Mikael Nygård is a researcher at Åbo Akademi University, focusing on social inclusion, aging, and policy analysis. He actively contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals through projects like NordWell (children's wellbeing, 2023–2026), GERDA (gerontological data, 2016–2019), and AgeMin (linguistic minorities and inclusion, 2019–2021). His work spans cross-national studies, longitudinal analysis, and welfare policy transformations, particularly in Nordic contexts. His research interests include Social trust and institutional trust Informal caregiving dynamics Health factors in aging populations Policy development and crisis impacts Climate resilience through gamification Recent publications highlight trends in civic engagement, loneliness among caregivers, and ECEC policy construction. He collaborates extensively with researchers like Fredrica Nyqvist and Maria Näsman, contributing to datasets like GERDA and participating in conferences across Finland and Sweden.
Cheryl Seals is the Charles W. Barkley Endowed Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering at Auburn University's College of Engineering. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Virginia Tech, with additional degrees from Virginia Tech, North Carolina A&T State University, and Grambling State University. Her research focuses on AI ethics, natural language processing (NLP), virtual reality (VR) applications in healthcare and education, and promoting diversity in STEM. She leads initiatives like the NSF-funded AI ethics education project and the Institute for African Americans in Computing Sciences (IAAMCS). Notable awards include the Charles W. Barkley Professorship (2020) and participation in Drexel’s ELATES fellowship program. Her work bridges technology and social impact, including VR-based empathy training for medical students and interventions to mitigate pandemic-induced learning loss. She collaborates on interdisciplinary projects, such as automated grading tools for speech therapy and pavement crack recognition systems. Education: Ph.D. Computer Science, Virginia Tech M.S. Computer Science, Virginia Tech M.S. Software Engineering, North Carolina A&T State University B.S. Computer Science, Grambling State University Research Interests: AI Ethics and STEM Education Reform NLP for Sentiment Analysis and Hate Speech Detection VR Applications in Healthcare Training and Empathy Development Computing Equity and Underrepresented Groups Interdisciplinary Tools for Education and Accessibility Awards and Recognition: Charles W. Barkley Endowed Professor (2020–2025) ELATES Fellowship Participant (2024) Grants and Collaborations: NSF Grant: Integrating AI Ethics into STEM Curricula Collaborative Research: Evolution of IAAMCS National Science Foundation (NSF) AI Ethics Initiative Labs and Affiliations: Center for Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Engineering McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security
Timothy Pettipiece is an Associate Professor in the Department of Religion at Carleton University, part of the College of Humanities. He holds an Hon. BA in Classical Languages from the University of Guelph (2000), an MA in Religion and Culture from Wilfrid Laurier University (2002), and a PhD in Religious Studies from Université Laval (2006). His research focuses on interdisciplinary approaches to religious cultures of Late Antiquity, particularly Gnostic and Manichaean studies, and the reception of ancient religious ideas in modern media. His teaching interests include Classics and Religion, with a specialization in Manichaean literature and the intersection of late ancient religious texts with contemporary cultural narratives. Key research areas are Coptic Manichaean homilies, Syriac Christianities in Mesopotamia, and gender roles in early religious communities. Dr. Pettipiece’s publications emphasize textual analysis of apocryphal traditions, redaction criticism in Manichaean and early Christian texts, and comparative religious studies. Recent work explores intersections between Manichaean theology and global religious movements, as well as modern reinterpretations of ancient mythologies in popular culture. He currently serves as an academic leader in Carleton’s Religion program, contributing to both undergraduate and graduate curriculum development. His office is located in 2A51 Paterson Hall, and he maintains active engagement with international scholarly networks through conferences and collaborative research projects.
