Monique Pfaltz is a Professor at Mid Sweden University's Department of Psychology and Social Work (PSO). Her research focuses on trauma psychology, childhood maltreatment, and mental health interventions, with emphasis on social functioning, emotional regulation, and clinical outcomes. She leads projects like the Child Trauma Network and studies body-oriented treatments for trauma-related symptoms. Her work explores how adverse childhood experiences impact interpersonal relationships, facial expression recognition, and physiological responses. Key themes include cross-cultural analyses of maltreatment effects, resilience mechanisms, and validated psychological scales (e.g., Emotion Reactivity Scale, Intimacy Scale). Publications highlight trauma's influence on social distance preferences, depression, and PTSD symptom severity. She collaborates globally, addressing refugee mental health and scalable interventions like Problem Management Plus (PM+). Grants and projects emphasize preventive strategies for allostatic load, cultural variability in trauma responses, and psychosocial support systems. Her research bridges clinical practice and theoretical models in trauma psychology.
Jørn Østvik is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Mental Health within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology). He holds dual roles in research and education, leading the research group 'Communication, Interaction and Early Intervention in a Lifespan Perspective.' His work focuses on disability studies, alternative and augmentative communication (AAC), and inclusive education. Østvik has been affiliated with Statped (Norway’s special education service) since 1996, contributing to research and policy development in special needs education. Education background includes a Ph.D. in Health Sciences (2017) and a Master of Science in Psychology (1996), both from NTNU. His expertise spans qualitative research methods, social relationships among AAC users, and mental health challenges faced by individuals with communication disabilities. He actively participates in international networks like Citizen Network Norway and the ISAAC Research Committee. Research interests emphasize improving social inclusion, mental well-being, and educational access for people with disabilities. Notable projects include a scoping review on mental health among AAC users (2024) and studies on inclusive education policies in Norway. His teaching responsibilities include courses in psychology, pedagogy, and AAC communication for nursing and mental health master’s programs. Østvik’s publications highlight themes such as AAC’s role in fostering friendships, barriers to inclusion in higher education, and early intervention strategies for children with communication needs. His work bridges academic research with practical applications, advocating for systemic changes to support marginalized groups.
Marc A. Grimmett serves as Professor and Associate Department Head in the Department of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development within the College of Education at North Carolina State University. He coordinates the clinical mental health counseling program and founded the Community Counseling, Education, and Research Center (CCERC). His professional identity centers on the RADICAL scholarship framework (Research Action to Deconstruct Institutionalized Cultures and Advocate for Liberation), with research concentrated in four interconnected areas. Dr. Grimmett's educational background includes a doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of Georgia and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of South Carolina Counseling and Human Development Center, with specialized training in multicultural counseling, marriage and family therapy, substance abuse counseling, and sexual trauma. His research interests focus on preventing gender-based violence through education, activism, and male engagement; facilitating access to community mental health services; transforming systemic factors affecting African American development (particularly males); and developing social justice approaches in counselor education. This work manifests through community partnerships, transformative masculinity initiatives, and the development of innovative teaching methods grounded in liberation psychology. Analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent thematic threads across counseling psychology, social justice education, and African American male experiences. His scholarly output demonstrates growing emphasis on documentary filmmaking as an intervention tool, with particular focus on the #MeToo movement's implications for Black male students and communities. The research trajectory shows increasing interdisciplinary collaboration and community-based participatory approaches. Dr. Grimmett serves as executive producer, co-director, and co-writer of MY MASCULINITY HELPS, an educational documentary exploring African American men's roles in sexual violence prevention. His leadership extends to directing the CCERC, which functions as both a training ground for counseling students and a community mental health resource. The center embodies his commitment to bridging academic scholarship with practical community impact through its integrated service, education, and research mission.
Dr. Stacey Vanderhurst is an Associate Professor in the Department of Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies at the University of Kansas. She holds courtesy appointments in Global and International Studies and African and African American Studies. Her research focuses on anti-trafficking programs in Nigeria, gendered migration policies, and the moral dimensions of women's mobility. She has conducted extensive ethnographic fieldwork in Nigerian state-run shelters for trafficking victims. Dr. Vanderhurst currently serves on the executive committees of KU's Center for Undergraduate Research and the Kansas African Studies Center. Education: PhD from Brown University. Research Interests: Dr. Vanderhurst examines intersections of public outrage and policy, particularly regarding gendered migration and human trafficking. Her work integrates cultural anthropology with governance frameworks, analyzing how anti-trafficking initiatives shape women’s lives and mobility rights. Key themes include global feminisms, development frameworks, and the ethical complexities of state interventions. Funding & Support: Her research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, Social Science Research Council, Wenner-Gren Foundation, and American Council of Learned Societies. Teaching: Courses include qualitative research methods, global feminisms, and gender and development. She focuses on experiential learning and critical feminist methodologies.
