Todd C. Helmus is a Senior Behavioral Scientist at the RAND Corporation and a Professor of Policy Analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy. He specializes in counterterrorism, information operations, security cooperation, and social media analysis with a focus on irregular warfare and violent extremism. Helmus holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Wayne State University (Detroit, MI) and has served as a deployed analyst for U.S. military commands in Iraq and Afghanistan. His research emphasizes countering adversarial tactics such as foreign terrorist recruitment, Chinese gray zone operations, and propaganda campaigns. He teaches graduate courses on information operations and frequently speaks at security conferences. Key findings include studies on veteran susceptibility to extremism and Ukraine's counter-disinformation strategies during the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Helmus advises on national security communication campaigns, drawing insights from public health strategies. His work spans academic publications, expert commentary, and video/podcast media across topics like AI-driven misinformation, election security, and global resource development. He remains actively involved in policy analysis for U.S. national strategies on antisemitism and domestic extremism mitigation.
Alberto Salvo is an Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS), holding a PhD from the London School of Economics. His research spans environmental economics, industrial organisation, and applied microeconomics, with a focus on urban pollution, consumer behavior, and climate action. Environmental Economics & Policy (Undergraduate) Economics of the Environment (PhD) Advanced Industrial Organisation (PhD) His work examines air pollution impacts on health and productivity, fuel switching dynamics in megacities, and behavioral responses to environmental stress. Recent publications analyze particulate pollution in China, temperature effects in tropical cities, and plastic waste patterns linked to food delivery. Notable awards include the JAERE Best Paper Award (2020), Robert Mundell Prize (2010), and Antitrust Policy Award (2007). His collaborations span institutions in Brazil, China, and Singapore.
Cassidy R. Sugimoto is the Tom and Marie Patton Professor and School Chair at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy at Georgia Institute of Technology. She previously held a professorship in Informatics at Indiana University Bloomington (2010–2021) and served as Program Director for the Science of Science and Innovation Policy at the National Science Foundation (2018–2020). Her research focuses on knowledge production systems, equity in STEM, scientific collaboration dynamics, and research evaluation metrics. She holds degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill including a B.Mus. in Music Performance, M.S. in Library Science, and Ph.D. in Information and Library Science. Research interests include: Structural inequities in science and technology Ethical authorship practices Global scientific collaboration patterns Open science initiatives Gender and diversity in academic careers Notable awards include the 2020 Bicentennial Service Award from Indiana University and 2014 Trustees Teaching Award. Her recent work examines intersectional disparities in science, AI ethics, and systemic barriers to equity in academic publishing. Key contributions include co-authoring Equity for Women in Science (2023) and foundational scholarship on alternative metrics beyond citation counts. She advises on science policy matters related to institutional equity and open access publishing.
Barbara M. Kehm is a Research Fellow at the Leibniz Research Centre for Science and Society (LCSS) , affiliated with Leibniz University of Hannover since 2018. She previously held professorial roles as Professor of Leadership and International Strategic Development in Higher Education at the University of Glasgow (2013–2017) and Professor of Higher Education Research at the University of Kassel (2003–2011), where she also served as Director of the International Centre for Higher Education Research (INCHER-Kassel) from 2004 to 2011. Education: Ph.D. (summa cum laude) from Ruhr-University Bochum (1989). Her research focuses on internationalisation and globalisation in higher education, doctoral education reform, academic work and professions , and the Europeanisation of higher education . She has extensively examined governance, management, and policy in higher education systems, with particular emphasis on organisational change and stakeholder engagement. Her publications reflect a comparative analysis of higher education systems across Europe and beyond, including collaborations with institutions in China, Argentina, Australia, and the United States. Notable works include studies on university boards , the excellence initiative in Germany , and academic career development in Europe. Advising and Grants: She has led funded projects such as 'Transformation of European Universities' (2009–2012) supported by the European Science Foundation and German Research Association, and 'Lifelong Learning and the University in Europe' (1998–2000) under the European Commission’s 4th Framework Programme. She has also contributed to editorial activities, including co-editing Tertiary Education and Management and serving on academic journal boards. Labs and Teams: Kehm is associated with the LCSS and INCHER-Kassel, both leading centers for higher education research in Europe.
