Associate Professor Jiakun Liu (FAustMS) is affiliated with the School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sydney . He holds a BSc from Zhejiang University (2006) and a PhD from the Australian National University (2010). Following a Simons Postdoctoral Fellowship at Princeton (2010-2013), he served as Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, and Associate Professor at the University of Wollongong (2013-2024), securing an ARC DECRA in 2014 and an ARC Future Fellowship in 2024. Specializes in nonlinear elliptic/parabolic PDEs with applications in geometry and optimal transportation Research focuses on Monge-Ampère/Hessian equations , regularity theory, and geometric flows Contributions to convex geometry , minimal surfaces, and stochastic PDEs . His 2024-2023 publications in Communications on Pure and Applied Mathematics , Advanced Nonlinear Studies , and Archive for Rational Mechanics demonstrate expertise in free boundary regularity , noncompact Minkowski problems , and global geometric analysis . Recognized with ARC Future Fellowship and conferences organized across Australia-China collaborations.
Craig Lee is a Professor of Oceanography at the University of Washington, where he also serves as Senior Principal Oceanographer and Assistant Director for Research at the Applied Physics Laboratory. His work focuses on physical oceanography with emphasis on observational studies and instrument development. Lee leads research programs studying upper ocean dynamics, coastal processes, and high-latitude oceanography across diverse regions including the Arctic, North Atlantic, and South China Sea. Dr. Lee's educational background includes: B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley (1987) Ph.D. in Physical Oceanography from the University of Washington (1995) Lee's primary research interests center on three interconnected areas: (1) upper ocean dynamics, particularly mesoscale and submesoscale fronts and eddies; (2) interactions between biology, biogeochemistry and ocean physics; and (3) high-latitude oceanography in changing Arctic environments. His work often combines field observations with instrument development to address fundamental questions about ocean circulation and its role in climate systems. He has pioneered approaches using autonomous platforms to study difficult-to-access regions like ice-covered waters. Analysis of Lee's recent publications reveals a strong focus on Arctic oceanography, upper ocean mixing processes, and the application of autonomous observing technologies. His research spans multiple ocean basins with particular emphasis on the Arctic, North Atlantic, and western Pacific. A notable trend is the increasing integration of biogeochemical measurements with physical oceanography to understand coupled systems. His work often addresses climate-relevant questions about ocean circulation, heat transport, and ecosystem responses to environmental change. Dr. Lee provides leadership through service on science steering committees for large research programs and advisory panels for U.S. Arctic efforts. He actively supports and advises graduate students while teaching courses on ocean circulation observations and experimental design. His team has developed innovative technologies including autonomous gliders for ice-covered waters, high-performance towed vehicles, and lightweight mooring systems. Lee leads a research team pursuing diverse field programs including Arctic PISCES, Stratified Ocean Dynamics of the Arctic (SODA), and studies of the Kuroshio Current. His group collaborates extensively with institutions worldwide and contributes to major international research initiatives focused on understanding ocean processes and their climate implications.
Patrick C. Shih is an Associate Professor of Informatics in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering at Indiana University Bloomington, where he also serves as the Director of Graduate Studies for Data Science and Co-Director of the Animal Informatics MS and PhD track. He directs the Societal Computing Lab (SoCo Lab) and is a core faculty member of the Health Informatics PhD track. Dr. Shih's research focuses on how to better support health and wellbeing, specifically that of underserved and vulnerable populations, through the design, development, and evaluation of sociotechnical systems and community-based mechanisms. His work also designs technologies to amplify human and animal capabilities in animal-assisted interventions, improve animal welfare, and cultivate empathy for others. His research spans human-computer interaction, social media, collective intelligence, crowdsourcing, and online and geographic communities, with a particular emphasis on leveraging awareness of individual and community activities embedded in social media for civic engagement platforms. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward health equity research, particularly focused on African American/Black communities, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, breast cancer survivorship, and autism spectrum disorder. His work increasingly integrates generative AI, mobile health applications, and community-based participatory design approaches to address health disparities in vulnerable populations. ACM Senior Member (2020) NSF CAREER Award recipient Indiana University Trustees Teaching Award (2018-19) IU Groups Scholars Program STEM Mentor of the Year (2018-19) Multiple best paper awards at top-tier conferences Dr. Shih has successfully secured significant funding for his research, including a $3.7 million award to investigate inequities in environmental stressors and cognitive decline in urban and rural older adults. He serves on numerous editorial boards and program committees for leading HCI and computing conferences. His teaching portfolio includes courses on usable AI, mobile and pervasive design, and social computing. He leads the Societal Computing Lab, which focuses on developing technologies that address societal challenges through community engagement and participatory design.
