Prof. Dr. Nina Gantert is a distinguished Professor of Probability Theory at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) , affiliated with the TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology . She has held faculty positions at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the University of Münster prior to joining TUM in 2011. Her research focuses on probability theory , particularly stochastic processes , large deviations , and random media . She investigates random walks in random environments as models for transport in disordered systems and explores applications in physics and biology . Recent publications highlight her work on branching random walks , mixing times , biased random walks , and large deviation principles for complex stochastic systems. She has co-authored studies on random walks in dynamical percolation , interacting edge-reinforced processes , and extremal point processes in branching models. Scientific Awards: Elected fellow of the IMS (2016) Her academic career spans institutions including ETH Zürich, University of Bonn, Technical University of Berlin, and TUM. She has supervised numerous Bachelor’s and Master’s theses on topics ranging from mixing time analysis to percolation theory , often collaborating with international co-authors.
Stephen Marshall is Professor of Urban Morphology and Urban Design at The Bartlett School of Planning, University College London. He also served as Visiting Professor at the Department of Architecture and Urban Studies, Politecnico di Milano, Italy from 2019 to 2021. With over twenty-five years of experience in the built environment fields, initially in consultancy and subsequently in academia, Professor Marshall has established himself as a leading expert in urban morphology and design. His educational background includes a Doctor of Philosophy from University College London (2001), a Postgraduate Diploma from Edinburgh College of Art (1995), a Master of Science from the University of Leeds (1989), and a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Glasgow (1988). Professor Marshall's principal research focuses on urban morphology and street layout, examining their relationships with urban formative processes including urban design, coding and planning. His work bridges urban design theory with practical applications, exploring how cities evolve through complex interactions of physical form, social processes, and planning interventions. He has written or edited several influential books including 'Streets and Patterns' (2005), 'Cities, Design and Evolution' (2009), and 'Urban Coding and Planning' (2011). His recent publications reveal a growing interest in applying complexity science to urban morphology, with particular attention to biological analogies for understanding self-organizing cities. He has pioneered research on digital participation methods in urban planning, exploring how online platforms can enhance public engagement in urban space design. His work consistently bridges theoretical urban morphology with practical applications for contemporary urban challenges like pandemic adaptation and sustainable transport. Professor Marshall has served as Chair of the Editorial Board of Urban Design and Planning from its launch to 2012, and is now co-editor of Built Environment journal. His editorial work has significantly shaped scholarly discourse in urban planning and design. He leads several significant research initiatives including the Incubators of Public Spaces project, which explores digital platforms for co-creating urban spaces, and the Self-Organising Built Environment project, which investigates biological analogies in urbanism. These projects reflect his interdisciplinary approach to understanding and shaping urban environments, connecting with Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
Jan de Gier is a Professor at the School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne . He is also the Founding Director of MATRIX , Australia’s residential research institute in the mathematical sciences, and a former Deputy Director and Chief Investigator in the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers (ACEMS) . Additionally, he co-founded the Australian and New Zealand Association for Mathematical Physics (ANZAMP) in 2011 and served as its inaugural Chair. His research focuses on solvable lattice models at the intersection of mathematical physics and statistical mechanics . Key areas include the application of quantum integrability , algebraic structures like the Yang-Baxter equation, Hecke algebras, and quantum groups, as well as analytical methods such as complex analysis and elliptic curves. His work bridges pure and applied mathematics through connections between enumerative combinatorics , representation theory , and real-world phenomena like traffic flow modeling via exclusion processes . The 15 most recent articles reflect his expertise in integrable systems , non-equilibrium statistical mechanics , and algebraic combinatorics . Topics span Macdonald polynomials , stochastic duality , quantum spin chains , and traffic modeling , with methodologies involving matrix product forms , exact solutions , and critical phenomena analysis. He has contributed to editorial efforts through the AustMS Gazette and MATRIX Annals, and has been involved in public science communication via opinion pieces on mathematics funding and applications. His work emphasizes the importance of fundamental research in driving technological innovation, as highlighted in media articles discussing pi calculation , zero-knowledge proofs , and mathematics education .
