Editorial Board
At Convergence Journal, our mission is to support young people in their goals to address complex social and environmental challenges through rigorous research. We believe that experience with the research process is crucial to building tomorrow’s leaders, ideas, and policies.
Our editorial board is made up of experienced academic researchers from across borders, approaches, and backgrounds. We have partnered with The New York Academy of Sciences, an independent, not-for-profit organization founded in 1817 that is committed to advancing science and technology for the benefit of society. Together, we are unified in our belief in the importance of empowering young people to build experience with academic work and the publication process – and providing a platform for voices which are overwhelmingly ignored.
George Zifkos, PhD
Dr. Zifkos, a lecturer in Economics at the University of Leeds, specializes in Cultural Policy and Sustainable Development. With a background in the cultural sector, he has worked in education, events management, and public policy consulting. His Ph.D. research focused on sustainability within the music events industry. Dr. Zifkos is passionate about applying cultural organizations business models to other sectors and exploring creativity's role in sustainable development and international relations.
Ceyhun Elgin, PhD
Professor Elgin is a faculty member at Columbia University's Economics Department and a Professor of Economics at Bogazici University, Turkey. His research focuses on applied macroeconomics, economic growth, and political economics, particularly in the informal sector. He earned his PhD from the University of Minnesota and has held visiting positions at the IMF, World Bank, and Boston University.
Kimberly Clark, PhD
Dr. Clark is a lecturer and researcher at Dartmouth specializing in citizen attitudes and behavior, blending psychology and neuroscience. With a PhD from Dartmouth, she leads the university’s pioneering Climate Communications Collaborative, using applied neuroscience to improve climate messaging for diverse groups. Formerly Chief Research Officer at Merchant Mechanics, she conducted studies for Coca-Cola, Comedy Central, and the U.S. Department of Defense. She also founded Dartmouth’s first Consumer Neuroscience course and has published in journals including 'Neuron' and 'The Journal of Advertising Research.'
Hope McCoy, PhD
Hope K. McCoy is an Assistant Professor of Social Sciences at IIT Madras, Zanzibar, and Assistant Professor & Program Director of Global Higher Education at Adelphi University in New York. Previously a Lecturer at Stanford University, her research focuses on development studies, international education, and cultural diplomacy in geopolitics. Dr. McCoy is the author of 'From Congo to GONGO' (2023), a winner of the Peter Lang Emerging Scholars Competition in Black Studies, and is a two-time Fulbright recipient.
George Zifkos, PhD
Dr. Zifkos, a lecturer in Economics at the University of Leeds, specializes in Cultural Policy and Sustainable Development. With a background in the cultural sector, he has worked in education, events management, and public policy consulting. His Ph.D. research focused on sustainability within the music events industry. Dr. Zifkos is passionate about applying cultural organizations business models to other sectors and exploring creativity's role in sustainable development and international relations.
Ceyhun Elgin, PhD
Professor Elgin is a faculty member at Columbia University's Economics Department and a Professor of Economics at Bogazici University, Turkey. His research focuses on applied macroeconomics, economic growth, and political economics, particularly in the informal sector. He earned his PhD from the University of Minnesota and has held visiting positions at the IMF, World Bank, and Boston University.
Kimberly Clark, PhD
Dr. Clark is a lecturer and researcher at Dartmouth specializing in citizen attitudes and behavior, blending psychology and neuroscience. With a PhD from Dartmouth, she leads the university’s pioneering Climate Communications Collaborative, using applied neuroscience to improve climate messaging for diverse groups. Formerly Chief Research Officer at Merchant Mechanics, she conducted studies for Coca-Cola, Comedy Central, and the U.S. Department of Defense. She also founded Dartmouth’s first Consumer Neuroscience course and has published in journals including 'Neuron' and 'The Journal of Advertising Research.'
Hope McCoy, PhD
Hope K. McCoy is an Assistant Professor of Social Sciences at IIT Madras, Zanzibar, and Assistant Professor & Program Director of Global Higher Education at Adelphi University in New York. Previously a Lecturer at Stanford University, her research focuses on development studies, international education, and cultural diplomacy in geopolitics. Dr. McCoy is the author of 'From Congo to GONGO' (2023), a winner of the Peter Lang Emerging Scholars Competition in Black Studies, and is a two-time Fulbright recipient.
