Eduardo Azevedo is the John M. Bendheim and Thomas L. Bendheim Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the Wharton School , University of Pennsylvania. He holds a courtesy appointment as Professor of Economics and was awarded the 2016 Sloan Foundation Fellowship. His research integrates economic theory with practical applications across science and business domains. His research interests include: Market design Selection markets Social science genetics Experimental economics Game theory Recent publication trends focus on: Economic theory applications to healthcare and digital markets Empirical Bayes methods in A/B testing Adverse selection in insurance markets Strategic behavior in two-sided matching Evolutionary behavioral economics He serves as an instructor for BEPP2500 - Managerial Economics , emphasizing real-world application of microeconomic theory to business problems. His work also involves software development for economic research, including MATLAB-based empirical Bayes tools for analyzing treatment effects in large-scale experiments. Scientific awards : Sloan Foundation Fellow (2016)
Volker Ahrens is a Professor of Production Management at NORDAKADEMIE since 2007. He also serves as Head of the Industrial Engineering (B.Sc.) program and the International Business & Administration (B.Eng.) program, while acting as Coordinator of the Department of Engineering. His career spans academic and industrial roles, including leadership positions in medium-sized industrial companies and editorial work on VDI standards. Education: Diplom-Ingenieur in Mechanical Engineering (1989, Universität Hannover); Doktor-Ingenieur (1997, Universität Hannover) Industrial Experience: 10 years of executive management in industry, including König Metall GmbH & Co. KG and Wilhelm Schröder GmbH His research focuses on Systems Engineering and Production Management, with emphasis on lean production, quality management, and Industry 4.0. His publications since 2025 explore systemic approaches to socio-technical systems, cardboard engineering for collaborative design, and human-technology interaction in production environments. He has contributed extensively to process modeling, simulation of production systems, and meta-process frameworks like PDCA cycles. The 15 most recent articles highlight trends in systemic production design, lean manufacturing, and Industry 4.0 applications. Key keywords include Systems Engineering, Production Management, Lean Production, and Quality Management. Subfields span socio-technical systems, simulation techniques, human-centered design, and cyber-physical system integration across industrial contexts. Volker Ahrens is actively involved in teaching, serving as a lecturer at Hochschule Karlsruhe (1998–2013) and Fachhochschule Vorarlberg (since 2017). He contributes to academic governance as a member of the NORDAKADEMIE faculty and chairs VDI committees on simulation standards for production systems. His advisory roles include peer reviewing for quality assurance agencies like FIBAA and ZEvA.
Edgar Troudt, Ph.D., is the Assistant Dean for Research and Strategic Partnerships at Long Island University Brooklyn, where he serves on the entrepreneurship faculty. His work focuses on integrating entrepreneurship concepts into STEM fields through programs like the CUNY Community College Innovation Challenge and the Brooklyn Science Innovation Initiative. Doctor of Philosophy (Computer Science), CUNY Graduate Center Master of Philosophy (Computer Science), CUNY Graduate Center Master of Arts (Computer Information Systems), CUNY Brooklyn College Dr. Troudt’s research explores the intersection of STEM and entrepreneurship education, emphasizing virtual enterprise models, innovation in community colleges, and technology-driven curriculum development. His recent publications highlight strategies for embedding business skills into technical education. Scientific awards include the 2015 Homer Saunder’s Outstanding Paper Award, the 2011 CUNY Michael Ribaudo Award for technology innovation, and the 2008 Best of New York Award for creative technology applications. He has also received recognition for teaching excellence and NSF grant leadership.
