Kash Barker serves as the John A. Myers Professor and David L. Boren Professor at the University of Oklahoma in the Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering within the College of Engineering. As Graduate Liaison, he leads research on network resilience, supply chains, and systems engineering for societal good, with applications spanning infrastructure, supply chains, and community systems. His lab has produced 11 Ph.D. graduates (10 in academia) and 31 M.S. graduates. Research Domains: Resilient networks and interdependent systems Risk and decision analytics Supply chain survivability Pandemic economic impact modeling Climate migration optimization Cyber-Physical-Social Systems Article Trends emphasize disinformation defense , network restoration optimization , and multi-layer resilience modeling across infrastructure, supply chains, and community systems. His work combines game theory , machine learning , and decision analysis frameworks. Scientific Awards & Roles: Fellow, Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers Senior Member, IEEE Fellow, Fulbright Finland Foundation (2023) Associate Editor roles in IISE Transactions and Naval Research Logistics Editorial Board Member for Risk Analysis and Scientific Reports Faculty Advisor, OU INFORMS student chapter Educational Background: Ph.D., Systems Engineering, University of Virginia M.S., Industrial Engineering, University of Oklahoma B.S., Industrial Engineering, University of Oklahoma
Jan Esper is a Professor in Climate Geography at the Department of Geography, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. His research focuses on dendrochronology, paleoclimatology, global climate change, and urban climate. He maintains significant affiliations as a Member of the Academy of Sciences and Literature, Member of the National Academy Leopoldina, Member of the Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Fellow at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research, and Fellow at the Gutenberg Research College. Esper's research interests center on dendrochronology and paleoclimatology, with specific expertise in tree-ring analysis for climate reconstruction. His work spans the Holocene period, examining climate variability across Europe and globally. He investigates how tree growth patterns reflect past climate conditions and how these patterns can inform our understanding of current and future climate change. His research also extends to urban climate systems and the impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems. His extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on high-resolution paleoclimate reconstructions using tree-ring data. Recent work has examined the context of the 2023 extreme summer within the last 2000 years, Holocene temperature records in Europe, and climate-driven tree longevity patterns. His research often involves international collaborations and integrates multiple proxy methods to refine climate reconstructions and understand climate impacts on ecosystems. Among his notable scientific achievements are his contributions to understanding long-term climate variability, volcanic impacts on climate, and the relationship between historical societies and climate conditions. His work on tree-ring stable isotopes has provided new insights into hydroclimate shifts and long-term drying trends in the European Alps. Esper leads research projects including the Tree Ring Lab, Urban Climate Sensor Network, Air Quality monitoring, Urban Vegetation studies, and UNESCO Beech Forest research. His work bridges the gap between historical climate patterns and contemporary climate change challenges, providing essential context for understanding current climate extremes.
Eunchun Park serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas, concurrently holding the position of Director of the Experiment Station (DREX). A specialist in Bayesian spatial statistics and econometrics, his research focuses on agricultural risk analysis with particular emphasis on crop insurance mechanisms and financial commodity markets. His methodological expertise addresses critical data scarcity challenges in federal crop insurance premium calculations through advanced spatial modeling techniques. Dr. Park's academic foundation includes: Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Oklahoma State University (2017) M.S. in Food and Resource Economics from Korea University (2013) B.S. in Food and Resource Economics from Korea University (2010) His research program centers on extreme price and yield risk quantification in agricultural commodities, employing sophisticated Bayesian modeling frameworks to overcome data limitations in spatial risk assessment. Current work develops innovative approaches for measuring catastrophic risks in crop production systems and refining insurance rating structures through spatial smoothing of yield densities. This research bridges theoretical econometric advances with practical applications for risk management tools used by farmers and policymakers. Analysis of Dr. Park's recent publications reveals a consistent trajectory in spatial risk modeling for agricultural insurance systems, with increasing focus on prevented planting coverage factors, commodity market volatility around information releases, and climate-related production risks. His work demonstrates methodological progression from theoretical Bayesian frameworks toward actionable risk assessment tools, particularly through the application of kriging techniques to non-normal yield distributions and extreme event modeling. Dr. Park's scholarly contributions have been recognized through: Outstanding Contribution to Applied Risk Analysis Award (2020) from the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Outstanding Graduate Student Paper Award (2018) from the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award (2018) from the Southern Agricultural Economics Association While specific details of current advisees and grant funding are not provided in available materials, his active publication record in top agricultural economics journals suggests an ongoing mentorship role for graduate students and potential involvement in externally funded research initiatives related to agricultural risk management. His work on spatial smoothing techniques and extreme risk modeling likely informs collaborative projects with agricultural extension services and federal risk management agencies. No specific laboratory facilities or dedicated research teams are mentioned in the available documentation, though his methodological expertise suggests collaboration with spatial statistics and agricultural risk modeling groups within the university's research infrastructure.
