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Georgia Southern professor earns Fulbright US Scholar Award for 2023-2024

A noted Georgia Southern University public health professor has earned a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award in All Disciplines to Latvia for the 2023-2024 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Yelena N. Tarasenko, DrPH, is a professor in the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences at Georgia Southern’s Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health. Her Fulbright project is titled “Strengthening research and teaching capacity in cancer prevention globally.” She will collaborate with personnel and students at the Faculty of Medicine and Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine at the University of Latvia, as well as colleagues at the International Agency for Research on Cancer to help improve cancer care coordination and screening in Latvia and 14 European countries participating in the “Towards gastric cancer screening implementation in the European Union” project. Given Tarasenko’s expertise in legal and cancer epidemiology, she will engage in (i) implementation research focused on cancer screening and patient navigation, and (ii) teaching activities focused on fostering research productivity (e.g., guest lecturing, curriculum development, advising, and mentoring). Tarasenko is among more than 800 U.S. citizens who will teach or conduct research abroad for the 2023-2024 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Fulbright scholars engage in cutting-edge research and expand their professional networks, often continuing research collaborations started abroad and laying the groundwork for forging future partnerships between institutions. Upon returning to their home countries, institutions, labs and classrooms, they share their stories and often become active supporters of international exchange, inviting foreign scholars to campus and encouraging colleagues and students to go abroad. As Fulbright Scholar alumni, their careers are enriched by joining a network of thousands of esteemed scholars, many of whom are leaders in their fields. Notable Fulbright alumni include 62 Nobel Prize laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize recipients, 78 MacArthur Fellows and 41 who have served as a head of state or government. Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 participants from over 160 countries – chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential – with the opportunity to exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to challenges facing our communities and our world. “This is a wonderful validation of Dr. Tarasenko’s scholarship and expertise, and another example of Georgia’s Southern’s expanding reputation for public-impact research,” said Carl Reiber, Ph.D., Georgia Southern University provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Fulbright scholars are among the world’s most talented academicians, and we congratulate Dr. Tarasenko for this achievement.” More than 800 U.S. scholars — faculty members, artists, and professionals from all backgrounds — teach or conduct research overseas through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program annually. In addition, over 2,000 U.S. students, artists, and early career professionals from all backgrounds in more than 100 different fields of study receive Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards annually to study, teach English, and conduct research overseas. “I’m excited to help expand our expertise on global health and develop a relationship with the only classical university in Latvia,” Tarasenko said. “This proposed project meets the university’s strategic pillars, as its leadership looks for ways to create and encourages opportunities for the exchange of teaching, research, scholarship, and professional development. It also meets the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health’s values and goals in terms of thinking globally and acting locally.” The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program and is supported by the people of the United States and partner countries around the world. The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program. In the United States, the Institute of International Education supports the implementation of the Fulbright U.S. Student and Scholar Programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of State, including conducting an annual competition for the scholarships. For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit https://fulbrightprogram.org. To connect with Yelena N. Tarasenko — simply reach out to Georgia Southern's Director of Communications Jennifer Wise at jwise@georgiasouthern.edu to arrange an interview today.

