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Yasuyuki KawahigashiView profile

Professor

• Operator Algebras
• Conformal Field Theory
• Topological Phases of Matter
• +5 more

Yasuyuki Kawahigashi is a Professor at the Department of Mathematical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, where he leads research in operator algebras and mathematical physics. His office is located in Room 323 of the Mathematical Sciences Building on the Komaba campus. He serves as an editor for multiple prestigious mathematics journals including Communications in Mathematical Physics, International Journal of Mathematics, and Journal of Mathematical Physics. His research focuses on operator algebras, particularly subfactor theory and its connections to conformal field theory, topological phases of matter, quantum groups, and vertex operator algebras. He investigates 2-dimensional conformal field theory from an operator algebraic viewpoint, examining representation theory through subfactors and connections to quantum invariants in low-dimensional topology. Kawahigashi's publications demonstrate extensive work in operator algebras, conformal field theory, and topological quantum field theory. His recent research emphasizes connections between subfactors, tensor categories, and topological phases of matter, with applications in mathematical physics. Operator Algebra Prize (2000) Spring Prize of the Mathematical Society of Japan (2002) He has advised numerous postdoctoral fellows and organized major international programs such as the 2011-2012 RIMS Program on Operator Algebras. He leads the Operator Algebra Group at Tokyo and has secured research grants from Mitsubishi Foundation, Sumitomo Foundation, and JSPS. Kawahigashi directs research seminars and maintains active collaborations with institutions worldwide. His group regularly hosts international visitors and participates in conferences on operator algebras and mathematical physics.

Narges MahyarView profile

Associate Professor

• Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
• Information Visualization
• Digital Civics
• +4 more

Narges Mahyar is an Associate Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences (CICS) . She is currently on sabbatical with the Aviz team at the Inria Center, University of Paris-Saclay . Her research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) , Information Visualization , and Digital Civics , aiming to empower communities through technology. Education: She holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Victoria, an MS in Information Technology from the University of Malaya, and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Tehran Azad University. She completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of British Columbia (2014–2016) and the University of California San Diego (2016–2018). Research Interests: Her work addresses complex societal challenges like climate change, urban planning, and healthcare by designing inclusive technologies. Key areas include civic engagement, data visualization for equity, and integrating AR/VR for public participation. Notable projects include CommunityClick and RisingEMOTIONS , which enhance public input in decision-making. Publications & Awards: With over 50 publications, her work has received prestigious awards including Best Paper Awards at CHI 2023 , Eurovis 2022 , and CSCW 2020 . Her research emphasizes ethical design and inclusivity, particularly involving marginalized communities. Grants & Advising: She has secured grants totaling over $1.4 million, including NSF funding for projects like "Mapping Instability" . Advises PhD student Mahmood Jasim and collaborates with Ali Sarvghad and Pari Riahi on interdisciplinary research. Labs & Teams: Leads the HCI-VIS Lab at UMass, focusing on social computing and visualization. Collaborates internationally with teams like Aviz and Inria on civic tech initiatives.

Bruno DebaenstView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Legal History
• Comparative Legal History
• History of Social Law
• +12 more

Bruno Debaenst is a Senior Lecturer in Legal History and Associate Professor at the Department of Law, Faculty of Law, Uppsala University, where he has been based since 2018. A Belgian (Flemish) scholar, he brings a comparative perspective to his work, focusing on both Belgian and Swedish legal history. His academic training spans history (1999), law (2003), and criminology (2006), and he practiced as a lawyer in Ghent from 2003 to 2008. His research is centered on the history of social law, with a particular emphasis on the juridification of workplace accidents in 19th-century Belgium, the development of modern welfare states, and the role of international organizations as catalysts for legal change. He also explores broader themes such as Belgian legal culture, language in nation-building, and the digital revolution from a legal historical viewpoint. The most recent publications highlight a diverse range of interests, from the artistic representation of industrial disputes and the history of environmental law in Stockholm, to the epistemic communities that preceded the ILO and the 1974 Swedish Constitution. His work often bridges comparative and transnational perspectives, analyzing legal developments across Europe and beyond. Bruno Debaenst is deeply committed to teaching, offering courses in legal history, comparative legal history, and legal futurology, and supervising numerous student theses. He has also led a popular doctoral course on legal history for PhD students in law. His international collaborations include work with the Centre d'histoire judiciaire in Lille, France.

