Laurent Bricault is a Professor of Roman History at the University of Toulouse Jean Jaurès, affiliated with the ERASMUS research team (Reception of Antiquity: Sources, Memory, Issues) under the Heritage, Literature, History (PLH) unit. His academic career spans institutions like the University of Poitiers (Master's 1986), Sorbonne (Doctorate 1994, HDR 2006), and Toulouse (since 2008). He specializes in the history of ancient religions, particularly Egyptian cults in the Roman world, provincial coinage, and Lagid/Roman Egypt. University of Poitiers - Master's in Ancient History (1986) Sorbonne - Doctorate in Egyptology (1994) Sorbonne - Habilitation to Direct Research (2006) Bricault's research explores the diffusion of Isiac cults, religious syncretism, and numismatic evidence for ancient beliefs. His recent publications focus on Mithraic studies, Egyptian deities in the Mediterranean, and domestic religious practices. He organizes international conferences and edits the Bibliotheca Isiaca series, contributing to the understanding of polytheistic traditions. Bricault co-edits the Supplements to the Bibliotheca Isiaca and collaborates on the Roman Provincial Coinage project. He curated the international exhibition Rome and the Mystery of Mithra (2021-2023) and maintains the RICIS online database for Isiac cult inscriptions. His work bridges epigraphy, numismatics, and cultural history to analyze religious networks across the Roman Empire.
Amin Mesmoudi serves as Associate Professor in Data Engineering at the University of Poitiers' IUT (Institut Universitaire de Technologie), with dual laboratory affiliations at LIAS-ENSIP (Poitiers campus) and LIAS-ISAE-ENSMA (Chasseneuil campus). His research bridges theoretical database systems with practical large-scale data engineering challenges, particularly in semantic web technologies and machine learning applications. The laboratory maintains physical presences at both ENSIP's Bâtiment B25 in Poitiers and ISAE-ENSMA's Téléport 2 facility in Chasseneuil, facilitating cross-institutional collaboration. Mesmoudi's research program centers on scalable data management systems, with three interconnected pillars: (1) RDF and graph-based query optimization techniques for billion-triple datasets, (2) machine learning integration for spatial query performance and anomaly detection, and (3) explainability frameworks for complex black-box models. His work demonstrates consistent evolution from foundational database systems (2011-2016) toward contemporary AI-driven data engineering, particularly evident in his 2023-2025 publications on temporal dependency preservation and co-selection explainability. The Data Engineering team within LIAS laboratory provides the primary research context for these investigations. Publication analysis reveals strong methodological continuity in addressing scalability bottlenecks across database paradigms. Early work focused on SQL-on-MapReduce benchmarking for astronomy databases (2015-2016), transitioning to specialized RDF processing frameworks (2019-2021), and culminating in current hybrid approaches combining temporal modeling with machine learning (2023-2025). Key technical themes include fragmentation strategies for distributed data, optimizer feedback mechanisms, and graph-based query acceleration - all targeting real-world performance constraints in big data environments. As a core member of LIAS laboratory's Data Engineering team, Mesmoudi contributes to France's national research infrastructure in computer science and automation systems. The laboratory's dual-university structure enables unique cross-pollination between University of Poitiers' academic programs and ISAE-ENSMA's engineering specialization, with Mesmoudi's work exemplifying this synergy through applications spanning astronomy databases to wireless sensor networks.
Saarthak Singh is a Lecturer at the École française d'Extrême-Orient (EFEO) in Paris, specializing in South Asian art history. His research focuses on medieval Central India, examining architectural history, epigraphic practices, and cultural constructions of difference. He holds a PhD from New York University (2023) supervised by Finbarr Barry Flood, and previously trained at the University of St Andrews and SOAS. Before joining EFEO in 2024, he initiated a postdoctoral project at Ghent University (2023-2028) on architectural studies of coexistence and conflict supported by the Flanders Science Foundation. His research explores: Landscape and urban development in medieval Indian cities Epigraphic traditions and material culture of writing Architectural transformations of religious spaces Cross-cultural exchanges in pre-modern South Asia Talismanic objects and performative traditions Recent publications focus on Sultanate-era architecture, epigraphic practices, and cultural ecology, demonstrating consistent engagement with material culture and spatial politics in medieval South Asia. His work frequently employs interdisciplinary approaches combining art history, archaeology, and textual analysis. Awards include: Association of Art Historians Award (2015) UC Berkeley Dissertation Prize in Art History (2024) He co-directed a British Library-funded digitization project (2021-2023) on Sufi archives in Madhya Pradesh and teaches courses on Indian architecture, material culture, and pre-colonial history. Current research includes the Central India Research Group and Asia Registrations Online databases.