Pietro de Anna is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Earth Sciences (ISTE), University of Lausanne, since August 2021. He holds an Italian nationality and completed a Master's in Theoretical Physics (2009) at the University of Florence, followed by a PhD in Earth Sciences at the University of Rennes 1 (2012). His research focuses on reactive transport in porous media, filtration, and interactions between bacteriological activity and flow dynamics. He directs the Environmental Fluid Mechanics Laboratory since 2015, employing microfluidics, numerical simulations, and theoretical models to study coupled physical, biological, and chemical mechanisms in confined systems. He has published 21 peer-reviewed articles, teaches environmental science courses at the Bachelor's and Master's levels, and supervised two PhD theses and four postdoctoral researchers. His work includes investigations into microbial biomass accumulation in porous media, diffusion-limited mixing, and biocementation processes. Key research themes are spatial heterogeneity effects, chemotaxis, and quorum sensing in microbial systems. He has pioneered methods combining microfluidics with microscopy to analyze transport at pore scales.
Sourav Sarkar is a University Associate Professor in Probability at the Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics (DPMMS), University of Cambridge (since July 2024) and a Fellow of Trinity Hall. Previously, he held positions as an Assistant Professor at DPMMS (2021–2024), Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto (2019–2021), and completed his Ph.D. in Statistics at UC Berkeley (2019) under Prof. Alan Hammond. His education includes a BSc (2013) and MSc (2015) in Statistics from the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, advised by Prof. Parthanil Roy. Research Interests : Probability theory with a focus on KPZ universality class, random growth models (e.g., last passage percolation, exclusion processes), Coulomb gas, and percolation theory. His work bridges stochastic processes, mathematical physics, and statistical mechanics. Teaching : Teaches advanced courses in Probability and Stochastic Calculus at the University of Cambridge, including Part II courses on Applied Probability and Probability & Measure. Previously taught at UC Berkeley, where he received the Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award (2019). Publications : Focuses on KPZ fixed point, geodesic properties, and phase transitions in interacting particle systems. Recent work includes studies on the directed landscape, stable random fields, and competitive erosion dynamics. Awards : Recognized for exceptional teaching at Berkeley and sustained contributions to probability theory research.
Lionel Levine is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Cornell University, affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences. His academic research focuses on abelian networks, interacting particle systems, and the emergence of complex patterns from simple rules. He has held prestigious fellowships, including the Simons Fellowship and Sloan Research Fellowship, and has been honored with an endowed professorship. Levine's work bridges probability theory, combinatorics, and statistical physics, with notable contributions to the study of sandpile models and internal diffusion-limited aggregation (IDLA). Education: Ph.D. in Mathematics (2007), University of California, Berkeley. Research Interests: Applied Mathematics, Combinatorics, Probability, Abelian Networks, Sandpile Models, and their intersections with computer science and statistical physics. His research explores how local rules generate large-scale structures, such as in abelian networks and sandpile models. Awards and Honors: Simons Fellowship, Sloan Research Fellowship, Endowed Professorship in the College of Arts and Sciences. Teaching: Courses include Probability Theory (MATH 6710/6720), Topics in Probability: Math for AI Safety (MATH 7710), and undergraduate mathematics courses like Strategy, Cooperation, and Conflict (MATH 1340). Grants and Funding: Supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Simons Foundation, Sloan Foundation, and Institute for Advanced Study. Collaborations: Collaborates with prominent researchers such as Yuval Peres, Cris Moore, and Jim Propp. His work has been published in leading journals like the Annals of Probability and Duke Mathematical Journal. Future Work: Continues investigating AI safety, causal models, and multi-agent learning, including research on mathematical frameworks for transformer circuits and hidden incentives in AI systems.
