Dr. Patrick Scholten is Professor of Economics at Bentley University, researching industrial organization, e-commerce economics, and applied game theory. His work analyzes firm behaviors in online markets using econometric methods. Education includes: PhD in Economics, Indiana State University MS in Student Affairs and Higher Education, Indiana State University Research examines price dispersion, network effects, ID verification impacts, and corporate social responsibility expectations. Recent publications focus on geo-cultural FDI determinants and business sustainability pressures.
Pierre Baldi is a Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and Director of the Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). He is affiliated with the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences. His research spans artificial intelligence, machine learning, bioinformatics, and communication networks, with notable projects in protein structure prediction, gene expression modeling, and neutrino physics collaborations like DUNE. Baldi’s work bridges theoretical foundations (e.g., neural network theory) and applied domains, including medical imaging and fusion technology. Key research interests include AI-driven biomedical applications, neural network theory, and interdisciplinary projects such as the DUNE neutrino experiment. His contributions to neural network engineering were recognized with the 2023 INNS Dennis Gabor Award, highlighting his paradigm-changing impact on computational neuroscience and physics. Baldi’s academic leadership includes directing UCI’s Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics, fostering collaborations in computational biology and AI. His recent work explores AI’s role in healthcare, climate modeling (e.g., ClimSim-Online), and fundamental physics challenges like neutrino oscillation studies.
Sarah Köster is a Full Professor at the University of Göttingen’s Institute for Cellular and Molecular Physiology of the Brain. She earned her PhD from the University of Göttingen under Prof. Stephan Herminghaus and completed postdoctoral research at Harvard University with Prof. David Weitz. Her career includes appointments as Junior Professor (2008-2011), Associate Professor (2011-2017), and Full Professor (since 2017). Research focuses on cellular biophysics, particularly cytoskeletal mechanics and intermediate filament dynamics. Key investigations include keratin plasticity, vimentin network mechanics, cytoskeletal crosstalk, and DNA organization during cell division. Her publications demonstrate expertise in nanoscale biomechanics, utilizing techniques like nanoindentation, X-ray diffraction, and advanced microscopy to probe cellular structures. Recent work emphasizes multiscale mechanical properties of cytoskeletal networks and their functional implications.
Lizi Liao is an Assistant Professor at the School of Computing and Information Systems , Singapore Management University (SMU) , specializing in Artificial Intelligence and Conversational AI . Her research bridges Machine Learning , Natural Language Processing , and Multimodal Systems , focusing on proactive dialogue systems, multimodal conversational search, and task-oriented interactions. Education : PhD in Computer Science (2019) from the National University of Singapore (NUS) , advised by Professor Tat-Seng Chua . Research Interests center on principles of human conversational understanding and machine implementation, particularly in proactive conversational agents , multimodal dialogue systems , and target-driven conversation planning . Key applications include emotional support systems , intelligent shopping assistants , and learning companions . Recent Publications (2024-2025) highlight her work on LLM-based proactive dialogue , multimodal emotion recognition , and dynamic graph modeling , often integrating NLP , Multimedia , and Knowledge Graphs . Collaborative projects with her CoAgent Lab team emphasize human-AI interaction and ethical response generation . Scientific Awards : Google South Asia & Southeast Asia Research Award 2023 Lee Kong Chian Fellow Teaching includes Visual Analytics for Business Intelligence (undergraduate) and Text Analytics and Application (graduate). She also serves as Associate Editor for TOIS and TOMM , and organizes tutorials at ACL , SIGIR , and WSDM .
