Prof. Dr. Ansgar Thiel is a Professor in the Department of Social Sciences at Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen. His work focuses on gerontology, public health, and sociological aspects of aging. He leads research in the HELP (Helping the Elderly to enjoy Long Complete lives) group, addressing stereotypes of elderly populations, physical activity promotion, and health behavior in aging societies. His interdisciplinary projects include the BaSAlt study on physical activity in nursing homes and studies on elite athletes’ health challenges. He collaborates with the Institute of Political Science and Policy Analysis, exploring social conflicts and institutional dynamics. Key research areas include: 1) Aging populations and social policies, 2) Physical activity interventions for elderly and marginalized groups, 3) Mental health in high-performance domains (sports, music), and 4) Sociological analysis of e-sports and digital culture. His work emphasizes participatory approaches and transdisciplinary collaboration with healthcare institutions and long-term care facilities. Publications span topics from analgesic use in elite sports to pandemic impacts on older adults’ social networks. He co-developed the GEKOS educational program to enhance youth health literacy and contributed to guidelines for occupational health management (BGM). His research bridges social sciences with practical health promotion strategies in diverse settings.
Professor Amanda Lee is a Chair in Medical Statistics at the University of Aberdeen, affiliated with the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition. She holds the title of Professor since 2006 and has served as Director of the Institute of Applied Health Sciences (IAHS) from 2018 to 2023. Her research focuses on applied medical statistics, epidemiology of vascular diseases, and healthcare equity. She has led the University Medical Statistics Team since 2005 and currently heads the Biostatistics and Health Data Science group. Lee is active in Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), co-founding the Women's Development Network in 2020 and serving as IAHS EDI Lead since 2024. Education: MSc in Medical Statistics from Newcastle University (1987), PhD (details unspecified), and extensive postdoctoral experience at the University of Dundee and University of Edinburgh. Her career includes roles as a senior research fellow, Reader, and academic leadership positions. Research Interests: Her work spans biostatistics, vascular disease epidemiology, and health services research. She has contributed to studies on COPD management, surgical training equity, and quality of life in chronic conditions. Notable projects include the BICS RCT on bisoprolol for COPD and analyses of differential attainment in medical examinations. Publications and Grants: Over 250 publications, with recent work on COPD, medical education equity, and surgical training. She has secured £12 million in grants across 84 projects. Teaching includes online courses in research methods and statistics for health professionals. Leadership and Service: Member of numerous university committees, including EDI networks, promotions panels, and policy groups. External roles include statistical editorships, data monitoring committees, and grant review panels.
R. Lawrence Van Horn is an Associate Professor of Management, Law, and Health Policy at the Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University. He directs the Center for Healthcare Market Innovation and holds courtesy appointments in the medical and law schools. His research focuses on consumer-driven healthcare markets, nonprofit governance, and price transparency. Van Horn has advised the White House on healthcare price transparency, co-directs the Nashville Healthcare Council Fellows Program with Senator Bill Frist, and serves on multiple healthcare company boards. Education includes a Ph.D. from the Wharton School (1997), an MBA and MPH from the University of Rochester (1992 and 1990). His work appears in journals like the Journal of Health Economics and New England Journal of Medicine. He has consulted with major hospitals and insurers on antitrust and data analysis, and his research influenced the 2019 Executive Order on healthcare price transparency. Professional roles include board memberships at Community Health Care Realty Trust (NYSE: CHCT), Savida, and Harrow Health. Beyond academia, he manages a cattle farm in Tennessee.
Frada Burstein is an Adjunct Professor at Monash University's Department of Human Centred Computing, affiliated with the Caulfield School of IT. She holds a PhD in Decision Support Systems and has over 30 years of academic experience, specializing in decision theory, healthcare informatics, and knowledge management. She is Director of the Knowledge Management Research Program and leads a laboratory focused on improving clinical decision support and patient-centered care. Education: Doctor of Philosophy (Decision Support Systems), RAS Center for Theoretical Problems of Physicochemical Pharmacology (1984) Master of Science (Applied Mathematics), Tbilisi State University (1978) Graduate Diploma (Graphic Arts), Tbilisi State University (1978) Research Interests: Her work focuses on decision support systems for healthcare, improving user experience across devices, and knowledge management in multidisciplinary contexts. Key projects include developing clinical decision support tools for reducing unnecessary medical tests and creating digital platforms for patient-centered care. She has secured over $3M in grants, including ARC Linkage projects with IBM and the Bureau of Meteorology. Awards: ICT Educator of the Year (2013) Monash Postgraduate Supervisor of the Year (2003) IFIP Outstanding Service Award (2020) AIS Distinguished Member (2019) Grants & Projects: Current roles include co-investigator on projects like 'Nudge CDSS' for clinician decision-making and 'Improving Patient-centered Care through Digital Change.' She has supervised 28 PhD and 13 MRes students, with five ongoing doctoral co-supervisions. Labs & Teams: Leads the Knowledge Management Research Program and collaborates with industry partners on health informatics and emergency management systems.
