Lynn T. White III is Professor Emeritus of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University. His research examines Chinese political development, particularly in the Yangzi delta region around Shanghai, with comparative work in Taiwan, Thailand, and the Philippines. White's scholarship analyzes how economic changes influence political structures, including the shift from socialist planning to market dynamics in post-1970s China. His recent work explores non-electoral political participation and the scope of mobilization in racial, feminist, and nationalist movements. Publications include Careers in Shanghai , Policies of Chaos , Unstately Power (winner of AAS Levenson Prize), and Political Booms . He has mentored numerous doctoral students who now hold academic positions in Asian studies.
Farzad Mashayek is a Professor and Department Head of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Arizona, College of Engineering. He is a member of the Graduate Faculty and leads the Computational Multiphase Transport Laboratory. His research integrates high-fidelity simulations, machine learning, and experimental validation across diverse domains in fluid dynamics and energy systems. Educational Background: PhD in Mechanical Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY MS in Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran BS in Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran His research interests include turbulent reacting flows, plasma dynamics, electrostatic atomization, solid-ion and lithium batteries, computational fluid dynamics, and machine learning applications in engineering. He employs high-order spectral element methods, phase-field modeling, and deep neural networks to study complex multiphysics phenomena such as drop impact, battery degradation, and turbulence modeling. The recent publications reflect a strong trend toward integrating machine learning with multiphysics simulations, particularly in battery safety (thermal runaway prediction), materials characterization (STEM image analysis), and fluid dynamics (modal analysis of turbulence). His work often involves collaboration with experimental groups to validate models, especially in dental aerosol suppression and electrohydrodynamics. Scientific Awards: Sustained Service Award, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Spring 2022 Best Presentation Award, The 20th International Conference on Computational Mathematics, Parallel and Distributed Computing, Summer I 2018 Dr. Mashayek has secured funding from NSF (GOALI program) for controlled coating via charged droplet deposition. He advises graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in computational mechanics and energy systems, fostering interdisciplinary research. He has contributed to engineering education, particularly during the pandemic, with active learning strategies in online instruction. He leads a dynamic research team focused on advancing simulation tools and applying them to real-world challenges in energy, manufacturing, and public health.
Dr. Camila Aquino serves as Assistant Professor in both the Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine, and is a Full Member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute. As Medical Director of the Deep Brain Stimulation Program, she specializes in Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, and chorea management, including EMG-guided botulinum toxin injections. Her educational background includes: M.D. in Medicine from Escola Superior de Ciencias da Santa Casa (2005) M.S. in Neurosciences from Federal University of Sao Paulo (2012) Ph.D. in Neurosciences from Federal University of Sao Paulo (2019) M.S. in Health Research Methods, Clinical Epidemiology from McMaster University (2020) Dr. Aquino's research addresses unmet needs in movement disorders through innovative clinical trial designs for Parkinson's disease, focusing on precision-medicine approaches, early intervention, and outcome optimization. She actively evaluates neuromodulation therapies including Deep Brain Stimulation, Spinal Cord Stimulation, and MRgFUS, with emphasis on expanding indications and improving patient outcomes. As an International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society member, she chairs the web-based learning committee and serves on evidence-based medicine and outcome measure committees. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2021-2025) reveals a cohesive research trajectory centered on Parkinson's disease management, with dominant themes in motor fluctuation treatments, deep brain stimulation methodology, and clinical trial innovation. Her work bridges fundamental clinical practice guidelines with advanced neuromodulation technologies, demonstrating consistent commitment to evidence-based solutions for movement disorders. Her scientific recognition includes: Parkinson Canada research grant Mohammed Al Zaibak Foundation scholarship CAPES scholarship from Brazilian Ministry of Education Dr. Aquino has secured significant research funding supporting clinical trials in Parkinson's disease neuroprotection and neuromodulation therapies. While specific student advisees aren't listed, her leadership of the DBS Program and active clinical trial portfolio indicate substantial mentorship responsibilities. Her grant portfolio emphasizes translational research with direct clinical impact. She directs the University of Calgary's Deep Brain Stimulation Program and contributes to the MRI-guided focused ultrasound initiative. Through her International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society committee roles, she shapes global educational standards and evidence-based practices in movement disorders.
