Chad E. Hart is a Professor in the Department of Economics at Iowa State University (ISU), specializing in agricultural economics and international trade policy. His research focuses on WTO agricultural commitments, crop insurance, biofuel policy, and commodity market dynamics. Hart holds a Ph.D. (1999) and B.S. (1991) in economics from ISU and Southwest Missouri State University, respectively. He has served in roles at ISU’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) and the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI), examining trade policies and energy-agriculture intersections. Hart has received notable awards, including the CALS Dean’s Citation (2020) and Exemplary Faculty Mentor Award (2016). His work bridges academic research and practical extension, addressing issues like trade disputes, commodity pricing, and agricultural sustainability. Hart’s insights frequently inform USDA outlook reports and policy analyses, with a focus on Iowa’s agricultural economy. Labs/Teams: Active in CARD and FAPRI, contributing to interdisciplinary research on agricultural policy and market dynamics.
Prof. Senthold Asseng is a Professor of Digital Agriculture at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), leading the Hans Eisenmann Forum for Agricultural Sciences since 2021. His research focuses on climate-plant-soil systems modeling, addressing global food security, sustainable agriculture, and digital technologies like vertical farming and autonomous robotics. He holds a PhD from Humboldt University Berlin and habilitation from TUM, with prior roles at CSIRO Australia and the University of Florida (as Full Professor and Director of the Florida Climate Institute). His honors include AAAS Fellow, Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher, and multiple teaching/mentorship awards. Education: BSc/MSc in Agronomy & Horticulture, Humboldt University Berlin (1989-1990) PhD in Agronomy, Humboldt University Berlin (1994) Habilitation in Agronomy, TUM (2004) Research Interests: Climate change impacts on crops, digital agriculture technologies, systems analysis for autonomous farming, and vertical farming sustainability. His work integrates modeling, robotics, and environmental control to enhance agricultural resilience and productivity. Awards: AAAS Fellow (2019) Highly Cited Researcher (2019) UF Research Foundation Professor (2016-2019) Grants & Leadership: Led interdisciplinary projects like AgMIP-Wheat, SECC, and FAO advisory roles. Active in editorial roles for journals like Global Change Biology and Environmental Research Letters . Labs/Teams: Chair of Digital Agriculture at TUM, collaborating on projects like Smartfield and Proteins4Singapore , focusing on automation, controlled environment agriculture, and climate-smart solutions.
Cristian Gómez Canela is a Full Professor in the Department of Analytical and Applied Chemistry at the School of Engineering, Ramon Llull University (IQS). He serves as Coordinator of the Master's Degree in Analytical Chemistry and is an active member of the Catalan Chemical Society (SCQ), representing SCQ in EuChems-EYCN. His academic journey includes a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Barcelona (2014), followed by postdoctoral research at IDAEA-CSIC and King's College University. Dr. Gómez Canela's research focuses on environmental analytical chemistry, particularly the optimization and validation of analytical methods based on liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) for determining organic pollutants in environmental samples. His work extends to metabolomics applied to aquatic organisms and the analysis of neurotoxic compounds in water systems. His research fingerprint reveals strong expertise in zebrafish models (100%), neurotransmitter analysis (66%), Daphnia magna studies (64%), and neurotoxicity assessment (21%). His recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate a clear trend toward environmental neurotoxicology, with emphasis on the effects of pharmaceuticals and industrial pollutants on aquatic organisms. His work integrates advanced analytical techniques with biological endpoints to assess environmental risks, particularly focusing on neurological and cardiovascular impacts. The research spans method development for pollutant detection, environmental monitoring, and mechanistic studies of neurotoxic effects. Dr. Gómez Canela leads multiple significant research projects including CHEMIPARK (2024-2027) on passive sampling methodologies for environmental pollutants, GESPA (2022-2025) as part of the Environmental Process Engineering and Simulation Group, and several projects on neuroactive compounds in water systems. He has an impressive research output with 91 scientific publications from 2011-2025 and an h-index of 27 with over 2,000 citations. As a dedicated educator, he contributes to multiple academic programs including the Master in Analytical Chemistry, Master in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. His research group GESPA represents a multidisciplinary team combining chemical engineering, biotechnology, and chemical analysis to advance environmental sustainability through theoretical and experimental approaches.