Dr Matt Parker is a Research Fellow in the School of Arts at Oxford Brookes University, a position he has held since September 2019. His work bridges sound art, digital networks, and environmental health through sonospheric investigation—a practice exploring resonance in electromagnetic waves, telecommunications, and data infrastructures. His academic credentials include: BA (Hons) Philosophy with Psychology PgDip (Distinction) Music Technology PhD Sound and Media Arts Parker's research interrogates socio-technological assemblages of the cloud, 5G networks, and disinformation ecosystems via field recording and site-specific installations. His practice reveals invisible forces like electromagnetic waves through sensory engagement, emphasizing environmental and health impacts of digital infrastructures. This interdisciplinary approach merges media theory, environmental studies, and critical technology studies. His recent creative outputs (2019-2018) demonstrate consistent thematic focus on data materiality and networked resonance, often materialized as immersive sound installations in galleries, cathedrals, and public spaces. Projects like 'These Times' and 'Memory Line' transform technical concepts into tangible experiences, highlighting tensions between digital abstraction and physical consequences. Dr Parker's recognition includes: Prix Field Recording nomination (Phonurgia Nova Awards, 2018) Arts Council England Funding for Memory Line (2017-2018) Arts and Humanities Research Council Doctoral Scholarship (2015-2018) New Art West Midlands First Prize (2016) Without Words Film Festival Grand Prize (2015) As an educator, he serves as Associate Lecturer at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and London College of Communication, with expertise in music technology and sound arts. His research is sustained by competitive grants including Arts Council England funding, while his examiner role for conservatoire programs underscores disciplinary authority. Professional experience spans sound design for documentaries like 'The Internet’s Carbon Footprint' and film scores. He actively contributes to the Sonic Art Research Unit (SARU), fostering collaborative exploration of sound’s intersection with emerging technologies and ecological systems.
Jaswant Singh is a Professor at the Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), University of Saskatchewan. He serves as Associate Dean of Academic Excellence and Innovation at the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (CGPS). His work bridges veterinary reproductive biology with human health research, focusing on ovarian function and oocyte competence using bovine models. BVSc and AH (1983, Punjab Agricultural University, India) MVSc (1986, Punjab Agricultural University, India) PhD (1997, University of Saskatchewan, Canada) His research explores the molecular and endocrine control of ovarian follicles, with applications in cattle breeding and human reproductive disorders like endometriosis. He pioneered the use of GnRH antagonists for follicle synchronization and ultrasound biomicroscopy for in vivo oocyte imaging. His lab maintains specialized facilities for molecular and live-cell imaging. Dr. Singh’s work spans basic and applied research, including field studies on ergot alkaloids in cattle feed and domestic animal models for human prostate and endometrial disorders. He has authored over 135 peer-reviewed articles and secured 21 consecutive NSERC Discovery Grants. He mentors extensively, co-directed 13 reproductive ultrasonography workshops, and contributes to university governance as a University Council member and Chair of the Biomedical Engineering Division.
David G. Embrick is an Associate Professor in the Sociology Department and African Studies Institute at the University of Connecticut. Previously, he spent a decade as faculty in the Sociology Department at Loyola University Chicago. He received his PhD, MA, and BA in Sociology from Texas A&M University in 2006, 2002, and 1999, respectively. Dr. Embrick's educational background shows a dedicated focus on sociology, having completed all his degrees at Texas A&M University. His academic journey reflects a deep commitment to the field, progressing from undergraduate studies through to his doctorate, all within the same institution's sociology program. Dr. Embrick's research centers on the impact of contemporary forms of racism on people of color, with particular emphasis on what he has labeled 'diversity ideology' and inequalities in the business world. His work extends to race and education, racial microaggressions, the impact of schools-welfare-and prisons on people of color, and issues of sex discrimination. His scholarship critically examines how racism manifests in various institutional contexts and how it intersects with other forms of inequality. Focus on racial capitalism and its relationship to colonialism Analysis of whiteness and 'white sanctuaries' in cultural institutions Theoretical contributions to alienation theory in contemporary contexts Critical examination of diversity initiatives and their limitations His recent publications reveal a clear trajectory toward examining the connections between racial capitalism, alienation, and colonialism, particularly as they relate to Palestine. There's a strong emphasis on theoretical development, especially around concepts of alienation in the 21st century, and critical analysis of how whiteness operates in cultural and institutional spaces. His work increasingly engages with global perspectives on racism while maintaining a strong foundation in American racial dynamics. Dr. Embrick has received significant recognition in his field, most notably as a former American Sociological Association Minority Fellow. His leadership roles demonstrate the high regard in which he is held by his peers. As an academic leader, Dr. Embrick serves as Past-President of the Southwestern Sociological Association, current Vice President of the Society for the Study of Social Problems, and current President of the Association for Humanist Sociology. He is also the Founding Co-Editor of Sociology of Race and Ethnicity, Founding Book Series Editor of Sociology of Diversity with Bristol University Press, and Founding Book Series Co-Editor of Sociology of Race and Ethnicity with Georgia University Press. These editorial roles have allowed him to shape scholarly discourse in his areas of expertise. Dr. Embrick is frequently invited to give talks and workshops on diversity, racism in the workplace, racism and space, racial microaggressions, and issues of academic professionalism, having presented at over 125 venues both academic and public. His work bridges academic scholarship with practical applications for addressing racism in various institutional contexts.
