Jaafar El-Awady is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University (JHU). He serves as Chair of JHU’s Engineering for Professionals’ Mechanical Engineering Graduate Program, founder/director of the Computational and Experimental Materials Engineering Laboratory (CEMEL), and associate director of the Center on Artificial Intelligence for Materials in Extreme Environments (CAIMEE) and the Center for Integrated Structure-Materials Modeling and Simulations (CISMMS). His secondary appointment in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering underscores his interdisciplinary focus.
John Conlon is an Assistant Professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences within the Department of Social and Decision Sciences . As a behavioral economist, his work bridges economics and psychology through experimental methods to analyze how attention, memory, and cognitive biases influence economic decision-making. Ph.D. in Business Economics from Harvard University B.A. in Economics and Philosophy from The Ohio State University Postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University His research investigates belief formation under cognitive constraints, focusing on how selective memory recall, attention allocation, and social learning distort economic choices. Key applications include education decisions (major selection, salary expectations) and labor markets (teacher recruitment, job search behavior). Article trends reveal systematic exploration of non-Bayesian belief updating , social learning asymmetries , and cue-driven economic biases . These studies employ dual-task experiments , nationally representative surveys , and household fieldwork to challenge rational choice frameworks. Dr. Conlon's interdisciplinary work aligns with Dietrich College's focus on cross-disciplinary collaboration between economists and psychologists. His methodological approach integrates structural modeling with behavioral interventions to address policy-relevant questions.
Noortje Venhuizen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence at the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences, Tilburg University. She serves as Academic Director for the BSc Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence program since 2024, and has held academic positions at Saarland University (2015-2022) including roles as Scientific Staff member and Principal Investigator in SFB 1102 projects. PhD in Computational Semantics (University of Groningen, 2015) MSc in Logic (ILLC, University of Amsterdam, 2011) BSc in Artificial Intelligence (Utrecht University, 2009) Her research focuses on expectation-based language comprehension, neurocomputational modeling of semantic processing, distributional formal semantics, and pragmatic reasoning in discourse. Key contributions include PDRT-SANDBOX (Haskell NLP library) and DFS Tools (Prolog implementation of distributional formal semantics). Recent publications (2023-2025) explore multimodal word meaning, informativity in reference production, and neurocognitive models of surprisal processing. Her work combines formal semantics with cognitive neuroscience and computational modeling. LOT Grotevragenprijs essay contest - Second Prize She has presented research at major conferences including CogSci, AMLaP, and Sinn und Bedeutung. Current teaching includes courses on artificial intelligence, statistics, and semantic theory.
Jason Poulos is a data scientist and researcher currently working at the intersection of machine learning, causal inference, and health policy. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, with a designated emphasis in Computational Science and Engineering. His academic journey includes postdoctoral positions at Harvard Medical School's Department of Health Care Policy and Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr. Poulos's research focuses on developing and applying machine learning methods to address challenges in complex, high-dimensional longitudinal health data. His work spans several interconnected areas including extending causal inference methods for multi-valued treatments, developing frameworks for adversarial machine learning, applying neural networks for health outcome prediction, and evaluating deep learning approaches for missing data imputation in survey data. His recent publications demonstrate expertise in targeted learning methodologies, particularly in observational studies with multi-level treatments, with applications in pharmacoepidemiology. His research output shows a consistent pattern of interdisciplinary work bridging political science, statistics, and health policy. The majority of his recent publications (2021-2024) appear in high-impact journals across biostatistics, political methodology, and machine learning domains, reflecting his ability to contribute to multiple academic communities. His work often employs advanced statistical techniques to address real-world policy questions, particularly in healthcare settings. As evidenced by his publications and research trajectory, Dr. Poulos has established himself as a methodological innovator in causal inference with multi-valued treatments, with particular expertise in applying these methods to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of antipsychotic medications. His work combines deep methodological rigor with practical policy applications.
