Associate Professor Jean-Paul Paluzzi is part of the Biology Department at York University's Faculty of Science, serving as Graduate Program Director. His research focuses on neuroendocrine mechanisms in blood-feeding arthropods like mosquitoes and ticks, particularly how hormones regulate physiological processes such as osmoregulation and reproduction. His lab uses multidisciplinary approaches (physiological, genetic, molecular) to study signaling pathways in disease vectors like Aedes aegypti (yellow fever mosquito) and Ixodes scapularis (Lyme disease vector). Key research areas include neurohormonal control of epithelial tissues, stress responses, and the functional roles of proteins involved in neuroendocrine communication. Recent work explores CAPA neuropeptides' anti-diuretic effects, aquaporin regulation, and receptor characterization. His lab's findings aim to advance strategies for controlling disease-transmitting insects. Paluzzi leads the Paluzzi Lab and has contributed to over 50 peer-reviewed articles. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 'Life on Land' by addressing vector-borne disease challenges.
Mauro Pezzè is a Full Professor of Software Engineering at the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) and Università di Milano Bicocca, leading the STAR research group since 2006. He holds a laurea from the University of Pisa and a PhD from Politecnico di Milano. His research focuses on software testing, analysis, self-adaptive systems, and cloud systems. He has held editorial roles, including Editor-in-Chief of ACM Transactions on Software Engineering and Methodologies (TOSEM), and served on numerous program committees. Education: Laurea (Pisa), PhD (Politecnico di Milano). Professional roles include Dean of the Faculty of Informatics at USI (2009-2013), visiting scientist at UC Irvine and Edinburgh, and technical lead for international projects. He co-authored a seminal book on software testing (Wiley, 2007), with over 670 citations. Research Interests: Software Testing, Self-Adaptive Systems, Cloud Computing, AI in SE, Sustainable Software. Projects include work on field-based testing, failure prediction in distributed systems, and neuro-symbolic approaches for test oracles. Grants and Advising: Led STAR Lab projects in self-healing systems, GUI testing, and semantic matching. Advised numerous PhD/postdoc students (e.g., Ciniselli, Di Grazia, Qiu). Collaborations with European tech firms on R&D initiatives. Labs/Teams: STAR Group at USI/Constructor Institute, Bicocca, and Politecnico di Milano. Current members include postdocs and PhD students working on AI-driven testing and cloud reliability.
Harriet Bulkeley is a Professor of Geography and Deputy Executive Dean for Research in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Health at Durham University, alongside a part-time Professorial role at Utrecht University's Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development. Her expertise spans climate governance, urban sustainability, and environmental justice, with a focus on cities' roles in addressing global challenges. She leads projects like the Horizon Europe NATURESCAPES initiative, exploring nature-based solutions for biodiversity and climate resilience. Key Roles: Full Professor at Durham University, Deputy Executive Dean, and part-time role at Utrecht University. Research: Prioritizes climate policy, urban low-carbon transitions, and the governance of sustainability experiments. Her research has secured over £19M in funding and includes influential works like An Urban Politics of Climate Change . Bulkeley serves on high-profile advisory bodies, including the ERC Scientific Council and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. She is a recipient of the Back Award (2017) and multiple fellowships.
Dr. David Mills is an Associate Professor in Pedagogy and the Social Sciences within the Department of Education. His work focuses on postcolonial African higher education systems, doctoral training methodologies, and the ethical dimensions of academic publishing in global contexts. Trained in anthropology, his research interrogates colonial legacies in academia, publishing inequities, and the socio-political dimensions of knowledge production. David holds a PhD from the University of London, an MA from Oxford University, and another MA from the University of Florida. His interdisciplinary approach bridges anthropology, education studies, and publishing economics. Research interests include decolonial methodologies, the political economy of scholarly communication, and the intersection of education policy with global development agendas. Recent work critiques 'predatory publishing' discourses and examines how African scholars navigate bibliometric pressures in global research ecosystems. Key themes across his publications include: challenges facing African universities, reforming doctoral pedagogies, and reimagining publishing practices through decolonial frameworks. His work often highlights systemic inequities perpetuated by citation indices and commercial publishing giants. No scientific awards are explicitly listed in the provided materials. His academic contributions focus on critical analysis of educational and publishing systems rather than individual accolades. While no formal advising relationships are listed, his research engages deeply with doctoral student experiences and pedagogical strategies in global contexts. No specific grants or funding sources are mentioned in the text.
