Alexandra Boldyreva is a Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, holding joint appointments in the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy and the School of Computer Science. She serves as Associate Chair for Graduate Studies in the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy and coordinates the Information Security Master’s program in the College of Computing. Her affiliations include the Institute for Information Security & Privacy (IISP), the Algorithms, Combinatorics and Optimization (ACO) program, and the Algorithms and Randomness Center (ARC). She earned her Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of California, San Diego, and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in applied mathematics from St. Petersburg State Technical University, Russia. Her research focuses on cryptography and information security, with notable contributions to encryption methods, authentication protocols, and privacy-preserving systems. Boldyreva’s work emphasizes provable security analysis of protocols like FIDO2 and TLS 1.3, as well as searchable encryption and data privacy techniques. Her recent studies include secure communication channel establishment, leakage quantification in encryption systems, and applications of fuzzy search in encrypted databases. She has received Test of Time Awards for foundational contributions to cryptography. Boldyreva leads initiatives in cybersecurity education and has secured grants for research in secure communication protocols and human-computing approaches to key exchange. Her interdisciplinary collaborations span computer science, mathematics, and privacy engineering.
Kusum L. Ailawadi is the Charles Jordan 1911 TU'12 Professor of Marketing at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. She has established herself as a leading expert in marketing channel strategy, brand equity, and multi-channel distribution systems. Her research examines the strategic interaction and distribution of power between manufacturers and their distribution channel partners, with particular focus on how store brands, promotions, and brand equity affect performance. Education: PhD, University of Virginia, 1991 MBA, Indian Institute of Management, 1984 BSc (Honors), St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, 1982 Professor Ailawadi's research spans two primary streams: the first focuses on manufacturer-retailer relationships and channel strategy, examining how power dynamics affect brand performance; the second investigates how marketing actions influence consumers' health status and the nutritional quality of grocery shopping. She has pioneered research showing how warehouse club shopping affects consumer behavior, revealing that club store shoppers spend more, shop more frequently, and consume more calories than non-club shoppers. Her work on multi-channel distribution has been synthesized in her influential 2020 book Getting Multi-Channel Distribution Right , which provides practical guidance for managing brands across physical and digital channels. Her extensive publication record in top marketing journals like Journal of Marketing , Journal of Marketing Research , and Marketing Science demonstrates consistent scholarly impact. Analysis of her recent work shows a strong focus on the evolving retail landscape, with particular attention to private label brands, multi-channel strategies, and the behavioral economics of consumer shopping patterns. Her research increasingly bridges marketing theory with practical applications in retail strategy and consumer health. Notable Awards: Winner, Paul H. Root Award for Significant Contribution to the Advancement of the Practice of Marketing (2018) Distinguished Alumni Award, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (2020) Winner, John D.C. Little Best Paper Award, Marketing Science (2005) Winner, First William Davidson Award for Best Contribution to Theory and Practice in Retail Marketing (1997) Multiple finalist positions for Paul E. Green Award across various years Professor Ailawadi serves as president of the INFORMS Society for Marketing Science and has held editorial positions at major marketing journals including Journal of Marketing , Journal of Marketing Research , and Marketing Science . She teaches the highly regarded MBA elective on Multi-Channel Routes to Market and has consulted with companies across consumer goods, retailing, consulting, and financial services sectors. Her expertise has also been sought in legal cases related to distribution, brand equity, and promotions, where she has served as both consulting and testifying expert. Her research has been widely covered in media outlets including Harvard Business Review , Wall Street Journal , Forbes , and Advertising Age , demonstrating the practical relevance of her academic work. Her TEDx talk 'Outsmarting the Marketers' further illustrates her ability to translate complex marketing concepts for broader audiences.
