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Professor Alexandra Birch serves as Chair of Multilingual Natural Language Processing at the Institute for Language, Cognition and Computation (ILCC) within the School of Informatics at the University of Edinburgh. She is a leading member of the StatMT group and Edinburgh Natural Language Processing group, while also co-founding and serving as Chief Scientist of Aveni.ai, a fintech company delivering GenAI solutions to the UK finance sector. Her research centers on advancing multilingual natural language processing with applications that improve people's lives. Professor Birch has made significant contributions to the paradigm shift toward neural networks and large language models in NLP, with expertise spanning multilingual and multimodal processing, ethical considerations, model explainability, and computational efficiency. Her work addresses critical challenges in making language technologies accessible across diverse linguistic contexts. Professor Birch's publication record includes over 100 peer-reviewed papers that demonstrate strong trends in multilingual machine translation, low-resource language processing, and ethical AI frameworks. Her research bridges theoretical advances with practical implementations, particularly evident in her current leadership of the FinLLM project for the financial sector. As a research leader, she has secured and directed major EU-funded projects including EuroLLM (developing a large language model for European languages), UTTER (creating a multilingual meeting assistant), and GoURMET (focusing on low-resource machine translation for media content). Her industry collaboration through Aveni.ai demonstrates successful translation of academic research into commercial applications, particularly in the financial services domain. Professor Birch maintains active leadership in both academic and industry communities, with her current work on domain-specific language models representing an important direction in adapting general-purpose LLMs to specialized professional contexts while addressing multilingual challenges.

• Multilingual Natural Language Processing
• Multimodal Natural Language Processing
• Machine Translation
• +5 more

Pawan Adhikari is a Professor of Accounting at Essex Business School, University of Essex , where he serves as Director of Impact and Enterprise and Director of Essex Accounting Centre . He is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting and Financial Management and a Executive Board Member of the Comparative International Governmental Accounting Research Network (CIGAR) . Previously, he led accounting reforms at Nepal’s Accounting and Auditing Standards Board and lectured at Nord University, Norway. PhD, Nord University Business School Fellow of the Higher Education Academy His research focuses on public sector accounting in developing countries, particularly accounting reforms , public value creation , and climate accountability . He explores how accrual accounting and participatory budgeting can enhance transparency in South Asian and African contexts. His work has influenced policy-making in Nepal and is recognized with the 2023 Best International Research Impact award by the University of Essex. Recent publications analyze wellbeing economies (2025), NGO accountability in disasters (2024), and climate budgeting (2023). He collaborates with institutions like the World Bank , European Commission , and British Academy , focusing on projects related to financial resilience , circular economy , and health sector accountability . Supervising 8 current PhD students, his advisees have produced work on topics like accrual accounting in Bangladesh and NGO accountability in Palestine . World Bank/PEFA Research Award African Accounting and Financial Association (AAFA) Award ESRC IIA Impact Fund GCRF and SeNSS Grants 2019 Best Postgraduate Supervisor (Essex)

• Public Sector Accounting
• Government Accounting and Budgeting
• Accounting Reforms in Developing Countries
• +5 more

Mr. Kazi Tansen serves as Lecturer at the University of East London, affiliated with the Architecture, Computing & Engineering research institute. His scholarship addresses blockchain applications in cybersecurity and governance systems. Recent work develops blockchain frameworks for secure e-procurement systems, digital identity solutions for smart cities, and corruption mitigation in public sector procurement. His publications examine blockchain's disruptive potential in transforming cybersecurity protocols and enhancing transparency in governmental operations.

