Dr. David Sewell is a Senior Lecturer and Deputy Head of School (Teaching & Learning) at the School of Psychology, The University of Queensland. His research focuses on attention, learning, memory, and decision-making, with a strong emphasis on formal mathematical models of human cognition. He is affiliated with the Centre for Perception and Cognitive Neuroscience within the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences. Education: Bachelor (Honours) of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy, both from the University of Western Australia. David's research explores the intersection of cognitive psychology and computational modeling. Key areas include perceptual decision-making, attentional mechanisms, and the application of diffusion models to understand cognitive processes. His work also extends to sustainability and collective self-regulation through cognitive frameworks. The 15 most recent articles highlight his contributions to modeling decision thresholds in memory prioritization, analyzing gaze cueing effects, and investigating neural correlates of confidence in multisensory decisions. Collaborative projects frequently involve interdisciplinary approaches, combining neuroscience, psychology, and computational methods. He has supervised multiple PhD candidates, serving as Principal or Associate Advisor, with research topics ranging from visual categorization to metacognition in children. Current and past funding includes ARC Discovery Projects on collective self-regulation and category learning constraints.
Björn Ross is a Lecturer in Computational Social Science at the University of Edinburgh's School of Informatics, where he is affiliated with the Institute for Language, Cognition and Computation. He serves as Director of the SMASH research group and is part of the management team for the Centre for Doctoral Training in Natural Language Processing (CDT in NLP). His educational background includes: PhD (2019) from the University of Duisburg-Essen MSc in Computer Science (2016) from the University of Münster Exchange year (2014-2015) at the University of Strasbourg BSc in Information Systems (2013) from the University of Münster Ross's research focuses on computational social science, particularly using natural language processing, social network analysis, and agent-based modeling to study social media phenomena. His work examines misinformation, hate speech, bot activity, and the ethical implications of computational methods. He also investigates how social media can be leveraged for social good, especially in crisis communication contexts. A significant portion of his recent research addresses bias and fairness issues in AI systems, particularly regarding marginalized communities and LGBTQ+ identities. His work spans both technical development of computational methods and critical examination of their societal impacts. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward examining bias in AI systems, particularly regarding marginalized communities. His work spans multiple methodologies including computational analysis of social media data, development of NLP techniques, and critical examination of AI ethics. He frequently collaborates across disciplines, working with researchers in computer science, social sciences, and healthcare domains. His professional recognition includes: Best Paper Award at the Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS) in 2018 Associate Editor for Business & Information Systems Engineering Active membership in professional organizations including AIS, ACL, and ACM Ross currently supervises multiple PhD students including Agostina Calabrese, Eddie Ungless, Sandrine Chausson, Wendy Zheng, Seraphina Goldfarb-Tarrant, and Mahmoud Ibrahim. At the University of Edinburgh, he teaches courses such as 'Text Technologies for Data Science' and 'Evidence, Argument and Persuasion in a Digital Age,' reflecting his expertise at the intersection of computational methods and social implications.
Benoit Combemale is a Full Professor of Software Engineering at the University of Rennes , currently on leave as Research Director at Inria . He is affiliated with the DiverSE research team (joint between IRISA and Inria) and the SM@RT team at IRIT. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Springer-Nature journal Software and Systems Modeling (SoSyM) and holds leadership roles in academic conferences like ACM SIGPLAN Intl. Conference on Software Language Engineering and MODELS . Education : Habilitation (2015) and PhD (2008) in Software Engineering from University of Rennes and University of Toulouse, respectively. Research : Focuses on Model-Driven Engineering , Digital Twins , and ICT for Sustainability , with applications in cyber-physical systems, scientific computing, and industrial systems. Recent Publications highlight trends in digital twin modeling, energy-aware software engineering, polyglot programming, and formal verification for heterogeneous systems. His scientific awards include: Editor-in-Chief of SoSyM Steering Committee member of ACM SIGPLAN Intl. Conference on Software Language Engineering General Chair for ICT4S 2023 and MODELS 2016 PC Chair for MODELS 2024, ECMFA 2019, and SLE 2014 Coordinator of Dagstuhl Seminars and Bellairs workshops Advising includes 30+ students in topics ranging from digital twin engineering to software testing and language design. He leads the GEMOC Initiative and contributes to projects like SciHook and GEMOC Studio .