Jorge A. Avila, PhD
Dr. Avila is Assistant Director at UCLA's Undergraduate Research Centers, leading programs to develop underrepresented STEM researchers. With a Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from CUNY, his research spans substance abuse models and technical advances in neuroscience. Dr. Avila is a strong advocate for collaborative research, with several publications and presentations at renowned conferences.
Kathryn Grive, PhD
Professor Grive is an Assistant Professor at Brown University, focusing on ovarian development and fertility preservation. She leads research on the reproductive impacts of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, aiming to improve fertility outcomes for women undergoing cancer treatment. Her work is backed by grants from the Global Consortium for Reproductive Longevity and Equality.
Amy Nguyen, PhD
Dr. Nguyen is a prominent digital health researcher specializing in aged care, general practice, and chronic disease. She leads pioneering work on My Health Record, telehealth, and mobile health apps, emphasizing usability and safe healthcare delivery. Dr. Nguyen is an Associate Editor for BMC Digital Health and BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making and is a key figure in co-design and stakeholder engagement for impactful health technology development.
Laila Shahzad, PhD
Dr. Laila Shahzad is a Climate Research and Policy Officer at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London and a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Chester. Her work focuses on environmental sustainability, climate change, and disaster risk reduction across South Asia, Europe, the UK, and the Americas. With over 15 years of experience spanning research, higher education, and international policy, she completed postdoctoral research at University College London (UCL).
Yi Wang, PhD
Dr. Y. Wang is a life science entrepreneur and former tenured Associate Professor at Indiana University. He holds a PhD in Environmental Health Sciences from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Duke University, and completed postdoctoral training at Brown University. His interdisciplinary research integrates health data science and biotechnology to address health deficiencies and disparities. Dr. Wang also has extensive editorial experience, serving as a reviewer and editorial board member for numerous peer-reviewed journals.
Sandun Malpriya Silva, PhD
Dr. Silva is a Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Institute of Health Innovation at Macquarie University, where he leads the technical development of digital health and informatics tools. A statistician and health informatics researcher, his work focuses on translational digital health and interpretable machine learning. He also collaborates with the Peter MacCallum Cancer Research Centre on biomarker research and has contributed extensively to academic teaching across several Australian universities.
Laura Dodds, PhD
Dr. Laura Dodds is a public health researcher specializing in dementia prevention, health equity, accessibility, and health promotion. Drawing on frontline experience in aged and disability care, her research integrates behavioral and implementation science to improve outcomes for underserved and diverse populations. Her work has led the design and evaluation of multidomain interventions to enhance dementia awareness and reduce risk, particularly in rural communities.
Christa Caggiano, PhD
Christa Caggiano, PhD, is a computational geneticist focused on developing equitable genomic tools for clinical translation. She earned her PhD in bioinformatics from UCLA, where her research examined cell-free DNA screening technologies and genetic and environmental risk in Los Angeles populations. Her postdoctoral research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai focuses on identifying novel genetic drivers of disease, particularly in underrepresented populations.
Jorge A. Avila, PhD
Dr. Avila is Assistant Director at UCLA's Undergraduate Research Centers, leading programs to develop underrepresented STEM researchers. With a Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from CUNY, his research spans substance abuse models and technical advances in neuroscience. Dr. Avila is a strong advocate for collaborative research, with several publications and presentations at renowned conferences.
Kathryn Grive, PhD
Professor Grive is an Assistant Professor at Brown University, focusing on ovarian development and fertility preservation. She leads research on the reproductive impacts of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, aiming to improve fertility outcomes for women undergoing cancer treatment. Her work is backed by grants from the Global Consortium for Reproductive Longevity and Equality.
Amy Nguyen, PhD
Dr. Nguyen is a prominent digital health researcher specializing in aged care, general practice, and chronic disease. She leads pioneering work on My Health Record, telehealth, and mobile health apps, emphasizing usability and safe healthcare delivery. Dr. Nguyen is an Associate Editor for BMC Digital Health and BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making and is a key figure in co-design and stakeholder engagement for impactful health technology development.
Laila Shahzad, PhD
Dr. Laila Shahzad is a Climate Research and Policy Officer at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London and a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Chester. Her work focuses on environmental sustainability, climate change, and disaster risk reduction across South Asia, Europe, the UK, and the Americas. With over 15 years of experience spanning research, higher education, and international policy, she completed postdoctoral research at University College London (UCL).
