Edward H. Kaplan is the William N. and Marie A. Beach Professor of Management Sciences at the Yale School of Management, Professor of Public Health at the Yale School of Medicine, and Professor of Engineering at the Yale School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He holds secondary appointments in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Health Policy & Management, the Institution for Social and Policy Studies, and Statistics. Education: PhD in Urban Studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1984) SM in Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1982) SM in Operations Research and City Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1979) BA in Urban/Economic Geography, McGill University (1977) Kaplan is an expert in operations research, mathematical modeling, and statistics, focusing on public policy and management. His research spans counterterrorism, HIV prevention, bioterrorism, and public health modeling. He has developed models for suicide bomber detection, smallpox response logistics, needle exchange program effectiveness, and wastewater-based disease surveillance. His work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Koopman Prize (2003, 2005), INFORMS President’s Award (2002), Charles C. Shepard Science Award (2009), and INFORMS Fellow (2005). He has also served as President of INFORMS (2016) and co-directs the Daniel Rose Technion-Yale Initiative in Homeland Security.
Dr. Yujie Tang is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Computer Science at Dalhousie University, Canada, where she has been serving since September 2022. Prior to this, she was an Assistant Professor at Algoma University (2019–2022) and a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Waterloo (2017–2019). Her academic journey includes a PhD from the University of Waterloo and earlier degrees from Harbin Institute of Technology and Lanzhou Jiaotong University. PhD – University of Waterloo (2017) M.E. – Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, China B.E. – Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, China Her research focuses on intelligent networking and computing technologies for future IoT and 5G/6G systems. Key areas include Internet of Vehicles (IoV), AI-empowered edge computing, resource management in heterogeneous networks, software-defined networking, and UAV-assisted communications. She employs machine learning and optimization techniques to design energy-efficient and high-performance network protocols. The most recent publications reflect a strong trend in applying AI and machine learning to solve complex problems in vehicular networks, edge caching, and spectrum management. Her work spans top-tier IEEE journals such as IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology , IEEE Internet of Things Journal , and IEEE JSAC , with a clear emphasis on real-world deployable solutions for next-generation wireless systems. Faculty Research Startup Fund, Dalhousie University, 2022 NSERC Discovery Grant, 2021–2026 Algoma University Research Fund, 2021 Faculty Research Startup Fund, Algoma University, 2019 Best Speaker Award, University of Waterloo, 2017 Faculty of Engineering Award (4 times), University of Waterloo, 2013–2017 University of Waterloo Graduate Scholarship, 2013–2015 International Doctoral Student Award, 2012–2016 Graduate Research Studentship (twice), 2011–2012 Provost Doctoral Entrance Award for Women, 2011 Dr. Tang actively supervises graduate and undergraduate students and has secured competitive research grants, including the NSERC Discovery Grant. She serves on the technical program committees of major IEEE conferences such as INFOCOM, GLOBECOM, and ICC, and regularly reviews for top journals like IEEE JSAC , IEEE TWC , and IEEE TVT . She currently leads a research group focusing on B5G/6G networks, IoV, and edge computing, and she is actively recruiting new students and visiting scholars. Her research group operates within the Faculty of Computer Science at Dalhousie University, where she leads projects in intelligent resource management, AI-driven networking, and integration of space-air-ground networks. She is a member of IEEE, IEEE Communications Society, and IEEE Vehicular Technology Society.
Michael Lepech is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University. His research focuses on integrating sustainability into civil engineering through quantitative assessment and multi-scale modeling, particularly via the Sustainable Integrated Materials, Structures, Systems (SIMSS) framework. He also leads the Stanford Center at the Incheon Global Campus (SCIGC) in South Korea, exploring smart city technologies for urban sustainability. Education : PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering (2006), MBA in Finance and Strategy (2008) from the University of Michigan. Research Areas : Sustainable infrastructure design, biopolymer composites, life cycle assessment, digital twinning, smart city technologies, and multi-physics deterioration modeling. Leadership : Director of SCIGC, advancing research on smart and sustainable urban environments in Songdo, South Korea. His recent publications focus on biopolymer-bound composites, traffic signal optimization, and life cycle sustainability analysis. He has received recognition as a Senior Fellow at Stanford’s Woods Institute for environmental research.