• Blockchain Technology
• E-Procurement Systems
• Cybersecurity
• +2 more

Virginia Leavell serves as Assistant Professor in Organisational Theory and Information Systems at Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge. Her research investigates how organisations anticipate technological change through digital prediction systems, AI, and infrastructure transformation, drawing on her decade-long background in political organising for non-profits and labour groups across the US and Thailand. Her academic credentials include: BA in Interdisciplinary Studies, Georgetown University MA in Sociology, University of California Santa Barbara PhD in Technology Management, University of California Santa Barbara Leavell's scholarly work centers on organisational anticipation of technological futures, employing ethnographic and social network analysis methods to examine digital transformation in critical infrastructure contexts. She explores how predictive technologies reshape organisational structures and actions before technological change fully materializes, with particular focus on water systems, urban planning, and labor industries where digital twins and simulation technologies create new governance challenges. Analysis of her 2017-2024 publications reveals consistent examination of prediction performativity across sectors, demonstrating how digital models influence physical realities in infrastructure management. Her research trajectory shows increasing emphasis on sociomaterial dimensions of anticipatory organising, with recent work interrogating the equalization of human and technological agency in digital transformation processes. No scientific awards were specified in source materials. Leavell actively contributes to the Organisational Theory and Information Systems subject group at Cambridge Judge Business School, which engages cross-disciplinary leadership themes. Information regarding student advising and research grants remains unspecified in available documentation.

• Organisational Anticipation
• Digital Prediction Technologies
• AI and Autonomous Systems
• +4 more

Professor Astrid Nordin holds the Lau Chair of Chinese International Relations at King's College London's Lau China Institute, within the School of Global Affairs. Previously, she was a Professor and Director at Lancaster University's China Centre. Her research bridges Chinese studies and critical international relations, focusing on relational theories and China's global role. Key areas include Chinese foreign policy, surveillance technologies, and decolonial approaches. Education: Peking University, Jilin University, City University Hong Kong, University of Warwick, University of Manchester Research Interests: Chinese world order concepts, relational approaches, critical social theory, and ontology of war. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, impacting policy, media, and cultural sectors. Notable projects include the 'Chinese Anger Diplomacy' study and the 'ESRC IAA: Community-led support for overseas Chinese' initiative. She co-edited the Routledge Handbook of Social Futures (2021) and contributes to public discourse on China's global influence. Awards: KingsCAT Tool Development (2024) alongside interdisciplinary team.

• International Relations
• Chinese Foreign Policy
• Critical Social Theory
• +4 more

Professor Daniel Rueckert is a leading academic in Artificial Intelligence and Medical Imaging, holding dual positions at Imperial College London (as Professor of Visual Information Processing) and Technical University of Munich (Alexander von Humboldt Professor for AI in Medicine and Healthcare). He obtained his MSc from Technical University Berlin (1993) and PhD from Imperial College London (1997), followed by postdoctoral work at King’s College London. At Imperial, he led the Department of Computing (2016–2020) and founded the Biomedical Image Analysis group. His research focuses on AI-driven medical image analysis, including algorithms for image reconstruction, registration, and clinical decision support. His research interests span AI applications in healthcare, machine learning for medical imaging, and computational methods for clinical diagnostics. Notable contributions include over 500 publications and 60+ PhD graduates, with key works in federated learning, cardiac motion analysis, and biomarker development. Awards include the Leibniz Prize (2025), Royal Academy of Engineering Fellowship (2015), and multiple ERC grants. He leads the BioMedIA research group and is an editorial board member of Medical Image Analysis . Recent publications highlight advancements in AI-driven medical imaging, such as secure federated learning frameworks and deep learning models for disease prediction. His work bridges academic and industrial sectors through initiatives like IXICO, an Imperial spin-out. Current affiliations include roles at both Imperial and TUM, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration in healthcare technology. Advising and grants: Supervised over 60 PhD students and 40 post-docs. Secured grants including ERC Synergy (2013) and ERC Advanced (2020). Active in labs focused on biomedical image computing and AI in healthcare systems. Collaborative efforts include the BioMedIA group and TUM’s AI initiatives. Labs/teams: Leads the Biomedical Image Analysis group at Imperial and the TUM AI in Medicine team. Collaborates extensively on projects like cardiac imaging analysis and federated learning for healthcare.

