Christopher D.P. Baxter is a Professor and Department Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the College of Engineering, University of Rhode Island , with expertise in geotechnical engineering, offshore wind energy, and coastal resilience. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech (1999), an M.S. from Purdue University (1994), and a B.S. from Tufts University (1990). Research Focus: Geotechnical characterization of marine sediments, liquefaction resistance analysis, fiber-optic sensing for infrastructure monitoring, and coastal protection systems. Recent Publications: 15+ articles (2011–2025) covering topics like shear wave velocity, offshore wind foundation dynamics, and tsunami hazard modeling. Grants: Led projects on offshore wind monitoring (2019–2024) and fiber-optic seismic sensing (2021–2023). Key Collaborations: Work with teams on submarine landslide analysis, coastal dune reinforcement, and Rhode Island infrastructure resilience. His work bridges experimental geomechanics with practical coastal engineering solutions.
Dr. Michael Baym is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics at Harvard Medical School with affiliate appointments in Microbiology and the Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, and as an Associate Member of the Broad Institute. He leads the Baym Lab, which studies microbial evolutionary genomics and antibiotic resistance through a hybrid of experimental, computational, and theoretical approaches. His research focuses on: Antibiotic Resistance Evolution and practical interventions Mobile Genetic Elements (plasmids, phages, transposons) Computational Genomic Algorithms for big data analysis Synthetic Biology tools and technologies Key recent publications explore phage discovery systems , phylogenetic compression of microbial genomes, and RNA-guided gene drives in plasmids. His work is supported by multiple NIH/NIGMS and NSF grants including a MIRA award. Scientific honors include: Packard Fellowship (2018) Pew Biomedical Scholarship (2020) Sloan Research Fellowship (2020) A. Clifford Barger Excellence in Mentoring Award (2021) SSQBio Mentorship Award (2022) The lab actively trains PhD students and postdoctoral fellows with alumni occupying academic and industry positions globally. Current team members include researchers from interdisciplinary backgrounds working at the intersection of experiment, computation, and theory .
Jaline L Gerardin is an Associate Professor in Preventive Medicine (Epidemiology) and McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University. She is affiliated with the Center for Global Health, Institute for Public Health and Medicine (IPHAM), Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems, and Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health. Her career focuses on malaria modeling and public health interventions. Current affiliations: Northwestern University, IPHAM, NICO, Center for Global Health Prior role: Malaria lead at Institute for Disease Modeling Research Focus: Gerardin specializes in malaria transmission modeling and public health intervention optimization . Her work addresses subnational tailoring of malaria strategies, intervention mix analysis for elimination, and ethical modeling practices. She integrates multidisciplinary data (entomology, immunology, demography) into agent-based models to guide policy in resource-limited settings. Article Trends: Recent publications emphasize subnational malaria intervention prioritization (Guinea, Nigeria), diagnostic performance evaluation, human mobility impacts on transmission, and wastewater surveillance applications for disease modeling. Leadership Roles: Co-chair: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene symposia Member: WHO working groups, Malaria Modeling Consortium Advisor: WHO Malaria Multi-Model Comparison initiatives Education: PhD from University of California, San Francisco (2013)
Dr. Mario Rebosura serves as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACE), part of the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology at the University of Queensland. His work bridges fundamental research and practical engineering solutions for sustainable urban water systems. His academic credentials include: Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (2009) from the University of the Philippines Los Banos Masters of Engineering in Environmental Engineering (2012) from the Catholic University of Korea PhD in Chemical Engineering (2020) from the University of Queensland Rebosura specializes in integrated urban water management with emphasis on anaerobic technologies and resource recovery. His research investigates iron salt applications throughout urban water cycles, contaminant fate analysis, and advanced wastewater treatment processes. He combines chemical engineering principles with environmental science to develop circular economy solutions that transform waste streams into valuable resources while improving infrastructure resilience. His publication record reveals consistent focus on optimizing iron-based interventions across the urban water system—from sewer networks to treatment plants—with recent expansion into micropollutant management and enhanced anaerobic digestion. This trajectory demonstrates increasing sophistication in addressing complex water-energy-resource nexus challenges through interdisciplinary experimentation. Rebosura actively contributes to scholarly discourse as Editor for the International Research Journal on Innovations in Engineering, Science and Technology and as a reviewer for leading water research journals. His conference presentations have generated international recognition through speaking invitations and workshop leadership. He has secured significant research funding including: Australian Research Council project 'An integrated approach to iron salt use in urban water systems' (2014–2019) Meat & Livestock Australia initiative 'Wastes to Profits: Advanced Anaerobic Digestion' (2018–2022) As a core member of ACE, Rebosura leverages world-class facilities for laboratory and pilot-scale water research, collaborating within multidisciplinary teams to advance sustainable water management solutions for global challenges.
