Anna Berge is a Professor of Linguistics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, directing the Alaska Native Language Archive. She holds a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley (1997), specializing in the documentation, description, and historical analysis of Eskimo-Aleut languages, particularly Unangam Tunuu (Aleut). Her research integrates linguistics with archaeology, genetics, and environmental studies to explore prehistoric language contact and divergence patterns along the North Pacific Coast. Her work focuses on morphosyntax, discourse analysis, and language revitalization for highly endangered languages. She teaches courses in Morphology, Field Methods, Community Language Documentation, and Eskimo-Aleut Linguistics, emphasizing practical skills for language preservation. Berge's multidisciplinary approach addresses Aleut language divergence from Eskimoan branches, leveraging data from multiple disciplines to reconstruct linguistic prehistory. She actively collaborates with Indigenous communities in Russia, Alaska, Canada, and Greenland to archive linguistic materials and support language maintenance initiatives.
Professor Mette Eilstrup-Sangiovanni serves as Senior Lecturer in International Studies within the Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) at the University of Cambridge and holds a Fellowship in International Relations at Sidney Sussex College. Her teaching portfolio encompasses International Organization, International Relations Theory, International Security, History and Theory of European Integration, and Research Design and Methodology, reflecting her dual institutional commitments. Her research program centers on International Security, International Organizations, and European Integration with specialized expertise in Global Governance and Transnational Networks. She investigates how formal and informal institutions shape security governance frameworks, weapons proliferation regimes, and European defense architectures through rigorous application of network theory. This analytical lens reveals critical insights into cooperation dynamics and institutional evolution within international security contexts. Publication analysis shows consistent thematic development from foundational work on balance-of-power theory (2008-2009) toward contemporary examinations of multipolarity's institutional impacts (2013-2014). Her scholarship demonstrates methodological continuity in applying network analysis to diverse security challenges, from terrorist organizations to EU defense policy, while maintaining focus on institutional interplay in global governance structures.
Alison Ledgerwood is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Davis, and Principal Investigator of the Attitudes and Group Identity Lab. Her research examines how social context shapes attitudes and preferences, with a focus on open and inclusive scientific practices. Ph.D., Social Psychology, New York University (2008) M.A., Psychology, New York University (2006) B.A., Psychology, Amherst College (2003) Her research explores psychological distance , framing effects , and system justification theory , while methodologically advancing preregistration , collaborative science , and equity in publishing . She also investigates group identity dynamics and implicit/explicit bias measurement . Recent publications highlight her work on racial bias methodology , open science reform , and contextual framing . Awards include the 2024 Distinguished Service to the Society award, 2021 UC Davis Advising and Mentoring Award, and 2017 SPSP Service to the Field award. 2024 Distinguished Service to the Society, SPSP 2021 UC Davis Graduate Advising and Mentoring Award 2017 Service to the Field, SPSP Hellman Fellowship (2010-2011), UC Davis UC Davis Chancellor's Fellow APS Fellow SESP Fellow Ledgerwood advises on scientific integrity through roles like Chair of the Transparency and Openness Promotion (TOP) II Guidelines Task Force and Anti Colorism and Eurocentrism in Methods and Practices (ACEMAP) Task Force. Her lab fosters contextual evaluation studies and psychological distance frameworks .
Marina Agranov is Professor of Economics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), affiliated with the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences. She directs research through the Ronald and Maxine Linde Institute of Economic and Management Sciences, Center for Social Information Sciences (CSIS), and Center for Theoretical and Experimental Social Sciences (CTESS), and serves as Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Her academic credentials include a B.A. from St. Petersburg State Technical University (1999), M.A. from Tel Aviv University (2004), and Ph.D. from New York University (2010). She joined Caltech as Assistant Professor in 2010 and was promoted to full Professor in 2017. Agranov's research pioneers experimental and behavioral economics, focusing on strategic decision-making in bargaining games, social learning environments, network interactions, and information dynamics. Her work examines how individuals form beliefs and navigate tensions between personal goals and collective outcomes, often using controlled laboratory experiments to test theoretical predictions about human behavior under uncertainty. Her recent publications reveal a consistent methodological approach: blending game-theoretic models with experimental validation to investigate communication effects, randomization preferences, and institutional design. Key trends include analyzing how uncertainty impacts committee negotiations, how complexity influences egalitarian outcomes in legislative bargaining, and how information structures shape social learning on networks. Her scientific recognition includes: Associated Students of Caltech (ASCIT) Teaching Award (2017-18) Professor Agranov's research has secured significant institutional support through Caltech centers and NBER affiliation, with findings featured in major economics journals and Caltech news coverage including "Decision by Committee: How Uncertainty Shapes Negotiations" (December 2024) and "Experimental Economics in Theory and Practice" (July 2023). Her work on committee decision-making under uncertainty has direct implications for institutional design in political and corporate governance. She actively contributes to Caltech's research ecosystem through CSIS and CTESS, which facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations in social sciences and experimental methodology development.
