Alexander Budzier is a Research Fellow in the Department of Technology and Operations Management at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. He specializes in managing projects across IT, infrastructure, energy, and mega-events, with a focus on risk mitigation and systems thinking. His roles include teaching on the MSc for Major Programme Management, MBA, and the Major Project Leadership Academy. Education: PhD from Saïd Business School (2014). Prior experience includes roles at T-Mobile International and McKinsey's Business Technology Office in Düsseldorf and Chicago, advising on IT and operations strategy. Research interests center on IT-enabled change, project setups, and risk analysis. Notable contributions include work on cost overruns in IT projects, the uniqueness trap in project management, and sustainable development via mega-events like the Olympics. Publications span journals like Harvard Business Review , iScience , and Event Management , with a focus on megaprojects, risk, and digital transformation. He has advised governments and corporations on infrastructure investments and project governance, emphasizing evidence-based decision-making.
Dr. David S. Kosson is a distinguished faculty member at Vanderbilt University, holding the Gass Family Chair in Energy and the Environment. He serves as Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Earth and Environmental Sciences. As Director of the Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation (CRESP) and the Environmental Laboratory, he leads multidisciplinary research addressing nuclear waste management, environmental remediation, and policy. His work has established frameworks like the U.S. Leaching Environmental Assessment Framework (LEAF), impacting national waste management policies. Dr. Kosson earned his Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Rutgers University. He previously chaired Vanderbilt’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department (2000–2012). His research focuses on nuclear/chemical waste containment, contaminant mass transfer, and eco-cultural risk assessment. He advises U.S. federal agencies on defense waste remediation and chemical weapons demilitarization. Education: Ph.D., Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers University M.S., Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers University B.S., Chemical Engineering, Rutgers University Key Roles: CRESP Principal Investigator Environmental Laboratory Director Former Department Chair (Civil & Environmental Engineering) His research integrates laboratory experiments with field data to model long-term behavior of waste forms and geological interfaces. Notable contributions include studies on cement-rock interactions, PFAS leaching, and ecological risk assessment at DOE sites like Hanford and Oak Ridge. He has authored over 200 publications, advancing risk-informed decision-making in waste management. Scientific contributions span nuclear waste durability, eco-cultural justice frameworks, and sustainable materials engineering. He collaborates internationally on deep geological disposal systems and environmental policy.
Associate Professor Jason Thompson holds an Associate Professor position in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne. He is affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and previously served as Co-Director of the Transport, Health and Urban Systems (THUS) Research Laboratory at the Melbourne School of Design. He earned a PhD in Medicine (2015) from Deakin University, a Master's in Clinical Psychology, and a Bachelor of Science with Honours. His research focuses on computational social science applied to injury rehabilitation, compensation systems, and healthcare design. He has attracted over $5M in research funding and published over 100 articles. Key areas include agent-based modeling, systems dynamics, and policy analysis for public health challenges such as pandemic response and urban mobility. Thompson currently leads the NHMRC Centre of Excellence in Compensable Injury after Road Crashes. Grants: ARC Future Fellowship (2022), DECRA (2017) Awards: Best Paper Award (Computational Social Science Society of the Americas, 2017) Labs: THUS Research Lab (until 2024) His work bridges epidemiological modeling (e.g., influencing Victoria's 2020 pandemic exit strategy) and complex systems analysis for injury prevention and health system design.
Anna Gautier is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Chalmers University of Technology, affiliated with the Division of Data Science and AI. Previously, she was a Digital Futures Postdoctoral Fellow at KTH Royal Institute of Technology (2023–2025), focusing on mechanism design for multi-robot systems. Her research emphasizes planning under uncertainty, multi-agent systems, and human-robot interaction. She holds a PhD from the University of Oxford (2023), an MSc from the London School of Economics, and dual undergraduate degrees from Washington University in St. Louis. Education Background: PhD in Computer Science, University of Oxford (2023) MSc in Applied Mathematics, London School of Economics BA in Mathematics and BS in Computer Science, Washington University in St. Louis Research Interests: Dr. Gautier explores planning algorithms for multi-agent systems, particularly in uncertain environments. She designs mechanisms to coordinate robots and humans, leveraging game theory and formal methods. Her work addresses challenges like resource allocation, risk-aware decision-making, and trust in autonomous systems. Recent projects include contingency planning for autonomous vehicles and auction-based resource distribution. Professional Activities: She co-chairs the ECAI 2025 Demonstration Track and teaches the course Safe Robot Planning and Control at KTH. Her projects include collaborations with WASP-Nest (PerCorSo) and TECoSA on trustworthy autonomy. She actively publishes in top venues like AAMAS and AAAI. Labs and Teams: Affiliated with Chalmers' Data Science and AI division, she leads research in multi-agent systems and human-AI collaboration.
