Dr. Viktor Sowinski-Mydlarz is a Lecturer in Computer Science and Applied Computing at the School of Computing and Digital Media, London Metropolitan University. He also serves as a post-doctoral researcher at the Cyber Security Research Centre. His research focuses on hybrid frameworks combining semantic and machine learning methods for data analysis, with recent projects involving cloud computing, bioinformatics (e.g., 3D modeling of Coronavirus variants), and cyber security threat intelligence. He teaches programming, software engineering, ethical hacking, computer networking, and cloud computing. His academic background includes a PhD in hybrid data processing frameworks. He has contributed to research funded by Lloyds Banking Group and Innovate UK, including Urban Data Space (air quality analysis) and Microsoft Azure Cluster (NHS prescription data statistics with Machine Learning). Dr. Sowinski-Mydlarz's work emphasizes software integration, containerization, and cloud-based data analytics orchestration. His publications span threat intelligence, cyber security policy validation, and AI-driven hybrid platforms.
Dr. Joseph Tay is an Honorary Lecturer in the School of Medicine at the University of St Andrews, affiliated with the Population and Behavioural Science Division. He also serves as Clinical Services Director at Forward Leeds. His research focuses on telemedicine applications in opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment, digital health equity, and global addiction medicine policy. Key interests include implementation science for telehealth, barriers to medication-assisted therapy, and addressing health disparities among marginalized populations such as homeless individuals and forcibly displaced persons. Dr. Tay’s work integrates interdisciplinary approaches, emphasizing stakeholder engagement and policy development. He has advised PhD students Sophie Given and Nina MacKenzie. His research outputs span peer-reviewed articles in journals like Journal of Medical Internet Research and The Lancet Psychiatry , covering topics such as AI in healthcare, opioid-cardiovascular disease links, and telemedicine scalability. Collaborations include global initiatives on OUD treatment models and pandemic responses in substance use care. Dr. Tay’s contributions extend to datasets on digital tool optimization for addiction care and presentations on reimagining telemedicine for OUD. Notably, he has explored digital exclusion among homeless populations and co-led the CO-CARDIO meta-analysis on opioid exposure and cardiovascular risks. His work bridges clinical practice, policy, and technology to improve access to evidence-based treatments, particularly in underserved communities.
Azza Abouzied is Associate Professor of Computer Science at New York University Abu Dhabi and Global Network Associate Professor at the Tandon School of Engineering. She serves as Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement and Engagement at NYUAD starting September 2024. Her research bridges database systems and human-computer interaction, focusing on intuitive tools for data querying and decision-making in uncertain, collaborative environments. PhD, Yale University (2013) MPhil, Yale University MSc, Dalhousie University BSc, Dalhousie University Her research centers on human-data interaction, designing systems that make data accessible to non-experts. She combines techniques from UI design, machine learning, and databases to build tools that simplify complex data tasks. Her earlier work focused on example-driven querying and synthetic data generation, while her recent work explores in-database prescriptive analytics and decision support in domains like disinformation mitigation and epidemic planning. Her publications span database and HCI venues, with a recurring theme of enhancing usability without sacrificing scalability. She co-founded Hadapt, a Big Data analytics platform, and has led interdisciplinary research through the Human-Data Interaction Lab and the Center for Interacting Urban Networks. Her teaching includes foundational courses such as Database Systems, Operating Systems, and Data, as well as the critical thinking course Techruption. VLDB Test of Time Award (2019) Best Paper Award in Database Systems Honorable Mention in HCI Publications Azza mentors undergraduate capstone students and advises prospective PhDs, research assistants, and postdocs. She is actively involved in academic leadership, having chaired NYUAD’s faculty council in 2024 and co-chaired the SIGMOD 2025 program. Her work emphasizes empowering users to critically engage with data and AI, both in research and education.