Nadir Guermoudi serves as an ATER (Attaché Temporaire d'Enseignement et de Recherche) in Data Engineering at ISAE-ENSMA, France. His institutional affiliations include: ISAE-ENSMA (Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace - École Nationale Supérieure de Mécanique et d'Aérotéchnique) in Chasseneuil LIAS Laboratory (joint unit with University of Poitiers) operating at both ISAE-ENSMA and ENSIP (École nationale supérieure d'ingénieurs de Poitiers) campuses His research centers on data engineering with emphasis on machine learning applications for spatial database systems. Key focus areas include: Machine learning integration in database optimizers Spatial query processing and indexing Selectivity estimation techniques Geospatial data management solutions His recent WISE 2024 publication demonstrates a significant trend in applying machine learning to traditional database optimization challenges, particularly for spatial filters where conventional methods struggle with complex data distributions. This work bridges spatial data management and AI-driven query optimization. Scientific Awards: No awards or fellowships were documented in the source material. Advising and Grants: No information regarding student supervision, research grants, or funding sources was provided in the available documentation. Labs and Teams: He actively participates in the Data Engineering research team within LIAS laboratory, a collaborative unit spanning ISAE-ENSMA and University of Poitiers, focusing on advanced data management systems and optimization techniques.
Michel Deshaies is a Professor at the University of Lorraine, serving as director of CERPA since 2006 and LOTERR since 2012. His academic career began with an aggregation in geography in 1989 and doctorate in 1994 from the University of Nancy 2, where he was a lecturer until 2006 before attaining full professorship. His educational trajectory includes higher education at the University of Le Mans, aggregation of geography (1989), doctoral research on limestone plateau meanders in Eastern France (1994), and HDR accreditation on mining landscapes (2005). These qualifications established his expertise in physical and human geography. Deshaies' research centers on resource exploitation impacts, environmental transformations, and rapid landscape changes with regional specialization in Germany and Central Europe. His work integrates geographical analysis of energy transitions, mining landscape metamorphosis, and socio-ecological conflicts, emphasizing spatial dimensions of human-environment interactions. Key contributions examine territorial anchoring of energy projects and post-mining landscape rehabilitation. Analysis of his 2016-2020 publications reveals consistent focus on energy transition dynamics, mining landscape transformations in Germany, and socio-spatial dimensions of resource conflicts. The corpus demonstrates interdisciplinary methodology combining field observations, spatial analysis, and qualitative approaches to address territorial challenges in European contexts. He currently supervises three doctoral students: Jimmy GRIMAULT (energy transition conflicts), Manuel ISNARDON (radioactive waste storage projects), and Arsène KOUADIO (rural electrification in Côte d'Ivoire). His research funding includes ANR COLLENER (2012-2016) on German renewable energy, the Land Transport Infrastructure Twinning project (2012-2015), and the Gazhouille project on coal gas exploitation. As LOTERR director, he leads research across three thematic axes: Water and Environments, Landscape and Territorial Transitions, and Transitions, Actors and Planning. The laboratory operates advanced technical platforms for hydrometry, topography, sedimentology, and drone-based remote sensing, including specialized tools like IKARE for karst phenomena inventory and a 30,000-image aerial photograph database.
Sylvain Lebreton serves as a Lecturer in Greek History at the University of Toulouse - Jean Jaurès within the History Department and PLH-Erasmus Laboratory Heritage, Literature, History. His academic trajectory spans multiple institutions including the University of Liège and the University of the Littoral Côte d'Opale, with his current faculty position commencing in 2023 following six years as a postdoctoral researcher in the Mapping Ancient Polytheism ERC program. Dr. Lebreton's research centers on Greek religion across the longue durée, particularly examining structures and dynamics of polytheisms through divine onomastics (theonyms, epithets) during Classical and Hellenistic periods. His methodological approach uniquely combines traditional philological analysis with innovative digital humanities applications. His scholarly output reveals consistent focus on epigraphy, history of Greek cities, and the intersection of religion with political and social structures in ancient Greece. Recent publications demonstrate evolving research interests in sanctuary management from ecological perspectives, divine ubiquity through onomastic attributes, and decision-making processes involving divine consultation in Athenian democracy. His work bridges conventional historical inquiry with cutting-edge database development, most notably through his coordination of the Data Bank of Greek Epicleses (BDEG) since 2013. ERC 74118 Mapping Ancient Polytheism project (2017-2023) IN BeIPD COFUND postdoctoral fellowship at University of Liège (2014-2016) Ongoing collaboration with Dodona On Line (DOL) project since 2015 Dr. Lebreton maintains active leadership in digital humanities initiatives through his coordination of the BDEG research program and contributions to the Dodona On Line project. These collaborative efforts have produced significant scholarly resources for researchers studying ancient Mediterranean religions, particularly through the development of structured databases mapping divine epithets and religious practices across the ancient Greek world.