Dr. Rachel Scholes is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on protecting human and environmental health through the study of contaminants in urban water systems, with an emphasis on optimizing contaminant removal in engineered and nature-based treatment systems. She holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University and M.S. and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. Her research interests include environmental chemistry, trace contaminants, water reuse, nature-based treatment systems, and stormwater treatment. She teaches courses such as ENVE 301 (Environmental Engineering Intermediate Design Project) and CIVL 562 (Environmental Data Collection and Analysis). Her lab, Scholes Lab, actively investigates contaminant dynamics in constructed wetlands, bioretention systems, and subsurface treatment environments. Key research contributions include enhancing contaminant removal via Fe (III)-EDTA-amended wetlands, studying 6PPD-quinone dynamics in salmon streams, and optimizing pharmaceutical attenuation in benthic wetland biomats. Her work bridges fundamental environmental chemistry with applied engineering solutions for sustainable water management. Dr. Scholes' lab collaborates on projects funded by grants focused on urban water systems, green infrastructure, and contaminant fate. She advises students through the Scholes Lab (www.scholeslab.org), which emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to environmental challenges.
Ben Halpern is a Professor at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management and Director of the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) at UC Santa Barbara. He holds a PhD in Ecology from UCSB and a BA in Biology from Carleton College. His research focuses on marine ecology and conservation planning, with expertise in cumulative impact assessments, marine reserves, and the Ocean Health Index. He has led global projects on ocean health, biodiversity threats, and sustainable aquaculture, collaborating with institutions worldwide. Notable roles include co-founding the Conservation Aquaculture Research Team (CART) and serving as a part-time Chair in Marine Conservation at Imperial College London (2013–2018). Research interests span marine biodiversity conservation, climate change impacts on ecosystems, and the integration of ecological and social data into policy. His work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to address environmental challenges, such as mapping wastewater impacts, evaluating aquaculture sustainability, and developing tools for marine spatial planning. Awards include the Smith Fellowship Program (sponsored by The Nature Conservancy) during his postdoctoral work. He teaches Bren School courses, mentors graduate students, and leads collaborative research teams. Current projects include analyzing climate change effects on aquaculture and advancing the Ocean Health Index framework to support global conservation efforts.