Professor Simon Lewis is a Consultant Neurologist and Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Centre within the Faculty of Medicine and Health. He serves as Clinical Director of the Ageing Brain Clinic and Director of the Parkinson's Disease Research Clinic, while also heading the NSW Movement Disorders Brain Donor program. With over 200 peer-reviewed publications, 2 books, and 8 book chapters to his name, Professor Lewis has secured more than $10 million in research funding from prestigious sources including the NHMRC, ARC, and Michael J Fox Foundation. Professor Lewis's research primarily focuses on dementia and Parkinson's disease, with particular expertise in cognitive neuroscience, movement disorders, and REM sleep behavior disorder. His work spans from basic neuroimaging studies to clinical trials investigating novel interventions for neurodegenerative conditions. He has pioneered research on freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease, visual hallucinations in Lewy body disorders, and the relationship between circadian rhythms and neurodegeneration. His laboratory employs a multidisciplinary approach combining clinical assessment, neuroimaging (structural and functional MRI), neurophysiological measurements, and innovative computational methods to understand disease mechanisms. The trajectory of Professor Lewis's recent publications reveals a growing emphasis on biomarker discovery for early diagnosis and disease progression, with increasing integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches to analyze complex movement and sleep data. His work increasingly bridges basic neuroscience with clinical applications, particularly in developing targeted interventions for non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The collaborative nature of his research is evident in the international authorship patterns across his publications. Among his notable accolades is the Leonard Cox Award (2014) from ANZAN recognizing his significant contributions to neuroscience as an early career neurologist. Professor Lewis serves on multiple editorial boards including Movement Disorders, Translational Neurodegeneration, and Journal of Neurology, Parkinson's and Related Disorders. He actively contributes to international committees such as the Movement Disorders Society Asian Oceanian Section Executive Committee and the International REM Sleep Behaviour Study Group. Professor Lewis leads the world-leading Parkinson's and Related Diseases Research Group at the Brain and Mind Centre, which attracts PhD students interested in understanding disease mechanisms, developing biomarkers, and creating novel treatment modalities for Lewy body-related diseases. His international collaborations span institutions in the Netherlands (Radboud UMC), United Kingdom (King's College London, Cambridge, Newcastle), and other global centers of excellence in Parkinson's research. His work exemplifies a translational approach from bench to bedside, with particular focus on improving quality of life for patients with neurodegenerative conditions.
Dr. Fernando Calahorro Nunez is a Research Fellow at the University of Southampton, specializing in molecular and genetic biology with a focus on cellular circuits and atypical behaviors. He utilizes Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism to study gene functions in complex behaviors, particularly in the context of drug discovery for neurodevelopmental disorders and parasitic nematode biology. His work bridges fundamental research with applied studies, collaborating with agrochemical industries to develop novel antiparasitic compounds. His research interests span molecular neurobiology, invertebrate behavior, and drug discovery, with notable contributions to understanding neuroligin-dependent social behaviors and cholinergic signaling pathways. Current projects include investigating autism-associated genes and developing microfluidic assays for drug screening in neurobehavioral disorders. Dr. Calahorro’s expertise in parasitic nematode neurobiology has positioned him to explore host plant invasion mechanisms and test compound libraries for antiparasitic effects. His interdisciplinary approach integrates genetic, pharmacological, and behavioral analyses to address both basic and translational research questions.
