Jun Xie is an Associate Professor at the UMass Chan Medical School and holds multiple positions in departments including the Gene Therapy Center , Genetic and Cellular Medicine , and Microbiology . His research focuses on adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector technology and AAV-mediated miRNA therapeutics , with applications in gene therapy for diseases like osteoporosis, spinal muscular atrophy, and fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva. BS in Plant Genetics & Breeding from Huazhong Agricultural University, China MS in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry from Huazhong Agricultural University, China PhD in Genetics from Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, China Xie's recent work explores CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing delivered via AAV vectors, including studies on bone disease treatment (osteogenesis imperfecta, alveolar bone loss), neurological disorder therapies (spinal muscular atrophy), and immune-evasive AAV designs . His publications emphasize vector engineering to improve safety, targeting specificity, and therapeutic efficacy. Key trends in his 15 most recent articles include AAV serotype optimization (e.g., AAV5, AAV9), adenine base editing with engineered Cas9 variants, and miRNA-based interventions for metabolic and inflammatory conditions. His work spans preclinical rhesus monkey models and translational gene therapy applications .
Johanna Fernandez is an Associate Professor of History in the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences at Baruch College, City University of New York. Her academic work bridges historical scholarship with contemporary social justice movements, focusing on radical activism in 20th-century America. She serves on multiple committees including the History Department Curriculum Committee and has held leadership roles in organizing events around Latino heritage and Black history. Her educational background includes a Ph.D., MPhil, and M.A. in History from Columbia University and a B.A. in English & American Civilization from Brown University. Her scholarship demonstrates deep engagement with interdisciplinary frameworks connecting history, ethnic studies, and political theory. Fernandez specializes in American intellectual history with emphases on African American Studies, Puerto Rican activism, and radical social movements. Her research examines the intersections of race, class, and political repression, particularly through the lens of the Young Lords Party and Black Panther movement. She investigates how marginalized communities organized around healthcare, education, and housing in postwar urban America, with recent work expanding into comparative settler colonial studies examining parallels between US and Palestinian contexts. Her scholarship consistently centers on grassroots resistance and coalition-building across racial lines. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals consistent thematic threads: the historical roots of systemic oppression, radical responses to state violence, and transnational solidarity movements. Her work moves fluidly between specific case studies (like the Young Lords' church occupation) and broader theoretical frameworks about carceral systems and liberation struggles. The publications show increasing engagement with comparative methodologies and contemporary relevance to movements like Black Lives Matter. Frederick Jackson Turner Award (2021) for best first book American Book Award (2021) New York City Book Award (2021) Merle Curti Award for Best Social History (2021) Liberty Legacy Foundation Award (2021) PSC-CUNY Research Award (2012) Schomburg Center Scholar-in-Residence (2008) CAUSE Postdoctoral Fellowship (Carnegie Mellon, 2006) Fulbright Grant (2010) Fernandez has secured significant research funding including a $30,000 Ford Foundation grant for The Young Lords: Activism Past and Present (2019) and a PSC-CUNY grant for When the World Was Their Stage: A History of the Young Lords (2008). Her academic service includes curating exhibitions at the Bronx Museum and serving on the Municipal Archive of the City of New York board. She advises student groups including the Dominican Students Association and has organized numerous teach-ins on police brutality, civil rights, and political imprisonment. Her scholarly impact extends through public engagement with media outlets like Al Jazeera and CounterPunch, plus documentary filmmaking including Justice on Trial: The Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal . Fernandez maintains active roles in national organizations including the American Historical Association and American Studies Association while serving on the Museum of the City of New York board.
Manjeet Ramgotra is a Lecturer at the Department of Politics and International Studies , SOAS University of London, and serves as Admissions Tutor for the MSc Political Thought program. She holds a PhD in Political Theory from the London School of Economics (LSE) and a BA in French and Political Science from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. PhD, Political Theory, London School of Economics BA, French and Political Science, University of Saskatchewan Her research critically reinterprets republicanism across historical and postcolonial contexts, focusing on thinkers like Cicero, Machiavelli, Montesquieu, and Nehru. She explores the conservative roots of republicanism , its postcolonial revival in 20th-century republics, and interdisciplinary connections to decolonial pedagogy and democratic theory . Her recent publications analyze republicanism in India’s anti-colonial movement , Montesquieu’s Enlightenment thought , and decolonizing curricula . These works highlight intersections between political philosophy , historical analysis , and contemporary pedagogical practices . Manjeet supervises Nazam Laila , whose PhD project examines digital power and exploitation in the Bangladeshi gig economy. She actively promotes decolonising the curriculum , emphasizing inclusion of women and people of colour in knowledge construction.
