Allen N. Berger is the Carolina Distinguished Professor and H. Montague Osteen, Jr. Professor of Banking and Finance at the University of South Carolina's Darla Moore School of Business. He co-founded and co-directs the Center for Financial Institutions, chairs the Fixed Income-Financial Institutions Conference organizing committee, and is a Senior Fellow at the Wharton Financial Institutions Center. Education includes: Ph.D. in Economics, University of California, Berkeley (1983) M.A. in Economics, University of California, Berkeley (1979) B.A. in Economics, Northwestern University (1976) Research expertise spans financial institutions, with 138 refereed publications in leading finance and economics journals. Major contributions include developing liquidity creation measures used globally, analyzing bank efficiency, and examining crisis interventions. His work has received over 104,000 Google Scholar citations with an H-index of 113. Honors include the Southern Finance Association's Lifetime Service Award (2023), Best Paper Award from Review of Corporate Finance (2023), and University of South Carolina's top research award. He has addressed central banks worldwide and serves on eight editorial boards. Before academia, he spent 26 years at the Federal Reserve Board. Research areas: Bank liquidity creation and financial crises Government interventions (TARP, PPP) Bank competition and FinTech International banking comparisons Small business lending dynamics
John (Xuefeng) Jiang is an Eli Broad Endowed Professor in Accounting at Michigan State University's Broad College of Business, holding appointments in the Department of Accounting and Information Systems, with courtesy positions as Professor of Finance and Faculty Affiliate of the law school. He serves as President-Elect of the Financial Accounting and Reporting Section (FARS) of the American Accounting Association and is an associate editor at Management Science. Dr. Jiang received his education from Renmin University of China and the University of Georgia, and has passed the Uniform CPA exams in both China and the United States. His research spans interdisciplinary areas at the interface of accounting and finance, with particular focus on corporate governance, healthcare management, information technology systems, regulation & public policy, and corporate finance. His methodological approach employs natural experiments and novel data sources to address fundamental questions in financial reporting and disclosure. Dr. Jiang's scholarly work has evolved from traditional accounting topics like earnings management and credit ratings to contemporary issues in healthcare management and cybersecurity. His recent publications examine hospital pricing transparency, data breaches in healthcare systems, and the impact of media oversight on hospital behavior, demonstrating his ability to apply accounting principles to emerging real-world challenges. His research has been widely covered by major media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, NPR, Forbes, and CBS News. American Accounting Association Distinguished Contribution to Accounting Literature Award (2017) Multiple Outstanding Teacher of the Year awards from graduating students Dr. Jiang has successfully mentored doctoral students who have secured tenure-track positions at the University of Florida, the National University of Singapore, and Miami University. He has served on the FARS steering board from 2018 to 2022 and is actively involved in the academic community as a past President of MSU's Chinese Faculty Club and faculty advisor for the Broad China Business Society.
Sarah Harper is the Clore Professor of Gerontology at the University of Oxford and Director of the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing. She was appointed a CBE in 2018 for services to Demography and serves as Chair of HelpAge International. Professor Harper has held numerous influential positions including serving on the Prime Minister's Council for Science and Technology and as Director of the Royal Institution of Great Britain. Her educational background includes an MA from Cambridge and a DPhil from Oxford. Prior to her academic career, she trained with the BBC as a News and Current Affairs Reporter and Producer. She subsequently held academic positions at the University of London and the University of Chicago before returning to Oxford to found the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing. Professor Harper's research focuses on demographic change, particularly the implications of falling fertility and increasing life expectancy. Her work examines life course factors in healthy ageing, social and economic drivers of health and well-being, with emphasis on life transitions. She has conducted significant research on eldercare in China, fertility patterns in sub-Saharan Africa (revealing that ideal family size remains high despite girls' education), and demographic changes in Vietnam and Myanmar affecting agricultural production and food security. Her publication record demonstrates consistent focus on global demographic trends, with recent work increasingly addressing the intersection of population change with environmental challenges. She has authored influential books including 'How Population Change Will Transform Our World' (Oxford University Press, 2016) and is working on a new book for Cambridge University Press on Population and Environmental Change. Scientific Awards and Honors CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 2018 for services to Demography Royal Society for Public Health: Arts and Health Research Award (2011) Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences Fellow of the Royal Anthropology Institute Professor Harper has supervised numerous PhD students across diverse topics from biodiversity conservation in Southeast Asia to intergenerational solidarity in Turkey. Her advisory work extends globally, having served on the Scientific Advisory Board of Natural England, the Royal Society's Working Group on Population and Environment, and as an advisor to governments including the UK, Malaysia, Singapore, and the European Commission. She has received research funding from organizations including the US National Institutes of Health, which supported the founding of the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing. As Director of the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, Professor Harper leads a multidisciplinary team examining demographic trends and their societal implications. The Institute serves as a hub for international collaboration on ageing research, working with organizations including Population Europe and the International Association of Research Universities. She also serves as founding editor of the Journal of Population Ageing and editor of the Handbook of Ageing and Public Policy.
