Find Academic Supervisors

Raluca MateescuView profile

Associate Professor

• Quantitative Genetics
• Animal Genomics
• Livestock Production Efficiency
• +3 more

Raluca Mateescu is an Associate Professor of Quantitative Genetics & Genomics in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Florida. Previously, she served at Oklahoma State University for seven years. Her research focuses on leveraging advances in animal genomics to enhance livestock production efficiency and improve animal products' nutritional value for human health. Education: She holds a B.S. in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Bucharest University (Romania), and M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Breeding and Genetics from Cornell University. Research Interests: Her work centers on beef cattle, sheep, and goat molecular genetics, particularly unraveling the genetic basis of complex traits like thermotolerance, meat quality, and resilience to environmental stressors. Recent efforts include genomic analyses of sweat gland characteristics, breed composition impacts on heat stress, and improving meat nutritional profiles. Laboratory: The Mateescu Lab emphasizes translating genetic discoveries into practical applications for the livestock industry, such as enhancing animal resilience and product quality. Advising & Collaborations: She mentors students like Kaitlyn Sarlo Davila, who won a 2020 Golden Helix Abstract Competition. Her lab collaborates on genomic tools for stakeholders, bridging academic research with industry needs.

Melanie WilkinsonView profile

Research Fellow

• Plant Genomics
• Evolutionary Biology
• Crop Breeding
• +5 more

Dr. Melanie Wilkinson is a Research Fellow at The University of Queensland's Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), affiliated with the Faculty of Science and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture. Her work bridges plant genomics, evolutionary biology, and crop breeding with a focus on adaptive mechanisms in Australian flora and horticultural crops. Education: PhD in Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland (2019) Her research integrates genomic prediction, adaptive evolution, and crop improvement, with particular expertise in mango genetics and Australian wildflower speciation. Key projects examine chromosomal inversions in mango breeding traits, gravitropic adaptation mechanisms, and ensemble-based genomic prediction models for plant breeding. Her work frequently employs GWAS, transcriptome analysis, and hybrid zone studies to unravel genetic architectures of parallel evolution. Article analysis reveals a strong focus on plant adaptation mechanisms (70% of publications), with mango genomics and Senecio speciation as dominant model systems. Recent work (2023-2025) emphasizes genomic prediction methodologies and structural variant impacts on breeding traits, showing a clear shift toward translational agricultural applications while maintaining evolutionary biology foundations. Supervision: Principal Advisor: APSIM-WGP for soybean yield stability Associate Advisor: Machine learning for gene networks, Evolution of genetic networks Completed: Polygenic architecture of Senecio adaptation (2024) Dr. Wilkinson operates within QAAFI's genomic prediction research group and collaborates extensively with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success, focusing on translating evolutionary insights into crop improvement strategies through interdisciplinary teams spanning genomics, bioinformatics, and horticulture.

• Functional Genomics
• Proteomics
• Molecular Plant Science
• +3 more

Dr. Urmila Basu is a Faculty Service Officer at the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences, leading core research and teaching facilities. She holds a Ph.D., M.Sc., and B.Sc. (Honors). Her work focuses on managing labs like the Genomics and Proteomics unit, supporting crop and livestock improvement through functional genomics and proteomics. She co-chairs committees on safety and agricultural genomics. Research interests include plant pathology (clubroot resistance in canola), non-coding RNAs, and omics technologies. She teaches AFNS 575 , a course on advanced functional genomics. Awards include the 2012 Faculty Teacher of the Year. Her articles highlight clubroot resistance mechanisms, Brassica transcriptomics, and silicon’s role in mitigating plant stress. She collaborates internationally on crop improvement and pathogen response studies.

