Anna Grigolon is an Assistant Professor at the University of Twente , Netherlands, affiliated with the Transport Engineering and Management Research Group . Her research focuses on sustainable urban mobility , user-centric transport solutions , and travel behavior analysis using tools like discrete choice modeling , spatial analysis , and social psychology theories . Research Interests : Sustainable Urban Mobility Accessibility Modeling Travel Behavior Discrete Choice and Latent Class Modeling Spatial Analysis and GIS Shared Micromobility and Mobility Hubs Equity in Transport Planning Article Trends : Anna’s recent work (2025–2024) emphasizes mobility justice , 15-minute city transitions, and equity in transport access , particularly for marginalized communities like São Paulo favelas. She integrates digital tools (e.g., serious games, kiosks) and space-time metrics to evaluate mobility solutions. Projects : She currently leads the SmartHubs project and contributes to DREAMS and R-map , focusing on smart, equitable mobility systems in Europe and Saudi Arabia.
Erik Wade is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English and Creative Writing at SUNY Oswego. He holds a PhD from Rutgers University and has taught at Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn in Germany. His research focuses on race, sexuality, and national identity in early medieval English literature, with a particular emphasis on how these themes intersect with religious texts and cultural narratives. He currently directs the Medieval and Renaissance Studies minor and serves on the advisory board for Exemplaria: Medieval, Early Modern, Theory . Educational Background: PhD in English, Rutgers University (2018) MA in English, University of Oregon (2011) BA in English and History with a minor in Medieval and Renaissance Studies, SUNY Oswego (2009) AA in Humanities, Onondaga Community College (2007) Research Interests: Interrogates racial and sexual discourses in medieval literature Examines how early English texts constructed national identity through contested themes like rape culture and racial hierarchies Investigates global influences (e.g., Byzantine theology) on medieval English thought Challenges Eurocentric narratives in medieval studies Recent Publications Highlight: His work analyzes trans and queer themes in medieval hagiography, the racialized language of 'Anglo-Saxon' terminology, and the intersections between animal studies and gender relations. He co-authored a Smithsonian Magazine article deconstructing the term 'Anglo-Saxon.' Teaching and Advocacy: Teaches courses on medieval global literature, critical theory, and premodern identity. Actively promotes inclusive pedagogy and addresses systemic racism in academic disciplines through published opinion pieces and collaborative projects like the upcoming Race in Early Medieval England (Cambridge UP).
Mathias Funk is an Associate Professor in the Industrial Design department at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), leading the Things Ecology lab. His research focuses on designing with data and systems behavior, particularly in IoT and medical technology contexts. He co-founded UXsuite GmbH and developed the OOCSI communication framework. With a PhD in Electrical Engineering from TU/e (2011), Funk has held academic roles since 2013, including postdoctoral positions in Electrical Engineering and Industrial Design. He teaches courses like 'Data-enabled design' and supervises projects on AI, data foundry, and OOCSI applications. His work bridges engineering and design, addressing sustainability and human values through systemic design approaches. Education: PhD in Electrical Engineering, TU/e (2011) Computer Science background from RWTH Aachen Postdoc at TU/e's Electrical Engineering and Industrial Design departments Research Interests: Data-driven design methodologies, IoT systems, medical technology innovation, sustainable design practices, and interactive systems for musical expression. Recent work emphasizes telemonitoring efficacy in heart failure care and federated learning applications. Awards: Best Paper Award (2014) Honorable Mention (2021) Grants/Projects: Leading initiatives like MEDICAID (medtech solutions), ACACIA (interpretable AI), and Data-Driven Servitizing in Professional Printing. Active in clinical workflow prototyping and cardiovascular disease detection projects. Lab Activities: Manages the Things Ecology lab, focusing on systemic design challenges in smart ecosystems. Collaborates internationally through spin-offs and visiting lectureships.
