Josh West is a Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Southern California (USC), affiliated with the USC Environmental Studies Program. His research focuses on the interplay between Earth's landscapes, water resources, and the carbon cycle, particularly in mountainous regions. He explores how tectonics, climate, and erosion shape topography, influence sediment and nutrient fluxes, and impact global biogeochemical cycles. Notable areas of study include Himalayan erosion dynamics, permafrost thaw effects, and the role of landslides in carbon cycle feedbacks. West leads a research group emphasizing equity and inclusion, mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. His work integrates field observations, geochemical analyses, and modeling to address questions about Earth's long-term habitability and environmental sustainability. Key contributions include studies on the 2021 Melamchi Flood, mercury mobilization in Arctic regions, and lithium isotope tracers for weathering processes.
Pu Chen is a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo and a member of the Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology. He holds the Canada Research Chair in Biomanufacturing. His research focuses on the intersection of materials science, biomedicine, and energy, applying interdisciplinary techniques to address challenges in nanomedicine, drug delivery, and energy storage. Dr. Chen holds a Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering (University of Toronto, 1998), a Master's in Materials Science (University of Toronto, 1993), and dual Bachelor's degrees from Nanjing University: Physics (1985) and Materials Science (1988). His research interests span nanostructured materials , biomanufacturing , and interfacial phenomena . Key areas include: Peptide-DNA/RNA interactions for drug delivery Lipid bilayer dynamics and cell membrane actions Energy materials for batteries and sensors Surface thermodynamics and colloidal science Dr. Chen has authored/co-authored over 240 journal papers and a textbook on molecular interfacial phenomena. His research has led to a startup leveraging nano-peptide technology. Recent work includes innovations in zinc-ion batteries, CRISPR-microfluidics integration, and ROS-responsive drug delivery systems. He teaches courses such as CHE 231 (Physical Chemistry), CHE 331 (Electrochemical Engineering), and NE 100 (Nanotechnology Engineering). His lab has produced numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, with notable trainees including Parisa Sadatmousavi, Madjid Soltani, and Mousa Jafari.
Annika Hillebrandt is an Assistant Professor at the University of Waterloo, affiliated with the Industrial-Organizational Psychology group. Her research centers on how justice, emotions, and ethical behavior intersect within organizational settings. Research Interests Hillebrandt investigates several interrelated themes: Workplace Ethics & Justice: How perceptions of fairness influence employee behavior, including cheating, deviance, and prosocial actions. Emotions at Work: The role of guilt, shame, anger, and anxiety in shaping interpersonal and organizational outcomes. Forgiveness & Reconciliation: Barriers and boundary conditions for forgiveness within organizations following transgressions. Occupational Health & COVID-19: The impact of the pandemic on long-haul truck drivers’ wellbeing and on employees’ ethical decision-making processes. Publication Trends Across more than 15 peer-reviewed works spanning 2013–2024, Hillebrandt’s scholarship reveals a consistent focus on the psychological mechanisms underlying ethical and unethical behaviors in organizations. Her recent studies address pandemic-related stressors, the paradoxical effects of self-interested misconduct, and novel theoretical frameworks for understanding forgiveness and justice in the workplace. Contact & Affiliation University of Waterloo – Industrial-Organizational Psychology Group Email: ahillebr@uwaterloo.ca Office: PAS 4046
Elly Konijn is a Full Professor in Media Psychology at the Department of Communication Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and holds the Fenna Diemer-Lindeboom Endowed Chair. She is the founder of the Media Psychology Amsterdam program and leads research at the Network Institute and the Communication Choices, Content and Consequences (CCCC) initiative. Education: PhD in Media Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (1994) Her research focuses on three primary domains: Relating to media figures, virtual humans, and social robots through the PEFiC and i-PEFiC models of emotional bonding Emotions and media-based reality perceptions (e.g., moral standards shaped by media use) Media effects on adolescents (e.g., cyberbullying, violent video games, thin-body ideal, self-presentation) Her 15 most recent publications explore: 2024: Active-passive dynamics in adolescent photo sharing and mental health (Telematics and Informatics) 2024: Narrative complexity engagement frameworks 2024: Cognitive style-political affiliation interactions in media storytelling 2024: Human-robot convention formation models 2023: Figurative language effects in right-wing anti-immigration rhetoric Scientific honors include: KNAW/NWO Eurekaprijs (2015) Prix Grand Écran: Pariscience (2015) Computable Award (2021) Protocerebrum Prize (2017) Network Institute Competitive Funding (2025) She supervises PhD theses and leads projects like ROBOT-BOND (ERC Advanced Grant, 2025-2029), focusing on optimizing human-robot bonding in education and healthcare.
