Siobhan Kattago is an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Tartu. Her work bridges Philosophy, Sociology, and Politics, with a focus on memory studies, political theory, and Hannah Arendt's thought. She holds a PhD (1997) and MA (1993) in Sociology from The New School for Social Research, followed by postdoctoral research at New York University and the New School University. Her research explores the intersections of memory, modernity, and time. Key areas include the ethics of remembrance, political theology, and the legacy of totalitarian regimes. Notable publications include Ambiguous Memory: The Nazi Past and German National Identity (2001), Memory and Representation in Contemporary Europe (2012), and Encountering the Past within the Present (2020). Recent articles address the Russia-Ukraine war’s temporal dimensions and the pandemic’s impact on time perception. Her scholarship emphasizes pluralism and responsibility in confronting historical trauma, drawing on Arendtian and Kantian frameworks. Current projects include analyses of memory in post-Soviet contexts and the ethical dimensions of collective memory in global conflicts.
Kristina Backer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cognitive and Information Sciences at the University of California, Merced. Her research focuses on cognitive neuroscience, auditory processing, and the intersection of sensory systems with higher-order cognition. She employs methods such as EEG, fMRI, and behavioral experiments to investigate topics like bilingualism effects, neuroplasticity in aging, and multisensory integration mechanisms. Her work explores how auditory and visual systems interact, particularly in phenomena such as the McGurk illusion and the continuity illusion in musicians. She also examines how auditory cues influence motor timing and the neural mechanisms underlying attentional modulation in short-term memory. Backer’s studies often involve clinical populations, such as children with cochlear implants and older adults with hearing loss, to understand the cognitive and neurophysiological impacts of sensory deficits. Key research themes include the temporal dynamics of sensory processing, the neural basis of cross-modal perception, and individual differences in cognitive abilities linked to language experience and aging. Her experimental methods emphasize electrophysiological techniques combined with computational modeling to dissect neural correlates of perception and cognition. Backer’s publications highlight advancements in understanding auditory-motor integration, neuroplasticity in bilingualism, and the development of rapid diagnostic tools for sensory pathway assessment. Her research bridges fundamental neuroscience with clinical applications, aiming to improve rehabilitation strategies for auditory and cognitive impairments.
Curtis Baker is a Senior Scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montreal General Hospital site, and a Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at McGill University. His research focuses on understanding human visual perception , particularly low-level neural mechanisms that underpin everyday visual processing of figure-ground and local depth relationships through cues like contrast, texture, and motion . Institutional Affiliation: RI-MUHC, McGill University Academic Rank: Professor His lab employs human psychophysics , electrophysiology , optical imaging , and computational modeling to study how early visual processing detects and utilizes complex cues. Key research areas include receptive field dynamics , second-order boundary perception , and machine learning applications in visual neuroscience. Recent publications highlight his work on convolutional neural networks for receptive field estimation, Y-like neuronal responses in human vision, and texture regularity models using wavelet analysis. Collaborations span computational neuroscience , optical imaging , and depth perception mechanisms. Students and researchers in his lab include graduate students in Integrated Program in Neuroscience , Physiology , and Biomedical Engineering , alongside alumni contributing to neurophysiology and computational biology projects.
Jan Pfister is a researcher at the Chair of Data Science (Informatik X) , affiliated with the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Würzburg . Holding an M.Sc. in Computer Science from 2021, he contributes to the DMIR group while maintaining the BibSonomy platform. His work bridges Natural Language Processing and Deep Learning , with a focus on structured sentiment analysis and German language modeling. His research explores the integration of Large Language Models with Pointer Networks to extract fine-grained sentiment information. He has developed ModernGBERT , a German-only encoder model, and LLäMmlein , advancing NLP capabilities for the language. Pfister's recent publications highlight trends in encoder-decoder architectures, model-agnostic hallucination detection, and multi-label classification frameworks that refine LLM outputs. He has taught courses including Information Retrieval (SS '22), Text Mining (WS '23), and Selected Topics in Machine Learning (SS'21, WS '21, WS'24). His collaborative projects span medical informatics, human-AI interaction, and social media analysis, often involving interdisciplinary teams and real-world data.
