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James StaiteView profile

Research Fellow

• Security Technology
• Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)
• Mobile Applications for Security
• +3 more

James Staite serves as a Research Fellow at CENTRIC, leveraging extensive expertise from his prior role as Director of a private SME in systems analysis, system design, and practical implementation. He actively contributes to European-funded projects and strategic collaborations with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and United Nations Department of Safety & Security (UNDSS), focusing on open-source intelligence solutions to identify and prevent emerging organized threats. His research centers on the development, application, and impact of mobile technologies for security, policing, and humanitarian operations. Staite specializes in innovative approaches for gathering and analyzing open-source intelligence, utilizing semantic web technologies for information fusion in terrorism-related content analysis and threat detection systems. This work directly addresses real-world security challenges through technological innovation. Staite's publication record demonstrates consistent focus on security technology applications, exemplified by his 2019 conference paper on semantic web implementations for terrorism content analysis. His research trajectory shows strong alignment with European-funded security initiatives and international organizational partnerships, emphasizing practical technological solutions for threat prevention. He plays a pivotal role in designing and developing CENTRIC's collaborative projects, securing European funding and driving technical implementations for open-source intelligence systems. These initiatives specifically target security enhancement and humanitarian requirements through advanced technological frameworks. As a core member of CENTRIC's research team, Staite contributes to projects applying cutting-edge technologies to global security challenges, particularly within international organizational contexts and humanitarian operations.

• Security Research
• Intelligence Management
• Information Systems
• +6 more

Professor Babak Akhgar is a Visiting Professor of Informatics at the University of South Wales and holds multiple prestigious roles, including the founder and Director of the CENTRIC Centre of Excellence. He is affiliated with the Research Directorate within the university and serves on several boards, such as the academic advisory board of SAS UK, the European Organisation for Security (EOS), Europol's External Advisory Board on Data Protection, and South Yorkshire Police Evidence Based Policing. Since 2019, he has been a board member of NEBRC. His professional experience spans commercial strategy analysis, technical leadership, and research coordination in over 30 EU-funded and 50 nationally funded security projects. Education: BSc in Software Engineering, Sheffield Hallam University, UK MSc in Information Systems in Management (Distinction), Sheffield Business School PhD in Strategic Information Systems, Sheffield Hallam University Research Interests: Professor Akhgar’s work focuses on security-related informatics, including intelligence management within the security domain, open-source investigations (OSINT), counter-terrorism, organized crime, and AI ethics. He emphasizes the strategic application of information systems to address complex security challenges and has developed tools like the CENTRIC OSINT Hub, used by UK law enforcement agencies. Grants & Projects: Coordinator of the EU-funded MIICT project Innovation Manager of the EU-funded Starlight project Principal Investigator (PI) on the AP4AI project (collaboration with Europol) Co-Investigator (Co-I) on the UKRI-funded 3PO project Awards: Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2022, recognizing his contributions to security research Labs/Teams: He leads the CENTRIC Centre, which specializes in terrorism, resilience, intelligence, and organized crime research. The CENTRIC OSINT Hub supports law enforcement with advanced open-source investigation tools. His current projects include AP4AI, addressing accountability principles for AI in collaboration with Europol, and the 3PO initiative under UKRI.

