Prof. dr. Tessa Quax is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, leading research in Molecular Microbiology . Her work focuses on archaeal virology and virus-host interactions, supported by prestigious grants including an ERC Starting Grant (2022) and NWO Vidi Grant (2023). Key Research Areas: Archaeal virus entry/egress mechanisms Cell surface dynamics and motility Extreme environment microbiology Genetic tool development for archaea Recent publications in Nature Reviews Microbiology (2025) and Current Opinion in Microbiology (2024) highlight her work on viral host recognition and structural diversity. Her lab's 44 research outputs span archaeal cell biology, viral evolution, and ecological impacts of virus-induced lysis. Scientific Recognition: KNAW Beijerinck Premium (2022) KNAW Early Career Award (2021) Hector Research Career Development Award (2021) ERC Starting Grant (2022) As Chair of the International Society for Viruses of Microbes SAB and Speaker of the German Microbiology Society's Microbial Viruses group, she coordinates global research networks including a HFSP grant (2023) with Japan/Australia/USA collaborators. Her lab currently includes PhD candidate Zaloa Aguirre Sourrouille and multiple postdoctoral researchers.
Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt is Principal of Jesus College Oxford and Professor of Computing Science at the University of Oxford. He is Chairman and Co-founder of the Open Data Institute which he established with Sir Tim Berners-Lee. His career spans multiple prestigious institutions including the University of Southampton and University of Nottingham, where he held leadership roles in AI research. He has served in significant government advisory positions including as Information Advisor to the UK Prime Minister and member of the Public Sector Transparency Board. Nigel Shadbolt earned his undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Psychology from the University of Newcastle (1st Class Honours, 1978) followed by a PhD in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Edinburgh. His academic journey includes positions as the Allan Standen Professor of Intelligent Systems at Nottingham and leadership of the Web and Internet Science Group at Southampton before joining Oxford. Shadbolt's research spans the interdisciplinary field of Web Science, which he helped originate, focusing on human-centered AI, social machines, open data, and ethical considerations in technology. His work examines how humans and computers integrate at web scale to create novel applications, with recent emphasis on children's digital autonomy and privacy. He has published over 500 articles exploring topics from cognitive psychology to computational neuroscience, Artificial Intelligence to the Semantic Web. His notable contributions include the development of data.gov.uk and leadership in establishing Oxford's Institute of Ethics in AI. His 2018 book 'The Digital Ape: how to live (in peace) with smart machines' has been described as a 'landmark book' in the field. Knighted in 2013 for services to science and engineering Fellow of The Royal Society (FRS) Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng) Fellow of the British Computer Society (FBCS) Technology Pioneer status by the Davos World Economic Forum UK national BT Flagship IT Award As an advisor, Shadbolt has supervised numerous PhD students who have gone on to positions at Google DeepMind, the World Bank, and other prestigious institutions. His research has been supported by multiple grants including SOCIAM, KOALA, and ReTiPS projects. He co-founded Garlik Ltd, which was acquired by Experian, demonstrating his commitment to translating research into practical applications that benefit society. Shadbolt leads the Web and Internet Science research group at Oxford, focusing on social machines - applications that succeed at web scale by integrating humans and computers in novel ways. His work on the KOALA Hero Toolkit and CHAITok system addresses critical challenges in children's data autonomy on social media platforms, reflecting his commitment to ethical technology design.
