Gary W. Reinbold is an Associate Professor in the School of Public Management and Policy at the University of Illinois System. He specializes in U.S. social policy research, program evaluation, and international poverty/development studies. His work frequently appears in peer-reviewed journals and media outlets. As Director of the Center for Moderate Social Policy, he provides balanced policy analysis on social issues. Prior to academia, he practiced law at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and international law firm Mayer Brown. Reinbold holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy from Harvard University, a J.D. from the University of Michigan, a M.A. in Early Childhood Education from Concordia University Chicago, and a B.S. in Mathematics from Michigan Technological University. His research focuses on Medicaid/CHIP policy impacts, child health outcomes, poverty measurement, and pandemic policy effects. He combines quantitative methods with policy analysis to address socioeconomic disparities. Over 13 publications since 2010 demonstrate sustained engagement with public health, education policy, and international development challenges. Reinbold teaches statistics, program evaluation, and U.S. social policy courses. His advisory role at the Center emphasizes nonpartisan analysis of social policies, bridging academic research and practical governance strategies.
Xavier Irz is a Professor at the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Department of Economics and Management. His research focuses on sustainable diets, environmental economics, and policy analysis, particularly addressing climate impacts of food systems. He has led projects such as the EU-funded 'Water & Food Futures' and 'Blue Food Sustainability.' Key areas include optimizing diets for reduced carbon footprints, evaluating carbon taxes on food, and analyzing socio-demographic equity in dietary transitions. Education: PhD in Agricultural Economics (not explicitly stated but implied by academic rank) Research interests span food policy, agricultural innovation, and the intersection of health and environmental sustainability. He collaborates internationally on projects like the European carbon tax simulations and forest genetics economics. Advises doctoral students in the Sustainable Use of Renewable Resources program. Active in policy-oriented research, publishing in journals like European Journal of Nutrition and Public Health Nutrition .
Dr. Kimberly More is a Lecturer in the Department for Health at the University of Bath, affiliated with the Centre for Motivation and Behaviour Change. Her research focuses on the biopsychosocial model of health, emphasizing translational research to address behavioral intentions and maintenance of health-promoting behaviors, particularly in deprived communities. She holds a Doctor of Social Science from Iowa State University (2020) and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia Okanagan (2014). Her work intersects Social and Health Psychology, examining factors like habits, identity, and community resources to promote health behaviors. She has secured over £2.7 million in funding, including a Royal Society of Edinburgh Personal Research Fellowship and UKRI grants. Key projects include participatory approaches addressing health disparities and habit-based interventions for diet and exercise. Recent articles explore topics such as self-regulation strategies in complex behaviors, neighborhood social cohesion’s impact on health outcomes, and workplace unethical behavior determinants. Awards include the Research Excellence Award (2019) and Teaching Excellence Award (2020). Her activities include invited talks at institutions like the European Health Psychology Society and presentations at conferences such as the Society of Behavioral Medicine. She collaborates on projects like the Realities in Health Disparities initiative (2024–2027) and the health and care futures in predictive medicine (2023–2024).
Michele Donati is an Associate Professor at the Department of Chemical, Life and Environmental Sustainability Sciences, University of Parma. With expertise in agricultural economics and agro-environmental policy, he specializes in quantitative analysis using mathematical programming models and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for evaluating sustainability in food systems. His teaching includes courses in Environmental Economics and Economic Modeling, and he leads research on CAP reforms and bio-economic modeling. Education: PhD in Agri-food Economics (2001–2003), Master in Environment and Natural Resource Economics (1999–2000), Degree in Economics (1992–1998) Research: Focuses on CAP policy evaluation, sustainable agri-food supply chains, bio-economic modeling, and greening strategies. Projects include Horizon2020's Strength2Food and EUROTOOLS. Teaching: Environmental Economics (2009–present), Economic Modeling (2008–present), and Rural Development (2011–2012). Awards: Received the 2016 European Association of Agricultural Economists Publication Award for policy contribution.
