Jan Knippers is a Professor and Institute Director at the University of Stuttgart's Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning , leading the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) . He co-founded Knippers Helbig Advanced Engineering and established Jan Knippers Ingenieure in 2018 to focus on innovative fiber composite and timber structures. Key roles: Deputy Executive Director of Cluster of Excellence IntCDC , former Vice-Rector for Research (2019-2021), and Dean of Faculty of Architecture (2021-2023) Technical focus: Hybrid FRP-Timber systems, computational design, and biomimetic principles His projects include the 2024 Hybrid Flax Pavilion , Urbach Tower (2024), and BUGA Fiber Pavilion (2019). He contributes to European standardization committees and serves as 2024 Leverhulme Visiting Professor at University College London.
Dr. Andre Kahles is a Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at ETH Zürich, specializing in biomedical informatics. His research focuses on computational methods for analyzing large-scale genomic and transcriptomic data, with applications in cancer genomics, metagenomics, and precision medicine. He has contributed to the development of tools such as SplAdder for alternative splicing analysis, MetaGraph for petascale genomic data exploration, and SECEDO for subclone detection in cancer genomes. His work bridges algorithmic innovation with biological insights, addressing challenges in single-cell analysis, genome graph alignment, and multi-omics integration. Key research themes include: Developing scalable algorithms for processing nanopore sequencing and metagenomic data Characterizing somatic mutations and non-coding drivers in cancer genomes Advancing genome graph-based alignment and annotation methods Integrating multi-omics data for clinical decision-making and tumor profiling His publications span topics like RNA-seq analysis, chromothripsis in cancers, and global urban microbiome tracking through the MetaSUB consortium. Kahles has collaborated on landmark projects including the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) and the Tumor Profiler Study.
Eetu Mäkelä is a Professor of Digital Humanities at the University of Helsinki, leading the research group at the Helsinki Centre for Digital Humanities. He focuses on computational methods in humanities and social sciences, including datafication and interdisciplinary collaboration. He serves as Technical Director of DARIAH-FI and a Research Programme Director at the Helsinki Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities. Currently, he heads the preparatory group for the Helsinki Liberal Arts and Sciences Bachelor’s Programme. His research emphasizes technological and theoretical foundations of computational research, with notable contributions to linked open data, sociolinguistic analysis, and historical text mining. He has developed widely used tools like Recon, Palladio, and Octavo, which are employed in academic and public sectors. His work has garnered over 20 awards, including best paper and open science recognitions. Key areas of expertise include digital humanities methodologies, data integration, and open science practices. He actively contributes to teaching, designing courses such as 'Methods for Digital Humanities' and demonstrating innovative pedagogical approaches. His recent projects involve analyzing 18th-century philosophical texts and sociolinguistic change using computational methods. Awards: Multiple best paper awards, open data awards, and open science awards. Grants/Advising: Leads research initiatives funded by the Academy of Finland and other bodies. Mentors interdisciplinary research teams but no specific student names listed. He maintains active roles in academic infrastructure, including the DARIAH-FI initiative and the Helsinki Institute’s datafication program. His work bridges technical innovation with humanities scholarship, emphasizing practical, enduring systems for academic and public use.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Eric Sax is a Professor of Electronic Systems Engineering and Management at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), serving as Dean of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (ETIT). He leads the Institut für Technik der Informationsverarbeitung (ITIV) and directs the Forschungszentrum Informatik ESS division . As Program Director of the Electronic Systems Engineering & Management (ESEM) master's program at the HECTOR School, he focuses on integrating academic and professional education. His research spans automotive systems engineering , self-learning functions , cybersecurity , and data-driven validation . Key themes include over-the-air updates, scenario-based testing, and the synergy between machine learning and automotive systems. His work addresses challenges in autonomous driving validation, software-defined mobility, and cyber-physical system security. Prof. Sax's contributions include frameworks for automotive software partitioning, cloud-enabled vehicle architectures, and methodologies for quantifying data quality impacts on perception systems. He actively collaborates with industry partners to bridge academic research with industrial application. His recent projects include OptiCAM (cloud/edge function offloading), Drive4C (autonomous driving benchmarking), and UNCOVER (data-driven security monitoring). He holds leadership roles in both KIT and the HECTOR School's technology business programs.
