Work with thought leaders and academic experts from University of Pennsylvania

Researchers on NotedSource with connections to University of Pennsylvania include Dr. Gerald Cleaver, Ph.D. Physics, Tali Reiner Brodetzki, Professor(Dr) Sanjay Rout, Marybeth Gasman, Dr. Aalok Thakkar, Michael Grandner, Dr. Cassie Mogilner Holmes, Ph.D., CLIFFORD SANDLIN, Altaf Khan, PhD, Sasha C. Mejía-Bradford, Brian Bushee, Ludovica Cesareo, Raman Ganti, Michael Wentzel, Ph.D., Jiang Wang, Christopher A. Thom, Ph.D., Priscilla Bustamante, M.A., M.Phil., Andrea Guerrero, Andrés Castro Samayoa, Ph.D., Thomas Hipschman, Apurva Singh, Gregg Stanwood, Yuhao Jia, Dr. Russell Spiewak, Ph.D., Paul Schrater, Bridget Hill-Zayat, Patrick Crist, Dr. Hayley Nelson, Ph.D., Kinshuk Jerath, Pragya Srivastava, Etty Soto, Deborah Goldring, Paulina Paiz, Dr. Priya Chatterji, Ph.D., ALICE Ginsberg, Julia Barr, michael carniol, Laura Ohl, Ph.D., John Hixson, Heidi Gardner, Herb Chain, Liz Nobis, Ph.D., M.P.H., Christine White, Yu Chen, Thomas Hampton, Christopher Carter, Ronni Burns, Hugh Dugan, Edmund Mantell, and Cristal Downing.

Dr. Gerald Cleaver, Ph.D. Physics

Waco, Texas, United States of America
31 Years Experience
Professor of Physics, Baylor University
Experience

University of Pennsylvania

Post-Doctoral Researcher / 19961998

Research Expertise
String Theory
Cosmology
Quantum Gravity
Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Astronomy and Astrophysics
And 4 more
About
Dr. Gerald B. Cleaver is a highly skilled and experienced problem solver. He especially enjoys projects simultaneously requiring large- and small-scale analysis, wherein logic meets creativity, and abstract thinking is applied to real-world situations. Cleaver is a dedicated leader with over 22 years of management experience of research groups, and is an eloquent communicator with more than 24 years of teaching experience. He directs the Early Universe Cosmology and Strings (EUCOS) division of Baylor University's Center for Astrophysics, Space Physics, and Engineering Research (CASPER) and has advised the dissertation research of 20 M.S. & Ph.D. students (13 graduated, 8 current). During his 2013 to 2022 tenure as Physics Graduate Program Director, Cleaver coordinated the graduate programs of over 100 students and managed the \~ $700K teaching assistantship budgets. Working with faculty colleagues, he doubled the physics graduate student enrollment from 25 in 2013 to the present 52. Cleaver was written over 85 peer-reviewed research journal articles and 25 conference proceedings. He has spoken at more than 70 conferences and workshops. Cleaver is co-author of one physics textbook and has authored six book chapters and an encyclopedia entry.

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Tali Reiner Brodetzki

Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, United States of America
5 Years Experience
Assistant Professor at La Salle University
Experience

University of Pennsylvania

Postdoctoral Fellow / January, 2019August, 2021

Research Expertise
Evolution
Social insects
Behavioral ecology
Population genetics
Epigenetics
And 7 more
About
Tali Reiner Brodetzki is a highly accomplished scientist with a strong background in zoology. She received her Ph.D. in Zoology from Tel Aviv University in 2018, where she focused on the study of animal behavior and evolutionary ecology. During her graduate studies, she published several papers in top scientific journals and received numerous awards for her research. After completing her Ph.D., Tali went on to work as a Postdoctoral Fellow at both the University of Pennsylvania and Rutgers University. During this time, she continued to conduct research on animal behavior and evolution, and also gained valuable experience in teaching and mentoring students. In 2020, Tali joined the faculty at La Salle University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology. She is currently conducting research on the effects of human activities on animal behavior and adaptation, and is also teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in zoology, bioinformatics, genomics, and evolutionary biology. Tali's research has been widely recognized and she has received numerous grants and awards, including the prestigious European Molecular Biology Organisation's postdoctoral award. She is also a member of several professional organizations, including the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology and the Animal Behavior Society. In addition to her academic and research accomplishments, Tali is also passionate about science outreach and communication. She regularly presents her research at conferences and seminars, and also participates in science fairs and other community events. She is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of scientists and promoting the importance of studying and protecting our natural world. Overall, Tali Reiner Brodetzki is a highly skilled and dedicated scientist who is making significant contributions to the field of zoology. Her education and experience have prepared her to continue making important discoveries and advancements in the study of animal behavior and evolution.

