James Kieffer is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of New Brunswick (UNB). He is affiliated with the Cdn Rivers Institute in Saint John, NB. His research focuses on fish physiology, particularly thermal biology, environmental stress responses, and swimming performance in sturgeon species such as the shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) and Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus). His work explores how these species adapt to temperature fluctuations, salinity changes, and other environmental challenges through physiological and molecular mechanisms. Dr. Kieffer holds a PhD and has published extensively on topics including critical thermal maxima (CTmax), exercise physiology in fish, and the impacts of habitat substrates on swimming behavior. His research also addresses practical concerns such as the physiological effects of catch-and-release angling and the effects of triploidy on fish health. Key areas of investigation include the physiological responses of sturgeon to acute stressors like heat, salinity shifts, and exhaustive exercise. His studies often integrate behavioral observations with metabolic and hematological analyses to understand organismal performance limits in aquatic environments. While no specific scientific awards are listed, his contributions to sturgeon conservation and fish physiology have been documented in peer-reviewed journals. His lab at the Cdn Rivers Institute likely supports field and laboratory-based studies on freshwater and marine species under varying environmental conditions.
Professor Duncan Stewart is the Academic Head of Research at London Metropolitan University’s School of Social Sciences and Professions. He holds a professorship in Applied Health Research with a focus on substance use disorders, ageing populations, and multimorbidity. His work examines alcohol consumption patterns in older adults with chronic conditions and evaluates healthcare service delivery for individuals impacted by drug or alcohol misuse. Research Interests : Stewart’s research spans service evaluation, intervention development, and policy analysis related to alcohol and drug treatment. His current projects include the CHAMP-1 study exploring alcohol use in clinical pharmacist consultations and the integration of alcohol screening into primary care. He employs diverse methodologies such as randomized controlled trials, qualitative interviews, and systematic reviews to address gaps in healthcare provision. Teaching : Module leader for the Introduction to Epidemiology course in the Public Health MSc program. Grants & Projects : Currently leads the CHAMP-1 project funded by the National Institute of Health Research, focusing on alcohol identification during medication reviews. Past grants include studies on benzodiazepine dependence, pandemic impacts on cancer care, and barriers to pulmonary rehabilitation access. Labs/Teams : Directs research teams investigating alcohol policy innovations, clinical pharmacist roles, and geriatric health interventions. Collaborates with national institutions like NHS England and Scottish healthcare systems.
Taija Juutinen is a Professor of Kinesiology and Vice Dean of Education at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Finland. Her research focuses on biomechanics, tendon biology, physical activity, and neuromuscular function. She holds a docent position in exercise physiology at the University of Eastern Finland. Education: PhD in Exercise Physiology under Prof. Paavo Komi Postdoctoral research at UCLA with Profs. Reggie V. Edgerton and Shantanu Sinha Research Interests: Her work spans Achilles tendon mechanics, physical activity patterns, and neuromuscular adaptations. Key projects include UNRESAT (2019–2023) and ACHILLES (2023–2027), investigating tendon structure and loading. The EXECP project examines exercise interventions for cerebral palsy patients. Grants & Projects: Principal Investigator for projects funded by the Research Council of Finland and EU, totaling over €15M Contributions to Profiling actions (Profi3, Profi6) advancing interdisciplinary research at JYU Advising: Supervised PhD student Pedro Valadao (defended March 2024) on cerebral palsy exercise interventions. Labs & Teams: Leads the Biomechanics group (BME) and contributes to the School of Wellbeing (JYU.Well) at JYU.
Dr. Andrew McCarren is an Associate Professor and Head of the School of Computing at Dublin City University (DCU). He holds a PhD and BSc from DCU and is a funded investigator in the Insight Centre for Data Analytics. His research focuses on applying data analytics to Fintech, Agriculture, Health, and Sports Performance. As a former industry professional with 20+ years experience in Agri, Engineering, and Pharmaceuticals, he bridges academic and industrial collaboration. Professional Affiliations: Fellow of Royal Statistical Society and Advance HE Key Roles: PI on SFI/EI projects, Visiting Professor at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Research spans software engineering (microservices architecture), health informatics (exercise interventions), and agri-tech (automated food processing). Over 100 publications across data science, sports analytics, and engineering.
