Kevin Manaugh is an Associate Professor at McGill University, specializing in Urban Planning with a focus on sustainable transportation and spatial justice. His research examines how decision-making processes in urban development balance environmental, economic, and social equity goals, particularly through transport systems. He holds a PhD in Urban Planning from McGill University (2013). His key research interests include integrating social equity into land use policies, analyzing accessibility impacts on socioeconomically diverse populations, and studying behavior change related to sustainable transportation. Current projects explore equitable transit accessibility, responses to local mobility policies, and health/well-being effects of sustainable transport choices. Manaugh has published extensively on transportation equity, urban form analysis, and GIS applications. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical policy implementation, emphasizing participatory approaches to urban planning. Notable contributions include studies on pandemic street reallocation equity and cycling infrastructure prioritization strategies. His research has been supported by interdisciplinary collaborations and applied to Canadian urban contexts. Despite prolific output, Manaugh maintains an active engagement with public discourse on urban mobility challenges and equitable urban futures.
Ming Hu is a Professor and University of Toronto Distinguished Professor of Business Operations and Analytics at Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. He serves as Area Coordinator for the Operations Management & Statistics Area and holds editorial leadership roles including Editor-in-Chief of Naval Research Logistics and Associate Editor for multiple top journals. MS in Applied Mathematics, Brown University (2003) PhD in Operations Research, Columbia University (2009) His research focuses on sharing economy , social operations , and platform economics , examining how operational decisions can maximize societal benefit. Key areas include crowdfunding , two-sided markets , crowdsourcing , and group buying , with applications to DEI , sustainability , and AI-empowered operations . Recent work analyzes spatial operations in delivery systems, algorithmic fairness , and climate change adaptation in agricultural supply chains. His publications span top journals like Management Science and Operations Research , covering topics from blockchain traceability to quantum-inspired optimization . Scientific recognitions include: Wickham Skinner Early-Career Research Award (2016) Best Operations Management Paper in Management Science (2017) 2018 Poets & Quants Best 40 Under 40 MBA Professors As an Amazon Scholar (2022–) and Chair of Chain Analytics Institute (2023–), he bridges academic research with industry applications in AI-driven logistics and sustainable operations.
Mark Lewis is the Kennedy Chair in Mathematical Biology at the University of Victoria, holding joint appointments in the Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and Biology. His research focuses on spatial ecology and mathematical modeling, addressing ecological challenges such as animal movement, invasive species, and disease dynamics. Lewis earned his D.Phil. in Mathematical Biology from the University of Oxford and has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society UK. His work integrates mathematical analysis, field studies, and interdisciplinary approaches to solve ecological problems. Current projects include modeling polar bear populations, cyanobacteria dynamics, and the impact of climate change on wildlife. Lewis supervises students across both UVic and his former University of Alberta lab. Education: D.Phil. in Mathematics (Mathematical Biology), University of Oxford Awards: Royal Society Fellowship, CRM-Fields-PIMS Prize, and Okubo Prize Key Research Areas: Animal movement modeling, aquatic ecology, wildlife disease, and invasive species management Publications highlight his contributions to understanding disease spread, parasite dynamics, and ecological responses to environmental changes. Lewis collaborates widely, applying mathematical tools to real-world conservation and health challenges.