Joram Tarusarira is an Associate Professor in Religious Studies at the University of Groningen, affiliated with the Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society. His work bridges religion, conflict, and climate security. He holds a PhD from the University of Leipzig (2015) and has extensive post-doctoral and field experience in Africa. Expertise: Religion & Conflict, Climate Security, Peacebuilding Leadership: Coordinator of MA Religion, Conflict and Globalisation Funding: NWO Idea Generator Grant for 'Invoking the Sacred' project Research focuses on sacred dimensions of climate conflicts, African peacebuilding strategies, and religion's role in human security. He leads interdisciplinary projects like CGIAR Climate Security Initiative and contributes to policy frameworks globally. Awards: NWO Grant (2020), CGIAR Recognition (2023) Teaching: Methodology clinics, Ethics & Secularity courses His 70+ publications analyze intersections of religion, climate change, and security in Africa. Current projects investigate Northern Mozambique's climate conflicts and Ugandan veterans' identity dynamics.
Khalid Mustafa Medani is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Islamic Studies at McGill University, serving as Director of the Institute of Islamic Studies and Chair of the African Studies Program. He holds a joint appointment between the Department of Political Science and the Institute of Islamic Studies. His academic journey includes degrees from Brown University, Georgetown University, and the University of California, Berkeley. Specializing in Comparative Politics, his research focuses on globalization, political economy, and the intersection of Islamism, ethnicity, and conflict in Africa and the Middle East, with a particular emphasis on Sudan, Egypt, and Somalia. His seminal work Black Markets and Militants: Informal Networks in the Middle East and Africa (2021) earned the APSA Best Book Award in 2022 for its groundbreaking analysis of informal financial networks and Islamist movements. Medani has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed journals, including Middle East Report , African Political Economy , and Political Islam . He has held visiting appointments at Stanford University and taught at Oberlin College. Beyond academia, he is a frequent commentator on Sudan’s political crises, offering insights into regional geopolitics, resource conflicts, and democratization processes through media engagements like Democracy Now!, Al Jazeera, and the Globe and Mail . His work bridges theoretical political economy with empirical case studies, emphasizing transnational migration, labor remittances, and the impact of global capital flows on local political dynamics. Educations: PhD (UC Berkeley, 2003), MA (Political Science, UC Berkeley, 1995), MA (Development Studies, Georgetown, 1990), BA (Brown University, 1987) Key Research Themes: Informal economies, Islamist politics, ethnic conflict, globalization, Sudanese history Recent Engagements: Author of award-winning Black Markets and Militants ; panelist on Sudan’s war dynamics at institutions like the University of Michigan and Northwestern University; frequent media contributor on Sudanese politics Medani’s academic leadership includes directing interdisciplinary programs and mentoring students in political science, Islamic studies, and African studies. His work underscores the importance of linking global economic trends to localized political struggles, particularly in conflict-prone regions.