Ivana Malenica is an Assistant Professor of Biostatistics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Gillings School of Global Public Health. Previously, she was a HDSI Fellow at Harvard Data Science Initiative and Postdoctoral Fellow in Statistics at Harvard University. She holds a Ph.D. in Biostatistics from UC Berkeley and a B.S. in Mathematics from Arizona State University. Her research focuses on causal inference, machine learning, nonparametric statistics, efficiency theory, and precision health. She specializes in longitudinal and structured dependent settings including adaptive sequential experiments, online learning, and reinforcement learning applications in personalized health. Her recent publications demonstrate strong methodological contributions to causal inference and machine learning, with applications spanning clinical trials, public health, genomics, and reinforcement learning. Her work consistently develops novel statistical approaches for complex data structures. Awards include: Harvard Data Science Initiative Fellowship (2022) Berkeley Wellness Letter Fellowship (2020) Wellness Scholarship in Honor of Chin Long Chiang (2019) Berkeley Institute for Data Science Moore-Sloan Fellowship (2018) She teaches graduate courses including Advanced Probability and Statistical Inference I (BIOS 760). Her computational work includes contributions to the tlverse ecosystem for causal inference in R.
Ying Qing Chen is a Professor of Medicine at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, part of the Department of Medicine at Stanford University. Additionally, she holds an Affiliate Professor position in Biostatistics. Her roles include serving as Director of the Palo Alto Veteran Affairs Cooperative Studies Coordinating Center since 2021. Dr. Chen earned her BS in Mathematics from Peking University (1992) and her PhD in Biostatistics from Johns Hopkins University (1999). Her research focuses on statistical methodologies for HIV/AIDS prevention , including biomarkers, clinical trial design, epidemiological methods, and survival analysis. She also contributes to studies on vaccine effectiveness, adherence to antiretroviral treatments, and the intersection of social stigma with healthcare access in high-risk populations. Her work spans multinational collaborations, such as the HPTN 052, 069/ACTG 5305, and 075 trials, and she leads projects funded by NIH and industry partners (e.g., Sinovac Biotech). Key areas of expertise include evaluating combination prevention strategies, developing statistical surrogacy measures, and analyzing longitudinal clinical data to inform public health policies. Projects: Co-PI for the Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Vaccine in Orthotopic Liver Transplant candidates (COLT) study (NIH/NIAID U01 AI163090-01, 2021-Present) PI for Research on Global Vaccine Application and Trends (Sinovac Biotech, 2021-Present) PI/MPI for Ganciclovir to Prevent Cytomegalovirus Reactivation (NIH/NHLBI U24 HL147012, 2020-Present) Dr. Chen’s scientific contributions have been recognized with the Fellowship of the American Statistical Association (2018) . She teaches courses such as Introduction to Clinical Trials: Design, Conduct, and Analysis (CHPR 211) and supervises thesis writing through Community Health and Prevention Research Master's Thesis Writing (CHPR 399). Her research emphasizes improving HIV prevention outcomes, addressing challenges in adherence and combination therapies, and leveraging statistical innovations to enhance vaccine efficacy assessments. She has also demonstrated expertise in handling complex longitudinal datasets and conducting feasibility studies for at-risk populations in sub-Saharan Africa.
Associate Professor Loyola McLean holds positions at the University of Sydney's Brain & Mind Research Institute and Sydney Medical School. She is a Consultation-Liaison Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist, and Psychotherapy Educator with affiliations including Royal North Shore Hospital and the Sydney West Psychiatry Training Network. Her research focuses on trauma-informed care, integrative body-mind medicine, and attachment theory applied to mental health and chronic illness. Key interests include psychotherapy efficacy, stress system disorders, and medical education innovations. Education: PhD in biomedical research (depression-cardiovascular disease link) Grants: Includes studies on psychiatry trainee well-being and trauma interventions for burn survivors Current Projects: EMDR therapy for burn injury survivors, trauma-informed care in sexual assault services, and neurobiological aspects of functional neurological disorders Research spans 20+ years with over 100 publications. Her work bridges clinical practice and neuroscience, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to complex trauma and chronic illness recovery. She collaborates on RCTs evaluating therapies like EMDR and conversational model interventions. Teaching focuses on psychotherapy education, attachment theory, and research methodologies. She supervises students exploring topics like conversational model applications in psychiatry and functional neurological disorders.
