Collaborative and Distributed E-Research: Innovations in Technologies, Strategies, and Applications

Angel A. Juan is an Associate Professor of Simulation and Data Analysis in the Computer Science Department at the Open University of Catalonia (UOC) as well as a Researcher at the Internet Interdisciplinary Institute (IN3). He also collaborates, as a Lecturer of Computer Programming and Applied Statistics, with the Department of Applied Mathematics I at the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC). He holds a Ph.D. in Applied Computational Mathematics (UNED), an M.S. in Information Systems & Technology (UOC), and an M.S. in Applied Mathematics (University of Valencia). His research interests include both service and industrial applications of computer simulation, probabilistic algorithms, educational data analysis, and mathematical e-learning. He has published several papers in international journals, books and proceedings regarding these fields. Also, he has been involved in several international research projects. He is an editorial board member of the Int. J. of Data Analysis Techniques and Strategies as well as of the Int. J. of Information Systems & Social Change , and a member of the INFORMS society. His e-mail is: ajuanp@uoc.edu .

Thanasis Daradoumis (adaradoumis@uoc.edu) holds a PhD in computer science from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (Spain), a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Illinois (USA), and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Thessaloniki (Greece). He is an associate professor in the Department of Computer Sciences, Multimedia & Telecommunication at the Open University of Catalonia. His research focuses on e-learning and network technologies, Web-based instruction and evaluation, distributed and adaptive learning, CSCL, CSCW, interaction analysis, and grid technologies. He is co-director of the DPCS Research Laboratory.

Meritxell Roca is Associate Director of the Internet Interdisciplinary Institute – IN3, at the Open University of Catalonia (UOC). She is also an Associate Professor of Communication at the Blanquerna School of Communication and Blanquerna School of Health Studies at the Ramon Llull University (URL). She holds a Ph.D. in Communication and Humanities (URL), an M.S. in Communication – Journalism (URL), and postgraduate courses in International Relations and Knowledge Society. She has also been a Visiting Associate Professor at the Annenberg School for Communication (University of Southern California). Currently, her research interests are the future of television in a digital environment, open source and free software productive model, and teenagers’ media consumption in a multiplatform and multiscreening scenario. She is a member of the Spanish WIP (World Internet Project) research team.

Scott E. Grasman is Professor and Department Head of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology. He previously spent 10 years in the Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology. He has served as Adjunct Professor of Operations and Manufacturing Management in the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis, and completed a sabbatical in Statistics and Operations Research at the Public University of Navarre in Spain, as well as a two month appointment as Visiting Research Scholar at IN3 – the Open University of Catalonia. He received his B.S.E., M.S.E., and Ph.D. degrees in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan. In addition to academia, he has relevant industrial experience in industrial collaborations on research and curriculum activities. His is the author or co-author of over 100 technical papers, receiving multiple best conference paper awards, and he serves in reviewer/editorial roles for various technical journals and books.

Javier Faulin is a Professor of Operations Research and Statistics at the Public University of Navarre (Pamplona, Spain). He also collaborates as an Assistant Professor at the UNED local center in Pamplona. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics and Business from the University of Navarre (Pamplona, Spain), a M.Sc. in Operations Management, Logistics, and Transportation from UNED (Madrid, Spain), and a M.Sc. and BSc in Mathematics from the University of Zaragoza (Zaragoza, Spain). He has extended experience in distance and Web-based teaching at the Public University of Navarre, at UNED (Madrid, Spain), at the Open University of Catalonia (Barcelona, Spain), and at the University of Surrey (Guilford, UK). His research interests include logistics, vehicle routing problems and simulation modelling, and analysis, especially techniques to improve simulation analysis in practical applications. He has published more than 40 papers in international journals, books, and proceedings about logistics, routing, and simulation. Similarly, he has taught many courses on-line about Operations Research (OR) and Decision Making, and he has been the academic advisor of three PhD students and more than 25 students finishing their master thesis. Furthermore, he has been the author of more than 100 works in OR conferences. He is an Editorial Board Member of the International Journal of Applied Management Science (IJAMS) and International Journal of Operations Research and Information Systems (IJORIS), and an INFORMS member.