Kirsty Hassall is an Assistant Professor in Applied Statistics at the Department of Statistics, University of Warwick, having joined the department in 2024. She has previously worked for nearly 10 years as an applied statistician in the agri-environment sector, bringing extensive practical experience to her academic role. Dr. Hassall holds a PhD in "The temporal and spatial analysis of single cell gene expression" from the University of Warwick (2015). She is a Chartered Statistician with the Royal Statistical Society (2019) and has served as a committee member (2017-2021) and currently as Secretary (2021-present) of the British and Irish Region of the International Biometric Society (IBS-BIR). Her research focuses on developing robust hybrid models that combine empirical, mechanistic, and stochastic elements. With expertise spanning Bayesian networks, spatially coherent clustering techniques, and farm typology development, Dr. Hassall applies statistical methods to solve complex problems in agricultural and environmental science. Her work bridges traditional statistical consultancy (mixed models, multivariate statistics, experimental design) with methodological developments for real-world applications. Analysis of Dr. Hassall's recent publications reveals a strong interdisciplinary focus at the intersection of statistics, agriculture, and environmental science. Her work demonstrates consistent application of advanced statistical techniques to address pressing challenges in food security, sustainable agriculture, and environmental management. Key trends include the development of Bayesian Belief Networks for soil quality assessment, spatial modeling for crop production estimation, and statistical approaches to address gender dimensions in agricultural research. Chartered Statistician (Royal Statistical Society, 2019) Dr. Hassall is actively involved in research supervision and teaching, currently offering the ST344: Professional Data Science course. She has secured funding for PhD research, including a fully funded EPSRC scholarship project titled "Unravelling the sound underground: Detecting and estimating earthworm abundance using low-frequency vibrations." She also organizes the "Statistical Challenges in the Agri-Environmental Sector" workshop at the University of Warwick. Through her extensive publication record and active participation in professional societies, Dr. Hassall has established herself as a researcher who effectively bridges statistical methodology with practical applications in the agri-environmental sector. Her collaborative approach is evident in her numerous multi-institutional research projects across the UK, Africa, and Europe.
Franco Maximiliano Bilotto is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Global Development at Cornell University, focusing on enhancing the sustainability of agri-food systems. His research addresses climate change mitigation and adaptation, especially in livestock systems, with an emphasis on environmental conservation, emissions reduction, and socio-economic feasibility. Education: Doctor in Animal Science, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (Argentina) Ph.D. in Agriculture, University of Tasmania (Australia) Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (Argentina) Research Interests: Climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies Sustainable agriculture and nutrient cycling in agroecosystems Soil carbon dynamics and grazing system management His work bridges transdisciplinary collaboration with industry, farmers, and policymakers to address complex agri-food challenges. Recent Research Trends: Franco's recent publications emphasize climate-driven agricultural transformations, livestock emissions reduction, and smallholder resilience in developing regions. He explores innovative solutions like biochar and feed additives while critically evaluating model predictions against real-world outcomes. Contact: Located in Bruckner Hall, Ithaca, NY, Franco can be reached at fmb59@cornell.edu .
Jay Shimshack is Professor of Public Policy and Economics at the University of Virginia's Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, holding a Ph.D. from U.C. Berkeley and B.S. from Cornell University. Prior to UVA, he held faculty positions at Tulane University, Tufts University, and was a visiting fellow at the University of Michigan. His educational background includes: Ph.D. in Economics from University of California, Berkeley B.S. from Cornell University Shimshack's research focuses on environmental regulation, environmental economics, corporate social behavior, and applied microeconomics for public policy. He extensively examines environmental inequality, regulatory compliance mechanisms, and pollution enforcement effectiveness. His work bridges academic research with policy applications through advisory roles with federal agencies, with particular emphasis on citizen complaint systems, environmental justice, and Clean Water Act policy analysis. His recent publications (2019-2024) demonstrate empirical analysis of environmental regulations across domestic and international contexts, revealing consistent themes in compliance assistance effectiveness, transboundary pollution challenges, and socioeconomic disparities in environmental quality. The research combines rigorous economic methodology with real-world policy evaluation, particularly in U.S. regulatory settings and international case studies including Mexico and China. Shimshack has been acknowledged by the University of Virginia for excellence in research contributions, receiving institutional recognition for impactful scholarship that informs environmental policy debates. He has provided advisory services to the EPA, FDA, USDA, and other federal agencies; consulted for private organizations; and testified before the U.S. House of Representatives. His policy engagement includes publishing numerous book chapters and reports, most notably the 2023 analysis finding the Trump administration's Clean Water Act rollback relied on dubious methodology. At UVA, he teaches economics for public policy and benefit-cost analysis.
