Leijun Li, PhD, P.Eng., is a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Alberta, where he also serves as Chair. With a career spanning institutions including Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Northern Iowa, and Utah State University, he specializes in physical metallurgy , welding metallurgy , and additive manufacturing . His research focuses on microstructure characterization, mechanical properties, and modeling of non-equilibrium phase transformations during welding and AM processes. Current affiliations: University of Alberta, American Welding Society, ASM International Research themes: Additive manufacturing of alloys, Corrosion science, Pipeline metallurgy, Phase transformations, Welding robotics He has received multiple AWS Hobart Awards (4 times) and Savage Awards (2 times) for his work on pipeline welding and metallurgy. His group has published extensively on topics including delta-ferrite retention in Grade 91 steel, inverse bainite transformations , and welding defect analysis . Recent projects include NSERC Alliance Missions Grant for rare earth mineral recovery and Alberta Innovates Ecosystem Program for advanced manufacturing. Key collaborators: Dr. Tom Lienert, Dr. Xiaoying Fang, Dr. P-Q Xu Labs: Rooms 2-158/3-133 (CME Building), Office 12th Floor DICE Building
Professor Da-Wen Sun is a globally recognized authority in food and biosystems engineering at the UCD School of Biosystems & Food Engineering , University College Dublin. His research focuses on enhancing food preservation through innovative technologies like ultrasound-assisted freezing to minimize nutrient loss and structural damage in frozen foods. Key contributions: Developed ultrasound freezing methods to reduce ice crystal damage Editor of seminal texts including Handbook of Frozen Food Processing Founded the journal Food and Bioprocess Technology His work bridges computational modeling (e.g., CFD simulations , machine learning ) with industrial applications, particularly in freezing, drying, and vacuum cooling. Recent studies explore terahertz imaging for pest detection, deep eutectic solvents for moisture control, and cold plasma for allergen reduction. Scientific awards include: Frozen Food Foundation Freezing Research Award (2013) - First non-US recipient CIGR Honorary President title (2016) for leadership in agricultural engineering He leads the UCD Food Refrigeration & Computerised Food Technology group , collaborating internationally on technologies like nanosensors and green cryoprotectants to advance sustainable food systems.
Dr. Lea Scharff is a Staff Scientist in Volcanology at the University of Hamburg, affiliated with the Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN) and the Department of Geophysics. She holds a PhD in Volcanology from the University of Hamburg (2012) and a Diplom in Geophysics (2006). Her research focuses on volcanic ash cloud modeling, volcano monitoring systems, and Doppler radar technology development for eruption dynamics analysis. She leads the development of software for volcano radar data processing and collaborates with Metek GmbH on radar innovations. Education: 2006: Diplom in Geophysics, University of Hamburg 2012: PhD in Volcanology, University of Hamburg Research Interests: Her work emphasizes understanding volcanic systems' physics to improve hazard mitigation. Key areas include Doppler radar analysis of eruption plumes, interdisciplinary data integration, and real-time monitoring tools. She investigates volcanic ash transport, pyroclastic density currents, and eruption mechanisms using radar, thermography, and numerical models. Grants & Projects: Lead developer of volcano radar software under DFG-funded projects Collaborator on Sakurajima volcano electrification studies (Japan) Member of MeMoVolc international workshop on volcanic data integration Labs/Teams: Physical Volcanology Group at the University of Hamburg Institute of Geophysics. Active in field installations of radar networks at volcanoes like Colima (Mexico) and Turrialba (Costa Rica).
Naoki Saito is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of California, Davis, and the Director of the UC Davis TETRAPODS Institute of Data Science (UCD4IDS). His research lies at the intersection of applied mathematics, signal processing, and data science, with a focus on multiscale analysis and harmonic analysis on graphs and networks. His research interests include Applied and Computational Harmonic Analysis , Graph Signal Processing , Multiscale Transforms , Wavelets , Spectral Graph Theory , and Mathematical Data Representation . He develops theoretical frameworks and practical algorithms for analyzing complex datasets, particularly through the use of Laplacian eigenfunctions and multiscale basis dictionaries. The recent publications reflect a strong trend toward graph-based signal processing , scattering transforms , and topological data analysis . His work emphasizes the construction of natural, adaptive bases for signals on graphs and simplicial complexes, enabling efficient and interpretable data analysis. The integration of harmonic analysis with machine learning techniques is a recurring theme. Although no specific scientific awards are listed in the provided texts, his sustained scholarly output and leadership in the field are evident. Dr. Saito advises a number of students and postdoctoral researchers, including J. Irion, Y. Shao, H. Li, and others. His research has been supported by various grants, though specific funding sources are not detailed in the provided materials. He leads the UCD4IDS, a research institute focused on data science, indicating active involvement in collaborative, interdisciplinary research and academic leadership.