Prof. Dr. ir. BJ (Jeroen) de Kloet is a Professor of Globalisation Studies and Director of the Amsterdam Centre for Globalisation Studies (ACGS) at the University of Amsterdam 's Faculty of Humanities, Department of Media Studies. He has held visiting positions at institutions including Hong Kong Baptist University and has been actively involved in international academic collaborations across Asia and Europe. Key Research Areas: Globalization, Chinese cinema, urban studies, postcolonial theory, cultural politics Awards: Member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) in Social Sciences and Humanities (2023) Teaching: Engages in critical reflection on academic labor through seminars like 'How to survive the university?' His recent publications explore topics such as platformization, digital intimacies, and the politics of heritage-making. He has presented at major conferences in Venice, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taipei, focusing on the intersection of creativity, control, and urban transformation.
Adrien Auclert is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at Stanford University. He holds prestigious research affiliations including Research Fellow at the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), Senior Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), and member of the French Council of Economic Analysis. His research centers on inequality, macroeconomics, and international economics with a focus on heterogeneous-agent models (HANK). He develops computational tools like the Sequence-Space Jacobian to analyze fiscal/monetary policy, debt relief, and global imbalances. His work bridges theoretical macroeconomics with urgent policy questions, particularly examining how distributional heterogeneity shapes aggregate economic dynamics. Recent publications reveal a dominant trend in studying household-level heterogeneity's role in macroeconomic transmission mechanisms. Auclert demonstrates how fiscal stimulus, monetary policy, and trade shocks propagate asymmetrically through income/wealth distributions, with significant implications for inequality dynamics and policy design in open economies. His scientific honors include: Research Fellow, Centre for Economic Policy Research Senior Fellow, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research Research Associate, National Bureau of Economic Research Member, French Council of Economic Analysis Auclert actively engages in policy formulation through the French Council of Economic Analysis, co-authoring influential notes on fiscal consolidation and monetary policy. He is co-organizing the upcoming SITE workshop "Macroeconomics in the Sequence Space" at Stanford (September 8-10, 2025), advancing methodological frontiers in heterogeneous-agent modeling.
Dr. Zhifu Mi is a Professor of Climate Change Economics at the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction , University College London. His research focuses on carbon footprint analysis, climate change economics, air pollution and health, sharing economy sustainability, and input-output modeling. He has published extensively in top journals like Nature Sustainability , Lancet , and Science Advances . Co-Editor-in-Chief, Structural Change and Economic Dynamics (2020–present) Executive Editor, Journal of Cleaner Production (2019–present) President, Chinese Economic Association (UK/Europe) Council Member, International Input-Output Association Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society His research explores: Carbon Footprints: Economic development and emission convergence in Chinese households Climate-Health Linkages: Air pollution impacts, ultra-low emission policies Sharing Economy: Sustainable societies through shared micro-mobility Policy Analysis: Synergies between environmental regulations Recent publications analyze decarbonization employment gaps, polycentric urban structures, and health-environment policy intersections. Awards include the World Sustainability Award (2018), multiple Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher honors, and UCL's Outstanding Research Supervision Award (2022). He teaches modules on construction economics and input-output analysis.
