Paul Drawz, MD, MHS, MS, is an Associate Professor in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at the University of Minnesota Medical School. His research focuses on chronic kidney disease (CKD), acute kidney injury (AKI), hypertension management, and social determinants of health. He utilizes electronic health records (EHR) and clinical trials like SPRINT to investigate cardiovascular outcomes, renal risk stratification, and health equity. Institution: University of Minnesota Department: Department of Medicine His recent work explores urbanicity and diabetes disparities, pharmacy accessibility metrics, and cognitive impacts of hypotensive episodes. Key themes include EHR-based population health research, CKD progression modeling, and interventions like mHealth applications for hypertension treatment. Notable collaborations include the Minnesota EHR Consortium and CRIC Study. Current research trends emphasize environmental factors (e.g., air pollution, extreme temperatures) and telemonitoring strategies for blood pressure control.
Patrick Miller is a Professor in the School of Biology at University of St Andrews , with affiliations to the Scottish Oceans Institute , Sea Mammal Research Unit , and Institute of Behavioural and Neural Sciences . He leads research on the communication and behavioral ecology of marine mammals , focusing on how anthropogenic activities like naval sonar impact cetacean behavior and physiology. His work utilizes advanced tools such as hydrophone arrays and animal-attached tags to study species including sperm whales , northern bottlenose whales , and humpback whales . Research Interests include: Behavioral Ecology of marine mammals Bioacoustics and echolocation studies Impact of Underwater Noise on cetaceans Physiological Adaptation to marine environments Conservation Biology of endangered species Marine Technology development Article Trends show expertise in acoustic disturbance , foraging strategies , and whale vocalizations , with recent studies on sonar effects, dive capabilities, and behavioral responses to environmental stressors. Scientific Awards include the Kobe Award (2013) . Advisory Roles involve collaborations with institutions like the University of Tokyo (visiting professor) and European Commission (Marie Curie Fellowship). Projects include 3S3 Behavioral Response Studies (2015–2016) and Off-Range Beaked Whale Studies (ORBS) (2016–2017). Media Contributions highlight his work on whale conservation and naval sonar impacts .
Ellen M. Considine is an incoming Assistant Professor of Geography and Fellow of CIRES at the University of Colorado Boulder, starting August 2025. Her work integrates environmental change, health and wellbeing, and data science to develop pragmatic, equitable solutions for public and planetary health challenges. Education: PhD in Biostatistics from Harvard University (2025) BS in Applied Mathematics from CU Boulder Research Interests: GeoHealth and Planetary Health Applied Statistics and Data Science Policy and Decision-Making under Uncertainty Environmental Justice in Air Quality AI/ML Applications for Climate-Health Low-Cost Sensor Networks for Equitable Monitoring Scientific Awards: American Statistical Association Student Paper Competition Winner (2024) NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2020) CU Boulder Outstanding Graduate (2020) Publications focus on causal inference for plastic waste policy analysis, AI-driven heat alerts, sensor equity in air quality, wildfire PM2.5 modeling, and interdisciplinary data science applications. She emphasizes environmental justice and equity in all projects.
Prof. Dirk Schneider is a Full Professor (W3) of Biochemistry at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz since 2010, with previous appointments at the University of Freiburg (2003-2009) and postdoctoral training at Yale University. His research spans membrane biochemistry, biophysics, and transmembrane protein folding/assembly, focusing on thylakoid membrane biogenesis and protein-lipid interactions in cyanobacteria and chloroplasts. Current roles: Full Professor, University Mainz Previous roles: Assistant Professor (W1), University of Freiburg Education: PhD (summa cum laude) from Ruhr-University Bochum His research interests include: Membrane protein folding and stability ESCRT-III/Vipp1/PspA family structural dynamics ABC transporter activity regulation (e.g., BmrA) Protein-lipid interaction mechanisms Thylakoid membrane remodeling Comparative membrane biology between prokaryotes and eukaryotes Development of spectroscopic and computational methods Recent publications reveal trends in bacterial membrane remodeling (SynDLP, PspA), lipid effects on transporter activity (BmrA), and IM30/Vipp1-mediated membrane fusion. His work combines structural biology, biophysics, and functional assays to elucidate membrane dynamics. Awarded the Dr. Heinrich Kost Award (2001) and Leopoldina Fellowship (2001) , he has held leadership roles including Study Section Speaker (2010-2014) , Director of Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry (2013-2015) , and Dean of Faculty of Chemistry (2015-2020) . His scientific advisory roles include editorial board memberships and study section leadership.