Alla Sheffer is a Professor and Associate Head of Faculty Affairs in the Department of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Science. She is affiliated with multiple research centers including CAIDA (Centre for Artificial Intelligence Decision-making and Action), the Institute of Applied Mathematics, and ICICS (Institute for Computing, Information and Cognitive Systems). B.Sc., Hebrew University, Jerusalem (1991) M.Sc., Hebrew University, Jerusalem (1995) Ph.D., Hebrew University, Jerusalem (1999) Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (1999-2001) Assistant Professor, Technion, Israel (2001-2003) Assistant Professor, University of British Columbia (2003-2008) Associate Professor, University of British Columbia (2008-present) Professor Sheffer's research focuses on geometry processing, addressing algorithmic challenges in digital shape modeling and manipulation. Her work primarily deals with discrete geometry representations, specifically meshes (polygonal model representations), with applications in computer graphics and computer-aided engineering. She utilizes tools from computational and differential geometry, discrete mathematics, and graph theory to generate, manipulate, and edit discrete geometric models. Her research spans virtual and augmented reality, visual computing, and 3D modeling, with significant contributions to sketch-based modeling, mesh processing, and cloth simulation. The 15 most recent publications reveal a consistent research trajectory in geometry processing, with recent work focusing on vector sketch processing, VR drawing tools, and advanced mesh manipulation techniques. Her work demonstrates a strong connection between human perception and computational methods, particularly in the interpretation of freehand sketches and the generation of perceptually-accurate geometric representations. The recurring themes across her publications include flowlines, curve networks, mesh parameterization, and the application of perceptual studies to improve algorithmic outputs. Eurographics Fellow ACM Fellow IEEE Fellow Royal Society of Canada Fellow SIGGRAPH Academy Member UBC Killam Research Prize NSERC Discovery Accelerator Supplement IBM Faculty Award Professor Sheffer has supervised numerous doctoral and master's students, with recent theses focusing on geometric mesh processing, vector sketch interpretation, VR drawing tools, and garment modeling. Her research group maintains strong connections with industry through various partnerships and has received substantial grant funding to support their innovative work in geometry processing and computer graphics. She teaches courses in computer graphics, geometric modeling, and video game programming, contributing significantly to both undergraduate and graduate education in computer science.
Satoshi Funabashi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Intermedia Art and Science at Waseda University's School of Fundamental Science and Engineering, Japan. He is affiliated with the Graduate Program for Embodiment Informatics under Waseda University's Program for Leading Graduate Schools and contributes to multiple graduate schools including the Graduate School of Creative Science and Engineering. Education: Doctor of Engineering (Waseda University, 2017-2021) Research Focus: Robotics, tactile sensing, deep learning, and embodiment informatics Academic Appointments: Assistant Professor (non-tenure-track) His research centers on symbiotic robotics and tactile-driven manipulation, with recent publications exploring graph convolutional networks, vision-touch fusion, and morphology-specific deep learning for robotic hands. He has secured multiple competitive research grants including JSPS KAKENHI and JST ACT-I programs. Scientific Awards: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) (KAKENHI), JSPS (2024-2027) Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists, JSPS (2022-2024) JST ACT-I Research Fellow (2020-2022, 2018-2020) JSPS Research Fellowship DC1 (2017-2020) He collaborates with the Intelligent Dynamics and Representation Lab (Prof. Tetsuya Ogata) and the Intelligent Machine Lab (Prof. Shigeki Sugano) at Waseda University. He has interned at MIT's CSAIL (2018-2019) and conducted research at UC Davis (2015). His work has been cited over 500 times with an h-index of 14 according to Google Scholar.
