Gabriel Birzu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Florida. He develops quantitative models of microbial ecology and evolution using statistical physics approaches. His research investigates fine-scale diversity in microbial communities, examining how spatial processes shape evolutionary trajectories. Recent work analyzes hybridization barriers in cyanobacteria and genealogical patterns during range expansions. Birzu's interdisciplinary approach combines theory, computation, and data analysis to understand microbial diversification mechanisms and community responses to environmental perturbations.
Konstantinos Drakos is a Professor at the Department of Accounting and Finance, Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB). Previously, he served as Assistant Professor at AUEB (2009–2012), Assistant Professor at the University of Patras (2003–2008), and Lecturer at the University of Essex (2001–2002). He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Essex, preceded by an MSc and undergraduate studies in Economics at the University of Athens. His research focuses on Applied Financial Economics and the Economics of Security, with recent work analyzing hedge fund leverage, geopolitical risk impacts, cryptocurrency markets, and green banking. Teaching responsibilities include Macroeconomic Theory, Finance for Banking, and Risk Management at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Drakos' publications span over two decades, addressing topics such as terrorism's economic effects, bank lending behavior, and investment under uncertainty. His recent articles (2022–2025) emphasize cryptocurrency dynamics, geopolitical risk interactions, and financial stability in green banking. Notable themes include market volatility, capital allocation under uncertainty, and policy responses to systemic risks. No scientific awards are listed in the provided materials. His research has explored structural shifts in financial risk, macroeconomic sentiment, and cross-market linkages following major global events like 9/11 and the 2008 crisis. Drakos has advised on policy-related topics related to financial markets and regulatory frameworks, though specific grants or lab affiliations are not detailed here.
Maurizio Dallocchio is a Full Professor of Corporate Finance at Bocconi University and SDA Bocconi School of Management. He served as Dean of SDA Bocconi (2003–2007) and has held leadership roles in academic and professional institutions, including Chair of the Audit Committee of the European Investment Bank (EIB). His research focuses on corporate valuation, mergers & acquisitions (M&A), and sustainable finance. Dallocchio founded DGPA & Co., a corporate finance consultancy, and advises public and private entities globally. He has taught at leading institutions like London Business School and NYU Stern School of Business. Educational Background: Ph.D. in Business Administration, Bocconi University Advanced studies at London Business School and New York University Stern School of Business Research Interests: Prof. Dallocchio’s work emphasizes corporate restructuring, ESG integration in finance, and strategic valuation methodologies . Recent studies explore environmental performance in emerging markets and the resilience of conglomerates during economic crises. He advocates for sustainable investment strategies that balance financial returns with societal impact. Professional Engagements: Board member roles at Klepierre Management, General Finance, and Podravska Banka Past Director of the Master in Corporate Finance program at SDA Bocconi Labs/Teams: Leads research initiatives at Bocconi’s Corporate Finance and Real Estate Department, collaborating with global institutions on projects involving corporate governance, M&A analytics, and sustainable development.
Prof Kulwant Singh is a Professor of Strategy and Policy at the NUS Business School, National University of Singapore. His research focuses on strategy, management, organizational behavior, applied economics, and business systems in regional and global contexts. He holds a permanent academic appointment since January 2022. Teaching philosophy emphasizes contextualizing content for Singapore/Asia-Pacific business environments through case studies and combining theoretical frameworks with practical applications. He prioritizes interactive seminars to enhance student engagement and theoretical understanding in strategy education. Research interests include corporate diversification strategies, political ties' impact, alliance portfolio management, institutional transitions, and innovation dynamics in emerging markets. His work bridges universal strategic theories with Asia-specific business practices. Award-winning contributions include developing teaching materials for regional business contexts and advancing understanding of strategic competition in complex environments. Active in academic leadership through conference organization and editorial roles in strategy research.