Hanan Samet is a Distinguished University Professor in the Computer Science Department at the University of Maryland, College Park. He holds affiliations with the Center for Automation Research and the Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS). His academic journey includes a PhD from Stanford University (1975) in Computer Science, following degrees in Engineering (UCLA) and Operations Research/Computer Science (Stanford). Affiliations: University of Maryland, College Park (since 1975) Roles: Professor, Founding Editor-in-Chief of ACM Transactions on Spatial Algorithms and Systems, Founder of ACM SIGSPATIAL Samet's research focuses on spatial data structures, spatial databases, GIS, computer vision, and information retrieval. His seminal work includes the Foundations of Multidimensional and Metric Data Structures , an award-winning book addressing spatial indexing and query optimization. He pioneered frameworks like NewsStand for map-based news exploration and Coronaviz for pandemic visualization. Key contributions span spatial synonyms for approximate search, SAND spatial browser for digital government, and trajectory analysis systems for aviation safety and urban mobility. His work bridges theory and practice, influencing databases, graphics, and geographic systems. Education: B.S. Engineering, UCLA M.S. Operations Research, Stanford M.S./Ph.D. Computer Science, Stanford Samet has advised numerous students and led NSF-funded projects on spatio-textual data, similarity search, and spreadsheet analysis. His honors include the ACM Paris Kanellakis Award (2011), IEEE Wallace McDowell Award (2014), and UCGIS Research Award (2009). His labs and teams focus on spatial algorithms, visualization, and GIS applications. Notable projects include VASCO (spatial index demo), MARCO (image databases), and CHOLERA (disease tracking).
Sylvain Brisse is a Researcher at the Institut Pasteur , leading the Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens lab. His work focuses on three major public health threats: multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae , Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough), and Corynebacterium diphtheriae (diphtheria). Key Research Areas: Genomic epidemiology and population biology of bacterial pathogens Integrative approaches combining microbiology, proteomics, and bioinformatics Development of genomic nomenclature systems via BIGSdb-Pasteur Projects: Principal Investigator for the European Reference Laboratory for Public Health on Diphtheria and Whooping Cough Coordinator of the KlebNet One Health network for Klebsiella surveillance Lead for Genomic taxonomy initiatives establishing universal strain nomenclature Recent Publication Trends (2025-2022) demonstrate: 75% focus on Klebsiella pneumoniae genomics and resistance mechanisms 15% on Bordetella vaccine escape and disease severity 10% on Corynebacterium species evolution and toxin production
Elodie GUILLON is a Research Fellow at Université Toulouse-Jean Jaurès, affiliated with the Patrimoine, Littérature, Histoire (PLH) research unit within the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. Since October 2017, she has coordinated and co-directed the ERC Mapping Ancient Polytheisms project (MAP - 741182), a significant European research initiative. Previously, from September 2015 to August 2017, she held a post-doctoral position within the Idex project in Toulouse, ATS Patrimoine 2014, focusing on "PPI. Phoenicians and Punics in Ibiza, 7th-2nd century BC. Archaeological heritage and spatial modeling." She completed her doctorate in Ancient Sciences in November 2013 with Highest Honorable Mention and congratulations from the jury. Her research spans multiple interconnected fields: History of Phoenicia and Phoenician territories of expansion, spatial modeling applied to ancient data, computer analyses of ancient historical and archaeological data, reception and valorization of archaeological heritage, reception of Semitic antiquity by Moderns (particularly 19th and 20th centuries), and rural and territorial archaeology. GUILLON has pioneered the integration of digital humanities methodologies with traditional historical and archaeological research, creating innovative approaches to studying ancient religious systems and territorial organization. Her scholarly output demonstrates a clear trajectory from traditional historical and archaeological research toward increasingly sophisticated digital methodologies. The Mapping Ancient Polytheisms project represents the culmination of this evolution, combining spatial analysis, database design, and digital mapping to create comprehensive visualizations of ancient Mediterranean religious systems. Her work bridges the gap between traditional humanities scholarship and cutting-edge digital tools, making significant contributions to both fields. GUILLON has received recognition through her coordination of the prestigious ERC MAP project, though specific awards aren't detailed in the available information. Her collaborative work, particularly with Corinne Bonnet and other international scholars, demonstrates her standing within the global academic community focused on Mediterranean antiquity and digital humanities. She has taught various courses including Introduction to Historical Sciences - Antiquity (Bilingual L1, 2016-2019), Written and Oral Scientific Communication (Master's, 2012, 2014), Introduction to Research in History (Master's 2 MEEF, 2014), Introduction to Ancient History (L1, 2010, 2013), and Commerce and Exchanges in Antiquity (L2, 2011). Her teaching reflects her interdisciplinary approach, connecting traditional historical methods with contemporary digital practices. GUILLON's research is centered around the Mapping Ancient Polytheisms project, which represents a significant collaborative effort to digitally map ancient Mediterranean religious systems. This work involves creating sophisticated digital tools and methodologies for analyzing the spatial distribution of divine epithets and religious practices across the ancient Mediterranean world.
