Dr. Patrick Gebhard is a researcher at the Cognitive Assistance Systems department of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), focusing on affective computing, human-computer interaction, and psychological modeling. His work bridges computational linguistics, mental health, and wearable technologies. Key projects: UBIDENZ (digital empathetic therapy assistance), MITHOS (mixed-reality teacher training), SocialWear (interactive smart fashion), MindBot (mental health in Industry 4.0), EmmA (emotional coaching avatars). Recent research explores emotion regulation strategies, psychodynamic conflict recognition via LLMs, and multimodal sign language corpora development. Collaborates with institutions like Saarland University, contributing to conferences such as CLPsych, LREC-COLING, and ACII. Contact: Patrick.Gebhard@dfki.de
Dr. Daniel Martin serves as an Assistant Professor and Doctoral Capstone Coordinator at the University of Western States (UWS), focusing on health scientific research methodology with expertise in machine learning, psychometrics, and Bayesian analysis. He holds a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) from the University of St. Augustine (2019) and an M.S. from Towson University (2012). His research spans occupational therapy regulation, mental health, esports psychology, pediatric assistive technology, and trauma-informed care. Martin’s work has been recognized with awards such as the Alpha Chi Prize for Empirical Research and Best Empirical Research accolades at Shenandoah University. He previously chaired the Maryland Board of Occupational Therapy Practice (2016-2024) and contributed to NBCOT practice analyses. As owner of Precision Data Analytics for Health Science LLC, he provides data analysis services to academia and professionals. His recent publications highlight predictive factors in licensure disciplinary actions, trauma-informed pelvic health practices, and accessibility in school-based assistive technology. Martin’s academic service includes roles on UWS’s IRB, dissertation committees, and as a reviewer for HomeCare Now. His work integrates regulatory policy, clinical practice, and innovative research methodologies to advance occupational therapy’s role in diverse healthcare contexts.
Dr. Garima Bajwa is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Lakehead University, where she joined in January 2021. Her research focuses on authentication systems, brain-computer/machine interfaces, cybersecurity, and machine learning applications. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of North Texas (2016), an MEng in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Waterloo (2011), and a B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Mody Institute of Technology & Science, India (2009). Education: Ph.D., Computer Science & Engineering, University of North Texas (2016) MEng, Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo (2011) B.Tech, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Mody Institute (2009) Her research interests span cybersecurity frameworks for neurotechnology, explainable AI in healthcare diagnostics, and multimodal fusion of EEG and image data. Recent work includes EEG signal anonymization, federated learning for medical diagnosis, and reproducibility in BCI research. Her publications explore cutting-edge topics like BCI standardization, driver distraction detection, and quantum computing integration. Grants and lab affiliations are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Charles Lenay is a Researcher at Université de Technologie de Compiègne (UTC), affiliated with the Costech laboratory's Cognitive Research and Enactive Design (CRED) department. He specializes in perceptual substitution systems, enactive cognition, and technology's role in disability accessibility. As a section editor for 'Perceptual substitution and social cognition,' he contributes to interdisciplinary research at the intersection of philosophy, cognitive science, and engineering. His work focuses on haptic interfaces, sensory supplementation for visually impaired individuals, and the ethical implications of technological mediation. Key research areas include tactile interaction design, enactive perception theory, and the sociotechnical dynamics of innovation in agriculture and urban planning. Lenay has co-authored influential studies on perceptual crossing experiments, technical mediation, and the legacy of philosophers like Bernard Stiegler. He is a leading figure in developing assistive technologies that bridge sensory gaps, emphasizing user-centered design principles. His recent collaborations include the Tactos project for tactile web access and the Intertact system for remote tactile communication. He also explores the philosophical foundations of technology's impact on human cognition and societal structures, contributing to debates on ethics of care in technical systems.
Veranika Furs is an Associate Professor at the Academic Department of Social Sciences within the European Humanities University (EHU). She holds a PhD in Philosophy from Belarusian State University (1997). Her research focuses on communication theory, discourse analysis, semiotics, and literary theory. She teaches courses on literature as a communication form, semiotics, and transmedia storytelling. Her scholarly work spans communication history, language policy analysis, and translation of philosophical works. Notable contributions include studies on Belarusian language debates, discourse analysis methodologies, and audiovisual pedagogy. Her publications explore interdisciplinary themes like postmodern theory and sociological simulation concepts. Dr. Furs actively participates in academic publishing, with works appearing in venues like Education et sociétés plurilingues and Sociology: Encyclopedia . Her research bridges theoretical communication studies with practical educational applications, emphasizing critical methods in humanities assessment and semiotic frameworks.
