Anita Raj | Social Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Anita Raj | Social Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Professor and Executive Director at Tulane University and UC San Diego, United States

Dr. Anita Raj is an accomplished researcher with a wealth of expertise in epidemiology, qualitative assessment, and social and behavioral research methodologies. Her extensive academic background includes significant contributions to understanding the intersections of gender, social vulnerabilities, and health outcomes across various global contexts. Through her research, she explores complex issues such as reproductive health, gender inequities, and the impacts of social factors on health disparities. Dr. Raj is particularly noted for her adeptness in designing and implementing rigorous research studies that incorporate diverse methodologies and theoretical frameworks. Her work not only advances scientific knowledge but also informs evidence-based interventions aimed at improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations, including minorities and those affected by substance abuse. Dr. Raj’s commitment to applying research findings to policy and practice underscores her dedication to promoting health equity and social justice on a global scale.

Professional Profiles

Education

Anita Raj holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Biology from Mississippi College, completed in 1991. She pursued further education at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, where she earned a Master of Science (MS) in Psychology in 1995. She continued her academic journey at the same institution, completing her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology in 1996.

Professional Experience

Anita Raj, PhD, holds a prominent position in academia and public health, serving as Executive Director of the Newcomb Institute at Tulane University and the Nancy Reeves Dreux Endowed Professor at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine since 2023. She has been a Professor in Education Studies within the Division of Social Sciences at the University of California, San Diego, where she also holds the Tata Chancellor Endowed Chair of Society and Health. With a tenure since 2017, Raj has played a pivotal role as the Founding Director of the Center on Gender Equity and Health at UCSD, underscoring her dedication to addressing gender disparities in health globally. Her career spans significant appointments at Boston University, including professorships in Medicine and Public Health, and various leadership roles in global health and gender equity initiatives. Raj’s extensive expertise encompasses research, teaching, and advocacy, focusing on reproductive, maternal, and child health, gender inequities, and social interventions for vulnerable populations.

Research Interest

Anita Raj, PhD, focuses her research on epidemiological and qualitative assessments of gendered, social, and cultural vulnerabilities affecting reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health globally. Her work delves into the etiology and public health impact of gender inequities, including early and child marriage, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and son preference. Raj is committed to developing and evaluating social and behavioral interventions tailored to socially vulnerable groups such as minorities, substance users, and youth. She applies social and behavioral theories to measurement and evaluation research in cross-national settings, advocating for gender data and its translation into policy. Raj also investigates gender parity in academia and leadership within public health and medicine, aiming to enhance gender equity and quality of care through her scholarly endeavors.

Award and Honors

Dr. Anita Raj, a distinguished scholar with a PhD, has received numerous awards and honors for her pioneering contributions to public health and gender equity. Her accolades include the Outstanding Researcher Award from the Society for Research on Adolescence in 2023 and being elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2022. She was recognized for her exceptional work with the National Academy of Medicine in 2021 and received the Excellence in Global Health Award from the American Public Health Association in 2020. Dr. Raj’s career achievements also encompass being honored as a Distinguished Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science in 2019 and receiving the Outstanding Achievement in Public Health award from the American Public Health Association in 2018. Her dedication to mentoring earned her the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring at the University of California, San Diego in 2016, and she was presented with the Global Leadership Award by the Center for Gender Equity and Health in 2015. These accolades reflect Dr. Raj’s profound impact on advancing gender equity and improving health outcomes on a global scale.

Research Skills

Dr. Anita Raj possesses a robust set of research skills honed through her extensive academic and professional journey. Her expertise spans epidemiology, qualitative assessment, and social and behavioral research methodologies. She excels in designing and implementing complex research studies across diverse national settings, focusing on reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health. Dr. Raj adeptly applies social and behavioral theories to measure and evaluate interventions, emphasizing gender equity and quality of care. Her proficiency extends to data analysis, including advanced statistical methods, and she has a keen ability to translate research findings into actionable policy recommendations. With a strong commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, Dr. Raj’s research skills are instrumental in addressing critical public health challenges and advocating for marginalized populations globally.