Paul Gertler is a Professor of Economic Analysis and Policy at the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, and a Network Member of the Early Childhood Interventions (ECI) network. His work bridges economics with human development to address critical policy challenges in low and middle-income countries, focusing on rigorous impact evaluation methodologies. Gertler's research spans development economics, health economics, and behavioral economics, with emphasis on early childhood interventions, public health systems, and financial inclusion. He employs randomized controlled trials and natural experiments to evaluate programs in nutrition, education, infrastructure, and healthcare delivery. Key contributions include longitudinal studies on early stimulation effects, analyses of pension impacts on well-being, and innovations in digital finance for the poor. His recent publications (2022-2024) demonstrate consistent focus on causal mechanisms in development contexts, including digital collateral systems, road infrastructure economics, water utility financing, and long-term nutritional impacts. A unifying thread is the application of experimental methods to generate policy-relevant evidence for improving lives in resource-constrained settings across Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
Sarah Halpern-Meekin is the Vaughan Bascom Professor of Women, Family and Community, and Professor of Human Development & Family Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s School of Human Ecology. She holds affiliations with the La Follette School of Public Affairs, Department of Sociology, and multiple research centers including the Institute for Research on Poverty. Her research focuses on low-income families, romantic relationships, and government policies, with a particular emphasis on unconditional cash transfers and social poverty. Halpern-Meekin’s educational background includes a PhD in Sociology and Social Policy from Harvard University, a BA in Politics from Brandeis University, and a postdoctoral fellowship at Bowling Green State University. Her work bridges qualitative and quantitative methods, examining topics like labor force participation gaps among men, the impact of cash transfers on families, and the role of relationship instability in child well-being. Her research highlights themes such as the psychological and material effects of economic policies, the resilience of marginalized populations, and the interplay between individual agency and structural inequities. Notable projects include the Baby’s First Years Study, which investigates long-term impacts of cash transfers on child development. Halpern-Meekin has contributed to policy debates through media engagements, including discussions on pandemic-era poverty and the design of effective social safety nets. Her work underscores the importance of both financial and social resources in alleviating poverty and fostering family stability.
Ranaivo Rasolofoson is an Assistant Professor at the School of the Environment , University of Toronto. His interdisciplinary research spans environmental economics, ecology, public health, and policy, addressing global challenges at the intersection of human health, development, and environmental sustainability. He has collaborated with organizations like the World Bank, WWF, USAID, and Save the Children. Education: PhD in Environmental & Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen PhD in Forestry, Bangor University MSc in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology, University of Maryland BSc in Wildlife Biology, University of Antananarivo Rasolofoson's research integrates social sciences, economics, and ecology to study: Causal inference in conservation Community-based natural resource management Environmental health impacts Climate change adaptation Human-wildlife interactions Nature-based solutions for development His recent work focuses on environmental resilience to extreme weather events and integrating conservation with nutrition programs in low-income countries. He has published in top journals including Science Advances , Nature Communications , and Lancet Planetary Health . Key Collaborators: Trisha Ricketts, B. Fisher, C. Golden, A. Jacob, K. Johnson
Prabhat Barnwal is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at Michigan State University's College of Social Science. His research focuses on development economics, energy and environment, and public economics, with particular emphasis on improving public programs in developing countries, understanding the impact of modern agricultural technologies, and assessing environmental information's role in household decision-making. Dr. Barnwal's educational background includes: Ph.D. in Sustainable Development from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University (2010-2015) M.A. from the International University of Japan Bachelor's degree from the National Institute of Technology - Surat, India His research employs experimental and quasi-experimental methodologies to address critical questions in economic development and environmental economics. Dr. Barnwal's work spans multiple dimensions of development challenges, with a strong focus on energy transition, environmental risk mitigation, and public program efficiency in low-income settings. His research often combines field experiments with rigorous econometric analysis to provide evidence-based policy recommendations. A significant portion of his work examines energy transition challenges in developing countries, particularly India, analyzing subsidy design, electrification sustainability, and the efficiency of energy programs. His environmental research focuses on localized environmental risks, particularly water quality issues and household responses to environmental information. His development economics work investigates welfare delivery systems, bureaucratic incentives, and the impact of agricultural technologies on human welfare. Dr. Barnwal has received recognition for his research, including: Global Drinking Water Best Paper Award 2020 from TU Delft His research has been published in top economics journals including the American Economic Review, Review of Economics and Statistics, Journal of Development Economics, Journal of Health Economics, and JAMA Network Open. His work often involves collaborations with researchers across multiple institutions and countries, reflecting the international scope of his research interests. Dr. Barnwal's projects frequently address pressing policy questions related to poverty reduction, environmental sustainability, and effective governance in developing contexts. Dr. Barnwal maintains active research collaborations and has several ongoing projects examining women's work and energy efficiency, ICT for environmental adaptation, household investment against environmental risks, and bureaucracy and governance issues. His research demonstrates a consistent commitment to addressing real-world development challenges through rigorous empirical analysis.
