Matthew Payne is an Associate Professor in the Department of Film, Television, and Theatre at the University of Notre Dame. His affiliations include roles as Director of Graduate Studies and regional director for the Learning Games Initiative, a multi-institute research collective focused on game archiving and education. His research spans video game studies, media literacy, military entertainment, and the cultural history of video games. He explores play theory, media and war, and the intersection of media production with new technologies. The 15 most recent articles highlight his focus on video game studies, transmedia narratives, and the cultural implications of gaming. These works cover topics from Nintendo Amiibo to slow game time mechanics in Red Dead Redemption 2, with recurring themes of military representation and ludic storytelling. Matthew Payne has co-edited notable works including How to Play Video Games and Joystick Soldiers , emphasizing collaborative approaches to game studies and critical analysis of military gaming.
Marshall L. Fisher is the UPS Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on retailing and supply chain management, with notable work in dynamic pricing, omnichannel operations, and workforce optimization. Academic Affiliation: Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania Research Themes: Retail innovation, supply chain responsiveness, labor economics Recent Trends: Real-time pricing algorithms, inventory-demand interactions, digital transformation Scientific Recognition: INFORMS Kimball Medal (2007) POMS Fellow (2005) INFORMS Fellow (2002) NAE Election (1994) Academic Contributions: Pioneering work on Lagrangian relaxation in integer programming (1981), Edelman Prize-winning liquid gas optimization, and groundbreaking research on retail staffing and training effectiveness. His teaching includes courses on global supply chain management and AI in business.
Michel Laroche serves as Professor of Marketing and holds the Royal Bank Distinguished Professorship at Concordia University's John Molson School of Business. He maintains active research leadership through editorship of the Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences and extensive scholarly contributions across global marketing domains. His educational background includes a Diplôme d'ingénieur from École Centrale de Paris, M.S.E. from Johns Hopkins, and M.Ph./Ph.D. from Columbia University, complemented by an honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Guelph. This multidisciplinary foundation underpins his research approach. Consumer behavior modeling Social media/digital marketing analytics Cross-cultural retailing dynamics Advertising effectiveness in global contexts Internet of Things consumer adoption Artificial intelligence in marketing systems His publication portfolio demonstrates consistent innovation in digital consumer behavior, with recent work examining social commerce cultural dynamics, TikTok authenticity metrics, and pandemic-driven media consumption patterns. Articles consistently integrate technological advancement with deep cultural analysis. Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada Recipient of the Jacques-Rousseau Medal for multidisciplinary research Living Legend of Marketing Award (HEC-Montreal) Hans B. Thorelli Award for international marketing research JBR Outstanding Associate Editor Award (namesake) Laroche has supervised 64 M.Sc. and 27 Ph.D. theses while securing major funding from SSHRC and FQRSC. His editorial leadership spans 16 years as Managing Editor of the Journal of Business Research and current Editor-in-Chief role at CJAS , establishing significant infrastructure for marketing scholarship. Professional service includes presidential roles in ASAC and AMS, plus extensive journal editorial board participation.
Brian Harman is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Marketing at Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University. With extensive experience teaching at UK and Irish higher education institutions, including the University of Reading, De Montfort University, University of Limerick, and the National University of Ireland, Brian is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has served as External Examiner for Postgraduate Marketing programs at Bournemouth University (2020-2024). His pedagogical approach integrates research insights, earning recognition for innovative teaching practices. Consumer behavior Consumer psychology Persuasion techniques Behavioral science applications Brian’s research explores how consumers can achieve happier, healthier, and more sustainable lives through adaptive marketplace strategies. His work spans diverse contexts, including endurance athletics, social marketing for road safety, and psychological principles for consumer decision-making. He actively participates in the Marketing and Consumer Studies Research Centre and welcomes PhD applications focused on consumer behavior themes. Recent publications highlight his interdisciplinary approach, combining psychology with marketing in areas such as pandemic resilience among athletes, fear appeals for public safety campaigns, and behavioral insights for everyday consumer decisions. Brian’s industry background as a market researcher enriches his academic contributions.
