Kunihiko Kaneko is a Professor at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, with a distinguished career in theoretical biophysics and complex systems. He received his PhD and MSc in Physics from the University of Tokyo, and has held leadership roles at the Universal Biology Institute and Center for Complex Systems Biology. PhD Physics, 1984 - University of Tokyo MSc Physics, 1981 - University of Tokyo His research spans five primary areas: Universal Biology, Evolutionary Constraints, Ecosystem Dynamics, Neural Cognition, and Universal Anthropology. He has published extensively on multi-level consistency principles, dimensional reduction in biological systems, and reciprocity between robustness and plasticity across scales. Recent publications show strong focus on microbial ecosystems (2025), evolutionary game theory (2025), neural modular architectures (2024), and dimensional reduction in cellular systems (2024). His work bridges physics and biology through dynamical systems theory applied to diverse phenomena from protocells to human societies.
Rebecca Long is a Professor of Management at Mississippi State University's College of Business, Department of Management & Information Systems. Her academic career spans over three decades with expertise in family business dynamics, organizational theory, and complexity sciences. She earned a Ph.D. in Organization Theory from Louisiana State University (1992), an MBA in Human Resource Management from the University of Southern Mississippi (1987), and a BBA in Human Resource Management from the same institution (1986). Her research focuses on family firm succession, social exchange theory, and strategic management. She explores how familial relationships influence innovation, HR practices, and ethical cohesion in family enterprises. Notable works include studies on bifurcation bias in family firms and the role of absorptive capacity in innovation outcomes. Her work bridges complexity science methodologies with traditional management research, emphasizing dynamic capabilities. Recent presentations address entrepreneurial teams in funding dynamics, family CEO impact on innovation, and social capital in family business networks. While no formal awards are listed, her extensive publication record reflects sustained academic contribution. She has advised numerous graduate students (not explicitly listed here) and contributed to research productivity studies in academia. Her research spans quantitative and qualitative methods, with notable methodological contributions in OLS assumptions and logistic regression applications. Current work continues to explore family social capital, succession planning, and ethical frameworks in family enterprises.
Klaus Schmidt is a Professor of Economics at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, holding the chair in the Department of Economics within the Faculty of Economics. His research focuses on theoretical and applied aspects of contract theory, game theory, and industrial organization, with significant contributions to understanding venture capital finance, privatization, and fairness in economic behavior. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Bonn (1991) with the dissertation "Commitment in Games with Asymmetric Information" and Habilitation (1994) with "Contracts, Competition, and the Theory of Reputation". Early academic support included scholarships from Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes (1982-87) and a German Academic Exchange Service grant (1988/89). Professor Schmidt's research centers on contract theory applications across diverse domains. His work on fairness and reciprocity (notably with Ernst Fehr) revolutionized behavioral contract theory, while contributions to venture capital finance and privatization established foundational frameworks for analyzing incomplete contracts in real-world settings. He employs rigorous game-theoretic modeling to address incentive problems in procurement, privatization, and organizational design. His publication record since 1991 reveals consistent focus on contract-theoretic problems, with increasing emphasis on behavioral aspects after 1999. Key thematic clusters include venture capital finance (2002-2003), fairness/reciprocity (1999-2000), and privatization/incomplete contracts (1995-1996), demonstrating evolution from pure theory to policy-relevant applications. Gossen Prize of the German Economic Association (2001) Commerzbank Prize of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences (2001) Teaching Prize of the Bavarian ministry of science (2000) Walter-Adolf-Jörn Prize (1993) German Academic Exchange Service Grant (1988/89) Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes Scholarship (1982-87) Professor Schmidt has secured major research funding including German Science Foundation grants for "Incomplete Contracts" (1999-present) and "Venture Capital Finance" (1998-present). His teaching excellence was recognized with Bavaria's highest teaching award (2000), and he maintains active collaboration with leading economists including Ernst Fehr and Monika Schnitzer. While specific student mentorship details aren't documented, his extensive publication record and seminar leadership indicate significant academic supervision.
