Sofie Westling is a Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, specializing in Psychiatry. She serves as a Research Team Manager and Consultant, focusing on clinical challenges related to self-harm, suicidality, and personality disorders. Research Interests: Ethical and clinical conflicts in psychiatric admissions for recurrent self-harm Cognitive function and brain imaging in high-risk individuals Development of tools for self-harm monitoring National highly specialized care (e.g., intractable self-harm, gender dysphoria) Research Trends: Her recent work emphasizes self-harm interventions, healthcare economics, and qualitative analyses of patient and caregiver experiences. Key methodologies include cluster analysis, latent profile modeling, and multimodal evaluations. Projects: Active collaborations include studies on dialectical behavior therapy outcomes, self-identification with borderline personality disorder, and cost-effectiveness of self-referral admissions. Supervision: She has supervised multiple PhD projects on topics like identity in borderline personality disorder and patient simulations.
Dr. Judith Mwakalonge serves as Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at South Carolina State University, Academic Program Coordinator for the Master of Science in Transportation (MST), and Associate Director of the Center for Connected and Multimodal Mobility (C2M2). Her expertise centers on transportation engineering with emphasis on safety, planning, and emerging mobility technologies. Her academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Tennessee Tech University (2010) M.S. in Civil Engineering from Florida State University (2007) B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania (2005) Research focuses on transportation safety analysis, traffic operational efficiency, travel demand modeling, non-motorized infrastructure, micro-mobility systems, and connected vehicle environments. She investigates self-driving technology impacts and develops methodologies for transportation network planning and safety evaluation. Recent publications (2021-2022) demonstrate interdisciplinary applications across disaster logistics, renewable energy supply chains, event traffic management, micro-mobility regulation, and driver behavior psychology. These works integrate operations research, data analysis, and policy evaluation to address complex transportation challenges. As MST program coordinator, she oversees graduate education while leading federally funded national projects. Her teaching portfolio spans Transportation Planning, Economics, Systems Analysis, and Intelligent Transportation Systems courses. Through the Center for Connected and Multimodal Mobility (C2M2), she advances research on integrated transportation networks and connected vehicle technologies.
Maria Argyriou is an Associate Lecturer for Applied Music Preschool Education in the Department of Preschool Education & Educational Design at the School of Humanities, University of the Aegean (Rhodes, Greece). She holds a postdoctoral degree in Practical Aspects and Praxial Philosophy of Music Education from the same institution, a PhD in Music Studies from Ionian University specializing in cultural policy and music education, and two Master's degrees in Education from The Open University of Greece. PhD: Department of Music Studies, Ionian University (specializing in cultural policy and music education) Postdoctoral Degree: Practical Aspects and Praxial Philosophy of Music Education, University of the Aegean Master of Education: The Open University of Greece Second Master in Education: Specialization in education leadership and school unit assessment Argyriou's research focuses on the intersection of music education, cultural policy, and early childhood development. Her work explores praxial philosophy in music education, interdisciplinary connections between music and other subjects (particularly language and mathematics), and innovative approaches to music teaching in preschool settings. She has developed significant contributions to understanding how music can serve as a tool for cognitive development, emotional expression, and cultural citizenship in young children. Her recent publications demonstrate a clear trend toward multimodal and technology-enhanced music education approaches, with increasing focus on praxial philosophy applications in digital learning environments. Her work consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with practical classroom applications, particularly in early childhood settings. Scientific Awards: Kiveli-Y. Horn scholarships/Special Grants 2024 for archival research at The Music Library of Greece—Lilian Voudouri Argyriou actively participates in multiple professional organizations including the International Society of Music Education (member of SIG Practice and Research Group in Integrated Music Education, PRIME), European Music Council (EMC), European Association for Music in School (EAS), and serves as chairperson of the Greek Association of Primary Music Education Teachers (GAPMET). She has made significant contributions to educational materials as author of official Greek Music Education textbooks for School-Age 6-8 and as editor for multiple academic journals. She co-edits the open-access 'Hellenic Journal of Music, Education, and Culture' (HeJMEC) and serves as editor for the open-access journal 'Music in the First Grade' published by her department. Her current research focuses on archival work with children's songs from the Minos Dounias collection at The Music Library of Greece.
