Deepak Ganesan is a Professor at the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences (CICS) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His research focuses on low-power sensing and communication, networked systems, and machine learning applied to pervasive health monitoring and societal challenges. PhD, Computer Science, University of California, Los Angeles (2004) MS, Computer Science, University of California, Los Angeles (2000) BTech, Computer Science, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (1998) Ganesan's work bridges wireless sensor networks, smart textiles, and healthcare applications. He designs ultra-low-power wearable devices for tracking health signals like drug use, smoking, and cognitive performance, often integrating machine learning for robust detection. His research emphasizes societal impact, particularly in aging and Alzheimer's care through the Massachusetts AI and Technology Center for Connected Care (MassAITC) and the Center for Personalized Health Monitoring (CPHM). Recent publications highlight innovations in edge-cloud collaboration, fabric-based sensors, and longitudinal health analytics. His NIH-funded MD2K Center for Excellence and affiliations with the Center for Data Science and Computational Social Science Institute further underscore his interdisciplinary approach. ACM Fellow NSF CAREER Award (2006) IBM Faculty Award (2008) UMass Junior Faculty Fellow (2008) UMass Lilly Teaching Fellow (2009) Best Paper at CHI 2013 Best Paper Runner-up at Mobicom 2014 Honorable Mentions at Ubicomp 2013 Ganesan leads the SENSORS: Wireless Sensor Networks Group and contributes to global initiatives like the Internet of Battlefield Things. His work spans academic research, industry partnerships, and policy development in AgeTech and digital health.
Stanislaw Jarecki is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences (ICS) at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). He joined UCI in 2003 after earning his Ph.D. in Computer Science from MIT in 2001 under Prof. Shafi Goldwasser. His research focuses on applied and distributed cryptography, with significant contributions to threshold cryptography, secure computation, and password-authenticated key exchange (PAKE) protocols such as OPAQUE, which secures 2 billion WhatsApp users. He also worked at Intertrust’s StarLab and Stanford’s applied cryptography group under Prof. Dan Boneh. Education: Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001. Research Interests: Distributed cryptography, secure multi-party computation, privacy-preserving protocols, threshold security, blockchain applications, and efficient cryptographic primitives. His work emphasizes practical solutions for real-world systems, including protocols resilient to server compromises and scalable encryption methods. Awards: 2023 IACR Fellow for contributions to distributed cryptography and efficient secure computation. Advising and Grants: Jarecki’s research has been supported by grants including NSF SaTC programs. He advises students on cryptographic protocol design and security mechanisms. His work on OPAQUE and CHIC protocols exemplifies his focus on bridging theoretical cryptography with practical implementation. Labs/Teams: Leads a research group focused on applied cryptography and security within ICS at UCI, collaborating on projects like secure computation, privacy-preserving data processing, and cryptographic protocol development.
Dr. Jeremy I. Schwartz is an Associate Professor at Yale School of Medicine (Department of Medicine) and Yale School of Public Health (Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology). He specializes in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), global health, and digital health interventions. As Firm Chief of Yale Primary Care Residency Program and Director of the Faculty Network Program at the Yale Institute for Global Health, he leads initiatives to improve healthcare delivery in low-resource settings. He co-founded the Uganda Initiative for Integrated Management of Non-Communicable Diseases (UINCD), collaborating with Ugandan institutions to address fragmented NCD care. His research focuses on hypertension, diabetes, and heart failure management in Uganda, leveraging mobile health (mHealth) tools. He also directs the 'Topics in Global Medicine' course at Yale, training future healthcare leaders in global health challenges. Education: MD from University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry (2006), BS from Cornell University (2000). Honors include the Doran J. Stevens Prize (2006), Gold Humanism Honor Society (2006), and Alpha Omega Alpha (2005). Key roles: Medical Director of the Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network (ECHORN), Co-Director of UINCD, and affiliated faculty at the Yale Institute for Global Health and Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS. His work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, with a focus on Africa and the Caribbean. Research emphasizes integrated care models, digital health innovations, and policy advocacy for NCDs. Recent projects include adapting mobile health applications for heart failure patients and evaluating cost barriers to essential medicines in Uganda.
