Find Academic Supervisors

Davide MARINOView profile

Associate Professor

• Environmental Policy
• Urban Food Systems
• Ecosystem Services
• +4 more

Prof. Davide MARINO is an Associate Professor at the University of Molise, affiliated with the Department of Biosciences and Territory. His work focuses on interdisciplinary approaches to environmental governance, urban food systems, and territorial planning. He actively contributes to policy analysis regarding ecosystem services, food insecurity, and sustainable development. Research interests include the intersection of food security with urban-rural dynamics, the application of Von Thünen’s theoretical frameworks to modern land use challenges, and the governance mechanisms shaping metropolitan food policies. His studies often combine quantitative analysis with qualitative socio-cultural perspectives. Recent work emphasizes transdisciplinary methodologies to assess food affordability indices, evaluate land-use policy impacts, and map spatial inequalities in food access. He has published extensively on case studies in Rome’s metropolitan area, exploring food deserts, agroecological urban agriculture, and biodiversity conservation strategies in agricultural parks. Prof. MARINO’s publications include critical analyses of academic works on religious esotericism and historical occult practices, reflecting his broader interest in cultural dimensions of environmental stewardship. His research consistently bridges natural sciences with humanities, addressing both technical and socio-political dimensions of sustainability challenges.

Basma EllahiView profile

Professor

• Public Health
• Nutrition
• Food Security
• +5 more

Professor Basma Ellahi is a Research Professor in Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing at the University of Chester, UK, and currently serves as Associate Dean of Research and Innovation in the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Society. She holds formal academic appointments including Professor of Public Health Nutrition and has led departments such as Biological Sciences and Clinical Sciences & Nutrition. Her research focuses on co-production of health interventions with ethnic minority communities, addressing food insecurity and chronic disease prevention in disadvantaged groups. She has pioneered culturally tailored interventions in South Asian and Black African communities through projects like TANGERINE, supported by UKRI grants. Education: BSc Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (University of Leeds) MSc Food Science (University of Leeds) PhD (University of Bradford) PgCert Teaching and Learning (Teesside University) Research Interests: Her work emphasizes dietary patterns in marginalized populations, leveraging mixed-methods approaches. Key areas include: Food security among older ethnic minorities Cultural adaptation in dietary practices Genetic-diet interactions in metabolic health Technology-enhanced health training (e.g., VR for handwashing) Grants & Projects: Leads NIHR-funded inflAIM (studying inflammation and long-term conditions) and UKRI-funded TANGERINE. Previously managed projects on portion control tools and rural health in Ghana. Leadership: Chairs the Nutrition Society Special Interest Group on Ethnic Minority Health and serves on UKRI grant review panels. Oversees research ethics at the School of Nursing and Health Education. Global Impact: Delivers researcher development workshops in sub-Saharan Africa and Pakistan, addressing nutrition disparities through community engagement.

• International Law
• Peacebuilding
• Gender Studies
• +5 more

Iker Zirion is a Professor of Public International Law at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and a researcher at Hegoa, the Institute for Development and International Cooperation Studies. He is affiliated with the Department of Public Law and Historical-Legal Sciences and of Political Thought History. His research focuses on peacebuilding, gender analysis in conflict zones, post-conflict societies, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He holds a PhD in International Studies and has been a member of Hegoa’s 'feminism and conflict' research group. Education: PhD in International Studies Research Interests: Peacebuilding and gender dynamics Post-conflict contexts and transitional justice Critical approaches to liberal peace Violence against women in armed conflicts Gender and international law Masculinity studies in humanitarian action Recent Projects: Strengthening women defenders of truth, justice, and reparation (2022) Analysis of food insecurity in armed conflicts (2020) Psychosocial care for women human rights defenders in Kivu (2022) Key Themes in Publications: His work critiques liberal peace paradigms, examines gender mainstreaming in DDR programs, and analyzes feminist approaches to transitional justice. He emphasizes the intersection of masculinity, humanitarian action, and conflict resolution. He has supervised doctoral theses on peacebuilding policies in the DRC and contributed to international debates on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 implementation. His academic contributions bridge critical legal theory with practical policy analysis in conflict-affected regions.