Richard L. Tieszen is a Professor of Philosophy at San José State University, where he has been teaching since 1989, achieving the rank of Professor in 1998. His academic career spans over three decades with significant contributions to the fields of philosophy of mathematics, phenomenology, and logic. Education: Ph.D. in Philosophy, Columbia University, 1986 M.A. in Philosophy, Graduate Faculty, New School for Social Research, 1978 B.A. with Honors in Philosophy, Colorado State University, 1975 Professor Tieszen's research focuses on the intersection of phenomenology, logic, and the philosophy of mathematics, with particular emphasis on the works of Kurt Gödel, Edmund Husserl, and other key figures in the foundations of mathematics. His scholarship bridges the analytic and continental philosophical traditions, exploring how phenomenological approaches can illuminate fundamental questions in mathematical logic and epistemology. Tieszen has made significant contributions to understanding Gödel's philosophical turn to Husserl's transcendental phenomenology, arguing that this perspective offers valuable insights into the nature of mathematical intuition and objectivity beyond the limitations of formalism and logicism. His work examines the connections between mathematical intuition, consciousness, and the ontology of mathematical objects, challenging purely formal or computational accounts of mathematical reasoning. Tieszen's research also extends to the philosophy of time, exploring the relationship between phenomenological accounts of time consciousness and physical theories of time. Professor Tieszen's publications reveal a consistent focus on bridging continental and analytic philosophical traditions through rigorous examination of mathematical and logical concepts. His work on Gödel's philosophical development, particularly the mathematician's turn to Husserl's phenomenology, has been influential in reshaping scholarly understanding of Gödel's philosophical position beyond the caricature of simple Platonism. Tieszen's scholarship demonstrates how phenomenological methods can contribute to contemporary debates in the philosophy of mathematics, particularly regarding mathematical intuition, evidence, and the nature of mathematical objects. Scientific Awards: University President's Scholar, 2007-08 (highest award at San José State University) National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Fellowship, 2006-07 Outstanding Research Award, College of Humanities and Arts, San José State University, 2001-2002 Dutch National Science Foundation (NWO) Fellowship, 1994-95 Faculty Development Assigned Time Award, San José State University, 1990-91 Meritorious Performance and Professional Promise Award, San José State University, 1989-90 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Summer Seminar Fellowship, 1988 Professor Tieszen has served as Associate Chair of the Philosophy Department at San José State University (1992-1999, 2005-2009) and has held numerous visiting positions at prestigious institutions including Stanford University, Universiteit Utrecht, and various research centers in Paris. He has been an active member of the philosophical community, serving on the editorial board of Philosophia Mathematica since 1991 and participating in major research projects such as the transcription and publication of Gödel's unpublished philosophical notebooks ("Max-Phil"). His work has been recognized with the CELJ certificate for "Best Special Issue of 2006" for his guest-edited issue of Philosophia Mathematica on "Gödel on Mathematics and Logic." Throughout his career, Professor Tieszen has developed an extensive research program connecting phenomenological approaches with foundational questions in mathematics and logic, establishing himself as a leading scholar in bridging the analytic and continental philosophical traditions through rigorous engagement with mathematical and logical concepts.
