Luis Sentis is a Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at The University of Texas at Austin and holds the Frank and Kay Reese Endowed Professorship in Engineering . He leads the Human Centered Robotics Laboratory, focusing on control systems, human-robot interaction, and exoskeleton robotics. His affiliations include UT Austin's Good Systems initiative and Apptronik Systems as an innovation advisor. Ph.D. , Electrical Engineering, Stanford University B.S. , Telecommunications and Electronics Engineering, Polytechnic University of Catalonia His research spans humanoid robotics , agile manipulation , autonomous systems , and human-robot teaming . Recent work emphasizes FAIR datasets , EEG monitoring , and collision detection for legged robots, with applications in industrial automation and ethical AI. Scientific awards include the NASA Elite Team Award and La Caixa Foundation Fellowship . Funding sources include DARPA , NSF , NASA , and ONR .
Dr Tyson Mitman is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Criminology and the Course Lead for Postgraduate Studies at York St John University’s School of Humanities. His research focuses on graffiti culture, craft beer production, memes, and subcultural identity. He explores how spaces—both physical and digital—are contested, represented, and politicized. Research Interests: Graffiti as political discourse and cultural practice Craft beer’s market dynamics and authenticity Meme culture’s social and ideological roles Visual culture and morality Grants & Projects: Historic England Grant (2023): 'Ghost Signs of York' to preserve public memory through fading signage QR Funding: Examined craft beer markets in Northern England Awards: York St John Inspirational Teaching Award Nominee (2018) Outstanding Dissertation Award (2016) Teaching: Leads modules in spatial sociology, criminology theory, and research methods.
Vincent Sitzmann is an Assistant Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), affiliated with the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). He leads the Scene Representation Group and is part of the Visual Computing research community at CSAIL. His work focuses on advancing artificial intelligence's ability to perceive and interact with the physical world, particularly through neural fields, 3D scene representations, and robotics. His research bridges computer vision, machine learning, and robotics, aiming to create systems that emulate human perception and decision-making. He holds a dual role in the PI Core/Dual program at MIT and contributes to interdisciplinary efforts in AI & ML, Graphics & Vision, and Robotics. His recent projects include developing generative models for 3D avatars, robust camera pose estimation, and learning-based control for soft robots. He collaborates widely within MIT’s engineering ecosystem and has led initiatives such as the Collaborative Research grant on compositional implicit representations for 3D scene understanding (2022). His lab, the Scene Representation Group, emphasizes scalable 3D reconstruction, material estimation, and embodied AI. Notable technologies include Flowmap for camera calibration and Dittogym for soft robotics control. While no awards are explicitly listed, his work has been featured in top conferences like SIGGRAPH and IEEE Robotics.
Katažyna Bogdzevič is a Professor at Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) Law School, specializing in Private International Law , European Law , Human Rights , and Environmental Law . She leads the MRU Human Rights LAB and contributes to the Environmental Management Research LAB, focusing on legal frameworks for ecosystem services, climate change mitigation, and stakeholder engagement. Key Research Themes: Integration of Private International Law with Environmental Law , analysis of legal conflicts in nature-based solutions, and name rights under international human rights conventions. Policy Engagement: Serves as advisor to Lithuania's Minister of Justice Ewelina Dobrowolska , emphasizing knowledge transfer to legislative and judicial practices. Email: roffice@mruni.eu
Professor Jyh-Hone Wang holds a faculty position in the Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Rhode Island (URI). His research focuses on transportation human factors, driving safety, and intelligent transportation systems, with particular emphasis on variable message sign (VMS) design, driver behavior analysis, and automation technology acceptance in elderly drivers. He has conducted studies on dynamic message sign efficacy, traffic flow management, and roadway safety improvement strategies. Education: Ph.D. and M.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Iowa (1989 and 1986), and B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Tunghai University, Taiwan (1980). Recent grants include a 2020 National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology grant (Co-PI) on stress monitoring via wearable devices, and a 2017 Rhode Island Department of Transportation grant (PI) assessing sidewalk quality compliance. His work bridges engineering principles with human factors to enhance traffic safety and transportation efficiency. Key research contributions include optimizing VMS message design for clarity, analyzing driver responses to automation levels, and addressing tailgating issues through behavioral interventions. He has advised multiple graduate students and collaborated on interdisciplinary projects involving traffic data analysis and manufacturing process optimization.
