Importance Sampling Professors and Supervisors

Jan KaiserView profile

Professor

Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate ChangeItaly

Professor Jan Kaiser is a Professor of Biogeochemistry at the University of East Anglia's School of Environmental Sciences, where he leads the Kaiser Lab focused on marine and atmospheric biogeochemistry. His research integrates chemistry, biology and physics to understand biogeochemical processes in the atmosphere and oceans. His research interests include: Marine gases and isotopologues Nitrate aerosol isotopes Trace gas isotopologues Greenland and Antarctic firn air Lake nitrogen cycling Ocean gliders for biogeochemical observations Professor Kaiser's laboratory develops high-precision analytical methods using isotope ratio mass spectrometers, cavity ring-down greenhouse gas analysers and ocean gliders. His most cited work involves the denitrifier method for triple oxygen isotope analysis of nitrate, which has become an important technique for studying nitrogen cycling in environmental systems. His research has significant implications for understanding atmospheric chemistry, marine productivity, and the impact of human activities on greenhouse gas emissions. The lab offers analytical services for nitrogen and oxygen isotopic analyses of nitrate in freshwater and seawater samples. Professor Kaiser has supervised numerous PhD students whose research spans polar snow chemistry, shelf sea productivity, marine observations using citizen scientists, and ocean carbon system monitoring. His work is supported by projects including EUROCHAMP-2020, NEEM, INTRAMIF, Arctic Lakes, GOPINA, and Pinch of Salt.

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Jens BukhView profile

Professor

University of CopenhagenDenmark

Jens Bukh is a Professor in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, specializing in Virology. His research is centered around the Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), focusing on basic studies of the hepatitis C virus life cycle with important clinical implications for developing better therapies and vaccines that address the global health burden affecting over 150 million people worldwide. Professor Bukh's research spans hepatitis C virus pathogenesis, viral evolution, antibody responses, and vaccine development. His work examines how hepatitis C virus evolves within hosts under immune pressure, particularly focusing on the hypervariable region 1 and its role in antibody evasion. He has expanded his research to include related hepaciviruses like the Norway rat hepacivirus as model systems, and more recently into SARS-CoV-2 cellular mechanisms. His laboratory investigates molecular mechanisms of viral persistence with the goal of informing therapeutic and vaccine development. Analysis of Professor Bukh's recent publications reveals a strong focus on viral immunity and evolution. His research examines cross-reactive neutralization, T cell responses, and viral escape mechanisms. He employs both in vitro and in vivo model systems, with significant work on the Norway rat hepacivirus as a valuable model for understanding hepatitis C virus biology. His collaborative work spans multiple institutions and leverages advanced techniques in virology and immunology. Professor Bukh leads the Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), which conducts fundamental research with direct clinical applications. His laboratory maintains active collaborations with clinical researchers and utilizes both human samples and animal models to advance understanding of hepacivirus biology. The program aims to contribute directly to the global effort to combat hepatitis C through improved understanding of viral pathogenesis and the development of more effective therapeutic and preventive strategies.

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Maarten Johannes NautaView profile

Lecturer

University of CopenhagenDenmark

Maarten Johannes Nauta serves as a Visiting Teacher in the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, focusing on Animal Welfare and Disease Control. Affiliated with Statens Serum Institut (SSI), his work bridges veterinary science and public health through risk assessment of zoonotic diseases and food safety challenges. His research spans One Health risk assessment, zoonotic disease incursion modeling, parasite control in fishery products, and Salmonella dynamics in poultry. He develops tools like L'ORA for dynamic risk evaluation and contributes to EFSA guidelines, emphasizing evidence-based approaches to animal-human health interfaces. Key methodologies include epidemiological modeling and quantitative microbial risk assessment. Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal strong trends in One Health tool development, EFSA guideline re-evaluation for seafood parasites, and border control efficacy for poultry imports. These works advance regulatory science in veterinary epidemiology, with applications in public health preparedness and food safety policy across European and international contexts. Dr. Nauta actively collaborates with the EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards and global research networks, as evidenced by multinational co-authorship on high-impact publications. His work is conducted within the Animal Welfare and Disease Control group at the University of Copenhagen, leveraging institutional partnerships for translational impact in disease control.