Stephen Billings is an Associate Professor of Finance at the Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado Boulder, where he holds the Global Real Estate Capital Markets Chair position. He serves as the faculty director of the MS in Real Estate program and research director for the CU Real Estate Center. His work spans multiple research centers including the Center for Research on Consumer Financial Decision Making and the Michael A. Klump Center for Real Estate. Billings received his PhD in Economics from the University of Colorado, a MS in urban planning from the University of North Carolina, and a BS in economics from Georgetown University. Prior to joining CU Boulder in 2016, he was faculty at the University of North Carolina Charlotte with appointments in both economics and public policy, where he also served as faculty director for the real estate center. His research focuses on the intersection of housing, schools, neighborhoods and crime, addressing critical policy issues including the impact of public investment in light-rail transit on neighborhoods, school segregation's influence on academic achievement and crime, neighborhood gentrification causes, lead-based paint in low-income housing, and the effects of sea level rise and natural disasters on neighborhood sorting and household finances. Billings employs sophisticated analysis of large micro-datasets with studies based on data and policies in Charlotte, NC and Denver, CO. His work connects urban economics with public policy, demonstrating how neighborhood environments shape individual outcomes across multiple dimensions. Billings' recent publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on neighborhood effects, school choice impacts, crime economics, and housing market dynamics. His work frequently examines the intersection of race, housing, and economic outcomes, with particular attention to policy implications. He has developed innovative methodological approaches to studying residential amenities and neighborhood spillovers, with increasing attention to climate change impacts on housing markets. His research appears in top journals including The Quarterly Journal of Economics, American Economic Review: Insights, and Journal of Urban Economics. As an educator, Billings teaches undergraduate and masters classes in real estate finance and economics, as well as doctoral and masters level courses on cost-benefit analysis and statistical methods. He has extensive consulting experience conducting economic impact studies, including assessments of North Carolina's public higher education system, affordable housing needs in Colorado communities, and the economic effects of marijuana legalization on property markets. His practical policy work complements his academic research, creating a bridge between theoretical insights and real-world applications. Billings leads significant research initiatives through the CU Real Estate Center, where he directs studies examining the impact of business improvement districts and other urban development policies. His work bridges academic research with practical policy applications, making substantial contributions to our understanding of how housing, education, and neighborhood environments shape individual outcomes and community development. His December 2023 memo on the HUD Officer Next Door Program exemplifies his engagement with current housing policy issues.
T. Donna Chen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Virginia. Her research focuses on sustainable transportation systems, transportation economics, travel demand modeling, and crash safety. Ph.D., Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Austin (2015) M.E., Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington (2008) B.S., Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University (2005) Her work explores the impacts of new vehicle technologies on traveler behavior and the environment, with an emphasis on modeling shared autonomous electric vehicle operations, pricing schemes, and life-cycle emissions. She also investigates spatial patterns of electric vehicle adoption and roadway safety for cyclists. Recent publications highlight her contributions to transportation electrification, fleet management, and safety analysis. Key themes include sustainability , autonomous systems , economic modeling , and urban mobility . American Society of Civil Engineers ExCEEd Fellow (2017) NSF IGERT Fellow (2013-2015) FHWA Eisenhower Fellow (2012-2013) Dr. Chen teaches courses on transportation infrastructure design and economics. Her funded projects include research on green vehicle adoption, connected vehicle planning, and dynamic tolling frameworks. She is affiliated with the Transportation Research Board, ASCE TD&I, ITS America, ITE, and Women’s Transportation Seminar.
Moshe E. Ben-Akiva is the Edmund K Turner Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), affiliated with the School of Engineering and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He holds a B.S. from Technion-Israel Institute of Technology (1968), and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in transportation systems from MIT (1971, 1973). His research focuses on transportation systems analysis, intelligent transportation systems, demand modeling, econometrics, and infrastructure management. He has been recognized with prestigious awards, including election to the National Academy of Engineering (2025) for contributions to transportation systems modeling and demand analysis. His work spans theoretical and applied domains, including agent-based microsimulation for freight logistics, tradable credit schemes for congestion management, and behavioral dimensions of transport decarbonization. Ben-Akiva collaborates with industry and policymakers to design sustainable mobility solutions. His notable publications include foundational texts on discrete choice analysis and stated preference elicitation. He advises on transportation policy, urban planning, and emerging mobility technologies such as automated vehicles and urban air mobility. Current research explores impacts of automated mobility-on-demand systems, real-time tolling strategies, and e-commerce delivery demand modeling. His team develops tools like SimMobility Freight, an agent-based urban freight simulator. He remains active in teaching, focusing on demand modeling and econometrics courses at MIT.
