Alanson Sample is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan (since 2018), leading the Interactive Sensing and Computing Lab. His research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction, Cyber-Physical Systems, and wireless technology innovations. He holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington (2011), with prior postdoctoral work there developing implantable medical devices. Before academia, Sample held senior roles at Disney Research (2013-2018) as Executive Lab Director and Principal Research Scientist, leading teams in Robotics, AI, Computer Vision, and HCI. Earlier, he worked at Intel Labs (2008-2013) on energy harvesting for wearables and IoT. Key research themes include wireless power systems, embedded sensing, and privacy-aware technologies. Over 150+ publications span topics like magnetic sensing (MagDesk), acoustic gesture recognition (HandSAW), and privacy-preserving activity tracking (PrivacyMic). His work bridges academic and industry innovation, particularly in scalable interactive systems and medical technology. Notable projects include the Quasistatic Cavity Resonance wireless charging system, RFID-based sensing platforms (WISP), and wearable health monitoring devices. His lab develops hardware-software co-design frameworks for energy-efficient embedded systems. Current research emphasizes medical applications, smart infrastructure, and ubiquitous computing interfaces.
Michele Zorzi is a Professor of Telecommunications at the School of Engineering, University of Padova, Italy, where he has held a faculty position since 2003. He leads the SIGNET (Signal processing and Networking) Research Group, focusing on cutting-edge wireless networking challenges including mmWave communications and underwater networks. His extensive publication record exceeds 600 papers in top-tier journals and conferences, reflecting significant contributions to the field through both theoretical and experimental work. He received his Laurea Degree (1990) and Ph.D. (1994) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Padova. Prior academic appointments include Politecnico di Milano (1993-1996), University of California San Diego (1995-1998), and University of Ferrara (1998-2003), where he progressed from Associate Professor to full Professor. His educational trajectory demonstrates deep roots in Italian academia with international exposure. Professor Zorzi's research spans wireless communications and networking, with current emphases on mmWave networking for vehicular systems, underwater acoustic/optical communications, non-terrestrial networks, and AI-driven networking solutions. His group conducts experimental validations including at-sea trials for underwater systems and testbeds for vehicular networks. Key projects include PRATA for predictive QoS in autonomous driving and IoT-based environmental monitoring of the Venice Lagoon, demonstrating practical applications of theoretical work. Analysis of his 2022-2025 publications reveals strong trends in applying artificial intelligence to networking challenges across diverse environments. There is significant emphasis on vehicular networks (predictive QoS, teleoperated driving), underwater systems (acoustic/optical communications, AUV swarms), and satellite networks (Starlink integration, NTN security). Experimental validation in real-world scenarios like the Venice Lagoon monitoring project and underwater sea trials characterizes his applied research approach. His scientific accolades include: IEEE Fellow (2007) IEEE Communications Society Best Tutorial Paper Award (2008, 2019) Stephen O. Rice Best Paper Award (2018) Multiple best paper awards at IEEE conferences (2005-2020) As principal investigator for numerous European and US research projects plus 20+ industry-funded initiatives, Professor Zorzi has mentored over 35 PhD students and post-docs. Graduates now hold prominent positions at institutions including Stanford, UCSD, CTTC, and Huawei. His SIGNET group maintains active international collaborations and contributes to open-source networking tools via GitHub, demonstrating commitment to community engagement. The SIGNET Research Group, housed within the Department of Information Engineering, operates specialized experimental facilities for mmWave and underwater communications. Current initiatives include AI-based predictive QoS frameworks for vehicular networks, underwater optical communication systems using ultraviolet light, and large-scale IoT deployments for environmental monitoring. The group's GitHub presence indicates strong open-science practices, while recent sea trials confirm hands-on experimental capabilities beyond theoretical work.