Betsy Foxman serves as the Hunein F. and Hilda Maassab Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She directs three major initiatives: the Center for Molecular and Clinical Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, the Integrated Training in Microbial Systems program, and the Certificate in Healthcare Infection Prevention & Control. Her academic leadership spans decades with continuous research contributions. Dr. Foxman earned her PhD and MSPH from UCLA (1983, 1980) and BS from UC Berkeley (1977). Her research centers on infectious disease transmission, microbiome ecology, antibiotic resistance, and wastewater surveillance . Key projects include analyzing the oral microbiome in dental caries using genomic methods, studying nose/throat microbiome associations with respiratory infections in nursing facilities, and developing wastewater monitoring for antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Her work integrates next-generation sequencing with epidemiological analysis to identify novel interventions. Publication trends reveal consistent focus on microbiome-pathogen interactions across multiple body sites (oral, vaginal, gut, respiratory). Recent articles demonstrate methodological innovation in wastewater epidemiology (2024 Norovirus GII monitoring) and clinical applications like predicting vancomycin-resistant enterococci contamination (2023 Lancet study). Her research bridges molecular microbiology with population health, emphasizing translational potential for diagnostics and public health interventions. Fellow of the Infectious Disease Society of America Fellow of the American College of Epidemiology Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology Dr. Foxman's advising portfolio includes numerous NIH-funded projects on microbiome dynamics and infection control. Her leadership in the Center for Molecular and Clinical Epidemiology drives collaborative research across departments. Current initiatives focus on wastewater surveillance standardization and microbiome-based diagnostics for infection prevention. She maintains active laboratories for genomic analysis of microbial communities and clinical sample processing.
Jung Soo Lim is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at California State University, Los Angeles, within the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology. He earned his B.S. from Cal State LA and M.S. and Ph.D. from UCLA, returning to his alma mater as a part-time lecturer in 2014 before transitioning to a full-time assistant professor role in 2019. Education: B.S. (Cal State LA), M.S. (UCLA), Ph.D. (UCLA) His research focuses on Internet of Things (IoT) , Cyber-Physical Systems , Wireless Networking , Software Engineering , and Medical Computing . He has active projects in IoT applications for healthcare, urban safety, and wastewater monitoring, including the Center for Inclusive Computing (CIC) Transfer Pathways Project. Recent publications highlight interdisciplinary work bridging IoT, healthcare diagnostics, and smart city infrastructure. Notable topics include stroke detection algorithms , IoT communication protocols , and sensor-based environmental monitoring . Scientific Awards: Outstanding Senior at Cal State LA (1997) He teaches core computer science courses such as Computer Programming Fundamentals and Analysis of Algorithms, and actively mentors graduate students. His lab focuses on developing embedded systems and IoT solutions for real-world challenges.
Alex Arenas is a Full Professor in the Department of Computer Engineering and Mathematics at Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Tarragona, Spain. He is also an External Faculty member at the Complexity Science Hub in Vienna and Chief of Complex Systems Science at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, USA. His research spans complex systems, network science, computational epidemiology, and multilayer dynamics, with applications in public health, neuroscience, and social systems. Research Interests: His work focuses on the physics of multilayer networked systems, particularly the interplay between structure and function in complex networks. Key areas include synchronization, epidemic modeling, network medicine, the physics of the microbiome, and higher-order interactions in spreading processes. He investigates dynamic transitions using functional multilayer frameworks and develops models for real-world systems like urban mobility and misinformation diffusion. The recent articles highlight a strong trend in computational epidemiology, especially post-COVID modeling of vaccination strategies, rebound dynamics, and wastewater surveillance. There is also significant work on synchronization in oscillator networks, chimera states, and higher-order network effects, reflecting a deep engagement with nonlinear dynamics and theoretical network science. Applications span medicine, urban planning, and social systems. Scientific Awards: Fellow, American Physical Society (2018) Fellow, Network Science Society (2020) ICREA Academia (2011, 2017, 2022) Narcís Monturiol Medal (2022) Web Science Trust Test of Time Award (2024) Complex Systems Society Senior Award (2024) Advising and Grants: Arenas has supervised numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, though specific names are not listed. He has been Principal Investigator on 47 research projects, including EU FP7 projects, a James S. McDonnell Foundation grant, and Horizon Europe's CREXDATA project. He has served as an editor for Physical Review E , Journal of Complex Networks , and Network Neuroscience , and has reviewed for major funding agencies including ERC, MINECO, and international bodies. Labs and Teams: He leads the Alephsys Lab at URV, which develops tools like Radatools for network analysis and community detection. His team focuses on interdisciplinary modeling of real-world complex systems using data-driven and theoretical approaches.