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Mita Eva SenguptaView profile

Assistant Professor

University of CopenhagenDenmark

Mita Eva Sengupta serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. Her research focuses on improving early detection and environmental surveillance of vectors and parasitic diseases important to animal and human health in Denmark and globally, with particular emphasis on molecular methods based on environmental DNA (eDNA). Dr. Sengupta's research interests include: Developing eDNA-based methods for rapid, non-invasive monitoring of disease vectors Understanding vector-microbiota-pathogen-environment interactions Investigating the role of vector microbiome in disease transmission capability Studying climate change impacts on vector-borne disease transmission Research on ticks, snails, and mosquito vectors transmitting diseases like babesiosis, TBE, and fasciolosis Her work demonstrates significant trends toward innovative molecular approaches for disease surveillance, with a clear emphasis on One Health principles connecting human, animal, and environmental health. Recent publications show increasing focus on applying eDNA technology across diverse geographical settings, from Denmark to Africa, with particular attention to climate change impacts on vector-borne disease dynamics. Dr. Sengupta is actively involved in the EU Horizon 2020 project PREPARE4VBD, developing eDNA-based detection tools for fasciolosis across different field settings from Denmark to South Africa. She runs molecular diagnostic workflows in the VectorLab as part of the research group 'Parasites, Vectors and the Environment'. Teaching responsibilities include veterinary medicine and biology courses on parasite diagnostics, environmental monitoring of vector-borne diseases, and human and zoonotic parasites. She also supervises master's and PhD students in her areas of expertise.

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Ida Klitzing StorgaardView profile

Research Fellow

University of CopenhagenDenmark

Ida Klitzing Storgaard is a Research Fellow at the Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. Her work focuses on translational and clinical pharmacology with expertise in pharmacometrics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics, contributing significantly to drug development and clinical application research. Her educational background includes: MSc Pharm in Pharmacy from the University of Copenhagen (awarded September 22, 2021) BSc Pharm in Pharmacy from the University of Copenhagen (awarded June 28, 2019) Dr. Storgaard's research spans several critical areas in clinical pharmacology. She has made substantial contributions to understanding drug delivery systems, particularly extended-release formulations, and has conducted important work on cannabis-based medicines for appetite stimulation in elderly patients. Her expertise in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeling has been applied across therapeutic areas including pain management, renal function assessment, and geriatric pharmacology. Her work consistently bridges theoretical pharmacometrics with practical clinical applications, with strong emphasis on patient-centered outcomes and special population considerations. Analysis of her publication record reveals a focused research trajectory centered on translational pharmacology with particular emphasis on special populations (especially elderly patients), innovative drug delivery systems, and methodological improvements in clinical pharmacology assessment. Her work demonstrates sophisticated expertise in population pharmacokinetic modeling and has significantly contributed to understanding variability in drug responses among different patient groups. Key thematic areas include cannabis-based therapeutics for appetite disorders, local anesthetic formulations with extended duration, pain management strategies for chronic conditions, and improved methodologies for renal function assessment. Dr. Storgaard maintains an active collaborative network across the University of Copenhagen and with clinical partners, reflecting the translational and interdisciplinary nature of her research. Her work frequently involves multidisciplinary teams that combine expertise in pharmacology, clinical medicine, and pharmaceutical technology, resulting in clinically relevant research with direct patient care implications.

