Margaret Bublitz is Associate Professor at Brown University with joint appointments in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior , Department of Medicine , and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology . She holds secondary appointments at the School of Public Health as Senior Investigator and Behavioral and Social Sciences faculty member. Dr. Bublitz earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology (2010) from the University of British Columbia, followed by postdoctoral training in Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine at Brown Medical School. Her research focuses on: Psychological stress pathways to adverse perinatal outcomes Maternal childhood maltreatment effects on neurobiology Mindfulness interventions for hypertension and preterm birth prevention Her 15 most recent publications demonstrate expertise in perinatal mental health , sleep-disordered breathing , HPA axis regulation , and fetal neurodevelopment , with significant collaborations in neuroendocrinology and maternal-infant health disparities . Scientific recognition includes: 2024-2025 Global Fulbright Scholarship 2022 Brown Early Career Research Achievement Award Multiple NIH and foundation grants exceeding $6 million Bublitz leads NIH-funded projects examining mechanisms of mindfulness training (R01HL157288) and serves as mentor in the MORPHE Trial for digital maternal health innovations. She is a licensed psychologist and active member of Brown's Stress, Trauma and Resilience (STAR) Institute and Mindfulness Center .
Christian Lindh is an active Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer at Lund University's Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He serves as Research Team Manager for Applied Mass Spectrometry in Environmental Medicine and is affiliated with EpiHealth: Epidemiology for Health. His research focuses on environmental and occupational exposures and their health impacts, with particular expertise in biomonitoring and analytical chemistry. His research interests span Occupational Health , Environmental Health , Analytical Chemistry , Exposure Assessment , and Epidemiology . Lindh specializes in studying human exposure to environmental pollutants including PFAS, heavy metals, phthalates, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, with particular focus on vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and environmental protection. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on environmental epidemiology, particularly examining PFAS exposure patterns, heavy metal toxicity, and the health impacts of environmental contaminants across different life stages. His research employs advanced analytical techniques, particularly mass spectrometry, to precisely measure exposure levels and investigate dose-response relationships. Lindh has secured significant research funding, currently leading projects including 'Temporal Trends in Lead, Mercury, and Cadmium Levels in Children' (Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, 2025-2026) and 'Trade-offs between food safety and food security' (FORMAS, 2024-2027). He serves as Principal Investigator on multiple active research projects totaling 15, with 7 currently active and 7 completed. As Manager of the 'Targeted Exposomics at Lund University' infrastructure, Lindh leads the Applied Mass Spectrometry in Environmental Medicine research team. His work bridges analytical chemistry with public health research, developing methodologies to assess human exposure to environmental chemicals and evaluating their health consequences through epidemiological studies.
Professor Louis Schmidt is a leading academic in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour at McMaster University , with a research focus on developmental psychophysiology, temperament, and the long-term effects of early adversity. His work bridges neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral science, emphasizing the interplay between brain function and socio-emotional development across the lifespan. Key research themes: Shyness, social anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and outcomes of extremely low birth weight. Recognized for mentoring postdoctoral fellow Kristie Poole, who was celebrated as a role model in the Child Emotion Laboratory. Scientific Awards : Royal Society of Canada recognition for contributions to research and scholarship. Research Trends from 15 recent publications include: Neurophysiological mechanisms of shyness (EEG, ERP, RSA) Impact of antenatal corticosteroids on adult brain function Intergenerational effects of maternal mental health interventions Cross-cultural comparisons of temperamental shyness Developmental consequences of preterm birth Behavioral and neural correlates of social anxiety in diverse populations Grants & Collaborations : Led the SNACS randomized controlled trial on antenatal corticosteroids, with applications in obstetrics and developmental neuroscience. Collaborates extensively on topics like autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and emotion regulation. Labs & Teams : Directs the Child Emotion Laboratory at McMaster University, fostering interdisciplinary research on developmental psychopathology and neural mechanisms of temperament.
Giuseppe Rizzo is a Full Professor at the Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome. His academic career focuses on Maternal Fetal Medicine, with expertise in ultrasound applications, fetal growth restriction, preeclampsia, and congenital anomalies. Research Interests : Delivery optimization, prematurity prediction, ultrasound diagnostics, and placental anomalies. Recent Publications : Over 15 high-impact studies in 2024-2025 on topics like umbilical cord abnormalities, cerebroplacental ratios, and gestational diabetes complications. Clinical Expertise : Prenatal counseling, Doppler ultrasound, and labor management protocols. Collaborations : Active in multicenter trials across Italy and Europe, with a focus on fetal neurosonology and high-fidelity obstetric simulation.
