Emily Hannum is a Professor of Sociology and Education at the University of Pennsylvania's College of Arts & Sciences, where she also serves as Associate Dean for Social Sciences. She is affiliated with the Population Studies Center, Center for the Study of Contemporary China, Graduate School of Education, and Penn Development Research Initiative. Education: PhD in Sociology from University of Michigan (1998) Research Focus: Poverty and child welfare, gender and ethnic stratification, sociology of education Projects: Gansu Survey of Children and Families, climate-environment-childhood inequalities in LMICs Workshops: Co-organizer of Penn Education and Inequality Workshop Her research explores childhood poverty in China, demographic impacts on education systems, and climate risks affecting children's welfare. She investigates environmental hazards, educational disparities, and family separation effects across China, India, and low/middle-income countries. Recent publications analyze educational expansion in East Asia, climate crisis impacts on child health, and gender disparities in Latin America. She directs longitudinal studies on rural poverty and collaborates on cross-national projects related to environmental and educational equity. Scientific awards include the Stanley I. Sheerr Term Professorship in Social Sciences.
Nancy M. Wells is a Professor in the Department of Human Centered Design and serves as the Senior Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University. Her work bridges environmental psychology and public health, examining how built and natural environments impact human health and behavior across the lifespan. Dr. Wells received a joint PhD in Psychology and Architecture from the University of Michigan and completed National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) post-doctoral training at the University of California, Irvine. Her educational background uniquely positions her to investigate the intersection of physical environments and human wellbeing through both psychological and architectural lenses. Her research focuses on how environmental contexts—from homes to neighborhoods to schools—affect health outcomes, cognitive functioning, and resilience. A central theme examines nature's role in human resilience, particularly how natural environments buffer against adversity and challenge. She has conducted influential work on school gardens and their effects on children's physical activity, dietary habits, and learning. More recently, she has pioneered research on nature and autism, conducting a randomized controlled trial examining natural environments' effects on autistic youth wellbeing. Analysis of Dr. Wells' recent publications reveals consistent focus on nature's health benefits, with strong emphasis on experimental methodologies including randomized controlled trials and natural experiments. Her work spans environmental psychology, public health, and education, with particular attention to vulnerable populations including low-income communities and children of color. NSF Funding for environmental health research USDA Funding for school garden studies Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Funding MacArthur Foundation Funding Senior Associate Editor of Environment and Behavior (4 years) Research Advisory Board of Children and Nature Network Board of Directors for reDirect Dr. Wells actively mentors undergraduate and graduate students through the Wells Lab, involving them in all research stages from data collection to publication. Her research has been supported by multiple significant grants examining housing quality effects on mental health, neighborhood design impacts on physical activity, and school garden interventions. She leads interdisciplinary research teams that integrate perspectives from environmental psychology, public health, landscape architecture, and education. The Wells Lab operates as an integrated research-teaching-outreach unit that develops practical yet rigorous studies to assess causal relations between environment and health, creates valid measurement tools, and identifies causal pathways. Current projects include examining nature's effects on autistic youth wellbeing in partnership with The Center for Discovery in New York, and investigating multi-sensory design in urban public spaces.
Margaret Bublitz is Associate Professor at Brown University with joint appointments in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior , Department of Medicine , and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology . She holds secondary appointments at the School of Public Health as Senior Investigator and Behavioral and Social Sciences faculty member. Dr. Bublitz earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology (2010) from the University of British Columbia, followed by postdoctoral training in Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine at Brown Medical School. Her research focuses on: Psychological stress pathways to adverse perinatal outcomes Maternal childhood maltreatment effects on neurobiology Mindfulness interventions for hypertension and preterm birth prevention Her 15 most recent publications demonstrate expertise in perinatal mental health , sleep-disordered breathing , HPA axis regulation , and fetal neurodevelopment , with significant collaborations in neuroendocrinology and maternal-infant health disparities . Scientific recognition includes: 2024-2025 Global Fulbright Scholarship 2022 Brown Early Career Research Achievement Award Multiple NIH and foundation grants exceeding $6 million Bublitz leads NIH-funded projects examining mechanisms of mindfulness training (R01HL157288) and serves as mentor in the MORPHE Trial for digital maternal health innovations. She is a licensed psychologist and active member of Brown's Stress, Trauma and Resilience (STAR) Institute and Mindfulness Center .
