Find Academic Supervisors

Petra KranzfelderView profile

Academic

• STEM Education
• Biology Education Research
• Active Learning Pedagogy
• +4 more

Petra Kranzfelder is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her work bridges entomology/aquatic ecology research with STEM education reform, focusing on evidence-based teaching practices to enhance equity in undergraduate and graduate science education. Education: BA (Biology/CA Studies/Spanish) from Colorado College; MS/PhD (Entomology) from University of Minnesota Research Interests: Active learning implementation, MSI STEM education, instructor discourse analysis Her Kranzfelder Lab develops tools like the Classroom Discourse Observation Protocol (CDOP) to assess teaching practices. Recent work addresses pandemic-era remote teaching challenges and barriers faced by underrepresented students. She teaches introductory biology courses and trains graduate teaching assistants. Publications emphasize pedagogical innovation, with over 20 articles in journals like CBE-Life Sciences Education and BioScience . Research spans from insect biodiversity studies in tropical estuaries to modern STEM education equity initiatives. Grants/Labs: Leads NSF-funded projects on MSI education; affiliated with Biology Education Research group. Current focus includes adapting COPUS protocol for online learning and developing follow-up discourse analysis frameworks (FUDOP).

Rafia KhanView profile

Assistant Professor

• Integrated Pest Management
• Horticulture
• Insect Pest Management
• +3 more

Rafia Khan is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Overton. Her work focuses on integrated pest management (IPM) for commercial ornamental nurseries and residential ornamental/turfgrass systems in East Texas. She leads applied research and extension programs addressing key pests like thrips, mealybugs, Crape Myrtle bark scales, and European pepper moths. Education: B.S. in Zoology, University of Dhaka M.S. from Austin Peay State University and University of Dhaka Ph.D. in Entomology, University of Florida Her expertise spans field and greenhouse horticulture, insect biology, and pest identification. She directly supports East Texas nursery industries through practical solutions for pest challenges.

Raja Babu KushwahView profile

Researcher

• Vector Control
• Insecticide Resistance
• Genetic Control Tool Development
• +3 more

Raja Babu Kushwah is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University, working under Dr. Zach Adelman. His research focuses on vector-borne disease control, insecticide resistance mechanisms, and genetic control tools. He holds a Ph.D. in Life Sciences from Indira Gandhi National Open University, preceded by an M.S. in Biotechnology and a B.S. in Biology. His research interests include studying mosquitoes (Aedes spp.) and the global spread of infections they transmit, with a focus on developing interventions to combat insecticide resistance. Notable projects include analyzing knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations in Indian Aedes aegypti populations and demonstrating allelic-drive technology in Drosophila to reverse resistance. Current work in Adelman's lab involves making gene drives biodegradable for safer vector control. Publications highlight his expertise in vector genomics, gene drive systems, and insecticide resistance dynamics. His work bridges molecular biology, genetic engineering, and public health, addressing critical challenges in tropical disease mitigation. Collaborations include Prof. Ethan Bier's lab at UC San Diego, where he validated gene drive applications in Drosophila. Educations: B.S. Biology, Maharishi Dayanand University M.S. Biotechnology, Barakatullah University Ph.D. Life Sciences, Indira Gandhi National Open University Research trends in his articles emphasize kdr mutation studies, gene drive efficacy, and vector competence analysis. His transdisciplinary approach integrates molecular techniques, computational modeling, and field-based epidemiology to tackle global health threats posed by insect vectors.

Aaron TaroneView profile

Professor

• Diptera biology
• Forensic entomology
• Genomics
• +7 more

Aaron Tarone is a Professor in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University and a member of Texas A&M AgriLife Research. He holds leadership roles in the NSF/NIJ-funded Center for Advanced Research in Forensic Science (CARFS). His expertise spans molecular and organismal biology of flies, forensic entomology, genomics, and decomposition ecology. He earned a BS in Genetics from UC Davis and a PhD in Zoology from Michigan State University. Dr. Tarone's research focuses on Diptera biology, including blow flies' role in forensic science, microbial ecology, and pest control. Key projects include genomic studies on forensic-relevant insects, thermal tolerance of blow flies, and collaborations with Jeff Tomberlin on decomposition microbiology and black soldier fly research. His work has produced over 70 peer-reviewed articles in journals like Nature , Science , and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . He has received recognition for co-editing Carrion Ecology, Evolution, and Their Applications , which was shortlisted for The Wildlife Society's 2018 Wildlife Publication Awards. His lab (Taronelab) develops tools for forensic entomology, including transcriptomic and proteomic approaches to age determination in insects. Grants and collaborations include NIJ-funded projects on decomposition microbiome dynamics and blow fly thermal limits. His work intersects with ant biology, pest control, and sustainable protein production via insect farming. Dr. Tarone teaches entomology and forensic science courses, emphasizing interdisciplinary applications of insect biology.

