Amilcare Porporato is the Thomas J. Wu '94 Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Princeton University, with joint appointment at High Meadows Environmental Institute. His research integrates hydrology, ecology, and thermodynamics to study soil-water interactions and sustainable resource management. Education includes: Ph.D. Polytechnic of Milan (1996) M.S. Civil Engineering, Polytechnic of Milan (1992) Research explores nonlinear hydrologic systems, soil moisture dynamics, ecohydrology, and environmental complexity using theoretical and experimental approaches. His work advances understanding of water-biota interactions across scales from pore-level processes to landscape evolution. Honors and Awards: Hydrologic Sciences Award, AGU Borland Lecturer American Geophysical Union Fellow Inaugural Landolt Chair, EPFL Teaches courses on Environmental Thermodynamics (ENV 385/CEE 385) and Ecohydrology (CEE 587/ENV 587).
Dr. Monica E. McCallum is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on understanding the biochemical origins of natural products and their roles in microbial communication. She leads the McCallum Lab, which employs interdisciplinary approaches combining organic synthesis, biochemistry, microbiology, and microscopy to study microbial natural products in their native contexts. Education: 2016 – Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University under Prof. Emily P. Balskus 2016 – PhD in Organic Chemistry from Baylor University 2013 – PhD Candidate at Colorado State University 2011 – B.S. in Chemistry from University of California, Irvine Research Interests: Dr. McCallum’s work bridges organic synthesis and microbiology to decode microbial metabolite functions. Key themes include: Synthesizing complex natural products and their biosynthetic precursors Discovering novel enzyme-catalyzed reactions Unraveling microbial communication mechanisms via natural products Investigating environmental microbial community dynamics Lab & Collaborations: The McCallum Lab emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, integrating techniques from organic chemistry, molecular biology, and microscopy to study natural products in situ. Current projects focus on diazeniumdiolate biosynthesis pathways and enzymatic detoxification of marine toxins.
Dr. Sarah Marsden is a Researcher affiliated with Lancaster University's Health Research Department within the Lancaster Medical School, part of the Faculty of Health and Medicine. Her role involves a Scoping Study on Suicide, Self-harm and Learning Disability. She focuses on qualitative research addressing mental health challenges in marginalized groups, particularly suicidality and self-harm behaviors among autistic individuals, neurodiverse populations, and those with learning disabilities. Her research emphasizes understanding systemic barriers in healthcare access through studies like 'Diversifying medicine by widening participation' and exploring self-harm dynamics in autistic adults. Publications reflect interdisciplinary approaches bridging medical sociology and clinical psychiatry. She holds no listed awards but contributes actively to public health discourse through blogs and peer-reviewed journals. As part of the Health Research team, her work aligns with broader institutional priorities in advancing equitable healthcare practices and improving outcomes for vulnerable groups.
Aleksander Madsen is a Researcher at the University of Oslo (UiO), affiliated with the Department of Sociology and Human Geography under the Faculty of Social Sciences. His primary research interests include social stratification, immigrant assimilation in labor markets, welfare state policies, and statistical methods. He holds a PhD from Oslo Metropolitan University and an MA from UiO. Education: PhD in Sociology, Centre for the Study of Professions, Oslo Metropolitan University (2014–2018) MA in Sociology, University of Oslo (2013) His research explores labor market integration of immigrants, gender disparities in male-dominated workplaces, and the impact of education-occupation mismatch on health outcomes. He has conducted longitudinal studies on long-term sickness absence and labor market trajectories using sequence analysis. Dr. Madsen has held postdoctoral and research positions at UiO and NIFU, and was a visiting scholar at Stanford University's SCANCOR (2024) funded by the Fulbright Foundation. His work spans interdisciplinary collaborations, including projects on workplace diversity, ethnic stratification, and policy evaluations. Awards: U.S. - Norway Fulbright Foundation Grant (2023–2024) His research group affiliations include the Social Inequalities and Population Dynamics team and the ORGMIGRANT project, investigating work organizations and immigrant assimilation. Recent publications address residential networks among immigrants, workplace ethnic diversity, and women’s attrition from male-dominated sectors.
