Paul S. Rosenbloom is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Southern California , with affiliations at the Institute for Creative Technologies . His work focuses on cognitive architectures , particularly the development of the Sigma architecture and contributions to the Common Model of Cognition . He has pioneered the integration of symbolic, probabilistic, and neural systems in AI research. Research Interests: Dr. Rosenbloom's research spans hybrid symbol systems , neural-symbolic integration , and the evolution of computational models of cognition . His recent work rethinks the Physical Symbol Systems Hypothesis through hybrid systems that bridge symbolic AI and neural networks, addressing challenges in universality , compositional reasoning , and cognitive modeling . Scientific Awards: 2011 Kurzweil Award for Best AGI Idea 2012 Kurzweil Award for Best AGI Paper 2023 Springer Prize for Best Paper Publications and Contributions: He has authored over 150 publications and co-authored foundational works on the Common Model of Cognition with Laird, Lebiere, and Stocco. His research has been supported by grants from the U.S. Army RDECOM and USC's Institute for Creative Technologies. He has mentored numerous collaborators and co-authors, including researchers like V. Ustun , A. Demski , and H. Joshi , in projects spanning virtual humans , reinforcement learning , and distributed vector representations .
Cornelia Lawson is a Professor at the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research (MIOIR) within the Alliance Manchester Business School. She leads the Innovation, Strategy and Sustainability group and has previously served as Programme Director for the MSc Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship. Her academic career includes roles as a Prize Fellow at the University of Bath and a JSPS post-doctoral fellow at the University of Tokyo. Education: Ph.D. in Economics, City University of London PGCert in Japanese Studies, Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen Fellow of The Higher Education Academy Research Interests: Her work focuses on researcher performance, inter-organisational collaboration, and knowledge transfer. Current projects address open innovation in science, gender diversity, AI's impact on research, and doctoral graduate contributions to innovation. Key themes include science policy, academic career pathways, and STEM migration dynamics. Funded Projects: Innovations in the Lab: Leveraging Transformations in Science (2023-2026, University of Manchester) DOCTRACK & UK Doctoral Graduate's Contribution to Innovation (2024-2025, EPO & IRC) IMSO4DIPLO: Inclusive Metascience Observatories for Science Diplomacy (2024-2026, ESRC) Awards: Prize Fellow (University of Bath), Higher Education Academy Fellow, and ESRC Peer Review College member. External Roles: Research Associate at Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung (ZEW), Visiting Senior Researcher at University of Tokyo Institute for Future Initiatives, and International Affiliated Fellow at National Institute of Science and Technology Policy.
Michael Carter is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University, within the Faculty of Science. His research focuses on motor learning, sensorimotor neuroscience, and metascience, particularly examining how decision-making, practice factors, and aging influence skilled action control. He leads the Action, Cognition, and Metascience Lab, which conducts interdisciplinary studies on motor skill acquisition and critiques research practices in kinesiology. Education: PhD in Human Kinetics (University of Ottawa, 2016), MSc and BPhEd from Brock University (2011 and 2008), with a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Queen's University (2016–2017). Teaching: Teaches courses such as Motor Control and Learning (KINESIOL 1E03), Statistical Methods in Kinesiology (KINESIOL 701), and Neurorehabilitation and Robotics (KINESIOL 4TT3). Instructs advanced topics including Scientific Computing for Sensorimotor Neuroscience (KINESIOL 736) and Directed Readings. Research Interests: Investigates how autonomy, feedback schedules, and metascience address biases in motor learning research. Studies include effects of self-controlled practice, external focus of attention, and reproducibility in motor behavior experiments. Awards: No specific awards listed, though his work has been widely cited (e.g., over 61 readers on Mendeley for key papers). Labs/Teams: Leads the Action, Cognition, and Metascience Lab, collaborating on projects like metascience critiques and neural mechanisms of motor control in healthy and clinical populations.