Christopher HobbsView profile

Professor

• Nuclear Security
• WMD Proliferation
• CBRN Terrorism
• +5 more

Professor Christopher Hobbs is a Professor of Science and International Security at King's College London's Department of War Studies and Director of the King’s Institute for Applied Security Studies (KIASS). He holds a PhD in physics from the University of London and a MPhys from Oxford University. His research focuses on bridging policy and practice in nuclear security, non-proliferation, and open-source intelligence (OSINT), emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches and collaboration with international organizations, governments, and industry. He has led major initiatives like the UK’s Nuclear Security Culture Programme (NSCP) since 2014 and secured grants from agencies including the IAEA, UK FCO, BEIS, US State Department, and NDA. Education: PhD in Physics (University of London, 2006), MPhys (University of Oxford, 2002). Research interests include nuclear security culture, WMD counter-proliferation, CBRN terrorism, insider threats, and radiation detection for border monitoring. He has published widely in journals like Science and Global Security and co-authored major works such as The Oxford Handbook of Nuclear Security . Professional roles: Member of the International Nuclear Security Forum’s Executive Advisory Board, former Chair of the International Nuclear Security Education Network (INSEN), and Associate Fellow of Advance HE. Current projects include cybersecurity research, nuclear supply chain integrity, and conflict health studies. Grants and funding: Major projects include the Nuclear Security Culture Programme and collaborations with the IAEA on counterfeit materials. Supervises PhD students in his research areas and teaches courses on nuclear weapon security, science-policy interfaces, and CBRN counter-terrorism. Labs/Initiatives: Leads the Cyber Security Research Group (CSRG), King’s Cybersecurity Centre, and the Centre for Conflict & Health Research. Ongoing projects address nuclear security implications of counterfeit items and cybersecurity threats.

David OmandView profile

Visiting Professor

• Intelligence Studies
• Security Policy
• Counter-Terrorism
• +5 more

Sir David Omand is a Visiting Professor in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, sitting on Paladin Capital’s advisory board for cyber security investments. His career spans senior roles in UK government including Director of GCHQ, Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary, and UK Security and Intelligence Coordinator. He advises on counter-terrorism strategy, intelligence ethics, and crisis leadership. Education includes a first-class degree in Mathematics and Theoretical Physics from the Open University (2008), along with honorary doctorates from Birmingham and Glasgow Universities. He studied Economics at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (honorary Fellow). Research focuses on AI/machine learning integration with intelligence analysis, ethics of secret intelligence, and crisis management. His work explores digital subversion, cyber security norms, and leadership during security crises. Publications include books like How to Survive a Crisis (2023) and Principled Spying (2018), plus over 20 journal articles and policy papers. He chairs research groups on Cyber Security and Intelligence Studies at King’s, collaborating across disciplines. Awards include honorary doctorates and fellowships. His advisory roles include contributions to the Ministry of Justice and Birmingham Policy Commission on drone security impacts.

• International Criminal Law
• Environmental Crime Control
• Artificial Intelligence in Justice Systems
• +6 more

Nandor Knust is an Associate Professor at UiT The Arctic University of Norway's Faculty of Law, specializing in cutting-edge intersections of criminal justice, technology, and international law. His research spans environmental crime control, AI applications in justice systems, and transitional justice frameworks. His research focuses on the digital transformation of criminal justice systems, particularly examining how artificial intelligence, open-source intelligence (OSINT), and new technologies reshape international crime investigation and prosecution. Key areas include environmental crime networks, fishery crime control, digital evidence collection during armed conflicts, and proportionality principles in algorithmic decision-making. His work bridges theoretical legal frameworks with practical technological implementations in transnational contexts. Knust actively contributes to major research initiatives including the Artificial Intelligence in Criminal Justice project and Compliance and Technology research group. His publications reveal strong emphasis on practical applications of technology in environmental crime prosecution (ECO-CRIM-NET), digital evidence verification during conflicts, and public-private partnerships in transnational crime control. Recent work examines Russia's invasion of Ukraine through international legal frameworks and develops new models for 'in-conflict' transitional justice. He collaborates extensively with international institutions including the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law, and participates in global scholarly dialogues on criminal justice modernization. His research group affiliations include Crime Control and Security Law and the Cyber Security Group (CSG), reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to contemporary justice challenges.

Joanne LawView profile

Lecturer

• E-Business
• Social Media and Commerce
• Marketing
• +4 more

Joanne Law is a Course Leader in Marketing & Digital Business and Lecturer in E-Business at the University of Worcester's Department of Marketing and Enterprise. She has taught since 2015, combining expertise in Computing and Business. Her research focuses on open-source intelligence (OSINT) in screening practices, online recruitment methods, and employment trust relationships. She also explores technology's role in enhancing educational experiences. Teaching interests include E-Business, social media commerce, marketing strategies, and business intelligence applications. Research actively addresses intersections between technology and organizational practices, particularly leveraging digital tools for business impact. Awards: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy No grants or advisory roles explicitly stated in available texts. No lab affiliations mentioned.

