Kris Baetens is a Professor in the Department of Psychology Brain, Body and Cognition at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). His research focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying social cognition, mentalization, and inhibitory control, particularly exploring the role of the cerebellum and prefrontal cortex in these processes. He employs techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), EEG, and fMRI to investigate cognitive and clinical phenomena. Leading projects like ANI423 (neural correlates of inhibitory control in adolescents) and FWOAL1160 (cerebellum's role in social cognition). Recipient of the EUTOPIA Young Leaders Academy fellowship (2024-2026). Active collaborations in the PRISM network for mental health research. Key research interests include: - Cerebellar contributions to cognitive and social functions - Neurostimulation techniques for mental health interventions - Mentalizing processes in social action prediction - Personality and learning mechanisms His articles consistently analyze the interplay between neural structures like the cerebellum and behavioral outcomes in clinical and cognitive contexts. Recent work emphasizes applications of tDCS in treating alcohol use disorders and disordered eating, highlighting translational research in non-invasive brain stimulation. Advising/Grants: Supervises student research projects and manages grants from FWO and OZR agencies. Labs/Teams: Core member of the PRISM network and involved in the EUTOPIA fellowship initiative.
Dr. Teresa Wang is a Senior Lecturer in Data Science at Monash University's Faculty of Information Technology, specializing in entity/user modeling, relational/structural machine learning, and graph/network analysis. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Queensland and degrees from Nanjing University. Currently, she directs the Master of Data Science Program and teaches courses like FIT5201 Machine Learning. Her research focuses on social, e-commerce, and health data modeling, with notable projects including the Knowledge Enriched Approach for Effective Personalization (2025–2027) and collaborations on AI in Mental Health and Site Safety. Dr. Wang has co-authored over 59 publications, emphasizing areas like ontology matching and multimodal data analysis. She actively supervises PhD students and contributes to initiatives like the CSIRO Next Generation Graduates Program for clean energy and sustainability. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science (2017), University of Queensland Master of Computer Science (2013), Nanjing University Bachelor of Software Engineering (2010), Nanjing University Research Interests: Entity modeling, spatio-temporal data analysis, graph mining, recommender systems, and health/medical records mining. She explores applications in social media, e-commerce, and healthcare sectors. Projects: "Knowledge Enriched Approach for Effective Personalization" (2025–2027) "AI for Clean Energy and Sustainability" (2023–2027) "CSIRO Next Generation Graduates Program: AI in Mental Health" (2023–2027) "Large-scale multimodal knowledge management" (2022–2025) Grants & Collaborations: Engaged with CSIRO, Crank Group, and Pola Practice Pty Ltd. Her work aligns with UN SDGs in education and sustainable energy systems. Labs/Teams: Part of the Monash Energy Institute and Monash Data Futures Institute, contributing to interdisciplinary AI and energy research.
Tanja Joelsson is an Associate Professor in Child and Youth Studies at Stockholm University's Department of Child and Adolescent Studies. She holds a PhD in Gender Studies (Critical Studies of Men and Masculinities) from Linköping University. Her work bridges multiple disciplines including cultural geography, mobility studies, feminist theory, and gender studies. Current research focuses on mobility justice, urban infrastructure equity, and children/youth's everyday mobility practices. She leads/co-leads projects funded by Formas and Vinnova, examining topics like family mobility in deprived areas and autonomous vehicles' societal impacts. Her teaching includes courses on childhood studies methodologies, spatial analysis, and policy applications. She actively supervises doctoral candidates and advises master’s students. Notable collaborations include work with GEXCEL's Violent Mobilities strand and the BUB network (Children in Built Environments). Recent publications explore smart cities through a child-centric lens, parental affective practices shaping child mobility, and intersections of gender with transport systems. Her research portfolio spans 15 years, including ethnographic studies of young men’s risk behaviors with vehicles, mobile preschools’ educational impacts, and transport poverty. Projects emphasize qualitative methods focusing on lived experiences across ages/social groups. Current initiatives test public transport solutions tailored for children’s needs in Ånge Municipality and analyze mobility hubs in urban contexts.