Arul Mishra is a David Eccles Professor of Marketing at the University of Utah , affiliated with the David Eccles School of Business . Her academic career spans roles such as Faculty Fellow and Emerging Scholar , focusing on consumer behavior and decision-making processes. Ph.D. in Marketing , University of Iowa MBA in Marketing Bachelor in Mathematics and Physics Her research explores consumer decision-making , behavioral promotions , risk perception , and financial decision-making , utilizing methodologies like predictive analytics and machine learning . Recent publications investigate topics such as clustering algorithms , temporal decision-making , and spatial bias . Arul Mishra has received prestigious awards including the David Eccles Professor title and the Outstanding Reviewer Award from the Journal of Consumer Research . Her work has been featured in top-tier journals like Marketing Science and Psychological Science , with popular mentions in Scientific American and The Wall Street Journal .
Kornelia Hahn is Professor of General Sociology and Sociological Theory at the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg , affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences and Department of Sociology and Social Geography . Current roles include Chair of the Doctorate Curriculum Committee and co-coordinator of the ESA Research Network 29 Social Theory. PhD and Habilitation (venia legendi) from the University of Bonn, Germany Trained in Sociology, Modern German Literature, and General Linguistics Her research focuses on cultural dynamics through material, historical, and semiotic perspectives , examining (digital) communication, intimate relationships, political public spheres, and embodied service/fashion industries. Recent conference talks analyze fashion supply chains , platform economy privacy , and digital transformation in public spheres. Publications include the 2024 article Intimacy and the Transformation of the Public Sphere (Theory, Culture & Society) and the 2021 monograph Social Digitalization: Persistent Transformations Beyond Digital Technology . She co-edits the book series Media Cultures in the Digital Age (Springer Nature). Award for Outstanding Achievement in Lecturing (Leuphana University Lüneburg) Award for Outstanding Achievement in Publishing (Leuphana University Lüneburg) Teaching expertise in Sociological Theory, Sociology of Culture, Digital Communication, Fashion Industries, and Interpretive Methods. Serves as reviewer for German Research Foundation DFG , Einstein Foundation Berlin , and multiple international journals (Journal of Consumer Culture, Austrian Journal of Sociology, etc.).
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Umut Asan is an active faculty member in the Department of Industrial Engineering at Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Faculty of Management. He holds the academic rank of Associate Professor and has been affiliated with ITU since 1999, progressing from Research Assistant to his current role. He earned his PhD from Technische Universität Berlin and holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s from ITU in Engineering Management and Industrial Engineering, respectively. PhD: Technische Universität Berlin (2003–2009) MSc: Istanbul Technical University, Engineering Management (1999–2001) BSc: Istanbul Technical University, Industrial Engineering (1995–1999) Dr. Asan's research lies at the intersection of decision science and industrial systems, with a strong emphasis on Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) , Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping , Scenario Planning , and Digital Twins . His work applies advanced modeling techniques such as Bayesian networks and fuzzy logic to solve complex problems in supply chain resilience, urban mobility, technology adoption, and organizational behavior. His recent publications (2023–2025) reveal a consistent trend toward integrating artificial intelligence and data-driven methods into decision support systems. Topics include electric vehicle adoption in urban logistics, digital twin frameworks for manufacturing, risk analysis in forestry and rail systems, and consumer behavior in digital platforms. These works demonstrate interdisciplinary applications across engineering, business, and social sciences, often using fuzzy and probabilistic models to handle uncertainty. Dr. Asan is actively involved in research leadership, having served as Vice Dean (2018–2023) and currently supervising numerous graduate theses. He is the principal investigator of funded projects, including BAP grants on qualitative cross-impact analysis and consumer cognitive models. Principal Investigator, "A New Approach to Qualitative Cross-Impact Analysis" (BAP Project, 2016–2020) Principal Investigator, "A New Approach to Consumer Causal Chain Models" (BAP Project, 2022–2024) He is a member of several international academic societies, including the International Society on MCDM, ENBIS, and EURO, reflecting his active engagement in the global operations research community. His research has been published in journals such as IEEE Access, European Journal of Forest Engineering, and Decision Science Letters, with a growing citation impact (Scopus h-index: 13). Dr. Asan advises a large cohort of graduate students, both at the Master’s and PhD levels, in areas ranging from risk modeling to digital transformation. His lab or research group focuses on decision support systems and cognitive modeling, supervising theses on FMEA, Bayesian networks, and digital twins. Future work appears to be directed toward enhancing predictive capabilities in industrial and societal systems through hybrid AI models.
