Nils Köbis is a Professor at the University of Duisburg-Essen, leading the chair Human Understanding of Algorithms and Machines . He is also an affiliated researcher at the Center for Humans and Machines (Max Planck Institute for Human Development). His work bridges psychology , social sciences , and artificial intelligence , focusing on corruption, unethical behavior, and human-AI interaction. Education : Ph.D. in Social Psychology from VU Free University Amsterdam, Post-Doc at CREED, University of Amsterdam. Research interests span behavioral ethics , social norms , anti-corruption strategies , and the psychological implications of AI . His articles explore topics like the dual role of AI in corruption mitigation, synthetic relationships, and moral dynamics in human-machine interactions. Key projects include the Interdisciplinary Corruption Research Network and the KickBack - Global AntiCorruption Podcast . His work employs experimental methods to analyze how algorithms shape dishonesty, trust, and social behavior.
Priyank Chandra is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Information and Director of the STREET Lab (SocioTechnical Resistance and Ethical Technologies Lab). His interdisciplinary research focuses on sociotechnical practices of marginalized communities, leveraging HCI, CSCW, STS, and development studies to design inclusive technologies. He holds a PhD in Information from the University of Michigan, along with MS in Economics and BE in Electronics Engineering. Chandra has received awards at ACM CHI and CSCW for his work on labor movements, digital resistance, and accessibility. Education: PhD in Information, University of Michigan (2019) MS in Economics BE in Electronics Engineering Research Interests: Chandra explores how marginalized communities reconfigure technologies to foster self-organization and resistance. His work bridges HCI/CSCW with theories from development studies and institutional analysis, emphasizing ethical, socially just systems. Recent projects include studying farmer movements in India, gig economy platforms, and weather risk communication for visually impaired Ontarians. Grants & Awards: SSHRC Grant: Repertoires of Contention in Digital Labour Platforms (2023-2024) NSERC Grant: Designing Inclusive Platforms for the Gig Economy (2022-2027) Connaught New Researcher Award (2023) ACM CHI/CSCW Awards for contributions to labor studies and accessibility Advising & Labs: Supervises students in ICTs, design, and marginality. Directs the STREET Lab at KMDI, focusing on ethical tech for vulnerable communities. Teaches courses on inclusive design and marginalized communities' ICT practices.
Rafael Grohmann is an Assistant Professor of Media Studies at the Department of Arts, Culture and Media , University of Toronto. He is also affiliated with Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (Unisinos University) , Brazil, as an Assistant Professor in Communication. Grohmann serves as Principal Investigator for the Fairwork project in Brazil , Coordinator of DigiLabour Research Lab , and editor of DigiLabour newsletter . His work bridges Latin American digital labor studies, AI's societal impacts, and platform cooperativism. Education: Ph.D. in Communication, University of São Paulo (2016) M.Sc. in Communication, University of São Paulo (2012) BA in Social Sciences, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (2009) Research interests include platform labor , AI and work , datafication , and worker-owned platforms , with a focus on Global South and gender perspectives . His recent work analyzes Brazilian women's hidden labor on AI platforms and labor migration in the gaming industry. Scientific awards include grants from SSHRC , CNPq , FAPESP , and COST Action . Grohmann is an editorial board member of Big Data & Society , Work, Employment and Society , and co-founder of the Platforms & Society journal. He is actively involved in public engagement, including podcasts like Tech Won't Save Us and op-eds on data sovereignty. Projects: Creative Labour and Critical Futures (CLCF) : Studies ethical approaches to AI in creative sectors. Worker-Owned Intersectional Platforms (WOIP) : Explores worker-owned tech solutions in Brazil and Argentina.