Professor Andrew Hudson-Smith is the Director of the Bartlett Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA) at University College London (UCL), where he holds the title of Professor of Digital Urban Systems. He leads UCL's academic and applied research in smart cities, digital twins, and urban informatics. His roles include Editor-in-Chief of the Future Internet Journal and academic lead for the Smart Queen Elizabeth Park project. He contributes to strategic initiatives such as the Greater London Authority Smart London Board and EPSRC Digital Economy Programme Advisory Board. Education: PhD (2003), MSc (1996) from UCL; BSc in Geography from the University of Plymouth (1992). Research focuses on digital urban systems, IoT applications, sustainable urban planning, and cyberphysical systems. Notable projects include urban heat island monitoring, participatory planning platforms, and metaverse-driven urban design. His work bridges technology, art, and public engagement, exemplified by initiatives like Tales of Things and the Haggle-O-Tron. Recent publications emphasize digital twins, metaverse urbanism, and IoT integration in urban environments. Awards include a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts. His work addresses SDGs 3 (Good Health) and 11 (Sustainable Cities), with a focus on equitable smart city development and public space innovation.
Dr. Kelsey Onderdijk is a Post-doctoral Researcher at Tilburg University in the Department of Communication and Cognition within the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences. Her research focuses on the intersection of music cognition, virtual reality, and social connectedness, with publications spanning neuroscience, psychology, and human-computer interaction domains. Dr. Onderdijk completed her doctoral studies at Ghent University with a dissertation titled "Come together: Exploring unity in music interaction through agency and social connectedness." Her academic journey reflects a strong commitment to understanding human interaction through musical experiences, particularly examining how technological mediation affects social bonding. Her research interests include: Music cognition and embodied music interaction Virtual reality applications in musical contexts Social connectedness in digital music environments Effects of technological constraints on musical collaboration Physiological measures of emotional engagement in music Impact of external constraints on creative expression Dr. Onderdijk's publication record demonstrates a clear trajectory examining how people connect through music in both physical and virtual spaces. Her work bridges psychology, musicology, and human-computer interaction, with particular attention to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on musical collaboration. Recent publications have focused on concert experiences in virtual reality environments and the physiological correlates of emotional engagement during musical performance. Her research has garnered significant attention, with multiple publications receiving citations and mentions in news outlets, policy sources, and social media platforms. The "Impact of Lockdown Measures on Joint Music Making" paper has been particularly influential, accumulating 39 citation indexes and 50 Mendeley readers. Dr. Onderdijk actively collaborates with researchers across institutions, particularly with scholars from Ghent University including Marc Leman and Pieter-Jan Maes, indicating a strong network within the music cognition research community. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to well-being and innovation.
Yvonne Rogers is a Professor of Interaction Design and Director of the UCL Interaction Centre (UCLIC), with a joint appointment as Deputy Head of the Department of Computer Science at University College London. She joined UCL in 2011 after holding professorships at the Open University (2006-2011) and Indiana University (2003-2006). Her pioneering work spans ubiquitous computing, interaction design, and human-computer interaction, with a current focus on human-centered AI. She co-authored the definitive 'Interaction Design' textbook (6 editions, 300,000+ copies) and serves as CTO of LetThink.com. Research interests center on designing technologies that enhance human cognition and daily activities: Ubiquitous Computing: Augmenting learning/work activities through pervasive technologies Human-AI Interaction: Developing AI systems that enhance human decision-making Health Technologies: Creating VR therapies and ADHD support systems Community Resilience: Designing tools for environmental monitoring and sustainable practices Publication analysis reveals three dominant trends: (1) VR applications for mental health (emotion regulation, ADHD support), (2) AI systems for cognitive augmentation, and (3) community-centered tools for healthcare/environmental challenges. Recent work demonstrates strong emphasis on vulnerable populations including children with ADHD, older adults, and postoperative patients. Major scientific recognition includes: International Member, National Academy of Engineering (2024) ACM SIGCHI Lifetime Research Award (2022) Royal Society Robin Milner Medal (2022) Royal Society Fellowship (2022) Microsoft Outstanding Collaborator Award MRC Suffrage and Science Award (2020) Triple Fellow status (ACM, BCS, CHI Academy) Advises PhD students including Leon Reicherts, Sheena Visram, and Tu Duong. Secured major grants including EPSRC Dream Fellowship on ageing/computing and led the Intel Collaborative Research Institute on Sustainable Connected Cities (2012-2018). Directs UCLIC research center and previously established the Pervasive Interaction Lab at Open University.
