Frank Corsetti is a Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Southern California (USC), leading the Corsetti Lab. His research focuses on the co-evolution of Earth and its biosphere, particularly during extreme events like the 'Snowball Earth' glaciation and mass extinctions. He holds a Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from UC Santa Barbara (1998) and a B.S. in Geology from UC Davis (1989). Research Interests: Corsetti studies geobiological processes such as stromatolite formation, microbial carbonate systems, and the environmental impacts of mass extinctions. His lab investigates biosignatures, diagenetic processes, and astrobiological applications. Current projects include the end-Triassic mass extinction and microbial interactions in extreme environments. Advising & Grants: He mentors a team of PhD students (including Reena Joubert, Alison Cribb, and others) and has secured funding from NASA for projects like stromatolite carbonate formation studies. His work bridges paleontology, geochemistry, and microbiology, contributing to understanding Earth’s long-term climate and life history. Labs/Teams: The Corsetti Lab at USC explores stromatolites, microbial mats, and ancient Earth systems. Collaborations involve institutions like JPL and international universities.
Dr Yizhi Wang, FHEA, is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Finance at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, UK. He serves as Co-Director of the Cardiff Fintech Research Group and is the Editor-in-Chief of Elsevier’s Finance Research Letters . He is also Associate Editor for International Review of Financial Analysis and Research in International Business and Finance , and Guest Editor for International Review of Economics & Finance and Journal of Chinese Economic and Business Studies . Research Interests: Financialization and Econometrics Climate finance and carbon markets Cryptocurrency and FinTech indices Energy economics and risk management Green finance and ESG investing Behavioral and institutional finance Dr Wang has published extensively in world-leading journals such as Risk Analysis , European Journal of Operational Research , Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization , Energy Economics , and Journal of International Money and Finance . His work spans theoretical modeling, empirical econometrics, and policy-oriented studies. Scientific Awards: Shanghai Institute of International Finance and Economics Best Paper Award Teaching & Supervision: As a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy (FHEA), Dr Wang is module leader for undergraduate BS2514: Financial Markets and Institutions and postgraduate BST158: Big Data Analytics for Finance , earning consistently high teaching evaluations (4.8–4.9/5). He is available to supervise doctoral students in Financialization and has mentored graduates now employed at the University of Oxford, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan Chase. Labs & Research Groups: Co-Director, Cardiff Fintech Research Group Member, Cardiff Sustainable Finance Research Group Member, Environmental, Ecological, Extinction Accounting, Governance and Economics Research Group Member, Cardiff Business School Research Committee Dr Wang also curates multiple quarterly-updated indices (UCRY, ICEA, CBDCAI, NFTsAI, ACCC, FinTech Index) publicly available at https://sites.google.com/view/cryptocurrency-indices/home .
Peter Wilf is a Professor in the Department of Geosciences at Pennsylvania State University's College of Earth & Mineral Sciences. His research focuses on fossil plants as indicators of past climates, biodiversity, and environmental disturbances from the latest Cretaceous through middle Eocene (~67-45 million years ago). Wilf leads significant research projects including the Origins of Southeast Asian Rainforests from Paleobotany and Machine Learning and the Patagonia Paleofloras Project. His research interests span paleobotany, paleoclimatology, plant-insect interactions, and biogeography, with emphasis on how deep-time data illuminate modern ecosystems and their responses to anthropogenic change. Wilf's work primarily focuses on the latest Cretaceous through middle Eocene, examining global disturbances including warming and cooling events, the end-Cretaceous mass extinction, and recovery periods. His research has significant implications for understanding climate change, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem dynamics. Wilf's extensive publication record demonstrates consistent high-impact research across paleobotany, with recent work focusing on Southeast Asian rainforests, Patagonian paleofloras, and the connections between Gondwanan landmasses. His research integrates fieldwork in Patagonia and Southeast Asia with advanced analytical techniques, including machine learning applications for fossil leaf identification. Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2022 Wilson Award for Excellence in Research, Penn State College of Earth & Mineral Sciences 2022 Fellow, Paleontological Society 2017 Fellow, Geological Society of America 2016 Paul F. Robertson Research Breakthrough of the Year Award, Penn State College of Earth & Mineral Sciences 2016 George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching, Pennsylvania State University 2013 Wilf maintains an active research program with numerous NSF-funded projects and international collaborations. He leads a productive lab group conducting extensive fieldwork in Patagonia, Argentina, and Southeast Asia. His research has transformed understanding of Southern Hemisphere floras, the role of Patagonia in plant evolution, and connections between ancient and modern ecosystems across continents. Wilf's laboratory serves as a hub for paleobotanical research, bringing together students, postdocs, and international collaborators to study fossil plant collections from around the world. The lab integrates traditional paleobotanical methods with cutting-edge technologies including machine learning for fossil identification and advanced imaging techniques for detailed morphological analysis.
