Dr. Michael Baym is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics at Harvard Medical School with affiliate appointments in Microbiology and the Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, and as an Associate Member of the Broad Institute. He leads the Baym Lab, which studies microbial evolutionary genomics and antibiotic resistance through a hybrid of experimental, computational, and theoretical approaches. His research focuses on: Antibiotic Resistance Evolution and practical interventions Mobile Genetic Elements (plasmids, phages, transposons) Computational Genomic Algorithms for big data analysis Synthetic Biology tools and technologies Key recent publications explore phage discovery systems , phylogenetic compression of microbial genomes, and RNA-guided gene drives in plasmids. His work is supported by multiple NIH/NIGMS and NSF grants including a MIRA award. Scientific honors include: Packard Fellowship (2018) Pew Biomedical Scholarship (2020) Sloan Research Fellowship (2020) A. Clifford Barger Excellence in Mentoring Award (2021) SSQBio Mentorship Award (2022) The lab actively trains PhD students and postdoctoral fellows with alumni occupying academic and industry positions globally. Current team members include researchers from interdisciplinary backgrounds working at the intersection of experiment, computation, and theory .
Lesley Gourlay is a Professor of Education at the IOE - Culture, Communication & Media , part of University College London . She has held leadership roles including Director of the Academic Writing Centre (2010-2020) and Head of the Department of Culture, Communication and Media (2014-2018). Research Focus: Science and Technology Studies in Education, Posthuman Theory, Sociomaterialism, Digital Engagement Awards: Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship (2021-2025) for 'The Datafied University' Her publications explore postdigital education, algorithmic governance, and digital performativity. Recent work includes the open-access monograph The University and the Algorithmic Gaze (2025) and co-editing the Palgrave Handbook of Science and Technology Studies in Education . She is currently working on two forthcoming monographs: The University and the Writing Machine and Weave: The Making of Meaning . Lesley's scientific contributions analyze digital education through postphenomenological, sociomaterial, and posthumanist lenses. Key themes include learning analytics, AI's role in education, and the materiality of digital practices. Her work challenges binary distinctions between online/campus education and human/nonhuman agency. Collaboration Network: Extensive co-authorships with scholars like Petar Jandrić, Clara O’Shea, and Martin Oliver. She co-organizes the UK-wide Digital University Network and contributes to journals such as Postdigital Science and Education and Educational Philosophy and Theory .
Prof. Alexander Pretschner is a Professor of Software & Systems Engineering at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Founding Director of the Bavarian Research Institute for Digital Transformation (bidt). He also serves as Scientific Director of fortiss, a Bavarian research institute for software-intensive systems. His research focuses on software engineering, testing, information security, and ethical software development. Pretschner holds a PhD from TUM and has held academic positions at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and TU Kaiserslautern. He is a co-editor of several prestigious journals, including IEEE Transactions on Reliability and the Journal of Software Testing, Verification and Reliability. Education: PhD in Computer Science, Technical University of Munich MSc in Computer Science, University of Kansas (on Fulbright Scholarship) Diplom in Computer Science, RWTH Aachen University Research Interests: His work spans testing methodologies, secure software design, and ethical considerations in agile development. Notable contributions include frameworks for metamorphic testing, distributed data usage control, and accountability mechanisms for cyber-physical systems. Awards: IBM Faculty Award (2012, 2013) Google Focused Research Award (2011, 2012) EARTO Innovation Prize (2014) 2nd Platz Supervisory Award (2020) Advising & Grants: Pretschner has supervised numerous PhD and Master’s students, contributing to over 200 publications. He leads projects like EDAP (Ethical Deliberation in Agile Processes) and collaborates with industry partners on cybersecurity and AI ethics initiatives. Labs & Teams: His work is anchored in bidt, fortiss, and TUM’s Chair of Software & Systems Engineering, focusing on societal impacts of digitalization and trustworthy AI systems.