Huamin Qu is a Chair Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). He serves as the Founding Dean of the Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS), Founding Head of the Division of Emerging Interdisciplinary Areas (EMIA), and was the Founding Acting Head of Computational Media and Arts (CMA) at HKUST(GZ). Qu directs the VisLab and coordinates the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) group. He obtained his BS in Mathematics from Xi'an Jiaotong University and MS/PhD in Computer Science from Stony Brook University. Qu's research integrates Data Visualization , Human-Computer Interaction , and Human-Centered AI , with applications in urban informatics, social networks, and explainable AI. His work focuses on developing interactive systems for big data analytics, visual storytelling, and AI-driven decision support. Research extends to multimodal communication, fintech, and augmented reality applications. His publications emphasize visual analytics for complex datasets (mobility, social media, financial), interaction techniques for immersive environments, and AI-enhanced visualization tools. Recent works explore explainable AI interfaces and large-scale data communication frameworks. IEEE Visualization Academy (2020) IEEE VGTC Technical Achievement Award AI 2000 Most Influential Scholar (2019, 2023, 2024) 21 Best Paper/Honorable Mention awards IBM Faculty Award (2009) APICTA Merit Award (2015) Yelp Dataset Grand Prize (2018) Qu has advised 48 PhD graduates (21 now faculty at institutions like UC Davis, University of Minnesota, Texas A&M) and 30 MPhil students. He secured major grants including RGC theme-based projects (digital citizenship, air pollution), UGC AoE (slope safety), and China's 973 Program. As VisLab director, he leads 20+ researchers in visualization/HCI projects adopted by Microsoft, IBM, Huawei, and Tencent.
Professor Gabriel Brostow is a faculty member in the Department of Computer Science at University College London (UCL), where he leads research in Computer Vision and Human-Computer Interaction. He also serves as Chief Research Scientist and Senior Director of the R&D Team at Niantic, the company behind Pokémon GO. His work bridges academic research and industry applications, focusing on developing AI systems that enhance human capabilities through what he terms 'Human in the Loop AI'—now commonly referred to as Human-Centered AI. Brostow completed his BS in Electrical Engineering at UT Austin, followed by a PhD with Irfan Essa at Georgia Tech. He then pursued postdoctoral research with Roberto Cipolla's Computer Vision & Robotics Group at Cambridge University as a Marshall Sherfield Fellow, and with Marc Pollefeys in ETH Zurich's CVG Group. His research explores how AI, particularly Computer Vision, can serve as 'super-tools' for professionals across various domains including filmmaking, architecture, robotics, and scientific research. Specific interests include assistive technology for everyday life, authoring systems that maximize user effort, 3D reconstruction, depth estimation, and vision-language models. His work often involves creating systems that are validated through real-world human interaction to ensure practical utility. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on practical applications of Computer Vision that directly interact with humans. His research spans 3D scene understanding, depth estimation, sketch-based interfaces, and multimodal AI systems. There's a clear emphasis on creating benchmarks and tools that facilitate human-AI collaboration, with applications in assistive technology, urban planning, filmmaking, and biodiversity monitoring. His work frequently appears at top conferences including CVPR, NeurIPS, ECCV, and CHI. Marshall Sherfield Fellowship Brostow actively mentors PhD students, with current advisees including Ross Murphy, Skanda Koppula, Gizem Unlu, Omiros Pantazis, and Jamie Watson. His alumni include numerous PhD graduates and MSc students who have gone on to successful careers in academia and industry. He emphasizes selecting students based on passion and potential rather than just academic credentials, valuing traits like helpfulness, drive, and hunger to learn. His research is supported through collaborations with major institutions and companies including DeepMind, MIT, and the University of Edinburgh. He leads a research group at UCL that collaborates closely with Niantic's R&D team, creating a unique bridge between academic research and industry application. His team's work frequently involves developing novel Computer Vision techniques that are validated through real-world human interaction, ensuring practical utility alongside technical innovation. The group explores blue-sky research problems with applications ranging from assistive technology to professional tools for filmmakers, architects, and scientists studying diverse environments.
