Amanda Phillips is an Associate Professor at Georgetown University, affiliated with the Departments of English, Film and Media Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, and American Studies. Their research focuses on feminist and queer theory in digital media, with a particular emphasis on critical game studies and digital humanities. Selected publications include Gamer Trouble: Feminist Confrontations in Digital Culture and co-editing the Queer/Trans/Digital book series. Their scholarship appears in journals such as ROMchip , Feminist Media Histories , and Games and Culture . Research Interests: Digital media and gender politics Queer theory in gaming contexts Decolonial and anti-racist digital humanities Critical analysis of game mechanics Digital labor and precarity Affective histories of gaming Scientific Awards: Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellow Academic Leadership: Former chair of the American Studies Association Digital Humanities Caucus Co-founder of the #transformDH Collective Editorial work on special issues of Game Studies and Antares: Letras e Humanidades Previous Institutions: IMMERSe Postdoctoral Fellow at University of California, Davis Ph.D. recipient from University of California, Santa Barbara with emphasis in Feminist Studies
Ning Nan is an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business, specifically within the Department of Accounting and Information Systems. With a BA from Peking University, an MA from the University of Minnesota, and a PhD from the University of Michigan, Dr. Nan focuses on digital business strategy, evolvable IT infrastructure, and complex adaptive systems. His research explores blockchain applications, agent-based modeling, and the intersection of AI with societal challenges like sustainability. Education: PhD in Information Systems, University of Michigan MA in Information Systems, University of Minnesota BA in Computer Science, Peking University Research Interests: Dr. Nan investigates how technology shapes organizational and societal systems, with a focus on AI ethics, sustainability through personalized recommendations, and blockchain's role in decentralized supply chains. He employs agent-based modeling to simulate complex phenomena like innovation diffusion and online community dynamics. Recent work addresses explainable AI in smart cities and carbon-reduction gamification strategies. Teaching: In 2024-2025, he teaches Data Management for Business Analytics , emphasizing practical applications of data-driven decision-making. Key Research Themes: His articles highlight trends in AI sustainability (e.g., carbon footprint impacts of recommendation systems), digital business strategy (blockchain governance, app update strategies), and foundational IS theory (hyperturbulence and IS strategy).
Goran Avlijas serves as an Assistant Professor at Singidunum University's Faculty of Business in Belgrade, Serbia. His academic profile spans project management, operational research, and retail logistics with significant industry experience at Delta Holding, Strabag AG, and Efektus Consulting Group. His research interests focus on project management methodologies including Agile and Earned Value Management, retail operations optimization through automatic replenishment systems, and sustainable project control . Current work examines gig economy impacts on well-being and pandemic business resilience. Recent publications demonstrate strong emphasis on Quantitative project risk analysis using Monte Carlo simulation Retail inventory management and stock-out reduction Agile methodology implementation in Serbian business context Sustainable infrastructure project valuation Professional recognitions include: Project Management Professional (PMP) Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA) Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) He actively participates in Erasmus+ programs as both teacher and mentor, notably guiding Serbia's championship-winning team at the 2020 International Project Management Championships. His academic contributions include two textbooks on Project Management and Entrepreneurship, along with numerous international conference participations as scientific committee member and reviewer. Avlijas maintains strong industry-academia connections through PMI membership and consulting engagements, while contributing to higher education accreditation processes as a National Accreditation Body delegate.
