Michael Wheeler is a Professor in Philosophy at the University of Stirling, focusing on cognitive science, phenomenology, and the philosophy of technology. His work bridges existentialist philosophy with modern AI ethics and embodied cognition. Key Research Themes: Extended mind, distributed cognition, and transparency in smart machines. Recent Projects: Explore the societal impact of AI, cognitive change in the arts, and the interplay between aging and cognition. Selected Articles (2024-2019): His publications span topics like creativity and contingency in the arts, transparency in AI, and the evolutionary psychology of reasoning. Notable Contributions: Advocates for integrating phenomenology into cognitive science and challenges representationalist frameworks in AI and robotics.
Prof. Dr. Beat Hintermann is a Professor of Public Finance at the University of Basel's Faculty of Business and Economics (WWZ). His research focuses on public sector economics with particular emphasis on climate policy and mobility behavior. Hintermann leads empirical research using GPS tracking data to study transportation choices and the effectiveness of pricing mechanisms to encourage sustainable mobility options. His research interests span several interconnected areas: public sector economics, climate policy design, transportation economics, and environmental economics. He investigates how pricing mechanisms can influence individual behavior to reduce environmental externalities, with special attention to sustainable mobility solutions like e-biking. His work often combines economic theory with rich empirical analysis of real-world data, particularly examining the intersection of environmental policy and individual decision-making. Hintermann's recent publications reveal a strong focus on empirical mobility studies, particularly through the MOBIS dataset that tracks mobility behavior in Switzerland. His research shows how transport pricing can effectively promote e-biking and reduce negative externalities. He has also conducted significant work on carbon pricing mechanisms, emissions trading systems, and the impacts of climate policies on economic behavior. His work during the pandemic period examining mobility changes provides valuable insights into how external shocks affect transportation choices. Hintermann's research methodology is characterized by rigorous empirical analysis, often employing field experiments and large-scale GPS tracking data to measure behavioral responses to policy interventions. His work on Pigovian transport pricing represents an important contribution to understanding how economic instruments can be designed to address environmental externalities in the transportation sector. As part of the University of Basel's Faculty of Business and Economics, Hintermann contributes to research centers focused on sustainable development and environmental economics. His work bridges academic research with practical policy applications, providing evidence-based insights for policymakers designing effective environmental and transportation policies.
Virginia Pitzer is a Professor of Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases) at Yale School of Public Health, where she joined as an assistant professor in 2012. She serves as Co-Director of the Public Health Modeling concentration and is an Affiliated Faculty member at the Yale Institute for Global Health. Dr. Pitzer is also a member of the Graduate Studies Executive Committee overseeing the PhD program and currently serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief for PLOS Computational Biology. She has contributed to World Health Organization advisory groups, including the Immunization and Vaccine-related Implementation Research Advisory Committee (WHO IVIR-AC). Dr. Pitzer's research focuses on mathematical and statistical modeling of infectious disease transmission dynamics, with special emphasis on rotavirus, typhoid fever, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Her work examines how interventions such as vaccination, improved treatment of cases, and improvements in sanitation affect disease transmission at the population level. She has published extensively on vaccine effectiveness, transmission patterns across age groups, and the impact of vaccination programs in both high and low-income countries. Her research has significant implications for public health policy and vaccine implementation strategies globally. Dr. Pitzer has received recognition for her scholarly contributions through her editorial role at PLOS Computational Biology and her participation in WHO advisory committees. Her work bridges mathematical modeling with practical public health applications, particularly in global contexts where infectious diseases pose significant challenges. As Co-Director of the Public Health Modeling concentration, Dr. Pitzer plays a key role in training the next generation of researchers in mathematical epidemiology. Her collaborative approach is evident through her numerous co-authored publications with researchers across Yale and international institutions. The Pitzer Lab continues to advance methodologies for modeling infectious disease transmission and evaluating public health interventions.
Dr. Raha Hassan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Western University and the director of the Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEW) Lab. She holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from McMaster University and completed her predoctoral residency at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre. Her research focuses on the role of temperament in social and emotional wellbeing, particularly in children's interactions and interpretations of social environments. She employs a developmental framework and emphasizes naturalistic observation of behavior, with an interest in cultural influences on these processes. Dr. Hassan’s work integrates psychophysiological measures such as EEG studies to explore brain mechanisms underlying shyness and self-regulation. Her articles investigate generational trends in shyness, the relationship between inhibitory control and social behavior, and the physiological underpinnings of social anxiety. Key themes include the double-edged nature of self-regulation, contextual factors affecting temperament, and the interplay between biology and environment in developmental outcomes. No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned in the provided text. Dr. Hassan’s lab, the SEW Lab, focuses on advancing understanding of social-emotional health through interdisciplinary methods.