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Kirsten Wiese SimonsenView profile

Researcher

University of CopenhagenDenmark

Kirsten Wiese Simonsen is a Forensic Chemist and PhD at the Section of Forensic Chemistry within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. With a Cand. Pharm. degree from 1984 and a PhD in clinical and analytical chemistry from 1988, she has extensive experience in forensic toxicology and drug-related research. Her career path includes positions at: Retskemisk Institut, Copenhagen (1 year) Retsmedicinsk Institut, Odense University (1989-1997) Retskemisk Afdeling, Aarhus University (1997-2001) Retskemisk Afdeling, University of Copenhagen (2001-present) Dr. Simonsen specializes in forensic chemistry with research interests focused on method development, street-level drug analysis, drug-related deaths, and the relationship between drugs and traffic safety. Her work has significant implications for public health policy and forensic science practices. Her research demonstrates consistent focus on drug-related mortality patterns across Nordic countries, impaired driving due to substances, and forensic toxicology methodology. She has led significant projects including the Nordic collaboration on drug-related deaths (which she has coordinated since 2007) and the Gadeplansprojektet (which she has led since 2000). Dr. Simonsen has contributed to important European research initiatives, most notably the DRUID project (2006-2011) which aimed to establish harmonized EU regulations for combating driving under the influence of alcohol, medicines, and drugs. Her scientific contributions have been recognized through: 54 research outputs including journal articles, reports, and conference presentations Collaboration in Nordic and European research networks Policy impact with references in policy sources Media attention with coverage in news outlets and social media Dr. Simonsen has served on various committees related to drugs and drug-related deaths, including committees under the Ministry of Justice (1989-1997), and various committees of the Danish Health Authority and Police. She has been involved in establishing projects like Gadeplansprojektet and Extasyprojektet. Her laboratory work focuses on forensic chemical analysis, particularly in the areas of drug testing, toxicology, and method validation for detecting substances in biological samples.

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Jonas MeisnerView profile

Assistant Professor

University of CopenhagenDenmark

Jonas Meisner serves as an Assistant Professor in the Rasmussen Group at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. His research program bridges population genetics, evolutionary biology, and statistical methodology development, with significant contributions to understanding genetic variation in both human and wildlife populations. Meisner's research interests center on population structure analysis , ancestry estimation methods , polygenic prediction techniques , and evolutionary history reconstruction . His work applies sophisticated statistical approaches to genomic datasets from diverse populations including Greenlandic Inuit communities and wildlife species such as giraffes and wildebeest. This research has important implications for understanding human adaptation, disease susceptibility patterns, and conservation strategies for endangered species. His publication record demonstrates a clear trajectory toward interdisciplinary research that integrates population genetics with evolutionary biology and medical genomics. Meisner frequently employs large-scale genomic analyses of both contemporary and ancient DNA samples, with particular emphasis on Arctic-adapted populations and wildlife conservation genetics. His methodological innovations in ancestry estimation and haplotype-based analysis have been featured in premier scientific journals including Nature, Cell, and Nature Genetics. Meisner is affiliated with the Rasmussen Group, a research team focused on advancing population genetics methodologies and applying them to significant biological and medical questions. The group's collaborative work spans human medical genetics, wildlife conservation genetics, and computational method development in statistical genetics.

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Emanuela GussoniView profile

