Mikael Thollesson is a Senior Lecturer at Uppsala University, affiliated with the Department of Organismal Biology; Systematic Biology and Klubban’s Biological Station. His research focuses on evolutionary biology, phylogenetics, taxonomy, and molecular biology, particularly in marine and freshwater sponges (Porifera), bacterial pathogens, and computational methods in evolutionary analysis. Evolutionary Biology Marine Biology Taxonomy His recent publications highlight trends in sponge biodiversity, phylogeography, bacterial horizontal gene transfer, and mitochondrial gene evolution. Key articles include studies on Swedish demosponge faunas, Silene sect. Arenosae systematics, and computational tools like SPRIT for detecting gene transfers. No explicit awards or grants are mentioned.
Angel Xuan Chang is an Associate Professor at Simon Fraser University's School of Computing Science, affiliated with labs including 3DLG, GrUVi, SFU NatLang, SFU AI/ML, and VINCI. He holds a Canada CIFAR AI Chair and was a TUM-IAS Hans Fischer Fellow (2018-2022). His research bridges natural language processing (NLP), 3D scene understanding, and embodied AI, focusing on language-grounded 3D generation and biodiversity monitoring via DNA barcodes. Recent work includes NuiScene (unbounded outdoor scene generation), ViGiL3D (3D visual grounding dataset), and CLIBD (vision-genomics biodiversity analysis). He advises students in projects like BIOSCAN-5M insect dataset and embodied AI navigation. His 2025 highlights include multiple ICCV and ICLR papers, workshops at ICML and CVPR, and a CRV invited talk. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science from Stanford University (2014), advised by Chris Manning. Previous roles include visiting research scientist at Facebook AI Research and researcher at Eloquent Labs.
Britt Adamson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics at Princeton University, where she serves as Director of the Undergraduate Program in Quantitative and Computational Biology. Her lab investigates molecular networks in human cells with focus on stress response mechanisms and genome editing technologies. She received her B.S. in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2005) and Ph.D. in Genetics and Genomics from Harvard University (2012), followed by postdoctoral training at UCSF under Jonathan Weissman supported by a Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Fellowship. Adamson's research centers on how cells organize stress response networks during DNA damage and endoplasmic reticulum stress, developing CRISPR-based functional genomics and single-cell sequencing tools to map molecular behaviors. Her work bridges fundamental cell biology with therapeutic applications in genome editing. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals dominant themes in precision genome editing (prime/base editing optimization) and systematic dissection of DNA repair pathways through combinatorial CRISPR screening. Her lab consistently integrates computational approaches with high-resolution experimental techniques to uncover context-dependent cellular behaviors. Her scientific recognitions include: Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship Princeton IP Accelerator Award (2025) STAT Who to Know: 10 Scientists leading a new generation of gene editors (2024) Adamson actively mentors eight graduate students (including alumni Ann Cirincione and Jun Hussmann) and two postdocs, with research funded through institutional awards and collaborative grants. Her lab's technological developments have enabled projects spanning virology, immunology, and developmental biology. The Adamson Lab operates within Princeton's Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, fostering an interdisciplinary environment that merges cell biology, genomics, and computational science. Current projects focus on improving prime editing efficiency and understanding stress response adaptation in disease contexts.
