Torgeir Welo is a Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering , Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) . He specializes in metal forming , particularly aluminum alloy structures , with a focus on plastic bending behavior , dimensional stability , and 3D forming technologies . His research also encompasses Lean Product Development , emphasizing knowledge reuse and maximizing customer value in automotive and aerospace applications. Key Research Areas : Metal Forming, Aluminum Processing, Springback Control, Lean Development, Additive Manufacturing, Material Substitution Teaching : Courses on Aluminum Technology , Metal Forming Analysis , and Machine Element Design Publications (15 most recent): Focus on springback monitoring , charge weld evolution , flexible forming , machine learning applications , and circular economy frameworks in metal manufacturing.
Tara M. Sinclair is Professor of Economics and International Affairs and Chair of the Department of Economics at the George Washington University. She is also affiliated with the Elliott School of International Affairs through the Institute for International Economic Policy and the Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies. Additional affiliations include the GW Institute of Public Policy Research, the Regulatory Studies Center, and GW-CIBER. Sinclair has held influential public sector roles, including Deputy Assistant Secretary for Macroeconomics at the U.S. Department of the Treasury (2022–2024) and founding Chief Economist at Indeed Hiring Lab. PhD in Economics, Washington University in St. Louis (2005) AM in Economics, Washington University in St. Louis (2001) BA in Foreign Languages, Wheaton College (1996) Her research centers on macroeconomic fluctuations, labor market dynamics, forecasting, and the application of big data to economic analysis. She employs econometric and time series methods to model business cycles, evaluate forecast accuracy, and assess policy impacts. Her work connects academic research with real-world decision-making, particularly in labor markets and monetary policy. Sinclair frequently uses online job posting data to generate timely insights into employment trends. Her recent publications focus on post-pandemic labor market transformations, remote work persistence, forecast evaluation, and regulatory economics. She has published in top journals such as Labour Economics , Journal of Applied Econometrics , Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics , and International Journal of Forecasting . Her research leverages real-time data to analyze topics like unemployment insurance claims, job mismatch, and global hiring trends. Scientific recognition includes membership in the Conference on Research in Income and Wealth (CRIW), the Federal Forecasters Consortium Governing Board, and authorship at VoxEU. She has served as a Special Government Employee on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Technical Advisory Committee. She advises and collaborates with numerous researchers and institutions. Her leadership roles include directing the GW Center for Economic Research (former) and leading research initiatives at Indeed Hiring Lab. She teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in macroeconomics and econometrics, and is frequently cited in major media outlets including the New York Times , Wall Street Journal , and Financial Times , and appears on networks such as CNN, NPR, and Bloomberg. Her research team includes collaborators from Federal Reserve Banks, international organizations, and academic institutions. She leads projects funded by GW-CIBER and contributes to policy reports for the U.S. Treasury and Indeed Hiring Lab.
Lisa Saum-Manning is the Associate Director of the International Security and Defense Policy Program, a Senior Political Scientist, and Professor of Policy Analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy, RAND Corporation. She is actively engaged in research that bridges defense policy, international security, and public administration. RAND Corporation – Associate Director, International Security and Defense Policy Program RAND Corporation – Senior Political Scientist RAND School of Public Policy – Professor of Policy Analysis Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. Ph.D., Political Science – University of California, Los Angeles Lisa Saum-Manning's research focuses on strategic planning for the U.S. Armed Forces and Department of State, particularly in the areas of security cooperation, conflict prevention in fragile states, WMD nonproliferation, and unconventional warfare. She has also led field research on building sustainable security capacity in Africa, Central and South America, and disaster recovery in Puerto Rico. Her work frequently addresses diversity and inclusion in the military, homeland security policy, and U.S. foreign military sales accountability. She recently served as a senior advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for Conflict Stabilization Operations during implementation of the Global Fragility Act. Her recent publications span topics such as Foreign Military Sales (FMS) accountability, Army readiness, disaster recovery in Puerto Rico, and diversity in military personnel. The body of her work demonstrates a consistent focus on policy-relevant research that informs national security decision-making, with an interdisciplinary approach combining political science, security studies, and public policy analysis. Scientific Awards and Recognitions: No specific awards listed in the provided text. Lisa Saum-Manning has advised on major defense and homeland security initiatives, including FEMA’s terrorism risk formula, U.S. Army personnel policy, and Coast Guard diversity strategies. She has received funding for multiple RAND studies from U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. Her advisory roles include direct engagement with senior officials in the State Department and Congress, particularly through her testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services. She leads and contributes to research teams at RAND focused on international security, defense policy, and stability operations. Her projects often involve interdisciplinary collaboration, field data collection, and policy implementation analysis, particularly in complex operational environments such as post-conflict zones and disaster-affected regions.
