Xavier Serra is a Full Professor at the Department of Engineering at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona. He is the founder and director of the Music Technology Group (MTG), and leads the UPF-BMAT Chair on AI and Music. He also coordinates the Master in Sound and Music Computing and serves as President of the Phonos Foundation. His research focuses on audio signal processing, sound and music computing, and computational musicology, emphasizing open science and open innovation. Education: BSc in Biology, University of Barcelona (1981) Master in Music, Florida State University (1983) PhD in Computer Music, Stanford University (1989) Research Interests: Audio Signal Processing Data-Driven and Knowledge-Driven Methodologies Music Information Retrieval Cultural Music Analysis (e.g., Carnatic/Turkish/Andalusian Music) Music Education Technology Notable Projects: CompMusic (ERC Advanced Grant, 2010-2017): Multicultural computational music analysis Open datasets: Freesound, Saraga, FSD50K Technologies: Reactable, Vocaloid, Essentia API Recent Trends in Articles: Focus on AI-driven audio processing (neural fingerprints, generative models), cross-cultural music analysis, and explainable music difficulty estimation. Awards: ERC Advanced Grant (2010) for CompMusic Project. Labs/Teams: Director of MTG, Phonos Foundation, and UPF-BMAT Chair. Active in open-source projects and international collaborations.
Bernhard Schölkopf is a Director at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems and holds a Professorship at ETH Zurich. He is one of Europe's leading researchers in Artificial Intelligence and serves as co-founder and president of ELLIS (European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems). His scientific interests focus on machine learning and causal inference, with applications spanning biomedical problems, computational photography, and astronomy. Schölkopf has conducted research at prestigious institutions including AT&T Bell Labs, GMD FIRST in Berlin, and Microsoft Research Cambridge before joining the Max Planck Society in 2001. Schölkopf's recent work examines the tangible risks of AI systems rather than speculative existential threats, highlighting important challenges including algorithmic bias, lack of transparency, privacy violations, worker exploitation, carbon footprint of AI systems, and job displacement across multiple publications in different languages. His scientific achievements have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards: Academy Prize of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities Royal Society Milner Award Leibniz Award Koerber European Science Prize BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award Allen Newell Award Fellow of the ACM Fellow of the CIFAR Program "Learning in Machines and Brains" Schölkopf is a member of the German Academy of Sciences (Leopoldina) and co-founded the series of Machine Learning Summer Schools. His work bridges theoretical advances in machine learning with practical applications across diverse domains, while advocating for responsible AI development that addresses real-world challenges rather than speculative existential threats.
Albert Atserias is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), affiliated with the Faculty of Informatics of Barcelona (FIB) and the ALBCOM research group (Algorithms, Bioinformatics, Complexity, and Formal Methods). He is also associated with the Institut de Matemàtiques de la UPC-BarcelonaTech. His research is central to theoretical computer science, with a strong emphasis on logic and complexity. Atserias's research interests span Computational Complexity, Logic in Computer Science, Finite Model Theory, Proof Complexity, and Constraint Satisfaction Problems . His work explores the fundamental limits of computation, the expressive power of logical languages over finite structures, and the complexity of proving mathematical statements. He investigates the algebraic and combinatorial properties of proof systems, the limits of efficient algorithms for constraint solving, and the theoretical foundations of databases. His research often bridges logic, algebra, and combinatorics to provide deep insights into computational phenomena. The trends in his recent publications show a sustained focus on the logical and algebraic underpinnings of computational problems. Key themes include the consistency and complexity of database queries , the power and limitations of proof systems (like resolution and sum-of-squares), and the expressive power of homomorphism counts in graph theory. His work on the hardness of automating resolution and the development of circular proof systems are particularly significant contributions to proof complexity. The 2024 PODS Best Paper Award for work on relational consistency underscores the impact and timeliness of his research. Among his notable scientific awards are the prestigious ICREA Acadèmia , the PODS 2024 Best Paper Award , the Premi Extraordinari de Doctorat (Extraordinary Doctoral Prize), and the Kleene Award for Best Student Paper . These accolades reflect both the excellence of his early work and his continued leadership in the field. Atserias has been a principal investigator on numerous competitive research projects, including funding from the European Research Council (ERC) and the Spanish Ministry of Science. He has advised doctoral students, such as Toni Hakoniemi, whose thesis on proof complexity he supervised. His extensive collaborative network includes leading researchers like Phokion Kolaitis, Anuj Dawar, and Victor Dalmau. He has also served on the scientific committees of major conferences, contributing to the academic community. He is a core member of the ALBCOM research group , a leading team at UPC focused on theoretical aspects of computer science, which provides a vibrant environment for research in algorithms, complexity, and formal methods. His work is also connected to the broader Institut de Matemàtiques de la UPC, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between computer science and mathematics.