Laura Kudrna is an Associate Professor in Applied Health Sciences, focusing on behavioral change programs and workplace wellbeing. She supervises PhD students in areas such as COM-B and Mindspace frameworks, subjective wellbeing, and time-use tracking. Affiliation: Applied Health Sciences Key Projects: Springboard (cultural survey design), PRE-EMPT (cervical screening), Rwanda912 (emergency transport algorithms) Research Interests: Her work bridges behavioral science with public health, emphasizing structured interventions to improve wellbeing in workplaces, post-cancer care, and low-income settings. She employs mixed-methods evaluations and cluster trials to assess health initiatives. Recent Trends: Analysis of pandemic impacts on mental health (type 2 diabetes), workplace incentive structures, and socioeconomic determinants of wellbeing dominate her publications. Collaborations span the UK, Rwanda, and Mali, with funding from NIHR and the Academy of Medical Sciences. Advising: Currently accepts PhD students but no named advisees are listed. She leads major cross-regional studies and contributes to policy frameworks for health programs.
Dr. Marc A. Adams serves as the Assistant Dean of Education and Interim Program Director of the MPH in the School of Technology for Public Health at Arizona State University, while also holding a Professor position in the College of Health Solutions. He maintains additional affiliations with the Institute for Social Science Research as both a faculty member and Affiliated Faculty, and serves as a Senior Global Futures Scientist within the Global Futures Scientists and Scholars program. His academic leadership spans multiple institutional units focused on public health innovation and research. Dr. Adams' educational background includes a PhD in Public Health from the University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University (2009), an MPH in Public Health from San Diego State University (2003), a BA in Psychology from San Diego State University (2001), and postdoctoral training in Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Prevention at the University of California, San Diego (2011). As a behavioral scientist and epidemiologist, Dr. Adams' research spans the intersection of digital health interventions, physical activity promotion, and behavioral nutrition within diverse neighborhood contexts. His work integrates advanced AI and deep learning techniques to map pedestrian environment features across thousands of US neighborhoods, revealing critical inequities in built environments. He develops and tests interventions that consider how urban planning features interact with behavior change strategies to increase physical activity and healthy eating, particularly among underserved populations. His methodological expertise includes epidemiologic methodology, clinical trial design, and the development of ecological models for understanding behavior-environment interactions. Dr. Adams is an active member of the International Physical Activity and Environment Network (IPEN), contributing to international comparative research on how city design influences physical activity levels across 14 global cities. Dr. Adams' recent publications reveal a strong focus on neighborhood walkability, digital health interventions, and the use of AI to analyze built environments for public health purposes. His research consistently examines how environmental features moderate the effectiveness of physical activity interventions, with particular attention to socioeconomic disparities. The methodological approaches in his work span from traditional epidemiological studies to cutting-edge computer vision applications for analyzing street-level imagery at scale. Dr. Adams has secured substantial research funding from multiple sources including NIH, American Heart Association, and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. His current projects include "Developing AI-measures of Pedestrian Environment Features for Physical Activity and Cancer Prevention in Rural Communities" (NIH/NCI, $413,673), "PED-PHAM: An Automated and Scalable Spatial Tool" (NIH/NHLBI SBIR, $275,000), and "WalkIT Arizona: Neighborhood walkability and moderation of adaptive interventions for physical activity" (NIH/NCI, $2,620,000). He serves as Principal Investigator on multiple projects while also collaborating as Co-Investigator on large-scale international studies through IPEN. His grant portfolio demonstrates expertise in both intervention development and environmental measurement, with a consistent focus on translating research findings into practical applications for public health practice. Dr. Adams leads research teams focused on developing and validating AI tools for assessing pedestrian environments and testing how these environmental features interact with digital health interventions. His work with the International Physical Activity and Environment Network connects him to a global consortium of researchers examining built environment influences on physical activity across diverse cultural contexts. His laboratory work bridges computer science, public health, and urban planning disciplines to create innovative approaches for measuring and improving neighborhood environments that support healthy behaviors.