Lan T. Chu serves as Professor of Diplomacy and World Affairs at Occidental College, where she has held faculty position since 2005. Her office is located in Johnson 205 with regular availability on Tuesdays (11:30 AM-12:45 PM in person/Zoom) and Fridays (9:00-10:00 AM). Her academic credentials include: B.A. and M.A. from New York University Ph.D. from George Washington University Chu's research centers on religion's political dimensions, particularly the Catholic Church's global influence through faith diplomacy and norm entrepreneurship. She examines inter-religious dialogue, ideological frameworks, and democratization processes in communist regimes, with recent work analyzing religious responses to climate change and migration. Her scholarship applies constructivist theory to position religious institutions as transformative actors in international relations. Analysis of her publication history reveals evolving scholarly priorities: early work (2005-2015) focused on church-state dynamics in Vietnam and China, while current research (2022-2025) emphasizes environmental stewardship and citizenship. This trajectory demonstrates increasing engagement with contemporary global crises through religious institutional lenses. Her scholarly recognition includes: Foreign Language Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship Visiting Fellowship at University of Southern California Linda & Tod White Teaching Prize (2022) As Faculty Director for Equity and Justice, Chu leads campus-wide inclusion initiatives while advancing three major book projects: Catholic Church's global policy influence (Routledge), religion and citizenship (Routledge), and Vietnamese religious freedom (Brill Press). Her mentorship in DWA 299 (Qualitative Methods) trains students in research design for political analysis. Chu contributes to international scholarship as Country Expert for Gothenburg's Varieties of Democracy Project (2012-present) and editorial board member of Politics, Groups, and Identities , building academic networks that inform her classroom instruction on ideology and international relations theory.
Dr Luke Eda serves as a Senior Lecturer in Law within the Faculty of Business and Law at the University of the West of England, Bristol. His teaching responsibilities include International Human Rights Law at the LL.M level, and Public Law (Constitutional and Administrative Law) and Migration Law and Policy at the LL.B level. Dr Eda's educational background comprises an LL.B from Ebonyi State University Nigeria, a Barrister and Solicitor qualification (B.L) from Nigerian Law School Lagos, and postgraduate degrees from Bournemouth University including an LL.M in Public International Law and a PhD in Law. He holds Fellowship status with Advance HE (formerly UK Higher Education Academy). His research critically examines international legal frameworks through post-colonial and justice-oriented lenses, with particular emphasis on human rights implementation in transitional societies. The interdisciplinary nature of his work bridges legal theory with practical applications in migration policy and criminal justice reform. Public International Law International Criminal Law and Justice International Human Rights Law International Migration and Refugee Law Transnational Law Transitional Justice in Post Conflict Societies Colonial and Post-Colonial Making of International Law Dr Eda's scholarly recognition includes the prestigious UK Global Talent award, British Commonwealth Scholarship, and Advance HE Fellowship, reflecting his significant contributions to legal academia and policy development. While specific doctoral supervisees and research grants aren't documented in available materials, his Commonwealth Scholarship indicates substantial early-career research funding, and his position suggests ongoing mentorship of law students in specialized international law modules.
Hamish van der Ven is an Assistant Professor of Sustainable Business Management of Natural Resources at the University of British Columbia (UBC) within the Department of Wood Science and Faculty of Forestry. He leads the Business, Sustainability and Technology Lab and maintains affiliations with the Environmental Governance Lab at the University of Toronto, the Earth System Governance Project, and the United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards. PhD in Political Science from University of Toronto Previous roles at McGill University and Yale University Research focuses on sustainable supply chain governance, eco-labeling, transnational environmental governance, corporate social responsibility, and digital technology impacts His recent work analyzes indirect climate impacts of generative AI and social media, transparency mechanisms in fast fashion, stakeholder influence on sustainability standards, and governance dynamics in buyer-driven supply chains. His 2019 book Beyond Greenwash? Explaining Credibility in Transnational Eco-Labeling (Oxford University Press) critiques eco-labeling efficacy. Van der Ven's research has been funded by grants including SSHRC Insight Grant (2025-2030), SSHRC Explore Grant (2023), SSHRC IDG Grant (2021-2023), FRQSC Collaborative Grant (2018-2021), and SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship (2016-2017). He examines both broad trends in global environmental governance and specific case studies across agriculture, aquaculture, and retail sectors.
