Clarity Ropafadzo Mapengo is a Lecturer in Food Science & Technology at Teesside University's School of Health and Life Sciences. She holds a PhD in Food Science from the University of Pretoria (2020) and joined Teesside in 2022 after serving as a Postdoctoral Researcher there. Education: PhD in Food Science (University of Pretoria, 2018–2020) Her research focuses on climate-resilient food systems, natural polymer applications, and innovative processing technologies like high-pressure processing (HPP) and infrared drying. She integrates green chemistry principles into functional food development, particularly low-glycemic-index products and nano-therapies. Recent work explores HPP's impact on meat quality, solar/infrared drying of crops, and xylan-based prebiotics. Collaborations include FAO initiatives and University of Cairo projects on sustainable agrifood systems. Salzburg Global Fellow (2024-2025) Innovation Ambassador, Global Biotech Revolution (2024) World Food Forum Young Scientist Group Representative (2022) She leads the Food Chain & Composition module and contributes to Biologics & Health Product Development. Her enterprise interests emphasize food waste reduction and value-added agrifood solutions.
Nina Schwarz is Assistant Professor of human-environment interactions in cities at the Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Geo-Information Management, ITC—University of Twente. Holding a Diploma in Environmental Sciences (University of Lüneburg, 2003) and a PhD in Social and Economic Sciences (University of Kassel, 2007), she spent a decade as senior scientist at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ before joining ITC. Her interdisciplinary research integrates urban land-use science, ecosystem-service evaluation and advanced modelling techniques—especially agent-based models—to explore sustainable urban development under global change. Research interests revolve around three interconnected themes: (i) urban land-use change —understanding how residential, commercial and green-space dynamics co-evolve; (ii) urban ecosystem services —quantifying both supply and demand of services such as local climate regulation, recreation and biodiversity; and (iii) behavioural modelling —formalising human decision-making to simulate policy scenarios ranging from slum-upgrading to vineyard management. She actively links these themes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, notably SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Recent publications (2022-2025) reveal a methodological breadth spanning citizen-science impact assessment in Suriname, cooling effects of urban water bodies in Chinese mega-cities, European wine-growers’ adaptive behaviour, and methodological advances in upscaling and validating agent-based land-use models. Across these studies, Schwarz consistently combines empirical field data, geospatial analytics and participatory approaches to produce policy-relevant insights for cities in both the Global North and South. She has (co-)authored >80 peer-reviewed works, accumulating c. 5 900 citations and an h-index of 28 (Scopus). While specific honours are not itemised in the supplied text, her sustained citation impact and invited contributions to major conferences (e.g., iEMSs 2020, IAHR 2025) underscore scientific recognition. Schwarz frequently engages with societal stakeholders: her projects have generated open datasets on urban green-space monitoring in Paramaribo, e-learning modules for Latin-American universities, and interactive dashboards for sustainable water management. Within ITC she contributes to capacity-building programmes for emerging economies, supervises graduate researchers and maintains active collaborations across Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia. No explicit lists of PhD students or personal grants are provided in the current corpus, but her leadership of externally funded projects (e.g., citizen-science evaluation, vineyard decision-making database) indicates ongoing acquisition of research funding.
Andrew Godwin is a Professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center , where he serves as the Chancellor’s Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Sciences and Director of Molecular Oncology in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. He is also the Deputy Director of the NCI-designated University of Kansas Cancer Center and the Founding Director of the Kansas Institute for Precision Medicine and Biospecimen Shared Resource . Dr. Godwin is a leader in translational research and precision medicine , with a focus on molecular oncology , biomarker discovery , and genomic diagnostics . His work bridges basic and clinical science to improve cancer patient care, particularly in ovarian cancer , Ewing sarcoma , and breast cancer . He has contributed over 230 ovarian cancer-related publications and pioneered studies linking the PI3K/AKT pathway to cancer treatment targets. His research program encompasses liquid biopsies using extracellular vesicles , molecular therapeutics , companion diagnostics , and clinical trial validation . He leads the Biomarker Discovery Laboratory and has secured over $250M in extramural funding , including a $11.4M NIH grant for precision medicine initiatives. His team has developed CELLSEARCH® , the first FDA-cleared test for circulating tumor cells. Notable awards include the Dolph C. Simons, Sr. Higuchi Award (2020), Outstanding Mentorship in Pathology Award (2024), and multiple mentoring accolades from KU. He has mentored over 150 trainees across career stages and leads a multidisciplinary lab with expertise in genomics , proteomics , and bioengineering . Academic Roles: Chancellor’s Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Sciences Director, Molecular Oncology, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Deputy Director, KU Cancer Center Founding Director, Kansas Institute for Precision Medicine Adjunct Professor, Bioengineering Program, University of Kansas Scientific Awards: KUMC Achievement Award for mentoring postdocs (2014) Chancellor’s Club Award for Research (2018) Dolph C. Simons, Sr. Higuchi Award (2020) KU Excellence in Mentoring Award (2021) Outstanding Mentorship in Pathology (2024) Key Research Themes: Extracellular vesicles as liquid biopsy tools Molecular mechanisms of sarcoma and breast cancer Genomic diagnostics and precision oncology Clinical trial biomarker validation Biospecimen repository leadership
