Dr. Alister Smith is a Reader (Associate Professor) in Geotechnics at Loughborough University, where he directs the £1M National Engineered Slope Simulator (NESS) – the world’s first climate-controlled facility testing clay slope deterioration. His £6.7M research portfolio addresses geotechnical infrastructure resilience under climate change. Innovations include acoustic emission (AE) landslide early warning systems deployed across five continents, with the Community Slope SAFE project recognized in REF2021. Current work includes the RAINDROP doctoral training cluster on infrastructure prognosis and the £4.9M EPSRC ACHILLES programme on climate impacts. Awards: Philip Leverhulme Prize, ICE Thomas Telford Premium (twice), and Hawley Award for Engineering Innovation. He serves on the Lilly Fellows Program Board and edits for the International Journal of Christianity and Education.
Jan Eeckhout is an ICREA Research Professor at Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) in Barcelona, specializing in macroeconomic theory, labor markets, and urban economics. His work focuses on market power dynamics, wage inequality, and technological impacts on labor and urban systems. He holds a PhD from the London School of Economics (LSE). Eeckhout has received a prestigious ERC Advanced Grant (€2.45M) for research on 'Macro Market Power and Distribution.' He authored the influential book The Profit Paradox (2021), exploring how dominant firms reshape labor markets and economies, translated into multiple languages. His research frequently appears in top journals like the Quarterly Journal of Economics and Review of Economic Studies. Research Interests: Macro-Labor Theory, Labor Markets, Urban Economics, Market Power, and Economic Inequality. Recent work examines technological origins of labor market stagnation, IT-driven urban polarization, and wealth effects on worker productivity. Advising and Grants: Supervises PhD students (e.g., Milena Djourelova, David Puig) and collaborates with institutions globally (CEMFI, EUI, Sciences Po). His team includes co-authors like Jan De Loecker and Philipp Kircher. Active in policy discussions via think tanks and media outlets like VoxEU and the NYT. Labs/Teams: Leads a diverse research group at UPF, with projects on market power, urban economics, and labor dynamics.
Chuck Fang is an Assistant Professor of Finance at Drexel University's LeBow College of Business. He holds a PhD in Finance from UPenn Wharton (2023) and BAs in Economics, Mathematics, and Statistics from UC Berkeley (2015). His research is centered on credit markets, monetary policy, financial innovations, and financial data infrastructure. PhD in Finance, UPenn Wharton, 2023 BAs in Economics, Mathematics, and Statistics, UC Berkeley, 2015 His research interests span credit markets , monetary policy transmission , financial innovations (including DeFi and automated market makers), and financial data linkage (e.g., Bond-Compustat-CRSP and DealScan-Compustat links). His work explores how monetary policy affects bond fund flows, debt structure changes, and sovereign restructuring. He emphasizes data quality and transparency, contributing open-source tools for empirical finance. The most recent articles reveal a strong focus on monetary policy amplification , debt market structure , and data infrastructure for empirical research. Keywords across publications include finance, monetary policy, asset pricing, fintech, and data linkage. Subfields consistently involve bond fund flows, syndicated loans, sovereign debt restructuring, DeFi mechanisms, and financial data validation. His research bridges macroeconomic policy with micro-level financial data, often using large-scale institutional holdings and transaction data. Scientific awards include: WFA Brattle Group PhD Candidate Award for Outstanding Research Chuck Fang has advised no students listed in the materials. He has secured research recognition through conference presentations and working paper awards. His work is supported by access to major financial databases and collaboration with leading scholars such as Kairong Xiao and Greg Nini. He actively disseminates findings through SSRN, Google Scholar, and academic conferences. He leads or contributes to several data infrastructure projects, including the Bond-Compustat-CRSP Link and DealScan-Compustat Link. These tools enhance empirical research in corporate finance and asset pricing by improving issuer identification and data accuracy. He also maintains a personal website and is active on professional platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter, promoting open science and financial research transparency.
