Yunxiang Yan is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His work focuses on China and Cultural Anthropology , with specific expertise in Economic Anthropology , Family and Kinship , and Individualization . Education: Ph.D. in Social Anthropology from Harvard University (1993). Yan’s research explores the intersection of social change , moral theory , and family dynamics in modern China. His ethnographic studies in rural villages provide foundational insights into exchange theory and cultural globalization . Recent publications analyze food safety , medical ethics , and moral crises in China, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach combining anthropology, sociology, and philosophy. Articles span themes like intergenerational intimacy , political oppression , and networked social structures . Scientific Awards: Guggenheim Fellowship Levenson Prize-winning Research Yan’s work bridges local Chinese studies with global anthropological discourse. He has held positions at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Johns Hopkins University, and UCLA since 1996. His career reflects a commitment to documenting the lives of ordinary people, rooted in his early experiences as an expelled villager during Maoist China. Contact: yan@anthro.ucla.edu
Haiyan Lee serves as the Walter A. Haas Professor of the Humanities and Professor of East Asian Languages and Cultures and of Comparative Literature at Stanford University. She has held these positions since joining Stanford in 2009, and currently serves as Chair of the East Asian Languages and Cultures department (2020-present). Her academic journey includes previous teaching appointments at the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of Hong Kong, along with post-doctoral fellowships at Cornell University and Harvard University. Lee's research spans multiple interdisciplinary fields with particular focus on modern Chinese literature and cultural production. Her work bridges literary studies with law, philosophy, cognitive science, affect theory, gender studies, and environmental humanities. She has developed influential theoretical frameworks including the concept of "high justice" and "low justice" in Chinese legal imagination. Her current research explores animism, cognition, and the Chinese environmental imagination, extending her longstanding interest in human-animal relations. Lee's publications reveal a consistent trajectory examining Chinese cultural production through innovative theoretical lenses. Her recent work shows increasing engagement with legal theory, environmental humanities, and cognitive approaches to literature. She has produced significant scholarship on Chinese concepts of justice, love, and the stranger, moving across historical periods from early 20th century to contemporary China. Biennial Book Prize, Honorable Mention, International Society for Chinese Law and History (ISCLH) (2024) Humanities Seed Grant, Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences (2023-2025) Bass Fellowship in Undergraduate Education, Stanford University (2022-2027) Joseph Levenson Book Prize, The Association for Asian Studies (2009) Professor Lee actively mentors doctoral students across multiple disciplines, serving as dissertation advisor, co-advisor, and committee member for students working at the intersection of Chinese studies, law, literature, and cultural theory. Her teaching includes courses across East Asian humanities, comparative literature, and interdisciplinary environmental studies. She has received significant research support including the Frederick Burkhardt Residential Fellowship from the American Council of Learned Societies and a residency at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences.
Michael Kremer is a University Professor in Economics at the University of Chicago, holding positions in the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, the College, and the Harris School of Public Policy. He is the 2019 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences for pioneering experimental methods to address global poverty. Kremer earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1992 and has been affiliated with the University of Chicago since 2020. His research focuses on development economics, field experiments, and policies impacting education, health, water, and agriculture in developing countries. He directs the Development Innovation Lab and leads the Development Economics Center at Chicago, emphasizing evidence-based solutions to poverty. Kremer’s work combines rigorous academic inquiry with practical policy applications, bridging theoretical economics and real-world interventions. Awarded the MacArthur Fellowship in 1997 and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences since 2003, Kremer’s contributions have shaped modern development economics. He has collaborated extensively with institutions worldwide, advocating for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate social programs. His interdisciplinary approach integrates insights from economics, public policy, and experimental methods, fostering global partnerships to combat poverty effectively.
