Find Academic Supervisors

Rachel O'NeillView profile

Assistant Professor

• gender and sexuality
• media and cultural studies
• qualitative methods
• +7 more

Dr Rachel O’Neill is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Media and Communications at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Her research focuses on gender and sexuality, media and cultural studies, and qualitative methods. She holds a PhD in Gender and Cultural Studies from King’s College London and previously served as a Research Fellow in Sociology at the University of Warwick. Academic Role: Assistant Professor, LSE Department of Media and Communications Research Expertise: Gender studies, media ethnography, feminist theory, wellness industry critique, and financial feminism Her work examines intersections of gender, capitalism, and cultural practices. Key publications include Seduction: Men, Masculinity and Mediated Intimacy (2018) and articles on wellness influencers, financial feminism, and masculinity studies. Her research often critiques patriarchal structures and neoliberal logics in contemporary society.

• AI Ethics
• Robotics Ethics
• Digital Ethics
• +2 more

Prof. Dr. Aimee van Wynsberghe is the Alexander von Humboldt Professor for Applied Ethics of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Bonn. She serves as Director of the Institute for Science and Ethics (IWE) and founded the Bonn Sustainable AI Lab. Her affiliations include the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the European Commission's High-Level Expert Group on AI (2018-2020), and advisory roles at Deloitte, the World Economic Forum, and the Konrad Zuse Schools for AI Excellence. . Education PhD in Applied Ethics, University of Twente (2012) M.A. in Bioethics, Erasmus Mundus (2008) M.A. in Applied Ethics, Catholic University of Leuven (2007) B.Sc. in Honours Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario (2006) Research Interests focus on integrating ethical frameworks into AI and robotics design. Key areas include AI ethics, robotics ethics, digital ethics, care ethics, and value-sensitive design. She pioneered ethical guidelines for care robots and explores systemic risks in AI sustainability. Publication Trends show a shift toward sustainability challenges in AI, analyzing hidden environmental costs, post-colonial biases in AI standards, and structural ethical frameworks. Her work bridges philosophy, technology, and policy to address global AI impacts. Scientific Awards L'Oréal UNESCO For Women In Science Award (2018) Grants include a 3.8M EUR Mercator Foundation grant (2022), 3.5M EUR Humboldt Professorship (2021), NWO Gravitation Grant (2020), and others. She advises governments and institutions on AI ethics and co-founded the Foundation for Responsible Robotics. Labs & Teams : She leads the Bonn Sustainable AI Lab and has directed the Artificial Intelligence Lab at TU Delft. Her work involves interdisciplinary collaborations, including the interdisplinary task force at Aarhus University (2025).

• Secondary English Education
• Literature
• Educational History
• +5 more

Professor Jacqueline Manuel is a Professor of English Education and Curriculum Coordinator for Secondary English at the University of Sydney's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. She holds a PhD (UNE), DipEd (UNE), and BA (Hons I) from the University of New England. Her research focuses on secondary English education, curriculum history, teacher development, and teenage reading practices. She coordinates the English curriculum methodology for the Master of Teaching (Secondary) program and advises multiple PhD students. Current projects include co-editing volumes on English teacher development and leading international collaborations like the Professional Lives of English Language Arts Teachers Project. She has held significant roles in curriculum committees and boards, including chairing NSW Board of Studies committees and serving on AITSL panels. Key research interests span educational history, teacher professional identity, creativity in arts education, and early career teacher support. Notable publications include Reimagining Shakespeare Education (2023) and Teenagers and Reading (2012). Awards include the 2018 Alan Laughlin Award for Educational Leadership and 2016 Outstanding Service Award. Professor Manuel collaborates with institutions like the International Federation for the Teaching of English (IFTE) and chairs multiple editorial boards. Her work integrates international perspectives, emphasizing English as an emancipatory subject promoting social justice.

