Find Academic Supervisors

• Material Science
• Biohybrid Materials
• Environmental Applications
• +3 more

Christophe Meunier is a researcher specializing in hybrid materials, particularly focusing on biohybrid systems that integrate biological components with inorganic matrices. His work emphasizes environmental applications and biomedical innovations through advanced material design. Key Collaborations: Su, B. L., Michiels, C., Wang, L. Research Themes: Photosynthesis mimicry, cell therapy microcapsules, hybrid alginate-TiO₂ systems Research Focus: Meunier has pioneered the biomimicry of photosynthesis via biosystem immobilization in silica matrices, aiming to create 'living materials' with functional biological-inorganic interfaces. His recent projects explore alginate@TiO₂ hybrid microcapsules for controlled insulin delivery and cell therapy applications, demonstrating high biocompatibility and stability. Academic Contributions: With 34 research outputs spanning material science, biomedical engineering, and environmental applications, Meunier's work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals through innovative hybrid material design. His collaboration network includes experts in chemistry, physics, and medical fields.

Markus SchwarzländerView profile

Professor

• Plant Mitochondrial Physiology
• Redox Biology
• Biosensor Development
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Markus Schwarzländer leads the Arbeitsgruppe for Plant Energy Biology at the Institute for Plant Biology and Biotechnology (WWU Münster) . His research focuses on mitochondrial physiology, redox signaling, and biosensor development in Arabidopsis thaliana and other plant species, integrating molecular biology with systems-level analyses to understand energy regulation. Key Research Areas: Mitochondrial-NAD(P)H dynamics Redox-regulated signaling networks Organelle communication Stress-adaptive metabolism Recent work highlights Golgi-localized mitochondrial uncoupling proteins , chloroplast-mitochondria redox coupling , and mitochondrial calcium uniporter function . His group employs cutting-edge fluorescent biosensors and proteomic approaches to dissect energy physiology. Students benefit from hands-on training in bioimaging , metabolic modeling , and organelle biology through iMoPLANT and Life Sciences programs. Scientific Awards: DAAD Fellowship (2019) As an active member of the Faculty of Biology , he collaborates with international institutions including University of São Paulo , CEA France , and Siberian Institute of Plant Physiology , while maintaining a robust publication record in top journals like Plant Cell and Nature . His teaching emphasizes integrative plant sciences and advanced biosensing techniques for B.Sc. and M.Sc. students.

Jeremy WangView profile

Assistant Professor

• Computational Biology
• Genomics
• Microbiome Research
• +7 more

Jeremy Wang, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics at the UNC School of Medicine . His research focuses on applying high-performance computational methods and machine learning to analyze high-throughput sequence data using long-read technologies (e.g., Oxford Nanopore) to advance precision personalized medicine . Key disease areas include Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) Respiratory Infectious Diseases His lab specializes in microbiome analysis , host-pathogen interactions , and computational genomics , working with collaborators in clinical, translational, and computational domains. His publications demonstrate expertise in long-read sequencing applications for Pediatric cancer classification SARS-CoV-2 genomic epidemiology Microbiome spatiotemporal dynamics Murine disease models Drosophilid genome assemblies Metagenomic bias analysis Collaborations span UNC and global institutions, with current work extending to clinical laboratory partnerships for pathogen sequencing and oral microbiome sampling methodology.

• Photosynthesis
• Global Change Biology
• Protected Cropping
• +4 more

Professor Oula Ghannoum is a renowned plant scientist and academic leader at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE), Western Sydney University. She serves as Director of the ARC Training Centre for Smart and Sustainable Horticulture and holds leadership roles, including Biological Sciences Discipline Lead and Associate Editor at Functional Plant Biology . Her research focuses on photosynthesis, global change biology, and protected cropping, aiming to enhance food security and climate resilience through crop improvement and sustainable agricultural practices. Education: BSc (Honours) in Plant Biochemistry, University of NSW (1993) PhD in Plant Physiology, Western Sydney University (1998) Research Interests: Professor Ghannoum’s work addresses global challenges like food security and climate change by exploring plant responses to environmental stress. Her lab uses advanced technologies like smart glasshouses and hyperspectral imaging to optimize crop yield and quality. Key areas include sugar signaling pathways in C3/C4 plants, water use efficiency, and heat tolerance in cereal crops. Grants & Funding: She has secured over $25M in research funding, leading projects on C4 photosynthesis, automated crop monitoring, and protected cropping systems. Notable collaborations include the ARC Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis and Future Food Systems CRC. Awards: 2024 Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence in Research Award 2023 Education and Outreach Award (Australian Society of Plant Scientists) 2001 ARC Postdoctoral Fellowship Labs & Teams: Her team develops innovative frameworks for sustainable horticulture, combining biology with AI and smart technologies. Ongoing work includes imaging-based crop monitoring and phenotyping for climate-resilient crops.

