Prof. Dr. Ilker Birbil is a Professor of AI & Optimization Techniques for Business & Society at the University of Amsterdam (UvA), affiliated with the Amsterdam Business School's Business Analytics section. He previously held professorships at Erasmus University and Sabancı University, focusing on optimization and data science. His research interests include interpretable machine learning, data privacy, and optimization methods in decision-making. Education: PhD in Operations Research from North Carolina State University Postdoc at Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), Netherlands Research Interests: Optimization in data science, interpretable AI, privacy-preserving algorithms, and decision-making systems. Recent work focuses on differentially private optimization and meta-learning techniques like LESS. Key Achievements: Recipient of multiple teaching awards at Sabancı University Affiliated researcher at OPTIMAL (Optimization for and with Machine Learning) Organized workshops on ML for optimization and mathematics of ML Grants & Teams: Leads the UvA group on Optimization and Machine Learning at LNMB. Collaborates on projects blending OR and ML, including privacy-aware algorithms and revenue management systems. Labs/Teams: OPTIMAL, UvA Optimization Group, and interdisciplinary teams in data analytics.
Dr. Nughmana Mirza serves as a Lecturer in Sociological & Cultural Studies at the University of Glasgow, specializing in criminology with a focus on gender-based violence within South Asian communities. Her academic journey culminated in a PhD in Social Policy, MRes in Social Research, and MSc in Islamic and Middle Eastern History from the University of Edinburgh. Her educational background includes: PhD in Social Policy (University of Edinburgh) MRes in Social Research (University of Edinburgh) MSc in Islamic and Middle Eastern History (University of Edinburgh) Dr. Mirza's research explores the complex intersections of gender-based violence, kinship patterns, transnational migration, and criminal justice responses, with particular emphasis on South Asian women's experiences of family abuse in Scotland. Her work critically examines how micro- and macro-level contexts—including policy frameworks, cultural norms, and immigration policies—shape abuse experiences and help-seeking behaviors among marginalized populations. She investigates how South Asian women navigate abusive situations within specific cultural contexts, challenging mainstream conceptualizations of domestic abuse through intersectional analysis. Her recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on domestic abuse pathways, forced marriage interventions, methodological innovations in qualitative research, and the impact of structural inequalities on marginalized communities. The work shows progression from foundational studies on South Asian women's abuse experiences toward increasingly sophisticated analyses of systemic barriers and culturally responsive interventions. Dr. Mirza actively supervises postgraduate research, including Zarkou, Nafsika's work on Pakistani women mothering disabled children in Scotland. She has secured significant research funding including an ESRC/Scottish Government Studentship (2008) and Sociology Small Grants Competition award (2019). Her teaching portfolio includes convening and teaching 'Qualitative Research Methods' and 'Gender Relations (Contemporary Approaches to)' at postgraduate level. She maintains active professional engagements through: Gender Based Violence Forum (2018-present) Amina - The Muslims Women's Resource Centre (2018-present) Centre for Research on Families and Relationships as Associate Researcher (2018-present)
Yangming Li is a Research Fellow at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP) at the University of Cambridge, affiliated with the Cambridge Image Analysis research group. His work bridges applied mathematics, theoretical physics, and machine learning, with a focus on developing innovative models for image analysis, generative processes, and natural language understanding. Research interests include Fourier Neural Operators, diffusion models, generative adversarial networks (GANs), and their applications in solving complex problems across scientific computing and data-driven domains. His recent contributions explore operator learning for PDEs, robust diffusion models under noisy conditions, and adversarial attacks in text watermarking systems. Publications highlight advancements in operator-based neural networks, risk-sensitive generative modeling, and domain-aware NLP frameworks. His methodologies emphasize mathematical rigor while addressing practical challenges like missing data and model expressivity limitations. Active collaborations span interdisciplinary teams at DAMTP and the broader University of Cambridge research community.
