Find Academic Supervisors

• Archaeobotany
• Prehistoric Agriculture
• Plant Use in Rituals
• +9 more

Dr. Dragana Filipović is a research associate and archaeobotanist affiliated with the Institute of Pre- and Protohistoric Archaeology at the University of Kiel, Germany, and currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology in Jena. She has held research and teaching positions at the University of Belgrade, the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, and contributed extensively to international collaborative projects such as the CRC 1266, ROOTS Cluster of Excellence, and the ERC-funded BIRTH project. PhD in Archaeology/Archaeobotany, University of Oxford MPhil in Archaeobotany, University of Nottingham MA and BA in Archaeology, University of Belgrade Her research centers on the economic, social, and symbolic roles of plants in prehistoric societies, particularly in Neolithic and Bronze Age Europe and central Anatolia. She investigates early farming practices, plant domestication, storage, consumption, and ritual use through archaeobotanical analysis, stable isotope studies, and ethnoarchaeological insights. Her work emphasizes human-environment interactions, land use, and agricultural resilience in long-lived settlements such as Vinča and Çatalhöyük. The 15 most recent publications highlight a strong trend in archaeobotanical and isotopic analysis of prehistoric crop systems, especially millet diffusion, cereal processing, and plant use in ritual and domestic contexts across Europe. Her work frequently integrates multidisciplinary data from pollen, charcoal, and food residues to reconstruct past environments and subsistence strategies. Key regions include the Balkans, northern Germany, and central Anatolia. She has contributed to major academic events as a co-organizer and speaker, including sessions at the European Association of Archaeologists and workshops on millet cultivation. Her invited lectures span institutions such as Oxford, Kiel, Gothenburg, and Umeå, reflecting her international recognition in environmental archaeology. Dr. Filipović actively mentors through teaching assistantships and has supervised student projects. She has secured research funding from DAAD, Max Planck Society, and the European Science Foundation. Her involvement in public outreach includes exhibitions, science festivals, documentaries, and educational workshops for children and the public, demonstrating a strong commitment to science communication. She is involved in laboratory and field research, particularly through the Dynamics of Plant Economies project at Kiel and the FEDD project at the Max Planck Institute. Her collaborations span the Çatalhöyük Research Project, Vinča Project, and numerous Balkan-focused excavations, forming a broad network of interdisciplinary teams across Europe.

Gareth GriffithView profile

Professor

• Fungal Ecology
• Grassland Fungi
• eDNA Analysis
• +7 more

Gareth Griffith is a Professor in the Department of Life Sciences at Aberystwyth University's Institute of Biological, Environmental, and Rural Sciences (IBERS). He holds a BSc in Microbiology and PhD in Fungal Ecology, both from the University of Wales. Within IBERS, he serves as Head of the Microbiology Group, Organiser of the weekly Research Seminar series, Disability coordinator, and Curator of the IBERS Herbarium/Fungarium (biorepository code ABS). His research interests span five main areas: 1) Ecology of Grassland Fungi including eDNA applications, waxcap fungi conservation, Dark Septate endophytes, and anaerobic rumen fungi; 2) Fungal Taxonomy and DNA barcoding across multiple fungal groups; 3) Aerobiology focusing on airborne fungal propagules and pollen detection; 4) Cacao Pathology studying Moniliophthora perniciosa ; and 5) Silage microbiology examining fungal spoilage mechanisms. These programs are funded by NERC, BBSRC, DEFRA, Natural Resources Wales, Cocoa Research UK Ltd, Silage Solutions Ltd, KESS, and the Dutch Government. His recent publication record shows significant contributions to fungal science, particularly in aerobiology and fungal taxonomy, with high-impact papers in Nature (2024) on airborne DNA dynamics, major taxonomic outlines, and global fungal classification consortia. His work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between environmental science, molecular biology, and practical applications in agriculture and conservation. Member of editorial boards for Fungal Ecology and Plant Pathology Member of Conservation Committee of Mycological Society of America Past Council member of British Mycological Society Fellow of Higher Education Academy Member of British Mycological Society, Mycological Society of America, British Society for Plant Pathology, and Microbiology Society As an educator, he coordinates multiple modules in English and Welsh and contributes to numerous other courses. His research connects strongly with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to environmental conservation and sustainable agriculture. He has supervised numerous PhD students and maintains active collaborations across multiple institutions globally.

Barbara S. CarlswardView profile

Professor

• Plant Anatomy
• Molecular Phylogenetics
• Orchidaceae Evolution
• +2 more

Barbara S. Carlsward is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Eastern Illinois University (EIU). Her research integrates plant anatomy and molecular phylogenetics to investigate plant evolution, with a focus on the Orchidaceae family and economically significant species like the ghost orchid ( Dendrophylax lindenii ). She collaborates with researchers at the University of Florida and contributes to projects examining diverse plant groups including Saxifragales, Caryophyllales, and Malvaceae. Ph.D., M.S. in Botany, University of Florida B.S. in Physics, University of Florida Dr. Carlsward's research interests center on: Orchidaceae evolution and taxonomy Molecular phylogenetics applications Plant anatomical adaptations Mycorrhizal community interactions Industrial hemp fiber ecology Floral biology and pollination mechanisms Her publication record shows a strong focus on plant structure-function relationships, particularly in orchids, with collaborative work extending to materials science (synthetic fiber analysis) and agroforestry (chestnut seedling research). She actively mentors students at EIU through research opportunities and teaches courses like BIO 1550G-003 and BIO 3612-001.

