Judith Kafka is a Professor at the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, Baruch College (CUNY), specializing in urban education and historical analysis of educational policy. Her research examines how social, political, and institutional forces shape American schooling, with a focus on race, inequality, and the carceral state. Ph.D. and M.A. in Educational Policy from University of California, Berkeley B.A. in History from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Her work addresses school discipline, educational justice, and market-based reforms. She is an active member of the History of Education Society and American Educational Research Association. Recent publications analyze school choice, Brooklyn’s educational segregation, and historical intersections of race and policy. She serves on multiple academic committees and contributes to policy discussions through media and conferences.
Rikke Skovgaard Nielsen is a Senior Researcher at the Department of Construction, Urban and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Aalborg University. Her work focuses on affordable housing, social cohesion, and urban regeneration in disadvantaged housing areas, with a particular emphasis on mixed residential composition and involuntary eviction dynamics. PhD in Sociology from Aalborg University MA and BA in Sociology from University of Copenhagen Research expertise spans: Quantitative and qualitative methods Mixed methods research EU housing policy frameworks (FP7, Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe) International housing comparisons (Dutch/Danish social mix strategies) UN Sustainable Development Goals (Education, Sustainable Cities) Recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate trends in: Post-pandemic urban transformation Energy crisis adaptations Resident democracy in Nordic housing Deprived neighborhood regeneration Comparative European housing policy Indoor environmental quality Scientific contributions include: Bengt Turner Award 2014 Workshop coordination for European Network of Housing Research Working Group on Ethnic Minority Groups and Housing Editorial work on mixed methods research books Key participant in Horizon Europe projects
Roman Dzambazovic is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Sociology at the Faculty of Arts, Comenius University in Bratislava. He has been working at the university since 1996, initially as an assistant professor until 2022 when he was promoted to associate professor. He has served as Head of Department since 2019 and is also the webmaster of the department website. His educational background includes: 1996: Mgr. in Sociology, Faculty of Arts, Comenius University in Bratislava 2006: PhD. in Sociology, Faculty of Arts, Comenius University in Bratislava 2022: Scientific qualification degree IIa, Slovak Academy of Sciences 2022: Associate Professor title in Sociology, Faculty of Arts, Comenius University in Bratislava Roman Dzambazovic's research focuses on social inequalities, social stratification and mobility, family sociology, intimacy and sexuality, youth subcultures, adolescence, and social deviance. His work often examines how socioeconomic factors influence family formation, educational pathways, and social mobility in Slovak society. He has conducted extensive research on poverty, social exclusion, and demographic trends in Slovakia, with particular attention to Roma communities and youth transitions to adulthood. His approach combines theoretical frameworks with empirical data from national surveys and international comparative research projects. His recent publications show a strong focus on residential homogamy, educational inequalities, youth transitions to adulthood, and social stratification in Slovakia. His work demonstrates consistent engagement with both theoretical sociological frameworks and empirical data analysis, often participating in international comparative research projects. The articles reveal a trajectory of increasingly sophisticated methodological approaches and theoretical integration across his career. His scientific awards include: Rector's Award of Comenius University in Bratislava for pedagogical and research activities (2008) Scholarship from Educational Foundation of Jan Hus (2006) Award from Literary Fund for scientific and professional literature in social sciences (2015) A. Hirner Award for best sociological work - Second place (2020) Commemorative Letter from Comenius University in Bratislava (2022) Professor Dzambazovic has supervised 61 bachelor's theses and 54 master's theses, and currently supervises 7 bachelor's, 4 master's, and 3 doctoral students. He has been involved in numerous research projects, including APVV, VEGA, and Horizon 2020 grants, focusing on educational paths of young people, social stratification, and cultural heritage. His most significant projects include 'Educational paths of young people - factors and mechanisms of their choice' (APVV 2021-2025), 'Close relatives? Slovakia and the Czech Republic in the context of international comparative research' (APVV 2019-2023), and 'Cultural Heritage and Identities of Europe's Future' (Horizon 2020 2018-2021). He is an active member of the academic community, serving as Vice-President of the Slovak Sociological Society (2018-2022), member of the editorial board of the journal Sociológia since 2018, and representative of Slovakia in the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) since 2004. He is also a founding member of the Slovak Social Data Archive (SASD) team and has participated in numerous international research collaborations across Europe.
