Simon Stern is a Professor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, where he has taught since 2007, holding progressively senior positions from Assistant to full Professor since 2019. He serves as Chair in Innovation Law (2020-present) and Director of the Center for Innovation Law & Policy (2012-present). His research bridges legal doctrines with literary/intellectual history, focusing on legal fictions, the "reasonable man" standard, and intersections between law and sexuality. Ph.D. in English (UC Berkeley), J.D. (Yale), B.A. in English (Yale, magna cum laude) Editor-in-Chief of Yale Journal of Law & Humanities during law school Research interests include: law and literature, legal history, sexuality and the law, criminal law, and intellectual property. His work examines narrative techniques in legal reasoning, evidentiary standards, and historical evolution of legal concepts through literary frameworks. Recent publications analyze legal fictions, reasonable person standard evolution, and 19th-century tort law narratives. He co-edits Oxford University Press' Law and Literature series and the New Rambler Review. 2012 SLS Partnership Award for student advocacy 2023-2026 President of academic organization Serves on SSHRC Insight Grants Committee and multiple editorial boards
Dr. Stefanie Burkhardt is a Research Associate at the Department of Religious Studies and Intercultural Theology , University of Münster, since October 2024. She previously served as a Postdoctoral Researcher and Research Coordinator at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (2016–2024) and completed her doctorate in 2022 with a dissertation on Mircea Eliade's dual work in Religious Studies and Literature. Education: PhD (2022, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg), MA in 'Ethics of Textual Cultures' (2013), BA in Religious and German Studies (2012). Research Interests span the intersection of Religion and Literature , Postcolonial Religious Studies , and the Spectral Turn in Cultural Theory . Her work critically examines Eliade's methodologies, the role of African and diasporic narratives in decolonizing the 'spectral turn', and the socio-cultural implications of border crossings in postcolonial contexts. Recent Publications include a monograph on Eliade's literary and academic duality (Brill 2024) and upcoming edited volumes on authenticity in esoteric practices (Brill 2026) and Eliade's entanglements in religious history (Brill 2025). She has contributed to debates on postcolonialism, spectral theory, and Eliade's exoticism in Indian studies. Grants and Projects include participation in the DFG Advanced Study Group 'Alternative Rationalities and Esoteric Practices in Global Perspective' (2023–2024) and leadership in projects on post-Eurocentric cultural theory.
Zsolt Kira serves as an Assistant Professor in the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Institute of Technology's College of Computing, with additional affiliations at the Georgia Tech Research Institute and as Associate Director of ML@GT. He leads the Robotics Perception and Learning (RIPL) Lab, driving research at the intersection of machine learning and robotics. Dr. Kira earned his Ph.D. in 2010 under Professor Ron Arkin, establishing foundational expertise in robotics and AI before transitioning to his current academic role after industry experience at SRI International Sarnoff. His research pioneers beyond supervised learning through unsupervised, semi-supervised, self-supervised, and continual/lifelong learning frameworks, while advancing distributed perception via multi-modal fusion and cross-robot information integration. This dual focus addresses core challenges in robotic autonomy and sensor processing. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals dominant trends in embodied AI systems, robust foundation model adaptation, and multimodal learning architectures. Key themes include neural radiance field applications, reinforcement learning for locomotion, and novel benchmarks for memory evaluation in agents. While specific advisees and grants aren't documented in the source material, his RIPL Lab leadership implies active graduate mentorship and research funding acquisition. The lab's work directly enables next-generation robotic systems through algorithmic innovation in perception and learning. The RIPL Lab operates as a hub for developing machine learning techniques that solve difficult perception problems in robotics, with particular emphasis on unsupervised learning paradigms and distributed multi-robot systems that push the boundaries of autonomous operation.
