Jian Liu is an Assistant Professor in the Min H. Kao Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He leads the Mobile Sensing and Intelligence Security (MoSIS) Lab, focusing on robust AI, mobile security, computational sensing, and smart healthcare. His research has been published in top-tier venues like S&P/Oakland, CVPR, and IEEE journals, with over 6,400 citations. He holds seven U.S. patents, including two licensed to industry. Education: PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Rutgers University (2019), ME and BE in Communication Engineering from Wuhan University of Technology (China). Research interests include trustworthy AI, federated learning, privacy-preserving technologies, and adversarial machine learning. His recent work includes HarmonyCloak (music copyright protection against generative AI), 3D facial authentication systems, and robust backdoor attack defenses. Notable awards include the University of Tennessee’s Professional Promise in Research Award (2025), Stanford’s World’s Top 2% Cited Scientists, and multiple best paper awards. He teaches Mobile and Embedded System Security (ECE 469/569) and has supervised projects funded by UT Grand Challenges grants. Labs/Teams: MoSIS Lab focuses on AI-driven security solutions, wearable sensing, and healthcare applications. Collaborations involve interdisciplinary projects with UT’s engineering and medical schools.
Professor Ben Sheldon FRS holds the Luc Hoffmann Chair of Ornithology and directs the Edward Grey Institute within the University of Oxford's Department of Biology. His research focuses on evolutionary ecology, particularly individual variation, environmental adaptation, and long-term ecological studies like the Wytham Woods great tit project. Current themes include spatial scaling of ecological interactions, life-history evolution, and social dynamics in bird populations. He has secured major grants from ERC, UKRI, NERC, and BBSRC, and hosted postdocs via Marie Curie Fellowships. Research interests integrate field studies, genetics, and quantitative analysis to explore how environmental and social factors shape animal behavior and adaptation. Recent work examines phenological mismatches, climate impacts, and social network effects on reproduction and survival. Awards include Fellowship of the Royal Society. Advising includes 7-8 graduate students and postdocs, with a focus on PhD and postdoc project supervision. Administrative roles include past Head of the Department of Zoology (2016–2021) and Senior User Representative for the Life and Mind Building (2019–2022). The Edward Grey Institute serves as a key research hub for avian ecology and ornithology.
Gary Koenig is Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Virginia. His research program focuses on advanced materials for energy storage systems, particularly lithium-ion batteries and flow batteries. He holds a PhD from University of Wisconsin-Madison and completed postdoctoral research at Argonne National Laboratory. His group develops novel electrode architectures, including thick sintered electrodes and all-active-material designs, to improve battery energy density and rate capability. Research spans materials synthesis, electrochemical characterization, and transport modeling to overcome limitations in current energy storage technologies. Honors include the NSF CAREER Award (2017) and Fulbright Research Fellowship (2020). Recent publications examine electrode processing techniques, lithium extraction methods, and transport phenomena in battery systems. His work demonstrates innovations in electrode design that enable higher energy densities while maintaining cycling stability. He has taught courses including Applied Statistics, Chemical Reaction Engineering, and Energy Technology Options.
Elsa A. Olivetti is the Jerry McAfee (1940) Professor in Engineering and Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT, and a MacVicar Faculty Fellow. She leads the Olivetti Group, focusing on sustainable materials design, recycling strategies, and computational models for environmental and economic impact assessment. Her work bridges materials science with sustainability, emphasizing circular economy principles and decarbonization. Education: B.S. in Engineering Science from University of Virginia (2000); Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT (2007). Her doctoral research centered on lithium-ion battery electrode materials. She joined MIT’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE) in 2014 as an Assistant Professor, later advancing to full Professor. She co-directs the MIT Climate & Sustainability Consortium and chairs the MIT Climate Nucleus. Research interests include: sustainable materials systems, recycling-friendly material design, waste mining, and AI-driven materials discovery. She develops models for cost prediction, environmental impact analysis, and policy-relevant supply chain dynamics. Notable contributions include high-throughput zeolite design and battery recycling frameworks. Awards include the Bose Teaching Award (2021), NSF Early Career Award (2018), and Minerals, Metals & Materials Society Early Career Fellowship (2019). Her work emphasizes education and curriculum development, including courses for MIT’s Climate Scholars program. Labs/Teams: Olivetti Group (MIT), MIT Climate & Sustainability Consortium. Active in global sustainability initiatives, focusing on materials for energy transition and climate resilience.