Florian von Rosenberg is a Professor of General Educational Science at the Faculty of Education, University of Erfurt. He holds the Professorship for General Educational Science and serves as spokesperson for the Department of Educational Science and Empirical Educational Research. His career includes previous roles as Acting Professor at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and W1 Professorship at Erfurt. University Professor at University of Erfurt (2016–present) Habilitation in Educational Science (2013, Helmut Schmidt University Hamburg) Research focus: Habitus transformations, biographical processes, cultural pluralism His research integrates Bourdieu's theories with empirical studies on educational inequality, intercultural learning, and societal structures. Publications address topics like DDR childcare systems, peer group dynamics, and lifelong learning frameworks. Recent work emphasizes transformative educational processes and spatial structures in schools.
Thomas Grund is a Full Professor at the Institute of Sociology at RWTH Aachen University, Germany. He previously held professorial positions at University College Dublin (Ireland), where he served as Professor (2021-2022), Associate Professor (2018-2021), and Assistant Professor (2015-2018). He has also been a Visiting Professor at the University of Zurich and the University of Manchester. His educational background includes a DPhil in Sociology from the University of Oxford (2007-2011), an MPhil in Modern Society and Global Transformations from the University of Cambridge (2005-2006), and a Diplom in Sociology from the University of Trier (2001-2005). He also holds a Vordiplom in Computer Sciences and Business Administration from the University of Trier (2000-2002). Grund's research focuses on social network analysis, complex systems modeling, and analytical sociology. His work examines how social structures limit individuals' view of the world, how embeddedness in social context affects behavior, and how combined relational patterns lead to macro-level outcomes. His research spans diverse empirical settings including crime, sports, health, and social movements. Recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on network analysis applications across various domains. His work shows consistent methodological sophistication with increasing emphasis on computational approaches to social science. The research spans political science, criminology, public health, and sociology, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach. Teaching Excellence Award at University College Dublin (2017) Grund has developed innovative teaching methods incorporating technology-enhanced learning strategies, including video trailers, live surveys, and game-based learning. He is currently developing a software suite for network analysis using Stata and has co-authored 'Social Network Analysis Using Stata' with Peter Hedström, forthcoming with Stata Press. His research is conducted through collaborations with various institutions and research groups focused on social network analysis and computational social science.
Tüzin Baycan is a Professor at Istanbul Technical University's Faculty of Architecture, Department of Urban and Regional Planning. She holds a PhD in Regional Planning from the same university and has been a faculty member since 2010. Emails: tbaycan@itu.edu.tr | tuzinbaycan@gmail.com Contact: Taşkışla, 34437 Taksim, Istanbul Research Focus: Her work bridges climate change adaptation, urban resilience, sustainability planning, and regional development disparities. She explores digital divides, tourism-climate interactions, and new working spaces like creative hubs. Recent Projects: 2024: Measuring Urban Energy Efficiency 2023: Shared Workspaces in Europe During Pandemic 2022: Digital Divide in Türkiye Scientific Recognition: Recipient of TUBITAK's U2020 Above Threshold Award (2019) Board Member, Turkish National Committee for Regional Science (since 2004) Member, International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISoCaRP, since 2002) Advisory Role: Supervised 21+ theses, including Dilara Aydın's 2025 work on climate-urban development interactions and Gülfiye Özcan Alp's 2024 research on digital transition roadmaps.
Mark Ellis is a Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Washington. His research focuses on population and economic geography, with particular emphasis on migration, labor markets, and cities. Current projects include studies of skilled migration and regional economic development, immigration's impact on labor markets, residential neighborhood change, segregation, diversity, and the determinants of long-term geographic immobility in the U.S. He contributes to community resources like the ORCID ID and is affiliated with research centers such as the Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology and IPUMS International. Research Interests: Migration, Labor Markets, Segregation Email: ellism@uw.edu Ellis's recent publications analyze ethnic diversity trends in England and Wales, geographic immobility in the U.S., and the effects of policy changes on migration patterns. His work combines demographic analysis with spatial methodologies, often utilizing linked administrative datasets. Ellis is actively involved in collaborative research initiatives and serves as a reviewer/referee for academic publications.
