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Philipp HeretschView profile

Professor

• Natural Product Synthesis
• Organic Chemistry
• Terpene Synthesis
• +8 more

Prof. Dr. Philipp Heretsch is a Professor and Executive Director at the Institute of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Leibniz University Hannover. He leads the Natural Product Synthesis research group and holds key roles in academic governance, including Deputy Coordinator for Exchange Programmes and representation on various examination and curriculum boards. Research Interests: His research focuses on the synthesis of complex natural products, particularly terpenes and alkaloids, using biosynthesis-inspired strategies. He develops novel carbon–carbon bond manipulation techniques and rearrangement cascades. A significant emphasis is placed on the biological activity of synthesized compounds. He also pioneers the development of continuous flow reactor systems for the selective transformation of sensitive and short-lived chemical species. Publication Trends: His recent publications (2020–2025) demonstrate a strong focus on biogenesis-inspired total synthesis of highly complex natural products (e.g., canataxpropellane, swinhoeisterol), the application of radical-polar crossover and rearrangement strategies, and the innovative use of flow chemistry for scalable and efficient synthesis of both natural products and functional molecules like odorants and ferrocenyl compounds. Scientific Awards: ADUC Prize of the GDCh (2018) DECHEMA Young Scientist Prize for Natural Product Research (2020) ORCHEM Prize for Young Scientists of the Liebig Association for Organic Chemistry of the GDCh Advising and Grants: While specific students are not listed, he leads an active research group. His work is supported by significant external funding, including an ERC Consolidator Grant for the project "RadCrossSyn" and support from the DFG Heisenberg Program, which facilitated his move to Leibniz University Hannover in 2021. Labs and Teams: He heads the Natural Product Synthesis research group at the Institute of Organic Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover. His research group, often referred to as the "Heretsch group," is dedicated to developing novel synthetic methodologies and applying them to the synthesis of biologically relevant natural products.

Caterina AlbanoView profile

Associate Professor

• Art
• Cultural History
• Medical Sciences
• +7 more

Dr. Caterina Albano is a Reader at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London. She holds a PhD in Renaissance Studies (London University, 1993–1998) and specializes in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of art, medical sciences, and cultural theory. Her work explores the cultural history of emotion, politics of memory, and contemporary art practices, with a focus on themes like fear, vulnerability, and the unconscious. Albano is a prominent curator, organizing exhibitions such as Psychoanalysis: The Unconscious in Everyday Life (Science Museum, London) and Crossing Over: Art, Science and Biotechnologies (Royal Institution). She also co-founded the Art and Science Research Group at CSM and chairs the College Research Degree Subcommittee. Her research integrates curatorial practice with academic inquiry, addressing topics such as neuroscience, biogenetics, and the ethics of air in contemporary art. Albano supervises doctoral students in art and curatorial practices and actively contributes to academic discourse through editorial roles and grant assessments. She speaks multiple languages, including Italian, French, German, and English, and her work bridges art, science, and humanities to explore complex cultural and societal issues.

Marcin SmietanaView profile

Research Fellow

• Reproductive Sociology
• LGBTQ+ Family Formation
• Transnational Surrogacy
• +7 more

Dr Marcin Smietana is a Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge , affiliated with the Department of Sociology and the Reproductive Sociology Research Group (ReproSoc) . His work focuses on LGBTQ+ family formation , transnational surrogacy , and reproductive justice , funded by grants including a Marie Curie Fellowship and Wellcome Trust support. He teaches courses on Sociology of Gender , Health and Illness , and MPhil in Health, Medicine & Society . PhD in Sociology (University of Barcelona/AFIN) Postdoctoral work at UC Berkeley and Cambridge His research explores queer resistance to authoritarianism , racial dynamics in ART (assisted reproductive technologies), and reproductive decision-making among gay men. He co-edited the landmark volume Making Families: Transnational Surrogacy, Queer Kinship and Reproductive Justice (2018), which bridges reproductive anthropology with queer theory . Current projects examine queer ecologies and critical animal studies . Key contributions include: Identifying repro-regional moral frameworks in cross-cultural surrogacy studies (USA, India, Russia) Documenting the intersections of race and queer reproduction in international surrogacy markets Deconstructing emotional economies in U.S. commercial surrogacy He supervises dissertations on transnational surrogacy , queer kinship , and species relationships in reproduction , with publications spanning Reproductive BioMedicine & Society Online , Sociological Research Online , and edited volumes. His upcoming book examines gay men’s reproductive decision-making in transnational contexts.

