Karoline Faust is an Associate Professor at KU Leuven, affiliated with the Laboratory of Molecular Bacteriology (Rega Institute) and the Faculty of Medicine . She contributes to the iSi Health and Leuven One Health institutes, and serves on senior academic councils. Her research spans microbial systems biology, focusing on community dynamics and network analysis. Education: PhD in bioinformatics (2010, KU Leuven) Affiliations: KU Leuven, ISME Journal editorial board, Belgian Society for Microbiology Her research investigates microbial community dynamics , systems biology approaches to microbiomes, and bioinformatics tool development . She specializes in modeling human gut microbiota , synthetic microbial communities , and environmental microbiomes (e.g., microplastic impacts on Daphnia microbiomes). Her work integrates metabolic modeling , network analysis , and experimental systems to understand microbial interactions. Recent publications highlight her contributions to microbial network inference , 16S rRNA sequencing protocols , microfluidics , and ecological modeling of microbiomes. She develops tools like manta , miaSim , and CoNet to analyze community structures. Teaching: Karoline co-teaches courses in microbiology, bioinformatics, and network analysis at KU Leuven, and has contributed to international workshops on microbial network inference. Scientific Engagement: She serves as Senior Editor at ISME Journal and Secretary of the Belgian Society for Microbiology .
Dr. Maud Borie is a Senior Lecturer in Environment, Science & Society at King’s College London’s Department of Geography, within the School of Global Affairs. Her work bridges Human Geography and Science and Technology Studies (STS), focusing on biodiversity governance, environmental policy, and green finance. She holds a PhD from the University of East Anglia and has held visiting fellowships at Harvard Kennedy School. Borie’s research explores the politics of environmental knowledge and its societal implications, including nature-based solutions and green finance mechanisms. She has contributed to global initiatives like the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and co-founded the Mediterranean Alliance for Wetlands. Her recent projects include analyzing green finance’s reliance on scientific legitimacy and mapping resilience strategies in cities. She teaches courses on environmental policy, qualitative methods, and geographies of financialization. Borie has been awarded grants for interdisciplinary projects such as ‘deep listening with machines for equitable environmental futures’ and ‘forestscapes’ immersive soundscapes. Her research outputs span over 18 peer-reviewed articles, with topics ranging from climate change framing to urban resilience in the Global South. Awards: Planetary-scale interpretation (2023), Rethinking environmental policy (2022), Forestscapes collaboration (2023) Grants: Creative Collaboration Seed Fund (2023), EU/PEARL disaster resilience projects Labs/Teams: KingsCAT (Social Media Research), Political Ecology, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services (PEBES) group
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.
Dr. Auzeen Shariati is an Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Programs in the Department of Criminology, Law and Society at George Mason University. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Affairs and Criminal Justice from Florida International University (2017), an M.A. in Criminal Law and Criminology from Allameh Tabataba’I University (2010), and a B.A. in Judicial Law from the University of Tehran (2006). Prior to academia, she practiced as a defense attorney at the Iranian Bar Association. Her research focuses on environmental criminology, crime prevention, victimization, policing strategies, and comparative criminal justice systems. Key areas include pandemic impacts on domestic violence, school safety through Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), and policy evaluation in criminal justice. She has published extensively in journals like American Journal of Criminal Justice , Journal of Family Violence , and Security Journal . Recent work examines how the Covid-19 pandemic and social upheavals like the murder of George Floyd influenced domestic violence reporting and victim experiences. Her studies combine quantitative and qualitative methods, emphasizing real-world policy implications. Dr. Shariati teaches courses such as Introduction to Criminology , Law and Justice Around the World , and Evaluation of Crime and Justice Policies . She actively presents at conferences like the American Society of Criminology and has contributed to public discourse on campus safety and criminal justice reform through media engagements.
Anna Chalachanova is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health at VID University College, Norway. Her academic work centers on disability research, inclusive methodologies, and citizenship studies, with a primary focus on people with intellectual disabilities across Norway, Slovakia, and Great Britain. Her research spans inclusive research practices, citizenship frameworks for people with intellectual disabilities, higher education accessibility, sexual citizenship, religious inclusion, and protective care. She investigates how intellectual disabilities intersect with everyday citizenship experiences, voting rights, educational participation, and personal assistance services through participatory and co-creative methodologies that prioritize disabled voices. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2019-2025) reveals consistent thematic focus on citizenship and inclusion, with methodological emphasis on participatory research. Key trends include comparative studies between Norway and Slovakia, sexual citizenship barriers within personal assistance systems, and higher education experiences for intellectually disabled students. Her work demonstrates strong commitment to amplifying marginalized perspectives through narrative and co-created research approaches. Chalachanova actively contributes to multiple research initiatives including the ongoing PATHWAYS project (Faculty of Social Sciences) examining vulnerable institutional pathways for youth, and "To allow in" focused on barrier reduction for people with intellectual disabilities. Completed projects include "Higher education for people with intellectual disabilities" and "My vote counts too!" which evaluated voting participation mechanisms. These projects involve collaborations across Norwegian institutions, Slovakia, and Great Britain. Based in VID University College's Department of Health, she operates within interdisciplinary teams addressing disability inclusion through international partnerships. Her work connects Norwegian higher education contexts with Slovakian comparative frameworks, driving initiatives that transform citizenship practices and educational access for people with intellectual disabilities through evidence-based interventions.
