Paschal Anosike is a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of the West of England's Faculty of Business and Law. He serves as Director of the Centre for African Social and Economic Transformation (CASET) and Chair in African Research and Partnerships. Previously, he founded and directed the Centre for African Entrepreneurship and Leadership (CAEL) at Wolverhampton Business School. Education BA (Hons) MA PGCHE PhD Paschal's research focuses on advancing entrepreneurship ecosystems in Africa, with emphasis on innovation management, education, and sustainable development. His work bridges academic theory with practical solutions for African socioeconomic challenges. His publications highlight trends in entrepreneurial ecosystems, gender equality, religiosity, and institutional impacts on entrepreneurship. He has contributed to global policy discussions via the Africa Prosperity Index and co-created the Micro-Venture Accelerator Programme (m-VAP) for African universities. Scientific Awards Award-winning book: Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development in Africa Paschal has received advisory and consultancy grants from the African Union Commission, European Commission, UNDP, GIZ, and the Legatum Institute. He founded the Forum for Innovation in African Universities (FIAU), a non-profit promoting university-industry collaboration.
Ludo Waltman serves as Scientific Director and Professor of Quantitative Science Studies at the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) within Leiden University's Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. He holds multiple influential positions including Co-chair of the Research on Research Institute (RoRI), President of ASAPbio, and Editor-in-Chief of MetaROR (MetaResearch Open Review). As an Open Science Ambassador for Leiden University, he actively promotes transparency and innovation in scholarly communication. Waltman's research spans Quantitative Science Studies, Bibliometrics, and Metascience, with particular focus on university rankings, preprint ecosystems, open access publishing models, and research evaluation frameworks. His work critically examines the infrastructure of scholarly communication, advocating for more transparent and efficient systems that better serve the research community. He has been instrumental in developing initiatives like the Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information and advancing publish-then-review models as alternatives to traditional peer review. His recent publications reveal a consistent emphasis on systemic issues in scholarly communication, with particular attention to preprint adoption across Europe, the relationship between assessment reform and publishing reform, and the methodological transparency of university rankings. These works collectively demonstrate his commitment to evidence-based approaches for improving research infrastructure and evaluation practices. Waltman actively engages in advising and shaping research policy through his leadership roles. As Co-chair of RoRI, he helps guide metascience research that examines the research system itself. His work with MetaROR promotes innovative peer review models, while his presidency at ASAPbio advances preprint culture in life sciences. He frequently collaborates with major research funders, publishers, and infrastructure organizations to implement practical reforms in scholarly communication. Through CWTS at Leiden University, Waltman leads a research environment focused on quantitative analysis of science and technology systems. His work connects with broader initiatives like the Research on Research Institute and the Barcelona Declaration movement, creating networks that bridge researchers, funders, and infrastructure providers committed to improving research practices.