Researchers seek to apply nanoparticle drug delivery to coral wound healing

Coral reefs are the foundation of many aquatic ecosystems and are among the ocean’s most vulnerable inhabitants. While natural processes, like animal predation and storms, frequently damage coral, man-made causes, like ship collisions and global warming, destabilize these environments beyond their ability to recover. Researchers like Nastassja Lewinski, Ph.D., associate professor of chemical and life science engineering, are working to understand how corals heal in order to aid the restoration of these fragile ecosystems. They also seek partnerships with stakeholders that can support coral preservation by applying this research to industry practices and providing funding for continued research. “Coral ecosystems are vital to human life,” Lewinski said, “When there’s a high-intensity storm, reefs can absorb the impact and reduce the damage we see on land. They’re also important to the aquatic food web and serve as the foundation to many foods we eat.” Discovering the limits of coral healing is part of Lewinski’s work. Ideal water temperature for coral is 25 degrees Celsius, so research is conducted at the ideal temperature and elevated temperatures of 28 to 31 degrees Celsius, the projected water temperatures influenced by global warming. Successive imaging of wound closure in these conditions builds an understanding of the rate of closure during healing. “We’re looking to understand the mechanics of healing,” Lewinski said, “Some of what we’ve found suggests a process similar to human healing. We want to understand the actors in this process at a cellular level and what their role is in repairing tissue.” These observations inform the mathematical, cell-based wound healing model developed by Lewinski’s collaborators, Angela Reynolds, Ph.D. and Rebecca Segal, Ph.D., both professors in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics in VCU’s College of Humanities and Sciences. Similar to humans, corals have been documented as following the same four stages of the healing process. These stages include: 1) coagulation to close the site of injury, 2) infiltration with immune cells to ward off infection, 3) cell migration and proliferation and 4) scar remodeling. “With our observations and a mathematical model, the next step is to collect data on the cellular dynamics of the healing process,” Lewinski said, “We want to observe what kinds of cells enter the wound area and what functions they perform during healing.” Fluorescent tagging is used to mark specific cells so they may be observed entering the wound area when healing occurs. Because corals are naturally fluorescent, the selection of the fluorescent tags must take this into account. Phagocytic properties allow immune cells to engulf and absorb bacteria and other small cells, in this case the fluorescent particles being used to tag immune cells. Nutritional variables are also being considered within the experiment. Corals derive energy from consuming small organisms and their symbiotic relationship with algae colonies. Modifying nutritional balance in the lab emulates the coral’s participation in the food web, where accessibility to vital nutrients could impact healing. Developing a nanoparticle drug-delivery system designed to deliver molecules to speed wound healing is the culmination of this research. Lewinski hypothesizes the delivery system would promote an energy-burning state within the corals that could result in increased healing. This is among a few examples of harnessing nanotechnology for safeguarding coral reefs, which are discussed in a recently published comment in Nature Nanotechnology. “The research we’re doing on wound healing in corals is the start of something bigger,” Lewinski said. “Our goal is to create a center dedicated to engineering new technologies for corals. We want to find partners who can translate our research findings to practice, helping preserve coral reefs and the vital resources they provide.” Through this consortium, newly-developed science can be disseminated more effectively within each partner’s respective industry. The result: a renewed commitment to aquatic sustainability and the protection of vital coral ecosystems.

Georgia Southern adding two engineering doctorates this fall

Georgia Southern University is launching two new engineering doctorates – a Ph.D. in applied computing degree and a Ph.D. in engineering – after approval of the programs this week from the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents. With almost 4,000 students in its programs, Georgia Southern’s Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing identified the need for the new graduate degrees to sustain growth in the discipline, continue to aid workforce development in the region, add substantially to the university’s research capabilities, and provide additional teacher-scholars for Georgia. “In line with Georgia Southern’s Strategic pillars, the new Ph.D. programs will greatly enhance the University’s research capabilities and further advance key partnerships in the region,” said Carl Reiber, Ph.D., Georgia Southern’s provost and vice president for academic affairs. “A strong Ph.D. program improves faculty recruiting and is a prerequisite for applying for research grants from sources such as the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense.” The proposed engineering Ph.D. program will have concentrations in civil, electrical, advanced manufacturing and mechanical engineering, and will fuel future multidisciplinary research synergies with other departments and centers within Georgia Southern in fields such as natural sciences, environmental sustainability, public health and education. Greater scholarly collaborations with sister institutions within the university system and beyond are also envisioned. The Ph.D. in engineering program will have a positive impact on the economic and technological development of Southeast Georgia, contributing significantly to the growth of the I-16 technology corridor. The Ph.D. in applied computing degree program will be offered jointly by the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Information Technology within the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing at Georgia Southern Universit. The program will provide students with the requisite foundation to conduct basic and applied research to solve advanced technical problems in computing foundations, cybersecurity and machine learning. The program aims to promote the education of individuals who will become exceptional researchers, high-quality post-secondary educators, and innovative leaders and entrepreneurs in the field of applied computing. It will advance research and the generation of new knowledge in applied computing and support the growing knowledge-based economy in Southeast Georgia. The mission of the Ph.D. in applied computing degree program is to ensure student, graduate and faculty success by preparing graduates with the skills and depth of knowledge to advance the computing disciplines through application and scholarship. It will mentor students who will support faculty in their scholarly pursuits as they prepare to assume professional computing and computing-related positions that utilize their applied technical skills, problem-solving aptitude and scholarly abilities upon graduation. “The addition of these two new degree programs is part of Georgia Southern University’s commitment to be a world-class institution that provides a population of advanced graduates who can contribute to regional economic development and public-impact research,” Reiber said. “The programs will enhance the vitality and growth of the bachelor’s and master’s computer science and information technology degree programs by expanding the academic and research missions of the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing." For more information about these new engineering doctorates coming to Georgia Southern this fall research or to speak with Carl Reiber, Ph.D., Georgia Southern’s provost and vice president for academic affairs — simply reach out to Georgia Southern's Director of Communications Jennifer Wise at jwise@georgiasouthern.edu to arrange an interview today.

