Dr Ben Gidley is a Professor of Sociology and Psychosocial Studies at Birkbeck, University of London, within the School of Social Sciences. He holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of London and has conducted interdisciplinary research on migration, urban sociology, and racialization. His work focuses on contemporary forms of racialization, intercultural encounters in urban contexts, and the sociology of British Jewry. Education: BA Anthropology, MA Urban Studies, PhD Sociology (University of London). Research Interests: Urban diversity, antisemitism and Islamophobia, diasporic belonging, Jewish-Muslim encounters, fascism studies, and East/Southeast London ethnography. His recent projects include comparative studies on Muslim-Jewish relations in Europe (ENCOUNTERS) and a study of liminal waterway countercultures (LIMINALWATER). Publications include books such as Turbulent Times (2010) and journal articles exploring urban multiculturalism, antisemitism, and diaspora spaces. He supervises doctoral students on topics like Italian migrant whiteness, Kurdish diaspora, and carceral geographies. Teaching: Modules on racism, antisemitism, and urban studies. He is Director of Research and Sociology REF lead at Birkbeck.
Christopher Brooke is a Professor of Modern European Political Thought at the University of Cambridge and Fellow/Director of Studies in Politics at Homerton College. He holds a PhD from Harvard University and has held academic positions at Oxford, Bristol, and Cambridge. His research focuses on early modern political thought, the Enlightenment, Stoicism, and the works of Rousseau. Key areas of interest include the historical interplay between classical philosophy and modern political theory, the sociological foundations of equality, and the intellectual legacy of Enlightenment thinkers. He has authored influential works such as *Philosophic Pride: Stoicism and Political Thought from Lipsius to Rousseau* and contributed to edited volumes on Rousseau's reception and educational philosophy. Education: PhD in Political Thought from Harvard University. Research highlights include explorations of Stoic influences on Grotius and Hobbes, Montesquieu’s aristocratic honor theory, and Malthus’s Rousseauist underpinnings. His work bridges historical scholarship with contemporary debates in political theory. Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the POLIS Department and Homerton College, contributing to interdisciplinary research on political thought and intellectual history. His teaching and supervision cover early modern political philosophy, Enlightenment studies, and methodologies in the history of political thought.
Dr Philip O'Brien is a Senior Lecturer in the Urban Studies & Social Policy department at the University of Glasgow . His work bridges urban planning , land economics , and institutional theory , focusing on state-market dynamics in property development and policy frameworks like zoning and land value capture . Research Interests: Land and Property Development : Analyzing market-state interactions in urban development. Planning as Market Maker : Exploring how planning systems stimulate or constrain economic activity. Institutionalist Theory : Applying institutional analysis to planning and development processes. European Urban Policy : Comparative studies of zoning and regulatory frameworks across Europe. Publication Trends : His work spans urban economics , planning reform , and housing resilience , with a focus on zoning , land value capture , and market institutions . Recent articles examine Cultural Political Economy approaches to regional construction and European planning systems . Grants: Co-Investigator, Urban Retrofit UK (ESRC, 2024-2027, £1.5M) Co-Investigator, EqualHouse (Horizon Europe, 2024-2027, €3M) Lead on Scottish Land Commission projects and RICS Research Trust grants. Teaching: Convenes modules on MSc City Planning , MSc Real Estate , and International Real Estate Markets , emphasizing planning-process and institutional markets .
Professor Dan Goodley is a leading academic in Critical Disability Studies at the University of Sheffield , affiliated with the School of Education and co-director of the iHuman research center. His work bridges critical psychology , medical sociology , and posthuman theory to challenge ableist norms in education, healthcare, and society. He has secured major grants, including a £2.9m Wellcome Trust Discretionary Award and multiple ESRC-funded projects, focusing on themes like disablism , social justice , and inclusive research methodologies . Research Themes : Critical Disability Theory, Posthumanism, Dis/ability and Technology, Decolonizing Disability, Austerity and Dis/ability, Co-Production with Marginalized Communities. Grants : Wellcome Trust, ESRC, EPSRC, Research England, European Social Fund. Professional Roles : Visiting Professor at University of Ghent, Editorial Board Member for multiple journals, ESRC Peer Review College. His recent publications interrogate the intersections of disability , pandemic ethics , and autonomous technologies , often employing co-produced and participatory frameworks. He advocates for disabled voices in research and policy, emphasizing resilience and decolonizing praxis in global contexts.
