Brian N. Bailey is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of California, Davis. His research integrates engineering, computer science, atmospheric science, and biology to develop advanced plant simulation tools and 3D modeling techniques. Current projects include wildland fire modeling, almond orchard canopy analysis, vineyard pathogen spread simulation, and next-generation crop modeling tools funded by NSF, USDA, and industry partners. Education: Ph.D. and B.S./M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Utah (2015, 2011). His lab, the Bailey Lab, focuses on high-resolution 3D plant models, measurement techniques across scales, and software development such as the Helios simulation framework and PhoTorch package. Research emphasizes plant structure-function relationships in biophysical processes like evapotranspiration and water-use efficiency. Recent publications highlight advancements in canopy radiation modeling, leaf point cloud generation, and deep learning for soil reflectance simulation. His work bridges computational methods with agricultural applications, addressing challenges in precision agriculture and environmental sustainability.
Subhash Risbud is a Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California, Davis. His research focuses on the synthesis, structure, and properties of advanced materials such as photonic and electronic materials, quantum dots, amorphous solids, glasses, and ceramics. He specializes in materials characterization using techniques like electron microscopy, NMR, Raman spectroscopy, and optical methods. His work spans biomaterials integration, including lipid bilayers on nanoporous substrates and biohybrid sol-gel systems for renewable energy applications. Key areas include nanoconfinement effects on liquids, surface charge phenomena in mesoporous materials, and additive manufacturing of metallic alloys like magnesium. He has pioneered methods for encapsulating membrane proteins within porous matrices to enhance stability and functionality. Notable contributions include studies on nanoconfined water freezing dynamics, surface charge effects in nanomaterial delivery systems, and development of photocatalytic titanium dioxide gels for hydrogen production. His research bridges materials science with biological systems, emphasizing practical applications in energy, environmental science, and biomedicine.
Prof. Dr. Jelena Ajtić holds the position of a Full Professor at the Department of General Education Subjects within the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade. Her work bridges veterinary science, environmental science, and biophysics, focusing on radiation monitoring, climate interactions, and vector-borne diseases in animals. Research Interests: Environmental Radioactivity and Its Impact on Ecosystems Biochemical and Biophysical Processes in Veterinary Medicine Climate Variability and Atmospheric Chemistry Public Health Implications of Environmental Exposure Her research spans over three decades, with notable contributions to understanding beryllium-7 atmospheric transport, the role of meteorology in disease spread, and radiation monitoring in Serbia’s mountainous regions. She has co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed papers, including influential studies on Babesia canis infections in dogs and radioecological assessments in agricultural systems. Grants & Collaborations: Her work involves international collaborations on atmospheric modeling and environmental health, supported by Serbian and European research networks.
Prof. Abigail Morrison is a Professor and Group Leader of the Computation in Neural Circuits group at the Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-6), part of Forschungszentrum Jülich. Her work focuses on advancing neuromorphic computing, reservoir computing, and spiking neural network simulations. She leads development of the NEST simulator and NESTML modeling language, tools critical for large-scale brain modeling. Key research areas include: Neuromorphic hardware-software co-design Biophysically plausible neural network models GPU-accelerated simulation frameworks Multi-scale brain co-simulation techniques Applications in embodied AI and neuroscience Her lab contributes to the European EBRAINS infrastructure and has pioneered methods for parallel GPU-based network construction. Recent work explores topographic neural circuit architectures for signal processing and reinforcement learning in neuromorphic systems. Notable achievements include: Development of NESTML (v8.0+) ODE-toolbox for ODE solver selection Co-design of HNC neuromorphic compute nodes Advances in dendritic computation modeling Current efforts emphasize exascale computing readiness, neuromorphic system validation, and bridging biological plausibility with computational efficiency in neural network simulations.