Professor Jennifer Smith-Merry is an ARC Laureate Fellow and Professor of Health and Social Policy at the University of Sydney, within the Sydney School of Health Sciences. She has held roles such as Director of the Centre for Disability Research and Policy (CDRP) and leads the Disability Inclusive Policy Development stream. Her work integrates research, policy, and practice to address systemic challenges in mental health and disability care, with a focus on equity and lived experience insights. Education: PhD in Social Policy (University of Queensland) BA (Honours) Graduate Certificate in Applied Law Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies (Higher Education) Research Interests: Jen’s research emphasizes disability-inclusive policy development, mental health service design, and the ethical inclusion of people with disability in research. She explores the intersection of policy implementation, lived experience expertise, and systemic reforms, particularly in the context of the NDIS and global health initiatives. Her work critiques ableism in academia and healthcare while advocating for participatory, equity-driven frameworks. Grants and Collaboration: Jen has secured over 50 grants, including ARC and NHMRC funding, and leads projects evaluating policy and service delivery for disability and mental health. She collaborates with governments and NGOs, such as the National Disability Insurance Agency, and engages with service users to inform policy. Recent projects include a global workforce training framework for integrated care and exploring mechanisms of religious trauma in queer communities. Awards: Australian Research Council (ARC) Industry Laureate Fellow (2023-2028) Labs and Affiliations: She is affiliated with multiple interdisciplinary centers at the University of Sydney, including the Sydney Centre for Healthy Societies, Sydney Policy Lab, Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, Brain and Mind Centre, and Charles Perkins Centre. Her international collaborations span Malaysia, Singapore, and the UK, focusing on disability research capacity and mental health policy.
Dr. Donna-Ann Thomas is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at the Yale School of Medicine, serving as Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Division Chief of both Pain Medicine and Regional Anesthesiology. She is also Associate Professor Anesthesiology within the same department. Her clinical work focuses on innovative pain management techniques, including paravertebral and TAP blocks, and reducing opioid dependence through multidisciplinary approaches. She practices at the Yale Spine Center and Yale New Haven Hospital, emphasizing patient-centered care tailored to individual needs. Education: MD from SUNY Upstate Medical Center (1999), followed by General Surgery residency at Graduate Hospital (2001) and Anesthesia residency at SUNY Syracuse (2005). Board-certified in Anesthesiology (2007) and Pain Medicine (2008), with recertification in Anesthesiology in 2018. Research Interests: Acute pain management in addicted patients, spine/musculoskeletal pain, cancer pain, headaches, sickle cell crisis, and complex regional pain syndrome. She prioritizes minimizing opioid use while optimizing non-opioid alternatives like local anesthetics and over-the-counter medications. Her work also addresses healthcare resource allocation and cost-effectiveness in surgical pain management. Publications highlight her contributions to clinical pathways for sickle cell crises, regional anesthesia in congenital syndromes, ketamine efficacy in pediatric spinal cord injury pain, and acetaminophen cost analysis in cholecystectomy. Though not explicitly stated, her leadership roles suggest active mentorship in clinical education and diversity initiatives. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the Multidisciplinary Pain Program and Regional Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine at Yale. Engaged with Yale Cancer Center and the Pain Curriculum Committee at Yale School of Medicine.
Michael J. Caplan is the C.N.H. Long Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology and Professor of Cell Biology at Yale School of Medicine, where he also serves as Chair of the Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology. He has been a faculty member at Yale since 1988, following the completion of his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Yale University in 1987. His academic journey began with a bachelor's degree in Biology from Harvard University in 1980. Dr. Caplan's research program focuses on understanding how membrane proteins are sorted in polarized epithelial cells, with particular emphasis on the Na,K-ATPase (sodium pump) in renal epithelial cells. His laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding the mechanisms responsible for Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD), particularly through studies of the polycystin-1 and polycystin-2 proteins. His work has revealed that polycystin-1 undergoes proteolytic cleavage to release its C-terminal tail, which enters the nucleus and modulates signaling pathways including Wnt signaling. His research also explores connections between renal cilia and olfactory signaling pathways in kidney function. Analysis of Dr. Caplan's recent publications reveals a strong focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying polycystic kidney disease, with particular attention to protein trafficking, membrane contact sites, transcriptional regulation in cystic cells, and novel therapeutic approaches. His work spans multiple disciplines including cell biology, molecular physiology, and translational medicine, with increasing integration of advanced imaging techniques and nanotechnology approaches. Dr. Caplan has received numerous prestigious awards including: Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2023) Carl W. Gottschalk Distinguished Lectureship from the American Physiological Society (2012) Young Investigator Award from the American Society of Nephrology (1998) National Young Investigator Award from the National Science Foundation Fellowships from the Helen Hay Whitney Foundation and David and Lucille Packard Foundation As an educator and mentor, Dr. Caplan has received Yale's Postdoctoral Mentoring Prize (2010) and Bohmfalk Award for Excellence in Basic Science Teaching (2000). He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of the journal Physiology and on the Board of Directors of the American Physiological Society. His laboratory continues to be at the forefront of research on kidney cell biology and polycystic kidney disease pathogenesis, with ongoing investigations into novel therapeutic targets and mechanisms of disease progression.