Paul O'Toole is a Professor of Microbial Genomics and Principal Investigator at the APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork. His research focuses on the gut microbiome's role in health, aging, and disease, particularly in the context of diet and probiotics. He leads projects like the ELDERMET study on elderly nutrition and the NU-AGE project exploring Mediterranean diets' anti-aging effects. He holds a BA (Mod.) from Trinity College Dublin and a PhD from Lund University, with postdoctoral training in Canada and New Zealand. Key grants include studies on dairy-derived microbiota, probiotic strain improvement, and microbiome analysis in aging populations. He has published extensively on Lactobacillus genomics, gut-brain interactions, and microbiome-driven health outcomes. His work bridges fundamental microbiology with clinical applications, emphasizing translational research. Scientific highlights include discovering microbiome links to cognitive decline, demonstrating dietary modulation of gut microbes to combat obesity, and identifying keystone species in healthy aging. He advocates for sustainability in conservation and food systems, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to global health challenges.
David R. Koes is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computational and Systems Biology at the University of Pittsburgh, affiliated with the School of Medicine. He holds roles such as Associate Director of the Joint CMU-Pitt Computational Biology PhD Program (CPCB) and is involved in multiple graduate programs including Intelligent Systems and Computational Biomedicine. His research focuses on developing computational algorithms and systems for drug discovery, emphasizing open-source software and machine learning applications in biomedical data. Koes teaches courses like MSCBIO2025 (Bioinformatics Programming in Python) and MSCBIO2065 (Scalable Machine Learning for Big Data Biology). He has secured NIH funding (R35GM140753) and collaborated on projects with institutions like NVIDIA and Google Cloud. His lab develops tools such as GNINA, Pharmit, and 3Dmol.js, and actively contributes to open drug discovery initiatives. Education: PhD in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). Research Interests: Leveraging computation and AI for drug design, molecular docking, pharmacophore modeling, and open science. Specific areas include developing scalable machine learning pipelines, virtual screening systems, and tools for 3D molecular analysis. Grants and Funding: Current NIH R35 grant and prior support from NSF, Relay Therapeutics, and others. His work emphasizes translating computational methods into practical drug discovery solutions. Lab and Teams: Directs a lab focused on computational drug discovery, collaborating with multiple academic and industry partners. Supervises graduate students and postdocs in projects spanning AI-driven drug design, molecular modeling, and software development.
André DeHon is the Oliver C. Boileau Jr. and Nan Eleze Boileau Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, with affiliations in the Electrical and Systems Engineering (ESE) and Computer and Information Science (CIS) departments. He founded the Penn Computer Engineering (CMPE) program and directs the DARPA-sponsored CyberSavvy Security Center. His research spans reconfigurable computing, FPGA architecture, interconnect design, hardware security, and energy efficiency, with a focus on adapting to fabrication imperfections and runtime variability. His work explores programmable substrates (e.g., CMOS VLSI, molecular electronics) and algorithmic mappings to create resilient, efficient systems. Current projects include runtime feedback mechanisms (REFINE), partial reconfiguration (ExHiPR), and security frameworks like SCALPEL and μSCOPE. Recent publications highlight advancements in FPGA compilation (PLD, HiPR), security (SCALPEL, μSCOPE), and interconnect optimization (Asymmetry in NoC). These studies intersect computer architecture, security, and embedded systems. Scientific awards and recognitions: 2023 IEEE Fellow 2020 IEEE Mary Kenneth Keller Teaching Award 2018 ACM Fellow TCFPGA Hall of Fame (2019) Best Paper at ICFPT 2015 Academic leadership: He chairs the ACM/SIGDA Technical Committee on FPGAs and Reconfigurable Computing, previously held faculty roles at Caltech (1999–2006), and was a postdoc at UC Berkeley (1996–1999). Education includes MIT SB (1990), SM (1993), and PhD (1996) in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
Na Du is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Informatics and Networked Systems at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Computing and Information. She holds a PhD in Industrial & Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan (2021) and a Graduate Certificate in Data Science. Her research focuses on human factors in smart cities, human-centered computing, and user experience design. She is affiliated with the Intelligent Systems Program, Pitt Cyber, and the Center for Governance and Markets. Education: PhD in Industrial & Operations Engineering (University of Michigan, 2021); Undergraduate in Psychology (Zhejiang University). Research emphasizes explainable AI, human-AI teaming, and smart technologies. Recent grants include funding from Honda Research Institute and Pitt Cyber Accelerator for projects on emotions in Human-AI interaction and Metaverse privacy awareness. Her work has been recognized with awards like the HFES Best Paper Award and the IOE Outstanding Student Award. Advising includes PhD students and researchers in human factors and UX design. The HAT Lab under her leadership explores interdisciplinary challenges in human-computer interaction and smart systems.