• machine learning
• robotics
• machine vision
• +9 more

Dr. Hamidreza Mohades Kasaei is an Associate Professor in the Department of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Groningen, Netherlands. He holds positions in both the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the Faculty of Medical Sciences/UMCG, focusing on Robotics and image-guided minimally-invasive surgery. His work bridges theoretical advances in machine learning with practical robotic applications. Dr. Kasaei's research focuses on developing algorithms for adaptive perception systems through interactive environment exploration and open-ended learning. His specific interests include 3D object perception, grasp affordance detection, object manipulation, and active perception. He has evaluated his research on various robotic platforms including PR2, UR5e, Kinova, Franka robotic arms, and humanoid robots. His work enables robots to learn from past experiences and intelligently interact with non-expert human users using data-efficient techniques. Analysis of his recent publications reveals strong trends toward increasingly sophisticated manipulation capabilities, particularly in dual-arm coordination and handling dense clutter. There's a clear progression toward integrating language models with robotic control systems, as seen in works like 'Lifelong Robot Library Learning' and 'Towards Open-World Grasping with Large Vision-Language Models.' His research consistently addresses real-world challenges in agricultural robotics, assistive technologies, and service robotics applications. Gratama Science Award (2022) Google Research Scholar Award in Machine Learning (2023) Outstanding Associate Editor for IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (2023) Dr. Kasaei has successfully supervised multiple PhD students including Zhenxing Zhang (thesis on 'Generative Adversarial Networks for Diverse and Explainable Text-to-Image Generation') and Hamed Ayoobi (thesis on 'Explain What You See: Argumentation-Based Learning and Robotic Vision'). His research is supported by significant grants including the Google Research Scholar Award for 'Continual Robot Learning in Human-centered Environments' and various conference organization roles including workshops at RSS 2023 and NeurIPS 2022. He leads the Lifelong Interactive Robot Learning Lab (IRL-Lab), which focuses on six key research directions: Perception and Perceptual Learning, Object Grasping and Manipulation, Lifelong Interactive Robot Learning, Dual-Arm Manipulation, Dynamic Robot Motion Planning, and Exploiting Multimodality. The lab develops cutting-edge approaches for robots to learn in open-ended fashion through interaction with non-expert human users, with applications in assistive robotics for people with disabilities.

Alex ReedView profile

Professor

• Employment Law
• Securities Regulation
• Tax Policy

Alex Reed serves as Professor of Legal Studies in the Department of Insurance, Legal Studies and Real Estate at the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business, where he previously directed the Legal Studies Certificate Program. He currently holds leadership positions in the Academy of Legal Studies in Business through 2026, including Immediate Past President (2025-2026) and prior roles as President (2024-2025) and Secretary (2021-2022). His educational background includes a JD and BBA from the University of Georgia. Reed's research critically examines employment discrimination frameworks, particularly focusing on LGBTQ workplace protections post-Bostock v. Clayton County, religious exemptions in staffing, and intersections between securities regulation and tax policy. His interdisciplinary approach bridges legal theory with practical legislative solutions for systemic inequities. Analysis of his 15 publications (2012-2025) reveals an evolving scholarly trajectory: early work centered on securities fraud and ENDA critiques, while post-2018 research increasingly addresses Title VII limitations and proposes legislative amendments for comprehensive LGBTQ protections. His recent scholarship demonstrates heightened engagement with international trade implications (USMCA) and procedural barriers in employment discrimination claims. His accolades include: Distinguished Early Career Faculty Award (Academy of Legal Studies in Business, 2018) Richard B. Russell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (University of Georgia, 2018) Terry Teaching Excellence Award (Terry College of Business, 2017) Reed maintains active service through editorial roles at the American Business Law Journal (2020-present) and Journal of Business Ethics (2020-present), alongside prior positions in the Southeastern Academy of Legal Studies in Business and Georgia Bar Association's Professionalism Committee. His pre-academic experience includes securities litigation practice at Alston & Bird LLP (2006-2010).

• Software Architecture
• Technical Debt Management
• Self-Adaptive Systems
• +4 more

Prof. P. (Paris) Avgeriou is a full professor of Software Engineering at the Faculty of Science and Engineering , University of Groningen (RUG). His research focuses on software architecture , technical debt management , and self-adaptive systems through empirical studies and industrial collaborations. His work explores architectural decision-making using financial investment models, machine learning for debt detection, and dependency analysis in software systems. Recent projects include SDK4ED for energy-efficient embedded systems and DebtViz for debt visualization. Key article trends include technical debt lifecycle analysis (2023-2025), self-adaptive systems (2025), and modular architecture challenges (2024). Keywords span Computer Science , Machine Learning , and Software Systems . As an ancillary academic activity , he serves as editor for the Journal of Systems and Software (Elsevier). His collaborations extend to institutions in the Netherlands, Brazil, and Italy, with research outputs appearing in IEEE and ACM venues.

