Brian Kuhlman is a Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Co-Director of the UNC Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Program. He earned his PhD from SUNY Stony Brook and previously contributed to groundbreaking computational protein design work as a postdoctoral researcher in David Baker’s lab, including the development of the Top7 protein that underpinned Nobel Prize-winning research. Research Interests: His lab focuses on computational and experimental protein design, utilizing the Rosetta software suite. Key areas include De novo protein design for therapeutic applications Optogenetic control of biological processes Antibody engineering for cancer and infectious disease Protein stability and mutation effect prediction Structure-guided vaccine development Recent Highlights: The lab has advanced dengue virus envelope protein stabilization for vaccines and developed light-activatable protein switches. Their work spans enzyme specificity tailoring, therapeutic bispecific antibody design, and Rosetta energy function optimization. Scientific Awards: National Academy of Inventors Senior Member (2025) ASBMB DeLano Award for Computational Biosciences (2019) Searle Scholar (2004-2007) Beckman Young Investigator (2004-2007) Collaborations and Grants: The lab collaborates with Eli Lilly on bispecific antibody strategies and has received funding from the W.M. Keck Foundation (2005-2010). They are part of the RosettaCommons consortium, contributing to Rosetta software development.
Prof. Dr. Marc Thilo Figge serves as Professor (W3) for Applied Systems Biology at Friedrich Schiller University Jena and Head of the Applied Systems Biology Research Group at the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI) since 2011. His career spans theoretical physics, computational biology, and infection research, with significant leadership roles in national research initiatives including NFDI4Bioimage, DFG Research Training Groups, and the Excellence Cluster 'Balance of the Microverse'. His research focuses on three interconnected pillars: Host-pathogen interactions of human pathogenic fungi Automated image analysis through the open-source JIPipe platform Spatiotemporal computer simulations of infection dynamics These areas combine experimental microbiology with computational modeling to address fundamental questions in infection biology. Analysis of his 2025 publications reveals strong interdisciplinary output spanning microbiology, computational biology, and biomedical engineering. His work demonstrates consistent methodological innovation in image analysis (particularly through JIPipe) and computational modeling of fungal infections, with increasing applications in rapid diagnostics and organ-on-chip technologies. The publications show growing international collaboration and methodological transfer between fungal pathogenesis and broader infection biology contexts. His scientific recognition includes: medac Research Award (2023 and 2024) Adjunct Fellowship at Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (2011-2017) Editorial roles at PLOS Complex Systems, Biological Imaging, and Scientific Reports Prof. Figge maintains an active supervision program with approximately 14 students across multiple graduate schools, supported by substantial funding from DFG, BMBF, and Leibniz Association initiatives. His group participates in the International Leibniz Research School and Jena School for Microbial Communication, with strong connections to the Microverse Imaging Center's advanced microscopy facilities. He regularly organizes the biennial international symposia on Image-based Systems Biology (IbSB) and Systems Biology of Microbial Infection (SBMI), fostering global collaboration in the field. The Applied Systems Biology group operates at the intersection of physics, computer science, and infection biology, developing computational tools that have gained international adoption in bioimage analysis. Current projects emphasize translation of fundamental research into diagnostic applications, particularly through microfluidics and organ-on-chip technologies.
Dr. Barry O'Hagan is a Lecturer in Pathobiology at Ulster University's School of Biomedical Sciences, where he conducts research and manages the £2M Bioimaging Core Facility. His industrial collaborations span pharmaceuticals and agri-food sectors, with £1.4M+ secured in competitive grants from Innovate UK and DAERA. Research expertise includes: Advanced microscopy (electron/atomic force microscopy) Early cancer diagnosis via nanotherapies Antimicrobial biofilm disruption Industrial imaging solutions He supervises PhD candidates investigating host resistance, cancer cytotoxicity, and electrochemical pathogen detection. Current projects include: Non-invasive pancreatic cancer diagnostics (Innovate UK) Soil nutrient health analysis (DAERA) Protein-enriched dairy powder development
Marc David Normandin is an Associate Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at Yale School of Medicine, where he serves as Director of the Yale PET Core. He is affiliated with the Bioimaging Sciences Center, Center for Molecular Imaging Technology and Translation (CMITT), and Yale Biomedical Imaging Institute. His research focuses on advanced PET imaging techniques for neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders, with expertise in kinetic modeling, radioligand development, and multimodal neuroimaging. He collaborates extensively with Georges El Fakhri, Nicolas Guehl, and other researchers across 84 publications. Recent publications highlight innovations in tau burden quantification, 5D proton therapy delivery for cardiac arrhythmias, and receptor occupancy mapping with novel radiotracers. His work bridges biomedical engineering and clinical applications in nuclear medicine. Normandin holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Purdue University (2008) and completed postdoctoral training at Yale School of Medicine (2011). He maintains contact via marc.normandin@yale.edu and office number 203.737.4803.
