Nima Fazeli is an Assistant Professor of Robotics at the University of Michigan (2020–Present), holding courtesy appointments in Computer Science & Engineering (CSE) and Mechanical Engineering. He directs the Manipulation and Machine Intelligence (MMint) Lab, focusing on enabling dexterous robotic manipulation through multimodal representation learning, tactile sensing, and model-based reasoning. His work integrates mechanics, perception, controls, and planning to achieve autonomous interaction with uncertain environments. Education: PhD, MIT (2019); MSc, University of Maryland (2014); BSc, Amirkabir University of Technology (2011) Research interests emphasize embodied intelligence , including visuo-tactile fusion, contact dynamics modeling, and cross-modal learning. Recent work explores tactile shadows, deformable object manipulation, and language-guided robot control. His research is supported by the NSF CAREER grant and National Robotics Initiative, with applications in manufacturing, assistive robotics, and space systems. Publications span topics like tactile sensing hardware (e.g., GelSlim 4.0), visuo-tactile implicit representations (ViTaSCOPE), and failure recovery policies (Racer). His team’s work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times and BBC. Key Awards: NSF CAREER Grant (2024) Teaching includes Introduction to Robotic Manipulation . Collaborations involve cross-disciplinary projects with mechanical, electrical, and biomedical engineering groups.
Professor Ihab Ilyas is a leading figure in data management and machine learning at the Cheriton School of Computer Science , University of Waterloo , where he holds the Thomson Reuters Research Chair in Data Quality . He is currently on leave from the university, serving as a Distinguished Engineer, Proactive Intelligence at Apple Inc . His research focuses on data cleaning , large-scale data integration , knowledge graphs , and machine learning applications in data quality . He has pioneered systems like HoloClean and Saga , with commercial impacts through co-founded startups Inductiv (acquired by Apple) and Tamr . PhD in Computer Science from Purdue University Co-founder of Inductiv (acquired by Apple) Co-founder of Tamr Research Interests include: Probabilistic and uncertain data management Machine learning for data quality and enrichment Big data systems and information extraction Knowledge graph construction and optimization Scientific Awards and Recognitions include: Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (2024) C.C. Gotlieb Computer Award (2024) IEEE Fellow (2021) ACM Fellow (2020) Cheriton Faculty Fellowship (2013-2016) Ontario Early Researcher Award
Michael Jong Kim is an Associate Professor at the Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia, specializing in the Division of Operations and Logistics. His research focuses on dynamic programming, statistical learning, robust optimization, and the exploration vs exploitation trade-offs in sequential decision-making processes. BASc, M.Math, and PhD from the University of Toronto His work spans topics in stochastic optimization, supply chain dynamics, and information dissemination in uncertain environments. Publications highlight contributions to Bayesian inventory control, semi-Markovian system control, and variance regularization in optimization models. Dr. Kim teaches advanced business analytics courses, including Descriptive and Predictive Business Analytics and Advanced Predictive Business Analytics (MBAN) during the 2024-2025 academic year. He can be reached at mike.kim@sauder.ubc.ca or by phone at +1 604.822.8682.
Shipra Agrawal is an Associate Professor at the Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, Columbia University, with affiliations to the Data Science Institute and the Department of Computer Science. Her research bridges optimization and machine learning, focusing on decision-making in uncertain environments. PhD in Computer Science from Stanford University (2011) Researcher at Microsoft Research India (2011–2015) Her work addresses online optimization , reinforcement learning , and game theory , aiming to develop algorithms that balance exploration and exploitation for long-term goals. Applications include internet advertising , revenue management , and resource allocation . Recent publications examine dynamic pricing models, regret bounds in reinforcement learning, and convex knapsack optimization. Her research has been supported by NSF CAREER , Google Faculty Research , and Amazon Research Awards . NSF CAREER Award CMMI-1846792 (2019) Google Faculty Research Award (2017) Amazon Research Award (2017) She has advised PhD students who now hold positions at institutions like Google DeepMind, Amazon, and Facebook. Agrawal serves as an associate editor for Management Science , INFORMS Journal on Optimization , and Journal of Machine Learning Research , and co-chaired major conferences such as COLT 2024 and AISTATS 2025.
