Professor Thanos Papadopoulos is a faculty member at the University of Kent , serving as Deputy Dean and Head of the Department of Analytics, Operations & Systems. He is affiliated with the Centre for Logistics and Sustainability Analytics (CeLSA) . PhD : Warwick Business School, University of Warwick MSc : Informatics, Athens University of Economics and Business Diploma : Computer Engineering and Informatics, Patras University His research focuses on Operations and Information Management , with emphasis on digital technologies in supply chains , resilience , and sustainability . Recent work explores AI, metaverse, and data-driven strategies. He has authored 150+ peer-reviewed publications and collaborates with journals like British Journal of Management as Associate Editor. Awards include Stanford's Top 2% Researchers and Clarivate Highly Cited distinctions. Professor Papadopoulos supervises students in supply chain management , big data , and sustainability . His projects address geopolitical disruptions and digital transformation in manufacturing and retail.
Dr. Miriam Gieselmann was a researcher at the Media Technology Department of the University of Tübingen from November 2020 to June 2024. Her work focused on human-AI interaction dynamics, trust in AI systems, and methodological challenges in studying human-machine relationships. She contributed to interdisciplinary research on AI acceptance in business contexts and pedestrian behavior analysis in urban environments. Her research interests span: Multimodal interaction design Trust and disclosure behaviors toward AI Ethical implications of conversational AI Methodological innovations for human-machine interaction studies Applications of AI in education and traffic psychology Her publications analyze AI adoption barriers, disclosure decision-making mechanisms, and perceptual dynamics in human-AI relationships. She co-authored foundational work on pedestrian communication patterns at urban intersections, contributing to safer street design principles. Miriam collaborated with interdisciplinary teams across business, psychology, and urban studies domains. Her work emphasizes bridging theoretical insights with practical applications in technology design and public policy.
Ana Cristina Manso serves as Associate Professor, Vice-Rector, and Member of the Scientific Council at Egas Moniz University Institute. She directs multiple Preventive and Community Dentistry courses within the Integrated Master's Degree in Dentistry program and serves as a researcher at the Egas Moniz Interdisciplinary Research Center. Her clinical practice includes work at the Oral Health Unit - Clinical Center at the Bankers' Union of the South and Islands. Her educational background includes a PhD in Research in Stomatology (2008) from the University of Granada and a Dentistry Degree (1993) from the Higher Institute of Health Sciences South. She has completed numerous specialized trainings including Pedagogical Training, Quality Assurance Systems, and Social Responsibility seminars at Egas Moniz. Manso's research focuses on geriatric oral health, preventive dentistry, and community-based dental care. Her work examines self-perception of oral health among elderly populations using tools like GOHAI, investigates halitosis treatments including cinnamon-based solutions, and studies caries prevention through remineralization techniques. She has published extensively on dental erosion, temporomandibular disorders, and socioeconomic factors affecting oral health outcomes in Portuguese populations. Her recent publications reveal strong trends in geriatric dentistry and health disparities research, with significant focus on oral health literacy, socioeconomic determinants of oral health, and interdisciplinary approaches to managing conditions like xerostomia and temporomandibular disorders. Methodologically, her work combines clinical trials, cross-sectional analyses, and systematic reviews. Manso has supervised 57 master's dissertations (co-supervising 20), 1 doctoral thesis (co-supervised), and 2 undergraduate theses. Her research projects include ADAPTAR - Projeto EduCom and the Egas Moniz Interdisciplinary Research Center (UID/BIM/04585/2019). She actively participates in quality assurance initiatives as a Member of the Quality Assurance Commission for Egas Moniz Teaching. As Director of the Egas Moniz Interdisciplinary Research Center, she leads research on community dentistry and oral health promotion. Her work extends to social responsibility initiatives including oral health programs for prison populations and elderly community outreach through the 'Primeiro Dente, Primeira escovagem' program.
