Dr. Sarah Loos is an independent postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP), University of Cambridge, and a Research Fellow at Corpus Christi College. Her work focuses on theoretical descriptions of nonequilibrium systems, integrating statistical physics, thermodynamics, control theory, and nonlinear dynamics. PhD in Statistical Physics (TU Berlin, 2020) Marie-Curie and DFG Walter-Benjamin Fellow Key research areas: stochastic thermodynamics, non-Markovian processes, active matter, nonreciprocal systems Her research explores entropy production, time-reversal asymmetry, and collective dynamics in active matter. She has received multiple awards, including the Royal Society of Chemistry's Early Career Award (2024) and Springer Thesis Award (2020). Recent publications emphasize nonreciprocal interactions, optimal control protocols, and memory effects in complex systems. Scientific Awards: Early Career Award (2024) Marie-Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship (2022) DFG Walter-Benjamin Fellowship (2022) SKM Dissertation Prize (2021) Carl Ramsauer Preis (2020) EPL Poster Prize (2019) Her work has been supported by the Joachim-Herz Stiftung (2022) and Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes (2013-2015). Collaborations span institutions like ICTP Trieste, Leipzig University, and Duke University.
Richard Eberhardt serves as Program Manager for the MIT Game Lab and instructor for MIT Game Lab classes at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he aligns research projects with staff, equipment, and funding while mentoring student game development initiatives. His operational leadership supports the lab's mission to advance game literacy through interdisciplinary collaboration. His academic credentials include: Bachelor of Arts from the College of William & Mary Serious Games MA Certificate from Michigan State University Professional certifications: Certified Scrum Master PMI Agile Certified Practitioner Eberhardt's research investigates historical representation in games, analyzing how mechanics model historical systems and which narratives are amplified or marginalized in gaming communities. His scholarship spans serious games for mental health awareness, educational applications of VR/AR technologies, and inclusive game jam methodologies, consistently addressing public literacies through civic systems and emotional intelligence frameworks. Analysis of his 2013-2023 publications reveals sustained focus on game-based educational tools across STEM and humanities domains. His work pioneers VR simulations for photonics education, examines historical accuracy in commercial games, and develops inclusive frameworks for collaborative design events. This output demonstrates strategic integration of game mechanics with learning objectives while addressing representation gaps in historical gaming. Notable recognition includes an award for elude , the depression awareness game developed in 2010 for patients' support networks. As a mentor, Eberhardt directs student projects like elude and hosts game jams fostering community collaboration. His Agile-certified project management approach facilitates resource allocation across educational initiatives, though specific grant details remain undisclosed in available materials. The MIT Game Lab operates as his primary research ecosystem, connecting students, faculty, and community partners to explore games' transformative potential in education and social contexts through its Civic Systems, Media & Emotional Intelligence pillar.
Mickaël CAMPO is an Associate Professor at the University of Burgundy (Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté) in Dijon, France, specializing in sports psychology. He is affiliated with the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education (UFR STAPS) and the Socio-Psychology and Sports Management Laboratory (Laboratoire Psy-DREPI). His educational background includes a Doctorate in Sports Psychology. Prior to his current position, he served as an Associate Professor at Université de Rouen Normandie from 2013 to 2015 and completed his PhD studies at Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 from 2007 to 2010. Dr. CAMPO's research focuses on the interpersonal emotional process (IEP), particularly examining: Relationships between social psychological variables such as social identity and emotions in group contexts Interpersonal emotion regulation in sports settings Emotional contagion phenomena in team sports Psychological adaptation processes in performance and learning contexts Emotional intelligence development and application in sports His work primarily centers on team sports, with a special emphasis on rugby. He has developed theoretical frameworks like the Interpersonal Emotional Process (IEP) model and has conducted extensive research on how emotions affect performance in competitive sports environments. Dr. CAMPO has received recognition for his research, including the 1st Young Researcher Prize in 2010. His scientific contributions span numerous publications in prestigious journals, with his work focusing on the intersection of social psychology and sports performance. As an academic, Dr. CAMPO has supervised multiple research projects and has been invited to present at various conferences, including the clinical medico sport congress in Lyon. His work bridges theoretical research with practical applications for athletes, coaches, and sports psychologists.
