Dr. Megan Skelton is a Research Fellow at King’s College London’s Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre (SGDP), affiliated with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. She holds a PhD in Psychology from King’s College London, funded by the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre. Her research focuses on leveraging genetic data and longitudinal medical records to study anxiety, depression, and treatment responses, particularly via genome-wide association studies (GWAS), polygenic scoring, and structural equation modeling. Current projects in Prof. Thalia Eley’s EDIT Lab involve prediction modeling, GWAS meta-analyses, and medical record linkage. Education: BSc Psychology (First Class, University of Leeds), MSc Genes, Environment and Development in Psychology (Distinction, King’s College London). Research experience includes roles at the University of Leeds (2011–2017) and King’s College London (2017–present). Awards include the British Psychological Society Undergraduate Award (2014) and Wellcome Trust Biomedical Vacation Scholarship (2013). Key research themes include anxiety/depression comorbidity, treatment efficacy measurement, and understanding genetic influences on mental health outcomes. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health & Wellbeing) through advancements in personalized mental health care.
Joel Mero is an Associate Professor at the School of Business and Economics, University of Jyväskylä , leading the Digital Marketing and Communication (DMC) research group and directing the International Master's Program in Digital Marketing and Corporate Communication (DMCC) . He holds a D.Sc. (Econ.) from Jyväskylä University (2016) and has designed over 20 courses across 10 institutions, covering all academic levels from Bachelor to Doctoral. His research focuses on B2B digital marketing management , particularly leveraging digital data and technologies in business markets. Notable achievements include two Best Paper Awards (2017 & 2019) in the Industrial Marketing Management journal. His work explores topics such as influencer marketing, big data analytics, marketing agility, and AI-driven strategies. Current research groups include the Sound Science Lab (music perception) and Digital Marketing and Communication (DMC) . He collaborates on projects like the Finnish Quantum Flagship , aiming to advance quantum technology applications. Mero emphasizes practical applications of digital tools, bridging academic insights with industry needs. Publications span conceptual frameworks, empirical studies, and industry guides, with a focus on B2B customer journeys, AI in content creation, and data-driven decision-making. His teaching and research highlight agility, innovation, and the ethical use of emerging technologies in marketing.
Dr. Zahirul Hoque is a Professor of Accounting at RMIT University's School of Accounting, Information Systems and Supply Chain. Previously, he held professorial roles at Prince Sultan University (Saudi Arabia) and La Trobe University (Australia). He obtained his PhD from the University of Manchester (UK) in 1993 and is a Fellow of CPA Australia and the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh. His research focuses on management accounting systems, public sector accounting, organizational change, and accounting practices in emerging economies. He has supervised 21 doctoral students and authored/co-authored over 100 journal articles and book chapters. His work spans journals like Accounting, Organizations and Society and British Accounting Review . He serves as Founding Editor of the Journal of Accounting & Organizational Change and Deputy Editor of Accounting and Finance . His editorial roles also include the Emerald Studies in Public Service Accounting and Accountability . Key research themes include performance measurement, balanced scorecard applications, and accountability in public and nonprofit sectors. His recent work explores post-pandemic public sector accounting challenges and outcome-based budgeting. Scientific Awards: CPA Australia Fellowship, Bangladesh Institute Fellowship Collaboration: Active in international editorial boards and research networks UN SDGs: Contributing to Quality Education (SDG 4), Decent Work (SDG 8), Sustainable Cities (SDG 11), and Industry Innovation (SDG 9)
Professor Ahmad Hariri is a faculty member in the Department of Psychology & Neuroscience at Duke University, part of the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. He holds affiliations with the Duke-UNC Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, and the Duke Initiative for Science & Society. His research integrates neuroimaging, pharmacology, and molecular genetics to study biological pathways underlying individual differences in behavior and psychopathology risk. Education: Ph.D. in Psychology from UCLA (2000), M.S. and B.S. in Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park (1997, 1994). Research interests include understanding how genetic and environmental factors influence brain function and behavior, with a focus on psychopathology, stress, and resilience. His work explores neural correlates of traits like psychopathy, childhood adversity effects on brain structure, and biomarkers of aging. Recent studies highlight links between lead exposure and neurodegeneration, neighborhood disadvantage and dementia risk, and the role of brain connectivity in self-regulation. Key achievements include over 200 publications, including high-impact papers in Nature Aging , Neuron , and Biological Psychiatry . Honors include the APA Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution (2009) and being named a Highly Cited Researcher (2014). Grants include leadership roles in the Duke-NCCU Postdoctoral Training Program in Child Psychiatric Conditions and the Duke Psychiatry Physician-Scientist Residency Program. He has contributed to editorial boards of journals like Cortex and Biology of Mood and Anxiety Disorders . Professional activities include mentoring in the Summer Neuroscience Program and serving as a Bass Connections Faculty Team Leader.