Professor Nicole Metje is a Professor of Infrastructure Monitoring at the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Birmingham, and Director of the National Buried Infrastructure Facility. She also serves as Co-director of the Institute of Quantum Technology. Her research focuses on quantum sensing, geotechnical engineering, and infrastructure monitoring, with a particular emphasis on buried infrastructure detection and sustainable urban development. Education: PhD in Civil Engineering (University of Birmingham, 2001); Dipl.-Ing. in Civil Engineering (Hannover University, Germany, 1998). Key roles and affiliations include membership in EPSRC Infrastructure Strategic Advisory Team, Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors, and international advisory boards for Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She has authored/co-authored over 50 journal papers and a textbook on tunnel construction. Research areas include quantum sensor applications for buried asset detection, geophysical soil properties, and sensor development for infrastructure monitoring. She leads projects such as UKCRIC National Buried Infrastructure Facility and Quantum Technology Hub in Sensors and Metrology. Awards and fellowships include FICE, FCInstCES, CEng, FHEA, and multiple committee memberships in national/international bodies. Teaching includes MSc courses on underground construction and geotechnical engineering. She supervises doctoral research on quantum sensors, soil-structure interactions, and sustainable infrastructure.
About Marin Litoiu is a Professor at York University, holding dual affiliations in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Lassonde School of Engineering and the School of Information Technology in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and a recipient of the 2020 IBM Faculty of the Year Award. His research focuses on cloud computing, self-adaptive systems, DevOps, IoT, and machine learning-driven performance engineering. Research & Awards Litoiu leads the Dependable Internet-of-Things Applications (DITA) program, funded by NSERC, and co-founded Bitnobi Inc., acquired by Myant. His notable awards include the CASCON 2019 Most Influential Paper Award and Best Paper Awards at multiple conferences. His work emphasizes practical applications of adaptive systems, cybersecurity, and smart infrastructure integration. Grants & Projects NSERC CREATE Program: $1.65M for the DITA program (2018) York Innovation, TIAP, NSERC, and OCI-funded Bitnobi incubation Leadership in multiple CASCON workshops on cloud computing and AIOps Labs & Teams Litoiu’s lab has produced impactful startups like Bitnobi and pioneered research in self-driving systems, edge computing, and AI-driven operations. His team collaborates with industry partners like IBM and explores cutting-edge topics such as LLMs in performance optimization and fault detection.
Thompson S.H. Teo is a Professor in the Department of Analytics and Operations (DAO) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School. He holds editorial roles in top journals including European Journal of Information Systems, International Journal of Information Management, and Communications of the AIS. His research spans information systems strategy, business-IT alignment, e-commerce, sustainability, and AI's societal impacts. With over 200 publications, he ranked #143 globally in 2023 among business scientists (research.com) and was recognized in Stanford's top 2% global scientists (2021-2023). Awards include the Best Associate Editor Award (2017) and AIS Distinguished Membership. Thompson's research interests include IT adoption, cyberloafing, supply chain digitalization, and green innovation. He teaches courses on innovation, Industry 4.0, and strategic IT at undergraduate, masters, and executive levels. Notable contributions include frameworks for commute experience analysis and AI adoption market signals. His work bridges theory and practice, addressing challenges in sustainability, organizational behavior, and digital governance. Affiliations: NUS Business School, Distinguished Editorial Advisory Board (IJoIM), Senior Member (INFORMS) Grants & Leadership: Extensive editorial leadership, supervised China Scholarship Council PhD students, and executive programs on innovation design thinking. Key Contributions: Over 270 publications, four co-edited books on IT/e-commerce, and policy-relevant studies on environmental regulations and green tech adoption. His research often employs mixed methods (e.g., QCA for corruption analysis, PLS-SEM for cyberloafing models) and addresses global issues like fake news mitigation via ChatGPT and pandemic-era customer engagement in short videos.