Aston University and Northeast Forestry University sign memorandum of understanding to strengthen strategic links

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) will strengthen existing partnership and form basis for future collaborations Official signing took place during an official visit by delegation from NEFU and AEMG on 22 May Delegation met senior staff from College of Engineering and Physical Sciences as well as NEFU students studying at Aston University. Aston University in Birmingham, UK and Northeast Forestry University (NEFU) in Harbin City in Heilongjiang Province, China have signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop their strategic partnership. The MoU will see the universities renew and strengthen their existing partnership and explore future collaborations in the areas of both teaching and research. The partnership is facilitated by AEMG Education, who have over 20 years of experience in brokering strategic relationships with Chinese universities. The official signing by Professor Aleks Subic, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Aston University, Professor Li Shunlong, Vice President of Northeast Forestry University and Mr Stephen Connelly, Vice President of AEMG Education, took place on 22 May during a visit to Aston University by a senior delegation from NEFU and AEMG Education. The delegation from NEFU also included Professor Liu Zhiming, Dean of Aulin College, Mr Sun Zhiping, Director of the International Cooperation Office and Professor Li Hongfen, Associate Professor of the College of Civil Engineering. AEMG Education was represented by Mr Stephen Connelly, Vice President of Business Development and Engagement, Dr Jacko Feng, Director of Research and Partnerships and Ms Sarah Armstrong, Director of Business Development, UK & Europe. During the visit, the delegation met with senior staff from the Department of Civil Engineering and the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, including Executive Dean, Professor Stephen Garrett. They also had the opportunity to meet with the NEFU students studying at Aston University who have just completed their final year examinations. The Aston University/NEFU partnership was established around the development of a joint programme in BSc Construction Project Management which was approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education (MoE) in January 2018, under which students from NEFU are able to transfer into the final year of the programme at Aston University. In 2021/22, the first cohort of 21 students successfully finished their studies,10 of whom achieved first class degrees. Professor Aleks Subic, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Aston University, commented: “I am delighted to welcome visitors from NEFU and AEMG to Aston University and to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with NEFU. “This represents an important milestone in taking forward our collaboration. We are committed to continuing to strengthen our strategic relationship with NEFU and look forward to welcoming more students in the future.”

Aston University welcomes Mexican Ambassador to campus during Global Trade Conference

Her Excellency Josefa González-Blanco, Mexican Ambassador to the UK visits West Midlands for the Global Trade Conference The ambassador met with representatives of British industry including University Vice-Chancellor Professor Aleks Subic Josefa González-Blanco was appointed as Mexico's representative in London in 2021. Mexican Ambassador to the UK, Her Excellency Josefa González Blanco Ortiz Mena, has visited Aston University during a high-profile visit to the city to attend the Global Trade Conference and meet with representatives of British industry. The Global Trade Conference (15 February) is an annual event hosted by the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce which offers businesses the opportunity to build relationships and grow their network. During her visit to campus, she met with Vice-Chancellor Professor Aleks Subic, executive director of business engagement Mark Smith, and Lloyd Broad, head of international affairs at Birmingham City Council. Ambassador González Blanco said: “I was thrilled to visit Aston University and to meet the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor Aleks Subic. “We had a chance to review our academic links towards intensifying the research collaboration already in place between Aston Business School, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Conacyt México and Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica.” Professor Aleks Subic said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Her Excellency Josefa González Blanco Ortiz Mena to Aston University. “We are immensely proud of our international collaborations, and meetings such as this one, are crucial in deepening our understanding of areas of common interest and priorities as we work together to advance global partnerships and trade. “I look forward to working further with relevant higher education institutions and industries in Mexico and around the world in line with our 2030 strategy focused on creating a globally relevant university that can make substantial contributions to innovation and trade at international level.”

