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Zhenchao Qian is a Professor of Sociology and Research Associate at the Population Studies and Training Center (PSTC) at Brown University. His research focuses on social demography, stratification, and family dynamics, particularly examining marriage patterns, immigrant integration in the U.S., and social change in China. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and previously served as faculty at Ohio State University and Arizona State University, including a term as department chair at Ohio State. His work analyzes 'who marries whom' and the societal implications of marital and cohabitation choices, exploring how factors like education, race, and nativity influence union formation. He also investigates racial identity among interracial couples' children and family transformations in urban China. Qian has received grants from NIH, Russell Sage Foundation, and other institutions, totaling over $4.5 million in funding. Awards include AAAS Fellowship and membership in the Sociological Research Association. Qian’s research emphasizes the intersection of demographic trends and social inequality, with recent studies addressing immigrant wealth disparities, marital assimilation patterns, and the consequences of economic restructuring on family structures. His current projects include analyzing union history impacts on midlife health and training demography scholars through NIH-funded programs.

• Social Demography
• Stratification
• Immigration
• +3 more

Dr. Mildred E. Warner is a renowned Professor in the Department of City and Regional Planning at Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. Her work spans local government service delivery, economic development, environmental sustainability, and multigenerational planning, with a focus on challenging gender biases and promoting social infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth. She collaborates globally with local government associations, planners, and policy groups. Ph.D. in Development Sociology (1997), Cornell University M.S. in Agricultural Economics (1985), Cornell University B.A. in History (1979), Oberlin College Dr. Warner's research interrogates the impacts of privatization, fiscal decentralization, and market-driven approaches on local governance, emphasizing spatial inequality and rural-urban disparities. She investigates age- and gender-based planning, environmental policy, and pragmatic municipalism, with recent work analyzing water affordability, broadband access, and pandemic response strategies. Her comparative international studies span Canada, Ecuador, Honduras, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and China. Her publications highlight trends in privatization , remunicipalization , public-private partnerships , and age-friendly urban planning . These works often intersect with public health policy , environmental justice , and social equity in service delivery. Scientific awards include the Margarita McCoy Award (2020) , Planning for Social Inclusion Award (2006) , and the Excellence in Research Award (2019) . She has secured major grants from the USDA, NIH, Pew Charitable Trusts, and international bodies to fund her work on aging, rural development, and infrastructure equity. Dr. Warner mentors graduate students in planning and public administration, advising on research design and community development. She directs the Local Government Restructuring Lab and co-founded the Community and Regional Development Institute at Cornell. Her expertise is frequently sought in policy circles and media profiles.

• Local Government Service Delivery
• Economic Development
• Environmental Sustainability
• +12 more

Professor Sylvia Urban is a distinguished academic at RMIT University, serving as a Professor of Chemistry in the School of Science. She leads the Marine and Terrestrial Natural Product (MATNAP) research group and is the Program Manager for the Bachelor of Science degree, the largest and flagship program in the School of Science. Professor Urban also holds significant leadership roles including Reconciliation and Responsible Practice Facilitator in the School of Science (STEM College) and member of the Nugulu Committee at RMIT University. Her expertise spans natural products chemistry and separation science, with particular focus on chromatography for purification and instrumental analysis for structural characterisation and elucidation. Professor Urban's research interests encompass natural product chemistry isolation and structural elucidation, NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry for characterisation of natural products, High Performance/Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and other chromatographic techniques for natural product purification, hyphenated spectroscopic techniques such as HPLC-NMR and HPLC-MS for natural product profiling, and biological evaluation of natural products for drug discovery applications. Her work primarily focuses on exploring the biodiversity of Australian marine and terrestrial organisms including plants, fungi, sponges, and algae to discover new compounds with therapeutic potential. She has developed various dereplication and chemical profiling strategies to expedite the discovery process. Professor Urban's publication record demonstrates a strong focus on natural products derived from Australian flora and marine organisms, with particular emphasis on their chemical characterisation and biological evaluation. Her research spans ethnobotanical studies of Indigenous Australian medicinal plants, phytochemical profiling of Australian species, anthelmintic and antimicrobial assessments of natural compounds, and development of analytical methodologies for natural product research. The interdisciplinary nature of her work connects chemistry with pharmacology, ethnobotany, and sustainable development goals related to health, education, and gender equality. STEM College Learning & Teaching Award (Award for Values in Action) 2024 STEM College Athena Swan Award 2023 Top STEM College Media Star 2022 School of Science Reconciliation Champion Award for 2021 School of Science Associate Dean's Impact Award (Applied Chemistry) for 2021 STEM Female Educator of the Year Award in the STEM College in 2021 Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) in 2020 2019 Australian Award for University Teaching (AAUT) Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning Professor Urban actively supervises Masters and PhD students, with recent projects focusing on nanoparticle synthesis, natural product evaluation from Australian plants and marine organisms, food science applications, and biomedical imaging agents. She has received numerous teaching grants including the SteLR Grant 2017 for Pen-enabled, Real-time Student Engagement for Teaching in STEM Subjects, SteLR Plus Learning and Teaching Grant 2016 for Contextualizing Learning Chemistry, and Global Learning by Design (GLbD) Learning and Teaching Grant 2014. As the leader of the MATNAP research group, Professor Urban oversees a team focused on exploring Australian biodiversity for drug discovery. She has been instrumental in establishing the VICS Molecular Resolution Facility (chromatography node at RMIT University) as part of "The Pipeline – An Integrated Approach to Drug Design and Development." Her research involves collaborations both within and external to RMIT University, including Australian and international university and industry partners.

