Mark Liberman is a Trustee Professor at the University of Pennsylvania , holding appointments in the Department of Linguistics and Department of Computer and Information Science . He serves as Director of the Linguistic Data Consortium and Faculty Director of Ware College House . His career spans linguistics, speech technology, and computational methods. Education: Harvard University (1965-1969), MIT (M.S. 1972, Ph.D. 1975) Professional Experience: AT&T Bell Laboratories (1975-1990), University of Pennsylvania (1990-present) His research interests include: Corpus-based Phonetics : Analyzing speech patterns via large-scale datasets. Clinical Applications : Developing speech biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases. Tonal Phonology : Studying lexical tone and intonation in languages like Yoruba and Mandarin. Formal Annotation Models : Creating frameworks for linguistic data standardization. Recent publications highlight automated speech analysis, cross-linguistic prosody, and digital biomarkers for conditions like ALS-FTD and Alzheimer’s. His collaborations span computational linguistics , neurology , and cognitive science . Scientific awards include the IEEE James L. Flanagan Award (2017), Antonio Zampolli Prize (2010), and fellowships from the AAAS and Linguistic Society of America . He advises PhD students May Chan and Jonathan Him Nok Lee and contributes to editorial boards for journals like Cognition and Annual Review of Linguistics . His work bridges speech science , language technology , and neurocognitive research .
Jeffrey A. Cooper is a Professor of Law at Quinnipiac University School of Law , where he teaches courses in estate planning, wills and trusts, and taxation. He previously served as Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development and is currently faculty adviser to the Quinnipiac Probate Law Journal . Education: AB from Harvard University, JD from Yale University, LLM from New York University Research Interests: His work focuses on tax policy , estate and gift taxation , and the intersection of federal tax law with state probate systems . He specializes in trust enforceability , uniform trust code , and historical analysis of tax legislation. Publications: Recent articles address perpetual trusts , state death tax decline , and curriculum reforms in estate planning education. His scholarship is widely published in national law journals and cited in casebooks. Scientific Awards: Academic Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) Faculty Scholar, Quinnipiac University Professional Background: Before academia, Cooper practiced law for over a decade as a principal at Cummings & Lockwood, senior officer at United States Trust Company, and special counsel to Shipman & Goodwin. He also served as a senior adviser to Fiduciary Trust Company International.
Brent Doiron is a Professor at the University of Chicago, holding appointments in the Departments of Neurobiology and Statistics, and serving on the Committee on Computational and Applied Mathematics (CCAM). His research integrates nonlinear dynamics and statistical mechanics to study neural circuit variability, focusing on mechanisms underlying neural coding and network learning through collaborations with experimentalists in sensory systems. Education: PhD in Physics (University of Ottawa, 2004) Postdoc: Center for Neural Science at New York University (2017) Previous Roles: Mathematics Professor at University of Pittsburgh (2007-2020), Co-Director of Neural Computation Program at Carnegie Mellon Neuroscience Institute Research interests center on neuronal population dynamics, recurrent circuit mechanisms, and computational neuroscience. Current work investigates correlated variability in cortical networks, inter-areal communication, and stochastic spiking models. Recent publications emphasize cortical stability/gain modulation, asynchronous/synchronous activity balance, and Bayesian inference frameworks. Key themes include sensory processing, network plasticity, and dimensionality reduction in neural coding. Scientific Awards Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship in Neuroscience Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Award (University of Pittsburgh) Active grants include NIH R01 and R90/T90 awards for neuronal dynamics research and computational neuroscience training programs.