Yi Wang, PhD
Dr. Y. Wang is a life science entrepreneur and former tenured Associate Professor at Indiana University. He holds a PhD in Environmental Health Sciences from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Duke University, and completed postdoctoral training at Brown University. His interdisciplinary research integrates health data science and biotechnology to address health deficiencies and disparities. Dr. Wang also has extensive editorial experience, serving as a reviewer and editorial board member for numerous peer-reviewed journals.
Sandun Malpriya Silva, PhD
Dr. Silva is a Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Institute of Health Innovation at Macquarie University, where he leads the technical development of digital health and informatics tools. A statistician and health informatics researcher, his work focuses on translational digital health and interpretable machine learning. He also collaborates with the Peter MacCallum Cancer Research Centre on biomarker research and has contributed extensively to academic teaching across several Australian universities.
Laura Dodds, PhD
Dr. Laura Dodds is a public health researcher specializing in dementia prevention, health equity, accessibility, and health promotion. Drawing on frontline experience in aged and disability care, her research integrates behavioral and implementation science to improve outcomes for underserved and diverse populations. Her work has led the design and evaluation of multidomain interventions to enhance dementia awareness and reduce risk, particularly in rural communities.
Christa Caggiano, PhD
Christa Caggiano, PhD, is a computational geneticist focused on developing equitable genomic tools for clinical translation. She earned her PhD in bioinformatics from UCLA, where her research examined cell-free DNA screening technologies and genetic and environmental risk in Los Angeles populations. Her postdoctoral research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai focuses on identifying novel genetic drivers of disease, particularly in underrepresented populations.
Steve Bullock, PhD
Professor Bullock teaches at the University of Bristol and specializes in using drones for humanitarian and conservation purposes. He leads training for the WildDrone consortium and is an advocate for minimizing climate impact. Steve also hosts 'The Cosmic Shed' podcast and enjoys adventure racing.
Nisha Rawindaran, PhD
Dr. Nisha Rawindaran is a pracademic working at the intersection of emerging technologies and cybersecurity. Combining industry experience with academic insight, her work bridges real-world cybersecurity practice and research innovation. She is also the creator of CyberDocWales, an Instagram platform for cybersecurity education, and author of the children’s cybersecurity book 'Byte and Firewall.'
Yannis Delis, PhD
Ioannis Delis is an Assistant Professor at the National Technical University of Athens, where he works at the intersection of engineering and brain sciences. His research focuses on computational cognitive neuroscience and neural engineering, using quantitative methods to model and interpret biological and neural mechanisms. He has worked at the University of Leeds, University of Glasgow, and Columbia University, and is dedicated to mentoring students and supporting interdisciplinary research.
Taweewat Somboonpanyakul, PhD
Taweewat Somboonpanyakul is a lecturer in the Department of Physics at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. His research focuses on observational astrophysics, particularly galaxy clusters and the interactions between brightest cluster galaxies and their surrounding environments. Previously a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford’s Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (KIPAC), he is also active in mentorship and public outreach in astrophysics.
Feiyuan Long, PhD
Dr. Feiyuan Long is a Lecturer in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Capital City College in London, where she teaches across engineering degree and apprenticeship programmes. She earned her PhD from Loughborough University, specializing in 3D printing applications for microwave communication systems. Her research spans microwave engineering, antennas, substrate-integrated waveguides, and high-frequency filter design, and she has also served as a reviewer for Convergence Journal and IJSHR.
Steve Bullock, PhD
Professor Bullock teaches at the University of Bristol and specializes in using drones for humanitarian and conservation purposes. He leads training for the WildDrone consortium and is an advocate for minimizing climate impact. Steve also hosts 'The Cosmic Shed' podcast and enjoys adventure racing.
Nisha Rawindaran, PhD
Dr. Nisha Rawindaran is a pracademic working at the intersection of emerging technologies and cybersecurity. Combining industry experience with academic insight, her work bridges real-world cybersecurity practice and research innovation. She is also the creator of CyberDocWales, an Instagram platform for cybersecurity education, and author of the children’s cybersecurity book 'Byte and Firewall.'
Yannis Delis, PhD
Ioannis Delis is an Assistant Professor at the National Technical University of Athens, where he works at the intersection of engineering and brain sciences. His research focuses on computational cognitive neuroscience and neural engineering, using quantitative methods to model and interpret biological and neural mechanisms. He has worked at the University of Leeds, University of Glasgow, and Columbia University, and is dedicated to mentoring students and supporting interdisciplinary research.
