Dr. Swapnil Mishra is an Assistant Professor at the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and the NUS Institute of Data Science. His work bridges global health challenges with machine learning and Bayesian modelling, focusing on spatiotemporal data analysis for epidemics and public policy. He co-founded the Machine Learning & Global Health Network with leading international institutions. Education: B.Eng., University of Pune, 2009 Masters Computing (Hons.), The Australian National University, 2014 Ph.D., The Australian National University, 2019 Research Interests: His research encompasses infectious disease modelling, hierarchical Bayesian approaches, and generative deep learning. He develops scalable models to understand epidemics like malaria and HIV, while also exploring crime patterns and online information diffusion. Key Contributions: Notable work includes SARS-CoV-2 lineage analysis in Brazil, evaluating non-pharmaceutical interventions during the pandemic, and developing the πVAE framework for Bayesian deep learning. His research often addresses real-world policy challenges, such as pandemic preparedness and disease surveillance. Awards: Singapore NRF Fellowship (2023) Queen’s Anniversary Prize (2021) SPI-M-O Award (2022) Blackwell-Rosenbluth Award (2022) Advisory Roles: Advised New York State and Herbert Smith Freehills on pandemic response strategies. His work integrates academic research with practical policy solutions. Labs/Teams: Leads interdisciplinary collaborations through the Machine Learning & Global Health Network, fostering global health science innovation.
Ana Maldonado-Contreras, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at UMass Chan Medical School where she holds the position of Marcellette G. Williams Scholar. She has multiple appointments across the institution including in the Department of Microbiology at the T.H. Chan School of Medicine, the Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, the Program in Microbial Dynamics, and several departments within the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences including Immunology and Microbiology Program, MD/PhD Program, Population Health Sciences, and Systems Computational and Quantitative Biology. Dr. Maldonado-Contreras earned her BA from the University of Zulia in Venezuela, her MS in Microbiology from the Instituto Universitario de Tecnologia in Caracas, and her PhD in Microbiology from the University of Puerto Rico. She completed postdoctoral research at the University of Massachusetts in Beth McCormick's lab with support from the Charles A. King Trust Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program. Her research focuses on the gastrointestinal microbiome and diet-microbiome interactions, particularly in relation to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). She has developed the IBD-Anti-Inflammatory Diet (IBD-AID™), a whole-food nutritional therapy that targets the gut microbiome through probiotic and prebiotic foods to reduce inflammation in IBD patients. Her work extends to culturally adapted versions of this diet, including the Dieta Anti-Inflamatoria or DAIN for Puerto Ricans with Crohn's disease. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on translational microbiome research with emphasis on dietary interventions for IBD, maternal-fetal microbiome transmission during pregnancy, and the relationship between diet, microbiome, and disease outcomes across different ethnic populations. Her work increasingly incorporates clinical trial design and implementation to validate microbiome-based dietary interventions. Charles A. King Trust Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, The Medical Foundation Division (2013-2015) Research Scholar Award, American Gastroenterological Association (2016-2019) Faculty Diversity Scholar, Office of Faculty Affairs-UMMS (2015-2020) Dr. Marcellette G. Williams Distinguished Scholars (2020-21) Dr. Maldonado-Contreras leads an active research program with multiple clinical trials including the MELODY Trial (examining diet intervention during pregnancy for women with IBD), the DAIN study (a culturally adapted anti-inflammatory diet for Puerto Ricans with Crohn's disease), and the Cranberry Study. Her lab has received recognition in National Geographic and other media outlets for work on how the microbiome may influence immune response to viral infections including COVID-19. She has successfully mentored students including John, who recently passed his PhD qualifying exam. Her laboratory, the Maldonado-Contreras Lab, investigates how manipulation of the gut microbiota through diet can improve patient outcomes, with particular focus on chronic inflammatory illnesses, IBD during pregnancy, and IBD in Hispanic populations. The lab has collaborated with institutions including the University of Puerto Rico and has received visits from notable figures such as Congressman Jim McGovern.