• Digital Forensics
• Cybercrime Analysis
• Social Network Analysis
• +3 more

Jan William Johnsen is a Researcher at the Department of Information Security and Communication Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), within the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering. He specializes in digital forensics, cybercrime analysis, and social network analysis, with a focus on applying big data techniques to criminal investigations. His research interests include identifying cybercriminals through text and network analysis, preprocessing natural language for open-source intelligence, and investigating technological factors affecting child sexual abuse material distribution. He has contributed to interdisciplinary studies on criminal network dynamics and has co-authored reports on digital forensics for major institutions. Recent publications highlight trends in criminal network analysis, automated forensic frameworks, and the application of big data in cybercrime investigations. His work bridges technical cybersecurity methods with criminal justice applications. Johnsen teaches courses such as IMT4114 (Introduction to Digital Forensics) and IMT4130 (Investigation of Cybercrime), and has participated in international workshops like the IEEE Big Data conference. His contributions include developing tools like Reccoon for network footprinting and analyzing organized crime groups' communication patterns.

Matt MahmoudiView profile

Assistant Professor

• Digital Humanities
• Critical Race Theory
• Urban Studies
• +5 more

Dr. Matt Mahmoudi is an Assistant Professor in Digital Humanities at the University of Cambridge, with affiliations to the Department of Sociology, the Centre of Governance and Human Rights, and the DALOSS project at the University of Copenhagen. His work bridges critical race theory, urban studies, and digital surveillance, analyzing systems like the NYPD’s policing technologies and AI-driven border controls. Education: PhD at University of Cambridge (Jo Cox PhD Studentship) Research Interests focus on digital cities as sites of racial capitalism, migrant digital border violence, and resistance against algorithmic governance. He employs frameworks from Black radical traditions and critical migration studies to interrogate smart city infrastructures and surveillance regimes. Publications include analyses of AI profiling, carceral systems, and open-source human rights methodologies. His upcoming book Migrants in the Digital Periphery (2025) expands on these themes. Scientific Awards: Inaugural Jo Cox PhD Studentship Teaching & Affiliations: Co-teaches 'Control & Resistance in Digital Societies' in Sociology, serves as Research Associate at Cambridge’s Centre of Governance and Human Rights, and contributes to the DALOSS project in Copenhagen.

Rachel McNealeyView profile

Assistant Professor

• Digital Criminology
• Cybervictimization
• Cyberoffending Behavior
• +7 more

Rachel McNealey is an Assistant Professor at the School of Criminal Justice , Michigan State University, specializing in cybervictimization, cyberoffending, and digital criminology. Her research bridges traditional crime theories with emerging digital crime phenomena. PhD in Criminology (2023, Penn State University) MS (2019, University of Alabama) BA (2017, University of Alabama) Her expertise spans cybervictimization , digital forensics , OSINT , and survey methodology , with publications in Journal of Crime and Justice , Journal of Interpersonal Violence , and Journal of Financial Crime . Her Risk & Reactions to Crime dataset examines victimization and offending behaviors across digital and traditional domains. Recent work explores: cybervictimization in 31 countries (2025) digital risk perception (2024) residential impacts on identity theft (2024) She has collaborated with the Joint Electronic Crimes Task Force in Alabama, contributing to digital forensics, network intrusion analysis, and Project Halo security initiatives.