Cem Say is a Professor in the Department of Computer Engineering at Boğaziçi University's Faculty of Engineering, where he has established himself as a leading researcher in theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence. His academic journey began with the completion of his doctoral dissertation titled Qualitative System Identification in 1992, which was the first thesis of Boğaziçi University's Computer Engineering PhD program. Professor Say's research interests span multiple domains of computer science, with significant contributions to quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and theoretical computer science. His early work focused on qualitative reasoning and simulation, particularly through the QSIM algorithm, where he made significant improvements to filtering techniques and addressed challenges in representing physical systems. Over time, his research evolved toward quantum computation, where he has made substantial contributions to quantum finite automata theory, space-bounded quantum computation, and quantum complexity classes. His recent work explores the energy complexity of computation, bridging theoretical computer science with thermodynamics. His publication record shows a clear evolution from classical AI and qualitative reasoning toward quantum computation. The most recent articles demonstrate his focus on space-bounded quantum computation, energy complexity of regular languages, and interactive proof systems with minimal resources. His work consistently addresses fundamental questions about computational limits, particularly in quantum and sublogarithmic-space models. Professor Say has also made significant contributions to science communication through several books written for general audiences, including 50 Soruda Yapay Zekâ (2018), Yeni Dünya, Yeni Ağ (2020), and En Hakiki Mürşit (2021), which explain complex concepts in artificial intelligence and scientific methodology in accessible terms. Throughout his career, Professor Say has been actively involved in the Turkish academic community, editing proceedings for multiple Turkish symposia on artificial intelligence and neural networks. His doctoral dissertation established foundational work in qualitative system identification, and his subsequent research has consistently pushed boundaries in theoretical computer science, particularly in quantum computation where he has collaborated extensively with Abuzer Yakaryılmaz and other researchers.
Alicia Che is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine and serves as Director of Graduate Admissions for the Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program. She joined the Yale Department of Psychiatry in 2021 after completing her postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Natalia De Marco García at Weill Cornell Medical College and Dr. Gord Fishell at NYU. Her research is conducted through the Che Lab at Yale, where she investigates how early life experiences impact brain circuit assembly and mature function in models of psychiatric illness. Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program Center for Brain & Mind Health Division of Molecular Psychiatry Wu Tsai Institute Yale Center for the Science of Cannabis and Cannabinoids Dr. Che earned her Ph.D. in Physiology and Neurobiology from the University of Connecticut in 2014, where she worked in the laboratory of Dr. Joseph LoTurco. She received her B.S. with triple majors in Biology, Physics, and Physical Chemistry from Pacific Lutheran University in Washington state in 2009. Her research focuses on understanding developmental trajectories following early life experiences to develop diagnostics and early interventions for psychiatric illnesses. Dr. Che's research examines how sensory inputs, social bonding, stress, and substance exposure impact brain development. She employs a multi-dimensional approach to assess transcriptional, circuit, neuronal activity, and behavioral changes across the entire developmental timeline. Her lab currently focuses on four specific areas: the role of oxytocin in social behavior development, circuit dysfunction in PTSD, early-life cannabinoid exposure effects, and the impact of early life stress on development and adulthood. She utilizes advanced techniques including mouse genetics, slice electrophysiology, and longitudinal in vivo 2-photon imaging on behaving animals. Her most recent publications demonstrate significant contributions to understanding neural circuit development, PTSD mechanisms, and the effects of early life experiences on brain function. Her work spans from molecular neuroscience to behavioral outcomes, with publications in top journals including Nature, Neuron, and Nature Communications. Her research has revealed important insights into how translaminar neuronal activity strengthens cortical columns, how oxytocin facilitates social touch development, and how PTSD affects brain transcriptomics. NARSAD Young Investigator Award (2020) K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award from NINDS (2019) Dr. Che's work has significant implications for understanding and treating neurodevelopmental disorders, PTSD, and the consequences of early life experiences on mental health. She collaborates extensively with researchers across Yale and beyond, with frequent co-authorship with colleagues including Lin Lin, Alex Kwan, and Christopher Pittenger. Her research program bridges basic neuroscience with clinical applications, aiming to translate findings into potential interventions for psychiatric conditions.
