M. Emrul Hasan is a Lecturer at the Vancouver School of Economics, University of British Columbia (UBC). He previously held academic positions at Simon Fraser University (SFU), Douglas College, and British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). His academic qualifications include a PhD in Finance (SFU, 2018), MA in Economics (SFU, 2011), MA in Financial Economics (York University, 2010), and BBA (North South University, 2008). He is a CFA charterholder and FRM certified. His research focuses on capital gains tax policy, asset pricing, behavioral finance, IPO/SEO underpricing, and public policy. Notable works include studies on tax lock-in effects in equity offerings and auto insurance affordability in Canada. He has been awarded multiple scholarships, including the President’s PhD Scholarship and Beedie Family Graduate Scholarships. Teaching spans courses in econometrics, macroeconomics, international trade, corporate finance, and risk management. He has led over 20 courses across institutions, emphasizing practical applications of theory and bridging academic concepts with real-world finance and policy scenarios. His work also extends to financial education through FinanceTraining.ca , where he authored a CFA exam study guide.
Professor David M Watson is a leading ecologist at Charles Sturt University, affiliated with the School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences and the Gulbali Research Institute. He holds a PhD in Ecology from the University of Kansas and a BSc (Hons) from Monash University. His work focuses on biodiversity conservation, habitat fragmentation, and the ecology of parasitic plants, especially mistletoe, with a strong emphasis on birds and field-based research. BSc (Hons) in Science, Monash University (1994) PhD in Ecology, University of Kansas (1999) David Watson's research centers on managing biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, the impacts of habitat fragmentation, and the ecological roles of parasitic plants. He is renowned for demonstrating that mistletoe acts as a keystone resource, boosting productivity and supporting diverse animal communities. His work integrates community-scale field studies with species-specific analyses, primarily in Australia and Latin America. He has developed novel bird survey methods and acoustic monitoring techniques, contributing to the establishment of the Australian Acoustic Observatory. His recent publications reflect a strong trend in conservation technology, particularly acoustic monitoring of elusive species like the Australasian Bittern, and the use of expert elicitation to guide urban wildlife connectivity. His research bridges science and practical conservation, with applications in private land management, national parks, and regional planning. Scientific awards and grants received include: Eavesdropping on wetland birds (2020) Investigating habitat preference of Lewin's Rail (2012) TLM-Intervention Monitoring for bitterns (2021) What's in the Wetland (2016) David Watson actively supervises Honours, Masters, and PhD students, co-designing research projects in areas such as mistletoe ecology, arid zone bird dynamics, and mammal reintroductions. He has led major research grants focused on wetland bird ecology and conservation technology. His collaborative network spans universities, government agencies, NGOs like BirdLife Australia, and regional natural resource management bodies. He is a founding member of the Slopes to Summit partnership and the Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre, and chairs the research committee for his school. He also serves on the steering committee of the Australasian Ornithological Conference and has contributed to policy through the NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee and advocacy for feral horse control.
Professor Michael Bohlander holds the Chair in Global Law and SETI Policy at Durham Law School, Durham University. He has been a judge internationally, including roles at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (since 2015) and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (2017–2022). His academic work bridges international criminal law, comparative law, and the legal implications of extraterrestrial contact. He joined Durham in 2004 as a full professor, following a career in the German judiciary since 1991. Research interests focus on the legal consequences of extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) and UAP phenomena, alongside comparative criminal law and Islamic law. His recent work critiques the artificial divide between astronomical SETI and UAP research, emphasizing real-time UAP investigation’s legal challenges. He explores topics like UAP encounter narratives, intellectual property rights in alien technology, and interstellar legal frameworks (metalaw). Publications include Contact with Extraterrestrial Intelligence and Human Law: The Applicability of Rules of War and Human Rights (2023), finalist for the Canopus Awards, and numerous articles on UAP legal aspects. He actively engages with policymakers, submitting evidence to the UK House of Lords Select Committee on Space Engagement and co-authoring the Declaration on SETI and UAP Research . Academic outreach includes podcasts, symposia, and global surveys on extraterrestrial law. Key Achievements: Canopus Awards Finalist (2023), Symposium on his book (2025), Global UAP survey launch (2025). Grants/Advising: No specific grants listed, but extensive supervision of UAP and SETI-related research projects. Labs/Teams: Leads the Durham-based research group on SETI/UAP legal futures, collaborating with institutions like St Andrews University.