Patrick Willems is a full Professor at KU Leuven's Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Department of Civil Engineering. He serves as the head of the Hydraulics Subdivision within the Hydraulics and Geotechnics unit. Professor Willems holds multiple significant roles including chairman of the ADS Bureau, member of the Faculty Council of Engineering Sciences, and participant in the Leuven One Health Institute and KU Leuven Institute for Urban Studies (LUSI). His work addresses critical global water management challenges through advanced hydrological modeling and climate change adaptation strategies. Professor Willems' research spans several critical areas in water resources engineering. His primary expertise includes urban hydrology and river engineering, statistical hydrology with focus on flood prediction and risk analysis, integrated river basin management, precipitation analysis, and climate change impacts on hydrological extremes. He employs both traditional hydrological modeling approaches and innovative machine learning techniques to develop practical solutions for flood warning systems, urban water management, and climate adaptation planning. His research integrates statistical methods, numerical modeling, and data science to address complex water management problems across multiple geographical contexts. Professor Willems leads multiple major international research projects examining hydrological extremes in transboundary river basins, natural climate adaptation measures, hydrological modeling of peatland areas, and deep learning-based prediction of hydrological extremes. His work spans various geographical contexts including Belgium, Vietnam, Bolivia, Tanzania, and the Congo Basin, demonstrating both local relevance and global applicability of his research. Within KU Leuven, Professor Willems teaches diverse courses including Environmental Problems and Techniques, Statistics and Data Science, Stochastic Hydrology, Urban and River Hydrology and Hydraulics, River Modeling, and Probability and Statistics. He also leads the Hydraulic Engineering Project course and an Artificial Intelligence Project course, reflecting his commitment to integrating traditional engineering knowledge with modern computational approaches. As head of the Hydraulics Subdivision, he oversees research activities focused on developing advanced water engineering tools and methodologies that bridge theoretical advancements with practical applications for water management authorities.
Professor Tolga Akçura is a distinguished faculty member at Özyeğin University's Faculty of Business, Department of Business Administration. With over 25 years of academic experience, he has developed and taught courses on marketing strategy, marketing analytics, and marketing research at prestigious institutions including Carnegie Mellon University, Purdue University, and Long Island University. At Özyeğin University, he teaches Marketing Strategy, Integrated Marketing Communication Strategies, Innovation, Business Model Development, and Advanced Topics in Marketing for undergraduate, graduate, and executive students. Professor Akçura holds a B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering from Boğaziçi University (1990), an MA in Business Administration from Boğaziçi University (1996), an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University (1998), and a Ph.D. in Quantitative Marketing from Carnegie Mellon University (2000). Before joining academia, he worked for Procter & Gamble across multiple European locations including Brussels, London, Manchester, and Istanbul. His research focuses on the intersection of Information Technology and Marketing, Brand Valuation, Consumer Learning Behavior, Structural Choice Models, Brand Equity dynamics, and Competitive Pricing Strategies. Professor Akçura has made significant contributions to marketing science through his extensive publication record in top-tier journals. His recent scholarly work demonstrates a strong trend toward digital marketing, AI applications in marketing analytics, healthcare marketing, and the strategic implications of data-driven decision making. His publications span from foundational work on brand equity to cutting-edge research on patient-generated health data and deep learning applications in campaign participation prediction. William W. Cooper Award (awarded twice for publications in Management Science and Marketing Science) Professor Akçura has successfully bridged academic research with practical business applications through his role as founder of eBrandValue A.Ş. and as a Y-Combinator alum (YCW15). He is an active member of professional organizations including the Institute for Operations Research and Management Science, American Marketing Association, and Direct Marketing Institute. His industry experience complements his academic work, providing students with valuable real-world insights into marketing strategy and implementation.
