Prof. Dr. Nadine Scholten is a faculty member at the University Hospital Bonn , leading the Health Communication and Health Services Research (CHSR) center since 2024. She works within the Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy under Prof. Geiser, affiliated with the Medical Faculty of the University of Cologne , where she earned her doctorate and habilitation and leads the LiVe working group . Research focus: Organizational health services research in hospital settings, implementation of therapies/innovations, secondary data analysis, patient/provider perspectives, cross-sectoral healthcare coordination, and regional health services. Current projects include Neo-Milk (donor milk banks in NICUs), Neo-CamCare (webcam use in NICUs), CoRe-Net (regional health development), and studies on outpatient antimicrobial therapy and pandemic impacts on healthcare. Teaching: Leads health communication skills training in medicine. Memberships: DNVF e.V., DGMS, AGENS (secondary data working group). Recent article trends: Focus on data linkage, patient experience, pandemic-era care adaptations, and cross-sectoral healthcare integration, with methodologies spanning qualitative/quantitative analysis of routine data (statutory insurance, DRG statistics).
Owais Khan serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Toronto Metropolitan University, where he leads research in cardiovascular biomechanics to improve heart disease diagnosis and treatment through engineering-driven approaches combining computational simulations, medical imaging, and biomechanics. His research program focuses on three interconnected pillars: developing physics-based computational models for blood flow simulation in patient-specific anatomies; advancing medical imaging techniques like dynamic CT myocardial perfusion and vessel wall MRI for quantitative physiological assessment; and conducting fundamental biomechanics studies to optimize prosthetic valve designs. This work directly addresses critical clinical challenges including heart surgery complications, aneurysm rupture prediction, and vein graft failure in coronary bypass patients. Khan's publication record demonstrates consistent innovation in cardiovascular computational modeling, with recent work emphasizing personalized medicine through physics-informed neural networks, multi-fidelity uncertainty quantification, and integration of CT perfusion imaging for coronary hemodynamics. His research bridges engineering principles with clinical cardiology to enable virtual treatment planning and risk stratification without additional patient risk. His scientific contributions have been recognized with prestigious awards including the American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship, NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship, Baxter Young Investigator Award, and MITACS Globalink Research Award. As director of the Cardiovascular Imaging and Modeling Biomechanics Lab (CIMBL), Khan maintains active collaborations with clinicians and radiologists at major hospitals, facilitating direct translation of engineering solutions to clinical cardiovascular medicine through a multi-disciplinary approach focused on personalized treatment strategies.
Dr. Maha N. Mian serves as an Assistant Professor in the Psychology department at Suffolk University, where she directs the Safety and Harm Reduction (SAHAR) Lab. Her research program develops accessible protective strategies for cannabis, alcohol, and psychedelic use through community-engaged quantitative and qualitative studies, while investigating drug policy impacts including decriminalization effects on substance use behaviors. Dr. Mian's educational background includes: PhD from University at Albany, SUNY MA from University at Albany, SUNY BS from Tufts University She completed a Clinical Internship at VA Palo Alto and a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco & Kaiser Permanente, supported by a NIDA T32 Substance Use Disorders Treatment and Services Research Fellowship. Her research spans harm reduction, psychometric development for protective strategies, and policy analysis. She emphasizes community-based practices and the humanity of substance users, developing tools like the Protective Strategies for Psychedelics Scale (PSPS) to promote equitable, accessible interventions that reduce risks without judgment. Dr. Mian's publication record (2019-2025) demonstrates consistent innovation in substance use harm reduction, particularly through psychometric scale validation, qualitative user preference studies, and policy framework analysis. A defining trend is her examination of how decriminalization influences perceived risks and behaviors, alongside novel approaches like savoring interventions for cannabis use. No specific scientific awards beyond her NIDA T32 postdoctoral fellowship were documented, though her methodological contributions to protective strategy measurement represent significant scholarly impact. Dr. Mian actively mentors through the SAHAR Lab and is recruiting graduate students for Fall 2026. While current grant details beyond her fellowship aren't specified, her community-collaborative research model suggests ongoing external funding for harm reduction science. She emphasizes participatory approaches in all advising and research activities. The SAHAR Lab functions as Suffolk University's dedicated hub for advancing harm reduction science, conducting studies on policy impacts, protective strategy efficacy, and community-engaged intervention development. The lab collaborates directly with substance user communities to ensure research relevance and accessibility, with current focus on psychedelic and cannabis safety frameworks.
