Shivaram Kalyanakrishnan is an Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering , Indian Institute of Technology Bombay , specialising in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning . His research spans sequential decision making , multiagent learning , multi-armed bandits , and humanoid robotics , with applications in robot soccer , computer games , and online advertising . He teaches advanced courses like CS 747: Foundations of Intelligent and Learning Agents and CS 748: Advances in Intelligent and Learning Agents , focusing on end-to-end system design and theoretical analysis. His scientific awards include the Best Student Paper Award at RoboCup International Symposium 2006 and nomination for Best Student Paper Award at AAMAS 2007 . His work on reinforcement learning and policy iteration has been published in leading venues such as IJCAI , ICML , and COLT , with recent contributions to railway scheduling and bandit algorithms. While no explicit list of advisees is provided, his research projects and publications suggest mentorship of students in collaborative efforts. Contact : shivaram@cse.iitb.ac.in .
Raul Vicente Zafra is a Professor of Data Science at the University of Tartu, Faculty of Science and Technology, Institute of Computer Science, where he has been working since 2013. His research spans computational neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and data science, with a particular focus on bridging biological and artificial models of intelligence. Education: PhD in Physics (2001-2006), University of the Balearic Islands BSc in Physics (1997-2001) Professor Zafra's research interests center on computational neuroscience and artificial intelligence, with specific expertise in brain-computer interfaces, reinforcement learning, neural modeling, and explainable AI. His work bridges the gap between biological and artificial intelligence systems, exploring how neural principles can inform machine learning algorithms and vice versa. He has made significant contributions to understanding neural coherence, time interval learning in neural systems, and the application of information theory to brain-computer interfaces. His research often involves interdisciplinary collaboration between computer science, neuroscience, and medicine. Analysis of Zafra's recent publications reveals a strong focus on the intersection of artificial intelligence and neuroscience. His work spans explainable AI methods, brain-computer interfaces, reinforcement learning models that mimic cognitive processes, and neurophysiological studies of brain activity. A notable trend is his exploration of how biological principles of neural computation can inform and improve artificial intelligence systems, particularly in areas like time-based learning, consciousness modeling, and neural coherence. Scientific Awards: 2012: Attendee at the 62nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting 2007: Quantum Electronics and Optics Division Prize of the European Physical Society for the best PhD Thesis in Applied Optics in Europe 2006: PhD Extraordinary Award of the Physics Department of the University of the Balearic Islands 2001: Physics Degree Extraordinary Award (First Class Honors, best GPA) 1997: Bronze Medal in the "8th Spanish Physics Olympiad" Professor Zafra has been principal investigator on numerous significant research projects including the Estonian Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, Cardiovascular Stress Impacts On Neuronal Function, and Bridging biological and artificial models of vision. His grant portfolio demonstrates strong funding support from the Estonian Research Council, European Commission, and other major funding bodies. He has supervised multiple PhD students and mentored early-career researchers in computational neuroscience and AI. His laboratory work focuses on developing computational models of neural systems and applying these insights to artificial intelligence. Current research directions include explainable AI methods, brain-computer interfaces, modeling of consciousness and cognitive processes, and the application of AI to healthcare challenges.
Nils Fleischhacker is an Assistant Professor for Cryptography at Ruhr University Bochum, where he leads the Theoretical Cryptography group within the Faculty of Computer Science. His research focuses on foundational aspects of cryptography with particular emphasis on zero-knowledge proofs, digital signatures, and secure computation. Prior to joining Ruhr University, he held postdoctoral positions at Johns Hopkins University and Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Fleischhacker received his PhD in Computer Science from Saarland University in February 2017, advised by Dominique Schröder. During his doctoral studies, he was a research intern at Microsoft Research with Chris Brzuska and a research visitor at the University of Maryland, College Park with Jonathan Katz and Dana Dachman-Soled. His research spans theoretical cryptography with significant contributions to zero-knowledge proofs, multi-signature schemes, property-preserving hash functions, and security proofs for cryptographic primitives. Fleischhacker's work often addresses fundamental questions about the limits and possibilities of cryptographic constructions, with particular attention to black-box separations and lower bounds. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on lattice-based cryptography and post-quantum secure protocols. Fleischhacker's publications over the past five years reveal a consistent research trajectory focused on improving the efficiency and security of cryptographic primitives, with particular emphasis on signature schemes, zero-knowledge protocols, and secure computation frameworks. His work frequently appears in top-tier cryptography venues including CRYPTO, EUROCRYPT, and CCS. Dr. Fleischhacker actively mentors PhD students, with numerous successful graduations spanning from 2010 to 2024. His former PhD students include Önder Askin (2024), Floyd Zweydinger (2023), and Lars Schlieper (2022), among others. His research is supported through various academic channels and collaborations. He is affiliated with several prominent research organizations including the Horst Görtz Institute (HGI) for Information Security, the DFG Excellence Cluster CASA, the EU Marie Curie Network QSI, and the International Association for Cryptologic Research (IACR). These affiliations provide a strong institutional framework for his theoretical cryptography research.