Ramon Leon GonzalezView profile

Professor

• Agricultural Weed Management
• Weed Ecology
• Crop-Livestock Systems
• +4 more

Ramon Leon Gonzalez is the William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor and University Faculty Scholar at North Carolina State University, leading the Weed Biology and Ecology department. As Director of Graduate Programs, he oversees research focused on understanding how agricultural practices influence weed behavior and developing sustainable management strategies. His work integrates ecological principles with technological innovations like 3D imaging and machine learning for precision agriculture. His research emphasizes crop-weed interactions, herbicide resistance, cover crop breeding, and the impacts of climate variation on weed suppression. Notable projects include studying Palmer amaranth resistance evolution, cereal rye cover crop dynamics, and robotic data collection systems for biomass estimation. He collaborates across 16 U.S. states in cover crop assessments and leads efforts to develop PROTAC-based weed control biotechnology. Key achievements include establishing the Weed Biology and Ecology Laboratory and pioneering integrated approaches to seedbank management. Despite no explicitly listed students, his involvement in graduate program leadership suggests active academic mentoring. Awards include prestigious university distinctions reflecting his contributions to agricultural science. Recent articles highlight advancements in robotic platforms for weed detection, molecular analysis of herbicide resistance, and critical period modeling for grass weed control. His work bridges traditional agronomy with cutting-edge technologies, addressing both practical farm challenges and long-term ecological sustainability.

• Evolutionary Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Aquatic Ecology
• +3 more

Thomas Reed is a Senior Lecturer in Zoology at the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), University College Cork (UCC), Ireland. He holds a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Edinburgh and has held academic roles since 2015, including College Lecturer at UCC and Research Fellow at BEES. His research focuses on evolutionary ecology, particularly how organisms adapt to human-influenced environments, with a focus on fish (Atlantic salmon, Pacific salmon, trout) and birds (woodland songbirds, seabirds). His work integrates field experiments, genetics, and modeling to study life history evolution and population dynamics. Education: BSc Environmental Science (Hons), National University of Ireland, Galway (1998–2002) PhD in Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, UK (2004–2007) Research Interests: His projects include studying reverse-domestication in Atlantic salmon, genetic introgression from farmed salmon, and migratory tactics in brown trout. He explores climate change impacts on marine vertebrates and malaria vector ecology. Recent grants include funding from the Marine Institute, Department of Agriculture, and Horizon 2020. Articles Trends: Recent work emphasizes genetic and environmental drivers of migration, climate adaptation in fish populations, and genomic approaches to marine species forecasting. Key themes include evolutionary responses to human pressures and ecological stressor interactions. Awards: 2019: Highly Commended Mid-Career Researcher Award (Irish Ecological Association) 2016: UCC Early Stage Researcher of the Year Advising & Grants: Supervises doctoral students in evolutionary ecology. Secured grants totaling over €2.5M, including studies on salmon genetics and climate impacts. Collaborates with institutions like NOAA, University of Washington, and the Netherlands Institute of Ecology. Labs/Teams: Active in BEES research groups on aquatic conservation and evolutionary genetics, working closely with collaborators such as Prof. Marcel Visser and Dr. Phillip McGinnity.

David M. StellyView profile

Professor

• Plant Breeding
• Genetics
• Molecular Plant Sciences
• +7 more

David M. Stelly is a Professor at Texas A&M University with a joint appointment at Texas A&M AgriLife Research. He holds a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1983). His work focuses on plant breeding, genetics, and genomics, with over 40 years of experience in crop improvement through germplasm utilization. Research emphasizes Upland cotton and sorghum, involving cytogenetics, genome mapping, and reproductive biology. Education: Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1983. Research interests include wild-species germplasm introgression, chromosome substitution, marker-assisted selection, and sequencing technologies. His team includes members such as Himabindhu Badavath and Kathleen Costello. Notable contributions include genome mapping methodologies and collaborative projects highlighted in the Blue Genes & Boots podcast and NASEM profiles. Teaching includes courses like Cytogenetics (GENE 620) and Graduate Research (GENE 691).

• Genetics
• Plant Breeding
• Genomics
• +4 more

Arnaud Bovy is a researcher in Plant Breeding at Wageningen University & Research, focusing on the genetics of fruit quality traits in crops such as tomato, eggplant, and pepper. With over 117 research outputs and 23 active and finished projects, his work spans genomics, metabolomics, and molecular breeding to enhance flavor, nutritional value, and stress tolerance in plants. Education : Not explicitly mentioned in provided text His research interests include Genetics , Plant Breeding , Genomics , and Molecular Biology , with specific emphasis on flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and heat tolerance in crops. Recent articles highlight trends in Metabolomics , QTL Mapping , and Phenomics , particularly in Capsicum and Solanum species. In projects like Metabolic regulation of banana fruit quality and From QTL to gene in pepper , Bovy contributes to translating genomic data into practical breeding targets. He has co-supervised PhD candidates and participated in media coverage on breakthroughs such as the key gene turning bitter tomatoes sweet .

