Joel Andreas is a Professor of Sociology at Johns Hopkins University since 2003, serving as Program Director of the East Asian Studies Program. His research focuses on political contention, social inequality, and social change in contemporary China. He holds a PhD in Sociology from UCLA and teaches social theory, political sociology, and courses on Chinese society. He has held visiting positions at universities including the University of Sydney, Hong Kong University, and Ningxia University. His work examines labor movements, rural land policies, and class dynamics in China. Recent research includes analyses of staff-worker congresses, rural land dispossession, and the persistence of militarism in U.S. policy. He critiques market reforms and explores the legacy of the Cultural Revolution. Andreas has contributed to debates on China’s transition to capitalism and the decline of socialist systems. His publications span topics from urbanization to state coercion in rural development. He maintains an active role in academic exchanges and policy-relevant research on China’s socio-political landscape.
Sigrid Schmalzer is a Professor of History at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, specializing in the history of science and modern China. She holds a Ph.D. in History and Science Studies from the University of California, San Diego (2004). Her research bridges the social, cultural, and political dimensions of science in China, with a focus on the intersections of agriculture, activism, and revolutionary movements. Schmalzer is the author of *Red Revolution, Green Revolution: Scientific Farming in Socialist China* (2016), winner of the Joseph Levenson Book Prize, and *The People's Peking Man: Popular Science and Human Identity in Twentieth-Century China* (2008), recipient of the Allan Sharlin Award. Her current projects include a book on agricultural heritage in the People’s Republic of China and leadership roles in organizations like the Critical China Scholars and Science for the People. She co-edits the *Activist Studies of Science and Technology* series for UMass Press, emphasizing socially engaged scholarship. Schmalzer also serves as Co-President of the MSP faculty union at UMass Amherst. Research interests span the history of science activism, transnational movements, and the legacy of Maoist science. Notable awards include the Freeman Book Award (2018) for her children’s book *Moth and Wasp, Soil and Ocean*, which integrates science education with historical narratives. Her work often critiques capitalist and authoritarian structures while advocating for science as a tool for justice and sustainability. Recent publications explore themes like agroecology, science policy, and the global dimensions of China’s scientific history. She teaches courses on modern China, science in society, and radical science movements, blending interdisciplinary approaches to engage students in critical analysis of historical and contemporary issues.
Andrea Vedaldi is a Professor of Computer Vision and Machine Learning at the University of Oxford's Department of Engineering Science, affiliated with the Visual Geometry Group (VGG). He specializes in unsupervised methods for understanding images and videos, focusing on 3D geometry and semantics. His research bridges foundational AI and practical applications, with contributions to generative models, neural fields, and self-supervised learning. Education: PhD in Computer Science (2008), University of California, Los Angeles MSc in Computer Science (2005), UCLA BSc in Information Engineering (2003), University of Padua Research Interests: Unsupervised learning, 3D perception, generative AI, neural rendering, and scalable vision systems. His work emphasizes ethical, responsible AI aligned with ERC-funded projects like UNION (ERC Consolidator Grant). Key Contributions: Co-developer of VLFeat and MatConvNet libraries Leader in 3D reconstruction and diffusion models (e.g., CatFree3D) Recipient of the PAMI Thomas S. Huang Prize and multiple best paper awards Grants & Service: Principal Investigator on £2.3M ERC Consolidator Grant (UNION) Co-organizer of major conferences (ECCV 2020 Program Chair, CVPR 2023 Area Chair) Reviewer for top journals/conferences (PAMI, CVPR, NeurIPS) Labs & Teams: VGG Group at Oxford, collaborating on projects like Meta 3D Gen and Common Objects in 3D (CO3D).
