Carl Vondrick is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Columbia University. His research focuses on creating robust and versatile perception systems that leverage video and interaction with the natural world, with applications in 3D reconstruction, visual question answering, and robot manipulation. Former research scientist at Google Visiting researcher at Cruise Education: PhD (2017) from MIT, advised by Antonio Torralba BS (2011) from UC Irvine, advised by Deva Ramanan His research explores multimodal approaches for cross-task and cross-modal transfer, scene dynamics, audiovisual perception, interpretable models, and spatial awareness systems. The lab emphasizes zero-shot generalization and neuro-symbolic methods while addressing safety and robustness in AI systems. Key publication trends include: 2025: Video generation for robotics 2024: Differentiable rendering and cross-modal reasoning 2023: Robust perception and 3D modeling Scientific Awards: 2024 PAMI Young Researcher Award 2021 NSF CAREER Award Teaching Roles: Teaching Computer Vision II (2021-2025), Computer Vision I (2018-2019), and Representation Learning (2020-2022). Advising: Advises 8 current PhD students and has mentored 5 graduated students now at institutions like MBZUAI and UMD. The lab recruits 1-2 PhD students annually through Columbia’s PhD program. Grants and Collaborations: Funded by NSF, DARPA, Toyota Research Institute, Amazon Research, and Google.
Michael Carbin is the Jamieson Career Development Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and leads the MIT Programming Systems Group. His research focuses on programming systems that address system uncertainty to enhance performance, energy efficiency, and resilience, particularly in environments involving neural networks , approximate computing , and unreliable hardware . His work spans probabilistic programming , quantum computing , and machine learning systems . Articles highlight contributions in pruning neural networks , quantum data structures , and compiler optimization , reflecting trends in deep learning , formal verification , and language-driven systems . Scientific Awards : MIT Frank E. Perkins Award (2020) Sloan Research Fellowship (2020) Facebook Research Award (2019) NSF CAREER Award (2018) Best Paper Awards at OOPSLA (2013, 2014) He has advised numerous graduate students and postdocs including Eric Atkinson, Cambridge Yang, and Charles Yuan, and served on program committees for conferences like POPL, OOPSLA, and ICLR. His group collaborates with institutions such as MIT CSAIL and explores applications in quantum algorithms and probabilistic inference .
Celestine Mendler-Dünner is a Principal Investigator at the ELLIS Institute in Tübingen, co-affiliated with the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems and the Tübingen AI Center. She leads the Algorithms and Society research group, focusing on machine learning in social contexts and the role of prediction in digital economies. Her work bridges theoretical machine learning with practical societal impact, developing tools for safe, reliable, and equitable AI ecosystems. Her educational background includes a PhD from ETH Zurich in collaboration with IBM Research, followed by an SNSF postdoctoral fellowship at UC Berkeley hosted by Moritz Hardt. She was previously a group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems before joining the ELLIS Institute. Mendler-Dünner's research spans several interconnected themes including performative prediction (where predictions change the behavior they aim to predict), algorithmic collective action (how participants can steer AI systems toward common goals), and the role of LLMs in social science research. Her work combines theoretical foundations with practical implementations, addressing challenges in interactive machine learning, optimization in dynamic environments, and context-specific evaluation of AI systems. She particularly examines how algorithmic predictions mediate services and platforms at societal scale, exploring concepts of economic power in digital markets. Her publication record shows a clear evolution from system-aware machine learning algorithms (including foundational work on IBM Snap ML) toward increasingly sociotechnical questions at the intersection of machine learning, economics, and policy. Recent work focuses on measuring performative power in digital economies, evaluating LLMs as risk scores, and developing frameworks for algorithmic collective action in recommender systems and labor markets. Among her notable recognitions are the ETH Medal for her dissertation, the IBM Research Division Award, the Fritz Kutter Award, and the IBM Eminence and Excellence Award. She is an ELLIS Scholar, a fellow of the Elisabeth-Schiemann-Kolleg, and affiliated with several prestigious research programs including the International Max Planck Research School for Intelligent Systems and the Max Planck ETH Center for Learning Systems. ETH Medal (dissertation award) IBM Research Division Award Fritz Kutter Award IBM Eminence and Excellence Award SNSF Early Postdoc Mobility Fellowship Mendler-Dünner actively mentors the next generation of researchers, advising PhD student Patrik Wolf and supervising research interns including Joachim Baumann, Haiqing Zhu, and Anna Badalyan, as well as Master's