Professor Igor Shparlinski is a faculty member at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) within the School of Mathematics & Statistics, holding the rank of Professor with an active research profile as evidenced by publications dated 2025. His work bridges pure number theory and cryptographic applications, maintaining international collaborations with institutions like the University of Sydney and Max Planck Institute. Research interests include: Analytic number theory (exponential/character sums) Cryptographic security (Diffie-Hellman, RSA, and pseudorandom generators) Finite field arithmetic and polynomial dynamics Arithmetic combinatorics and additive number theory Distribution of primes/smooth numbers modulo p Elliptic curve structures over finite fields His publications consistently address foundational problems with computational implications, particularly focusing on sum bounds and modular arithmetic. Recent trends (2023-2025) show intensified work on multilinear character sums, matrix statistics over finite fields, and dynamical system orbits. Key journals include Journal of Number Theory and Finite Fields and their Applications , with frequent co-authorship on exponential sum bounds and cryptographic vulnerabilities. Scientific awards: No awards, prizes, or fellowships are documented in the provided text. Advising and grants: No student listings or grant information appears in the source material. Research output suggests sustained funding but lacks explicit details.
Samuel W. Buell is the Bernard M. Fishman Professor of Law at Duke University School of Law, specializing in criminal law, corporate crime, and regulatory enforcement. His research focuses on the conceptual structure of white-collar offenses, corporate liability, and the intersection of criminal justice and regulatory systems. He is the author of the critically acclaimed book Capital Offenses: Business Crime and Punishment in America’s Corporate Age (2016) and the open-access textbook Corporate Crime: An Introduction to the Law and Its Enforcement (2021-2024 editions). Buell has testified before the U.S. Senate and Sentencing Commission and delivered lectures internationally. His extensive publications appear in top law journals, including Texas Law Review , Georgetown Law Journal , and Stanford Law Review . He is a member of the American Law Institute and has received the Department of Justice’s highest honor, the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service, twice. Education: J.D. (summa cum laude) from New York University School of Law, A.B. (magna cum laude) from Brown University. Prior Roles: Federal prosecutor (New York, Boston, Washington, Houston), Enron Task Force lead prosecutor, clerk for Judge Jack B. Weinstein, associate at Covington & Burling. His recent courses include Criminal Law , Corporate Crime , and The Presidency and Criminal Investigations . Buell actively contributes to debates on corporate criminal enforcement, fraud, and regulatory reform, with a global perspective rooted in his comparative analyses of international enforcement practices.
Christ D Richmond is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke University, specializing in radar signal processing, adaptive array processing, and statistical signal analysis. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from MIT, earned in 1996, following an M.S. from MIT (1995) and a B.S. from the University of Maryland, College Park (1990). His research focuses on advanced radar systems, including cognitive radar, parameter estimation under model misspecification, and OTFS modulation for integrated communication-radar applications. His recent work explores stochastic and deterministic clutter modeling, waveform optimization, and robust adaptive beamforming techniques. The 15 most recent articles highlight trends in radar-communications convergence, delay-Doppler estimation, and performance bounds for adaptive detection algorithms. Key themes include GLRT statistics, Capon-MVDR processing, and applications to vehicular systems and synthetic aperture radar (SAR).
Sigrun Kahl is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and Sociology at Yale University, based at 115 Prospect St, New Haven, CT 06511. She serves as co-director of the MacMillan Center Initiative on Religion, Politics, and Society and co-organizes the Yale Political Science Department's Comparative Politics Workshop. Her research investigates how long-term historical and religious factors shape modern social institutions, with core expertise in welfare state development, moral economies of poverty, and church-state boundaries in public service provision. Current book projects include Just Deserts: The Moral Economy of Welfare in Europe and the United States , which analyzes cross-national welfare systems through the lens of deservingness, and Poverty and Eternity: How Religion Shapes Assistance to the Poor , tracing how Catholic, Calvinist, and Lutheran traditions influence contemporary poverty policies. A third project examines historical roots of nonprofit sector variations in education and healthcare. Professor Kahl teaches specialized courses including Welfare States Across Nations, Religion and Politics, and Historical and Archival Methods, integrating her fieldwork across Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, the UK, and US.