Dr Brandon M Grainger is an Eaton Faculty Fellow and Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering, where he also directs the Electric Power Technologies Laboratory, serves as Associate Director of the Energy GRID Institute, and co-directs Pitt AMPED. A key architect of Pitt’s electric power program since 2008, he focuses on advanced power conversion, high-voltage electronics, wide-band-gap semiconductors, and aerospace power systems. Education PhD, Electrical Engineering (Power Conversion), University of Pittsburgh, 2014 MS, Electrical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 2011 BS, Mechanical Engineering & Minor in Electrical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 2007 Executive Education Certificate, Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University, 2019 Research Focus Dr Grainger’s work lies at the intersection of power electronics, high-voltage engineering, and sustainable energy systems. He specializes in medium- and high-voltage power electronics (HVDC, STATCOM), resonant converters, and ultra-high-power-density designs leveraging SiC and GaN semiconductors. His investigations extend to electric-vehicle traction drives, solid-state transformers, optimized magnetics for aerospace applications, and resilient microgrids. He and his students routinely collaborate with NASA JPL, Johns Hopkins APL, Honeywell Aerospace, and the Naval Research Laboratory, leveraging Pitt’s NSF SHREC center to push the boundaries of power conversion in space and defense systems. Selected Research Themes High-frequency, high-density DC/DC converters for satellite power systems Radiation-tolerant GaN converters and point-of-load power stages Medium-voltage testbed development (13.8 kV, 5 MVA) Rare-earth-free permanent-magnet machine topologies Model-predictive control of multi-phase drives and microgrids Honors & Awards 2024 IEEE Region 2 Outstanding Educator Award 2024 Pitt STRIVE Outstanding DEI Service Award 2019 ESWP Engineer of the Year 2019 ASEE 2nd Place Best Paper Award 2019 SRI Undergraduate Best Mentor Award Richard K. Mellon Endowed Graduate Fellowship National Academies of Science & Engineering Ambassador Senior Member, IEEE Grants & Industry Partnerships Dr Grainger’s research has been continuously funded by federal agencies and industry partners including NASA JPL, Johns Hopkins APL, Honeywell Aerospace, the Naval Research Laboratory, Eaton, and the National Science Foundation through the SHREC Center. These awards support graduate students and post-docs working on next-generation power systems for aerospace, naval, and terrestrial applications. Laboratories & Teams Director, Electric Power Technologies Laboratory (EPTL) Associate Director, Energy GRID Institute Co-Director, Pitt AMPED (Advanced Multimodal Power and Energy Development) Faculty Affiliate, NSF SHREC Center
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Elisabeth Clausen is a Professor and Director of the Chair and Institute for Advanced Mining Technologies at RWTH Aachen University. She holds key roles in the Specialist Group for Raw Materials and Disposal Technology, serves as a rectorate representative, and leads the Commission for EU Research Funding. Her research spans Underground mining automation Acoustic emission diagnostics Sustainable mining systems Space resource extraction Advanced sensor technologies Her recent publications focus on autonomous mining machinery, underground communication systems, and acoustic emission analysis across 15+ studies from 2013–2025, with particular emphasis on Ultra-wideband positioning Thermographic detection Crack monitoring in planetary gearboxes Explosive atmosphere safety Mineral processing diagnostics Digitalization trends Prof. Clausen contributes to mining education reform through initiatives like CDIO™ and has developed innovative learning spaces in underground mines. She coordinates international educational labs and integrates sustainability into mining engineering curricula, with publications on Adaptive ventilation systems Mining education frameworks Future-proof mineral extraction Entrepreneurial mindset in engineering
Conrad Watt is an Assistant Professor at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore , specializing in WebAssembly, formal verification, and concurrency. He previously served as a Research Fellow at Peterhouse, University of Cambridge, and earned his PhD under Peter Sewell. Co-chair of the W3C WebAssembly Community Group Active in WebAssembly standards development, including concurrency specifications Developed mechanizations in theorem provers like Isabelle/HOL Collaborator with industry (wasmtime engine) and academic teams on verification tools Research Focus: Formal verification of low-level languages, concurrency models, and security mechanisms for WebAssembly. His work bridges theoretical rigor with practical applications, including WasmRef-Isabelle and threads projects. Recent Trends: 2025 publications explore separation logic automation and concurrency experiments, while 2024-2023 work emphasizes specification toolchains (SpecTec), verified interpreters, and memory-safe execution techniques. Scientific Awards ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award Honorable Mention EAPLS Best Dissertation Award Advising: Supervises PhD students Qiyuan Xu and Antanas Kalkauskas. Collaborates with researchers like Philippa Gardner and Jean Pichon-Pharabod.
