Mario Berges is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), with a courtesy appointment in Electrical and Computer Engineering. He holds leadership roles as Co-Director of the IBM Smart Infrastructure Analytics Lab and Director of the Intelligent Infrastructure Research Lab (INFERLab). His work focuses on applying information/communication technologies to enhance the operational efficiency and resilience of built environments amid evolving resource constraints and climate changes. Education: PhD in Civil & Environmental Engineering from CMU (2010). Research Interests: Berges' research integrates smart infrastructure systems, energy efficiency, and machine learning. Key areas include non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM), structural health monitoring of pipelines, building automation systems, and urban heat risk modeling. He develops data-driven frameworks for energy disaggregation, sensor placement optimization, and real-time infrastructure diagnostics. Awards: Recognized with the 2010 FIATECH Outstanding Early Career Researcher Award and 2015 Dean’s Early Career Fellowship from CMU. Grants & Labs: Leads INFERLab, collaborating with IBM on smart infrastructure projects. His work spans academic-industry partnerships focused on building analytics, smart grid technologies, and sensor networks. Future Directions: Expanding research into AI-driven energy systems, resilient urban infrastructure, and cross-disciplinary solutions for climate adaptation.
Dr Alison Powell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Media and Communications at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), serving as Programme Director for the MSc Media and Communications (Data and Society). Her research focuses on technology design, public sector technology, and digital futures. She is known for her book Undoing Optimization: Civic Action in Smart Cities (2021) and her participatory research method, data walking. From 2019–2023, she directed the JUST AI network, supported by the Ada Lovelace Institute and UKRI, advancing AI ethics research. Her work integrates critical theory, participatory methods, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Education: PhD in Communication from Concordia University (Canada), MA in Media Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University, and postdoctoral research at the Oxford Internet Institute. Prior to academia, she worked in the film and TV industry. Research interests include civic engagement in data-driven governance, ethical AI, and participatory urbanism. She has advised projects like Africa Just AI and Operationalising Ethics for AI, funded by Horizon Europe, AHRC, and the Open Society Foundations. Her articles address topics such as AI governance, urban light ecology, feminist research praxis, and the ethical implications of technology for marginalized communities. She contributes to blogs like Media@LSE and leads initiatives at Polis and the LSE’s Digital Futures for Children project. Grants and collaborations include work with Projects by IF, Open Rights Group, and the Human Data Interactions Network (EPSRC). She explores intersections of technology, justice, and sustainability, emphasizing equitable and inclusive innovation.
Dr Andrew Rhead is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bath, specializing in aerospace composites and damage tolerance analysis. His research focuses on impact damage detection, failure mechanism modeling, and Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) techniques for composite structures. MSci in Mathematical Sciences (Dynamical Systems) - University of Bristol (2006) PhD in Composite Damage Tolerance - University of Bath (2009) His work develops computationally efficient analytical models for compression after impact (CAI) strength prediction in composite laminates, surpassing traditional finite element methods. Key projects include hydrogen storage systems for aircraft, cryogenic composite testing, and steered fiber manufacturing optimization. Active in 10 projects including ASPIRE and HyFIVE Collaborates with Airbus, GKN Aerospace, and EPSRC Research trends show emphasis on sustainable aviation materials, structural battery integration, and advanced testing methodologies. Current affiliations include the Institute for Mathematical Innovation (IMI) and Centre for Integrated Materials, Processes & Structures (IMPS).
Dr. Mo Adda is a Principal Lecturer at the University of Portsmouth's School of Computing, part of the Faculty of Technology. He holds a PhD in Distributed Systems and Parallel Processing from the University of Surrey. His research focuses on network security, distributed systems, wireless networks, and cybercrime prevention. He leads projects in the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime, exploring fault management in networks, blockchain applications, and IoT forensics. With 16 supervised theses, he advises on topics like energy-efficient cloud systems and machine learning for environmental modeling. His work bridges academia and industry, addressing challenges in software-defined networks, traffic control, and secure data sharing in social networks. Education: PhD in Distributed Systems (University of Surrey) Affiliations: Centre of Excellence in Defence, Risk & Resilience; Portsmouth Centre for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Research Interests Dr. Adda's research spans: Network security and fault detection mechanisms Blockchain applications in IoT and forensics Energy-efficient cloud data center optimization Machine learning for climate modeling Self-organizing network protocols Grants & Collaborations His projects include collaborations with industry partners on secure data leakage detection in cloud systems and resilient wireless protocols for harsh environments. He has pioneered fault classification systems using clustering algorithms and fuzzy logic. Labs & Teams He contributes to the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime, focusing on digital forensics and network intrusion analysis. His team develops frameworks for privacy management in social networks and proactive routing in software-defined networks.
