Find Academic Supervisors

Joe SandersonView profile

Professor

• Procurement and Supply Chain Management
• Public Sector Procurement
• Healthcare Procurement
• +7 more

Professor Joe Sanderson is a distinguished academic at the University of Birmingham, affiliated with the Birmingham Business School and the Department of Management. He serves as Deputy Head of the College of Social Sciences and has previously held leadership roles including Head of the Procurement and Operations Management Department and Director of several MBA and DBA programmes. His research and teaching focus on procurement and supply chain management , particularly in the public sector (healthcare and defence), contracting and governance in large-scale projects , and public-private partnerships . He has led significant research projects funded by the UK Government and the National Institute for Health Research, with impactful outcomes in naval shipbuilding and NHS commissioning. His recent publications span topics such as digitalization in healthcare supply chains, team effectiveness in sourcing, green supply chains in the auto industry, and governance in megaprojects. These works reflect a strong interdisciplinary approach combining operations, strategy, public policy, and sustainability. Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (FCIPS) Outstanding Reviewer, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal (2008) Outstanding Paper Award, same journal (2009) Nominated for Procurement Leaders and CIPS awards Co-nominated for University’s Founders’ Award for Business Advancement (2016) Professor Sanderson has extensive experience in executive development, notably delivering a Masterclass Programme in Strategic Sourcing for over 400 senior managers at Rolls-Royce Aerospace. He serves on the editorial board of Supply Chain Management: An International Journal and has guest-edited special issues in leading journals. He teaches procurement and supply chain modules across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and has supervised numerous doctoral students.

• Innovation and governance
• Environmental planning and eco-city development
• Urban financialisation
• +6 more

Professor Fangzhu Zhang is a leading academic in China planning at The Bartlett School of Planning, University College London (UCL). With a PhD from the University of Southampton and prior roles at Southampton and Cardiff University, she has been at UCL since 2011, progressing from Lecturer to Professor since 2023. Education: BSc (Nanjing University, 1991), MPhil (University of Hong Kong, 1998), PhD (University of Southampton, 2007) Her research focuses on urban governance , financialization , and environmental planning in China. Recent work explores post-pandemic statecraft, eco-city development, and land assetization in municipal finance. She leads the ERC Advanced Grant project "Rethinking China’s Urban Governance" (2020–2026) and contributes to journals like Urban Studies and Land Use Policy . The 15 most recent publications span topics such as: State entrepreneurialism in megaprojects Financial intermediation in local government bonds Land assetization and urban debt risks Post-pandemic governance transitions Participatory micro-regeneration models She has supervised 20 PhD students (10 completed, 10 ongoing) and serves as founding Editor-in-Chief of the journal Transactions in Planning and Urban Research (TPUR). Her teaching integrates equality, diversity, and inclusion, with leadership roles in UCL's dissertation curriculum.

Matti SiemiatyckiView profile

Professor

• Infrastructure Planning
• Transportation
• Cycling
• +3 more

Matti Siemiatycki is a Professor at the Department of Geography and Program in Planning, and Director of the Infrastructure Institute at the University of Toronto's School of Cities. His work spans infrastructure planning, financing, and project delivery with a focus on urban contexts. Education Ph.D., University of British Columbia M.Sc., Oxford University B.A., Ryerson University His research explores infrastructure planning across scales—from subway systems to bike lanes—and analyzes governance, policy, and politics in regional transportation strategies. He emphasizes evidence-based investment decisions, the integration of infrastructure into urban environments, and the diversity gap in infrastructure industries. Recent publications highlight the gender dimensions of infrastructure, the design consequences of public-private partnerships (PPPs), and mixed-use buildings as policy tools. He has conducted global case studies in cities like Toronto, London, and Sydney. Scientific Awards Canada Research Chair Matti consults extensively on infrastructure policy and frequently contributes to media discussions on urban planning, PPPs, and traffic management. He leads advisory initiatives through the Infrastructure Institute's programs, including Groundwork: SPRE Accelerator, FutureBUILDS, and Roadmap Connect. Labs/Teams Infrastructure Institute (School of Cities, University of Toronto) Groundwork: SPRE Accelerator FutureBUILDS Roadmap Connect