Cesar Dario Cadena LermaView profile

Lecturer

• Robotics
• Computer Vision
• SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping)
• +3 more

Dr. Cesar Dario Cadena Lerma is a Lecturer at the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering and a tenured Senior Scientist at the Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems (IRIS) at ETH Zurich. He leads the Perception, Mapping and Navigation team within the Robotics Systems Lab (RSL), co-founded and directs the ETH RobotX initiative focusing on educational robotics, and previously held roles at ETH Zurich's Autonomous Systems Lab, University of Adelaide, and George Mason University. His research focuses on robotics perception, particularly in SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), semantic scene understanding, and robust perception systems for dynamic environments. Education: PhD in Computer Science and System Engineering from the University of Zaragoza, followed by postdoctoral research at George Mason University and The University of Adelaide. Professional roles include managing director of ETH RobotX and leadership in multi-modal mapping frameworks like maplab 2.0. Research interests emphasize integrating perception and learning in robotics, with a focus on semantic mapping, data association, place recognition, and navigation in unstructured environments. His work bridges traditional SLAM techniques with modern deep learning approaches to create robust, modular systems. Key contributions include the PHASER registration algorithm, SCIM obstacle avoidance framework, and C-Blox dense mapping system. Awards include the Best Paper Award at the 2017 IEEE International Symposium on Safety, Security, and Rescue Robotics. His articles span topics like semantic pointcloud filtering, volumetric mapping, and embodied domain adaptation. He collaborates widely, with over 50 peer-reviewed publications in top venues such as IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters and International Journal of Robotics Research.

Ding ZhaoView profile

Associate Professor

• Trustworthy AI
• Autonomous Vehicles
• Robotics
• +7 more

Ding Zhao is an Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), with cross-appointments in Computer Science, Robotics Institute, CyLab Security & Privacy Institute, and Scott Institute for Energy Innovation. He directs the CMU Safe AI Laboratory, pioneering research in trustworthy AI for autonomous vehicles, robotics, and healthcare. His work emphasizes robustness, safety, and ethical deployment of AI systems. Education: • Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan (2016) • B.S. in Automotive Engineering, Jilin University (2010) Research Interests: Zhao's lab bridges machine learning theory and engineering to develop AI for high-stakes applications. Key areas include: trustworthy AI generalization, safety-critical decision-making, generative AI for digital twins, and physical AI in mobility/healthcare. His long-term mission is to create "trustworthy AI generalists" deployable in real-world critical systems. Awards & Honors: NSF CAREER Award MIT Technology Review 35 under 35 China IEEE George N. Saridis Best Paper Award Ford/Carnegie-Bosch/Toyota Industrial Fellowships Qualcomm Innovation Award Advising & Grants: He mentors 13+ PhD and 30+ Master’s students, with alumni at NVIDIA, Meta, Stanford, and Tsinghua University. His lab collaborates with Google, Amazon, Ford, Mayo Clinic, and received grants from NSF, DOT, Rolls-Royce, and Bosch. Courses taught include Trustworthy AI and Modern Control for Robotics . Lab & Projects: The Safe AI Lab develops: Safe Robotic Foundation Models (LocoMan), generative AI for autonomous driving (SafeBench), cardiac diagnostics (Heart-2), multi-agent safety systems, and robotic tool innovation (RoboTool). Projects target landslide monitoring, AV safety with Pittsburgh, and energy grid resilience.

Lisa SoderView profile

Research Fellow

• Artificial Intelligence Governance
• AI Policy
• AI Regulation
• +5 more

Lisa Soder serves as Senior Policy Researcher and Acting Head of Technical AI Governance at Interface, a leading European tech policy think tank, and is an incoming Visiting Research Fellow at Stanford University's Intelligent Systems Laboratory within the School of Engineering. She holds a Master's degree from the London School of Economics focusing on comparative transatlantic approaches to technology regulation and competition law, and brings prior experience from the Centre for the Governance of AI, Boston Consulting Group, and global health NGO work in Ethiopia. Her research centers on establishing AI accountability infrastructures with particular emphasis on developing third-party auditing ecosystems and bridging technical and regulatory aspects of AI governance. She has developed a taxonomy for Technical AI Governance organized along technical targets (Data, Compute, Algorithms and Models, Deployment) and governance capacities (Assessment, Access, Verification, Security, Operationalization, Ecosystem Monitoring). Her work examines open problems across these dimensions, highlighting the critical need for technical tools to support effective AI governance. Analysis of her publications reveals a strong focus on practical implementation challenges in AI regulation, particularly regarding the EU AI Act's provisions for general-purpose AI systems. Her research consistently addresses the gap between policy aspirations and technical capabilities, with particular attention to verification mechanisms, risk assessment frameworks, and the development of technical infrastructure necessary for oversight. She advocates for closer collaboration between technical experts and policymakers to ensure governance mechanisms are both feasible and effective. Lisa has been actively engaged in high-level policy discussions, participating in events such as the AI Action Summit in Paris, Sino-German Track 2 Dialogues on AI governance, and expert briefings on frontier AI systems. Her upcoming visiting research fellowship at Stanford University represents a formal academic affiliation that complements her policy-focused work at Interface.