Suresh PillaiView profile

Professor

• Electron Beam Technology
• Food Safety
• Microbiology
• +4 more

Suresh Pillai is a Professor and Associate Department Head at Texas A&M University's College of Agriculture & Life Sciences. His research focuses on harnessing electron beam (eBeam) technology for food safety, environmental remediation, and vaccine development, alongside investigating links between human microbiome composition and criminal behavior. He holds a B.Sc. in Botany from the University of Madras, an M.Sc. in Industrial Microbiology from the same institution, and a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Arizona. Key areas of expertise include microbial pathogen detection and inactivation, PFAS chemical degradation, and radiation effects on medical device polymers. Pillai has received an Honorary Doctorate from Universidad Nacional del Altiplano (2018) and delivered a TEDx Talk on microbial influences on criminal behavior (2017). He served on the FDA Science Advisory Board (2014–2018). His laboratories include the Electron Beam Facility and NASA/Wylie Space Food Processing Facility, supported by a team of researchers and students. Current projects explore eBeam applications in phytosanitary treatment, medical device sterilization alternatives to cobalt-60, and PFAS remediation. Pillai advises multiple graduate students in Food Science, Toxicology, and Poultry Science. Publications emphasize eBeam's role in food quality preservation, pathogen control, and novel vaccine development. He collaborates with industry and government agencies to translate research into scalable solutions for public health and environmental challenges.

Sze Sing-HoiView profile

Associate Professor

• Bioinformatics
• Computational Biology
• Multiple Sequence Alignment
• +5 more

Sing-Hoi Sze is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering and Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics at Texas A&M University. His research focuses on computational biology, including multiple sequence alignment, motif finding, biological network analysis, and gene cluster identification. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Southern California (2000), an M.S. from Pennsylvania State University (1995), and a B.S. from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (1990). Awards include the 2006 Undergraduate Faculty Teaching Award from the Computer Science Department. His research projects involve developing algorithms for bioinformatics problems such as transcription factor binding site prediction and RNA-Seq analysis. His software tools include NDComplex for protein interaction network analysis, Post-Processing for de Bruijn graph splicing graphs, and SClassify for protein family classification. Teaching responsibilities include courses like CSCE 222 Discrete Structures, CSCE 433 Formal Languages and Automata, and BICH 419 Computational Techniques for Evolutionary Analysis. His work bridges computational methods with biological applications, emphasizing algorithmic innovation in genomics and systems biology.

• Neurobiology
• Olfactory System Evolution
• Drosophila Genetics
• +3 more

Richard Benton is a Full Professor at the Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne. He leads a research group focusing on the structure, function, and evolution of nervous systems, particularly the olfactory system in Drosophila. His work integrates bioinformatics, genetics, and behavioral analysis to study chemosensory receptors, neural circuit evolution, and ecological specialization. Key achievements include the discovery of Ionotropic Receptors (IRs) as insect olfactory receptors and identification of mechanisms underlying circadian plasticity and odor-guided behaviors. Education: PhD from the University of Cambridge (2003), postdoctoral fellowship at Rockefeller University. Joined UNIL in 2007 as Assistant Professor, promoted to Full Professor in 2018. Awards include the National Latsis Prize (2015) and Royal Society Fellowship (2021). Research Themes: Chemosensory receptor evolution and function Neurodevelopmental plasticity of olfactory circuits Ecological specialization in Drosophila sechellia Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation, ERC Grants (Starting/Consolidator/Advanced), EMBO, HFSP.

• Plant Physiology
• Climate Change Impacts
• Cocoa Agronomy
• +2 more

Paul Hadley is Professor at the University of Reading specializing in plant physiology and climate change impacts on agriculture. His research centers on cocoa agronomy, climate resilience in tropical crops, and sustainable horticulture practices. Research themes include: Physiological responses of cocoa to elevated CO2 and drought stress Climate change modeling for crop productivity Optimization of field establishment techniques for tropical crops Green infrastructure for urban environmental management His work combines experimental approaches with modeling studies across international contexts including West Africa, Indonesia, and the UK. Recent projects investigate virus identification in cocoa germplasm and soil management strategies using organic amendments.