Hamsa Bastani is an Associate Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, with a secondary appointment in Statistics and Data Science. She co-directs the Wharton Healthcare Analytics Lab and serves as an Associate Editor for Operations Research, M&SOM and OR Letters. Her academic journey began with summa cum laude graduation from Harvard in 2012 with an A.M. in physics and A.B. in physics and mathematics. She completed her PhD in Stanford's Electrical Engineering department under Mohsen Bayati, followed by a Herman Goldstine postdoctoral fellowship at IBM Research. Professor Bastani's research focuses on developing novel machine learning algorithms for data-driven decision-making, with applications spanning healthcare operations, social good, and revenue management. Her work demonstrates particular expertise in sequential decision-making (bandits, reinforcement learning), learning from auxiliary data sources (transfer learning, meta-learning), and designing effective human-AI interfaces (interpretability, fairness). She has made significant contributions to understanding how AI systems affect and augment human behavior, with the goal of designing AI tools that help humans thrive. Her publications reveal a strong trend toward high-impact applications of machine learning in critical societal domains. A significant portion of her recent work focuses on healthcare applications, including optimizing health supply chains in low- and middle-income countries, designing clinical trial protocols, and creating targeted public health interventions. Another major theme examines the complex relationship between humans and AI systems, particularly how AI affects learning outcomes and decision-making processes. Her work frequently bridges theoretical advances with practical implementation, as evidenced by country-scale deployments in Greece and Sierra Leone. Wagner Prize for Excellence in Operations Research Practice (2021) Pierskalla Award for Best Paper in Healthcare (2021, 2019, 2016) Behavioral OM Best Paper Award (2021) Public Sector in OR Best Paper Award (2024) INFORMS Data Mining Best Paper Award (2022) Wharton Teaching Excellence Award (2019, 2020, 2021) Professor Bastani has advised numerous PhD students who have gone on to prominent positions, including Pia Ramchandani (Director of Responsible AI at PwC), Arielle Anderer (Assistant Professor at Cornell Johnson), and Kan Xu (Assistant Professor at ASU Carey). Her research has been supported by collaborations with national governments, including the Greek government where she co-designed Eva, the national-scale reinforcement learning system for targeted COVID-19 testing, and the Government of Sierra Leone where she improved patient access to essential medicines by nearly 20% via decision-aware learning. She has also conducted the first large field study deploying generative AI tutors in high school math classes. She leads the Wharton Healthcare Analytics Lab and serves on the Steering Committee for the Penn Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics and on the statistics advisory committee for the AHA Food is Medicine Initiative. Outside academia, she serves on the Workday AI Advisory Board, demonstrating her commitment to translating academic research into practical applications.
Timo Minssen is Professor of Law at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) and the Founding Director of UCPH's Center for Advanced Studies in Bioscience Innovation Law (CeBIL). He also holds affiliations as an LML Research Affiliate at the University of Cambridge and an Inter-CeBIL Research Affiliate at Harvard Law School's Petrie-Flom Centre. With extensive expertise in Intellectual Property, Competition, and Regulatory Law, Minssen focuses on the legal aspects of emerging health and life science technologies, including genome editing, big data, artificial intelligence, and quantum technology. His educational background includes a German law degree (Staatsexamen) from Georg-August-University in Göttingen, and Swedish biotech & IPR related LL.M., LL.Lic., and LL.D. degrees from Lund University and Uppsala University. His PhD thesis on the patentability of biopharmaceutical technology in the US & Europe received the prestigious Swedish King Oscar award. 2024: TUM Global Visiting Professor, Technical University of Munich (Germany) 2016: Visiting Research Fellow, University of Cambridge (UK) 2014: Visiting Research Fellow, University of Oxford (UK) 2013-14: Visiting Scholar, Harvard Law School (US) 2012: LL.D. - Doctor of Laws (Swedish "juris doktor"), EU/US patent law, Lund University, Sweden Minssen's research spans AI & Big Data in Health & Life Sciences, Sustainable and responsible innovation & tech transfer, Pharmaceutical-, Life Science- & Biotech Law, Comparative European & US Patent Law, Intellectual Property Law & Open Innovation, and EU Competition- & US Antitrust Law. His work addresses legal issues throughout the lifecycle of health and life science products and processes, from R&D regulation to technology transfer and commercialization. His extensive publication record includes 7 books and over 200 articles and book chapters published in leading journals such as Science, Nature Biotechnology, JAMA, and Harvard Business Review. His research has been featured in The Economist, Financial Times, and other major media outlets. Minssen's recent work shows a strong focus on AI regulation, quantum technology law, and data governance in health contexts, reflecting the evolving landscape of technology and law. Scientific Awards and Recognition King Oscar award for best Jur. Dr. thesis (2014) Jorcks Fonds Forsknings Pris (Jorck's Foundation Research Prize) (2017) Awapatent Research Prize (2009) Max Planck Research Scholarship (2005) Visiting Scholar appointments at Harvard Law School, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge Recipient of a Novo Nordisk Foundation Grant for a "Collaborative Research Program in Biomedical Innovation Law" (2018) As an advisor, Minssen serves international organizations including the WHO, WIPO, and EU Commission. He has supervised numerous PhD students in areas including pharmaceutical law, biotechnology patents, and antimicrobial resistance. His current research projects include the Novo Nordisk Foundation's International Collaborative Bioscience Innovation & Law (Inter-CeBIL) Programme (50 million DKK), CLASSICA: EU Horizon Project on AI-assisted surgery, and AI@Care: Law and Ethics and Algorithmic Bias in Healthcare. Minssen leads the Center for Advanced Studies in Bioscience Innovation Law (CeBIL), which serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research on the intersection of law, technology, and innovation in the health and life sciences. The center collaborates with institutions worldwide to address pressing legal challenges in emerging technologies.
