Konstantinos Avramidis is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture of the University of Cyprus , where he focuses on architectural design, urban cultural studies, and visual communication. He earned his PhD in Architectural Design from the University of Edinburgh as a fellow of the Edinburgh College of Art, following a Master's in Architecture and Spatial Design with distinction from the National Technical University of Athens and undergraduate training at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Current position: Assistant Professor, University of Cyprus Previous teaching: Drury University, University of Portsmouth Academic honors: Fellow of UK Higher Education Academy His research explores intersections between architectural design, graffiti/street art, and urban spatial practices. He has co-edited the book Graffiti and Street Art: Reading, Writing and Representing the City (Routledge, 2017) and founded the Drawing On research journal and Routledge Advances of Graffiti and Street Art Research series. His work analyzes urban inscriptions as critical spatial practices, examining how crises reshape architectural representation. Scientific distinctions include first prizes in the 'Kozani x4' and 'Thesprotia Chamber of Commerce' architectural competitions. His research has been presented at institutions like TU Delft, ICA, and University College London, with publications in journals such as City: Analysis of Urban Change and The Design Journal . He actively supervises student projects that have won multiple awards.
Natalia Andrienko is a Professor of Computer Science at City University London and Lead Scientist in the Knowledge Discovery department at Fraunhofer-Institut für Intelligente Analyse- und Informationssysteme. Her work bridges visual analytics with mobility data science and machine learning, focusing on human-in-the-loop systems for pattern discovery and spatiotemporal data exploration. Professor, Computer Science, City University London (2013-present) Lead Scientist, Knowledge Discovery, Fraunhofer Institute (1997-present) Research interests center on visual analytics methodology for spatiotemporal data, human-centered machine learning, and mobility pattern analysis. She develops frameworks for interactive dashboards, trust visualization in ML, and semantic exploration of location-based data, with a focus on scalable and privacy-respecting techniques. Her recent publications investigate hybrid human-machine discovery of movement patterns, contextual visual analytics for multivariate events, and the integration of temporal periodization with spatial analysis. Articles emphasize applications in sports analytics, transportation systems, and collaborative visual analysis workflows. Key collaborations include work with Gennady Andrienko and Salvatore Rinzivillo. She has contributed to journals like Visual Informatics , IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics , and International Journal of Cartography , maintaining active research output across visual analytics, mobility science, and geospatial data modeling.
Peter J. Kohler is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology within the Faculty of Science at York University, Toronto. He is eligible to supervise graduate students in the Biology Graduate Program and leads the Kohler Visual Neuroscience Lab, which is part of the Centre for Vision Research at York University. His research lies at the intersection of cognitive neuroscience and visual perception, focusing on mid-level visual processing. This involves understanding how the brain, within the first few hundred milliseconds of visual input, constructs representations of shape, motion, location, and perceptual organization—including figure-ground segregation, grouping, and constancy. His work integrates functional MRI (fMRI) , electroencephalography (EEG) , and visual psychophysics to probe the neural mechanisms underlying these processes in humans. Recent publications reveal a strong focus on symmetry processing, perceptual grouping, numerical estimation, and multisensory integration. His work often involves advanced neuroimaging techniques and collaborative international research, particularly with teams in Belgium and Luxembourg. The articles span high-impact journals such as PNAS , Nature Communications , Current Biology , and Journal of Vision , indicating a robust and influential research program in visual neuroscience. Scientific Awards and Funding: NSERC Discovery Grant (awarded April 2020) VISTA Research Grant (funded June 2023) Prof. Kohler actively mentors students, including graduate students such as Rachel Moreau, Sara Chaparian, Yara Iskandar, Shaya Samet, and Shenoa Ragavaloo, as well as undergraduate researchers. His lab has presented at major conferences including the Vision Sciences Society (VSS) and the Lake Ontario Visionary Establishment (LOVE), where he joined the organizing committee in 2024. The Kohler Visual Neuroscience Lab also develops experimental tools, as evidenced by GitHub repositories for stimulus generation and behavioral testing using jsPsych.