Professor Jamie Peck is a University Killam Professor and Professor of Geography at the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Arts, Department of Geography. He holds the prestigious title of Distinguished University Scholar at UBC and maintains significant international academic affiliations including Visiting Professor at Oxford University's School of Geography and the Environment, Honorary Professorial Fellow at the University of Manchester, and Honorary Professor at the University of Nottingham. Peck received his PhD in Geography from the University of Manchester in 1988 following his BA (Hons) in Geography from the same institution. His distinguished academic career spans positions at the University of Manchester (1989-2000), University of Wisconsin-Madison (2000-2008), and his current position at UBC where he has been a central figure in economic geography and interdisciplinary social science. As an institutional political economist, Professor Peck's research critically examines the spatial dimensions of economic processes, with particular attention to how global phenomena like neoliberalization are constituted through local practices. His work bridges economic geography, urban studies, political economy, and social theory, consistently challenging conventional understandings of market processes and statecraft. Recent research focuses on Chinese state capitalism, especially the Greater Bay Area and Hong Kong's evolving political status, alongside methodological innovations in conjunctural analysis as demonstrated in his 2023 book Variegated Economies . His scholarly output reveals a sustained engagement with the variegated nature of capitalist development across different spatial contexts. Recent publications demonstrate a sophisticated methodological approach combining institutional analysis with extended case methods, emphasizing historical context and spatial specificity while challenging universalizing theoretical claims. His work on Chinese political economy represents a significant departure from conventional Western-centric analyses. University Killam Professor (2025) Lauréat Prix International de Géographie Vautrin Lud ("Nobel de Géographie") (2023) Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada Clarivate Highly Cited, Social Sciences (2014-2024) Distinguished University Scholar, UBC (2017-present) Canada Research Chair in Urban & Regional Political Economy (2008-2022) Professor Peck has supervised numerous doctoral students whose dissertations examine diverse topics including global urban solutions industries, US-Mexico border economies, Rio de Janeiro's 'PACification' processes, and China's experimental economic zones. His supervision approach emphasizes theoretically sophisticated empirical work that connects local case studies to broader political economic processes. His Canada Research Chair position supported extensive research on urban and regional political economy, while his current Killam Professorship funds ongoing work on Chinese political economy and conjunctural analysis methodologies. While not formally affiliated with a specific laboratory, Professor Peck is deeply engaged with multiple scholarly networks through his editorial leadership as Managing Editor of EPA: Economy & Space and co-editor of the Economic Transformations book series. His role as Convenor of the Summer Institute in Economic Geography demonstrates his commitment to fostering scholarly exchange and theoretical development in economic geography as a discipline.
Teboho Moja is a Clinical Professor of Higher Education at New York University's Steinhardt School, holding concurrent roles as an Extraordinary Professor at the University of the Western Cape and a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Pretoria. She has served as an Executive Director under President Mandela's administration, leading the National Commission on Higher Education, which shaped South Africa's post-apartheid reforms. Her research focuses on higher education policy, equity in education systems, and international development in Africa. She has been honored with the Martin Luther King Jr. Faculty Award and the National Research Foundation Lifetime Achiever Award, among others. Education: She holds an Honorary Doctorate in Education from the University of Pretoria (2020). Her academic contributions include over 50 peer-reviewed publications and keynote addresses at global conferences. She has advised governments and international bodies such as UNESCO and the Councils of Universities in South Africa. Research Interests: Dr. Moja's work emphasizes equitable access to education, international partnerships in higher education, and the role of philanthropy in African universities. She explores how global institutions influence policy reforms, particularly in transitional justice contexts and post-colonial education systems. Her recent publications analyze the relevance of university rankings in Africa and collaborative models between U.S. foundations and African institutions. Awards: Martin Luther King, Jr. Faculty Award (2019) National Research Foundation Lifetime Achiever Award (2019) Women in International Education Award (2019) Graduate Students Star Award (2019) Honorary Doctorate in Education (University of Pretoria, 2020) Advising and Grants: She has led national policy commissions, advised education ministers, and contributed to international bodies. Her work bridges academia and policy, with a focus on systemic reforms and inclusive education models. She has designed field-based courses on South Africa's educational reforms and global perspectives in Indian higher education. Professional Networks: She has held visiting professorships at the Universities of Oslo, Tampere, and Hong Kong. She chairs multiple international advisory boards and collaborates with global scholars on projects addressing equity and development in education.