Professor Michael Davies is Professor of Building Physics and the Environment at the UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering (IEDE) within The Bartlett School of Environment, Energy & Resources at University College London. He is also a member of the UK Climate Change Committee. With over two decades of academic experience, Professor Davies leads research at the critical intersection of building physics, environmental design, and public health, focusing on how the built environment impacts human well-being. His educational background includes: Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Westminster (1994) Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of York (1990) Bachelor of Science from the University of Manchester (1986) Professor Davies has pioneered transdisciplinary research methods, particularly in modeling health impacts and applying system dynamics approaches to address urban health challenges. His work demonstrates how healthy sustainable development can be achieved through innovative stakeholder participation and methodological advancements. His research spans building physics, climate change adaptation, indoor environmental quality, and the health implications of urban design, with particular attention to vulnerable populations and environmental justice considerations. His extensive publication record (over 300 outputs) reveals a consistent evolution toward more integrated approaches that connect building science with public health and climate policy. Recent work shows growing emphasis on health equity in climate adaptation, advanced modeling of complex urban systems, and the application of system dynamics to understand interconnected challenges in housing and urban environments. His research bridges technical building performance analysis with broader policy implications, reflecting his commitment to solutions that address both environmental sustainability and social equity. Professor Davies has secured significant research funding, including the prestigious EPSRC Platform Grant funding the Complex Built Environment Systems group at UCL (awarded only to "world leading" centers) and the Wellcome Trust-funded 'CUSSH' project. In total, he has served as PI or Co-I on approximately 50 research projects, demonstrating exceptional ability to lead large-scale, transdisciplinary research initiatives addressing critical urban challenges. As an educator, Professor Davies leads the 'Energy Context' module in the Environmental Design and Engineering MSc course and supervises EngD and PhD students. His teaching emphasizes the integration of energy systems within broader environmental, social, and policy contexts, preparing students to address complex sustainability challenges in the built environment sector.
Rich Walker is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology, Geology, and Environmental Science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). His research focuses on freshwater ecosystems, particularly understanding how stressors affect stream biodiversity and ecological processes. He leads the Freshwater Ecology and Conservation Lab, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to environmental challenges. Education: PhD in Ecology (University of Wyoming, 2019), MS in Biology (University of Central Arkansas, 2011), and BS in Environmental Science (University of Central Arkansas, 2008). Research interests include freshwater salinization, non-perennial stream dynamics, and fisheries conservation. His work bridges basic and applied questions, such as how climate change and human activities alter water quality and habitat availability. Recent studies explore predictive modeling of conductivity in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and biogeochemical responses in intermittent streams. Publications span Environmental Science & Technology Water , Nature Water , and Science of the Total Environment . His 2024 studies address conductivity trends and non-perennial stream management. Key findings include global gaps in salinization research and crayfish population dynamics under climate variability. Service roles include membership in UTC’s Curriculum Committee, Izaak Walton League’s Save Our Streams, and the Hartman Nature Reserve Board. Teaching covers ecology, limnology, and fisheries management.
