Adam Hollowell is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Program in Education at Duke University, where he also serves as Senior Research Associate at the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity and Director of the Inequality Studies Minor. His teaching spans ethics, inequality studies, and history across Duke’s Kenan Institute for Ethics, Sanford School of Public Policy, and Department of History. Hollowell holds a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh (2009). His research focuses on inequality, higher education, public policy, and ethics, with notable work on pandemic impacts, telemedicine in education, and reproductive health access during crises. In Inequality Studies , Hollowell emphasizes understanding policies to drive social change, as highlighted in recent media coverage. His publications explore topics like student behavior shifts during the pandemic, telemedicine adoption in universities, and James Baldwin’s ethical challenges. He is a finalist for the Judith Deckers Prize (2024). Professionally, Hollowell leads projects such as Bass Connections on college contraception access and Story+ initiatives. His work bridges academia and public engagement, addressing systemic inequities through interdisciplinary approaches.
Moises A. Bernal is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Auburn University, where he leads the Fish Ecology and Evolution Lab. His research integrates ecological, evolutionary, and molecular approaches to study how marine fishes respond to environmental stressors such as climate change and ocean warming. Education: Postdoctoral Fellow – State University of New York at Buffalo (2018–2019) Postdoctoral Fellow – King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (2016–2018) Ph.D. in Marine Science – University of Texas, Austin (2009–2015) B.Sc. in Biology and Environmental Sciences – University of Panama (2003–2008) His research focuses on the metabolic, physiological, and epigenetic mechanisms underlying fish acclimation to climate change. He investigates transgenerational responses, thermal tolerance, and the role of environmental history in shaping population resilience. His work combines field studies with molecular tools such as transcriptomics and genomics. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in studying coral reef fishes under climate stress, particularly through molecular and genomic lenses. Key themes include thermal acclimation, gene expression changes during heatwaves, and evolutionary divergence in sympatric species. His work bridges organismal physiology with evolutionary genomics. He teaches courses such as BIOL 3040 (Biology of Marine Systems) and BIOL 5440/6440 (Climate Change Physiology and Evolution) at both undergraduate and graduate levels. He advises students in his lab and mentors research on fish responses to environmental change. The Fish Ecology and Evolution Lab conducts integrative research on marine fishes, focusing on stress response mechanisms and evolutionary adaptations. Lab activities include molecular analyses, experimental physiology, and fieldwork related to coral reef ecosystems.
Elena Agapie is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Informatics at the Donald Bren School of Information & Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine. Her research lies at the intersection of human-computer interaction (HCI), health, and behavior change, focusing on designing technologies that support individuals in adopting and maintaining healthy behaviors through human-centered approaches. She is affiliated with the Connected Learning Lab and the Institute for Future Health at UCI. Her educational background includes a PhD in Human Centered Design and Engineering from the University of Washington, an MS in Computer Science from Harvard University, and a BS in Computer Science from Jacobs University Bremen in Germany. She has also conducted research at Microsoft Research, FXPAL, Intel Labs, and NASA Jet Propulsion Lab. Elena's research focuses on designing tools that integrate evidence-based behavioral interventions with user needs, particularly in mental health, chronic disease management, and social support systems. She explores how technology can support therapist-client collaboration, enable tailored health interventions, and leverage crowd expertise for personalized behavior change plans. Her work often involves participatory design, qualitative studies, and prototyping of interactive systems for diverse populations, including youth, hospitalized patients, and underserved communities. Her recent publications, primarily in top-tier venues like CHI and CSCW, reflect a strong trend toward social computing in health, longitudinal behavior support, and the design of inclusive digital health tools. Key themes include goal setting, conversational agents, social sharing in health tracking, and cross-disciplinary collaboration in health technology development. Best Paper Award (top 1%) at CHI 2017 Honorable Mention Best Paper Award (top 5%) at CHI 2016 Best Paper Award (top 1%) at HCOMP 2015 Honorable Mention Best Paper Award (top 5%) at CHI 2013 Elena has been funded by the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and UCI internal grants. She actively mentors PhD students including Bruna Oewel, Meeshu Agnihotri, and Mehreen Masood, and is currently recruiting students interested in HCI, health, and behavior change. She previously led the outreach program in the HCDE department at the University of Washington, creating workshops that introduced K–12 students to engineering and human-centered design, reaching over 2,000 students across public schools and community events. She runs initiatives to broaden participation in computing and advises undergraduate students in outreach and curriculum development. Her lab collaborates with clinical partners and interdisciplinary teams to ensure real-world impact of her research.