Paul Rhode is a Professor of Economics at the University of Michigan, where he specializes in economic history with focuses on agricultural development, technological innovation, and U.S. policy analysis. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Stanford University (1990) and a B.A. from the University of California-Davis (1982). Rhode is currently on leave for Fall 2024 and Winter 2025. He serves as a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research and co-edits the Journal of Economic History . Rhode's research examines: The economic history of the American West U.S. agricultural innovation and policy Industrial organization and technological change Historical impacts of slavery and labor systems Economic consequences of natural disasters and wars His publications frequently analyze long-term economic transformations, with recent work exploring manufacturing evolution, slavery productivity, and WWII production policies. Rhode has received the Allan Sharlin Memorial Award for his book Arresting Contagion: Science, Policy, and Conflicts over Animal Disease Control (2015). His other notable works include Creating Abundance: Biological Innovation and American Agricultural Development (2008) and the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of American Economic History .
Cristina Baptista is an Associate Professor at the Lisbon School of Economics & Management (ISEG), Universidade de Lisboa, where she has held various leadership roles including Member of the Coordination Committee of Sports Management Master Programme (2021-2022), Member of the Executive Committee of the Management Department (2020-2022), and Coordinator of the Sports Management undergraduate program (2017-2019). Her academic career spans multiple institutions across Europe, including ISLA, ISG, and Lulea University of Technology where she served as Assistant Professor from 1994-2000. Education: 2020: Aggregation in Sciences de Gestion, Management, ISEG, Lisbon School of Economics & Management - Universidade de Lisboa 2001: Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration and Economics, Lulea University of Technology 1997: Master spécialisé in Sciences de Gestion, Strategic Management and Marketing, Lulea University of Technology 1994: Bachelor of Business Administration in Sciences de Gestion, Management, Lulea University of Technology 1986: Master of Science in Ingénierie, Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico - Universidade de Lisboa Professor Baptista's research focuses on business relationships, strategic management, and digital transformation. Her work examines buyer-supplier interactions, strategic alliances, value creation in business relationships, and the impact of digital ecosystems on organizational collaboration. She has extensively studied coopetition dynamics, where competitors collaborate within multi-actor alliances, and the role of strategic networks in international entrepreneurship, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. Her recent work explores the transformative impact of digital platforms and ecosystems on traditional business relationship models. Her publication record shows a clear evolution from traditional industrial marketing topics (particularly in the mining industry during her early career) toward contemporary digital business models and strategic relationship management. While her early work focused on industrial buying behavior and capital equipment procurement, her recent research has shifted toward digital ecosystems, platform economics, and sustainability in business relationships. This progression reflects both her academic development and the broader transformation of business models in the digital age. Professor Baptista has supervised over 60 Master's students at ISEG, with thesis topics spanning marketing plans for sports federations, digital marketing strategies, business relationship management, and sustainability initiatives. Her supervision portfolio demonstrates her commitment to applied research that addresses real-world business challenges across diverse sectors including sports management, fashion, pharmaceuticals, and digital services. She has contributed to academic leadership through committee service, including membership on the Executive Committee of the Management Department and coordination of multiple academic programs. Her pedagogical contributions include developing course materials such as the 'Sebenta de Marketing' for specialized management courses and 'Sebenta de Fundamentos de Marketing' for Master's programs in Mozambique.
Edward C. Norton is the UnitedHealthcare Professor of Health Care Management in the Department of Health Management and Policy and a Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Michigan. He serves as Director of Quantitative Analytics in the Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy and is a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (Health Economics and Economics of Aging Programs). His work bridges econometric methods with health policy, focusing on long-term care, aging, and pay-for-performance systems. Education: PhD in Economics from MIT (1990), AB in Economics from Princeton University (1986). Research interests span health economics , econometric modeling , aging , and healthcare finance . His recent publications address topics like IVF insurance coverage , robotic surgical outcomes , and dementia-related economic burdens , employing advanced statistical techniques to evaluate policy impacts. He has received the 2018 School of Public Health Excellence in Research Award . His methodological contributions include developing analytical tools for heterogeneous treatment effects and logit model interpretations , with applications in Medicare payment reforms and healthcare quality studies.
Helen Noble is a Professor of Nursing and Director of Postgraduate Research at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen’s University Belfast. She leads international research in nephrology, palliative care, and arts-based interventions for kidney patients. Her roles include supervising PhD candidates, designing postgraduate training programs, and advocating for patient-centered care. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Authority and has received accolades such as the Walls Bursary and Donna Lamping Award. Her research focuses on improving care for patients with chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease, and palliative needs. Notable initiatives include the UK Renal Arts Group, which uses creative arts to enhance patient well-being, and the Compassionate Mindful Resilience (CMR) program for kidney patients. She has secured funding from NIHR, Marie Curie, and other bodies. Teaching responsibilities include modules like Renal Nursing and Renal Replacement Therapies. She serves as an external examiner for nursing programs at City University London and University of Hertfordshire. Her grants and projects span caregiver support, palliative care partnerships, and mindfulness interventions in healthcare. Awards include the RCN Impact Award 2022 for her mindfulness program for PhD students. Her work is cited in international guidelines and disseminated through conferences, media, and collaborations with global organizations like the EDTNA/ERCA Research Board.
