Dr. Nikolaos Pappas Appointed Section Editor-in-Chief of Section “Information Theory, Probability and Statistics” in Entropy

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Nikolaos Pappas as the new Section Editor-in-Chief of the Section “Information Theory, Probability and Statistics” in Entropy (ISSN: 1099-4300).

Name: Dr. Nikolaos Pappas
Affiliation: Department of Computer and Information Science, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden
Interests: age of information; goal-oriented semantics-aware communications; performance analysis and stochastic modeling; communication networks

Dr. Nikolaos Pappas is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer and Information Science at Linköping University, Sweden. His research focuses on wireless communication networks, with particular emphasis on semantics-aware communication, energy harvesting systems, network-level cooperation, age of information, and stochastic geometry. He has served as Symposium Co-Chair for the IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC) in 2022 and as General Chair for the 23rd International Symposium on Modeling and Optimization in Mobile, Ad hoc, and Wireless Networks (WiOpt 2025). He is an Area Editor for the IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society and an Expert Editor for invited papers in IEEE Communications Letters. In addition, he serves as an Associate Editor for four IEEE Transactions journals.

The following is a short Q&A with Dr. Nikolaos Pappas, who shared his vision for the journal with us, as well as his views of the research area and open access publishing:

1. Could you briefly introduce your main research areas and achievements?
My primary research interests lie in communication networks, with a particular emphasis on performance analysis and stochastic modeling. As a result, my work is primarily theoretical and characterized by a strong mathematical orientation. In recent years, my focus has been toward the semantics of information and goal-oriented communications. For a more comprehensive overview of my research contributions and achievements, please refer to my website.

2. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to take the role as its Editor-in-Chief?
What impressed me most was the team’s clear vision for the journal and the flexibility offered in shaping its future direction. The team conveyed both ambition and openness—an opportunity to pursue high standards of excellence while creating an environment that attracts new contributors to the field. The Section I oversee sits within a research area traditionally served by long-established, highly prestigious journals. The prospect of helping position Entropy alongside these venues and contributing to its growth and recognition within this community was a compelling motivation for taking on the role of Editor-in-Chief.

3. What are your expectations and suggestions for the future development of our Section and the journal?
Looking ahead, my goal is to position Entropy as a journal that researchers in information and communication theory naturally consider among their top publication venues while maintaining uncompromising standards. Achieving this requires a dual commitment: safeguarding the rigor and depth expected of high-quality contributions, and ensuring that the review process remains efficient, transparent, and supportive.
I envision continued efforts to cultivate a community in which strong theoretical work and visionary ideas are reviewed by experts who can provide timely, constructive feedback. Accelerating the path from submission to publication, without diminishing scholarly rigor, will make authors feel engaged rather than lost in an extended review cycle. Strengthening the journal’s visibility, broadening participation from leading researchers, and fostering special issues on emerging topics will further enhance its standing. Through these combined efforts, the Section and the journal can continue to grow in relevance, impact, and academic reputation.

4. What does the future of this field of research look like?
Information theory is undergoing a period of broad interdisciplinary expansion, driven simultaneously by deepening theoretical developments and the demands of emerging technologies. Key research directions include information-theoretic foundations of machine learning as well as new coding, compression, and communication paradigms designed for large-scale distributed computation. Quantum information theory continues to accelerate, extending classical notions of capacity, security, and entanglement-assisted protocols. In parallel, semantics-aware and goal-oriented communication frameworks are gaining momentum, shifting attention from bit-level fidelity to the value of information in achieving specific tasks. Together, these developments underscore a field that is more dynamic than ever, with significant conceptual and technological breakthroughs on the horizon.

5. Do you have any suggestions for young researchers in this field?
Excellence and rigor should be the guiding principles for anyone beginning a research career in this field. Developing a strong foundational understanding and approaching problems with methodological depth are essential. At the same time, it is equally important to identify the questions that genuinely excite you, the problems that occupy your thoughts unprompted, the ideas that “keep you awake at night.” Sustained curiosity is one of the most powerful drivers of great research.
Young researchers should also remain open to interdisciplinary influences, cultivate resilience in the face of setbacks, and actively seek mentorship and collaboration. Engaging with the community, through conferences, seminars, and discussions, helps refine ideas and broaden perspective. Ultimately, a combination of intellectual enthusiasm, disciplined inquiry, and a supportive research network forms a strong foundation for long-term impact.

6. What do you think of the development of open access in the publishing field?
Open access has become a transformative force in scholarly communication, reshaping how research is disseminated, accessed, and progressed further. Removing the barriers enables broader visibility, accelerates the exchange of ideas, and fosters a more inclusive scientific community in which researchers, practitioners, and the public can benefit from the latest developments. At the same time, its growth highlights the need for sustainable publication models that maintain rigorous editorial standards while ensuring equitable opportunities for authors across institutions and regions. When implemented carefully, open access strengthens both the reach and the integrity of academic publishing.

We are confident that Dr. Nikolaos Pappas’s vision and leadership will steer Entropy towards new heights of success.