Dr. Prasanth Venugopal is an Associate Professor specializing in Power Electronics with a focus on advanced energy transfer systems and battery technology. His research spans wireless power transfer, electric vehicle charging, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for battery diagnostics. Primary research areas: Wireless Power Transfer (100%), Harmonics (88%), Inductive Power Transfer (87%), Battery Engineering (48%) Recent publications demonstrate expertise in transformerless converter designs, multi-level architectures, and AI-driven battery capacity estimation. He has pioneered meander coil topologies for harmonic mitigation and developed computation-light models for battery aging analysis. His work includes collaborations on Li-ion battery degradation, onboard chargers for electric vehicles, and hybrid power systems for electric aircraft. Despite significant output in IEEE Transactions, no explicit awards or student mentoring data appears in the provided texts.
Haipeng Shen is a Professor of Innovation and Information Management at HKU Business School, The University of Hong Kong, serving as Associate Dean (EMBA and IMBA) and holding the Patrick S C Poon Professorship in Analytics and Innovation. He chairs the Business Analytics and Innovation program and joined HKU in 2015 after previously holding a professorship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His academic credentials include: PhD in Statistics, The Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, 2003 MA in Statistics, The Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, 2000 BS in Mathematics, School of Mathematical Sciences, Peking University, 1998 Professor Shen's research focuses on data-driven decision making under uncertainty, with expertise spanning big data analytics, business analytics, healthcare analytics, and service engineering. He develops advanced statistical and machine learning methodologies to solve complex operational problems in call centers, optimize stroke care protocols, and enhance financial risk modeling, emphasizing real-time applications in high-stakes environments. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent interdisciplinary approach bridging operations research, statistics, and domain-specific knowledge. His work demonstrates strong methodological innovation in time-series forecasting for service systems, risk assessment frameworks for medical complications, and covariance structure analysis for financial markets, with direct translational impact on business operations and clinical outcomes. His scientific contributions have been recognized with prestigious awards including: Most Influential Publication Award from China Stroke Association (2018) Fellow of the American Statistical Association (2015) Best Advisor of the Year Award from Academy of Asian Business (2018) Elected Member of International Statistical Institute (2015) Cluster Chair for Big Data Analytics at INFORMS International (2015) As an academic leader, Professor Shen has secured significant research funding from organizations including The Xerox Foundation and National Institute on Drug Abuse. He serves as Associate Editor for Management Science, Journal of the American Statistical Association, and Technometrics, while mentoring graduate students in statistical methodology and applied analytics. His current initiatives position HKU Business School at the forefront of healthcare innovation through big data analytics, driving collaborations with medical institutions to transform stroke care and hospital operations in Asia.
Charles Baden-Fuller is the Centenary Professor of Strategy and leader of the Strategy Group at Bayes Business School , City St George’s, University of London . He is concurrently a Senior Fellow at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania . Recognised among the world’s top strategy scholars, he has directed major multi-institutional research initiatives and served as Editor-in-Chief of Long Range Planning (1999-2010). Education & Qualifications BA (Oxon) – University of Oxford MA Economics – Cornell University PhD – London School of Economics Research Interests Charles’s work lies at the intersection of strategic management , business model innovation and digital transformation . His early research explained how mature firms can be rejuvenated and how alliances create competitive advantage. More recently he has advanced the concept of business models , investigating what they are, how they evolve, and how managerial cognition shapes their deployment in increasingly digitalised environments. Empirical settings span biotechnology, financial services, automotive software ecosystems and creative industries. Publications & Impact With over 80 refereed journal articles and five influential books—including the seminal Rejuvenating the Mature Business (Harvard Business Press)—his scholarship has shaped both academic theory and managerial practice. Recent articles (2021-2025) focus on digital platform alliances, entrepreneurial networking logics, and AI-enabled business model design. Honours & Awards Fellow of the Strategic Management Society (SMS Fellow, 2009) Fellow of the British Academy of Management Fellow of the British Academy Fellow of AACSB Doctoral Supervision & Research Funding He has supervised to completion more than six PhD students, many now faculty at leading universities. His research has attracted over £4 million in grants from the European Union , UK ESRC , EPSRC and the Mack Institute-Wharton , supporting multi-university teams at Bayes, Sussex, LSE, CREATE-Glasgow, Grenoble EM and Wharton. Professional & Outreach Roles Beyond academia, Charles serves as director or strategic advisor to several high-technology start-ups and as trustee of a major charity. He is a frequent keynote speaker for industry and policy audiences, and his research findings have been featured in the Financial Times , Management Today and other leading media.
