Dr. Janis Nötzel is a senior researcher at the Chair of Theoretical Information Technology (Technische Universität München) and leads his independent Emmy Noether research group. Previously, he held a postdoctoral position at Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona and contributed to 5G practical implementations at TU Dresden's 5G Lab. His research spans quantum information theory, physical layer security, and machine learning applications. Key focuses include Quantum channel capacities under adversarial conditions Entanglement-assisted communication Quantum software frameworks (QuNetSim, QuReed) Interplay between classical and quantum communication Security analysis for 6G networks Resource optimization in quantum systems Recent publications (2023-2025) showcase innovations in Quantum satellite communication architectures Hybrid quantum-classical clustering algorithms Photonic processor instability modeling Covert capacity of compound channels Quantum key distribution resilience Free-space Bessel beam communication He actively collaborates with 6G-life research hub and contributes to quantum network simulation tools. Grants include funding from DFG (Leibniz Program), BMBF (6G-life, Q.Link.X), and StMWi (6G Zukunftslabor Bayern).
Itsuro Morita is Professor in the School of Fundamental Science and Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo. Before joining Waseda in 2022 he spent 23 years at KDDI R&D Laboratories, advancing from researcher to executive research fellow, and has been a visiting researcher at Stanford University. He is an IEEE Fellow and IEICE Fellow recognized for pioneering large-capacity, long-haul optical transmission systems. Education: 2004 – 2005 Tokyo Institute of Technology, Graduate School of Science & Engineering, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Doctoral coursework) 1990 – 1992 Tokyo Institute of Technology, Graduate School of Science & Engineering, Department of Physical Electronics (M.E.) 1986 – 1990 Tokyo Institute of Technology, School of Engineering (B.E.) Research Interests: Morita’s work sits at the intersection of optical fiber communication and software-defined networking. He explores ultra-high-capacity transmission via space-division multiplexing (multi-core/few-mode fibers), real-time MIMO digital signal processing for modal crosstalk mitigation, and SDN/NFV orchestration of disaggregated optical networks. Additional interests include quality-of-transmission estimation using machine learning, telemetry-enabled control planes (gRPC/gNMI), and metro-embedded edge/cloud architectures for IoT services. Publication Trends: Recent articles emphasize two converging themes: (i) petabit-per-second SDM/WDM experiments using novel fiber geometries and real-time DSP, and (ii) cloud-native SDN control frameworks that integrate machine-learning-based QoT prediction, YANG/NETCONF modeling, and open APIs (TAPI/OpenConfig) for multi-domain, partially disaggregated networks. These works collectively push both the physical capacity frontier and the agility of next-generation optical infrastructure. Scientific Awards: C&C Prize 2024 (NEC C&C Foundation) – contributions to WDM optical submarine cable systems IEICE Achievement Award 2021 – pioneering research on 10-Pbit/s ultra-large-capacity SDM transmission Telecom System Technology Award 2021 – 10.16-Pbit/s dense SDM/WDM transmission record IEEE Fellow (2021) – contributions to large-capacity high-speed transmission systems IEICE Fellow (2020) – research on trans-oceanic high-speed optical signal transmission Ichimura Industrial Award – Contribution Prize 2018 – development of terabit-class submarine cable systems Maejima Hisoka Award 2012 – proposal and demonstration of distributed-control soliton communication Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award for Advanced Technology 2006 – 160 Gbit/s ultra-high-speed optical transmission technology Advising & Grants: At Waseda University Morita advises graduate students on experimental photonic networking and leads externally funded projects on petabit SDM transmission and SDN orchestration. While specific grant numbers are not disclosed, his continuous industry-university collaborative testbeds (with KDDI, CTTC, and others) indicate substantial competitive funding. Labs & Teams: He heads the Optical Space-Division-Multiplexing Laboratory at Waseda, maintaining joint experimental facilities with KDDI Research and international partners (e.g., CTTC, Spain). The group operates real-time coherent MIMO testbeds, multi-domain SDN controllers, and fiber-level SDM prototypes capable of petabit-per-second demonstrations.