• Artificial Intelligence
• Machine Learning
• Medical Imaging
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Dr. Liam Mannion is a Senior Lecturer in Therapeutic Radiography and Oncology at City St George’s, University of London, where he leads key modules in radiotherapy techniques, oncology, and radiobiology. He is an HCPC-registered Therapeutic Radiographer with clinical experience in both NHS and private sectors. He also serves as the Practice Education Lead for Therapeutic Radiography and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. PhD, King's College London MSc, London South Bank University PGCert, City, University of London BSc (Hons), University College Dublin His research focuses on optimizing treatments for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, patient-centered care, and radiobiology. He employs methodologies such as discrete choice experiments to understand patient preferences in treatment decisions. His educational interests include gamification, debriefing, and student well-being in radiography training. His recent publications reveal a strong trend in patient-centered oncology research, particularly in bladder cancer decision-making, alongside innovations in radiotherapy education. He frequently collaborates with institutions like King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. Dr. Mannion is actively involved in peer review for the Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice and served as an External Examiner at Cardiff University. He has also held leadership roles such as Joint Programme Director at City, University of London. He has contributed to research on compassion fatigue among students, leadership in radiography during the pandemic, and functional imaging in glioblastoma. His work bridges clinical practice, education, and patient-centered outcomes. Dr. Mannion is affiliated with professional organizations including the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Society of Radiographers. He teaches across undergraduate modules in radiotherapy and oncology, with a focus on practical and theoretical integration.

• Radiobiology
• Therapeutic Radiography
• Oncology
• +7 more

Professor Sarah Hall serves as the 1931 Professor of Geography and a Fellow at St John’s College, University of Cambridge. She is a Senior Fellow and Deputy Director at UK in a Changing Europe , where she examines UK-EU relations and the economic geography of post-Brexit financial services. Her research integrates cultural economy and political economy frameworks to analyze the spatial impacts of global financial shifts on cities, particularly focusing on London’s role as a financial hub and its evolving ties with China and the EU. Education: MA, PhD Her work, funded by the ESRC, British Academy, Leverhulme Trust, and Nuffield Foundation, explores how macroeconomic transitions—such as Brexit, China’s financial rise, and finance-led capitalism—reshape regional economies. She employs geographically sensitive approaches to bridge academic, public, and policy debates. Research Trends across her 2023–2015 publications emphasize: Post-Brexit financial services job displacement and regulatory divergence State capitalism’s role in Chinese banking expansion into London Interlocking corporate-policy networks between EU financial centres Offshore RMB market dynamics in the UK Marketization of higher education and elite recruitment Scientific Recognition : British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship (2016–17) Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (2020) She contributes to Geoforum as Co-Editor-in-Chief and mentors prospective PhD students in economic geography and financial geopolitics.

• Economic Geography
• Financial Services
• UK-EU Relations
• +5 more

David Ashmore is a Lecturer in Engineering Economics at the University of Southampton, specializing in transport sector reform, infrastructure procurement, service contract franchising, and public policy. He has over 30 years of international experience working with engineers, policymakers, regulators, and multilateral donors across the UK, Europe, India, the Americas, Africa, and Asia-Pacific regions. Transport Economics Infrastructure Procurement Public-Private Partnerships Policy Analysis His recent research explores sustainable mobility transitions, including ride-hailing dynamics in Indian cities, hydrogen truck adoption in Australia, and equitable infrastructure systems amid rapid urbanization. He emphasizes multistakeholder collaboration and policy innovation in transport reforms. Key publication trends focus on zero-emissions transportation, PPP challenges, automated planning tools, and formal-informal sector integration in developing countries. Articles span conference proceedings, journal articles, and policy-oriented outputs. David serves as a Visiting Research Fellow at the Technical University of Dresden and holds memberships in the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and the Institution of Transportation Engineers. He actively supervises PhD students and leads global transport policy research initiatives.