Tara Garnett serves as Director of TABLE, a global knowledge platform for food systems analysis hosted by the Environmental Change Institute within the School of Geography and the Environment at the University of Oxford. TABLE operates as a collaboration between the University of Oxford, Wageningen University & Research, and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, facilitating evidence-based dialogue on sustainable food futures. Her research interrogates the complex intersections between food systems, climate change, public health, and sustainability, with particular focus on livestock as a critical nexus point. Garnett investigates how scientific knowledge is translated across policy, civil society, and industry contexts, emphasizing the diverse values stakeholders bring to food system challenges. Her work consistently advocates for systems-thinking approaches that recognize the interconnected nature of food-related problems. As a fellow of the Oxford Martin School and co-investigator on the Wellcome Trust-funded Livestock, Environment and People (LEAP) project, she contributes to high-impact research at the food-environment-health interface. Her publication portfolio reveals evolving research trajectories from early climate-food connections toward contemporary explorations of alternative proteins, regenerative agriculture, and the political economy of food system transformation. Recognition Oxford Martin School Fellowship Garnett's leadership through TABLE exemplifies her commitment to creating spaces for inclusive, evidence-informed dialogue about building food systems that are sustainable, resilient, and just. Her work consistently bridges academic research and practical application, emphasizing that context-specific solutions and multi-stakeholder engagement are essential for meaningful food system transformation.
Professor Thomas Lukasiewicz is a Full Professor and Head of the Artificial Intelligence Techniques research group at the Faculty of Informatics, Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien). His research focuses on enabling machines to mimic human-like intelligence through techniques spanning deep learning, symbolic reasoning, and predictive coding. Key areas include explainable AI, hybrid neurosymbolic systems, and applications in healthcare and law. He teaches courses such as Deep Learning for Natural Language Processing, Scientific Research and Writing, and multiple seminars in artificial intelligence and knowledge representation. His research projects include Explainable AI in Healthcare (2023–2027) and foundational work on predictive coding networks. His publications (15+ recent articles) address medical image segmentation, neurosymbolic frameworks, and language model evaluation in mathematics. Notable work includes neurosymbolic hybrid models (CCN⁺), reinforcement learning for medical report generation, and theoretical foundations of predictive coding networks.
Professor Anne Wallace is an Adjunct Professor at La Trobe Law School and holds concurrent roles at the University of Denver's Sturm College of Law and Victoria University's Sir Zelman Cowan Centre. She has extensive experience in judicial administration, having served as Head of School at Edith Cowan University and Associate Dean at the University of Canberra. Her research focuses on technology in justice systems, court administration, and Indigenous justice issues. Wallace holds a PhD from the University of Sydney and has authored over 37 scholarly works. Education: LLB (Tasmania), LLM (Melbourne University), Grad Cert Higher Ed (Canberra), PhD (Sydney). Her research explores the integration of ICT in courts, remote witness testimony, and judicial workload management. Notable projects include ARC-funded studies on visual evidence and remote testimony guidelines, and a decade-long Indigenous cultural awareness initiative for judiciary. Recent work addresses post-pandemic court digitalization and Indigenous justice disparities. She has contributed to international collaborations, serving as a visiting expert for CEELI Institute and editorial board member for the International Journal for Court Administration. Her funded research includes the 'Compliance by Design' project under Data to Decisions CRC (2018-2019). Professional activities include judicial training programs, curriculum development for Indigenous justice issues, and advisory roles in court technology policy.
