Dr Haitao Shi is a Researcher affiliated with the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh. His research focuses on criminal justice systems, drug policing in China, and the intersection of technology with crime. He employs advanced research methods including quantitative tools (R, Python, SPSS), qualitative software (Nvivo, MAXQDA), and data visualization techniques (Gephi, QGIS). His current projects include studying Chinese students' experiences at the University of Edinburgh and analyzing rhizomatic networks in online drug trade funded by the Polish Ministry of Science. Haitao's work emphasizes cross-cultural comparisons, particularly in drug trade dynamics across Finnish, Polish, and English-speaking contexts. He explores topics like police professionalization in China, guanxi networks, and quota-driven policing strategies. His methodologies span cloud computing (Azure, AWS), database systems (MySQL), and version control (Git), reflecting a technologically adept approach to criminology research. Notable research themes include the role of marketing in darknet drug trade, generational conflicts in police culture, and community-based drug rehabilitation policies. He collaborates with international teams and utilizes platforms like Microsoft Azure for large-scale data analysis.
Benjamin Arold is a University Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge. His academic career spans theoretical and applied research in labor economics, education economics, and AI-driven policy analysis. Previously, he held postdoctoral positions at ETH Zurich and visiting roles at Harvard University and Princeton University. Education: Ph.D. in Economics, LMU Munich His research bridges economic theory with empirical applications, focusing on: Long-term impacts of school curricula on student outcomes AI and NLP applications in labor economics Economics of religion and its societal implications Recent Article Trends: His work highlights intersections between education policy and technological innovation, including meta-analyses of private schooling effects, charter school performance evaluations, and computational methods for analyzing educational interventions. Scientific Awards: Prize for Best Dissertation (2021/2022) - German Economic Association Fürther Ludwig Erhard Prize (2023) Teaching: He teaches advanced courses on NLP in economics at Princeton University and Basel University, with a focus on computational methods for non-standard data.
Witold J. Henisz serves as Vice Dean and Faculty Director of the Impact, Value, and Sustainable Business Initiative at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, holding the Deloitte & Touche Professorship in Management. His research centers on political and social risk identification, ESG impact materiality, and corporate diplomacy frameworks that transform stakeholder relationships into strategic assets. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Business and Public Policy from UC Berkeley's Haas School and an M.A. in International Relations from Johns Hopkins SAIS. Henisz has served as Departmental Editor at Journal of International Business Studies and Associate Editor at Strategic Management Journal , reflecting his scholarly influence. Research interests converge on geopolitical risk quantification, stakeholder engagement optimization, and sustainable business model innovation. His work demonstrates how political hazards materially impact firm valuation and how corporate diplomacy can mitigate conflict through strategic stakeholder alignment. Recent publications leverage massive media datasets (4+ billion articles) to model populism dynamics, indigenous land conflicts, and ESG-credit risk linkages. Award highlights include the Aspen Institute Ideas Worth Teaching Award (2020), Iron Prof recognition (2019), and Academy of International Business Fellowship. His geostrategy framework Geostrategy by Design (2024) provides executives with actionable methods for navigating geopolitical volatility. Aspen Institute Ideas Worth Teaching Award (2020) Iron Prof recognition (2019) Academy of International Business Fellow (2014-present) Multiple Wharton Excellence in Teaching Awards (2006-2021) Industry Studies Association Best Paper Award (2019) Henisz consults through PRIMA LLC for multinational firms (Rio Tinto, Shell), financial institutions (Eaton Vance, World Bank), and NGOs. His executive education programs train leaders in ESG integration and geopolitical risk management, while his KEROVKA crisis simulation develops real-time strategic response capabilities. Media frequently cites his expertise on ESG controversies, with 50+ major publications featuring his analysis since 2022 including Financial Times , Bloomberg , and Wall Street Journal .
