Speakers

	Dr Charles Unsworth Title: Artificial Neural Networks & Machine Learning for Neural Applications Dr Charles Unsworth (Senior Lecturer) holds a BSc(Hons) in Mathematical Physics from the University of Liverpool, an MSc in Astronomical Technology from Edinburgh University’s Royal Observatory, and a PhD in Millimeter-Wave Physics at the University of St Andrews. He was a Higher Scientific Officer of the Defense Evaluation Research Agency (DERA) at the Ministry of Defense, UK, in the area of radar hardware. He completed a 3 year Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Edinburgh in Radar Signal Processing and a 2 year Postdoctoral Mobility Fellow at Edinburgh University collaborating with the Royal Hospital of Sick Children, Edinburgh in Biomedical Signal Processing. He joined the Department of Engineering Science in 2002. Qualifications: PhD Millimeter-Wave Physics, University of St Andrews MSc Astronomical Technology, Royal Observatory, University of Edinburgh BSc(Hons) in Mathematical Physics, University of St Andrews
	Dr. Richard Newcomb Title: Qualifications BSc, Zoology, Cellular & Molecular Biology, University of Auckland, New Zealand MSc, Zoology, University of Auckland, New Zealand PhD, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Australian National University, Australia. Research Interests & Activities Molecular mechanisms and evolution of animal chemosensory systems, with applications in sensing technologies and pest control from understanding insect olfaction and in food science from human olfaction. Development of molecular tools for biodiversity assessment and genomics, particularly of invertebrates. Honours & Awards Professor, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand 2012 Solander Award  2012 Trimble Agricultural Research Fellowship  2010 Top Cited Article Award, Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology  2008 Invited member, Royal Society of NZ delegation to Taiwan on Nanobiotechnology  2004 McMaster Fellowship, CSIRO, Australia  1997 New Zealand Science & Technology Post-Doctoral Fellowship  1996 Young Scientist Award, Queenstown Molecular Biology Meeting  1996 New Zealand Lottery Science Repatriation Fellowship  1991 Sir James Gunson Award for Research in Agriculture
	Tatiana Lomasko Title: Big Data is not about size, it's about what you do with it I’m an accomplished Global Leader with 20 years of multi-disciplinary, multi-industry expertise in strategic planning spanning across healthcare, scientific research (neuroscience, bioinformatics, genetics, computer science), health-IT, education, government relations, transnational research (health economics, leadership and change management), and business. Over the course of my career, I have acquired solid expertise in bringing together and working with people with a wide range of backgrounds (e.g., scientists, clinicians, executives, business, finance, HR and IT professionals), one of the most important stills in governing strategic management complexity. I bring extensive experience in business development, performance and risk management, negotiation and delivery, contract bidding and international grants writing. I’m an excellent presenter and communicator with a unique ability to effectively express complex ideas and to deliver the right message to various levels of the company.  I strongly believe that people, communication, integrity, and positive work culture are the key assets of modern business operations. I have an wide-ranging innovation, leadership, and team management experience with proven ability to build, challenge and motivate teams in order to maximize levels of productivity and to facilitate the implementation of both projects and strategic plans.  I recognize the value of long-term customer relationships and end-user experiences that drive client satisfaction and bring repeat business.   I’m ideally suited to contribute to:  • Cross-Functional Collaboration (Science to Business) • Business Development & Knowledge Translation • Leadership Training Development • Scientific Research
	Shannon Schlueter Data Scientist UNC Charlotte’s Data Science Initiative Shannon Schlueter, PhD is a lifelong technologist who joined the UNC Charlotte faulty in 2009 after receiving his Ph.D. in Bioinformatics from Iowa State University where he was an NSF-IGERT research fellow. In addition to publishing his scholarship and actively contributing to a progressive body of knowledge in bioinformatics, Dr. Schlueter has made presentations at national and international conferences and taught many of the next generation of critical thinkers. In 2015, after twenty years of toiling over the complexities of crop genomes, Dr. Schlueter joined the UNC Charlotte Data Science Initiative as it's director of data science services. Shannon's experience exploring highly diverse and oft unstructured data, such as that of crop genomics, prepared him well to address the challenges of modern day 'Big Data' data science. He continues to enjoy applying his skills in applied statistical modeling, information technology and machine learning to an ever broadening scope of data domains and data science problems.