Daniel Varro is a Professor affiliated with McGill University (Faculty of Engineering, School of Computer Science), with strong ties to Budapest University of Technology and Economics and Linköping University. He is a leading researcher in model-driven engineering, cyber-physical systems, and software engineering, actively contributing to top-tier conferences such as MODELS, ICSE, and ASE. His research focuses on model-based systems engineering (MBSE) , automated model generation , model transformations , and constraint-based consistency checking . Recently, his work has expanded into integrating large language models (LLMs) and machine learning into modeling workflows, including model querying, domain modeling, and bug detection. The recent publications reveal a strong trend toward AI-augmented modeling, logic-based solvers (e.g., Refinery), and safety assurance of autonomous systems (e.g., COLREGs compliance). His work bridges formal methods with practical software engineering challenges in industrial and safety-critical domains. Scientific Awards: No specific awards mentioned in the text. Advising and Grants: While no explicit list of students or grants is provided, his mentorship in the Doctoral Symposium and repeated leadership roles suggest active supervision and likely grant funding. He has led projects on automated model generation, model quality, and AI integration in modeling. Labs and Teams: Daniel Varro is associated with research groups focused on model-driven engineering and software evolution, likely leading or co-leading teams working on the VIATRA and Refinery frameworks for model transformation and solving.
Leena Järvi is a Professor at the Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR) and Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS) , University of Helsinki. Her work bridges urban climate science , air pollution , and greenhouse gas dynamics through experimental and theoretical approaches. Research Interests : Urban micrometeorology, carbon sequestration in green spaces, climate mitigation strategies, and air quality modeling. Key Projects : CO-CARBON (Strategic Research Council), GHUGS (Research Council of Finland), and PAUL (EU Horizon 2020). Her recent publications focus on urban CO2 fluxes , carbonyl sulfide as a carbon proxy , and climate impacts of urban vegetation . She has supervised 12 PhD students, 7 postdocs, and 17 undergraduates, while serving on editorial boards and organizing international workshops. Scientific Awards : Timothy Oke Award 2021 (IAUC). Teaching : Courses on Urban Climate and Atmospheric Sciences .
Sidi Wu is a Researcher affiliated with ETH Zürich's Institute of Cartography and Geoinformatics. Their primary role is as Staff of the Professorship for Cartography, contributing to academic research and technical operations within the department. They are based at HIL G 23.2, Stefano-Franscini-Platz 5 in Zürich, Switzerland, and can be reached at sidiwu@ethz.ch. Research interests center on advancing AI-driven cartographic methods, historical map analysis, and environmental spatial dynamics. Specific focuses include generative AI applications in map-making, semantic segmentation of historical documents, and leveraging digitized maps for ecosystem studies. They also explore steganography in image translation and cross-domain adaptation techniques for geospatial data. Recent work emphasizes innovations in automated map storytelling systems, spatio-temporal context modeling using transformers, and weakly supervised learning approaches for map segmentation. Their studies frequently bridge cartography with environmental science disciplines like hydrology and urban morphology. No scientific awards or grants are explicitly listed in the provided information. While no advisees are documented here, their research collaborations likely involve student contributions. They are part of the core team at the Institute of Cartography and Geoinformatics, contributing to cutting-edge projects in geomatics and computational cartography.
