Dr Tristen Jones is a Lecturer in the Master of Museum and Heritage Studies program at the University of Sydney, specializing in Australian Indigenous archaeology and heritage. Her work emphasizes rock art, cultural landscapes, material culture, and museum collections. Lecturer at University of Sydney PhD and MArchSci from Australian National University (ANU) Research Focus : Indigenous-led methodologies and collaborative partnerships with Australian Indigenous communities Rock art chronology, style, and social function in Arnhem Land Transformative potential of museum collections in disciplinary histories Material culture agency and cultural landscape analysis Scientific Awards : George Chaloupka Fellowship (2014) Australia Awards Endeavour Postdoctoral Fellowship (2017) National Geographic Society Research Award (2019) Key Projects : ARC Linkage Project (2020-2025) on Cape York Peninsula rock art Ubirr Rock Art Conservation (2020-2023) with Kakadu National Park International collaboration with University of Barcelona (2017)
Sairaj Dhople is the Oscar A. Schott Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Minnesota. His research focuses on renewable energy systems, particularly modeling and control of grid-connected inverters, power-system reliability, and distributed energy resources. University: University of Minnesota Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering Academic Rank: Professor His work spans power systems, power electronics, and control theory, with recent publications examining grid-forming inverters, stability analysis, and hybrid computing solutions for optimization problems. Key research themes include: Equivalent-circuit modeling for renewable systems Large-signal stability assessment inverter-based resources Grey-box system identification of power networks Interoperability standards for grid-forming technologies Scientific awards include the Institute for Advanced Study Faculty Fellowship (2018). Current projects funded by the National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of Energy explore analog/hybrid computing and universal interoperability for grid-forming inverters (UNIFI Consortium). His Dhople Research Group investigates power-system architecture and sustainability challenges.
Howard S. Neufeld is a Professor in the Department of Biology at Appalachian State University, with expertise in plant physiological ecology and air pollution impacts. His research focuses on ozone effects on native flora in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, water relations in plants, and invasive species ecology. Education Ph.D. from University of Georgia (1984) Neufeld's research examines plant responses to environmental stressors, particularly tropospheric ozone and water stress. His work on cutleaf coneflower, tall milkweed, and Galax urceolata has revealed critical insights into foliar injury mechanisms, antioxidant defenses, and seasonal adaptation strategies. He investigates how invasive species like Microstegium vimineum exploit light gaps and how hydraulic conductance affects plant drought tolerance. His publication record shows consistent focus on ozone impacts in southern Appalachian ecosystems, with recent work emphasizing seasonal variation in plant responses, stomatal behavior, and biochemical defense mechanisms. Key trends include the development of non-destructive monitoring techniques and spatial analysis of pollution effects across landscapes. Advising & Grants Directed 20 Master's theses on plant ecophysiology, invasive species, and pollution impacts Currently mentoring 7 graduate students on lichen nitrogen responses, heavy metal effects, and ozone physiology Funded by National Park Service, U.S. EPA, National Geographic Society, and Friends of the Smokies Collaborates with researchers from Auburn University, USDA, Oak Ridge, and international institutions Neufeld maintains active field research in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and operates laboratory facilities for gas exchange and plant stress analysis, with ongoing projects examining nitrogen deposition effects on lichens and nickel pollution impacts on pines.
Lisa Maher is a faculty member in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley, since 2012. She directs the Geoarchaeology and Southwest Asia Prehistory Laboratory, serves as Curator of Lithic Collections at the Hearst Museum of Anthropology, and is affiliated with the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Center for European Studies, and the University of Toronto’s Archaeology Center. Education: PhD in Anthropology from the University of Toronto (2005) Postdoctoral: Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada Postdoctoral Fellow (2005-2007), Arts and Humanities Research Council of Britain-funded Research Associate (2007-2011) Her research investigates Late Pleistocene hunter-gatherer societies in the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa, focusing on human-environment interactions, transitions to food production, and landscape archaeology. She explores how climate change, technological innovation, and social networks influenced sedentism, population aggregation, and mortuary practices through material culture analysis. Lisa’s recent publications address meat preservation techniques (2019), hut structures in Southwest Asia and Europe (2019), phytolith evidence for Neolithization (2016), and environmental dynamics in the Levant (2016). These works highlight her expertise in geoarchaeology, lithic analysis, and climate-society linkages over 20,000+ years. Scientific Awards: Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada Postdoctoral Fellow (2005-2007) Arts and Humanities Research Council of Britain-funded Research Associate (2007-2011) Lisa collaborates with institutions like the University of Toronto, University of Tulsa, and UNLV on projects in Jordan, Cyprus, and Hawaii. She contributes geoarchaeological expertise to regional studies in the Levant, Iran, and Kurdistan, emphasizing interdisciplinary methods and long-term landscape change.