Stefan WalzelView profile

Researcher

• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
• Commercialization of Sport
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
• +3 more

Dr. Stefan Walzel is a researcher at the Institute of Sport Economics and Sport Management (Section Sports Business Administration) at German Sport University Cologne. With a PhD in Sport Science (2010) and a diploma in Sport Economics, he focuses on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in sports, commercialization impacts, and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . His work intersects sport studies , organizational ethics , and sustainability frameworks . PhD in Sport Science (German Sport University Cologne, 2010) Diploma in Sport Economics (German Sport University Cologne, 2005) Student exchange at Victoria University of Technology (Melbourne, 2004-2005) Studies in Business Administration (Distance Learning University Hagen, Humboldt University Berlin, 1997-2002) His research explores CSR implementation in sports, governance practices, and sustainability challenges in major sporting events. Projects include CSR-Score Card and co-hosting event sustainability analysis , with findings published in journals and anthologies. Recent works address ethical sponsorship strategies and SDG alignment. Notable scientific awards include the EASM Distinguished Service Award (2022) . He serves on editorial boards and academic councils, with over 74 publications and 8 projects. Collaborations span researchers like Sebastian Uhrich, Kirstin Hallmann, and Christoph Breuer. He actively contributes to international sports policy discussions and industry knowledge transfer.

• Infrastructure Planning
• Civil Society in Planning Process
• Mega Infrastructure Projects
• +5 more

Dan Durrant is a Lecturer in Infrastructure Planning at The Bartlett School of Planning, University College London. He has held this position since 2016, with a temporary break from 2019 to 2022 when he was a Humboldt Foundation Fellow at the Integrative Research Institute on Transformations of Human-Environment Systems (IRI THESys) at the Humboldt University in Berlin. His educational background includes: PhD in 'The role of civil society in mega-transport project decision-making: the case of the proposed high-speed rail connection, High Speed Two (HS2)' from University College London (2016) MSc in Spatial Planning from University College London (2011) MA in Community Economic Development from Anglia Ruskin University (2006) BSc(econ) in Social Anthropology from University of Wales, Swansea (1997) Durrant's research focuses on infrastructure planning, the role of civil society in planning processes, mega infrastructure projects, and configuring infrastructural systems for a post-growth future. His work spans housing governance, deliberative democracy in infrastructure management, and the future of the internet. He has conducted comparative research on infrastructure planning and opposition in the UK and Germany. He leads the Post-Growth Planning research cluster examining how planning can adapt to a post-growth economy when economic growth cannot be sufficiently decoupled from ecological impacts. His recent publications reveal a strong trajectory toward post-growth planning frameworks, with numerous articles exploring the relationship between infrastructure systems and economic paradigms. His 2025 work 'What killed HS2?' analyzes political dynamics of major infrastructure, while his 2025 'Planning for Degrowth' series examines urban transitions in shrinking contexts. Much of his research investigates how planning practices might be reconfigured for sustainability beyond traditional growth models. His notable recognition includes: Humboldt Foundation Fellowship at Humboldt University in Berlin (2019-2022) Durrant coordinates three modules in the Infrastructure Planning Appraisal and Development MSc programme: Critical Issues in Infrastructure Funding and Finance, Infrastructure Planning Policy and Consent, and Major Infrastructure Planning Practice. At undergraduate level, he coordinates the 3rd Year Urban Project Management module. His teaching directly reflects his research interests in sustainable infrastructure development and post-growth planning paradigms, emphasizing practical applications of theoretical frameworks. He leads the Post-Growth Planning research cluster at The Bartlett School of Planning, which serves as an interdisciplinary hub examining planning practices beyond traditional growth paradigms. This cluster facilitates collaboration across disciplines to address the ecological and social challenges of transitioning to sustainable urban development models.