Guillaume CarissimoView profile

Adjunct Assistant Professor

• Host-pathogen interactions
• Antiviral immunity
• Functional genomics
• +4 more

Guillaume Carissimo is an Investigator at A*STAR Infectious Diseases Laboratory (IDL) and holds adjunct positions as Assistant Professor at National University Singapore's Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme and Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technical University. He leads the Host Pathogens Interactions Lab focused on understanding viral hijacking of cellular pathways using multiOmics approaches. His research bridges functional genomics, immunology, and virology to develop host-directed therapies. Education: PhD in Functional Genomics (2014) from Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Sorbonne) and Pasteur Institute, Paris. Postdoctoral work at Singapore Immunology Network under Prof. Lisa Ng. Current roles include leadership in A*STAR's epidemic preparedness initiatives and Singapore's national COVID-19 research efforts. Research focuses on antiviral immunity in both mosquito vectors and mammalian hosts, with particular emphasis on SARS-CoV-2 immunopathology and multiOmics strategies. Recent work combines CRISPR-based tools with in vivo models to study host-pathogen interactions. Key achievements include discovery of novel insect-specific viruses and identification of microbiota's dual role in vector competence. His lab currently investigates host-directed therapies targeting conserved viral mechanisms across pathogen families. Grants: NMRC-Young Investigator Research Grant (2020) Lab Members: 6 PhD/Postdoc researchers including Samuel TONG and Estelle GOH

• Biodiversity Conservation
• Entomology
• Insect Taxonomy
• +3 more

Frode Ødegaard is an Associate Professor at NTNU's Department of Natural History, specializing in biodiversity and conservation biology of insects. His work spans Norway and international contexts, with a focus on hymenopterans (wasps, ants, bees) and their ecological roles. He authored books like Humler i Norge (Ants in Norway) and Maur i Norge (Ants in Norway), and contributes to national insect monitoring programs through NINA (Norwegian Institute for Nature Research). Key research interests include ant symbionts, parasitic Hymenoptera, and species distribution in Norway. He collaborates extensively on projects like Insektovervåking , tracking pollinators and threatened species. His publications emphasize taxonomic revisions, new species descriptions, and conservation assessments. Notable contributions include documenting new species in Norway (e.g., Xorides indicatorius ), studying bumblebee ecology, and evaluating invasive species impacts. He also leads field surveys and produces popular science materials to enhance public understanding of entomology.

Linda EvansView profile

Associate Professor

• Egyptology
• Environmental History
• Ancient Egyptian Art
• +5 more

Linda Evans is an Associate Professor in the School of Humanities at Macquarie University, specializing in Egyptology with a focus on environmental history and human-animal relationships in ancient Egypt. Her research explores how ancient Egyptians interacted with non-human animals through religious ideas, art, and philosophy. She has contributed to major projects like the Ancient Cultures Research Centre (MQACRC) and MQRC: Centre for Ancient Cultural Heritage and Environment (CACHE), collaborating internationally on archaeological sites such as El Hosh. Key projects include studies on petroglyphs, tomb art symbolism, and Egyptian fauna representation. Publications span topics from ancient pest management to genetic diversity of African livestock. Active in heritage communication, as seen in her 2023 study on improving public engagement with archaeological discoveries. Her research interests include animal behavior in art, ecological symbolism, and the intersection of cultural practices with natural history. Evans has led fieldwork at Beni Hassan and El Hosh, producing volumes on tomb art and environmental history. She co-organized the 2017 Weidenbach Symposium, showcasing her commitment to interdisciplinary academic collaboration.

• Animal Behavior
• Entomology
• Behavioral Ecology
• +5 more

Mariella Herberstein is a Professor in the School of Natural Sciences at Macquarie University, with extensive research contributions in behavioral ecology, arachnology, and thermal biology. Her work focuses on spider behavior (particularly Argiope and Araneidae), damselfly thermal tolerance, mimicry systems, and chemical defenses in insects, with over 200 research outputs and an h-index of 47. Her research interests span animal behavior, entomology, behavioral ecology, arachnology, thermal biology, climate adaptation, chemical ecology, and evolutionary biology. She investigates how organisms adapt to environmental challenges, with particular emphasis on spider web-building behaviors, thermal tolerance mechanisms in Australian insects, and the evolution of mimicry systems. Analysis of her recent publications reveals strong trends in trait-based behavioral ecology approaches, advanced neuroanatomical imaging techniques for small arthropods, climate change impacts on insect thermal physiology, and sexual dimorphism in defensive strategies. Her work bridges fundamental evolutionary questions with practical conservation applications. Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor's Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2010) Professor Herberstein actively supervises research projects and collaborates across disciplines, with notable involvement in the Macquarie University Species Spectrum Research Center. Her work includes significant contributions to understanding spider behavior, thermal adaptation in Australian insects, and the mechanisms behind imperfect mimicry systems. She has led multiple research initiatives including 'Unlocking the paradox of imperfect mimicry' and 'Tough stickers: How are thread anchors of spiders structurally optimized and ecologically adjusted?'

