Pontus Stenetorp is a Professor of Natural Language Processing at University College London (UCL) and holds a Specially Appointed Professorship at the National Institute of Informatics (NII) in Japan. At UCL, he leads the NLP Group, serves as Deputy Director of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence, and directs the Facebook Artificial Intelligence/UCL PhD Programme. His research focuses on the intersection of human language and computational systems, emphasizing empirical approaches to advancing and evaluating language processing capabilities. He is affiliated with UCL's Department of Computer Science and NII's Large Language Model Research and Development Center. Stenetorp prioritizes in-person collaboration for internships and research visits due to institutional bureaucratic constraints at UCL. He actively supervises MSc theses in Machine Learning and Data Science programs but restricts undergraduate and industry-oriented projects to exceptional cases. Communication preferences include structured emails sent to role-specific addresses: p.stenetorp@cs.ucl.ac.uk (UCL), pontus@nii.ac.jp (NII), and pontus@stenetorp.se (general). His research group, the NLP Group at UCL, pursues cutting-edge projects in computational linguistics and AI, often involving collaborative efforts with students and industry partners. While no specific awards are listed, his dual institutional roles underscore his significant contributions to the field of NLP and AI research.
Professor Iain MacRury is a Professor in Communications, Media and Culture at the University of Stirling with extensive involvement in media policy and regulation research. He currently serves as Deputy Chair of the General University Research Ethics Panel (GUEP) and Deputy Chair of the University Research Environment Group (REG) at the University of Stirling. His external roles include being appointed as External Examiner for Media Programmes at the University of Leeds (2028) and membership on Ofcom's Research, Evidence and Evaluation Working Group. His research focuses on: Media policy and regulation frameworks Branded content governance across international contexts Ethical considerations in contemporary media environments Cultural implications of promotional industries Comparative media systems analysis Professor MacRury leads the Branded Content Governance Project, an ESRC/AHRC joint-supported initiative conducting international comparative analysis of governance arrangements regarding media policy and institutional regulation of branded content in promotional industries across Europe and other global sites. His scholarly output demonstrates consistent engagement with the evolving relationship between commercial interests, media content, and regulatory frameworks. His work shows particular attention to transparency issues in digital media environments and the challenges of regulating emerging advertising formats across different national contexts. The trajectory of his recent publications indicates growing interest in the global dimensions of media regulation and the adaptation of regulatory frameworks to technological change. Professor MacRury actively contributes to university governance through his ethics and research environment leadership roles, demonstrating commitment to research integrity and academic standards within his institution.
Oliver Hohlfeld is a Professor at the University of Kassel, where he leads the Distributed Systems group. He previously held academic positions at Brandenburg University of Technology and RWTH Aachen University, and was a visiting scholar at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His research focuses on network security, Internet measurements, and Quality of Experience (QoE). He completed his Ph.D. in Computer Science at TU Berlin under Anja Feldmann and holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. from Darmstadt University of Technology. He also worked at Fraunhofer IGD on telemedical network architectures. His research adopts a data-driven approach, combining large-scale Internet measurements, user studies, and machine learning to understand and improve Internet performance and security. Key areas include DDoS detection, QUIC, HTTP/2, TLS deployment, and BGP analysis. He investigates how protocols like QUIC and HTTP/2 impact user experience and network efficiency, often through empirical studies of real-world deployments. His recent publications highlight a strong trend in network security and protocol analysis, with significant work on DDoS attacks, traffic ingress detection, and web consolidation. He also explores social media dynamics and censorship circumvention through user reviews. 2022 IETF/IRTF Applied Networking Research Prize Best of CCR (2021) for TLS 1.3 deployment study ACM Senior Member (2020) IEEE QoMEX 2019 Best Reviewer Award ACM IMC Community Contribution Award (2018) He has advised numerous Master’s and Bachelor’s students, primarily at RWTH Aachen, and has been a principal investigator in major projects such as AIDOS (AI-based DDoS mitigation), DFG SFB MAKI, COMTEX, and the EU-funded SSICLOPS. He actively serves on the technical program committees of top-tier conferences including SIGCOMM, NSDI, IMC, and CoNEXT, and is a frequent reviewer for leading journals in networking and systems. He leads the Distributed Systems group at the University of Kassel, which conducts research on Internet observability, secure infrastructures, and scalable networking solutions.