Jay Michaels is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of South Florida, within the College of Arts and Sciences. He began his academic career at USF in 2016 and previously served as an Assistant Professor at Presbyterian College from 2012 to 2016. Education: PhD in Experimental Psychology, Florida Atlantic University MA in Psychology, Florida Atlantic University BS in Psychology, University of Central Florida BA in History, University of Central Florida AA, Brevard Community College (now Eastern Florida State University) Dr. Michaels' research lies at the intersection of social and cognitive psychology, with a focus on religion, spirituality, and their impact on cognition, health, and societal attitudes. He investigates how religious and spiritual beliefs shape meaning-making processes, psychological wellbeing, and responses to global challenges such as climate change and the pandemic. His work integrates quantitative methods and theoretical frameworks from social cognition and behavioral science. His recent publications reveal a consistent trend in exploring the psychological mechanisms linking religion and spirituality to mental health, environmental concern, and cognitive processing. The studies employ cross-cultural, survey-based, and experimental designs, often focusing on mediating variables like belongingness, social capital, and cognitive framing. Key fields include social psychology, cognitive science, environmental attitudes, and health psychology. Dr. Michaels is actively involved in mentoring student researchers and teaches courses in research methods and statistics. He has served in leadership roles such as Institutional Review Board co-chair, reflecting his commitment to ethical research practices. Outside of academia, he enjoys cooking, meteorology, astronomy, and exploring Florida’s natural environment.
Shichun Ling is a Faculty member at the School of Criminal Justice and Criminalistics, California State University, Los Angeles. She holds a Ph.D. in Criminology from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California – Irvine. Ph.D., Criminology – University of Pennsylvania B.A., Psychology and Social Behavior – University of California, Irvine Her research bridges biopsychosocial, neurocriminology, and developmental criminology to study antisocial behavior, psychopathy, and callous-unemotional traits. She examines autonomic functioning, brain structure/function, and societal perceptions of criminal justice. Recent publications explore resting heart rate interactions with empathy, HPA axis responsivity, and neurointerventions in offenders. Her work has been featured in PBS NOVA and The Future is Fantastic. 17 peer-reviewed articles (11 first-authored) 3 book chapters (2 first-authored) She teaches courses including Biopsychosocial Criminology, Statistics in Criminal Justice, and Theories in Criminal Justice. Office: Room 250, Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center.
Charles Holt is the A. Willis Robertson Professor of Political Economy at the University of Virginia's Department of Economics and Director of the Veconlab. His work bridges experimental economics , game theory , and economic education , with a focus on quantal response equilibrium (QRE), asset market bubbles , and belief/risk elicitation methods. He co-founded the journal Experimental Economics and has advised students like Ricky Sahu and Angela Smith on award-winning research. Education: BA, Washington & Lee University MS, PhD, Carnegie Mellon University Holt’s research demonstrates how stochastic decision-making in QRE explains systematic deviations from Nash equilibrium across social dilemmas, auctions, and voting games. His experimental auction designs for institutions like the FCC and Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative have informed real-world policy. He also pioneered the Holt-Laury measure of risk aversion and the Veconlab software , used by 15,000 students monthly. Scientific awards include the 2023 AEA Distinguished Economic Education Award , the 2018 UVA Thomas Jefferson Award , and the 2008 SEA Kenneth Elzinga Teaching Award .
Prof. Paola Russo is a Researcher at the University of Ancona (Università Politecnica delle Marche), affiliated with the Department of Information Engineering (Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione) under the Engineering School. Her work focuses on electromagnetic fields, antenna design, and biomedical engineering applications. Key research areas include reverberation chamber analysis, microwave engineering, and sensor technologies for healthcare and accessibility. She has contributed to advancements in electromagnetic compatibility testing, non-invasive medical sensing, and antenna systems for visually impaired navigation. Her research integrates theoretical modeling with experimental validation, addressing challenges in 5G channel emulation, radar cross-section prediction, and bioimpedance measurements for medical diagnostics. Projects include developing contactless respiratory monitoring systems and guiding devices for visually impaired athletes. Prof. Russo collaborates on interdisciplinary initiatives combining electrical engineering with biomedical applications, such as tissue inflammation detection and astronaut health monitoring.