Ananth Grama is the Samuel D. Conte Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and Associate Director of the Center for Science of Information at Purdue University. He holds a faculty position in the Department of Computer Science, College of Science. His research focuses on parallel computing, distributed systems, machine learning, and their applications in complex systems such as materials modeling and clinical analytics. He teaches advanced courses like CS525 (Parallel Computing) and CS314 (Numerical Methods). Research interests span parallel algorithms, fault-tolerant learning, quantum machine learning, and data-driven healthcare analytics. Recent work addresses fundamental limits of generative models, online learning under noisy conditions, and clinical outcome predictions. His projects include DOE-funded research on critical element recovery and NIH grants for hearing assessment technologies. Notable contributions include over 50 peer-reviewed publications since 2022, with recent papers appearing at ICLR, NeurIPS, and ICML. Current postdocs include Changlong Wu (collaborating with Wojciech Szpankowski) and Luopin Wang (with Nadia Atallah). He advises seven graduate students and oversees multidisciplinary research teams.
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.
Professor Tolga Akçura is a distinguished faculty member at Özyeğin University's Faculty of Business, Department of Business Administration. With over 25 years of academic experience, he has developed and taught courses on marketing strategy, marketing analytics, and marketing research at prestigious institutions including Carnegie Mellon University, Purdue University, and Long Island University. At Özyeğin University, he teaches Marketing Strategy, Integrated Marketing Communication Strategies, Innovation, Business Model Development, and Advanced Topics in Marketing for undergraduate, graduate, and executive students. Professor Akçura holds a B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering from Boğaziçi University (1990), an MA in Business Administration from Boğaziçi University (1996), an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University (1998), and a Ph.D. in Quantitative Marketing from Carnegie Mellon University (2000). Before joining academia, he worked for Procter & Gamble across multiple European locations including Brussels, London, Manchester, and Istanbul. His research focuses on the intersection of Information Technology and Marketing, Brand Valuation, Consumer Learning Behavior, Structural Choice Models, Brand Equity dynamics, and Competitive Pricing Strategies. Professor Akçura has made significant contributions to marketing science through his extensive publication record in top-tier journals. His recent scholarly work demonstrates a strong trend toward digital marketing, AI applications in marketing analytics, healthcare marketing, and the strategic implications of data-driven decision making. His publications span from foundational work on brand equity to cutting-edge research on patient-generated health data and deep learning applications in campaign participation prediction. William W. Cooper Award (awarded twice for publications in Management Science and Marketing Science) Professor Akçura has successfully bridged academic research with practical business applications through his role as founder of eBrandValue A.Ş. and as a Y-Combinator alum (YCW15). He is an active member of professional organizations including the Institute for Operations Research and Management Science, American Marketing Association, and Direct Marketing Institute. His industry experience complements his academic work, providing students with valuable real-world insights into marketing strategy and implementation.
Dr. Susana Castro-Kemp is an Associate Professor in Psychology and Human Development at University College London's Institute of Education (IOE), where she serves as Director of the Centre for Inclusive Education (CIE) since September 2023. Previously, she was a Reader in Education at the University of Roehampton for eight years. Her work focuses on inclusive education policy and practice globally, with particular expertise in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), early childhood intervention, and mental health in schools. The IOE has been ranked number one in the world for Education for several consecutive years, providing an ideal environment for her impactful research. Dr. Castro-Kemp holds a PhD in Psychology jointly awarded in 2012 by the University of Porto (Portugal) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (USA). Her doctoral research was fully funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology/European Commission and the Global Education and Development Studies scholarships. She is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society, a Senior Fellow of Advance HE, and a Recognised Research Supervisor by the UK Council for Graduate Education. Dr. Castro-Kemp's research centers on policy regulating education, health, and welfare services for children, particularly those with support needs. She examines inclusive education practices from users' perspectives, policy models leading to effective inclusive pedagogy, and country-level policy impacts on outcomes for children with special educational needs. Her work moves away from diagnostic labels toward engagement and civic participation as educational outcomes. She also investigates inclusion and early intervention in low- and middle-income countries, mental health in schools, and quality of early childhood education. Her recent publications reveal several key trends in inclusive education research. There's growing emphasis on understanding educational