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.
Amr Youssef is a Professor at the Concordia Institute for Information Systems Engineering, Concordia University. His research focuses on applied cryptography, network security, cyber-physical systems security, blockchain, and privacy. He has contributed extensively to securing smart grids, IoT devices, and web applications through cryptographic protocols and machine learning-driven solutions. His work addresses critical challenges in cybersecurity, including e-voting systems, fault-tolerant differential protection, and privacy-preserving communication protocols. He explores vulnerabilities in modern systems such as SSO permissions, JavaScript exploits, and stalkerware tools, while developing frameworks like MEGR-APT for APT detection and TEE-Receipt for non-repudiation. Youssef’s research integrates interdisciplinary approaches, combining cryptography with AI (e.g., vision transformers for power quality analysis) and leveraging trusted execution environments (TEE) for secure computing. His projects often involve collaboration with industrial standards (e.g., IEC 61850), emphasizing practical implementations in real-world systems.
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.
Peter A. Flach is Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the Intelligent Systems Laboratory, School of Computer Science, University of Bristol, where he has been faculty since 1997 and was promoted to Professor in 2003. He currently directs the UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in Practice-Oriented Artificial Intelligence and serves as Vice-President of the European Association for Data Science (EuADS), having previously served as its President. His research centers on rigorous evaluation and improvement of machine learning systems, with seminal contributions to classifier calibration (including Beta Calibration and Precision-Recall-Gain curves), explainable AI frameworks, and data science methodology. He pioneered the extension of CRISP-DM to data science trajectories and developed Explainability Fact Sheets for systematic assessment of XAI approaches. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical deployment in real-world systems. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a dominant focus on interpretable and reliable machine learning, with strong emphasis on performance evaluation metrics, model calibration techniques, and human-centered explainability. His research increasingly addresses healthcare applications through projects like SPHERE and clinical decision support systems, while maintaining core contributions to fundamental ML theory. His scientific recognition includes prestigious fellowships: Fellow of the European Lab for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS) Fellow of the European Association for Artificial Intelligence (EurAI) Professor Flach has secured major research funding including UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training grants and EU network funding (TAILOR). He leads extensive collaborations across Engineering, Population Health Science, and international institutions (Monash University, Polytechnic University of Valencia), plus over 20 industry partners in the Practice-Oriented AI CDT including LV= and QinetiQ. His work with the SPHERE project demonstrates successful translation of AI research into residential healthcare settings. He leads the Intelligent Systems Laboratory at Bristol, which develops influential open-source tools including the FAT Forensics Python toolbox for algorithmic fairness and the Explainability Fact Sheets framework. His lab maintains strong connections with the European AI community through ELLIS and EurAI, positioning Bristol as a hub for human-centered and methodologically rigorous AI research.
Vincent Aleven is a Professor in the Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII) at Carnegie Mellon University, where he leads the CATS Lab focused on developing 'smart classrooms' through human-AI collaboration in educational settings. His work bridges learning sciences, human-computer interaction, artificial intelligence, and education to create dynamic learning environments that leverage complementary strengths of learners, educators, and AI systems. His research centers on intelligent educational systems with core interests in cognitive modeling, metacognitive skill development, and case-based reasoning. Key initiatives include AI-based tutoring software for individual/collaborative learning (e.g., middle-school math equation solving), tools supporting self-regulated learning (help-seeking, self-assessment), teacher orchestration dashboards, and browser-based authoring tools like CTAT/Tutorshop that lower development barriers for intelligent tutoring systems. Current projects investigate smartphone-based homework solutions, gamified tutoring interfaces, and comparative effectiveness against platforms like Khan Academy. Scientific Awards: No specific awards mentioned in source materials. Professor Aleven advises graduate students including Kexin Bella Yang and Conrad Borchers. His research is supported by multiple grants, notably a $2M award for testing AI-based mobile tutoring software in underserved middle-school contexts. Major projects encompass: MEME Project : Boosting math outcomes through motivation and self-regulation Metacognition and Motivation : Pittsburgh Science of Learning Center initiative Rapid Tutor Development : Streamlining cognitive model creation Learning-Oriented Dialogue : Enhancing engagement via collaborative problem-solving The CATS Lab operates through deep collaboration with teachers and students in real classrooms, currently exploring how smartphone accessibility, targeted tutor redesign, and parental involvement optimize homework effectiveness. Future directions address AI support for tutors/parents, balancing self-regulatory development with domain learning, and democratizing tutor authoring for educators.
