Kirk Roberts, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at the McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, UTHealth Houston. He specializes in Natural Language Processing (NLP), with a focus on clinical information extraction, spatial information extraction, and medical information retrieval. His work bridges computer science, medicine, linguistics, and machine learning to improve accessibility and usability of biomedical data. Education: PhD (2013) and MS (2009) in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Dallas; BS (2005) in Computer Science from Georgia Institute of Technology. Research emphasizes NLP applications for healthcare, including question-answering systems, EHR analysis, and spatial relation extraction. He leads the TREC Clinical Decision Support track and has been recognized with a National Library of Medicine Career Development Award. His contributions span over 20 peer-reviewed publications in journals like JAMIA and conferences such as ACL and AMIA. Key areas include: advancing clinical decision support via NLP, optimizing biomedical literature retrieval, and improving health data dissemination through natural language systems.
Tony Porter is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at McMaster University , Canada. He specializes in global governance and business regulation , with a particular focus on financial regulation , digital technologies , and the organizational effects of time in governance systems. Research Highlights : Currently leads SSHRC-funded research on the interplay of geopolitics and cross-border infrastructures related to digital currencies , GPS systems , and global supply chains . Co-editor of the Handbook of Business and Public Policy (2021) and author of multiple influential books on transnational financial governance. Academic Contributions : Published 15+ articles since 2014 on topics ranging from big data governance to cybersecurity policy . Key research areas include algorithmic governance , transnational temporalities , and benchmarking networks . Educational Background : BA in Political Science from McGill University MA and PhD in Political Science from Carleton University Teaching Roles include graduate courses on Global Governance , Digital Democracy , and Political Economy , along with undergraduate courses on Globalization and International Relations .
Dr Andrea Greve is a Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge . Her research focuses on cognitive processes related to memory, prediction error, and learning mechanisms. Key areas of interest include declarative memory formation, semantic predictions, and the influence of novelty on memory retention. She has explored topics such as word learning in variable-choice paradigms, the role of hippocampal lesions in memory binding, and predictive coding in neuroimaging contexts. Her work integrates experimental psychology with neuroscience methodologies, particularly leveraging neuroimaging techniques to investigate memory systems. Notable contributions include studies on false memory effects, the nonmonotonic relationship between object-location memory and expectedness, and the impact of prior knowledge on memory encoding. Dr. Greve has also contributed to methodological advancements, such as improved MRI anonymization for MEG coregistration. While her research spans multiple decades, recent efforts (2023–2025) emphasize predictive frameworks and their applications in understanding cognitive phenomena like semantic surprise and episodic memory formation. Her findings challenge traditional assumptions about fast mapping in adults and highlight the importance of integrating computational models with empirical data. Dr. Greve collaborates extensively with neuroimaging and cognitive science teams, contributing to interdisciplinary projects that bridge theoretical and applied research in memory systems. Her work maintains a strong focus on methodological rigor, particularly in experimental design and data interpretation.
Dr. Teresa Puthussery is an Associate Professor in the School of Optometry & Vision Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Her research focuses on retinal neurobiology and neurophysiology, investigating how visual signals are encoded in healthy retinas and disrupted during degeneration. She uses advanced techniques like patch-clamp electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, and microscopy to study retinal circuits, neurotransmitter receptors, and ion channels. Dr. Puthussery teaches courses on vision science anatomy, physiology, and problem-based learning, including VISION SCIENCE 206B/C and 260C. Her research explores questions such as how retinal neurons extract motion/spatial details, how photoreceptor mutations cause degeneration, and how inner retinal circuits adapt post-photoreceptor loss. Recent work includes studies on ON-type direction-selective ganglion cells, optogenetic therapy for vision restoration, and calcium dynamics in foveal ganglion cells post-degeneration. She collaborates on projects involving primate and rodent models, contributing to understanding retinal disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets. Dr. Puthussery’s lab (retinalab.berkeley.edu) emphasizes translational research, bridging basic science and clinical applications. Her work has been published in journals like Nature and Cell Reports , with a focus on retinal degeneration, synaptic plasticity, and optogenetic interventions. She actively participates in training future vision scientists through Berkeley’s Optometry program and oversees GSI affairs as a faculty advisor.
