Ravi Vakil is the Robert Grimmett Professor of Mathematics at Stanford University and the President of the American Mathematical Society (AMS). He specializes in algebraic geometry, with contributions to enumerative geometry, moduli spaces, intersection theory, and Schubert calculus. His research interests also extend to mathematics education and public outreach. He earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University under Joe Harris. Vakil is renowned for his book The Rising Sea: Foundations of Algebraic Geometry , set for publication by Princeton University Press in 2025. He co-founded MathOverflow and Proof School, and serves on editorial boards of journals like Algebra and Number Theory and Involve . His awards include the AMS Centennial Fellowship, Coxeter-James Prize, Sloan Fellowship, and the Chauvenet Prize for mathematical exposition. He has advised numerous Ph.D. students and is known for his dedication to teaching, receiving the Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching. Vakil actively participates in academic service, including roles on the AMS Board and the National Math Stars advisory board. His research explores foundational questions in algebraic geometry, often with connections to combinatorics and representation theory.
Yves Leterrier is a Senior Scientist and lecturer at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), where he has been a faculty member since 1993. He works in the Laboratory for Processing of Advanced Composites (LPAC) within the Institute of Materials at the School of Engineering. His academic career spans over three decades with significant contributions to sustainable materials science and polymer composite technologies. Senior Scientist, Laboratory for Processing of Advanced Composites (LPAC) Teaching roles in SMX and EDMX programs PhD program committee member for Materials Science and Engineering Author of over 300 technical articles including 145 peer-reviewed journal papers Leterrier's research focuses on sustainable materials and processes, particularly in polymer composites, multilayer and hybrid materials, photopolymerization and sol-gel processes, mechanics of thin films on polymers, and roll-to-roll process methods. His work bridges fundamental materials science with practical applications in flexible electronics, renewable energy, and sustainable packaging. He has pioneered techniques for creating bioinspired surfaces, diffusion-barrier coatings, and cost-effective manufacturing processes for advanced materials. His recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on water permeation monitoring in bioelectronic implants, fluorine-free superhydrophobic surfaces, and biobased composites using nanocellulose. His research shows a clear trajectory toward sustainable materials solutions with applications in medical devices, flexible electronics, and environmentally friendly packaging. The consistent theme across his work is the development of reliable, high-performance materials through innovative processing techniques and composite design. Leterrier actively contributes to the academic community through editorial roles, including serving on the editorial board of Applied Surface Science since 2012 and as Associate Editor for Frontiers in Materials since 2014. He coordinates EPFL's Minor on 'Engineering for Sustainability' and has been President of the EPFL Materials Science Library commission since 2000. His leadership extends to industry collaboration through multiple funded research projects. His current research portfolio includes significant projects such as BioPack (biobased packaging materials), FLEXCAN (flexible encapsulation of active implants), 3DP4PEACE (sustainable 3D printing), and DuPrintProtect (advanced manufacturing). Previously, he led projects including XinoCaps, UltraCeal, SUNLITE, and REFLEX, demonstrating consistent funding success across diverse materials science applications. He also serves on the board of the French Adhesion Society and has organized international symposia on materials and micro-technologies. Leterrier leads the Laboratory for Processing of Advanced Composites, where his team develops cutting-edge materials processing techniques. His work on photo-hyphenated methods, UV nanoimprint lithography, and electro-fragmentation analysis represents the laboratory's focus on innovative characterization and manufacturing approaches for advanced materials.
David Parker is Professor of Computer Science at the University of Oxford and a Tutorial Fellow at Trinity College. His research focuses on formal verification methods for checking system correctness, particularly quantitative verification techniques for probabilistic systems. As leader of the PRISM and PRISM-games projects, he develops tools for analyzing safety, reliability, and performance properties in complex systems. Current research explores verification of AI systems, robust decision-making under uncertainty, and multi-agent systems using stochastic games. His work bridges theoretical foundations with applications in autonomous systems, robotics, and healthcare technology. Recent publications demonstrate advancements in probabilistic temporal logic, robust policy learning, and bisimulation techniques for Markov models. These works consistently emphasize formal guarantees for safety-critical applications and novel approaches to model checking. ETAPS Test-of-Time Tool Award (2024) HVC Award (2016) Professor Parker mentors PhD students in verification, control synthesis, and AI safety, with research funded by ERC, EPSRC, and industrial partners. He serves on editorial boards for Formal Aspects of Computing and ACM Transactions on Autonomous Systems.
