Nancy Jones is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. Her research focuses on infant emotional development, maternal mental health, and neurophysiological markers of temperament and resilience. Education: Ph.D. in Human Development (University of Maryland, College Park), M.A. in Human Development (University of Maryland, College Park), B.A. in Psychology (University of Wisconsin, Madison) Research Interests: Dr. Jones investigates how maternal depression and socio-emotional interactions shape infant brain development, with a focus on EEG activity, heart rate variability, and alternative therapies like kangaroo care and mindfulness meditation. Her work also explores autism-related emotional processing and frontal lobe maturation. Recent Publication Trends: Her articles emphasize psychophysiological methodologies (EEG, heart rate variability), maternal-infant neurohormonal interactions, autism spectrum disorder markers, and interventions like mindfulness meditation to improve child neurodevelopment and stress regulation. Service & Collaborations: She serves on the Departmental Executive Committee, chairs grant review panels for NIH and NSERC, and advises journals in developmental psychology and psychopathology. She leads the WAVES Lab and chairs the Palm Beach County Breastfeeding Coalition.
Kyle W. Klarich is Professor of Medicine and consultant in both the Division of Structural Heart Disease and Division of Echocardiography at Mayo Clinic. His clinical practice and research focus on structural heart disease, cardiac tumors, hypertrophic cardiomyopathies, and valvular heart disease. Dr. Klarich investigates complications prevention and quality-of-life improvement for patients with rare cardiac conditions. As Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship program director since 2010, he is extensively involved in medical education and has received multiple teaching awards including the ACGME's Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Award finalist recognition.
Phil Pavilionis is an Associate Professor of Kinesiology in the School of Public Health at the University of Nevada, Reno. With over 20 years of clinical experience as a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), he bridges academic research with practical applications in sports medicine. His roles include teaching undergraduate/graduate courses, conducting research in the Neuromechanics Laboratory, and serving as an adjunct clinical athletic trainer for Nevada Sports Medicine. Education: Ph.D. in Neuroscience, University of Nevada, Reno (2024) M.S. in Exercise Science, California University of Pennsylvania (2007) B.S. in Health Science, University of Nevada, Reno (1995) Dr. Pavilionis specializes in head injury prevention and virtual reality applications for concussion evaluation. His research leverages clinical experience to develop standardized assessment protocols, focusing on vestibular-ocular motor screening (VOMS) using virtual reality to reduce administrator variability. Key investigations include oculomotor deficits following concussion, head impact biomechanics in football using instrumented mouthguards, and minimal detectable change metrics for neurocognitive tests like ImPACT. His work integrates neuroscience, kinesiology, and engineering to improve concussion diagnosis and management. Analysis of his 45 publications (2022-2025) reveals three dominant trends: (1) Virtual reality standardization of concussion assessments, particularly VOMS protocols; (2) Head impact monitoring using instrumented mouthguards to evaluate protective equipment like Guardian Caps; and (3) Machine learning applications for objective concussion detection through eye-tracking and biomechanical data. These studies consistently address the critical need for objective, standardized tools to overcome subjective symptom reporting in sports concussion management. Dr. Pavilionis actively collaborates with the Neuromechanics Laboratory and Nevada Sports Medicine, translating research into clinical practice. While no specific grants are documented in the provided materials, his extensive publication record (including 15 articles in 2023 alone) demonstrates sustained research productivity and interdisciplinary collaboration across neuroscience, engineering, and sports medicine disciplines.