Pablo Aragón is a Research Scientist at the Wikimedia Foundation and an Adjunct Professor at Universitat Pompeu Fabra. His work bridges computational social science, civic technology, and technopolitics, with a focus on Wikipedia's governance, digital democracy tools, and participatory systems. He co-founded the Democratic Innovation Lab in Barcelona and the DatAnalysis15M research network. Key research interests include analyzing knowledge integrity in Wikipedia, configuring digital participatory budgeting systems, and studying platform effects in civic technologies. He has led projects like DECODE (decentralized citizen engagement) and contributed to platforms like Decidim, which empower participatory democracy in cities like Barcelona. Recent conference engagements include KDD 2024 (data mining), ICWSM 2024 (social media analysis), and Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2024. His work emphasizes cross-cultural collaboration, with studies published in ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction and peer-reviewed conferences like CIKM and ACM SIGKDD. Professional affiliations include the Decidim association, Amnistía Internacional España, and the open knowledge advocacy group Civio. His research often intersects with open science, free culture movements, and gender equity in urban mobility.
Sonia Vanier is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at École Polytechnique, where she holds multiple leadership positions: Head of the 'Trusted and Responsible AI' Chair (X/Crédit Agricole), Head of the 'Optimization and AI for Mobility' Chair (X/SNCF), Head of 3A, and Scientific Manager of Industrial Relations for both the Department and the Computer Science Laboratory (LIX). She coordinates the GdT OR (Network Optimization) working group and leads the REST (Energy, Services and Transport Networks) research axis of the CNRS GDROD, while serving on its scientific council. Her research develops decision support tools for complex industrial problems through hybrid approaches combining Artificial Intelligence and Operations Research , with focus areas including Network Optimization, ethical AI systems, sustainable computing, and trustworthy AI frameworks. Her work bridges theoretical foundations with applications in telecommunications, transportation, and cybersecurity. Publications demonstrate strong emphasis on optimization techniques (branch-and-price, cutting planes) applied to wireless networks, AI safety, and security challenges. Recent works explore LLM memorization, signomial programming, and multi-commodity flow problems, showing consistent integration of OR with machine learning for industrial-scale problems. Awards: Research Award and Innovation Award, Telecom Valley Association ALOES Orange Innovation Project She leads major industrial-academic partnerships through the Crédit Agricole and SNCF chairs, managing research grants focused on responsible AI deployment and mobility optimization. As Scientific Manager of Industrial Relations, she oversees industry collaborations for LIX laboratory. Affiliated with the Computer Science Laboratory (LIX), she directs the 3A research group and contributes to national initiatives through CNRS GDROD, coordinating research in network optimization and sustainable systems.
Susagna Tubau Muntaña is an Associate Professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Department of English Philology and German Studies. She is part of the Center for Theoretical Linguistics and the Theoretical Linguistics Research Group funded by the Generalitat de Catalunya. Her academic roles include tenures as Associate Professor (2020–2023), Interim Associate Professor (2015–2020), and various teaching/research positions at UAB and other institutions since 2001. Education: PhD in English Philology (UAB, 2008) MA in Linguistics (University College London, 2004) MA in English Philology (UAB, 2003) Bachelor's in English Philology (UAB, 2001) Research Focus: Main interest: Theoretical linguistics, syntax, and negation phenomena (simple/double negation, negative agreement, negative quantifiers) Secondary areas: First/second language acquisition, the that-trace effect in English, gender expression in translated texts Key contributions: Studies on Catalan and English negative concord, experimental syntax, and language typology Grants & Projects: Principal Investigator (IP) of a funded project, plus member of 6 other projects and 2 thematic networks Active in projects like La interpretación de las categorías funcionales (2018–2021) and EXPLETIVITAD Y SIGNIFICADO EXPRESIVO (2024–2027) Awards & Recognition: Positive evaluations from CNEAI (National Commission for Research Activity) and AQU (Catalonia's Quality Agency) Speaker at 40+ linguistics conferences Reviewer for journals, La Caixa-British Council grants, and U.S. National Research Foundation projects Lab/Team Affiliation: Member of the consolidated Theoretical Linguistics Group funded by the Catalan government
Florin George Călian is a researcher at the Center for Ecumenical Research within the Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu , with a focus on the intersection of history of philosophy , religious studies , and classical philology . He co-founded the Dan Slușanschi School of Classical and Oriental Languages , which offers Latin, Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew, and Sahidic Coptic to international students. Călian’s editorial work includes coordinating the Review of Ecumenical Studies (RES) and the Ratio publishing series. Education : Master’s in Greco-Roman History (University of Bucharest), Master’s in Medieval Studies (Central European University), PhD in Philosophy (Central European University, supervised by Gabor Betegh). Research Areas : Ontology of numbers in Plato, sacred space politics, Neoplatonic theology, historiography of alchemy, and interdisciplinary links between philosophy and Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Recent Publications include analyses of Plato’s mathematical ontology, critiques of Hagia Sophia’s reconversion, and editorials on the problem of evil. His 2021 monograph Numbers, Ontologically Speaking: Plato on Numerosity reinterprets Platonic dialogues through mathematical philosophy. Academic Engagements span roles as a coordinator for the Dan Slușanschi School, editorial board member for RES and SCHOLÉ , and organizer of conferences bridging theology and philosophy.