John P. O'Doherty serves as the Fletcher Jones Professor of Decision Neuroscience within Caltech's Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, holding continuous faculty appointments since 2004 (Assistant Professor 2004-07, Associate Professor 2007-09, Professor 2009-present, Fletcher Jones Professor 2021-present). He previously directed the Caltech Brain Imaging Center (2013-17) and maintains affiliations with the T&C Chen Center for Social and Decision Neuroscience. His educational background includes a B.A. from University of Dublin, Trinity College (1996) and D.Phil. from University of Oxford (2000). His research focuses on computational and neural mechanisms of reward-based learning and decision-making , employing fMRI, intracranial recordings, and mathematical modeling to investigate how the brain solves complex decision problems through evolutionarily conserved algorithms. Key areas include Reinforcement learning systems (model-based/model-free arbitration) Observational and social learning mechanisms Neural representation of value, risk, and uncertainty Computational phenotyping of mental disorders Temporal dynamics of goal persistence Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications reveals dominant trends in computational psychiatry (problem gambling, autism traits), hierarchical decision-making, and neuroeconomic modeling of social behavior. His work consistently integrates cross-species computational frameworks with human neuroimaging to identify transdiagnostic mechanisms. While specific awards beyond his endowed professorship aren't detailed, his leadership as Brain Imaging Center Director and prolific high-impact publications demonstrate significant recognition. Current advising includes graduate researcher Sneha Aenugu on goal-persistence projects, with administrative support from Mary A. Martin (mmartin@caltech.edu). His active research program continues to pioneer computational approaches to understanding decision pathologies.
Dr. Edward Wei is a Research Fellow at the University of Sydney Business School's Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies (ITLS), where he has been since 2018. His work focuses on transport modeling, urban mobility, and policy analysis, with an emphasis on post-pandemic commuting patterns and sustainable transport initiatives. He holds a PhD from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), an MBus from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), and a BEc from UIBE in China. Dr. Wei's research explores the intersection of work arrangements (e.g., hybrid work, flexi-time) and their impacts on transportation demand, urban planning, and environmental sustainability. His recent projects include developing state-wide transport models, analyzing micro-mobility adoption, and assessing the role of non-traditional mobility service providers in MaaS frameworks. Key areas of expertise include discrete choice modeling, transport demand forecasting, and policy evaluation. His publications span over 30 peer-reviewed articles, with recent contributions emphasizing post-pandemic commuting behavior, zero-emission truck transitions, and sustainable university travel strategies. His academic contributions bridge theoretical transport economics with practical policy applications, addressing challenges such as car tolling regimes, public transport patronage optimization, and the integration of remote work patterns into urban planning frameworks.
Dr. Ian Yi Han is an Assistant Professor at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore (NUS), and Co-Director of the Center for Health Intervention and Policy Evaluation Research (HIPER). His research focuses on evaluating community-based health interventions, telehealth programs, and the impact of built environments on health behaviors. He holds a Ph.D. in Behavioral Nutrition from Columbia University, an M.A. in Psychology in Education, and a B.Sc. in Neural Science & Psychology from New York University. Key research areas include programme evaluation, population health, health services research, and dietary behaviors. He explores how interventions can improve patient experiences and population health outcomes, particularly through telemedicine and lifestyle modifications. His work has been published in journals like npj Digital Medicine, Metabolism, and the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. Notable projects include studies on blood pressure telemonitoring, diabetes management during the pandemic, and supermarket intervention strategies for obesity prevention. Dr. Han has contributed to policy initiatives through roles such as Senior Research Fellow at the National University Health System and Lecturer at Columbia University. He advises on primary care research and collaborates on global health projects, emphasizing interdisciplinary solutions to public health challenges.