Megan L. Matthews is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Arts & Sciences, where she leads an active research group focused on chemical biology and enzymology. Her lab develops innovative chemical proteomics technologies to uncover novel enzyme cofactors and regulatory post-translational modifications, particularly those involving reactive electrophiles, which cannot be predicted from genomic sequences. B.S. in Chemistry, Miami University (2005) Ph.D. in Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University (2011) Postdoctoral Fellow, The Scripps Research Institute (2012–2017) Her research centers on the concept of the 'electrophilome'—a largely unexplored half of the reactive proteome. By designing 'reverse-polarity' chemical probes, her group enables the discovery of functionally significant electrophilic modifications in proteins, especially those involved in cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. These discoveries open new avenues for therapeutic intervention through covalent targeting. The recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on enzyme mechanisms, cofactor discovery, and chemical probe development. Her work spans from fundamental enzymology (e.g., halogenases, ribonucleotide reductases) to applied chemical biology (e.g., hydrazine probes, chemoproteomic profiling). The keywords across her publications highlight emerging themes in metalloenzymes, radical chemistry, and covalent proteome mapping. Her scientific contributions have been recognized through prestigious fellowships, including the Merck Helen Hay Whitney Postdoctoral Fellowship. She has published in top-tier journals such as Nature , Nature Chemical Biology , and Journal of the American Chemical Society . Dr. Matthews advises graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in her lab, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment. Her lab emphasizes the importance of diverse perspectives in scientific discovery. She has secured research funding to support projects in probe development, target characterization, and disease mechanism studies, particularly in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. The Matthews Lab is actively engaged in advancing reverse-polarity activity-based protein profiling (RP-ABPP) for in vivo applications and inhibitor screening. The group collaborates with experts in structural biology, spectroscopy, and disease modeling to translate basic discoveries into therapeutic insights.
Bert DE REYCK is the Dean of the Lee Kong Chian School of Business at Singapore Management University (SMU) and holds the rank of Professor of Operations Management. He holds a PhD in Business Economics from the University of Leuven, Belgium, along with an MSc in Business Information Systems and a BSc in Business Engineering from the same institution. His career includes roles as Founding Director and Professor at UCL School of Management (2015–2021), Professor and Head of Department at University College London (2009–2015), and various visiting professorships at institutions like London Business School and the University of Ghent. He has held academic positions since 1998, including Assistant and Associate Professor roles at prestigious institutions such as the London Business School and Rotterdam School of Management. DE REYCK’s research focuses on Operations Management, Business Analytics, and Project Management, with notable contributions to AI applications, transportation systems, and strategic sourcing. His work bridges theoretical rigor and practical impact, addressing challenges in project valuation, contract design, and operations optimization. He has received numerous accolades, including INFORMS’ AAS Best Paper Award (2022), multiple Daniel H. Wagner Prize recognitions, and teaching awards from London Business School and UCL. His research has been supported by grants from organizations like Eurocontrol, NHS, and private sector firms such as Vungle and Noble Group. DE REYCK has led significant industry collaborations, including projects on airport operations optimization, pharmaceutical R&D valuation, and AI-driven advertising strategies. His advisory work spans sectors like aviation, healthcare, and transportation, emphasizing real-world problem-solving through analytics and decision science.
Dr. Hanbo Shim is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Management at The University of Texas at Arlington, College of Business. He holds a PhD in Industrial Relations and Human Resources from Rutgers University and a BA in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research and teaching focus on Human Resource Management, Organizational Behavior, and HR Analytics. PhD, Industrial Relations and Human Resources, Rutgers University (2022) MS, Industrial Relations and Human Resources, Rutgers University (2019) MA, Human Resource Management, Rutgers University (2016) BA, Mathematics and Economics, University of Illinois (2012) Dr. Shim's research explores the temporal dynamics of employee performance, compensation systems, emotional intelligence, and social networks in organizations. He uses longitudinal analysis, multilevel modeling, meta-analysis, and computer simulation to examine how individual and interpersonal factors influence organizational outcomes. His work bridges HR analytics with behavioral science. His recent publications span topics such as green HRM, pay policy dynamics, emotional intelligence, and HR analytics education. These works reflect a strong interdisciplinary approach integrating psychology, sustainability, data science, and strategic management. His research has been presented at leading conferences including the Academy of Management and European Reward Management Conference. Award highlights include: Ralph Alexander Best Dissertation Award (2024) Innovative Teaching Award, Academy of Management HR Division (2022) Best Student Convention Paper Award (2020) Best Doctoral Conference Paper Award, Samsung Economic Research Institute (2020) Dr. Shim actively advises students through capstone and honors projects and serves on PhD and graduate studies committees. He has collaborated with SL Corporation on HR analytics and developed open-source educational materials. His service includes editorial board membership for Compensation & Benefits Review and ad hoc reviewing for top journals. He is also engaged in professional development workshops and public speaking, including for the Society for Human Resource Management at UTA. His lab and research activities emphasize simulation-based methods and real-world HR analytics applications.