ChristianaCare Launches Supplier Diversity Program

Making the organization more reflective of the patients and communities we serve To advance its commitment to diversity and inclusion, ChristianaCare has launched a supplier diversity program – the first among hospitals in Delaware – that supports greater equity among suppliers and provides equal access to purchasing opportunities at the health system. The new program opens the door for small and diverse businesses owned and operated by ethnic minorities, women, veterans, service-disabled veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals and persons with disabilities to do business with ChristianaCare. “ChristianaCare’s commitment to expand and strengthen our partnerships with diverse vendors and suppliers is integral to our strategic plan to embed equity throughout our operations and culture,” said Jennifer Garvin, vice president of Supply Chain at ChristianaCare. “As the largest private employer in Delaware, we want to continue to grow and develop our diverse network of suppliers and vendors and obtain the best products at the best price. “This program gives us a platform to connect with smaller, historically disadvantaged firms. “We often look to the suppliers and business partners in our supply chain to bring new ideas and fresh insights to the table – and we believe everyone should have a seat at that table,” Garvin said. “By formalizing our commitment to supplier diversity, we are making ChristianaCare more reflective of the patients and communities we are privileged to serve.” By emphasizing a culture of diversity throughout their business operations, organizations tend to attract and retain top talent, increase employee satisfaction, outperform competitors and make better business decisions, according to research published by McKinsey & Company on the impact of diversity on businesses. “By being purposeful where we purchase our goods and services, we can make a meaningful, measurable and lasting impact on the wellbeing of our neighbors and our local economy,” said Etmara Offe, senior program manager of Supplier Diversity at ChristianaCare, and the first person to hold a position dedicated to supplier diversity at a health system in Delaware. “We want to ensure that a wide range of diverse suppliers and vendors have opportunities to work with us by growing and developing our network through outreach and educational programs,” she said. Offe said that plans are in the works for a supplier mentoring program and outreach events in the year ahead. For more information, visit ChristianaCare Supplier Diversity – ChristianaCare. Diverse businesses can apply using the Potential Supplier Intake Form on the website.

Partnership with Hims & Hers Expands In-Person Healthcare Access in Four States

Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (“Hims & Hers”, NYSE: HIMS), the trusted consumer-first platform focused on providing modern personalized health and wellness experiences to consumers, and one of the nation’s premier health systems, ChristianaCare, today announced a partnership that will expand access to healthcare services and create a more seamless care journey for patients. The partnership will benefit customers in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and expands the Hims & Hers’ partnership network with providers to now include 10 states and Washington D.C. Hims & Hers offers treatments for a broad range of conditions, including those related to sexual health, hair loss, dermatology, mental health and primary care. This collaboration allows licensed medical providers on the Hims & Hers platform to connect patients with ChristianaCare’s industry leading Center for Virtual Health and extensive primary and specialty care provider network when appropriate. Referrals may occur if a patient presents with a complex medical history, requires additional in-person follow up or evaluation, or needs care for a condition that the Hims & Hers platform does not support. This collaboration advances the Hims & Hers mission to expand access to high-quality, convenient and affordable care by adding another high-quality health system to its growing network of provider relationships. “ChristianaCare stands for excellence in healthcare and is rated as one of the best hospitals in America, making them an excellent and trusted partner in ensuring a high-quality care experience throughout a consumer’s journey,” said Hims & Hers Chief Operating Officer Melissa Baird. “Healthcare consumers today want easy-to-use, on-demand access to high-quality care both digitally and in-person, so our proprietary platform, coupled with partnerships such as ChristianaCare, help them smoothly navigate more of their healthcare needs.” ChristianaCare is one of the country’s most dynamic healthcare organizations that is committed to improving health outcomes, increasing access to high-quality care and lowering the costs for patients. Its Center for Virtual Health makes health care accessible and convenient, available 24/7 through computer, tablet or smartphone. By partnering with Hims & Hers, ChristianaCare gains access to a broader patient population for its Center for Virtual Health and extensive network of primary care, outpatient services, and specialty care services, including its comprehensive stroke center and regional centers of excellence in heart and vascular care, cancer care and women’s health. “ChristianaCare is thrilled to partner with Hims & Hers to make high-quality health care available to its customers who have complex needs or need additional services that Hims & Hers does not provide,” said Sharon Anderson, MS, RN, FACHE, ChristianaCare’s chief virtual health officer and president of ChristianaCare’s Center for Virtual Health. “At ChristianaCare, our Center for Virtual Health provides personalized health care consultations that are immediate, coordinated, continuous and available 24/7, delivering value to our patients and making a positive impact on health,” she said. This partnership with ChristianaCare builds upon established relationships with other high-quality providers, including Carbon Health in California; Oschner in Louisiana; Mount Sinai Health System in New York City; and Privia in the District of Columbia, Georgia, Maryland, Texas, and Virginia. ChristianaCare will provide support to select counties within Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Aston University to launch Aston Centre for Applied Linguistics

