Physical & Life Sciences

Scholars dedicating their careers to the study of living organisms and non-living systems

Raquel Thompson

Raquel Thompson

Raquel Thompson joined Barbados Community College and completed her degree. She is 13 years experienced architecture professional with involvement across a wide range of project types and sizes. Barbados Community College Raquel Thompson has experience in planning, designing, and constructing major and minor renovation and architecture projects inclusive of Institutional, recreational, commercial, and residential facilities.

Raquel Shaheda Karimah Thompson has a background in directing all project phases, from design through completion of construction. Raquel Thompson is a motivated designer with excellent interpersonal communication skills, relationship management, and execution skills. It can be noted that Raquel works well under pressure.

Raquel Thompson joined Barbados Community College and completed her degree. She is 13 years experienced architecture professional with involvement across a wide range of project types and sizes. Barbados Community College Raquel Thompson has experien... Show more

Norbert Tschernitschek

Norbert Tschernitschek

Power Platform enthusiast / Co-founder Power Platform Mallorca User Group / Promoter of using humor at work / Optimist

Power Platform enthusiast / Co-founder Power Platform Mallorca User Group / Promoter of using humor at work / Optimist Show more

Jeongkyu Shin

Jeongkyu Shin

Jeongkyu Shin, Lablup Inc. founder, has contributed to open-source projects like Textcube and represented South Korea on the Northeast Asia OSS Promotion Forum. A Google Developers Expert in AI and Cloud, he influences AI work and mentors at Google for Startups. Holding a Ph.D. in Statistical Physics from POSTECH, he leads AI and open-source initiatives including Backend.AI.

Jeongkyu Shin, Lablup Inc. founder, has contributed to open-source projects like Textcube and represented South Korea on the Northeast Asia OSS Promotion Forum. A Google Developers Expert in AI and Cloud, he influences AI work and mentors at Google f... Show more

Caio Beleza

Caio Beleza

Caio co-founded NP Digital Brazil and worked with Neil Patel for over a decade. After scaling the agency in Brazil, he moved to the U.S. to help grow NPD's SMB division as COO. Now, he leads International Growth, supporting NP Digital’s expansion across over 20 countries.

Caio co-founded NP Digital Brazil and worked with Neil Patel for over a decade. After scaling the agency in Brazil, he moved to the U.S. to help grow NPD's SMB division as COO. Now, he leads International Growth, supporting NP Digital’s expansion acr... Show more

Matic Petrič

Matic Petrič

Matic Petrič studied theoretical physics at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mathematics in physics.

During his studies, Pertič worked at T-Labs, the Deutsche Telekom Laboratories, where he derived a problem formulation for optimizing traffic flow in real time with Quantum Annealing.

After finishing his degree during the pandemic, he is now working as a Quantum Computing Researcher at Fraunhofer FOKUS, focusing on hybrid quantum-classical algorithms, and working on Eclipse Qrisp - a high level programming language he'll be presenting on stage together with Raphael Seidel during WAD'24.

Matic Petrič studied theoretical physics at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mathematics in physics. During his studies, Pertič worked at T-Labs, the Deutsche Telekom Laboratories, where he derived a problem formulation for optimizing traffic ... Show more

Bennett D. Bennett

Bennett D. Bennett

Bennett D. Bennett (he/him) is currently Cultural Strategy Director, US at GUT. In this role, Bennett oversees inclusion strategy and trend curation, ensuring GUT’s clients and teams meet the moment in multicultural, lifestyle, and entertainment projects. Bringing a multi-disciplined background, his past lives as a creative director, journalist, talent advocate, and content strategist combine to help future-forward brands create intentional, non-traditional campaigns and content.

A career-long advocate of talent equity for media professionals from marginalized groups, he’s a founder of the nonprofit 600 & Rising, and the inclusion summit Allyship and Action.
Bennett’s decade-plus in marketing and media have has included stints at Interbrand, BBDO New York, The Drum, Saatchi & Saatchi, and 22Squared. A 2013 MAIP Alum, Bennett’s been honored as a 2017 ADWEEK Young Influential and one of the 4As 100 People Who Make Advertising Great.

