Thilo Fehmel is a Professor of Social Administration and Social Policy at the Leipzig University of Applied Sciences and serves as Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Social Sciences . His academic career spans institutions like the University of Leipzig (habilitation in sociology) and Cooperative State University Gera. Research Focus: Social policy, welfare state theory, European sociology, labor sociology, and sociological theory (conflict, autonomy, deviance). Projects: Led research on Citizen Participation in the Digital Society (2019-2021, funded by Saxony) and Social Policy by Collective Agreement (2015-2019, funded by Hans Böckler Foundation). Publications: Over 25 monographs and edited volumes, including Tarifsozialpolitik (2021) and Sicherungsbewahrung (2013). Academic Leadership: Contributed to journals like Traverse and Soziologie , and edited special issues on welfare state transformation. His work bridges theoretical sociological analysis with practical policy implications, emphasizing the role of collective bargaining and institutional frameworks in shaping social security systems across Europe.
Vida Panitch is a Full Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Director of the Ethics and Public Affairs program at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. She holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Toronto (2008) and has contributed extensively to debates on market regulation, commodification, and exploitation in bioethics and political philosophy. B.A., McGill University M.A., University of Toronto Ph.D., University of Toronto (2008) Her research focuses on the moral boundaries of markets, particularly in public goods (healthcare, education) and physical goods (body parts, reproductive labor). She critiques anti-commodification arguments through the lens of exploitation theory and distributive justice, advocating for regulated markets that empower participants rather than perpetuate inequality. She co-edited The Routledge Handbook of Commodification (2023) and Exploitation: From Practice to Theory (2017), addressing global surrogacy and organ donation ethics. Recent publications explore decommodification, plasma donation policies, and kidney markets, reflecting her commitment to translating philosophical theory into practical policy debates. She has contributed to media discussions on surrogacy and healthcare funding, emphasizing the need to balance market dynamics with social justice. While her work spans political philosophy, economics, and bioethics, no explicit scientific awards are listed in the provided texts. She supervises graduate research on commodification and exploitation but does not specify advisees in the given material.
David R. Wheeler is an Associate Professor at The University of Tampa within the Communication Department . Holding a Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky (2015), his academic career spans teaching courses like Introduction to Journalism and Multimedia Journalism I. As a journalist, Wheeler contributes to major outlets including CNN , The Atlantic , and NBC News , focusing on technology, politics, and First Amendment issues. His 2014 article on student press law was selected as lead in College Media Review , and his 2021 work on school free speech was cited in Supreme Court briefs. Research Themes : First Amendment jurisprudence, media law, and political discourse Advisory Roles : Co-director of UT’s Master of Arts in Social and Emerging Media, advisor to student newspaper The Minaret His articles reveal interdisciplinary trends across political economy , digital ethics , and sociocultural dynamics . Awards include having his work enshrined in the Supreme Court’s public record and citations in legal journals.
Ann-Helén Bay is a Professor of Political Science at Oslo Business School, Faculty of Social Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet). She serves as a full-time professor engaged in teaching and research, while also providing scientific advisory services to the Centre for Work Inclusion at OsloMet. Her academic leadership includes previous roles as Dean at OsloMet (2016-2019) and director at the Institute for Social Research (2007-2015). Professor Bay's research focuses on welfare politics, welfare policy, and political legitimacy within political science and organizational theory. Her work examines critical aspects of the welfare state, research policy, and public opinion, with particular attention to how political dimensions influence welfare policy formation and public attitudes toward resource allocation in public and private sectors. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on contemporary welfare state challenges, particularly around citizen's income experiments, work inclusion programs, and the political tensions between public and private welfare services. Her research spans comparative studies across Nordic and European welfare states, with emphasis on policy implementation, evaluation, and the political dynamics shaping welfare reforms, including how immigration discourse affects support for universal basic income. Professor Bay leads significant research projects including "The Norwegian qualification programme as a tool for work inclusion" which investigates how this program contributes to stable work attachment. Her scholarly output is extensive, with 48 scientific publications, 1 textbook, 14 research reports, and 65 dissemination pieces documented in Cristin. Her academic leadership extends beyond OsloMet, as she serves on the board of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Oslo and the advisory board of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Aalborg University. Previously, she was a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the European Social Survey and served on the board of Aalborg University.
