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Pablo OteizaView profile

Research Professor

• Hydrodynamics
• Sensory Biology
• Animal Behavior
• +3 more

Dr. Pablo Oteiza serves as Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence in Martinsried, Germany, where he leads the Flow Sensing research group. Previously, he was Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology (2019-2024) and Research Associate there (2016-2019). His academic journey includes a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University's Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Center for Brain Science (2010-2016), and graduate studies at Universidad de Chile and the Max Planck Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology (2004-2010). Dr. Oteiza's research program investigates how aquatic animals sense and respond to their hydrodynamic environment. His quantitative behavioral approach seeks to understand the fundamental principles governing flow navigation in fish and amphibians. His work spans sensory biology, neuroscience, biomechanics, and evolutionary biology, with zebrafish serving as a primary model organism. His research bridges physical hydrodynamics with biological sensory mechanisms, exploring how organisms extract meaningful information from fluid movements. Analysis of Dr. Oteiza's publications reveals a research trajectory evolving from developmental biology toward specialized sensory mechanisms. His work in high-impact journals demonstrates consistent focus on sensory systems across multiple scales - from cellular and molecular mechanisms to whole-organism behavior. His research shows particular strength in connecting physical stimuli with neural processing and behavioral outputs, especially in aquatic environments. As Research Group Leader, Dr. Oteiza oversees a laboratory investigating fundamental questions about hydrodynamic sensing. His team employs advanced techniques to study neural circuits, sensory processing, and behavioral responses to water flow, contributing significantly to our understanding of how organisms interact with their fluid environments. His collaborative work extends across international institutions, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of his research.

Arne TraulsenView profile

Professor

• Evolutionary Dynamics
• Evolutionary Game Theory
• Finite Populations
• +4 more

Prof. Dr. Arne Traulsen is a Scientific Member and Director of the Department of Theoretical Biology at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön, Germany. He leads interdisciplinary research integrating biology, physics, mathematics, and computer science to study evolutionary dynamics, particularly in cancer evolution, metaorganisms, and population structure. His work often involves collaborations with clinicians, experimentalists, and bioinformaticians. Education: Diploma in Theoretical Physics (2002) Doctorate from Kiel University (summa cum laude, 2005) Research Interests: Arne’s research focuses on evolutionary game theory, finite populations, group selection, mathematical models for cancer , and population structure . His team explores how mutations accumulate, how cooperation evolves, and how eco-evolutionary dynamics shape biological systems. Recent work connects chaotic turnover in ecosystems and evolutionary responses to treatment with broader biological questions. Scientific Awards: Postgraduate Grant of Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes Postdoc Grant of Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina Emmy-Noether Grant of Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Young-Scientist Award for Socio- and Econophysics (2012) Advising and Collaborations: While specific student names are not listed, Arne has hosted numerous research groups and mentored interdisciplinary teams. His work spans collaborations with institutions like Kiel University , the CRC 1182 Metaorganisms , and global researchers in evolutionary biology and computational modeling .

Niklas WahlbergView profile

Professor

• Lepidoptera Evolution
• Molecular Systematics
• Biogeography
• +5 more

Niklas Wahlberg is a Professor in Biological Systematics at Lund University, Sweden. He holds roles including Museum Director of the Biological Museum and Principal Investigator in the BECC biodiversity initiative. His primary affiliation is with the Department of Biology, focusing on evolutionary biology and systematics of Lepidoptera. Education & Career: PhD in Evolutionary Biology from University of Helsinki (2000) Postdoc at Stockholm University (2000–2002) Academy Research Fellowship at University of Turku (2006–2011) Professor in Genetics at Turku (2014) before moving to Lund in 2015 Research Interests: His work centers on the evolutionary history of Lepidoptera, particularly diversification patterns linked to angiosperm evolution and mass extinction events. He employs molecular systematic methods, next-gen sequencing, and museum specimens to study clade origins and biogeography. Key topics include Cretaceous diversification, post-mass extinction radiation, and genomic discordance in butterflies. Awards & Recognition: Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher (2017, 2018) Elected to Kungliga Fysiografiska Sällskapet (2016) Grants & Projects: Swedish Research Council: Testing gene-trait associations in genome modifications (2025–2029) Infrastructure leader for museum collections and holistic specimen projects Labs & Collaborations: Head of the Systematic Biology Group at Lund, managing the Biological Museum’s collections. Active in global entomology networks and co-organizes major conferences like the International Congress of Entomology.