Sina Ansari is an Assistant Professor at DePaul University's Driehaus College of Business , specializing in Management & Entrepreneurship . He co-directs the MS Business Analytics program and has held academic roles at Northwestern University and Tuck School of Business . Northwestern University (PhD, Industrial Engineering & Management Sciences, 2018) Tuck School of Business (Postdoctoral Research Fellow) His research focuses on optimizing service systems through mathematical models, with applications in healthcare operations, opioid crisis mitigation, and logistics. Key areas include: Dynamic resource allocation Patient scheduling optimization Emergency department operations Humanitarian logistics Recent publications highlight his work in humanitarian operations , healthcare scheduling , and medical decision-making . He has received recognition through editorial roles in journals like Naval Research Logistics and Healthcare Management Science . Professional memberships include: INFORMS (Vice President, Chicago Chapter) Production and Operations Management Society Decision Sciences Institute
J. Aaron Hipp is a Professor of Community Health and Sustainability at NC State University, affiliated with the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. He serves as the Associate Director of Social and Behavioral Sciences in the Center for Geospatial Analytics and holds a leadership role in the Global One Health Academy. His work focuses on the intersection of built environments, physical activity, and health equity through innovative geospatial and sensor-based methodologies. Professor, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management CGA Fellow for Social and Behavioral Science Applications Associate Director, Center for Geospatial Analytics Executive Core Member, Global One Health Academy Hipp develops advanced approaches to studying human-environment interactions using webcams, GPS, accelerometers, and crowdsourcing technologies. His research emphasizes: Geospatial decision support systems Workplace health infrastructure Park accessibility and usage patterns Equity-focused community engagement Visualization of health-environment dynamics Rural/urban health disparities Recent publications highlight his work on scaling physical activity studies via technology, curling as a recreational intervention, international nature-prescription frameworks, and child play environment analysis. Collaborative projects include rural action plans and pandemic-era wellbeing evaluations. Professional recognition includes the CGA Fellow title. He actively mentors students in built environment impact studies and advises on geospatial health analytics.
Angelos Georghiou is an Associate Professor of Operations Management at the Department of Business and Public Administration, University of Cyprus. He previously held academic positions as Assistant Professor at McGill University (2016–2019), Post-Doctoral Researcher at MIT (2012–2013), and Postdoctoral Researcher at ETH Zurich (2013–2016). His work bridges computational methods in stochastic and robust optimization with applications in healthcare, energy systems, and operations management. Ph.D. in Operations Research, Imperial College London (2012) M.Sci. in Mathematics, Imperial College London (2008) His research focuses on stochastic optimization , robust optimization , and decision rules , addressing challenges in healthcare analytics , energy-efficient control systems , and machine learning integration . Recent publications in Management Science and Operations Research highlight his contributions to decision-dependent information discovery and computational frameworks. Key trends in his 15 most recent articles include: Advancing robust optimization techniques for multistage problems Applications in healthcare (psychiatric risk prediction) and energy systems Integration of machine learning with stochastic programming Development of tractable algorithms for complex decision environments Scientific Awards : Esdras-Minville Best Student Paper Award (2023) He serves on editorial boards of Operations Research Letters (Area Editor) and Management Science , and collaborates with institutions like MIT, ETH Zurich, and McGill University. His work with undergraduate students includes a 2021 paper in SIAM Undergraduate Research Online .
R. Lawrence Van Horn is an Associate Professor of Management, Law, and Health Policy at the Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University. He directs the Center for Healthcare Market Innovation and holds courtesy appointments in the medical and law schools. His research focuses on consumer-driven healthcare markets, nonprofit governance, and price transparency. Van Horn has advised the White House on healthcare price transparency, co-directs the Nashville Healthcare Council Fellows Program with Senator Bill Frist, and serves on multiple healthcare company boards. Education includes a Ph.D. from the Wharton School (1997), an MBA and MPH from the University of Rochester (1992 and 1990). His work appears in journals like the Journal of Health Economics and New England Journal of Medicine. He has consulted with major hospitals and insurers on antitrust and data analysis, and his research influenced the 2019 Executive Order on healthcare price transparency. Professional roles include board memberships at Community Health Care Realty Trust (NYSE: CHCT), Savida, and Harrow Health. Beyond academia, he manages a cattle farm in Tennessee.
