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Maria T. ChaoView profile

Professor

• Integrative Medicine
• Complementary Health Approaches
• Chronic Pain Management
• +3 more

Maria T. Chao is a Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG) and serves as the Director of Research at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Osher Center for Integrative Medicine. Her work focuses on complementary health approaches for chronic disease management, particularly integrative models for chronic pain and cancer-related symptoms in diverse healthcare settings. University of California, Santa Cruz, BA in Women’s Studies (1996) Columbia University, MPA in Health Policy (1999) Columbia University, DrPH in Sociomedical Sciences (2005) UCSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Integrative Medicine (2011) Her research combines observational studies and clinical trials to evaluate integrative medicine interventions, including group acupuncture for diabetic neuropathy and mindfulness-based programs for cancer patients. Current projects address intersectional stigma, social isolation, and telehealth expansion in integrative pain management. Notable scientific awards include NIH/NCCIH K01 funding for group acupuncture research, multiple travel awards from institutions like Mount Zion Health Fund, and a UCSF Mid-Career Development Award for health equity. She co-directs the UCSF Integrative Oncology Program with Chloe Atreya and Anand Dhruva, emphasizing real-world implementation and non-pharmacologic interventions during active cancer treatment.

Riitta HujanenView profile

Researcher

• Early Monastic and Catholic Enclosed Contemplative Traditions
• Temporality
• Monastic Literature
• +6 more

Dr. Riitta Hujanen is a Researcher at the Research Centre for Theology and Religious Studies (CITER), actively engaged in the project 'Temporality, Liminality and Literature: Carthusian Perspectives' examining Catholic monastic traditions through Carthusian spirituality and temporal dynamics. Her academic background includes: PhD in Monastic Journeys through Time, Liverpool Hope University (2023) MBA from Aalto University Master of Social Sciences (Communications), University of Helsinki Hujanen's research centers on Early Monastic and Catholic Enclosed Contemplative Traditions, Temporality, and Monastic Literature, analyzing how Carthusian monks articulate spiritual experiences through poetry and navigate liminal states within time-bound contemplative practices. Her 2025 publications consistently explore Carthusian poetry to investigate death, ontological distance, and eschatological perspectives, revealing cohesive patterns where literary expression serves as a framework for understanding temporal-spiritual intersections in enclosed monastic life.

Edward MaloneyView profile

Professor

• Narrative Theory
• Technology-Enhanced Learning
• Learning Analytics
• +5 more

Edward Maloney is an Executive Director & Professor at Georgetown University. His roles include leading The Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship (CNDLS), teaching in the Department of English, and founding the Program in Learning, Design, and Technology. Executive Director, CNDLS Professor of the Practice, Department of English Founding Director, Learning, Design, and Technology Program Education PhD in English Literature, The Ohio State University MA in English and Textual Studies, Syracuse University Maloney's research focuses on narrative theory , technology-enhanced learning , and the intersection of literature and digital humanities . He explores the application of learning analytics, Jesuit pedagogy, and critical discourse in education, with a specific interest in modernist and postmodernist literature (e.g., James Joyce, Virginia Woolf). His publications from 2020 emphasize higher education's response to the pandemic , including hybrid learning models (HyFlex), equity challenges, and future scenarios for universities. Earlier works (2007–2015) examine digital humanities , hypertext fiction, and the pedagogical potential of Web 2.0 technologies. Maloney has contributed to educational innovation grants and co-authored two books: Learning Innovation and the Future of Higher Education (2020) and The Low-Density University (2020), both published by Johns Hopkins University Press.

Nicole BauerView profile

Associate Professor

• European History
• Cultural History
• Intellectual History
• +5 more

Nicole Bauer, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of European History at The University of Tulsa's Kendall College of Arts & Sciences and Associate Director of the Oklahoma Center for the Humanities. She specializes in cultural and intellectual history, focusing on early modern France, secrecy, and self-identity, while integrating contemplative practices into academic resilience. Education: Ph.D., The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill M.A., Yale University B.A., University of California-Berkeley Her research explores intersections of early modern French history with themes of secrecy, Enlightenment intellectual frameworks, and contemplative practices. She is working on a book examining mystical experiences and compassion in Enlightenment Europe, alongside her recent publication on academic burnout. Bauer has received notable fellowships, including: Inaugural Fellow at the France-Stanford Center for Interdisciplinary Studies Fellow at the University of Siegen (Universität Siegen) Fellow at the Institut français d’Amérique She actively engages in public humanities through writings in the Los Angeles Review of Books , Washington Post , and other platforms, and teaches courses on the Enlightenment, gender and queer theory, and film studies.

