Dr. Mbita Mbao is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Salem State University, where she teaches courses including SWK 700 (Human Behavior), SWK 704/705 (Social Work Practice), and aging-focused courses like SWK 871. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes experiential learning and valuing student experiences. Dr. Mbao's research focuses on behavioral health, aging populations, workforce development, and immigrant issues. She actively works to expand aging-related curriculum and services through her involvement with the Older Adults Behavioral Health Network and Salem for All Ages initiative. Her education includes a BSW from Bowling Green State University, MSW from Rhode Island College, and PhD from Simmons University. As a Licensed Clinical Independent Social Worker, she maintains a clinical practice providing in-home therapy to older adults. Honors include: 2025 North Star Collective Fellow 2019 AGESW Pre-Dissertation Fellow 2021 GSA MCDTAW Early Career Diversity Fellow
Rainer Watermann is a Full Professor for Empirical Research in Education at the Free University of Berlin since 2011, previously serving as Full Professor for Education and Empirical Research in Schools at Georg-August University of Göttingen (2005-2011). His academic career includes significant research positions at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin (1997-2005). Watermann earned his Diploma in Educational Science from the University of Münster (1996), followed by a Dr. phil (2002) and Habilitation (2005), both from Freie Universität Berlin. His educational background established the foundation for his extensive research in educational transitions and disparities. His research focuses on educational transitions, particularly from primary to secondary school and into higher education, examining motivational factors, social background influences, and achievement goal development. Watermann's work consistently addresses how social disparities affect educational opportunities and outcomes, with particular attention to gender differences and longitudinal developmental patterns. His methodological expertise includes latent class analysis, structural equation modeling, and large-scale assessment design. Watermann's publication portfolio reveals consistent research trajectories examining motivational frameworks (particularly expectancy-value theory), educational transitions, social disparities in education, and political socialization. His work spans both theoretical development and practical applications for educational policy and practice, with increasing focus on intervention effectiveness in recent years. As an active member of the academic community, Watermann serves on multiple editorial boards including the Swiss Journal for Educational Sciences and Empirical Educational Science , and regularly reviews for major educational and psychological journals. He has also contributed to significant research centers, including serving as spokesman for the Center for Empirical Research on Teaching and Learning in Schools (ZeUS) at the University of Göttingen (2008-2010). Watermann maintains an active research program with numerous collaborations across Germany and internationally, evidenced by his consistent publication record through 2025. His work bridges educational psychology, sociology of education, and policy-relevant research, maintaining strong connections between theoretical frameworks and practical educational contexts.
Professor Janet McColl-Kennedy is a leading figure in marketing and service science at The University of Queensland's Business School. She serves as Program Lead for Innovation Pathways (FaBA) and co-founded the Service Innovation Alliance (SIA) research hub, focusing on customer experience, AI, digital transformation, and sustainability. With Fellow status in the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and the Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy, she holds international recognition including Research.com's World's Best Business Scientists ranking and the Christopher Lovelock Career Contributions to the Services Discipline Award (2025). University of Queensland Business School Honorary Visiting Professor, Cambridge Service Alliance Research Collaborator, University of Cambridge Her research spans customer experience management, service ecosystems, digital transformation, and healthcare services. She has pioneered frameworks for customer value co-creation and service recovery strategies, integrating AI and behavioral science. Her 2019 paper on customer experience insights was implemented by a major B2B organization, while her work on value co-creation improved outcomes at Lutheran Community Care. Recent publications focus on AI impacts in food and beverage services, sustainable service ecosystems, and digital health interventions. She has secured over $89 million in competitive grants, including multiple ARC Linkage and Discovery Projects, and leads cross-disciplinary teams with institutions like Cambridge University and Arizona State University. 2024 - ARC College of Experts appointment 2023 - Bo Edvardsson Industry Impact in Services Award 2022 - Elected Fellow of Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia 2021 - Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher 2018 - Ranked most influential marketing academic in Australia With over 220 publications and a Google Scholar H-index of 62, she has mentored 15 PhD students and examined theses at multiple universities. Her teaching spans 30+ years across undergraduate, postgraduate, and executive programs in Australia, USA, Italy, China, and Korea, with awards for blended learning and corporate education.