Bernhard Jenny is an Associate Professor at Monash University's Faculty of Information Technology, specializing in immersive visualization and geospatial data. He holds a PhD in Cartography from ETH Zurich and has held previous roles at Oregon State University and RMIT University. His research focuses on virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and cartographic innovations for geospatial data representation. Education: Doctor of Sciences in Cartography, ETH Zurich (2010) Postgraduate Certificate in Computer Science, ETH Zurich (2005) Master of Science in Surveying, EPFL (2000) Research Interests: Combines cartography, computer graphics, and human-computer interaction to explore VR/AR applications for geospatial data. Current work includes immersive analytics, terrain visualization, adaptive map projections, and storytelling with geospatial data. Recent Articles: Focus on ambient occlusion for terrain shading, grammars for immersive visualization transitions, and AR/VR interfaces for spatial data. Awards: Henry Johns Award (2007, 2011, 2012) ETH Medal (2010) Best Paper Honorable Mentions (ACM CHI, DIS) Grants & Projects: Leads initiatives like the 'Immersive Analytics' extension and 'National Geographic Relief Shading' project. Collaborates on neural networks for cartographic relief shading and sustainable development goals (SDGs). Labs & Teams: Heads the Embodied Visualisation Lab at Monash, focusing on immersive analytics and geovisualization tools.
Siegrid Löwel is a Full Professor of Systems Neuroscience at the University of Göttingen, affiliated with the Department of Systems Neuroscience within the Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology. She is also a Board Member of the Göttingen Campus Institute for Dynamics of Biological Networks since 2021, highlighting her leadership in interdisciplinary neuroscience research. Her educational background includes a Dr. phil. nat. from the University of Frankfurt am Main, completed under Prof. Wolf Singer at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research. Her career includes professorships at the University of Jena (2005–2010), a guest professorship at Magdeburg, and a research associate professorship at the University of California, San Francisco. Siegrid Löwel's research focuses on the development and plasticity of neuronal circuits in the mammalian cortex. Her lab employs optical and 2-photon imaging, electrophysiology, and viral gene knockdown to study how experience and learning shape neural networks. Her work has pivotal implications for brain regeneration and rehabilitation after injury or disease. She was among the first to demonstrate that correlated neural activity underlies long-range cortical circuit development—famously summarized as 'neurons that fire together, wire together.' The recent publications reflect a strong focus on structural and functional cortical plasticity, particularly in the visual system. Themes include silent synapses, critical period regulation, optogenetic interventions for blindness, and the impact of environmental enrichment and exercise on neural plasticity. These studies span molecular, cellular, and systems levels, contributing to both basic neuroscience and translational applications. Scientific awards and recognitions include: Hertie Excellence Program Scholarship in Neurosciences (2004–2005) Dorothea Erxleben Guest Professorship, University of Magdeburg (2003–2004) Löwel leads an active research group and is affiliated with the Göttingen Graduate Center for Neurosciences (GGNB) in multiple programs, including Systems Neuroscience and Sensory and Motor Neuroscience. She has secured long-term research support through institutional roles and collaborative networks. While specific grant details are not listed, her sustained publication record and leadership positions indicate robust funding and research activity. Her lab continues to explore mechanisms of neural plasticity with potential clinical applications in stroke recovery, amblyopia, and neurodegenerative conditions. She is associated with the research group homepage: http://systemsneuroscience.uni-goettingen.de .