Howie Choset is a Professor of Robotics at the Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. He directs the Undergraduate Robotics Minor and leads the Biorobotics Laboratory, where his research focuses on snake robots, motion planning, and medical robotics. He is also affiliated with the Manufacturing Futures Institute. Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, California Institute of Technology (1996) M.S., Mechanical Engineering, California Institute of Technology (1995) B.S.E., Computer Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania (1990) B.S., Economics, The Wharton School of Business (1990) Choset's research centers on robotics for confined and complex environments, particularly through the development of snake robots. His work integrates mechanism design, path and motion planning, and estimation to enable applications in surgery, manufacturing, infrastructure inspection, and search and rescue. He is a pioneer in medical robotics and has co-founded Medrobotics to commercialize minimally invasive surgical robots. His recent publications highlight a strong focus on ergodic exploration, multi-agent systems, motion planning under uncertainty, and medical robotics. Themes include optimizing robot trajectories for information gathering, solving complex path planning problems with dynamic obstacles, and advancing autonomous systems for disaster response and space exploration (e.g., the EELS robot for Enceladus). MIT Technology Review Top 100 Innovators under 35 (2002) Best Paper Award, RIA (1999) Best Paper Award, ICRA (2003) Best Paper, IEEE Bio Rob (2006) Best Video, ICRA (2011) Nominations for best papers at ICRA, IROS, and CLAWAR Choset has advised numerous students, many of whom have won top awards. His lab has received significant funding for robotics research, including projects in surgical robotics, additive manufacturing, and autonomous exploration. He is the lead author of the textbook Principles of Robot Motion and is actively involved in educational innovation through custom robotics labs. He leads the Biorobotics Laboratory at CMU, which develops advanced robotic systems like snake robots and the EELS (Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor) robot for NASA missions. The lab collaborates with industry and government agencies on applications ranging from surgery to space exploration.
Witold J. Henisz serves as Vice Dean and Faculty Director of the Impact, Value, and Sustainable Business Initiative at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, holding the Deloitte & Touche Professorship in Management. His research centers on political and social risk identification, ESG impact materiality, and corporate diplomacy frameworks that transform stakeholder relationships into strategic assets. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Business and Public Policy from UC Berkeley's Haas School and an M.A. in International Relations from Johns Hopkins SAIS. Henisz has served as Departmental Editor at Journal of International Business Studies and Associate Editor at Strategic Management Journal , reflecting his scholarly influence. Research interests converge on geopolitical risk quantification, stakeholder engagement optimization, and sustainable business model innovation. His work demonstrates how political hazards materially impact firm valuation and how corporate diplomacy can mitigate conflict through strategic stakeholder alignment. Recent publications leverage massive media datasets (4+ billion articles) to model populism dynamics, indigenous land conflicts, and ESG-credit risk linkages. Award highlights include the Aspen Institute Ideas Worth Teaching Award (2020), Iron Prof recognition (2019), and Academy of International Business Fellowship. His geostrategy framework Geostrategy by Design (2024) provides executives with actionable methods for navigating geopolitical volatility. Aspen Institute Ideas Worth Teaching Award (2020) Iron Prof recognition (2019) Academy of International Business Fellow (2014-present) Multiple Wharton Excellence in Teaching Awards (2006-2021) Industry Studies Association Best Paper Award (2019) Henisz consults through PRIMA LLC for multinational firms (Rio Tinto, Shell), financial institutions (Eaton Vance, World Bank), and NGOs. His executive education programs train leaders in ESG integration and geopolitical risk management, while his KEROVKA crisis simulation develops real-time strategic response capabilities. Media frequently cites his expertise on ESG controversies, with 50+ major publications featuring his analysis since 2022 including Financial Times , Bloomberg , and Wall Street Journal .
Prof Terry O'Neill serves as Executive Dean at the Bond Business School , Bond University, while also holding the title of Professor and Director at the Centre for Data Analytics. His research spans applied statistics , big data analytics , and financial modeling , with over 80 publications (20% in A* journals). Grants: Lead investigator on five ARC Discovery/Linkage grants totaling $2.99M, including studies on retirement savings, climate change modeling, and financial crisis resilience. Research Trends: Focus on financial literacy , retirement economics , and myelopoiesis , bridging finance with computational biology through collaborations with his spouse Helen O'Neill. Academic Leadership: Established Bond University's University Centre in Actuarial and Financial Big Data Analytics to elevate institutional research prominence in data science.