Mohamed Noureldin is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University , Finland, with prior academic roles at Sungkyunkwan University, South Korea (2015–2022). His expertise lies in integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) , Structural Digital Twin , Predictive Maintenance , and Seismic Retrofitting . Research Focus : AI-powered sustainable structural design, smart retrofitting, predictive maintenance, structural material innovation, and next-generation performance-based seismic/wind design. Industrial Experience : 20+ years in offshore/onshore structural engineering (Hyundai Heavy Industries, Samsung Engineering, Arab-Swiss Engineering Company, Zuhair Fayez Partnership). Teaching : Courses in structural analysis, seismic design, dynamics, and reinforced concrete at Aalto and Sungkyunkwan Universities. Laboratory : Leads the Structural Design AI Lab (SDAI), focusing on AI-driven resilient infrastructure. Contact : mohamed.noureldin@aalto.fi , +358504544861. His publications explore cutting-edge applications of AI, ML, and DL in seismic retrofitting, structural durability, soil stabilization, and hybrid damping systems. Collaborative work emphasizes life-cycle cost assessment and augmented reality for predictive maintenance.
Giulio Jacucci is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Helsinki, affiliated with the Helsinki Information Technology Research Institute. He serves as a Supervisor in the Doctoral Programme in Computer Science, mentoring PhD candidates in human-computer interaction and related fields. His academic career spans over two decades with continuous research productivity from 2006 through 2025. Professor Jacucci's research interests center on Human-Computer Interaction , particularly focusing on Virtual Reality , Brain-Computer Interfaces , and Neuroadaptive Systems . His work explores how technology can adapt to users' cognitive and physiological states, with significant contributions to social virtual reality environments, embodied agents, and information retrieval systems. He investigates how virtual representations affect social behavior, time perception, and communication in digital spaces. His publication record shows a clear evolution from foundational work in information retrieval toward increasingly sophisticated neuroadaptive systems. Recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate his leadership in examining social dynamics within virtual reality platforms, including votekicking mechanisms, mirror watching behaviors, and communication tools like mutes. His work bridges technical innovation with deep understanding of human social behavior in digital environments. Professor Jacucci currently leads multiple research projects funded by the Academy of Finland, including DataLit: Datalukutaito ja vastuullinen päätöksenteko (2023-2026) and MyModel: Selitettävyys suositusten hallinnassa (2023-2027). These projects focus on data literacy, responsible decision-making, and explainability in recommendation systems, reflecting his commitment to ethical and user-centered technology development. His research has received media attention, particularly around brain-computer interfaces and virtual reality applications, with coverage in outlets discussing how deep learning transforms mobile applications and sensor landscapes. He has presented his work at major conferences including CHI 2017 and continues to be an active contributor to the international research community.
Aline Eid is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, directing the Beam Dynamics research group. Her work bridges electromagnetics, wireless systems, and autonomous technologies, with a focus on mmWave/sub-THz sensing, backscatter communications, and wireless power transfer. PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering (Georgia Tech, 2021) MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering (American University of Beirut, 2017) Postdoctoral Associate at MIT Media Lab (Signal Kinetics group) Research Interests: She pioneers systems that use electromagnetic waves to address societal challenges in Sustainable energy networks Smart cities/infrastructures Autonomous vehicles/robots Her group develops mmID tags for radar vision, batteryless sensors, and 5G-based wireless power grids. Scientific Impact: Recognized with awards including IEEE RFID Best Paper (2023) Proceedings of the IEEE Best Paper (2023) IEEE MTT-S Graduate Fellowship (2020) She leads commercialization efforts for warehouse robotics via MTRAC grant and startup Atheraxon. Advising: Mentors 8 students across PhD (Skanda Harisha, Sepideh Ghasemi, Yunfei Liu), Master's (Longyu Guo), and undergraduates (Mohamed Safawi, Katherine Shih, Andy Wang, Adrian Velazquez) in projects spanning robotics, IoT, and electromagnetic engineering. Labs: Beam Dynamics group at U-M Radiation Laboratory, collaborating with Atheraxon and MTRAC for technology translation.