Bennett D. Bennett (he/him) is currently Cultural Strategy Director, US at GUT. In this role, Bennett oversees inclusion strategy and trend curation, ensuring GUT’s clients and teams meet the moment in multicultural, lifestyle, and entertainment proj... Show more

Eliott Bouhana

Eliott Bouhana

Eliott Bouhana is a Software Engineer at Datadog, a leading observability and security SaaS platform. He is working to broaden Datadog' application security integrations producing billions of security traces with better instrumentation for Go. Prior to working at Datadog, he was teaching and working on CUDA processing pipelines for 3D retinal scan medical imaging at the French National Research Center. You may spot him in the wild climbing random walls if there is no climbing gym around.

Eliott Bouhana is a Software Engineer at Datadog, a leading observability and security SaaS platform. He is working to broaden Datadog' application security integrations producing billions of security traces with better instrumentation for Go. Prior ... Show more

Tim Arnold

Tim Arnold

Tim is a retired software developer, Python programmer, and statistician who co-authored the 2nd edition of *Black Hat Python*. These days he spends his time building security tools, breaking things for fun, and teaching others how to do the same. When not sniffing LoRa packets in the wild, he's writing Python code that probably shouldn't exist.

Tim is a retired software developer, Python programmer, and statistician who co-authored the 2nd edition of *Black Hat Python*. These days he spends his time building security tools, breaking things for fun, and teaching others how to do the same. Wh... Show more

Aaron Edaku

Aaron Edaku

Aaron Edaku is anApplication Support Officer at Marie Stopes Uganda, specializing in a diverse range of programming languages including PHP, Java and AL. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Uganda Christian University. Aaron's passion for software development is matched only by his love for gaming and sports, from soccer and volleyball to chess and video games, with FIFA being a particular favorite

Aaron Edaku is anApplication Support Officer at Marie Stopes Uganda, specializing in a diverse range of programming languages including PHP, Java and AL. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Uganda Christian University. Aaron's passi... Show more

Alex Richert

Alex Richert

Alex Richert is a contractor for Lynker on the NCEP libraries development team and branch contract lead at the NOAA Environmental Modeling Center's Engineering and Implementation Branch. He is a frequent Spack contributor and serves as a member of the spack-stack collaboration.

Alex Richert is a contractor for Lynker on the NCEP libraries development team and branch contract lead at the NOAA Environmental Modeling Center's Engineering and Implementation Branch. He is a frequent Spack contributor and serves as a member of th... Show more

Andreas Wagner

Andreas Wagner

Dr. Andreas Wagner ist ein erfahrener Data & Analytics Leader und als Customer Success Executive sowie Senior Consultant bei der s-peers AG tätig. Mit über zehn Jahren Erfahrung an der Schnittstelle von Technologie und Business unterstützt er Unternehmen dabei, ihre Datenkultur nachhaltig zu transformieren und komplexe Analyse-Lösungen in messbaren geschäftlichen Erfolg zu übersetzen.

Vor seinem Wechsel zu s-peers verantwortete er als Global Head of Data Science und Data Architecture bei der Hilti Group die weltweite Datenstrategie und leitete über 50 internationale Transformationsprojekte. Weitere Stationen seiner Karriere umfassen Führungspositionen bei FELFEL, wo er als Head of Data & Analytics agile Datenstrukturen aufbaute.

Andreas Wagner ist promovierter theoretische Physiker (Universität Basel) .

Dr. Andreas Wagner ist ein erfahrener Data & Analytics Leader und als Customer Success Executive sowie Senior Consultant bei der s-peers AG tätig. Mit über zehn Jahren Erfahrung an der Schnittstelle von Technologie und Business unterstützt er Unterne... Show more

Ronak Raj

Ronak Raj

Ronak Raj is an AI Researcher and open source contributor. He has contributed to multiple open-source communities, including Learning Equality, LangChain (langchain / langchain-google), and CNCF projects.
He is a recent LFX Mentorship graduate with CNCF KubeEdge, where he worked on KubeEdge-Ianvs, developing an industry-inspired embodied intelligence dataset involving robotic manipulation tasks and conducting end-to-end AI model benchmarking, achieving measurable performance improvements.