Dr. João Henriques is a Research Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) at the Visual Geometry Group (VGG), University of Oxford. His research focuses on advancing computer vision, deep learning, and robotics, particularly in areas like 3D scene understanding, reinforcement learning, and multi-agent systems. He is renowned for developing the KCF and SiameseFC visual trackers, which won the VOT Challenge and are deployed in consumer hardware. His work spans 3D geometry, self-supervised learning, causal inference, and neuro-symbolic systems. Key contributions include methods for egocentric video analysis, unsupervised reconstruction, and robot navigation. He leads the VGG's research on neural feature fields, hierarchical scene understanding, and real-time 3D perception. Recent publications emphasize 3D-aware segmentation, universal place recognition, and neuro-symbolic world modeling for robotics. His research often bridges theoretical guarantees with practical applications, such as medical imaging and autonomous systems. Dr. Henriques collaborates with industry and academia on AI ethics, friendly AI, and interpretable learning. His lab hosts DPhil students advancing creative AI applications, such as generative models for gameplay design and LLM evaluations in real-world editorial workflows.
Mario Teisl serves as Professor of Resource Economics and Policy and Director at the University of Maine, affiliated with the School of Economics within the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry and Agriculture. His work bridges academic research and community engagement through institutions like the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station and Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of Maryland and an M.S. in Resource Economics and Policy from the University of Maine. Teisl’s research centers on consumer behavior in environmental and food systems , with pioneering work in eco-labeling effectiveness, food safety valuation, and sustainability policy. His expertise spans Environmental Economics , Resource Economics , and One Health frameworks, emphasizing practical applications for policymakers and communities. Recent projects analyze aquaculture’s role in community resilience and public reactions to renewable energy information. His publication trends reveal consistent focus on interdisciplinary sustainability science , merging economics with ecology and social behavior. Key themes include marine resource management, behavioral responses to environmental labeling, and valuation of ecosystem services, reflecting his commitment to transdisciplinary solutions for food-energy-water challenges. Graduate Dean’s Recognition Award for Extraordinary Service to Graduate Studies (2012) Outstanding Researcher Award from CNSFA (2002) CDC Prevention Effectiveness Program award (2006) Research.com Top Researcher at UMaine (2022) Fulbright Scholar Award (2005-06) Invited Researcher at French National Institute for Agricultural Research (2009) Teisl dedicates 40% of his time to externally funded research, including current Hatch project ME021923 on food and renewable energy information. He serves as a journal reviewer and editorial board member for agencies like the U.S. EPA, while his administrative leadership includes past roles as Interim Dean of CNSFA (2020-21) and Faculty Senate member (2004-07). He collaborates extensively through the Initiative for One Health and the Environment, Lobster Institute, and School of Policy and International Affairs, driving transdisciplinary partnerships that connect academic research with community sustainability challenges in Maine and beyond.
Sylvie Delacroix is the Inaugural Jeff Price Chair in Digital Law and Director of the Centre for Data Futures at King's College London. She is also a Visiting Professor at Tohoku University, focusing on bridging theory and practice in ethics and public policy initiatives. Her research spans Data & machine ethics Ethical agency and habit Social sustainability of data ecosystems Participatory infrastructure for AI systems Uncertainty communication in LLMs Legal theory and digital law Recent publications address LLM interfaces as transitional spaces for democratic revival and sustainable data rivers in generative AI. Her work has attracted significant grant funding from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and Omidyar Network. Scientific awards include the Leverhulme Prize Peter Birks 2d Prize for Outstanding Legal Scholarship Montgomery Fellowship at Dartmouth College She supervises PhD research on large language models and uncertainty communication, as well as habit in ethical lives. Her policy contributions include advising the Law Society of England and Wales on algorithmic justice systems.
