Tenure Track Faculty 2019

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Khaled Ahmed

School of Computing
Ph.D., Tokyo Institute of Technology

Research: Big data, software engineering, deep learning, distributed and parallel computing.

Teaching interests: Operating systems, programming, data structures, algorithms analysis and design, software engineering, discrete mathematics, distributed systems, and parallel computing.

Chilman Bae

Chilman Bae

Electrical & Computer Engineering
Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University

Research: Bioelectrical engineering: development of bioinstruments and technology and computational simulation; neuroscience: spinal cord stimulation, opiod induced chronic pain, and HIV associated neuropathic pain; and mechanobiology: mechanosensitive Ion channels and cellular mechanotransduction.

Teaching interests: Biomedical engineering courses focusing on biomedical measurements, neuromodulation and electrophysiology.

Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau

Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau

Biological Sciences Cooperative Wildlife
Ph.D., Trent University (Canada)

Research: Spatial and Wildlife Ecology. I am interested in determining how spatial and behavioral processes such as movement and habitat selection scale up to affect the demography and distribution of multiple sympatric species.

Why I chose SIU: I came to SIU for the various research opportunities, including collaborating on a long-term project studying white-tailed deer and predator space-use.
Habibollah Fakhrael

Habibollah Fakhrael

School of Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering
Ph.D., Syracuse University

Teaching interests: Environmental and water-related courses in civil and environmental engineering, including courses such as environmental chemistry, water and wastewater treatment, fluid mechanics, hydraulics, and water resources engineering.

Why I chose SIU: I like being part of a large university with diverse student and faculty members. I wanted to move to an institution like SIU that prioritizes good teaching practice and develops advanced research programs.

Rebekah Frumkin

English
MFA, Iowa Writers’ Workshop
MSJ, Medill School of Journalism

Teaching interests: Using digital media in the classroom, narrative theory, workshop, and peer critique.

Why I chose SIU: The creativity of the students and faculty and the warmth of the community.
Audrey Hickert

Audrey Hickert

Criminology and Criminal Justice
Ph.D., University at Albany, 2019

Research: Post-adjudication criminal justice interventions, especially institutional and community corrections, with a focus on understanding the mechanisms that affect the life-course trajectories of individuals.

Why I chose SIU: I chose SIU because of the Criminology and Criminal Justice program’s emphasis on research productivity and mentoring students. I also sought a program with a track record of community-engaged research and opportunities for collaboration with regional criminal justice partners.

Brandon Hirsch

School of Health Sciences
MS, Southern Illinois University

Research: Radiologic Science, radiation therapy, healthcare education.

Teaching interests: Radiography, radiation therapy, medical dosemitry.

Xiaolan Huang

Computer Science
Ph.D., Southern Illinois University

Teaching interests: Bioinformatics algorithm, computational statistics, pattern recognition and machine learning, and computer organization and architecture.

Why I chose SIU: Carbondale is a beautiful small college town and a quiet and unique place to live.
Md Shariful Islam

Md Shariful Islam

School of Accountancy
Ph.D., Louisiana Tech University

Research: Data analytics usage by auditors/accountants. Additionally, I work on cybersecurity risk management, especially the capital market consequences of data breaches.

Why I chose SIU: I consider Illinois my home. I chose SIU because my research interests match with the department. Additionally, I believe I can contribute to the university mission.
Omid Kamran Disfani

Omid Kamran Disfani

Marketing
Ph.D., University of Missouri

Research: Marketing strategy, retailing, data analytics, organizational psychology.

Why I chose SIU: Great university, research productivity, excellent department atmosphere and friendly colleagues, nice location, lots of potential in SIU in the years to come.
Tamara Kang

Tamara Kang

Psychology
Ph.D., The University of Texas at El Paso

Teaching interests: Multivariate statistics, experimental design, structural equation modeling, psychometrics, introduction to statistics, research methods, psychology and law, and judgment and decision-making.

Why I chose SIU: The exciting opportunity to anchor the instruction and training for statistics and research methods; diverse representation of psychology niches, courses; support for conducting applied research and acquiring grant funding; opportunities for multidisciplinary collaborations.

Bumsu Lee

Physics
Ph.D., Rutgers University

Research: Quantum optics and experimental condensed matter physics for solid-state quantum materials, including 2D materials, topological materials and hybrid organic functional materials.

Teaching interests: Fundamental physics courses for undergraduate students and advanced courses such as nanophotonics and semiconductor physics at the graduate level.
Charlotte Narr

Charlotte Narr

Biological Sciences
Ph.D., Trent University (Canada)

Research: Freshwater and Disease Ecology. I study the causes and consequences of nutrient flows through aquatic organisms.

Why I chose SIU: I was really excited by the level of comradery among faculty members in the School of Biological Sciences and the variety of opportunities for collaboration.
Sabrina Nilufar

Sabrina Nilufar

Mechanical Engineering and Energy Processes
Ph.D., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Research: The lightweight and high-performance metals needed for many industrial and structural applications.

Teaching interests: My interests lie at the intersection of mechanical, chemical and materials engineering: thermo-fluids, mass momentum and energy transport, manufacturing and mechanics of materials, and materials science fundamentals.

Yuhosua Ryoo

School of Journalism
Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin

Research: Advertising, consumer psychology, prosocial behavior and environmental sustainability.

Why I chose SIU: The school spirit, the research-supportive environment, good people and the beautiful campus.

Hasan Seyyedhasani

School of Agricultural Sciences
Ph.D., University of Kentucky

Teaching interests: Technology-based precision agriculture, data-driven crop and farm management encompassing various aspects of agricultural practices and considering environmental parameters.

Why I chose SIU: I highly value teaching students who would make an impact on their farming community. Additionally, SIU has friendly colleagues and unique setting that create a pleasant and untiring workplace. Interdisciplinary research is another reason.
Sheila Simon

Sheila Simon

School of Law
JD, Georgetown University Law Center

Research: Property law, legal writing, domestic violence.

Why I chose SIU: I’ve been here for a while and I love it!
Steve Still

Steve Still

Agriculture
Ph.D., Curriculum and Instruction, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

Teaching interests: Agriculture education, horticulture, and undergraduate student research.

Why I chose SIU: It has an excellent teacher preparation program in agriculture education. I also think it is a real boon for our students that SIU is situated in the Shawnee National Forest, where this natural setting can provide an outdoor laboratory for training. We have so much available to us here that supports teaching, outreach, and research.

Tyson Val Alfen

Finance
Ph.D., University of Kentucky

Research: Financial advisors, product markets, financial incentives.

Why I chose SIU: Great faculty and the beautiful outdoors.