Håkan Fischer is a Professor of Human Biological Psychology at Stockholm University, where he has served as Head of the Department of Psychobiology and Epidemiology since 2011. He also holds an associate professor position at Karolinska Institutet, is affiliated with the Aging Research Center and Stockholm University Brain Imaging Centre, and is a faculty member at Digital Futures at the Royal Institute of Technology. Since September 2025, he has additionally served as a visiting professor at Linköping University. Fischer has established himself as a leading researcher in emotional and cognitive processing, with particular expertise in socio-emotional aspects across the lifespan. Fischer earned his PhD in psychology from Uppsala University in 1998, followed by postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School (1999-2001). He then worked at the Aging Research Center at Karolinska Institutet before joining Stockholm University in 2011. His academic journey includes a sabbatical year (2021-2022) at the University of Florida's Department of Psychology. Fischer is actively involved in university governance as a member of the Swedish Research Council's Subject Council for Humanities and Social Sciences (2023-present) and represents Stockholm University in multiple international collaborations. Håkan Fischer's research primarily focuses on investigating intra- and interindividual differences in affective, cognitive, social and perceptual processing, with special emphasis on age-related differences in adults. His laboratory employs advanced neuroimaging techniques including fMRI, PET, and fNIRS to examine brain function, while also utilizing structural imaging methods like T1-weighted imaging, DTI, and perfusion imaging to study brain structure. Fischer advocates for single-subject small-N designs to better understand emotional and cognitive mechanisms. His current research lines include socio-emotional perception and recognition, oxytocin effects on socio-emotional processing across the lifespan, and AI development for interpersonal communication analysis. Analysis of Fischer's recent publications reveals a strong focus on emotion recognition across populations, neurobiological mechanisms of socio-emotional processing, and methodological innovations. His work consistently integrates behavioral testing, neuroimaging, and genetic analysis to provide comprehensive insights. The increasing incorporation of AI approaches demonstrates his adaptation to emerging technological advances in psychological research. Fischer has published 136 peer-reviewed articles with over 12,200 citations and a Google Scholar h-index of 53. Fischer has received consistent funding since 2002 from prestigious sources including the Swedish Research Council, Wallenberg Foundation, STINT, Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, and Konung Gustav V och Drottning Victorias stiftelse. He currently leads nine funded research projects (two as principal investigator totaling 6.9 million SEK, seven as co-applicant totaling 24.8 million SEK) spanning multiple international collaborations in Sweden, Germany, and the USA. As an educator, Fischer leads the basic course in Cognitive Neuroscience and the master's course in Emotion Psychology and Affective Neuroscience. He regularly teaches at both undergraduate and advanced levels, primarily in biological psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and emotion psychology. Fischer currently supervises six doctoral students (one as main supervisor, four as assistant supervisor) and has mentored graduate students since 2002. Håkan Fischer leads a dynamic research laboratory that investigates emotional, social, perceptual, and cognitive processing. The lab examines how intraindividual variations across stimuli and time, as well as interindividual differences in age, gender, genetics, personality, and sleep deprivation affect these processes. His lab maintains active national and international collaborations with researchers at Stockholm University, Uppsala University, Karolinska Institutet, University of Florida, and University of Gothenburg, creating a robust interdisciplinary research environment focused on translating basic neuroscience into practical applications.