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Marybeth Gasman

Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, United States of America
23 Years Experience
Expert on race and class in the United States, with particular expertise related to Minority Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Philanthropy, and Faculty Hiring
Experience

University of Pennsylvania

Judy & Howard Berkowitz Chair in Educaiton / February, 2017August, 2019

Conduct research, teach, Director National Center

University of Pennsylvania

Professor / July, 2011February, 2017

Research, teaching, Director national center

University of Pennsylvania

Associate Professor / July, 2008February, 2011

University of Pennsylvania

Assistant Professor / July, 2003July, 2008

Research, teaching, service

Research Expertise
race
leadership
fundraising
philanthropy
Education
And 2 more
About
Marybeth Gasman is the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Endowed Chair in Education, a Distinguished Professor, and the Associate Dean for Research in the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University. She also serves as the Executive Director of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity & Justice and the Executive Director of the Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions. Marybeth is the Chair of the Rutgers University, New Brunswick Faculty Council. Prior to joining the faculty at Rutgers, Marybeth was the Judy & Howard Berkowitz Endowed Professor in the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. Her areas of expertise include the history of American higher education, Minority Serving Institutions (with an emphasis on Historically Black Colleges and Universities), racism and diversity, fundraising and philanthropy, and higher education leadership. She is the author or editor of 33 books, including *Educating a Diverse Nation*(Harvard University Press, 2015 with Clif Conrad), *Envisioning Black Colleges* (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2007), *Making Black Scientists* (Harvard University Press, 2019 with Thai-Huy Nguyen), and her most recent book *Doing the Right Thing: How to End Systemic Racism in Faculty Hiring* (Princeton University, 2022). Marybeth has written over 250 peer-reviewed articles, scholarly essays, and book chapters. She has penned over 450 opinion articles for the nation’s newspapers and magazines and is ranked by *Education Week* as one of the most influential education scholars in the nation. Marybeth has raised over $23 million in grant funding to support her research and that of her students, mentees, and MSI partners. She has served on the board of trustees of The College Board as well as historically Black colleges – Paul Quinn College, Morris Brown College, and St. Augustine College. She considers her proudest accomplishment to be receiving the University of Pennsylvania’s Provost Award for Distinguished Ph.D. Teaching and Mentoring.

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Michael Grandner

Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
24 Years Experience
Dr. Michael Grandner - Expert in Sleep and Health Research
Education

University of Pennsylvania

Masters in Translational Research, Translational Research / June, 2014

University of Pennsylvania

Postdoctoral Fellowships / 2011

University of Pennsylvania

Masters in Translational Research / 2014

Experience

University of Pennsylvania

Instructor / December, 2012June, 2015

Clinical Sleep Research

Research Associate / January, 2012December, 2012

Clinical Sleep Research

Postdoctoral Researcher / July, 2007December, 2011

Research program focused on sleep in the context of health and society. Clinical activities in the domain of Behavioral Sleep Medicine.