Publications

  1. Gender, power, and health: Modifiable factors and opportunities for intervention
    • Authors: Raj, A., Barr, E., Griffith, D.M.
    • Year: 2024
    • Journal: Social Science and Medicine, 351, 116959
  2. The EMERGE framework to measure empowerment for health and development
    • Authors: Raj, A., Dey, A., Rao, N., Fotso, J.C., Lundgren, R.
    • Year: 2024
    • Journal: Social Science and Medicine, 351, 116879
    • Citations: 1
  3. Examining the association between men’s gender equitable attitudes and contraceptive outcomes in rural Maharashtra, India
    • Authors: Ghule, M., Dixit, A., Johns, N.E., Saggurti, N., Raj, A.
    • Year: 2024
    • Journal: Dialogues in Health, 4, 100168
  4. Assessing the impact of CHARM2, a family planning program on gender attitudes, intimate partner violence, reproductive coercion, and marital quality in India
    • Authors: Chatterji, S., Johns, N.E., Ghule, M., Battala, M., Raj, A.
    • Year: 2024
    • Journal: PLOS Global Public Health, 4(5), e0003220
  5. Climate and Gender: Association between Droughts and Intimate Partner Violence in India
    • Authors: Dehingia, N., McDougal, L., Silverman, J.G., Singh, A., Raj, A.
    • Year: 2024
    • Journal: American Journal of Epidemiology, 193(4), pp. 636–645
  6. “Nobody has written the book about what non-binary people should put forward in relationships”: Exploring gender equity in relationships of queer, trans, and non-monogamous young women and non-binary youth in British Columbia, Canada
    • Authors: Closson, K., Lee, G.Y., Osborne, Z., Leonce, I., Kaida, A., Raj, A.
    • Year: 2024
    • Journal: Social Science and Medicine, 347, 116759
  7. Spousal Concordance in Attitudes Toward Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Its Association With Physical IPV Against Women: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Young Married Couples in Rural India
    • Authors: Begum, S., Battala, M., Chalmiers, M.A., Averbach, S., Raj, A.
    • Year: 2024
    • Journal: Partner Abuse, 15(1), pp. 58–72
  8. Preliminary Validation of Two Brief Measures of Masculine and Feminine Honor Endorsement
    • Authors: Bock, J.E., Brown, R.P., Pomerantz, A.L., Raj, A.
    • Year: 2024
    • Journal: Journal of Personality Assessment, 106(4), pp. 522–531
  9. Relationship impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions on young women and men in Durban and Soweto, South Africa
    • Authors: Closson, K., Zharima, C., Kuchena, T.M., Beksinska, M., Kaida, A., Raj, A.
    • Year: 2024
    • Journal: Culture, Health and Sexuality, 26(6), pp. 734–746
    • Citations: 1
  10. Is intimate partner violence declining in low-income and middle-income countries?
    • Authors: Raj, A.
    • Year: 2023
    • Journal: The Lancet Global Health, 11(12), pp. e1828–e1829

 

Rajesh Pashikanti – Signal processing – Best Researcher Award

Rajesh Pashikanti - Signal processing - Best Researcher Award

COEP TECH University - India

Professional Profiles

Early Academic Pursuits

Rajesh Pashikanti's academic journey commenced with a strong foundation in electronics and instrumentation. He pursued his Bachelor's degree at Vaagdevi College of Engineering, followed by a Master's degree in Embedded Systems from Ramappa Engineering College. His educational background equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of technology and laid the groundwork for his future endeavors in signal processing.

Professional Endeavors

Following his academic pursuits, Rajesh embarked on a fulfilling career in education, accumulating a decade of teaching experience at MBES College of Engineering in Maharashtra. During his tenure, he honed his skills as an educator, imparting knowledge and nurturing the next generation of engineers. Additionally, Rajesh ventured into the realm of research, joining COEP Technological University in Pune, Maharashtra, where he has been engaged in signal processing research since 2021.

Contributions and Research Focus On Signal processing

Rajesh's research focus lies in the domain of signal processing, a field essential for various technological applications, including telecommunications, medical imaging, and audio processing. Through his doctoral studies at COEP Technological University, he delves into the intricacies of signal analysis, processing algorithms, and their real-world implementations. His contributions aim to advance the understanding and application of signal processing techniques, addressing contemporary challenges and driving innovation in the field.

Accolades and Recognition In Signal processing

Rajesh Pashikanti's dedication to academia and research has garnered recognition and accolades from peers and institutions alike. His commitment to excellence in teaching earned him admiration from students and colleagues during his tenure at MBES College of Engineering. Additionally, his foray into research at COEP Technological University showcases his ambition and passion for advancing knowledge in signal processing.

Impact and Influence

Rajesh's influence extends beyond the classroom and laboratory. As a teacher, he has shaped the academic journeys of countless students, instilling in them a passion for technology and a thirst for knowledge. His research endeavors hold the potential to make significant contributions to the field of signal processing, potentially impacting industries ranging from telecommunications to healthcare. Through his work, Rajesh aims to leave a lasting imprint on the academic and technological landscape.