Kate Calder is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Statistics and Data Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin's College of Natural Sciences. She earned her B.A. in Mathematics from Northwestern University, followed by an M.S. and Ph.D. in Statistics from Duke University. Prior to joining UT in 2019, she held faculty positions at The Ohio State University for 16 years. Former co-director of NSF-funded Mathematical Biosciences Institute Associate Director of UT’s Population Research Center Chair of NIH Analytics and Statistics for Population Research Panel B Study Section Area Editor for Annals of Applied Statistics Her research develops statistical methods for complex data, including spatial statistics, Bayesian modeling, and latent space models for networks. Current projects examine: Mobile-tracking data to analyze crime patterns and social ties Youth health impacts from non-residential activity spaces Exposure assessment through hierarchical pathways models She has secured funding from NIH, NSF, and federal foundations, and was elected to leadership roles in the American Statistical Association and International Society for Bayesian Analysis. Her work emphasizes practical applications across public health, ecology, and finance. Notable achievements: Tripled department size after joining UT Launched Online Master’s in Data Science (2021), surpassing 1,000 students Introduced undergraduate major in Data Sciences (2022)
Bryan Hubbard is a Professor at Purdue University's School of Construction Management Technology, where he has taught for over 20 years. He has taught nineteen unique courses in construction addressing a wide range of the construction curriculum, with a focus on estimating, design construction integration, and industrial construction. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University and both Master's and Bachelor's degrees from Purdue University (MSE and BSME respectively). He is also licensed as a professional engineer in the State of Indiana. Professor Hubbard's research interests span multiple critical areas in modern construction: workforce development, construction supply chain management, modularization, construction safety, sustainability and energy efficiency, industrial construction, and UAS/Drone applications. His work demonstrates a strong focus on practical applications of technology to solve real-world construction challenges, particularly in sustainability and safety domains. His publications reveal consistent research activity with a recent emphasis on drone technology applications in construction and transportation, sustainability metrics for infrastructure, and knowledge management in construction companies. His work bridges the gap between academic research and industry practice, often collaborating with industry partners to address current challenges. Charles B. Murphy Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award (2023) Magoon Award for Excellence in Teaching Professor Hubbard has held leadership roles including Head of the School of Construction Management Technology from 2013 to 2016, during which he led curriculum transformation initiatives and oversaw the creation of the Design Construction Integration degree. He has also been granted three patents related to heat exchanger technology for cooling systems, demonstrating his ability to translate research into practical innovations. His teaching philosophy emphasizes real-world connections, with a focus on preparing students for industry challenges through practical application of fundamentals. He has led international study trips to China, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Barcelona to broaden students' perspectives.