Professor Michael J. Gill is Associate Professor of Organisation Studies at the Saïd Business School , University of Oxford, and Tutorial Fellow in Management at St Edmund Hall . He previously served as Assistant then Associate Professor at the University of Bath’s School of Management. Education MA – University of Warwick DPhil – Jesus College, University of Oxford (funded by a scholarship from the Centre for Professional Service Firms) Research Interests Michael’s research centres on the causes and consequences of individuals’ suffering in the workplace , exploring how organisations threaten workers’ mental health and erode their sense of self. He employs qualitative, phenomenological methods to study accountants, chefs, lawyers, consultants, doctors, nurses, police officers and other occupational groups. His work also addresses identity regulation —how organisations shape, constrain and re-define personal identity—and the ethical and methodological challenges of organisational research. Publication Trends Between 2015 and 2025 Michael has produced a steady stream of articles focusing on three broad themes: (1) identity regulation and the phenomenology of self in organisational settings, (2) digital innovation, stigma and professional regulation in healthcare and low- and middle-income countries, and (3) qualitative methodology , including interview design, covert research ethics and phenomenological approaches. Scientific Awards & Fellowships Scholarship from the Centre for Professional Service Firms (doctoral funding) Governing Body Fellow, St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford Tutorial Fellow in Management, St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford Advising & Grants While no specific doctoral students are named, Michael’s roles as Tutorial Fellow and Associate Professor imply active supervision and teaching responsibilities within the Oxford Saïd Business School and St Edmund Hall. Grant funding details beyond his doctoral scholarship are not provided. Laboratories & Teams Michael is affiliated with the Centre for Professional Service Firms and collaborates through the Saïd Business School research community. No dedicated laboratory is mentioned.
Alessandro Rigolon is an Associate Professor and MCMP Program Coordinator in the Department of City and Metropolitan Planning at the University of Utah, where he has been on the faculty since 2019. A dual-PhD scholar (Design & Planning, University of Colorado Denver; Architecture, University of Bologna), he is internationally recognized for research on environmental justice, green-space equity, and the public-health consequences of urban greening. Education: Ph.D. in Design and Planning, University of Colorado Denver (2015) Ph.D. in Architecture, University of Bologna, Italy (2012) B.Arch. & M.Arch. in Architecture and Urban Design, University of Bologna, Italy (2007) Research Interests: Rigolon’s work sits at the intersection of environmental justice, urban planning, and public health. He investigates four interconnected themes: (1) policy drivers of inequity in green-space provision; (2) the mechanisms and resistance to green gentrification; (3) green infrastructure’s role in equitable climate adaptation; and (4) health impacts of urban nature on marginalized communities. His studies span multiple scales—from census microdata in Miami-Dade County to machine-learning analyses across 263 Chinese cities—deploying mixed-methods, spatial analytics, and community-engaged research. Publications & Impact: Across 89 peer-reviewed outputs, recent work (2024-2025) reveals complex pathways by which gentrification both precedes and follows greening, quantifies disparities in park access among racial/ethnic groups, and evaluates policies aimed at achieving green-space equity. Collectively, these studies highlight the need for fine-scale spatial data, intersectional analyses, and robust procedural justice when designing equitable greening interventions. Scientific Awards & Recognition: Stanford/Elsevier Top 2 % Scientist (2024) Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (2024) APA-Utah High Achievement Award (2022) Urban Studies Editor’s Featured Articles (2021) University of Utah Celebrate U Researcher Honoree (2020) Arnold O. Beckman Award (2019) Grants & Advising: Rigolon currently leads or co-leads six funded projects totaling over one million dollars from the Center for Equitable Transit-Oriented Communities, Center for Climate Smart Transportation, Prevention Institute, and University of Illinois. These grants support interdisciplinary teams examining transit-oriented green gentrification, climate adaptation for active transportation, and equitable park policy implementation. Graduate students and post-docs are active collaborators on all projects. Teaching & Community Engagement: He teaches graduate courses including Design Ecologies , Plan Making , Professional Project Studio , and Research Design . Through studio courses, students partner with local governments (South Salt Lake City, Liberty Wells Community Council) to produce actionable plans advancing environmental justice.
Julian Adamek is a computational cosmologist and lead developer of gevolution , a general-relativistic N-body code for cosmological simulations. His work focuses on modeling relativistic effects in cosmic structure formation to better understand gravity’s role on large scales and dark energy. Research Interests: Computational Cosmology, Theoretical Cosmology, Large-scale structure of the Universe, Relativistic N-body simulations. Technical Leadership: Lead developer of gevolution , a public cosmological simulation code available via GitHub. Recent publications span diverse applications of deep learning in geospatial analytics, environmental monitoring, and computer vision, including phenology modeling, biomass mapping, conflict assessment, and 3D reconstruction from point clouds. Key Trends: Integration of AI/ML for environmental tasks, cross-domain applications (cosmology, ecology, forestry), and satellite data processing. Technical Focus: Transformer networks, diffusion models, super-resolution imaging, and ensemble learning for uncertainty quantification. Julian collaborates with researchers in cosmology and geospatial science, though specific students or awards are not mentioned in the provided texts.
Daniel Farinotti is a Professor of Glaciology at the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering at ETH Zurich and at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL). His work focuses on understanding glacier evolution and its impacts on water resources across mountainous regions globally. Dr. Farinotti's research interests center on glaciological modeling and its applications to water resource management. His expertise includes estimating glacier ice thickness from surface properties, long-term modeling of glacier mass changes, quantifying runoff contributions from glaciated catchments, and implications for water management in high mountain areas. His research integrates field observations, remote sensing data, and numerical modeling to address critical questions about glacier response to climate change. Dr. Farinotti's scientific achievements have been recognized with prestigious awards including the 2017 Nature Research Award for Outstanding Achievements in Review and the 2013 Award for Outstanding Contributions to Review from the Journal of Geophysical Research - Earth Surface. His publications demonstrate a consistent pattern of high-impact research across glaciology, hydrology, and climate science, with particular emphasis on the interactions between glacier dynamics and water resources. As a principal investigator, Dr. Farinotti has secured significant research funding from organizations including the Swiss National Foundation and German Federal Foreign Office. His work often involves international collaborations across multiple institutions, reflecting the global nature of glacier research and its implications for water security. He maintains active involvement in major scientific initiatives focused on glacier monitoring and climate change impacts. Dr. Farinotti leads the Glaciology research group at ETH Zurich's Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW), which conducts fieldwork across multiple mountain ranges globally. The group employs advanced techniques including geophysical surveys, remote sensing, and numerical modeling to investigate glacier dynamics and their hydrological impacts.
