Kathleen E. Powers is an Associate Professor in the Department of Government at Dartmouth College and Faculty Coordinator of the War & Peace Fellows Program at the Dickey Center for International Understanding. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from The Ohio State University and a B.S. in Political Science and Psychology from Arizona State University. Her research focuses on political psychology, foreign policy, and international security, particularly examining how nationalism and values shape public opinion and conflict motives. Her notable works include the book Nationalisms in International Politics (Princeton University Press, 2022), which won the 2023 David O. Sears Award, and peer-reviewed articles in journals like American Journal of Political Science and International Studies Quarterly . Her research explores themes such as nationalism’s impact on conflict, the psychological underpinnings of coercion, and fairness in international politics. Powers teaches courses on international politics, political psychology, and foreign policy public opinion. She has also served as a visiting scholar at Harvard University and held affiliations with institutions like the Program in Quantitative Social Science.
Ronald E. Rice is a Distinguished Professor and Arthur N. Rupe Endowed Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has held visiting positions at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and the University of Amsterdam. His research focuses on environmental communication, public communication campaigns, organizational theory, and digital technology impacts. He has authored/co-authored numerous books, including the Oxford Handbook of Digital Technology and Society . Education: Columbia University (B.A., English Literature, 1971), Stanford University (M.A. and Ph.D., Communication Research, 1978/1982). Professional roles include Department Chair at UCSB (2013–2015), Co-Director of the Carsey-Wolf Center, and President of the International Communication Association (2006–2007). Research interests span environmental communication, digital divide analysis, and organizational communication. Recent work examines media multitasking, online misinformation, and pro-environmental behavior drivers. Over 230 refereed articles and book chapters highlight his contributions to media effects and technology studies. Notable awards include the Honorary Doctorate from Université de Montréal (2010), ICA Fellowship, and Fulbright Scholarships. His research integrates interdisciplinary methods, emphasizing social networks, media affordances, and policy implications. Advising and grants include leadership in public health communication campaigns and environmental initiatives. Collaborations span global institutions, reflecting his commitment to applied research in digital society challenges.
Michał Pałasz, PhD, is an Associate Professor at Jagiellonian University's Faculty of Management and Social Communication, Institute of Culture. His research focuses on management in the Anthropocene, posthumanism, ecological humanities, and climate policy. He serves as a European Climate Pact Ambassador, advocating for socio-environmental change through academic and community engagement. His research interests include exploring non-human agency, degrowth, and critical management studies. He has published extensively on climate action, cultural management, and digital culture, with notable works like Culture Management Must Fuel Socioenvironmental Change (2024) and Language Affects Climate (2024). His work bridges theory and practice, emphasizing inclusive and planetary-bound solutions. Pałasz has collaborated on projects such as Tick-tock, the End of the World (2022), examining multidisciplinary responses to the climate crisis. His academic contributions span journal articles, edited books, and conference presentations, often addressing the intersection of management, culture, and environmental sustainability. He teaches courses on posthumanistic management and climate policy, integrating critical perspectives into education. His work highlights the urgency of rethinking management practices to address polycrisis challenges, advocating for more-than-human-centered approaches.
Santiago Segarra is the W. M. Rice Trustee Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University, with courtesy appointments in Computer Science and Statistics. He joined Rice in 2018 and collaborates with Microsoft Research since 2022. His expertise spans network theory, machine learning, graph signal processing, and optimization. Segarra earned his B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering from ITBA (2011), and M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical and Systems Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania (2014-2016), followed by a postdoc at MIT (2016-2018). Research Focus: His work integrates algebraic topology, signal processing, and machine learning to analyze networked systems. Key areas include social/technological network clustering, graph-based data analysis, and applications in neuroscience and communication networks. Recent projects address fair graph learning, distributed GNN training, and network topology inference. Awards: Penn’s Wolf Award for Best Dissertation (2017), Argentine National Engineering Honors (2011), and ITBA’s Best Thesis Award (2011). Grants/Sponsors: Supported by NSF, ONR, and industry collaborations. Labs/Groups: Leads the Rice Wireless group and collaborates with Microsoft Research on applied network science. Advises students in interdisciplinary research combining theory and real-world applications.
Linda Li is an LSE Fellow (Research Fellow) in the Department of Methodology at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), specializing in advanced quantitative methods and computational social science research. Education PhD in Social Data Science, Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford Research Interests Impact of automated agents on human behavior and network dynamics in online activism AI's societal impact Political communications Civic politics participation Social network analysis Computational social science methods Science of science Social data science methodologies Teaching & Expertise Linda teaches diverse courses in research design, statistics, programming, and political sociology, emphasizing advanced quantitative methods for students from varied backgrounds. Her technical proficiency includes causal inference and digital ethnography, with fluency in English and Mandarin supporting cross-cultural research collaboration.
