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Professor David A Palmer is a distinguished academic jointly appointed by the Hong Kong Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences and the Department of Sociology at the University of Hong Kong, where he has been teaching since 2008. His interdisciplinary work bridges anthropology, sociology, religious studies, and Sinology, establishing him as a leading scholar in Chinese religious studies and transnational religious movements. Palmer's educational background includes a PhD in Anthropology of Religion from Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (Sorbonne, Paris), an MPhil in Clinical Psychology/Medical Anthropology from University of Paris-VIII, and a BA in Anthropology and East Asian Studies from McGill University. His scholarly contributions span multiple disciplines with particular emphasis on Chinese religious traditions and their global manifestations. His research interests focus on the anthropology and sociology of spirituality and religion, especially Daoism and Chinese religion; religion in modern and contemporary China; inter-Asian and transnational religious circulations; Baháʼí Faith; civil society, volunteering, philanthropy, community engagement; and cultural and religious interactions on the Belt and Road. His work examines how religious traditions navigate modernity, state power, and globalization, with particular attention to the Belt and Road Initiative's cultural dimensions. Palmer's publications reveal a consistent focus on understanding Chinese religious traditions within broader theoretical frameworks of social theory, civil society, and transnational religious networks. His articles demonstrate how Chinese religious practices and institutions both adapt to and shape contemporary social and political contexts, with particular attention to the intersections of spirituality, modernity, and state-society relations. Joseph Levenson Award of the Association for Asian Studies PROSE award of the American Publishers' Association Francis L.K. Hsu Award of the Society for East Asian Anthropology Edward Bruner Prize for the best book in Anthropology of Tourism HK Research Grants Council RGC Research Fellowship (2021-2025) HK Research Grants Council Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship (2019) Palmer currently leads multiple significant research projects including 'Global China, Local Cultures: Chinese Modernity and Soft Power on the Belt and Road' (RGC Research Fellowship, 2021-2025), 'Infrastructures of Faith: Religious Mobilities on the Belt and Road' (CRF, 2019-2023), 'Rituals and Manuscripts of the Lanten Yao (Laos)' (GRF, 2021-2024), and 'Religious Cosmopolitanism in China, 1895-1927' (GRF, 2021-2024). He leads the 'Asian Religious Connections' research cluster at HKIHSS, co-convenes the 'Culture, Community and Social Equity' research cluster in the HKU Faculty of Social Sciences, and serves as co-convenor of the HKU Anthropology Research Network. As President of the East Asian Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, he plays a key role in advancing scholarly understanding of religion in the region.

• Anthropology of Religion
• Sociology of Spirituality
• Daoism
• +7 more

John F. Beacom is a Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy at The Ohio State University and Director of the Center for Cosmology and AstroParticle Physics (CCAPP). His academic roles include leadership in astroparticle physics research and education. He holds joint appointments in both the Department of Physics and the Department of Astronomy within the College of Arts and Sciences. Beacom earned his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Wisconsin (1997) and dual B.S. degrees in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Kansas (1991). He has held postdoctoral positions at Fermilab and Caltech before joining Ohio State in 2004. His research focuses on neutrinos, dark matter, and multi-messenger astrophysics, with emphasis on neutrino detection techniques, supernova physics, and cosmological implications. He leads major projects like the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN) and contributes to the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). Awards: APS Fellow (2014), NSF CAREER Award (2005–2010), multiple teaching awards for distinguished instruction. Grants: Extensive funding from NSF, DOE, and collaborative international initiatives. Labs/Teams: CCAPP, DUNE Collaboration, ASAS-SN project. His articles span neutrino physics, detector development, and observational astrophysics, reflecting interdisciplinary expertise in theoretical and experimental particle astrophysics.