Dr. Maneka Malalgoda is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences at the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. Her research focuses on grain chemistry, processing quality, and the development of healthy grain-based food systems. PhD in Cereal Science, North Dakota State University MSc in Cereal Science, North Dakota State University BSc in Medical & Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences, Austria Dr. Malalgoda's research investigates the physicochemical properties of grain proteins and starches, their functionality in food processing, and the biological activity of grain biomacromolecules. She explores how these components contribute to nutritional value, safety, and structural integrity in bakery applications. Her recent publications highlight advancements in protein-enriched wholegrain bread, ancient grain processing optimization, oat protein health benefits, and pesticide residue impacts on cereal chemistry. Key trends include the use of analytical techniques (HPLC, LC-MS) and the intersection of traditional grains with modern nutritional needs. Dr. Malalgoda teaches courses in food science, including FOOD 4100: Current Issues in Food and Human Nutrition , FOOD 3220: Grains for Food and Beverage , and FOOD 3200: Bakery Science and Technology . She supervises graduate research at the University of Manitoba's Ellis Building facility.
Zeynep Atamer is an Assistant Professor at Oregon State University's Food Science and Technology Department, affiliated with the Food Innovation Center in Portland, OR. Her research focuses on dairy science and technology, particularly bacteriophage dynamics, spore inactivation, milk protein behavior, membrane processing, and food safety optimization. Primary affiliation: Oregon State University, Food Innovation Center Department: Food Science and Technology Research interests include: Dairy bacteriophages and their thermal/non-thermal inactivation Spore-forming bacteria in dairy processing Milk protein fractionation and functional properties Membrane separation technologies for dairy applications Cheese and fermentation process optimization Development of phage-free dairy products and sensitive detection systems Recent publications highlight advancements in UV-C/phage reduction strategies, casein-based material development, bitter peptide characterization in cheese, and encapsulation technologies for microbial control. Key subfields include dairy processing stressors, whey protein stability, and gut microbiota modulation via phage delivery. Her work integrates industrial-scale validation with lab-to-commercial translation, addressing critical challenges in dairy safety and functionality through interdisciplinary approaches spanning microbiology, biochemistry, and food engineering.
Jane Wang is a Professor in the Department of Food Science at the University of Arkansas , where she has served since 1999, progressing from Assistant to Full Professor. She also holds the title of Director of the Experiment Station in the Department of Food Science. Her research focuses on starch structure-functionality relationships , rice quality , and biomaterial utilization , with over 120 refereed publications and 5 patents. Education: B.S. in Agricultural Chemistry (1986) from National Taiwan University , M.S. in Food Science (1989) from the University of Minnesota , and Ph.D. in Food Science (1992) from Iowa State University . Postdoctoral research in starch chemistry at Iowa State University (1993-1994). Research Interests: Jane Wang's work explores starch chemistry, rice processing optimization, and value-added applications of agricultural byproducts. She investigates how starch modifications affect food and pharmaceutical properties, with a particular focus on parboiling, germination, and enzymatic treatments. Her research also examines the impact of environmental factors on rice starch development and quality. Scientific Awards: Outstanding Departmental Research Award (2008) Outstanding Volunteer, IFT Carbohydrate Division (2007) Outstanding Mentor, University of Arkansas (2005) Grants & Professional Service: She has secured over $3M in research funding, including USDA-NIFA grants and industry contracts with more than 50 food companies. Jane has served on numerous academic committees (Patent, Promotion & Tenure, Curriculum) and held leadership roles in professional organizations like IFT and AACC. She has also acted as associate editor for Cereal Chemistry and Carbohydrate Polymers , and reviewed for multiple journals and agencies. Labs & Teams: Dr. Wang leads the Carbohydrate Research Program at the University of Arkansas, focusing on starch structure-functionality, rice fortification, and biomaterial development. Her lab collaborates with industry partners and academic institutions to advance food science applications.