Dr. Gregor Schuhknecht is a Researcher and incoming Max-Planck Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in Frankfurt, Germany. Starting December 2025, he will lead the Brain Algorithms and Circuits Group, focusing on computational neuroscience and neuronal circuitry in larval zebrafish. His work bridges experimental and computational approaches to understand brain algorithms enabling flexible behaviors. Education PhD in Neuroscience (2014–2019), Institute for Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich MSc in Biology (Neuroscience) (2012–2019), ETH Zurich BSc in Biosciences (2009–2012), Heidelberg University His research investigates how synaptic circuitry implements computational algorithms for sensorimotor processing, evidence accumulation, and behavior. Experimental approaches include functional imaging, optogenetics, connectomics, and computational modeling. The group will explore neuronal circuits across scales, from synapse to behavior, with a focus on biophysical properties and dynamic environmental adaptation. Recent publications highlight correlative light/electron microscopy, developmental activity-free circuit formation, and neocortical synapse analysis. Scientific Awards Meselson Prize (2024) Aspirational Neuroscience Award (2023) Best Publication Award (2021) Swiss National Science Foundation Fellowships (2021, 2019, 2018) Gregor Schuhknecht's lab will welcome graduate and postdoctoral researchers starting December 2025, focusing on experimental and computational systems neuroscience. He previously collaborated with Harvard University's Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and the Department of Moritz Helmstaedter for connectomic analyses.
Prof. Dr. Kenan Aycan is a Professor of Anatomy at Ahi Evran University's Faculty of Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, where he has served since 2019. He also holds the position of Department Head since 2020. Previously, he worked at Erciyes University as a School Director from 2011-2016. His academic career spans over four decades with significant contributions to anatomical sciences. Dr. Aycan earned his PhD in Basic Medical Sciences from Ege University's Faculty of Medicine (1983-1986) following his Bachelor's degree in Science from Ege University's Faculty of Science (1970-1975). He also holds a Certificate of Use of Experimental Animals from Erciyes University (2008). His research focuses on anatomical morphology, vascular structures, and developmental processes. Dr. Aycan has pioneered anatomical techniques including the 'Aycan's method' for corrosion preparations. His work spans comparative anatomy across various species, morphometric analyses of anatomical structures, and investigations into teratogenic effects and protective agents. He has extensively studied the foramen magnum using golden ratio principles, vascular anatomy of reproductive organs in ruminants, and auditory ossicles in sheep. Analysis of his recent publications (2021-2025) reveals consistent focus on anatomical methodology development, morphometric studies of key anatomical structures, vascular anatomy investigations, and research on developmental processes and teratology. His work often employs plastic injection and corrosion techniques, CT imaging, and comparative approaches across human and animal models. Dr. Aycan has mentored numerous graduate students, serving as primary advisor for over 20 Master's and PhD theses covering diverse anatomical topics from vascular variations to developmental studies. His collaborative network includes researchers like Tufan Ulcay, Burcu Kamaşak, and others across Turkish institutions.