Plamen Ch. Ivanov is a Research Professor and Director of the Keck Laboratory for Network Physiology at Boston University's School of Science. He pioneered the interdisciplinary field of Network Physiology, focusing on dynamic interactions between organ systems to understand health and disease. His work integrates statistical physics, nonlinear dynamics, and network theory to analyze physiological signals and model emergent systems behavior. Education: M.S. in Condensed Matter Physics (Sofia University), Ph.D. in Cellular Biophysics (Boston University). Research interests center on systems physiology, cardiac-respiratory dynamics, sleep regulation, and network-based approaches to aging and exercise physiology. His lab developed novel methods for analyzing time-varying organ system interactions, contributing to the Human Physiolome initiative. Key contributions include discovering basic laws of physiological regulation, identifying critical dynamics in brain rhythms across sleep states, and revealing age-related breakdown in cardio-muscular networks. Articles focus on network physiology applications in sleep medicine, exercise science, and neurodegenerative disorders. Major Awards: $1M W.M. Keck Foundation Award (2015) Editorial Roles: Field Chief Editor of Frontiers in Network Physiology Founding Director: International Summer Institute on Network Physiology (ISINP) NIH/ONR/BSF-funded research Labs/Teams: Leads the Keck Lab, collaborates internationally on PhysioNet data sharing platform. Active in machine learning approaches for physiological signal analysis and network modeling.
Michael Held is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Ohio University's College of Arts and Sciences, where he leads an active research program focused on plant cell wall biochemistry. His work integrates molecular, biochemical, and biophysical approaches to understand the regulation and assembly of plant cell walls, with a particular emphasis on extensin glycoproteins and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. His educational background includes a Ph.D. and B.S. from Ohio University, followed by postdoctoral training at Michigan State University and Purdue University, establishing a strong foundation in plant molecular biology and biochemistry. Held's research centers on two major areas: (1) the self-assembly of plant cell wall polymers, particularly the role of extensins as structural scaffolds, and (2) the post-transcriptional regulation of cell wall biosynthesis via small RNAs derived from cellulose synthase antisense transcripts. His lab employs advanced techniques such as small RNA next-generation sequencing (sRNA-NGS), bioinformatics, and biophysical assays to uncover novel regulatory networks in plant development. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in plant glycobiology, with a focus on arabinogalactan-proteins, glycosyltransferases, and gene co-expression networks. His development of PlantNexus, a database for barley and sorghum, reflects his commitment to open science and interdisciplinary collaboration in plant genomics. Specific protein interactions between rice members of the GT43 and GT47 families to form various central cores of putative xylan synthase complexes (2024) Knockout of eight hydroxyproline-O-galactosyltransferases cause multiple vegetative and reproductive growth defects (2023) PlantNexus: A Gene Co-expression Network Database and Visualization Tool for Barley and Sorghum (2022) Functional characterization of hydroxyproline-galactosyltransferases for Arabidopsis arabinogalactan-proteins synthesis (2021) Extensins: Self-assembly, crosslinking, and the role of peroxidases (2021) Dr. Held actively mentors students and collaborates with researchers across institutions, contributing to projects involving CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, mass spectrometry for glycan detection, and the functional characterization of glycosyltransferases. His lab has received support for research in plant wall biosynthesis, though specific grants are not detailed in the text. He is a key contributor to the PlantNexus initiative, which provides valuable tools for plant biologists studying barley and sorghum. The Held Lab is located at the Biochemistry Research Facility, 350 W. State St., Athens Campus, and maintains a research focus on uncovering the molecular mechanisms governing plant cell wall integrity, development, and function. The lab combines classical biochemical methods with modern genomics and bioinformatics to address fundamental questions in plant biology.