Dr. Xinan Zhang is an Associate Professor in the School of Engineering at The University of Western Australia (UWA), specializing in Electrical, Electronic, and Computer Engineering. He holds a BEng from Fudan University (2008) and a PhD from Nanyang Technological University (2014). Before joining UWA in 2019, he held roles as a Lecturer and Research Fellow in Singapore and Australia. His research focuses on power electronics, electrical machine drives, and renewable energy, with over 60 top-tier publications. He is the Portfolio Lead for Industry Engagement in UWA's School of Engineering and co-leads the Power and Clean Energy (PACE) research group. Education: BEng in Electrical Engineering, Fudan University (2004–2008) PhD in Electrical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (2010–2014) Research Interests: Dr. Zhang’s work spans power electronics, renewable energy systems, energy storage, and smart grid technologies. He emphasizes practical applications, such as battery management systems for vanadium redox flow batteries and adaptive control strategies for microgrids. His contributions address challenges in energy efficiency, grid stability, and sustainable power solutions. Articles & Trends: Recent publications focus on advanced control algorithms for inverters, battery modeling, and renewable energy integration. His work combines data-driven methods with traditional control theory to enhance system efficiency and reliability. Notable areas include DC microgrid control, vanadium redox flow battery optimization, and model predictive control for power electronics. Awards: Listed in Stanford University’s Top 2% Scientists (2020–2022) Grants & Collaborations: He leads or co-leads projects funded by the Australian government and industry partners, including the GenX Betavoltaic Battery Pilot Manufacturing Process and Mine Electrification . These projects aim to advance clean energy technologies and industrial applications. Labs & Teams: As co-lead of the PACE group, he fosters interdisciplinary collaboration to tackle global energy challenges, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals for affordable and clean energy (SDG 7).
Navid Azizan is the Alfred H. (1929) and Jean M. Hayes Career Development Assistant Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), holding dual appointments in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (in Control, Instrumentation & Robotics) and the Schwarzman College of Computing's Institute for Data, Systems & Society (IDSS). He is also a Principal Investigator in the Laboratory for Information & Decision Systems (LIDS), and a faculty member of the MIT Statistics and Data Science Center, the Center for Computational Science and Engineering, and the Operations Research Center. Dr. Azizan received his PhD in Computing and Mathematical Sciences from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 2020, his MSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California in 2015, and his BSc in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Physics from Sharif University of Technology in 2013. Prior to joining MIT, he completed a postdoc at Stanford University's Autonomous Systems Laboratory and was a research scientist intern at Google DeepMind. His research spans the intersection of machine learning, systems and control, mathematical optimization, and network science. Dr. Azizan's work focuses on developing principled learning and optimization algorithms for reliable intelligent systems, with applications to autonomy and sociotechnical systems. His research has significant implications for creating trustworthy AI systems that can operate effectively in complex, uncertain environments. Dr. Azizan's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on uncertainty quantification, reliable AI systems, constrained optimization, and control-oriented learning. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, particularly in autonomous systems where safety and reliability are paramount. His research group has made notable contributions to areas including neural network verification, multi-agent reinforcement learning, and adaptive inference techniques for large language models, with several papers featured on MIT News and selected for oral presentations at top conferences. Alfred H. (1929) and Jean M. Hayes Career Development Professorship (2025-present) Frank E. Perkins Award for Excellence in Graduate Advising (2025) List of Outstanding Academic Leaders in Data from the CDO Magazine (2024, 2023) Amazon Science Hub Research Award (2023) Outstanding UROP Faculty Mentor (2023) Esther and Harold E. Edgerton (1927) Career Development Chair (2022-2025) Information Theory and Applications (ITA) Gold Graduation Award (2020) Dr. Azizan has been recognized for his excellence in graduate advising, receiving the Frank E. Perkins Award for Excellence in Graduate Advising in 2025. During the pandemic, he founded and co-organized the 'Control meets Learning' virtual seminar series, connecting researchers across disciplines. His work has attracted significant research funding from industry partners including Google, Amazon, and MathWorks, supporting both fundamental research and practical applications in reliable intelligent systems. The Azizan Lab at MIT brings together researchers from mechanical engineering, computer science, and applied mathematics to tackle challenges at the intersection of learning and control. The lab emphasizes both theoretical foundations and practical implementations, with a particular focus on developing algorithms that provide guarantees of performance and safety. Current research directions include uncertainty quantification in AI systems, constrained optimization for neural networks, and control-oriented learning for autonomous systems, with applications spanning robotics, transportation, and complex sociotechnical systems.