W. Michael Petullo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Comp Sci & Comp Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and prior academic degrees from DePaul University and Drake University. Before academia, he served a 20-year career in the Army, including roles teaching in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and leading cyber operations software development. His research focuses on software and network security, operating systems, and open-source software development. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of Illinois at Chicago M.S. in Computer Science, DePaul University B.S. in Computer Science, Drake University Research Interests: His work emphasizes secure operating system design, network security protocols, and open-source tool development. Recent efforts include the Aquinas Learning System for courseware automation and PivotWall for SDN-based information flow control. He also explores user behavior in cybersecurity contexts and educational applications of cyber defense exercises. Teaching: Currently instructs CS120 (Software Design I), CS410/510 (Open Source Development), and CS455/555 (Fundamentals of Information Security). Past courses include operating systems concepts and secure software development. Labs & Projects: Maintains the Aquinas Learning System project and contributes to Ethos operating system research. Active in developing minimal-latency networking solutions and secure kernel interfaces.
Dr. Joel Smith is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Manchester. He holds a PhD from University College London and has been affiliated with institutions such as the University of Essex. His research focuses on philosophy of mind, phenomenology, and existentialism, with historical interests in Kant, post-Kantian philosophy, and existentialist thought. Current projects include studies on perceptual demonstratives, emotional expression, and the experience of music. Smith supervises numerous PhD and master’s students, covering topics like psychedelics and phenomenology, narrative self-conception, and existential ethics. He has published extensively, including works on self-consciousness, empathy, and temporal experience. His book Existentialism: A Philosophical Inquiry (2022) explores existential themes like authenticity and responsibility. He organizes the Mind Reading Group and contributes to research areas such as the Mind & Language program. Smith’s work intersects with psychology and cognitive science, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding consciousness and emotion.
Artur Davoyan serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), based in room 46-147E of Engineering IV. He leads the Davoyan Research Group, focusing on revolutionary technologies for space exploration and advanced materials systems. Education: Australian National University, 2011 Research Expertise: Dr. Davoyan pioneers breakthrough propulsion systems including pellet-beam propulsion and light sails capable of interstellar travel at unprecedented speeds. His work integrates high-power laser technology, nanoscale materials engineering, and optoelectronic device development for applications in space, energy, and communications. Key specialties encompass metamaterials, plasmonics, and metasurfaces for manipulating light-matter interactions at fundamental levels. Research Impact: His innovations have driven extensive media coverage across Wired, Space.com, and The U.S. Sun (2021-2023), highlighting concepts like smartphone-sized laser-propelled spacecraft and 5-year voyages to Voyager 1. This research receives support from NASA initiatives and UCLA funding programs including the Promise Institute grant (2021-22). Research Infrastructure: The Davoyan Research Group operates as the primary hub for developing next-generation propulsion technologies and advanced materials, with ongoing projects targeting solar system exploration and interstellar mission capabilities through laser-matter interaction physics.
Eduardo Negueruela-Azarola is a Lecturer in Spanish and Portuguese at Princeton University. He holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from Pennsylvania State University and an MA in TESOL from West Virginia University. His research focuses on Second Language Acquisition (SLA) from a sociocultural perspective, emphasizing participatory action research, concept-based instruction, and teacher professional development. He has directed Spanish language programs at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Miami, and ILCE Universidad de Navarra. As an invited professor, he has taught at institutions including Universidade de São Paulo and Universitat Pompeu Fabra. His work explores creativity, multiliteracies, and the role of storytelling in L2 learning. Recent publications (2023-2024) address temporality in social sciences, sociocultural mediation, and Spanish L2 pedagogy. He co-edited a Routledge book (2023) and received the 250th Anniversary Fund for Innovation in Undergraduate Education grant. A poetry collection, *Tropología*, earned him the 2008 Primer premio nuevos valores de la poesía hispana.