Gary Pielak is a Kenan Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Biophysics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with a joint appointment in the School of Medicine. His research focuses on high-resolution protein NMR studies in living cells and the biophysics of tardigrade desiccation-tolerance proteins, bridging structural biology and molecular biophysics. Education: BS in Chemistry from Bradley University (1977), PhD in Biochemistry from Washington State University (1983), Postdoc at the University of British Columbia (1983-1986), Postdoc at Oxford University (1986-1988). Research Interests center on understanding protein structure, stability, and function in physiologically relevant environments. Key areas include: In-Cell NMR: Quantifying protein behavior in living cells using advanced NMR techniques. Macromolecular Crowding: Studying synthetic polymers and proteins as crowding agents to mimic cellular environments. Tardigrade Biology: Exploring desiccation-tolerance mechanisms in intrinsically disordered proteins from water bears. Recent Publications highlight interdisciplinary trends, combining AI-driven stability prediction, solid-state NMR for dry protein analysis, and molecular glass/gel applications for preservation. His Scientific Awards include: NIH Pioneer Award DuPont and Morrow Young Faculty Awards Multiple UNC Mentorship Awards Mentorship is a cornerstone, with a focus on training graduate students and advancing NMR methodologies. His group employs Research Methods : 19F, 1H, 15N, and 13C NMR Circular Dichroism and Calorimetry Protein Expression in E. coli
Gustavo Alonso is Full Professor at the Department of Computer Science (D-INFK) of ETH Zurich and Head of the Institute for Computing Platforms . He has been at ETH since 1995, first as a post-doc, then as Assistant Professor from April 1998, and promoted to Full Professor in October 2001. Within the Systems Group he leads the Information and Communication Systems Research Group . Education: 1989 – Telecommunications Engineering (undergraduate), Madrid Technical University (UPM-ETSIT), Spain 1992 – M.S. Computer Science, University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) 1994 – Ph.D. Computer Science, University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) Research Interests: His work spans databases, distributed systems, cloud-computing architecture, FPGAs, hardware acceleration for data science, parallel and reconfigurable computing . The group investigates how modern heterogeneous hardware—from GPUs to SmartNICs—can be integrated into data-processing systems to achieve orders-of-magnitude performance gains, energy savings, and new functionality such as in-network computation and serverless acceleration. Scientific Awards & Honors: Fellow of the ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) Fellow of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Distinguished Alumnus, Department of Computer Science, UC Santa Barbara Four Test-of-Time / Most Influential Paper Awards across databases, programming languages, cloud computing, and software engineering Labs & Projects: He directs the Information and Communication Systems Research Group within the Systems Group ( systems.ethz.ch ). The lab develops open-source platforms such as Coyote v2 for FPGA abstractions, Shuhai for HBM benchmarking, and MicroRec for micro-second recommendation serving, while collaborating with industry on SmartNICs, serverless analytics, and cloud-scale data analytics.
Dr. Edyta Chlebowska is an Assistant Professor at the Cyprian Norwid Research Center, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. Specializing in the visual art and literary legacy of Cyprian Norwid, she explores intersections between Polish Romanticism, art history, and cultural studies. Her work extends to album art analysis and interdisciplinary connections with music (e.g., Pink Floyd, Czesław Niemen). Her research focuses on Norwid's self-portraits, eschatological themes in his drawings, and comparative studies with 19th-century Warsaw painting. She reconstructs lost artworks, documents private collections (e.g., Konstancja Górska, Victor Gomulicki), and examines Norwid's reception in Florence and Odessa. Key projects include translating Studia Norwidiana and critical editing of Norwid's complete works. As editor-in-chief of multiple On Cyprian Norwid. Studies and Essays volumes and organizer of conferences like Niemen Non Stop and Colloquia Norwidiana , she bridges academic rigor with public engagement. Her publications span peer-reviewed books, journal articles, and popular science pieces, emphasizing Norwid's unpublished works and symbolic programs.
