Find Academic Supervisors

• Medical Genetics
• Hereditary Cancer Syndromes
• Neurogenetics
• +5 more

Selma DEMİR is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics at Trakya University Faculty of Medicine, where she has served since July 2017. Her academic foundation includes a Doctoral Degree (2011), Master's Degree (2005), and Bachelor's Degree (2003). Her research focuses on medical genetics with emphasis on hereditary cancer syndromes, neurogenetics, chromosomal abnormalities, and rare genetic disorders. Key areas include molecular diagnostics of neurofibromatosis type 1, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, DOORS syndrome, and Turkish population-specific genetic variants. She employs advanced techniques including array CGH, targeted resequencing, and MLPA for genetic analysis. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals strong focus on Turkish patient populations, novel pathogenic variant discovery, and genotype-phenotype correlations across diverse conditions including cancer syndromes, neurodevelopmental disorders, and dermatological conditions. Her work frequently addresses population-specific genetic architecture in Thrace region. En iyi sözlü sunum ödülü (2017, Ege University) Sözlü sunum üçüncülük ödülü (2016, Erciyes University) Tübitak Ulusal Bilim Teşvik Ödülü (2006) Her funded projects include TÜBAP-2015-161 on mitochondrial DNA mutations in migraine patients, completed research on copy number variations in azoospermic males (2014-2017), and ongoing studies of genetic predisposition in differentiated thyroid cancer patients in Trakya region. While no formal students are listed, her collaborative work includes extensive research teams across Turkish institutions focusing on clinical genetics applications.

• Psychiatry
• Neuroimaging
• Genetics
• +5 more

Dr. David Glahn is the Associate Chief for Research in the Department of Psychiatry at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where he directs the Tommy Fuss Center for Neuropsychiatric Disease Research, the Early Psychosis Investigation Center (EPICenter), and the Neuropsychiatric Genetics Program (NPG). He received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of California at Los Angeles. Prior to joining Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Glahn served as Co-Director for the Division of Neurocognition, Neurocomputation, and Neurogenetics at the Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Glahn's research program centers on discovering genes and environmental mechanisms that predispose individuals to affective and psychotic disorders across the lifespan. His work develops and applies neuroanatomic, functional neuroimaging, and neurocognitive endophenotypes in large-scale family-based studies. His research involves four broad scientific aims: identifying genes influencing risk for psychotic and affective disorders; specifying genetic and environmental influences on brain structure/function and cognitive ability; isolating factors involved in human cognitive and brain development during adolescence; and developing novel endophenotypes for psychiatric disorders. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on neuroimaging genetics, particularly examining structural brain differences across psychiatric disorders, the role of copy number variants in brain morphology, and the development of reference curves for brain metrics across the lifespan. His work often involves large-scale consortium efforts like ENIGMA, highlighting his collaborative approach to psychiatric research. Dr. Glahn's research has significant implications for early identification of psychosis risk and potential interventions to mitigate the development of full-blown disease by recognizing antecedents in young children. Dr. Glahn has received recognition for his contributions to understanding the genetic architecture of brain structure and function, with particular emphasis on developmental aspects of psychiatric disorders. His work bridges basic neuroscience with clinical applications, aiming to translate findings into improved diagnostic and intervention strategies. As a leader in the field, Dr. Glahn mentors junior researchers and collaborates extensively across institutions. His laboratory serves as a hub for innovative research on the biological underpinnings of psychiatric disorders, with particular focus on early identification and prevention strategies. His work on the gut-brain axis and somatic symptoms in psychosis represents innovative directions in understanding the complex interplay between physical and mental health in psychiatric conditions.

• Cytogenetics
• Medical Genetics
• Oncology
• +3 more

Hongyan Chai is a Researcher at the Cytogenetics Laboratory within the Yale School of Medicine. Her work focuses on genomic and cytogenetic analysis of genetic disorders, particularly in the context of hepatocellular carcinoma, reproductive health, and prenatal diagnosis. She has contributed to studies on chromosomal abnormalities such as ring chromosomes, genetic risk factors in pregnancy loss, and molecular profiling of tumors. Her research integrates techniques like whole exome sequencing, array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), and meta-analysis to uncover diagnostic and prognostic markers. Collaborations involve interdisciplinary teams exploring oncogenic pathways, genetic etiologies of miscarriages, and cytogenomic diagnostics. Her publications span topics from genetic syndromes to biomarker discovery in liver cancer. Key research areas include the molecular underpinnings of hepatocellular carcinoma, genetic mechanisms of pregnancy loss, and the clinical utility of cytogenomic assays in prenatal and pediatric settings. She has also investigated the role of non-coding RNAs and microRNAs in disease progression. Her work emphasizes translating genomic insights into clinical practice, such as improving diagnostic accuracy for congenital anomalies and cancer.