Dr. Emma Pomeroy is an Associate Professor in the Evolution of Health, Diet and Disease at the University of Cambridge's Department of Archaeology. She is an active researcher with expertise spanning anthropology, archaeology, biological anthropology, and paleoanthropology. Her work combines human bioarchaeology with human biology and paleoanthropology, conducting research across South America, South Asia, Europe, and the Near East. Dr. Pomeroy's research focuses on understanding how past and present variation in human health, growth, and morphology is influenced by evolutionary processes including adaptation, neutral variation, and plasticity, as well as interactions with natural and social environments. Her specific interests in reproduction include the evolution and adaptation of the human pelvis, impacts of evolutionary and environmental factors on pelvic morphology and birth complications, and how early life conditions affect later growth and health which may influence birth complication risks. A significant portion of her recent work has investigated the evolutionary origins of low lean tissue mass among contemporary South Asians, which is implicated in elevated risk of type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases. Dr. Pomeroy leads important archaeological projects including serving as the paleoanthropologist at renewed excavations at Shanidar Cave in Iraqi Kurdistan since 2016, where her team has made significant new Neanderthal discoveries. She also co-directs the Old St Bernard's Hospital Project in Gibraltar with Dr. Kevin Lane and Professor Clive Finlayson, investigating health, diet, and migration among skeletons from a 16th-17th century mariner's hospital. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on human skeletal variation, Neanderthal studies, human adaptation, and the developmental origins of health and disease. Her work spans multiple geographical regions including the Americas, Europe, Mesopotamia and the Near East, and South Asia, examining periods from the Paleolithic through to contemporary populations. Dr. Pomeroy contributes to interdisciplinary research networks including Cambridge Reproduction, where she investigates the evolutionary aspects of human reproduction. Her methodological approaches integrate skeletal biology, archaeological science, and evolutionary theory to address fundamental questions about human variation and adaptation.
Farah Kamw is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Wayne State University. With a PhD in Computer Science (2019) from Kent State University, her expertise spans 18 years of software development, academic teaching, and research in information visualization and database management. Education : PhD (Kent State), MSc (University of Zakho), BSc (University of Baghdad) Her research focuses on Information Visualization and Visual Analytics of spatial-temporal data, particularly through 8 publications (2013-2021) addressing urban mobility patterns, trajectory analysis, and geospatial data integration. She has developed several open-source visual analytics tools including TrajAnalytics and SparseTrajAnalytics, applying both document and graph database techniques. Farah teaches core Computer Science courses such as Algorithm Design , Programming Languages , and Database Systems . Her technical skills include Python, C++, Java, SQL, NoSQL databases, and GIS technologies.
Arnab Nandi is a Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at The Ohio State University, with a courtesy appointment in Biomedical Informatics. He holds leadership roles including Steering Committee Member for the Human-in-the-Loop Data Analytics (HILDA) Workshop and has served as Workshops co-chair for SIGMOD 2025-26 and Demonstrations co-chair for SIGMOD 2024. His research focuses on bridging human interaction and data infrastructure, spanning database systems, human-in-the-loop data analytics, and next-generation query interfaces. Nandi's work emphasizes interactive data exploration through projects like DICE (Distributed Interactive Cube Exploration), GestureDB (Querying Beyond Keyboards), and Omni (Multimodal Data Exploration). His recent research explores integrating LLMs into database education, augmented reality interfaces for data analytics, and multimodal approaches to video querying. Nandi has received numerous honors including the NSF CAREER Award, Google Faculty Research Award, IEEE TCDE Early Career Award, and the University's Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching. He was also named to Columbus Business First's '40 under 40' and became an ACM Distinguished Member in 2024. As an educator, he teaches courses including CSE 3241 (Introduction to Database Systems), CSE 5242 (Advanced Database Systems), and CSE 5251 (Introduction to Software Startups). His educational innovations include DBTutor, which integrates LLMs into database systems education. At Ohio State, Nandi co-founded the OHI/O Program, which fosters tech culture through hackathons, and The STEAM Factory, an interdisciplinary research collaboration network. Prior to academia, he was founder and CEO of Mobikit, a connected vehicles data analytics startup acquired by Azuga Inc. (a Bridgestone company). His research has been supported by the NSF and industry partnerships, with applications spanning precision agriculture (CropFusion), clinical data pipelines (ICARUS), and interactive visualization systems (Perceptvis).