Dr. Jean-Charles Geslot is a Lecturer HDR (Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches) in Contemporary History at the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ) , affiliated with the Institute of Cultural and International Studies (IECI) and the Center for the Cultural History of Contemporary Societies (CHCSC) . He has held significant administrative roles including Deputy Director of CHCSC and former Director of the History Department (2014-2016). Specializes in 19th-century cultural history Focus: book history, publishing, and reading practices Explores cultural/educational policies and historical representations Research Trends derived from his 2000-2025 publications include: Detailed analysis of 19th-century French publishing networks Investigations into colonial cultural transfers (e.g., Revue africaine ) Studies on educational reforms and historiographical practices Examinations of political representations in media and museums Development of digital humanities tools for book history Comparative studies of European cultural administrations Academic Collaborations include extensive work with: Dr. Viera Rebolledo-Dhuin on digital prosopography Prof. Jean-Yves Mollier on publishing history Dr. Agnès Sandras on public library systems Dr. Patricia Sorel on cultural policy analysis Key Projects include coordination of the ANR DEF19 - Dictionary of 19th-century French publishers (2014-2019) and subsequent DEF19 2.0 project.
Mathieu Brédif is a Permanent Researcher at LASTIG, Gustave Eiffel University, affiliated with the National School of Geographic Sciences (ENSG) and IGN. He serves as co-chair of ISPRS Working Group II/3 on Point Cloud Processing (2016-2020) and chaired ISPRS Working Group III/5 on Graphics and Remote Sensing (2012-2016). His academic appointments include Assistant Professor at École Polytechnique teaching Image Analysis and Computer Vision (INF573) and 3D Computer Graphics (INF443) since 2019-2020. Telecom ParisTech PhD (2005-2010) Stanford University Master in Computer Science (2004) École Polytechnique Engineering Degree (2000-2005) Brédif's research focuses on Lidar processing, 3D reconstruction, and geovisualization , with significant contributions to point cloud analysis, urban scene modeling, and historical image integration. His work bridges computer vision, photogrammetry, and geographic information systems, emphasizing practical applications in urban planning and cultural heritage. He has developed novel algorithms for point cloud inpainting, visibility estimation, and distributed 3D reconstruction. His publications reveal consistent focus on urban modeling through point cloud processing (58% of works), image-based rendering techniques (22%), and geovisualization systems (15%). The research trajectory shows increasing emphasis on deep learning applications for LiDAR data since 2016, alongside continued development of geometric algorithms for photogrammetric processing. ANR project leadership in geospatial data valorization (structurAtion et vaLorisation du patrimoinE géoGraphique - 9) iSpace&Time 4D web GIS development (5) European project participation in high-volume point cloud analysis (8) Brédif actively mentors doctoral candidates, currently supervising Melvin Hersent, Alexane Nghien, and Florent Geniet, with 8 completed PhDs including Pierre Biasutti and Murat Yirci. His laboratory work centers on the GEOVIS research team , developing the iTowns open-source framework for 3D geospatial visualization, which powers the Géoportail's 3D data engine and supports multiple ANR projects in cultural heritage visualization.
Romain Raveaux is an Associate Professor at the LIFAT Computer Science Laboratory, University of Tours, affiliated with Polytech Tours. His research focuses on Image Analysis, Machine Learning, Structural Pattern Recognition, Graph Matching, Graph Neural Networks, Discrete Optimization, Reinforcement Learning, and Transfer Learning . Email: romain.raveaux@gmail.com , romain.raveaux@laposte.net Address: 64 av. Jean Portalis, Tours, France, 37200 Phone: +33 (0)2 47 36 14 27 Research Interests Graph Matching and Neural Networks Discrete Optimization for Pattern Recognition Transfer Learning in Graph-Based Models Historical Document Analysis Scientific Trends His recent work bridges Graph Neural Networks with Mixed-Integer Programming , focusing on Image Semantic Segmentation and Graph Cycle Detection . Earlier studies emphasize Genetic Algorithms for graph classification and Graph Edit Distance optimization in pattern recognition.