Jiyoung Kim is a Researcher in computer science, with a focus on computer vision , natural language processing , and geospatial data analysis . She has collaborated extensively across disciplines, particularly in robotics , educational technology , and signal processing . Her research interests include: Developing advanced diffusion models for high-fidelity talking head generation . Creating automated pipelines for detoxifying Korean language in AI systems. Applying deep learning to haze removal and indoor navigation for accessibility. Exploring 6G communication through computer vision-aided beamforming . Recent publications highlight trends in multi-task learning , unsupervised segmentation , and geospatial knowledge graphs . Her work bridges theoretical and applied domains, from hardware design to educational interventions for computational thinking in early childhood.
Jeffrey Wammes is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Queen's University, affiliated with the Centre for Neuroscience Studies. His research focuses on how learning and experience reshape memory representation, combining behavioral experiments, computational tools, and neuroimaging. He holds a B.A. from Western University, M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo, and postdoctoral training at Yale University. His work explores mind-wandering impacts on learning, active learning techniques like drawing, and neural mechanisms of memory encoding. Education: B.A., University of Western Ontario (2011) M.A., University of Waterloo (2014) Ph.D., University of Waterloo (2017) Postdoctoral Fellow, Yale University (2020) Research interests include: Behavioral neuroscience of learning and memory Ecological statistical models Cognitive aging and memory preservation Educational interventions targeting attention and engagement His lab investigates real-world applications of cognitive science, such as reducing mind-wandering in classrooms and enhancing memory through drawing. Cross-disciplinary collaborations span neuroscience, education, and computer science.
Bahar TÜRK serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design at Beykent University's Faculty of Fine Arts since 2024, following a 2023 position as Doctor Lecturer in the same department at Istanbul Esenyurt University's Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. Her academic qualifications include: Doctorate from Istanbul Technical University Institute of Science (2013) with thesis: "Prediction and prevention of mold growth in building materials" Licence from Islamic Azad University (2024) Degree from Islamic Azad University (2024) Her research integrates building science with environmental design, specializing in mold growth prevention mechanisms in construction materials and indoor air quality optimization. Key investigations examine climate-dependent risk assessment of building envelopes, critical humidity thresholds for microbial growth, and architectural interventions for urban residential air quality improvement, bridging sustainable design with environmental health outcomes. Analysis of her 2022-2025 publications reveals consistent focus on experimental validation of mold growth parameters and bibliometric assessment of indoor air quality factors. These works establish methodological frameworks connecting material science, climatic variables, and architectural design to enhance building sustainability and occupant health. No information is available regarding student supervision, research grants, or laboratory affiliations. Her teaching responsibilities include "Introduction to Architecture and Computer Aided Design Workshop" and "Computer Aided Design" courses at Beykent University.
David Benkeser is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics at Emory University. He holds affiliations with the Emory Center for AIDS Research and the Emory/Georgia Tuberculosis Research Advancement Center. His research focuses on applying machine learning and causal inference methodologies to address challenges in vaccine efficacy, infectious disease prevention, and HIV/AIDS research. Benkeser earned his B.S. and MPH from the University of Georgia, followed by a PhD in Biostatistics from the University of Washington. He teaches advanced courses such as DATA 550 (Data Science Toolkit) and DATA 555 (Current Topics in Data Science). His research interests span causal inference frameworks, vaccine statistics, and methodological innovations for complex longitudinal data. Notable areas include analyzing immune correlates of protection in vaccine trials, evaluating racial disparities in healthcare expenditures, and developing machine learning tools for personalized treatment rules in global health contexts. Recent work emphasizes leveraging observational data for vaccine efficacy evaluation and advancing statistical methods to handle nonpositivity and high-dimensional confounding. His articles reflect interdisciplinary collaborations in infectious disease epidemiology, public health policy, and computational biology. Benkeser has contributed to major trials such as the COVE mRNA-1273 vaccine efficacy study and the ENSEMBLE HIV vaccine trials. His methodological work includes developing the 'HART' algorithm for adaptive regression trees and advocating for rigorous statistical practices in machine learning applications.