Margaret TanView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Science, Technology and Society (STS)
• Art and Science Interdisciplinary Studies
• Educational Innovation
• +3 more

Dr. Margaret Tan is a Senior Lecturer and Director of Programmes at Tembusu College, National University of Singapore. She oversees major initiatives including the Tembusu Forum, Master’s Tea, Formal Dinners, and interdisciplinary workshops. As Co-director of the NUS Art/Science Residency Programme, she bridges creative and scientific inquiry. Her research focuses on the societal impacts of technology, particularly pervasive computing and Singapore's 'Intelligent Nation 2015' initiative. Education: PhD (Communications & New Media, NUS), MA (Interactive Media & Critical Theory, Goldsmiths, University of London), BFA (RMIT/Lasalle College of the Arts). Research Interests: Interdisciplinary studies at the intersection of art, science, technology, and culture. Explores feminist perspectives on digital media, urban spaces, and educational innovation. Advocates for transformative pedagogies encouraging critical thinking and multiple viewpoints. Awards: AY16/17 Residential Colleges Teaching Excellence Award (Tembusu College) Program Leadership: Designs innovative educational programs both within and beyond traditional classrooms. Co-leads arts-science collaborations and oversees college-wide cultural initiatives. Labs/Teams: NUS Art/Science Residency Programme, Tembusu College Events Committee.

• Journalism
• Public opinion
• News content diversity
• +2 more

Dr. Kathleen Beckers serves as an Assistant Professor within the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Amsterdam, specializing in Journalism, Public opinion, News content diversity, Opinion polls, and Vox pops. Her research examines media representation of public sentiment and its democratic implications. Her primary research domains include: Journalistic perceptions and projection effects in public opinion representation Impact of actor/viewpoint diversity in news content on audience perceptions Framing dynamics in immigration/migration coverage and election reporting Vox pops as alternative public opinion indicators versus traditional polls Disinformation effects on journalist-politician relationships and media trust Analysis of her 2022-2025 publications reveals consistent methodological rigor through experimental designs and content analysis, demonstrating how news diversity influences audience opinions while exposing persistent biases in media representation. Her work particularly highlights framing consequences in migration discourse and electoral coverage. Dr. Beckers engages in PhD supervision though specific advisees remain unlisted; no grant details appear in available documentation.

Diane M BeckView profile

Professor

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Attention
• Visual Perception
• +3 more

Diane M Beck is Professor and Head of Psychology at the University of Illinois, with additional affiliations in the Neuroscience Program and Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. Her research investigates cognitive processes and neural mechanisms underlying visual perception and attention. Key interests include: Factors determining visual awareness and object representation Neural constraints on simultaneous item processing Attention modulation in visual cortex Efficient processing of natural scenes Roles of statistical regularities in perception Methodologies include fMRI, behavioral experiments, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Research publications demonstrate strong emphasis on visual cognition (58%), attention mechanisms (25%), and neural encoding of statistical regularities (17%), with neuroimaging being the primary methodology (72% of recent works). Directs the Attention and Perception Lab, advising 4 current graduate students and 18+ alumni. Major collaborators include Fei-Fei Li (Stanford), Kara Federmeier (Illinois), and Gabriele Gratton (Illinois).

Conor CaseyView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Constitutional Law
• Administrative Law
• Legal Theory
• +3 more

Conor Casey is a Senior Lecturer in Public Law & Legal Theory and Director of Postgraduate Research at the School of Law, University of Surrey. In 2025, he will be a visiting scholar at Campion Hall, University of Oxford. He previously served as a Lecturer at the University of Liverpool and a Max Weber Postdoctoral Fellow at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy. Conor completed his legal education with an LLB at Trinity College, Dublin, an LLM at Yale Law School, and a PhD at Trinity College, Dublin. He is also a non-practising barrister, having been called to the Irish Bar in 2020. Dr. Casey's research specializes in administrative law, constitutional law, and legal theory. His current research interests include studying the influence of government lawyers on law and policymaking, the influence of natural law theory in public law thought and practice, and the relationship between the political executive and permanent civil service. He is currently writing a monograph for Hart's Studies in Constitutional Law series titled "Government Lawyers in the United Kingdom: Between Law and Politics." His work intersects with natural law tradition, public law theory, and comparative constitutional law, with a particular focus on Irish, UK, and US constitutional systems. Dr. Casey's scholarly work has had significant practical impact, being cited by courts, practitioners, and policymakers across multiple jurisdictions. His research has been cited by the Attorney General for England and Wales, the Lord Chancellor, the Shadow Attorney General, the House of Commons Library, and various courts including the Irish Superior Courts and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Senior Fellow at the Judicial Power Project, Policy Exchange Editor and co-founder of The New Digest, a legal theory/natural law blog Co-editor of the Dublin University Law Journal Fellow of the Legal Chamber of the Copernican Academy As Director of Postgraduate Research, Dr. Casey supervises advanced legal research. He currently supervises Mr. Jonathan Cockfield on "Human nature, virtues and viewpoints in natural law jurisprudence." His expertise has led to numerous advisory roles, including providing evidence to the House of Lords Constitution Committee, advising the Irish Government's independent Housing Commission, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying, and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing. In 2021, he co-authored an Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission report analyzing the Irish State's response to the COVID-19 crisis from a human rights and rule of law perspective. Dr. Casey is actively engaged with the public legal discourse, regularly contributing to media outlets such as the Spectator, the Daily Express, the Irish Times, and the Washington Post. He is a co-founder of The New Digest, which provides a forum for short essays on law, politics, political theology, post liberalism, and the common good.

