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 .
Verdiana Grace Masanja is a Tanzanian mathematician and the first woman from Tanzania to earn a Doktor-Ingenieur (Doctor of Engineering) in mathematics. She holds the rank of Full Professor of Applied and Computational Mathematics at the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology (NM-AIST). Born in 1954, she pursued her education at the University of Dar es Salaam (BSc and MSc in Mathematics) and earned her doctoral degree from the Technical University of Berlin. Her research focuses on fluid mechanics, optimal control theory, and mathematics education advocacy. She has been a leading advocate for girls' and women's participation in STEM, serving in prominent roles such as Vice-President for Eastern Africa on the African Mathematical Union's executive committee and chairperson of the Tanzania Education Network. Education: BSc (Mathematics & Physics, UDSM, 1976); MSc (Mathematics, UDSM, 1981); Doktor-Ingenieur (Technical University of Berlin, 1986). Research interests include applied mathematics with a focus on education equity. Her recent work combines optimal control methods with biological systems modeling, as seen in studies on disease dynamics and nanofluid behavior. Awards: 2011 UDSM Golden Outstanding Award for contributions to mathematics education. Leadership roles include coordinating initiatives like Female Education in Mathematics in Africa and serving on commissions such as the Commission on Women in Mathematics in Africa.
Kenneth S. Breuer is a Professor of Engineering at Brown University, serving as Director of the Center for Fluid Mechanics. He holds appointments in the School of Engineering and collaborates across disciplines, including Biology and Physics. His research focuses on fluid mechanics, animal flight mechanics (particularly bats), bacterial motility, renewable energy, and turbulence. Breuer earned his Sc.B. from Brown University and M.Sc./Ph.D. from MIT, returning to Brown in 1999 after faculty service at MIT. Education: Sc.B. (Brown), M.Sc./Ph.D. (MIT). Awards include Fellowships from the American Physical Society and American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the Harold and Esther Edgerton Chair at MIT. He has authored over 100 publications and edited books such as *Microscale Diagnostic Techniques*. Research Interests: Fluid mechanics at micro/nanoscales, bio-inspired flight mechanisms, energy harvesting, and vortex dynamics. Collaborations include Professors Sharon Swartz (Biology) and Thomas Powers (Engineering). Current projects explore bat wing aerodynamics, membrane hydrofoils, and aerosol transmission in vehicles. Awards: APS Division of Fluid Dynamics Chair (2012), Midwest Mechanics Lecturer, and multiple fellowships. Teaching includes courses in Fluid Mechanics, Transport Phenomena, and Renewable Energy Systems. His lab develops bio-inspired robotic systems and studies flow interactions in animal and engineered systems.
Vivek Shenoy is the Eduardo D. Glandt President's Distinguished Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, with primary appointments in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and secondary appointments in Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics. He leads the Multiscale Mechanobiology and Biomaterials Laboratory, which focuses on developing theoretical frameworks and numerical methods to understand complex biological and engineering systems across multiple length scales. Shenoy's research spans mechanobiology, chromatin organization, cell mechanics, and biomaterials. His work addresses the fundamental challenge of modeling how small-scale cellular phenomena couple with long-range tissue-level interactions across micrometers to centimeters. By integrating insights from soft matter physics, solid mechanics, chemistry, and applied mathematics, his group develops multiphysics continuum and mesoscale theories to elucidate mechanisms controlling both biological and engineering systems. His recent publications demonstrate an increasing focus on nuclear mechanics, chromatin organization, and the interplay between mechanical forces and gene regulation. Analysis of Shenoy's publication record reveals a strong interdisciplinary approach, with high-impact papers spanning biophysics, materials science, and cell biology. His work shows consistent evolution from fundamental mechanics of materials to complex biological systems, with recent emphasis on the mechanical regulation of chromatin architecture, cell migration dynamics in 3D environments, and mechanotransduction in development and disease. His publications appear regularly in top journals including Nature, Science, and their affiliated publications, demonstrating significant influence across multiple fields. Eduardo D. Glandt President's Distinguished Professor Multiple publications in Nature, Science, and PNAS Active research program with publications through 2025 Shenoy actively mentors students and postdocs through his laboratory, with numerous co-authored publications indicating strong mentorship. His research program appears to be well-funded through multiple grants supporting his work in mechanobiology and biomaterials. The Multiscale Mechanobiology and Biomaterials Laboratory maintains active collaborations across disciplines and institutions, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of his research. The Multiscale Mechanobiology and Biomaterials Laboratory, housed within the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, serves as the primary research hub for Shenoy's work. The lab maintains an active presence on social media (Twitter: @ShenoyLab) for updates on activities and publications. Their research approach combines theoretical modeling with experimental validation to address fundamental questions at the interface of mechanics, materials science, and biology.