Olaf Kaczmarek is a researcher at the Faculty of Physics , Bielefeld University , specializing in Lattice Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) and Strongly Interacting Matter . He leads projects related to QCD thermodynamics , quark-gluon plasma , and heavy quark transport . Principal Investigator in TRR 211/2 Subproject A06: Hadronic Excitations and Spectral Functions in the Medium (2025) Co-PI in TRR 211/2 Subproject Z02: Software Development Center (2025) Contributor to GPUHEP2014 and LATTICE2024 symposia Research Focus: Thermal QCD phase transitions, heavy quark diffusion , transport coefficients , lattice simulations , and quarkonium spectroscopy . His work bridges theoretical physics and high-performance computing , particularly in Multigpu Systems for QCD calculations. Recent Publications explore topics like the chiral crossover , spatial string tension , and thermal photon production , with keywords spanning Quantum Chromodynamics , Lattice Gauge Theory , and High Temperature Physics . Teaching: Offers courses in Lattice Field Theory , GPU Computing , and Gradient Flow for graduate students. Contributes to collaborative seminars in the CRC-TR211: Strong-interaction matter under extreme conditions .
Professor David Abbink is a Full Professor of Haptic Human-Robot Interaction at Delft University of Technology, holding a joint appointment between the Department of Cognitive Robotics in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Design Engineering since November 2023. He founded the Delft Haptics Lab and co-founded the Cognitive Robotics Department in 2017. Abbink leads the transdisciplinary research and innovation centre FRAIM, which was awarded the prestigious NWO Stevin Premie (Dutch Nobel Prize equivalent) in June 2024. Trained as a mechanical engineer specializing in biomechanics, Abbink's research focuses on human behavior adaptations when interacting with autonomous systems. He has published over a hundred scientific articles on human-robot interaction, haptics, shared control, tele-operation, driver assistance systems, and sensorimotor control. His research has been funded by industry partners (Nissan, Boeing, Renault), RVO (Brightsky project 2022-2026), and the Dutch Science Foundation NWO through personal grants (VENI 2010-2014, VIDI 2015-2019). Abbink's recent work centers on worker-robot relations as an academic focus, collaborating with organizations like Erasmus Medical Centre for nursing work, Schiphol and KLM for baggage handling, and KLM Engine Repair Services for maintenance work. He also serves as scientific director for the Centre for Meaningful Human Control, launched in October 2024. His work bridges engineering, social sciences, and practical applications to responsibly shape the future of work with emerging robotic capabilities. NWO Stevin Premie (2024) Best IEEE SMC journal paper on Cybernetics (2019) Top 25 scientific talents according to New Scientist (2015) Best teacher of Faculty 3mE (2013, 2014) Best teacher of Department of BioMechanical Engineering (seven consecutive years) Abbink has supervised over 110 MSc students and 11 PhD students. His educational contributions include developing the Master Programme in Robotics at TU Delft and receiving international recognition for his course 'The Human Controller.' He is also a prominent science communicator, featured on national television, radio, and major Dutch newspapers, and has delivered lectures at venues like The Royal Institution and Lowlands Festival. Despite his academic commitments, Abbink maintains a drummer persona, having recorded four albums and performed over 400 shows across three continents between 1999-2014.