Robert JOLIET is an Associate Professor of Finance at IÉSEG School of Management in France. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics and Management from HEC-ULg Management School (Belgium) and has held various academic leadership roles, including Director of Academic Development and Academic Director of the PGE (MSc in Management). His research focuses on finance, portfolio management, SRI (Socially Responsible Investing), and corporate finance, with a particular emphasis on international expansion, capital structure, and sustainable investment strategies. Education: 2008: Ph.D. in Economics and Management, HEC-ULg Management School, Belgium 2004: Master of Advanced Studies (DEA), Management Sciences (Finance), University of Liège, Belgium 2002: Master of Science in Business Engineering (Finance), University of Liège, Belgium Research interests span SRI fund dynamics, corporate social responsibility valuation, international debt policies, and market liquidity. Notable contributions include analyzing the impact of SRI mutual funds on corporate governance and environmental practices, and exploring the stability of sovereign debt structures in the Eurozone. Awards include the 2005 FORTIS Award (Third Prize) and the 2003 E.G. de Barsy Doctoral Fellowship. He has published extensively in journals like Economics Letters and Journal of Banking & Finance . Academic leadership roles include directing programs and departments at IÉSEG, alongside coordinating the Finance Track and managing academic development initiatives. His teaching focuses on financial data analysis, active portfolio management, and investment strategies in capital markets. He is a member of the LEM (Laboratoire d'Économie Moderne) research group and contributes to interdisciplinary research in finance and economics.
Jared M. Trujillo is an Associate Professor of Law at the CUNY School of Law. He teaches Constitutional Law, legal writing, and courses focused on the criminal and juvenile legal systems. Previously, he served as Senior Policy Counsel at the New York Civil Liberties Union, President of the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys, and as a criminal defense attorney at the Legal Aid Society NYC. He also taught as an adjunct professor at Hofstra University School of Law from 2016 through 2021. CUNY School of Law - Associate Professor New York Civil Liberties Union - Senior Policy Counsel Legal Aid Society NYC - Juvenile Defense Attorney Hofstra University School of Law - Adjunct Professor His research and advocacy focus on sentencing reform , bail policy , solitary confinement , policing of LGBTQ+ communities , Communications Decency Act Section 230 , foster care , and decriminalization of sex work . His publications analyze legislative impacts, systemic inequalities, and policy advocacy within criminal and juvenile legal systems. Jared's recent law review article on sentencing reform (2023) explores multigenerational poverty reduction through legal system changes. His 2022-2023 essays address solitary confinement ethics, policing reform, and bail system critiques, reflecting ongoing engagement with media and policy debates.
Alice Reznickova is an Associate Teaching Professor and Capstone Lead in the Masters of Environment (MENV) Program at the University of Colorado. She holds a PhD in Environment and Resources from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an MS in Chemistry from the same institution, and a BA in Chemistry from Smith College. Her work focuses on sustainability education, food systems, urban design, and policy, with a strong emphasis on equity and community engagement. Previously served as Director of Sustainable Urban Environments at NYU Tandon School of Engineering Worked as Campus Sustainability Director at Ripon College Interdisciplinary Scientist at Union of Concerned Scientists, focusing on sustainable food policy Reznickova pioneered NYC's first urban agriculture census and developed experiential learning programs such as the C40 Students Reinvent Cities competition and Ripon's Sustainability Fellowships. Her research addresses food justice, nutrition security, and inclusive sustainability practices.
Emilio Sauri is a Professor in the Department of English at the University of Massachusetts Boston. His expertise spans American literature, Latin American literature, critical theory, and photography, with a focus on literature’s relationship to the global economy from the 19th to 21st centuries. PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago BA, Northwestern University Sauri's research examines literature and visual art in the context of globalization, capitalism, and cultural theory. He is currently working on a monograph titled *Imperial Decay: Literature, Autonomy and the End of Modernization in the Americas* (under contract with Northwestern University Press). His prior editorial work includes co-editing *Literature and the Global Contemporary* (Palgrave, 2017) and *Literary Materialisms* (Palgrave, 2013), alongside a special issue of *nonsite* on Latin American literature and theory. His recent publications explore intersections of literature with global capitalism, materialism, and postmodernism, often analyzing Latin American and U.S. texts. Notable topics include the labor of the novel, economic value in contemporary Mexican fiction, and critiques of modernization in Bolaño’s works. Fulbright Fellow, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2018 Sauri has served on the Executive Committee of the Faculty Staff Union (2018–2020) and co-founded the Literary Theory Reading Group. He has taught courses such as *Post-1945 American Literature*, *Literature and the Political Imagination*, and graduate seminars on literary theory and critical methods.