Sam BaidooView profile

Professor

• Swine Nutrition
• Animal Nutrition
• Sustainable Swine Production
• +6 more

Sam Baidoo is a Professor in the Department of Animal Science at the University of Minnesota, affiliated with the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. He is based at the Southern Research and Outreach Center in Waseca, MN, where he conducts research and extension activities focused on swine nutrition and sustainable production systems. Education: Post-doctorate, University of Alberta, 1989 Ph.D., University of Alberta, 1989 M.S., University of Alberta, 1984 B.S. (Agric.), University of Cape Coast, Ghana, 1979 Dip. Education, University of Cape Coast, Ghana, 1979 Dr. Baidoo's research centers on swine nutrition, with emphasis on energy and amino acid requirements for sows, evaluation of alternative feed sources, and improving economic efficiency and environmental sustainability in swine production. His work bridges fundamental nutritional science with practical farm-level applications. His teaching portfolio includes ANSC 2401: Animal Nutrition, ANSC 3609: Business Planning for Animal Enterprises, and several graduate-level courses such as ANSC 8311: Animal Biogenetics and ANSC 8312: Protein Metabolism, often as a co-instructor. He has been recognized repeatedly for excellence in teaching and graduate mentorship. Scientific Awards: Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award, Graduate Student Club, Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, 2015 Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award for Teaching, Counseling and Advising, 2002 Manitoba Pork Stewardship Award for Excellence in Teaching, Research and Extension, 1999 Teacher of the Year Award, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba, 1999 Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence in Animal Science, Lakeland College, 1992 Dr. Baidoo is actively involved in graduate advising and has contributed significantly to student counseling and academic development. He has not received mention of specific grants in the text, but his extensive outreach and research program suggest sustained funding support. He participates in numerous outreach initiatives including the Leman Swine Conference, Minnesota Nutrition Conference, and various pork producer training and certification programs. He is associated with the Swine Extension program at the University of Minnesota and contributes to initiatives such as Pork Quality Assurance, Transport Quality Assurance, and Swine Unit Site Assessment. He is also a Certified Swine Welfare Auditor through the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization.

Kou-San JuView profile

Associate Professor

• Natural Products
• Microbial Metabolism
• Biocatalysis
• +3 more

Kou-San Ju is an Associate Professor with a joint appointment in the Department of Microbiology (College of Arts and Sciences) and the Division of Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacognosy (College of Pharmacy) at The Ohio State University. He holds additional memberships in the Infectious Disease Institute, Center for Applied Plant Sciences, and Molecular and Cellular Developmental Biology Graduate Program. Dr. Ju earned his Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of California, Davis (2009), followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2010-2016). His research integrates chemistry, bioinformatics, and systems biology to discover novel natural products from microorganisms, with a focus on phosphonic acid-based compounds. Key areas include genome mining for bioactive molecules, antibiotic discovery, and engineering biocatalysts for industrial applications. His work bridges microbial metabolism and chemical biology, aiming to address challenges in human health (e.g., drug-resistant pathogens) and environmental sustainability (e.g., herbicides, biocontrol agents). Recent studies highlight phosphonate biosynthetic pathways, metabolomics-driven discovery, and the ecological roles of natural products in microbiomes. Dr. Ju’s lab employs cutting-edge techniques such as mass spectrometry, CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, and computational tools for metabolite analysis. His publications emphasize phosphonate diversity, enzyme mechanisms, and microbial genome-phenome correlations, with applications in drug development and green chemistry.