Norman BirdView profile

Research Fellow

• Nuclear Security
• Non-Proliferation
• Counter-Proliferation
• +5 more

Norman Bird serves as a Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Science and Security Studies (CSSS) within the Department of War Studies at King's College London, operating under the School of Security Studies and Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy. He provides technical training and nuclear industry expertise through the UK National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL), leveraging 38 years of international nuclear sector experience for King's research, development, and training initiatives. His educational background includes a Masters Degree in GIS and professional qualifications as a Civil Engineer. Bird specializes in nuclear security frameworks with deep expertise in non-proliferation, counter-proliferation, and radiological/nuclear (RN) aspects of CBRN terrorism. His technical proficiency spans Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) using GIS, satellite imagery, and Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), while actively contributing to space security research through dedicated initiatives. This multidisciplinary approach bridges nuclear security with geospatial and space domains. Scientific recognition includes: Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society Chartered Geographer designation Current engagements involve IAEA INSEN training programs lecturing on RN-CBRN terrorism, UK Government BEIS-funded Global Threat Reduction Programme (GTRP) delivery, and King's nuclear security/non-proliferation initiatives requiring industry-government-academia coordination. As an integral member of the Centre for Science and Security Studies and Space Security Research Group, Bird collaborates on advancing security methodologies across nuclear, geospatial, and space domains through technical training and intelligence applications.

• Administrative Data Research
• Public Health Approaches in Criminology
• Exploitation
• +3 more

Dr. Richard Kjellgren is a Research Fellow at the Salvation Army Centre for Addiction Services and Research within the University of Stirling's Faculty of Social Sciences. His work focuses on mental health and substance use service access for individuals released from prison, leveraging linked administrative health and justice data. He holds a PhD exploring online technologies' role in facilitating exploitation within UK off-street sex markets, emphasizing open-source intelligence in policing sex trafficking. His research interests span administrative data research, public health approaches in criminology, exploitation dynamics, network analysis, and mixed-methods methodologies. He has contributed to projects on policing organized crime, public protection, and community justice. Key affiliations include the Salvation Army Centre for Addiction Services and Research, Crime & Justice, and Social Surveys and Social Statistics research groups. Recent studies include the RELEASE project examining post-release health service utilization and participatory research methodologies with justice-involved individuals. His work also addresses technological challenges in policing, LGBTQ+ homelessness, and academic integrity issues in higher education. He advocates for policy-informed research to address systemic vulnerabilities and improve service access for marginalized populations.

Sukrit VenkatagiriView profile

Assistant Professor

• Social Computing
• Usable Security & Privacy
• Misinformation Studies
• +6 more

Sukrit Venkatagiri is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Swarthmore College and a Faculty Affiliate at the Healthy, Equitable, and Responsive Democracy (HEARD) Research Initiative. His research focuses on the intersection of social computing and usable security & privacy, with an emphasis on resisting technologically-mediated harm such as misinformation, hate speech, and privacy violations. He directs the Collective Resilience Lab, which designs systems to repair trust in institutions and empower advocacy while mitigating data exploitation. Education: Ph.D. and M.S. in Computer Science (2017–2022), Virginia Tech B.E. in Computer Science (2013–2017), PES University, India Research Interests: Venkatagiri’s work spans crowdsourcing for crisis response, ethical technology design, and misinformation mitigation. He collaborates with organizations like the Center for an Informed Public and co-founded Speculative Futures Philadelphia to explore emerging tech impacts. Recent projects include frameworks for scaling OSINT investigations and co-designing generative AI tools with marginalized communities. Publications & Grants: His work appears in top-tier venues (CSCW, CHI, FAccT) and has been featured in The New York Times, Reuters, and Forbes. Key grants include NSF ($173k) and Google ($60k) awards for combating deepfake harms and co-designing equitable AI. Awards & Recognition: Includes the HCOMP 2019 Best Demo Award, Google Award for Inclusion Research, and Swarthmore’s Lang Award for academic excellence. He also serves on ACM CSCW’s Steering Committee and chairs communications for CSCW 2025. Teaching & Service: Teaches courses like Social and Crowd Computing at Swarthmore. Professional roles include Associate Chair for CHI 2025’s Understanding People subcommittee and member of Swarthmore’s Lang Center Advisory Board.