Bryan Parno is a Professor at Carnegie Mellon University in the Departments of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science . He is the recipient of the Kavčić-Moura Chair and leads the Secure Foundations Lab , focusing on end-to-end secure systems through formal verification. Research spans secure systems , applied cryptography , distributed systems , and zero-knowledge proofs Developed Verus (verified Rust systems) and Project Everest (verified HTTPS stack) Key contributions include Ironclad , Flicker , and Pinocchio , with impacts on Intel CPUs and Windows/iOS security models His work emphasizes open-source tools and reproducibility , often published in top venues like POPL, PLDI, and IEEE S&P. Recent projects address WebAssembly security and formal verification of complex distributed systems . Major Awards Jay Lepreau Best Paper Award (OSDI 2025) IEEE Cybersecurity Award for Practice (2024) Sloan Research Fellowship (2018) Test-of-Time Awards (IEEE S&P 2023, IEEE S&P 2020) Best Paper Awards at USENIX Security, OOPSLA, and PLDI
Dr. Ed E. Moret is an Associate Professor of Computational Medicinal Chemistry at Utrecht University, where he serves as Managing Director of the Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences. He is a member of the Departmental Executive Board and Chair of the Board of Examiners of the School of Pharmacy. His academic career spans over three decades with significant contributions to pharmaceutical sciences. Utrecht University, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences School of Pharmacy, Department of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery Managing Director since January 2010 Dr. Moret's educational background includes completing Gymnasium-b at Gymnasium Camphusianum in Gorinchem in 1979, followed by pharmacy studies at Utrecht University until 1988. He earned his PhD in 1993 with research on calculations and simulations of DNA-alkylating cytostatics under supervision of Prof. L.H.M. Janssen and Prof. J.P.A.E. Tollenaere. He also conducted postdoctoral research at the Scripps Research Institute with Prof. A.J. Olson. His primary research interests focus on molecular recognition, particularly in auto-immune diseases, with expertise spanning computational medicinal chemistry, computer-aided drug discovery, cheminformatics, and bioinformatics. Dr. Moret's work bridges the gap between theoretical calculations and experimental validation in drug design. His research portfolio demonstrates a consistent trajectory from fundamental molecular interactions to applied drug discovery, with particular emphasis on enzyme inhibitors, carbohydrate-protein interactions, and molecular recognition processes. Analysis of his publication record reveals a strong focus on structure-based drug design, with significant contributions to the development of inhibitors for enzymes like β-glucocerebrosidase, NNMT, and neuraminidase. His work spans multiple therapeutic areas including lysosomal storage disorders, cancer metabolism, and infectious diseases. The interdisciplinary nature of his research is evident in the integration of computational approaches with experimental validation across biochemistry, pharmacology, and medicinal chemistry. Teacher of the Year (awarded three times by Pharmacy students) Member of editorial boards for Medicines and Conceptuur journals Secretary of Board of FIGON (2016) Secretary of Raad voor de Farmaceutische Wetenschappen (2024) Member of Board of Stichting Farmaceutische Erfgoed (2024) Dr. Moret has been actively involved in educational innovation, developing and coordinating the master's programme Drug Innovation, the profile Drug Regulatory Sciences, and the Honours programme Pharmaceutical Sciences. He has taught courses for pharmacy, chemistry, UCU and medical sciences students, as well as PhD courses in bioinformatics and computer-aided drug discovery. His educational contributions include developing an inquiry-based elective course on drug discovery, for which he published educational research. He holds BKO and SKO teaching qualifications and participated in the Centre of Excellence in University Teaching program. As Managing Director of the Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Moret leads research initiatives across chemical biology, drug discovery, and pharmaceutical sciences. His leadership extends to multiple advisory and editorial roles within the pharmaceutical research community, reflecting his significant contributions to both academic and professional spheres of pharmaceutical sciences.
Said Hamdioui serves as a full Professor in the Department of Computer Engineering within the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science at Delft University of Technology. His research focuses on cutting-edge hardware architectures for neuromorphic computing and energy-efficient AI acceleration, with particular emphasis on memristor-based systems, emerging memory technologies, and fault-tolerant designs for edge applications. His research interests span Neuromorphic Computing , Memristor-Based Architectures , and Energy-Efficient AI Hardware , addressing critical challenges in hardware security, computation-in-memory, and reliable edge AI deployment. Recent work demonstrates significant advancements in RRAM/FeFET testing methodologies, spiking neural network implementations, and spin wave computing alternatives to traditional CMOS. His publications reveal strong trends toward real-world deployment of brain-inspired hardware with practical constraints like power efficiency, testability, and security. Award highlights include: DATE'20 Best Paper Award DFT'21 Outstanding Student Paper ETS 2021 Best Paper Award LATS 2018 & 2022 Best Paper Awards Professor Hamdioui actively contributes to the research community through editorial roles at IEEE Transactions on VLSI Systems , IEEE Design & Test , and Journal of Electronic Testing from 2017-2018. His leadership in multi-partner projects like CONVOLVE and NEUROKIT2E demonstrates strong industry-academia collaboration for edge AI solutions. Current work shows increasing focus on practical deployment challenges including in-field fault monitoring, security vulnerabilities in neuromorphic systems, and realistic brain simulation frameworks.