Scott Hooper is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Ohio University's College of Arts and Sciences, where he conducts interdisciplinary research at the intersection of neuroscience, biomechanics, and computational biology. He is also affiliated with the Quantitative Biology Institute, reflecting his quantitative and modeling approaches to biological systems. His office is located in Wilson Hall West 013 on the Athens Campus. Education: Ph.D., Brandeis University Dr. Hooper's research focuses on understanding how animals generate rhythmic motor behaviors such as walking, swimming, and flying. His lab investigates these processes across multiple levels—from individual neurons and neural networks to muscle dynamics and whole-limb movement—using both experimental and computational methods. A primary model system in his work is the stick insect, which allows for detailed neurophysiological and biomechanical analysis of locomotion. His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend in integrating biological data with theoretical models, particularly in muscle biophysics, neuromodulation, and passive mechanical contributions to movement. This work bridges neuroscience and engineering principles, contributing to fields such as bio-inspired robotics and neural control systems. Scientific Awards: No awards listed in the provided text. Dr. Hooper teaches courses including BIOS 1710: Ecology, Evolution, and Animal Body Systems and BIOS 2060: Drugs and the Brain. While specific grant funding and student advisees are not mentioned, his active publication record from 2018 to 2022 indicates ongoing research supported by collaborations with international experts such as A. Büschges. His lab, located in Wilson Hall West 014, maintains a focus on fundamental questions in motor system function. Laboratory and Team: The Hooper Lab studies motor pattern generation using insect models and combines electrophysiological experiments with computational modeling. The team engages in collaborative research, particularly with neurobiologists and biomechanists in Germany, indicating an active and internationally connected research group.
Dr. Andrew Angel is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Natural and Computing Sciences at the University of Aberdeen, where he conducts interdisciplinary research at the interface of physics, mathematics, and molecular biology. He is actively involved in teaching and research, currently accepting PhD students in Physics. His primary research interests include: Mathematical and stochastic modeling of biological systems Gene expression and transcription dynamics Chromatin and nucleosome organization Epigenetic regulation, particularly in vernalization Metabolic cycling and its impact on transcription Quantitative analysis of ChIP-seq data Dr. Angel applies techniques from statistical physics and computational modeling to understand complex biological phenomena. His work spans from fundamental physical models to detailed molecular mechanisms in gene regulation. The recent publications highlight a strong focus on transcriptional regulation, chromatin dynamics, and epigenetic memory. The research combines experimental collaborations with sophisticated modeling approaches, particularly in understanding how RNA polymerase navigates nucleosomal barriers, how chromatin signatures regulate transcription, and how metabolic states influence gene expression. Several studies involve yeast and human systems, employing cutting-edge techniques like 4sU sequencing for transcriptome mapping. Dr. Angel has collaborated extensively with leading researchers including Professor Jane Mellor (University of Oxford), Professor Francois Robert (IRCM Montreal), and Dr. Michael Tellier (University of Leicester), reflecting his integrated approach to biological questions. His scientific contributions are evident through publications in high-impact journals such as Nature , Molecular Cell , Cell Reports , and PNAS . While no specific awards are listed, the quality and impact of his publications indicate significant recognition in the fields of epigenetics, transcription, and biophysical modeling. Dr. Angel advises students in Physics and related interdisciplinary areas, contributing to the training of next-generation scientists in quantitative biology. His research is supported by collaborative networks and institutional resources at the University of Aberdeen. He is affiliated with the following research groups and collaborations: Transcription, Chromatin and the Yeast Metabolic Cycle (with Prof. Jane Mellor) Transcription through nucleosomes (with Prof. Francois Robert) Analysis of ChIP-seq data (with Dr. Michael Tellier)
Roland Wu is an Assistant Clinical Professor (Voluntary) at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, specializing in cardiology. He is a board-certified cardiologist and physician-scientist with expertise in general cardiology and echocardiography. Dr. Wu practices inpatient cardiology at UCSF Medical Center and conducts research through the UCSF Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI). Dr. Wu's educational background includes: Bachelor's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Cornell University Medical degree (M.D.) from University of Texas Houston Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine at University of Texas Southwestern Research Fellowship at Columbia University Clinical Fellowship in Cardiology at University of California San Francisco Dr. Wu's research focuses on understanding human cardiovascular disease by studying the genetics and gene regulation underlying these disorders. His work utilizes advanced technologies such as in vivo genetic and enhancer screens coupled with computational biology. With his background in electrical and computer engineering, Dr. Wu brings a unique perspective to the analysis of Big Data in cardiovascular research, often doing his own computer programming to process genomic data. His laboratory work at the CVRI investigates which genes are associated with beneficial and harmful responses to cardiovascular injury, assessing how different tissues respond to such injury. Dr. Wu also uses genome editing technologies in animal models to promote healing and minimize heart damage, with future plans to conduct large-scale drug screens for new cardiovascular therapies. Analysis of Dr. Wu's publication record reveals a strong focus on cardiovascular genetics and molecular mechanisms of heart disease. His research spans from basic science investigations of ion channels and gene regulation to clinical studies of cardiac interventions and transplantation. A notable trend is his progression from molecular and cellular studies toward more translational research with clinical applications, particularly in understanding genetic determinants of heart development, function, and disease. At UCSF, Dr. Wu works in the lab of Dr. Shaun Coughlin, director of the UCSF Cardiovascular Research Institute. The CVRI at Mission Bay provides an exceptional research community dedicated to advanced cardiovascular research, which Dr. Wu describes as "one of the most exciting places to work."