Rhonda Goldman is a Full Professor in the Clinical Psychology Department at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, Illinois. She is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in Illinois and runs her private practice, Emotion-focused Therapy, Chicago, where she sees both couples and individuals. Dr. Goldman is a founding board member of the International Society of Emotion-focused Therapy and serves as President of the Emotion-focused Therapy Institute. Dr. Goldman earned her academic credentials from York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in 1987, Master of Arts in 1991, and Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology in 1997. She taught at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology for 22 years before transitioning to her current position at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology following the closure of the Illinois School. Dr. Goldman is a leading expert in Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), a therapeutic approach that integrates elements of client-centered therapy, Gestalt therapy, and modern emotion theory. Her research focuses on EFT for couples, emotional processes, empathy, vulnerability, depression, case formulation, and self-soothing. She has authored six texts on EFT and two professional videos published by the American Psychological Association. Dr. Goldman teaches graduate courses in Humanistic and Experiential Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Seminars, and Emotion-Focused Therapy, emphasizing the importance of emotional processing in therapeutic change. Dr. Goldman's publications demonstrate a consistent focus on advancing Emotion-Focused Therapy through both theoretical development and practical application. Her work spans individual therapy, couples therapy, case formulation, and therapist training, with recent emphasis on adapting EFT for online delivery. Her research shows how emotional awareness and processing serve as central mechanisms of change in psychotherapy, with applications across various clinical issues including depression and relationship distress. Dr. Goldman is actively involved in professional organizations that support the development and dissemination of Emotion-Focused Therapy. She serves as a founding board member of the International Society for Emotion-focused Therapy, past-president of the Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration, Action-Editor for the Journal of Person-centered and Experiential Psychotherapies, and member of the Society for Psychotherapy Research. As an educator and clinician, Dr. Goldman has mentored numerous professionals in the field of psychotherapy. She travels internationally conducting training workshops for mental health professionals in Emotion-focused therapy for Couples and Individuals across Europe, Asia, and North America. Her work bridges research and practice, emphasizing the importance of emotional processing in therapeutic change while maintaining a strong commitment to evidence-based practice. Dr. Goldman co-founded the Emotion-focused Therapy Institute (EFTI), which facilitates and fosters training and educational opportunities for psychologists and therapists interested in incorporating EFT into their professional practices. Through EFTI and her international workshops, she has created a global community of practitioners dedicated to advancing Emotion-Focused Therapy.
Tanzeem Choudhury is a Professor at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech, specializing in Information Sciences. She co-founded HealthRhythms Inc. and directs the People-Aware Computing lab, focusing on machine learning for human activity and social network analysis. Her work pioneered the 'Reality Mining' field, leveraging mobile sensors to model social interactions. Choudhury holds a Ph.D. from MIT's Media Lab and B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Rochester. Her research spans wearable tech, mental health interventions, and ubiquitous computing. Notable projects include affective touch wearables for anxiety reduction, stress detection systems (e.g., StressSense), and the BeWell app for well-being monitoring. Choudhury has been recognized as an ACM Fellow and SIGCHI Academy member, with impactful contributions to healthcare technology and sensor-based behavioral analysis. Current lab initiatives include developing closed-loop interventions for mental health, equity-driven sensing systems, and exploring AI integration in psychotherapy. She advises PhD students on topics like digital biomarkers, burnout detection in healthcare workers, and smartphone-based mental health assessment. Education: Ph.D. in Media Arts & Sciences (MIT), M.S. (MIT Media Lab), B.S. in Electrical Engineering (University of Rochester) Lab Team: Includes PhD candidates (Dan Adler, Yiran Zhao) and researchers focusing on health AI, wearable devices, and clinical applications. Major Awards: ACM Fellowship (2020), SIGCHI Academy (2018), Best Paper Awards at Ubicomp and MobileHCI conferences. Key Projects: OptoBeat (skin-tone calibrated blood oxygen sensor), EmotionCheck (anxiety intervention), and Affective Touch devices.
Dr. Kaya de Barbaro is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin (College of Liberal Arts). She holds a Ph.D. from the University of California San Diego. Her research focuses on bridging computer science and developmental/clinical psychology, particularly maternal mental health and infant social-emotional development. She directs the Daily Activity Lab, which uses mobile/wearable sensors and machine learning to analyze real-world interactions, aiming to develop just-in-time interventions for new mothers. Key research areas include maternal-infant dynamics, physiological synchronization, and the impact of environmental chaos on development. She has pioneered methods for analyzing high-density data, such as Granger causality and machine learning algorithms to detect behaviors like crying and holding. Recent work emphasizes leveraging ecological momentary assessment surveys and 24-hour LENA audio recordings to understand proximal mechanisms of development. Dr. de Barbaro teaches Psychology 333D (Introduction to Developmental Psychology) and has developed curricula for both in-person and online formats. She is actively involved in training students through the Eureka program at UT Austin. Her lab collaborates on tools like chatbots for postpartum mental health and has published extensively on sensor-based methodologies in developmental science.