Professor George Streftaris is a faculty member at Heriot-Watt University within the Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics department under the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences . His academic career spans over two decades, including roles as associate professor and lecturer at Heriot-Watt University (2004-2019) and post-doctoral positions at BioSS and Heriot-Watt (2001-2004). He serves on the Board of Examiners for the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and acts as an external examiner for multiple institutions. Professional memberships include Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society , member of the International Society for Bayesian Analysis , and the Greek Statistical Institute . Education: PhD in Statistics (University of Edinburgh) MSc in Statistics and OR (University of Essex, Distinction) BSc in Statistics and Actuarial Science (University of Piraeus, Greece) Research Interests: Streftaris specializes in Bayesian stochastic modeling , inference, and assessment at the intersection of statistics, epidemiology, and actuarial science. His work addresses critical illness insurance, longevity risk, and health-related insurance through predictive modeling and statistical machine learning. Key themes include disease transmission dynamics, model diagnostics, and uncertainty quantification in epidemic systems. Collaborations extend to life and biomedical sciences. Recent Publications: Recent articles focus on COVID-19 pandemic impacts on breast cancer mortality using semi-Markov models, neural network approaches for admission rate prediction, and Bayesian modeling of epidemic systems. Notable projects involve machine learning for multi-asset strategies, model uncertainty in insurance pricing, and stochastic frameworks for disease spread. Research Projects: Centers of Actuarial Excellence (SOA, 2019-2023): Predictive modeling for medical morbidity risk SCOR Foundation of Science (2022-2024): Breast cancer life insurance impact ARC Project (IFoA, 2016-2022): Longevity and morbidity risk management The Data Lab (2017-2018): Machine learning for multi-asset strategies Advising: Supervises ongoing PhD students in Bayesian and neural network modeling in epidemiology, with completed students working on topics like critical illness insurance, disease transmission, and stochastic mortality. Collaborations include researchers in the UK, USA, and international institutions.
Farzad Hashemi serves as an Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture + Planning within The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), affiliated with the Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design. He leads the Climate-Sensitive Design Lab (CSDL), focusing on interdisciplinary research at the intersection of urban climate science, building performance, and environmental justice. Education: Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University Dr. Hashemi's research investigates urban heat island phenomena, building energy dynamics, and socio-spatial inequities in thermal exposure. His work employs advanced simulation techniques including GIS, ENVI-met, CFD, and machine learning to analyze climate impacts across diverse urban contexts. Key contributions include examining historical redlining's legacy on contemporary heat distribution, developing parametric workflows for energy modeling, and creating data-driven mitigation strategies for urban heat. His approach integrates technical building science with critical social analysis to address climate vulnerabilities in marginalized communities. His publication portfolio demonstrates consistent focus on urban heat mitigation, building energy performance, and environmental justice across multiple U.S. cities. Recent work emphasizes adaptive cooling strategies through computational modeling and examines thermal inequities through spatial analysis of social vulnerability indices. The research bridges technical climate modeling with socio-political dimensions of urban heat exposure. Honors and Awards: The 2024 ARCC Dissertation Award As director of the Climate-Sensitive Design Lab, Dr. Hashemi develops research initiatives that combine environmental simulation with community-focused design solutions. The lab's work informs both academic discourse and practical urban planning applications, particularly regarding climate adaptation in rapidly growing Sun Belt cities like San Antonio. Current projects integrate tree canopy data, occupancy patterns, and future climate scenarios to create resilient urban environments.
Maria Grazia Alaimo is a Researcher in the Department of Earth and Marine Sciences at the University of Palermo . Her work focuses on environmental geochemistry, atmospheric pollution analysis, and biomonitoring using plants, lichens, and human biological matrices. She has conducted extensive studies on trace element distribution in urban and industrial areas of Sicily. Current affiliation: University of Palermo Academic rank: Researcher Research Interests: Her research spans trace element geochemistry , urban air quality , and human exposure to heavy metals . Key areas include: Atmospheric pollution dynamics Soil and plant interactions Biomonitoring techniques Industrial contamination effects Health risk assessment Recent publications demonstrate expertise in PM10/PM2.5 analysis , lichen biomonitoring , and heavy metal accumulation in mushrooms and human hair . While no explicit awards or students are listed in available data, her work contributes to environmental health and pollution mitigation strategies.
