Dr Virginia Hagger is a Senior Lecturer in Nursing at Deakin University's School of Nursing & Midwifery, part of the Faculty of Health and the Institute for Health Transformation. She specializes in diabetes education, self-management, and psychological wellbeing. Her research focuses on structured education programs, diabetes distress, and workforce development. She holds a PhD and Master of Public Health from Deakin University. Dr Hagger has led numerous national and international studies, including interventions targeting diabetes distress, insulin therapy barriers, and telehealth support. She is affiliated with the Quality and Patient Safety (QPS) Strategic Research Centre and the Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes . Awards include the 2019 Alfred Deakin Medal and 2017 Vice-Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence. Her teaching spans undergraduate and postgraduate nursing, including units on diabetes pathophysiology and psychosocial contexts. Current doctoral students focus on diabetes distress, social support in Ethiopia, and autonomy in insulin management. Over 30 peer-reviewed articles and grants (e.g., MRFF-funded HypoPAST and LISTEN trials) underscore her contributions to diabetes care innovation and workforce training.
Dr. Qian Shunzhi is an Associate Professor and Program Director for the Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) at NTU's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He holds a PhD from the University of Michigan (2007), with prior faculty experience at Southeast University (2009-2013) and postdoctoral research at TU Delft (2007-2009). His research focuses on advanced construction materials like Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC), self-healing concrete, and 3D-printable concrete, alongside life cycle assessment of infrastructure. Key interests include sustainable materials, CO2 sequestration, and material durability. Education: Bachelor's: Southeast University (Nanjing, 1998) Master's: Chinese Ministry of Transport Highway Research Institute (Beijing, 2001) PhD: University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, 2007) Research Interests: Novel cementitious composites for infrastructure resilience Recycled materials in construction 3D printing applications in concrete Material lifecycle analysis Notable contributions include bacterial encapsulation for self-healing, graphene-enhanced antibacterial surfaces, and CO2 sequestration via reactive materials. His work bridges material science, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing techniques.
Dr. Tracy Hecht is an Associate Professor of Management and Graduate Program Director of the PhD Program in Business Administration at the John Molson School of Business, Concordia University . She earned her PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of Western Ontario. Her research focuses on the interplay between work, family, and other life roles, particularly how these interactions influence job search behaviors, career trajectories, and well-being. Key themes include work-family boundary management, career procrastination, and the impact of multi-role dynamics on professional outcomes. As an Associate Editor at the Journal of Organizational Behavior , Dr. Hecht contributes to advancing scholarly discourse in her field. Her work has been published in top-tier journals such as Journal of Applied Psychology and Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology . Recent research highlights include studies on gender differences in job search intensity and the psychological mechanisms behind career decision delays. Her teaching and supervision span the Management (MSc) and Business Administration (PhD) programs. While no specific grants or labs are explicitly noted, her research consistently addresses contemporary challenges at the intersection of work and personal life, offering actionable insights for organizations and policymakers.
Thompson S.H. Teo is a Professor in the Department of Analytics and Operations (DAO) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School. He holds editorial roles in top journals including European Journal of Information Systems, International Journal of Information Management, and Communications of the AIS. His research spans information systems strategy, business-IT alignment, e-commerce, sustainability, and AI's societal impacts. With over 200 publications, he ranked #143 globally in 2023 among business scientists (research.com) and was recognized in Stanford's top 2% global scientists (2021-2023). Awards include the Best Associate Editor Award (2017) and AIS Distinguished Membership. Thompson's research interests include IT adoption, cyberloafing, supply chain digitalization, and green innovation. He teaches courses on innovation, Industry 4.0, and strategic IT at undergraduate, masters, and executive levels. Notable contributions include frameworks for commute experience analysis and AI adoption market signals. His work bridges theory and practice, addressing challenges in sustainability, organizational behavior, and digital governance. Affiliations: NUS Business School, Distinguished Editorial Advisory Board (IJoIM), Senior Member (INFORMS) Grants & Leadership: Extensive editorial leadership, supervised China Scholarship Council PhD students, and executive programs on innovation design thinking. Key Contributions: Over 270 publications, four co-edited books on IT/e-commerce, and policy-relevant studies on environmental regulations and green tech adoption. His research often employs mixed methods (e.g., QCA for corruption analysis, PLS-SEM for cyberloafing models) and addresses global issues like fake news mitigation via ChatGPT and pandemic-era customer engagement in short videos.