James H. Anderson is the Kenan Distinguished Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Computer Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he has been a faculty member since 1993. A leading researcher in real-time systems and distributed computing, he previously served at the University of Maryland (1990-1993). His educational background includes: B.S. in Computer Science from Michigan State University (1982) M.S. in Computer Science from Purdue University (1983) Ph.D. in Computer Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin (1990) Anderson's research focuses on real-time systems, distributed and concurrent algorithms, multicore computing, and operating systems. His work addresses fundamental challenges in scheduling, resource management, and reliability in time-critical environments, with recent emphasis on GPU acceleration for AI workloads and heterogeneous platforms. He investigates novel approaches to budget enforcement, processing graph scheduling, and timing predictability in complex systems. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward applying real-time scheduling principles to GPU and heterogeneous computing architectures. Key research thrusts include enabling predictable AI acceleration, managing timing uncertainties in autonomous systems, and developing composable resource partitioning techniques for safety-critical applications. His distinguished honors include: U.S. Army Research Office Young Investigator Award (1995) Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship (1996) Seven Computer Science Student Association Teaching Awards (1995-2019) Fellowships from IEEE (2012), ACM (2013), AAAS (2020), and AAIA (2022) IEEE TCRTS Outstanding Technical Achievement and Leadership Award (2018) Anderson actively mentors through the TOPICS Club, a reading group for undergraduate students that he co-leads with Cynthia Sturton and Danielle Szafir. His professional leadership includes chairing IEEE TCRTS (2016-2017) and ACM SIGBED (2019-2021), plus service as program/general chair for major conferences including RTSS, PODC, ECRTS, and RTAS. He directs ongoing research initiatives in real-time systems through collaborative projects and the TOPICS Club, which provides undergraduates with hands-on research experience in cutting-edge computer science topics.
Robert Vertes is a Professor at Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, based in Boca Raton (BS-12 521) with contact number 561-297-2362 and email rvertes@fau.edu. He holds a Ph.D. from The New School in New York, NY. Vertes's research centers on the midline thalamus (particularly nucleus reuniens and supramammillary nucleus) and its critical roles in learning, memory, affective behavior, and sleep-wake regulation . His work examines brainstem-diencephalic-septohippocampal systems controlling hippocampal EEG states (theta/non-theta), functional interactions between hippocampus-medial prefrontal cortex-ventral midline thalamus, and serotonergic systems of the brainstem. He actively challenges theories about sleep's role in memory consolidation. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals consistent focus on nucleus reuniens as a critical bridge between hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, with demonstrated roles in anxiety, spatial working memory, and attentional signaling during sleep. His methodology combines electrophysiology, anatomical tracing, and behavioral assays in rat models, increasingly incorporating Cre+ strains for serotonergic pathway studies. No scientific awards were documented in the source material. Vertes maintains active mentorship through co-authored publications with researchers including Linley, S.B. and Viena, T.D. His lab conducts NIH-relevant neuroscience using lesion studies, electrophysiological recordings, and behavioral paradigms to investigate thalamic contributions to cognition. Current work emphasizes serotonergic regulation of limbic thalamic nuclei in affective processing. The laboratory operates within FAU's College of Science, specializing in thalamic circuitry with particular expertise in nucleus reuniens physiology and its modulation of hippocampal-prefrontal networks during cognitive and emotional tasks.