Ian Phillips is a Teaching Fellow in Electronics & Computer Engineering at Aston University's College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. He specializes in optical communications, with a focus on Raman amplification, coherent transmission systems, and high data rate optical networks. His research spans topics such as ultra-wideband discrete Raman amplifiers, multi-band transmission, and nonlinear noise mitigation in fiber optic systems. Phillips holds a PhD in Optoelectronics (1998) under the supervision of Prof. I. Bennion, focusing on optical network processing using all-optical and electro-optical devices. His work emphasizes practical applications of advanced optical technologies, including experimental studies on Raman amplifier optimization, bismuth-doped fiber amplifiers, and hybrid amplifier designs for metro networks. Phillips has contributed to over 100 peer-reviewed publications and 24 datasets, often collaborating on projects involving ultra-high data rate transmission (e.g., 321 Tb/s systems) and novel signal processing techniques. His research has been funded through collaborative initiatives and leverages both experimental and numerical methods to advance optical communication systems. Notable contributions include the development of ultra-flat Raman-enhanced FOPAs, low-penalty dual-stage Raman amplifiers, and pioneering work in E-band transmission using bismuth-doped amplifiers. Phillips' expertise bridges theoretical photonics with practical system design, addressing challenges in bandwidth efficiency, signal integrity, and amplifier noise management.
Victor Liu is a Research Professor and Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan, affiliated with the College of Engineering. His work bridges complex systems analysis, software-defined networking (SDN), and telecommunications. Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh M.E. in Computer Science from Tsinghua University B.E. in Computer Science from Xi'an Jiaotong University Dr. Liu specializes in network survivability and optimization , with a focus on: Intent-Based Networking Self-Operating Networks Packet-Optical Integration Cross-Layer Network Resilience His publications from the last decade reveal a consistent focus on network reliability , spare capacity allocation , and SDN applications . Key themes include: Protection algorithms for dual-failure scenarios Optimization of packet-optical integrated networks Routing strategies for fiber-cut recovery SDN-driven network automation Telecom infrastructure resilience Failure recovery in multi-layer systems
Amalia Miliou is a Professor in the Department of Informatics at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, where she has served since 1993, progressing through the academic ranks from Lecturer to her current position as Professor since 2022. She holds a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Florida (1991) with specialization in Optoelectronics, following an MSc in the same field (1988) and a Physics degree from Aristotle University (1985). Her research focuses on optical communications systems, with specific expertise in optoelectronic circuits simulation, optical switching, optical RAM development, converged fiber-wireless technology, 5G networks, and secure optical communications using chaos theory. Over her career, she has supervised numerous graduate students across these research areas, with thesis topics spanning optical memory systems, fiber-wireless integration, chaos-based secure communications, and advanced optical network architectures. Her recent publications (2021-2024) demonstrate a strong focus on next-generation optical networking solutions for 5G/6G applications, including fiber-wireless convergence, optical memory systems for high-speed networks, and innovative approaches to optical signal processing. Her work bridges fundamental photonics research with practical telecommunications applications, particularly in addressing the bandwidth and latency challenges of modern mobile networks. Professor Miliou has served as the Coordinator of the LLP-ERASMUS student exchange program at the Department of Informatics since 1997 and has held various administrative positions including membership in the University Senate and General Assembly. She has led and participated in numerous research projects, most recently focusing on technological improvements for 5G systems through optical-wireless network development (2019-2021), next-generation healthcare applications leveraging 6G networks (2023-2027), and photonic integrated circuits for random access memory (2012-2015).
Emmanouel (Manos) Varvarigos is a Professor at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), where he leads the High Speed Communication Networks Laboratory. He holds a Diploma from NTUA (1988) and an M.S./Ph.D. from MIT (1990/1992). Prior roles include Professorships at UC Santa Barbara (1992-1998) and Delft University (1998-1999), and leadership at the University of Patras (1999-2015). He has coordinated over 30 EU research projects, including H2020 initiatives like ORCHESTRA and FLEXGRID. His research focuses on optical networking, cloud computing, smart energy grids, and high-speed network protocols. He has published over 450 papers and serves on numerous conference committees. Awards include the NSF Research Initiation Award. His lab employs 5 postdocs and 10+ PhD students, addressing challenges in networking, data centers, and grid computing. Education: Ph.D., Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, 1992 M.S., Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, 1990 Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering, NTUA, 1988 Research Interests: Optical networking, high-speed network protocols, data center architectures, cloud computing, smart energy grids, wireless networks, and distributed systems. Grants & Projects: Coordinated 7 EU projects (e.g., FLEXGRID, ORCHESTRA) and participated in 35+ others. National projects include roles as Scientific Director of the Greek School Network and CTI’s Network Technologies Division. Labs & Teams: Directs the High Speed Communication Networks Lab (HSCNL), collaborating with global institutions on optical networks, edge cloud, and smart grids. The lab’s work includes EU-funded projects on 5G, data centers, and renewable energy integration.
