Find Academic Supervisors

Jonathan HicksView profile

Professor

• Human Dimensions of Wildlife
• Wildlife-Inspired Awe
• Natural Resource Recreation Planning and Management
• +3 more

Dr. Jonathan Hicks serves as Professor and Chair of the Recreation and Parks Leadership Studies department at Minnesota State University, Mankato's College of Allied Health and Nursing. With a Ph.D. and M.S. in Recreation & Park Management from University of Illinois and B.A. in Print Journalism from Western Illinois University, his academic focus bridges environmental education with emotional psychology. Ph.D., Recreation & Park Management, University of Illinois, 2016 M.S., Recreation & Park Management, University of Illinois, 2010 B.A., Print Journalism, Western Illinois University, 2004 His research examines the emotional connections between humans and wildlife, particularly through the lens of awe and its educational applications. Key areas include: Human Dimensions of Wildlife Wildlife-Inspired Awe Natural Resource Recreation Planning Environmental Education Pedagogy Wildland Recreation Management Dr. Hicks' publications reveal a consistent exploration of emotional responses in nature-based recreation, with recent work analyzing tenure challenges at teaching institutions. His awards include commendations for community-driven teaching approaches. Numerous teaching commendations Prior teaching experience includes environmental education settings at University of Illinois, emphasizing experiential learning integration and applied research methodologies.

Jennifer AdamsView profile

Professor

• Racial Equity in STEM Education
• Postsecondary STEM Education
• Qualitative Research
• +4 more

Dr. Jennifer Adams is a Professor at the University of Calgary with dual appointments in the Werklund School of Education and the Faculty of Science’s Department of Chemistry. She holds a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Creativity, Equity, and STEMM. Her work focuses on equity in STEM education, postsecondary faculty education, and transdisciplinary approaches. Dr. Adams earned her PhD in Urban Education from The Graduate Center, CUNY, and has prior roles including Associate Professor at Brooklyn College and leadership in informal science institutions like the American Museum of Natural History. Education: PhD Urban Education (2006), MS Nutrition (1996), MA Education (1995), BA (not specified) Her research emphasizes anti-deficit and justice-oriented pedagogies, with a focus on marginalized communities. Key areas include racial equity in STEM, sociocultural theory, and critical transdisciplinary methods. Dr. Adams leads the Creativity, Equity, and STEM Lab, advancing equity through community-based and arts-infused approaches. She edits academic journals such as the International Journal of Informal Science and Environmental Learning and has collaborated on projects like the Resilient Schools Consortium (RiSC). Recent publications explore belonging in STEM, anti-racist education frameworks, and transdisciplinary methodologies. Her work bridges formal and informal learning environments to address systemic inequities. Dr. Adams actively engages in policy advocacy and community partnerships to foster inclusive STEM ecosystems globally.

Kerstin NilssonView profile

Professor

• Public Health Sciences
• Epidemiology
• Occupational Science
• +6 more

Kerstin Nilsson is a Professor of Public Health Sciences at Kristianstad University , Faculty of Health Sciences, and holds associate professorships in Public Health Epidemiology at Lund University and Work Science at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). Her research focuses on creating healthy workplaces , sustainable working lives , and person-centered healthcare practices . Key Research Areas: Aging workforce, salutogenesis, nature-assisted rehabilitation, pandemic response in healthcare, and sustainable work environments. Leadership: Developer of the SwAge model for sustainable working life across ages. Scientific Contributions: Over 188 publications, with recent projects analyzing nurses' mental health during the pandemic, workplace relationships in healthcare, and nature-based interventions. Collaborates with international networks like the EU COST Action 'DIGI-net' and the Pufendorf Advanced Study Group. Awards: No explicit awards listed, but recognized through leadership roles and interdisciplinary research. Students: Supervises doctoral candidates like Cicilia Nagel and Sophie Schön Persson, focusing on person-centered care and staff well-being. External Affiliation: Associate Professor at Lund University (2007–present) and SLU (until 2007).