Philippe Mueller is a Professor of Finance at Warwick Business School (University of Warwick) and a leading researcher in macro-finance, international finance, and asset pricing. He previously held positions at the London School of Economics (2008–2017) and earned his PhD from Columbia University. His research focuses on factors driving asset prices, foreign exchange markets, corporate credit, and central bank policies. Mueller has published in top journals such as the Journal of Finance and Journal of Financial Economics , and his work on corporate bond pricing won the Fama-DFA Prize (2023). Education: PhD in Finance and Economics, Columbia University, 2008 MBF, Master of Science in Banking and Finance, Université de Lausanne, 2002 lic. rer. pol., Universität Bern, 1999 Research Interests: His primary research areas include asset pricing, financial econometrics, and international finance with a focus on fixed income markets, corporate credit provision, and monetary policy impacts. Recent work examines intraday foreign exchange patterns, central bank swap lines, and volatility dynamics in fixed income and currency markets. Teaching & Grants: Mueller teaches advanced courses in asset pricing and fixed income at Warwick. He has secured grants from the BA/Leverhulme Trust, BIS Research Fellowship, and INQUIRE Europe. His work is supported by collaborations with institutions like the Swiss National Bank and ECB. Awards & Recognition: Fama-DFA Prize for best asset pricing paper (2023) BIS Research Fellowship (2025–2027) Walter Wasserfallen Prize (2000) Professional Activities: He serves on programme committees for major finance conferences (EFA, WFA) and referees for top journals including Journal of Political Economy and Econometrica .
Alexandre RUBESAM is an Associate Professor at IÉSEG School of Management (France), specializing in Finance with a focus on asset pricing, financial econometrics, and quantitative trading. He holds a Ph.D. in Finance from Cass Business School (UK), an MSc in Statistics from the State University of Campinas (Brazil), and a Bachelor in Statistics from the same university. Education: Ph.D., Finance, Cass Business School, UK (2008) MSc., Statistics, State University of Campinas, Brazil (2004) Bachelor, Statistics, State University of Campinas, Brazil (2001) His research interests span behavioral finance, risk management, machine learning applications in finance, and portfolio optimization. Notably, he explores topics like market herding during crises, volatility forecasting, and the low-beta anomaly through behavioral lenses. Prof. Rubesam has authored influential papers on information transmission in financial markets, risk parity strategies, and the efficacy of linear models in volatility prediction. His work bridges theoretical finance with practical applications, such as developing machine learning-based portfolio construction methods for emerging markets. Awards: 2007 Dimitris N. Chorafas Foundation Prize 2006 Best Paper Award, Cass Business School His professional roles include Chief Risk Officer at Itaú-Unibanco (2013–2017) and Quantitative Researcher/Trader at Principia Capital Management (2009–2011). He is a member of LEM (Laboratory of Economics and Management) and teaches courses on financial programming, risk management, and portfolio analysis.
Jorge Lemus is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with a dual appointment in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and the College of Law. His research focuses on industrial organization, microeconomics, and the intersection of patent law with innovation policy. He holds a PhD in Economics and maintains affiliations in both economics and law schools, reflecting his interdisciplinary work. Key research interests include strategic patent examination processes, merger impacts on market competition, and design of contests and contracts in regulatory contexts. His work often addresses issues such as signaling in dynamic competitions, regulatory frameworks for innovation, and antitrust implications of patent settlements. Lemus has contributed to debates on topics like organizational disruption in the airline industry and the efficacy of post-grant patent opposition systems. Publications frequently explore empirical and theoretical dimensions of contests, patent litigation strategies, and regulatory outcomes. His work bridges economic theory with legal and policy analysis, particularly in areas affecting technological advancement and market dynamics. External collaborations and grants are not explicitly detailed in the provided texts, but his research website (https://sites.google.com/site/jorgelemuswebsite/) likely contains further details on ongoing projects and affiliations.
Dr. Giulia Donati is a Researcher at Eawag – Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, affiliated with the Department of Environmental Social Sciences. She holds a PhD from ETH Zürich and has extensive experience in conservation biology, inter/transdisciplinary research, and project management. Her work focuses on social-ecological systems, ecological connectivity, and biodiversity conservation in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Education: PhD (2016–2020, ETH Zürich), MSc (2013–2015, University of Lausanne), BSc (2010–2013, University of Lausanne). Notable roles include postdoctoral research on BlueGreenNet (2021–2024) and Connect-HDL (2020), and leadership in the Save Our Seas Foundation project (2019–2020). Research emphasizes social-ecological networks, blue-green infrastructure, and amphibian connectivity in human-dominated landscapes. Projects like BlueGreenNet and Connect-HDL integrate ecological modeling with stakeholder collaboration to enhance biodiversity. Her work bridges ecology, policy, and urban planning to address global conservation challenges. Publications span topics from clownfish genetics to urban biodiversity frameworks, reflecting interdisciplinary approaches. Active in science communication and policy-relevant research, she collaborates across sectors to foster sustainable solutions. Current affiliations include Eawag’s PEGO research group and the Department of Environmental Social Sciences.
