Laura Albert is a Professor of Industrial & Systems Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and former David H. Gustafson Department Chair (2021-24). She serves as a Fellow of AAAS and IISE, and previously held the INFORMS presidency. Her research focuses on optimizing public-sector systems, with applications in critical infrastructure protection, emergency response, and cybersecurity. She advocates for public engagement through op-eds and blogs like 'Punk Rock Operations Research.' Education: PhD in Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2006) MS in Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2001) BS in Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2000) Research Interests: Dr. Albert’s work bridges operations research and public policy, addressing challenges in emergency medical services, voting system security, law enforcement strategies, and opioid treatment diversion programs. She employs mathematical optimization, game theory, and stochastic modeling to design resilient systems. Awards: INFORMS Impact Prize (2018) NSF CAREER Award (2011) Fulbright Award (2020) AAAS Fellow (2020) Advising & Grants: While explicit student names aren’t listed, her research has been supported by grants from the NSF, Army Research Office, and other agencies. She advises on interdisciplinary projects involving public health, cybersecurity, and disaster management. Labs/Teams: Engaged in collaborative efforts across the College of Engineering, including affiliations with the Electrical & Computer Engineering department. Leads initiatives on resilient infrastructure and emergency response systems.
Swati Aggarwal is a Professor in Artificial Intelligence at the Faculty of Logistics, Molde University College (HiMolde). Her research focuses on AI applications in healthcare, ethics, cognitive development, and neural networks. She holds a PhD in Neutrosophic Neural Networks, a Master's in Information Technology, and a Bachelor's in Computer Science and Engineering. Previously, she was a Marie Curie Postdoc Fellow at NTNU, working on AI models for cognitive assessment in infants (AIM_COACH project). Research Interests - AI in Health/Medicine - Ethics in AI and Societal Impact - EEG/BCI for Cognitive Assessment - Machine Learning and Deep Learning Publications Her recent work spans AI ethics, BCI applications, adversarial attacks, and healthcare diagnostics. Notable contributions include EEG-based infant perceptual monitoring (2025) and malaria detection via EfficientNet (2023). She also explores cross-lingual adversarial robustness and blockchain in hospitality systems. Labs/Teams - ABC-AI: Applied, Basic, and Conscientious AI Group - Virtual Technologies and Learning Research Group
Han Joo Lee is a Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). He holds appointments in both the College of Letters & Science and the Clinical Psychology program. Lee earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in 2009. His research focuses on adult psychopathology, particularly anxiety disorders (e.g., OCD, social anxiety, PTSD), cognitive-perceptual processing abnormalities, and web-based psychological interventions. He has developed online assessment systems for anxiety disorders and conducted experimental studies on attentional biases and error-monitoring processes in clinical populations. Key research themes include: (1) maladaptive cognitive-perceptual mechanisms underlying anxiety disorders, (2) digital tools for mental health assessment, and (3) behavioral interventions targeting compulsive behaviors. His work integrates experimental, clinical, and neuroscientific approaches to understand symptom maintenance and treatment development. Lee's recent studies explore functional connectivity in skin-picking disorders, predictive factors for OCD treatment outcomes, and dual-hormone stress reactivity in PTSD. He collaborates with institutions like the UWM Psychology Clinic and maintains active grant-funded research projects. No specific awards are listed, but his extensive publication record reflects sustained contributions to clinical psychology. He advises the graduate program at UWM, overseeing training for clinical psychology doctoral students. His lab develops innovative interventions, including computerized response inhibition training for trichotillomania and interpretation-based treatments for thought-action fusion.
Anita Hubley is a Professor at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Education, Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS). She serves as MERM Program Coordinator and directs the Adult Development and Psychometrics Lab. Her work focuses on psychometric test development/validation and quality of life research across adult populations. Education: Ph.D. in Psychology (Human Assessment specialization), Carleton University (1995) M.A. in Psychology (Lifespan Development and Aging), University of Victoria (1991) Pre-doctoral training at Geriatric Assessment Unit (Ottawa) and Neuropsychological Assessment Unit (Ottawa) Her research integrates psychometric theory with practical applications in aging populations, homeless/vulnerably housed individuals, and neuropsychological assessment tools. Key contributions include developing the Memory Test for Older Adults (MTOA), Hubley Depression Scale for Older Adults (HDS-OA), Quality of Life in Homeless and Hard-to-House Individuals (QoLHHI), and Subjective Age Identity Scale (SAIS). Scientific Awards: Killam Teaching Prize (2017) Distinguished Reviewer, Buros Institute of Mental Measurements (2013) She has taught graduate courses in Psychological Assessment, Measurement Principles, Scale Development, and Applied Neuropsychology, emphasizing ethical testing practices and response process research. Her lab's work on test adaptation for marginalized populations has informed international measurement standards.
