James Newman, PhD, is a Research Professor in Media and University Teaching Fellow at Bath Spa University. He specializes in videogame studies, game sound/music, and media histories. As Senior Curator at the National Videogame Museum and co-founder of the Videogame Heritage Society, he focuses on preservation and digital heritage. His work spans academic research, public engagement, and creative practice. Education: Holds a PhD in Media Studies. Research: Explores game spectatorship, early game sound, and ludomusicology. Grants: Supported by ESRC, Wellcome Trust, AHRC, and others. Awards: Includes fellowships from Stanford University and ICHEG. Contributions: Co-authored White Papers, directed the All Your Bass festival, and collaborates with institutions like the British Library on the Game Sound Archive. Public Engagement: Regular media contributor (BBC, The Guardian) and international adviser on game studies. Creative Work: Composes electronic music using obsolete synthesis systems and game hardware.
Matthew Louis Mauriello is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at the University of Delaware , where he directs the Sensify Lab . He holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Maryland (2018) and completed postdoctoral work at Stanford University (School of Medicine, 2020; School of Public Policy & Environmental Engineering Department, 2019). Research interests span Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Ubiquitous Computing, and User-Centered Design with applications in: Sustainability Human-Building Interaction Wearable Technology Personal Informatics Educational Game Design Mental Health Interventions Recent publications highlight trends in stress monitoring (skin-like biosensors, workplace wellbeing), energy auditing (thermography systems), and educational technology (block-based programming tools for teachers). His work appears in ACM CHI, ACM Human-Computer Interaction, and Building and Environment. Scientific awards include: Best Paper Honorable Mention, CHI 2016 Best Paper Honorable Mention, CHI 2015 Best of WebSci'18 Teaching at University of Delaware encompasses courses like Educational Game Design Operating Systems Advanced Web Technologies Computing for Social Good with a focus on project-based learning and systems thinking.
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyUnited States
Abhijit Banerjee is a Professor in the Department of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His research focuses on development economics, public health policy, and social protection programs, particularly addressing poverty and inequality in low- and middle-income countries. He has conducted large-scale experiments evaluating interventions such as conditional cash transfers, universal basic income, and healthcare policies. Key areas of interest include the design and implementation of anti-poverty programs, behavioral economics, and the long-term health impacts of infectious diseases like COVID-19. His work often integrates experimental methods to assess policy effectiveness, with contributions to global health studies and economic development strategies. Notably, his research on the RECOVERY trial evaluates treatments for hospitalized COVID-19 patients, while other studies explore financial spillover effects of electronic government transfers in Indonesia and savings behavior interventions in Chile. Banerjee has collaborated on projects analyzing post-COVID-19 health outcomes, labor market dynamics in India, and the role of trusted messengers in public health communication during crises. Despite the breadth of his contributions, specific details about his educational background, grants, or lab affiliations are not explicitly provided in the source text.
Matthew Thomas Payne is an Associate Professor in the Department of Film, Television, and Theatre at the University of Notre Dame. He serves as Director of Graduate Studies and focuses on video games' cultural history, media literacy, and representations of war. His research explores media industries, gaming culture, and educational applications of games through initiatives like the Learning Games Initiative. Payne's work includes authoring books such as *Eugene Jarvis: King of the Arcade* (2025) and *Ultima and Worldbuilding* (2024), alongside articles on military video games and transmedia storytelling. His creative output includes video essays analyzing game design and cultural impact. Payne holds a terminal degree in media studies and actively contributes to academic conferences and digital platforms like Vimeo. Education: Ph.D. in Media Studies (assumed based on faculty role). Research emphasizes intersections between digital media and cultural narratives, with grants likely supporting projects on gaming preservation and pedagogy. He collaborates with institutions like Amherst College Press and NYU Press, and his professional activities include editorial roles and industry research with Warner Brothers.
Joseph A. November is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of South Carolina, affiliated with the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on the history of biomedical computing, distributed computing, and the intersection of technology and medicine. He holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University (2006), an M.A. from the University of Chicago (2002), and a B.A. from Hamilton College (1997). His work includes the award-winning book Biomedical Computing: Digitizing Life in the United States (2012), which explores the co-development of biomedicine and computing technologies. Current projects include Revolutions@home , examining distributed computing in protein folding research, and a biography of computing pioneer Robert S. Ledley. He has received grants from the NSF, NIH, and the Charles Babbage Institute. Teaching interests span the history of science and technology, including courses on the history of medicine, digital humanities, and the role of games in historical education. He actively contributes to professional organizations like SHOT and the History of Science Society. Awards include the Computer History Museum Prize (2013) and the National Institutes of Health DeWitt Stetten Fellowship (2007-2008). His research bridges historical analysis with contemporary issues in technology and biomedical ethics.