The Centre is an interdisciplinary, multilingual group of researchers made up of academic staff and research students It aims to build on Aston University’s longstanding expertise in research into language education, languages, and applied linguistics The hybrid launch event will take place at the University on 14 September Aston University is launching a new research centre within its College of Business and Social Sciences. The Aston Centre for Applied Linguistics (ACAL), formerly known as the Centre for Language Research at Aston (CLaRA), aims to build on Aston University’s longstanding expertise in research into language education, languages, and applied linguistics by promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and establishing national and international networks and partnerships. ACAL is an interdisciplinary, multilingual group of researchers – academic staff and research students – who work in the field of language and language education research. The Centre will officially be launched through a hybrid event at the University on 14 September 2022. There will be talks by Aston University’s Dr Lucia Busso & Dr Marton Petyko, Dr Marcello Giovanelli, Dr Megan Mansworth and Dr Emmanuelle Labeau as well as guest lectures from Professor Zhu Hua (IOE faculty of education and society, UCL) and Terry Lamb (professor of languages and interdisciplinary pedagogy, University of Westminster and Aston University language graduate). The event will conclude with a celebration of the major publications of ACAL members in 2021-22. Dr Emmanuelle Labeau, director of ACAL, said: “Language actually is all around us: we use it to articulate all our human activities. “Languages actually are all around us: over 100 languages are spoken in Birmingham “My recent AHRC-funded project BRUM (Birmingham Research for Upholding Multilingualism) has shown that research in language(s) is needed in local schools, businesses, public services and culture. “ACAL wants to put the ‘applied’ into linguistics to serve the University, the city, region and beyond. Our researchers are a great asset to the University’s ambitions, and we cannot wait informing and helping shape the Aston University 2030 Strategy.”

Aston University and Partnership Medical shortlisted for knowledge transfer partnership award

Aston University and Partnership Medical (PML) have been shortlisted for an award at the KTP Awards 2022. The partnership has been shortlisted in the category of Best Knowledge Transfer Partnership for its work on a revolutionary automated cleaning system which uses synthetic chemistry to sterilise endoscopes, reducing risks of contamination to patients and lowering rates of mortality. A knowledge transfer partnership (KTP) is a three-way collaboration between a business, an academic partner and a highly qualified researcher , known as a KTP associate. The UK-wide programme helps businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills. Aston University is the leading KTP provider within the Midlands. The KTP Awards recognise the people and partnerships behind the UK’s most inspiring and successful KTP projects. At present there are more than 800 inspiring collaborations happening across the country. Endoscopes are long, thin tubes with a light and camera at one end. Due to the sensitivity of the materials and electronics they cannot be sterilised, opening up high potential for cross infection. Through their automated cleaning system, Aston University and PML achieved industry-leading levels of disinfection, reducing risks of contamination to patients and lowering rates of mortality. The automated prototype and new cleaning materials developed in the KTP produced astonishing results in clinical trials, with a simple five-minute treatment offering deep cleaning levels 1,000 times better than anticipated, providing hygiene levels far superior to those currently possible using conventional manual procedures Mark Smith, executive director of business and regional engagement at Aston University, said: "It’s truly wonderful that Aston University has been formally recognised as a sector leader for knowledge transfer programmes, reflecting the scale and quality of our work with business. Making the shortlist is a recognition of our continued growth and sustained achievements in the knowledge exchange area. “The Aston University and Partnership Medical project has resulted in a far more effective medical cleaning system that ensures that endoscopes are truly sterile, which will ultimately save lives. This is just one example of the University’s real-world support for businesses and their customers. “It is an honour to be considered for best KTP at such a prestigious event, especially when knowledge exchange activity is at a high, with over 800 collaborations happening across the UK.” Partnership Medical Ltd (PML), based in Stoke-on-Trent, are specialists in supplying cleaning equipment and consumables for flexible endoscopes with over 20 years of distributor experience. The company aims to become a leading manufacturer/provider for endoscopic departments in clinics and hospitals worldwide. The Aston University team who worked on the KTP included Dr Andy Sutherland, reader in organic chemistry and member of the Aston Institute of Materials Research, Dr Tony Worthington, associate professor in clinical microbiology and infectious diseases and member of the Biosciences Research Group together with KTP associate, Dr Thien Duong, an expert in synthetic chemistry. The awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday 12 October in Liverpool and will be streamed online for those unable to attend in person.