Hongying (Hoy) Shen is an Assistant Professor in Cellular & Molecular Physiology at Yale School of Medicine and Systems Biology Institute at Yale West Campus since January 2020. Her research focuses on cellular metabolism, using interdisciplinary approaches including biochemistry, genetics, and metabolomics to study enzymes and transporters critical to human health and disease. She is particularly known for her work on 'deorphanizing' uncharacterized proteins in the human genome, especially those involved in mitochondrial function and metabolism. Dr. Shen received her B.S. in Chemistry from Nanjing University (2006) and her Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University (2013). Her postdoctoral training at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School with Dr. Vamsi Mootha established her expertise in CRISPR screens and metabolomics. She has been recognized with prestigious awards including the Rita Allen Foundation Scholar (2023) and the Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship (2021). Her lab investigates mitochondrial transporters, metabolic pathways, and their roles in diseases like cancer and cystic disorders. Recent work includes identifying NAT10 as a master regulator of brain metastasis and elucidating the role of SLC25A39 in mitochondrial glutathione transport. Collaborations span Yale’s Diabetes Research Center, Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, and the Wu Tsai Institute. Notable achievements include over 30 peer-reviewed publications, including high-impact articles in Cell , Nature Communications , and Molecular Cell . Her research bridges basic science and translational medicine, aiming to uncover new diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
Agnieszka Kaczor is an Associate Professor at the Computer Modeling Unit within the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Medical University of Lublin, Poland. She holds an MD, PhD, and DSc, with a doctoral degree completed in 2008. Her academic work is deeply rooted in pharmacology and pharmacy, with a strong emphasis on computational approaches to drug design and molecular modeling. Her research interests span pharmacology, pharmacy, molecular docking, molecular dynamics, drug-receptor interactions, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), medicinal chemistry, and structural biology . She applies computational techniques to study human protein structures, ligand binding, and biological activity, aiming to advance drug discovery and medicine development. Her work integrates principles from organic chemistry and biophysics to model drug interactions at the molecular level. Agnieszka Kaczor has an extensive publication record with 488 publications, reflecting her sustained research productivity. The publications collectively focus on computational pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, and molecular modeling, indicating a long-term trajectory in computer-aided drug discovery and structure-activity relationship studies. Scientific Awards and Recognition: Achievement (1 listed) She has supervised 5 promoted theses, demonstrating her commitment to mentoring the next generation of researchers in pharmacology and pharmacy. She has led or participated in 3 research projects and holds 10 patents, underscoring her translational research impact. Her work is supported by a robust digital profile across ORCID, Scopus, and Europe PMC. Kaczor is affiliated with the Computer Modeling Unit, where she contributes to interdisciplinary research involving drug design, protein binding, and molecular simulations. Her team likely engages in both theoretical and applied research, bridging computational models with biological and pharmacological validation.