Timothy Griffin is an Associate Professor and Division Chair of the Agriculture, Food and Environment program at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University. He holds an endowed professorship in Nutrition, Agriculture, and Sustainable Food Systems. His roles also include Dean for Educational Affairs for the Friedman School and affiliations with the Tufts Institute of the Environment and the Fletcher School's Center for International Environmental and Resource Policy. Griffin earned his Ph.D. (1990) and M.S. (1986) from Michigan State University and University of Nebraska (B.S., 1984). His research focuses on agriculture-environment interactions, sustainable food systems (including policy roles like advising the 2015 Dietary Guidelines), and interdisciplinary education. Recent work emphasizes dietary impacts on sustainability, regional food production capacity, and climate resilience in crops like tea. He teaches courses on agricultural policy and sustainability, and has secured grants from USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and foundations like the Allen Foundation. Griffin's 15 most recent publications (2017–2025) span topics like sustainable resource management, food policy analysis, and environmental impacts of dietary patterns. Notable contributions include modeling sustainable diets under the Dietary Guidelines and assessing climate effects on tea metabolites. His endowed chair and leadership roles reflect recognition of his interdisciplinary impact. Grants highlight projects on farm stress networks, local food distribution, and soil health innovation. Professional activities include board memberships at Wright-Locke Farm and Wolfe’s Neck Center, and advisory roles for the Soil Health Institute and USDA programs.
Hilary Seligman, MD, MAS is a Professor at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) with joint appointments in the Departments of Medicine and Epidemiology and Biostatistics. She leads critical initiatives such as the Food Policy, Health, and Hunger Research Program at UCSF’s Center for Vulnerable Populations and directs the CDC’s Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research and Evaluation Network (NOPREN). Dr. Seligman also co-leads the IMPACT Program, fostering evidence-informed policy collaboration across sectors. She founded the EatSF/Vouchers for Veggies program, providing healthy food vouchers to low-income residents, and directs the National Clinician Scholars Program (NCSP) at UCSF’s School of Medicine, training future health equity leaders. Her education includes a BA in Biology from Williams College, MD from Baylor College of Medicine, and a Master of Advanced Studies in Clinical Research from UCSF. She holds a Fellowship in the American College of Physicians. Research interests focus on food insecurity’s health impacts, federal nutrition programs (SNAP, WIC), and policy advocacy. Her work bridges clinical care and public health, addressing diabetes management, nutrition security, and healthcare system reforms. Dr. Seligman’s articles explore produce prescription programs, food insecurity’s effects on chronic disease, and policy solutions to health disparities. Key awards include the American College of Physicians Fellowship. She advises organizations like the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank and has shaped policy through roles on the Food Security Task Force. Her grants and collaborations involve multisector partnerships to advance ‘Food is Medicine’ initiatives and improve healthcare access. Ongoing projects include evaluating EHR data for program impact and expanding nutrition security interventions.