Professor Timothy Pollock is the Haslam Chair in Business and Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville's Haslam College of Business. His research focuses on corporate governance, executive compensation, and entrepreneurial strategies in ambiguous contexts, particularly IPO markets. Notable contributions include work on CEO celebrity effects, corporate misconduct scandalization, and reputation dynamics. He has authored multiple books, including How to Use Storytelling in Academic Writing (2025), and serves on editorial boards for top journals like the Academy of Management Journal. Education: B.S. in Finance, Northern Illinois University MBA, University of Texas - Austin PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Research Interests: Pollock examines how social and political factors like celebrity, reputation, and media influence organizational outcomes. Key areas include IPO firm performance, strategic alliances, and the interplay between stigma and legitimacy in industries like medical cannabis. His 2020 work Waiting to Inhale analyzes stigma reduction strategies in stigmatized markets. Awards & Recognition: IDEA Thought Leader Award (2009) for entrepreneurship research Vallett Family Outstanding Researcher Award (2020) Oxford University Centre for Corporate Reputation Best Published Paper Award (2010) Teaching: Teaches doctoral seminars on organization theory and academic writing, as well as undergraduate entrepreneurship courses. Won the Mabel C. Chipman Award for Teaching Excellence (2002). Service: Served on editorial boards of leading journals, including AMJ and Organization Science. Holds roles like Chair of Haslam's Research Council and membership on promotion/tenure committees.
Olan Scott, PhD, is an Associate Professor in Sport Management at Brock University. His research examines how media communications shape and reflect issues of national identity, gender, and race in global sporting events. He serves on editorial boards for journals such as the International Journal of Sport Communication and Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. Dr. Scott’s work focuses on Olympic Studies, media analyses, and fan engagement, with a particular interest in cross-cultural media framing and digital sponsorship strategies. His research interests include media coverage of national and international sports events, gender equity in sport broadcasting, and the impact of social media on athlete branding and public perception. He has published extensively in leading sport management and communication journals, analyzing topics such as Paralympic sponsorship, pandemic-era media consumption, and athlete narratives during press conferences. Dr. Scott teaches courses on Sport Marketing, Intellectual Property in Sport, and Sport Public Relations. He currently accepts graduate students whose research aligns with his areas of expertise. Prospective students are encouraged to contact him directly for opportunities. Key affiliations include the Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand and the International Association for Communication and Sport (IACS). His work bridges academic research with practical insights into media strategies for sport organizations and governing bodies.
April Ashby is affiliated with Marquette University Law School as a contributor to its faculty blog, where she writes on legal ethics, sports law, and international human rights. Her work reflects a deep engagement with contemporary legal issues, particularly the ethical use of social media by lawyers, anti-doping policies in sports, and human rights advocacy in Honduras. University: Marquette University School: Marquette University Law School Her research interests center on legal ethics, sports law, and international human rights, with a particular focus on anti-doping in professional athletics and systemic abuses in post-coup Honduras. She has expressed a personal motivation for studying anti-doping, rooted in her passion for cycling and dismay over its doping culture. The articles she has authored explore the intersection of law, ethics, and public policy. They demonstrate a consistent theme of using legal frameworks to promote integrity in sports, protect human rights, and guide ethical professional conduct. Her work emphasizes transparency, justice, and the role of law in safeguarding societal values. Legal Ethics and Social Media Anti-Doping in Sports International Human Rights Advocacy While no formal advising or grant activities are mentioned, her contributions to public legal discourse through the Marquette Law Faculty Blog suggest an active role in legal education and outreach. She appears to be involved in raising awareness about pressing legal and ethical challenges in both domestic and international contexts. April Ashby is associated with Marquette Law School’s human rights and legal ethics initiatives, particularly through her coverage of speakers and events related to international justice. Her engagement with figures like Bertha Oliva of COFADEH highlights her connection to real-world human rights advocacy and education.
