Steven Vertovec is a leading scholar in migration studies, currently serving as Director of the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity and Honorary Joint Professor of Sociology and Ethnology at the University of Göttingen. Previously, he was Professor of Transnational Anthropology at the University of Oxford and Director of COMPAS (Centre on Migration, Policy and Society). Research Focus: Superdiversity, transnationalism, multiculturalism, and social complexity Key Roles: Editor of Global Networks , series editor of Routledge Transnationalism , consultant to global agencies (World Bank, UNESCO, European Commission) His work spans theoretical and empirical studies of diasporic communities, integration policies, and urban diversity. Recent publications emphasize superdiversity as a framework for understanding contemporary migration patterns and social transformations. Selected Contributions: Pioneering analysis of Hindu diaspora patterns, co-editor of major works on multiculturalism, and developer of data visualization tools for urban migration studies.
Aaron Maxwell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geology and Geography at West Virginia University (WVU). He serves as the principal investigator of West Virginia View, a member of AmericaView, and director of the WV GIS Technical Center. His research focuses on spatial predictive modeling, geohazard mapping, machine/deep learning applications in remote sensing, and thematic map accuracy assessment. He holds degrees from Alderson Broaddus University (B.S. in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science) and WVU (M.S. and Ph.D. in Geology), with a GIS Professional (GISP) certification. Education: Bachelor of Science in Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science – Alderson Broaddus University Master of Science in Geology – West Virginia University Doctor of Philosophy in Geology – West Virginia University Research Interests: Dr. Maxwell’s work emphasizes computational methods to extract insights from geospatial data. Key areas include: Deep learning for geomorphic feature extraction (e.g., LIDAR-based semantic segmentation) Machine learning applications in forest fuel load estimation and slope failure modeling Best practices for assessing deep learning outputs in remote sensing Synthetic data generation for predictive modeling Community flood resiliency and participatory GIS Publications: His recent work highlights advancements in geospatial deep learning (e.g., the geodl R package), accuracy assessment metrics for imbalanced datasets, and modeling post-mining landscape evolution. Articles often blend theoretical frameworks with applied case studies across environmental and geotechnical domains. Grants & Funding: Supported by NSF (CAREER Award) and AmericaView, his work trains students and develops open-source geospatial tools. Current projects include synthetic forest stand modeling and flood resiliency initiatives. Labs & Teams: Leads WV View, fostering remote sensing education and data sharing. Collaborates on geospatial workforce development and open-source software initiatives (e.g., GIScience courses, ArcGIS Pro labs).
Lenka Benova is a Researcher at the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp , where she serves as Unit Head in Reproductive and Maternal Health. She is a quantitative population health scientist with interdisciplinary training in management, economics, Middle East studies, demography, and epidemiology . Her career includes project coordination with Médecins Sans Frontières in Nigeria, West Bank, and South Sudan, as well as leading health pillar design in Egypt's conditional cash transfer program (2008-2010). Education: MA in Middle East studies (American University in Cairo) MSc in Demography and Health (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine) PhD in Population Health (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine) Her research focuses on health-seeking behavior in low- and middle-income countries, particularly reproductive/maternal health , with methodological interests in innovative data capture, self-reported indicator validity, and geospatial modeling . Her recent work examines maternal healthcare provision discontinuities in urban Sub-Saharan Africa through system dynamics and geospatial approaches. She teaches on Masters course modules and supervises PhD students , contributing to projects like: modeling maternal care accessibility in Guinea, analyzing fertility transitions in DR Congo, and evaluating hospital data utility for community epidemiology. Her research appears in journals such as Bioinformatics , BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth , and Scientific Reports , focusing on public health, maternal care, and health equity.
