Maria Joseph Israel holds a PhD in Computer Science and Engineering from Santa Clara University, California, USA, where he also taught Computer Science and Engineering, and led research projects on knowledge engineering, data provenance, system storage technology, and AI and Ethics. His current research aims to directly address the impact of computing technology on the world, and particularly data and automation technologies like AI. He has several years of teaching and research experience in higher education and has worked in post-war zone countries offering welfare services including higher education to refugees, returnees, and internally displaced people. His research interests include: knowledge engineering, data provenance, system storage technology, semantic web and blockchain technologies, ontology design and development, human-computer interaction, computing and AI ethics. Currently he is an assistant professor of Computer Science at St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata, while also being a visiting scholar to Santa Clara University.
Mayla Boguslav is a dedicated post-doctoral mathematician who specializes in biomedical research at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Currently a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Michael Kirby’s lab, she is keenly interested in both collaborating with and studying DSRI (Data Science Research Initiative). She is also learning about and working with Veterinary health records.
With an interdisciplinary educational foundation, she holds two bachelor’s degrees, one in mathematics from Columbia University and another in philosophy from The Jewish Theological Seminary. She recently completed her doctorate from the University of Colorado – Anschutz Medical Campus in computational bioscience. Her groundbreaking dissertation, “Revealing and Exploring the Literature’s Known Unknowns: Ignorance and How it Drives Science,” crafted a database of research questions directly sourced from scientific literature, aiming to expedite the research process. She won the AMIA Edward H. Shortliffe Doctoral Dissertation Award. Her passion for enhancing research methodologies is evident in her continued collaboration with DSRI, where she is dedicated to refining the process of assembling interdisciplinary research teams.
In addition to her academic and research pursuits, Mayla offers a unique perspective at the intersection of science and faith, stemming from her deep understanding of Jewish theology and traditions. This background provides her with valuable insights into the convergence of bio and data science, bioethics, and data ethics, as well as the harmonization of faith and science.
A notable facet of Mayla’s background is her deep understanding of Jewish theology and traditions, rooted in her undergraduate degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. This, combined with her hard science degree from Columbia, equips her with a well-rounded approach to scientific endeavors, especially when deploying advanced AI tools in research.
Her graduate advisor was Larry Hunter, our esteemed advisor, at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora.
Yuriko Ryan is a seasoned bilingual bioethicist-gerontologist with a career spanning over 20 years in international, interdisciplinary, and multicultural healthcare partnerships. Based in Vancouver, Canada, Yuriko holds a doctoral degree in bioethics from the prestigious Loyola University of Chicago, where she graduated with a 4.0 CGPA. Her doctoral studies focused on organizational and health systems ethics and public health ethics, including capstone projects on parental approval of pediatric research participation through direct-to-consumer genetic testing and an ethical analysis of medical assistance in dying.
Yuriko is a certified Healthcare Ethics Consultant (HEC-C) and a Project Management Professional. Her expertise encompasses a wide array of ethical considerations ranging from Business Ethics, Healthcare Ethics, and AI Ethics to Public Health Ethics and Clinical Ethics. She also specializes in the ethical implications of robotics and AI in healthcare and smart cities, as well as legal perspectives on genetics.
Since 2015, Yuriko has been leading Health System Redesign Program at the Provincial Health Services Authority. In her role, she oversees the planning, implementation, monitoring, and closing of cross-functional project teams, having managed over 130 projects that involved more than 3000 physicians aimed at redesigning specialist services in British Columbia. She has a proven track record of fostering multiparty partnerships among governments, medical associations, and health authorities.
Prior to this, Yuriko served various roles at Simon Fraser University, including Director of Research and Development for the British Columbia Alliance on Telehealth Policy and Research. She also holds a Master of Arts in Gerontology from Simon Fraser University, where her work was recognized with health services research and community partnership grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Michael Smith Foundation for Research.
Fluent in both English and Japanese, Yuriko is deeply passionate about the intersection of bioethics and gerontology, especially as it pertains to aging populations and AI ethics. Open to collaborations, she brings to the table not just her academic and professional credentials, but also a rich history of international collaborations that span Canada, the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
Yuriko Ryan is a dedicated professional committed to making a meaningful impact in healthcare ethics, technology, and policy, and she offers a unique blend of academic rigor and practical experience in navigating complex ethical landscapes.