Robert M. Weikle, II is a Professor in the Charles L. Brown Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Virginia, with a courtesy appointment in the Department of Physics. He earned his B.S. from Rice University (1986), M.S. (1987), and Ph.D. (1992) in Electrical Engineering from Caltech, followed by postdoctoral work at Chalmers University of Technology (1992). His research focuses on millimeter-wave and terahertz electronics , applied electromagnetics, integrated antennas, low-noise sensors, and heterogeneous integration of compound semiconductors. His work bridges electronics and photonics for spectrum access, with applications in astronomy, spectroscopy, and metrology. He has published extensively on micromachined silicon substrates, superconducting materials, and emerging technologies. Scientific Awards: IEEE Microwave Prize (1993) David A. Harrison III Award (1999) University of Virginia All-University Outstanding Teaching Award (2000) Edlich-Henderson Innovator of the Year (2016) Fulbright Scholar (2001) As Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of Dominion Microprobes, Inc., he commercializes micromachined wafer probes for high-frequency metrology. His lab, located in E220 Thornton Hall and the Jesse W. Beams Physics Building, has produced 15+ recent publications on submillimeter-wave devices, THz probes, and calibration techniques.
Associate Professor Paola Leardini holds dual roles as Director (Research) and Associate Professor at the University of Queensland's School of Architecture, Design and Planning, within the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology. Her work bridges design and performance in built environments, focusing on net-zero targets, urban resilience, and circular economy strategies in construction. She is a key researcher in the Centre for Future Building Structures and advises on Queensland’s social/affordable housing through the Design Excellence Panel. Leardini earned a PhD in building energy efficiency and environmental quality from Politecnico di Milano, supervised by Prof. P. Ole Fanger. Her educational journey includes studies in Milan, Berlin, Leicester, and Copenhagen. Research highlights include eco-retrofitting of historical districts (e.g., Milan’s Quartiere Mazzini), Passive House adaptations for subtropical climates, and timber construction innovations with the ARC Advance Timber Hub. She co-founded Passive House Institute New Zealand (PHINZ) and collaborates globally on projects like water-sensitive cities and flood-resilient urban design. Her recent publications emphasize timber’s role in sustainable construction, circular economy frameworks, and climate-responsive building systems. Advising includes leading an ARC Linkage project on adaptable housing while fostering industry partnerships through projects like Norman Creek Catchment flood resilience studies. She actively contributes to labs/teams advancing timber use and urban resilience, aligning with UQ's mission for future-ready built environments.
Professor Dragan Jovcic is the Chair in Engineering at the University of Aberdeen's School of Engineering , where he has been a faculty member since 2004 and a full professor since 2012. Concurrently he serves as Director of the Aberdeen HVDC Research Centre , a role he has held since 2015. Education: PhD in Electrical Engineering, University of Auckland, 1999 Diploma Engineer in Control Systems, University of Belgrade, 1993 Postgraduate Certificate in University Teaching, University of Ulster, 2003 Research Interests: Professor Jovcic’s research centres on high-power electronics and HVDC transmission systems , with particular emphasis on the development of DC transmission grids that will enable large-scale integration of offshore wind energy . His work spans DC/DC converters , DC circuit breakers , modular multilevel converters (MMC) , flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS) , and advanced power system modelling and control . The overarching goal is to underpin the transition from fossil-fuel generation to renewable-dominated power systems, especially in the North Sea and European contexts. Publication Trends: Recent publications (2020-2023) reveal a strong focus on DC protection technologies —notably circuit breakers and energy absorbers—and on modelling methodologies for HVDC grids and offshore wind integration. The works address both theoretical advances (phasor and state-space models) and experimental validation (kV-level prototypes), reflecting a balanced portfolio of fundamental research and practical demonstration. Scientific Awards & Recognition: IEEE Fellow (2021) IEEE PES Distinguished Lecturer (since 2015) IET Fellow (2019) and Chartered Engineer (2018) Research Funding & Supervision: With over £5.5 million in external research income, Professor Jovcic is principal investigator or work-package leader on numerous EU Horizon Europe and EPSRC projects. He has supervised 9 PhDs to completion and is currently mentoring 2 PhD students and 2 post-doctoral fellows . Major grants include the €35 million PROMOTioN project on multiterminal DC networks and the €4 million MoWiLife project on wide-bandgap power electronics. Laboratory & Facilities: The Aberdeen HVDC Research Centre hosts a 0.9 kV DC grid demonstrator , 30 kW thyristor- and IGBT-based DC/DC converters , and 5 kV, 2 kA DC circuit breaker test benches , providing a world-class platform for experimental research and student training.