Amna ShibeikaView profile

Lecturer

• Housing and Built Environment
• Resilience for Vulnerable Populations
• Sustainable and High-Performance Built Environment
• +3 more

Amna Shibeika is a Lecturer in Construction and Project Management at the University of Reading , where she leads the MSc in Construction Cost Management program. Her research focuses on the intersection of digital innovation in construction , sustainable and resilient built environment for vulnerable populations, and construction management . Previous Role: Assistant Professor at UAE University Qualifications: PhD in Construction Management and Engineering, MSc in Applied Informatics – Construction, BSc in Architecture Her work addresses housing resilience for vulnerable groups, digital transformation in construction via BIM and IoT, and labor market dynamics . She leads the Building Resilience project (2024-2025, ISPF ODA) examining war displacement impacts on Sudanese elderly housing. Key publications span energy retrofitting in UAE, digital trio frameworks (BIM–EIR–IoT), environmental analysis in MMC housing , and Sustainability Assessment challenges in UAE construction. Her research has appeared in Buildings , Applied Sciences , Sustainability , and Archnet-IJAR . Professional affiliations include the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists and the Higher Education Association .

• Urban Land-Use and Transport Planning
• Transport Policy-Making and Sustainable Development
• Mega Transport Infrastructure Planning, Appraisal and Development
• +5 more

Professor Harry Dimitriou is the Bartlett Professor of Planning Studies at University College London (UCL) and Director of the OMEGA Centre, an international research hub focused on mega infrastructure projects funded by the Volvo Research and Educational Foundations (VREF) from 2005 to 2015. He has held numerous leadership roles, including Head of the Bartlett School of Planning (1998–2004), and has advised global institutions such as the World Bank, UN-Habitat, and the European Investment Bank. Education : PhD in Transport and Urban Development (University of Wales, 1990), MSc in Urban Science (University of Birmingham, 1970), Diploma in Town and Regional Planning (Leeds School of Town Planning, 1969) His research focuses on urban land-use/transport planning , mega transport infrastructure appraisal , and institution-building for sustainable development , with emphasis on cities in the Developing World. Recent work explores policy-led multi-criteria analysis for mega projects and infrastructure interdependencies. He contributes to Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education) , 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) , and 13 (Climate Action) through teaching and research.

• Architecture
• Artificial Intelligence
• Machine Learning
• +4 more

Martha Tsigkari serves as an Associate Professor at The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London (UCL), where she bridges architectural practice with cutting-edge computational research. Her position situates her at the forefront of digital transformation in the built environment, with institutional affiliations spanning UCL's Faculty of the Built Environment and direct contributions to UN Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education), 11 (Sustainable Cities), and 13 (Climate Action). Her research program critically examines the integration of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cognitive psychology into architectural design processes. Key investigations include spatial and visual connectivity analysis, XR-enhanced collaborative design environments, and AI-driven optimization of building performance. She explores how digital tools reshape creativity, professional identity, and sustainability outcomes in architecture, with particular focus on data commoditization, skills evolution, and human-AI collaboration in design workflows. Her interdisciplinary approach connects architectural theory with computational neuroscience and industrial digitalization trends. Tsigkari's publication trajectory reveals a clear evolution from computational structural analysis (2012-2017) toward AI ethics and professional transformation (2022-2024). Early work established foundations in performance-driven facades and material systems, while recent output confronts existential questions about architectural practice in the AI era. Her scholarship consistently addresses the tension between technological capability and human-centered design values, with growing emphasis on sustainable development frameworks and educational implications. Scientific Awards: No major awards are documented in the available records. Advising and Grants: While specific supervisees and funding mechanisms aren't detailed in current sources, her extensive collaborative network across 30+ publications indicates active mentorship and research leadership. Co-authorship patterns suggest involvement in multi-institutional projects addressing AECO industry digitalization, with potential ties to UK research councils and industry partnerships like RIBA. Labs and Teams: Tsigkari operates within The Bartlett's digital research ecosystem through recurring collaborations with Kosicki, Tarabishy, and Psarras. Her work manifests in experimental toolsets including Glaucon (XR design environment), HYDRA (optimization framework), and SandBOX (conceptual design system), indicating leadership in UCL's computational design labs focused on human-AI interaction and sustainable building technologies.