Dr. Celine Cano is a research-focused academic at Newcastle University's Faculty of Medical Sciences within the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, with a distinguished career spanning nearly two decades in cancer drug discovery and medicinal chemistry. Her work centers on developing targeted therapies, particularly kinase inhibitors and MDM2-p53 interaction antagonists, with significant contributions to understanding molecular mechanisms in oncology. Her research interests encompass cancer drug discovery , medicinal chemistry , and kinase inhibitor development , with specialized expertise in covalent drug design, fragment-based screening, and structural optimization of anticancer agents. Dr. Cano has pioneered work on MDM2-p53 inhibitors, ERK5 modulators, and PROTAC technologies, focusing on enhancing therapeutic indices while minimizing toxicity through precise molecular engineering. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2020-2024) reveals a dominant focus on targeted cancer therapies , particularly small-molecule antagonists of protein-protein interactions (MDM2-p53) and kinase inhibitors (ERK5, Nek2, NIK). Her work demonstrates consistent innovation in covalent drug design , pharmacokinetic optimization , and structural biology approaches to overcome resistance mechanisms. Notable trends include the development of differentiated pharmacokinetic profiles in next-generation MDM2 antagonists and sophisticated linker strategies for PROTACs. Dr. Cano maintains extensive collaborative networks across Newcastle University's cancer research ecosystem, particularly with groups led by Professors Ian Hardcastle, Bernard Golding, and Steve Wedge. Her research has been instrumental in advancing multiple drug candidates through preclinical development, with several publications describing compounds that have progressed to therapeutic evaluation.
Dr Jonathan Shek serves as Senior Lecturer and Deputy Head of Research Institute in the Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering at the University of Edinburgh's School of Engineering. He actively supervises PhD students and leads research initiatives within the Energy Systems Research Institute. His academic background includes: Ph.D. in Electronics and Electrical Engineering, University of Edinburgh (2009) MEng (Hons) in Electronics and Electrical Engineering, University of Edinburgh (2004) Dr Shek's research specializes in marine renewable energy systems , with particular expertise in wave and tidal energy conversion , power electronics for marine applications , and advanced control strategies . His work bridges theoretical modeling with experimental validation to address grid integration challenges and improve energy capture efficiency in ocean environments. Current projects focus on modular power take-off systems and wake control optimization for tidal arrays. His publication trends reveal increasing emphasis on hybrid energy storage solutions and circular economy approaches for batteries, reflecting industry shifts toward sustainable grid integration and second-life applications. Recent work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between power electronics, control theory, and renewable energy deployment. Professional recognition includes: Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Dr Shek has secured major research funding through EPSRC and European Commission projects including Advanced Modular Power Take-Off Design for Marine Energy Converters and RealTide . His academic service encompasses editorial roles for Ocean Engineering and Journal of Energy Storage , plus conference organization for the International Conference on Renewable Energy Research and Applications. As Deputy Head of Research Institute, he directs strategic research initiatives within the Energy Systems Research Institute, fostering collaborations with industry partners to advance marine renewable energy technologies toward commercial viability.
Dr. Anjan Biswas is a Professor in the Department of Math & Physics at the College of Arts & Sciences. His research focuses on analytical and computational approaches to quantum optics and nonlinear wave propagation. Education: Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of New Mexico. Metrics: Erdos Number 4, Hirsch Index 111. Research interests center on optical solitons in fibers with linear and nonlinear chromatic dispersion, Lie symmetry analysis for quiescent solitons, and stochastic modeling in photonic systems. His work explores fractional temporal evolution, polarization-mode dispersion, and Kudryashov’s power-law structures. Recent publications highlight advancements in cubic-quartic soliton modeling, dispersion triplet systems, and noise-resilient optical communication frameworks. Studies span Boussinesq-type models, magneto-optic waveguides, and metamaterial applications. Key methodologies include Adomian decomposition, Sardar sub-equation techniques, and Lie symmetry analysis. Applications range from quantum fluid dynamics to internet bottleneck suppression via exotic self-phase modulation structures.