David Glovsky serves as Assistant Professor of History and African and African American Studies within Harvard University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, focusing on 19th-20th century West Africa with regional expertise in Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Guinea. His research examines borderlands through lenses of mobility, citizenship, and alternative geographies, challenging state-imposed borders with community-driven spatial narratives. His educational foundation includes a B.A. in History and Human Geography from Dartmouth College and a Ph.D. in African History from Michigan State University. Prior academic appointments include the Department of Africana Studies at University at Albany and the Department of History at Boston University, following Peace Corps service in southern Senegal that redirected his career from sports media into academia. Glovsky's research program centers on social justice-oriented historical narratives of marginalized West African communities, particularly Fulbe populations. His work synthesizes oral histories and archival research across six nations to analyze how borderland residents construct fluid geographies that transcend colonial/postcolonial boundaries. Key themes include migration as resistance , gendered border experiences , and Islam's role in transnational community formation , with methodological innovation in spatial history and decolonial approaches. Analysis of his nine recent publications (2019-2023) reveals consistent engagement with West African borderland resilience , demonstrating how communities maintain cross-border networks despite state fragmentation. His work bridges historical scholarship and contemporary migration debates , employing interdisciplinary frameworks from anthropology, geography, and postcolonial theory to document alternative spatial organizations that challenge Western cartographic traditions. ACLS Fellowship supporting book project Borderlanders: Popular Geographies, Mobility, and Belonging in West Africa Glovsky actively mentors graduate students interested in African history, emphasizing pathways for underrepresented scholars into U.S. academia. His research has received competitive external funding including the ACLS Fellowship, while his collaborative work on the NEH ‘Ajamī Project advanced accessibility of Pulaar manuscripts through digitization and multilingual translation. He maintains strong community ties with West African scholars and institutions, particularly in Senegambia. Though not leading a formal laboratory, Glovsky collaborates with international research teams across West Africa on borderland studies and manuscript preservation, working closely with scholars in Kolda (Senegal), Dakar, and Guinea-Bissau to document community histories through participatory methodologies.
Dr Kingsley Edney is an Associate Professor in International Relations of China at the University of Leeds' School of Politics and International Studies. He holds a PhD (International Relations) and MA (Political Science) from the University of Melbourne, along with a BA(Hons) in Politics and Anthropology from Victoria University of Wellington. Fluent in Chinese and with experience living in Shanghai and Beijing, his research focuses on China's non-material international security dynamics, including cultural diplomacy, propaganda, and ideological strategies to manage global information flows. His expertise includes Chinese soft power, the role of ideology in foreign policy, and the intersection of domestic political cohesion with international security objectives. He teaches undergraduate and master's courses on China's domestic and international politics. Current postgraduate researchers under his supervision are Jinru Huang, Yanyu Lu, and Hengfeng Zhao. Edney's research outputs span topics like public perceptions of China in the Anglosphere, Chinese youth nationalism, and environmental governance. His work often bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis of China's evolving global engagement strategies. He maintains active academic engagement through platforms like Google Scholar and ORCID.
Claire Célérier is an Associate Professor of Finance at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, where she holds the Canada Research Chair in Household Finance. Her academic career spans prestigious institutions including the University of Toronto (where she advanced from Assistant to Associate Professor between 2016-2022) and the University of Zurich (2014-2016). She maintains an affiliation with the People's History Lab and actively contributes to academic discourse through conference organization including 'Race, Equity and Public Policy' (2023) and 'Banks, States and the People' (2024). Dr. Célérier's research explores how finance can benefit households through multiple lenses including behavioral economics, asset pricing, and financial history. Her work investigates innovation in finance, diversity and inclusion impacts, and historical perspectives on financial systems. She has developed significant expertise in household finance, banking, and the intersection of finance with social issues, particularly racial disparities in financial markets as demonstrated in her award-winning research on the Freedman's Savings Bank. Her scholarly output shows a clear trajectory from foundational work on security design and investor behavior toward increasingly socially relevant research on financial inclusion, racial equity, and household financial decision-making. Recent publications demonstrate her growing focus on historical contexts of financial systems and their contemporary implications, particularly regarding marginalized communities. Canada Research Chair in Household Finance (2024) Bank of Canada Governor's Award (2022) University of Toronto Top 5% Merit Award (2021) Petro Canada Young Innovators Award Program (2021) Multiple Rotman School of Management Teaching Awards (2019-2021) Ieke van den Burg Prize for Research on Systemic Risk (2015) Dr. Célérier has successfully secured substantial research funding including Insight Development Grants (CAD 54,500), Connaught Research Grant (CAD 10,000), and the Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation Grant (EUR 400,000). She mentors several PhD students including Andrada Bilan (2020), Alexey Vasilenko (2023), and Purnoor Tak (Expected 2026), and has supervised numerous master's theses at both University of Toronto and University of Zurich. Her service contributions include Rotman School of Management MBA program committee, executive committee, seminar coordination, and faculty recruiting committee.