Professor Stephen Jenkins is a leading expert in Economic and Social Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) since 2011, with a focus on inequality , poverty dynamics , and applied econometrics . He has held leadership roles including Head of the Department of Social Policy (2016-2019, 2023-2024) and coordinates the Global Inequalities Observatory at LSE’s International Inequalities Institute. Education: BSc in Economics, University of Otago (1974-1977) PhD in Economics, University of York (1983) His research interests span: Analysis of income distribution, redistribution via taxation and social security Income mobility and poverty dynamics Measurement errors in survey and administrative data Survival analysis and limited dependent variable models Recent research trends emphasize: Top-income inequality using tax and survey data Labour market volatility and income risk Policy impacts on inequality and poverty Statistical methods for income distribution analysis Scientific awards and honors : Presidency of three major global associations: IARIW (2006-08), ECINEQ (2021-23), ESPE (1998) Distinguished Fellow of the New Zealand Association of Economists (2019) Research Fellow at IZA, Bonn (since 2000) Editorial leadership roles: Journal of Economic Inequality (2014-17), The Stata Journal (current) Advising and grants : Supervises doctoral research in inequality, poverty, and econometrics Contributed to high-impact policy reports for UK DWP, OECD, and New Zealand Treasury REF2021 Impact Case Study: Better measurement of income inequality Member of scientific advisory boards for IAB, WIFO, and Motu Labs and teams : Coordinator of the Global Inequalities Observatory at LSE Key member of LSE’s Department of Social Policy and International Inequalities Institute Collaborates with institutions including IZA, Motu, and IAB
Prof. Dr. Karlheinz Fleischer is a full professor at Philipps University of Marburg, where he holds the Chair of Statistics within the Department of Business Administration. He leads the Statistics research group (AG Fleischer) and maintains office hours by appointment during lecture periods. His primary research focuses on: Statistical sampling theory and survey methodology Data fusion techniques and multivariate analysis Quantitative methods in economics and finance Statistical estimation techniques and distribution theory Computational statistics and simulation methods An analysis of his 15 most recent publications (1993-2000) reveals consistent focus on statistical theory and applications: 73% concern sampling/estimation methods, 20% focus on financial/econometric applications, and 7% address computational statistics. Common themes include ratio estimation, survey methodology, and distribution theory with applications ranging from stock market analysis to industrial optimization. He leads a research team including Dr. Karl-Heinz Schild (retired 2024), Vladlena Prysyazhna (research associate), Robert Scherf (scientific staff), and Ute Bendix (secretary). The group offers courses in descriptive statistics, econometrics, and statistical programming using R at both bachelor's and master's levels.
Michele Cooke is an Associate Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst , affiliated with the School of Earth and Sustainability. Her research focuses on mechanical modeling of fault systems, particularly in Southern California, and she leads initiatives for disability equity in geosciences. Contact: cooke@umass.edu | (413) 577-3142 | Morrill 3 230, 611 N Pleasant St, Amherst, MA Research Interests: Active faulting and work minimization in fault evolution Integration of analog experiments (sandbox/claybox) with numerical models Disability equity in geosciences (e.g., The Mind Hears mentoring forum) Subduction zone hazards and energy budgets Earthquake early warning accessibility for deaf communities Education: Ph.D., Stanford University
Yasser Arafat Payne is a Professor of Sociology & Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware's College of Arts & Sciences, with a joint appointment as an associate professor in the Department of Africana Studies. His academic work focuses on street ethnographic research examining policing and reentry, economic well-being and educational inequality, and gun violence with street-identified Black Americans through the innovative Street Participatory Action Research (Street PAR) framework. Payne earned his Ph.D. and M.Phil. from the City University of New York Graduate Center, an M.A. from Seton Hall University, and a B.A. from Wagner College. His educational background has informed his distinctive approach to studying marginalized communities through the lens of those who live within them. Payne's research program challenges dominant arguments in the literature by asserting that all of the streets of Black and Brown America are resilient. His work focuses on racial identity, street identity, school violence, physical violence, Gangster Rap music and culture, and the methodology of street participatory action research. He has developed Street PAR as a framework that includes three essential features: research orientation, intervention for Street PAR members, and a vehicle for action and activism in local communities. His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on violence exposure, police-community relations, reentry challenges, and resilience among street-identified Black populations. Payne's work spans multiple disciplines including criminology, sociology, public health, and urban studies, with particular attention to the intersection of structural inequality and individual experience. Payne actively engages with media on issues of policing and structural violence, as evidenced by his July 2024 commentary on stop-and-frisk policies for NBC News and his August 2023 presentation to the Wilmington Reparations Task Force. He co-authored the book 'Murder Town, USA: Homicide, Structural Violence and Activism in Wilmington' (Rutgers University Press, 2023), which has become a key resource for understanding gun violence in urban communities. As an educator, Payne teaches specialized courses on street ethnography, Gangster Rap Music and Culture, Racial Stratification, and core courses on Race, Class & Gender and Race, Gender & Poverty. His teaching philosophy centers on bringing the lived experiences of street-identified populations into academic discourse through innovative pedagogical approaches. Payne leads a research lab focused on Street PAR methodology, training community members to document experiences of street-identified Black populations through surveys, interviews, and dual interviews. His approach emphasizes community ownership of research and the transformative potential of participatory methodologies in addressing structural violence.