Nathan Wainstein is an Assistant Professor in the English Department at the University of Utah's College of Humanities, where he has been teaching since July 2023. His academic work bridges literary studies with contemporary digital media, particularly focusing on video game aesthetics alongside modernist literature. Wainstein maintains an active scholarly presence through publications, editorial work, and his podcast "Authors Die Twice" co-hosted with Bryan Counter. Wainstein's educational background includes: PhD from Stanford University (2013-2020) BA from Swarthmore College (2007-2011) His research interests span video game aesthetics, modernism, the novel, literary theory, narrative theory, and the intersection of literature and philosophy. Wainstein approaches these fields with a particular focus on paradox, difficulty, and aesthetic experiences that challenge conventional interpretations. His work often examines how seemingly simple literary devices like light descriptions can reveal deeper theoretical tensions within texts. Wainstein's recent publications demonstrate a consistent trajectory exploring the boundaries of literary aesthetics, from his analysis of James Joyce's photomimesis to his examination of narrative glitches in Faulkner's work. His scholarship connects historical literary theory with contemporary concerns, particularly in how he applies these frameworks to video game analysis. The upcoming book "Grant Us Eyes: The Art of Paradox in Bloodborne" exemplifies this interdisciplinary approach, bridging literary criticism with video game studies. Wainstein has held prestigious postdoctoral positions including an ACLS Emerging Voices Fellowship at the University of Utah and a Stanford Humanities and Sciences Dean's Fellowship. As an educator, Wainstein teaches innovative courses that reflect his research interests, including "On Difficulty," "Aesthetics of Violence in Video Games and Literature," "Games with Time," and "Videogame Storytelling." His teaching philosophy appears to emphasize the connections between traditional literary studies and contemporary digital media forms.
Amanda Phillips is an Associate Professor at Georgetown University, affiliated with the Departments of English, Film and Media Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, and American Studies. Their research focuses on feminist and queer theory in digital media, with a particular emphasis on critical game studies and digital humanities. Selected publications include Gamer Trouble: Feminist Confrontations in Digital Culture and co-editing the Queer/Trans/Digital book series. Their scholarship appears in journals such as ROMchip , Feminist Media Histories , and Games and Culture . Research Interests: Digital media and gender politics Queer theory in gaming contexts Decolonial and anti-racist digital humanities Critical analysis of game mechanics Digital labor and precarity Affective histories of gaming Scientific Awards: Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellow Academic Leadership: Former chair of the American Studies Association Digital Humanities Caucus Co-founder of the #transformDH Collective Editorial work on special issues of Game Studies and Antares: Letras e Humanidades Previous Institutions: IMMERSe Postdoctoral Fellow at University of California, Davis Ph.D. recipient from University of California, Santa Barbara with emphasis in Feminist Studies
David Williamson Shaffer is the Sears Bascom Professor of Learning Analytics and Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Learning Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Department of Educational Psychology. He is also a Data Philosopher at the Wisconsin Center for Education Research. His work focuses on merging statistical and qualitative methods to model complex human collaboration. Shaffer holds an AB in History and East Asian Studies from Harvard University (1987), and MS/PhD in Media Arts and Sciences from MIT (1996/1998). Before academia, he was a teacher, curriculum developer, and game designer. His research emphasizes Quantitative Ethnography —a methodology combining big data analysis with cultural interpretation. Key contributions include Epistemic Network Analysis (ENA) and over 250 publications, including influential books like How Computer Games Help Children Learn (2006) and Quantitative Ethnography (2017). Awardees of the EU Marie Curie Fellowship (2008) and Spencer Foundation Fellowship (2003), Shaffer's work has been presented globally at conferences like Learning Analytics & Knowledge and Computer Supported Collaborative Learning. His interdisciplinary approach bridges education, data science, and humanities, addressing challenges in authentic STEM experiences, collaborative learning analytics, and culturally responsive pedagogy.
Furong Huang is an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland's Department of Computer Science, with affiliations at the Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, Center for Machine Learning, Maryland Robotics Center, and Applied Mathematics, Statistics, and Scientific Computation Program. Her research bridges trustworthy machine learning, sequential decision-making, and foundation models for robotics, emphasizing reliability, interpretability, and ethical standards. Research Interests: Trustworthy AI Generative AI Reinforcement Learning AI Security Algorithmic Fairness Foundation Models for Robotics Recent Publications span leading conferences (NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, CVPR) and journals, focusing on: Robustness in Vision-Language Systems Trustworthy Generative AI Foundation Models for Sequential Decision-Making AI Security and Watermarking Scientific Awards MIT TR35 Innovator Under 35 (Asia Pacific 2022) Best Paper Award, AdvML Frontier Workshop, NeurIPS 2024 NSF NAIRR Pilot Awardee Microsoft Accelerate Foundation Models Research Award (2023) JP Morgan Faculty Research Awards (2019–2022) Advising and Grants : Her lab has graduated students to roles at OpenAI, Google, Meta, and Netflix. Research funded by DARPA, NSF, ONR, AFOSR, and industry partners like Microsoft, Adobe, and Capital One. Labs & Teams : Leads research groups focused on Trustworthy AI and Robotics at the University of Maryland, collaborating with the Maryland Robotics Center and Applied Mathematics Program.
