Wendy Johnson is a Professor of Psychology at the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh. She holds a Personal Chair of Differential Development and is currently on research leave from July 2019 to December 2020. Her research focuses on individual differences in intelligence and personality, lifespan development, genetic and environmental influences on behavior, and aging. She has led multiple research grants, including projects on gene-environment interplay in aging outcomes, social causes of life chances, and the longitudinal study of cognitive function in the Scotland in Miniature cohort. Her current PhD students include Alicia Aranda Diaz, Emma Waterston, Alicia Forsberg, and Ross Stewart. Key research areas include personality stability and change, the role of environmental factors in cognitive aging, and interactions between genetics and social contexts. She has contributed to over 200 research outputs, with recent work exploring bidirectional associations between loneliness and health, and the replicability of personality-trait life outcomes across cultures. Grants leadership includes principal investigator roles in projects funded by MRC, EU, and non-EU grants totaling over £multi-million. Her work bridges behavioral genetics, developmental psychology, and public health, emphasizing the interplay of biological and social factors in human development.
Javier Irizarry is a Professor and Interim Chair in the School of Building Construction at Georgia Tech's College of Design. He also serves as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Outreach , overseeing academic programs, diversity initiatives, and recruitment efforts. As Director of the CONECTech Lab, he pioneers research in Construction 4.0 and UAV applications for infrastructure challenges. Education : Ph.D. (Civil Engineering), Purdue University Masters in Engineering Management, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico B.S. (Civil Engineering), University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Research Focus : Irizarry’s work integrates cutting-edge technologies into construction, including Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Reality Capture, Virtual/Augmented Reality, and Human Factors in Robotics. His lab develops frameworks for Construction 4.0 , emphasizing technology-driven solutions for safety and efficiency. Lab & Impact : The CONECTech Lab focuses on Construction 4.0 , advancing drone-based inspection systems, digital twins, and safety analytics. His research has led to over 100 publications, with applications in infrastructure monitoring, safety management, and educational tools. Leadership : As Associate Dean, Irizarry drives academic innovation and outreach, including pre-college programs and diversity strategies. He is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) and FAA-licensed drone pilot, bridging academia and industry.
Dr. Vasiliki Kantere is a Professor at the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Ottawa . She has held previous academic positions, including: Senior Assistant Professor at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens Maître d’Enseignement et de Recherche and Maître Assistante at the University of Geneva Junior Assistant Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Cyprus University of Technology Postdoctoral Researcher at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Her research interests span a wide range of interdisciplinary domains, including: Big Data Management: data storage optimization, analytics workflows, and deployment on hybrid infrastructures Big Data Analytics: support for users of varying expertise and large data graphs Machine Learning: applications in resource management and query optimization Cloud Computing: cost-aware data management and service-level agreements P2P Systems: query processing and mobile peer environments Semantic Web: ontology mapping and semantic integration Distributed Systems: federated databases and grid computing Databases: query languages and semi-structured data management General: spatial data, privacy and security, and sensor networks No academic awards, funded grants, or advising roles are explicitly listed in the provided information. Her professional contributions are reflected through her extensive research collaborations and diverse academic experiences. The text does not mention any affiliated research labs or teams.
Dr. Florian Ploeckl is a Senior Lecturer in Economics at the University of Adelaide, affiliated with the School of Economics and Public Policy within the Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics. He holds an eligibility to supervise postgraduate research students in Economics. His primary research focuses on Economic Geography and Economic History, examining spatial patterns of long-term economic development, particularly the role of communication services (postal, telegraph, telephone) in 19th-century globalization. He also investigates urban systems, banking networks, and historical institutions like the Zollverein customs union. His teaching responsibilities include courses such as Data Analytics, Global Economic History, and Economic Principles, and he currently serves as Program Director for the Bachelor of Economics. Dr. Ploeckl has secured significant grants, including the Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (2018–2022) and a Marie Curie Fellowship (2011–2013), alongside contributions to teaching initiatives like blended learning in economics. His research outputs span topics from historical postal services to interwar British steel industry finance and modern Chinese banking networks. Awards include recognition for his work on global communications and institutional history. Dr. Ploeckl’s work bridges historical analysis with contemporary economic geography, emphasizing the long-term impacts of infrastructure and networks on economic structures.
Arno Siebes is Professor of Algorithmic Data Analysis in the Department of Information and Computing Sciences at Utrecht University's Faculty of Science. His research focuses on data mining methodologies, particularly pattern mining and Minimum Description Length (MDL) principles. Key research areas include: Developing efficient algorithms for pattern discovery Applying MDL to data characterization Creating interpretable models for complex datasets Addressing challenges in data science education Recent publications demonstrate applications in diverse domains including mobility analysis, genomic screening, and pandemic response. His work combines theoretical foundations with practical implementations for knowledge discovery.
