Dr. Seyed Mojtaba Hoseyni is a Lecturer in Process Safety and Loss Prevention at the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield. Previously a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the same institution (2022-2024), he holds a PhD in Energy Engineering from Politecnico di Milano (2021). His research focuses on enhancing system resilience, risk assessment, and decision-making under uncertainty in engineering systems, particularly for decarbonization applications. Royal Academy of Engineering Global Talent (Exceptional Promise) in Chemical and Process Engineering His work spans hydrogen safety, climate change risk, nuclear engineering safety, and predictive maintenance. Recent publications emphasize integrating resilience metrics into HAZOP analysis and optimizing sensor placement for risk-informed decision-making. Teaching activities include the Hazards and Protections module (CPE61020). Specializes in RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety) analysis Develops safety frameworks for hydrogen energy systems Applies advanced computational techniques to nuclear and industrial safety
Maria Sydnes serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Technology and Security at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø. Her academic work focuses on emergency management and organizational resilience within high-risk Arctic environments, with particular emphasis on maritime safety and cross-border crisis coordination between Norway and Russia. Her research interests span interorganizational coordination during emergencies, organizational learning for resilience building, and practical applications of lean production principles in crisis contexts. She investigates Arctic-specific challenges including avalanche response in Longyearbyen, oil spill management in polar waters, and integration of unorganized volunteers into formal emergency systems, consistently addressing the intersection of climate change impacts and security vulnerabilities. Analysis of her publication record reveals a strong trend toward interdisciplinary solutions for Arctic safety, with recurring themes of Norwegian-Russian cooperation, maritime risk assessment, and adaptive governance structures. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks with real-world case studies—from Svalbard waters to the Barents Sea—demonstrating practical approaches to disaster risk reduction in extreme environments. Dr. Sydnes actively participates in multiple research initiatives including the Climate Change Adaptation and Secure Societies groups. Her current projects encompass Co-producing knowledge about risk and safety of maritime activities around Svalbard SPRICE (spray icing modelling for maritime decision support) GLOBSEC (North-South security partnerships) NoCoU (civil security for Norwegian communities) Beredt! (risk-based governance for climate-driven natural hazards) highlighting her commitment to scalable, community-focused security solutions in vulnerable Arctic regions.
Patrick M. Tarwater is a Professor in the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics at Texas A&M University, with research spanning infectious disease epidemiology, traumatic brain injury rehabilitation, sleep science, biostatistical methods, and environmental health impacts on child development. His work integrates clinical, laboratory, and computational approaches to address complex public health challenges. His educational foundation includes: PhD in Biometry from University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (1999) MS in Mathematics from Texas Tech University (1992) BA in Mathematics from Texas Tech University (1990) Tarwater's research in Infectious Disease Epidemiology features extensive work on HIV/SIV pathogenesis using non-human primate models, SARS-CoV-2 variant dynamics, and microbial risk assessment in environmental settings. His Traumatic Brain Injury and Sleep research includes innovative interventions like the OSABI sleep hygiene protocol and objective sleep monitoring methodologies for rehabilitation patients. The Environmental Health focus centers on the ECHO program's investigation of maternal nutrition and child health outcomes, alongside risk assessments for oil spill contaminants and recreational water safety. Analysis of his 2018-2024 publications reveals three dominant trajectories: (1) viral pathogenesis mechanisms using advanced animal models, (2) neuroimmunological consequences of infections and injuries, and (3) environmental exposure risk modeling. His work consistently employs sophisticated biostatistical techniques and translational approaches bridging laboratory findings to clinical applications. While no specific awards are documented in the source material, Tarwater's prolific publication record in high-impact journals demonstrates significant scholarly contributions. His teaching portfolio includes foundational courses in epidemiology and biostatistics, plus advanced instruction in cohort analysis and epidemiologic inference.