Prof. Dr. Frank Becker is a faculty member at the University of Duisburg-Essen's Faculty of Humanities , where he has taught modern and contemporary history since 2011. He studied history, German studies, philosophy, and education at the University of Münster, earning his doctorate in 1992 and habilitation in 1998. Research Focus: Political culture, war and society, theoretical and methodological questions, nationalism, religion, cultural ambiguity, physical culture, and industrial work. Academic Roles: Member of the Faculty Council and Senate Commission QVK; editor of the series Kontingenzgeschichten (with Stefan Brakensiek and Benjamin Scheller). His work explores ambiguity and contingency in historical contexts, spanning from 19th-century German-French conflicts to 20th-century labor policies. Recent articles and books analyze gender norms, media representations, and cultural symbols across periods like the Weimar Republic and post-war Germany. Publications reveal a thematic emphasis on war's societal impact , industrial labor , and sport as political symbolism . He investigates how historical actors navigated uncertainty and constructed national identities. Scientific Awards: Werner Hahlweg Prize (Second Prize) University of Münster's Young Researcher Award Prof. Becker contributes to DFG Research Training Group 1919 ( Precaution, Foresight, Prediction ) and Research Group 2600 ( Ambiguity and Distinction ). His courses include seminars on modern history, social and economic history, and theoretical modules on space-time dynamics.
Dr. Fredrik Albritton Jonsson is an Associate Professor at the University of Chicago in the departments of History, Conceptual and Historical Studies of Science, and the College. He serves as Director of the Nicholson Center for British Studies and holds a tripartite appointment across academic units. Research Focus: British history, environmental history, and political economy Awards: Ruskin Society Book Prize (runner-up) for co-authored Green Victorians Current Projects: Intersections of fossil fuel economy, geological science, and environmental consciousness during Britain's Industrial Revolution His work examines the historical roots of contemporary ecological crises through Enlightenment thought, Victorian environmentalism, and the Anthropocene. Recent publications analyze resource scarcity, climate anxiety, and the political ecologies of growth. Albritton Jonsson has received major grants from the Huntington Library, ACLS, Mellon Foundation, and Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study. He supervises graduate research covering British environmental history, agricultural revolutions, and settler colonial resource management.
Dr Guy Kahane is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Philosophy , University of Oxford, and a faculty member at the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics . His research bridges philosophy of neuroscience , moral psychology , metaethics , and applied ethics . Research Interests Kahane explores how neuroscience informs moral judgment, challenges utilitarianism through multidimensional models, and critiques speciesism in moral prioritization. He investigates axiological debates around theism and evolutionary suffering, arguing against simplistic views of cosmic indifference and species-based moral hierarchies. His work includes empirical studies on public perceptions of harm to animals versus humans, co-developing the Oxford Utilitarianism Scale to dissociate moral dimensions. Recent publications focus on individuality, cosmic importance, and historical significance. Notable Contributions Argued that sacrificial dilemmas fail to capture the altruistic core of utilitarianism. Challenged speciesism in moral psychology through cross-species prioritization studies. Developed a framework for understanding the axiological implications of evolution and theism.
Glen Chou is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Tech. He holds dual B.S. degrees from UC Berkeley (Electrical Engineering & Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering) and M.S./Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan (Electrical & Computer Engineering). Prior to Georgia Tech, he was a postdoctoral researcher at MIT CSAIL. Chou directs the Trustworthy Robotics Lab, focusing on algorithms for general-purpose robots and autonomous systems to ensure capability, safety, and resilience in real-world conditions. His research integrates control theory, machine learning, optimization, and formal methods. He emphasizes both theoretical foundations (e.g., proving algorithmic properties) and practical deployment on real robots. Key research areas include trustworthy autonomy, human-robot interaction, and constraint learning from demonstrations. His lab addresses challenges in perception, motion planning, and system reliability through interdisciplinary approaches. Chou has received notable awards including the Robotics: Science & Systems Pioneer (2022), NDSEG Fellowship (2019), and NSF Graduate Fellowship (2019). His work bridges foundational theory with real-world applications, with a focus on safety-critical systems.