Vahagn Roberti Aglyan serves as Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Public Administration within the Faculty of International Relations at Yerevan State University, Armenia, a position held continuously since 2009. His institutional affiliation centers on advancing public administration education and research within post-Soviet contexts while examining Armenia's geopolitical positioning. His academic foundation includes: Postgraduate studies (1993-1998) in the Department of International Relations at Yerevan State University, earning a Certified Specialist degree Advanced postgraduate research (1998-2001) in the Department of Theory and History of International Relations at Yerevan State University under Prof. E. Zohrabyan, focusing on “The Russian Federation and regional armed conflicts in Transcaucasia (1991-1994)” Specialized training at Arizona State University’s Faculty of Public Administration (2005) Aglyan’s research traverses public policy analysis, US foreign policy frameworks, and hierarchical international systems theory, with concentrated expertise in Armenian-Russo-American triangular relations. His work critically examines policy convergence mechanisms within asymmetric power structures, post-socialist governance models, and the evolving welfare state paradigms in comparative perspective. This intellectual trajectory reflects deep engagement with both theoretical frameworks and empirical regional dynamics. Analysis of his 15 publications (2015-2025) reveals persistent thematic threads: structural power dynamics in Russia-Armenia relations, US strategic recalibrations in Eurasia, and public administration challenges in post-conflict societies. His scholarship demonstrates methodological versatility across English, Russian, and Armenian academic discourses, with increasing attention to contemporary governance dilemmas like universal basic income implementation and networked policy design. Professional activities include participation in international conferences such as the 2022 YSU symposium “Armenia, the United States, and Regional Transformations in Eurasia,” though no doctoral advisees or major research grants are documented. His departmental leadership role suggests primary research execution within Yerevan State University’s institutional framework without dedicated lab structures.
Oriol Amat is a Full Professor of Financial Economics and Accounting at Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), where he has held roles including Rector (2021–2023), Dean of the UPF Barcelona School of Management (2018–2021), and Director of the Department of Economics and Business (2003–2005). He earned his PhD in Economic Sciences from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and has held visiting positions at institutions like Linköping University and Université de Montpellier. His research focuses on financial accounting ethics, fraud detection, organizational success factors, and sustainable finance. He has authored over 40 books, including "Detecting Accounting Fraud Before It's Too Late" and "Universal Basic Income: Analysis of a Disruptive Proposal" , and collaborates with international journals. He served as Deputy in the Catalan Parliament (2015–2017), Dean of the College of Economists of Catalonia, and member of the National Securities Market Commission. Notable awards include an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Montpellier (2023). His work integrates academic leadership, policy engagement, and practical business insights, emphasizing ethical practices and organizational resilience.
