Dr. Dikai Guan is an Associate Professor in Lightweight Materials at the University of Southampton, leading research on high-performance light alloys and additive manufacturing. He holds a PhD from the University of Sheffield (2015) and a prestigious UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship (2020). His work focuses on developing low-cost, high-performance alloys, with emphasis on magnesium alloys and sustainable materials processing. He has organized major conferences like the Royal Microscopical Society's EBSD 2021 and serves on editorial boards of journals like Carbon Neutrality Frontiers . Education: BEng and MEng in Materials Science from Central South University (2008–2011), PhD from University of Sheffield (2015). Joined University of Southampton in 2022. Active in international collaborations, including projects with industrial partners to recycle alloy waste into bespoke products. Key achievements include pioneering in-situ casting for nanostructured Mg alloys and publishing in top-tier journals like Nature and Acta Materialia . Research interests include additive manufacturing of light alloys, microstructure characterization, and sustainable materials development. Awards include the 2024 International Magnesium Award and Fellowships from the Higher Education Academy and IOM3. He advises five PhD students and oversees projects funded by the Royal Society and UKRI.
Dr. Veronika Kuchta is an Assistant Professor at Florida Atlantic University's Department of Mathematical Sciences, specializing in post-quantum cryptography and its applications to blockchain. She holds a PhD in applied cryptography from the University of Surrey (2016) and has held roles including Honorary Research Fellow at The University of Queensland (UQ) School of Mathematics and Physics (2020–2022), Research Fellow at Monash University (2018–2020), and postdoc at Université libre de Bruxelles (2016–2018). Education: PhD in Applied Cryptography, University of Surrey, UK (2016) Diploma in Mathematics, Heidelberg University, Germany (2010) Research Interests: Her work focuses on constructing quantum-resistant cryptographic primitives, including lattice-based schemes, zero-knowledge proofs, and their integration into real-world systems like blockchain. She explores topics such as post-quantum verifiable random functions, cryptographic accelerators, and privacy-preserving authentication protocols. Key Projects: Formal Verification of Post-Quantum Cryptographic Primitives (UQ Cyber Seed Funding, 2021–2023) Algorand Centre of Excellence on Sustainability Informatics (2022–2023) Grants & Funding: Noted for contributions to blockchain security and lattice-based protocols, her work is supported by industry and institutional grants, including the Monash University Open Grant for the Algorand Centre of Excellence. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on cryptographic protocol design and hardware-accelerated cryptography (e.g., TPU-based cryptographic acceleration).
Petteri Muukkonen serves as Senior University Lecturer in Geography at the Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, where he also holds a Docentship in Biogeography since 2008. He directs the Master's Program in Urban Studies and Planning (USP) and leads the Geography of Well-being and Education research group. Muukkonen is actively involved in multiple research initiatives including the Equal Suburbs with Physical Activity (YLLI) project as Consortium director and the CRITICAL project as Workpackage leader. His institutional affiliations extend to the Institute for Urban Studies (Urbaria), Helsinki Inequality Initiative (INEQ), Teachers' Academy, and Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS). Dr. Muukkonen's educational background includes a PhD in Geography from the University of Helsinki (2006), MSc and BSc in Geography from the University of Turku (2002, 2000), and additional qualifications in Education (University of Helsinki, 2016), Business and Economics (University of Eastern Finland, 2014), Special Needs Education (University of Helsinki, 2014), and Nordic Languages and Cultures (University of Helsinki, 2020). His research spans geography education, urban studies, physical activity in suburban environments, and biodiversity in boreal ecosystems. Muukkonen's work bridges educational theory with practical applications in urban planning and environmental sustainability. He has published extensively across geography, environmental science, and educational fields with over 180 research outputs and 13 active projects. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on integrating geographical knowledge with contemporary societal challenges including climate justice, active transportation, and critical media literacy. Muukkonen has received multiple Outstanding Reviewer Awards from prestigious journals including Ecological Indicators, Ecological Informatics, Energy Ecology & Environment, and Journal of Cleaner Production. He also participated in the GALA2022 Serious Games Competition. With over 410 academic activities recorded, including 99 peer reviews and 92 oral presentations, he maintains an active scholarly presence. As an educator and researcher, Muukkonen supervises Master's theses and participates in doctoral education through the Doctoral Programme in School, Education, Society and Culture. His work on the YLLI project and CRITICAL initiative demonstrates his commitment to translating research into practical solutions for urban challenges and educational innovation.
