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Yunmeng LiuView profile

Assistant Professor

• Metabolic Syndromes
• Diabetes Pathogenesis
• Cardiovascular Disease
• +6 more

Yunmeng Liu, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine. Her research focuses on metabolic syndromes, particularly diabetes-linked cardiovascular complications and hypertension. She leads studies on immune cell contributions to hypertension pathogenesis using advanced techniques like radio-biotelemetry and 3D microscopy. Liu’s work integrates immunology, endocrinology, and molecular biology to develop therapeutic strategies. Education & Training: Ph.D. in Pharmacology, New York Medical College (2013) Postdoctoral Training at UAMS Rusch Laboratory (2019) Research Interests: Exploring how diabetes exacerbates cardiovascular disease and hypertension through metabolic reprogramming. Current projects investigate T cell interactions in kidney and heart tissues, immune pathways (e.g., IFNγ-PDL1), and cellular mechanisms driving salt-sensitive hypertension. Collaborations span immunology and physiology fields. Grants: Sturgis Foundation Grant (2024–2024): $50K, PI for 'Diabetes promotes hypertension via metabolic reprogramming' NIH R01 HL146713 (2024–2029): Major contributor to 'T cell homing to the kidney' Labs/Teams: Leads a multidisciplinary lab using cutting-edge tools like Seahorse assays and multi-color flow cytometry. Collaborates with the Rusch laboratory and immunology experts at UAMS.

Simona BuettiView profile

Research Professor

• Visual Attention
• Cognitive Psychology
• Eye Tracking
• +3 more

Simona Buetti is a Research Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois. She holds a PhD from the University of Geneva (Switzerland) and serves as a Faculty Fellow at the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning. Her research focuses on visual attention, employing methodologies such as behavioral psychophysics, eye-tracking, and computational modeling. Her work aims to understand how attention guides visual processing, particularly in complex scenes. Dr. Buetti has received prestigious awards including the 2019 NSF Grant (as PI) for developing the TCAS Toolbox, the 2016 BRIDGE Grant, and the 2014 NARSAD Young Investigator Grant. She teaches courses like Psyc230 (Perception and Sensory Processes) and Psyc396 (The Attentive Mind), integrating global educational practices through programs like the Engineering Research Summer School. Her research explores topics such as color-feature guidance in visual search, parallel processing dynamics, and the interplay between emotion and attention. Collaborations span institutions worldwide, with notable studies on online eye-tracking validation and reconciling emotional effects on memory. She leads the VisionLab, advancing tools and theories in visual cognition.

• Computational Linguistics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Image Understanding
• +3 more

Margaret M. Fleck is a Teaching Professor at the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science , University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT (1988), an M.S. from MIT (1985), and a B.A. in Linguistics from Yale University (1982). Her research focuses on computational linguistics, unsupervised word segmentation, prosodic features in language modeling, and computer vision. She has contributed to systems like Envision and Schwa , which integrate programming language support for AI and linguistic research. Teaching is central to her work, with extensive development of courses like Discrete Structures (CS 173) and Artificial Intelligence (CS 440) . She emphasizes scalable educational materials, including textbooks, video lectures, and automated assessments. Fleck received the Rose Teaching Award (2019) for her pedagogical innovations. Her former advisees include faculty members such as Ramesh Raskar (MIT), Sang-Kyun Kim (Myongji University), and Cassandra Jacobs (SUNY Buffalo). She has supervised numerous PhD, MS, and undergraduate projects across linguistics, computer vision, and AI. Fleck’s work also extends to interdisciplinary systems, such as Rememberer for museum visit tracking and Rememberer for annotating personal experiences.

• Biometrics
• Computer Vision
• Face Recognition
• +6 more

Chi Ho Chan is a Research Fellow at the University of Surrey's Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing (CVSSP). His work focuses on biometrics, computer vision, and pattern recognition with emphasis on face recognition, 3D morphable models, and illumination-invariant systems. He has contributed to developing robust facial recognition techniques under varying lighting conditions and resolutions, as well as speaker authentication using lip dynamics. Research interests include: 3D face reconstruction and pose/illumination normalization Deep learning for cross-resolution face recognition Biometric performance analysis over time Kernel fusion of visual descriptors Optimization of 3D morphable models for low-resolution images Key publications explore resolution-aware 3D models (2012), NPT-loss for face recognition (2022), and adaptive biometric systems (2015). His work bridges theoretical computer vision with practical applications in surveillance and authentication systems.