Jan Akmal is an Assistant Professor at Aalto University, holding dual affiliations in the Department of Energy and Mechanical Engineering and the Materials to Products group. His research specializes in additive manufacturing (AM), focusing on defect detection, smart materials, and 4D printing applications. He leads the AIM-Zero project (2023–2026), exploring AI-driven zero-defect AM processes. Akmal has received the Aalto Doctoral Incentive Scholarship (2023) and an Honorary Award (2023). He serves on editorial boards for Frontiers in Manufacturing Technology and Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering , and chairs the Finnish Rapid Prototyping Association (FIRPA). Key research areas include AI-based defect detection in metal AM, self-sensing components, and hybrid materials for dynamic displays. He collaborates globally on topics like optical tomography in powder bed fusion and medical AM applications. His work addresses sustainability, industrial adoption of AM, and legal frameworks for military logistics. Akmal has authored 24 publications and contributed to datasets on AM inaccuracies and defect classification, emphasizing practical applications and industry integration.
Jens O. Brunner is a Professor of Decision Science in Healthcare at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), affiliated with the Department of Technology, Management and Economics. Previously, he held a professorship at the University of Augsburg until March 2023 and served as co-director of the University Center for Health Care (UNIKA-T) from 2013 to 2020. He earned his PhD from the TUM School of Management (2009) and a diploma in Business Administration from the University of Mannheim (2006). Roles: Professor, Department Editor for Health Care Management Science , and Associate Editor for multiple journals. Education: PhD in Management, TUM School of Management (2009) Diploma in Business Administration, University of Mannheim (2006) His research focuses on healthcare operations management and the application of quantitative methods to optimize service systems. Key areas include triage policies, staff scheduling, and AI-driven healthcare solutions. His work has contributed to improving resource allocation in hospitals and pandemic response strategies. Notable awards include the Harold W. Kuhn Award (2015) and the IISE/SSE Outstanding Innovation Award (2022). His research has been published in journals like IIE Transactions and European Journal of Operational Research . He supervises PhD students in projects such as AI-integrated pooling strategies and resource optimization in healthcare. His involvement in interdisciplinary collaborations and editorial roles highlights his leadership in advancing healthcare operations research.
Nicolas Petit is a Full-time Professor and Head of the Department of Law at the European University Institute (EUI). His expertise lies in EU and US competition law, law and economics, and the intersection of law and technological change. He co-founded the Dynamic Competition Initiative (DCI) with UC Berkeley in 2022. Petit holds a PhD from the University of Liège, Belgium, where he was previously a Full Professor. He has held visiting roles at Harvard Law School, Stanford University, and the College of Europe. His research focuses on dynamic competition, digital markets, and the 'more economic approach' to antitrust. Key projects include analyzing platform regulation, AI governance, and the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA). Petit has advised the European Commission’s High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence and contributed to policy submissions for India, Brazil, and the EU. Publications span top journals like the Antitrust Law Journal and European Law Review , with an SSRN ranking of 23 among top legal scholars. He regularly engages in public discourse through platforms like Bluesky, addressing topics such as antitrust limits, AI regulation, and digital market dynamics. Current roles include Project Director at the EUI and leadership in initiatives like the Competition Law and Policy Workshop. His work integrates doctrinal, economic, and empirical methods to address modern regulatory challenges.