Alan Briones Delgado is a researcher at the La Salle School of Engineering , Universitat Ramon Llull , with a focus on Internet of Things , Cybersecurity , and Transport Protocols . His work spans projects funded by the European Commission and national grants, including EXCEL4HOUSING4.0 , WeB-Nimbus , and NG-SOC , addressing challenges in cloud computing education, ecological monitoring, and security operations. His research integrates Artificial Intelligence and Wireless Sensor Networks for sustainable solutions. Key research areas include Quality of Service in heterogeneous networks, Environmental Conservation via IoT, and Teaching and Learning strategies for Big Data. Projects like EcoSentinel and BTL-COP highlight his commitment to Environmental Monitoring and Community Policing applications. His collaborations extend to institutions in the UK , Albania , and Western Balkans . Contact: alan.briones@salle.url.edu
Linda Bailey Hayden is a distinguished Professor and Associate Dean of Mathematics and Computer Science at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU), where she has made significant contributions to mathematics education and geoscience applications since 1980. Originally from Portsmouth, Virginia, she overcame segregation barriers to pursue her academic career, earning degrees from Virginia State University, University of Cincinnati, Old Dominion University, and American University. At ECSU, she founded the Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing Education and Research to increase minority participation in environmental science. Dr. Hayden's research interests span mathematics education, applications of mathematics in geoscience, remote sensing technologies, and environmental science. Her work uniquely bridges theoretical mathematics with practical applications in climate science, ice sheet monitoring, water quality assessment, and Antarctic research. She has pioneered educational approaches that connect mathematics with real-world environmental challenges, particularly through NASA-related programs and the GLOBE initiative. Her publication record reveals a strong focus on mentorship, educational outreach, and interdisciplinary research connecting mathematics with environmental science. The most recent publications demonstrate her ongoing commitment to developing innovative approaches for engaging students in scientific research, particularly through hackathons, remote sensing applications, and climate change education. Her work consistently emphasizes increasing participation of underrepresented groups in STEM fields. Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (2003) Emerald Honors for Educational Leadership from US Black Engineer magazine Mathematically Gifted & Black Black History Month 2017 Honoree An Antarctic ice shelf was named after her institution by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names Dr. Hayden has dedicated her career to mentoring minorities and women in STEM fields through various programs including the Nurturing ECSU Research Talent (NERT) initiative, the Home-Institution Support Program, and numerous NASA-funded educational projects. Her grant history reflects strong partnerships with federal agencies to offer interdisciplinary training in remote sensing and environmental science. She has established multiple educational partnerships focused on enhancing undergraduate involvement in research, particularly for underrepresented students. As founder of the Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing Education and Research at ECSU, she has built a significant infrastructure for geoscience research and education, developing cyberinfrastructure for remote sensing of ice sheets and creating numerous educational programs from middle school through undergraduate levels. Her work has connected ECSU with major research institutions and federal agencies, establishing the university as a hub for remote sensing education in minority-serving institutions.
Dr. Nafis Alam is a Professor and Head of the School of Business at Monash University Malaysia. With over 20 years in higher education, he has held leadership roles at institutions including the Henley Business School Malaysia, University of Reading Malaysia, and Asia Pacific University. His expertise spans FinTech, financial regulation, and Islamic finance, with over 50 peer-reviewed publications and nine co-authored books. He actively engages with global industry and policy, contributing to reports by the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF). Awards include the Global Islamic Finance Award's 'Upcoming Personality' (2016) and Monash University's Vice-Chancellor Medal (2016). Education: PhD in Banking and Finance (Monash University), MBA (Multimedia University), and Economics (Patna University). He holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE) from the University of Nottingham and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). Research focuses on FinTech regulation, digital currencies, AI ethics, and Islamic finance innovation. Recent projects include Malaysia's consumer credit framework and blockchain in energy legal systems. Media contributions include commentaries on cryptocurrency, fiscal reforms, and ESG evaluations. Key Supervision Areas: FinTech, Financial Regulation, Technology Adoption Grants/Projects: Active roles in 2023-2026 projects on legal frameworks for blockchain and consumer credit Labs/Teams: Collaborations with global institutions like CCAF and industry partners in Southeast Asia. Advocates for market-driven education programs and adult learning strategies.
