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Gulsah AkarView profile

Professor

• Sustainable Urban Mobility
• Transportation Planning
• Urban Sustainability
• +5 more

Gulsah Akar is a Professor and Chair of the School of City & Regional Planning at Georgia Institute of Technology. She specializes in sustainable urban mobility, focusing on built environment-travel connections, equity, and new mobility technologies. Her research has been supported by grants from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Prior to Georgia Tech, she held a professorship at The Ohio State University (OSU), where she led the PhD Program in City and Regional Planning from 2015–2021 and served as Research Program Lead at OSU’s Sustainability Institute (2019–2021). Her research interests include transportation equity, multimodal travel behavior, and smart city technologies. She co-authored over 35 peer-reviewed articles in top-tier journals, with recent work examining pandemic impacts on urban resilience, autonomous vehicle adoption, and aging populations’ travel patterns. Akar holds editorial roles, including former Editor of the Journal of Planning Literature (2015–2021), and actively contributes to Transportation Research Board committees. Educated at Middle East Technical University (B.Sc. and M.Sc.) and the University of Maryland (Ph.D.), her academic career bridges transportation engineering and urban planning. Key research trends in her publications focus on: 1) built environment interactions with travel behavior, 2) equity in mobility access, and 3) innovation in transportation systems. Her articles consistently analyze data from major U.S. cities like Columbus, Seattle, and New York.

Michael J. NakkulaView profile

Professor

• Youth Development
• Resilience Studies
• Urban Education
• +3 more

Michael J. Nakkula is a Professor of Practice and Chair of the Human Development and Quantitative Methods Division at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. His research focuses on resilience and possibility development in youth, particularly in urban schools and low-income communities. He leads initiatives such as Project IF (Inventing the Future) to study optimal youth development and collaborates with organizations like Applied Research Consulting and Jobs for the Future. His work includes a decade-long longitudinal study on Early College High Schools funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, examining how these schools enhance college readiness and academic identity. He also studies 'second-chance' charter schools and global 'possibility projects' in India, China, and beyond, aiming to help youth actualize their aspirations. Dr. Nakkula's research integrates counseling, mentoring, and educational strategies to foster student success. Collaborations with institutions like Search Institute and the Project for School Innovation highlight his commitment to bridging research and practice. Media engagements, including commentary on LGBTQ student support programs and pandemic-era educational challenges, underscore his public impact.

Leah K VanWeyView profile

Professor

• Social Demography
• Environmental Social Science
• Land Use Change
• +7 more

Leah K VanWey is Professor of Environment and Society and Sociology at Brown University, where she also serves as Dean of the School of Professional Studies. She holds affiliations with the Department of Sociology, Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Population Studies and Training Center, Spatial Structures in the Social Sciences, and Department of Portuguese and Brazilian Studies. Previously, she served as Senior Deputy Director of the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Associate Director of the Population Studies and Training Center, and Associate Provost for Academic Space. VanWey completed her education at the University of North Carolina, earning a BA (1996), MA (1999), and PhD (2001). Her research focuses on social demography and environmental social science, particularly examining household responses to reforestation programs in Brazil's Atlantic Forest and the social/environmental impacts of frontier settlement in the Amazon. Her research interests include agricultural intensification, land use change, migration patterns, population-environment interactions, household dynamics, intergenerational support systems, and remittance economies, with a geographic focus on Brazil. She employs interdisciplinary approaches, collaborating with anthropologists, geographers, ecologists, and other social scientists. VanWey has secured significant research funding including grants from NSF, NIH, and NASA totaling over $2.5 million. Major projects include studying agricultural expansion in Brazil, climate variability impacts, land use change dynamics, and population-environment linkages. She mentors graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, including Trina Vithayathil. She teaches courses on human-environment interactions and research methods, including: Feeding Ten Billion, Methods for Interdisciplinary Environmental Research, Multivariate Statistical Methods, Fields and Methods of Social Research, and Professional Development seminars.