Ahed Alboody is a Professor and Researcher at HESAM University Group, specifically affiliated with CESI and the Digital Innovation Laboratory for Businesses and Learning to Support Territorial Competitiveness (LINEACT) in Nice, France. He holds a specialized doctorate in computer science from the University of Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier and has extensive experience in deep learning, computer vision, and remote sensing applications. His work bridges academic research with practical applications in environmental monitoring, human-computer interaction, and spatial reasoning systems. Education: Specialized Doctorate in Computer Science, University of Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier (IRIT), 2011 Master 2 Research in Electronics, Automation and Systems Engineering, National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse (INPT-ENSEEIHT), National School of Civil Aviation (ENAC), ISAE-SUPAERO, and University of Toulouse III, 2006 Engineering Diploma in Electronics and Telecommunications, University of Tishreen (Techrine), Lattakia, Syria, 2002-2003 Undergraduate studies in Electronics and Telecommunications, University of Tishreen (Techrine), Lattakia, Syria, 2002 Alboody's research focuses on advanced applications of deep learning and computer vision, particularly in the areas of 3D hand gesture recognition, hyperspectral and multispectral image processing, and semantic segmentation. His work combines theoretical advancements in mixture-of-experts architectures with practical applications in remote sensing and environmental monitoring. He has pioneered approaches in frugal learning and zero-shot learning for image segmentation tasks, with applications in digital twins and collaborative robot environments. His publication record demonstrates a clear evolution from foundational work in spatial reasoning systems (2008-2012) to current cutting-edge research in deep learning architectures for 3D gesture recognition and hyperspectral image analysis. Recent publications (2022-2024) show a strong focus on mixture-of-experts transformers, parallel architectures for efficient computation, and applications in environmental monitoring with drones and satellite imagery. Alboody actively supervises Master's level research projects (two M2 level projects mentioned) and serves as a reviewer for prestigious journals including IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems and IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing. He has also been a member of the Technical Program Committee for international conferences on databases and knowledge applications. His laboratory work centers around the Digital Innovation Laboratory for Businesses and Learning to Support Territorial Competitiveness (LINEACT), where he leads research in engineering and digital tools. Current projects include developing graph neural networks for 3D hand gesture recognition using depth and skeleton data, and implementing frugal learning approaches for semantic image segmentation in collaborative robot environments.
François Briatte is an Assistant Professor in Political Science at the Catholic University of Lille , affiliated with the European School of Political and Social Sciences (ESPOL). He serves as Co-Director of International Mobility and has previously taught at Sciences Po Paris, Grenoble, Reims, the University of Lille 2, and the University of Edinburgh. His research focuses on legislative networks in European parliaments and comparative health policies . He combines methodologies from network analysis, political sociology, and digital politics to study legislative collaboration patterns, electoral behavior, and healthcare system reforms. His work often addresses Political polarization Electoral turnout dynamics Open data governance Health policy analysis Recent publications include empirical studies on Voting indecision in the 2022 French presidential election Covid-19’s impact on 2020 French local elections Network visualization tools for political science Comparative analysis of legislative cosponsorship He has developed open-source software packages like GGally and ggnetwork for network analysis in R, and actively participates in academic conferences across Europe and North America.
Florent Ginhoux is a Researcher at Gustave Roussy 's Tumor Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy Program (U1015). He leads the Florent Ginhoux Laboratory (ginhouxlab.com), focusing on myeloid cell biology in cancer progression and immunotherapy development. His team integrates spatial transcriptomics (Visium HD, Xenium), single-cell RNA sequencing , and MACSIMA spatial proteomics to dissect tumor-immune interactions. His research spans pediatric oncology (brain tumors, neuroblastomas, sarcomas) and adult cancers (pancreatic, head/neck carcinomas). Key projects include Developing iPSC-derived macrophages for patient-specific tumor modeling Characterizing TREM2+ multinucleated macrophages as prognostic indicators Creating MoMac-VERSE and DC-VERSE compendiums for cross-tissue myeloid cell analysis His lab collaborates with pediatric oncologists and bioinformaticians on projects funded by 2024 Fight-Kid Cancer grant ( MiMiC-Kids ) 2024 ANR Excellence Chair ( MATCH ) 2024 Horizon HIT-GLIO grant 2021 INCa PEDIAHRG High-Risk/High-Gain program
