Päivi Berg is a University Researcher and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Social Psychology. She serves as Principal Investigator (PI) in the Strategic Research Council-funded IMAGINE consortium sub-project 'Youth participation and equality in psychosocial methods' since 2023. Her research spans social psychology, focusing on youth participation, gender dynamics in physical education, psychosocial mental health interventions, and digital media's impact on young people. She explores how psychosocial methods can improve mental wellbeing and inclusion for LGBTQ+ and neurodiverse youth, while examining physical activity's role in reducing childhood obesity. The articles demonstrate expertise in social sciences with keywords spanning psychology, education, public health, and gender studies. Sub-fields include mental health interventions, digital youth behavior, physical education hierarchies, and psychosocial method development. While no formal scientific awards are mentioned, her extensive conference participation (e.g., Social Psychology Days 2025, European Congress of Qualitative Inquiry 2024) and editorial work (Kasvatus journal 2011-2013) showcase academic leadership. She supervises Master's theses and doctoral candidates, indicating strong mentoring commitment.
Dr Deborah Morrison is an Honorary Clinical Lecturer at the University of Glasgow's School of Health & Wellbeing, affiliated with the Department of General Practice and Primary Care. Her research focuses on respiratory medicine, chronic disease management, and telehealth innovations. Key areas include asthma and COPD self-management interventions, treatment burden in chronic illnesses, and multimorbidity in primary care settings. She has contributed to randomized controlled trials (e.g., the RAISIN trial) and systematic reviews evaluating digital health solutions. Her work bridges clinical practice and healthcare innovation, emphasizing patient-centered approaches to chronic condition management. Her publications span 2011–2024, covering topics like telehealth implementation, cardiovascular comorbidities, and stroke care burden. Notably, she co-authored a 2024 study on cancer outcomes in adults with intellectual disabilities. Morrison collaborates frequently with institutions like NHS Scotland and has expertise in primary care epidemiology and healthcare quality improvement.
Wenting Huang is a Research Fellow in the Department of Epidemiology at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health. Her research focuses on infectious disease prevention, sexual and reproductive health, and implementation science, particularly among sexual minority men in China. She currently works under Dr. Aaron Siegler on longitudinal qualitative studies in the iKnow and MIC DROP projects. Dr. Huang holds a Bachelor of Medicine from Wuhan University, a Master of Science in Global Health from Duke Kunshan University, and a PhD in Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences from Emory University. Her professional background includes roles as a research associate and program coordinator at the UNC Project-China, where she contributed to interventions promoting sexual health. Her research integrates behavioral science with public health policy, addressing topics like HIV prevention, PrEP access, and community-based interventions. Recent work explores digital health innovations, supernatural beliefs influencing healthcare, and structural barriers to HIV testing. Key themes across her publications include: 1) technology-driven HIV prevention strategies for MSM populations; 2) psychometric tools to measure community solidarity in health interventions; and 3) the role of social media influencers in distributing self-testing kits. Notably, her studies have analyzed HIV incidence patterns, vaccine attitudes in Black Southern US communities, and the impact of pay-it-forward testing programs. These projects emphasize scalable, community-engaged solutions to public health challenges. She actively participates in the BSHES Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) committee's mentorship working group, contributing to institutional efforts to improve inclusivity in academic and clinical environments.
Anna Kirkland is the Kim Lane Scheppele Collegiate Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Michigan, with courtesy appointments in Sociology, Political Science, and Health Management and Policy. She also holds the Arthur F. Thurnau Professorship and previously served as Director of the Institute for Research on Women and Gender (2017–2022). Her research examines intersections of health, law, and rights, particularly focusing on gender identity discrimination in healthcare and civil rights frameworks. Key contributions include her forthcoming book Health Care Civil Rights: How Discrimination Law Fails Patients (UC Press, 2025) and co-edited volumes on sociolegal studies of medicine and health. She co-leads a National Institutes of Health-funded training program on AIDS/HIV research and contributed to the National Academies’ landmark report on sexual harassment in academia. Her research spans law and society, healthcare policy, and antidiscrimination law, addressing topics like medical necessity frameworks, transgender healthcare access, and vaccine litigation. She teaches courses on health discrimination at the law school and gender and law in Women’s and Gender Studies. Recognized as a Thurnau Professor, her work bridges legal scholarship with public health advocacy, emphasizing equity and organizational accountability. Grants include a 5-year R25 grant from NIH and OBSSR for the Student Opportunities for AIDS/HIV Research (SOAR) initiative. She is a member of Michigan’s Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation and has authored/co-authored influential books such as Vaccine Court: The Law and Politics of Injury (2016) and Fat Rights: Dilemmas of Difference and Personhood (2008). Her recent scholarship critiques legal barriers to healthcare equity and proposes actionable frameworks for rights-based reforms. Key Awards: Arthur F. Thurnau Professorship Grants: NIH R25 training grant (2020–2025), National Academies panel contributions Service Roles: Former IRWG Director, NIH-funded SOAR co-PI, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation member Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on healthcare equity and sociolegal research through the SOAR program and Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.