Abigail Jacobs is an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan , jointly appointed in the School of Information and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts . She is also affiliated with the Center for Ethics, Society, and Computing (ESC) and the Michigan Institute for Data Science (MIDAS) . Education: PhD in Computer Science, University of Colorado Boulder (2015-2019) BA in Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences and Mathematics, Northwestern University (2011-2015) Research Interests: Dr. Jacobs examines measurement and validity in machine learning , focusing on hidden assumptions in AI systems, governance structures in sociotechnical systems, and inequality in algorithmic design. Her work bridges AI, data science, and social science methodologies, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration. Recent Publications (2024-2025) explore generative AI evaluation, algorithmic transparency in government (e.g., US Census Bureau), motion capture data ethics, and sociotechnical frameworks for AI governance. Earlier works (2023) address fairness in ranking systems and racial categorization in algorithmic bias studies. Scientific Awards: Microsoft Research AI & Society Fellowship (2024) NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (during PhD) Advising & Grants: She co-advises Ph.D. students Amina Abdu and Meera Desai . Her research includes a Notre Dame-IBM Tech Ethics Lab grant on AI audits and collaborations with institutions like UC Berkeley, Microsoft Research, and the National Academies .
Prashant Mehta is a Professor of Mechanical Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , affiliated with the Coordinated Science Laboratory . His research focuses on controlled interacting particle systems and machine learning applications , particularly in human activity recognition using motion sensors. Education: Ph.D. in Mathematics, Cornell University (2004) M.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst (1996) B.E. in Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology & Sciences (1993) Mehta's work has pioneered the feedback particle filter (FPF) algorithm for nonlinear estimation, applied in robotic systems and gesture recognition. His research spans control of combustion instabilities in jet engines, mean-field games , and dynamical systems in aerospace engineering. His publications emphasize nonlinear control theory and stochastic filtering , with recent trends in sensor data pattern recognition and cyber-physical systems . He has received multiple scientific awards , including the MURI award for the Cyberoctopus project and Excellence in Undergraduate Advising Awards . Scientific Honors: MURI Award (2019) for Cyberoctopus Excellence in Undergraduate Advising (2010, 2008) Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award (1994) Senior Member, IEEE Control Systems Society Member, ASME Energy Systems Subcommittee Member, SIAM Dynamical Systems Group Mehta has supervised students like Jin Kim (IEEE CDC Best Student Paper, 2019) and co-founded the startup Rithmio , acquired by Bosch Sensortec . His laboratory develops gesture-detection filters for applications in soft robotics and human-machine interfaces .
Ju Hui Judy Han is an Associate Professor in Gender Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, with additional affiliations at the Center for Korean Studies, Center for the Study of Women, and Asia Pacific Center. Her office is located in 1117 Rolfe Hall at UCLA. As a cultural geographer, Professor Han is committed to building critical and transnational conversations concerning gender, sexuality, and activism, regularly contributing to community-based projects and public events both on campus and beyond. Professor Han received her Ph.D. in Geography from UC Berkeley and her B.A. in English and Women's Studies from UC Berkeley. Her educational background bridges humanities and social sciences, providing a strong foundation for her interdisciplinary research. Her research interests span (Im)mobilities, Religion and difference, conservatism, LGBTQ/queer politics and activism, Comics and graphic novels, Korean studies, and Cultural geography. Professor Han approaches these topics through a critical lens that emphasizes transnational perspectives, particularly focusing on South Korea and the Korean diaspora. Her work often examines how power operates through spatial arrangements and how marginalized communities navigate and resist dominant structures. She has developed innovative approaches to studying activism through comics and graphic nonfiction, creating accessible yet theoretically rich analyses of complex social phenomena. Professor Han's publications reveal consistent engagement with queer politics in South Korea, religious movements, and transnational activism. Her work shows a progression from analyzing specific case studies to developing broader theoretical frameworks about resistance, solidarity, and spatial politics. The recurring themes across her publications include the intersection of religion and queer politics, the spatial dimensions of activism, and the transnational connections between social movements. UCLA Center for the Study of Women/Barbra Streisand Center, inaugural Barbra Streisand Fellowship on Truth in the Public Sphere Podcast Support Grant, University of California Humanities Research Institute (UCHRI), 2021-22 Society of Hellman Fellows Award, UCLA, 2021-22 UCLA Faculty Career Development Award, 2018-2019 Co-Applicant, 'Protesting Publics in South Korea,' SSHRC Insight Grant (PI: Jennifer Jihye Chun), 2015-2020 Co-Investigator, 'Urban Aspirations in Seoul: Religion and Megacities in Comparative Studies,' Max Planck Institute, 2011-2017 Professor Han actively contributes to public discourse through media appearances and community engagement. She has received significant research funding supporting her work on South Korean protest movements and urban religious dynamics. Her teaching portfolio is diverse, including the Gender Studies undergraduate core class on power (102), senior capstone seminars (187), elective courses on transnational feminist politics (131) and comics and graphic nonfiction (185), as well as graduate seminars on feminist geographies, queer temporalities, and research design.
