Hyesoon Kim is a Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology , affiliated with the College of Computing and leading the HPArch research group . She co-directs the Center for Research into Novel Computing Hierarchies (CRNCH) . Her research focuses on Computer Architecture , GPU , Compilers and Runtime Systems , and Hardware Security , particularly for heterogeneous systems. Contact : hyesoon@cc.gatech.edu Location : 266 Ferst Drive, KACB 2344, Atlanta, GA Research Trends Her recent work spans RISC-V extensions for security, CUDA optimization on softcore GPUs, memory safety techniques, and energy-efficient deep learning architectures. Articles emphasize heterogeneous computing , GPU performance scaling, and IoT -oriented neural network methods. Open Source Projects She leads development of Macsim (heterogeneous architecture simulator) and Vortex (open-source GPU platform).
Jiatao Gu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer and Information Science (CIS) at the University of Pennsylvania, with a part-time role as Staff Research Scientist at Apple (MLR). He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Hong Kong (2018) and a B.Eng. in Electronic Engineering from Tsinghua University (2014). His research focuses on generative machine learning and AI agent interaction with the physical world, emphasizing multi-modal systems spanning language, images, videos, and 3D. Key themes include efficient modeling , flexible architecture design , and scalable decision-making frameworks . 2025: ICLR paper on DART framework 2024: TMLR work on GFlowNet alignment 2023: NeurIPS research on diffusion stability 2022: ACL papers on speech translation Recent publications explore diffusion models for text-to-image synthesis, 3D reconstruction, and efficient sampling techniques. His work addresses fundamental challenges in attention mechanisms, entropy collapse, and multi-stage distillation while advancing non-autoregressive translation and vision-language reasoning . Prospective students can apply through his recruitment process at UPenn. Prior affiliations include Meta AI (FAIR Labs) and academic collaborations with institutions like New York University's CILVR Lab.
Jenna Wise DiVincenzo is an Assistant Professor at the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University. She specializes in research areas such as software verification, formal methods, and programming languages, with a focus on gradual verification techniques that combine static and dynamic analysis. Her work emphasizes usability and scalability in verification tools, and she has contributed to projects like Gradual C0 and gradual null-pointer analysis. Dr. DiVincenzo earned her PhD in Software Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University (2023) and a BS in Mathematics and Computer Science from Youngstown State University (2017). She has interned at IBM Research, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, and the Software Engineering Research and Empirical Studies Lab at YSU. Her awards include the Google PhD Fellowship, NSF GRFP Fellowship, and 2022 Rising Star in EECS. Her research projects span theoretical advancements in gradual verification, empirical studies on usability, and practical tool development. She advises PhD students (e.g., Craig Liu, Conrad Zimmerman) and collaborates on initiatives like gradual verification for Rust and educational tools to teach verification concepts. Her work also explores leveraging large language models for specification generation and enhancing verification tool soundness through formal proofs.
Xiangyu Zhang is the Samuel D. Conte Professor of Computer Science at Purdue University. He specializes in AI security, software analysis, and cyber forensics, with a focus on detecting vulnerabilities in traditional software and AI systems. His research includes dynamic slicing, program profiling, and securing AI models against backdoors. He has led projects funded by DARPA, IARPA, NSF, and industry, securing over $13 million in grants. He has mentored 30+ PhD students and postdocs, many of whom hold academic positions or industry roles. His work has been recognized with awards like the ACM SIGPLAN Distinguished Dissertation Award and NSF Career Award. Education: PhD, Computer Science, University of Arizona (2006) MS & BS, Computer Science, University of Science and Technology of China (2000 & 1998) Research Interests: AI Security: backdoor detection, adversarial attacks, model integrity Program Analysis: dynamic slicing, static/dynamic debugging Cyber Forensics: log analysis, attack investigation Software Reliability: fault localization, vulnerability detection Key Projects: DARPA V-SPELLS: domain-specific program analysis IARPA TrojAI: AI backdoor detection competitions NSF-funded research on model debugging and co-reasoning of software/NL artifacts Awards & Recognition: Top performer in IARPA TrojAI competitions (13/18 rounds) ACM SIGPLAN Distinguished Dissertation Award (2006) NSF Career Award (2009) Ranked 8th globally in systems research productivity (2024) Career Contributions: Secured over $13M in research funding Guided 25 PhDs and 8 postdocs Published 89+ top-tier papers (2014–2024)
Nadia Polikarpova is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of California, San Diego . She earned her PhD from ETH Zurich in 2014 under Bertrand Meyer , followed by postdoctoral research at MIT CSAIL with Armando Solar-Lezama . Her academic contributions have been recognized with prestigious awards including the 2020 Sloan Fellowship , 2020 Intel Rising Stars Award , and 2020 NSF CAREER Award . Polikarpova's research focuses on program synthesis , program verification , and type systems . She leads the Programming Systems group at UCSD and contributes to the IFIP Working Group 2.8 on Functional Programming since 2022. Her work spans foundational research and practical tools, including projects like Synquid , SuSLik , and Laurel that combine formal methods with machine learning for code generation. Her recent publications in venues like OOPSLA , NeurIPS , and ICFP reveal trends in AI-assisted programming , live programming environments , and formal verification . She has advised numerous PhD and Master’s students including Shraddha Barke , Zheng Guo , and Tristan Knoth , many of whom have moved to prominent academic and industry positions. Notable artifacts from her lab include tools like ColDeco for spreadsheet inspection and Superfusion for eliminating intermediate data structures. 2020 : Sloan Fellow 2020 : Intel Rising Stars Award 2020 : NSF CAREER Award 2021 : Distinguished Paper at POPL 2023 : Distinguished Artifact at PLDI 2023 : Distinguished Paper at OOPSLA Polikarpova actively contributes to academic service, serving on program committees for PLDI , POPL , and OOPSLA , and co-chairing the OOPSLA Review Committee in 2023. She has delivered keynotes at APLAS'20 and PLDI'24 , emphasizing the integration of large language models with formal methods.