Sianne Ngai is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Department of English at the University of Chicago, where she has taught since 2017. Her work bridges aesthetic theory, critical theory, and cultural studies, with a focus on the affective dimensions of capitalist culture and equivocal aesthetic judgments. Her educational background includes: Ph.D., Harvard University, 2000 Ngai's research centers on everyday aesthetic categories (cute, zany, interesting, gimmick) and their relationship to capitalism, revolutionizing affect theory through analyses of politically ambiguous emotions. Her work critically intersects with feminist and queer studies , examining how gender, sexuality, and race shape aesthetic experience. She approaches mundane aesthetic judgments with philosophical rigor previously reserved for the sublime, revealing their embeddedness in labor, value, and temporal structures of capitalist culture. Her publications form a cohesive trajectory: from Ugly Feelings ' exploration of non-cathartic negative affects to Our Aesthetic Categories ' elevation of trivial aesthetic terms, culminating in Theory of the Gimmick 's investigation of capitalist contradictions. Recent works extend this framework to comedy, dialectical thought, and cross-cultural translations, demonstrating global scholarly impact through multiple language editions. Her major awards include: Modern Language Association’s James Russell Lowell Prize Christian Gauss Award finalist ASAP Book Prize (co-winner) Literary Hub Book of the Year Honorary Doctorate from the University of Copenhagen Guggenheim Fellowship Berlin Prize (American Academy in Berlin) Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin Fellowship ACLS Fellowship Huntington Library Fellowship Stanford Humanities Center Fellowship Ngai's research has been sustained by prestigious fellowships enabling extended scholarly residencies at top institutions worldwide. Her collaborative work includes co-editing Critical Inquiry 's special issue on Comedy with Lauren Berlant. Teaching remains central to her practice, with courses spanning American literature, feminist/queer criticism, and aesthetic theory—including upcoming 2025-2026 courses on literary criticism, Marx's Capital , and Adorno's Aesthetic Theory . Though not explicitly mentioned in institutional labs, Ngai's intellectual influence operates through international lecture circuits (from Aarhus University to Seoul National) and shaping critical discourse across humanities disciplines through her conceptual innovations in affect and aesthetic theory.
Dr. Howard Lavine is Professor of Political Science and Political Psychology at the University of Minnesota, where he also serves as Associate Dean for Social Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts. He holds the Arleen C. Carlson Professorship and directs the Center for the Study of Political Psychology. His research examines the psychological foundations of political behavior, including personality, identity, attitude formation, and authoritarianism. Lavine has authored influential books including 'Open versus Closed: Personality, Identity and the Politics of Redistribution' and 'The Ambivalent Partisan: How Critical Loyalty Promotes Democracy'. He has received the Erik Erikson Early Career Award (2004) from the International Society of Political Psychology and serves as editor of the journal Political Psychology. His current work investigates status threat dynamics in reactionary politics.
Grant E. O'Keefe, M.D., M.P.H., serves as Professor of Surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine and holds adjunct appointments in Neurological Surgery, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. Based at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, he provides surgical and intensive care services for emergency and complex gastrointestinal conditions, emphasizing patient-centered decision-making in critical scenarios. His educational background includes: Medical Doctorate (M.D.) from University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine (1988) Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) from University of Washington General Surgery Residency at University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine General Surgery Fellowship at University of Washington Internship at Memorial University of Newfoundland Dr. O'Keefe's research focuses on trauma outcomes, critical care metabolism, and genetic determinants of sepsis recovery. He investigates nutritional interventions in critically ill patients, ventilator-associated complications, and biomarkers for predicting mortality in trauma cases. His work frequently employs metabolomics and genetic association studies to understand individual variations in treatment response. Analysis of his 2013-2018 publications reveals consistent emphasis on critical care and trauma, with studies examining respiratory failure duration, nutritional support efficacy, and genetic polymorphisms affecting sepsis outcomes. His research often utilizes large collaborative datasets from the NIH-funded Inflammation and Host Response to Injury program, highlighting translational approaches to improve trauma resuscitation and ICU management. Professional recognition includes: Fellow of the American College of Surgeons Board-certified in Surgery and Surgical Critical Care by the American Board of Surgery, Dr. O'Keefe has contributed significantly to the Inflammation and Host Response to Injury Collaborative Research Program, developing standard operating procedures for trauma nutrition and venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. While specific grant amounts aren't detailed, this multi-institutional NIH initiative represents substantial research funding. He mentors surgical trainees within UW's residency programs, though individual advisees aren't listed in available records. At Harborview Medical Center, Dr. O'Keefe operates within the General Surgery Clinic and surgical ICU, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams including trauma surgeons, critical care specialists, and nutrition support services. His clinical practice integrates research insights into trauma resuscitation protocols and complex abdominal surgery, with patient reviews highlighting both efficient communication and occasional concerns about bedside manner.
