Ahmed received his doctorate in Technology Management from Portland State in 2020. He holds a BSc in mechanical engineering from the University of Baghdad. Prior to pursuing graduate studies, he worked in cement and construction companies in multiple positions, including as safety auditor and manager, technical inspection engineer, project manager and program manager for R&D projects. Increasingly frustrated with work environments that failed to prioritize safety, Ahmed decided to further his education with a focus on management. He moved to the US and obtained an MSc in Engineering/Industrial management from Gannon University in Erie, PA (2014). A strong desire to contribute to system-wide safety improvements across many heavy industries and high-hazard organizations broad Ahmed to Portland State University to pursue a Ph.D. in Technology Management. Ahmed’s research work is focused on High Reliability Organizations in offshore oil and gas industry, and he is looking forward to its future impacts on improved health, safety, and environmental outcomes. Ahmed has a deep passion for graphic design and has volunteered is talent for various organizations at Portland State. Ahmed is thankful for many great people in his life, who made him what he is today and looking forward to his next career steps. Recently, he adopted Ginger, a female corgi mix, who further adds to his happiness and contentment.

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Pei received his bachelor’s degree in telecommunication engineering from China in 2009. He found his passion for Engineering and Technology Management while studying for his M.S. in Technology Management and an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Bridgeport (both 2013). He decided to move across the country to pursue his Ph.D. studies. In addition to working on his Ph.D. , Pei is a dedicated audiovisual technician for the Office of Information Technology at PSU. In this role, he supports conferences, research activities, and various university events. Both of Pei’s parents are professors in China and he enjoys "talking shop" with them and explain his research. However, in his spare time, he prefers reading, exercise, piano-playing, photography, and movies. He always feels grateful for people, life, and all kinds of exciting experiences.

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Rasnia received her B.S. in Chemistry and M.S. in Inorganic Chemistry before joining a government research organization in Thailand. As a research scientist she focused on material science and also had responsibility for transferring newly developed technologies to rural communities. For three years, her work helped local businesses improve product quality, create jobs and income, and improve quality of life. This enjoyable and deeply rewarding experience made her realize the importance of management, in addition to technical skills. She decided to study engineering and technology management which brought her to the US. She received an M.S. in Engineering and Technology Management (2018), and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Technology Management. Her research focuses on Lean Startup Methodology (LSM) for technology transfer. She is looking forward to uncovering factors that matter for commercialization of research and its future impact on society. In addition, she enjoys working with international students at the Intensive English Language Program (IELP). In her free time, she loves playing volleyball and travelling with her friends.

Chris received his bachelor’s degree in music from Stony Brook University in 2000 and has worked across several companies and industries as a software engineering leader for over 20 years. Chris has worked on an array of innovative projects including high availability clusters for credit card processing, travel booking engines, fraud and risk analysis systems, the Nike+, Fuelband, and Sportswatch platforms, and massively scalable ecommerce. Chris currently works for Microsoft in a customer-facing role on projects that involve innovation in retail, machine-learning, IoT and AI. When not in the office he enjoys playing classical guitar, building robots with his kids, spending time with his lovely wife, and researching the future of work at Portland State University.

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