Dr. Pavlos Tafidis is a Lecturer in Transport (Systems) Engineering at the School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh. His work integrates interdisciplinary approaches to advance transport planning and engineering, with a focus on smart and sustainable mobility solutions. PhD in Transport Engineering, Hasselt University (2022) M.Sc in Transport Planning, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2015) M.Eng in Transportation, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2013) He leads projects like "BikeHood" (Science Foundation of Ireland), developing Ireland’s first cycling neighborhood, and contributes to initiatives such as "REALLOCATE" (Horizon 2020) and "CISMOB" (Interreg Europe). His research emphasizes accessible mobility solutions, equity in transport infrastructure, and urban livability. Recent publications analyze cyclist crash hotspots using machine learning, electric bike route preferences via GPS data, and traffic-emission correlations in Dublin. His expertise spans digital twins, virtual reality, and geospatial analysis. Dr. Tafidis teaches courses including Transport Engineering 3, Transport and Society, and Multi-Scale Energy Demand, affiliated with the School of Engineering and Edinburgh Future Institute.
Professor Nick Chater is a leading figure in the field of Behavioural Science, affiliated with the University of Warwick at Warwick Business School since 2010. He has held previous chairs in psychology at Warwick and UCL. His research spans cognitive and social foundations of rationality, with applications to business and public policy, and he has authored over 200 papers and six books. He is a fellow of the British Academy, Cognitive Science Society, and Association for Psychological Science. His research interests include cognitive science, behavioral economics, decision making, and computational psychology, with a focus on reasoning, language, and mathematical modeling of mental processes. He has been recognized with prestigious awards such as the Spearman Medal, Experimental Psychology Society Prize, and the David E Rumelhart Prize for lifetime achievement in cognitive science. His work extends to practical applications through co-founding Decision Technology and advising the UK government's Climate Change Committee and the Behavioural Insight Team. Recent publications highlight his interdisciplinary approach, bridging economics, cognitive science, computational modeling, and behavioral public policy. Topics include thermal macroeconomic theory, Bayesian sampling, paradoxes in cognition, and language emergence via social interaction. These works emphasize probability judgments, moral cognition, and computational limitations in human inference. British Psychological Society's Spearman Medal (1996) Experimental Psychology Society Prize (1997) David E Rumelhart Prize (2023) PROSE Award (2019) Chater's academic contributions include collaborations with researchers like Adam N. Sanborn, Hossam Zeitoun, and Morten H. Christiansen, focusing on Bayesian inference, behavioral public policy, and cognitive modeling. He has also been a resident scientist on BBC Radio 4's The Human Zoo.