Chiu Ping ChengView profile

Professor

• Molecular Biology
• Plant-Microbe Interactions
• Bacterial Pathogenesis
• +5 more

Chiu Ping Cheng is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Minnesota, USA, specializing in Molecular Biology and Plant-Microbe Interactions . With over two decades of research on Ralstonia solanacearum and its interactions with solanaceous crops, Dr. Cheng has pioneered studies on plant defense mechanisms against bacterial wilt, regulatory gene functions, and biocontrol agent applications. Current research: Plant-pathogen interactions Special techniques: Genomic screening, bacteriophage-derived proteins Key pathogens: Ralstonia solanacearum, Pectobacterium carotovorum His recent publications (2024) explore tomato cultivar resistance variation , NADPH oxidase-effector interactions , and phenylpropanoid metabolism in wild mungbean . Though no formal scientific awards are listed, his work has been featured in leading journals like Plant Cell & Environment and New Phytologist . Dr. Cheng operates from the Life Science Building R942 laboratory.

Ralph BockView profile

Professor

• Plant Molecular Biology
• Chloroplast Biology
• Organelle Biotechnology
• +7 more

Prof. Dr. Ralph Bock serves as Director of Department 3: Organelle Biology, Biotechnology and Molecular Ecophysiology at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology in Potsdam, Germany, where he also leads the Organelle Biology and Biotechnology research group. Previously, he held positions as C4 Professor for Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology at the University of Münster (2001-2004) and Group Leader at the Institute of Biology III, University of Freiburg (1996-2001). His academic credentials include: Habilitation: University of Freiburg, 1999 Doctorate: University of Freiburg, 1996 Diploma: University of Halle, 1993 Prof. Bock's research focuses on plant molecular biology with particular emphasis on chloroplast biology, organelle biotechnology, and molecular ecophysiology. His work spans genetic engineering of plastids, photosynthesis research, plant biotechnology applications, and understanding organelle-nucleus communication. He has made significant contributions to developing chloroplast transformation systems and applying them to molecular farming, metabolic engineering, and understanding fundamental processes in plant cell biology. His research has important implications for sustainable agriculture, bioenergy, and pharmaceutical production, particularly through the development of plant-based systems for producing vaccines and therapeutic proteins. Analysis of Prof. Bock's recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong focus on chloroplast biology, genetic engineering, and molecular farming applications. His work spans fundamental research on organelle genetics, photosynthesis, and stress responses, as well as applied research on using plant and algal systems for biopharmaceutical production. A notable trend is the increasing use of advanced genetic engineering techniques, including CRISPR-based approaches, to manipulate organelle genomes. His research also shows growing interest in algal systems as alternative expression platforms for molecular farming, particularly red algae like Porphyridium for producing viral antigens and glycoproteins.

Daniela StrenkertView profile

Assistant Professor

• Plant Biology
• Systems Biology
• Molecular Biology
• +12 more

Daniela Strenkert is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, affiliated with the MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Plant Biology Department, Molecular Plant Sciences Program, BioMolecular Science Gateway, and Cell & Molecular Biology Program. Her research focuses on systems biology approaches to understand gene regulation in photosynthetic organisms. Ph.D., University of Kaiserslautern, Germany Her lab investigates photosynthetic performance through multi-omics analysis of chromatin structure, transcriptomes, proteomes, and metabolomes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii . Key areas include environmental acclimation, histone modification mapping (GreENCODE project), and regulatory RNA characterization. Recent publications emphasize computational modeling of photosynthetic protein interactions, metal homeostasis under stress, and chloroplast protein import mechanisms. Articles span 2025-2010, with 15 most recent from 2025-2022. Her work integrates genome-wide datasets to decode algal regulatory programs under climate change-relevant stressors. She teaches BS 161: Cells and Molecules and maintains a lab at 106 Plant Biology Lab. Contact: strenke2@msu.edu .