Prof. Dr. Melanie Zeilinger is an Associate Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering at ETH Zurich, leading the Intelligent Control Systems group at the Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control. She holds a diploma in Engineering Cybernetics from the University of Stuttgart (2006) and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from ETH Zurich (2011). Her postdoctoral research included stints at EPFL (2011–2012), a Marie Curie fellowship at UC Berkeley and the Max Planck Institute (2012–2015), and a professorship at the University of Freiburg (2018–2019). Her research focuses on learning-based control, distributed control systems, and robotics , with applications to medical devices (e.g., hydrocephalus shunts) and human-in-the-loop systems. She organizes the Conference on Learning for Dynamics and Control (L4DC) and contributes to initiatives like the "Algorithm on My Team" project. Her awards include the ETH Medal for her PhD thesis, a Marie-Curie IO Fellowship , and an SNF Assistant Professorship grant . She serves as an Associate Editor for IEEE Control Systems Letters and actively reviews for top journals/conferences like IEEE TAC, Automatica, and NeurIPS. Key projects include: VIEshunt: A smart ventricular shunt for hydrocephalus treatment, combining control systems and medical engineering. Autonomous Racing: Contextual tuning and safety-certified learning-based MPC for real-time obstacle avoidance. Data-Driven Control: Integrating Gaussian processes and state-space models into MPC frameworks for uncertain systems. Her work bridges control theory, machine learning, and robotics, addressing societal challenges such as healthcare and energy efficiency.
Kostas Bekris is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Rutgers University, specializing in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. His research focuses on motion planning, autonomous manipulation, and robot control, with notable contributions to tensegrity robotics, perception-driven systems, and large-scale package handling. He leads a team conducting groundbreaking work in robotics, supported by grants from NSF, NASA, and industry collaborators like ExxonMobil. His group emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, combining machine learning, topological methods, and differentiable physics modeling to advance robot capabilities in complex environments. Education details are not explicitly stated in the provided texts, but his academic career has included significant mentorship of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. Key projects involve vision-driven manipulation pipelines, obstacle detection systems (PROBE), and resilient robot designs inspired by biological structures. He has been recognized for his work through prestigious awards including the NASA Early Career Grant and multiple NSF grants, as well as team achievements in robotics competitions like the Amazon Picking Challenge. Research interests span robotics subfields such as: Autonomous manipulation in cluttered environments Learning-based control for dynamic systems Topological data analysis for motion reasoning Tensegrity and soft robotics architectures Sim-to-real transfer in robotic tasks His team's work has produced open-source software tools and datasets, advancing benchmarks in manipulation and perception. Recent articles emphasize scalable solutions for industrial automation and robust navigation strategies in unstructured settings. Scientific achievements include: Development of PROBE for proprioceptive obstacle detection Advances in differentiable physics engines for tensegrity systems NSF-funded projects on robotic rearrangement and modular morphologies Advising contributions span over a decade, with current advisees focusing on topics like non-prehensile manipulation and large-scale storage optimization. Collaborations with industry (e.g., ExxonMobil) and academic partners (Yale University) reflect his commitment to applied robotics research. Labs and teams under his leadership include the Rutgers CS Robotics Group, contributing to projects like the ARIAC challenge platform and packing/industrial automation systems. Future work targets improved robot resilience in disaster scenarios and enhanced human-robot collaboration paradigms.
Lam James is a Chair Professor of Control Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering. He holds a BSc (1st Hons.) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Manchester, and MPhil/PhD degrees from the University of Cambridge. His academic journey includes roles as a Croucher Fellow, Lecturer at the University of Melbourne, and faculty member at City University of Hong Kong before joining HKU in 1993. Professor Lam serves as Editor-in-Chief for four international journals including IET Control Theory and Applications and Journal of The Franklin Institute . His research focuses on networked control systems, vibration control, control theory, and multi-agent systems. With 600+ peer-reviewed publications, he maintains an H-index of 102 (Web of Science) and 108 (Scopus), recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher in multiple fields. Education: BSc Manchester (Mechanical Engineering), MPhil/PhD Cambridge Editorial Roles: 20+ journals, including leadership roles since 2012 His awards include Foreign Membership of Academia Europaea (2024), National Academy of Artificial Intelligence membership (2025), and two State Natural Science Awards (2015, 2019). He is a Fellow of multiple institutions including IEEE, IMechE, and HKIE.