Akanksha Agrawal is an Assistant Professor and Veena and Induprakas Keri Faculty Fellow at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras. Her research focuses on Parameterized Complexity & Algorithms, Graph Algorithms, Computational Geometry, Exact Algorithms, and Fine Grained Algorithms & Complexity. She has held postdoctoral positions at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (Israel) and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, funded by a PBC Fellowship. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Bergen under Professors Saket Saurabh and Daniel Lokshtanov. Education: Ph.D., University of Bergen, Norway (2017-2021) Postdoctoral Researcher, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel (2021-2022) Postdoctoral Researcher, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary (2022-2023) Research Interests: Her work emphasizes parameterized complexity, graph algorithms, and computational geometry. She explores exact algorithms, fine-grained complexity, and algorithmic approaches to NP-hard problems. Her research bridges theoretical insights with practical algorithmic solutions. Recent Activities & Awards: ACM-India Eminent Speaker (2024-2026) Invited Talks: COMSNETS 2025, IISc Bengaluru (2024), Bali Parameterized Graph Algorithms (2024) Program Committee Roles: IPEC 2025 (Co-Chair), WG 2025, CALDAM 2025 Grants & Academic Services: Organizing Dagstuhl Seminar (Jan. 2025) with Maria Chudnovsky, Daniel Paulusma, and Oliver Schaudt Contributions to international conferences and workshops Teaching: Courses include Combinatorial Objects, Parameterized Algorithms, Design & Analysis of Algorithms, Approximation Algorithms, and Advanced Data Structures.
Maziar Behrooz is an Associate Professor in the History Department at San Francisco State University (SFSU), where he has held academic positions since 1995. He specializes in the history of the Near East, modern Iran, and the Islamic world, with particular focus on political movements, international relations, and revolutionary dynamics. Behrooz holds a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies from UCLA (1993), alongside advanced degrees from SFSU and Saint Mary's College. His academic career includes visiting positions at Stanford University, UC Berkeley, and other institutions. His research interests encompass Iranian foreign policy, the Iranian Left's historical trajectory, Russo-Iranian relations, and the socio-political dimensions of the Islamic Revolution. He has authored seminal works such as Rebels with a Cause: The Failure of the Left in Iran (1999) and Iran at War: Interaction with the Modern World (2023). His scholarship critically examines themes like state formation, ideological fragmentation, and geopolitical conflicts. Behrooz frequently presents at international conferences (MESA, AIS) and reviews major works in peer-reviewed journals like International Journal of Middle East Studies . He is affiliated with professional organizations including the Middle East Studies Association and holds proficiency in English, Persian, and French. His academic contributions bridge historical analysis with contemporary political discourse, particularly regarding Iran's domestic and international challenges.
Lucia Lee is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Queen's University, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and Science. Her research focuses on applying green chemistry principles to supramolecular interactions involving main-group elements, particularly sigma-hole interactions, with applications in materials science and medicine. She holds a PhD from McMaster University and has completed postdoctoral studies at the University of Geneva and Weizmann Institute of Science. Dr. Lee's educational background includes a PhD supported by an NSERC grant, which explored chalcogen bonding in supramolecular materials. Her postdoctoral work at Weizmann focuses on stimuli-responsive materials using chalcogen elements for photoswitching applications. She has also contributed to academic governance through roles in the McMaster Graduate Students Association. Her research interests span analytical chemistry, quantum chemistry, inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and free radical chemistry. Key projects include integrating chalcogen bonding into d-metal coordination chemistry, catalysis, and chemical biology to create functional materials. Her lab, located in CHE513, emphasizes sustainable approaches to material design through main-group supramolecular systems. Her articles explore topics like chalcogen bonding mechanisms, anion transport, and photoswitching in confined spaces, reflecting a strong focus on molecular assembly and functional materials. She has no listed scientific awards but demonstrates significant contributions to supramolecular chemistry through her publications and cross-appointments at Queen's Carbon to Metal Coating Institute.
Wes Hartmann is the John G. McCoy-Banc One Professor of Marketing at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. His research focuses on the intersection of marketing, economics, and policy, with emphasis on pricing strategies, brand advertising, social interactions, and conservation. He has advised numerous PhD students who have secured academic and industry positions globally. Key research interests include understanding frequency in brand advertising, preference externality estimators, and the economics of harm reduction through conservation experiments. Hartmann’s work bridges theoretical econometric models with real-world applications, such as dynamic pricing in retail and the impact of digital cinema on market dynamics. His publications have been recognized with prestigious awards, including finalist nominations for the John D.C. Little Award and the Paul Green Award. Notable contributions include groundbreaking studies on Super Bowl advertising effectiveness and the implications of social networks on consumer behavior. Hartmann’s advising record spans over 15 students, many of whom have secured tenured positions or roles at top institutions like Harvard, Columbia, and NYU. His research collaborations include projects on conservation field experiments, internet vs. TV advertising efficacy, and the role of social interactions in targeted marketing.