Nessim Znaien serves as Assistant Professor of History of Colonial and Postcolonial Maghreb at Philipps University of Marburg's Center for Near and Middle Eastern Studies (CNMS) since 2022, where he heads the Maghreb Field of Expertise team. His academic trajectory spans French institutions including Aix-Marseille University and research roles at the French Research Institute on Contemporary Maghreb in Tunis. His educational background includes: PhD in History, Université Paris 1-Panthéon Sorbonne (2012-2017) with thesis 'The Grapes of domination. Social History of Alcohol in Tunisia under Protectorate (1881-1956)' MA in History, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon (2011-2012) CAPES in History (2009) Bachelor’s degree in Modern Standard Arabic, Aix-Marseille University (2014-2018) University degrees in Italian (B2) and Turkish (B1) from Aix-Marseille University (2018-2021) Znaien's research centers on 19th-20th century North African history through material and food studies, examining colonial societies' structures and Tunisian historiography. His work uniquely bridges alcohol history with broader socio-economic patterns, revealing how substances like wine, bread, and harissa became sites of colonial control, cultural resistance, and identity formation. This approach illuminates the intersection of environmental, economic, and cultural forces in Mediterranean colonial contexts. His extensive publication record demonstrates consistent thematic focus on colonial North Africa's social history, with recurring analysis of alcohol systems, food economies, and material culture. The work shows sophisticated methodological integration of environmental history, economic anthropology, and postcolonial theory, particularly examining how colonial policies reshaped local consumption patterns and production systems across Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco. No scientific awards are documented in the provided materials. Znaien actively contributes to academic infrastructure through research leadership and peer review. He coordinated a €30,000 Foundation for Research on Alcoholism project (2014-2019) on 'Alcohol under the French Empire,' participated in ERC's TARICA project (2017-2020) analyzing post-Arab Spring North Africa, and contributed to the French 'Bourgeon Project' (2017-2019) on Muslim world alcohol histories. He serves on scientific boards for L'Année du Maghreb and the Digital Encyclopedia of European History, while reviewing for journals including Journal of Medical History and Journal of North African Studies. As head of the Maghreb Field of Expertise team at CNMS, Znaien directs research on contemporary North African societies while maintaining strong connections to Tunisian academic networks through his editorial roles and ongoing historiographical analyses of post-revolutionary Tunisia.
Paolo Prandoni is a Lecturer at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in the School of Computer and Communication Sciences (IC). He serves as a Scientist in the Audiovisual Communications Laboratory (LCAV) and teaches in the SSC-ENS and SIN-ENS units, focusing on signal processing theory and practical applications in audiovisual communications. He earned his PhD from EPFL after completing all prior education there, driven by childhood fascination with long-distance telephony. His doctoral work established foundations in communication systems that continue to inform his research. Prandoni's research spans audio/image processing, machine learning for media analysis, and DSP education. Key areas include computational photography (e.g., spectral imaging, stained glass rendering), speech quality assessment via transfer learning, music information retrieval (e.g., fingering prediction), and audience analytics through his company Quividi. His work consistently bridges theoretical signal processing with real-world implementation. Recent publications reveal a strategic shift toward machine learning integration in signal processing tasks, particularly non-intrusive speech assessment and lensless imaging reconstruction. Simultaneously, he advances DSP pedagogy through MOOC development and hands-on teaching tools using off-the-shelf hardware, emphasizing accessibility and practical skill development. No scientific awards are documented in the provided materials. He has advised PhD student Thanikachalam Niranjan (thesis: Image Based Relighting of Cultural Artifacts , 2016) and teaches Communication Systems and Computer Science courses. His educational impact extends through the open-access textbook Signal Processing for Communications (2008) and tools like MultiPub for maintainable online classes. Industry engagement includes Quividi co-founding (2006) and ongoing CSO role in attention analytics. As a core LCAV laboratory member, he collaborates on interdisciplinary projects including cultural heritage digitization, embedded signal processing systems, and real-time audience measurement, leveraging EPFL's infrastructure for both academic and commercial applications.
Christopher Morton is a Professor of Museum Anthropology at the University of Oxford and Deputy Director at the Pitt Rivers Museum, where he leads Curatorial, Research and Teaching. He is a Fellow of Linacre College, the Royal Historical Society, and the Royal Anthropological Institute. His work bridges visual and material culture, museum studies, and ethnographic research. Education: MA, MSt, DPhil in Social and Cultural Anthropology from St Antony’s College, Oxford (1995–2002) Morton’s research focuses on ethnographic photography , cultural heritage , and museum practices , emphasizing collaboration with communities in Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. He explores how photographs and objects in museum collections shape historical narratives and engage modern audiences. His recent publications examine rephotography techniques , 19th-century photographic exchange , and historical presence in museum displays . Themes include postcolonial critique, digital curation, and the role of archives in community reconnection. Scientific Awards: Fellow of the Royal Historical Society; Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute with Council service (2016–18) Morton leads the AHRC-funded ‘Making the Museum’ project and contributes to editorial boards for Visual Anthropology and the Journal of the Anthropological Society of Oxford . His work integrates public engagement and cross-cultural collaboration into museum practice.
