Physical & Life Sciences

Scholars dedicating their careers to the study of living organisms and non-living systems

Victor Olet

Victor Olet

Victor is a science enthusiast pursuing a doctoral degree in renewable energy at Curtin University. His research focuses on biomass valorization and eco-friendly plastics. He actively promotes chemical science as a committee member of the American Chemical Society's Australian Student Chapter. Victor also engages in science communication through CSIRO's STEM Professionals program.

As a Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador, he enhances his digital literacy and incorporates computational chemistry into his research. Victor's active contributions to the Windows Insider Program earned him the 2023 Windows Insider Most Valuable Professional Award, a testament to his impact in the Windows community.

Victor is a science enthusiast pursuing a doctoral degree in renewable energy at Curtin University. His research focuses on biomass valorization and eco-friendly plastics. He actively promotes chemical science as a committee member of the American Ch... Show more

Sampath Kumar Mucherla

Sampath Kumar Mucherla

I specialize in planning, executing, and managing SAP ERP projects across various industries, including consumer electronics, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and insurance. My expertise spans SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM), Warehouse Management (WM), and S/4 HANA, with proficiency in end-to-end implementations, integrations, and migrations. I have a strong command of supply chain processes, including Procure-to-Pay (P2P), Order-to-Cash (OTC), and Source-to-Pay, supported by certifications in SAP EWM and S/4 HANA Sourcing and Procurement. I excel in cross-functional team leadership, driving projects ranging from $2-$10 million, and delivering results aligned with business objectives. My technical skills encompass languages including ABAP, Python, and R, and integrating with ERP Packages. Adept at collaborating with global clients, I bring a solution-oriented approach to enhance operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and supply chain transparency. Experienced in managing and implementing projects across diverse global locations, including India, Reading (England), Singapore, and the United States, bringing a deep understanding of international business operations and cross-cultural collaboration.

I specialize in planning, executing, and managing SAP ERP projects across various industries, including consumer electronics, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and insurance. My expertise spans SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM), Warehouse Managem... Show more

Katie Plum

Katie Plum

University of Kansas Health System

University of Kansas Health System Show more

Shao Wang

Shao Wang

Shao is a freshman graduate student at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He is interested in open-source projects related to cloud-native AI/storage systems, like Kubeflow. He currently serves as a Reviewer for Kubeflow WG AutoML and Training.

Shao is a freshman graduate student at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He is interested in open-source projects related to cloud-native AI/storage systems, like Kubeflow. He currently serves as a Reviewer for Kubeflow WG AutoML and Training. Show more

Rhijnhardt Marais

Rhijnhardt Marais

Field Service Architect and Lead Consultant

Field Service Architect and Lead Consultant Show more

Nasir Attar

Nasir Attar

I’m Nasir Attar, and for the past three years, I’ve been with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune, India. I lead the development of a high-performance phase-field solver using the AMReX framework, collaborating with leading Indian institutions to create an open-source software stack (MicroSim) for material modeling. I look forward to engaging with fellow researchers to explore innovative ideas and foster the development of high-performance software solutions.

I’m Nasir Attar, and for the past three years, I’ve been with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune, India. I lead the development of a high-performance phase-field solver using the AMReX framework, collaborating with leading... Show more

Akito Kawahara

Akito Kawahara

Akito Kawahara is the Director of the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, a Curator at the Florida Museum of Natural History, and a Professor at the University of Florida. In 2023, he became the Director of the McGuire Center, which houses one of the world's most extensive collections of butterflies and moths, with over 10 million specimens. In this role, he is responsible for guiding the center’s research, fostering public education, and securing donor funding to support ongoing scientific studies and conservation efforts.

Kawahara’s research focuses on the Lepidoptera order, which encompasses approximately 160,000 species of butterflies and moths. His primary areas of interest include genetics, evolution, and behavior, focusing on how moths use ultrasound to evade predation from bats. This remarkable defensive mechanism is one of the key areas of study in his lab, as it offers insight into the complex survival strategies that have evolved over millions of years.

In addition to predator-prey interactions, Kawahara’s research team explores how other behavioral traits, such as the time of day at which insects are active, influence evolutionary patterns. By combining phylogenetic analysis, behavioral science, and genomics, he aims to answer critical questions about insect diversity, including why so many species exist and how they have adapted to different ecological environments. His lab also investigates the effects of human activity, such as habitat destruction and artificial light pollution, on the behavior and survival of Lepidoptera.