Deian Stefan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of California at San Diego. His research focuses on secure systems spanning security, programming languages, and systems. He is particularly interested in WebAssembly, JavaScript JITs, language-based security (constant-time programming, memory safety, information flow control), verification for security, and program analysis tools. Co-founder and Chief Scientist at Intrinsic (acquired by VMWare) Contributor to W3C WebAppSec and Node.js Security Working Groups Research Interests: His work addresses secure systems through principled approaches, including: Web frameworks security Browser design security Sandboxing techniques Runtime systems security Constant-time programming WebAssembly and JavaScript JITs Scientific Awards: Distinguished paper award at POPL 2023 IEEE Cybersecurity Award for Practice 2022 Best paper award at CollaborateCom 2010 Most Influential Paper Award at ICFP 2022 First place at CSAW 2020 for applied research Advising: Deian has mentored students including Shravan Narayan, Evan Johnson, Sunjay Cauligi, and Fraser Brown, focusing on security, systems, and programming languages.
Maximilian Muhn is an Associate Professor of Accounting at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He joined Chicago Booth as an assistant professor of accounting in 2019 and was promoted to Associate Professor. His academic career focuses on empirical accounting research with particular emphasis on financial transparency and disclosure practices. Muhn received his PhD in accounting from Humboldt University of Berlin and holds an MSc and BSc in business administration from the University of Münster, Germany. Prior to his academic career, he gained professional experience in consulting (McKinsey & Company and Boston Consulting Group), auditing (KPMG and Deloitte), and management accounting (BASF and ThyssenKrupp Steel). His research primarily investigates the determinants and consequences of firms' financial transparency, as well as the effects of financial market and transparency regulation. Muhn employs diverse methodologies including field experiments, archival studies, and applications of large language models in financial analysis. His work examines how different stakeholders (investors, consumers, regulators) use and respond to corporate disclosures. Muhn teaches Financial Accounting in the Evening and Weekend MBA Program at Chicago Booth, where he aims to enable students to 'speak' the language of accounting and understand its economic foundations. His teaching emphasizes practical applications of accounting concepts in business decision-making. His scholarly contributions include publications in top accounting journals such as the Journal of Accounting Research, with recent work focusing on risk disclosures, financial transparency of private firms, consumer use of firm disclosure, and the application of generative AI in financial analysis. His research often combines traditional accounting approaches with innovative methodologies like large-scale field experiments. Muhn has collaborated with prominent scholars including Luzi Hail, David Oesch, Joachim Gassen, and Christian Leuz. His research has practical implications for corporate disclosure practices, regulatory policies, and investor decision-making. He maintains an active research agenda with several working papers in areas including private firm disclosure, generative AI applications in finance, and social disclosure decisions.