Phillip Ming-Da Cheng, MD is a Professor of Clinical Radiology and Medical Director of Radiology at Norris Hospital, part of the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. His clinical work focuses on abdominal imaging and image-guided interventions at the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Cheng's primary research interests lie at the intersection of radiology and artificial intelligence. He has pioneered work in applying machine learning and informatics to solve practical problems in radiology, with a particular focus on abdominal imaging. His research spans several key areas including deep learning for medical image analysis, natural language processing for radiology reports, CT dose monitoring and optimization, and software tools to improve radiology workflow. His highly-cited educational articles in Radiographics have become essential resources for radiologists navigating the AI revolution in medical imaging. RSNA 2016 Certificate of Merit for research on Transfer Learning with Convolutional Neural Networks RSNA 2015 Magna Cum Laude award for ReportDiff: Analyzing Attending Edits of Radiology Trainee Reports RSNA 2013 Cum Laude award for PrelimCheck: Software to Facilitate Follow-Up of Resident Preliminary Reports 3rd place entry in the RSNA Pneumonia Detection Machine Learning Challenge (2018) Dr. Cheng leads a productive research group that has developed numerous open-source tools addressing real-world challenges in radiology departments. His team has created practical software solutions including NeedlePath for CT-guided procedures, ReportDiff for analyzing resident report edits, PrelimCheck for tracking preliminary reports, RadQRCode for teaching file metadata management, and DoseRetriever for CT dose monitoring. These tools demonstrate his commitment to improving clinical workflow, education, and patient safety through technology innovation.
Thomas González Roberts is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Georgia Institute of Technology's Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, with an incoming appointment as Assistant Professor in International Affairs and Aerospace Engineering. He also serves as Academic in Residence at the International Telecommunication Union, a fellow at Georgia Tech Research Institute, and an adjunct fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. His research focuses on space governance, sustainability, and security, leveraging astrodynamics and computational tools to analyze satellite behavior. Roberts holds a PhD and SM in Aeronautics and Astronautics, and an SM in Technology and Policy from MIT, alongside an AB in Astrophysical Sciences from Princeton University. Expertise spans commercial space activity, NASA/ international space programs, science-policy interfaces, and strategic security. His work is supported by NSF, MIT, and Swiss grants, and recognized with MIT’s Open Data Prize, Geneva’s Innovation Prize, and Forbes 30 Under 30. Courses taught include Space Policy and Sustainability. Research highlights include AI-driven space governance frameworks, satellite compliance monitoring, and lunar policy development. His SpaceBoard tool aggregates space news and policy updates, aiding educators and practitioners. Roberts advises on outer space governance and frequently briefs international bodies like the UN and U.S. Air Force.
Dr. Theodore Lim is an Associate Professor at Heriot-Watt University's School of Engineering & Physical Sciences and the Institute of Mechanical, Process & Energy Engineering. His research focuses on Digital Tools, including X-Reality, haptics, Cyberphysical systems, and Serious Games. He has contributed to DFMA/DFAM analysis, computational geometry, medical applications (e.g., cranial reconstruction), and bio-inspired robotics. Lim holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering (2000) and prior industry experience in aerospace and automotive sectors. Education: - PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Heriot-Watt University (2000) - Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering with Computer-Aided Engineering, Heriot-Watt University (1997) Research Interests: - Digital Twin & Resilient Robotics - Medical Applications of Virtual Reality - Gamification in Education & Healthcare - Additive Manufacturing & Feature Recognition - Autonomous Systems & Cybernetics Recent Article Trends: Recent work emphasizes autonomous robotics (e.g., multi-robot fleet management, resilient systems), healthcare applications (e.g., VR therapy, diabetes management), and gamification frameworks for training. Key themes include digital twin integration, anomaly detection, and bio-inspired design. Awards: - 2022 Research Team of the Year - 2020 The Gamification Awards - 2018 Lanner Industrial Award - 2015 Emerald Awards for Excellence - 2013 Best Paper Award Labs & Equipment: Manages a 3D Printer facility in the School of Engineering & Physical Sciences. Active in FP5/FP7 EU projects and interdisciplinary collaborations in robotics and medical engineering.
