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Maizie ZhouView profile

Assistant Professor

• Computational Genomics
• Bioinformatics
• Computational Neuroscience
• +6 more

Maizie Zhou is an Assistant Professor in Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science at Vanderbilt University’s School of Engineering. She holds dual PhDs in Computer Science (Stanford University) and Neuroscience (Wake Forest School of Medicine), with additional degrees from Wake Forest University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Her research focuses on computational genomics, bioinformatics, and machine learning applied to problems in cancer genomics, single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, and computational neuroscience. She leads the Zhou Lab, which develops algorithms for structural variant detection, neural circuit analysis, and integrative omics approaches. Recent work includes tools like VolcanoSV and stDyer, and she has received grants from NIH, Vanderbilt Brain Institute, and industry partnerships. Key achievements include VUSE Best Paper Awards, Global Engagement Travel Grants, and mentoring students in prestigious programs like the Provost’s Pathbreaking Discovery Award. Her lab also explores the neural underpinnings of cognitive maturation in primates, combining computational and experimental neuroscience. Education: PhDs in Computer Science (Stanford) and Neuroscience (Wake Forest), MS (Computer Science, Wake Forest), BS (Biotechnology, Huazhong). Research interests span computational genomics (e.g., structural variant detection, haplotype phasing), spatial transcriptomics (clustering, integration), and computational neuroscience (neural circuit dynamics, prefrontal cortex plasticity). Her lab’s tools address challenges in precision medicine, cancer genomics, and understanding adolescent brain development. Recent projects include NIH-funded work on spatial transcriptomics and collaborations with Dr. Meltzer’s lab on cancer genomics. Publications highlight advancements in bioinformatics tools and neural mechanisms, with trends toward multi-omics integration and algorithmic innovation in genomics. Awards include the Global Engagement Travel Grant and CCSB Accelerator Fund. Students under her mentorship have excelled in qualifying exams and travel grants, reflecting her impactful training program.

Emilia LimView profile

Assistant Professor

• Bioinformatics
• Cancer
• Aging
• +5 more

Dr. Emilia Lim is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Medicine , with an investigator role at the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging . She specializes in computational analysis of environmental exposures, particularly pollution, in age-related diseases like cancer. Education: BSc from University of Alberta (2009) PhD from University of British Columbia (2016) Postdoctoral training at Francis Crick Research Institute, University College London (2023) Her research integrates multi-omic approaches (genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics) to investigate how environmental pollutants drive disease states in samples like cancer patients. Recent work focuses on lung cancer evolution , immune evasion , and epigenetic aging under pollution exposure, with applications in precision oncology and healthy aging initiatives across Canada. Publications highlight her expertise in cancer genomics , environmental toxicology , and computational biology , with key contributions to understanding air pollution-induced carcinogenesis (2023) and subclonal tumor dynamics (2020, 2023). Her lab develops tools like SPRINTER for single-cell cancer evolution analysis and explores haplotype-specific copy number in tumor heterogeneity ( Refphase , 2023).

• Gastrointestinal Oncology
• Clinical Trials
• Pharmacogenomics
• +6 more

Syma Iqbal, MD, is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine and Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. She holds leadership roles as Medical Director for Inpatient Services at Norris Cancer Hospital, Medical Director of Ambulatory Services/Infusion Center, and Associate Cancer Physician in Chief. Dr. Iqbal chairs the Norris Clinical Investigations Committee and is a national thought leader in systemic therapy for esophageal and gastric cancers, including roles as co-Chair of the Southwest Oncology Group Esophago-Gastric Committee and Chair of the National Cancer Institute’s Esophago-Gastric Task Force. Dr. Iqbal graduated from the Keck School of Medicine of USC in 1995 and completed a Hematology and Oncology Fellowship in 2001. Her research focuses on clinical trials for gastrointestinal malignancies, pharmacogenomics in colorectal cancer, and molecular markers for treatment response and survival. Key publications highlight anti-HER2 therapies, PD-1 inhibitors, and genomic profiling in oncology. Her clinical trials span phase I-III studies in gastric, esophageal, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers, emphasizing drug combinations, resistance mechanisms, and biomarker-driven approaches. While no scientific awards are explicitly mentioned, her work has shaped national guidelines through leadership in cancer research consortia.