Dr. Stefanie Sharman is an Associate Professor and Associate Head of School (Teaching and Learning) at the School of Psychology , Deakin University . Her work focuses on memory, forensic interviewing, and training investigative interviewers. Doctor of Philosophy, Victoria University of Wellington Graduate Certificate of Higher Education, Deakin University Bachelor of Science, Victoria University of Wellington Research interests include: Memory distortion and false memory formation Forensic interviewing techniques for children and adults Training methodologies for investigative interviewers Cognitive psychology applications in legal contexts Source monitoring and memory accuracy Her recent publications address topics such as forensic interviewer self-assessment, memory accuracy in repeated events, misinformation effects via social media, and cultural adaptations in child interview training programs. Supervision includes doctoral students researching dietary reporting accuracy, ADHD eyewitness susceptibility, and rapport-building in forensic interviews. Current and completed supervisees span topics in credibility assessment, lineup procedures, and narrative identity construction. Grants include a $1.09M contract from Queensland's Department of Justice and Attorney-General to co-design victim advocacy models, and prior ARC and WA Department of Child Protection funded projects on child witness particularisation. Professional roles include serving as Associate Editor for Legal and Criminological Psychology (2023). She has chaired cognitive psychology units at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Michael Minock is an Associate Professor in Computing Science at Umeå University. His research focuses on the intersection of AI and relational databases, particularly in natural language interfaces, semantic tractability, and knowledge representation. He has led significant projects such as the VR grant (2015-04953) and EU STREP SpaceBook (2011–2014). Minock also co-founded C-Phrase Technologies AB and teaches courses on databases and large language models. B.S. in Computer Science (Honors), University of Michigan Ph.D. in Computer Science, UCLA His research explores the logical foundations of database query languages, emphasizing higher-order logic in natural language interfaces. Recent work integrates LLMs into database management systems. Key publication trends include query containment analysis, cooperative question answering, and context-aware navigation systems. Subfields span natural language processing, spatial databases, and semantic reasoning. Scientific Awards: Pell Grants Michigan Competitive Scholarship DARPA AASERT Award Minock's teaching includes courses on database management and LLM applications in IT. He actively contributes to open-access publications and maintains a strong interdisciplinary focus across AI, logic, and real-world database challenges.
Univ.-Prof. Franz-Markus Peschl is Professor of Cognitive Science and Philosophy of Science at the University of Vienna's Department of Philosophy within the Faculty of Philosophy and Education. He serves as Vice-Director of Studies for the Philosophy Directorate and leads multiple academic initiatives including the Middle European Interdisciplinary Joint Master's Program in Cognitive Science (MEi:CogSci) and the Extension Curriculum on Innovation & Knowledge Creation. As head of the OCKO (Organizing Cognition in Knowing Organizations) Research Group and co-founder of the Vienna Cognitive Science Hub, Prof. Peschl plays a pivotal role in interdisciplinary research and education at the university. Prof. Peschl's research focuses on innovation and knowledge creation across multiple contexts, integrating approaches from cognitive science (particularly 4E/enactive cognition), organizational theory, philosophy/epistemology, and knowledge technologies. His work centers on understanding how novelty emerges through socio-epistemological processes, with particular emphasis on concepts such as Emergent Innovation and Enabling Spaces which he developed as forms of "socio-epistemological engineering." His research explores how humans interact with environments to create knowledge, how organizations function as socially extended cognitive systems, and how we can "learn from future potentials" to develop 21st century & futures skills. He investigates the role of extended and enactive cognition in knowledge processes, the foundations of organizations as cognitive institutions, and implications for educational settings and organizational innovation. Analysis of Prof. Peschl's recent publications reveals a consistent trajectory toward integrating cognitive science with practical innovation frameworks. His work consistently bridges theoretical foundations with actionable insights for organizations and educational settings. A strong theme throughout is the role of physical and social spaces in enabling knowledge work, with empirical studies on material artifacts like LEGO bricks as boundary objects in innovation processes. His scholarship increasingly addresses digital transformation and AI's implications for knowledge creation while maintaining a robust philosophical foundation in epistemology. The temporal dimension of innovation—particularly "learning from the future as it emerges"—represents a distinctive contribution to the field. Prof. Peschl has received recognition for his innovative approaches to teaching and learning, including a Teaching Award. His educational philosophy emphasizes that "learning is a socio-epistemic-material activity of co-creation, interaction with the world and others, and shaping and being shaped by the world on all levels." He has contributed to designing innovative physical learning environments, including the Learning Lab at the Center for Teaching and Learning. His teaching portfolio includes courses on designing innovation processes, cognitive science foundations, and digital innovation labs that reflect his research interests. As head of the OCKO Research Group, Prof. Peschl leads interdisciplinary research on how cognition is organized in knowing organizations. His scholarly network extends through the CEEPUS Network for Cognitive Science and the FWF Cluster of Excellence "Knowledge in Crisis." Beyond academia, he co-founded and serves as CSO of theLivingCore Innovation and Knowledge Architects, demonstrating strong connections between theoretical research and practical innovation applications. His work with international universities through visiting professorships (including Berlin and Bratislava) underscores his global scholarly impact.