Yamine Ait-Ameur is a Full Professor in Data Engineering at ISAE-ENSMA (Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace - École Nationale Supérieure de Mécanique et d'Aérotechique). He maintains dual laboratory affiliations with LIAS (Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Applications de la Connaissance et des Systèmes) at both ENSIP (École Nationale Supérieure d'Ingénieurs de Poitiers) and ISAE-ENSMA campuses, reflecting his cross-institutional research activities. Professor Ait-Ameur's research program centers on formal methods for data engineering, with particular expertise in Event-B modeling applied to ontology-based database systems and multimodal human-computer interaction. His work bridges theoretical computer science with practical engineering applications, developing frameworks like OntoDB/OntoQL that enable semantic data representation and querying. His research trajectory shows evolution from foundational work in formal verification of numerical computations (1990s) to sophisticated applications in semantic web technologies, industrial automation systems, and multimodal interfaces (2000s-present). The publication record reveals strong thematic continuity across three decades, with recent work emphasizing formal verification of interactive systems (2013-2017), semantic data engineering methodologies, and multimodal interface design. His scholarly output demonstrates consistent international collaboration, particularly with researchers in Spain, Tunisia, and other European countries, as evidenced by co-authored publications and conference organization. Professor Ait-Ameur has played significant editorial roles including guest editing special issues of Data and Knowledge Engineering (2010) and Computers in Industry (2014), and co-organizing the Models and Data Engineering (MEDI) conference series. His research has practical applications in industrial automation, geological modeling, and transportation systems, as indicated by multiple publications addressing real-world implementation challenges.
Kenneth R. Ziegler is a Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery (part-time) at the University of Southern California, affiliated with Keck School of Medicine and Keck Medicine of USC. He specializes in Vascular Surgery, Endovascular Therapy, Aortic Disease, and General Surgery, with particular expertise in aortic aneurysms, peripheral arterial disease, limb salvage, and carotid artery interventions. Education and Training: Details about his education are not explicitly provided in the text, but he is noted as fellowship-trained in vascular surgery with board certification in Vascular Surgery. Research Interests: Dr. Ziegler focuses on optimizing vascular reconstruction in chronic/acute ischemia, patient-centered surgical strategies, and translational research in vein graft adaptation. His work extends to interdisciplinary care models, complications of endovascular procedures, and functional outcomes in limb preservation. Article Trends: His publications emphasize endovascular innovations for complex aortic pathologies, perioperative blood management, and limb salvage techniques. Key themes include fenestrated endograft modifications, stenting approaches for dissected arteries, and the role of biological patches in reconstructive surgery. Awards: None explicitly listed in the provided texts. Advising & Grants: No formal advisees or grant details are disclosed. However, his involvement in surgical training and clinical research suggests active mentorship within his department. Labs/Teams: He collaborates with the interdisciplinary limb preservation service at USC and participates in Keck Medicine’s vascular surgery teams, focusing on integrated care approaches for complex vascular cases.
Dr. Gijs Huisman is a researcher at the Delft University of Technology's Industrial Design Engineering faculty, specializing in Human-Centered Design and Perceptual Intelligence. His work focuses on haptics technology, mediated social touch, and multisensory interaction design. He leads projects like Dark Haptics and ShareYourReality , exploring haptic feedback in mobile interfaces and virtual avatar co-embodiment. His research bridges disciplines such as material science, cognitive science, and ethics to design inclusive technologies. Key Areas : Haptic wearables, affective computing, food interaction, and ethical AI. Recent Work : Investigating shape-memory alloys for assistive devices and developing tools for studying digital social touch ethics. Collaborations : Active in transdisciplinary teams addressing DEI in robotics and universal design. His research emphasizes practical applications in healthcare (e.g., fidget devices for stress reduction) and consumer products (e.g., aesthetically pleasing headphones). He teaches the Dare to Design Studio course, fostering innovative design thinking. Though no formal awards are listed, his prolific publication record (over 80 articles) demonstrates sustained impact in haptics and HCI fields. He actively engages with industry collaborations through TU Delft's research labs and graduate programs.
Zhengwu Zhang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Statistics and Operations Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research focuses on developing statistical and machine learning methods for analyzing high-dimensional neuroimaging data, particularly structural and functional brain connectomics. He leads the UNC Education Program of Intelligence and Connectomics (EPIC), an interdisciplinary initiative training students in brain network analysis. His work addresses challenges in large-scale neuroimaging datasets, including computational efficiency and reproducibility. Zhang completed his Ph.D. in Statistics at Florida State University under Anuj Srivastava. His funding includes NIH grants for CRCNS, structural connectome analysis, and personalized cognitive training. He serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of the American Statistical Association (Reproducibility). Key contributions include tools like the Surface-Based Connectivity Integration (SBCI) GitHub repository for brain network analysis pipelines. His awards include the 2022 UNC Junior Faculty Development Award and the Oak Ridge Powe Award. Teaching roles include courses on data science, machine learning, and statistical consulting. His research spans brain network dynamics, genetic contributions to connectome structure, and applications of deep learning in neuroscience.
