Dr. Mbita Mbao is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Salem State University, where she teaches courses including SWK 700 (Human Behavior), SWK 704/705 (Social Work Practice), and aging-focused courses like SWK 871. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes experiential learning and valuing student experiences. Dr. Mbao's research focuses on behavioral health, aging populations, workforce development, and immigrant issues. She actively works to expand aging-related curriculum and services through her involvement with the Older Adults Behavioral Health Network and Salem for All Ages initiative. Her education includes a BSW from Bowling Green State University, MSW from Rhode Island College, and PhD from Simmons University. As a Licensed Clinical Independent Social Worker, she maintains a clinical practice providing in-home therapy to older adults. Honors include: 2025 North Star Collective Fellow 2019 AGESW Pre-Dissertation Fellow 2021 GSA MCDTAW Early Career Diversity Fellow
Dr. Hongye Zhang serves as a Lecturer in Superconducting and Cryogenic Electric Machines at the School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, while maintaining a Visiting Research Fellow position at the University of Manchester. He actively contributes to the European Society for Applied Superconductivity (ESAS) as a Board Member and chairs the international HTS 2026 workshop. His educational foundation includes: BSc and MSc in Electrical Engineering from Xi’an Jiaotong University (2015, 2018) Diplôme d’ingénieur (MEng) from École Centrale de Lyon (2018) PhD in Applied Superconductivity from the University of Edinburgh (2021) Dr. Zhang’s research centers on decarbonizing transport through superconducting/cryogenic electric machines for hydrogen-powered aircraft, integrating artificial intelligence with superconductor technology and cryogenic techniques. His work targets net zero emissions by developing high-power-density propulsion systems that leverage hydrogen energy and advanced numerical modeling of superconductors. Analysis of his 2022-2025 publications reveals dominant themes in superconducting machine design for wind energy and electric aviation, with significant contributions to loss mitigation, flux pump technology, and trapped field magnet applications. His research bridges fundamental superconductor characterization with practical system integration for renewable energy. Recognized with the 2021 IEEE Council on Superconductivity Graduate Study Fellowship, his professional engagements include: Early Career Editorial Board Member for Elsevier’s Superconductivity journal Technical Editor for IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity Program Committee Member for SMT 2023 He leads critical research within the £54-million H2GEAR project developing hydrogen-electric aircraft propulsion, while teaching Power Engineering 2 and Electrical Machines courses. His advisory roles span doctoral supervision and industry collaboration through Energy Systems research institute. Based at the University of Edinburgh’s Faraday Building, Dr. Zhang directs a research group focused on hydrogen energy applications and superconducting machine testing, with strong ties to the H2GEAR consortium and ESAS working groups.
Florian Lionnet is an Associate Professor of Linguistics in Princeton University's Council of the Humanities and Director of Undergraduate Studies. He holds a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley (2016) and joined Princeton in 2017. His research focuses on phonetics/phonology, typology, areal and historical linguistics, and language documentation, with a focus on African and Oceanic languages. Current projects include endangered languages in Chad and New Caledonia, involving annual fieldwork collaborations with anthropologists, ethnomusicologists, and archaeologists. Research interests emphasize tonal systems, phonological representation, and language contact, particularly in Laal (an isolate language), Fanya (Bua), and Khoisan languages. His work bridges theory and practice, contributing to both linguistic theory and endangered language preservation. Articles explore tone phonology, areal patterns, and subphonemic effects, with recent emphasis on Kalahari Basin and Oceanic languages. Teaching responsibilities include directing undergraduate studies in Linguistics. No awards or grants are explicitly listed, though his fieldwork suggests active research funding. His office is located at 1-S-18 Green Hall, Princeton University.