Maartje Bastings is an Associate Professor at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) , leading the Programmable Biomaterials Laboratory (PBL) within the School of Engineering (STI) . She holds additional affiliations with the Institute of Materials (IMX) , IBI-STI (Bioengineering), and supervises doctoral programs in Biotechnology and Biological Engineering ( EDBB-GE ) and Materials Science and Engineering ( EDMX-GE ). Her research focuses on DNA-based supramolecular materials engineered to achieve dynamic reciprocity —a two-way interaction between synthetic materials and biological systems. By leveraging DNA as a programmable scaffold, she investigates structural mechanics, valency control, and geometric constraints governing self-assembly and cell communication at bio-interfaces. Key applications include immune system modulation, diagnostics , and vaccine development . Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a focus on multivalent interactions for T-cell activation, spatial patterning in immune signaling, and engineered coatings for DNA origami stability. Subfields span T cell receptor engineering , nanoscale protein dynamics , stimuli-responsive biomaterials , and bio-inspired therapeutic design . PhD Students: Chen Yuduo Hendrickx Pauline Bart M. Kononenko Artem Li Shujie Lou Yameng Meyer Pitt Narita Minako Rousseau Benjamin Bila Hale Caroprese Vincenzo Comberlato Alice Kurisinkal Eva Eugene Paloja Kaltrina Rodríguez Franco Hugo José Tekin Cem Wong Siu Ho Contact: maartje.bastings@epfl.ch
Nico Trocmé is the Philip Fisher Chair in Social Work and Director of the School of Social Work at McGill University. He holds a PhD and MSW from the University of Toronto and has over 30 years of leadership in child welfare research, policy, and practice. His work focuses on child abuse/neglect, First Nations service collaboration, and systemic inequities in child protection systems. Education: PhD, University of Toronto (1992) MSW, University of Toronto (1983) Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy), University of Toronto (1981) Affiliations: Director, School of Social Work (2014–2023) Adjunct Professor, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto (2005–2020) Scientific Director, Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare (2000–2008) His research spans national child maltreatment studies (e.g., Canadian Incidence Studies), First Nations partnership initiatives, and policy development. Key areas include socioeconomic disparities in child protection, trauma-informed care, and culturally responsive services for Indigenous communities. He has authored over 230 peer-reviewed publications and led grants totaling $14.3 million. Recent work emphasizes reducing overrepresentation of Indigenous children in systems and addressing mental health inequities. Awards include Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (2017) and the SSHRC Impact Award (2014). Grants & Projects: Co-developing evaluation mechanisms for Indigenous child welfare (2024–2030) Pan-Canadian Child Welfare Administrative Data Project (2020–2025) Ontario Incidence Study of Child Abuse (2023–2025) Labs/Teams: Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal (cwrp.ca) Centre for Research on Children and Families (McGill) International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN)
Matthew Freedman is the Dean’s Professor of Economics at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), and serves as Executive Director of the California Federal Statistical Research Data Center (FSRDC) and Chair of UCI’s School of Social Sciences Executive Committee. His research focuses on urban economics, public finance, labor economics, environmental economics, and the economics of crime. He earned his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Maryland-College Park. His work examines topics such as transportation equity, place-based policies, criminal justice system efficiency, and the long-term impacts of historical industrial interventions. Notable contributions include experimental analyses of free public transit, the effects of housing policies on urban inequality, and the evaluation of tax incentives for economic development. He has authored over 40 peer-reviewed articles in top journals like the American Economic Journal, Journal of Urban Economics, and Review of Economics and Statistics. Freedman’s research often combines quasi-experimental and randomized controlled trial (RCT) methodologies, with a focus on policy-relevant questions. His current projects investigate rapid rental assistance programs, transportation subsidies, and the socioeconomic impacts of Opportunity Zones. He co-edits Regional Science and Urban Economics and collaborates with institutions like the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and the Russell Sage Foundation.