Jon Miller is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology. He holds dual roles as Director of the NJ Coastal Protection Technical Assistance Service and NJ Sea Grant Coastal Processes Specialist. Miller earned a B.E. in Civil Engineering from Stevens (1999), followed by M.S. and Ph.D. in Coastal Engineering from the University of Florida (2001, 2004). His research focuses on coastal hazard mitigation, nature-based solutions, and numerical modeling of coastal systems. Education: - Ph.D. Coastal Engineering, University of Florida (2004) - M.S. Coastal Engineering, University of Florida (2001) - B.E. Civil Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology (1999) Research Interests: Miller's work emphasizes coastal resilience through innovative engineering approaches. Key areas include: - Wave attenuation mechanisms of natural/nature-based features - Climate change impacts on coastal erosion - Living shoreline design and implementation - Sediment management strategies for inlets and beaches - Dune system vulnerability analysis Grants & Awards: - $1M+ funding from NOAA, NSF, and state agencies - 2024 ASCE Educator of the Year Award - 2023 Robert G. Dean Coastal Award - Over 20+ technical reports guiding coastal policy Professional Leadership: - Editorial roles in Shore & Beach and Journal of Coastal Research - Leadership in NJ Coastal Resilience Collaborative - Advisor for 3 Technogenesis Summer Scholars Labs & Projects: - Principal Investigator for SEECPRS disaster response system - Co-developed NJ Living Shorelines Engineering Guidelines - Conducts fieldwork on Hudson River shoreline restoration
Dr. Robert O’Connor is an Assistant Professor at the School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University (DCU) , specializing in interface chemistry and thin film characterization. His work bridges semiconductor physics and energy harvesting technologies , with a focus on materials like high-κ dielectrics and III-V substrates. BSc in Applied Physics (2001), DCU PhD in Semiconductor Physics (2005), DCU His research employs X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic layer deposition (ALD) to study material interfaces in devices such as MOSFETs and photoelectrochemical systems . He leads a 4-year SFI-funded project on solar water splitting for hydrogen fuel and collaborates with Trinity College Dublin (SPOKE project) and IMEC, Belgium on area-selective deposition techniques. His lab utilizes a state-of-the-art integrated ALD-XPS tool . His scientific awards include the Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship , Irish Research Council EMBARK Fellowship , and SFI TIDA Award . Publications span high-κ dielectrics , self-assembled monolayers , and block copolymer lithography , with recent work on graphene oxide heterostructures and recyclability in additive manufacturing . He supervises 5 postgraduate students and teaches modules like Final Year Project (PS451) and Solid State Physics I (PS204) . Collaborations include institutions such as IMEC and Trinity College Dublin , with tools like the integrated ALD-XPS system at DCU.
Susanna Thon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Johns Hopkins University (JHU), affiliated with the Whiting School of Engineering. She serves as Associate Director of the Ralph O’Connor Sustainable Energy Institute (ROSEI) and a member of the Data Science and AI Institute. Her research focuses on nanomaterials engineering for optoelectronic devices, emphasizing solar energy conversion and sensing. Notable areas include plasmonic-photocatalytic systems using aluminum nanoparticles and nanostructured materials like colloidal quantum dots for next-generation devices. Thon holds a BSc from MIT (2005) and MSc/PhD in Physics from UC Santa Barbara (2008/2010). She joined JHU in 2013 after postdoctoral work at the University of Toronto. Her work is funded by agencies such as the NSF, U.S. Army, and Maryland Energy Innovation Institute. She has published over 50 peer-reviewed papers and received JHU’s Catalyst and Discovery awards. Key research projects include developing plasmonic systems to enhance light absorption in titanium dioxide and creating scalable fabrication techniques for optoelectronic materials. Thon’s team also advances quantum dot solar cells and novel characterization methods for energy materials. She actively participates in professional societies, including the Optical Society of America and IEEE. Her grants and collaborations aim to train the next generation in sustainable energy research, with recent initiatives funded through NSF and Space@Hopkins seed grants. Thon’s lab integrates nanophotonics, materials science, and machine learning to address global energy challenges.
