Work with thought leaders and academic experts in Endocrine and Autonomic Systems

Dr. Everson A Nunes is a highly accomplished researcher and educator in the field of physiological sciences. He received his Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology with a focus on Physiological Sciences from Universidade Federal do Paraná in 2009, after completing a BSc in Human Nutrition and an MSc in Physiological Sciences. He also holds a specialization in Exercise Physiology and a BSc in Biological Sciences from Universidade Federal do Paraná. Dr. Nunes has a strong background in research, having completed two post-doctoral fellowships at McMaster University and Universidade Federal do Paraná. He has also held positions as an associate professor and assistant professor at Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. He has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals, and his research focuses on the effects of exercise and nutrition on physiological processes in the human body. In addition to his research, Dr. Nunes is also a dedicated educator. He has taught at various universities in Brazil, including Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Universidade Gama Filho, Faculdades Integradas Espírita, Pontificia Universidade Católica do Paraná, and Faculdade do Litoral Sul. He is known for his dynamic teaching style and his ability to engage students in complex physiological concepts. Dr. Nunes is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Society for Nutrition, the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology, the Canadian Nutrition Society and the Brazilian Society of Physiology. He is also a regular speaker at national and international conferences, sharing his expertise and research findings with colleagues and students. Overall, Dr. Nunes is a highly qualified and experienced professional in physiological sciences, metabolism, cancer and nutrition. His dedication to research and education makes him a valuable asset to any institution.

Sheila Monfared, Ph.D. is a seasoned researcher and consultant with specialized expertise in human factors and sports psychology. Her advanced degrees in Sports Psychology from Florida State University and Human Factors from Georgia Institute of Technology equip her with a unique skill set that bridges the gap between technology and human performance. Sheila's Master of Science in Kinesiology from Tehran University further complements her holistic approach to enhancing performance and mental health. In her professional career, Sheila has excelled in roles such as Strategic Planning Consultant at Saddleback College and Research Scientist at Innisghtful, focusing on research and interface design. Her extensive research experience in cognitive ergonomics and human-computer interaction allows her to provide tailored solutions to individuals and organizations. Sheila's passion lies in using her diverse knowledge to drive success and innovation. Whether optimizing sports performance or enhancing user experience, she is dedicated to helping clients reach their full potential.

Professor Lyubomirsky’s research interests include well-being, happiness, self-regulation, and talents. She is widely published, with well over 100 articles and chapters and four books, The How of Happiness (Penguin, 2007), The Myths of Happiness (Penguin, 2013), The How of Happiness Workbook (Penguin, 2008), and Designing Your Life (Avery, 2016). Professor Lyubomirsky has received numerous awards for her work, including the American Psychological Association’s Positive Psychology Prize (2015), the American Psychological Association’s Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award (2009), and a Guggenheim Fellowship (2008-2009). She is a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and the American Psychological Association.

My core interests lie in understanding how children and adolescents perceive and interpret social signals and how emerging functional specificity of the developing brain supports this process. My approach primarily involves using the face processing system as a model domain. Faces are dynamic stimuli from which we extract many different kinds of information (e.g., gender, age, emotional state, mate potential, social status, trustworthiness, intentions, “person knowledge”). All of these processes must be executed accurately and rapidly for many faces over the course of a single day, making face processing among the most taxing perceptual challenges confronted by people in their day-to-day life. Given that faces are also the pre-eminent social signal, studying developmental changes in the behavioral and brain basis of face processing in typically developing individuals and in those affected by social-emotional disorders may index a core set of developmental changes within the broader social information processing system. I employ converging methodologies, including functional (fMRI) and structural magnetic resonance, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) along with detailed behavioral paradigms in both typically developing populations and those with developmental disorders to examine development from early childhood to adulthood.

Christian Waugh, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology at Wake Forest University, NC, is an expert in the study of stress resilience, emotions, and effective coping habits. His research features resilience as the result of stress, trauma, and the ability to experience positive emotions in times of stress. Dr. Waugh has been twice honored for teaching excellence at Wake Forest, is a professional speaker, and has published several dozen scientific articles.

Dr. Kim's program of research aims to identify, understand, and intervene upon the dimensions of psychological well-being (sense of purpose in life, optimism) that reduce the risk of age-related conditions. <br> Around this topic, he has given invited lectures at Universities (Harvard, U. of Penn, MIT, Columbia U.), corporations (UnitedHealth Care, IDEO, AARP, Samsung), and he’s also been invited to speak at and join the working groups of national- and international-think-tanks (United Nations, OECD, Aspen Ideas Festival, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, The Task Force for Global Health, World Government Summit, National Academy of Sciences). He’s also been recognized as one of Forbe’s 30 Under 30 in Healthcare, recipient of the American Journal of Epidemiology's Paper of the Year Award, the American Psychological Association Division 20 (Aging) Early Career Achievement Award, and an Association for Psychological Science (APS) Rising Star. His insights have been featured in the: NY Times, Atlantic, BBC News, NPR, Washington Post. His research has been cited by policy statements/guidelines formulated by the: United Nations, National Academy of Sciences, American Heart Association, the U.S. Surgeon General. Population aging is one of the most important social trends of the 21st century. In both Canada and the U.S., the # of adults aged ≥65 is projected to increase by 45%-55% in the next 15 years. As societies grapple with the rising tide of chronic conditions, healthcare costs, and long-term care costs, it is imperative to develop a science that informs a more comprehensive approach to healthy aging. Dr. Kim’s overarching goal is to substantially help improve the psychological well-being and physical health of our rapidly growing population. In pursuit of this goal, his program of research revolves around 4 interwoven questions. He studies: 1) Several dimensions of psychological well-being (sense of purpose in life, optimism) and how they relate to health outcomes. 2) The behavioral, biological, and neural mechanisms underlying the association between psychological well-being and health. 3) How an individual’s psychological well-being interacts with the surrounding environment to influence behavioral and physical health outcomes; for example, at the meso-level (dyadic dynamics in couples, neighborhood contexts, altruism/volunteering) and the macro-level (social cohesion, social and racial disparities). 4) And he partners with non-profit/healthcare companies to conduct translational research that test scalable interventions.

