Prof. Dr. Maria-Esther Vidal is a Professor at Leibniz University Hannover and Head of the Scientific Data Management (SDM) group at TIB–Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology. She is also affiliated with the L3S Research Centre and holds the title of Full Professor (retired) at Universidad Simón Bolívar (USB), Venezuela.

2. Research:

Her research focuses on semantic data management, data integration, federated query processing, and machine learning over knowledge graphs, with a strong emphasis on neuro-symbolic AI. She has pioneered methods that integrate symbolic reasoning with machine learning to achieve interpretable and trustworthy AI systems. This work has had a profound impact in domains such as medicine (e.g., supporting diagnosis and personalized treatment), bias detection and documentation (ensuring fairness and transparency in AI pipelines), and scientific data ecosystems (enabling interoperability and reproducibility across heterogeneous data sources).

3. Publications & Recognition:

Prof. Vidal is the co-author of more than 240 peer-reviewed publications in Semantic Web, Databases, and Artificial Intelligence, and her contributions have been recognized with the Science Award on Responsible Research by Stifterverband and the Leibniz Best Minds Programme for Women Professors. She actively shapes her research communities, serving on the editorial boards of leading journals (e.g., Journal of Web Semantics, ACM Journal of Data and Information Quality) and taking on key leadership roles at major scientific venues (e.g., ESWC, WWW, ISWC, AAAI).

4. Technologies & Contributions:

Under her leadership, her team has developed widely recognized technologies that span the entire knowledge graph lifecycle: from semantic integration of heterogeneous data and federated query processing, to bias-aware machine learning and hybrid neuro-symbolic reasoning. These technologies not only advance the state of the art but also address pressing societal challenges by fostering explainability, accountability, and trust in AI.

5. Mentoring & Academic:

She serves as an expert on several advisory boards, summer schools, and doctoral consortia, and has an extensive record in mentoring the next generation of researchers: over 28 doctoral students and more than 120 Master’s and Bachelor’s students in Computer Science. She has also served on doctoral committees across Europe and Latin America (France, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Argentina, Uruguay, and Venezuela).