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Marty Matlock is a Professor in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Arkansas, College of Engineering. He served as Senior Advisor to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack at USDA from 2021-2022 focusing on food systems resiliency and was Executive Director of the University of Arkansas Resiliency Center. Matlock was elected to the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine's Board of Agricultural and Natural Resources in 2021. B.S., Soil Chemistry, Oklahoma State University M.S., Plant Physiology, Oklahoma State University Ph.D., Biosystems Engineering, Oklahoma State University Dr. Matlock's research focuses on the impacts of humans on the environment at the watershed scale, with expertise in sustainability metrics for water, land, energy, and climate change for agricultural systems. He is a global leader in crop and animal production modeling and life cycle assessment, particularly regarding greenhouse gas emissions. His work spans ecological engineering, food systems resiliency, and environmental risk assessment, with applications in designing sustainable global food supply systems and developing corporate strategies for risk reduction. Analysis of Matlock's recent publications reveals a strong focus on life cycle assessment (LCA) of agricultural systems, particularly food supply chains. His work spans dairy production, fruit and vegetable systems, pulse crops, and livestock feed. A consistent theme is developing methodologies for spatially explicit LCA and creating metrics for sustainability in agriculture. His research increasingly addresses climate change adaptation in food systems and the development of regenerative agricultural practices. 2023 Fellow, The American Society of Civil Engineers 2022 Odom Award for Ecosystem Design 2018 CAST-Borlaug Agriculture Communications Award Multiple design awards for sustainable community planning ASABE Standards Development Award for ANSI/ASABE S629 Matlock has advised more than 40 M.S. and a dozen Ph.D. students over his 25-year career. His research has been supported through numerous grants from USDA, National Academies, and industry partners including The Sustainability Consortium and Field to Market Alliance. He has held leadership positions as Executive Director of the UA Resiliency Center (2018-2021) and UA Office for Sustainability (2012-2018), where he managed significant research initiatives focused on food, water, and community resiliency in response to climate change. Matlock leads research teams working on life cycle assessment of agricultural systems through collaborations with The Sustainability Consortium, Field to Market Alliance, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and multiple US food and ag industries. His work with the UA Community Design Center has produced innovative approaches to urban watershed management and community food systems, including the Whitmore Community Food Hub Complex and Conway Urban Watershed Framework Plan.

• Life Cycle Assessment
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Ecological Engineering
• +7 more

Prof. Kai Sundmacher is a Full Professor and Chair of Process Systems Engineering at Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, and Director of the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems. His expertise spans model-based analysis of complex process systems, integrated chemical processes, energy conversion (fuel cells/electrolysis), and biosystems engineering. He holds a Dr.-Ing. habil. from Clausthal University of Technology and has held visiting positions at institutions worldwide. Research focuses include catalyst design for CO2 methanation, digital twins for power-to-X processes, and sustainable chemical production. Awards include the Arnold Eucken Prize (1999) and Carl Zerbe Prize (1998). He leads initiatives like the Max Planck Research Network for Synthetic Biology and chairs the German Chemical Energy Research group. Teaching covers advanced process systems engineering, fuel cell technology, and bioprocess design. Over 500 publications include 400 peer-reviewed articles, with contributions to journals like Chemical Engineering Science and Fuel Cells. Active in academic service, he reviews ERC grants, chairs selection committees, and advises the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

• Process Systems Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Energy Conversion Systems
• +4 more