Profile Roles and Affiliations: Michael Smets is a Professor of Management at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. He is also a Research Fellow at Green Templeton College and a member of the Centre for Professional Service Firms. His academic contributions span institutional theory, practice theory, and strategic management. Education: Bachelor’s equivalent in Business and Economics, Cologne University, Germany MSc in Management Research, Saïd Business School DPhil in Management, Saïd Business School Postdoctoral Researcher at Saïd Business School and University of Alberta’s School of Management Research Interests: Michael’s work examines professional service firms (PSFs) through three core lenses: Global Operations: Internationalisation challenges in law, consulting, and reinsurance firms, with a focus on institutional complexity and regulatory systems. Innovation & Career Systems: How evolving career structures in PSFs can simultaneously drive innovation and address work-life balance demands. Recent studies highlight ambidextrous career paths and their strategic leverage. Methodological Innovation: Pioneering video- and team-ethnography to capture micro-level organisational practices. His ‘fly on the wall’ study at Lloyd’s of London is a landmark in this domain. Academic & Industry Impact: His research has been translated into industry-relevant outputs, including reports for the reinsurance sector and handbooks for legal firms. The 2013 ESRC Award for Outstanding Impact in Business recognises this translational work. Academically, he has received the 2012 Academy of Management Journal Best Article Award and multiple best paper awards. Teaching & Executive Education: Michael teaches strategic management, innovation, and business development in executive programmes for Commerzbank, Deloitte, and other global firms. He is Programme Director for the Oxford Leading Professional Service Firms Programme, emphasizing interactive, case-study driven pedagogy. His teaching philosophy prioritises critical thinking over rigid models, as he states: ‘It is critical to understand under which circumstances which models work, and which ones don’t.’ Labs & Collaborations: Affiliated with the Centre for Professional Service Firms and the Oxford Initiative on Rethinking Performance. He collaborates with institutions like Cass Business School and Aston Business School on ethnographic studies. His work also intersects with the Insurance Institute of London and the International Bar Association for practitioner-focused outputs.
Laura Albert is a Professor of Industrial & Systems Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and former David H. Gustafson Department Chair (2021-24). She serves as a Fellow of AAAS and IISE, and previously held the INFORMS presidency. Her research focuses on optimizing public-sector systems, with applications in critical infrastructure protection, emergency response, and cybersecurity. She advocates for public engagement through op-eds and blogs like 'Punk Rock Operations Research.' Education: PhD in Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2006) MS in Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2001) BS in Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2000) Research Interests: Dr. Albert’s work bridges operations research and public policy, addressing challenges in emergency medical services, voting system security, law enforcement strategies, and opioid treatment diversion programs. She employs mathematical optimization, game theory, and stochastic modeling to design resilient systems. Awards: INFORMS Impact Prize (2018) NSF CAREER Award (2011) Fulbright Award (2020) AAAS Fellow (2020) Advising & Grants: While explicit student names aren’t listed, her research has been supported by grants from the NSF, Army Research Office, and other agencies. She advises on interdisciplinary projects involving public health, cybersecurity, and disaster management. Labs/Teams: Engaged in collaborative efforts across the College of Engineering, including affiliations with the Electrical & Computer Engineering department. Leads initiatives on resilient infrastructure and emergency response systems.
Dr. Sotirios Stathakis is Chief of Physics at the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center (2023–Present) and Associate Director of the Medical Physics Division at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (2017–2022). He holds an Adjunct Professor position at Louisiana State University's Department of Physics and Astronomy (2023–Present). His expertise lies in radiation oncology and medical physics, with a focus on patient-specific quality assurance, dose verification, and advanced treatment techniques like adaptive radiation therapy and SBRT. Education: Ph.D., Medical Physics, University of Patras (2005) M.S., Medical Physics, University of Aberdeen (1997) B.S., Physics (minor in Mathematics and Computer Science), University of Waterloo (1995) Research Interests: Patient-specific quality assurance Daily dose verification Treatment planning techniques Adaptive radiation therapy Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) Automation and workflow optimization in radiation oncology Publications: Over 20 peer-reviewed articles since 2020, focusing on topics like Monte Carlo simulations, AI-driven beam analysis, and AAPM task group recommendations for IMRT verification. Key themes include improving dose accuracy, equipment validation, and clinical implementation of advanced radiation technologies. Grants & Awards: Not explicitly listed in provided text. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with institutions like Fox Chase Cancer Center, South Texas Veterans Health Administration, and LSU on medical physics research and clinical applications.