Professor Gavan McNally is a distinguished behavioral neuroscientist at the University of New South Wales, where he serves as a Professor in the School of Psychology. He is actively engaged in research on the fundamental behavioral and brain mechanisms for learning and motivation, with applications to clinical conditions such as addictions, anxiety disorders, and mood disorders. McNally holds several prestigious editorial positions, including Editor-in-Chief of Neurobiology of Learning & Memory and Senior Editor of The Journal of Neuroscience. He also serves as President-Elect of the European Behavioral Pharmacology Society and is a Member of the Australian Research Council College of Experts. McNally's research interests span behavioral neuroscience, focusing on how fundamental brain mechanisms apply to clinical conditions. He employs a systems neuroscience approach, combining well-controlled behavioral approaches with optogenetics, chemogenetics, in vivo calcium imaging, and whole brain circuit mapping in both normal and transgenic animals. His work bridges basic science with clinical applications through collaborations with colleagues at University of Sydney, Sydney Local Health District, Monash University, and Turning Point. McNally's research particularly examines the cellular, circuit, and systems level mechanisms underlying learning, motivation, and their dysregulation in disorders like addiction. His laboratory investigates how these mechanisms translate to human conditions, with a strong emphasis on developing new treatments for psychological disorders. His extensive publication record demonstrates a clear trajectory in understanding punishment learning, addiction mechanisms, and the neural circuits underlying motivated behavior. Recent work has increasingly focused on the cognitive pathways to punishment insensitivity, the role of specific neural circuits in addiction, and translational approaches to understanding maladaptive behaviors. McNally's research bridges animal models with human studies, creating a comprehensive understanding of the neural mechanisms that govern learning and motivation, with particular attention to how these processes go awry in addiction and other psychological disorders. 2008 QEII Fellow, Australian Research Council 2009 Association for Psychological Science, International Rising Star 2010 Fellow, Association for Psychological Science 2010 UNSW Faculty of Science Staff Excellence Award for Research and Training 2011 Pavlovian Research Award, The Pavlovian Society 2012 Future Fellow (Level 3), Australian Research Council 2016 D.G. Marquis Behavioral Neuroscience Award, American Psychological Association 2017 Fellow, American Psychological Association 2019 Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia 2021 D.G. Marquis Behavioral Neuroscience Award, American Psychological Association 2022 Ross Day Plenary Lecturer, Australasian Brain and Psychological Sciences 2023 European Behavioural Pharmacology Society Plenary Lecturer 2024 Elspeth McLachlan Plenary Lecturer, Australasian Neuroscience Society 2024 D.G. Marquis Behavioral Neuroscience Award, American Psychological Association Professor McNally actively supervises several students including Bixuan Lin, Si Yin Lui, Hannah Machet, Bart Cooley, Kelly Zhuang, and Alexandra Gregory. His current research is supported by significant funding including an Australian Research Council Discovery Project (2024-2026) on "Risky choices: From cells and circuits to computations and behaviour," another Discovery Project (2025-2028) on "Multimodal mapping of punishment learning," and NHMRC grants including a Synergy Grant on "Linking clinical and basic science discovery to find new treatments for alcohol-use disorder" and an Ideas Grant on "Novel pathways to abstinence from alcohol seeking." These projects reflect his commitment to both fundamental neuroscience and translational applications for treating psychological conditions. His teaching responsibilities include PSYC2081 Learning & Physiological Psychology and PSYC3051 Physiological Psychology. McNally's laboratory employs advanced techniques including optogenetics, chemogenetics, in vivo calcium imaging, and whole brain circuit mapping to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying learning, motivation, and their dysregulation in disorders. His team works at the intersection of basic neuroscience and clinical applications, with strong collaborations across multiple institutions to translate fundamental findings into potential treatments for addiction and other psychological disorders. The lab has made significant contributions to understanding the role of brain regions like the ventral pallidum, paraventricular thalamus, and nucleus accumbens in addiction, fear learning, and punishment sensitivity.