Henk De Feyter serves as an Associate Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at Yale School of Medicine, with primary appointments in the Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging. He maintains affiliations with multiple research entities including the Bioimaging Sciences division, Deuterium Metabolic Imaging (DMI) Developmental Therapeutics program, Magnetic Resonance Research Center, and Yale Biomedical Imaging Institute. Dr. De Feyter completed his postdoctoral training at Yale University (2010) following a PhD from Eindhoven University of Technology's Department of Biomedical Engineering. His educational background includes Master's degrees from Maastricht University (Department of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences) and Ghent University (Department of Rehabilitation Sciences). His research program centers on developing and applying Deuterium Metabolic Imaging techniques to visualize metabolic processes in vivo. Dr. De Feyter specializes in creating novel imaging methodologies to track metabolic pathways using deuterium-labeled substrates, with particular applications in brain tumor characterization, cardiac metabolism, and liver function assessment. His interdisciplinary approach combines physics, engineering, and clinical medicine to develop diagnostic tools that bridge basic science and patient care. Analysis of Dr. De Feyter's publication record reveals a consistent focus on advancing metabolic imaging technologies, particularly Deuterium Metabolic Imaging. His work demonstrates growing clinical relevance across neuro-oncology, cardiology, and hepatology, with increasing emphasis on translating research techniques to clinical applications. The interdisciplinary nature of his publications reflects collaborations across multiple scientific domains. Dr. De Feyter maintains active research collaborations with experts across multiple disciplines, including neurology, oncology, physics, and biochemistry. His research program appears to be supported by substantial grant funding focused on developing metabolic imaging techniques for clinical applications, particularly in brain tumor imaging and neurological disorders. As part of Yale's Magnetic Resonance Research Center and Yale Biomedical Imaging Institute, Dr. De Feyter contributes to a collaborative environment dedicated to advancing imaging technologies. His work on metabolic imaging represents a significant contribution to the development of non-invasive diagnostic tools that could transform how metabolic disorders and cancers are detected and monitored.
Niculina Musat is Scientific Head of the Centre for Chemical Microscopy (ProVIS) at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ since April 2012. Her work bridges microbial ecology , biogeochemistry , and innovative imaging across marine, freshwater, and agricultural systems. Research Pillars Microbial nutrient interactions in aquatic and rhizosphere systems Advanced correlative microscopy (FISH, CARD-FISH, NanoSIMS, ToFSIMS) Antibiotic impact on environmental microbiomes and biodegradation pathways Multi-species symbiotic associations and metabolic mapping Publication Trends Her recent work focuses on single-cell metabolic tracking using stable isotopes, plant-microbe rhizosphere dynamics , and cross-kingdom symbiotic systems in both marine and clinical contexts. Collaborative studies with the Isotope Biogeochemistry Department emphasize environmental applications.
Dr. Robert Haase is a Lecturer and Training Coordinator at the Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (ScaDS.AI) under Leipzig University , with prior leadership roles at the DFG Cluster of Excellence 'Physics of Life' at TU Dresden . He specializes in Bioimage Analysis , GPU-Accelerated Image Processing , and Large Language Models (LLMs) for life sciences. His research focuses on democratizing bioimage analysis through open-source tools like CLIJ , clesperanto , and bia-bob , aiming to bridge microscopy with data science . Recent projects explore LLM-driven code generation for image analysis and interactive workflow design in platforms like napari . He leads initiatives such as the NFDI4BioImage consortium for research data management in Germany and GloBIAS , a global society for bioimage analysts. Funded by organizations including the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) and DFG , his work emphasizes reproducibility , open science , and interdisciplinary collaboration in bioimaging. As an educator, he conducts training programs like "Large Language Models for Bioimage Analysis" and "Collaborative Working with Git" , and contributes to workshops at institutions such as EMBO , Institut Pasteur , and ScaDS.AI Summer Schools .