Dr. Joseph Rower is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Adjunct Assistant Professor in Pediatrics at the University of Utah's College of Pharmacy. He serves as Associate Director of the Center for Human Toxicology. Undergraduate: California Lutheran University, BS in Chemistry and Mathematics Doctoral: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowships: Systems Biology at University of Colorado, Antiviral Pharmacology at University of Colorado, and Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology at University of Utah Dr. Rower's research focuses on pediatric pharmacology , particularly validating bioanalytical methods for small blood volumes to improve clinical care for children. His lab explores personalized dosing strategies , tacrolimus in pediatric transplantation , (val)ganciclovir for congenital cytomegalovirus , and cannabis pharmacokinetics in adolescents . Collaborative work spans preclinical models, clinical trials, and pharmacometric modeling. Recent publications emphasize pediatric pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships , bioanalytical innovations , and personalized medicine applications in diverse areas including infectious disease , neurology , and critical care . Scientific Awards Board-certified clinical pharmacologist (Diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Pharmacology) Dr. Rower's lab within the Center for Human Toxicology integrates bioanalysis and pharmacometrics to identify patient-specific factors affecting drug pharmacokinetics. Collaborations include Dr. Albert Park (pediatric ENT), Dr. Chris Reilly's team (TRP channels and pulmonary toxicology), and international partners via the University of Utah's cores.
Susan Murray , ScD, is a Professor in the Department of Biostatistics at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She has made significant contributions to survival analysis methodology, particularly in lung allocation systems and quality-of-life-adjusted survival models. Education: ScD in Biostatistics (Harvard, 1994), MS in Biostatistics (Harvard, 1992), BA in Statistics and English (Rice, 1990) Roles: Biostatistical Editor for American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine , member of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Data and Safety Monitoring Board Her research focuses on nonparametric survival analysis with informative censoring, group sequential methods for censored data, and quality-of-life-adjusted survival models. She pioneered Lung Allocation Score development and dependent censoring methodology. Recent collaborative work with pulmonary researchers has advanced CT parametric response mapping for COPD progression, machine learning applications in proteomics, and spatially localized lung disease analysis. Her publications show strong emphasis on survival modeling , censored data handling, and transplantation outcomes . Scientific Awards: University of Michigan School of Public Health Excellence in Teaching Award (2003) On Job/On Campus Master's Program Teacher of the Year (2001) Professor Murray maintains active collaborations with University of Michigan Medical School pulmonary researchers and national institutions. She has served on editorial boards for Biometrics and Lifetime Data Analysis , and currently contributes to the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine as Biostatistical Editor.
Stuart Batterman is a Professor at the University of Michigan's School of Public Health and College of Engineering. His work spans environmental health sciences, air and water quality, and global public health initiatives. Education: PhD in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1986) MS in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, MIT (1981) BS in Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University (1979) Professor Batterman specializes in environmental impact assessment, exposure analysis for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), environmental justice, life cycle analysis, and pollution control strategies. His research integrates laboratory and field studies with statistical modeling to address urban and industrial health risks. His recent publications focus on VOC exposure, asthma interventions, environmental justice, and sustainable systems. Projects include NSF-funded work on concrete materials, NIH/Fogarty collaborations in South Africa, and CDC/NIOSH-supported health and safety programs. Contact: stuartb@umich.edu | Office: 734-763-2417 | Address: M6075 SPH II, University of Michigan
Avery Berman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at Carleton University and a Scientist at the University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research (IMHR) at The Royal. His work focuses on advancing functional MRI (fMRI) techniques for high-resolution imaging of brain activity and physiology, with applications in neuroscience and mental health disorders. PhD in Biomedical Engineering and MSc in Medical Radiation Physics from McGill University Postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School and the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging Research Interests include: High-resolution fMRI at 7 Tesla Biophysical modeling of vascular networks Quantitative biomarkers for oxygen metabolism PET-MRI hybrid imaging systems Neurovascular coupling in mental illness Scientific Awards include: NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship (Master's) CIHR Canada Graduate Scholarship (Doctoral) CIHR Postdoctoral Fellowship (top 10/600 applicants) NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship (top Physics section recipient) Research Funding from NSERC, CFI, and institutional support from Carleton University and IMHR. His lab develops the open-source BOLDsωimsuite software for fMRI signal modeling and collaborates with Canada-wide vascular training programs.