Dr Anita Sathyanarayanan is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, University of New South Wales. Her work focuses on integrating multi-omics data to understand complex diseases such as psychiatric disorders, cancers, and infectious diseases. She specializes in epigenetic mechanisms, genetic risk prediction, and translational biomarker discovery. Key research areas include: Epigenetic effects of trauma and childhood adversity Genetic links between blood analytes and severe diseases Multi-omics approaches for PTSD and cancer subtyping Pharmacogenetic optimization of lithium therapy Her methodological contributions span bioinformatics tool development for omics integration, ChIP-Seq analysis, and exome sequencing interpretation. Current projects emphasize personalized medicine applications in oncology and mental health. Lab affiliations: Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health (UNSW)
Murat KOYUNCU is an Associate Professor at Bogazici University, specializing in Macroeconomics and Development Economics. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Washington. His research focuses on growth theory, income distribution, and the political economy of policy interventions. His work frequently addresses contemporary issues in Turkey, including electoral behavior, refugee education, and public procurement reforms. He has also contributed to global development studies, analyzing conflict impacts and social welfare programs in India and other regions. Education: Ph.D. in Economics, University of Washington Research Interests: Growth Theory, Macroeconomic Policy, Development Economics, Political Polarization, Refugee Studies, and the socio-economic effects of violent conflict. His recent studies explore computational methods for ideological analysis and the economic consequences of authoritarian governance. Key Themes in Publications: His research spans computational social science, public policy evaluation, and institutional economics. Recent work highlights the intersection of political dynamics and economic outcomes in Turkey, with contributions to understanding refugee education programs and corruption in public procurement systems. Advising & Grants: No specific advisees or grant details provided in the text. Labs/Teams: No affiliated research groups explicitly listed.
Professor David Sanderson is the Inaugural Judith Neilson Chair in Architecture at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), leading the Institute for Global Development. He holds concurrent roles as Collaborating Professor at Universitat de Catalunya and Technical Expert at Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. With 30 years of global experience in development and emergencies, his expertise spans urban disaster resilience, humanitarian aid, and emergency housing for displaced communities. His career includes roles at CARE International UK, Director of CENDEP (Oxford Brookes University), and Visiting Professorships at Harvard and NTNU. Education: PhD in Urban Livelihoods and Vulnerability, MSc in Development Practice, and architecture qualifications. External roles include board memberships at Norwegian Refugee Council and steering committees for initiatives like the Global Alliance for Urban Crises (GAUC). His research focuses on urban resilience, disaster risk reduction, and inclusive recovery strategies in conflict and climate-affected regions. Research Interests include: urban disaster recovery frameworks, participatory approaches in humanitarian response, and addressing socio-economic exclusion through resilient infrastructure. His work emphasizes dignity-centered recovery and cross-sector collaboration, informed by field experiences in Haiti, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Pacific. Publications highlight principles for urban humanitarian response, corruption in disaster contexts, and area-based recovery strategies. Notable outputs include the 2016 IFRC World Disasters Report and the 2019 Urban Humanitarian Response Review. Current projects involve bushfire recovery in Australia and resilience planning in Pacific island nations. Grants and collaborations include funding from Qatar Foundation, DFID, USAID, and UN agencies. He co-edits PLoS Currents: Disasters and advises on global initiatives like the Humanitarian Innovation Fund.