Wei Zhang is a tenured Professor at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) , Shenzhen, China, and a Senior Member of IEEE. He serves as Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Control System Technology and leads the CLEAR Lab (Control & Learning for Robotics and Autonomy) within the School of Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing (AiM). His career spans institutions including the University of California, Berkeley (postdoc), and The Ohio State University (Assistant/Associate Professor). Education: PhD in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University (2009), MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from University of Kentucky (2005), BS in Automation from University of Science and Technology of China (2003) Research Interests focus on integrating control theory, optimization, and machine learning to develop intelligent systems. Key areas include: Legged Robots: Dynamic locomotion control, bio-inspired gait design, and push recovery mechanisms Autonomous Systems: Real-time motion planning, obstacle avoidance, and safe navigation in adversarial environments Smart Grids: Distributed control for energy systems and transactive energy optimization Machine Learning: Reinforcement learning for robotics, Q-learning convergence analysis, and hybrid control-learning frameworks Publication Trends highlight interdisciplinary work at the intersection of robotics and control systems. His recent 2024 papers address: Whole-body control for wheeled-quadrupedal robots Geometric object pose refinement in computer vision Task-space Riccati feedback for underactuated systems Teacher-student reinforcement learning architectures Scientific Awards include: 2016 : NSF CAREER Award 2015 : Lumley Research Award (Ohio State University) 2013 : AFOSR Summer Faculty Fellowship 2018 : National Distinguished Expert (Young, China) 2019 : International Underwater Robot Competition 2nd Prize (team advisor) Academic Leadership involves editorial roles at IEEE Transactions on Control System Technology and IEEE Transactions on Power Systems. His lab provides state-of-the-art robotics platforms including quadruped robots, Kuka manipulators, and UAVs for algorithm validation. Research collaborators span The Ohio State University , UC Berkeley , CMU , and The University of Hong Kong .
Professor Haijiang Li is a Chair in BIM for Smart Engineering at Cardiff University's School of Engineering. His roles include leading the Computational Mechanics and Engineering AI Research Group, directing the BIM for Smart Engineering Centre, and overseeing the BIM MSc programme. He holds editorial roles for journals like Construction Innovation and Automation in Construction , and chairs the European Group of Intelligent Computing in Engineering (EG-ICE). Research focuses on smart computational engineering platforms integrating BIM, AI, and big data for sustainable infrastructure. Key areas include digital twins, disaster management, and resilient urban systems. He has secured £40M in research funding, including £9M as PI, and led over 70 research staff and students. Prof. Li is a Standards Committee Technical Executive at buildingSMART, driving international BIM standards. His work includes co-authoring a book on BIM standards across China, the US, and the UK. Awards include Fellowships from the British Computer Society (FBCS) and the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). His research outputs span over 250 publications, covering topics like AI-driven bridge maintenance, ontology-based decision-making, and energy-efficient urban systems. Collaborations with industry and global partners emphasize practical applications of BIM and smart technologies.