Kawahara has received numerous accolades for his work in the field of entomology. He was awarded the John Henry Comstock Award by the Entomological Society of America and the Alexander B. Klots Award by the Lepidopterists’ Society. He has secured over $13 million in research funding, leading over 20 significant projects with support from organizations like the National Science Foundation. These grants have enabled his lab to conduct pioneering research in Lepidoptera evolution, predator-prey interactions, and the broader ecological impact of moths and butterflies.

Kawahara is a prolific scholar who has authored over 200 peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals, including Science and PNAS. His publications cover a wide range of topics, from the evolution of Lepidoptera to moths' use of acoustic signals to avoid predators. His work has expanded our understanding of how moths and butterflies interact with their environment and predators, offering insights into the complex evolutionary processes that shape their behavior.

Kawahara’s expertise has also led to several media appearances. He has been featured in documentaries such as PBS’s American Spring Live and Nature’s Sex, Lies, and Butterflies and has participated in radio shows like NPR’s Science Friday. His research has been discussed in leading publications such as The Washington Post and Smithsonian Magazine. In his TED Talk, "Why You Can Thank a Moth," he highlights the often-overlooked contributions of moths to pollination, silk production, and even technological advancements.

In addition to his research, Kawahara is dedicated to inspiring future scientists. He regularly speaks to schoolchildren, sharing his passion for butterflies and moths and encouraging young people to explore the natural world.

Kawahara earned his undergraduate degree in Entomology from Cornell University and a Master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Maryland. His doctoral research focused on the phylogenetics of leaf-mining moths.

Outside of his professional work, Kawahara enjoys playing sports like basketball and tennis and spending time with his two children. He is bilingual in Japanese and English and has additional proficiency in Spanish and Chinese. Having been raised in New York City and Tokyo, his bicultural background has significantly influenced his personal and professional life.

Akito Kawahara is the Director of the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, a Curator at the Florida Museum of Natural History, and a Professor at the University of Florida. In 2023, he became the Director of the McGuire Center, which hous... Show more

Tsaiping(Hannah) Liao

Tsaiping(Hannah) Liao

Tsaiping(Hannah) Liao earned her Master of Science at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, specializing in Clinical Studies and One Health. Her research, conducted in collaboration with Veterinarians Without Borders (VWB), explored the role of Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) in improving veterinary access in remote and underserved regions. Using a mixed-methods approach, she investigated best practices to enhance animal, human, and environmental health outcomes.

Tsaiping completed her Honors Bachelor of Science at the University of Toronto, specializing in Anthropology, Health Science, and Psychology. She gained extensive research experience, contributing to diverse research projects on microplastic pollution, animal welfare, community welfare, and evolutionary biology.

Beyond research, she served as a student representative, mentor, and accessibility volunteer. Tsaiping remains deeply interested in opportunities related to transdisciplinary collaboration, equity, and sustainability in One Health initiatives. She welcomes the opportunity to connect on relevant topics and explore potential opportunities in any relevant One Health areas.

Tsaiping(Hannah) Liao earned her Master of Science at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, specializing in Clinical Studies and One Health. Her research, conducted in collaboration with Veterinarians Without Borders (VWB), explored t... Show more

Ilya Zakharov

Ilya Zakharov

PhD in Psychology with vast academic and industry experience in research at the intersection between neuroscience, cognitive science, and behavioral genetics.

PhD in Psychology with vast academic and industry experience in research at the intersection between neuroscience, cognitive science, and behavioral genetics. Show more

Michael Yao

Michael Yao

Michael is a CNCF ambassador - H2 2024, an active maintainer of k/website, istio, Spiderpool, HwameiStor, Merbridge, Clusterpedia, and Kubean, and a global reviewer of Karmada.

He plays a role in ensuring the quality and accuracy of website within the CNCF ecosystem. His proficiency in knowledge sharing allows him to guide new contributors on style guides, GitOps workflows, community code of conduct, and other essential information necessary for successful collaboration.

Michael is a CNCF ambassador - H2 2024, an active maintainer of k/website, istio, Spiderpool, HwameiStor, Merbridge, Clusterpedia, and Kubean, and a global reviewer of Karmada. He plays a role in ensuring the quality and accuracy of website within... Show more

Troy Foster

Troy Foster

Software Developer with a focus on legacy testing.

Software Developer with a focus on legacy testing. Show more

Raphaela Seeger

Raphaela Seeger

Platform Engineer at Puzzle ITC with a passion for CI/CD, automation, and cloud-native technologies.
I am committed to create scalable and secure software delivery pipelines for our customers. I love to implement modern, cutting-edge technologies such as Kubernetes and Dagger are driving the current innovations in software development and deployment processes.