Benjamin SchwessingerView profile

Professor

• Plant Pathology
• Genomics
• Fungal Biology
• +3 more

Prof Benjamin Schwessinger is a Professor at the Australian National University (ANU), affiliated with the Division of Plant Sciences. His research focuses on plant pathogens, fungal genomics, and the evolutionary dynamics of pathogen adaptation. Key areas include understanding rust fungi biology, host-pathogen interactions, and structural genomic variations in plants like Eucalyptus. He has pioneered methodologies for high-throughput protein secretion optimization in yeast and developed diagnostic tools for invasive pathogens such as Austropuccinia psidii (myrtle rust). Research Interests: Plant-microbe interactions and immunity Fungal genomics and sexual recombination mechanisms Evolving pathogen populations in agricultural systems Genomic tools for disease surveillance and biosecurity His recent work explores the genomic basis of pathogen adaptation, including studies on wheat stripe rust and myrtle rust. Collaborations span fungal pathogenomics, eucalyptus structural genomics, and yeast biotechnology. He leads multiple projects funded by ANU and ARC, including the Plant Biosecurity Training Centre. His lab emphasizes reproducible research practices and early career researcher development. Key projects include: Digital yeast bioprospecting for non-alcoholic beer production Surveillance of airborne pathogens in Australian Botanic Gardens Genome evolution of cereal rust fungi Labs/Teams: Core member of ANU's Plant Biosecurity Group and collaborator in the ARC Training Centre in Plant Biosecurity.

Jesse R. DixonView profile

Associate Professor

• Chromatin structure
• 3D genome organization
• Gene regulation
• +4 more

Jesse R. Dixon, M.D., Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the Gene Expression Laboratory of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California. His research explores 3D genome architecture, chromatin organization, and gene regulation mechanisms, with implications for cancer and developmental disorders. He employs cutting-edge genomic technologies like Hi-C and single-cell multi-omics to investigate how chromosomal rearrangements impact gene expression. Dr. Dixon's work focuses on: Topological Domains (TADs) and their role in enhancer-promoter communication Haplotype phasing using chromatin conformation data Structural variant-driven oncogene activation in cancer Single-cell mapping of chromatin and DNA methylation dynamics His publications consistently demonstrate innovations in 3D genome analysis, particularly in neurobiology and oncology contexts, with recurring themes of chromatin topology, epigenetic regulation, and computational genomics. Awards & Honors: Pew Biomedical Scholar (2024) Helmsley Salk Fellow He mentors graduate and postdoctoral researchers in genomics and computational biology, with current projects on chromatin dynamics in cancer and development. The Dixon Lab actively develops novel methodologies for studying genome architecture.

Simone RubinacciView profile

Researcher

• Population Genetics
• Statistical Genetics
• Genomic Data Analysis
• +3 more

Simone Rubinacci is a Senior Researcher and Group leader at the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, since September 2024, following postdoctoral fellowships at Harvard Medical School (2023-2024) and the University of Lausanne (2019-2022). Her academic foundation includes a DPhil in Statistics from the University of Oxford (2016-2020). Her educational trajectory: DPhil in Statistics, University of Oxford (2016-2020) Postgraduate student, Systems Biology Doctoral Training Centre, University of Oxford (2015-2016) MSc in Computer Science, University of Milano-Bicocca (2012-2015) BSc in Computer Science, University of Milano-Bicocca (2009-2012) Rubinacci pioneers statistical methods for large-scale genomic datasets, specializing in haplotype analysis and structural variation in human genomes. Her work extracts insights from noisy data like low-coverage sequencing and SNP arrays, directly addressing population structure and disease genetics. She bridges computational statistics with biomedical applications to decode genetic diversity and disease mechanisms. Her 2024-2025 publications reveal intense focus on genomic data infrastructure: haplotype reference panels, imputation techniques, and polygenic risk scoring. Key innovations include SURFBAT for family-based association testing, UK Biobank imputation frameworks, and ancient DNA damage mitigation—collectively advancing precision genomics through computational rigor. Major recognitions: Epstein Award Finalist, ASHG 2024 Epstein Award Semifinalist, ASHG 2020 Swiss National Science Foundation Postdoc.Mobility fellowship EPSRC PhD salary award She has taught statistics and computer science at Oxford, Lausanne, and Milano-Bicocca. Current funding includes UK Biobank credits for haplotype phasing and her FIMM-EMBL project 'Integrating identity-by-descent and phasing to unveil novel insights on disease mechanisms' (2024-2029). As FIMM-EMBL Group leader, she directs genomic methodology development within Helsinki's Faculty of Medicine and contributes to the university-wide DIVSOL-Humt profiling initiative for data-intensive societal research.