Professor Jasper van Wezel is a distinguished academic in the field of Condensed Matter Theory at the University of Amsterdam's Faculty of Science, where he serves as Professor in the Institute for Theoretical Physics (ITFA) within the Institute of Physics. With a career spanning over two decades, he has progressed from Assistant Professor (2014-2016) to Associate Professor (2016-2024) and currently holds the position of Professor since 2024. His academic journey began with a PhD in theoretical condensed matter physics from Leiden University in 2007, followed by prestigious fellowships at Argonne National Laboratory and Homerton College, Cambridge. PhD in theoretical condensed matter physics (cum laude), Leiden University, 2007 Master's diploma in theoretical condensed matter physics (cum laude), Leiden University, 2003 Dutch VWO Diploma (cum laude), Dalton Scholengemeenschap, Den Haag, 1997 US High School Diploma (cum laude), Sanford High School, Maine, USA, 1998 Professor van Wezel's research focuses on several interconnected areas within Condensed Matter Theory. His work explores competing instabilities in Charge Density Wave materials, including Superconductivity and Charge Order, Combined Charge and Orbital Order, and Transition-metal dichalcogenides. He has made significant contributions to Topology in Condensed Matter, particularly examining the Role of crystal symmetries and Topology in non-Hermitian systems. A major theme in his research involves investigating the Connections between Quantum and Classical behaviour, with special emphasis on Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking both in equilibrium (The role of the Thin Spectrum) and dynamically (Spontaneous loss of Unitarity). Analysis of Professor van Wezel's recent publications reveals a strong focus on quantum phenomena in condensed matter systems, with particular attention to topological aspects, symmetry breaking, and connections to fundamental physics concepts like black hole thermodynamics. His work often bridges theoretical concepts with potential experimental realizations, as evidenced by studies on electron patterns in materials like TaS2 and theoretical frameworks for understanding quantum phase transitions. Bristol Physics Teaching Award (2014) Students' Award for Outstanding Teaching (2014) Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2014) Aneesur Rahman Fellowship at Argonne National Laboratory (2010-2012) Junior Research Fellowship at Homerton College, Cambridge (2007-2010) Physics 'Discovery of the year' by Leiden University Physics department (2005) 'Onderwijsprijs Natuurkunde' teaching award (2004/2005) Professor van Wezel has secured numerous research grants including an ENW-M grant (2023), an ENW-Groot project with Leiden University (2021), and a prestigious VIDI personal grant from NWO (2014). He has supervised over 50 students at various levels, including PhD candidates, MSc students, and BSc students, fostering the next generation of physicists. His leadership extends to organizing conferences, serving on PhD committees, and holding administrative roles such as chair of the educational committee for the Dutch Research School in Theoretical Physics. His research group at the University of Amsterdam's Institute for Theoretical Physics maintains active collaborations with institutions worldwide, including Leiden University, University of Cambridge, University of Bristol, and research centers in France, Germany, and Poland. The group's work combines analytical theoretical approaches with computational methods to tackle fundamental questions in quantum condensed matter physics.
Sarah Bracke is a Professor in Sociology of Gender and Sexuality at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam . Her work critically examines intersections of gender, sexuality, race, and secularism, particularly in European contexts. She is deeply engaged in analyzing systemic crises—capitalist, nationalist, and ecological—and their impact on marginalized communities. Current Affiliation : University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. Research Focus : Gender theory, reproductive rights, anti-LGBTQ+ mobilizations, secularism, and the political dimensions of care economies. Bracke’s research emphasizes the deliberate erosion of gender, reproductive, and LGBTQ+ rights, often highlighting transnational collaborations among far-right and mainstream political forces. She connects these issues to broader crises, including climate change, capitalist precarity, and nationalist rhetoric. Her work advocates for feminist coalitions that transcend traditional boundaries, prioritizing care ethics and collective solidarity over exclusionary frameworks. Her recent publications explore topics like the racialized dimensions of reproductive politics, the secularist underpinnings of European ‘Muslim Question’ discourse, and the role of academia in resisting oppressive systems. Although no specific awards or advisees are mentioned in the text, Bracke’s scholarship consistently bridges feminist theory, critical race analysis, and critiques of neoliberalism, urging transformative responses to global crises.