Max Planck Institute for Intelligent SystemsGermany
Celestine Mendler-Dünner is a Principal Investigator at the ELLIS Institute in Tübingen, co-affiliated with the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems and the Tübingen AI Center. She leads the Algorithms and Society research group, focusing on machine learning in social contexts and the role of prediction in digital economies. Her work bridges theoretical machine learning with practical societal impact, developing tools for safe, reliable, and equitable AI ecosystems. Her educational background includes a PhD from ETH Zurich in collaboration with IBM Research, followed by an SNSF postdoctoral fellowship at UC Berkeley hosted by Moritz Hardt. She was previously a group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems before joining the ELLIS Institute. Mendler-Dünner's research spans several interconnected themes including performative prediction (where predictions change the behavior they aim to predict), algorithmic collective action (how participants can steer AI systems toward common goals), and the role of LLMs in social science research. Her work combines theoretical foundations with practical implementations, addressing challenges in interactive machine learning, optimization in dynamic environments, and context-specific evaluation of AI systems. She particularly examines how algorithmic predictions mediate services and platforms at societal scale, exploring concepts of economic power in digital markets. Her publication record shows a clear evolution from system-aware machine learning algorithms (including foundational work on IBM Snap ML) toward increasingly sociotechnical questions at the intersection of machine learning, economics, and policy. Recent work focuses on measuring performative power in digital economies, evaluating LLMs as risk scores, and developing frameworks for algorithmic collective action in recommender systems and labor markets. Among her notable recognitions are the ETH Medal for her dissertation, the IBM Research Division Award, the Fritz Kutter Award, and the IBM Eminence and Excellence Award. She is an ELLIS Scholar, a fellow of the Elisabeth-Schiemann-Kolleg, and affiliated with several prestigious research programs including the International Max Planck Research School for Intelligent Systems and the Max Planck ETH Center for Learning Systems. ETH Medal (dissertation award) IBM Research Division Award Fritz Kutter Award IBM Eminence and Excellence Award SNSF Early Postdoc Mobility Fellowship Mendler-Dünner actively mentors the next generation of researchers, advising PhD student Patrik Wolf and supervising research interns including Joachim Baumann, Haiqing Zhu, and Anna Badalyan, as well as Master's student Dorothee Sigg. She serves as core faculty for the International Max Planck Research School and associated faculty for the Max Planck ETH Center for Learning Systems. Her group has secured significant research funding through fellowships and institutional support, enabling work on projects like Powermeter (measuring search engine influence) and Snap ML (resource-efficient machine learning library with over 1 million PyPI downloads). She leads the Algorithms and Society research group, which examines machine learning as part of broader sociotechnical ecosystems. The group explores human-population interactions with algorithmic systems and incorporates these insights into learning system fundamentals. Current projects include investigating economic incentives in digital platforms, developing tools for systematic LLM evaluation in social science contexts, and creating frameworks for collective action in algorithmic systems. Mendler-Dünner also co-organizes the Algorithmic Collective Action workshop at NeurIPS 2025, demonstrating her leadership in emerging research directions at the AI-society interface.
Junfu Zhang is a Professor of Economics and Department Chair at Clark University. His research focuses on applied microeconomics, particularly urban and regional economics, with an emphasis on urbanization in China, entrepreneurship, regional development, and racial housing segregation. He holds a B.A. from Renmin University of China (1993), and M.A. and Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University (1999, 2001). Prior to joining Clark in 2006, he was a research fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California and a Brookings Institution fellow (2000–2001). He has been an IZA Research Fellow since 2007 and served as President of the Chinese Economists Society (2019–2020). Education: B.A., International Economics, Renmin University of China, 1993 M.A., Economics, Clark University, 1997 M.A., Economics, Johns Hopkins University, 1999 Ph.D., Economics, Johns Hopkins University, 2001 Research Interests: Dr. Zhang's research explores urbanization dynamics in China, including land use policies, housing tenure systems, and economic segregation. His work also addresses entrepreneurship, high-tech industrial clusters, and the economic impacts of urbanization. Recent studies include analyses of land regulation, Super Bowl economic effects, and gender competition in labor markets. Recent Research Trends: His articles reflect a focus on China's socio-economic challenges, such as urban land policies, housing wealth effects, and regional development disparities. Collaborative projects with institutions like IZA and CES highlight interdisciplinary engagement. Awards and Affiliations: IZA Research Fellow (2007–present) Former President, Chinese Economists Society (2019–2020) Advising and Grants: No specific grant or student advising details are listed, though his research often involves collaborative teams. His work is supported by institutional affiliations and academic networks. Labs and Teams: No dedicated labs are mentioned, but his research engages interdisciplinary teams focusing on urban economics and regional policy.