Marc Adams is an Assistant Dean and Professor at the School of Technology for Public Health, Arizona State University. His research focuses on physical activity promotion, built environment influences on health, and the design of behavioral interventions targeting obesity, nutrition, and cardiovascular health. He leads studies on mobile health technologies (e.g., smartphone apps) and community-based initiatives to improve health equity through environmental modifications. Key research areas include the efficacy of financial incentives in physical activity interventions, the role of neighborhood walkability in promoting health behaviors, and the intersection of crime perception and recreational walking. He collaborates internationally on projects analyzing urban design impacts on public health outcomes, such as the IPEN Adult Study and WalkIT Arizona trials. Adams has developed culturally tailored interventions like the Smart Walk program for African American women and contributed to evidence-based guidelines for school nutrition policies. His work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, integrating data science, environmental engineering, and behavioral economics to address complex health challenges.
Hans van Trijp is a Full Professor in Marketing and Consumer Behaviour at Wageningen University & Research, focusing on food-related decision-making, sustainability, and packaging innovation. He leads interdisciplinary projects addressing food waste reduction , green packaging , and cultured meat acceptance , bridging behavioral science with market transitions. Key Research Areas: Food waste, sustainable packaging, consumer neuroscience, dietary transitions Collaborations: Partnerships with Dutch supermarkets (Albert Heijn, Aldi), Vietnamese agricultural institutions, and EU policy bodies His recent work explores social norms and implicit cues in shaping food choices, with a focus on experimental designs and virtual reality applications . A 2021 prize recognized his team’s insights into agricultural export integration for Vietnamese farmers. Notable Contributions: Pioneering food swap recommendation systems in online supermarkets Meta-analyses on social norms and emotional regulation in consumption Advocacy for FAIR data in sensory and consumer research As a promotor for 10+ PhD projects, he mentors researchers in topics spanning mindfulness interventions , market orientation for smallholder farmers, and neural responses to food cues. His work emphasizes collaborative innovation across supply chains and policy frameworks.
Sergio Baranzini is a Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine and a member of the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences. With a distinguished career spanning over two decades at UCSF, Dr. Baranzini has established himself as a leading researcher in multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuroimmunology. Dr. Baranzini earned his BS/MS and PhD in Biochemistry/Biotechnology and Human Molecular Genetics from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, completing his PhD with honors in 1997. He then pursued postdoctoral training in neurogenetics at UCSF before joining the faculty in 2003. His research focuses on the genetic, genomic, and immunological aspects of multiple sclerosis, with particular emphasis on the gut-brain axis and microbiome's role in neuroinflammation. Dr. Baranzini's research employs a multidisciplinary approach integrating wet lab techniques (including DNA microarrays, proteomics, and laser capture microdissection) with dry lab analytical approaches (bioinformatics, complexity theory, and mathematical modeling). His work has revealed critical insights into MS pathogenesis, particularly how gut microbiota influences disease development and progression. Recent groundbreaking studies have demonstrated how specific gut bacteria from MS patients can trigger MS-like disease in animal models and how microbial metabolites affect remyelination processes. His laboratory has secured significant funding through multiple NIH grants, including as Principal Investigator on projects examining the genetic basis of MS progression and post-GWAS approaches to identify cell-specific genetic pathways underlying MS risk. As evidenced by his extensive publication record in top-tier journals including Science, Nature, and PNAS, Dr. Baranzini's work represents some of the most innovative research in neuroimmunology and MS pathogenesis. National Multiple Sclerosis Society (US) Advanced Postdoctoral Fellowship (2001) National Multiple Sclerosis Society (US) Harry Weaver Neuroscience Scholar Award (2009-2014) Department of Neurology UCSF Endowed Chair in Neurology (2010) National Multiple Sclerosis Society Stephen C. Reingold Award (2015) Department of Neurology UCSF Distinguished Professorship in Neurology I (2019) Department of Neurology UCSF Neurology Research Incentive Program 2 (N-RIP2) (2023) Barancik Prize for Innovation in Multiple Sclerosis Research (2024) Dr. Baranzini serves as an ad-hoc reviewer for numerous specialized journals and is an elected member of the American Neurological Association. His laboratory (iMSMS) actively collaborates with interdisciplinary teams worldwide to integrate knowledge across research domains through systems biology approaches. His current NIH-funded research explores automated evidential support from raw data for relay agents in biomedical knowledge graph queries and investigates the genetic basis of progression in multiple sclerosis.