Junier Oliva is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Lead Faculty of the Master of Applied Data Science program. His research focuses on machine learning, artificial intelligence, and nonparametric statistics, particularly in high-dimensional density estimation, sequential modeling, and learning from complex/structured data. He holds a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University, with prior industry experience at Yahoo! and Uber ATG. Research Interests: Machine learning, artificial intelligence, nonparametric statistics, deep learning, statistical data mining, signal processing, kernel methods, and scalability. His work bridges machine and human learning via collective approaches, emphasizing simple yet flexible models for massive datasets. Awards/Grants: $592K AIM-AHEAD/NIH Grant for Human+AI Collaboration $594K NSF Grant for Scientific Discovery $500K NSF Grant for 'Machine Detectives' Project ACM BCB Best Paper Award (2022) for transparent single-cell classification work Labs/Teams: Director of the LUPA Lab, which develops machine learning techniques for holistic data understanding across domains like healthcare, earth science, and computer vision.
Ho Lok Victor Fan is a Research Professor in Film and Media Philosophy at King's College London's Department of Film Studies. He previously served as Assistant Professor at McGill University's Department of East Asian Studies (2010–2012), where he also chaired the Equity Subcommittee on Queer People. His expertise spans Chinese cinema (including Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Cantonese film histories), queer theory, Hollywood studies, and Buddhist film philosophy. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Education) through academic research and pedagogy. Education: PhD: Film Studies, Yale University (2010) MFA: Film & TV Production, USC (1999) Bachelor of Music: University of Rochester (1996) Research Interests: Fan explores comparative world cinemas, Chinese film theory, Sino-Hollywood co-productions, queer theories, and Buddhist media philosophy. His work interrogates spatiality in Chinese cinema and the intersections between film and Buddhist thought. Recent talks include lectures on 'Karma: Cinematic Technicity-Consciousness' and 'Extraterritorial Life in Hong Kong Cinema.' Notable Works: His 2000 thesis film The Well won international acclaim. His 2022 book Cinema Illuminating Reality redefines media philosophy through Buddhist frameworks. Recent articles analyze Hong Kong's media politics and labor narratives in hybrid film-anime forms. Awards: Third Prize, Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (2000) Grants/Advising: Supervised 8 academic works (details omitted). Active in editorial and peer-review roles for film studies journals. Engaged in interdisciplinary projects bridging media philosophy and cultural studies. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with King's College's Queer@King's initiative and global film studies networks. Research focuses on East Asian cinematic histories and transnational media dynamics.
Dr. Abbas Ziafati Bafarasat is a Chartered Town Planner and Senior Lecturer in Town Planning at Oxford Brookes University, managing the Certificate in Spatial Planning Studies. He holds a PhD in Planning & Landscape from the University of Manchester (2015) and conducted postdoctoral research at TU Dortmund, Germany. His expertise spans five national contexts, with a focus on strategic urban design, sustainable cities, and policy integration. He has supervised numerous Master’s and doctoral students and transitioned from private practice to academia. Education: PhD in Planning & Landscape, University of Manchester (2015) Postdoctoral studies at TU Dortmund, Germany MA in City & Regional Planning, AD in Law, BSc in Geography Research Interests: His research focuses on achieving healthy and sustainable cities through frameworks like strategic urban design and behavioral sustainability indicators. He pioneered concepts such as 'start-it-yourself urbanism' and developed a 99-indicator system for healthy cities. His work emphasizes policy integration, regional governance, and community-driven solutions. Advising & Grants: Supervised successful completion of doctoral and Master’s theses External examiner for postgraduate programs Labs/Teams: He contributes to the Planning, Policy and Governance (PPG) research group at Oxford Brookes, focusing on urban sustainability and policy innovation.