David Yarowsky is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Johns Hopkins University. He leads the Low-Resource Languages Lab and is a member of the Center for Language and Speech Processing. Harvard University - Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science (1987) University of Pennsylvania - Master of Science in Engineering (1993) and PhD in Computer and Information Science (1996) Research Interests : Natural Language Processing, particularly focusing on word sense disambiguation, minimally supervised induction algorithms, multilingual NLP, and machine translation for low-resource languages. His work bridges theoretical linguistics with practical applications in information retrieval, spoken language systems, and very large text databases. Article Trends : His publications emphasize cross-lingual transfer learning, universal morphology, and low-resource language technologies. Key themes include morphological analysis, computational etymology, and adversarial speech recognition. Scientific Awards : ACL Fellow (2013-present) Professional Service : Served as Treasurer and Executive Committee Member of the Association for Computational Linguistics, Secretary-Treasurer of SIGDAT, and chair/co-chair of major conferences including EMNLP 2013, IJCNLP 2011, and ACL 2014. Labs & Teams : Director of the Low-Resource Languages Lab at JHU and active member of the Center for Language and Speech Processing.
Daniel Genkin is an Associate Professor at the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy and School of Computer Science at Georgia Institute of Technology. His research spans system security, cryptography, side-channel attacks, hardware security, cryptanalysis, secure multiparty computation (MPC), verifiable computation, and SNARKs. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from the Technion - Israel's Institute of Technology and was awarded the 2024 Sloan Research Fellowship. His work focuses on microarchitectural vulnerabilities, including Rowhammer , Cache Timing , and Speculative Execution attacks. Notable contributions include co-discovering Spectre and Meltdown vulnerabilities. He has received multiple awards, including Distinguished Paper Awards , IEEE Micro Top Picks , and Black Hat Pwnie Awards . Publications highlight trends in Side-Channel Analysis , Hardware Exploitation , and Cryptographic Implementations . His email is genkin@gatech.edu , and he actively seeks students for research in security and cryptography.
David Lie is a Professor at the University of Toronto, jointly appointed in the Edward S. Rogers Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of Computer Science, and Faculty of Law. He directs the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society, co-founded the IT3 Lab, and serves as Associate Director at the Data Sciences Institute. His research focuses on securing computer systems through operating systems, architecture, and formal verification approaches. B.A.Sc (University of Toronto, 1998) M.S. (Stanford, 2001) Ph.D. (Stanford, 2004) His research emphasizes building secure systems for mobile platforms and cloud computing, with significant contributions to trusted execution environments (XOM architecture precursor to Intel SGX/ARM TrustZone) and Android permission mapping (PScout tool). Recent work spans cryptographic side-channels, web tracking detection, and AI safety. Key honors include SOSP 2003 Best Paper, Ontario MRI Early Researcher Award (2008), Connaught Global Challenge Award (2017), and Canada Research Chairs (Tier 2 2013-2018, Tier 1 current). He has secured over $30M in research funding and served as General Chair for CCS 2018. Lie leads the IT3 Lab (Technology and Policy Integration), collaborates with industry leaders (Google, VMware, Telus), and mentors graduate students working on practical security implementations. He co-teaches ECE1724: Privacy Problems with Lisa Austin from the Faculty of Law, reflecting his technology-policy interests.