Prof. Bayu Jayawardhana is a Full Professor in Mechatronics and Control of Nonlinear Systems at the University of Groningen, affiliated with the Faculty of Science and Engineering. He leads the Jayawardhana Group focusing on opto-mechatronics and advanced nonlinear control theories. His roles include Director of Engineering and Scientific Director of the Engineering and Technology Institute Groningen. He holds editorial positions in journals like International Journal of Robust and Nonlinear Control and European Journal of Control . Education: PhD in Control and Power Group from Imperial College London (2006), M.Eng from Nanyang Technological University (2003), and B.Eng from Institut Teknologi Bandung (2000). Research interests span opto-mechatronics for high-tech systems, nonlinear control, and systems biology. Key projects include digital twins for energy optimization, control of ocean energy systems, and modeling of cryogenic actuators for telescopes. His work integrates AI and model-based methods for high-performance systems. Notable awards include the 2016 FSE Faculty Teacher of the Year Award and the Ben Feringa Impact Award (2020). He advises on ventures like Ocean Grazer B.V. and Sencilia B.V. Teaching includes graduate courses on nonlinear control, opto-mechatronics, and fitting dynamical models to data. His research labs include the Groningen Centre for Systems and Control and the Data Science and Systems Complexity Center.
Mark Pollicott is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Warwick, where he has held positions since 1992 and 2005. He previously served at Edinburgh, Porto, and Manchester Universities, including a Fielden Chair. His research focuses on Thermodynamic Formalism, Ergodic Theory, and Dynamical Systems, with applications to geometry, number theory, and fractal analysis. Pollicott earned his BSc (1981) and PhD (1984) in Mathematics and Physics from Warwick, under the supervision of William Parry. He has held prestigious fellowships, including Royal Society and ERC grants, and organized major programs at the Newton Institute, CIB-Lausanne, and ICERM. He serves on editorial boards for journals like Nonlinearity and Journal of Fractal Geometry . His research explores topics such as fractal dimensions, geodesic flows, and validated numerics. Notable contributions include studies on the Hausdorff dimension of Cantor sets and Bernoulli convolutions. He has supervised 19 PhD students and mentored 18 postdoctoral researchers. Recent grants include EPSRC funding for computational ergodic theory and dynamical zeta functions. His work bridges pure mathematics with applications in geometry, analysis, and number theory. Awards: ERC Advanced Grant, EPSRC Leadership Fellowship, Royal Society Fellowships, Jean Morlet Chair Grants: EPSRC (2019-2025, 2026-2030), ERC (2019-2025) Collaborations: Co-organized programs on Thermodynamic Formalism and Dynamics at CIRM and Warwick
David Kazanjian is a Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts & Sciences. He serves as Graduate Chair for the Comparative Literature and Literary Theory program (2024-25, 2026-2028), and has held prestigious fellowships including the Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton, 2026), Vartan Gregorian Center (NYPL, 2025), and Berlin Prize. His scholarship bridges transnational American studies, Armenian diaspora studies, political philosophy, and postcolonial theory. PhD in Rhetoric, University of California, Berkeley M.A. in Critical Theory, University of Sussex B.A. in Modern Thought and Literature, Stanford University Kazanjian's research examines dispossession through legal archives, transnational Armenian cultural politics, and 19th-century social movements. His work spans early American literature, Latin American colonialism, trauma theory, and Marxist analysis of freedom discourses. Recent publications address dispossession in colonial New England/Yucatán, Armenian diaspora representation, and improvisational freedom practices in the Atlantic world. His editorial roles include co-editing NYU Press's America and the Long 19th Century series and Social Text journal. 2022 Penn Provost's Award for Outstanding Mentorship of Ph.D. Students Berlin Prize, American Academy of Berlin As co-director of the Tepoztlán Institute for Transnational History of the Americas (2017-19) and affiliations with Penn's Gender & Sexuality Studies, Latin American Studies, and Middle East Center, Kazanjian fosters interdisciplinary scholarship. He teaches courses on capitalism theories, early American literature, and critical theory. His lab and collective work includes the Tepoztlán Institute and Social Text editorial collective, focusing on transnational historical methods and diasporic cultural analysis.