James CurleyView profile

Associate Professor

• Social Dynamics
• Social Neuroscience
• Social Determinants of Health
• +4 more

James Curley is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, part of the College of Liberal Arts. He is Co-Director of the Behavioral and Social Data Science Major and Principal Investigator of the Social Dynamics Lab. His research focuses on the neurobiological basis of social behavior, social hierarchies, and long-term physiological changes linked to social status. He earned his B.A. from the University of Oxford and a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, followed by postdoctoral work at Cambridge before joining Columbia University in 2012. At UT Austin since 2017, he has received awards including the Affordable Education Champion (2021), Dr. Wendy Domjan Excellence in Teaching Award (2021), and President’s Associates Teaching Excellence Award (2022). His teaching includes courses on statistics, R programming, and social behavior analysis. Curley’s lab investigates social dynamics through interdisciplinary approaches, combining behavioral studies with genomic, transcriptomic, and neuroendocrine analyses. He emphasizes open educational resources, co-authoring an open-access textbook for statistics and developing interactive learning tools. His work spans animal and human social systems, exploring how early life experiences shape behavior and how social hierarchy impacts neural and physiological processes. He has published extensively on topics like social dominance, gene expression, and the application of network models to understand social interactions. Teaching highlights include PSY 317L (statistics for behavioral sciences), PSY 120R (R programming), and UGS 302 (Being Social). His commitment to affordable education and innovative pedagogy has been recognized nationally. Research collaborations include studies on primate microbiota, stress vulnerability in depression models, and transgenerational epigenetic effects. He maintains affiliations with platforms like GitHub and Google Scholar, reflecting his embrace of open science principles.

Psyche LouiView profile

Associate Professor

• Music Perception and Cognition
• Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience
• Creativity and Creative Practice
• +3 more

Psyche Loui is an Associate Professor of Creativity and Creative Practice in the Department of Music at Northeastern University, leading the Music, Imaging, and Neural Dynamics (MIND) Lab. She holds a PhD in Psychology from UC Berkeley and dual bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Music from Duke University. Her research focuses on the neuroscience of music perception, including how music influences attention, emotion, and neurological conditions like ADHD. Her work has been supported by major grants from the NSF and NIH, and she has received awards such as the Templeton Positive Neuroscience Award and a NSF CAREER Award. Education : PhD in Psychology (Cognition, Brain, and Behavior), University of California, Berkeley Bachelor’s in Psychology and Music, Duke University Research & Grants : Loui’s research explores how neural mechanisms underpin music perception and cognition, with recent studies investigating the efficacy of algorithmically generated music for improving focus in ADHD. Her grants include NIH funding for projects like ‘Gamma-Music-Based Intervention for Alzheimer’s’ ($2.7M) and NSF support for ‘Reward Prediction in Creative Perception.’ Awards : National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2020) Templeton Positive Neuroscience Award (2010) Multiple Grammy Awards (text reference) Labs & Teams : Loui directs the MIND Lab, which uses neuroimaging and electrophysiology to study music-brain interactions. Collaborations include work with Brain.fm on attention-focused music interventions and global studies on cross-cultural music patterns. Teaching : Courses include Music Cognition , Acoustics and Psychoacoustics , and Creative Cognition , bridging theory with practical applications in neuroscience and education.

Christian KostView profile

Professor

• Evolution of Cooperation
• Microbial Ecology
• Bacterial Metabolic Networks
• +4 more

Prof. Dr. Christian Kost is a Professor in the Department of Ecology at the University of Osnabrück. His research focuses on the molecular and ecological mechanisms underlying cooperative interactions between organisms, particularly metabolic cross-feeding in bacteria. He leads the Experimental Ecology and Evolution group, investigating how cooperation evolves and its physiological consequences. Key research topics include the evolution of cooperation, synergistic coevolution, microbial community dynamics, bacterial multicellularity, and phenotypic heterogeneity. Methodologies employed include experimental evolution, synthetic ecology, genomics, microscopy/microfluidics, and theoretical modeling. Recent work highlights obligate cross-feeding’s role in expanding bacterial metabolic niches and the prevalence of reciprocity in mutualistic interactions. Kost’s lab has published influential studies on microbial symbiosis, including landmark papers in Nature Ecology & Evolution and Current Biology . Current projects explore ecological interaction networks, predator-prey dynamics (e.g., ciliate-bacteria), and synthetic microbial communities. The lab actively collaborates with international researchers and employs cutting-edge techniques like omics profiling and individual-based modeling (e.g., McComedy tool development). Recent lab additions include bachelor students Karmen Lohstroh, Pía-Kathleen Habekost, and Finn Dinnus. Kost’s work bridges theoretical and experimental approaches, aiming to define principles governing microbial cooperation and its ecological significance.