Andrea Tapia is an Associate Professor of Information Sciences and Technology at Pennsylvania State University. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of New Mexico (2000). Her research focuses on the intersection of social theory, ICT, and crisis response, with a particular emphasis on leveraging social media for disaster resilience and humanitarian action. She has secured over $3.7 million in external funding, supervised 16 graduate committees (including 10 PhDs and 6 master’s theses), and authored over 40 journal articles, 60 conference papers, and 12 book chapters. Tapia is an elected leader in the American Sociological Association and the International Association for Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management. Her work directly influences UN policy, international relief organizations, and U.S. governmental initiatives. She has pioneered platforms like Aurorasaurus and contributed to frameworks for social media integration in emergency dispatch systems. Her research spans crisis informatics, crowdsourced early warning systems, and inter-organizational collaboration in humanitarian contexts. Notable achievements include developing methodologies for trust detection in social media data and analyzing disaster response coordination networks. Tapia has presented at 73 conferences, including 31 invited talks, and her scholarship emphasizes actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners. Tapia teaches 12 courses across undergraduate, Honors, and graduate levels, reflecting her commitment to education. Her current focus includes refining frameworks for social media data adoption in public safety answering points and advancing resilience analytics for cyber-physical-social systems. She leads interdisciplinary teams addressing challenges in disaster response, digital volunteering, and technology-mediated collaboration.
Ricarda Hammer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley. Her work bridges colonialism, postcolonialism, empire, and race with a focus on the Caribbean as a site of global historical transformation. Department of Sociology, University of California, Berkeley Co-leader of the Anticolonial Lab (with Michael Rodríguez-Muñiz and Tianna Paschel) Former Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Research Interests: Anticolonial Politics Imperial Legacies Racial Capitalism Caribbean Studies Radical Democracy Black Atlantic Thought Article Trends: Ricarda's recent publications emphasize the intersections of colonial history, racial capitalism, and radical anticolonial theory. Her work increasingly incorporates Du Boisian frameworks and examines the erasure of Caribbean revolutionary imaginaries from European political genealogies. Labs & Teams: At Berkeley, Ricarda co-leads the Anticolonial Lab, which investigates global anticolonial solidarity movements with special attention to the Caribbean and Bay Area resistance networks.
Cesla Amarelle serves as Full Professor and Chairholder of Public Law and Migration Law at the University of Neuchâtel's Faculty of Law. Her academic leadership extends to co-directing the Swiss Center for Migration Law (CDM) and contributing to national research initiatives including the National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) 'On the Move'. She concurrently holds significant public appointments as Chair of the Institute of European Law at the University of Fribourg and Federal Commissioner for Women's Issues, with recent expert designation to the Federal Round Table on signature collection integrity for 2024. Her academic foundation includes a law degree from the University of Lausanne (1996), LL.M. in European and International Economic Law from the University of Fribourg, and doctoral thesis from the University of Lausanne (2004). Her career progression at the University of Neuchâtel spans assistant professor (2009-2014), extraordinary professor (2015-2016), and full professor positions since 2016, complemented by earlier research roles at Swiss National Science Foundation and University of Fribourg. Professor Amarelle's research centers on migration law frameworks, human rights protections in asylum systems, and constitutional dimensions of European integration. Her work critically examines the intersection of migration governance with digital technologies, climate change impacts, and gender equality. Current projects analyze temporary protection regimes, non-refoulement principles in technological contexts, and the evolving relationship between Swiss migration law and European legal frameworks. Her scholarship consistently bridges theoretical legal analysis with practical policy implementation challenges. Her extensive publication record demonstrates evolving focus from foundational migration law codification toward contemporary challenges including digital discrimination, child rights in emergency contexts, and sustainable finance frameworks. Recent scholarship reflects increasing engagement with technological impacts on migration governance and the humanitarian dimensions of temporary protection systems, while maintaining rigorous analysis of constitutional and European law interfaces. Professor Amarelle actively contributes to academic and public discourse through leadership in the Swiss Center for Migration Law and participation in the NCCR 'On the Move' consortium. Her public service includes significant political roles as Vaud State Councilor for Education (2017-2022) and National Councilor (2011-2017), where she chaired key committees on political institutions and finance while representing Swiss higher education interests nationally. She maintains active engagement with professional associations including the Swiss Conference of Higher Education Institutions and Conference of Directors of Public Education.