Professor Ken Nosaka is Lead of Exercise and Sports Science at Edith Cowan University's School of Medical and Health Sciences. With over 310 peer-reviewed publications, he is an internationally recognized expert in eccentric exercise research. His research spans neuromuscular fatigue, muscle damage mechanisms, and exercise as medicine, supported by numerous grants from organizations including the National Health and Medical Research Council and Defence Science and Technology Group. His research interests focus on eccentric exercise physiology, muscle damage mechanisms, thermoregulation during exercise, and strength training adaptations. His work has practical applications in sports performance, rehabilitation, and public health initiatives. Professor Nosaka's publications demonstrate consistent focus on neuromuscular physiology, exercise interventions, and methodological innovations in sports science. Recent work shows increasing emphasis on clinical applications in cardiac/pediatric populations and advanced biomechanical analysis techniques. He has received significant recognition including the ECU Vice-Chancellor's Award for Research Engagement (2020) and Excellence in Research (2012), plus multiple citations honors. Current research projects include implementing eccentric exercises for submarine crews and muscle training for spinal cord injury patients. Professor Nosaka directs the Centre for Exercise and Sports Science Research, supervising 6 PhD and 2 Master's students while coordinating the school's PhD program. His research collaborations span multiple continents, with over 70% of publications involving international partners.
Maria Dall'Era, MD is the Jean S. Engleman Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Rheumatology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She also serves as Director of the UCSF Rheumatology Clinical Research Center and Co-director of the UCSF Lupus Clinic. Her clinical and research focus centers on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis, with expertise in developing novel therapies and studying epidemiology and outcomes of lupus patients. Education: BA in Immunology, University of California, Berkeley, 1993 M.D., University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, 1997 Residency in Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco Fellowship in Rheumatology, University of California, San Francisco, 2004 Dr. Dall'Era's research interests span multiple dimensions of lupus care and management. She investigates treatment optimization for lupus nephritis, epidemiological patterns of disease manifestation across diverse populations, and the development of novel therapeutic approaches. Her work emphasizes health disparities, particularly examining how race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic factors influence lupus outcomes. She has pioneered research on the relationship between physical activity, stress, and disease activity in lupus patients, and has contributed significantly to understanding epigenetic and molecular mechanisms underlying disease heterogeneity. Analysis of her recent publication record reveals a strong focus on precision medicine approaches to lupus management, with particular attention to biomarker discovery, treatment response prediction, and addressing health disparities. Her work spans basic science investigations into molecular mechanisms of disease through to large-scale clinical studies and guideline development. The interdisciplinary nature of her research connects immunology, genomics, epidemiology, and patient-centered outcomes research. Scientific Awards: Evelyn V. Hess Award, Lupus Foundation of America, 2023 Edmund L. Dubois Memorial Lectureship Award, American College of Rheumatology, 2018 Purple Ribbon Award, Lupus Foundation of America, 2014 Exceptional Physician Award, UCSF, 2010 Ira M. Goldstein Award for Outstanding Teaching in Rheumatology, UCSF, 2007 Ephraim Engleman Award for Excellence in Arthritis Research, UCSF, 2006 Dr. Dall'Era serves as Principal Investigator for the CDC-funded California Lupus Epidemiology Study, a population-based longitudinal lupus cohort in the San Francisco Bay Area. She also leads multiple clinical trials focused on SLE and lupus nephritis. Her leadership extends to national organizations where she serves as Co-Chair of the Lupus Therapeutics Board of Directors, Co-Chair of the LRA's Lupus Industry Council, and member of the Lupus Accelerating Breakthroughs Consortium Research Committee. She is actively involved in developing the American College of Rheumatology's Guidelines for the Treatment of SLE and lupus nephritis. Her laboratory and research team work within the UCSF Rheumatology Clinical Research Center, collaborating with the Accelerating Medicines Partnership RA/SLE Network and other multidisciplinary teams to advance understanding of lupus pathogenesis and treatment. The team employs approaches ranging from single-cell analysis and epigenetic studies to large-scale epidemiological investigations and clinical trials.