Jill HamiltonView profile

Associate Professor

• Conservation Genetics
• Genomics
• Evolutionary Biology
• +7 more

Jill Hamilton is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at The Pennsylvania State University, where she conducts research at the interface of genomics, evolutionary biology, and ecological restoration. She is affiliated with the Institute of Energy and the Environment (IEE) as an Affiliate Researcher, contributing to interdisciplinary efforts addressing climate change and biodiversity conservation. Her research focuses on understanding the genetic basis of adaptation, hybridization, and dispersal in perennial plant systems such as Torrey pine, Oregon ash, and Prairie Smoke. Using advanced genomic and transcriptomic tools, she investigates how plant populations respond to environmental stressors and climate change, with direct applications to conservation and restoration strategies. The trends in her recent publications highlight a strong emphasis on landscape genomics, conservation policy (e.g., integrating genetic data into IUCN Red List assessments), seed sourcing for climate-resilient ecosystems, and the role of hybridization in adaptation. Her work bridges fundamental evolutionary questions with practical conservation outcomes. Conservation Genetics Genomics Evolutionary Biology Ecological Restoration Climate Change Adaptation Plant Population Genetics Scientific Awards: No specific awards are mentioned in the provided text. Advising and Grants: Jill Hamilton collaborates extensively on federally and institutionally supported research initiatives, particularly in forest genetics and climate adaptation. While no explicit list of grants or students is provided, her co-authorship with early-career researchers and involvement in large collaborative projects suggest active mentorship and grant-funded research. She contributes to national conversations on assisted migration and genomic monitoring of threatened species. Labs and Teams: Dr. Hamilton is part of the IEE Research Themes on Climate and Natural Systems at Penn State. She collaborates with researchers across the U.S. and internationally on topics including forest genetics, assisted migration, and conservation genomics. Her lab likely supports graduate students and postdoctoral researchers focused on plant evolutionary ecology and conservation applications.

Matt OlsonView profile

Associate Professor

• Population genetics
• Plant genomics
• Sex chromosome evolution
• +5 more

Matt Olson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Texas Tech University, specializing in population genetics and plant evolutionary biology. His research focuses on genetic differentiation, sex chromosome evolution, and adaptation in natural plant systems using interdisciplinary approaches. Education: Ph.D., Duke University M.S., Louisiana State University B.S., University of Texas at Austin His lab investigates two major projects: (1) latitudinal adaptation in poplar trees and (2) evolution of cytoplasmic male sterility in Silene vulgaris . Research methods include common gardens, field experiments, genetic crosses, DNA sequencing, and coalescent modeling across diverse geographic sites (Alaska, Canada, Virginia, Czech Republic). Research Trends: Recent publications emphasize phylogenomics, sex chromosome dynamics, and adaptive radiation in willows and poplars, with specific attention to hybridization patterns, chloroplast capture mechanisms, and climate-driven evolutionary changes. Scientific Awards: NSF/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Molecular Evolution (1998) His work has significant implications for tree breeding, mitochondrial-nuclear co-evolution, and predicting evolutionary responses to climate change. The lab's phylogenomic studies reveal ancient hybridization events, while sex chromosome research demonstrates mechanisms like ZW system evolution and palindromic repeat conservation.