Yousif Shamoo is the Ralph and Dorothy Looney Professor of BioSciences at Rice University, where he has been a faculty member since 1998. He previously served as Vice Provost for Research (2014-2022) and Director of the Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering (2008-2014). He holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University (1988). His research focuses on combating multi-drug resistant bacteria through experimental evolution and biophysical approaches. Key interests include: Evolutionary trajectories of antibiotic resistance in pathogens like Enterococcus and Acinetobacter Biochemical basis of adaptation using microfluidics, genomics, and structural biology Discovery of novel antimicrobial strategies targeting cell membrane stress pathways Microbial interactions in spatially structured environments Publications emphasize antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, evolutionary biophysics, and microfluidic technology development. Recent work explores daptomycin resistance pathways ( LiaFSR ), membrane lipid signaling, and high-throughput evolution platforms. Awards & Honors: AAAS Fellow (2024) Ralph and Dorothy Looney Professorship (2020) George R. Brown Award for Excellence in Teaching (2015) George R. Brown Superior Teaching Award (4×, 2009 onward) ASM Distinguished Lecturer (2011-2013) He leads an active research group funded by NIH and DoD, advising 15+ graduate students. Current projects integrate synthetic biology with Streptomyces-derived drug discovery and microfluidic biosurveillance platforms.
Professor Ian Roberts is a faculty member at the University of Cambridge, affiliated with the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics and the Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics. He holds the academic rank of Professor and has been a Fellow in Linguistics at Downing College since his appointment. His research focuses on theoretical linguistics, particularly comparative and historical syntax, grounded in Noam Chomsky's Universal Grammar framework. Education : BA from Bangor University, PhD from University of Southern California (USC), LittD, Fellow of the British Academy (FBA). Roberts' work investigates how grammatical systems across Germanic, Romance, and Celtic languages vary along simple parametric lines while adhering to universal constraints. His recent projects include 'Rethinking Comparative Syntax' (ERC-funded), 'Giving Voice to Digital Democracies', and parametric comparison studies. His publications span monographs and collaborative works, emphasizing syntactic universals, parametric hierarchies, and mechanisms of language change. He has supervised graduate students such as Zepu Zhang, Fanghua Zheng, and Liu Yang. Roberts has received prestigious awards, including the European Research Council Advanced Grant and multiple Cambridge Humanities Research Grants. His academic contributions extend to leadership as Head of the Theoretical and Applied Linguistics Section and involvement in research clusters like CAMPAL (Cambridge Processing and Acquisition of Language lab).
Kathrin Lang is a Full Professor at the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, and Head of the Organic Chemistry Laboratory. Her research focuses on chemical biology, particularly the development of tools for genetic code expansion to incorporate non-canonical amino acids into proteins and advance bioorthogonal chemistries for studying biological processes. Keywords: Genetic Code Expansion, Bioorthogonal Chemistry, Protein Engineering, Ubiquitylation Networks, Post-Translational Modifications. Lang’s work emphasizes proximity-triggered crosslinking reactions, bioorthogonal labeling, and in vivo chemistries to address challenges in protein interaction mapping and structural elucidation. Her group’s recent publications highlight methodologies for dual protein labeling, deciphering ubiquitin code, and enhancing cycloaddition reactivity. Current projects include exploring cyclopropene-fused dibenzocyclooctynes for improved labeling and investigating methylated lysine as a conformational regulator in Hsp90. Funding sources include the ERC (Ubl-tool), DFG (SFB1035, SPP1926), and ETH Zurich. She contributes to education through courses like Genetic Code Expansion for Studying Posttranslational Modifications and Chemical Biology and Synthetic Biochemistry . Collaborative efforts span structural biology, microbiology, and synthetic biochemistry, with applications in ubiquitin research and cellular imaging.