Dr. Michael Shekelyan is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Computer Science at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), part of the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from the Libera Università di Bolzano (2018) and a Diploma in Media Informatics from the University of Munich (2014). His research focuses on developing algorithms and data structures for managing large and sensitive datasets, with a particular emphasis on privacy-preserving techniques like differential privacy and federated learning. He has held postdoctoral roles at the University of Warwick and King's College London before joining QMUL in 2023. Research Interests: Privacy-preserving algorithms, differential privacy, federated learning, data management systems, randomized algorithms, and efficient query processing. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, aiming to enable secure data sharing while preserving individual privacy. Teaching: Leads undergraduate modules in Database Systems and Operating Systems at QMUL. His teaching emphasizes foundational concepts in computer science through rigorous coursework and practical projects. Grants and Funding: Currently supervises a PhD studentship titled 'Privacy-Preserving Algorithms: Unlocking Data Sharing for Medical Sciences & Machine Learning', funded by QMUL and open to UK home students. The role involves exploring privacy-preserving frameworks for collaborative data analysis. Professional Contributions: Serves as a reviewer for top-tier conferences (NeurIPS, ICML, SIGMOD, ICDE) and journals (IEEE TKDE, Data & Knowledge Engineering). Actively involved in conference organization, including NeurIPS Area Chair (2024) and ICDT Proceedings Chair (2024). Labs and Collaborations: Affiliated with the Centre for Fundamental Computer Science at QMUL, fostering interdisciplinary research in theoretical and applied computing. Engages with industry partners on privacy-enhancing technologies and data management solutions.
Professor Catherine Boone holds the Harold Laski Chair in Political Science at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), concurrently serving as Programme Director for African Development in the Department of International Development and affiliated with the Department of Government. Her research focuses on political economy, property rights, and regional inequalities in Africa, emphasizing how land tenure systems shape political conflict and electoral dynamics. Boone has been funded by major institutions including the ESRC, SSRC, and World Bank. She is a Fellow of both the British and American Academies of Arts and Sciences. Current projects include studying commodity chain governance in Kenya and Côte d'Ivoire. Boone's 2014 book Property and Political Order: Land Rights and the Structure of Politics in Africa won the APSA Luebbert Book Award (2016). She leads initiatives like the APSA-ASA Africa Initiative and advises the SSRC African Peacebuilding Network. Boone’s research integrates spatial analysis and institutionalist frameworks to explain Africa’s political economies, challenging assumptions of institutional 'weakness' through empirical studies of land policies and electoral behavior. Education & Career : While specific academic credentials are not detailed here, Boone's career trajectory includes professorships at LSE since 2013, prior roles at universities in the US, and extensive fieldwork across West and East Africa. Her work bridges comparative politics and development studies, with a focus on subnational political structures. Research Interests : Boone investigates how property rights frameworks influence political stability, electoral competition, and ethnic conflict. Her work highlights how spatial inequalities—rooted in colonial-era policies—shape contemporary political dynamics in Africa. Recent projects examine land certification impacts and the governance of agricultural commodity chains. Awards & Grants : Boone has secured funding from the UK ESRC for the Spatial Inequalities in African Political Economy project (2023). Her accolades include the 2024 Distinguished Africanist Award and multiple best-book prizes. She has held leadership roles in APSA sections and African studies associations. Advising & Mentorship : While no specific student names are listed, Boone mentors through her LSE courses (e.g., African Political Economy) and research initiatives. Her work often involves collaborative field research teams in Kenya and Côte d'Ivoire. Labs & Teams : Boone coordinates interdisciplinary projects at LSE’s International Inequalities Institute and STICERD. Her research group analyzes geospatial data and conducts field experiments on land policy impacts.
Dr. Dharik Mallapragada is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, affiliated with the Center for Advanced Technology in Telecommunications (CATT). His research focuses on mathematical modeling to analyze low-carbon technologies and their integration into energy systems, emphasizing decarbonization pathways for developed and developing economies. He holds a B.Tech from IIT Madras and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University. Key research areas include optimizing energy infrastructure planning, electricity market designs for decarbonization, and techno-economic assessments of hydrogen production and storage. Recent work explores repurposing coal plants into thermal storage, evaluating rate structures for renewables-dominant grids, and analyzing India’s energy transition challenges. Mallapragada’s work bridges computational techniques like optimization modeling and data analytics with real-world policy and geographical contexts. Publications highlight infrastructure synergies between power and gas systems, hydrogen production pathways, and electrification barriers in heavy industries. His research underscores the importance of flexible energy systems and equitable policy frameworks, particularly for emerging economies. The Sustainable Energy Transitions (SET) group he leads collaborates globally to address climate mitigation challenges through analytical tools and cross-sectoral solutions.