Dominik Roeser is a Professor and Associate Dean of Research Forests & Community Outreach at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Resources Management. With over 21 years of experience in forest research and innovation, he has built a comprehensive forest operations research program since joining UBC in 2018, following his tenure as Senior Director at FPInnovations where he managed multidisciplinary teams focused on improving forest sector competitiveness and wildfire management solutions in Western Canada. Professor Roeser's research interests center on sustainable forest management and the bioeconomy, with specific expertise in forest bioproduction, supply chain design, steep slope harvesting, and biomass operations. His work through the Forest Action Lab applies diverse research methods including productivity studies, field trials, and modeling to address sustainability challenges across different operational environments. His research portfolio spans sustainable forest biomass utilization, harvesting in difficult terrain, innovative forest planning tools, operational productivity, carbon management, and community sustainability impacts from reforestation. His publication record shows a strong focus on practical applications of forest science, with recent work emphasizing wildfire management, remote sensing technologies for precision forestry, biomass energy systems, and the socio-ecological dimensions of forest management. His research increasingly integrates advanced technologies like LiDAR and drone-based systems with traditional forest operations to address contemporary challenges in sustainable forest management. Roeser has received the Recognition Award from the Canadian Forest Service (2017) for his contributions to forest science and innovation. His work demonstrates significant impact on both academic understanding and practical implementation of sustainable forest operations across North America and Europe. As an educator, Professor Roeser teaches several key courses including FOPR 264 Introduction to Forest Operations, FOPR 362 Harvesting systems and forest access, FOPR 464 Operational planning and management, and FRST 452 Coastal field school. He considers educating the next generation of forestry professionals one of his passions, bridging theoretical knowledge with practical industry applications. The Forest Action Lab, led by Professor Roeser, represents a multidisciplinary research hub applying diverse methodologies to address forestry stakeholders' needs across British Columbia, Canada, and globally. The lab's work connects academic research with industry implementation, focusing on practical solutions for sustainable forest utilization in varied operational environments.
Ariel Rubinstein is a prominent Israeli economist and Professor of Economics at Tel Aviv University's School of Economics and the Department of Economics at New York University. Born on April 13, 1951, he has established himself as a leading figure in game theory and economic theory over his decades-long career. His research spans Game Theory, Bounded Rationality, Economic Theory, and Experimental Economics. Rubinstein is particularly renowned for developing the Rubinstein bargaining model, published in 1982, which describes two-person bargaining as an extensive game with perfect information. He also co-authored the highly influential A Course in Game Theory (1994) with Martin J. Osborne, which has been cited over 4,000 times. His recent scholarly output shows continued productivity across multiple subfields of economic theory, with a focus on behavioral aspects of decision-making, implementation theory, and the philosophical foundations of economic modeling. His work often challenges conventional approaches in economics while maintaining rigorous theoretical foundations. Honorary Fellow recognition Author of highly cited textbooks and scholarly articles Creator of educational resources including game theory experiments website Rubinstein maintains an active teaching role at NYU, where he has taught PhD microeconomics courses through 2024. His work extends beyond traditional academic boundaries through his 'Rubinstein's Atlas of Cafes where one can think,' his political commentary, and his engagement with public discourse on economic methodology and social issues. He has created protest materials and written extensively on contemporary political matters, particularly regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His laboratory focuses on Economic Theory, Bounded Rationality, Game Theory, and Experimental Economics, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to understanding human decision-making within economic frameworks.