Nathan (Nati) Linial is a Professor at the School of Computer Science and Engineering at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he has been a faculty member since completing his postdoctoral period at UCLA. He earned his undergraduate degree in mathematics from the Technion and his PhD in graph theory from the Hebrew University. His research spans multiple areas of theoretical computer science and mathematics, with primary focus on combinatorics, theoretical computer science, and bioinformatics. Linial's work has made significant contributions to high-dimensional combinatorics, expander graphs, metric embeddings, and computational molecular biology. His research often bridges geometry, analysis, and combinatorial structures, demonstrating deep connections between seemingly disparate mathematical fields. Linial's recent publications reveal a strong trend toward high-dimensional combinatorial structures, including simplicial complexes, hypertrees, and high-dimensional permutations. His work frequently employs probabilistic methods, linear programming techniques, and geometric approaches to solve fundamental combinatorial problems. The breadth of his research is evident in both pure mathematical contributions and applications to computational biology. Fellow of the American Mathematical Society ISI Highly Cited Researcher Conant Prize (2008) for the influential survey paper "Expander graphs and their applications" Linial has served on the editorial boards of several prestigious journals including the Israel Journal of Mathematics (as Chief Editor 2013-2017), Random Structures and Algorithms, and Combinatorica. His academic leadership extends to organizing conferences and workshops in combinatorics and theoretical computer science. He has mentored numerous students whose work spans theoretical computer science, combinatorics, and computational biology. Linial is associated with research projects including ProtoNet (for protein sequence classification) and EVEREST (for evolutionary conserved protein domains), demonstrating his commitment to interdisciplinary research that bridges computer science with molecular biology.
Jamie H. Ferguson is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at the University of Houston, with a cross-appointment to the Honors College. He specializes in Renaissance and early modern literature, focusing on intersections between biblical hermeneutics, literary poetics, and translation theory. Renaissance Literature Shakespeare Studies Biblical Translation Great Books Tradition His research explores how theological debates shaped vernacular literary production in Early Modern Europe, with particular attention to textual materiality and interconfessional dialogues. Ferguson's publication record spans Latin, Italian, French, Polish, and English contexts. Recent projects include the annotated translation of Joachim du Bellay's Deffence et illustration de la langue françoyse and a forthcoming book on European Biblical Poetics . He has received multiple Martha Gano Houstoun Research Grants and been recognized with Honors College lecture awards.
Georgios Dimitroglou Rizell is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics at Uppsala University, Sweden, where he also serves as Head of the Department since 2020. His academic work is centered at the Ångström Laboratory, where he conducts research in symplectic and contact topology. He maintains dual affiliations with both the Department of Mathematics and the Center for Geometry and Physics at Uppsala University. Dr. Dimitroglou Rizell earned his PhD from Uppsala University in 2012 under the supervision of Tobias Ekholm. Following his doctoral studies, he held postdoctoral positions at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (2012-2013), Université Paris-Sud (2013-2014), and the University of Cambridge (2014-2015), all supported by prestigious fellowships from the Knut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation. He returned to Uppsala University as a researcher (2015-2017) and Assistant Lecturer (2017-2021) before being promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2021. His research primarily focuses on symplectic and contact topology, with special emphasis on understanding and classifying Lagrangian and Legendrian submanifolds. His work employs advanced mathematical techniques including pseudoholomorphic curves, pseudoholomorphic foliations, Symplectic Field Theory, and Floer homology. His investigations span a broad range of topics within geometric topology, from the classification of Lagrangians near the Whitney immersion to the study of Legendrian submanifolds and their invariants. His research has significant implications for understanding the geometric structures underlying classical mechanics and quantum physics. His recent publications (2020-2025) demonstrate a consistent focus on Lagrangian and Legendrian submanifolds, with particular attention to their classification, invariants, and interactions with symplectic structures. A notable trend is the development of new techniques for studying C^0-limits of Legendrians, exact Lagrangians in various settings, and the geometric generation of Fukaya categories. His collaborative work with researchers like Michael Sullivan, Roman Golovko, and others has produced significant advances in Floer theory and symplectic field theory. Scientific Awards Wallenberg Scholar (2023-2028, KAW 2023.0294) Wallenberg Academy Fellow (extension 2022-2027, KAW 2021.0191) Wallenberg Scholar (2022-2023, KAW 2021.0300) Wallenberg Academy Fellow (2017-2021, KAW 2016.0198) As Head of the Department of Mathematics, Dr. Dimitroglou Rizell oversees academic programs and research initiatives. His leadership is supported by significant funding from the Knut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation, which has awarded him multiple prestigious fellowships throughout his career. These grants have enabled his research in symplectic geometry and supported collaborative projects with international mathematicians. Dr. Dimitroglou Rizell is actively involved in the Center for Geometry and Physics at Uppsala University, where he collaborates with researchers across mathematical disciplines. His work intersects with theoretical physics, particularly in areas related to geometric quantization and the mathematical foundations of quantum mechanics. He participates in seminar series and reading groups focused on symplectic topology and its applications.