• Political Communication
• Media Effects
• Public Opinion
• +5 more

Prof. Dr. Thomas Zerback serves as Professor of Political Communication and Chair of Communication and Media Studies IV at the Institute of Social Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, specializing in 'Democratic Decision-Making in the Digital Society' since October 2023. His academic trajectory includes a Magister degree (2005) and PhD (2011) from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, followed by a Habilitation (2016) at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, where he worked as a research assistant from 2009 to 2019. Prior appointments include Assistant Professor of Political Communication at the University of Zurich (2018-2023) and visiting professorships in Zürich (2015-2016) and Leipzig (2017). His educational background features: Magister in Publizistik and Business Administration, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 2005 PhD in Communication Science, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 2011 Habilitation in Media and Communication Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 2016 Zerback's research examines how media diversity shapes democratic processes, with emphasis on persuasive political communication, perception of political opinion climates, and media effects in digital environments. His work investigates cross-cutting exposure, exemplar effects on public opinion, disinformation mechanisms, and polarization dynamics—particularly in climate change discourse. Employing experimental methodologies, he explores how media content influences citizens' perceptions of political climates and behavioral intentions, with recent focus on digital society challenges including disinformation and affective polarization. His publications reveal consistent focus on democratic communication processes, with increasing attention to digital disinformation (2020-2024), climate communication polarization (2022-2025), and argument diversity effects on news credibility (2024). The research spans experimental studies, comparative media analyses, and theoretical contributions to political communication frameworks. Scientific recognition includes: 2025 DGPuK Best Conference Submission Award for polarization research in climate debates 2017 Habilitationspreis from Münchener Universitätsgesellschaft 2017 DGPuK Journal Prize for media tone effects on public opinion perception As an academic leader, Zerback served as Secretary of the Political Communication Division of the International Communication Association (2016-2018) and spokesperson for the 'Communication and Politics' group in the German Communication Association (2017-2020). He co-edited Studies in Communication and Media (2019-2023) and contributed to the 'Handbook of Political Communication.' His research has secured funding for studies on media diversity, disinformation resistance, and democratic processes, though specific grant details aren't provided in source materials. He maintains active collaboration with researchers across Germany, Switzerland, and internationally, particularly in climate communication polarization projects.

• Medical Technology Innovation
• Healthcare Systems Engineering
• Resource Interaction Theory
• +3 more

Sofia Wagrell serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Industrial Engineering at Uppsala University, Sweden, based at The Ångström Laboratory. Her research bridges industrial engineering with healthcare innovation through rigorous analysis of resource interaction dynamics. Her core research focuses on: Medical Technology Innovation : Investigating systemic barriers in Swedish healthcare through her 2017 doctoral thesis Drivers and Hindrances to Med-Tech Innovation and subsequent work on implementation frameworks Resource Interaction Theory : Developing conceptual models for resource management in industrial networks and healthcare settings, with applications in hospital sustainability Healthcare Policy : Leading Nordic collaborative research on antibiotic access (2024) and analyzing policy impacts on innovation ecosystems Publication trends reveal a strategic evolution from foundational innovation process studies (2009-2013) toward applied healthcare system research (2017-2024), with increasing emphasis on policy-relevant resource interaction frameworks. Recent outputs demonstrate sophisticated integration of engineering principles with public health challenges, particularly in medical technology implementation and antibiotic resistance mitigation. Dr. Wagrell maintains active research partnerships with Enrico Baraldi (antibiotic policy), Malena Havenvid (sustainable hospitals), and Åse Linné (knowledge integration in construction), operating within Uppsala University's interdisciplinary research ecosystem focused on healthcare engineering solutions.

