Roghayeh (Leila) Barmaki is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer & Information Sciences at the University of Delaware, where she leads the Human-Computer Interaction Lab (HCI@UD) and is affiliated with the Data Science Institute. Her research centers on Human-Centered Computing with applications in healthcare and medical education. Education: Postdoctoral Fellowship (2018): Johns Hopkins University, Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics, Whiting School of Engineering PhD (2016): University of Central Florida, Computer Science MSc (2012): Iran University of Science and Technology, Artificial Intelligence BSc: Kharazmi University, Software Engineering Her research spans Multimodal Machine Learning, Virtual and Augmented Reality, and Embodied Interface Design, focusing on innovative applications in healthcare delivery and science education. She teaches core courses including Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction (CISC 482/682) and Introduction to Data Mining (CISC 483/683), emphasizing hands-on project development and theoretical foundations. Dr. Barmaki directs the HCI@UD laboratory, which develops cutting-edge interfaces for medical training and patient care through interdisciplinary collaboration between computer science, engineering, and healthcare domains.
Ashli Owen-Smith is a behavioral scientist affiliated with the School of Public Health at Georgia State University , where her research focuses on mental health disparities, suicide prevention, and integrative/complementary approaches for complex mental-physical health conditions. She works with underserved populations including refugees/immigrants, incarcerated individuals, and LGBTQ+ communities through community-based participatory research and mixed-methods frameworks. Her current projects are funded by CDC , DBHDD , and DPH . Education: Ph.D. in Behavioral Sciences (Emory, 2009), S.M. in Public Health (Harvard, 2005), B.A. in Psychology (Smith College, 2001) Her research spans mental health , trauma , suicide prevention , and mindfulness-based interventions . Recent work examines telehealth adaptations for chronic pain and mental health, vaccine hesitancy in refugee communities, and social determinants of suicide . She leads studies on gender-affirming care and health disparities in LGBTQ+ populations. Key article trends include epidemiological analysis of suicide risk factors, COVID-19 impacts on mental health, ICD-10 coding for autism, and complementary medicine in trauma recovery. Subfields span telehealth , health equity , mental-physical comorbidity , and community engagement . Students she has mentored include C.A. Scarlett , T. Griner , and M.M. Sesay . Her work integrates public health policy , clinical research , and health systems analysis .
Bradley Nelson is a Full Professor of Robotics and Intelligent Systems at ETH Zürich since 2002, leading the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems. He holds a Ph.D. in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University (1995), with prior roles as Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago (1995-1998) and Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota (1998-2002). His research focuses on microrobotics and nanorobotics for biomedical applications, including targeted drug delivery and medical robotics. He leads the Microrobotics Lab (MSRL) and chairs international workshops/conferences. Awards include IEEE and ASME Fellowships, and Best Paper accolades at major robotics venues. Research interests emphasize magnetic microrobot navigation, smart materials, and clinical translation of robotic systems. His work bridges engineering and medicine, addressing challenges like cerebral vasculature navigation for drug delivery. He has developed electromagnetically controllable catheters and telesurgery frameworks. Leadership roles include Head of the ETH Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering and Chairman of the ETH Electron Microscopy Center (EMEZ). Notable contributions include magnetically guided microcatheters, variable-stiffness catheters, and clinical-ready navigation systems. Ongoing projects explore magnetoelectric effects and biodegradable micromotors for environmental and biomedical uses. His lab collaborates with industry and academic partners globally to advance robotic solutions for healthcare challenges.
Kristofer Pister is a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley. He co-directs the Berkeley Sensor and Actuator Center (BSAC) and the Ubiquitous Swarm Lab. His career spans groundbreaking innovations in Micro/Nano Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS), Control Systems, and Low-Power Circuits, with a focus on Smart Dust and synthetic insects. Education: Ph.D. and M.S. in EECS from UC Berkeley (1992, 1989); B.A. in Applied Physics from UC San Diego (1986). His research areas include MEMS , Control Systems , Robotics , and Integrated Circuits , with recent work on self-powered micro-sensors, crystal-free radios, and interplanetary swarm networks. Key awards include the ISA Albert F. Sperry Founder Award (2009) , Alexander Schwarzkopf Prize (2006) , and the NSF CAREER Award (1996) . He has authored numerous influential publications in wireless sensor networks and microrobotics. His lab, Ubiquitous Swarm Lab , explores distributed robotics and swarm intelligence. Pister emphasizes open collaboration in research, ethical conduct in academia, and efficient resource utilization for graduate students.