Ronak Raj is an AI Researcher and open source contributor. He has contributed to multiple open-source communities, including Learning Equality, LangChain (langchain / langchain-google), and CNCF projects. He is a recent LFX Mentorship graduate with ... Show more

Kashif Khan

Kashif Khan

Kashif Khan is a co-chair of CNCF TAG Infrastructure and maintainer of the CNCF project Metal3.io for 6 years. He works as an open source Architect for Ericsson Software Technology, Finland. He holds a PhD in Computer Science. Kashif is a research and open source enthusiast and his current area of interest is kubernetes deployments on baremetal systems in distributed cloud scenarios.

Kashif Khan is a co-chair of CNCF TAG Infrastructure and maintainer of the CNCF project Metal3.io for 6 years. He works as an open source Architect for Ericsson Software Technology, Finland. He holds a PhD in Computer Science. Kashif is a research an... Show more

Albert Dorador

Albert Dorador

Albert Dorador is an Adjunct Professor of Statistics (BarcelonaTech) and Mathematics (Pompeu Fabra). He holds a PhD in Statistics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and previously served at the European Central Bank, specializing in financial risk management and machine learning applications. Albert is the creator of the TRUST and Renet algorithms among others, focusing on the intersection of high-performance optimization and auditable, "human-scale" machine learning. His work centers on solving the "Interpretability Gap" in high-stakes regulatory environments, moving the industry toward deterministic and forensic-grade AI transparency.

Albert Dorador is an Adjunct Professor of Statistics (BarcelonaTech) and Mathematics (Pompeu Fabra). He holds a PhD in Statistics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and previously served at the European Central Bank, specializing in financial r... Show more

Dyhia Zatout

Dyhia Zatout

Dyhia Zatout is a 26 year old female electrical engineer specialising in telecommunications with a Bachelor of Science from Qatar and a Master of Science in Advanced Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Sussex, UK. She has worked in leading organisations including Petrotech, Oxygen Company Qatar, and TotalEnergies.

At the University of Doha for Science and Technology, Dyhia led cross-disciplinary projects in IoT-based wearable technologies and renewable energy systems, including solar and wind turbine technologies, applying smart engineering solutions to enhance sustainability, performance, and industrial applications. At the university of Sussex , She also led projects in robotics, image processing for car detection, and AI/machine learning applications for corrosion detection using cutting-edge TENG technology, all of which required strong leadership, project management, and strategic planning skills, making her highly aware of the steps and practices critical for successful engineering projects.

Through her participation in the TotalEnergies seminar, Dyhia further expanded her knowledge and practical understanding of renewable energy integration, gaining insights into large-scale energy transition strategies.

Dyhia’s professional journey bridges deep technical expertise with a passion for engineering leadership and culture. She advocates for engineering environments that promote collaboration, innovation, and ethical responsibility, inspiring engineers to lead with precision, purpose, and strategic vision, shaping technology-driven solutions that benefit both people and the planet.

Dyhia Zatout is a 26 year old female electrical engineer specialising in telecommunications with a Bachelor of Science from Qatar and a Master of Science in Advanced Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Sussex, UK. She has wo... Show more

Emily Hemingway

Emily Hemingway

Emily Hemingway is the Founding Executive Director of TechSTL and the Wedge Innovation Center. A 20-year veteran in building innovation ecosystems around the country, Emily is driving economic growth across the St. Louis metro by catalyzing tech jobs, tech startups, and tech innovation. She is the lead organizer for STL TechWeek.