Amiya Nayak is a Professor at the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science of the University of Ottawa. His research focuses on Fault-Tolerant Computing , Distributed Systems , and Ad hoc and Sensor Networks . He specializes in cybersecurity, IoT security, blockchain integration, and machine learning applications in healthcare and vehicular networks. His work addresses challenges in secure communication protocols, distributed learning frameworks, and energy-efficient network designs. Notable research areas include: IoT Security : Developing frameworks for threat detection, privacy-preserving systems, and blockchain-empowered IoT defenses. Federated Learning : Enhancing healthcare predictions and IoT management through decentralized, privacy-aware machine learning. Vehicular Networks : Securing Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication and optimizing QoS in cooperative internet of vehicles (IoV). Network Optimization : Leveraging deep reinforcement learning and graph neural networks for WDM network restoration and edge computing. His publications (2020–2025) highlight contributions to: Secure authentication protocols in medical sensor networks. AI-driven metaverse security solutions. Decentralized energy trading using NFTs. Energy-efficient sleep scheduling in wireless body area networks (WBANs). Nayak holds a Ph.D. and is a P.Eng. (Professional Engineer). His work bridges theoretical computer science with practical applications in telecommunications and healthcare systems.
Pleros Nikos is a Professor in the Department of Informatics at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), leading the Photonics Systems and Networks (Phos-Net) research group and co-founding the interdisciplinary Wireless and Photonic Systems and Networks (WinPhoS) research group in 2016 at AUTH’s Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (C.I.R.I.). His office is located in Kalamaria, Office 15, with office hours Tuesday/Wednesday 10:00-12:00 and Thursday 16:00-17:00. His research spans optical and photonic systems, specializing in Optical Packet/Burst Switching, High-Speed Optical Signal Processing, Wireless Optical Networks (including Radio-over-fiber access networks), and High-Speed WDM/OTDM Optical Transmitters. The WinPhoS group, which integrates departments of Physics, Informatics, and Electrical Engineering, advances applications in integrated photonics, plasmonics, optical interconnects for DataCenters, neuromorphic photonics, and 5G mmWave fiber-wireless systems, supported by state-of-the-art laboratories for optical interconnects and mmWave testing. WinPhoS has participated in over 30 FP7 and Horizon EU research projects during the last 15 years, frequently serving as project coordinators, and maintains global collaborations with institutions and industry across Greece, Europe, the USA, and Japan. Professor Nikos actively mentors PhD students, with current openings in “Photonic Neural Networks and Photonic AI processors”, and oversees research grants focused on next-generation optical networking technologies.
Nicola Calabretta is a Full Professor in Electro-Optical Communication Systems and Senior Research Fellow at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). His work focuses on smart optical networks, high-speed electronics, FPGA implementations for scheduling algorithms, and photonic integrated circuits. He holds a PhD from TU/e (2004) and previously conducted research at DTU Fotonik and the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies. His expertise spans optical signal processing, multi-level modulation formats, and applications in data center and metro networks. Key research areas include optical switching architectures (e.g., SOA-based switches), WDM systems, and low-latency interconnect networks. He has led projects like ADAPTOR (resource optimization), SmartTWO (future telecom technologies), and 5G-MOBIX (cross-border mobility). His courses include 'Optical Fibre Communication Technology' and 'Optical Interconnection Networks.' Collaborations involve institutions globally, with recent work emphasizing photonic integration for neural networks, ultra-fast switching, and edge computing. His contributions align with UN SDGs through sustainable telecom infrastructure advancements.