Dr. Reza Samavi is an Associate Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University's Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Architectural Science. He is also a Faculty Affiliate with the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence and directs the Trustworthy AI Research Lab (TAILab). Previously, he served as Assistant Professor and eHealth Graduate Program Coordinator at McMaster University's Department of Computing and Software (2014-2020). Holding a PhD in Computer Science (University of Toronto, 2013), his academic journey bridges industry experience with rigorous scholarly contributions. His research lies at the critical intersection of Trustworthy AI , Machine Learning Security , and Medical Informatics . He investigates Safety & Security of ML Algorithms Privacy-Preserving AI Systems Transparency Frameworks for Medical AI Blockchain-enabled Privacy Auditing Game Theory for Model Robustness Optimization-based Anonymization Techniques The TAILab research group under his leadership has produced groundbreaking work in Uncertainty Quantification for Neural Networks Robustness Against Adversarial Attacks Medical Image Analysis Clinical Decision Support Systems Emergency Medicine Predictive Modeling His recent projects focus on enhancing migrant youth mental health through LLM-based conversation agents and developing certified robustness guarantees for ensemble networks. Dr. Samavi's scholarly excellence is recognized through Privacy Technologies Research Award (IBM) Privacy By Design Research Award (Ontario IPC) Bridging Divides Emerging Research Grant (TMU) NSERC PGS-D Recipient (Co-supervised student) SOSCIP Accelerator Grant He has secured major funding from NSERC , SOSCIP , MITACS , HHS , and IDEaS programs. As a dedicated educator, Dr. Samavi teaches graduate courses in Secure Machine Learning and Software Testing while mentoring 15+ graduate students across PhD , MASc , and MEng programs. His lab has presented at premier venues including AAAI , IJCAI , and IEEE Transactions while maintaining active collaborations with institutions like Harvard, ETH Zurich, and the University of Waterloo.
Lucy Arendt serves as Professor of Business Administration – Management and Co-Director of the Center for Exceptional Leadership at St. Norbert College's Schneider Business School, where she teaches organizational behavior, leadership, and strategic management at undergraduate and graduate levels. Her global teaching initiatives include leading student cohorts to Europe for leadership studies and Mexico for international business immersion since joining the institution in 2016 after 26 years at UW-Green Bay. Her educational credentials include a B.S. and M.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. B.S., University of Wisconsin-Green Bay M.S., University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Dr. Arendt's research centers on decision-making dynamics within disaster contexts, spanning mitigation through recovery phases. Her fieldwork across 15+ disaster zones—from New Orleans post-Katrina to Nepal's earthquake aftermath—examines how formal and informal leaders drive organizational and community resilience. This interdisciplinary work bridges business strategy with emergency management, emphasizing leadership's role in crisis navigation and long-term recovery. Her publication trajectory reveals evolving focus from early humor studies in organizational behavior toward comprehensive disaster resilience frameworks. Recent works analyze transformational leadership failures (2024), tornado recovery systems (2023), and engineered resilience metrics like the PEOPLES framework (2016), demonstrating consistent integration of organizational theory with real-world disaster response challenges across healthcare, infrastructure, and community systems. Notable recognition includes the UW-Green Bay Founders Association Award for Excellence in Teaching (2008-09) and a University Award for Collaborative Achievement (2013-14) for innovative international education programming. UW-Green Bay Founders Association Award for Excellence in Teaching (2008-09) UW-Green Bay Teaching Award for Experienced Teacher (2010) University Award for Excellence in Collaborative Achievement (2013-14) Her advisory impact extends through FEMA and NIST consultations, federal earthquake hazards committee leadership, and the Housner Fellows Leadership Development Program. She has directed disaster-reconnaissance teams for EERI across four continents, translating field insights into policy recommendations for governmental and nonprofit entities including Procter & Gamble and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. As EERI board secretary/treasurer and federal Advisory Committee chair, she drives cross-sector collaboration on seismic safety standards. Her Center for Exceptional Leadership initiatives foster student development through experiential learning, while ongoing research partnerships with international agencies advance community resilience metrics for global disaster-prone regions.