Dmitry Kurakin is a Professor at the Institute of Education , HSE University, and Leading Research Fellow at the Centre for Fundamental Sociology . He has been affiliated with HSE since 2006, contributing to sociology of education, cultural sociology, and inequality studies. PhD in Theory, History and Methods of Sociology (2012, HSE University) Degree in Physics (2000, Lomonosov Moscow State University) Kurakin’s research interests span cultural sociology, social inequality, cognitive sociology, and the application of Durkheimian theories to modern societal challenges. His work explores the sacred as a catalyst for cultural dynamics, the temporal structuring of action in educational trajectories, and gender segregation in labor markets. He investigates how root metaphors and emotional markers shape societal norms and individual agency. His recent publications examine narratives in educational decision-making , vaccination behavior during the pandemic , and cosmetic surgery as ritual . These works reflect a consistent focus on cultural mechanisms and inequality reproduction within systems of education and labor. Member of the Editorial Board , American Journal of Cultural Sociology (2019) Member of the Editorial Board , Russian Sociological Review (2010) Recipient of HSE Gratitude (2020, 2022) and publication bonuses for international impact Kurakin supervises doctoral students like E. Pavlenko (2024) and M. Kotelnikov (2024), integrating cultural sociology into studies of emotional experience and reading practices . He collaborates internationally, notably with the University of Iowa and the eduLIFE project at the European University Institute.
Eram Alam serves as Assistant Professor of the History of Science at Harvard University, based in Science Center 361. Her research critically examines intersections of medicine, migration, and power within global historical frameworks, with particular focus on twentieth-century dynamics. Alam's scholarship centers on the history of medicine through lenses of globalization, race, and postcolonial theory. Her book The Care of Foreigners analyzes how Cold War-era immigration policies transformed temporary reliance on Asian physicians into a permanent US healthcare feature, revealing systemic segmentation where immigrant doctors serve vulnerable populations. Current projects include co-editing Ordering the Human: Global Science and Racial Reason (Columbia University Press) examining race as political technology in scientific knowledge production, and The Logistical Body investigating pandemic-exposed tensions between hypermobility and embodied labor. Her publication trajectory demonstrates consistent engagement with structural inequities in global health systems. Articles analyze historical roots of US dependence on foreign medical graduates, neocolonial dimensions of healthcare workforce policies, and standardization mechanisms shaping medical professionals' experiences. This body of work establishes critical connections between immigration policy frameworks, medical education systems, and health equity outcomes across transnational contexts. Regarding academic mentorship and research funding, the available documentation does not specify current advisees, doctoral committees, or externally funded research grants.
Martina Tomasella is a Researcher in Plant Physiology (BIO/04) at the Department of Life Sciences (DSV) of the Università degli Studi di Trieste. She obtained her PhD in Natural Sciences at the Technische Universität München (Germany) and specializes in drought stress responses in plants, with particular focus on xylem vulnerability to embolism, post-stress hydraulic recovery, and the role of non-structural carbohydrates in drought resilience. Currently involved in research projects such as 'Sopravvivenza e accrescimento della vegetazione su verde pensile sottile' and 'Assegnazione di Ateneo microgrants 2023/2024', Dr. Tomasella applies plant ecophysiological principles to optimize green roof irrigation management and improve Mediterranean urban vegetation sustainability . Her research contributes to understanding plant water relations through advanced techniques like synchrotron-based X-ray microtomography, combining fundamental plant physiology with applied ecological solutions. Key collaborations include working with Prof. Andrea Nardini's team on tree hydraulic failure mechanisms and participating in boards of studies for the 'Biological Sciences and Technologies' and 'Global Change Ecology and Sustainability' degree programs. Recent publications analyze fibers' role in embolism reversal , karstic bedrock water reservoirs , and grapevine drought adaptation , reflecting her expertise in plant hydraulics and climate change mitigation strategies . Her work bridges laboratory experiments with field applications, focusing on nature-based solutions for urban environments and agricultural systems.