Dr. Livia Pancotto is a Senior Lecturer in Banking at the Department of Accounting and Finance, University of Strathclyde. She serves as Director of the MSc in International Banking and Finance and Deputy Director of the Responsible Business Institute (ReBI). She holds a PhD and MSc from Bangor University and degrees from Sapienza University of Rome. Her research focuses on European banking regulation, financial stability, and gender diversity's impact on climate finance. She chairs the International Accounting & Finance Doctoral Symposium and edits The European Journal of Finance. Awards include the 2014 Best Banking and Finance Master’s dissertation. She leads research on negative interest rates, non-performing loans, and green lending through EU-funded projects. Education: PhD Banking & Finance (Bangor), MSc (Sapienza), BSc (Sapienza) Research explores empirical banking dynamics, regulatory frameworks, and sustainable finance. Key topics include EU banking union evolution, climate change mitigation via gender-diverse bank boards, and market reactions to policy shocks. Recent work analyzes negative interest rate impacts on bank efficiency and Italy's NPL crisis. She has secured £153k in research funding (2023-2025). Grants: Research Excellence Awards (Strathclyde SRSS) Led workshops on Responsible Business and AI, presented at FSB Financial Innovation Network, and peer-reviewed for top journals. Supervises doctoral candidates through IAFDS. Active in editorial and advisory roles enhancing academic rigor in finance disciplines.
Dr. Seyyed Hamed Hosseini Nasab is a Lecturer at the Department of Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zürich, affiliated with the Institute for Biomechanics and the Laboratory for Movement Biomechanics. His research focuses on biomechanical analysis of musculoskeletal systems, particularly knee mechanics, implant design, and ligament behavior in total knee arthroplasty. He integrates experimental, computational, and clinical approaches to improve surgical techniques and prosthetic design. Key research interests include knee joint loading, ligament elongation patterns, and the influence of implant conformity on post-surgical outcomes. He has contributed to standardized methods for measuring tibiofemoral implant loads and kinematics, earning the European Society of Biomechanics SM Perren Award in 2022. His publications emphasize computational modeling, in vivo testing, and finite element analysis to address challenges in orthopedic engineering. Recent work explores artificial neural networks for real-time knee contact force estimation and the biomechanical implications of surgical procedures like posterior cruciate ligament substitution.
Danai Koutra is an Associate Professor in Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and an Amazon Scholar. Her research focuses on large-scale graph mining, graph neural networks, and interpretable machine learning methods for understanding complex networks. Key roles include leading the GEMS Lab and contributing to projects like DeltaCon (graph similarity) and VoG (graph summarization). She holds a PhD from Carnegie Mellon University and has authored over 80 publications in top venues like KDD, SDM, and NeurIPS. Educations: PhD in Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University (2015) MS in Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University (2015) Diploma in Electrical & Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (2010) Research Interests: Her work spans graph mining, anomaly detection, knowledge graph completion, and applications in neuroscience, healthcare, and social networks. Recent projects include MAGNET (multi-agent graph networks) and GT2VEC (multimodal graph-text encoders). Grants & Awards: Recipient of the 2025 PECASE award, NSF CAREER Award (2019), and the 2016 ACM SIGKDD Dissertation Award. Active in organizing conferences like KDD and ECML/PKDD. Labs & Teams: Directs the GEMS Lab, collaborating on projects like FIDDLE (clinical data preprocessing) and SpecGreedy (dense subgraph detection). Engages in interdisciplinary efforts, including M-DICE (urban mobility analysis with Detroit).
Demetris Christodoulou is an Associate Professor in Accounting, Governance and Regulation at the University of Sydney. He holds a BEcon from Piraeus University, an MSc(Fin) from the University of York (UK), and a PhD from Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB). His research focuses on applying data analytics, econometrics, and visualization techniques to financial analysis, equity valuation, life insurance, and financial advice. He co-directs the PEMA research group, specializing in productivity and performance measurement analytics, and previously led the MEAFA research group (2007–2022). He has collaborated extensively with industry partners including Deloitte and Australian insurers, and developed training programs for over 1,000 executives. His work includes open-source contributions to Stata software and the Graph Workflow platform, alongside $662k in workshop-generated funds supporting academic programs. He has advised multiple PhD students and taught at leading universities globally. Education: BEcon in Economics (Econometrics), Piraeus University MSc in Finance, University of York (UK) PhD in Accounting and Financial Analysis, Athens University of Economics and Business His research interests span financial reporting models, life insurance underwriting strategies, and behavioral finance. Recent projects address dishonesty mitigation in insurance disclosures and the adviser effect on customer disclosures. He has published widely in top journals like the Review of Accounting Studies and Stata Journal , and his work was featured in The Australian for insights on insurance fraud reduction. He maintains international collaborations, including visiting roles at Columbia Business School and the University of Cyprus, and serves on advisory boards for organizations like Behaviour.ai. Publications highlight methodological innovations in econometrics and visualization, with 2025's upcoming Stata Journal paper advancing time-series analysis techniques. His grants include partnerships with industry on longitudinal studies of insured lives, aiming to improve risk modeling and public policy insights.