Thomas Hale is Professor in Public Policy (Global Public Policy) at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, and Director of the Master of Public Policy. His research tackles transnational governance challenges, emphasizing climate change, global health, and economic interdependence. He holds a PhD in Politics from Princeton University, a master's in Global Politics from the London School of Economics, and an AB in Public Policy from Princeton. His research explores the evolution of political institutions to address globalization, with foci on: Climate governance mechanisms like the Paris Agreement and net-zero transitions Global health policy, including pandemic response tracking Transnational commercial disputes and cooperation frameworks His recent publications (2022-2024) predominantly analyze climate policy effectiveness, net-zero accountability, pandemic governance, and geopolitical energy shifts. Trends show consistent emphasis on institutional design, multi-stakeholder action, and data-driven policy assessment across environmental and health crises. He leads major initiatives including the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker and co-leads the Net Zero Tracker and Climate Policy Hub , collaborating with global policymakers to translate research into governance frameworks.
Prof. Sanne Kruikemeier is a Professor of Digital Media and Society at Wageningen University & Research (WUR). She leads the ERC Starting Grant (HUNTING) and a NORFACE consortium grant, coordinating research across four European universities (2020–2024). As director of the Digital Data and Democracy Lab and member of the AlgoSoc Gravitation Program, she explores digitalization's societal and democratic impacts. Her research focuses on data-driven political targeting, social media's role in polarization, privacy behavior, and digital journalism. She holds roles on the editorial boards of journals like Human Communication Research , International Journal of Press/Politics , and Digital Journalism . Awards include the KNAW Early Career Award and ICA Herbert S. Dordick Dissertation Award. Her work bridges digital media, political communication, and societal change, addressing challenges like misinformation and democratic engagement. Kruikemeier advises PhD candidates on projects like data-driven campaigning's impact on democracy and polarization strategies. She engages in public discourse through media commentary on social media's role in politics and news consumption trends. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates communication science with computational methods to analyze modern political and social dynamics.
Camille Landais is a Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where she leads the Department of Economics. She serves as Director of STICERD (Suntory and Toyota International Centres for Economics and Related Disciplines) and Co-Director of the LSE-Gates Hub for Equal Representation in the Economy (H.E.R.). Additionally, she is a member of the French Council of Economic Advisers (CAE). Her research expertise spans Public Finance, Labour Economics, Applied Microeconomics, and Microeconometrics, with a focus on gender inequality, taxation policies, and child penalties. Landais holds a PhD in Economics from the Paris School of Economics. Her research interests include optimizing public spending efficiency, analyzing the economic impacts of family policies, and addressing wealth inequality through tax reforms. Recent work emphasizes the 'child penalty' phenomenon, migration responses to wealth taxation, and strategies for achieving full employment. She has contributed to high-impact publications such as the Review of Economic Studies and collaborates internationally on projects like the Child Penalty Atlas. Landais teaches advanced courses in public economics and actively engages in policy advising. She directs research centers that prioritize interdisciplinary approaches to economic challenges and inequality reduction. Her work frequently involves large-scale data analysis, including banking data and microsimulation techniques, to evaluate policy outcomes. Education: PhD in Economics, Paris School of Economics Research Centers: Director of STICERD, Co-Director of H.E.R., International Inequalities Institute Associate Teaching: EC325/EC426/EC534 (Public Economics modules) Professional Roles: Member of French Council of Economic Advisers, Editor of LSE Public Policy Review