Edmund Hollis is an Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at the Brain and Mind Research Institute within Weill Cornell Medical College . He has been affiliated with the institution since 2016 and leads a research lab focused on neural circuit remodeling and recovery after spinal cord injury. Education: Ph.D. in Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine (2008) B.S., University of Southern California (2002) Research Interests: Hollis's lab investigates the neural mechanisms underlying movement and recovery from spinal cord injury. Using genetic, molecular, and behavioral tools, along with optogenetics and optical imaging, the lab explores how neural circuits respond to injury and how they can be therapeutically enhanced. Key areas include cortical plasticity, axon regeneration, astrocyte responses, and neuromodulation of motor circuits. Scientific Contributions: His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on corticospinal tract function, spinal interneuron modulation, and the use of advanced behavioral assays like the Kinematic Deviation Index (KDI) to assess motor recovery in rodent models. His work spans from molecular signaling pathways (e.g., RANKL, Wnt, IGF-I) to large-scale circuit remodeling and rehabilitation strategies. Collaborations & External Roles: Hollis has professional affiliations with Texas A&M University and the National Institutes of Health, and has served as a speaker and consultant for various academic and governmental organizations.
Dr. Koen van den Dungen is a researcher at the Mathematical Institute of the University of Bonn , specializing in noncommutative geometry and unbounded KK-theory with applications to Fredholm operators , spectral flow , index theory , and gauge theories in both classical and quantum contexts. He has organized the NSeaG2023 meeting at the Hausdorff Center for Mathematics (HCM) , which included a school on noncommutative geometry and a workshop for researchers in the field. His research spans various subfields, including operator algebras , mathematical physics , and Lorentzian geometry , with a focus on the interplay between geometry and operator theory. He has contributed to the study of Kasparov product , Dirac operators , and Callias-type theorems , particularly in relation to noncommutative spaces and quantum field theories . Dr. van den Dungen's recent publications emphasize unbounded KK-theory , index theory , and noncommutative geometry , with keywords such as K-Theory , Operator Algebras , and Mathematical Physics . He has collaborated extensively with researchers like Bram Mesland, Adam Rennie, and Walter D. van Suijlekom, and his work has been published in journals including Forum of Mathematics, Sigma , Annales Henri Poincaré , and Journal of Noncommutative Geometry . At the University of Bonn, he has taught advanced courses such as Graduate Seminar on Global Analysis and Lecture course V5B8 'Selected Topics in Analysis' , focusing on noncommutative spaces and K-theory of C*-algebras . His teaching roles include assisting in Einführung in die Komplexe Analysis and Global Analysis courses. Dr. van den Dungen has not been explicitly mentioned as receiving scientific awards, but his leadership in organizing the NSeaG2023 workshop underscores his academic influence. His email contact is kdungen@uni-bonn.de or kdungen@math.uni-bonn.de , and his office is located in Room 1.032 at the Mathematical Institute (Endenicher Allee 60) .
Prim. Assoc. Prof. PD Dr. Walter Struhal MSc FEAN serves as Head of the Clinical Department of Neurology at University Hospital Tulln since 2017 and holds a shared leadership role at the University Clinic for Neurology (Karl Landsteiner Private University of Health Sciences) since 2019. His career bridges clinical neurology and translational research in autonomic nervous system disorders. Research Focus : Struhal specializes in autonomic dysfunction, particularly its role in Alzheimer's dementia, post-COVID-19 neurological sequelae, and neurodegenerative diseases like multiple system atrophy. His work emphasizes modern diagnostic tools such as wearable ECGs and power modulation spectrum algorithms for signal quality control. Recent collaborations include developing the NEUROGED Guidelines for neurogenic urinary/sexual symptoms and mapping autonomic education gaps in European neurology training. Scientific Contributions : As a Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology (FEAN) , he co-led international studies on ECG quality indices (PDQI/MSQI) and participated in the AFFRICATE Project analyzing autonomic impacts of cerebral vascular interventions. His 15 most recent publications (2020-2025) span stroke care economics, dysphagia management, and autonomic testing innovations, reflecting his commitment to clinical-neurological research infrastructure development. Scientific Awards : Metric-based scholarship for Austro-Mir space research Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology (FEAN)
Prof.ssa Elda Favari is a Full-Time Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Italy . Her research focuses on atherosclerosis physiology , cholesterol metabolism , and cellular cholesterol efflux processes . She has collaborated with international institutions in the USA , Australia , and Switzerland . PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology (University of Parma, 2005) Academic Editor for the journal Medicine Member of Italian Society of Pharmacology , European Lipoprotein Club , and International Atherosclerosis Society Her scientific contributions include over 50 peer-reviewed publications , an H-index of 23 , and 16 Q1-journal publications from the last 15 years. Key research areas cover reverse cholesterol transport , PCSK9 mechanisms , and HDL functionality in diseases like familial hypercholesterolemia , cancer , and autoimmune disorders . Recent Google Scholar publications (2023-2025) examine: HDL modulation through nutraceuticals and 3D-printed devices Immune checkpoint inhibitors in relation to lipid profiles PCSK9-lomitapide interactions in genetic lipid disorders Anti-ApoA-1 IgGs as atherogenic factors 2000: AstraZeneca Grant at SISA Congress 2011: National Research Grant for Lupus Study She has held institutional roles including Student Orientation Delegate and serves on scientific committees for international congresses. Teaching spans Toxicology , Anticancer Chemotherapy , and Pharmacovigilance across Pharmacy , Food Safety , and Drug Sciences programs.