Dr. Jose R Juan Sanchez is a full Professor at the Faculty of Law, Universitat de València, specializing in Procedural Law within the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Science (ICCP). He serves in the Administrative Department and leads the NCPJ New conflicts and judicial process research group. Doctorate in Law (1997) from Universitat de València Thesis: Autonomous Communities as Parties in Civil Proceedings Supervised by Dr. Manuel Ortells Ramos His research focuses on procedural law, judicial management, and legal reforms. He investigates tribunal jurisdiction, victim rights, and data protection in criminal proceedings. Recent work includes Photovoice analysis of pandemic healthcare systems and efficiency in Spanish criminal justice. Key article trends span judicial reforms (2015-2024), victim rights in EU legal frameworks (2020-2023), digital justice systems (2016-2017), and social justice in legal education (2022-2023). His work bridges law, criminology, and policy analysis. Current affiliations: Universitat de València, ICCP Institute Research group: NCPJ New conflicts and judicial process
Marco Barla is a Full Professor of Geotechnical Engineering at the Department of Structural, Building and Geotechnical Engineering (DISEG) at the Polytechnic of Turin, where he also leads a research group focused on energy geostructures, tunneling, slope stability, and numerical modeling. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the ASCE International Journal of Geomechanics and holds leadership roles in international organizations such as the International Society for Energy Geostructures (President, 2025–2029) and ELGIP (Past President). He is actively involved in multiple EU and national research projects, including GEOREFIT, REGENERATE, and FOLIAGE. Research Interests: Thermoactive geostructures for shallow geothermal energy Tunnel design and construction under challenging conditions Real-time detection of debris flows and snow avalanches using fiber optics Numerical modeling of geotechnical systems Energy retrofitting of existing underground infrastructure His recent publications (2024–2025) demonstrate a strong focus on sustainable urban development through geothermal energy integration, particularly in tunnels and buildings. Key themes include energy geostructures, thermal storage, landslide monitoring, and climate resilience, reflecting his commitment to SDGs 7, 9, 11, and 13. He frequently publishes in top venues such as Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology , Geothermics , and Landslides . Scientific Awards: Telford Premium, Institution of Civil Engineers (2016) IACMAG Excellent Contributions Award (2011) Best Paper, 11th ISRM Congress (2007) Iacmag Award (2005) Top 5 Project Nominee, European Geothermal Innovation Award (2018) Advising and Grants: He supervises multiple PhD students in civil and environmental engineering and has led over 70 research projects, securing more than 2 M€ in funding from national and international sources. His projects span fundamental research (e.g., PRIN, H2020) and applied consulting (e.g., tunnel safety, landslide risk, structural monitoring). He is the scientific responsible for numerous contracts with public and private entities, including Autostrade per l’Italia and regional governments. Labs and Teams: He leads the Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering research group at Politecnico di Torino ( www.rockmech.polito.it ), which conducts laboratory testing, field monitoring, and numerical simulations. The team is active in international collaborations and coordinates the COST Action FOLIAGE, dedicated to scaling up energy geostructure deployment.
Pradeep Lall is the MacFarlane Endowed Distinguished Professor and Alumni Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. He serves as Director of the Auburn University Electronics Packaging Research Institute (EPRI) and holds a joint courtesy appointment in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. A leader in flexible hybrid electronics and harsh environment systems, Dr. Lall has built a world-renowned research program focused on additive manufacturing, electronics reliability, and sustainable materials. Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland M.B.A. in Finance and Strategy, Northwestern University M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland B.E. in Mechanical Engineering, Delhi College of Engineering Dr. Lall’s research centers on Flexible Hybrid Electronics (FHE) , Harsh Environment Electronics , Semiconductor Packaging , and Prognostics Health Management . His work leverages additive manufacturing techniques such as Aerosol-Jet, InkJet, and screen printing to develop conformal, robust, and sustainable electronic systems. His innovations include the Flexible Biometric Band for monitoring workers in hazardous environments and additively printed antennas for aerospace applications. His recent focus includes eliminating PFAS from electronics and developing water-based inks for eco-friendly manufacturing. The 15 most recent publications reflect a strong trend toward sustainability , additive manufacturing , and real-world applications in defense, aerospace, automotive, and healthcare. His work bridges fundamental research with industrial realization, particularly through partnerships with NextFlex and federal agencies. Themes include reliability under shock and vibration, sensor development for extreme environments, and workforce training in advanced manufacturing. Dr. Lall has received numerous scientific honors, including: SMTA Founder’s Award (2024) SEMI FlexTech R&D Achievements Award (2023) ASME Avram Bar-Cohen Memorial Medal (2022) IEEE Biedenbach Outstanding Engineering Educator Award (2020) IEEE Sustained Technical Contributions Award (2018) NSF Alex Schwarzkopf Prize (2016) Fellow of ASME, IEEE, NextFlex, and Alabama Academy of Science Dr. Lall has secured over $2 million in annual research funding from SRC, NSF, and NextFlex, leading large-scale projects on sustainable electronics and workforce development. He mentors numerous graduate and undergraduate students and leads the NSF-CAVE3 Center. As founding faculty advisor of the SMTA student chapter, he promotes student engagement in electronics manufacturing. His lab, EPRI, features a full prototyping line for additive electronics and collaborates with industry and government to advance domestic manufacturing capabilities. EPRI, under Dr. Lall’s leadership, partners with the Auburn University Research and Technology Park, the Office of Economic Development, and multiple colleges to drive technology commercialization and workforce education in electronic packaging. The institute is at the forefront of the national effort to reestablish U.S. leadership in semiconductor packaging and advanced electronics manufacturing.