• Ovarian Cancer Genetics
• Cancer Epidemiology
• Molecular Oncology
• +3 more

M. T. Goodman is a Professor in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology at Heidelberg University's Faculty of Medicine, with extensive contributions to ovarian cancer research through major international consortia including the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium (OCAC) and Ovarian Tumor Tissue Analysis (OTTA) consortium. With 77 publications documented in the DKFZ database from 2022-2025, Dr. Goodman's research focuses on the genetic and molecular underpinnings of ovarian cancer susceptibility and progression. Dr. Goodman's research interests center on ovarian cancer genetics, with particular emphasis on identifying genetic risk variants, understanding tumor microenvironment dynamics, and developing risk stratification models. Their work spans molecular oncology, cancer epidemiology, and translational research, with significant contributions to understanding how genetic factors, hormone receptor expression, and immune responses influence ovarian cancer development and patient outcomes. Recent studies have explored pleiotropic risk alleles at the 19p13.1 locus, immunological features of long-term survivors, and the interplay between RB1 loss and BRCA deficiency in predicting treatment response. The publication record demonstrates consistent involvement in large-scale, multinational studies analyzing genetic risk factors, tumor characteristics, and survival outcomes in ovarian cancer. These studies frequently employ sophisticated statistical frameworks for assessing interactions in risk stratification models and integrate multi-omics approaches to identify functional mechanisms underlying cancer susceptibility. Dr. Goodman's research has been published in high-impact journals including Nature Communications, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Clinical Cancer Research, and Gynecologic Oncology, reflecting significant contributions to the field of gynecologic oncology and cancer genetics.

S. Cenk SahinalpView profile

Adjunct Professor

• Algorithmic Biology
• Combinatorial Optimization
• Genomics
• +4 more

S. Cenk Sahinalp is an Adjunct Professor and Senior Investigator at the National Cancer Institute, NIH in Bethesda, MD. He earned a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Bilkent University and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, College Park. His postdoctoral research at Bell Labs preceded his academic roles, including a position at Indiana University, Bloomington. His research focuses on algorithmic biology , combinatorial optimization , and cancer genomics , with an emphasis on leveraging high-throughput sequencing data to understand cancer genome evolution and heterogeneity. Key contributions include developing tools like Severus for structural variant detection and Trisicell for tumor phylogeny reconstruction. He has advised over two dozen students/postdocs, many of whom hold academic/research roles globally. Research interests span bioinformatics , computational biology , and privacy-preserving genomics . His work integrates algorithm design with clinical applications, such as pharmacogenomics and immuno-oncology. Sahinalp leads the Algorithms for Cancer Research Group , emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to cancer biology challenges. Notable projects include analyzing clonal evolution in melanoma, modeling tumor heterogeneity via single-cell sequencing, and developing secure computational methods for genomic data (e.g., PRESAGE ). His lab explores AI-driven solutions for genomics, balancing innovation with ethical data practices.

Chad A. ShawView profile

Professor

• Statistics
• Genomics
• Systems Biology
• +3 more

Chad A. Shaw is a Professor at Baylor College of Medicine and a Joint Professor of Statistics at Rice University. He serves as Director of the D2K Laboratory at Rice, and holds additional roles including Investigator at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute and Faculty Member at the Baylor College of Medicine’s STaR Center and Quantitative & Computational Biosciences program. His expertise spans statistical genomics, bioinformatics, and molecular genetics. Education: BS in Mathematics (Duke University, 1995); PhD in Statistics (Rice University, 2001). Research Interests: Focuses on statistical methods for genomics, including next-generation sequencing analysis, structural variation studies, and clinical exome sequencing. Key contributions include probabilistic models for mutation transmission in human genetic diseases, copy-number variation analysis, and functionalization of genetic variants. His work bridges computational statistics with clinical applications, addressing challenges in rare disease diagnostics and Mendelian disorder modifiers. Publications: Over 200 peer-reviewed articles, including foundational studies on recurrence risk in genetic disorders and mechanisms of structural variation. Recent work emphasizes Bayesian modeling in sequencing assays, CNV-driven genetic diseases, and prenatal genomic analysis. Awards/Grants: No explicit awards mentioned, but his research has been cited ~17,000 times. Active in grant-funded projects across computational and clinical genomics. Advising: Trained 5 PhD students and advised over 10 others, with students contributing to areas like high-dimensional regression and software tools for variant prioritization. Labs/Teams: Leads the D2K Laboratory at Rice, fostering interdisciplinary research in data science and computational biology.