Scott T. Doyle is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences at the Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo. His research integrates biomedical imaging, artificial intelligence, and computational pathology to develop quantitative tools for clinical diagnostics and anatomical modeling. Education: PhD in Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (2011) BS in Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (2006) Optical Microscopy & Imaging in the Biomedical Sciences, Marine Biological Laboratory (2014) hES Stem Cell Culture Training, WNYSTEM (2014) R Bioconductor Training, Roswell Park Cancer Institute (2016) Dr. Doyle’s research focuses on developing AI-driven algorithms for biomedical image analysis, particularly in digital pathology and 3D anatomical modeling. His work spans tumor segmentation, risk prediction in oral and thyroid cancers, and integration of virtual and physical anatomy in medical education. He applies machine learning, deep learning, and computational modeling to enhance diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes. His recent publications reflect a strong trend in applying artificial intelligence to histopathology, with emphasis on active learning, 3D reconstruction, and multi-institutional data fusion. Key areas include oral cavity cancer recurrence prediction, thyroid cancer subtyping, and computational modeling of surgical margins and anatomical structures. Scientific Service and Recognition: Reviewer for NIH SPORE grants Peer reviewer for journals including Medical Image Analysis , BMC Bioinformatics , IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering Program Committee and Session Chair, SPIE Medical Imaging: Digital Pathology (2016–present) Member, Graduate Program Steering Committee, Pathology & Anatomical Sciences Mentor, McNair Scholarship and CSTEP programs for underrepresented students Dr. Doyle has secured significant research funding as Principal Investigator on NIH and CTSI grants, including a $2M+ NIH grant for predicting oral cancer recurrence. He has also contributed to educational innovation through hybrid anatomy curriculum development and AI training for pathologists. He leads the 'Atoms to Anatomy' research initiative and is active in strategic planning at the Jacobs School. Laboratories and Collaborative Teams: Dr. Doyle collaborates with the Center for Computational Research (CCR) and is involved in the Structural Sciences Learning Center (SSLC). He has led projects with teams at Ibris, Inc., Veterans Affairs Hospital, and Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
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.
Marie Carlén is a Professor of Neuronal Networks at the Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, where she leads the Neural Circuits of Cognition research group. Her work focuses on the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a brain region central to cognitive functions such as attention, decision-making, working memory, and goal-directed behavior. She employs cutting-edge techniques including optogenetics, large-scale electrophysiology, calcium imaging, and circuit tracing in rodent models to unravel the cellular and circuit mechanisms underlying cognition and their disruption in psychiatric disorders. Her academic journey began with a Ph.D. in medicine from Karolinska Institutet in 2005, followed by postdoctoral training at MIT’s Picower Institute under Professor Li-Huei Tsai. She returned to Karolinska Institutet in 2010 and was promoted to full Professor in 2022. She is also a Docent (2017) and has held prestigious fellowships including ERC Starting Grant and Wallenberg Scholar (2019, 2024). Marie Carlén's research spans systems and cellular neuroscience, with a strong emphasis on inhibitory interneurons (especially parvalbumin-expressing cells), neural oscillations, and PFC-striatum interactions. Her recent publications reveal a consistent focus on decoding prefrontal circuit dynamics, the role of specific neuron types in cognition, and comparative brain architecture. She collaborates extensively with her partner, Konstantinos Meletis, also a KI researcher. She has been recognized with numerous scientific honors: Member, Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet (2025–) Member, The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (2024–) Wallenberg Scholar (2024, 2019) ERC Starting Grant (2013) Wallenberg Academy Fellow (2012) NARSAD Young Investigator Awards (2010, 2008) She actively mentors students and researchers, with open applications welcomed to her lab. Her work is supported by major grants, including from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, enabling high-risk, high-reward research in brain function and disease. Her lab investigates the functional definition of the prefrontal cortex across species, develops novel tools for neural recording, and explores circuit imbalances in conditions like autism and schizophrenia. She is a strong advocate for ethical animal research and promotes gender equality in science.