Guy Joos is a Full Professor of Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University , Head of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Ghent University Hospital, and serves as Director of Research (Vice-Dean) at Ghent University since 2017. His academic career spans over three decades, with key roles including Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine (2014-2018) and ongoing leadership in respiratory research since 1999. Born in Ostend, Belgium (1956) M.D. and Ph.D. from Ghent University Board-certified in Internal and Pulmonary Medicine Prof Joos specializes in translational and clinical research on asthma and COPD , focusing on airway immunology, pharmacology, and pollution effects. His work at the Translational Lab for Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases has produced over 250 peer-reviewed publications with an h-index of 53. His research explores indirect bronchial provocation, miRNA expression in asthma subtypes, and ChemR23 signaling in pollutant-induced inflammation. Recent publications highlight interactions between innate lymphoid cells , TH2 responses , and air pollution . He has led pivotal clinical trials like the AZISAST study on macrolides in non-eosinophilic asthma. Fellow of European Respiratory Society (2014) Honorary Member of Lithuanian Society of Pulmonology (2012) Royal Academy of Medicine prizes (2004, 1995, 1988) Prof Joos has supervised 16 Ph.D. students since 1998, contributed to guidelines like the ERS Task Force on Indirect Challenges , and held editorial roles at journals including Respiratory Research and American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine . He served as President of the European Respiratory Society (2016-2017) and the Belgian Thoracic Society (2010-2012).
Professor Melanie Dirks is the Department Chair of Psychology at McGill University, specializing in Clinical Psychology and Developmental Science . Her research focuses on mapping social and emotional skills across childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood, with emphasis on peer/sibling relationships and their impact on psychological symptoms. Uses multimodal methodologies: observational studies, daily diaries, emotion recognition tasks Current projects: friendship quality maintenance, interpersonal victimization in youth, emotional communication dynamics Key research themes from publications include: Peer Relationships : Dissolution patterns, prosocial behavior, bullying, and dating aggression Emotional Processing : Vocal emotion recognition, neural reward responses, stress-neuroimaging links Contextual Influences : Family dynamics, socioeconomic status, post-pandemic social changes Her lab ( CASC Lab ) trains students in advanced social-emotional assessment techniques, with notable advisees including *Morningstar, *Gilbert, and *Santucci. Google Scholar articles (2014-2025) demonstrate expertise in developmental psychopathology, social neuroscience, and cross-cultural mental health determinants.
Anna Ridgewell is a Research Fellow in Social Work (Social Work and Social Care) at the School of Education and Social Work, University of Sussex, where she contributes to the Centre for Innovation and Research in Wellbeing (CIRW). Her research focuses on nature engagement in educational settings, childhood geographies, and the impact of neoliberal policies on access to outdoor spaces for children in early childhood education and care (ECEC). Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) through the SeNSS doctoral training partnership, her PhD explored how ideological and structural factors mediate children’s access to nature across state, private, and charitable educational institutions. Her educational background includes an MSc in Counselling Psychology from City, University of London, a Graduate Conversion Diploma in Psychology from London Metropolitan University, and a BA (Hons) in English Literature from the University of Sheffield. Anna’s research interests span environmental sociology, sociology of education, human geography, educational and social policy, childhood geographies, and participatory research methodologies. She employs mixed-method, multi-sited, and arts-based approaches to examine how children interact with nature and challenge adult-imposed boundaries in educational spaces. Her work highlights inequalities in nature access and critiques the commodification of nature in neoliberal educational frameworks. Her recent publications, including her 2025 PhD thesis Growing up green? and several reports and presentations, reflect a strong trend in critical educational research, environmental justice, and qualitative inquiry. These works analyze how institutional narratives, resource disparities, and policy landscapes shape children’s everyday experiences in outdoor environments, emphasizing the need for equitable access to nature as a matter of social justice rather than privilege. Section Editor, Sentio (SeNSS PGR Journal) Peer reviewer for Children & Society , International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care , and Sentio UKRI Policy Placement at Natural England (2022) Anna has taught on the MSc in Migrant and Refugee Wellbeing and the MRes in Wellbeing, focusing on interdisciplinary research into older adults. She is currently funded by an ESRC grant titled Connecting with the outdoors at school and nursery: narratives of nature and wellbeing (2020–2024), supporting collaborative research with Charles Watters. Her interdisciplinary collaborations include work with Pippa Langford, Louise Montgomery, Liam Berriman, and others. She has no formal advisees listed, but her mentorship is evident through editorial and peer-review roles. Anna is active in academic and public discourse, contributing blog posts, policy reports, and conference presentations that bridge research with practical and policy implications. Her work is grounded in new materialist and social constructionist theories, and she advocates for transformative, child-centered approaches to environmental education.