• Biomarker Discovery
• Cancer Genomics
• Bioinformatics
• +12 more

George Vasmatzis, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, and holds a joint appointment in Cancer Biology within the Department of Quantitative Health Sciences. He serves as co-director of the Biomarker Discovery Program in the Center for Individualized Medicine, where he leads a multidisciplinary research team integrating bioinformatics, molecular biology, and computational genomics to advance cancer diagnostics and personalized treatment. Education: Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Boston University M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Purdue University B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Texas Tech University Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, NIH Postdoctoral Research Associate, Boston University Research Interests: Dr. Vasmatzis specializes in biomarker discovery for cancer diagnosis, focusing on large genomic alterations such as breakpoints, rearrangements, and copy-number variations. His work addresses lineage relationships in cancer progression, genomic changes distinguishing indolent from aggressive tumors, viral integration sites, and targetable genomic alterations. He employs next-generation sequencing and computational models to enable non-invasive cancer monitoring via liquid biopsy. A significant focus is on allelic dependence and phasing of mutations to understand functional impacts. Publication Trends: His recent publications reflect a strong emphasis on translational genomics, leveraging cutting-edge technologies like nanopore sequencing and 3D tumor models. Research spans oncology, bioinformatics, immunology, and nanotechnology, with applications in early detection, therapy monitoring, and precision medicine. Key journals include Genome Biology , Cancer Genetics , and Frontiers in Immunology . Scientific Awards: Innovation Accelerator Award, Mayo Clinic, 2023 Member, NCI Special Emphasis Panels (2008–2010) Participant, NCI Early Detection Research Network, 2008 Member, National Biospecimen Network Informatics Task Force, 2005–2007 Grants & Advising: Dr. Vasmatzis has served as Principal Investigator on NIH-funded projects, including the NCI-funded 'CORE--GENE DISCOVERY BIOINFORMATICS' and co-PI on the SPORE in Prostate Cancer. He mentors a research team of bioinformaticians, molecular biologists, and pathologists. While specific student names are not listed, his lab actively trains researchers in computational and molecular genomics. Laboratories & Collaborations: His lab is embedded within the Center for Individualized Medicine and collaborates extensively with Rashid Bashir, Ph.D., at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, on nanopore-based DNA detection technologies. This work has potential for stool-based early colon cancer detection. He is also involved in Mayo Clinic’s Cancer Biomedical Informatics Grid and multiple institutional research committees.

Michael R. HaydenView profile

Professor

• Genetic Medicine
• Huntington Disease
• Neurodegenerative Disorders
• +7 more

Dr. Michael R. Hayden is a University Killam Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Medicine. He serves as a Senior Scientist at the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics/BC Children's Hospital Research Institute and directs the Centre for Huntington Disease. His research spans multiple prestigious institutions including BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, BC Diabetes Research Network, and Centre for Brain Health. Dr. Hayden's research focuses on genetic medicine, particularly Huntington disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and gene therapy. His laboratory investigates silencing the mutant huntingtin gene, modulating huntingtin post-translational modifications, discovering novel neuroprotective targets, and studying population genetics of Huntington disease mutations. Additionally, his work extends to lipoprotein lipase deficiency gene therapy development. His research philosophy emphasizes that 'sick people depend on us and others for new therapies,' driving his team's commitment to developing treatments that can slow or reverse disease progression. Analysis of Dr. Hayden's recent publications reveals a strong focus on Huntington disease therapeutics, particularly gene silencing approaches and biomarker development. His work spans basic molecular mechanisms to clinical applications, with increasing emphasis on translational research that bridges laboratory findings to patient treatments. The publications demonstrate a multidisciplinary approach combining genetics, neuroscience, and molecular pharmacology to address neurodegenerative conditions. Doctor of Science in Medicine (DSc(Med)) (honoris causa), University of Cape Town, South Africa (2024) Best Scientist in the World, Ranked #860 & Best Scientist in Canada, Ranked #19 Award by Research.com (2023) Lifetime Achievement Award, Huntington Study Group, USA (2023) Induction to the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (2017) Order of Canada (2010) Killam Prize, Canada Council of the Arts (2011) Dr. Hayden has trained over 86 postdoctoral fellows and 45 graduate students, with nearly all holding competitive funding and winning prestigious awards. His lab provides exceptional resources through over 100 collaborations with world-class investigators and industrial partners. Trainees benefit from sophisticated laboratory facilities, administrative support, and access to seminars and workshops hosted by multiple research institutions. His mentorship philosophy emphasizes communication skills, critical thinking, and preparing trainees for future research leadership. The Hayden Lab operates within the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, providing access to advanced facilities including the Bioinformatics Assistance Centre, Huntington Disease BioBank, Imaging Core Facility, and specialized mouse research resources. The lab maintains strong connections with the Centre for Brain Health and other UBC research networks, creating a collaborative environment focused on translating genetic discoveries into therapeutic interventions for neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases.