Maria C.W. Peeters serves as a Full Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) within the Department of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences, specifically the Human Performance Management Group. She concurrently holds an Associate Professor position at Utrecht University in the Department of Social, Health and Organizational Psychology, reflecting her dual institutional engagement in Work and Organizational Psychology. Her educational background includes: MSc in Health Sciences from Maastricht University PhD from Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen (dissertation: effect of social support on work stress) Peeters' research investigates sustainable workforce performance through the critical lens of worker diversity in high-tech environments. She specializes in worker (ill)health and well-being, work engagement, sustainable employability, job crafting interventions, work-life balance dynamics, and tailored technological innovation implementation. Her work emphasizes adapting technologies to accommodate older workers, those with lower educational levels, and disabilities to extend labor market participation. Recent publications (2025) analyze psychosocial safety climate and the DISC model for office workers, while earlier studies (2018-2015) focused on job crafting transmission and intervention efficacy. Her research consistently employs quantitative methodologies like regression analysis within the Job Demands-Resources framework, addressing sustainable performance threats from rapid technological implementation. No specific scientific awards or prizes are documented in the provided text. Peeters has published over 100 national and international articles and book chapters, with 75 research outputs listed in TU/e's repository. She co-edited the textbook "An Introduction to Contemporary Work Psychology" (Wiley Blackwell, 2014) and serves on editorial boards for Work & Stress and Gedrag en Organisatie (Dutch Journal of Behaviour in Organizations). Her academic leadership includes presidency of the Dutch Association of Work & Organizational Psychology since 2018. She operates within the Human Performance Management Group at TU/e, which studies workforce optimization through health, engagement, and sustainable employability metrics in digitized workplaces.
Prof. Dr. Sabine C. Koch is a Professor of Dance and Movement Therapy at Alanus Hochschule Alfter and Head of the Research Institute for Creative Arts Therapies (RIArT). She holds a habilitation and multiple professorships, including at SRH Hochschule Heidelberg (2012–present) and has led the Alanus Research Institute since 2015. Her work focuses on embodiment theory, applying it to creative arts therapies such as dance, theater, and art to address mental and physical health challenges. Her education includes a Diplom in Psychology from Heidelberg University (1999) and a PhD (2003) and Habilitation (2009) from Heidelberg. She has led major projects like the BMBF-funded 'Körpersprache' (2009–2011), the EU TESIS project (2011–2015), and the Heidelberg Center for Motion Research (2016–2022). Awards include ADTA Research Awards (2007, 2013, 2014, 2023) and a Fulbright Scholarship (1996). Research interests span embodiment theory, enaction, systems theory, and their application in therapies. Her work emphasizes the role of movement in mental health, including studies on autism, schizophrenia, oncology, and refugee trauma. She collaborates internationally, including with institutions in Chile, Slovenia, and France. Her recent articles explore drama therapy for flood-affected children, dance therapy for dementia patients, and embodied approaches to experience studies. Grants and networks include the DFG-funded EmbodiNet (2024–2026) and a PhD program in Creative Arts Therapies with Witten/Herdecke University. Koch’s labs and teams focus on interdisciplinary motion research and clinical applications of movement therapies. She has advised numerous studies on therapeutic efficacy and co-authored over 200 peer-reviewed articles and books, including 'The Routledge International Handbook of Embodied Perspectives in Psychotherapy' (2019).