• Natural products chemistry
• Separation science
• Chromatography
• +6 more

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.

• European Politics
• Party Politics
• Political Behavior
• +8 more

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.

• Human Geography
• Urban Studies
• Migration Studies
• +4 more

Peter Fredriksson is a Professor at the Department of Economics, Uppsala University. He serves on the Nobel Committee for the Prize in Economic Sciences (Chair 2019-2021) and is affiliated with institutions like the Rockwool Foundation, IZA, CESifo, UCLS, and IFAU. His work spans labor economics, education economics, and policy evaluation. Research Focus : Labor economics, education economics, and policy evaluation Affiliations : Uppsala University, Rockwool Foundation, IZA, CESifo, UCLS, IFAU Research Interests center on labor economics, particularly unemployment insurance, class size effects, peer influences, and policy impacts. His work connects wage dynamics, educational outcomes, and public program evaluations. He explores non-cognitive skills' rising importance and gender pay disparities. Recent Publications (2025-2013) address topics like job mobility, layoff policies, child development, and global poverty. Key journals include Quarterly Journal of Economics , American Economic Review , and Journal of Human Resources . Scientific Awards & Roles : Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Science Chair of the Nobel Committee for Economic Sciences (2019-2021) Research Fellow at IZA and CESifo Affiliated with Uppsala Center for Labor Studies and IFAU Associate Editor at Scandinavian Journal of Economics Collaborations include the Rockwool Foundation's program committees and extensive work with Björn Öckert, Per-Anders Edin, and Hessel Oosterbeek.

• Labor Economics
• Economics of Education
• Policy Evaluation
• +3 more

Maria Monica Wihardja serves as a Visiting Fellow and Co-coordinator of the Media, Technology and Society Programme at ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute while holding an Adjunct Assistant Professor position at the National University of Singapore. Her career bridges academic research and high-impact policy engagement, including former roles as World Bank Economist in the Poverty and Equity Global Practice and senior advisor to Indonesia's Presidential Executive Office on strategic economic reforms. Her educational background features: PhD in Regional Science, Cornell University MPhil in Economics, Cambridge University BA in Applied Mathematics-Economics, Brown University Wihardja's research integrates economic analysis with sociotechnical systems, focusing on digital transformation's impact on labor markets, food security, and democratic processes. She examines how technological disruption creates both opportunities for inclusion and risks of inequality, particularly through studies of platform economies, electoral disinformation, and sustainable agro-food systems. Her methodology combines quantitative econometrics with policy-oriented field research, often leveraging large-scale datasets from government and private sector partnerships. Analysis of her recent publications reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) Digital economy effects on labor market polarization and inclusion, (2) Food system resilience through agricultural modernization, and (3) Geopolitical dimensions of supply chain reconfiguration. These intersect with her policy engagement in ASEAN economic integration frameworks and Indonesia's G20 presidency initiatives. Her scientific recognition includes: Nikkei Asian Scholar 2023 award Wihardja actively shapes regional discourse through editorial roles at East Asia Forum and Center for Indonesian Policy Studies. Her grant-funded work frequently involves World Bank partnerships and Indonesian government collaborations, particularly on stunting prevention and food policy reforms. Current projects examine deepfake impacts on electoral integrity and sustainable financing mechanisms for green transitions. She leads the Media, Technology and Society Programme at ISEAS, coordinating interdisciplinary research on digital governance and Southeast Asian technology policy. The programme partners with regional think tanks, government agencies, and private sector stakeholders to develop evidence-based policy responses to technological disruption.