Sapha Barkati, MD, MSc is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University , and an Investigator at the RI-MUHC Glen site . Her work bridges clinical practice and research in tropical medicine, focusing on parasitic diseases affecting vulnerable populations. Affiliations: Assistant Professor, McGill University Investigator, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) McGill International Tuberculosis Centre Research Focus: Specializes in neglected tropical diseases like strongyloidiasis and tegumentary leishmaniasis, particularly among migrants and immunocompromised individuals. Studies include: Physician awareness of Strongyloides screening Prevalence patterns in non-endemic countries HTLV-1 co-infection treatment response Cost-effective screening strategies Scientific Contributions: Key publications address tropical disease management in non-endemic settings, mpox outbreak dynamics, and SARS-CoV-2 immunity patterns. Her work emphasizes evidence-based guidelines for: Parasite screening in transplant recipients Leishmaniasis treatment protocols Traveler disease prevention Collaborative Networks: Partners with institutions like Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia and participates in GeoSentinel surveillance. Leads studies on: Covid-19 health disparities Vaccine effectiveness against variants Remote patient monitoring systems
Emie Yiannaka is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, affiliated with the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Her research focuses on the economic impacts of new technologies and policies in the agri-food sector, including genetically modified products, food fraud, and consumer behavior. Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics, University of Saskatchewan (2002) M.Sc. in Agricultural and Resource Economics, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute at Chania, Greece (1996) M.A. in Agricultural Policy, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute at Chania, Greece (1995) B.Sc. in Agricultural Economics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece (1994) Her research spans topics such as innovation economics, intellectual property strategies, consumer acceptance of food technologies, and the economic effects of corporate social responsibility. Recent work examines food fraud deterrence, information avoidance behavior, and ecosystem services valuation. She has published extensively in journals like Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics , PLOS ONE , and American Journal of Agricultural Economics . Yiannaka has taught courses including Agricultural Marketing in Multinational Environments, Applied Welfare Economics, and Innovation Strategies. She has mentored numerous advisees, including Mavroutsikos C., Deka A., Britwum K., and Meerza S.I.A., who co-authored key publications on food fraud and consumer behavior.
Stephen Brown is a Full Professor at the School of Political Studies , part of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ottawa . His research focuses on democracy, democratization, conflict, foreign aid, and LGBT rights, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and Mongolia. He also analyzes Canadian foreign aid policies under recent governments. Email: brown@uottawa.ca Office: 613-562-5800 (1896) Languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese His work bridges international development, political science, and human rights, examining how foreign aid intersects with democratic ownership, gender equality, and conflict resolution. Recent publications highlight tensions between donor priorities and local contexts, as well as Canada's evolving role in global development. Key trends in his 15 most recent articles (2025–2020) include: Canadian foreign aid policy under Harper and Trudeau governments LGBTQI+ rights advocacy in Africa and Asia Impact of global crises (e.g., COVID-19) on development cooperation Political economy of extractive industries in developing economies Debates on aid effectiveness, policy coherence, and donor alignment Transitional justice and electoral conflict management in post-crisis states
Dr. Apala Das is a Research Fellow at Bilkent University, specializing in 20th-century global anglophone literatures, modernist poetry and poetics, and postsecularism studies. Her academic work bridges postcolonial theory, South Asian literatures, and political theology within transnational frameworks. Her educational background includes a PhD from the University of Toronto, completed in 2024. Dr. Das's research centers on modernist asceticism as a critical lens for examining literary experiments by figures like Rabindranath Tagore, Hilda Doolittle, Aurobindo Ghose, and May Sinclair. She investigates how these writers negotiated ascetical ideals within colonial and postcolonial contexts, connecting literary form to biopolitics, secular citizenship, and ethno-nationalist ideologies. Her approach synthesizes postcolonial ethics, comparative literature, and political theology to analyze transnational modernist aesthetics. Her publications from 2018-2024 reveal consistent engagement with mobility, hybridity, and spiritual dimensions across literary traditions. Early work analyzed mobility in ethnography and Romantic-era travel, evolving toward contemporary meta-minimalist fiction and systematic studies of asceticism in global modernism. Dr. Das has received significant recognition for her scholarship: Ontario Graduate Scholarship (awarded twice) Chancellor Jackman Junior Fellowship from the Jackman Humanities Institute, University of Toronto Khashu Award for Tagore Studies from the Institute for South Asia Studies, UC Berkeley As a recent PhD graduate, she has not yet taken on formal graduate advising roles. Her research has been supported by competitive doctoral grants including the Ontario Graduate Scholarships and Chancellor Jackman Junior Fellowship, with current work funded through the Bilkent University/British Institute at Ankara Joint Fellowship. Dr. Das is actively developing her book manuscript "Modernist Asceticisms: Discipline, Form, and the Postsecular in the Transnational Twentieth Century" while participating in academic initiatives like the 2024 book launch for "Mind and Embodiment in Late Victorian Literature".