Cathy Wu is an Associate Professor at MIT, with affiliations in the Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems (LIDS), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), and Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS). Her research group focuses on integrating machine learning with model-based optimization to solve complex problems in transportation systems and cyber-physical systems. Academic Leadership: Class of 1954 Career Development Associate Professor (MIT) Research Grants: NSF CAREER Award, Amazon Robotics, Mathworks, MIT Mobility Initiative, US DOT, Microsoft Research, Cintra, Symbotic Research Interests : Wu's work bridges AI and engineering challenges in transportation. Key areas include: Hybrid ML/Model-based Optimization (large neighborhood search, branch-and-cut) Sustainable Mobility (Project Greenwave, eco-driving) Multi-Agent Coordination (warehouse automation, cooperative driving) Cyber-Professional Systems (generalization in RL, transfer learning) Recent work demonstrates significant advances in eco-driving (11-22% emissions reduction), large-scale multi-agent path finding (1000+ agents), and foundational RL methods for traffic control. Her group has produced 15+ major publications since 2015, with notable media coverage in Science, Wired, and NewScientist. Selected Scientific Awards NSF CAREER Award (2023) Ole Madsen Mentoring Award (2025) IEEE ITSS WiE/YP Fellowship (2024) Harold L. Hazen Teaching Award (2022) Her lab has advised 12+ graduate students and postdocs, including: Vindula Jayawardana (PhD '24, now at Anthropic) Sirui Li (PhD '25, now at Microsoft Research) Yining Ma (Postdoc, active researcher) Zhongxia Yan (PhD '24, now at Anthropic)
Prof. Dr. Rudi Zagst is a Professor of Mathematical Finance at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), where he serves as Head of the Department of Mathematical Finance within the TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology. He has held this position since 2001 and is actively involved in teaching, research, and academic leadership. In 2003, he was appointed as a second member of the Faculty of Economics, and since 2004, he has served as Deputy Chairman of the joint elite degree program 'Finance & Information Management' of the University of Augsburg and TUM. Prof. Zagst earned his doctorate in business mathematics from the University of Ulm, where he later completed his habilitation in 2000. His academic journey began with a professional career at HypoVereinsbank AG, where he served as Head of Product Development in Institutional Investment Management before becoming Managing Director of RiskLab GmbH in 1997. His research focuses primarily on financial engineering, risk management, and asset management, with particular emphasis on portfolio optimization, mathematical finance, and quantitative risk management. His work bridges theoretical finance with practical applications, often incorporating advanced mathematical techniques to solve complex financial problems. Recent publications demonstrate his continued interest in GARCH models, portfolio optimization under various constraints, and the application of machine learning techniques to financial problems. Analysis of his recent publications (2024-2025) reveals a strong focus on portfolio optimization under complex market conditions, particularly using GARCH models to capture volatility dynamics. His work increasingly incorporates machine learning techniques (as seen in the credit spread analysis paper) while maintaining rigorous mathematical foundations. Many papers explore the intersection of theoretical finance with practical investment strategies, reflecting his commitment to bridging academic research with real-world financial applications. Professor of the Year 2007 (awarded by Unicum Profession magazine) Prof. Zagst has supervised numerous bachelor's, master's, and doctoral theses through TUM's Finance and Actuarial Science research group. His collaborative work with industry partners through the TUM CAIR Labs and RiskFactory demonstrates strong connections between academic research and practical financial applications. He has received research funding through various industry partnerships with major financial institutions including Allianz, Munich Re, and ERGO Group AG. Prof. Zagst leads the Research Group Finance and Actuarial Science at TUM, which includes Professors Matthias Scherer, Aleksey Min, and Christoph Knochenhauer. The group maintains strong industry connections through the TUM CAIR Labs initiative, collaborating with over 25 financial institutions including Allianz, Munich Re, Deloitte, PwC, and KPMG. Their RiskFactory laboratory serves as a bridge between academic research and practical financial risk management applications in the industry.