Scott Prudham is a Professor in the Department of Geography and Planning and affiliated with the School of the Environment at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on political ecology, environmental politics, and the commodification of nature. University of Toronto, Department of Geography and Planning School of the Environment Prudham's work critically examines the intersection of capitalism and environmental governance, with specific attention to forestry, biotechnology, and urban ecologies. His recent publications analyze pandemic risk geographies and the political economy of 'fictitious' natural commodities. In 2022, he received the JJ Berry Smith Doctoral Supervision Award from the University of Toronto's School of Graduate Studies. His current projects include critical studies of natural resource industries and environmental justice movements. Contact: scott.prudham@utoronto.ca
Professor Gregor Verbic is a faculty member at the University of Sydney in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering , where he serves as Director of the Centre for Future Energy Networks . Previously, he held an assistant professor position at the University of Ljubljana and was a NATO-NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Waterloo. His career spans academic research, industry leadership as Head of Interenergo's Investment Department, and extensive collaboration with IEEE. PhD in Electrical Engineering (University of Ljubljana) Senior IEEE Member Research Interests focus on transforming power systems to zero-carbon grids through: Aggregation and control of distributed energy resources (DERs) Frequency control with wind generation and electric vehicles Stochastic optimization for multi-energy systems Smart home energy management with phase change materials Notable Contributions include: 2006 IEEE prize paper for voltage instability prediction 2010-2024: 15 recent publications on DER coordination, network tariffs, and low-inertia grid stability Teaching includes courses on: ELEC3203/ELEC9203: Electricity Networks ELEC5213: Engineering Optimisation ELEC5206: Sustainable Energy Systems Labs & Initiatives Centre for Future Energy Networks The Net Zero Institute
Fulong Wu holds the prestigious Bartlett Chair of Planning at University College London's Bartlett School of Planning since 2011. This distinguished position has previously been held by notable figures including Sir Patrick Abercrombie, Sir William Holford, Lord Richard Llewelyn-Davies, Sir Peter Hall, and Mike Batty FRS. Professor Wu's appointment represents a significant moment for the school to redefine planning discipline in global terms for a new generation. Wu received his BSc and MSc degrees from Nanjing University and completed his PhD at the University of Hong Kong. Prior to joining UCL, he taught at the Universities of Southampton and Cardiff. His academic journey reflects a deep commitment to urban planning scholarship with a specific focus on Chinese urban contexts. BSc, Nanjing University MSc, Nanjing University PhD, University of Hong Kong Professor Wu's research centers on urban development in China and its social and sustainable challenges. His work critically examines the Chinese model of urban governance, state entrepreneurialism, and the financialization of Chinese cities. He has made significant contributions to understanding migration patterns, spatial inequalities, suburbanization, neighborhood governance, and urban poverty in Chinese cities. His research provides valuable insights that challenge Western-centric planning theories while enriching global urban studies with Chinese perspectives. His recent publications reveal a clear trend toward analyzing the evolving relationship between statecraft and urban governance in China, particularly in the context of post-pandemic recovery and financialization processes. A significant portion of his recent work examines how Chinese cities manage crises, with several studies focusing on the Shanghai lockdown experience. His ERC-funded project on rethinking China's model of governance serves as an intellectual anchor for much of this research, demonstrating how Chinese urban governance represents both a distinctive model and a critical lens for understanding global urban transformations. Professor Wu's scholarly recognition includes: Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (2016) ESRC 2013 Outstanding International Impact Award Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2002) British Academy Fellow As Principal Investigator of a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant project titled 'Rethinking China's Model of Governance,' Professor Wu leads significant research funding that supports his team's work. He co-founded and coordinates the China Planning Research Group (CPRG) at UCL with Professor Fangzhu Zhang, which has become an influential research cluster generating substantial impact within and beyond the university. His mentorship extends to supervising PhD students and collaborating with early-career researchers on China-focused urban studies. The China Planning Research Group (CPRG), jointly coordinated by Professor Wu and Professor Zhang, serves as a vital hub for research on Chinese urban development. This group has produced influential work on topics including rural migrants in urban China, Chinese land and housing development, urban neighborhoods, and regional governance systems. The CPRG's research output has significant policy implications and contributes to global debates about alternative urban development models beyond neoliberal paradigms.
Steven Ma is a Professor at Clemson University's College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences. He is affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, though the department name is not explicitly mentioned. His contact information includes an office in 222 Fluor Daniel Building, phone number (864) 656-5537, and email sma22@clemson.edu. Education : Ph.D. from State University of New York at Buffalo (1991), MS from Beijing Polytechnic University (1986), BS from Beihang University (1983). Steven Ma's research interests focus on engineering disciplines, specifically Autonomous Wheeled Vehicles, Machine Design and Manufacturing, Hydraulics and Electro-Hydraulic Control, Welding & Fatigue, and Bolted Joints Design. These areas highlight his expertise in mechanical systems and manufacturing technologies. Analysis of his publications reveals a secondary focus on historical and political topics, particularly Russia's Great War and Revolution, the Russo-Japanese War, and transnational cultural exchanges. His work explores themes like military finance, ideological propaganda, and the global impact of capitalism and revolutionary movements. As of the latest data, there are no documented scientific awards or student advisement records for Steven Ma. His affiliations and contributions to engineering research remain central to his academic profile.