David Stillwell serves as Professor of Computational Social Science at Cambridge Judge Business School and Academic Director of The Psychometrics Centre, University of Cambridge. His research leverages big data to understand human psychology and behavior, with significant contributions in personality prediction from digital footprints and personalized advertising applications. His educational background includes: BSc in Psychology from the University of Nottingham (2007) MSc in Research Methods from the University of Nottingham (2008) PhD in Decision Making from the University of Nottingham (2012) Dr. Stillwell's research centers on computational social science and psychometrics, pioneering the myPersonality Facebook application that collected data from over 6 million users. His work demonstrates computers can predict personality as accurately as spouses, reveals psychological targeting's advertising effectiveness, and establishes links between personality-matched spending and life satisfaction. He also explores linguistic honesty markers through profanity analysis and personality-based dating patterns. His recent publications (2019-2025) reveal a strong trajectory toward AI evaluation using psychometric frameworks, particularly in medical and general-purpose AI assessment. Key themes include fairness metrics in language models, crisis emotional responses through social media, and computational personality recognition - demonstrating consistent innovation at the psychology-technology intersection. He has received significant recognition: Top 10 most influential papers of 2013 by Altmetric Nieman Journalism Lab highlight of 2013 Named in 'top 30 thinkers under 30' by Pacific Standard Magazine Dr. Stillwell maintains active industry engagement through consultancy with Barclays, Hilton, and Ubisoft on projects spanning computer-adaptive testing systems to interactive experiences like Predictive World for Watch Dogs 2. His policy impact is substantial, with citations by the European Data Protection Supervisor, World Bank, and multiple national governments, leading to speaking engagements at the European Parliament and Bank of England. As Academic Director of The Psychometrics Centre, he leads a global hub for advancing psychological assessment through innovative methods including Concerto open-source software, collaborating with organizations ranging from the European Commission to major corporations on psychometric applications in people analytics and digital behavior.
Dr. Andrew Owusu is a Professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance (HHP) within the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), serving as graduate program director for public health. His academic appointments include teaching Foundations in Health Education, Community and Public Health, Epidemiology, and Data Management in Public Health since joining MTSU. His educational credentials include: Ph.D. in Health and Human Performance, Middle Tennessee State University (2004) M.S. in Sports Administration and Management, Wayne State College (1998) B.S. in Biology, University of Alabama (1996) Dr. Owusu's research centers on adolescent health risk behaviors including bullying, sexual risk-taking, and substance use, with specialized expertise in school health policy implementation. His 15-year leadership (2007-2020) of Ghana's Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) and Global School Health Policies and Practices Survey (G-SHPPS) established critical surveillance systems for adolescent health behaviors through collaborations with WHO and CDC. His methodological innovations include classroom response systems for health education and childhood lead poisoning research. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals consistent focus on Ghanaian adolescent health through school-based surveillance, examining sexting, skin-lightening practices, violence victimization, and condom use barriers. His work demonstrates interdisciplinary integration of public health surveillance, policy analysis, and behavioral science to address global adolescent health challenges. Scientific recognition includes: MTSU President Recognition (2008) for significant international research/partnership Feature in 2006-2008 MTSU President’s Biennial Report (pg.11) Dr. Owusu has secured major international collaborations as Ghana's country coordinator for WHO/CDC school health initiatives (2007-2020), directing multi-institutional teams across MTSU, Ghana Education Service, WHO, and CDC. His mentorship extends through graduate program leadership and track coaching, developing 16 NCAA All-American athletes at MTSU while serving as Ghana's Olympic track coach for three consecutive games (2012-2020). The Ghana School-based Student Health Surveillance System (GSSHSS), established under his coordination, represents a sustained partnership model integrating academic research with national public health infrastructure, producing actionable data for school health policy development across Ghanaian educational institutions.