• Neutrinos
• Dark Matter
• High-Energy Astrophysics
• +5 more

Prof. Dr. Sakibe Nalan BÜYÜKKANTARCIOĞLU is a Professor at Çankaya University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Translation and Interpreting Studies (English). She previously served as Professor (2007–2019), Associate Professor (2000–2007), and Assistant Professor (1997–2000) at Hacettepe University, Department of English Linguistics. PhD in English Linguistics (Hacettepe University, 1991) MA in English Language Teaching (Middle East Technical University, 1985) BA in English Teaching (Istanbul University, 1978) Her research spans Linguistics, Cognitive Linguistics, Discourse Analysis, Psycholinguistics, Sociolinguistics, Translation Studies , with a focus on figurative language, interjections, political discourse, and endangered languages. She received the European Language Award (2011) and has supervised numerous PhD and MA theses, including work on Turkish idioms, gender representation, and language awareness. A prolific editor and conference participant, she has contributed to interdisciplinary projects and publications on Turkish sociolinguistics.

• Linguistics
• Cognitive Linguistics
• Discourse Analysis
• +4 more

Aarti Singh is a Professor in the Machine Learning Department at Carnegie Mellon University and Director of the NSF AI Institute for Societal Decision Making. She leads research at the intersection of machine learning, statistics, and decision making, with applications to scientific and societal domains. Her work focuses on designing principled interactive algorithms for learning and decision making under uncertainty. Education: Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2008) M.S. in Electrical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2003) B.E. in Electronics and Communication Engineering, University of Delhi (2001) Research Interests: Professor Singh's research centers on developing interactive machine learning algorithms that go beyond finding input-output associations to make higher-level decisions about the most informative data and actions. Her work spans autonomous decision making, including active sampling, stochastic optimization, bandits, and reinforcement learning that are statistically optimal, computationally tractable, and robust. She also investigates human factors in decision making, designing algorithms that model and leverage human feedback while accounting for bias, memory effects, and calibration. Her research has applications in material science, cosmology, and peer review systems. Research Trends: Professor Singh's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on reinforcement learning, particularly in developing more efficient and robust algorithms for decision making under uncertainty. Her work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, spanning from fundamental algorithm development to real-world implementation in scientific domains. There's a clear trajectory toward integrating human factors into decision-making algorithms, with significant contributions to peer review systems and preference learning. Scientific Awards: NSF Career Award United States Air Force Young Investigator Award A. Nico Habermann Faculty Chair Award Harold A. Peterson Best Dissertation Award Multiple paper awards Advising and Grants: Professor Singh has advised numerous PhD and master's students, many of whom have gone on to faculty positions or research roles at leading institutions. Her research is supported by prestigious grants from ONR, Simons Foundation, AFRL, ARL, and NSF. She serves as General Chair (2025) and Program Chair (2020) for the International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML) and has held leadership roles in multiple professional organizations. Research Team: Professor Singh leads a vibrant research group within the Machine Learning Department at CMU, with current PhD students working on topics including reinforcement learning, human-AI collaboration, and decision making under uncertainty. She also directs the NSF AI Institute for Societal Decision Making, which brings together researchers from multiple disciplines to develop AI systems that support human decision making in societal contexts.

• Reinforcement Learning
• Bandit Algorithms
• Active Learning
• +7 more

Avi Loeb , the Frank B. Baird Jr. Professor of Science at Harvard University, is a leading astrophysicist and former Chair of Harvard's Department of Astronomy (2011-2020). He directs the Institute for Theory and Computation (ITC) and the Galileo Project (2021-present), while holding the Sackler Senior Professorship at Tel Aviv University. His research spans cosmology, black holes, interstellar objects, and the search for extraterrestrial life. Education: PhD in Physics from Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1986) Former Positions: Member of the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton (1988-1993) Loeb's research interests include: Gravitational wave detection and interstellar object analysis Simulation hypothesis and cosmic reality Technological signatures beyond the Standard Model His recent publications focus on 3I/ATLAS , gravitational SETI, and AI alignment in space exploration. Awards include being named among TIME's 25 Most Influential People in Space (2012), 14 Most Inspiring Israelis (2020), and ranking #3 in global astronomical impact (2024). He chairs the Breakthrough Starshot Initiative and advises the National Academies' Board on Physics and Astronomy.