Carol Smith is an Associate Professor in the Department of Soil & Physical Sciences at Lincoln University, New Zealand, where she serves as Head of Department since 2017. She has been an elected academic staff member of the Lincoln University Council from 2018-2022. Dr. Smith holds a PhD from the University of Aberdeen, an MSc from the University of Reading, and a BSc(Hons) from the University of Portsmouth, forming the foundation of her expertise in soil science and physical geography. Her research spans both fundamental and applied aspects of pedology. On the fundamental side, she investigates Quaternary pedology and paleoenvironmental reconstruction using loess stratigraphy, geomorphology, and micromorphology, which provides critical data for verifying future climate change predictive models. Applied research focuses on sustainable use of recycled organic matter and rehabilitation of degraded soils. She collaborates internationally on multidisciplinary projects involving paleoclimate reconstruction, paleoliquefaction, Antarctic soils, and viticulture. Dr. Smith is passionate about teaching and science communication, employing experiential learning methods to develop practical field skills in soil science through 'soil judging competitions' in New Zealand and Australia. Her research addresses UN Sustainable Development Goals including Life on Land (15), Climate Action (13), and Quality Education (4). Among her notable recognitions are the Norman H Taylor Memorial award 2020 from the New Zealand Society of Soil Science for outstanding contributions to soil science in New Zealand and Fellowship in the Royal Geographical Society, London. She serves as Associate Editor of Natural Sciences Education and was previously editor of Quaternary Australasia. Dr. Smith has supervised numerous graduate students through research-based supervision, with completed projects covering diverse topics from soil patterns in Southland to Antarctic soil ecology. She teaches advanced courses in field research, soil science, and physical landscapes, and has developed innovative approaches to teaching during the pandemic, including virtual field trips.
Angela D. Kent is a Professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she also serves as Director of the Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology within the School of Integrative Biology. She is affiliated with the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. Her research focuses on microbial communities in agroecosystems and natural environments, particularly their roles in nitrogen cycling, soil health, and sustainable bioenergy production. Key research interests include microbial interactions in plant-microbe systems, the impact of genetic variation in crops on microbial processes, and the ecological and biogeochemical implications of soil microbiomes. She has authored over 99 publications and supervised datasets on topics such as denitrification dynamics, rhizosphere microbiome assembly, and microbial contributions to nitrogen retention. Dr. Kent has received the NACTA Educator Award (2012) and has contributed to high-impact studies on topics like microbial community responses to environmental stressors and the application of stable isotopes in bioenergy research. Her work bridges microbial ecology, agronomy, and environmental science, emphasizing practical solutions for sustainable agriculture and ecosystem management.
John McDonagh is an Associate Professor in Global Development and the Environment at the School of Global Development, University of East Anglia. His academic journey began with a BSc in Botany (University of Bristol, 1987), followed by an MSc in Tropical Soil Fertility Management (Imperial College, 1988) and a PhD in Tropical Agronomy (University of London, 1993). He joined UEA in 1997 and is a member of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. His research focuses on tropical soil management, sustainable farming systems, and land degradation assessment across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Notable projects include GEF-funded ecosystem carbon assessment tools and DFID-supported biochar studies in Ghana and China. He has also contributed to FAO’s LADA project on dryland degradation. McDonagh has extensive field experience in Thailand, Madagascar, Tanzania, and Namibia, blending scientific research with community-based approaches. His interdisciplinary work addresses the nexus of agriculture, environment, and livelihoods, aligning with UN SDGs related to climate action and zero hunger.
