Martin Rainer Bladt is an Associate Professor at the Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, focusing on Applied Probability and Insurance Mathematics. He works on statistical and stochastic modeling, particularly in Markov processes and risk theory. Research trends include Markov jump processes, phase-type distributions, survival analysis, and applications in insurance and financial risk modeling. His recent publications emphasize methodological developments in actuarial science, extreme value theory, and homogeneous approximation techniques for inhomogeneous processes.
Dr. Barry Sheehan is an Associate Professor in Risk and Finance at the Kemmy Business School , University of Limerick . He serves as Course Director for interdisciplinary programs including the award-winning MSc in Machine Learning for Finance , MSc in Computational Finance , and Grad. Dip. in Artificial Intelligence in Finance . A member of the Emerging Risk Group (ERG) and Lero – The Irish Software Research Centre , he specializes in estimating risk profiles for emerging technologies through machine learning. Interdisciplinary research bridging finance, insurance, and technology Contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through risk analysis Active in EU-funded consortia: PROTECT , VI-DAS , Cloud-LSVA His research spans Cybersecurity , Autonomous Vehicles , and Quantitative Finance , with publications focusing on Bayesian network modeling and systematic risk reviews. Current work emphasizes data availability challenges and actuarial implications of smart mobility systems.
Oliver Wing is an Honorary Research Fellow at the School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol. His work focuses on flood risk assessment, hydrology, and climate change impacts. He holds a BSc and PhD, with expertise in large-scale flood modeling, disaster risk management, and environmental policy. Education: BSc and PhD degrees (institutions unspecified). Research interests include flood vulnerability analysis, climate-driven flood dynamics, and the socio-economic implications of extreme weather events. He collaborates with senior academics like Professors Paul Bates and Jeffrey Neal in hydrology research. Dr. Wing’s publications analyze global and regional flood risk patterns, emphasizing spatial equity, climate adaptation, and high-resolution modeling techniques. His work bridges hydrological science with policy, addressing inequities in flood risk distribution and disaster response mechanisms. Recent studies highlight the urgent need for updated flood risk frameworks to account for climate change and urbanization trends. He has contributed to developing stochastic flood models for countries like the USA, Europe, and Southeast Asia. His research integrates satellite data, machine learning, and continental-scale simulations to improve flood prediction accuracy and resilience planning. Notably, his work on Hurricane Harvey’s societal impacts demonstrates interdisciplinary approaches to disaster attribution and policy evaluation. Awards: None explicitly listed in the provided text. Collaborations involve institutions like the University’s Media and PR Team for public engagement. His research outputs emphasize open-access tools for flood risk assessment, including publicly available models and datasets.
Ratna Shrestha is a Sessional Lecturer (Continuing) at the Vancouver School of Economics and Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia (UBC). She teaches graduate courses including Managerial Economics for MBA/MHA students as well as various undergraduate courses such as ECON 323 (Quantitative Economic Modelling with Data Science Applications). Prior to joining UBC, she served as an Assistant Professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu, Nepal. Dr. Shrestha earned her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Hawaii, Manoa. She was born in Bandipur, a small hill-top town in Nepal, and remains active in Nepali community activities in the greater Vancouver area and the United States. Her research focuses on Environmental/Resource Economics , Public Finance , and Healthcare Policy . Her influential 1998 paper on citizens' participation in pollution permit trading introduced a two-sided market approach that can achieve efficient solutions even under regulatory uncertainty about pollution control costs. This work has generated numerous follow-up studies in environmental economics. Her research demonstrates a consistent thread connecting theoretical economic models with practical environmental and public policy applications. Dr. Shrestha has published in prestigious journals including the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, FinanzArchiv, Seoul Journal of Economics, International Tax and Public Finance, Resource and Energy Economics, and Environmental and Resource Economics. Her work spans environmental regulation, healthcare policy reform in Nepal, public goods provision, and the theoretical foundations of economic policy under uncertainty. Environmental Economics: Developing innovative approaches to environmental regulation and policy instruments Public Finance: Analyzing group dynamics, burden sharing, and country size effects in public goods provision Healthcare Policy: Proposing self-financing models for healthcare insurance in developing countries Dr. Shrestha has made significant contributions to understanding how economic mechanisms can address environmental challenges and improve policy design. Her work bridges theoretical economic analysis with practical policy applications, particularly in the context of developing economies.
