Sandra Inouye, Ph.D., is Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and holds multiple professor appointments at Midwestern University, including positions in the College of Dental Medicine-Illinois, College of Dental Medicine-Arizona, and Arizona College of Optometry. She earned her B.S. from UC Davis (1985), followed by an M.A. (1987) and Ph.D. (1994) in Biological Anthropology from Northwestern University. Her research specializes in anatomical variation with orthopaedic applications, focusing on: Musculoskeletal variation and orthopaedic complications Ontogenetic changes in human/primate postcranial skeletons Surgical implications of anatomical variations Her publications demonstrate interdisciplinary expertise spanning: Orthopaedic surgery techniques (2010-2017) Primate locomotor anatomy (1989-2000) Hominin evolutionary morphology (1992-1997) Teaching responsibilities since 2000 include directing and instructing in: Gross Anatomy & Embryology (CCOM, CHS, CCO) Head & Neck Anatomy (CDMI) Musculoskeletal/Cardiovascular Systems (CDMI)
Andrew J. Duffy, MD, FACS, FASMBS is an Associate Professor of Surgery (Bariatric, Minimally Invasive) at Yale School of Medicine. He serves as Associate Surgical Chief of the Digestive Health Service line and Medical Director of the Hernia Center for Yale-New Haven Health System. Additionally, he is the interim Program Director for the General Surgery Residency Program at Yale. Dr. Duffy received his medical degree from University of Massachusetts Medical School in 1996, followed by residency training at the same institution, where he served as Chief Resident in 2003. He completed a fellowship in minimal access surgery at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in 2004. He is board certified in General Surgery with additional subspecialty certification in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Dr. Duffy specializes in minimally invasive surgery of the abdomen and GI tract, utilizing both laparoscopic and robotic techniques. His clinical expertise includes bariatric surgery (gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, adjustable gastric banding), hernia repair (primary and recurrent abdominal wall and hiatal hernias), and treatment of GERD, achalasia, and other gastrointestinal disorders. He has extensive experience treating complications from prior surgeries, including mesh problems. His research focuses on improving outcomes in bariatric and minimally invasive surgery, with particular attention to racial disparities, quality improvement initiatives, and surgical education. Recent publications highlight innovations in robotic surgery training, telehealth applications in bariatric care, and long-term weight outcomes following bariatric procedures. Dr. Duffy has been recognized for his clinical excellence with multiple honors: Connecticut Magazine Top Docs (2015, 2016, 2017) New York Magazine Best Doctors (2012) As an educator, Dr. Duffy has developed simulator programs to enhance surgical resident training and is deeply involved in the General Surgery Residency Program as its interim director. His commitment to surgical education extends to structured training in robotic surgery, where he has contributed to national guidelines through the Robotic Surgery Education Working Group. Dr. Duffy leads the Yale New Haven Health System Hernia Program and is actively involved in the Bariatric & Minimally Invasive Surgery Center and the Center for Weight Management at Yale. His work integrates multidisciplinary approaches to patient care, collaborating with specialists in obesity medicine, exercise physiology, and mental health to optimize outcomes for patients undergoing bariatric procedures.