Remko Van Hoek serves as Professor of Practice in the Department of Supply Chain Management at the Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas. He teaches Sourcing and Procurement courses across undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs. Prior to joining the University of Arkansas, Dr. Van Hoek held academic positions in Europe and served as a visiting professor at Cranfield School of Management, complemented by extensive industry experience as a supply chain and procurement executive at global corporations including Nike, PwC, and The Walt Disney Company. He currently serves on the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) Board of Directors and acts as executive director of the CSCMP Supply Chain Hall of Fame hosted by the Walton College. Dr. Van Hoek's research centers on digital transformation in procurement and supply chain management, with particular focus on blockchain implementation, artificial intelligence applications, and sustainable sourcing practices. His work investigates how emerging technologies reshape procurement processes, supplier relationship management, and risk mitigation strategies. He explores innovative approaches to supplier diversity programs, ethical sourcing frameworks, and the strategic evolution of procurement from cost reduction to value creation. His research consistently bridges academic theory with industry practice through case studies from major corporations, developing actionable frameworks for practitioners facing digital disruption and sustainability challenges. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) reveals dominant themes in AI-driven supply chain risk prevention, blockchain implementation for transparency, and sustainable supplier engagement. His work demonstrates consistent industry collaboration, drawing from case studies at Walmart, Moet Hennessy, and Bayer to address post-pandemic resilience challenges. A significant portion examines procurement's strategic evolution beyond transactional functions, with recurring emphasis on ethical considerations in digital transformation and the practical implementation barriers for emerging technologies in global supply networks. As a Professor of Practice, Dr. Van Hoek integrates executive-level industry experience into curriculum development and student mentorship. His industry-engaged teaching model includes guest lecturer programs connecting students with supply chain practitioners, as evidenced by his co-authored work on integrating industry insights into supply chain education. While specific grant funding details are not publicly documented, his leadership in the CSCMP Supply Chain Hall of Fame demonstrates commitment to professional development and industry-academia knowledge transfer. Dr. Van Hoek directs the CSCMP Supply Chain Hall of Fame initiative, which documents transformative contributions to supply chain management through interviews with industry pioneers and historical case studies. This platform serves as both an educational resource for Walton College students and a professional development tool for supply chain practitioners globally. The Hall of Fame preserves critical industry knowledge while highlighting contemporary innovations in supply chain strategy and technology implementation.
Scientia Professor Robert Kohn is a distinguished academic at the University of New South Wales, holding a position in the School of Economics within the UNSW Business School. With a career spanning several decades, Professor Kohn has established himself as a leading expert in statistical methodology and econometric modeling. His research has significantly contributed to Bayesian statistics and computational methods for complex data analysis. Professor Kohn's research focuses on advanced statistical methodologies including Bayesian methodology, variable selection and model averaging, nonparametric regression models, time series modeling, multivariate Gaussian and non-Gaussian regression, and Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation algorithms. His work bridges theoretical statistics with practical applications across economics, finance, and cognitive science. His research demonstrates a consistent trajectory toward developing more efficient computational methods for complex statistical models, with recent work emphasizing variational Bayesian methods, particle filtering techniques, and applications to time series analysis. Analysis of his recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a strong focus on advancing computational statistical methods, particularly in Bayesian inference for complex models. His work shows increasing integration of machine learning techniques with traditional statistical methods, especially in handling high-dimensional data and complex time series structures. Professor Kohn has made significant contributions to variational inference methods, particle-based computational techniques, and applications to financial time series and cognitive modeling. Professor Kohn has maintained an exceptionally productive research career with continuous publication output since the 1970s, demonstrating remarkable longevity and adaptability in his research focus as statistical methodologies have evolved. His work shows strong international collaboration, particularly with researchers in Australia, the United States, and Europe, reflecting his standing in the global statistical community.
John C. Butler is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Finance Department at the McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin. He holds leadership roles as Academic Director of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Energy Center, Director of the MS Finance Program, and Director of the Energy Management Minor. His academic journey includes a PhD in Management Science and Information Systems from UT Austin (1998) and a BBA from Texas A&M University (1991). His research focuses on applications of decision analysis across domains including operations, finance, and information systems. Key areas include risk analysis, optimization, multi-attribute utility theory, and energy finance. His work integrates theoretical modeling with empirical validation to address complex decision-making challenges in both public and private sectors. Butler's publications demonstrate a consistent focus on decision modeling methodologies, with recent work emphasizing risk quantification and utility theory applications. His articles frequently intersect operations research, behavioral economics, and systems optimization, reflecting interdisciplinary approaches to solving managerial and policy problems. Awards and Honors: MBA Applause Award (2008, 2011) Finalist, INFORMS Franz Edelman Award (2004) INFORMS Decision Analysis Society Practice Award (2000) Fred Moore Teaching Award Dean's Research Fellowship, Ohio State University (2004) Leadership & Advising: Butler has supervised 11 PhD students to completion and secured significant grants including DOE funding for nuclear terrorism risk analysis. He directs multiple energy finance initiatives and serves on editorial boards for Decision Analysis and previously Decision Support Systems . Centers & Programs: As Academic Director of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Energy Center, he leads interdisciplinary energy research. He also developed the Energy Finance concentration and redesigned the MS Finance curriculum to incorporate quantitative energy market analysis.
