ISL Welcomes New Faculty Affiliates

Dr. Sladjana Lukic is an Assistant Professor at School of Communication Science & Disorders. She is a Assistant Professor in the School of Communication Science and Disorders at FSU and Director of NoLaB Lab, where her work focuses on disentangling linguistic (dis)abilities in people with aphasia and uncovering their underlying neuroanatomical correlates using both structured language tests and naturalistic speech measures. Her research also explores linguistic processes in the context of degeneration and development, from which she has developed her new line of work investigating how language shapes behavior. She received her PhD and MA from Northwestern University under the supervision of Dr. Cynthia Thompson and completed postdoctoral training in Cognitive Neuroscience at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center under the supervision of Dr. Maria Gorno-Tempini.

Dr. Andrea Lobene is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Food Sciences. Prior to joining FSU in 2024, Dr. Lobene completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Delaware in the area of applied cardiovascular physiology. She received her PhD in Nutrition Science from Purdue University, and she is also a registered dietitian.

Dr. Lobene’s research is focused on how various dietary factors, especially sodium and potassium, affect cardiovascular health across the lifespan. Her aim is to develop and implement effective dietary interventions to improve early cardiovascular disease risk factors. She also hopes her work can contribute to improving current dietary guidelines and policies to improve cardiovascular health at the population level.

Dr. Daejin Kim is an Associate Professor of Interior Architecture and Design at Florida State University. His research centers on the relationship between the built environment and health and well-being, with a particular focus on designing physical spaces that support older adults. His expertise encompasses healthcare design, environmental gerontology, and evidence-based design, exploring how the physical environment influences the health, safety, and quality of life of older adults. Kim's contributions extend beyond academia, promoting greater awareness of the critical role that design plays in improving health outcomes and supporting successful aging in place. His work bridges research and practice, offering valuable insights to designers, researchers, and policymakers alike.

Dr. Patrick F. Merle, a French native, is an Associate Professor in the School of Communication at Florida State University. He was previously an international reporter for global news organizations. He earned his Ph.D. in Communication from Texas Tech University in 2013. Currently, Dr. Merle serves as the Director of the School of Communication (2020-present), after having previously been the Director of the Integrated Marketing Communication program.

In the 2024-2025 academic year, Dr. Merle serves as the Chair of the Virtual Conference for the AEJMC Public Relations Division's leadership team. He is also a part of the Executive Editorial Committee for the Journal of Visual Communication in Medicine and serves as an Assistant Editor for Frontiers: The International Journal of Study Abroad. Dr. Merle is actively involved in various professional organizations, including being a member of the Behavioral Insights Research Center of the Institute for Public Relations and serving on the Advisory Committee for the International Public Relations Research Conference.

Dr. Gashaye Melaku Tefera is an Assistant Professor at the College of Social Work. His research focuses on healthcare access and health disparities among underserved and disadvantaged communities, including immigrants, refugees, and older adults. His work explores the use of technology to promote independent living among older adults, analyzing how they engage with technology to monitor vital health information. Moving forward, Dr. Tefera aims to investigate the unique challenges faced by older adult immigrants, a critically underserved population. As a faculty affiliate, he looks forward to collaborating with interdisciplinary researchers to develop projects that enhance the well-being of immigrant older adults in the U.S.

Dr. Min Sook Park is an Assistant Professor at School of Information. She specializes in data-intensive, user-centered health informatics, focusing on chronic conditions and their caregivers. Her research explores the relationship between information technology and health users to support individuals managing hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and dementia. Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, she develops innovative health applications, including a voice-activated mobile health app for chronic disease management. Utilizing computational methods, Dr. Park analyzes user-generated data from social media to uncover insights into health information needs and behaviors.

Dr. Guang Wang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Florida State University. Previously, he was a Postdoctoral Associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Rutgers University. His current research focuses on Generative AI and AI for Sustainability, advancing techniques in Massive Data Mining, Trustworthy Machine Learning (including fairness, privacy, and safety), Human-Centered Computing, and Cyber-Physical Systems. Dr. Wang applies these techniques to real-world challenges in mobility, healthcare, economy, and climate change. He has published in high-impact interdisciplinary journals and top-tier computer science conferences, including Nature Cities, KDD, VLDB, UbiComp, MobiCom, WWW, AAAI, and CIKM.

Dr. Yijiong Yang is a Postdoctoral Scholar at College of Nursing. His research is focused on enhancing healthcare outcomes for aging populations and individuals with chronic conditions, particularly Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), diabetes, and fall-related injuries. His work leverages statistical analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, and machine learning — particularly natural language processing — to develop predictive models utilizing electronic health records (EHR) and claims data. By integrating public health and nursing perspectives, Dr. Yang's research aims to improve disease prevention, management strategies, and healthcare delivery systems. With extensive experience in grant development, interdisciplinary collaborations, and data-driven research, his goal is to generate actionable insights that inform public health policies and clinical practices, ultimately advancing care for aging populations.

Dr. Qianwen (Vivian) Guo is an Assistant Professor of Transportation Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Florida State University. Her research focuses on improving transportation systems for vulnerable populations by harnessing emerging technologies such as virtual reality and drones to enhance mobility and food accessibility for aging communities. Dr. Guo leads multiple federally funded projects, including those supported by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Her work explores driving behavior among vulnerable groups, the integration of autonomous vehicles in evacuation planning, and innovations in public transit for aging populations. An active researcher and collaborator, Dr. Guo has published extensively in top-tier transportation journals, including Transportation Research Part A, B, and C. Beyond her research, she is dedicated to mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and advancing equitable and efficient transportation solutions.