Dr. Ljiljana (Lili) Paša-Tolić is a distinguished Lab Fellow and Lead Scientist for Visual Proteomics at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), where she works within the Environmental Molecular Sciences Division and the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) user program. She brings world-leading expertise in native-state and top-down proteomics, mass spectrometry, and the Biomolecular Pathways Integrated Research Platform, combining these with Functional Bioimaging and Cell Signaling platforms to develop transformational capabilities for dynamic spatio-temporally resolved proteomic imaging in cells. Shipley Capturing Federal Business Course (2013) Emerging Leader Program (2012) Management Skills Development Program (2003) Postdoc, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (1995–1997) Postdoc, PNNL (1993–1995) PhD in Chemistry, University of Zagreb (1992) MS in Theoretical and Physical-Organic Chemistry, University of Zagreb (1989) BS in Chemistry, University of Zagreb (1986) Dr. Paša-Tolić specializes in developing sophisticated analytical methods with emphasis on Fourier transform mass spectrometry and micro-separations. Her research focuses on applying these techniques to accurately quantify spatiotemporal changes in protein (metabolite) abundance, identity, and activity. Her work bridges the gap between advanced instrumentation development and biological applications, particularly in environmental systems, microbial communities, and plant-microbe interactions. She has pioneered approaches for single-cell metabolomics, top-down proteomics, and mass spectrometry imaging that have transformed how researchers study complex biological systems at unprecedented resolution. The trend in Dr. Paša-Tolić's recent publications demonstrates her leadership in advancing mass spectrometry technologies while applying them to increasingly complex biological questions. Her work spans environmental science, microbiology, plant biology, and immunology, showing how fundamental advances in analytical methodology can be leveraged across diverse research domains. Key themes include single-cell analysis, interlaboratory standardization, top-down proteomics, and the development of novel instrumentation approaches that push the boundaries of detection sensitivity and spatial resolution. The Analytical Scientist Power List (2019) Spectrometry Global Impact Award (2015) Director's Award, EMSL (2010) Systems Biology Fellows Mentor Award (2007) Outstanding Merit Award, International Immunology (2007) Key Contributor Award, PNNL (2002, 2003) Outstanding Performance Award, PNNL (1998, 1999, 2000) International Institute of Quantum Chemistry and Solid-State Theory Award (1988) As a leader in her field, Dr. Paša-Tolić has served in numerous professional capacities including Treasurer of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry (2020–2022), Editorial Board Member for the Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry (2017–Present), and Member at Large on the Board of Directors for the Consortium for Top-Down Proteomics (2012–Present). She has organized and lectured at the 'Mass Spectrometry in Biology and Medicine' summer school in Dubrovnik, Croatia since 2007, demonstrating her commitment to training the next generation of scientists. Her research has been supported by multiple federal agencies including the Department of Energy, National Institutes of Health, and National Science Foundation. Dr. Paša-Tolić leads a dynamic research team at PNNL focused on visual proteomics, which combines advanced mass spectrometry with imaging techniques to study biological systems at unprecedented resolution. Her group works at the intersection of the Functional and Systems Biology group, the Biomolecular Pathways Integrated Research Platform, and the Functional Bioimaging platform, creating a synergistic environment for innovation. The team has developed novel capabilities for single-cell analysis, top-down proteomics, and mass spectrometry imaging that are being applied to diverse research areas from environmental systems to human health.
Jay Grate serves as a Lab Fellow and Chemist in the Materials Sciences division at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory operated by Battelle. With over three decades of research experience, he has established himself as a leading expert in chemical sensing technologies and analytical methodologies. His work bridges fundamental science with practical applications in national security, environmental monitoring, and industrial processes. Dr. Grate received his educational foundation with a BA in Chemistry (summa cum laude) from Rollins College in 1978, followed by an MS in 1980 and PhD in Chemistry from the University of California, San Diego in 1983. His academic training provided the foundation for his subsequent groundbreaking work in analytical chemistry and materials science. His research interests focus on the development of chemically selective materials, chemical microsensors, and analytical fluidics systems. Dr. Grate's work integrates chemical sciences, material sciences, and measurement sciences to create innovative microanalytical principles, methods, and systems. He has made significant contributions to chemical vapor sensing, biological toxin and pathogen detection, radionuclide sensing, and the application of nanostructured materials in analytical chemistry and catalysis. His research spans from basic scientific investigations to prototype detector development for real-world applications. Analysis of his publication record reveals a consistent trajectory of innovation in sensor development and analytical methodologies. His work demonstrates expertise across multiple domains including polymer chemistry for sensing applications, radiochemical analysis techniques, microfluidic systems, and advanced chemometric methods for data interpretation. The interdisciplinary nature of his research connects materials science with analytical chemistry, environmental science, and national security applications. R&D 100 Award (2004) for work in developing rationally designed polymers for chemical threat detection ACS Northwest Regional Industrial Innovation Award (2007) Battelle Distinguished Inventor recognition (2009) Dr. Grate has authored or co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and more than a dozen book chapters, demonstrating significant scholarly impact. He holds 17 patents, several of which have been commercially licensed, indicating the practical value of his research. His work has been featured in prominent scientific journals and has appeared on the covers of Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Reviews, and Polymer News, reflecting the significance of his contributions to the field. His research has received coverage in major scientific news outlets including Chemical and Engineering News, Science, and Physics Today.