Francesco Casetti is the Sterling Professor of Humanities and Film and Media Studies at Yale University, affiliated with the Yale School of Architecture. His academic journey spans teaching at institutions like the University of Genova, Harvard, and the University of Iowa. Casetti specializes in semiotics, film and media theories, post-cinema, and the interplay between media and spatial environments. His research explores the evolution of cinematic experience in modernity, audience negotiations, and the relocation of media in technological spaces. Notable works include Eye of the Century (2008) and The Lumière Galaxy (2015), which analyze cinema’s role in cultural and technological shifts. He co-founded the Permanent Seminar on Histories of Film Theories, fostering international scholarship in media studies. Casetti’s contributions extend to editorial roles in academic journals and prestigious fellowships at institutions like Bauhaus University Weimar. His current research investigates historical media anxieties and optical-spatial arrangements. Education: Taught at multiple Italian and international universities without explicit degree details provided. Research focuses on semiotic analysis, ethnographic audience studies, and media ecology. Awards include accolades for his books but specific prizes are not named. Grants and advisory roles are tied to his academic leadership and editorial activities. Labs/teams affiliation includes the Permanent Seminar and collaborations with global media scholars.
Dr. Timothy Fraser is a Computational Social Scientist serving as Ezra Systems Research Associate in Cornell University's Systems Engineering Program and Coordinator for the Center for Transportation, Environment, & Community Health (CTECH). Holding a PhD in Political Science from Northeastern University (2022), he focuses on climate change adaptation, disaster resilience, and energy policy using big data analytics, GIS, and AI. His work bridges computational methods with societal challenges, emphasizing community engagement and policy impact. Education: PhD in Political Science, Northeastern University (2022) MA in Political Science, Northeastern University BA in International and Global Studies, Middlebury College Research Interests: Fraser’s research integrates computational social science with environmental policy, exploring how social networks and governance structures influence cities' climate adaptation strategies. Key areas include renewable energy adoption, disaster evacuation dynamics, and pandemic response mechanisms. He employs mixed methods such as network analysis, statistical modeling, and fieldwork. Grants & Awards: Fulbright Fellowship (2016), Kyushu University Japan Foundation Doctoral Fellowship (2020) USDOT Multimillion Grant Administrator (2022-2023) Teaching & Mentorship: Fraser teaches statistical methods and research design at Cornell, advising over 30+ students in projects published in leading journals. He coordinates capstone teams and mentors researchers in data science and policy analysis. Labs & Projects: Leads the Climate Action in Transportation dashboard initiative (Gao Labs), developing tools for emissions visualization. Collaborates on UNDP social capital mapping projects in Mexico and Paraguay, applying spatial analysis techniques for vulnerable communities.
Prof. Tobias Plieninger holds dual appointments as Professor of Social-Ecological Interactions at the Universities of Kassel and Göttingen, Germany, and currently serves as Dean of Research at Kassel’s Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences. He specializes in sustainability science focusing on rural landscape dynamics, ecosystem services, and transformative change processes. His work examines intersections between agriculture, forestry, nature conservation, and natural resource management. Education: PhD in Forest and Environmental Sciences (2004, University of Freiburg), Habilitation in Landscape Ecology (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin). Prior roles include Associate Professorships at the University of Copenhagen and leadership at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences. Research focuses on biocultural landscapes, agroforestry systems, and participatory methods. Notable projects include coordination of the EU’s HERCULES initiative and leadership in IPBES’ Transformative Change Assessment. Recognitions include Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researcher (2019–2022) and the Henriette Herz Fellowship (2022). Editorial roles: Lead Author for IPBES, Associate Editor at Landscape and Urban Planning and People and Nature . Over 200 publications span topics like ecosystem service synergies, high nature value farming, and rewilding strategies. Active in policy engagement through Germany’s Leopoldina Academy and the Joint Programming Initiative on Cultural Heritage. Research Themes: Landscape sustainability, participatory governance, biodiversity in agricultural systems Key Projects: SINCERE (forest ecosystem services), AGFORWARD (agroforestry innovation) Awards: Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researcher, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation fellowship Current initiatives emphasize transdisciplinary approaches, integrating local knowledge with scientific frameworks to address global sustainability challenges.
