Find Academic Supervisors

• Coevolution
• Infectious Disease Dynamics
• Influenza
• +3 more

Sarah Cobey is a Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Chicago. Her research focuses on the coevolution of pathogens and host immunity , particularly influenza , using computational and mathematical models . Education: AB from Princeton (2002), PhD from University of Michigan (2009), Postdoc at Harvard School of Public Health (2013) Research Interests : The Cobey Lab studies adaptive immunity dynamics , including antibody repertoire evolution , vaccine effectiveness , and immune-mediated pathogen competition . Key areas include influenza evolution , vaccination strategies , and B cell response predictability . Publication Trends (2023–2025): Recent work examines longitudinal immune modeling , influenza antigenic diversity , and cross-reactive antibody dynamics . Collaborations span immunology , virology , and public health . Scientific Awards : NIH New Innovator Award (2014) James S. McDonnell Scholar (2014) Neubauer Fellowship (2016) NSF GRF (2005) Grants : Past and current NIH funding includes U01AI187063 (2025–2029) on Adaptive Immunity to Influenza and R01AI170116 (2022–2027) on Influenza Vaccine Response Variability . Labs & Collaborations : Leader of the Cobey Lab , with collaborations at Harvard, NIH, and WHO. Projects often involve multi-scale modeling linking individual immune responses to population-level viral evolution .

• Neuroscience
• Parasitology
• Sensory Neurobiology
• +6 more

Elissa A Hallem is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) . Her research lies at the intersection of neurobiology and parasitology , focusing on the sensory neural circuits that drive host-seeking behavior in skin-penetrating nematodes like Strongyloides stercoralis , a human-parasitic worm. She also investigates chemosensation , host-pathogen interactions , and sensory plasticity using both parasitic nematodes and the free-living Caenorhabditis elegans as comparative models. Education BA in Biology and Chemistry from Williams College (1999) PhD in Neuroscience from Yale University (2005) Postdoctoral training in Biology at Caltech (2010) Research Focus Her work addresses fundamental questions about how sensory circuits enable parasitic worms to detect and infect hosts. Key findings reveal the neural basis of heat seeking , chemosensory valence , and experience-dependent plasticity in nematodes. She has developed genetic tools for Strongyloides and studies steroid hormone pathways in Pristionchus pacificus . Scientific Awards 2023: UCLA Life Sciences Excellence in Research Award 2020: UCLA Faculty Mentor Award 2016: HHMI Faculty Scholar Award 2015: Burroughs-Wellcome Fund Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Disease Award 2014: NIH Director's New Innovator Award 2012: MacArthur Fellowship 2011: Rita Allen Foundation Fellowship Lab Overview The Hallem Lab at UCLA emphasizes inclusive research and tool development for parasitic nematode studies, aiming to uncover novel strategies for preventing infections through understanding sensory-driven parasitic mechanisms.

• Plant Genetics
• Crop Biodiversity
• Breeding Informatics
• +5 more

Karl Schmid is a W3 Professor of Crop Plant Biodiversity and Breeding Informatics at the University of Hohenheim's Institute of Plant Breeding, Seed Science and Population Genetics within the College of Agricultural Sciences. His research integrates evolutionary genetics, population genomics, and machine learning to address agricultural challenges. Ph.D. in Biology, University of Munich (1996) Postdoctoral Research, Cornell University (1997-1999) Emmy-Noether Research Group, Max Planck Institute of Chemical Ecology (2000-2006) Group Leader, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics (2006-2008) Professor of Genetics, Swedish Agricultural University (2008) His research focuses on crop biodiversity conservation, evolutionary genetics of plant pathogens, and breeding informatics applications. Current work leverages deep learning for phenotyping (quinoa panicles, barley genomics) and analyzes pathogen evolution (Exserohilum turcicum in maize). His team actively develops computational tools like GGoutlieR for geo-genetic pattern detection. Recent publications demonstrate strong trends in applying AI to agricultural genomics, particularly in quinoa improvement and pathogen surveillance. His group leads the EU H2020 INVITE project on molecular markers in plant variety protection and organizes international symposia like the 2024 Quinoa Symposium at Hohenheim. Head of Crop Biodiversity and Breeding Informatics Group Principal Investigator, EU H2020 INVITE project Organizer, International Quinoa Symposium 2024

