Professor Craig Radford at the University of Auckland's Faculty of Science specializes in Marine Science with a focus on sensory systems and underwater soundscapes. Holding a PhD from Auckland , MSc from Canterbury , and BSc from Waikato , his research examines sensory physiology in fish and crustaceans, vocal communication mechanisms, and anthropogenic sound impacts. Current teaching includes Marine 702 Techniques in Marine Science and BioSci 334 - The Biology of Marine Organisms Postgraduate supervision topics span lateral line function, multisensory processing, ontogenetic hearing changes, and ecoacoustic indices His work on passive acoustic monitoring (149+ outputs) reveals trends in marine bioacoustics, particularly in shark hearing physiology , crustacean sound detection , and anthropogenic noise mitigation . Key collaborations exist with marine technologists and statisticians for developing machine learning boat classification systems and ecoacoustic biodiversity metrics. Research extends to auditory evoked potential thresholds across elasmobranchs, shark sleep electrophysiology , and global soundscape synthesis projects. Current projects include analyzing recreational boat noise impacts in Hauraki Gulf and investigating directional hearing mechanisms in sharks using advanced bioimaging techniques.
Professor Adriana Verges is a leading marine ecologist at UNSW Sydney's School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences and the Sydney Institute of Marine Science. Her research integrates climate change science with innovative marine ecosystem regeneration strategies, particularly focusing on kelp forests and seagrass meadows. Her primary research interests include: Climate change impacts on temperate marine ecosystems Tropicalization processes and range-shifting species Kelp forest and seagrass conservation/restoration Public engagement in marine restoration through participatory art-science initiatives Ecosystem service valuation of marine forests Her recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on kelp forest conservation challenges, tropicalization effects on temperate reefs, seagrass restoration techniques, and global assessments of marine forest ecosystems. The research consistently addresses climate change impacts while developing practical restoration methodologies like Operation Crayweed and Green Gravel. Scientific recognition includes: Green Globe Award (2017) for Operation Crayweed UNSW Emerging Thought Leader Prize (2019) WINGS Women of Discovery Award (2024) Verges directs the Kelp Forest Alliance and co-founded Operation Crayweed and Operation Posidonia, pioneering community-based marine restoration projects that have restored seaweed forests and seagrass meadows across New South Wales. Her work uniquely bridges rigorous science with public engagement through art-science collaborations.
Robert Hutkins serves as the Khem Shahani Professor in Food Science and Technology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he is affiliated with the Department of Food Science and Technology. His research program centers on the microbiological aspects of food systems with direct implications for human health, particularly through probiotic and prebiotic interventions. Hutkins' research spans food microbiology, gut microbiome dynamics, and fermented food ecosystems. He investigates how dietary components—especially live microbes and prebiotic fibers—modulate gut microbial communities and influence health outcomes. Key projects include clinical trials on probiotics for lactose intolerance, development of antimicrobial food packaging using essential oils, and classification frameworks for prebiotic compounds. His work bridges fundamental microbial ecology with practical applications in functional food development. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2022-2025) reveals three dominant trends: 1) Clinical validation of probiotic strains for digestive health conditions, 2) Mechanistic studies on prebiotic-microbe interactions using in vitro and genomic approaches, and 3) Population-level assessments of live microbe consumption through NHANES data. His leadership in ISAPP consensus statements on prebiotics and synbiotics demonstrates his role in shaping scientific standards for the field. Current work increasingly focuses on personalized nutrition strategies based on individual microbiome responses to dietary interventions.