• Cosmology
• Gravity
• High Energy Astrophysics
• +5 more

Andrew Connor is a Senior Lecturer in Archaeology and Ancient History at Monash University. He specializes in Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt, papyrology, and the social and religious history of ancient Egyptian communities. His research focuses on Egyptian temples during the Roman period, ancient economic practices, and the editing and publication of documentary papyri. Connor has particular expertise in the Fayum depression and Dakhleh Oasis regions. Connor's publications demonstrate a consistent focus on Egyptian religious institutions, economic systems, and textual evidence from archaeological sites. His recent work includes publications on temple administration, Greek papyri, and digital archaeology. He has received multiple teaching awards including the Faculty Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2017), Faculty Citation for Overseas Programs (2018), and Vice Chancellor's Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2018). Connor teaches courses on Greek and Roman history, archaeology, and ancient languages at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He serves as Honours Coordinator for the School of Philosophical, Historical, and International Studies.

• Ptolemaic Egypt
• Roman Egypt
• Papyrology
• +2 more

Simon Birrer is an Assistant Professor in Physics and Astronomy at Stony Brook University, specializing in cosmology and gravitational lensing. He holds a PhD from ETH Zurich (2016) and previously served as Kavli Fellow at Stanford University. Birrer leads research probing dark matter and dark energy using gravitational lensing phenomena. His group develops computational tools for analyzing strong gravitational lensing data to study cosmic expansion and dark matter distribution. Research areas include time-delay cosmography, Hubble constant measurements, and machine learning applications in astrophysics. Recent publications focus on multi-messenger gravitational lensing (2025), LSST survey applications (2025), and AI-powered lens modeling pipelines (2025). His work consistently addresses fundamental cosmological tensions like the Hubble constant discrepancy. Awards: Kavli Postdoctoral Fellowship (2019-2022) Kugelpyramide Lifetime Achievement Award Experimental Innovation Award (ETH Zurich) Research Group: Leads the SBU Strong Lensing group with 9+ graduate students and postdocs. The group participates in major collaborations including LSST Strong Lensing Science Collaboration (co-chair), LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration, and TDCOSMO.

• Cosmology
• Gravitational Lensing
• Dark Matter
• +2 more

Harvey Reall is a Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge , affiliated with the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP) and a Fellow of Trinity College . His research focuses on General Relativity and Effective Field Theory , particularly in the context of black hole mechanics , higher-dimensional gravity , and cosmic censorship . He has held prestigious positions including a Royal Society University Research Fellowship from 2005 to 2013. Education: PhD from DAMTP, University of Cambridge. Previous Appointments: Lecturer at the University of Nottingham (2005-2007); Postdoctoral positions at the Kavli Institute (2003-2005), Queen Mary University of London (2000-2003), and University of California, Santa Barbara (2003-2005). Reall's work explores the uniqueness and stability of black holes , causality in gravitational theories , and effective field theory approaches to gravity . His recent publications address nonperturbative second law formulations , event horizon dynamics , and axisymmetry theorems in extended theories of gravity. He has supervised numerous researchers including Aidan McSharry (2025-) , Maxime Gadioux (2022-) , and Iain Davies (2020-24) , contributing to the training of the next generation of physicists. Scientific Awards: Royal Society University Research Fellow (2005-2013)