Edward Awh is a Professor at the University of Chicago in the Department of Psychology, specializing in cognitive neuroscience, working memory, and attentional mechanisms. His research explores the neural basis of memory storage, spatial attention, and the interplay between cognitive systems using EEG and neuroimaging techniques. University of Chicago, Department of Psychology NIH R01 grants on working memory and ADHD Research Interests: Awh investigates discrete resource limits in working memory, the role of alpha oscillations in attention, and neural mechanisms underlying memory encoding and retrieval. His work addresses how the brain manages distractor suppression, spatial representations, and the relationship between attention and memory capacity. Scientific Trends: Recent publications focus on content-independent memory encoding, EEG decoding of attentional processes, and the intersection of sustained attention with memory performance. His studies frequently employ human behavioral experiments, EEG analysis, and computational modeling. Grants: Principal Investigator on multiple NIH R01 grants, including projects on working memory states (R01MH087214), perceptual interference in ADHD (R01MH077105), and attentional control mechanisms.
Conrad Watt is an Assistant Professor at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore , specializing in WebAssembly, formal verification, and concurrency. He previously served as a Research Fellow at Peterhouse, University of Cambridge, and earned his PhD under Peter Sewell. Co-chair of the W3C WebAssembly Community Group Active in WebAssembly standards development, including concurrency specifications Developed mechanizations in theorem provers like Isabelle/HOL Collaborator with industry (wasmtime engine) and academic teams on verification tools Research Focus: Formal verification of low-level languages, concurrency models, and security mechanisms for WebAssembly. His work bridges theoretical rigor with practical applications, including WasmRef-Isabelle and threads projects. Recent Trends: 2025 publications explore separation logic automation and concurrency experiments, while 2024-2023 work emphasizes specification toolchains (SpecTec), verified interpreters, and memory-safe execution techniques. Scientific Awards ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award Honorable Mention EAPLS Best Dissertation Award Advising: Supervises PhD students Qiyuan Xu and Antanas Kalkauskas. Collaborates with researchers like Philippa Gardner and Jean Pichon-Pharabod.
Michael Ferdman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Stony Brook University, where he leads research in computer architecture and systems. His office is located in Room 343 at Stony Brook, NY 11794-2424, and he can be contacted via phone (631-632-8449) or email. Ferdman directs the Computer Architecture and Systems Laboratory (compas.cs.stonybrook.edu), focusing on next-generation server infrastructure. Ferdman's research spans the entire computing stack with emphasis on: FPGA integration for server environments (Intel HARP, Microsoft Catapult) Machine learning accelerators for convolutional neural networks Server systems optimization in the post-Moore era Network processing and software-defined networking Programming models for emerging memory technologies (HBM, 3D XPoint) Reconfigurable hardware and high-level synthesis His work addresses both performance and security challenges in modern computing infrastructure. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2022-2025) reveals consistent focus on: Hardware acceleration techniques (FPGAs, specialized processors) Memory hierarchy optimization and cache management Security vulnerabilities in web applications and systems Post-Moore computing architectures Parallel processing and distributed systems His research shows strong emphasis on practical implementations bridging hardware and software layers. Awards recognizing his contributions include: Graduate Teaching Award (2014) Best Paper Award at ASPLOS XVII Best Paper Finalist at HPCA XVII Three IEEE Micro Top Picks selections (2009, 2012) He teaches advanced courses including CSE 502, CSE 602, and CSE 506 at Stony Brook University.