About
Dr. Grandner is a licensed Clinical Psychologist certified in Behavioral Sleep Medicine, Director of the Sleep and Health Research Program, and Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, Medicine, Nutritional Sciences, and Clinical Translational Science at the University of Arizona. His clinical work focuses on non-medication treatments for sleep disorders. His research examines the relationship between sleep and obesity, diabetes, heart disease, daytime functioning, and longevity. His work has received awards from the Sleep Research Society, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Heart Association, and other organizations. He is author or co-author on over 300 academic publications. He has served on grant review panels for the Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health, both the mental health and sleep and wellness task force for the NCAA, and the mental health consensus committee for the International Olympic Committee. He is a frequent consultant and speaker on the issue of sleep health and  has been invited multiple times to the US Congress to discuss the role of sleep in health and functioning. Dr. Grandner’s work has been featured in television, radio, and print media, in over 50 countries. Learn more about his work at michaelgrandner.com. <br>

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Sasha C. Mejía-Bradford

Philadelphia,
7 Years Experience
Ph.D. Candidate in Human Development and Quantitative Methods at University of Pennsylvania
Education

University of Pennsylvania

Ph.D., Human Development & Quantitative Methods / May, 2025 (anticipated)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Research Expertise
Stress and coping
Latinx Youth and Family
Racial Socialization
Racial Discrimination
Developmental and Educational Psychology
And 2 more
About
As a researcher focusing on the influence of cultural values, activism engagement, and racial-ethnic stress among Latino adolescents, my work aims to uncover the dynamics that shape their well-being and coping mechanisms. Using wearable technology, I explore how heart rate variability (HRV) is impacted by racism and if the choice between traditional and mainstream cultural values serves as protective factors against the physiological and emotional effects of racism. Through quantitative and qualitative approaches, I analyze data to provide equitable, meaningful insights and evidence-based recommendations. With expertise in statistical analysis, including repeated measures analysis and mixed-effects models, I strive to contribute to the existing literature by uncovering new insights into the protective factors associated with cultural values and activism engagement. My research ultimately seeks to empower adolescents of color to notice the physiological impact of discrimination, navigate racial-ethnic stressors, enhance their mental health, academic success, and overall resilience. I welcome collaborations with fellow researchers, educators, and organizations dedicated to understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by adolescents of color. Let's work together to make a positive impact on their lives and create a more inclusive society.

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Raman Ganti

10 Years Experience
Senior Machine Learning Scientist with Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry and Post-Doctoral experience in computational immunology.
Education

University of Pennsylvania

MS, Physics / September, 2013

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America

University of Pennsylvania

Ph.D., Physics / September, 2013

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Research Expertise
Condensed Matter Physics
Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Biophysics
Surfaces and Interfaces
And 2 more
About
I've spent the past few years as a Machine Learning Scientist and Engineer. At Melonfrost, a synthetic biology startup, I employed deep generative modeling techniques such as Generative Flow Networks (GFlowNets) in a reinforcement/active learning setting and machine learning guided evolutionary algorithms like Adalead (Adapt-with-the-Leader) with the aim of directing the evolution of microbial populations within the company’s high-throughput system of bioreactors. These methods were originally developed to optimize DNA and protein sequence design as well as for applications in drug discovery. In addition to the ML research effort, I designed bespoke biophysical simulation benchmarks, utilized Ray to automate benchmark testing and hyper-parameter optimization on Amazon Web Services, and tracked experiments and model configs with Weights & Biases. As a Ph.D. student in the Department of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, I developed molecular dynamics simulations to make fundamental theoretical contributions towards understanding non-equilibrium nano-scale flow. Projects included some of the first non-equilibrium calculations of nanoscale flow profiles induced by temperature and chemical potential gradients. Subsequently, as a postdoctoral associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, I used methods from information theory to quantify immune cell signal discrimination between healthy and infected cells. I also developed kinetic Monte Carlo methods to optimize vaccination protocols against highly mutable pathogens. All of this work resulted in numerous publications.

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Michael Wentzel, Ph.D.