Caroline K. Milne, M.D., is Professor (Clinical) of Internal Medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine, where she also serves as Vice Chair for Education and Program Director of the Internal Medicine Training Program. In addition, she directs the fourth-year sub-internship and leads clinical-skills education for medical students. Education & Training M.D., University of Wisconsin School of Medicine Residency & Chief Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine Fellowship in General Medicine / Medical Education Research, University of Pennsylvania M.B.A., Business Administration, University of Utah Fellowship in Executive Leadership in Health Care, Drexel University Research Focus Dr. Milne’s scholarly work centers on medical education research, particularly the assessment and development of clinical skills, evaluation of residency training programs, and policy studies on resident wellness and parental leave. Her investigations employ mixed-methods and multi-institutional survey designs to inform best practices in graduate medical education. Clinically, she practices general internal medicine at the VA Medical Center, integrating bedside teaching with outpatient and inpatient care. This dual role informs her research on optimizing educational experiences within clinical environments and improving systems of care for veterans. Publication Themes Across more than two decades, her peer-reviewed articles reveal consistent themes: evaluating learner performance, refining feedback mechanisms, exploring health-system responses (e.g., during COVID-19), and analyzing policies affecting residents’ well-being. The work bridges education science, health-services research, and quality improvement. Scientific Awards No specific awards are listed in the provided material. Advising & Grant Activity While formal student advisees are not enumerated, Dr. Milne’s roles as Program Director and Director of Clinical Skills imply extensive mentorship of residents and medical students. Grant details are not provided. Laboratories & Teams She collaborates with the Internal Medicine residency leadership team and the School of Medicine’s clinical-skills educators, operating primarily within the University of Utah’s academic medical center and the affiliated VA Medical Center.
Dr. Megan Bailey is an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Integrated Ocean and Coastal Governance at Dalhousie University's Marine Affairs Program, part of the Faculty of Science. She holds a PhD from the University of British Columbia (UBC) and has conducted postdoctoral research at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. Her work focuses on global fisheries governance, combining market and state approaches to achieve sustainable outcomes, particularly in transboundary fisheries and tuna governance. Bailey’s research integrates game theory, global value chain analysis, and informational governance to address challenges in seafood sustainability. She emphasizes collaboration among governments, NGOs, and industry to enhance transparency and equity in fisheries management. Her projects often center on Indigenous rights, Arctic char fisheries in Nunatsiavut, and the impacts of market mechanisms like eco-labels and trade policies. Key areas of research include: cooperative management of shared fish stocks, traceability systems, food security, and equitable allocation in fisheries. She leads the Bailey Lab, which supports interdisciplinary projects such as the North Atlantic Right Whale conservation initiative and the Sustainable Nunatsiavut Futures Project. Bailey has supervised numerous PhD and Master’s students, fostering the next generation of marine governance researchers. Her scientific contributions include over 50 peer-reviewed publications, with recent work addressing Indigenous data sovereignty, decolonizing research methodologies, and the socio-ecological impacts of climate change on coastal communities. Bailey is a principal investigator for the Nippon Foundation Ocean Nexus Center, furthering global ocean equity initiatives.