Roxane de la Sablonnière is a Full Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Montreal, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. She directs the CSI—Laboratory on Social Change and Identity and is a member of the CÉCD—Centre for the Study of Democratic Citizenship and the CIRCA—Interdisciplinary Research Centre on the Brain and Learning. Her research focuses on social change, cultural identities, intercultural relations, and the psychological impacts of crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. She has advised over 20 graduate students and led numerous research projects funded by agencies such as the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Education & Research Focus : Her work examines how rapid societal changes affect individuals, particularly in contexts of immigration, policy shifts (e.g., multiculturalism, secularism), and Indigenous communities. Recent studies include longitudinal analyses of pandemic-related behaviors, identity integration processes, and the role of cognitive strategies in managing conflicting identities. Grants & Collaborations : She leads projects like "S'engager pour mieux aller!" (FRQS-funded) and contributes to strategic networks such as the Centre pour l'Étude de la Citoyenneté Démocratique (CÉCD). Her research integrates psychology with sociology, leveraging mixed methods (e.g., text mining, longitudinal tracking) to address societal challenges. Labs & Teams : As CSI director, she oversees projects on social change dynamics and identity reconstruction. Her work bridges academic and applied domains, influencing policy debates on integration, public health, and community resilience.
Matthew W. Buczynski is an Assistant Professor at the School of Neuroscience , part of the College of Science at Virginia Tech . Holding a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of California San Diego (2008) and postdoctoral training at The Scripps Research Institute (2009-2016), he joined Virginia Tech in August 2016 after completing his postdoctoral fellowship. Education: B.S. in Chemistry, University of Michigan , 2001 Ph.D. in Biochemistry, University of California San Diego , 2008 Postdoctoral Training, The Scripps Research Institute , 2009-2016 Dr. Buczynski’s research program focuses on identifying novel druggable targets for addiction and neurological disorders through mass spectrometry and behavioral pharmacology . His work integrates chemical biology , molecular pharmacology , and in vivo microdialysis to study molecular changes in the brain during chronic drug exposure. Key areas include nicotine dependence , ethanol withdrawal , and cross-talk between pain and addiction mechanisms. His recent publications highlight endocannabinoid system modulation , TRPV1/TRPA1 receptor activation in pain, and diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL) mechanisms in nicotine withdrawal. He employs both self-administration and forced exposure models to validate therapeutic targets. Prospective students can contact him directly through his lab’s website .
Dr. Basak Tas is a Research Fellow at King's College London, based in the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience within the Department of Addictions Sciences. She has been working at King's since 2014, initially as a PhD student and then as a Post-doctoral Research Associate, before taking up her current role in 2021. Her work focuses on opioid overdose and related interventions, collaborating with Professor Sir John Strang and Dr. Will Lawn. Her educational background includes an undergraduate degree in Neuroscience from King's College London and an MSc in Neuroscience from the University of Edinburgh. She completed her PhD at King's College London under the supervision of Professor Sir John Strang, Dr. Caroline Jolley, and Dr. James Bell. Her PhD thesis was titled "Clinical and Laboratory Investigation into Heroin and Opioid Overdose Risk". Dr. Tas's research centers on opioid overdose mechanisms, opioid use disorder treatments, and health interventions to reduce drug-related deaths. She investigates experimental drug studies and develops wearable technologies for overdose detection. Her work aims to understand the physiological underpinnings of overdose and create practical tools for real-world overdose prevention, particularly in high-risk populations. Her recent publications (2020-2025) focus on innovative approaches to prevent opioid overdose deaths, including wearable biosensors (e.g., PneumoWave) and mHealth technologies. She explores risk factors for respiratory depression and the acceptability of detection devices among people who use opioids. Her work bridges laboratory models of overdose with clinical applications in supervised injecting facilities and community settings. Dr. Tas was awarded the following scientific award: Addictions Clinical Academic Group (CAG) Early Career Research Prize (2022) She contributes to teaching by supervising MSc Addiction Studies projects and teaching in the BSc Psychology "Addictions" and "Choices" modules. Additionally, she has been involved in public engagement, including school workshops and the art-science project "Heroin Bodies". Dr. Tas is part of the Drugs Research Group within the Addictions Department at King's, led by Professors John Strang and John Marsden. Her current work involves collaboration on projects related to opioid overdose and wearable technologies.