Daniel Kious is a Reader at the University of Bath, where he serves as Head of the Statistics and Probability Group and is affiliated with the Prob-L@B research center. His work focuses on advanced probability theory, including random walks, branching processes, and reinforcement models. Research Interests: Random walks with self-interaction Random walks in dynamic random environments Branching processes and tree structures Reinforcement learning applications in probability Article Trends: His recent publications emphasize trapping phenomena, reinforcement mechanisms, and phase transitions in random processes. Key themes include spatial non-local branching, once-reinforced walks, and connections to statistical physics. Advising: Co-supervised PhD students: Wilfred Armfield, Pawel Rudnicki, Carlo Scali Postdoc supervision: Guillaume Conchon-Kerjan (EPSRC-funded), Umberto De Ambroggio (co-supervised with Matt Roberts) Organizational Contributions: Co-organized conferences like CUWB IV: Frontiers in Statistics and Probability, CUWB II: Probability-on-sea, and the Random Walks in Bath conference. Active in the Prob-L@B research center. Personal Interests: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner (blue belt at Gracie Barra Frome); contributed to mathematics popularization through a 2016 article for the French Committee for the Popularization of Mathematics (CIJM).
Dr. Tim Conrad is a researcher at the Zuse Institute Berlin in the Visual and data-centric computing department under the Mathematics of Complex Systems division. He leads projects at the intersection of computational biology, AI, and medical data analysis. Projects: Geometric Learning for Single-Cell RNA Velocity Modeling, MODAL MedLab, Sparse Compressed Sensing in -Omics Data, BIFOLD (Big Data and Machine Learning) Research Networks: Affiliated with MATH+ and MODAL Research Campus His research focuses on applying machine learning , network optimization , and sparse data analysis to biological and medical challenges including disease modeling, microbiome dynamics, and ECG classification. Recent work explores hybrid PDE-ODE epidemic models and federated learning in healthcare. 2023-2025 publications highlight trends in AI for biological networks , temporal community detection , and medical signal processing . He co-authored studies on SARS-CoV-2 simulations, proteomics feature selection, and multi-label ECG analysis. His 2004 doctoral thesis at Monash University laid foundations for later work in metabolic pathway analysis. Awarded as a Zuse Fellow , he contributes to open science initiatives like FAIR data sharing . Collaborations span institutions including Freie Universität Berlin and Charité in medical informatics and clinical applications.
Balint Toth is a distinguished academic with dual affiliations: a Research Professor at the Alfréd Rényi Institute of Mathematics in Budapest and a Professor of Probability (Heilbronn Chair) at the University of Bristol 's School of Mathematics. His work bridges Probability Theory , Mathematical Physics , and Statistical Mechanics , focusing on stochastic dynamics, random walks in complex environments, and scaling limits. Key Roles: Co-Editor-in-Chief of Probability Theory and Related Fields , organizer of probability seminars in Budapest-Vienna and Bristol, and former leader of the BME Stochastics Seminar (1999–2020). Teaching: Delivers advanced courses like Probability 2 , Stochastic Differential Equations , and Percolation , emphasizing rigorous mathematical foundations. Research Themes include hydrodynamic limits, self-interacting random walks, diffusion in random media, and symmetry breaking in spin systems. His recent publications explore non-equilibrium stochastic models, anomalous diffusion, and connections between probability and physics. Teaching Materials span bilingual resources (Hungarian/English) for undergraduate and graduate courses in probability and stochastic analysis.
Andrea Collevecchio is a Professor in the School of Mathematics at Monash University, Australia, where he has been a faculty member since 2012. His research focuses on the intersection of Probability, Mathematical Physics, and Statistical Mechanics, with particular expertise in stochastic processes and theoretical modeling. He earned his PhD in Statistics from Purdue University in 2004, followed by postdoctoral positions in Italy and Germany. In 2006, he became Assistant Professor at Ca’Foscari University in Venice before joining Monash University. Collevecchio specializes in Reinforced Processes and Large Deviations, investigating complex systems through random walk models. His work bridges abstract probability theory with applications in statistical mechanics, examining phenomena like memory effects in stochastic processes and phase transitions in lattice systems. Recent research emphasizes hypercube structures, non-reversible dynamics, and reinforcement mechanisms. His 2021-2025 publications reveal a concentrated focus on hypercube random walks, with increasing exploration of non-reversible processes, vertex-reinforced dynamics, and bootstrap methods. These works consistently apply probabilistic frameworks to problems in mathematical physics, demonstrating strong connections between theoretical probability and physical modeling. Collevecchio has secured multiple research grants including ARC-funded projects on self-interacting random walks (2023-2026) and random walks with long memory (2018-2022). He contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives like the Smart Vehicles project for dementia support (2025-2027) and actively organizes academic events including the AIM Day series connecting mathematics, AI, and industry applications.