Corrie Moreau is the Martha N. & John C. Moser Professor of Arthropod Biosystematics and Biodiversity at Cornell University, serving as Director & Curator of the Cornell University Insect Collection. She holds affiliations with the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the College of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on symbiotic factors driving speciation, adaptation, and diversification in insects, particularly ants. Moreau’s work integrates molecular methods, next-generation sequencing, and field-based research to study biodiversity across scales. Education: Ph.D. in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology from Harvard University (2007), M.Sc. in Biology from San Francisco State University/California Academy of Sciences (2003), B.S. in Biology from San Francisco State University (2000). Research Interests: Evolutionary patterns/processes, organismal biology, plant-animal interactions, chemical ecology, sustainability, and microbiome dynamics. Her lab (Moreau Lab) investigates ant-microbe symbioses, host-microbe interactions, and the role of symbioses in macroevolutionary processes. Recent work includes studies on ant phylogenetics, gut microbiome evolution, and the impact of invasive species on native ecosystems. Publications highlight her contributions to understanding ant evolution, microbial symbiosis, and biogeography. Grants include NSF-funded projects on ant genomics and symbiosis. She advocates for natural history collections and their role in biodiversity research and education.
Michael Groll serves as Professor and Chair of Biochemistry at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), where he leads structural biology and enzymology research with a focus on proteasome mechanisms and inhibitor development. His laboratory, located at the Ernst-Otto-Fischer-Str. 8 campus in Garching, maintains active collaborations in drug discovery for cancer and infectious diseases. His primary research domains include proteasome inhibition, enzyme catalysis, and natural product biosynthesis, employing X-ray crystallography, biochemical assays, and bioengineering to dissect molecular mechanisms. Recent work emphasizes AI-guided enzyme optimization, bacterial stress response targeting, and structural characterization of halogenation enzymes, reflecting interdisciplinary approaches bridging chemistry and biology. Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications reveals consistent innovation in proteasome-targeted therapeutics, with 15 high-impact papers featuring structural insights into enzyme-inhibitor complexes and biosynthetic pathways. Key trends include engineering megasynthetases for immunoproteasome inhibitors, optical control of protein degradation, and elucidating metal-dependent mechanisms in antibiotic biosynthesis. No scientific awards were documented in the provided source material. While specific grant details and student mentorship records were not disclosed, his extensive publication record indicates leadership in collaborative research projects involving structural biology and chemical biology methodologies. The Chair of Biochemistry under Prof. Groll operates as a hub for structural enzymology, housing facilities for protein crystallography, enzyme kinetics, and natural product characterization. His team actively contributes to TUM's research ecosystem through partnerships with pharmaceutical groups and international structural biology consortia.
Dr Isik Akin is a Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Finance at Bath Spa University and leads the Accounting Pathway. He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate modules including Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, Corporate Financial Management, and Quantitative Research Methods. Education: PhD in Accounting and Finance (Bath Spa University), PhD in Economics and Finance (Istanbul Gelisim University), MSc in Finance (University of the West of England), BSc in Mathematics (Trakya University) Professional Qualifications: Fellowship in Higher Education Academy, Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) His research focuses on Behavioral Finance , FinTech , Credit Risk Management , and Sustainable Finance . Recent publications analyze: Enterprise valuation dynamics (FTSE 100) Metaverse asset valuation frameworks Interconnected financial markets (stocks, commodities, crypto) Green investments in real estate He has secured significant international funding including the Connect4Innovation UK-Turkey partnership grant (2021-2022, £50,000) and coordinated EU projects like the Life-Long Learning Programme (2016-2017). Scientific Awards & Roles: Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) certified Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Advisory Board Member: Izlek Academic Journal, Metropolitan Business Review Editorial Board Member: International Journal of Economics and Financial Research His career spans multiple institutions including Worcester University and University of Arts London, with expertise in international finance, quantitative methods, and financial globalization.