student Dorothee Sigg. She serves as core faculty for the International Max Planck Research School and associated faculty for the Max Planck ETH Center for Learning Systems. Her group has secured significant research funding through fellowships and institutional support, enabling work on projects like Powermeter (measuring search engine influence) and Snap ML (resource-efficient machine learning library with over 1 million PyPI downloads). She leads the Algorithms and Society research group, which examines machine learning as part of broader sociotechnical ecosystems. The group explores human-population interactions with algorithmic systems and incorporates these insights into learning system fundamentals. Current projects include investigating economic incentives in digital platforms, developing tools for systematic LLM evaluation in social science contexts, and creating frameworks for collective action in algorithmic systems. Mendler-Dünner also co-organizes the Algorithmic Collective Action workshop at NeurIPS 2025, demonstrating her leadership in emerging research directions at the AI-society interface.
Prof. Laura Leal-Taixé is a Professor at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in the Department of Informatics, leading the Dynamic Vision and Learning group. She holds the Rudolf Mößbauer Tenure Track Assistant Professorship, promoted to W3 Associate Professorship in 2022. Her research focuses on computer vision and machine learning, particularly video analysis, multi-object tracking, and autonomous driving applications. Education: B.Sc./M.Sc. in Telecommunications Engineering (Technical University of Catalonia, UPC) Ph.D. in Information Processing (Leibniz University of Hannover, Germany) Postdoctoral Research at ETH Zürich (Switzerland) and TUM Research Interests: Laura’s work addresses challenges in video analysis, including motion analysis, semantic segmentation, and integrating social dynamics into urban traffic modeling. Her project socialMaps , funded by the Sofja Kovalevskaja Award, explores decoupling vehicle and pedestrian traffic using dynamic maps. Her research combines optimization techniques, deep learning, and sensor data for real-world applications like autonomous systems. Recent Trends: Her publications highlight advancements in multi-object tracking, 3D LiDAR segmentation, and trajectory forecasting, emphasizing neural networks and geometric approaches. Collaborations with industry and academia underscore her work’s practical impact. Awards: 2017 Sofja Kovalevskaja Award (€1.65M, Humboldt Foundation) 2017 DAAD Australia-German Joint Research Grant Travel grants from Women in CV, CVPR Doctoral Consortium, and Vodafone Foundation Labs & Projects: Leads the Dynamic Vision and Learning group at TUM, focusing on vision-based AI for autonomous systems and environmental monitoring. Active in developing datasets like DynamicEarthNet for semantic change analysis.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Brinkhoff is Chair of the Institute Board and Chair of Geoinformatics at Oldenburg University of Applied Sciences. He leads the Institute for Applied Photogrammetry and Geoinformatics (IAPG) and contributes to institutions like the Association for the Promotion of Geoinformatics in Northern Germany (GiN e.V.) and the Oldenburg Research and Development Institute for Computer Science (OFFIS e.V.). Education: Diploma in Computer Science (Informatik), Universität Bremen (1990) Doctorate in Computer Science (Dr. rer. nat.), Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (1994) Brinkhoff's research spans geodatabase systems, spatiotemporal data processing, geosensor analytics, and location-based services. His work addresses Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI), web-based geospatial visualization, and mobile data integration, with applications in traffic management and forensic science. Recent projects include ProSaDi (Digital Provenance and Collection Research) and contributions to the Laboratory for optical 3D metrology . He has served on program committees for ACM SIGSPATIAL (2002-2019), AGILE conferences (2010-2025), and editorial boards of journals like GeoInformatica and TGIS. Notable Lectures: 2024: Forensic applications of tachograph data 2023: Geoinformatics in homicide investigations 2022: Spatiotemporal analysis for sustainability projects 2015: Open geodata standards at FOSSGIS 2014: Mobile sensor data processing
Prof. Richard L. Peters is a Professor and Head of the Chair of Tree Growth and Wood Physiology at the Technische Universität München (TUM) since 2024. His research focuses on tree physiology, wood formation, and climate-forest interactions. He holds a doctorate summa cum laude from the University of Basel (2018) and has conducted postdoctoral research at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest Science (WSL) and Ghent University. His work integrates forest ecology, dendrochronology, and ecophysiology to address climate change impacts on forests. Education: B.Sc./M.Sc. in Biology at Utrecht University, Ph.D. from University of Basel (2018). Key career steps include a Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) fellowship at Ghent University and coordination of the Swiss Canopy Crane II project (2021). Research Interests: Tree water-use strategies, drought tolerance mechanisms, carbon allocation dynamics, and the physiological basis of tree growth. He leads interdisciplinary projects to monitor forest responses to environmental stress using tools like the TreeNet network. Awards: Early Postdoc Mobility Fellowship (SNSF, 2019), Doctorate summa cum laude (2018). Contributions: Authored >180 publications, co-developed the datacleanr R package for ecological data processing, and pioneered methods linking tree-ring data with climate models. His work emphasizes the need for better observational data to improve vegetation models.