Kelly Arnold is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan. Her research integrates systems engineering principles with immunology to investigate variability in immune responses across infection, vaccination, and injury, with a focus on computational modeling and clinical translation. Research Focus Systems-level immune response modeling Vaccination and antibody functionality Vaginal microbiome-host interactions Chronic lung disease progression Computational serology and proteomics Recent Work Her 2025 studies examine SARS-CoV-2 vaccination responses in cancer patients and computational frameworks for vaginal probiotics. Earlier works (2024-2007) span COPD progression, lupus fibrosis, HIV susceptibility, and tissue engineering for fertility preservation. Methodologies include proteomic profiling, network modeling, and microfluidic systems.
Anders Aagaard Rehfeld is a Postdoc at the University of Copenhagen's Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, located at Jagtvej 160 in Copenhagen. His research focuses on reproductive biology and pharmacology, with particular emphasis on sperm function and calcium signaling pathways. His research interests center around the CatSper calcium channel in human sperm and how various compounds affect sperm function. He investigates the impact of pharmaceuticals, environmental chemicals, and natural compounds on male reproductive health. His work combines experimental pharmacology with reproductive biology to understand endocrine disruption mechanisms. Dr. Rehfeld's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on how substances like paracetamol metabolites, pesticides, antidepressants, finasteride, and bisphenol analogs interact with sperm calcium signaling pathways. His research shows consistent patterns in examining chemical interference with the CatSper channel, which is crucial for sperm function and fertility. Scientific Recognition: PhD Cup 2018 Winner His collaborative work extends across multiple institutions in Copenhagen, particularly with Rigshospitalet researchers including Niels Skakkebæk, Anders Juul, and Katharina Main. His media presence includes an interview in Samvirke and a BRIDGE video interview in 2020, indicating engagement with both academic and public audiences. Dr. Rehfeld maintains an active research program with significant contributions to understanding environmental and pharmaceutical impacts on male reproductive health, particularly through the lens of calcium channel physiology in sperm cells.
Gayle Letherby is a Visiting Professor of Sociology at the University of Plymouth’s Peninsula Medical School (Faculty of Health), and holds visiting roles at the University of Greenwich and the University of Bath’s Centre for Death and Society (CDAS). She is an Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences (since 2007) and recipient of the 2023 Lifetime Contribution to Autoethnography Award. Her research focuses on feminist methodology, health sociology, grief and bereavement, mobility studies, and criminology. She has supervised over 20 doctoral students across multiple universities, including topics like non-motherhood, occupational therapy, and gang culture in African Caribbean communities. Her teaching spans undergraduate and postgraduate levels, covering crime theory, auto/biographical research, and feminist epistemology. Notable collaborations include participatory studies on homeless individuals’ food experiences and ethnographic explorations of medical decision-making. Her interdisciplinary work bridges sociology, criminology, and health studies, with a strong emphasis on autoethnographic and creative methodologies. Recent research explores themes like grief narratives, gendered travel experiences, and the emotional dimensions of doctoral journeys. She has contributed to policy discussions on family-centred care and has been a guest lecturer globally, including at York University (Canada) and University College Cork (Ireland). Awards: Academy of Social Sciences Academician (2007), Lifetime Contribution to Autoethnography (2023) Teaching Expertise: Feminist research methods, criminology, sociology of health, gender studies Key Research Areas: Auto/biography, non-motherhood, medical sociology, mobility, grief studies