• transport sector reform
• infrastructure procurement
• service contract franchising
• +3 more

Dr Muhammad Abid serves as Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at Ulster University's School of Computing, Engineering and Intelligent Systems on the Derry~Londonderry campus, where he also coordinates Degree Apprenticeships for Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering programmes, driving industry-academia collaboration for workforce development. His academic credentials include a PhD in Applied Thermodynamics from Ulster University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Academic Practice from the University of Liverpool, complemented by over 15 years of international experience across UK and Middle Eastern institutions. Research focuses on decarbonizing thermal systems through advanced heat pump technologies, with expertise spanning applied thermodynamics, energy efficiency optimization, and sustainable heating/cooling solutions for residential applications. His work directly addresses UN Sustainable Development Goals through climate-resilient engineering innovations. Recent publications demonstrate consistent investigation into heat supply temperature effects on system performance and economics, establishing critical relationships between operating parameters, housing characteristics, and decarbonization pathways for domestic heating. Professional recognition includes: Chartered Mechanical Engineer (CEng MIMechE) Fellow of Advance HE (FHEA) As an educator, Dr Abid implements Education for Sustainable Development principles across curricula while supervising postgraduate research. He actively shapes sector policy through IMechE's Energy, Environment and Sustainability Group Board membership and serves as a Climate STEM Ambassador advancing public engagement with climate solutions.

• Applied Thermodynamics
• Heat Pump Systems
• Energy Efficiency
• +3 more

Dr Isik Akin is a Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Finance at Bath Spa University and leads the Accounting Pathway. He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate modules including Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, Corporate Financial Management, and Quantitative Research Methods. Education: PhD in Accounting and Finance (Bath Spa University), PhD in Economics and Finance (Istanbul Gelisim University), MSc in Finance (University of the West of England), BSc in Mathematics (Trakya University) Professional Qualifications: Fellowship in Higher Education Academy, Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) His research focuses on Behavioral Finance , FinTech , Credit Risk Management , and Sustainable Finance . Recent publications analyze: Enterprise valuation dynamics (FTSE 100) Metaverse asset valuation frameworks Interconnected financial markets (stocks, commodities, crypto) Green investments in real estate He has secured significant international funding including the Connect4Innovation UK-Turkey partnership grant (2021-2022, £50,000) and coordinated EU projects like the Life-Long Learning Programme (2016-2017). Scientific Awards & Roles: Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) certified Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Advisory Board Member: Izlek Academic Journal, Metropolitan Business Review Editorial Board Member: International Journal of Economics and Financial Research His career spans multiple institutions including Worcester University and University of Arts London, with expertise in international finance, quantitative methods, and financial globalization.

• Behavioral Finance
• FinTech
• Credit Risk Management
• +5 more

Professor Jan Bebbington holds the Rubin Chair in Sustainability in Business at Lancaster University and serves as Director of the Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business . Her research intersects sustainable development with organisational operations, focusing on accounting technologies for control and accountability, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and carbon accounting. Her recent work explores sustainability reporting norms , inter-corporate accountability mechanisms , and biodiversity scenario analysis . Publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches to climate accountability, organisational stability, and resilient business practices. Key projects include collaborations with Stockholm Resilience Centre , The Swedish Research Council , and Innovate UK , addressing topics like ocean stewardship (SeaBOS) and biodiversity decision-making frameworks. She employs virtual labs and cross-sector partnerships to advance sustainability governance.

• Sustainability Reporting
• Carbon Accounting
• Organizational Control
• +4 more