Jindal Shah is a Professor and holds the Anadarko Petroleum Chair in Chemical Engineering at Oklahoma State University, where he also serves as the Graduate Program Director. He is affiliated with the Department of Chemical Engineering within the College of Engineering at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Shah received his educational training from prestigious institutions worldwide. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 2005, followed by an M.S. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Cincinnati in 1999, and completed his undergraduate education with a B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay in 1996. Dr. Shah's research focuses on the application of molecular simulation methodologies to understand molecular-level interactions that give rise to macroscopic phenomena. His primary research interests include Monte Carlo and Molecular Dynamics Simulations, Phase Equilibria, Ionic liquids, and Dye-sensitized solar cells. A significant portion of his work centers on designing novel biodegradable ionic liquids with properties suitable for chemical processes, with applications in next-generation batteries and carbon capture. He also investigates molecular-level interactions responsible for device efficiency in dye-sensitized solar cells to rationally design novel dye molecules. Additionally, Dr. Shah employs data science and machine learning techniques to correlate properties of ionic liquids and generate new molecules with desired properties. An analysis of Dr. Shah's recent publications reveals a strong focus on ionic liquids and their applications in energy storage and carbon capture technologies. His work consistently bridges fundamental molecular-level understanding with practical applications, particularly in developing electrolytes for batteries and CO2 capture systems. A notable trend is the integration of machine learning techniques with traditional molecular simulation methods to accelerate materials discovery and optimization. His research demonstrates a progression from fundamental molecular simulations toward applied technologies with significant environmental impact, particularly in climate action (SDG 13) and affordable clean energy (SDG 7). Dr. Shah has secured substantial research funding from multiple prestigious sources including the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and industry partners. His funded projects include 'Collaborative Research: Cyber Training-Implementation, Medium, Establishing Sustainable Ecosystem for Computational Molecular Science Training & Education' (NSF), 'Ionic Liquids for Direct Air Capture of CO2 using Electric-Field-Mediated Moisture Gradient Process' (DOE), and 'CAREER: Computation-Enabled Rational Design of Cytochrome P450 for Ionic Liquid Biodegradation' (NSF). These grants support his research in computational molecular science, CO2 capture technologies, and the development of biodegradable ionic liquids. As an educator, Dr. Shah has been actively involved in teaching graduate courses including Principles of Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, Doctoral Thesis supervision, and specialized courses such as Machine Learning for Chemical Processes and Introduction to Chemical Process Analytics. His teaching philosophy integrates cutting-edge research with educational practice, preparing students for the computational challenges of modern chemical engineering. He has also mentored numerous doctoral students through their dissertation research, contributing to the development of the next generation of chemical engineers and computational scientists.
Prof. Dr. Urs Fischbacher is a full-time Professor at the Department of Economics at the University of Konstanz, holding the Chair of Behavioral Economics. He is also affiliated with the Thurgau Institute of Economics in Switzerland. Research Focus: Behavioral Economics, Experimental Economics, Game Theory, Social Preferences, Public Goods, Trust and Cooperation, Decision-Making under Stress, and Neuroeconomics. Key Projects: Evaluation of educational interventions in Colombia, analysis of leadership selection in inequality perception, and studies on social pension targeting in Bangladesh. Academic Contributions: His recent articles focus on super-additive cooperation mechanisms, responsibility attribution in decision chains, stress-induced prosociality, and diversity policy impacts. Work spans interdisciplinary collaborations with psychologists and neuroscientists. Contact: Based at the University of Konstanz (Room F315) and Thurgau Institute of Economics. Office hours require appointment via email.