Seth Finnegan is a Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, and affiliated with the University of California Museum of Paleontology. His research focuses on understanding the processes shaping marine ecosystems and biota from the late Neoproterozoic to the present, with a particular emphasis on the Ordovician Period and mass extinctions. He integrates field observations, laboratory data, and literature databases to study extinction selectivity, environmental proxies (e.g., stable isotopes, biomarkers), and ecosystem reconstructions. His lab, the Finnegan Lab, explores themes such as organism-environment interactions and the drivers of biodiversity changes. Finnegan’s work has been widely published in journals like Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and Geology , and he collaborates with institutions globally. Despite no listed awards here, his contributions to paleontology are significant.
Dr. John Warren Huntley is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Missouri. His research examines the fossil record of biotic interactions including parasitism, predation, and competition, with additional focus on conservation paleobiology and morphological disparity evolution. Dr. Huntley investigates host-parasite dynamics in marine bivalves, human impacts on mollusk populations, and Phanerozoic predation patterns. His work integrates stratigraphic paleobiology with ecological and evolutionary analyses to reconstruct historical ecosystem dynamics. His recent publications demonstrate expertise in paleoparasitology, taphonomy, and conservation paleobiology, applying novel analytical methods to questions about parasite-host coevolution, preservation biases, and extinction events. This research provides critical insights into long-term ecological patterns and biological responses to environmental change. Dr. Huntley has received significant recognition including an NSF CAREER Award and Humboldt Research Fellowship, and he co-edited the comprehensive volumes 'The Evolution and Fossil Record of Parasitism'.
Gautham Narayan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Astronomy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), with affiliations in Physics and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA). He holds roles as Deputy Director for Astrophysics Research at the NSF-Simons SkAI Institute and Deputy Director of the Center for AstroPhysical Surveys. His research focuses on multi-messenger and time-domain astrophysics, cosmology, and machine learning applications in astronomy. Education: PhD in Physics from Harvard University (2013) and BS (Hons) in Physics from Illinois Wesleyan University (2005). His work includes pioneering AI methods for transient detection, leading collaborations like the Young Supernova Experiment (YSE), and developing standards for LSST and WFIRST. He is a Simonyi NSF-CAREER Fellow and Analysis Coordinator for the LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration. Research interests span cosmology, supernovae, and survey science. Key projects include establishing spectrophotometric standards via HST observations and advancing real-time analysis pipelines like ANTARES. Recent work emphasizes Bayesian models for supernova cosmology and multi-messenger astrophysics. Awards: Simonyi NSF-CAREER Fellowship. Collaborations include DESC, SCiMMA, and the KEGS team. Teaching includes courses on astrophysics and data science, with mentorship of students across undergraduate and graduate levels. Public outreach efforts include Astronomy on Tap events and science communication initiatives.
Dr. Jonathan Lenoir is a CNRS Researcher at the Ecology and Dynamics of Anthropized Systems (EDYSAN) laboratory, University of Picardie Jules Verne , France. His work bridges Ecology and Biostatistics , focusing on ecological dynamics under spatial and temporal global changes, particularly biotic responses to climate change. His research spans broad-scale biodiversity patterns, species distribution modeling, and microclimate ecology, with special attention to forest systems. Dr. Lenoir leads and contributes to multiple research projects including MaCCMic (Impact of forest Management and Climate Change on understory Microclimate) and IMPRINT (Impacts of Microclimatic Processes on forest Biodiversity redistribution under macroclimaTe warming). These projects utilize advanced technologies like LiDAR and microclimate sensors to model understory temperature dynamics and predict biodiversity responses to climate change. His recent publications analyze microclimate buffering in forests ( 2024 ), species thermophilization ( 2024 ), and the application of deep learning to habitat identification ( 2024 ). His work also explores interdisciplinary connections like eco-oncology , comparing invasion dynamics in ecology and medicine. Dr. Lenoir actively mentors researchers and supervises fieldwork campaigns, emphasizing rigorous data collection ( 180 monitoring plots across French forests ) and advanced statistical analyses in R . He collaborates with European institutions and participates in large-scale initiatives like ReSurveyEurope , a database of resurveyed vegetation plots.