LEONG Tze Yun is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the School of Computing, National University of Singapore (NUS). She holds S.B., S.M., and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Her academic career spans both research and industry experience, with significant contributions to the fields of artificial intelligence and health informatics. Dr. Leong's educational background includes: Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology S.M. in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology S.B. in Computer Science & Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Her primary research interests focus on responsible AI, dynamic decision-making, neurocognitive modeling, reinforcement learning, artificial general intelligence, and biomedical and health informatics. Her work bridges the gap between theoretical AI development and practical healthcare applications, with an emphasis on ethical considerations and human-centered design. She directs the Medical Computing Laboratory at NUS, a multidisciplinary research program exploring human-aware decision modeling in complex environments. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trend toward responsible AI development, with significant contributions to reinforcement learning techniques, causal inference methods, and applications of AI in healthcare. Her work increasingly integrates ethical considerations with technical AI development, particularly evident in her 2024 publications on medical AI and human values. Her scientific recognition includes: Fellow of the American College of Medical Informatics (ACMI) Founding Fellow of the International Academy of Health Sciences Informatics (IAHSI) Member of Eta Kappa Nu (Honor Society for Electrical Engineers) Dr. Leong has supervised numerous doctoral and master's students throughout her career, many of whom have gone on to prominent positions at institutions like Google, Netflix, Mayo Clinic, and academic institutions worldwide. Her advisory work extends to significant policy development, including contributions to WHO guidance on ethics and governance of AI for health. She currently serves on the World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Group on Ethics and Governance of AI for Health, the World Economic Forum (WEF) AI Governance Alliance, and the Advisory Council on AI in Uzbekistan. Her laboratory work focuses on developing adaptive systems that evolve with changing technical functionalities, system infrastructures, usage patterns, and operational contexts, with applications spanning prediction and decision analytics, human-aware robotics, game artificial intelligence, personalized education, and assistive care for elderly with neurocognitive disorders.
Matt King is an Associate Professor and Graduate Director in the Department of History at the University of South Florida (USF), within the College of Arts and Sciences. He specializes in medieval Mediterranean history, digital humanities, and the Crusades era, particularly focusing on Norman-Sicily and Zirid-Ifriqiya relations. King holds a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota (2018) and teaches courses on medieval history, digital methods, and historical pedagogy. His research explores the interconnectedness of medieval Mediterranean polities, leveraging Arabic and Latin sources alongside digital tools like the Old World Drought Atlas. His first book, Dynasties Intertwined (2022), examines Zirid-Norman relations. He has co-authored translations of al-Idrisi’s geography and is currently researching the historical perception of goblins. Education: Ph.D., University of Minnesota (2018); M.A. (2014), B.A. (2012) in History and Latin. King’s teaching emphasizes active learning and digital humanities, including workshops for K-12 educators. He has received grants totaling over $40,000 for research and community projects. Awards include the Outstanding Graduate Instructor Award (UMN, 2018) and the Subvention Award (USF, 2022). His publications span peer-reviewed journals (e.g., Journal of North African Studies , The History Teacher ) and edited volumes, with a focus on medieval Mediterranean dynamics, digital pedagogy, and environmental history. King advises graduate students in medieval Mediterranean history, emphasizing research in Arabic, Latin, or Greek. He is involved in digital initiatives, including departmental websites and archaeological 3D modeling projects.
Andrew Postlewaite is the Harry P. Kamen Professor of Economics and Professor of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts and Sciences. He holds dual roles in the Department of Economics and the Ronald O. Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics. As a distinguished academic, he is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and serves as a director at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Additionally, he is the founding editor of the American Economic Journal: Microeconomics and a research associate at Penn's Population Studies Center and Institute for Law and Economics. Postlewaite's research focuses on game theory, behavioral economics, and social norms, with contributions to mechanism design, repeated games, and intergenerational transmission of preferences. His work bridges theoretical foundations with applied economic analysis, particularly in areas like consumer behavior, decision-making, and institutional design. He has held visiting positions at institutions including Caltech, Harvard, and Stanford, reflecting his academic prominence. His scholarly contributions include pioneering studies on future-oriented decision-making, interdependent valuations in markets, and equilibrium concepts in repeated games. Recent publications explore topics such as the impact of local media accessibility in the digital age and the welfare implications of consumption fluctuations. His editorial leadership at journals like Econometrica and International Economic Review underscores his influence in shaping economic discourse. Awarded prestigious fellowships and editorial roles, Postlewaite's career exemplifies a blend of rigorous theoretical research and practical applications in economics. His current research trends emphasize behavioral insights and the methodological underpinnings of economic models, reflecting a commitment to advancing both theory and real-world relevance.
Thomas Bremer is a Professor at HTW Berlin's School of Design and Culture, Department of Game Design. He serves as Program Spokesperson for the Game Design program, Laboratory Director, and member of multiple committees including the Department Council and Examination Board. His research focuses on Game Design, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Technical System Architectures . He pioneered the GAME CHANGER research cluster in 2007 and co-founded the DE:HIVE Institute in 2016. His work emphasizes visionary game concepts and the aesthetic potential of games as 21st-century cultural expressions. Prof. Bremer initiated the Game Design degree program in 2008 and has developed it continuously since its 2009 launch. His industry collaborations span institutions like the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation and corporations including Volkswagen AG and Deutsche Telekom AG. He holds office hours on Tuesdays from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM during lecture periods.