Ronald E Hutton is Professor of History in the Department of History (Historical Studies) at the University of Bristol, specializing in Early Modern Studies. He is a member of the 'Medieval and Early Modern Cluster' at Bristol and holds multiple prestigious fellowships including FBA (Fellow of the British Academy), FLSW (Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales), FSA (Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries), and FRHistS (Fellow of the Royal Historical Society). Hutton is a leading authority on the history of the British Isles in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, ancient and medieval paganism and magic, and the global context of witchcraft beliefs. He is recognized as the foremost historian of the ritual year in Britain and of modern paganism. His research interests span the political and religious history of the British Isles (1560-1690), seasonal festivals of the British Isles, and themes in the history of paganism, witchcraft and magic from prehistory to the present. Hutton's extensive publication record includes 142 research outputs comprising 85 journal articles, 29 book chapters, 19 authored books, and 5 conference contributions. His work demonstrates consistent focus on witchcraft, paganism, religious traditions, and British cultural history, with recent publications examining topics like the Wild Hunt legend, pagan survivals in Christianity, and Welsh political and religious history during the revolutionary period. Fellowship of the British Academy (2013) Fellowship of the Learned Society of Wales (2011) Hutton currently supervises twenty-two research students, fifteen of whom are working toward PhD degrees, and welcomes new research proposals in his areas of expertise. His activities include extensive conference participation (15 conference appearances), invited talks (8), advisory work, public talks, and media engagement. He previously led the research project 'THE IMAGE OF THE DRUID IN BRITAIN 1500-2000' (2003-2006) as Principal Investigator.
Beth Piatote is an Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkeley. She holds a PhD in Modern Thought and Literature from Stanford University and is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (Nez Perce). Her work bridges scholarly and creative realms, focusing on Indigenous literature, law, language revitalization, and cultural studies. Education: PhD in Modern Thought and Literature (Stanford University). Research interests include Native American legal systems, Nez Perce language preservation, global Indigenous literatures, and creative writing. She co-founded and chairs Berkeley’s Designated Emphasis in Indigenous Language Revitalization and directs the Arts Research Center, where she leads the Indigenous Poetics Lab. Her publications include Domestic Subjects: Gender, Citizenship, and Law in Native American Literature (2013) and the short story collection The Beadworkers (2019), which received multiple literary recognitions. Her plays Antíkoni and Tricksters, Unite! explore Indigenous narratives through performance. Awards include MLA honorable mentions, PEN/Bingham Prize longlistings, and a 2020 Playwrights Retreat win. Current projects involve a scholarly monograph on sensory representations of Indigenous law and creative works in poetry and essays.
Wendelin Werner is a renowned mathematician and currently the Rouse Ball Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge (since 2023). Previously, he held professorships at ETH Zürich (2013–2023) and the University of Paris-Sud in Orsay (1997–2013). His research focuses on probability theory, mathematical physics, and complex analysis, particularly Schramm-Loewner evolution and conformal invariance. He has received prestigious awards, including the Fields Medal (2006), SIAM George Pólya Prize (2006), and Fermat Prize (2001). His work bridges stochastic processes and geometric structures, with implications for statistical mechanics and critical phenomena. Werner studied at the École Normale Supérieure (1987–1991) and earned his PhD from Université Paris VI under J. F. Le Gall (1993). Early career positions included postdoctoral research at Cambridge (1993–1995) and roles at CNRS (1991–1993, 1995–1997). His academic contributions span stochastic geometry, critical systems, and random curves, with seminal papers on loop measures, percolation, and SLE. He has delivered major lectures globally, including at the International Congress of Mathematicians (IMC 2006) and the College de France's Cours Peccot. Werner’s honors include membership in the French Academy of Sciences (2008), the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy (BBAW), and the German National Academy Leopoldina. He is also an honorary fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge (2009). His research has advanced understanding of universal scaling limits in two-dimensional models, earning recognition as a leader in probability and mathematical physics.