Jorge Alexander Duitama CastellanosView profile

Associate Professor

• Bioinformatics
• Population Genomics
• Computational Biology
• +3 more

Jorge Alexander Duitama Castellanos is an Associate Professor at the Department of Systems Engineering and Computing , University of Los Andes, Colombia. He coordinates the Master's Degree in Computational Biology program and leads research in bioinformatics, population genomics, and algorithm development for biological data analysis. PhD in Computer Science and Engineering, University of Connecticut (2010) Master of Systems and Computer Engineering, University of Los Andes (2004) Systems and Computer Engineer, University of Los Andes (2003) His research focuses on genomic data analysis , including structural variant detection, transposable element identification, and metabolic network visualization. He develops bioinformatics tools like NGSEP and Phallett , with applications in: Long-read sequencing alignment Population genomics of pathogens Plant stress response mechanisms Viral taxonomy profiling Recent publications highlight innovations in entropy-weighted minimizers , LTR retrotransposon detection , and machine learning for medical imaging . His work spans interdisciplinary collaborations in: Computational biology Plant genomics Parasitology Software engineering

Helmut BlumView profile

Professor

• Genomics
• Transcriptomics
• Molecular Biology
• +3 more

Helmut Blum is a Professor and Group Leader at the Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis , part of the Gene Center at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München . His work spans genomics , transcriptomics , and bioinformatics , with a focus on SARS-CoV-2 surveillance , mammalian developmental processes , and livestock genetics . Education: Dr. rer. nat. in Biochemistry, University of Würzburg (1988) Doctoral Thesis in Biochemistry, University of Würzburg (1984-1988) Diploma in Chemistry, University of Würzburg (1979-1984) Research Areas Blum's research integrates next-generation sequencing to study: SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology (variant tracking via wastewater analysis) Early embryonic development (maternal RNA degradation, allele-specific transcription) Domestic animal genomics (sheep adaptation, cattle traits) Disease models (diabetes multi-omics, lymphoma immune evasion) Scientific Awards Faculty Prize, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Würzburg (1989) Students & Collaborators His team includes: Dr. Alexander Graf (Staff Scientist) Dr. Stefan Krebs (Research Associate) Dr. Susanne Thieme (Postdoctoral Researcher) Sarah Reschke (Doctoral Researcher) Daniela Opitz (Technical Assistant)

Diaa Abd El-MoneimView profile

Associate Professor

• Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance
• Molecular Genetics
• Genomics
• +6 more

Diaa Abd El-Moneim is an Associate Professor of Molecular Genetics at the Faculty of Environmental and Agricultural Sciences, Arish University . His academic journey began with an MSc in Plant Breeding and Genetics at Suez Canal University, followed by a PhD at Complutense University of Madrid (Erasmus Mundus Scholarship). He later secured an AECID-funded postdoctoral fellowship at the National Center of Biotechnology (CNB) in Madrid. Education: MSc in Plant Breeding and Genetics (Suez Canal University), PhD in Molecular Biology (Complutense University of Madrid) Research Focus: Molecular mechanisms of plant stress tolerance, DNA barcoding, chloroplast genomics, and transcriptional regulators in crops. His research integrates proteomics, gene expression analysis, and molecular tools to enhance plant resilience to abiotic stresses (salinity, drought, aluminum toxicity). Notable methodologies include GWAS, SSR/RAPD/SCoT marker development, and chloroplast genome characterization. His work has led to high-impact publications and collaborations with international institutions. Scientific Contributions: Decoding stress-responsive proteins and gene families Advancing molecular breeding for drought/heat tolerance in wheat Developing DNA barcoding tools for species identification Major Awards: Erasmus Mundus Scholarship AECID Postdoctoral Fellowship Professional Roles: Lecturing on plant molecular genetics Leading abiotic stress research projects Collaborating with national/international research organizations Supervising graduate and undergraduate researchers