Professor Konstantinos Katsikopoulos is a Professor of Behavioural Science at the University of Southampton. His work integrates behavioral science with analytical methodologies to address decision-making under radical uncertainty. He leads research on transparent AI models, simple heuristics, and behavioral operations, with applications in security, finance, and public health. His group has developed tools for critical challenges such as threat detection in Afghanistan, UK banking regulation, and influenza prediction surpassing big data approaches. He holds editorial roles at journals including Journal of Mathematical Psychology and Perspectives on Psychological Science , chairs The OR Society's Behavioral OR group, and co-organizes interdisciplinary Winter Schools on Bounded Rationality. Funded by NASA, German Science Foundation, and EU Horizon Europe, his research spans decision theory, cognitive operations, and metascience. He is author of Classification in the Wild and a forthcoming Palgrave book on cognitive operations. Teaching includes Behavioral Operations, Management Analysis, and postgraduate research methods. Awards include the US Psychonomics Society Fellowship and multiple best paper awards. His current projects emphasize transparent decision models, disaster risk communication, and heuristic applications in healthcare and climate policy.
Greg McKelvey, Jr. is a Senior Physician Policy Researcher at the RAND Corporation and Professor of Policy Analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy. His work bridges medicine, technology, and national security, focusing on AI ethics, pandemic response, and biosecurity risks. He holds an MD from Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine and an MPH from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Education: MD, Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine MPH, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health His research emphasizes AI-driven threats to biosecurity, including dual-use risks in synthetic biology and large language models. He advocates for proactive policies to mitigate catastrophic risks posed by emerging technologies. Recent work includes benchmarking AI systems' biological knowledge and strategies to prevent AI-enabled bioweapon development. Awards: None explicitly listed. Advising & Grants: Not detailed in text, but includes federal roles like Assistant Director for Biosecurity at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and leadership in the Federal COVID-19 response through the U.S. Digital Service. Labs/Teams: Collaborates across government, academia, and tech startups, focusing on strategic decision support systems and biosurveillance platforms.
Martie Haselton is a Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), within the College of Letters & Science. Her research focuses on evolutionary psychology, particularly how evolutionary mechanisms shape social and mating behaviors. She explores topics such as women’s fertility-related decision-making, ovulation cues detectable by others, and hormonal influences on behavior. Dr. Haselton holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin (2006), an M.A. from the College of William & Mary (2001), and a B.A. from the University of San Diego (1998). Her work challenges assumptions about concealed ovulation in humans and examines implications for attraction dynamics, relationship stability, and maternal mental health. Her research interests include intimate relationships, mating strategies, social endocrinology, and cognitive biases. Key projects include studies on ovulation cues (e.g., clothing choices, vocal pitch changes), postpartum hormonal effects on maternal well-being, and the evolutionary basis of political beliefs and social status signaling. Recent work also addresses pandemic-related behavioral adaptations and methodological innovations in psychological science. Dr. Haselton’s lab at UCLA conducts interdisciplinary research, integrating behavioral experiments, hormonal analyses, and computational modeling. She collaborates with scholars in biology, computer science, and public health to advance evolutionary perspectives on human behavior.
Giosuè Baggio is a Professor of Psycholinguistics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), affiliated with the Department of Language and Literature within the Faculty of Humanities. His research focuses on cognitive science, neurolinguistics, and the neural mechanisms underlying language processing, including semantics, syntax, and compositionality. He is the author of influential works such as Meaning in the Brain and Neurolinguistics , published by MIT Press. Baggio teaches courses such as Language and Cognition , Semantics and Pragmatics , and Research Methods in Linguistics . His work bridges experimental psychology, neuroscience, and computational models, with a particular interest in how language is represented in the brain and the implications for artificial intelligence. He actively engages in science communication, contributing to media outlets like Nature , The Guardian , and Norwegian public radio (NRK), discussing topics ranging from AI ethics to university policies. His research has explored the cultural transmission of symbolic systems, the neural basis of deductive reasoning, and the role of computational complexity in quantifier processing. Baggio is a vocal advocate for rigorous scientific methodology, emphasizing preregistration and theory development. He collaborates internationally, including roles at the Embodied Cognitive Science Unit (OIST, Okinawa) and the Sydney Music, Mind, and Body Lab. His recent work includes organizing conferences like the 2025 Linguistic Association of Finland Symposium on 'Meaning in Language, Machines, and Humans.'