Carolyn Rouse is the Ritter Professor of Anthropology at Princeton University and an HMEI Associated Faculty member in the Grand Challenges Program. Her work interrogates the intersections of race, religion, healthcare disparities, and development through ethnographic and visual anthropological methods. Research Interests: Development, medical anthropology, visual anthropology, resistance, critical race theory, consciousness, North America, Ghana, environmental humanities, and environmental policy/ethics. Key Affiliations: Department of Anthropology, Princeton University; Environmental Humanities and Environmental Policy and Ethics through HMEI Grand Challenges Program. Her research critically examines how evidence shapes narratives of social inequality, particularly in healthcare access, racial disparities, and international development. She authored Engaged Surrender , Uncertain Suffering , and Televised Redemption , and created the Ethnographic Data Visualization Lab (VizE Lab) in 2016 to bridge biological and social scientific data. Recent publications explore necropolitics, liberal bias in the Trump era, and epistemological challenges in evidence-based policy. Her films include Chicks in White Satin (Academy Award-nominated), Purification to Prozac , and Listening as a Radical Act . Scientific Awards: 1995 American Anthropological Association Award for Excellence ( Tales from Arab Detroit ) Academy Award nomination for Chicks in White Satin
Ulrich Berger is a Professor of Economics at the Department of Economics of WU Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Vienna). He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the journal Games and is actively involved in promoting science through the Vienna Skeptics Society. His research focuses on game theory, including non-cooperative, evolutionary, behavioral, and experimental variants. He has been recognized with multiple awards, including the WU Best Paper Award and an Outstanding Reviewer Award. His work explores dynamics of cooperation, reputation systems, and strategic behavior in economic contexts. Key research areas include evolutionary stability in reputation games, indirect reciprocity, and cognitive hierarchies in strategic interactions. His publications span peer-reviewed journals like PLoS ONE and Scientific Reports , as well as popular science articles in outlets like derStandard.at . Berger has led research projects on topics such as cognitive hierarchies in minimizer games and has contributed to policy discussions on access pricing in telecommunications. His academic contributions reflect a blend of theoretical rigor and practical engagement, with recent work emphasizing evolutionary mechanisms of deterrence and experimental validation of equilibrium concepts.
Professor Shervin Farridnejad is a faculty member at the Asia-Africa Institute of the University of Hamburg, where he holds the Professorship of Iranian Studies since September 2022. He also serves as the Head of the MA program 'Manuscript Cultures' at the Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures (CSMC) within the Cluster of Excellence 'Understanding Written Artefacts'. PhD in Ancient and Middle Iranian Philology and Zoroastrian Studies (2014) - Georg-August University Göttingen MA in Ancient Iranian Studies (2007-2009) - Georg-August University Göttingen MA in Fine Arts and Art History (2003-2006) - Tarbiat Modares University Tehran BA in Fine Arts (Painting) (1998-2002) - Tehran University His research focuses on Zoroastrianism , particularly examining its cultural and religious history from antiquity to the early Islamic period. He investigates the dynamics between Zoroastrians and non-Zoroastrians, Zoroastrian art and iconography, and manuscript cultures. His work also extends to Judeo-Persian literature , Ancient Iranian philology , and Persian calligraphy . Recent publications highlight ritual practices in Zoroastrianism, including sacrificial food traditions and gift-exchange theology. The 2024 article on canine roles in Zoroastrian meat ethics and 2023 works on Safavid manuscript iconography demonstrate his interdisciplinary approach combining textual analysis with visual culture studies. 2022-2024: Editorial board member for Sasanian Studies series 2020-2023: Book Review Editor of the journal Iranian Studies 2016-2022: Co-editor of Ancient Iran Series 2015-2024: Contributor to Bibliographia Iranica and DABIR journals As an active academic leader, he serves as Sustainability Officer of the Asia-Africa Institute, member of the CSMC Steering Committee, and deputy member of the Faculty Council of Humanities at University of Hamburg. His teaching spans from introductory courses on Iranian history to specialized seminars on Zoroastrian rituals and Persian manuscript cultures.
Rachel Nordlinger is a Professor of Linguistics and Director of the Research Unit for Indigenous Language at the University of Melbourne's School of Languages and Linguistics. Her research focuses on documenting and describing Australian Indigenous languages, with a particular emphasis on syntactic and morphological theory. She has conducted extensive fieldwork with communities speaking Bilinarra, Wambaya, Gudanji, Murrinhpatha, and Marri Ngarr, contributing to language preservation efforts. She holds a PhD from Stanford University and has authored influential works including A Grammar of Wambaya and co-edited volumes like The Languages and Linguistics of Australia . Nordlinger is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Humanities (2017) and leads major grants like the ARC Centre of Excellence for Dynamics of Language (2014-2026). Her work integrates linguistic theory with community-driven language revitalization projects, emphasizing the interconnectedness of language and cultural knowledge. Key research grants include projects on polysynthetic language processing (2021-2025), Indigenous language documentation, and cross-linguistic syntactic analysis. Nordlinger collaborates with institutions such as PARADISEC and the Kanamkek-Yile Ngala Museum to preserve endangered language materials. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges formal linguistic analysis with applied community linguistics.