Prof. Sanne Kruikemeier is a Professor of Digital Media and Society at Wageningen University & Research (WUR). She leads the ERC Starting Grant (HUNTING) and a NORFACE consortium grant, coordinating research across four European universities (2020–2024). As director of the Digital Data and Democracy Lab and member of the AlgoSoc Gravitation Program, she explores digitalization's societal and democratic impacts. Her research focuses on data-driven political targeting, social media's role in polarization, privacy behavior, and digital journalism. She holds roles on the editorial boards of journals like Human Communication Research , International Journal of Press/Politics , and Digital Journalism . Awards include the KNAW Early Career Award and ICA Herbert S. Dordick Dissertation Award. Her work bridges digital media, political communication, and societal change, addressing challenges like misinformation and democratic engagement. Kruikemeier advises PhD candidates on projects like data-driven campaigning's impact on democracy and polarization strategies. She engages in public discourse through media commentary on social media's role in politics and news consumption trends. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates communication science with computational methods to analyze modern political and social dynamics.
Carsten Jahn Hansen is an Associate Professor in sustainable place development and planning at Aalborg University's Department of Sustainability and Planning, part of The Technical Faculty of IT and Design. His research focuses on innovations in planning for sustainable place-making, addressing climate change, socio-economic balance, and environmental sustainability. He leads the Planning for Urban Sustainability (PLUS) research group and participates in projects like the PLANNORD research network and EU-funded initiatives such as PlanCoast . Hansen holds a PhD in Spatial Planning and a Master's in Surveying, Planning, and Land Management from Aalborg University. Key affiliations include roles with the Danish Town Planning Institute (Dansk Byplanlaboratorium), ESPON (European Spatial Planning Observatory Network), and OECD/EU policy advisory work. His expertise spans coastal governance, participatory planning, and the integration of cultural heritage into spatial development. He has contributed to over 111 publications, including works on non-mandatory planning frameworks and climate adaptation strategies. Hansen has advised on regional and municipal planning policies, emphasizing trust-based governance and community engagement. His research explores the interplay between strategic planning and grassroots participation, with a focus on urban and rural resilience. Notable contributions include analyses of Denmark's development planning systems and the role of soft planning instruments in addressing complex spatial challenges.
Aleksandra Pomiecko is a Lecturer in Modern History at King's College London, specializing in Eastern European and Soviet history. She has held teaching positions at the University of St Andrews, the University of Manitoba, and the University of Toronto, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies. PhD, University of Toronto MA, Uniwersytet Jagielloński Her research focuses on war and violence in twentieth-century Eastern Europe, particularly paramilitary activity, partisan movements, and local experiences of conflict. She explores topics such as Belarusian nationalism, post-war insurgency, and the role of religious institutions during the Holocaust. Recent publications examine paramilitarism in Polish borderlands, Soviet nation-building policies, and religious resistance in wartime Poland. Her work contributes to understanding the longue durée of paramilitary dynamics and their global implications. Scientific awards: Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies
Summary Clotilde Coron is a Full Professor of Management Sciences at the Faculté Jean Monnet, Université Paris-Saclay. She previously held an Associate Professor position at IAE Paris (2017–2022). Her research focuses on gender equality, gender stereotypes, and the role of quantification in HR management. She earned a PhD in Management Sciences (Université Paris-Est, 2015) and a HDR (Université de Poitiers, 2021). She is also a graduate of ENSAE (2012) and Sciences Po (2013). Academic Roles: Full Professor, Université Paris-Saclay Vice-President for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (since 2024) Elected member of the Research Committee (since 2024) Co-responsible for the M1 Master in Management (since 2023) Research Interests: Dr. Coron’s work critically examines gender equality policies, the societal impact of gender stereotypes, and the ethical implications of algorithmic HR practices. She emphasizes the need for organizations to adopt intersectional frameworks to address systemic inequalities. Grants and Projects: ANR funding for lesbian workplace inclusion (2024–2025) Research on gender in health innovation (2023–2024) Studies on chatGPT in education and LGBTQ+ mental health (2023–2024) Awards: EFMD-FNEGE Best Research Book Award (2023, 2019) FNEGE Label for multiple academic contributions Teaching: She teaches advanced courses in quantitative methods, HR analytics, and gender studies at undergraduate and graduate levels. Recent courses include Data Analysis Tools (M1), Quantitative Methods (M2), and distance-learning modules on HR management.