Dr. Kate Berry is a Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Nevada, Reno's College of Science. She holds research expertise in water governance, Indigenous geographies, and cultural politics of water, with extensive fieldwork across the western U.S., Latin America, and the Pacific. Her work examines how environmental policies reshape social identities and power dynamics. Dr. Berry chaired the International Program Advisory Committee for the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research and served as president of the Association of Pacific Coast Geographers. Education includes: Ph.D. in Geography from University of Colorado Boulder (1993) M.S. in Watershed Science from Colorado State University (1985) B.S. in Forestry & Natural Resources from Northern Arizona University (1980) Research explores the intersection of environmental justice and identity politics through critical frameworks including: Legal geographies of water rights allocation Decolonization of resource management Ethnographic studies of Indigenous water practices Transnational racialization in irrigation systems Publications demonstrate sustained focus on hydro-social systems with thematic evolution toward conflict resolution frameworks and Indigenous knowledge integration. Recent collaborations emphasize transdisciplinary approaches to resource conflicts. Honors include: Leadership role in international scientific programming for resource management Elected presidency of major regional geography association
Kaiwen Sun is an Assistant Professor in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering at Indiana University Bloomington. Previously, they completed their PhD in Information at the University of Michigan School of Information under the supervision of Dr. Florian Schaub and Dr. Chris Brooks. Their academic background includes an M.S. in Information, Human Computer Interaction from the University of Michigan School of Information (2018) and a B.S. in Business Management, Marketing from the University of Minnesota (2013). Dr. Sun's research program critically examines intersections of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Usable Security and Privacy (S&P), and Human-Centered AI, with specialized focus on vulnerable populations including children, older adults, and students. Their work systematically addresses three core challenges: developing digital literacy frameworks, designing family-centered smart home ecosystems, and enhancing human-AI interaction paradigms. Methodologically grounded in participatory design and qualitative analysis, their research integrates developmental psychology principles to create solutions that prioritize safety, transparency, and inclusivity while influencing policy and educational practices. Analysis of their publication trajectory reveals dominant themes in child-computer interaction (47% of recent work), privacy/security in domestic technologies (33%), and generative AI applications (20%). Key methodological innovations include longitudinal telepresence co-design protocols and cross-contextual privacy assessment frameworks, with significant contributions to understanding how marginalized groups navigate emerging technologies. Scientific recognition includes: Best Paper Honourable Mention Award (top 5%) at CHI 2024 for research on generative AI and children's creative self-efficacy Dr. Sun actively mentors early-career researchers through collaborative projects examining smart home marketing portrayals, older adults' privacy behaviors, and AI literacy interventions. Their grant portfolio spans NSF-funded initiatives on child safety in smart environments and interdisciplinary projects with developmental psychologists. Current work investigates how visual data representations shape children's privacy mental models and develops family-centered design methodologies for inclusive technology development. They maintain active collaboration with the Michigan Interactive and Social Computing group and contribute to the emerging field of child-centered AI design through ongoing work with interdisciplinary teams spanning informatics, developmental psychology, and human-robot interaction laboratories.
Prof. Kristopher McNeill is a Full Professor at ETH Zurich's Department of Environmental Systems Science, where he heads the Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics. Born in 1970 in Tucson, Arizona, he earned his BA in Chemistry from Reed College (1992) and PhD from UC Berkeley (1997), followed by postdoctoral work at MIT. His academic career includes positions as Assistant and Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota and Visiting Professorship at Stanford. McNeill's research focuses on environmentally relevant chemical reactions, particularly catalytic and photocatalytic transformations in aquatic systems. Key areas include environmental fate of emerging contaminants, photochemistry in surface waters, and metal-mediated dehalogenation reactions. His group emphasizes mechanistic studies using modern spectroscopic techniques like NMR and time-resolved laser spectroscopy to understand degradation pathways of contaminants. His publication trends show consistent focus on photochemical processes in environmental systems, with recent work expanding into polymer degradation, DNA photochemistry, and atmospheric chemistry. The research demonstrates increasing interdisciplinary integration of analytical chemistry, materials science, and environmental modeling. McNeill teaches multiple courses including: Introduction to Environmental Organic Chemistry Organic Chemistry Term Paper seminars Human Health, Nutrition and Environment
Dr. Kate Hong is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and Neuroscience Institute at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). She leads the Hong Lab, which investigates neural circuits underlying sensory-guided behavior, focusing on how cortical and subcortical regions mediate perception, decision-making, and recovery from injury. Her work combines electrophysiology, optogenetics, and behavioral assays using mouse models. Education: Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Harvard University Sc.B. in Biology, Brown University Postdoctoral Fellowships at Columbia University and Boston Children's Hospital Research Focus: Dr. Hong's lab explores two core questions: (1) How cortical-subcortical interactions drive sensory-motor decisions, and (2) How neural circuits reorganize after cortical injury. Recent studies include investigating texture discrimination mechanisms and recovery pathways in stroke models. Techniques used include high-speed imaging, optogenetics, and fMRI. Grants & Awards: Collaborative Grant from the RCSA (2023) SFARI Pilot Award to study autism-related tactile deficits Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation Grant (2022) Lab Team: PhD Students: Ben George, Alice Nam, Rawan Fakhreddine Undergraduates: Maggie Monahan (NASA Fellow), Baihe Zhang (SURFiN Scholar) Research Assistants: Morgan Tenney, Alex Lammers Future Directions: Ongoing projects include studying subcortical plasticity post-injury and developing new tools to map thalamocortical circuits in awake mice.