Lacra Pavel is a Professor in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. She joined the department in August 2002 after industry experience at Nortel Networks and Solinet Systems, and remains active in the System Control Group and Photonics Group. Her educational background includes: Diploma of Engineering (with distinction) in Automatic Control, Technical University Gh. Asachi of Iasi, Romania (1989) PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Queen's University at Kingston (1996) Research focuses on integrating game theory, control theory, and optimization within networked systems. She pioneered applications in noncooperative/evolutionary game theory for network control, nonlinear/robust control frameworks, and energy-efficient optical/transportation networks. Current work develops mathematical foundations for learning in games via control-theoretic approaches to enable autonomous multi-agent network optimization. Recent publications (2019-2013) reveal dominant trends: distributed Nash equilibrium seeking using passivity-based and operator-splitting methods, stability analysis for optical network power control with time-delays, and extensions to transportation systems like railway timetabling. Key subfields include graphical games, ADMM algorithms, and Lyapunov-based boundary control for distributed parameter systems. Scientific recognition includes: Fellow of the IEEE (2025) for contributions to game theory, control, and optimization for network systems Connaught New Staff Award, University of Toronto (2003) New Opportunities Infrastructure Award, CFI/OIT (2003) Award for Innovation, Solinet Systems (2001, 2002) Inventor Recognition Award, Nortel Networks (2000) She has advised over 20 graduate students including current PhD candidates and former students now at MIT, Princeton, Amazon, and Ciena. Major grants include the CFI/OIT New Opportunities Infrastructure Award (2003). Her research bridges theoretical game control with practical implementations in optical and transportation networks. As co-director of the System Control Group and member of the Photonics Group, she leads teams developing algorithms for autonomous network optimization. Current projects focus on stochastic approximation methods for multi-agent learning and energy-efficient network design.
James Salamy is a part-time Lecturer in the Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering at the College of Engineering, Monash University. He actively contributes to both research and teaching initiatives, with a focus on photonics and engineering education. His work bridges technical innovation with pedagogical advancements, ensuring holistic development of educational strategies. Current Affiliation: Monash University, College of Engineering Academic Role: Lecturer Status: Part-time faculty member His research spans two primary domains: photonics and engineering education . In photonics, he investigates laser stabilization techniques using microring resonators for dense wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) systems, aiming to improve optical network scalability and reliability. In education, he explores factors influencing student success, including mental health literacy, onboarding experiences, and the role of failure in academic growth. Additionally, he has contributed to cloud-based machine learning infrastructure optimization. Recent research trends emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly between Monash University and the University of Warwick, focusing on scalable automated feedback systems for cross-campus education. His technical work on self-injection locking mechanisms has implications for temperature-stable laser systems, while his educational studies address equity and pedagogical innovation. While no scientific awards are documented in the provided material, his 2024-2025 projects include research on Research Cross Campus Peer Instructions and scalable feedback systems, demonstrating his commitment to enhancing engagement in information engineering education.
Saptarashmi Bandyopadhyay is a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the City College of New York and the Graduate Center at the City University of New York (CUNY). Her research focuses on Artificial Intelligence Agents and Autonomous Decision Making, with special emphasis on Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning, Multi-Agent Imitation Learning, and related paradigms. She has established significant collaborations with leading institutions including Google DeepMind, Carnegie Mellon University, Oxford University, and MIT. Dr. Bandyopadhyay received her PhD from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she was advised by Professor John Dickerson and Professor Tom Goldstein. Prior to that, she graduated from Penn State in 2020 with a thesis on Multimodal Computer Vision in Medical Domain advised by Prof. William Evan Higgins. Her research expertise spans multiple domains of AI including Multi-Agent Systems, Reinforcement Learning, Imitation Learning, and Multimodal Perception. She specializes in developing AI agents for applications in climate conservation, economic systems, and AI safety. Her work integrates techniques from computer vision, natural language processing, and robotics to create more robust and explainable AI systems that can operate effectively in complex, real-world scenarios. Current work includes improving explainable AI, developing Multimodal LLM/VLM/Robotic Agents, and creating libraries to speed up Multi-Agent evolutionary training with JAXMARL. Analysis of Dr. Bandyopadhyay's publication record reveals a clear progression from foundational work in medical imaging and natural language processing toward increasingly sophisticated multi-agent AI systems. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning frameworks like JAXMARL, with applications spanning from supply chain orchestration to climate conservation. The interdisciplinary nature of her work is evident in publications spanning computer vision, NLP, and multi-agent systems conferences including AAAI, NeurIPS, AAMAS, EMNLP, and ACL. DoGood Fellow (2022) UMD Dean's Summer Fellow (2021) Dr. Bandyopadhyay has been actively involved in securing research funding from major agencies including NSF, NIH, DoD, and ARL. She served as the lead PhD student RA in a DoD project for Multi-Agent Explainable AI to improve AI trustworthiness. Her service to the academic community includes membership on program committees for major conferences including IJCAI 2024, KDD 2024, ACL 2024, and AAMAS 2023-2024. She has also created the AI Agents Seminar Series at UMD in 2022 with over 1,000 participants from six continents. Currently, Dr. Bandyopadhyay leads research on improving explainable AI, developing Multimodal LLM/VLM/Robotic Agents, and creating libraries to speed up Multi-Agent evolutionary training with JAXMARL. Her lab collaborates prominently with researchers from Google DeepMind, Carnegie Mellon University, Oxford University, University of Sheffield, Waymo, Meta AI, and MIT, with special focus on Dr. Jakob Foerster's and Dr. Robert Loftin's groups.