April WeiView profile

Assistant Professor

• Computational Genetics
• Population Genetics
• Statistical Genetics
• +10 more

April Wei is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computational Biology at Cornell University, where she leads the Wei Lab in Computational Genetics. Her research focuses on developing scalable computational methods to analyze massive genomic datasets, addressing fundamental questions in evolutionary processes and human genetics. B.Sc. in Biology, Fudan University (2013) Ph.D. in Computational Biology, University of Michigan (2018) Postdoctoral Research at UC Berkeley and UCLA Joined Cornell in January 2022 The Wei Lab explores diverse areas such as population genetics , computational genetics , and natural selection , with applications in human evolution , gene conversion , and complex traits . Their work leverages graph-based data structures and deep learning to improve genomic analysis scalability. April's research trajectory, as reflected in her publications, emphasizes genomic data compression , selective sweep detection , and ancestral recombination graph (ARG) analysis . Her lab's outputs span algorithm development for biobank-scale data, evolutionary modeling of overlapping genes, and statistical frameworks for gene conversion landscapes. April mentors a team of Ph.D. students and postdoctoral researchers, including current advisees Ziqing Pan, Meera Chotai, Jinmin Li, Aditya Girish, and Lin Yuan, with notable alumni such as Siddharth Avadhanam (2023). The lab is supported by NIH and NSF grants. Lab culture prioritizes collaboration , inclusivity , and scientific curiosity , with social activities like lab barbecues, game nights, and group hikes. April is also a passionate fan of Star Wars and water sports.

Sarah EblingView profile

Professor

• Computational Linguistics
• Assistive Technologies
• Sign Language Technologies
• +7 more

Sarah Ebling is a Full Professor of Language, Technology and Accessibility at the University of Zurich's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. She leads the Language, Technology and Accessibility research group within the Institute for Computational Linguistics. Her work focuses on computational linguistics applications for assistive technologies targeting disabilities such as hearing impairments, visual impairments, and cognitive disorders. Key areas include sign language technologies, automatic text simplification, and audio description systems. She directs the large-scale Swiss innovation project 'Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies' (2022-2026, CHF12 million budget) and collaborates on EU H2020 and SNSF Sinergia projects. Education: Holds a doctoral degree (summa cum laude, 2016) from the University of Zurich with research on automatic translation to Swiss German Sign Language. Completed studies in German Linguistics, Computational Linguistics, and English Linguistics at Universities of Zurich and Heidelberg, with research stays in Dublin, Chicago, and Rochester. Research emphasizes multimodal accessibility solutions, including sign language fluency assessment, gesture-based interaction, and AI-driven text adaptation. Current projects explore audio description translation systems (SwissADT), sign language corpus development (SwissSLi), and digital tools for comprehensibility assessment in simplified texts. Her work bridges computational linguistics with ethical considerations in assistive technology deployment. Grants and Leadership: Principal Investigator on major accessibility-focused grants, including the CHF12M Swiss innovation project. Supervises PhD candidates in areas like sign language assessment tools and text simplification algorithms. Active in international collaborations, publishing extensively in computational linguistics and accessibility journals/conferences. Technology Development: Created the 'DigiSpon' benchmark for language sample analysis and developed open-source tools for sign language translation baselines. Her team's innovations include the SignCLIP model connecting text and sign language via contrastive learning, and pose estimation frameworks for sign language recognition.

Kees van VeenView profile

Associate Professor

• Corporate Governance
• Policy Evaluation
• Sustainable Food Systems
• +6 more

Kees van Veen is an Associate Professor at the University of Groningen, affiliated with the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences and the Department of Sociology. His expertise spans Corporate Governance , Policy Evaluation , and Sustainable Food Systems , with significant contributions to International Business & Management and Social Psychology during the pandemic. Education : MSc in Sociology (cum laude) from the University of Groningen. Research Focus : Interdisciplinary work bridging organizational behavior, prosociality, and global health behaviors, leveraging machine learning for cross-national pandemic analysis. His recent publications analyze prosocial behavior , conspiracy beliefs , and lockdown psychology through multi-country longitudinal data, emphasizing UN Sustainable Development Goals . He supervises MSc theses in Business Administration and Sociology and collaborates on open datasets like PsyCorona .