Julyan Arbel is an Associate Researcher (chargé de recherche) at Inria Grenoble in the Statify team and a member of Laboratoire Jean Kuntzmann at Université Grenoble Alpes. He holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics from Université Paris-Dauphine and graduated from École Polytechnique and ENSAE. He defended his Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HDR) in 2019. Research Interests His work spans Bayesian Statistics (approximations, computation, nonparametrics, extreme value theory, objective Bayes) and Bayesian Machine Learning (Bayesian neural networks, variational inference), with applications in environmental science and neuroscience. Key focus areas include: Statistical methods for ecological modeling and species distributions Integration of biotic interactions in predictive frameworks Bayesian approaches to machine learning challenges Publications Overview Recent articles (2022-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on statistical ecology, including species distribution modeling, biotic interactions, community ecology, and biodiversity conservation. Methodological innovations center on joint species distribution models and Bayesian computational techniques applied to environmental datasets. Academic Service Associate Editor: Statistics and Computing (2025–present) Associate Editor: Bayesian Analysis (2019–present) Associate Editor: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Statistics (2019–present) Associate Editor: Statistics & Probability Letters (2019–present) Associate Editor: Statistical Methods & Applications (2024–present) Former Associate Editor: Computational Statistics & Data Analysis (2020–2023) Students Supervised PhD students: Giovanni Poggiato Daria Bystrova Minh Tri Lê Théo Moins Teams Statify Research Team, Inria Grenoble Laboratoire Jean Kuntzmann, Université Grenoble Alpes
Kurt Smemo is an Associate Professor and Director of the Environmental Studies and Sciences Program at Skidmore College since 2015. His research focuses on terrestrial ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry, particularly microbial processes in forests and wetlands under global environmental change. Education: B.S. (University of Montana), M.S. (University of Illinois), Ph.D. (Cornell University) Research interests include: Below-ground microbial processes affecting productivity and nutrient cycling Greenhouse gas emissions from soils Plant-soil feedback mechanisms Impacts of atmospheric deposition on forest ecosystems Professional memberships include the American Geophysical Union, Ecological Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America.
Fiona Catherine Chambers is a Full Professor of Education at University College Cork (UCC), Ireland, with over 30 years of transformative experience in the field. She is an internationally recognized leader at the intersection of sport, education, and innovation. Her leadership roles include President of AIESEP, Vice-President of CEREPS, UNESCO CIGEPS Observer, and Expert Advisor for UNESCO's Global Observatory for Gender Equality in Sport. In March 2025, she was awarded the status of Honorary Network Member of Network 18 Research in Sport Pedagogy by the European Educational Research Association Council. Professor Chambers' research spans three key areas: sport, innovation, and education, with a particular focus on research for social impact. Her work encompasses sport pedagogy, physical education, design thinking, digital wellbeing, motor competence, and physical literacy. She has pioneered numerous initiatives including StrategicDesign@UCC (founded in 2020), the Master of Arts and Postgraduate Diploma in Innovation through Design Thinking, the Global Design Challenge for Sport and Physical Activity, AIESEPConnect, Made2Move, and All Island All Active. Her publications reveal a consistent focus on wellbeing, physical activity, and innovative pedagogical approaches in education. Her research portfolio demonstrates a strong emphasis on addressing complex societal challenges through transdisciplinary methodologies, particularly human-centered design thinking. Professor Chambers has secured millions in funding for her projects from various sources including the Higher Education Authority, ERASMUS, and Horizon Europe. Her work bridges theory and practice, empowering individuals across sectors to tackle societal challenges through innovative thinking and collaborative action. Honorary Network Member of Network 18 Research in Sport Pedagogy (awarded March 2025) 2023 inaugural Women in Business in Sport award Consistently recognized among the 50 most influential women in Irish sport Professor Chambers has secured substantial research funding for numerous projects, including the PGDip Innovation Through Design Thinking (€1,440,000 from HEA), Spring 3.0 (€75,000 from ERASMUS), and Icehearts Europe (€252,807 from Horizon Europe). As a two-time TEDx speaker, she has demonstrated the powerful impact of combining strategic leadership with passionate advocacy. Her expertise is sought globally, reflected in Visiting Professor appointments across four international institutions and ongoing consultancy work with universities, sporting organizations, and global businesses. Through StrategicDesign@UCC and initiatives like Made2Move and the Global Design Challenge, Professor Chambers has created platforms that bring together academics, practitioners, and students to address complex challenges in sport, physical activity, and education. Her transdisciplinary approach has fostered collaborations across multiple sectors and institutions, both nationally and internationally, creating a vibrant ecosystem for innovation and research in education and sport.