Gary M. Shaw is the Rosemarie Hess Professor and Professor (Research) at Stanford University , with courtesy appointments in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health and Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology - Maternal Fetal Medicine . He serves as Co-PI of the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center at Stanford and PI of the California Center for Finding Causes and Preventives of Birth Defects . His research focuses on the Epidemiology of birth defects Gene-environment interactions in perinatal outcomes Nutritional factors in reproductive health . He has developed machine learning approaches for precision parenteral nutrition and predictive models for preterm birth, while investigating persistent metabolomic signatures following hypertensive pregnancy disorders. Shaw's recent work explores Climate change impacts on reproductive health Maternal-fetal immune interactions Epigenetic mechanisms in perinatal disease with applications of multiomics to neonatal intensive care units. As a member of Bio-X and the Maternal & Child Health Research Institute , he contributes to translational research networks while serving as Associate Editor for Birth Defects Research and American Journal of Medical Genetics . He supervises Med Scholar Project student Richard Liang Doctoral co-advisor for Saskia Comess and Richard Liang Master's advisor for Lenae Joe while leading the Division of Neonatology as Associate Chair for Clinical Research (2012-2025). His laboratory work integrates Metabolomic profiling Proteomic analysis Computational modeling Machine learning for biomedical data to advance neonatal care through precision medicine approaches.
Lieselotte Ahnert serves as a Visiting Professor for Developmental Psychology at the Free University of Berlin's Department of Education and Psychology, specifically within the Department of Developmental Science and Applied Developmental Psychology. Her academic journey began at Humboldt University in East Berlin, where she studied psychology during a period of significant political change in the GDR. After completing her doctorate in 1982, she held various research positions including director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Socialization Research (IZAS e.V.) from 1991-1996 and a visiting scientist position at the National Institutes of Health in Washington from 1996-1999. Prior to her current position at FU Berlin (since 2019), she was a Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Vienna from 2008-2019. Professor Ahnert's research focuses on early childhood development, attachment theory, and the specific contributions of fathers to child development. Her work examines how children develop within various caregiving contexts, including the transition from home to childcare settings, the effects of socioeconomic disadvantage on attachment security, and the unique role fathers play in children's language development and emotional regulation. She has conducted extensive research on stress responses in infants during childcare transitions and how care providers influence these responses. Her interdisciplinary approach draws from behavioral biology, genetics, neuroscience, pediatrics, and education to understand the complex interplay between genetic and environmental influences in early development. Ahnert's publication record demonstrates significant contributions to understanding father-child relationships, with recent work exploring how fathers' attachment security and education contribute to early child language skills beyond mothers' influence. Her research has also examined the 'terrible twos' phase, investigating how children cope with frustration and tantrums and how parents support them through these developmental challenges. She has published extensively in high-impact journals including Child Development, Developmental Psychobiology, and Attachment and Human Development. Professor Ahnert has received recognition for her expertise, including being commissioned to provide expertise for the Federal Chancellery of Austria in 2021. Her work has practical applications in early childhood education and intervention programs, particularly in understanding how public childcare can compensate for developmental risks in socioeconomically disadvantaged children. In addition to her research, Ahnert has made significant contributions to academic training and supervision. Her book publications, including 'It's the fathers who matter' (2023) and 'How much mother does a child need?' (2020), bridge the gap between academic research and public understanding of child development. Her work continues to influence both academic discourse and practical approaches to early childhood care and education.
Dr. Steven P. Miller is a Professor and Head of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Medicine. He also serves as the Chief of Pediatric Medicine at BC Children's Hospital & Sunny Hill Health Centre under the Provincial Health Services Authority. Additionally, he holds the Hudson Family Hospital Chair in Pediatric Medicine and is an Investigator at BC Children's Hospital. Dr. Miller's research focuses on neonatal neurology, particularly brain development and injury in newborns. His work utilizes advanced magnetic resonance techniques and bedside brain monitoring to understand how a baby's critical care experience influences their risk of brain injury and developmental trajectory. His research areas include birth defects, concussion, preterm labor, and steroid effects on neonatal brain development. Analysis of Dr. Miller's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on understanding the relationship between neonatal pain exposure, analgesia, and brain development in preterm infants. His work also extensively examines neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants with congenital heart disease, exploring how fetal hemodynamics, surgical interventions, and brain imaging findings correlate with long-term cognitive outcomes. A significant portion of his research investigates the impact of socioeconomic status on brain development and neurocognitive outcomes in preterm infants. Dr. Miller is actively involved in graduate education, supervising students in Neuroscience and Women+ and Children's Health Sciences programs at UBC. His research group, part of the Brain, Behaviour & Development Research Theme and the Neurodevelopmental and Neurological Disorders Visualizing the Brain Research Group, has published extensively in top-tier journals across neurology, pediatrics, and neuroscience.