Jerome Hastings is a Research Professor at the Photon Science Directorate , Stanford University, and a Principal Investigator at the Stanford PULSE Institute. He is affiliated with the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and holds the academic rank of Research Professor (A.R.). His research focuses on advanced X-ray scattering techniques, femtosecond laser interactions, and high-energy-density material physics. Currently on leave from June 15, 2025, to September 15, 2025, Hastings has taught courses such as Advanced Topics in X-ray Scattering (APPPHYS 322) and Principles of X-ray Scattering (APPPHYS 222, PHOTON 222). Teaching : 2025-26: Advanced Topics in X-ray Scattering (Spr), Principles of X-ray Scattering (Win), Directed Studies (Aut/Wi/Spr), Research (Aut/Wi/Spr) Prior courses (2024-25, 2023-24) include similar offerings. Research Interests : His work explores the intersection of photon science and material dynamics, utilizing free-electron lasers to probe ultrafast structural changes, phonon hardening, and electronic responses in materials under extreme conditions. Key areas include X-ray diffraction , time-resolved spectroscopy , and high-intensity X-ray interactions . Publications : Hastings has contributed to 47 publications, with recent studies (2024) on supercooled liquid hydrogen crystallization and phonon hardening in laser-excited gold. Earlier works (2019-2016) address X-ray split-delay systems, photodissociation dynamics, and anomalous Compton scattering. Scientific Contributions : Notable projects include the development of compact X-ray diagnostics and phase-contrast imaging instruments at LCLS, enabling nanoscale temporal and spatial resolution for high-energy-density experiments. Students : He has advised doctoral candidates Arijit Majumdar, Chance Ornelas-Skarin, Madison Singleton, and Catherine Weibel. Contact : Academic email jerome.hastings@stanford.edu
Cheng Zhang is an Associate Professor (with Tenure) in Information Science and a Field Member in Computer Science at Cornell University. He directs the Smart Computer Interfaces for Future Interaction (SciFi) Lab , focusing on integrating human-centered AI with advanced sensing technologies to empower everyday wearables. Ph.D. in Computer Science, Georgia Institute of Technology (2020) M.S. in Software Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences B.S. in Software Engineering, Nankai University His research examines how to solicit information on and around the human body to address real-world challenges in interaction, health sensing, and activity recognition. He builds novel sensing systems spanning hardware prototypes, algorithm design (machine learning and physics-based modeling), and high-impact applications in accessibility and health. Article Trends : His recent work includes low-power, minimally intrusive wearables (e.g., EchoForce for muscle activity tracking, Ring-a-Pose for hand poses, SeamFit for smart clothing) using acoustic sensing and machine learning. The 15 most recent articles span 2025–2023, with applications in silent speech, authentication, and pose estimation. Scientific Awards : NSF CAREER Award Ubicomp 10-Year Impact Award Best Paper Honorable Mentions at ISWC’24 and ISWC’23 Advising : Mentored Ph.D. students like Ruidong Zhang (Qualcomm Fellowship recipient) and Ke Li, with research featured in Cornell Chronicle and IEEE Spectrum .
Chris Fuller, Ph.D., is the Samuel Langley Distinguished Professor of Engineering at the College of Engineering , Virginia Tech. He leads the Vibrations and Acoustics Laboratory (VAL) , focusing on active/passive noise control systems, metamaterials, and their application to aerospace, medical devices, and industrial machinery. Education: Ph.D. (1979) and B.E. (1974) from the University of Adelaide, Australia. Research Interests: Structural acoustics, adaptive materials, machine learning in noise prediction, and biomedical acoustics (e.g., neonatal incubators). Awards: ASME Rayleigh Award (2017), NASA Team Achievement Award (1996), and Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America. Recent Publications: Highlight advancements in drone noise reduction using neural networks, metamaterials for HVAC systems, and poro-elastic materials for low-frequency noise control.
Dr. Golo Storch is a Junior Fellow and Research Group Leader at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), where he leads the Emmy Noether Research Group funded by the German Research Foundation and holds an ERC Starting Grant. He is affiliated with the TUM School of Natural Sciences and the Department of Organic Chemistry I, focusing on flavin-based catalysis for organic synthesis. Dr. Storch completed his undergraduate and graduate studies in Chemistry at Heidelberg University (2007-2012), followed by a doctorate in 2016 under Prof. Oliver Trapp, focusing on stereodynamic ligands and self-amplifying catalysis. He then conducted postdoctoral research at Yale University (2016-2018) with Prof. Scott Miller, exploring quinone redox-interconversion and peptide ligands for site-selective catalysis. Since 2019, he has led his independent research group at TUM. Dr. Storch's research centers on designing molecular flavin catalysts for selective organic transformations, inspired by flavoenzyme chemistry. His work focuses on position- and stereoselective catalysis, particularly using non-covalent interactions to control catalytically active sites. Key research directions include photochemical excitation of flavins for oxidation/reduction reactions, activation of molecular oxygen for selective oxygenation, and applications in modifying peptide natural products and complex organic molecules. His group combines synthetic methodology, photochemistry, DFT calculations, and spectroscopy to develop sustainable alternatives to precious metal catalysts. Dr. Storch's recent publications demonstrate significant contributions to flavin catalysis, showing how tailored flavin structures can enable diverse chemical transformations including hydrogen atom abstraction, C-H functionalization, selective oxygenation, and deracemization reactions. His work bridges photochemistry and organocatalysis, with applications in natural product modification and sustainable synthesis. Research Award of the Dr. Otto Röhm Memorial Foundation (2023) ERC Starting Grant 2023 (2023) ADUC Prize of the German Chemical Society (2023) Member of the Young College of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities (2023) Exploration Grant, Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation (2024) ORCHEM Award 2024, German Chemical Society Emmy Noether Programme, German Research Foundation (since 2021) Liebig Fellowship, Chemical Industry Fund (2019-2021) Dr. Storch actively mentors PhD and Master's students in his research group, with several successful PhD completions. His research is supported by multiple prestigious grants including the ERC Starting Grant "BifurCAT," the DFG Emmy Noether Programme, and the Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation Exploration Grant for hybrid macrolide natural products research. He is also an Associate PI at the Catalysis Research Center (CRC) and participates in the newly funded CRC 392 on Molecular Evolution. The Storch Lab, part of the TUM Catalysis Research Center, focuses on "Designed Flavins for Catalysis" with the motto "Tailor-Made Catalysts - New Reactivity - Selective Editing." The group collaborates extensively with other research teams at TUM, including the de Vivie-Riedle group, Hauer lab, Bach group, and Dreuw labs, demonstrating strong interdisciplinary connections within the university's chemistry and physics departments.