Professor Chengang Wang is Chair in International Business and Director of Research at the Department of Strategy and International Business, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham. He previously held academic positions at the University of Bradford, University of Surrey, and the University of Manchester, with over 17 years of service at Bradford where he served as Head of Research Centre and Director of PhD Programme. PhD in Economics, Aston University, 2003 Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice, University of Bradford, 2006 His research centers on the intersection of international business and innovation , particularly examining how firm internationalization influences innovation, knowledge spillovers, and green technology adoption. His recent work investigates eco-innovation in emerging markets, the role of digital economy policies, and institutional effects on innovation performance. He frequently studies Chinese and BRICS firms, focusing on outward FDI, intellectual property, and technology transfer. The analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward sustainability-driven innovation , with increasing emphasis on green innovation, environmental regulation, and digital policy impacts. His work combines international business theory with innovation economics, often using empirical methods to study real-world firm behavior in emerging economies. Key themes include knowledge spillovers from MNCs, the role of IPR regimes, and the interplay between institutional environments and firm strategy. His scientific recognition includes: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) He has contributed to major research projects funded by the UK’s DFID and China’s Natural Science Foundation and Ministry of Science and Technology. He has served on the editorial boards of Management and Organization Review and International Business Review . His teaching includes International Business Strategy, Business Economics, and Research Methods. Professor Wang leads research in his department and mentors PhD students in international business and innovation. He has published in top journals including Journal of International Business Studies , Research Policy , and Technological Forecasting and Social Change . He is actively involved in scholarly communities and contributes to advancing knowledge on international business dynamics in emerging economies, particularly China. His departmental leadership as Director of Research underscores his influence in shaping research strategy and academic excellence.
Fran Tonkiss is Professor of Sociology at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Department of Sociology. She is a key member of the Urban Sociology research cluster and teaches in the MSc City Design and Social Science programme, where she convenes a graduate course on Urban Inequalities. Her academic work bridges urban and economic sociology, with a strong focus on the social life of urban form and spatial divisions. Her research interests include urban inequalities, urban design and development, social and spatial divisions, and the socio-economic organisation of urban space. She explores how economic processes shape urban environments and how spatial arrangements reinforce or challenge social inequalities. Her work also extends into gendered urban space, informal economies, austerity urbanism, and the sonic dimensions of cities, reflecting a broad and interdisciplinary approach to urban life. The trends in her recent publications reveal a sustained engagement with critical urban theory, spatial justice, and the politics of urban form. Her articles frequently address themes such as gentrification, infrastructure, urban protest, and the gendering of public space, often with a comparative or global perspective. She contributes significantly to methodological discussions in qualitative research, particularly in discourse, content, and focus group analysis. Fran Tonkiss is a member of the editorial boards of the British Journal of Sociology , City , and Economy and Society , highlighting her influence in the field. While no specific scientific awards are mentioned in the text, her extensive publication record and editorial roles indicate high scholarly recognition. She supervises doctoral students in urban and spatial sociology, contributing to the next generation of scholars in the field. Though no grants are explicitly listed, her research output suggests active involvement in funded projects. She is part of a vibrant research environment at LSE, particularly within the Urban Sociology cluster, which fosters interdisciplinary collaboration on pressing urban issues.
Crina Damsa is a Professor at the Department of Education, University of Oslo. Her research focuses on collaborative learning, interdisciplinary learning, and the role of digital technologies (including AI) in knowledge work and education. She leads projects like Unpacking collaboration: Multimodal analysis and combined method designs and Learning Ecologies in Higher Education , and is involved in research groups such as HEDWORK and LIDA. PhD in Educational Research, University of Oslo (2013) MSc in Learning Design and Technology, Utrecht University (Netherlands) BA in Language and Literature, Babes-Bolyai University (Romania) Her work examines sociocultural and sociomaterial aspects of learning, with a focus on student-centered environments, design-based research, and multimodal learning analysis. She supervises PhD students and contributes to methodological advancements in learning sciences. Editorial roles: Area Editor for Learning in Context , member of editorial boards for journals like Journal of the Learning Sciences and Frontline Learning Research Projects: Academic Hospitality in Interdisciplinary Education (AHIE) , Digital Integration of Video Assessment (DIVA) , Digital Tracing of Collaborative Learning (DigiT) , Global Teacher Education (GatherED)
Kristian Lasslett is a Professor of Criminology at Ulster University , affiliated with the School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences and the Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences . He serves on the Executive Board of the International State Crime Initiative and co-founded UzInvestigations , a research center focused on transnational crime analysis. Research Focus: Criminogenic intersections of state and corporate power, elite criminality, land-grabbing, and decolonial theory Media Collaborations: BBC, The Guardian, Radio Free Europe Recent Research Trends include anti-corruption enforcement in Uzbekistan's telecommunications sector, land rights resistance in Bangladesh, and public value creation in forensic science. His work bridges criminology, political economy, and media activism. Scientific Awards: Distinguished Research Fellowship Award (2017) Justice Prize (2017) Editorial & Media Contributions: Joint Editor-in-Chief of State Crime Journal , producer of Ophir documentary, and director of The Colonial Syndrome web-documentary series.