Filippo Carlo Wezel is a Full Professor of Organization and Management at the Faculty of Economics of Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), where he also serves as Director of the Institute of Management and Organisation. He holds additional research affiliations as a Visiting Research Professor at emlyon Business School (France) and a Research Fellow at Judge Business School, University of Cambridge. He plays a significant editorial role as Senior Editor at Organization Studies and serves on the editorial review boards of Organization Science , Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal , Strategic Organization , and the Advisory Board of Research in the Sociology of Organizations . His educational background includes a PhD in Management from the University of Bologna. Prior to joining USI in 2009, he held academic positions at the University of Groningen (post-doctoral researcher) and Tilburg University (Assistant and Associate Professor). He has also been a visiting scholar at leading institutions including Wharton, MIT, Columbia, Duke, London Business School, LSE, and Hong Kong University. His research centers on organizational identity, managerial and inter-firm mobility, entrepreneurship, and institutional theory. His recent publications explore identity hybridization in political parties, category dynamics in creative industries, historical organizational practices in colonial firms, and stigma in emerging markets. He frequently employs longitudinal, historical, and experimental methodologies, often bridging sociology and management. The most recent articles (2020–2025) reflect a strong trajectory in the sociology of organizations, with recurring themes of identity, categorization, legitimacy, and mobility. He investigates how social evaluations, historical constraints, and institutional environments shape organizational behavior and strategic positioning. His work spans diverse contexts—from 18th-century Lyon silk traders to modern ICT firms and medical marijuana markets—demonstrating a broad empirical and theoretical reach. Scientific Honors and Editorial Roles: Senior Editor, Organization Studies Editorial Review Board, Organization Science Editorial Review Board, Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal Editorial Review Board, Strategic Organization Advisory Board, Research in the Sociology of Organizations He has extensive experience in teaching organizational theory and behavior at undergraduate, master’s, PhD, and executive levels. His research has been published in top-tier journals such as Administrative Science Quarterly , American Sociological Review , Academy of Management Journal , and Strategic Management Journal . He leads a vibrant research agenda at USI, supported by a broad international network, though specific grants and funded projects are not detailed in the provided text. He is also involved in mentoring students and shaping the next generation of organizational scholars, though a list of advisees is not available. Filippo Carlo Wezel is a key figure in the European organizational studies community, leading the Institute of Management and Organisation at USI and fostering interdisciplinary dialogue between organization theory and strategy. His work combines deep historical insight with contemporary theoretical innovation, contributing significantly to our understanding of how organizations and careers evolve under institutional and social pressures.
Seongtae Kim is an Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Management at Aalto University School of Business. He joined Aalto in 2019 after postdoctoral research at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich. His PhD in Supply Chain Management was obtained from the University of Hull’s Logistics Institute (2013–2016). His research focuses on supply chain sustainability, risks, complex networks, and digital transformation. Key projects include a four-year Academy of Finland-funded initiative on supply chain restructuring amid disruptions. He serves as an associate editor for the International Journal of Operations and Production Management and editorial board member for Decision Sciences and Journal of Supply Chain Management , earning review service awards. His work emphasizes interdisciplinary connections between environmental, social, and governance issues in global supply chains. Research awards include the JSCM Best Paper Award (2020) and Chris Voss Best Paper Award (2022). Current grants involve analyzing supply chain resilience during megadisruptions. His articles span topics like ethical sourcing, shareholder value effects of disruptions, and green practices in multi-tier networks. He advocates for integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into sustainable operations, addressing paradoxes in lean manufacturing and sustainability performance.
Holger Straßheim is Professor of Political Sociology at Bielefeld University, affiliated with the Faculty of Sociology, Department 4 – Politics and Society. He also holds leadership roles as co-director of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies of Science (ISOS) and the Institute for World Society Studies, and is an elected member of the university’s Senate. He coordinates the MA program in Political Communication and serves on multiple examination and ethics committees. University: Bielefeld University School: Faculty of Sociology Department: Department 4 – Politics and Society Research Institutes: ISOS, Institute for World Society Studies Administrative Roles: Program Coordinator MA Political Communication, Member of BA/MA Examination Boards, Habilitation Committee His research centers on the interplay between science and politics, particularly the role of expertise and evidence in public policy. Key areas include behavioral public policy, climate and consumer policy, Arctic geopolitics, and the temporal dimensions of governance. He investigates how knowledge is produced, legitimized, and used in policy-making across transnational contexts. The most recent publications reflect a strong focus on evidence cultures, ethical expertise in crises, and the global spread of behavioral governance. These works analyze how expert advice functions under uncertainty, the paradoxes of evidence-based policy, and the institutionalization of ethical guidance during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. The research often employs comparative and interdisciplinary methods, engaging with science and technology studies, political sociology, and policy analysis. Best Dissertation Award, University of Tübingen (2011) Visiting Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School (2014) Visiting Research Fellow, Collège d’études mondiales, Paris (2018) Visiting Research Fellow, University of Bologna (2022) Straßheim has supervised and advised in various research projects and PhD initiatives, particularly through his leadership in DFG and ESRC-funded programs. He has secured significant third-party funding, including projects on Arctic knowledge co-production and ethics in crisis governance. He is actively involved in academic service, reviewing for major journals and research councils, and shaping policy discourse through editorial roles in Critical Policy Studies and the Advances in Critical Policy Analysis book series. He leads the Straßheim Research Group, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration on science-policy interfaces. He is a key figure in research networks such as the Science and Democracy Network (Harvard) and the International Arctic Science Committee. His work bridges academic inquiry with real-world policy challenges, emphasizing democratic accountability, epistemic pluralism, and the ethical dimensions of expertise.