Dr. Martin Kerwer is a Researcher and Manager of the KLARpsy service at the Leibniz Institute for Psychology Information (ZPID) since 2023. He oversees initiatives to translate psychological evidence into accessible formats, such as plain language summaries for meta-analyses. His role includes managing the KLARpsy platform and guiding projects like PLan Psy, DDP-Bildung, and DataWiz. With a PhD in Psychology (Dr. rer. nat.) from Trier University (2021), his work bridges academic research and public understanding of science. Education: PhD in Psychology (Dr. rer. nat.) from Trier University, Germany (2021) Research Interests: Science Communication: Developing guidelines for accessible research summaries Epistemic Beliefs: Exploring how individuals perceive and trust scientific evidence Data Management: Creating standards for psychological research data handling Key Contributions: Co-developed KLARpsy guidelines for German-language plain language summaries of meta-analyses Conducted randomized controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of plain language summaries Authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications on science communication and epistemic cognition Grants & Projects: Third-party funded projects at ZPID include work on data management plans and science literacy initiatives Collaborated with institutions like the Swiss Society of Early Childhood Research and the German Psychological Society (DGPs) Labs/Teams: Active in ZPID's Science Reception Lab and Metascience Lab, focusing on improving research communication and science policy.
Megan Peters is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Irvine, with appointments in both the Department of Cognitive Sciences and the Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science within the School of Social Sciences. She serves as president and co-founder of Neuromatch.io and is a Fellow in the Brain, Mind & Consciousness program at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR). Her research focuses on the intersection of perception, metacognition, and subjective experience, employing methodologies including fMRI, computational modeling, and artificial intelligence. Peters investigates how humans form metacognitive judgments about their perceptions and decisions, examining the neural and computational mechanisms underlying confidence, uncertainty, and conscious awareness. Her work spans theoretical frameworks in philosophy of science to practical applications in neuroscience methods. Peters' recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on metacognitive processes across various domains, with particular attention to how uncertainty is represented in the brain and communicated through behavior. Her research integrates computational neuroscience with philosophical approaches to consciousness and perception, creating a unique interdisciplinary perspective. She has made significant contributions to understanding the representational geometry of psychological spaces, the dynamics of perceptual decision-making, and the development of novel methods for analyzing neural data. Fellow, CIFAR Brain Mind & Consciousness Program As co-founder and president of Neuromatch.io, Peters has created a global platform for computational neuroscience education that has democratized access to advanced training. Her leadership in organizing large-scale virtual conferences has demonstrated innovative approaches to scientific collaboration across geographical boundaries. Through her work with Neuromatch, she has mentored numerous students and early-career researchers in computational neuroscience methods. Peters maintains active involvement in the consciousness science community, regularly participating in and organizing events such as the Metacognitive Science Satellite meeting and CCN (Cognitive Computational Neuroscience) conferences. Her research laboratory investigates fundamental questions about how the brain generates subjective experiences and metacognitive awareness, with implications for both theoretical understanding and potential clinical applications.