Mark Hebblewhite is a Professor in Ungulate Ecology at the Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana. His research integrates ecological theory with applied wildlife management, focusing on species like elk, wolves, and grizzly bears. Institution: University of Montana Academic Rank: Professor Research Interests span: Wildlife-habitat interactions Predator-prey dynamics Conservation of endangered species Remote sensing for forest and wildlife monitoring Climate change impacts on ecosystems Recent Publications emphasize: Multi-scale movement ecology Remote sensing integration for forest inventory Anthropogenic effects on wildlife behavior Fire ecology and post-disturbance recovery LiDAR and satellite-based vegetation mapping Collaborations include researchers from the University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, Colorado State University, and the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Erin Bell is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of New Hampshire . She holds a Ph.D. in Structural Engineering from Tufts University and has extensive experience in structural health monitoring, finite element modeling, and infrastructure sustainability. B.C.E., Georgia Institute of Technology M.S., Civil Engineering, Tufts University Ph.D., Structural Engineering, Tufts University Her research focuses on structural health monitoring, bridge condition assessment, and integrating AI techniques like artificial neural networks and deep reinforcement learning for infrastructure asset management. Recent work includes equitable maintenance strategies for aging bridges in flood-prone zones and tidal energy conversion for sustainable bridge monitoring systems. Key trends in her publications include the application of machine learning to structural analysis, finite element model calibration, and climate change adaptation in transportation infrastructure. She has led projects on deep reinforcement learning for bridge scour maintenance, modal-based uncertainty quantification, and multi-scale modeling of steel bridges. Grants and Collaborations : Erin Bell has secured funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) , US Department of Energy (DOE) , and New Hampshire Department of Transportation . Notable projects include the Living Bridge initiative for tidal energy-powered smart infrastructure and statewide data exchange systems for bridge condition assessment.
Xuhui Lee is the Sara Shallenberger Brown Professor of Climate Science at Yale University's School of the Environment. He maintains offices at Kroon Hall (195 Prospect Street) and laboratory facilities at the Class of 1954 Environmental Science Center (21 Sachem Street, Room 300) in New Haven, Connecticut. Professor Lee is an active researcher and educator specializing in the interactions between the terrestrial biosphere, atmosphere, and anthropogenic drivers, with particular expertise in boundary-layer meteorology and climate science. He is currently on leave for the Fall 2025 semester but continues to accept doctoral students. Professor Lee received his B.S.C. and M.S.C. from Nanjing Institute of Meteorology in China, followed by a Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia. His academic journey has positioned him as a leading expert in climate science, particularly in the areas of land-atmosphere interactions and urban climate systems. Professor Lee's research focuses on boundary-layer meteorology, micrometeorological instrumentation, remote sensing, and carbon cycle science. His work examines biophysical effects of land use on the climate system, greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial environments (including forests, cropland, and lakes), isotopic tracers in carbon dioxide and water vapor cycling, and urban climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. His lab employs diverse methodologies including field observations (eddy covariance, optical isotope instruments, and greenhouse gas analyzers), mathematical models (land surface models, large-eddy simulation, WRF, and earth system models), and environmental remote sensing (satellites and drones). The Lee Lab investigates phenomena across multiple scales from micro (urban greenspaces) to global (land wet-bulb temperature, historical deforestation). Analysis of Professor Lee's recent publications reveals a strong focus on urban climate systems, greenhouse gas emissions, and land-atmosphere interactions. His 2024-2025 work demonstrates increasing application of advanced remote sensing technologies and machine learning approaches to climate problems, with significant attention to urban heat islands, methane and CO2 emissions monitoring, and the impacts of land use change on climate systems. His research shows a clear trajectory toward more sophisticated integration of observational data with modeling approaches to address critical climate challenges. Sara Shallenberger Brown Professor of Climate Science (named professorship) Professor Lee actively mentors doctoral students and has established the Lee Lab as a hub for climate research at Yale. His lab group conducts field observations, mathematical modeling, and remote sensing analysis to advance understanding of climate systems. The lab's research infrastructure supports investigations from micro-scale urban environments to global climate patterns, with particular emphasis on urban heat mitigation and greenhouse gas monitoring. The Lee Lab at Yale, located in Room 300 of the Class of 1954 Environmental Science Center, serves as the primary research facility for Professor Lee's team. The lab deploys an array of research methodologies including field observations with eddy covariance systems and optical isotope instruments, mathematical modeling using land surface models and earth system models, and environmental remote sensing with satellites and drones. The lab's research spans multiple spatial scales from micro (urban greenspaces) to global (land wet-bulb temperature patterns), addressing critical questions about climate change impacts and mitigation strategies.