Martin Fussenegger is a Professor of Biotechnology and Bioengineering at both the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE) of ETH Zurich in Basel and the University of Basel. He is a leading expert in synthetic biology, mammalian cell engineering, and metabolic disorder correction through designer cell implants. Education: Graduated under Werner Arber at the University of Basel (1992) Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology (1994) with Volkmar Braun at the Max Planck Institute of Biology in Tübingen Postdoctoral studies on host-pathogen interactions with Thomas F. Meyer at the Max Planck Institute of Infection Biology in Berlin (1995) His research focuses on designing synthetic gene circuits that implement complex control and closed-loop expression logic, as well as developing theranostic designer cell implants that interface with host metabolism to correct metabolic disorders like diabetes, obesity, and neurodegenerative diseases. Recent work emphasizes electrogenetics and synthetic immunology. Scientific Awards: Swiss National Science Foundation Professor Award (2002) Gaden Award (2003) ERC Advanced Grants (2012, 2018) James E. Bailey Award (2015) Medal of the European Society for Animal Cell Technology (ESACT) (2015) Fussenegger has served in leadership roles including Chairman of ETH Zurich's Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (2009-2010) and Director of Studies for the ETH Zurich Biotechnology Curriculum (2005-2013). He is a member of AIMBE, EMBO, SATW, and the US National Academy of Engineering.

• Synthetic biology
• Mammalian cell engineering
• Diabetes
• +6 more

Sylvie Lorente is a Professor at Villanova University (College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering). She holds concurrent positions as Professor (Exceptional Class) at INSA Toulouse (France), Extraordinary Professor at the University of Pretoria (South Africa), and Adjunct Professor at Duke University (USA). Her academic career includes past roles at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Shandong Academy of Sciences, and Pontificia Universidad Catolica (Chile). Research Interests: Her work centers on thermal engineering, heat transfer, and the Constructal Law, which governs the design of flow systems in nature and technology. She explores evolutionary design, sustainability, and energy-efficient systems for buildings and urban environments, mass transfer, and applications of dendritic flow networks to thermochemical energy storage, battery thermal management, and bio-based materials. Key Trends in Publications: Recent articles focus on optimizing battery thermal management using constructal canopy-to-canopy designs, phase change materials (PCM) for cooling and energy storage, hierarchical capillary networks for evaporative cooling, and fluid flow architectures in porous media. Her work bridges thermodynamics, materials science, and sustainable design. Scientific Awards: Order 'Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite' (2015, French Government) PROSE Award for 'Design with Constructal Theory' (2009, American Association of Publishers) Order 'Les Palmes Académiques' (2008, France) James P. Hartnett Memorial Award (2007, American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Intelligent Optimal Design Prize (2006, CADLM) Bergles-Rohsenow Young Investigator in Heat Transfer Award (2005, ASME) Edward F. Obert Award (2004, ASME)

• Thermal engineering
• Heat transfer
• Design in nature
• +8 more

Dr. Frank Bergmann is a Researcher at BioQuant (Center for Quantitative Analysis of Molecular and Cellular Biosystems) within the Faculty of Biosciences at Heidelberg University. His work focuses on computational systems biology with particular emphasis on developing simulation tools and standards for biochemical network modeling. He maintains an active research profile with numerous publications spanning from 2011 to 2018 and teaches programming courses including Python and C++. His research interests center around computational systems biology, with specific expertise in biochemical network modeling, simulation software development, and systems biology standards. Dr. Bergmann has made significant contributions to the development of COPASI (Complex Pathway Simulator) and SBML (Systems Biology Markup Language), which are widely used tools and standards in the field. His work enables researchers to create, simulate, and share computational models of biological processes. Analysis of his publication record reveals a consistent focus on developing standards and infrastructure for reproducible computational biology. His work spans model representation (SBML), simulation experiment description (SED-ML), data exchange formats (SBtab), and model archiving (COMBINE). These contributions have helped establish frameworks that enable collaborative, reproducible research in systems biology across international boundaries. Dr. Bergmann actively collaborates with researchers worldwide, as evidenced by his extensive co-authorship network across multiple publications. His work bridges computer science, mathematics, and biological sciences, contributing to Heidelberg University's strong presence in molecular life sciences research.