Ellen Larson serves as a CAEA Postdoctoral Instructor in the Department of Art History at the University of Chicago, concurrently holding the position of Associate Director at the Center for the Art of East Asia (CAEA). Her academic and curatorial work centers on modern and contemporary art from Asia and Asian diasporic communities, with emphasis on moving image practices and institutional frameworks. Education PhD in Contemporary Chinese Art, University of Pittsburgh MA in Global Contemporary Art History, University of Pittsburgh MA in Modern Chinese History, Minzu University of China, Beijing Research Focus Larson’s scholarship investigates temporalities in Chinese moving image art from the late 1980s through early 2000s, examining post-industrial urban aesthetics, technological mediation, and diasporic identities. Her work critically engages AI technologies, virtual economies, and online communication platforms as artistic mediums, revealing how digital infrastructures reshape cultural memory and spatial perception in contemporary Chinese visual culture. Publication Trends Her 2019-2024 publications demonstrate rigorous engagement with Chinese video art’s evolution, consistently analyzing artists like Cao Fei and Su Yuhsin through lenses of utopian nostalgia, industrial heritage, and planetary futurism. These works reveal a methodological shift toward interdisciplinary approaches blending art history, media studies, and urban theory, particularly in examining how virtual platforms and monetary systems transform artistic production and reception. Awards & Recognition US Fulbright Program Getty Foundation Grant Asia Foundation Fellowship Henry Luce Foundation Support Dunhuang Foundation Award Center for Contemporary Art Research in Japan Program University of Chicago Provost’s Global Faculty Award Curatorial Leadership As Associate Director of CAEA, Larson directs major research initiatives while curating exhibitions that bridge academic scholarship and public engagement. Her grants from the Fulbright Program and Getty Foundation have enabled extensive fieldwork in China, facilitating collaborative projects with artists and institutions that document ephemeral media practices and preserve critical art historical archives for scholarly access. Exhibition Practice Larson’s curatorial portfolio—including Ephemeral Architectures (2023) and Materializing Memory (2019)—creates vital platforms for Chinese video art within U.S. institutions. These projects establish methodological frameworks for preserving time-based media while challenging Western-centric exhibition histories, particularly through her focus on intermediary spaces and counter-mapping strategies that reveal hidden narratives in urban landscapes.
Filipa Matos Wunderlich is an Associate Professor in Urban Design at University College London's Bartlett School of Planning, where she serves as Director of the cross-faculty MRes Interdisciplinary Urban Design (MRes IdUD) program and Urban Design Strategic Coordinator. She previously co-designed and directed the MSc Urban Design and City Planning program and has held academic positions at UCL since 2008, initially as a Research Associate before becoming a Lecturer in 2010. Her educational background includes a PhD from University College London (2010), a Diploma of Architecture from Universidade do Porto (2000), and a Bachelor of Music from ArtEZ Institute of the Arts (2001). This interdisciplinary foundation informs her unique approach that bridges architecture, urban design, and musical performance. Wunderlich's research centers on temporality in urban places, urban rhythms, and place-rhythmanalysis, with significant contributions to temporal urban design theory and practice. Her work explores sensory and performative urbanisms, affect in the city, and the interface between urban and musical aesthetics. She also investigates gender-neutral urban design and alternative hybrid typologies in contemporary cities, emphasizing the synergy between theoretical innovation and practical application in urban design. Her publication record reveals a clear evolution from foundational theoretical work on urban rhythms and place-temporality toward increasingly sophisticated applications of temporal design principles. The most recent publications demonstrate a maturation of her temporal urban design framework, moving from conceptual explorations to practical implementations across diverse urban contexts, with growing emphasis on wellbeing, health, and sustainability implications. As a respected academic, Wunderlich regularly serves as keynote speaker at international conferences, including recent invitations to Oxford University, AESOP conferences, and the Conscious Cities Festival. She is a guest editor for Planning Theory and Practice and Architecture Open-Access journals, and frequently reviews for leading urban studies publications. In her teaching and advising roles, Wunderlich directs the MRes IdUD program and coordinates the Major Research Projects module across multiple postgraduate programs. Her grant activities include Innovate UK's Smart Walkability Platform project, UCL ChangeMakers initiatives, and the European COST Action Go2CHANGE research project on cultural heritage conservation under climate change. Wunderlich leads several research initiatives including the Post Growth Planning Research Cluster, Temporal Urban Design Research Podcast and Journal, and Collective Zebra - an online journal focused on walking. These platforms foster interdisciplinary dialogue on temporal approaches to urban design and facilitate knowledge exchange between academic research and professional practice.