experiences through the voices of children and families rather than diagnostic labels. Much of her work examines the implementation gap between inclusive education policy and classroom practice. She has conducted significant research on how children with special educational needs experienced the pandemic, revealing both challenges and unexpected "silver linings" for some groups. Her corpus analysis of Ofsted reports shows narrow focus in early childhood education inspections, while her work on SEND policy increasingly takes an international comparative approach. Dr. Castro-Kemp has received recognition for her impactful work, including: Best Digital Humanities Project for Community Engagement Prize (2023) from the National Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences of South Africa for her project "Optimising collaborations and reducing inequalities of Early Childhood Intervention in post-Covid-19 South Africa" Dr. Castro-Kemp has secured approximately £1.3 million in research funding from various sources including ESRC, British Academy/Leverhulme Trust, European Commission, and private sponsors. Her current major project is 'ScopeSEND' (2024-2026), funded by the Nuffield Foundation (£250,000), examining international SEND policies. She has led numerous projects including "Transdisciplinary provision for children with disabilities in the Global South" (£3,500), "Optimising collaborations in South Africa" (£47,200), and "Froebel meets Ofsted" (£19,185). As a supervisor, she mentors MA/MSc and PhD students in education policy, early childhood, and inclusive education, having been nominated for student choice awards for excellent feedback and outstanding research supervision. As Director of the UCL Centre for Inclusive Education since 2023, Dr. Castro-Kemp leads a team focused on advancing knowledge exchange and research in inclusion and special needs. The Centre works with schools, educators, parents, and early years settings to translate research into practice. Her international collaborations include work with the World Health Organization as a technical advisor on the use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) system in educational contexts. She also serves on the SEN Policy Research Forum and has provided oral evidence to the House of Commons Education Select Committee.
Dr. Stijn Maesen is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at Imperial College Business School, specializing in retailing and marketing strategy. His research examines how retailer and manufacturer marketing activities affect firm performance and societal outcomes, with a focus on consumer behavior, health labeling, and payment innovations. He holds a PhD from KU Leuven and previously worked in marketing research at GfK. Education: PhD in Marketing, KU Leuven Pre-PhD work experience at GfK Research Interests: Retail competition dynamics, consumer decision-making in retail settings, and the societal implications of marketing practices. His work bridges academic rigor with practical insights for retailers and policymakers. Awards: 2020 AMS Mary Kay Doctoral Dissertation Award (best dissertation in marketing science) Teaching: Marketing Analytics (MSc Strategic Marketing), Marketing Decisions (MSc Management). Combines data-driven approaches with traditional marketing principles. Labs/Teams: Engaged in collaborative research projects within Imperial's Business School analytics cluster.
Professor Susan Thorp is a Finance academic at the University of Sydney Business School . With a PhD in Economics from UNSW and prior roles at University of Technology Sydney and the Reserve Bank of Australia, she focuses on household finance , retirement planning , and financial market behavior . BEc (Hons) - University of Sydney Dip. Ed. - University of New England PhD - University of New South Wales Her research interests include: Life-cycle financial decision-making Behavioral influences on savings and investments Superannuation policy and market integration Commodity market dynamics Economic impacts of financial literacy Crises-driven market contagion Recent publications analyze retirement decumulation , financial trust , and commodity-equity market correlations . She leads cross-disciplinary teams applying dynamic programming , econometric modeling , and experimental design to financial challenges. Her grants include ARC Linkage Projects and ASIC commissions for improving financial communication and regulatory frameworks . Media outlets frequently cite her expertise on superannuation policy , market volatility , and retirement savings behavior .
Prof. Marnik G. Dekimpe is a Research Professor of Marketing at Tilburg University and Professor of Marketing at KU Leuven. He holds editorial roles in top journals and has advised leading industries on marketing strategy. His research focuses on recession marketing, private-label success drivers, and marketing-mix effectiveness. He has won numerous awards, including the 2017 Mahajan Award and 2016 EMAC Distinguished Scholar Award. Education: PhD in Marketing from UCLA. Career highlights include Head of Department at Tilburg (2014-2020), visiting professorships at HKUST and Singapore Management University, and editorial leadership roles in multiple journals. Research interests span product-harm crises, consumer behavior, and retail strategy. Recent work explores proximity-store strategies for big-box retailers and the welfare impacts of hard discounters’ brand listings. Award highlights include honorary doctorates, best-paper awards, and long-term impact recognitions. Supervised over 40 PhD students, with notable advisees in retailing and marketing analytics. Active in editorial boards of key marketing journals and research institutes.