Eric Roberts is a Professor of Geology and Geological Engineering and Director of the Potential Gas Agency at the Colorado School of Mines. His research focuses on basin analysis, energy exploration, and sedimentary geology with specializations in Mesozoic-Cenozoic basins of Gondwana and North America. He leads projects in U-Pb geochronology, critical minerals exploration, and paleoenvironmental reconstruction through vertebrate paleontology and stratigraphy studies. Roberts' work integrates advanced geochronological techniques with field-based analyses to address questions in paleobiology, resource exploration, and earth system dynamics. Key research themes include: Geochronology of sedimentary and volcanic deposits Paleoclimate reconstruction using paleosols Stratigraphic frameworks for dinosaur fossil records Resource potential of helium/hydrogen reserves Antarctic and African vertebrate paleontology His exploration of hominin burial practices in the Rising Star Cave System has provided critical insights into early human behavior. Roberts' interdisciplinary approach bridges geological, biological, and environmental sciences to advance understanding of Earth's history and resource management strategies.
Mario Telò is a Professor of Ancient Greek & Roman Studies, Comparative Literature, and Rhetoric at the University of California, Berkeley, with an affiliation in the Program for Critical Theory. He serves as Chief Editor of the journal Classical Antiquity and sits on the editorial board of Representations . His work bridges antiquity and modernity through interdisciplinary lenses, focusing on psychoanalysis, queer theory, and political theory. Telò has authored monographs such as Archive Feelings: A Theory of Greek Tragedy (2020) and Resistant Form: Aristophanes and the Comedy of Crisis (2023), exploring themes like tragic aesthetics, crisis, and canonical reimagining. Recent projects include co-editing Reading Greek Tragedy with Judith Butler (2024) and organizing conferences on Jean-Luc Nancy and Classics. His research emphasizes textual form’s emancipatory potential, engaging with art, film, and architecture to deconstruct normative narratives. Education : His academic background is not detailed here, but his prolific publications reflect advanced expertise in Classics and interdisciplinary humanities. Research Interests : Telò’s work critically examines Greek tragedy and comedy through modern theoretical frameworks. He investigates the interplay between aesthetic form and political/social issues, leveraging psychoanalysis (Freud, Lacan) and queer theory (Judith Butler, Lee Edelman) to analyze ancient texts. His focus on 'resistant form' highlights how classical works challenge equilibrium and normativity, offering tools for contemporary critical discourse. Grants & Collaborations : He co-organizes international conferences (e.g., on Jean-Luc Nancy) and collaborates on interdisciplinary projects like a forthcoming book on artist William Kentridge. His editorial work spans special journal issues on topics like elemental objects and queer philology. Labs/Teams : He leads editorial initiatives and hosts academic events such as the Townsend Center book chats and Syndicate symposia, fostering dialogue between classicists and modern theorists.
Louis Du Plessis is a Lecturer at ETH Zürich's Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering in Basel, Switzerland. His research focuses on computational evolution with particular emphasis on infectious disease dynamics and genomic analysis. He maintains an active research profile with numerous high-impact publications in top-tier journals. Dr. Du Plessis completed his doctoral studies at ETH Zürich in 2016 with a thesis titled 'Understanding the spread and adaptation of infectious diseases using genomic sequencing data,' building upon his 2011 Master's work on evolutionary rate variation. His current research sits at the intersection of computational biology, epidemiology, and evolutionary genetics. His research interests span computational epidemiology, phylodynamics, viral evolution, and infectious disease modeling. He has made significant contributions to understanding pandemic dynamics, particularly regarding influenza and SARS-CoV-2, using genomic and epidemiological data integration. His methodological work includes developing computational approaches for estimating epidemic dynamics and viral transmission patterns. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on how pandemics disrupt normal viral circulation patterns, with particular attention to influenza evolution during the 2009 H1N1 and COVID-19 pandemics. His work often combines phylogenetic analysis with epidemiological modeling to extract maximum information from genomic and case count data. Dr. Du Plessis has received research funding from European Commission projects including 'From Foundations of Phylodynamics to new applications in Cell Biology' (grant 101001077) and 'MOnitoring Outbreak events for Disease surveillance in a data science context' (grant 874850). He is actively involved in developing computational tools for analyzing pathogen genomic data and has contributed to several software packages used in the field. His work has significant implications for public health surveillance and pandemic preparedness.