Itsik Pe'er is a Full Professor and Vice-Chair in the Department of Computer Science at Columbia University's Fu Foundation School of Engineering & Applied Science, and holds a joint appointment as Professor of Systems Biology at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. His research focuses on computational methods in human genetics, including genetic variation analysis, disease association studies, and algorithm development for genomic data. He leads the Itsik Pe'er Lab of Computational Genomics, which develops tools like Xplorigin, Germline, and SEACells to address challenges in genomics and medical research. His work spans machine learning applications in healthcare, microbiome analysis, and cancer genomics. Notable contributions include studies on hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, bias correction in predictive models, and the development of non-Euclidean learning libraries like Manify. Pe'er has advised students including Vladimir Vacic, Anat Kreimer, and Arthi Ramachandran, and collaborates on grants addressing genetic epidemiology and computational biology. His lab's location is in the Computer Science Building at Columbia's Morningside Campus.
Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyNorway
Albert Lau is an Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), located in Trondheim, Norway. He specializes in railway engineering, structural dynamics, and transportation systems. Lau holds leadership roles as the Study Program Leader for the MSc in Road, Railway, and Transportation Engineering, overseeing curriculum development and program coordination. His research focuses on railway track design, dynamic modeling of train-track interactions, and infrastructure maintenance, with projects such as the MeTinT initiative (Measurement with Train in Regular Traffic). He has extensive experience supervising master’s and PhD students, and his work emphasizes innovation in rail infrastructure and sustainable transportation solutions. Education and Professional Background: Lau earned his PhD from NTNU in 2018, focusing on numerical simulations of railway turnouts. Prior roles include Postdoc (2018–2020) and Assistant Professor (2017–2018) at NTNU, and teaching at Oslo Metropolitan University (2020). His industry experience includes roles as a Design Engineer (2010–2012) and Project Engineer (2013–2014) in Malaysia, where he managed construction projects and structural design. Research Interests: Lau’s work spans railway track dynamics, infrastructure health monitoring, and machine learning applications in transportation. Key projects include developing digital twins for railway test sites and analyzing ground displacement impacts on track anomalies. His contributions to the Road, Railway and Transport Group at NTNU aim to advance rail safety and efficiency through interdisciplinary approaches. Teaching and Outreach: Lau coordinates courses such as TBA4225 (Railway Engineering) and BA6012 (Fundamental Railway Technology). His outreach includes expert commentary on railway incidents, such as an interview on NRK (2024) discussing potential causes of a train accident. Current initiatives focus on revitalizing regional rail services and optimizing train positioning systems.
Joël Brugger is a Professor of Synchrotron Geosciences at Monash University, where he is affiliated with the School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment. He earned his PhD from the University of Basel in 1996 and has held academic and research positions at the University of Adelaide and South Australian Museum before joining Monash in 2014. His research leverages advanced synchrotron techniques to investigate geochemical processes in natural and anthropogenic systems. His research interests include: Synchrotron-based geochemistry Formation of rare earth element deposits Biogeochemical cycling of critical and toxic elements (e.g., tellurium) Environmental behavior of radioactive particles (e.g., plutonium at Maralinga) Mineral-microbe-fluid interactions Sustainable mineral extraction technologies His recent publications highlight the use of high-energy X-rays to study ore formation, nanoparticle dynamics, and environmental contamination. These works demonstrate a strong trend toward interdisciplinary, experiment-driven geochemistry with implications for renewable energy and environmental safety. His research is frequently published in high-impact science communication platforms and peer-reviewed journals. Scientific awards and recognitions include: No specific awards listed in the source material. He actively engages in research supervision, consulting, and media outreach. His work is supported by the Australian Research Council and industry partners in the mining sector. He leads a multidisciplinary team and collaborates internationally, particularly in synchrotron science facilities in Europe. He has contributed to studies involving nanoscale imaging, environmental risk assessment, and clean technology development. He is involved in research teams and labs such as: Minerals, Microbes and Solutions research group (formerly at University of Adelaide) Monash Centre for Electron Microscopy Collaborations with Diamond Light Source (UK) and European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (France)