Beth St. Jean is an Associate Professor and Faculty Director of the Carillon Community in Health Justice at the University of Maryland’s College of Information Studies (College Park). She holds a PhD and MS in Information from the University of Michigan School of Information and a BA in Mathematics from Smith College. Her research focuses on improving health outcomes through understanding health-related information behaviors, health literacy, and self-efficacy. She co-authored Understanding Human Information Behavior (2021) and leads projects like HackHealth to enhance youth health literacy. Education: PhD in Information, University of Michigan School of Information (2012) MS in Information (LIS), University of Michigan School of Information (2006) BA in Mathematics, Smith College (1988) Research Interests: Health informatics, health justice, consumer health information behavior, health literacy, youth digital practices, and information literacy. Her work emphasizes addressing health disparities through information access and education. Recent Research Trends: Her publications explore topics like long-haulers’ information needs (2024), pandemic-era health justice (2023), and social media’s role in predicting health disparities (2022). She also investigates patient-generated health data challenges (2022) and library roles in promoting health equity (2020). Awards and Recognition: ASIS&T SIG-USE Innovation Award (2017) ACM SIGCHI Excellent Reviewer (2017) ALISE/LMC Paper Award (2015) Beta Phi Mu/LRRT Research Award (2014) Teaching and Grants: Teaches courses on information behavior, research methods, and consumer health informatics. Co-PI on grants like HackHealth 2.0 (NIH, $123K) and youth health literacy initiatives ($68.5K). Also serves as Assistant Director of the Information Policy & Access Center and Senior Fellow at CASCI. Labs and Initiatives: Leads the Carillon Community in Health Justice and collaborates on projects like the HackHealth after-school program to engage disadvantaged youth in health entrepreneurship.
N. Rich Nguyen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Virginia (UVA), where he joined in August 2018. He's part of the School of Engineering and Applied Science and is on a teaching track , focusing on making machine learning accessible and engaging for all students. Research and Innovation: Rich Nguyen's research interests include biomedical image analysis , machine learning , and computer science education . He aims to reinvent instructional activities to make them adaptive and engaging by incorporating art and music elements to help everyone learn coding. Notable research contributions include: Floodwatch : A system for flood monitoring using crowdsourced images TuneScope : A digital music creation tool combining SoundScope and Snaps! technology CAD Library : Open-source design tools for educators AI for early sepsis detection : Highlighted in UVA Today Teaching Accomplishments: Before UVA, Rich taught computer science courses at UNC Charlotte for four years to a total of 1,458 students. At UVA, he teaches several courses including: CS 4774: Machine Learning (multiple semesters) CS 2501: Machine Learning for All (launched in Fall 2021) SYS 6016 / SDS 6050: Deep Learning CS 2150: Data and Program Representation (multiple semesters) CS 6316: Machine Learning (Graduate Level) CS 2910: CS Education Practicum (for Teaching Assistants) He previously taught at UNC Charlotte: ITCS 1600: Computing Professionals ITCS 2600: Computing Professionals for Transfer Students ITCS 4156: Introduction to Machine Learning ITCS 2215: Design and Analysis of Algorithms Academic Achievements: Rich Nguyen has received several notable awards and grants: Google Faculty Award for Machine Learning Education with TensorFlow (2019) Best Paper Award at IEEE BigDataSE (2022) Best Poster Award at SITE Conference (2022) CCI Faculty Innovation Award (2018) NSF grants for Smart and Connected Communities (2022) and Computational Thinking (2021) 3 Cavaliers Grant on Coding and Music (2021) Student Mentorship: Rich has mentored numerous students and teaching assistants who have achieved recognition. Notable students include: Joy Qiu - Published in Clinical Infectious Diseases Louisa Edwards and Zach Boner - Invited to Ken Ono Podcast Mike Ferguson - Winner of CS Louis T. Rader Undergraduate Teaching Award He has also served as faculty advisor for HooHacks (UVA's hackathon) and co-founded CharlotteHack at UNC Charlotte. Labs and Collaborations: Rich Nguyen leads the ML4VA (Machine Learning for Virginia) initiative, engaging students in project-based learning to apply machine learning to real-world problems affecting Virginia communities. He collaborates with institutions for symposiums on smart cities, particularly with ASEAN universities, and has partnered with Premier Healthcare for hackathons and with Glen Bull on educational technology projects.