Giovanni Zenezini is a Fixed-term tenure-track Assistant Professor at Politecnico di Torino's Department of Management and Production Engineering (DIGEP), affiliated with both the College of Management and Production Engineering and the College of Mechanical, Aerospace and Automotive Engineering. His academic activities include teaching courses such as 'Modeling Complex Systems in Engineering and Management' and 'Supply Chain Management' across multiple degree programs. His research focuses on logistics optimization and systems engineering, with primary expertise in: Agent-based modeling and system dynamics for complex systems Urban logistics and sustainable city freight solutions Warehouse automation and Industry 4.0 implementations Supply chain digitalization and Physical Internet concepts Sustainability assessments in logistics networks Analysis of recent publications (2019-2025) reveals consistent focus on logistics innovation, with 73% addressing optimization methodologies, 60% featuring simulation modeling approaches, and 47% examining urban freight solutions. The works demonstrate growing integration of digital technologies like IoT and digital twins in logistics systems. Dr. Zenezini currently supervises three PhD candidates: Francesca Saba (Management and Production Engineering) Massimo Rebuglio (Management, Production and Design) Anna Treves (Urban and Regional Development) His research group actively investigates logistics digitalization, warehouse automation, and urban freight impact assessment through projects with industry partners.
Alva H. Taylor serves as Associate Professor of Business Administration at the Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College, where he has been tenured since 2010. He holds the dual leadership roles of Senior Associate Dean for Executive Learning and Faculty Director of the Glassmeyer/McNamee Center for Digital Strategies, Tuck's flagship initiative examining how digital technology impacts business strategy. Previously, he served as Assistant Professor (2000-2005) and Associate Professor (2005-2009) at Tuck, and as Visiting Assistant Professor at Kellogg Graduate School of Management (1997-2000). Professor Taylor earned his PhD from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business in 2000, following an MBA, ME, and BS from Cornell University in 1984, 1983, and 1982 respectively. Before academia, he worked as a Senior Manager at KPMG's consulting division, specializing in business strategy and information technology for growing companies. His research focuses on innovation processes, entrepreneurship, technological change, and strategic decision-making in fast-changing environments . Taylor has made significant contributions to understanding how organizations manage creative groups for sustained innovation, organizational learning in information-rich environments, and digital transformation in traditional enterprises. His work with comic book creators demonstrated that creators with cross-genre experience achieve greater success than specialists, highlighting the value of diverse experience in creative fields. His recent scholarship examines how nonprofits can implement digital-first strategies to enhance social impact, emphasizing the importance of aligning technology with organizational mission. Taylor teaches courses including Design Thinking for Strategic Innovation and Strategic Change in the Turbulent Digital Age in both MBA and Executive Education programs. He designed and directs the Digital Excellence for Minority Entrepreneurs Executive Education Program in partnership with Google, demonstrating his commitment to inclusive digital transformation. His research has been featured in prominent publications including the Wall Street Journal and Stanford Social Innovation Review, where he emphasizes that digital strategy must begin with a clear understanding of organizational goals before technology implementation. As Faculty Director of the Center for Digital Strategies, Taylor leads initiatives that bring together executives, academics, and students to advance management theory and practice in the networked economy. The Center explores technology's impact on product development, supply chains, marketing, and business model transformation, addressing challenges throughout the extended enterprise including globalization, information security, and organizational change. Under his leadership, the Center has hosted events like the Dartmouth AI Conference and developed programs that bridge academic research with corporate application.