Giuseppe Mingione is a Full Professor in the Department of Mathematical, Physical and Computer Sciences at the University of Parma, Italy. His research spans Calculus of Variations , Elliptic and Parabolic PDEs , and Nonlinear Potential Theory . He has delivered over 25 lecture series and 180+ invited talks globally. PhD in Mathematics, University of Naples Federico II (1999) Degree in Mathematics, University of Naples Federico II (1994) His work focuses on regularity theory for nonlinear PDEs, nonuniform ellipticity, and geometric analysis. Publications include breakthroughs in Schauder estimates, double phase problems, and nonlocal systems. He has received the Amerio Prize (2016) , Caccioppoli Prize (2010) , and Stampacchia Medal (2006) . Recent articles address nonuniform ellipticity, nonlocal PDEs, and gradient regularity. Awards include the Order of the Merit of the Italian Republic (2017) and Von Staudt Chair (2004) . He serves on editorial boards for international journals.
Christian Lundahl is Professor of Education at Örebro University, specializing in the history of assessments, evaluation, and Swedish educational research. His work focuses on internationalization of educational data, marketization of schools, and the role of PISA in policy debates. He leads the transnational research project The Global Laboratory – Torsten Husén and the Internationalization of Educational Research (funded by the Swedish Research Council) and co-edited books like Beyond PISA . Lundahl also developed Sweden’s first MOOC for teacher education and serves as scientific leader for the Open Parliament Laboratory (OPaL) . Research Interests : History of educational assessments and evaluations Transnational educational policy flows Marketization and computational analysis in education PISA data utilization and mis/trust Curriculum theory and policy Equity in grading and national tests Recent Trends in Publications include computational analytics in policy data, historical analysis of educational laboratories, and critiques of PISA’s political role. His 2025 articles examine sampling bias in parliamentary data and school marketization. Projects and Leadership : Principal investigator for The Global Laboratory (2020-2024) Co-developer of Sweden’s first MOOC for teacher training (2013) Scientific leader of OPaL – The Open Parliament Laboratory Visiting Professor at Humboldt University (2020)
Abayomi Baiyere serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Digitalization at Copenhagen Business School (CBS), where he conducts cutting-edge research at the intersection of digital technologies and organizational transformation. His work significantly contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals through digitally-enabled societal impact initiatives and has yielded 69 research outputs including high-impact publications in premier journals like Information Systems Journal and Information Systems Research . His research program focuses on: Digital transformation frameworks (notably the MIND framework for capability assessment) Platform design and governance mechanisms Smart service systems development Workplace transformation through digital subtraction logic Digital strategy implementation challenges Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2024-2025) reveals a strong theoretical grounding in institutional and practice-based perspectives, with increasing emphasis on ethical dimensions of digital transformation, AI implementation constraints, and methodological innovations in computational research. His work consistently bridges conceptual rigor with practical applicability for organizational leaders. Dr. Baiyere actively shapes academic discourse through editorial roles including co-editing The Routledge Companion to Management Information Systems (2025) and organizing key events like the African IS Paper Development Workshop (2020). His public engagement includes 6 media contributions discussing digital workplace transformation and strategic implementation challenges, demonstrating commitment to translating research into practical insights for broader audiences. Within CBS, he has supervised 8 academic works while contributing to the department's international recognition in digitalization research. His activities reflect deep engagement with both theoretical advancement in information systems and practical solutions for organizational digital maturity.