Professor James Barlow is Co-Director of Imperial College London's Centre for Sectoral Economic Performance and holds a Professorship in the Department of Economics and Public Policy at the Imperial College Business School. He also serves as Academic Director for the MBA programme and Visiting Professor at Halmstad University (Sweden) and Honorary Professor at UCL Bartlett Real Estate Institute. His research focuses on structural challenges in healthcare innovation, housing, and construction sectors, with a particular emphasis on embedding innovations into healthcare systems. Barlow's education includes a background in geography and economics from the London School of Economics. He has held previous roles at the University of Westminster and Policy Studies Institute. His advisory work spans governments, healthcare organizations, and industries including medical technology and pharmaceuticals. He contributes to major initiatives like AGE-WELL (Canada) and the Industry Commons Foundation (Sweden). Research interests include healthcare innovation ecosystems, institutional logics, and frugal innovation. His recent book *Managing Innovation in Healthcare* synthesizes his work. He collaborates across disciplines, addressing challenges in telehealth, AI integration, and regulatory frameworks post-Brexit. Key affiliations include the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Innovation, Policy Innovation Research Unit (PIRU), and the NIHR Health Tech Research Centre. His work bridges academic research with practical policy and industry solutions, emphasizing scalable and sustainable business models.
Gerald Voorhees is an Associate Professor and Chair of Communication Arts at the University of Waterloo. He holds a Ph.D. from The University of Iowa (2008) and a B.S. in Speech Communication from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a Senior Fellow in the Honors Program of the College of Communication. His research explores games and new media as platforms for identity and cultural construction, with a focus on public discourse around gaming and rhetorics of race and ethnicity. Dr. Voorhees has held significant academic roles, including Vice-President of the Canadian Game Studies Association and former membership on the Executive Board of the Digital Games Research Association. He previously taught at Oregon State University and developed the Game and Interactive Media Design track at High Point University. His teaching spans communication theory, media studies, and game design, with courses such as DAC 204 (Game Design) and COMMST 430 (Communication and Social Justice). His research integrates critical theory with digital media analysis, examining topics like gender representation in games, neoliberal masculinity in esports, and racial dynamics in gaming cultures. He has co-edited influential volumes such as Masculinities in Play (2018) and Feminisms in Play (2018), contributing to foundational discussions in game studies. His recent work addresses intersectional feminism in gaming and the cultural implications of shooter game genres. Dr. Voorhees actively engages with professional organizations and academic publishing, serving as co-editor of the Approaches to Game Studies book series (Bloomsbury) and managing editor of the Gender in Play trilogy (Palgrave Macmillan). His scholarship bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis, shaping interdisciplinary dialogue on digital media's societal impact.
Dr Tracy Qu is a Lecturer in the School of Accountancy at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), within the Faculty of Business & Law. She holds a PhD in Accounting from Griffith University (2018) and is a CPA Australia member (since 2021). Her research focuses on executive remuneration, corporate governance, financial reporting, and environmental accounting. Tracy teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses in accounting fundamentals, financial analysis, and business valuation. She has also served as a referee for journals like Accounting and Finance and Australian Journal of Management . Tracy’s research explores intersections between governance structures and executive compensation design, particularly in mitigating agency conflicts. Her work examines topics such as carbon emissions policy impacts on corporate behavior, labeling effects in financial disclosures, and CEO celebrity influence on investment decisions. She actively contributes to academic debates on environmental accounting and sustainability reporting. Tracy is currently accepting research students for Honours, Masters, and PhD programs, focusing on topics like executive compensation efficiency, board interlocks, and compensation consultants’ roles.