Betsy Foxman serves as the Hunein F. and Hilda Maassab Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She directs three major initiatives: the Center for Molecular and Clinical Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, the Integrated Training in Microbial Systems program, and the Certificate in Healthcare Infection Prevention & Control. Her academic leadership spans decades with continuous research contributions. Dr. Foxman earned her PhD and MSPH from UCLA (1983, 1980) and BS from UC Berkeley (1977). Her research centers on infectious disease transmission, microbiome ecology, antibiotic resistance, and wastewater surveillance . Key projects include analyzing the oral microbiome in dental caries using genomic methods, studying nose/throat microbiome associations with respiratory infections in nursing facilities, and developing wastewater monitoring for antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Her work integrates next-generation sequencing with epidemiological analysis to identify novel interventions. Publication trends reveal consistent focus on microbiome-pathogen interactions across multiple body sites (oral, vaginal, gut, respiratory). Recent articles demonstrate methodological innovation in wastewater epidemiology (2024 Norovirus GII monitoring) and clinical applications like predicting vancomycin-resistant enterococci contamination (2023 Lancet study). Her research bridges molecular microbiology with population health, emphasizing translational potential for diagnostics and public health interventions. Fellow of the Infectious Disease Society of America Fellow of the American College of Epidemiology Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology Dr. Foxman's advising portfolio includes numerous NIH-funded projects on microbiome dynamics and infection control. Her leadership in the Center for Molecular and Clinical Epidemiology drives collaborative research across departments. Current initiatives focus on wastewater surveillance standardization and microbiome-based diagnostics for infection prevention. She maintains active laboratories for genomic analysis of microbial communities and clinical sample processing.
Dr. Lauren Emberson (she/her/hers) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Arts. She directs the Baby Learning Lab, which is part of UBC's Early Development Research Group, a consortium focused on infant and child development. Prior to her position at UBC, Dr. Emberson was an Assistant Professor at Princeton University where she co-founded and co-directed the Princeton Baby and Princeton Kid Labs. Education: Postdoctoral Associate, University of Rochester (PI Aslin) Ph.D, Cornell University (PIs Amso, Goldstein, Spivey) B.Sc, University of British Columbia Dr. Emberson's research focuses on learning, perception (audition, vision, crossmodal or multisensory), language development, face/object perception, and attention in infants. She investigates these capacities using behavioral and neuroimaging techniques, particularly fNIRS (functional near infrared spectroscopy), working primarily with very young infants (birth through 1 year) and preterm/premature infants. Her work examines how infants' learning capacities contribute to rapid development of perception in ecological contexts, with implications for understanding how early life experiences affect later outcomes. Analysis of Dr. Emberson's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on infant perception, learning mechanisms, and neuroimaging methodology. Her work increasingly incorporates advanced fNIRS techniques while maintaining focus on fundamental questions about how infants learn from their environment. There's a growing emphasis on individual differences, cross-cultural comparisons, and applications to infants facing developmental challenges. Dr. Emberson serves on the editorial board of Infancy (journal of the International Congress of Infancy Studies) and is a consulting editor for the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience . Her research has been published in top journals including PNAS, Current Biology, Psychological Science, Cognition, Developmental Science, and the Journal of Neuroscience. Dr. Emberson has secured significant research funding from prestigious organizations including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, James S. McDonnell Foundation, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She collaborates with clinicians at BC Women's and Children's Hospitals to understand how different early life experiences impact learning and brain development. Dr. Emberson is currently accepting graduate students into her research program. The Baby Learning Lab, under Dr. Emberson's direction, is part of UBC's Early Developmental Research Group and collaborates with multiple institutions. The lab strives to provide interactive research experiences for infants and families while advancing scientific understanding of early cognitive development. The lab acknowledges that it operates on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people.