Rodrigo Lopes De Barros Oliveira is an active Lecturer at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), specializing in Spanish Language Education within the Department of Spanish Philology and Language Education. He teaches courses including Teaching Spanish in Primary Education, Language in the Early Childhood Classroom, and Spanish Language Communication Strategies for both Bachelor's and Double Degree programs in Education. His academic career spans teaching activities through the 2025-26 academic year, demonstrating ongoing institutional engagement. His research interests center on Brazilian literature, creative writing, and experimental film production with particular focus on urban cultural studies and representations of social marginalization. Oliveira's creative output reveals a distinctive voice exploring São Paulo's urban landscape, often employing dark social commentary and experimental narrative forms that challenge conventional literary boundaries. His work frequently examines the intersection of Brazilian identity, political resistance, and bodily experience within contemporary society. Oliveira's creative works demonstrate consistent thematic evolution toward increasingly complex explorations of surveillance, urban decay, and cultural resistance. His film projects often blend documentary and experimental techniques while his literary works maintain a strong connection to Brazilian social realities. The academic analysis of his work, such as Milton Francisco's semiotic study of 'A Carne do Metrô,' confirms his significance within contemporary Brazilian literary discourse. Scientific Recognition: Cultural Contest Caderno 2 in the 450 Years of São Paulo (2004) for 'A Carne do Metrô' As an educator, Oliveira guides students through foundational language education courses and supervises Bachelor's Thesis projects in Early Childhood Education. His creative practice informs his pedagogical approach, bringing real-world artistic experience into the classroom. While specific research grants aren't documented in the provided materials, his sustained creative output across multiple media suggests ongoing scholarly engagement. Oliveira is affiliated with the Art and Education - Music and Art Laboratory (GRAiE - Mus&Art Lab), a consolidated experimental R&D&I group at UIB, indicating active participation in interdisciplinary artistic research. His work bridges academic scholarship with creative practice, positioning him at the intersection of education, literature, and visual arts within the university setting.
Mario Piattini is a Full Professor at the School of Computer Science of the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM) in Spain, where he has served since 2002. He is the founder of the Alarcos research group and has held leadership roles including Director of the Mixed Center for Software Research and Development UCLM-Indra and Director of the Institute of Technologies and Information Systems (ITSI) at UCLM. He has also served as an associate professor at Universidad Complutense and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. His educational background includes a PhD and degree in Computer Science from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, a Psychology degree from UNED, and a Doctor Honoris Causa from Universidad de La Plata (Argentina). He holds multiple master's degrees in IT Audit, Human Resources Management, and Project Management, along with professional certifications including CISA, CISM, CRISC, CGEIT, PMP, and data governance certifications from DAMA. Professor Piattini is a leading expert in software quality, information systems, and security, with a recent strong focus on quantum computing and quantum software engineering. His research spans software engineering methodologies, data quality, AI systems, and the emerging field of quantum software development. He has been recognized as one of the top 15 scholars in systems and software engineering (2004-2008) and among the most active software engineering researchers (2010-2017). His recent publications reveal a significant shift toward quantum computing, with numerous articles on quantum software engineering, quantum-classical hybrid systems, quantum testing frameworks, and quantum software architecture. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical engineering approaches for the emerging quantum computing paradigm. His scientific recognition includes multiple prestigious awards: Premio Nacional a la Trayectoria Profesional del Ingeniero Informático Premio Gabriel Alonso Herrera from JCCM for research trajectory Premio Grace Hooper from COIICLM Premio Aritmel from SCIE Premio FIUM from Universidad de Murcia Premio a la Trayectoria Profesional de ISACA Madrid As an academic leader, Piattini has founded several spinoff companies including Cronos Ibérica (now Alten), Kybele Consulting, Lucentia Lab, DQTeam, AQCLab (the first ENAC-accredited laboratory for software product quality and data evaluation), and I2SC. He serves as secretary of CTN71/SC7 and is a member of various ISO/IEC and UNE standardization committees, contributing significantly to software quality standards development. His research group has established AQCLab, which has been evaluating software quality for 25 years, demonstrating his long-term commitment to practical applications of software engineering research. Through his leadership in both academic and industrial contexts, Piattini has created a robust ecosystem connecting theoretical research with real-world software quality practices.