Alexa KoenigView profile

Research Professor

• Human Rights
• Law and Technology
• International and Comparative Law
• +4 more

Alexa Koenig is a Research Professor of Law and Co-Faculty Director of the Human Rights Center at the University of California, Berkeley. She directs the HRC’s Investigations Program and teaches at UC Berkeley School of Law, focusing on intersections of technology, law, and human rights. Her work includes co-founding the Human Rights Center Investigations Lab, training professionals in digital open-source investigations, and developing the Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations. Education: Ph.D., Jurisprudence and Social Policy, UC Berkeley J.D., University of San Francisco School of Law B.A., UCLA (World Arts and Cultures) Research Interests: Koenig’s work bridges human rights with emerging technologies, focusing on open-source investigations, digital forensics, and accountability mechanisms. She explores how technology shapes evidence collection, gender equality, racial justice, and international law. Her projects often involve cross-disciplinary collaboration, integrating legal frameworks with technical methods to address modern human rights challenges. Awards & Recognition: 2022: 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics 2020: Woman Inspiring Change (Harvard) 2019: Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Residency 2015: MacArthur Award for Creative & Effective Institutions (HRC) Advising & Leadership: Co-Chair, UC Presidential Working Group on AI (Human Resources Subcommittee) Member, AAAS Scientific Freedom & Responsibility Committee Advisory Board Member, Physicians for Human Rights Labs & Initiatives: The Human Rights Center Investigations Lab trains global actors in digital investigation techniques, emphasizing ethical standards and transparency. Her work has been featured on 60 Minutes , Foreign Policy , and the PBS NewsHour .

Bibek UpadhayayView profile

Adjunct Professor

• Artificial Intelligence
• Cybersecurity
• Deep Learning
• +3 more

Bibek Upadhayay is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science at the Tagliatela College of Engineering, University of New Haven. His research focuses on AI security, adversarial machine learning, and cybersecurity applications across multiple domains including natural language processing, deep learning models, and social network analysis. He has contributed to developing methods for combating adversarial attacks on large language models (LLMs), enhancing cross-lingual capabilities, and improving detection mechanisms for fake news and human trafficking via automated data fusion. Upadhayay's work spans theoretical advancements like 'Tongue-Tied' attacks on LLM safety and practical applications such as the 'X-Guard' multilingual content moderation system. His recent studies (2023-2025) emphasize vulnerabilities in AI systems through working memory exploitation, multi-language adaptive attacks, and adversarial stimuli targeting brain-computer interfaces. Earlier projects include hybrid deep learning models for fake news detection and OSINT-based approaches against human trafficking. His publications reflect a consistent emphasis on ethical AI applications, cybersecurity innovations, and leveraging machine learning for societal challenges. While no formal student advisees are listed, his collaborative research includes student contributions evident in conference abstracts like the 2022 fake news detection work.

Eva MichaelsView profile

Research Fellow

• EU Security and Defence Policy
• Intelligence-policy Nexus in European Crisis Responses
• EU-Africa Security Relations
• +3 more

Eva Michaels is a Visiting Research Fellow at the Barcelona Institute of International Studies (IBEI) and a Teaching Fellow in European Foreign Policy at King's College London's Department of War Studies. She holds a PhD in War Studies from King's College London (2016), focusing on France and the UK's role in EU military operations in Africa. Her research interests span EU Security and Defence Policy, intelligence-policy dynamics in European crisis responses, and EU-Africa security relations. She has also contributed to projects such as 'ENGAGE' (Global Europe governance), 'INTEL' (European foreign policy intelligence), and 'INFOCORE' (media's role in violent conflict). Eva's publications analyze topics like ISIS policy responses, NGO influence on media, EU-NATO dynamics, and logistical challenges in military operations. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks (e.g., constructivism) with practical policy analysis. She is affiliated with King's Centre for the Study of Intelligence, organizing events like the 2022 book launch on 'Estimative Intelligence in European Foreign Policymaking'. No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned, but her extensive grants and collaborative projects reflect her academic prominence.