Dr Polly Radcliffe is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Addictions Sciences at King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience. She specializes in qualitative research addressing substance use, gender identity, and intimate partner violence, particularly among marginalized populations. Her work focuses on improving care systems for women with substance dependency during the perinatal period and developing interventions to address co-occurring substance misuse and domestic abuse. Key projects include the NIHR-funded Stepping Stones Study (longitudinal research on maternal substance use care models) and the ADVANCE-D trial (testing digital interventions for men with substance-related domestic violence). She collaborates with organizations like the Simon Community Scotland on harm reduction strategies for homeless populations. Her research emphasizes participatory methods, including Photovoice and mixed-methods evaluations. Recent publications explore pathways linking substance use to intimate partner violence, barriers to treatment access in Muslim communities, and pandemic impacts on homeless individuals. Her work informs clinical guidelines, policy development, and multidisciplinary care pathways, with a focus on intersectional equity and marginalized voices.
Dr. Georgina Brown is a Senior Lecturer in Forensic Linguistics at Lancaster University's School of Social Sciences. She is actively affiliated with the Phonetics Lab and maintains a robust research profile in speech science with particular emphasis on forensic applications. Her work bridges theoretical phonetics with practical forensic methodologies, contributing significantly to the field of forensic speech analysis. Dr. Brown's research interests center on forensic speech technology, particularly accent recognition and speaker recognition systems. She investigates how phonetic and sociophonetic research can enhance our understanding of these technologies' capabilities and limitations. Her work often addresses practical challenges in forensic contexts, including method validation, spoofed speech detection, and the ethical considerations of using speech data in legal settings. She has developed segmentally informed approaches to accent classification and has contributed to understanding regional variation in English dialects through computational methods. Analysis of her publication record from 2019-2024 reveals consistent contributions to forensic linguistics with increasing interdisciplinary connections to artificial intelligence, data protection law, and machine learning. Her work demonstrates a progression from fundamental phonetic research toward more applied forensic contexts, with recent publications addressing contemporary challenges like large language models, spoofed speech detection, and remote data collection methods. The research spans both technical speech processing aspects and their practical implementation in forensic settings. Dr. Brown actively supervises postgraduate research, currently guiding three students including Lois Fairclough. Her academic engagement extends to educational innovation, as evidenced by her work on problem-based learning approaches for forensic speech science education. She participates in knowledge exchange activities including the FACTOR Summer School 2025 on Language, Speech, and AI, and community outreach through events like Linguistics in the City and engagement with Lancaster Girls' Grammar School. Her research is conducted primarily through the Phonetics Lab at Lancaster University, where she contributes to advancing methodologies in speech analysis for forensic applications. Dr. Brown maintains an active research profile with numerous peer-reviewed publications in leading journals and conference proceedings, demonstrating sustained contribution to the field of forensic linguistics and speech science.
Dr. Nur Izzati Abdullah is a researcher at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, specializing in Conservation Biology, Biodiversity Protection, and Environmental Education. With a PhD in Biology (Wildlife Management) and over five years of experience in forest and wildlife conservation, she collaborates with government agencies, NGOs, and indigenous communities to develop impactful conservation strategies. Her work also involves STEM education initiatives, particularly nature-based education, and she currently contributes to the "In Voices of the Rainforest" project, focusing on education work packages, systematic literature reviews, teacher interviews, and data collection management.
Nicola Dell is an Associate Professor at Cornell University, affiliated with the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute and the College of Computing and Information Science. Her research focuses on the intersection of human-computer interaction (HCI), computer security & privacy, and technology for at-risk communities, particularly addressing digital abuse in intimate partner violence and supporting home health care workers. Clinic to End Tech Abuse (co-founder/director) Initiative on Home Care Work (co-leader) Siegel Faculty Impact Fellow (2023) Her work spans three major areas: (1) mitigating technology abuse in interpersonal violence, (2) protecting home health care workers through technology innovation, and (3) strengthening community health in the Global South. She has received prestigious awards including the MacArthur Fellowship (2024), NSF CAREER Award (2018), and SIGCHI Societal Impact Award (2023). Key publication trends show her expertise in digital safety research (8/15 recent papers), AI for home care (5/15), and ICTD for marginalized populations (7/15). She has advised 22 Ph.D./M.S. students, many of whom now hold faculty/research positions at institutions like NYU, University of Washington, and Stanford. NSF CAREER Award SIGCHI Societal Impact Award MacArthur Fellowship Multiple Best Paper Awards at CHI, CSCW, USENIX Her teaching includes courses on Human-Computer Interaction, Technology and Social Justice, and Tech for Underserved Communities. She leads interdisciplinary research groups combining technical innovation with community engagement to address systemic inequities in technology access and safety.