Glenn Roisman is a Professor at the Institute of Child Development , University of Minnesota. He holds the Distinguished McKnight University Professor and Robert Holmes Beck Chair of Ideas in Education titles, reflecting his scholarly influence and teaching excellence. Education: PhD (2002), University of Minnesota Roisman’s research examines how early relationship experiences shape lifespan psychological, interpersonal, physical, and cognitive health . His work integrates longitudinal data from birth to adulthood, focusing on normative and atypical caregiving environments. Recent publications analyze the predictive validity of attachment assessments (Strange Situation, Adult Attachment Interview), genetic/environmental contributions to attachment styles, and pathways from early adversity to cardiometabolic health. His projects leverage data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development , Minnesota Longitudinal Study , and Minnesota Twin Registry . Scientific Awards : Distinguished McKnight University Professor Robert Holmes Beck Chair of Ideas in Education Roisman’s collaborations with institutions like Pennsylvania State University and grants from NHLBI , NICHD , and NIA underscore his leadership in developmental science. He is open to advising new PhD students in 2026, emphasizing multi-method and multi-informant research approaches.
Professor Louis Schmidt is a leading academic in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour at McMaster University , with a research focus on developmental psychophysiology, temperament, and the long-term effects of early adversity. His work bridges neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral science, emphasizing the interplay between brain function and socio-emotional development across the lifespan. Key research themes: Shyness, social anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and outcomes of extremely low birth weight. Recognized for mentoring postdoctoral fellow Kristie Poole, who was celebrated as a role model in the Child Emotion Laboratory. Scientific Awards : Royal Society of Canada recognition for contributions to research and scholarship. Research Trends from 15 recent publications include: Neurophysiological mechanisms of shyness (EEG, ERP, RSA) Impact of antenatal corticosteroids on adult brain function Intergenerational effects of maternal mental health interventions Cross-cultural comparisons of temperamental shyness Developmental consequences of preterm birth Behavioral and neural correlates of social anxiety in diverse populations Grants & Collaborations : Led the SNACS randomized controlled trial on antenatal corticosteroids, with applications in obstetrics and developmental neuroscience. Collaborates extensively on topics like autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and emotion regulation. Labs & Teams : Directs the Child Emotion Laboratory at McMaster University, fostering interdisciplinary research on developmental psychopathology and neural mechanisms of temperament.
Steven Siciliano is a Professor and NSERC/FCL Industrial Research Chair in In Situ Remediation and Risk Assessment at the University of Saskatchewan's College of Agriculture and Bioresources. He leads the CREATE Human and Ecological Risk Assessment Program. His expertise spans soil toxicology, greenhouse gas dynamics in polar ecosystems, and nitrogen cycle interactions in contaminated environments. Education: Ph.D. in Toxicology, University of Saskatchewan B.Sc. in Biochemistry, Concordia University Research Interests: His work focuses on human-soil interaction dynamics, including soil pollution impacts on human health (e.g., PAH toxicity via soil ingestion) and ecosystem resilience (e.g., nitrogen cycle disruptions). He investigates Arctic/Antarctic soil microbiology, greenhouse gas production in polar deserts, and the ecological effects of pollutants like mercury and petroleum hydrocarbons. His lab is divided into toxicology (e.g., metal cardiovascular effects, soil ingestion models) and ecology (e.g., sub-zero water effects on gene expression, Arctic nitrogen cycles). Teaching: Teaches courses on environmental fate analysis, contaminated site management, and advanced risk assessment methodologies at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Courses include EVSC 420, TOX 820, and EVSC 821. Grants & Labs: Directs the CREATE Program and leads projects funded by NSERC and industry partnerships. His lab integrates fieldwork, molecular techniques, and modeling to address environmental remediation challenges. Collaborates on projects like cryoturbation-driven carbon dynamics and microbial community analysis in agricultural systems. Labs/Teams: Active in soil science research teams, including Arctic soil microbiology and bioremediation innovation groups. Engages in interdisciplinary collaborations with environmental engineers and ecologists to advance in situ remediation technologies.
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).
Jonathan F. Zaff serves as Chair of the Department of Applied Psychology and Professor at Northeastern University's Bouvé College of Health Sciences. A developmental psychologist, he focuses on creating conditions for youth thriving, particularly among historically oppressed populations, through community-engaged research and leadership in youth development initiatives. Dr. Zaff's educational background includes: PhD in Psychology (Lifespan Development) from The University of Georgia MS in Psychology from The University of Georgia BA in Psychology (Government minor) from Connecticut College His research centers on positive youth development frameworks, examining how social support networks ('webs of support') influence educational, vocational, and social-emotional outcomes. Key areas include youth civic engagement, pathways for non-graduating high school students, and community initiatives promoting youth thriving, with emphasis on equity and resilience among marginalized youth. Analysis of Dr. Zaff's 2016-2021 publications reveals consistent methodological diversity (pattern-centered approaches, latent class analysis) applied to social support structures. His work demonstrates how multi-layered adult and community supports drive educational persistence among English learners, high-risk youth, and those navigating childhood adversity, with strong translational impact on youth development programs. Scientific Awards: None documented in provided materials. Dr. Zaff actively mentors graduate students, evidenced by asterisked co-authors across publications including M. Margolius, C. Tang, and J. Pan. His founding of major research centers (CERES Institute, Center for Promise) indicates substantial grant leadership, though specific funding mechanisms aren't detailed. He established and directed Boston University's CERES Institute for Children & Youth, conducting community-engaged applied research, and founded the Center for Promise (America's Promise Alliance research division), demonstrating commitment to collaborative, action-oriented youth development science across institutional settings.