• Actuarial Science
• Insurance Risk Management
• Behavioral Economics in Insurance
• +3 more

Akio Hoshino is an Associate Professor at the School of Commerce, Waseda University, specializing in actuarial science and insurance risk management. His academic work bridges theoretical risk analysis with practical insurance applications, focusing on how individuals perceive and respond to different types of risks. Hoshino actively contributes to both undergraduate and graduate education through multiple courses in insurance management, actuarial science, and business fundamentals. Hoshino's research centers on a groundbreaking three-type classification of risk preferences (pure, speculative, and lottery risks), which explains seemingly contradictory behaviors where individuals may be risk-averse in insurance contexts yet risk-seeking in gambling. His work demonstrates that risk preferences are domain-specific rather than universal, with minimal correlation between risk attitudes across different contexts. This has significant implications for insurance product development, pricing strategies, and consumer protection regulations. His publication record reveals a consistent focus on understanding how psychological and behavioral factors influence insurance decision-making. Recent work examines flood insurance take-up patterns, the impact of autonomous driving technology on automobile insurance, and cognitive biases affecting risk perception. Hoshino's research increasingly incorporates quantitative methods to measure risk premiums across different risk domains, contributing to more nuanced economic models of risk behavior. Fellow of Institute of Actuaries of Japan As principal investigator for the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Grants-in-Aid project "Quantitative assessment of risk appetite based on a new classification of risks" (2022-2025), Hoshino has led extensive survey research involving 1,000 Japanese participants to measure risk preferences across different domains. His concurrent research project "Analysis of risk appetite by introducing three risk categories" further develops this framework, with findings presented at international conferences including the upcoming 2025 World Risk and Insurance Economics Congress.

Ruben LaukkonenView profile

Senior Lecturer

• cognitive neuroscience
• meditation
• consciousness
• +2 more

Dr. Ruben Laukkonen is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor equivalent) in cognitive science and computational neuroscience at Southern Cross University, with honorary fellowships at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and The University of Queensland. His award-winning research integrates neural, psychological, and computational approaches to study meditation, insight, and consciousness. Research highlights: Bayesian models of advanced meditation states Mechanisms of true/false insight experiences Neural correlates of consciousness using EEG/Machine Learning Chief Investigator on Australia's largest psychedelic clinical trial ($4M funding) He publishes in leading journals, speaks internationally, and consults for the OECD on AI and education. His work explores rare states of consciousness across multiple explanatory levels, from neural dynamics to subjective phenomenology. Laukkonen received the 2024 Mid-Career Researcher Award for Research Excellence.

• Critical Social Justice
• Community Organizing
• Disaster Response
• +4 more

Dr. Loretta Pyles is Professor at the University at Albany School of Social Welfare, holding PhD and MA degrees from the University of Kansas and a BA from Baker University. A certified yoga instructor, her critical social justice scholarship examines resistance to poverty, gender violence, racism, and disasters within contexts of climate crisis and neoliberalism. Her NSF-funded research employs transformative frameworks integrating holistic mind-body-spirit approaches. Research Focus: Transformative community organizing; Integrative wellness practices; Disaster resilience; Anti-oppressive methodologies; Climate justice frameworks. Publications: Authored Progressive Community Organizing (Routledge) and Healing Justice: Holistic Self-Care for Change Makers (Oxford). Recent work explores rewilding practices amid climate change. Awards: National Science Foundation grant recipient for disaster research.

Muhammad FaruqueView profile

Associate Professor

• Islamic Philosophy
• Environmental Humanities
• Sufism
• +4 more

Muhammad Faruque is the Inayat Malik Associate Professor of Islamic Philosophy and Environmental Studies at the University of Cincinnati, with affiliations in Philosophy, Environmental Studies, and RALL. He holds a PhD from UC Berkeley, an MA from Tehran University, and a BSc from the University of London. A globally recognized philosopher, Faruque lectures extensively and has authored five books and over 50 peer-reviewed articles translated into multiple languages. His research bridges Islamic philosophy, environmental humanities, Sufism, and AI ethics, exploring themes like selfhood, climate change, and consciousness. He secured grants from the Templeton Foundation ($28,000) and the US Department of Education ($715,000), and received the Young Investigator Award and World Book of the Year Award. Education: PhD (UC Berkeley), MA (Tehran), BSc (London) Grants: Templeton Foundation, US Dept of Education Awards: Young Investigator Award, World Book of the Year Award Faruque's work emphasizes contemplative ecology and cross-cultural philosophy, advancing debates on human flourishing in secular modernity.