Associate Professor Ernest Ekpo is affiliated with the University of Sydney's Sydney School of Health Sciences, within the Discipline of Medical Imaging Sciences. He holds academic roles as a Scholarly Teaching Fellow and Co-Director of the Medical Image Optimisation and Perception Group (MIOPeG). He is also an Associate Editor of the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences and a member of the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre and Cancer Research Network. Education: Earned BSc (Hons) in Radiography/Sonography from the University of Calabar, Nigeria, and a PhD from the University of Sydney. His research focuses on breast density, cancer biomarkers, medical image perception, radiation dose optimization, and radiology education. He explores applications in low-resource settings and emerging technologies like AI for diagnostic accuracy. Research interests include breast cancer treatment outcomes, image-based phenotypes, and improving imaging pathways for acute abdominal pain. Key themes are Cancer and Medical Imaging, with an emphasis on Women's Health and Chronic Disease. His work combines clinical practice, public health strategies, and technological advancements to enhance diagnostic efficacy and reduce unnecessary procedures. Articles from 2021–2024 highlight his contributions in mammography optimization, radiographer training, and AI-driven diagnostic tools. Recent grants include a 2024 project on CT examination education and a 2023 initiative to streamline breast cancer screening pathways. His awards recognize peer review excellence, early-career teaching, and research leadership. He supervises multiple students investigating breast density biomarkers, imaging modalities for dense breasts, and radiation dose management. His educational efforts aim to improve radiographers' capabilities in identifying urgent findings across CT and X-ray modalities, leveraging blended learning approaches.
Jose Pantaleon Gomez III is a Lecturer in the Civil and Environmental Engineering department at the University of Virginia. Previously, he served as Director of Research (2011–2016) and Associate Director (2002–2011) at the Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTRC), leading teams in bridge engineering, materials science, and infrastructure management. He holds a BS from Virginia Military Institute (1979), and MEng and PhD from the University of Virginia (1982, 1988), with licensure as a Professional Engineer in Virginia. His research focuses on advanced materials for transportation infrastructure, including high-performance concrete and composite materials, as well as structural testing and bridge design optimization. Notable projects include $5M contributions to FHWA’s Long-Term Bridge Performance Program and over $5.4M in external grants. He has authored/co-authored 42 research reports and 9 key journal articles/conference papers listed here. Teaching & Awards: Courses include Advanced Steel Design, Structural Engineering, and Capstone Design. Recognitions include the 2004 Virginia Graduate Engineering Instructor of the Year and 2015 Civil Engineering Teaching Award. Research Interests: Includes materials characterization, smart infrastructure systems, risk analysis, and sustainable infrastructure design. His work emphasizes practical applications of advanced materials in bridges and transportation systems.
Wei Zhang is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at the University of Massachusetts Amherst's Isenberg School of Management. He focuses on auditor regulation, auditing practices, corporate governance, and internal audit dynamics. His work examines regulatory enforcement mechanisms and their impact on audit quality and corporate accountability. PhD, Arizona State University (2019) MAcc, City University of New York (2013) BBA & BA, Nanchang University (2005) His research investigates how regulatory policies influence auditor behavior, legal liability exposure, and financial reporting quality. Notable studies include analyses of PCAOB enforcement effectiveness and the implications of audit interference rules. He has received prestigious awards such as the PwC Inquires Grant (2020, 2023) and the AAA Auditing Section Best Paper Award. Awards: Multiple grants and recognitions for auditing research excellence Teaching: Financial Accounting and Auditing courses Zhang's research bridges regulatory frameworks and practical auditing challenges, contributing to debates on audit quality improvement and corporate governance structures.
Camilla Audia is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Geography, University of Warwick. Previously, she spent seven years as a researcher at King's College London's Geography department. Her work focuses on climate change adaptation, health equity, and sustainable development through co-production of knowledge with non-academic stakeholders. She holds a PhD from SOAS (2018), which examined land tenure and resource management in Burkina Faso during climatic extremes. Her research integrates arts-based methods like photography and theater to address complex societal challenges. Current projects include the PATH initiative (2024-2027), analyzing climate adaptation perceptions among irregular migrants in London. She has collaborated with international NGOs, policy actors, and institutions including the Wellcome Trust and DFID. Teaching includes modules on Health and Sustainable Development (GD204/GD209/GD212) and Addressing Disasters for Sustainable Development (GD325). She is currently accepting two PhD students for 2025/26 entry, focusing on interdisciplinary planetary health and urban resilience themes.
Dr. Anna Spescha is a Lecturer at ETH Zurich's Department of Environmental Systems Science, researching biological control of insect pests using Pseudomonas bacteria combined with nematodes and fungi. Her work focuses on developing sustainable agricultural solutions through microbial consortia that target below-ground pests like the cabbage maggot. Research Highlights: Triple-combination biocontrol systems Field validation of entomopathogenic efficacy Risk assessment frameworks for biocontrol agents Current Projects: Optimizing Pseudomonas-based formulations for bean seed fly and cabbage maggot control.