Sylvanna Vargas, Ph.D., MPH, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at San Diego State University , within the College of Sciences. She holds specialization in Experimental Psychopathology . Her work focuses on reducing mental health disparities among underserved youth, particularly in depression and suicide prevention through implementation science and digital mental health strategies. Education: Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Southern California Predoctoral Internship, West Los Angeles VA Medical Center MPH, University of Southern California B.A., McGill University Research Interests: Dr. Vargas investigates intersectional discrimination's impact on mental health, especially among sexual minority people of color. She develops culturally responsive interventions for non-specialty settings (e.g., schools, helplines) and explores technology's role in scalable mental health solutions. Her work emphasizes social determinants of health and equity-focused service delivery. Advising & Grants: Supervises undergraduate, postbaccalaureate, and MA students (PhD applications paused for Fall 2025). Grants include placeholder entries (A B C), reflecting current projects in implementation science and youth mental health. Labs & Teams: Engaged in collaborative research through SDSU's Collective Lab Accounts , leveraging interdisciplinary approaches to address mental health inequities.
Thomas D. Stucky is a Professor at the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Indianapolis. He specializes in criminology, focusing on communities and crime, corrections, policing, and public policy. His research addresses mass incarceration, violent crime reduction, and the impact of urban policies on crime rates. Dr. Stucky holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Iowa (2001), with prior roles including Executive Associate Dean (2017–2021), Director of Criminal Justice and Public Safety programs (2009–2015), and faculty positions at IUPUI and IPFW. He has led major grants, including a $2.5M Indianapolis Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative. His research explores links between socioeconomic factors (e.g., foreclosures, income inequality) and crime, as well as the effects of proactive policing and political decisions on crime trends. He has served on the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Crisis Intervention Team Steering Committee and contributed to the Mayor’s Task Force on Violent Crime. Key awards include the Indiana University Trustees’ Teaching Award (2007, 2009) and SPEA Outstanding Teaching accolades. His work spans criminology journals, focusing on urban crime dynamics, policy impacts, and institutional factors influencing criminal justice outcomes.
Sarit Golub is a Distinguished Professor of Clinical Psychology at Hunter College, CUNY, and Director of the Hunter Alliance for Research and Translation (HART). Her work focuses on the intersection of gender, sexuality, and health, particularly in HIV prevention and stigma reduction. She holds a PhD from Harvard University and an MPH from Columbia University. Dr. Golub’s research examines social and psychological factors influencing health behaviors, with a focus on transgender health, PrEP implementation, and biomedical HIV prevention. Her NIH-funded projects investigate mechanisms linking stigma to health outcomes and translate research into actionable policies for service organizations. HART emphasizes equitable, evidence-based practices. Education: PhD, Harvard University; MPH, Columbia University Key Research Areas: Transgender health, HIV PrEP adoption, stigma in healthcare, intersectional identities Her articles emphasize implementation science in HIV prevention, PrEP adherence, and addressing disparities in LGBTQ+ communities. She leads projects like CHALO! (HIV testing in India) and Prepare Romania (PrEP adherence trials). Dr. Golub collaborates with global health organizations and has advised on healthcare equity initiatives. Her lab supports marginalized populations through community-driven research and policy advocacy.
Sharon M. Edwards, MD, is a Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Education at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She serves as Program Director for the Adolescent Medicine Fellowship and Director of the Teen Parenting Program at the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center. Dr. Edwards is Vice Chair of Strategic Community Engagement at Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital and chairs the Department of Pediatrics Committee on Diversity, focusing on diversity recruitment. She teaches medical students and advises at the Icahn School of Medicine. Education: MD from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, undergraduate at University of Pennsylvania, residency at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, and fellowship in Adolescent Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. Board-certified in Pediatrics. Research Interests: Focuses on contraception adherence in adolescents, health policy for advanced practice nurses, and improving adolescent immunization rates. Her work emphasizes reducing health disparities and promoting health equity through clinical interventions and policy changes. Clinical Focus: Adolescent Medicine, Asthma Management, Mental Health Screening, and Well Child Care. Provides care at the nationally recognized Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center. Advising & Grants: Advises medical students and leads initiatives to enhance diversity in pediatrics. No specific grants mentioned in the text. Labs/Teams: Leads the Teen Parenting Program and collaborates with the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center and Kravis Children's Hospital teams.