• Bronze Age Britain and Ireland
• Historical Archaeology
• Material Culture Studies
• +5 more

Joanna Bruck is a Full Professor of Archaeology at University College Dublin's School of Archaeology, previously holding the same rank at the University of Bristol (2013–2020). She earned her BA and PhD from the University of Cambridge. Her research focuses on Bronze Age Britain and Ireland, emphasizing mortuary practices, material culture, and social theory. Key projects include the ERC-funded 'Animals and Society in Bronze Age Europe' and the Leverhulme Trust's 'Social Context of Technology' study. She co-directs excavations at Frongoch Internment Camp, a site linked to the 1916 Easter Rising. Bruck has secured major grants from institutions like the European Research Council, Leverhulme Trust, and Gerda Henkel Foundation. Her awards include Fellowship of the Society of Antiquaries of London and membership in the Royal Irish Academy. She edits Archaeological Dialogues and chairs the Bronze Age Forum. Her work bridges prehistoric and historical archaeology, exploring themes like curation of human remains, kinship, and the socio-political role of landscapes. Teaching modules include 'How Archaeologists Think' and 'People in Prehistory.' She has advised numerous PhD students and contributed to projects such as the 'Archaeology of the Irish Revolution.' Her publications span Bronze Age social organization, historical material culture, and theoretical archaeology.

Sophie HainesView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Environmental Anthropology
• Knowledge Production
• Anthropology of Development
• +7 more

Sophie Haines is a Senior Lecturer in Social Anthropology at the School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh. Her research focuses on environmental anthropology, knowledge practices, and political ecology, with fieldwork in Belize, Kenya, and the UK. PhD in Anthropology, University College London (2011) ESRC Future Research Leaders grant (2017-18) Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Sophie’s research examines the intersection of environmental change, knowledge production, and policy. Key areas include infrastructure and anticipation, environmental citizenship, and politics of knowledge. Her work has addressed highway planning in Belize, climate forecasting in agriculture, and water security in Turkana, Kenya. Recent publications and teaching (e.g., Social Life and Climate Change, Energy in the Global South) emphasize interdisciplinary approaches, incorporating environmental humanities, Indigenous scholarship, and technopolitical analysis. Scientific Awards ESRC Future Research Leaders grant (2017-18) Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Grants and Collaborations : Projects funded by NERC, DfID, and the Oxford Martin School. Current supervision includes PhD students on topics like shipping sustainability, microbial conservation, and fire politics in India. She co-convenes the Network for Anthropologies of Forecasting Weather and Climate (AnthFOR) and serves on the Royal Anthropological Institute Environment Committee.

János DaruView profile

Lecturer

• Organic Chemistry
• Computational Chemistry
• Catalysis
• +5 more

János Daru is a Lecturer at the Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University. His research integrates Organic Chemistry , Computational Chemistry , and Machine Learning to advance reaction mechanisms, catalysis, and chemical accuracy in condensed systems. Recent work focuses on: Direct ester-to-ether deoxygenation using borane catalysts Machine learning potentials for quantum-level water simulations Bioinspired synthesis of alkaloids and kratom metabolites Elucidating catalyst purity and conformational analysis protocols Prominent keyword overlaps include Catalysis , Quantum Dynamics , and Reaction Design . No formal awards or student advisory lists are documented in the provided materials.

Buran UtkuView profile

Lecturer

• Science Fiction Studies
• Posthumanism
• Digital Humanities
• +3 more

Dr. Buran Utku is a Lecturer affiliated with Texas A&M University, specializing in Anglo-American fiction, world literature, and posthuman studies. Her research bridges science fiction, digital humanities, and feminist technoscience, examining intersections of AI, VR/AR, and eco-criticism. She holds an MBA from the University of Central Lancashire (2024), a PhD from Atatürk University (2014), and certifications in online education and AI tools. Her research interests focus on posthumanism, speculative fiction, and gender studies, particularly exploring how emerging technologies reshape human identity and societal structures. She has published widely in journals like Science Fiction Studies and Journal of Posthumanism , with notable works analyzing Afropean futurism, gender in science fiction, and biogenetic ethics. Awards: Editor of the Year (2021), UC Speculative Futures Grant (2020), and multiple EU-funded research grants. Editorial Roles: Head of Science Fiction Division at IAFA, Editor of Journal of Posthumanism , and Book Series Editor for Posthumanism. Grants: Led EU projects on femicide prevention (€3.16M), educational equality, and youth entrepreneurship. Her work extends to global academic leadership, serving on editorial boards for Transnational Press London and the Science Fiction Research Association. She actively engages in policy-making through roles in the European Observatory of Femicide and COST Action networks.