Joan Nogue i Font is a Professor at the Department of Geography of the University of Girona , and founder-director of the Cátedra del Bosque since 2022. He served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts (1996-2004) and former director of the Catalan Landscape Observatory (2005-2017). A specialist in Landscape and Human Geography , he has authored and edited numerous influential works, including Nacionalismo y territorio (1998) and Geopolítica, identidad y globalización (2001). Education: PhD in Geography (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison under Yi-Fu Tuan Advisory roles: Member of Advisory Council for Sustainable Development (CADS), full member of Institute of Catalan Studies (IEC) Editorial work: Co-editor of Documents d'Anàlisi Geogràfica , co-director of Paisaje y Teoría book series International experience: Adjunct Professor at Western University (Canada), visiting scholar at Harvard University (2022) His research integrates Landscape Analysis with Societal and Environmental Studies , focusing on territorial identity, sustainability, and the interplay between culture and geography. He has pioneered methodologies for landscape cataloging and participatory management, emphasizing intangible values and citizen engagement. His work bridges European landscape policies with Catalan rural transformations. Recent publications like The other rural world (2022) and Paesaggio, territorio, società civile (2017) reflect his focus on civil society and contemporary spatial dynamics. His scientific awards include: 2009 Rei Jaume I Award for Urbanism, Landscape, and Sustainability 2010 Joan Fuster Essay Award 2022 Sylvester Baxter Lecturer at Harvard University He has served on editorial boards for journals such as Bolletino della Società Geografia Italiana and Punto Sur , and collaborates with La Vanguardia and Ara media supplements.
Allan Pang is a Researcher in the Department of History within the School of Humanities at the University of Bristol. His work focuses on transregional histories connecting Hong Kong, Chinese diaspora communities, and Southeast Asia. As a historian with expertise in decolonization, cultural policies, and history education, Dr. Pang contributes significantly to understanding the complex interplay between colonialism, Chinese identities, and postcolonial nation-building across East and Southeast Asia. Education: BA, University of Hong Kong MPhil, University of Hong Kong PhD, University of Cambridge Dr. Pang's research engages with themes such as history education, popular music, and decolonisation from a transregional perspective across East and Southeast Asia. His current book project examines the transmission of historical knowledge in Hong Kong, Malaya/Malaysia, and Singapore from the 1950s to the 1990s, analyzing how Cold War politics, decolonization processes, and Chinese politics shaped understandings of 'Chineseness' through educational systems and public historical narratives. He also investigates transregional Chinese popular music across Hong Kong and Southeast Asia since the 1950s, examining how musicians and cultural producers exerted transregional agency through the music industry amidst political transitions, with particular attention to the works of composer Joseph Koo and lyricist James Wong from Hong Kong, Xinyao from Singapore, and campus folk songs from Taiwan. Dr. Pang's publications demonstrate a consistent focus on transregional connections between Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, and Chinese diaspora communities. His work bridges historical analysis with cultural studies, examining how historical narratives are constructed and transmitted through educational systems, popular culture, and public spaces. A notable trend in his recent scholarship is the examination of how Cold War politics shaped cultural production and historical consciousness across Asian contexts, particularly in relation to Chinese identities. His research increasingly incorporates digital humanities approaches, as evidenced by his public education campaign 'Malaysia Unbound' which features a digital interactive map of transregional connections. Scientific Awards: Shortlisted for the Best Article on Global Hong Kong Studies 2023, ICAS (International Convention of Asia Scholars) Book Prize for 'Stamping 'Imagination and Sensibility': Objects, Culture, and Governance in Late Colonial Hong Kong' Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Dr. Pang is actively involved in teaching and public engagement. In 2024-25, he is delivering lectures and seminars for a second-year unit 'Asia in Global Perspective' (team taught). Before arriving at Bristol, he taught courses on empires in maritime East Asia, twentieth-century world history, Hong Kong history, and historiography. His public outreach includes working with Imagined Malaysia, an NGO in Malaysia, on the public education campaign 'Malaysia Unbound: Transregional Histories through Documents,' which explores Malaysia's transregional connections through weekly infographics and a digital interactive map. He also contributes to public initiatives at the Hong Kong History Centre through public talks and online lecture series.