Michael D. Smith is a Professor of Information Technology and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University, with joint appointments at Heinz College and Tepper School of Business. His research employs economic and statistical methods to analyze digital markets, focusing on firm and consumer behavior in online environments. Education: B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering (Summa Cum Laude), University of Maryland M.Sc. in Telecommunications Science, University of Maryland Ph.D. in Management Science and Information Technology, MIT Research Interests: Professor Smith investigates the economics of digital information markets, consumer behavior in online platforms, and policy implications of technological disruption. His work spans copyright enforcement, digital advertising, and the impact of piracy on legal media consumption. Publications: His recent studies examine AI’s role in copyright policy, effectiveness of anti-piracy measures, and market dynamics in digital streaming. Articles often bridge economics, computer science, and public policy. Awards: National Science Foundation CAREER Award Multiple Best Teacher Awards at CMU Recognized as a Top 100 Emerging Engineering Leader (NAE, 2020) Best Paper Runner-Up (Information Systems Research, 2006) Editorial and Industry Roles: Served as Senior Editor at Information Systems Research and Associate Editor at Management Science . Prior to academia, he worked in telecommunications at GTE and Booz Allen Hamilton, earning a patent for AI applications in network design. Contact: mds@cmu.edu | Office: 4800 Forbes Avenue, Hamburg Hall 2204, Pittsburgh PA 15213
Joost de Moor is an Assistant Professor in Political Science at Sciences Po’s Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics (CEE) . His research bridges Environmental Politics , Social Movements , and Political Participation , with a focus on climate activism, lifestyle politics, and post-political strategies. He holds a PhD in Social Sciences: Political Science from the University of Antwerp (2016) and has held postdoctoral positions at Keele University (2016-2018) , Stockholm University (2018-2021) , and Leiden University (2021) . A visiting scholar at the University of Mannheim (2015) , his work spans urban environmentalism, climate summit dynamics, and strategic movement adaptation.
Scott McCabe is a Professor of Marketing at Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham. He earned his PhD from the University of Derby in 2001, focusing on visitor motivations in the Peak District National Park, and holds an MA in Leisure and Tourism Studies from the University of North London (1993) and an HND in Leisure Studies from the University of Salford (1991). Current co-editor in Chief of the Annals of Tourism Research Editorial board member of Tourism Management Elected fellow of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism (2019+) His research spans social tourism , responsible tourism , tourist emotions , and socio-linguistic methodology , with significant work on wellbeing outcomes from supported holidays for disadvantaged families. He has contributed to Annals of Tourism Research , Journal of Travel Research , and other top-tier journals. Recent publications address topics like qualitative research sampling , tourism theory , dark tourism motivations , and smart destination engagement . His work combines tourism policy critique , consumer behavior analysis , and methodological innovation . Scientific awards include fellowships and leadership roles in international tourism research committees. He has served as VP for the International Sociological Association's Tourism Research Committee and co-chairs the Academy of Marketing's Tourism Marketing SIG.
Jonas Eliasson is a Visiting Professor at Linköping University's Department of Science and Technology (ITN), focusing on Communications and Transport Systems. He concurrently serves as Director of Transport Access at the Swedish National Transport Administration and chairs the Planning & Construction committee of the Royal Academy of Engineering Sciences. Previously, he was Director of the Stockholm City Transportation Administration (2016–2019) and a professor at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) from 2007 to 2016. His research emphasizes transport policy design and evaluation, including cost-benefit analysis, transport pricing, railway capacity allocation, and public acceptability of policies. He advises governments on sustainable transport planning, congestion pricing, and socio-economic appraisals. His work bridges theoretical frameworks and practical implementation, with a focus on accessibility, equity, and climate targets. Key research themes include infrastructure cost overruns, traffic demand reduction strategies, and the integration of passenger and freight transport systems. Recent publications analyze policy impacts, forecasting methods, and carbon-neutral transportation systems. His interdisciplinary approach addresses both technical and socio-political dimensions of transport challenges. Eliasson collaborates with research groups like Railway and Public Transport and contributes to initiatives like the 'Next Generation Smart Transportation Systems' project. Despite extensive professional roles, no formal student advisees are listed. His work is disseminated through journals like Transportation Research Part A and policy reports for national and regional governments.