Angel Xuan Chang is an Associate Professor at Simon Fraser University's School of Computing Science, where she leads research at the intersection of natural language processing, computer vision, and 3D scene understanding. She holds the prestigious Canada CIFAR AI Chair position and is affiliated with multiple research groups including 3DLG, GrUVi, SFU NatLang, SFU AI/ML, and VINCI. PhD in Computer Science, Stanford University MSc in Computer Science, Stanford University M.Eng in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT BSc in Computer Science and Engineering, MIT Professor Chang's research primarily focuses on connecting language to 3D representations of shapes and scenes, with particular emphasis on grounding language for embodied agents in indoor environments. Her work spans natural language processing and understanding, linking natural language with visual and 3D representations, multimodal grounding of language, embodied AI, and machine learning applications for biodiversity monitoring through the BIOSCAN project. She has developed methods for synthesizing 3D scenes and shapes from natural language and created various datasets for 3D scene understanding. Her recent publications reveal a strong trend toward integrating language understanding with 3D scene generation and manipulation, with increasing focus on practical applications in embodied AI and biodiversity monitoring. The research shows progression from foundational work on text-to-3D scene generation to more sophisticated approaches for evaluating semantic coherence in generated scenes and developing efficient methods for zero-shot scene modeling. Canada CIFAR AI Chair TUM-IAS Hans Fischer Fellow (2018-2022) Best paper award at 3DV 2025 for 'An Object is Worth 64x64 Pixels: Generating 3D Object via Image Diffusion' Professor Chang actively advises numerous graduate students who appear as first authors on her publications, indicating a strong mentoring program. Her research is supported through multiple channels including the CIFAR AI Chair position and likely various research grants supporting her BIOSCAN-related work and 3D scene understanding projects. She has been involved in organizing multiple workshops at major conferences including ICML, CVPR, and ICLR. Her research is conducted through several interconnected groups: 3DLG (3D Language and Graphics), GrUVi (Graphics, Vision, and Interaction), SFU NatLang (Natural Language Processing), SFU AI/ML, and VINCI. These groups work collaboratively on problems spanning language grounding, 3D scene understanding, embodied AI, and biodiversity applications, creating a rich interdisciplinary research environment.
Dr. Michael Baym is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics at Harvard Medical School with affiliate appointments in Microbiology and the Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, and as an Associate Member of the Broad Institute. He leads the Baym Lab, which studies microbial evolutionary genomics and antibiotic resistance through a hybrid of experimental, computational, and theoretical approaches. His research focuses on: Antibiotic Resistance Evolution and practical interventions Mobile Genetic Elements (plasmids, phages, transposons) Computational Genomic Algorithms for big data analysis Synthetic Biology tools and technologies Key recent publications explore phage discovery systems , phylogenetic compression of microbial genomes, and RNA-guided gene drives in plasmids. His work is supported by multiple NIH/NIGMS and NSF grants including a MIRA award. Scientific honors include: Packard Fellowship (2018) Pew Biomedical Scholarship (2020) Sloan Research Fellowship (2020) A. Clifford Barger Excellence in Mentoring Award (2021) SSQBio Mentorship Award (2022) The lab actively trains PhD students and postdoctoral fellows with alumni occupying academic and industry positions globally. Current team members include researchers from interdisciplinary backgrounds working at the intersection of experiment, computation, and theory .
Dr. Rong Fan is the Harold Hodgkinson Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Professor of Pathology at Yale University. His research focuses on developing and applying single-cell and spatial omics technologies to study immune systems, cancer, and aging. His lab has pioneered technologies like the IsoCode microchip for high-throughput protein profiling, and spatial multi-omics platforms (e.g., DBiT-seq, spatial-ATAC-seq) to analyze tissue complexity at cellular resolution. He co-founded IsoPlexis, Singleron Biotechnologies, and AtlasXomics to commercialize these innovations. Education: PhD in Chemistry from UC Berkeley (2006), B.S. in Applied Chemistry from University of Science and Technology of China (1999). Postdoctoral training at Caltech before joining Yale in 2010. Research interests include CAR-T cell therapy optimization, spatial epigenomics, and multi-omics integration. Key achievements include discovering biomarkers predictive of CAR-T efficacy and defining spatial genomic landscapes in cancer and neuroinflammation. Awards: NSF CAREER Award, Packard Fellowship, election to AIMBE, CASE, and NAI. Serves on advisory boards for Bio-Techne and Yale Ventures. Active in training future scientists via the Yale Biomedical Engineering and Yale School of Medicine programs.