Dr. Haneen Farah is an Associate Professor in the Department of Transport & Planning at Delft University of Technology and co-director of the Traffic and Transportation Safety Lab. She also serves as head of the Traffic Systems Engineering section. Her research focuses on road infrastructure design, road user behavior, and traffic safety, integrating transportation engineering, human factors, and econometrics. Prior to TU Delft, she was a postdoc at KTH Royal Institute of Technology and earned her M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Transportation Engineering from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. Her work includes national/international projects like SAMEN (mixed automated/human traffic implications), AfroSAFE (road safety in Africa), and XCARCITY (sustainable city mobility). She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on road design and traffic safety, including online programs for low/middle-income countries. Farah supervises multiple PhD and Master students in her research areas, contributing to over 50 peer-reviewed publications. Key research themes include infrastructure design for automated vehicles, driver behavior modeling, cyclist safety, and policy implementation of the Safe System approach. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges engineering and psychology to enhance traffic safety and efficiency through advanced analytics and simulation models.
Andrew Radin is a Senior Political Scientist at the RAND Corporation and Associate Director of the Master of National Security Policy Program at the RAND School of Public Policy. His work focuses on European security, military activities in space, and state-building, with expertise in NATO, Russia, Ukraine, and Afghanistan. Ph.D. in Political Science, MIT B.A. in Political Science and Mathematics, University of Chicago Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Southern California His research centers on European and Eurasian security , military strategy , and state-building in weak states . He emphasizes the role of local politics in institution-building and has conducted case studies in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Timor-Leste, and Ukraine. His work explores hybrid warfare, deterrence, security sector reform, and U.S. policy toward Russia and China. His recent publications reveal a strong trend in analyzing space as a domain of military competition , NATO deterrence strategies , and Russian gray-zone aggression . Topics frequently include escalation dynamics, allied cooperation, and the future of the liberal international order. His research combines policy relevance with academic rigor. Scientific Contributions and Recognition: Author of Institution Building in Weak States: The Primacy of Local Politics (Georgetown University Press) Published in Security Studies , Journal of Conflict Resolution , Washington Quarterly , and War on the Rocks Contributor to high-impact RAND reports on Ukraine, NATO, Russia, and international order Andrew Radin has advised on national security policy, including serving as Country Director for Afghanistan in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. He previously taught as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. He has not received mention of specific grants or student advisees, but his leadership in the Master of National Security Policy program suggests mentorship and program development responsibilities. He is active in shaping U.S. defense and foreign policy through research and commentary. Laboratories, Teams, and Research Groups: He is affiliated with the RAND Corporation’s international security research division and contributes to projects on global competition, military strategy, and political warfare. His work is often collaborative, involving multidisciplinary teams focused on defense policy and strategic stability.
Shigehiro Oishi is the Marshall Field IV Professor of Psychology at the University of Chicago, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2023). He holds a B.A. from International Christian University (Tokyo), Ed.M. from Columbia University, and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior to UChicago, he taught at the University of Minnesota (2000–2004), Columbia University (2018–2020), and the University of Virginia (2004–2018; 2020–2022). His research explores culture, social ecology, and well-being, focusing on questions like “What is a good life?” and how socio-ecological factors like income inequality and residential mobility impact well-being across cultures. His lab uses diverse data sources, including surveys, GIS, and experimental methods. Key awards include the 2017 Society of Experimental Social Psychology Career Trajectory Award, the 2018 Carol and Ed Diener Award, and the 2021 Outstanding Achievement Award for Advancing Cultural Psychology. His work bridges psychology, sociology, and cultural studies, with a global focus on understanding human thriving. The Oishi Lab at UChicago continues this mission, welcoming new Ph.D. students and hosting prominent social psychology talks.