Barbara Drossel is a Full Professor at the Institute of Solid State Physics within the Faculty of Physics at the Technical University of Darmstadt, where she has been conducting research since February 2002. Her work bridges theoretical physics, complex systems theory, and theoretical ecology, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to understanding emergent phenomena in natural systems. She leads the AG Drossel research group that investigates the theoretical foundations of complex networks, ecological communities, and quantum systems. Professor Drossel's research spans multiple domains with emphasis on complex systems theory, where she has made significant contributions to understanding random Boolean networks, food web modeling, and the physics of ecological communities. Her work demonstrates how simple rules can lead to complex emergent behavior across different scales, from quantum systems to ecological networks. She investigates how top-down causation operates in complex systems and explores the relationship between microscopic dynamics and macroscopic patterns in diverse contexts. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on theoretical frameworks that connect physics with ecology. Her work shows increasing integration of quantum mechanics with ecological modeling, particularly in understanding emergence and time evolution in complex systems. She frequently employs network theory to analyze ecological communities and has developed innovative approaches to studying species interactions, mutualistic networks, and spatial dynamics in meta-communities. Minerva Fellowship Heisenberg Fellowship DFG Fellowship for research at MIT Professor Drossel has supervised numerous doctoral students whose work spans theoretical ecology, complex systems, and statistical physics. Her research group has secured funding for projects examining the stability of ecological networks, quantum decoherence, and the mathematical foundations of complex systems. She maintains active collaborations with researchers across Europe and has contributed to major theoretical advances in understanding how complexity emerges from simple interactions in diverse systems. The AG Drossel research group operates at the intersection of physics and theoretical biology, maintaining strong connections with both the physics and biology departments at TU Darmstadt. The group combines mathematical rigor with biological relevance, developing models that capture essential features of complex natural systems while remaining analytically tractable. Their work has influenced both theoretical physics and ecological theory, demonstrating the power of interdisciplinary approaches to complex systems.
Sreedhar B Dutta is an Assistant Professor in the School of Physics at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, and a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai, India. Doctoral Education: Theoretical Physics (Ph.D.) Postdoctoral Experience: Tata Institute for Fundamental Research (2001-2004), Harish-Chandra Research Institute (2004-2005), Korea Institute for Advanced Study (2005-2009), Laboratoire de Physique des Materiaux (2009-2010). His research focuses on Statistical Physics and Field Theory , with emphasis on Nonequilibrium Systems, Critical Phenomena, and Conformal Field Theory. He has contributed to studies on the Ising and Spherical models, quantum Hall systems, and periodically driven stochastic systems. Dr. Dutta's publications highlight trends in Non-equilibrium Statistical Mechanics, Quantum Field Theory, and applications to Condensed Matter systems. His work spans kinetics of phase transitions, aging phenomena, and critical dynamics. He teaches Mathematical Methods in Physics and Quantum Mechanics , contributing to foundational and advanced physics education. Contact: sbdutta@iisertvm.ac.in , +91 (0)471-2778131.