Mohamad Abdul Mikati, MD, is the Wilburt C. Davison Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics and Professor of Neurobiology at Duke University, serving as Chief of Pediatric Neurology (2008-2025). He holds affiliations with the Duke Initiative for Science & Society, Center for Brain Imaging and Analysis, and Duke Institute for Brain Sciences. His clinical and laboratory research focuses on pediatric epilepsy syndromes, neuroprotective strategies, and ATP1A3-related disorders, with seminal contributions to Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood pathophysiology. Education: MD from American University of Beirut; Pediatric Neurology residency and fellowship at Harvard University. Research Focus: Dr. Mikati's work integrates genetic discovery (including novel syndrome descriptions), neuroimaging, and therapeutic innovation for drug-resistant epilepsy. His laboratory investigates seizure-related neuronal injury mechanisms, ceramide pathways, and ATP1A3 dysfunction. Clinical studies emphasize optimizing status epilepticus management and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Publication Trends: Recent work demonstrates strong emphasis on ATP1A3 channelopathy mechanisms, precision therapeutics for rare epilepsies, cardiac comorbidity profiling in neurological disorders, and AI applications in epilepsy management. Multidisciplinary collaborations characterize his approach to complex neurogenetic conditions. Awards & Honors: Merritt Putnam Fellowship (American Epilepsy Society) Hamdan Award for Medical Contributions Hans Zellweger Award (Pediatric Neurology) Michael Frank Award (Lifetime Achievement) Debs Research Award Harvard Community Health Plan Recognition Patient Choice Award Leadership: Directs research initiatives in pediatric neurology; advises WHO, UNICEF, and international pediatric societies; contributes to major medical textbooks including Nelson's Pediatrics and Swaiman's Pediatric Neurology.
Haakon Kristian Kvidaland serves as a PhD Candidate at the Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. He is employed at the Institute for Master's in Clinical Nursing in a PhD fellowship position, conducting research while teaching specialized courses in physiotherapy and respiratory medicine. Dr. Kvidaland completed his physiotherapy education at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences and earned a Master's in Health Sciences from the University of Bergen. His clinical background includes work in primary healthcare with Bergen municipality and secondary care at Haukeland University Hospital, where he developed expertise in exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO) and long-term respiratory conditions. His research focuses on respiratory pathophysiology , particularly EILO diagnostics and management, with significant contributions to understanding its relationship with asthma. His scholarly work extends to COPD follow-up protocols in general practice, childhood cancer survivorship issues, and neuromuscular disorders affecting pediatric populations. Dr. Kvidaland integrates clinical insights with innovative methodologies including machine learning applications for respiratory diagnostics. As an educator, he teaches Pulmonary Function Measurements, Cardio Pulmonary Exercise Testing, and Skill Training in Physiotherapy. His upcoming teaching responsibilities include FYS300 (Physiotherapy Assessment Management and Evaluation) for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters, plus FYS390 (Bachelor's Thesis) in Spring 2026. At Haukeland University Hospital, Dr. Kvidaland previously managed quality assurance at the heart and lung test laboratories within the Vitality Center for Children and Youth. His dual expertise in clinical practice and research enables him to develop evidence-based approaches for diagnosing and treating complex respiratory conditions, particularly through randomized controlled trials examining EILO treatment efficacy and prevalence among asthmatic patients.