Aida Maria de Oliveira Cruz Mendes is a distinguished academic and researcher at the Coimbra School of Nursing, where she has maintained a continuous appointment since 1987. With over three decades of academic service, she has established herself as a leading expert in nursing science with particular specialization in mental health, occupational health, and sleep quality among healthcare professionals. She currently serves on the Scientific Council for Life and Health Sciences at the Foundation for Science and Technology, demonstrating her significant contribution to Portuguese scientific policy. Education background: PhD from University of Minho (1996-2000) Master's in Occupational Health and Hygiene from University of Coimbra Medical School (1992-1995) License in Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing (1990-1991) Bachelor's degree in Nursing (1977-1980) Multiple specialized certifications in psycho-oncology, cognitive therapy, and qualitative research Dr. Mendes' research program demonstrates remarkable consistency in addressing critical issues in nursing practice and healthcare delivery. Her work spans mental health services evaluation, occupational health challenges faced by nursing staff, sleep quality determinants in healthcare settings, and innovative programs for healthy aging and retirement transition. She has developed expertise in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, with numerous systematic reviews and intervention studies to her credit. Her research bridges clinical practice with health promotion initiatives, creating tangible impacts on nursing education and healthcare policy. Analysis of her recent publication trajectory reveals a sophisticated evolution in research focus. While maintaining consistent attention to nursing staff wellbeing (particularly regarding sleep quality and stress biomarkers), she has expanded into developing and evaluating health promotion programs, most notably the REATIVA program for retirement transition. Her work increasingly incorporates international collaborations and demonstrates methodological sophistication, with publications appearing in multiple languages (Portuguese, English, and Spanish) across diverse healthcare contexts. Research funding highlights: Active Retirement: study of a healthy ageing promotor program (2013-2015) funded by Foundation for Science and Technology Mental Health Education and Sensibilization: A School-based Intervention Program for Adolescents and Young (2011-2014) funded by Foundation for Science and Technology Dr. Mendes has supervised numerous graduate students and collaborated extensively with international research teams, particularly in European nursing education contexts. Her work on nurse professional competence assessment among newly graduated nurses demonstrates her commitment to advancing nursing education standards. She maintains active research partnerships with institutions across Portugal and internationally, contributing to both clinical practice improvements and healthcare policy development.
Markus Heilig is a Professor of Psychiatry and Head of the Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV) at Linköping University. He serves as Director of the Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience (CSAN), integrating basic and clinical neuroscience to address addictive and affective disorders. His work bridges neuropharmacology, molecular psychiatry, and clinical trials. Linköping University (Current) Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience (CSAN) (Director) Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine (Collaborator) His research focuses on alcohol dependence mechanisms, stress-neurotransmitter interactions (e.g., CRF, substance P, endocannabinoids), and personalized medicine approaches. Using animal models and human neuroimaging (fMRI), his lab explores epigenetic changes in frontal lobe and amygdala neurons that drive compulsive alcohol use. Recent publications highlight his work on endocannabinoid modulation for PTSD treatment, neural correlates of reward choices, and pharmacological interventions targeting GABA and opioid receptors. His studies often combine brain imaging, behavioral analysis, and pharmacology. Scientific awards include the 2019 Wallenberg Clinical Scholar grant and 2017 CAN/Nordic Drugs prizes. Heilig's research is supported by Vetenskapsrådet (SEK 57 million center funding) and international donations like the Andrew J. Bock Memorial Fund.
Dr. Sara McMenamin is an Associate Professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science at UC San Diego. She serves as the Associate Director of the MPH program and Interim Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education . Her research focuses on state-level policies addressing tobacco use and preventive services, particularly health insurance coverage for tobacco dependence treatment in California and nationally. She also co-chairs the California Health Benefits Review Program , evaluating proposed health insurance legislation's medical, cost, and public health impacts. Her work spans public health policy analysis , health insurance mandate evaluations, and tobacco control strategies. Key areas include analyzing the effects of tobacco tax increases (e.g., Proposition 56), tracking smoking trends among youth and adults, and investigating the interplay between e-cigarette use and smoking cessation. She has contributed to studies on fertility preservation mandates, telemedicine for substance use disorders, and health equity in insurance access. Recent research highlights include assessing declines in youth smoking despite e-cigarette surges, evaluating tobacco policy coverage changes in California, and projecting future cigarette consumption trends. Her work often bridges policy implementation and population health outcomes, emphasizing evidence-based approaches. Dr. McMenamin collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and state agencies to translate research into actionable policies. Her contributions span over 150 peer-reviewed publications, with frequent media and policy engagement (e.g., cited in 14+ news outlets for key studies).