Vera Liao is a Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research, where she is part of the FATE (Fairness, Accountability, Transparency, and Ethics of AI) group. She will join the University of Michigan Computer Science and Engineering department as an Associate Professor in fall 2025. Her work focuses on human-AI interaction, explainable AI, and responsible computing. Liao has made significant contributions to IBM products such as AI Explainability 360 and Uncertainty Quantification 360 during her time at IBM T.J. Watson Research Center. Dr. Liao received her education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Tsinghua University. Her academic journey has positioned her at the intersection of human-computer interaction and artificial intelligence, with a strong emphasis on creating AI systems that are transparent, accountable, and user-centered. Vera Liao's research primarily centers around human-centered AI explainability and transparency. She investigates how to design AI systems that effectively communicate their capabilities, limitations, and decision-making processes to users. Her work examines the intersection of AI transparency with trust, control, and user experience. Liao has pioneered approaches to bridging the socio-technical gap in AI evaluation and has developed frameworks for contextualized evaluation of explainable AI systems. Her research spans multiple domains including conversational interfaces, data storytelling, and creative work with generative AI. Liao's publications reveal a clear trend toward addressing the challenges of large language models and their impact on human-AI interaction. Her recent work focuses on understanding how uncertainty communication affects user trust, how to design for appropriate reliance on AI systems, and how to create authentic co-creation experiences with generative models. She has been examining the risks in AI-infused information ecosystems and developing methods for human-centered evaluation of language technologies. Her scientific contributions have been recognized with multiple honors: Best Paper Award, Honorable Mention at CHI 2025 (two papers) Best Paper Award at CHI 2024 Best Paper Award, Honorable Mention at FAccT 2023 Best Paper Award, Honorable Mention at HCOMP 2022 Best Paper Award, Honorable Mention at CHI 2021 Best Paper Award, Honorable Mention at CHI 2014 Outstanding Paper Award at IUI 2019 Dr. Liao is an active mentor, having guided numerous research interns from top universities including Cornell, Princeton, CMU, Stanford, and MIT. She serves in editorial roles as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Springer Human-Computer Interaction Book Series and as an Editor for ACM CSCW. Liao has secured research funding through her work at Microsoft Research and previously at IBM, focusing on projects related to AI explainability, transparency, and responsible AI development. As part of Microsoft Research's FATE group, Liao collaborates with a multidisciplinary team of researchers focused on the ethical implications of AI technologies. Her work bridges the gap between technical AI development and human-centered design principles, ensuring that AI systems are developed with user needs and societal impacts in mind.
Claire Mercer is a Professor of Human Geography at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), based in the Department of Geography and Environment. Her research focuses on urbanization in Africa, particularly in Tanzania, examining how middle-class identities are constructed through suburban housing and self-build practices. She explores themes of class reproduction, urban inequality, and the intersection of civil society with development policies. Mercer is a leading scholar in African urban studies, with expertise in diaspora networks, postcolonial geographies, and NGO dynamics. Her current research project, funded by the ESRC, investigates how self-build housing in Ghana and Tanzania drives urban and economic growth. She has authored multiple books and articles, including the upcoming monograph The suburban frontier: middle class construction in Dar es Salaam (University of California Press, 2024). Mercer serves on editorial boards for journals such as the International Journal of Urban and Regional Research and Antipode , contributing to critical debates in development geography. Her work spans interdisciplinary themes including African urbanism, spatial inequality, and the politics of belonging. Key regions of focus include Tanzania, Cameroon, and the UK. Mercer’s research bridges theoretical frameworks from human geography with empirical studies of African urbanization, emphasizing the material and aesthetic dimensions of class formation in peripheral urban areas.
Yasmin Kafai is a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education (GSE), Department of Learning Sciences. Her research focuses on computational thinking, AI education, and equitable K-12 computing pedagogy. She has pioneered work on integrating electronic textiles (e-textiles) and participatory design into STEM education to engage youth in critical perspectives of technology. Kafai's recent work emphasizes algorithmic literacy, youth-led auditing of machine learning systems, and bridging technical and societal dimensions of computing. Key research areas include: computational empowerment, AI ethics in education, youth agency in technology design, and culturally responsive computing curricula. Her projects often involve hands-on making activities, such as constructing generative AI models or debugging e-textile systems, to foster both technical and critical understandings. Publications from 2024-2025 highlight trends in youth engagement with generative AI, algorithm auditing frameworks, and the intersection of physical computing with growth mindset practices. She has also explored the role of storytelling methodologies in reimagining computing narratives for marginalized groups. Kafai collaborates extensively with teachers to develop scalable professional development programs addressing equity in CS education. Her work frequently appears in learning sciences and computing education journals, with a focus on practical classroom implementations and systemic educational reforms. Ongoing efforts include designing 'Hour of Code' activities that integrate critical AI literacy and fostering youth as co-designers of ethical technology solutions.