Dr. Seung-gu Lee is a Principal Scientist and Director of the Synthetic Biology Institute at the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB). He holds a Ph.D. in Biotechnology from KAIST and serves as the President of the Korean Society of Enzyme Engineering. His leadership extends to multiple national research initiatives focused on advancing synthetic biology infrastructure and applications. Dr. Lee is a leading expert in genetic circuits and enzyme engineering for synthetic biology. He pioneered the development of GESS (Genic Enzyme Screening System/Circuits) technology, which enables ultra-high-speed screening of trace enzyme activities at the single-cell level. His research focuses on applying intelligent genetic circuits to biosensors, metabolic control, and bioprocess development. He is actively integrating AI-based automated workflows with synthetic biology to revolutionize the speed and scale of biological research. His work spans multiple disciplines including enzyme engineering, genetic circuit design, metabolic engineering, and biofoundry development. Dr. Lee currently leads several major research initiatives including the Korea-North America Biofoundry Collaboration Global Joint Research Center, the development of core technologies for advanced synthetic biology, and the establishment of biofoundry infrastructure. His research team at KRIBB works at the intersection of synthetic biology, enzyme engineering, and AI-based automation to develop next-generation bio-manufacturing platforms. The lab has made significant contributions to genetic circuit design, biosensor development, and plastic biodegradation technologies.
Melissa A. Schilling is the Herzog Family Professor of Management at New York University Stern School of Business, where she is also Deputy Chair of the Management & Organizations Department and Director of the Innovation Initiative at the Fubon Center for Technology, Business and Innovation. She joined NYU Stern in 2001 and is a leading scholar in innovation and strategic management. Ph.D., Strategic Management, University of Washington, 1997 B.S., Business Administration, University of Colorado at Boulder, 1990 Melissa Schilling's research centers on innovation in high-technology industries, including smartphones, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy. She explores platform ecosystems, network externalities, technological standards, and the cognitive and social traits of breakthrough innovators. Her work integrates strategic management with organizational behavior and technological evolution. She is particularly known for her studies on how firms can accelerate innovation adoption and create value in complex ecosystems. Her recent publications reveal a strong trend in digital transformation, platform competition, and the cognitive foundations of visionary leadership. She analyzes how firms manage innovation in platform-based markets and how breakthrough ideas emerge from outlier thinking. Her articles frequently appear in top journals such as Strategic Management Journal , Organization Science , and Management Science . Scientific Awards and Recognitions: National Science Foundation CAREER Award 2022 Sumantra Ghoshal Award for Rigour and Relevance in Management 2018 Leadership in Technology Management, PICMET Best Paper in Management Science and Organization Science, 2012 Broderick Prize for Excellence in Research, Boston University Melissa Schilling has advised numerous doctoral students and contributed to major research initiatives, including a National Academy of Sciences committee on electric vehicle deployment. She has secured grants from the NSF and Kauffman Foundation. She is a senior editor at Strategy Science and serves on the editorial boards of several leading management journals. She also leads the Innovation Initiative at the Fubon Center, fostering industry-academia collaboration in tech innovation. She is actively involved in research labs and innovation centers at NYU Stern, particularly those focused on technology ecosystems and digital transformation. Her leadership in the Fubon Center drives interdisciplinary research on how businesses can leverage technological change for competitive advantage.