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hakan Kayal serves as University Professor for Aerospace Engineering at the University of Würzburg, holding the Chair of Computer Science VIII (Space Technology) and chairing the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Extraterrestrial Studies (IFEX). His leadership bridges computer science and space systems engineering within the university's Institute of Computer Science. Research focuses on three synergistic domains: nanosatellite development for extraterrestrial missions (including the SONATE-2 6U platform demonstrating AI-driven onboard processing), scientific investigation of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) through the university's collaboration with the Federal Aviation Office, and spacecraft autonomy systems enabling higher mission independence. Current projects include the NEAlight mission (extended to develop the Apophis Interceptor concept for the 2029 asteroid flyby), VaMEx3-MarsSymphony for Mars exploration, and JMU Space Observatory initiatives. Publication trends reveal strong emphasis on asteroid defense strategies (particularly for Apophis), CubeSat-based UAP detection methodologies, and real-time AI processing in constrained space environments. His team actively engages students through ADS-B tracking, Meteosat App development, and Moon Base 2030 projects, while recent recognition includes co-authoring a landmark UAP review in Progress in Aerospace Sciences with 33 international scientists.
Veronika Eyring serves as Head of the Earth System Model Evaluation and Analysis Department at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) Institute of Atmospheric Physics and Professor of Climate Modelling at the University of Bremen. She holds dual appointments at these leading institutions, directing cutting-edge research at the intersection of climate science and artificial intelligence. Education: 2008: Habilitation in Environmental Physics at the University of Bremen 1999: PhD in Physics from the University of Bremen 1994: Diploma in Physics from the University of Erlangen Professor Eyring's research program focuses on improving climate models and projections through innovative integration of machine learning techniques and spaceborne Earth observations. Her work spans process-oriented modeling, development of observationally-based performance metrics, and understanding systematic biases in climate models. She has pioneered approaches to weighting model projections based on their performance using machine learning, significantly advancing the field of climate model evaluation. Her research has critical applications across multiple sectors including aeronautics, space research, transportation, and energy systems. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a clear trajectory toward deeper integration of machine learning with traditional climate modeling approaches. Her work has increasingly focused on developing community tools like the Earth System Model Evaluation Tool (ESMValTool) and leading major international initiatives such as the USMILE project (Understanding and Modelling the Earth System with Machine Learning). The publications span climate science, machine learning, Earth system modeling, and remote sensing, with specific emphasis on climate model evaluation, parameterization techniques, and improved climate projections. Scientific Awards: AGU Ambassador Award (2024) TUM Distinguished Affiliated Professor (2024) Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize (2021) ERC Synergy Grant (2019) Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher (2016-2021) Top female researchers award, Helmholtz-Society (2015) Professor Eyring actively supervises a large research group comprising PhD students working on ML-based sea ice parameterizations, causal model evaluation for air-sea interactions, and machine learning-based detection of droughts in climate projections. She leads the prestigious ERC Synergy Grant USMILE and secured significant funding through the DFG Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize. Her research group at DLR includes multiple postdocs, research scientists, and software engineers working collaboratively on climate informatics projects. Professor Eyring leads the Earth System Model Evaluation and Analysis Department at DLR, which encompasses research groups focused on CMIP model evaluation, ESMValTool development, and machine learning applications in climate science. She founded and supervises the 'Climate Informatics' Group at the DLR Institute for Data Science in Jena. Her department maintains strong international collaborations, particularly with the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, where she serves as an Affiliate Scientist.