Dr. Andreu Català Mallofré is a Full Professor at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), affiliated with the Department of Systems, Automatic and Industrial Informatics Engineering. He serves as the principal investigator at the CETpD - Centre d'Estudis Tecnològics per a l'Atenció a la Dependència i la Vida Autònoma (Technical Research Center for Dependency Care and Autonomous Living) and leads the TOC - Tecnologia Orientada a la Comunitat (Community-Oriented Technology) research group. With an academic career spanning over 30 years, he specializes in assistive technologies, human-computer interaction, and biomedical data analysis. His research interests focus on Wearable health monitoring systems Parkinson's disease management solutions Frailty assessment algorithms Emotion-driven computing Community-embedded technology Gerontechnology applications These areas have produced 367 academic outputs including 59 indexed journal articles, 148 conference papers, and 66 competitive R&D projects. Recent publications demonstrate a clear trend toward multimodal health monitoring combining inertial sensors with biometric data for aging populations . Key application areas include freezing-of-gait detection in Parkinson's patients and distress estimation during assisted mobility. His 2024 work explores agricultural sustainability through data-driven fertilizer optimization. Scientific recognition includes UPC Social Council Award (2013) 20+ years as conference committee member Multiple competitive R&D grants 23391773000 Scopus ID Orcid 0000-0001-8775-1955 As academic advisor, he has mentored 3 PhD candidates including Daniel Manuel Rodriguez-Martin (Human Movement Analysis, 2020) Leonid Ivonin (Physiological Signal Processing, 2014) John Neal Abram Brown (Calm Computing, 2014) His teams operate within Vilanova i la Geltrú's School of Engineering, with strong industry and healthcare sector collaborations.
Dr. Michael Lawless is a Senior Research Fellow at Flinders University in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and a Full Member of the Caring Futures Institute, where he leads the Self-Care research theme. His work focuses on supporting self-care and healthy ageing, particularly for older adults with frailty and chronic conditions, across primary care, community, and residential aged care settings. His academic qualifications include a PhD and a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), both from the University of Adelaide. He is actively engaged in research that bridges evidence and practice through integrated knowledge translation and implementation science. Dr. Lawless’s research interests span self-care, healthy ageing, chronic disease management, knowledge translation, frailty, and health communication. He employs qualitative, participatory, and mixed methods to co-design tools and interventions with stakeholders, aiming to improve health equity and care delivery for older populations. His recent publications highlight a growing focus on human-centred artificial intelligence in healthcare, transdisciplinary collaboration, telehealth, and visual media to enhance care relationships. These works reflect a multidisciplinary approach integrating psychology, gerontology, digital health, and policy. Scientific Awards and Honors: Flinders University Impact Seed Funding for Early Career Researchers (2021) Australian Association of Gerontology Research Trust RM Gibson Research Fund (2020) Caring Futures Institute Accelerator Grant (2019) Establishment Grant, College of Nursing and Health Sciences (2018) Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence, University of Adelaide (2017) Roby Fletcher Munn Prize, University of Adelaide (2013) Dr. Lawless is committed to mentoring early career researchers and has supervised multiple honours and master’s students in areas such as knowledge translation, frailty, and nutrition in older adults. His work is supported by cross-sector collaborations with healthcare professionals, policymakers, and creative teams, ensuring real-world impact. He leads and contributes to national and international research projects, including those involving AI in emergency care and wellbeing strategies for residential aged care. He is a member of the Australian Association of Gerontology and serves on advisory groups such as the IMPAACT Project and the Caring Futures Institute Knowledge Translation Working Group. His research contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and wellbeing.