• Science Communication
• Political Communication
• Media Effects
• +12 more

Prof. Dr. Julia Metag is Professor for Communication Science at the Department of Communication, University of Münster, where she heads the chair on 'Forms and Processes of Public Communication.' Her research focuses on political communication, science communication, media effects, and online communication. She is actively involved in major research initiatives such as the 'Hot SciComm Lab' (funded by the Volkswagen Foundation) and 'Global Warming’s Five Germanys,' and has led significant projects including the 'Science Barometer Switzerland.' Julia Metag's research interests include science communication, political communication, media use, public trust in science, science-related populism, climate change communication, and digital media. She investigates how audiences engage with scientific information, the role of visuals and AI in science communication, and the impact of misinformation and conspiracy theories. Her work often employs survey, experimental, and content analysis methods to understand public perceptions and media effects. Her recent publications reflect a strong focus on trust in science, audience segmentation, science literacy in digital environments, and the multimodal nature of science communication. She frequently collaborates with scholars across Europe, particularly with Mike S. Schäfer and other colleagues in Switzerland and Germany. Scientific Awards and Memberships: Member of the Academia Europaea (The Academy of Europe) Member of the German Society for Journalism and Communication Studies (DGPuK) Member of the International Communication Association (ICA) Member of the European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA) Member of the Center for Higher Education and Science Studies (CHESS), University of Zurich Editorial Board Member of Studies in Communication Sciences , Media and Communication , and Environmental Communication Advisory Board Member of the German 'Wissenschaftsbarometer' Julia Metag supervises student theses and leads collaborative research projects, often involving interdisciplinary teams. She has previously held academic positions at the University of Zurich and the University of Fribourg, and her work is widely published in top journals such as Public Understanding of Science , Science Communication , and Communication Research . She is also involved in public engagement through projects like 'Frag Sophie!' and 'Nachgefragt bei Sophie & Co,' which use creative formats to bridge science and society. She leads the 'Hot SciComm Lab,' which investigates science communication in highly contested, multimodal environments shaped by social media, AI, and deepfakes. Her leadership in research networks such as 'Cultures of Compromise' further demonstrates her interdisciplinary reach and academic influence.

Christoph HammannView profile

Researcher

• New Testament Studies
• Pauline Theology
• Lukan Studies
• +7 more

Christoph Hammann is a researcher at the Department of New Testament Studies within the Faculty of Protestant Theology at the University of Münster, working under Professor Eve-Marie Becker's chair since August 2022. He is currently completing his habilitation on "Authority, Power, and Rule in the Lukan Double Work: Exegetical Investigations of Luke's Ascending Christology Against the Background of Greek-Roman Biography, Historiography, and Epic" (2022-present). His research spans multiple interdisciplinary areas at the intersection of biblical studies, ancient philosophy, and cultural history. Hammann's primary interests include Pauline theology and epistolography, the Lukan works in Greco-Roman cultural context, the relationship between natural science and theology in early Christianity, philosophy of the Imperial Period and Late Antiquity, conceptions of history in the New Testament, and the beginnings of Christianity in Rome. His academic background combines classical philology (specializing in Greek studies) with Protestant theology, enabling unique cross-disciplinary approaches to biblical texts. Hammann's publication record reveals a consistent engagement with how early Christian texts interacted with and transformed contemporary Greco-Roman discourses on topics like purity, authority, and cosmology. His work often examines the philosophical and medical contexts of biblical concepts, particularly in relation to heart metaphors, sacrificial practices, and Christological development. DAAD Congress Travel Grant (2023) Publication subsidy for dissertation (2019) PhD Prize from Philipps-Universität Marburg (2019) Multiple international research grants from Evangelisches Studienwerk Villigst (2015-2018) Fondation Hardt research grant (2017) Hammann actively contributes to academic life through teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in New Testament exegesis (including Greek language instruction), organizing conferences such as the upcoming Colloquium Biblicum Lovaniense LXXIV on The Corinthian Letters (2025), and co-editing scholarly volumes like "Opfer in Antiochien" (2023). He serves on multiple academic committees and is a member of several scholarly societies including the Society of Biblical Literature (since 2025) and the Münster School of Ancient Cultures (since 2023). His research group within the Excellence Cluster "Religion and Politics" focuses on ancient cultural contexts of early Christianity, with particular attention to the intersections between biblical texts and Greco-Roman philosophical, medical, and political discourses. Hammann also leads student excursions to Rome to study early Christian sites and Pauline contexts.