Torbjörn Andersson is a docent (Associate Professor) in sports science at Malmö University's Department of Sports Science within the Faculty of Education and Society. His academic career has been dedicated to the historical and cultural study of football, particularly focusing on Swedish football's development and its societal impact. Andersson's research interests center on football history with a particular emphasis on Swedish football culture across different historical periods. His work explores themes such as football hooliganism from 1900-1970, the relationship between football and alcohol in Swedish society, football's role in urban identity and city marketing, and the cultural significance of football clubs in local communities. He has extensively documented how football has shaped and reflected Swedish social history. His publication record spans several decades with notable works including his doctoral dissertation "Kung Fotboll. Den svenska fotbollens kulturhistoria från 1800-talets slut till 1950" (King Football: The Cultural History of Swedish Football from the End of the 19th Century to 1950) and co-edited special issues of "Soccer and Society" on topics like "Football in Scandinavia: A Fusion of Welfare Policy and the Market" and "Centres and Peripheries in Soccer." His recent work shows continued engagement with contemporary football scholarship through numerous book reviews on football politics, history, and culture. Andersson is currently working on a book about Swedish football's cultural heritage, continuing his lifelong scholarly commitment to documenting and analyzing the historical significance of football in Swedish society. His research demonstrates consistent focus on how football reflects broader social, political, and cultural developments in Sweden.
Clare D'Souza is a Professor of Marketing at La Trobe University, specializing in sustainability, consumer behavior, and marketing strategy. She holds academic appointments at the University of the Basque Country (Spain) and collaborates internationally with researchers in Malaysia, China, Canada, India, and Portugal. Her research bridges sustainability and marketing, emphasizing environmental leadership, consumer decision-making, and ethical business practices. Education: PhD (University of Bombay), MBA (SIIDS, India), BComm and LLB (La Trobe University). Research Interests Her work focuses on sustainability in business, consumer intent, and the integration of environmental goals into marketing strategies. Key areas include greenfluencer impact, recycling behavior, and sustainable development goals (SDGs) in supply chains. She also explores digital marketing innovations and ethical consumption patterns. Grants & Collaborations Professor D'Souza has secured significant funding through grants and consultancies, leading projects on sustainability and marketing. She advises international organizations and government agencies on curriculum design and sustainable practices. Awards - OLT National Citation (2012) for teaching excellence - UN VIC Finalist (2016) for sustainability research Teaching & Supervision She teaches across campuses and oversees HDR students, contributing to curriculum development in sustainability and marketing. Her courses cover entrepreneurship, retail management, and social/environmental marketing. Labs & Teams Associated with the Governance, Marketing and Sustainability Research Centre (University of the Basque Country), she leads interdisciplinary teams focusing on global sustainability challenges.
Francesca Sotgiu is a Full Professor of Marketing at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Director of Graduate Studies in Business Data Science across Erasmus University, University of Amsterdam, and VU Amsterdam. Previously, she held roles as an Assistant Professor at HEC Paris and Visiting Scholar at Tilburg University. She teaches at multiple academic levels and has collaborated with companies like Airbus, Danone, and Unilever. Her research focuses on retail dynamics, including pricing strategies, eWOM, and consumer behavior. She serves on editorial boards of top journals like the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science. Education: Doctorate in Marketing from Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University. Key Research Areas: Retailing, pricing promotions, front-of-package labeling, and social media marketing. Her work has received awards such as the ABRI Best Faculty Paper Award (2016) and MSI Research Accelerator Award (2017). She has organized academic conferences and events with institutions like INFORMS MSI and ECODEC LabEx. Grants include €60,000 from HEC Paris Foundation (2010–2014) and €10,000 from ECODEC LabEx (2015). She actively contributes to editorial roles and academic supervision.
Dr. Xingqiu Lou is an Assistant Professor at the School of Fashion Design and Merchandising, Kent State University. She holds degrees from Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology (B.S.), University of Delaware (M.S.), and North Carolina State University (M.S. in Statistics and Ph.D.). Her research focuses on the intersection of technology, consumer experience, and sustainability in the global textile and apparel industry. She explores AI, VR, AR, and blockchain to address industry challenges and promote sustainable practices. Dr. Lou’s work emphasizes quantitative and qualitative methods, with publications in peer-reviewed journals and active participation in international conferences. Her teaching philosophy centers on digital tools and real-world scenarios to enhance student engagement. Key research areas include consumer behavior analysis, sustainable fashion innovations, and ethical technology integration. Her recent studies span AI-generated fashion ads, blockchain in supply chain transparency, and Gen Z consumer perceptions. While no specific awards are cited, her contributions highlight emerging trends in fashion technology and sustainability.