Asad L. Asad is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Stanford University and a faculty affiliate at the Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity (CCSRE). His research agenda examines how institutional categories like citizenship and legal status shape inequality through immigration enforcement, health outcomes, and social control mechanisms. B.A. in Political Science and Spanish, University of Wisconsin A.M. and Ph.D. in Sociology, Harvard University His work bridges multiple subfields, including: Immigration Policy: Analysis of deportation systems and their societal impacts Social Determinants: Linking legal status to health disparities Urban Sociology: Residential strategies under surveillance Legal Sociology: Judicial decision-making in immigration courts Population Studies: Longitudinal analysis of Latino communities Recent publications (2024-2025) expand on temporal trends in deportation fears, spatial dimensions of immigration policing, and advocacy perspectives reshaping policy frameworks. Earlier empirical work (2018-2019) established foundational connections between undocumented status and health outcomes, while his 2023 book Engage and Evade received multiple academic awards. Scientific recognition includes awards from: American Political Science Association American Sociological Association Order of the Coif Mellon Mays Faculty Mentor Award Stanford Dean’s Teaching Award Research funding has been secured through the National Science Foundation and Russell Sage Foundation. He teaches courses on race, ethnicity, immigration, and research methodology.
Holmer Steinfath is a full Professor of Practical Philosophy at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen since 2006. His academic journey includes professorships at RWTH Aachen (2002-2006) and Universität Regensburg (2002-2006), with earlier roles as a lecturer and assistant at Universität Konstanz (1994-2002). He holds a PhD (1988) and Habilitation (2000) in philosophy, focusing on Aristotle and Plato. Steinfath serves as a co-editor for two book series and advises on journal boards. Education Philosophy studies at Universität Hamburg and Freie Universität Berlin PhD (1988): Aristotle's Substance Theory Habilitation (2000): Practical Reasoning and Personhood Research interests span practical philosophy, ethics, and philosophical anthropology, with specializations in the good life , moral justification, metaethics, and normative ethics. He explores temporal dimensions in ethics (e.g., time sovereignty, existential coherence) and connects ancient philosophy (Plato, Aristotle) to modern moral frameworks. Recent publications focus on temporal ethics, medical philosophy, and moral theory. His 15 most recent works (2025-1996) analyze topics like time perception, autonomy in medicine, and ethical systems, blending classical and modern philosophical approaches. Notable collaborations include co-edited handbooks on medicine and temporality. Scientific roles include Member of the Lower Saxon Academy of Sciences (2010-present) Trust Professor of Studienstiftung (2021-present) Co-editor of Neue Studien zur Philosophie and Philosophische Abhandlungen book series Advisory board member for Jahrbuch für Wissenschaft und Ethik and Zeitschrift für Ethik und Moralphilosophie Grants & Projects Co-editor of key anthologies including Autonomie und Vertrauen (2016) Principal investigator for DFG-FOR 5022 project on medicine and the time structure of the good life (since 2021)
Simon Fischer-Baum is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Rice University. His research investigates the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying language processing and memory systems. Education: B.A. in Neuroscience and Behavior, Columbia University, 2003 Ph.D. in Cognitive Science, Johns Hopkins University, 2010 Dr. Fischer-Baum's research integrates written and spoken language processing with short-term memory systems through cognitive neuropsychology. His lab employs computational modeling, behavioral experiments, and neuroimaging techniques (fMRI, ERP/EEG, tDCS) to examine representations and processes across diverse populations including unimpaired undergraduates, congenitally deaf/blind individuals, and brain-damaged patients. Current projects focus on written language processing mechanisms, sequence representation organization, and temporal dynamics of cognition revealed through perseveration errors in serial order processing. Advising: Dr. Fischer-Baum currently mentors graduate students Colin Noe (EEG/ERP methods in spoken language perception), Sarah Irons (computational cognitive neuropsychology), Katia Kazhuro (aphasia language production deficits), and Yu Lu (psycholinguistics with Martin Lab). His former doctoral students include Yingxue Tian (Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute), Mingjun Zhai (Hong Kong Polytechnic University), and Ivanova Veras de Jesús (Rice BMED Lab). Lab: The Neuroplasticity Lab maintains a problem-centered research approach studying neural adaptation to expertise, cross-system cognitive interactions, and cortical reorganization following brain damage. The lab collaborates with Rice's Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience group and hosts visiting scholars like Qingqing Qu from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with Charlotte Wilkinson serving as lab manager.
Chung-Wei Lin is an Associate Professor and Deputy Director at the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering and the Graduate Institute of Networking and Multimedia at National Taiwan University. His research focuses on cyber-physical systems, particularly in the domains of connected and autonomous vehicles, system security, and design methodologies. He maintains active collaborations with industry partners including Toyota and has established himself as a leading researcher in intelligent transportation systems in Taiwan. Education: Ph.D. (2015) from Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California, Berkeley (Advisor: Alberto L. Sangiovanni-Vincentelli) M.S. (2007) from Graduate Institute of Electronics Engineering, National Taiwan University (Advisor: Yao-Wen Chang) B.S. (2005) from Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Taiwan University Dr. Lin's research interests center on cyber-physical systems with specific focus on connected and autonomous vehicles, security mechanisms, and system design methodology. Before returning to NTU in 2018, he worked at Toyota InfoTechnology Center, USA, Inc. His recent projects cover diverse topics including systems engineering, formal verification for robustness and compatibility, runtime monitoring, and intelligent intersection management. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, addressing real-world challenges in transportation systems through innovative technical solutions. Analysis of Dr. Lin's recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong emphasis on intelligent transportation systems with particular focus on security challenges for connected vehicles, formal verification techniques for safety-critical systems, and novel control algorithms for vehicle coordination. His research demonstrates increasing integration of machine learning approaches, especially reinforcement learning, to address complex decision-making problems in transportation. The work spans multiple technical domains including control theory, networking, cybersecurity, and formal methods, reflecting the inherently interdisciplinary nature of cyber-physical transportation systems research. Selected Awards: 2016 Best Paper Award, ACM Transactions on Design Automation of Electronic Systems 2015 Most Accessed ESL Paper Best Paper Award, IEEE ISSREW 2016 workshop Best Paper Award, ICCD 2010 Best Paper Nominee, ASP-DAC 2015 Dr. Lin currently advises multiple Ph.D. and M.S. students, with research focusing on various aspects of cyber-physical systems for transportation. His group includes Ph.D. students Pintusorn Suttiponpisarn and I-Ching Tseng, as well as several M.S. students. His extensive publication record and numerous patents (over 20 granted) indicate significant research impact and likely substantial research funding from both government and industry sources. His research program demonstrates strong translational potential, with many concepts moving from theoretical foundations to practical implementations. Dr. Lin leads the Cyber-Physical Systems Laboratory at NTU, which focuses on research related to intelligent transportation systems. The lab conducts research in areas including vehicle control, intersection management, security mechanisms, and formal verification for cyber-physical systems. His team collaborates with researchers from various institutions globally, as evidenced by his extensive publication record with international co-authors from universities and research institutions in the United States, Japan, and Europe.