Steven J JonesView profile

Professor

• Bioinformatics
• Gene Expression
• Gene Regulation
• +7 more

Dr. Steven J. Jones is a Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Associate Director/Head of Bioinformatics at the Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Research Centre. He serves as Director of the CIHR/MSFHR Bioinformatics Training Program and the UBC Bioinformatics Graduate Program, with associate memberships at the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies and Michael Smith Laboratories. Dr. Jones' research focuses on computational genomics and cancer bioinformatics , analyzing mutational landscapes and epigenetic targets in oncology. His work includes next-generation sequencing , structural variant detection , and long-read sequencing applications for resolving complex genomic architectures. He has extensive experience with transcriptome analysis , gene regulation , and comparative genomics across diverse organisms including C. elegans , conifers, and human pathogens. His 15 most recent publications highlight expertise in long-read sequencing for cancer genomics , imprinting disorders , and structural variation analysis. Key contributions include developing the Circos visualization tool for comparative genomics and pioneering bioinformatics approaches for epigenetic modifier discovery in oncology. Scientific Awards : Spencer Award for IT innovation (2005) 2007 Medical Genetics teaching award (UBC) 2011 Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada 2012 UBC Killam teaching prize 2014 Distinguished Achievement Award (UBC Faculty of Medicine) 2014 Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researcher (2016, 2018) Dr. Jones actively advises graduate students and serves as a data analysis center for the Canadian Epigenetics, Environment and Health Research Consortium (CEEHRC). He co-founded Ifowonco Bioinformatics Inc. and Alamya Health, PBC, and consults for Apotheca Systems Inc.

Korbinian SchneebergerView profile

Professor

• Computational Genetics
• Genome Plasticity
• Plant Genomics
• +6 more

Prof. Korbinian Schneeberger is a full Professor of Computational Genetics and Genome Plasticity at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich , embedded within the Graduate School of Life Science Munich (LSM) . He leads a multidisciplinary team of bioinformaticians, biologists, and biotechnologists, all driven by a shared curiosity in genomic technologies and plant genome evolution. Contact: k.schneeberger@lmu.de . Research Focus: Genome plasticity and mutational dynamics across plant species Development and refinement of next-generation sequencing and assembly pipelines Comparative genomics, pan-genome construction, and structural variation Epigenetic regulation and transposon biology in plant genomes Meiotic recombination and crossover patterning in holocentric plants Application of single-cell and single-nucleus technologies to dissect gamete-level variation His laboratory develops widely-used bioinformatics tools—including SHOREmap , findGSE , SyRI , and plotsr —that enable the community to assemble, compare, and interpret plant genomes at unprecedented resolution. Recent work advances understanding of centromere evolution, adaptation to extreme soils, layer-specific somatic mutation patterns in fruit trees, and large-scale Arabidopsis population genomics. Scientific Output & Impact: Since 2015, Prof. Schneeberger has published more than 60 peer-reviewed articles, many appearing in top-tier journals such as Nature Genetics , Nature Plants , and Genome Biology . His 2025 studies already tackle the mutational landscape of Arabidopsis centromeres, scalable eQTL mapping in gametes, and the phased pan-genome of tetraploid potato, underscoring a trajectory at the forefront of plant genomic science. Funding & Collaborations: Research in the Schneeberger Lab is supported by multiple national and international grants, providing resources for high-throughput sequencing, computational infrastructure, and interdisciplinary training. The group actively collaborates with leading plant research centers worldwide, sharing data and tools to accelerate discoveries in crop improvement and evolutionary biology. Team & Environment: The lab operates as a vibrant, international environment with state-of-the-art wet-lab and computational facilities. Trainees and staff benefit from the rich ecosystem of LSM, including structured doctoral programs, career mentoring, and access to cutting-edge core facilities.

• Medical Informatics
• Statistical Science
• Bioinformatics
• +5 more

Dr. Masato Inoue is a Professor at the Faculty of Science and Engineering , School of Advanced Science and Engineering at Waseda University. He holds a Doctor of Medical Science from Kyoto University. Education: 2003 - Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine 2003 - Kyoto University His research spans multiple disciplines at the intersection of Medical Informatics , Bioinformatics , and Statistical Mechanics . Key areas include: Medical Imaging : Developing Bayesian super-resolution algorithms and Prior Ensemble Learning for improved MRI reconstruction Voice Analysis : Creating innovative voice quality quantification systems for clinical diagnostics Genetic Analysis : Advancing haplotype inference methods and gene network modeling Signal Processing : Applying statistical mechanics to diverse problems from coding theory to neuroscience His recent publications (2021-2012) demonstrate consistent contributions to medical imaging algorithms , voice disorder classification , and genetic data analysis . Notable collaborations include work with Kyoto University researchers , Swedish medical institutions , and cross-disciplinary teams in bioengineering.