Professor David Millard is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton's Electronics and Computer Science department. He serves as Head of the ECS Education Group, leading a team of 15 Teaching Fellows and Senior Fellows to improve teaching and learning across the department. Previously, he was Director of Admissions for ECS from 2012 to 2022. David is a founding member of the Web and Internet Science research group and has been active in the international hypermedia community for over twenty-five years. His professional affiliations include: Chair of the ACM Hypertext steering committee SIGWEB Liaison for ACM Web Science Former vice-chair of ACM SIGWEB (2015-2019) Editorial board member of the New Review of Hypermedia David Millard's research focuses on the intersection of hypertext, digital narratives, and mixed reality games, with particular emphasis on locative literature. His work has helped define 'Sculptural Hypertext' - hypertext governed by rules and constraints rather than navigational links - which is highly suitable for designing narrative structures within digital games. He has been a pioneer in locative narratives, interactive digital narrative games experienced on location-aware smart devices, with work dating back to 2002 at Chawton House. His recent research focuses on understanding the locative narrative design space and proposing the 'Balance of Attention' as the primary poetic of locative narrative. His research has been recognized with multiple awards including the Engelbart Award in 2013 and 2016 for his work on location-based storytelling and sculptural hypertext. His interdisciplinary StoryPlaces project explores the poetics of location-based narratives through digital storytelling deployments in Southampton, Bournemouth, and Crystal Palace. David has authored more than 230 peer-reviewed articles across Technology Enhanced Learning, Web Science, and Hypertext and Narrative, with over 4800 citations and an h-index of 35. His work has been published in prestigious journals including Springer Multimedia Tools and Applications, Elsevier Computers in Education, IEEE Intelligent Systems, PloS one, ACM Transactions on Information Systems, and ACM Transactions on Learning Technologies. He leads a team of PhD students focused on Interactive Narratives and Mixed Reality Spaces and has graduated 34 postgraduate students. His students have pursued careers in academia at institutions like Oxford, Winchester, Bournemouth, and East Anglia, as well as in industry at major technology firms including IBM and Google. David has been instrumental in Open Educational Resources development, creating EdShare in 2010 - an OER platform based on EPrints that now hosts over 20,000 learning items. He has also developed innovative teaching approaches, including modules on Multimedia Systems (which won the Vice-Chancellor's Teaching award), Programming 1, Social Media and Network Science, and Games Design and Development.
Gabriele Liga is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), affiliated with the Signal Processing Systems (SPS) Group. He holds a Marie Curie Eurotech Fellowship focusing on signal shaping techniques for nonlinear optical fiber channels. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. in optical communications from University College London, followed by postdoctoral research in digital signal processing and nonlinearity compensation. Education: B.Sc. in Telecommunications Engineering from Università degli Studi di Palermo (2005), M.Sc. in Telecommunications Engineering from Politecnico di Milano (2011), and a Ph.D. in Optical Communications from University College London (2017). Research Interests: Digital communications, information theory, fiber-optic systems, nonlinearity compensation, channel coding, and multi-user optical communication theory. His work emphasizes achieving transmission limits through signal shaping and advanced signal processing techniques. Projects: Active roles in NESTOR (Next-gen optical networks), QuNEST (quantum communication security), Fun-NOTCH (nonlinear optical channel fundamentals), and SSTOC (signal shaping tailored to optical channels). Collaborations span institutions globally, focusing on optical fiber communication challenges. Awards: 2023 ACP/POEM Best Student Paper Award and 2019 OECC Best Paper Award. Serves as a reviewer for IEEE journals and OSA publications. Labs/Teams: Core member of the SPS Group and involved in interdisciplinary projects blending theory and experimental validation.