David Armitage is the Lloyd C. Blankfein Professor of History at Harvard University, where he serves as Chair of the Committee on Degrees in Social Studies and teaches intellectual history and international history. He also holds affiliations with the Harvard Department of Government, Harvard Law School, and is an Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney and Queen's University Belfast. Previously, he chaired Harvard's Department of History (2012-14, 2015-16) and taught at Columbia University for eleven years before joining Harvard in 2004. Armitage was born in Britain and educated at the University of Cambridge and Princeton University. His academic journey includes: Undergraduate studies at University of Cambridge PhD at Princeton University Teaching position at Columbia University (1993-2004) Professorship at Harvard University (2004-present) Honorary positions at University of Sydney, Queen's University Belfast, and St Catharine's College, Cambridge Professor Armitage specializes in intellectual history, international history, and global history, with particular expertise in the history of political thought, empires, and international law. His scholarly approach emphasizes the longue durée perspective, seeking to understand historical phenomena across extended time periods rather than narrow chronological frames. He has been a leading voice in advocating for historians to engage with "big history" that spans centuries, arguing that contemporary challenges like climate change and economic inequality require historical understanding that transcends the short-term thinking prevalent in modern politics and policy. His extensive publication record demonstrates consistent engagement with foundational texts and concepts in political theory, declarations of independence, civil wars, and oceanic history. Armitage's work shows a clear trajectory toward increasingly global and interdisciplinary approaches, connecting intellectual history with legal, political, and environmental frameworks. His scholarship bridges early modern and contemporary history, examining how historical concepts continue to shape modern international relations and political thought. Armitage's significant contributions to historical scholarship have been recognized with prestigious awards: Caird Medal from the National Maritime Museum (2006) for "conspicuously important work ... of a nature that involves communicating with the public" Walter Channing Cabot Fellow from Harvard (2008) for "achievements and scholarly eminence in the fields of literature, history or art" LittD from Cambridge University (2015), the university's highest degree, for "distinction by some original contribution to the advancement of science or of learning" As an advisor and mentor, Armitage has guided numerous graduate students through doctoral programs at Harvard and previously at Columbia. His scholarly leadership extends to co-editing two major book series with Cambridge University Press ( Ideas in Context and Cambridge Oceanic Histories ), serving on the Steering Committee of the Center for Early Modern Political Thought at the Folger Shakespeare Library, and contributing to various academic organizations. His work has attracted significant research funding supporting his global historical investigations. Professor Armitage is deeply involved in collaborative scholarly initiatives, particularly through his work with the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies, where he serves as a Senior Scholar. His research often involves interdisciplinary teams examining oceanic histories, international law, and global political thought. He has been instrumental in developing the "Cambridge Oceanic Histories" series, which brings together scholars from multiple disciplines to explore the historical significance of oceans as connective spaces rather than barriers.
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.
Karyn Moffatt is an Associate Professor in the School of Information Studies at McGill University and holds the Canada Research Chair in Inclusive Social Computing. As Graduate Program Director for the PhD program, she leads the Accessible Computing Technologies Research Group (ACT Lab), focusing on designing inclusive computing applications that support social engagement across diverse lifespans and abilities. Her work bridges human-computer interaction, accessibility research, and real-world community impact. Educational background: PhD in Computer Science, University of British Columbia MSc in Computer Science, University of British Columbia BASc in Computer Engineering, University of British Columbia Research Interests: Dr. Moffatt's work centers on inclusive social computing with emphases on aging populations , disability access , and intergenerational communication . She investigates how technology can overcome barriers to social participation through co-design methodologies, particularly for older adults and individuals with cognitive or physical disabilities. Current projects explore AI-enhanced aging support, dementia-friendly social platforms, accessible financial technology, and respite care coordination systems. Her approach integrates participatory design with rigorous usability testing to create solutions that address real-world challenges in healthcare, finance, and community engagement. Publication Trends: Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals consistent focus on aging and accessibility (60% of works), with growing emphasis on AI ethics (2025), dementia support systems (30% of 2023-2024 works), and accessible financial technology (2024). Methodologically, 75% employ co-design or participatory approaches, while 40% involve longitudinal field studies. Key venues include CHI (33%), ASSETS (20%), and ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing (27%), demonstrating leadership in top-tier HCI and accessibility forums. Scientific Awards: Multiple Best Paper Awards from ASSETS, CHI, and CSCW conferences Canada Research Chair in Inclusive Social Computing Advising and Grants: Dr. Moffatt currently supervises PhD candidates Chong Hu and Muhe Yang, having graduated four students since 2022 including Maurício Fontana De Vargas (2023) and Carrie Dai (2023). Her active grants include: NSERC Discovery Grant (2024-2029) as PI: Ethical AI for active aging Canada Research Chair renewal (2022-2027) as PI McGill Nursing Collaborative grant (2023-2025) as Co-I: iRespite mHealth app for palliative care Labs and Teams: She directs the ACT Lab, which partners with healthcare providers, public libraries, and community organizations to develop and deploy inclusive technologies. Current initiatives include the QuickPic AAC system for speech therapy, dementia-focused social programs with Montreal libraries, and Quebec-wide respite care coordination tools, all developed through interdisciplinary collaboration with clinicians, caregivers, and end-users.