Sergej Stoppel is currently a researcher (PostDoc) in the visualization group at the University of Bergen. His academic background includes a Mathematics master's degree (2014) and a PhD in 2018, both from the University of Bergen. His research focuses on visual data science, with an emphasis on interactive visualization techniques, human-computer interaction, and physical visualization systems. He has authored/co-authored numerous papers on topics such as hexagonal map enhancements, spatio-temporal data interaction, and low-cost physical art generation. Education: M.Sc. Mathematics (2014), University of Bergen PhD in Visualization (2018), University of Bergen Research Interests: His work spans data visualization, scientific visualization, and interactive techniques. Notable contributions include Vol²velle (printable interactive volume visualization widgets), Firefly (virtual illumination drones), and LinesLab (low-cost art generation systems). He explores methods to bridge the gap between virtual and physical visual representations, emphasizing user-centric design. Publications: His recent work includes advancements in hexagonal map visualization (2022), spatio-temporal selection techniques (2020), and illumination automation (2019). These contributions highlight his focus on enhancing data interpretation through novel interaction paradigms. Labs/Teams: Active member of the VisGroup at the University of Bergen, collaborating on projects like MetaVis and VIDI. His work is supported by grants involving visualization and medical imaging applications.
Prof. Gregorio Iglesias is a Professor of Marine Renewable Energy at University College Cork (UCC) and Honorary Professor of Coastal Engineering at the University of Plymouth. His expertise lies in Marine Renewable Energy and Coastal Engineering, with a focus on wave and tidal energy systems, offshore wind integration, and coastal protection strategies. He has secured over €12M in research funding as Principal Investigator and authored/edited key texts such as Wave and Tidal Energy (Wiley) and Ocean Energy and Coastal Protection (Springer). Education: BEng (Civil Engineering, 1992), MEng (Civil Engineering, 1993), PhD (Engineering, 2001). Research Interests: Advanced modeling of wave energy converters, floating offshore wind turbines, coastal erosion mitigation, and climate change impacts on marine energy resources. His work bridges theoretical advancements and practical applications, including coasts like the Port of Gijón (Spain) and the Shannon Estuary. Recent publications highlight climate-driven renewable energy transitions, multi-hazard coastal resilience frameworks, and techno-economic assessments of offshore systems. He chairs the IEC Standards panel for wave energy device testing and serves as Subject Editor for Energy (Elsevier) . Professional Activities: Lead of Marine Renewable Energy research at MaREI (Ireland), former Head of the COAST Engineering Group at Plymouth (2012–2018), and member of PIANC’s Universities Consortium. His work has generated 5,459 citations with an h-index of 41. Teaching: Delivers modules on Ocean Energy (NE4003/NE6005) and Hydraulics (CE3007).
Dr. Kevin Langergraber is an Associate Professor at Arizona State University's School of Human Evolution and Social Change. His research focuses on primate behavior, conservation biology, and evolutionary anthropology, particularly through his leadership in the Ngogo Chimpanzee Project in Uganda's Kibale National Park. This long-term study examines chimpanzee social structures, health dynamics, and ecological interactions, with a strong emphasis on conservation strategies against poaching and disease transmission. Key research interests include genetic adaptation in primates, the impact of human activities on wildlife communities, and behavioral ecology across varying environmental conditions. He has pioneered methods combining genomic analysis, field observations, and machine learning to study ape behavior and biodiversity monitoring. His work integrates socioecological data with physiological measurements to understand aging patterns, reproductive strategies, and disease epidemiology in wild populations. Recent publications highlight advancements in wildlife conservation protocols, primate menopause studies, and innovative datasets for behavior recognition. Collaborations span global institutions to address challenges in primate conservation and evolutionary biology. Dr. Langergraber also engages in public outreach through documentaries and crowdfunding initiatives to fund anti-poaching patrols and support chimpanzee research.
Professor Daniele Condorelli is a faculty member in the Department of Economics at the University of Warwick. His research focuses on Microeconomic Theory, Networks and Platforms, and Mechanism Design. He holds a Professor title and is affiliated with the Department of Economics. His work explores topics such as consumer hold-up in ecosystems, data-driven envelopment, and surplus bounds in Cournot competition. His research interests span strategic models of intermediation networks, auction design, and information economics. Notable publications include studies on vertical mergers in digital ecosystems, privacy-policy impacts on data monetization, and optimal mechanism design for market efficiency. Recent articles highlight his contributions to understanding platform competition, resale networks, and algorithmic game theory. His work often intersects with antitrust policy, digital market governance, and incentive design in networked environments. Professor Condorelli advises students in economics and is involved in academic administration, offering office hours by appointment.
