Dr. Yujie (Julie) Chen is an Associate Professor (on leave) at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Information, affiliated with the Department of Communication, Culture, Information & Technology (CCIT). Her work focuses on digital media's political economy, platform capitalism, and digital labour studies. She authored Super-Sticky WeChat and Chinese Society , analyzing WeChat's societal integration and platform power dynamics in China. Her research critiques how labour is marginalized in datafication discourse, particularly in platform-mediated sectors like ride-hailing (DiDi) and food delivery. Key themes include algorithmic control, worker resistance, and the interplay between technology, state policies, and labour conditions in China. Dr. Chen’s work bridges sociotechnical systems analysis with critical political economy frameworks. Her recent studies explore temporal exploitation in platform labour (e.g., food delivery workers’ time management), gamification of work processes, and the 'digital utility' concept deployed by platforms to justify market dominance. She frequently presents at conferences like AoIR and ICA, emphasizing global platform capitalism’s socio-economic impacts. Dr. Chen is completing a book manuscript examining labour’s erasure in datafication narratives and advocating for analytical frameworks that foreground embodied labour experiences. Her research also intersects with global South labour comparisons, notably between China and the Philippines in platform economies.
Professor Antonio Griffo holds the position of Professor of Power Electronics and Electric Drives at the University of Sheffield's School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. He leads the Electrical Machines and Drives Research Group and is involved in the High Reliability Drives Group. His academic journey includes a MSc (2003) and PhD (2007) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Naples, followed by research roles at Bristol and Sheffield Universities before becoming a Lecturer in 2013 and later a Professor. His research focuses on advanced control of electric drives, SiC-based power electronics for aerospace/renewables, fault detection in machines, and thermal management. Key projects include modeling hybrid AC/DC power systems for 'More Electric Aircraft', sensorless control techniques, and real-time simulation methodologies. He has pioneered work on SiC converter reliability, insulation monitoring, and condition-based maintenance systems. Publications (15+ in top journals like IEEE Transactions) emphasize innovative solutions for power electronics challenges, including voltage stress mitigation, thermal modeling, and fault tolerance. His work bridges theory and application, addressing critical issues in aerospace, renewable energy, and electric vehicle systems. Griffo also contributes to educational advancements through modular training platforms for power electronics education. Labs/Teams: Active in the Electrical Machines and Drives Research Group, focusing on high-reliability drive systems and sustainable energy technologies. Collaborates with industry on projects like the EPSRC Offshore Wind Prosperity Partnership.
Steven Berry is the David Swensen Professor of Economics at Yale University and the inaugural Faculty Director of the Tobin Center for Economic Policy at Yale. He specializes in empirical analysis of markets in equilibrium, with a focus on industrial organization, product differentiation, and dynamic market structures. He holds a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1989) and a BA from Northwestern University (1980). His research explores competition policy, environmental economics, international trade, and labor market power. He has served as Economics Department Chair at Yale and Director of the Division of Social Sciences. Berry is a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and has advised governments on antitrust, environmental, and trade policies. He is an elected Fellow of the Econometric Society and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, having won the Frisch Medal in 2017. His work integrates micro and macro data to analyze markets like automobiles, airlines, and media, emphasizing structural econometric methods. Key Research Themes: Empirical industrial organization, demand estimation, dynamic policy analysis. Awards: Frisch Medal, Distinguished Fellow of the Industrial Organization Society. Consulting: Government and private-sector antitrust policy, environmental regulation.
Prof. Fedde Scheele holds the position of Full Professor at the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Faculty of Science's Athena Institute, and the Network Institute. His research focuses on healthcare workforce dynamics, medical education innovations, and global health leadership development. He has supervised 25 PhD theses, contributing significantly to academic mentorship. Key research interests include nurse power structures in healthcare, non-clinical staff engagement, physician leadership in rural Indonesia, and student learning patterns through e-learning platforms. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to quality education and good health. Recent studies explore qualitative insights into hospital hierarchies, comparative analysis of clinical/non-clinical worker resilience, and transformative pedagogical strategies in medical training. Scheele's interdisciplinary approach bridges healthcare management, medical education technology, and global health policy. Advising: 25 supervised PhD theses (e.g., leadership development models, healthcare workforce studies). Collaborations span institutions in Indonesia and the Netherlands. Active in Athena Institute's interdisciplinary research networks and the Network Institute's digital health initiatives.