Anna Rogers is a leading researcher in Natural Language Processing (NLP), known for her foundational and critical work on language model interpretability, dataset quality, and the ethics of AI systems. She has published extensively at top-tier venues including ACL, EMNLP, and NAACL, often collaborating with prominent researchers like Anna Rumshisky and Isabelle Augenstein. Her research interests center on data curation , model generalization , responsible data use , and transparency in large language models . She has conducted influential surveys on community perspectives regarding intelligence in AI and has contributed to improving peer review practices in NLP conferences. Her work on BERTology, including papers like A Primer in BERTology and Revealing the Dark Secrets of BERT , has become key reading in the field. Recent publications highlight her focus on data transparency (e.g., the ROOTS Search Tool), synthetic content detection , and temporal annotation frameworks like NarrativeTime. She also investigates the robustness of models, probing techniques, and the limitations of current benchmarks. Her work consistently emphasizes methodological rigor and ethical considerations in NLP research. She has advocated for better data practices and more thoughtful evaluation paradigms across the community. Natural Language Processing Computational Linguistics Language Model Interpretability Dataset Curation and Quality Ethics in NLP Peer Review in Academic Conferences Anna Rogers has played a key role in shaping meta-discussions in the NLP field, including peer review reform and the societal impact of language technologies. She has co-organized workshops on negative results and contributed to tutorials on reviewing and data use. Her work bridges technical depth with critical reflection on the direction of the field. She has advised or collaborated with numerous researchers, though specific students are not listed in the available data. She has not received any explicitly mentioned scientific awards in the provided text. Anna Rogers leads or contributes to several open-source initiatives and shared resources, including the DECAF framework, the ROOTS Search Tool, and various datasets such as TimeBankNT and RuSentiment. Her work often includes released code and tools to promote reproducibility and further research.
Brenda Powell Wells is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Finance & Insurance at the College of Business, East Carolina University (ECU). She also serves as the Director of the Risk Management & Insurance Program and holds the Robert F. Bird Distinguished Professorship in Risk Management and Insurance. Her work bridges academia and industry through research, teaching, and consulting. She earned her Ph.D. and Bachelor of Business Administration in Risk Management and Insurance from the University of Georgia and holds advanced professional designations including CPCU, AAI, CRIS, and CICS, along with a graduate certificate in Business Analytics from ECU. Risk Management Insurance (Property-Casualty, Life, Commercial) Insurance Education and Curriculum Development Diminished Value in Auto Insurance Impact of Marijuana Legalization on Insurance Business Analytics in Insurance Her recent research, published in top journals like the Journal of Risk and Insurance and Journal of Insurance Issues , focuses on emerging challenges in insurance regulation, consumer protection, and pedagogical innovation. She is known for her seminal work on marijuana legalization’s impact on property-casualty insurance. Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) Accredited Advisor of Insurance (AAI) Construction Risk Insurance Specialist (CRIS) Cannabis Insurance Coverage Specialist (CICS) Robert F. Bird Distinguished Professor of Risk Management and Insurance Bodacious Crowd Pleaser award, Blue Night of the Stars Talent Show Brenda advises students and leads ECU’s Gamma Iota Sigma chapter, mentoring future professionals. She has supervised numerous internships and independent studies and has raised over $3 million for academic and professional initiatives. Through her consulting firm, Risk Education Strategies, she provides expert testimony, agency management consulting, and continuing education. She is also active in ARIA, SRIA, and WRIA, having served as past president of the latter two. She founded the Texas Risk and Insurance Professional Society (TRIPS), a nonprofit supporting insurance education, and remains deeply involved in public speaking, curriculum development, and student organization leadership.
Andrew Jalil is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at Occidental College, with a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley and undergraduate degrees from Brown University. His research bridges macroeconomic history and food policy, focusing on financial crises, monetary/fiscal policy, and sustainable dietary shifts. A.B. and Sc.B., Brown University Ph.D., UC Berkeley His macroeconomic history work examines Germany's anti-inflationary policies, U.S. banking panics, and Great Depression-era monetary interventions. In food policy, he investigates climate-awareness campaigns and meat consumption reduction. Jalil teaches courses on monetary policy, fiscal policy, and macroeconomic theory, emphasizing historical context and contemporary applications. Jalil's publications span financial bubbles, tax/spending multipliers, and behavioral interventions. His work on banking panics during the Great Depression highlights the effectiveness of monetary interventions, while his food policy research demonstrates cost-effective strategies for sustainable consumption. Media coverage includes outlets like The Market Monetarist and Phys.org .