Dr. Jonathan Buonocore is an Assistant Professor in Environmental Health at the Boston University School of Public Health and Core Faculty at the Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS). His research evaluates health impacts of energy systems, focusing on climate mitigation strategies' co-benefits, equity, and unintended consequences. He holds a Sc.D. and MS from Harvard School of Public Health and a BS from Clarkson University. Education: Sc.D., Environmental Science & Risk Management, Harvard School of Public Health MS, Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health BS, Environmental Science & Policy, Clarkson University Research Interests: Dr. Buonocore examines energy systems through integrated frameworks combining health impact assessment, risk modeling, and energy policy analysis. Key areas include: Health co-benefits of renewable energy expansion Air pollution consequences of fossil fuel infrastructure Environmental justice in energy transitions Geoengineering health risks Recent work analyzes electrification policies, methane leakage risks, and extreme climate interventions. Articles emphasize spatial equity in exposure to oil/gas development and transportation policies. Grants & Advising: His research is supported by grants focusing on energy-climate-health linkages. He advises on projects related to decarbonization pathways and environmental justice. Labs & Collaborations: Associated with IGS and prior work at Harvard's Center for Climate, Health, and Global Environment. Collaborates with environmental justice organizations on policy-relevant research.
Silvia Pazzi is a Lecturer in Accounting and Finance at the School for Business and Society, University of York, since September 2022. Previously, she worked at the University of Leicester from 2013 and earned her PhD in Business Administration from the University of Pisa (Italy) in 2012. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2014). Her primary roles include Programme Leadership for the BSc in Accounting and Finance and contributions to teaching modules like Advanced Financial Accounting and Management Accounting. Her research focuses on public sector accountability, NGO governance, financial reporting transparency, and risk communication. Key projects include a BAFA-funded study on governmental reporting trust (2019–2021) and a current co-investigator role in a Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam project analyzing risk reporting in the UK and Netherlands (2022–present). She has supervised two PhD completions and secured multiple grants, including a seed corn grant for 'Accounting for Trust in Governmental Reporting' and a College Research Development Fund project on citizen-centered local government reporting. Publications highlight her work on NGO accountability frameworks, governmental risk disclosure strategies, and cost efficiency in public utilities. She actively presents at international conferences, such as the EIASM Public Sector Conference and the British Accounting and Finance Association events. Beyond academia, she contributes to professional bodies like ACCA and engages in policy-oriented research to enhance public trust in financial reporting systems.
Dr Folahanmi Aina is a Lecturer in Development Studies at SOAS University of London, specializing in the Political Economy of Violence, Conflict, and Development. He holds a PhD in Leadership Studies from King’s College London, with academic qualifications from institutions including the University of Oxford and Seoul National University. His research focuses on peace, security, and development challenges in West Africa’s Sahel and Lake Chad Basin regions, particularly addressing terrorism, insurgency, and governance failures. Education: BSc (Zaria) → MSc (Oxford) → MA (Seoul) → PhD (King’s College London). Research emphasizes transnational security dynamics, counterterrorism strategies, and the interplay between climate change and violent extremism. He has published in journals like African Security and Democracy and Security , and received the prestigious General Lamine Cissé Young Researcher Award. Recent work examines armed banditry in Nigeria, exploring its linkages to drug trafficking, pandemic impacts, and humanitarian crises. His studies highlight the need for process-based leadership and credible governance to address sub-national fragility.
Dr. Stephan Rave is a Researcher in the Institute for Analysis and Numerics at the University of Münster. He is affiliated with the Applied Mathematics Münster cluster and serves as an Investigator in Mathematics Münster. His work focuses on numerical analysis, scientific computing, and machine learning, with a strong emphasis on model reduction techniques for complex systems. Education : PhD in Mathematics (2012), University of Münster, thesis on finitely summable K-homology. Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Mathematics from the University of Münster. Research Interests : Dr. Rave specializes in model order reduction (MOR) methods, including reduced basis techniques, localized orthogonal decomposition (LOD), and nonlinear approximation strategies. His work addresses challenges in multiscale modeling, domain decomposition, and parametrized partial differential equations. He also develops open-source software tools like pyMOR for MOR and contributes to initiatives like the MaRDI (Mathematical Research Data Initiative) to enhance interoperability in scientific computing. Projects : Key initiatives include the MaRDI project (2021–2026), EXC 2044 Cluster of Excellence (Geometry-based modeling), and MULTIBAT (lithium-ion battery simulation). His research bridges theoretical developments with practical applications in battery modeling, electrochemistry, and computational fluid dynamics. Grants & Awards : Funded by DFG, the German Federal Ministry of Research, and internal university grants, his work addresses strategic areas like sustainable research software and energy storage systems. He leads projects on distributed model reduction and communication-avoiding algorithms. Teaching : Dr. Rave teaches advanced numerical methods courses, including Model Order Reduction, Numerical Methods for PDEs, and Python-based computational labs. He co-organizes seminars and workshops on MOR and scientific software engineering.