Dr. Ali Kashani is a Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) within the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. His research focuses on sustainable and low-carbon concrete materials, robot-aided construction (particularly 3D printing), and Circular Economy-aligned applications. Leadership in cementitious materials innovation Expertise in 3D printing for construction Advocate for waste valorisation and carbon capture Dr. Kashani has secured approximately $7 million in research funding and holds a patent in lightweight concrete foam. His work spans 70+ publications with 9,000+ citations, including media coverage in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Fifth Estate. He actively contributes to professional organizations such as MECLA, RILEM, and ASTM. Recent research trends include AI and optimization algorithms for sustainable concrete mix design, chloride diffusion modeling, and 3D printing performance analysis. His publications often address waste material integration, durability assessment, and eco-friendly construction practices. Scientific Awards: National and NSW Awards for 'Excellence in Concrete' (Technology and Innovation) from the Concrete Institute of Australia Churchill Fellowship for Digital Construction and 3D Printing sponsored by AVJennings Dr. Kashani serves as Co-Chair of the cement and concrete working group at MECLA and contributes to RILEM and ASTM committees. His email is ali.kashani@unsw.edu.au , and his office is located in the Civil Engineering Building (H20), Level 2, Room CE204, UNSW.
Dr Yongle Sun is a Lecturer in Additive Manufacture at Cranfield University , specializing in cross-scale modelling of metal manufacturing processes for aerospace and energy applications. BSc & MSc in Mechanics from Xi'an Jiaotong University PhD in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Manchester His research focuses on multi-physics modelling of additive manufacturing and welding processes, with particular emphasis on residual stress/distortion prediction and mitigation. Current projects include: NEWAM (cross-scale additive manufacturing) SAM (smart manufacturing) I-Break (process innovation) With over £10M in research funding, his work bridges mechanistic models with engineering applications through collaborations with: GE Avio Aero WAAM3D Airbus EPSRC Innovate UK Key achievements include: First author of 16 leading journal papers Co-author of 35+ peer-reviewed works H-index of 23 Queen's Anniversary Prize contribution Top-cited paper in International Journal of Impact Engineering
Dr. Benedikt Aumeier is a Research Fellow and head of the working group "Advanced Water Treatment" at the Chair of Urban Water Management, Department of Civil, Geo and Environmental Engineering, TUM School of Engineering and Design at the Technical University of Munich since 2023. Previously, he served as a Post-Doc and Working Group Leader at the Institute of Urban Water Management, RWTH Aachen University from 2020-2023. Dr. Aumeier holds a Dr.-Ing. from the Chair of Chemical Process Engineering at RWTH Aachen University (2020), an M.Sc. in Management and Technology of Water and Wastewater from the University of Duisburg-Essen (2011-2013), and a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the Technical University of Munich (2007-2011). His research focuses on advanced water treatment processes for direct and indirect water reuse, drinking water treatment, and wastewater treatment. Key areas include adsorption/sorption, membrane filtration, advanced oxidation processes, and disinfection. He investigates competitive adsorption in aqueous media, novel sorbent regeneration methods, membrane fouling countermeasures, and process modeling. His work addresses removal of persistent and mobile organic contaminants including PFAS, as well as microorganism elimination. Dr. Aumeier's publications demonstrate a strong trend toward addressing emerging water quality challenges, particularly concerning persistent organic pollutants and advanced treatment technologies. His research spans fundamental studies on adsorption mechanisms to practical applications for water reuse and decentralized treatment systems, with increasing focus on PFAS removal and compliance with regulatory frameworks. Mitglied im Fachausschuss "Persistente-Mobile-Toxische (PMT) Stoffe" der Wasserchemischen Gesellschaft, Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker (GDCh) Mitarbeit an DWA M1200 Teil 2 "Wasserwiederverwendung für landwirtschaftliche und urbane Zwecke in Deutschland" At TUM, Dr. Aumeier teaches courses including "Natural processing methods," "Advanced Water Treatment Engineering and Reuse," and "Industrial wastewater treatment and reuse," demonstrating his commitment to educating the next generation of water professionals. He leads the "Advanced Water Treatment" working group, which focuses on developing and applying innovative water treatment technologies to address contemporary water quality challenges under changing climate conditions.