Melanie Clark Mogavero is an Associate Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Crime and Justice Studies at Georgian Court University. She holds a PhD in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University, an MA in Forensic Psychology from Russell Sage College, and a BA in Psychology from SUNY Albany. Her research focuses on neurodiversity in criminal justice systems, particularly autism intersections with policing, sexual offending, and policy reform. Dr. Mogavero has served as Graduate Program Director for the MA in Criminal Justice & Human Rights and actively contributes to university governance through roles in curriculum committees and student retention initiatives. Her research highlights include examining false confessions, sex offender mobility, and global perspectives on autism and criminal justice. She has authored multiple books, including Mental Health, Neurodiversity, and Criminal Justice (in press), and presented at major conferences like the American Society of Criminology Annual Meetings. Teaching spans undergraduate courses like Sex Crimes and Juvenile Justice to graduate research methodology. Professional service includes leadership in the School of Arts & Sciences Curriculum Committee and roles on institutional effectiveness and policy manual subcommittees. She has mentored student research projects, including master’s theses on bail reform and doctoral work on home involvement and stigma.
Michael L Penn is Professor of Psychology at Franklin & Marshall College, specializing in clinical and experimental psychopathology with research spanning trauma-related disorders, human rights applications, psychology-philosophy interpenetration, and culture-mental health relationships. A Council on Foreign Relations member, he has lectured globally and contributed to international initiatives including the UN Leader's Programme and peace studies programs. His academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Temple University (1991) Clinical Internship at Temple University School of Medicine (1990-91) B.A. in Psychology from University of Pennsylvania, Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa (1986) Professor Penn's research centers on trauma-related disorders—particularly historical and intergenerational trauma—and the psychological impact of violence. He investigates human rights applications in gender-based violence eradication and peacebuilding, while exploring philosophical dimensions of psychology through culture-mental health relationships and the reclamation of the human spirit. His work consistently bridges clinical psychology with ethical and societal frameworks. Recent publications (2020-2023) reveal strong thematic continuity in historical trauma analysis, human rights discourse expansion, and constructive resilience frameworks. His interdisciplinary approach integrates psychology, philosophy, and human rights with emphasis on gender-based violence, peace studies, and spirituality's role in mental health recovery—particularly evident in pandemic-era research. The work consistently examines how cultural contexts shape trauma responses and resilience pathways. His scientific recognition includes: Phi Beta Kappa induction (1986) Ford Foundation/National Academy of Sciences Fellowship Aspen Institute Wye Faculty Forum Fellowship John Russwurm Award for Scholarship (University of Pennsylvania) Multiple teaching and community service honors Professor Penn has served over a decade as faculty for the UN Leader's Programme training Director-level UN officers, and advised international initiatives including Brazil's Federal University peace studies program, Great Britain's Commonwealth Secretariat on women's advancement, and Greenland's gender-based violence reduction project. His grant-funded work includes the UN-supported "Education for Peace Project" in Bosnia-Herzegovina assisting genocide-affected communities. He actively collaborates with the Tahirih Justice Center's Permanent Board providing legal-clinical services for gender-based violence survivors, and engages with United Nations agencies, Commonwealth institutions, and governmental bodies across Brazil, Greenland, and Switzerland on human rights implementation and mental health initiatives.
Markus Hess is Professor of Applied Developmental and Social Psychology at the German University of Health and Sport in Berlin since 2018, specializing in childhood/adolescent prevention programs. His educational background includes: Psychology studies at Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg with social psychology specialization Doctorate from University of Potsdam (2013) on peer participation effects in kindergarten development Professor Hess's research centers on prevention in childhood/adolescence, intercultural competence, digital social media, bullying/cyberbullying, and behavioral addiction. His work emphasizes social-emotional development and peer relationships through evidence-based interventions. He developed award-winning programs including "Fairplayer.Sport" for sports settings, "Papilio" for preschool social-emotional skills, and "Medienhelden" for cyberbullying prevention in schools. Analysis of his recent publications (2020-2024) shows concentrated research on bullying prevention mechanisms, behavioral addictions (shopping/sexual), and intercultural competence development. His interventions consistently apply developmental psychology to school and sports contexts for enhancing youth social-emotional skills. Scientific recognition includes: Fairplay-Preis des Deutschen Sports (2012) for "Fairplayer.Sport" program Professor Hess has taught pedagogy and psychology students since 2003, supervising research within projects like "Gemeinsam stark durch den Start". This federally funded initiative developed intercultural competence materials for 3-6 year olds in collaboration with PAPILIO GmbH and Plan International. His current work involves partnerships with the German Olympic Sports Confederation, PAPILIO GmbH, and Plan International to implement preventive programs across German educational institutions.