• Digital Economy
• Labour Market
• Poverty and Inequality
• +6 more

Melissa Roderick is the Herman Dunlap Smith Professor at the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. She co-directs the Chicago Consortium on School Research and specializes in the critical transitions from high school to college and urban education reform. Her work combines qualitative and quantitative methods to address dropout prevention, grade retention, and summer program efficacy. Focus on student transitions Co-director, Chicago Consortium on School Research Expert in mixed-methods research Grants from J. P. Morgan Chase, Spencer, and Wallace Foundations Roderick's research explores college readiness , noncognitive factors , and urban school reform . Her work emphasizes data-driven interventions and policy analysis, particularly in Chicago Public Schools. Recent publications highlight college match indicators , academic momentum , and systemic barriers in college access. Her scholarly contributions include analyses of: Advanced Placement program efficacy Noncognitive skill development Postsecondary outcomes for IB students Long-term impacts of ninth-grade interventions Scientific recognition includes: Crown Family School teaching excellence award Chicago Sun-Times '100 Most Powerful Women' (2004) Roderick has received funding from multiple foundations, including the J. P. Morgan Chase Foundation, Spencer Foundation, and Wallace Foundation. She currently chairs the board of North Lawndale College Preparatory Charter High School and has led initiatives to restructure urban school systems through longitudinal data analysis and curriculum reform.

• Education Policy
• Urban Education
• Student Transitions
• +4 more

Associate Professor Elaine Jing Zhao is based at the School of the Arts and Media , University of New South Wales , with expertise in digital media economies, cultural production, and platform governance in transitional China and the Asia-Pacific region. She authored the monograph Digital China's Informal Circuits: Platforms, Labour and Governance and publishes in journals like New Media and Society and Global Media and Communication . Research Focus: Cultural implications of digital platforms, media globalization, and creative labor dynamics Editorial Roles: Board member, Communication Research and Practice ; reviewer for ARC grants and international journals Her research portfolio emphasizes platform governance , digital media policy , and cultural innovation in China's digital economy. Recent projects examine China's platform internationalization and informal media economies. She supervises PhD candidates in these areas and has secured funding from both Australian Research Council and National Social Science Foundation of China . Scientific Awards: 2020 Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences Dean's Research Award for Best Monograph 2018 ARC Kathleen Fitzpatrick Laureate Fellowship Mentoring Scheme Award 2012 Australia-China Youth Dialogue Delegate 2010 Oxford Internet Institute Summer Doctoral Programme Participant She contributes to digital China scholarship through the Anthem book series and previously worked in the telecom and mobile internet industry before her academic career. Her work bridges sociocultural analysis and platform economy research.

• Communication and Media Studies
• Communication Technology and Digital Media Studies
• Film, Television and Digital Media
• +6 more

Tiina Ritvala is an Associate Professor and Assistant Dean (Teaching and Education) at the Department of Management Studies, Aalto University. Her research focuses on cross-sector collaboration between multinational corporations (MNCs), cities, and nonprofits in contexts like sustainable cities, energy transition, and cultural fields. She holds a D.Sc. (Econ.) from the Helsinki School of Economics (2008) and has been a Visiting Scholar at SCANCOR/Weatherhead (Harvard), Queen's University (Canada), and WU Vienna. Her work bridges organizational theory, international business, and social purpose. **Research Interests**: Cross-sector partnerships, multinational corporations, institutional change, sustainable cities, cultural and creative fields, energy transition. These areas are explored through case studies on global-local dynamics, MNE-NGO interactions, and sustainability initiatives. Recent work emphasizes spatial analysis in international business and geopolitical influences on corporate strategies. **Awards**: Received the Best Paper Award at EIBA 2017 for research on MNEs and sustainable development, the 1997 McKinsey Award for academic excellence, and a distinguished paper honor in the EDAMBA Thesis Competition (2009). **Professional Background**: Prior to academia, she worked in business consulting for a decade and engaged in volunteer work. Her teaching and administrative roles complement her research, focusing on international business education and institutional innovations. **Key Contributions**: Leads the Sustainability in Business research group, exploring topics like energy utilities' transition to renewables, MNC spatial strategies, and transnational commons governance. Her work often highlights the interplay between global institutions and localized action in addressing societal challenges.