Bradley D. Olsen is a full professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he leads research at the intersection of polymer science, soft matter physics, and bioengineering. His work focuses on designing materials for critical applications in biotechnology, hemostasis, and sustainable polymer development while advancing fundamental understanding of polymer network mechanics and self-assembly. Education: Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, University of California Berkeley (2007) S.B. in Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2003) Olsen's research spans protein-based materials, block copolymer phase behavior, and mechanochemical hydrogels. He has pioneered methods for quantifying polymer network topology, developing hemostatic nanoparticles, and creating bio-inspired materials for selective biomolecular transport and medical applications. His recent publications emphasize data-driven approaches to polymer characterization and educational outreach in materials science. Scientific Awards: American Physical Society (APS) Fellow (2023) Fulbright Amazonia Scholar (2023) Alexander and I. Michael Kasser Chair in Chemical Engineering (2021) ACS Macro Letters Young Investigator Award (2021) MIT Committed to Caring Honor (2019) AIChE Owens Corning Early Career Award (2019) APS Dillon Medal (2018) Kavli Emerging Leader in Chemistry (2017) ACS Polymer Division Fellow (2016) Camille Dreyfus-Teacher Scholar (2015) Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow (2014) NSF Career Grant (2013) NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship (2008-2009) Hertz Fellow (2003-2007) Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship (2002) Olsen has received significant grant support including NSF Career (2013) and AFOSR (2012) awards. His teaching activities include innovative international outreach like the 2025 soccer-themed science camp in Brazil. The Olsen Group at MIT explores advanced materials with applications ranging from trauma care to sustainable polymers.
Zhi Da is the Howard J. and Geraldine F. Korth Chair in Finance and Professor of Finance at the University of Notre Dame , Mendoza College of Business, Department of Finance. He completed his Ph.D. in Finance at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management (2006), preceded by an M.Sc. in Financial Engineering from the National University of Singapore (2001) and a B.B.A. with First-Class Honors (1999) from the same institution. Holding editorial roles at Journal of Finance , Management Science , Review of Financial Studies and several other top journals, he is a leading voice in empirical finance research. Education Ph.D. in Finance, 2006 – Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University M.Sc. in Financial Engineering, 2001 – National University of Singapore B.B.A. (1st Class Honors), 1999 – National University of Singapore Research Interests Zhi Da’s scholarship sits at the intersection of asset pricing , behavioral finance , and market microstructure . He investigates how investor attention, institutional trading, liquidity frictions, and information flows jointly determine the cross-section of expected returns. His work delves into retail margin trading, the role of pension-fund flows in exchange-rate dynamics, the informational content of SEC filings, and the efficiency of short-selling mechanisms. By combining large-scale data analytics, textual analysis, and structural modeling, he uncovers novel predictors of returns ranging from presidential approval ratings to real-time attention measures. Recent projects explore fractional trading ’s impact on price efficiency, hedging demand as a driver of intraday momentum, and the hidden effort problem in delegated portfolio management. These themes collectively advance our understanding of limits to arbitrage and the formation of extrapolative beliefs. Publication Landscape Spanning 2025 back to 2009, his 15 most recent articles in Journal of Finance , Review of Financial Studies , Management Science , Journal of Financial Economics , and Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis converge on three broad motifs: (1) micro-level trading frictions—liquidity costs, margin requirements, and short-selling constraints; (2) macro-finance linkages—exchange rates, fiscal policy, and global capital flows; and (3) information economics—attention allocation, media analytics, and regulatory disclosures. The collective evidence demonstrates that seemingly small trading or informational frictions aggregate into large, persistent cross-sectional return predictability. Honors and Awards 2017 William F. Sharpe Award for Best Paper, Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis Lead-article distinctions in Journal of Finance , Review of Financial Studies , and Management Science Featured coverage in SmartMoney and CNBC Teaching & Mentorship At Notre Dame’s Mendoza College, Professor Da teaches Investments (undergraduate and MBA) and Fixed Income Securities , integrating cutting-edge research insights into the curriculum. While specific advisees are not listed, his extensive co-author network (22+ recurring collaborators) attests to a vibrant mentoring environment. Laboratory & Data Resources He publicly distributes the NAT (Net Arbitrage Trading) dataset, a stock-quarter panel of arbitrage positions used in Chen, Da & Huang (2019). This resource has become a standard tool for researchers studying arbitrage capital movements.