Adrian Linacre is a Professor and Chair in Forensic DNA Technology at Flinders University, within the College of Science and Engineering, Department of Biological Sciences. He is a leading figure in forensic science, with a focus on DNA analysis, wildlife forensics, and crime scene investigation. BSc in Biological Sciences (Hons), University of Edinburgh, 1984 DPhil in Molecular Genetics, University of Sussex, 1988 His research centers on getting more from less at crime scenes , particularly through developing highly sensitive DNA typing methods and studying the transfer and persistence of biological materials. He also pioneers the use of non-human DNA in forensic investigations, notably in wildlife forensic science , aiding in species identification and combating illegal wildlife trade. His recent publications reflect a strong trend in trace DNA analysis , body fluid identification , and DNA transfer dynamics , with applications in drug cases, sexual assault investigations, and environmental DNA degradation. His work increasingly integrates molecular techniques with real-world forensic challenges. Notable scientific awards include: Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), 2020 Inspirational Scientist of the Year, Royal Society of Edinburgh, 2005 Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts and Commerce (FRSA) Finalist, South Australian Science Excellence and Innovation Awards (2023, 2024) He has successfully supervised several students, including Piyamas Kanokwongnuwut and Alicia Haines, many of whom have won international recognition. He has secured significant research funding and contributed to national and international forensic policy, including a key review for the UK Home Office on low-template DNA. His professional leadership includes presidencies of the ANZFSS and ISFG, and vice presidency of the IAFS. Linacre is actively involved in editorial roles, serving as Associate Editor for Forensic Science International: Genetics and on the boards of Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology and the Australian Journal of Forensic Science . He is a sought-after expert witness and media commentator in forensic science.
Dr. Jason Gibbs is an Associate Professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. He also serves as the Curator of the J. B. Wallis / R. E. Roughley Museum of Entomology (WRME), a significant center for the study of bee biodiversity. His work is central to advancing knowledge in wild bee systematics, phylogenetics, and conservation. PhD in Biology, York University, Canada MSc in Botany, University of Toronto, Canada BSc in Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Canada His research focuses on the diversity, taxonomy, and conservation of wild bees , particularly halictid and panurgine bees. He employs integrative taxonomic approaches , combining morphological, molecular, and ecological data to resolve species boundaries and evolutionary relationships. His work extends to pollinator ecology , examining how habitat management, agricultural practices, and landscape changes affect bee communities and pollination services. He is deeply involved in bee conservation , including the rediscovery of rare species and the development of habitat strategies to support pollinators in human-modified landscapes. The trends in his recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on systematics and alpha-taxonomy , with numerous revisions of bee genera and checklists of regional faunas. He frequently uses DNA barcoding and phylogenomics to address taxonomic challenges. Additionally, his work explores pollination dynamics in agricultural systems , particularly in blueberry and other crops, assessing the roles of wild versus managed bees. There is a consistent theme of habitat enhancement and conservation across his research, with studies on floral strips, prairie restoration, and the impacts of land-use change. Dr. Gibbs is actively involved in mentoring and training the next generation of entomologists. His lab includes several graduate students and highly qualified personnel who contribute to his diverse research projects, as indicated by the asterisked names in his publications. He leads the Gibbs Wild Bee Lab, which is dedicated to understanding bee diversity and evolution. The lab combines field research with molecular and morphological analyses, and maintains close ties with the WRME museum, which serves as a vital resource for specimen-based research and education.
Scott E. Miller is Senior Biodiversity Advisor, Senior Research Entomologist, and Curator of Lepidoptera at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. He has held numerous leadership positions including Deputy Under Secretary for Collections and Interdisciplinary Support, Deputy Under Secretary for Science, Associate Director for Science at the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park, and Interim Director of Smithsonian Libraries and Archives. Prior to the Smithsonian, he held leadership roles at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology in Nairobi, Kenya, and the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii. Miller earned his BS from the University of California at Santa Barbara and his PhD from Harvard University. His academic journey has been marked by significant contributions to entomology and biodiversity research. Dr. Miller's research focuses on the integration of systematics, ecology, biogeography and conservation of insects and plants. His current work uses museum-based taxonomy and systematics to mobilize biodiversity information to empower ecology, conservation, and agriculture. Major research themes include moth systematics, biogeography and phylogenomics (particularly Dalceridae, Geometridae, and other families), insect food web and ecology projects in Papua New Guinea, Kenya and elsewhere, and building DNA reference libraries from museum vouchers for ecological applications. He has been instrumental in developing DNA-based identification tools through initiatives like the Consortium for the Barcode of Life. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on biodiversity informatics, DNA barcoding, and the application of museum collections to contemporary ecological questions. Miller's work spans tropical ecology, systematics, and the development of new methodologies for biodiversity assessment, with significant fieldwork conducted in Papua New Guinea, Kenya, and other biodiversity hotspots. Dr. Miller has contributed significantly to scientific infrastructure development, including co-chairing the US Government's Interagency Working Group on Scientific Collections and helping establish the Consortium for the Barcode of Life. His leadership extends to international scientific collaboration and the development of research centers like Mpala Research Centre in Kenya. As Senior Biodiversity Advisor, he oversees major initiatives that connect museum collections with contemporary biodiversity challenges. His laboratory and team focus on leveraging the extensive moth collections at NMNH for phylogenomic studies and ecological applications, working closely with international collaborators on projects spanning multiple continents.