Truong Q. Nguyen is a Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), affiliated with the Jacobs School of Engineering. He holds positions at the Center for Wireless Communications and the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology. His research focuses on image/video processing, wavelets, 3D video technology, and applications in healthcare and robotics. He has authored influential textbooks like Wavelets & Filter Banks and pioneered low-power video processing algorithms for mobile devices. Nguyen earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology (1985–1989). He held roles at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and Boston University before joining UCSD in 1998. His honors include the IEEE Signal Processing Paper Award (1992), NSF Career Award (1995), IEEE Fellow (2005), and UCSD’s Distinguished Teaching Award (2019). His research interests span 3D video processing, machine learning for health monitoring, and biomedical imaging. Notable contributions include wavelet-based compression techniques and AI-driven medical image analysis. He leads the UCSD Video Processing Lab, exploring computer vision, robotics, and generative AI applications. Nguyen is committed to educational innovation, co-creating programs like the Hands-on Curriculum, Summer Research Internship Program (SRIP), and Project-in-a-Box (PIB) for K-12 students. Nguyen’s work bridges academia and industry, with patents in wavelet design and signal analysis. Recent projects include NSF-funded initiatives to develop inclusive engineering curricula and collaborate on graduate pathways programs through the Inclusive Engineering Consortium (IEC).
David R. Lee is an International Professor at the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University. He holds a BA from Amherst College (1972), MA and PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1980/1981). His research bridges economic development, agriculture, and environmental sustainability, focusing on food security, climate change impacts, and policy interventions. He has advised global institutions like the World Bank, FAO, and USAID, and received the World Bank Green Award twice (2007, 2011). Education: PhD in Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1981) MA in Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1980) BA in Economics, Amherst College (1972) Research Interests: Dr. Lee explores how economic policies can enhance sustainable agriculture while mitigating environmental degradation. His work emphasizes climate-smart practices, technology diffusion among smallholders, and gender dynamics in resource use. Recent studies include analyzing religious networks' role in information sharing and bioenergy systems' climate mitigation potential. Awards: World Bank Green Award (2007, 2011) Teaching & Advising: Teaches International Trade and Finance and Natural Resources and Economic Development . Mentors graduate students in development economics. No specific grants listed, but extensive consultancy work with global institutions reflects applied research impact. Global Engagement: Conducted research in ~30 countries across Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and beyond. Served as visiting scholar at FAO, USDA, and universities in Italy, Netherlands, Venezuela, and Honduras.
Prof. Dr. Sabine C. Koch is a Professor of Dance and Movement Therapy at Alanus Hochschule Alfter and Head of the Research Institute for Creative Arts Therapies (RIArT). She holds a habilitation and multiple professorships, including at SRH Hochschule Heidelberg (2012–present) and has led the Alanus Research Institute since 2015. Her work focuses on embodiment theory, applying it to creative arts therapies such as dance, theater, and art to address mental and physical health challenges. Her education includes a Diplom in Psychology from Heidelberg University (1999) and a PhD (2003) and Habilitation (2009) from Heidelberg. She has led major projects like the BMBF-funded 'Körpersprache' (2009–2011), the EU TESIS project (2011–2015), and the Heidelberg Center for Motion Research (2016–2022). Awards include ADTA Research Awards (2007, 2013, 2014, 2023) and a Fulbright Scholarship (1996). Research interests span embodiment theory, enaction, systems theory, and their application in therapies. Her work emphasizes the role of movement in mental health, including studies on autism, schizophrenia, oncology, and refugee trauma. She collaborates internationally, including with institutions in Chile, Slovenia, and France. Her recent articles explore drama therapy for flood-affected children, dance therapy for dementia patients, and embodied approaches to experience studies. Grants and networks include the DFG-funded EmbodiNet (2024–2026) and a PhD program in Creative Arts Therapies with Witten/Herdecke University. Koch’s labs and teams focus on interdisciplinary motion research and clinical applications of movement therapies. She has advised numerous studies on therapeutic efficacy and co-authored over 200 peer-reviewed articles and books, including 'The Routledge International Handbook of Embodied Perspectives in Psychotherapy' (2019).