• Cross-sector partnerships
• Multinational Corporations
• Institutional change
• +3 more

Michael Ward is a Professor in the Department of Economics at Monash University, with a joint appointment at the Monash Sustainability Institute. His research focuses on applied microeconomics and econometrics, particularly addressing environmental and resource sustainability challenges such as water management, pollution regulation, land use policies, and biodiversity conservation. He joined Monash in 2012 after faculty positions at ANU and UC Berkeley. Ward has led multiple research projects, including the RACE for 2030 CRC (Cooperative Research Centre) and adaptive urban water management initiatives. He has been recognized with the 2008 Best Economics Paper Award from the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association for his work on food safety and nutrition. His research outputs span 23 peer-reviewed articles, including influential studies on regulatory compliance mechanisms, water pricing strategies, and biodiversity conservation. Ward collaborates internationally and contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals related to climate action and sustainable cities. Projects : RACE for 2030 CRC (2020–2031), Adaptive Urban Water Management (2012–2017), and household electricity use research (2022). Awards : 2008 Best Economics Paper Award for work on food safety and nutrition. Labs/Teams : Monash Sustainability Institute, interdisciplinary collaborations on energy and environmental policy.

• Applied Microeconomics
• Econometrics
• Environmental Economics
• +5 more

Antonia Agulló Agüero is a distinguished Professor at Pompeu Fabra University specializing in Financial and Tax Law. With a scholarly career spanning over four decades from 1980 to 2025, she has established herself as a leading authority in Spanish tax law with growing expertise in EU tax frameworks and public finance systems. Her academic contributions include 26 journal articles, 27 collaborative works, 15 books, and direction of 20 doctoral theses. Her research interests focus on Tax Law , Financial Law , and Public Finance , with particular expertise in EU Taxation, Local Government Finance, Constitutional Tax Law, and International Taxation. Her scholarly work demonstrates a clear evolution from foundational tax principles to complex contemporary issues including healthcare financing, cross-border taxation, and fiscal policy responses to economic crises. Analysis of her most recent publications (2016-2020) reveals increasing attention to healthcare financing mechanisms, EU tax harmonization challenges, and the constitutional dimensions of public spending. Her work bridges theoretical legal scholarship with practical policy applications, particularly in regional tax autonomy and fiscal federalism within Spain's autonomous communities framework. As a dedicated academic mentor, she has supervised 20 doctoral students whose research spans diverse tax law topics including international double taxation, public debt concepts, soft law in international taxation, and environmental taxation. Her students have gone on to contribute significantly to academic and professional tax discourse in Spain. Her scholarly infrastructure includes leadership in academic publications, participation in professional tax councils (notably the Barcelona Tax Council), and contributions to major tax law reforms including Spain's General Tax Law and Personal Income Tax legislation. Her work continues to influence tax policy development in Spain and EU member states.

• Tax Law
• Financial Law
• Public Finance
• +5 more

Mark Fagan is a Lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, with affiliations to the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, Taubman Center for State and Local Government, and Center for Public Leadership. He teaches courses on operations management, policy design, and supply chain management. Previously, he was a Lecturer in Law at Boston University School of Law and a consultant at Norbridge, Inc. Education: MA in City and Regional Planning from Harvard University (199X), BA from Bucknell University (19XX). Research focuses on regulatory policy in competitive markets, autonomous vehicles, transportation systems, and energy markets. Key initiatives include leading the Autonomous Vehicle Policy Scrums initiative and publishing Supply Chain Management: A Public Sector Perspective (2024). His work examines how public policy can optimize supply chains while addressing geopolitical, environmental, and equity challenges. Teaching materials include digital courses on lobbying and advocacy, operations management case studies, and the Architect, Pilot, Scale, Improve policy implementation framework. Professional activities include advising governments on cross-sector policy design and consulting for private-sector clients in transportation, utilities, and telecommunications industries.