Taweewat Somboonpanyakul, PhD
Taweewat Somboonpanyakul is a lecturer in the Department of Physics at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. His research focuses on observational astrophysics, particularly galaxy clusters and the interactions between brightest cluster galaxies and their surrounding environments. Previously a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford’s Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (KIPAC), he is also active in mentorship and public outreach in astrophysics.
Feiyuan Long, PhD
Dr. Feiyuan Long is a Lecturer in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Capital City College in London, where she teaches across engineering degree and apprenticeship programmes. She earned her PhD from Loughborough University, specializing in 3D printing applications for microwave communication systems. Her research spans microwave engineering, antennas, substrate-integrated waveguides, and high-frequency filter design, and she has also served as a reviewer for Convergence Journal and IJSHR.
Benjamin Goldstein
Mr. Goldstein graduated magna cum laude from Columbia University in History and is completing his MPhil at Cambridge. A Fulbright Fellow, he has conducted research in American foreign relations and extensively tutored students in historical writing for prestigious competitions like the Concord Review.
Mathilde Bonvalot
Ms. Bonvalot is a Ph.D. candidate at Harvard University, specializing in the History of Art and Architecture. She has taught undergraduate courses in Art History and Architectural History, while conducting research in Boston and Milan. She mentors students worldwide and frequently travels between her native France and Italy.
Benjamin Goldstein
Mr. Goldstein graduated magna cum laude from Columbia University in History and is completing his MPhil at Cambridge. A Fulbright Fellow, he has conducted research in American foreign relations and extensively tutored students in historical writing for prestigious competitions like the Concord Review.
Mathilde Bonvalot
Ms. Bonvalot is a Ph.D. candidate at Harvard University, specializing in the History of Art and Architecture. She has taught undergraduate courses in Art History and Architectural History, while conducting research in Boston and Milan. She mentors students worldwide and frequently travels between her native France and Italy.
Jonas Katona
Jonas is a PhD candidate in Applied Mathematics at Yale University and incoming Householder Fellow at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. His research focuses on scientific machine learning, numerical optimization, and uncertainty quantification. He has conducted research at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA Langley Research Center, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. In addition to serving as the founding Managing Editor of Convergence Journal, he has held leadership roles in mentorship and outreach organizations including Cal Rotaract and Berkeley Engineers & Mentors.
Jing Shi, PhD
Dr. Jing Shi is a researcher, educator, and clinician whose work focuses on digital well-being and video gaming. She has contributed to highly cited international research on gaming, gambling, and behavioral addictions, and has spoken at major international conferences and industry roundtables. Dr. Shi has held academic appointments at the Singapore Institute of Technology and McMaster University and earned her PhD from the University of Toronto.
Yehuda Silverman, PhD
Dr. Yehuda Silverman teaches at Northwestern University’s Civic Education Project and works extensively in peacebuilding and intercultural dialogue. He also serves as Peacebuilding Advisor at Acquaint and collaborates with organizations including World Learning and Civic Synergy. His PhD in Conflict Analysis and Resolution is from Nova Southeastern University, and his research focuses on conflict prevention and transformation, particularly through autoethnographic approaches.
Jonas Katona
Jonas is a PhD candidate in Applied Mathematics at Yale University and incoming Householder Fellow at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. His research focuses on scientific machine learning, numerical optimization, and uncertainty quantification. He has conducted research at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA Langley Research Center, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. In addition to serving as the founding Managing Editor of Convergence Journal, he has held leadership roles in mentorship and outreach organizations including Cal Rotaract and Berkeley Engineers & Mentors.
Jing Shi, PhD
Dr. Jing Shi is a researcher, educator, and clinician whose work focuses on digital well-being and video gaming. She has contributed to highly cited international research on gaming, gambling, and behavioral addictions, and has spoken at major international conferences and industry roundtables. Dr. Shi has held academic appointments at the Singapore Institute of Technology and McMaster University and earned her PhD from the University of Toronto.
Yehuda Silverman, PhD
Dr. Yehuda Silverman teaches at Northwestern University’s Civic Education Project and works extensively in peacebuilding and intercultural dialogue. He also serves as Peacebuilding Advisor at Acquaint and collaborates with organizations including World Learning and Civic Synergy. His PhD in Conflict Analysis and Resolution is from Nova Southeastern University, and his research focuses on conflict prevention and transformation, particularly through autoethnographic approaches.
Convergence Journal 2026