Serena TucciView profile

Assistant Professor

• Human Evolution
• Population Genetics
• Computational Biology
• +3 more

Serena Tucci is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Principal Investigator of the Human Evolutionary Genomics Laboratory at Yale University. Her research focuses on human evolution and population history using ancient and modern human DNA, integrating anthropology, population genetics, and computational biology to study demographic events and genetic adaptation. She holds a Ph.D. in Evolutionary and Environmental Biology from the University of Ferrara, Italy, and has conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Washington and Princeton University. Her work explores mechanisms of evolutionary change, particularly the genetic legacy of archaic humans like Neanderthals and Denisovans in modern populations of Island Southeast Asia and Oceania. She has been supported by the Lewis and Clark Fund and awarded the Young Investigator Fellowship (2013 & 2015). Her research spans computational methods, fieldwork, and lab-based genomic analysis to uncover evolutionary processes shaping human diversity. Awards include the Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and the Young Investigator Fellowship. Her lab at Yale University emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to unraveling genetic and demographic histories, with a focus on Pacific populations and ancient human interactions. She is also committed to advancing scientific communication through digital tools, as seen in her guide to live-streaming conferences.

Xander NuttleView profile

Assistant Professor

• Human Genetics
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Genome Evolution
• +4 more

Xander Nuttle is an Assistant Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Michigan's Medical School. His research focuses on uncovering genotype-phenotype relationships in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) through genomic analysis, CRISPR-based mutational modeling, and cerebral organoid systems. He leads efforts to identify genetic bases for uniquely human traits while innovating experimental tools for the field. Education: PhD from University of Washington; BS/BSE/Certificate from Duke University Laboratory Affiliation: Center for Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics His research integrates computational approaches with wet-lab experiments to study how genetic variations contribute to brain disorders. Recent work has advanced CRISPR-based parallel mutagenesis platforms and elucidated molecular mechanisms underlying 16p11.2 disorders. He also investigates human-specific genes like NOTCH2NL and SRGAP2 variants that shape cortical development. Notable contributions include pioneering studies on the evolutionary origins of human-specific genes and their roles in neurodevelopment. His work bridges basic science with translational applications, aiming to inform precision medicine strategies for neurological conditions. Grants and mentorship: Actively mentors trainees and leads NIH-funded research projects. Laboratory focuses on developing scalable genomic tools and applying them to understudied aspects of human genetic diversity.

• Climate Change Adaptation
• Genomics
• Invasive Species Biology
• +3 more

Kathryn Hodgins is an Associate Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at Monash University, specializing in evolutionary and ecological genomics. Her work focuses on understanding how species adapt to environmental changes, particularly in the context of climate change and biological invasions. She leads multiple research projects funded by the Australian Research Council, including studies on rapid adaptation to climate extremes, genetic rescue of endangered species, and developing climate-resilient restoration strategies. Her research integrates genomic tools to study invasive species biology, parallel evolution, and the genetic basis of climate adaptation. Notable projects include analyzing genomic data of Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed) to track invasion dynamics and investigating structural variants driving parallel adaptation. Hodgins also explores social factors in STEM education, such as how group identity impacts academic outcomes. Hodgins has authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles and collaborates internationally on topics like genomic tools for invasion management and predicting species' responses to environmental shifts. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to life on land and climate action.

Eric M MorrowView profile

Professor

• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Human Genetics
• Neurodegeneration
• +6 more

Eric M Morrow is a Mencoff Family Professor of Biology, Professor of Brain Science, Neuroscience, and Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University. His research focuses on genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and intellectual disability, with a strong emphasis on rare syndromes like Christianson Syndrome and GPT2 Deficiency. Education: PhD in Genetics and Neurodevelopment (Harvard University), MD from MIT/Harvard Medical School. Research Interests include: Neurogenetic syndromes and their molecular pathways Neuronal organelles (endosomes, lysosomes, mitochondria) Neurometabolism and neurodegeneration Development of gene therapies for cognitive disorders Scientific Awards Psychiatry Research Mentor Award (2011-2012) Collaborations span Brown's Developmental Disorders Genetics Research Program (DDGRP), the Carney Institute for Brain Science, and partnerships with clinical and basic science researchers. His lab is located at the Laboratories for Molecular Medicine (70 Ship Street) and is funded by NIMH, NINDS, and NIA.