Benjamin Andrew Toll is a Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences and Psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) College of Medicine. He serves as Associate Director of Education and Training for the Hollings Cancer Center, Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Public Health Sciences, Co-Director of the Lung Cancer Screening Program, and Director of the Tobacco Treatment Program at MUSC. Dr. Toll received his BA from Cornell University (1996), MS and PhD from Nova Southeastern University (1999, 2002), and completed his Postdoctoral Fellowship and Internship at Yale University. Dr. Toll is a leading researcher in tobacco cessation, with over 20 years of experience conducting clinical trials focused on developing novel therapeutics for tobacco and nicotine use. His work primarily centers on preventing cancer through tobacco treatment interventions, with particular emphasis on lung cancer screening patients and cancer surgery patients. He has expertise in nicotine replacement therapy, contingency management approaches, gain-framed messaging, and digital health interventions for smoking cessation across diverse populations including older adults and young adults. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on implementation science for tobacco treatment programs across various healthcare settings including hospitals, oncology clinics, and primary care. His research examines barriers to treatment, optimal delivery methods (including telehealth and EHR-integrated tools), and effectiveness of various pharmacological and behavioral interventions for smoking cessation. National Cancer Institute funding (R01CA235697, R01CA207229, P50CA196530) National Institute on Drug Abuse funding (P50DA036151, K12DA000167) Continuous funding for over 15 years for tobacco cessation research As a mentor and leader, Dr. Toll oversees the Education and Training program at the Hollings Cancer Center, guiding the development of future cancer researchers. His Tobacco Treatment Program serves as a model for integrating tobacco cessation into comprehensive cancer care, and he has successfully implemented 'opt-out' tobacco treatment programs across multiple hospital systems in South Carolina. Dr. Toll leads a multidisciplinary research team focused on tobacco treatment, including psychologists, pharmacists, physicians, and implementation scientists working together to develop and test innovative approaches to smoking cessation for high-risk populations.
Jun Hwa (Jacky) Cheah is an Associate Professor in Marketing at the Norwich Business School, University of East Anglia (UEA), a position he has held since February 2023. Before joining UEA, he served as a Senior Lecturer at Universiti Putra Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in Malaysia. He holds a PhD in Business Economics and an MBA in International Business from Universiti Putra Malaysia, along with a Bachelor of Management in Marketing from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. His research focuses on digital marketing, technology marketing, consumer behavior, data analytics, and statistical modeling. He has published extensively in top journals such as the Journal of Business Research , European Journal of Marketing , and Psychology & Marketing . He currently serves as a Guest Editor, Associate Editor, and Editorial Board member for multiple academic journals. Dr. Cheah has received several accolades, including the Emerald Young Researcher Award (2021) and a Young Researcher Award from his former university. He has supervised PhD students, one of whom successfully completed their doctoral program. He is actively engaged in PhD supervision and collaborative research, with a strong emphasis on advancing quantitative methodologies and addressing contemporary marketing challenges.
Timo Minssen is Professor of Law at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) and the Founding Director of UCPH's Center for Advanced Studies in Bioscience Innovation Law (CeBIL). He also holds affiliations as an LML Research Affiliate at the University of Cambridge and an Inter-CeBIL Research Affiliate at Harvard Law School's Petrie-Flom Centre. With extensive expertise in Intellectual Property, Competition, and Regulatory Law, Minssen focuses on the legal aspects of emerging health and life science technologies, including genome editing, big data, artificial intelligence, and quantum technology. His educational background includes a German law degree (Staatsexamen) from Georg-August-University in Göttingen, and Swedish biotech & IPR related LL.M., LL.Lic., and LL.D. degrees from Lund University and Uppsala University. His PhD thesis on the patentability of biopharmaceutical technology in the US & Europe received the prestigious Swedish King Oscar award. 