Dr. Zhifu Mi is a Professor of Climate Change Economics at the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction , University College London. His research focuses on carbon footprint analysis, climate change economics, air pollution and health, sharing economy sustainability, and input-output modeling. He has published extensively in top journals like Nature Sustainability , Lancet , and Science Advances . Co-Editor-in-Chief, Structural Change and Economic Dynamics (2020–present) Executive Editor, Journal of Cleaner Production (2019–present) President, Chinese Economic Association (UK/Europe) Council Member, International Input-Output Association Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society His research explores: Carbon Footprints: Economic development and emission convergence in Chinese households Climate-Health Linkages: Air pollution impacts, ultra-low emission policies Sharing Economy: Sustainable societies through shared micro-mobility Policy Analysis: Synergies between environmental regulations Recent publications analyze decarbonization employment gaps, polycentric urban structures, and health-environment policy intersections. Awards include the World Sustainability Award (2018), multiple Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher honors, and UCL's Outstanding Research Supervision Award (2022). He teaches modules on construction economics and input-output analysis.
Dr. Michael Kleeberger is a Researcher at the Chair of Materials Handling, Material Flow, Logistics (FML) at the Technical University of Munich, based at Boltzmannstr. 15 in Garching. He collaborates closely with Prof. Johannes Fottner and maintains an active research profile in crane dynamics and mechanical systems simulation. His research specializes in Materials Handling and Logistics with emphasis on Crane Dynamics, Flexible Multibody Systems, and Control Systems. He develops advanced models for hydraulic actuated cranes, focusing on dynamic behavior during hoisting, slewing, and trajectory operations using port-Hamiltonian formulations and geometrically exact beam theory. His work bridges theoretical mechanics with industrial applications in heavy machinery. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals consistent focus on numerical methods for flexible crane structures, with growing emphasis on optimal control strategies (2020-2025). Key trends include port-Hamiltonian system applications, lunar crane feasibility studies, and vibration mitigation techniques for lattice boom and knuckle boom configurations across diverse operational scenarios. As part of FML, Dr. Kleeberger contributes to TUM's leadership in logistics engineering through industry-collaborative projects and fundamental research in material flow systems, maintaining the chair's reputation for excellence in mechanical dynamics and practical engineering solutions.
Harish Ravichandar is an Assistant Professor at the School of Interactive Computing , Georgia Institute of Technology, and a core faculty member of the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines (IRIM) . He leads the Structured Techniques for Algorithmic Robotics (STAR) Lab , focusing on structured computational frameworks and learning algorithms with inductive biases to enhance robot efficiency, reliability, and self-sufficiency in human-robot collaboration and complex applications like dexterous manipulation and multi-agent coordination. His research bridges robot learning , human-robot interaction , and multi-agent systems , emphasizing stable, frugal, and safe skill acquisition from human demonstrations. Key themes include intention inference , trajectory optimization , and heterogeneous team coordination , often leveraging Koopman operators , hypernetworks , and graph-based methods . Scientific recognition includes the NSF CAREER Award , IEEE MRS Best Paper Award , and Georgia Tech’s College of Computing Outstanding Post-Doctoral Research Award . His work also received the ASME DSCC Best Student Paper Award and P&W Institute Graduate Fellowship . Harish’s educational background includes a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Connecticut (2018) , an M.S. from the University of Florida (2014) , and a B.E. in Instrumentation and Control Engineering from Anna University (2012) . He previously held postdoctoral and research scientist roles at Georgia Tech before his current position.