Andrew SingletonView profile

Professor

• Sociology of Religion
• Spirituality/New Age
• Youth Religion
• +10 more

Professor Andrew Singleton is a leading sociologist at Deakin University's School of Humanities and Social Sciences , with expertise in religion, spirituality, and social research methodologies. His career spans over two decades at Deakin, where he has held progressively senior roles since 2000. Education: PhD in Sociology from Monash University (2000) Research Interests include: Spirituality in contemporary society New Religious Movements (particularly Spiritualism) Global Christianity and secularisation Quantitative and qualitative methods Research Trends show extensive work on Australian teen spirituality, Holocaust education impacts, marine conservation policy, and historical religious studies. His 2024 article on marine protected areas revealed majority Australian support for expanding ocean protections. Scientific Awards include multiple teaching accolades, though specific prizes aren't listed in the source material. Supervision covers diverse topics like neurodivergent birthing experiences, church hurt recovery, and honor-based violence support. He has taught sociology of religion and methods courses. Grants include Australian Research Council funding for Holocaust education studies ($305k+) and spiritual wellness research ($420k+), plus DFAT Korea Foundation support ($39k).

• Environmental Science
• Environmental Engineering
• Multifunctional Land Use
• +5 more

Henrik Haller is an Associate Professor at Mid Sweden University, affiliated with the Department of Natural Sciences, Design and Sustainable Development (NDH). His work integrates environmental science with practical applications in tropical regions, particularly focusing on land use, soil remediation, and sustainable food systems. Academic Title: Doctor of Philosophy Location: Östersund, Sweden Key Research Areas: Multifunctional land use, bioremediation, agroforestry, and sustainable development in the Global South Haller's research emphasizes transforming environmental challenges into opportunities. His work includes: Bioremediation of heavy-metal-contaminated soils using amaranth plants Urban agriculture potential in Swedish cities Life cycle assessments of cold-weather aquaponic systems Waste valorization strategies for contaminated lignocellulose sediments Universal design approaches to zero-waste communities Industrial symbiosis for local food systems He has ongoing projects in urban farming, wastewater resource recovery, and sustainable behavior transformation. His publications span topics from fungal metal tolerance to policy challenges in environmental governance.