• General Relativity
• Theoretical Physics
• Black Hole Mechanics
• +6 more

Prof. Dr. Ahmet Taşağıl is a prominent historian specializing in Turkic studies, Eurasian history, and pre-Islamic cultures. He holds the rank of Professor at Yeditepe University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, History Department, since 2015, and previously served at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. His academic journey includes a PhD from Istanbul University (1989-1991) and extensive research on ancient Turkic empires like the Gokturks and Huns. Education: PhD in General Turkish History (Istanbul University), MSc in Medieval History (Istanbul University), BA in History (Istanbul University). Affiliations: Currently at Yeditepe University; previously at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University and Kirgizistan-Türkiye Manas Üniversitesi. Research Interests : Focuses on early Turkic states (Gokturks, Huns, Uyghurs), cross-cultural relations between Turkic and Chinese empires, shamanism, and pre-Islamic Turkic societies. His work bridges archaeology, ethnohistory, and political analysis, with a particular emphasis on primary sources like Chinese records and Orkhon inscriptions. Publications : Over 50 books and articles, including seminal works like Kök Tengri’nin Çocukları , Avrasya'nın Sekiz Asrı Çengizoğulları , and İslamiyet Öncesi Türkler . His research often examines the socio-political structures of nomadic empires and their legacy in Eurasian history. Awards : Recipient of the Moğalistan Devlet Onur Madalyası, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Tarih Ödülü, and numerous academic honors. His contributions to Turkic cultural heritage are widely recognized internationally. Grants & Projects : Led projects on Central Asian archaeology, cultural atlas of the Turkic world, and historical studies of Siberian tribes. Collaborated with institutions in Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkey. Teaching : Offers courses on pre-Islamic Turkic history, Eurasian empires, and historical methodology in Turkish and English.

• Ancient History
• Turkic Studies
• Eurasian History
• +5 more

Laurie Shannon is the Franklyn Bliss Snyder Professor of English at Northwestern University, with a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. She studies English literature and culture in the long sixteenth century, focusing on the history of ideas in language, stakeholdership, embodiment, and cross-species relations. She serves as convener of The Anne Lister Society and is collaborating with Oxford University Press on a scholarly edition of Anne Lister’s Journal. Education: J.D., Harvard Law School; Ph.D., University of Chicago Shannon’s research explores the political imagination in early modern literature, particularly through friendship (Sovereign Amity: Figures of Friendship in Shakespearean Contexts) and animal studies (The Accommodated Animal: Cosmopolity in Shakespearean Locales). Her current monograph, 'Frailty’s Name: Shakespeare and the Natural History of Human Being,' examines human negative exceptionalism in Renaissance thought and its implications for climate crisis ethics. Her publications span Shakespeare studies, queer theory, environmental humanities, and textual editing. Notable awards include the Elizabeth Dietz Memorial Award, Robert B. Cox Teaching Award, and Dean’s Award for Graduate Mentoring. She has held NEH, ACLS, and Guggenheim fellowships. Scientific Awards: Elizabeth Dietz Memorial Award, Robert B. Cox Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award, Dean's Award for Graduate Mentoring, NEH Fellowship, ACLS Fellowship, Guggenheim Fellowship Shannon contributes to the Anne Lister Diary Transcription Project and has served as English Department Chair at Northwestern. Her recent articles focus on Shakespeare’s engagement with natural history, queer cosmology, and animal sovereignty, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach.

• Early Modern Literature
• Gender & Sexuality Studies
• Environmental Humanities
• +5 more

Thomas Hartman is a Professor of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University. He received his A.B. in Physics from Princeton University in 2004 and his Ph.D. in Physics from Harvard University in 2010. His professional journey includes being a Member of the School of Natural Sciences at the Institute for Advanced Study (2010-2013), Research Associate at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, UCSB (2013-2014), Assistant Professor at Cornell University (2014-2020), Associate Professor at Cornell University (2020-2022), and Professor at Cornell University (2022-present). Hartman's research focuses on theoretical aspects of quantum gravity and quantum field theory, with particular emphasis on black hole information and strongly interacting quantum fields. His work explores four major interconnected areas: gauge/gravity duality (examining how quantum field theory degrees of freedom organize into fluctuating spacetime), black hole information paradox (investigating the relationship between classical black hole solutions and quantum statistical systems), new approaches to quantum field theory using dualities and entanglement dynamics, and the physics of de Sitter space with implications for early universe cosmology. His research employs techniques from string theory, holographic duality, general relativity, and quantum information theory. Analysis of Hartman's publication record reveals a strong focus on resolving fundamental questions in quantum gravity, particularly through the development of replica wormhole techniques that address the black hole information paradox. His work spans both highly mathematical approaches to quantum gravity and connections to potentially observable phenomena, with increasing emphasis on connections between quantum information science and gravitational physics in recent years. Member, School of Natural Sciences, Institute for Advanced Study, 2010-2013 Hartman has advised graduate students including Jeevan Chandra Namburi and Wan Zhen Chua, contributing to the next generation of theoretical physicists. His research group actively investigates the emergence of spacetime from quantum information principles and develops new mathematical frameworks for understanding quantum gravity. The group maintains strong connections with other leading institutions through collaborative projects and participates in major theoretical physics initiatives including Snowmass planning for future research directions in high energy physics. Hartman's research program represents a vital bridge between abstract theoretical concepts in quantum gravity and potential experimental tests, working to develop frameworks that could ultimately connect quantum gravity to observable phenomena in both high-energy physics and cosmological observations.