Daniel Lord Smail is the Frank B. Baird, Jr. Professor of History at Harvard University , specializing in Mediterranean societies (1100-1600) and deep history. His work bridges history, anthropology, and neuroscience. Academic Affiliation: Department of History, Harvard University Key Research Areas: Legal history, material culture, neurohistory, Mediterranean studies, historical anthropology Recent Publications examine: Archival methodologies in debt collection (Lucca/Marseilles) Cognitive approaches to historical behavior Mediterranean urban economies Temporal patterns in human history Scientific Awards include: Guggenheim Fellowship Radcliffe Institute Fellowship Doctor of Arts honoris causa (Universiteit Antwerpen, 2023) Known for pioneering neurohistory and deep history frameworks, Smail integrates evolutionary biology and cognitive science into historical analysis. His current research explores a 15th-century North African woman's self-manumission narrative.
Nathalie Burlone is a Full Professor in the School of Political Studies at the University of Ottawa, specializing in the Public Administration program. Her office is located in FSS7006 with contact number 613-562-5800 extension 2242. She teaches core courses including PAP6511 (Public Policy Theory), PAP9711 (Public Policy), and doctoral seminars in policy analysis. Her educational credentials include: Ph.D. in Public Administration, École nationale d'administration publique (2001) M.A. in Public Policy Analysis, Université Laval (1991) B.A. in Psychology, Université McGill (1989) Professor Burlone's research centers on discourse analysis of policy construction in emotionally charged domains, particularly medical aid in dying, end-of-life care, family policy, and social policy. She examines how narratives frame value-laden decisions and policy evolution, employing qualitative and visual methodologies to dissect the interplay between morality, rationality, and governance structures in public issue formation. Her publication pattern (2007-2020) reveals consistent focus on policy framing mechanisms in contentious areas, especially Canada's medical assistance in dying legislation. She analyzes how competing narratives shape policy development through discourse analysis, bridging theoretical public policy concepts with practical governance applications. Her work increasingly connects community partnership models with policy implementation frameworks. Scientific Awards: No scientific awards documented in source materials She currently supervises six doctoral candidates including Sharma Aurelien (2026 completion), Sarah Borbolla Garcés (2025), and Véronique LeBlanc (2024), guiding research on policy framing in end-of-life and family policy contexts. Her academic leadership extends to co-directing Revue Gouvernance (2015-2025), where she shapes scholarly discourse on Canadian governance. As co-director of Revue Gouvernance since 2015, she leads Canada's premier French-language journal on public policy and governance, fostering academic exchange on policy framing and institutional analysis within Francophone scholarly networks.
Nvard A. Melkonyan serves as an Associate Professor within the Department of Social Work and Social Technologies at Yerevan State University's Faculty of Sociology, where she has established herself as a leading researcher in Armenian socio-political communication dynamics. Her academic profile reflects deep engagement with contemporary societal transformations, particularly through the lens of digital media and political discourse in post-Soviet contexts. Her research program centers on Political Communication , Digital Media , and Social Technologies , with specialized expertise in internet meme culture, Velvet Revolution branding, and immigrant integration patterns. She examines how visual communication shapes public opinion during crises, with significant contributions to understanding behavior change during the COVID-19 pandemic and ethical challenges in digital public relations. Her work consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with Armenia's unique geopolitical position, analyzing European identity perceptions among youth and Russia-West cultural tensions. Recent publication trends reveal a strategic shift toward urgent socio-political issues: 40% of her 2022-2025 output addresses migration flows following the Russian-Ukrainian war, while 30% focuses on digital ethics in public relations. Her methodological approach combines discourse analysis with behavioral studies, frequently collaborating with scholars like Yuliana Melkumyan on transnational projects. This interdisciplinary trajectory positions her work at the intersection of sociology, political science, and communication studies. Though no formal advising relationships or scientific awards are publicly documented, her extensive co-authorship network indicates active research team participation. Current projects appear focused on hate speech dynamics in Armenian media and soft power mechanisms in cinematic representations of military institutions, suggesting continued relevance to evolving regional security challenges.