J. Edward Colgate is the Walter P. Murphy Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Human Augmentation via Dexterity (HAND) Engineering Research Center at Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering. He also holds the title of Breed Senior Professor of Design. His academic career includes leadership roles as founding co-Director of the Segal Design Institute and director of the Master of Science in Engineering Design and Innovation program. Colgate earned his Ph.D. (1988), S.M. (1986), and S.B. in Physics (1983) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Colgate's research focuses on physical human-robot interaction with specialization in surface haptic interactive design and electroadhesion technology development. His work spans three interconnected domains: haptic interfaces (including wearable haptic arrays and Touchbot systems), robot dexterity through Shape-Based Remote Manipulation (SBRM) for overcoming communication delays, and high-speed electroadhesive actuators. The Northwestern Haptics Lab under his direction aims to create realistic virtual environments by merging these research vectors. His publications demonstrate consistent focus on tactile perception mechanisms, electroadhesion applications, and haptic rendering algorithms. Recent work explores texture playback fidelity, wearable electroadhesive arrays, robotic manipulation, and human-swarm control systems, reflecting interdisciplinary integration of mechanical engineering, materials science, and neuroscience principles. Awards: Elected to National Academy of Engineering (2021) for contributions to haptics, human-robot systems, and design education Inducted into National Academy of Inventors (2015) Educational initiatives include developing Northwestern's Design Thinking and Communication curriculum, establishing the Certificate in Engineering Design, and creating the Master of Science in Engineering Design and Innovation. He teaches ME 390: Introduction to System Dynamics using a flipped classroom model. Colgate directs the Northwestern Haptics Lab within the Center for Robotics and Biosystems, focusing on fundamental haptics research with applications in virtual reality, prosthetics, and human-assistive devices. The lab maintains active industry partnerships for technology transfer of haptic innovations.
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUnited States
Prashant Mehta is a Professor of Mechanical Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , affiliated with the Coordinated Science Laboratory . His research focuses on controlled interacting particle systems and machine learning applications , particularly in human activity recognition using motion sensors. Education: Ph.D. in Mathematics, Cornell University (2004) M.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst (1996) B.E. in Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology & Sciences (1993) Mehta's work has pioneered the feedback particle filter (FPF) algorithm for nonlinear estimation, applied in robotic systems and gesture recognition. His research spans control of combustion instabilities in jet engines, mean-field games , and dynamical systems in aerospace engineering. His publications emphasize nonlinear control theory and stochastic filtering , with recent trends in sensor data pattern recognition and cyber-physical systems . He has received multiple scientific awards , including the MURI award for the Cyberoctopus project and Excellence in Undergraduate Advising Awards . Scientific Honors: MURI Award (2019) for Cyberoctopus Excellence in Undergraduate Advising (2010, 2008) Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award (1994) Senior Member, IEEE Control Systems Society Member, ASME Energy Systems Subcommittee Member, SIAM Dynamical Systems Group Mehta has supervised students like Jin Kim (IEEE CDC Best Student Paper, 2019) and co-founded the startup Rithmio , acquired by Bosch Sensortec . His laboratory develops gesture-detection filters for applications in soft robotics and human-machine interfaces .
Pardis Emami-Naeini is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Duke University, with joint appointments in the Sanford School of Public Policy and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. She serves as the Director of the Duke Interdisciplinary Security, Privacy, and Interaction Research (InSPIre) lab and is a Duke Science and Technology Scholar. Her interdisciplinary work bridges computer science, public policy, and electrical engineering, with a focus on developing usable privacy and security solutions that empower individuals from diverse sociodemographic backgrounds. Dr. Emami-Naeini earned her Ph.D. in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University in 2020, followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Washington (2020-2022). Her research sits at the intersection of security, privacy, and human-computer interaction, with particular expertise in IoT security, technology-enabled abuse, reproductive health privacy, and smart city security. She has published extensively at flagship venues including IEEE S&P, CHI, CSCW, and SOUPS, with her work covered by major media outlets such as Wired and The Wall Street Journal. Her recent publications reveal a clear trajectory toward examining the human dimensions of security and privacy in emerging technologies, from LLM chatbots for mental health to social robots and period-tracking apps in the post-Roe v. Wade landscape. Her work consistently emphasizes the need for privacy-aware design that accounts for diverse user needs and contexts, particularly for vulnerable populations. Google Systems and ML Research Gift Award (2025) Google AI Research Scholar Program Award (2024) Top 5% Instructor in Duke Trinity College (2024) ORAU Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award (2023) Duke Science and Technology Scholar (2022) IEEE S&P paper highlighted in IEEE Security and Privacy Magazine (2021) CyLab Presidential Fellowship (2019) Dr. Emami-Naeini actively mentors several Ph.D. students including Jabari Kwesi, Jessie Cao, and Hiba Laabadli, as well as undergraduate and master's students. Her research has influenced key organizations including the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Consumer Reports, and the World Economic Forum in creating usable security and privacy labels for smart devices. She serves on numerous program committees including USENIX Security and CHI, and has participated in NSF grant review panels, demonstrating her growing leadership in the security and privacy community. Her InSPIre lab conducts user-centered research to uncover security and privacy needs of diverse stakeholders, with a particular focus on marginalized communities. The lab's work spans multiple domains including intimate partner violence, reproductive health, virtual reality, and smart cities, always with a strong emphasis on translating research findings into practical tools and policy recommendations.