Prof. SAKAI Shoko serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at Hong Kong Baptist University's Faculty of Social Sciences, concurrently holding a Visiting Professor position at Kyoto's Research Institute for Humanity and Nature. Her research bridges geographical and ecological frameworks to examine plant-environment interactions in Asian ecosystems. Education: Ph.D. in Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University M.S. in Animal Science, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University B.S. in Science, Faculty of Science, Kyoto University Her research investigates plant-animal-microbe interdependencies within social-ecological systems, emphasizing tropical forest biodiversity. Key foci include microbial transmission during pollination, geographical variation in plant-microbe associations, and ecosystem service provision in human-impacted landscapes. Current work examines domestication effects on seed microbiomes in East Asian soybean systems and anthospheric bacterial interactions with host plants. Recent publications (2020-2022) reveal strong thematic continuity in microbial ecology of plant reproduction , with increasing emphasis on network dynamics and climate interactions. Her work spans field studies in Bornean forests to controlled experiments on floral microbiomes, consistently linking micro-scale processes to macro-scale ecological patterns. Research leadership: Principal Investigator for KAKENHI Grant 20H03324: Association of anthospheric bacteria Sphingomonas with plant hosts Principal Investigator for KAKENHI Grant 22K19344: Microbial transmission during pollination Principal Investigator for KAKENHI Grant 22KK0104: Domestication effects on soybean seed microbiomes Prof. Sakai actively contributes to academic governance as Editorial Board Member of Evolutionary Ecology (2020-present), Councilor of the Japan Society for Tropical Ecology (2022-present), and Review Editor for IPBES Monitoring Assessment (2024-present).
Valentina Tocchioni serves as Associate Professor in Social Statistics at the University of Florence's Department of Statistics, Computer Science, and Applications 'G. Parenti' (DiSIA). Her academic career spans teaching roles across Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD programs in Statistics, Humanities, and Sustainable Tourism. PhD in Applied Statistics (University of Florence, 2016) Post-doctoral researcher at University of Florence (2016-2019) Visiting fellow at University of Southampton (2017-2019) Italian National Scientific Qualification as Associate Professor (2022-2034) Her research centers on socio-demographic dynamics with emphasis on family formation , labor market uncertainty , and educational trajectories . Key methodologies include survival models, causal inference, and sequence analysis. Current investigations examine childlessness patterns, PhD career pathways, and housing dynamics' impact on fertility decisions across European contexts. Recent publications reveal strong focus on Italian demographic trends through analyses of school-to-university transitions, vaccination disparities in non-intact families, and socio-economic determinants in ART treatment. Her work frequently employs longitudinal datasets and comparative frameworks spanning Italy, UK, and Poland. Demographic Research Editor’s Choice Award 2016 Principal Investigator for PRIN2022 KinHealth project on kinship networks Co-PI for PEER-UP project on educational inequalities She actively mentors PhD candidates in event-history analysis and social demography while leading multiple national research initiatives funded by MUR and EU programs. Her teaching integrates advanced statistical methods with real-world demographic applications across diverse student cohorts. Current projects include examining ethnic bullying in schools and aging dynamics through the Age-IT consortium.
Francisca Reyes Marquez is a Researcher affiliated with the Laboratory of Genetics at Wageningen University & Research. Her work focuses on molecular genetics, fungal pathogens (e.g., Aspergillus fumigatus), and plant biology with an emphasis on photosynthesis regulation and evolutionary processes. Key research areas include genomic analysis of microbial communities, transcriptomics of Brassicaceae species like Hirschfeldia incana, and mechanisms of balancing selection in fungi. Research Interests: Functional genomics of fungal pathogens Regulation of photosynthetic pathways in plants Evolutionary genetics and balancing selection High-throughput genomic methodologies Recent studies highlight her contributions to understanding Aspergillus fumigatus genetics through whole-genome sequencing projects and elucidating photosynthesis gene regulation in Hirschfeldia incana. Collaborations span microbial ecology, plant genomics, and fungal pathogen biology, with datasets deposited in public repositories like NCBI and Dryad. Advising and grants information is not explicitly detailed in available texts. Her research group is part of the Laboratory of Genetics, contributing to interdisciplinary projects in molecular and evolutionary biology.
