Emily Hannum is a Professor of Sociology and Education at the University of Pennsylvania's College of Arts & Sciences, where she also serves as Associate Dean for Social Sciences. She is affiliated with the Population Studies Center, Center for the Study of Contemporary China, Graduate School of Education, and Penn Development Research Initiative. Education: PhD in Sociology from University of Michigan (1998) Research Focus: Poverty and child welfare, gender and ethnic stratification, sociology of education Projects: Gansu Survey of Children and Families, climate-environment-childhood inequalities in LMICs Workshops: Co-organizer of Penn Education and Inequality Workshop Her research explores childhood poverty in China, demographic impacts on education systems, and climate risks affecting children's welfare. She investigates environmental hazards, educational disparities, and family separation effects across China, India, and low/middle-income countries. Recent publications analyze educational expansion in East Asia, climate crisis impacts on child health, and gender disparities in Latin America. She directs longitudinal studies on rural poverty and collaborates on cross-national projects related to environmental and educational equity. Scientific awards include the Stanley I. Sheerr Term Professorship in Social Sciences.
Dr. Juan Manuel Berbel Pineda is a full Professor at the Department of Business Organization and Marketing at Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Spain. His academic work focuses on tourism economics, sustainable tourism practices, and international business strategies, particularly within the hotel industry and textile sector. Key research areas: Tourism Economics, Sustainable Tourism, International Business Strategy Affiliated with IMEGS (Innovation and Marketing for a Sustainable Global Environment) research group Doctoral Programs: Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Family Business His research explores tourism competitiveness and internationalization patterns through empirical studies on hotel chains in Latin America, fair trade impacts in emerging economies, and post-COVID-19 rural tourism development. Analysis of 15 recent publications reveals strong emphasis on structural equation modeling, cross-cultural comparisons, and market segmentation strategies. Current academic activity includes international collaborations with institutions like Massey University, Varna University of Management, and University of Mauritius. His 2020 work on Ecuadorian chia seed exports demonstrates methodology for EU market selection using 7-dimensional indicators, while his sustainable tourism studies provide frameworks for pandemic-era tourism revival through non-overcrowding strategies.
Ashli Owen-Smith is a behavioral scientist affiliated with the School of Public Health at Georgia State University , where her research focuses on mental health disparities, suicide prevention, and integrative/complementary approaches for complex mental-physical health conditions. She works with underserved populations including refugees/immigrants, incarcerated individuals, and LGBTQ+ communities through community-based participatory research and mixed-methods frameworks. Her current projects are funded by CDC , DBHDD , and DPH . Education: Ph.D. in Behavioral Sciences (Emory, 2009), S.M. in Public Health (Harvard, 2005), B.A. in Psychology (Smith College, 2001) Her research spans mental health , trauma , suicide prevention , and mindfulness-based interventions . Recent work examines telehealth adaptations for chronic pain and mental health, vaccine hesitancy in refugee communities, and social determinants of suicide . She leads studies on gender-affirming care and health disparities in LGBTQ+ populations. Key article trends include epidemiological analysis of suicide risk factors, COVID-19 impacts on mental health, ICD-10 coding for autism, and complementary medicine in trauma recovery. Subfields span telehealth , health equity , mental-physical comorbidity , and community engagement . Students she has mentored include C.A. Scarlett , T. Griner , and M.M. Sesay . Her work integrates public health policy , clinical research , and health systems analysis .
Christopher S. Tang is a UCLA Distinguished Professor and Edward W. Carter Chair in Business Administration at the Anderson School of Management , where he researches global supply chain management with a focus on social innovation in developing countries . He also serves as Senior Associate Dean for Global Initiatives and Faculty Director of the Center for Global Management . Education: Ph.D. in Management Science (1985, Yale University) M.Phil. in Administrative Science (1983, Yale University) M.A. in Statistics (1983, Yale University) B.Sc. in Mathematics (First Class Honors, 1981, King’s College, University of London) His research explores the intersection of corporate responsibility and supply chain innovation , addressing topics like microfinancing , mobile platforms for developing economies , direct agricultural procurement , and disaster response logistics . He emphasizes visibility, integrity, and agility in uncertain environments. Recent work highlights AI adoption benefits for supply chains , strategies to reduce forced labor risks , and policy impacts on ride-sharing platforms . His research bridges operations management and social justice , advocating for environmental stewardship alongside business growth. Scientific Awards: Salzberg Medallion (2017) Lifetime Fellow, INFORMS (2011) Responsible Research in Management Award (2017) Teaching Excellence Award (multiple years, UCLA-NUS) Dean’s Excellent Service Award (2014) As an influential adviser and consultant , Tang has worked with Amazon, HP, IBM, Nestlé, GKN , and Accenture . He has taught at Stanford University, UC Berkeley, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology , and served as visiting professor at Cambridge University and the Institute of Advanced Study at HKUST .