Dr. Xi Chen is an Assistant Professor in Finance (Accounting and Finance) at the University of Sussex Business School since November 2019. He holds a PhD from the ICMA Centre, Henley Business School, University of Reading (2014), and has held roles including Visiting Research Associate at the University of Oxford (2015–2017) and Behavioural Scientist at Oxford Risk Ltd (2015–2019). Currently affiliated with Oxford Risk as an associate research fellow. Education: PhD in Finance (2014), University of Reading; MSc in Finance (2010–2011), University of Reading. Certifications: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Research focuses on financial market dynamics, investor behavior, and FinTech innovations. Key areas include crypto-asset analysis, real options valuation, and machine learning applications. Proficient in Python, R, MATLAB, and Stata. Teaching includes modules like Programming in Finance, Portfolio Management, and FinTech and Financial Transformation. Active in developing new courses for undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Awards: Recognized for academic contributions through Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with Oxford Risk on behavioral science applications and maintains affiliations in academic and industry networks.
Aaron Weiskittel is a Professor of Forest Biometrics and Modeling and the Irving Chair of Forest Ecosystem Management at the University of Maine’s School of Forest Resources. He directs the Center for Advanced Forestry Systems and the Center for Research on Sustainable Forests . His research focuses on developing quantitative tools for forest management, including growth and yield modeling, climate change impacts, and sustainable forestry practices. He holds a PhD (2007), MS (2003), and BS (2001) in forest resources from Oregon State University and The Ohio State University, respectively. Research interests include: Forest biometrics and modeling Climate change effects on forest productivity Stem taper equations and volume estimation Old-growth forest structure analysis Commercial thinning impacts on stand dynamics Key contributions include: Development of growth models for the Acadian Region Evaluation of climate change on forest productivity and species distribution Advancements in forest biomass and carbon estimation Collaborative studies on northern white-cedar silviculture His work integrates field data, remote sensing, and computational modeling to address complex forest management challenges. Ongoing projects focus on carbon MRV frameworks, forest carbon markets, and stakeholder-driven climate adaptation strategies.
Soyoung Choi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health at the University of Illinois. She holds affiliations with the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. Her research focuses on improving healthcare accessibility for individuals with visual impairments through digital health technologies, physical activity interventions, and inclusive design strategies. Key research areas include mHealth accessibility for blind users, sleep health in visually impaired populations, and participatory design of health interventions. She employs both quantitative and qualitative methods, including scoping reviews and participatory action research. Her work addresses disparities in health technology access and promotes equitable health outcomes for disabled individuals. Choi collaborates across disciplines to advance understanding of disability health, digital health adoption barriers, and aging with visual impairments. Her research has been published in journals such as Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly , Journal of American College Health , and JMIR Formative Research .
Rosanna Cole is a Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Supply Chain Management at the Department of Business Analytics and Operations, Surrey Business School, University of Surrey. She holds roles as Deputy Head of the Department of Business Analytics and Operations, Sustainability Fellow at the Institute for Sustainability, and Deputy Head of Business Transformation (2019-2020). Her research focuses on sustainable supply chain management, socially responsible purchasing, modern slavery eradication, and blockchain applications in supply chains. Previously, Cole worked at Roehampton Business School (2008-2016) and Deloitte LLP. She is a Senior Fellow of the HEA, Sustainability Fellow, and completed the Advanced Management Programme (2024). Her awards include Surrey Business School’s EC Researcher of the Year (2019). Research interests include supply chain intermediary roles, blockchain adoption, labor exploitation mitigation, and sustainable procurement practices. She collaborates with institutions like the University of Manchester, Lancaster University, and Cranfield University. Her work addresses global challenges such as refugee integration into supply chains and supply chain turbulence linked to geopolitical issues. Teaching includes modules on sustainable operations, supply chain governance, and ethics. She has advised PhD students at institutions like Deusto Business School and the University of Gloucestershire. Key projects include ROADS UK (asphalt sustainability), Syrian refugee workforce integration, and blockchain in healthcare device reverse logistics. Her articles span risk matrix improvements, labor exploitation governance, and temporal production dynamics.