Nolwenn DheillyView profile

Researcher

• Virology
• Parasitology
• Microbiome
• +5 more

Nolwenn Dheilly is a researcher at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France, contributing to studies on emerging infectious diseases, particularly in the areas of virology, parasitology, and microbiome science. She is actively involved in pathogen discovery and molecular characterization of viruses and parasites, with a focus on zoonotic agents and host-pathogen interactions. Her research interests span Virology , Parasitology , Microbiome , Emerging Infectious Diseases , Zoonoses , Metagenomics , Molecular Virology , and Host-Pathogen Interactions . Her work integrates molecular biology, genomics, and ecological perspectives to understand how microbial communities influence parasitic life cycles and disease transmission. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in viral discovery and classification, including work on Jingchuvirales, circoviruses, and flaviviruses like West Nile and tick-borne encephalitis virus. Her research also explores the virome of parasites and the role of symbiotic microbes in helminth evolution. These studies are critical for advancing diagnostics, understanding disease emergence, and informing public and veterinary health strategies. Scientific Awards: No awards listed in the provided text. Advising and Grants: No formal students or grants are mentioned in the available information. However, her collaborative work across multiple institutions and projects, including Labex IBEID and ANR PREZODE AMAZED, suggests active participation in funded research initiatives and interdisciplinary teams. Labs and Teams: She is part of a research group at the Pasteur Institute led by Marc Eloit, focusing on pathogen discovery and metagenomics. Her collaborations extend to teams working on veterinary virology, arboviruses, and parasitic microbiomes, indicating integration within a broad network of infectious disease research.

• Bacteriophage Biology
• Antibiotic Resistance
• Viral Evolution
• +3 more

Pilar Domingo Calap is an Associate Professor at the Universitat de València, affiliated with the Faculty of Biological Sciences and the Department of Genetics. Her research focuses on bacteriophage biology, viral evolution, and combating antibiotic resistance through phage therapy. She has contributed to understanding phage-host interactions, bacterial resistance mechanisms, and innovative applications of phage-based technologies in environmental and biomedical contexts. Recent publications highlight her work on phage depolymerases, capsule-specific targeting strategies, and synergies between phage therapy and nanotechnology. Her research group (EnBiVir) explores bacteriophages' applications in global health, while collaborations with EVOSALUD emphasize experimental evolution and epidemiology. She has developed tools like CleanBar for single-cell omics and DepoScope for enzyme annotation, demonstrating expertise in computational approaches to virology. Her studies span clinical applications (e.g., cystic fibrosis lung rejection, prosthetic joint infections) and environmental interventions (e.g., Salmonella control in broiler farms, Xylella fastidiosa mitigation).

Shavannor M. SmithView profile

Associate Professor

• Plant Pathology
• Genetics
• Crop Resistance Breeding
• +2 more

Shavannor M. Smith is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences . Smith's research focuses on plant-pathogen interactions , particularly the structure and evolution of disease resistance loci , and genetic improvement of crop plants for disease resistance . With appointments since 2007 and graduate program coordination from 2017-2022, Smith has established a multidisciplinary research program integrating genetics, genomics, and plant biology. Research interests include: Genetic basis of host plant resistance Evolution of resistance genes in crops Plant-pathogen co-evolution dynamics Application of genomic tools to crop protection Recent scholarly works emphasize: Rust resistance in switchgrass Quantitative trait loci mapping Host response signatures to fungal pathogens Genotype-by-environment interactions Awards and honors include: UGA Teaching Academy (2022) Dean's Award for Graduate Education (2022) D. W. Brooks Diversity Award (2021) Lilly Teaching Fellow (2010-2012) Smith's funding portfolio features grants from the USDA NIFA, National Corn Growers Association, and NSF for projects on: Next-generation maize biotechnology Rust resistance mechanisms Microbiome-pathogen interactions Genetic diversity analysis