Ahmed Bin ZamanView profile

Assistant Professor

• computational biology
• evolutionary computation
• artificial intelligence
• +1 more

Ahmed Bin Zaman serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at George Mason University, where his research bridges computational methods with biological discovery. His academic profile emphasizes innovative approaches to protein structure prediction and optimization challenges. His educational foundation includes: PhD in Computer Science, George Mason University (2021) Master of Science in Computer Science, George Mason University (2020) Zaman's research program centers on computational biology, with specialized expertise in evolutionary computation and artificial intelligence applied to protein conformation analysis. He develops stochastic optimization frameworks to enhance protein structure prediction accuracy, focusing on conformational space mapping and decoy ensemble generation. His methodology integrates evolutionary algorithms with multi-objective optimization to navigate complex molecular landscapes, contributing significantly to template-free protein structure determination. His publication trajectory from 2017-2022 reveals distinct research phases: initial work in cybersecurity threat detection evolved into a concentrated focus on computational structural biology. Thirteen protein-related publications demonstrate consistent innovation in conformational sampling techniques, while maintaining methodological rigor through evolutionary computation and machine learning integration. Key contributions include conformation space mapping frameworks and adaptive stochastic optimization systems that address decoy diversity challenges. Professional development shows progression from industry experience at Technext Limited (as team leader/researcher) and lecturing at Metropolitan University to his current academic role. His teaching philosophy emphasizes cultivating independent problem-solving capabilities in students through cognitive tool development.

Jonny HolmströmView profile

Professor

• digital innovation
• digital transformation
• digital entrepreneurship
• +3 more

Jonny Holmström serves as Professor at Umeå University's Department of Informatics and directs the Swedish Center for Digital Innovation (SCDI), which he co-founded. He holds an additional affiliation as Professor at the Centre for Transdisciplinary AI, focusing on bridging theoretical research with practical AI applications across sectors including forestry, banking, and public services. His work appears in premier journals such as MIS Quarterly, Information Systems Journal, and Journal of Information Technology. His research centers on digital innovation, transformation, and entrepreneurship, examining how organizations navigate digital change through platform governance, AI integration, and entrepreneurial storytelling. Recent work investigates generative AI's impact on business model design, data work practices, and organizational transformation, emphasizing practical frameworks for managing digital transitions while addressing resistance and ethical considerations. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2024-2026) reveals a dominant focus on generative AI's organizational implications, particularly its role in reshaping platform governance, facilitating innovation through prompting, and transforming business models. Concurrent themes include digital platform evolution, data flow management in innovation networks, and citizen-centric digital government design, reflecting a consistent emphasis on practical implementation challenges in real-world contexts. Holmström leads significant research initiatives including a 28 MSEK program at Umeå University and the Kempe Foundation-funded SCDI AI Business Lab. His current project 'Using No-Code AI to Teach Machine Learning in Higher Education' (2024) aims to democratize AI education. He serves on editorial boards for CAIS, EJIS, Information and Organization, and JAIS, and heads the Swedish Center for Digital Innovation research group while participating in 'AI and society' collaborations. He founded and directs the Swedish Center for Digital Innovation (SCDI), which operates the SCDI AI Business Lab exploring practical AI applications for businesses. His work integrates with the Centre for Transdisciplinary AI to advance cross-sector AI implementation, particularly in public services and sustainable business models within the circular economy framework.

• Game Theory
• Auction Theory
• Mechanism Design
• +3 more

Associate Professor Murali Agastya is a faculty member in the School of Economics , Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences , University of Sydney . His research and teaching focus on game theory, auction theory, mechanism design, and microeconomic theory, with a special emphasis on learning in games and market microstructure. He obtained his PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago in 1993. Before joining the University of Sydney, he served as a lecturer at University College London and as a Research Fellow at the Center for Economic Learning and Social Evolution . He has also held postdoctoral and visiting appointments at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem , University of Tokyo , University of Western Ontario , and Ben Gurion University . Research Interests Game Theory and Bargaining Theory Auction and Mechanism Design Learning in Games Market Microstructure Information Economics Decision Theory under Uncertainty Grants & Funding 2007 : "Choice and Classification in either complex or adversarial environments" – Australian Research Council Discovery Project 2006 : "A game theoretic approach to classification in adversarial environments" – University of Sydney Bridging Support 2005 : University of Sydney Near Miss Scheme – CHASS Bridging Support 2001 : "Strategic Thought and Prediction in Strategic Environments" – Australian Research Council Discovery Project Teaching & Supervision He offers PhD and master's project supervision in finance and microeconomic theory, with particular strengths in game theory and mechanism design. He teaches courses in game theory, finance, and microeconomics at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Esther ThorsonView profile