Yasuko Antoku is a Researcher at the Biotech Research & Innovation Centre (BRIC) within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. Located at Ole Maaløes Vej 5 in Copenhagen, she has maintained an active research career from 2008 through 2024, contributing to numerous high-impact publications across multiple disciplines. Her research interests span cancer biology, nanotechnology, and developmental processes, with particular expertise in advanced imaging techniques and nanomaterial applications. Dr. Antoku's work demonstrates significant interdisciplinary integration, bridging molecular biology with innovative imaging technologies to address complex biological questions in cancer development and tissue regeneration. Analysis of her publication history reveals an evolution from foundational nanotechnology work (2008-2010) to more recent cancer biology and developmental research (2019-2024). Her contributions consistently focus on cellular dynamics, imaging methodologies, and molecular mechanisms underlying disease processes. Scientific Recognition Her 2008 paper in the Journal of the American Chemical Society has received over 825 citations Multiple publications featured in high-impact journals including Nature Cell Biology and Nature Communications Research highlighted across various news outlets and social media platforms As a member of BRIC's Core Facilities, Dr. Antoku provides specialized expertise to the broader research community while maintaining her own research trajectory. Her collaborative approach is evident in her extensive co-authorship network spanning multiple institutions and research domains.
Christy Anna Hipsley is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. She holds a joint appointment in the Ecology and Evolution section, with research spanning evolutionary biology, vertebrate paleontology, and herpetology. Her work integrates multiple disciplines through advanced imaging techniques and computational approaches to study morphological evolution across 500 million years of vertebrate history. Her primary research interests include evolutionary biology, vertebrate paleontology, herpetology, phenotypic convergence, and 3D shape analysis. She specializes in using X-ray computed tomography to generate three-dimensional models of fossil and living organisms for evolutionary comparison, often applying geometric morphometrics to diverse groups including primates, canids, marine mammals, marsupials, turtles, and reptiles. Her work specifically examines how Cenozoic climate change has shaped morphological and taxonomic variation, and identifies contexts where biodiversity is generated and destroyed. Dr. Hipsley's recent publications demonstrate a strong interdisciplinary approach, combining traditional morphological studies with computational methods. Her work spans from detailed anatomical studies of reptiles to collaborations with computer scientists on diffusion modeling techniques. This reflects her commitment to integrating bioinformatic, molecular, ecological, paleoclimatic, and morphological approaches in evolutionary research. Selected Awards: Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond (DFF) Project 1 (2,847,513 DKK) Villum Synergy Grant on Stochastic Morphometry (2,140,000 DKK) ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (1,650,697 DKK) Dean's Award for Excellence in Research (Team), University of Melbourne Dr. Hipsley has supervised numerous graduate students across multiple institutions including the University of Copenhagen, Monash University, and the University of Melbourne. She serves as a Senior Editorial Board Member for BMC Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and reviews for numerous prestigious journals including Nature Communications, Science Advances, and Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Her international collaborations span Germany, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, and India, reflecting the global nature of her research program. She is also an active participant in science outreach, having contributed to children's science TV shows, podcasts, and public exhibits.