Charles ChenView profile

Assistant Professor

• Genomics
• Bioinformatics
• Plant Genetics
• +3 more

Charles Chen is an Assistant Professor of Bioinformatics at Oklahoma State University (OSU), holding a dual affiliation with the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Institute for Biosecurity & Microbial Forensics (IBMF). His research office is located in Room 348G of the Noble Research Center in Stillwater, OK, where he conducts interdisciplinary work at the intersection of genomics, bioinformatics, and agricultural security. Dr. Chen's research program focuses on deciphering the genetic, environmental, and evolutionary mechanisms driving biological diversity, with particular emphasis on plant systems. His work spans: Genomic analysis of climate adaptation in conifers, wheat, and peanut Microbiome dynamics in agricultural biosecurity contexts Drought stress response mechanisms and breeding for climate resilience Development of computational frameworks for genomic prediction and breeding optimization Integration of UAV-based phenotyping with genomic data His recent publications (2023-2025) reveal a cohesive research trajectory centered on applying advanced genomic tools to solve pressing agricultural challenges. Key thematic areas include drought adaptation in forest trees and crops, genomic selection methodologies, and the fusion of computational biology with field-based phenomics. His work consistently bridges theoretical genomics with practical breeding applications, particularly in climate-vulnerable systems. Dr. Chen actively collaborates with the Oklahoma Wheat Commission and Oklahoma Wheat Research Foundation, as evidenced by his involvement in wheat microbiome projects. While specific advisees aren't listed in available materials, his research scope suggests mentorship of students in computational genomics and plant breeding. His work receives support from agricultural research initiatives focused on climate-resilient crop development. As a core member of OSU's Institute for Biosecurity & Microbial Forensics, he contributes bioinformatic expertise to agricultural security projects. His laboratory likely integrates high-performance computing with molecular biology approaches, maintaining collaborations across plant science, forestry, and computational disciplines to address food security challenges through genomic innovation.

Jeffrey Ross-IbarraView profile

Professor

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

Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra is a Professor in the Department of Evolution and Ecology at the University of California, Davis. His research focuses on evolutionary genomics of maize and its wild relatives, including teosinte, with an emphasis on understanding the genetic basis of domestication, adaptation, and crop improvement. Ross-Ibarra holds a BA in Botany (UC Riverside, 1998), an MS in Botany (UC Riverside, 2000), and a PhD in Genetics (University of Georgia, 2006). His research interests span computational biology, quantitative genetics, and evolutionary systems biology, particularly in studying how genetic variation contributes to adaptation in plants under natural and agricultural conditions. He leads the RIlab at UC Davis, which integrates genomic data with field experiments to explore topics like genomic architecture of adaptation, transposable element dynamics, and the evolutionary consequences of domestication. Ross-Ibarra has received prestigious awards including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (2009) and the Maize Genetics Mid-Career Award for Research Excellence (2021). His work often bridges evolutionary theory with applied plant breeding challenges, such as leveraging wild genetic diversity to enhance crop resilience to climate change. He teaches courses including BIS 101 (Genes and Gene Expression), PBI 200A (Plant Biology), and ECL 243 (Ecological Genomics). His lab's research has been featured in high-impact journals like Nature Genetics and PNAS, with a focus on maize genome evolution, introgression patterns, and the genomic basis of adaptive traits.

Oliver ReutimannView profile

Researcher

• Adaptive Evolution
• Climate Change Biology
• Genomic Adaptation
• +3 more

Oliver Reutimann is a Researcher in the Plant Ecological Genetics group at ETH Zurich's Department of Environmental Systems Science. His work focuses on understanding evolutionary adaptation in plant populations, particularly under climate change pressures. He holds a PhD from ETH Zurich (2025) and has conducted postdoctoral research since 2025, building on prior experience as a Research Assistant at the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL (2019–2020). Education: 2020–2025: Doctorate in Plant Ecological Genetics, ETH Zurich 2017–2019: MSc in Biology (Systematics & Evolution), University of Zurich 2014–2017: BSc in Biology, University of Zurich Research Interests : Dr. Reutimann investigates how plant populations adapt to environmental changes through genomic and ecological approaches. Key themes include: Genomic basis of local adaptation Climate resilience in agricultural and natural systems Hybridization dynamics in oaks and other species Conservation strategies for climate-vulnerable populations His work integrates field experiments, quantitative genetics, and high-resolution environmental data to predict adaptive traits and guide conservation efforts. Publications highlight adaptation mechanisms in Lactuca serriola, Quercus spp., and other species, emphasizing niche-edge dynamics and soil heterogeneity effects. His doctoral thesis (2025) synthesizes climate-associated evolutionary processes across scales. Grants and Collaborations: ETH-funded project: Drivers of niche expansion during biological invasions (ETH-29 19-2) Collaboration with WSL on oak hybridization and forest resilience Labs/Teams: Core member of the Plant Ecological Genetics group at ETH Zurich, focusing on genomic and ecological adaptation studies.