Dietrich OberView profile

Professor

• Plant Secondary Metabolism
• Molecular Evolution
• Biochemical Ecology
• +7 more

Dietrich Ober is a Professor at Kiel University, affiliated with the Institute of Botany within the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. He leads the Research Group Biochemical Ecology and Molecular Evolution and also serves as Head of the Botanical Garden Kiel. His research integrates molecular biology, biochemistry, and evolutionary analysis to understand plant secondary metabolism, particularly focusing on pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) and their ecological roles. His research interests center around the evolution of metabolic pathways in plants, especially how gene duplication leads to novel enzymatic functions in alkaloid biosynthesis. Using model systems such as Jacobaea vulgaris , Crotalaria , and Convolvulaceae species like morning glories, he investigates the genetic basis of chemical defense mechanisms in plants. His work explores how plants evolve new traits through mutations and gene duplications to survive herbivore pressure, exemplifying the 'plant-herbivore arms race.' The recent publications highlight a strong trend in evolutionary biochemistry, particularly in enzyme evolution, gene duplication dynamics, and plant-microbe interactions. Studies focus on key enzymes like homospermidine synthase (HSS) and putrescine-N-methyltransferase (PMT), analyzing their evolutionary trajectories and functional divergence. Methodologically, the research combines phylogenetics, heterologous protein expression, activity assays, and genomic analyses. Dietrich Ober actively supervises student research and offers bachelor’s and master’s thesis projects related to protein evolution and secondary metabolism. His group collaborates closely with Dr. Elisabeth Kaltenegger and is supported by resources from the Botanic Gardens Kiel. Though no specific awards are listed, his publication record in top journals such as PNAS , Plant Cell , and Trends in Plant Science reflects significant scientific impact. The research environment emphasizes training young scientists in diverse techniques including DNA/RNA isolation, PCR, cloning, protein purification, and bioinformatics. The group fosters interdisciplinary understanding by studying complex biological systems involving plants, insects, fungi, and bacteria.

Vladimir BirmanView profile

Associate Professor

• Synthetic Organic Chemistry
• Total Synthesis of Natural Products
• Asymmetric Catalysis
• +4 more

Vladimir Birman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis. His research focuses on synthetic organic chemistry, including total synthesis of bioactive natural products, asymmetric catalysis, and the design of stimuli-responsive molecular systems. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, a postdoctoral fellowship from Columbia University, and a B.S. from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Research Interests: Total synthesis of complex natural products like lingzhiol and sceptrin Development of amidine-based catalysts (ABCs) for enantioselective acyl transfer and alcoholysis reactions Creation of redox-responsive phenazine-based oligomers mimicking biological actin-myosin filaments Enantioselective synthesis of α-fluoro-β-amino acids and thiochromenes Recent Work Trends: Articles emphasize catalyst design (ABCs), dynamic kinetic resolution strategies, and functional materials with programmable responses to chemical/electrochemical stimuli. Key contributions include first demonstrations of lactam N-acylation catalysis and biologically inspired molecular switches.

Jeanne StolzerView profile

Professor

• Biocultural Aspects of Breastfeeding
• Attachment Parenting
• Co-sleeping
• +8 more

Dr. Jeanne Stolzer is a Professor in the Department of Counseling, School Psychology and Family Science at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Her research focuses on biocultural aspects of breastfeeding, attachment parenting, co-sleeping, ethology, biogenetics, and evolutionary psychology. She critiques the medicalization of childhood behaviors, particularly ADHD, and explores societal impacts of psychiatric medications and public health policies. Education: PhD in Human Resources and Family Science/Child Development, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2002) MS in Family Science/Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1999) BS in Family Science/Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1997) Her research interests include: Biocultural breastfeeding dynamics Evolutionary parenting practices Neurobiological effects of psychotropic drugs Critical analysis of childhood mental health labeling Natural childbirth and biophilic theory Publications focus on breastfeeding epidemiology, ADHD medicalization, and healthcare system critiques. Recent work examines correlations between psychiatric medications and societal violence. She has contributed to interdisciplinary textbooks and presented globally on child development and breastfeeding advocacy. Service roles include leadership in UNK's Women and Gender Studies Advisory Council, Undergraduate Research Council, and various committees promoting gender equity and academic affairs. Her work bridges biological, cultural, and policy dimensions of family health.