Brandon Schmandt is a Professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences at Rice University, where he leads research using seismology to investigate Earth systems. His work integrates interdisciplinary approaches, data science, and numerical modeling to study tectonic processes, magmatic systems, and environmental interactions. His educational background includes a PhD in Geological Sciences from the University of Oregon (2011) and a BA in Environmental Studies from Warren Wilson College (2006). Dr. Schmandt's research focuses on seismology, tectonics, volcanology, and surface processes , with emphasis on seismic imaging of subsurface structures. His group employs innovative time-series analysis and field projects to resolve geologic history and contemporary Earth dynamics, particularly examining fault zones, magmatic reservoirs, and deep convective processes. Key methodologies include dense seismic arrays and machine learning applications. Analysis of his recent publications (2023-2025) reveals dominant trends in seismic event discrimination (earthquakes vs. explosions), magmatic system imaging (Yellowstone, Cascades), and global mantle structure studies. There is strong emphasis on induced seismicity, machine learning applications, and high-resolution imaging of Earth's discontinuities using dense arrays. His distinguished honors include: Aki Award of the AGU Seismology Section GSA Donath Medal AGU Macelwane Medal Body Dr. Schmandt directs an active research group conducting field projects across diverse settings including the Raton Basin, Yellowstone, Antarctica, and the Caribbean. While specific student advisees and grant details aren't provided in available materials, his group's work involves collaborative data collection, advanced computational modeling, and development of novel seismic analysis techniques applicable to both natural and anthropogenic seismic sources. The research program maintains focus on magmatic systems beneath volcanic regions, induced seismicity mechanisms, and global mantle structure using dense node arrays and interdisciplinary approaches to address fundamental questions in Earth dynamics.
Dr. Jordan Crago is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Toxicology at Texas Tech University and affiliated with the STEM CORE program. His research specializes in aquatic toxicology, investigating how environmental chemicals impact development and reproductive success in fish and invertebrates through integrated field-laboratory approaches. Education: Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Bachelor of Science, Ohio University Dr. Crago's research employs field observations to guide laboratory experiments focused on adverse outcome pathways across diverse contaminants. His work spans pesticides, microplastics, perfluorinated compounds, and emerging pollutants, emphasizing multi-pathway effects on development and reproduction. He prioritizes identifying high-risk environmental chemicals through mechanistic studies using model organisms like zebrafish and fathead minnow. Analysis of his 2019-2025 publications reveals consistent focus on molecular, physiological, and behavioral endpoints in aquatic toxicology. Key themes include developmental/reproductive toxicity, transgenerational effects, and advanced methodologies like predictive molecular signatures and benchmark dose modeling. His work frequently addresses pesticide impacts, microplastic fate in food webs, and PFAS alternatives using zebrafish as a primary model system. Dr. Crago actively mentors undergraduate researchers, integrating them into data collection, analysis, and publication. Three mentees have co-authored peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. He contributes to STEM education through Texas Tech's STEM CORE program and volunteers with Lubbock's Boys and Girls Club for after-school programs.
Professor Tim Rogers is affiliated with the University of Bath as a faculty member in the Department of Mathematical Sciences . He is actively involved in research spanning complex systems, network theory, and stochastic processes. PhD in Random Matrix Theory from King's College London (2010) His research focuses on emergent behavior in random systems , including: Collective Behavior : Crowd dynamics, lane formation, and noise-enhanced synchronization Epidemics & Networks : Spread prediction, node risk assessment, and misinformation impacts Ecology & Evolution : Trait emergence, species boundaries, and demographic noise effects Random Matrix Theory : Spectral analysis and applications to complex systems Publication trends reflect interdisciplinary work bridging Physics, Biology, and Mathematics , with a focus on network structures , stochastic modeling , and emergence phenomena . Scientific awards include: 2015 : Editor's Choice for Europhys. Lett. 109, 28005 2016 : Highlight of Journal of Physics A 2017 : Editor's Suggestion for Phys. Rev. E 92, 032708 He has supervised numerous PhD students and postdocs on projects related to stochastic dynamics , network modeling , and mathematical biology , with ongoing grants from agencies like EPSRC and The Leverhulme Trust .