Gary M. Shaw is the Rosemarie Hess Professor and Professor (Research) at Stanford University , with courtesy appointments in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health and Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology - Maternal Fetal Medicine . He serves as Co-PI of the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center at Stanford and PI of the California Center for Finding Causes and Preventives of Birth Defects . His research focuses on the Epidemiology of birth defects Gene-environment interactions in perinatal outcomes Nutritional factors in reproductive health . He has developed machine learning approaches for precision parenteral nutrition and predictive models for preterm birth, while investigating persistent metabolomic signatures following hypertensive pregnancy disorders. Shaw's recent work explores Climate change impacts on reproductive health Maternal-fetal immune interactions Epigenetic mechanisms in perinatal disease with applications of multiomics to neonatal intensive care units. As a member of Bio-X and the Maternal & Child Health Research Institute , he contributes to translational research networks while serving as Associate Editor for Birth Defects Research and American Journal of Medical Genetics . He supervises Med Scholar Project student Richard Liang Doctoral co-advisor for Saskia Comess and Richard Liang Master's advisor for Lenae Joe while leading the Division of Neonatology as Associate Chair for Clinical Research (2012-2025). His laboratory work integrates Metabolomic profiling Proteomic analysis Computational modeling Machine learning for biomedical data to advance neonatal care through precision medicine approaches.
University Medical Center Hamburg-EppendorfGermany
Prof. Dr. med. Franz Lennard Ricklefs is a Senior Physician and Head of the Working Group at the Department of Neurosurgery, University of Hamburg Faculty of Medicine. He is a Medical Specialist in Neurosurgery with cross-disciplinary expertise in neuro-oncology, molecular pathology, and extracellular vesicle research. Affiliations: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), European Liquid Biopsy Society (ELBS), International Consortium on Meningiomas (ICOM) Research Interests: His work focuses on neurosurgical oncology, particularly glioblastoma and meningioma pathobiology. He investigates DNA methylation patterns, extracellular vesicle biomarkers, and liquid biopsy implementation in clinical neuro-oncology. Additional interests include surgical outcomes for epilepsy and aneurysm management. Article Trends: Over the last decade, Dr. Ricklefs has published extensively on: Extracellular vesicle applications as liquid biopsy markers DNA methylation subclasses for glioblastoma and meningioma Multicenter surgical outcome benchmarking Immune evasion mechanisms in neuro-oncology Technological innovations in neurosurgical visualization Molecular characterization of rare CNS tumors Professional Contributions: He co-authored the MISEV2023 guidelines for extracellular vesicle studies and participates in international consensus reviews for meningioma classification. His collaborations span institutions across Europe and North America.
Bridget Goosby is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Texas at Austin, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and serving as co-director of the LifeHD Health Disparities Research Lab with Dr. Jacob Cheadle. Her work bridges biosociology and health disparities research, focusing on how social marginalization and racism manifest in biological pathways affecting health outcomes. Education : Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University Contact : bgoosby@prc.utexas.edu Her research integrates biometric and mixed-methods approaches to examine: Dynamic biosocial pathways linking racism to health risks Sympathetic arousal responses in natural settings Epigenetic profiles associated with socioeconomic and racial disparities Recent projects include a Spencer Foundation-funded national study on Black women faculty's health and professional navigation. Prior research has been supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Scientific recognition includes lifetime membership in AAAS for her contributions to understanding discrimination's biosocial health impacts. Her work appears in journals like Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and Annual Review of Sociology . She teaches undergraduate courses on Race, Ethnicity, and Health (UGS 302) across multiple semesters, emphasizing experiential learning through synchronous and asynchronous formats.