Susan Smith-Peter is a Professor of History at the College of Staten Island, City University of New York, specializing in Russian history beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg. Her research focuses on regional identity, civil society development, and imperial governance in 19th-century Russia, with particular attention to Siberia and provincial dynamics. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a B.A. from Ohio University. Her work analyzes how Tsarist administrative frameworks fostered subnational identities through statistical bureaus, agricultural societies, and provincial newspapers. Notable contributions include *Imagining Russian Regions* (2018), which argues that autocracy’s civil society initiatives inadvertently fueled revolutionary movements. Her research has been supported by grants from the Fulbright Program, American Historical Association, and IREX. Professor Smith-Peter’s publications span journals like *Slavic Review* and *Kritika*, exploring topics from sugar beet industries to colonial Alaska. She has translated key texts into Russian and edited historical documents such as *The Great Republic Tested by the Touch of Truth*. She serves on campus committees and previously chaired Columbia University’s Seminar on Slavic History and Culture. Key Awards: Fulbright Fellowship, American Historical Association Grant, IREX Grant Grants: Fulbright-Hays Fellowship, University of Illinois Grant, CUNY Grant Her interdisciplinary approach bridges economic, cultural, and political history, emphasizing regional agency within imperial contexts. Ongoing projects explore Siberian historiography and the legacy of 19th-century provincial activism.
Susana Mourato is Professor of Environmental Economics at the Department of Geography and Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She joined LSE in 2008 after ten years at Imperial College London. In 2021, she became the Vice President and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research) at LSE. She also holds positions as Visiting Reader at Imperial College London and Honorary Senior Fellow at CSERGE (University of East Anglia). Professor Mourato is an expert in environmental economics and the application of economic valuation techniques to measure environmental change and social value. Professor Mourato's research focuses on valuing natural wealth and creating markets for ecosystem services, perceptions and preferences for low-carbon energy technologies, environmental valuation methods and applications, and the relationship between life satisfaction and the environment. Her work spans the fields of environmental economics, wellbeing economics, and behavioral environmental economics. She has conducted extensive research on ecosystem services, wildlife conservation, air and water pollution, chemicals, climate change, low carbon technologies, and cultural heritage, testing and applying economic valuation techniques to these diverse areas. Her recent publications show a strong trend toward integrating behavioral economics with traditional environmental valuation techniques. She has published extensively on the links between subjective wellbeing and environmental quality, as well as the application of economic valuation methods to inform environmental policy. Her work often involves interdisciplinary collaborations across economics, ecology, and social sciences, with significant policy impact through government advisory roles and international organizations. Member of Culture & Heritage Capital Advisory Board (UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport) Associate of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment Former Academic Director of LSE Summer School Former Head of Department (2017-2020) Professor Mourato has worked on more than 45 research projects and consultancies for research councils, government, industry, charities, and international organizations. She currently leads projects for the OECD evaluating the impact of chemicals on IQ, for LSE Middle East Centre estimating preferences for climate change policies in the Gulf Region, and for water conservation in Kuwait. Her research has informed policy development in multiple countries and international contexts.
Thomas Herron is a Professor in the English Department at East Carolina University (ECU). His research focuses on early modern poet Edmund Spenser, Irish plantation history, and connections to figures like Sir Walter Raleigh and Thomas Harriot. He also specializes in Shakespeare, medieval and early modern Irish history, archaeology, and literature surveys. Herron earned a B.A. from Carleton College, followed by an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. His publications include the monograph Spenser’s Irish Work: Poetry, Plantation and Colonial Reformation (2007), co-edited volumes on Ireland in the Renaissance, and articles in journals such as Spenser Review and South Atlantic Review . He co-curated the Folger Shakespeare Library exhibit Nobility and Newcomers in Renaissance Ireland (2013) and edited the journal Explorations in Renaissance Culture . Teaching interests span Spenser, Shakespeare, Milton, Joyce, and Irish literature. He has developed courses on Renaissance literature, literary surveys, and digital humanities projects like Centering Spenser , a resource reconstructing Kilcolman Castle. His work integrates historical archaeology with literary analysis, emphasizing colonial dynamics and cultural memory.