Maria Tagarelli De Monte is a contract professor of Italian Sign Language (LIS) at the University of International Studies of Rome (UNINT) since 2015 and teaches General Linguistics at the University of Pisa's International Programme in Humanities since 2023. She holds a PhD in Linguistics from University of Roma Tre (thesis on linguistic simplification in LIS signers) and a Bachelor's in Communication Sciences from University of Siena with research in cognitive sciences. Her work focuses on LIS education, accessibility technologies, and bimodal bilingualism in deaf populations. Research: Coordinated EU projects like Sign-LEF (CEFR adaptation), SWING 2.0 (digital inclusion), and Free Technology Signs. Co-director of ISSR's research department (2009-2022). Affiliations: Coordinates EALTA's SIG for SIGN, member of São Paulo's LISCO group, and founder of OSSMED observatory. Her research spans LIS pedagogy, sign language grammar, affordance theory in language learning, and accessibility policies. Recent work emphasizes digital literacy among deaf populations and CEFR adaptation for sign languages. Awarded the Best Presentation Award at ICSLA 2024 for her work on linguistic simplification in deaf adult writing. Publications include monographs on linguistic interference in deaf writing and peer-reviewed articles on sign language structure, e-learning platforms for deaf education, and accessibility frameworks. Active in multiple international research networks and project management roles.
Tiina Ervelius is a Lecturer at Diak University of Applied Sciences' Department of Nursing, focused on advancing nursing education through digitalization, simulation-based learning, and multidisciplinary collaboration. She actively contributes to institutional projects like the Partnership for Digital Projects, exploring innovative teaching methods such as gamification and virtual patient simulations. Her work emphasizes preparing nursing students for future healthcare challenges by integrating technology and interprofessional teamwork. Key research interests include the application of digital tools in nursing curricula, simulation training for professional competence, and fostering collaboration across healthcare disciplines. She has co-authored articles on topics ranging from digital skill development to shared expertise in international healthcare projects. Notably, her contributions to the DVINE project highlight the benefits of cross-sector collaboration in healthcare education. Ervelius is involved in pioneering initiatives such as multi-professional simulations with sign language interpreters and social sector students, demonstrating her commitment to inclusive and holistic healthcare training. Her recent work (2025) underscores the importance of blending practical simulations with digital innovation to enhance nursing education quality.
Assoc. Prof. Kenan Çiçek is affiliated with Iğdır University's Faculty of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering. He holds a Doctorate from the University of Bristol (2016), an M.Sc. from Atatürk University (2011), and a B.Sc. from Atatürk University (2008). His research focuses on photonics, optical sensors, hydrogen detection, and nanomaterials for energy storage. Key projects include palladium-based hydrogen sensors, supercapacitor electrode materials, and integrated photonics applications. Research Interests: Optical vortex beam manipulation using integrated photonics High-sensitivity hydrogen sensors via plasmonic and micro-ring resonators Self-healable PVA-based supercapacitor materials Nanomaterial synthesis for energy storage and sensor applications Grants & Projects: Spintronics applications for multiferroic materials synthesis (TÜBİTAK 1001) Optical trapping using integrated vortex beam emitters (TÜBİTAK 1002) Silicon nano-ring plasmonic sensors (High-Q factor) He has advised 2 master's theses and teaches courses in optical sensors, power electronics, and microelectronics. Administrative roles include Department Head (2017) and International Student Office Coordinator (2018).
Dr. Joanna E. Cannon is a Professor in the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology and Special Education at the University of British Columbia, serving as Coordinator of the Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) graduate program. She holds a PhD and has extensive experience in teaching and research, focusing on language acquisition, literacy, and instructional strategies for DHH students, particularly those with additional disabilities or from multilingual backgrounds. Education: PhD in Special Education, Georgia State University (2010) MA in Curriculum and Instruction, Piedmont College (2005) MEd in Special Education, University of Tennessee (1997) Her research emphasizes supporting DHH students with disabilities and multilingual learners, exploring grammar instruction, assessment tools, and inclusive education. Notable projects include the Alternative Review Parameters for DHH Programs (2024-2026) and studies on social interaction interventions for DHH students with ASD. Dr. Cannon leads the DHH Links to Literacy Research Lab, collaborating internationally on grants such as the German Ministry-funded study on DHH immigrant students' language learning. Her work bridges practice and policy, advocating for linguistically responsive approaches and family-centered care. She oversees the DHH graduate program, advising students and managing practicum placements. Her publications span over 40 articles and books, including Deaf and Hard of Hearing Multilingual Learners: Foundations, Strategies, and Resources (2022), addressing cultural, linguistic, and educational needs of diverse DHH populations.