Dr. Deborah J. Johnson is a researcher in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Michigan State University, affiliated with the College of Social Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. from Northwestern University, an M.A. from Cornell University, and a B.A. from the University of Chicago. Her work focuses on racial-ethnic socialization, cultural adjustment of immigrant/refugee groups, and resilience among marginalized populations, with particular attention to South Sudanese refugees, Indigenous Australians, and Roma youth. She explores how cultural identity intersects with global contexts, gender, and education to shape developmental outcomes. Key research areas include: Racial-identity development in African American and Latina college women Cultural adaptation of Sudanese refugees and its tridimensional aspects of identity alignment Positive youth development in Indigenous Australian communities through virtual reality initiatives Policy impacts on oppressed ethnic groups' identity reformation Her work has been published in over 50 peer-reviewed articles and books, including Identity Re/Formation among Immigrant Youth and Families (upcoming) and Children and Prejudice (2018). She leads interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of education, mental health, and public policy, emphasizing equity and culturally responsive practices. Dr. Johnson collaborates with institutions like the Child Development Laboratory and Couple & Family Therapy Clinic to translate research into community-focused interventions. Her global projects span North America, Australia, and Eastern Europe, addressing systemic barriers faced by vulnerable populations.
Julia Ticona is an Assistant Professor at the Annenberg School for Communication and holds a secondary appointment in Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research examines how digital communication technologies shape precarious work, focusing on mobile phones, algorithmic platforms, and data-driven management systems affecting low-wage workers. She explores identity construction, inequality, and labor dynamics in the gig economy, including a book under contract with Oxford University Press titled *The Digital Hustle: Precarity Beyond Platforms*. Dr. Ticona earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Virginia (2016), an M.A. from the same institution (2011), and a B.A. from Wellesley College (2009). She has held postdoctoral roles at Data & Society Research Institute and is currently a Faculty Affiliate there and an Associate Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture. Her work appears in journals like *New Media & Society* and outlets such as *Wired* and *Slate*. Her research interests include digital labor platforms, algorithmic management, carework regulation, and the intersection of technology with inequality. She has contributed to legal advocacy, including an amicus brief for the U.S. Supreme Court case *Carpenter v. U.S.*. Her courses address digital inequalities, labor in the digital economy, and qualitative research methods. Her publications analyze topics like visibility regimes in domestic work platforms, contested governance on carework platforms, and strategies for coping with insecure digital labor. Her recent work critiques data colonialism and explores how technological systems exacerbate socioeconomic divides. Leveraging qualitative methods, Ticona’s scholarship bridges sociological theory with empirical studies of digital labor. She collaborates across disciplines to address systemic inequities perpetuated by technology, emphasizing worker agency and institutional accountability in platform economies.
Daniel M.G. Raff is an Associate Professor of Management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he has been affiliated since 1994. His research bridges business history and strategy, focusing on urban history, public policy, and historical demography. PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1987 BPhil, Oxford University, 1978 MPA, Princeton University, 1976 BA, New College, 1973 Raff’s work explores the historical evolution of business institutions, with recent publications analyzing topics such as pre-modern Chinese real estate markets , industrial routines , and strategic risk management . His research often employs archival data and interdisciplinary methodologies. His publications span business history, economic performance, and transactional engineering, reflecting trends in historical demography , corporate strategy , and market evolution . Raff has also contributed to academic leadership as a Trustee of the Business History Conference and Chair of committees at the Economic History Association. Daniel Raff actively engages in teaching courses like Value Creation & Val Cap and Deals: Econ Struc Trans , emphasizing critical historical thinking in strategic business analysis. He is affiliated with institutions such as the National Bureau of Economic Research and the Wharton Financial Institutions Center.
Dr. Amir Hakami is a Professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Carleton University , where he leads the Carleton Atmospheric Modelling Group . His research focuses on advanced air quality modeling techniques to inform environmental policy. Degrees: B.Sc. (Polytechnic of Tehran), M.Sc., Ph.D. (Georgia Tech), Postdoc (Caltech) Contact: Office 3454 Mackenzie Building, Phone: 613-520-2600 ext. 8609, Email: amir.hakami@carleton.ca Research Interests: Air quality modeling at multiple spatial scales Adjoint sensitivity analysis for atmospheric response Inverse modeling and data assimilation techniques Uncertainty quantification in environmental systems Interdisciplinary applications in policy, public health, and economics Teaching: Courses include Environmental Engineering Systems Modeling , Contaminant Transport , and Air Pollution & Emissions Control at undergraduate and graduate levels. Research Group: The group includes Ph.D. candidates, postdoctoral fellows, and alumni working on topics ranging from atmospheric chemistry to sustainable energy systems. Members come from diverse backgrounds in engineering, science, and policy disciplines.