Prof. Ayşegül Aksoy is a faculty member in the Department of Environmental Engineering at Middle East Technical University (METU) since 2002. She holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Virginia (2000) and has held visiting roles at Stanford University (2015-2016) and the University of California Davis (2001). Her academic leadership includes Vice Chair roles in METU's Environmental Engineering Department (2012-2015 and 2006-2009), and she co-developed UN courses on Black Sea environmental management. Her research focuses on environmental systems engineering, integrated waste management, water quality modeling, and remote sensing applications. Notable projects include developing autonomous systems for lake turnover monitoring, optimizing landfill leachate management, and evaluating solar sludge drying alternatives. She has directed over 20 graduate theses and contributed to research funded by TÜBİTAK, Newton Fund, and EU programs. Key awards include the AQUA 360 Best Paper Award (2021) and TÜBİTAK Fellowships. Her work spans 120+ peer-reviewed publications, with recent focus areas including anaerobic digestion optimization, GIS-based waste routing, and pollutant fate modeling in heterogeneous aquifers. She advises on national environmental policies and manages projects like the 'Turnover Response System Development' (2020-2023) and 'Chlorophyll-a Modeling in Lake Eymir' (2009-2010).
Tyler Radniecki is a Professor in the Department of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering at Oregon State University's College of Engineering. His work bridges environmental engineering and public health through innovative wastewater and stormwater treatment research. Education: Ph.D. in Chemical and Environmental Engineering from Yale University (2005) M.S. in Chemical and Environmental Engineering from Yale University (2001) B.S. in Environmental Science from Bemidji State University (1999) Research Focus: Dr. Radniecki pioneers microbiome engineering for sustainable wastewater treatment and wastewater-based epidemiology , with groundbreaking work on SARS-CoV-2 and Avian Influenza surveillance. His research integrates environmental engineering principles with microbiological insights to optimize anaerobic digestion, develop advanced bioswales for contaminant removal, and predict community disease burdens through sewage analysis. Publication Trends: Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal 65% focus on pathogen surveillance (SARS-CoV-2, Avian Influenza), 25% on environmental impacts of biosolids/stormwater treatment, and 10% on analytical methods. His work increasingly bridges engineering with public health policy, featuring longitudinal wastewater monitoring across Oregon communities and innovative approaches to pandemic resilience. Awards and Recognition: Featured in major news outlets for "Tracing the virus through the sewers" research and recipient of an NSF CAREER award for advancing anaerobic co-digestion through theoretical ecology principles. Research Leadership: Dr. Radniecki directs the Oregon Wastewater Surveillance project and leads three research groups: Water and Environment, Sustainable Energy, and Health and Biotechnology. His current NSF-funded projects include shaping anaerobic digester microbiomes for methane production, developing PFAS-removing bioswales, and expanding wastewater epidemiology to new pathogens through academic-practice partnerships with public health agencies.
John Copp is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Computing and Software at McMaster University , specializing in wastewater treatment modeling and process control. His work bridges environmental engineering with computational methods, focusing on simulation benchmarks, digital twin applications, and real-time monitoring systems. Adjunct Assistant Professor, Computing and Software, McMaster University Research Interests include: Wastewater treatment process modeling Respirometry-based control strategies Digital twin development for water resource recovery Automation and fault detection systems Biological nutrient removal optimization His scholarly output spans over 25 years with notable trends in: Development of benchmark simulation models (BSM1, BSM2) Integration of anaerobic digestion with activated sludge processes Multi-biomass modeling for enhanced nutrient removal Machine learning applications in water quality monitoring