Il Memming Park is a Professor and Group Leader at the Centre for Restorative Neurotechnology within the Champalimaud Research division of the Champalimaud Foundation in Lisbon, Portugal. His work bridges computational neuroscience, machine learning, and statistical modeling to understand neural dynamics and computation. Dr. Park's research focuses on developing statistical and machine learning methods for analyzing neural time series data. His lab investigates the appropriate language for neural dynamics that can explain and generate specific predictions on neural data and behavior. He builds on foundations of dynamical systems and stochastic processes to create models of neural computation tightly tied to biology. His publications reveal a strong emphasis on developing methods like variational latent Gaussian processes and exponential family dynamical systems to extract meaningful patterns from complex neural recordings. His work spans both theoretical developments in computational methods and their application to real neural data from areas like visual cortex, parietal cortex, and other brain regions involved in perception and decision making. Dr. Park has previously held positions at Stony Brook University and the University of Texas at Austin, where he was affiliated with departments of Neurobiology and Behavior, Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Psychology, and Neuroscience. His lab at Champalimaud includes multiple PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and research staff working collaboratively on various aspects of neural data analysis and modeling. The team employs an interdisciplinary approach combining neuroscience, statistics, machine learning, and dynamical systems theory.
Prof. Dr. Bernd Skiera holds the first chair for electronic commerce in Germany at Goethe University Frankfurt am Main since 1999. He serves on the board of efl - The Data Science Institute and the Schmalenbach Society, while representing Germany at the European Marketing Community (EMAC). Chair of Marketing, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main Board member, efl - The Data Science Institute National representative, European Marketing Community (EMAC) His research focuses on MarTech/SalesTech integration, customer value management, online advertising analytics, data-driven pricing models, and the economic implications of internet privacy regulations. He leads the ERC Advanced Grant project on cookie usage restrictions' economic consequences. Recent publications examine dynamic pricing in digital markets, competition visualization using big data, and AI applications in marketing analytics. The ERC Advanced Grant research has produced empirical analyses of GDPR impacts on advertising ecosystems. 2015 Journal of Marketing Best Paper Award 2013 International Journal of Research in Marketing Best Paper Award Multiple MSI/H. Paul Root Award recognitions He has mentored 17 doctoral students who became professors globally, including at London Business School and LMU Munich. His work bridges marketing analytics with financial valuation through customer equity modeling.
Elsayed Issa is an Assistant Professor in the School of Languages and Cultures at Purdue University. Specializing in Computational Linguistics and Arabic, his interdisciplinary research bridges Natural Language Processing (NLP) with Second Language Acquisition (SLA), focusing on conversational AI and speech technology for under-resourced languages. Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Arizona (2023) Research integrates NLP, conversational AI, and SLA methodologies Develops tools for computer-assisted pronunciation training (CAPT) Focuses on Arabic dialectology and large language models (LLMs) His work employs Transformer architectures and end-to-end machine learning to enhance language learning systems. Recent projects include ArabiBot development and dialect identification models. He specializes in speech-to-text systems , prosody modeling , and emotional speech analysis for Arabic language learning applications.