Alfredo Benso is a Full Professor in the Department of Control and Computer Science (DAUIN) at the Polytechnic University of Turin, where he is also a member of the Interdepartmental Center PolitoBIOMed Lab - Biomedical Engineering Lab. He has been continuously involved in the Doctoral College for Computer and Systems Engineering since 2008, guiding PhD education across numerous cycles. His academic roles span teaching and research leadership in bioinformatics, systems biology, and computer engineering. Research interests: Bioinformatics and computational biology Systems biology and gene regulatory networks Artificial intelligence and machine learning in biomedicine Molecular modeling and multiscale simulation Biological database systems and data integration Health informatics and public health modeling His recent publications reflect a strong trend in applying AI and machine learning to biological and medical challenges, including protein function prediction, Alzheimer’s and Multiple Sclerosis modeling, food fraud detection, and viral genome analysis. These works span journals and conferences in bioinformatics, computational biology, and biomedical engineering, demonstrating interdisciplinary innovation. Scientific Awards: BIOINFORMATICS 2014 BEST PAPER AWARD (INSTICC, United Kingdom) Advising and Grants: He supervises PhD students, including Sofia Ostellino, and leads major research initiatives such as the BIGMECH (2023–2025) and FISHUB (2016–2018) projects. He has served as Scientific Director for collaborative agreements with public administrations and as Principal Investigator on EU, national (PRIN), and regional research grants focused on bioinformatics, space systems, and reliable digital technologies. Labs and Teams: He is a key member of the SBG - System Biology Group (DAUIN) and contributes to PolitoBIOMed Lab, fostering collaborative research in biomedical engineering and computational biology.
Jun-Ki Choi is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Dayton’s School of Engineering. He holds the O. Jack and Opal Anderson Faculty Fellowship in Engineering Innovation and serves as Director of the University of Dayton Industrial Training and Assessment Center (UD-ITAC), a U.S. Department of Energy-funded program providing energy efficiency assessments to small and mid-sized manufacturers. His research interests include: Sustainable Manufacturing Energy Efficiency Design for Environment Life Cycle Assessment Circular Economy Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Economic Systems Modeling Energy and Environmental Policy His recent publications focus on industrial energy efficiency, life cycle assessment, sustainable manufacturing, and the application of machine learning in energy systems. The research spans topics such as photovoltaic integration, desalination, refrigeration, compressed air systems, and building energy modeling, often combining techno-economic and environmental evaluations. Dr. Choi has received multiple awards for his work, including the U.S. Department of Energy Excellence in Applied Energy Engineering Research Award (2022), the ASHRAE Technical Paper Award (2017), and multiple recognitions as a Center of Excellence from the U.S. Department of Energy (2003, 2015). He has secured over $8 million in research funding as PI or Co-PI and has mentored numerous students through the UD-ITAC program, which has conducted over 1,000 energy assessments. He teaches courses such as Manufacturing Process, Heat Transfer, and Design for Environment at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Dr. Choi leads the UD-ITAC, a key research and outreach center focused on improving manufacturing competitiveness through energy savings, productivity improvements, and waste reduction. The center has received national acclaim for its impact and professionalism.
Dr. Yana Boeva is a Junior Research Group Leader at the University of Stuttgart , affiliated with both the Institute for Social Sciences and the Cluster of Excellence IntCDC . Her work bridges Science and Technology Studies (STS) with Computational Design , focusing on critical examinations of digital infrastructure, human-computer interaction, and sustainability in architectural contexts. Research Interests: Algorithmic entanglements in design and construction Participatory technology production Digital fabrication and material practice Epistemic cultures of computational design Socio-political implications of Building Information Modeling (BIM) Her recent publications analyze timber construction innovation trajectories , platformization in urban environments , and ghost labor in automation . She co-edited the volume Algorithmic Regimes (2024), which investigates algorithmic knowledge production across societal domains. Scientific Awards: Recipient of the DigitalFUTURES Young Award for critical computational design research Dr. Boeva teaches courses on Algorithmic Sociology and Digital Sustainability at the MA and BA levels. Her work has been supported by projects under the Excellence Cluster IntCDC and BBSR Innovationsprogramm Zukunft Bau .