Professor Hanumant Singh leads the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at Northeastern University, with a joint appointment in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering , and serves as Program Director for the Master of Science in Robotics. He earned his Ph.D. from MIT/WHOI Joint Program in 1995 and has conducted over 60 expeditions globally, focusing on marine geology, polar studies, and coral reef ecology. His research emphasizes field robotics , including SLAM, underwater manipulation, and imaging in extreme environments. He developed the Seabed AUV and Jetyak ASV , widely used in scientific research. His labs include the Field Robotics Lab and the Institute for Experiential Robotics . Research Interests: Machine Learning for Fisheries SLAM with dynamic objects Underwater imaging and manipulation Autonomous surface and aerial systems Polar and marine robotics Awards: ICRA Best Student Paper Award, IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society Distinguished Faculty Award (2025), Lifetime Achievement Award (2022), and IEEE Fellow status. His work has been featured in Nature Geoscience , Polar Biology , and media outlets like WGBH. Students & Collaborations: Advises students like Srinidhi Pattala (MS Robotics) and Dennis Giaya (PhD Computer Engineering). Collaborates with institutions on projects such as Antarctic sea ice thickness estimation and deep-sea submersible missions.
Afonso S. Bandeira is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics (D-MATH) at ETH Zurich, where he conducts research at the intersection of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. He maintains strong affiliations with several interdisciplinary research centers including the Institute For Operations Research (IFOR), the Max Planck ETH Center for Learning Systems, the ETH Foundations of Data Science, and the ETH AI Center, with a courtesy appointment at D-ITET. Bandeira actively teaches courses including Mathematics of Signals, Networks, and Learning, and Mathematics of Data Science. His research focuses on High Dimensional Probability, Random Matrices, Mathematical Statistics, Theoretical Computer Science, Combinatorics, and Mathematical Optimization. Bandeira's work often explores the theoretical foundations of data science, examining phase transitions in statistical problems, computational barriers, and the geometry of high-dimensional spaces. He maintains a research group blog called Randomstrasse101 that emphasizes open problems in his field. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on matrix and tensor concentration inequalities, synchronization problems, nonconvex optimization landscapes, and computational-statistical tradeoffs in high-dimensional inference. His work bridges theoretical mathematics with practical applications in machine learning and data analysis, particularly examining where computational limitations arise in statistical problems. Bandeira actively mentors students and researchers, currently supervising several doctoral candidates including Daniil Dmitriev, Konstantin Donhauser, Anastasia Kireeva, Kevin Lucca, Chiara Meroni, Gil Kur, Petar Nizic-Nikolac, and Almut Roedder. He emphasizes that students working with him should participate in the DACO seminar and group meetings, and encourages prospective students to have completed his Mathematics of Signals, Networks, and Learning or Mathematics of Data Science courses. He leads a research group focused on the mathematics of data science, with regular group meetings and seminars. Bandeira has developed comprehensive lecture notes including 'A Tour Through the Mathematics of Signals, Learning, and Networks' (2025) and 'Mathematics of Machine Learning' (2021), and previously authored 'Ten Lectures and Forty-Two Open Problems in the Mathematics of Data Science' (2015).