Michael Ward is a Professor in the Department of Economics at Monash University, with a joint appointment at the Monash Sustainability Institute. His research focuses on applied microeconomics and econometrics, particularly addressing environmental and resource sustainability challenges such as water management, pollution regulation, land use policies, and biodiversity conservation. He joined Monash in 2012 after faculty positions at ANU and UC Berkeley. Ward has led multiple research projects, including the RACE for 2030 CRC (Cooperative Research Centre) and adaptive urban water management initiatives. He has been recognized with the 2008 Best Economics Paper Award from the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association for his work on food safety and nutrition. His research outputs span 23 peer-reviewed articles, including influential studies on regulatory compliance mechanisms, water pricing strategies, and biodiversity conservation. Ward collaborates internationally and contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals related to climate action and sustainable cities. Projects : RACE for 2030 CRC (2020–2031), Adaptive Urban Water Management (2012–2017), and household electricity use research (2022). Awards : 2008 Best Economics Paper Award for work on food safety and nutrition. Labs/Teams : Monash Sustainability Institute, interdisciplinary collaborations on energy and environmental policy.
Devansh Saxena is an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, holding dual affiliations in the Information School and the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences. His research focuses on sociotechnical practices of decision-making in high-stakes domains, particularly examining the social impacts of AI in government agencies, community-based organizations, and public health. Saxena employs mixed-methods approaches, blending computational and design methods to develop human-centered AI systems that prioritize equity and collective decision-making. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Marquette University, advised by Dr. Shion Guha and Dr. Michael Zimmer. His work intersects Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Machine Learning, and FAccT (Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency in Sociotechnical Systems). Key areas of research include responsible AI, participatory algorithm design, and rethinking risk assessment in public sector systems such as child welfare. Saxena has received prestigious recognition, including the Best Paper Award at CHI 2023 and the Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship at Carnegie Mellon University. Recent projects include analyzing algorithmic harms in child welfare through casenote computational analysis, advocating for participatory AI frameworks in government, and exploring ethical AI innovation in early-stage concept selection. His work emphasizes bridging technical and sociocultural dimensions to ensure technologies serve public interest.
Felix Xiaozhu Lin serves as Associate Professor and William Wulf Faculty Fellow in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Virginia's School of Engineering and Applied Science, where he directs the Computer Science Ph.D. Program and MCS/MS Program. Previously a tenured Associate Professor at Purdue University's School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Lin joined UVA Engineering in August 2020 after completing his doctoral research at Rice University. His educational credentials include: Ph.D. in Computer Science, Rice University (2014) M.S. in Computer Science, Tsinghua University (2008) B.S. in Automation, Tsinghua University (2006) Lin's research centers on systems software at the intersection of operating systems, compilers, and computer architecture, with emphasis on accelerating and safeguarding software systems. His current projects target on-device large language models and speech processing for low-cost hardware ( Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trajectory in edge computing and efficient AI systems. His research demonstrates increasing focus on hardware-software co-design for autonomous devices, with significant contributions in video analytics for energy-constrained cameras, kernel virtualization for heterogeneous architectures, and stream processing frameworks leveraging emerging memory technologies. The work consistently addresses real-world constraints like power limitations and network intermittency while maintaining rigorous academic standards. His scientific recognition includes: National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2019) Google Faculty Research Award (2016) NSF CISE Research Initiation Initiative Award (2015) ACM ASPLOS Best Paper Award (2014) Lin leads the XSEL research group mentoring graduate and undergraduate students in systems software development. His educational initiatives include CS4414/CS6456, a modern operating systems course featuring Arm64 baremetal kernel development, multicore systems, trusted execution environments, and filesystem forensics. The course's experiential approach has received strong student feedback for its modern content and practical relevance. His group actively recruits for projects spanning on-device AI, hardware-accelerated speech processing, and next-generation OS development. Based in Charlottesville, Virginia, Lin's research benefits from UVA's proximity to Shenandoah National Park and collaborative opportunities within the university's vibrant computing ecosystem, including the 2024 LLM Workshop he co-organized with Professor Yangfeng Ji.