Harald E. Möller is a Professor and Head of the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Research and Development Unit at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig. With a career spanning over four decades, he has held academic positions including Honorary Professor at the University of Leipzig and leadership roles in institutions like Duke University Medical Center and the University of Münster. His research focuses on advancing MRI methodologies, biophysical imaging principles, and their applications in neurology and neuroscience. Education: 1979-1985: Chemistry & Physics studies at Universities of Dortmund and Münster 1985: M.Sc. (Diploma) in Chemistry 1988: PhD in Physical Chemistry (summa cum laude) 2000: Habilitation in Physical Chemistry 2002: Habilitation in Biophysical Chemistry Research Interests: Development of novel MRI methods Quantitative tissue characterization Myelin sheath imaging Cerebral blood flow dynamics High-field MRI hardware
Luke Heemsbergen is a Senior Lecturer in Communication at Deakin University's School of Communication and Creative Arts and the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation. His research explores the intersection of digital technologies and societal power structures, focusing on how emerging media reshape political communication, human-computer interaction, and cultural practices. He co-leads the Immersive Realities Theme at Deakin Motion Lab and coordinates the Critical Digital Interfaces and Infrastructures research group. Research interests include: Digital media's role in political engagement and activism Augmented/extended reality as tools for environmental and health communication Algorithmic governance in institutional contexts Critical approaches to synthetic media and AI creativity His recent publications demonstrate sustained focus on platform politics, with 9/15 articles analyzing social media's role in elections, activism, and misinformation. Methodologically, he employs innovative digital approaches like 'backend-in' platform analysis and multimodal data visualization. Thematically, articles cluster around: 1) Pandemic technologies and surveillance, 2) Algorithmic management in institutions, and 3) Immersive media design. Supervision includes 8 doctoral students working on projects like embodied human-machine interfaces, EdTech supply chains, and surveillance law reform. Funded projects include: Defining Communication in a Digital Era (ACCAN grant) Techno-Totalitarianism vs. Disruptive Technologies (Gerda Henkel Stiftung) VR Wayfinding Visitor Experience Model (ID Laboratory)
Carlo Combi is a Full Professor at the Department of Computer Science, University of Verona. He serves as Department Director and holds roles in various academic committees, including the Faculty Board of PhD in Computer Science and the Computer Science Teaching Committee. His research focuses on databases, healthcare information systems, temporal data mining, and business process management. He leads the STARS laboratory and has contributed to projects like PREPARE (prostate cancer evaluation) and EDIPO (neuroimaging genetics). His teaching spans courses on biomedical databases, software engineering, and Python programming. Combi's work integrates ethical considerations into process models and addresses challenges in healthcare workflows, temporal analytics, and AI applications in medicine. Education: Not explicitly listed in provided texts. Research Projects: Includes 30+ projects since 2008, emphasizing healthcare informatics, temporal systems, and data warehousing. Labs/Teams: STARS (Semistructured Temporal clinical Geographical Systems) and collaborations with CBMC (Computational Biomedicine Center). Grants: Multiple national/international grants, including funding for temporal data mining and healthcare process modeling. Awards: None explicitly mentioned, though his leadership roles and extensive publications highlight academic recognition. His research bridges clinical processes, temporal databases, and AI, with applications in acute kidney injury prediction, BPMN extensions for healthcare, and explainable AI in medical systems. Combi actively contributes to open-source solutions for clinical data analysis and integrates ethical frameworks into process management.