Sebastian Thies is Professor and Chair for Ibero-American Literary and Cultural Studies at the University of Tübingen, where he has been employed since October 2012. He serves as Vice Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Global South Studies (ICGSS) and coordinates the BMBF/DAAD thematic network 'Futures under construction in the Global South'. His academic journey began with a PhD in Hispanic Studies from the University of Osnabrück in 2000, followed by positions at the University of Bielefeld where he progressed from Junior Professor for Hispanic Literary and Media Studies to Full Professor for Inter-American Studies. Thies' research focuses on Global South Studies, with particular emphasis on Latin American literature, film, and media. His work explores subjectivity formations, entangled temporalities, and political communication across borders. He has directed significant research initiatives including the doctoral studies program 'Entangled Temporalities in the Global South' and has co-edited major reference works such as The Routledge Handbook for Global South Studies on Subjectivities (2024). His extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent engagement with transnational cultural phenomena, particularly examining how Latin American cultural production intersects with global political and social dynamics. Thies frequently collaborates with international scholars, reflecting his commitment to transdisciplinary and transregional approaches to cultural analysis. Project Leader: Research Training Network 'Entangled Temporalities in the Global South' Vice Project Leader: Thematic network 'Literary Cultures of the Global South' Associated Investigator: BMBF-Area Studies Project 'The Americas as a Space of Entanglement' Project Leader: Research Group 'E Pluribus Unum? Ethnic Identies in Processes of Transnational Integration' Thies actively supervises doctoral students through the Interdisciplinary Centre for Global South Studies and has established collaborative networks across Latin America, particularly with institutions in Mexico and Colombia. His current research agenda focuses on 'Futures under construction in the Global South' and continues to explore the intersections of cultural production, political communication, and subjectivity formation in transnational contexts.
Bai Gao is a Professor of Sociology at Duke University. His research focuses on political economy, globalization trends, and industrial policy, particularly in the context of China and East Asia. He holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University (1994). Research Interests : Impact of state industrial policy on emerging technologies (e.g., electric vehicles in China) Globalization dynamics and post-neoliberal policy paradigms Comparative analysis of developmental models (China, Japan, Germany) Geopolitical implications of China's Belt and Road Initiative Key Contributions : Author of Japan’s Economic Dilemma (2001) and High-Speed Rail: An Analysis of the Chinese Innovation System (2021) Edited volumes on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and global political economy Grants & Funding : "FDI and the Chinese Model of Economic Development" (2005-2007) "Institutional Analysis of Global Production Networks" (2003-2004) Courses Taught : SOCIOL 541: The United States and the Asian Pacific Region SOCIOL 344: Technology and Organizational Environments
Genesea M. Carter serves as the Associate Director of Composition and Associate Professor in the English and University Composition Program at Colorado State University. She holds a PhD from the University of New Mexico. Her research focuses on administrative systems in higher education, including curriculum design, teacher training, and workload equity, and their impact on instructors’ well-being. She also investigates how students from diverse backgrounds navigate academia, with a focus on working-class pedagogy and identity development. Her recent co-edited collection Systems Shift: Creating and Navigating Change in Rhetoric and Composition Administration (2023) addresses institutional transformation. Earlier work includes Class in the Composition Classroom: Pedagogy and the Working Class (2017), exploring socioeconomic diversity in education. Her articles span topics like digital literacy, interdisciplinary pedagogy, and critical theory in composition studies. Dr. Carter’s scholarship emphasizes equity, intersectionality, and dismantling neoliberal structures in academia. She has contributed to journals such as Composition Studies , Journal of Teaching Writing , and Open Words , and her work bridges practical administration with theoretical frameworks in rhetoric and composition.
Prof. Raffaello D'Andrea is a Full Professor at ETH Zürich's Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, affiliated with the Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control. His research focuses on bridging digital and physical worlds through robotics, control systems, and autonomous systems. He has pioneered work in aerial robotics, swarm systems, tactile sensing, and soft robotics. His philosophy emphasizes solving 'easy' problems with scalable, robust solutions, prioritizing simplicity and replicability. Key research areas include UAV navigation, distributed control, tactile sensor design, and fault-tolerant systems. He has founded multiple organizations and led roles as CTO/CEO, emphasizing cross-disciplinary innovation. His work has commercial applications in logistics, healthcare, and automation, driven by a belief in technology's role in improving human life. Notable projects include the Cubli robotic cube, aerial vehicle swarms, and optical tactile sensors for robotics. His lab emphasizes collaboration and team leadership, aiming to translate theoretical insights into practical, scalable technologies. Scientific awards: None explicitly listed in the provided texts. Advising and grants: No students listed in the provided texts; grants information not detailed. Labs/Teams: Leads research at ETH Zurich's Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control, collaborating with industry and academic partners globally.