Owen O'Donnell is a Full Professor of Applied Economics at the Erasmus School of Economics and Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management , Erasmus University Rotterdam. He is a Research Fellow at the Tinbergen Institute and an Editor of the Journal of Health Economics . Education: DPhil, University of York (UK) Research Interests: His work focuses on health economics, including health inequality, health insurance, financial protection, and labor economics, with applications in low-, middle-, and high-income countries. He employs cross-sectional analyses, equity-sensitive frameworks, and global health policy evaluation. Publications & Collaborations: He has published extensively in top journals like Lancet , PLOS Medicine , and Demography , addressing cardiovascular disease, hypertension screening, and healthcare access in India, Philippines, and Sub-Saharan Africa. His recent research emphasizes equity-sensitive welfare weights and treatment gain inequality. Professional Activities: He has served as an Editor for the Journal of Health Economics since 2007 and is actively involved in peer-review and editorial work until 2026.
Arthur Schafer is a Full Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Arts and Founding Director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics. He serves as a National Research Associate of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and previously held roles as ethics consultant for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and Head of the Section of Bio-Medical Ethics in the Faculty of Medicine. His academic credentials include a BLitt in Philosophy from the University of Oxford (1967) and a BA Honours from the University of Manitoba. His distinguished career spans over five decades of ethical scholarship and public engagement. Professor Schafer specializes in professional and applied ethics with intensive focus on bioethics , research ethics , and biomedical conflicts of interest . His work critically examines medical assistance in dying , informed consent , clinical trial ethics , and human rights frameworks , establishing him as a leading voice in Canadian ethical discourse. His philosophical approach bridges theoretical rigor with practical policy applications across multiple professional domains. Analysis of his 13 most recent publications reveals enduring engagement with evolving ethical challenges, particularly the tension between institutional interests and professional integrity. His scholarship demonstrates consistent progression from foundational ethical theory toward contemporary policy applications, with recent work heavily concentrated on medical assistance in dying and pharmaceutical industry influence in healthcare systems. His scientific recognition includes: D. R. Campbell Outreach Award (1984) Olive Beatrice Stanton Award for Excellence in Teaching (1976) Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship (1964) Woodrow Wilson Fellowship (1964) Canada Council Fellow As an active supervisor for Master's and PhD students, Schafer extends his mentorship through ethics consulting for professional associations in Medicine, Engineering, Architecture, Nursing, and Pharmacy. His policy impact is evidenced by service on the Provincial-Territorial Expert Panel on Medical Assistance in Dying and two published reports for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. His extensive media contributions—including hundreds of CBC appearances and newspaper columns—demonstrate exceptional public scholarship. The Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics, which he founded, functions as a vital interdisciplinary hub connecting academic philosophy with real-world ethical challenges across healthcare, law, and public policy sectors, facilitating ongoing dialogue between scholars, practitioners, and community stakeholders.