Prof. Tibor Neugebauer is a Full Professor of Finance at the University of Luxembourg’s Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance (FDEF), Department of Finance. He holds a Doctorate in Economics from the University of Valencia (2000) and professional qualifications from Hannover, with prior academic positions at institutions including York, Kiel, Hannover, and research stays at Lisbon, Bari, Valencia, and Rome. His research focuses on Experimental Finance and Economics, particularly behavioral finance, asset markets, auctions, and decision-making under uncertainty. He designs laboratory experiments to analyze markets, strategic interactions, and algorithm-human dynamics, with recent emphasis on algorithmic trading and market regulations. Education: Doctor of Economics, University of Valencia (2000) Master of Science in Economics, University of Alicante (1997) Bachelor’s in Economics, University of Bonn (1994) Professional Qualification in Economics, University of Hannover (2006) Research Interests: Prof. Neugebauer’s work examines institutional and informational structures’ impact on market outcomes, including fairness in co-determination, communication effects in asset markets, and algorithmic arbitrage. His experiments explore human behavior in complex environments, such as speculative asset trading and regulatory interventions. He has pioneered studies on algorithmic trading’s role in experimental markets, combining theoretical models with empirical behavioral insights. Key Contributions: His research addresses topics like margin trading regulations, Modigliani-Miller theorem validity in experimental settings, and the ‘greater fool’ phenomenon. Recent studies emphasize algorithmic-human interaction dynamics, market efficiency under varying mechanisms, and the implications of wash trading. Awards & Grants: No specific awards listed, but his extensive publication record reflects sustained recognition in experimental finance. Grants and collaborations likely relate to his research on market design and behavioral finance. Labs/Teams: Active in the FDEF’s finance research group, contributing to Luxembourg’s international reputation in experimental economics and finance. Collaborates with global institutions on algorithmic trading and market dynamics.
Kihana Miraya Ross is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Black Studies at Northwestern University, affiliated with the Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences. She holds a Ph.D., M.A., and B.A. from UC Berkeley in Social and Cultural Studies of Education, African American Studies, and Sociology. Her research focuses on antiblackness in education, Black educational fugitivity, and educational reparations, employing critical ethnography and participatory design methods. Her book project examines the afterlife of school segregation and strategies for Black educational futurities. She co-directed the documentary Stolen School , exploring the closure of Evanston’s Foster School and its lasting impacts. Ross has received major grants from the Spencer Foundation and fellowships from the Ford Foundation. Education: Ph.D. in Social and Cultural Studies of Education (UC Berkeley, 2016) M.A. in Social and Cultural Studies of Education (UC Berkeley, 2011) B.A. in African American Studies, Sociology, and Education (UC Berkeley, 2002) Key Projects: Spencer Foundation-funded research on Evanston’s educational reparations Documentary Stolen School (2023) Awards: 2021 Spencer Foundation Large Grant 2017 Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship Ross’s work bridges historical analysis and contemporary activism, advocating for systemic change through frameworks like Black fugitivity. She collaborates with community organizations like Shorefront Legacy Center and mentors interdisciplinary projects on race, education, and spatial justice.
Yang Wang is a Professor of Information Science and Computer Science (courtesy) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), where he co-directs the SALT lab and is part of the Interactive Computing group and Security and Privacy Research at Illinois (SPR@I). He holds affiliations with the Institute of Software Research (ISR) at UC Irvine and advises Conviva. His research spans AI governance, privacy, security, and inclusive technologies, focusing on marginalized populations such as people with disabilities and non-Western communities. Education: Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine (UCI), under advisors Dr. Alfred Kobsa, Dr. André van der Hoek, and Dr. Gene Tsudik. Previous roles include Assistant Professor at Syracuse University and Research Scientist at Carnegie Mellon University’s CyLab. He has collaborated with institutions like Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs, Intel Research, and Tsinghua University. Research interests include AI safety for children (aisafety4kids.org), inclusive privacy mechanisms, accessible authentication for visually impaired users, and policy implications of AI. Notable projects include Inclusive.AI (funded by OpenAI), privacy in smart homes, and drone privacy studies. Awards and grants include NSF SaTC awards, NSF CAREER, and industry partnerships with Meta/Facebook, Google, and OpenAI. His work has been featured in outlets like the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Current PhD advisees include Smirity Kaushik and Yaman Yu, with notable alumni such as Dr. Yaxing Yao (now at Johns Hopkins) and Dr. Tanusree Sharma (Penn State). Labs/Teams: Co-director of the SALT lab, part of SPR@I and the Interactive Computing group at UIUC. Collaborates with industry and policy bodies, including the FTC.