Florentine Paudel is a Professor at the Vienna University of Education (PH Wien), specializing in school education with a focus on diversity and inclusion since March 2024. Previously, she served as academic staff (Hochschullehrende) since September 2020. Her expertise spans inclusive pedagogy, language acquisition, and literacy education. She holds multiple degrees, including a PhD in educational science (2021), a Master of Science in Pedagogy and Logopedagogy (2016), and qualifications as a dyslexia therapist and Montessori teacher. Her research emphasizes inclusive education policy, teacher training, and digital innovations in education. Notable projects include the IPlus Klassen accompanying research and the Erasmus+ project SLIDE (Service-Learning, Inclusion, and Digital Empowerment). She has published widely on topics like inclusive classroom strategies, literacy challenges, and teacher education reforms. Paudel’s professional background includes roles as a primary school teacher, special education specialist, and academic researcher. She actively engages in international collaborations, such as the CIVENHANCE project promoting civic engagement in rural areas, and has presented at global conferences on UDL (Universal Design for Learning) and inclusive education policy.
Sapountzaki Galini is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Special Education, University of Thessaly, specializing in Greek Sign Language (GSL). She has held this position since January 2012 and teaches courses on GSL linguistics and methodology. Her work focuses on language acquisition in deaf communities, educational accessibility, and technology-enhanced learning platforms for sign languages. Education: PhD in Linguistics (2005) from the University of Bristol Diploma in GSL Interpreting (1997) Bachelor’s in Philology (1994) from the Athens School of Philosophy Research Interests: Dr. Sapountzaki’s work bridges theoretical linguistics and applied education. She explores grammar structures in GSL, particularly tense/aspect markers, and advocates for bilingual education for deaf students. Her projects include developing e-learning platforms like SL-ReDu for GSL recognition and assessment, emphasizing 3D modeling and multimodal data fusion. She also examines the impact of language deprivation on deaf children and strategies for remote GSL instruction during crises like the pandemic. Grants & Advising: No specific grants listed, but her work is supported by projects like SYNENNOISI and DIANOIMA. She has advised on curricula for deaf education programs and collaborates with institutions like the Neuropsychology Laboratory and Pedagogical Institute. Her teaching spans special education teacher training and interpreter education. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the Institute of Speech Processing (ISL) and the University of Thessaly’s Special Education Committee. Active in designing GSL video texts and accessibility tools for public schools.
Iris Ludewig-Rohwer serves as a Lecturer in German Studies within the Discipline of European Languages and Cultures at the School of Humanities, The University of Western Australia. With over two decades of teaching experience, she instructs German at all proficiency levels across various educational settings throughout Western Australia and serves as an accredited examiner overseeing Goethe-Institut language examinations in the region. Her educational background includes studies in Education, Sign Language, and Business at the University of Hamburg, followed by a PhD in German Studies and Language Learning at UWA. Her doctoral research focused on the use of online role-plays as a method for language acquisition. Ludewig-Rohwer's research centers on innovative language education methodologies, particularly the application of online role-plays in language acquisition, and the history of German-speaking migrants to Western Australia. She strongly advocates for foreign language learning as a foundation for multicultural exchange and mutual understanding, with passionate commitment to facilitating student learning and well-being. Analysis of her publications reveals a consistent focus on interactive language learning techniques, particularly examining how role-playing and performance methods enhance language acquisition. Her work bridges educational theory with practical classroom applications, emphasizing student engagement through creative, technology-enhanced methodologies. Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2024) As an active community stakeholder, Ludewig-Rohwer maintains strong connections with German-speaking language and cultural clubs, businesses, and teacher associations throughout Western Australia. Her volunteer work includes multiple committee positions and a lengthy tenure as chair of the Goethe Society WA, demonstrating her commitment to fostering cultural exchange beyond the classroom. She operates at the intersection of academic instruction and community engagement, applying her research on language acquisition methods directly to both university teaching and broader community language initiatives across Western Australia.