**Juan-José Boté** is a Professor and Head of International Relations at the Faculty of Information and Audiovisual Media (University of Barcelona). He holds a PhD in Philosophy (Linguistics and Information Sciences) from Universität Hildesheim (2022) and a PhD in Information and Documentation in the Knowledge Society from the University of Barcelona (2013). His roles include academic leadership, international collaboration, and teaching in LIS fields. He has participated in EU-funded projects like DECriS and ILO, focusing on digital education innovation and multilingual OER development. **Research Focus**: Dr. Boté's work centers on gender perspectives in media/information studies, open science advocacy, and digital preservation. He leads the GENDIMS research group, promoting gender inclusivity in LIS curricula. His contributions span FAIR data frameworks, web archiving ethics, and LGBTQ+ information access barriers. **Grants & Leadership**: Collaborated with institutions across Europe (e.g., Germany, Croatia, Austria) through summer schools and international conferences. Serves on BOBCATSSS executive committee and editorial boards. Published over 100 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and conference proceedings across 20 years. **Teaching & Mentorship**: Developed e-learning strategies during the pandemic, mentored through GEMPIMS program. Taught at the University of Granada, Sarajevo University, and Haute École de Liège. Active in YouTube content creation for information literacy and open science advocacy. **Professional Affiliations**: Member of CRICC (Research Center for Information, Communication & Culture), MMIRA, ASIS&T, and IIEDG. Chair of sessions at key conferences like DH2022 and LIBER2024.
Karen Cooper is a Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the School of Education and Social Sciences, University of the West of Scotland (UWS). She holds a DPhil in Criminology from the University of Oxford and has held roles as a Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh (2013–2021) and Research Analyst at the Scottish Government’s Justice Analytical Services (2008–2013). Her research focuses on vulnerable youth populations, particularly exploring how online environments impact relationships, mental health, and risk behaviors. She employs mixed-methods approaches to study topics such as sexting, child sexual exploitation, and youth justice. Key affiliations include: UWS: Lecturer (2022–present), Research Fellow (2020–2022) University of Edinburgh: Research Fellow (2013–2021) Scottish Government: Research Analyst (2008–2013) Research interests emphasize: Risk and coercion among vulnerable youth Social media’s role in mental health and wellbeing Co-production of resources with stakeholders Evaluation of interventions targeting youth violence Current projects with RAND Europe address police use of out-of-court disposals and the Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforce (APST), aiming to reduce youth violence. Her work aligns with UN SDGs related to justice, education, and mental health. Key collaborations include EU-funded SPIRTO (UK/Sweden/Germany) and projects in South Korea (British Council grant). She has published widely on child sexual exploitation, online safety, and youth engagement strategies.
Kirstie Ken English is a Tutor in Quantitative Methods specializing in Sociological & Cultural Studies at the University of Glasgow, within the College of Social Sciences. Their work focuses on equality, diversity, and inclusion data, gender, sexuality, and human rights. They teach courses including QM2: Analysing Your Social World, contribute to Sociology 2B and QM3: Research Design, and support the Graduate School's Quantitative Data Analysis programs. Research interests emphasize data representation for marginalized groups, particularly LGBTI+ communities, and the intersection of technology with social justice. They have published on topics like social rights accountability, healthcare access for young women, and urban cycling trends using crowdsourced data. Their work bridges quantitative methodologies with critical social theory. Key professional recognition includes a Q-Step Scholarship (2018) and a COSS PhD studentship (2019). They actively engage in panels and conferences, such as the Computers, Privacy and Data Protection Conference (2022) and the LGBTQ Data Summit (2022). Kirstie has supervised undergraduate and postgraduate students on feminist-focused dissertations and contributed to institutional events like the CoSS Connections Dean's panel.
Dr. James Herbert serves as a Research Assistant at UWA Business School, The University of Western Australia, and holds an adjunct position as Associate Research Professor at the University of South Australia since May 2014. His work significantly contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to child protection and mental health. With an h-index of 7 and 253 citations according to Scopus, he has produced 37 research outputs including articles, reviews, and edited publications. Herbert's research spans multiple critical areas in child welfare, with particular expertise in child protection psychology (78%), mental health psychology (65%), and advocacy in social sciences (62%). His work frequently examines disclosure processes, caregiver psychology, scoping reviews, police involvement in child protection, and cognitive behavioral therapy applications for maltreated children. His fingerprint reveals strong connections across psychology and social science disciplines focused on vulnerable youth populations. Analysis of his recent publications shows a consistent focus on child advocacy centers, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, and community-based interventions for child abuse and neglect. His work demonstrates a strong emphasis on practical applications of psychological research in real-world child protection settings, with particular attention to multidisciplinary team approaches and evidence-based therapeutic interventions for children who have experienced various forms of maltreatment. Notable Awards: Early Career Researcher of the Year (2017) Herbert is actively involved in research projects including 'The Impact of Mist' (July 2025-December 2026) with Parkerville Children and Youth Care. His work has gained significant attention with mentions in news outlets and substantial engagement on academic platforms like Mendeley. His research collaborations span multiple institutions and demonstrate strong interdisciplinary connections between psychology, social work, and public policy domains focused on child welfare.