Nebiyou Tilahun is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Urban Planning and Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), within the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs (CUPPA). He leads the Mobility Urban Systems and Equity Lab , focusing on equitable transportation solutions. His roles include teaching courses such as Transportation Planning Methods, Spatial Statistics, and Plan Making Studio. Dr. Tilahun holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota (2010), with earlier degrees in Civil Engineering (B.Sc., 2001; M.Sc., 2005). His career includes post-doctoral research at UIC’s Urban Transportation Center and the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs, as well as professional experience at the Washington State Department of Transportation. Research Interests : His work bridges transportation equity, urban planning, and policy evaluation. Key areas include: Transport accessibility and equity Automated traffic enforcement (e.g., speed/red-light cameras) Social networks and travel behavior Disability and mobility challenges Intergenerational poverty and spatial mobility Recent Research Trends : His publications emphasize equity in urban systems, such as analyzing racial disparities in traffic stops, evaluating automated camera efficacy, and exploring how residential choices shape young adults’ travel patterns. He also investigates transit accessibility gaps in Chicago and the role of technology in urban informatics. Labs/Teams : Directs the Mobility Urban Systems and Equity Lab, which develops tools like the Chicago Accessibility Explorer to visualize transit equity. Collaborates on projects like Seeing Cities Through Big Data , applying data science to urban planning challenges. Grants/Advising : While specific grants are not detailed here, his lab’s work implies funding in transportation equity and technology. No advisees are listed in the provided materials.
Dr. Alyas Widita is an Assistant Professor in the Urban Design program at Monash University, Indonesia. He is actively involved in research and teaching, focusing on urban planning, transportation, and smart city technologies. He serves as the Program Coordinator for Urban Design and teaches courses such as Urban Design Studio: Smart City and Smart City Technologies. Education: Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States Dr. Widita's research centers on the built environment, transportation systems, and urban analytics, with a strong emphasis on developing Asian cities. His work explores congestion impacts of mass transit, ride-hailing effects on vehicle ownership, rural-urban migration, walking behavior, and spatial patterns of MSMEs. He employs advanced data analytics and causal evaluation methods to inform urban policy. His recent publications span high-impact journals such as Transport Reviews , Journal of Planning Education and Research , and Travel Behaviour and Society . The research trend shows a consistent focus on data-driven urban policy, sustainable mobility, and equity in urban development across Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Scientific Awards and Recognition: No specific awards listed, but research widely cited and featured in media outlets. Dr. Widita has secured and contributed to multiple research projects funded by international and national agencies, including the World Bank, Korea Transport Institute (KOTI), Central Bank of Indonesia, and Georgia Department of Transportation. He is currently leading or co-leading projects on Jakarta’s subsidence, flood risk management using remote sensing, and the Citarum River revitalization. He collaborates extensively with researchers across disciplines and institutions. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to sustainable cities and communities. He is accepting PhD students interested in the built environment, transportation, and urban analytics in developing Asia. He is involved in key labs and research teams including the Citarum Action Research Program (CARP), Intelligent and Dynamic Remote Sensing for Flood Risk, and interdisciplinary urban analytics initiatives at Monash Indonesia.
Colleen Carey is an Associate Professor at the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, Cornell University. Her research focuses on the industrial organization of healthcare systems, particularly federal regulation of health insurance markets like Medicare and Medicaid. She examines topics such as reinsurance mechanisms, risk adjustment policies, and the impact of physician-industry financial relationships on prescribing behaviors. Carey is a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research and previously held roles including Robert Wood Johnson Scholar in Health Policy Research and Staff Economist at the Council of Economic Advisers. Education: Bachelor’s Degree: Yale University Ph.D. in Economics: Johns Hopkins University Research Interests: Federal health insurance market design (e.g., ACA marketplaces) Adverse selection mitigation strategies in subsidized insurance Pharmaceutical industry practices and physician prescribing Opioid abuse policy evaluation Social Security Disability Insurance health outcomes Recent Work Trends: Her 2020-2025 publications emphasize healthcare policy evaluation, including analyses of Medicare Advantage enrollment dynamics, racial disparities in disability programs, and the effects of prescription drug marketing on clinical decisions. She consistently bridges economic theory with applied policy analysis. Scientific Awards and Roles: Editorial Board Member, American Journal of Health Economics Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Research Scholar (2018-2020) NBER Faculty Research Fellow (ongoing) Advising and Grants: Though no formal advisees are listed, her research often involves collaborations with institutions like the Council of Economic Advisers and NBER. She contributes to policy discussions through evidence-based insights. Labs and Teams: Collaborates extensively with NBER’s Health Economics Group and maintains affiliations with Princeton’s Center for Health and Wellbeing.