2024: TUM Global Visiting Professor, Technical University of Munich (Germany) 2016: Visiting Research Fellow, University of Cambridge (UK) 2014: Visiting Research Fellow, University of Oxford (UK) 2013-14: Visiting Scholar, Harvard Law School (US) 2012: LL.D. - Doctor of Laws (Swedish "juris doktor"), EU/US patent law, Lund University, Sweden Minssen's research spans AI & Big Data in Health & Life Sciences, Sustainable and responsible innovation & tech transfer, Pharmaceutical-, Life Science- & Biotech Law, Comparative European & US Patent Law, Intellectual Property Law & Open Innovation, and EU Competition- & US Antitrust Law. His work addresses legal issues throughout the lifecycle of health and life science products and processes, from R&D regulation to technology transfer and commercialization. His extensive publication record includes 7 books and over 200 articles and book chapters published in leading journals such as Science, Nature Biotechnology, JAMA, and Harvard Business Review. His research has been featured in The Economist, Financial Times, and other major media outlets. Minssen's recent work shows a strong focus on AI regulation, quantum technology law, and data governance in health contexts, reflecting the evolving landscape of technology and law. Scientific Awards and Recognition King Oscar award for best Jur. Dr. thesis (2014) Jorcks Fonds Forsknings Pris (Jorck's Foundation Research Prize) (2017) Awapatent Research Prize (2009) Max Planck Research Scholarship (2005) Visiting Scholar appointments at Harvard Law School, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge Recipient of a Novo Nordisk Foundation Grant for a "Collaborative Research Program in Biomedical Innovation Law" (2018) As an advisor, Minssen serves international organizations including the WHO, WIPO, and EU Commission. He has supervised numerous PhD students in areas including pharmaceutical law, biotechnology patents, and antimicrobial resistance. His current research projects include the Novo Nordisk Foundation's International Collaborative Bioscience Innovation & Law (Inter-CeBIL) Programme (50 million DKK), CLASSICA: EU Horizon Project on AI-assisted surgery, and AI@Care: Law and Ethics and Algorithmic Bias in Healthcare. Minssen leads the Center for Advanced Studies in Bioscience Innovation Law (CeBIL), which serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research on the intersection of law, technology, and innovation in the health and life sciences. The center collaborates with institutions worldwide to address pressing legal challenges in emerging technologies.
Susan Helper is the Frank Tracy Carlton Professor of Economics at the Weatherhead School of Management , Case Western Reserve University . She also holds the title of Professor in the Department of Economics at the same institution. Beyond academia, she served as Chief Economist of the U.S. Department of Commerce (2013–2015) and as Senior Economist on the White House Council of Economic Advisers (2012–2013). She is a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, Non-resident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, and Co-Chair of the National Academy of Sciences. Education: PhD in Economics, Harvard University (1987) BA in Economics, Government, and Spanish, Oberlin College (1979) Research Focus: Susan Helper's research centers on the globalization of supply chains , manufacturing revitalization , and the interplay between technology, work systems, and policy . She explores how organizational structures, relational contracts, and digital transformation influence innovation, productivity, and job quality. Her work spans both theoretical and empirical studies, with a strong emphasis on policy implications for U.S. manufacturing competitiveness. Scientific Awards & Honors: Becker Friedman Fellow , University of Chicago (2018) Women of Achievement Award , Flora Stone Mather Center for Women, CWRU (2009) Professional Service & Impact: Helper has held influential roles such as Program Organizer for the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (2019–2024), Editorial Review Board Member for the Strategic Management Journal (2008–present), and Member of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Technical Advisory Committee. Her advisory work bridges academic research and federal policy, shaping strategies for industrial innovation and workforce development.
Tim Woodman is a Professor in Sport & Exercise at the School of Psychology and Sport Science , Bangor University. He is a leading expert in Performance Psychology , focusing on personality, stress, anxiety, and risk-taking in elite sports. His groundbreaking theory positions risk as central to human development and performance. Research Interests : Narcissism, anxiety-performance relationships, risk-taking behavior, athlete mental health, agentic emotion regulation. Scientific Contributions : Over 150 peer-reviewed publications, including 2025 studies on cricket mental health, coach support dynamics, and pressure training methodologies in elite sports. Projects : Leads the North West Air Ambulance performance psychology initiative and collaborates with Manchester City Football Club on personality-climate change research. Teaching & Supervision : Accepts PhD students interested in risk-taking, personality, and performance psychology topics.