Hsiao-Wen Liao is an **Assistant Professor of Psychology** in the **Adult Development and Aging program** at the **Georgia Institute of Technology**. She holds a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Florida (2017) and completed postdoctoral training at Stanford University’s Center on Longevity. Her research focuses on **autobiographical memory**, **episodic future thinking**, and **meaningful aging**, leveraging **VR and NLP methods** to explore how life experiences shape adult development. She investigates how memory processes interact with sociocultural contexts to foster resilience and continuity across the lifespan. **Research Interests**: Autobiographical memory functions, cognitive aging, intergenerational connectivity, and the role of technology (VR/NLP) in memory reconstruction. Current projects examine VR applications for recollection enhancement and NLP analysis of life narratives. **Awards & Grants**: ISSI Mini Research Grant (2024), College of Sciences Travel Grant (2025), APS Travel Assistance (2025), and ImmerseGT Hackathon Best Use of Omniverse Track (2023). **Lab Members**: Supervises graduate students (DaEun Kim, Sarah Kim, Liam Hart) and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams in HCI and machine learning. Undergraduate assistants focus on neuroscience and psychology interfaces. **Lab Activities**: Janus Lab emphasizes mixed-methods approaches, combining qualitative content analysis with experimental designs. Recent projects address aging well, resilience, and technology-mediated memory interventions.
Carine J.M. Doggen is a Full Professor in Health Technology & Services Research at the TechMed Centre, University of Twente. She also serves as Scientific Director at Rijnstate Hospital since October 2017. Her academic career includes previous positions as Senior Researcher at Leiden University Medical Center (2000-2009), University of Washington, Seattle (2002-2003), and Sanquin Blood Bank (2006-2009). Her research focuses on evaluating healthcare innovations, particularly technologies enabling the transition of care from hospitals to home settings. Dr. Doggen specializes in assessing the implementation, reliability, and effectiveness of new medical technologies including wearable sensors and remote monitoring systems. Her work examines measurement validity and incorporates perspectives from both healthcare providers and patients. Analysis of her recent publications reveals strong expertise in cardiovascular technology evaluation, digital health interventions, and quality of life assessment. Her research shows particular strength in randomized clinical trials of medical devices, health technology assessment methodologies, and post-COVID health outcomes research. Dr. Doggen has presented her work at numerous conferences, with recent oral presentations including 'Towards personalised medicine: the potential of intensive longitudinal data to assess the interplay of chronic diseases' (2024) and 'Prognostic markers for acute heart failure in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease' (2021). She has also contributed to media discussions about healthcare innovations through the Rijnstate Collegetour series.
Jonathan Zhang is an Assistant Professor at Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy and a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). He is also affiliated with the US Veterans Affairs Office of Mental Health. Previously, he served on the faculty at McMaster University and was a Postdoctoral Scholar at Princeton University. His academic journey includes a PhD in Economics from Stanford University (2020) and a BSc from UBC. Dr. Zhang's research spans health economics and public finance, with particular focus on physician behavior, health policies, and safety net programs. His work demonstrates deep interest in mental health and substance use issues, examining how healthcare systems impact vulnerable populations. His research methodology often leverages quasi-random assignment and natural experiments to establish causal relationships in complex healthcare settings. His publication record reveals significant contributions to understanding healthcare disparities, particularly regarding racial differences in medical testing accuracy, socioeconomic status impacts on mental health access, and veteran healthcare outcomes. His work frequently appears in prominent working paper series, with numerous 2025 publications indicating active and ongoing research programs. Dr. Zhang maintains active professional engagement through his Google Scholar profile and personal website (jonathanzhang.net). He will be visiting the University of Copenhagen from August 1 - November 15, 2025, suggesting international collaboration and scholarly exchange.
Institute of Hygiene and Tropical MedicinePortugal
Krishnan Bhaskaran is a Professor of Statistical Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) , affiliated with the Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health and the Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology . He leads the Beyond Cancer research group , supported by a Wellcome Senior Research Fellowship . He co-founded the OpenSAFELY platform for real-time pandemic data analysis. Education: Background in Mathematics and Medical Statistics Research Interests: Cancer survivorship, cardiovascular and mental health outcomes in cancer survivors, pharmacoepidemiology of drug interactions, and methodological advancements in electronic health records analysis Publication Trends: His recent work focuses on long-term health consequences of cancer and its treatments, drug interactions in cardiovascular therapies, and the impact of chronic conditions on cancer risk. Many studies utilize large UK datasets and the OpenSAFELY platform. Scientific Awards: Wellcome Senior Research Fellowship Grants & Leadership: He has secured major funding from Cancer Research UK , British Heart Foundation , and Wellcome Trust to investigate cardiovascular risks post-cancer, health inequalities in endocrine therapy adherence, and drug safety in anticoagulant use.