Guofeng Cao is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Colorado . His research integrates GIScience , GeoAI , geostatistics , and remote sensing to develop advanced methodologies for analyzing heterogeneous geospatial data and modeling complex spatiotemporal patterns. Focus areas: Uncertainty-aware geographic knowledge discovery, land cover/land use dynamics, spatiotemporal bias analysis, geospatial cyberinfrastructure development Applications: Natural hazards, environmental science, public health, global change studies Recent publications emphasize generative adversarial networks for climate downscaling, neural processes for uncertainty modeling, and fusion transformers for disaster assessment. His work combines deep learning with Bayesian inference to address scalability challenges in geospatial data processing. Scientific Recognition : NASA and USDA grants for spatiotemporal research Advising : Mentoring graduate students in geospatial data science Laboratory : Leads the STAR lab (Spatiotemporal Pattern Analysis & Research)
Harikesh S. Wong is an Assistant Professor of Biology and Core Member at the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard. His research focuses on understanding how immune responses are controlled in tissues to balance host protection against threats like pathogens and tumors while avoiding excessive damage. He combines immunology, microscopy, computational methods, and gene manipulation to study immune response regulation in intact tissues. Education: PhD in 2016 from University of Toronto; BSc in Biochemistry from McMaster University (2010) His lab investigates mechanisms of immune homeostasis, including regulatory T cell feedback circuits and mesoscale T cell antigen discrimination. Recent work explores autoimmune disease susceptibility linked to IL-2 feedback circuit fragility and the role of commensal bacteria in liver immune zonation. Key findings include demonstrating how local regulatory T cells prune self-activated T cells and how interleukin 2 circuitry variations influence autoimmune risk. Articles highlight interdisciplinary approaches to dissect immune system control mechanisms. No scientific awards explicitly mentioned. Grants and advising details are not provided in the text. Labs/Teams: Wong Lab at the Ragon Institute focuses on immune system design principles and disease-related breakdowns in control mechanisms.
Edward L. Glaeser is the Fred and Eleanor Glimp Professor of Economics at Harvard University, where he has taught since 1992. He leads the Urban Economics Working Group at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and co-leads the Cities Programme of the International Growth Centre (IGC). His research focuses on urban economics, public policy, and economic growth. He has held leadership roles, including Director of the Taubman Center for State and Local Government, the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, and Chair of Harvard’s Economics Department. Education: A.B. in Economics from Princeton University (1988), Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Chicago (1992). Research interests include urban development, housing policy, infrastructure, and the role of cities in economic growth. His work examines topics like housing affordability, construction productivity, and the social and economic impacts of urbanization. Notable publications include Triumph of the City and Survival of the City . Scientific awards include fellowships from the National Academy of Sciences, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Econometric Society, along with the Albert O. Hirschman Prize. Advising and grants: Glaeser has directed major research centers and advised on urban policy. His work integrates empirical analysis with policy recommendations, addressing issues like zoning regulations, public procurement, and pandemic-era urban challenges. Labs/Teams: Active in the NBER Urban Economics Working Group and IGC Cities Programme, collaborating on global urban development strategies.