Associate Professor

Boston Children's HospitalUnited States

Emanuela Gussoni is an Associate Professor in the Division of Genetics and Genomics at Harvard Medical School, with her laboratory based at Boston Children's Hospital. She leads the Gussoni Laboratory, which is part of the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center and Research Genetics and Genomics Research units at Boston Children's Hospital. Her work bridges basic science and clinical applications in the field of muscular dystrophy and muscle stem cell biology. Dr. Gussoni earned her PhD from the University of Milan, Italy, followed by postdoctoral training at Stanford University and Boston Children's Hospital. Her research career has focused on muscle stem cells and their potential for treating muscular dystrophy. Her laboratory investigates muscle stem cells in human and mouse tissues with the translational goal of developing cell-based strategies to enhance regeneration or slow the progression of muscular dystrophy. A primary focus is understanding the function of tetraspanin CD82 in muscle stem cells, which serves as an excellent prospective marker for myogenic cells. Her team also discovers new antigens expressed by muscle stem cells and studies their role in normal and diseased tissue. Her work has led to important discoveries about bipotent progenitors in skeletal muscle that can adopt either muscle or fat lineages, and proteins that mediate fusion of myoblasts into myofibers. Analysis of Dr. Gussoni's recent publications reveals a strong focus on muscle stem cell biology, with particular emphasis on CD82 as a marker for muscle satellite cells and its role in muscular dystrophies. Her work spans basic molecular mechanisms of muscle development and regeneration to translational applications for muscular dystrophy. Over the past decade, her research has evolved from characterizing muscle stem cell properties to developing potential therapeutic strategies, including cell-based therapies and understanding the molecular pathways that could be targeted for treatment. Harvard-BBS mentorship award for mentoring graduate students (2017) Permanent member of Muscular Dystrophy Association (USA) Scientific Advisory Committee (2006-2017) Dr. Gussoni has mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in her laboratory at Boston Children's Hospital. Her work has been supported by various grants focused on muscular dystrophy research and muscle stem cell biology. She has also contributed to the field through service on the Muscular Dystrophy Association Scientific Advisory Committee for over a decade. The Gussoni Laboratory consists of researchers working on various aspects of muscle stem cell biology, including molecular characterization of muscle progenitors, development of methods for isolating and expanding muscle stem cells, and testing cell-based therapies in animal models of muscular dystrophy. The lab collaborates with clinicians at Boston Children's Hospital through the Roya Kabuki Program, of which Dr. Gussoni serves as co-director, connecting basic research with clinical applications.

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Janelle M. JonesView profile

Senior Lecturer

Coastal Carolina UniversityUnited States

Janelle M. Jones is a Senior Lecturer in Social Psychology and Director of Graduate Studies at Queen Mary University of London, where she is affiliated with the Department of Psychology within the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences. Her academic work is centered in the Centre for Research in Social Psychology, where she investigates how group memberships shape self-perception, social interactions, and health outcomes. Dr. Jones earned her Ph.D. in Social Psychology from York University in 2009. Her academic trajectory includes significant research contributions at the University of Exeter before her current appointment at Queen Mary, where she has established herself as a leading scholar in social identity processes and health. Her research program examines how multiple group memberships (friends, family, social categories) influence psychological resilience, self-worth, and well-being across diverse contexts. She specifically investigates how group salience provides strength during challenges, strategies for managing conflicting identities, and the impact of group loss on psychological health following injury or life transitions. Her work demonstrates how social identity processes serve as critical resources during adversity, bridging theoretical social psychology with practical health applications. This research has important implications for understanding resilience mechanisms in clinical populations, aging individuals, and those experiencing social transitions. Analysis of Dr. Jones's publication record reveals a consistent thematic focus on social identity as a psychological resource across varied populations and contexts. Her research spans clinical settings (including psychosis and brain injury), aging populations, and general community samples, with a recurring emphasis on how multiple group memberships contribute to self-esteem, quality of life, and recovery from trauma. Her methodological approach combines experimental, survey, and qualitative techniques to examine the complex pathways through which social connections translate into psychological benefits. Senior Lecturer in Social Psychology at Queen Mary University of London Director of Graduate Studies overseeing psychology graduate programs Active researcher with publications in top journals including Clinical Psychological Science, PLOS ONE, and British Journal of Social Psychology Recipient of research funding for projects on social identity and health outcomes Dr. Jones teaches Essential Skills for Psychologists, Introduction to Positive Psychology, and Introduction to Social Psychology. She supervises graduate students through her leadership role and mentors early-career researchers in the Centre for Research in Social Psychology. Her laboratory currently focuses on social identity mapping techniques to understand quality of life in people with psychosis, employing both quantitative and qualitative methods to explore how individuals conceptualize their social worlds and how this relates to psychological outcomes.

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