characterization for nuclear waste disposal. Holt investigates how fluid behavior in heterogeneous geological formations impacts environmental processes ranging from carbon storage to groundwater contamination. His work examines the fundamental physics governing multiphase flow through porous and fractured geological media, with applications to contaminant transport, energy resources, and waste isolation. Holt has developed experimental methods for visualizing and modeling fluid behavior in heterogeneous subsurface environments, improving understanding of capillary processes and flow dynamics. Holt's research includes field studies of evaporite karst systems, geochemical assessments of aquifer systems, and investigations of hydraulic properties in low-permeability mudrocks. His work on CO2 injection monitoring has contributed to safer implementation of carbon sequestration technologies.
Ivan C. Christov is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University's School of Mechanical Engineering in West Lafayette, Indiana. His research focuses on fluid dynamics, non-Newtonian fluid mechanics, and multiphase processes, with applications in biomedical engineering, micro/nanotechnology, and advanced materials. He leads the Transport: Modeling, Numerics & Theory laboratory. Education: Ph.D., Northwestern University, 2011 M.S., Northwestern University, 2008 M.S., Texas A&M University, 2007 S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2005 Research Interests: Soft hydraulics, computational science, scientific machine learning, nonlinear waves, and fluid-structure interactions. His work spans theoretical modeling, numerical simulation, and experimental validation in complex fluid systems. Publications: Recent work includes studies on flow-rate pressure-drop relations in deformable microchannels, physics-informed neural networks for particle dynamics, and fluid-structure interaction in cerebral aneurysms. Themes include microfluidics, elastohydrodynamics, and rheological characterization of soft materials. Awards: Fulbright U.S. Scholar (2022) Outstanding Engineering Instructor (multiple recognitions) Richard P. Feynman Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship (2013) Labs/Teams: Directs the Transport laboratory at Purdue, focusing on interdisciplinary research in fluid mechanics and computational methods. Collaborates on biomedical fluid dynamics and advanced materials characterization.
Professor Petri Kuosmanen is affiliated with Aalto University as a faculty member of the School of Engineering and holds a position in the Department of Energy and Mechanical Engineering and the Mechatronics unit. Doctoral Degree in Engineering and Technology, Helsinki University of Technology (2004) Licentiate Degree in Engineering and Technology, Helsinki University of Technology (1992) Master's Degree in Engineering and Technology, Helsinki University of Technology (1988) His research focuses on Industrial Internet and Rotor Dynamics , with significant contributions to elevator systems , hydraulics , and wastewater treatment plant design . Recent work includes optimizing natural frequencies in rotor systems and developing digital twins for engineering education . Key trends in his 2024 publications include: Rotor dynamics and vibration analysis Smart data validation in industrial IoT networks Cold-climate adaptations for wastewater treatment Automated fiber optics coating mechanisms Energy efficiency in aeration systems As Principal Investigator, he leads projects like DRIVE FORWARD (2024–2027) and GOOD (2021–2024), focusing on electrified mobile machinery. He actively collaborates with networks such as DAAAM International (Chair) and European CLUSTER-university network (Member).
Professor Hala Zreiqat AM is a leading biomedical engineer at The University of Sydney , serving as the Director of the ARC Training Centre for Innovative BioEngineering . A Fellow of all major Australian academies (AAS, ATSE, FAHMS, FRSN), she develops 3D printed bioceramics for bone regeneration while championing diversity through initiatives like the IDEAL Society and BIOTech Futures mentorship program. Her work bridges academia, clinical practice, and industry in musculoskeletal research . Research Focus: Her lab creates synthetic bone scaffolds that mimic natural bone architecture, strength, and porosity, enabling non-rejected bone regeneration via patient-matched implants. Key applications include orthopaedic, dental, and maxillofacial repair , with over $18M in competitive funding and multiple patents. Current projects explore AI-driven scaffold performance prediction and anti-senescence strategies for aging-related bone loss. Scientific Trends: Recent publications highlight 3D printed nanovoxelated ceramics , antisenescence biomaterials , and multifunctional theranostic platforms . Her team integrates machine learning for scaffold design, atom probe tomography for interface analysis, and two-photon imaging for cellular monitoring in 3D environments. 2021-2022 Fulbright Senior Scholar 2018 NSW Premier's Woman of the Year 2019 Eureka Prize for Innovative Use of Technology Fellow of Australian Academy of Science (2021) Over $18M in research funding Teaching & Leadership: She designed core courses like Tissue Engineering and Nanomaterials in Medicine , mentoring 158 students in 2020 alone. As Chair of CAAR (2020-2023), she strengthens Australia-Arab collaborations. Her lab trains early-career researchers , with alumni now in academia and industry.