Karin Coifman is a Professor and Chair at Kent State University's Department of Psychological Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University (2008) and specializes in clinical psychology with a focus on emotion regulation, stress, and psychopathology. Her research examines emotion processing and regulation in relation to mental health adjustments during acute and chronic stress. This includes studying resilience, mental illness development, and the role of psychophysiological and behavioral indices in emotion regulation. She leads the Kent Clinical Affective Science Lab and frequently teaches courses in Psychological Interventions and Introduction to Psychotherapy. Dr. Coifman's recent publications analyze pandemic response behaviors, emotion differentiation, and gene-environment interactions in affective disorders. Her work combines experimental methodologies with community and clinical populations. Labs/Teams: Kent Clinical Affective Science Lab
Wolfgang Mayer is a Professor for Performative Practice at the State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart , teaching collaborative artistic processes. He co-founded the art group Discoteca Flaming Star (DFS) in 1998 with Cristina Gómez Barrio, focusing on performative works that challenge memory and institutional frameworks. 1990–1995: Studied at Academy of Fine Arts Munich 1996–1997: DAAD scholarship at School of Visual Arts NYC 2005–2006: Whitney ISP participant Mayer’s research integrates performative practice , body theory , and collaborative art . His works interrogate memory , feminist narratives , and public space dynamics through sculptures , performances , and experimental music . Recent projects like Momentum:synthesize.r (2024) and Love Any Out of (90 Seconds) End (2023) explore temporal structures and emotional labor . Scientific honors include: 2013 Fundacion Estrenos Grant 2006–2007 Pollock-Krasner Scholarship 1993 Salzburg Summer Academy scholarship He emphasizes non-formalized artistic development through Sound & Body modules, public space interventions , and critical response protocols . Mayer’s DFS collective has shown globally at institutions like The Kitchen , Whitney Museum , and Tate Modern , often collaborating with figures like Rita McBride and Jeremiah Day.
PD Dr. Jens Wolff is a German theologian and researcher at the Faculty of Theology, University of Rostock . His work bridges image theory , cultural hermeneutics , and negative theology , with a focus on Lutheran theology and its intersections with literature and art . Education : Studied at Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle/Wittenberg, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. Academic Timeline : 1995–1998 Heidelberg Academy researcher, 1998–2002 assistant at Münster's Faculty, 2003 PhD, 2005 ordained pastor, 2009–2012 DFG project on Sigmund von Birken, 2012–2015 DFG project on Image Theory, 2015 habilitation. Wolff's research explores image and media theory through theological lenses, interrogating figurative knowledge , religious rhetoric , and intercultural hermeneutics . His work connects Baroque literature (e.g., Klopstock, Hamann) with contemporary philological and deconstructive methods , examining tensions between sacralization and secularization . His recent publications analyze the word of God as performative polysemy in Lutheran thought, death and utopia in Stefan Andres' work, and iconic anthropology in Reformation contexts. He co-edited the two-volume Bild und Tod (2016), a foundational text on image-death relations. Awards: Martin-Luther-Preis für den akademischen Nachwuchs (2005) for his dissertation on Metapher und Kreuz . Wolff's advising and collaborative work focus on interdisciplinary image studies , including DFG-funded projects and symposia like the Image and Sound conference (2014). He maintains links to institutions in Bratislava , Frankfurt , and Brazil .
