Judith M. Burton is the Macy Professor of Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, holding dual affiliations in the Arts & Humanities and the Art and Art Education department. She has been honored with a Distinguished Professorship from South China Normal University (2014) for her contributions to international arts education collaboration. Her academic journey includes a National Diploma in Design from Hornsey College of Art, M.Ed. from the University of Manchester, and an Ed.D. from Harvard University, where her doctoral work examined children’s figure drawings as cognitive tools. Her research focuses on artistic-aesthetic development in youth, cross-cultural art education practices, and the role of artists in educational settings. She actively bridges theory and practice through initiatives like planning an international graduate art exhibition modeled after the Venice Biennale, and delivering keynote lectures at venues such as the National Art Museum of China. Burton’s publications emphasize pedagogical innovation, cultural exchange in art education, and the cognitive dimensions of artistic creation. Beyond academia, her work extends to curricular design and global educational partnerships, reflecting her commitment to expanding the societal role of the arts.
Nicole M. Gasparini is an Associate Professor in Tulane University's Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, School of Science & Engineering. She holds a Ph.D. from MIT (2003) and researches fluvial/tectonic geomorphology, landscape evolution modeling, and climate-erosion interactions using tools like Landlab. Her work investigates sediment transport, river network evolution, and human impacts on landscapes. Research integrates field data with numerical models to quantify erosion processes across diverse environments. Publications demonstrate expertise in geomorphic model development, particularly through contributions to the Landlab toolkit. Recent articles focus on climatic controls on erosion, fault geomorphology, and uncertainty quantification in earth-surface models. Awards: Marguerite T. Williams Award for contributions to geosciences and advocacy against harassment in STEM Leads collaborative projects on landscape response to climate change and mentors students/postdocs in geomorphology and computational modeling.
Professor Wayne Luk is a Professor of Computer Engineering at the Department of Computing, Faculty of Engineering, Imperial College London. He leads the Programming Languages and Systems Section and the Custom Computing Research Group, and directs the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in High-performance Embedded and Distributed Systems and the Centre for Advanced Financial Engineering. He previously served as a Visiting Professor at Stanford University from 2006 to 2009. His research spans FPGA acceleration, quantum computing, deep learning optimization, and algorithm-hardware co-design, with affiliations to the CRUK Convergence Science Centre and the Engineering Secure Software Systems group. His research interests include computational modeling for particle physics, causal discovery in agent-based systems, and high-throughput digital electronics. Notable contributions include FPGA-accelerated algorithms for neural networks, quantum circuit simulation, and Bayesian optimization frameworks. His work emphasizes practical applications of reconfigurable hardware in fields like medical imaging, high-energy physics, and financial systems. Professor Luk is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, IEEE, and BCS. His publications focus on advancing hardware-aware machine learning, FPGA-based acceleration techniques, and scalable design methodologies. His research bridges theoretical computer science with applied engineering, addressing challenges in real-time systems, embedded computing, and next-generation computing architectures. His academic leadership includes directing interdisciplinary centers and training programs, fostering collaboration across computing, engineering, and physics. Current projects explore quantum computing tools, causal inference systems, and high-performance graph neural networks for particle physics applications.
Qimin Liu is an Assistant Professor at Boston University, serving as Lab Director of the Quantitative Psychopathology Laboratory. He holds a PhD in Psychological Sciences from Vanderbilt University with specializations in Clinical Science and Quantitative Methods. His research focuses on emotional disturbances across development, statistical methodology development, and health equity with an emphasis on intersectional marginalization. He has expertise in analyzing intensive longitudinal data and has published extensively on topics like irritability, suicidality, and mental health disparities among sexual and gender minority populations. Dr. Liu’s work frequently integrates advanced statistical techniques such as latent variable modeling, network analysis, and machine learning. His recent studies explore the temporal dynamics of affect, the impact of stigma on mental health, and the role of childhood adversity in psychiatric outcomes. Notable contributions include developing methods for analyzing zero-inflated longitudinal data and creating algorithms for digital phenotyping of mood disorders through mobile device usage patterns. His scholarship emphasizes bridging clinical phenomena with rigorous quantitative approaches, addressing gaps in understanding how social determinants and individual differences shape mental health trajectories. He has collaborated on large-scale datasets like the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiological Surveys and contributed to interdisciplinary research on public health outcomes among aging sexual minority men. Dr. Liu’s methodological innovations include the DACF framework for ceiling/floor effect data and the lamme package for log-analytic multiplicative effects modeling. He actively publishes in high-impact journals such as Psychological Methods and Journal of Abnormal Psychology , focusing on both empirical findings and statistical best practices.