Rajiv McCoyView profile

Assistant Professor

• Computational Genomics
• Human Evolution
• Reproductive Genetics
• +3 more

Rajiv McCoy is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Johns Hopkins University (JHU). He holds a PhD in Biology from Stanford University and completed postdoctoral training at Princeton University and the University of Washington. His research integrates computational and statistical approaches to study human evolution, genetics, and reproduction, with a focus on genomic mechanisms underlying aneuploidy, embryo development, and somatic evolution. The McCoy Lab is affiliated with JHU’s Cell, Molecular, Developmental Biology, and Biophysics (CMDB) doctoral program. Key research interests include understanding how germline and somatic evolution shape genome function and reproductive outcomes. The lab employs advanced genomic methods to analyze chromosomal instability, recombination patterns, and the genetic basis of aneuploidy in human embryos. Recent work has explored maternal meiotic recombination, genomic mosaicism, and the evolutionary implications of Neanderthal introgression. Lab members have presented at conferences such as Cold Spring Harbor’s Biology of Genomes and the Broad Institute’s Mutations in Time and Space. Notable collaborations include studies with the Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis International Society (PGDIS) and the Origins of Aneuploidy Research Consortium (OARC). The lab actively engages in genomic benchmarking, pangenome research, and the development of improved reference genome tools.

Conor MeadeView profile

Associate Professor

• Plant ecology
• Environmental change
• Plant-soil microbiome interactions
• +6 more

Conor Meade is an Associate Professor at Maynooth University , affiliated with the Faculty of Science & Engineering and the Department of Biology . He co-developed the BSc Biological and Geographical Sciences program and leads the 7 Skills Undergraduate Writing Programme . His research focuses on plant ecology , plant-soil microbiome interactions , agro-ecology , and conservation biology , particularly for arctic-alpine species and rare plants in Europe and Tropical Asia . BSc Environmental Biology PhD Botany , Trinity College Dublin (2000) His recent work examines genome size variation in Arctic-Alpine plants , biogeographic patterns , and microbial community impacts on plant growth . He has authored studies in journals such as Scientific Data , Plants , and Plant Ecology and Diversity . Fulbright EPA Climate Change Scholar (2017) Meade has advised PhD students including Xiaodong Dang and Emma Howard-Williams , and his teaching includes modules like Molecular Ecology and Biogeography and Environmental Field Skills .

• Genomic Data Analysis
• Bioinformatics
• Computational Biology
• +3 more

Haoyu Cheng is a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the Department of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science (BIDS) at Yale University. His research focuses on developing computational methodologies for genomic applications, including genome assembly, read alignment, variant calling, and string indexing. He leads the Cheng Lab , which collaborates with initiatives like the Human Pangenome Reference Consortium and the Darwin Tree of Life project. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Science and Technology of China and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School under Dr. Heng Li. Key research interests include telomere-to-telomere assembly , haplotype-resolved genome analysis , and scalable genomic tools . Notable contributions include the hifiasm assembly algorithm, widely used in large-scale sequencing projects. His work bridges computational efficiency and genomic innovation, addressing challenges in diploid/polyploid genomes and structural variation analysis. Awards include the K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award and recognition for Essential Open Source Software for Science (CZI). Collaborations span Yale’s Center for Genomic Health and global consortia like the Vertebrate Genomes Project. Publications highlight advancements in genome assembly techniques, including scalable methods for complex genomes and haplotype-resolved approaches. His lab actively engages in pangenome research and translational genomics, driving reproducible genomic analysis through platforms like Galaxy.

• Plant Genetics
• Genomics
• Molecular Biology
• +6 more

René Smulders is a researcher at Wageningen University & Research, specializing in Plant Breeding. He leads projects focusing on genetic variation, genome editing (NGTs), and sustainable agriculture, with a strong emphasis on polyploid crops and molecular marker development. Active in EU policy reform for genomic techniques Developed tools for 3D plant phenotyping and disease resistance His work spans crops like roses, chrysanthemums, and timber species, integrating genomics with practical breeding applications. Recent publications address consumer transparency in biotech plant varieties and advanced genetic analysis in polyploids. He supervises PhD candidates and collaborates internationally, with media appearances on topics like plant-based meat alternatives and crop innovation.