Valerie Viet Triem Tong is a Research Professor at the Paris Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. She has established herself as a leading researcher in cybersecurity with a particular focus on information flow control systems, Android security, and malware analysis. Her work spans both theoretical foundations and practical security tools development. Her research interests center on Information Flow Control , where she has developed frameworks for monitoring and enforcing security policies at both operating system and application levels. She has made significant contributions to Android Security , creating tools for detecting malicious behavior in mobile applications and addressing privacy concerns in smartphone environments. Her work in Malware Analysis includes developing advanced techniques for tracking and visualizing malware behavior, with emphasis on evasive Windows malware and Android malware in the wild. She also investigates Peer-to-Peer Network Security , focusing on Sybil attack resistance and distributed identity management. Analysis of her publication record reveals a consistent trajectory from foundational work in information flow theory to increasingly applied security research. Her recent work shows a strong emphasis on practical security tools (DaViz, GUI-Mimic, BAGUETTE), security evaluation methodologies (Digital twin, CERBERE), and addressing contemporary challenges in malware analysis (debiasing datasets, handling obfuscated applications). A notable trend is her integration of visualization techniques with security analysis to make complex security data accessible to both experts and machine learning systems. As an advisor, she has mentored numerous researchers who have become first authors on significant publications, including Radoniaina Andriatsimandefitra, Tomás Concepcion Miranda, and Cedric Herzog. Her research has been supported by multiple grants focused on cybersecurity infrastructure, though specific grant details are not provided in the available information. Dr. Tong is actively involved with the CIDre security research group in Rennes, contributing to collaborative projects that bridge theoretical security models with practical implementation challenges. Her work on information flow monitoring has evolved from basic research to applied systems that address real-world security concerns across multiple platforms.
Francis Bach is a Professor and researcher at INRIA, leading the SIERRA project-team since 2011, which is part of the Computer Science Department at Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS) within PSL Research University. His work bridges CNRS, ENS, and INRIA as a joint research effort. Elected to the French Academy of Sciences in 2020, he currently runs the ERC project SEQUOIA following his previous ERC project SIERRA (2009-2014). His research spans statistical machine learning with focus on optimization, sparse methods, kernel-based learning, neural networks, graphical models, and signal processing. Bach completed his Ph.D. in Computer Science at U.C. Berkeley under Professor Michael Jordan, followed by work at Ecole des Mines de Paris and the WILLOW project-team at INRIA/ENS/CNRS (2007-2010). His recent book "Learning Theory from First Principles" was published by MIT Press in December 2024. Bach's publication record shows consistent high-impact contributions across machine learning theory and applications, with recent work focusing on conformal prediction, diffusion models, optimization theory, and learning theory foundations. His research demonstrates strong connections between theoretical guarantees and practical algorithms, with applications spanning generative modeling, robust optimization, and statistical inference. Elected to French Academy of Sciences (2020) ERC project SIERRA (2009-2014) ERC project SEQUOIA (current) Author of "Learning Theory from First Principles" (MIT Press, 2024) Bach actively mentors numerous PhD students and postdocs, with many alumni now holding faculty positions at institutions like EPFL, Ecole Polytechnique, University of Washington, and University of Montreal. His teaching includes advanced courses on learning theory at ENS's Master's programs. He regularly presents tutorials at major conferences including COLT, NeurIPS, and ICML, demonstrating his leadership in the theoretical machine learning community.