LEE Wee Sun is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the National University of Singapore (NUS), where he previously served as Head of Department, Vice Dean of Undergraduate Studies, and Vice Dean of Research. His academic journey began with a B.Eng. in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Queensland (1992) and a Ph.D. from the Australian National University (1996), followed by research roles at the Australian Defence Force Academy and MIT. Education: Ph.D., Australian National University, Canberra, Australia (1996) B.Eng. in Computer Systems Engineering, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia (1992) Research Focus: Professor Lee pioneers work in Machine Learning , Planning Under Uncertainty , and Approximate Inference , with emphasis on integrating AI subfields for holistic reasoning. His current projects include "Learning to Decompose for Reasoning and Planning" (enhancing LLMs via self-supervised problem decomposition) and "Learning to Reason with Visual-Linguistic Inputs" (unifying vision, language, and reasoning in single architectures). Publication Trends: Recent work (2023-2025) centers on bridging LLMs with classical AI techniques, featuring breakthroughs in uncertainty quantification, multi-task optimization, and graph-based reasoning. Key themes include sparsity-aware vehicle routing, epistemic uncertainty for reliable LLMs, and differentiable neural solvers for combinatorial problems. Awards: IJCAI-JAIR Best Paper Prize (2022) RSS Test of Time Award (2021) RoboCup Best Paper Award (IROS 2015) HRATC 1st Place (2015) IPPC POMDP Track 1st Place (2011, 2014) UAI Google Best Student Paper (2014) Semeval-1 1st/2nd Place (2007) J.G. Crawford Prize (ANU 1996) Leadership & Service: As steering committee chair for ACML and area chair for NeurIPS/ICML/AAAI/IJCAI, Professor Lee shapes global AI discourse. His administrative roles at NUS and collaborations with MIT/Singapore-MIT Alliance demonstrate commitment to advancing AI education and research infrastructure. While student advisees aren't listed, his leadership positions imply extensive mentoring. Research Ecosystem: His work drives NUS's AI initiatives including Knowledge@Computing projects on reasoning frontiers. Current efforts focus on making AI systems robust through uncertainty-aware planning and multi-modal integration, with applications in robotics, verification systems, and combinatorial optimization.
Una-May O'Reilly is a Principal Research Scientist at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), leading the ALFA group. She holds a PhD in Computer Science from Carleton University (1995), with prior roles including a postdoctoral appointment at MIT's Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. Her research focuses on cybersecurity, adversarial AI, software security, and disinformation dynamics, applying evolutionary algorithms and machine learning to address arms races in cyber defense and societal challenges like climate change communication. Education: B.Sc., University of Calgary M.C.S., Carleton University Ph.D., Carleton University (1995) Research Interests: Adversarial machine learning for secure systems Coevolutionary algorithms in cybersecurity and healthcare Program comprehension via neuroscience and AI Climate disinformation mitigation on social media Large language model applications in code synthesis and threat hunting Key Projects: Adversarial Cyber Security : Modeling cyber attack-defense arms races GIGABEATS : AI-driven medical sensor data analysis for critical care MOOC Learner Project : Data science for online education insights Awards: EvoStar Award (2013) for contributions to evolutionary computation Fellow of ACM Sig-EVO Leadership & Service: Co-founder and Vice-Chair of ACM Sig-EVO Former Chair of GECCO (2005), major evolutionary computation conference Editorial roles in Evolutionary Computation and Genetic Programming and Evolvable Machines Labs & Groups: Leads the AnyScale Learning for All (ALFA) group at CSAIL, focusing on scalable AI for cybersecurity, healthcare, and education.
Kelly K. Ivy, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) in the College of Arts and Sciences. Specializing in culturally responsive math teaching and urban STEM education, she contributes to teacher self-efficacy research and curriculum development. Her work bridges academic inquiry with practical applications in K-12 and higher education contexts. Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics Education, University of Maryland, College Park Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction, Trinity Washington University Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Secondary Education Professional Minor, Howard University Dr. Ivy’s research focuses on urban STEM education , culturally responsive pedagogy , and equitable mathematics instruction . She emphasizes teacher self-efficacy and interdisciplinary literacy, particularly in linguistically diverse classrooms. Her publications highlight strategies for improving STEM outcomes for African American students and reflective practices in culturally relevant teaching. Recent publications (2019–2024) span topics including equitable teaching , Black female STEM perspectives , and curriculum innovation . These works employ qualitative research methods and stress cultural relevance in urban settings. Faculty Scholar of Promise Award, UDC’s College of Arts and Sciences (2024) Dr. Ivy serves as Co-Project Manager for the Katherine G. Johnson Math Teacher Training Institute (2025–Present) and has participated in the Maryland Collaborative for Research in Urban STEM Education (2020–23). Her advocacy for Black students in STEM includes presentations at national conferences and media engagements.