Prof. Dr. Evi Hartmann holds the Chair of Business Administration, especially Supply Chain Management at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) within the Department of Business, Economics, and Social Sciences. She is actively involved in multiple research focus areas including sustainability, energy markets and energy system analysis, and insurance and risk. Her academic leadership extends across interdisciplinary collaborations with engineering, mathematics, and industry partners. Dr. Hartmann studied industrial engineering at the University of Karlsruhe (TH), received her doctorate in 2002 from the Institute of Technology and Management at the Technical University of Berlin, and completed her habilitation in business administration in 2008. Prior to her academic career, she worked as a consultant at AT Kearney from 1998 to 2005, followed by a junior professorship for 'Purchasing and Supply Management' at the Supply Chain Management Institute at the European Business School. Her research program focuses on supply chain management, purchasing, and strategic foresight, with particular emphasis on application-oriented approaches that bridge theory and practice. Current research trajectories include supply chain resilience in crisis situations (including pandemic response), digital transformation through Industry 4.0 technologies, sustainable and low-carbon supply chains, and the integration of strategic foresight methodologies in logistics decision-making. Her work frequently employs Delphi studies, bibliometric analyses, and multi-tier case studies to examine complex supply chain phenomena. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trend toward interdisciplinary research that combines supply chain management with digital transformation, sustainability, and crisis response. Her work increasingly examines the intersection of technology adoption (particularly Industry 4.0), organizational culture, and supply chain resilience across multiple industries including automotive, food, and maritime logistics. Prof. Hartmann is recognized as the author of two academic bestsellers in her field, though specific awards are not detailed in available materials. Her research has been published in top-tier journals including IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, International Journal of Production Research, and Journal of Cleaner Production. Her research program demonstrates extensive industry collaboration, with numerous projects involving real-world implementations and close partnerships with companies. She leads research initiatives examining the practical implications of digital transformation, sustainability challenges, and resilience strategies in supply chain operations. Current projects include studies on digital ecosystems, physical internet applications, and the future of freight forwarding technologies. Prof. Hartmann participates in several research networks including the Energy Campus Nuremberg (EnCN) and collaborates with the Department of Mathematics on gas networks and markets research. She is also involved with the Nuremberg Energy Region (Energieregion Nürnberg eV) and contributes to interdisciplinary research centers focused on sustainable development and digital transformation in supply chains.
Dr Cosette Crisan is an Associate Professor (Teaching) in Mathematics Education at University College London’s IOE, ranked World Number 1 in Education. She specializes in curriculum design, subject-specific mentoring, and integrating digital technologies into mathematics education. Prior to joining UCL IOE in 2010, she taught mathematics at secondary and university levels for 16 years. Her research focuses on enhancing mathematics teaching practices through collaborative mentorship frameworks and technology integration. She co-leads the Curriculum and Subject Specialism Research Group and the ROPE group, driving pedagogical innovation. Notable achievements include the 2021 UCL Faculty Education Team Award for pandemic-era teaching support and leadership roles such as Academic Head of Learning and Teaching (2020–2023). She holds a PhD in Mathematics Education from London South Bank University and is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Current initiatives include developing a Mathematics and Secondary Mathematics Education BSc (QTS) Teacher Degree Apprenticeship program. Her research emphasizes revitalizing geometry education and preparing mentors to effectively guide novice teachers. Publications span topics like computer-aided assessment (STACK), pandemic-era teaching adaptations, and cross-cultural mentorship studies. Dr Crisan’s work bridges theory and practice, advocating for mathematics education as a design science. She actively contributes to the London Mathematical Society’s Education Committee, promoting public engagement with mathematics. Awards include the UCL Faculty Education Team Award (2021) and recognition for her role in transitioning teaching to online platforms during the pandemic. Her teaching portfolio includes leadership of the MA Mathematics Education program and supervision of doctoral candidates. Recent interests include exploring intersections between mathematics and cognitive neuroscience, inspired by her daughter’s career path.
Stephen Meisenbacher is a Research Associate at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) , affiliated with the School of Computation, Information and Technology and the Department of Computer Science, I19 . He has been part of the Software Engineering for Business Information Systems (SEBIS) chair since March 2022. His research focuses on Privacy-Preserving Natural Language Processing (NLP) , Differential Privacy , and Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs) , with a particular interest in their integration into software development and business applications. His work also explores Hybrid, Expert-Driven Classification Systems and Usable Privacy solutions. Stephen’s recent publications address trends in AI Privacy Risks , Text Rewriting with DP , Legal AI Use Cases , and Data Protection Compliance . He has contributed to GDPR-related research and PETs adoption in small enterprises. His teaching includes Natural Language Processing seminars and Software Engineering lecture courses for Master’s and Bachelor’s students at TUM. He also organizes Entrepreneurship for Small Software-Oriented Enterprises seminars. Stephen holds a Master’s in Informatics from TUM (DAAD Graduate Scholarship) and a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from the University of Notre Dame, with additional studies in German Language and Literature. Contact: stephen.meisenbacher@tum.de | LinkedIn