FH-Prof. Michaela Neubauer PT M. Physio serves as a Professor within the Department of Health Sciences at the Institute of Health Sciences, University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten. She has held this academic position since 2011 while maintaining active clinical practice. Her institutional affiliations include the Physiotherapy (BA) program and the Austrian Association for Manual Physiotherapy (ÖVMPT) where she serves on the board and training committee. Her research focuses on Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy with specialized expertise in Manual Therapy, Neurodynamics, and Interprofessional Education. Recent work examines the physiotherapeutic process implementation, neurodynamic techniques for cervical radiculopathy, and interprofessional teaching frameworks across European healthcare systems. Her publications demonstrate consistent contributions to orthopaedic manual therapy evidence, particularly regarding peripheral nerve disorders and clinical reasoning methodologies. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals an evolving trajectory from specific manual therapy techniques (2016-2018) toward broader interprofessional education systems (2022-2024). Key thematic clusters include neurodynamic clinical applications, evidence-based orthopaedic rehabilitation, and innovative teaching methodologies for healthcare collaboration. The publications consistently bridge theoretical knowledge with clinical practice through case studies and critical appraisals. Her professional activities extend beyond academia through postgraduate instructor roles for the International Maitland Teachers Association (2003-2012), supervision of orthopaedic manual therapy trainees, and operation of a private physiotherapy practice. She holds a University Didactics Certificate from FH St. Pölten and maintains active engagement with professional organizations including ÖVMPT. Her educational background includes a Master of Manipulative Physiotherapy from the University of South Australia (2001) following clinical training at the Academy for Physiotherapy St. Pölten (1994-1997). Early career experience spans multiple Austrian hospitals and private practices, establishing the clinical foundation for her academic work in musculoskeletal rehabilitation.
Astrid Lorange is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Art & Design at UNSW Sydney. She holds a PhD in Writing and Cultural Studies from the University of Technology Sydney (2013) and is an interdisciplinary scholar focusing on poetry, art, and critical theory. Her research interrogates policing, carceral systems, gender/sexuality politics, and political economy through cultural critique. She is co-author of The Art of Unmaking: Abolition and Aesthetics in Australia (2024) and Family Fortress (forthcoming), and author of poetry collections like Labour and Other Poems (2020) and Raw Materials (2024). Lorange supervises MPhil/PhD projects in poetry, art theory, gender studies, and settler colonialism. She is affiliated with the Media Futures Hub, Literary Provocations Hub, and the Capitalism Studies Network. Her work spans academic writing and creative practice, with recent articles analyzing pandemic policing, trans boyhood, and abolitionist poetics. Lorange co-leads the Infrastructural Inequalities research network and collaborates with the Snack Syndicate art collective. Current projects explore headaches as capitalist crisis symptoms and counterrevolutionary social media. She teaches courses on art writing, gender theory, and creative practice. Lorange’s supervision spans 20+ students since 2015, with recent completions in art theory, poetics, and diaspora studies. She sits on editorial boards for journals like the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Art and co-edits Rosa Press. Her research bridges critical theory, art activism, and systemic critique, emphasizing abolitionist frameworks and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Isa Leal is a performance artist, dancer, director, and educator currently serving as an Associate Instructor in Theatre and Dance at the University of California, Davis. Her work explores the intersection of embodiment, empathy, and social engagement through experimental performance practices. She holds an MA in Performance Studies from UC Davis and is expected to complete her PhD in Performance Studies in 2024. BA in Theatre and Dance, James Madison University (2006) MA in Performance Studies, UC Davis (2020) PhD in Performance Studies (expected 2024), UC Davis Leal’s research and artistic practice focus on embodied empathy, contact improvisation, somatic practices, and interdisciplinary collaborations between art and science. She is particularly known for her Geophysical Dance Research with atmospheric scientist Dr. Ian Faloona, which explores how movement can model and communicate scientific phenomena such as fluid dynamics. Her performances often invite audience participation and introspection, blurring the boundaries between performer and witness. Her recent artistic works, such as Composing with Living (2019) and Symptom of Capitalism (2017), reflect a deep engagement with themes of agency, trauma, capitalism, and identity. These pieces integrate improvisation, ritual, and audience co-creation, often drawing from frameworks like the Tuning Score and Authentic Movement. Her publications and lectures extend these inquiries into academic discourse, particularly in performance studies and psychological anthropology. Brad Boynton Award for Excellence in the Arts Alpha Psi Omega Honor Society, Stratford Players Scholarship (2005) Honorary Alumnus, Henrico Center for the Arts (2009) Leal has curated and directed numerous performance festivals and collectives, including the Transmodern Festival and Iron Rainbow Dance Theatre. She has taught at various institutions and community spaces, emphasizing embodied creativity and improvisation. While she advises and collaborates with performers, no formal students are listed. She is actively creating, publishing, and performing, with no indication of retirement or former staff status.