Tapio Juhani Lahtero serves as Administrative Principal at the Viikki Teacher Training School, University of Helsinki, and as Supervisor for the Doctoral Programme in School, Education, Society, and Culture. He is affiliated with the Faculty of Educational Sciences and leads the Leadership in Educational Contexts research group (LeadEd). His primary research focuses on educational leadership frameworks, particularly examining inclusive leadership practices, pedagogical leadership models, and distributed leadership approaches within the Finnish education system. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical implementation, addressing how leadership practices influence educational quality, equity, and curriculum development. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent emphasis on inclusive leadership frameworks across diverse educational settings. His research examines how principals construct meaning around inclusive practices, investigates distributed leadership models, and explores leadership development across early childhood, pre-primary, and basic education levels. His work demonstrates strong connections between leadership theory and practical school improvement initiatives. Dr. Lahtero actively supervises doctoral students in the Doctoral Programme in School, Education, Society, and Culture and has secured significant research funding, including the Academy of Finland's Flagship Programme 'EDUCA: Education for the Future' (2024-2028) and projects with the Finnish National Agency for Education. His international collaborations include teacher training initiatives in Chile, UAE, Kenya, and Pakistan. Through the Leadership in Educational Contexts research group, he contributes to advancing understanding of effective leadership practices that promote educational excellence while addressing contemporary challenges in diverse school environments.
Hossein Farahmand is a Professor at the Department of Electric Energy, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), and leads the Electricity Markets and Energy Systems Planning (EMESP) research group. He holds an Associate Editor role at IEEE Transactions on Energy Markets, Policy and Regulation and contributes to international initiatives like IEA Wind Task 25 and ISGAN Annex 9. Education : Dr.ing. (PhD) from NTNU (2012) His research focuses on power market analysis, hydropower scheduling, power system balancing, and local flexibility markets in smart grids. Recent work explores renewable energy integration, digitalization, and hydrogen systems. Trends include machine learning applications in hydropower scheduling, offshore wind economics, and grid flexibility solutions. Scientific awards include Senior Member of IEEE and representation in ISGAN Annex 9 and IEA Wind Task 25 . He supervises PhD candidates and co-supervised projects in areas like grid tariffs , local energy communities , and electric vehicle integration . Grants include EU Horizon 2020 and Research Council of Norway funding for projects such as IntHydro , HONOR , and Ocean Grid . Labs and teams include the EMESP research group at NTNU, collaborations with Hohai University , Smart Innovation Norway , and industry partners in China and Norway.
William W. Braham is the Andrew Gordon Professor of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania’s Stuart Weitzman School of Design, where he also directs the Master of Science in Design – Environmental Building Design (MSD-EBD) program and the Center for Environmental Building + Design (CEBD). He previously served as Department Chair and Chair of the Faculty Senate, reflecting his longstanding leadership within the institution. His education includes a B.S.E. in civil and mechanical engineering from Princeton University, followed by a Master of Architecture and PhD in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. He also holds a Certificate in Traditional Chinese Architecture from Tsinghua University, underscoring his global perspective on sustainable design. Braham’s research lies at the intersection of architecture, energy, and ecological systems. His work applies systems ecology and building performance modeling to address climate change, energy efficiency, and urban sustainability. Key themes include responsive building envelopes, urban morphology, embodied carbon, and regenerative architecture. He has pioneered the use of emergy synthesis in architectural analysis and has led energy and carbon planning for institutions like the University of Pennsylvania Health System and the Chautauqua Institution. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on smart building technologies, thermal comfort modeling using AI, indoor air quality, and sustainable materials. Collaborations with the Thermal Architecture Lab and international partners highlight the interdisciplinary nature of his work. The articles span topics from blockchain-based environmental accounting to bioclimatic design pedagogy, indicating both scholarly depth and educational innovation. 2021 Best Paper Award, Building and Environment Fellow, American Institute of Architects (FAIA) Braham has advised numerous graduate students and researchers in environmental building design and urban sustainability. His research has been supported by collaborations with PennPraxis, DOE, and industry partners such as Daikin. He continues to lead high-impact research initiatives through the CEBD, including campus energy analysis and building energy modeling tools. He leads the Center for Environmental Building + Design, a hub for interdisciplinary research on energy, climate, and sustainable design. The center fosters collaborations across engineering, architecture, and environmental science, supporting innovative projects in urban metabolism, low-carbon materials, and smart building systems.