Laia Becares is a Professor of Social Science and Health at King's College London, part of the School of Global Affairs and the Department of Global Health & Social Medicine. She previously held roles at the University of Sussex (2018-2022) and the University of Manchester (2010-2018), where she maintains an Honorary position. She serves as an Editor of Sociology of Health and Illness and on the Academic Reference Group of the NHS Race and Health Observatory. Her work is funded by organizations such as the Nuffield Foundation and the Health Foundation. Laia holds a PhD in Social Epidemiology from University College London (UCL) and a Master's in Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health. Her research employs an interdisciplinary approach, collaborating with sociologists, psychiatrists, geographers, and demographers to understand how discrimination and marginalization perpetuate social and health inequities. Key areas include racism, homophobia/heterosexism, LGBTQ+ inequalities, and the impact of systemic oppression across life stages. She co-developed the Queerantine Study on pandemic impacts on LGBTQ+ communities and leads the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, fostering student mentorship in health inequality topics. Her scientific awards include ESRC/MRC Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (2010-2012), Hallsworth Research Fellowship (2012-2016), and ESRC Future Research Leader Fellowship (2012-2015). Recent work focuses on ethnic healthcare disparities in multimorbidity and longitudinal studies of racism's effects on health outcomes. Ongoing projects include LGBTQ+ policymaking networks and the GHSM Anti Racism Steering Group, addressing structural inequities in academia and healthcare. Laia’s grants include Nuffield Foundation funding for ethnic inequalities in later life and Health Foundation support for healthcare equity studies. She advocates for integrating lived experiences into research design, particularly through the Evidence for Equality National Survey (EVENS). Her lab affiliations include Queer@King’s and the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, emphasizing collaborative, community-driven approaches.
Professor Dan Goodley is a leading academic in Critical Disability Studies at the University of Sheffield , affiliated with the School of Education and co-director of the iHuman research center. His work bridges critical psychology , medical sociology , and posthuman theory to challenge ableist norms in education, healthcare, and society. He has secured major grants, including a £2.9m Wellcome Trust Discretionary Award and multiple ESRC-funded projects, focusing on themes like disablism , social justice , and inclusive research methodologies . Research Themes : Critical Disability Theory, Posthumanism, Dis/ability and Technology, Decolonizing Disability, Austerity and Dis/ability, Co-Production with Marginalized Communities. Grants : Wellcome Trust, ESRC, EPSRC, Research England, European Social Fund. Professional Roles : Visiting Professor at University of Ghent, Editorial Board Member for multiple journals, ESRC Peer Review College. His recent publications interrogate the intersections of disability , pandemic ethics , and autonomous technologies , often employing co-produced and participatory frameworks. He advocates for disabled voices in research and policy, emphasizing resilience and decolonizing praxis in global contexts.
Raquel E. Aldana is the Martin Luther King Jr. Professor of Law at UC Davis School of Law, where she rejoined as a full-time faculty member in 2020 after serving as Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Diversity (2017–2020). She holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School and B.A. degrees in English and Spanish from Arizona State University (summa cum laude). Her academic career includes prior roles at the McGeorge School of Law and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, as well as a Fulbright Scholarship in Guatemala (2006–2007). Her research focuses on transitional justice, criminal justice reform, sustainable development in Latin America, and immigrant rights. Aldana has authored or edited five books and over thirty law review articles, earning recognition through grants such as the UC Davis Academic Senate Interdisciplinary Grant for the project Building Bridges: Narrowing the Legal-Scientific Divide in Immigration Forensic Assessments . She teaches courses on immigration law, asylum, comparative forced displacement, and critical race theory. Aldana leads the Aoki Center for Critical Race and Nation Studies, co-directing its mission to advance interdisciplinary scholarship on race, ethnicity, and law. She co-founded the Critical Race Theory Book Series with UC Press, aiming to globalize and diversify critical race discourse. Her awards include the ABA’s Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award and the UC Davis Chancellor’s Achievement Award for Diversity. Her service includes roles on the American Law Institute, American Bar Foundation, and the Council on Foreign Relations. She chairs the ABA’s Latin America and Caribbean Council and co-chaired the UC Davis taskforce to achieve Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) status, realized in 2024. Her work integrates legal education, policy reform, and grassroots advocacy to address systemic inequities in migration, criminal justice, and global development.