Cock van OosterhoutView profile

Professor

• Evolutionary Genetics
• Population Genetics
• Genomics
• +3 more

Cock van Oosterhout is a Professor of Evolutionary Genetics at the University of East Anglia (UEA), UK. He is Deputy Director of the Earth and Life Systems Alliance (ELSA) and a member of the Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation. His academic journey includes a PhD from Leiden University (Netherlands) and postdoctoral work at the University of Hull (UK). He has held roles from Post-doc to Reader before becoming a Professor in 2015. Research Interests: Evolutionary and population genetics of birds, fish, insects, plants, fungi, and oomycetes; recombination, hybridization, and introgression in genomics; immune gene evolution (MHC); software development (e.g., Micro-Checker, Hybrid-Check, Gyro-Scope). Recent Projects: Conservation genomics of endangered birds (Royal Society-funded). Pesticide-resistance gene evolution in aphids (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council). Adaptive evolution in polar diatoms (Leverhulme Trust). Teaching & Supervision: Teaches modules in Ecological Modelling and Evolutionary Biology. Supervises UG/MSc/PhD students in computational modelling and bioinformatics. Collaborates on marine biology projects in Tobago. Labs/Teams: Leads research at Norwich Research Park, collaborating with institutions in the UK and globally. Active in conservation initiatives for species like the pink pigeon and Mauritius birds.

Jan GogartenView profile

Researcher

• Primate microbiomes
• Zoonotic pathogens
• Ecological and evolutionary biology
• +3 more

Dr. Jan Gogarten is a researcher at the University of Greifswald within the Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation department. Their work focuses on primate-associated organism communities, including bacterial microbiomes, eukaryotic parasites, and pathogen-carrying flies, investigating how these communities shape primate health and conservation. Key collaborations with Helmholtz Institute for One Health , Robert Koch Institute , and Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Research spans zoonotic pathogen detection , molecular method development for genomic data generation, and climate change impacts on primate populations . Methodologies include longitudinal studies in Taï National Park and Kibale National Park, fly-derived DNA for biodiversity monitoring, and comparative datasets on sociality costs/benefits.

Ellen DecaesteckerView profile

Professor

• Microbiome research
• Host-stress interactions
• Environmental change and disease emergence
• +5 more

Prof. Ellen Decaestecker is a full Professor at KU Leuven's Faculty of Sciences and serves as Chair of the Interdisciplinary Research Facility for Biosciences at Campus Kulak Kortrijk. She is an active member of the Leuven One Health Institute, connecting environmental, animal, and human health research. Her work spans multiple departments within the Department of Biology, with a focus on freshwater ecosystems and host-microbiome interactions. Her research program investigates host-stress interactions in freshwater invertebrates, particularly focusing on three interconnected themes: the role of environmental change in disease emergence, the role of host microbiome in stress responses, and the role of epigenetics in innate immunology and conserved gene expression pathways. Through in vivo experimental setups, theoretical modeling, and molecular approaches, her team examines how freshwater organisms like Daphnia magna respond to environmental stressors including climate change, toxic cyanobacteria, and microplastics. Prof. Decaestecker's research demonstrates that the host microbiome plays a critical role in determining resilience to environmental stressors, with implications for understanding disease dynamics under changing environmental conditions. Her work bridges fundamental ecological questions with practical applications in environmental monitoring and conservation. She serves as Promotor or Co-promotor for numerous research projects funded through KU Leuven, FWO (Research Foundation Flanders), and international collaborations, with current projects extending through 2030. Her research group, MicrobiomeEcoEvo, includes multiple PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and affiliated scientists working across disciplines. Prof. Decaestecker actively mentors numerous PhD students who investigate various aspects of host-microbiome interactions, with research spanning from microbial transplants and axenic Daphnia experiments to field studies examining natural populations. Her group maintains strong connections with other research units at KU Leuven and international collaborators, particularly in the One Health framework. The MicrobiomeEcoEvo laboratory she leads at Campus Kulak Kortrijk serves as an interdisciplinary hub for research on host-microbiome-environment interactions. The lab utilizes advanced techniques including next-generation sequencing, microbial transplants, and experimental evolution approaches to unravel the complex relationships between hosts, their microbial communities, and environmental stressors.