Katrin Vogt is a Group Leader at the University of Konstanz and an Affiliated Scientist at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior. She serves on the IMPRS Board and Faculty, focusing on behavioral neuroscience in Drosophila larvae. Her research explores how social context and internal states (e.g., hunger) modulate neural circuits and behavior, utilizing genetic tools like optogenetics, RNAi, and CRISPR. Key Research Areas: Behavioral flexibility under internal state changes Neural integration of sensory and state signals in the antennal lobe Role of serotonin (CSD neuron) in modulating output pathways Computational modeling of state-dependent circuit dynamics Notable Achievements: Discovered state-dependent olfactory valence switching (e.g., geranyl acetate shifts from aversion to attraction under food deprivation) Elucidated glutamatergic inhibition mechanisms in picky local interneurons Identified 5-HT7 receptor's role in upregulating uniglomerular projection neuron activity Recent Publications: 2025: PLoS Biology on multimodal sensory neurons 2024: Current Biology commentary on behavioral neuroscience 2023: Current Biology on multisensory memory merging Academic Affiliations: University of Konstanz (Group Leader, Department of Collective Behavior) Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior (Affiliated Scientist) IMPRS for Organismal Biology (Faculty Member) Scientific Awards: DFG Research Fellowship (Project No. 345729665) Students & Collaborators: PhD students: Hari P. Narayanan, Akhila Mudunuri Research assistants: Nora Tutas, Julius Klein, Constantin Dyroff DAAD summer student: Élyse Zadigue-Dubé Recent graduates: Amelie Edmaier (BSc 2023), Constantin Dyroff (BSc 2023)
Elena Cologni is an Associate Professor of Contemporary Art and Critical Practice at the Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University. She serves as the Cambridge School of Art Research Lead, PGR Coordinator, Panel 32 Art and Design REF 2021 and 2029 Convenor, School Research Ethics Panel Chair, and leads the Wellbeing, Care Aesthetics and Art Research and Education Unit (We CARE). She is also the ARU partnership Lead for the British Council Venice Biennale Fellowships Programme and the Art and Health Academic Lead for The Culture Capital Exchange Programme 2022-23. Her educational background includes: BA in Fine Art from Accademia di Belle Arti Brera in Milan MA in Sculpture from Bretton Hall College, Leeds University PhD in Fine Art and Philosophy from University of the Arts London, Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design (2004) Cologni develops dialogic and situated artistic strategies for observing, recording and stimulating awareness of everyday experiences. Her interdisciplinary approach intersects artistic research with environmental psychology, care ethics, philosophy, and gender studies, resulting in dialogic sculptures, public interventions, performance scores, and drawings. Her work explores place attachment, ecofeminism, spatialized art practices, and the relationship between art, wellbeing, and care aesthetics. She is particularly interested in how artistic practice can facilitate the sharing of insights and the location of situated knowledges within our relations with one another, place, and the environment, creating instruments to stimulate awareness of everyday experiences through relational, participatory and dialogic approaches. Her publication portfolio reveals a consistent trajectory examining care ethics, dialogic practices, and the intersection of art with social and environmental concerns. She frequently investigates how artistic interventions can create spaces for dialogue about care, wellbeing, and our relationship to place and community, often bridging theoretical frameworks from feminist theory, environmental psychology, and performance studies with practical artistic applications that engage with public space, memory, and perception. Her notable recognition includes: Seeds of Attachment - The Shape of the Public's Health award - first prize - Royal Society for Public Health in collaboration with the Royal Society of Sculptors (2019) Artist Bursaries from Artists Newsletter (2018) Cologni supervises research students and has secured numerous research grants including the Practicing Feminist Care Aesthetics grant from The Getty Research Institute (2023/2025), Practices of care as ecofeminist and spatialized art funded by the Artist International Development Fund (Arts Council England and British Council 2018/19), and The Places of Memory commissioned by Universita' di Pisa (2022). She regularly collaborates with art galleries, museums, and the NHS Foundation Trust on educational activities and creative interventions that bridge art, health, and wellbeing. She leads the Wellbeing, Care Aesthetics and Art Research and Education Unit (We CARE) and coordinates the ARU Arts, Health and Wellbeing Research Network. Her work often involves community collaborations, as seen in projects like The Places of Memory, which engaged with local communities in Pisa, and Seeds of Attachment, which explored parent-child bonds in relation to place attachment through nomadic dialogic sculptures inspired by Margaret Lowenfeld's Mosaic Test.