Dane Blevins is an Associate Professor of Management at the University of Central Florida. His research spans corporate governance, entrepreneurship, gender studies, IPO dynamics, organizational reputation, and signaling theory, with publications in top-tier journals like Academy of Management Review and Strategic Management Journal . Education: Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Dallas MBA from North Carolina State University Undergraduate degree from Northeastern University Research Interests: Corporate governance and nonprofit organizations Entrepreneurship and venture capital Gender disparities in executive compensation Signaling theory in financial markets Textual analysis in corporate communication Publication Trends: His work focuses on IPO processes, corporate governance, gender dynamics, and organizational reputation, often leveraging empirical methods and cross-cultural contexts. Key themes include venture capital influence, CSR in alliances, and social media's role in reputation building.
Dr. Assela Pathirana is a Professor at the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, specializing in water infrastructure asset management (WIAM), climate resilience of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and sustainable urban water systems. His work bridges academia, policy, and practice, focusing on digitalization, data-driven decision-making, and nature-based solutions. Key roles include Chief Technical Advisor for the Maldives’ water systems and leadership of a MOOC on SIDS climate adaptation. He holds a BSc (First Class Honours) from the University of Peradeniya and advanced degrees from the University of Tokyo, specializing in hydrology and water resources engineering. Education: Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (First Class Honours), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Master’s and Doctoral Degrees in Civil Engineering (Hydrology and Water Resources), University of Tokyo, Japan Research Interests: Dr. Pathirana’s work emphasizes climate resilience, SIDS adaptation, urban flood risk management, and sustainable infrastructure. He develops decision-support tools for flood forecasting, evaluates land-use changes in Jakarta, and promotes equity in water rationing systems. His interdisciplinary approach integrates hydrological modeling, open-source software development, and policy analysis. Advising & Capacity Building: He leads training-of-trainers programs and capacity-building initiatives, enhancing postgraduate education in technical disciplines. His efforts focus on didactics and pedagogy, ensuring graduates gain both theoretical knowledge and practical expertise. Key Projects: Developed the WIAM curriculum at IHE Delft MOOC on SIDS climate adaptation and water security Consultancy for the Maldives’ Ministry of Environment and UNDP Labs & Collaborations: Engages in cross-disciplinary teams addressing urban water challenges, including sponge cities in China and flexible adaptation planning in Melbourne and Pune. His work with UNESCO-ICHARM and UNU underscores global water security and disaster risk reduction.
Mark Mazower is the Ira D. Wallach Professor of History at Columbia University, where he has established himself as a leading historian specializing in modern Greece, 20th-century Europe, and international history. He also serves as the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Director of the Columbia Institute for Ideas and Imagination in Paris, which brings together scholars with leading artists, writers, composers and filmmakers from around the world to foster innovative interdisciplinary collaboration. His educational background includes a D.Phil. from Oxford University (1988), an M.A. from Johns Hopkins University (1983), and a B.A. from Oxford University (1981). This strong academic foundation has positioned him as a preeminent historian with expertise spanning multiple historical periods and geographical regions. Mazower's research focuses on modern Greek history, 20th-century European history, and international history, with recent work examining the historical evolution of the Greek islands over the very long term. His scholarship bridges academic rigor with public engagement, as he frequently contributes commentary on international affairs and book reviews to major publications including the Financial Times , The Nation , the London Review of Books , and the New York Review of Books . In 2016, he expanded his public engagement through the film Techniques of the Body , a meditation on the refugee crisis in Greek history created with director Constantine Giannaris. His publications reveal a consistent focus on understanding the complex interplay between national histories and broader international frameworks. Mazower's work often examines how local experiences intersect with global forces, particularly in the context of war, occupation, state formation, and the development of international institutions. His approach combines deep archival research with conceptual innovation, making significant contributions to our understanding of European history, Greek history, and international relations. Mazower's scholarly achievements have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards: Gennadius Prize (2023) Honorary Citizenship from the Republic of Greece (2022) Fellow of the British Academy (2019) D. Litt., honoris causa , Catholic University of Leuven (2019) D. Litt., honoris causa , University of Athens (2015) Dido Sotiriou Award of the Hellenic Authors Society (2012) Society of Columbia Graduates Great Teacher Award (2011) Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences Hitler's Empire: Trilling Award and LA Times Book Prize for History (2009) Salonica, City of Ghosts: Duff Cooper Prize (2005) As an educator at Columbia University, Mazower has mentored numerous students in the Department of History, guiding research in modern European history, Greek history, and international history. His leadership extends to directing the Columbia Institute for Ideas and Imagination in Paris, which has received significant funding from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation to support interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and creative artists from around the world. At the Columbia Institute for Ideas and Imagination, Mazower has created a unique intellectual environment where historians work alongside artists, writers, and filmmakers to explore new approaches to understanding complex historical and contemporary issues. This innovative space reflects his commitment to bridging academic scholarship with creative expression and public engagement, fostering dialogue across disciplinary boundaries to address pressing global challenges.