Konstantinos Pelechrinis is an Associate Professor in the Department of Informatics and Networked Systems at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Computing and Information. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of California, Riverside. His research focuses on network science, urban informatics, and sports analytics. He has been recognized with the Army Research Office Young Investigator Award for his contributions. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of California, Riverside Research Interests: Urban mobility patterns and infrastructure analysis Sports performance quantification and strategy Data-driven decision-making in transportation systems Network science applications in social and urban systems His recent work explores topics such as implicit biases in sports refereeing, anomaly detection in NFT markets, and optimizing bike-sharing systems using predictive models. He also investigates urban infrastructure resilience through projects like the Epui platform for experimental urban informatics. Awards: Army Research Office Young Investigator Award He contributes to academic outreach through courses like TELCOM2125 (Network Science and Analysis) and collaborates on initiatives like the Healthy Ride Pittsburgh bike-sharing study. His lab focuses on bridging theoretical models with real-world urban and sports datasets.
Pauliina Patana is an Assistant Professor at Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service and core faculty in the BMW Center for German and European Studies. She holds a PhD in Political Science from Cornell University and previously served as a Democracy Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center. Her research focuses on European political transformations, including globalization's impact on party politics, populism's rise, political representation in diverse societies, and climate change politics. She is writing a book analyzing why populist radical right parties thrive in certain local contexts. At Georgetown, she teaches courses on EU politics, populism, and electoral political economy. Education: PhD in Political Science, Cornell University. Prior affiliations include Harvard Kennedy School as a postdoctoral fellow. Research interests emphasize party politics, populism, political behavior, and the intersection of political economy with electoral dynamics. Her work bridges macro-level structural changes (e.g., economic restructuring, migration) with micro-level voter behavior. Recent studies explore how residential constraints and political geography influence support for populist radical right parties in France and Finland. Awards: Democracy Postdoctoral Fellowship (Ash Center/Harvard Kennedy School). Her research also extends to inclusive education policy, social service integration for vulnerable groups, and mental health policy analysis across Nordic countries. She collaborates internationally on projects analyzing cross-sectoral service delivery innovations. Labs/Teams: Active contributor to the BMW Center's initiatives on European studies and global governance. Engaged in interdisciplinary collaborations linking political science with urban studies and public health.
Ben Halpern is a Professor at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management and Director of the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) at UC Santa Barbara. He holds a PhD in Ecology from UCSB and a BA in Biology from Carleton College. His research focuses on marine ecology and conservation planning, with expertise in cumulative impact assessments, marine reserves, and the Ocean Health Index. He has led global projects on ocean health, biodiversity threats, and sustainable aquaculture, collaborating with institutions worldwide. Notable roles include co-founding the Conservation Aquaculture Research Team (CART) and serving as a part-time Chair in Marine Conservation at Imperial College London (2013–2018). Research interests span marine biodiversity conservation, climate change impacts on ecosystems, and the integration of ecological and social data into policy. His work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to address environmental challenges, such as mapping wastewater impacts, evaluating aquaculture sustainability, and developing tools for marine spatial planning. Awards include the Smith Fellowship Program (sponsored by The Nature Conservancy) during his postdoctoral work. He teaches Bren School courses, mentors graduate students, and leads collaborative research teams. Current projects include analyzing climate change effects on aquaculture and advancing the Ocean Health Index framework to support global conservation efforts.