Susan L. Burns is a Professor at the University of Chicago, where she holds appointments in the Department of History, Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, and The College. She currently serves as Department Chair and Chair of the Undergraduate Studies Committee. Education: PhD, University of Chicago (1994) Her research focuses on Japan’s nineteenth-century social history, emphasizing intellectual and cultural practices, the intersection of medicine and public health, gender analysis, and legal discourses. She explores continuities between Japan’s early modern and modern eras, particularly how medical and legal frameworks shaped national identity. Recent publications span leprosy’s impact on citizenship, the rise of medical marketplaces, and gendered dimensions of reproductive health. Her digital humanities work on Mapping Medical Tokyo integrates GIS and text mining for historical analysis. Scientific Awards: Fulbright-Hays Fellowship IIE Fulbright Japan Foundation Japan Society for the Promotion of Science National Endowment for the Humanities She has secured grants for research on medical commodities, psychiatric practices, and the spatial dimensions of Meiji-era health policies. Her courses include Gender and Japanese History and Medicine and Culture in East Asia .
Jennifer S. Thaler is a Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Cornell University, affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis (1999) and a B.A. from Wellesley College (1993). Her research focuses on tri-trophic interactions between plants, herbivores, and predators, with an emphasis on chemical ecology, plant defense mechanisms, and pest control strategies. She teaches courses such as Chemical Ecology and Insect Ecology, and her work bridges fundamental ecological theory with applied agricultural challenges. Dr. Thaler’s research investigates how plant traits, predator presence, and nutritional states influence herbivore behavior and population dynamics. Notable projects include studying non-consumptive predator effects, plant genotypic diversity’s impact on herbivores, and the evolutionary potential of antipredator plasticity. Her publications span journals like Ecology , Oecologia , and Proceedings of the Royal Society B . Her scientific contributions include winning the 2nd place Elton Prize (2015) for research on predator effects on aphids. She actively engages in departmental initiatives, including the Graduate Program and the Plant-Insect Interactions Seminar. Affiliated with the Cornell Stable Isotope Laboratory, she contributes to interdisciplinary efforts in ecological research and education.
Marc V Fuccillo is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, where he leads a research laboratory focused on understanding the neural circuit mechanisms underlying behavioral control. His work bridges molecular, synaptic, and behavioral approaches to investigate how striatal circuits regulate mouse behavior from simple motor patterns to complex goal-directed actions. Fuccillo holds dual appointments in the Neuroscience and Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Groups at Penn and maintains an active laboratory investigating the synaptic and circuit basis of neuropsychiatric disorders. Education: B.A. in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Music Performance (Violin) from Brown University (1998) Ph.D. in Developmental Genetics from New York University School of Medicine (2007) M.D. from New York University School of Medicine (2008) Fuccillo's research centers on the synaptic and circuit mechanisms of behavioral control, with particular emphasis on striatal circuits. His laboratory employs a range of technologies including mouse genetics, in vitro electrophysiology, in vivo imaging, and quantitative behavioral analysis to explore how neural circuits of the striatum regulate behavior and how disruptions in these circuits contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders. His work has particularly focused on autism-associated abnormalities in behavioral control, examining how synaptic adhesion molecules like neuroligins and neurexins shape circuit function and behavior, with significant findings regarding D1 dopamine receptor positive medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens. Analysis of Fuccillo's recent publications reveals a strong focus on striatal circuit function across multiple dimensions. His work spans molecular neuroscience (examining synaptic adhesion molecules), cellular physiology (studying specific neuron types in striatal circuits), systems neuroscience (mapping circuit connectivity), and behavioral neuroscience (quantifying motor learning and decision-making). A unifying theme is how disruptions in specific molecular pathways lead to circuit-level abnormalities that manifest as behavioral phenotypes relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders, with particular attention to autism, OCD, and schizophrenia models. Scientific Recognition: Publications in high-impact journals including Nature Neuroscience, Current Biology, Cell Reports, and Neuron Research supported by multiple NIH grants including NIMH F32, NIMH K01, and HHMI Gilliam Fellowship awards for lab members Fuccillo