Sonja MackenzieView profile

Associate Professor

• Public Health
• Sociological Inquiry
• Social and Structural Inequities
• +5 more

Sonja Mackenzie is an Associate Professor at the Department of Public Health , College of Arts and Sciences , Santa Clara University. She is conducting sabbatical research as Affiliate Faculty with the Reproductive Sociology Research Group (ReproSoc) and Department of Sociology at Cambridge University (2021). Her work bridges public health and sociology to address social and structural inequities in health among racial/ethnic and sexual/gender minorities. Research Interests : Social determinants of health, LGBTQ kinship, HIV prevention, structural racism, reproductive justice, and health social movements. Grants : NIMH-funded K01 award (5 years) on HIV prevention among Black men who have sex with men and women. Publications : Author of the 2013 book Structural Intimacies: Sexual Stories in the Black AIDS Epidemic (Rutgers Press). Public Scholarship includes commentary on pandemic grief (2020) in The New York Times and KQED , as well as advocacy for racial and gender justice in media outlets like Daily Kos and The Advocate . She teaches courses on race/class/gender intersections, community health, and structural racism ( PHSC 3, 125, 131, 187, 190 ). Scientific Awards : National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) K01 award Leadership : Senior Academic Advisor for the Santa Clara County Child Health Needs Assessment (2015–2016). She contributes to transdisciplinary public health education and collaborative research frameworks.

Nadine EhlersView profile

Associate Professor

• Critical Race Studies
• Science and Technology Studies
• Feminist and Queer Theory
• +4 more

Associate Professor Nadine Ehlers is a leading scholar in the Discipline of Sociology and Criminology at the University of Sydney . She serves as Deputy Director of the Sydney Centre for Healthy Societies and leads the ‘ Race, Ethnicity, and the Biohumanities ’ research theme. Ehlers has held academic positions at Georgetown University , University of North Carolina , and The Ohio State University , and was a Visiting Scholar at University of California, Berkeley and New York University . Her research spans Critical Race Studies , Science and Technology Studies , Feminist and Queer Theory , and Biopolitics , with a focus on intersections between race , biomedicine , and governance . Recent work explores how life-making practices in biocultures produce systemic death and inequity, particularly for Black and minoritized communities . She is a key voice in debates about genetic research , racialized health disparities , and biofutures . Ehlers’ publications reveal a trajectory from 2003 to 2025 , with a focus on racialization , biomedicine , and neoliberal governance . Her scientific awards include multiple grants from the Australian Research Council , Wellcome Trust , and Menzies Australia Institute , totaling over $2 million in funding. Scientific Awards 2025: King’s Australia Partnership Seed Fund ($16,000) 2024: Charles Perkins Centre Research Fund ($294,000) 2024: Race and Biohumanities Workshop ($16,000) 2023: ARC Discovery Grant ($615,000) 2019: Wellcome Trust Small Grant ($60,000) 2018: FASS Strategic Research Theme ($80,000) Recent PhD Supervision Freya Kerwick (2025): Constructing Failure: The Incel Subject within Contemporary Sexual Identification Gilbert Knaggs (2025, ongoing): Getting Older, Living Rural: A Qualitative Study with Older Adults of Rural NSW

• Special Education
• Educational Neuroscience
• Disability Policy
• +3 more

Nicolina Pastena is an academic affiliated with the Department of Classical, Linguistic and Educational Studies at the University of Salerno. Her work focuses on special education, disability studies, educational neuroscience, and policy-making in education. She has collaborated with multiple departments, including Pharmaceutical Sciences, to explore interdisciplinary topics like cortisol levels in learning environments and embodied cognition. Her research interests emphasize the intersection of neurobiological factors and educational outcomes, with a particular focus on learning disorders, teacher training for disability inclusion, and pedagogical innovation. She has published extensively on topics such as autopoiesis theory in education, capability approaches for future generations, and the role of corporeality in cognitive development. Recent work includes studies on pre-service teachers' attitudes toward disability, the neurobiological underpinnings of learning disabilities, and the integration of mythopoiesis and tradition in citizenship education. Her 2023 monograph, 'Intellectual Disability and Rett Syndrome: From Biogenesis to the Life Project,' highlights her interdisciplinary approach to disability research. Her articles often bridge theoretical frameworks like embodied cognition with practical educational strategies, emphasizing the need for inclusive pedagogies grounded in neuroscience and systemic theories.