Guodong Shi is Associate Professor at the University of Sydney's Australian Centre for Robotics, heading the Centre for Robotics and Intelligent Systems. His research develops theoretical frameworks for multi-agent coordination, distributed optimization, and networked control systems. Current projects investigate collective decision-making under information constraints, privacy-preserving optimization, and game-theoretic formulations for social and robotic networks. His group develops algorithms for distributed solution of linear equations, Boolean networks, and equilibrium seeking. Doctoral supervision includes projects on acrobatic legged robots, reinforcement learning for robotic stability, and safe control under dynamic environments. Laboratory capabilities support theoretical and experimental validation. Research has applications in autonomous swarm robotics, smart grid optimization, and social network analysis. Teaching includes graduate courses on networked systems and optimization.
David Wentzlaff is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Princeton University, with associated faculty roles in Computer Science and the High Meadows Environmental Institute (HMEI). He leads research in computing architecture, green computing, and sustainable system design. As Director of Undergraduate Studies, he shapes educational programs in his field. Education: Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, MIT (2012) M.S., Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT (2002) B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2000) Research Focus: Future Computing Systems: Designing manycore architectures, cloud computing infrastructure, and chiplet-based systems for exascale computing. Sustainability: Developing energy-efficient hardware, recyclable computing systems, and eco-friendly decommissioning strategies. Hardware-Software Co-Design: Exploring FPGA integration, in-memory computing, and parallel processing frameworks. Advising & Grants: Advises 8 current graduate students, focusing on topics like chiplet design, neural acceleration, and sustainable computing. Recipient of NSF grants for projects like OpenPiton (open-source manycore research platform) and CAREER awards for energy-efficient architectures. Labs & Collaborations: Leads the Wentzlaff Research Group at Princeton. Develops open-source frameworks like PRGA (FPGA prototyping) and OpenPiton (manycore processor).
Introduction Jonathon Hutchinson is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Media and Communications Discipline at the University of Sydney. He holds roles as Editor-in-Chief of the Policy & Internet journal and Chief Investigator on major projects like the International Digital Policy Observatory (ARC LIEF) and the eSafety Commission's Emerging Online Safety Issues initiative. His work bridges digital media studies, policy analysis, and cultural theory. Education BComm (Hons), RMIT University PhD, ARC Center of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation, QUT Research Interests Hutchinson focuses on digital intermediation processes in cultural production, algorithmic governance, and public service media adaptation. Key areas include: Algorithmic influence on news diversity Social media policy and youth safety Platform politics and regulatory frameworks Recent Article Trends His 2020–2025 work emphasizes global digital policy challenges, generative AI ethics, and Vietnamese media dynamics. Recent projects highlight cross-national comparisons (e.g., China/South Korea news ecosystems) and participatory co-design approaches to online safety education. Awards & Grants 2023 ARC LIEF Grant 2021 eSafety Online Safety Grant Multiple industry partnerships (e.g., eSafety Commissioner, Hans-Bredow-Institut) Advising & Grants Supervised over 15+ graduate students (PhD/Master's/Honours) in media studies and digital culture. Active in interdisciplinary grants addressing cybersecurity, AI governance, and platform regulation. Labs & Networks Member of the Sydney Centre for Healthy Societies, Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, and Charles Perkins Centre. Leads the International Digital Policy Observatory project tracking global regulatory trends.