Partha P. Mukherjee is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Associate Head for Research at Purdue University's School of Mechanical Engineering. His research focuses on energy storage systems (batteries, fuel cells), mesoscale physics, and materials interactions. He holds a Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University (2007), an M.S. from IIT Kanpur (1999), and a B.S. from North Bengal University (1997). Research Interests include: Energy storage and conversion mechanisms Mesoscale physics and stochastic modeling Reactive transport in materials systems Thermodynamics and heat/mass transfer Notable Awards: Scialog Fellow (2017) Dean of Engineering Excellence Award (2017) Emerging Investigator distinction (2016) Morris E. Foster Faculty Fellowship (2016) His research group operates the Energy and Transport Sciences Laboratory (ETSL), advancing battery safety, solid-state battery architectures, and electrochemical systems. Recent work emphasizes solid-state electrolyte interfaces and fast-charging dynamics.
Steven F. Son is the Alfred J. McAllister Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University, affiliated with the College of Engineering. He holds joint appointments in Aeronautics and Astronautics, Materials Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. His research focuses on energetic materials, combustion science, and propulsion systems, with emphasis on detonation physics, additive manufacturing of explosives, and novel propellant designs. Key projects include developing throttleable solid propellants, studying material-filled void effects on detonation waves, and optimizing nanomaterials for enhanced reactivity. Dr. Son’s work integrates experimental and computational methods, such as laser absorption spectroscopy and machine learning, to advance understanding of high-energy materials. His contributions span from fundamental material characterization to applied systems like Martian perchlorate-based propellants. He leads research at the Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories, Purdue’s premier facility for propulsion and energetic materials research. His recent studies explore flexoelectricity in fluoropolymer/aluminum composites, laser ignition systems for solid propellants, and thermal decomposition mechanisms of novel energetic formulations. While no awards are explicitly listed, his prolific publication record and interdisciplinary approach highlight his influence in the field.
Vladimir A. Rakov is a distinguished professor and co-director of the International Center for Lightning Research and Testing (ICLRT) at the University of Florida’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. His primary research focuses on lightning physics, atmospheric electricity, and lightning protection. He holds affiliations with prestigious organizations such as the American Geophysical Union (AGU), IEEE, and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Education: Rakov earned a PhD (1983) and MS (1977) in Electrical Engineering from Tomsk Polytechnic University. His professional memberships include roles in AGU, IEEE, and the International Commission on Atmospheric Electricity (ICAE). He has chaired committees for international lightning conferences and contributed to standards development for lightning protection systems. Research: Rakov’s work spans lightning initiation, return stroke modeling, and electromagnetic effects. He has authored over 200 peer-reviewed articles, including seminal books like Lightning: Physics and Effects . His team conducts field experiments using rocket-triggered lightning and advanced instrumentation. Notable achievements include studies on lightning-induced voltages, X-ray emissions, and safety standards for aircraft and infrastructure. Awards: Rakov has received numerous accolades, including the IEEE Richard R. Stoddart Award (2019) and Honorary Doctorate from the Russian Academy of Sciences (2015). His research impacts global lightning protection practices and aerospace safety.