Eric Beeko is a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of Africana Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, affiliated with the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. His teaching focuses on African studies, including courses like African Civilization, Liberation Movements, and Music in Africa. He holds a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from the University of Pittsburgh (2005), alongside advanced degrees from institutions in Ghana. His research explores African musical traditions, cultural practices, and performance aesthetics. Current projects include studies on Neo-Pentecostal/Charismatic church music in Ghana and the interplay between tradition and modernity. Future research plans involve multi-volume studies on African linguistic-cultural distribution and Black performance practices globally. Publications include analyses of Akan music rights, Ghanaian choral innovations, and African cultural heritage. He is developing works on Neo-Pentecostal worship aesthetics and the role of music in identity expression across the African diaspora. Advising and grants are not explicitly listed, but his scholarly activities emphasize collaborative research in ethnomusicology and cultural studies. He is based in Posvar Hall, Office #4152.
Mehrdad Ehsani is a Robert M. Kennedy Endowed Professor of Electrical Engineering at Texas A&M University, leading the Power Electronics and Motor Drives Laboratory. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has over four decades of expertise in power electronics, electric/hybrid vehicles, and energy systems. His research focuses on sustainable energy, advanced power conversion, and vehicle electrification. Educational Background: Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1981) M.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin (1974) B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin (1973) Research Interests: Sustainable power systems, electric/hybrid vehicles, energy storage, power electronics, and aerospace power systems. His work emphasizes practical applications, such as transmotor technology for energy efficiency and grid-interactive buildings. Awards & Recognition: Life Fellow of IEEE SAE Fellow (2005) IEEE Vehicular Technology Society Avant Garde Award (2001) Recipient of multiple Prize Paper Awards (IEEE-IAS) Advising & Grants: Director of Advanced Vehicle Systems Research Program. His lab collaborates with industry on patents, including over 30 granted/pending patents, and advises on sustainable transportation technologies. He has consulted for over 60 companies and government agencies. Labs & Teams: Founder and director of the Power Electronics & Motor Drives Lab, focusing on electric vehicle propulsion, renewable energy integration, and advanced control systems.
James Manning is a Lecturer in Digital Design at RMIT University's School of Design. His research focuses on game design, digital media, and cultural memory, exploring topics such as game preservation, livestreaming practices, and the intersection of play and technology. He is particularly interested in 'anarchaeological' approaches to defunct games and the documentation of everyday play practices. His teaching interests include game studies, interactive media, animation aesthetics, and design methodology. He actively supervises research in strategies for reflective shortform game design and has contributed to projects like the Astrosurf interactive dome experience. Key research themes include media archaeology, esports culture, and the sociocultural dimensions of digital games. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical studies, examining how digital platforms shape media consumption and cultural production.
Fabian Broeker is an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Media and Communications at LSE. His research focuses on technology's role in everyday life, particularly examining social media, dating apps, and their intersections with intimacy, identity, and urban environments. He holds a PhD from King’s College London (2021) and an MSc in Digital Anthropology from UCL. Broeker’s monograph, Love and Technology (Routledge, 2023), details his Berlin-based ethnography of dating app users. Broeker is an Associate Member of the Digital Anthropology Lab at the University of Tübingen. His work merges academic research with filmmaking, having collaborated with institutions like the BFI and British Independent Film Awards. He also consults for tech firms like Google on digital media topics. His research interests include digital ethnography, platform studies, and the spatial dynamics of dating apps. Recent publications analyze dating app rituals, location-porting in tourism, and the evolving digital dynamics of intimacy. Broeker’s work often bridges anthropology, sociology, and urban studies to explore how digital technologies shape contemporary social practices.