William Newman is a Professor in the Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), currently on sabbatical at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. His primary academic home resides within UCLA's geoscience and planetary science division. His educational credentials include: B.Sc. (Hon.) in Physics from the University of Alberta, Canada (1971) M.Sc. in Physics from the University of Alberta, Canada (1972) M.S. in Astronomy and Space Science from Cornell University (1975) Ph.D. in Astronomy and Space Science from Cornell University (1979) Professor Newman applies theoretical physics and applied mathematics to solve critical real-world problems across multiple disciplines. His research spans statistical techniques for climate change assessment, earthquake hazard modeling, solar system evolution (including collision risks from trans-Jovian bodies), astrophysical jet dynamics, and pattern emergence in complex systems. This interdisciplinary work bridges geophysics, planetary science, and astrophysics through rigorous mathematical frameworks. His publication record (2024-2016) reveals three dominant research thrusts: (1) Semiconductor electron emission physics (GaAs nanotips, photoemission sources), (2) Solar system dynamics and celestial mechanics (N-body simulations, impact hazards), and (3) Complex systems analysis (earthquake patterns, statistical record-breaking events). These intersect physics, earth sciences, and computational mathematics through shared methodologies in statistical modeling and nonlinear dynamics. At UCLA, Newman developed innovative courses including a natural disasters undergraduate GE course (satisfying diversity requirements) and graduate-level planetary atmospheres and continuum mechanics curricula. His academic contributions include over 100 refereed papers and graduate textbooks published by Princeton and Cambridge University Presses, focusing on mathematical methods for geophysics and space physics.
Valentijn Visch is a researcher and academic at Delft University of Technology's Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, specializing in Human-Centered Design and Society, Culture, and Critique. His work focuses on eHealth interventions, gamification in healthcare, and reducing health-related stigmas through innovative design solutions. He teaches courses such as 'eHealth Design for a Healthy Society' and 'Understanding Humans,' emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to healthcare challenges. His research projects include developing embodied coaches for stroke rehabilitation, AI-driven healthcare decision-making frameworks, and inclusive eHealth tools for low socioeconomic populations. He has been recognized with awards like the Rehabilitation Year Award 2024 for his work on cardiac rehabilitation interventions and a CHI 2024 Best Paper Honourable Mention for studies on patient preferences in AI autonomy. Visch collaborates on initiatives like the 'Emotion Aware Car Seat' project, exploring human-technology interaction. His work bridges academic research with real-world applications, addressing gaps in healthcare accessibility and patient empowerment through technology.
Shuangping Li is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Statistics and Data Science at Yale University. She was previously a Stein Fellow in the Department of Statistics at Stanford University (2022–2025). Her research lies at the intersection of probability theory, high-dimensional statistics, theoretical machine learning, and the theory of algorithms. Ph.D. in Applied and Computational Mathematics, Princeton University (2022) B.Sc. in Mathematics, University of Hong Kong Her research interests include probability theory , high-dimensional statistics , theoretical machine learning , and theory of algorithms . She investigates foundational aspects of random constraint satisfaction problems, neural networks, spectral methods, and phase transitions in high-dimensional models. Her work often draws from statistical physics and combinatorics to explain algorithmic behavior. The recent articles highlight a strong focus on binary perceptrons , clustering in network models , and algorithmic phase transitions . Keywords across publications include probability, theoretical computer science, machine learning, and statistical inference. Subfields reveal deep engagement with spin glass theory, discrepancy minimization, spectral embedding, and information-computation gaps. Scientific awards include: Stein Fellow, Department of Statistics, Stanford University (2022–2025) She has advised and taught at both Stanford and Yale, including courses such as Advanced Probability , Theory of Probability , and Stochastic Processes . She has organized seminars at Stanford and has delivered invited talks at institutions including Cornell, Duke, UC Berkeley, and Princeton. Her collaborative research involves prominent scholars such as Allan Sly, Emmanuel Abbe, and Tselil Schramm. There is no mention of external grants, but her postdoctoral fellowship suggests research funding support. She is involved in academic service through organizing the Stanford Statistics and Probability Seminars. She maintains an active research presence with publications in top venues like STOC, FOCS, COLT, ICLR, and journals such as Annals of Probability and Annals of Statistics .