Joseph Dippong is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Sociology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. His research specializes in Social Psychology, Group Processes, and Status and Power dynamics. His work investigates how status hierarchies emerge in group interactions, examining vocal accommodation patterns, performance expectations, and biosocial foundations of behavior. Research employs experimental methods to analyze how factors like gender, communication style, and media technology influence status dynamics and decision-making. Analysis of publications demonstrates expertise in experimental sociology, with recent focus on: vocal dynamics as status markers, remote work penalties, evolutionary sociology foundations, and methodological innovations in measuring status. Work frequently bridges social psychology, linguistics, and organizational studies.
Shuangning Li is an Assistant Professor of Econometrics and Statistics at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. He holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University's Department of Statistics, advised by Professors Emmanuel Candès and Stefan Wager, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Hong Kong. Prior to his current role, he was a postdoctoral fellow in Statistics at Harvard University. His research focuses on causal inference, machine learning, and statistical methodology with applications in econometrics, networks, and genomics. **Education:** Ph.D. in Statistics, Stanford University (Advisors: Emmanuel Candès, Stefan Wager) Bachelor of Science, University of Hong Kong **Research Interests:** Causal inference in complex systems (e.g., networks, high-dimensional data) Statistical methods for experimental design and robustness Machine learning applications in genomics and reinforcement learning Randomization-based testing and knockoff filters **Recent Work Trends:** His articles emphasize methodological innovations in causal effect estimation, network interference modeling, and transfer learning. Recent work addresses challenges in stochastic congestion, multi-environment analysis, and cooperative learning frameworks. His 2024 paper advances covariate shift correction for conditional randomization tests, while his 2023 studies explore robustness in model-X inference and dyadic reinforcement learning dynamics. **Advising & Academic Background:** His doctoral training under Candès and Wager shaped his focus on rigorous statistical foundations. He has not yet listed advising relationships in available materials, but his research collaborations span academia and industry.
Chris Loss is the Louis Pasteur Lecturer in Food Science at Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Food Science. His research focuses on microbiology/food safety, flavor quality and perception, and culinary science. He teaches courses like Food Analysis Lab, Food Microbiology Lab, and Food Safety Assurance, emphasizing experiential and transdisciplinary education. Education: Doctorate in Food Science, Cornell University, 2006 Masters in Food Science, Cornell University, 2001 Bachelor's in Food Science, Cornell University, 1996 Associates Degree in Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America, 1993 Research Interests: Chris Loss explores the intersection of food science and culinary practices, with a focus on flavor perception, food safety, and innovative culinary techniques. His work bridges sensory science, microbiology, and consumer behavior to enhance food quality and safety standards. Recent Work Trends: His publications highlight themes like chemesthetic perception, food presentation effects, and traditional culinary techniques like brining and stock preparation. Recent collaborations include studies on chocolate innovation and the sensory impact of food aesthetics. Labs/Teams: While specific lab names aren't listed, his involvement in courses like Food Microbiology Lab and collaborative research projects suggest active engagement in Cornell's experimental food science facilities.