Kjerstin Thorson serves as the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Colorado State University, a position she assumed on August 1, 2024. Previously, she was the Brandt Endowed Professor of Political Communication and Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives at Michigan State University’s College of Communication Arts & Sciences. An internationally recognized scholar, her research centers on digital platforms and their impact on civic life and culture. Her educational background includes: BA in English from Macalester College MA in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia PhD in Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Thorson's research explores the intersection of digital media, political communication, and civic engagement. She investigates how social media platforms shape political participation, news consumption, and civic discourse, with a particular focus on young adults and historically marginalized communities. Her work addresses critical issues such as equity in digital civic infrastructure, the role of algorithms in political exposure, and the dynamics of online moderation and community governance. She examines both the empowering potentials and the challenges of digital media for democratic participation. Her recent publications (2023-2025) reveal a sustained investigation into platform governance, volunteer moderation, and the urban-rural divide in digital civic engagement. She also delves into Gen Z's civic behaviors, the spread of misinformation, and the evolving landscape of political learning on social media. Her work often employs mixed-methods approaches, combining digital trace data with surveys to understand complex media effects. Thorson has received notable recognition for her contributions: Michigan State University’s Teacher-Scholar Award 2022-2023 Fellow of the Big 10 Academic Alliance Leadership Program Her research has been supported by prestigious organizations including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Social Science Research Council, and the Spencer Foundation. In her administrative roles, she has prioritized student success through initiatives like the Ignite the Future program, which supports first-generation and marginalized students, and has championed faculty development through the creation of a Center for Teaching and Learning. While specific advisees are not listed, her leadership in student success programs underscores her commitment to mentoring. Under her leadership at Michigan State University, the College of Communication Arts & Sciences expanded its revenue-generating partnerships, created a college-wide Center for Teaching and Learning, launched the Ignite the Future family of programs, and grew the esports initiative. She has also focused on improving culture and climate through promotion pathways for non-tenure track faculty, climate surveys, and community-building events.
Marco Letta is a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor at the Department of Social and Economic Sciences , Sapienza University of Rome. His research focuses on economic development , regional economics , policy evaluation , and applied econometrics , with a strong emphasis on climate change impacts, food security, and machine learning applications in economic policy. University: Sapienza University of Rome Department: Department of Social and Economic Sciences Email: marco.letta@uniroma1.it His recent work explores the climate migration nexus , household resilience , and policy targeting , often leveraging machine learning and empirical econometric methods . Publications span topics such as local inequalities during the COVID-19 crisis , temperature shocks in rural Tanzania , and machine learning applications in state aid regulation . Notable trends in his research include: Integration of machine learning with traditional econometric techniques Focus on climate resilience and migration patterns Analysis of policy impacts in developing economies Investigation of local mortality estimates during global crises Development of cross-country empirical frameworks Current projects include assessing agrifood system vulnerabilities and refining counterfactual policy evaluation methodologies.
John Z. Ayanian serves as the Alice Hamilton Distinguished University Professor of Medicine and Healthcare Policy at the University of Michigan, holding joint appointments as Professor of Internal Medicine in the Medical School, Professor of Health Management and Policy in the School of Public Health, and Professor of Public Policy in the Gerald R Ford School of Public Policy. As inaugural Director of the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation (IHPI), he leads a consortium of 700 faculty members across 15 schools and maintains clinical practice as a general internist at Michigan Medicine. His academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science from Duke University (1982), medical degree from Harvard Medical School (1987), and master's in public policy from Harvard Kennedy School (1987), followed by residency and fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and post-doctoral training in health services research at Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Ayanian's research program investigates health equity, access to care, and quality of care with particular attention to social determinants including race/ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, and insurance coverage. His work critically examines Medicaid expansion impacts, Medicare Advantage disparities, and policy responses to health inequities, often utilizing large-scale claims databases and cross-institutional collaborations. Current projects include the federally-authorized evaluation of Michigan's Medicaid expansion program serving over 700,000 adults. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2025) reveals three dominant research thrusts: (1) Medicare Advantage vs Traditional Medicare comparisons across diverse clinical conditions, (2) Medicaid policy evaluation including unwinding impacts and expansion effects, and (3) innovative measurement of health equity through new indices and AI applications. His work consistently emphasizes methodological rigor in health services research while maintaining strong policy relevance. His scientific honors include: Election to the National Academy of Medicine Master status in the American College of Physicians John Eisenberg National Award for Career Achievement in Research Distinguished Investigator Award from AcademyHealth Election to Alpha Omega Alpha and Association of American Physicians Dr. Ayanian leads the federally-funded Healthy Michigan Plan evaluation team of 15 faculty members and serves as founding Editor-in-Chief of JAMA Health Forum, previously holding editorial positions at the New England Journal of Medicine. His research receives substantial federal support focused on health policy evaluation, with particular emphasis on vulnerable populations. He actively mentors students and junior faculty across multiple disciplines. As Director of IHPI, he fosters interdisciplinary collaboration across 15 schools at the University of Michigan. His leadership extends to center memberships in AI and Digital Health Innovation, Caswell Diabetes Institute, and Center for Global Health Equity, where he promotes data-driven solutions to health disparities through cross-campus partnerships and innovative research methodologies.