Chang-Tai Hsieh is the Phyllis and Irwin Winkelried Distinguished Service Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He is also a PCL Faculty Scholar with the university. His academic appointments include being a Research Associate for the National Bureau of Economic Research, a Senior Fellow at the Bureau for Research in Economic Analysis of Development, and a member of the Steering Group of the International Growth Center in London. His research interests focus on economic development, growth in Asia and Latin America, and applied economics, with particular expertise in macroeconomics. He has conducted extensive research on growth and development patterns across different regions, with special attention to China's economic transformation. His work examines resource allocation, innovation dynamics, trade policy impacts, and structural economic changes. Hsieh's recent publications reveal a strong focus on US-China economic relations, Chinese economic development, and the dynamics of innovation and growth. His research spans multiple subfields including trade policy, resource allocation, economic measurement, and the political economy of development. He has made significant contributions to understanding the economic transformation in East Asia, particularly regarding China's growth model and its implications for global trade. Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Research Fellowship Elected Member of Academia Sinica Two-time recipient of the Sun Ye-Fang Prize Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellow of the Econometric Society Hsieh has been a visiting scholar at multiple Federal Reserve Banks (San Francisco, New York, and Minneapolis), the World Bank's Development Economics Group, and the Economic Planning Agency in Japan. He is also an active commentator on economic policy, with numerous opinion pieces published in Commonwealth Magazine, Project Syndicate, and other major outlets, particularly focusing on US-Taiwan-China economic relations and trade policy.
Dr. Li Wan is an Associate Professor in Urban Planning and Development at the Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge, and a Fellow of Gonville and Caius College. He serves as Director for the MPhil in Planning, Growth and Regeneration and is a co-investigator of the Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction. Dr. Wan is also a Trustee of the IJURR Foundation and leads a research group focused on understanding urban land and transport development through applied modeling and data analytics. Dr. Wan holds a BArch, MPhil, and PhD from the University of Cambridge. Prior to joining Land Economy, he worked in Architecture and Engineering Departments, giving him a highly interdisciplinary perspective. His research focuses on spatial economic modeling of urban land use and transport systems, with recent interests including strategic planning at city/regional levels, impact studies of flexible working, micromobility, and electric vehicles. Dr. Wan's research group has produced significant work in city digital twins, as evidenced by his 2023 book Digital Twins for Smart Cities: Conceptualisation, challenges and practices . His publications span urban analytics, transport emissions, spatial equilibrium modeling, and economic geography, demonstrating the interdisciplinary nature of his work. Recent research trends show increasing focus on post-pandemic urban dynamics, digital governance, and sustainable mobility solutions. His research group has secured funding from initiatives like AI@Cam for projects examining how local authorities use AI for urban decision-making. Dr. Wan actively supervises PhD and MPhil students, with his group comprising researchers working on diverse urban topics from land-use efficiency to micromobility impacts. As an educator, Dr. Wan teaches courses including Tripos Paper 10 - The Built Environment, PGR01 - Urban and Environmental Planning, PGR02 - Urban and Housing Policy, PGR05 - Place-based Policy, and RM03 – Spatial Analysis and Modelling. His group has presented at major international conferences including CUPUM and ICML, reflecting his active engagement in the academic community.
Prof. Tilo Hartmann is a Full Professor at the Department of Communication Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), affiliated with the Network Institute and Communication Choices, Content and Consequences (CCCC). He holds a PhD from Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media (2005) and has held positions at institutions including the University of Southern California, University of Erfurt, and University of Zurich. His research focuses on immersive technologies like Virtual Reality (VR), examining presence, media awareness, and their psychological impacts. He explores how immersive experiences affect beliefs, wellbeing, and social behaviors, with applications in education (e.g., reducing plastic waste via VR interventions). Key research areas include: presence theory, media psychology, effects of XR technologies, and entertainment’s role in wellbeing. He co-founded the Immersive High Tech Group at VU's Network Institute and contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to sustainable behavior and education. Prof. Hartmann has served on editorial boards of top journals (e.g., Journal of Communication) and professional roles such as secretary of ICA's Game Studies Interest Group. His teaching spans over 12 courses across universities globally, emphasizing curriculum development and student supervision. He holds advanced teaching qualifications (SKO).