Dr. Mortaza Saeidi-Javash is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). He joined in Fall 2022 following his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, where he received the Prince Engineering Fellowship and Dehner Graduate Fellowship. His research focuses on developing next-generation flexible electronics using advanced materials and 3D printing technologies, particularly thermoelectric devices for wearable applications and multifunctional sensors for structural health monitoring. Dr. Saeidi-Javash's academic background includes interdisciplinary work combining materials science, additive manufacturing, and machine learning. His Ph.D. research emphasized aerosol jet printing and ultrafast flash sintering to create high-performance, low-cost thermoelectric devices. He has published extensively in journals like Advanced Materials and Nano Energy , with a focus on flexible electronics, energy harvesting, and sensor integration. His recent publications highlight innovations in machine learning-aided materials discovery, plasma sintering processes, and hybrid printing methods. These contributions address challenges in scalable manufacturing, energy efficiency, and wearable technology applications. Dr. Saeidi-Javash’s work bridges gaps between fundamental materials research and practical engineering solutions for sustainable energy systems and smart devices. Awards: Prince Engineering Fellowship (University of Notre Dame) Dehner Graduate Fellowship in Engineering (University of Notre Dame) Advising & Office Hours: Office: ECS-647 Office Hours: Wednesday 12:00-2:00 PM Advising Hours: Thursday 12:30-1:30 PM His research lab focuses on additive manufacturing of functional materials, with ongoing projects in thermoelectric energy conversion, wearable sensors, and biomaterials for cardiac tissue engineering.
Prof. Pierre Jaïs serves as University Professor in Cardiology and Cardiac Electrophysiology at the University of Bordeaux and Head of the Electrophysiology Unit at Bordeaux University Hospital. He concurrently leads the Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute (LIRYC) as CEO since 2021, driving innovation in cardiac rhythm disorder treatments through multidisciplinary research. His research revolutionized cardiac electrophysiology by identifying pulmonary veins as primary sources of atrial fibrillation, establishing pulmonary vein isolation as the global treatment standard. Current work focuses on pulsed field ablation—a non-thermal technique with potential to replace conventional ablation—and developing advanced imaging for precise arrhythmia targeting, reflecting his commitment to translating scientific discovery into clinical solutions. Analysis of recent publications (2017-2021) reveals dominant trends in pulsed field ablation optimization, comparative ablation techniques, and AI integration in cardiovascular imaging. These works consistently address atrial fibrillation treatment efficacy, safety profiles, and technological innovation, positioning him at the forefront of electrophysiology advancement. His distinguished contributions are recognized through prestigious awards including: 2019: Eli S. Gang Most Innovative Abstract Award (Heart Rhythm Society) 2018: Eric N. Prystowsky Lectureship Award 2012: Academy of Medicine Membership (Paris) 2009: Circulation Best Paper Award Multiple National Academy of Medicine honors Prof. Jaïs actively mentors electrophysiology trainees and secures substantial research funding, notably leading an EU-funded randomized trial comparing pulsed field versus thermal ablation. His LIRYC institute integrates cardiology, engineering, and computational expertise to accelerate therapeutic innovation. The LIRYC institute operates as a collaborative hub where clinicians, biomedical engineers, and data scientists develop next-generation electrophysiology tools. Current projects include real-time arrhythmia mapping systems, tissue-selective ablation protocols, and AI-driven predictive models for treatment personalization, fostering seamless translation from bench to bedside.