Lars Tierolf is a Research Associate and PhD student at the Water and Climate Risk department within the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) at the Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He has been pursuing his PhD since November 2020 as part of the COASTMOVE project, focusing on modeling migration and adaptation behavior of people affected by long-term sea level rise. His educational background includes: MSc in Earth Sciences (cum laude), University of Amsterdam (2020) BSc in Future Planet Studies, major Biology, University of Amsterdam (2018) His master's thesis applied land-use modelling and flood risk assessment to investigate the impact of urban development on river flood risk in Southeast Asia. Tierolf's research centers on climate-human interactions, employing computational models to quantify sea-level-rise impacts on coastal populations. His work bridges environmental science and social dynamics, with emphasis on flood-risk modeling, ecosystem resilience, and adaptation strategies in vulnerable regions like Southeast Asia and European coastlines. Key methodologies include agent-based simulation and spatial risk assessment, reflecting his expertise in interdisciplinary environmental analysis. His publication trajectory reveals a focused evolution from regional flood-risk analysis (2021 Southeast Asia study) toward sophisticated human-behavior modeling under climate stressors, culminating in 2024's integrated framework for coastal migration dynamics. All works emphasize policy-relevant insights, leveraging socioeconomic pathways and risk-perception metrics to enhance climate adaptation planning. As a core contributor to five research projects—including COASTMOVE (ERC-2019-ADG, 2020-2026) and NATURANCE (2022-2026)—Tierolf engages in high-impact collaborations spanning flood-risk modeling, nature-based insurance, and climate-adaptive infrastructure. No student supervision is documented. He operates within Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam's Water and Climate Risk group, collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams under principal investigators like J. C. J. H. Aerts and T. Haer. This environment fosters integration of hydrological, socioeconomic, and behavioral data to address coastal vulnerability through innovative computational approaches.
Dr. Tatiana Gherman is an Associate Professor at the University of Northampton's Faculty of Business and Law, specializing in Strategy and International Business. With over 15 years of academic experience, she holds executive certifications from MIT Sloan and IIM Bangalore. Her research focuses on Responsible AI, Business Data Science, and Behavioral Operational Research. Research Interests: Her work integrates Soft OR methods with Human-Computer Interaction to address workplace challenges. Current projects examine ethical AI frameworks and data-driven decision-making in organizational contexts. Publications: Her 32+ publications demonstrate consistent focus on predictive analytics applications in supply chain resilience and public health. Recent articles show strong emphasis on blockchain-AI integration and pandemic response modeling. Awards: 2022 Diamond Research Award 2019 GDN INFORMS/Springer Researcher Award Beta Gamma Sigma 'Best in Business' Award Leadership: As WiDS Ambassador and EURO WISDOM representative, she promotes diversity in operations research. Supervises 6 doctoral students and serves as associate editor for multiple journals.
Dr. Enrico Marcelli is an Associate Professor of Sociology at San Diego State University's College of Arts and Letters, currently on leave (2024-25). He holds a PhD in Political Economy and Public Policy from USC and completed postdoctoral training at UCLA and Harvard. His research examines immigration, health disparities, and socioeconomic integration. Key research areas include: undocumented immigrants' access to healthcare; neighborhood effects on health; social capital formation; and economic impacts of immigration. He pioneered the 'population survey-based legal status estimation method' and has directed multiple NIH/CDC-funded surveys including the LAC-MIHLSS (Los Angeles County Mexican Immigrant Health & Legal Status Survey) series. Recent publications analyze mortality determinants, healthcare systems, and neighborhood cohesion. He mentors doctoral and master's students researching immigration policy and health equity. Selected awards include Rand Summer Institute Scholarship and UCLA Chancellor's Award. Current projects focus on health insurance access for unauthorized immigrants and stress mechanisms in young adults.
Keisha Solomon is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at Howard University, part of the College of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on applied microeconomics, particularly mental health, substance use treatment, policy evaluation, causal inference, labor economics, and health equity. She holds a PhD in Economics from Temple University. Education: PhD in Economics, Temple University Research Interests: Dr. Solomon examines intersections of healthcare policy, addiction treatment, and systemic inequities. Her work includes evaluating emergency department protocols for opioid use disorder, analyzing mental health insurance parity laws' impact on education, and exploring harm reduction strategies for substance users. She employs causal inference methods to assess policy outcomes in healthcare access and labor markets. Publications: Over a dozen peer-reviewed articles since 2018, primarily addressing opioid crisis interventions, mental health policy, and healthcare disparities. Recent work emphasizes emergency department buprenorphine protocols and pandemic-era substance use treatment challenges. Grants/Advising: No specific grants or advisee names listed in available texts. Labs/Teams: Affiliated with Howard University's Economics Department research initiatives but specific lab/team details not provided.