Dr. Shannon D. Snapp serves as Associate Professor of Psychology within the Department of Psychology at California State University, Monterey Bay, operating under the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Her research centers on asset-based, justice-driven investigations of interpersonal relationships and educational policies that promote health and well-being among underrepresented youth, particularly LGBTQ youth and youth of color through rigorous intersectional analysis. Her academic foundation includes: PhD in Developmental Psychology from Boston College MA in Developmental Psychology from Boston College BA in Psychology and Spanish from the University of Kansas Dr. Snapp's research program employs mixed methods to examine how supportive school practices and inclusive policies can mitigate mental health disparities and educational inequities for sexual and gender minority youth. She prioritizes critically-conscious methodologies that center youth voices and experiences while developing actionable frameworks for systemic change, consistently emphasizing intersectionality as fundamental to understanding complex identity formations. Analysis of her 2015-2025 publications reveals a strategic evolution from foundational work on LGBTQ-inclusive curricula toward cutting-edge investigations of digital hookup culture and theoretical innovations like the "safety spectrum theory." This trajectory demonstrates deepening engagement with intersectional contexts—particularly for LGBTQ youth of color—and increasingly sophisticated examinations of school discipline disparities, relationship formation, and identity development in digital spaces. Her teaching innovations include developing and instructing "How to Love: The Art and Science of Love and Intimacy" (featured in her TEDx CSUMB talk "To Suffer Less, We Need Perfect Love") and "Social Psychology and Social Justice." She integrates wellness practices including yoga and meditation into her professional approach to foster holistic student development.
Andrew J Miller is a Professor at the Department of Animal & Dairy Science, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia. His academic profile spans interdisciplinary research at the intersection of Information Technology, Cybersecurity, and Health Informatics, with a focus on social media behavior, corporate financial performance, and regulatory compliance. Research Trends: His work examines information security dynamics (cybersecurity behavior, HIPAA compliance), technology's financial impacts (firm performance, IT investment), and behavioral aspects of IT adoption (virtual assistants, health data deception). Key Collaborations: No explicit team or lab affiliations mentioned in the provided texts.
Prof. Dr. Silvie Bovarnick serves as Professor of Rights-Based Social Policy for Childhood and Youth at the University of Hildesheim 's Institute for Social and Organizational Pedagogy , holding this position since 2025. She combines academic research with practice through her roles as Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Bedfordshire (UK) since 2022 and Associate at Children Unite (UK) since 2020. Education: PhD in Politics (University of Bristol, 2004), MA in International Relations (University of Warwick, 1999) Her research focuses on child rights and sexual violence , particularly emphasizing trauma-informed research and participatory approaches with survivors. She leads international projects like the Our Voices Too youth advocacy initiative across Albania, Moldova, and Serbia, and contributes to the SVRI Forum 's global discussions on sexual violence research. Recent publications highlight her expertise in child trafficking , participatory action research , and contextual safeguarding approaches. Her work demonstrates consistent collaboration with institutions across Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia, particularly in developing Barnahus model adaptations. Key Scientific Award: Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) scholarship during PhD studies She supervises academic theses and participates in international student advisement through programs like the Child Protection Workshops at the Council of International Schools. Her research integrates with practical applications through organizations like Our Voices and SVRI , focusing on survivor-led research methodologies.