Dr. Sarah Wood is the University of Saskatchewan (USask) Pollinator Health Research Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathology at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM). She is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) and focuses on pollinator health, particularly honey bee diseases and pesticide risk assessment. Her research spans infectious disease dynamics, pollinator contributions to agriculture, and honey bees as models for human/animal disease. BSc (Honours) Biology, Acadia University MSc Environmental Biology, University of Guelph DVM and PhD, WCVM/University of Saskatchewan Her research interests include: - Infectious diseases of honey bees (e.g., European/American foulbrood) - Pesticide toxicity and environmental impacts - Honey bee pathology and in vitro rearing protocols - Veterinary diagnostics and antimicrobial resistance Recent work emphasizes: - Developing standardized sampling methods for pathogen detection - Investigating oxytetracycline-resistant Paenibacillus larvae - Exploring honey bees as models for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders Key contributions include: - Apiary-level risk assessment protocols - In vitro drone rearing techniques - Comparative toxicity studies of neonicotinoids She leads WCVM's pollinator health initiatives and collaborates with beekeeping industries to improve colony health and agricultural sustainability.
Anja Baufeld is a Research Fellow at the FBN Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology, specializing in Cell Physiology and Reproduction. Her research focuses on gene regulation mechanisms in folliculogenesis and cellular signaling pathways, particularly in bovine granulosa cells. She investigates the impact of environmental factors like microplastics on livestock health and reproductive efficiency, alongside hormonal and metabolic influences such as lactate's role in cell differentiation. Education: She holds a Diploma in Biology from the University of Rostock (2011) and completed her PhD at the University of Rostock and FBN (2011–2016). Since 2016, she has been a postdoctoral researcher at FBN. Research Interests: Her work bridges developmental biology, endocrinology, and environmental science. Key areas include lactate-mediated cellular responses, high-density cell culture models, and the long-term effects of early-life feeding on ovarian physiology. Recent studies highlight microplastic contamination's implications for livestock and human health. Publications: Over a dozen peer-reviewed articles since 2013, focusing on granulosa cell biology, lactate signaling, and microplastic toxicity. Key contributions include developing in vitro models for estrogen-producing cells and elucidating lactate’s role in mimicking post-LH stage differentiation. Labs/Teams: Active within the Cell Physiology & Reproduction working group at FBN, collaborating with researchers like Jens Vanselow on genomic and transcriptomic studies.
Eva Bergman is a Full Professor in Aquatic Ecology at Karlstad University, Sweden. Her research focuses on fish ecology, migration patterns, and the impacts of climate change on freshwater ecosystems. She has collaborated extensively with international researchers and institutions, publishing over 150 peer-reviewed articles. Her work emphasizes salmonid behavior, stream ecosystem dynamics, and conservation strategies in regulated river systems. Key research themes include the effects of temperature on fish development, predator-prey interactions, and the ecological consequences of hydropower infrastructure. She has pioneered studies on downstream migration efficiency of Atlantic salmon smolts and the resilience of fish communities to habitat fragmentation. Her recent work addresses climate change impacts on boreal stream ecosystems, including winter survival strategies and thermal adaptation mechanisms. Dr. Bergman’s publications span experimental flume studies, field observations in boreal rivers, and large-scale modeling of dam removal effects. She has advised multiple graduate students and contributed to fisheries management policies in Sweden and Australia. Her research integrates ecological, physiological, and engineering perspectives to solve real-world conservation challenges. Her work is supported by interdisciplinary collaborations, including studies on forest-stream linkages and the role of terrestrial subsidies in stream food webs. She has also explored innovative methods for estimating fishery efforts and modeling fish population dynamics under climate change scenarios.
Lena Henriksen is a Professor at OsloMet's Faculty of Health Sciences within the Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, serving as Head of Studies. Her work focuses on public health, maternal and child health, and violence prevention, particularly in clinical and community settings. She leads research projects addressing child maltreatment detection in primary care and domestic violence during pregnancy, collaborating internationally on culturally adapted interventions. Key research areas include midwifery sciences, community medicine, and social medicine. Her studies often integrate qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate healthcare practices and policy impacts. Notable projects include developing the Nepalese Abuse Assessment Screen (N-AAS) and investigating umbilical cord blood analysis' neurodevelopmental implications. Publications span maternal health, child protection, and provider well-being, emphasizing Nordic and global health contexts. She actively disseminates findings through peer-reviewed journals (e.g., Sexual & Reproductive HealthCare , BMC Primary Care ) and policy-oriented platforms. No formal awards are listed, but her contributions shape clinical guidelines in Norway and beyond. Lena collaborates with multidisciplinary teams across universities and healthcare institutions, contributing to OsloMet's midwifery and nursing programs. Her work bridges academic research and practical healthcare solutions, advocating for trauma-informed care and equitable maternal health services.