• Public Policy
• Regulatory Policy
• Transportation Policy
• +3 more

Professor John Bone is a Personal Chair in the Department of Sociology at the University of Aberdeen, School of Social Science. His work bridges sociology, political economy, neuroscience, and environmental policy, with a strong focus on just transitions, social well-being, and the biosocial impacts of contemporary capitalism. PhD in Sociology, University of Aberdeen (2004) MA Hons in Sociology, University of Aberdeen (1998) John Bone’s research centers on political economy, social and biosocial theory, and energy justice. He has developed an original biosocial framework known as the 'social map' to analyze how human biological capacities interact with social structures, affecting identity, health, and cohesion. His recent book, The Great Decline (2024), critiques the psychological and societal harms of hyper-mediated, neoliberal societies and warns of unpreparedness for AI and climate change. His empirical work examines energy transitions, particularly in Aberdeen, where he leads the Aberdeen Just Transitions Lab. His recent publications span interdisciplinary themes in just transition, climate governance, and social theory. Key trends include the development of metrics for equitable energy transitions, stakeholder engagement in nuclear decommissioning, and the role of deliberative democracy in climate assemblies. His work frequently addresses regional policy, social inequality, and the psychological impacts of economic precarity. Philip Abrams Memorial Prize 2007 (Joint Winner, Best First Book in Sociology) John Bone has supervised numerous PhD students, including David Magee, Karen Lumsden, and Lorna Watson. He has been a co-applicant on major grants such as UKRI’s Just-Systems project (£5.7M) and NIHR’s Aberdeen Health Determinants Research Collaborative (£1.3M). His leadership roles include Head of Department (2013–2019), Social Science Enterprise Champion, and Coordinator of the Aberdeen Just Transitions Lab. He has also served as Chair of the British Sociological Association (2018–2021). He leads the Aberdeen Just Transitions Lab and collaborates with the Aberdeen Health Determinants Research Centre. His research teams engage with policymakers, NGOs, and community groups, including Aberdeen City Council, NHS Grampian, and the Just Transition Commission, to ensure research has real-world impact on policy and social equity.

• Political Economy
• Social Theory
• Biosocial Theory
• +8 more

Professor Jeevan R. Sharma serves as Chair of South Asia and International Development and Co-director of the Centre of South Asian Studies at the University of Edinburgh's School of Social and Political Science. An elected General Secretary of the Britain Nepal Academic Council (BNAC), he brings extensive field research experience from Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, and Malawi to his work in development and political anthropology. His current Wellcome Trust-funded transdisciplinary project examines health and well-being of South Asian migrant workers through collaboration with medical scientists and social anthropologists at Aga Khan University and Kathmandu Medical College. Sharma's research interests span labor migration, border-crossing, Maoist conflict, humanitarianism, human rights documentation, and health policy with particular focus on gender dynamics and social transformation. His fieldwork has investigated community health volunteers, maternal and child health, and international research collaboration in South Asia. He has previously worked at Feinstein International Centre at Tufts University (2009-2011) and Save the Children UK (2007-2009), bringing practical development experience to his academic work. His publication trends reveal consistent focus on migration, health policy, and political transformation in South Asia, with increasing attention to transnational health issues and pandemic impacts on vulnerable populations. Recent work examines Covid-19's effects on migrant workers, mental health policy in Nepal, and cross-cultural health measurement tools, demonstrating his commitment to bridging academic research with practical health interventions. Elected General Secretary of the Britain Nepal Academic Council (BNAC) Co-editor of HIMALAYA Journal (2019-2025), transitioning to Editor-at-large from January 2025 Associate Editor of 'South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies' Co-editor of Routledge Edinburgh South Asia Series Member of ESRC GAP panel C (2024-2025) Member of the commissioning panel for the ESRC Centres Competition 2018 Sharma has secured significant research funding including a Wellcome Trust grant for migrant worker health research, ESRC funding for projects examining low-income migrant workers' access to services in India, and NERC funding for flood resilience research in Nepal's Terai region. His collaborative approach is evident in projects involving multiple institutions across South Asia and the UK, with particular emphasis on transdisciplinary work that bridges social science and medical research. He has served as Principal Investigator on six completed projects and currently leads an active Wellcome Trust-funded initiative. As Co-director of the Centre for South Asian Studies in Edinburgh, Sharma contributes to one of the UK's leading institutions for South Asian research, fostering academic collaboration and knowledge exchange between scholars in the UK and South Asia. His work with the Britain Nepal Academic Council strengthens bilateral academic relations, while his editorial roles with HIMALAYA Journal and South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies position him at the forefront of scholarly discourse on the region.

• Development Anthropology
• Political Anthropology
• South Asian Studies
• +7 more