Luke J Davies is a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow in the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Oxford. His research focuses on Kant’s moral and political philosophy, particularly exploring the interplay between duties to self and the legitimate role of the state. He previously held a fellowship in the Department of Government at the London School of Economics (2018–2022). Education: PhD in Philosophy, University of Oxford (2014–2019) BPhil in Philosophy, University of Oxford (2012–2014) BA in Philosophy, University of Toronto (2006–2011) His research interests include Kantian ethics, political philosophy, rights theory, and the philosophical foundations of state legitimacy. Current work examines how duties to self shape interpersonal moral obligations within Kantian frameworks. Key Themes in Publications: Recurring topics include Kant’s theories of property, citizenship, welfare, and cosmopolitanism, with a focus on reconciling individual autonomy with collective moral obligations. Recent work extends to the state of nature, cosmopolitan law, and active citizenship in republican frameworks. Awards: Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship (2022–2025) His academic trajectory combines rigorous engagement with Kantian texts and contemporary applications of classical philosophy to political and ethical dilemmas.
Victor Chestopal serves as Professor of Piano and Chairman of the Keyboard Section at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels since 2020, with concurrent professorship at Italy's Accademia Perosi. A globally recognized performer, he has collaborated with orchestras including the Moscow Philharmonic and Helsinki Philharmonic, and performed at venues like Brussels' Palais des Beaux-Arts and Moscow Conservatoire. His educational background includes: Early training at Moscow's Gnessin Music School and Central Music School of the Tchaikovsky Conservatoire Master's degree from Sibelius Academy (2001) Doctor of Music from Sibelius Academy (2010) with thesis "Temporal correlation in the Goldberg Variations" Studies at Imola's Accademia Pianistica (1992-1997) and Weimar's Hochschule für Musik (1995-1997) Chestopal's research integrates performance practice with musicological analysis, focusing on structural interpretation of Baroque and Romantic repertoire. His scholarly work examines temporal relationships in canonical piano works, while his artistic output spans Early Music, Contemporary Theatre, and Jazz Education. As a multilingual poet publishing in Russian, Italian, and French, he bridges musical and literary arts through collections like "Anno" (2014) and "Poeticheskie dnevniki" (2018). His honors include: First Prize at the “Carlo Soliva” International Competition (1990) As an educator since 2007, Chestopal conducts annual masterclasses in Liège and serves on international competition juries. He actively mentors students across European conservatories while leading charity initiatives for organizations including "Save the Children" and "Mary's Meals", often performing benefit concerts for humanitarian causes.
Harris H. Wang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Systems Biology and Department of Pathology and Cell Biology at Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he also serves as Interim Chair of Systems Biology. He is affiliated with the Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics (C2B2) and the Integrated Program in Cellular, Molecular and Biomedical Studies (CMBS). B.S., Physics and Mathematics, MIT Ph.D., Biophysics, Harvard University Dr. Wang's research lies at the intersection of systems and synthetic biology, focusing on developing foundational technologies for genome engineering, microbiome manipulation, and synthetic genomics. His lab pioneers methods such as MAGE, MAGIC, CAST, and CAMII to enable high-throughput genetic manipulation, in situ microbiome engineering, and AI-driven microbial culturomics. Key research themes include understanding microbial community dynamics, engineering cellular memory systems, designing biocontained genetic circuits, and applying synthetic biology to human health challenges in personalized medicine and infectious disease. His recent publications reveal a strong trend in spatial and functional metagenomics, CRISPR-based microbiome editing, and synthetic biology tools for data storage and genetic stability. The articles span high-impact journals like Nature , Science , and Nature Biotechnology , reflecting his leadership in developing scalable, programmable biological systems. Scientific Awards: NIH Director’s Early Independence Award Forbes 30 Under 30 in Science Sloan Research Fellowship NSF CAREER Award ONR Young Investigator Award Burroughs Wellcome Fund PATH Award Schaefer Scholar Blavatnik National Award Vilcek Prize PECASE Dr. Wang has advised numerous PhD and postdoctoral researchers, many of whom have gone on to independent scientific careers. His lab is supported by major grants from NIH, NSF, DARPA, DOE, and foundations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and CZ Biohub NY. He is actively involved in educational initiatives, including organizing Columbia’s iGEM team and the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Synthetic Biology course. The Wang Lab is based at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center and is part of national consortia such as the Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC) and the Genome Project-Write (GP-Write) initiative. The lab develops and applies cutting-edge technologies in automation, machine learning, and synthetic biology to engineer microbiomes for applications in medicine, global health, and climate change.