Bruce Rusk is an Associate Professor in the Department of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia (Faculty of Arts) and serves as the Graduate Advisor. He previously taught at Cornell University for six years before joining UBC in 2012. During the 2012–13 academic year, he was on leave at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and the National Humanities Center in North Carolina. Additionally, he is the webmaster and past president of the Society for Ming Studies, a scholarly organization focused on Ming history and culture. Bruce holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where his dissertation, The Rogue Classicist: Feng Fang (1493–1566) and his Forgeries , examined sixteenth-century classical text forgeries. Following his Ph.D., he was a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University from 2004 to 2006. He also earned his B.A. (History Honours) from UBC, which inspired his return to Vancouver to join the scholarly community here. His research focuses on the cultural history of pre-modern and early modern China, particularly the Ming and Qing dynasties. Key interests include authenticity and forgery in textual and material culture, transmission of knowledge, history of philology, writing systems in East Asia, and digital humanities. He collaborates globally on the SSHRC-funded FROGBEAR project, developing an open access repository for East Asian religious studies. Current work explores authentication practices surrounding artifacts like Xuande incense burners and silver ingots, reflecting his broader study of how authenticity and deception were negotiated in late imperial China. Recent publications address intersections between forgery, material culture, and digital methodologies, including co-editing Literary Information in China: A History (2021) and analyzing Ming-Qing literary practices. His work highlights the cultural significance of textual preservation and the sociocultural dynamics of early modern Chinese scholarship. As a leader in academic organizations, Bruce has contributed to the Society for Ming Studies, advancing research in Ming culture through his roles as webmaster and past president. His advising and grants include mentoring UBC graduate students and contributing to the FROGBEAR initiative. His career bridges historical research with digital innovation, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to Asian studies.
Mo Mansouri is a Teaching Professor and Director of Graduate Studies at the Department of Systems and Enterprises, Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering and Science, Stevens Institute of Technology. He also serves as a Visiting Professor at the University of North-Eastern Norway, highlighting his international academic engagement. His leadership extends to directing Systems Engineering and Socio-technical Systems Programs, underscoring his central role in shaping academic and research initiatives in systems engineering. Education: PhD in Engineering Management, The George Washington University (2004) MS in Industrial Engineering, University of Tehran (1999) BS in Industrial Engineering, Sharif University of Technology (1997) Dr. Mansouri's research is centered on computational governance frameworks , resilience design , and behavioral modeling in complex socio-technical systems . His work applies systems thinking to urban systems, smart cities, infrastructure, and healthcare, with a strong emphasis on data-driven policy design and multi-stakeholder coordination. He investigates how real-time data, sensing, and analytics can inform governance in complex environments such as transportation, energy, and public health systems. His recent publications (2023–2024) reveal a strong trend toward AI and digital transformation in healthcare , electric and urban mobility systems , and pandemic and societal resilience . These works frequently employ systems thinking, systemigram modeling, and system of systems engineering methodologies, published in IEEE, INCOSE, and IARIA venues. The interdisciplinary nature of his research spans engineering, policy, and human behavior. Scientific Awards and Recognitions: While specific awards are not listed in the provided text, his leadership roles and extensive funding indicate high professional recognition. Advising and Grants: Dr. Mansouri has served as Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI on multiple high-value research grants totaling millions of dollars from DoD, Lockheed Martin, NED, and FAA. These projects focus on capability assessment, smart city dashboards, governance modeling, and social development. He mentors students through doctoral and master’s level courses and research, though specific advisee names are not provided. Labs and Research Teams: While specific lab names are not mentioned, his research is conducted within the Department of Systems and Enterprises at Stevens, involving collaborations with students and professionals in areas such as smart cities, healthcare systems, and infrastructure resilience. His work with international institutions and professional societies indicates active participation in global research networks.