Dr. Yanni Ping is an Associate Professor in the Business Analytics & Information Systems Department at St. John's University's Peter J. Tobin College of Business. She holds a Ph.D. in Decision Sciences from Drexel University, an MS in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech, and a BS in Material Science and Engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Her research focuses on E-commerce analytics , leveraging machine learning, econometrics, and large language models to address service and operational challenges. Key themes include recommender systems, content creator performance, and KOL influence analysis. She also explores supply chain coordination mechanisms and disaster preparedness strategies. Teaching responsibilities include courses like Machine Learning for Business, Text Analytics, and Prescriptive Analytics. Dr. Ping currently serves as Associate Editor for Electronic Commerce Research and has published in journals such as Journal of Services Marketing and Electronic Commerce Research and Applications . Her work bridges marketing, operations, and data science with a focus on real-world business applications. Recent publications analyze user engagement in recommender systems, the impact of peer influence on video game adoption, and the moderating effects of pandemic attitudes on brand loyalty. Her research combines rigorous quantitative methods with practical industry insights. Dr. Ping's academic journey includes interdisciplinary collaborations across business analytics, operations management, and digital marketing. She actively contributes to global scholarly networks through conference presentations and editorial work.
Edmund Becker is a Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Emory University. He previously served as Senior Research Associate at Harvard School of Public Health and led the Resource-Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS) project, foundational to Medicare physician payment systems. His academic background includes roles at Vanderbilt University and the University of Colorado at Denver. He holds a PhD from Vanderbilt University, an MA from Ohio University, and a BS from Westminster College. Research interests focus on healthcare costs, outcomes, policy, and disparities. Notable projects include evaluating Medicaid provider prescription patterns, hospital performance benchmarking, and the impact of healthcare payment reforms. He serves on Emory Healthcare's Medical Practice Committee and the Accountability Review Council for Philadelphia's school reforms. His 100+ publications span cost analysis, payment systems, and surgical outcomes. Recent work addresses nurse staffing impacts on mortality and EHR effects on patient safety. Awards include Distinguished Alumni recognition from Ohio University (2005) and Westminster College (2009).
Anh T. Ninh is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics at William & Mary, where he also contributes to the M.S. program in Computational Operations Research within the Department of Computer Science. His academic work bridges mathematics, computer science, and healthcare applications, with a strong focus on optimization and machine learning. Research Interests: His primary research areas include optimization under uncertainty, machine learning, and their applications in healthcare systems, particularly in clinical trial design and pharmaceutical supply chain management. He develops advanced mathematical models to improve decision-making under uncertainty in complex operational environments. Publication Trends: His recent publications reflect a consistent focus on integrating stochastic and robust optimization with real-world healthcare logistics, clinical operations, and pharmaceutical planning. The works demonstrate a strong interdisciplinary approach, combining operations research, data science, and domain-specific knowledge to solve critical problems in health systems. Scientific Awards & Recognition: While no specific awards are listed in the provided text, his research is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, indicating significant recognition and impact in the field. He has also collaborated with major pharmaceutical companies such as Lifecell (now Abbvie), Sandoz, and IntegriChain, highlighting the practical relevance of his work. Advising and Grants: Dr. Ninh advises students through the Computational Operations Research program and leads externally funded research, including an active project on site selection funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. His work bridges academia and industry, contributing to both theoretical advances and practical implementations in healthcare operations. Labs and Research Teams: While no formal lab name is mentioned, Dr. Ninh leads a research group focused on computational optimization and machine learning applications in healthcare. His team likely includes graduate students and collaborators from both mathematics and computer science, working on projects related to supply chain resilience, clinical trial efficiency, and data-driven healthcare decision-making.