Jacco van OssenbruggenView profile

Professor

• Cultural Heritage
• Digital Libraries
• Ontology Engineering
• +7 more

Prof. Jacco van Ossenbruggen is a Full Professor in Intelligent Information Systems at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), affiliated with the Network Institute. He serves on the Management Board of ODISSEI, a national research infrastructure for social sciences and economics. His academic background includes a PhD in Computer Science (2001) from VU’s Faculty of Science, focusing on hypermedia processing. Research Interests: His work centers on cultural AI, FAIR data principles, ontology engineering, and semantic web technologies. Key areas include inclusive cultural heritage metadata, bias mitigation in AI systems, and knowledge discovery via linked data. Recent projects involve leveraging large language models (LLMs) for metadata enrichment and ontology construction. Key Contributions: He leads initiatives like the Cultural AI Lab, exploring AI applications for cultural heritage. His research bridges technical innovations (e.g., semantic integration of restricted-access data) with societal impacts (e.g., ethical AI frameworks for public-sector applications). Developed frameworks for evaluating entity alignment in knowledge graphs Pioneered FAIR-aligned data management plans for scientific communities Designed tools like Alter Heritage for collaborative metadata curation Grants & Projects: Principal Investigator of the ODISSEI Portal project (2020–2024), advancing open data infrastructures. Active in funding initiatives promoting reproducible research and ethical data practices. Labs/Teams: Cultural AI Lab at VU, focusing on AI-driven solutions for cultural heritage preservation and accessibility.

Katherine JohnsonView profile

Professor

• LGBTQ+ Mental Health
• Transgender Health
• Community Psychology
• +3 more

Katherine Johnson is a Professor and Dean of the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies (GUSS) at RMIT University. Her academic leadership spans roles such as Executive Dean, Research Centre Director, and Associate Dean in Australia and the UK. Her research focuses on LGBTQ+ mental health, transgender health, and participatory methods, with a commitment to social equity and environmental justice. She has led projects funded by Horizon 2020/NHMRC, ARC, and VicHealth, and her work bridges policy, practice, and community impact. Awards include the RMIT Vice Chancellor Leadership Award for Inclusion (2024) and the Vice Chancellor Research Impact and Engagement Award (2024). Research Interests: Her interdisciplinary work addresses LGBTQ+ suicide prevention, early mental health interventions for youth, and transformative policy. Key areas include participatory action research, psychosocial interventions, and global collaborations in Europe, Mexico, and the UK. She emphasizes creative and inclusive methodologies to foster social change. Professional Experience: Prior to RMIT, she directed the Centre for Transforming Sexuality and Gender at the University of Brighton. She has held visiting fellowships at institutions like the University of Sydney, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and Universidade Federal de São Paulo. Her industry engagement includes advisory roles with LGBTQ+ organizations and mental health advocacy. Awards & Recognition: RMIT Vice Chancellor Leadership Award for Inclusion (2024) Vice Chancellor Research Impact and Engagement Award (Open) (2024) Grants & Funding: Projects are supported by Horizon 2020/NHMRC, ARC, VicHealth, and international partnerships. Her research often addresses global challenges like LGBTQ+ youth mental health and transgender health equity. Teaching & Supervision: Open to supervising PhD and Masters students in areas such as LGBTQ+ health, participatory methods, and social policy. She champions inclusive pedagogies and transformative student experiences.

• Easy Language Research
• Plain Language Translation
• Accessible Communication
• +6 more