Séverine Dusollier is a Professor of Intellectual Property at the Law School of Sciences Po Paris and holds a Senior Chair at the Institut Universitaire de France. She serves as Director of the Law School's Research Centre and Head of the Master in Innovation Law, actively contributing to doctoral committee activities. Her expertise spans copyright law , digital rights , and intellectual property frameworks. Key roles : Research Centre Director, Master in Innovation Law Head International engagement : Founding Member of the European Copyright Society, ATRIP member Her research focuses on digital copyright issues , authorship concepts , contractual protections for creators , and the evolution of exceptions and limitations . Recent work explores generative AI implications, public domain dynamics , and inclusive property models . She has held visiting positions at Berkeley, Columbia, NYU, and Cambridge. Notable scientific awards include: ERC research grant (2014–2019) Senior Chair, Institut Universitaire de France CSPLA (French Copyright Council) membership Her publications emphasize digital transitions , IP openness , and fair remuneration in streaming , reflecting her dedication to reconciling traditional IP structures with modern technological realities.
Brett Sanders is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Samueli School of Engineering, University of California, Irvine. His research focuses on developing innovative algorithms for flow and transport in river and coastal systems and integrating information technologies to create more accurate and efficient simulation tools for flood hazard assessment. His primary research interests include: Flooding and erosion hazards, particularly coastal flooding and urban flooding Surface water quality Low impact development impacts on hydrology Dam-break flooding Aerial and terrestrial lidar scanning Geographical information systems High performance computing for simulation tools Social dimensions of flood risk and adaptation behaviors Dr. Sanders' recent publications (2024-2025) reveal a comprehensive research program addressing both technical and social aspects of flood risk. His work spans computational hydrodynamics, flood hazard mapping, infrastructure vulnerability assessment, and the socioeconomic dimensions of flood risk. He has made significant contributions to understanding multi-grid modeling of urban flooding, post-fire flood hazards, satellite-based monitoring of land motion, and social inequalities in flood exposure. His research demonstrates how flood dynamics are more complex than simple bath-tub filling models suggest, with important implications for urban planning and climate adaptation. Dr. Sanders has received recognition as a Chancellor's Professor at UC Irvine, indicating distinguished scholarly achievement. His educational background includes: Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan (1997) M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan (1994) B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley (1993)
Robert Thomas is a Professor of Public Law at the University of Manchester's School of Law. He holds a LL.B. from Cardiff University (1995) and a Ph.D. from Nottingham University (1998). His research focuses on administrative law, immigration/asylum law, and administrative justice, with particular emphasis on tribunals, judicial review, and institutional design. He has advised the UK Parliament on immigration reforms and authored influential works like Administrative Justice and Asylum Appeals (2011), which won the Peter Birks Prize. His recent projects include studies on AI in governance, constitutional history, and systemic administrative justice failures. Thomas is actively involved in legal education, co-authoring Public Law (5th ed., 2024) and supervising postgraduate research in public law and immigration law. Key research contributions include empirical analyses of asylum appeals, administrative tribunals, and ombudsman practices. He has addressed challenges in public sector digitalisation, outsourcing impacts on administrative justice, and the implications of pandemic governance. Thomas advocates for administrative fairness agendas in immigration systems and contributes to legal scholarship through peer-reviewed articles and edited volumes on topics ranging from judicial review to constitutional caricature history. His awards include the 2011 Peter Birks Prize for Outstanding Legal Scholarship. Thomas engages with policy-making through expert testimony, public commentary, and collaborative research funded by the British Academy and Nuffield Foundation. His work intersects law, policy, and social justice, emphasizing the practical implications of legal frameworks on vulnerable populations.
Marshall Steinbaum is an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Utah and a Senior Fellow in Higher Education Finance at the Jain Family Institute. His empirical research focuses on employer power in labor markets, with applications to antitrust policy, student debt, and economic inequality. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Chicago and a B.A. (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Oxford University. Steinbaum's research investigates: The dynamics of labor market concentration and its impact on wages Antitrust enforcement in franchising and gig economies Student debt crises and higher education financing Historical and policy-driven causes of economic inequality His recent publications analyze trends in franchising restrictions, mergers' labor market effects, and student debt cancellation impacts. Articles consistently emphasize employer power, regulatory gaps, and structural inequities across labor and education sectors.