Professor

• Advertising
• Journalism
• Mass Communication
• +9 more

Esther Thorson is Professor of Journalism at Michigan State University, College of Communication Arts and Sciences. She previously served as Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research Director of the Reynolds Journalism Institute at the Missouri School of Journalism. Ph.D. in Psychology, University of Minnesota B.A., Macalester College Her research integrates quantitative theory and applied communication studies , focusing on: Interactive and digital advertising News processing and audience development Evolutionary psychological frameworks for media consumption Combatting fake news through fact-checking Political socialization in news audiences Recent work includes: Evolutionary models of news/media approach-avoidance behavior Redesigning politicized news narratives Collaboration with the Worlds of Journalism US team and American Communities Project She has secured over $3 million in external funding from organizations including: Ford Foundation Pew Charitable Trusts Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Key honors: Only scholar to win top awards from AAA, AEJMC, and ICA Centennial review author for Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly Adviser to 55+ doctoral graduates in global institutions Labs and centers: Health and Risk Communication Center Former leader of Center for Advanced Social Research (1994-2014)

Carola LeichtView profile

Associate Professor

• Organisational Behavior
• Diversity in the Workplace
• Social Psychology
• +4 more

Dr. Carola Leicht is a Reader in HRM/Organisational Behaviour at Kent Business School, University of Kent. Her research focuses on social psychological processes influencing workplace decisions, particularly around diversity, stereotypes, and leadership evaluations. She applies these insights to areas such as women and minorities in leadership and the cultural context of science-religion interactions. Current affiliation: University of Kent, Kent Business School Prior role: Post-Doctoral Researcher at Coventry University Her research combines social cognition, stereotype analysis, and intergroup dynamics to examine how diversity experiences and implicit biases shape organisational behavior. She has secured significant funding, including a £2 million Templeton Religion Trust grant as Co-Investigator for a public perceptions study on science and religion. Recent publications highlight her interdisciplinary approach, blending organisational behavior with sociology and psychology to analyze leadership prototypicality, science-religion narratives, and stereotype mitigation. Her awards include a Professional Fellowship from the Advanced HE Academy . Carola is active in academic societies, including the Society for Personality and Social Psychology and the European Association of Social Psychology. She serves on the advisory board of the International Research Network for the Study of Science and Belief in Society.

Michael BenzaquenView profile

Research Professor

• Statistical Physics of Complex Systems
• Hydrodynamics at Interfaces
• Econophysics
• +3 more

Michael Benzaquen is a CNRS Research Scientist and accredited research director (HDR) based at École Polytechnique, where he founded and currently holds the Chair of Econophysics & Complex Systems. He is affiliated with LadHyX (UMR CNRS 7646), a research laboratory focused on hydrodynamics and complex systems at the intersection of physics, economics, and social sciences. Dr. Benzaquen's research spans multiple interdisciplinary fields, with primary interests in: Statistical physics of complex systems Hydrodynamics at interfaces Econophysics and quantitative finance Socio-physics and behavioral modeling Applications of physics to economics and social sciences Physical approaches to market microstructure and price formation His work demonstrates a unique methodology applying physical principles to understand complex phenomena in financial markets, social dynamics, and ecological systems. Dr. Benzaquen has made significant contributions to understanding market impact, price formation, and the statistical properties of economic systems from a physics perspective, while also maintaining strong research in fundamental fluid dynamics and interfacial phenomena. Analysis of Dr. Benzaquen's extensive publication record reveals a consistent trend toward interdisciplinary integration, with recent work increasingly bridging statistical physics, econophysics, and complex systems theory to address real-world problems. His publications span from fundamental research on ship wakes, liquid crystals, and thin films to applied studies in quantitative finance, ecological economics, and social dynamics, demonstrating remarkable breadth while maintaining methodological coherence through statistical physics approaches. As an accredited research director (HDR), Dr. Benzaquen supervises PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, leading an active research group focused on econophysics and complex systems. His group maintains strong collaborations across disciplines and regularly publishes in high-impact journals spanning physics, finance, and interdisciplinary sciences. The group's work is supported by various research funding sources enabling ambitious projects at the intersection of physics and social sciences. Dr. Benzaquen's laboratory at LadHyX brings together researchers from diverse backgrounds including physics, mathematics, economics, and computer science to tackle complex problems using quantitative approaches. His research has practical applications in financial market regulation, ecological conservation, and materials science, reflecting the real-world impact of his interdisciplinary methodology.