Hans Klein is an Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy, part of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts at Georgia Institute of Technology. His research focuses on institutions and policy processes related to large technical systems like the Internet and surface transportation. He has held visiting roles at Princeton University, the Hertie School of Governance, and the Paris School of Mines. Education: Ph.D. in Political Science, MIT (1996) M.S. in Technology and Policy, MIT (1993) B.S. in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Princeton University (1983) Research Interests: Internet governance, globalization, and democratic accountability mechanisms Media institutions, digital persuasion, and propaganda Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) policy and institutional design Urban transit policy, including the Atlanta Beltline project Social construction of technology and policy frameworks Professional Experience: Prior roles as software developer, international marketer, and policy analyst Service on advisory committees for ICANN, the Transportation Research Board, and Atlanta’s Telecommunications Policy Advisory Committee Presentations on information warfare and political warfare at institutions like the US Special Operations University Advising & Grants: Contributed to policy design for ICANN, ITS national programs, and the Atlanta Beltline Recipient of DAAD and Chateaubriand fellowships for international academic collaborations Labs & Teams: Active in interdisciplinary policy teams focused on transportation infrastructure, digital governance, and media ethics.
Nina Schwarz is Assistant Professor of human-environment interactions in cities at the Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Geo-Information Management, ITC—University of Twente. Holding a Diploma in Environmental Sciences (University of Lüneburg, 2003) and a PhD in Social and Economic Sciences (University of Kassel, 2007), she spent a decade as senior scientist at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ before joining ITC. Her interdisciplinary research integrates urban land-use science, ecosystem-service evaluation and advanced modelling techniques—especially agent-based models—to explore sustainable urban development under global change. Research interests revolve around three interconnected themes: (i) urban land-use change —understanding how residential, commercial and green-space dynamics co-evolve; (ii) urban ecosystem services —quantifying both supply and demand of services such as local climate regulation, recreation and biodiversity; and (iii) behavioural modelling —formalising human decision-making to simulate policy scenarios ranging from slum-upgrading to vineyard management. She actively links these themes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, notably SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Recent publications (2022-2025) reveal a methodological breadth spanning citizen-science impact assessment in Suriname, cooling effects of urban water bodies in Chinese mega-cities, European wine-growers’ adaptive behaviour, and methodological advances in upscaling and validating agent-based land-use models. Across these studies, Schwarz consistently combines empirical field data, geospatial analytics and participatory approaches to produce policy-relevant insights for cities in both the Global North and South. She has (co-)authored >80 peer-reviewed works, accumulating c. 5 900 citations and an h-index of 28 (Scopus). While specific honours are not itemised in the supplied text, her sustained citation impact and invited contributions to major conferences (e.g., iEMSs 2020, IAHR 2025) underscore scientific recognition. Schwarz frequently engages with societal stakeholders: her projects have generated open datasets on urban green-space monitoring in Paramaribo, e-learning modules for Latin-American universities, and interactive dashboards for sustainable water management. Within ITC she contributes to capacity-building programmes for emerging economies, supervises graduate researchers and maintains active collaborations across Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia. No explicit lists of PhD students or personal grants are provided in the current corpus, but her leadership of externally funded projects (e.g., citizen-science evaluation, vineyard decision-making database) indicates ongoing acquisition of research funding.
Geoff Hollinger is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering at Oregon State University, and a Ron and Judy Adams Faculty Scholar. His research focuses on robotic decision-making, planning, and coordination for autonomous systems, particularly in underwater and multi-robot environments. He leads the Robotic Decision-Making Laboratory and has expertise in mission planning, control systems, and marine robotics. Dr. Hollinger holds a PhD in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University (2010), an MS in Robotics (2007), and a BS in General Engineering and BA in Philosophy from Swarthmore College (2005). His work spans theoretical advancements and practical applications, including underwater docking systems, autonomous exploration, and soft robotics for hazardous environments. Research Interests: Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) systems and docking Multi-robot coordination and task assignment Probabilistic planning and decision-making Behavior trees and formal grammars for task planning Underwater manipulation and grasping Energy-efficient trajectory planning Key Achievements: Recipient of the 2017 ONR Young Investigator Award 2017 Celebrate Excellence Awards and Engelbrecht Young Faculty Award Developed frameworks like Angler for intervention tasks and Wave for underwater emulation Labs/Teams: Robotic Decision-Making Laboratory, Collaborative Robotics and Intelligent Systems Institute (CRIS).