Dr Harrison Smith is a Lecturer in Digital Media & Society at the University of Sheffield's School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations. He holds a PhD from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information, alongside MA and BA degrees in Sociology from Queen’s University, Canada. His research focuses on the political economy of data analytics, particularly in smart cities and consumer surveillance contexts. Education: PhD in Information Studies, University of Toronto (Canada) MA in Sociology, Queen’s University (Canada) BA (Hons) in Sociology, Queen’s University (Canada) Smith’s research examines how data infrastructures shape socio-economic inequality through processes like surveillance, classification, and market segmentation. Key areas include location-based marketing, 5G data infrastructures, and industry consolidation in data analytics. His work critiques how digital technologies reconfigure urban spaces and labor markets, particularly in 'smart city' contexts. Recent publications explore the metaverse's industrial implications, blockchain’s role in dispute resolution, and surveillance practices at music festivals. His teaching includes leading the module SCS2016: The Sociology of the Media. Smith’s expertise bridges media theory, urban informatics, and critical data studies, emphasizing ethical and political dimensions of digital technologies in everyday life.
Sarah Blodgett Bermeo is an Associate Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy and Associate Professor of Political Science at Duke University, serving as Director of Graduate Studies for the Master of International Development Policy program and affiliate of the Duke Center for International Development. Her academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Political Science, Princeton University (2008) M.A. in Political Science, Princeton University (2006) M.P.A., Princeton University (2001) B.A., University of Rochester (1997) Bermeo specializes in political economy at the intersection of international relations and development studies, with core expertise in industrialized-developing country relations. Her research examines strategic allocation of foreign aid, trade agreements, and climate finance through the lens of self-interested yet development-oriented donor behavior. Recent work intensively explores climate migration dynamics, health aid transitions, and the geopolitical implications of economic shifts in major donor countries like China. She investigates how negative spillovers from underdevelopment drive industrialized states to target assistance while protecting their own interests. Publication trends reveal consistent focus on aid allocation mechanisms since 2009, evolving from foundational work on democratization and trade adjudication toward contemporary climate migration and health system vulnerabilities. Her scholarship demonstrates increasing integration of environmental and health crises into development policy frameworks, with notable emphasis on data-driven analysis of donor behavior during global disruptions. Her scholarly recognition includes: Robert O. Keohane Award from International Organization (2016) for "Aid Is Not Oil" Bermeo directs externally funded research initiatives including a 2023-2024 USAID-focused study on China's economic slowdown implications and a 2020 SDG2 Leaders Alliance viability assessment. She mentors students through Bass Connections research teams and teaches graduate courses in globalization, policy analysis, and international political economy across Public Policy, Political Science, and International Comparative Studies departments. As MIDP Director of Graduate Studies, she leads curriculum development while collaborating with the Duke Center for International Development on practitioner-oriented research. Her Bass Connections teams specifically address technology-society intersections within migration and development contexts, producing policy-relevant outputs for international organizations.