Chendi Zhang is a Professor of Finance at the University of Exeter Business School. He serves as the founding Director of the Exeter Sustainable Finance Centre and Director/Treasurer of the Global Research Alliance for Sustainable Finance and Investment. Previously, he was Associate Dean for Research & Impact (2021-2025) and Director of Research for Finance and Accounting (leading REF2021 submission). He holds affiliations with the Global Systems Institute and Environment and Sustainability Institute, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals including Climate Action and Responsible Consumption. Education PhD in Financial Economics from Tilburg University MRes in Finance from Tilburg University MSc in Economics from Tilburg University BSc in International Finance from Shanghai Jiao Tong University Research Focus Professor Zhang's research explores sustainable investing, corporate finance, and behavioral finance with emphasis on ESG integration, climate risk, and stakeholder governance. His work examines how environmental/social factors influence financial markets, corporate decision-making, and asset pricing through empirical and theoretical frameworks. Recent studies analyze biodiversity's financial impact, carbon pricing mechanisms, income inequality disclosures, and ESG resilience during crises (e.g., COVID-19, Ukraine conflict). His research identifies market inefficiencies related to climate sensitivity, gambling sentiment, and dividend policies while exploring corporate governance in state-owned enterprises. Funding and Recognition Research funded by UKRI Natural Environment Research Council, British Academy, BNY Mellon, Royal Bank of Canada, and World Bank. Work featured in The Economist , Wall Street Journal , and Forbes . Articles published in top journals including Management Science and Journal of Financial Economics , cited over 10,000 times. Professional Service Vice Chair of Research Committee for Chartered Association of Business Schools. External examiner for Imperial College London. Previous appointments at University of Cambridge, University of Warwick, University of Sheffield, and Tilburg University.
Ilker Yildirim is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Yale University, where he leads the Cognitive and Neural Computation Lab (CNCL). He received his Ph.D. from the University of Rochester in 2014. His research focuses on understanding how perception transforms raw sensory signals into meaningful representations of objects and scenes through computational modeling approaches. His research interests include: Computational modeling of visual perception and cognition Intuitive physics and physical reasoning Bayesian inference and probabilistic models in cognition Integration of graphics and physics engines in cognitive modeling Neural mechanisms of object representation Attention and resource allocation in dynamic scenes Yildirim's lab develops computational frameworks that bridge cognitive processes with neural mechanisms, using tools including probabilistic models, simulation engines, and deep learning. His work often involves testing these models through behavioral and neural experiments to create unified accounts of perception and cognition. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on how humans perceive physical properties of objects, particularly soft materials and liquids, and how attention dynamically allocates resources during scene perception. Among his notable achievements is receiving an NSF CAREER award for his project "CAREER: CompCog: Reverse-engineering neural mechanisms of object cognition with multilevel computational modeling," which will run from 2025 to 2030. His Nature Human Behaviour paper by Qi Lin was featured on CBS News, Germany's NZZ, and Wired Italy. Yildirim mentors a diverse group of graduate students and postdocs working on various aspects of perception, cognition, and computational modeling. His students have received prestigious awards including the Jane Olejarczyk Award and the Leonard J. Savage Prize.
Professor Masooda Bano serves as William Golding Senior Research Fellow at Brasenose College and Professor of Development Studies at the University of Oxford's Department of International Development. She leads the five-year ERC-funded Changing Structures of Islamic Authority (CSIA) project examining Islamic scholarly debates and their societal impacts. Her academic credentials include an MPhil in Development Studies from Cambridge and a DPhil from Oxford. These qualifications underpin her expertise in development theory and field research methodologies. Bano's research centers on the interplay between ideas, beliefs, and material incentives in development processes . She investigates how psycho-social factors shape individual choices and collective outcomes, with particular focus on Islamic authority structures, female education movements, and aid effectiveness. Her work combines large-scale comparative studies using ethnographic and survey data across Muslim-majority contexts. Recent publications reveal a concentrated focus on education policy in developing nations , especially Pakistan, Nigeria, and Indonesia. Key themes include decentralized education planning, low-fee private tuition markets, community participation models, and Islamic education systems. The research consistently examines religion-development intersections and institutional responses to social change. Her scientific recognition includes: Two competitive ESRC Fellowships A 1.4 million euro ERC Starting Grant for the CSIA project ESRC Best Social Science Impact award for Nigeria education interventions Bano supervises MPhil/DPhil theses at Oxford and has advised major development agencies, notably designing DfID's education reforms in northern Nigeria. Her CSIA project coordinates a multinational team conducting textual analysis, surveys, and ethnographic fieldwork to map evolving Islamic authority structures.