Dr. Keith Alexander Sharkey is a Professor in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary. He is also a Full Member of both the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and The Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases. Dr. Sharkey has been at the University of Calgary since his appointment as Assistant Professor in 1990, dedicating his career to understanding the neural control of the gastrointestinal tract. From 2005-2021, he held the Crohn's and Colitis Canada Chair in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research, demonstrating his longstanding commitment to advancing knowledge in gastrointestinal sciences. Dr. Sharkey's educational journey began with a BSc (Hons) in Nutrition from the University of London in 1981, followed by a PhD in Physiology from the University of Liverpool in 1985. After completing postdoctoral training in Hungary, the UK, and Canada, he joined the University of Calgary faculty in 1990, where he has remained throughout his distinguished academic career. Dr. Sharkey's research program centers on understanding the physiology and pathophysiology of the neural control of the gastrointestinal tract and brain-gut interactions in health and disease. His laboratory investigates two main areas: the role of the endocannabinoid system in regulating GI motility and intestinal barrier function, and the physiology of the enteric nervous system in controlling motility and barrier function. His work employs state-of-the-art approaches including live cell imaging and molecular genetics. Recent publications show his expanding interest in connections between gut function and neurodegenerative conditions like ALS, with multiple 2024-2025 papers examining sexual dimorphism in disease processes and gut-brain axis mechanisms. Fellow, Royal Society of Canada (2024) Cumming School of Medicine's van de Sande Distinguished Achievement Award for Mentorship (2021) Distinguished Research Award, American Physiological Society (2021) Finkelstein Award for Excellence, Crohn's and Colitis Canada (2016) Fellow, Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (2015) Fellow, Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (2015) Killam Annual Professor Award, University of Calgary (2013) Dr. Sharkey has mentored numerous students throughout his career, as evidenced by his 2021 Mentorship Award. His research is supported by significant funding, including a CIHR Foundation grant exploring how enteric nerves and glia maintain intestinal homeostasis. He has also participated in university strategic initiatives focused on Brain and Mental Health (2015-2021) and Infections, Inflammations and Chronic Diseases (2015-2021), demonstrating his interdisciplinary approach. The Sharkey Lab provides a safe, inclusive, and diverse research environment that encourages open scientific exchange from diverse viewpoints. His laboratory is actively engaged in multiple collaborative projects, including investigations with UBC Okanagan on diet and probiotics targeting the gut-brain metabolic interactome, and with University of Calgary colleagues studying gut microbiota's role in ALS. Dr. Sharkey continues to advance our understanding of neural mechanisms controlling gastrointestinal function with upcoming courses scheduled for Fall 2024 and Winter 2025.
Hilary Bernstein is an Assistant Professor at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) within the College of Medicine , specifically affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences . Her academic profile emphasizes clinical practice and research in mental health disciplines. Degrees: MSW (Master of Social Work), DHA (Doctor of Health Administration) Research Focus: Her academic work spans individual and couples psychotherapy, with specialized expertise in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. She investigates clinical research on mood disorders, depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and grief management.
Andrew Connor is a Senior Lecturer in Archaeology and Ancient History at Monash University. He specializes in Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt, papyrology, and the social and religious history of ancient Egyptian communities. His research focuses on Egyptian temples during the Roman period, ancient economic practices, and the editing and publication of documentary papyri. Connor has particular expertise in the Fayum depression and Dakhleh Oasis regions. Connor's publications demonstrate a consistent focus on Egyptian religious institutions, economic systems, and textual evidence from archaeological sites. His recent work includes publications on temple administration, Greek papyri, and digital archaeology. He has received multiple teaching awards including the Faculty Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2017), Faculty Citation for Overseas Programs (2018), and Vice Chancellor's Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2018). Connor teaches courses on Greek and Roman history, archaeology, and ancient languages at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He serves as Honours Coordinator for the School of Philosophical, Historical, and International Studies.