Sandra González-Bailón is the Carolyn Marvin Professor of Communication at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication and holds a secondary appointment in Sociology. As Director of the Center for Information Networks and Democracy (CIND), her research examines how communication networks shape information exposure, with implications for political engagement, mobilization dynamics, and news consumption patterns. Her methodological work bridges computational social science and political communication. Education M.S. from University of Oxford (2004) Ph.D. from University of Oxford (2007) Research Focus González-Bailón's research program investigates the intersection of technology and society, with emphasis on how digital networks transform political communication. Key areas include: Information diffusion : Studies how content spreads through social platforms during elections and crises Algorithmic curation : Examines how platform algorithms shape ideological segregation and exposure diversity Network dynamics : Maps communication patterns in online collective action and protest movements Her empirical work employs computational methods to analyze digital trace data at scale. Publication Trends Recent publications demonstrate sustained focus on social media's impact during democratic processes, particularly the 2020 U.S. election. Key thematic threads include: misinformation diffusion patterns, asymmetric polarization in news exposure, experimental analysis of platform deactivation effects, and methodological innovations in computational social science. Notable contributions appear in Science , Nature , and PNAS . Center Leadership As founding director of CIND, González-Bailón oversees research examining how digital technologies impact democratic resilience, with projects spanning misinformation analysis, network mapping of political discourse, and policy interventions for platform governance.
Dr. Joyoung Lee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). He previously served as Laboratory Manager at the Federal Highway Administration's Saxton Transportation Operations Laboratory. His research focuses on Connected Vehicle (CV) systems, including applications in traffic management, signal control optimization, and autonomous vehicle infrastructure integration. Dr. Lee holds a Ph.D. (2010) and M.S. (2007) in Transportation Engineering from the University of Virginia, and a B.S. (2000) in Transportation Engineering from Hanyang University. His work emphasizes CV-based solutions for real-time traffic systems, cooperative vehicle-infrastructure systems (CVIS), and autonomous vehicle integration. Notable achievements include the 2019 IEEE CAVS Best Paper Award and multiple best paper recognitions from PTV User Group Meetings. His research also addresses traffic safety through innovations like the Virtual Guide Dog system for visually impaired pedestrians and advanced traffic monitoring frameworks using LiDAR and computer vision. Education: Ph.D., Transportation Engineering, University of Virginia (2010) M.S., Transportation Engineering, University of Virginia (2007) B.S., Transportation Engineering, Hanyang University (2000) Dr. Lee's research interests span smart city infrastructure, edge computing for traffic systems, and sustainable transportation solutions. He has pioneered algorithms for cooperative intersection management, automated platooning systems, and federated learning-based traffic optimization. His work bridges theoretical models with real-world implementation through partnerships with FHWA and industry stakeholders. Key contributions include development of the Cumulative Travel-Time Responsive (CTR) traffic signal control system, smart arrival notification systems for paratransit services, and advanced microsimulation calibration techniques. His lab focuses on translating CV data into actionable strategies for safer, more efficient transportation networks. Awards: IEEE CAVS Best Paper Award (2019) ASCE Grand Challenge Innovation Contest Honorable Mention (2017) PTV VISSIM Best Paper Awards (2012, 2008) Excellence in Research Award (University of Virginia, 2011) Ongoing projects include semi-decentralized graph neural networks for traffic forecasting and low-cost LiDAR-based traffic monitoring systems. His work addresses critical challenges in autonomous vehicle integration, incident management, and infrastructure resilience through interdisciplinary collaborations.
Thomas Berger is a Professor at the University of Hohenheim , affiliated with the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and leading the Department of Economics of Land Use . He also contributes to the Computational Science Hub and Hohenheim Tropics initiatives. Focus Areas: Climate change adaptation, land-use modeling, biodiversity-productivity trade-offs, agent-based simulation, and machine learning in agricultural systems. Key Projects: Simulation frameworks for smallholder resilience in Ethiopia, bioeconomic modeling in the Amazon, and hybrid intelligence applications in European agricultural policy. Recent Publications: 2025 study on climate change effects on insecticide reduction in Germany, 2024 work on reconciling biodiversity with productivity via hybrid models, and 2023 methodological contributions to surrogate modeling and seasonal forecast integration. Research Trends: Interdisciplinary integration of climate science, agricultural economics, and computational modeling, with increasing emphasis on AI-assisted decision support systems and sustainability policy validation. Teaching & Outreach: Offers Agricultural Economics seminars and Hohenheim Tropics discussions, requiring advance email registration for office hours.