Lizzi Milligan is a Professor at the Department of Education , University of Bath, specializing in Centre for Development Studies . Her research spans social, epistemic, and environmental justice in education across low-income countries, with fieldwork in Uganda, Rwanda, Nepal, and Peru . Director of Research, Department of Education (2024) Co-lead of Reimagining Education for Better Futures research group Research utilizes mixed-methods approaches , including participatory and creative methodologies, to analyze: Policy-Practice disjunctures in education Linguistic injustices in English Medium Instruction Ethics in cross-cultural research Recent projects funded by: GCRF ESRC grant (2024): Environmental, epistemic, and transitional justice in secondary schooling ESRC New Investigator Award (2023): Girls' educational outcomes in Rwandan EMI UKRI ODA funds (2022): Justice-focused education initiatives Key publications examine: Linguistic barriers in Cameroon and Rwanda Epistemic exclusion in Ugandan environmental education Educational violence in English Medium secondary schools Scientific awards and recognitions: GCRF ESRC Research Grant (2024) ESRC New Investigator Award (2023) Certificate of Accreditation from Uganda's National Curriculum Development Centre (2024) She actively supervises doctoral students in: Basic education in low-income countries Language justice in pedagogy Sustainable futures through education Collaborations include: The British Council (2025) Economic and Social Research Council (2024) UK Research & Innovation (2022)
Andreas Koch is a Full Professor at the University of Salzburg , affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Department of Sociology and Human Geography . As Deputy Department Chair and Co-Chair of the Center for Ethics and Poverty Research , he bridges academic leadership with critical geographic analysis. Education: Diploma in Geography, Political Science, and Spatial Planning (LMU Munich, 1993), PhD (RWTH Aachen, 1996), Habilitation (RWTH Aachen, 2004) International Affiliations: Collaborations with Umeå University (Sweden) and Carleton University (Canada) His research focuses on geographies of poverty and inequality , rural peripheries , and spatial modeling , with particular emphasis on housing as social infrastructure and urban-rural interdependencies. Recent work explores cross-border suburban sustainability and digital solutions for rural healthcare . Scientific output trends reveal a sustained engagement with housing equity , urban systems , and UN Sustainable Development Goals . Publications span theoretical frameworks (system theory) to applied case studies in Austria and Northern Sweden.
Adrian Kemmer Cernev is a Professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV-EAESP) since 2004, with teaching experience at Insper, FIAP, PUC-SP, and FEI University Center. He holds a PhD and Master's degrees in Business Administration from FGV EAESP and was a visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley (2015-2016) at the School of Information (iSchool). His educational background includes a PhD and Master's in Business Administration from FGV EAESP with a thesis on mobile banking & digital payments in Brazil. He has also attended extension courses at Harvard Business School and UC Berkeley's School of Information. Professor Cernev's research focuses on technological innovation, payment methods, financial services, open banking, cryptocurrencies, blockchain, and Information Technology for Development (ICT4D). His work bridges academic research with practical business applications, particularly in the Brazilian context where he examines how digital technologies can drive financial inclusion and social development. He has published extensively on topics including social cryptocurrencies, mobile money, and digital complementary currencies, with a particular interest in how these technologies can address challenges in underserved communities. His publications show a clear trajectory toward increasing focus on blockchain applications and digital financial inclusion, with recent work examining the intersection of cryptocurrency technology with social impact initiatives, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. His research often combines theoretical frameworks with practical case studies from Brazilian community banking initiatives. Professor Cernev actively participates in research projects with the Microfinance and Financial Inclusion Research Center (GVcemif) at FGV EAESP. His multidisciplinary approach combines insights from business administration, information technology, and social development to create applied knowledge that can be implemented in innovation projects and used to advise entrepreneurs at various business stages. He has collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to produce applied knowledge, implement innovation projects based on technology, and advise entrepreneurs, with the goal of achieving outstanding results in business transformation and social impact.
Dr. Orla Kelly is an active Assistant Professor in Social Policy at University College Dublin's School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice. Her work bridges social policy, environmental sustainability, and climate change research, with significant contributions to understanding the social dimensions of ecological crises. She holds positions as an Editorial Board Member for Sociology of Development and is a founding member of the Worktime Reduction Research Network. Her educational background includes a PhD in environmental sociology from Boston College, an LLM in International Human Rights Law from NUI Galway, an MSc in International Business from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, and a BComm from University College Cork. Prior to her current position, she worked as a Research Associate (2010-2015) and Research Fellow (2015-2020) at Harvard University's FXB Center for Health and Human Rights. Dr. Kelly's research focuses on sustainable human well-being, eco-social policies, worktime reduction, degrowth, and the social dimensions of climate change. Her work employs quantitative and mixed methodologies to examine the intersection of inequality, environmental sustainability, and social policy. She has developed frameworks for transdisciplinary sustainability education and investigates how reduced worktime impacts environmental and social outcomes. Her research demonstrates how climate change serves as a threat multiplier for violence against children and how educational attainment historically reduced the carbon intensity of well-being. Analysis of her publication record reveals consistent focus on the interconnections between social inequality and environmental outcomes, with recent work emphasizing practical solutions like the 4-day workweek and sustainability education frameworks. Her research spans climate policy analysis, environmental justice, and sustainable development metrics, often employing cross-national and longitudinal methodologies. Runner-up UCD Research Impact Case Study Competition for The 4-day week: making work healthier and more sustainable Donald and Hélène White Prize for the Outstanding Dissertation in the Field of Social Sciences Dr. Kelly has secured significant research funding including the University Climate Change Challenge grant (2021-2022) and the Education in a Warming World research network (2021). She supervises Masters in Public Policy students and welcomes PhD applicants interested in eco-social policies, degrowth, and climate change dimensions. As Principal Investigator of a 4-day workweek research pilot in Ireland and member of an international team studying reduced worktime trials, she leads impactful research with real-world applications. Her work with the Basic Income for the Arts steering group and CAP24 Public Sector Chapter demonstrates her commitment to translating research into policy.