Professor Mark Thompson is an Associate Professor in Engineering Science at the University of Oxford and a Tutor/Fellow at Wadham College. He holds an MEng in Engineering and Materials Science (Oxford, 1997) and a PhD in Biomechanics from the University of London (2001). His research focuses on biomechanical engineering with emphasis on tissue repair, prosthetic design, and trauma modeling. Key projects include the OxVent ventilator and in vitro microvasculature systems for traumatic injury studies. His work bridges clinical and engineering challenges, addressing issues like prosthetic maintenance, musculoskeletal modeling, and biomaterials for regenerative medicine. Thompson collaborates with institutions like the Institute of Biomedical Engineering and has contributed to open-source frameworks for motion capture analysis. Current research trends involve mechanobiology of soft tissues and bioprinting for trauma research. Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Oxford e-Research Centre. His work aligns with translational medicine and emergency medical device development. Future directions include optimizing 3D-printed bio-artificial tissues and advancing tactile feedback systems for prosthetics.
Marta Romeo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, United Kingdom. Her research focuses on human-robot interaction, social robotics, and affective computing within the broader field of intelligent systems. Her primary research interests include Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), Social Robotics, Affective Computing, and Cognitive Robotics. She investigates how robots can interact with humans in natural and supportive ways, with particular emphasis on explainability in human-robot collaboration, facial expression recognition systems, brain-robot interfaces for exercise applications, and the integration of large language models in social robots. Her interdisciplinary work bridges computer science, cognitive science, and healthcare applications. Analysis of her 2025 publications reveals strong trends in socially assistive robotics for healthcare settings, with significant focus on cognitive monitoring for elderly care, explainability challenges in collaborative robotics, and novel applications of AI in human-robot alignment. Key subfields include trust dynamics in human-robot teams, transfer learning for affective computing, and viability assessments of domestic robotic systems. Her work consistently addresses real-world implementation challenges while advancing theoretical frameworks in social robotics.
Dr. Nyangi Gityamwi is a Research Fellow at the University of Surrey's School of Health Sciences. He holds a PhD in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Surrey (2015), following a BSc and MSc in Human Nutrition from Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania. His research focuses on digital health interventions for long-term conditions, emphasizing equity and inclusion for disadvantaged groups. He has explored nutrition, body composition, and inflammation in haemodialysis patients and pioneered studies on exercise interventions and digital health tool development. Key projects include evaluating digital health methodologies for chronic diseases and developing the DAVIT tool to enhance domestic abuse data collaboration. He has been funded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, Schlumberger Foundation, HEIF, and NIHR ARC Kent Surrey and Sussex. His work bridges clinical practice, technology, and public engagement to improve healthcare accessibility and outcomes. Awards include the Commonwealth Scholarship (2015) and Schlumberger Foundation Fellowship (2018). He contributes to expert groups like the Digital Health and Long-term Conditions and Ageing Expert Groups at Surrey.
Fredrik Henriksson is an Assistant Professor at Linköping University's Department of Management and Engineering (IEI), within the Division of Product Realisation (PROD). His work focuses on sustainable integrated product development, particularly addressing challenges in material selection and adoption in industries like automotive and construction. He actively contributes to curriculum development, emphasizing material-driven design education for engineering students to bridge theoretical knowledge with practical industry needs. Research Interests: His primary areas include sustainable materials innovation, decision-making processes in material selection, and the integration of production systems with product development. He explores barriers to adopting renewable materials such as wood-based solutions and investigates how production systems can adapt to circular material flows. His work also addresses industrial implementation challenges of new materials, including IoT integration in wood products and multi-material automotive body solutions. Key Contributions: His 2021 doctoral thesis highlighted the role of personal habits and biases in material selection decisions, reshaping perceptions of rationality in product development. He has developed case-study methodologies for engineering education that foster cross-disciplinary collaboration and industry-relevant problem-solving. His research outcomes are published in journals like International Journal of Sustainable Engineering and SAE International Journal of Materials & Manufacturing . Labs/Teams: He is affiliated with the Unit of Design and Product Development (PRODDOP), collaborating with the Product Realisation division to advance sustainable industrial practices. His work often involves industry partnerships to ensure real-world applicability of academic research.