Maureen HallView profile

Professor

• Contemplative Pedagogy
• Global Citizenship Education
• Social-Emotional Learning
• +2 more

Maureen Hall is Professor of Education at UMass Dartmouth, specializing in contemplative pedagogies, global citizenship, and social-emotional learning. Her Fulbright-supported research in India explores holistic education models at Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya. Publications examine Lectio Divina in classrooms, faculty communities of practice, and equity-focused teacher education. She directs projects on mindfulness in college transitions, funded by Mind and Life Institute. Teaches graduate courses: Sociocultural Contexts of Education, Critical Literacies, and Knowing & Learning. Authored books on literacy transformation and embodied pedagogies.

• Ancient Philosophy
• Neoplatonism
• Plotinus Studies
• +6 more

Damian Caluori is a Senior Lecturer and Undergraduate Teaching Director in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh's School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences. He holds a DPhil from the University of Oxford (2008) and a Lic.phil (MA) from the University of Zurich, Switzerland. Previously, he taught at Trinity University in Texas for a decade, serving as Assistant and Associate Professor before joining Edinburgh in 2019. His research focuses on ancient philosophy, particularly Neoplatonism, Plotinus, and theories of the soul. He has authored a monograph Plotinus on the Soul , edited volumes on friendship philosophy and Renaissance skepticism, and co-translated Francisco Sanchez's works. Current projects include commentaries on Plotinus' Enneads addressing substance, being, and generality. Teaching: Ancient Greek Philosophy, Philosophy of Friendship, and undergraduate core courses Research Centers: Associate Member of the Plato Centre, Trinity College Dublin His publications span Plotinus studies, Hellenistic philosophy, Socratic methods in Damascius, and the intersection of medical empiricism with Pyrrhonist skepticism. He actively supervises PhDs on Plato, Aristotle, Stoicism, and Neoplatonism, with current advisees at Edinburgh, Bern, and Classics programs. Notable contributions include his analysis of Plotinus' cosmological soul theories, critiques of Aristotelian dogmatism in Renaissance thought, and edited works on friendship's philosophical dimensions. His work frequently bridges ancient and late antique philosophical systems with contemporary analytical frameworks.

Jo TrelfaView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Reflective Practice
• Educational Development
• Curriculum Design
• +7 more

Dr Jo Trelfa is the Academic Practice and Enhancement Manager at Queen Mary University of London's Queen Mary Academy. She joined in September 2023 and focuses on educational development in assessment, feedback, curriculum design, and inclusivity. With a PhD in reflective practice and over 20 years in higher education, she previously held roles such as Head of Academic Professional Development at the University of Winchester and Principal of an independent HE college. Trelfa is a Principal Fellow of Advance HE (PFHEA), recognizing her expertise in reflective practice and strategic leadership. Her research interests include reflective practice, trauma-informed pedagogies, compassionate assessment, and professional identity formation. She has secured grants for projects such as interactive tools for reflective practice and interdisciplinary assessment processes. Trelfa teaches on the Postgraduate Certificate Academic Practice (PGCAP) and has led institutional fellowship schemes. She has been an External Examiner and reviewer for seven UK universities and contributed to international conferences in education and youth work. Trelfa’s career spans formal, informal, and non-formal education, including work in youth and community development, human rights, and women’s rights. She chairs the TAG national association for youth work lecturers and has authored over 30 publications and conference papers. Her current work emphasizes student voice, engagement, and strategic educational enhancement. Outside academia, she balances family life as a single parent, with future plans to explore hobbies alongside her daughter’s academic pursuits.

• Consciousness Studies
• Computational Psychiatry
• Cognitive Science
• +3 more

Beth Fisher is a Research Fellow at Monash University's Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies, specializing in interdisciplinary research spanning computational psychiatry, cognitive neuroscience, and theoretical models of consciousness. Her work integrates advanced computational frameworks to investigate fundamental psychological phenomena with implications for mental health and cognitive theory. Research Interests: Computational modeling of optimism bias and self-evidencing processes Probabilistic causal reasoning under cognitive constraints Psychedelic pharmacology (psilocybin) effects on behavioral engagement Quantum-inspired geometric approaches to perceptual judgment Active inference and predictive processing in decision-making Her methodology bridges experimental psychology, neuropharmacology, and mathematical modeling to explore consciousness mechanisms. Publication Trends: Recent work (2023-2025) demonstrates cohesive advancement in applying computational psychiatry techniques to model cognitive biases across species and perceptual domains. Key contributions include formalizing optimism bias through active inference frameworks, analyzing time-pressure effects on causal reasoning, and developing novel quantum geometric models for color perception—establishing significant methodological innovations in cognitive science. Scientific Awards: No major awards, fellowships, or medals are documented in the available profile information. Advising and Funding: No graduate students, advisees, or grant funding details are specified in current materials. Research appears collaborative through multi-author publications with established neuroscience and cognitive science researchers. Research Environment: Operates within Monash University's Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies, indicating participation in an interdisciplinary hub focused on theoretical and empirical investigations of consciousness. This affiliation suggests regular collaboration across neuroscience, philosophy, and psychology departments despite no explicit school/departmental assignment.