Rebecca Schulman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University. She holds secondary appointments in Chemistry and Computer Science and is affiliated with multiple interdisciplinary institutes, including the Institute for NanoBioTechnology, the Hopkins Extreme Materials Institute, the Chemistry-Biology Interface Program, the Center for Cell Dynamics, and the Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics. She currently co-directs the Passport to Future Technology Leadership program for PhD students. Research Interests: Schulman's research lies at the intersection of DNA nanotechnology, synthetic biology, and smart materials. Her group develops intelligent, adaptive biomolecular materials and nanostructures by integrating concepts from materials science, biochemistry, circuit design, and soft matter physics. The team focuses on engineering dynamic self-assembly processes using DNA to create reconfigurable materials, molecular circuits, and autonomous soft micro-robots. Key themes include self-healing nanostructures, feedback-regulated crystallization, programmable hydrogels, and synthetic genetic networks for materials control. Publication Trends: Her recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on using DNA-based chemical reaction networks to program spatial and temporal behavior in materials. The work spans from fundamental mechanisms like catalytic polymerization and crystal growth regulation to applications in soft robotics, self-wiring circuits, and synthetic pattern formation. The research is highly interdisciplinary, combining synthetic biology with materials engineering to achieve life-like functionalities in non-living systems. Scientific Awards: AIMBE Fellowship Award Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship Award Hartwell Individual Biomolecular Research Award President’s Early Career Award in Science and Engineering (PECASE) DARPA Young Faculty Award DARPA Directors Fellowship NSF CAREER Award Turing Scholar Award DOE Early Career Award Advising and Grants: Schulman mentors graduate students and leads a vibrant research group focused on next-generation biomolecular engineering. Her work is supported by major federal grants, including the NSF CAREER, DOE Early Career, DARPA, and the Vannevar Bush Fellowship—a prestigious Department of Defense award for basic research. She is actively involved in training future leaders through programs like the Passport to Future Technology Leadership. Labs and Teams: The Schulman Lab at Johns Hopkins is a multidisciplinary team working on DNA-powered materials and molecular programming. The lab is embedded within several collaborative centers, enabling strong cross-departmental and cross-institutional research. Their work combines experimental biochemistry with theoretical modeling to design and implement complex molecular systems.
Dr. Ly Fie Sugianto is an Associate Professor in the Department of Accounting at Monash Business School, Monash University. Her research focuses on the integration of data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning in accounting and business systems, with applications in the energy sector and organizational behavior. Monash Business School, Monash University Department of Accounting Specialization: Accounting Information Systems, Data Analytics, AI Her research interests span Accounting Information Systems , Agent-Based Simulation , Decision Support Systems , and Technology Adoption . She applies computational methods to study competitive dynamics in deregulated electricity markets and the impact of digital tools on employee well-being and organizational resilience. The recent publications reflect a strong trend in using AI and simulation to analyze complex socio-technical systems, particularly in energy markets and leadership dynamics. Keywords across her work include agent-based modeling , data analytics , servant leadership , and enterprise social media , indicating interdisciplinary research at the intersection of information systems, management, and public policy. Her scientific awards include competitive grants from the ARC (SPIRT/Linkage) , the Australia Indonesia Governance Research Partnership (AIGRP) , and the Sumitomo Foundation . ARC Grant: Dispatch Optimisation in the Australian National Electricity Market Sumitomo Foundation: Technology Use and Employee Well-Being AIGRP: Governance and MSME Resilience during Pandemic Dr. Sugianto has advised research projects and collaborated with industry partners such as Western Power , Ecogen Energy , and AEMO . She is currently accepting PhD students and leads externally funded research initiatives. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to industry innovation and responsible consumption. She is affiliated with research teams focusing on intelligent decision support systems and digital transformation in business , with active collaborations in Australia and Indonesia.
Dr. Mohamed Ibrahem is an Assistant Professor at the School of Computer and Cyber Sciences, Augusta University, USA. His research focuses on Cyber-Security, IoT Privacy, and Machine Learning applications in Smart Grids and Cyber-Physical Systems. He received a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Tennessee Tech University in 2021 and has been recognized with prestigious awards including the IEEE Senior Member (2024) and the Eminence Award for Best Ph.D. Paper (2021). Education: Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering, Tennessee Tech University (2021) Research Interests: Security and Privacy in IoT, Applied Cryptography, Privacy-preserving Machine Learning, Secure Federated Learning, Smart Grid Cyber-Security, and Traffic Analysis Attacks. Publications: His work emphasizes privacy-preserving techniques in smart grids, federated learning for anomaly detection, and robust countermeasures against cyber-attacks. Recent trends include leveraging deep learning for real-time fraud detection in AMI systems and developing efficient decentralized learning frameworks. Awards: IEEE Senior Member (2024) Top 2% Scientists List (Stanford/Elsevier, 2024) Eminence Award for Best Ph.D. Paper (Tennessee Tech University, 2021) Advising & Grants: Supervises graduate research in Dissertation and Master's Thesis projects. Active in securing grants for IoT and Cyber-Security initiatives. Collaborates with industry partners on edge computing and secure AMI networks.