Eric Jessup is a Research Professor and Director of the Freight Policy Transportation Institute at Washington State University's School of Economic Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from WSU (1998), an M.S. and B.S. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Kentucky (1992, 1988). His career includes roles at Informa Economics, Albert-Ludwig-University (Germany), and American Express. His research focuses on transportation modeling, freight systems, applied econometrics, and geo-spatial analysis. Notable awards include the 2008 Transportation Research Forum Best Paper Award and recognition as an Eno Fellow (1994). Research interests emphasize optimizing freight logistics, transportation policy, and infrastructure investment. Recent work addresses pandemic impacts on global trade, truck parking safety, and rail rate dynamics. He has directed major freight policy initiatives, including the Freight Policy Transportation Institute and the PacTrans Workforce Development Institute. Over 80 publications span journals like Transportation Research Forum and Journal of the Transportation Research Forum , with a focus on GIS applications, supply chain resilience, and safety critical events. Education: Ph.D. Agricultural Economics, WSU, 1998 M.S. Agricultural Economics, University of Kentucky, 1992 B.S. Agricultural Economics, University of Kentucky, 1988 Awards: 2008 TRF Best Paper Award 2006 Best Paper Award (Italy) 1996 Northwest UTC Student of the Year 1994 Eno Transportation Fellowship Labs/Teams: Leads the Freight Policy Transportation Institute and collaborates with the Transportation Research Group at WSU. Engaged with national initiatives like PacTrans and the Idaho Statewide Freight Data Project. Grants and advising are central to his work, though specific student advisees are not listed. His research bridges academia and industry, addressing real-world challenges in freight logistics, environmental policy, and transportation safety.
Diane M. Styers is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resources at Western Carolina University's College of Arts and Sciences. Her work integrates geospatial technologies with community engagement to address global climate resilience challenges through human-centered research approaches. Her educational qualifications include: Postdoctoral Research in Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis, University of Washington Ph.D. in Forest Ecology, Auburn University M.A. in Geography, Georgia State University B.S. in Human Development & Family Studies, University of North Carolina at Greensboro Dr. Styers specializes in public participatory GIS (PPGIS) to incorporate local landscape knowledge into climate adaptation strategies. Her technical expertise spans LiDAR data analysis, object-based image analysis (OBIA), MODIS/Landsat time series, multi-sensor integration, forest ecology, and dendroecology. She investigates how social-ecological processes drive landscape changes affecting Earth's resources, with particular focus on community resilience against climate-related risks. Her publication record reveals strong thematic trends in applying geospatial methods to socio-ecological systems, with increasing emphasis on rivercane conservation, forest community dynamics in Appalachia, biodiversity education using NEON data, and vector-borne disease mapping. Recent works demonstrate sophisticated integration of remote sensing with community-based adaptation frameworks. Dr. Styers actively mentors students through co-authored publications and teaches diverse courses including Introduction to Geospatial Analysis, Remote Sensing, GIS applications, and field-based programs like Sustainability in Costa Rica. Her instructional approach emphasizes authentic science engagement using big data resources.
Dr. Minliang Yang is an Assistant Professor in Food Sustainability at North Carolina State University's Department of Food, Bioprocessing & Nutrition Sciences. Her research focuses on system-level analyses (TEA, LCA, machine learning) to advance food sustainability, particularly through plant-based foods, cellular agriculture, and greenhouse gas mitigation strategies. She holds a B.S. in Food Science from Henan University of Technology (2012), M.S. and Ph.D. in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering from Iowa State University (2014/2018), and a postdoctoral fellowship at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (2022). Her work spans biofuel production, bioproduct valorization, and sustainable biorefinery systems. Key contributions include optimizing biomass pretreatment methods (e.g., low-moisture anhydrous ammonia), developing plant-based platforms for human milk oligosaccharides, and evaluating the economic viability of carbon-negative fuels. Dr. Yang's interdisciplinary approach integrates engineering, biology, and economics to address global food system challenges. Recent publications emphasize co-processing agricultural residues, machine learning-driven process modeling, and cost-benefit analyses of bio-based materials. Her research highlights the potential of integrating plant biotechnology with advanced analytics to create scalable, sustainable solutions for food and energy systems.