Kevin O'Brien is the Jack M. Forcey Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He specializes in Chinese politics, particularly focusing on contentious politics, protest dynamics, and state-society relations in rural China. His research examines mechanisms of protest control, authoritarian governance, and institutional reforms. O'Brien holds a B.A. from Grinnell College (1979) and a Ph.D. from Yale University (1987). Education: B.A., Grinnell College; Ph.D., Yale University Affiliations: Institute of East Asian Studies, UC Berkeley Research interests include rightful resistance, relational repression, and adaptation strategies under autocratic regimes. He has authored/co-authored influential books such as Rightful Resistance in Rural China and edited volumes on popular protest and grassroots elections in China. Books: Reform Without Liberalization , Popular Protest in China , Grassroots Elections in China Awards include the Sage Award for Best Paper in Comparative Politics (2004). His work integrates fieldwork insights with theoretical frameworks, addressing topics like land expropriation, migrant worker rights, and NGO operational challenges in China's evolving political landscape.
Dr. Leon Barron is a Reader in Analytical & Environmental Sciences at the School of Public Health, Imperial College London. His expertise spans chemical contaminant analysis, wastewater epidemiology, and environmental forensics. He leads the Emerging Chemical Contaminants team within the Environmental Research Group, focusing on pharmaceuticals, PFAS, and illicit drugs. Education: BSc(Hons) in Analytical Science (2001), PhD in Analytical Chemistry (2005), and a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (2011). Previously held roles at King's College London as Lecturer (2009–2015) and Senior Lecturer (2015–2020). Research interests include trace environmental analysis (LC, GC, MS), chemical risk assessment, and wastewater-based epidemiology. Key projects include global drug use monitoring via sewage analysis and PFAS removal from drinking water. His work has produced over 100 peer-reviewed articles, with recent focus on PFAS accumulation, biochar filtration, and urban pollution source apportionment. Awards include Fellowships from Royal Society of Chemistry and Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences. Supervises PhD students on topics like pesticide exposure, opioid monitoring, and machine learning in ecotoxicology. Collaborates internationally via initiatives like the Sewage Analysis CORE Group and NIHR HPRU in Environmental Exposures.
Prof. Jack van der Vorst is the Personal Professor of AgriFood Supply Chain Logistics at Wageningen University's Operations Research and Logistics Group. Previously serving as a member of the Board of Directors of Wageningen University & Research (until 2024) and General Director of the Social Sciences Group, he leads over 1000 personnel across three institutes. His advisory roles include the Topteam AgriFood (Science Captain), Top consortium for Knowledge and Innovation (TKI), The Sustainability Consortium (TSC), and Florensis BV's Supervisory Board. With 20+ PhD supervisions and 200+ publications, his research focuses on innovative logistics concepts in AgriFood systems, including supply chain resilience, sustainability, and system innovation. His work integrates modeling frameworks with practical industry applications, emphasizing perishable products, horizontal collaboration, and environmental efficiency. Research interests span AgriFood System Design, Supply Chain Strategy, and Performance Management. His recent studies address challenges like postharvest loss reduction in developing countries, CO2 emission minimization in cold chains, and circular economy implementation in mushroom supply chains. Methodologically, he employs multi-criteria decision models, optimization techniques, and simulation to address complex logistics problems. Publications highlight themes such as horizontal collaboration success factors, vulnerability assessment frameworks, and green supply chain design. His work bridges academic rigor with industry needs, often collaborating with policymakers and international organizations to promote sustainable agri-food systems.
Dr. Marcel Dettling is a Group Lead in Data Analysis and Statistics at the ZHAW School of Engineering , focusing on predictive analytics, applied statistics, and complex data analysis. He also serves as a Lecturer at ETH Zurich , teaching advanced statistical methods. Education : PhD in Mathematics (2000-2004), ETH Zurich Postdoc in Applied Statistics (2004-2006), Johns Hopkins University His research spans predictive analytics (regression, classification, time series), data mining, and applications in health economics, transportation safety, social sciences , and business analytics . Recent work includes pharmaceutical cost group analysis for Swiss healthcare and predictive maintenance for marine vessels. Selected publications highlight his expertise in flight trajectory modeling , deep learning error mitigation , and statistical frameworks for rehabilitation finance . His projects address diverse fields like crowdworking in nursing, energy optimization for shipping, and customer behavior prediction.