Sabrina Douglas is a Research Fellow in the Department of Family Relations & Applied Nutrition at the University of Guelph. Her work focuses on coparenting dynamics, food parenting practices, gender-related parenting behaviors, and child eating behaviors. She holds a PhD (2023) and MSc (2016) in Family Relations and Applied Nutrition from the University of Guelph, as well as a BSc (2014) in Nutrition and Nutraceutical Sciences from the same institution. Her research explores how coparenting quality influences food parenting practices, particularly in the context of gender differences and family dynamics. She has examined the impact of social media on parental food practices, especially during the pandemic, and the representation of gender in children’s media. Her work often employs mixed-methods approaches to understand complex family interactions and health behaviors. Key areas of focus include the role of fathers in food parenting, the association between feeding coparenting and child eating behaviors, and the effectiveness of interventions targeting family health. She has collaborated on the Guelph Family Health Study, a longitudinal project exploring home-based obesity prevention strategies.
Dion Tuckwell is a Lecturer in the Department of Design at Monash University, specializing in Communication Design. He holds a Masters in Teaching (Research) from the University of Melbourne and is pursuing a doctoral degree in Design at Monash Art Design & Architecture (MADA). Prior to academia, Tuckwell worked in multidisciplinary design studios in Melbourne, focusing on both private and public sector projects. His research explores collaborative design practices, interdisciplinary research, and the role of studio practice in design education. Tuckwell’s work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in education and sustainable development. Education: Masters of Teaching (Research), University of Melbourne (2014) BA Design (Honors), University of Melbourne (2002) Current doctoral studies in Design at MADA, Monash University Research Interests: Dion’s research focuses on collaborative design practice and interdisciplinary approaches to knowledge generation. He investigates how studio-based practice informs design pedagogy and contributes to complex social research. Key areas include co-design methodologies, participatory design, and the integration of innovative learning environments. His work aligns with the FoR code 1203 (Design Practice and Management) and emphasizes practical, outcome-driven research. Co-design and interdisciplinary collaboration Design education and pedagogy Sustainable design practices and net-zero initiatives Practice-based research methodologies Awards: Learning Environments Australasia, Innovative Education Initiative category - Winner (2024): "Enhancing Spatial Literacy in the Evelyn Scott School" Advising and Collaborations: While Tuckwell does not list specific advisees, he collaborates extensively with researchers and practitioners. Recent collaborations include work on the ARC Linkage project and contributions to the Net Zero Precincts initiative. He actively participates in academic events, such as the International Conference on Sustainability Transitions (2024) and public lectures on spatial literacy and design education. Lab/Team Affiliations: As part of Monash University’s Department of Design, Tuckwell contributes to the broader research environment within MADA. His studio practice and academic role intersect to foster innovative approaches to design education and collaborative projects.
Sharon Hewner is a Professor at the University at Buffalo School of Nursing , specializing in healthcare informatics, transitions of care, and social determinants of health. Her research integrates technology, data analysis, and cross-sector collaboration to improve care coordination for high-need patients. Education: PhD in Anthropology, University at Buffalo MS in Gerontological Nursing, University of Rochester BS in Nursing, University of Rochester Research Interests: Hewner focuses on transitional care models , care coordination , and leveraging machine learning and natural language processing to develop conversational tools for nurses. Her work addresses health disparities , chronic disease complexity , and population health informatics . Publication Trends: Recent articles highlight machine learning applications in heart failure care, cross-sector interventions for homeless populations, and data-driven care coordination . These reflect her commitment to integrating social determinants of health into clinical workflows. Scientific Awards: Fellow, American Academy of Nursing (2018) Excellence in Research Scholarship Award, UB School of Nursing (2021) First Place: AJN Informatics Category (2023) Milton Plesur Teaching Excellence Award, UB (2013) Grant Funding: Her AHRQ-funded Coordinating Transitions project reduced Medicaid care costs by $1,300 per patient. She co-authored a $1.95M NIH-funded study on medication harm in older adults (2023). Affiliations: Hewner serves on the NIH special emphasis expert panel , Niagara Hospice , and HEALTHeLINK , and is a member of the American Academy of Nursing , NIH Care Planning Workgroup , and QSEN Consortium .