Richard S SmithView profile

Assistant Professor

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Neurobiology
• Ion Channel Research
• +5 more

Richard S Smith is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, with secondary appointments in Pediatrics. His research integrates neurobiology, genetics, and translational medicine to investigate prenatal brain development and ion channel diseases. Education: PhD: Cotutelle Sorbonne University & University of Maryland (2015) Postdoctoral Fellow: Harvard Medical School / Boston Children's Hospital / Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2021) Faculty Instructor: Harvard Medical School-Dept of Pediatrics (2022) Dr. Smith's research focuses on prenatal channelopathies —developmental ion channel diseases originating during gestation. His lab investigates bioelectricity in brain development using innovative models including gyrencephalic ferrets (to study cortical folding unattainable in lissencephalic mice) and human iPSC-derived neuronal systems. Key projects examine ion channel diseases affecting brain development, bioelectricity in human cortical evolution, and high-throughput screening platforms for neuronal disease modeling. His work demonstrates how ion channels like ATP1A3, SCN3A, and GRIN variants regulate cortical formation and contribute to malformations. Analysis of his publication record reveals strong emphasis on translational neurogenetics , with recent work connecting rare genetic variants to brain malformations (JAMA Neurology 2023) and developing gene therapy approaches for potassium channel disorders (BioRxiv 2024). His research bridges molecular mechanisms with clinical neurology, particularly in pediatric channelopathies and neurodevelopmental disorders. Research Leadership: Director of Smith Lab (www.rsmithlab.com) Member of Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment Member of Center for Genetic Medicine Member of Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (NUCATS) Member of Stephen M. Stahl Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience Dr. Smith employs cutting-edge approaches including single-cell technologies, ferret models of gyrification, and iPSC-based drug screening. His lab trains scientists in both advanced research techniques and addressing systemic challenges in scientific communities. While no formal awards are listed in available materials, his work has been published in high-impact journals including Nature, Neuron, and JAMA Neurology.

• Bipolar Disorder
• Psychiatric Genetics
• Proteomics
• +5 more

Lina Jonsson is a researcher at the Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg. Her work bridges psychiatric genetics, proteomics, and neurochemistry to advance understanding of bipolar disorder and related conditions. Key Research Areas: Bipolar disorder genomics, cerebrospinal fluid proteomics, polygenic risk scores, and longitudinal studies via the St. Göran Project Recent Contributions: 2025 studies on fine-mapping risk genes, proteome mapping, and multi-omics approaches for bipolar disorder; 2024 work on ADCY1 gene implications and cohort profiling Contact: Lina.Jonsson@neuro.gu.se

Aiden Eliot ShearerView profile

Assistant Professor

• Genetics of Hearing Loss
• Pediatric Otolaryngology
• Cochlear Implantation
• +4 more

Dr. Aiden Eliot Shearer serves as an Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at Harvard Medical School and holds an Associate position in the Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement at Boston Children's Hospital. He specializes in pediatric ear disorders with particular expertise in hearing loss management, cochlear implantation, and bone-anchored hearing systems. His clinical practice is deeply integrated with his research on the molecular genetics of hearing disorders, creating a unique bridge between bench science and patient care. Undergraduate: Ohio University Honors Tutorial College (2007) Graduate School: University of Iowa College of Medicine (2014) Medical School: University of Iowa College of Medicine (2014) Internship: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics (2015) Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics (2019) Fellowship: Boston Children's Hospital (2020) Dr. Shearer's research program focuses on translating discoveries from molecular genetics of the human auditory system into improved clinical outcomes for children with hearing loss. His laboratory investigates the genetics of hearing loss and develops novel genetic testing platforms for diagnosis. He has particular interest in examining the relationship between genetic diagnosis and cochlear implant outcomes, with focus on spiral ganglion health. His work spans both wet-bench molecular biology and bioinformatics approaches to address complex questions in genetic hearing loss. Analysis of Dr. Shearer's recent publications reveals a consistent theme at the intersection of genetics and hearing disorders. His work spans from fundamental research on deafness-associated genes to practical clinical applications for improving newborn hearing screening and optimizing cochlear implant outcomes. Many publications focus on developing and implementing comprehensive genetic testing methodologies, establishing him as a leader in translating genomic discoveries into clinical practice for hearing loss diagnosis and management. Dr. Shearer is internationally recognized for his work in developing new genetic testing platforms for hearing loss diagnosis. While specific awards aren't detailed in the provided materials, his extensive publication record in high-impact journals reflects significant contributions to the field of pediatric otolaryngology and hearing genetics. As a physician-scientist, Dr. Shearer maintains a dual commitment to clinical care and research. His clinical work focuses on pediatric ear disorders including cholesteatoma, cochlear implants, ear tubes, and various forms of hearing loss. He serves as a member of the Cochlear Implant Program at Boston Children's Hospital. His research program examines ways to improve newborn hearing screening using new technologies and enhance outcomes for children with cochlear implants, with particular interest in how genetic factors influence surgical outcomes. Dr. Shearer leads a research laboratory studying the molecular genetics of the human auditory system. His team employs both wet-bench molecular biology techniques and computational approaches to investigate genetic hearing loss. His research program includes short-term goals of improving cochlear implant outcomes through genetic analysis and identifying novel deafness genes, with long-term aims of optimizing newborn hearing screening and translating basic science discoveries into clinical trials for hearing loss treatments.