Gheorghe Craciun is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Biomolecular Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research focuses on mathematical and computational models in biology and medicine, particularly dynamical systems models of biological interaction networks. He has been a visiting researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences during the 2019-2020 academic year and has organized the Madison Workshops on Mathematics of Reaction Networks. Craciun's primary research interests include Mathematical Biology, Dynamical Systems, Chemical Reaction Networks, Computational Biology, Systems Biology, and Algebraic Geometry. He investigates systems of differential equations with polynomial right-hand sides, which are common in biochemical reaction networks, ecological interactions, and epidemiological models. His work often involves proving global stability, analyzing multistability, and characterizing steady states using tools from algebraic geometry and combinatorics. Recent publications demonstrate his focus on toric differential inclusions, endotactic networks, and the global attractor conjecture, extending to applications in biochemical networks and discrete Boltzmann equations. His extensive publication record reveals a strong trend toward algebraic and geometric methods for analyzing complex biological networks, with significant contributions to reaction network theory, stability analysis, and parameter characterization. Craciun's work bridges abstract mathematical concepts with practical applications in biochemistry, ecology, and medicine, including modeling vitellogenin production in trout and peptide mass distributions. He has collaborated extensively with international researchers including Alicia Dickenstein, Anne Shiu, Bernd Sturmfels, Casian Pantea, and Miruna-Stefana Sorea. In education, Craciun teaches graduate courses such as Math 703 and mentors students through the Madison Math Circle and Putnam Club, while organizing specialized workshops that foster collaboration in reaction network theory.
Professor Balz Kamber is a renowned academic in the Faculty of Science at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), leading research in elemental and isotopic geochemistry paired with petrology. He holds the position of Professor in Petrology within the School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences . His work focuses on Earth's differentiation into chemical spheres, with applications in climate science, planetary evolution, and resource exploration. Kamber has held prestigious roles, including Chair in Geology and Mineralogy at Trinity College Dublin and a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair at Laurentian University. Education: PhD (University of Bern, Switzerland), MSc (University of Bern) Professional Memberships: Royal Irish Academy (since 2018), European Association of Geochemistry Research interests include thermodynamic modeling of igneous processes, automated mineralogy, and the interplay between climate and geological history. His current projects address mantle dynamics, crustal evolution, and planetary weathering. Teaching focuses on Earth Materials, Petrology, and Climate Science at QUT. Notable achievements include editorship of Chemical Geology (since 2018) and contributions to understanding the Great Oxidation Event and Deccan Traps volcanism. His work bridges fundamental geochemistry with real-world challenges, such as climate change mitigation through enhanced rock weathering. Grants/Funding: Led the 23M Euro Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences (2011–2018) Labs/Teams: Heads a dynamic research group advancing LA-ICP-MS methodologies and geochemical imaging
John Martin is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Springfield, affiliated with the School of Integrated Sciences, Sustainability, and Public Health. Since 2006, he has taught introductory physics for science majors and astronomy courses while directing the Henry R. Barber Research Observatory and hosting public UIS Star Parties. His research focuses on stellar astrophysics, particularly the life cycles of massive stars and phenomena like Eta Carinae. Stellar Astrophysics Massive Star Evolution Luminous Blue Variables (LBVs) Supernova Impostors Be Stars and Disks Photometry and Spectroscopy His publications, including over 100 peer-reviewed works, emphasize Eta Carinae's 5.5-year spectroscopic events, LBVs in M31/M33, Be star dynamics, and supernova impostors like SN 2009ip. Awards include the 2011 University of Illinois University Scholar title, JJ Nassau Fellowship (1997), and Dean's List recognitions. He earned his PhD in Astronomy from Case Western Reserve University (2003) and BS in Astro-Physics from the University of Virginia (1995). Scientific awards include 2011 University of Illinois University Scholar 1997 JJ Nassau Graduate Research Fellowship 1995 Mastin Graduate Fellowship 1995 Dean's List, University of Virginia 1994 Dean's List, University of Virginia