Gabriele Bernardini is a Researcher at the Department of Civil, Building and Architectural Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering at Università Politecnica delle Marche (UNIVPM) in Ancona, Italy. His office is located at via brecce bianche 12, Ancona in the DICEA, Construction Section (quota 150), where he holds office hours on Wednesdays from 9-11 AM. His work focuses on the intersection of built environment safety, risk assessment, and innovative technological applications for urban resilience. Dr. Bernardini's research interests center on multi-risk assessment and mitigation in urban built environments, particularly addressing flood risks, terrorist threats, and heatwave vulnerabilities in historical contexts. His work employs innovative methodologies including virtual reality simulations, behavioral design approaches, and data-driven predictive models. He has developed frameworks for measuring user exposure and vulnerability, optimizing evacuation paths, and creating integrated wayfinding systems for emergency situations. His research bridges the gap between theoretical risk assessment and practical implementation in real-world urban settings, with a special focus on preserving historical character while enhancing safety. Analysis of his recent publications (2021-2025) reveals a consistent focus on multi-risk scenarios in urban environments, particularly examining how different hazards interact in historical settings. His work demonstrates increasing sophistication in methodology, moving from basic risk assessment to integrated multi-risk frameworks that consider user behavior, environmental factors, and technological solutions. A significant portion of his research applies virtual reality and extended reality technologies to safety training and evacuation planning, showing the evolution from theoretical models to practical applications with real-world testing. His research has practical applications across multiple domains including urban planning, emergency management, and building maintenance. Through his work on automatic detection systems using maintenance requests and predictive management approaches, he's contributing to more responsive building management practices. His case studies on specific locations like Matera demonstrate the translation of theoretical frameworks into context-specific solutions for historic urban environments.
Dr. Debbie Kelly is a Professor and Special Advisor for Practice Innovation at Memorial University's School of Pharmacy, where she also serves as Director of the Medication Therapy Services Clinic (MTS Clinic). She holds cross-appointments with the Faculty of Medicine and Eastern Health's Provincial HIV Program, functioning as Clinical Pharmacotherapy Specialist to the provincial HIV program. Dr. Kelly's educational background includes: Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Memorial University (1996) Hospital pharmacy residency from Queen Elizabeth II Health Science Centre in Halifax (1997) Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Toronto (1999) Dr. Kelly established Newfoundland and Labrador's first pharmacist clinic (the MTS Clinic) in 2016 and has built a significant research program around pharmacist scope of practice, collaborative care models, and health outcomes. Her work focuses on optimizing medication use, deprescribing, and expanding pharmacists' roles in HIV care, sexual health services, and point-of-care testing. A pivotal moment in her career came in 2009 when she co-established Canada's first nurse practitioner-pharmacist-led HIV clinic following the province's loss of its only infectious disease physician. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on evaluating pharmacist-led models for HIV prevention, sexual health services, and medication optimization, particularly in rural and underserved communities where up to a third of patients lack family doctors. The research consistently shows pharmacists can effectively expand access to care, reduce emergency department visits, and improve health outcomes. Dr. Kelly has received numerous prestigious awards, including: 2025 Canadian Pharmacist of the Year from the Canadian Pharmacists Association 2025 Canadian Pharmacists Journal Best Paper of the Year 2024 James C. Quick Award 2020 CNIE Award of Merit for Excellence in Instructional Design Multiple Bristol Myers Squibb Excellence in Pharmaceutical Teaching awards She actively mentors PhD and Master's students working on projects related to hepatitis C testing, HIV services, and deprescribing. Her research is supported by significant CIHR grants including ACCESS-Rx, APPROACH 2.0, and CTN+. Dr. Kelly is currently focused on scaling the MTS Clinic model across Newfoundland and Labrador, integrating pharmacists into public health testing systems, and advocating for expanded pharmacist scope of practice aligned with their education to address healthcare gaps, particularly in rural communities.