Dr. Rodolfo J. Flores serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology within the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). His primary research investigates neuromodulator function in the prefrontal cortex, with emphasis on acetylcholine and dynorphin systems during motivational conflict, stress responses, and addiction pathways. He employs advanced optogenetic and biosensor technologies to dissect neural circuitry underlying psychiatric conditions. Dr. Flores earned his Ph.D. in Social Cognitive and Neuroscience from UTEP in 2019, followed by postdoctoral training at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). His work bridges molecular neuroscience with behavioral outcomes, focusing on how stress and substance exposure alter prefrontal cortical function. His research portfolio demonstrates consistent high-impact publication in top neuroscience journals including Nature Neuroscience , Neuron , and Psychoneuroendocrinology . Current work examines opioid neuropeptide dynamics, nicotine-alcohol interactions, and sex-specific hormonal influences on addiction behaviors. Methodologically, he specializes in genetically encoded biosensors and circuit-level manipulations to study threat processing and reward pathways. Dr. Flores teaches graduate and undergraduate courses including PSYC 4341 (Motivation & Emotion), thesis/dissertation supervision (PSYC 5395/6395), and research applications courses. His lab actively trains students through undergraduate research (RSRC 4033) and independent study opportunities (PSYC 4352).
Angela Book is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Brock University. She holds a Ph.D. from Queen’s University and specializes in Forensic Psychology, with a focus on psychopathy and its relationship to victim selection, emotion perception, and deceptive behavior. Her research explores how psychopathic traits influence vulnerability judgments and social manipulation. She is affiliated with Brock’s Psychology Department and has contributed extensively to forensic assessment methodologies and youth psychopathy research. Education: Ph.D. in Psychology, Queen’s University Research Interests: Forensic Psychology, psychopathy, emotion perception, victim selection, deception detection, vulnerability assessment. Grants & Advising: No specific grants or advisee records explicitly mentioned in the provided text. Labs/Teams: Not explicitly detailed in the text, though her work aligns with forensic and clinical psychology research groups at Brock.
Dr. Eiko Fried is an Associate Professor at Leiden University's Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, where he works at the intersection of clinical psychology, psychiatry, epidemiology, methodology, and complexity science. His research focuses on improving psychological science through open science practices and innovative measurement approaches. PhD in clinical psychology, Free University of Berlin Postdoctoral training at KU Leuven and University of Amsterdam Promoted to Associate Professor at Leiden University in 2021 Key research areas include: Psychopathology measurement and classification Network analysis in mental health research Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methodology Open science advocacy and implementation Dynamic systems modeling in psychology Transdiagnostic approaches to mental disorders Recent publications demonstrate expertise in: Symptom network analysis across disorders Improving depression measurement standards Transdiagnostic assessment protocols Mental health data integration challenges Psychological theory construction Methodological innovations in clinical research
Christopher Conway serves as Associate Professor of Psychology at Fordham University's College of Arts and Sciences, where he directs the Bronx Personality (B-PER) Lab. His research investigates borderline personality disorder, anxiety, depression, and distress tolerance using experience sampling methods and longitudinal designs. The lab examines personality development across key transitions such as romantic breakups and financial strain. 2007 BS in Psychology and Spanish, Duke University 2009 MA in Clinical Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles 2013 PhD in Clinical Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles Conway's work centers on distress tolerance as a protective factor against self-injurious behaviors, momentary personality processes using ecological assessment, and the HiTOP consortium 's dimensional classification of psychopathology. His lab develops quantitative models linking personality dimensions to clinical outcomes, with emphasis on how stressors trigger symptom changes. Recent publications reveal neuroticism's specific association with broadband internalizing symptoms rather than narrowband anxiety or anhedonia. His publications demonstrate consistent focus on transdiagnostic mechanisms and dimensional classification systems . Key trends include validating the HiTOP framework across cultures, examining distress tolerance in substance use contexts across four continents, and developing within-person models of self-injury using registered report methodology. Professional affiliations include: Society for Research on Psychopathology Association for Psychological Science Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Association for Research in Personality Conway advises multiple graduate students in the B-PER Lab and leads several active studies including MOMENT (Measuring Our Momentary Emotions and Negative Thoughts), DENEM (Daily Experiences of Negative Emotions), and READI (Responses to Emotions And Daily Interactions). His lab participates in the multinational Cross-cultural Addictive Behaviors Study examining distress tolerance across seven countries. All research materials follow open science principles through his OSF repository. The B-PER Lab maintains active research programs examining personality development through: 3-year longitudinal Multiyear Adult Personality Project (MAPP) Cross-cultural Addictive Behaviors Study (CABS) Daily emotion regulation projects using smartphone-based assessments