Monica M. Trieu is a Professor at Purdue University's School of Interdisciplinary Studies, specializing in Asian American experiences with emphasis on post-1960s immigrant and refugee communities. Her interdisciplinary research bridges sociology, ethnic studies, and migration scholarship. Her academic foundation includes a PhD in Sociology with Asian American Studies emphasis from the University of California, Irvine. Research interests center on identity formation among 1.5 and second-generation Asian Americans, examining how space, language, transnational behaviors, and education shape racialized experiences. Key thematic areas include internalized racism, differential racialization, family obligation dynamics, and transnational ties. Her publication trajectory reveals evolving scholarly priorities: early work (2008-2013) established theoretical frameworks for Chinese-Vietnamese identity and refugee resettlement, while recent research (2018-2024) addresses contemporary challenges including Midwest Asian American visibility, pandemic impacts, and anti-Asian violence in academic spaces. This progression demonstrates rigorous engagement with both foundational identity theories and urgent sociopolitical contexts. Professor Trieu's scholarly contributions include two major monographs: Fighting Invisibility: Asian Americans in the Midwest (Rutgers University Press, 2023) and Identity Construction among Chinese-Vietnamese Americans: Being, Becoming, and Belonging (LFB, 2009). Her current research examines Asian American relationships with U.S. National Parks and outdoor spaces, extending her spatial analysis into environmental contexts. Her advising and research initiatives focus on community-engaged scholarship, though specific grant details aren't publicly documented. Current projects indicate sustained commitment to amplifying underrepresented narratives through empirical examination of identity negotiation in regional contexts beyond coastal enclaves.
Juta Kawalerowicz is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Human Geography, Stockholm University. Her research focuses on inter-group attitudes, contextual effects on political behavior, and the impact of diversity on radical right-wing politics. She has led studies on geographical polarization in Sweden, residential mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the social consequences of late-life divorce. Studied extreme political action determinants (2011 London riots, British National Party) Current projects include segregation typology, neighborhood labeling impacts, and comparative civil society studies in Sweden/UK Her work leverages Swedish register data and mixed methods to analyze spatial polarization, migrant integration, and labor market dynamics. While her publications span sociology, demography, and urban studies, they emphasize how macro-level factors shape micro-level behaviors and policy outcomes.
Stephanie Wallace is a Lecturer in the Department of Criminology at Lancaster University's School of Social Sciences. Her research focuses on sentencing disparities, racial discrimination's impact on mental health, and community-based rehabilitation interventions. Developing quantitative sentencing severity scales Studying cumulative effects of racial discrimination Evaluating sports-based mentoring programs Contributing to mental health act legitimacy research Current projects include the National Uniform & Equipment Survey (2025) and rapid evaluations of rehabilitation programs at HMP/YOI Isis. She also serves as a reviewer for the British Journal of Community Justice.
Andrew Byerley is a Senior Lecturer (Docent) at the Department of Human Geography , Stockholm University. His work focuses on urban geography, planning in the Global South, and the political dimensions of public space, with fieldwork centered on Uganda and Namibia. Research Projects: Led the 2016-2019 RJF-funded study on aging in African urbanities; participated in Sida-funded projects on urban imaginaries and postcolonial housing estates. Teaching: Coordinates the Global Development Program at Stockholm University, covering urban theory, political ecology, and methodological frameworks. Research Interests include: Colonial and post-colonial urban planning legacies Informal settlements and spatial governance Public space as a site of political contestation Historical urban infrastructure in East Africa His publications analyze how colonial planning rationalities persist in contemporary urban struggles, particularly in Jinja (Uganda) and Walvis Bay (Namibia), with methodological emphasis on ethnographic fieldwork and governmentality studies. Notable awards include the Wallander Stipendium (2006) for his doctoral thesis on Jinja's industrial urbanism.