Lianne Lefsrud serves as Associate Professor and Risk, Innovation, and Sustainability Chair (RISC) in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Engineering. Her interdisciplinary research bridges engineering, social sciences, and policy to transform risk management practices across energy, mining, construction, and railroading industries, directly influencing regulations, building codes, and industry operations for sustainable development. Her academic credentials include: BSc in Civil Engineering (Cooperative Program), University of Alberta (1994) MSc in Interdisciplinary Civil & Environmental Engineering and Sociology, University of Alberta (1996) PhD in Strategic Management and Organization, Alberta School of Business (2014) Dr. Lefsrud's research centers on risk management frameworks for sustainability challenges. She examines hazard identification, social license to operate, and technology adoption drivers in high-hazard industries, with emphasis on prospective risk assessment (e.g., hydrogen infrastructure design) and retrospective analysis (e.g., microplastic pollution impacts). Her work integrates circular economy principles into energy systems while addressing unintended consequences across UN Sustainable Development Goals. Recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate heavy focus on machine learning applications for rail and construction safety, hydrogen infrastructure risk analysis, and science denial mitigation. Key patterns show cross-industry adaptation of AI for incident prediction, regulatory gap analysis for emerging energy systems, and socio-technical approaches to reconcile sustainability goals with operational realities. Scientific recognition includes: Erb Post-Doctoral Fellowship (University of Michigan) Dow Sustainability Research Fellowship (Ross School of Business) Dr. Lefsrud mentors graduate students through industry-integrated projects like her Sustainable Design course where teams generated patents and city solutions. Her research secures Alberta Innovates funding with 1:4 industrial-to-federal matching, collaborating with Suncor, Transport Canada, and Canadian Standards Association. Grants target practical implementations including railcar inspection systems and hydrogen safety protocols. She co-founded Insight Risk Systems and leads the Lefsrud Lab, prioritizing inclusive teams with under-represented groups (women, Indigenous, LGBTQ2S+, neurodiverse) to tackle 'wicked problems' in sustainability. The lab leverages interdisciplinary partnerships across engineering, computer science, psychology, and environmental sociology for real-world risk management solutions.
Daniel Fremont is an Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he conducts research at the intersection of formal methods and autonomous systems. His work focuses on developing mathematical techniques to improve the reliability of software, hardware, and cyber-physical systems through precise specification, formal verification, automatic synthesis, and principled testing approaches. Dr. Fremont's research interests center on applications of logic in computer science, particularly using automated reasoning to enhance system reliability. His work spans formal methods for cyber-physical systems (CPS), especially autonomous systems that incorporate machine learning. Key research areas include algorithmic improvisation for creating systems with controlled randomness, probabilistic programming through the Scenic language for environment modeling, and formal verification techniques applicable to safety-critical autonomous systems. His group has successfully applied these methods to autonomous vehicles, aircraft systems, and robotics, with significant contributions to both theoretical foundations and practical implementations. The publication record reveals a strong trajectory from theoretical foundations of control improvisation toward practical applications in autonomous systems verification. Early work established the theoretical framework of control improvisation, while recent publications focus on applying these techniques to real-world challenges in autonomous driving, aircraft systems, and AI-based autonomy. A consistent theme across his research is the integration of formal methods with machine learning to address the verification challenges posed by complex, learning-based systems operating in uncertain environments. Best Paper Award at IoTDI 2016 for 'Control Improvisation with Probabilistic Temporal Specifications' Dr. Fremont leads a research group focused on formal methods for autonomous systems, with significant contributions to the development of tools like Scenic (a probabilistic programming language for scenario specification) and VerifAI (a toolkit for formal design and analysis of AI-based systems). His work bridges theoretical computer science with practical engineering challenges in safety-critical autonomous systems, receiving funding from various sources supporting research at the intersection of formal methods and artificial intelligence. The group's approach combines theoretical algorithm development with practical implementation and testing, often collaborating with industry partners working on autonomous vehicle technology. The research group maintains active development of several open-source tools, including the Scenic language for scenario specification and VerifAI for formal analysis of AI systems. They have demonstrated applications across multiple domains including autonomous vehicles, aircraft systems, and robotics, with particular emphasis on simulation-based testing and verification approaches that can provide formal guarantees about system behavior.
Professor Kenneth M. Anderson is Chair of the Department of Computer Science and holds the Palmer Endowed Chair at the University of Colorado Boulder's College of Engineering & Applied Science. He co-directs Project EPIC, a $4M NSF-funded initiative on social media use during mass emergencies, and serves as Co-Director of the Center for Software and Society. Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of California, Irvine (1997) Joined CU Boulder in 1998; tenured in 2005 Former Associate Dean for Education (2016-2019) Former Associate Chair (2010-2013) His research bridges software engineering, crisis informatics, and human-computer interaction. Current projects focus on large-scale social media analytics, crisis response systems, and software architecture for data-intensive environments. Recent publications explore multilingual social media analysis (ML-EPIC), bug fix patterns in software development (FIXR), and collaborative big data platforms. Themes include disaster risk communication, data modeling challenges, and asynchronous analysis tools. ATLAS Fellow (2010) As department chair, he spearheaded initiatives for inclusivity, including creating a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science and establishing the NSF Broadening Participation in Computing plan. He oversees major academic reforms and departmental operations.