Dr. Eunice Eunhee Jang is a Professor in the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto. Her research focuses on synergistic learner modeling, dynamic assessment systems, and the intersection of language testing with educational measurement. PhD with specializations in language testing, educational measurement, and program evaluation Develops interactive digital assessment interfaces for struggling readers Author of "Focus on Assessment" (2014) and co-author of OECD Reviews on Evaluation and Assessment in Education Research Interests Dr. Jang's work explores prismatic assessment analytics to understand learner potential and predict learning pathways. She integrates natural language processing and machine learning to create diagnostic feedback systems that support cognitive, metacognitive, and affective growth in technology-rich classrooms. Scientific Awards Jacqueline Ross TOEFL Dissertation Award Caroline Clapham IELTS Master’s Award Tatsuoka Measurement Award Professional Contributions She has served on major advisory boards including EQAO provincial assessments and TOEFL Committees of Examiners. Currently, she is an elected board member for the International Language Testing Association and contributes to the Broader Measures of Success Advisory Committee for People for Education.
Dr. Amy Turitz is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at Yale School of Medicine. She specializes in maternal-fetal medicine, focusing on high-risk pregnancies at Greenwich Hospital. Her research centers on preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, and obstetric complications. Dr. Turitz earned her MD from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, completed her residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and her fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She has been honored with multiple teaching awards for her mentorship of medical students, residents, and fellows. Education: BS in History, Wesleyan University (2005) MD, Mount Sinai School of Medicine (2009) Residency: Obstetrics & Gynecology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (2013) Fellowship: Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center (2016) Research Interests: Dr. Turitz’s work explores mechanisms and interventions for preterm birth prevention, fetal growth restriction, and managing high-risk pregnancies. Her studies often involve collaborations on topics like cerclage timing, progesterone therapy, and maternal-fetal outcomes during pandemics. She emphasizes clinical translation to improve patient care. Awards: Sreedhar Gaddipati Maternal-Fetal Medicine Teaching Award (2023) APGO Excellence in Teaching Award (2020) Resident Teaching Award (2013) Labs/Teams: She co-founded the Cervix Research Working Group and was part of the Preterm Birth Prevention Center at Columbia University. Her current affiliations include the Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit at Yale.
Nicola Hawley is an Associate Professor of Epidemiology (Chronic Disease) at the Yale School of Public Health with a secondary appointment in the Department of Anthropology at Yale University. She serves as Associate Director for Dissemination and Implementation Science at the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation and is affiliated with the Yale Institute for Global Health and Yale Network for Global Non-Communicable Diseases. Dr. Hawley is an internationally recognized expert in maternal and child health, with particular expertise in the developmental origins of obesity and related chronic diseases. Her interdisciplinary research bridges epidemiology, anthropology, and global health to examine how early life exposures during pregnancy, infancy, and childhood shape long-term health. She employs a life-course perspective and mixed-methods approaches across cross-sectional, cohort, and randomized controlled trial designs to identify critical windows for intervention. A hallmark of her work is the integration of community-engaged and culturally responsive strategies to address maternal and child health disparities in under-resourced and Indigenous settings. Her research primarily focuses on Pacific Islander communities in Samoa, American Samoa, and the US, with additional collaborations in South Africa, Uganda, New Zealand, and the United States. Dr. Hawley's current research portfolio includes NIH- and PCORI-funded studies addressing gestational and Type 2 diabetes, prevention of excess gestational weight gain, childhood obesity, and cardiometabolic risk across generations. Her recent publications demonstrate strong emphasis on Samoan health issues, including studies on genetic adaptations, sleep patterns, mental health, and food security, with a consistent focus on culturally appropriate interventions and community engagement. Yale School of Public Health Teacher of the Year (2016) As a mentor, Dr. Hawley plays a central role in training the next generation of US and global health scientists, serving as primary mentor on multiple NIH career development awards (K01, K99, F30, F31) focused on Pacific Islander health. She leads the Obesity, Lifestyle and Genetic Adaptations (OLaGA) Study Group, which uses a life course approach to understand the origins of obesity and related cardiometabolic diseases among Samoans and other Pacific Islanders. Her laboratory work emphasizes community partnerships and capacity building, with core values centered on equity, community engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and mentorship. The OLaGA Study Group is driven by the belief that innovative research should not only advance scientific understanding but lead to tangible improvement in health outcomes for all, particularly for populations often neglected in public health and genetic research.