Paul Smaldino is a Professor of Cognitive & Information Sciences and faculty in the Quantitative and Systems Biology graduate program at UC Merced. He holds additional affiliations with the Center for Analytic Political Engagement and the Center for Interdisciplinary Neuroscience at UC Merced, and serves as an External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute. His academic work bridges multiple disciplines through mathematical and computational approaches to understanding social phenomena. Smaldino's research focuses on social and cultural evolution, networks, mathematical and computational models of social behavior, and metascience. His current projects investigate the emergence of identity signaling strategies, the role of identity in social learning, socioecological influences on personality development, the role of diversity in innovation, the cultural evolution of analogies, and the population dynamics of scientific norms. His work consistently applies formal modeling approaches to explore how behaviors emerge and evolve under social, cultural, and ecological pressures. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward interdisciplinary research that integrates game theory, network science, and cultural evolution. The articles demonstrate increasing attention to metascientific questions about how scientific communities function, alongside continued work on identity signaling, social learning dynamics, and the evolution of cultural norms. Many papers employ agent-based modeling and mathematical approaches to explore complex social phenomena across multiple scales. Smaldino is the author of the textbook Modeling Social Behavior: Mathematical and Agent-Based Models of Social Dynamics and Cultural Evolution published by Princeton University Press in Fall 2023, which has been translated into Japanese by University of Tokyo Press. His work on identity signaling, social learning, and cultural evolution has established him as a leading researcher applying formal modeling approaches to social science questions.
Markus Huff serves as a Full Professor of Applied Cognitive Psychology and head of the Applied Cognitive Psychology group at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen since 2020. He concurrently leads the Perception and Action research group at the Leibniz Institute for Knowledge Media (IWM). His research program investigates perception and action processes within digital environments through a perception-oriented framework that examines how media-mediated content influences human cognition and behavior. Dr. Huff earned his academic foundation in psychology, mathematics, and computer science at the University of Tübingen. Following his psychology degree, he completed his doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.) at the IWM and University of Tübingen with groundbreaking research on verbal influence on visual memory, which earned him the prestigious Leibniz Young Researcher Award in 2007. His academic trajectory includes postdoctoral positions at IWM, University of Tübingen, and Washington University in St. Louis, followed by a junior professorship in general psychology at Tübingen before heading the Department of Research Infrastructures at the German Institute for Adult Education. Professor Huff's research spans four primary interconnected domains. His Multimodal Perception research investigates how humans process and mentally organize media content across various formats including texts, images, comics, and videos. The Perception and Interaction in Social Networks focus examines the complex interplay between attitudes, knowledge, and metacognition during information reception and social interaction in digital spaces. His work on Perception and Action with Digital Agents explores human-AI communication dynamics, while his research on Risk Perception of Artificial Intelligence addresses the psychological dimensions of human responses to emerging digital technologies. Additionally, he conducts significant metascientific research examining policy effectiveness in the research process, with notable findings on research data policies. Analysis of Professor Huff's recent publication record reveals a clear trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated investigations at the intersection of cognitive psychology and digital technology. His work demonstrates methodological rigor across visual perception, audio-visual integration, event comprehension, and the cognitive impacts of digital environments. A particularly noteworthy trend is his expanding focus on AI-related perception and risk assessment, reflecting the growing importance of human-AI interaction in contemporary cognitive science. His research consistently bridges theoretical cognitive frameworks with practical applications in educational technology, health communication, and digital media design. Leibniz Young Researcher Award by the Leibniz Association (2007) Professor Huff directs a multidisciplinary research group comprising members from both the Applied Cognitive Psychology group at the University's Department of Psychology and the Perception and Action group at the Leibniz Institute for Knowledge Media. His research program has secured substantial funding, evidenced by his prolific publication record in high-impact journals spanning psychology, cognitive science, human-computer interaction, and educational technology. His grant portfolio reflects strong interest in understanding human cognition in digital contexts, with particular emphasis on educational applications, health communication, and human-AI interaction. His laboratory work employs advanced experimental methodologies including eye-tracking, behavioral experiments, and computational modeling to investigate how people process information across various media formats and interact with increasingly sophisticated digital agents. The research environment fosters collaboration between cognitive psychologists, computer scientists, and educational researchers, creating a rich interdisciplinary context for advancing understanding of human perception and action in our rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Chaoqun Ni is an Assistant Professor at the Information School (iSchool) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and co-director of the Metascience Research Lab. She is affiliated with the Data Science Institute, Holtz Center for Science & Technology Studies, and the Center for Demography of Health and Aging (CDHA). Her research focuses on the Science of Science, Science Policy, and Scholarly Data Analytics, using large-scale data to inform science policy and understand academic practices. She holds a Ph.D. in Information Science (minor in Statistics) from Indiana University Bloomington, and M.S. and B.S. degrees in Information Systems from Wuhan University. Her work examines gender disparities in academia, academic workforce dynamics, and interdisciplinary research barriers. She teaches courses in database management, data visualization, and research methods. Ni recently secured an NSF grant to study HBCU faculty mobility and retention and mentors Ph.D. students interested in metascience, science policy, and data science. Her lab, the Metascience Research Lab, explores transformative questions about the scientific enterprise and its societal impacts. Key research themes include peer review systems, academic career trajectories, and the role of parenthood in gender gaps in academia. Her interdisciplinary approach combines bibliometrics, statistical analysis, and computational methods to address challenges in science policy and scholarly communication.