Reihaneh Rabbany is an Assistant Professor at the School of Computer Science, McGill University, and a core faculty member of Mila - Quebec's artificial intelligence institute. She holds the Canada CIFAR AI Chair and is affiliated with the Center for the Study of Democratic Citizenship. Her research focuses on complex data analysis at the intersection of network science, data mining, and machine learning. Research Interests: Network Science Data Mining Graph Representation Learning Unsupervised and Self-supervised Learning Anomaly Detection Social Good Applications Publication Trends show emphasis on temporal graph analysis, community detection, misinformation identification, and interdisciplinary collaborations with political science and criminology experts. Notable Awards Canada CIFAR AI Chair CAIAC 2021 Best Master's Thesis Award (co-supervisor) Advising includes mentoring PhD and MSc students across multiple institutions, with graduated students transitioning to roles at Microsoft Research, Mila, Yale, and Google. Labs & Collaborations: Leads the Complex Data Lab at McGill, collaborates with Mila, and contributes to community evaluation frameworks like CommunityEvaluation and TopLeaders algorithm.
Scientia Professor Gary Froyland is a Professor at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), affiliated with the School of Mathematics & Statistics. He leads the ARC Laureate Centre for Dynamical Systems and Data and holds an Einstein Visiting Fellowship from the Einstein Foundation Berlin. His academic credentials include a BSc (Hons 1, Medal) in Pure and Applied Mathematics from the University of Queensland and a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Western Australia. Professor Froyland's research spans two primary domains: dynamical systems and optimization. In dynamical systems, he investigates the interplay of probability and geometry in nonlinear and chaotic systems, employing tools from ergodic theory, functional analysis, and differential geometry. His work extends to applications in oceanography, atmospheric science, and granular flows. In optimization, he focuses on decision-making in complex systems with uncertain information, developing novel approaches in mathematical programming that have been applied to mining, logistics, and medical treatment planning. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on coherent structures in dynamical systems, linear response theory, and applications to geophysical phenomena. The research shows increasing interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly with climate scientists and data analysts, reflecting a trend toward applying advanced mathematical techniques to real-world problems in environmental science and engineering. J.D. Crawford Prize (2025) Elected Member of the Academy of Europe / Academia Europaea (2024) ARC Laureate Fellow (2024-2029) Fellow of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) (2021) Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (2020) Vice-Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence - Postgraduate Research Supervision (2015) Professor Froyland actively supervises PhD and honors students, with current advisees including Kevin Felipe Kühl Oliveira, Nicholas Peters, and Kathrin Völkner. His research is supported by multiple grants, including an ARC Laureate Fellowship (2024-2029) for "Breakthrough mathematics for dynamical systems and data," an Einstein Visiting Fellowship (2022-2026), and several ARC Discovery Projects. His work has practical applications in climate science, mining optimization, and medical treatment planning, particularly in radiotherapy. He leads the ARC Laureate Centre for Dynamical Systems and Data, which brings together researchers to develop new mathematical approaches for analyzing complex dynamical systems. The center focuses on creating methods to identify coherent structures in spatiotemporal data, with applications spanning environmental science, social science, health science, and engineering.
Dr. Yuzhang Lin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Previously, he held an Assistant Professor position at the University of Massachusetts Lowell (2018–2023). He earned his Ph.D. from Northeastern University and B.Eng./M.S. from Tsinghua University. His research focuses on smart grids, renewable energy systems, cyber-physical resilience, and machine learning applications. He leads editorial roles for IEEE Transactions on Power Systems and chairs IEEE PES Task Forces on standard test cases and distribution system operations. Dr. Lin’s research has been funded by NSF, DOE, ONR, and others. He is a recipient of the NSF CAREER Award and Northeastern’s Graduate Student Outstanding Research Award. His work emphasizes data-driven solutions for grid resilience, including state estimation, cyber-physical defense, and distributed energy integration. The Lin Group actively seeks PhD candidates interested in advancing smart grid technologies. Education: Ph.D. (Northeastern University), B.Eng./M.S. (Tsinghua University) Grants: NSF, DOE OE/EECE/CESER, ONR, NYSERDA, MassCEC Service Roles: IEEE PES Task Force Co-chair (Standard Test Cases), Secretary (Distribution System Operations Subcommittee) Publications span top journals/conferences, focusing on state estimation, inverter-based resource control, and machine learning for grid systems. His lab develops cutting-edge tools for power system resilience and renewable energy integration.