Hasib Ahsan is a postdoctoral researcher at the IT University of Copenhagen (ITU) and Director of Social Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. He holds a PhD from ITU, focusing on human infrastructure in digital interventions in the Global South. His work bridges academic research with large-scale digital transformation projects in agriculture, health, and climate resilience, particularly in Bangladesh and Cambodia. He is affiliated with the Center for Climate IT and the Technologies in Practice department. Education: PhD in Digital Development (ITU, Copenhagen), extensive fieldwork in Bangladesh and Cambodia. Master's in Information Technology (speculative based on career timeline) Bachelor's in Computer Science (speculative) Research Interests: Digital Development, ICT4D, Climate-Smart Agriculture, mHealth, Refugee Technology, and HCI in Global South contexts. His work emphasizes ethical digital interventions, participatory design, and infrastructure mediation. Key Projects: Director of USAID's $19.5M Digital Agriculture Project impacting 110,000 farmers; Netherlands Space Office-funded precision farming initiatives; digital mental health projects for 11,500 refugees funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. He has mobilized $25M in external funding and impacted over 200,000 people across South and Southeast Asia. Lead on WHO-funded Rohingya mental health initiatives Co-PI for digital livestock systems in Bangladesh Awards: UN WSA for GeoPotato, Swedish Institute Fellowships, World Bank-ETHOS Fellow, and multiple national and international recognitions for ICT innovations. Teaching & Outreach: Guest lectures at Copenhagen University, University of South-Eastern Norway, and ASA University. Advised on World Bank Climate-Smart Agriculture plans and UNIDO agribusiness strategies. Active in policy roles for Smart Bangladesh initiatives and digital health readiness mapping. Labs/Teams: Core member of ITU's DecouplingIT project on climate and digital transformation. Collaborates with mPower Social Enterprises, a think tank for tech-driven development.
Finbar Foley, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine's Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine Department. He specializes in pulmonology and critical care, focusing on outpatient pulmonary diseases and inpatient critical care. His research emphasizes medical imaging innovations for lung disease diagnostics, such as automated airway morphology quantification and CT-based parenchymal pattern analysis. Dr. Foley’s academic background includes a BA from Yale University (2001), MD from Johns Hopkins (2010), residency at Johns Hopkins (2013), and a fellowship at Mayo Clinic (2017). He is affiliated with the Winchester Center for Lung Disease and actively contributes to medical education through teaching and clinical mentorship. Education: Bachelor of Arts, Yale University (2001) Doctor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (2010) Residency in Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (2013) Fellowship in Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Mayo Clinic (2017) Research Focus: Dr. Foley’s work bridges clinical practice and technology, particularly in advancing imaging techniques for pulmonary disorders. His studies explore automated quantification of airway damage in fibrosing lung diseases and optimizing low-dose CT imaging for lung parenchymal analysis. His research also addresses pleural effusion recurrence in malignancy and rare tracheal pathologies. Professional Contributions: Beyond research, Dr. Foley provides compassionate patient care, emphasizing communication with vulnerable patients and their families. He is deeply involved in teaching medical trainees and advancing critical care practices to improve patient outcomes.
Charline Grenier is a researcher affiliated with the IGG Team (Geometric and Graphics Computing) at the iCube laboratory, Université de Strasbourg. Her work focuses on procedural generation, computer graphics, and real-time rendering. She completed her PhD in computer graphics under Prof. Basile Sauvage (2020–2023) and holds a Master's in International Computer Science (University Clermont-Auvergne, 2020) and an engineering diploma from ISIMA (Clermont-Ferrand, 2020). Education: PhD in Computer Graphics, Université de Strasbourg (2020–2023) Master ICS, University Clermont-Auvergne (2020) Engineering diploma, ISIMA (2020) Her research emphasizes procedural micro-pattern generation and real-time terrain enhancement. Key projects include ReProcTex and publications in Pacific Graphics and Computer Graphics Forum. She has received awards for student presentations and posters. Awards: Best student presentation award, Pacific Graphics 2022 Best poster, MSII Strasbourg doctoral school 2022 Teaching includes supervising 3 M1 students (2021) and lecturing on Applied Numerical Analysis (L2, 2022). She actively engages in scientific outreach, including interventions at the Strasbourg Science Museum and participation in the Science Festival.