Professor Inderjeet Parmar is a distinguished academic at City St George's, University of London, where he serves as Associate Dean for Research (2023-2026). He is a leading scholar in international relations, political science, and US foreign policy studies with a particular focus on Anglo-American relations, elites, and the role of race and empire in shaping global power structures. Professor Parmar completed his undergraduate studies in Sociology at the London School of Economics and pursued Political Sociology at the University of London. He earned his doctorate from the University of Manchester in political science and international relations. Prior to joining City, University of London in 2012, he taught at the University of Manchester from 1991 to 2012, where he served as Head of the Department of Government from 2006 to 2009. His research interests center on the history, politics and sociology of Anglo-American foreign policy elites over the past century, with particular attention to organizations such as philanthropic foundations, think tanks, policy research institutes, and university foreign affairs institutes. Professor Parmar has authored three books, including Foundations of the American Century: Ford, Carnegie, and Rockefeller Foundations in the Rise of American Power (2012), which critically examines how major American foundations shaped US foreign policy and global power structures. He is currently working on Presidents and Prime Ministers at War: Race, Empire and Elitism in Anglo-American Wars from Korea to the Wars on Terror , a critical analysis of the post-1945 liberal international order. Professor Parmar's scholarly output demonstrates a consistent focus on the intersections of race, empire, and elite power structures in international relations. His recent publications examine the crisis of the US-led world order, Trump's impact on global politics, transnational elite knowledge networks, and the racial dimensions of international relations theory, reflecting his commitment to challenging conventional narratives about American power. He has held significant leadership roles including past president, chair, and vice chair of the British International Studies Association. His scholarly influence extends through prestigious visiting positions at LSE (2019-2022), Oxford's Rothermere American Institute (2019-20), and Princeton University (2013-2014), as well as earlier fellowships at Princeton and Oxford (1998, 1999, 2010). As an educator, Professor Parmar teaches undergraduate courses on US Foreign Policy, Theories of Global Politics, and Foreign Policy Analysis, as well as postgraduate courses on US Foreign Policy. He supervises doctoral students working on topics related to American elite networks, US-Latin American military relations, and the political incorporation of Black America. Professor Parmar is actively engaged with the public through frequent media appearances on Al Jazeera, CNN, BBC, RT, TRT, TalkRadio, and Sputnik. He is also a regular columnist for The Wire, where he provides critical analysis of contemporary political issues from his distinctive scholarly perspective.
Tracy Xiao Liu is a Professor at the Department of Economics, School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University. Her research focuses on behavioral market design and the intersection of economics and computer science (Econ-CS), utilizing experimental methods to explore decision-making mechanisms, incentive structures, and behavioral spillovers. Her publications span journals such as Management Science , Games and Economic Behavior , and Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization . Key themes include behavioral economics, game theory, public goods, and experimental studies on market design, incentive contracts, and social preferences. Recent work examines AI-driven economic rationality (GPT models), energy policy impacts, and virtual red packet dynamics in online groups. Tracy collaborates with scholars across institutions, including her husband Baoping Liu (Peking University, harmonic analysis). Her experimental research bridges microeconomic theory with real-world applications in education, pensions, and crowdsourcing platforms.
Soojin Oh Park is an Assistant Professor in the Learning Sciences & Human Development department at the University of Washington College of Education. Her research focuses on equity-driven improvements in early childhood education, family literacy engagement with Dual Language Learners (DLLs), and culturally grounded parenting practices. Ed.D., Human Development and Education, Harvard University M.Ed., Educational Policy and Analysis, Harvard University M.S.Ed., Learning, Teaching, and Literacies, University of Pennsylvania B.A., Psychology, University of Pennsylvania Park’s interdisciplinary work combines qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches to address gaps in early childhood education (ECE) and parenting, emphasizing: Family literacy engagement for DLLs’ language and literacy development Culturally sustaining pedagogy to amplify family strengths Equity-oriented reforms in ECE systems and policies Her publications span topics like heritage language maintenance, culturally responsive assessment, and the impact of immigration policy on child development, often utilizing advanced methodologies such as machine learning. Awards include the SRCD Federal Policy Fellowship and Best Article of the Year from the Journal of School Psychology. Outstanding Research Paper Award (Korean American Educational Research Association) Distinguished Paper Award (Washington Educational Research Association) Best Article of the Year Award (Journal of School Psychology) Emerging Scholar Fellowship (National Research Center on Hispanic Children and Families) Park leads projects such as FAMILY (Fathers And Mothers Investing in Learning of Young Children) and BASECAMP (Bolstering Asian Students in Early Childhood by Advancing Multilingual Pedagogies). She teaches courses on language and literacy learning, bilingual development, and parenting impacts on early education.