Amy Justice is the Peter N. Herbert Professor of Internal Medicine (General Medicine) and Professor of Public Health (Health Policy) at Yale School of Medicine. She holds primary appointments in General Internal Medicine and secondary appointments in Biomedical Informatics & Data Science and Health Policy & Management. Her extensive affiliations include the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS), Yale Cancer Center, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, and numerous other research centers focused on HIV, aging, and veterans' health. Dr. Justice earned her BA from Harvard University (1982), MD from Yale University School of Medicine (1988), MSc from University of Pennsylvania Medical School (1994), and PhD from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (1996). As a clinical epidemiologist, Dr. Justice specializes in developing large national cohorts using Veterans Affairs Healthcare System data. Her research focuses on aging with HIV, chronic disease management, and health policy. She has developed the widely used Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS), an ongoing longitudinal study of over 170,000 US veterans with and without HIV infection that has been continuously funded by NIH since 1996. Her work includes developing prognostic indices like the VACS Index and HIV Symptom Index. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on HIV and aging, particularly examining comorbidities, substance use disorders, and cancer in veterans with HIV. Her research increasingly incorporates multi-omics approaches, machine learning techniques, and cross-cohort validations to address complex health challenges faced by aging veterans with HIV. William S. Middleton Award (2022) John M. Eisenberg Award for Career Achievement in Research (2025) Dr. Justice has secured continuous NIH funding since 1996 for the Veterans Aging Cohort Study and currently serves as principal investigator for the National Cancer Institute provocative questions grant 'HIV and Aging Mechanisms for Hepatocellular Cancer.' She is active in national advisory roles including the National Cancer Institute Ad hoc Subcommittee on HIV and AIDS Malignancy and the HIV and Aging Working Group of the NIH Office of AIDS Research. Her international influence extends to advisory boards for Lancet HIV and Journal of the International AIDS Society. She leads the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS), one of the largest and longest-running studies of veterans with and without HIV, which has generated over 400 peer-reviewed publications. Her team includes frequent collaborators like Joseph Lucien Goulet, Kirsha Gordon, and Christopher T Rentsch, with whom she has published dozens of joint studies.
Fuad Baroody, MD is a distinguished pediatric head and neck surgeon specializing in allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and other pediatric disorders including recurrent ear infections, airway narrowing, and obstructive sleep apnea. He is affiliated with the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Baroody has been consistently recognized as one of Chicago's top doctors and is listed in "Best Doctors in America." Dr. Baroody's educational journey includes: BSc in Biology-Chemistry from American University of Beirut (1980) MD from American University of Beirut (1984) Residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery from American University of Beirut (1988) Research Fellowship in Allergy and Clinical Immunology from Johns Hopkins University (1991) Fellowship in Pediatric Otolaryngology from Johns Hopkins University (1992) His research interests focus on various treatment options for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, and investigations into the causes of obstructive sleep apnea in children. Dr. Baroody has made significant contributions to understanding the relationship between allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, nasal steroid treatments, and immunotherapy approaches. His work has consistently bridged clinical practice with scientific investigation to improve patient outcomes in pediatric ENT and allergy conditions. Dr. Baroody has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed scientific articles and 40 book chapters on allergic diseases, and co-edited a comprehensive textbook on chronic rhinosinusitis. His publications span clinical trials, review articles, and consensus guidelines that have shaped contemporary approaches to managing rhinologic conditions. His research demonstrates a consistent trajectory from basic mechanisms of disease to practical clinical applications. Throughout his career, Dr. Baroody has received numerous prestigious awards including: Multiple "Top Doctor" designations from Chicago Magazine (2010-2024) Castle Connolly's America's Top Doctors recognition (2014-2015) Senior Faculty Distinguished Clinician Award from University of Chicago (2013) Program Director of the Year Award from University of Chicago (2023) Distinguished Educator and Leader Award from University of Chicago (2023) Dr. Baroody serves on the editorial boards of several leading journals including Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Laryngoscope, and the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. His NIH-funded research has significantly advanced understanding of the connections between allergic conditions and sinus disorders, particularly in pediatric populations.