Emily Hemingway is the Founding Executive Director of TechSTL and the Wedge Innovation Center. A 20-year veteran in building innovation ecosystems around the country, Emily is driving economic growth across the St. Louis metro by catalyzing tech jobs... Show more

Benjamin Elfen

Benjamin Elfen

Benjamin is a developer at a large international pharmaceutical company, where he engineers solutions for a healthier world. He's passionate about engineering in all its forms - whether that's software architecture, 3D printing, smart-home automations, or wrenching on cars and motorcycles. An open-source enthusiast and relentless problem-solver by nature, he's happiest when tinkering with something new. Off the clock, he plays the drums, makes music, and most recently joined the local volunteer fire brigade.

Benjamin is a developer at a large international pharmaceutical company, where he engineers solutions for a healthier world. He's passionate about engineering in all its forms - whether that's software architecture, 3D printing, smart-home automation... Show more

Michael Mgbame

Michael Mgbame

Biography:

Michael Mgbame is a seasoned Data Scientist with nearly eight years of professional experience in the field of data analytics, business intelligence, and statistical data analysis. Educated with a BSc in Statistics from Michael Okpara University of Agriculture and pursuing an MSc in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence from the University of Hull, Michael has applied his analytical acumen in various roles, including Senior Data Analyst positions at Venture Garden Group and Softcom Limited, Business Intelligence, Data Viz at The Credit Pros.

As the Founder and Lead Business Intelligence Consultant at Hankali Intel, Michael has been pivotal in automating internal processes and implementing data-driven solutions that aid businesses in informed decision-making. He has also played a significant role in educating the data community through his content on platforms like YouTube and LinkedIn and has trained many enthusiasts to transition into data professionals.

His expertise extends to areas like machine learning, quantitative research, SQL, product management, and project management, with proficiency in tools such as Microsoft Power BI, Tableau Public, Python for Data Science, MySQL, and more. Michael's impact in the data world is further underscored by his voluntary associations with organizations like Data Science Nigeria and his selection for esteemed programs like the Digital Explorers hackathon.

Throughout his career, Michael has not only excelled in data analysis and visualization but also contributed significantly to business growth by generating significant revenue through his data-driven strategies and solutions. He remains a valuable asset to any organization aiming to harness the power of data for growth and development.

Biography: Michael Mgbame is a seasoned Data Scientist with nearly eight years of professional experience in the field of data analytics, business intelligence, and statistical data analysis. Educated with a BSc in Statistics from Michael Okpara U... Show more

Sairohith Thummarakoti

Sairohith Thummarakoti

Sairohith Thummarakoti is a technology leader, researcher, and author specializing in AI, cloud computing, and healthcare IT. He is a Certified Pega Lead System Architect (CLSA) and serves as Chair of the IEEE Computer Society Columbia Section and as an Industry Advisory Board member for multiple universities. He has authored and edited several books on AI, agentic systems, and software engineering, and is an active speaker and organizer at international conferences. His work focuses on building scalable, ethical, and high-impact digital systems at the intersection of research, industry, and real-world impact.

Sairohith Thummarakoti is a technology leader, researcher, and author specializing in AI, cloud computing, and healthcare IT. He is a Certified Pega Lead System Architect (CLSA) and serves as Chair of the IEEE Computer Society Columbia Section and as... Show more

Otto Dobretsberger

Otto Dobretsberger

Dr. Otto Dobretsberger is a Senior Software Developer at CODE Consulting (part of the CODE Group). He holds a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Informatics from UMIT, an institution in Austria, as well as a Master's and Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Houston. His professional expertise centers on high-performance computational analysis of genetic and genomic data, with extensive experience in C and C++. He specializes in WPF, C#, and C++ development, while maintaining proficiency in multiple additional programming languages. His project portfolio spans biomedical image processing, genetic and genomic data analysis, analytical software solutions for the oil and gas industry, and the development of custom controls. Dr. Dobretsberger has authored scientific papers and magazine articles and is a regular speaker at industry conferences.

Since 2012, he has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston, where he has taught a range of programming courses, including C++, Python, JavaScript, and Java.

In addition to his technical and academic roles, Dr. Dobretsberger organizes the Global AI Houston chapter, leading a local community of AI professionals and enthusiasts focused on knowledge sharing and advancements in artificial intelligence.