Paul ThambarView profile

Associate Professor

• Management Accounting
• Performance Measurement
• Management Control Systems
• +8 more

Paul Thambar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Accounting at Monash Business School, specializing in management accounting, performance measurement, and organizational theory. He leads the Mutual Value Lab, collaborating with the Business Council of Cooperatives and Mutuals (BCCM) to develop the Mutual Value Measurement (MVM) framework, a commercialized research project with $1.1m funding. His work focuses on non-profits, cooperatives, and NGOs, addressing challenges in performance measurement and strategic alignment. Thambar holds a PhD from UTS (2015) and has over A$700k in research grants (ARC Category 3). He teaches advanced qualitative research, digital technology in business, and management accounting. Recognized with a UK HEA Fellowship and global teaching awards, he emphasizes industry-relevant pedagogy. His industry experience includes senior roles in banking, insurance, and consulting. Key collaborations include projects with The One Box (food relief NGO) and BCCM, focusing on social impact measurement and financial resilience. Awards include the CIMA Research Excellence Award (2021), Dean’s Research Engagement Commendation (2023), and SIMNA Collaboration Award (2023). Thambar’s research spans qualitative methods, paradox theory, and institutional logics, with publications in top journals like Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal.

Angela FlynnView profile

Researcher

• Gestational Diabetes Management
• Lifestyle Interventions in Pregnancy
• Maternal Obesity and Pregnancy Outcomes
• +3 more

Dr. Angela Flynn is a leading researcher in maternal health and pregnancy-related outcomes, specializing in systematic reviews and clinical interventions. Her work focuses on gestational diabetes, lifestyle interventions, and nutritional support during pregnancy and postpartum periods. She has contributed to over 59 peer-reviewed publications and serves as a key collaborator in multiple international research projects. Research Interests: Systematic reviews in obstetrics and gynecology Lifestyle interventions for pregnant women with obesity Nutritional support for elite athletes during pregnancy Food insecurity and maternal health equity Grants and Projects: Lead investigator in projects addressing maternal micronutrient deficiencies (2021–2026) Co-investigator in studies targeting gestational diabetes prevention (2018–2023) Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to good health and well-being (SDG 3) and zero hunger (SDG 2). Angela’s research has been highlighted in 4 news outlets and engaged 16 Mendeley readers, reflecting its societal impact.

• Developmental Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Bilingual Education
• +3 more

Adam Winsler is a Professor of Psychology at George Mason University, specializing in applied developmental psychology. His research examines school readiness, bilingual language development, and self-regulation in ethnically diverse children. He directs the Miami School Readiness Project , a large-scale longitudinal study of over 50,000 children. His recent work investigates the effects of bilingual education models and arts participation on academic outcomes. Winsler has authored over 150 publications and secured $4 million in research funding. His current projects include the impact of advanced course placement and the long-term effects of pre-K programs.

Christian KingView profile

Associate Professor

• Health Policy
• Social Determinants of Health
• Food Insecurity
• +3 more

Christian King is an Associate Professor in the School of Global Health Management and Informatics at the University of Central Florida (UCF), part of the College of Community Innovation and Education. He holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy from Georgia State University and Georgia Institute of Technology. His research focuses on social determinants of health, health disparities, food insecurity, and telemedicine effectiveness. He has conducted studies on food insecurity's impact on health, violence exposure in women, and the role of telemedicine during the pandemic at the Orlando VA Medical Center. Education includes a Ph.D. in Public Policy (Georgia State University/Georgia Tech), with expertise in policy analysis and healthcare systems. His work integrates quantitative methods with public health challenges, emphasizing policy interventions to address inequities. Research interests span healthcare access, social policy, and technology-driven solutions. Recent projects include evaluating telemedicine's role in urgent care and analyzing the interplay between neighborhood context and health outcomes. His articles explore topics like diabetes management, electronic health record standards, and AI applications in healthcare. While no awards are explicitly mentioned, his contributions to food insecurity research and telemedicine innovation reflect impactful scholarly work. He advises no listed students and collaborates with institutions like the VA Medical Center. His lab focuses on applied public health research, with future work likely expanding on pandemic-era healthcare adaptations and systemic inequities.

Giang VuView profile

Assistant Professor

• Public Health
• Health Informatics
• Epidemiology
• +4 more

Dr. Giang Vu is an Assistant Professor in the School of Global Health Management and Informatics at the University of Central Florida (UCF), part of the College of Community Innovation and Education. He holds a D.D.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Health Management and Policy. Prior to academia, he worked as a dentist and dental office manager in Vietnam and later transitioned to roles in the U.S., including dental assistant and manager while pursuing advanced studies at Georgia State University and the University of Louisville. His research focuses on preventive factors for adverse oral and general health outcomes, utilization of preventive care, and cost-saving strategies in dental prevention. He has taught courses in health data analytics, data mining, and electronic health records. His work includes leading a Medicaid-funded project ($450,000) and co-leading others totaling $1.3 million, analyzing large-scale healthcare data (e.g., Medicaid claims) to study oral-systemic disease links, post-ACA market shifts, and diabetes-related health disparities in Kentucky. Dr. Vu’s articles emphasize oral health’s role in systemic conditions like diabetes, leveraging AI, epidemiology, and data analytics. His work highlights the need for standardized electronic health records, AI-driven diabetes management systems, and addressing social determinants of health. He has no explicitly mentioned scientific awards but has demonstrated significant contributions through grant-funded research and academic leadership. As Associate Director of Health Data Analytics at UCF, he oversees projects integrating interdisciplinary approaches to healthcare challenges.