Roger Zimmermann is a Full Professor at the School of Computing, National University of Singapore (NUS), where he is also a Co-PI at the Grab-NUS AI Lab and leads the Location AI project. He previously served as Deputy Director of the NUS Smart Systems Institute (SSI) and Co-Director of the Centre of Social Media Innovations for Communities (COSMIC), both funded by Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF). Before joining NUS, he was a Research Area Director and Research Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California (USC). Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of Southern California (1998) M.S. in Computer Science, University of Southern California (1994) His research focuses on multimedia systems , spatio-temporal data management , streaming media architectures (especially DASH), machine learning applications , AR/VR , and location-based services . He leads the Media Management Research Lab (MMRL) at NUS, which conducts cutting-edge work in distributed multimedia and intelligent systems. His work combines theoretical depth with real-world applications in urban computing, smart mobility, and immersive media. The recent publications reflect a strong trend toward multimodal learning , spatio-temporal AI , adaptive streaming , and urban intelligence . His team explores zero-shot learning, 3D scene understanding, traffic forecasting, and open-vocabulary audio-visual segmentation, often leveraging foundational models and deep neural architectures. There is a clear emphasis on real-time, scalable systems for smart cities and immersive experiences. Dr. Zimmermann has received numerous accolades, including: DASH-IF Excellence in DASH Award (multiple years) Best Paper Awards at ACM SIGSPATIAL, IEEE ICME, and ACM MMSys Silver Award at ACM MMSys 2020 Grand Challenge IEEE Communications Society Best Editor Award (2017) ACM Distinguished Member (2017) Top 1% Publons Reviewer in Computer Science (2018) He has advised numerous students and led major research initiatives funded by MOE, NRF, A*STAR, NSF, and industry partners like Seagate, Intel, and HP. He has served as General Chair for IEEE MIPR 2023, ACM Multimedia 2020, and IEEE ISM 2015, and as TPC Co-Chair for several top-tier conferences. His editorial roles include Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Multimedia (TMM), ACM TOMM, and IEEE OJ-COMS. He leads the Media Management Research Lab (MMRL) , which focuses on intelligent multimedia systems, spatiotemporal data mining, and immersive media technologies. The lab develops scalable solutions for real-world challenges in urban computing, smart transportation, and interactive media.
Associate Professor Mehera San Roque is affiliated with the School of Law, Society & Criminology at UNSW, specializing in evidence law, feminist legal analysis, and law's intersection with surveillance, visual cultures, and sound. Her research includes an ARC-funded project on deaf jurors' participation and collaborations with linguists, legal aid, and interpreters. She is a member of the Evidence-Based Forensics Initiative and the Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences Council. Research Interests: Her work spans cross-disciplinary projects in forensic science, identification evidence reliability, and legal safeguards. Notable projects include improving jury accessibility for deaf citizens and analyzing facial recognition technology's role in criminal trials. She emphasizes ethical and equitable legal practices, particularly in cases involving marginalized groups. Advising & Grants: Supervises research on juror decision-making biases and judicial social media impacts. Her ARC-funded work highlights collaborative approaches to legal challenges. Teaching includes courses on evidence law, criminal law, and forensic psychology. Labs/Teams: Engaged with the Evidence-Based Forensics Initiative and interdisciplinary teams in law, psychology, and medicine to enhance evidence evaluation in trials.
Niels Peek is Professor of Health Informatics in the Division of Informatics, Imaging & Data Sciences within the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at the University of Manchester. He serves as Director of the Christabel Pankhurst Institute for Health Technology Research and Innovation, Co-director of the International Centre for Translational Digital Health, and Digital Infrastructure Lead for the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre. His leadership extends to roles as Academic Lead for the North West Secure Data Environment and Theme Lead for Health and Care within Digital Futures. Peek holds a PhD in Computer Science from Utrecht University (2000) and MSc degrees in both Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence from the same institution (1994). His methodological expertise spans the design and evaluation of informatics interventions, computerized decision support systems, statistical modeling, machine learning, data mining, qualitative research methods, and technology acceptance models. His research program focuses on translational data science applications in healthcare, particularly in risk prediction, personalized and precision medicine, patient safety, and managing patients with multiple conditions (multimorbidity). Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on practical applications of AI and data science in clinical settings, with particular attention to electronic health records, clinical decision support, and the evaluation of digital health interventions across various healthcare contexts including primary care, hospital settings, and chronic disease management. Peek has received significant recognition for his contributions to the field: Fellow of the Alan Turing Institute Fellow of the American College of Medical Informatics Fellow of the International Academy of Health Sciences Informatics President of the Society for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (2013-2017) His editorial leadership includes serving as Associate Editor for BMJ Health & Care Informatics and on the editorial boards of npj Digital Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, and Health Data Science journals. He has secured substantial research funding including participation in the BHF Centre for Research Excellence 2024-2029 and leadership roles in multiple active projects focused on digital health, AI applications in medicine, and opioid management research. Peek leads the Christabel Pankhurst Institute for Health Technology Research and Innovation and co-directs the International Centre for Translational Digital Health, creating collaborative environments that bridge computer science, statistics, and clinical practice to develop practical healthcare solutions. His work contributes significantly to UN Sustainable Development Goals through the University of Manchester's research beacons in Digital Futures, Data Science and AI, Sustainable Futures, and Healthier Futures.