• Quantum Gravity
• Quantum Field Theory
• String Theory
• +4 more

Brent Pym is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at McGill University. His research focuses on the intersection of differential, algebraic, and noncommutative geometry, with a particular emphasis on Poisson varieties and deformation quantization. He has held academic positions at the University of Edinburgh, University of Oxford, and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at McGill and the University of Toronto. Education: BScE in Engineering Physics, Queen's University (2007) MSc in Mathematics, University of Toronto (2008) PhD in Mathematics, University of Toronto (2013) Research Interests: Pym studies Poisson structures, their quantizations, and connections to mathematical physics. His work involves classical/derived algebraic geometry, D-modules, moduli spaces, the Stokes phenomenon, and multiple zeta values. Recent projects include holonomic Poisson manifolds, log symplectic structures, and software for symbolic calculations in deformation quantization. Awards: Lichnerowicz Prize (2018) Advising & Grants: Pym has openings for graduate students (admission 2026) and undergraduate projects (2026–27). He develops the Star Products software package for symbolic calculations in Poisson brackets and quantization. His work is supported by research collaborations and institutional grants. Labs & Teams: Pym collaborates with researchers in geometry and mathematical physics, contributing to projects in noncommutative algebra and geometric quantization. His software tools enhance symbolic computation in these fields.

• Mathematical Physics
• Algebraic Geometry
• Noncommutative Geometry
• +3 more

Seth Lloyd is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he directs the Center for Extreme Quantum Information Theory (xQIT). His work bridges theoretical physics, quantum information science, and complex systems theory. He has made significant contributions to the foundations of quantum computing and quantum information processing. Lloyd received his education from prestigious institutions: B.A. from Harvard College (1982) M.Phil from Cambridge University (1984) as a Marshall Scholar Ph.D. in Physics from Rockefeller University (1988) Lloyd's research focuses on quantum information science, particularly quantum computation and quantum communications. He has pioneered work in quantum analog computation, quantum error correction, and quantum metrology. His research explores how quantum mechanics can be harnessed for information processing tasks, with applications ranging from quantum computing to understanding biological processes like photosynthesis. Lloyd is also known for his work on complex systems and the relationship between information and physical systems, arguing that the universe itself can be viewed as a quantum computer. His publication record shows a clear progression from foundational quantum computing work to applications in quantum machine learning and quantum biology. The most recent articles reveal a strong focus on quantum algorithms for machine learning, quantum metrology, and the intersection of quantum mechanics with biological systems. His work on the HHL algorithm for solving linear systems has been particularly influential in quantum machine learning, though its practical advantages have been debated following Ewin Tang's classical algorithms. Lloyd has received numerous scientific honors: Lindbergh Fellow (1994) Finmeccanica Professorship (1996) Edgerton Prize (2001) Fellow of the American Physical Society (2007) Quantum Communication Award (2012) International Quantum Communication Award (2012) Throughout his career, Lloyd has mentored numerous students and researchers in quantum information science. He has secured significant research funding for his work in quantum computing and complex systems. His research has been supported by various foundations and government agencies interested in advancing quantum technologies. Lloyd has also been involved in interdisciplinary collaborations, particularly with biologists studying quantum effects in photosynthesis. Lloyd directs the Center for Extreme Quantum Information Theory (xQIT) at MIT, which brings together researchers from physics, computer science, and engineering to tackle fundamental challenges in quantum information processing. His lab has been at the forefront of developing theoretical frameworks for quantum computing and exploring practical implementations of quantum information protocols.