Alva L. Couch is an Associate Professor at Tufts University's School of Engineering, Department of Computer Science, with a career spanning over 30 years. His work bridges network/system administration, autonomic computing, and hydrologic data science, focusing on scalable solutions for data management and automated system administration. Education: Ph.D. in Mathematics (1988), B.S. in Architecture (1978), and B.A. in Bassoon/Contrabassoon Performance (1978). Research Interests His research centers on: Network and System Administration: Tools like SLINK, Maelstrom, and Babble for dependency analysis, cloud migration, and policy enforcement. Geo-informatics: MEDFORD metadata language and HydroShare platform for hydrologic data curation and discovery. Autonomic Computing: Promise theory, convergent operators, and closure models for self-managing systems. Recent Work Trends His 2024-2018 publications emphasize: Cloud-based hydrologic data management (AnVILMEDFORD, HydroShare) Metadata standards for interdisciplinary research Machine learning for system administration Agent-based resource sharing models Scientific Awards Liebner Teaching Award (1996) Seymour Simches Advising Award (2017) Best Paper Awards: LISA 1996, AIMS 2008, LISA 2001 LISA 2000 Best Student Paper (with Michael Gilfix) Contributions He developed key software like Peep (network auralization) and Slink (configuration management), supported by NSF grants and industry partnerships. His work with CUAHSI's Water Data Center shapes national hydrologic data infrastructure. He also advocates for science education and privacy in computing.
Sabina Rosenbergová is an Assistant Professor of Cultural Heritage at the University of Groningen, affiliated with the Faculty of Religion, Culture, and Society and the Center for Religion and Heritage. She holds a PhD in Art History from Sapienza University of Rome and Masaryk University in Brno (2023). Her work focuses on the transformation of female religious spaces and artifacts into modern museum contexts, combining art history, heritage studies, and gender analysis. She is a Marie Curie Fellow and has contributed to international projects such as the MSCA Horizon Project “Conques in the Global World.” Her research interests include medieval treasuries of female convents, pilgrimage routes, and the intersection of gender, religion, and cultural memory. She has conducted fieldwork across Italy, Czechia, France, and the USA, including a visiting scholar position at CUNY in New York. Rosenbergová has published extensively on topics like the Milan Passion Diptych, Mont-Saint-Michel, and the experimental “Migrating Art Historians” project, which explores medieval art through bodily engagement with pilgrimage routes. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to cultural preservation and education. Awards include the prestigious Marie Curie Fellowship. She actively participates in academic conferences and public lectures on heritage, art history, and the role of movement in experiencing sacred spaces. Grants: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship (2024–2028) Labs/Teams: Center for Religion and Heritage, Migrating Art Historians Project
Dr. Jonathan Buonocore is an Assistant Professor in Environmental Health at the Boston University School of Public Health and Core Faculty at the Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS). His research evaluates health impacts of energy systems, focusing on climate mitigation strategies' co-benefits, equity, and unintended consequences. He holds a Sc.D. and MS from Harvard School of Public Health and a BS from Clarkson University. Education: Sc.D., Environmental Science & Risk Management, Harvard School of Public Health MS, Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health BS, Environmental Science & Policy, Clarkson University Research Interests: Dr. Buonocore examines energy systems through integrated frameworks combining health impact assessment, risk modeling, and energy policy analysis. Key areas include: Health co-benefits of renewable energy expansion Air pollution consequences of fossil fuel infrastructure Environmental justice in energy transitions Geoengineering health risks Recent work analyzes electrification policies, methane leakage risks, and extreme climate interventions. Articles emphasize spatial equity in exposure to oil/gas development and transportation policies. Grants & Advising: His research is supported by grants focusing on energy-climate-health linkages. He advises on projects related to decarbonization pathways and environmental justice. Labs & Collaborations: Associated with IGS and prior work at Harvard's Center for Climate, Health, and Global Environment. Collaborates with environmental justice organizations on policy-relevant research.