Devin HubbardView profile

Teaching Professor

• Biomedical Microdevices
• Dermal Wound Assessment
• Clinical Instrumentation
• +2 more

Devin Hubbard is a Teaching Professor in the Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at UNC Chapel Hill and NC State University. His pedagogical approach emphasizes interactive methods for medical device innovation using clinical immersion and quality systems. Research focuses on: Hardware/software for dermal wound assessment Color/feature recognition in 2D/3D wound imaging Quantitative clinical evaluation tools Low-resource healthcare applications Publications demonstrate interdisciplinary work spanning medical education (design thinking pedagogy) and biomedical instrumentation (transducer calibration systems). His educational research explores rural experiential learning and creative problem-solving frameworks.

Martin WhitingView profile

Professor

• Animal Behavior
• Evolutionary Biology
• Cognition
• +4 more

Martin Whiting is a Professor of Animal Behaviour at Macquarie University's School of Natural Sciences. His research focuses on the evolution of sociality, cognition in animals, and animal communication, primarily using lizards as model systems. His work integrates field and lab-based approaches to understand how behavior influences fitness and its underlying mechanisms. Research Interests: Evolution of social systems, cognitive traits in reptiles and amphibians, effects of environmental factors on behavior and learning. Key Projects: Investigating transitions in social complexity in Egernia lizards, cultural transmission in reptiles, and impacts of incubation temperature on cognitive development. Recent publications highlight studies on cultural behavior in reptiles, effects of elevated temperatures on lizard learning, and predator-prey dynamics involving monitor lizards. Collaborations span global institutions, emphasizing comparative and evolutionary approaches. Whiting leads a dynamic research group and has contributed to over 200 publications, advancing understanding of behavioral ecology and conservation implications.

Paulo Jorge Gama MotaView profile

Associate Professor

• Animal Communication
• Animal Cognition
• Behavioral Ecology
• +3 more

Paulo Jorge Gama Mota is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra. His research focuses on animal communication, mate choice behavior, animal cognition, and the behavioral ecology of human altruism and cooperation. He also investigates great ape behavior in African natural populations through field and laboratory studies. Mota coordinates the establishment of the TwinLab of Cabinda and leads projects like 'Why be so colorful?' exploring sexual selection in serins and the evolutionary genetics of coloration. His work integrates behavioral, ecological, and evolutionary perspectives to understand adaptive behaviors and their cognitive foundations. Research Projects: VOCAL (vocal learning in birds), 'Why be so colorful?' (serin coloration evolution), and the 'History of Science in Coimbra University (1547-1933).' Key Themes: Behavioral ecology, evolutionary mechanisms, human societal differences, and conservation implications of invasive species.

Hung Viet NguyenView profile

Research Fellow

• Quantum Communications
• Cooperative Communications
• Channel Coding
• +6 more

Hung Viet Nguyen is a Research Fellow at the 5G Innovation Centre, University of Surrey, UK, within the Institute for Communication Systems. He holds a PhD in Electronics and Electrical Engineering from the University of Southampton (2013), an MEng in Telecommunications from Asian Institute of Technology (2002), and a BEng in Electronics & Telecommunications from Hanoi University of Science and Technology (1999). His research focuses on quantum communications, including quantum error correction, quantum algorithms, and quantum key distribution (QKD), alongside classical domains like cooperative communications, channel coding, and network coding. He has contributed to EU-funded projects such as CONCERTO and OPTIMIX, and his work bridges quantum and classical information systems. Key research areas include: - Quantum error correction codes and topological codes (e.g., surface codes, color codes) - Quantum network coding and quantum channel capacities - Network-coding aided cooperative communications - Applications in 5G-NR and future wireless systems Publications highlight advancements in QKD protocols over free-space optics, quantum turbo codes for memory channels, and quantum-assisted routing optimization. His work on classical-to-quantum coding isomers and Pareto-optimal routing algorithms underscores interdisciplinary innovation. Nguyen’s contributions also extend to MIMO systems, antenna optimization, and energy-efficient ad hoc networks. Labs/Teams: Active member of the 5G Innovation Centre and collaborator with the School of Electronics & Computer Science, University of Southampton.

Michael DowneyView profile

Professor

• Non-histone protein acetylation
• Cellular stress responses
• Metabolic control
• +3 more

Dr. Michael Downey is a Professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine. He holds a PhD from the University of Toronto and completed postdoctoral training at the University of California, San Francisco. His research focuses on non-histone protein acetylation, polyphosphate biology, and their roles in cellular stress responses and disease pathologies. His lab uses yeast and human cell culture models to explore how acetylation and polyphosphate signaling regulate metabolism, genome stability, and ribosome biogenesis. Key research interests include the functional consequences of acetylome regulation by HAT/HDAC enzymes, the interplay between polyphosphate and protein modifications in prokaryotic/eukaryotic systems, and translational applications for cancer and aging-related therapies. The lab has received funding from the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, including an Early Researcher Award supporting community outreach initiatives like the ‘SUPER COOL SCIENTISTS’ coloring book project. Dr. Downey actively collaborates on projects integrating genomic screens, mass spectrometry, and functional assays to map acetylation/polyphosphate networks. His team participates in public engagement activities such as annual Science Days at York Street Public School and fundraising for muscular dystrophy research. Future work aims to bridge yeast and mammalian studies to develop diagnostic/treatment strategies targeting acetylation pathways.