Professor David Dupret is a Professor of Neuroscience and MRC Investigator at the University of Oxford, where he also serves as a Tutorial Fellow in Biomedical Sciences at St Edmund Hall. His work takes place within the MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit, part of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, and he is affiliated with the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics. David completed his Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the Institute François Magendie (INSERM, University of Bordeaux, France), receiving the French Neuroscience Association's 2007 Ph.D. Year Prize. He joined the MRC Anatomical Neuropharmacology Unit in 2007 as a Visiting Fellow, funded by the Institute of France and the International Brain Research Organisation. In 2009, he became an MRC postdoctoral scientist and Junior Research Fellow at St Edmund Hall, progressing to MRC Programme Leader Track scientist in 2011 and tenured MRC Programme Leader in 2014. Professor Dupret's research focuses on the circuit-level mechanisms of memory-guided behavior, with particular emphasis on neural dynamics of memory circuits during active waking behavior and sleep. His laboratory employs in vivo multichannel recordings and optogenetic manipulation of neuronal ensembles to investigate how hippocampal networks organize memory processes. His work has revealed fundamental insights into how memory circuits operate during both waking behavior and sleep states, particularly regarding hippocampal ripple activity, dentate spikes, and offline reactivation processes. Analysis of Professor Dupret's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on hippocampal network dynamics and memory processes. His work spans from basic neural circuit mechanisms to applications in neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease. A notable trend is the integration of computational approaches with experimental neuroscience to understand how neural assemblies encode and retrieve memories. His team has made significant contributions to understanding how dentate spikes support memory flexibility and how hippocampal ripple diversity organizes neuronal reactivation during offline states. French Neuroscience Association's 2007 Ph.D. Year Prize Foundation Louis D. Research Fellowship (2007) International Brain Research Organisation Fellowship (2008) FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence Scholar (2016) Boehringer Ingelheim-FENS Research Award (2018) Elected to membership of Academia Europaea (2024) Professor Dupret has secured substantial research funding through his MRC Programme Leader position and has mentored numerous researchers who appear as co-authors on his publications. His laboratory, the Dupret Group, operates within the MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit, collaborating extensively with other research groups including the Sharott Group, Magill Group, and Denison Group. Current research directions include investigating how memory circuits maintain flexibility while resisting extinction, exploring the relationship between neural coactivity patterns and memory organization, and developing computational models of hippocampal function. His team is actively pursuing future work on the mechanisms underlying memory persistence and the neural basis of flexible memory recall.
Daniel Hyde is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and the Neuroscience Program. His research explores the nature and development of abstract conceptual knowledge through behavioral and neural measures. PhD in Psychology from Harvard University Hyde investigates cognitive development from infancy to adulthood, focusing on quantitative reasoning , spatial reasoning , and psychological reasoning using techniques like event-related brain potentials (ERPs) , functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) , and behavioral assessments. His recent work examines how symbolic number knowledge builds on non-symbolic foundations and how neural sensitivity to mental states in infancy predicts later theory of mind abilities. Hyde's publications demonstrate a consistent focus on numerical cognition, multisensory integration, and developmental neuroscience. He leads the Brain and Cognitive Development Lab , participates in global initiatives like ManyNumbers and ManyBabies , and collaborates across disciplines to apply developmental insights to education and public health contexts.
Ulrich Ermann is a Professor of Human Geography with a focus on subject didactics at the Institute of Geography and Spatial Research, University of Graz, a position he has held since 2012. He teaches foundational and advanced topics in human geography, including economic geography, geographies of nutrition and consumption, regional development, and globalization. His research lies at the intersection of cultural and economic geography, emphasizing the social and material dimensions of markets and consumption. Key areas include agro-food systems, sharing economies, and the reconfiguration of human-nonhuman relations through science and technology studies (STS) and actor-network theory. Human Geography Economic Geography Agro-Food Studies Geographies of Consumption More-than-Human Geographies Science and Technology Studies His work explores the materiality of economic practices, particularly how goods, brands, and everyday consumption shape spatial relations between production and consumption. Regional research focuses on Austria, Germany, Southeast Europe, and Indonesia. Prof. Ermann maintains active teaching and student engagement, with regular office hours on Wednesdays from 9:00 to 11:00. He advises students and contributes to curriculum development in geography education. No specific scientific awards or publications were listed in the provided text. He is involved in theoretical and empirical research on integrative concepts bridging society and environment, nature and technology, with a strong emphasis on qualitative and social theory-informed methodologies.