Marianna Ivashina is a Professor and Head of the Antenna Systems Research Group at Chalmers University of Technology's Department of Electrical Engineering . Her work focuses on array antennas , antenna integration with electronics , optimal beamforming , and over-the-air measurement methods . The group has achieved international recognition for innovations in ultra-wideband (UWB) feeds , Gap waveguide antennas , and Doherty-power-amplifier-integrated antennas for 5G/6G and radio telescope applications. Key projects include the SSF Sweden-Taiwan collaboration , EU Horizon 2020 MyWave , and VINNOVA ENERGETIC initiatives. Her recent publications emphasize millimeter-wave (mmWave) communication and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) , with applications in 5G/6G networks , satellite communication (SatCom) , and advanced antenna testing chambers . She explores beamforming optimization , self-interference mitigation , and hybrid OTA environments to enhance wireless system performance. The group's work bridges theoretical advancements with practical implementations, including RFSoC testbeds and high-efficiency antenna arrays . Marianna leads major research programs funded by Ericsson , VINNOVA , and EUREKA EURIPIDES2 , addressing challenges in beamforming , antenna-IC integration , and automated design for 5G/6G . These projects highlight her role in advancing millimeter-wave communication and sensor integration technologies.
Jürgen Bernard is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Zurich , leading the Interactive Visual Data Analysis (IVDA) Group . He is associated with the Digital Society Initiative (DSI) and holds a PhD in Computer Science from Technische Universität Darmstadt (2015) with a focus on time-oriented data analysis. His academic journey includes postdoctoral research at TU Darmstadt and the University of British Columbia. Education : Diploma in Computer Science (2009, TU Darmstadt) PhD in Computer Science (2015, TU Darmstadt) Research Interests : Dr. Bernard specializes in interactive visual data analysis , explainable machine learning , and human-centered AI . His work explores time series analysis , multivariate data exploration , and user-driven preference elicitation . He develops visual analytics systems for domains like healthcare , digital humanities , and industrial applications , with a particular focus on responsible AI and transparency in algorithmic systems . Research Trends : His publications emphasize interactive machine learning workflows , visual analytics for healthcare , and time-stamped event sequence analysis . Recent work includes LLM validation frameworks (Human-Data-Model Interaction Canvas) and personalized ranking systems funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. He integrates temporal data with multivariate analysis across applications from medical manufacturing to chronic disease management . Scientific Recognition : EuroGraphics Young Researcher Award (2022) EuroVis Young Researcher Award (2021) Best Paper Awards at IEEE VIS (2021), EuroVA (2021, 2025) Dirk Bartz Prize (2017), Hugo-Geiger Preis (2016) Teaching & Grants : He teaches Interactive Visual Data Analysis (6 ECTS), Digital Health Seminars , and People-Oriented Computing . Currently leads a SNF Grant on Personalized Visual Analytics for multi-criteria decision support (2024-2028) with ETH Zurich's Prof. M. El-Assady.
Professor David Ackerley (Victoria University of Wellington) is a leading microbiologist and enzyme engineer specializing in directed evolution of bacterial enzymes for biotechnological applications. As Biotechnology Programme Director since 2006, he lectures in foundational courses like BTEC101 and BTEC201. Academic rank: Professor of Biotechnology Institutional affiliation: Victoria University of Wellington Research focus areas: Microbial Biotechnology, Drug Discovery, Synthetic Biology His research employs Darwinian evolutionary principles to engineer enzymes with enhanced activities, particularly targeting non-ribosomal peptide synthetases and nitroreductases for antibiotic development and cancer therapy. Recent work explores metagenomic domain substitution in pyoverdine biosynthesis and Purpuramine R from marine sponges. Key publications demonstrate innovations in metagenomic library construction , CRISPR screening for regeneration genes, and structural characterization of engineered enzymes. His team has developed NTR 2.0 , a high-efficacy nitroreductase for targeted cell ablation. Current research projects include: Clean solutions from dirty genes: Plastic-degrading enzyme discovery Engineering enzymes for CAR T-cell-chemotherapy synergy Repurposing niclosamide against Gram-negative superbugs Grants from the Health Research Council of New Zealand, Royal Society of New Zealand, and Cancer Society of NZ support his work. Collaborations span biomedical research, synthetic biology, and environmental applications.