Andreas Rietbrock is Professor and Director of the Geophysical Institute (GPI) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) , Germany, where he also serves as Dean of Studies for Geophysics . He is a leading expert in earthquake seismology, seismic tomography, and subduction zone dynamics, with a strong focus on integrating advanced observational techniques and computational methods. Education: While specific degrees are not listed in the provided text, his extensive publication record and leadership roles indicate advanced academic training in geophysics and seismology. Research Interests: His work spans a wide range of topics including: Seismic imaging of subduction zones (e.g., Nazca, Lesser Antilles) Earthquake rupture dynamics and fault mechanics Volcanic seismology and magma transport Full waveform inversion and AI-enhanced seismic analysis Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) applications Induced seismicity and reservoir monitoring Research Trends: His recent publications (2022–2025) emphasize the use of dense seismic arrays, AI-based data processing, and multi-method tomography to study complex tectonic environments. Key themes include high-resolution imaging of slab structures, fluid migration in subduction zones, and the integration of DAS and machine learning for seismic monitoring. Scientific Contributions: Andreas has led major international projects such as the ANTICS Large-N deployment in Albania and the VoiLA project in the Lesser Antilles. He has published extensively in top-tier journals like Nature , Geophysical Research Letters , and Journal of Geophysical Research , with over 200 peer-reviewed articles. Teaching and Supervision: He teaches courses such as "Introduction to Geophysics II", "Seismology", and "Current Topics in Seismology and Risk". While specific student names are not listed, his role as Dean and principal investigator on numerous projects indicates active supervision of graduate students and postdocs. Labs and Teams: He leads the seismology group at GPI, coordinating large-scale deployments of seismic instruments, including ocean-bottom seismometers and fiber-optic DAS systems. His team collaborates globally with institutions in Europe, South America, and Asia.
Larissa Schlegel-Pape serves as a Scientific Associate at the Department for Ornamental and Pedigree Poultry within the Farm Animal Clinic of Freie Universität Berlin's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Her work focuses on developing innovative methods for assessing chicken welfare through the creation of the "Stressed Chicken Scale," which aims to systematically identify stress indicators in poultry. Her research interests center on animal welfare science, specifically stress assessment in chickens using both behavioral observation and computer vision technology. She investigates how body posture, movement patterns, and other visual indicators can reliably signal discomfort or stress in poultry, with the goal of creating practical assessment tools for veterinarians and poultry farmers. Her work bridges veterinary medicine, ethology, and technological innovation, contributing to refinement research (one of the 3Rs principles) in animal husbandry. Analysis of her publications reveals a strong focus on developing and validating the Stressed Chicken Scale across multiple contexts. Her work spans methodological development, practical implementation studies, and technological integration with computer vision systems. The research demonstrates progression from conceptual framework to validation studies and practical application, with increasing sophistication in assessment techniques and broader implications for animal welfare standards in poultry farming. Schlegel-Pape actively collaborates with the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and participates in interdisciplinary projects involving artificial intelligence applications in agriculture. She presents her findings regularly at major German veterinary conferences including the DVG (Deutsche Veterinärmedizinische Gesellschaft) events, DACh Epidemiology conferences, and specialized poultry medicine gatherings. Her work contributes significantly to advancing animal welfare assessment methodologies and promoting refinement in poultry husbandry practices.