Olivier Gout is a Professor of Private Law and Criminal Sciences at Jean Moulin University - Lyon 3, serving as Dean of the Faculty of Law. He holds leadership roles including Director of the Center for Liability and Insurance Law, Co-director of the Louis Josserand Research Team (EA 3707), and Director of the Institute of Patrimonial and Real Estate Law. His research focuses on banking law, business law, contract law, and civil liability, with recent engagements in AI ethics, data regulation, and environmental law. Administratively, he oversees Medical Law training programs and has organized numerous colloquia on topics like caregiver health, Franco-Maghreb succession law, and maritime transport's climate impact. His academic contributions include supervising over 14 theses, with active involvement as thesis director, rapporteur, or jury member. Notable supervised works include studies on non-patrimonial damages, internet civil liability, and AI's legal implications. Recent professional activities (2024-2025) include chairing events on the environmental charter, healthcare data circulation, and the interplay of law with artificial intelligence. His work bridges theoretical legal frameworks with practical applications in digital governance and transnational legal challenges.
Dr. Mehdi H. Afshar is a Researcher at the Technical University of Hamburg (TUHH) since August 2023, focusing on soil health and climate change impacts. Previously, he served as an Assistant Professor at Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey (2022–2023), and held postdoctoral positions at the John Innes Centre (UK) and the University of Manchester (UK). He holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from METU, an MSc in Water Resources Engineering, and a BSc in Water Engineering from Urmia University, Iran. His research integrates statistical, machine learning, and process-based models to enhance predictions in water-food security and soil health. Key projects include the Horizon Europe-funded AI4SoilHealth, which addresses soil degradation and global soil function prediction. His work emphasizes continental Europe, focusing on soil salinization, climate change scenarios, and drought analysis. Publications span drought prediction frameworks, soil moisture modeling, and agricultural insurance optimization. His recent work explores AI applications in soil health and groundwater-heatwave linkages, reflecting a blend of computational and environmental sciences. Dr. Afshar collaborates internationally on environmental monitoring and resilience, contributing to conferences like EGU General Assembly. His expertise bridges hydrology, remote sensing, and climate modeling to address global environmental challenges.
Josephine Wolff is an Associate Professor of Cybersecurity Policy at The Fletcher School and the Department of Computer Science at Tufts University. She also serves as Director of the Hitachi Center for Technology and International Affairs. Her expertise spans cybersecurity policy, cyber-insurance, government responses to cyberattacks, and the economics of information security. Wolff holds a PhD in Engineering Systems from MIT, an MS in Technology & Policy from MIT, and an AB in Mathematics from Princeton University. Education: PhD, Engineering Systems, MIT MS, Technology & Policy, MIT AB, Mathematics, Princeton University Research Interests: Wolff's work focuses on liability frameworks for cybersecurity incidents, cyber-insurance mechanisms, and regulatory challenges in cybersecurity. Her books include You'll See This Message When It Is Too Late (2018) and Cyberinsurance Policy (2022), analyzing legal and economic consequences of cyber breaches. Her research also examines trends in cybercrime, GDPR applications to AI, and global cybersecurity norms. Grants & Advising: Wolff has been a Fellow at New America and Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center. She previously taught at Rochester Institute of Technology. Her current roles at Tufts involve interdisciplinary collaborations across technology, policy, and international affairs. Labs/Teams: She directs the Hitachi Center for Technology and International Affairs, focusing on technology’s global governance implications.
Mary K. Olson is an Associate Professor of Economics and Director of the Health Policy Program in Tulane University's Murphy Institute, within the School of Liberal Arts. She holds a BA from Northwestern University and a PhD in Political Economics from Stanford University. Her research focuses on pharmaceutical regulation, FDA policies, healthcare innovation, and the economic impacts of drug safety frameworks. Dr. Olson has held prior roles at Yale University and Washington University. She has received grants from the National Science Foundation, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Smith Richardson Foundation. Her current research examines pediatric drug labeling's impact on prescribing practices, electronic medical records' influence on hospital performance, and cost-sharing effects in drug insurance. She served on the Institute of Medicine Committee assessing U.S. drug safety systems and was awarded the 2008 Mortar Board Teaching Excellence Award. Education: PhD in Political Economics, Stanford University BA, Northwestern University Publications span FDA regulatory effectiveness, drug approval processes, and policy impacts on pharmaceutical innovation. Recent work analyzes how new clinical data in drug labels influences pediatric prescribing behavior and evaluates the unintended consequences of accelerated FDA drug reviews. Awards: 2008 Mortar Board Award for Excellence in Tenured Teaching Grants have supported studies on FDA advisory committees, user fees' role in regulatory efficiency, and electronic health record adoption. Her work bridges economics, law, and medicine to address critical healthcare policy challenges.