• 3D Food Printing
• Food Science
• Nutrition
• +6 more

Liezhou Zhong is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Edith Cowan University (ECU), based in the Nutrition & Health Innovation Research Institute within the School of Medical and Health Sciences. He leads the Future Foods & Digital Gastronomy Laboratory, focusing on novel food technologies like 3D food printing to enhance nutrition and health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations such as aged care residents. His research also explores nitrate/nitrite metabolism, plant-based foods, and the impact of dietary patterns on cardiovascular and neurological health. Dr. Zhong holds a PhD from Curtin University (2020). His professional background includes roles as a research assistant at Curtin University and director assistant at Zhejiang University’s Fuli Institute of Food Science. He is affiliated with the Nutrition Society of Australia and the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology, and contributes to the Western Australian Cardiovascular Research Alliance. His research interests span 3D food printing, texture-modified foods, dietary nitrate/nitrite, plant-based nutrition, and the application of machine learning in food science. Key achievements include developing comprehensive food composition databases for nitrate/nitrite and pioneering studies on the health impacts of dietary nitrate sources. Zhong has received prestigious awards such as the Australian Nutritional Trust Fund Travelling Fellowship (2025), Young Tall Poppy of the Year (2024), and ECU’s Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Award for Research Communication (2023). His grants include NHMRC Ideas Grants totaling over $2.1 million for projects like 3D-printed texture-modified foods and nitrate source health impacts.

Claire PulkerView profile

Academic

• Public Health Nutrition
• Food Environments
• Food Security
• +4 more

Dr. Claire Pulker is a Senior Research Fellow at Edith Cowan University's Nutrition & Health Innovation Research Institute within the School of Health and Medical Sciences. With over 30 years of professional experience as a public health nutritionist, she specializes in food environments, policy design, and nutrition security. Her work focuses on evaluating supermarket practices, food outlet risks, and developing tools like the Menu Assessment Scoring Tool (MAST). Dr. Pulker holds a PhD from Curtin University (2019), a Master of Medical Science (1994), and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Food Resource Management (1992). Education PhD, Curtin University of Technology, 2019 Master of Medical Science, England, 1994 Bachelor of Science (Honours) Food Resource Management, England, 1992 Her research interests include public health nutrition, food security, and sustainable food systems. She has led projects such as the Food Atlas to map Australia's food access and collaborated on policy initiatives like obesity prevention strategies. Dr. Pulker’s work bridges academic research with real-world policy, emphasizing feasibility assessments to improve dietary health outcomes. Her recent studies analyze food donations, kids’ menus, and supermarket policies, with findings published in journals like Public Health Nutrition and Nutrients . She holds grants totaling over $3.8 million for projects addressing unhealthy food advertising and community food access. Key Projects National Food Atlas (NHMRC, $2.8M) Unhealthy Food Advertising Policy (Healthway, $922K) Food Environment Assessment Tool (FEAST, Healthway) Dr. Pulker is actively involved in professional organizations, including the Public Health Association of Australia and the World Public Health Nutrition Association. Despite no explicitly listed awards, her extensive contributions to food policy reflect significant recognition in the field.

Steph BernellView profile

Associate Professor

• Health Economics
• Public Health Policy
• Health Policy Analysis
• +5 more

Steph Bernell is an Associate Professor and serves as the Dean of Graduate Education at Oregon State University. She is affiliated with the College of Health's Department of Health Management and Policy. Her research focuses on labor market effects of health status, the relationship between place and obesity, food insecurity, and the impact of poverty and rural location on health. She authored Health Economics: Core Concepts and Essential Tools (2016) and has taught over 80 courses in health policy and economics. Educations: PhD in Health Economics (Johns Hopkins University), MA and BA in Economics (American University) Her work integrates economic tools to address public health challenges such as chronic disease, health reform, and hunger. She currently accepts MPH students but is not admitting new PhD candidates. As Dean, she oversees graduate education policies and initiatives. Awards: None explicitly listed in the provided texts. Advising & Grants: Accepting MPH students; no specific grants mentioned. She emphasizes mentorship and graduate student development through her administrative and academic roles.