Gabrielle LeungView profile

Assistant Professor

• Climate and Climate Change
• Aerosol-Cloud Interactions
• Radiation and Remote Sensing
• +9 more

Gabrielle "Bee" Leung is an incoming Assistant Professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (AOS) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, starting her tenure-track position in Fall 2026. Prior to that, she will join as an Anna Julia Cooper Postdoctoral Fellow in August 2025 to establish her research group. She earned her PhD from Colorado State University’s Department of Atmospheric Science, where her research focused on human impacts on cloud and precipitation systems through aerosol emissions, land-use change, and climate change. PhD, Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University Her research lies at the intersection of climate science, remote sensing, and atmospheric dynamics, with a focus on aerosol-cloud interactions , land-atmosphere coupling , and tropical convective processes . She uses satellite data, field observations, and cloud-resolving models to investigate how anthropogenic changes—such as deforestation, urbanization, and pollution—affect cloud development. A key innovation in her work is the application of object-based analysis to track cloud systems and quantify mesoscale variability. Her concept of the aerosol breeze —a mesoscale circulation driven by aerosol gradients—has advanced understanding of how spatial heterogeneity affects cloud formation. The recent articles highlight a consistent trajectory in her research: leveraging high-resolution data and modeling to dissect complex interactions between aerosols, land cover, and convection. Her work spans observational studies over Southeast Asia, idealized simulations, and NASA mission-related analysis (e.g., INCUS, CAMP2Ex). Broad keywords include Climate Science, Remote Sensing, and Atmospheric Physics, while subfields such as deforestation impacts, cold pool dynamics, and sub-kilometer modeling reveal her methodological and regional focus on tropical and mesoscale processes. Her scientific achievements have been recognized through several awards: Maria Silva Dias Award (2025) Herbert Riehl Memorial Award (2023) David L. Dietrich Honorary Scholarship (2022) NASA FINESST Award (2022) She has been actively involved in mentoring and outreach, including guest lectures, K–12 science demonstrations (e.g., CSU Little Shop of Physics), and leadership in field campaigns such as BACS-II and TIME-SLICE. She has no formal advisees yet but is expected to build a graduate research group at UW–Madison. She has secured competitive grants, most notably the NASA FINESST grant, which supports her PhD research on land-aerosol-cloud interactions in the Maritime Continent. Her future work will likely expand on these themes, integrating satellite observations with modeling to improve climate predictions. She is involved in multiple research teams and campaigns, including the NASA INCUS mission, CAMP2Ex, and BACS-II, where she has led drone and radiosonde operations. Her lab will be established at UW–Madison starting in 2025, focusing on cloud-resolving modeling, satellite data analysis, and process-level understanding of convective systems.

Ludovica OddiView profile

Research Fellow

• Environmental Botany
• Plant Ecology
• Biodiversity Conservation
• +3 more

Ludovica Oddi is a Research Fellow at the Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, specializing in environmental botany (BIO/03) with a focus on climate change impacts on alpine and Mediterranean ecosystems. Her work integrates field studies, remote sensing, and collaborative networks to address biodiversity conservation and ecosystem dynamics. Her research interests include: Climate-driven vegetation shifts in mountain grasslands Carbon sequestration responses to heat/drought extremes Remote sensing applications (UAVs, phenocams) for ecosystem monitoring Mycorrhizal symbiosis and medicinal plant physiology Implementation of conservation frameworks like IUCN Red List of Ecosystems Woody encroachment dynamics in subalpine habitats Analysis of her 14 publications (2017-2022) reveals a consistent emphasis on climate change impacts using multi-scale monitoring approaches. Her work demonstrates strong European collaboration through networks like GLORIA ITALIA, with recurring themes of thermophilization, ecosystem heterogeneity, and socio-ecological vulnerability in alpine regions. Key methodological innovations include UAV-based mapping and quantitative microscopy techniques. Ludovica Oddi actively contributes to the MITEX project (PRIN PNRR 2022) addressing glacier extinction impacts and serves on the Departmental Council and Environmental Biology program committees for job placement and quality assurance.