Pascale Biron is a Professor in the Department of Geography, Urban Planning and Environment at Concordia University, Montreal. She holds a Ph.D. in Geography from Université de Montréal (1995) and has been with Concordia since 1998. Her research focuses on river dynamics, stream restoration for fish habitat, flood modeling, and climate change impacts. She specializes in hydrogeomorphology, river management in agricultural watersheds, and numerical modeling of fluvial processes. Research Interests: Her work includes river restoration strategies, flood risk assessment using LiDAR technology, and the 'river freedom' concept promoting ecosystem resilience. She collaborates closely with government agencies to translate research into practical river management policies. Professional Affiliations: Canadian Geomorphology Research Group, Canadian Association of Geographers, American Geophysical Union, GRIL (Limnology Research Group), and RIISQ (Quebec Flood Risk Network). Publications & Research: Recent studies address global salmonid biomass patterns, fluvial hazard detection via machine learning, and large-scale flood modeling. She supervises 19 graduate students in Ph.D./M.Sc. programs in Geography and Environmental Studies, focusing on topics like river confluence hydraulics and agricultural stream restoration. Grants & Funding: Active projects include river dynamics in fish habitats, flood modeling for road infrastructure vulnerability, and computational fluid dynamics simulations of river flows. She also leads research on societal dimensions of river restoration and policy frameworks for flood resilience.
Agnieszka Leszczynski is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Environment at Western University. Her research focuses on digital geographies, platform urbanism, and the intersections of technology with urban development. She leads a SSHRC-funded project examining the visual aesthetics of urban platformization across Canada, Poland, and South Africa. Additional projects include studying digital experimentation in small Canadian cities and analyzing spatial relationships between urban platforms and gentrification. She teaches courses on GIScience, digital technology, and spatial research methods. Leszczynski actively supervises graduate students exploring topics like smart cities, platform urbanism, and spatial equity. Her work bridges theoretical and applied GIScience with critical urban studies. Education details are not explicitly listed in the provided text, but her academic contributions include over two decades of research output, including co-editing Digital Geographies (SAGE, 2019) and publishing widely in leading journals. She collaborates internationally on projects like the Esri Canada GIS Centre of Excellence and engages with equity, diversity, and decolonization initiatives in academia. Her research methodologies emphasize digital-visual approaches, glitch studies, and critical analyses of spatial technologies. Recent work explores how cities use digital aesthetics to achieve 'world-class' status, while other projects assess micromobility equity and conservation mapping in Patagonia. Leszczynski’s teaching portfolio includes graduate supervision on topics such as dockless micromobility systems and smart home analysis. Key funding sources include SSHRC grants supporting comparative urban studies and technology experimentation. She mentors students through Western’s Geography People’s Society and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on spatial equity and platform urbanism challenges.
Sharat Ganapati is an Assistant Professor at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service (Primary Appointment) and affiliated faculty in the Department of Economics at Georgetown University. He holds positions as a National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) Faculty Research Fellow and a CESifo Research Affiliate. His expertise spans international trade, industrial organization, environmental economics, and spatial economics. He earned his Ph.D. in Economics from Yale University (2017), following degrees from the University of Chicago (B.S. Mathematics, B.A. Economics, 2009). His research focuses on the interplay of trade policies, firm behavior, and spatial economic dynamics. Notable contributions include studies on transshipment hubs, urban welfare, and remote work trends. His work has been published in top journals like the American Economic Journal , Journal of Political Economy , and Journal of Economic Perspectives . Ganapati has received prestigious awards and fellowships, including the Yale Dissertation Fellowship and IBM Thomas J. Watson Scholarship. He advises graduate students such as Cam Healy and Philipp Ludwig and has held editorial roles in journals including the Journal of International Economics and Review of Economics and Statistics . His grants include NSF funding for research on firm heterogeneity. Professional activities include seminars at institutions like Harvard, MIT, and the Federal Reserve.