Scott Burris is a Professor of Law at Temple Law School and Professor in Temple's School of Public Health, where he directs the Center for Public Health Law Research. He has been a faculty member at Temple since 1991 and is internationally recognized for his pioneering work in public health law, particularly in legal epidemiology, policy surveillance, and the intersection of law with HIV/AIDS policy and substance abuse. Professor Burris received his J.D. from Yale Law School and his B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. His career began during the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, where he served as an attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union, lobbying and litigating on behalf of people with HIV. He edited the first systematic legal analysis of HIV in the United States, "AIDS and the Law: A Guide for the Public" (Yale University Press, 1987). Burris's research focuses on how law influences public health and health behavior, with particular emphasis on developing theory and methods for effective local health governance. His work spans international public health law, legal epidemiology, policy surveillance, substance abuse policy, and housing law. He has made significant contributions to understanding the impact of law on HIV prevention, opioid overdose prevention, and pandemic response. His recent work increasingly examines methodological rigor in legal epidemiology, the application of artificial intelligence to legal analysis, and the relationship between housing law and health equity. His extensive publication record includes over 200 books, book chapters, articles, and reports. Recent publications demonstrate his continued leadership in advancing the science of legal epidemiology, with particular attention to methodology, policy surveillance systems, and innovative applications of technology to legal analysis. American Public Health Association Law Section Lifetime Achievement Award (2014) Jay Healey Health Law Professors award (2018) Professor Burris has served as a consultant to numerous international organizations including the United Nations Development Programme, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. He founded the Public Health Law Research Program for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in 2009, which has supported over 80 empirical studies of the impact of law on health. His research has been funded by major organizations including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Open Society Institute, the National Institutes of Health, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He is the founder of Legal Science, LLC, a private company dedicated to improving access to legal information and supporting policy surveillance practice. He also serves as an advisor to several international institutions including the Tsinghua University AIDS Institute, the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences Research Center for HIV/AIDS Public Policy, and the Program in Bioethics at Monash University. His work bridges academic research, practical application, and policy development in the field of public health law.
Dr. Francine Laourou serves as a Lecturer in Accounting at the School of Economics, Finance and Accounting and holds a concurrent position as Professor at Cavalla International University. She accepts PhD students and is available for media commentary. Her research encompasses accounting technologies and financial systems, with focus areas including blockchain applications in supply chains, data mining in public sector accounting, forensic accounting for fraud detection, and entrepreneurial finance challenges in developing economies. Recent publications demonstrate evolving focus on regulatory impacts in Benin and Nigeria, with consistent exploration of technology-driven accounting solutions. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical implementations in developing economies. Notable research includes blockchain-based transparency solutions, forensic accounting methodologies for public sector fraud detection, and analyses of entrepreneurial finance barriers in regulatory transitions.
Nicola Dalla Via is a Tenured Associate Professor in Accounting at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, affiliated with the Faculty of Economics and Management. He holds a PhD in Business from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and previously served as Assistant Professor at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (until 2018). His research focuses on managerial accounting, sustainability accounting and assurance, and behavioral accounting. He has authored/co-authored publications in journals like Accounting, Organizations and Society , Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory , and Business Strategy and the Environment . His teaching includes courses such as Business Analytics and Data Visualization in the Master in Accounting and Finance program. His work explores topics such as sticky cost behavior, XBRL reporting innovations, and enterprise risk management frameworks, particularly in the context of Dutch corporate governance reforms. He has contributed to books on ERM and sustainability practices, emphasizing the interplay between regulatory environments and organizational accountability. His research bridges theoretical advancements with practical applications, addressing challenges in SMEs, non-financial reporting, and audit quality. Education: Bachelor’s Degree: University of Trento PhD: Ca’ Foscari University of Venice Professional Experience: Associate Professor, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (current) Assistant Professor, Rotterdam School of Management (2013–2018) His publications span behavioral accounting experiments, XBRL implementation challenges, and the effects of regulatory frameworks on corporate practices. He actively engages with global debates on sustainability reporting standards and the application of technology in financial systems.
Doug MacKay is an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Policy and Core Faculty in the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Program at the University of North Carolina. He holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Toronto and previously completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Bioethics at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). His research focuses on the intersection of justice and public policy, particularly addressing ethical dimensions of economic inequality, immigration policies, biomedical research governance, and health/welfare policy design. MacKay’s educational background includes a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Toronto, complemented by postdoctoral training in bioethics. His work emphasizes ethical frameworks for policy decisions, including debates over genome editing governance, soda taxation equity, and fair subject selection in clinical trials. He has contributed to discussions on policy experiments, organ donation ethics, and the moral implications of immigration health requirements. Key themes in his research include balancing fairness and effectiveness in public health interventions, rethinking distributive justice in global contexts, and ensuring ethical standards in both biomedical and social science research. His recent work explores the ethical use of wastewater surveillance data and the governance of preventive genome editing technologies. MacKay’s publications span topics from vaccine trial ethics during pandemics to the philosophical foundations of taxation systems. His writing bridges moral philosophy with practical policy design, advocating for frameworks that prioritize equity and transparency.