Eugene Demler is a Full Professor at the Department of Physics, ETH Zurich. Previously, he held academic positions at Harvard University from 1998 to 2021, including Assistant Professor (2001-2004), Associate Professor (unspecified dates), and Full Professor (2005-2021). His work bridges theoretical condensed matter physics, atomic and molecular physics, quantum optics, and quantum simulations. Education: MSc in Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (1993) Diploma work, Lebedev Physics Institute (1992-1993) PhD in Theoretical Physics, Stanford University (1998), supervised by S.C. Zhang Demler's research focuses on strongly correlated quantum systems, spintronics, quantum sensing, and photo-induced phase transitions. His recent publications explore topics such as quantum polarons, Josephson plasmons, magnon dynamics, and terahertz spectroscopy in superconductors. He has pioneered hybrid quantum-classical methods for electron-phonon systems and cavity-mediated quantum materials. His Google Scholar articles (2023-2025) span theoretical and experimental domains, with keywords including Quantum Physics , Condensed Matter Physics , and Quantum Optics . Subfields include Quantum Control , Superconductivity , Spin Waves , Quantum Sensing , Non-Equilibrium Dynamics , and Quantum Simulation . Scientific Awards: Hamburg Prize for Theoretical Physics (2021) Simons Investigator (2021) Moore Distinguished Scholar (2020) Hanna Visiting Scholar (2019) Highly Cited Researcher (2017-2020) Senior Fellow at ETH Zurich's Institute for Theoretical Studies (2015) Simons Fellowship (2015) Distinguished Scholar at Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics (2015) Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher (2014) Siemens Research Award (2006) Johannes Gutenberg Lecture Award (2006) NSF Career Award (2002) Sloan Fellowship (2002) Demler teaches courses such as Statistical Physics and Strongly Correlated Systems in Atomic and Condensed Matter Physics . His work integrates theoretical modeling with experimental collaborations, particularly in quantum optics and condensed matter systems.
Richard MA Tianbai is an Associate Professor at the School of Computing, National University of Singapore (NUS), and serves as IT Coordinator for Computing Facilities. He holds a B.Sc. (First-Class Honors) and M.Phil. from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, followed by an M.Sc. and Ph.D. from Columbia University, USA. His research focuses on systems & networking, distributed computing, and internet economics, with projects addressing cloud-based big data systems and internet peering agreements. Richard has received multiple awards, including the Best Paper Award Runners-up at ACM Mobihoc 2020 and the Teaching Excellence Award from NUS School of Computing in 2019. His work bridges theoretical models with practical applications in network economics and distributed systems. Education: B.Sc. (First-Class Honors), Computer Science & Engineering, Chinese University of Hong Kong (2002) M.Phil., Computer Science & Engineering, Chinese University of Hong Kong (2004) M.Sc., Columbia University (2008) Ph.D., Columbia University (2010) Research Interests: Cloud-Based Big Data Systems: Innovating serverless paradigms for real-time analytics (e.g., Stream as a Service). Internet Economics: Modeling peering agreements, premium peering dynamics, and regulatory alternatives to net neutrality. Distributed Computing: Auto-scaling frameworks (e.g., Elasticutor, DRS) for real-time stream processing. His research emphasizes performance guarantees and resource optimization in dynamic networked systems. Awards: Best Paper Award Runners-up (ACM Mobihoc 2020) Teaching Excellence Award (School of Computing 2019) Bell Labs Best Paper Award (IEEE SDP 2015) Best Paper Awards at ICNP 2014 and IC2E 2013 Grants & Advising: Recipient of research grants supporting projects like “Testbed for Innovative Inter-Networking Research.” Advises on doctoral projects related to stream processing and network economics. His work is funded by industry collaborations and institutional grants. Labs & Teams: Part of the Distributed Network Analysis (DNA) Research Group and Advanced Networking & Systems Research Group, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations in networking and distributed systems.
Mariana Resener is an Assistant Professor in the School of Sustainable Energy Engineering at Simon Fraser University (SFU). She holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (2016) from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, alongside M.Sc. (2011) and B.Sc. (2008) degrees in the same field. Her research focuses on optimizing power systems, particularly in distributed energy resources, energy storage, and volt/var control. She teaches courses like Power Electronics and Power Systems Analysis & Design. Her work emphasizes sustainable development in grid planning and energy infrastructure. As a Senior Member of IEEE and an Associate Editor for the Energy Systems Journal (Springer), she contributes to advancing smart grid technologies and renewable integration. Her research spans metaheuristic optimization, stochastic modeling, and grid resilience strategies for distributed systems. Recent projects include hybrid renewable energy systems for substations, EV charging station optimization, and fault analysis in unbalanced grids. She collaborates with industry on practical solutions for grid modernization and reliability enhancement.