Building Your Own Expert Network - How Expert Personas Help you Organize & Develop Your Talent Pool

As business continues to evolve at an unprecedented rate, companies need new ideas and strategies that help them rapidly transform to keep pace and grow. This explains the massive popularity that expert networks are having as companies look to connect with subject-matter experts with specialized sector and functional expertise who can accelerate their transformation efforts. Expert networks now represent a multi-billion dollar industry, helping companies in a variety of ways. From helping build primary research to assessing new market or acquisition opportunities to conducting due diligence for new technology purchases or competitive benchmarking, expert networks provide a valuable service. While many companies are increasing their use of traditional expert networks, there is also a trend toward organizing and developing internal talent by implementing a "knowledge management platform" or "employee skills marketplace." These can also be extended to engage broader audiences when experts are listed publicly as part of an Expert Center, Media Room, or Speakers Bureau. Depending on the scope and market visibility organizations wish to commit to in sharing their expertise, such programs can yield the following benefits: Improved access to shared knowledge throughout the organization Faster innovation through an improved discovery of key experts available for project opportunities Higher amount of cross-functional engagement between departments A more collaborative relationship with employees through better knowledge engagement and skills development Less reliance on outside consultants and traditional expert networks Improved brand reputation by engaging experts in thought leadership activities Increased media coverage and speaking engagements Improved business development opportunities by engaging experts earlier in the sales process Improved connection with the local community Additional ways to foster Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion throughout the organization What is an expert network? An expert network is a service that matches clients with experts who are willing to share their knowledge and advice via short conversations. These are usually in the form one hour long expert interviews conducted with the client. Expert networks such as GLG, AlphaSights, Guidepoint Global, Third Bridge, and Coleman Research help match the client's interest to specific experts in their private database of experts on call. They also look after logistics such as scheduling the expert interviews and have detailed processes for qualifying experts to ensure compliance with the exchange of information. And they handle time tracking and billing of interviews which are typically charged based on an hourly rate. They also handle the payment of fees to the experts following the interview. Building your own knowledge platform There is a growing trend towards organizing their expertise given the profound challenges organizations are facing. And these challenges didn’t just start when the pandemic hit. In a recent Deloitte survey, 63% of executives reported that work in their organizations is currently being performed in teams or projects outside of people’s core job descriptions, 81% say work is increasingly performed across functional boundaries, and 36% say work is increasingly being performed by workers outside of the organization who don’t have defined jobs in the organization at all. Yet fewer than half (42%) of respondents say their organization’s job descriptions do an “excellent job” of specifying the work that needs to be done in their positions. As work becomes far more fluid, packaging skills into rigid job descriptions leads to a lot of untapped human capital in organizations. It’s an issue that hasn’t gone unnoticed by leadership. Research shows that only 18% of executives strongly agree that their workforce is using their skills and capabilities to their fullest potential. 85% of HR and business executives say organizations should create more agile ways of organizing work to improve speed and swiftly adapt to market changes. These issues underscore the need to better organize and develop internal talent by implementing a "knowledge management platform" or "employee skills marketplace." This is for a variety of reasons. With vast amounts of acquired knowledge pooled across various departments and teams, it can be difficult for other employees to access this knowledge when it is outside their area of expertise - as the old saying goes, “people don't know what they don't know.” Organizing your expertise for external audiences also can provide huge benefits for building reputation, relationships, and revenues. How to position your experts as industry thought leaders More and more organizations are looking at employees who can advance their innovation efforts internally, often as part of a cross-functional team or special project. And there are also important revenue-generating activities, such as sharing research and perspectives through content generation (blogging, webinars, podcasting) or speaking (at internal events, industry conferences, or as an expert source for media interviews). Determining how to best identify and put experts to work isn't a simple process. That's because to do this right requires a more disciplined approach to assessing and developing the talent across your organization. One that goes beyond linear career paths and traditional job titles we assign to employees. It also requires a more progressive approach to diversity and experience. One that is not simply correlated to seniority or authority in an organization. Given the current state of the talent market, most organizations are also recognizing the