Xinhao Xu is an Associate Professor at the School of Information Science & Learning Technologies within the College of Education & Human Development at the University of Missouri. He specializes in technology-enhanced learning environments, with a focus on mixed reality, embodied interactions, and game-based learning for STEM education. His research explores how immersive technologies like VR and AR can improve educational outcomes and engagement. Dr. Xu holds a Ph.D. in Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies from Florida State University, alongside a B.Sc. in Electronic Instrumentation and Measurement and an M.Sc. in Digital Communication Systems and Technology from institutions in China and Sweden. His work integrates quantitative and qualitative methods to study learning processes in technology-rich settings. His research interests include the design of immersive virtual learning environments, the role of embodied interactions in cognition, and the application of novel technologies (e.g., generative AI, CAVE systems) in education. He is affiliated with the Technology to Enhance Learning Lab (TELL) and has received funding from the Mizzou Alumni Association Faculty Incentive Grants. Xinhao Xu’s publications emphasize trends in VR/AR adoption, collaborative learning in immersive spaces, and the psychological impacts of technology on learners. His work highlights the potential of mixed reality to bridge theoretical and practical learning gaps, particularly in STEM disciplines.
Endrit Hoxha is an Associate Professor at the Department of the Built Environment within the Faculty of Engineering and Science at Aalborg University. His research focuses on sustainability in construction, particularly life cycle assessment (LCA), environmental impact analysis, and circular economy strategies. He leads and co-supervises multiple PhD projects, including studies on LCA tools for carbon-optimized fire safety in biobased buildings and climate impact analysis of EU building materials. His work integrates environmental product declarations (EPDs), BIM technologies, and policy frameworks to address climate mitigation and sustainable practices in the built environment. Projects include Nordic harmonization of LCA methodologies and analysis of greenhouse gas emissions in construction. Key research areas: Sustainable construction, LCA, circularity, and policy-driven environmental mitigation. Consultancy involvement in environmental impact assessments of construction practices. Dr. Hoxha's recent publications emphasize circular building stock modeling, fire protection system environmental impacts, and light source sustainability. He has received recognition, such as the Sweco Transform Award for innovative master thesis projects. His work bridges academic research with practical applications, influencing both industry standards and policy development. Advisees include Kanafani, Dormohamadi, and Tozan, focusing on LCA methodologies and mitigation strategies. Labs/teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary groups on building lifecycle analysis and sustainability metrics.
Professor Yongwan Chun is a faculty member in the Geospatial Information Sciences program at the University of Texas at Dallas , affiliated with the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences. His academic journey includes a PhD in Geography (2007) and MS in Applied Statistics (2006) from the Ohio State University. Research Interests: Methodological advancements in GIScience, spatial statistics, environmental justice, urban crime analysis, population migration, and commodity flow modeling. Awards: Emerging Scholar Award (2017) from the Spatial Analysis and Modeling Specialty Group of the Association of American Geographers. Grants: Multiple awards from National Science Foundation and National Institute of Health totaling $1.4 million. Article Trends reflect expertise in spatial autocorrelation (Moran's I, Geary's C), location-allocation modeling (p-median, p-dispersion), and applications to healthcare accessibility, urban crime patterns, housing market segmentation, and climate impacts. His work integrates GIScience with Bayesian methods, eigenvector filtering, and big data uncertainty. Collaborators: Daniel A. Griffith, Hyun Kim, and students like Dongeun Kim and Changho Lee. Recent Topics: Trauma center accessibility, snowpack variation modeling, and spatiotemporal crime analysis. Contact: ywchun@utdallas.edu | Office: GR 3.208, UT Dallas
Beth King is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Geography and Assistant Program Manager for Online Geospatial Education at the John A. Dutton e-Education Institute, Pennsylvania State University. She oversees the Master of Geographic Information Systems (MGIS) program, managing student progress, communication, and capstone projects. Her expertise spans GIS data management, geospatial analysis, and online education design. Education: M.Ed. Adult Education (2003) and B.S. Geography (1996), both from Penn State. Research interests focus on effective online education strategies, GIS pedagogy, and supporting adult learners in geospatial programs. She co-authored courses like GEOG 483 and GEOG 482, emphasizing problem-solving and practical GIS applications. Awards : Most Outstanding Online Teaching & Learning Program (Sloan-C, 2009) Special Achievement in GIS Award (ESRI, 2004) She actively advises MGIS students, coordinates program logistics, and mentors peers. Her service includes roles in the Penn State Faculty Senate and leadership in the Dutton Institute.