James T. Enns is a Professor and Distinguished University Scholar in the Department of Psychology within the Faculty of Arts at the University of British Columbia. His research primarily focuses on the role of attention in human vision, with secondary interests in developmental psychology and human-machine interaction. Dr. Enns' research interests span perception, attention, vision, cognition, development, and human-machine interaction. His work explores how the human mind selects information, with particular emphasis on visual attention mechanisms. His laboratory research investigates the fundamental processes of visual perception and how attention modulates these processes across different contexts and developmental stages. Analysis of Dr. Enns' publication record reveals consistent engagement with visual perception, attentional mechanisms, and cognitive processing. His research demonstrates expertise in both theoretical frameworks and experimental methodologies related to visual attention, with applications spanning basic cognitive science to potential implementations in human-computer interaction systems. His work often bridges theoretical cognitive psychology with practical applications. Canadian Society for Brain, Behaviour and Cognitive Science Donald O. Hebb Distinguished Contribution Award (2013) Distinguished University Scholar, UBC (2004) Robert E. Knox Master Teaching Award (2004) Royal Society of Canada Fellow (2002) Killam Faculty Research Prize (1994) Killam Faculty Research Fellowship (1993) Society of Experimental Psychology Fellow Dr. Enns has served as Editor for the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, and as Associate Editor for Psychological Science, Consciousness and Cognition, and Visual Cognition. His research has been supported by grants from NSERC, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, the Australian Research Council, BC Health, and Nissan. He has authored textbooks on perception, edited research volumes on the Development of Attention, and published numerous scientific articles on vision, attention, and cognitive science. Dr. Enns is currently accepting graduate students and continues to mentor the next generation of cognitive scientists. Dr. Enns leads the UBC Vision Lab, which focuses on how the human mind selects information. The lab conducts research on visual attention, perception, and cognitive processes using a variety of experimental methodologies.
Josh Atkinson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute at Princeton University. His research focuses on using synthetic biology and protein engineering to control electron transport in microbes for environmental applications, such as bioelectronic sensors and bioremediation. The Atkinson Lab investigates microbial energy processing, biofilm-electronic interfaces, and sustainable biotechnologies. Affiliations: Princeton University, Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute Research Interests: Microbial electron transport, bioelectronic systems, environmental monitoring, sustainable catalysis His work bridges disciplines like electrochemistry, bioengineering, and environmental science to engineer living materials for real-world challenges. The lab recruits students across levels, emphasizing diversity and interdisciplinary collaboration. Recent projects include real-time contaminant sensors and light-controlled biofilm patterning. Articles highlight innovations in bioelectronics and microbial systems engineering. The lab’s future directions involve scaling-up bioelectronic devices and enhancing microbial community understanding.
Rhonda Hadi is an Associate Professor of Marketing at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. She is also a Fellow of Green Templeton College and an Associate Editor at the Journal of Consumer Psychology , serving on editorial review boards for Journal of Consumer Research , Journal of Marketing Research , and Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science . Her research focuses on emerging technologies reshaping consumer experiences, including augmented reality, AI, and wearable/mobile computing. She explores crossmodal perception, cultural influences on consumer behavior, and sensory-driven decision-making. Rhonda teaches the Core Marketing course for the MBA programme and contributes to Executive MBA, Diploma in AI for Business, and executive education courses. Her engagements span industry collaborations with Fortune 500 firms, startups, and non-profits, emphasizing practical applications of her research. She is a key member of the Oxford Future of Marketing Initiative , fostering academic-industry partnerships for thought leadership. Her research interests prominently feature technology-augmented consumer behavior , particularly in multisensory interactions (e.g., haptics, temperature, scent) and how cultural contexts modulate these responses. She has pioneered studies on anthropomorphic products, chatbot ethics, and the psychological impact of digital tools like AR and the Metaverse. Rhonda received the John Elliot Teaching Award and regularly engages with media outlets like the BBC to disseminate her findings. She has delivered over 50 invited talks globally, addressing North America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. In advising and grants, she mentors students across MBA and executive programmes and secures funding via Oxford’s initiatives. Her work intersects with the Major Programme Management and Private Equity Institute , though direct grant references are not explicitly detailed. She actively participates in interdisciplinary teams at Oxford Saïd, such as the Oxford Future of Finance and Technology Initiative and the Social Thermoregulation Project , integrating insights from psychology, technology, and business strategy.