Giuseppe Rabini serves as a Research Fellow at the Interdepartmental Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMEC) within the University of Trento, Italy. His research bridges cognitive neuroscience and clinical neurology with a specialized focus on Parkinson's disease mechanisms and interventions. His core research examines neural correlates of socio-cognitive deficits in Parkinson's disease, including theory of mind impairments, moral decision-making alterations, and motor-cognitive interactions during dual-task performance. Methodologically, he pioneers connectome-based predictive modeling using resting-state fMRI to identify stable biomarkers for motor and cognitive decline, while also investigating non-pharmacological interventions like tango therapy for symptom management. Recent publication trends reveal three converging trajectories: (1) Development of clinical tools using visual rating scales to predict mild cognitive impairment, (2) Exploration of auditory-visual integration mechanisms in listening effort contexts, and (3) Mapping of resting-state network disruptions underlying social cognition deficits. These strands consistently employ multimodal neuroimaging to translate basic neuroscience into clinical applications. Rabini maintains a highly collaborative research model centered at CIMEC, with recurring partnerships across Trento's neuroscience ecosystem. His work frequently involves cross-disciplinary teams integrating neurology, psychology, and rehabilitation expertise, particularly through sustained collaborations with Dodich, Papagno, Turella, and Jovicich on Parkinson's disease cohort studies.
Rodrigo CASTILHOS is an Associate Professor at the Innovation Academy of SKEMA Business School in Lille, France. He holds a Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (2024), a Ph.D. in Marketing (2015) from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), and an MSc in Marketing (2007). His research focuses on consumer culture theory, consumption and social class dynamics, spatial market systems, and urban market exclusion. He has published in leading journals like Journal of Consumer Research and Journal of Marketing Research. Education: 2024 : Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches, Marketing, Université de Lille, France 2015 : Ph.D. in Marketing, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil 2007 : MSc in Marketing, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil Research Interests: His work explores how market systems interact with urban spaces, class dynamics, and consumer agency. Key themes include neoliberal urbanization, spatial domination, and marginalized groups' negotiation of visibility. He applies critical theory to analyze consumption practices and market-driven spatialization. Articles Trends: Recent work examines homelessness agency in neoliberal cities (2025), spatial class conflict (2024), and market adaptation strategies (2022). Earlier research focused on lower-class consumption coping mechanisms (2017) and urban market dynamics (2015). Labs/Teams: Active in SKEMA's Marketing Interactions research center, contributing to interdisciplinary studies on consumer culture and spatial markets.
Nicholas E. Roberts is Professor of History at The University of the South (Sewanee), specializing in Middle Eastern history, Islamic movements, and imperialism. His research examines colonial governance in British Palestine, Palestinian nationalism, and the politicization of religious institutions. He authored Islam Under the Palestine Mandate: Colonialism and the Supreme Muslim Council (2016), analyzing British-Islamic political intersections. Research Focus: His work critiques colonial policies in Jerusalem, pan-Islamism, and historiographical debates about Mandate Palestine. Fieldwork in Israel and the UK informs his analysis of religious-political dynamics under colonialism. Awards: James D. Kennedy III Fellowship (Sewanee) Fulbright Fellowship Teaching: Courses include Middle East History, Jerusalem Studies, Arab-Israeli Conflict, and Political Islam. He emphasizes primary source analysis and colonial power structures.
Sayanti Mukherjee is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University at Buffalo (State University of New York). She holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from Purdue University, an MS in Economics from Purdue, an MS in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University, and a BS in Construction Engineering and Management from Jadavpur University. Her research focuses on operations research, energy resilience, climate change impacts, and risk-informed decision analysis. Her work spans disaster risk reduction, socio-economic drivers of resource allocation, and infrastructure vulnerability assessment. She leads the OASIS Lab, which integrates data-driven approaches to address challenges in climate resilience, emergency management, and urban systems. Notable projects include analyzing wildfire-induced power outage risks, modeling human mobility patterns during disasters, and evaluating mental health impacts of crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Mukherjee’s expertise includes statistical learning, spatiotemporal modeling, and interdisciplinary frameworks for infrastructure resilience. She has contributed to reports like the Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment and collaborates with stakeholders to bridge research and policy.