Courtney Szocs is an Associate Professor in the Department of Marketing at Pennsylvania State University. Her research focuses on sensory marketing, aesthetics, retailing, food marketing, and store atmospherics. She holds a PhD in Marketing from the University of South Florida (2014), an MBA from Cleveland State University (2010), and a BS in Apparel Merchandising from The Ohio State University (2006). Her research interests explore how sensory elements—such as color, sound, scent, and physical sensations—influence consumer behavior, particularly in retail and food contexts. She investigates topics like ambient lighting effects on food choices, the role of visual cues in packaging, and how environmental factors like music or posture impact purchasing decisions. Her recent work highlights innovative strategies for engaging customers through multisensory retail environments, including studies on caffeine’s impact on spending, the psychology of ‘imperfect’ product aesthetics, and the future of personalized store atmospherics. No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned in the provided materials. Her research contributions span over 30 peer-reviewed articles, reflecting a strong focus on practical insights for marketers and retailers.
Reza Movarrei is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Aalto University's Department of Information and Service Management. His work focuses on consumer behavior, supply chain dynamics, and the intersection of technology with marketing strategies. He has conducted extensive research on topics including status consumption, gamification in prosumption, pandemic logistics, and supplier-buyer relationship management. Research Highlights: Investigates how consumer traits influence intentions to use luxury VR products Analyzes pandemic-era consumer perceptions of home delivery services Explores supplier failure attribution mechanisms through buyer-supplier arbitrator perspectives Examines the paradox of retail buyers' consumer vs industrial purchasing behaviors Awards & Recognition: Best Full Paper Award at British Academy of Management (2024) Best Paper in Operations, Logistics & Supply Chain Management Track (2024) Palkinto tai huomionosoitus tuotoksesta (2024) Key Research Themes: Status signaling and luxury consumption patterns Gamification's role in consumer participation Supply chain resilience and risk management Crisis logistics during health emergencies
Courtney Chrimes is a Lecturer in Digital Fashion Marketing at The University of Manchester, Department of Fashion Business Technology. She holds an External Examiner role for the BA (Hons) Fashion Promotion and Communication Programme at Buckinghamshire New University (2021-2026). Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Buying and Merchandising from The University of Manchester (2017) and a PhD focused on product page design impacts on clothing fit appraisal (2021). Her research interests span digital fashion marketing innovations, metaverse retail experiences, sustainable supply chain practices, and consumer behavior analysis. Notable areas include blockchain applications in circular economies, body shape impacts on garment fit satisfaction, and AI-driven marketing strategies. She actively contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals related to responsible consumption and production. Dr. Chrimes has published 12 peer-reviewed articles and chapters, with recent focus on metaverse retailing (2025), AI-generated advertising (2024), and blockchain transparency (2023). She received four awards, including the 2024 Teaching Excellence Award for inclusive pedagogy and 2019 recognition for research excellence. Her advisory work includes supervising PhD research on digital fashion marketing and collaborating with industry partners on omnichannel strategies. Current projects explore immersive technologies in fashion retail and digital tools for sustainable product development.
Gustavo Schneider is an Assistant Professor in the Marketing Department at Salisbury University. His research focuses on how consumers process numerical information in contexts like product packaging, probabilities, and forecasting, alongside political campaign contributions. He teaches marketing courses and has published extensively on consumer behavior, political activism, and retail strategies. Research interests include numerical framing effects, political donation psychology, and health-related consumer perceptions. His work bridges behavioral economics and marketing, examining how visual and numerical cues shape decisions. Key articles analyze political slacktivism, retailer pricing tactics, and elevator pitch competitions. His research highlights practical applications for businesses and political campaigns. No scientific awards are listed, but his work has been published across peer-reviewed journals in marketing and behavioral sciences. Dr. Schneider advises no listed students and focuses on grants related to consumer behavior studies. His work often intersects with labs exploring decision-making processes and marketing strategy development.