Dr. Araz Taeihagh is an Assistant Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore (NUS), where he also serves as Principal Investigator at the Centre for Trusted Internet and Community (CTIC) and NUS Cities. He previously chaired the PhD Programme in Public Policy (2020-2023). Taeihagh holds a DPhil from the University of Oxford and has over two decades of consulting experience in energy, environment, transportation, and technology domains. His research focuses on policy design and governance of emerging technologies , with expertise spanning autonomous systems, AI governance, sharing economies, and smart cities. Key research areas include: Decision support systems and complexity approaches to public policy Infrastructure and sustainable development (energy/environment/transport) Socio-technical systems and technology governance Recent publications demonstrate strong focus on AI governance frameworks , autonomous systems regulation , and smart city development , particularly examining policy innovation in Singapore and comparative Asian contexts. Research frequently addresses tensions between technological innovation and regulatory oversight. Major recognitions include: Ranked Top 2% Scientist worldwide for energy (2023) and citation impact (2020-2022) Best Paper Award from Transport Reviews (2020) Research Excellence Awards (2019-2022) Faculty Research Fellowships from LKYSPP and NUS Humanities & Social Sciences He serves on editorial boards of Technological Forecasting and Social Change , Policy and Society , and other leading journals, and co-chairs scientific committees for AI Singapore's governance initiatives.
Cees B.M. van Riel is a visiting professor in the Department of Business-Society Management at Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), Erasmus University. He previously served as a professor of corporate communication and is a globally recognized expert in reputation management, employee alignment, and corporate branding. His research focuses on corporate communication , organizational identity , employee alignment , and industry reputation . He investigates how organizations build and maintain strong reputations through strategic internal and external communication, particularly during periods of change or crisis. His work bridges academic theory and practical application, influencing both scholarly discourse and corporate practice. His recent publications, including a 2023 article on museum-corporate sponsorships, demonstrate a sustained engagement with themes of mutual value creation, stakeholder management, and reputation dynamics. His body of work consistently addresses reputation management , organizational change , impression management , and corporate branding across diverse sectors. Editor-in-Chief of Corporate Reputation Review Founder of the Reputation Forum The Netherlands (RfN) Founding Director of RSM's International Executive Master Programme in Corporate Communication Co-founder of the Reputation Institute Professor van Riel has supervised numerous academic works and has led major educational initiatives. He has been actively involved in global reputation rankings, including the Forbes-published Annual Reputation Institute Study. His consultancy work with multinational corporations such as ING, Philips, and Shell underscores his impact beyond academia. He has also held editorial and speaking roles, contributing significantly to the dissemination of management knowledge. He is central to a research network focused on corporate communication and reputation, with collaborations spanning multiple countries and institutions. His leadership in founding academic programs and professional forums highlights his role in shaping the field.
Carlo Alberto Furia is an Associate Professor and Vice Dean at the Faculty of Informatics, Università della Svizzera italiana (USI). He is affiliated with the Software Institute, where he leads the ATOM research group. His academic journey includes prior roles as an Associate Professor at Chalmers University of Technology and a Senior Researcher at ETH Zurich’s Chair of Software Engineering. PhD in Computer Science, Politecnico di Milano Master of Science in Computer Science, University of Illinois at Chicago Laurea in Computer Science and Engineering, Politecnico di Milano His research centers on formal methods for software engineering, aiming to enhance software correctness, reliability, and quality through rigorous techniques. Key areas include automated program verification, contract-based development, loop invariant inference, and empirical evaluation using Bayesian data analysis. He emphasizes practical applicability and automation in formal methods. His recent publications reflect a strong focus on program analysis at the bytecode level, multilingual software analysis, automated repair of Android security issues, and empirical methodologies. These works span topics such as JVM substitutability, exception behavior in Java bytecode, and information flow security, demonstrating a consistent thread in improving software robustness through formal and automated techniques. He is actively involved in the software engineering research community as an Associate Editor of the Empirical Software Engineering (EMSE) journal and as a Program Committee member for major conferences including FASE, FM, ASE, ICSE, and CauSE. Carlo Furia has advised multiple research projects and supervised student theses. He has led and contributed to funded research initiatives, particularly in program analysis and verification. His group has developed tools such as AutoProof and other software artifacts available through the ATOM software page. He regularly teaches courses such as Software Analysis, Programming Fundamentals, and Software Design & Modeling. He leads the ATOM research group, which focuses on advancing automated techniques for software testing, analysis, and verification. The group develops practical tools and conducts empirical studies to validate research outcomes.