Prof. Waldemar Kolanus leads the Molecular Immunology and Cell Biology department at the University of Bonn's Life & Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES) . His research bridges immunoregulation , stem cell dynamics , and metabolic stress responses in immune cells. Unit 2 member at LIMES Principal investigator in SFB 704 and ImmunoSensation Cluster Leads a multidisciplinary lab with postdocs, PhD students, and technical staff His work focuses on intracellular signaling pathways connecting immune activation to tissue homeostasis, particularly through: Cytohesin proteins in integrin-mediated adhesion and migration TRIM71 in stem cell regulation and congenital hydrocephalus High-salt environments affecting macrophage function Publication trends show expertise in immune cell migration , genetic models , and chemical inhibition , with frequent use of mice and zebrafish for in vivo studies. Key articles explore: TRIM71's dual role in auditory development and germ cell maintenance Cytohesin family's Golgi regulation and insulin signaling Ruxolitinib's off-target migration inhibition of dendritic cells Contact details: Address: LIMES Institute, Carl-Troll-Straße 31, Bonn Email: kolanus.sekretariat@uni-bonn.de Phone: +49 228 73-62788
Tom Veldkamp is a Professor and Rector Magnificus at the University of Twente. His research focuses on Quaternary geology, geomorphology, and coupled human-ecological systems. He has supervised 32 PhD theses and currently advises 2 ongoing projects. His fieldwork spans over 30 countries, including Indonesia, Turkey, and Rwanda. Editorial Roles: Editor-in-Chief of Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment , former editorial roles at Landscape Ecology , Ecosystems , and others. Research Themes: Land use change modeling, soil dynamics, and sustainable development. Key regions of study include Sundaland (Indonesia), Mediterranean landscapes, and Rwanda. Recent Contributions: Over 230 publications, including landmark studies on hominin fossils in Java and landscape evolution models. His work addresses global challenges like environmental sustainability and land-use transitions, with a focus on integrating natural and social sciences.
Eli Ben-Michael is an Assistant Professor jointly appointed in the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy and the Department of Statistics & Data Science at Carnegie Mellon University. He is affiliated with the CMU-NIST AI Measurement Science & Engineering Cooperative Research Center (AIMSEC), contributing to cutting-edge research at the intersection of statistics, policy analysis, and artificial intelligence. His educational background includes a PhD in Statistics from U.C. Berkeley and undergraduate studies at Columbia University where he earned a dual degree in Computer Science and Statistics. Prior to his current position, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University's Institute for Quantitative Social Science and Department of Statistics. Ben-Michael's research focuses on developing innovative statistical and computational methods for causal inference and policy evaluation, with particular emphasis on integrating machine learning techniques to address complex problems in public policy and social science. His work bridges theoretical statistics with practical applications in healthcare, criminal justice, education, and social policy. Current research directions include safe policy learning, sensitivity analysis for clustered data, and methodological innovations for the synthetic control method. His publication record shows a strong trajectory in top-tier journals including Journal of the American Statistical Association, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, and Proceedings of ICML. Recent work demonstrates increasing focus on policy-relevant applications including abortion legislation impacts, pre-trial risk assessment, and healthcare disparities, while maintaining methodological rigor in causal inference frameworks. Ben-Michael has developed open-source software tools including augsynth and multical R packages, which implement his methodological contributions for synthetic controls and multilevel calibration weighting. These packages have been adopted by researchers in multiple disciplines for causal inference applications.