Rajkumar Venkatesan is a Professor at the Darden School of Business , University of Virginia, with expertise in marketing analytics and customer lifetime value. He teaches courses such as 'Marketing Technology Products,' 'Marketing Strategy,' and 'Marketing Analytics.' Venkatesan holds a Ph.D. in Marketing from the University of Houston and a B.E. in Computer Science from the University of Madras. Ph.D., Marketing - University of Houston B.E., Computer Science - University of Madras His research focuses on marketing analytics , customer lifetime value , mobile marketing , and the global political economy . He has published extensively in top-tier journals like The Review of Economics and Statistics , Journal of Marketing , Marketing Science , and Harvard Business Review , with notable work on AI-driven marketing strategies and CRM optimization. Venkatesan’s articles highlight trends in predictive modeling , media attribution , and AI applications in marketing. His empirical methods for CLV calculation and studies on multichannel shopping behavior have shaped modern marketing analytics frameworks. Scientific awards include the Don Lehmann Award , ISBM David T. Wilson-Sheth Award , and recognition as a top scholar by the Marketing Science Institute and Poets & Quants . He has advised firms like IBM , Johnson & Johnson , and Flipkart , developing data analytics solutions and executive education programs. Co-author of Cutting Edge Marketing Analytics , Venkatesan also contributes case studies on AI implementation (e.g., Yum! Brands , Flipkart ) and media attribution challenges. His work bridges academic rigor with industry applications, emphasizing marketing ROI and resource allocation .
Dr. Aghdas Badiee serves as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate at Heriot-Watt University's Edinburgh Business School, affiliated with both the Centre for Logistics and Sustainability and the Centre of Sustainable Road Freight. Her academic foundation spans Industrial Engineering with specialized expertise in data-driven decision systems and logistics optimization. Educational Background: B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering - System Planning and Analysis (Grade: 18.07/20), Iran University of Science and Technology M.Sc. in Socio-economic System Engineering - Location-Allocation Optimization (Grade: 19.30/20), Iran University of Science and Technology Ph.D. in Socio-economic System Engineering - Supply Chain Modeling and Sustainable Logistics (Grade: 19.35/20), Iran University of Science and Technology Her research integrates Sustainable Supply Chain Management , Resilient Cold Chain Logistics , and Operations Research methodologies to address complex transportation challenges. Current projects include the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold Chain Systems (ACES) and Zero-Emission Cold-Chain initiatives, focusing on food security through sustainable logistics solutions. Her methodological approach combines descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics using simulation, optimization, and data science techniques. Publication trends reveal consistent contributions to high-impact journals like Annals of Operations Research and IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems , with growing emphasis on sustainable cold chain systems (2023-2025). Her work bridges theoretical operations research with practical applications in agri-food distribution, humanitarian logistics, and transportation procurement. Scientific Recognition: Ranked 1st in all academic degrees (B.Sc. 2010, M.Sc. 2012, Ph.D. 2019) Global Talent designation by UKRI (2022) Distinguished PhD Dissertation Award (2019) Reviewer for Annals of Operations Research Journal (2021-present) Member of WORMS (Women in OR/MS) since 2022 Her professional trajectory demonstrates continuous engagement across academia and industry, having served as Lecturer at University of Tehran and Senior Business Analyst at National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company. Current activities include developing the MILES simulation platform for cold chain optimization and contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals through sustainable logistics research. She actively participates in professional networks including Production and Operations Management Society while mentoring students in operations research methodologies.