Daniela Iorio is an Associate Professor at the Department of Economics, University of Bologna, and holds a part-time professorship at the European University Institute’s School of Transnational Governance. She specializes in Political Economy, Health Economics, and Public Economics. Her work addresses topics like voting behavior, eating disorders, reproductive health, and parental investments. She earned a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and has held positions at institutions including USC, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics. Her research focuses on health policy, behavioral economics, and political institutions. Notable contributions include analyzing the link between eating disorders and addictive behaviors, evaluating IVF success disparities, and developing parenting measurement tools through digital interventions. She has been awarded the 2016 Oliver E. Williamson Prize and the Rita Levi Montalcini grant. Iorio teaches advanced courses on political economy and health economics at the PhD and master’s levels. She directs the Health Economics, Management and Policy master’s program at Bologna and has advised over a dozen graduate students. Her grants include a €758k MIUR project on child development and parental engagement. She serves as an Associate Editor for the European Economic Review and referees for top journals like the American Economic Review .
Craig Davis is a Professor and holds the Bollenbach Chair in Wildlife Management at Oklahoma State University's Department of Natural Resource Ecology & Management. He has been a faculty member since 2001, advancing from Assistant Professor (2001-2007) to Associate Professor (2007-2012), and has served as Bollenbach Chair since 2014. Davis earned his PhD in Wildlife Science from Texas Tech University (1996), an MS from Iowa State University (1991), and a BS from Ohio State University (1988). He is also a Certified Wildlife Biologist through The Wildlife Society. His research focuses on avian ecology, wetland restoration, and gamebird management, with specific interests in fire-grazing interactions, invertebrate communities, and climate change impacts on ecosystems. Key areas include grassland bird survival, wetland classification systems, and the effects of anthropogenic development on wildlife habitats. Davis actively collaborates with conservation organizations and agencies, addressing challenges like invasive species management and water infrastructure resilience. Teaching responsibilities include undergraduate courses on Wildlife Management Techniques and Wetland Ecology, as well as graduate courses like Advanced Wetland Ecology. His grants emphasize wetland restoration outreach, climate adaptation strategies, and studies on northern bobwhite and wild turkey populations. Notable projects include evaluating cellular transmission technology in wildlife monitoring and assessing the impact of extreme weather on gamebird survival. Grants (Selected): Expansion of potential wetland restoration opportunities in Oklahoma (2024-2027) Linking Research and Stakeholder Engagement for Wetland Conservation (2024-2026) Effects of Extreme Weather and Hunting on Northern Bobwhite (2023-2025) Research Themes: Aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 15 (Life on Land), 13 (Climate Action), 6 (Clean Water), 11 (Sustainable Cities), 14 (Life Below Water), and 9 (Industry/Infrastructure).
Haruka Nagao is an Assistant Professor at the Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages within the University of Oregon . Their research focuses on health governance , Africa-China relations , gender dynamics , public opinion , soft power diplomacy , and East Asia . Recent publications highlight interdisciplinary trends: (1) Public Health and Health Governance (e.g., mental health in rural China, prenatal care, vaccine distribution), (2) Political Science and Policy Analysis (e.g., grassroots elections, women's leadership, immigration policy), and (3) International Relations and Diplomacy (e.g., China's global soft power, Africa-China collaborations). Their work integrates China studies with comparative analysis , addressing intersections between social networks , democratic understanding , and global health politics .