Maria Alberich Carramiñana is a Full Professor (Catedrática) at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Department of Mathematics, affiliated with the Faculty of Mathematics and Statistics. She leads the GEOMVAP research group (Geometry of Varieties and Applications) and is part of the Institut de Robòtica i Informàtica Industrial (CSIC-UPC). Her expertise lies in Algebraic Geometry, Singularity Theory, and their applications to robotics, alongside Mathematics Outreach. She holds a Ph.D. from the Universitat de Barcelona and has held roles including Ramón y Cajal Fellow and Associate Professor at UPC. Roles: Deputy Director at CFIS-UPC, member of the IMAGINARY Committee (RSME). Education: M.Sc. (1994), Ph.D. (2000) in Mathematics from UB. Research focuses on analytic and algebraic singularities, robotic perception and manipulation (e.g., cloth modeling), and geometric-topological methods in robotics. Key projects include Interactions of Geometry with Algebra and Applications and GeomVAP . Awards include Sant Jordi IEC Awards (2022, 2024), Vincent Caselles RSME-BBVA (2022), and supervision of award-winning students (e.g., Guillem Blanco, Franco Coltraro). Grants: Competitively funded projects (e.g., Geometria de Varietats i Aplicacions ) and non-competitive initiatives (e.g., LabORA consolidation). Active collaborations in robotics and algebraic geometry.
O. Remus Tutunea-Fatan is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering at Western University, with cross appointments in Biomedical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering. His work focuses on laser polishing, CNC machining, and surface structuring for drag reduction and biomedical applications. Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario M.E.Sc. and B.E.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering, Transilvania University, Romania Research interests include: Advanced CAD/CAM frameworks Laser remelting process optimization Biomedical device design Composite manufacturing techniques Surface topography analysis Artificial intelligence in process control Recent publications indicate expertise in: Laser polishing of metallic surfaces Riblet microstructures for drag reduction AI-driven process monitoring 5-axis machining error compensation Scientific recognition includes: Edward G. Pleva Award for Excellence in Teaching (Western University, 2023) Dr. Terry Base Memorial Teaching Award (2022 co-winner, 2021, 2019) R. Mohan Mathur Award (Faculty of Engineering, 2020) University Students' Council Teaching Honour Roll (2011-2012) Prof. Tutunea-Fatan serves as Associate Chair for Graduate Research Programs (2025-2027) Acting Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies (2023-2024) Acting Chair, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (2021-2022) He supervises over 40 graduate students and collaborates with industry partners including DuPont Safety and Construction, General Motors, and Active Industrial Solutions Inc.
Michelle M. Ward is a Teaching Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Analytical Chemistry Laboratories at the University of Pittsburgh's Department of Chemistry. She joined the faculty in 2009 to teach analytical chemistry and coordinate laboratory courses for undergraduates. Education: B.S.Chem. (1994) and B.S.Ed. (1996) from University of North Dakota; M.S. (2003) and Ph.D. (2008) from University of Pittsburgh. Her research focuses on analytical chemistry, sensor development, and educational methodologies. She has pioneered experiments involving Raman spectroscopy, graphene characterization, photonic crystal sensors, and environmental contaminant detection. Her pedagogical work includes integrating statistics into undergraduate chemistry labs and innovating instrumental analysis curricula. Recent publications highlight her expertise in 2D nanomaterials , electrochemical sensors , and photonic crystal-based detection systems for glucose, metal cations, and environmental pollutants like perchlorate. Scientific Awards: J. Kevin Scanlon Award for the Promotion of Science 2013 Students’ Choice Award (Pitt College of General Studies) 2013 Outstanding Service Award (Pitt Chemistry Department ACS Affiliates) As laboratory coordinator, she bridges advanced chemical research with hands-on undergraduate education, emphasizing practical skills and innovative teaching techniques.
Jonathan Cook is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Pennsylvania State University, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts. His research focuses on social identity threat processes and their impacts on cognitive, emotional, and physiological outcomes. Education: Ph.D. from University of Oregon (2007) Research Interests: Explores how societal threats to identity (based on race, gender, chronic illness) undermine psychological needs for belonging and control. Develops interventions to mitigate these effects and investigates technology's psychological implications. Methodology: Uses experimental designs (lab/field), longitudinal assessments, and advanced statistical modeling to analyze complex social dynamics. Labs: Leads the Group Identity and Social Perception Lab, focusing on social power, stigma, and identity concealment mechanisms.