Legacy and Future Contributions For Signal processing

As Rajesh continues his doctoral research and academic pursuits, his legacy is one of dedication, perseverance, and innovation. His efforts in signal processing research have the potential to shape the future of technology, improving communication systems, medical diagnostics, and more. With a steadfast commitment to excellence and a vision for the future, Rajesh Pashikanti is poised to make enduring contributions to academia and industry alike.

Rajesh Pashikanti's journey from student to educator to researcher exemplifies the transformative power of education and the pursuit of knowledge. Through his academic and professional endeavors, he embodies the spirit of inquiry and innovation, leaving an indelible mark on the field of signal processing and inspiring future generations of engineers and researchers.

Notable Publications

An adaptive Marine Predator Optimization Algorithm (MPOA) integrated Gated Recurrent Neural Network (GRNN) classifier model for arrhythmia detection 2024

Adaptive Predictive Control-Based Noise Cancellation with Deep Learning for Arrhythmia Classification from ECG Signals 2022

Cardiac Arrhythmia Classification using Deep Convolutional Neural Network and Fuzzy Inference System 2022

Dr. MA, Jing – Computer Science – Best Researcher Award

Dr. MA, Jing - Computer Science - Best Researcher Award

Hong Kong Baptist University - Hong Kong

Professional Profiles

Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. MA, Jing embarked on his academic journey with a strong foundation in Telecommunications Engineering, earning his B.Eng. from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications in 2013. He furthered his studies with an M.S. in Computer Science specializing in Telecommunications Engineering from the same institution. Dr. MA's academic pursuits culminated in a Ph.D. in Information Systems with a focus on Systems Engineering and Engineering Management from The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2020. Under the guidance of esteemed supervisors Kam-Fai Wong and Wei Gao, Dr. MA delved into the intricate realms of large language models, multi-modal systems, credibility assessment, and social media analytics.

Professional Endeavors

Following his academic achievements, Dr. MA ventured into the professional realm as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Hong Kong Baptist University. His expertise spans across various domains, including information retrieval, machine learning, and social media analytics. Dr. MA's professional journey is marked by a series of groundbreaking research endeavors aimed at tackling contemporary challenges in the digital landscape.

Contributions and Research Focus On Computer Science

Dr. MA's research focus encompasses several critical areas in computer science. He has made significant contributions to the development of large language models, particularly in the domains of code generation, fake news detection, and meme analysis. His work on explainable AI and credibility assessment has garnered widespread recognition within the academic community. Moreover, Dr. MA has pioneered research in multi-modal systems, exploring the intersection of text and image processing for enhanced information retrieval and understanding.

Accolades and Recognition In Computer Science

Dr. MA's contributions to the field have been recognized through numerous accolades and publications in prestigious conferences and journals. His research papers have been presented at renowned conferences such as The Web Conference, ICLR, ICASSP, EMNLP, and ICCV, among others. These publications underscore Dr. MA's dedication to advancing the frontiers of knowledge his ability to address complex challenges through innovative methodologies.

Impact and Influence

Dr. MA's work has had a profound impact on both academia and industry. His research findings have shed light on critical issues such as fake news detection, meme analysis, and credibility assessment, thereby contributing to the development of more robust and trustworthy AI systems. Furthermore, Dr. MA's collaborations with leading researchers and institutions have facilitated knowledge exchange and fostered interdisciplinary approaches to address contemporary challenges in the digital age.

Legacy and Future Contributions To Computer Science

As Dr. MA continues to push the boundaries of research, his legacy is poised to inspire future generations of scholars and practitioners. His commitment to excellence, coupled with his innovative research methodologies, serves as a beacon for aspiring researchers seeking to make meaningful contributions to the field. Looking ahead, Dr. MA envisions further advancements in large language models, multi-modal systems, and AI ethics, paving the way for a more inclusive, transparent, and trustworthy digital ecosystem.

Dr. MA's dedication to academic excellence, coupled with his innovative research endeavors, positions him as a leading figure in the field of computer science. His contributions have not only expanded the horizons of knowledge but have also paved the way for the development of more robust and ethical AI systems, ensuring a brighter and more equitable future for humanity.

Notable Publications

CoTea: Collaborative teaching for low-resource named entity recognition with a divide-and-conquer strategy 2024

Towards low-resource rumor detection: Unified contrastive transfer with propagation structure 2024

Context-Aware Attentive Multilevel Feature Fusion for Named Entity Recognition 2024

Improving Rumor Detection by Promoting Information Campaigns With Transformer-Based Generative Adversarial Learning 2023