Andrea De Cesarei is a Full Professor at the Department of Psychology 'Renzo Canestrari' at the University of Bologna. His research focuses on cognitive processes, emotional perception, and the intersection of artificial intelligence with human behavior. He holds office hours on Fridays 9-11 AM at the Department of Psychology in Bologna, with virtual availability via Teams. His work spans disciplines including cognitive neuroscience, environmental psychology, and AI ethics. Key research interests include: cognitive control mechanisms during scene categorization, emotional responses to natural stimuli, and behavioral drivers behind sustainable choices. He also explores how humans and AI systems process visual information differently, with recent projects involving AI trustworthiness and autonomous planning systems. Recent publications highlight his contributions to understanding neural correlates of emotion (via ERP and EEG studies), the role of spatial frequencies in perception, and motivational factors in pro-environmental behavior. His lab develops tools like the VISTO device for precise exposure time measurement in experiments. Teaching responsibilities include courses on perception and experimental psychology, with active involvement in student disability research methodologies. He maintains an ORCID profile and is accessible via email for scheduling consultations.
Ignas Heitkonig is a researcher at Wageningen University & Research , specializing in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation . He is affiliated with the PE&RC group and actively engages in collaborative research projects addressing global conservation challenges. His work bridges ecological theory with practical applications, emphasizing sustainable management strategies and the mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts. His research interests include biodiversity conservation , savanna ecosystem dynamics , and wildlife behavior . He has investigated topics such as the influence of livestock on cheetah activity patterns in Botswana, the role of wastewater systems in avian biodiversity, and the threats posed by hunting practices on species like wild boars and tigers. He also explores how climate variability impacts large herbivores, such as African elephants and rhinoceros, through ecological and nutritional studies. Ignas has co-supervised 14 PhD projects , including studies on jaguar conservation in tropical rainforests, human-baboon conflict management, and cheetah behavior in livestock-dominated landscapes. His projects often involve interdisciplinary approaches, combining field observations with remote sensing and environmental data analysis. He has contributed to datasets on lemur microbiota, elephant demographics, and magnetic orientation in cattle, reflecting his dedication to data-driven research. He has organized workshops like the Summer course: Wild Perspectives and Zomercursus Wild Perspectives , fostering academic training in wildlife ecology. Media engagements include expert commentary on conservation ethics and the disconnect between humans and nature, highlighting his role as a public advocate for ecological awareness.
Michael Inzlicht is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto Scarborough , with a cross-appointment at the Rotman School of Management . His research focuses on effort, self-control, motivation, empathy, and leisure activities such as social media use and recreational cannabis consumption. He leads the Work and Play Lab , which employs methods from social psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience. The lab emphasizes open science practices, including data sharing and replication studies. His recent work challenges conventional views on empathy’s mechanisms, arguing that it is a motivated choice rather than an automatic response, and explores AI’s potential in simulating empathy. Dr. Inzlicht’s research bridges theoretical and applied domains, addressing questions like why empathy feels effortful and how leisure behaviors reflect cognitive and emotional states. His contributions to open science aim to enhance reproducibility and transparency in psychological research. Labs/Teams: Work and Play Lab Key Themes: Effort Paradox, Empathy Dynamics, Digital Behavior, Open Science Contact: michael.inzlicht@utoronto.ca | Lab Website
Greg Jansen is a Senior Research Software Architect at the University of Maryland's College of Information Studies. He is affiliated with the Applied Research Lab for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) and the Advanced Information Collaboratory (AIC). His research focuses on applying computer vision, machine learning, and data science to challenges in archival science, digital humanities, and information systems. Notable projects include developing the Brown Dog data transformation ecosystem, enhancing access to historical records, and creating frameworks for collaborative computational archival education. Key research interests include digital curation at scale, autocuration infrastructure, and the ethical use of cultural big data. His work spans government records analysis, census data sifting, and preservation of legacy systems like punchcards. Recent projects emphasize linking disparate datasets (e.g., WWII incarceration biographies) and building scalable cyberinfrastructure for billion-record archives. Publications highlight trends in applying AI-driven methods to historical data challenges, designing open-source tools for repositories, and ensuring equitable access to archival materials. Collaborations include work with the World Bank on social media analytics and international institutions to create transparency portals for sensitive datasets. Jansen leads technical development for initiatives like the 'Window Into Neuroregulation' (WIN) project and has pioneered frameworks for distributed historical data distribution (DRAS-TIC Linked Data). His contributions bridge software architecture with archival practice, advancing both technical and scholarly outcomes in information science.