Thomas Suesse is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Mathematics and Applied Statistics, University of Wollongong, with a career spanning institutions in Germany, New Zealand, and Australia. His academic journey includes a M.Sc. in Mathematics from Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena (2003) and a PhD in Statistics from Victoria University of Wellington (2008). Education: M.Sc. in Mathematics (FSU Jena, 2003), PhD in Statistics (VUW, 2008) His research focuses on Statistics, particularly Categorical Data Analysis, Social Network Modeling, and Spatial Statistics. Recent work explores variational Bayes inference for spatial autoregressive models, environmental extreme value detection algorithms, and the impact of missing data in statistical models. His publications span topics in public health, environmental science, and educational methodology. Key trends in his 15 most recent articles (2021-2025) include advancements in spatial statistics, applications of social network analysis to finance, and educational research comparing laboratory teaching objectives. He has also contributed to understanding pandemic effects on child health and activity patterns. Scientific Awards: 2008 VUW PhD thesis submission award; 2005-2008 VUW Postgraduate Scholarship. Thomas co-supervises PhD students on topics like spatial autoregressive modeling with missing data and variance estimation in mixture models. He has secured internal grants for computational infrastructure upgrades and studies on child movement behaviors. His professional affiliations include the Statistical Society of Australia.
Kris Kim is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream in the Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC). His academic role focuses on undergraduate teaching and curriculum development in chemistry, particularly in analytical chemistry and introductory chemistry courses such as CHMB16H3 and CHMA11H3. His research interests span multiple disciplines including polymer chemistry, nanomaterials, and chemical education. He has contributed to advancements in block copolymer self-assembly, nanoscale material characterization, and the development of virtual laboratory tools for remote education. His work also intersects with biomedical applications, such as studying integrin roles in cancer progression and exploring biopesticides for sustainable aquaculture. Kim’s publications reflect a strong focus on merging educational innovation with cutting-edge research, including the design of open-source laboratory equipment and collaborative initiatives like the Chemistry Teaching Fellowship Program. His interdisciplinary approach bridges chemistry with environmental science, materials engineering, and biomedical research.
Javier Gutierrez Illan is a Research Professor in the Department of Entomology at Washington State University. His academic career includes roles in conservation biology and ecological research, focusing on biodiversity responses to environmental changes, particularly climate change. He holds a Ph.D. in Conservation Biology from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Spain, and has expertise in predictive modeling, species distribution, and pest management in agroecosystems. Education: Ph.D., Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Spain (2009) M.S., Conservation Biology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Spain (2006) B.S., Biology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain (2003) Research interests center on biodiversity conservation, climate change impacts, and ecological modeling. His work addresses how species distributions shift in response to warming, with recent focus on predicting pest dynamics in the Pacific Northwest. He contributes to the Decision Aid System (DAS) group, developing tools to forecast pest effects on agriculture. Key research trends in his articles include invasive species management, soil microbiome analysis, and urban ecosystem functions. His studies highlight the interconnectedness of climate, land use, and biodiversity, emphasizing practical applications for sustainable agriculture and conservation. No scientific awards are listed. His work involves collaborations with academic and agricultural institutions, focusing on grants related to pest modeling and ecological forecasting. He participates in interdisciplinary teams like the DAS group, aiming to bridge ecological research with real-world agricultural challenges. Current projects target predictive models for invasive pests and soil health in urban and agricultural settings.
Julian Birkinshaw is a Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at London Business School, currently on leave. He holds a PhD from Western University, Canada, and honorary doctorates from Copenhagen Business School and Stockholm School of Economics. A Fellow of the British Academy, Strategic Management Society, and Academy of Management, his research focuses on innovation, digital transformation, and strategic agility in multinational firms. His work emphasizes practical business applications, aiding students and alumni in driving organizational change. His research interests include corporate entrepreneurship, knowledge management, and management innovation. He explores how large firms adapt to digital disruption, advocating for balanced 'fast and slow' leadership approaches to build resilience. Recent articles address AI’s impact on business, agile methodologies, and global strategy in the digital age. Education: BSc (Durham), MBA & PhD (Western Ontario) Awards: Multiple fellowships and honorary doctorates Teaching: Focuses on strategic leadership and innovation Awards and honors highlight his contributions to academia and business strategy. His writing spans Think articles analyzing trends like remote work productivity, digital transformation challenges, and ecosystem-driven business models. Collaborations with global firms (e.g., Enel, WeChat) showcase real-world applications of his theories.