Nathalie Frascaria-LacosteView profile

Professor

• Evolutionary genetics
• Forest ecology
• Hybridization studies
• +7 more

Nathalie Frascaria-Lacoste is a Professor at AgroParisTech and Director of the UMR ESE (Ecology, Society, Evolution) since 2022. She previously served as Assistant Professor at ENGREF (Paris/Nancy) and Deputy Director of UMR CNRS/UPS/AgroParisTech 8079 for nearly two decades. Her research focuses on three core areas: (1) socio-ecosystem dynamics related to biodiversity and climate change, (2) environmental assessment processes in French public policies, and (3) urbanization impacts on biodiversity with decision-making tools. She has coordinated interdisciplinary projects like the « Manuel de la Grande Transition » and serves on scientific councils for institutions like the Yves Rocher Foundation and Campus de la Transition. Current affiliations: AgroParisTech, UMR ESE, Université Paris-Saclay Former affiliations: ENGREF, CNRS Noteworthy grants include VINCI Chairs (2009-2012, 2014-2019), LabEx funding (INDISS/ACT), ITTECOP grants, and ANR EVNATURB. Her editorial roles include the NSS journal and scientific councils at INRAE and ACT department. Prominent scientific award: Chevalier in the National Order of Merit (2016). Supervision includes 5 current PhD students and 6 former PhD/postdocs. She collaborates with institutions like INRAE, CNRS, and the Yves Rocher Foundation.

Jim HaseloffView profile

Professor

• Synthetic Biology
• Plant Engineering
• Genetic Circuits
• +7 more

Professor Jim Haseloff is a faculty member at the University of Cambridge, serving as Head of the Synthetic Biology for Engineering Plant Growth Group within the Department of Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences. His research focuses on applying engineering principles to construct new genetic systems in plants, with particular emphasis on using Marchantia polymorpha as a model system for understanding and engineering plant growth and development. Professor Haseloff's research interests span synthetic biology, genetic circuit design, plant transformation technologies, and the development of low-cost tools for biological research. His laboratory develops novel DNA tools and imaging techniques for visualizing, manipulating, and modeling genetic interactions and morphogenesis in plants. His work bridges the gap between fundamental plant biology and applied engineering approaches to reprogram plant development and physiology. The lab has established Marchantia polymorpha as a simplified model system with a streamlined genome, haploid genetics, and an open form of development ideal for quantitative analysis. Analysis of Professor Haseloff's recent publications reveals a strong focus on advancing the Marchantia model system for synthetic biology applications. His work spans genetic tool development, chloroplast engineering, plant sensing technologies, and fundamental developmental processes. Notably, his research increasingly integrates low-cost sensing technologies with traditional plant biology, reflecting his commitment to making synthetic biology more accessible worldwide. Professor Haseloff is actively involved in several major initiatives including OpenPlant (promoting open technologies for plant synthetic biology), Biomaker (funding construction of low-cost devices for biology), and the Engineering Biology IRC. He has taught undergraduate courses on Plant and Microbial Sciences (NST PMS 1B), Plant Development (NST CDB 1B), and Synthetic Biology (NST PS 2), with extensive teaching materials publicly available online. His laboratory has pioneered techniques for cell-free expression systems that are 200-400 times cheaper than commercial versions, low-cost microreactors using 3D-printed components, and innovative in vivo plant sensing devices. The group has developed extensive resources for the plant synthetic biology community, including standardized DNA parts, microscopy techniques, and educational materials for no-code programming in biology.