Abigail Johnson, PhD, RD is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Epidemiology & Community Health at the University of Minnesota. She also serves as the Associate Director of the Nutrition Coordinating Center (NCC) and is a Member of the Masonic Cancer Center (MCC). Dr. Johnson earned her PhD in Nutrition and completed her Registered Dietitian (RD) training at the University of Minnesota, where she also obtained her BS in Nutrition Science and Biology. Her research explores the relationships between diet and the human gut microbiome in health and disease using novel computational methods for dietary data. Her current focus areas include: analysis of diet and microbiome after dietary interventions, methods development for dietary data analysis and visualization, and understanding the interactions between foods, microbes, and fungi during different stages of development. She is particularly interested in how diet and the microbiome interact to influence chronic diseases including prediabetes, diabetes, and cancer. Dr. Johnson's research demonstrates significant trends in microbiome analysis, dietary assessment, and computational methods. Her work increasingly focuses on personalized nutrition approaches, longitudinal microbiome dynamics, and the integration of multi-omics data to understand diet-microbe-host interactions in disease contexts. Her scientific contributions include: Development of methods for dietary data analysis and visualization Research on diet-microbiome interactions in chronic diseases Studies on how immigration and dietary changes affect the gut microbiome Investigations into personalized diet-microbiome associations Dr. Johnson actively mentors students and researchers in the fields of nutritional science, microbiome research, and computational biology. Her work has been supported by various research grants focused on understanding the complex relationships between diet, the microbiome, and human health.
P S Mukherjee is a Professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, in the Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry. With 28 years of research experience in inorganic chemistry and 22 years teaching at honors/postgraduate levels, he leads a dynamic research group focused on supramolecular architectures. His affiliations include mentoring 24 PhD students and 25 postdoctoral fellows, many now faculty at premier institutions (NISER, IISER, IIT, NIT). Education: Ph.D. (Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata) M.Sc. (Jadavpur University, Kolkata) B.Sc. (Burdwan University) Research Interests: His work explores supramolecular chemistry, catalysis in confined spaces, light-harvesting systems for photocatalysis, and organic materials for isomer/enantiomer separation. Key themes include Pd/Pt-based molecular barrels, cages, and prisms that enable selective catalysis, sensing, and separation. The group emphasizes water-soluble systems for sustainable applications. Publications: His 231+ articles (16,896+ citations, h-index 70) predominantly feature metallosupramolecular architectures for light harvesting, catalysis, and molecular recognition. Recent works highlight stimuli-responsive structural transformations, host-guest chemistry, and photo/oxidation catalysis using self-assembled Pd/Pt systems. Scientific Awards: None explicitly mentioned in the provided text. Advising & Grants: Mentored 24 PhDs and 25 postdocs. Grant details are not specified, but extensive research output implies robust funding. Key industrial/academic collaborations are evident through co-authored publications. Lab & Team: Leads an active group at IISc Bangalore specializing in multicomponent self-assembly. Research areas include molecular prism/barrel synthesis, cage catalysts, and light-harvesting systems. The team utilizes crystallography, spectroscopy, and catalysis testing to advance supramolecular science.
Satoshi Funabashi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Intermedia Art and Science at Waseda University's School of Fundamental Science and Engineering, Japan. He is affiliated with the Graduate Program for Embodiment Informatics under Waseda University's Program for Leading Graduate Schools and contributes to multiple graduate schools including the Graduate School of Creative Science and Engineering. Education: Doctor of Engineering (Waseda University, 2017-2021) Research Focus: Robotics, tactile sensing, deep learning, and embodiment informatics Academic Appointments: Assistant Professor (non-tenure-track) His research centers on symbiotic robotics and tactile-driven manipulation, with recent publications exploring graph convolutional networks, vision-touch fusion, and morphology-specific deep learning for robotic hands. He has secured multiple competitive research grants including JSPS KAKENHI and JST ACT-I programs. Scientific Awards: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) (KAKENHI), JSPS (2024-2027) Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists, JSPS (2022-2024) JST ACT-I Research Fellow (2020-2022, 2018-2020) JSPS Research Fellowship DC1 (2017-2020) He collaborates with the Intelligent Dynamics and Representation Lab (Prof. Tetsuya Ogata) and the Intelligent Machine Lab (Prof. Shigeki Sugano) at Waseda University. He has interned at MIT's CSAIL (2018-2019) and conducted research at UC Davis (2015). His work has been cited over 500 times with an h-index of 14 according to Google Scholar.