Randall P. Ellis is a Professor of Economics at Boston University, specializing in Health Economics, Industrial Organization, and Econometrics. His research focuses on healthcare payment systems, insurance design, predictive modeling, and international health economics. He holds a PhD from MIT and has contributed extensively to understanding managed care systems, risk adjustment frameworks, and healthcare policy evaluation. Education: PhD in Economics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research Interests: Ellis’s work spans health care payment reforms, risk selection mechanisms, and the application of machine learning to health economics. He examines issues such as Medicaid managed care, obesity treatment economics, and the impact of anti-corruption programs on healthcare systems. His research emphasizes improving equity and efficiency in healthcare markets, particularly through innovative payment systems and risk adjustment models. Key Contributions: Ellis has developed frameworks for disease surveillance and risk adjustment (e.g., Diagnostic Items Classification System), evaluated payment system performance, and analyzed factors influencing healthcare utilization and costs. His work bridges theoretical economic models with practical policy applications, informing both academic and policy audiences. Grants & Collaborations: While specific grants are not detailed here, his research frequently involves collaborations with institutions like Harvard and MIT through the Health Economics Seminar. His work often addresses global health challenges, including pandemic financing and healthcare corruption in developing regions. Labs/Teams: Ellis is affiliated with Boston University’s economics department and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on projects related to health policy and econometric modeling.
John Straub is a Professor of Chemistry at Boston University, affiliated with the Chemistry Department. His research focuses on theoretical and computational studies of protein dynamics, thermodynamics, and phase transitions in molecular systems. He leads efforts to develop advanced algorithms for simulating phase changes in complex systems, including work supported by a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant (CH-1114676) to improve computational methods for phase transition modeling. His group has pioneered generalized simulated tempering and replica exchange algorithms, enabling more accurate simulations of phenomena like vapor-liquid phase changes and peptide aggregation. Dr. Straub also engages in science outreach through collaborations with the Pinhead Institute, supporting K-12 education programs and student internships. His research spans diverse topics such as cholesterol interactions in lipid membranes, amyloid fibril formation mechanisms, and the structural basis of protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases. His computational methods have been applied to study membrane proteins, lipid rafts, and the role of environmental factors in protein behavior. Key contributions include modeling amyloid-β aggregation pathways and investigating the impact of membrane composition on protein stability.
Lyndsey Juliane Chong is a Research Fellow at the Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine. Her work focuses on neurobiological and environmental risk markers of childhood anxiety, employing methodologies such as eye-tracking, EEG, and behavioral observations. She is mentored by Drs. Wendy Silverman, Eli Lebowitz, and Michael Crowley and holds a T32 Fellowship in Childhood Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Chong earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Florida State University (2023), supported by a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship, and completed a clinical psychology internship at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Education: B.A. in Psychology and Economics, University of Texas at Austin (2015) M.S. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, Florida State University (2019, 2023) Clinical Psychology Internship, UTHealth Houston (2023) Research Interests: Her research integrates neurobiological and environmental factors influencing childhood anxiety, with a focus on neural correlates (e.g., error-related negativity, late positive potential) and parent-child interactions. She develops computerized interventions targeting anxiety-related brain activity in young children. Awards: National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship (2019–2021) T32 Fellowship in Childhood Neuropsychiatric Disorders Departmental Graduate Research Development Awards (Florida State University) Grants & Advising: No formal advisees listed. Her work is supported by institutional fellowships and grants. Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the Child Study Center at Yale, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams in developmental psychopathology and clinical neuroscience.
Samara Klar is a Professor at the University of Arizona School of Government and Public Policy and holds the Melody S. Robidoux Fund Professorship. She serves as Co-Coordinator of the Arizona Policy Lab and specializes in political psychology, voter behavior, and public opinion research. Dr. Klar received her PhD in Political Science from Northwestern University with additional degrees from Columbia University and McGill University. Dr. Klar's research focuses on how personal identities and social surroundings influence political attitudes and behavior, employing experimental methods, surveys, and statistical tools. Her award-winning book Independent Politics (co-authored with Yanna Krupnikov) was published by Cambridge University Press in 2016, and she recently co-authored Partisan Hostility and American Democracy (University of Chicago Press, 2024). Her work appears in top journals including Science , Nature Human Behaviour , American Political Science Review , and Journal of Politics . Dr. Klar's research program demonstrates a clear trajectory from studying political independents and identity politics toward contemporary research on partisan polarization, affective polarization, and political behavior during crises. Her most recent work examines cross-border political influences, gender in politics, and the impact of social movements like #MeToo on political evaluations. Philip E. Converse Award Robert E. Lane Award Best Book in Experimental Political Science Scholar of the Year (2025) from University of Arizona's College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Dr. Klar has received research funding from the National Science Foundation, Time-sharing Experiments for the Social Sciences, and the Social Science Research Council. She founded WomenAlsoKnowStuff.com to promote women in political science, which has grown to feature over 2,000 women scholars and inspired similar initiatives globally. She regularly contributes to media outlets including the New York Times , Washington Post , and CNN.com, and provides expert consulting on public opinion and political communication.