Maria Gendron is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Yale University, where she directs the Affective Science and Culture Lab. Her research examines how emotions emerge through dynamic interactions between social, cognitive, and cultural systems, challenging universalist perspectives on emotion. She employs multidisciplinary methodologies including neuroimaging meta-analyses, cross-cultural fieldwork with indigenous communities, and ambulatory physiological assessments. Research Focus : Dr. Gendron investigates: The role of conceptual/semantic systems in constructing emotional experiences Cultural variation in emotion perception across diverse societies Bio-behavioral synchrony in emotion development Linguistic influences on affective processing Her work integrates frameworks from affective neuroscience and cultural psychology to understand emotion diversity. Publication Trends : Her 15 most recent articles (2010-2025) focus on deconstructing emotion universality through cross-cultural comparisons, with recurring themes of: Cultural relativity in facial/vocal emotion interpretation Language as a contextual framework for emotion Conceptual and semantic mechanisms underlying affect Methodological innovations for studying emotion diversity Lab Leadership : She directs the Affective Science and Culture Lab at Yale, advancing research on emotion perception using multimodal approaches including behavioral experiments, physiological monitoring, and fieldwork.
Dr. Benjamin de Haas is a vision scientist and faculty member at Justus Liebig University Giessen , Germany, within the Department of Psychology and Sports Science . He currently leads the ERC-funded Indivisual project and co-leads project C9 Factors influencing categorical face processing within the Collaborative Research Centre CRC/TRR 135. He is also a principal investigator in the NeurOscientific Workflow Assistance (NOWA) infrastructure project, dedicated to open, reproducible neuroscience. Research Focus Dr. de Haas pursues two intertwined questions: How do early and late stages of visual processing interact—from the initial registration of slanted edges to the recognition of faces? How and why do our perceptions differ from one person to the next? To answer these questions his group combines psychophysics, high-resolution eye-tracking, functional and quantitative MRI, and computational modelling, with a strong emphasis on face perception, individual differences, and naturalistic viewing conditions. Publications Overview Across more than 20 publications since 2016, Dr. de Haas has advanced understanding of individual differences in face processing, gaze control, and visual salience. His work repeatedly appears in Journal of Vision , Nature Communications , PNAS , and NeuroImage , highlighting a sustained focus on eye-movement behaviour, cortical representations of faces and scenes, and methodological best practices in neuroimaging. Current Supervision & Team Dr. de Haas currently supervises two PhD students: Elaheh Akbarifathkouhi Hilal Nizamoglu Together with Dr. Katharina Dobs (co-project leader) and affiliated post-docs and research technicians, the group forms the Indivisual laboratory at Giessen. Contact & Resources Email: Benjamin.de-Haas@psychol.uni-giessen.de Department of Psychology and Sports Science Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10F, 35394 Gießen, Germany
Professor Jonathan Erichsen serves as Professor of Visual Neuroscience and Deputy Head of School within the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences at Cardiff University. With a distinguished career spanning several decades, he has established himself as a leading researcher in visual neuroscience and eye movement disorders. Professor Erichsen's research has evolved from early work on central near response pathways in the brain, including vergence and the pupillary light reflex, to a broader focus on eye movement disorders. His primary research interests include the control of visuomotor behavior, eye movement abnormalities in neurodegenerative conditions, and visual function assessment in individuals with nystagmus. He has pioneered innovative methodologies including stereotaxic surgery, immunohistochemistry, neural pathway tracing, and microstimulation in his investigations. His recent publications demonstrate a clear trend toward clinical applications of eye movement research, particularly in developing better assessment tools for visual function in nystagmus patients. The research spans from fundamental neuroanatomy to practical clinical tools, with significant contributions to understanding infantile nystagmus, Huntington's disease-related eye movement abnormalities, and visual function in children. His work increasingly integrates advanced eye tracking technologies with clinical applications. Professor Erichsen founded the Cardiff Research Unit for Nystagmus (RUN) approximately twenty years ago, establishing a large cohort of volunteers with infantile nystagmus to study how environmental factors like stress affect visual performance. More recently, he established the Eye Movement Experimental Research Group (EMERG) to expand research into eye movement abnormalities associated with neurodegenerative conditions including Huntington's disease, schizophrenia risk, and dystonia. His research has demonstrated that traditional measures of visual performance, such as visual acuity, are not significantly affected by changes in eye movements of individuals with nystagmus, suggesting the need for developing better outcome measures in clinical practice. Professor Erichsen remains actively involved in postgraduate supervision and continues to produce high-impact research in visual neuroscience.