Ming Lin is a Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland, College Park, holding joint appointments in Computer Science (Department of Computer Science), the Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS), Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), and the Maryland Robotics Center. She holds the Dr. Barry Mersky and Capital One E-Nnovate Endowed Professorships. Her research focuses on physically-based modeling, virtual environments, haptics, robotics, and AI applications in healthcare and urban computing. Education: Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences from UC Berkeley. She previously spent 20 years at UNC Chapel Hill before joining UMD in 2018. Research interests include collision detection algorithms (e.g., Lin-Canny algorithm), real-time physics simulation, virtual/augmented reality systems, and medical imaging applications. Her work has led to over 2 million downloads of her group's software tools and licenses with 60+ companies. Notable contributions include the Oculus Rift-related VR technologies and Amazon's virtual try-on system. Awards: IEEE Fellow (2012), ACM Fellow (2011), NAI Fellow (2022), and Washington Academy of Sciences Distinguished Career Award (2020). Active in professional service, she serves on the CRA Board and chairs the Committee on Widening Participation in Computing Research. Advising: Supervises 12+ PhD/Master's students. Her lab (GAMMA Group) focuses on AI-driven robotics, autonomous systems, and physically-based simulations. Key projects include traffic simulation frameworks, medical VR applications, and 3D garment modeling.
Andrea Tapia is an Associate Professor of Information Sciences and Technology at Pennsylvania State University. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of New Mexico (2000). Her research focuses on the intersection of social theory, ICT, and crisis response, with a particular emphasis on leveraging social media for disaster resilience and humanitarian action. She has secured over $3.7 million in external funding, supervised 16 graduate committees (including 10 PhDs and 6 master’s theses), and authored over 40 journal articles, 60 conference papers, and 12 book chapters. Tapia is an elected leader in the American Sociological Association and the International Association for Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management. Her work directly influences UN policy, international relief organizations, and U.S. governmental initiatives. She has pioneered platforms like Aurorasaurus and contributed to frameworks for social media integration in emergency dispatch systems. Her research spans crisis informatics, crowdsourced early warning systems, and inter-organizational collaboration in humanitarian contexts. Notable achievements include developing methodologies for trust detection in social media data and analyzing disaster response coordination networks. Tapia has presented at 73 conferences, including 31 invited talks, and her scholarship emphasizes actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners. Tapia teaches 12 courses across undergraduate, Honors, and graduate levels, reflecting her commitment to education. Her current focus includes refining frameworks for social media data adoption in public safety answering points and advancing resilience analytics for cyber-physical-social systems. She leads interdisciplinary teams addressing challenges in disaster response, digital volunteering, and technology-mediated collaboration.
Dr. Mark Thompson is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Researcher of Sport Psychology at London Metropolitan University's School of Social Sciences and Professions. He holds a PhD from the University of Hull and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). His academic work bridges sport psychology, healthcare rehabilitation, and youth athlete development. Dr. Thompson's education includes a PhD in Psychology from the University of Hull. His research focuses on emotional processes in elite athletes, doping propensity in youth sports, and post-COVID-19 patient rehabilitation. Notable projects include NHS-funded studies on telerehabilitation and collaborations with the International Olympic Committee and World Anti-Doping Agency. Research Interests: Psychophysiological responses to stress in sports Emotional regulation strategies among athletes Anti-doping education and youth athlete behavior Telehealth applications in post-hospitalization recovery His publications emphasize qualitative methodologies, exploring topics like athlete performance under stress, doping prevention programs, and healthcare professional perspectives on self-management approaches. Awards: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Dr. Thompson has delivered presentations at major conferences such as the American College of Sports Medicine and contributed to media discussions on doping in elite sport via LoveSport Radio. His teaching spans foundational psychology to advanced modules like cognition and behavior, often serving as module leader.