Arild Skarsfjord Berg is a Professor at OsloMet's Faculty of Technology, Art and Design, Department of Product Design, with a Doctor of Art in Artistic Research in Public Space and a MA in Ceramic Art. He leads the Product Design and Cultural Sustainability research group, focusing on cross-disciplinary innovation between design, health technology, and material-based artistic practices. Research Interests: Product design with emphasis on material aesthetics Collaborative methods across design, healthcare, and technology Sustainability in professional education Neurotechnology and ethical design scenarios Ceramic art interventions in public spaces Academic pedagogy and teaching excellence Publication Trends: His work demonstrates a unique synthesis between design research and healthcare innovation, with increasing focus on neurotechnology ethics and salutogenic approaches. Materiality remains a consistent thread across both artistic practice and technical applications. Scientific Awards: Fellow of Merited Teachers at OsloMet
Rafael Capilla is a Professor of Software Engineering at Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid and an Adjunct Professor at LUT School of Engineering Sciences. His research focuses on software architecture, architectural knowledge, software product line engineering, dynamic variability, technical debt, software sustainability, and Industry 4.0 architectures. He has conducted international collaborations across Europe, Latin America, and Asia, with over 80% of his collaborators from foreign institutions. Research Interests : Software Architecture, Technical Debt, Dynamic Variability, Software Sustainability, Industry 4.0 Quality Evaluation Recent Publications highlight trends in sustainable software practices, Industry 4.0 systems, and AI-assisted architectural decision-making. His work explores intersections between technical debt identification, serverless computing economics, and runtime variability models.
Peter Zahradník is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Information Management under the Faculty of Business Management at the University of Economics in Bratislava. His academic journey includes completing both Master's (2019) and Doctoral (2023) studies in Business Economics/Economics and Management at the same university. Master's: Business Economics (2019) Doctoral: Economics and Management (2023) His research focuses on the intersection of information systems and business management, particularly examining digital transformation, IT governance frameworks, and technology-driven competitiveness. He explores how information systems integrate with corporate operations, emphasizing efficiency gains through digital tools and process optimization. Scientific activities include participation in multiple research projects such as VEGA 1/0662/23 (Digital Transformation & Industry 5.0) and VEGA 1/0388/20 (IT Management Standards). His publications highlight practical applications of technologies like IoT and office software in business contexts. VEGA 1/0662/23: Digital Transformation Readiness KEGA 034EU-4/2023: Innovative Teaching Methods I-22-111-00: Information Technology Management Peter contributes to skill development through pedagogical activities, focusing on digital competencies and critical thinking in business education. His work bridges technical implementation with strategic business outcomes.
Prof. Dr. Musa ÖZATA is a full-time Professor at Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Business Management and Organization. He currently serves as Vice Rector and Dean at the same institution. Previously, he held academic positions at Selçuk University as an Associate Professor (2012-2017) and Assistant Professor (2007-2012). His administrative roles include Department Head and Dean roles spanning over a decade. Education: PhD in Production Management and Marketing, Selçuk University Institute of Social Sciences (2001-2004) MSc in Public Health, Yüzüncü Yıl University Institute of Health Sciences (1996-1998) BSc in Health Administration, Hacettepe University School of Health Administration (1987-1991) Research focuses on Healthcare Business Management, Organizational Behavior, and Leadership in healthcare settings. His work examines leadership impacts on employee satisfaction, organizational commitment, ethical reporting, and crisis management in healthcare systems. Recent studies investigate pandemic responses, digital transformation in healthcare, and innovative management practices in higher education. Achievements include: Sözel Bildiri Üçüncülük Ödülü from Türkiye Aile Hekimliği Vakfı (2015) He has supervised 18 postgraduate students (PhD and Master's) and led research projects on organizational behavior in healthcare. Major grants include: ERASMUS+2019-1TR01-KA204-077013 (2022-2023) Sağlık Personelinde Çalışan Motivasyonu ve Örgütsel Bağlılık (2018-2019) Hemşirelerde Örgütsel Adalet ve Tıbbi Hata İlişkisi (2017-2018) Diyaliz Hastaları Memnuniyet Araştırması (2015-2016)
Anders Reuter is a Senior Lecturer in Musicology at the Lund University Department of Arts and Cultural Sciences. His research focuses on contemporary pop music, music production digitization, and digital culture including platformization and social media. He teaches courses in popular music, contemporary music production, music history, musical minimalism, and cultural politics. Specializes in TikTok, K-pop, and hip-hop Expert in Music Production and digital aesthetics Active in interdisciplinary research between music and psychology Research trends include platform society impacts on music production, with publications analyzing modularity in digital audio workstations and topological space in pop music. Currently serves as Assistant Supervisor for the A Studio Online dissertation project and Researcher in the Aesthetic Studies Reading Group . Participates in international conferences like IASPM UK & Ireland Biennial Conference and Psychology & Music Interdisciplinary Encounters.