• Computational Systems Biology
• Biochemical Network Modeling
• Simulation Software Development
• +3 more

Miia Mäkelä is an Associate Professor in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems at Aalto University, specializing in fungal enzyme systems and plant biomass conversion. Her research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of fungal carbon metabolism, particularly in Aspergillus species and white-rot fungi like Dichomitus squalens. Her research interests span fungal carbon metabolism, enzyme technology for biorefinery applications, lignin degradation pathways, and fungal genomics. Dr. Mäkelä's work bridges fundamental fungal physiology with biotechnological applications, particularly in developing efficient enzyme systems for plant biomass conversion. She investigates how fungi adapt their enzyme production to different carbon sources, with emphasis on carbohydrate-active enzymes involved in lignocellulose degradation. Analysis of Dr. Mäkelä's recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a strong focus on fungal metabolism of plant biomass components, particularly sugar transporters, reductases, and dehydrogenases in Aspergillus species. Her work combines genomic, transcriptomic, and biochemical approaches to understand fungal adaptation to different carbon sources, with applications in biorefinery processes. A significant portion of her research explores the complex regulatory networks controlling plant biomass degradation in fungi. Dr. Mäkelä has established extensive collaborations, particularly with Ronald P. de Vries and other international researchers in fungal biotechnology. Her work appears in high-impact journals across microbiology, biotechnology, and biochemistry. Her research group maintains strong focus on both fundamental fungal physiology and practical applications in biorefinery processes. Current work includes enzyme discovery through genomic approaches, metabolic engineering of fungal cell factories, and development of efficient systems for lignocellulose conversion.

• Fungal Carbon Metabolism
• Enzyme Technology
• Lignin Degradation
• +6 more

Dr. Eileen Edler is a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems in Magdeburg, Germany, specializing in computational molecular modeling within the Molecular Simulations and Design group. Her work bridges biophysics and sustainable energy research through advanced simulation techniques. Education: Ph.D. in Biosystems Engineering (completed circa 2018) from Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg Master's thesis: "Quantum chemical investigation of the hydrogen evolution reaction of a mononuclear iron(III) dithiolene complex as a biomimetic model for a hydrogenase" Bachelor's and Master's in Biosystems Engineering from Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (2007-2013) Research Interests: Dr. Edler employs full-atomistic Molecular Dynamics simulations to study membrane-bound proteins like Rab5 GTPase in vesicle transport systems, analyzing protein-membrane dynamics and effector protein recruitment mechanisms. Her quantum chemistry work focuses on iron-based biomimetic catalysts for hydrogen evolution, probing reaction kinetics and intermediate states to advance renewable energy solutions. This dual approach connects fundamental biophysical processes with practical catalytic applications for sustainable hydrogen production. Scientific Awards: No awards documented in source materials. Advising and Grants: No student advisement or grant funding details provided in available documentation. Labs and Teams: Core member of the Molecular Simulations and Design research group at the Max Planck Institute, utilizing high-performance computing resources for multi-scale molecular modeling of biological membranes and catalytic systems.

• Molecular Dynamics
• Computational Biophysics
• Protein-Protein Interactions
• +4 more

Dr. Jacquie Ripat is a Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Manitoba’s College of Rehabilitation Sciences. She holds dual leadership roles as Vice-Dean (Academic Affairs) in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and Associate Dean (Research) in the College of Rehabilitation Sciences. Her research focuses on assistive technology’s role in enhancing community participation and accessibility for individuals with disabilities, emphasizing environmental modifications and interdisciplinary collaboration. Ripat’s work spans pediatric and geriatric populations, addressing mobility challenges, inclusive design, and technology integration. Education: PhD (Applied Health Sciences), MSc (Rehabilitation), BMR (Occupational Therapy), all from the University of Manitoba. Cross-appointments include Biosystems Engineering (Price Faculty of Engineering) and ENRRICH (Excellence in Neurodevelopment and Rehabilitation Research in Child Health). Research Interests : Dr. Ripat explores assistive technology’s impact on daily life, including power mobility devices for children, adaptive gaming technologies, and smart home systems for aging populations. Her studies employ qualitative, participatory, and mixed-methods approaches, collaborating with engineers, architects, and designers to create inclusive solutions. Key projects include POWER UP (PMD mobility studies) and Level-Up (adaptive gaming for children with limb differences). Awards & Grants : Active in research networks such as the Centre on Aging and Manitoba Centre for Nursing and Health Research. Recent grants include the ENRRICH Catalyst Grant supporting the POWER UP study. Her work has been featured in news articles discussing wheelchair technology advancements and technology-assisted living initiatives. Advising & Mentorship : Accepting master’s and PhD students interested in assistive technology, disability studies, and environmental design. She emphasizes interprofessional education and client-centered care in her teaching and mentorship. Labs & Teams : Leads the Technology for Assisted Living (TALP) initiative at the University of Manitoba, focusing on aging-in-place solutions. Collaborates with CHRIM (Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba) on child health rehabilitation projects.