actively mentors a diverse group of trainees including postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduates. His laboratory has produced numerous successful alumni who have gone on to faculty positions, medical residencies, and graduate programs at prestigious institutions. His mentoring approach emphasizes technical skill development across multiple neuroscience disciplines while fostering independent scientific thinking. Current research in his lab is supported by NIH funding focused on understanding the molecular architecture of striatal circuits and their role in behavioral control, with three major research directions exploring molecular logic of striatal circuits, circuit mechanisms of behavioral control, and striatal dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disease models. The Fuccillo Laboratory operates within the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania, with access to state-of-the-art facilities for molecular, electrophysiological, imaging, and behavioral neuroscience research. The lab maintains active collaborations with other neuroscience research groups at Penn and beyond, creating a rich intellectual environment for studying the neural basis of behavior. Current research directions include investigating whether there is a molecular logic to striatal circuit composition, how striatal circuits shape behavioral control, and what mouse models of autism, schizophrenia, and OCD can reveal about striatal circuit dysfunction in disease pathophysiology.
Kelly Arnold is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan. Her research integrates systems engineering principles with immunology to investigate variability in immune responses across infection, vaccination, and injury, with a focus on computational modeling and clinical translation. Research Focus Systems-level immune response modeling Vaccination and antibody functionality Vaginal microbiome-host interactions Chronic lung disease progression Computational serology and proteomics Recent Work Her 2025 studies examine SARS-CoV-2 vaccination responses in cancer patients and computational frameworks for vaginal probiotics. Earlier works (2024-2007) span COPD progression, lupus fibrosis, HIV susceptibility, and tissue engineering for fertility preservation. Methodologies include proteomic profiling, network modeling, and microfluidic systems.
Pinar Keskinocak serves as the H. Milton and Carolyn J. Stewart School Chair and Professor in the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She co-founded and directs the Center for Health and Humanitarian Systems, demonstrating leadership in both academic administration and research innovation. Her career includes prior roles as College of Engineering ADVANCE Professor and interim associate dean for faculty development, alongside industry experience at IBM T.J. Watson Research Center. Her educational foundation includes a Ph.D. in Operations Research from Carnegie Mellon University and M.S. and B.S. degrees in Industrial Engineering from Bilkent University. This rigorous training underpins her interdisciplinary approach to complex societal challenges. Dr. Keskinocak's research pioneers operations research applications for societal impact , with dual emphases on health systems and humanitarian logistics . She develops advanced models for infectious disease dynamics (including COVID-19, malaria, and Guinea worm), vaccination strategies, disaster response, and supply chain optimization. Her work uniquely bridges engineering analytics with real-world implementation through partnerships with the CDC, American Red Cross, Carter Center, and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Analysis of her 2023-2025 publications reveals intensifying focus on eradication program modeling for polio and Guinea worm, with increasing integration of machine learning for predictive accuracy in vaccine distribution. A pronounced trend addresses health equity through targeted interventions for under-immunized populations in Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasizing resource allocation under constraints and cross-border coordination challenges. Her scientific recognition includes: INFORMS Fellow (2015) NSF CAREER Award (2001) Outstanding Professional Education Award, Georgia Tech (2018) Denning Award for Global Engagement, Georgia Tech (2016) Women in Engineering Excellence Teaching Award (2005) Moving Spirit Award, INFORMS (2005) Dr. Keskinocak has secured extensive project funding through collaborations with federal agencies and NGOs, directing research on pandemic response systems, vaccine logistics, and disaster debris management. While specific advisees aren't publicly cataloged, her leadership in the Center for Health and Humanitarian Systems mentors numerous graduate researchers through interdisciplinary projects. She significantly influences national policy via National Academies committees addressing supply chain resilience and vaccine distribution infrastructure. The Center for Health and Humanitarian Systems operates as a dynamic hub where engineering rigor meets humanitarian action, coordinating multi-institutional teams to develop deployable solutions for global health crises and disaster response systems.