Celâl Sengör serves as Professor of Geology at Istanbul Technical University since 1992, following prior roles as Reader (1986-1992) and Lecturer (1981-1986) in the same department. His international experience includes Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Oxford's Department of Earth Sciences (1989), Visiting Scientist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute (1984-1985), and Research Assistant at the University of Houston (1975-1976). He earned all academic degrees from the State University of New York: Bachelor's (1978), Master's (1979), and PhD (1982). Professor Sengör's research centers on continental formation mechanisms , regional tectonics , seismotectonic processes , and Asian plate dynamics . His work integrates field geology with theoretical models to reconstruct Earth's crustal evolution, particularly focusing on the complex deformation history of Eurasia. This research has established fundamental frameworks for understanding mountain belt formation and continental collision zones. His exceptional contributions are recognized by numerous prestigious honors: Mary C. Rabbitt Award (Geological Society of America, 2017) Membership in Leopoldina National Academy of Sciences (2012) Gustav Steinmann Medal (Geological Union, 2010) Gordon W. Moore Distinguished Scholar at Caltech (2001-2002) Election to US National Academy of Sciences (2000) Bigsby Medal (Geological Society of London, 1999) Membership in Société Géologique de France (1994) Honorary membership in Austrian Geological Society (1990) Fellowship in Geological Society of America (1988) Honorary doctorate from Université de Neuchatel (1988) Foreign membership in American Philosophical Society, US National Academy of Sciences, and Russian Academy of Sciences Professor Sengör has held significant leadership roles including President of the Earth Sciences Society of Turkey (2005) and Chairman of the History of Geology Division at the Geological Society of America (2001-2002). While his academic supervision and grant activities aren't detailed in available records, his institutional leadership demonstrates substantial influence in global geological communities. His current research continues to advance tectonic theory through comparative analysis of continental collision zones worldwide.
Joselyn Muhleisen serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Public Affairs at the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, Baruch College, City University of New York. She teaches core courses including Citizenship and Public Affairs, Comprehensive Public Policy & Administration, and capstone seminars in Public and International Affairs, with active teaching assignments extending through Spring 2025. Her academic foundation includes: PhD in Political Science, The Graduate Center, CUNY (2016) MPhil in Political Science, The Graduate Center, CUNY MA in European Union International Relations and Diplomacy, College of Europe Brugge, Belgium BS in Public Affairs and English, Baruch College Dr. Muhleisen's research centers on international regimes, regulatory politics, and global governance , with specialized expertise in trade/financial regulation within transatlantic frameworks. Her scholarship critically examines EU-US regulatory convergence, Brexit's implications for global finance, and the institutional dynamics of international organizations. She has established herself as a leading voice in comparative policy analysis through foundational texts and systematic field reviews. Her 2016-2020 publications reveal a cohesive scholarly trajectory focused on advancing methodological rigor in comparative policy studies. The works collectively analyze historical evolution, theoretical frameworks, and cross-national applications of policy analysis, with particular emphasis on European and transatlantic contexts. This body of work demonstrates consistent engagement with both classical scholarship and contemporary developments in governance studies. Her honors include: Fulbright Study Grant to European Union (2007-2008) Getting to Know Europe Grant (European Commission) Doctoral Student Research Grant (2011) 23rd Street Scholarship for Excellence in Public Affairs (2007) Alfred Zweifach Award (2007) Colin Powell Fellowship (2007) Grant for Internship Travel to Romania (2005) USA Today Best and Brightest Nomination (2005) As Faculty Advisor since 2015, she mentors honors students and serves on multiple committees including the Excelsior Service Fellowship Committee and Undergraduate Honors Program Committee. Her grant portfolio features significant research funding including Fulbright and European Commission support for transatlantic regulatory studies. She actively contributes to academic governance through the Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis Award Committee and International Comparative Policy Analysis Forum leadership. She maintains active collaboration with the International Comparative Policy Analysis Forum as an officer and regularly presents at major conferences including the European Union Studies Association. Her research network includes prominent scholars like Iris Geva-May and Diane Hoffman, with ongoing projects examining post-Brexit financial governance structures.