Dan Lizotte is an Associate Professor jointly appointed to the Department of Computer Science in the Faculty of Science and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University. Additional affiliations include the Schulich Interfaculty Program in Public Health and a cross-appointment to the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Sciences. Based in Middlesex College, London, Ontario, his contact email is dlizotte@uwo.ca. His research centers on machine learning and biostatistics for health decision support, with emphasis on sequential decision-making in chronic disease management where evolving patient health status and preferences inform adaptive interventions. Core contributions involve adapting reinforcement learning frameworks to model dynamic health decisions in public health and primary care settings, addressing methodological challenges in personalized medicine and risk prediction. Analysis of his publication record reveals consistent focus on healthcare applications of machine learning, particularly in chronic disease risk modeling using electronic medical records, intersectionality frameworks in public health AI, and Bayesian methods for dose personalization. His work bridges reinforcement learning with clinical decision support systems, advancing dynamic treatment regimes and statistical methodologies for evolving patient data. No scientific awards were mentioned in the provided text. The text does not specify any advisees, grant funding, or educational background details. Lizotte leads a research laboratory focused on machine learning applications in health, as evidenced by the dedicated lab site referenced in his contact information. His team likely explores intersections of statistical methodology, AI ethics, and clinical implementation for personalized health interventions.
Naomi Murakawa is an Associate Professor in the Department of African American Studies at Princeton University, School of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on the reproduction of racial inequality in American politics, particularly in the realms of crime policy and the carceral state. Her scholarly work bridges political science, critical race theory, and legal studies. Key areas of interest include mass incarceration, racial liberalism, the historical development of crime control, and the paradoxes of reform within the criminal justice system. Her research, reflected in publications such as The First Civil Right: How Liberals Built Prison America and numerous journal articles, reveals how ostensibly progressive policies have contributed to the expansion of the prison system. Themes across her work include the racialized foundations of state power, the limitations of liberal reform, and the structural persistence of racial inequality in law and governance. Scientific Awards and Fellowships: Fellowship from Columbia Law School’s Center for the Study of Law and Culture Fellowship from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Health Policy Research Program Professor Murakawa has advised graduate students and contributed to major scholarly and public conversations on race and justice. Her work has been supported by significant research grants and fellowships, enabling deep historical and theoretical analysis of the American carceral state. She is a leading voice in interdisciplinary debates on decarceration, abolition, and transformative justice. She is affiliated with research initiatives focused on race, law, and inequality, contributing to collaborative teams examining the intersections of policy, history, and social movements. Her ongoing scholarship continues to challenge conventional narratives about crime, punishment, and racial progress in the United States.