Christoph Benke is a Scientific Staff member at the Department of Clinical Psychology, Experimental Psychopathology and Psychotherapy within the Faculty of Psychology at Philipps University of Marburg since September 2019. Previously, he worked as Scientific Staff at the University of Greifswald from January 2016 to August 2019. He holds a PhD in Natural Sciences (Dr. rer. nat.) from the University of Greifswald (2018) and is a licensed Psychological Psychotherapist specializing in behavioral therapy (2019). His educational background includes: Master's degree in Psychology, University of Greifswald (2008-2013), with thesis: "Interoceptive threat and the severity of panic disorder with agoraphobia: A psychophysiological study" (2013) PhD scholarship from Landesgraduiertenförderung Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (2013-2015) Practical training (Diplom-Psychologe) at Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald (2016-2017) Doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.), University of Greifswald (2018), dissertation: "Threat from the inside: Determinants of defensive responses to body sensations and clinical implications" Licensed Psychological Psychotherapist (specializing in behavioral therapy) (2019) Dr. Benke's research focuses on experimental psychopathology, particularly the etiology, prevention, and therapy of panic disorder. He investigates interoception and interoceptive learning, symptom provocation, and reactions to bodily symptoms using psychophysiological methods. His work examines defensive responses to bodily threats and suffocation fear, with recent expansion into pandemic-related mental health impacts including age-specific effects of lockdown measures on depression and anxiety. His publication record (2015-2020) shows a consistent core in panic disorder and interoception mechanisms, with a notable shift toward contemporary crisis research during the COVID-19 pandemic. The broad disciplines span Clinical Psychology, Experimental Psychopathology, and Public Mental Health, with specific subfields including suffocation fear, defensive respiratory responses, age differences in mental health, and psychological effects of social isolation across German adult populations. Dr. Benke was supported by a PhD scholarship during his doctoral studies and is an integral member of Prof. Dr. Christiane Melzig's research team at Philipps University of Marburg, contributing to the department's clinical psychology and psychotherapy initiatives.
Rachel Dockry is a Researcher at the Division of Immunology, Immunity to Infection and Respiratory Medicine. She holds a PhD in Autonomic Function in Chronic Cough, supervised by Prof. Smith, Dr. Kelsall, and Dr. Corfield (completed 2018). Her work focuses on chronic cough mechanisms, respiratory medicine, and clinical trial methodologies. Key research interests include capsaicin-induced coughing, placebo effects, and diagnostic tools for respiratory disorders. Her research contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being. Recent collaborations span international teams, with studies on laryngeal obstruction, cough bout definitions, and nebulisation techniques. Dockry’s work emphasizes translational research, bridging pharmacology and clinical practice to improve respiratory disease management. Her thesis explored autonomic nervous system dysregulation in chronic cough, laying groundwork for current studies on cough challenges and patient-reported outcomes. She has published 44 research outputs, including peer-reviewed articles on clinical trial protocols, pulmonary drug responses, and validated assessment tools.