• Quantum Information Science
• Quantum Computation
• Quantum Communications
• +5 more

Dragan Huterer is a Professor of Physics and Associate Chair for the Graduate Program at the University of Michigan. His research focuses on cosmology, particularly dark energy and large-scale structure, utilizing data from the Dark Energy Survey (DES) and the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) collaborations. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago (2001) and B.S. from MIT (1996). His work explores the nature of dark energy through cosmological probes like Type Ia supernovae, galaxy clustering, and cosmic microwave background anisotropies. Key contributions include co-leading DESI's first-year cosmological analysis, revealing unprecedented constraints on dark energy and neutrino masses. He also investigates the statistical isotropy of the universe and authored the textbook A Course in Cosmology: From Theory to Practice . Awards include the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award (2019) and the Chambliss Astronomical Writing Award (2025). He has advised numerous graduate and undergraduate students, and his funding includes DOE, NSF, and NASA grants. Current projects include the Michigan Cosmology Summer School and leadership in the DESI Collaboration.

• Cosmology
• Dark Energy
• Large-Scale Structure
• +3 more

Laur Järv is an Associate Professor in Theoretical Physics at the University of Tartu, Faculty of Science and Technology, Institute of Physics. He has been serving as Associate Professor since 2021 and is currently the Head of the Laboratory of Theoretical Physics (since 2019). His academic career at the University of Tartu spans over 20 years, with progressive roles from Post-Doc to his current position. Dr. Järv received his education at the University of Tartu (B.Sc. in Fundamental Physics, 1996; M.Sc. in Theoretical Physics, 1998) and completed his Ph.D. in Mathematical Sciences at the University of Durham in 2002. His doctoral research focused on "The enhancon mechanism in string theory" under the supervision of Clifford V Johnson. Dr. Järv's primary research interests lie in gravitational physics and cosmology, with particular focus on modified theories of gravity including teleparallel gravity, scalar-tensor theories, and nonmetricity-based approaches. His work explores the cosmological implications of these theories, including inflationary models, black hole solutions, and gravitational wave propagation. His research bridges theoretical physics with observational cosmology, addressing fundamental questions about the nature of gravity and the evolution of the universe. His publication record demonstrates a strong focus on geometric foundations of gravity, with numerous high-impact papers in leading journals like Physical Review D and Classical and Quantum Gravity. Recent work shows increasing emphasis on alternative formulations of gravity (teleparallel, symmetric teleparallel) and their cosmological applications, often collaborating with international researchers in the field. Estonian National Research Award in exact sciences (2020) for the cycle of works "Extended geometric theories of gravity" with Manuel Hohmann and Margus Saal University of Tartu Badge of Distinction (2021) Best teaching staff in the UT Institute of Physics, recognized by students (2024) Letter of recognition for supervision of Joosep Lember's award-winning student work (2022) Dr. Järv has been actively involved in academic mentoring, serving as a supervisor for student research projects and as an opponent for PhD defenses internationally. He has organized multiple international conferences on gravitational physics in Tartu, establishing the university as a hub for research in modified gravity theories. As Head of the Laboratory of Theoretical Physics, he leads a research group focused on geometric foundations of gravity and cosmological applications. Dr. Järv's laboratory has become a recognized center for research on alternative gravity theories, particularly through the organization of the biennial "Geometric Foundations of Gravity" conference series since 2017, which has attracted leading researchers from around the world to Tartu.

• Gravitation Theory
• Cosmology
• Theoretical Physics
• +3 more