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RESEARCH TEAM

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JOSE PADILLA, PH.D.

Storymodelers Lead

VMASC Research Associate Professor, Dr. Padilla is the HDL lead scientist. He has degrees in industrial engineering, business management, and engineering management. From the development of frameworks to the creation of tools, Dr. Padilla explores new avenues for computational modeling innovation.

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ERIKA FRYDENLUND, PH.D

Storymodelers Co-Lead

VMASC Research Assistant Professor, Dr. Frydenlund is the HDL co-lead. She has degrees in mathematics, statistics, and international studies. Her primary research interest in is modeling forced migration-related issues.

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ANTHONY BARRACO

Storymodelers Software Engineer

Lead Project Scientist, Anthony Barraco works on developing simulation platforms an applications in diverse areas of research at VMASC. He has a bachelor's degree in computer science. His focus at VMASC has been the development of web-based, cloud-deployed applications, geospatial processing, system dynamics simulation modeling, and M&S interoperability.

Team: Team Members

RESEARCHERS IN TRAINING

Research Assistants and Interns

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DANIEL ARISTIZABAL

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Junior Industrial Engineering student at Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla, Colombia, with knowledge in data analysis and machine learning models with Python, and Agent Based Modeling (ABM) with Netlogo. Daniel is interested in ABM and data analysis.

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JHON BOTELLO

Graduate Research Assistant

Industrial Engineer and master’s student in the Industrial Engineering Program at Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia. He is working on survey research applying Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling techniques to build and test models.

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LIA CASTILLO

Research Assistant

Industrial Engineer at Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia. Lia has been working for the last two and a half years on quali-quantitative data analysis related to the forced migration of Venezuelans in Colombia. Lia is interested in learning multivariate data analysis methods for theory testing.

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JAIRO GONZALEZ

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Senior Computer Science student at Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla, Colombia. Jairo has a particular interest in Machine learning and data analytics.

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BRIAN LLINAS

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Senior Industrial Engineering student at Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla, Colombia. Brian is enthusiastic about data processing, visualization, and model selection (ML/Statistics). He has been working on developing computational insights about frustration towards migrants in global refugee host communities.

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JOSEPH MARTÍNEZ

Graduate Research Assistant

Industrial Engineer graduated with honors from Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia and master’s student in the graduate program in Modeling and Simulation at Old Dominion University (starting Fall 2022). Joseph is interested in the application of computational methods and machine learning models in industrial and social contexts.

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MEL MILLER-FELTON

Graduate Research Assistant

Melissa J. Miller-Felton is a second year Ph.D. student in the International Studies Program, with concentrations in Cultural and Comparative Studies, at Old Dominion University. She is also completing a graduate certificate in Women's Studies. Her research interests center around migration, refugee studies, and xenophobia. Melissa is also a clinical social worker with experiences in crisis intervention, community health, acute inpatient hospitalization, hospice/grief, and substance abuse treatment.

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GINA PEREZ

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Junior Industrial Engineering student at Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla, Colombia. Gina is interested in data analysis, machine learning and artificial intelligence.

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LISS ROMERO

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Senior Industrial Engineering student at Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla, Colombia. Liss has been working for the last two and a half years on qualitative and quantitative data analysis and modeling related to the forced migration of Venezuelans in Colombia. She is interested in expanding her knowledge in multivariate data analysis.

Team: Team Members

AFFILIATE RESEARCHERS

Multidisciplinarity at its Best

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ZACHEOUS ABANG

Researcher, School of Government
University of Western Cape, South Africa

Contact
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MICHAEL ALLEN

Assistant Professor, Political Science & Geography
Old Dominion University, USA

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MARIOS ANDRIOTIS

Senior External Relations Assistant, The UN Refugee Agency, Greece

Contact
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JOSHUA BEHR

Research Associate Professor, Virginia Modeling, Analysis & Simulation Center, Old Dominion University, USA

Legal Research and Writing

FRED BIDANDI

Researcher, School of Government
University of Western Cape, South Africa

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HANNE HAALAND

Professor, Global Development & Planning, University of Agder, Norway

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HUMBERTO LLINAS

Professor, Mathematics and Statistic Department, Universidad del  Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia

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KATHERINE PALACIO

Assistant Professor, Industrial Engineering Department,
Universidad del Norte, Colombia

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APOSTOLOS SPANOS

Professor, Institute for Religion, Philosophy, & History
University of Agder, Norway

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HEGE WALLEVIK

Professor, Global Development & Planning, University of Agder, Norway

Team: Team Members
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