Quan Pan is an experienced researcher specialising in hydraulics and hydrodynamics. His work focuses on applying numerical simulation tools to solve complex engineering problems and develop decision support systems. He is also deeply interested in exploring and learning emerging technologies across diverse domains.
Developer for cloud-based virtual research environments
Gabriel has a PhD in plasma astrophysics and postdoctoral research experience. His research focused on the heating mechanisms in the Sun’s atmosphere, using a wide range of remote-sensing data analysis methods, as well as HPC simulations. At LifeWatch ERIC, he contributes to the development of the NaaVRE platform and the co-development of Virtual Labs for the research community. To that end, he uses modern software development and devOps practices. He is involved in all the steps of the process, from designing the software to delivering it as a service to the researchers. This includes front-end development, microservice applications design and implementation, system administration, and service operation.
Technical manager of VLIC
He is the technical manager of VLIC and leads the development of innovative Virtual Research Environment (VRE) and Virtual Laboratory (VL) solutions to support advanced data- and computing- intensive research activities. He obtained his PhD in computer science from the University of Amsterdam (UvA) in 2004. He is an associate professor and Chair of the Multiscale Networked Systems (MNS) research group at the Informatics Institute at the University of Amsterdam.
His research interests include Cloud computing, data science, scientific workflow management, Digital Twins, and Blockchain. He coordinates the development of the ENVRI Knowledge Base and Notebook as a VRE (NaaVRE) framework. He is an IEEE senior member and serves as the managing editor of the Journal of Cloud Computing.
Main publications:
1. Li, N., Farshidi, S. & Zhao, Z. Search Multiple Types of Research Assets From Jupyter Notebook. Softw Pract Exp spe.3406 (2025) https://doi.org/10.1002/spe.3406
2. Wang, Y., Tripathi, S., Farshidi, S., Zhao, Z.: D-VRE: From a Jupyter-enabled Private Research Environment to Decentralized Collaborative Research Ecosystem. Blockchain: Research and Applications. 100244 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcra.2024.100244.
3. Zhao, Z., Koulouzis, S., Bianchi, R., Farshidi, S., Shi, Z., Xin, R., Wang, Y., Li, N., Shi, Y., Timmermans, J., Kissling, W.D.: Notebook-as-a-VRE (NaaVRE): From private notebooks to a collaborative cloud virtual research environment. Softw Pract Exp. spe.3098 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1002/spe.3098.
I’m working in project management in the University of Amsterdam (UvA) for a lifetime now, and since 2008 I’ve been involved in the design and setup of LifeWatch as a legal entity. In my UvA position I was responsible for the LifeWatch Preparatory Project and later coordinating and contributing to the sequence of ENVRI projects, establishing LifeWatch ERIC as an important partner in the ENVRI community. I was involved in further projects like Creative-B, Globis-B, RAMIRI and ERIC-Forum. Since 2020 I’m working part-time for LifeWatch ERIC as General Manager of the Virtual Laboratory and Innovation Center (VLIC), the common facility in Amsterdam.
Main Publications:
Permanent activity
Coordinate collaboration among Distributed Centres, Living Labs and research communities to support the development of agroecology services within LifeWatch ERIC;
End of 2027
Improve comparability of research outputs, accelerate adoption of services, and foster co-created solutions for researchers, farmers, advisors and policy makers.
Permanent activity
Facilitate joint initiatives, project proposals and knowledge exchange to ensure sustained service development and long-term impact.
June 2026
Deployment of EDDAn data space for Agrifood sector in Andalusia; Adaptation of TITAN workflow platform and related KHAOS tools to serve as a reproducible, trustworthy analysis layer within EDDAn Data Space;
September 2026
An AGROSERV TransNationalAccess project is currently underway by LifeWatch ERIC and AnaEE ERIC to develop a VREfA (Virtual Research Environment for Agroecology). The project, led by UPO, will support the biophysical analysis of agroecosystems that are transitioning to agroecological management practices.
Permanent activity
Increase knowledge on ecological processes in agroecosystems, considering both relevant spatial scales and long-term changes.
End of 2027
Promote the advancement of Landscape Agroecology, exploring new ways of functional integration of different land and livestock uses to increase territorial efficiency and generate landscape mosaics well-endowed with biodiversity and ecosystem services.
End of 2027
Contribute to the design of agroecological food systems at local and bioregional levels to meet population food demands.
End of 2028
Research on the contribution of agroecological management to combating climate emergencies, both in terms of mitigation (sequestration) and adaptation to adverse climatic conditions at both farm and landscape level.
The Bulgarian National Distributed Centre is represented by the Agricultural University-Plovdiv.
To know more about how Bulgaria contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.
The Spanish National Distributed Centre is supported by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the Regional Government of Andalusia and the Guadalquivir River Basin Authority (Ministry for Ecological Transition-MITECO). Moreover, Spain is the hosting Member State of LifeWatch ERIC, the location of its Statutory Seat & ICT e-Infrastructure Technical Office (LifeWatch ERIC Common Facilities).
To know more about how Spain contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.
The Slovenian National Distributed Centre is led by the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ZRC SAZU). It focuses on the development of technological solutions in the field of biodiversity and socio-ecosystem research.
To know more about how Slovenia contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.
The Portuguese National Distributed Centre is managed by PORBIOTA, the Portuguese e-Infrastructure for Information and Research on Biodiversity. Led by BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO – Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, PORBIOTA connects the principal Portuguese research institutions working in biodiversity.
To know more about how Portugal contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.
The Dutch National Distributed Centre is hosted by the Faculty of Science of the University of Amsterdam. Moreover, The Netherlands hosts one of the LifeWatch ERIC Common Facilities, the Virtual Laboratory and Innovation Centre.
To know more about how The Netherlands contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.
The Italian National Distributed Centre is led and managed by the Italian National Research Council (CNR) and is coordinated by a Joint Research Unit, currently comprising 35 members. Moreover, Italy hosts one of the LifeWatch ERIC Common Facilities, the Service Centre.
To know more about how Italy contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.
The Greek National Distributed Centre is funded by the Greek General Secretariat of Research and Technology and is coordinated by the Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, in conjunction with 47 associated partner institutions.
To know more about how Greece contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.
The Belgian National Distributed Centre makes varied and complementary in-kind contributions to LifeWatch ERIC. These are implemented in the form of long-lasting projects by various research centres and universities distributed throughout the country and supported by each respective political authority.
To know more about how Belgium contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.