Guo Ping is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Northwestern University, leading the Advanced Intelligent Manufacturing Laboratory (AIM). His research focuses on precision manufacturing, intelligent metrology via deep learning, and advanced manufacturing applications. He holds a Ph.D. from Northwestern University and a B.S. in Automotive Engineering from Tsinghua University. Education: Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL B.S. in Automotive Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China Research Interests: Dr. Guo’s work emphasizes innovations in precision engineering, including ductile-regime machining, smart metrology systems, and robotics-driven manufacturing. Key areas include structural coloration, additive manufacturing, and human-robot collaboration in industrial settings. His lab explores cutting-edge techniques like ultrasonic vibration machining and machine learning for defect detection and process optimization. Publications Trends: Recent work spans AI-driven quality control (e.g., photometric stereo networks), robotic swarm patterning, and wearable fatigue monitoring systems. His research bridges machine learning, robotics, and traditional manufacturing to address scalability and precision challenges. Awards: F.W. Taylor Medal (CIRP, 2023) ASME Kornel F. Ehman Manufacturing Medal (2021) SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award (2020) Professional Service: Associate Editor of the Journal of Manufacturing Processes (2017–present). Active in organizing conferences and reviewing for top journals. Labs & Teams: Directs the AIM Lab, which integrates robotics, AI, and advanced materials to solve problems in precision fabrication and smart manufacturing. Current projects include structural coloration for anti-counterfeiting and fatigue prediction in industrial workers.
Levi J Hargrove is an Associate Professor at Northwestern University, holding dual appointments in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Feinberg School of Medicine and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the McCormick School of Engineering. He is also a Research Scientist at the Center for Bionic Medicine at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. His work focuses on developing neural control systems for prosthetic limbs, particularly in myoelectric control and pattern recognition, aiming to create clinically viable solutions for amputees. Education: BScE in Electrical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, 2003 MScE in Electrical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, 2005 PhD in Electrical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, 2008 Research Interests: Signal processing, pattern recognition, myoelectric control of powered prostheses, and neural interfaces for bionic limbs. His lab translates research into clinical applications, such as the first thought-controlled bionic leg and Coapt LLC's pattern recognition systems for upper-limb prosthetics. Awards: 2017 American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists Research Award 2014 Department of Defense Outstanding Research Team Award 2015 Collaboration Award from Chicago Innovation Grants: Manages a $25 million portfolio from federal, military, and philanthropic sources. Key projects include NSF-funded research on human-robot interaction and DoD grants for prosthetic innovation. Labs: Leads the Regenstein Foundation Center for Bionic Medicine and collaborates with the Neurorehabilitation and Neural Engineering Lab. His work emphasizes translational research, bridging engineering and clinical practice.
Mohammad F. Islam is a Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), affiliated with the College of Engineering. His research focuses on soft materials, nanomaterials, and their applications in energy, healthcare, and manufacturing. He holds the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, Kavli Frontiers Fellowship, and the George Tallman Ladd Research Award. His work spans advanced materials processing, sustainable energy systems, and self-healing materials. Education: Ph.D. in Physics, Lehigh University (2000) Research Interests: Additive manufacturing and nanofabrication techniques Development of smart materials with self-healing and shape-memory properties Energy storage systems using carbon nanotube aerogels Applications in biomedicine and environmental sustainability Grants & Recognition: Recipient of multiple grants from the Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation Co-founder of Watson Nano, commercializing carbon nanotube technologies Labs & Teams: Islam Group at CMU investigating soft matter, nanomaterials, and interdisciplinary applications
Professor Liu Xiaogang is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the National University of Singapore (NUS). He holds a B. Eng from Beijing Technology and Business University, M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemistry from East Carolina University and Northwestern University (USA), respectively, and completed postdoctoral research at MIT. His research focuses on supramolecular coordination chemistry, catalysis, chemical sensors, optogenetics, photon upconversion, and X-ray photonics. Key achievements include pioneering work on metal-organic complexes for optoelectronics and developing advanced X-ray scintillators for medical imaging. Education: B. Eng, Beijing Technology and Business University, China M.Sc. Chemistry, East Carolina University, USA Ph.D. Chemistry, Northwestern University, USA Postdoctoral Associate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA Research Highlights: Professor Liu’s lab has produced groundbreaking advancements in luminescent materials, including directive giant upconversion via supercritical bound states and real-time single-proton counting scintillators. His work bridges chemistry, materials science, and biomedical applications, with notable contributions to photon upconversion, X-ray imaging technologies, and nanotheranostics. Awards: RSC Centenary Prize (2024) President’s Science Award (2016) Advising & Grants: As Principal Investigator of the Liu Lab at NUS, he oversees a dynamic research group focused on cutting-edge nanomaterials and their applications in healthcare and photonics. His grants include support for projects on X-ray luminescence imaging and optogenetic tools. Labs & Teams: The Liu Lab operates within NUS’s Department of Chemistry, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to advance materials innovation for biomedical and environmental challenges.