Haneul Jang is a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, affiliated with the Department of Human Behavior, Ecology and Culture. His work focuses on hunter-gatherer societies, particularly the BaYaka people of the Republic of Congo, examining navigational strategies, cooperative foraging, childcare dynamics, and cultural transmission. He holds a PhD in Primatology from the same institute (2020), advised by Dr. Karline Janmaat and Prof. Christophe Boesch. His research integrates mixed methods including interviews, observations, and social network analysis. Education: PhD (2020, Max Planck Institute), MSc (2014, Ewha Womans University, South Korea), BSc (2012, Ewha Womans University). Research interests include spatial cognition in tropical forests, intergroup cooperation, and subsistence strategies. Key findings include how BaYaka women balance childcare with foraging and the role of social networks in transmitting cultural knowledge. He has published in Scientific Reports , Science Advances , and Proceedings of the Royal Society B . Awards include the Leakey Foundation Grant (2015) and travel bursaries to international conferences. His fieldwork spans Congo, Indonesia, and South Korea, with over 12 months of data collection among the Mbendjele BaYaka. Collaborations include Dr. Adam Boyette and Dr. Karline Janmaat.
Roger Santer is a Lecturer in Zoology at the Department of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University, within the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS). He holds a BSc in Zoology (Newcastle University, 1999) and a PhD in Invertebrate Neuroethology (Newcastle University, 2003). Prior to joining IBERS in 2010, he held postdoctoral positions at Newcastle University (2003–2006) and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2006–2008), followed by a lectureship in Biology at the University of Limerick (2008–2010). His research focuses on animal behavior and the neural mechanisms underlying it, particularly visually-guided behavior in insects and arachnids. Techniques include electrophysiology, behavioral studies, and computational modeling. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to biodiversity conservation and sustainable ecosystems. He led the project Conservation of butterflies under natural and modified illumination conditions (2017–2020), funded by the Welsh European Funding Office. Media coverage highlights his research on insect visual perception, including why biting flies are attracted to blue objects and the role of UV lighting in butterfly behavior. Collaborations span institutions like the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and international partners, with datasets and open-access publications emphasizing pest control strategies and arthropod sensory biology.
Sumit Sharma is an Assistant Professor in the Plant & Soil Sciences department at Oklahoma State University, where he also serves as an Extension Specialist for High Plains Irrigation and Water Management. His work focuses on sustainable agricultural practices, water management, and soil health in the Southern U.S. Great Plains region. Dr. Sharma's research interests span several key areas in agricultural science, with particular emphasis on: Irrigation water management and efficiency Soil health and carbon dynamics Crop production systems for major regional crops (corn, sorghum, cotton, soybeans) Sustainable agricultural intensification Climate adaptation in agriculture Precision agriculture technologies His scholarly work shows a consistent focus on practical applications of agricultural research to improve water use efficiency, crop yields, and environmental sustainability in the Southern Great Plains. Recent publications demonstrate increasing integration of advanced technologies like multi-modal data analysis for soil moisture estimation and climate-smart agricultural approaches that address the challenges of declining water resources in the Ogallala Aquifer region. Dr. Sharma is actively involved in significant research funding projects focused on sustainable irrigation, climate adaptation, soil health, and water-smart agricultural practices across multiple institutions including Kansas State University, Texas A&M University, and Colorado State University. As an educator, he supervises doctoral and master's theses and offers research courses at Oklahoma State University, contributing to the next generation of agricultural scientists while maintaining strong extension connections with Oklahoma farmers.