Jesper Rindom Jensen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electronic Systems at Aalborg University, Denmark, under the Technical Faculty of IT and Design. He is the Head of the Audio Analysis Lab, a leading research group in audio signal processing, since 2023. His work bridges theoretical signal processing and practical applications in artificial intelligence and audio systems. Full Name: Jesper Rindom Jensen Institution: Aalborg University School: The Technical Faculty of IT and Design Department: Department of Electronic Systems Research Lab: Audio Analysis Lab Email: jrj@es.aau.dk Office: Fredrik Bajers Vej 7B, B5-206, 9220 Aalborg Øst, Denmark Education: M.Sc. in Electronic Systems, Aalborg University (cum laude, 2009) Ph.D. in Signal Processing, Aalborg University (2012) Research Interests: Jesper Rindom Jensen's research centers on audio signal processing, with a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence, speech enhancement, noise reduction, beamforming, and multichannel systems. His work applies to diverse domains including robot and drone audition, spatial audio, and active noise control. He develops novel filtering techniques, including variable span linear filters and harmonic beamformers, to improve speech quality and intelligibility in noisy and reverberant environments. Publication Trends: His recent publications (2023–2025) show a strong trend toward integrating deep learning with classical signal processing, particularly in direction-of-arrival estimation, underwater acoustics, and robust multichannel systems. There is a clear focus on real-world applications, including sound zone control, active noise control, and limited-data scenarios using knowledge distillation. His work consistently emphasizes robustness, efficiency, and practical deployment. Scientific Awards and Recognition: AAU Talent for emerging research leaders Recipient of a competitive postdoc grant from the Danish Independent Research Council Advising and Grants: Jesper has supervised multiple PhD and master’s students, including Nørholm, Karimian-Azari, Zhang, and Wang. He has led significant research projects such as 'Sound Processing for Robots and Drones' (2018–2020) and participated in others related to joint audio-visual tracking and speech enhancement. His research has been supported by national funding bodies, reflecting its innovation and impact. Labs and Teams: He is a founding and core member of the Audio Analysis Lab at Aalborg University, which focuses on cutting-edge audio signal processing and AI-driven solutions. The lab fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and has produced numerous publications, datasets, and real-world applications. Jensen’s leadership since 2023 underscores his pivotal role in shaping the lab’s research direction.
Prof. Dr. Sakura Yamamura is a Junior Professor (Assistant Professor) in Digital Methods in Human Geography at RWTH Aachen University, holding a Dr. rer. nat. in Geography from the University of Hamburg (2018). Her research focuses on migration, transnationalism, superdiversity, and urban studies, with a particular emphasis on digital methods applied to spatial and social dynamics. She has held postdoctoral and visiting fellowships at institutions including the Max Planck Institute and Maastricht University. Yamamura’s work bridges geography, sociology, and economics, examining how transnational migrants shape global cities like Tokyo and the impacts of globalization on urban spaces and policies. Her recent studies address the intersectionality of entrepreneurship, pandemic effects on LGBTQ+ activism, and digital transformations in urban production. Research interests include the socio-spatial dimensions of migration, intersectional approaches to entrepreneurship, and the interplay between digital tools and human geography. Her academic contributions span peer-reviewed articles in journals like Ethnic and Racial Studies and Urban Studies , as well as edited volumes on superdiversity and global urbanization. She actively engages in interdisciplinary dialogue, addressing topics such as mediated social touch and the methodological challenges of fieldwork in transnational contexts. Yamamura’s career includes roles as a guest lecturer at Adam Mickiewicz University (Poland) and SKEMA Business School (France), reflecting her commitment to international collaboration and teaching. She has advised numerous research projects and contributes to policy discussions on migration and urban development. Her current work at RWTH Aachen emphasizes leveraging digital methods to analyze complex urban systems and transnational networks.