Gang (Gary) Tan is a Professor at the Pennsylvania State University's College of Engineering, specializing in computer security, formal methods, and programming languages. He co-directs the Institute for Networking and Security Research (INSR) and leads the Security of Software (SOS) Group, focusing on compiler, programming language, and formal method techniques to enhance computer security. Education: B.E. in Computer Science from Tsinghua University Ph.D. in Computer Science from Princeton University His research integrates formal verification with practical security applications, particularly emphasizing: Compiler-based security enforcement Side-channel mitigation in speculative execution Fairness analysis in machine learning systems Formal grammar approaches for software reliability Key article trends show: Security-focused formal methods (15% of publications) ML fairness verification (20% of recent work) Compiler-based security solutions (30% of output) Side-channel defense mechanisms (25% of research) Parser design and formal grammar synthesis (10% of contributions) Scientific achievements include: NSF CAREER Award Google Research Awards (2x) PLDI 2024 Best Paper James F. Will Career Development Professorship Outstanding Research Award at Penn State Ruth and Joel Spira Excellence in Teaching Award Dr. Tan actively contributes to academic communities through: DARPA ISAT study group membership Program committee roles (CGO 2024, ECOOP 2018, etc) Leadership in security research initiatives
Lorenzo Cavallaro is a Full Professor of Computer Science at University College London (UCL), specializing in Trustworthy AI for Systems Security. His research focuses on developing learning-based methods that are robust against adversaries by understanding the interplay between program analysis, representations, and machine learning models. His research interests span multiple critical areas in cybersecurity, including adversarial machine learning, malware detection, program analysis, and security evaluation. Cavallaro's work particularly emphasizes the challenges of concept drift in security systems and the development of robust defenses against evolving threats. His research has significant implications for Android security, binary analysis, and memory safety in embedded systems. Analysis of his recent publications (2024-2025) reveals a strong focus on addressing fundamental challenges in ML-based security systems. His work spans malware detection systems that maintain reliability under distribution shifts, adversarial attacks in the problem space, context-driven approaches using LLMs for security applications, and temporal invariance in malware detection. A recurring theme is the critical examination of whether ML-based security systems are truly robust and reliable in real-world scenarios. Cavallaro serves in significant editorial and advisory roles including the NDSS Steering Group (2023-2026), Associate Editor for Computer & Security and ACM TOPS, and Scientific Advisory Board for SERICS. He has been actively involved in program committees for top security conferences including IEEE S&P, USENIX Security, CCS, and NDSS from 2021-2025. He teaches Malware (COMP0060; 2022—ongoing), Research in Information Security (COMP0057; 2021—23), and Computer Security 2 (COMP0055; 2021—ongoing) at UCL, contributing to the next generation of security researchers and practitioners.
Lin Zhong is the Joseph C. Tsai Professor of Computer Science at Yale University, leading the Efficient Computing Lab. He holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University and M.S./B.S. degrees from Tsinghua University. Previously, he served at Rice University from 2005 to 2019. His research focuses on optimizing computing efficiency, quantum error correction, operating systems, and mobile systems. Education: Ph.D., Princeton University M.S., Tsinghua University B.S., Tsinghua University Research Interests: His work spans quantum computing (e.g., decoding algorithms for surface codes), operating systems (safety, correctness, and lightweight kernels), and mobile/networking systems (massive MIMO, energy-efficient designs). Recent trends include integrating large language models (LLMs) into robotics and securing cloud-based AI workflows. Awards: NSF CAREER Award ACM SIGMOBILE RockStar (2014) and Test of Time (2022) Fellowships from IEEE and ACM Best Paper Awards at ACM MobileHCI, IEEE PerCom, ACM MobiSys, and more Lab & Teams: His Efficient Computing Lab explores systems for quantum error correction (e.g., FPGA-based decoders), secure embedded systems, and LLM-driven robotics. Projects include TimelyLLM (real-time LLM serving) and Blindfold (confidential memory management).
Chang Xu is a Professor and Ph.D. supervisor at Nanjing University, affiliated with the State Key Laboratory for Novel Software Technology, School of Computer Science, and Institute of Computer Software (ICS). He has been a full-time faculty member since 2010, when he joined as an associate professor and was later promoted to full professor in 2015. Education: Ph.D. from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) in 2008 (advisor: Prof. S.C. Cheung) M.Eng. from Institute of Software, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ISCAS) in 2003 B.Eng. from University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in 2000 Research Interests: Professor Xu's research focuses on big data software engineering, intelligent software testing and analysis, and adaptive and autonomous software systems. His recent work centers on constructing and providing runtime support for intelligent software in open environments, with emphasis on inconsistency detection and resolution for environments, and quality assurance for adaptive, concurrent, learning-based, smartphone-based, and spreadsheet-based applications. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications in software engineering, particularly in program analysis, software testing, and self-adaptive systems. Scientific Awards: ACM SIGSOFT Distinguished Paper Award from ICSE 2025 Best Student Paper Award from EUROSYS 2025 ACM Distinguished Member in 2024 Best Paper Award from SOSP 2023 Best Paper Candidate from ISSRE 2022 Yangtze River Scholar by the Ministry of Education in 2021 Multiple ACM SIGSOFT Distinguished Paper Awards from conferences including ASE, ICSE National Science and Technology Progress Award (Second Class) in 2011 Academic Service and Advising: Professor Xu has served on numerous program committees for top software engineering conferences including ICSE, ASE, ESEC/FSE, and ISSTA. He is an editorial board member for several journals including Journal of Computer Science and Technology and Frontiers of Computer Science. He has supervised numerous Ph.D. and MSc students, with research topics spanning program analysis, software testing, self-adaptive systems, and more. His students have gone on to successful careers in both academia and industry. Research Groups: Professor Xu is associated with the SPAR research group at Nanjing University and the CASTLE research group at HKUST, focusing on software analysis, reliability, and testing.