Anders Rantzer is a Professor of Automatic Control at the Department of Control Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Lund University, Sweden. He has held visiting positions at Caltech (2004–2005) and the University of Minnesota (2015–2016) as the Taylor Family Distinguished Visiting Professor. His academic journey began with a PhD from KTH Stockholm in 1991, followed by a postdoc at the Institute for Mathematics and its Applications (IMA), University of Minnesota. His research interests center on modeling, analysis, and synthesis of control systems , with a strong focus on scalability, adaptation, and applications in energy networks . He is particularly known for foundational work in positive systems and integral quadratic constraints (IQCs) . These theoretical frameworks are critical in analyzing stability and robustness of large-scale interconnected systems. His work bridges mathematical rigor with practical engineering applications, especially in sustainable energy and networked systems. The recent publications and lecture materials reflect a consistent trajectory in scalable and robust control, optimization, and distributed systems. Themes such as large-scale convex optimization , nonlinear and stochastic control , and network dynamics dominate his scholarly output, indicating a sustained commitment to advancing control theory for complex, real-world systems. Scientific honors include: Fellow of IEEE Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) Chairman of the Swedish Scientific Council for Natural and Engineering Sciences Chairman of the Royal Physiographic Society of Lund Rantzer has supervised numerous students and contributed extensively to academic leadership and education. He has been involved in major national and international research initiatives such as WASP (Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program) and ELLIIT. His work includes developing educational tools and courses in control, optimization, and machine learning. He leads and contributes to research projects on autonomous systems, cloud control, and smart energy networks. He is affiliated with the Control Lab at LTH and participates in collaborative efforts such as the Nordic University Hub on Industrial Internet of Things (HI2OT). His work integrates theoretical advances with practical implementations in robotics, biomedical systems, and industrial automation.
Dr. KN Sasidhar is a Researcher in the Department of Microstructure Physics and Alloy Design at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. His work focuses on advanced materials science, particularly corrosion mechanisms, alloy design, and nanoscale structural analysis. He employs cutting-edge techniques like in situ synchrotron investigations and deep learning frameworks to study material behavior under extreme conditions. Current research emphasizes corrosion resistance in stainless steels, phase transformations during nitriding, and radiation effects on coatings. Key achievements include pioneering studies on nanoscale amorphization in metallic systems, data-centric approaches for materials discovery, and the development of predictive models for alloy performance. His work bridges experimental materials characterization with computational methods, addressing challenges in energy and aerospace applications. Publications span corrosion analysis, microstructural evolution under irradiation, and phase separation phenomena. Collaborative projects involve synchrotron facilities and interdisciplinary teams focusing on materials informatics. No formal awards or grants are explicitly listed in the provided texts, though his prolific publication record indicates active academic engagement.
Prof. Dr. Dominik Schwarz is a faculty member at the Faculty of Physics , Bielefeld University. His research focuses on Cosmology and Particle Physics , particularly in the areas of Dark Energy , Dark Matter , Cosmological Inflation , and Large-Scale Structure Formation . He contributes to projects like the International LOFAR Telescope Consortium and the SFB-TRR 211 on strongly interacting matter. APART Fellow of Austrian Academy of Sciences Humboldt Fellow CERN Fellow His recent work explores the cosmic dipole anisotropy , axion density perturbations , and multi-wavelength cosmic web mapping . He also advances data science infrastructure through the PUNCH4NFDI consortium.