Outside of his professional pursuits, he is an accomplished powerlifter, actively training and competing. He holds multiple USPA National Records and IPL World Records.

Dr. Otto Dobretsberger is a Senior Software Developer at CODE Consulting (part of the CODE Group). He holds a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Informatics from UMIT, an institution in Austria, as well as a Master's and Ph.D. in Computer Science from t... Show more

Markus Schmotz

Markus Schmotz

From Physics to People

Forget the stereotype of the physicist in corduroys; I thrive on working with people. Physics taught me systems thinking, and humans are the most complex systems of all.

Fifteen years ago in Japan, my mentor taught me the concept of "Paying Forward"—passing value to the next person rather than paying it back. After a career spanning global leadership roles, deep dives into Agile and Lean, and managing the transformation of 30+ production sites, it is time to pay it forward.

I see a disconnect: firms stuck in Agile/Lean transformations because production lacks flexibility, or efficient factories slowed down by sluggish R&D. Above all, I see leaders struggling with growing complexity.

My expertise sits in the "magic triangle" of Agile, Lean, and Leadership. Trusted by industry leaders like SBB or SAP, I help leaders and organizations navigate their specific growth journeys.

Offline: I’m a tennis club chairman, athlete, Heavy Metal enthusiast, father and reader of epic fantasy.

From Physics to People Forget the stereotype of the physicist in corduroys; I thrive on working with people. Physics taught me systems thinking, and humans are the most complex systems of all. Fifteen years ago in Japan, my mentor taught me the... Show more

Armando Herra

Armando Herra

Armando Herra is a Systems Architect with vast experience in Cloud, Kubernetes, and DevOps Technologies.

Passionate about the Cloud-Native Ecosystem, he's constantly learning and experimenting with new tools and technologies to stay informed about the industry's latest advances and share his knowledge via tech talks.

Armando Herra is a Systems Architect with vast experience in Cloud, Kubernetes, and DevOps Technologies. Passionate about the Cloud-Native Ecosystem, he's constantly learning and experimenting with new tools and technologies to stay informed about... Show more

Eric Shuss

Eric Shuss

With over 35 years of experience in ERP, robotics, and artificial intelligence, Eric has established a distinguished career in the technology sector. He has spent more than 20 years specializing in Axapta, Dynamics AX, and D365, demonstrating a deep understanding of these platforms. As a former COO of a high-tech manufacturing company, Eric has firsthand experience in operational leadership and strategic decision-making.

In addition to their executive roles as CEO, CIO, and CTO in various AI, professional services, and software companies, Eric has served as an industry analyst focusing on supply chain, life sciences, manufacturing, and retail. A recognized speaker and author, they have received multiple awards for their contributions to ethical AI. Currently, Eric is a board member of several AI and robotics companies, where they continue to influence the future of technology.

With over 35 years of experience in ERP, robotics, and artificial intelligence, Eric has established a distinguished career in the technology sector. He has spent more than 20 years specializing in Axapta, Dynamics AX, and D365, demonstrating a deep ... Show more

Jelena Miodragovic

Jelena Miodragovic

Jelena Miodragovic is M.Eng(IT) and Software Engineer, with focus on FrontEnd technologies. She is regional speaker and MVP - Microsoft Most Valuable Professional in Developer Technologies category. CO-leader of BLbit user group in Banja Luka and CO-organizer of IT conference INIT.

Jelena Miodragovic is M.Eng(IT) and Software Engineer, with focus on FrontEnd technologies. She is regional speaker and MVP - Microsoft Most Valuable Professional in Developer Technologies category. CO-leader of BLbit user group in Banja Luka and CO-... Show more

Jacek Nosal

Jacek Nosal

Passionate about maps, data and technology with extensive experience in working with BI class systems as well as ERP, BPM and CRM. He started his adventure with data over a quarter of a century ago. Connected with Krakow in Poland - always and rather forever. Born with the option of analyzing data and topographical space. Thanks to his extensive knowledge and experience, he helps to save hundreds of hours needed to successfully implement the planned project within the given time and budget. He loves demanding implementations, if there is such a need, he trains and broadens horizons - his own and clients', obtaining their satisfaction and contentment. By the way, he enjoys observing and disseminating IT knowledge. Actually he is Microsoft Certified Trainer and leader of Cracow Power BI & Fabric User Group (#KRPBIFUG). He helps attendees take the first step to becoming a speaker, shares his experience during few user group meetings and sometimes conferences (SQLDay or Global Power BI and Fabric Summit). Seasonally, in his free time, he rides a bike and skis, and throughout the year he plays football and raises three of his children.