Manuel R. Amieva is a Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine , holding joint appointments in Pediatrics - Infectious Diseases and Microbiology & Immunology . He is also a member of the Maternal & Child Health Research Institute (MCHRI) . His clinical practice at Stanford Medicine Children's Health focuses on pediatric infectious diseases. Education: Medical Education: Stanford University School of Medicine (1997) Fellowship: Stanford University Pediatric Infectious Disease Fellowship (2004) Internship & Residency: Stanford Health Care at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (1998-1999) Dr. Amieva's research investigates host-pathogen interactions at epithelial barriers, with specific expertise in Helicobacter pylori , Listeria monocytogenes , Salmonella enterica , and Staphylococcus aureus . His lab develops innovative organoid culture systems with controlled polarity to study microbial colonization and oncogenic mechanisms. Key discoveries include: H. pylori's manipulation of epithelial junctions via the CagA protein Listeria's exploitation of cell extrusion sites for invasion Staphylococcus toxin interactions with adherens junctions Gastric stem cell activation by pathogens Recent publication trends show continued leadership in infectious disease mechanisms (2020-2025), with a focus on: Pathogen-specific epithelial breach strategies Organoid modeling of viral/bacterial interactions Redox-dependent host factor regulation Single-cell spatial transcriptomic analyses Multi-institutional educational frameworks His scientific collaborations span disciplines including: Gastric cancer genomics initiatives COVID-19 lung infection models Stem cell-microbe interactions Medical education reform projects Dr. Amieva maintains active clinical research while mentoring students in both the Microbiology & Immunology and Pediatrics programs. His lab at Stanford employs advanced 3D confocal microscopy and organ-on-a-chip technologies to visualize epithelial colonization dynamics.
Timothy R. Tangherlini serves as the Elizabeth H. and Eugene A. Shurtleff Chair in Undergraduate Education and Professor in the Department of Scandinavian and the School of Information at the University of California, Berkeley. A distinguished folklorist and ethnographer, he has pioneered computational approaches to folklore studies, bridging traditional humanities scholarship with cutting-edge digital methods. His research expertise spans multiple interconnected domains: Digital humanities and computational folkloristics Danish and Scandinavian cultural traditions Network analysis of narrative structures Machine learning applications in cultural analysis Conspiracy theory formation and transmission Korean cultural studies and K-Pop analysis Tangherlini's work focuses on how stories circulate across social networks and how individuals use narratives to negotiate ideology within their social groups. He has been instrumental in developing the field of Culture Analytics, co-directing a three-year program at the NSF's Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics and leading the NEH's Institute for Advanced Topics in Digital Humanities on Network Analysis for the Humanities. His research combines ethnographic depth with computational sophistication, creating novel methodologies for analyzing large cultural corpora. His scholarly contributions have earned him significant recognition: Fellow of the American Folklore Society Fellow of the Royal Gustav Adolf Academy (one of Sweden's Royal Academies) Elizabeth H. and Eugene A. Shurtleff Chair in Undergraduate Education Tangherlini has secured substantial funding from prestigious organizations including the NEH, NSF, NIH, AFOSR, Mellon Foundation, Nordic Council of Ministers, and Google. His work on conspiracy theories, K-Pop choreography analysis, and historical Danish folklore has garnered media attention, demonstrating the public relevance of his research. With extensive international experience including appointments at the University of Copenhagen, University of Iceland, and Harvard University, he maintains a global scholarly perspective while contributing significantly to undergraduate education at Berkeley.
Ian Grettenberger is an Assistant Professor of Cooperative Extension in the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of California, Davis. He leads the Grettenberger Lab, focusing on applied entomology in agricultural ecosystems. His work emphasizes pest management strategies, biological control, and sustainable solutions for invasive species threatening California crops. Education: B.S. in Biology, Western Washington University Ph.D. in Entomology, Pennsylvania State University Research Interests: Grettenberger’s expertise spans pest management of field/vegetable crops, invasive species like the Bagrada bug and western striped cucumber beetle, and resistance management in pests such as the alfalfa weevil. He investigates biological control mechanisms, pesticide efficacy, and economic impacts of pest management policies. Key Contributions: Recent work includes studies on insecticide spray optimization, economic implications of pesticide regulations, and biological control of invasive species. His research bridges laboratory and field settings, addressing challenges in California’s agricultural landscapes. Labs/Teams: The Grettenberger Lab collaborates on applied entomology projects, advancing IPM practices and crop protection strategies.