Professor Jill Atkins is a Professor of Accounting at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, with a distinguished career spanning accounting and finance. She also serves as a Visiting Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. As a leading academic in sustainable accounting, she has published over 50 journal articles and several influential books, establishing herself as a thought leader in the field of extinction accounting and biodiversity finance. Professor Atkins holds a BA Hons (First Class) in European Economics with a Licence ès Sciences Economiques from the University of Nantes, an MSc in Corporate and International Finance from the University of Durham, and a PhD in Finance from the University of Manchester. She is Series Editor for the de Gruyter Studies in Corporate Governance and has authored the leading international textbook "Corporate Governance and Accountability," now in its 5th edition. Professor Atkins' research focuses on three interconnected areas that have significantly contributed to sustainability accounting literature. Her work on private social and environmental reporting (SER) has evolved into "private integrated reporting," where institutional investor engagement processes increasingly integrate social, environmental, and financial issues. She has pioneered the development of "extinction accounting," creating a framework that has inspired extensive international academic research and influenced investment institutions' pollinator engagement strategies. Her third major contribution involves exploring the historical roots of environmental and ecological accounting, connecting accounting history with sustainability research across various historical periods from Victorian water pollution accounting to 18th century nature diaries. Analysis of Professor Atkins' recent publications reveals a clear trajectory toward increasingly specialized and urgent environmental accounting. Her work has evolved from general sustainability reporting to highly focused extinction accounting frameworks, with growing attention to historical precedents and cross-cultural applications. The publications demonstrate a sophisticated integration of critical accounting theory with practical applications in biodiversity conservation, showing how accounting mechanisms can serve as tools for species protection and environmental preservation. Her research increasingly incorporates interdisciplinary perspectives, drawing from ecology, history, art, and philosophy to develop comprehensive approaches to extinction governance. Professor Atkins has received significant recognition within the ESG investment industry and governance circles as a thought leader, regularly invited to give keynotes at international practitioner and academic events. She has led influential projects including a Nuffield Foundation-funded study on private SER and has developed innovative frameworks such as the extinction governance model that brings together accounting practices with governance mechanisms aimed at preventing species extinctions. Professor Atkins supervises doctoral candidates in extinction accounting, extinction governance, ESG investment, accounting for biodiversity, and corporate governance (qualitative research). She has established collaborative networks with leading practitioners in responsible investment, sustainability ratings, financial analysis, and reporting framework providers, including the Capitals Coalition, Moody's, Vigeo Eiris, AXA, and the WWF.
Professor Rosalyn Moran is a Professor of Computational Neuroscience and Deputy Director of King's Institute for Artificial Intelligence at King's College London. She holds roles in the Department of Neuroimaging and School of Neuroscience within the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience. Her research focuses on computational neuroscience, computational psychiatry, and neurology, particularly integrating brain connectivity with algorithmic principles like the free energy principle. She explores neurotransmitter roles in decision-making and disease modeling, with applications in artificial intelligence and neurodegenerative disorders. Moran serves as an editor for Neuroimage and collaborates with leading institutions. Key projects include global neuroimaging initiatives (UNITY) and low-field MRI advancements in low-resource settings. Her work bridges Bayesian inference, AI, and neurobiology, with recent emphasis on pediatric neuroimaging and treatment-resistant psychosis. Education & Research Interests Rosalyn Moran's research spans computational psychiatry, neuroimaging techniques, and AI applications in healthcare. Her lab investigates serotonin and dopamine signaling, brain connectivity patterns, and predictive coding frameworks. Notable contributions include modeling NMDA receptor dysfunction in encephalitis and developing super-resolution MRI methods for global health contexts. Grants & Collaborations Funded projects include MRC Human Functional Genomics (2024-2028), NIHR Maudsley BRC (2022-2027), and Gates Foundation initiatives for low-field MRI enhancement. Collaborators include Karl Friston (UCL), Read Montague (Virginia Tech), and Klaas Enno Stephan (University of Zurich). Recent events include presenting the Free Energy Principle's role in generative AI (May 2023). Labs & Teams Her lab focuses on computational psychiatry and AI-driven neuroimaging solutions, collaborating with the King’s Global Health Institute to advance medical imaging accessibility in low-income regions.