Greetings! I'm Michelle Murphy Niedziela (PhD), a dedicated professional with a background in behavioral neuroscience, neuropsychology, and consumer science. With a strong foothold in both academia and industry, I've cultivated a unique blend of expertise that merges the realms of science and market insights. <br> 📚 My academic journey started with a BS in psychology and neuroscience from Florida State University, then led me to Purdue University's IBRC (Ingestive Behavior Research Institute) program, where I earned a PhD and Masters in behavioral neuroscience and behavioral neurogenetics. 🔬 I embarked on my professional journey as a post-doctoral fellow at Monell Chemical Senses Center, contributing to industry-sponsored research on functional ingredients. This ignited my passion for bridging the gap between scientific innovation and practical application. And subsequently taking on the role of technical lead for flavor and fragrance innovation programs at Johnson & Johnson (now Kenvue), followed by impactful Global Sensory work at Mars Chocolate, where I spearheaded global sensory projects and optimized ingredient sourcing. 🚀 Presently, I proudly serve as the VP of Research & Innovation at HCD Research. In this dynamic role, I concentrate on fusing cutting-edge consumer neuroscience tools and emerging technologies with traditional market research methodologies, yielding comprehensive insights into consumer behavior. 🌐 Beyond my professional endeavors, I'm an ardent science advocate and active participant in the scientific community. My contributions extend to organizations such as SSP and ASTM (E18 and D37), where I've engaged for numerous years. I'm also a published author, with articles in peer-reviewed journals, enlightening book chapters, and a regular presence in trade journals and magazines. Furthermore, I co-host the illuminating podcast/vidcast series 'MindSet,' a platform where we delve into intriguing topics at the intersection of behavioral consumer science. 🔍 Let's connect and explore the infinite possibilities at the nexus of neuroscience, psychology, and consumer insights with a behavioral sciences framework.

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY ■ Trained molecular geneticist with 10+ years of scientific and technical expertise in genetics and molecular biology. ■ Actively contributing to CNS gene therapy, specifically focused on Alzheimer’s disease. ■ Carry a vision that nucleic acid-based therapeutics are solutions to numerous health problems. ■ Believe that stress, inflammation, and disease risk are highly correlated and should be a focus of the therapeutic strategy.

I am a Professor of Spanish in the Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese with an affiliate appointment in the Department of Psychology. I completed my doctoral studies in the interdisciplinary program in Second Language Acquisition and Teaching at the University of Arizona, with a specialization in linguistic analysis and a minor concentration in second language processing. I then held a faculty position at the University of Illinois for four years (1996-2000), where I was a primary collaborator in pioneering a computer-enhanced Spanish language instruction curriculum consisting of mixed classroom and computer-assisted instruction. Prior to assuming my current position at Penn State, I was a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Mississippi (2000-2001), where I was hired to implement the model for the Spanish language curriculum developed at Illinois. 

Strong training and experience in clinical research regulatory requirements as both Principal Investigator and Internal Review Board member.Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret clinical trial data and synthesize conclusions. Facilitates interactions between key stakeholders across department, division, institution and industry and government partners using a proactive approach, strategic thinking and leadership to accomplish study goals and timelines. Ability to manage multiple competing priorities with good planning, time management and prioritization skills. Project milestones met through problem solving, prioritization, conflict resolution and critical thinking skills. Advanced communication, scientific writing and presentation skills at both university and national/international stakeholder conferences. As Principal Investigator responsibilities include completing high quality literature reviews of clinical trials, peer-reviewed articles, clinical guidelines and other medical data sources to allow for oversight of project deliverables. Extensive experience in independently designing and developing abstracts for peer-reviewed publications, scientific posters and podium presentations at both national and international conferences.

Esper A. Cavalheiro is a highly accomplished Brazilian scientist and medical professional. He holds a postdoctoral degree from Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza and CNRS - Gif-sur-Yvette, as well as a PhD from Universidade Federal de São Paulo and an MD from Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina. With over 40 years of experience in the field, he is currently a Professor Emeritus at Universidade Federal de São Paulo. He is also a Full Professor at Universidade Federal de São Paulo Departamento de Neurologia e Neurocirurgia da UNIFESP. Professor Cavalheiro's research focuses on neurology and neurosurgery, and he has published numerous articles and books in these areas. He is highly regarded in the scientific community for his contributions to the field of epileptology and is a mentor to many young researchers.