• Assistive Technology
• Occupational Therapy
• Community Participation
• +6 more

Thomas C Henderson is a tenured Professor at the School of Computing within the College of Engineering at the University of Utah. His research focuses on autonomous systems , computational models , and intelligent machine systems , with specific interests in biosystem simulation, distributed systems, and adaptive algorithms. He has contributed to Bayesian sensor networks , UAS traffic management , and probabilistic logic frameworks for intelligent agents. Current academic appointments since 1989 Adjunct roles in Biomedical Engineering Active in IEEE committees (2024-2025) Research trends in recent publications emphasize autonomous aircraft coordination , probabilistic reasoning , and multi-sensor integration . Key subfields include lane-based airspace modeling, reinforcement learning for UAS, and pseudogradient navigation techniques. His work has received recognition through a Best Paper Award (IEEE 2008) and the US Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship . Strategic deconfliction protocols Dynamic data-driven applications Structural health monitoring systems He actively mentors undergraduate research through courses like Deep Learning Capstone and Senior Capstone Design . Current grants include "Deep Learning in AI and Robotics" (2024-2029) and "Robust Reasoning using Geometric SAT/PSAT" (2022-2023).

• Data management and data science
• Artificial intelligence
• Distributed computing and systems software
• +6 more

Sindhu Jagadamma serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA), part of the Herbert College of Agriculture. With seven years of service at UT, she has established herself as a leading researcher in soil health and sustainable agricultural practices, particularly focused on addressing the unique challenges of the southeastern United States agricultural landscape. Dr. Jagadamma's educational journey began in Kerala, India, where she earned her BS in Agricultural Sciences and MS in Soil Science from Kerala Agricultural University. After serving four years as an Extension Specialist and Soil Survey Officer for the Kerala state government, she came to the United States as a Ford Foundation International Fellow. At The Ohio State University, she completed both her MS and PhD in Soil Carbon Science under the mentorship of Dr. Rattan Lal, a globally recognized soil scientist and 2020 World Food Prize recipient. She continued her research as a postdoctoral researcher at OSU and Oak Ridge National Laboratory before joining UT as a tenure-track assistant professor in 2016, earning tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 2022. Her research program centers on developing regionally adaptable approaches to improve soil health in agroecosystems, addressing the limitations of conventional no-tillage practices in the warm, humid southeastern US climate. Dr. Jagadamma investigates innovative strategies including multi-species cover cropping, organic soil amendments, adaptive grazing, and organic farming systems to enhance soil carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, and overall ecosystem resilience. Her work has demonstrated that building soil health is the most meaningful and cost-effective way to balance agricultural productivity with environmental stewardship in challenging climatic conditions. Analysis of Dr. Jagadamma's recent publications reveals a strong focus on soil carbon dynamics under climate extremes, precision soil health assessment methodologies, and the development of carbon farming practices. Her research spans diverse topics including cover cropping systems, soil health indicators, carbon credit markets, and the impacts of drought and heat on soil processes. A notable trend is her integration of traditional soil science with emerging technologies to address complex agricultural challenges in the context of climate change. AgResearch Mid-Career Faculty Research Excellence Award (2023) University of Tennessee Graduate Student Senate's Graduate Student Mentor of the Year (2023) Gamma Sigma Delta Tennessee Chapter Research Award (2022) BESS Outstanding Research Faculty Award (2018, 2022) Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award from Oak Ridge Associated Universities (2017) Dr. Jagadamma has secured over $7 million in research funding, including multiple USDA-NIFA awards as lead principal investigator, an NSF award as co-PI, and USDA-NRCS Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities awards. Her mentorship philosophy emphasizes cultivating independent research skills through regular individual and group meetings, professional development support, and networking opportunities. To date, she has mentored four PhD and seven MS graduates, with three former mentees now serving as Assistant Professors. Her research group conducts studies on soil processes related to carbon and nutrient cycling, soil health assessment, and developing sustainable management practices specifically adapted to southeastern US agriculture.