Allison Adelle Hedge Coke is a Distinguished Professor of Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside, where she leads the UCR Writers Week Festival and directs the VA National Cemetery Administration Legacy Program. She has held visiting or faculty positions at Hartwick College, University of Nebraska, Naropa University, and University of Hawai'i, Mānoa, including roles such as Fulbright Scholar in Montenegro and Dan & Maggie Inouye Chair in Democratic Ideals. Education: MFA from Vermont College (1995), AFAW from Institute of American Indian Arts, post-grad work at VCFA Her research and creative work intersects with Indigenous Studies, disability advocacy, and environmental poetics. She is known for mathematically encoding the prosody of her verse play Blood Run to mirror the Indigenous mound city it protects, and for multimedia projects like the Streaming album and Red Dust documentary. Her recent publications include the award-winning Look at This Blue and the curated anthology series Effigies , which spotlight emerging queer and Pacific Rim poets. Projects often blend community outreach, mental health advocacy, and Indigenous knowledge preservation. Major Awards: American Book Award, National Book Award Finalist, Pen Southwest Book Award, Texas Institute of Letters fellowship, NWCA Lifetime Achievement Hedge Coke’s mentorship spans juvenile facilities, reservations, and refugee communities. She founded the Literary Sandhill Cranefest Retreat and has secured grants for K-12 outreach programs integrating poetry with historical and ecological education.
Crystal Bae is an Assistant Professor of Geographic Information Science at the University of Chicago’s Center for Spatial Data Science since 2021. She earned her Ph.D. in Geography from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship under Somayeh Dodge in the MOVE Lab, focusing on geographic visualization and spatial cognition. Research Interests: spatial cognition, wayfinding, geovisualization, travel behavior, and urban built environments. Teaching Roles: Courses include Spatial Cognition, Introduction to GIS, Cartographic Design, and Social Science Inquiry at UChicago; Urban Geography and Human Geography at UCSB. Scientific Awards: Certificate in College and University Teaching (CCUT), UCSB Excellence in Teaching Award, and recognition for innovative GIS lab design in ArcUser. Her work examines how individuals and groups cognitively process spatial environments through static and animated visualizations, collaborative navigation, and urban neighborhood boundaries. She has contributed to NSF-funded projects on movement ecology and spatial cognition, with publications in Movement Ecology, COSIT, and Built Environment. Crystal also co-hosts a jazz radio show, maintains a travel blog, and engages in bicycling adventures, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to geography and personal connection to spatial experiences.
Jonah Berger is an Associate Professor of Marketing at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania . A world-renowned expert on influence, word of mouth, natural language processing, and consumer behavior , he has published over 80 articles in top-tier journals and teaches one of the world’s most popular online courses. His research bridges marketing, psychology, sociology, and computer science to uncover why products, ideas, and behaviors go viral. Books: Contagious , Invisible Influence , The Catalyst , Magic Words (translated into 35+ languages) Industry Collaborations: Apple, Google, Nike, Amazon, GE, Moderna, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Research Focus: Berger’s work examines how language shapes consumer behavior , using natural language processing to extract insights from text data (e.g., lyrics, scripts, service calls). His recent projects explore confidence dynamics, communication mediums, and linguistic patterns in persuasion . Awards: Sheth Foundation Award (2025), Hunt/Maynard Award Finalist (2024), William F. O’Dell Award (2019), Berry-AMA Book Prize (2014) Media Impact: His work has been featured in The New York Times , Wall Street Journal , Harvard Business Review , and NPR, with over 100 media mentions spanning behavioral science, marketing, and social dynamics . Leadership: Co-founder of the Technology and Behavioral Science Initiative and organizer of interdisciplinary Behavioral Insights from Text conferences. He has keynoted major events like SXSW and Cannes Lions for Fortune 500 firms and startups alike.