6 Years Experience
Professor and Chair of Chemistry at Augsburg University with expertise in green and sustainable organic chemistry
Education

University of Pennsylvania

MS Organic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry / May, 2007

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Research Expertise
Catalysis
Education
Organic Chemistry
Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Atmospheric Science
About
As an organic chemist, I am interested in developing new sustainable synthetic reaction methods. I was trained as an organometallic chemist using transition metals to develop new catalytic methods. These methods involved nitrogen containing heterocycles and boronic acids as well as C-H and C-C sigma bonds. I have been at Augsburg since 2013 and worked here part-time before that while doing graduate and post-graduate work across the river at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. I am passionate about teaching and mentoring in the classroom, laboratory, and in research settings. I have been influenced greatly by my own Liberal Arts education and the wonderful professors I was able to learn from and work with. I appreciate that we train our students to be strong chemists with a sense of purpose and service to others. My research group is focused on the development of green synthetic methods. Currently, we have projects using a catalyst for multi-component reactions and the synthesis of biodegradable polymers for the educational laboratories. The polymer research has been done in collaboration with the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities NSF-funded Center for Sustainable Polymers. Finally, I am extremely proud of the success of all my former group members as they continue to be successful following graduation in their lives.

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Dr. Russell Spiewak, Ph.D.

11 Years Experience
Computational and Theoretical Physicist specializing in network materials, structures, and systems, including AI/ML
Education

University of Pennsylvania

Ph.D., Computational BioPhysics / May, 2022

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America

University of Pennsylvania

Masters, Mechanical Engineering / August, 2021

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Experience

University of Pennsylvania

Graduate Student / August, 2017May, 2022

About
Computational and Theoretical Physicist specializing in network materials, structures, and systems. My research areas have included the following: data pipeline creation, presence detection, machine learning compilers, 3D reconstruction, object detection, face detection, and facial recognition at SmartThings; deriving and simulating mechanical properties of fibrous network materials at the University of Pennsylvania; and simulations of current distribution and cascading failures of electrical power grid networks at Yeshiva University. To solve the mathematical equations I develop which govern the given research phenomena, I use optimization techniques, Machine Learning architectures (Naive Bayes, Decision Trees and Random Forests, XGBoost, and LLMs) and frameworks (such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, and Scikit-learn), and computational systems solvers such as CFD (OpenFOAM) and FEA (Abaqus, COMSOL), as well as custom solvers, scripts, and programs. I have extensive experience with writing, debugging, and running code in Python, MATLAB, and C/C++, including for parallel computing with MPI on Linux high-performance computers (HPC) and on cloud platforms such as AWS.

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Dr. Hayley Nelson, Ph.D.

11 Years Experience
Neuroscientist, Psychology Professor, Speaker and Founder of The Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience - making neuroscience approachable
Experience

University of Pennsylvania

Full-Time Lecturer A / July, 2012June, 2015

Biological Basis of Behavior and Undergraduate Neuroscience Program instructor, academic advisor, and Undergraduate Research Program Director

About
Dr. Hayley Nelson is a neuroscientist, tenured psychology professor, international speaker and founder of The Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience where she is passionate about making neuroscience approachable. She earned her PhD in Psychological and Brain Sciences from The Johns Hopkins University and has over 20 years of teaching experience with students from diverse backgrounds. She also has several peer-reviewed research publications and previous research and faculty appointments with The National Institutes of Health, The Johns Hopkins University, and The University of Pennsylvania. By creating Certification Programs with the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Dr. Hayley combined her knowledge of the human mind and brain health with her passion for education, teaching, and consulting to truly make neuroscience accessible and approachable. She loves working with life coaches, wellness professionals, therapists and counselors who are ready to stand apart and show up as true leaders in their field. By earning their certification in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, her students learn easy-to-swallow knowledge of how the brain works in real-life situations and are armed with an education in a subject they can use literally every single day. Not only that, but they also gain the power to serve their clients better and gain the confidence to speak with authority about HOW and WHY what they teach their clients actually works and how their clients can get out of their own way! In addition, she offers individual consultations to anyone interested in having more personalized and private conversations with Dr. Hayley to address their unique questions and situations. For more information about Dr. Hayley, individual consultations, and the Certification Programs in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, visit: [https://academyofneuro.com](https://academyofneuro.com/) or [https://academyofneuro.com/certifications](https://academyofneuro.com/certifications) You can also find and connect with Dr. Hayley directly on social media: @bewellwithdrhayley (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok) Twitter: @drhayleynelson Clubhouse: @dr.hayley

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