importance of managing their talent, listening more to employees, and helping them achieve their goals - both professional and personal. And that extends to how best to tap into their skills that can benefit the organization both internally and externally. That's why we developed a talent framework that helps identify opportunities where subject-matter experts can best contribute as well as potential options for professional development. To make this process more intuitive, we have developed a model that outlines 4 "expert personas" that detail the various characteristics related to experts in an organization along with a potential development path. Level 1: Experts in the "Practitioner" persona group can offer their organizations a wide range of skills. Our research and in-field experience with companies focused on innovation reveals that organizations can realize significant gains by tapping into this broad pool of talent. To better engage practitioners, we have helped universities better engage their Ph.D. candidates who are approaching graduation to conduct research and writing content that promotes their work and institutional brand to prospective students or donors. This also extends to corporate innovation. A recent example of this was our collaboration with a Fortune 500 company in the CPG sector, where we completed the build of an internal expert network. One of the key challenges this organization faced was the inability to quickly engage with “practitioners” - subject-matter experts across the organization who could help with specific R&D and innovation projects. While this organization had legacy HR and intranet communication platforms, they had experienced a number of challenges engaging their researchers. To make things worse the pandemic forced many to work from home, creating the need for more opportunities to engage online. They needed the ability to conduct simple searches to find other researchers relevant to their work who could help them with projects. Our research/writing team started the process by taking an inventory of experts and then developed profiles for each researcher in collaboration with the company’s research/innovation team using the ExperFile SaaS software platform. With the unique data structure used to categorize this broader set of biographical information, we then enabled advanced search capabilities to build a private, SOC2 (security) compliant expert network which was easily integrated into their existing talent platforms. With thousands of researchers across the globe, they now have the ability to quickly search for experts on areas such as skills, topics, work experience, research publications, company/industry experience and IP/patents. It’s important to note that activating all this hidden expertise not only lays the groundwork for faster innovation. It also can reduce the fees associated with outside expert networks and consultants, maintains tighter internal control of proprietary research information and forges stronger collaborations between experts across the globe. Level 2: The "Ambassador" category represents experts with a more developed set of skills and a reputation both inside their organization and within their community of practice. Working with them to generate more exposure through internal speaking engagements and within their local community is a great way to create market visibility. For example, we have worked with a number of professional services firms to make experts at this level more visible in their local markets. Building reputation and generating new client opportunities with thought leadership activities such as blogging, webinars and speaking at local business events or on podcasts is a proven way to tap into this talent. These activities have allowed organizations we have worked with to bring in new clients and increase revenues across various practice areas. Ambassadors are also perfect for involvement in on-campus recruitment events where competition for talent is high. Particularly in fields such as engineering, law and accounting. One way to make these experts more approachable to a wider audience is by creating a speaker’s bureau. Remember that not all your experts will be comfortable speaking to the media, however, they can still meaningfully contribute as a keynote speaker or panelist at an event. Organizing your experts on key topics enables local event and conference organizers to find you more easily in Google search results and on your website. In addition to getting your experts on the podium, it’s a proven way to get your expert's guest appearances on webinars and podcasts. Given the growing importance of these channels, we recently formed partnerships with the leading marketplaces for webinars and podcasts - BrightTalk and Podchaser to help our clients promote their experts for speaking opportunities. Level 3: Experts in the "Authority" category have developed a strong reputation as an expert in their field, often speaking at academic or industry conferences. At this level, they have also developed a degree of proficiency in speaking as an expert source with the local or national media. They can be found speaking as a guest on podcasts to share their knowledge and are often active on social media. In higher education, these people are critical to helping media relations and other departments generate media coverage that is essential to building a reputation. We have worked with many organizations that effectively engage their Authorities by staying connected to their research and publications and collaboratively creating regular content with them to reach a broader audience. You will find regular opportunities to boost coverage with local and national media by utilizing this group of experts. We work with media teams to conduct Google Search (SEO) analysis to identify what topics their target audiences are searching for. This allows them to more strategically focus on key experts to promote. They are also focused on delivering more engaging content formats such as video interviews and Q&A to boost Google PageRank and audience engagement across their website. And they are working collaboratively with their faculty to post media advisories and a regular stream of content that contributes to higher rates of discovery by journalists looking for expert sources. Level 4: Experts in the "Evangelist" category are those go-to experts that you often see in the media as key spokespeople representing a certain topic. They are seen as notable authorities with deep domain expertise within their community of practice which has often been earned through heavy research and publications. Chances are they have also authored books that provide a path to speaking engagements at conferences and media interviews. These are also the people who have developed a regular audience through blogging or by hosting a podcast and have a well-established social media following. Ultimately, what separates this group from the others is the significantly broader market profile they have earned as a thought leader. These individuals have an intuitive sense of how to communicate complex topics in a relatable way that both educates and engages. That makes them particularly valuable to the organizations whose brands they represent. Given the degree of qualifications required to operate at this level, it’s to be expected that you will find far fewer “evangelist” category experts in any organization. Many are naturally found within the ranks of the executive team. These are the people who are comfortable in interviews, and most have extensive public speaking experience appearing on a large stage and on radio and television. At this level, organizations need to be far more strategic about how they utilize this talent pool to build a reputation and reach a wider audience. We have seen first-hand how strategic thought leadership programs can build a platform for these experts that can pay huge dividends. One healthcare system we have worked with recently forged a relationship with ABC News to feature one of their medical experts (a medical doctor) on a weekly segment related to important Covid-related health topics. Given the frequent appearances this expert has made on television, this was an earned media home run and a great way for this healthcare system to build visibility and trust within the community by providing accurate medical information. Their commitment to making their medical experts more discoverable and approachable online has also helped them promote their strengths in areas such as cardiology, neonatal, cancer, and genetic research. And the results are impressive. Over the past year, they have doubled their national media coverage and are currently outperforming much larger healthcare systems in their area. How to organize your experts Personas by their very nature are designed to provide a more standardized approach for planning using "clusters" of talent that are grouped against common characteristics. However, we're very aware that they cannot possibly capture all the nuances you will find within your organization when it comes to talent. But our experience helping leading organizations in knowledge-based industries to better manage thousands of experts shows that having a more methodical approach pays off. It optimizes the internal/external contributions and the development paths of experts to create win-win opportunities. but it also helps forge a stronger connection with employees who feel their organization is taking the development of their professional skills more seriously and more actively creating avenues for them to engage and contribute. With an understanding of these personas, we can then focus on another important consideration - where can we best engage our experts to more effectively tap into their skills inside and outside the organization? To help answer that question, we developed a "Talent Assessment Grid" (TAG) that helps you identify key areas where each of these personas can contribute. As a planning tool, it's meant to provide a more organized approach that helps you assess your bench strength and create a more tangible system for measuring progress over time in areas such as skills development or contributions to cross-functional innovation projects or outside industry consulting. Playing to the individual strengths these experts have while moving them out of their comfort zone to develop additional skills also yields additional marketing benefits. Contributing content; speaking at conferences or community events or to the media are proven ways to build market visibility, establish trust and generate revenues - and experts play a vital role in this process. A thriving network where knowledge is easily discoverable inside an organization and strategically shared outside in the community and beyond can make a huge difference in boosting innovation and culture. When properly promoted, these experts will also help you grow your reputation, relationships, and revenues. Although this process requires commitment, it positions you to be more agile and outperform your competition by ensuring you are optimizing every employee’s true potential and making them more discoverable both inside and outside the organization. How are you putting your expert talent to work? Do you have a process you use today for identifying and engaging your experts? We would like to hear from you. For more insights on how you can organize your experts online to support your internal knowledge management or promote them to a wider audience, visit us at https://expertfile.com/resources to learn more.