Dr. Arved Bartuska is a Researcher at the Department of Mathematics, RWTH Aachen University, working in the Chair for Mathematics for Uncertainty Quantification under Prof. Raúl Tempone. His research focuses on developing efficient computational methods for Bayesian optimal experimental design, particularly in the presence of nuisance uncertainty. Education: PhD (Dr. rer. nat.) from RWTH Aachen University, supervised by Prof. Raúl Tempone, with co-advisors Prof. Luis Espath (University of Nottingham) and Prof. Robert Scheichl (University of Heidelberg). Dissertation: Hierarchical Methods for Bayesian Optimal Experimental Design . M.Sc. and M.A. (fields not specified in the text). Dr. Bartuska's research centers on Bayesian statistics and uncertainty quantification . He addresses computational challenges in Bayesian optimal experimental design by developing approximations like Laplace methods and leveraging Monte Carlo techniques to handle high-dimensional parameters and nuisance uncertainties in complex models. His 2022 publication introduced a small-noise approximation for Bayesian experimental design with nuisance uncertainty, significantly reducing computational burden by avoiding nested Monte Carlo sampling. This enables practical application to engineering problems through efficient expected information gain computation. Dr. Bartuska actively presents at international venues including the SIAM Conference on Uncertainty Quantification 2022 and the Stochastic Numerics Workshop at King Abdullah University. He maintains collaborations with institutions across Saudi Arabia, the UK, and Germany within the DFG-funded IRTG 2379 framework. He is a core member of the Mathematics for Uncertainty Quantification chair, contributing to the International Research Training Group 2379 Modern Inverse Problems focused on interdisciplinary approaches to inverse problems from geometry, data, and models.
Anna Nikolei is a research assistant at the University of Kassel in the department of Psychological Research Methods since February 2025. She holds an M.Sc. in Psychology and a B.Sc. in both Mathematics and Psychology from the University of Münster. Education: M.Sc. Psychology (2024), B.Sc. Mathematics (2024), B.Sc. Psychology (2021) Contact: anna.nikolei@uni-kassel.de | +49 561 804-1873 | Room 1303, Dutch Street 36-38, Kassel Her research focuses on statistical inference after model selection and temporal dynamics in experimental longitudinal data . She actively contributes to methodological advancements in multilevel modeling and post-selective inference. Anna's recent publications examine mixed-effects models for time-varying effects and simulation-based validation of inferential techniques in applied linear modeling. Her work bridges methodological rigor with practical applications in psychological experimentation.
Prof. Dr. Jens-Uwe Sommer holds dual appointments as Bereichsdirektor of the Polymer Theory Department at the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (IPF) and Professor of Polymer Theory within the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Technische Universität Dresden. His academic profile bridges theoretical physics and polymer science through rigorous statistical mechanical approaches to complex soft matter systems. His research spans soft condensed matter theory, polymer physics, and statistical thermodynamics with emphasis on topological network structures, polymer crystallization mechanisms, and interfacial phenomena. Key investigations include entanglement effects in polymer crystallization, nanoparticle-membrane interactions, and the design of responsive polymer brush coatings. His methodological toolkit combines Monte Carlo simulations with theoretical modeling to decode fundamental principles governing polymer dynamics across multiple scales. Analysis of his publication record (1995-2014) reveals consistent focus on polymer network topology, crystallization physics, and surface-mediated phenomena. His work demonstrates increasing sophistication in connecting molecular-scale interactions to macroscopic material properties, particularly in bimodal networks and nanostructured polymer systems. The progression from fundamental chain statistics to applied smart materials design highlights his integrative research philosophy. As an educator, Sommer teaches advanced courses including 'Theoretical Polymer Physics' and 'Emergent Properties From Non-Equilibrium Physics' at TU Dresden. He leads the Polymer Theory group at IPF, fostering collaboration between theoretical and experimental researchers to advance polymer science through computational-experimental synergy. His leadership in the 2003 edited volume 'Polymer Crystallization: Observations, Concepts and Interpretations' underscores his disciplinary influence.