Natasha Wheatley is an Associate Professor of History at Princeton University, specializing in modern European and international history with a focus on legal and intellectual history. She holds affiliations with the Humanities Council and Behrman Faculty Fellows program. Her research explores the intersections of sovereignty, legal pluralism, and temporal frameworks in Central Europe and the Habsburg Empire's legacy. She has held fellowships at institutions in Berlin, Vienna, and Cambridge, supported by grants from the Humboldt Foundation and others. Wheatley earned her Ph.D. (2016) from Columbia University with distinction and previously served as an ARC Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Sydney. Her major works include The Life and Death of States (2023), which received the 2025 Felicia Krishna Hensel IDSS Book Award, and co-edited volumes on temporalities in history and Central Europe’s interwar international order. Her research interests span constitutional history, global and imperial frameworks, and the philosophy of history. Current projects include Laws of Water, Air, Earth, and Fire: Sovereignty Among the Elements , exploring sovereignty through elemental frameworks. Awards include the 2018 Surrency Prize (Law and History Review) and the 2021 ASIL Scholarship Prize. Wheatley’s work bridges legal theory, historical methodology, and interdisciplinary approaches to statehood, with notable contributions to understanding the League of Nations’ mandates system and minority protection regimes.
Prof. Alexander Minnaert is a Professor in Inclusion and Special Needs Education & Clinical Educational Sciences at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences. He leads research on Specific Learning Disorders and educational problems. His work focuses on motivation, social-emotional learning, giftedness, and autism spectrum disorders, aiming to improve inclusive education systems. Minnaert holds a PhD from KU Leuven and has held roles including Director of Research at the Department of Education (2014–2016) and Scientific Advisor to the Academy of Finland (2022–2029). He teaches in Master’s programs like Special Needs Education and coordinates research initiatives such as the 'Learning and Giftedness' workshop at Windesheim Applied University. His research spans three clusters: specific learning disabilities, motivation/emotion/self-regulation, and student/teacher support in inclusive settings. Over 30 PhD students have been supervised, contributing to fields like deafblindness communication, twice-exceptionality, and educational policy. Notable awards include the 2013 Best Teacher Award and Ubbo Emmius Colleghie award (2012). He chairs the Dutch Youth Institute's Youth Intervention Committee and advises on national education reforms. His projects address challenges like autism inclusion, gifted education, and early school leaving.
Prof Conrad Bessant is a Professor of Bioinformatics at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), affiliated with the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences. He leads the MSc Bioinformatics program and is academic lead of the UKRI AI for Drug Discovery Doctoral Training Programme. His research focuses on automating scientific discovery in biomedicine using AI, machine learning, and network science. Key areas include drug response prediction, kinase networks, and health data analytics from online forums. Research interests span data science, computational biology, and AI applications in healthcare. He has contributed to projects on tumor microenvironment analysis, proteomics, and biomarker discovery in rheumatoid arthritis. His work integrates multi-omics data with machine learning to identify therapeutic targets and predict drug responses. Recent grants include AI-driven omics data integration (BBSRC), biomarker studies in ALS (Barts Charity), and collaborations with pharmaceutical companies like Exscientia and Merck. Publications highlight contributions to automated cell identification, kinase network modeling, and health informatics. He has pioneered tools like MRMaid for proteomics and Galaxy workflows for transcriptomics-informed analyses.
Jennifer Newsome Martin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Theology and Program of Liberal Studies at the University of Notre Dame, serving as Director of the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture. She holds a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Notre Dame, with research focused on Catholic and Eastern Orthodox theology, theological aesthetics, and the intersection of faith with literature and art. Her work bridges historical theology, continental philosophy, and contemporary cultural critique. Her notable achievements include the 2017 Manfred Lautenschlaeger Award for Theological Promise and the 2019 Frank O’Malley Teaching Award. She has authored acclaimed works like Hans Urs von Balthasar and the Critical Appropriation of Russian Religious Thought and co-edited volumes such as An Apocalypse of Love . Her research interests span 19th-20th century Catholic theology, French feminism, and the theological significance of art and literature. She serves on editorial boards for Communio , Theological Studies , and the University of Notre Dame Press , and actively contributes to ecumenical dialogue and Catholic intellectual life. Dr. Martin teaches courses on theology, ethics, and the liberal arts, advising numerous graduate and undergraduate students. Her recent articles explore topics like Bergson’s influence on ressourcement theology, the interplay of art and sacramentality, and Paul Claudel’s theological poetics.