Sencun Zhu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, specializing in cybersecurity, network security, and privacy-preserving technologies. With over 183 research outputs and an h-index of 51, Zhu's work spans wireless sensor networks, Android security, federated learning, and intrusion detection systems. Key Research Areas: Cybersecurity, wireless sensor networks, adversarial machine learning, privacy-preserving analytics, and Android vulnerability detection. Projects: Led multiple NSF-funded initiatives including "Combating Worm Propagation in Emergent Networks" (2007-2013), "Obfuscation-Resilient Software Plagiarism Detection" (2013-2017), and "Reputation-Escalation-as-a-Service" (2016-2020). Recent Trends: Focus on backdoor attacks in AI models, edge computing privacy solutions, and honeypot technologies leveraging large language models. Collaborations: Active in cybersecurity and sensor networks, with partnerships across academia and industry.
Melanie Garson serves as Associate Professor (Teaching) in the Department of Political Science at University College London's School of Public Policy. She has taught at UCL since 2010, specializing in international conflict resolution and security, with her current flagship course examining the nexus of disruptive technology, innovation, and defense resilience in the digital age. Garson also directs the Political Science Careers Week as Director for Careers & Alumni. Her academic credentials include a PhD from UCL (2017), a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University's Fletcher School (2000), and a BA (Hons.) in Oriental Studies from Girton College, Cambridge (1996). She additionally holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Law and maintains solicitor status with the Law Society of England and Wales. Garson's research focuses on the critical intersection of emerging technologies and international relations, particularly examining how digital innovations reshape global security paradigms and diplomatic practices. Her work spans cyber policy, tech geopolitics, defense innovation, and the evolving role of technology companies as geopolitical actors, with particular attention to AI, space systems, and data governance frameworks in international contexts. Her scholarship consistently bridges theoretical insights with practical policy applications for government and industry stakeholders. Her publication record reveals a clear trajectory of increasing focus on technology's impact on international security, with recent work analyzing the Ukraine conflict's implications for tech power dynamics, cybersecurity challenges in developing economies, and the philosophical foundations of human control in autonomous systems. These publications demonstrate her ability to translate complex technological developments into accessible policy frameworks while maintaining rigorous academic analysis. Garson provides practical insights for policymakers through teaching roles at HM Treasury and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, where she established the cyber policy function. She regularly contributes expert commentary to major international media outlets including Bloomberg, BBC, Sky News, CNBC, CNN, Fox News, France 24, and Deutsche Welle, establishing herself as a trusted voice on technology and security issues. Her professional background as an accredited mediator and former solicitor at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer informs her approach to conflict resolution and negotiation. Currently directing research and insights at the ISTARI global cyber collective, Garson maintains strong connections between academic theory and real-world security challenges while continuing her media engagement and policy advisory work.
Hiroshi Nakazato is Associate Professor of Economic Law at Waseda University Faculty of Law , Tokyo, where he has taught since April 2025 after a 27-year career with the Japan Fair Trade Commission. A leading voice on Japanese antitrust enforcement, he studies the intersection of competition law with labour regulation, digital platforms, and public procurement. Education: LL.B., Waseda University School of Law (1995) LL.M., University of Toronto Faculty of Law (2002) Doctoral coursework completed, Waseda University Graduate School of Law (2020-2024) Research interests span antitrust law, economic criminal law, freelancer-protection policy, cartel & bid-rigging offences, and platform regulation. His recent work explores how competition rules should apply to collective action by freelancers, algorithmic management by gig platforms, and sustainability-oriented cartels in fisheries and energy markets. Publications & media impact: He authors a steady stream of refereed articles, invited commentaries and high-profile press interviews on live antitrust scandals—ranging from the Tokyo-Olympics bid-rigging case to Google advertising restrictions and electricity-sector cartels—shaping both scholarly debate and enforcement practice. Grants & projects: He currently leads four JSPS Grants-in-Aid on (i) digital technology & new regulation, (ii) expanding antitrust enforcement, (iii) labour/competition law interface, and (iv) criminal-law responses to global market misconduct (total ≈ ¥50 m). Public service: Chairs the Chiyoda and Taito Ward bid-monitoring committees, advises the national Freelance League, and serves as secretary of the Japan Economic Law Association, maintaining a unique bridge between academy, government and civil society.