Ye Cai is an Associate Professor of Finance at the Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University, where she has taught since 2010. She specializes in empirical corporate finance, focusing on mergers and acquisitions, board networks, entrepreneurship, venture capital, and corporate social responsibility. Her research appears in top-tier journals such as the Journal of Financial Economics and Review of Financial Studies. Education: B.A. in Economics, Peking University M.A. in Economics, Vanderbilt University Ph.D. in Finance, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Her research explores themes like the environmental impact of corporate decisions, governance structures, and the interplay between religion and financial reporting. Recent work addresses ESG greenwashing, SEC regulations, and carbon emission strategies in competitive markets. Awards: Leavey Extraordinary Teaching Award ACE Outstanding Faculty Award Teaching focuses on Financial Management, Corporate Financial Policy, and Time Series Forecasting. Advising and grant activities are not explicitly detailed in available texts. Active in academic networks and contributes to discussions on sustainability, board governance, and venture capital ecosystems.
Ram Bala is an Associate Professor of AI & Analytics at Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business. He holds a Ph.D. in Operations Research from UCLA Anderson School of Management and a Mechanical Engineering degree from IIT Bombay. His research focuses on pricing strategies, marketplace design, supply chain dynamics, and the integration of AI into business operations. He leads the Prometheus Lab on AI and Business and is Co-founder/Chief AI Scientist of Samvid, a generative AI startup for logistics. Additionally, he co-founded the MS-SCMA program and holds leadership roles in academic governance committees. Education: Ph.D. in Operations Research, UCLA Anderson School of Management Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Research Interests: Ram’s work bridges optimization, game theory, and machine learning to address dynamic market challenges. He explores the transformative adoption of AI-driven autonomous systems in organizations, particularly in supply chains and healthcare logistics. His recent projects include pandemic response platforms for PPE distribution and AI tools for humanitarian aid via Project Stanley. Leadership & Ventures: Founder & President of Project Stanley (non-profit applying data science to humanitarian issues) Co-founder and Director of MS-SCMA program Past roles: Chief Data Scientist at GrandCanals (acquired by C.H. Robinson) and leadership at Andela Labs & Teams: Co-leads Prometheus Lab on AI and Business at Leavey School, focusing on enterprise AI adoption and generative AI applications in supply chain management.
Dr. Paulina Banaszkiewicz is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Emotional and Personality Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University. She holds a PhD in Psychology and focuses on emotion, jealousy, and consensual non-monogamy. Current Role: Senior Lecturer at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University Research Areas: Romantic jealousy, consensual non-monogamy, orthorexia, generational differences, attachment, and gender studies. Her research explores how biological and psychological gender differences influence romantic jealousy, with recent studies on polyamory and ambiguity tolerance. She has published extensively on emotional fluency and relational dynamics. Notable awards include the Rector's Individual Award (2023) . She collaborates on YouTube through the educational channel Niemono Podcast and has participated in numerous conferences. Scientific Awards: Rector's Individual Award 2023
Pekka Martikainen is a leading researcher in population health and demography, affiliated with the Population Research Unit at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki . He is also actively involved with the MaxHel Center and the Laboratory of Population Health , contributing to major research initiatives such as the Monitoring Mortality Inequalities Consortium and studies on immigrant-native health disparities. His research focuses on social and economic determinants of health and mortality over the life course, using extensive Finnish register data. Key interests include fertility and family dynamics , health inequalities , migration and health , early-life determinants of health, and behavioral factors influencing mortality. His work often explores intergenerational linkages and the role of socioeconomic status in shaping health outcomes. The most recent publications reflect a strong emphasis on mental health , genetic and social interactions , educational and occupational influences on health , and disparities in cancer and reproductive health . Studies frequently employ longitudinal, register-based designs across Nordic and European populations, highlighting cross-national comparative insights. Behavioral Determinants of Health and Mortality Costs and Gains of Postponing Parenthood Immigrant-Native Health Disparities Over the Life Course Linked Lives: Family and Socioeconomic Attainment Medically Assisted Reproduction Mortality Disparities at Subnational Level His research has been published in top journals including The Lancet , Demography , Social Science and Medicine , and European Journal of Epidemiology . He collaborates extensively with researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research and leads or contributes to multiple large-scale projects analyzing health and demographic trends in Finland and beyond. Martikainen’s work informs public health policy and contributes to understanding how social structures and individual behaviors interact to shape population health and longevity. He plays a central role in advancing register-based demographic research in Europe.