Platform Engineer at Puzzle ITC with a passion for CI/CD, automation, and cloud-native technologies. I am committed to create scalable and secure software delivery pipelines for our customers. I love to implement modern, cutting-edge technologies su... Show more

Doruk Ozturk

Doruk Ozturk

Doruk Ozturk is a Container Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services, specializing in the Healthcare and Life Sciences industries. With over a decade of software engineering experience, he provides technical guidance to customers leveraging AWS container technologies. Based in New York City, Doruk enjoys traveling with his wife, playing drums with local bands, and recreational pool in his free time.

Doruk Ozturk is a Container Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services, specializing in the Healthcare and Life Sciences industries. With over a decade of software engineering experience, he provides technical guidance to customers leveraging AWS con... Show more

Marc Bushong

Marc Bushong

Marc is a Senior Data & AI Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft, specializing in healthcare and life sciences analytics. With expertise in Microsoft Fabric, Azure SQL, Azure Data Factory, Azure Databricks, and Azure Synapse Analytics, Marc drives innovative solutions for complex data challenges.

Based in Charleston, SC, Marc brings extensive hands-on healthcare experience as a former X-Ray technologist in operating and emergency rooms. His technical background as an Azure data engineer and Azure DBA further enhances his ability to deliver impactful end to end data solutions.

Marc is a Senior Data & AI Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft, specializing in healthcare and life sciences analytics. With expertise in Microsoft Fabric, Azure SQL, Azure Data Factory, Azure Databricks, and Azure Synapse Analytics, Marc drives in... Show more

Chris Snowden

Chris Snowden

Accidental Application Security Architect!

Accidental Application Security Architect! Show more

Ambrial Ugoji, MSW

Ambrial Ugoji, MSW

Ambrial Ugoji is a licensed social worker and certified labor doula. She is experienced in working with at-risk populations and has had the privilege of working in Camden City for the past 7 years. Recently, Ambrial transitioned from being a school social worker working with high school students and pregnant and parenting teens to the Project Director of Camden Healthy Start where she has combined her passion for service and birth work to lead a program that serves pregnant people and families in Camden City to reduce the infant and maternal mortality and morbidity rates for people of color.

Ambrial Ugoji is a licensed social worker and certified labor doula. She is experienced in working with at-risk populations and has had the privilege of working in Camden City for the past 7 years. Recently, Ambrial transitioned from being a school s... Show more

Sravan Kumar Nidiganti

Sravan Kumar Nidiganti

Accomplished Quality Assurance and Operations leader with over 20 years of extensive experience in driving excellence across Quality Assurance, Operations, and Risk Management. In my current role as Senior Manager at CVS Health, I lead quality initiatives that impact $11M+ on deliverables for Aetna’s Medicare, Medicaid, and Commercial line of business.
As a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certified professional, I have consistently driven operational efficiency and quality improvements, achieving measurable results such as cost reductions, defect rate improvements, and streamlined processes. My expertise in risk management, vendor management, and team leadership has enabled compliance with stringent regulatory standards while fostering high-performing, cross-functional teams. Recognized for strategic vision, innovation, and a relentless focus on excellence.

Core Capabilities
• Process Improvement & Automation
• Risk based Quality management.
• RxClaim (Subject Matter Expect)
• Safety Critical systems Analysis
• Audits & Compliance
• Standards & Regulatory requirements
• People/Resource/Vendor Management & Hiring
• Ability to Adapt faster to any technology and Domain/Env
Qualifications
• MBA in Project Mgmt. & Risk Mgmt.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
• Medicare and Advance Medicare Part D Certified Professional
• TUV Trained Functional safety in Hardware/software design.
Core Domain Expertise
• Pharmacy Benefit management (PBM) & Insurance
• Safety Critical (Global Signaling and Interlocking)
• Hospital, pharmacy, Health Care Management
• Transportation & Logistics
• Embedded Software/Hardware Integration
Companies Associated with
• CVS Health (PBM, Insurance, Healthcare)
• Invensys Rail / Schneider Electric (Signaling, Interlocking & Crossing)
• GE Rail (GE Transportation, Global Signaling)
• Bombardier Transportation (Rail)
• Cyient (CMM Level 5 Company) (Rail, Healthcare)
• Proton Web Solutions (CMM Level 5 Company) (Healthcare)

Accomplished Quality Assurance and Operations leader with over 20 years of extensive experience in driving excellence across Quality Assurance, Operations, and Risk Management. In my current role as Senior Manager at CVS Health, I lead quality initia... Show more