Prof. Stefan Wiemer is the Director of the Swiss Seismological Service (SED) and holds the Chair of Seismology at ETH Zurich's Department of Earth and Planetary Science. He obtained a geophysics diploma from Ruhr University Bochum (1992) and a PhD from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (1997). His research focuses on earthquake processes, probabilistic hazard assessments, induced seismicity, and geothermal energy applications. He has published over 200 articles and supervised 30 PhD students, while also lecturing at the University of Bern. Key Roles: Member of ERC Grants Evaluation Panel (2015–present) Scientific Advisor to GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences (2021–present) President of Swiss Geophysical Commission Projects: Leader of Switzerland's national earthquake risk model Coordinator of EU-funded RISE (risk assessments) and DEEP (geothermal de-risking) projects Principal Investigator for ERC Synergy grant FEAR (BedrettoLab fault experiments) His research spans operational earthquake forecasting, CO2 storage monitoring, and the BedrettoLab underground experiments. He has won the Humboldt Foundation Fellowship (1997) and contributed to international initiatives like the Dutch Mining Effects Panel. Teaching includes ETH's Geophysics I course. Scientific contributions include developing seismic hazard models (ERM-CH23), real-time induced seismicity forecasting frameworks, and innovative techniques for fault dynamics analysis. His work integrates field data, laboratory experiments, and computational modeling to address both natural and human-induced seismic risks.
Joel S. Hayworth is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Auburn University's College of Engineering. His research focuses on environmental and ecosystem restoration, particularly in estuarine, terrestrial, and freshwater systems. He leads the Estuarine Environments Research Program (EERP), which investigates the fate of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), PFAS, and oil spill residues in coastal environments. Dr. Hayworth's educational background includes a PhD in Civil Engineering (Hydrology/Hydraulics) from Auburn University, an MS in Hydrology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas via the Desert Research Institute, and a BS in Geophysics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He previously worked at the Tennessee Valley Authority Engineering Laboratory and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, and founded Hayworth Engineering Science in 1999 before returning to academia in 2010. His research interests span environmental engineering, hydrology, hydraulics, estuarine science, pollutant fate and transport, and chemical fingerprinting. He has developed advanced analytical methods for detecting EDCs and PFAS in water, sediment, and biota. His work integrates field studies, laboratory experiments, and environmental modeling to understand complex hydrologic, geologic, chemical, and biological processes in human-impacted ecosystems. The 15 most recent articles highlight a strong trend in environmental contaminant analysis, particularly focusing on PFAS, oil spill residues, and endocrine disruptors. His research combines analytical chemistry with environmental modeling and field monitoring, often in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams. Key themes include the development of UHPLC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS methods, fate and transport modeling of pollutants, and ecological risk assessment in estuarine systems. Dr. Hayworth's scientific contributions are supported by funding from agencies such as the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council). His work has led to significant publications in journals like Science of the Total Environment , Marine Pollution Bulletin , and Water . He actively mentors students and collaborates with researchers like T.P. Clement, G.F. John, and V. Mulabagal. His projects, such as the restoration assessment of Cotton Bayou and Terry Cove, demonstrate applied science for environmental problem-solving. He has developed state-of-the-art analytical laboratories and partnered with coastal communities for long-term monitoring. His laboratory, the Estuarine Environments Research Program (EERP), conducts multi-year studies on endocrine disruptors in estuaries, develops innovative sampling and analysis methods, and trains the next generation of environmental engineers and scientists. The team works across disciplines to address complex environmental challenges in the Gulf Coast region.