I. Safak Bayram is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. He joined Strathclyde in 2020 as a Chancellor's Fellow, following his role as an Assistant Professor and Scientist at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar. His research focuses on advancing sustainability and efficiency in intelligent power grids and transportation networks through system-level modeling, control, and management frameworks. Education: PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering, North Carolina State University (2014) MSc in Telecommunications, University of Pittsburgh (2010) BSc in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Dokuz Eylul University, Turkey (2007) His research interests center on the integration of electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy, and energy storage systems into the grid to decarbonize transportation and electricity sectors. He specializes in smart charging, demand-side management, harmonics, power quality, and V2G technologies. His recent publications (2024–2025) emphasize experimental and modeling approaches to EV smart charging impacts on transformers, phase imbalance, and grid compatibility, reflecting a strong focus on real-world deployment and grid resilience. Scientific Awards: Best Paper Award, IEEE SmartGridComm (2024) Best Paper Award, IEEE Workshop on Renewable Energy and Smart Grid (2015) Best Paper Award, IEEE SmartGridComm (2018) Best Readings in Smart Grid Communications (2014) Adjunct Faculty Member Appointment (2020) Dr. Bayram is actively involved in research leadership and academic service. He has secured multiple research grants as Principal Investigator, including projects on V2G hubs and off-grid EV charging. He serves as an Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification and IET Electrical Systems in Transportation, and has organized special issues and conferences such as IEEE SmartGridComm. He regularly delivers tutorials and participates in international conferences, contributing to the global smart grid and electrification community. Labs and Research Teams: His work is supported by active collaborations with industry (e.g., Arnold Clark Automobiles Limited) and research institutions. He leads research on modular EV charging (BumblebeeEV), smart charging algorithms, and grid integration projects, often involving experimental validation and field data analysis.
Martin Nordal Petersen is an Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical and Photonics Engineering , Technical University of Denmark (DTU) . His work spans Internet of Things (IoT) , optical networking , and wireless communication systems, with notable contributions to LoRa , NB-IoT , and LPWAN technologies. He actively supervises PhD projects on topics such as machine learning in IoT edge devices , secure 5G communication , and smart community architectures . Active projects (2024–2027): Machine Learning in IoT Edge Devices , Deterministic and Secure 5G Communication Finished projects (2021–2024; 2018–2021; 2015–2018): Reliable M2M/IoT Communication , Smart Communities , IoT 100% , Network Slicing His research explores: IoT Reliability : Multi-RAT communication, backup systems, and signal propagation Optical Networks : Alien wavelength integration, SDN control, and network emulation platforms Wireless Innovation : GPS-free geolocation, maritime NB-IoT use cases, and multimode fiber distribution Current collaborations emphasize cross-disciplinary applications of IoT in healthcare , industrial ergonomics , and smart environments .
Theodore Lim is an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia's School of Community and Regional Planning (SCARP). He holds a PhD in City & Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania, an MS in Environmental Science and Engineering from Tsinghua University, and a BA in Immigrant Studies from Swarthmore College. PhD: University of Pennsylvania (City & Regional Planning) MS: Tsinghua University (Environmental Science and Engineering) BA: Swarthmore College (Immigrant Studies) Theo's research focuses on urban climate adaptation and environmental justice , particularly through participatory action research with marginalized communities. His work bridges environmental science, data modeling, and community engagement to address issues like urban heat resilience using both grassroots and technical approaches. His recent publications span interdisciplinary topics in climate adaptation , participatory modeling , and urban analytics . Key themes include integrating diverse knowledge systems into environmental governance, addressing power dynamics in socio-ecological systems modeling, and developing trauma-informed approaches to heat resilience planning. NSF CAREER Grant for computer model governance in sustainable water quality $1M NSF CIVIC Innovation award for heat resilience in Roanoke, VA Theo mentors students in urban analytics and policy research, with former advisees including PhD student Ayda Kianmehr and undergraduate researcher Jack Carroll. He also serves as Social Media Editor for Planning Theory and Practice .
Andrea L. Eisfeldt holds the Laurence D. and Lori W. Fink Endowed Chair in Finance and serves as Professor of Finance at UCLA Anderson School of Management, where she has been teaching since 2010. Prior to UCLA, she spent 10 years as an assistant professor and then tenured associate professor at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. Her educational background includes: Ph.D. Economics (2000), University of Chicago M.A. Economics (2000), University of Chicago B.S. Economics with highest honors (1994), University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Eisfeldt's research focuses on the intersection of financial markets and macroeconomics, with particular expertise in market liquidity, intangible assets valuation, bank valuation, and over-the-counter markets. Her recent work examines how equity-based pay impacts measures of labor share and income/wealth inequality, challenging conventional wisdom about technological progress and economic disparity. She has conducted significant research on how equity compensation for non-executive employees affects standard labor compensation data and conclusions about income distribution. Her scholarly contributions have earned recognition through prestigious awards: Smith Breeden Distinguished Paper prize (2004) Jensen Prize (second place, 2008) Smith Breeden First Place Paper award (2013) Amundi Smith Breeden prize (twice) Edwin Mills best paper award from Real Estate Economics Research grants from National Science Foundation and Banque de France Eisfeldt maintains significant professional engagement beyond academia, having served on the board of the American Finance Association (Investments, Strategic Planning and Ethics Committees), currently serving on the UCLA Investment Company board, and acting as academic advisor to Vise, a FinTech investment management firm. Her research on valuing intangible assets informs institutional investment portfolios and the Simplify NEXT Suite of ETFs. She has held industry positions including Chief Economist at Structured Portfolio Management and consultant to AQR Capital Management, demonstrating her commitment to bridging academic research with practical applications in asset management.