Brad Tucker

Brad Tucker

Brad Tucker is an Astrophysicist/Cosmologist at the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Mt. Stromlo Observatory and the National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, at the Australian National University.
Brad received Bachelor’s degrees in Physics, Philosophy, and Theology from the University of Notre Dame and a PhD in Astrophysics and Cosmology from Mt. Stromlo Observatory at the ANU. He’s leading programs using the NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope and TESS to understand why and how stars blow up. He’s also building a network of ultraviolet telescopes in the upper atmosphere, and a search to find Planet 9.
Brad frequently gives talks to school groups and the public about Astronomy and has regular segments on various radio and TV stations. He has also developed a series of Astronomy coins with the Royal Australian Mint, consulted on science fiction movies, and has been featured in TV specials. He is currently in the process of writing his first popular book and has developed an online Astronomy course.

Brad Tucker is an Astrophysicist/Cosmologist at the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Mt. Stromlo Observatory and the National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, at the Australian National University. Brad received Bachelor’s ... Show more

Elie Alhajjar

Elie Alhajjar

Elie Alhajjar, PhD, is a Senior Scientist at RAND, leading projects at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and government. Prior to that, he was an Associate Professor at the United States Military Academy and a Senior Research Scientist at the Army Cyber Institute in West Point, New York. Previously, Alhajjar served as a Research Scientist in the Computing and Communications Theory Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He holds a PhD in applied mathematics from George Mason University.

Elie Alhajjar, PhD, is a Senior Scientist at RAND, leading projects at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and government. Prior to that, he was an Associate Professor at the United States Military Academy and a Senior Research Scientist at the Ar... Show more

Melkey Dev

Melkey Dev

Melkeydev - A senior ML engineer at Twitch, primarily writing Go
Youtube Content Creator - 44k subscribers
Twitch Programming Streamer - 25k Followers

Overall I enjoy the Go programming language and constantly try to get people to write more Go.

Melkeydev - A senior ML engineer at Twitch, primarily writing Go Youtube Content Creator - 44k subscribers Twitch Programming Streamer - 25k Followers Overall I enjoy the Go programming language and constantly try to get people to write more Go. Show more

Steven Wright

Steven Wright

Steve has over eighteen years of tenure with SentryOne/SolarWinds in roles with Solutions Engineering, Quality Assurance, Product Management, and Advanced Analytics. He has over twenty years of experience working with the Microsoft Data Platform with multiple certifications including,
Microsoft Professional Program, Data Science Certification and Azure Certified Data Engineer Associate.

Steve has over eighteen years of tenure with SentryOne/SolarWinds in roles with Solutions Engineering, Quality Assurance, Product Management, and Advanced Analytics. He has over twenty years of experience working with the Microsoft Data Platform with... Show more

David Weber

David Weber

I'm a passionated software engineer and love technologies. I worked in a variety of different industry sectors and with new and old technologies. I'm into automation and cloud software and like to work in Scrum like setup. My biggest motivation is to launch successful products and services to make customers and other teams happy.

I'm a passionated software engineer and love technologies. I worked in a variety of different industry sectors and with new and old technologies. I'm into automation and cloud software and like to work in Scrum like setup. My biggest motivation is to... Show more

Julia Hartmann

Julia Hartmann

Professorin für Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie

Professorin für Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie Show more

Anthony Norwood

Anthony Norwood

Designing scalable and secure infrastructure in Microsoft Azure

Designing scalable and secure infrastructure in Microsoft Azure Show more

Heather Rice

Heather Rice

Dr. Heather Rice serves as an Associate Professor and Nurse Scientist at Cleveland State University College of Health, School of Nursing. She is a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with a specialty in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Rice has an extensive and impactful program of research focusing on maternal and infant health, mental health, birth equity, and chronic stress, with a particular emphasis on addressing and preventing maternal and infant mortality within the African American community.

Her scholarly work is distinguished by its interdisciplinary scope and commitment to advancing health equity. Dr. Rice's research integrates evidence-based methodologies to explore the complex intersections of systemic inequities, chronic stress, and reproductive health outcomes. She is deeply committed to promoting reproductive justice and fostering emotional wellness while advocating for the health and well-being of women and children across diverse populations.

In addition to her academic contributions, Dr. Rice is a passionate advocate for trauma prevention and community resilience. She is dedicated to fostering partnerships with community organizations to ensure that her research is both relevant and responsive to the needs of the populations it serves. Through community-centered research approaches, she works collaboratively to co-create sustainable solutions that promote health equity, reduce disparities, and support the long-term wellness of marginalized communities.