Georgios Dimitroglou Rizell is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics at Uppsala University, Sweden, where he also serves as Head of the Department since 2020. His academic work is centered at the Ångström Laboratory, where he conducts research in symplectic and contact topology. He maintains dual affiliations with both the Department of Mathematics and the Center for Geometry and Physics at Uppsala University. Dr. Dimitroglou Rizell earned his PhD from Uppsala University in 2012 under the supervision of Tobias Ekholm. Following his doctoral studies, he held postdoctoral positions at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (2012-2013), Université Paris-Sud (2013-2014), and the University of Cambridge (2014-2015), all supported by prestigious fellowships from the Knut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation. He returned to Uppsala University as a researcher (2015-2017) and Assistant Lecturer (2017-2021) before being promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2021. His research primarily focuses on symplectic and contact topology, with special emphasis on understanding and classifying Lagrangian and Legendrian submanifolds. His work employs advanced mathematical techniques including pseudoholomorphic curves, pseudoholomorphic foliations, Symplectic Field Theory, and Floer homology. His investigations span a broad range of topics within geometric topology, from the classification of Lagrangians near the Whitney immersion to the study of Legendrian submanifolds and their invariants. His research has significant implications for understanding the geometric structures underlying classical mechanics and quantum physics. His recent publications (2020-2025) demonstrate a consistent focus on Lagrangian and Legendrian submanifolds, with particular attention to their classification, invariants, and interactions with symplectic structures. A notable trend is the development of new techniques for studying C^0-limits of Legendrians, exact Lagrangians in various settings, and the geometric generation of Fukaya categories. His collaborative work with researchers like Michael Sullivan, Roman Golovko, and others has produced significant advances in Floer theory and symplectic field theory. Scientific Awards Wallenberg Scholar (2023-2028, KAW 2023.0294) Wallenberg Academy Fellow (extension 2022-2027, KAW 2021.0191) Wallenberg Scholar (2022-2023, KAW 2021.0300) Wallenberg Academy Fellow (2017-2021, KAW 2016.0198) As Head of the Department of Mathematics, Dr. Dimitroglou Rizell oversees academic programs and research initiatives. His leadership is supported by significant funding from the Knut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation, which has awarded him multiple prestigious fellowships throughout his career. These grants have enabled his research in symplectic geometry and supported collaborative projects with international mathematicians. Dr. Dimitroglou Rizell is actively involved in the Center for Geometry and Physics at Uppsala University, where he collaborates with researchers across mathematical disciplines. His work intersects with theoretical physics, particularly in areas related to geometric quantization and the mathematical foundations of quantum mechanics. He participates in seminar series and reading groups focused on symplectic topology and its applications.
Robert Falkner is a Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where he also serves as Academic Dean of the TRIUM Global Executive MBA program, an alliance between LSE, NYU Stern, and HEC Paris. His academic journey began in Germany with a double-degree in politics (MA Politikwissenschaft) and economics (Diplom-Volkswirt) from Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, followed by a doctorate in international relations from the University of Oxford. Research Focus: Global environmental politics, international political economy, climate change governance, and the intersection of economic nationalism with global order. Recent Publications: Co-authored/co-edited books on the English School approach to IPE, climate responsibilities of great powers, and environmentalism in international society. Scientific Awards: Distinguished Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy Simone Veil Fellow at Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich Visiting Scholar at Harvard University
Tom McDonough is a Professor of Art History at Binghamton University, specializing in modern and contemporary art with a focus on avant-garde movements, particularly the Situationist International. His research explores intersections between art, politics, and social movements in postwar Europe. He holds degrees from Rutgers University (BA), New York University’s Institute of Fine Arts (MA, PhD), and has taught at Harvard University and UC Berkeley. Education: Bachelor’s Degree: Rutgers University MA and PhD: Institute of Fine Arts, New York University His research interests include postwar European avant-gardes, postwar French architectural history, and contemporary Black American art. Key publications include "The Beautiful Language of My Century" and edited volumes on the Situationist International and urban theory. McDonough received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship (2024) and has held fellowships at institutions such as the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and the Académie de France à Rome/Villa Medici. Teaching focuses include 19th-century Parisian art, Black Monument sculptors, and film theory. His work bridges art criticism with broader socio-political analysis, emphasizing radical artistic movements’ societal impacts.
Prof. Maciej Lewenstein is a Group Leader and ICREA Professor at the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO), Spain. He leads the Quantum Optics Theory group, focusing on theoretical and computational studies of quantum many-body systems, topological phases, and nonlinear optics. He holds a Dr.rer.nat. in Physics from the University of Essen, Germany. His research interests include quantum simulations, high-harmonic generation, Bose-Einstein condensation, and quantum information processing. He has pioneered work on topological quantum thermometry and ultrafast phase transitions in materials like vanadium dioxide. His group actively explores the intersection of quantum optics with condensed matter physics and quantum computing. Recent articles highlight advancements in tensor network approaches for topological phases, quantum algorithms for many-body systems, and the application of sonification to quantum entanglement dynamics. He has received a prestigious ERC Advanced Grant and the ICREA Professorship, recognizing his contributions to quantum science. Prof. Lewenstein advises over a dozen PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, fostering a dynamic research environment at ICFO. His grants include ERC and ICREA funding, supporting projects on quantum simulations and nonlinear optical phenomena. The Quantum Optics Theory group collaborates internationally, with expertise in light-matter interactions, quantum resource theory, and quantum many-body localization. Their lab develops novel methods for probing quantum systems using high-harmonic spectroscopy and quantum trajectory simulations.