Prof. Nishantha Sampath Punchihewa is a Professor of Commercial Law and currently serves as Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. He has been a Senior Fellow in the sub-project 'Digital Access to Library Content – Legal Frameworks in Germany and Sri Lanka' at the Centre for Advanced Study since 2024. His academic journey includes LL.B. from the University of Colombo (2000), LL.M. from Augsburg and Munich (2009), and a doctoral thesis on intellectual property law in Sri Lanka (2015). He was admitted to the bar in 2001 and has held teaching positions at multiple Sri Lankan universities since then, formalizing his role as a full professor in 2022. His research focuses on intellectual property rights and innovation, competition law, consumer protection, biotechnological inventions, IT law, and the interplay between human rights and IP. Notable areas of study include Sri Lanka's legal frameworks for patents, copyrights, and geographical indications like Ceylon Tea. He advocates for enhancing SME access to IP-based financing and promoting second-tier patent systems for local innovators. Punchihewa’s work bridges legal theory with practical applications, addressing challenges in digital rights management, tourism IP strategies, and sustainable innovation policies. His publications emphasize Sri Lanka’s unique legal landscape and its alignment (or misalignment) with global standards in IP and antitrust matters. He has advised extensively on policy reforms related to technology transfer, education curricula integration of IP concepts, and leveraging IP assets for national economic growth. His contributions have positioned him as a leading voice in South Asian legal scholarship, particularly in balancing commercial interests with ethical and developmental priorities.
Orlagh Feeney is a Research Fellow and Nanomedicine team lead in the Porter Group at Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS), Monash University. She specializes in advanced drug delivery systems with a focus on cancer and autoimmune diseases, emphasizing translational research derived from her six-year pharmaceutical R&D experience in Ireland. Her research interests include controlling pharmacokinetics, lymphatic exposure, and targeted drug delivery strategies such as active targeting and stromal modification. She leads projects like the 'Role of Hyaluronan in Antigen and Immune Cell Trafficking' and developed disease models for solid cancers and collagen-induced arthritis. Key contributions include studies on polymer nanorod-drug conjugates, intestinal lymphatic drug delivery, and lymphatic targeting of immunotherapies. She co-edited a Molecular Pharmaceutics special issue on Australasian innovations and serves as a peer reviewer. Feeney's work aligns with UN SDGs addressing good health and well-being, leveraging lymphatic pathways to enhance therapeutic efficacy in oncology and autoimmune therapies.
Dr. Vivian Visser is an Assistant Professor in Governance & Pluralism at the Department of Public Administration and Sociology, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam. Her research lies at the intersection of Public Administration and Sociology, focusing on citizen participation, community self-organization, and the reproduction of social inequalities in governance processes. Her research interests include: Citizen participation and invitational governance Social and emotional dynamics in public engagement Status and educational disparities in civic initiatives Role of civil servants in inclusive governance Urban sociology and neighborhood livability Visser employs an interdisciplinary, mixed-methods approach—combining vignette survey experiments, ethnographic observations, and in-depth interviews—to investigate how public professionals can tailor participation strategies to diverse citizen groups. Her recent publications reflect a strong trend toward understanding the emotional, cultural, and structural barriers to inclusion, especially among less-educated populations. The research emphasizes actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners. She has received the Erasmus Graduate School Award for Best Dissertation and has been recognized for her impactful work through media coverage in outlets like NRC Handelsblad, De Jortcast, and Binnenlands Bestuur. Her research has also informed public discourse on participation through expert contributions. Visser is actively involved in knowledge exchange through initiatives such as: Kenniswerkplaats Leefbare Wijken : Co-creating knowledge on neighborhood livability GovLab010 : Fostering innovation in local governance She coordinates the Master’s program Polarisatie, Democratie en Samenleving and develops post-academic courses to equip public professionals with tools for inclusive participation. She is currently developing new educational content focused on engaging discontented citizens.