Dennis Martin is a Professor and Turfgrass Extension/Research Specialist at Oklahoma State University (OSU), where he holds the Huffine Endowed Professorship. He joined OSU in 1990, progressing from Assistant Professor (1990-1995) to Associate Professor (1995-2004) before achieving his current rank. He earned his B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. in Horticulture from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, specializing in Turfgrass Management. His research focuses on developing cold-hardy bermudagrass varieties (e.g., Yukon, Riviera) and improving their resistance to diseases like spring dead spot and drought. He leads the OSU Roadside Vegetation Management (RVM) team, which investigates herbicide programs, mowing strategies, and native landscape preservation for roadways. Extension activities include pesticide applicator training and diagnostic consultations, with over 100,000 turf-related interactions. Dr. Martin has received awards for technology development in bermudagrass breeding and patenting. His work integrates genetics, physiology, and economics to enhance turfgrass sustainability. Current grants focus on roadside vegetation management and drought-resistant turfgrass research. Labs/Teams: Roadside Vegetation Management Team at OSU, Turfgrass Research Center. Collaborates widely on multi-state initiatives to advance warm-season turfgrass resilience.
Hutan Ashrafian is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Surgery & Cancer at Imperial College London's Faculty of Medicine. He also serves as Visiting Professor of Research Impact at Leeds University Business School and Chief Scientific Officer of Preemptive Health at Flagship Pioneering. His roles include leading AI initiatives at the Institute of Global Health Innovation and co-chairing STARD-AI and QUADAS-AI global guidelines for AI diagnostics. He holds advanced degrees including BSc, MBBS, PhD, and MBA. His research focuses on artificial intelligence, surgical innovation, and translational medicine, with over 550 publications and 12 authored books. Notable contributions include pioneering work in AI-driven breast screening algorithms, robotic surgery standards, and ethical frameworks for healthcare technology. Dr. Ashrafian has received prestigious awards such as the Royal College of Surgeons Arris and Gale Lectureship and Hunterian Prize. His interdisciplinary work spans philosophy (e.g., AI ethics, simulation theory), history (e.g., ancient medical depictions in art), and physics (time paradox research). Key projects include collaboration with NHS and Google on AI breast screening tools, NHS interoperability studies, and development of the Global Patient co-Owned Cloud (GPOC). He also advises on health policy, including the NHS 2024 reform and antimicrobial resistance strategies.
Dr. Maurice Bosch is a Senior Lecturer at Aberystwyth University’s Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS). His research bridges plant cell biology and applied biotechnology, focusing on two key areas: plant cell walls and self-incompatibility (SI) systems. His plant cell wall research investigates how chemical composition, structural traits, and gene expression affect biomass quality for bioenergy and resilience to environmental stressors like drought. He explores grasses (Poaceae) such as Miscanthus and perennial ryegrass, aiming to reduce recalcitrance for biofuel production. In self-incompatibility studies , Dr. Bosch examines the molecular mechanisms in Papaver SI, where incompatible pollen growth arrest and programmed cell death (PCD) are driven by calcium, ROS, and actin signaling. His work in this domain spans mechanistic insights and translational applications. His 15 most recent publications highlight advancements in Miscanthus bioenergy crops, SI-induced PCD in Papaver, and mechanical stress responses in monocots. These works span disciplines like biochemistry, plant physiology, and biotechnology, with sub-fields including lignin engineering, pollen-stigma proteomics, and transposable element impacts on breeding systems. Dr. Bosch has supervised or co-supervised PhD students such as Kritika Bhardwaj and Ali Raza , with former students including Rebecca Hindhaugh and Ricardo da Costa . He has secured major grants from the BBSRC and UKRI, collaborating with institutions including the University of Birmingham and Nanjing Agricultural University.