Gioele ZardiniView profile

Assistant Professor

• Co-design of complex systems
• Autonomous systems
• Transportation systems
• +4 more

Gioele Zardini is the Rudge (1948) and Nancy Allen Assistant Professor at MIT's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), with affiliations to the Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems (LIDS) and the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS). He holds a PhD from ETH Zurich and previously worked as a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University. His research focuses on co-design of complex systems, autonomous systems, and game-theoretic modeling of transportation networks. Education: BSc and MSc in Mechanical Engineering and Robotics from ETH Zurich (2017–2019), PhD in 2023. He has held visiting roles at nuTonomy Singapore, Stanford, and MIT. Research interests include co-design methodologies, autonomous vehicle systems, compositionality in engineering, and strategic interactions in mobility networks. Recent work emphasizes scalable fleet coordination, safety-critical robotics, and user-centric transportation solutions. Notable awards include the 2024 ETH Doctoral Dissertation Award (Silver Medal), Best Paper at ITSC 2021, and federal grants for enhancing urban transit equity. He leads the Zardini Lab, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in systems engineering and autonomy. Grants and advising: Received federal grants for transit accessibility projects. His work on Autonomy Talks has produced over 180 recorded lectures, promoting knowledge exchange in autonomous systems. Labs/Teams: Principal Investigator at LIDS, affiliate at IDSS, and founder of the Zardini Lab, focusing on systems co-design, mobility innovation, and game-theoretic frameworks.

FOONG Pin SymView profile

Academic

• Patient decision aids
• Mobile health applications
• Lifestyle change and motivation
• +4 more

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

• Educational Science
• Empirical Research in Education
• Student Motivation
• +5 more

Rainer Watermann is a Full Professor for Empirical Research in Education at the Free University of Berlin since 2011, previously serving as Full Professor for Education and Empirical Research in Schools at Georg-August University of Göttingen (2005-2011). His academic career includes significant research positions at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin (1997-2005). Watermann earned his Diploma in Educational Science from the University of Münster (1996), followed by a Dr. phil (2002) and Habilitation (2005), both from Freie Universität Berlin. His educational background established the foundation for his extensive research in educational transitions and disparities. His research focuses on educational transitions, particularly from primary to secondary school and into higher education, examining motivational factors, social background influences, and achievement goal development. Watermann's work consistently addresses how social disparities affect educational opportunities and outcomes, with particular attention to gender differences and longitudinal developmental patterns. His methodological expertise includes latent class analysis, structural equation modeling, and large-scale assessment design. Watermann's publication portfolio reveals consistent research trajectories examining motivational frameworks (particularly expectancy-value theory), educational transitions, social disparities in education, and political socialization. His work spans both theoretical development and practical applications for educational policy and practice, with increasing focus on intervention effectiveness in recent years. As an active member of the academic community, Watermann serves on multiple editorial boards including the Swiss Journal for Educational Sciences and Empirical Educational Science , and regularly reviews for major educational and psychological journals. He has also contributed to significant research centers, including serving as spokesman for the Center for Empirical Research on Teaching and Learning in Schools (ZeUS) at the University of Göttingen (2008-2010). Watermann maintains an active research program with numerous collaborations across Germany and internationally, evidenced by his consistent publication record through 2025. His work bridges educational psychology, sociology of education, and policy-relevant research, maintaining strong connections between theoretical frameworks and practical educational contexts.