Ralf Haefner is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Brain & Cognitive Sciences and Physics & Astronomy at the University of Rochester, holding this joint appointment since 2014. His interdisciplinary research bridges neuroscience and physics to investigate computational principles of perception and decision-making. Education and professional background: PhD, Oxford University, 1999 Visiting Research Fellow, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School Swartz Fellow, Sloan-Swartz Center for Theoretical Neurobiology, Brandeis University Haefner's research program centers on computational neuroscience , with primary focus on how the brain forms perceptual beliefs and uses them for decisions through Bayesian modeling . He employs machine learning tools to construct mathematical models explaining neural responses and behavior, particularly in the visual domain. His work addresses neural representation of uncertainty, causal inference mechanisms, and probabilistic computation in cortical circuits. Analysis of recent publications (2023-2025) reveals three dominant trends: (1) causal inference frameworks applied to motion perception and segmentation, (2) Bayesian modeling of perceptual biases and confidence computations, and (3) integration of generative and discriminative neural computations. His work extends beyond traditional neuroscience into scientific methodology through 'Generative Adversarial Collaborations' for improving research discourse. Honors and Awards: Swartz Fellowship, Sloan-Swartz Center for Theoretical Neurobiology NSF CAREER Award (2022) for 'Approximate inference at the intersection of neuroscience and machine learning' Haefner secured significant research funding through his NSF CAREER award, which supports foundational work on probabilistic inference at the neuroscience-ML interface. While specific students aren't listed, his active publication record and lab infrastructure suggest ongoing mentorship of graduate students and postdocs. His research has clinical relevance as shown by studies on perceptual abnormalities in autism spectrum disorder, indicating translational potential for understanding neurological conditions.
Dr Virginia Hagger is a Senior Lecturer in Nursing at Deakin University's School of Nursing & Midwifery, part of the Faculty of Health and the Institute for Health Transformation. She specializes in diabetes education, self-management, and psychological wellbeing. Her research focuses on structured education programs, diabetes distress, and workforce development. She holds a PhD and Master of Public Health from Deakin University. Dr Hagger has led numerous national and international studies, including interventions targeting diabetes distress, insulin therapy barriers, and telehealth support. She is affiliated with the Quality and Patient Safety (QPS) Strategic Research Centre and the Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes . Awards include the 2019 Alfred Deakin Medal and 2017 Vice-Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence. Her teaching spans undergraduate and postgraduate nursing, including units on diabetes pathophysiology and psychosocial contexts. Current doctoral students focus on diabetes distress, social support in Ethiopia, and autonomy in insulin management. Over 30 peer-reviewed articles and grants (e.g., MRFF-funded HypoPAST and LISTEN trials) underscore her contributions to diabetes care innovation and workforce training.
Dr. Bimlesh Wadhwa is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and serves as Assistant Dean for Student Life at Tembusu College. She holds dual affiliations as a Residential Fellow at Tembusu College and an active member of the School of Computing's academic community. Her work bridges software engineering, human-computer interaction (HCI), and computing education. Dr. Wadhwa's research focuses on gender issues in HCI, software design quality, and digital well-being. She has pioneered initiatives like the Code for Community program to bring computing education to underserved groups. Her pedagogical contributions include developing courses on object-oriented design, software engineering principles, and interaction design. She actively engages with professional communities through roles such as Faculty Representative at the Singapore Computer Society Student Chapter and advisor to the Computing Club at NUS. Her recent work addresses pressing societal challenges like technology-facilitated sexual violence and integrates AI into educational contexts. She has organized major competitions including CodeXtreme and the Singapore Science and Engineering Fair, fostering innovation among students. Her interdisciplinary collaborations span healthcare applications, smart city technologies, and educational equity initiatives. Dr. Wadhwa’s scholarly contributions include over 80 publications in top venues such as FSE, CHI, and IEEE conferences. She has co-edited book chapters for Springer and Wiley on HCI and informatics, reflecting her commitment to advancing both technical and societal dimensions of computing. In addition to her academic roles, she leads MakerLab initiatives and contributes to national educational policies on computational thinking. Her work emphasizes bridging academia-industry gaps through projects like the GEAR mobile game-assisted rehabilitation system and cloud service brokerage frameworks.