Richard W. Robins is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Davis, within the College of Letters and Science. He is Director of the Personality, Self and Emotion Laboratory and the California Families Project, and a core faculty member of the NIMH Training Program in Affective Science. Ph.D. in Psychology (Social/Personality), University of California, Berkeley (1995) B.A. in Psychology, University of California, Berkeley (1988) His research centers on personality development, self-esteem, narcissism, self-conscious emotions (pride, shame, guilt, contempt), and developmental trajectories of Mexican-origin youth. He employs longitudinal and experimental designs with multi-method data collection across biological, psychological, and sociocultural domains. His recent publications reflect a strong trend in longitudinal analysis of personality and emotion, particularly focusing on developmental pathways in youth, self-evaluation processes, and cultural influences on emotional expression. Key themes include the interplay between temperament and social behavior, the stability of self-esteem, and the distinction between genuine self-worth and narcissism. Award highlights include: 2012 Diener Award for Outstanding Mid-Career Contributions to Personality Psychology Fellow of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (2011) Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution (APA) Theoretical Innovation Prize (SPSP) Chancellor’s Fellow at UC Davis (2002–2007) Professor Robins has secured research funding from the National Institutes of Health, particularly supporting the California Families Project. He has served as Associate Editor for Personality and Social Psychological Review and Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , and has edited major handbooks in personality psychology. He mentors graduate students and teaches courses in Personality Psychology, Personality Development, The Self, Emotion, and Longitudinal Methods. He leads the Personality, Self and Emotions Laboratory at UC Davis, which focuses on social development, emotion regulation, and self-esteem using integrative and naturalistic research approaches.
Dr. Elaine T. Jurkowski serves as Professor in Social Work at Southern Illinois University's College of Health and Human Sciences, holding multiple leadership roles including Graduate Program Director (2021-present) and Program Director for Gerontology Programs (2020-present). She maintains cross-appointments as Adjunct Professor in the School of Medicine's Family Practice Residency Program and Professor in the Department of Health Education, demonstrating her interdisciplinary impact. B.S.W. (Industrial Social Work), University of Manitoba, Canada M.S.W. (Policy and Administration), University of Manitoba, Canada Ph.D., Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago M.B.A., Southern Illinois University Carbondale (2022) Dr. Jurkowski's research program centers on health disparities, access to mental health services, aging, and disability issues, with particular focus on rural populations. Her work bridges public health, social work, and gerontology through innovative approaches to program evaluation, technology-enhanced teaching, and culture change in long-term care settings. She has developed expertise in international health planning and inter-professional collaboration across diverse cultural contexts. Her publication portfolio shows consistent thematic development across decades, with recent work focusing on medical tourism during the pandemic, rural-urban health disparities, and technology applications in gerontology education. These publications reflect her commitment to addressing healthcare access challenges for vulnerable populations through both scholarly inquiry and practical interventions. Great Cities Research Fellow in Health Provost Faculty Fellow (2018) Provost Assessment Fellow (2016) Student Hotspotting certification (2018-present) A.P.M. Assessment Academy certification (2016, 2017) Dr. Jurkowski has successfully secured over $1 million in research funding from agencies including Health Resources and Services Administration, The Hartford Foundation, and Administration on Aging. Her grant portfolio demonstrates sustained commitment to improving services for older adults and people with disabilities, particularly in rural settings. She has served as Graduate Program Director twice (2003-2014, 2021-present), mentoring numerous social work students through their academic and professional development. Her professional activities extend beyond campus through international consulting in West Africa, Hong Kong, India, China, Russia, and Egypt, and community engagement via the "Dare to Care" radio show and board service with Caring Counseling Ministries, Supporting People in Need, and UNA/USA Southern Illinois Chapter.
William Kennedy is a Professor in the English Department at the University at Albany, State University of New York. For over 40 years, he has crafted a body of literature centered on Albany, New York, creating what is known as the "Albany Cycle" of novels. His work has established Albany as a significant place in American literature, comparable to Joyce's Dublin and Bellow's Chicago. His educational background includes a BA from Siena College, following attendance at Public School 20 and Christian Brother's Academy. Professor Kennedy's creative work focuses on American fiction, particularly historical and urban narratives rooted in Albany's cultural and political landscape. His writing explores machine politics, family sagas, and the interplay between individual lives and historical events, rendering Albany's "outcasts and machine politicians, lowlifes and swells" with profound humanity. His narratives transform the city into a mythic capital of national memory. His publications consistently draw from Albany's history, with recurring themes of political corruption, redemption, and the resilience of marginalized communities. The "Albany Cycle" demonstrates his mastery in blending local history with universal human struggles across multiple literary forms. William Kennedy's distinguished honors include: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Fellowship Election to the American Academy of Arts and Letters National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship Regents Medal of Excellence from SUNY Governor's Arts Award Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters in France Election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences As an educator, Kennedy taught creative writing and journalism at the University at Albany from 1974-1982 and Cornell University in 1982-83. His MacArthur Fellowship directly funded the creation of the New York State Writers Institute at Albany, with matching funds from the university and legislative support from Governor Cuomo. He has served on the New York State Council for the Humanities board and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. William Kennedy co-founded the New York State Writers Institute in 1984, which has grown into a major literary hub conducting statewide cultural and educational activities. The Institute remains central to his legacy, fostering literary arts through readings, workshops, and educational programs across New York.