Marco Di Renzo is a CNRS Professor (Directeur de Recherche Titulaire) at University of Paris-Saclay, affiliated with CentraleSupelec and the Signals and Systems Laboratory (L2S). He serves as Coordinator of the Communications Networks Area at the DigiCosme Laboratory of Excellence and Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Communications Letters. His academic leadership includes membership in the Ph.D. School on ICT Admission Committee at Paris-Saclay University. His educational background includes a Laurea (cum laude) and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from University of L'Aquila, Italy (2003, 2007), and a Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches from University Paris-Sud (2013). Laurea (cum laude), Electrical Engineering, University of L'Aquila (2003) Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, University of L'Aquila (2007) Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches, University Paris-Sud (2013) Di Renzo's research focuses on next-generation wireless communications, particularly reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), 6G technologies, and stochastic geometry modeling. His work bridges theoretical communication theory with practical implementations in cellular networks, millimeter-wave communications, and ultra-wide band systems. Recent publications demonstrate leadership in holographic metasurfaces, integrated sensing and communication (ISAC), and AI-empowered network design, establishing him as a pioneer in electromagnetic wave manipulation for future networks. His award-winning publications span RIS-aided communications, channel modeling, and security frameworks. Analysis of his recent work reveals consistent focus on three pillars: (1) fundamental electromagnetic theory for wave manipulation, (2) practical RIS implementations across frequency bands, and (3) integration with AI for network optimization. His articles frequently address industrial applications including factory automation and space-air-ground networks. Di Renzo's scientific recognition includes: IEEE Fellow (2020) and IET Fellow (2020) Highly Cited Researcher (Web of Science, 2019) SEE-IEEE Alain Glavieux Award (2017) Multiple Best Paper Awards (IEEE ICC, EURASIP) Nokia Foundation Visiting Professorship (2020) As Principal Investigator for CNRS, he coordinates multiple Horizon 2020 projects including SURFER, PathFinder, and MetaWireless. His leadership extends to serving as Project Coordinator for H2020 5Gwireless, 5Gaura, MAPNET, and REDESIGN. With over 350 publications, 17,000+ citations, and h-index of 66+, his research group maintains strong industry partnerships with Nokia and other telecommunications leaders. Di Renzo directs the Signals and Systems Laboratory (L2S) at Paris-Saclay and coordinates the DigiCosme Excellence Lab's Communications Networks Area. His team specializes in electromagnetic modeling for wireless networks and has pioneered the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Industry Specification Group on RIS. The group maintains active collaborations with Aalto University (Finland), University of Technology Sydney (Australia), and University of L'Aquila (Italy).
Dr. Nilanjan Banerjee is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). He leads the Mobile, Pervasive, and Sensor System Lab, focusing on embedded and distributed systems for mobile, pervasive, and sustainability-based computing. His research spans renewable energy-driven systems, health diagnostics, mobile usability, and experimental testbed design. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts (2009), an M.S. from the same institution (2007), and a B.Tech. (Hons) from the Indian Institute of Technology (2004). Dr. Banerjee's work emphasizes interdisciplinary innovation, including low-power wearable devices for health monitoring (e.g., RestEaZe), cybersecurity frameworks for embedded systems (e.g., CARE), and sensor-based solutions for environmental sustainability. His contributions address challenges in mobility, energy efficiency, and accessibility, such as the Presight sidewalk localization system for visually impaired riders and the Inviz gesture-recognition textile sensors. His recent publications (2018–2021) reflect a focus on health technology, cybersecurity, and sustainable systems. Notable trends include: Integration of machine learning with sensor data for medical applications (e.g., sleep analysis, infection detection) Development of lightweight security protocols for embedded devices Exploration of renewable energy solutions for mobile and sensor networks No scientific awards are explicitly listed in the provided text. His academic advising and grant activities are not detailed here, but his lab's active research suggests significant collaborative projects. The lab also pioneers educational strategies in mobile app development and inclusive faculty recruitment through peer education programs like STRIDE.
Professor Georgios Chortareas is a Professor of Economics at King's Business School, part of King's College London. He serves as Director of the Data Analytics for Finance and Macro Research Centre and is affiliated with the Qatar Centre for Global Banking & Finance. His research focuses on monetary policy, international finance, central banking, exchange rate economics, and fiscal policy coordination. He has contributed to understanding real exchange rates, current accounts, banking efficiency, and the impact of quantitative easing on stock markets. Affiliations : Data Analytics for Finance and Macro Research Centre, Qatar Centre for Global Banking & Finance His work bridges theoretical and applied economics, with notable contributions on policy conflict resolution in monetary unions, volatility-growth linkages, and the role of central bank interventions. He has published extensively in journals like the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, European Journal of Political Economy, and International Journal of Finance and Economics. Research highlights include analyzing fiscal leadership strategies in monetary unions, the asymmetric New Keynesian Phillips Curve, and the effects of financial development on economic growth. His studies often employ advanced econometric techniques to address policy-relevant questions.