Michael ValahasView profile

Assistant Professor

• Evolutionary Biology
• Phylogenetics
• Speciation
• +3 more

Dr. Michael Valahas is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Science and Mathematics and the International Honors Program at Deree - The American College of Greece (ACG). His research spans evolutionary biology, phylogenetics, and ecology, focusing on speciation and adaptation across diverse domains of life. B.Sc. in Biochemistry Ph.D. in Molecular Virology, University of St. Andrews, Scotland His work investigates evolutionary history using model organisms and explores the ecology of introduced species. Recent publications highlight advancements in DNA sampling techniques, biochemical education methods, and plant taxonomy. Key subfields of his research include genetics , phylogenetics , species adaptation , and biodiversity .

Luciano De SioView profile

Associate Professor

• Biotechnology
• Liquid Crystals
• Nanotechnology
• +4 more

Luciano De Sio is an Associate Professor at Sapienza University of Rome, affiliated with the Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies. He leads a research group focused on biotechnology, liquid crystals, nanotechnology, optics, and bio-photonics. De Sio has over five years of experience as a senior research scientist at Beam Engineering for Advanced Measurements in Orlando, FL, with collaborations spanning U.S. agencies like AFOSR and AFRL. Current position: Associate Professor Institution: Sapienza University of Rome Department: Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies His research integrates nanotechnology with biomedical applications, including photo-thermal therapy and reusable biosensors . Notably, he has co-authored 140 ISI-JCR publications, holds 18 international patents, and has delivered over 50 conference presentations. Recent work involves NATO-funded projects for nanotechnology-inspired biosensors with photo-responsive liquid crystals. NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme European Office of Aerospace Research & Development (EOARD) De Sio's projects include advanced thermoplasmonic optical filters , smart windows , and multifunctional face masks with hybrid nanostructures. His expertise spans computational modeling of heat transfer, plasmonic nanoparticle synthesis, and bio-photonic device development. He teaches foundational physics courses for Medicine, Dentistry, and Nursing programs, including Medical Physics and Basics of Cellular and Molecular Biology . His group operates in the Laboratory of Biofotonica and Laboratorio di Biofotonica Ultrafast , advancing technologies from microfluidic circuits to gamma imaging systems.

Jill A KreilingView profile

Associate Professor

• Aging Biology
• Molecular Biology
• Cell Biology
• +4 more

Jill A Kreiling is an Associate Professor (Research) in the Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry at Brown University School of Medicine. She also serves as the Associate Director of the Brown Center on the Biology of Aging since July 2018. Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of aging, particularly examining the role of transposable elements, epigenetic changes, and cellular senescence in the aging process. Dr. Kreiling's research interests span several key areas in aging biology and molecular mechanisms of age-related changes. Her work has significantly contributed to understanding how retrotransposable elements become active during aging, how heterochromatin formation changes with age, and how these molecular changes impact tissue function and age-related diseases. She has developed innovative approaches to study aging processes using various model systems including mouse models, zebrafish, and cell culture systems. Her research program has been consistently supported by NIH funding, including her current role as Principal Investigator on an R01 grant focused on identifying biomarkers in salivary vesicles for preclinical Alzheimer's disease. She has published extensively in high-impact journals including Nature, Cell, and Aging Cell, with her work being cited widely in the aging research community. Dr. Kreiling has received several prestigious awards including the Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) from the National Institute on Aging (2011-2017). Her collaborative network includes prominent researchers in the aging field such as John Sedivy and Nicola Neretti at Brown University. As an educator, Dr. Kreiling has taught Introductory Microbiology and has mentored numerous students and postdoctoral fellows in her laboratory. Her research program provides valuable training opportunities for students interested in aging research, molecular biology, and translational approaches to age-related diseases.