Catherine Guastavino is a Professor at McGill University's School of Information Studies (within the Faculty of Arts) and an Associate Member at the Schulich School of Music. She also contributes to the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology (CIRMMT). Her roles include leading research projects and supervising graduate students in music technology and related fields. She holds a PhD in Psychoacoustics from Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris VI), an MSc from IRCAM (France), and a BSc in Mathematics from McGill University. Her research focuses on auditory perception, soundscape analysis, human-computer interaction, and urban acoustics. Notable projects include the 'Sounds in the City' partnership addressing urban noise policy and the development of immersive soundscape simulation tools. She leads or co-leads grants from SSHRC, NSERC, and MITACS, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to sound in urban environments. Guastavino's work bridges academic research with practical applications, such as designing sound installations for public spaces and improving acoustic environments in transportation and performance venues. She collaborates with city planners, musicians, and engineers, reflecting her commitment to making cities sound better through evidence-based strategies. Key Projects: SSHRC Partnership Grant for urban soundscape management (2018-2023) NSERC Discovery Grant on auditory localization (2019-2024) MITACS projects on Montreal festival soundscapes and noise policy Labs & Partnerships: Multimodal Interaction Laboratory (MIL) Collaborations with Ville de Montréal and Quartier des Spectacles Education: PhD: Psychoacoustics (Paris VI) MSc: Computer Science & Music Technology (IRCAM) BSc: Mathematics (McGill) Her teaching includes courses like Music Information Retrieval, integrating computational methods with artistic and scientific applications.
Christos Gatzidis serves as Executive Dean of Bournemouth University's Faculty of Science and Technology since October 2023, overseeing six departments including Computing and Informatics, Creative Technology, and Psychology. Previously Deputy Dean (2021-2023) and Head of Creative Technology Department (2016-2021), he was appointed Professor in Creative Technology in November 2019. The Faculty leads five REF Units of Assessment and secures funding from AHRC, NIHR, and Innovate UK for research spanning digital healthcare, gaming technologies, and cultural heritage applications. His educational qualifications include: PhD in Information Science, City University London (2010) PG Cert in Research Degree Supervision, Bournemouth University (2010) MA in Computer Animation, Teesside University (2003) BSc (Hons) in Computer Studies (Visualisation), University of Derby (2002) Professor Gatzidis specializes in computer graphics with research spanning virtual reality, serious games, and digital healthcare applications. His work bridges technical innovation and practical implementation, particularly in mindfulness prototypes for healthcare and stroke rehabilitation systems. Current projects focus on the multidisciplinary application of gaming technologies in medical contexts, emphasizing user experience and therapeutic outcomes through collaborations with industry partners. His publication record (2014-2025) demonstrates evolving expertise from foundational computer graphics research in terrain generation and deformation to applied work in healthcare, cultural heritage, and music education. Key trends include virtual reality for therapeutic mindfulness, usability studies in mobile gaming, and digital cultural presentation techniques, reflecting a trajectory toward socially impactful technological solutions with strong industry translation. No scientific awards are documented in the provided information. He has supervised PhD students and secured competitive research funding, including two Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnerships. His principal investigator role in a virtual reality mindfulness prototype project exemplifies his approach to translating academic research into practical industry solutions, with current focus on expanding knowledge exchange activities to support the University's civic engagement mission. As Executive Dean, he leads faculty-wide research strategy across six departments, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations particularly in digital healthcare and cultural heritage. His personal research integrates computer graphics expertise with clinical applications through partnerships with healthcare providers and technology companies, driving innovation in therapeutic VR systems and educational gaming platforms.
Dr. Emre Alp is an Associate Professor at the Environmental Engineering Department of Middle East Technical University (METU) , where he has served since 2014. Previously, he held roles as Assistant Professor (2011-2014), Instructor (2008-2011), and Part-time Instructor (2008). His research spans Watershed Management , Water-Energy-Food Nexus , and Environmental Economics , with a focus on Diffuse Pollution and Water Quality Modeling using GIS and Remote Sensing . Education : Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering (2006), M.S. in Environmental Engineering (1999), and B.S. in Environmental Engineering (1997) from METU and Marquette University. Research : His work integrates Environmental Risk Assessment with optimization models like SWAT for nutrient load analysis, economic valuation of ecosystems, and urban waterway pollution control. Key projects include Sustainable Stormwater Management on METU campus and Water-Energy Nexus studies in Turkey. Publications : Over 14 refereed journal articles since 2007, focusing on Urban Hydrology , Environmental Economics , and Watershed Modeling . Awards : Post-Doctoral Scholarship (Marquette University, 2006-2008) and Research/Teaching Assistantships (Marquette, 2000-2006). Students : Supervised 2 Ph.D. and 7 M.S. theses on topics like climate change impacts, water allocation, and pollution control.