David L Jordan is the William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University. His appointment consists of 50% Extension, 25% Research, and 25% Academic responsibilities. He serves as a Crop Science Extension Specialist with a focus on peanut production and weed management, working closely with the North Carolina Peanut Growers Association, private consultants, industry representatives, and farmers. Dr. Jordan received his educational background from North Carolina State University and the University of Arkansas: PhD in Agronomy, University of Arkansas, 1993 MS in Crop Science, North Carolina State University, 1988 BS in Agronomy, North Carolina State University, 1985 AS, Chowan College, 1983 Dr. Jordan's research focuses primarily on peanut-based cropping systems, integrated pest management in peanut production, and the applied biology and management of weeds. His work addresses critical challenges in sustainable agriculture, including herbicide resistance management, crop rotation strategies, and aflatoxin mitigation in peanut production. He has developed significant expertise in developing risk tools to assist peanut growers and their advisors manage pests. His international work extends to Africa, where he collaborates with colleagues to develop more effective and sustainable pest management strategies for peanut (groundnut) and to improve food safety through aflatoxin mitigation. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on optimizing agricultural practices for peanut, cotton, and soybean production. Key themes include crop rotation effects on weed populations, nematode management in peanut systems, herbicide resistance evolution in agricultural weeds, and international peanut production practices. His research integrates field studies with practical extension applications to address real-world agricultural challenges across multiple continents. Dr. Jordan has received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career: Fellow of multiple professional societies including the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Weed Science Society of America, and Southern Weed Science Society William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor (2015) Academy of Outstanding Faculty in Extension and Engagement, North Carolina State University (2022) Outstanding Extension and Engagement Award, North Carolina State University (2022) Dow AgroSciences Award for Excellence in Education from the American Peanut Research and Education Society (2010) Dr. Jordan has mentored numerous graduate students, serving as advisor or co-advisor for 3 MCS, 13 MS, and 12 PhD students, and has served on 40 MS, 45 PhD, and 7 MA graduate committees. His grant funding totals over $11.9 million from Louisiana State University Agricultural Center (1993-1996) and North Carolina State University (1996-present). He has led multiple USAID-funded international projects focused on peanut production and aflatoxin mitigation in countries like Ghana, Haiti, and Malawi. Dr. Jordan leads a comprehensive research and extension program focused on peanut production systems. His work involves close collaboration with multiple departments at NC State including Entomology and Plant Pathology and Biological and Agricultural Engineering. Internationally, he works with colleagues across Africa to develop sustainable pest management strategies. His program emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration among many individuals, disciplines, and institutions with the common goal of improving the quality of life of people through agricultural improvements, education, and science.
Heping Zhang is the Susan Dwight Bliss Professor of Biostatistics at the Yale School of Public Health , with secondary appointments in the Child Study Center , Department of Statistics and Data Science , and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences . He directs the Collaborative Center for Statistics in Science (C²S²) and leads the Reproductive Medicine Network data coordinating center. Education: PhD in Statistics, Stanford University (1991) Postdoctoral Fellow, Mathematical Science Research Institute (1991) Research Focus : Zhang specializes in biostatistical methodology for genomic data analysis , clinical trials , and reproductive medicine . His work bridges genetics , mental health , and maternal-child health through innovative statistical approaches. Awards : 2023 Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher 2023 International Chinese Statistical Association Distinguished Achievement Award 2022 Institute of Mathematical Statistics Neyman Award and Lecture 2011 Royan Institute International Research Award 2011 Institute of Mathematical Statistics Medallion Award 2008 Harvard School of Public Health Myrto Lefokopoulou Distinguished Lecturer Professional Roles : He served as President of the International Chinese Statistical Association (2019) and Former Editor of the Journal of the American Statistical Association - Applications and Case Studies . His lab develops open-source software tools like ABESS , STREE , and modSaRa for genomic and clinical data analysis.
Dr. Yunfei Jiang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences at Dalhousie University's Faculty of Agriculture. Her research focuses on improving crop resilience to climate change and sustainable agronomic practices in Atlantic Canada, with expertise in agronomy, crop physiology, and environmental stress responses. She holds a Ph.D. in Plant Science from the University of Saskatchewan (2017), an M.Sc. from Dalhousie University (2013), and a B.Sc. in Horticulture from Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (2010). Her research includes evaluating enhanced efficiency fertilizers, biochar, and intercropping systems to enhance soil health and crop yields. She teaches courses such as AGRN2001 (Cereal-Based Cropping Systems) and PLSC2001 (Plant Propagation Techniques). Funding and awards details, along with her graduate students' projects, are available on her lab website at jiangdal.ca . Dr. Jiang is affiliated with professional organizations including the Nova Scotia Institute of Agrologists and the American Society of Agronomy. Her lab, the Agronomy and Crop Physiology (ACP) Lab, emphasizes sustainable agriculture and crop adaptation to environmental challenges. Contact her via email at yunfei.jiang@dal.ca or visit her lab's address: PO Box 550, Truro, NS B2N 5E3.