Takako Fujioka is an Associate Professor of Music at Stanford University, affiliated with the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA). Her research focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying auditory perception, auditory-motor coupling, and music-supported therapy for neurorehabilitation. She holds a Ph.D. in Physiology from the Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Japan, and M.Sc./B.Eng. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Waseda University. Her work combines neurophysiological techniques such as MEG and EEG to study brain plasticity in development, aging, and stroke recovery. Notable contributions include investigating how music influences motor and cognitive recovery in stroke patients, as well as exploring the neural basis of musical perception through rhythmic synchronization and pitch discrimination studies. Supported by awards from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research during her postdoctoral work at the Rotman Research Institute, her research bridges clinical neuroscience and music cognition. Dr. Fujioka’s expertise spans auditory neuroscience, neurorehabilitation, and technology-assisted music therapy. She has pioneered studies on tactile mapping for cochlear implant users and networked music performance systems, emphasizing cross-modal perception and human-technology interaction. Her findings contribute to both theoretical understanding of auditory processing and practical applications in medical and educational settings. Awards: Canadian Institutes of Health Research Awards (postdoctoral phase) Labs/Teams: CCRMA, Stanford Music Perception Laboratory, Rotman Research Institute collaborations Key Themes: Neuroplasticity, Music-Mediated Rehabilitation, Auditory-Motor Integration, Multisensory Processing Her recent work examines aging-related changes in binaural hearing and the role of beta/gamma oscillations in rhythmic processing. She advocates for translational research that connects neural mechanisms with real-world therapeutic interventions.
Elahe Soltanaghai is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and a Faculty Affiliate in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is also a 2022 NCSA Fellow and received her PhD in Computer Science from the University of Virginia (2019), MS in Computer Engineering from Sharif University of Technology (2014), and dual BS degrees in Computer and Information Technology Engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology (2011, 2013). PhD: University of Virginia, Computer Science, 2019 MS: Sharif University of Technology, Computer Engineering, 2014 BS (Computer Engineering): Amirkabir University of Technology, 2011 BS (Information Technology Engineering): Amirkabir University of Technology, 2013 Her research spans wireless sensing and communication, focusing on Millimeter-wave Radar Sensing (for automotive, mixed reality, structural monitoring), Machine Learning for Wireless Systems (adaptive sensing/communication), Forest IoT (through-canopy biomass and soil sensing), Metaverse Technologies (gaze-based VR/AR), and Low-Power Backscatter Communication (WiFi/power-line tags). She directs the Wireless, Sensing & Embedded Networked Systems (iSENS) Lab and co-directs the Illinois Center for IoT. Her work bridges wireless networking with cyber-physical sensing , emphasizing environmental monitoring (e.g., wildfire fuel detection via radar tags) and human-computer interaction (e.g., gaze-tracking in VR). Recent articles include innovations in passive radar profiling , through-canopy biomass characterization , and integrated communication-sensing protocols . Scientific Awards: Google Research Scholar Award (2022) N2Women Rising Star (2021) ACM SIGMOBILE Dissertation Award (2020) EECS Rising Stars (2019) NCSA Faculty Fellowship (2023) Best Demo Runner-up, IPSN (2023) Teaching Excellence Award (2023) Grants: NASA FireTech Program Grant (2025) NSF Grant for Radar-based Perception (2024) Insper-Illinois Grant for VR Research (2024) Keysight Research Gifts (2022, 2023) T-Mobile Research Gift (2022)
Dr. Fumiya Iida is a researcher affiliated with the University of Cambridge , contributing to interdisciplinary research through Cambridge Reproduction and the Department of Engineering . His work spans bio-inspired robotics , soft robotics , and embodied intelligence , with a focus on biomechanics and human-robot interaction. His research integrates evolutionary robotics , reservoir computing , and tactile sensing , aiming to bridge engineering, physiology, and synthetic biology. Recent publications highlight innovations in Soft robotic actuation Robust control systems Multimodal sensor integration Human-robot collaborative tasks Dr. Iida's 15 most recent 2025 articles emphasize reservoir computing , soft sensor design , and adaptive motor coordination , reflecting his commitment to advancing embodied intelligence in robotics. No formal awards or student advisement details were found in the provided texts.