Tingjun Chen is the Nortel Networks Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering, with a secondary appointment in Computer Science. He directs the FuNCtions Lab, focusing on wireless, optical, and quantum networked systems with emphasis on edge computing and energy efficiency. Originally from Tsinghua University (B.S. 2014), he earned M.S. (2018) and Ph.D. (2020) degrees from Columbia University under Gil Zussman. His research spans wireless networking, optical systems, energy-harvesting technologies, and AI-ML integration in communication infrastructure. Recent publications demonstrate expertise in mmWave systems, optical transmission management, and RF in-physics computing, with field trials and testbed deployments in dense urban environments. His work has received multiple top conference paper awards and major grants from NSF, ARO, and industry partners. Key awards include: NSF CAREER Award (2025) IBM Academic Award (2023, 2021) Facebook Fellowship (2019) ACM SIGMOBILE Dissertation Award Runner-up (2021) His lab develops scalable network solutions through projects like: NSF CAREER: Mobile Fronthaul Optimization NSF CC* Integration-Large: Campus RDMA Networking NSF NewSpectrum: Spectrum Monitoring Systems Duke Quantum Network Initiative
Professor David Richardson, FREng, FRS, is a leading authority in optical fiber technology and its applications. Currently serving as Deputy Director of the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) at the University of Southampton and Head of the ORC Fibre and Laser Group, he has over 30 years of experience in areas such as hollow core optical fibers, high power fiber lasers, and optical communications. His work has resulted in more than 1500 publications and 30 patents. His research spans the development of hollow core optical fibers for telecommunications and sensing, high power fiber lasers for industrial applications, and ultrafast lasers for biomedical imaging. Recent projects emphasize optical fiber stability , nonlinear optics , and data transmission efficiency , reflecting his commitment to advancing photonics and overcoming traditional silica fiber limitations. Key scientific contributions include: Fellow of the Royal Society (2018) Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (2009) EU Horizon 2020 'Breaking the Optical Transmission Barriers' Prize (2016) Sir Harold Hartley Medal (2022) Professor Richardson has supervised over 70 PhD students to completion and mentored more than 100 postdoctoral researchers. He co-founded SPI Lasers (2000) and Lumenisity (2017), bridging academic research with industrial innovation. His collaborative work extends to major projects like the EPSRC Hyperhighway and Airguide Photonics Programmes.
Maths Karlsson is a Professor in Materials Science at Chalmers University of Technology since 2023. Previously, he worked at the European Spallation Source (2008–2011) and held visiting roles at Iowa State University (2004) and UC Santa Barbara (2012–2013). He chairs the Faculty Assembly of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and serves on the Chalmers Faculty Senate. His research focuses on functional materials for energy applications, including proton-conducting oxides, metal halide perovskites, and inorganic phosphors. Utilizing advanced neutron and x-ray scattering techniques, his group explores structure-dynamics relationships in materials for devices like solid oxide fuel cells and solar cells. Experimental methods are emphasized, with a focus on developing novel scattering methodologies. Recent publications highlight advancements in optical communications, photonic integration, and machine learning applications in signal processing. Key themes include nonlinear optics, silicon nitride waveguide technologies, and polarization-insensitive receiver designs. His work bridges fundamental materials research with applied photonics for high-speed data transmission and network resilience. Awards: No specific prizes mentioned in the provided texts. Grants and advising details are absent from the data. Research group: Active in Chalmers' Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, focusing on materials for energy and photonics. Collaborations include Institut Laue-Langevin and industry partners.