Ariela Caglio is an Associate Professor of Management Accounting at Bocconi University and SDA Bocconi School of Management. She serves as Director of the Bocconi-ESSEC Double Degree (Master of Science in Management) and as SDA Bocconi Liaison Officer for the Accounting Department. Her affiliations include BAFFI-CAREFIN and BIDSA at Bocconi. She has held visiting positions at the University of Manchester and LSE. Her research focuses on sustainability in corporate reporting, management accounting in inter-organizational contexts, executive compensation, and performance measurement. Research grants include studies on multimodal corporate reporting (with F. Grossetti), sustainable KPIs and digital tools (with P. Quattrone), and sustainability accounting frameworks (with CIMA UK). Key publications appear in European Accounting Review , Management Accounting Research , and Abacus . She chairs the European Accounting Association Symposia Committee and contributes to behavioral accounting methodology. Teaching spans courses like Performance Management, Strategic Management Accounting, and ESG Reporting. Her work bridges accounting practices with innovation, ethics, and organizational dynamics across academic and professional contexts.
Prof. Edith Smit is a Professor in the Department of Persuasive Communication at the University of Amsterdam's Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. Her research focuses on digital media effects, health communication, consumer behavior, and environmental discourse. She explores topics such as the ethical implications of online advertising, privacy protection strategies, and the persuasive potential of emerging technologies like virtual assistants and mobile health apps. Research Interests: Behavioral responses to digital advertising Health interventions through technology Social media's role in environmental activism Privacy behavior and empowerment Key Themes in Publications: Recent work emphasizes the interplay between technology and societal issues, including the effectiveness of just-in-time health nudges, the dynamics of trust in AI interactions, and the framing of environmental challenges on platforms like TikTok. Her studies often combine experimental methods with digital trace analysis. Her work addresses both theoretical and applied dimensions of communication science, contributing to domains like public health policy, consumer rights, and sustainable marketing strategies.
Aron Culotta is a Full Professor of Computer Science at Tulane University, leading the Text Analysis in the Public Interest lab and serving as Director of the Tulane Center for Community-Engaged Artificial Intelligence and the Jurist Center for Artificial Intelligence. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (2008), a M.S. from the same institution (2004), and a B.S. from Tulane University (2002). His work focuses on human-centered AI, leveraging NLP and social network analysis to address societal challenges in public health, emergency response, criminal justice, and civic transparency. Culotta has pioneered methods to track disease outbreaks, measure public health campaign effectiveness, and inform disaster response through social media analysis. Research interests include natural language processing, causal inference, domain adaptation, and crisis informatics. Notable contributions span frameworks for reducing algorithmic bias, developing community-driven AI platforms, and analyzing social media dynamics for public good. His interdisciplinary projects are supported by over $4.8M in funding from NSF, NEH, and Tulane initiatives, among others. Culotta has mentored 33 capstone teams and advised 5 graduated PhD students now in academia and industry. Awards: Barbara E. Moely Service Learning Award (2024-2025), Nayar Prize Finalist (2016), Teacher of the Year (2018), and multiple best paper recognitions at AAAI and CSCW. Leadership: Spearheads the Tulane CEAI Center, fostering collaborations across 7 universities and 3 non-profits. Hosts workshops like PACE 2024 and Gulf Coast AI Social at NeurIPS. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science (UMass Amherst, 2008), M.S. (UMass Amherst, 2004), B.S. (Tulane University, 2002). His work emphasizes collaboration with community partners to ensure AI systems are inclusive, transparent, and equitable. Recent projects include a criminal court transparency platform and AI tools for tracking blight in New Orleans. Culotta’s research bridges technical innovation with societal impact, addressing urgent challenges like health equity and algorithmic fairness.
Wenxi Pu is the Associate Dean of Teaching & Learning and Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems at the Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba. He holds the Associates Fellow in Innovation title. Previously, he earned his Ph.D. from Clemson University, where he received multiple teaching awards. His research focuses on self-identity, stigma, culture, and artificial intelligence, with publications in journals like Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal and Personnel Psychology. Education: Ph.D. from Clemson University. Research Interests: Self-Identity, Stigma, Culture, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Technologies, Entrepreneurship, and Organizational Culture. His work examines how digital technologies like AI interact with human behavior and societal structures. Teaching: Specializes in Management Information Systems and Business Analytics, integrating cutting-edge technologies into courses. He has developed four MIS courses at Asper since 2020. Key Contributions: Exploring national entrepreneurial culture shifts via machine learning, analyzing political affiliations' impact on hiring, and studying climate change media coverage using topic modeling. Recent work includes studies on veteran hiring stigma and digital self-continuity. Scientific Awards: Recognized with multiple teaching awards during his tenure at Clemson University. Grants/Advising: No student names listed, but actively advises on digital ethics and innovation. Collaborates with Winnipeg-based companies to develop AI-powered educational platforms. Labs/Teams: Engaged in interdisciplinary research groups focusing on AI ethics and organizational digital transformation within the Asper School of Business.