Roy CHUA is a Professor of Organisational Behaviour & Human Resources and Associate Dean for Post-Experience Postgraduate Programmes at the Lee Kong Chian School of Business, Singapore Management University. He holds a Ph.D. in Management (Organizational Behavior) from Columbia University and has held academic positions at Harvard Business School and Singapore Management University since 2008. His research focuses on creativity, cross-cultural management, leadership, and innovation in organizational contexts, particularly in Asian business ecosystems. Education: Ph.D., Management (Organizational Behavior), Columbia University (2008) M.A., Philosophy, Columbia University (Year not specified) B.Sc., First Class Honors, Computer and Information Services, National University of Singapore (1998) Research Interests: Dr. Chua's work examines how cultural factors influence creativity and innovation, including studies on cultural tightness, intercultural collaboration, and trust dynamics in global business environments. He has conducted groundbreaking research on gender disparities in creative processes and the impact of cultural diversity on organizational outcomes. His empirical studies often combine quantitative analysis with qualitative insights from multinational corporations and institutional data. Awards: Best Reviewer Award - Academy of Management Journal (2017) Multiple teaching awards including 'Mind Opener' MBA Award (2016) Academic excellence scholarships including Asia Life Gold Medal (1997) Research grants from Columbia University CIBER and other institutions Advising & Grants: Supervises doctoral candidates in General Management and DBA programs Lead researcher on projects funded by Singapore Management University and international grants Collaborations with institutions like MIT Sloan and Harvard Business School Labs/Teams: Leads research initiatives in organizational creativity and cross-cultural management at Lee Kong Chian School of Business, with active participation in global academic networks focused on Asia-Pacific business strategies.
Samuel Thompson Merrick, M.D., is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, and serves as the Medical Director of the Center for Special Studies (HIV/AIDS) at New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell. Board Certified in Internal Medicine, he has over 25 years of experience in HIV clinical care, prevention, and guideline development. Education: B.A. in Biology, Harvard University (1981) M.D., University of Virginia School of Medicine (1988) Dr. Merrick’s research focuses on HIV/AIDS clinical care, including testing strategies , prevention guidelines , and management of opportunistic infections . His recent work explores oncology drug applications in cancer treatment, immune checkpoint inhibition in breast cancer, and anesthesiology standards. Scientific awards include the 2016 Linda Laubenstein HIV Clinical Excellence Award from the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute. His publications span HIV epidemiology, tuberculosis diagnostics, and cancer pharmacology, reflecting interdisciplinary research interests. He has served on the AIDS Institute’s Quality of Care and Medical Care Criteria Committees for over a decade, leading guideline development for HIV prevention and care.
Tracey-Lea Laba is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation (CHERE) within the Faculty of Health at the University of Technology Sydney. As an NHMRC Early Career (Sidney Sax) Fellow and registered pharmacist, she brings extensive clinical experience to her academic work. Her research portfolio spans health economics, pharmacoepidemiology, medication utilization, and health policy with a focus on improving health outcomes for disadvantaged populations through better use of high-value medicines for non-communicable diseases. Dr. Laba received her PhD from The University of Sydney in 2014 and was a University Medallist for her Bachelor of Pharmacy (2004). Prior to joining UTS, she held positions as a senior research fellow at The George Institute for Global Health and the Menzies Centre for Health Policy, and completed an honorary postdoctoral fellowship at The University of British Columbia. Her clinical background includes hospital and community pharmacy practice as well as pharmaceutical industry experience. Her research interests focus on health economics, drug utilization and policy, clinical trial translation, and improving medication access for non-communicable diseases. Dr. Laba has secured significant funding for projects including the Centre of Research Excellence in Medicines Intelligence (2020-2025), the ORIENT study on rural access to reproductive health services (2020-2026), and research on medication utilization patterns in cancer care and cardiovascular disease management. An analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on practical healthcare implementation challenges, with particular attention to medication access, quality improvement in primary care, and health system strengthening. Her work spans both Australian healthcare contexts and global health applications, particularly in low-resource settings in South Asia. Among her notable professional recognitions, Dr. Laba is the first health economist elected to Asthma Australia's Professional Advisory Council and the first person outside the PBAC chair to serve on both the drug utilization and economics subcommittees of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. Dr. Laba actively supervises Masters and PhD students and has received funding through the NHMRC Early Career Fellowship program. Her research has been supported by multiple grants from the Medical Research Future Fund and NHMRC totaling millions of dollars across various projects focused on medicines intelligence, rural healthcare access, and global health interventions.