Dr. Silvana Deilen is a Researcher at the Institute for Translation Studies & Technical Communication within the Faculty of Language and Information Sciences at the University of Hildesheim. She joined the university in 2023 after working as a Research Associate at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz from 2018-2024. Her primary research focus centers on accessible communication, particularly in the areas of Easy Language and Plain Language translation, with special emphasis on cognitive aspects of translation processes and AI-assisted translation technologies. Dr. Deilen earned her B.A. in Multilingual Communication from Cologne University of Applied Sciences (2012-2015), followed by an M.A. in Specialized Translation from the same institution (2015-2018). She completed her doctoral studies (Dr. phil.) in Translation Studies at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (2018-2021) with summa cum laude distinction, supervised by Prof. Dr. Silvia Hansen-Schirra and Prof. Dr. Arne Nagels. Her research interests span multiple interconnected domains within translation and communication accessibility. A significant portion of her work examines the cognitive processing of compound words in Easy Language, utilizing eye-tracking methodologies to investigate how visual segmentation affects reading behavior and cognitive load. She has pioneered research on AI-assisted translation for health communication, particularly focusing on how large language models can support the creation of accessible health information. Her work bridges theoretical translation studies with practical applications in healthcare, government communication, and digital accessibility. Dr. Deilen's publication record reveals a clear trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated integration of technology and accessibility. Her recent work shows strong emphasis on evaluating AI systems like ChatGPT for translation tasks, developing editorial workflows for AI-assisted translation of health information, and investigating cognitive aspects of compound translation. The interdisciplinary nature of her research connects linguistics, cognitive science, health communication, and artificial intelligence, demonstrating how translation studies can address real-world accessibility challenges. 2014 & 2016: PROMOS Scholarships 2018-2021: Doctoral Scholarship from Gutenberg Young Researchers College 2020: Best Student Paper Award at Swiss Conference on Barrier-free Communication 2023: Award for Outstanding Dissertation from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz 2023: Multiple research grants from University of Hildesheim, Wort & Bild Verlag, and Niedersachsen Zukunftsdiskurse 2025: DAAD Postdoctoral Research Grant Dr. Deilen actively collaborates on significant research projects including the KI-GesKom project (AI-Supported Health Communication in Plain Language), which receives funding from the state of Niedersachsen. She works closely with Prof. Dr. Ekaterina Lapshinova-Koltunski, Prof. Dr. Christiane Maaß, and Sergio Hernández Garrido as part of the Research Center for Easy Language. Her work with the Apotheken Umschau demonstrates practical application of research, translating health information into accessible formats for people with communication limitations. Dr. Deilen also contributes to the academic community as a program chair and scientific committee member for international conferences including UCCTS 2025 and Translation in Transition 2024.

Keunhyun ParkView profile

Assistant Professor

• Urban Forestry
• Environmental Justice
• Human Behavior in Public Space
• +4 more

Keunhyun (Keun) Park is an Assistant Professor of Urban Forestry at the University of British Columbia (UBC), affiliated with the Department of Forest Resources Management . He also holds an Adjunct Professor position at Utah State University in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning. Education: BSc and MSc in Landscape Architecture from Seoul National University; PhD in Urban Planning and Design from the University of Utah Research Lab: Faculty lead of the Urban Nature Design Research Lab ( under_lab ) His research focuses on designing healthy, just, and resilient cities through urban nature , with particular emphasis on: Environmental justice and equitable access to urban green spaces Human behavior in public spaces using drone/sensor/VR technology Smart growth urban design impacts on public health and ecological systems Recent publications demonstrate expertise in GIS applications , pedestrian behavior analysis , and urban planning across 20+ studies from 2013-2025. Collaborations include the Vancouver Park Board , Metro Vancouver , and Wasatch Front Regional Council .

• Internet Engineering
• Computer Security
• Applied Cryptography
• +7 more

Althaff Irfan Cader Mohideen is a Lecturer at the School of Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences. His research focuses on Internet engineering, computer security, and applied cryptography, with expertise in security protocols, authentication mechanisms, and trust management. He has contributed to interdisciplinary projects such as the NEAT Horizon2020 initiative and the SMILE project funded by Thales Alenia Space. His work includes developing network access methodologies for rural broadband, optimizing web performance via satellite, and exploring IoT security challenges. Mohideen holds a PhD in authentication mechanisms for e-assessments and collaborated on the award-winning 'Intelligent Keyboard' project. He currently serves as an External Examiner at Staffordshire University and advocates for multidisciplinary collaboration. Research Areas: IoT Security, Network Protocols, Authentication Mechanisms, Trust Management Key Projects: NEAT (Web Performance), SMILE (Streaming Optimization), Rural WiFi Deployment His research emphasizes practical solutions grounded in formal analysis, balancing theoretical rigor and real-world applicability. He actively seeks collaborations across academia and industry, particularly in securing constrained IoT devices and improving trust-based access control systems. Awards: Queen’s Award (2011), Recognition from Google’s 'Making the web Faster' Community Mohideen’s future work targets IoT authentication protocols, trust management in distributed systems, and scalable security solutions for constrained devices. He is committed to advancing sustainable development goals through secure, accessible digital infrastructure.