• Welfare Sociology
• Social Inequality and Poverty
• Marginalization and Social Exclusion
• +9 more

Professor Kjetil Grimastad Lundberg serves at the Institute for Welfare and Participation, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), appointed Professor of Welfare Sociology in 2020 after joining HVL in 2018. A University of Bergen PhD graduate (2012), he previously worked as Researcher II at Uni Research Rokkansenteret (2011-2018). His academic credentials include: PhD in Sociology, University of Bergen, 2012 Master's in Sociology, University of Bergen, 2007 Lundberg's research critically examines intersections of welfare systems, poverty, and marginalization through institutional ethnography. He investigates street-level bureaucracy in NAV (Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration), digitalization impacts, and child/family perspectives in low-income contexts, emphasizing stigma, power dynamics, and activation policies. His work bridges theoretical sociology with practical welfare challenges. His 15 most recent publications (2017-2024) reveal consistent focus on welfare-state dynamics, with recurring themes of work inclusion mechanisms, user experiences in complex interventions, and poverty's structural dimensions. Methodologically, he employs qualitative institutional ethnography across European Societies, European Journal of Social Work, and Social Policy and Society, demonstrating longitudinal analysis of policy evolution. Lundberg supervises multiple PhD candidates on work inclusion and poverty interventions while leading the NAV-funded project 'Barneperspektiv i Nav' (2023-2027) and participating in three additional studies addressing long-term poverty effects and cross-sectoral coordination. His grant portfolio spans NAV-FOU, Sparebankstiftelsen, and NFR funding. He contributes to HVL's 'Rights, Democracy and Welfare' research group, advancing critical welfare sociology through teaching in social science, sociology, and social work programs while examining urban poverty, bureaucratic practices, and marginalized family experiences.

• Entrepreneurship
• Tourism Management
• Sustainable Business Models
• +2 more

Dr. Silvia Baiocco serves as Assistant Professor at University of Rome Tor Vergata, teaching entrepreneurship, tourism management, and marketing courses across Bachelor and Master programs including 'Creation of Enterprises and Entrepreneurship' (Master), 'Fundamentals of Service Management' (Bachelor), and 'Tourism and Cultural Management for Sustainability' (Bachelor). Her institutional affiliation centers on Business Economics (sector ECON-07/A) with research rooted in co-evolutionary theory. Her research critically examines sustainable business model innovation through three interconnected lenses: (1) tourism-destination co-evolution in historic villages and Alberghi Diffusi, (2) university-industry knowledge exchange for sustainable spin-offs via PNICube Observatory frameworks, and (3) technology integration in smart tourism through AI-driven destination management. She emphasizes context-specific adaptation in both high-income (Italy) and low/middle-income settings (Ghana), with strong focus on social impact and heritage preservation. Analysis of her 2023-2025 publications reveals accelerating focus on digital tourism transformation (AI applications, smart city integration) and resilience-building in accommodation firms. Her work consistently applies co-evolutionary frameworks to decode organizational adaptation, particularly in sustainable entrepreneurship contexts. The PNICube Observatory reports highlight her policy-relevant contributions to university research valorization. As educator, Dr. Baiocco actively shapes future business leaders through courses spanning startup creation to sustainable destination management. Her research trajectory indicates deepening engagement with technology-mediated sustainability solutions and cross-sectoral innovation ecosystems, particularly through ongoing PNICube Observatory initiatives.

• Breastfeeding Promotion
• Maternal and Child Health
• Food Security and Nutrition
• +7 more

Rafael Pérez-Escamilla is a Professor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences) and serves as Director of the Office of Public Health Practice, the Global Health Concentration, and the Maternal and Child Health Promotion Track at the Yale School of Public Health. He leads the Yale-Griffin CDC Prevention Research Center with over $70 million in extramural funding, focusing on improving breastfeeding outcomes, maternal-child nutrition, food security, and early childhood development through community health worker interventions. He holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Universidad Iberoamericana (Mexico City), an MS in Food Science, and a PhD in Nutrition from the University of California, Davis. His postdoctoral training at UC Davis explored the link between nutrition and early childhood development. His research interests emphasize breastfeeding promotion , maternal and child health equity , food security measurement , and implementation science . He co-leads studies in vulnerable communities, including U.S. communities of color, and has published over 340 articles, three books, and numerous technical reports. Key publications from 2024–2025 highlight innovations in addressing food insecurity, hypertension disparities, and the evaluation of global nutrition programs. His work bridges research and practice, advocating for scalable interventions. Awards: Lifetime Achievements Award in Global Nutrition (2020) Elected to U.S. National Academy of Medicine (2019) Doctor Honoris Causa from Universidad de Guadalajara (2016) Patricia Martens Award for Excellence in Breastfeeding Research (2015) As a senior advisor to WHO, UNICEF, and U.S. federal agencies, he collaborates on global nutrition policies and measurement frameworks. His grants fund programs like the FOOD4MOMS initiative and the Criança Feliz Program in Brazil. He mentors students through the Maternal and Child Health Promotion Track and oversees Yale’s Global Health and Public Health Practice initiatives. Active in interdisciplinary teams such as the Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly (BBF) initiative and the Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science (CMIPS), he promotes collaboration between academia, communities, and policymakers.