• Plant Biochemistry
• Specialized Metabolism
• Solanaceae Family
• +4 more

Cornelius Barry is an Associate Professor in the Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University, with affiliations to the Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology program, AgBioResearch, and the Molecular Plant Sciences Graduate Program. He joined MSU in July 2007 with a 75% research and 25% teaching appointment. Education: PhD and BSc from the University of Nottingham and University College of Wales Current roles: Director of NSF REU Site: Plant Genomics @ MSU His research focuses on the evolution of biochemical diversity within the Solanaceae family , particularly specialized metabolites like terpenoids, flavonoids, and alkaloids. He investigates their roles in plant defense, pollinator attraction, and human applications through genomics, metabolite profiling, and synthetic biology. Recent publications show expertise in alkaloid biosynthesis , trichome chemistry , and metabolic pathway engineering . Key collaborations include teams at Boyce Thompson Institute, Texas A&M, and University of Nottingham. He advises graduate students in Genetics , Biochemistry & Molecular Biology , and Molecular Plant Sciences programs.

Anders BacklundView profile

Professor

• Pharmacognosy
• Natural Products Chemistry
• Chemical Space Navigation
• +4 more

Anders Backlund is Professor of Pharmacognosy at Uppsala University's Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, with dual institutional roles including Garden Director at Uppsala Linnaean Gardens. His work bridges pharmaceutical sciences and botanical heritage through the university's historic gardens. His research centers on pharmacognosy and natural products chemistry, with pioneering development of the ChemGPS-NP platform for chemical space navigation. This computational tool maps biological activity in chemical property space, enabling prediction of pharmacological effects and mechanisms of action. His work spans plant metabolomics, evolutionary chemography, and drug discovery from natural sources including marine organisms, fungi, and medicinal plants. Recent publications (2019-2023) demonstrate strong continuity in applying ChemGPS-NP to diverse problems: predicting membrane permeability of Alpinia galanga constituents (2022), evaluating Ononis isoflavonoids for CNS targeting (2022), and decoding multi-functional bioactivities in Maca (2021). His work increasingly integrates computational prediction with experimental validation across anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and antimicrobial domains. As Garden Director of Uppsala Linnaean Gardens, he maintains institutional connections to botanical heritage while advancing modern pharmacognosy. His dual roles exemplify the integration of historical plant knowledge with contemporary drug discovery methodologies.

Marten MooreView profile

Research Fellow

• Plant Physiology
• Molecular Biology
• RNA Processing
• +4 more

Dr Marten Moore is a Research Fellow at the Division of Plant Sciences, The Australian National University. His research focuses on understanding mRNA dynamics, plant stress responses, and photosynthesis efficiency through molecular and genetic approaches. He investigates how plants adapt to environmental stresses such as light fluctuations and salinity, with a particular emphasis on retrograde signaling pathways linking chloroplasts to nuclear responses. Dr Moore’s work integrates experimental and computational methods, including the development of tools like ConCysFind for analyzing conserved protein sequences across plant species. He collaborates on projects aimed at enhancing crop resilience through improved energy use efficiency and yield stability, leveraging insights from wheat and Arabidopsis models. Key Projects: Using RNA regulation to improve energy use efficiency and boost yield in wheat (2024–2027) Regulators of protein translation reveal new pathways to plant productivity (2022–2025) Smart Plants and Solutions for Enhancing Crop Resilience and Yield (2021–2025) His research interests span mRNA fate during stress recovery, nitric oxide signaling in plant cells, and the role of glutathione peroxidases in symbiotic root nodules. Dr Moore’s contributions bridge fundamental plant biology with applied agricultural challenges, aiming to translate molecular insights into practical solutions for sustainable agriculture.