Eduardo Rosa-Molinar is a Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Neuroscience at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He serves as the Director of the Microscopy and Analytical Imaging Research Resource Core Laboratory and is an Academic Affiliate of the Bioimaging Science Track in the Bioengineering Graduate Program at the University of Kansas School of Engineering. Previously, he was the Director of the Microscopy and Analytical Imaging (MAI) Research Laboratory at the University of Kansas. His expertise spans over 40 years in optical and electron microscopy methodologies. BA, University of Alabama PhD, Anatomy, Cell Biology and Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center Rosa-Molinar's research focuses on neurotechnology and the development of reagents, tools, and workflows for multi-scale multi-modal correlated volume resin microscopies. His work aims to determine the three-dimensional nano-scale geometry and chemical composition of synapses. He studies the proteins in cell membranes that act as channels through which signals pass into synapses, investigating how brain cells communicate across electrical and chemical synapses. His laboratory specializes in techniques that allow for the visualization of neuronal connections at unprecedented resolution. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on microscopy innovation, particularly in 3D imaging techniques, neural circuit mapping, and the application of advanced microscopy to cancer research and stem cell biology. His work bridges fundamental neuroscience with practical applications in disease modeling and therapeutic development, with particular emphasis on rigor and reproducibility in imaging sciences. Rosa-Molinar has developed and refined numerous imaging techniques including correlative microscopy methods, novel staining protocols, and multi-functional neural tract tracers. His work on the western mosquitofish as a model organism has provided insights into sexual dimorphism in neural circuits and body plans. Director of the Microscopy and Analytical Imaging Research Resource Core Laboratory Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Neuroscience Graduate Program Academic Affiliate of the Bioimaging Science Track in the Bioengineering Graduate Program Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Kansas Medical Center His laboratory trains numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in advanced imaging techniques. Rosa-Molinar has contributed significantly to establishing standards for rigor and reproducibility in imaging sciences, developing training modules that have been widely adopted. His collaborative work spans departments and institutions, focusing on applying advanced microscopy to diverse biological questions from cancer biology to neural development.
Dr. Pavel Tomancak is a Researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG) in Dresden, Germany, leading an independent group focused on developmental and cell biology. His work bridges experimental biology with computational analysis to address fundamental questions in animal development and regeneration. His research program centers on understanding cellular diversity through integrated methodologies: live imaging captures dynamic processes, cell tracking monitors individual cell behaviors, deep learning analyzes complex patterns, and large-scale data visualization interprets results. Key interests include developmental mechanisms in Drosophila and Spiralia, genome-wide expression analysis, and computational approaches to chiral cell divisions. His contributions to the Fiji open-source image processing platform demonstrate commitment to bioimage informatics infrastructure. Dr. Tomancak maintains a strong funding record with the German Research Foundation (DFG), currently leading a project on cell diversity and regeneration. He previously completed three DFG projects: two in-kind grants on Drosophila gene expression and chiral cell divisions, plus a research data/software grant for Fiji sustainability. This consistent support reflects his expertise in interdisciplinary research at the biology-computation interface.
Dr Jon Wilden serves as Associate Professor in Chemistry within the School of Life Sciences at the University of Sussex, where he leads research at the intersection of organic electrochemistry, bioimaging, and sustainable synthesis. His work bridges fundamental mechanistic studies with practical applications in pharmaceutical analysis and green chemistry. His research portfolio emphasizes: Electrochemical Methodology Development : Creating sustainable alternatives to traditional synthesis through electrochemical radical reactions, amide preparation, and copper acetylide formation Bioimaging Probe Design : Engineering BODIPY fluorophores with tailored spectroscopic properties for cellular imaging applications Mechanistic Elucidation : Using electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques to unravel reaction pathways in peptide modification and enzymatic processes Educational Innovation : Developing open-access computational resources for drug design education With over 60 publications since 2015, Professor Wilden's recent work (2020-2024) demonstrates increasing industrial relevance through therapeutic product analysis, patentable electrochemical methods, and educational resources adopted internationally. His publications consistently appear in high-impact chemistry journals with strong citation metrics, reflecting significant contributions to green chemistry and chemical education. He actively mentors graduate students through research projects in electrochemical synthesis and bioimaging, while securing research funding evidenced by consistent publication output. Though no dedicated laboratory name is specified, his research group operates within the Department of Chemistry's facilities, collaborating across disciplines to advance sustainable chemical methodologies.
Christian Brinch Mollerup serves as a Forensic Chemist in the Section of Forensic Chemistry at the University of Copenhagen. His research is centered on nanomaterial development, particularly DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters, for forensic analytical applications. He maintains an active publication record in high-impact journals spanning structural characterization, optical properties, and practical integration of nanomaterials into forensic workflows. His core research domains include Forensic Chemistry , Analytical Chemistry , and Nanotechnology , with specialized focus on: Synthesis and stabilization of DNA-silver nanoclusters Optical property analysis and stability testing Bioconjugation techniques for biomedical probes Analytical method development for forensic toxicology SQL-based data processing pipelines for metabolomics Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications reveals a cohesive research trajectory advancing nanomaterial-based forensic tools. His work bridges atomic-scale structural insights with practical forensic applications, demonstrating significant contributions to nanocluster characterization and metabolomics data analysis. This research directly impacts drug detection methodologies and toxicological screening protocols. As part of the University of Copenhagen's forensic chemistry infrastructure, Mollerup operates within collaborative networks that integrate chemical synthesis, spectroscopic analysis, and computational data science to address complex forensic challenges.