Charles Perin is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Victoria, leading the UViz research group. He holds a PhD from Université Paris-Sud (2014) and has held roles including Post-doc at the University of Calgary and Lecturer at City, University of London. His research focuses on information visualization, personal visualization, human-computer interaction, and sports visualization. Education: PhD in Computer Science (2014), Université Paris-Sud; Post-doc at University of Calgary (InnoVis lab); MS and earlier studies in Computer Science and HCI in France. Research interests include designing interactive visualization tools for personal data reflection, health data communication, and sports analytics. He emphasizes authoring tools for non-experts and physical/tangible visualization systems. Recent work explores embedded data physicalizations and mobile visualization design. His articles span topics like data storytelling, patient-generated health visualizations, and soccer data analysis, often appearing in top venues like IEEE VIS, CHI, and Eurovis. He has advised over 20 students across PhD, MSc, and undergraduate levels. Teaching includes courses on Information Visualization and HCI at UVic, City, and other institutions. He co-organized workshops on topics like Personal Visualization and Sports Data at IEEE VIS. His UViz lab collaborates internationally with institutions like Monash University and the National Archives (UK).
Dr. Saman Razavi is an Associate Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, holding dual appointments in the School of Environment and Sustainability (SENS) and the Department of Civil, Geological and Environmental Engineering in the College of Engineering. He is a member of the Global Institute for Water Security and leads the Razavi EnviroFutures Lab. His research focuses on hydrological modeling, water resources management, climate change impacts, and the integration of machine learning with environmental science. Dr. Razavi has earned a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Waterloo. Education: PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Amirkabir University, Iran BS in Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology Research interests include hydrologic model development, optimization, uncertainty quantification, climate change analysis, and socio-hydrological modeling. He emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to address water challenges through integrated frameworks that bridge natural science, engineering, and socio-economic factors. Award: Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize from ASCE (2024) Advising & Grants: Dr. Razavi leads the Integrated Modelling Program for Canada under Global Water Futures, focusing on transboundary water systems. His work involves developing decision-support tools for flood/drought management and climate adaptation. Labs/Teams: The Razavi EnviroFutures Lab advances research on water-human systems, leveraging AI and big data to enhance resilience against water-related hazards. Current projects include flood-prone area mapping, drought prediction, and socio-hydrological modeling in transboundary basins.
Göran Ekström is the Newberry Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. He holds joint affiliations with the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences and the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Previously, he was a professor at Harvard University (1990–2006) before moving to Columbia. His research focuses on seismic wave analysis, earthquake mechanics, and environmental geophysics with notable contributions to understanding glacial earthquakes, volcanic processes, and nuclear explosion monitoring. Education: B.S. in Physics (Swarthmore College, 1981), Ph.D. in Geophysics (Harvard University, 1987). Postbaccalaureate studies at Moscow State University and postdoctoral work at Columbia University. He has served as chair of major organizations like the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology and EarthScope Steering Committee. Research interests span seismology, tectonophysics, and environmental geology. Notable achievements include discovering glacial earthquakes linked to Greenland ice dynamics and developing the Global Centroid Moment Tensor Project. His work integrates seismic data from global networks to study Earth’s interior structure and tectonic processes. Awards include the Beno Gutenberg Medal (2015) and election to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (2019). He advises on geohazard monitoring and collaborates with international agencies for seismic treaty verification. Current projects include studies of mantle dynamics using surface-wave tomography and analysis of geophysical signals from extreme events like landslides and volcanic eruptions.
Dr. Alvin J. K. Chua is an Assistant Professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS) under the NUS Presidential Young Professorship. He holds a joint appointment in the Department of Mathematics and a courtesy appointment in the Department of Statistics and Data Science. His research focuses on gravitational-wave astronomy , particularly extreme mass ratio inspirals (EMRIs) as key sources for the LISA mission. He develops computational and statistical methods for modeling GW sources and analyzing detector data, with recent work on machine learning and Bayesian inference techniques. His selected publications highlight advancements in modeling beyond-vacuum-GR effects in EMRIs non-local parameter degeneracies rapid relativistic waveform generation neural networks for GW inference statistical sampling on manifolds These works span gravitational-wave astrophysics , computational relativity , and applied statistics . Scientific recognition includes the NUS Presidential Young Professorship. He collaborates with the LISA Consortium and the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav).