Seddik M. Djouadi is a Professor in the Min H. Kao Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He holds a PhD from McGill University (1999), an M.A.Sc. from École Polytechnique (1992), and a B.Sc. from École Nationale Polytechnique (1989). His research focuses on robust control, distributed systems, wireless communication, model reduction, and power networks. He has authored over 100 publications and received awards including recognition as an outstanding reviewer by Automatica (2006-2007, 2003-2004) and the Tibbets Award (1999). Education: PhD in Electrical Engineering, McGill University, 1999 M.A.Sc., École Polytechnique, 1992 B.Sc., École Nationale Polytechnique, 1989 Research Interests: Robust and distributed control Wireless communication systems Model reduction for fluid flows Power network dynamics and renewable integration Biological systems modeling Cyber-physical systems security Awards: Outstanding Reviewer, Automatica (2006-2007, 2003-2004) Best Paper Award, Mediterranean Conference on Intelligent Systems (2008) Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award (2005) Tibbets Award (1999) Students and Advising: Djouadi has mentored over 20 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, including current advisees Yichen Zhang and Ehsan Raoufat. Notable past students include Jin Dong (now at Oak Ridge National Laboratory) and Xiao Ma (Western Digital). Projects: Current research includes distributed control of large power networks, data-driven nonlinear model reduction, and stochastic modeling of wireless systems. Collaborations involve ORNL and TVA on energy systems and cybersecurity.
Christopher S. Tang is a UCLA Distinguished Professor and Edward W. Carter Chair in Business Administration at the Anderson School of Management , where he researches global supply chain management with a focus on social innovation in developing countries . He also serves as Senior Associate Dean for Global Initiatives and Faculty Director of the Center for Global Management . Education: Ph.D. in Management Science (1985, Yale University) M.Phil. in Administrative Science (1983, Yale University) M.A. in Statistics (1983, Yale University) B.Sc. in Mathematics (First Class Honors, 1981, King’s College, University of London) His research explores the intersection of corporate responsibility and supply chain innovation , addressing topics like microfinancing , mobile platforms for developing economies , direct agricultural procurement , and disaster response logistics . He emphasizes visibility, integrity, and agility in uncertain environments. Recent work highlights AI adoption benefits for supply chains , strategies to reduce forced labor risks , and policy impacts on ride-sharing platforms . His research bridges operations management and social justice , advocating for environmental stewardship alongside business growth. Scientific Awards: Salzberg Medallion (2017) Lifetime Fellow, INFORMS (2011) Responsible Research in Management Award (2017) Teaching Excellence Award (multiple years, UCLA-NUS) Dean’s Excellent Service Award (2014) As an influential adviser and consultant , Tang has worked with Amazon, HP, IBM, Nestlé, GKN , and Accenture . He has taught at Stanford University, UC Berkeley, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology , and served as visiting professor at Cambridge University and the Institute of Advanced Study at HKUST .
Dr. Arnab Bhattacharya is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur since December 2020. He previously served as Associate Professor (2014–2020) and Assistant Professor (2007–2014) at IIT Kanpur. Education: PhD in Computer Science (2007), University of California, Santa Barbara MS in Computer Science (2007), University of California, Santa Barbara Bachelor of Computer Science and Engineering (2001), Jadavpur University Research Focus spans Databases , Data Mining , Information Retrieval , and Artificial Intelligence . His work emphasizes graph analytics , skyline queries , probabilistic data , and knowledge graph management . Article Trends reveal expertise in graph neural networks , trajectory-aware systems , statistical significance in databases , and legal/medical data mining . His methodologies often integrate chi-square statistics , approximate indexing , and provenance tracking . Scientific Awards: IBM Faculty Research Award Yahoo! Faculty Research and Engagement Program Award Best Paper at COMAD 2011 Best Student Paper at COMAD 2010 Top-Five Student Paper at ICDM 2005 ICDM Student Travel Award sponsored by IBM Contact: Office RM 409, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Kanpur Email: arnabb@iitk.ac.in | Phone: +91-512-259-7650