Professor Luke Harding is a faculty member at the Department of Linguistics and English Language , Lancaster University , within the School of Social Sciences . His work bridges applied linguistics, language assessment, and critical discourse studies, with a focus on the ethical and societal implications of testing. Research Interests : Language testing and assessment, World Englishes and English as a Lingua Franca (ELF), second language listening and pronunciation assessment, diagnostic approaches to language evaluation, and language assessment literacy. Recent projects integrate digital technology and corpus linguistics into testing frameworks. Publications : Published extensively in Language Testing , Applied Linguistics , and Language Assessment Quarterly . Co-edited the Routledge Handbook of Language Testing (Second Edition) (2022), a key reference work in the field. Teaching : Leads modules in Language Test Construction and Evaluation , Issues in Language Testing , and Statistical Analysis for Language Testing within the university's distance MA program. Leadership : Convened the Language Testing Research Group with colleagues Tineke Brunfaut and John Pill, advancing interdisciplinary approaches to assessment.
Dr. Aleksandra Jordanoska is a Senior Lecturer at King's College London's Dickson Poon School of Law, specializing in corporate law and financial regulation. She holds a PhD from Queen Mary University of London (funded by a Queen Mary Research Studentship) and an MPhil in Criminology from the University of Cambridge. Her research focuses on financial markets governance, FinTech regulation, and white-collar crime, with recent grants from the British Academy and Leverhulme Trust. She has held visiting roles at institutions like UC Berkeley and ANU. Teaching includes undergraduate Company Law and postgraduate courses on FinTech policy and financial crime regulation. Key research projects include the 'Global White-Collar Crime Survey' and studies on NFT regulatory risks. She co-chairs the Law and Society Association's Regulatory Governance Network and collaborates internationally on compliance and crime prevention initiatives. Her work employs interdisciplinary methods, including interviews with industry stakeholders and observational studies of legal proceedings. She is actively involved in funding initiatives through organizations like the ESRC and King's College London.
Ralf Bierig joined Maynooth University's Computer Science Department in 2017, teaching topics including information retrieval, software testing, interaction design, and virtual reality. He is the programme director of the Higher Diploma in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and User Experience (UX). He earned his BSc (2002) from University of Furtwangen and PhD (2008) from Robert Gordon University. Research Interests His work spans information retrieval, interactive information retrieval, personalisation, information search behavior, usability (UX), and virtual reality (VR). Recent publications focus on multimodal concept indexing, hybrid IR approaches, and contextual adaptation in search systems. Publication Trends His research combines statistical semantics, graph modeling, and multimodal data analysis across academic collaborations in Austria, Germany, and international venues like ECIR and SIGIR.
Joachim Weickert is a Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at Saarland University where he heads the Mathematical Image Analysis Group since 2001. He received his diploma and Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Kaiserslautern (1991, 1996), and a habilitation degree in computer science from the University of Mannheim (2001). Prior to his current position, he worked as a research assistant at the University of Kaiserslautern, as a post-doctoral researcher at the universities of Utrecht and Copenhagen, and as an assistant professor at the University of Mannheim. His research focuses on image processing, computer vision, and scientific computing, with special emphasis on techniques based on partial differential equations, variational principles, wavelets, morphological and nonlocal methods, as well as neuroexplicit approaches. He has developed mathematical models and efficient numerical algorithms for image restoration, enhancement, segmentation, compression, optic flow computation, stereo reconstruction, shape from shading, and signal processing methods for tensor fields. These ideas have been successfully applied in industry, biomedical image analysis, and other fields. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward combining traditional PDE-based methods with modern deep learning approaches, particularly in the areas of image inpainting and compression. His work increasingly explores the connections between numerical algorithms for partial differential equations and neural network architectures, demonstrating how mathematical foundations can inform cutting-edge AI techniques while maintaining strong theoretical guarantees. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize (2010), considered the most important research award in Germany ERC Advanced Grant (2017) for "Inpainting-based Compression of Visual Data" Elected member of Academia Europaea - The Academy of Europe Jan Koenderink Prize for Fundamental Contributions in Computer Vision (2014) Multiple DAGM Prizes and Best Paper Awards throughout his career AAIA Fellow (2021) and Highly Ranked Scholar (2024) distinctions Professor Weickert has supervised over 250 bachelor's and master's theses and initiated the Master Programme in Visual Computing at Saarland University, the first of its kind in Germany taught in English. He has established numerous interdisciplinary collaborations with colleagues from medicine, bioinformatics, pharmacy, physics, mechatronics, and mechanical engineering. As Principal Investigator for Visual Computing within the Multimodal Computing and Interaction Cluster of Excellence, and former dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science (2008-2010), he has played a significant leadership role in advancing visual computing research and education. He heads the Mathematical Image Analysis Group, which has been at the forefront of developing mathematical methods for image analysis. The group maintains strong connections with both theoretical mathematics and practical applications, bridging the gap between fundamental research and real-world implementation across various domains including medical imaging, industrial inspection, and multimedia processing.