Felix SchmidView profile

Professor

• Railway Engineering
• Transportation Systems
• Civil Engineering
• +3 more

Professor Felix Schmid holds the position of Honorary Professor in the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Birmingham. He specializes in railway systems engineering, focusing on train control, signaling, economics, and strategic management. He directs the MSc in Railway Systems Engineering and Integration and has developed short programs for organizations like Bechtel and London Underground. His professional affiliations include memberships in the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Institution of Railway Signalling Engineers, with roles such as Councillor in the Union of European Railway Engineers’ Associations. Education and Qualifications: Dip.El.Ing.ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich) PhD in Civil Engineering Chartered Engineer (CEng) European Railway Engineer (EurailIng) Research interests revolve around railway safety, operational efficiency, and systems integration. His work addresses challenges in mega railway projects, urban rail innovation, and infrastructure resilience. He has contributed to over a dozen peer-reviewed articles on topics such as reliability management, accident analysis, and safety-performance relationships. Prof. Schmid’s academic contributions extend to external examining roles at institutions like the University of East London and Kingston University. He delivers lectures on railway capacity management and straw-bale construction. His professional service includes committee roles at Brunel University and the Union of European Railway Engineers’ Associations. Notable awards include Fellowships from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Institution of Railway Signalling Engineers. His external engagements emphasize promoting railway transport and advancing training facilities in the West Midlands.

David WrightView profile

Associate Professor

• Cultural Policy
• Creative Industries
• Memorialising Popular Culture
• +5 more

David Wright is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies at the Centre for Cultural and Media Policy Studies within the School of Creative Arts, Performance and Visual Cultures at the University of Warwick. He joined Warwick in 2008 and the Centre in 2009 after completing five years of post-doctoral research with the ESRC's Centre for Research into Socio-Cultural Change (CRESC) at the Open University. His PhD from the University of Nottingham in 2004 focused on work in the UK retail book trade. His research spans cultural policy, creative industries, and the memorialization of popular culture, with particular focus on statues and monuments to comedians and musicians. He has contributed significantly to understanding how digital technologies transform cultural policy and the future of creative work. His monograph Celebrity and Public Art: Memorialising Popular Culture is under preparation with Liverpool University Press, following his earlier work Understanding Cultural Taste (2015). Wright has been actively involved in major research projects including the evaluation of Coventry UK City of Culture 2021, special issues of Arts and the Market on Evaluating Cities of Culture, and a UKRI Policy Support Fund project on cultural devolution in the UK. His research often examines the relationship between universities and broader cultural ecosystems. He teaches across MA programs including Global Media and Communication (which he co-founded in 2010), International Cultural Policy and Management, Creative and Media Enterprises, and the BA in Media and Creative Industries. His teaching includes modules on Working in the Cultural and Creative Industries and The Mediated Self. Director of Graduate Studies at Centre for Cultural and Media Policy Studies Co-founded MA in Global Media and Communication (2010) Coordinated Work-in-Progress seminars for PhD students Regular contributor to multiple MA programs at Warwick Wright has received research funding from UKRI's Policy Support Fund and has collaborated with numerous academic and creative sector partners including Culture Commons. His work bridges academic research with practical cultural policy applications, particularly in local and regional contexts.