Allan Larsen is a Professor and Deputy Head of Division at the Department of Technology, Management and Economics (DTU Management) at the Technical University of Denmark. He heads the Operations and Supply Chain Management Section. His academic background includes an MSc in Applied Mathematics and a PhD in Operations Research, both from DTU. He teaches courses in Operations Management and Simulation at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Research Focus: His work applies operations research methodologies to complex planning problems in supply chain management, logistics, healthcare operations, and public transport. Key areas include urban freight transport, healthcare supply chains, and optimization of public transport resources like crew and fleets. Collaborations with industries, especially in freight transport, have been extensive. He previously co-directed the Transport DTU research center and co-chaired Denmark’s Transport Innovation Network. Education: MSc in Applied Mathematics (1989–1995), PhD in Operations Research (1997–1999), both from DTU. Recognition: Recipient of the Hedorf’s transportpris award in 2022 for contributions to transport research. Research Projects: Supervises multiple PhD students (e.g., on electric freight transport, healthcare resource optimization, and Industry 4.0 applications). Active in projects like 'Pioneering Electric Heavy-Duty Freight Transport' and 'Resource optimization in healthcare.' Labs/Teams: Leads the Operations and Supply Chain Management research group and collaborates in initiatives like the Transport Innovation Network, focusing on sustainable transport solutions.
Vassilis Zikas is an Associate Professor at the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy and holds a courtesy appointment in the School of Computer Science at Georgia Tech. He previously held positions at Purdue University, the University of Edinburgh, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). His research focuses on cryptography, blockchain technologies, cryptocurrencies, game theory, and distributed computing. He leads the Blockchain Lab at Georgia Tech and serves as Chief Scientist at Sunday Group, where he contributes to the Mobby blockchain architecture. His work is supported by the NSF, DoD, Swiss NSF, and industry partners like Sunday Group and Algorand Foundation. He has organized major conferences including PKC 2020 and has served on program committees for EUROCRYPT, CRYPTO, and TCC. He advises PhD students in cryptography and related fields and has mentored postdocs and master’s students. Zikas’ publications span topics like secure multi-party computation (MPC), blockchain security, and cryptographic protocol design. His recent work includes advancements in privacy-preserving protocols, adaptive security frameworks, and composability in blockchain systems. Notable awards include the 2023 Leadership Award from Purdue College of Science and an AnlytiXIN Fellowship. He actively contributes to both theoretical and applied aspects of cybersecurity and privacy through academic and industrial collaborations.
Raissa M. D'Souza is a Professor and Associate Dean of Research in the College of Engineering at the University of California, Davis. She holds joint appointments in the Department of Computer Science, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Graduate Group in Applied Mathematics, and Graduate Group in Physics. Her research focuses on complex networks, percolation theory, cascades, and interdependent systems, with applications to social, biological, and technological networks. She leads the Networks and Control research group and is a Founding Lead Editor of Physical Review Research . Her work spans interdisciplinary collaborations, including with the Santa Fe Institute and the Complexity Sciences Hub Vienna. Key awards include Fellowships from AAAS (2024), APS (2016), and the Network Science Society (2019), as well as the Euler Award for her contributions to network science. Dr. D'Souza has advised over 10 PhD students and has secured grants from agencies including the NSF. Her lab explores topics like explosive percolation, synchronization in oscillator networks, and network controllability. Notable recent work includes studies on exotic synchronization patterns and strategies for mitigating cascading failures in interdependent systems.
Lam James is a Chair Professor of Control Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering. He holds a BSc (1st Hons.) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Manchester, and MPhil/PhD degrees from the University of Cambridge. His academic journey includes roles as a Croucher Fellow, Lecturer at the University of Melbourne, and faculty member at City University of Hong Kong before joining HKU in 1993. Professor Lam serves as Editor-in-Chief for four international journals including IET Control Theory and Applications and Journal of The Franklin Institute . His research focuses on networked control systems, vibration control, control theory, and multi-agent systems. With 600+ peer-reviewed publications, he maintains an H-index of 102 (Web of Science) and 108 (Scopus), recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher in multiple fields. Education: BSc Manchester (Mechanical Engineering), MPhil/PhD Cambridge Editorial Roles: 20+ journals, including leadership roles since 2012 His awards include Foreign Membership of Academia Europaea (2024), National Academy of Artificial Intelligence membership (2025), and two State Natural Science Awards (2015, 2019). He is a Fellow of multiple institutions including IEEE, IMechE, and HKIE.