Jo Stephenson is a graduate researcher at the Queen Mary, University of London , affiliated with the School of Languages, Linguistics and Film and the Film Studies department. Her work focuses on the intersection of non-fiction film, media, and British fashion branding from the post-war era to the present. Research Interests Stephenson's research explores: Historical Media Campaigns : Analyzing post-war British fashion promotion through films by the Central Office of Information (COI) and Pathe Cinemagazine. Cultural Geography : Investigating how locations like London and events such as the Royal Weddings or 2012 Olympics shape national fashion identity. Branding and National Identity : Tracing the evolution of British fashion as a tool for governmental and industrial branding. Key Articles Her publications highlight trends in non-fiction film's role in fashion history, with a focus on: Post-war economic strategies in "Miniskirts Make Money" Documentary techniques in COI films Media-driven narratives around British manufacturing and digital innovation
Dr Ting Shi is a Chancellor's Fellow (Assistant Professor) at the Usher Institute , University of Edinburgh, within the Deanery of Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences . She holds a PhD and MPH in Public Health Sciences from the University of Edinburgh and a Bachelor of Medicine from Peking University. Education: PhD, Public Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh MPH, Public Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh Bachelor of Medicine, Peking University Dr Shi is an epidemiologist specializing in infectious diseases and pandemic preparedness , with a focus on respiratory pathogens like RSV , influenza , and COVID-19 . She leads projects using national linked datasets and individual participant data meta-analysis to model winter respiratory risks, vaccine impacts, and ethnic health disparities. Her research outputs include 71 publications, with 20 as first/senior author in journals like The Lancet , Nature Medicine , and Chest . Recent studies analyze socio-economic drivers of ethnic inequalities in severe COVID-19, RSV vaccine uptake, and global disease burden of respiratory infections in vulnerable populations. Scientific Awards: Royal Statistical Society's Florence Nightingale Award (2023) Royal Society of Edinburgh's Mary Sommerville Medal (2023) University of Edinburgh Research Impact Prize (2024) Dr Shi supervises PhD candidates including Daira Trusinska (RSV risk prediction) and Ahad Khan (completed 2023). She collaborates with institutions like the University of Glasgow and advises on UK Health Security Agency and WHO initiatives.
Youssef Al Hariri is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Language, Cognition and Computation (ILCC) within the School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh. He holds a PhD in Informatics (2023), an MSc in Artificial Intelligence with Distinction (2018), and a BSc in Computer Engineering (2017). PhD: Informatics, University of Edinburgh (2023) MSc: Artificial Intelligence with Distinction, University of Edinburgh (2018) BSc: Computer Engineering, Qatar University (2017) His research focuses on computational social science, social network analysis, machine learning, and natural language processing. He studies human-generated content, networks, and narratives, applying qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze online communities’ interactions, contributions, and network dynamics. Current projects include FANToM (Finding Adversary Narratives: Topic and Momentum) , aiming to enhance AI-based narrative analysis tools, and past work includes modeling audience interactions using state-of-the-art AI techniques. His recent publications highlight trends in social media analysis, Arabic NLP, and narrative detection. Key contributions include TwiXplorer (2024), an interactive tool for historical Twitter data analysis; SMASH group papers at AraFinNLP2024 (2024) and StanceEval2024 (2024) on Arabic intent detection and stance detection; and ESG communication studies during COP events (2024). Earlier works (2019, 2021) explore religious polarization in Arab online communities. Labs & Teams: Member of the Social Media Analysis and Support for Humanity (SMASH) Lab, Neuropolitics Research Lab (NRLabs), and Digital Influence & Intelligence Lab (DIIL). Current teaching includes Text Technologies for Data Science (2023/2024). Past grants include the Alan Turing Institute for FANToM and Modelling Audience Interactions.