Jamie SommerView profile

Associate Professor

• Environmental Sociology
• Development Studies
• Political Ecology
• +3 more

Dr. Jamie Sommer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology & Interdisciplinary Social Sciences at the University of South Florida's College of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on how institutional structures, governance, and external factors like multinational corporations and NGOs influence environmental and development outcomes. She holds a Ph.D. from SUNY Stony Brook (2018) and has conducted extensive cross-national studies on forest loss, corruption, and climate policy. Education: Ph.D., State University of New York at Stony Brook, 2018 Her work examines state capacity's role in environmental health, with recent projects analyzing how global trade, governance quality, and gendered resource rights affect forest ecosystems. She collaborates with UN agencies to evaluate climate adaptation programs in developing nations. Key themes in her research include: Environmental governance and policy effectiveness Ecologically unequal exchange Corruption's environmental impacts Gender and environmental citizenship Her 15 most recent articles (2023–2025) reveal a focus on cross-national analyses of forest loss drivers, including tax policies, NGO interventions, and transnational corporate practices. She critiques how global systems perpetuate environmental inequities while advocating for governance reforms to protect ecosystems and marginalized communities. Collaborations include the UNFCCC Gender Division and transnational advocacy networks in Asia. No advising or grant details are explicitly stated in the provided materials.

• Extreme events
• Artificial Intelligence
• Autonomous vehicles
• +7 more

Eva Kassens-Noor is an Adjunct Professor of Transportation, Urban and Regional Planning in the School of Planning, Design, and Construction at Michigan State University, holding a joint appointment with the MSU Global Urban Studies Program (GUSP). She also maintains adjunct appointments in the MSU Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering as well as Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences. Her educational background includes: Diplom-Ingenieur (equivalent to a BA and one year MS) in Business Engineering from Universität Karlsruhe (TH), Germany Master of Science in Transportation from Massachusetts Institute of Technology PhD from Department of Urban Studies and Planning at Massachusetts Institute of Technology Dr. Kassens-Noor's research centers on how people perceive, cope with, and understand extreme events. Her work spans from examining societal transitions toward living with artificial intelligence and autonomous technologies to investigating how transportation systems enable resilience during disasters, pandemics, and hazards. She employs diverse methodologies including grounded theory, interviews, ethnography, online and mail surveys, big data analysis, and content analysis. Her research aims to create livable communities within an autonomous, sustainable, and resilient society where citizens maintain agency over technological impacts. Her publication portfolio reveals a consistent focus on emerging transportation challenges, with emphasis on autonomous vehicles, pandemic resilience, sociomobility, and mega-event planning. These works demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches connecting urban planning, transportation engineering, and social sciences to address complex societal transitions. Notable recognitions include: 2013-2014 MSU Lilly Teaching Fellow 2014 AT&T Faculty Award Competition in Instructional Technology (best blended course) 2021 AT&T Faculty Award for 'Experiencing Autonomous Futures' Dr. Kassens-Noor has secured significant research funding from the National Science Foundation and Michigan Department of Transportation, supporting projects on autonomous vehicles and public transportation systems. She pioneered the 'flipping, moving and tweeting classroom' teaching methodology that emphasizes experiential learning with emerging technologies. Her work extends to developing Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) on mega-event planning, including those focused on the Sochi Winter Games and FIFA World Cup. She actively contributes to several research initiatives including Mega Event Planning, Autonomous Futures, and MSU Mobility, demonstrating commitment to bridging academic research with practical applications in urban planning and transportation systems.

