Has 30 years of experience in the academic field with focus in the research, development and innovation including technology transfer in nanotechnology. He is ICREA Research Professor and group leader at the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (www.icn2.cat) in Barcelona, Spain and co-founder of two spin-off nanotech companies, GraphenicaLab & PaperDrop. Prof. Merkoçi is Co-Editor in Chief of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, the principal international journal in this area. He has been member of the commission for establishing the new Nanoscience and Nanotechnology undergraduate academic curriculum at the UAB, the first one in Spain.

Holds a BBA in Statistics from the University of Tirana, Albania, and an MBA and Ph.D. in Operations Management from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, USA. Dr. Beqiri serves as the MBA Programs Director and teaches courses in the field of Data Analysis and Operations Management at Gonzaga University, USA, since 2002. In addition, Dr. Beqiri volunteers to teach in the Jesuit Worldwide Learning program. Prior to coming to the United States, Dr. Beqiri worked as the Director of the Statistical Directory of the District Council of Shkoder, Albania, and as Assistant Professor and Department Chair at the Faculty of Economy, University “Luigj Gurakuqi”, Shkoder, Albania

Is a demographer at London School of Economics. He holds a Ph.D. in Demography from LSE. Dr Gjonça’s work experience includes institutions such as Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research; University of Southampton; University of Bocconi, and Department of Social Policy at LSE.

Has completed her studies at the Faculty of Law, University of Tirana in 1987, after which she was appointed as an Assistant Professor. She has contributed to the Department of Public Law and developing the discipline of Constitutional Law. She has been elected twice as Chair of the Department and appointed for short terms as Deputy Dean or Dean of the Faculty.

Is Professor of Software Technology at the Technical University of Darmstadt. She has been visiting professor at Northeastern University (1997 – 1999), at Lancaster University (2013 – 2016) and at the Università della Svizzera Italiana (2022). At TU Darmstadt, she has served as Dean of the Department of Computer Science (2013 – 2014), as Vice President of the university (2014 – 2019). She is a member of the board of the National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity ATHENE and co-director of hessian.AI, the Hessian Center for Artificial Intelligence.

Has completed his Ph.D. in Genetics and Cell Biology from Columbia University in 2006 and his postdoctoral training in Neuroscience from Stanford University in 2011. Dr. Agalliu started his independent academic career as an Assistant Professor in 2011 at the University of California, Irvine and he was recruited in the Department of Neurology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in 2015 where he is currently an Associate Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology in Neurology. Dr. Agalliu has 25 years of biomedical research expertise in neuroscience and neurological diseases.