Dr. Sarah L. Friedman is a Research Professor in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, specializing in developmental psychology. Her work focuses on child development, antisemitism, and family contexts. She holds a Ph.D. from the George Washington University (1975), an M.A. from Cornell University (1971), and a B.A. from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1969). Her research encompasses preterm birth effects on development, brain-cognition-education interfaces, and longitudinal follow-up strategies. Dr. Friedman has received prestigious awards, including NIH Merit Awards and multiple fellowships from professional associations. She serves on advisory boards for organizations like the Military Child Education Coalition and the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Her current research examines antisemitism's impact on Jewish children and interventions against bias. Advisory Roles: Child Research Net (Japan), APA Division 7 Executive Committee, and the Association of Jewish Psychologists Research Committee. Leadership: APA Division 1 President (2020–2021), APA Council Member (2024–2026).
Shayesteh Jahanfar is a Professor in the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, with a secondary appointment in Community Health at the Tufts School of Arts and Sciences. As a reproductive epidemiologist with expertise in public health and biostatistics, she directs the Cochrane Affiliate at Tufts and co-directs the Pregnancy and Childbirth US Satellite with Cochrane. Her global research spans reproductive health, maternal-child health, and genetic versus environmental studies across Australia, Malaysia, Canada, and the USA. Education: Doctor of Philosophy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (2016) Doctor of Philosophy, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia (1995) Master of Science in Community Health, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan, Malaysia (2009) Postdoc Epidemiology and Public Health, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan, Malaysia (2008) Dr. Jahanfar's research program focuses on reproductive health, maternal-child health, global health, HIV/AIDS, opioid use, and twin studies. She leads WHO-funded projects related to reasons for Cesarean sections, family planning, and assisted vaginal birth, and collaborates with WHO's Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research. Her work with twin studies spans multiple international settings, examining genetic versus environmental influences on health outcomes. She actively develops training materials for Cochrane trainers and promotes evidence-based healthcare practices globally. Her recent publications (2025) demonstrate a strong focus on women's health issues, particularly reproductive health, maternal outcomes, and interventions during pregnancy and childbirth. Her research combines epidemiological methods with clinical trials and systematic reviews, often with a global health perspective. She frequently collaborates on research in Iran and other international settings, addressing both clinical and social determinants of health. Her work spans from molecular diagnostics in cancer to behavioral interventions in maternal health, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to public health research. Scientific Awards: Equity & Inclusion Fellow (2023) Most Stimulating Paper (2019) President and Provost's Research Award Nomination (2019) With over 35 years of teaching experience, Dr. Jahanfar has trained more than 800 clinicians and scientists through over 80 Cochrane workshops worldwide. Her grant portfolio includes multiple WHO-funded projects on family planning, Cesarean sections, and assisted vaginal birth. Under her leadership, Tufts University established a memorandum of understanding with the University of Malaya, facilitating student research projects in Malaysia during Summers 2022-2024. She actively seeks students and researchers to collaborate on Cochrane's work, twin studies, and reproductive health research projects. Dr. Jahanfar directs the Cochrane Affiliate at Tufts and co-directs the Pregnancy and Childbirth US Satellite. She collaborates with WHO's Maternal and Perinatal Health department, Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, and serves as a consultant for WHO and EMRO. Her global health research initiatives span Australia, Malaysia, Egypt, Iran, Europe, and the Middle East, reflecting her commitment to advancing global health education and research through international partnerships.
Lee Ferguson is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Duke University, with additional appointments as Associate Professor in the Division of Marine Science and Policy. His research focuses on environmental analytical chemistry, particularly using high-resolution mass spectrometry to study per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) , microplastics , and endocrine disruptors . Ferguson Lab develops methods for contaminant detection in water systems and investigates chemical leaching from polymers. Ph.D. in Chemistry from Stony Brook University (2002) Former Assistant Professor at University of South Carolina (2003-2009) Recent work includes PFAS analysis in lithium-ion batteries, glyphosate detection in hard waters, and microplastic dye toxicity studies. Key publications explore urban watershed contamination, Sri Lankan drinking water CKDu links, and novel analytical methods for environmental pollutants. Applied Research Fellowship (2022), Kavli Frontiers of Science Fellow (2011) Testified before U.S. Senate on nanotechnology risks Co-founder of NC PFAS Testing Network As an advisor, he mentors Doctoral Candidates Patrick Faught and Anna Lewis , who investigate microplastic dyes and polymer additives. Lab research spans environmental fate of nanomaterials, contaminant bioavailability, and exposomics for health outcomes.