Don Kulick is a Professor and Research Director at the Department of Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology, Uppsala University, Sweden. His academic career spans decades of anthropological fieldwork in Papua New Guinea, Brazil, and Scandinavia, with a focus on linguistic anthropology, sexuality studies, and disability studies. Dr. Kulick's research interests encompass linguistic anthropology, sexuality studies, disability studies, language death, vulnerability studies, and human-animal communication. His work challenges conventional views on vulnerability, arguing that it can be a resource rather than a lack. His fieldwork with adults with significant disabilities in Denmark and Sweden informed his influential book "Loneliness and its Opposite: sex, disability, and the ethics of engagement". Kulick has also made significant contributions to the understanding of transgender communities, particularly through his early ethnographic work with Brazilian travesti prostitutes documented in "Travesti: Sex, Gender and Culture among Brazilian Transgendered Prostitutes". His recent scholarly output demonstrates a trajectory from linguistic anthropology and sexuality studies toward broader questions of vulnerability, ethics, and human-animal relations. Kulick's work consistently engages with marginalized communities and challenges disciplinary boundaries, connecting linguistic anthropology with disability studies, queer theory, and ethical frameworks for engagement with vulnerable others. ERC Advanced Grant for a 5-year research project on people who are treated as though they aren't really there Dr. Kulick has received significant research funding, most notably an ERC Advanced Grant for a 5-year project examining people who are treated as though they aren't really there, including courtroom interpreters and peer reviewers. His mentorship extends through his extensive publications and edited volumes that have shaped multiple generations of anthropological scholarship, particularly in the areas of linguistic anthropology and sexuality studies. While specific lab structures aren't mentioned in the provided text, Kulick's research program on vulnerability appears to be an organized research initiative (referred to as the "EV program" in the text), suggesting a research team or collaborative network focused on vulnerability as a productive resource.
Alberto Brugnoli is a Full Professor in Applied Economics at the University of Bergamo, Italy, where he has served since 2020. He holds the UNESCO Chair on Human Rights, International Cooperation and Sustainable Development and serves as Delegate for International Cooperation in Developing Countries at the University of Bergamo. His academic career spans over 30 years with progressive appointments from Researcher to Full Professor. Brugnoli's research focuses on International Development Cooperation, Sustainable Development, Local Development, Regional Governance and Policy, Migration, Municipal Financing, and Trade. His work demonstrates a strong international dimension through collaborations with institutions like Fundação Getulio Vargas (Brazil), McGill University (Canada), OECD, and the European Commission. His recent publications show a clear trajectory toward sustainability, decarbonization, and economic transition topics. His research output reveals a progression from traditional economic policy topics toward contemporary challenges of sustainability, climate change, and social development. The most recent publications (2022-2025) predominantly address decarbonization, sustainable economic transitions, and regional development strategies, reflecting current global economic policy priorities. Award by the Scientific Committee of the First Report on Finance of the Rosselli Foundation (2012) Award by the NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy (2009) Recognition from Università Bocconi for editorial contributions (1999) Brugnoli has advised numerous international research projects and has extensive teaching experience in Development Economics, Regional Economics, and International Cooperation. His leadership extends to serving as President of the Master's Degree Program in Human Rights, Migration and International Cooperation (2018-2022) and various delegate roles at the University of Bergamo.
Haagen Klaus is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at George Mason University, specializing in bioarchaeology, paleopathology, and forensic anthropology. Since 2013, he has directed research on the north coast of Peru, focusing on human skeletal biology, mortuary practices, and the impacts of colonialism and environmental stressors on prehistoric and historic societies. Ph.D., Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State University (2008) M.A., Department of Anthropology, Southern Illinois University (2003) B.A., Department of Anthropology, State University of New York at Plattsburgh (2000) Klaus's research explores biocultural transformations in complex societies, with emphasis on health, violence, identity, and ethnogenesis. His Lambayeque Valley Biohistory Project (founded 2003) investigates skeletal markers of disease, stress, and violence across 10,000 years of Andean history. Methodologies include isotopic chemistry, ancient DNA analysis, and dental phenetics. Recent work (2025) examines oral microbiomes during Spanish colonization, syndemic processes in colonial dynamics, and stress indicators in pre- and postcontact populations. Projects integrate osteoimmunology, ecoimmunology, and life history trade-offs to understand physiological and cultural resilience. Current graduate students under his supervision include Rae-Ocean Blake, Kimberly Hargrave, Megan Jankowski, Emily Schopmeyer, and Celeste Schultheiss. He leads international collaborations involving Peruvian, Japanese, Canadian, and American researchers through the Lambayeque Valley Biohistory Project.