Kudirat AyinlaView profile

Lecturer

• Digital Technology in Construction
• Sustainable Construction Methods
• Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning in AEC
• +3 more

Kudirat Ayinla is a Lecturer in Construction Management and Programme Lead for the BSc (Hons) in Commercial Management and Quantity Surveying at the University of Loughborough. Her research focuses on enhancing construction industry efficiency through digital technologies like AI, BIM, and Digital Twins, with specific emphasis on offsite construction methods and sustainability. Education: BEng, MSc, PhD, PGCert Professional Affiliations: MCIOB, FHEA Key research areas include knowledge-based modeling, AI applications in construction, and circular economy integration in waste management. She leads the British Council UK grant project on Digital Manufacturing and collaborates with the Council for the Heads of the Built Environment on apprenticeship studies. Her recent articles explore TDABC models for offsite manufacturing, AI impacts on costing practices, and BREEAM perceptions in the industry. She actively supervises PhD candidates researching ontology applications and modern construction methods.

Scott WysongView profile

Associate Professor

• Branding
• Customer Service
• Sports Marketing
• +3 more

Scott Wysong is an Associate Professor of Marketing at the Gupta College of Business, University of Dallas. He holds a PhD and MBA from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a BA in Economics from Vanderbilt University. His research focuses on branding, customer service, and sports marketing, with notable work exploring mega-event volunteer satisfaction, brand personality, and environmentally friendly sports venues. He has conducted research for over 100 firms, including economic impact studies for major events like the Taylor Swift '1989' Concert and Garth Brooks concerts. Education: PhD and MBA in Marketing, University of Texas at Arlington BA in Economics, Vanderbilt University His research interests span branding strategies, customer engagement in retail environments, and the intersection of sports events with fan satisfaction and sustainability. Recent work emphasizes innovative teaching methods, such as simulations in business courses to enhance student engagement. Dr. Wysong is an active member of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) since 2002 and has prior experience as Director of Operational Audits for Osteopathic Health System of Texas. His publications highlight trends in experiential learning, sports venue management, and cross-cultural SME financing. Though no formal awards are listed, his contributions to applied marketing research and industry collaborations underscore his scholarly impact. Teaching focuses on foundational marketing principles and capstone consulting projects, emphasizing real-world applicability. Dr. Wysong advises students through courses like MARK 5F50 (Foundation of Marketing) and BUAD 8390 (Capstone Consulting). His research partnerships include economic impact analyses for festivals, sports events, and concerts, demonstrating a commitment to bridging academic research with practical industry needs.

• Architectural history
• Urban history
• Port-city studies
• +5 more

Taishi Watanabe is Associate Professor at Waseda University’s School of Creative Science and Engineering, where he has taught since 2012. Holding a Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of Tokyo, he specializes in architectural and urban history, port-city studies, and design theory, and maintains an active architectural practice. Education: Doctor of Engineering, Department of Architecture, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo (2009-2013) M.S. equivalent, Waseda University Faculty of Science and Engineering (2003-2005) B.S., Waseda University School of Science and Engineering (1999-2003) Research Interests: Watanabe investigates the historical evolution of port cities through their “blue infrastructure,” especially warehouse networks that mediate sea-land interfaces. Comparative studies between Japanese and Finnish National Romanticism, shrinking-population construction methods, and the concept of “cross-over architecture” that transcends functionalist typologies constitute his current theoretical core. Publications & Creative Work: He is author of the monograph Tokyo Coastal Theory (2017) and the exhibition catalogue Unity Architecture (2021), and has designed realized houses such as Morris House and Xover House . His articles trace waterfront transformations in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya, and explore ritual space, parking morphology and Olympic legacy narratives. Awards: Architectural Institute of Japan New Designer Award 2022 Japan Finland Design Association Award 2021 Residential Architecture Gold Award, Tokyo Association of Architects and Building Engineers 2021 Residential Architecture Encouragement Prize 2018 Grants & Projects: He currently leads five competitive grants including JSPS Kakenhi studies on Helsinki port models and Finnish artist colonies, and practical projects on “container gardens” and Okinawa “Murayashi” community networks. Teaching & Service: Watanabe chairs the Architectural Construction History Working Group of the Architectural Institute of Japan, serves on Minato Ward Landscape Council, and teaches design studios from undergraduate to doctoral level every semester.