Karen CheneyView profile

Associate Professor

• Marine Ecology
• Animal Signaling
• Color Vision
• +5 more

Associate Professor Karen Cheney is a marine ecologist at The University of Queensland, leading the Marine Sensory Ecology Group and serving as Academic Director of the Moreton Bay Research Station. Her work focuses on predator-prey interactions, animal signaling, and color pattern evolution in marine organisms, particularly nudibranchs and reef fish. She co-leads conservation projects on seahorse conservation and shellfish reef restoration in SE Queensland, and is Deputy Director of the Centre for Marine Science. Education: BSc(Hons) from The University of Manchester; PhD from University of East Anglia; Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education from UQ. Roles: Director of Centre for Marine Science; Affiliate Associate Professor at Queensland Brain Institute. Her research integrates sensory, behavioral, and chemical ecology using innovative methods like underwater spectral analysis and CRISPR technology. Key areas include aposematic signaling in nudibranchs, UV vision in anemonefishes, and the ecological role of color patterns in predator avoidance. She collaborates widely on projects addressing marine conservation and visual system evolution. Recent work explores how chemical defenses correlate with color patterns, UV vision’s role in fish behavior, and the application of quantitative color analysis (QCPA) to ecological studies. Projects also investigate the impacts of cleaner fish on reef ecosystems and the functional significance of structural coloration in marine species. Her lab develops cutting-edge tools like multi-channel LED displays for UV perception studies and automated workflows for color pattern analysis. These innovations advance understanding of how marine organisms perceive and communicate within their environments.

Harold ZakonView profile

Professor

• Neurobiology
• Voltage-dependent ion channels
• Evolution of neural systems
• +3 more

Dr. Harold Zakon is a Professor in the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin, affiliated with the Section of Neurobiology. His research focuses on the function, regulation, and evolution of voltage-dependent ion channels, using electric fish as a primary model organism. His lab investigates how these channels are modulated by hormones and social factors to produce precise electric organ discharges (EODs) for communication and behavior. His work spans neuroethology, molecular evolution, and comparative physiology, with recent publications examining potassium channel voltage dependence, toxin resistance evolution in poison frogs, and thermosensory adaptations in Antarctic fishes. Current projects explore gene regulation in electric organs and the evolutionary origins of neural system complexity. The Zakon lab utilizes freely behaving electric fish to study dynamic biophysical events in excitable membranes, linking cellular mechanisms to whole-animal behavior. Their research has implications for understanding evolutionary convergence, neurotoxin resistance, and sensory-motor adaptation.

• Primate Behavioral Ecology
• Evolutionary Anthropology
• Conservation Biology
• +4 more

Prof. Anja Widdig is a Professor of Behavioural Ecology at the University of Leipzig and a Bridge Professor between the University of Leipzig and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. She leads the Research Group 'Primate Behavioural Ecology' and the Junior Research Group on Primate Kin Selection. Her affiliations include the Department of Primate Behavior and Evolution at the Max Planck Institute and the Institute of Biology at the University of Leipzig. She is also Co-Director of the Macaca Nigra Project in Indonesia. Education: Ph.D. in Ethology (Humboldt University Berlin, 2002), Diploma in Biology (focus Zoology/Ethology, Humboldt University Berlin, 1996), and undergraduate studies in Biology at Humboldt University Berlin (1990-1992) and the University of Edinburgh, UK (1993-1994). Research Interests: Primatology, behavioral ecology, genetics of social behavior, primate conservation, olfactory communication, and the social dynamics of primates. Her work integrates field studies, genetic analysis, and experimental approaches to understand primate behavior and adaptation. Publications (2020-2025) focus on primate social behavior, genetic relatedness, conservation, and cognitive abilities. Key themes include dominance hierarchies, reproductive strategies, and the impact of habitat changes on endangered species. Awards: Emmy Noether Fellow (DFG, 2004), Katharina-Heinroth Prize (1997), and recognition in AcademiaNet (2010). She serves on editorial boards of journals like Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology and PLoS ONE . Grants and Projects: Funded by DFG (Emmy Noether Programme), ERC, and the Leakey Foundation. Collaborations include the Macaca Nigra Project in Indonesia and the MacaqueNet initiative for comparative research. Labs/Teams: Leads the Primate Behavioural Ecology group and collaborates internationally on projects like the study of crested macaques and rhesus macaques.