Yi Ding is an Assistant Professor in the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University, where they lead the STYLE (Sustainable computing Systems and LEarning) Lab. Dr. Ding joined Purdue in August 2023 after completing a postdoctoral fellowship at MIT CSAIL as an NSF Computing Innovation Fellow, mentored by Michael Carbin. During their postdoc, they also held a visiting position at Meta Infra Data Center to improve server maintenance efficiency in hyperscale datacenters. They received their Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Chicago, advised by Henry Hoffmann. Dr. Ding's research focuses on computer systems, computer architecture, and AI/ML, with strong emphasis on applications in sustainability and healthcare. Their work spans sustainable computing, including energy efficiency in datacenters and LLM serving, as well as healthcare applications such as mental health prediction and EEG analysis. Their recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward addressing environmental impacts of computing, particularly in datacenters and AI systems, while also exploring innovative healthcare applications. Their research bridges systems, sustainability, and health domains, creating novel solutions for pressing societal challenges. Dr. Ding has received notable recognition including the Seed Funding for High-Impact Review Papers (2024), the Meta Research Award (2021), and was selected as a Computing Innovation Fellow by CRA/CCC (2020). Seed Funding for High-Impact Review Papers (2024) with Inez Hua 1st Place in Research Talk in CoE at Fall 2024 Undergrad Research Expo (awarded to Gavin Fortwendel) 2020 Computing Innovation Fellow by CRA/CCC Meta Research Award on Statistics for Improving Insights, Models, and Decisions (2021) Dr. Ding is actively recruiting self-motivated Ph.D. students interested in AI/ML systems research. They have secured funding for undergraduate research projects through DUIRI, focusing on sustainable AI computing and energy use in training autonomous vehicles. Their lab collaborates with various institutions including MIT, Meta, and interdisciplinary partners at Purdue. The STYLE Lab under Dr. Ding's leadership is actively engaged in multiple research initiatives addressing sustainable computing and healthcare applications, with strong industry connections and funding support from both internal university sources and external partners.
Professor Gregor Verbic is a faculty member at the University of Sydney in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering , where he serves as Director of the Centre for Future Energy Networks . Previously, he held an assistant professor position at the University of Ljubljana and was a NATO-NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Waterloo. His career spans academic research, industry leadership as Head of Interenergo's Investment Department, and extensive collaboration with IEEE. PhD in Electrical Engineering (University of Ljubljana) Senior IEEE Member Research Interests focus on transforming power systems to zero-carbon grids through: Aggregation and control of distributed energy resources (DERs) Frequency control with wind generation and electric vehicles Stochastic optimization for multi-energy systems Smart home energy management with phase change materials Notable Contributions include: 2006 IEEE prize paper for voltage instability prediction 2010-2024: 15 recent publications on DER coordination, network tariffs, and low-inertia grid stability Teaching includes courses on: ELEC3203/ELEC9203: Electricity Networks ELEC5213: Engineering Optimisation ELEC5206: Sustainable Energy Systems Labs & Initiatives Centre for Future Energy Networks The Net Zero Institute
Dr. Steven J. Heine is a Professor of Social and Cultural Psychology and Distinguished University Scholar at the University of British Columbia . As director of the Culture and Self Lab , he leads research programs in Cultural Psychology, Meaning Maintenance, and Genetic Essentialism. Current Roles: Lab Director, Culture and Self Lab; Professor, Department of Psychology, UBC Education: PhD from University of British Columbia; visiting positions at Kyoto University and Tokyo University His research explores how culture shapes self-concept and meaning-making, genetic essentialism's societal implications, and existential responses to absurdity. Google Scholar lists over 15 recent publications (2025–2023) spanning cultural variation in sleep, AI ethics, moral psychology, and terror management theory. A Royal Society of Canada Fellow , he received the Distinguished Scientific Early Career Contributions to Psychology award in 2003. He advises PhD candidates Kate Guan and Dunigan Folk , and Master’s students Mike Mask and Yangyilin Guo . His books include Cultural Psychology (4th ed., 2020) and Start Making Sense (2025). Scientific Awards: Royal Society of Canada Fellow Award for Distinguished Scientific Early Career Contributions to Psychology (2003)