Matthew D. Barrett is a researcher at James Cook University , specializing in plant systematics and fungal taxonomy. His work spans diverse areas including angiosperm phylogenomics, fungal biodiversity, and conservation biology of rare Australian flora. Research Focus : Phylogenomic analysis, fungal systematics, and ecological adaptations of Australian plant species. Publications : Contributed to major studies in Nature , Studies in Mycology , and Telopea , with a particular emphasis on Western Australian endemics. His recent publications highlight integrative approaches combining morphological and molecular data for taxonomic revisions, particularly in Basidiomycota and Orchidaceae.
Alexei Koulakov is a Professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) and the Charles Robertson Professor of Neuroscience. His research focuses on applying mathematical and computational approaches to unravel the principles of brain organization, particularly in sensory systems like olfaction and vision. Koulakov's work explores how neural circuits form during development, the role of genetic and experiential factors, and the evolutionary basis of brain architecture. Education: PhD in Physics from the University of Minnesota (1998). Key Research Areas: Olfactory system development, neural network modeling, and AI inspired by biological computation. Koulakov's recent publications emphasize cross-disciplinary integration of neuroscience and AI, including NeuroAI initiatives and DeepNose models predicting olfactory percepts. His team investigates how innate abilities are encoded genomically and how experience shapes neural networks. Scientific contributions include studies on primacy coding in olfaction, stochastic learning mechanisms , and high-throughput neural mapping . Awards include the Charles Robertson Professorship , reflecting his leadership in theoretical neuroscience. Koulakov collaborates extensively, with notable work on genomic bottlenecks , odor mixture interactions , and neural integrator models . His lab at CSHL is at the forefront of NeuroAI research, leveraging brain circuit insights to advance artificial intelligence.
Justin English serves as Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Utah School of Medicine, where he develops molecular tools to investigate human health and disease mechanisms through directed evolution and protein engineering approaches. Education: B.A. from Cornell University Ph.D. from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Research Focus: Dr. English's laboratory specializes in Directed Evolution and Protein Engineering to create molecular tools for studying G-protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) , cell signaling pathways , and neuroscience applications . His work integrates synthetic biology with classical pharmacology to develop innovative platforms like VEGAS for mammalian cell evolution and TRUPATH for GPCR transducerome analysis, with significant implications for drug discovery and therapeutic development. Publication Trends: Analysis of his 2019-2025 publications reveals consistent focus on GPCR biology, featuring breakthroughs in biosensor development (nanobody-based receptor monitoring), chemogenetic tools (BioTAC system), and high-throughput screening platforms. His research demonstrates strong translational potential in neuroscience, particularly through engineered mouse models for psychedelic drug studies and molecular tools for mapping small-molecule interactomes. Research Environment: Dr. English leads an active laboratory within the University of Utah's Department of Biochemistry, leveraging institutional core facilities for biochemical and molecular studies. His research program maintains strong collaborative ties with neuroscience and pharmacology groups, with ongoing projects focused on advancing molecular engineering techniques for biomedical applications as detailed on his lab website.