Patrick Skeba is a Teaching Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh's Department of Computer Science within the School of Computing and Information. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Lehigh University (2022) and bachelor's degrees in Cognitive Science and Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University (2017). His research focuses on internet privacy, AI ethics, and the responsible use of data. He teaches courses in machine learning and programming. Research Interests: Skeba's work bridges technology and societal impact, emphasizing privacy risks in data systems, algorithmic fairness, and user-centric privacy frameworks. His recent studies explore informational friction in data collection, community-based privacy strategies, and lay-expert disparities in understanding privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs). Publications: His articles analyze privacy dynamics in digital spaces, from pandemic-era discourse on r/privacy to methodological approaches for categorizing technology non-use. His earlier work includes breakthroughs in sleep disorder diagnostics, particularly periodic leg movement (PLM) analysis and telemedicine applications for neurological conditions. Awards: No scientific awards listed. Grants and advising details are currently unspecified. Labs/Teams: No specific lab affiliations mentioned in provided materials. His teaching and research emphasize collaboration across computational and social domains.
Seth Frey is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Davis, with affiliate status at Indiana University's Ostrom Workshop and as Research Director at Metagov. His research focuses on computational social science approaches to understanding self-governance in complex social systems, particularly through the lens of online communities as model institutions. Education: Ph.D. in Cognitive Science and Informatics (complex systems), Indiana University, 2013 B.A. in Cognitive Science, UC Berkeley, 2004 Research Interests: Frey specializes in computational approaches to institutional analysis and the cognitive science of strategic behavior . His work examines how communities design governance systems to overcome collective action problems, with emphasis on: Emergent institutional structures in digital commons Policy-as-data through NLP and institutional grammar frameworks Cognitive mechanisms underlying cooperative behavior Design principles for participatory change in online platforms His methodology integrates large-scale data analysis, web-based experiments, and computational modeling across diverse contexts including Minecraft, Reddit, and professional sports ecosystems. Publication Trends: Recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate a cohesive trajectory toward computational institutional analysis, with increasing focus on NLP-driven policy analysis (e.g., NLP4Gov), decentralized governance architectures (DAOs, multi-level platform governance), and the cognitive foundations of collective action. His work consistently bridges theoretical institutional analysis with practical applications in digital community design, showing particular growth in translating Ostrom's design principles into computational frameworks. Awards: Honorable Mention Award for Best Paper at ACM CSCW 2019 Advising and Grants: Frey mentors students interested in data science applications at the intersection of communication, cognition, and complex systems, emphasizing resourcefulness and intellectual curiosity. His research has secured substantial funding from: National Science Foundation (NSF) NASA Ford Foundation Google Open Source Foundation He actively encourages aspiring graduate students with strong self-directed research skills to explore computational approaches to social phenomena. Labs and Teams: He leads the Computational Communication Lab at UC Davis and co-directs the Institutional Grammar Research Initiative. Through Metagov, he develops the 'Governance API' framework for modular community governance. His past affiliations include Disney Research (Walt Disney Imagineering) where he applied complexity science to theme park systems, and the New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI). Current collaborations span Ethereum governance, Minecraft server ecosystems, and Colorado's cannabis monitoring infrastructure.