Alfonso Carlos Martínez EstudilloView profile

Professor

• Machine Learning
• Evolutionary Computation
• Neural Networks
• +7 more

Alfonso Carlos Martínez Estudillo is a Full Professor in the Department of Quantitative Methods at Loyola University's School of Business and Economics. He serves as Director of the Master's Program in Research Methods Applied to the Social Sciences and is a member of the Quantitative Research Methods and Applications (MICA) research group. With a PhD in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (2008) and a Computer Engineering degree (1995), both from the University of Granada, his academic journey includes previous roles as Network and Systems Administrator, Database Programmer, and IT Service Coordinator at ETEA-Faculty of Economics and Business. His research focuses primarily on evolutionary computation and neural networks for solving machine learning problems, with specialization in product-unit neural networks. His doctoral thesis opened an important research line within the AYRNA Research Group, where he has been a member since 2001. This work has led to publications in leading journals such as IEEE Transactions and Systems, Man and Cybernetics, and Neural Networks, with applications spanning predictive microbiology, chemical kinetics, pollen prediction, remote sensing, and financial risk assessment. Currently, he is working on multi-objective optimization, ordinal classification, and data mining with large databases using Big Data techniques. Professor Martínez Estudillo has participated in numerous research projects including R&D initiatives funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, excellence projects from the Regional Government of Andalusia, and international cooperation projects analyzing social aspects of indigenous populations in Honduras. His recent publications demonstrate continued application of artificial intelligence techniques to economic problems, with his most recent work (2022) examining sovereign debt ratings in Europe. His teaching portfolio includes Databases, Fundamentals of Computer Science I, Computing Infrastructures and Databases, Applied Mathematics for Business Management, and Programming I, reflecting his expertise in both theoretical and applied computational methods for business and economics.

• Plant Anatomy
• Wood Anatomy
• Botany
• +5 more

Dr. Funda ERŞEN BAK is an Associate Professor in the Department of Forestry Engineering at the Faculty of Forestry, Artvin Coruh University, where she has been serving since 2007. She previously worked as a Research Assistant at the same department from 1997-1999 and 2007, and at Karadeniz Technical University's Faculty of Forestry from 1999-2007. Faculty of Forestry, Artvin Coruh University (2007-present) Department of Forestry Engineering, Forest Botany Science Branch Dr. ERŞEN BAK's research focuses on plant anatomy, wood structure, ethnobotany, pollen morphology, and medicinal plants. Her work emphasizes the Anatolian flora, particularly in the Artvin region, with extensive studies on Hypericum, Cirsium, Rhamnus, Daphne, and Oleaceae species. She has conducted detailed anatomical investigations of both endemic and economically important plant species, contributing significantly to the understanding of plant structure-function relationships in forest ecosystems. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on ethnobotanical studies of traditional medicinal and aromatic plants in northeastern Anatolia, alongside detailed anatomical research on various plant families. She has published in SCI-indexed journals including Turkish Journal of Botany, Pakistan Journal of Botany, and Wood Science and Technology. Dr. ERŞEN BAK has supervised numerous graduate theses on topics related to ethnobotany, wood anatomy, and plant systematics, demonstrating her commitment to academic mentorship and the development of future researchers in forestry and botanical sciences. She has held significant administrative roles including membership in the Faculty Management Board (2020-present) and Deputy Director of the Application and Research Center (2019-present).

• Physical Geography
• Geomorphology
• Quaternary Science
• +3 more

Sumiko Kubo is a Professor at the School of Education, Waseda University, where she has served since 2006 (previously as Associate Professor from 2001-2005). Her academic career began at Chuo-gakuin University (1995-2000) as Lecturer and Associate Professor. She holds a Doctor of Science from Tokyo Metropolitan University and maintains an active research profile in physical geography and geomorphology with international collaborations across Asia. Professor Kubo's research focuses on the intersection of physical geography, geomorphology, and Quaternary science, with particular emphasis on river systems, delta formations, and their relationship to human settlements. Her work spans Japan (Kanto Plain, Tokyo area), Cambodia (Mekong River basin), Vietnam (central region), and India (Krishna and Godavari Deltas). She employs multidisciplinary approaches combining field surveys, sediment analysis, remote sensing, and historical records to understand landscape evolution across geological and historical time scales. Her recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on deltaic systems and river geomorphology, with increasing attention to human-environment interactions and contemporary issues like flood hazard mapping. A notable trend is her examination of how ancient civilizations adapted to dynamic river environments in Southeast Asia, particularly through the lens of archaeological site locations relative to geomorphological features. AJG Award from the Association of Japanese Geographers (2017) AJG Award from the Association of Japanese Geographers (2016) Japan Society for Quaternary Research Academic Award (2013) Japan Quaternary Society Best Paper Award (1999) Professor Kubo has led numerous Japan Society for the Promotion of Science research projects, including studies on Indian deltas, river environments and archaeological sites in Indochina, and hazard map development. Her international collaborations with institutions in India, Cambodia, and Vietnam demonstrate extensive fieldwork and research partnerships. While specific student advisees aren't documented in the available materials, her extensive projects suggest active graduate student mentorship. Her research integrates field investigations, laboratory analysis, and geospatial technologies to examine landscape evolution across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Professor Kubo's work frequently involves interdisciplinary teams of archaeologists, geologists, and environmental scientists, particularly in her studies of Southeast Asian archaeological sites and their geomorphological contexts.