Camilo Mora is a Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he maintains an active research laboratory and teaches courses on environmental issues, biogeography, and data analysis. His academic journey began with a BSc in Marine Biology from Universidad del Valle in Colombia (1999), followed by a PhD in Biology from the University of Windsor, Canada (2005). He completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Auckland (2005), Scripps Institution of Oceanography (2006-2008), and Dalhousie University (2008-2010). BSc, Marine Biology, Universidad del Valle, Colombia (1999) PhD, Biology, University of Windsor, Canada (2005) Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Auckland (2005) Postdoctoral Fellow, Scripps Institution of Oceanography (2006-2008) Postdoctoral Fellow, Dalhousie University (2008-2010) Mora's research spans interconnected lines focused on understanding biodiversity patterns and their modification by human activities, with particular emphasis on climate change impacts. His lab specializes in big data analytics applied to diverse environmental challenges including heatwaves, disease transmission, marine ecosystems, and even unconventional topics like Bitcoin's environmental footprint. The Mora Lab operates on a 'divide and conquer' approach to tackle large research questions by breaking data gathering into individual parts that can be concatenated into central databases. Mora has received the CSS Excellence in Research award (2014) for his significant contributions to environmental science. His influential publications include groundbreaking work on the global risk of deadly heat (2017), the projected timing of climate departure from historical variability (2013), and the finding that over half of known human pathogenic diseases can be aggravated by climate change (2022). CSS Excellence in Research (2014) Highly cited publications in Nature and Nature Climate Change Research featured in major international media outlets Development of innovative research methodologies for large-scale analyses Mora leads an active research group that engages students in the full scientific process from idea generation to publication. His approach to mentoring involves creating yearly classes where graduate students, professors, and international advisors collaborate to tackle significant research questions, with papers typically completed within a single semester. His Carbon Neutrality Challenge project, spearheaded by his daughter Asryelle Mora, provides a practical mechanism for individuals to offset carbon emissions through tree planting. The Mora Lab maintains a distinctive approach to environmental research, working on seemingly diverse topics from reef fishes to Bitcoin, united by their reliance on big data analytics. This interdisciplinary methodology has produced impactful research across multiple domains of environmental science and climate change impacts, establishing Mora as a significant contributor to our understanding of humanity's environmental challenges.
Adam Bennett is an Associate Professor of Epidemiology & Biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. His primary research focuses on malaria epidemiology, global health equity, and implementation science, with extensive field work in Southeast Asia (Laos, Thailand, Vietnam) and Africa (Zambia, Namibia). He is affiliated with UCSF's Institute for Global Health Sciences. Dr. Bennett's research examines innovative malaria control strategies including: Targeted interventions for high-risk populations (forest-goers, miners, agricultural workers) Reactive drug administration strategies Genomic epidemiology of malaria transmission Cost-effectiveness of elimination approaches Implementation science in low-resource settings His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on malaria elimination methodologies, spatial epidemiology, and intervention studies in endemic regions. Research consistently addresses diagnostic approaches, drug administration protocols, and vector control methods tailored to specific transmission contexts.