• Soil Health
• Carbon Farming
• Sustainable Agriculture
• +5 more

W. Cully Hession is a Professor and Graduate Program Director in the Biological Systems Engineering (BSE) department at Virginia Tech , where he has served since 2012. He directs the StREAM Lab , focusing on ecological engineering , stream restoration , and human-natural system interactions . His career spans roles at the University of Vermont and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Education : PhD in Biosystems Engineering (Oklahoma State), MS & BS in Agricultural Engineering (Virginia Tech) Licensure : Professional Engineer (VA), Certified Ecological Designer (AEES) Research Interests center on stream channel processes , floodplain connectivity , UAV applications , and climate resilience . Current projects include Beaver Dam Analogs for stream restoration, drone-based LiDAR for floodplain mapping, and virtual watershed exhibits to bridge community-scientist dialogue. His work integrates hydrology , ecological design , and interdisciplinary education . Scientific Contributions include 15 recent articles on topics like UAV monitoring , streambank erosion , and antibiotic resistance in soils . He has secured over $278,911 in USDA funding for undergraduate research training and leads NSF-REU initiatives involving 14 faculty across 5 colleges. Awards : Fellow of the American Ecological Engineering Society (2024), UCOWR Education & Public Service Award (2021), and VT-BSE Faculty of the Year (2006, 2019). Teaching & Outreach includes directing BSE design projects and co-developing Virtual Watershed exhibits. As Graduate Program Director, he expanded BSE enrollment from 40 to 70 students and secured $50k+ for graduate recruitment. The StREAM Lab engages 14+ classes across 4 colleges with real-time monitoring data.

• Ecological Engineering
• Hydrology
• Stream Restoration
• +4 more

Angad Mehta is a Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), affiliated with the Grainger College of Engineering. His research focuses on synthetic biology, photosynthetic engineering, and directed evolution, with a particular emphasis on creating artificial endosymbiotic systems and advancing genome engineering techniques. He explores topics such as non-canonical amino acid integration, metabolic pathway design, and evolutionary mechanisms in microbial systems. His work spans foundational studies in bioenergetics and chloroplast function to applied areas like bioenergy production and antiviral strategies. Notable contributions include pioneering efforts in engineering synthetic yeast endosymbionts and developing virus-free directed evolution platforms using somatic hypermutation. He was awarded the Sloan Research Fellowship for his innovative contributions to synthetic biology. Dr. Mehta’s research also addresses fundamental questions in cofactor biosynthesis, such as vitamin B12 and molybdopterin pathways, combining enzymology with synthetic tools. His lab integrates computational modeling, genetic engineering, and biochemical analysis to design novel biological systems with potential applications in healthcare and sustainable biotechnology.