Athanasios Orphanides is a Professor of the Practice of Global Economics and Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management. He holds additional roles as Honorary Advisor to the Bank of Japan’s Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies, member of the Shadow Open Market Committee, and Research Fellow at the Centre for Economic Policy Research. His research focuses on central banking, monetary policy frameworks, and political economy. Orphanides earned undergraduate degrees in mathematics and economics, as well as a PhD in economics, all from MIT. Before joining MIT, he served as Governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus (2007–2012), a member of the ECB Governing Council, and Senior Advisor at the U.S. Federal Reserve. His work emphasizes robust monetary policy rules, such as natural growth targeting, to enhance economic stability. Recent publications address fiscal-monetary policy interactions, inflation targeting, and systemic risk management. Orphanides frequently advises policymakers on central bank strategies and crisis response mechanisms. His research highlights the importance of clear policy frameworks to avoid inflationary mistakes, drawing on historical analyses of U.S. and European central bank decisions. He critiques discretionary policies that prioritize employment over price stability, advocating instead for rules-based approaches constrained by inflation targets. Orphanides has contributed to global debates on central bank independence, crisis management, and the design of monetary instruments. His executive education courses at MIT Sloan focus on macroeconomic principles for business decision-making.
Dr. Michel Chaaya is a Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering at the University of Sydney, with expertise in project management, construction engineering, and sustainability. He holds a PhD from the University of Sydney and is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia and the College of Leadership and Management. His research focuses on innovative project management methodologies, sustainable construction practices, and BIM implementation. Education: BE, ME(Res), PhD in Project Management and IT from the University of Sydney. Research Interests: Enhancing project success through risk management, modular construction, and BIM adoption. He emphasizes communication, sustainability, and community wellbeing in construction projects. Recent projects include studies on net-zero steel production, BIM in SMEs, and NCC 2022 energy requirements. Awards: ARCHIBUS Excellence Awards (2017-2013), Best Residential Development Awards (2009-2010), and Australian Postgraduate Award (1997). Teaching: Courses include Project Planning, Professional Practice in Engineering Management, and Global Project Management. He has supervised over 250 theses since 2003. Industry Roles: Director of Business Development for multiple organizations, specializing in construction, IT systems, and real estate. He advises on complex project delivery and stakeholder management.
Prof. Dr. Kai Michael Griese is a full professor of Business Administration with a focus on Marketing at the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences since 2009. He holds a Dr. rer. pol. from TU Chemnitz and has extensive industry experience, including roles at Mars Incorporated and Generali Deutschland. His research emphasizes sustainable business models, climate adaptation, and circular economy, with notable contributions to event sustainability and resilience strategies. He leads the Master's program in International Business Management with a focus on sustainable business models. Key roles include Program Director for the Master's focus on Sustainable Business Models and Climate Adaptation. Griese has been affiliated with institutions like the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics (SUIBE) as a guest professor. His work integrates digitalization and sustainability, addressing challenges in logistics, energy cooperatives, and corporate culture. He has secured grants from the German Federal Environment Foundation (DBU), BMBF, and EU-funded projects like Interreg North Sea Region. Research interests span climate resilience in events, sufficiency-driven marketing, and digital entrepreneurship's role in sustainability. His projects include the KlimaEvent initiative in Bad Essen, exploring climate adaptation for municipalities. He emphasizes practical solutions through VR-based simulations and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Sandra Paterlini is a Full Professor in the Department of Economics and Management at the University of Trento, Italy. She holds academic roles including Co-Chair of the ERCIM Working Group on Optimization Heuristics and Vice-Chair of the IEEE Task Force on Portfolio Optimization. Her career includes visiting positions at institutions such as the University of Minnesota and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. She earned a PhD in Computational Methods for Financial and Economic Decisions from the University of Bergamo, an MSc in Financial Mathematics from the University of Warwick, and a Laurea in Economics from the University of Modena and Reggio E. Her research focuses on quantitative finance, risk management, portfolio optimization, and network analysis, with applications to ESG, systemic risk, and financial stability. Key research contributions include methodologies for sparse graphical modeling, systemic risk analysis, and ESG scoring frameworks. She has received multiple awards for research excellence and serves on editorial boards of journals like Computational Statistics & Data Analysis and Frontiers in Applied Mathematics and Statistics . Her work bridges academia and policy, with contributions to the European Central Bank’s Financial Stability Directorate and involvement in global conferences on computational finance and econometrics.