Dr. Alex McIntyre is a Lecturer at Edinburgh Napier University's School of Applied Sciences, affiliated with the Psychology Research Group and the Centre for Mind and Creativity. His research focuses on applied cognition and forensic psychology, particularly in facial recognition systems, eyewitness identification, and cognitive biases. He has contributed to the development of forensic facial composite technologies like EvoFIT, aiming to enhance accuracy in criminal investigations. McIntyre has supervised doctoral students such as Estella Monroe (current) and Phyllis Laybourn (past), exploring topics like executive functioning in inter-partner violence and jury decision-making processes. His work includes formal evaluations of facial composite systems for law enforcement, funded by the Scottish Institute for Policing Research. Key projects include improving face matching through caricature and holistic dimensions. McIntyre has presented at international conferences, including The Gathering (DLTE), and published in journals like Law and Human Behavior and Perception . His research bridges cognitive psychology with practical applications in criminal justice and forensic science.
Dr. Tanja Burgard is a Senior Researcher in Psychological Metascience at the Leibniz Institute for Psychology Information (ZPID). She has been at ZPID since 2017 and served as acting head of the Research Synthesis department from 2021 to 2024. Burgard holds a PhD in Empirical Social Research (Dr. rer. pol.) from Trier University (2021). Her work focuses on meta-analytic methods, research synthesis, and open science practices, particularly through platforms like PsychOpen CAMA. She has contributed to developing guidelines for accessible meta-analysis summaries and tools to streamline systematic reviews using machine learning. Education: PhD in Empirical Social Research (Dr. rer. pol.), Trier University (2021) Key Roles: Senior Researcher in Psychological Metascience, Acting Head of Research Synthesis Department (2021–2024) Research Interests: Her research emphasizes improving the rigor, transparency, and accessibility of psychological research through meta-analyses, community-augmented methods, and open science initiatives. She explores topics like response rates in surveys, panel conditioning effects, and cumulative evidence synthesis. Publications: Burgard has authored/co-authored over 20 peer-reviewed articles on meta-analytic methods, open science infrastructure, and psychological methodology. Her work bridges theoretical advancements with practical tools for researchers. Labs/Teams: Member of the Psychological Metascience Lab and ForSynData project, advancing FAIR data standards for research synthesis.
Kaylin Ratner is an Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, affiliated with both the College of Education and the Department of Educational Psychology. Her research focuses on adolescents' and emerging adults' identity development, mental health, and purpose in life. She holds a Ph.D. in Human Development from Cornell University and a B.S. in Psychology (Honors) from the University of Central Florida. Dr. Ratner’s work examines how psychosocial processes like identity, purpose, and derailment intersect with mental health and educational experiences. Her studies explore how school transitions, out-of-school programs (e.g., GripTape), and supportive environments influence psychosocial development. She directs the Self and Psychological Well-being (SAP) Lab, which translates research into practical interventions. Her professional roles include co-chair of the Identity Issues Topic Network (Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood) and a CoE Public Engagement Faculty Fellow (2023-24). She collaborates with organizations like 4-H and GripTape to foster youth purpose and self-direction. Key research themes include derailment (sense of being off-course in life), its links to depression, and the role of educational contexts in shaping identity. Her work bridges developmental theory with applied research to improve youth well-being.