Pinar Keskinocak serves as the H. Milton and Carolyn J. Stewart School Chair and Professor in the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She co-founded and directs the Center for Health and Humanitarian Systems, demonstrating leadership in both academic administration and research innovation. Her career includes prior roles as College of Engineering ADVANCE Professor and interim associate dean for faculty development, alongside industry experience at IBM T.J. Watson Research Center. Her educational foundation includes a Ph.D. in Operations Research from Carnegie Mellon University and M.S. and B.S. degrees in Industrial Engineering from Bilkent University. This rigorous training underpins her interdisciplinary approach to complex societal challenges. Dr. Keskinocak's research pioneers operations research applications for societal impact , with dual emphases on health systems and humanitarian logistics . She develops advanced models for infectious disease dynamics (including COVID-19, malaria, and Guinea worm), vaccination strategies, disaster response, and supply chain optimization. Her work uniquely bridges engineering analytics with real-world implementation through partnerships with the CDC, American Red Cross, Carter Center, and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Analysis of her 2023-2025 publications reveals intensifying focus on eradication program modeling for polio and Guinea worm, with increasing integration of machine learning for predictive accuracy in vaccine distribution. A pronounced trend addresses health equity through targeted interventions for under-immunized populations in Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasizing resource allocation under constraints and cross-border coordination challenges. Her scientific recognition includes: INFORMS Fellow (2015) NSF CAREER Award (2001) Outstanding Professional Education Award, Georgia Tech (2018) Denning Award for Global Engagement, Georgia Tech (2016) Women in Engineering Excellence Teaching Award (2005) Moving Spirit Award, INFORMS (2005) Dr. Keskinocak has secured extensive project funding through collaborations with federal agencies and NGOs, directing research on pandemic response systems, vaccine logistics, and disaster debris management. While specific advisees aren't publicly cataloged, her leadership in the Center for Health and Humanitarian Systems mentors numerous graduate researchers through interdisciplinary projects. She significantly influences national policy via National Academies committees addressing supply chain resilience and vaccine distribution infrastructure. The Center for Health and Humanitarian Systems operates as a dynamic hub where engineering rigor meets humanitarian action, coordinating multi-institutional teams to develop deployable solutions for global health crises and disaster response systems.
Prof. Vasilis Ntziachristos is a Professor and Chair of Biological Imaging at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), leading the Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging at the Helmholtz Centre Munich. His research focuses on developing novel optical and optoacoustic imaging techniques for early disease detection, diagnostics, and theranostics. He holds a PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania and previously served as an Assistant Professor at Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital. Affiliations: TUM School of Medicine and Health, Helmholtz Munich, Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging. Key Research Themes: Non-invasive imaging methods, molecular imaging, optoacoustic technology, and clinical translation. His work bridges theoretical developments with clinical applications, including advancements in glucose monitoring, cancer imaging, and drug delivery systems. Notable awards include the Leibniz Prize (2013) and the World Molecular Imaging Society Gold Medal (2015). Labs/Teams: Imaging to Sensing I2S, Optoacoustic Mesoscopy, Fluorescence Imaging, and AI in Optoacoustics. Grants/Projects: Involvement in Horizon Europe initiatives and collaborations with TranslaTUM and Helmholtz Munich. Prof. Ntziachristos actively contributes to education via courses like 'Biological Imaging' and 'Introduction to Bioengineering', fostering the next generation of imaging scientists.