Emily C. Bartels is a Professor of English at Rutgers University specializing in early modern literature and culture, with particular expertise in Shakespearean and non-Shakespearean drama. She has served as director, and is now dean, of the Middlebury Bread Loaf School of English since 2010, a summer Master's program designed for K-12 English teachers. Professor Bartels received her BA from Yale University and both her MA and PhD from Harvard University. Her academic background positioned her to become a leading scholar in Renaissance literature studies. Her research examines questions of race, cross-cultural relations, gender, genre, and performance in early modern English drama. Professor Bartels is renowned for her groundbreaking work on Shakespeare's Othello and Christopher Marlowe's plays, analyzing how these texts represent cultural and racial difference. She has significantly contributed to postcolonial approaches to early modern literature, revealing how English drama engaged with global encounters and representations of the 'other' during the Renaissance period. Her scholarship demonstrates how early modern writers both reflected and shaped contemporary attitudes toward difference, particularly regarding race, religion, and national identity. Professor Bartels' publications reveal a consistent scholarly trajectory examining racial and cultural representation in early modern England. Her work spans from detailed analyses of specific plays like Hamlet and Julius Caesar to broader studies of how England conceptualized Africa and non-Christian cultures during the Renaissance. A recurring theme throughout her career is the analysis of how early English drama both reflected and shaped contemporary attitudes toward difference, particularly regarding race, religion, and national identity. Roma Gill Prize for Best Work on Christopher Marlowe (1993-94) for Spectacles of Strangeness: Imperialism, Alienation, and Marlowe Board of Trustees Fellowship for Scholarly Excellence (1993) School of Arts and Sciences Award for Distinguished Contributors to Undergraduate Education (2008 & 1993) Warren I. Susman Award for Excellence in Teaching (2008) Solmsen Fellowship at the Institute of Research in the Humanities, University of Wisconsin (1995) Black Atlantic Project fellowship from the Rutgers Center for Historical Analysis Professor Bartels has demonstrated exceptional commitment to both research and teaching excellence. She has developed innovative courses exploring the intersections of literature, history, and cultural studies, including undergraduate seminars on Othello and Hamlet, and graduate courses on Shakespeare Page and Stage. Her administrative role as dean of the Middlebury Bread Loaf School of English demonstrates her commitment to education beyond traditional university settings. Her fellowships from prestigious institutions indicate successful grant acquisition throughout her distinguished career. Professor Bartels has been actively involved with the Shakespeare Association of America and has collaborated with international scholars like Emma Smith of the University of Oxford. Her work has positioned her at the forefront of conversations about early modern literature, race studies, and postcolonial approaches to Renaissance drama, influencing how scholars understand the intersections of literature, race, and cultural identity in the early modern period.