Christopher P. Higgins serves as Professor and AMAX Distinguished Chair in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines, a position he attained in 2025 following his 2022 designation as University Distinguished Professor. Joining Mines in 2009, he leads critical research on environmental contaminants with emphasis on poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in natural and engineered systems. His educational foundation includes: PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University (2007) MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University (2002) AB in Chemistry from Harvard University (1998) Dr. Higgins' research program investigates chemical fate and transport mechanisms, particularly PFAS movement through soils and water, human exposure pathways, and remediation technologies. His work integrates field studies, laboratory experiments, and mathematical modeling to address: PFAS leaching dynamics in vadose zones Advanced treatment methods for contaminated media Exposure assessment via water, food, and indoor environments Environmental risk characterization at contaminated sites His recent publications demonstrate increasing focus on analytical method development, source identification, and destruction technologies for ultrashort-chain PFAS compounds. Notable recognitions include: ASCE Huber Prize for Civil Engineering Research (2019) SERDP Environmental Restoration Project of the Year (2020) Honorary Professorship at The University of Queensland, Australia His research program has secured substantial funding from NSF, NIH, EPA, USDA, and DoD, supporting interdisciplinary collaborations and graduate student mentorship. Current initiatives emphasize translating laboratory findings to field applications through partnerships with regulatory agencies and industry stakeholders. Dr. Higgins directs the Center for Environmental Risk Assessment and co-leads the PFAS@Mines Initiative, which coordinates campus-wide research on PFAS contamination through integrated experimental, computational, and policy-focused approaches.
Dr Elias Boukrami is an Associate Professor in Banking and Finance and Director (Content) of Business, Finance and Entrepreneurship at Regent’s University London. He specializes in post-Keynesian financial economics, focusing on demand-driven economic output and Business Models Innovation , particularly in financial services. As a leader in curriculum design, he integrated advanced financial technology, simulations, and experiential learning into Regent’s Finance programs. Education: PhD in Empirical Finance (Manchester Graduate Business School), MSc in Financial Services Management (University of Surrey), PGCHE (University of Westminster), BSc in Business and Finance (Ecole Supérieure de Commerce). His research spans Financial Technology , ESG Investment , and Ethical Finance , with over 30 publications including peer-reviewed journals, books, and conference papers. Recent work examines blockchain in Sukuk markets, dual financial systems regulation, and digital transformation in SMEs. He has supervised over 15 PhD theses and serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Islamic Marketing . Scientific Awards: 2014 Trustees’ Prize for Outstanding Service to Regent’s University London 2018 Double Award: Excellence in Teaching and Learning & Leadership and Management Dr Boukrami acts as external examiner for institutions like Cranfield Business School and University of Bradford, and is a Visiting Professor at University of Lyon 3 IAE France. He has secured grants such as £14,750 from the Algerian Department of Higher Education for research on financial bubbles' impact on the global economy and holds professional affiliations including Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Chartered Management Institute .