Suchi Rajendran is an Assistant Professor with a joint appointment in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and the Department of Marketing at the University of Missouri, Trulaske College of Business. She is also the Director of Undergraduate Studies in ISE and actively leads research in prescriptive analytics, operations research, and data-driven decision-making across healthcare, transportation, and business systems. Education: PhD in Industrial Engineering, Pennsylvania State University Her research focuses on applying advanced analytics to solve complex real-world problems. Key areas include optimizing healthcare delivery systems, supply chain and logistics (notably blood supply chains and port operations), marketing data analytics, and emerging transportation systems such as air taxis and electric vehicle infrastructure. She leverages predictive and prescriptive artificial intelligence to forecast demand and recommend optimal operational strategies. Her recent work, highlighted in university news up to 2025, demonstrates a strong trend toward interdisciplinary, AI-powered solutions in logistics, sustainability, and public service. She frequently collaborates with industry partners like Case New Holland and Schneider Electric, and has secured funding from agencies such as the Alaska Department of Transportation and the National Science Foundation. Scientific Awards and Recognitions: Richard Wallace Faculty Incentive Grant Bob Bloss Faculty Enhancement Grant Winemiller Excellence Award in Data Analytics NSF CHOT Scholar (Penn State) Service Enterprise Engineering Fellow DAAD-WISE Fellowship (Germany) Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Dr. Rajendran is actively involved in mentoring students, having advised honors-winning graduate and undergraduate researchers. She leads an NSF-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program that brings 10 students annually to Mizzou to work on AI-enabled operations engineering. Her grants support hands-on, interdisciplinary research that prepares the next generation of engineers and data scientists. She is affiliated with cutting-edge research initiatives involving simulation modeling, digital communication platforms, and AI integration in industrial systems. Her lab and team focus on developing practical, scalable solutions for logistics, healthcare, and sustainable transportation, often through collaborative, real-world projects with public and private stakeholders.
Gerhard Friedrich is a Full Professor at the University of Klagenfurt, leading the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity. He previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Technical Sciences (2013–2021). His roles include Coordinator for International Relations of the Faculty of Engineering and Member of the Faculty Conference of Technical Sciences. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Vienna University of Technology and has extensive industry experience, including heading departments at Siemens Austria and research roles at Siemens Corporate Research and Stanford Research Institute. Research focuses on knowledge-based systems, recommender systems, configuration and planning, and production informatics. His work bridges theoretical AI with practical applications in manufacturing, software development, and business processes. He has authored a book on recommender systems (translated into Japanese and Chinese) and contributed to prestigious journals like Artificial Intelligence and IEEE Transactions . He has organized major conferences such as the German Conference on Artificial Intelligence (2016) and served as editor and program committee member for leading venues. His awards include Fellowships from the European and Asia-Pacific AI Associations (2012, 2023). His advising and grants include leadership in applied AI projects and international collaborations. He directs the Intelligent Systems and Business Informatics research group, emphasizing interdisciplinary innovation.
Giles Warrington is a Professor (Chair) in the Department of Physical Education & Sport Sciences at the University of Limerick, co-director of the Sport and Human Performance Research Centre, and holds affiliations with the Health Research Institute. He specializes in chronobiology, sleep science, environmental physiology, and performance optimization in weight-category sports. Previously, he worked at Dublin City University and the British Olympic Medical Centre. His research focuses on athlete performance, injury prevention, and the physiological impacts of weight regulation in sports like horseracing and combat sports. Warrington holds a BSc (Hons) in Sports Science (1990) and a PhD in Sport and Exercise Physiology (1998). He is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and a certified Performance Physiologist with Sport Ireland. His 30+ year career includes advising elite athletes and teams at multiple Olympic Games. His research program with the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board investigates chronic weight regulation in jockeys, while his recent work explores travel impacts on athletes, mental health in sports, and dual-career athlete models. Key contributions include over 90 peer-reviewed articles, injury prevention frameworks, and evidence-based training methodologies. Warrington’s grants and collaborations span international sports organizations and academic institutions. He leads interdisciplinary initiatives addressing athlete health, environmental stressors, and workplace integration for dual-career athletes.