Zoran Kalinic serves as an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Economics, University of Kragujevac, where he teaches Electronic Business since October 2012. Previously, he worked at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Kragujevac from 1996 to 2005, and joined the Faculty of Economics in February 2005 as an assistant in Information Systems, later teaching Information Technology and Electronic Business from 2009 onward. Doctorate (2012): Faculty of Engineering, University of Kragujevac, specializing in information systems development and mobile communications Postgraduate studies: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Kragujevac (completed with average grade of 10) Bachelor's degree: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Kragujevac (1996, average grade 9.43) Professor Kalinic's research focuses on digital transformation and its economic implications, with particular expertise in mobile commerce, electronic business systems, digital payment technologies, and consumer behavior in online environments. His work frequently employs advanced analytical methods including artificial neural networks, structural equation modeling, and hybrid analytical approaches to investigate technology adoption patterns and digital marketplace dynamics. He has conducted extensive research on Serbian digital markets, including studies on mobile payment systems, e-commerce development barriers, and real estate price prediction using AI techniques. His publication record demonstrates a clear progression from foundational technology acceptance research toward more complex analyses of digital ecosystems, with recent work examining influencer marketing effects on TikTok, biometric payment systems, and gig economy measurement in Serbia. The integration of artificial intelligence methodologies with traditional consumer behavior theories represents a distinctive feature of his scholarly approach. Professor Kalinic maintains active international academic engagement through short study visits to institutions including the University of Udine, Vienna University of Economics, University of Maribor, Krakow University of Economics, Coventry University, Polytechnic of Turin, and Comenius University in Bratislava. He spent six weeks at the University of Maribor in 2007 through a Tempus IMG grant and served as a visiting lecturer at the Krakow University of Economics in 2012. Author/co-author of over 60 papers in international and domestic journals and conferences Participant in multiple scientific research and professional projects Recipient of academic awards during studies from University, Faculty, Ministry of Science and Technology of Serbia, Embassy of Norway, WUS-Austria, Zastava-Yugo Automobiles, and Kragujevac City Assembly His professional development includes a month-long visit to the Faculty of Informatics at the University of the Basque Country in San Sebastian (2004) and ongoing collaboration with regional and European academic institutions. Professor Kalinic's research bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications in the Serbian and Western Balkan digital economy context.
Paolo Landoni is a Full Professor at the Department of Management and Production Engineering (DIGEP) within the College of Management and Production Engineering at Politecnico di Torino. His research focuses on entrepreneurship, business model innovation, business incubators/accelerators, sustainability, and social impact startups. He serves as Scientific Director/Responsible for numerous EU-funded and commercial research projects including SEED2SCALE, ESSENTIAL, and Open Sustainable Innovation. Key research areas: Entrepreneurship, Business Model Innovation, Incubators, Sustainability Supervises PhD students in topics spanning sustainable procurement, social startups, and innovation ecosystems Recipient of EU Horizon 2020 and MSCA funding Active in teaching courses on Entrepreneurship since 2019/20 His recent publications analyze sustainable public procurement, financial sustainability in microfinance, blockchain for social good, and incubator effectiveness. He collaborates with institutions like the LINKS Foundation and consults for corporate innovation projects.
Jeremy Blackburn is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Binghamton University. He co-founded the International Data-driven Research for Advanced Modeling and Analysis Lab ( iDRAMA Lab ) and leads its Binghamton satellite. His research focuses on large-scale measurement and analysis of social media, particularly the behavior of malicious actors and disinformation campaigns.
Baris Ata is the Sigmund E. Edelstone Distinguished Service Professor of Operations Management at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. His work bridges theoretical operations management with practical applications, focusing on dynamic decision-making under uncertainty. Research Interests Ata’s research spans stochastic networks, manufacturing/service operations, healthcare delivery, and social sector innovation. Recent projects address high-dimensional stochastic control, xenotransplantation candidate selection, criminal justice logistics, and last-mile delivery challenges in Africa. Scientific Awards Best Paper in Service Science Award, INFORMS (2009) William Pierskalla Best Paper Award, INFORMS (2015) Wickham Skinner Best Paper Award, POMS (2019) Manufacturing and Service Operations Management Young Scholar Prize, INFORMS (2015) Emory Williams MBA Teaching Award (2021) Recent Publications Ata’s recent work includes topics in dynamic pricing, stochastic control, and healthcare logistics. His papers examine congestion-based pricing strategies, equilibrium analysis in queues, and policy design for organ transplantation. Broad disciplines include operations management, stochastic modeling, and healthcare analytics.