Alessandro Monsutti is a Professor of Anthropology and Sociology at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. He holds additional roles as Faculty Associate at the Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding, Global Migration Centre, and Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy. His research focuses on transnational networks, forced migration, and conflict dynamics in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Europe. Education: PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Neuchâtel (2002). Prior roles include Research Fellowships at Yale University (2008–2010) and the School of Oriental and African Studies (1999–2000), and Visiting Professorships at the University of Vienna and Arizona State University. Research Interests: Migration studies, border studies, political economy of post-conflict reconstruction, diaspora dynamics, and the intersection of globalization with local practices. His fieldwork spans Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and Western countries, emphasizing the agency of displaced populations and the socio-economic strategies they employ. Scientific Contributions: Over 30 peer-reviewed articles and authored/edited books including Homo itinerans: Towards a Global Ethnography of Afghanistan (2021) and War and Migration (2005). His work bridges ethnographic rigor with policy relevance, addressing themes like refugee integration, urban migration, and global governance. Grants & Awards: MacArthur Foundation Grantee (2004–2006), Swiss National Science Foundation grants for projects on urban cohabitation and Afghan crisis analysis. Co-led initiatives on adolescent migration and border policy in South Asia. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the Refugee Studies Centre (Oxford), Global Migration Centre (Geneva), and international NGOs like UNHCR. Active in editorial boards of journals like Tsantsa and ethnographiques.org .
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.
Lana Wells is an Associate Professor at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Social Work and holds the Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence. As Founder/Director of Shift: Primary Prevention Research Hub and Research Fellow at the School of Public Policy, she specializes in preventing gender-based violence through systems change, policy innovation, and community engagement. Key research areas: Gender equity, Indigenous sovereignty, AI ethics for social work, and male allyship in violence prevention Led over $11M in research funding and 22.5M+ in prevention initiatives 2023 Killam Professor Award recipient Recent publications focus on AI applications for violence prevention, gamification in male engagement, and rural/small-town violence reduction strategies. Her work spans interdisciplinary collaborations with public health agencies, Indigenous communities, and international organizations. Major projects: Alberta's Primary Prevention Playbook, Strong Women's Circle with Indigenous communities, ConnectED Parents virtual intervention Active in policy advisory roles for governments and NGOs Scientific awards include: 2023 Killam Annual Professor Award 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal 2019 Alberta Inspiration Award 2015 & 2013 Carthy Foundation Leadership Awards 2012 School of Public Policy Fellowship As a graduate supervisor in Social Work and Public Policy, she develops prevention workforce capacity through Shifttolearn.com. Current initiatives include data-driven dashboards for real-time violence prevention and cultural transformation in male-dominated institutions.
Annouchka Bayley is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, specializing in posthuman pedagogy, new materialist philosophies, and artistic research methodologies. She chairs the Arts and Creativities Research Group and previously directed the Arts, Creativities and Education MPhil programme (2021-24) and led the Doctoral Research Training Programme. PhD from University of Warwick BA Hons from SOAS MRes from University of Warwick Her research explores: Posthuman and new materialist approaches to education Decolonial epistemologies for educational development Postqualitative research practices in higher education Digital pedagogy and augmented reality applications Embodied and affective learning methodologies Recent publications examine diffractive knowledge production, digital materiality, and postpandemic educational futures. Key collaborative works include: Diffracting New Materialisms (2023, Palgrave Macmillan) Posthuman Pedagogy (2018, Parallax journal) Current teaching focuses on: Postgraduate courses in Arts, Creativities and Education Doctoral research training Advanced research methods Labs/Teams: Arts and Creativities Research Group CRiCLE Network (Creativities in Education) Diffractive Methodologies Collective
Nancy Jones is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. Her research focuses on infant emotional development, maternal mental health, and neurophysiological markers of temperament and resilience. Education: Ph.D. in Human Development (University of Maryland, College Park), M.A. in Human Development (University of Maryland, College Park), B.A. in Psychology (University of Wisconsin, Madison) Research Interests: Dr. Jones investigates how maternal depression and socio-emotional interactions shape infant brain development, with a focus on EEG activity, heart rate variability, and alternative therapies like kangaroo care and mindfulness meditation. Her work also explores autism-related emotional processing and frontal lobe maturation. Recent Publication Trends: Her articles emphasize psychophysiological methodologies (EEG, heart rate variability), maternal-infant neurohormonal interactions, autism spectrum disorder markers, and interventions like mindfulness meditation to improve child neurodevelopment and stress regulation. Service & Collaborations: She serves on the Departmental Executive Committee, chairs grant review panels for NIH and NSERC, and advises journals in developmental psychology and psychopathology. She leads the WAVES Lab and chairs the Palm Beach County Breastfeeding Coalition.