Adam J. Aviv is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at The George Washington University, leading the George Washington University Usable Security and Privacy Lab (gwusec) . His work focuses on computer security, privacy, and usable security , with a particular emphasis on user behavior, authentication systems, and mobile/web security. University: The George Washington University Academic Rank: Associate Professor Email: aaviv@gwu.edu Research Interests: His research investigates how users interact with security and privacy systems, including studies on: Biometric and mobile authentication Password manager usability Generative AI risk perception Online proctoring and institutional decisions Data breach responses Privacy labels and user trust Recent Publications (2024–2025) span venues like USENIX Security, IEEE S&P, ACM CHI, and PoPETs, covering topics such as: Wearable-based contact tracing in low-resource settings WhatsApp mod security perceptions Password manager issues Privacy label accuracy Grants & Awards: Recipient of the OVPR Research Mentorship Award for his work with students. Currently holds NSF grants for collaborative cybersecurity research and travel funding for Privacy Enhancing Technology Symposium. Teaching: Offers Intro to Usable Security and Privacy (CSCI 4533/6533) in Fall 2025, with students engaging in: Secure messaging studies Interview and survey methodology Full research projects with ethics reports Laboratory: The gwusec lab focuses on user-centered security and privacy research , collaborating with institutions like Tel Aviv University and University of Haifa.
Dr. Tim Conrad is a researcher at the Zuse Institute Berlin in the Visual and data-centric computing department under the Mathematics of Complex Systems division. He leads projects at the intersection of computational biology, AI, and medical data analysis. Projects: Geometric Learning for Single-Cell RNA Velocity Modeling, MODAL MedLab, Sparse Compressed Sensing in -Omics Data, BIFOLD (Big Data and Machine Learning) Research Networks: Affiliated with MATH+ and MODAL Research Campus His research focuses on applying machine learning , network optimization , and sparse data analysis to biological and medical challenges including disease modeling, microbiome dynamics, and ECG classification. Recent work explores hybrid PDE-ODE epidemic models and federated learning in healthcare. 2023-2025 publications highlight trends in AI for biological networks , temporal community detection , and medical signal processing . He co-authored studies on SARS-CoV-2 simulations, proteomics feature selection, and multi-label ECG analysis. His 2004 doctoral thesis at Monash University laid foundations for later work in metabolic pathway analysis. Awarded as a Zuse Fellow , he contributes to open science initiatives like FAIR data sharing . Collaborations span institutions including Freie Universität Berlin and Charité in medical informatics and clinical applications.
Prof. Dr. Yavuz Yakut serves as full-time Professor and Head of the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at Hasan Kalyoncu University's Faculty of Health Sciences since 2016. Previously, he held academic positions at Hacettepe University from 1985 to 2016, progressing from Research Assistant to Professor, while concurrently serving on national committees including the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance Budget Implementation Commissions (1997-2003) and YÖK Physiotherapy Sub-Commission (2013-2016). His educational foundation includes a Bachelor's (1984), Master's (1987), and PhD (1990) in Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, all completed at Hacettepe University. Yakut's research demonstrates exceptional breadth across rehabilitation science, with concentrated expertise in biomechanics and scoliosis rehabilitation . His work significantly advances neurological rehabilitation for conditions like multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy, while pioneering applications in burn rehabilitation and orthotics/prosthetics . Recent publications reveal strategic integration of biopsychosocial models and telerehabilitation , particularly addressing pandemic-related challenges and chronic disease management across diverse populations. Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications shows consistent interdisciplinary innovation: validating cross-cultural assessment tools (e.g., Turkish translations of scoliosis and ADL questionnaires), developing novel exercise protocols (dance therapy, cognitive exercise therapy), and investigating rehabilitation responses in complex cases including HIV, rheumatic diseases, and post-earthquake trauma. His methodology frequently combines biomechanical analysis with patient-centered outcomes, demonstrating particular rigor in controlled trials for spinal deformities and burn recovery. His leadership extends beyond direct research through committee roles shaping national rehabilitation policy and educational standards, including his current departmental leadership and recent systematic review on physiotherapy distance education during pandemic disruptions.
Dr. Esmaeel Esmaeeli is a Senior Lecturer in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Brunel University London, serving as Course Director for the MSc in Structural Engineering. His work focuses on sustainable structural retrofitting solutions, safety, and resilience of concrete and masonry structures. Brunel University London (Current: Senior Lecturer) Queen’s University Belfast (Postdoctoral Fellow, Horizon 2020 MSC Fellowship) University of Minho (PhD research on Hybrid Composite Plate) K. N. Toosi University (MSc research on seismic strengthening) His research spans advanced materials like Strain-Hardening Cementitious Composite (SHCC) and Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) for seismic retrofitting, computational modeling of FRP-concrete interfaces, and dynamic response under extreme loads. Recent work includes the SMArtPlate and Hybrid Composite Plate (HCP) systems. Scientific recognition includes the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship and a Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) scholarship. He has advised on structural vulnerability assessments and leads teams in consultancy projects.