Hans Beck serves as Professor of Greek History at the University of Münster (Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität) since 2018, with an additional appointment as Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Arts at McGill University. His academic career includes previous positions as Professor of Ancient History and Director of Classical Studies at McGill University (2005-2018), Heisenberg Fellow at Goethe-Universität Frankfurt (2004-2005), and Research Assistant at the University of Cologne (1997-2004). Beck earned his academic training through doctoral studies at the Universities of Erlangen, Canterbury, and Cambridge (1989-1996), followed by a fellowship at the Center for Hellenic Studies in Washington, DC (2001-2002). His educational background reflects a strong international foundation in classical studies. His research spans multiple interconnected fields within ancient history, with particular emphasis on the history and culture of ancient Greece, historical geography of Greece, environmental studies of the ancient Greek world, political culture of the Roman Republic, and ancient historiography. Beck's work consistently explores themes of localism, federalism, and political structures across ancient societies, with notable contributions to understanding Greek city-states, regional identities, and comparative political systems. His approach often bridges geographical, historical, and cultural perspectives to examine how ancient communities organized themselves politically and maintained regional identities within larger frameworks. Analyzing his recent publications reveals a sustained focus on local political structures within broader contexts, particularly examining how Greek city-states maintained autonomy while participating in federal leagues. His work increasingly incorporates comparative approaches, connecting Greek political structures with those of Rome and even ancient China, reflecting his editorial work on cross-cultural studies. Beck demonstrates particular expertise in analyzing how physical landscapes shaped political organization and how religious practices reinforced regional identities. Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (2018) Anneliese Maier Research Award from Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (2014) Heisenberg Fellowship from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2004) Doctoral scholarship from German Academic Exchange Service (1995) Doctoral scholarship from Hanns Seidel Foundation (1994) Beck has supervised numerous doctoral students including Jordan Christopher (2022), Chandra Giroux (2021), Wentian Fu (2020), Rebecca Robinson (2017), Alex McAuley (2015), and François Gauthier (2015), covering diverse topics from ancient Qin and Macedon to cult practices in ancient empires. His academic leadership extends to directing research projects B3-49 'Belonging in/to Lakonia' and B3-40 'Localism and Religion in Ancient Greece' within the Excellence Cluster focusing on 'Religious Diversity and Legal-Political Unity.' As head of the project 'Belonging in/to Lakonia' and 'Localism and Religion in Ancient Greece,' Beck leads interdisciplinary research teams examining archaeological and historical evidence from the Sanctuary of Apollo at Amyklai and its surroundings. His work integrates textual analysis with material culture studies, creating comprehensive approaches to understanding ancient regional identities and religious practices. Beck's leadership in these projects demonstrates his commitment to bridging traditional disciplinary boundaries in classical studies.
Diane E. Austin is a Professor and Director of the School of Anthropology at the University of Arizona. She also serves as a Research Anthropologist at the Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology (BARA). Her work focuses on environmental anthropology, particularly community dynamics in industrial and environmental contexts, with a strong emphasis on social justice and collaborative research. She has over 25 years of experience leading interdisciplinary projects in the U.S., Mexico, and Gulf Coast regions. Austin's research spans diverse areas including Native American communities, U.S.-Mexico border sustainability, Gulf Coast oil industry impacts, and urban food systems in arid regions. She has pioneered long-term partnerships with tribal organizations, federal agencies, and community groups, earning recognition such as the University Distinguished Outreach Professor (2008) and Distinguished Director (2023). Her recent work highlights longitudinal studies on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill's social effects, binational environmental initiatives in Nogales, and community-based approaches to disaster resilience. She coordinates BARA's internship and post-baccalaureate programs, supporting hundreds of students in applied anthropological research. Awards: Partners in Conservation Award (2010), Border Research Partnership Award Finalist (2012) Leadership Roles: Chair of the Good Neighbor Environmental Board, Member of the Gulf Research Program Advisory Board Key Projects: Southern Paiute cultural preservation, Gulf Coast oil industry studies, Nogales reforestation initiatives Austin’s teaching includes courses on ethnographic methods, data analysis, and mixed-methods research. She actively engages in policy advocacy, contributing expert testimony in legal proceedings related to environmental disasters and labor rights.