Tim Van de Cruys is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Arts, KU Leuven, serving as Head of the Centre for Computational Linguistics (CCL). He maintains significant affiliations with LECTIO (KU Leuven Institute for the Study of the Transmission of Texts, Ideas and Images), Leuven.AI (KU Leuven Institute for Artificial Intelligence), and LILI (KU Leuven Interdisciplinary Language Institute). His work bridges computational linguistics, artificial intelligence, and humanities research with practical applications across multiple disciplines. Dr. Van de Cruys specializes in computational semantics and creative language generation, with particular expertise in applying NLP techniques to historical and classical texts. His research spans multiple domains including: Natural Language Processing for ancient languages (Latin, Ancient Greek) Computational approaches to lexical and compositional semantics Large language models and their applications in humanities research Creative language generation and human-AI collaboration Named entity recognition and disambiguation in historical contexts Non-autoregressive modeling for sequential generation tasks His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on applying cutting-edge NLP techniques to humanities challenges, particularly in processing ancient languages. He frequently employs transformer models to address named entity recognition, word sense discrimination, and semantic analysis in low-resource language contexts. His work consistently bridges formal linguistic theory with practical computational applications, creating valuable tools for digital humanities scholars. As promotor and co-promotor on numerous research projects extending through 2029, Dr. Van de Cruys supervises PhD students working at the AI-humanities intersection. His current major projects include "Living Corpora" (exploring human-AI collaboration in digital humanities), "Stochastic processes and non-autoregressive models for sequential generation," and "NIKAW" (exploring knowledge networks from classical antiquity). These projects demonstrate his commitment to advancing both theoretical understanding and practical applications of computational linguistics. He teaches various courses including Computational Linguistics, Scripting Languages, Programming for Humanities, Computational Creativity, and AI for Humanities, training students to work at this critical interdisciplinary crossroads. His leadership of the Centre for Computational Linguistics positions him at the forefront of computational linguistics research in Belgium, where he continues to expand the boundaries of what's possible at the intersection of language, computation, and humanistic inquiry.
FOONG Pin Sym is a Senior Research Fellow at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore. She leads the Telehealth Core, a research center focused on developing and studying eHealth projects. Her academic background includes a Master's in Human Computer Interaction Design and a PhD in Interactive Media. Her research emphasizes patient-centered technologies, with a focus on chronic disease prevention, caregiver support, and mobile health applications. Her work addresses challenges in healthcare decision-making, end-of-life care, and lifestyle interventions. Notable projects include developing digital tools for diabetes risk communication, caregiver decision support systems, and studies on telehealth during the pandemic. She teaches courses in Human-Computer Interaction, Mobile Interaction Design, and Technology for Older Adults. Her research spans qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including randomized controlled trials and participatory action research. She actively participates in interdisciplinary collaborations across health, technology, and design sectors to improve patient and caregiver outcomes. Education: PhD in Interactive Media, Master's in Human Computer Interaction Design Labs/Teams: Leads the Telehealth Core research team Grants/Projects: SMART-GDM Study, Vita project for dementia care
Marcella D Ridgway serves as Clinical Professor and Assistant Head for Curriculum and Instruction in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, with additional affiliation at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Her research expertise spans: Veterinary diagnostics with emphasis on canine health Serum and Untargeted Metabolomics techniques Clinical presentations of metabolic disorders Breed-specific medicine for working dogs Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency diagnostics Dr. Ridgway's scholarly work demonstrates consistent innovation in applying metabolomics to veterinary clinical problems. Her recent publications reveal a strategic focus on understanding serum metabolite profiles across different species and conditions, with particular attention to pre-analytical variables that impact diagnostic accuracy. The research trajectory shows increasing specialization in working dog medicine, with comprehensive reviews covering herding and hunting breeds alongside metabolic health assessment. With 22 total research outputs including 18 articles, 3 review articles, and 1 book chapter, her work appears in respected journals including PLOS ONE and Animals, with international collaboration networks extending across multiple research territories.