Professor Benjamin C.M. Kao is a faculty member in the Department of Computer Science at The University of Hong Kong (HKU), affiliated with the School of Computing and Data Science. He holds a BSc from HKU (1989) and a PhD from Princeton University (1995). His career includes roles as a teaching/research assistant at Princeton (1989-1991) and a research fellow at Stanford University (1992-1995). His research focuses on Database Management Systems, Data Mining, Real-time Systems, and Information Retrieval Systems. Notable contributions include S-OLAP for sequence data analysis, collaborative resource discovery in social tagging systems, and algorithms for mining periodic patterns in sequences. He has led research grants such as the GRF-funded 'Online Analytical Processing on Sequence Data' (2008) and computational studies in uncertain data mining (2006). Professor Kao has served on program committees for major computer science conferences and reviewed for leading journals. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications in data systems and information retrieval.
Anders Åkerman is a Professor in the Department of Economics and Finance at the UiS School of Business and Law, University of Stavanger. He is an active researcher in applied economics with a focus on labor, trade, technology, and environmental policy. His research interests span applied microeconomics , international trade , labor economics , and environmental economics . He investigates how technological change, market structure, and global shocks affect firms, workers, and policy outcomes. His work often combines empirical methods with policy relevance. The recent articles reflect a strong trend in analyzing digital transformation (e.g., broadband and trade), environmental impacts of trade and production , and economic resilience during crises such as the pandemic. His publications appear in leading journals like the Quarterly Journal of Economics and American Economic Journal: Applied Economics . He has contributed to public discourse through op-eds in Dagens Nyheter and Svenska Dagbladet , and has been involved in policy commissions like Sweden's Coronakommissionen. He regularly presents research at seminars and international conferences, including the Nordic International Trade Seminar and Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics. Anders Åkerman has advised or collaborated with several researchers and policy experts, including Torsten Persson, Magne Mogstad, and Karolina Ekholm. While formal student advisees are not listed, his collaborative work suggests active mentorship and team leadership. He is affiliated with research networks and institutes such as IFN (Research Institute of Industrial Economics) and participates in interdisciplinary teams focused on economic policy and transition. His upcoming work continues to explore the intersection of technology, environment, and labor markets.
Jesse J. Helton, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Saint Louis University, where he has been since 2014. His research focuses on child maltreatment, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), food insecurity, and disability, with notable work published in JAMA Pediatrics , Child Maltreatment , and Preventative Medicine . He holds editorial roles at the Child Maltreatment journal and serves on the Prevention Committee of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. Dr. Helton’s community partnerships address child abuse prevention, food security, and family violence mitigation in collaboration with statewide and local organizations. Education: Ph.D. in Social Work, University of Illinois; M.A. in Social Work, University of New Hampshire. Research Interests: Dr. Helton’s work explores intersections between childhood trauma, socioeconomic factors, and health outcomes. Key themes include the impact of food insecurity on caregiver-child dynamics, disparities in ACEs among marginalized groups, and policy interventions to reduce maltreatment. His studies often employ mixed-methods approaches, combining quantitative data analysis with qualitative insights from affected communities. Awards: Recipient of the 2020 Association of Jesuit Colleges Leadership Institute award, 2018 Outstanding Young Alumni from Eureka College, and a 2014 Innovative Teaching Fellowship from SLU’s Reinert Center. Teaching: Courses include Principles of Statistics and Data Analysis , Research Methods for Diverse Societies , and Science of Helping . He emphasizes evidence-based practices and culturally responsive pedagogy. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams across universities and NGOs, focusing on translational research to inform child welfare policies and community programs.
Douglas C. Ligor is a Professor of Policy Analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy and Director of the Management, Technology, and Capabilities Program at RAND's Homeland Security Research Division. He holds dual roles as a Senior Behavioral Scientist and academic researcher, specializing in homeland/national security law, immigration policy, space governance, and international legal frameworks. Education: J.D. from University of Connecticut School of Law (2000s) and B.S. in Economics from U.S. Military Academy at West Point (1990s). Prior to RAND, he served in federal legal roles including Deputy Chief Counsel at USCIS and Assistant District Counsel at DOJ/ICE. Research focuses on border security, asylum processing, outer space regulation, and federal-state-local coordination. His work frequently addresses intersections between statutory compliance and operational realities in domains like immigration enforcement and space traffic management. Notable contributions include policy analyses on Title 42 immigration restrictions, ISIS prisoner management in Syria, and frameworks for international space traffic governance. He regularly engages in public commentary through podcasts and op-eds on topics like U.S. border policy and emerging space law challenges.