Professor Anna Traianou is a distinguished academic at Goldsmiths, University of London, where she serves as Professor of Education and Director of the Centre for Identities and Social Justice. Her work spans multiple dimensions of educational research with a particular focus on the intersection of policy, practice, and ethics in contemporary educational contexts. Her research interests center on culture, learning and teacher 'expertise' in contemporary policy and politics; the contestation of education policy in contemporary Europe, austerity and the changing form of the education state; and philosophical perspectives on ethics and their implications for researcher autonomy. She has published extensively on these topics, with notable works including 'Understanding Teacher Expertise in Primary Science: a sociocultural approach' (2006) and 'Ethics in Qualitative Research: Controversies and Contexts' (2012) co-written with Martyn Hammersley. More recently, she co-edited 'Austerity and the Remaking of European Education' (2019) with Ken Jones. Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on education policy under austerity conditions, particularly in Greece, where she has examined the role of trade unions in education reform and the intricacies of conditionality in policy implementation. She has also made significant contributions to research ethics, particularly regarding the concept of vulnerability in social research and its application to studies involving political elites. Professor Traianou teaches on the BA (Honours) Education Culture and Society, MA Education: Culture Language and Identity, and MPhil/PhD Education programmes. Her doctoral supervision focuses on education policy, particularly the interplay between supranational policy influence and national traditions; learning and teacher 'expertise' in contemporary policy and politics; and research ethics as situated practice. She has secured significant research funding, including from the British Academy (2019-2022) for research on structural adjustment in Greece (2010-2018) and from the National Education Union (NEU) for her current project on teachers' curriculum autonomy. Her recent report 'Are you on slide 8 yet?' examines the impact of standardized curricula on teacher professionalism.
Dr. Stella Boess is a Researcher at the Department of Industrial Design Engineering, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering at Delft University of Technology. She focuses on interdisciplinary research bridging social sciences and engineering, particularly in sustainable renovation, accessibility, and health technology. Her work emphasizes user-centered design in residential environments, addressing challenges such as heat pump adoption and inclusivity for visually impaired individuals. She teaches courses like Inclusive Design and Prototyping for Interaction , and has collaborated on projects including the HiPP initiative for optimized patient experiences and the NWO usability project. She appeared in media such as NPO's Programme Reference Man in 2022. Her research interests include human-technology relations, sustainable building practices, and co-creation methodologies. She explores how design interventions impact occupant behavior and satisfaction, advocating for holistic approaches to integrate technology with human practices. Recent projects also address mobility design improvements for automotive interiors and inclusive medical solutions for the Global South. Research Projects: HiPP: Optimizing orthopedic patient care pathways NWO design for usability project REIL project: Enhancing rehabilitation interactions AAL project MyGuardian: Supporting aging populations Stella’s publications from 2022 to 2025 reflect a trend toward analyzing socio-technical dynamics in sustainable housing and mobility systems. She highlights the importance of stakeholder collaboration and participatory frameworks to ensure equitable outcomes. No scientific awards are listed, but her contributions to inclusive design and zero-energy renovation are notable.