Giorgio Fagiolo is a Full Professor of Economics at Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies. His work spans agent-based computational economics, economic networks, and macroeconomic policy analysis. University: Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies (Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna) Department: Economics Email: giorgio.fagiolo@sssup.it Research interests focus on agent-based modeling , macroeconomic instability , and climate-economy interactions . He develops computational models to study industrial dynamics, financial integration, and policy design in complex systems. Key themes: Endogenous growth cycles, R&D network stability, and green transition policies. Methodological emphasis: Empirical validation of agent-based models and nonlinear economic dynamics. Scientific awards include collaboration with leading institutions like ETH Zurich, Columbia University, and OFCE Sciences Po. His publications appear in journals such as Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control and Ecological Economics .
Professor Stephen Willis is a faculty member at Durham University , serving as Director of Research in the Department of Biosciences. His work bridges climate change ecology, conservation biology, and species distribution modeling, with extensive collaborations across academic (Universities of York, Leeds, Copenhagen) and non-academic institutions (RSPB, BirdLife International, NERC). He employs spatially explicit models, GIS, and remote-sensed data to analyze environmental change impacts on ecosystems, biodiversity, and range shifts in native/invasive species. Continental-scale protected area networks Trans-Saharan migratory birds Alpine ungulate population dynamics Deer-biodiversity interactions His recent research (2025-2023) focuses on wildlife hunting practices in Southeast Asia, acoustic monitoring innovations for waders, bias mitigation in ecoacoustic studies, protected area expansion for migratory birds, and systematic conservation status mapping. Earlier projects (2022-2010) examined carbon stock modeling, vulture foraging ranges, malaria risk projections, and climate-phenology mismatches. Supervision : He currently mentors PhD students in biodiversity monitoring, climate adaptation, and wildlife ecology, while past advisees completed research on topics like vulture land-use patterns, Rift Valley bird distributions, and butterfly range shifts. Collaborative networks span 15+ institutions globally.
Leonardo Becchetti is a Full Professor at the University of Rome Tor Vergata's Department of Economics and Finance, teaching Microeconomics and Topics in Applied Economics for the 2025-2026 academic year. Based in room P2 S55, he maintains an active research profile with email contact becchetti@economia.uniroma2.it. His research centers on Corporate Finance, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Happiness Economics, extending to Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition. He investigates how economic structures influence well-being through relational goods, generativity, and sustainability frameworks, employing game-theoretic and empirical methodologies to analyze climate action, AI impacts, and cooperative behavior. Analysis of his 2024-2025 publications reveals intensifying focus on ecological transition mechanisms, including renewable energy communities, circular economy governance, and sustainable investment models. His work increasingly integrates climate economics with behavioral insights, examining conditional cooperation in environmental actions and AI's disruption of labor markets. No scientific awards or student advising information is publicly documented. He participates in departmental research initiatives including DEF Seminars and ROBO Seminars, contributing to the university's research centers on economic and social impact.
Mislav Balković is an Associate Professor at Algebra University of Applied Sciences, where he has served as Director and Dean since 2000 and 2009, respectively. He drives strategic development for the Algebra Group and contributes to national education policy through roles in expert bodies like the National Council for Science, Higher Education and Technology, and the Accreditation Council of the Agency for Science and Higher Education. Education: PhD (2016) from Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb Research Interests: Mislav’s work bridges Data Science with applications in labor market dynamics , education policy , qualification frameworks , and energy systems . His projects focus on smart grid optimization, digital identity protection, and AI-driven educational reforms. Publications Trends: His recent articles emphasize cross-disciplinary applications , including brain-computer interfaces for image generation, EU labor market analysis , and smart grid resilience . Earlier works explore blockchain-based academic credentials and data analytics in auditing . Grants and Projects: He has led ~50 EU and domestic projects , spanning smart tourist management , lean methodologies for screen creators , and ICT services for alternative communication . His policy work includes drafting laws on adult education and higher education reform. Leadership: Vice President of the Croatian Employers' Association in Education (HUP-UPO) and past President of the Sectoral Council for Electrical Engineering and Computing.