Professor Rebecca Lawson is a Professor of Neuroscience and Computational Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, affiliated with the Department of Psychology and Bye-Fellow at Peterhouse College. Her research focuses on understanding how humans learn to make predictions under uncertainty, with applications to mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. She leads the Prediction and Learning (PaL) Lab, which combines computational modeling, neuroimaging (e.g., 7T MRI), and behavioral experiments to study cognitive processes in typical and atypical populations. Key research interests include computational psychiatry, autism spectrum disorders, neuroimaging techniques, and the neurochemical basis of learning mechanisms. She has received significant funding, including a £4.3m Wellcome Mental Health Award and the Sir Henry Dale Fellowship. Notable contributions include advancing theories of neural gain and sensory expectations in autism, as well as studies on uncertainty processing in anxiety and depression. Professor Lawson holds academic awards such as the BNPA Lishmann Prize and the BAP Psychopharmacology Award. She actively contributes to public engagement, including initiatives like Knit-a-Neuron and involvement with PrideinSTEM. Her lab collaborates internationally, with projects like the CamRAA study investigating autism-anxiety overlaps and the Chemical and Brain Basis of Uncertainty (CBBU) study exploring pharmacological interventions. Education: PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience (University of Cambridge), BA (Hons) Psychology & Philosophy (University of Glasgow). Grants: £4.3m Wellcome Award, Parke-Davis Fellowship, Lister Institute Prize. Labs/Teams: Principal Investigator of the PaL Lab; collaborations with MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Yale University, and Brown University.
Christopher M EARLS is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Université de Montréal's Faculty of Arts and Sciences. He specializes in forensic psychology, psychopathology, and behavioral studies with a focus on sexual delinquency and juvenile prostitution. His research explores the intersections of psychopathy, criminal behavior, and mental health comorbidities. He teaches courses including Psychopathology: Introduction across undergraduate programs in psychology, social sciences, and cognitive neuroscience. His academic contributions span over two decades, with notable work on psychopathy assessment, parenting practices in non-criminal populations, and sexual behavior conditioning. Education Affiliations: Université de Montréal (primary) Teaching Programs: Baccalauréat en psychologie, Neuroscience cognitive, Social Work programs Dr. EARLS has directed 10+ theses and mémoires since 1998, focusing on forensic psychology topics like sexual delinquency correlates and psychopathy measurement validity. His work bridges clinical psychology with sociocultural factors, particularly in marginalized populations like sex workers and juvenile offenders. Research Highlights: Clinical assessment tools comparison (paper vs. digital psychopathy scales) Gender differences in psychopathy expression Impact of childhood trauma on sexual interest development Though no formal awards are listed, his extensive publication record reflects sustained contributions to forensic and clinical psychology research.
Melissa Coyle is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Marjon University. She specializes in sport and exercise psychology, focusing on applications in sport science, coaching, physical education, outdoor education, and health and well-being. Her qualifications include HCPC registration as a sport and exercise psychologist, BASES chartered scientist, and BASES-accredited sport scientist (Psychology), alongside a PGCert, MSc, and BSc. Her research explores psychological factors in high-stakes environments, including military training, cancer patient exercise programs, and aging populations. Notable studies include a qualitative evaluation of an 8-week exercise referral program for cancer patients and an investigation into psychological factors in Royal Artillery Army Commando training. She has also examined motivations and barriers to indoor bowls participation among over-65s and mental health transitions in university students. Dr. Coyle has been awarded grants for studies like 'Psychological factors in Army Commando training' and 'Exercise adherence for cancer recovery.' Her publications span journals like Psychology of Sport and Exercise and conferences such as the Association of Applied Sport Psychology. She actively contributes to professional bodies like HCPC and BASES. Her teaching emphasizes practical applications of psychology in sports and health, complemented by research-driven insights. Beyond academia, she is an avid golfer and hill walker.