Geoffrey Abrams, MD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine. He serves as Director of Sports Medicine for Varsity Athletics at Stanford, Assistant Team Physician for the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, and previously for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. His clinical focus includes Sports Medicine, arthroscopy, and reconstructive surgery for shoulder, knee, and elbow injuries, with board certification in Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. Dr. Abrams is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES). Undergraduate, Stanford University Doctor of Medicine, University of California–San Diego (2007) Residency, Stanford University Orthopedic Surgery (2012) Fellowship, Rush University Medical Center (2013) Dr. Abrams’ research delves into the pathobiology of tendinopathy, emphasizing the role of microRNA and tendon-derived stem cells in disease mechanisms. He leads clinical trials on novel treatments like TenoMiR for lateral epicondylitis and PEMF therapy for postoperative pain. His work spans surgical techniques, such as hinged external fixation for knee injuries, and comparative studies on chondrocyte viability in cartilage restoration. Recent publications highlight outcomes in ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff repairs, and injury prevention in soccer through noncontact mechanism analysis. Recent trials led by Dr. Abrams include evaluations of microRNA-based drugs for tennis elbow, PEMF therapy for postoperative pain, and the safety of knotless suture anchors in shoulder surgery. His studies often utilize MRI for anatomical assessment and functional outcome metrics like VAS and qDASH. Professional affiliations include: American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine (2013–Present) American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (2021–Present) American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (2009–Present) California Orthopedic Association (2013–Present) Western Orthopedic Association (2013–Present) Dr. Abrams serves as a Med Scholar Project Advisor and teaches courses in Orthopedic Surgery, including graduate and undergraduate research. He directs the Lacob Family Sports Medicine Center at Stanford and collaborates with Bio-X and the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance.
Dr. Chanhyun Park is an Assistant Professor in the Health Outcomes Division at The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy. She is a Health Outcomes Researcher with expertise in assessing clinical, economic, and humanistic outcomes of healthcare services and products using advanced quantitative methodologies. Her research spans pharmacoepidemiology, pharmacoeconomics, health economics, meta-analysis, and AI/machine learning, with a current focus on geriatric oncology and cardio-oncology. Education: Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin M.Ed., The University of Texas at Austin M.Pharm, Sookmyung Women's University B.Pharm, Sookmyung Women's University Dr. Park's research interests focus on the assessment of clinical, economic, and humanistic outcomes of healthcare services and products. Her work employs advanced quantitative methodologies including pharmacoepidemiology, pharmacoeconomics, health economics, meta-analysis, and AI/machine learning. She aims to assess treatment patterns, identify potential adverse events, estimate healthcare utilization and costs, and improve health equity. Her current research program particularly emphasizes geriatric oncology and cardio-oncology, examining how cardiovascular disease affects health-related quality of life among older women with breast cancer and other critical intersections between cancer treatment and cardiovascular health. Analysis of Dr. Park's recent publications reveals a strong focus on health outcomes research at the intersection of oncology, cardiology, and health economics. Her work frequently examines the impact of cancer treatments on cardiovascular outcomes, particularly in geriatric populations. She also investigates healthcare access issues, medication adherence, and the economic implications of various treatment approaches. Her methodological approach often combines traditional epidemiological methods with machine learning techniques to predict outcomes and identify risk factors. Scientific Service Activities: Member, Cancer and Aging Research Group (CARG) - Health Services Core Member, Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy (JMCP) - Editorial Advisory Board Dr. Park actively mentors students and early-career researchers, serving as Advisor for the UT- Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) Student Chapter and the UT- International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology (ISPE) Student Chapter. She also mentors UTeam members. Her grant activities focus on health outcomes research related to geriatric oncology, cardio-oncology, and healthcare access for vulnerable populations.
Karen Finnegan, Ph.D., is the Cummings Foundation Professor at Harvard Medical School’s Department of Global Health and Social Medicine. Her work focuses on strengthening health systems in low-resource settings, particularly in rural Madagascar and sub-Saharan Africa. She leads interdisciplinary research on community health worker programs, geographic barriers to healthcare access, pandemic response strategies, and health system resilience in the face of climate change. Her research integrates spatial analysis, epidemiological modeling, and health policy evaluation, with a focus on equitable healthcare delivery. Key projects include the Ifanadiana District Health System Strengthening Initiative in Madagascar, which examines how community-based interventions and geographic data can reduce healthcare disparities. She also contributed to global studies on universal health coverage through professionalized community health workforces and evaluated the impact of extreme weather events on health systems. Dr. Finnegan collaborates with institutions like the Paul Farmer Collaborative and the Global Health Delivery Partnership, emphasizing data-driven solutions to global health challenges. Her work spans infectious disease control (e.g., malaria, tuberculosis, and pandemic response), maternal-child health outcomes, and the socioeconomic determinants of healthcare access in marginalized populations. Her publications highlight methodological innovations in spatial epidemiology and health system evaluation, alongside policy recommendations for scaling effective interventions. Current research priorities include optimizing community health worker programs, mitigating geographic healthcare inequities, and advancing climate-resilient health systems in low-income regions.