Stephen Brooks is a Professor in the Faculty of Computer Science at Dalhousie University, actively contributing to research and education in computer graphics, visualization, and human-computer interaction. He is affiliated with the Human-Computer Interaction, Visualization & Graphics research cluster and currently supervises multiple graduate students on diverse projects. PhD in Computer Science, University of Cambridge (2004) MSc in Computer Science, University of British Columbia (2000) BSc, Brock University (1998) His research focuses on computer graphics and visualization, particularly non-photorealistic rendering, image editing, 3D geospatial systems, ocean visualization, and real-time rendering of natural phenomena. He has also worked in sound synthesis and motion editing. His recent publications show a strong emphasis on visual analytics, network flow visualization, and ocean science applications. His work spans interdisciplinary domains including environmental science, genomics, cybersecurity, and digital art. He has developed visualization tools for ocean science under a major CFREF-funded initiative and created novel methods for rendering stained glass, mixed media art, rivers, and ocean surfaces. His research integrates perception, automation, and user interaction to enhance visual analysis. Notable scientific contributions include work on tone mapping optimization, uncertainty visualization using chromatic aberration, semantic object clouds, and hybrid 2D/3D GIS. His publications appear in top venues such as IEEE TVCG, ACM Transactions, and SIGGRAPH. NSERC Discovery Grants Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) NSERC CREATE Mitacs Accelerate and Globalink CFI New Opportunities Grant Cyber Security Research and Development Grant He has supervised numerous PhD, Master’s, and undergraduate students in areas including ocean visualization, tone mapping, network security, VR, and geospatial analytics. He teaches courses in Game Design, Visualization, Computer Animation, and Network Computing, emphasizing project-based and interdisciplinary learning. He leads research in visual analytics for network data (FloVis), ocean science, and mixed reality collaboration. His lab develops interactive systems for data exploration in domains ranging from marine biology to cybersecurity. Future work includes expanding ocean-first climate visualization and enhancing mixed presence collaboration in immersive environments.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yıltan Bitirim is a faculty member at the Computer Engineering Department of Eastern Mediterranean University in North Cyprus. With over two decades of academic experience, he has served in various roles including Vice Chair (2014-2022), Academic Affairs Coordinator (2025-), and committee member for ABET assessment, curriculum development, and faculty recruitment. Current academic rank: Associate Professor Active administrative roles: Senate Member (2023-), Information Technology Commission Member (2023-) Professional memberships: ACM, IEEE Senior Member, Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Computer Engineers Research Interests focus on four primary areas: Information Retrieval Systems – evaluating search engine effectiveness and reverse image search performance Machine Learning – applied to emotion classification, gender recognition, and medical diagnosis Data Mining – used in Turkish word-stemming analysis and user behavior studies Biometrics – specializing in hand/wrist/palm vein recognition systems and voice-based identification Publications demonstrate consistent contributions across disciplines, with recent works (2023-2025) emphasizing: Deep learning applications in biometric authentication Advanced emotion recognition systems Medical AI for diabetes management and retinopathy diagnosis Biometric spoof detection mechanisms Turkish language processing challenges Recommendation system innovations Awards & Recognition : Research Incentive Awards (2020, 2021) Best Paper Award at ICIW 2007 IEEE Senior Member status As an educator, he has supervised numerous thesis committees and taught foundational courses in computer engineering, including CMPE 112 and CMPE 342. His certifications (MCTS, MCITP) reflect technical expertise in Microsoft technologies.
Ting-Chung Poon is a Professor in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech. His research focuses on optical scanning holography (OSH), digital holography, and 3D imaging applications. He leads the Optical Scanning-Holographic Imaging Group (OSIG), which explores OSH for 3D imaging, processing, and display, emphasizing 2D optical heterodyne scanning techniques. Education: Ph.D., University of Iowa, 1982 M.S.E.E., University of Iowa, 1979 B.A., University of Iowa, 1977 Research Interests: Optical Scanning Holography (OSH) and its applications in 3D imaging Computer-Generated Holography (CGH) Quantitative Phase Imaging Optical Cryptography Efficient Hologram Algorithms His work spans theoretical advancements and practical implementations, including encryption systems, noise reduction techniques, and high-resolution 3D reconstruction. Recent Research Trends: Focus on polygon-based CGH algorithms for faster rendering Integration of machine learning for speckle noise reduction and hologram classification Development of adaptive and compressive holography methods for industrial and biomedical applications Labs & Teams: Optical Scanning-Holographic Imaging Group (OSIG) at Virginia Tech Collaborations with institutions globally, including conferences on digital holography and photonics
Ali Gooya is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Machine Learning at the School of Computing Science, University of Glasgow, UK. His research focuses on probabilistic deep learning applied to medical imaging, particularly in cardiology and oncology, emphasizing semi/unsupervised methods due to sparse expert annotations. He holds a PhD in medical image analysis from the University of Tokyo (2007) and has held academic positions at the University of Leeds and Sheffield before joining Glasgow in 2022. Affiliations: Senior Lecturer in Machine Learning, University of Glasgow (2022–present) Lecturer in Computing, University of Leeds (2018–2022) Lecturer in Computing, University of Sheffield (2016–2018) Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Pennsylvania (2008–2011) Research Interests: Deep learning for medical imaging, probabilistic modeling, cardiac and cancer imaging, computational anatomy, and marker discovery. Key applications include motion analysis, segmentation, and predictive modeling in healthcare. Key Achievements: Won prestigious fellowships including Allen Touring Institute (2022), JSPS Short-Term (2020), Marie-Curie IIF (2014), and JSPS-PDRA (2008). Pioneered Bayesian deep learning frameworks for cardiac motion assessment and generative models in medical imaging. Grants & Supervision: EPSRC Impact Acceleration Award (PI) EPSRC New Investigator Grant (EP/S012796/1) Actively supervising PhD students in areas like Bayesian deep atlases for cardiac motion analysis. Labs & Teams: Leads research in medical AI within the School of Computing Science, collaborating on projects integrating imaging and patient metadata for clinical decision support.