Jessica Illuzzi is the Deputy Dean for Education and Harold W. Jockers Professor of Medical Education at the Yale School of Medicine, where she is also a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences. She plays a pivotal role in medical education leadership, curriculum development, and accreditation efforts, while maintaining an active research program in maternal and neonatal health. Harvard University, AB in Biochemical Sciences (1994) Harvard Medical School, MD (1998) Yale School of Graduate Studies, MS in Epidemiology (2006) Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale-New Haven Hospital (2002) Her research focuses on the impact of obstetric interventions on maternal and neonatal outcomes, especially among low-risk women. Key areas include cesarean section, vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), group B streptococcus prophylaxis, and innovative maternity care models. She has led studies on labor management, health disparities, and quality improvement in obstetric care. Recent publications highlight trends in racial and ethnic disparities in maternal outcomes, validation of VBAC prediction tools, neonatal resuscitation guidelines, and integrated maternal-child care models in Haiti. Her work spans clinical epidemiology, health services research, and digital health interventions in obstetrics. Hellman Award (2017) Leah Lowenstein Award (2010) Roy M. Pitkin Award (2010) Bohmfalk Award (2007) Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics Teaching Award (2006) Dr. Illuzzi has been a strong advocate for medical education reform and student mentorship. She previously served as clerkship director and curriculum director, and has played key roles in Yale’s curriculum redesign and LCME reaccreditation. She has also led quality improvement initiatives in labor care and contributed to national guidelines on neonatal resuscitation. Her collaborative research network includes frequent co-authors such as Xiao Xu and Katherine Harper Campbell.
Xiang Ji is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Tulane University, affiliated with the School of Science & Engineering. His research focuses on statistical phylogenetics, computational biology, and bioinformatics, particularly in viral evolution and genomic epidemiology. He collaborates with Dr. Wu-Min Deng on cancer biology research from a bioinformatics perspective. Education: Ph.D., 2017: Bioinformatics and Statistics (Co-Major), North Carolina State University M.S., 2013: Material Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University B.S., 2011: Economics (Double Major) and Physics, Peking University Research Interests: Dr. Ji develops statistical models and computational tools for phylogenetic analysis, including scalable algorithms for large-scale genomic data. His work spans viral evolution, zoonotic disease surveillance, and parallel computing libraries for Bayesian inference. He emphasizes practical implementations such as Torchtree and TreeFlow . Articles Trends: Recent publications emphasize viral evolution dynamics (e.g., SARS-CoV-2, avian influenza), genomic surveillance strategies, and computational methods for phylogenetic inference. His work often bridges statistical theory with real-world applications in public health and epidemiology. Advising & Grants: While specific grant details are not listed, his active research program indicates involvement in funding initiatives related to computational biology and viral evolution. He teaches advanced courses in data analysis, linear models, and probability theory. Labs & Teams: Collaborates with Tulane’s Cancer Biology group and maintains partnerships with institutions globally, focusing on genomic epidemiology and phylogenetic software development.
Mona Singh is a Professor of Computer Science at Princeton University, with affiliations to the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics and the Department of Molecular Biology. She has been a faculty member since 1999. Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1995 A.B. and S.M. degrees in Computer Science from Harvard University Her research focuses on computational molecular biology, integrating machine learning and algorithms to analyze biological networks, protein interactions, and mutational impacts. Key areas include DNA/RNA binding prediction, protein structure analysis, and network-based disease gene discovery. Her recent work highlights trends in protein language models, kinase-substrate prediction, and equitable MHC binding algorithms. These span sub-fields like structural bioinformatics, network biology, and functional genomics. Scientific Awards: Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) Rheinstein Junior Faculty Award ACM Fellow (2019) ISCB Fellow (2018) She has taught an introductory computational biology course with Professor Coleen Murphy, covering sequence analysis, phylogenetics, and network reconstruction. Her group has developed tools like dPUC , nCOP , and DiffMut . Her lab collaborates with institutions including Carnegie Mellon, Duke University, and the Broad Institute, advancing applications in cancer genomics, metabolic disease, and precision medicine.