David C. AlbertsonView profile

Associate Professor

• Medieval Theology
• History of Mathematical Theology
• Nicholas of Cusa Studies
• +5 more

David C. Albertson serves as Associate Professor of Religion at the University of Southern California (USC), where he has been a faculty member since 2007. His academic work bridges historical theology, philosophy, and the history of science with a specialized focus on medieval intellectual traditions. Education: Stanford University (undergraduate degree) University of Chicago (graduate degree) Thomas-Institut für mittelalterliche Philosophie at Universität zu Köln (postgraduate research) Albertson's research centers on mathematical theology in medieval contexts , particularly examining Nicholas of Cusa's legacy and Neopythagorean influences on Christian thought. His work explores how geometric and arithmetic models shaped theological concepts of the Trinity, divine contemplation, and cosmology from the 12th through 16th centuries. Current projects include studies on geometrical icons in Renaissance Christian humanism (1300–1600) and the role of geometry in ancient Christian contemplation. Key scholarly contributions: Analysis of Thierry of Chartres' arithmetic commentaries as sources for Cusanus Recovery of eclipsed arithmetic models in Victorine mysticism Synthesis of Pythagorean number theory in Latin Christian theology Awards and Recognition: Manfred Lautenschlaeger Award (Universität Heidelberg) Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fellowship National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship Huntington Library Fellowship Albertson maintains active leadership in scholarly communities as past president of the American Cusanus Society and current member of the Wissenschaftliche Beirat for the Cusanus-Gesellschaft. His research has been supported by major funding bodies including the NEH, ACLS, and Huntington Library, reflecting the significance of his contributions to medieval studies. He is preparing two forthcoming publications: an edited volume on Nicholas of Cusa's modern reception and a monograph on geometry in ancient Christian contemplation.

Katrin HeimannView profile

Assistant Professor

• Inclusive teaching
• Neurodiversity
• Embodied critical thinking
• +9 more

Katrin Heimann is an Assistant Professor at Aarhus University's Centre for Educational Development (CED), specializing in inclusive teaching, neurodiversity, and embodied critical thinking. Her interdisciplinary background in Philosophy and Cognitive Neuroscience informs her empirical research, particularly her expertise in micro-phenomenology. She focuses on fostering inclusive learning environments in higher education, exploring tools to enhance belonging and thriving among students and educators. Dr. Heimann teaches in the University Pedagogical Program and the TECTU Education Program, developing courses on inclusive teaching and supervision. Previously, she taught in Cognitive Sciences, Cognitive Semiotics, Linguistics, and Anthropology programs. She collaborates widely in art-science projects and research on creativity, audience experiences, and sustainable societal transformation. Her research employs qualitative methods like micro-phenomenology to analyze subjective experiences, grounded in transformative pedagogy, gender studies, and decolonial perspectives. She leads or co-designs projects such as the Developing Teacher Education for the Neuroinclusive University (2025–2026) and Inhabiting Altered Worlds (2023–2027), emphasizing interdisciplinarity and practical impact. Key collaborations include work on audience research, clinical studies, and contemplative practices. Her teaching and research aim to bridge theory and practice, creating spaces for transformative learning and ethical academic environments.

• Contemplative Neuroscience
• Clinical Social-Affective Neuroscience
• Psychotherapy
• +3 more

Dr. Simon Guendelmann is a Researcher at the Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, affiliated with the Faculty of Life Sciences. He holds a Medical Doctorate (University of Chile, 2008) and a Bachelor in Social Sciences and Humanities (2001). His research focuses on contemplative neuroscience, clinical social-affective neuroscience, and mindfulness interventions. Key interests include emotion regulation, empathy, mentalizing, and their disruptions in psychopathology. Explores neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness meditation, particularly its effects on social brain functions. His recent work examines how mindfulness modulates empathy and mentalization capacities using fMRI. The research bridges mind/body issues in clinical psychiatry and advances understanding of neuroplasticity in social-affective processes. Contributions span philosophy of psychotherapy, developmental trauma, and intersubjective theory. He collaborates with the Dziobek-lab (www.dziobek-lab.org), focusing on relational psychotherapy and epistemological frameworks in contemporary psychoanalysis. No awards explicitly listed, but his work engages with interdisciplinary research at the intersection of clinical practice and neuroscience.