Chris Hughes is a Professor of International Politics and Japanese Studies at the University of Warwick's Politics and International Studies (PAIS) department within the Faculty of Social Sciences. He specialises in Japan’s foreign and security policies, US-Japan alliance dynamics, and Asia-Pacific regional security. Previously serving as Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) from 2016–2023, he led Warwick to achieve top rankings in UK teaching excellence. His research focuses on Japan's military modernization, defense industrial strategy, and geopolitical strategy under leaders like Abe. He has held visiting roles at Harvard, the University of Tokyo, and Nanyang Technological University. Co-editor of The Pacific Review , Hughes frequently engages in media commentary on Japan’s evolving security posture and international relations. Key research interests include Japan’s grand strategy, defense transformation driven by new technologies, and regional security challenges such as North Korea and China relations. He has authored influential works like Japan as a Global Military Power (2022). His work bridges academic analysis with policy implications, addressing topics like cybersecurity, maritime security, and the implications of Japan’s shifting antimilitarist norms. Hughes has advised on education policy reforms and contributed to global dialogues on East Asian security through think tanks like RUSI and IISS. Recent media engagements include analysis of Japan’s response to Trump’s foreign policy, defense exports, and its role in the Indo-Pacific. His podcast appearances and lectures, such as the 2024 Japan and North Korea discussion with IISS, highlight his active role in disseminating strategic insights. Hughes’ career combines academic leadership with applied policy analysis, emphasizing Japan’s evolving role as a military and geopolitical actor.
Janet Hauck is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Michigan State University's College of Education. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on physical activity interventions for children with disabilities, motor development in infants, and obesity prevention strategies. Key areas include examining motor behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, and cerebral palsy, as well as designing virtual and in-person health promotion programs for these populations. Her work integrates clinical and community-based approaches, emphasizing the interplay between physical activity, motor skill development, and health outcomes. Notable projects include studying the impact of Olympic combat sports on mental health in disabled youth and analyzing the efficacy of sibling-guided motor interventions. Recent studies also explore disparities in physical activity levels between Special Olympics athletes and their peers. Dr. Hauck’s articles span topics like infant activity patterns, caregiver perceptions of interventions, and gender differences in depression-related health behaviors. Her research often combines quantitative and qualitative methods, such as systematic reviews and observational studies, to address gaps in adapted physical activity research. While no specific grants or awards are listed, her contributions highlight a commitment to advancing inclusive health practices and improving quality of life for individuals with disabilities through evidence-based interventions.
Johan Jeuring is Professor of Software Technology for Learning and Teaching at Utrecht University's Department of Information and Computing Sciences. His research focuses on intelligent tutoring systems, computational thinking education, and game-based learning environments. Research Interests: Prof. Jeuring's work explores computational thinking pedagogy, automated feedback systems, and educational game design. His research bridges artificial intelligence with educational psychology to develop effective learning tools. Publications: Recent publications focus on augmented reality learning environments, programming education methodologies, automated assessment systems, and AI applications in education. His work combines empirical studies of learning behaviors with technological innovations in educational tools.
Prof. Diana Mager is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Pediatrics (Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry) and holds a primary appointment as Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science (Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences) at the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on pediatric nutrition, particularly addressing sarcopenia in children with chronic liver disease, outcomes following organ transplantation, and optimizing gluten-free dietary guidelines for celiac disease patients. She teaches advanced clinical nutrition courses (AFNS/NUTR 568, 578, 468, 476) emphasizing practical nutritional care for diverse populations. Her work integrates clinical, biochemical, and dietary interventions to improve health outcomes in pediatric and adult populations with chronic conditions. Key areas include muscle wasting syndromes, metabolic disorders, and the impact of dietary patterns on disease progression. She has contributed to evidence-based guidelines for pediatric liver transplant patients and pioneered studies on exercise rehabilitation in transplant populations. Publications highlight translational research on sarcopenia diagnostics, nutritional management of celiac disease, and the role of medium-chain triglycerides in neurological recovery post-infection. Her interdisciplinary approach addresses gaps in nutrition screening tools for malnutrition-sarcopenia syndromes and evaluates practical bioimpedance techniques for clinical use.
Professor Grzegorz Pawlina is Chair of Finance at Lancaster University Management School. His research explores corporate finance, investment decisions under uncertainty, and game-theoretic applications to financial strategy. Research Focus: Core interests include real options analysis, debt valuation, and corporate investment dynamics. Recent work examines capital adjustment costs, credit risk modeling, and governance impacts on cash holdings. Publication Trends: Pawlina's scholarship combines theoretical modeling with empirical validation across corporate finance domains. Methodological approaches feature dynamic optimization, structural modeling, and game-theoretic frameworks. Education & Background: Holds a doctorate in Finance from Tilburg University and MSc in Economics from Warsaw School of Economics. Previously held visiting positions at Aarhus University, University of Michigan Ross School of Business, and Warwick Business School.