Axel Dreher is Professor of International and Development Politics at Heidelberg University’s Alfred-Weber-Institute for Economics. He is a leading scholar in political economy and development economics, with extensive affiliations including the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, CEPR, CESifo, KOF, AidData, and EUDN. He serves as Editor of the Review of International Organizations and Co-Director of the Center for European Studies (CefES) at the University of Milan-Bicocca. Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg (2011–Present) Georg-August University Göttingen (2008–2011) ETH Zurich (2005–2008) University of Konstanz (2004–2005) University of Exeter (2003–2004) University of Mannheim (2000–2003) His research centers on political economy , economic development , foreign aid , and globalization . He investigates how political institutions, leadership incentives, and geopolitical interests shape development outcomes and international financial flows. His work often employs empirical and geospatial methods to analyze aid allocation, corruption, migration, and the rise of emerging donors like China. The 15 most recent publications reflect a strong focus on China’s overseas development finance , regional favoritism , and the political determinants of aid . Keywords span political economy, development economics, and international relations, with subfields including Chinese foreign aid, geospatial analysis, governance, institutional quality, and South-South cooperation. His recent book Banking on Beijing and award-winning paper Wedded to Prosperity exemplify his cutting-edge contributions to understanding the political economy of development. Scientific awards include: 2023 Best Paper Award, Political Economy of Aid Society (PEAS) 2023 Best New Dataset Award, International Political Economy Society International Geneva (IG) Award 2020 Excellence in Refereeing Award, World Bank Economic Review (2019) 2010 KfW Excellence Award for policy-relevant research Multiple DFG and Swiss research grants Dreher has advised over 30 PhD students on topics ranging from aid effectiveness to political violence and migration. He has received major research grants from the German Research Foundation (DFG), Swiss Network for International Studies (SNIS), European Commission, and VolkswagenStiftung. His leadership roles include organizing the annual Political Economy of International Organizations conference series and serving on editorial boards of top journals such as World Development and Defence and Peace Economics . He is actively involved in academic labs and research networks including the Courant Research Center on Poverty and Equity at Göttingen, AidData at William & Mary, and the Center for European Studies (CefES). His current work continues to explore the intersection of politics, development, and globalization, particularly through georeferenced data and natural experiments.
Deborah Balk is a Professor at the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College, part of the City University of New York (CUNY). She also serves as Director of the CUNY Institute for Demographic Research and holds appointments in the CUNY Graduate Center's Sociology and Economics programs, as well as the CUNY School of Public Health's Epidemiology Program. Her expertise lies in spatial demography, integrating earth and social science data to address policy challenges related to urbanization, climate change, and population dynamics. Dr. Balk has led significant roles in climate assessments, including Co-Chair of the New York City Panel on Climate Change’s 4th Assessment (2019–2024) and membership in the U.S. National Climate Assessment’s 6th Health Chapter (2025). She holds a PhD in Demography from UC Berkeley and degrees from the University of Michigan (MPP and AB in International Relations). Her research focuses on urbanization, migration, poverty, health, and environmental interactions, particularly climate adaptation and equity. Notable projects include analyzing population vulnerability in coastal zones and developing spatial demographic tools for global health and policy. Awards include the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship (2016–2018) and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation Fellowship (1991). Dr. Balk has secured grants exceeding $6 million from NSF, NASA, and others, supporting work on urbanization, climate justice, and demographic data integration. She advises multiple institutions, including the U.S. Census Bureau and National Academy of Sciences. Her teaching spans spatial demography, urban policy, and statistical methods, reflecting her commitment to bridging demographic science and real-world applications.
Henrik Hansen is a Professor and Head of Department at the Department of Economics , University of Copenhagen , where he has held various academic and administrative roles since 1995. He is associated with the Development Economics Research Group (DERG) and affiliated with the Copenhagen Center for Disaster Research (COPE) network. Education : MSc in Economics (1991) and PhD in Economics (1995) from University of Copenhagen. His research focuses on development economics , with emphasis on development aid effectiveness , applied econometrics , and education research . He has conducted extensive fieldwork in Myanmar and Vietnam , analyzing enterprise surveys, household data, and policy impacts. Recent publications highlight productivity in manufacturing sectors, gender wage gaps, and credit access determinants. He teaches "Applied Research Methods" in the Global Development program and supervises development economics and applied econometrics students. Professional roles include editorial positions at Review of Development Economics and Asia & The Pacific Policy Studies , alongside advisory work for Statistics Denmark and Vietnamese Academy of Social Sciences . He has organized international conferences and contributed to 25+ media discussions on topics like corruption in Africa and development financing .