Professor Jagmohan S. Raju serves as the Joseph J. Aresty Professor of Marketing at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, where he also directs the Wharton Co-Sponsorship of the Indian School of Business. An internationally renowned pricing expert, he has taught extensively across Wharton's MBA, EMBA, and Executive Education programs and previously served as Vice Dean of Executive Education for six years. His academic credentials include a PhD in Business, MS in Operations Research, and MA in Economics from Stanford University, complemented by an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and a BTech in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. Raju's research focuses on pricing strategy , retailing dynamics , and competitive positioning , with significant contributions to understanding private labels, coupon economics, and strategic channel management. His work bridges theoretical rigor with practical applications, frequently addressing real-world challenges in product launches and market competition through game-theoretic and empirical approaches. Recent publications reveal evolving expertise in digital-era retail challenges, particularly showrooming behavior, omnichannel competition, and the strategic implications of network neutrality. His scholarship consistently addresses the intersection of consumer psychology and corporate strategy across diverse sectors including pharmaceuticals, entertainment, and consumer goods. Fellow, INFORMS Society for Marketing Science (2017) Multiple Excellence in Teaching Awards (2012, 2011, 2009) Miller-Sherrerd MBA Core Course Teaching Award (2006) President of INFORMS Society for Marketing Science (2004) Marketing Professor of the Year at UCLA (1992) As an educator, Raju directs flagship executive programs including the General Management Program and Owner/President/CEO Program, while consulting for industry leaders like Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, and Warner Home Video on pricing architecture and new product launches. His research grants and industry projects frequently examine category management dynamics and the strategic value of customer heterogeneity. He spearheads the Wharton-Indian School of Business partnership, fostering academic exchange and executive development initiatives that leverage his deep expertise in India's business landscape and global market dynamics.
Marc Sachon is a Full Professor and Director of the Department of Operations, Information, and Technology at IESE Business School, University of Navarra . He serves as Academic Director for Advanced Management Programs (AMP) and specialized courses like Successful Change Management and Industry 4.0 . His leadership extends to the annual IESE Automotive Industry Conference (since 1986) and consulting engagements with global firms such as BMW Group , Phoenix Group , and Traton Group . PhD in Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management from Stanford University MBA from IESE Business School Master's in Aerospace Technology from University of Stuttgart His research focuses on operations strategy , particularly in the automotive industry , and the impact of Industry 4.0 on manufacturing and logistics. He explores how digital transformation reshapes value chains, emphasizing human-machine collaboration and supply chain resilience. His work spans academic journals like IEEE Transactions and business publications like IESE Insight , with case studies on companies such as Porsche and Netflix . Professor Sachon has received multiple teaching awards and maintains an active consulting practice across industries including airlines , pharmaceuticals , and logistics . He previously worked at Airbus and IBM , and currently advises a mobility startup board. His recent publications highlight trends in electric mobility , 3D printing , and supply chain sustainability .
Joshua Ignatius is a Professor of Business Analytics at the Aston Business School, part of the College of Business and Social Sciences at Aston University. He focuses on research areas including supply chain analytics, prescriptive analytics, electronic commerce, and operations management. His work often addresses challenges such as information asymmetry in supply chains, user recommender systems, and logistics optimization. He is currently accepting PhD students in topics like Information Asymmetry in Supply Chains, User Recommender Systems, and Supply Chain Analytics. His research interests are centered on leveraging data-driven approaches to improve decision-making in supply chain and operational contexts. This includes studying disruption risk management, dynamic data modeling, and the integration of AI in cloud services. He also explores strategic decisions in e-commerce logistics, customer segmentation strategies, and environmental sustainability. Recent publications highlight his contributions to supply chain resilience, optimal security in cloud computing, and sustainable manufacturing processes. For instance, his 2025 work on supply chain network viability addresses disruption risks through dynamic data strategies. Another key area is the analysis of customer behavior in product upgrades, utilizing online review data to inform quality differentiation strategies. Dr. Ignatius has collaborated on projects involving platform information sharing, manufacturer encroachment, and logistics sourcing for e-commerce firms. His research often bridges theoretical frameworks with real-world applications, emphasizing practical solutions for operational challenges. He holds a strong record of supervising PhD students and guiding projects that combine academic rigor with industry relevance. His work frequently appears in leading journals such as the European Journal of Operational Research and Journal of Operations Management.