Passionate about maps, data and technology with extensive experience in working with BI class systems as well as ERP, BPM and CRM. He started his adventure with data over a quarter of a century ago. Connected with Krakow in Poland - always and rather... Show more

Yusheng Zheng

Yusheng Zheng

Yusheng Zheng is an open-source maintainer and researcher focused on improving complex systems through comprehensive understanding and strategic, small-scale modifications. As the co-founder of the eunomia-bpf open-source community and a PhD student, Yusheng is at the forefront of integrating eBPF and AI technologies to enhance large-scale systems like the Linux kernel. Her work also extends the flexibility and power of eBPF into userspace. Yusheng is a frequent speaker at leading industry conferences, including KubeCon, Linux Plumbers, and OSS Summit, where she shares insights on the evolving roles of eBPF and AI in modern systems.

Yusheng Zheng is an open-source maintainer and researcher focused on improving complex systems through comprehensive understanding and strategic, small-scale modifications. As the co-founder of the eunomia-bpf open-source community and a PhD student,... Show more

Sophia Solomon

Sophia Solomon

Hello everyone, my name is Sophia Solomon and I am a Developer Advocate at Elastic.

Hello everyone, my name is Sophia Solomon and I am a Developer Advocate at Elastic. Show more

Eric Jacobson

Eric Jacobson

Eric is a software and firmware engineer with over 30 years of experience in C and C++–based systems development, spanning embedded firmware, low-level infrastructure, and hardware–software interfaces. His work emphasizes stable abstractions, precise interface contracts, and long-term maintainability across implementations.

He has served as a technical contributor to the LXI Consortium and was a member of the working group for the LXI 1.6 specification, collaborating with multi-vendor teams to define interoperable, standards-based instrumentation interfaces. Eric brings a pragmatic, implementation-driven perspective to standards development, balancing technical rigor with deployability and backward compatibility.

Eric is a software and firmware engineer with over 30 years of experience in C and C++–based systems development, spanning embedded firmware, low-level infrastructure, and hardware–software interfaces. His work emphasizes stable abstractions, precise... Show more

Alexander Kmoch

Alexander Kmoch

Alex is a Distributed Spatial Systems DevOps Tinkerer with many years of experience in geospatial data management and web- and cloud-based geoprocessing with a particular focus on land use, soils, hydrology, and water quality. His interests include open geospatial standards and web-services for location-based data sharing, modelling workflows, machine learning, and interactive geo-visualisation. Alex has been involved with web-based spatial data infrastructures for a long time as a developer, researcher and project leader. He is based at the Chair of Geoinformatics and Cartography at the Department of Geography of the University of Tartu.

Alex is a Distributed Spatial Systems DevOps Tinkerer with many years of experience in geospatial data management and web- and cloud-based geoprocessing with a particular focus on land use, soils, hydrology, and water quality. His interests include o... Show more

Wladimir Szczerban

Wladimir Szczerban

At MapTiler, I am responsible for developer relations, and I focus on identifying the most effective ways to empower and support the developer community.

I have more than 15 years of experience developing web mapping applications across various projects at the Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia and in startup environments. I also serve as an associate professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, where I teach web mapping courses in the Master’s program in Geoinformation.

I strongly believe in the open movement, whether it relates to software, data, or knowledge. For that reason, I am a member of the Spanish OSGeo community and OpenStreetMap.

At MapTiler, I am responsible for developer relations, and I focus on identifying the most effective ways to empower and support the developer community. I have more than 15 years of experience developing web mapping applications across various p... Show more

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