Jari Murto serves as Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Helsinki, where he specializes in Labour and Social Law. With over two decades of academic and practical experience, he contributes significantly to Finnish and European labour law discourse through publications, policy analysis, and academic leadership. His educational qualifications include a Doctor of Laws (LL.D), Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration, and Master of Laws (LL.M). Murto's doctoral dissertation Ryhmänormit yrityksessä (Group Norms in Companies, 2015) established foundational research on workplace norm systems. Murto's research examines labour law doctrines, norm systems, working conditions determination, and transition-phase labour market issues. He analyzes EU policy impacts on national frameworks, lifelong learning integration into labour law, and psychosocial workplace safety. Recent work addresses digital workplace challenges, parental employment policies, and just transitions in green/digital economies. His scholarship bridges theoretical legal frameworks with practical industrial relations through frequent commentary on Supreme Court decisions. As Doctoral Programme Supervisor, Murto mentors emerging legal scholars while maintaining active peer review roles. He serves on Finland's Board for Strengthening General Applicability of Collective Agreements and participates in European labour law networks including the Labour Law Research Network and Nordic Network of Labour Law Scholars. His conference activities span topics from social packages in income policy agreements to lifelong learning's role in modern labour law. Murto maintains strong engagement with practical legal applications through Supreme Court commentary series ( KKO:n ratkaisut kommentein ) and regular contributions to Lakimies journal. His research methodology combines doctrinal analysis with empirical studies of workplace practices and policy implementation.
Lucia Savadori is an Associate Professor in Psychology at the Department of Economics and Management, Università degli Studi di Trento. Her research focuses on risk perception, decision-making processes, behavioral economics, and effective communication strategies for risk-related information. She holds a BA and PhD in Psychology from the University of Padua, with postdoctoral research at Padova and visiting scholarships at institutions like the University of Illinois and Decision Research (USA). Education : B.A. in Psychology (1993), University of Padua PhD in Social and Personality Psychology (1999), University of Padua Research Interests : Risk communication in healthcare, technology, and environmental contexts Behavioral economics and decision-making under uncertainty Cognitive processes in judgment and choice Her work has been supported by grants including the Horizon 2020-funded BuildERS project (2019–2022) and the Italian Ministry of Health’s prenatal diagnostics initiative (2010–2012). She has led over a dozen research projects on topics like workplace safety, disaster preparedness, and consumer trust in food systems. Professional Activities : Head of Training and Communication at the Centro di Scienze della Sicurezza e della Criminalità (2021–present) Scientific Committee member for European research networks (e.g., SAFE, SMARTHEALTH) Editorial reviewer for journals like Risk Analysis and Medical Decision Making Her teaching spans courses on general psychology, behavioral economics, decision-making tools, and organizational psychology.
Ka I Ip is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Child Development , University of Minnesota. As director of the D.A.N.C.E. Lab , Dr. Ip employs multimodal methods including neuroimaging, cortisol assays, and cross-cultural experiments to study emotion regulation and developmental psychopathology. PhD in Developmental Psychology (University of Michigan) Susan Nolen-Hoeksema Postdoctoral Fellow (Yale University) Research focuses on how cultural contexts and early adversity shape emotional development, with particular attention to racial-ethnic minorities and immigrant families . His work applies findings to social policy reform and health equity initiatives. Recent publications analyze neighborhood socioeconomic impacts on brain development , discrimination effects in bilingual adolescents , and cortisol dynamics in immigrant families . Key journals include Biological Psychiatry and Developmental Psychology . APA Editor’s Choice Article (2024) Yale Health Equity Research Finalist (2022) Accepting PhD students for Fall 2026. Collaborates with teams in neuroimaging , cross-cultural research , and pediatric biomarker studies .