Diego S. Crescentino serves as Assistant Professor at the University of Deusto's Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, maintaining an active research profile bridging International Relations and Contemporary History. His transdisciplinary work examines foreign policy frameworks through historical lenses, with particular focus on Latin American geopolitical positioning and conceptual evolution of the Global South. Fluent in five languages (Spanish, English, German, French, Portuguese), he has conducted research stays at Columbia University, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, University of Erfurt, and multiple Brazilian institutions. His educational foundation includes: Ph.D. in Contemporary History from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (international mention from Columbia University) M.A. in International Relations and African Studies (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid) B.A. in Political Science and Public Administration (Universidad Nacional de Cuyo) Crescentino holds ANECA accreditation for Assistant, Associate, and Private University Professor positions across the Spanish higher education system. Research interests span critical international relations theory with emphasis on utopian narratives in political positioning, Brazilian diplomatic evolution, environmental resistance movements, and migration policy frameworks. His work challenges traditional geopolitical binaries while examining how literary sources decode postcolonial resistance. Current projects analyze how far-right populism constructs covert utopias through environmental denial and the tension between extractivist geopolitics and community resilience. Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal three key trajectories: deconstruction of Global South conceptualization through environmental agendas, analysis of academic influences on Brazilian diplomatic practice, and methodological innovations merging historical and IR frameworks. His scholarship employs qualitative analysis, process tracing, and interdisciplinary source triangulation to examine structural transformations in emerging economies and migration governance. Professional recognition includes: Juan de la Cierva Postdoctoral Fellowship (2024) at the Spanish National Research Council Margarita Salas Postdoctoral Fellowship at Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt While specific advisees aren't documented in the provided materials, his teaching manual "Cartografías disidentes" demonstrates engagement with critical theoretical frameworks at graduate level. Research collaborations with scholars like Sergio Caballero and Gabriela de Lima Grecco indicate participation in transnational academic networks. His work with the Grupo de Estudios Internacionales de la UAM continues critical scholarship traditions established through their academic journal and master's program. Crescentino's methodological approach combines historical analysis with contemporary policy examination, particularly through oral history integration with normative frameworks. His current research examines epistemic resistance strategies in Global South conceptualization and environmental utopianism within populist movements, building on extensive fieldwork across Latin American and European academic institutions.
Georgios Portokalidis is an Associate Research Professor at IMDEA Software Institute and Visiting Research Professor at Stevens Institute of Technology. He leads research in software systems security with focus on binary analysis, software hardening, and operating system security. His research develops practical defenses against software vulnerabilities through techniques like binary debloating, system call filtering, and hardware-assisted security. Current projects explore Rust language security, processor-assisted protection mechanisms, and vulnerability mitigation through code reduction. Publication trends show evolution from foundational binary analysis to applied security hardening, with recent emphasis on Rust security, hardware-assisted defenses, and real-world system protection. Work demonstrates consistent focus on practical, deployable security solutions. He has supervised numerous PhD students and postdocs, currently mentoring researchers at IMDEA. His group investigates binary analysis, software debloating, and system hardening techniques. Major grants include DARPA YFA (2021-2023) and ONR funding (2017-2022) supporting adaptive binary debloating research. Leads the systems security research group at IMDEA Software Institute, collaborating with international partners. Maintains active research partnerships and regularly contributes to top security conferences as program committee member.
Thaleia Dimitra Doudali is an Assistant Professor at the IMDEA Software Institute in Madrid, Spain, leading the Muse research lab. She holds a PhD in Computer Science from Georgia Institute of Technology (2021), advised by Ada Gavrilovska, focusing on hybrid memory management with machine learning. Prior to her PhD, she earned a Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (2015). Her research interests span systems for machine learning, machine learning for systems, and computer vision applications in resource management. Her work has been recognized with awards including the 'César Nombela' (2024), 'Juan de la Cierva' (2021), and Rising Star in EECS (2020). She serves on program committees for top conferences (ASPLOS, EuroSys) and organizes workshops. Her lab's projects address cloud resource management, carbon efficiency, and sustainable computing. She advises multiple PhD and intern researchers, contributing to impactful publications in SIGMOD, EuroSys, and other venues. Notable contributions include Cronus (CV-based memory management), CaRE (carbon-efficient cloud-edge orchestration), and foundational work on ML-driven resource forecasting. Her research bridges systems and AI, aiming to optimize data center efficiency and sustainability. She actively promotes diversity in STEM through mentorship roles in ACM-W Greece and Women in HPC initiatives.
Cecilio Angulo Bahón is a full Professor at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), affiliated with the Barcelona School of Industrial Engineering (ETSEIB) and the Department of Systems, Automatics and Industrial Informatics Engineering . He leads research in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics , with significant contributions to healthcare data analytics, digital twins, and human-robot collaboration. His research spans machine learning for medical data harmonization, generative adversarial networks in health informatics, and evolutionary algorithms for control systems. Recent publications focus on synthetic healthcare data generation, climate-resilient agriculture , and UMAP-based data analysis . His work bridges AI theory with practical applications in industrial and healthcare domains. Scientific awards include the Sant Jordi 2023 Digital Polytechnic Initiative Award . He has supervised doctoral candidates like Carlos Flores-Vázquez and N. Raya, with key collaborations at the IDEAI-UPC Intelligent Data Science and AI Research Group and the Institute of Robotics and Industrial Informatics (CSIC-UPC).