Mónica Ruiz-Casares is a Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University's School of Child and Youth Care with adjunct appointments at McGill University in Psychiatry, Social Work, and Equity/Ethics/Policy. Born in Spain, she holds a PhD in Policy Analysis from Cornell University, MA in International Development from George Washington University, and law degree from ICADE. PhD in Policy Analysis and Management / Human Services Studies, Cornell University MSc in Program Planning and Evaluation, Cornell University MA in International Development, George Washington University Postdoctoral Fellowships in Social and Cultural Child Psychiatry, McGill University Licensed Attorney, ICADE (Spain) Her research centers on cross-cultural child wellbeing , specializing in parent-child separation contexts across low- and middle-income countries. Key focus areas include supervisory neglect, migrant/refugee family dynamics, and ethical youth research methodologies. She leads the Global Child Care & Wellbeing Collective , conducting mixed-methods studies that combine large-scale surveys (e.g., 61-country analysis of non-adult supervision) with innovative qualitative approaches like participatory photography. Her work directly informs international child protection policies through partnerships with UNICEF and national governments. Recent publications demonstrate consistent output across high-impact journals, with 2023-2024 work examining child supervision in Laos, pandemic impacts on refugee youth, and mental health policymaking participation. Her research spans eight continents (all except Antarctica), addressing cultural variations in parenting norms and child protection systems. Santé, Chercheur-Boursier Award (Fonds de Recherche du Québec, 2013-2017) CIHR Mentorship Award (2013) American Evaluation Association Type II Award (2005) Richard H. Tomlinson Postdoctoral Fellowship (McGill, 2006-2008) NSF Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship (2002-2003) As a Credentialed Evaluator with 25+ years of policy evaluation experience, she directs multiple active grants including the Families First Program RCT in Indonesia and the International Survey of Children's Wellbeing in Namibia. Her supervisory approach emphasizes methodological innovation in crisis contexts and authentic youth participation, reflected in her co-chair role for the International Society for Child Indicators. The Global Child Care & Wellbeing Collective provides students with field opportunities across Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Americas while developing culturally responsive assessment tools like the Participatory Photography Assessment Technique.
Jan-Oddvar Sørnes is a Professor at Nord University's Bodø Graduate School of Business, Department of Management, holding a PhD in Industrial Economics and Technology Management from NTNU (2004). With continuous affiliation since 1992, he has served in multiple administrative capacities including pro-vice dean for research and program director for master's programs. His research centers on organizational communication , with empirical focus on ICT usage in organizations, energy management, Arctic storytelling, and spillover studies. Teaching specialties include qualitative methods at PhD/master levels, crisis leadership, international business, organizational communication, and media handling. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals evolving research trajectories: early work on ICT adoption (2008-2015) shifted toward crisis communication (2020-2023), with recent emphasis on whistleblowing systems (2025) and epistemic uncertainty in megaprojects. Key thematic threads include organizational storytelling frameworks, Arctic resource narratives, and psychological safety in emergency contexts. 2025: Whistleblower anonymity systems in national lottery context 2025: Epistemic uncertainty modeling in megaprojects 2023: Emergency medical call center communication dynamics 2023: Business mindset development in project front-ends 2022: Psychological safety in crisis training contexts Sørnes maintains strong international research collaborations, particularly with US institutions, evidenced by co-authored works on organizational communication and technology. His field research in Arctic regions involves narrative analysis of petroleum industry transitions and indigenous cooperation models.