Brent Doberstein is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management at the University of Waterloo, Faculty of Environment. His research and teaching focus on disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and sustainable resource management, particularly in developing countries across Asia and in Canada. His research interests include: Hazards and disaster risk reduction Climate change adaptation and managed retreat Post-disaster reconstruction and institutional capacity building Sustainable resource and environmental management Parks and protected areas Over the next five years, he is particularly interested in supervising graduate students in themes related to disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and managed retreat. His recent publications reflect a strong emphasis on community resilience, policy evaluation, and cross-national comparisons, especially in Southeast Asia and Canada. Key trends in his work include the integration of local knowledge, social equity in disaster recovery, and innovative frameworks like the PARA model for flood risk management. His scientific contributions are recognized through publications in leading journals such as International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction , Climate and Development , and Disasters . Dr. Doberstein actively supervises graduate students, many of whom are co-authors on his recent publications. He has taught courses including GEOG101, GEOG306, GEOG356, and led field research in Indonesia. He has also been involved in research projects related to flood recovery in Canada and post-disaster adaptations in countries like the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Thailand. He leads research initiatives centered on post-disaster adaptations at individual, community, and national levels, often working with interdisciplinary teams and international collaborators. His work contributes significantly to policy development and community resilience planning in vulnerable regions.
James D. Long is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Washington and co-founder of the Political Economy Forum. He holds affiliations with multiple institutions including the Center for Statistics and the Social Sciences (CSSS) and the Technology and Social Change Group (TASCHA). His research focuses on electoral integrity, political violence, and ICT applications in development, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. He has observed elections in over a dozen countries and led field experiments on voter behavior and anti-corruption strategies. Long’s work is funded by USAID, NSF, and others. Education: PhD in Political Science, UC San Diego (2012) MSc in African Politics (Merit), SOAS, University of London (2004) BA in International Relations & History, College of William & Mary (2003) Research Interests: Elections in developing democracies, electoral fraud, technology for governance, insurgency impacts, and poverty reduction. His methods combine field experiments, ethnography, and election forensics. Recent Work: Examines ICT-driven citizen engagement platforms to improve governance and service delivery in developing nations. His 2020 ACM award-winning research addresses wildlife conservancy community relations via technology. Awards: ACM Best Paper Award (2020) Fulbright Scholar (2008-2009) Harvard Academy Fellowship (2012-2016) Advising & Grants: Supervises PhD students in comparative politics and development. Secured grants totaling over $1.5M for projects on electoral integrity and anti-corruption. Hosts the podcast 'Neither Free Nor Fair?' on global election security. Teaching: Courses include Global Crime/Corruption, African Political Economy, and Comparative Politics. Served as Associate Chair of the Department of Political Science.
Maria Monica Wihardja serves as a Visiting Fellow and Co-coordinator of the Media, Technology and Society Programme at ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute while holding an Adjunct Assistant Professor position at the National University of Singapore. Her career bridges academic research and high-impact policy engagement, including former roles as World Bank Economist in the Poverty and Equity Global Practice and senior advisor to Indonesia's Presidential Executive Office on strategic economic reforms. Her educational background features: PhD in Regional Science, Cornell University MPhil in Economics, Cambridge University BA in Applied Mathematics-Economics, Brown University Wihardja's research integrates economic analysis with sociotechnical systems, focusing on digital transformation's impact on labor markets, food security, and democratic processes. She examines how technological disruption creates both opportunities for inclusion and risks of inequality, particularly through studies of platform economies, electoral disinformation, and sustainable agro-food systems. Her methodology combines quantitative econometrics with policy-oriented field research, often leveraging large-scale datasets from government and private sector partnerships. Analysis of her recent publications reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) Digital economy effects on labor market polarization and inclusion, (2) Food system resilience through agricultural modernization, and (3) Geopolitical dimensions of supply chain reconfiguration. These intersect with her policy engagement in ASEAN economic integration frameworks and Indonesia's G20 presidency initiatives. Her scientific recognition includes: Nikkei Asian Scholar 2023 award Wihardja actively shapes regional discourse through editorial roles at East Asia Forum and Center for Indonesian Policy Studies. Her grant-funded work frequently involves World Bank partnerships and Indonesian government collaborations, particularly on stunting prevention and food policy reforms. Current projects examine deepfake impacts on electoral integrity and sustainable financing mechanisms for green transitions. She leads the Media, Technology and Society Programme at ISEAS, coordinating interdisciplinary research on digital governance and Southeast Asian technology policy. The programme partners with regional think tanks, government agencies, and private sector stakeholders to develop evidence-based policy responses to technological disruption.