Dr. Ivan Grigoriev is a Lecturer in Russian Politics at King’s Russia Institute, part of the School of Politics & Economics within the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy at King’s College London. His research focuses on judicial politics, business-state relations in Russia, post-Soviet reforms, and constitutional dynamics. He teaches courses such as 7YYR0002, 6YYR0002, and 4YYR0001, and supervises PhD studies on Russian political topics like federalism, elections, and business-state interactions. Grigoriev’s research interests span constitutional courts under authoritarianism, the structure of Russian society, and international organizations’ roles in post-Soviet governance. His work appears in journals like Post-Soviet Affairs , Russian Politics , and Democratization . His recent publications analyze topics such as elite dynamics in color revolutions, EU leadership programs in Eurasia, and the role of law clerks in Russia’s Constitutional Court. While no specific awards are mentioned, his contributions were noted at King’s annual awards events in 2024. Grigoriev’s advising focuses on Russian political phenomena, including authoritarian modernization and labor reforms. His research often bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis of institutional adaptations under autocracy.
Dr Yong Lin is an Associate Professor in Operations and Supply Chain Management at the Department of Management, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham. He joined the university in September 2021, having previously held academic positions at the University of Greenwich and Huazhong University of Science & Technology. He has also served as a visiting researcher at the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), University of Cambridge, and as a research assistant at the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology. PhD in Management Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, 2002 MSc in Industrial Engineering and Management, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, 1999 Dr Lin’s research focuses on digital transformation and sustainability strategies in operations and supply chains. His key interests include supply chain risk and resilience, digital logistics platforms, business ecosystems, and manufacturing strategies. He explores how digital technologies such as blockchain and RFID can enhance transparency, efficiency, and sustainability across supply networks. His recent publications reflect a strong trend toward digitalization, resilience, and sustainability in supply chains, with studies on modular resilience in multinational platforms, blockchain in remanufacturing, and digitalization in healthcare logistics. His work frequently appears in top-tier journals such as International Journal of Operations and Production Management , Journal of Cleaner Production , and Technological Forecasting and Social Change . Senior Fellow of the Advance HE (Higher Education Academy) Certified Management and Business Educator, Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS) Chartered Fellow, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Dr Lin has led and coordinated several research projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), the 863 Program, and the European Regional Development Fund. He actively engages in industry consulting to transfer research outcomes into practical business solutions. He welcomes PhD applicants interested in digital transformation, sustainability, logistics platforms, and business ecosystems. He is also involved in advising and mentoring graduate researchers in these domains. Dr Lin is affiliated with the Department of Management at Birmingham Business School, where he contributes to research, teaching, and knowledge exchange in operations and supply chain management. His work bridges academic rigor with real-world application, particularly in digital and sustainable supply chain innovation.
Michelle Ryan is a Professor of Social and Organisational Psychology at the University of Exeter. Her research focuses on gender inequality, leadership dynamics, and workplace identity, with notable contributions including the groundbreaking concept of the glass cliff , which examines the precarious leadership positions disproportionately assigned to women and minority groups. European Research Council Consolidator Grant recipient for work on context and identity in women's career choices Collaborative projects span gender trouble, ambition, workplace intersectionality, and men's support for gender equality Her research has been recognized internationally, including being shortlisted for the Times Higher Education Supplement Research Project of the Year (2005) and being named by the New York Times as an influential idea (2008). Current work explores identity complexity, gendered status systems, and leadership succession through interdisciplinary collaborations.
Zorana Rosić is a researcher at the Faculty of Law, focusing on European legal frameworks, data protection, and digitalization of legal systems. Her work intersects with administrative structures, e-Government, and consumer rights. Key Research Areas: Data privacy, digital rights, copyright law, and open access in legal systems Her recent publications emphasize the balance between judicial transparency and personal data protection in digital environments. She actively participates in European symposia on civil justice digitalization. Research trends include: modernization of legal information systems, regulatory challenges in the Digital Single Market, and ethical implications of open judicial data. She collaborates with institutions like Anthemis and contributes to journals such as Revue du Droit des Technologies de l'information .