Gabriel L. Schwartz, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Management & Policy at Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health, with a secondary appointment in Nursing at Drexel's College of Nursing and Health Professions. He is also a faculty member at the Drexel Urban Health Collaborative. Dr. Schwartz's educational background includes: PhD in Population Health Sciences from Harvard University BA degrees in Human Biology and Sociology from Brown University Postdoctoral training at University of California, San Francisco As a social epidemiologist, Dr. Schwartz's research focuses on how social stratification and the places we live shape health across the life course. His work treats structural, racialized exploitation as a population health problem, examining issues including housing insecurity, segregation, and the criminal legal system. Dr. Schwartz is particularly interested in the health impacts of eviction, how racial segregation in schools and neighborhoods affects health trajectories as children age, and the population health burden of police violence. His methodological expertise includes quantitative approaches and quasi-experimental designs to establish causal pathways between structural factors and health outcomes. Analysis of Dr. Schwartz's recent publications reveals a cohesive research program examining structural determinants of health. His work consistently employs rigorous epidemiological methods to investigate how housing insecurity, segregation, and criminal justice involvement create health disparities. A significant portion of his research focuses on school and residential segregation's impacts on Black populations across the life course, while other work examines eviction's consequences for healthcare access and cognitive development, and police violence as a public health issue requiring systematic measurement and intervention. Dr. Schwartz's research has been published in high-impact journals including JAMA Network Open, PLOS Medicine, Social Science & Medicine, and Pediatrics. His publications demonstrate interdisciplinary reach, connecting public health with education policy, criminal justice reform, and housing policy. His work often involves large-scale datasets and innovative methodological approaches to address questions of causality in social epidemiology, making significant contributions to understanding how structural racism operates through institutions to produce health inequities.
Kenneth A. Couch is a Professor of Economics at the University of Connecticut's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He specializes in Labor Economics, Public Economics, and Public Policy Analysis, with a focus on disadvantaged groups, labor market policies, and social security reforms. His research has been supported by organizations like the Sloan Foundation, NIH/NIA, and the Social Security Administration. He previously served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management (JPAM). Education: Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin (1992). Courses taught include Causal Evaluation and Labor Economics at both undergraduate and PhD levels. Research Interests: Economic Mobility, Job Displacement, Minimum Wages, Inequality, Employment Training, Social Security Policy, and Program Evaluation. His recent work examines the socioeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on labor market disparities, particularly gender and racial gaps. Key Themes in Publications: Analysis of long-term unemployment effects, retirement policy adjustments, and the role of public programs in mitigating economic vulnerability. His work bridges microsimulation modeling with policy design, emphasizing evidence-based solutions for disadvantaged populations. Grants & Awards: Funding from multiple foundations and agencies highlights his contributions to social policy research. His studies on divorce's economic consequences and minority unemployment during crises demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches to labor market challenges. Labs/Teams: Collaborations with institutions like the Social Security Administration and JPAM reflect his leadership in policy-relevant research networks.
Peter Philips is a Professor of Economics at the University of Utah and former Chair of the Economics Department. He earned his BA from Pomona College (1970), MA (1977), and PhD (1980) from Stanford University. Since 1978, Philips has focused on labor economics, particularly the construction labor market, with ancillary interests in econometrics and American economic history. BA, Economics, Pomona College (1970) MA, Economics, Stanford University (1977) PhD, Economics, Stanford University (1980) His research spans construction labor market regulations, safety, minority employment, apprenticeship programs, project labor agreements, bidding procedures, and health insurance for construction workers. As a forensic economist, he has testified before legislative bodies on labor market regulations. He has secured grants from institutions like the Center for Construction Research and Education and California Construction Labor Management Trust. Recent publications analyze project labor agreements' bidder dynamics, impacts of prevailing wage laws on construction safety and efficiency, and long-term industry adaptation to policy changes. His work combines empirical analysis with stochastic frontier regression to evaluate cost inefficiencies. Notable awards include the University of Utah Graduate Student & Postdoctoral Scholar Distinguished Mentor (2007), Presidential Teaching Scholar (1993), and Lowell Bennion Distinguished Service Professor (1992-1993). He teaches courses in labor economics, public policy, and economic history. Philips and his wife, Jean Reagan, volunteer as back-country rangers in Grand Teton National Park. He has been active in institutional service, including roles on the International Association of Snowboard Manufacturers and Retailers Board of Advisers (2010). His academic activities since 2004 include advising PhD students and courses on American Industry and Economic Development.