• Botany
• Pollen Morphology
• Palynology
• +4 more

Silvia Ulrich is a Researcher at the Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research within the Faculty of Life Sciences at the University of Vienna. Her work focuses on palynology, plant systematics, and the application of microscopy techniques to study pollen morphology and fossil records. She has contributed significantly to understanding angiosperm evolution, plant-pollinator interactions, and paleoecological reconstructions through her research on fossil pollen and contemporary plant species. Her research interests include but are not limited to: the morphological and ultrastructural analysis of pollen grains using SEM and LM, the differentiation of plant taxa via pollen characteristics, and the exploration of paleovegetation patterns through fossil records. She has collaborated extensively on projects involving Miocene and Eocene flora, contributing to studies on the biogeography of relict plant genera and the evolution of pollination systems. Ulrich’s publications highlight her expertise in interdisciplinary approaches, combining palynological data with entomological and geological evidence to reconstruct ancient ecosystems. Her work on pollen-feeding tadpoles and carpenter bees underscores her interest in integrating microfossil evidence with broader ecological questions. She is also involved in database initiatives such as PalDat, advancing standardized pollen terminology and identification tools. While no specific scientific awards are listed, her prolific output (over 65 publications) and active participation in international conferences (e.g., EGU25, 2024) reflect her impactful contributions to botany and palynology. Her research aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.

Robert HannerView profile

Professor

• Molecular Biodiversity
• DNA Barcoding
• Environmental DNA (eDNA)
• +4 more

Robert Hanner is a Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph, leading the Biodiversity Institute for Conservation Synthesis. He joined the university in 2005 and has pioneered research in molecular biodiversity, focusing on food security, DNA-based bio-surveillance, and environmental DNA (eDNA) applications. His work addresses market substitution in food products, agricultural pest detection, and conservation of aquatic species-at-risk through eDNA technology. Funded by NSERC, OCE, and industry partners, his research integrates citizen science and interdisciplinary collaborations. He directs the Hanner Lab and teaches courses in biodiversity interpretation. Education: B.Sc. from Eastern Michigan University and Ph.D. from the University of Oregon. Previously held roles at the American Museum of Natural History and Coriell Institute for Medical Research, and served as ISBER President. Research interests emphasize DNA barcoding, genetic resource curation, and molecular tools for biodiversity conservation. His lab develops methods for eDNA detection, including real-time field applications for endangered species monitoring. Key collaborations involve Canadian Food Inspection Agency, NGOs, and global partners like Limnotech and SLR Consulting. Over 100 peer-reviewed publications address food fraud, eDNA methodology, and species delimitation. Labs/Teams: Hanner Lab, Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, and leadership in the Barcode of Life initiative. Current projects include eDNA-based conservation of species-at-risk and validation of molecular methods for food authenticity.

David HughesView profile

Professor

• Behavior
• Bioinformatics
• Cell Biology
• +7 more

David Hughes is a Professor of Entomology and Biology at Pennsylvania State University's Department of Biology. He holds affiliations with the Department of Entomology and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences. His research focuses on parasite manipulation of host behavior, biodiversity of insect parasites, disease transmission in social insect societies, and the intersection of human behavior with epidemics. He has pioneered studies on zombie ant fungi and the extended phenotypes of parasites, combining fieldwork, molecular biology, and computational modeling. Education: Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Oxford (2003), B.S. in Zoology from the University of Glasgow (1999). Awards include Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship (2008–2011) and Varley-Gradwell Travelling Fellowship (2004). Key research themes include understanding how parasites like Ophiocordyceps fungi control ant behavior, exploring biodiversity in tropical ecosystems, and developing AI tools for disease surveillance in agriculture and public health. Hughes collaborates across disciplines, leveraging big data and machine learning for global challenges such as crop protection and epidemic response. Recent work includes AI-based dietary assessment tools for adolescents in Ghana, deep learning models for plant disease detection, and climate-driven forecasts for pest outbreaks. His lab also investigates the cultural evolution of cities and its impact on disease dynamics. Current projects emphasize global soil moisture modeling and sustainable agricultural practices for smallholder farmers.