Professor Susan Goodwin is a leading academic at the University of Sydney, specializing in social policy, gender studies, and social justice. She holds a BA(Hons) from ANU and a PhD from the University of Sydney. Her work focuses on collaborative research projects with government and civil society organizations, emphasizing participatory methodologies to address poverty and inequality. Educations: PhD, University of Sydney BA(Hons), Australian National University Her research interests span social structures, gender relations, and community development, with a focus on policy analysis methodologies. Notable projects include participatory approaches to community revitalization in Australia and Hong Kong, and interrogating constructions of motherhood in Australia. Professor Goodwin is affiliated with the Sydney Policy Lab, Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, and the Charles Perkins Centre. Her awards include the 2016 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Research Supervision and a 2014 residency at Hong Kong Baptist University. Key Grants & Projects: ARC Linkage Project on participatory community development in public housing neighborhoods NSW Refugee Youth Policy Initiative Research on gender, social policy, and adolescent girls' sexuality in Indonesia She actively contributes to policy networks like the Social Policy Research Network and co-convenes the Sydney Social Justice Network. Her work bridges academic research with practical policy impact, emphasizing grassroots engagement and equity.
Academic Profile Christina Harrington is an Assistant Professor at Carnegie Mellon University with dual appointments in the School of Computer Science (Human Computer Interaction Institute) and School of Design. She directs the Equity and Health Innovations Design Research Lab , focusing on community-centered technology design. Her work bridges industrial design, interactive systems, and human factors psychology to advance health equity through technology. Research Focus Harrington's research employs participatory and speculative design methods to address systemic inequities in technology. She examines how design can support health autonomy for older adults, people with disabilities, and historically excluded communities (particularly Black and Latinx populations). Her work actively challenges corporate design paradigms through frameworks like design justice and community collectivism , with recent emphasis on ethical AI and conversational technologies. Research methodologies include: Community-based participatory research Speculative co-design Critical race and disability frameworks Intersectional analysis of technology impacts Publications Focus Her recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate strong focus on equity-centered design with three dominant themes: 1) Health technology disparities affecting Black older adults, 2) Participatory AI and algorithmic justice, and 3) Design justice pedagogy. Over 60% of recent works explicitly examine racial equity in AI systems, health interfaces, and design education. Honors & Recognition Google Award for Inclusive Research (2022) for "Transforming theory into practice: eliciting cultural imaginaries and design thinking to understand Black-Centered Design" Skip Ellis Early Career Award (2022) Data & Society Faculty Fellow (2022-2023) Leadership & Impact As lab director, Harrington leads community-engaged projects that translate design justice principles into practice. She serves on committees for community tech initiatives and has industry experience at Apple, Lenovo, and Motorola. Her work influences both academic discourse (ACM CHI, CSCW, DIS) and industry practices in ethical design.
Dr Sumeet Jain is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, affiliated with the School of Social and Political Science (Social Work). His interdisciplinary research focuses on community mental health in low-income contexts, cultural psychiatry, ethnography, and global mental health policy, with regional expertise in South Asia. He has led projects funded by ESRC, Carnegie Trust, British Academy, Wellcome Trust, DFID, and World Bank, including studies on recovery-oriented mental health in India, poverty-mental health linkages, and evaluation of Scotland's alcohol/drug referral services. Research Interests: Community mental health systems in low-resource settings Critical analysis of psychiatric categories and local distress Qualitative/ethnographic evaluation of health programs Training of social workers in non-western mental health Global mental health policy and equity Publication Trends: Recent works emphasize participatory interventions, mutuality in mental health, caste identities, and critiques of scaling-up global mental health initiatives. His research spans South Asia, Malawi, Ghana, and the UK, blending sociocultural perspectives with public health outcomes. Scientific Awards: ESRC-Impact Accelerator Award Carnegie Trust funding for community mental health in India British Academy collaboration on caste and distress Wellcome Trust grant for London health inequalities study DFID/World Bank funding for poverty-stigma-mental illness research Dr Jain supervises postgraduate research in Global Mental Health and Social Work, contributes to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, and co-edited The Palgrave Handbook of Sociocultural Perspectives on Global Mental Health (2017).