Samuel Herrmann is a Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Burgundy, France. He is a member of the Statistics, Probability, Optimization and Control team and an external member of the TOSCA project team at INRIA. His research focuses on stochastic processes, particularly asymptotic analysis of non-linear stochastic processes, large deviations, and stochastic resonance phenomena, with applications in climatology, biology, and financial modeling. Education: PhD in Mathematics (2001) - University of Burgundy Habilitation (2009) - Asymptotic analysis related to stochastic processes Research Interests: Stochastic differential equations and their numerical simulation Large deviation phenomena in stochastic processes Self-stabilizing diffusions and stochastic resonance First-passage and exit time problems for diffusions Applications in climatology, biology, and finance Scientific Contributions: Professor Herrmann has published extensively on stochastic processes, with over 50 peer-reviewed articles and a monograph on stochastic resonance. His work includes exact simulation methods for diffusion processes, studies on self-stabilizing systems, and theoretical contributions to large deviations theory. He has collaborated with leading researchers such as Peter Imkeller and David Peithmann. Awards and Recognition: Contributed to the encyclopedia of mathematical physics Co-authored the book "Stochastic Resonance: A Mathematical Approach in the Small Noise Limit" (2014) Teaching and Supervision: He teaches courses on stochastic processes and their simulation at both undergraduate and master's levels, including the Master in Turin program. He has supervised numerous PhD and master's students in stochastic processes and related fields.
Skirmantas Janusonis is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). He is a core faculty member of the UCSB Neuroscience Research Institute and the Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Dynamical Neuroscience, and a member of the California NanoSystems Institute. His research program lies at the intersection of neuroscience, complex systems, and computational modeling. Education: Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Behavior, University of Massachusetts Amherst Postdoctoral Research, Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine B.S./M.S. in Biology, Vilnius University, Lithuania Dr. Janusonis's research focuses on the stochastic (random walk-like) behavior of serotonergic axons in the brain, particularly within the ascending reticular activating system and the broader serotonergic matrix. His work integrates molecular neurobiology, comparative neuroanatomy (from sharks to rodents to humans), advanced microscopy, and supercomputing simulations. He investigates how these complex systems self-organize and their relevance to mental disorders, especially autism and the enigma of platelet hyperserotonemia. His lab collaborates with physicists, mathematicians, and engineers to model anomalous diffusion and fractional Brownian motion in 3D brain spaces. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward computational and theoretical neuroscience, using high-resolution data and mathematical generalizations to model axonal distributions. Key themes include reflected fractional Brownian motion, self-organization of serotonergic densities, and the interface between central and peripheral serotonin systems. His work challenges traditional views of the blood-brain barrier and proposes interdisciplinary solutions involving immunology, physiology, and computer science. Scientific Awards and Recognition: Elected to the Board of Directors of the Organization for Computational Neurosciences (2024) NSF, NIMH, and California NanoSystems Institute grant funding Multiple student awards under his mentorship, including the Harry J. Carlisle Award and NIH IRTA NSF CRCNS and Frontera supercomputing grants UCSB Art of Science People's Choice Award (awarded to lab member) Dr. Janusonis actively mentors PhD students such as Justin Haiman and Dahyana Arroyo, and has advised alumni including Dr. Angela Chen, Dr. Kasie Mays, and Dr. Melissa Hingorani. His lab has received numerous grants from the NSF and NIH, supporting research on stochastic axon systems and super-resolution imaging. He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses including Neuroanatomy (Psy 269), Neurobiology of Brain States (Psy 136), and Complex Systems (Psy 113L). Research Team and Collaborations: The Janusonis Lab is an interdisciplinary group combining neuroscience, mathematics, and engineering. It collaborates with institutions such as UC San Diego, the University of Pisa, and MIT. The lab is equipped with advanced imaging tools and has access to Frontera, a leading NSF supercomputer. Outreach includes science nights at local schools and public lectures at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.