Dr. Siyuan Ji is a Reader in Model-based Systems Engineering (MBSE) at Loughborough University, serving as Deputy Head of the Manufacturing, Systems & Management Academic Community and Deputy Director of the Doctoral Training Centre in MBSE. He previously held a Senior Lecturer position in Systems Engineering at the University of York, where he led the MSc Programme in Safety-Critical Systems Engineering. His academic journey includes a PhD and MSc in Physics from the University of Nottingham, followed by research roles in model-based systems engineering at Loughborough University. His research focuses on advancing model-based techniques for systems engineering, particularly in safety-critical systems, formal methods, and complex system design. He has contributed to areas such as hazard management (e.g., BSafeML framework), response time analysis in real-time systems, and model synchronization for requirements engineering. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications in automotive systems, embedded software, and educational technology. Dr. Ji holds the title of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has published extensively on topics ranging from quantum technology reporting to conversational tutoring systems. His research emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, evident in projects like the EPSRC-funded analysis of vehicles as complex systems. He actively contributes to both academic and industrial advancements in systems engineering methodologies and education innovation. His professional roles include managing doctoral training programs, overseeing academic communities, and advancing systems engineering education. Collaborations span industry partnerships and international academic networks, reflecting his commitment to impactful research and training the next generation of systems engineers.
Masooda N Bashir is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois, affiliated with the School of Information Sciences, Informatics, Information Trust Institute, Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering, Coordinated Science Lab, Health Care Engineering Systems Center, and European Union Center. Her work focuses on privacy protection, cybersecurity, and ethical use of technology in health and AI systems. She explores user privacy in mobile apps, trust in autonomous systems, and compliance with privacy standards. Research interests include privacy policy analysis, human-robot trust dynamics, and cross-cultural privacy norms. Her recent work examines privacy risks in health apps, AI governance challenges, and cloud security certifications. Collaborations span cybersecurity ethics, human factors in automation, and societal impacts of emerging technologies. Her articles highlight trends in privacy engineering, trust mechanisms in autonomous systems, and compliance strategies beyond legal minimums. She emphasizes user-centric privacy design and interdisciplinary approaches to bridging technical and managerial challenges in privacy implementation. Affiliated with multiple interdisciplinary centers, her work integrates engineering, policy, and social science perspectives. She contributes to public discourse on privacy through media engagement and academic outreach.
Geoffrey Hunt is a Professor at the Centre for Alcohol and Drugs Research, Aarhus University, Denmark, and Director of the Institute for Scientific Analysis in San Francisco, USA. He co-edited the comprehensive Routledge Handbook of Intoxicants and Intoxication (2022), which synthesizes multidisciplinary perspectives on global intoxication practices across 34 chapters and eight thematic sections. His research spans dual domains: (1) alcohol and drug studies examining social/cultural dimensions of intoxication (evident in his editorial work on global intoxicant practices across 19+ countries), and (2) special educational needs with focus on evidence-based interventions for intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and language impairments. Key interests include ethical frameworks for European psychologists, mediation in educational disputes, and historical policy analysis since the Warnock Report. Recent publications (2020-2025) reveal strong methodological emphasis on randomized controlled trials (E-PAtS program), cost-effectiveness analysis of mediation services, and systematic reviews of inclusive education practices. The work consistently addresses UK policy contexts while maintaining international relevance through European psychology ethics frameworks and cross-cultural intoxication studies.
Paul Moritz Wiegmann is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), where he is part of the ITEM group. He currently serves as President of the European Academy of Standardisation (EURAS). His academic career includes visiting research positions at TU Berlin (2014 & 2015), Yonsei University, Seoul (2018), and the University of California, Davis (2023). Paul holds a PhD from Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, alongside additional degrees from Erasmus University and the University of Warwick. His educational background emphasizes interdisciplinary training, reflected in his research and teaching. His research focuses on the role of standardization in innovation ecosystems, particularly how explicit and implicit rules enable value creation and capture. He employs mixed-methods approaches, including case studies, grounded theory, choice experiments, and conjoint analysis. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, addressing societal challenges like sustainability and smart technologies through collaborative frameworks. Notable awards include the Industria Education Award 2022-2023 for Best Teacher Talent (2023) and the ISPIM Dissertation Award 2020 (2020). These recognize his contributions to both education and research in standardization and innovation. In advising and grants, Paul has supervised 30 works (names not listed) and leads the Measuring societal impact of standards project (2021–2022). He also coordinates the FIQCS: FIeldlab Quantum Cryptography Solutions for Safe Society initiative (2023–2028). His activities include organizing conferences like EU-SPRI 2025 and delivering invited talks on topics ranging from standardization governance to quantum technologies. Paul teaches courses such as Methodology for IE research and Patents design rights & standards exploration course , reflecting his expertise in standardization and research methods. He contributed to the Standardization literature database (2024), an interdisciplinary review, and engages in media discussions on topics like AI adoption in SMEs and quantum threat mitigation in public safety.