John Kingston is a Professor of Linguistics and Director of the Phonetics Lab at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he has been since 1990. He holds a BA and MA from the University of Chicago (1976–1977) and a PhD from UC Berkeley (1985). His research focuses on the interplay between phonetics and phonology, particularly speech perception and its influence on phonological representations. He co-founded the Laboratory Phonology Conference series in 1987 and has conducted fieldwork on Otomanguean languages. His work emphasizes experimental methods to study phonological questions, including studies on vowel perception, tone systems, and cross-linguistic phonetic patterns. Kingston’s academic journey includes roles at the University of Texas, Austin (1984–1986) and Cornell University (1986–1990). His research explores how auditory processing and linguistic knowledge shape speech perception, with notable contributions to understanding tonogenesis, perceptual contrast effects, and vowel category learning in second languages. He collaborates on grants examining Ganong effects and phonological inventories, advocating for theories that bridge perceptual and structural aspects of language. His lab, the Phonetics Lab, supports experimental work on speech perception and production. Kingston is also the Honors Program Coordinator, mentoring students in linguistics and related fields. Despite no explicit awards listed, his extensive publications and conference leadership reflect his scholarly impact.
Howie Choset is a Professor of Robotics at the Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. He directs the Undergraduate Robotics Minor and leads the Biorobotics Laboratory, where his research focuses on snake robots, motion planning, and medical robotics. He is also affiliated with the Manufacturing Futures Institute. Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, California Institute of Technology (1996) M.S., Mechanical Engineering, California Institute of Technology (1995) B.S.E., Computer Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania (1990) B.S., Economics, The Wharton School of Business (1990) Choset's research centers on robotics for confined and complex environments, particularly through the development of snake robots. His work integrates mechanism design, path and motion planning, and estimation to enable applications in surgery, manufacturing, infrastructure inspection, and search and rescue. He is a pioneer in medical robotics and has co-founded Medrobotics to commercialize minimally invasive surgical robots. His recent publications highlight a strong focus on ergodic exploration, multi-agent systems, motion planning under uncertainty, and medical robotics. Themes include optimizing robot trajectories for information gathering, solving complex path planning problems with dynamic obstacles, and advancing autonomous systems for disaster response and space exploration (e.g., the EELS robot for Enceladus). MIT Technology Review Top 100 Innovators under 35 (2002) Best Paper Award, RIA (1999) Best Paper Award, ICRA (2003) Best Paper, IEEE Bio Rob (2006) Best Video, ICRA (2011) Nominations for best papers at ICRA, IROS, and CLAWAR Choset has advised numerous students, many of whom have won top awards. His lab has received significant funding for robotics research, including projects in surgical robotics, additive manufacturing, and autonomous exploration. He is the lead author of the textbook Principles of Robot Motion and is actively involved in educational innovation through custom robotics labs. He leads the Biorobotics Laboratory at CMU, which develops advanced robotic systems like snake robots and the EELS (Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor) robot for NASA missions. The lab collaborates with industry and government agencies on applications ranging from surgery to space exploration.
Massimiliano Esposito is a Full Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Luxembourg, affiliated with the Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine (FSTM) and the Department of Physics and Materials Science. His research focuses on statistical physics, complex systems, thermodynamics, chemical networks, and quantitative biology. He holds positions such as ERC Fellow (2016-2021) and Attract Fellow (2012-2017). Education includes a Ph.D. in Sciences (2004) and a degree in Chemistry (2000) from the Free University of Brussels (Belgium), alongside a European Baccalaureate (1996) from Luxembourg. His work bridges stochastic thermodynamics, quantum thermodynamics, and chemical reaction networks, with contributions to fluctuation theorems, energy transduction, and non-equilibrium systems. Key achievements include seminal papers on nonequilibrium fluctuation-response relations, quantum thermodynamics, and chemical reaction network theory. He has been a guest editor for journals like Physica A and Physical Review X, and serves on editorial boards such as Physical Review Letters. His lab explores emergent phenomena in complex systems, with applications in biology and nanotechnology.