Goran Avlijaš is a researcher affiliated with Singidunum University in Belgrade, specializing in project management, operations research, and retail logistics. He holds a Doctorate in Engineering Management (2011–2016) from Singidunum University, a Master’s in Project Management (2008–2009) from the Faculty of Organizational Sciences, and a Bachelor’s in Management (2003–2007) from the same institution. His research focuses on optimizing project schedules through methods like Earned Value Management and Monte Carlo Simulation, analyzing supply chain efficiency, and exploring gig economy impacts on well-being in Balkan countries. Key research areas include: Project Management Innovation: Developing risk analysis tools (e.g., Event Chain Methodology) and applying earned value metrics to construction projects. Retail Operations: Investigating automated replenishment systems and inventory management challenges in retail environments. Social-Economic Dynamics: Studying gig economy effects on workforce well-being and regulatory impacts on entrepreneurship. His work spans 30+ peer-reviewed articles and conference papers, including contributions to Management , Sustainability , and Frontiers in Psychology . He co-authored textbooks like Project Management and Entrepreneurship for Singidunum University’s curriculum. Active in academic events such as Sinteza and FINIZ conferences, he bridges theoretical research with practical industry applications.
Peter Newman, Ph.D., serves as Dean of the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont since July 1, 2024, and holds the Suzie and Allen Martin Professor title. With a career spanning decades, he has conducted extensive research on visitor management in protected areas, soundscape management, and transportation planning, partnering with the National Park Service's Natural Sounds and Night Sky Division since 2012. Education Ph.D. in Natural Resources, University of Vermont M.S. in Forest Resource Management, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry B.A. in Political Science, University of Rochester His research focuses on social carrying capacity decision-making in protected area management, with fieldwork across major U.S. parks including Denali, Grand Canyon, and Great Smokies. He has developed frameworks for acoustic management and Leave No Trace efficacy, contributing to sustainable outdoor recreation practices. Scientific Awards: Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit National Award (2012) George Wright Society National Award for Achievement in Social Sciences (2013) Throughout his career, Newman has led high-quality teaching at Penn State's Graduate Degree Program in Acoustics and mentored numerous students through research projects on wildlife approach norms, pandemic recreation shifts, and waste management strategies in national parks. He previously served as a Park Ranger in Yosemite and Backcountry Patrol member in Idaho.
Professor Timo Dietrich is a leading academic and behavior change expert at Griffith University's Griffith Business School, specializing in social marketing and public health interventions. He holds a PhD in Social Marketing from Griffith University (2015) and has over 15 years of experience in designing evidence-based programs addressing youth substance use, mental health, and education. As founder of Blurred Minds, he co-created scalable resources like the Blurred Minds Academy to tackle vaping, alcohol, and cannabis education in schools. His work emphasizes co-creation frameworks such as CBE (Co-create-Build-Engage) and builds on over 100 peer-reviewed publications. Education: Doctor of Philosophy (Social Marketing), Griffith University (2012–2015) Master of International Business, Griffith University (2010–2011) Bachelor of Business Administration, Griffith University (2004–2007) Research Focus: The CBE framework, gamification, virtual reality applications in prevention programs, and co-design methodologies. His projects address youth substance use prevention, mental health promotion, and workplace well-being in agriculture. Recent work includes AI-powered social media campaigns and VR-based alcohol prevention tools. Grants & Impact: Secured over $1.5 million in research funding for initiatives like the Blurred Minds Academy (reaching 415,000+ students) and the Farmer Knowledge Network. His research has informed Queensland's state education policies and global prevention programs. Labs & Teams: Leads Social Marketing @ Griffith and collaborates with global partners through the Griffith Institute for Tourism. Active in advisory roles for NGOs and government agencies on behavior change strategies.