Bryan Pardo is a Professor of Computer Science at Northwestern University and head of the Interactive Audio Lab. He co-directs the Northwestern Center for Human Computer Interaction + Design and chairs the Computer Science Diversity Committee. He teaches courses in Deep Learning, Machine Learning, Generative Modeling, and Digital Music Instrument Design. PhD in Computer Science and Engineering, University of Michigan MMus in Jazz and Improvisation, University of Michigan MS in Computer Science, Ohio State University BMus in Jazz Composition, Ohio State University His research focuses on machine understanding and manipulation of sound, particularly in music and speech domains. Key areas include Machine Learning (e.g., automated gradient clipping), Signal Processing (e.g., Multi-scale Common-fate Transform), and Human Computer Interaction. Applications involve inclusive audio interfaces, audio search engines, source separation, natural language-controlled audio effects, privacy-preserving adversarial attacks on voice recognition, and music co-creation tools. Recent publications highlight advancements in neural watermarking (MaskMark), masked acoustic modeling (VampNet), and real-time adversarial privacy systems for speech. His lab's work has been applied in Adobe's AI-powered audio editor and Lexie B2 hearing aids. Scientific Awards: $1.8 million NSF Future of Work award $440K NSF grant for accessible music programming $200K Toyota grant $100K Sony grant TorchCrepe pitch tracker: 20 million+ downloads Bryan Pardo advises PhD student Max Morrison and collaborates with researchers like Patrick O'Reilly, Zeyu Jin, and Prem Seetharaman. His lab develops technologies for blind and visually impaired audio creators, including HaptEQ and Eyes-free tools.
Mark D. Hill is a Professor at the University of Wisconsin—Madison, renowned for transformative contributions to computer architecture spanning memory systems and parallel computing. His work earned the ACM-IEEE CS Eckert-Mauchly Award in 2019 and ACM Fellowship in 2004. Hill pioneered the 3C model for cache misses, SC for DRF memory consistency (with Sarita Adve), and transactional memory via LogTM (with David Wood). His simulation frameworks—Dinero, GEMS, gem5, and BadgerTrap—enable advanced analysis of memory behavior and virtual systems, while concepts like 'page reservation' directly impact Linux kernel design. Research spans cache optimization, heterogeneous processor memory models, and scalable parallel evaluation techniques. Hill's accolades include: ACM-IEEE CS Eckert-Mauchly Award (2019) for contributions to memory systems and parallel computer design/evaluation ACM Fellow (2004) for innovations in memory consistency models and memory system architecture With over 160 co-authors and 20,000+ citations, Hill mentored influential researchers like Sarita Adve. His grant-supported projects—including the Wisconsin Wind Tunnel simulator—produced industry-adopted tools cited thousands of times, driving real-world implementations in programming languages and operating systems. Hill leads critical research initiatives at Wisconsin, developing the Dinero cache simulator, GEMS/gem5 full-system simulators, and BadgerTrap virtual memory analyzer. These projects underpin modern architecture research and continue to evolve for emerging heterogeneous computing challenges.
Irina Oleinikova is a Professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in the Department of Electric Energy, Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering. She leads the Power System Operation and Analysis research group and serves as the NTNU Smart Grid Team Leader. She is a steering committee member of the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) Joint Programme on Smart Grids and an expert in the International Smart Grid Action Network (ISGAN) WG6. Research Interests : Power System Operation, Digital Power System Protection and Control, Grid Resilience, Energy Flexibility, Cybersecurity in Power Systems, and Hydrogen Technology Integration. Her work focuses on advancing smart grids, grid flexibility, and cybersecurity through projects like FME CINELDI, HONOR, ASAP, and ZeroKyst. Key Projects : CINELDI : Developing intelligent electricity distribution grids. HONOR : Cross-sectoral energy flexibility markets. ASAP : Next-generation system protection schemes. ZeroKyst : Hydrogen and charging infrastructure along Norway’s coast. COSPAT : Stability of AC/DC transmission grids via co-simulation. Advising & Grants : Supervises PhD students in digital protection and cybersecurity. Active in projects funded by RCN, STATNETT, and EU Horizon 2020. Leads the Power System Operation and Analysis group and collaborates with SINTEF and industry partners. Labs/Teams : NTNU Smart Grid Team and the Power System Operation research group.