Tim Woodman is a Professor in Sport & Exercise at the School of Psychology and Sport Science , Bangor University. He is a leading expert in Performance Psychology , focusing on personality, stress, anxiety, and risk-taking in elite sports. His groundbreaking theory positions risk as central to human development and performance. Research Interests : Narcissism, anxiety-performance relationships, risk-taking behavior, athlete mental health, agentic emotion regulation. Scientific Contributions : Over 150 peer-reviewed publications, including 2025 studies on cricket mental health, coach support dynamics, and pressure training methodologies in elite sports. Projects : Leads the North West Air Ambulance performance psychology initiative and collaborates with Manchester City Football Club on personality-climate change research. Teaching & Supervision : Accepts PhD students interested in risk-taking, personality, and performance psychology topics.
Paul Taele is an Instructional Assistant Professor and Deputy Lab Director in the Sketch Recognition Lab at Texas A&M University's Department of Computer Science & Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. (2019), M.S. (2010), and dual B.S. degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin (2006). His research focuses on sketch recognition, haptics, and intelligent interfaces for education and accessibility, with notable work in mid-air gesture recognition, educational sketching tools, and assistive technologies for disabilities. He has contributed to projects like Kanji Workbook , Hashigo , and HaptiMoto , and has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles across venues like CHI, IUI, and AAAI. Taele has received awards including the NSF Student Travel Grant (2014) and Ford Foundation Honorable Mention (2015). He teaches courses in capstone design, programming, and sketch recognition, and mentors students across all academic levels through strict eligibility criteria for research collaborations. Education : Ph.D. Computer Science, Texas A&M University (2019) M.S. Computer Science, Texas A&M University (2010) B.S. Computer Science & Mathematics, University of Texas at Austin (2006) Concentration in Mandarin Chinese, National Chengchi University (2007) Research Interests : Taele's work bridges HCI and AI to create accessible educational interfaces. His projects emphasize: Sketch Recognition : Developing algorithms for mid-air gestures, children's developmental assessments, and language learning Accessibility : Haptic systems for visually impaired learners and algebra education Educational Tech : Intelligent tutoring systems for music, math, and East Asian languages Awards & Grants : EAAI-20 Travel Grant (2020) Ford Foundation Dissertation Honorable Mention (2015) NSF East Asia-Pacific Summer Institutes (2013, 2012) Royce E. Wisenbaker Fellowship (2009) Lab & Teams : Director of the Sketch Recognition Lab (SRL) and collaborator with global institutions like Singapore Management University and National Taiwan University. Active in organizing workshops like SketchRec at IUI conferences.
Nancy E. Glass, PhD, MPH, MS, RN, FAAN, is a Professor and Associate Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health, while holding the Independence Chair in Nursing Education at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. She specializes in clinical and community-based intervention research targeting gender-based violence (GBV) and health equity globally. Global Health Expertise: Focuses on improving safety and economic security for women in humanitarian settings, particularly addressing GBV in Somalia, South Sudan, and Kenya. Technological Innovation: Develops mHealth tools like the MyPlan app for abuse intervention and collaborates on ASIST-GBV screening methods. Research Focus: Dr. Glass leads federally funded projects (NICHD, NIMHD, CDC, etc.) to challenge social norms sustaining violence against women and enhance healthcare systems' responses to GBV through partnerships and mHealth technologies. Scientific Awards: 2017 Independence Chair in Nursing Education 2015 Edith Moore Copeland Award 2014 PathPaver Award 2009 Fellow, American Academy of Nursing 2007 Linda Saltzman New Investigator Award Dr. Glass mentors colleagues and students globally, partnering with community organizations and experts to address health, safety, and economic disparities for women and families.