Prof. Dr. Rachid Ouaissa serves as University Professor and Head of the Department of Middle Eastern Politics at the Center for Near and Middle Eastern Studies (CNMS), Philipps University of Marburg since March 2009. He concurrently holds affiliations with the Center for Interdisciplinary Religious Studies and Center for Conflict Research at the same institution, and maintains active roles in Berlin-based research networks including EUME and the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin. His academic formation includes a PhD from the University of Leipzig (2004) supervised by Prof. Hartmut Elsenhans, preceded by undergraduate studies at Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg (1994-1999) where he received the DAAD-Preis in 1997. His scholarly trajectory includes a Visiting Scholarship at Dalhousie University (2008) and prior research positions at the University of Leipzig. Ouaissa's research program centers on Middle Eastern and North African political dynamics with four interconnected pillars: cultural-identitarian political movements (comparing BJP in India and Algerian parties), moderate Islamist parties as potential EU partners, state-class behavior during resource scarcity (Iraq case study), and fundamentalist movement development (FIS in Algeria vs. Mahdia in Sudan). His conceptual innovation emphasizes blocked middle classes mobilizing religious identity to challenge state power, while his recent work develops 're-configuration' frameworks for understanding post-Arab Spring transformations. His publication trajectory from 1999-2021 reveals evolving scholarly priorities: early work focused on Algerian state formation and political Islam, shifting toward comparative cultural-identitarian movements (2007-2009), then moderate Islamist parties' foreign policy (2009-2012), with contemporary research addressing Hirak protests and theoretical re-configuration models. The corpus demonstrates consistent engagement with Algeria while expanding to regional comparative frameworks, particularly through co-edited volumes on Maghreb entanglements and MENA transformation processes. His scientific recognition includes: DAAD-Preis der Martin-Luther-Universität (1997) Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung PhD Fellowship (2000-2002) Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Scholarship (1998-1999) Professor Ouaissa has secured major research funding including two German Research Foundation (DFG) projects: 'New Cultural-Identitarian Political Movements' (2007-2009) and 'Moderate Islamist Parties as EU Partners' (2009-2012). He actively mentors emerging scholars through the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung's doctoral programs and serves on its selection committees, while his policy engagement manifests through frequent media contributions analyzing Algerian protests and regional dynamics for outlets including Le Monde, El Watan, and Deutsche Welle. He leads the Department of Middle Eastern Politics at CNMS while contributing to the university's interdisciplinary research infrastructure through the Center for Interdisciplinary Religious Studies and Center for Conflict Research. His international scholarly integration is evidenced by co-editing the book series 'Politik und Gesellschaft des Nahen Ostens' and 'Studien zur Geschichte und Zeitgeschichte Westasiens und Nordafrikas', alongside editorial leadership of the journal META (Middle East Topics and Arguments).
Linda L. Price serves as the Dick and Maggie Scarlett Chair and Professor of Marketing in the Department of Management and Marketing at the University of Wyoming's College of Business. A distinguished scholar with deep institutional ties as an alumna, she leads research at the intersection of consumer behavior, sustainability, and qualitative methodologies. Her educational foundation includes: Ph.D. in Marketing from the University of Texas at Austin MBA from the University of Wyoming B.A. from the University of Wyoming Professor Price's research explores consumer practices, rituals, and narratives; market network resilience; consumer identity transformation; and service encounters. She examines how consumers navigate globalization through ethnographic and multi-method approaches, with significant applications in services marketing, customer experience design, and sustainable consumption. Her work consistently bridges theoretical rigor with real-world market challenges. Recent publications reveal strong thematic trends toward sustainability (repair practices, material conservation), refugee consumption resilience, and the psychological mechanisms of 'fresh start' mindsets. These works demonstrate her commitment to addressing global challenges through consumer behavior lenses while advancing methodological innovation in qualitative research. Her exceptional contributions have earned numerous accolades: AMA-Irwin-McGraw-Hill Distinguished Marketing Educator Award (highest disciplinary honor) Association for Consumer Research and American Marketing Association Fellowships Academy of Marketing Science Cutco/Vector Outstanding Marketing Educator University of Wyoming Presidential Scholarly Achievement Award Excellence in Research and Innovation Award As a dedicated mentor, she received the American Marketing Association V Kumar Doctoral Student Mentorship Award for lifetime contributions. Her editorial leadership includes serving as Editor of the Journal of Consumer Research, while administrative roles encompass Presidency of both the American Marketing Association Academic Council and Association for Consumer Research. Professor Price actively contributes to the AMA Foundation Board and key journal editorial boards, shaping the discipline through collaborative networks focused on consumer well-being and sustainable market practices.