Ulrik Schroeder is a Universitätsprofessor (Full Professor) at RWTH Aachen University, leading the Chair of Learning Technologies within the Faculty of Computer Science. His research focuses on the intersection of educational technology, learning analytics, and immersive technologies with particular emphasis on practical implementations in higher education settings. Professor Schroeder's research spans multiple interconnected domains in educational technology. His primary interests include Learning Analytics implementation (particularly using xAPI standards), Virtual Reality applications for education, Open Educational Resources development and conversion, and gamification approaches for programming education. He has developed several notable tools including convOERter for OER conversion, WebWriter for creating explorable explanations, and various xAPI-based learning analytics infrastructures. His work consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with practical educational applications, often focusing on computer science education contexts. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward integrating Learning Analytics with immersive technologies, particularly Virtual Reality environments. His research demonstrates a systematic approach to educational technology development, with emphasis on scalability, interoperability through standards like xAPI, and practical implementation in real educational settings. The work increasingly focuses on personalized learning paths, quality assurance for educational resources, and privacy-conscious data collection. Co-editor of 21. Fachtagung Bildungstechnologien (DELFI) (2023) Co-editor of Hochschuldidaktik der Informatik HDI 2018 Co-editor of DeLFI 2018 conference proceedings Professor Schroeder has supervised numerous doctoral and postdoctoral researchers who frequently appear as co-authors on his publications, indicating an active research group. His projects often involve interdisciplinary collaborations across computer science, education, and psychology. Current major initiatives include the AIStudyBuddy project for study path analysis and the development of VR classroom simulations for teacher training. His research group, the Learning Technologies Innovation Lab, develops open research tools that support various aspects of educational technology research and implementation.
Krishna Gummadi is a Scientific Director and Professor at the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems (MPI-SWS) in Germany, where he leads the Networked Systems Research Group. He also holds a professorship at the University of Saarland, demonstrating his dual commitment to research and academic instruction in computer science. His educational background includes: Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Washington (2005) B.Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (2000) Gummadi's research spans networked and distributed computer systems with a current focus on social computing systems. His work addresses critical challenges in algorithmic fairness, privacy in social media, trustworthiness of online identities, and information dissemination in social networks. He approaches these problems through interdisciplinary methods combining user-centric studies, data-centric analysis, and systems-centric design to create practical solutions that enhance fairness, transparency, and user control in online platforms. His methodology integrates large-scale observational studies, computational modeling, and system implementation to tackle complex human-computer interaction challenges at societal scale. His recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on fairness in algorithmic decision making, with significant contributions to quantifying and addressing discrimination in machine learning systems. His work bridges computer science, social science, and ethics, creating frameworks for fair classification, understanding media bias, and developing privacy-preserving techniques that maintain functionality while protecting user data. The research demonstrates a progression from technical system design to addressing societal implications of computing systems. Among his notable scientific achievements: ERC Advanced Grant in 2017 for 'Foundations for Fair Social Computing' Test of Time Awards at ACM SIGCOMM and AAAI ICWSM Casper Bowden Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PET) and CNIL-INRIA Privacy Runners-Up Awards IW3C2 WWW Best Paper Honorable Mention Multiple Best Paper awards across prestigious conferences Gummadi has advised numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers who have gone on to prominent positions in academia and industry. His ERC Advanced Grant has supported extensive research into fair social computing, while his leadership in major conferences (including serving as General Chair for ICWSM 2016 and Program Chair for WWW 2015) has shaped research directions in the field. His teaching portfolio includes courses on Distributed Systems, Human-Centered Machine Learning, and Social Media Analysis. He leads the Networked Systems Research Group at MPI-SWS, which has developed several publicly available systems including tools for fair classification, privacy risk assessment, trust evaluation in social media, and information diet management. The group's work bridges theoretical advances with practical implementations that address real-world challenges in social computing, with numerous software releases and datasets made available to the research community.