TUĞBA SERİN KALAY is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Dentistry, Karadeniz Technical University , Turkey. She has been affiliated with the Department of Clinical Sciences, Restorative Dentistry since 2007, transitioning from Research Assistant to her current role. Academic Positions: 2023–Present: Associate Professor 2017–2023: Assistant Professor 2014–2017: Research Assistant (PhD) 2007–2014: Research Assistant Managerial Roles: 2024–Present: Head of Department 2021–Present: Program Accreditation Committee Member 2021–Present: Postgraduate Education Commissioner Research Interests focus on Restorative Dentistry , including: Dental materials testing (CAD/CAM blocks, composites, adhesives) Surface treatments and dentin bonding Effect of bleaching agents on dental materials Dental wear/fracture resistance Dentin hypersensitivity and laser applications Optical properties of dental composites Publication Trends (2016–2022) emphasize Dentistry and Materials Science , with recurring themes in CAD/CAM materials , dentin bonding , bleaching effects , fracture resistance , and surface treatments . Education : 2007–2014: Doctorate in Restorative Dentistry, Karadeniz Technical University 2001–2006: Undergraduate in Dentistry, Selçuk University Books Authored (2019–2022): 2022: Fiber-Reinforced Dental Composites 2020: Wear Behavior of Dental Tissues and Materials 2019: Dental Erosion , Dental CAD/CAM Systems
Monika Maurhofer is a Professor at the Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich , specializing in multitrophic interactions within the rhizosphere. Her research bridges plant pathology, microbial ecology, and biological control of plant diseases and insect pests. 1988: Dipl. sc. nat., ETH Zurich 1993: Dr. sc. nat., ETH Zurich Research focuses on biocontrol pseudomonads and their molecular interactions with plants, fungi, and insects. Key projects include: Understanding Pseudomonas protegens mechanisms in rhizosphere colonization Comparative genomics of entomopathogenic bacteria Developing disease-suppressive compost diagnostics Investigating microbial consortia for pest control 2024-2025 publications highlight her work on entomopathogenic pseudomonads and nematode-bacteria symbiosis , with applications in sustainable agriculture. She received the Golden Owl Award for teaching excellence in 2014 and 2017. Current collaborations include Syngenta Crop Protection and interdisciplinary teams at University of Zurich and University of Basel.
Dan Shao is an Associate Professor and current Department Head (since January 1, 2024) in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. She holds additional affiliations with the Gender and Women Studies Department, Women & Gender in Global Perspectives Program, Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies, and Department of History. Her educational background includes a PhD in History from the University of California Santa Barbara and an LLM from the College of Law at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Shao's research focuses on the historical roots of contemporary problems concerning boundaries and borders in Chinese society, with special attention to marginalized peoples and places. Her work bridges Asia-based and Europe/U.S.-based studies on social boundaries and legal borders, traversing conventional historical distinctions between 'modern' and 'pre-modern' periods as well as national borders defining China. She examines cultures of law in China, legal history, nationality law, gender studies, medical history of ethics and law, borderland studies, ethnic groups in China, and U.S.-East Asia relationships. Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on medical history within political contexts, borderland studies, and legal history, particularly examining how state power interacts with medical practice and border definitions throughout Chinese history. Conrad Humanities Scholar Award (2012-2016) CAS Resident Associate (2013-2014) IPRH Fellowship, UIUC (2011-2012) Beckman Fellowship, Center for Advanced Studies, UIUC (2009-2010) An-Wang postdoctoral fellowship, Fairbank Center for East Asian Research, Harvard University (2003-2004) Chancellor's Call to Action to Address Racism & Social Injustice Research Program grant (2022-2023) Andrew Mellon New Directions Fellowship (2012-2015) Dr. Shao has directed both the Graduate Program (2020-2021) and Undergraduate Program (2017-2020) in EALC and served as a faculty senator (2015-2017). She leads several significant research projects including 'Cross-cultural Understanding of Power Harassment' and 'Yellow Peril Redux: American Cultural Responses to Economic Rise of Japan and China.' Her grant portfolio includes substantial funding from the Chancellor's Call to Action program, Illinois Global Institute, Title VI Grants, and Andrew Mellon New Directions Grants. She mentors numerous graduate students as evidenced by blog posts announcing new graduate students joining her research group and celebrating their achievements. Dr. Shao directs the 'Yellow Peril Redux' research group and has been actively involved in multiple interdisciplinary initiatives including the INTERSECT-Cultures of Law in Global Contexts project and the Center for Advanced Studies Initiative on Cultures of Law in Global Contexts.