Robert Pilawa-Podgurski is a Professor in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences Department at UC Berkeley and founding director of the Berkeley Power and Energy Center (BPEC). He earned BS, MEng, and PhD degrees from MIT. His research focuses on power electronics, including renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, and high-efficiency power converters. He has received prestigious awards such as the IEEE Fellow (2024), Bakar Fellows Spark Award (2024), and the IEEE Richard M. Bass Outstanding Young Power Electronics Engineer Award (2014). His work emphasizes experimental validation through hardware prototypes. Education: BS in Physics and EECS (MIT, 2005), MEng (MIT, 2007), PhD in EECS (MIT, 2012). Research interests include power electronics for renewable energy, electric vehicles, energy harvesting, and advanced converter topologies. His lab has developed high-power density converters and innovative control techniques for flying capacitor multilevel converters. Recent publications focus on hybrid switched-capacitor architectures, voltage balancing, and ultra-high-current applications. Awards include over 17 IEEE prize papers and teaching accolades like the 2023 UC Berkeley EECS Outstanding Teaching Award. His group has advised numerous students, including postdocs and PhD candidates working on cutting-edge power electronics projects. Labs/Teams: Pilawa Research Group at UC Berkeley, collaborating on power electronics for clean energy and high-performance computing.
Rotem Karni, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Genetics at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. He leads a research lab focused on understanding how alternative RNA splicing contributes to cancer and genetic diseases, with a strong emphasis on translating these findings into RNA-based therapies. Karni's lab develops decoy oligonucleotides, small molecules, and splice-switching technologies to modulate splicing factors and enhance immunotherapy. Education BSc in Biological Chemistry from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1997) PhD in Biological Chemistry from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel (2002) Postdoctoral Fellowship at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NY (2002-2007) Karni's research explores the deregulation of alternative splicing in oncogenesis, particularly how splicing factors like RBFOX2 and S6K1 influence metastasis, DNA repair, and immune checkpoint modulation. His team investigates m6A RNA modifications for stabilizing mutant genes, with applications in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and pancreatic cancer. The lab's work is commercialized through biotech companies: SKIP Therapeutics, Andlit Therapeutics, and RNAble. Selected Research Trends RNA mis-splicing and neoantigen generation (2025) Splicing factor inhibition for tumor suppression (2023) Metastatic splicing signatures in pancreatic cancer (2023) Immune checkpoint splicing in cancer immunotherapy (2021) m6A modulation for mRNA stabilization (2023) Advising & Collaborations Karni has mentored numerous PhD and postdoctoral researchers, many of whom now hold leadership roles in academia, biotech, and medical institutions globally. His lab collaborates extensively on projects involving RNA innovation, including partnerships with the Institute for RNA Innovation. Contact Department of Genetics & Institute for RNA Innovation, One uCity Square, Room 4018, Philadelphia, PA 19104 Phone: 215-898-5072 Email: Rotem.Karni@Upenn.edu
Dr. Susan Hua is an Associate Professor at the University of Newcastle's School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, specializing in translational nanopharmaceutics and therapeutic targeting. She established the first translational nanopharmaceutics laboratory in the Hunter region, focusing on drug delivery systems for gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and reproductive pathologies. Education: Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours, University of Queensland (UQ) PhD in Neuroscience and Nanotechnology, UQ Research Interests: Her work centers on using nanotechnology to create targeted drug delivery systems for diseases such as chronic pain, inflammatory conditions, and obstetric complications. Key focuses include oxytocin receptor-targeted liposomes for uterine therapies and localized drug delivery to bypass biological barriers. Awards & Recognition: 2020 DVC(A) Educator Innovation Award 2017 NSW Premier's Early Career Researcher of the Year 2015 HMRI Early Career Researcher of the Year Grants & Collaborations: A/Prof Hua has secured over $5.5M in grants, including NHMRC and ARC funding. She collaborates with institutions like HMRI, John Hunter Hospital, and global teams on projects like nanoparticle-based treatments for preterm labor and uterine hemorrhage. Teaching & Leadership: She coordinates pharmacy programs, emphasizing clinical application and innovation. Her courses include Pharmacotherapeutics and Pharmacy Practice, with awards for teaching excellence (2020, 2011). Labs & Programs: Head of Therapeutic Targeting Program, University of Newcastle Director, Translational Pharmaceutics & Medical Technologies Theme (HMRI)
Virgil Percec is the P. Roy Vagelos Professor of Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania, affiliated with the School of Arts & Sciences and the Department of Chemistry. His research focuses on organic, supramolecular, and macromolecular chemistry, with an emphasis on self-assembly, drug delivery systems, and biomimetic nanosystems. He holds a B.S. and Ph.D. from institutions in Jassy, Romania, and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Freiburg and the University of Akron. Research Interests: Percec’s work integrates synthetic methods, catalysis, and structural biology to design functional nanosystems. Key areas include hierarchical folding, supramolecular chirality, and synthetic mimics of biological membranes. His lab explores mRNA delivery systems using Janus dendrimers and studies self-organized structures like helical columns and quasicrystals. Recent Articles: His recent publications highlight advancements in mRNA delivery mechanisms, supramolecular architectures, and polymer synthesis innovations. The group’s work often involves interdisciplinary collaborations, bridging chemistry, materials science, and bioengineering. Awards: Percec was elected a Foreign Member of the Academia Europaea (2020) and delivered the inaugural ACS Kavli Lecture (2011). His lab has trained numerous students and postdocs, including Juncheng Lu (Master’s Capstone Award recipient) and Devendra Maurya (SET-LRP research). Labs & Teams: The Percec Research Laboratory at Penn develops cutting-edge biomaterials and supramolecular systems. The group collaborates globally, with projects funded by grants exploring nanotechnology and drug delivery.