Benjamin Lange is a Research Professor and Junior Research Group Leader in the Ethics of AI and Machine Learning at Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich (LMU) and the Munich Center for Machine Learning (MCML). He is also an Associate Research Fellow at the Oxford Uehiro Institute for Practical Ethics and a member of LMU's Zentrum für Ethik und Philosophie in der Praxis (ZEPP). His research bridges foundational ethical theory with practical challenges in technology, business, and organizational ethics. Lange holds a BSc from the London School of Economics, and a B.Phil and D.Phil from the University of Oxford. He previously held visiting positions at Google’s Responsible Innovation team and the University of Hamburg. His research focuses on ethical frameworks for AI, digital ethics, and corporate responsibility. Key themes include the ethics of human-AI collaboration, moral partiality in relationships, and organizational ethics. He has advised the European Commission on AI governance and developed assurance audit methodologies for algorithmic systems, including work for NYC’s AI Bias Law. His consulting practice focuses on helping organizations build ethical cultures through capabilities like moral imagination and compliance frameworks. Lange’s work has been featured in media such as CBS News, Business Insider, and ZDF heute journal. He is completing a book on the ethics of interpersonal relationships and partiality, aiming to connect philosophical insights with practical applications. His recent publications explore moral imagination in engineering teams, bias mitigation in AI systems, and the ethical implications of digital duplication technologies. He advises Fortune 500 companies, startups, and public institutions across sectors including finance, technology, and education. His approach emphasizes aligning ethical practices with organizational growth and social impact through tailored ethical frameworks and stakeholder engagement strategies.
Dr. Eli Strauss is a behavioral ecologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at Michigan State University , where he is establishing a lab focused on the evolution and ecology of social behavior. He co-directs the Mara Hyena Project , a long-term study of hyena behavior and ecology in Kenya. His research spans dominance hierarchies, longitudinal studies of animal societies, and computational methods for analyzing social dynamics. He has developed tools like the DynaRankR R package for inferring longitudinal dominance hierarchies and DomArchive for compiling dominance data. His work addresses challenges such as mismatched timescales in behavioral studies and demographic drivers of hierarchy dynamics, often using spotted hyenas as a model species. Dr. Strauss is currently recruiting lab members for graduate student, postdoc, and technical roles, with lab establishment planned for late 2025–Fall 2026. His publications reflect interdisciplinary interests in behavioral ecology, animal societies, and data-driven approaches to understanding dominance and social networks.
Ashli Owen-Smith is a behavioral scientist affiliated with the School of Public Health at Georgia State University , where her research focuses on mental health disparities, suicide prevention, and integrative/complementary approaches for complex mental-physical health conditions. She works with underserved populations including refugees/immigrants, incarcerated individuals, and LGBTQ+ communities through community-based participatory research and mixed-methods frameworks. Her current projects are funded by CDC , DBHDD , and DPH . Education: Ph.D. in Behavioral Sciences (Emory, 2009), S.M. in Public Health (Harvard, 2005), B.A. in Psychology (Smith College, 2001) Her research spans mental health , trauma , suicide prevention , and mindfulness-based interventions . Recent work examines telehealth adaptations for chronic pain and mental health, vaccine hesitancy in refugee communities, and social determinants of suicide . She leads studies on gender-affirming care and health disparities in LGBTQ+ populations. Key article trends include epidemiological analysis of suicide risk factors, COVID-19 impacts on mental health, ICD-10 coding for autism, and complementary medicine in trauma recovery. Subfields span telehealth , health equity , mental-physical comorbidity , and community engagement . Students she has mentored include C.A. Scarlett , T. Griner , and M.M. Sesay . Her work integrates public health policy , clinical research , and health systems analysis .
Federico Fabbrini is a Professor at the School of Law and Government of Dublin City University (DCU) . He serves as founding director of the DCU Brexit Institute and the Dublin European Law Institute, and leads multiple EU-funded research initiatives, including BRIDGE, REBUILD, and EXPRESS2. Education : B.A. from University of Trento (2006), J.D. from University of Bologna (2008), Ph.D. from European University Institute (2012) Former judicial clerk at Italian Constitutional Court (2010-2011), qualified attorney in Italy (2011) Prior roles: Associate Professor at University of Copenhagen (Denmark), Assistant Professor at Tilburg Law School (Netherlands) with tenure His research interests span EU law and policy , with focus on fundamental rights , economic governance , defense integration , and post-Covid-19 reforms , often employing comparative analysis with the United States . He has authored four monographs on Oxford University Press, addressing topics like EU fiscal capacity post-Covid-19 and Brexit's constitutional implications. Recent peer-reviewed publications explore EU fiscal responses to the Ukraine war, defense union dynamics, and recovery facility legal technologies. His work intersects constitutional law , international economics , and crisis governance . Scientific Awards : Young European Leader 2022 Knight (Cavaliere) for high scientific merits by President of Italy (2021) DCU President's Research Award (2021) Charlemagne Prize fellowship (2019-20) Advising and Grants : Supervises doctoral students (e.g., Havva Yesil, Elettra Bargellini) and secures EU funding for projects like REGROUP and EXPRESS2. He provides evidence to European Parliament committees and national governments, while authoring reports for the Irish Ministry of Finance and Eurogroup Presidency .