Prof. Dr. Olena Palko is a historian specializing in Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and Ukraine. She holds the SNSF Professorship at the University of Basel's Department of History, focusing on East European History. Her research emphasizes Soviet minority policies, cultural politics, and national identity formation in interwar Ukraine. She is a leading scholar with notable works including Making Ukraine Soviet (2021), awarded the 2023 Alexander Nove Prize. Her current SNF-funded project, Red Tower of Babel , examines Soviet minority experiments in Ukraine. Education: PhD from University of East Anglia (2017); Kandydat nauk from National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (2013). Research Interests: Soviet nationality policy, minority history, Ukrainian twentieth-century history, transnational border dynamics. Her work bridges archival analysis with transnational perspectives, addressing contested borderlands between Poland and the USSR. Key publications include co-edited volumes like Making Ukraine (2022) and Ukraine's Many Faces (2023). She actively contributes to academic governance roles, including co-convening the BASEES Study Group for Minority History and serving on the Scientific Advisory Council of the Council of Europe's history observatory.
Patrick Overeem is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), specializing in Political Science and Public Administration. He holds a PhD from Leiden University (2010) and advanced degrees in Public Administration and Political Science from the same institution. His research focuses on democratic theory, value pluralism, statesmanship, and EU governance. He is affiliated with the Multi-layered Governance (MLG) research group and serves on editorial boards, including the American Review of Public Administration . Overeem's work emphasizes ethical leadership, compromise in politics, and the interplay between democracy and pluralism. Key contributions include his 2012 book on the politics-administration dichotomy and his neo-Aristotelian analyses of political virtue. He has led projects like the EU-funded RECONNECT initiative (2018–2022), exploring democratic reconciliation in Europe. He advises Dutch parliamentary integrity committees and contributes to public debates on ethics and governance through media engagements. His research bridges classical political theory with contemporary challenges, addressing topics like postliberalism, moral dilemmas in governance, and constitutional frameworks. Overeem teaches courses on political theory, democratic systems, and the history of political thought, fostering critical engagement with ethical and institutional dimensions of power.
Dr. Kyla Walters is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at Sonoma State University. Her research focuses on gender, labor, and education policy, particularly exploring issues of inequality in retail work, sexual harassment in industries, and resistance to charter school expansion. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Current research includes an interview-based study on beauty appraisals during pregnancy and childbirth, conducted with Sonoma State sociology students. Her work has been published in journals like Sociology of Race and Ethnicity and Hospitality & Society , as well as in the book Walking Mannequins (University of California Press, 2022). She has also contributed to policy analyses on teacher union resistance to educational reforms.