Lucille C. McGeeView profile

Assistant Professor

• Experiential Legal Education
• Clinical Legal Practice
• Legal Pedagogy
• +3 more

Lucille C. McGee serves as the Director of Experiential Learning and Assistant Professor of Law at the Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law in Knoxville, TN. Her expertise lies in clinical legal education and experiential learning methodologies, having pioneered a medical-legal partnership clinic linking law students with underserved populations. She holds a J.D. from the Appalachian School of Law and a B.A. in English from the University of Georgia, complemented by a Higher Education Teaching Certificate from Harvard University’s Derek Bok Center (2020). Her professional roles include licensure as a Tennessee attorney since 2013, and active membership in organizations such as the American Bar Association and National Association for Law Placement. McGee oversees LMU Law’s experiential programs including clinics, externships, and simulation courses, while teaching practice-oriented subjects like Pleadings & Practice. She has contributed to legal education through committee service with the Southeastern Association of Law Schools and hosting the 2021 Legal Writing Institute virtual conference. Her work emphasizes bridging legal education with real-world advocacy, particularly supporting low-income communities through collaborative healthcare-legal initiatives. Dean Matt Lyon highlights her role in equipping students with essential professional skills for service in Appalachia and beyond.

Jonathan CookView profile

Research Fellow

• Malaria Eradication
• Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Structure-Based Vaccine Design
• +3 more

Dr Jonathan Cook is a Research Fellow at Jesus College, University of Oxford, affiliated with the Medical Sciences division. He holds a primary medical qualification from Queen’s University (Canada, 2021) and a PhD investigating viral immune evasion mechanisms under Prof Jeffrey Lee. His work was supported by the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship and recognized with the Stuart Alan Hoffman Memorial Prize. As an incoming Banting Fellow at the Jenner Institute, he focuses on vaccine design for infectious diseases. His research interests include malaria eradication, emerging pathogens, and structure-based vaccine strategies. **Education**: - PhD (Investigation of viral entry glycoproteins), University of Toronto, supervised by Prof Jeffrey Lee - Primary Medical Qualification, Queen’s University, Canada **Research Interests**: - Malaria Eradication : Developing vaccines targeting Plasmodium species. - Emerging Infectious Diseases : Designing rapid-response strategies for pathogens like SARS-CoV-2. - Structure-Based Vaccine Design : Leveraging protein structural data to enhance immunogenicity. **Awards**: - Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships Programme (2017–2020) - Stuart Alan Hoffman Memorial Prize (2021) - Banting Fellowship (incoming) **Grants/Advising**: Works on Jenner Institute-funded projects. No listed advisees yet. **Labs/Teams**: Collaborates with Prof Lee's lab at the Jenner Institute and the University of Toronto's Medical Microbiology program.

• Macroeconomics
• Public Finance
• Income Inequality
• +5 more

Prof. Dr. Andreas Peichl is a leading academic in Economics, holding a Professorship in Macroeconomics and Public Finance at the Faculty of Economics, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. He is Head of the ifo Center for Macroeconomics and Surveys, and previously led the Research Group “International Distribution and Redistribution” at ZEW, Mannheim. His expertise spans macroeconomic policy, tax systems, income inequality, and public finance. Peichl’s work bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis, focusing on policy implications for redistribution, fiscal sustainability, and labor markets. Education: PhD in Public Economics, University of Cologne Professorial appointments at LMU Munich (since 2013) and University of Mannheim (2008–2013) Research Interests: Peichl’s research emphasizes the interplay between tax policies, income distribution, and macroeconomic stability. Key themes include: Optimal design of tax systems to reduce inequality while maintaining economic efficiency Impact of fiscal policies on labor markets and household behavior Analysis of redistributive effects of social welfare programs Global and regional economic inequality dynamics His recent work explores post-pandemic policy responses, energy security challenges, and the political economy of taxation. Grants & Advising: Peichl has led numerous interdisciplinary projects funded by institutions like the EU, DFG, and ifo Institute. He advises policymakers on tax reforms, fiscal consolidation, and social security systems. Notable collaborations include the ECONtribute and EconPol initiatives. Labs/Teams: Directs the ifo Center for Macroeconomics and Surveys, fostering collaboration between economists, policymakers, and data scientists. The center produces real-time analyses of economic trends and policy impacts.