Professor Dame Alison Wolf, Baroness Wolf of Dulwich, is the Sir Roy Griffiths Professor of Public Sector Management at King’s Business School, King's College London. She is a cross-bench peer in the UK House of Lords and a leading expert on education policy, skills, and the relationship between education and the labor market. Her work integrates academic research with high-level policy influence, particularly in vocational education, higher education reform, and lifelong learning. Education: MA and MPhil from the University of Oxford, and studies at the University of Neuchâtel Early Career: Policy analyst in the U.S. federal government Professional Affiliation: Visiting Professor at the Institute of Education, University of London Alison Wolf’s research centers on public sector management, higher education policy, qualifications frameworks, and labor market skills. She has long-standing interests in assessment systems, mathematics education, and the role of universities in society. Her influential publications include The XX Factor (2013), which examines the societal transformation driven by working women, and numerous policy reports on vocational training, apprenticeships, and post-18 education. Her recent scholarly output reveals a sustained focus on the evolution of the UK’s education landscape, particularly the impact of funding models, reputation, and rankings on universities. She has also contributed to interdisciplinary efforts, including a 2023 publication with the IceCube-Gen2 Collaboration in astrophysics, indicating broad academic engagement. Her work emphasizes evidence-based policy, critiques of one-size-fits-all approaches, and the need for flexible, responsive education systems. CBE for services to education (2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours) Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) (2024 King’s Birthday Honours) Sam Aaronovitch Memorial Prize (2008) Alison Wolf has played a pivotal role in shaping national education policy. She led the 2011 Wolf Review of Vocational Education, contributed to the Augar Review (2019), advised the Prime Minister on skills policy (2020–2023), and helped draft the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022 and the Lifelong Learning Act 2023. She also served as a non-executive director for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (2023–2024) and advises on the UK’s Levelling Up strategy. She was the founding Chair of Governors of King's College London Mathematics School and remains a trustee of the University Maths School Network (U-Maths), supporting mathematics education for 16–18-year-olds. She has directed the MSc in Public Services Policy and Management and has been a specialist adviser to the House of Commons Education Committee, a BBC Radio 4 presenter, and an advisor to international bodies including the OECD, European Commission, and ministries of education in New Zealand, France, and South Africa.