Darren Dahl is a Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Sauder School of Business , holding the RBC Financial Group Professor of Entrepreneurship chair. His research focuses on new product development , creativity , consumer emotions , social influence , and social marketing . Education: BCom from the University of Alberta, PhD from UBC Leadership: Dean of the Sauder School of Business Research Trends: Recent work emphasizes innovation strategies , consumer identity dynamics , ethical marketing , and social impact . He explores how organizational structures influence perceptions, the role of identity in consumption, and the psychological drivers of prosocial behavior. Contact: Office HA 769, Tel: 604-822-8556, Email: darren.dahl@sauder.ubc.ca
Lotte van Dillen is a Professor of Social Cognition and Decision Making at Leiden University's Social, Economic and Organisational Psychology department under the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. She also serves as researcher at the Knowledge Center for Psychology and Economic Behavior (KCPEG) and member of the Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC). As Director of Research, she is part of the Psychology Institute's executive board. Her work focuses on how affect influences decision-making across health, legal, and financial contexts, emphasizing limited mental capacity's role in perception and behavior. Education: Master's degrees in Social Psychology and Cognitive Psychology (cum laude), University of Amsterdam (2004) PhD in Psychology from VU University Amsterdam (2008, cum laude) Postdoctoral research at Utrecht University and New York University Research Interests: Examines interactions between affect and cognition in decision-making, including attention's role in consumption, moral judgments, and financial decisions. Current projects include distracted eating's effects on health, non-uptake of social welfare benefits, and neuropsychological mechanisms of hedonic compensation. Grants & Funding: €400k NWO grant (2023) for research on distractions and dietary habits Police and Science Program funding for camera evidence analysis studies Multiple ODISSEI-LISS grants (2020) on consumption patterns and welfare uptake Teaching: Lectures on decision-making at Leiden's BSc/MSc psychology programs and advises legislators/judiciary via Academie voor Wetgeving and Studiecentrum voor Rechtspleging. Labs/Teams: Affiliated with KCPEG and LIBC, collaborating on interdisciplinary projects combining psychology, neuroscience, and policy applications.
Dr. Alyas Widita is an Assistant Professor in the Urban Design program at Monash University, Indonesia. He is actively involved in research and teaching, focusing on urban planning, transportation, and smart city technologies. He serves as the Program Coordinator for Urban Design and teaches courses such as Urban Design Studio: Smart City and Smart City Technologies. Education: Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States Dr. Widita's research centers on the built environment, transportation systems, and urban analytics, with a strong emphasis on developing Asian cities. His work explores congestion impacts of mass transit, ride-hailing effects on vehicle ownership, rural-urban migration, walking behavior, and spatial patterns of MSMEs. He employs advanced data analytics and causal evaluation methods to inform urban policy. His recent publications span high-impact journals such as Transport Reviews , Journal of Planning Education and Research , and Travel Behaviour and Society . The research trend shows a consistent focus on data-driven urban policy, sustainable mobility, and equity in urban development across Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Scientific Awards and Recognition: No specific awards listed, but research widely cited and featured in media outlets. Dr. Widita has secured and contributed to multiple research projects funded by international and national agencies, including the World Bank, Korea Transport Institute (KOTI), Central Bank of Indonesia, and Georgia Department of Transportation. He is currently leading or co-leading projects on Jakarta’s subsidence, flood risk management using remote sensing, and the Citarum River revitalization. He collaborates extensively with researchers across disciplines and institutions. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to sustainable cities and communities. He is accepting PhD students interested in the built environment, transportation, and urban analytics in developing Asia. He is involved in key labs and research teams including the Citarum Action Research Program (CARP), Intelligent and Dynamic Remote Sensing for Flood Risk, and interdisciplinary urban analytics initiatives at Monash Indonesia.