Dr. Camila Aquino serves as Assistant Professor in both the Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine, and is a Full Member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute. As Medical Director of the Deep Brain Stimulation Program, she specializes in Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, and chorea management, including EMG-guided botulinum toxin injections. Her educational background includes: M.D. in Medicine from Escola Superior de Ciencias da Santa Casa (2005) M.S. in Neurosciences from Federal University of Sao Paulo (2012) Ph.D. in Neurosciences from Federal University of Sao Paulo (2019) M.S. in Health Research Methods, Clinical Epidemiology from McMaster University (2020) Dr. Aquino's research addresses unmet needs in movement disorders through innovative clinical trial designs for Parkinson's disease, focusing on precision-medicine approaches, early intervention, and outcome optimization. She actively evaluates neuromodulation therapies including Deep Brain Stimulation, Spinal Cord Stimulation, and MRgFUS, with emphasis on expanding indications and improving patient outcomes. As an International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society member, she chairs the web-based learning committee and serves on evidence-based medicine and outcome measure committees. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2021-2025) reveals a cohesive research trajectory centered on Parkinson's disease management, with dominant themes in motor fluctuation treatments, deep brain stimulation methodology, and clinical trial innovation. Her work bridges fundamental clinical practice guidelines with advanced neuromodulation technologies, demonstrating consistent commitment to evidence-based solutions for movement disorders. Her scientific recognition includes: Parkinson Canada research grant Mohammed Al Zaibak Foundation scholarship CAPES scholarship from Brazilian Ministry of Education Dr. Aquino has secured significant research funding supporting clinical trials in Parkinson's disease neuroprotection and neuromodulation therapies. While specific student advisees aren't listed, her leadership of the DBS Program and active clinical trial portfolio indicate substantial mentorship responsibilities. Her grant portfolio emphasizes translational research with direct clinical impact. She directs the University of Calgary's Deep Brain Stimulation Program and contributes to the MRI-guided focused ultrasound initiative. Through her International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society committee roles, she shapes global educational standards and evidence-based practices in movement disorders.
Professor Maria Craig is a distinguished academic and researcher at the University of New South Wales, Faculty of Medicine & Health, specializing in childhood diabetes research. She holds a prominent position as a Professor with extensive contributions to the field of pediatric endocrinology and diabetes, particularly focusing on type 1 diabetes in children. Professor Craig's educational background includes: MB BS from the University of Melbourne MMedSc(ClinEpid) from the University of Newcastle PhD from the University of Sydney FRACP (Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians) Professor Craig's research primarily focuses on childhood diabetes, with special emphasis on prediction and prevention of type 1 diabetes. She has a significant interest in the association between viruses and type 1 diabetes, collaborating with the Virology Research Group at Prince of Wales Hospital (POWH). Together with Professor Bill Rawlinson, she leads the viral theme for the multicentre ENDIA study (endia.org.au). As principal investigator for the CoRD trial, she is conducting a world-first phase 1 study using autologous cord blood for prevention of type 1 diabetes in children with islet autoimmunity. Additionally, she serves as principal investigator for the Australasian Diabetes Data Network (ADDN). Her research portfolio also encompasses the epidemiology of various forms of childhood diabetes (type 1, type 2, cystic fibrosis related diabetes and monogenic diabetes) and diabetes complications, in collaboration with Professor Kim Donaghue at the Children's Hospital at Westmead. Professor Craig's extensive publication record, including over 361 journal articles, demonstrates her leadership in advancing our understanding of childhood diabetes. Her recent work shows increasing focus on early detection methods, risk prediction models, technological interventions for diabetes management, and the complex interplay between viral infections and autoimmune diabetes development. She has been instrumental in developing clinical practice guidelines through her role as co-editor of the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) guidelines. Professor Craig has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing her contributions to pediatric endocrinology and diabetes research: Australian Paediatric Endocrine Group Young Investigator's Award (1997) Asia Pacific Paediatric Endocrine Society Clinical Teaching Award (2008) Lifetime Honorary Member, Caring and Living as Neighbours (2013) Australian Diabetes Society Jeff Flack Diabetes Data Award (2019) Australian Paediatric Endocrine Group Norman Wettenhall Award for Research and Innovation (2019) Throughout her career, Professor Craig has demonstrated exceptional leadership in professional societies, having served as former president/treasurer of the Australasian Paediatric Endocrine Group (APEG) and currently as Scientific Convenor of the Asia Pacific Paediatric Endocrine Society Fellows school. Her work with the ENDIA study and Australasian Diabetes Data Network represents significant collaborative research efforts involving multiple institutions across Australia and internationally. Her principal investigator roles for major studies indicate substantial research funding support. Professor Craig leads several important research initiatives including the ENDIA study, the CoRD trial, and the Australasian Diabetes Data Network. These programs involve multidisciplinary teams of researchers, clinicians, and support staff working collaboratively to advance understanding and treatment of childhood diabetes. Her work at the intersection of virology and diabetes represents a unique and innovative approach to understanding the environmental triggers of type 1 diabetes.