Ian EwartView profile

Associate Professor

• Anthropology of Technology
• Built Environment
• Ethnographic Research
• +7 more

Ian Ewart is an Associate Professor at the University of Reading's School of the Built Environment, serving as Head of Construction and Engineering Management and Research Group Lead for Organisation, People and Technology. He chairs the Research Ethics Committee since 2016 and supervises undergraduate/postgraduate dissertations. His academic journey spans engineering and anthropology: DPhil Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Oxford, St Hugh's College (2007-2012) MSc Material Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, University of Oxford, St Hugh's College (2006-2007) BA (Hons) Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Oxford, Harris Manchester College (2003-2006) Diploma in Management Studies, University of the West of England (1990-1994) BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering, Staffordshire University (1983-1987) Ewart's research integrates ethnographic methods with digital technology studies, examining human-technology interactions in construction and domestic settings. His work bridges engineering practice and social anthropology, focusing on skill transmission, sustainable design, and multisensory experiences in virtual environments. Publications from 2025-2013 reveal a dominant trajectory in digital twins for socio-ecological sustainability, VR-based occupant behavior prediction, and HBIM for heritage conservation. The corpus demonstrates consistent cross-disciplinary innovation, merging archaeological reconstructions with healthcare applications while maintaining anthropological rigor. Key recognition: ESRC Future Research Leader fellowship (2013) for Designing Healthy Homes project He supervises PhD candidates like Afolabi Dania (Nigerian sustainable construction) and Joanna Hull (Heritage BIM), leveraging ESRC funding for ethnography-VR health studies. His grants emphasize participatory design and real-world impact assessment in built environments. Leaders the Organisation, People and Technology research group, developing multisensory Roman town reconstructions with sound/smell integration to advance archaeological and architectural experience modeling.

• Inclusive Education
• Equity in Education
• School Improvement
• +3 more

Mel Ainscow is a Professor in Education at the University of Glasgow and holds adjunct and emeritus roles at Queensland University of Technology and the University of Manchester. He is recognized globally for his work on inclusion and equity in education, particularly through systemic reforms and collaborative research with schools. His career includes roles as a head teacher, adviser, and researcher, emphasizing strategies to make schools effective for all students. Key projects include leading the Greater Manchester Challenge (a £50M initiative for school improvement) and Schools Challenge Cymru (a Welsh Government program focusing on disadvantaged students). He advises UNESCO and the Organization of American States on equity in education. His research focuses on systemic change, policy analysis, and inclusive practices, with over 90 publications including books like Struggles for Equity in Education and articles in journals like Journal of Educational Change and Prospects . Dr. Ainscow's awards include a CBE for services to education (2012). His work bridges theory and practice, advocating for equity through collaboration, ethical leadership, and evidence-based strategies. He has collaborated with international networks in Australia, Portugal, Spain, and Latin America, emphasizing global approaches to educational challenges.

• English Language Teacher Education (ELTE)
• Teacher Development
• Reflective Practice
• +5 more

Steve Mann is a Professor in Applied Linguistics at the University of Warwick, where he has been affiliated since 2007. His work focuses on English Language Teacher Education (ELTE), teacher development, and qualitative research methodologies. He holds a PGCE from the University of Warwick (1984) and has extensive experience in ELT across Hong Kong, Japan, and Europe. Mann’s research group investigates reflective practice, teacher beliefs, mentoring, and technology integration in education. Notable contributions include co-editing the Routledge Handbook of English Language Teacher Education (2019) and pioneering studies on video-based teacher reflection. He has supervised numerous PhD students exploring aspects of teacher development, though he is currently not accepting new PhD candidates. Education: PGCE, University of Warwick (1984) Pre-service teaching in English and Drama in England (1980s) British Council Teaching Scheme in Hong Kong (1980s) Research Interests: Teacher education, reflective practice, qualitative interview methodologies, and the role of technology in professional development. His work emphasizes bridging theory and practice in ELT, particularly through collaborative dialogue and action research. Grants & Projects: Supporting Sustainable English Teacher Professional Development in Yunnan Province (British Council, 2022–2023) China Course Research: Postgraduate Curriculum Design (2019–2022) Video in Language Teacher Education (British Council, 2016–2018) Labs/Teams: Leads a research group focused on teacher development, mentoring, and blended learning strategies. Collaborates with institutions like the British Council on global teacher education initiatives.