Margaret Kerr is an Associate Professor of Human Development & Family Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Human Ecology. Her work focuses on parental emotional experiences, societal expectations of parenthood, and promoting equity through anti-racist parenting practices. She holds affiliations with the Human Development & Relationships Institute and the Institute for Research on Poverty. Education : PhD and MA in Positive Developmental Psychology from Claremont Graduate University; BS in Psychology from Michigan State University. Research Interests : Dr. Kerr explores factors influencing parental burnout, family resiliency, and anti-racist education for children. Her work emphasizes real-time parental emotions and systemic inequities in parenting norms. She develops interventions to support marginalized families and reduce societal pressures on parents. Key Research Themes : Recent studies examine pandemic impacts on parenting, fatherhood experiences, media use in families, and interventions for incarcerated parents' children. Awards & Media : Featured in Wisconsin Public Radio, The Economist, and Fatherly magazine. No formal awards listed but actively engages in public discourse on parenting challenges. Grants & Outreach : Leads initiatives like the Wisconsin Statewide Fatherhood Needs Assessment and the Anywhere Dads podcast. Co-developed a preschool reading curriculum promoting race-conscious conversations in white families. Labs/Teams : Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams at UW-Madison’s Division of Extension and the Institute for Research on Poverty to advance family-centered policies.
Professor Onur Kesten is a faculty member in the Department of Economics at the University of Sydney, within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. His research focuses on market design, mechanism design, and game theory, with a particular emphasis on school/college admissions systems in countries like China, Turkey, and Australia. He has held prestigious awards including the BP Junior Faculty Chair and Richard Cyert Teaching Award. Kesten earned his PhD in Economics from the University of Rochester (2005) and completed a post-doctorate under Nobel Laureate Alvin Roth at Harvard University (2006). His academic roles include Editor-in-Chief of the Review of Economic Design and editorial board memberships at journals like Journal of Mathematical Economics . Kesten’s work bridges theoretical economics with real-world applications, such as improving Pennsylvania’s adoption exchange matching process and analyzing online dispute resolution mechanisms. His recent research explores strategy-proof mediation, wastefulness in school choice systems, and experimental evaluations of college admissions reforms. Education: PhD in Economics, University of Rochester (2005) Post-doctorate, Harvard University (2006) Research Interests: Microeconomic Theory Market Design and Mechanism Design Game Theory and Social Choice Applications in Education Policy and Matching Markets Awards and Honors: BP Junior Faculty Chair Richard Cyert Teaching Award Lave-Weil Prizes (Carnegie Mellon) Faculty Giving Chairs Key Contributions: Kesten’s work on strategy-proof mechanisms, equitable school choice systems, and experimental evaluations of admissions policies has influenced policy design globally. His recent focus on multi-issue mediation and sequential assignment systems highlights innovative approaches to resolving complex allocation challenges.
Prof. Katja Gelbrich is a Full Professor of International Management at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, leading the Department of Business Administration and International Management. She coordinates academic programs including the Bachelor's in Management & Marketing, a Master's Double Degree with Toulouse Business School, and doctoral studies. Educational Background: PhD in Marketing from University of Stuttgart (2001–2006) Postdoc in Business Administration at University of Stuttgart (2002–2006) Diploma in Business Administration from TU Dresden (1995–1997) Undergraduate studies in Business, Korean and Japanese Studies at Humboldt University Berlin (1990–1995) Research Focus: Her work centers on automated agents in marketing, digital services, cross-cultural consumer behavior, and service recovery strategies. Key areas include robotic customer service agents, virtual companions in e-commerce, and cross-national product recall management. Awards & Recognition: 2023 Best Conference Paper Award (Hanoi) 2022 Best Paper in Track Award (Glasgow) 2015 Teaching Excellence Award (Eichstätt) 2005 Textbook Award for Intercultural Marketing Professional Experience: Prior roles include Full Professor at TU Ilmenau (2006–2011) and managing a market research firm (2001–2006). She has held leadership positions in data mining at DaimlerChrysler and rejected multiple chaired professorships at other universities.
Cristina Alaimo is an Associate Professor at ESSEC Business School in France, specializing in Information Systems, Data Analytics, and Operations. She holds a PhD in Management, Information Systems, and Innovation from the London School of Economics (LSE). Her research focuses on data-driven innovation, platform ecosystems, and the societal impact of digital technologies. She has held academic positions at LUISS University (Italy) and the University of Surrey (UK). Alaimo’s work explores the transformation of organizational practices through data objects and algorithmic systems, with publications in leading journals like Organization Science and Journal of Management Information Systems . She co-authored the book *Data Rules: Reinventing the Market Economy* (MIT Press, 2024). Her editorial roles include Senior Editor at Organization Studies and European Journal of Information Systems . She also serves as a visiting fellow at Surrey Business School’s Centre for the Digital Economy. Her research interests span data governance, digital platforms, and the reconfiguration of fields through data-driven practices. Recent work addresses AI’s impact on organizational knowledge and regulatory challenges in digital ecosystems. She advises on PhD theses exploring AI’s societal implications and environmental sustainability strategies.