Joaquin Vanschoren is an Associate Professor of Machine Learning at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), affiliated with the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science. He leads the Automated Machine Learning group and serves as Education Director for the Data Science program. His research focuses on democratizing AI, algorithm selection, and open science platforms like OpenML. He has received awards including the Dutch Data Prize and Amazon Research Award. Education: PhD in Engineering (KU Leuven, Belgium), MSc in Computer Science (KU Leuven). Research visits included IBM, Amazon Research, and universities globally. Research Interests: Machine Learning, Automated ML, Meta-learning, AI Safety, Data-centric AI. He co-founded OpenML and chairs MLCommons' AI Safety working group. Key Projects: NeurIPS Datasets and Benchmarks track, MLCommons initiatives, OpenML platform. Supervised 78 research works and authored 200+ papers. Awards: Dutch Data Prize (2016), Amazon Research Award (2019), Microsoft Azure Research Awards (2016–2017). Labs/Teams: OpenML open source team, MLCommons collaborations, Automated Machine Learning group at TU/e.
Holly Wilcox is a Professor in the Department of Mental Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with joint appointments in the Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and Johns Hopkins School of Education. She serves as President of the International Academy of Suicide Research (IASR), member of the Scientific Council and Board of Directors of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), suicide prevention consultant for the World Health Organization, and Affiliate Investigator at Australia's Centre for Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention. PhD, Johns Hopkins University (2003) MA, New York University (1998) BS, Northeastern University (1991) Dr. Wilcox's research focuses on public health approaches to suicide prevention through community-based universal prevention programs, data linkage strategies, and cross-sector implementation in schools, universities, social media, and emergency departments. Her work emphasizes population-based strategies targeting suicidal behaviors and addresses health disparities through culturally adapted interventions. She leads Johns Hopkins' multidisciplinary Suicide Prevention Working Group and actively mentors students, having won the Johns Hopkins Advising, Mentoring, and Teaching Recognition Award three times. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on leveraging real-world data systems (Maryland Suicide Data Warehouse), developing ecological prevention models across multiple settings, and implementing evidence-based practices through policy mechanisms like the STANDUP Act. Her work increasingly integrates digital epidemiology (social media analysis) with traditional public health approaches while maintaining focus on vulnerable populations including adolescents, Latinx communities, and youth in child welfare systems. Recipient of the Andrej Marušic Suicide Research Award (2010) Dr. Robert Lewis Kane Memorial Award for data linkage research (2017) Multiple teaching excellence awards including AMTRA (2007, 2020, 2022) Best paper award in Archives of Suicide Research (2019) Dr. Wilcox has secured competitive grants from NIH, WHO, and other agencies to support her research. She actively collaborates with international organizations including WHO/UNICEF and Pan American Health Organization. Her mentorship extends to numerous students through the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she teaches courses on suicide as a public health problem. She leads the Suicide Prevention Working Group that coordinates interdisciplinary research across Johns Hopkins divisions.
Dr. Onur G. Apul is an Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Maine and an incoming faculty member at Penn State. He holds a Ph.D. from Clemson University (2014) and bachelor's/master's degrees from Middle East Technical University (Turkey). His research focuses on nanotechnology-driven solutions for water treatment challenges, particularly PFAS and microplastics pollution. He leads the Apul Research Group, which explores advanced oxidation processes, nanomaterials, and nanobubble technologies. Key achievements include developing predictive models for PFAS adsorption, thermal regeneration of activated carbon, and microwave-enhanced remediation. Education: Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering and Science, Clemson University (2014) M.S. in Environmental Engineering, Middle East Technical University (2009) B.S. in Environmental Engineering, Middle East Technical University (2006) Research Interests: Nanomaterials for water treatment (graphene, CNTs) PFAS remediation and thermal regeneration of adsorbents Microplastic pollution dynamics and mitigation Nanobubble-enhanced oxygen transfer in aquaculture Sustainable engineering solutions for emerging contaminants Awards: 2023 Early Career Research Recognition, Maine College of Engineering and Computing Lab & Team: The Apul Research Group includes postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates working on projects like PFAS lifecycle analysis, nanobubble applications, and space-based water treatment. Notable collaborations include Yale University, Arizona State University, and Penn State.