Charlotte Jacobsen is a Professor and Head of the Research Group for Bioactives – Analysis and Application at the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU). Her research focuses on lipid oxidation, antioxidants, and sustainable utilization of marine resources. She leads multiple interdisciplinary projects and supervises PhD students in food science and technology. Research Interests: Antioxidant chemistry in food systems Oxidative stability of omega-3 fatty acids Valorization of fish and seafood by-products Microalgae as sustainable sources of bioactives Functional foods and nutraceuticals Green extraction technologies Recent Research Trends: Her recent publications (2021–2025) reflect a strong focus on sustainable food systems, including the recovery of bioactive compounds from fish side-streams, stabilization of omega-3 lipids, development of anti-obesity peptides from seaweed, and cultivation of microalgae using industrial waste streams. The work spans food chemistry, marine biotechnology, and green processing, with applications in functional foods and nutrition. Scientific Awards: Danisco Award, 2003 Edwin Frankel Best Paper Award, 2010 and 2011 La Médaille Chevreul, 2010 Marcuse Lecturer grant, 1999 Advising and Grants: Professor Jacobsen actively supervises PhD students and leads multiple funded research projects, including 'Utilization of fish side-streams for production of novel food ingredients' and 'Sustainable Production of Microalgae Proteins'. She is involved in national and international collaborations, securing research funding for projects on omega-3 extraction, microalgae cultivation, and seafood quality. Labs and Teams: She leads the Research Group for Bioactives – Analysis and Application at DTU, which is part of the DTU Microbes Initiative. The group specializes in analytical methods for bioactive compounds, lipid oxidation analysis, and development of sustainable food ingredients.
Houman Savoji is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal. He is also a full-time researcher at the CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center and principal investigator in regenerative medicine, organs-on-chip, and bioprinting at TransMedTech Institute. Dr. Savoji received his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal in 2016. He then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. His research expertise combines advanced manufacturing technologies (micro- and nano-fabrication, 3D bioprinting, microfluidics, cell electrospinning) with functional and composite materials for applications in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and organs-on-chip. His work focuses on the design, development, optimization, implementation, and characterization of innovative functional biomaterials using emerging engineering technologies, with particular emphasis on cardiac tissue engineering and biomimetic pulmonary heart valves for pediatric patients. Dr. Savoji has published extensively on biomaterials, tissue engineering, 3D bioprinting, and organ-on-chip technologies. His recent publications demonstrate expertise in viscoelastic characterization of soft tissues, engineering immune responses to biomaterials, ceramic engineering for biomedical applications, and advanced 3D bioprinting techniques for cardiac and vascular tissue engineering. 2017-2020, Postdoctoral Research Grant, CIHR 2017-2019, Postdoctoral Research Grant, FRQNT 2017-2018, Human Society of International Grant, Human Toxicity Assessment Project 2016, CR-CHUM Research Center Award 2015, Star Student-Researcher Award, FRQNT 2014-2015, Jane and Frank Warchol Fellowship, Society of Vacuum Coaters Foundation 2013, Institute of Textile Science Award 2012-2015, Excellence Doctoral Scholarship for Foreign Students, FRQNT Dr. Savoji has supervised Master's students including Ines Barrakad (2024) working on 'Advanced manufacturing technologies versus molding of corneal implants: 3D printing vs molding of a Keratoprosthesis' and Zineb Ajji (2023) researching 'Development of perfusable patches by 3D bioprinting for potential application in cardiac tissue regeneration.' He has secured numerous research grants from organizations including CIHR, NSERC, FRQNT, FRQS, MITACS, and others for projects related to 3D bioprinting of cardiac tissues, biomimetic heart valves, and other tissue engineering applications. The Savoji Laboratory, located within the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology and Institute of Biomedical Engineering of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Montreal, the Research Center of the CHU Sainte-Justine (CHUSJ), and the TransMedTech Institute, focuses on multidisciplinary research involving 3D bioprinting using stem-cell derived human cardiac cells to fabricate functional cardiac tissues for transplantation and drug discovery applications.