Marcel Broersma is a full Professor of Media and Journalism Studies at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Arts, leading the Journalism department and directing the Centre for Media and Journalism Studies. He specializes in journalism history, digital transformation of news media, and political communication. Broersma holds an MA in History and Journalism and a PhD from the University of Groningen (2002, cum laude). His research explores media innovation, the evolution of journalistic practices, and the role of social media in political discourse. Director of the Centre for Media and Journalism Studies Academic Director of the Dutch Research School for Media Studies (RMeS) Coordinator of the UNL Digital Society research program Chair of the Digital Literacy Coalition and the Board of Advisers for the CIT RUG His research interests include the transformation of journalism, digital literacy, and the historical and comparative analysis of media systems. Notable grants include a VIDI grant (NWO, 2007) and AHRC/NWO funding for studies on journalism’s evolving role. Broersma has authored/co-authored over 40 books and edited volumes, including Betrokken en gericht (2014) and Form and Style in Journalism (2007). Recent work focuses on marginalized citizens' digital inclusion, algorithmic systems, and Chinese social media’s political dynamics. He actively advises media institutions and government bodies, including the Dutch Frisian Media Fund and the Mediawijzer.net scientific board. His teaching includes master’s courses on journalism theory and history at the University of Groningen. Broersma supervises numerous PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers, contributing to interdisciplinary projects on media innovation and public communication.
Camilo Mora is a Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he maintains an active research laboratory and teaches courses on environmental issues, biogeography, and data analysis. His academic journey began with a BSc in Marine Biology from Universidad del Valle in Colombia (1999), followed by a PhD in Biology from the University of Windsor, Canada (2005). He completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Auckland (2005), Scripps Institution of Oceanography (2006-2008), and Dalhousie University (2008-2010). BSc, Marine Biology, Universidad del Valle, Colombia (1999) PhD, Biology, University of Windsor, Canada (2005) Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Auckland (2005) Postdoctoral Fellow, Scripps Institution of Oceanography (2006-2008) Postdoctoral Fellow, Dalhousie University (2008-2010) Mora's research spans interconnected lines focused on understanding biodiversity patterns and their modification by human activities, with particular emphasis on climate change impacts. His lab specializes in big data analytics applied to diverse environmental challenges including heatwaves, disease transmission, marine ecosystems, and even unconventional topics like Bitcoin's environmental footprint. The Mora Lab operates on a 'divide and conquer' approach to tackle large research questions by breaking data gathering into individual parts that can be concatenated into central databases. Mora has received the CSS Excellence in Research award (2014) for his significant contributions to environmental science. His influential publications include groundbreaking work on the global risk of deadly heat (2017), the projected timing of climate departure from historical variability (2013), and the finding that over half of known human pathogenic diseases can be aggravated by climate change (2022). CSS Excellence in Research (2014) Highly cited publications in Nature and Nature Climate Change Research featured in major international media outlets Development of innovative research methodologies for large-scale analyses Mora leads an active research group that engages students in the full scientific process from idea generation to publication. His approach to mentoring involves creating yearly classes where graduate students, professors, and international advisors collaborate to tackle significant research questions, with papers typically completed within a single semester. His Carbon Neutrality Challenge project, spearheaded by his daughter Asryelle Mora, provides a practical mechanism for individuals to offset carbon emissions through tree planting. The Mora Lab maintains a distinctive approach to environmental research, working on seemingly diverse topics from reef fishes to Bitcoin, united by their reliance on big data analytics. This interdisciplinary methodology has produced impactful research across multiple domains of environmental science and climate change impacts, establishing Mora as a significant contributor to our understanding of humanity's environmental challenges.