Dr. Jonathan Liebenau is an Associate Professor (Reader) in Technology Management at the London School of Economics (LSE), part of the Department of Management. He also holds a visiting professorship at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business and School of Engineering. His expertise spans technology management, innovation policy, and the socio-economic impacts of information systems in developing countries. He has authored/co-authored over 70 publications and advised global organizations such as Dell, IBM, and the UK Office of Science and Innovation. Education: PhD in History and Sociology of Science (University of Pennsylvania, 1981), BA in Science Policy (University of Rochester, 1976). His career includes roles at the Smithsonian Institution, Boston University, and academic leadership roles at LSE. Research focuses on technology policy, telecommunications, and the role of digital infrastructure in development. He leads LSE Tech, a research group exploring internet economics and policy. Notable work includes studies on payment systems modernization, blockchain regulation, and the economic implications of cloud computing in emerging economies. Advisory roles include membership on boards at Istanbul Bilgi University and the American University in Cairo. He has supervised numerous PhD students researching topics like ICT in Sub-Saharan Africa, banking innovation in Thailand, and DSS applications in national debt management. His recent articles address global technological competition with China, urban mobility policy, and fintech innovation mechanisms. He emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to understanding how technology shapes economic development and regulatory frameworks.
Badi H. Baltagi is a Distinguished Professor of Economics and Senior Research Associate at the Center for Policy Research, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. He previously served as the George Summey, Jr. Professor of Liberal Arts at Texas A&M University (1993–2005) and has held visiting positions at the University of Arizona and the University of California, San Diego. He currently holds a part-time chair position in Economics at the University of Leicester, United Kingdom. Ph.D. in Economics, University of Pennsylvania, 1979 Baltagi’s research focuses on econometrics, particularly panel data, spatial econometrics, health econometrics, and theoretical econometrics. His work has significantly advanced methodologies in fixed and random effects models, spatial dependence, and network effects in panel data. He is renowned for his authoritative textbooks, including Econometric Analysis of Panel Data and Econometrics , which are standard references in graduate econometrics courses worldwide. His recent publications (2021–2025) demonstrate a strong trend toward integrating spatial and network structures into panel data models, with applications in health, labor, and international trade. He frequently publishes in top journals such as Journal of Econometrics , Econometric Reviews , and Economics Letters , emphasizing robust estimation, specification testing, and dynamic modeling. Kuwait Prize for Economics and Social Sciences (2018) Distinguished Achievement Award in Research, Texas A&M University (2002) Multa and Plura Scripsit Awards, Econometric Theory Distinguished Authors Award, Journal of Applied Econometrics Fellow, Journal of Econometrics Fellow, Econometric Reviews Fellow, International Association for Applied Econometrics Fellow, Spatial Econometrics Association Fellow, Society for Economic Measurement Research Fellow, IZA (since 2002) Research Fellow, CESifo (since 2003) Global Labor Organization (GLO) Fellow Lifetime Fellow, Economic Research Forum (MENA region) Baltagi has held major editorial roles, including co-editor of Economics Letters (2011–present), former editor of Empirical Economics (1999–2018), and replication editor for Journal of Applied Econometrics (2003–2018). He is the series editor for Contributions to Economic Analysis (Emerald Publishing) and Advanced Studies in Theoretical and Applied Econometrics (Springer). He has advised numerous Ph.D. students and collaborates extensively with researchers globally, particularly in spatial and health econometrics. He is actively involved in organizing and presenting at major conferences such as the International Panel Data Conference and the International Association of Applied Econometrics. Baltagi is a founding member and former director of the International Association for Applied Econometrics and serves on the board of directors and advisory boards of the Spatial Econometrics Association and the Journal of Spatial Econometrics , respectively. His leadership in establishing and promoting specialized econometric fields underscores his influence in shaping modern econometric research.
Vlad Pojoga is Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Letters and Arts at Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, holding a Lecturer position in the Department of Romance Studies. His research focuses on Romanian literature, digital humanities, and literary analysis, with particular emphasis on quantitative methods and spatial narratives. He leads projects like the Digital Museum of the Romanian Novel, exploring 19th-20th century literary trends through digital curation and geocritical approaches. His academic background includes advanced studies in literary theory and digital methodologies. Research interests span translation studies, postmodernism, and the intersection of narrative forms with cultural geography. Recent work analyzes character networks in classical novels and metaphor systems in contemporary poetry. Pojoga frequently collaborates on international literary projects, contributing to FORTHEM Alliance initiatives and organizing events like the International Week at ULBS. His publications bridge traditional literary criticism with computational methods, offering innovative frameworks for understanding Romanian literary history.
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