Rosa I. Arriaga is an Associate Professor in the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Institute of Technology, where she directs the Ubicomp Health and Wellness Lab. Her research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Ubiquitous Computing, and mHealth, with applications in mental health, chronic disease management (e.g., diabetes), and pediatric asthma care. She designs technology systems to improve patient engagement, continuity of care, and clinician-patient communication. Research Areas: Chronic Care Management PTSD Therapy Support (PECSS project) Diabetes Management (DUCSS project) mHealth System Design AI in Healthcare Key Projects: PECSS: Leverages ubiquitous computing and machine learning to address clinical challenges in PTSD therapy. DUCSS: A diabetes management system to streamline patient education and self-monitoring, particularly for underserved populations. ZenVR: A virtual reality system for meditation education, validated through longitudinal studies. Teaching: Teaches undergraduate courses in HCI and graduate courses in Human-Centered Computing (HCC). Her Coursera course Intro to User Experience Design has over 50K learners. Grants & Partnerships: Funded by GT-Emory AI Humanity, American Diabetes Association, and Georgia Center for Diabetes Translation Research. Collaborations with Emory University, University of Rochester, and medical professionals. Labs & Teams: Leads the Ubicomp Health and Wellness Lab, fostering interdisciplinary research with graduate and undergraduate students focusing on health technology innovation.
Mi Zhang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at The Ohio State University and Director of the OSU AIoT and Machine Learning Systems Lab. He holds multiple affiliations including the Institute for Cybersecurity and Digital Trust, Translational Data Analytics Institute, and 5G and Broadband Connectivity Center. Dr. Zhang received his Ph.D. from University of Southern California and B.S. from Peking University, followed by a postdoctoral position at Cornell University. His academic journey previously included a position at Michigan State University before joining OSU. His research focuses on Empowering Billions of Everyday Devices with AI to realize the Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) vision. His lab works across several interconnected domains including efficient generative AI (multimodal LLMs, diffusion models), edge AI for mobile/AR/wearables, systems for AI agents, spatial computing, foundation models for IoT, and human-centered mobile health applications. This interdisciplinary work draws from mobile/edge computing, AI/machine learning, distributed systems, computer networks, and human-centered computing. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on making AI more efficient and accessible for resource-constrained devices. His research trajectory shows increasing emphasis on large language models and their optimization for edge deployment, alongside continued work in federated learning for IoT applications. The publications demonstrate both theoretical contributions and practical applications across healthcare, wireless networks, and human-computer interaction. Best Paper Award, IEEE Internet Computing Magazine (2024) University of Chicago Outstanding Educator Award (2024) Best Paper Award, ECCV'24 Workshop (2024) USC ECE SIPI Distinguished Alumni Award (2023) Multiple Best Paper Awards from ACM/IEEE conferences NSF CRII Award Facebook/Meta Faculty Research Award Amazon Research Award MSU Innovation of the Year Award (2020) Dr. Zhang actively mentors students at all levels, with a current group of Ph.D. students working on cutting-edge AI/ML systems. His lab has secured significant funding including Meta Reality Labs Faculty Awards, NVIDIA academic grants, and NSF grants. The OSU AIoT and Machine Learning Systems Lab serves as the central hub for his research activities, fostering collaboration across multiple disciplines to advance the field of AIoT.