Ståle Knudsen is a Professor in the Department of Social Anthropology at the University of Bergen, Norway. His research bridges environmental anthropology and political ecology, focusing on transnational corporations, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and environmental governance. Key areas include Norwegian energy corporations' CSR practices abroad, Turkish fisheries management, and global energy policies. He led the EU-funded KNOWSEAS (2009–2013) and ENERGETHICS (2015–2019) projects, examining CSR in state-owned energy sectors. Knudsen has authored Fishers and Scientists in Modern Turkey (2009) and co-edited Corporate Social Responsibility and the Paradoxes of State Capitalism (2023). His work critiques the intersection of financial logics and environmental accountability in global corporate operations. From 2014–2021, he served as Head of the Department of Social Anthropology at UiB. Research Interests: Corporate responsibility, energy governance, political ecology, environmental conflict, and transnational corporations. Key Projects: ENERGETHICS (CSR in energy companies), KNOWSEAS (European marine management), and ELMÉ (EU fisheries policies). Knudsen’s research combines long-term fieldwork in Turkey with interdisciplinary analysis of global energy systems and CSR paradoxes. He critiques the 'Nordic Model' as a CSR framework and explores tensions between corporate profit and sustainability goals in Norway’s state-owned enterprises.
Stephen De Wijze is a Senior Lecturer in Political Theory at the University of Manchester. His work focuses on ethics, political theory, and the philosophical analysis of evil and moral dilemmas in politics. He holds a PhD from the University of Sheffield and has taught at Rhodes University and the University of Sheffield. His research explores 'dirty hands' in political action, in-bello proportionality, and secular accounts of evil. Education: PhD (Political Theory), University of Sheffield (1998) MA (Philosophy), Stanford University (1990) BA (Honors) Philosophy, Rhodes University (1986) Bachelor of Commerce, Rhodes University (1982) Research Interests: De Wijze’s work centers on the intersection of ethics and political action, including the 'dirty hands' problem, just war theory, and the moral psychology of evil. He has authored/co-edited books such as *The Routledge Handbook on the Philosophy of Evil* and contributed to journals like *The Journal of Ethics* and *Ethical Theory and Moral Practice*. Media & Engagement: He has appeared on BBC Radio 4’s *The Moral Maze* and contributed to public discourse on topics like political morality and the ethics of violence. His work bridges academic philosophy with contemporary ethical challenges in politics and international relations.
Christina Fawcett is an Instructor in the Department of English at the University of Winnipeg. She is an active member of the Centre for Research in Young People’s Texts and Cultures (CRYTC) and the Centre for Research in Cultural Studies (CRiCS), and holds editorial roles for Jeunesse: Young People’s Texts and Cultures as a former Book Reviews Editor and current Advisory Board member. She also participates in the Canadian Games Studies Association (CGSA/ACÉJ). Her research explores interdisciplinary intersections of narrative, ethics, and popular culture, with emphases on: Monster Theory and representations of transgression Video game analyses of gender, justice, and ludic mechanics Genre fiction (fantasy, sci-fi, horror) in legal/cultural contexts Young people’s media and digital cultures She co-leads the SSHRC-funded project "Contemporary Cozy Media," examining comfort aesthetics in fantasy, mystery, and games. Fawcett’s recent publications (2020–2025) predominantly dissect video game narratives ( Bioshock Infinite , Spiderman , Resident Evil 7 ) through frameworks of criminology, ethics, and monstrosity. Her work consistently bridges game design with cultural critique, emphasizing themes of justice, identity, and speculative futures. In teaching, she covers popular literature genres (fantasy, sci-fi, horror, mystery) and media studies.