Kendra Gonzales is a Research Fellow at the Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University (ANU), and concurrently holds an appointment as Associate Professor at the Department of Environmental Science, Ateneo de Manila University. She previously served as the Director of the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability (2021-2024) and is involved in international initiatives like the World Climate Research Programme’s My Climate Risk project. Her research focuses on environmental performance metrics, climate resilience, and systems thinking applications. Education: BS Physics (Ateneo de Manila University), joint MSc Environmental Management (Ateneo/USF), PhD in Earth and Atmospheric Science (Purdue University). Research interests include sustainability, climate resilience, disaster risk management, and earth system science. She applies systems thinking to address environmental challenges, particularly in Southeast Asia, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to quantify resilience and develop systemic metrics for companies and investors. Recent work highlights policy-relevant climate science, disaster risk communication, and land-use change impacts. Her contributions span e-learning modules for climate education and frameworks for sustainable enterprise collaboration. Collaborates internationally with organizations like the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Philippines and the World Weather Research Programme. Labs/Teams: Part of Fenner School’s Earth systems and risk resilience research groups.
Denine Northrup serves as Professor of Psychology at Western New England University, holding the dual role of academic faculty and Associate Director of Assessment within the Academic Affairs-Provost office. She is based in the Center for Sciences & Pharmacy (161), contributing to both psychological education and institutional assessment initiatives. Her educational foundation includes: A.B. from the University of Michigan M.S. from Eastern Michigan University Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University Dr. Northrup's research program centers on evidence-based educational psychology with four interconnected pillars. Her work in College Student Success and Retention identifies predictors of academic persistence through longitudinal studies. In Program Evaluation , she develops mixed-methods frameworks to assess educational and behavioral health interventions. Her Behavioral health service system quality and outcomes research analyzes mental health service delivery efficacy, while her Positive Psychology, Grit & Mindset investigations explore how psychological traits influence academic resilience and achievement trajectories. As Associate Director of Assessment, she bridges research and practice by implementing data-driven strategies to enhance institutional effectiveness across campus.
E. Lea Johnston is the Clarence J. TeSelle Professor and Professor of Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. She is a leading expert in mental health law, criminal law, and criminal procedure, with her work appearing in top law reviews and peer-reviewed interdisciplinary journals. Her scholarship has been widely cited by legal scholars, appears in leading treatises, and has received attention from courts and social scientists. Her theory of sentencing forms part of the theoretical framework for the standard textbook for forensic psychiatry fellowship programs. Professor Johnston earned her A.B. from Princeton University and her J.D. (cum laude) from Harvard Law School. Before entering academia, she worked as a litigation associate at Arnold & Porter LLP in Washington, D.C., served as director of the Maryland Public Interest Research Group, and clerked for Judge Richard Tallman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Johnston's research primarily focuses on the intersection of mental health and criminal justice. Her work examines how mental illness impacts criminal responsibility, competence to stand trial, sentencing, and diversion programs. She has made significant contributions to understanding diminished responsibility doctrines, insanity defenses, mental health courts, and assisted outpatient treatment. Her scholarship often employs interdisciplinary approaches, integrating legal analysis with insights from psychology, psychiatry, and behavioral sciences to develop more humane and just approaches to mentally ill offenders within the criminal justice system. Her publications demonstrate consistent scholarly output with significant impact across multiple disciplines. The trajectory of her work shows an evolution from foundational analyses of legal standards for mentally ill defendants toward more comprehensive reform proposals addressing systemic issues in how the criminal justice system handles mental illness. Elected to American Law Institute (2020) Former Chair of Criminal Justice Section, American Association of Law Schools Former Chair of Law and Mental Disability Section, American Association of Law Schools Member of Legal Scholars Committee, American Psychology-Law Society Professor Johnston has significantly influenced both legal scholarship and practice through her theoretical contributions and practical recommendations. Her work on sentencing theory for mentally ill offenders has been incorporated into forensic psychiatry training materials, demonstrating real-world impact beyond academia. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the provided text, her extensive publication record and leadership roles suggest substantial research support throughout her career. Her scholarship serves as a critical bridge between legal doctrine and clinical mental health practice, offering frameworks that balance therapeutic needs with justice considerations.