Dongwook YoonView profile

Associate Professor

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Human-AI Interaction
• Virtual and Augmented Reality
• +3 more

Dongwook Yoon is an Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science , University of British Columbia , and serves as Director of the SOCIUS Lab . He actively contributes to research in Human-Computer Interaction, Human-AI Interaction, and Virtual/Augmented Reality as a member of the Designing for People (DFP) and CAIDA research clusters. Education : PhD in Computer Science from Cornell University (2017), MS (2009) and BS (2007) in Computer Science from Seoul National University Research Focus : Designing socio-technical systems that bridge the gap between technology and human social processes, with innovations in AR/VR, multimodal interaction, and inclusive design Article Trends show his work spans: Temporal and bichronous learning environments AI self-clones and ethical implications Income inequality in virtual platforms Enhanced multimodal collaboration in VR Eyes-reduced interfaces for situational impairments Speculative participatory design for gig economy challenges Scientific Awards include: Google Academic Research Award (2024) Best Paper Award at CHI 2024 High Impact Award in Educational Technology (2024) CHCCS/SCDHM Graphics Interface Early Career Award (2023) Multiple Honorable Mentions at CHI, DIS, and CSCW Students & Collaborators range from active PhD candidates (Anika Sayara, Yuri Kim) to notable alumni (Thitaree Tanprasert, Ashish Chopra) across his SOCIUS Lab projects. His research receives funding from NSERC , KIST , Adobe , Microsoft , and Google grants.

Peter FredrikssonView profile

Professor

• Labor Economics
• Economics of Education
• Policy Evaluation
• +3 more

Peter Fredriksson is a Professor at the Department of Economics, Uppsala University. He serves on the Nobel Committee for the Prize in Economic Sciences (Chair 2019-2021) and is affiliated with institutions like the Rockwool Foundation, IZA, CESifo, UCLS, and IFAU. His work spans labor economics, education economics, and policy evaluation. Research Focus : Labor economics, education economics, and policy evaluation Affiliations : Uppsala University, Rockwool Foundation, IZA, CESifo, UCLS, IFAU Research Interests center on labor economics, particularly unemployment insurance, class size effects, peer influences, and policy impacts. His work connects wage dynamics, educational outcomes, and public program evaluations. He explores non-cognitive skills' rising importance and gender pay disparities. Recent Publications (2025-2013) address topics like job mobility, layoff policies, child development, and global poverty. Key journals include Quarterly Journal of Economics , American Economic Review , and Journal of Human Resources . Scientific Awards & Roles : Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Science Chair of the Nobel Committee for Economic Sciences (2019-2021) Research Fellow at IZA and CESifo Affiliated with Uppsala Center for Labor Studies and IFAU Associate Editor at Scandinavian Journal of Economics Collaborations include the Rockwool Foundation's program committees and extensive work with Björn Öckert, Per-Anders Edin, and Hessel Oosterbeek.

Linda M. BurtonView profile

Professor

• Child welfare
• Poverty
• Family processes
• +4 more

Professor Linda M. Burton is a leading sociologist and ethnographer specializing in child welfare, poverty, and family dynamics. Currently serving as Dean of Berkeley Social Welfare (2019-2024) and holding the Eugene and Rose Kleiner Chair, she previously held the James B. Duke Professorship at Duke University and directed its Center for Child and Family Policy. Education: PhD in Sociology from the University of Southern California Leadership: Dean at Berkeley Social Welfare, Director of Duke's Center for Child and Family Policy, Co-director of Duke's undergraduate International Comparative Studies program Her research integrates life course theory, developmental frameworks, and ecological perspectives to examine: Intergenerational family structures and role transitions Context/place influences on family dynamics Childhood adultification and accelerated life courses Recent publications focus on health disparities, welfare reform impacts, and multi-method ethnographic approaches. Key subfields include poverty, African-American families, rural/urban contexts, racial inequality, and kinship networks. Scientific honors include: 2022 Fellow of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare 2017 Dean’s Excellence in Mentoring Award (Duke University) 1996 American Family Therapy Academy Award for Innovative Contributions Burton's ethnographic work spans decades, with landmark studies like the Three-City Study (2002-2006) and the Family Life Project (2003-2008). She has mentored extensively in child development and multi-generational research.

• Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture
• Land Use Modeling
• Biodiversity Conservation
• +3 more

Thomas Berger is a Professor at the University of Hohenheim , affiliated with the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and leading the Department of Economics of Land Use . He also contributes to the Computational Science Hub and Hohenheim Tropics initiatives. Focus Areas: Climate change adaptation, land-use modeling, biodiversity-productivity trade-offs, agent-based simulation, and machine learning in agricultural systems. Key Projects: Simulation frameworks for smallholder resilience in Ethiopia, bioeconomic modeling in the Amazon, and hybrid intelligence applications in European agricultural policy. Recent Publications: 2025 study on climate change effects on insecticide reduction in Germany, 2024 work on reconciling biodiversity with productivity via hybrid models, and 2023 methodological contributions to surrogate modeling and seasonal forecast integration. Research Trends: Interdisciplinary integration of climate science, agricultural economics, and computational modeling, with increasing emphasis on AI-assisted decision support systems and sustainability policy validation. Teaching & Outreach: Offers Agricultural Economics seminars and Hohenheim Tropics discussions, requiring advance email registration for office hours.

Amy DamashekView profile

Professor

• Child Maltreatment Prevention
• Injury Prevention
• Infant Mortality
• +4 more

Dr. Amy Damashek serves as Professor in the Department of Psychology at Western Michigan University, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses while mentoring Clinical Psychology doctoral students. She chairs the department's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and maintains an active research program focused on vulnerable populations. Education: Ph.D. in Psychology, University of Missouri-Columbia (2007) Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (2009) Research Focus: Her work centers on preventing child maltreatment and unintentional injuries among at-risk youth, with specialized expertise in infant sleep-related deaths and health disparities . She develops culturally responsive parenting interventions for low-income and Spanish-speaking families, emphasizing community-based solutions through home visiting programs. Publication Trends: Recent work (2020-2023) demonstrates consistent focus on pandemic adaptation of family services, safe sleep practices in marginalized communities, and digital intervention strategies. Her mixed-methods approach bridges clinical psychology with public health, prioritizing implementation in real-world settings. Scientific Recognition: Fellow of the American Psychological Association Former President of APA Division 37 (Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice) Grants & Mentoring: Secured federal funding for child injury prevention in underserved communities. Mentors Clinical Psychology doctoral students with emphasis on culturally competent practice, accepting new graduate students for Fall 2025. Her federally funded work directly informs evidence-based home visiting protocols. Research Ecosystem: Collaborates extensively with community health workers, home visiting agencies, and pediatric care providers to implement and evaluate interventions addressing structural barriers in family support systems.

Sean ReardonView profile

Professor

• Social Inequality
• Educational Inequality
• School Segregation
• +6 more

Sean Reardon is the endowed Professor of Poverty and Inequality in Education at Stanford University's Graduate School of Education and Professor (by courtesy) of Sociology. He serves as Director of the Stanford Interdisciplinary Doctoral Training Program in Quantitative Education Policy Analysis and is a Senior Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. Reardon is also a member of the National Academy of Education and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His educational background includes an Ed.D. in Educational Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from Harvard Graduate School of Education (1997), M.Ed. from Harvard Graduate School of Education (1992), M.A. in International Peace Studies from University of Notre Dame (1991), and B.A. in Program of Liberal Studies with a minor in Honors Mathematics from University of Notre Dame (1986). Reardon's research investigates the causes, patterns, trends, and consequences of social and educational inequality, with particular focus on residential and school segregation and racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in academic achievement. He develops methods for measuring social and educational inequality, including segregation and achievement gaps, and advances causal inference methods in educational research. His work has significantly shaped understanding of how poverty and school segregation impact educational outcomes across America. Analysis of Reardon's 15 most recent publications reveals a consistent focus on educational inequality, with particular emphasis on measuring achievement gaps, school segregation patterns, and the relationship between socioeconomic status and educational outcomes. His research increasingly utilizes large-scale administrative datasets, most notably the Stanford Education Data Archive (SEDA), which he developed based on 300 million standardized test scores to provide measures of educational opportunity across all U.S. public school districts. William T. Grant Foundation Scholar Award National Academy of Education Postdoctoral Fellowship Andrew Carnegie Fellow Member of the National Academy of Education Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Reardon directs the Stanford Interdisciplinary Doctoral Training Program in Quantitative Education Policy Analysis, mentoring the next generation of education researchers. His work has been supported by major research grants that have enabled the development of the Stanford Education Data Archive, a groundbreaking resource that provides detailed metrics on educational opportunity across all U.S. public school districts. This archive has become a critical tool for policymakers and researchers seeking to understand and address educational inequality. As developer of the Stanford Education Data Archive, Reardon leads a significant research initiative that has transformed how educational opportunity is measured and understood across the United States. His work has established new methodologies for analyzing large-scale educational data and has provided policymakers with concrete evidence about the relationship between poverty, school segregation, and academic achievement.