Dr. Evangelia Kopanaki is an Associate Professor at the Department of Business Organization and Administration within the School of Economics, Business and International Studies at the University of Piraeus, Greece. With a strong academic background in Mathematics, Informatics, and Information Systems, she has established herself as a prominent researcher and educator in the fields of digital transformation, e-business, and supply chain management. Dr. Kopanaki earned her BA in Mathematics and MSc in Informatics from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, followed by a PhD in Information Systems from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Prior to her current position, she worked as a researcher at the Department of Informatics and Telecommunications of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens for over three years, participating in numerous Greek and European research projects. She also has industry experience as an analyst-programmer in the private sector. Her research interests focus on the intersection of information systems and business operations, particularly in the areas of e-business, supply chain management, inter-organizational information systems, Internet technologies, and Business Agility. Dr. Kopanaki has published extensively in international conferences and journals, with a recent emphasis on digital transformation across various sectors including retail, banking, tourism, and transportation. Her work often explores how digital technologies can enhance sustainability, operational efficiency, and strategic decision-making in complex business environments. A significant portion of Dr. Kopanaki's recent research (2022-2025) examines the role of digital transformation in creating sustainable business practices, with particular attention to supply chain management, tourism, and financial services. Her publications demonstrate a strong focus on practical applications of emerging technologies like blockchain, AI, and big data analytics to solve real-world business challenges. The research shows a clear trajectory toward integrating sustainability considerations with digital innovation across multiple industry sectors. Co-author of two Academic Books in the fields of e-business and Internet technologies Extensive publication record in international conferences and journals Dr. Kopanaki has taught a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses at the University of Piraeus, including Operations Research, Management Information Systems, E-Commerce, and E-Commerce Programming & Design. She has also shared her expertise at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Singapore Institute of Management through the University of London International Programmes. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes the practical application of theoretical concepts, preparing students for the digital challenges of modern business environments. Through her work with the University of Piraeus, Dr. Kopanaki contributes to several research laboratories and initiatives focused on digital transformation, sustainable business practices, and innovative information systems. Her research projects often involve collaboration with industry partners and international academic institutions, creating valuable bridges between theoretical knowledge and practical business applications.
Marina Marjanovic is a faculty member at Singidunum University in Belgrade, Serbia, affiliated with the Faculty of Informatics and Computing. She maintains an active research profile with numerous publications spanning machine learning, computer vision, and signal processing applications. Her work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between theoretical AI development and practical implementations in healthcare, security, and digital government services. Dr. Marjanovic earned her Doctoral degree in Signals and Systems from Universidad Politecnica de Madrid in 2007, following a Master's degree in the same field from the same institution in 2005. Her foundational education includes basic studies in Telecommunications at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Belgrade, and secondary education at the third Belgrade high school with a focus on natural sciences. This strong technical background has enabled her transition from traditional signal processing to contemporary AI research. Her research interests center around machine learning and computer vision, with significant contributions to emotion recognition, sign language processing, and explainable AI. She has demonstrated particular expertise in developing robust AI models that address real-world challenges such as demographic bias in age estimation systems, vulnerability to adversarial attacks in deep learning models, and accurate medical diagnostics through imaging analysis. Her recent work shows increasing focus on healthcare applications, security implications of AI systems, and making AI more transparent and interpretable. Analysis of her publication trajectory reveals a clear evolution from signal processing foundations toward contemporary AI applications. Her recent work (2022-2024) shows strong emphasis on healthcare AI, security applications, and explainability, often combining traditional machine learning approaches with novel optimization techniques. She frequently collaborates with international researchers across multiple institutions, demonstrating the global reach of her work. Dr. Marjanovic has established herself as a productive researcher with consistent publication output across reputable journals and conferences including IEEE transactions, Springer publications, and specialized AI conferences. Her collaborative approach is evident through her extensive co-authorship network spanning multiple Serbian and international institutions. She actively contributes to the academic community through conference organization (including Sinteza conferences) and participation in research projects at Singidunum University's research institutes. Her work bridges theoretical advancements with practical implementations across multiple domains, demonstrating versatility and impact across the AI research landscape.