Atsuo Takanishi is a distinguished Professor at Waseda University's Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Creative Science and Engineering, with appointments in both the Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology and the Department of Modern Mechanical Engineering. With over 700 publications, 10,399 citations, and an h-index of 47, Professor Takanishi has established himself as a leading figure in robotics research. His work spans multiple institutions, including visiting positions at Showa University School of Dentistry and KDDI Research, Inc. Professor Takanishi received his Doctor of Engineering degree from Waseda University in 1985, following his undergraduate studies in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the same institution, which he completed in 1980. His academic journey began with positions as an Assistant at Waseda University (1985-1988), Lecturer (1988-1990), and Associate Professor (1990-1997) before achieving his current Professor status. Professor Takanishi's research interests center around robotics and intelligent systems, with particular expertise in humanoid robotics, surgical dentistry applications, and biomechatronics. His work demonstrates a unique integration of mechanical engineering principles with biological systems, resulting in innovative robotic platforms that mimic human capabilities. Notably, his laboratory has developed the Waseda Anthropomorphic Saxophonist Robot series and various medical training simulators that have significantly advanced the field of human-robot interaction. His research in experimental psychology complements his robotics work, particularly in human-robot interaction studies. Analysis of Professor Takanishi's recent publications reveals a strong focus on practical applications of robotics technology, particularly in assistive devices for elderly mobility, medical training simulators, and agricultural robotics for Synecoculture environments. His work consistently bridges theoretical robotics with real-world implementation, with recent papers emphasizing reinforcement learning approaches, haptic feedback systems, and computer vision techniques for complex environments. The Waseda Anthropomorphic Saxophonist Robot series represents a culmination of decades of research in humanoid robotics and musical expression. IEEE Fellow (2020-present) Robotics Society of Japan Fellow (2012-present) Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Fellow (2007-present) Multiple Best Paper Awards from IEEE conferences (ICRA, IROS, ROMANSY) BusinessWeek Asia's Stars Bloomberg (2001) IFToMM Award of Merit (2010) Professor Takanishi has maintained extensive collaborations with research institutions worldwide, particularly with Italian institutions through the Italy-Japan Workshop series. His laboratory has secured substantial funding from Japanese government agencies including the Japan Science and Technology Agency, with particular emphasis on projects bridging robotics with medical applications and human-centered technologies. His international recognition is evidenced by his numerous visiting professorships and collaborative projects across continents. Professor Takanishi leads the Takanishi Laboratory at Waseda University, which maintains specialized facilities for humanoid robotics development, medical robotics research, and human-robot interaction studies. The laboratory has developed several notable robotic platforms including the WABIAN series of bipedal humanoid robots, the WASEDA FLUTIST ROBOT, and various medical training simulators used in clinical education settings. His work on the WASEDA SAXOPHONIST ROBOT represents a unique fusion of musical artistry and robotics engineering.
Lisa L. Wynn is Professor in the School of Social Sciences (Discipline of Anthropology) at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. She serves as Associate Editor of American Ethnologist (2022-2027) and previously held leadership positions including President of the Australian Anthropological Society (2020) and membership on the AAS Executive Committee (2018-2021). Wynn earned her PhD in 2003 from Princeton University's Anthropology Department, followed by postdoctoral positions at Princeton's Office of Population Research and Center for Health and Wellbeing. Her research program centers on gender, reproductive health technologies, sexuality, and religion, with continuous fieldwork in Egypt since 1998. More recently, she has expanded her work to examine ethics review bureaucracies, lay understandings of infectious disease, and young adult vaping behaviors in Australia. Her methodological approach combines deep ethnographic engagement with critical analysis of how power structures intersect with medical technologies and bodily experiences, particularly among marginalized communities. Analysis of her recent publications reveals an evolving trajectory that maintains her foundational interest in Middle Eastern contexts while increasingly addressing digital spaces (as seen in studies of online fatwas) and contemporary health crises (including pandemic responses and vaping culture), with consistent attention to bodily autonomy and reproductive justice. Her significant scholarly contributions have been recognized through multiple prestigious awards: Vice Chancellor's Teaching Excellence Award from Macquarie University (2009) Australian Award for Teaching Excellence (2012) OLT National Teaching Fellowship (2012-2014) Leeds Honor Prize from the Society for Urban, National, and Transnational/Global Anthropology (2008) Wynn actively mentors graduate researchers specializing in gender, sexuality, medicine and technology, with particular emphasis on sexual and reproductive health. Her research program has received substantial funding from the Social Science Research Council, Australian Research Council, Office of Learning and Teaching, and Hort Innovation. Notably, she co-led a major international project to develop multilingual sexual and reproductive health resources that have reached millions of users across 208 countries. She also created a free online ethics training program for humanities and social sciences researchers at Macquarie University. Through collaborations with Cambridge Reproductive Health Consultants and other partners, Wynn has successfully translated academic research into accessible public resources, including evidence-based information on medication abortion available in six languages (English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Turkish, and Farsi).