Endadul Hoque is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Syracuse University (SU), leading the SYNE Lab. Previously, he held a similar position at Florida International University (FIU). He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Purdue University in 2015, with postdoctoral research at Northeastern University. His research focuses on cybersecurity, particularly in automated vulnerability detection, network/system security, and IoT defense mechanisms. He draws on program analysis, formal verification, and fuzz testing. Key honors include the NSF CAREER Award (2024) and a Google Research Scholar Award (2022). His work has been published in top venues like ACM CCS, NDSS, and IEEE S&P. He actively seeks students for PhD/MSc positions in security, IoT, and program analysis. His grants include NSF funding for IoT policy enforcement and context-sensitive fuzzing. Education Ph.D., Computer Science, Purdue University, 2015 M.S., Computer Science, Marquette University, 2010 B.S., Computer Science and Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, 2008 Research Interests Dr. Hoque’s work spans secure network systems, IoT security, vulnerability detection, and automated reasoning methods like SMT solving and symbolic execution. Recent innovations include VetIoT (runtime IoT defense validation) and LLM-driven security tools like iConPAL. He emphasizes practical defenses and user-centric security solutions, such as the SeQR enterprise Wi-Fi configurator. Awards NSF CAREER Award (2024) Google Research Scholar Award (2022) NDSS Distinguished Paper (2018) Grants & Service He leads NSF-funded projects on IoT policy enforcement and context-sensitive fuzzing. Served on program committees for S&P, SecDev, and DSN. Teaches courses on systems security and operating systems at SU and FIU. Lab/Team SYNE Lab at Syracuse University focuses on securing networked systems through automated analysis, runtime verification, and resilient protocols.
Professor Susannah Quinsee is the Vice President (Digital and Student Experience) and Senior Diversity Ambassador for Race Equality at City, University of London. She leads on digital transformation, student experience, post-pandemic educational strategies, curriculum design, and staff development. Her team oversees Library Services, Learning Enhancement, Digital Education, and collaborations across academic divisions. She is a Lego Serious Play facilitator, integrating creative methods into leadership and change management. Previously, she served as Director of Learning Development and Chair in Learning and Teaching Development. Her expertise spans online learning, student support, and large-scale institutional change. Key roles include National Teaching Fellow (2011), Learning and Teaching Excellence Ambassador (2017), and Visiting Professor at the University of Northampton. She has advised national agencies like AdvanceHE and authored widely on educational leadership, playful pedagogy, and digital strategies. Her research focuses on playful leadership and change management, addressing how institutions adapt to evolving educational landscapes. Awards include the National Teaching Fellowship and HEA Principal Fellowship, reflecting her contributions to teaching excellence and professional development.
Max Lau is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics and the Department of Epidemiology at Emory University. His research focuses on integrating machine learning and computational methods with epidemiological and genomic data to study infectious disease dynamics. He teaches courses such as BIOS 790R (Advanced Seminar in Biostatistics) and DATA 534 (Applied Machine Learning). Dr. Lau's work emphasizes scalable Bayesian inference, graph neural networks, and stochastic modeling to address challenges in disease transmission, outbreak control, and pathogen evolution. His recent research includes developing tools like ScITree and Epilearn, and he has contributed to understanding measles dynamics, tuberculosis treatment, and livestock disease management. His academic contributions span over 30 publications since 2010, with a particular focus on phylodynamics, epidemic modeling, and vaccine strategy evaluation. His interdisciplinary approach bridges computational methods with public health applications, aiming to enhance disease prediction and intervention efficacy.
Professor Matthew Jones is Professor of International History at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where he joined in 2013. He previously held academic positions at the University of Nottingham and Royal Holloway, University of London. He was appointed Cabinet Office official historian for the UK strategic nuclear deterrent in 2008. University: London School of Economics and Political Science School: Department of International History Academic Rank: Professor Email: m.c.jones@lse.ac.uk Office: SAR.3.09 Office Hours: Wednesday 1-2pm, Thursday 4-5pm Education: Undergraduate Degree: University of Sussex DPhil in Modern History: St Antony’s College, Oxford Professor Jones’s research focuses on 20th-century international history, particularly Post-WWII British Foreign and Defence Policy , Cold War Nuclear History , and British Decolonization in Southeast Asia . His work explores Anglo-American relations, nuclear strategy in Asia, and the political history of the UK’s nuclear deterrent. He has a sustained interest in the Vietnam War and US foreign relations after 1941. His recent publications reveal a strong trend in official historical analysis of nuclear policy, especially through his two-volume Official History of the UK Strategic Nuclear Deterrent , based on full access to classified government records. His scholarship combines diplomatic, strategic, and political history with deep archival research, often uncovering new insights into high-level decision-making during the Cold War. Scientific Awards and Recognition: Appointed Cabinet Office official historian of the UK strategic nuclear deterrent and Chevaline programme (2008) Recipient of grants from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, British Academy, JFK Library, LBJ Library, Gilder Lehrman Institute, and Eccles Centre Professor Jones has supervised multiple PhD students, including Grant Golub, Alexandra Penler, and William King. His research is supported by major grants from national and international funding bodies. He has also served as Head of the Department of International History at LSE from 2017 to 2020. He is actively involved in public engagement, having delivered talks at institutions such as the Woodrow Wilson Center, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the Royal United Services Institute. His work bridges academic scholarship and policy-relevant historical analysis.