Robert FurbankView profile

Professor

• Plant Phenomics
• C4 Photosynthesis
• Crop Yield Improvement
• +3 more

Robert Furbank is a Professor and Centre Director at the Australian National University (ANU), leading the ARC Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis. He specializes in enhancing crop yields through improving photosynthesis and abiotic stress tolerance in cereals like wheat and rice. His work spans plant phenomics, genetic manipulation, and high-throughput phenotyping techniques. He co-leads the C4 Rice Consortium, aiming to introduce C4 photosynthesis into rice to boost productivity. Furbank holds a BSc (Hons) from the University of Wollongong (1979) and a PhD from ANU (1982). He has received prestigious awards, including the Queen Elizabeth II Research Fellowship (1987) and the CSIRO Plant Industry Leadership Award (2014). Research interests include C3/C4 photosynthesis mechanisms, carbon allocation, and developing tools for plant phenomics. He collaborates internationally with organizations like CIMMYT and IRRI, focusing on translational research to bridge experimental findings with crop improvement. His recent projects address heat tolerance in wheat and satellite-based phenotyping for crop analysis. Education: Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours), University of Wollongong, 1979 PhD, Australian National University, 1982 Research Highlights: Combining molecular genetics and phenomics to understand genetic variation in photosynthesis; developing CO2-concentrating mechanisms in rice; improving wheat yield via high-throughput measurement tools. Awards: Queen Elizabeth II Research Fellowship (1987) ACT ICT Innovation Award (2013) CSIRO Plant Industry Leadership Award (2014) Grants and Collaborations: Leads major initiatives like the ARC Centre and participates in global consortia such as the International Wheat Yield Partnership. His work integrates advanced imaging and machine learning for crop trait prediction.

Christoph BenningView profile

Professor

• Lipid metabolism
• Photosynthetic organisms
• Chloroplast membrane assembly
• +3 more

Christoph Benning is a University Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University, holding appointments in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology , Molecular Plant Sciences Program , Plant Biology , and Genetics & Genome Sciences Program . He leads the MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory and contributes to the Cell & Molecular Biology Program and BioMolecular Science Gateway . Ph.D., 1991, Michigan State University M.S., 1986, Albert-Ludwigs Universitaet, Freiburg, Germany Postdoctoral Researcher, 1991-1993, Michigan State University Group Leader, 1993-1997, Institut fuer Genbiologische Forschung Berlin GmbH His research centers on lipid metabolism in photosynthetic organisms , with a focus on chloroplast membrane assembly, lipid remodeling under stress, and biofuel production from algae. His lab uses Arabidopsis and Chlamydomonas to study genetic and biochemical mechanisms governing lipid biosynthesis, stress tolerance, and cellular quiescence in algae. Recent publications highlight advancements in chloroplast nanofactories , ER-chloroplast lipid transport , and WRINKLED1 transcription factor engineering to boost lipid accumulation. These works span synthetic biology , metabolic engineering , and environmental stress responses in plants and algae. Scientific Awards : Fellow of the American Society of Plant Biologists (2025), Member of the National Academy of Sciences (2025), Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors (2022), and multiple teaching/mentoring awards. Advising : Recognized for mentoring graduate and postdoctoral researchers. Labs & Collaborations : Leads the Benning Lab at MSU, with DOE-funded projects and partnerships in algal biofuel research.

• Systems Biology
• Genomics
• Post-transcriptional Gene Regulation
• +3 more

CHEN Wei is a Chair Professor at the Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, China. He holds a Ph.D. from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics (2006) and previously served as a Full Professor (W3) at the Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (2015-2016). Prior to joining SUSTech, he led research groups at prestigious German institutions, contributing to large-scale genome centers and the Berlin Institute of Health. Education : Ph.D. (2006, Max Planck Institute), M.S. (2002, Sichuan University), B.S. (1993, Xiamen University) His research focuses on systems biology and genomics, particularly post-transcriptional gene regulation mechanisms and their roles in human diseases. His lab integrates next-generation sequencing technologies with computational approaches to study non-coding RNA functions, alternative splicing, and chromatin dynamics. Key projects include CRISPR-based functional studies, 3D genome analysis, and RNA editing in neurological and metabolic disorders. Recent publications highlight his work in Drosophila developmental genomics, chloroplast translation control, and cancer biology. The 2025 study on spatiotemporal multi-omics in Drosophila and 2024 articles on MatK's role in tRNA splicing and CRISPR-activated transcriptional regulation exemplify his interdisciplinary approach. Earlier works (2023-2022) address immune cell trafficking, alternative polyadenylation, and chromatin remodeling in cancer metastasis. At SUSTech, he leads a team with 4 research assistant professors, 2 postdoctoral fellows, 3 research assistants, and 7 graduate students. His lab has secured significant funding from EU and German agencies (€7M+), though specific awards are not detailed in the provided text. Teaching responsibilities include General Biology and Principles of Cell Biology.