Dicky TsangView profile

Associate Professor

• Private International Law
• Company Law
• Corporate Governance
• +3 more

Dr. Dicky Tsang is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law , The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He holds degrees from Georgetown University (S.J.D.), Columbia University (LL.M., J.D.), University College London (LL.M.), and the University of Hong Kong (LL.B., PCLL). His practice experience includes corporate finance law at Linklaters and Shearman & Sterling across New York, London, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai. Admitted to practice in New York, England & Wales, and Hong Kong Research Interests : Dr. Tsang specializes in Private International Law and Company Law , focusing on cross-border corporate liability, veil-piercing, arbitration agreements, and FRAND litigation. His work bridges empirical legal analysis with comparative law frameworks. Publication Trends : His recent scholarship examines jurisdictional conflicts, enforcement of foreign judgments, and regulatory challenges in global corporate law. Publications span journals like Virginia Journal of International Law and Journal of Private International Law . Scientific Awards : Outstanding Research Impact Award 2022-23 CUHK Research Excellence Award 2019-2020 CUHK Teaching Excellence Award 2016-2017 Grants : He has led multiple RGC-funded projects, including empirical studies on China’s choice-of-law regime and foreign judgment enforcement. Collaborative grants explore corporate governance and legal education in Asia.

Richard BalmeView profile

Professor

• Environmental Governance
• Climate Policy
• EU-China Relations
• +3 more

Richard Balme is a Professor at the Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics (CEE) at Sciences Po, specializing in environmental governance, EU-China relations, and public policy. He serves as Director of the Master in International Governance and Diplomacy at PSIA and the Executive Master in Development Policy and Management (Potentiel Afrique) at Sciences Po Executive Education. His research focuses on climate governance, biodiversity policy in the EU, and China's environmental administration. He is a Fellow at several institutions, including Hong Kong Baptist University and the Centre des Politiques de la Terre in Paris. His academic contributions span environmental policy transfers, EU-China energy dynamics, and institutional reforms in Francophone Africa. He has taught at Columbia, Tsinghua, and Fudan Universities and served on key French advisory councils. Balme's work bridges comparative politics, international relations, and environmental studies, with a focus on transnational policy frameworks and governance capacity. Research Themes: Climate policy implementation, EU-China environmental cooperation, authoritarian governance of environmental issues. Recent Activities: Convenor of Sciences Po's AIRE environmental research platform; editorial board member of Environmental Policy and Governance . Awards: Ranked first in France's national political science professor recruitment (1995), recipient of grants from EU, CNRS, and Hong Kong RGC. His publications analyze China's environmental policy evolution, EU climate diplomacy, and the intersection of soft power and human rights in Sino-European relations. He frequently engages in policy dialogues on water security, urbanization risks, and global climate governance.

Diane DE SAINT AFFRIQUEView profile

Professor

• Business Law
• Corporate Governance
• Responsible Business (RSE)
• +4 more

Prof. Diane DE SAINT AFFRIQUE is a full-time Professor at SKEMA Business School (France) since 2019, specializing in Business Law, Ethics, and Governance. She holds a Doctorat d'Etat en Droit (2002) from Université Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas, with additional qualifications from ESSEC Business School and other institutions. Her academic leadership roles include Head of the Contract Law Master program (2016–present), Head of the Law Department (2003–2014), and responsible for the Master in Business Law (2006–2016). Research Focus: Her work centers on corporate governance, sustainable finance, AI ethics in healthcare and business, and legal frameworks for responsible business practices (RSE). She explores tensions between regulatory compliance and corporate autonomy, with recent emphasis on duty of vigilance legislation and AI accountability. Key Contributions: Over 30+ publications include analyses of: Legal implications of AI in medicine and business Corporate social responsibility and judicialization trends Religious freedom in French workplaces Data sovereignty and AI governance Affiliations & Impact: She chairs the French Academy of Legal Studies and Business, serves on the Board of VITAMINE T, and advises institutions like IFSI Ambroise-Paré. Her work frequently bridges legal theory with practical business challenges, emphasizing interdisciplinary solutions for global governance issues.