Dante Capaldi, PhD, DABR, serves as an Assistant Professor and Associate Director of the Medical Physics Residency Program at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Department of Radiation Oncology within the School of Medicine. His academic journey began with a PhD in Medical Biophysics from Western University (Canada) in 2018, followed by a Medical Physics Residency and NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship at Stanford University completed in 2021 and 2020 respectively. In 2022, he further expanded his professional development through UCSF's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training. Dr. Capaldi's research focuses on developing and evaluating imaging biomarkers of pulmonary structure and function using MRI and CT without exogenous contrast agents. His work spans multiple critical areas including SRS treatments of cranial lesions, advanced imaging methods for assessing treatment response, functional lung avoidance in radiation therapy, and quality assurance for stereotactic radiosurgery. His innovative approaches to pulmonary imaging have significant applications for asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and non-small cell lung cancer. His research integrates medical physics principles with clinical oncology to develop precision radiotherapy techniques that improve treatment outcomes while minimizing toxicity. His publication record demonstrates a strong trajectory with numerous high-impact articles in leading journals. Recent work includes multi-institutional studies on brain metastasis atlases, functional lung MRI techniques (particularly PREFUL MRI), and quality assurance protocols for advanced radiotherapy systems. His research bridges imaging physics, computational methods, and clinical applications, with particular emphasis on practical solutions that can be implemented in clinical settings. His work on biology-guided radiotherapy represents cutting-edge developments in the field. Dr. Capaldi has made significant contributions to medical physics through his development of novel imaging biomarkers, quality assurance methodologies, and functional avoidance techniques in radiation therapy. His research has been published in top journals including Nature Communications, Radiology, and Medical Physics, reflecting both the quality and impact of his work. His leadership as Associate Director of the Medical Physics Residency Program demonstrates his commitment to training the next generation of medical physicists.
Charlotte BOUQUIAUX is an active researcher specializing in theoretical chemistry and biophysics, with expertise in nonlinear optical properties of lipid membranes and chromophores. She recently completed her Doctor of Sciences degree in October 2023 under the supervision of B. Champagne, having previously earned a Master in Chemistry Research in 2019. Her research focuses on the intersection of theoretical chemistry, biophysics, and computational science, particularly investigating how molecular structures affect optical properties in complex biological environments. She employs multiscale theoretical approaches combining quantum mechanics and molecular dynamics to study lipid membranes, chromophores, and their nonlinear optical responses. Bouquiaux's publication record shows consistent productivity with six peer-reviewed articles between 2020-2024, demonstrating evolving sophistication from foundational studies to increasingly complex membrane systems. Her work bridges chemistry, physics, and biology, with applications in membrane biophysics and optical probe development. She has been actively engaged in the academic community through conference presentations, including invited talks at the NISM Annual Meeting 2022 and other specialized symposia. Notably, she co-organized the 'Women and Girls in Science' event in April 2022, demonstrating commitment to diversity in STEM fields. Bouquiaux served as Principal Investigator for the research project 'Development and application of a multiscale theoretical chemistry method for investigating the second harmonic generation of lipid membranes' from October 2019 to December 2021, indicating early recognition of her research capabilities while still completing her doctoral studies.
Marc DE WERGIFOSSE is a Researcher at the Université de Liège , focusing on Quantum Chemistry and Nonlinear Optics . He leads projects in computational methods for predicting optical properties of organic materials and complex systems. His research interests include Density Functional Theory , Second-Harmonic Generation , and Two-Photon Absorption , with applications in Fluorescent Proteins and Organic Nanoparticles . Recent work involves modeling Quantum Mechanical Effects on Nonlinear Optical Properties . He has received the Annual Price from Société Royale de Chimie (2006) for excellence in chemistry research and actively participates in international collaborations, including visiting researcher roles in Japan.
Tijmen Bos is a researcher at the Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences within the Faculty of Science , University of Amsterdam. His work focuses on advancing chromatographic techniques, chemometrics, and polymer characterization. Research Areas: Analytical Chemistry, Polymer Science, Mass Spectrometry, and AI-driven method development. Recent Innovations: Automated gradient optimization, realistic data generation for algorithm validation, and multi-dimensional chromatography platforms. Technical Expertise: Hydrodynamic chromatography, tandem mass spectrometry, trapped ion mobility, and Bayesian optimization.