Diego Patiño is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), a position he began in September 2024. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from the National University of Colombia in 2020, following M.S. and B.S. degrees from the same institution. Prior to joining UTA, he served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Drexel University and a Postdoctoral Researcher at the GRASP Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania. B.S. in Computer Engineering, National University of Colombia, 2010 M.S. in Computer Engineering, National University of Colombia, 2012 Ph.D. in Computer Engineering, National University of Colombia, 2020 Dr. Patiño's research centers on geometric computer vision and machine learning, with applications in robotics and 3D vision. His primary interests include 3D reconstruction, graph neural networks, symmetry detection, physics-informed machine learning, and reinforcement learning. He develops algorithms that integrate geometric priors and physical constraints into deep learning models to improve robustness and generalization in real-world robotic systems. His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend in leveraging implicit neural representations for 3D shape reconstruction, applying graph neural networks to swarm robotics, and enhancing computer vision tasks with self-supervised and physics-informed learning. Work spans high-impact venues such as IEEE RA-L, ICRA, ICPR, and MICCAI, showing a consistent focus on geometric reasoning, robotic perception, and medical imaging applications. His scientific contributions have been recognized with awards from the UTA Division of Student Affairs for exceptional dedication and positive impact (2024 and 2025). He is actively involved in securing research funding, with multiple grants under review from NSF, Air Force SBIR, and industry partners like Sony. Exceptional dedication and positive impact recognition, UTA Division of Student Affairs (December 9, 2024) Exceptional dedication and positive impact recognition, UTA Division of Student Affairs (April 30, 2025) Dr. Patiño advises and serves on committees for multiple graduate students in computer science and engineering, including doctoral and master’s candidates. He is also leading or co-leading several research grants under review, covering topics such as aerial swarm navigation, neuromorphic sensing, and industrial computer vision. He teaches graduate courses in computer vision and is involved in service roles including PhD admissions and faculty appointments committees. He is affiliated with research initiatives at UTA, including the UTARI Research Institute, where he has presented on geometric modeling and physics-informed learning. His lab focuses on developing next-generation computer vision algorithms for robotics, industrial inspection, and safety-critical systems.
Joakim Lindblad is a Professor at the Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University , and holds affiliated roles as Senior Research Associate at the Mathematical Institute of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, and Head of Research at Topgolf Sweden AB. With over two decades of expertise in image analysis and machine learning , his work bridges computational methods with biomedical applications. Key affiliations: Uppsala University, Serbian Academy of Sciences, Topgolf Sweden Specializations: Deep Learning, Multimodal Image Registration, Quantitative Microscopy His research focuses on reliable image processing frameworks that integrate intensity and spatial information , particularly for biomedical applications . Recent publications highlight innovations in autofluorescence-based cancer detection , self-supervised one-class learning for sparse instance identification, and rotation-equivariant CNNs for robust analysis of cytology images. Recent article trends demonstrate expertise in multimodal image analysis (2024: 3 papers), oral cancer detection (2025: 2 papers), and multiscale biomedical imaging . His 2025 work on the Uppsala Storytelling Dataset introduces novel frameworks for multimodal dataset creation in AI research. While no scientific awards are explicitly mentioned, his extensive publication record (2000-2025) across top venues like Pattern Recognition , PLOS ONE , and IEEE Transactions indicates significant academic impact. His methodological contributions span stochastic distance transforms , fuzzy set defuzzification , and multimodal image registration techniques. Collaborative work with researchers like Nataša Sladoje and interdisciplinary teams has produced innovations in automated cytology analysis , TEM image enhancement , and AI-driven medical diagnostics . His 2021-2022 projects introduced contrastive learning approaches for multimodal image registration and explainable AI frameworks for infant engagement analysis.