Christopher Lukasik is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at Purdue University, with affiliations in American Studies and the School of Interdisciplinary Studies (SIS). His research focuses on the intersection of American literature, visual culture, and illustration studies in the 18th and 19th centuries, with a particular interest in intermediality and cultural history. Ph.D., English, Johns Hopkins University, 2002 His scholarly work examines how visual practices shaped social and political identities, as seen in his monograph Discerning Characters: The Culture of Appearance in Early America (2011). Current research includes The Image in the Text: Intermediality, Illustration, and Nineteenth-Century American Literature , exploring literary annuals' role in developing mass visual culture. His publications span topics like biometric surveillance in early America, abolitionist visual media, and the pedagogy of drawing books. Articles highlight intermedial relationships between text and image, racial visuality, and the cultural capital of illustration. Scientific honors include: Rockwell Center Society of Fellows (2017-2019) Fulbright Specialist Grant (2018) NEH Summer Stipend (2016) Lillian Gary Taylor Fellowship (2013-14) Fulbright Scholar Grant (2009-10) NEH Long-Term Research Grant (2004-05) Lukasik actively participates in academic conferences, including upcoming presentations at SHARP 2025 and SEA 2025. He has also led Fulbright liaison training sessions and symposiums on illustration research.
Dr. Caitlin Nunn serves as Reader in Migration and Youth Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University, where she leads research at the intersection of refugee studies and youth studies with emphasis on refugee-background young people's lived experiences. Her work is anchored in the Manchester Centre for Youth Studies (MCYS) and involves significant collaboration with institutions including Manchester Museum and UKRI-funded initiatives. Her educational background demonstrates interdisciplinary training: PhD in Australian Studies (2013), University of Melbourne MA Preliminary (Honours equivalent) in Development Studies (2005), La Trobe University Graduate Diploma in Development Studies (2004), La Trobe University Bachelor of Dramatic Arts in Theatre Production (2000), Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne Professional qualifications include Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, Certificate II in Applied Language (Vietnamese), and CELTA certification. Nunn's research program critically examines refugee youth resettlement through innovative participatory and arts-based methodologies. Key thematic strands include: Rural and regional refugee resettlement dynamics Environmental dimensions of migration and belonging Transnational generational relations among refugee families Decolonizing research approaches with displaced communities Creative interventions for refugee wellbeing Her work consistently centers youth agency while challenging conventional integration paradigms. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals evolving methodological sophistication with increasing emphasis on environmental migration, cross-disciplinary collaboration (particularly with ecological sciences), and co-produced knowledge generation. The research demonstrates consistent focus on rural resettlement contexts and creative methodological innovations while expanding into digital engagement (e.g., AI/data co-production projects). Current research leadership includes: NERC Future of UK Treescapes Grant (£2m, 2021-2024): 'Voices of the future' exploring children's relationships with treescapes UKRI Citizen Science Collaboration (£343k, 2021-2023): 'Ancient History, Contemporary Belonging' with refugee-background youth EPSRC Public Engagement Scheme (£197k, 2022-2025): 'PEAs in Pods' for AI/data research co-production She actively supervises doctoral research including Nobila Bano's work on intergenerational knowledge transfer and Ahmad Al Shahma's research on equitable ESOL policies. Nunn maintains significant professional engagement as Member of the Editorial Board for Qualitative Research , Member of the AHRC Peer Review College, and Member of the UKRI Interdisciplinary Assessment College, demonstrating her disciplinary leadership beyond direct research outputs.