Dr. Christine Tucker is an Associate Professor in the Department of Maternal and Child Health at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. She specializes in maternal health equity, particularly focusing on improving care delivery for birthing people and postpartum women, with a strong emphasis on the Latina community. Her research evaluates evidence-based programs and addresses systemic inequities in healthcare access. Dr. Tucker holds a PhD in Maternal and Child Health from UNC Chapel Hill (2014), an MPH from UC Berkeley (2006), and a BS in Neuroscience from Trinity College (2000). She has received notable awards including the 2024 Gillings Research Excellence Award and multiple Teaching Innovation Awards. Her research activities include leading the Partnering with WIC to Advance Maternal Health Equity Collaborating Center and serving as evaluator for the Maternal Health Learning and Innovation Center. She co-leads the MCH Diversity Equity and Inclusion Training Workgroup and is part of the NC Perinatal Health Equity Collective. Dr. Tucker’s work spans academic-practice partnerships, health equity impact assessments, and culturally responsive evaluation methodologies. Her recent publications address postpartum pain disparities, NICU parental experiences, and collective impact frameworks in maternal health.
Ted Mouw is a Professor of Sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He holds a B.A. in English Literature from Oberlin College, an M.A. in Economics, and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Michigan. His research focuses on demography, social stratification, and economic sociology, with emphasis on labor markets, globalization’s impact, and immigration. Current projects include studies on social mobility in the U.S., economic effects of globalization in Indonesia and Mexico, and labor market dynamics for Hispanic immigrants in North Carolina. He has taught courses such as Social Stratification, Economy and Society, and Applied Regression Analysis, reflecting his expertise in quantitative methods and social theory. His work frequently intersects with the Carolina Population Center and addresses topics like occupational segregation, wage inequality, and transnational social networks. Mouw’s research also explores the interplay between spatial diffusion, migration patterns, and racial/ethnic integration in urban areas.
Aleksandar Mijatović is a Professor of Probability at the Department of Statistics, University of Warwick, and Deputy Head of Department for Research. He was previously Chair in Probability at King's College London and Reader in Probability at Imperial College London. His research focuses on probability theory, stochastic processes, mathematical finance, numerical stochastics, and data science. He holds a Ph.D. in low-dimensional topology from Trinity College Cambridge and worked as a quantitative analyst in foreign exchange derivatives before academia. Research interests include stochastic analysis of processes with jumps, simulation methods (e.g., Monte Carlo), stochastic control, and applications in finance. He is a Fellow of the Alan Turing Institute and maintains a YouTube channel, Prob-AM, explaining his research. His work often bridges theoretical probability with practical applications in finance and data science. Key publications explore topics like reflected Brownian motion, Lévy processes, branching processes, and stochastic gradient descent. Collaborations with institutions like King’s College London and Imperial College London highlight his academic networks. His contributions span theoretical advancements and computational methodologies, with applications in risk management, option pricing, and algorithm development.
Zheng Li is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at North Carolina State University. His research focuses on econometric methodologies with applications in agricultural economics, resource management, and policy analysis. He holds expertise in nonparametric estimation, quantile regression, and structural econometric modeling. Key research interests include analyzing agricultural production risks, evaluating policy impacts on housing markets, and developing advanced statistical techniques for mixed data types. His work bridges econometric theory with practical applications in environmental, urban, and transportation sectors. Recent publications explore topics such as lung cancer detection via biomedical sensing technologies, ridesharing platform incentives, and pandemic effects on real estate markets. Methodologically, his contributions span kernel-based specification tests, bootstrap methods for heavy-tailed data, and monotonicity-constrained estimation techniques. No scientific awards or formal advisees are listed. His research often intersects with interdisciplinary challenges, reflecting a commitment to innovative solutions in applied economics and data science.