Benyamin Davaji serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Northeastern University, where he joined in January 2022. He holds additional appointments as a Center Member of The Plastics Center and Core Faculty of the Institute for NanoSystems Innovation (NanoSI). His work bridges microsystems engineering, nanofabrication, and data science to develop next-generation sensing technologies. Dr. Davaji's educational background includes: Postdoctoral Associate in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Cornell University (2016-2021) Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Marquette University (2016) His research centers on integrated microsystems with emphasis on mechanical wave-based sensing and computation, ultrasound transducers, bio-interfaces, and microcalorimetry. The Autonomous Integrated Microsystems (AIMS) Laboratory combines physics with AI/ML to invent novel sensors and computational devices through advanced nanofabrication. Key thrusts include power-sustaining architectures and analog/digital computational integration. Recent publications (2024-2025) reveal strong trends in MEMS/NEMS optimization using digital twins, plasmonically enhanced infrared detection, ferroelectric actuators for high-speed scanning, and ultrasound-enabled metrology. His work increasingly integrates machine learning for design automation and process optimization across semiconductor manufacturing and flexible hybrid electronics. Dr. Davaji advises graduate students including Yilmaz Arin Manav (PhD'28), who won the FLEX 2024 Future Student Poster Award. He has secured over $3 million in competitive funding as PI/Co-PI, including a $550k NSF grant for MEMS actuators, $330k NSF grant for quantum detectors, and $2M DARPA grant for inertial sensors. He directs the interdisciplinary AIMS Laboratory focused on MEMS, ultrasound, and calorimetric technologies. The lab collaborates extensively with NanoSI and The Plastics Center, developing autonomous microsystems for biomedical, environmental, and industrial applications through advanced manufacturing techniques.
Peter Bearman serves as Director of the Incite Institute and holds the Jonathan R. Cole Professorship of Sociology at Columbia University, where he maintains an active research and teaching profile within the Department of Sociology. His office is located at Knox Hall on Columbia's Morningside Heights campus. Bearman specializes in social network analysis and historical sociology, with significant contributions to health/population studies and qualitative methodology. His research increasingly integrates computational approaches for text and narrative analysis, examining phenomena ranging from historical religious discourse to modern social conflict dynamics. This interdisciplinary work bridges classical sociological theory with contemporary methodological innovation. Recent publications reveal a trajectory toward computational social science applications, particularly in semantic network analysis of historical texts and neural correlates of social behavior. His work consistently connects micro-level interactions with macro-scale social structures across diverse contexts including religious history, workplace conflict, and collective violence. His distinguished scientific honors include: Kohli Prize for Sociology (2025) for contributions to movements, networks, health, and science Golden Goose Award (2016) for the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health Election to the National Academy of Medicine (2019) Membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Membership in the National Academy of Sciences Bearman co-designed the landmark National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, demonstrating sustained leadership in major federally-funded research initiatives. As Director of the Incite Institute, he oversees interdisciplinary research teams and co-edits Columbia University Press's Middle Range and Oral History book series, actively shaping scholarly discourse through mentorship and publication curation. The Incite Institute functions as Bearman's primary research hub, facilitating collaborations that advance innovative methodologies in social science while connecting historical analysis with contemporary network theory applications.
Jeongyoon Lee serves as Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies for the MPA and MPP programs at the University of Kentucky's Martin School of Public Policy and Administration. Her research centers on intersectoral governance networks, nonprofit organizations, organizational sustainability, and mixed methods across public administration, public policy, and political science disciplines. Dr. Lee earned her Ph.D. in Public Administration and Policy from Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany, State University of New York, where she received the Distinguished Doctoral Dissertation Award. Her educational background provides foundational expertise in policy analysis and organizational theory. Her research investigates trust-distrust dynamics in adversarial policy networks (particularly hydraulic fracturing contexts), nonprofit financial health during economic recessions, and organizational resilience in challenging environments. She employs mixed-method approaches to analyze governance structures, policy implementation barriers, and resource management challenges, with publications spanning Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Public Management Review, and Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2019-2025) reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) network dynamics in contentious policy areas like hydraulic fracturing, (2) nonprofit financial sustainability and dissolution patterns, and (3) strategic planning effectiveness in local governance. Her work consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with practical policy implications. Her academic recognition includes: Distinguished Doctoral Dissertation Award from Rockefeller College As Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Lee oversees MPA/MPP program development and student mentorship. Her research agenda suggests grant activity in environmental policy networks and nonprofit resilience, though specific funding details aren't provided. She teaches Public and Nonprofit Organizational Theory, Nonprofit Management, and Public Service Organizations, connecting classroom instruction with her field research on governance challenges. No dedicated research labs or specialized teams are mentioned in available materials, though her network analysis work implies collaboration with interdisciplinary policy research groups.