Arjen Boin is a Professor of Public Institutions and Governance at Leiden University's Institute of Political Science. He serves as Director Strategy and Organisation on the Institute Board. Previously, he held roles at Utrecht School of Governance and Louisiana State University. His research focuses on crisis management, institutional resilience, and EU crisis coordination. He has authored influential books like Governing the Pandemic and The Politics of Crisis Management , which won the APSA Herbert A. Simon Award. Boin edits journals like Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management and advises via Crisisplan BV. His teaching spans BSc and MSc Political Science programs. Education: Previous academic positions imply advanced degrees in political science, though specific education details are not explicitly provided in the text. Research Interests: Crisis management strategies, disaster coordination mechanisms, institutional resilience, and EU transboundary crisis capacities. His work bridges theory and practice, emphasizing policy design and leadership during crises. Recent focus includes pandemic governance and creeping crises. Grants/Awards: APSA Herbert A. Simon Book Award. He collaborates widely, including with the European Societal Security Research Group. PhD supervision areas include crisis management and institutional resilience. Labs/Teams: Affiliated with Leiden University Centre for International Relations and the Quantification, Administrative Capacity, and Democracy (QUAD) research group.
Professor Roberta Fida is the Head of the Leadership and Management Department at Aston Business School, part of Aston University in the UK. She holds a Professorship in Organisational Behaviour and Organisational Psychology, with prior roles including Professor of Work Psychology at the University of East Anglia and Chair of the Ethics Committee there. A Chartered Occupational Psychologist with the British Psychological Society, her research focuses on unethical workplace behaviors, moral disengagement, and workplace stress, particularly in healthcare contexts. She specializes in advanced data analytics like structural equation modeling and has led major grants including EDI initiatives and studies on workplace aggression policy mapping. Her work bridges academic research with practical applications to foster ethical and inclusive organizational cultures. Education: Laurea (5-year degree in Work and Organizational Psychology) from Sapienza University of Rome (2002) MA in Organizational Training (2004–2005) PhD in Psychology from Sapienza University (2006) Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice (UEA, 2017) Italian National Qualifications as Full Professor (2017) and Associate Professor (2013) Research Interests: Her core areas include moral disengagement, counterproductive workplace behaviors, stress resilience, healthcare leadership, and EDI. She has published over 60 articles and is listed in Stanford's Top 2% Scientists globally. Awards & Grants: NIHR Work & Health Development Award (2023–2024) for EDI Smart-Dash (£95,855) INAIL grants totaling over €1.1 million for psychosocial risk studies and work-related stress analyses ESRC funding for workplace wellbeing research (£659,540) Research Council of Canada grant for nurse leadership studies ($202,852) Teaching & Supervision: She has taught across undergraduate to postgraduate levels, including modules on organizational psychology, multivariate analysis, and conflict management. She supervises PhD students and has led course design for programs focusing on organizational wellbeing and research methods.
Professor Nick Chater is a leading figure in the field of Behavioural Science, affiliated with the University of Warwick at Warwick Business School since 2010. He has held previous chairs in psychology at Warwick and UCL. His research spans cognitive and social foundations of rationality, with applications to business and public policy, and he has authored over 200 papers and six books. He is a fellow of the British Academy, Cognitive Science Society, and Association for Psychological Science. His research interests include cognitive science, behavioral economics, decision making, and computational psychology, with a focus on reasoning, language, and mathematical modeling of mental processes. He has been recognized with prestigious awards such as the Spearman Medal, Experimental Psychology Society Prize, and the David E Rumelhart Prize for lifetime achievement in cognitive science. His work extends to practical applications through co-founding Decision Technology and advising the UK government's Climate Change Committee and the Behavioural Insight Team. Recent publications highlight his interdisciplinary approach, bridging economics, cognitive science, computational modeling, and behavioral public policy. Topics include thermal macroeconomic theory, Bayesian sampling, paradoxes in cognition, and language emergence via social interaction. These works emphasize probability judgments, moral cognition, and computational limitations in human inference. British Psychological Society's Spearman Medal (1996) Experimental Psychology Society Prize (1997) David E Rumelhart Prize (2023) PROSE Award (2019) Chater's academic contributions include collaborations with researchers like Adam N. Sanborn, Hossam Zeitoun, and Morten H. Christiansen, focusing on Bayesian inference, behavioral public policy, and cognitive modeling. He has also been a resident scientist on BBC Radio 4's The Human Zoo.