Dr. Elaine Chen serves as Senior Lecturer in Business Analytics and Course Leader for the MSc Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence at Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University. Her teaching emphasizes practical applications of data and AI technologies for business decision-making, with dedicated focus on accessibility for diverse student backgrounds across technical and strategic domains. Her academic credentials include: PhD in Computing Science MSc in Business Information Technology Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice BTech (Hons) in Business Information Systems Chen's research bridges educational and business contexts through data-AI integration: Generative AI adoption in higher education, particularly for neurodivergent/disabled students Human-AI collaboration frameworks in organizational settings SME applications for AI-driven efficiency and competitiveness Workforce analytics and talent management systems Her work consistently connects technical AI capabilities with real-world implementation challenges. Publication analysis (2023-2025) reveals accelerating focus on generative AI's educational impact and business strategy integration, evolving from her foundational work in social recommender systems (2014-2020) which established methodologies now applied to contemporary AI challenges in business contexts. Her professional recognition includes: Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) Chen actively supervises PhD candidates in AI education, human-AI collaboration, and workforce analytics domains. Her pedagogy leadership includes designing accredited business analytics curricula and securing teaching innovation projects with documented outcomes in student engagement metrics. Prior industry experience as an automation engineer at Intel informs her practical approach to AI implementation. Current initiatives focus on generative AI ethics frameworks and longitudinal SME adoption studies, extending her established research trajectory into emerging business technology challenges.
Elsa Arcaute is a Professor of Complexity Science at the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA) at University College London. She is a physicist with expertise spanning mathematical physics, urban systems, and complexity science. Her work bridges theoretical physics with practical applications in urban planning and policy. Her educational background includes a PhD in Theoretical Physics from the University of Cambridge (2006) and a Masters in Mathematics (part III of the Mathematical Tripos). She began her career in theoretical physics with research on Clifford algebras applied to Penrose's twistors before transitioning to complex systems during a visit to Prof. Henrik Jensen at Imperial College London. Arcaute's research focuses on modeling urban systems through the lens of complexity science, with particular emphasis on urban scaling laws, hierarchical structures in cities, and the definition of city boundaries. She applies network theory, percolation theory, and multifractal methodologies to analyze urban infrastructure, socio-economic patterns, and spatial inequality. Her work often involves interdisciplinary collaboration with economists, geographers, and data scientists. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on urban complexity, with significant contributions to understanding city hierarchies, commuting networks, knowledge spillovers, and the impact of digital platforms on urban systems. Her research demonstrates how complex systems theory can provide novel insights into urban dynamics, scaling phenomena, and spatial organization. Arcaute has been involved in several major research projects, including an EPSRC grant on Digital Economies, an ERC-funded project MECHANICITY (led by Prof. Michael Batty) focusing on morphology, energy, and climate change in cities, and a MacArthur-funded project on smart cities and policy. She serves as a Review Editor for Frontiers in Energy Systems and Policy and has contributed to numerous publications that have garnered significant attention across academic and policy circles. Her work has been referenced in policy sources, news outlets, and social media, demonstrating the real-world impact of her research.
Prof. Vinod Namboodiri is the Forlenza Chair in Health Innovation and Technology at Lehigh University's Department of Computer Science & Engineering and College of Health. He leads the Accessibility and Assistive Technologies (ACCESS) Lab, focusing on computing technologies to address health disparities affecting people with disabilities. His NSF-funded research develops navigation solutions for individuals with disabilities, with emphasis on smart communities and built environment accessibility. He holds a Ph.D. from UMass Amherst and previously served as Full Professor/Associate Director at Wichita State University and Adjunct Senior Scientist at Envision Research Institute. His research spans assistive technologies, applied computer vision, and smart health systems. Notable work includes MABLESim (indoor accessibility simulation), NaVIP (visually impaired navigation), and economic analyses of accessibility investments. His publications explore both technical innovations and policy implications of assistive technologies. Prof. Namboodiri has received multiple awards for research, teaching, and innovation. His work bridges computer science with disability studies, emphasizing real-world impact through interdisciplinary collaboration. Current projects address indoor navigation systems, cost-benefit analysis of accessibility infrastructure, and human-agent interaction platforms for disability empowerment.