• Evolutionary Ecology
• Plant-Insect Mutualisms
• Phylogenomics
• +3 more

Professor Guillaume Chomicki holds a dual appointment as a Professor and NERC & ERC-UKRI fellow in the Department of Biosciences at Durham University. His research focuses on mutualism evolution, plant domestication, and symbiotic relationships. He has held prestigious fellowships including the Glasstone Research fellowship (Oxford) and Junior Research fellowship (Queen’s College, Oxford). Chomicki’s work combines field experiments, comparative genomics, and 3D imaging to study mutualistic systems like ant/plant farming and watermelon domestication. Education: BSc in Plant Sciences (University of Manchester, 2012), PhD in Biology (Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 2016). He is also affiliated as a visiting researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Research interests emphasize symbiotic relationships' evolutionary dynamics, including how mutualisms stabilize or breakdown over time. Notable projects include the ERC-funded 'BREAKDOWN' project (2023-2028) and NERC's 'Drivers of Major Transitions in Mutualistic Dependence' (2019-2026). His discoveries include identifying the first obligate plant farming by ants (Nature Plants 2016) and clarifying watermelon domestication origins via ancient DNA analysis. Scientific awards include NERC & ERC-UKRI fellowship and multiple grants from DFG, National Geographic, and UKRI. His work spans over 50 peer-reviewed articles, with recent contributions on symbiotic compartmentalization, ant-farmed plant genomics, and ancient Citrullus seed analysis. Advises Nathaniel Holmes (MSc) and collaborates widely in international teams. Active in labs focusing on phylogenomics, functional morphology, and symbiotic evolution.

Ray O'NeillView profile

Professor

• Experimental Physics
• Atomic and Molecular Physics
• Quantum Entanglement
• +4 more

Prof. Ray O'Neill is an experimental physicist at Maynooth University's Department of Experimental Physics, affiliated with the Faculty of Science & Engineering and Hamilton Institute. He holds the title of Associate Dean of Science and Engineering, with prior roles including Dean of the Faculty of Science, Dean of Research and Graduate Studies, and Vice President for Innovation (2013-2016). His research spans atomic and molecular physics, quantum entanglement, biomedical imaging, and innovation systems. O'Neill earned his BSc and PhD in Physics from Queen’s University Belfast, joining Maynooth in 1993. He contributed to Ireland’s first national research integrity policy (2011-2013) and led the Maynooth University Curriculum Commission (2014-2016). Education: BSc in Physics, Queen’s University Belfast PhD in Atomic and Molecular Physics, Queen’s University Belfast Research Interests: Combines foundational physics (electron impact excitation, quantum systems) with applied work in near-infrared biomedical imaging and innovation systems. Recent focus on data analytics and machine learning applications. Publications Overview: Over 30 peer-reviewed articles across atomic physics, optics, and biomedical engineering. Key topics include laser plasma dynamics, multiphoton ionization, and brain-computer interface technologies. Administrative Contributions: Chaired national research integrity working group (2011-2013) Member of European Universities Association Research Policy Group Developed university-wide curriculum reforms as Curriculum Commission Chair Labs/Teams: Active in Hamilton Institute collaborations, focusing on interdisciplinary innovation and applied physics research.

Sven BuderView profile

Research Fellow

• Galactic Archaeology
• Stellar Spectroscopy
• Milky Way Evolution
• +3 more

Dr Sven Buder is a Research Fellow at the Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Australian National University (ANU). He holds a PhD in Astrophysics from the University of Heidelberg. His expertise spans Galactic Archaeology and Stellar Spectroscopy, focusing on understanding the formation and evolution of the Milky Way through chemical abundance analysis and stellar dynamics. His research leverages large-scale surveys like GALAH (GALactic Archaeology with HERMES) to study stellar populations, accretion events, and the chemical evolution of the Galaxy. Key projects include tracing the Milky Way’s history via RR Lyrae stars and investigating neutron-capture elements’ roles in galactic disc evolution. Buder’s work has produced over 90 peer-reviewed publications, with notable contributions to understanding lithium abundance patterns, stellar companions of exoplanet hosts, and the impact of mergers like Gaia-Sausage-Enceladus on the Milky Way’s structure. He advises two PhD students and collaborates on instrumental projects through the Australian National University’s Astronomy and Astrophysics facilities. His research integrates observational data with advanced simulations, contributing to interdisciplinary efforts in galactic dynamics and stellar astrophysics.