Martin Procházka is Professor of English, American, and Comparative Literature at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague. He holds visiting roles at the University of Porto and the University of Kent, including Honorary Visiting Professor since 2021. His research spans Intercultural communication Romanticism Comparative literature Scottish literature American colonial literature , with a focus on authorship, adaptation studies, and the intersections of European Romanticism with Czech cultural contexts. Procházka's recent publications include the 2024 edited book From Shakespeare to Autofiction , which critically engages with Roland Barthes and Michel Foucault's theories of authorship, and the 2022 theoretical work on autopoietic systems and intercultural communication. His scholarship often bridges historical and contemporary debates, such as in the 2021 Romanticism and Periodisation roundtable. He has received the Comenius Medal (1992) for educational research and led the H2020 MSCA ITN European Joint Doctorate Migration and Modernity (MOVES) from 2018 to 2023. Procházka also served as President of the Czech Association for the Study of English (2004-2014) and on the Advisory Board of the International Association of Byron Societies (1999-2024). As founding editor of the Scopus-indexed journal Litteraria Pragensia , he has shaped academic discourse on literary theory and comparative studies. His work on Scottish Enlightenment and Czech modernist reception of William Blake highlights his interdisciplinary approach.
Hauke Smidt is a Personal Professor at Wageningen University & Research, affiliated with the Molecular Ecology group within the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences. His research focuses on microbial ecology, particularly gut microbiota dynamics, antibiotic resistance, environmental microbiology, and the One Health framework. Smidt has supervised over 50 PhD students and contributed to 519 publications, including studies on microbiome resilience, fermented food impacts, and bioremediation strategies. Education and affiliations include leadership roles in projects addressing antimicrobial resistance, pig health, and drinking water microbiology. His work spans collaborations across Europe and Asia, with notable contributions to understanding microbial community responses to environmental stressors and dietary interventions. Smidt is actively involved in public outreach, as seen in media contributions discussing microbiome research and health benefits. Key projects include aquifer treatment for drinking water, microbiome simulation models, and combating plant pathogens. His awards and recognition are not explicitly listed, but his extensive publication record and project leadership highlight significant academic impact.
Robert Ghrist is the Andrea Mitchell University Professor at the University of Pennsylvania with dual appointments in the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering. He serves as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education for Penn Engineering. His educational background includes a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toledo (1991), and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Applied Mathematics from Cornell University (1994, 1995). Ghrist's research bridges pure and applied mathematics, focusing on applied algebraic topology , dynamical systems , and geometric methods in data science. His work extends to network theory, topological data analysis, and computational geometry, with applications spanning robotics, neuroscience, and social dynamics. Key innovations include developing sheaf-theoretic approaches for networked systems and persistence homology techniques for high-dimensional data. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on lattice-theoretic frameworks , topological robotics , and network dynamics , with emerging applications in neural data interpretation and geometric computing. His research consistently integrates category theory with real-world engineering challenges. Significant scientific recognition includes: Presidential Early Career Award (PECASE, 2004) Scientific American 'Top 50' Research Leader (2007) Mathematical Association of America's Chauvenet Prize (2013) University of Pennsylvania Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching (2015) DoD National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellowship (NSSEFF, 2015) Ghrist leads multiple federally funded research initiatives supported by AFOSR, DARPA, NSF, and ONR. He directs the development of educational tools including the Calculus BLUE/GREEN Project video series and custom GPTs for mathematical pedagogy. His open online courses have reached over 100,000 learners globally.