Prof. Dr. Jörg Schultz serves as a Professor for Bioinformatics at the Faculty of Biology, University of Würzburg, a position he has held since 2003. He is also a Group Leader at the Center for Computational and Theoretical Biology (CCTB) and was a member of the CCTB Managing Board from 2015-2019. His academic journey includes significant roles as Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin (2002-2003) and at cellzome in Heidelberg (2000-2002). He completed his PhD studies at EMBL Heidelberg (1996-2000) after conducting his diploma thesis there in 1995-1996, following biology studies at the University of Konstanz (1991-1996). Prof. Schultz's research spans bioinformatics, computational biology, and evolutionary genomics, with notable contributions to protein domain analysis, phylogenetics, and structural bioinformatics. His recent work has focused extensively on plant genomics, particularly studying carnivorous plants like the Venus flytrap to uncover the evolutionary roots of plant carnivory. His research integrates computational methods with biological questions to address fundamental evolutionary patterns and molecular mechanisms across diverse organisms. Prof. Schultz has maintained a prolific publication record since the late 1990s, with his most recent work demonstrating continued innovation in computational approaches to biological questions. His publications reveal a consistent trajectory from foundational work on protein domain evolution (including the development of the SMART database) to current research on plant genomics, molecular evolution, and bioinformatics tool development. His work shows particular strength in bridging computational methodology with biological insight across multiple domains. Among his significant contributions is the development of the ITS2 Database, a widely used resource for phylogenetic analyses, along with various computational tools including ALVIS for sequence alignment visualization, reper for repetitive element analysis, and BCdatabaser for DNA barcoding. These resources have advanced methodological capabilities in the bioinformatics community. As an academic mentor, Prof. Schultz has guided numerous students and researchers through his laboratory at the University of Würzburg, contributing significantly to the education and training of the next generation of bioinformaticians. His leadership roles demonstrate his commitment to advancing computational and theoretical biology as academic disciplines while maintaining strong connections between computational approaches and biological discovery.
Douglas Yu is a Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia (UEA), where he also serves as Principal Investigator and Director of the Ecology, Conservation, and Environment Center (ECEC), a joint venture with the Kunming Institute of Zoology. He is a member of the Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation and the Organisms and the Environment research group. His research focuses on cooperation in ecological systems, particularly mutualisms between species and conservation as cooperation between humans and nature. Key methodologies include environmental DNA (eDNA), metabarcoding, and game theory. He co-founded NatureMetrics to commercialize biodiversity monitoring tools. His work spans tropical ecology, conservation genetics, and human-wildlife conflict resolution, notably in the Amazon. His recent research outputs highlight trends in molecular biodiversity assessment, landscape-scale eDNA analysis, and integrating remote sensing with ecological data. He leads multiple NERC-funded projects and industry collaborations focused on pollination services, cocoa sustainability, and statistical frameworks for eDNA. He is actively involved in scientific governance, serving on the NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility Steering Committee and UKRI grant panels. He also contributes to public discourse through media appearances on topics like leech-based disease surveillance and bee conservation. He teaches courses in evolutionary biology, conservation genetics, and statistical modeling using R. He welcomes PhD and postdoctoral researchers, especially those interested in fieldwork in East Asia.
Derek J. Taylor is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University at Buffalo (College of Arts and Sciences), specializing in evolutionary biology and molecular evolution. His research focuses on the evolutionary genetics of aquatic invertebrates, particularly cladocerans (e.g., Daphnia species), and integrates molecular, genomic, and phylogenetic approaches to study speciation, hybridization, species introductions, and paleovirology. He leads the Taylor Lab, which explores topics such as viral evolution in insects and microbats, and the evolutionary history of freshwater crustaceans. Education: PhD in Biology from the University of Guelph, followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Michigan. Research Interests: Molecular evolution of species complexes, host-virus coevolution, phylogeography, and the evolutionary maintenance of viral genes in host genomes. His work bridges genetics, ecology, and systematics to address questions in evolutionary biology. Key contributions include studies on filovirus evolution in bats, the phylogenetics of Daphnia species, and the origins of biodiversity in Holarctic freshwater ecosystems. His lab’s findings have been published in journals like Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , Virus Evolution , and Ecography . Contact: Hochstetter Hall H530, Buffalo, NY | Office Hours: Thursdays 2:00–4:00 PM.