Dr. Barbara Barbosa Neves is a sociologist of technology and ageing at the University of Sydney’s Sydney Centre for Healthy Societies, holding a prestigious Sydney Horizon Fellowship in AI Social Science. She specializes in loneliness, social isolation, and digital inequalities in later life, with over $6 million in competitive funding from global bodies. Her research bridges sociology and computer science, focusing on inclusive technology design for older adults. Education: PhD in Sociology. Formerly an Associate Director at the Technologies for Aging Gracefully Lab, University of Toronto, Canada. Visiting positions at Oxford, Oslo, Louvain, and Toronto. Research Interests: Sociology of Technology , Aging Anxieties , Healthcare AI , and Ageism . Her work examines how AI, VR, and robotics can benefit older adults while addressing ethical and social challenges. Key themes include combating age-based digital divides and designing technologies that align with care ethics. Grants & Projects: Lead Investigator for the $1M+ evaluation of Australia’s Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme, ARC Discovery Project on loneliness and technology, and MRFF-funded dementia studies. Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams, including computer scientists and policy experts. Awards: 28+ international awards, including Mather Awards (US), George Story Distinguished Lecturer, and Fellowships from the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) and Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Public Engagement: Over 200 media contributions, including ABC op-eds and SBS documentaries. Her research informs policy and public discourse on aging, technology, and social equity.
Dr. Susana Castro-Kemp is an Associate Professor in Psychology and Human Development at University College London's Institute of Education (IOE), where she serves as Director of the Centre for Inclusive Education (CIE) since September 2023. Previously, she was a Reader in Education at the University of Roehampton for eight years. Her work focuses on inclusive education policy and practice globally, with particular expertise in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), early childhood intervention, and mental health in schools. The IOE has been ranked number one in the world for Education for several consecutive years, providing an ideal environment for her impactful research. Dr. Castro-Kemp holds a PhD in Psychology jointly awarded in 2012 by the University of Porto (Portugal) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (USA). Her doctoral research was fully funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology/European Commission and the Global Education and Development Studies scholarships. She is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society, a Senior Fellow of Advance HE, and a Recognised Research Supervisor by the UK Council for Graduate Education. Dr. Castro-Kemp's research centers on policy regulating education, health, and welfare services for children, particularly those with support needs. She examines inclusive education practices from users' perspectives, policy models leading to effective inclusive pedagogy, and country-level policy impacts on outcomes for children with special educational needs. Her work moves away from diagnostic labels toward engagement and civic participation as educational outcomes. She also investigates inclusion and early intervention in low- and middle-income countries, mental health in schools, and quality of early childhood education. Her recent publications reveal several key trends in inclusive education research. There's growing emphasis on understanding educational experiences through the voices of children and families rather than diagnostic labels. Much of her work examines the implementation gap between inclusive education policy and classroom practice. She has conducted significant research on how children with special educational needs experienced the pandemic, revealing both challenges and unexpected "silver linings" for some groups. Her corpus analysis of Ofsted reports shows narrow focus in early childhood education inspections, while her work on SEND policy increasingly takes an international comparative approach. Dr. Castro-Kemp has received recognition for her impactful work, including: Best Digital Humanities Project for Community Engagement Prize (2023) from the National Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences of South Africa for her project "Optimising collaborations and reducing inequalities of Early Childhood Intervention in post-Covid-19 South Africa" Dr. Castro-Kemp has secured approximately £1.3 million in research funding from various sources including ESRC, British Academy/Leverhulme Trust, European Commission, and private sponsors. Her current major project is 'ScopeSEND' (2024-2026), funded by the Nuffield Foundation (£250,000), examining international SEND policies. She has led numerous projects including "Transdisciplinary provision for children with disabilities in the Global South" (£3,500), "Optimising collaborations in South Africa" (£47,200), and "Froebel meets Ofsted" (£19,185). As a supervisor, she mentors MA/MSc and PhD students in education policy, early childhood, and inclusive education, having been nominated for student choice awards for excellent feedback and outstanding research supervision. As Director of the UCL Centre for Inclusive Education since 2023, Dr. Castro-Kemp leads a team focused on advancing knowledge exchange and research in inclusion and special needs. The Centre works with schools, educators, parents, and early years settings to translate research into practice. Her international collaborations include work with the World Health Organization as a technical advisor on the use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) system in educational contexts. She also serves on the SEN Policy Research Forum and has provided oral evidence to the House of Commons Education Select Committee.