Dr. Jon Gruda is an Assistant Professor and Lecturer in Organisational Behaviour at Maynooth University's School of Business. He holds a PhD in Management from emlyon Business School (France) and a joint Dr. rer. nat. in Psychology from Goethe University Frankfurt. His research focuses on relational leadership, dark leadership traits, anxiety in the workplace, and personality psychology, with a strong emphasis on integrating machine learning and AI methodologies. Gruda has been recognized with prestigious awards, including selection for the Lindau Nobel Laureates Meeting in Economic Sciences (2020). His interdisciplinary work includes predicting anxiety and personality traits via social media data analysis. He serves as an Associate Editor for journals like Personality and Individual Differences and Frontiers in Psychology . Education PhD in Management, emlyon Business School (2012–2017) Dr. rer. nat. in Psychology, Goethe University Frankfurt (2012–2017) MSc in Affective Neuroscience, Maastricht University (2018) MSc in Management Research, emlyon Business School (2012–2014) Triple MSc in Management, City University London/ESCP Europe (2010–2012) BSc in International Business & Management, University of Groningen (2007–2010) Research Interests Gruda’s work bridges leadership studies, personality psychology, and data science. Key areas include: Dark leadership traits (e.g., narcissism, Machiavellianism) and their organizational impacts Machine learning applications for detecting anxiety and personality traits via social media Cross-cultural studies on leadership perceptions and attachment orientations Impact of physiological/psychosocial factors on leadership effectiveness Publications & Projects Recent projects include predicting state-level health outcomes linked to narcissism and developing algorithms to track anxiety using Twitter data. Over 20 peer-reviewed articles since 2017 highlight his contributions to organizational behavior and computational social science. Awards 7th Lindau Nobel Laureates Meeting on Economic Sciences (2020) Benedictine University Award (Academy of Management, 2020) Wharton Global Faculty Development Program (2020) Grants & Collaborations Gruda leads projects on pro-environmental behavior and collaborates with the National Care Experience Programme on healthcare feedback analysis. Seed funding includes €301,930 for computational text analytics in healthcare. Labs & Teams Interdisciplinary research collaborations span psychology, data science, and public health, with a focus on applying machine learning to organizational challenges.
Professor Julie Harris is a faculty member at the University of St Andrews, holding the position of Professor of Psychology within the School of Psychology and Neuroscience since 2005. She previously held academic posts at Newcastle University and the University of Edinburgh, and conducted postdoctoral research at the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute in California. Her research focuses on human visual processing, including vision and camouflage, depth perception, binocular stereopsis, and eye movements in natural environments. She earned a BSc in Physics from Imperial College London and a DPhil from Oxford University. Research interests include exploring how visual systems process environmental cues for depth and motion, with applications in camouflage design and stereo display technologies. Her lab employs psychophysical, behavioral, and computational methods. Notable projects address countershading camouflage effectiveness, motion-in-depth perception, and visual-motor interactions in driving scenarios. Selected grants include funding from BBSRC, Leverhulme Trust, and Medical Research Scotland. Collaborations span evolutionary biology, neuroscience, and applied vision science. She supervises PhD students Federico De Filippi and Rebecca Maguire. Awards include the Davida Teller Award Nomination and Fellowship in the Society of Biology. Labs/Teams: Julie Harris Lab (St Andrews), St Andrews Vision Labs, and the Institute of Behavioural and Neural Sciences. Current projects investigate warning signal design, visual perception in virtual environments, and the impact of visual processing on driving ability.