József Garay is a Senior Research Fellow at the ELTE-MTA Theoretical Biology and Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, part of the Department of Plant Systematics, Ecology and Theoretical Biology at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Hungary. His research spans evolutionary biology, mathematical ecology, and game theory, with a particular focus on evolutionary stable strategies and their applications to biological systems. Dr. Garay received his M.Sc. in Biology from Eötvös University (1981-1986), followed by postgraduate studies in Mathematics (1985-1989). He completed his PhD at the Hungarian Academy of Science in 2004, after doctoral studies in the Department of Plant Taxonomy and Ecology (1990-1994) and a summer school on Evolutionary Models of Cooperation in Seewiesen, Germany (1994). Garay's research interests center on evolutionary game theory and its applications to biological systems. He has made significant contributions to understanding evolutionarily stable strategies (ESS) in sexual populations, the evolutionary roots of morality, and the mathematical foundations of population dynamics. His work bridges theoretical mathematics with practical ecological applications, particularly in areas like optimal foraging, habitat selection, and the evolution of cooperation. A key aspect of his research involves extending classical game theory concepts to more complex biological scenarios, including multi-species systems and time-constrained evolutionary processes. His work on the evolutionary stability of self-sacrificing behavior and the relationship between individual fitness and group survival has provided important insights into the evolution of altruism and social behavior. Analysis of Garay's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on evolutionary game theory applied to biological systems, with increasing sophistication in modeling approaches. His work has evolved from foundational studies on evolutionarily stable allele distributions (ESAD) to more complex applications in areas like cannibalism dynamics, predator-prey interactions, and kin selection. There's a clear trajectory toward more integrative models that combine mathematical rigor with biological realism, often addressing questions at the intersection of evolutionary theory, ecology, and behavior. Notably, his research increasingly incorporates mathematical modeling techniques to analyze complex ecological phenomena, demonstrating the power of theoretical approaches to address empirical biological questions. Dr. Garay has received several prestigious awards and fellowships throughout his career: Juhász-Nagy Pál junior fellowship at Collegium Budapest Institute for Advanced Study (1999-2000) NATO research fellowship at Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Canada (2002) Research fellowship at Konrad Lorenz Institute, Austria (2005) Bolyai János fellowship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (2006-2008) While specific information about his advising activities is limited in the provided materials, Garay's extensive publication record spanning over three decades suggests he has likely mentored numerous graduate students and early-career researchers. His collaborations with colleagues like Zoltán Varga, Manuel Gámez, and Tomás Cabello indicate a strong network of research partnerships. Garay has secured multiple research grants supporting his work, including the Bolyai fellowship and international research opportunities that have enabled him to extend his theoretical models to practical ecological applications. His work on ecological monitoring systems demonstrates how theoretical frameworks can be applied to real-world environmental challenges. Garay is a core member of the HAS Theoretical Biology Group at Eötvös Loránd University, where he contributes to a vibrant research environment focused on mathematical approaches to biological problems. His work intersects with several research teams studying evolutionary ecology, population dynamics, and mathematical biology, creating opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration on complex biological questions that require both theoretical insight and empirical validation. The group's research has significant implications for understanding fundamental biological processes and developing more effective conservation and management strategies.
Daniel Barreto is a Professor at Edinburgh Napier University , specializing in Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations and soil mechanics . His research emphasizes particle shape and size distribution effects on granular material behavior, with applications in permeability estimation, liquefaction mitigation, and nature-inspired ground engineering. Education : PhD in Soil Mechanics (Imperial College London, 2010), MSc in Soil Mechanics and Engineering Seismology (Imperial, 2005), Civil Engineering (Universidad de los Andes, 2003). Research : Focuses on DEM, grading entropy theory, and particle-scale interactions in sand-rubber mixtures, with implications for seismic isolation and sustainable soil stabilization. Awards : Royal Academy of Engineering Leverhulme Trust Fellowship COST Action Chair for Open Network on DEM Simulations (ON-DEM) Emeritus Member of Royal Society of Edinburgh Young Academy of Scotland Publications : Pioneering studies on DEM-based critical state behavior, particle breakage quantification, and permeability models for granular soils, with a 2023 Transportation Geotechnics paper on hydraulic radius applications. Collaborations : Leads ON-DEM, a global network advancing open-source DEM tools, and contributes to interdisciplinary projects involving synthetic root mimics and microbial soil interactions.