Tim Jenkinson is a Professor of Finance at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. He holds dual roles as a Professorial Fellow at Keble College and a Research Associate at the European Corporate Governance Institute. His expertise spans private equity, IPOs, and institutional asset management, with a focus on empirical research leveraging unique industry data. Education: B.A. in Economics from the University of Cambridge, Thouron Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, DPhil in Economics from the University of Oxford. Research Interests : Tim’s work examines private equity performance persistence, IPO pricing dynamics, and regulatory impacts on financial markets. His studies have been published in top journals like Journal of Financial Economics and Management Science . Key Contributions : Director of the Oxford Private Equity Institute, founder of the Private Equity Research Consortium, and frequent keynote speaker at global finance events. His research has won major awards, including the Harry Markowitz Prize (2016) and Commonfund Prize (2015). Engagement & Teaching : Teaches entrepreneurial finance to MBA/EMBA students and runs the Oxford Private Equity Programme. Recognized with the 2014 'Best Elective Teacher' award. Also serves on valuation committees for Schroder British Opportunities Trust and Oxford University Endowment Management. Professional Roles : Partner at Oxera (economic consultancy), former UK Treasury Select Committee advisor, and expert witness in high-profile litigation. His work bridges academia and practice, influencing policy and industry standards. Labs & Initiatives : Leads the Oxford Private Equity Institute and collaborates with the Oxford-Hyundai Motor Group Foresight Centre. Active in shaping future research through the Private Equity Research Consortium.
Professor Wolfgang Wüster is a Professor in Zoology (Molecular Ecology) at Bangor University's School of Environmental and Natural Sciences. His research focuses on evolutionary biology, snake systematics, and venom toxicology, using snakes as model systems. He teaches courses in zoology and herpetology, including Arizona fieldwork and advanced herpetology modules. Education: PhD in Systematics of Asian cobras from the University of Aberdeen (1990). His research interests include the evolution of venom composition, species delimitation in snake complexes, warning signals, biogeography, and conservation genomics. He supervises postgraduate students in topics like European viper conservation and snake systematics. Recent publications highlight his work on snake venoms, taxonomy, and the impacts of climate change on reptile species. He collaborates globally, contributing to antivenom efficacy studies and venom evolution research. Professor Wüster has been involved in projects such as genomic studies of adders and the phylogeography of vipers. His work bridges molecular ecology with conservation, emphasizing practical applications in biodiversity preservation.
Dr. Yunfei Jiang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences at Dalhousie University's Faculty of Agriculture. Her research focuses on improving crop resilience to climate change and sustainable agronomic practices in Atlantic Canada, with expertise in agronomy, crop physiology, and environmental stress responses. She holds a Ph.D. in Plant Science from the University of Saskatchewan (2017), an M.Sc. from Dalhousie University (2013), and a B.Sc. in Horticulture from Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (2010). Her research includes evaluating enhanced efficiency fertilizers, biochar, and intercropping systems to enhance soil health and crop yields. She teaches courses such as AGRN2001 (Cereal-Based Cropping Systems) and PLSC2001 (Plant Propagation Techniques). Funding and awards details, along with her graduate students' projects, are available on her lab website at jiangdal.ca . Dr. Jiang is affiliated with professional organizations including the Nova Scotia Institute of Agrologists and the American Society of Agronomy. Her lab, the Agronomy and Crop Physiology (ACP) Lab, emphasizes sustainable agriculture and crop adaptation to environmental challenges. Contact her via email at yunfei.jiang@dal.ca or visit her lab's address: PO Box 550, Truro, NS B2N 5E3.
Lucas Paoli is a Researcher and Course Instructor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland. He leads the Paoli Lab (Microbiome Immunity and Ecology) within the Global Health Institute (GHI) under the School of Life Sciences (SV). His roles include scientific collaboration and teaching responsibilities in life sciences engineering. Paoli holds a PhD in Microbiome Research from ETH Zürich (2018-2023), an M.Phil. in Environmental Policy from the University of Cambridge (2017-2018), and an M.Sc. in Ecology and Evolution from École normale supérieure (2015-2017). Research Focus: His work bridges microbial immunity and ecology, investigating how microbes defend against viral infections across ecosystems like oceans and human microbiomes. Techniques include global-scale metagenomics and functional genomics to study immune strategies and ecological interactions. Key themes involve microbial community dynamics, viral defense mechanisms, and the impact of environmental factors on microbial immunity. Lab & Education: The Paoli Lab explores microbiome-immunity interactions with a focus on ecological contexts. Paoli supervises PhD students in Life Sciences Engineering. His research outputs span microbial ecology, metagenomic tool development, and marine microbiome studies. Contact: lucas.paoli@epfl.ch, AAB 1 39, +41 21 693 16 99.