Katrine Eldegard is a Professor at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA), Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management (INA). She leads BatLab Norway and contributes extensively to national and international conservation science policy. Institution: Norwegian University of Life Sciences School: Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management Department: Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management Position: Professor Her research centers on understanding how human activities and land use affect natural ecosystems and species across taxa and spatial scales. She specializes in the behavioral, population, and community-level responses of mammals, birds, and insects to anthropogenic pressures such as energy infrastructure, transport networks, and forestry. A major focus is on bat ecology and conservation, pollination dynamics, and biodiversity monitoring in boreal and agricultural landscapes. Her recent publications reveal strong trends in climate change impacts on bat morphology and distribution, pollinator-plant interactions under environmental change, and the ecological consequences of infrastructure development. These works integrate field ecology with advanced modeling and policy-relevant assessments. She has played leading roles in key scientific committees: Chair, Mammal Committee, Norwegian Red List for Species (2021) Chair, Mammal Committee, Norwegian Alien Species List (2023) Member, Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM), CITES Expert Panel Norway’s representative, UNEP/Eurobats Advisory Committee Eldegard has supervised numerous research projects and collaborated with government agencies and private partners on applied ecology. She teaches courses including NATF200 Vern og forvaltning av norsk natur and the upcoming NATF300 Conservation Science. Her work is supported by extensive fieldwork, interdisciplinary collaboration, and integration of ecological theory with practical conservation. She leads BatLab Norway, a research group dedicated to advancing knowledge on bat ecology, behavior, and conservation through innovative methods including telemetry, acoustic monitoring, and landscape analysis.
Dr. Serena Ding is a Max Planck Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, where she heads the Genes and Behavior department. She leads an interdisciplinary team studying the mechanisms and evolution of collective behaviors in nematodes through genetic, neuronal, and behavioral approaches. Education: PhD in C. elegans Developmental Cell Biology, University of Oxford (2011-2016) Postdoc in C. elegans Quantitative Behavior, Imperial College London (2016-2021) B.Sc. in Biology, University of Richmond (2007-2011) Research Focus: Dr. Ding investigates fascinating collective phenomena in nematodes including towering (collective dispersal), wurmuration (density-dependent swarming), and strain-specific aggregation behaviors. Her lab combines molecular biology, neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and complex systems modeling to understand both proximate mechanisms and ultimate evolutionary drivers of these behaviors across wild nematode strains. Publication Trends: Her research emphasizes quantitative behavioral analysis and innovative imaging methodologies, as exemplified by her 2020 work developing bioluminescence-based tracking of C. elegans foraging patterns. This aligns with her group's focus on high-throughput phenotyping of natural genetic variations in behavior. Team Leadership: Dr. Ding mentors a diverse research team including: 2 postdoctoral researchers (Daniela Perez, Assaf Pertzelan) 3 doctoral students (Narcís Font Massot, Youn Jae Kang, Gopika Ranjith) 1 master's student (Iris Bernstein) 1 technical assistant (Ryan Greenway)
Prof. Dr. Menelaos Gkartzios is a distinguished academic affiliated with the Department of City and Regional Planning at Middle East Technical University , with extensive experience at institutions including Newcastle University , Izmir Institute of Technology , and University College Dublin . He has served as a Visiting Professor at Tongji University and contributes to editorial boards such as Habitat International and Journal of Rural Studies . Education: PhD in Regional & Urban Planning, University College Dublin (2008) MSc in Environmental Resource Management, University College Dublin (2003) MAgrSc in Agricultural Economics & Rural Development, Agricultural University of Athens (2002) PGCert in Advanced Studies in Academic Practice, Newcastle University (2014) Research Focus: His work bridges sustainable rural development , urban-rural dynamics , and the cultural dimensions of place-making . Key themes include counterurbanisation , rural mobilities , and artistic practice in planning . Publication Trends: Recent articles and books examine climate-driven migration , community co-creation , and rural housing paradoxes . His scholarship spans interdisciplinary frameworks, merging rural sociology , geography , and planning theory . Leadership Roles: He co-leads the AESOP Thematic Group on Rural Planning and contributes to global planning discourse through edited volumes like The Routledge Companion to Rural Planning .