• Physical Education
• Health-Related Quality of Life
• Physical Fitness Assessment
• +3 more

Pedro Rufino Olivares Sanchez Toledo serves as Professor in the Integrated Didactics Department at the Faculty of Education, Psychology and Sports Sciences, Universidad de Huelva, Spain. His academic work focuses on physical activity, health promotion, and quality of life across diverse populations including children, adolescents, and the elderly. He earned his Doctorate from Universidad de Extremadura with thesis research on "Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents: The Spanish Version of the EQ-5D-Y" under Dr. Narcís Gusi Fuertes' supervision. His educational background established foundational expertise in health assessment methodologies now central to his research program. Dr. Olivares' primary research interests encompass Physical Education, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Physical Fitness Assessment. He has conducted extensive epidemiological studies on physical activity patterns, particularly examining relationships between fitness levels and mental health outcomes in school settings, fall prevention mechanisms in aging populations, and cross-cultural adaptations of health instruments across Spain and Latin America. Analysis of his recent publications reveals strong interdisciplinary trends, with significant emphasis on developing normative fitness standards for elderly populations and youth, evaluating mental health outcomes through physical education programs, and adapting quality-of-life instruments like EQ-5D for diverse cultural contexts. His work frequently involves multinational collaborations, particularly with Chilean, Peruvian, and Uruguayan institutions. No scientific awards were documented in the provided materials. However, he maintains active membership in the CTS1133 research group "Physical Activity, Health Promotion and Quality of Life" and previously contributed to HUM643 "Educación, Motricidad e Investigación Onubense". Dr. Olivares has supervised doctoral students though specific names aren't listed, and currently leads projects including the MOV-ES initiative for active transport education in high schools and interdisciplinary fall prevention research. His laboratory work focuses on physical fitness assessment protocols and their relationship to health outcomes across diverse demographic groups.

• autism
• ASD
• genetics
• +11 more

Jeremy Willsey, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine and a member of the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences. He has over ten years of experience in genetics and bioinformatics, with expertise in gene discovery and systems biology focused on psychiatric disorders including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Tourette disorder (TD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Dr. Willsey earned his PhD in Genetics from Yale University in 2014 and completed postdoctoral training in Genetics and Systems Biology at UCSF. His research focuses on identifying and leveraging rare mutations for gene discovery in psychiatric disorders, then applying systems biological approaches to understand the biological relevance of these genes and detect additional risk factors. He developed a novel approach to co-expression network analysis that identified deep layer cortical glutamatergic neurons in the midfetal prefrontal cortex as showing the strongest convergence of ASD genetic risk. His work has contributed to the identification of more than 100 ASD-associated genes and initial characterization of the non-coding architecture of ASD. His lab has expanded to Tourette disorder, where he led work establishing the contribution of de novo variants to TD risk and identified novel TD risk genes including WWC1 and CELSR3. More recently, he has focused on identifying risk genes on chromosome X that contribute to male susceptibility in ASD, TD, and ADHD. His group has also initiated gene discovery in OCD. Dr. Willsey co-founded the NIH-funded Psychiatric Cell Map Initiative (PCMI) at UCSF, which aims to characterize functional networks underlying psychiatric disorders. The PCMI has utilized Xenopus tropicalis to study ASD risk genes and generated protein-protein interaction networks for nearly one hundred high-confidence ASD genes. Autism Speaks 2015 Annual Top 10 Autism Research Papers UCSF 2015 CIHR Postdoctoral Fellowship Yale University 2014 Carolyn Slayman Prize in Genetics Simons Foundation 2013 SFARI Notable Papers of 2013 Autism Speaks 2013 Top Ten Advances in Autism Research Dr. Willsey has received significant research funding, including NIH support to recruit and genetically characterize 1,000 new Tourette disorder trios and private funding for OCD research. His work has resulted in specific testable hypotheses around prefrontal cortex development, neurogenesis, and functional convergence of ASD risk genes. His lab continues to expand its research into the molecular mechanisms underlying psychiatric disorders and their potential therapeutic implications.