Sandra King-Savić is a PostDoc researcher specializing in migration studies with a focus on Central and Southeast Europe at the University of St. Gallen's School of Humanities and Social Sciences. She holds a doctorate in Organization Studies from the University of St. Gallen (2019) and has developed a robust research profile examining transnational practices, diaspora formation, and integration processes, particularly among former Yugoslav communities in Switzerland. Her research interests span migration studies, diaspora formation, transnational practices, informal economies, and Southeast European studies. Dr. King-Savić employs ethnographic methods to explore how migrants experience and conceptualize belonging, with particular attention to labor migrants and refugees from the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Her work bridges migration theory, anthropology, and political science, consistently emphasizing emic perspectives - understanding migration from the viewpoint of those who have experienced it. Dr. King-Savić's publication record shows a strong trajectory with her 2020 Routledge monograph 'Forging Transnational Belonging through Informal Trade' establishing her scholarly voice. Her recent work increasingly focuses on irregular migration, comparative diaspora studies, and integration theory, with multiple 2023-2024 publications examining belonging, research ethics with vulnerable populations, and transnational networks. Her research demonstrates consistent thematic development from her doctoral work on black-market practices toward broader questions of migration governance and migrant agency. Among her notable achievements: Swiss National Foundation grant for doctoral research (2014-2019) Foreign Military Studies Office research assistantship (2011-2012) Co-Principal Investigator for the Horizon-CL2-2022 Transformations-01 Grant project 'PRIME' (2023-2026) Extensive publication record including monograph, peer-reviewed articles, and book chapters Dr. King-Savić maintains an active teaching schedule at the University of St. Gallen, offering courses on migration studies, transnational practices, and Southeast European studies. She leads the 'Voices of the Via Egnatia' research group, which explores historical and contemporary migration routes through innovative multimedia approaches. Her current research agenda focuses on protecting irregular migrants in Europe, examining how integration is experienced by former Yugoslav migrants in Switzerland, and developing new theoretical frameworks for understanding migration and belonging.
Oren Gazal-Ayal is the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Haifa, where he also serves as a Professor specializing in criminal law, sentencing, and empirical legal studies. His leadership position as Dean places him at the forefront of legal education and scholarship in Israel. Professor Gazal-Ayal's research focuses on criminal procedure, particularly plea bargaining dynamics, sentencing guidelines, and judicial decision-making processes. His work stands out for its empirical approach, combining legal theory with data analysis to examine how legal rules function in practice. Key areas of investigation include ethnic and gender biases in judicial decisions, power imbalances in alternative dispute resolution, and the economic analysis of legal institutions. His scholarly output reveals trends toward increasingly sophisticated empirical methodologies, with recent work employing randomized experiments and large-scale data analysis to address fundamental questions about justice system functioning. His publications span both Israeli law journals and top international venues, demonstrating his ability to contribute to local legal discourse while engaging with global scholarly conversations. Professor Gazal-Ayal has established himself as a significant voice in criminal justice scholarship, with his work on sentencing reform, plea bargaining, and judicial behavior providing valuable insights for both academics and policymakers. His research often reveals unexpected consequences of legal rules, highlighting the importance of evidence-based legal reform. As an active scholar and academic leader, Professor Gazal-Ayal maintains a robust research agenda while guiding the strategic direction of legal education at the University of Haifa. His collaborative approach to research, working with scholars across disciplines and institutions, reflects a commitment to interdisciplinary understanding of complex legal problems.
Christian Djeffal serves as Professor for Law, Innovation and Legal Design at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). Previously, he held significant roles at the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG), where he served as project manager, coordinator, and associated researcher. Professor Djeffal's research focuses on the critical intersection of law, technology, and governance in the digital age. His scholarly work spans several interconnected domains: Artificial intelligence governance and ethical implementation in public administration Cybersecurity frameworks and policy development Digital transformation of government services and processes International law, particularly treaty interpretation across time Legal design methodologies for complex technological challenges His publications demonstrate a clear evolution from traditional international legal scholarship toward addressing contemporary challenges in technology governance. Djeffal examines how artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and digital platforms are reshaping public administration while navigating the tension between technological innovation and established legal principles. His work consistently seeks practical pathways for responsible innovation within appropriate regulatory frameworks. Professor Djeffal is a sought-after speaker at national and international conferences, regularly presenting on AI governance, digital government transformation, and cybersecurity policy. His expertise bridges theoretical legal scholarship with practical governance challenges, making him a distinctive voice in contemporary legal discourse on technology regulation.