Femke van Horen is a Full Professor of Consumer Behavior at the Marketing Department of the School of Business and Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She serves as Scientific Director of the VU Behavioural Lab and Associate Editor for the International Journal of Research in Marketing . Her research focuses on product imitation strategies, environmental uncertainty's impact on consumer decisions, and nudging for sustainability. She co-chaired the 2023 EACR Conference and was a visiting scholar at Stanford University. Education: PhD from Tilburg University (2013), followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Cologne's Social Cognition Lab. Joined VU Amsterdam in 2013. Research Interests: Product Imitation: Effectiveness of copycat strategies and brand evaluation dynamics. Environmental Uncertainty: Consumer decision-making during crises or elections. Sustainability Nudging: Behavioral methods to promote eco-friendly actions. Awards & Grants: AMA Research in Practice Award 2019 (for Out-of-Category Brand Imitation ). IJRM Outstanding Reviewer Award 2023. Grants from ACR/Sheth Foundation, University of Cologne, and others. Advising: Co-supervises two PhD students on sustainability and product imitation, and a postdoc on plant-based meat adoption. Labs & Teams: Leads the VU Behavioural Lab, focusing on interdisciplinary consumer research.
Om Narasimhan is Professor of Marketing at the London School of Economics and Political Science. His research focuses on entrepreneurship in emerging markets, innovation, pricing, and distribution channels. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California and previously held the Board of Overseers Chaired Professorship at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. Education: Ph.D. in Business Administration (Marketing), University of Southern California M.S. in Physics, University of Virginia B.S. in Physics, University of Delhi His work explores how microentrepreneurs navigate informal economies and how marketing strategies adapt to emerging market constraints. Research integrates behavioral economics, supply chain dynamics, and consumer psychology to address real-world business challenges. Publications emphasize empirical analyses of market mechanisms, with recurring themes in retail strategy, compensation models, and global business development. Article keywords frequently include entrepreneurship, consumer behavior, and emerging economies. Awards: SIG Best Paper awards (American Marketing Association) John D. Little award finalist Marketing Science Institute Young Scholar Outstanding Researcher Award (Carlson School) Best MBA Professor Award (Carlson School) He teaches in the Masters in Management and Global Executive programs, with executive education engagements at companies including 3M, Samsung, and Target. Leads the Marketing Faculty Research Group at LSE.
Wilfred Amaldoss is the Thomas A. Finch Jr. Professor of Marketing at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. He holds a Ph.D. in Marketing from the Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania) and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. Previously, he taught at Purdue University's Krannert Graduate School of Management. His research focuses on strategic behavior in pricing, advertising, and competitive dynamics. Notable areas include pricing strategies for prototypical products, the impact of social influence on branding, and sponsored search advertising mechanisms. He has published in top journals like Journal of Marketing Research and Management Science . Amaldoss has received multiple awards, including the Frank M. Bass Award (2001) for exceptional Ph.D.-derived research and the John C. Little Award for outstanding marketing papers. His teaching excellence is recognized through awards such as the Duke MBA Excellence in Teaching Award (2008, 2009, 2019) and the Salgo Noren Outstanding Teacher Award (2000–2001). He serves as an Associate Editor for Management Science and Journal of Marketing Research , and has been honored with the Distinguished Service Award by Management Science (2009–2011). His work bridges theoretical contributions with practical insights into consumer behavior and strategic business decisions.