Jelle Hellings is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computing and Software at McMaster University , Canada. His research focuses on high-performance large-scale data management systems with a strong theoretical and algorithmic component, including resilient systems (blockchains) , graph databases , and external-memory algorithms . He previously worked as a Postdoc Scholar at the University of California, Davis and earned his PhD from Hasselt University in Belgium. Education: Doctor of Sciences in Computer Science (2018), Hasselt University Master of Science in Computer Science and Engineering (2011), Eindhoven University of Technology His research interests include scalable resilient systems with Byzantine fault tolerance, database theory, graph query languages, constraints on graph data, and external-memory algorithms for large graph datasets. He has authored numerous high-impact publications on blockchain-based resilient systems, query optimization in graph databases, and theoretical advancements in relation algebra expressiveness. Hellings actively contributes to academic service through program committee memberships and tutorial organization, and he currently teaches courses on future resilient databases and foundational computer science topics.
Professor Peter F. Driessen is a faculty member in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Victoria, with a cross-appointment in the School of Music. He holds a BSc and PhD from the University of Victoria and is a Professional Engineer (PEng). His research focuses on communication systems, signal processing, control, and interdisciplinary projects in computer music and wireless technologies. Key areas include audio/video signal processing, radio propagation, sound recording, and multimedia systems. He leads the University of Victoria Propagation Laboratory, which explores radio wave propagation and Amateur radio integration with engineering education. His work spans theoretical research and applied projects like ECOSat satellite systems, software-defined radio (SDR), and innovative musical instruments such as the Radio Drum. He supervises undergraduate and graduate projects in these domains through ELEC 499 courses. Notable contributions include the APEGBC Editorial Board Award for Best Paper (2002) and patents in wireless networking and signal processing. His teaching includes courses in signal analysis and electromagnetics, and he collaborates on interdisciplinary programs like the Music/Computer Science degree. Education: BSc in Electrical Engineering, University of Victoria PhD in Electrical Engineering, University of Victoria Research Interests: Audio and video signal processing for music and media Software-defined radio and Amateur radio technologies Satellite communication and ground station development Gesture-based interfaces and musical instrument design Error mitigation in streaming audio/video Optical and microwave-photonic systems Labs & Collaborations: Propagation Laboratory (radio wave research) UVic Experimental Radio Group (Amateur radio club) UVic Satellite Design Team (ECOSat projects) UVic Centre for Aerospace Research Grants & Awards: APEGBC Editorial Board Award (2002) Multiple US patents in wireless systems and signal processing
Seddik M. Djouadi is a Professor in the Min H. Kao Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He holds a PhD from McGill University (1999), an M.A.Sc. from École Polytechnique (1992), and a B.Sc. from École Nationale Polytechnique (1989). His research focuses on robust control, distributed systems, wireless communication, model reduction, and power networks. He has authored over 100 publications and received awards including recognition as an outstanding reviewer by Automatica (2006-2007, 2003-2004) and the Tibbets Award (1999). Education: PhD in Electrical Engineering, McGill University, 1999 M.A.Sc., École Polytechnique, 1992 B.Sc., École Nationale Polytechnique, 1989 Research Interests: Robust and distributed control Wireless communication systems Model reduction for fluid flows Power network dynamics and renewable integration Biological systems modeling Cyber-physical systems security Awards: Outstanding Reviewer, Automatica (2006-2007, 2003-2004) Best Paper Award, Mediterranean Conference on Intelligent Systems (2008) Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award (2005) Tibbets Award (1999) Students and Advising: Djouadi has mentored over 20 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, including current advisees Yichen Zhang and Ehsan Raoufat. Notable past students include Jin Dong (now at Oak Ridge National Laboratory) and Xiao Ma (Western Digital). Projects: Current research includes distributed control of large power networks, data-driven nonlinear model reduction, and stochastic modeling of wireless systems. Collaborations involve ORNL and TVA on energy systems and cybersecurity.