Alexandra Livada is a Professor at the Department of Statistics within the School of Information Sciences and Technology at Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB). She holds office at two locations: 12 Codringtonos Street, 2nd Floor and 76 Patision Street, Antoniadou Wing, 3rd Floor in Athens, Greece. Her contact information includes email livada@aueb.gr and phone number +30 210-8203521. Dr. Livada earned her BA and MA in Economics from Athens School of Economics and Business followed by a PhD in Economics from Essex University, UK in 1988. Her academic career has spanned several decades with extensive teaching experience at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Her research interests encompass a diverse range of quantitative fields: Quantitative economics and applied econometrics Time series analysis and forecasting techniques Income distribution and inequality measurement Applied financial econometrics Business cycles analysis Medical statistics Index numbers and official statistics Professor Livada's publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly productivity across multiple disciplines, with a noticeable trend toward interdisciplinary work connecting economics with healthcare and social policy. Her recent research shows increasing focus on income inequality across different geographic regions, economic sentiment during crises, and the intersection of medical conditions with statistical analysis. Her scholarly contributions have been recognized through numerous citations in leading journals and books. She has served as a referee for prestigious journals including the European Journal of Political Economy, Journal of Public Economics, and Journal of Insurance, Mathematics and Economics. Professional service highlights include: Member of multiple project teams Marie-Curie project supervisor External evaluator for the Greek State Scholarship Foundation (IKY) External evaluator for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Co-author of the book "Index Numbers and Official Statistics" Professor Livada maintains an active research agenda with collaborations spanning economics, statistics, and medical fields, demonstrating the interdisciplinary nature of contemporary quantitative research.
Dr. Joshua Savala is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), part of the College of Liberal Arts. He holds a PhD from Cornell University (2019) and previously taught at Rollins College in Florida. His research focuses on Latin American social movements, transnational histories of the Pacific, and labor solidarity in the Andean and Southern Cone regions. Key areas of expertise include maritime workers, anarchism, public health epidemics, and border studies. Education: PhD in History, Cornell University (2019) MA in History, Cornell University (2015) MA in History, Tufts University (2012) BA in History and Sociology, University of California, Davis (2007) Research Interests: His groundbreaking work examines collaborative relationships between Peruvians and Chileans in the 19th and early 20th centuries, including studies on cholera epidemics, anarchist networks, and cross-border solidarity. Recent projects investigate cooperative urban planning on the U.S.-Mexico border and disaster responses in Valparaíso. Publications: Includes the award-winning book Beyond Patriotic Phobias (2022) and articles in Hispanic American Historical Review and Journal of Social History . His Spanish translation Más allá de la guerra (2024) is a binational publication with universities in Peru and Chile. Awards: Best Book (Social Sciences) on the Southern Cone (Honorable Mention), 2023 Flora Tristán Book Prize (Honorable Mention), 2023 José María Arguedas Prize, 2020 Teaching: Teaches courses on Modern Latin America, Pacific World histories, and borderland studies. Recent courses include Studies in Latin American History and South America Since 1810 . Labs/Teams: Engaged with UTEP's Borderlands Digital Humanities Center and the Institute of Oral History, emphasizing collaborative interdisciplinary projects.
Tapio Schneider is the Theodore Y. Wu Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at the California Institute of Technology. His research focuses on atmospheric dynamics across Earth and other planets, climate modeling innovations, and geophysical turbulence analysis. He contributes to the Climate Modeling Alliance (CliMA) and develops advanced computational tools for climate prediction. Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (Vordiplom, 1993) Princeton University (M.Sc. 1997, Ph.D. 2001) University of Washington, Seattle (Visiting Graduate Student, 1994-1995) His research spans climate dynamics , atmospheric turbulence , and AI-enhanced climate modeling , addressing challenges in cloud dynamics, extreme weather patterns, and planetary climate systems. Current work emphasizes hybrid machine learning-physical models and computational acceleration for high-resolution simulations. Recent publications highlight trends in AI integration for climate science, with applications in hydrology , cloud microphysics , ocean circulation , snowpack modeling , and climate tipping points . His team develops open-source tools like ClimateMachine for GPU-accelerated simulations. Scientific Recognition: Fellow, American Geophysical Union (2022) Rosenstiel Award (2019) World Economic Forum Young Scientist (2012) David and Lucile Packard Fellow (2005-2010) Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow (2004-2006) Tapio leads climate dynamics research at Caltech, directs the Linde Center for Global Environmental Science (2011-2012), and serves as Editor for the Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems . His group collaborates with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2016-2024) and Google Research (2022-present).