David Lillis is an Associate Professor in the School of Computer Science at University College Dublin (UCD). His research focuses on Natural Language Processing (NLP), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and their applications in legal and forensic contexts. He leads projects like CeADAR (Ireland’s Applied AI Center) and the Transpire project, collaborating with organizations such as Corlytics and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. He holds adjunct roles as a Guest Professor at Beijing University of Technology’s Data Mining and Security Lab and has been a Fulbright Scholar at the University of New Haven’s Cyber Forensics Research and Education Group. Education: B.A. (Hons) in Law and Accounting, University of Limerick Higher Diploma in Computer Science, UCD M.Sc., Ph.D. in Computer Science, UCD Professional Certificate in University Teaching & Learning, UCD Research Interests: Legal AI, digital forensics, machine learning, multi-agent systems, and information retrieval. Recent work includes NLP for regulatory analysis, crop yield prediction via neural networks, and AR-driven decision support systems. Grants & Projects: Principal Investigator: Transpire (AI Platform for Regulation) SFI Funded Investigator: CONSUS (Crop Optimization) PI: CeADAR Technology Centre Teaching roles include Deputy Programme Director for Software Engineering at Beijing-Dublin International College (BDIC) since 2014. Labs & Groups: UCD Forensics and Security Research Group, ML-Labs (SFI Centre for ML Training), and the Data Mining and Security Lab (BJUT).
Steven Swanson is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of California, San Diego, within the Jacobs School of Engineering. He is the Director of the Non-Volatile Systems Laboratory (NVSL), where he leads cutting-edge research in non-volatile memory, storage systems, and hardware-software co-design. His work bridges computer architecture, systems, and software to develop efficient, reliable, and secure computing platforms. Ph.D., University of Washington, 2006 B.S., University of Puget Sound, 1999 Dr. Swanson's research centers on non-volatile and persistent memory systems , exploring how next-generation storage technologies can transform computing. His lab develops full-stack solutions including file systems like NOVA and Orion , programming models such as NV-Heaps , and hardware prototypes like Moneta and Onyx . The team also works on low-power co-processors (e.g., GreenDroid ) and tools for debugging and verifying persistent memory programs. Research spans system reliability, security, energy efficiency, and performance optimization. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on persistent memory safety , zero-copy I/O , RDMA-based distributed file systems , and real-world characterization of Intel Optane . These works appear in top venues including ASPLOS, FAST, MICRO, and USENIX ATC, demonstrating sustained innovation in storage and systems research. Scientific honors include: NSF CAREER Award Google Faculty Award Facebook Faculty Award NetApp Faculty Fellow Dr. Swanson has advised 15 PhD students and 4 postdocs , many now faculty or senior engineers at Google, Microsoft, Intel, and other leading tech firms. He has secured significant research funding and leads major community initiatives such as the annual Non-Volatile Memories Workshop and Persistent Programming In Real Life (PIRL) . His educational efforts include innovative courses on robotic system design, quadcopter building, and modern storage systems, emphasizing hands-on learning and real-world implementation. The Non-Volatile Systems Laboratory (NVSL) under his leadership fosters a collaborative, international research environment, hosting visitors and postdocs from around the world. The lab is recognized globally as a pioneer in storage systems research and a key contributor to the adoption of persistent memory technologies in industry.
Harvey NEO is a Professorial Research Fellow at Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), leading the Cities and Urban Science programme at the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities (LKYCIC). He holds a PhD in Geography from Clark University, USA, and previously served as an Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS). His research focuses on urban sustainability, citizen-centric urban science, and nature-society interactions. He is the Southeast Asian editor for Human Geography and Frontiers in Sustainable Cities , and sits on multiple international advisory boards. Key roles include Director of SUTD's Master in Urban Science, Policy and Planning programme, and co-leader of the Tote Board's Future Ready Society initiative. Education: PhD, Graduate School of Geography, Clark University (2007); MSc, Geography, NUS (2002); BA (Hons), NUS. Research interests emphasize urban futures, participatory governance, and environmental policy, with a focus on Southeast Asian cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Manila, and Phnom Penh. His work bridges academia and practice through projects on electric vehicle policies, urban heat adaptation, and 3P+ (People, Public, Private + Academia) partnerships. Publications span urban mobility, pandemic responses, and eco-city development, reflecting a commitment to interdisciplinary solutions for sustainable urbanization. He has secured grants from Singapore’s Social Sciences Research Council and Housing Development Board, fostering collaborations across sectors to address societal challenges. Labs/Teams: LKYCIC's Urban Environmental Sustainability Programme and the Future Ready Society Initiative, which integrate research with policy and community action.