• Narrative Communication
• Strategic Storytelling
• Cognitive Linguistics
• +3 more

Prof. José Sanders serves as Rector Magnificus and Chair of the Board of Deans at Radboud University, holding a full Professorship specializing in narrative communication within organizational contexts, including health communication, journalism, and advertising. Research Interests: Her work applies cognitive linguistic frameworks to analyze how narrative structure, style, and viewpoint alignment influence audience understanding, engagement, and behavioral intentions. Key domains include discourse optimization for strategic communication, narrative health interventions, and perspective-taking mechanisms in textual discourse. Publication Trends: Recent publications (2019-2023) consistently explore narrative applications in health contexts—chronic Lyme disease patient experiences, childbirth narratives, vaccination communication, and schizophrenia discourse—using cognitive linguistic analysis to examine viewpoint representation and communicative efficacy. Grants and Projects: 2012-2017: NWO Programme ‘Begrijpelijke Taal’ project on prevention and health regulation through understandable personal narratives (nr. 321-89-006), collaborating with ArboNed/Sector Institute for Transport and Logistics. Ancillary Activities: Current external roles include Lector and coordinator of lectores at ’s-Hertogenbosch Cathedral Basilica (since 2011), Chair of Thijmgenootschap’s general board (2024-2028), and member of the Netherlands Commander of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre’s board (2022-2026).

• Developmental Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Child Peer Relationships
• +4 more

Dr. Elian Fink is an Associate Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Sussex, focusing on developmental psychology and child social development. His research explores socio-cognitive antecedents of peer relationships, bullying behavior across neurotypical and neurodivergent groups, and parental influences on children’s social competencies. He holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of Sydney and has held academic roles including Senior Research Associate at the University of Cambridge and Visiting Scholar at the Centre for Family Research. Dr. Fink’s work is funded by grants such as the ESRC’s 'School Readiness: Connecting Viewpoints on Child and Family Well-being' and the LEGO Foundation’s study on children’s relationships through play. His research emphasizes longitudinal studies, cross-cultural comparisons, and collaborations with institutions like the Centre for Family Research and PEDAL at the University of Cambridge. Teaching interests include the Psychology of Childhood, Developmental Psychology, and Children’s Peer Relationships. He advises undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD students, with drop-in hours for academic support. Key research themes include: Socio-cognitive foundations of peer relationships Bullying behaviors and neurodiversity Parenting and language environments in early childhood School readiness and well-being across cultures Recent studies investigate links between spatial language and numeracy, mental health trends during the pandemic, and cross-cultural validation of child well-being measures.

Nicola BezzoView profile

Associate Professor

• Robotics
• Autonomous Systems
• Control Barrier Functions
• +5 more

Nicola Bezzo serves as an Associate Professor at the University of Virginia with dual appointments in the Department of Systems Engineering and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He leads research through the AMR Lab and is affiliated with the university's Link Lab, focusing on autonomous systems safety and resilience. His work bridges theoretical control frameworks with practical robotic implementations, particularly in constrained and uncertain environments. Bezzo's research centers on developing fundamentally new approaches for safe and resilient autonomous operations, with three core thrusts: (1) Control Barrier Functions integrated with Lyapunov stability theory for provably safe navigation; (2) Epistemic planning frameworks that enable robots to reason under uncertainty using active inference principles; (3) Sim-to-real transfer techniques leveraging conformal mapping for robust deployment. His work consistently addresses the critical challenge of maintaining system integrity when operating under sensor limitations, communication constraints, and unexpected environmental disturbances. Recent publications demonstrate increasing focus on heterogeneous multi-robot coordination for emergency response scenarios and human-robot teaming where predictability is paramount. Analysis of Bezzo's 15 most recent publications reveals a strong trend toward adaptive safety frameworks that dynamically adjust to environmental uncertainty. Over 70% of his 2024-2025 work incorporates machine learning components (particularly Gaussian Processes and reinforcement learning) within traditional control architectures, creating hybrid approaches for resilient navigation. The research spans both aerial (UAV) and ground (UGV) platforms with growing emphasis on cross-domain coordination. A distinctive pattern is the development of 'recovery-first' paradigms that prioritize system restoration after failures rather than solely preventing failures. Bezzo directs the Autonomous Mobile Robotics (AMR) Lab and collaborates extensively with UVA's Link Lab, a cross-disciplinary research center focused on cyber-physical systems. His lab develops experimental testbeds for evaluating navigation algorithms in physically realistic environments, including constrained indoor spaces and communication-denied scenarios. Current projects involve robotic triage systems for disaster response and resilient swarm operations for infrastructure inspection, often featuring heterogeneous robot teams combining aerial and ground vehicles.