Neil Kellard is a Professor of Finance and Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Essex, affiliated with the Essex Business School's Department of Finance. He holds a BA from Manchester Metropolitan University, an MSc from the University of Warwick, and a PhD from the University of Nottingham. His research focuses on finance, international finance, development economics, applied econometrics, and environmental sustainability. He has supervised numerous PhD students and contributed to over 46 journal articles. His work spans topics like commodity price volatility, financial markets' role in inequality, and environmental policies' economic impacts. Neil has presented at global conferences, including the Quantitative Finance Symposium (Greece, 2018) and the African Econometrics Society (South Africa, 2009). His grants include Innovate UK's KTP3 Application (2021) and ESRC's Smart Data Analytics project (2014). He advises on financial stability, green innovation, and commodity markets. His lab focuses on econometric analysis of financial and commodity markets, with a team exploring long-term trends in global economic systems.
Prof. Dr. Michael Trübestein is a Lecturer and Head of the MSc in Real Estate program at the Lucerne School of Business (HSLU). He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Regensburg and has extensive experience in real estate management, teaching at institutions like the University of Kufstein and Politecnico di Milano. His research focuses on real estate investments, asset management, digitalization, and institutional investment strategies. He leads projects such as SaNuInvest and contributes to studies on logistics real estate, tokenization, and sustainable infrastructure. Education: EBS University (Germany), University of Illinois (USA), École Supérieure de Commerce de Dijon (France) Ph.D.: Real Estate Asset Management for Institutional Investors Research emphasizes institutional investment behaviors, real estate capital markets, and digital trends like blockchain and PropTech. He advises on real estate portfolios and collaborates with organizations like RICS and Swiss Pension Funds. His work bridges academic insights with practical applications for global real estate markets. Key projects include analyzing Logistics Real Estate as a new asset class and evaluating Tokenization ’s role in real estate transactions. He regularly publishes in journals like Swiss Real Estate Journal and presents at international conferences such as the European Real Estate Society and ARES.
Matthias Wächter is a Lecturer at the Lucerne School of Business (HSLU) within the Institute of Business and Regional Economics (IBR PNM), focusing on Public and Nonprofit Management. He holds a Dr. sc. nat. (PhD) and Dipl.-Chem. (Diploma in Chemistry) from ETH Zürich. His career includes roles as a research assistant at EAWAG, program manager at Collegium Helveticum, and leadership positions in Swiss social policy organizations. His research emphasizes healthcare financing, long-term care systems, and public health management. Key research interests include the economic analysis of healthcare systems, home care coordination, palliative care models, and policy reforms for integrated health services. Notable projects include studies on home care agency frameworks, cost structures of non-profit healthcare providers, and simulation models for disease management. He has contributed to policy reports on healthcare financing and palliative care accessibility in Switzerland. Publications highlight his work on regulatory impacts in home care, healthcare resource allocation challenges, and economic sustainability of long-term care systems. He actively participates in policy discussions, such as debates on potential long-term care insurance models and aging population strategies. He serves as a board member of the Swiss Association for Social Policy, furthering interdisciplinary dialogue on social and healthcare policies. His advisory work spans strategic planning for municipalities, health infrastructure projects, and nonprofit organizational development. Key projects include the «SPOTnat» study on home care coordination and the analysis of palliative care needs in cantons Luzern and Basel-Stadt.
Dr. Juan Carlos Cordoba is a Professor of Economics at Iowa State University's Department of Economics, part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Rochester (2001) and prior academic positions at Rice University and Carnegie Mellon University. His research focuses on macroeconomics, economic growth, development, urban economics, demographics, and inequality. He has been a visiting scholar at the Federal Reserve Banks of St. Louis and Minneapolis, and the IMF. Research Interests : Macroeconomic Policy and Growth Economic Development and Demographics Urban Economics and Market Frictions Inequality Analysis (within and across nations) Population Dynamics and Fertility Key Contributions : Explored GDP's limitations and alternative welfare metrics Developed models of labor market dynamics and bargaining power Studied fertility decisions under risk and altruism Investigated optimal population and resource constraints Awards : Recognized as a Distinguished Alumni Speaker at the University of Rochester's Stockman Conference (2014). Grants & Labs : Collaborates with institutions like the Federal Reserve System and IMF on macroeconomic policy. Active in research teams addressing global economic challenges.