Marc Authier is a Professor of French and Linguistics at The Pennsylvania State University's Department of French and Francophone Studies, part of the College of the Liberal Arts. His research focuses on syntactic theory, semantic theory, and Romance linguistics, with special emphasis on French constructs. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California. His professional bio highlights expertise in clausal structure, implicit arguments, polarity, quantification, and reference in Romance and Germanic languages. His work bridges theoretical linguistics with formal semantics and mathematical logic. Authier's recent publications (2014–2025) explore French syntax phenomena such as ellipsis, exceptives, mirative focus fronting, and quantification dynamics. He engages with debates on syntactic structures, phonological overt elements, and the syntax-semantics interface. No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned, though his extensive publication record suggests significant scholarly contributions. He has no listed advisees or grants in the provided data.
Rachel Brewster is the Jeffrey and Bettysue Hughes Distinguished Professor of Law at Duke Law School, specializing in international economic law, dispute settlement, and anti-corruption frameworks. She co-directs Duke's Center for International and Comparative Law and co-chairs the JD-LLM in International and Comparative Law Program. Her prior roles include Harvard Law School assistant professor, legal counsel at the U.S. Trade Representative, and affiliations at the University of Chicago, University of Hamburg, and University of St. Gallen. Education: BA and JD from the University of Virginia PhD in Political Science from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill Brewster’s research spans WTO law, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, ESG accountability, and international relations theory. She explores institutional design in trade and anti-corruption regimes, reputational dynamics in state compliance, and regulatory synergies between legal domains. Recent publications analyze corruption arbitration, transnational asset recovery, and ESG frameworks. Her work highlights the interplay between formal legal remedies and reputational incentives, as well as institutional reforms for global governance. Scientific Awards: John Patrick Hagan Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Brewster’s career bridges academia and policy, with contributions to the WTO’s Appellate Body debates, U.S. trade strategy, and multilateral coalition-building. She teaches courses in International Trade Law, Foreign Anti-Bribery Law, and Corporate-International Law intersections.
Behrooz Yousefzadeh is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering at Concordia University, Montreal. He leads the Wave and Vibration Engineering (WAVE) Lab, affiliated with the Applied Mathematics Lab of Quebec’s Centre de Recherches Mathématiques (CRM) and the Concordia Institute of Aerospace Design and Innovation (CIADI). His research focuses on nonlinear dynamics, mechanical metamaterials, architectural acoustics, and elastic wave propagation in periodic systems. His work bridges engineering, applied physics, and mathematics, with applications in vibration analysis of turbomachinery and novel wave-steering materials. Research Interests Mechanical vibrations and nonlinear dynamics Elastic wave propagation and metamaterials Stability analysis and architectural acoustics Nonreciprocal wave phenomena in spatiotemporally modulated systems Publications & Trends Recent work emphasizes nonreciprocal dynamics in modulated materials, phase-preserved wave steering, and defect engineering in periodic systems. Key contributions include experimental validation of nonreciprocal wave propagation and computational methods for nonlinear system analysis. Over 25 peer-reviewed articles highlight advancements in metamaterial design, parametric instability, and coiling fluid dynamics. Scientific Awards Best Paper Award at the International Symposium on Optomechatronic Systems (2014) Advising & Grants Supervised 6 students to completion (PhD/MASc). Active in securing research funding through collaborative projects with CRM, CIADI, and industry partners. Organized sessions at major conferences like SIAM, ICTAM, and Phononics. Labs & Collaborations WAVE Lab explores cutting-edge topics including: nonlinear wave steering, acoustic black holes in timber structures, and coiling patterns in fluid mechanics. Collaborations span applied mathematics, materials science, and aerospace engineering.