Pascal GagneuxView profile

Researcher

• Evolutionary Biology
• Molecular Primatology
• Glycobiology
• +4 more

Pascal Gagneux is an Associate Director at the Center of Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA) and a joint faculty member in the Anthropology and Pathology Departments at the University of California San Diego. His research bridges evolutionary biology, glycobiology, and reproductive medicine, focusing on glycan roles in human-chimpanzee divergence and disease susceptibility. Education: PhD in Zoology (1998), MS in Population Biology (Basel University, Switzerland) Faculty: Cellular and Molecular Medicine (2007-present), CARTA (2008-present) As a molecular primatologist, he investigates glycan-mediated cellular recognition in reproduction and infection. His lab discovered sperm-associated neuraminidases critical for fertilization and demonstrated how influenza A viruses exploit sialic acid pathways. Current work explores human-specific glycan evolution through comparative anthropogeny frameworks. His publications span 2025-2020 , emphasizing: Glycan dynamics in age-related macular degeneration Human susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease Microbial-glycan interactions in infectious disease Evolution of postreproductive cognitive protection Sialome evolution in host-pathogen systems Transdisciplinary anthropogeny research While no specific awards are mentioned, his work integrates UCSD’s biological anthropology labs with sociocultural implications of glycan biology. He also directs a graduate specialization in anthropogeny across eight PhD programs. The Gagneux Lab operates at the intersection of glycobiology, reproduction, and evolutionary medicine, using primate models to decode molecular mechanisms distinguishing humans from other apes.

Monika Maurhofer BringolfView profile

Professor

• Plant Pathology
• Microbial Ecology
• Biological Control
• +5 more

Monika Maurhofer is a Professor at the Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich , specializing in multitrophic interactions within the rhizosphere. Her research bridges plant pathology, microbial ecology, and biological control of plant diseases and insect pests. 1988: Dipl. sc. nat., ETH Zurich 1993: Dr. sc. nat., ETH Zurich Research focuses on biocontrol pseudomonads and their molecular interactions with plants, fungi, and insects. Key projects include: Understanding Pseudomonas protegens mechanisms in rhizosphere colonization Comparative genomics of entomopathogenic bacteria Developing disease-suppressive compost diagnostics Investigating microbial consortia for pest control 2024-2025 publications highlight her work on entomopathogenic pseudomonads and nematode-bacteria symbiosis , with applications in sustainable agriculture. She received the Golden Owl Award for teaching excellence in 2014 and 2017. Current collaborations include Syngenta Crop Protection and interdisciplinary teams at University of Zurich and University of Basel.

Michael LandisView profile

Assistant Professor

• Computational Biology
• Statistical Inference
• Phylogenetics
• +9 more

Michael Landis is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Washington University in St. Louis, with a courtesy appointment in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering. He obtained his PhD in Biology from UC Berkeley, followed by postdoctoral fellowships at Iowa State University and Yale University. His research focuses on computational and statistical approaches to understand evolutionary processes, particularly phylogenetics, biogeography, and trait evolution. He develops probabilistic models and open-source software (e.g., RevBayes) to analyze evolutionary patterns in biological datasets. His work spans topics like historical biogeography, phylogenetic biome shifts, and the evolution of ecological interactions. Landis also teaches courses in bioinformatics and computational biology. His lab actively collaborates on projects involving plant radiations (e.g., Hawaiian plants) and viral phylogeography. Funded by NSF and other grants, his research integrates methods from computer science, statistics, and evolutionary biology. Education: PhD in Biology, UC Berkeley; Postdocs at Iowa State and Yale. Research interests include phylogenetic modeling, Bayesian inference, and deep learning applications in evolutionary studies. His lab emphasizes open-source tools and community-driven science. Current students and postdocs work on topics like chromosome evolution, viral spread dynamics, and phenotypic diversification. Lab values prioritize collaboration, mentorship, and balancing personal-professional life.