Renate Egan is a Professor and Deputy Head of School (Engagement) at the School of Photovoltaics and Renewable Energy Engineering , University of New South Wales (UNSW). She leads UNSW's activities in the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics , a national research consortium involving multiple Australian institutions. Her research focuses on: Techno-economic analysis of photovoltaic technologies Energy data analytics for decentralized systems Electricity market restructuring Technology transfer and commercialization Recent work examines machine learning applications in energy demand forecasting, thermal storage optimization, and bushfire resilience. She collaborates extensively across academia, industry, and government sectors. Key affiliations include: Co-Founder of Solar Analytics (Australia's largest independent energy monitoring provider) Executive Committee member of the IEA PV Power Systems program
Dr. Joshua M. Pearce is a Professor at Western University, holding appointments in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and the Ivey Business School. He is the John M. Thompson Chair in Information Technology and Innovation at the Thompson Centre for Engineering Leadership & Innovation and a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. His research focuses on open-source appropriate technology for sustainability and poverty reduction, spanning solar photovoltaics, 3D printing, distributed recycling, and policy analysis. Ph.D. in Materials Engineering from Pennsylvania State University Former Richard Witte Professor at Michigan Tech Editor-in-Chief of HardwareX Author of multiple open-source sustainability books His work integrates engineering, economics, and policy to solve global sustainability challenges. Recent projects include agrivoltaic systems, open-source medical devices, and climate-resilient food production frameworks. He leads the Free Appropriate Sustainability Technology (FAST) research group, which has produced over 200 open-access publications cited in top-tier journals like Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (IF=16.3) and HardwareX (IF=2). Dr. Pearce's scientific contributions include: Fulbright-Aalto University Distinguished Chair Top 0.06% most cited scientist (Elsevier metrics) Leading open-source hardware certification frameworks Developing low-cost scientific instruments His research team includes cross-disciplinary collaborators from Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Science, and Policy Studies. The FAST group emphasizes practical open-source solutions for energy, water, and food security in both developed and low-resource contexts.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yusuf Yaşa is an Associate Professor at Istanbul Technical University, Department of Electrical Engineering, specializing in Electrical Machines, Power Electronics, and Hybrid/Electric Vehicles. He holds a PhD from Yıldız Technical University and has served in academic and administrative roles at Bursa Technical University and Istanbul Technical University. PhD in Electrical Machines and Power Electronics, Yıldız Technical University (2006–2013) Current Vice Dean at Istanbul Technical University (2023–) Founding Partner of Yasa Motor Technologies (2018) and Nardan Power Conversion Systems Ltd. Co. (2023) His research focuses on noise mitigation in switched reluctance machines, battery cooling with graphene-enhanced phase change materials, and efficiency optimization in electric vehicle systems. He has led projects on DC fast-chargers and sensorless control of synchronous reluctance motors. His publications address energy conversion, battery management, and acoustic noise reduction. Recent research trends include advancements in electric vehicle modeling, state-of-charge estimation for Li-ion batteries, and thermal management solutions for battery systems. His work integrates simulation tools like ANSYS and machine learning for efficiency improvements. He has advised PhD and Master’s theses on topics such as battery charge rate estimation, graphene-doped PCM materials, and Kalman filter-based motor control. Collaborations span institutions like The University of Akron and companies in electric propulsion and robotics.