Kim Rhoads is a Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She is a colorectal surgeon and clinical researcher with expertise spanning the cancer continuum, including basic science (endothelial cell regulation, angiogenesis), clinical care, health services research in cancer disparities, and health policy. She founded the Community Outreach and Engagement program at the Stanford Cancer Institute before joining UCSF and has been recognized for her work in health equity through awards like the Nusz-Galante Award, Alpha Omega Alpha membership, and NIH grants. University of California, Berkeley: BA in Linguistics (1991) Joint Medical Program with UCSF: MS in Health & Medical Sciences (1996) University of California, San Francisco: MD in Medicine (1998), Residency in General Surgery (2005) Harvard University School of Public Health: MPH in Healthcare Policy & Management (2006) Rhoads' research focuses on cancer disparities , health equity , and community-based participatory research . Her work addresses systemic inequities in cancer care access and quality, particularly in minority-serving hospitals. She has led NIH-funded studies on disparities in multiple chronic diseases and developed interventions like financial reimbursement programs for cancer clinical trials. Rhoads' recent publications emphasize racial disparities in cancer outcomes , community engagement , and health equity interventions . Her research explores the impact of structural factors (e.g., hospital quality, financial barriers) and social determinants (e.g., race, income) on cancer care and survivorship. Scientific Awards : Nusz-Galante Award for outstanding medical students (UCSF, 1998) Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society (UCSF, 1998) House staff research award (UCSF Department of Surgery, 2002) House staff award for compassion in care (UCSF Department of Surgery, 2002) Rhoads has served as Principal Investigator on NIH grants (e.g., R21CA161786) and Co-Principal Investigator on U24MD017250, addressing disparities in cancer care quality and clinical trial access. She co-developed the Philip R. Lee Fellow in Health Policy program at UCSF and has a long-standing interest in institutional partnerships to promote health equity.
Marius R. Busemeyer is a Full Professor of Political Science specializing in Comparative Political Economy at the University of Konstanz, where he heads the Working Group on Comparative Political Economy and serves as Speaker of the Cluster of Excellence 'The Politics of Inequality'. He holds a doctorate in political science from the University of Heidelberg and studied at both Heidelberg and Harvard Kennedy School. His research focuses on comparative political economy, welfare state analysis, education policy, public spending, institutional change, and public opinion. Recent work examines perceptions of inequality, technological change impacts on welfare states, European social citizenship, and digitalization's effects on social/education policies. His approach combines quantitative surveys, experimental methods, and comparative case studies across Western European contexts. Research outputs demonstrate strong emphasis on: 1) Welfare state adaptation to technological/digital challenges 2) Education policy reforms and public opinion 3) Inequality perceptions and policy preferences 4) European social integration. His work consistently employs rigorous comparative methodologies across multiple policy domains and national contexts. Awards and fellowships include: Stein Rokkan Prize for Comparative Social Science Research (2015) European Research Council Starting Grant DFG Emmy Noether Program Grant Membership in Young Academy of Europe Visiting fellowships at Harvard, Oxford, WZB Berlin, and Sorbonne He leads major research initiatives including the EU Horizon 2020 project 'The Future of European Social Citizenship', the 'Inequality Barometer' survey, and projects on digitalization's impact on welfare states. As Cluster Speaker, he coordinates interdisciplinary inequality research across political science, sociology, economics, and education studies.
Michael A. Lewis is Professor at Silberman School of Social Work, City University of New York, with expertise in quantitative methods, social policy, and civic engagement. Education includes a Ph.D. from CUNY Graduate Center (1995), M.S.W. from Columbia University (1990), and B.A. from McDaniel College (1987). Research centers on economic justice frameworks, particularly Basic Income Guarantee systems, causal inference methodologies, and mathematical modeling of social phenomena. Publications (2006-2020) show progression from economic policy analysis to advanced quantitative applications in social work research, with consistent focus on poverty/social welfare systems. Awards include Fulbright Specialist Grant, NASW Leadership Award, and quantitative methods recognition. Professional service includes board membership for Basic Income organizations. Current office: Room 603, Silberman Building, 2180 Third Avenue, New York.
Anthony J. Knowles is a Teaching Assistant Professor and postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Transportation Research , affiliated with the University of Tennessee . His academic work integrates sociology, political economy, and historical analysis to address critical contemporary issues. Educational Background: Ph.D., University of Tennessee (2023) His research focuses on the social and economic effects of automation and technology , particularly how productivity-driven capitalism reshapes labor globally. He employs interdisciplinary frameworks from sociology, economics, and history to examine these dynamics. Recent publications analyze topics such as universal basic income , neoliberal ethics , and transportation systems , reflecting his commitment to planetary sociology and critical theory.