Levi MorranView profile

Associate Professor

• Host-Parasite Coevolution
• Mating System Evolution
• Adaptive Evolution
• +1 more

Levi Morran is Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Emory University, where he leads research on factors facilitating or constraining adaptive evolution using experimental approaches with model organisms. Research focus investigates coevolutionary dynamics between hosts and parasites, mating system evolution, and real-time adaptation at phenotypic, genotypic, and genomic levels. The lab combines microbiology with evolutionary theory to test mechanisms of genetic architecture change. Core inquiries include parasite-driven selection for host outcrossing, constraints on pathogen adaptation, and fitness trade-offs in symbiotic relationships. Model systems include Caenorhabditis nematodes and bacterial pathogens to examine evolutionary trajectories.

Kayla KingView profile

Professor

• Host-Pathogen Interactions
• Climate Change Biology
• Evolutionary Ecology
• +3 more

Kayla King is a Professor in the Departments of Zoology and Microbiology & Immunology at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and holds a Professorial Fellowship at the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on the contemporary ecology and evolution of host-pathogen/parasite interactions, integrating experimental evolution, comparative genomics, and field studies. Key research interests include climate change impacts on pathogen virulence, biodiversity loss effects on disease dynamics, and the evolutionary consequences of host jumps. She investigates microbial diversity, symbiosis, and the interplay between environmental stressors and host immunity. Education Affiliations: University of British Columbia (UBC) University of Oxford (as Professorial Fellow) Research Interests: Dr. King’s work spans microbial ecology, evolutionary theory, and environmental change. She explores how warming temperatures and habitat fragmentation influence pathogen transmission and host resistance. Her team uses experimental systems to study virulence evolution, microbiome functions, and the ecological basis of disease emergence. Recent projects examine symbiotic relationships, stress responses in hosts, and the role of biodiversity in disease regulation. Lab & Collaborations: The King Lab operates across UBC and Oxford, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to infectious disease dynamics. They collaborate on topics like protective microbiota, pathogen surveillance in wild animals, and applying evolutionary principles to disease control strategies. Awards: No specific awards listed in provided materials. Advising & Grants: While specific student names aren’t listed, the lab focuses on training researchers in experimental evolution and disease ecology. Funding sources include UBC’s Biodiversity Research Centre and academic excellence initiatives. Labs/Teams: King Lab (UBC Zoology & Microbiology & Immunology), part of the Biodiversity Research Centre’s collaborative network.

Corlett WoodView profile

Assistant Professor

• Evolutionary Ecology
• Plant-Microbe Interactions
• Genetic Pleiotropy
• +1 more

Corlett Wood is Assistant Professor of Biology at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts & Sciences. She holds a PhD in Biology from University of Virginia (2015) and BA in English Literature from Swarthmore College (2008), with postdoctoral training at University of Toronto. Her research investigates the evolution, ecology, and genetics of species interactions in plant root microbiomes. The Wood Lab studies how genetic pleiotropy influences mutualistic and parasitic interactions using Medicago plants and their microbial symbionts. Research combines fieldwork, greenhouse experiments, and genomics to examine how shared genetic pathways impact host adaptation. Current projects investigate genetic tradeoffs between mutualism and parasitism, context-dependent trait expression, and community assembly processes. Field research occurs at University of Pittsburgh's Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology, University of Virginia's Mountain Lake Biological Station, and University of Toronto's Koffler Scientific Reserve. Professor Wood received the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship (2018) and NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2010-2013), and directs the International Area Studies/Global Studies program. Honors and Awards: Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship (2018) Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Postdoctoral Fellow (2016-2018) Andrew Fleming Prize in Biology (2016) NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2010-2013)