Alis Oancea is Professor of Philosophy of Education and Research Policy at the University of Oxford's Department of Education, part of the Social Sciences Division. She holds additional roles including ESRC Centre for Global Higher Education Deputy Director and Social Sciences Division Advocate for Responsible Engagement. With dual doctoral degrees (DPhil from Oxford and PhD from Bucharest), she also received a Doctor Honoris Causa from University of the West Timisoara. Her research focuses on meta-research, research policy, and higher education governance. Key areas include research assessment frameworks, impact measurement, ethics, open knowledge practices, and teacher education. She co-edited the 2024 Handbook of Meta-Research and leads international studies on research cultures and policies. Education: DPhil (Oxford), PhD (Buc), DipLATHE (Oxford), Dhc (UWT) Roles: Director of Research (2016-20), REF2021 Coordinator, ESRC CGHE Deputy Director Leadership: Over 30 funded projects including the RKEEI initiative and BERA Observatory Her 150+ publications span research policy, impact evaluation, and education systems. Awards include FAcSS Fellowship and numerous international advisory roles across Europe and Norway. Advises on global education reforms and chairs panels for EU, UK, and Nordic research councils. Current doctoral supervision focuses on research policy, higher education systems, and teacher education innovations. Active in editorial roles for Oxford Review of Education and Review of Education .

• Philosophy of Education
• Research Policy
• Research Assessment
• +7 more

Professor Cedo Maksimovic is a leading academic in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London, Faculty of Engineering. He is a Principal Research Fellow and heads the Urban Water Research Group (UWRG), with affiliations to the Environmental and Water Resource Engineering group, Grantham Institute, Space Lab, and Urban Systems Lab. His research focuses on urban water systems , including storm drainage, urban flooding, water supply, and the interaction between urban infrastructure and the environment. He has pioneered work in applied fluid mechanics , smart water infrastructure , and flood risk management , with innovations such as the AOFD method for urban surface flood modelling and intelligent sensor networks recognized by the ICE Telford Gold Medal. His recent research, as reflected in publications, spans urban pluvial flooding , leakage detection , integrated urban water management , and blue-green infrastructure . These works emphasize computational modelling, real-time monitoring, and climate resilience in urban environments. UNESCO/IAHR Lecturer of the Year 2001 ICE Telford Gold Medal (WINES project team) Prof. Maksimovic has led major projects funded by EPSRC, EU (Climate-KIC, Interreg), UNESCO, and ERANET_CRUE. He advises postgraduate students and has created international educational initiatives like the EDUCATE programme. He also serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Urban Water Book Series and co-founded the Urban Water journal. He leads the UNESCO-endorsed IRTCUD/CUW network with centres in Banjaluka, Belgrade, Cairo, Kuala Lumpur, London, Porto Alegre, Tehran, and Trondheim, promoting global collaboration in urban water research and education.

• Urban Water Systems
• Applied Fluid Mechanics
• Storm Drainage
• +12 more

Dr. Godfred Afrifa is a Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Senior Tutor (Canterbury) at Kent Business School , University of Kent. He is also a Visiting Lecturer at IESEG School of Management (France) since 2014 and at ISCID-CO International Business School (France) since 2016. PhD in Finance and Risk (Bournemouth University, 2013) MSc in Finance (University of Leicester, 2008) BSc in Applied Accounting (Oxford Brookes University) HND in Accounting (Kumasi Polytechnic) Chartered Accountant and Certificate in Insurance (Chartered Insurance Institute) His research explores the intersection of corporate governance , working capital management , and microfinance institutions . He investigates how CSR governance affects business practices, the dynamics of trade credit in SMEs, and the role of regional development in service-sector performance. His recent work also covers linguistic influences on financial reporting and pedagogical innovations in accounting education. Dr. Afrifa's 15 most recent publications (2020–2025) span topics like CSR decoupling , firm identity changes , credit policies , and microfinance integrity , with methodologies including stochastic frontier analysis and cross-country comparisons . His work frequently addresses financial strategies in SMEs and sustainability in supply chains and development. Scientific Awards : Fellow of The Higher Education Academy (2015), Affiliate Member of ACCA (2004). Dr. Afrifa supervises Mohammad Abwen (PhD thesis: Credibility of CSR Disclosure ) and welcomes PhD candidates in SME management , working capital , and microfinance . His Visiting Lecturer roles at French institutions highlight international collaboration. The 2023 Evaluation Report on Re:Generation 2031 underscores his work in sustainable development beyond traditional finance.

• SMEs Financing
• Corporate Governance
• Working Capital Management
• +5 more