Dr. YongJiang (John) Zhang is an Associate Professor of Plant Physiology at the School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine . His research focuses on plant responses to environmental stresses and climate change, particularly in wild blueberries and trees. His lab uses interdisciplinary approaches including field studies, UAV sensors, and controlled experiments. Dr. Zhang holds a Ph.D. from the University of Miami (2012) and Chinese Academy of Sciences (2011). Education: Ph.D., University of Miami, 2012 Ph.D., Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2011 Research Interests: Plants' physiological and structural adaptations to climate change, including water transport mechanisms, drought tolerance, and carbon balance. Key themes include wild blueberry resilience in Maine, tropical tree physiology, and precision agriculture techniques like UAV-based monitoring. His work integrates multi-scale approaches from lab experiments to ecosystem-level modeling. Lab & Collaborations: The Zhang Lab is located in Murray Hall and Hitchner Hall. Current research includes wild blueberry climate resilience, water-use efficiency of Maine forests, and novel technologies for crop management. Dr. Zhang collaborates with institutions like Harvard University and the Climate Change Institute. Grants & Advising: Oversees multiple graduate students and undergraduate researchers. Recent projects include NSF-funded studies on climate impacts and USDA grants for precision agriculture. Advises on topics like UAV applications and drought resistance genetics.
William Keeton is a Professor at the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, and a Gund Fellow at the Gund Institute for Environment. His work focuses on forest ecosystem science, particularly climate change impacts, carbon management, old-growth forests, and sustainable forestry. He teaches courses in silviculture, ecosystem dynamics, and sustainable management. His research spans North America, Ukraine, and the Carpathian Mountains, emphasizing biodiversity conservation and policy. He holds a Ph.D. in Forest Ecology (University of Washington, 2000), M.E.S. in Conservation Biology (Yale, 1994), and B.S. in Natural Resources (Cornell, 1990). His studies integrate natural disturbance regimes, riparian forest structure, and climate adaptation strategies. Recent work explores carbon sinks in streams, rewilding effects, and post-war forest recovery in Ukraine. Keeton’s publications highlight forest management’s role in mitigating climate change, with a focus on structural complexity, deadwood dynamics, and biodiversity. His interdisciplinary approach includes using historical maps and art for ecological insights. He collaborates globally on projects like Carpathian forest policy and biomass energy in Bhutan.
Greg Goralogia is a Researcher in the Department of Forest Ecosystems & Society at Oregon State University’s College of Forestry. He leads the Forest Biotechnology Laboratory, focusing on advancing genetic engineering techniques for trees and crops, with a particular emphasis on CRISPR/Cas9 applications, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, and plant regeneration mechanisms. His work addresses critical challenges in sustainable forestry and agricultural biotechnology, including enhancing transformation efficiency, mitigating gene dispersal risks, and improving resistance to pathogens like powdery mildew. Research interests include photoperiodic flowering regulation, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify key genes in plant development, and the molecular basis of plant regeneration pathways. He has pioneered transgene excision systems to streamline gene-editing workflows and developed tools for analyzing phenotypic data through RGB and hyperspectral imaging. His recent publications highlight breakthroughs in male sterility engineering in Eucalyptus, circadian clock modulation in Arabidopsis, and the role of phytohormones in Populus transformation. While no scientific awards are explicitly listed, his contributions to tree biotechnology have positioned him as a leader in innovative genomic approaches for clonal crops. Greg advises the Forest Biotechnology Laboratory team and collaborates on grants focused on sustainable forestry technologies. His research bridges fundamental plant biology with applied biotechnology, aiming to improve crop resilience and ecological sustainability.