Anoop Sarkar is a Professor in the School of Computing Science at Simon Fraser University (SFU), leading the Natural Language Lab. His research focuses on multilingual natural language processing, machine learning applications in NLP, and machine reading with visualization techniques. He has held significant grants including NSERC Discovery Accelerator Supplements (2012–2023) and multiple Google/IBM Faculty Awards. His teaching includes advanced NLP courses and compiler design. Over 38 students have graduated under his supervision, with a strong emphasis on computational linguistics and machine translation. His research explores areas such as statistical machine translation, decipherment of ancient scripts, and semi-supervised learning. Key software contributions include the TroFi toolkit and metaphor dataset. He has served as area chair for EMNLP (2023) and co-chair of NAACL (2015). The Natural Language Lab hosts weekly meetings open to collaboration. His work bridges theory and application, addressing challenges in low-resource language processing. Recent publications (2023–2024) highlight advancements in entity linking, cognate alignment, and structured prediction. Grants span foundational and applied NLP research, supported by NSERC and industry partnerships. His advising spans 12 PhD and 26 MSc graduates, reflecting a sustained impact on the next generation of NLP researchers.
Dr. Isabella Jackson is an Assistant Professor in Chinese History at Trinity College Dublin's Department of History. She specializes in modern Chinese history, with a focus on colonial Shanghai, treaty ports, and the intersections of imperialism and identity. Her research includes the CHINACHILD project, investigating the sociolegal status of enslaved girls and evolving conceptions of childhood in 20th-century China. She is also a co-editor of Treaty Ports in Modern China and author of Shaping Modern Shanghai , analyzing colonial governance and transnational networks. Her teaching includes courses on Republican China, global childhood history, and imperialism. She contributes to Trinity's Asian Studies programs, supervising PhD students researching topics like medical objects in late Qing China and Irish identities in Chinese maritime history. Dr. Jackson's work bridges urban history, colonial studies, and gender analysis, often exploring how global and local dynamics shaped modern China. Her research highlights include examining Sikh policemen in Shanghai's International Settlement, treaty port governance via the Shanghai Municipal Council, and the socio-political dimensions of foreign presence in China. She frequently publishes in journals like Modern Asian Studies and collaborates internationally on projects linking urban development, legal frameworks, and cultural identity.
Claudio Canizares is a University Professor and Hydro One Endowed Chair in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo. He also serves as Executive Director of the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE). With a career spanning over 30 years, his research focuses on power systems stability, smart grids, microgrids, and renewable energy integration. He has secured nearly $118 million in grants and supervised 180+ researchers/students. Education: PhD (1991) and MSc (1988) in Electrical Engineering from University of Wisconsin-Madison; Electrical Engineering Diploma (1984) from Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Ecuador. Research Interests : Nonlinear systems theory, FACTS/HVDC applications, energy storage systems, microgrid stability/control, renewable integration in remote communities, and smart grid analytics. His work emphasizes bridging academic research with industrial applications through collaborations with utilities and tech firms. Key Achievements : IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid Editor-In-Chief; multiple IEEE Fellowships (IEEE, Royal Society of Canada, Canadian Academy of Engineering); 2017 IEEE PES Outstanding Educator Award; 2016 IEEE Canada Electric Power Medal. His publications (370+) include landmark papers on microgrid stability definitions and control frameworks, cited over 29,000 times. Teaching: Recently taught ECE 140 (Linear Circuits), ECE 467 (Power Systems Analysis), and graduate courses ECE 6601PD/ECE 6613PD on power systems modeling and analysis.