Heping Zhang is the Susan Dwight Bliss Professor of Biostatistics at the Yale School of Public Health , with secondary appointments in the Child Study Center , Department of Statistics and Data Science , and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences . He directs the Collaborative Center for Statistics in Science (C²S²) and leads the Reproductive Medicine Network data coordinating center. Education: PhD in Statistics, Stanford University (1991) Postdoctoral Fellow, Mathematical Science Research Institute (1991) Research Focus : Zhang specializes in biostatistical methodology for genomic data analysis , clinical trials , and reproductive medicine . His work bridges genetics , mental health , and maternal-child health through innovative statistical approaches. Awards : 2023 Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher 2023 International Chinese Statistical Association Distinguished Achievement Award 2022 Institute of Mathematical Statistics Neyman Award and Lecture 2011 Royan Institute International Research Award 2011 Institute of Mathematical Statistics Medallion Award 2008 Harvard School of Public Health Myrto Lefokopoulou Distinguished Lecturer Professional Roles : He served as President of the International Chinese Statistical Association (2019) and Former Editor of the Journal of the American Statistical Association - Applications and Case Studies . His lab develops open-source software tools like ABESS , STREE , and modSaRa for genomic and clinical data analysis.
Sharon Levy is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Rutgers University, USA. Her research focuses on Natural Language Processing (NLP) with an emphasis on Responsible AI, addressing fairness, safety, and trustworthiness in language systems. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara (2023), and conducted postdoctoral work at Johns Hopkins University (2023-2024). Education: PhD in Computer Science (UCSB, 2023), MS (UCSB, 2018), BS (UCSB, 2017). Professional experience includes roles at AWS, Facebook AI, Pinterest, and Akamai Technologies. Research Interests: Fairness in non-English contexts, safety of LLM outputs, misinformation detection, and computational social science applications. Her work frequently intersects with public health, gender studies, and political science. Teaching: Instructs Rutgers' Natural Language Processing course (Spring 2025) and co-taught JHU's Trustworthy NLP course. Active guest lecturer at institutions including Stanford and UT Austin. Mentorship: Supervises 14+ students across PhD, MS, and undergraduate levels, with notable advisees winning CRA awards. Labs/Teams: Currently leads research within Rutgers' CS department, previously collaborated with Johns Hopkins' CLSP.
Craig Jin is an Associate Professor at the University of Sydney, leading the CARlab (Computing and Audio Research Laboratory) and Spatial Audio Research initiatives within the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He holds a BS from Stanford University, an MS from Caltech, and a PhD from the University of Sydney. His work focuses on immersive audio technologies, biomedical signal processing, and assistive technologies for sensory augmentation. Research interests include spatial audio reproduction, binaural processing, acoustic sensing for accessibility, and machine learning applications in signal processing. Key contributions span HRTF interpolation, noise reduction algorithms, and acoustic touch systems for the visually impaired. Recent projects include real-time MRI analysis of vocal tract dynamics and sparse recovery techniques for sound field reconstruction. His publications span over 150 peer-reviewed articles in journals like IEEE Transactions on Audio, Speech, and Language Processing, and conferences such as ICASSP. He advises four current PhD/Master’s students on projects like predictive gesture tracking, voice disorder classification, and magnetic resonance imaging techniques.