Vera Liao is a Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research, where she is part of the FATE (Fairness, Accountability, Transparency, and Ethics of AI) group. She will join the University of Michigan Computer Science and Engineering department as an Associate Professor in fall 2025. Her work focuses on human-AI interaction, explainable AI, and responsible computing. Liao has made significant contributions to IBM products such as AI Explainability 360 and Uncertainty Quantification 360 during her time at IBM T.J. Watson Research Center. Dr. Liao received her education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Tsinghua University. Her academic journey has positioned her at the intersection of human-computer interaction and artificial intelligence, with a strong emphasis on creating AI systems that are transparent, accountable, and user-centered. Vera Liao's research primarily centers around human-centered AI explainability and transparency. She investigates how to design AI systems that effectively communicate their capabilities, limitations, and decision-making processes to users. Her work examines the intersection of AI transparency with trust, control, and user experience. Liao has pioneered approaches to bridging the socio-technical gap in AI evaluation and has developed frameworks for contextualized evaluation of explainable AI systems. Her research spans multiple domains including conversational interfaces, data storytelling, and creative work with generative AI. Liao's publications reveal a clear trend toward addressing the challenges of large language models and their impact on human-AI interaction. Her recent work focuses on understanding how uncertainty communication affects user trust, how to design for appropriate reliance on AI systems, and how to create authentic co-creation experiences with generative models. She has been examining the risks in AI-infused information ecosystems and developing methods for human-centered evaluation of language technologies. Her scientific contributions have been recognized with multiple honors: Best Paper Award, Honorable Mention at CHI 2025 (two papers) Best Paper Award at CHI 2024 Best Paper Award, Honorable Mention at FAccT 2023 Best Paper Award, Honorable Mention at HCOMP 2022 Best Paper Award, Honorable Mention at CHI 2021 Best Paper Award, Honorable Mention at CHI 2014 Outstanding Paper Award at IUI 2019 Dr. Liao is an active mentor, having guided numerous research interns from top universities including Cornell, Princeton, CMU, Stanford, and MIT. She serves in editorial roles as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Springer Human-Computer Interaction Book Series and as an Editor for ACM CSCW. Liao has secured research funding through her work at Microsoft Research and previously at IBM, focusing on projects related to AI explainability, transparency, and responsible AI development. As part of Microsoft Research's FATE group, Liao collaborates with a multidisciplinary team of researchers focused on the ethical implications of AI technologies. Her work bridges the gap between technical AI development and human-centered design principles, ensuring that AI systems are developed with user needs and societal impacts in mind.
Colin Peter Green is a Professor of Economics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, Norway, where he serves in the Department of Economics within the Faculty of Economics. He also holds a research fellowship at the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA) in Bonn, Germany. Having earned his PhD from the University of Queensland in 2008, Green has established himself as a prominent researcher across multiple economic fields. Green's research spans labor economics, education economics, migration studies, health economics, political economy, and behavioral economics. His work frequently examines the intersection of these fields, with particular focus on how economic policies and structures impact individual behavior, educational outcomes, and well-being. Recent projects have investigated performance pay systems, political connections in business, refugee integration in educational settings, and the relationship between physical attractiveness and adolescent risk behaviors. His methodological approach typically employs rigorous empirical techniques applied to large-scale datasets from multiple countries. Green serves as Editor in Chief of the journal Education Economics and is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization (JEBO). He is also the organizer of the International Workshop on the Applied Economics of Education (IWAEE), demonstrating significant leadership in his academic community. His editorial roles and conference organization indicate substantial recognition from peers and influence in shaping research directions in education and labor economics. His extensive publication record includes articles in top journals such as Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Labour Economics, British Journal of Industrial Relations, and Journal of Population Economics. Green's research demonstrates consistent productivity with publications spanning from 2021 through 2025, covering diverse topics from the impact of bar closing hours on traffic accidents to the effects of political donations on UK democracy. Green maintains an active professional presence through his Bluesky account (@colinpgreen.bsky.social) where he engages with the academic community, shares conference announcements, and discusses research opportunities. His involvement in hiring PhD students and faculty positions at NTNU indicates ongoing commitment to departmental development and academic mentorship.
