Michael Long received his BS in Mining Engineering from the University of Kentucky in 2022 and is currently pursuing an MS degree in Mining Engineering. He previously worked as a Project Engineer in the limestone and gypsum mining industry (2022-2023). His research topics mainly pertain to machine learning and collision avoidance systems.
Steven Schafrik received B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Mining Engineering from Virginia Tech. He is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies for Mining Engineering and a Faculty Fellow of the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits at the University of Kentucky. He currently teaches circuits, programming, mine design, ventilation and automation at the undergraduate and graduate levels. His research focuses on automation, communication, ventilation, and training. He has 2 patents for dust-filtering technologies. He is the founding Secretary/Treasurer of the Eastern Collegiate Mine Rescue Organization and a Faculty Advisor for the University of Kentucky RescUKats. He is very active in the Society for Mining Metallurgy and Exploration (SME), where he is the Chair of the Coal and Energy Division.
Zach Agioutantis earned an Engineering Diploma in Mining and Metallurgical Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece (1982), and MS and PhD degrees in Mining Engineering from Virginia Tech (1984, 1987). At present, he is the Mining Engineering Foundation Professor and Chair at the Department of Mining Engineering at the University of Kentucky. His work in mining and geotechnical engineering, automation and sustainable development has resulted in over 90 journal publications and approximately 250 conference papers. Dr. Agioutantis is a member of the SME, SOMP and ARMA.
Joseph Sottile received B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Mining Engineering from Pennsylvania State University, University Park. He is currently a Professor of Mining Engineering with a joint appointment in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Kentucky, Lexington. His research interests include mine electrical system safety and analysis, the incipient failure detection of electrical components, miner health and safety, and autonomous mining systems. Dr. Sottile is a member of the SME, a senior member of the IEEE, and has served on the IEEE Industry Applications Society Executive Board.