Christian Schlag is a Professor at the Finance Department of Goethe University Frankfurt’s Faculty of Economics and Business , where he also serves as Dean. He leads the Chair of Derivatives and Financial Engineering and coordinates young researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE. His research focuses on equilibrium asset pricing, derivative securities, and empirical capital market analysis. Research Trends : Schlag’s recent work explores volatility dynamics, climate risk in asset pricing, return predictability, and investor behavior. His 2023 publications examine time-varying consumption growth risk, equity factors, and individual stock volatility models. Earlier studies (2021–2015) address pricing kernels, welfare costs of temperature volatility, and model mis-specification in hedging. Student Placements : Former advisees hold positions at institutions like the European Central Bank, INSEAD, Australian National University, and Warwick Business School. His Chair of Derivatives and Financial Engineering collaborates with networks across Europe, North America, and Asia.
Ning Nan is an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business, specifically within the Department of Accounting and Information Systems. With a BA from Peking University, an MA from the University of Minnesota, and a PhD from the University of Michigan, Dr. Nan focuses on digital business strategy, evolvable IT infrastructure, and complex adaptive systems. His research explores blockchain applications, agent-based modeling, and the intersection of AI with societal challenges like sustainability. Education: PhD in Information Systems, University of Michigan MA in Information Systems, University of Minnesota BA in Computer Science, Peking University Research Interests: Dr. Nan investigates how technology shapes organizational and societal systems, with a focus on AI ethics, sustainability through personalized recommendations, and blockchain's role in decentralized supply chains. He employs agent-based modeling to simulate complex phenomena like innovation diffusion and online community dynamics. Recent work addresses explainable AI in smart cities and carbon-reduction gamification strategies. Teaching: In 2024-2025, he teaches Data Management for Business Analytics , emphasizing practical applications of data-driven decision-making. Key Research Themes: His articles highlight trends in AI sustainability (e.g., carbon footprint impacts of recommendation systems), digital business strategy (blockchain governance, app update strategies), and foundational IS theory (hyperturbulence and IS strategy).
Raj Rajkumar is the George Westinghouse Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), with a courtesy appointment in the Robotics Institute. He holds leadership roles as Director of the USDOT Mobility21 and Safety21 National University Transportation Centers, and Director of the Metro21: Smart Cities Institute. His work focuses on cyber-physical systems, autonomous driving, and vehicular networking. Education: Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from CMU (1989). Research interests include connected/autonomous vehicles, cyber-physical systems, embedded systems, and vehicular networking. Key projects include the General Motors-CMU Collaborative Research Lab and the development of autonomous vehicle protocols like Ballroom Intersection Protocol. Notable awards include the 2016 National Academy of Inventors Fellowship and the 2017 Pittsburgh Business Times Innovation Award. His publications span real-time systems, sensor networks, and automotive cyber-physical frameworks. Rajkumar advises on autonomous vehicle safety, energy efficiency, and societal impacts, with frequent media engagements on self-driving technologies.
Francisco Barillas Bedoya is an Associate Professor at the School of Banking and Finance within the UNSW Business School, University of New South Wales. His research focuses on theoretical and empirical asset pricing, particularly portfolio choice, asset pricing tests, macrofinance, and term structure of interest rates. He has published extensively in top-tier journals like the Journal of Finance and Management Science. PhD from New York University MA from University of British Columbia BSc from Trent University His recent publications analyze Sharpe ratios for model comparison, speculative behavior in bond markets, and risk premia in fixed income markets. While no formal awards are listed, his work intersects financial economics, econometrics, and computational methods. Office: Level 3, Room 333C, Ref E12 Email: f.barillas@unsw.edu.au