• Synthetic Biology
• Photosynthetic Engineering
• Directed Evolution
• +4 more

Mirco Raffetto is a Full Professor in the Department of Naval, Electrical, Electronic, and Telecommunications Engineering (DITEN) at the University of Genoa under the Polytechnic School. He actively participates in academic governance as a member of the Department Board, Scientific Council of the Interuniversity Center for Electromagnetic Fields and Biosystems (ICEMB), and School Council. Research Focus: His work spans Electromagnetic field analysis for moving media Computational electromagnetics with finite element methods Metamaterial modeling and inverse scattering Photobiomodulation effects on mitochondrial function Microwave imaging for biomedical applications Waveguide and cavity analysis for industrial systems His research combines theoretical rigor with numerical simulations to solve complex problems in electromagnetics and interdisciplinary biosystems. Teaching: He teaches graduate courses on Electromagnetic Fields in multiple degree programs including Computer Engineering, Electronics Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering. His teaching emphasizes both fundamental theory and practical applications.

• Electromagnetic Fields
• Computational Electromagnetics
• Metamaterials
• +7 more

Brian Haggard serves as Professor in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department within the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas, and has been Director of the Arkansas Water Resources Center since 2008. His academic career includes progression from Associate Professor (2006-2011) to full Professor (2011-present), demonstrating sustained scholarly contribution to the field of water resources engineering. Dr. Haggard earned his B.S. in Life Sciences from University of Missouri – Rolla (1994), followed by an M.S. in Environmental Soil and Water Science from University of Arkansas (1997), and completed his Ph.D. in Biosystems Engineering at Oklahoma State University (2000). B.S. Life Sciences, University of Missouri – Rolla (1994) M.S. Environmental Soil and Water Science, University of Arkansas (1997) Ph.D. Biosystems Engineering, Oklahoma State University (2000) His research focuses on critical water quality issues including nutrient cycling (particularly phosphorus dynamics), water quality monitoring methodologies, constituent transport in aquatic systems, and watershed management strategies. Dr. Haggard's work bridges fundamental understanding of biogeochemical processes with practical applications for water resources management, emphasizing the development of effective agricultural and urban best management practices. Analysis of Dr. Haggard's recent publications reveals consistent focus on phosphorus cycling in watershed systems, nutrient transport dynamics, and innovative water quality monitoring approaches. His research spans diverse aquatic environments from agricultural streams to reservoirs, with particular attention to the Ozark Highlands region. The interdisciplinary nature of his work connects hydrology, biogeochemistry, and environmental engineering to address complex water quality challenges. Dr. Haggard has been actively involved in water resources education and outreach through his leadership of the Arkansas Water Resources Center. His work supports water quality management and policy development across multiple scales, from field-level agricultural practices to watershed and reservoir management systems.

• Water Quality Monitoring
• Nutrient Cycling
• Phosphorus Chemistry
• +5 more

Dr. Zehor Belkhatir is a Lecturer (equivalent to Assistant Professor) at the University of Southampton, affiliated with the School of Electronics and Computer Science, and serves as the Biomedical Engineering Programme Leader. She is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer at De Montfort University and a member of the Institute of Life Sciences. Her research focuses on control systems theory, data analytics, and biomedical applications, with emphasis on developing robust algorithms for complex systems. Education: Joint MEng and M.Sc. in Automatics and Control Systems Engineering from École Nationale Polytechnique (Algiers), followed by a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from KAUST (Saudi Arabia). Prior roles include positions at the University of Leicester, De Montfort University, and a postdoctoral fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (USA). Research projects include EPSRC-funded initiatives like the REFORMIST program for interdisciplinary cancer decision frameworks and dynamic tumor-dose scheduling. Her work bridges theoretical control engineering with real-world applications in biomedical systems, oncology, and cardiovascular health. Teaching specialties include control engineering modules such as Digital Control, Nonlinear Control, and Biosystems Engineering. She actively supervises PhD students in cancer sciences, electronics, and computer science, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Awards include a filled US patent for her research contributions. She reviews for top journals/conferences (e.g., IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control) and serves on the EUCA Conference Editorial Board.

• Control Systems
• Biomedical Engineering
• Data Analytics
• +5 more