Crystal Haskell-RamsayView profile

Professor

• Biological Psychology
• Nutrition and Cognition
• Wellbeing Science
• +3 more

Crystal Haskell-Ramsay is a Professor of Biological Psychology at Northumbria University, serving as Postgraduate Research Lead for the Psychology Department and Deputy Lead of the Health and Wellbeing Group. Her research focuses on nutrition's impact on cognition and wellbeing, with expertise in neurocognitive effects of dietary compounds like (poly)phenols from coffee, cocoa, berries, and nuts. She leads undergraduate teaching in Health Psychology and supervises students at all academic levels. Education : PhD in Psychology (2008) Second PhD in Psychology (2003) BSc (Hons) Psychology (2001) Research Interests : Biobehavioral effects of dietary compounds Individual differences in nutritional response Stress-nutrition-wellbeing interplay Gender-specific nutritional challenges Food insecurity and youth wellbeing Lifespan nutrition for women's health Grants & Projects : £11,598 National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) grant (2021-2022) for studying 'Girls' experiences in alternative education' Key Contributions : Over 15 years of cognitive performance assessment Systematic reviews on nutritional interventions for menopause and sleep Leading studies on multivitamin supplementation and mood Advocacy for addressing food insecurity in adolescents Research Groups : Health and Wellbeing Group (Deputy Lead) Northumbria's Psychology Research Peaks

Matthew KiernanView profile

Research Fellow

• Veteran and Military Families Health
• Mental Health Nursing
• PTSD Treatment (EMDR)
• +3 more

Professor Matthew Kiernan is a Senior Research Fellow at Northumbria University's Academic Department for Defence Nursing. A former Royal Navy mental health nurse with active service in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Balkans, he holds a PhD from Nottingham University (2011). His roles include Director of The Northern Hub for Veterans and Military Families' Research, Chair of EMDR UK & Ireland's Research Committee, and Independent Advisory Panel Member for the British Army Infantry Training Centre. Education: BSc Med Sci (Sheffield University, 2001), PhD (Nottingham University, 2011). Research focuses on veterans' mental health, EMDR therapy applications, military family support systems, and public health policy. Key projects include the MONARCH Study (mapping veteran needs) and veteran suicide prevention initiatives. Research trends emphasize data-driven approaches to address food insecurity, social isolation, and PTSD treatment. His work bridges clinical practice, policy development, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Over £800k in grant funding since 2021 supports projects like the Tri-Service Food Insecurity Study and veteran suicide prevention frameworks. Advisory roles include Office of Veterans Affairs and Forces in Mind Trust collaborations. Supervises PhD candidates researching veteran care systems and military women's narratives. Active in policy advocacy through House of Lords presentations and international conferences. Led development of The Northern Hub, a collaborative network advancing veteran health research. Current studies include validation of complex needs indicators and digital innovations in veteran care delivery.

• Public Finance
• Labor Economics
• Social Insurance Programs
• +5 more

Amelia Hawkins is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Brandeis University, affiliated with the Brandeis International Business School. Her research focuses on public finance and labor economics, examining how social insurance and transfer programs influence individual and firm decisions, particularly regarding labor market dynamics and health-related outcomes. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Michigan (2019), where her dissertation received notable awards, and a B.A. from Williams College (2008). Previously, she was a postdoctoral fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research and a Research Associate at the Urban Institute. Education: Ph.D. in Economics, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (2019) M.A. in Economics, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor B.A. in Economics, Williams College (2008, magna cum laude) Research Interests: Amelia investigates the interplay between social insurance programs (e.g., Supplemental Security Income, SNAP) and labor markets, focusing on how these policies affect employment, health outcomes, and family well-being. She also explores gender differences in educational and career choices and evaluates program designs to optimize policy effectiveness. Honors & Awards: John E. Parker Memorial Prize in Labor Economics and Human Resources (2018) 2020 Honorable Mention for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation in Government Finance and Taxation (National Tax Association) Professional Affiliations: Her work bridges academic research and policy, with affiliations at Brandeis University and contributions to organizations like the National Bureau of Economic Research and the Urban Institute. She is also part of the NTA Next Generation initiative. Contact: Amelia can be reached at aaehawkins@brandeis.edu , located in Lemberg Academic Center, Room 257.

Kate DarbyView profile

Associate Professor

• Environmental Justice
• Food Sovereignty
• Climate Change Education
• +1 more

Kate Darby is an Associate Professor at Western Washington University focusing on social and environmental justice, food sovereignty, and climate change pedagogy. She developed the course ENVS 115: Hope and Agency for a Climate-Altered World to foster proactive climate engagement. Research: Examines environmental injustice production, sensory claims in decision-making, and food sovereignty. Recent work addresses university food systems and low-income household gardening. Education: PhD in Anthropology (Arizona State University), MS in Environmental Studies (University of Oregon), BS in Chemical Engineering (Penn State).