Professor Guy Williams is a leading academic at the University of Cambridge with a focus on imaging science and clinical neurosciences, affiliated with Downing College and the Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre . Holding a PhD in Physics from his initial Natural Sciences degree, he specializes in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and MRI techniques for brain imaging. Education: BA, PhD in Physics His research centers on non-invasive imaging of brain structure and function, particularly in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and dementia. His work involves developing novel MRI pulse sequences and advanced data analysis algorithms, including AI-based diagnostic tools. He leads studies on white matter integrity post-trauma, longitudinal dementia assessment, and applications of MRI in disorders of consciousness and addiction. Recent publications highlight collaborations in traumatic brain injury outcomes, AI-guided dementia prediction, and neuroimaging of post-COVID cognitive deficits. His team's work on ultra-high field laminar fMRI and distortion correction methods has advanced clinical neuroscience applications. Key techniques include diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), 7 Tesla MRI, and positron emission tomography (PET/MR). His research spans from basic NMR physics to clinical translation, with a strong emphasis on multi-site studies and real-world diagnostic implementation.
Scientia Professor Gary Froyland is a Professor at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), affiliated with the School of Mathematics & Statistics. He leads the ARC Laureate Centre for Dynamical Systems and Data and holds an Einstein Visiting Fellowship from the Einstein Foundation Berlin. His academic credentials include a BSc (Hons 1, Medal) in Pure and Applied Mathematics from the University of Queensland and a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Western Australia. Professor Froyland's research spans two primary domains: dynamical systems and optimization. In dynamical systems, he investigates the interplay of probability and geometry in nonlinear and chaotic systems, employing tools from ergodic theory, functional analysis, and differential geometry. His work extends to applications in oceanography, atmospheric science, and granular flows. In optimization, he focuses on decision-making in complex systems with uncertain information, developing novel approaches in mathematical programming that have been applied to mining, logistics, and medical treatment planning. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on coherent structures in dynamical systems, linear response theory, and applications to geophysical phenomena. The research shows increasing interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly with climate scientists and data analysts, reflecting a trend toward applying advanced mathematical techniques to real-world problems in environmental science and engineering. J.D. Crawford Prize (2025) Elected Member of the Academy of Europe / Academia Europaea (2024) ARC Laureate Fellow (2024-2029) Fellow of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) (2021) Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (2020) Vice-Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence - Postgraduate Research Supervision (2015) Professor Froyland actively supervises PhD and honors students, with current advisees including Kevin Felipe Kühl Oliveira, Nicholas Peters, and Kathrin Völkner. His research is supported by multiple grants, including an ARC Laureate Fellowship (2024-2029) for "Breakthrough mathematics for dynamical systems and data," an Einstein Visiting Fellowship (2022-2026), and several ARC Discovery Projects. His work has practical applications in climate science, mining optimization, and medical treatment planning, particularly in radiotherapy. He leads the ARC Laureate Centre for Dynamical Systems and Data, which brings together researchers to develop new mathematical approaches for analyzing complex dynamical systems. The center focuses on creating methods to identify coherent structures in spatiotemporal data, with applications spanning environmental science, social science, health science, and engineering.