Kaveri Medappa is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Human Geography at the University of Oxford's Department for Continuing Education and a Junior Research Fellow at Kellogg College. She contributes to a multi-institutional ESRC-funded project, 'Trucking Lives: Making Space for People in Truck Driving Work', focusing on UK HGV drivers' work-life conditions. Formerly associated with the University of Sussex, where she earned her PhD in International Development (2022), and St. Joseph’s College, Bengaluru. Doctoral research on app-based workers in Bengaluru under Prof Geert De Neve and Dr Rebecca Prentice Teaching experience in Anthropology and Social Work across UK and India Previous role as Research Associate in 'Speculative Urbanism' project Her expertise spans labour anthropology , critical mobility studies , and feminist political economy , examining intersections of digital technologies, financialisation, and social movements. Recent publications highlight gig economy dynamics, platform worker rights, and speculative finance impacts. Key trends in her research include: Digital labor platform governance (2020–2023) Comparative truck driving work (2024) Financialisation and social reproduction (2022–2025) Urban displacement and affective landscapes (2020) Scientific recognition includes: DSA 'Highly Commended' PhD Thesis Prize (2023) Adam Weiler Doctoral Research with Impact Award (2022) Chancellor’s International Research Scholarship (2018–2021) Her work connects academic research with public scholarship through policy briefs, media contributions, and podcast appearances.
Prof. Dr. Oliver Nachtwey is a Professor at the Department of Social Sciences , University of Basel, specializing in processes of social modernization, individualization, and the transformation of digital capitalism. His research spans political sociology, social conflict, authoritarianism, and the societal impacts of digitalization. University: University of Basel Department: Department of Social Sciences Academic Rank: Professor Nachtwey’s work focuses on the social effects of digitalization , including labor alienation, platform economies, and the political sociology of Corona protests . He explores how libertarian authoritarianism and regressive modernity shape contemporary social crises. His recent publications analyze digital labor alienation , gift exchange on platforms , and the spirit of digital capitalism . Articles emphasize keywords like algorithmic labor, surveillance capitalism, and techno-religion. Scientific Awards: Shortlisted for Leipzig Book Fair Prize (non-fiction) for Gekränkte Freiheit Recipient of multiple academic awards for Die Abstiegsgesellschaft Oliver Nachtwey’s research has been featured in The New York Times , The Guardian , and El Pais , with collaborations at institutions like the Hamburg Institute for Social Research and Institute for Social Research Frankfurt.
Nicholas Vincent is an Assistant Professor in the School of Computing Science at Simon Fraser University. His research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Responsible Artificial Intelligence, and Human-Centric Machine Learning. He holds a Ph.D. in Technology and Social Behavior from Northwestern University (2022) and a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from UCLA (2016). Education: Ph.D., Northwestern University (2022); B.Sc., UCLA (2016) Affiliations: Simon Fraser University School of Computing Science His work examines the societal implications of AI, including data labor rights, algorithmic governance, and ethical design. Notable contributions include frameworks for measuring attentional agency on digital platforms and studies on collective action in tech contexts. He received the SIGCHI Outstanding Dissertation Award in 2024. Recent publications explore topics like AI ethics, governance of generative models, and Wikipedia's role in content ecosystems. He actively participates in policy discussions through media engagements and conference talks, advocating for public-oriented AI development.
Sandra Fredman is Professor of the Laws of the British Commonwealth and the United States at the University of Oxford, with a professorial fellowship at Pembroke College. A leading scholar in equality and human rights law, she has authored seminal works including Human Rights Transformed and Discrimination Law . Her research focuses on comparative equality frameworks, socio-economic rights, and the intersection of gender with legal structures. Fredman holds degrees from the Universities of Witwatersrand and Oxford, and has advised governments globally on anti-discrimination legislation. She founded the Oxford Human Rights Hub in 2012, directing its interdisciplinary research on rights-based approaches to labor, education, and marginalized populations. Her academic contributions span 48 peer-reviewed articles addressing contemporary issues like gig economy labor rights, pandemic-era equality obligations, and platform work regulation. Fredman has received significant recognition including British Academy Fellowship (2005) and honorary QC status (2012). Her work emphasizes 'substantive equality' as a proactive duty, challenging traditional legal paradigms through intersectional analysis. Key research initiatives include the Oxford Martin Programme on Human Rights for Future Generations and the Fairwork Foundation, addressing modern work challenges. Fredman's scholarship bridges theory and practice, influencing global policy through engagement with UN agencies, the EU, and international NGOs. Her teaching encompasses human rights law, labor law, and equality jurisprudence.