Estelle Ferrarese is a Professor of Moral and Political Philosophy at the Department of Philosophy, University of Picardy Jules Verne, and a Senior Member of the Institut Universitaire de France (class of 2022). She is the principal investigator of the International Research Network (IRN) 'The Norms of Life,' a collaborative project involving institutions such as Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Cape Town. Her academic affiliations reflect a strong international presence, with visiting positions at the New School, Humboldt-Universität, and Goethe-Universität. Professor of Moral and Political Philosophy, University of Picardy Jules Verne (2016–present) Senior Member, Institut Universitaire de France (2022–) Principal Investigator, IRN 'The Norms of Life' (2023–2027) Former Researcher, Marc Bloch Center, Berlin (2014–2016) Former Professor, University of Strasbourg (2012–2016) Her research lies at the intersection of critical theory, feminist philosophy, and political theory, with a focus on vulnerability, public space, forms of life, and ethical consumption. She critically engages with thinkers such as Adorno, Habermas, Nancy Fraser, and Agamben, exploring how subjectivity, recognition, and care are shaped within capitalist and democratic frameworks. Her methodological approach combines continental philosophy with social theory to interrogate normative structures in contemporary society. The trend in her recent publications reveals a deepening exploration of emotional and bodily expressions—such as sobs, gémissements (moans), and physical vulnerability—as political acts and ethical responses. Her work bridges philosophical abstraction with lived experience, particularly in contexts of care, gender, and democratic participation. Themes of reification, micrology, and the commodification of virtue recur across her writings, signaling a sustained critique of neoliberal rationality. Senior Member, Institut Universitaire de France (2022) Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung Fellow (multiple appointments: 2003–2006, 2008, 2013, 2017, 2024) Hoover Fellow, University of Louvain-La-Neuve (2006) Writing Grant, National Book Centre (2006) Lavoisier Scholarship (2002–2003) Gastprofessur, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt (2015) Visiting Professor, New School for Social Research (2006–2007) Ferrarese has supervised and collaborated with numerous scholars, though specific advisees are not listed in the provided text. She has secured significant research funding through fellowships and institutional grants, including support from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the French CNRS. Her editorial work includes directing special issues on 'The Politics of Vulnerability' and 'Forms of Life,' as well as co-editing volumes with leading philosophers like Sandra Laugier. She is actively involved in shaping contemporary debates in critical theory and feminist philosophy through publications, international collaborations, and leadership in transnational research networks. She leads the International Research Network 'The Norms of Life,' which brings together scholars from North America, Europe, and Africa to examine the normative dimensions of everyday life forms. This project reflects her commitment to interdisciplinary and globally engaged philosophy. She has also been affiliated with research centers such as CURAPP-ESS and has collaborated with institutions including the Maison Française d’Oxford and CUNY.
Amrisha Vaish is the Pamela Feinour Edmonds and Franklin S. Edmonds, Jr. Discovery Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Virginia, where she conducts research on the development of moral emotions and behaviors in children. She is affiliated with the Early Social Development Lab and the Child Development Laboratories at UVA. Research Interests: Dr. Vaish's work centers on the emergence of moral emotions such as sympathy, guilt, and forgiveness in early childhood, as well as prosocial behaviors like helping and sharing. She investigates how children evaluate moral actions and enforce norms, and more recently has explored uncooperative behaviors such as cheating and reputation management. Her research also includes infant social referencing, theory of mind development, and the negativity bias in emotional development. Recent Research Trends: Her recent publications focus on gratitude, fairness perception, upstream reciprocity, and forgiveness in young children, published in leading journals including Developmental Psychology , Child Development , and Emotion Review . These works reflect a consistent emphasis on experimental approaches to understanding moral development and social cooperation. Scientific Awards: All-University Teaching Award (2019) Janet Taylor Spence Award for Transformative Early Career Contributions, Association for Psychological Science (2018) Rising Star, Association for Psychological Science (2015) Division 7 Dissertation Award, American Psychological Association (2012) Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award, Society for Research in Child Development (2011) Advising and Grants: While specific advisees and grant details are not listed, Dr. Vaish leads an active research program and mentors students through her lab. Her recognition with early career and teaching awards suggests strong engagement in both research mentorship and educational excellence. Labs and Teams: Dr. Vaish directs the Early Social Development Lab and is part of the Child Development Laboratories at the University of Virginia, where she conducts experimental studies with infants and young children to understand the foundations of human morality and cooperation.
Marija Todorovska is a Full Professor at the Institute of Philosophy, Faculty of Philosophy, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. She teaches undergraduate courses (Introduction to Philosophy, Philosophical Terminology, Ontology, Theories of Religion, Philosophy of Religion) and graduate courses (History of the Notion of God, Theories of the Existence of God). She also co-teaches doctoral electives. Education: BA in Philosophy (2008) MA in Philosophy of Religion (2010) PhD on 'The Diabolical Nature of the Sacred' (2013) Advanced Certificate in Research Ethics (2013) Her research explores: The concepts of divinity across ancient and medieval traditions. Apophatic theology in Hellenistic, Gnostic, and early Christian texts. Ambivalence of the sacred in Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Byzantine demonology. Philosophy education and curriculum development. Her publications emphasize: Negative theology in Philo of Alexandria and early Church Fathers. Sacred-profane dynamics in contemporary society. Cross-cultural analysis of evil in ancient religions. She serves on editorial boards for Filozofska tribina (Macedonia), Synthesis philosophica (Croatia), and Filozofija (international). As coordinator of the CEEPUS network 'Philosophy and Interdisciplinarity,' she fosters academic collaboration across Europe. No awards or specific grants are noted.