Pekka Marttinen is a tenured Associate Professor of Machine Learning at Aalto University, Department of Computer Science, and leads the Machine Learning for Health (Aalto-ML4H) group within the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology HIIT. Education: M.Sc. in Applied Mathematics, University of Helsinki (2004) Ph.D. in Statistics, University of Helsinki (2008) Title of Docent in Information and Computer Science, Aalto University (2015) Research Focus: His methodological work spans large language models, reinforcement learning, deep learning, probabilistic machine learning, and causal inference . These techniques are applied to critical domains of healthcare, bioinformatics, statistical genetics, epidemiology, and personalized medicine . The group develops novel algorithms, theoretical guarantees, and open-source software that enable data-driven discovery and decision-making in medicine and biology. Publication Trends: Across 2022-2024 the lab has concentrated on (i) rigorous causal reasoning over temporal clinical data, (ii) principled uncertainty quantification in LLMs, (iii) representation learning for neural network comparison, and (iv) translational projects that turn raw EHRs into actionable clinical insights. Earlier work integrated high-dimensional genomics with metabolomics and mapped evolutionary forces in bacterial pathogens. Scientific Awards & Recognition: While no specific awards are listed, his sustained publication record in top-tier venues (NeurIPS, ICML, AISTATS, Nature Genetics, PLOS CB) and his role as responsible professor of the Machine-Learning, Data-Science and AI major signify significant peer recognition. Advising & Grants: Prof. Marttinen currently mentors 8 PhD students as primary supervisor and an additional 7 PhD students as co-supervisor. He has already graduated 8 PhDs since 2014. The group is supported through competitive funding including the Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence (FCAI) doctoral program. Labs & Teams: He directs the Machine Learning for Health (Aalto-ML4H) research group, comprising postdocs Hans Moen, Ti John, Alexander Nikitin, Negar Safinianaini, Linli Zhang, Zhiyuan Li, and the above-mentioned PhD cohort.
Professor Susannah Quinsee is the Vice President (Digital and Student Experience) and Senior Diversity Ambassador for Race Equality at City, University of London. She leads on digital transformation, student experience, post-pandemic educational strategies, curriculum design, and staff development. Her team oversees Library Services, Learning Enhancement, Digital Education, and collaborations across academic divisions. She is a Lego Serious Play facilitator, integrating creative methods into leadership and change management. Previously, she served as Director of Learning Development and Chair in Learning and Teaching Development. Her expertise spans online learning, student support, and large-scale institutional change. Key roles include National Teaching Fellow (2011), Learning and Teaching Excellence Ambassador (2017), and Visiting Professor at the University of Northampton. She has advised national agencies like AdvanceHE and authored widely on educational leadership, playful pedagogy, and digital strategies. Her research focuses on playful leadership and change management, addressing how institutions adapt to evolving educational landscapes. Awards include the National Teaching Fellowship and HEA Principal Fellowship, reflecting her contributions to teaching excellence and professional development.
Eileen Klein is an Associate Professor of Social Work and Convener of the BSW Program at Ramapo College of New Jersey's School of Social Science and Human Services. Her work focuses on LGBTQ mental health treatment , community support systems , and policy reform for marginalized populations. Klein has presented extensively at international conferences on topics like cultural competency in social work education and LGBTQ health disparities . Ph.D., M.S., and M.S.W. from New York University and SUNY Buffalo Key research areas: LGBTQ Mental Health, Community Health Disparities, Forensic Social Work Published 15+ works (2013-2021) on topics ranging from polypharmacy to support programs for LGBTQ clients Active in professional development: Delivered presentations at conferences across the U.S. and Italy on topics including integrated treatment and supervision of student interns
Jonathan Santo is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), where he serves as Director of the Graduate Developmental Psychology Program and as a faculty member in the Office of Latino/Latin-American Studies. His research explores peer relations, cultural differences in self-esteem, and classroom-level influences on child and adolescent development, with a focus on improving school environments and fostering positive social interactions. ORCA Faculty Fellow His research spans broad areas including Developmental Psychology , Social Support Systems , and Cross-Cultural Peer Dynamics , with specific attention to peer victimization , self-continuity , school climate , and developmental trajectories in Brazilian and Colombian youth . Recent publications analyze topics like hikikomori experiences , friendship security , and HPA axis dysregulation in adolescents. Scientific awards include the ORCA Faculty Fellow recognition. His work often involves longitudinal assessments of peer relationships cross-cultural comparisons (Brazil, Colombia, China, Nigeria, Singapore, U.S.) policy-focused blog posts on family separations and school interventions