Dr. Heather Rice serves as an Associate Professor and Nurse Scientist at Cleveland State University College of Health, School of Nursing. She is a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with a specialty in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. R... Show more

Aaron Harrison

Aaron Harrison

Aaron Harrison is a Director of Advisory in Gartner's Information Technology Leaders practice. Mr. Harrison advises Application, Enterprise Architecture, and Software Engineering Leaders on subjects such as agile, modernization, API strategy, application rationalization, business architecture, creating ARB / CAB, test automation, metrics, coordinating product lines, team and org management and change, project to product transformation, as well as skills and competencies within Applications orgs. As an Advisor with over 25 years professional experience within the IT industry, he's adept at translating between technologists and the C-Suite.

Aaron Harrison is a Director of Advisory in Gartner's Information Technology Leaders practice. Mr. Harrison advises Application, Enterprise Architecture, and Software Engineering Leaders on subjects such as agile, modernization, API strategy, applica... Show more

Saif Arif

Saif Arif

Saif Arif is an accomplished, innovative enterprise IT architect, open source advocate, and a technologist with a demonstrated track record in driving cost-effective and secure solutions. He is recognized for his expertise in designing cutting-edge applications, fostering a DevOps culture, and optimizing cloud infrastructure. His strategic mindset and commitment to excellence make him a valuable partner in the ever-evolving landscape of enterprise IT.
Saif holds a Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master degree in Computer Engineering, both from India. His career experience includes leadership roles at Charter Communication, Ameren Corporation, Centene Corporation, and Enterprise Holdings (now Enterprise Mobility), where he excelled in leading teams, developing complex solutions, and driving digital transformation initiatives. He is committed to delivering impactful results and embracing new challenges.

Saif Arif is an accomplished, innovative enterprise IT architect, open source advocate, and a technologist with a demonstrated track record in driving cost-effective and secure solutions. He is recognized for his expertise in designing cutting-edge ... Show more

Durval Pereira

Durval Pereira

Durval Pereira é cientista da computação e mestre em engenharia de software e inteligência artificial, focando no desenvolvimento de sistemas inteligentes e soluções customizadas, usando tecnologias móveis e web. É também empreendedor serial com participação e contribuição em mais de 10 negócios e spin-offs, além de mentor para empresas e freelancers.

Possui expertise em gerência de projetos e equipes, construindo sua carreira com posições e envolvimentos proativos por onde contribuiu, alcançando cargos de liderança e gestão empresarial, atuando como Diretor de Tecnologia (CTO) e Líder Técnico (Tech Lead) em startups vencedoras de prêmios e rodadas de investimento e companhias baseadas na América do Norte e Europa.

Também assessora instituições no setor público e privado com o objetivo de aprimorar processos através da aplicação de inovação e tecnologias disruptivas, bem como métodos ágeis. Trabalha e colabora com diversos grandes players do mercado nacional e internacional, como: MongoDB, Samsung, EPSON, BlackBerry, Banco do Brasil, Bradesco, Itaú, AMBEV, Danone, Disney, Peugeot, Toyota e outros.

Com mais de 15 anos de experiência, já participou de +100 projetos, bem como pesquisas e parcerias com instituições e organizações acadêmicas/governamentais nacionais e internacionais, como Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal) e Songs for Smiles Inc. (New York - USA).

Durval Pereira é cientista da computação e mestre em engenharia de software e inteligência artificial, focando no desenvolvimento de sistemas inteligentes e soluções customizadas, usando tecnologias móveis e web. É também empreendedor serial com part... Show more

Dzianis Makeichyk

Dzianis Makeichyk

Full-Stack Developer and Tech Lead with 9 years of experience, specializing in JavaScript, React.js, TypeScript, and Node.js. The journey began with a fascination for creating beautiful websites, leading me through various roles and into freelancing, where I worked with diverse clients across Europe and the USA. As my career progressed, I took on senior positions where I led teams, managed projects, and significantly improved application performance.

Full-Stack Developer and Tech Lead with 9 years of experience, specializing in JavaScript, React.js, TypeScript, and Node.js. The journey began with a fascination for creating beautiful websites, leading me through various roles and into freelancing,... Show more

Christina Lunn

Christina Lunn

An Human Resources professional with experiences in HRIS, People Analytics and change management. Driven by curiosity and passion learning, Christina is a self-taught PowerBI user, leveraging new technologies to transform HR data into actionable insights. With experience in implementing multiple HR system and processes, Christina combines technical expertise with strategic HR knowledge to drive innovation and improve business outcome.

An Human Resources professional with experiences in HRIS, People Analytics and change management. Driven by curiosity and passion learning, Christina is a self-taught PowerBI user, leveraging new technologies to transform HR data into actionable ins... Show more

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