Zhiling Gu is a Research Fellow at Yale School of Public Health, having earned her Ph.D. in Statistics at Iowa State University. Her work integrates statistical theory with applications in public health and medicine. Her research spans Functional Data Analysis Network Analysis Spatiotemporal Modeling Statistical AI Foundations Nonparametric Learning applied to neuroimaging, electronic health records, and environmental health studies. Recent publications focus on Adaptive spatiotemporal models Neuroimaging data processing Pandemic forecasting frameworks Environmental exposure modeling with methodological rigor and practical implementation. Scientific achievements include Runner-up in SMI 2023 Student Paper Competition She has taught STAT 305: Engineering Statistics (ISU) STAT 226: Business Statistics Statistical Computing Statistical Learning and actively engages in academic presentations at conferences like SMI 2024 and CMStatistics 2022.
Dr. Owen Dillon is a Research Fellow in the Discipline of Medical Imaging Sciences at the University of Sydney's Faculty of Medicine and Health. He holds affiliations with the ACRF Image X Institute and the Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies. His work focuses on advanced imaging techniques for medical applications, particularly computed tomography (CT) and motion compensation in radiation therapy. He completed his PhD in Mathematics at the University of Auckland, specializing in probabilistic compression algorithms for inverse problems. Education: B.Sc. Physics & Applied Mathematics (2013, University of Auckland), First Class Honours in Mathematics (2015), PhD Mathematics (2018). Research interests include inverse problems, Bayesian statistics, CT image reconstruction, and real-time imaging systems. Current projects involve optimizing CT acquisition geometries, motion-compensated 4D imaging, and anatomical motion estimation. His contributions have led to clinical trials reducing radiation dose and scan times. He advises two PhD students and collaborates on grants like the Quantum CT project. Grants: 'Quantum CT for Cancer Diagnosis' (2024), 'Functional Imaging in Lung Cancer' (2024). His work bridges mathematical theory with clinical applications in oncology and interventional radiology.
Andrew D. White is an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, University of Rochester. He holds a PhD from the University of Washington (2013). His research focuses on automating scientific discovery through AI, particularly leveraging large language models (LLMs) and deep learning techniques in chemistry. His lab develops agents that integrate literature analysis, hypothesis generation, and experimental design to advance fields like molecular dynamics and drug discovery. Education: PhD in Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, 2013 BS/MS (not explicitly stated in text, inferred from career timeline) Research Interests: Large language models for scientific automation Deep learning applications in chemistry and materials science Molecular dynamics simulations Scientific agents and autonomous systems Publications: His work includes groundbreaking studies on closed-loop AI systems for chemistry, federated learning in molecular property prediction, and multi-agent systems for drug discovery. Recent highlights include the Robin system and ChemCrow tools. Awards: Recipient of the NSF Career Award (2018), NIH Outstanding Investigator Award (2020), and the Curtis Teaching Award (2019). He also advises biotech companies and serves on the National Academy of Sciences' Chemical Sciences Roundtable. Grants & Funding: Supported by DOE, NSF (multiple grants including CBET-1751471), NIH (R35GM137966), and LLNL projects. Collaborates with institutions like Argonne National Lab and Qubit Pharmaceuticals. Labs & Teams: Leads the White Lab at Rochester and co-founded FutureHouse, a nonprofit advancing AI-driven scientific discovery. Supervises a multidisciplinary team of PhD students and postdocs in computational chemistry, AI, and biophysics.