Yading Yuan, PhD is an Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology (Physics) at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and a member of the Data Science Institute. He holds a PhD in medical physics from the University of Chicago (2010) and completed clinical residency at Harvard Medical Physics Program (2013). His research focuses on AI-driven innovations in radiation oncology, including automated medical image analysis systems, federated learning frameworks for tumor segmentation, and data-driven approaches to personalized cancer treatment. He is certified by the American Board of Radiology and licensed in New York State. Education: PhD in Medical Physics (University of Chicago, 2010); Clinical Residency (Harvard Medical Physics Program, 2013). Research interests include: automated knowledge-based treatment planning, large-scale clinical AI systems, medical image reconstruction algorithms, and panomics integration for precision oncology. His work emphasizes translating data science advancements into clinical practice to improve patient outcomes. Key trends in his publications include federated learning for privacy-preserving medical AI, tumor segmentation in multi-modal imaging (PET/CT, MRI), and AI-driven prediction of treatment outcomes and recurrence risks. Recent work emphasizes decentralized learning architectures and cross-institutional collaboration systems. Scientific Awards: Distinguished Reviewers 2013 (selected by peer review committees) Advising/grants: No specific student names or grant details listed in provided text. His work is supported through institutional and collaborative research initiatives. Labs/teams: Active member of Columbia's Data Science Institute and Radiation Oncology department, contributing to interdisciplinary medical AI research groups.
Dr. Joyoung Lee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). He previously served as Laboratory Manager at the Federal Highway Administration's Saxton Transportation Operations Laboratory. His research focuses on Connected Vehicle (CV) systems, including applications in traffic management, signal control optimization, and autonomous vehicle infrastructure integration. Dr. Lee holds a Ph.D. (2010) and M.S. (2007) in Transportation Engineering from the University of Virginia, and a B.S. (2000) in Transportation Engineering from Hanyang University. His work emphasizes CV-based solutions for real-time traffic systems, cooperative vehicle-infrastructure systems (CVIS), and autonomous vehicle integration. Notable achievements include the 2019 IEEE CAVS Best Paper Award and multiple best paper recognitions from PTV User Group Meetings. His research also addresses traffic safety through innovations like the Virtual Guide Dog system for visually impaired pedestrians and advanced traffic monitoring frameworks using LiDAR and computer vision. Education: Ph.D., Transportation Engineering, University of Virginia (2010) M.S., Transportation Engineering, University of Virginia (2007) B.S., Transportation Engineering, Hanyang University (2000) Dr. Lee's research interests span smart city infrastructure, edge computing for traffic systems, and sustainable transportation solutions. He has pioneered algorithms for cooperative intersection management, automated platooning systems, and federated learning-based traffic optimization. His work bridges theoretical models with real-world implementation through partnerships with FHWA and industry stakeholders. Key contributions include development of the Cumulative Travel-Time Responsive (CTR) traffic signal control system, smart arrival notification systems for paratransit services, and advanced microsimulation calibration techniques. His lab focuses on translating CV data into actionable strategies for safer, more efficient transportation networks. Awards: IEEE CAVS Best Paper Award (2019) ASCE Grand Challenge Innovation Contest Honorable Mention (2017) PTV VISSIM Best Paper Awards (2012, 2008) Excellence in Research Award (University of Virginia, 2011) Ongoing projects include semi-decentralized graph neural networks for traffic forecasting and low-cost LiDAR-based traffic monitoring systems. His work addresses critical challenges in autonomous vehicle integration, incident management, and infrastructure resilience through interdisciplinary collaborations.
Alfons Oude Lansink is a Professor and Chairholder in Business Economics at Wageningen University, Netherlands. He holds adjunct professorships at Universitas Padjadjaran (Indonesia) and the University of Florida (USA), and serves on the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture's CDM committee and Rabobank's scientific advisory board. His academic career spans roles as director of Wageningen School of Social Sciences (WASS) and Secretary-General of the European Association of Agricultural Economists. Education: MSc and PhD in Agricultural Economics from Wageningen University Leadership: Head of Business Economics group since 2003 His research focuses on dynamic technical and economic efficiency , sustainable performance of food supply chains , and economics of plant health . Recent work examines climate adaptation strategies, circular economy applications, and cross-border agri-food innovation dynamics using advanced econometric models. Key projects include MINDSTEP (modeling farm decisions), Closing the Loop (insect-based agriculture), and Food Pro-tec-ts (transboundary food technologies). Publications address topics like: Technical efficiency in dairy and arable farming Economic impacts of climate change on agriculture Corporate social responsibility in food manufacturing Policy evaluation for biogas and organic farming He serves as: Secretary/Treasurer of agricultural economics journal foundation Advisor to Universitas Padjadjaran (Indonesia) on policy and PhD supervision Editorial board member of Agronomy Journal and European Review of Agricultural Economics