Dr. Ryan P. McMahan is an Associate Professor of Computer Science and Learning Sciences at the University of Central Florida (UCF), leading the eXtended Reality & Training (XRT) Lab. He holds a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech (2011) and has expertise in leveraging XR/VR technologies for training and education. His work emphasizes enhancing learning outcomes through immersive systems, with over $3.4M in secured funding. He is an NSF CAREER Award recipient and authored the textbook 3D User Interfaces: Theory and Practice (2nd Ed.). Education Ph.D. Computer Science, Virginia Tech (2011) M.S. Computer Science, Virginia Tech (2007) B.S. Computer Science, Virginia Tech (2004) Research Interests focus on XR/VR applications in education, human-computer interaction, and training systems. Key areas include interaction fidelity, personalized learning, and embodied cognition in virtual environments. Awards include the NSF CAREER Award and teaching accolades such as UCF’s 2023 Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award. His research has generated 5,000+ citations with a h-index of 26. Professional Engagement includes roles as IEEE TVCG Associate Editor and organizer of ICAT-EGVE 2020. He mentors students in UCF’s Mixed Reality Engineering Graduate Certificate program and advises initiatives like Girls Who Code.
Kevin Woo is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at Queen's University, Faculty of Health Sciences. His research focuses on chronic wound management, pain management, and innovative technologies for self-management of chronic conditions. He holds cross-appointments with the International Centre for the Advancement of Community Based Rehabilitation and collaborates with institutions like Western University and São Paulo University. Dr. Woo’s work has been recognized with awards such as the 2012 IASP Early Career Research Award and the 2014–2019 Early Researcher Award. Education: PhD, RN. Research Interests: Chronic wound-related pain, infection control, and technology-driven healthcare solutions. He leads studies on wound healing biomarkers, pain management protocols, and social media interventions for diabetes foot care. His recent projects investigate skin tear prevention through nursing education, telehealth applications in geriatric care, and clinical outcomes of foam dressings. Research Trends: Articles emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to wound care, leveraging engineering principles for dressing design and digital tools for patient engagement. Key themes include pain-biomarker interactions, caregiver challenges in pressure injury management, and PPE-related occupational health issues. Recipient of 2012 IASP Early Career Research Award Holds Early Researcher Award from Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation Advising & Grants: Leads funded projects on wound care innovation and has co-designed core outcome sets for clinical trials. Collaborates internationally on guideline development for infection management pathways. Labs/Teams: Works with Queen’s Nursing Research Cluster on Populations with Complex Conditions and collaborates with the International Skin Tear Advisory Panel.
Dr. Mercedes Sheen is an Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology within the School of Social Sciences at Heriot-Watt University. Since joining in 2019, she has served as Academic Head of Psychology in Dubai. She holds a PhD from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, where her research on false memories led to the coining of 'disputed memories' arising from twin memory conflicts. Her current research focuses on social cognition, particularly facial attractiveness perception influenced by cultural and religious factors like the hijab. Her academic contributions span cognitive psychology, social perception, and educational technology. Notable studies include exploring mental health stigma among Arab and South Asian communities, implicit associations in Arabic numerals, and the effectiveness of online discussion boards in health psychology education. She has been recognized with the 2023 Academic Community Award and Student Voice Award for her impactful teaching and community engagement. Research collaborations include multi-cultural studies on gendered perceptions and typographic influences. Her work intersects with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to quality education and reduced inequalities through culturally responsive mental health and education practices.
Barbara Cooke is a Senior Lecturer in English and UG Programme Leader at Loughborough University. She specialises in textual editing, creative non-fiction, and archival theory, with particular focus on interwar and 21st-century literature. As co-executive editor of the Oxford University Press Complete Works of Evelyn Waugh and editorial board member for Ford Madox Ford’s Complete Works, she plays a pivotal role in modernist literary scholarship. She serves as Vice-Chair of the British Association for Modernist Studies. Her research explores intersections between archival practices and literary creation, emphasizing authorial intent and textual materiality. Notable projects include re-examining Evelyn Waugh’s manuscripts and interrogating the role of archives in shaping literary legacies. Recent work investigates transcoded adaptations of classic texts and the liminal spaces between author and editor. Cooke’s pedagogical interests centre on multimodal creative writing instruction, integrating digital and traditional methods. Her editorial collaborations reflect a commitment to preserving modernist literary heritage while advancing scholarly discourse. Current research continues exploring Waugh’s Oxford years and the socio-cultural contexts of 20th-century British literature.
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