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Yin-Long QiuView profile

Associate Professor

• Plant Evolution
• Molecular Phylogenetics
• Plant Genomics
• +5 more

Dr. Yin-Long Qiu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan, where he also serves as Associate Curator of the U-M Herbarium. His research focuses on understanding the evolution of land plants through molecular approaches. Dr. Qiu received his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1993, followed by an NIH postdoctoral fellowship at Indiana University in 1997. His academic journey has positioned him as a leading researcher in plant evolutionary biology. Dr. Qiu's research spans three primary areas: reconstructing plant phylogeny using molecular approaches, investigating evolution of mitochondrial and nuclear genomes in early land plants, and examining the effects of environmental changes on plant evolution. His work has particularly focused on group II introns in mitochondrial genomes, early land plant diversification patterns, and the genetic basis of plant-environment interactions. His lab continues to advance knowledge in these areas while developing new projects on nuclear genome evolution, particularly the roles of introns and transposons. Analysis of Dr. Qiu's publication record reveals a consistent focus on plant evolutionary genomics, with particular emphasis on mitochondrial genome evolution across land plants. His research spans from molecular dating of plant divergences to detailed genomic structural analyses, with significant contributions to understanding bryophytes, lycophytes, and early vascular plants. NIH postdoctoral fellowship Dr. Qiu teaches Plant Evolution (EEB 420), an advanced course that covers plant phylogeny, evolutionary genomics, evolutionary developmental biology, and evolutionary ecology of plants. His graduate student Alexander Taylor continues his research tradition in plant evolutionary studies. Dr. Qiu's work has been supported by various research grants that have enabled extensive genomic analyses across diverse plant lineages. As Associate Curator of the U-M Herbarium, Dr. Qiu integrates traditional botanical resources with modern genomic approaches to advance plant evolutionary research.

• Sustainable Spatial Planning
• Land Use Planning
• Urban and Regional Development
• +12 more

Gernot Stöglehner is a Full Professor at the Institute of Spatial Planning, Environmental Planning and Land Rearrangement , part of the Department of Landscape, Water and Infrastructure at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) . He holds a doctorate and habilitation in environmental planning, with a career spanning research, teaching, and applied consultancy. His research focuses on sustainable spatial planning, land use efficiency, integrated spatial and energy planning, climate resilience, and environmental assessment . He investigates how urban and regional development patterns impact energy demand, environmental quality, and climate adaptation, advocating for land-saving strategies and resilient settlement structures. His work bridges planning theory with practical policy tools. The recent publications reflect a strong trend in spatial resilience, energy transition, climate change adaptation, and sustainable land use . Articles cover topics such as flood recovery, urban energy modeling for electric vehicles, bioeconomy spatial aspects, and methodological foundations of planning. His research is highly applied, often contributing to policy frameworks and strategic planning instruments. Preis der Prof. Anton-Kurir-Stiftung zur Unterstützung des wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses (2004) Stöglehner has led or participated in over 60 research projects, many as principal investigator, funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), the European Commission, and Austrian federal and regional governments. His projects often involve interdisciplinary teams and knowledge transfer to municipalities and planning authorities. He actively advises on spatial and energy strategies for communities and regions. He leads a research group focused on spatial planning and environmental policy, contributing to doctoral programs and major initiatives like the BOKU Energy Cluster. His work is central to the university’s efforts in sustainability and climate action.

Kaiyu HangView profile

Assistant Professor

• Robotics
• Robotic Manipulation
• Physical Interactions
• +5 more

Kaiyu Hang is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Rice University, directing the Robotics and Physical Interactions Lab (RobotΠ Lab). He holds a PhD and MSc from KTH Royal Institute of Technology and a B.Eng. from Xi’an Jiaotong University. His postdoctoral research was conducted at Yale University. His research focuses on robotic systems capable of physically interacting with the environment and humans, emphasizing algorithms in optimization, learning, and control. Key areas include manipulation systems (small-scale grasping to large-scale multi-robot manipulation), robust control, and energy-efficient UAV perching mechanisms inspired by nature. His work has been featured in MIT Technology Review, Science Robotics, and NPR. Hang has received notable awards such as the NSF CAREER Award (2023) and ASME Rising Star (2024). He serves on editorial boards for IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (2019–present), ICRA (2021–present), IROS (2020–present), and Humanoids (2019). He also organizes the 10th Robotic Grasping and Manipulation Competition (RGMC) at ICRA 2024. As a faculty advisor for the Rice Robotics Club and on the CS Graduate Admission Committee, Hang actively mentors students and promotes inclusivity in robotics through initiatives like Inclusion@RSS. His lab’s projects aim to enhance manipulation robustness, develop novel UAV landing gear, and advance nonprehensile manipulation via motion planning and control.

Garry BlakelyView profile

Professor

• Bacterial Genetics
• Genomics
• Biochemistry
• +4 more

Professor Garry Blakely serves as Chair of Microbial Genetics and Biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh, where he has maintained an active research program since 1999. His work bridges fundamental bacterial genetics with translational applications in biomedicine and industrial biotechnology, focusing on pathogenic bacteria including Bacteroides , Clostridium , Staphylococcus , and Streptococcus . His academic foundation includes: Ph.D. from Queens University of Belfast (1990) MRC postdoctoral research at University of Glasgow (1990-1994) MRC postdoctoral research at University of Oxford (1994-1998) Wellcome Trust RCD Fellowship (1998-2002) Blakely's research centers on four interconnected themes: bacterial chromosome dynamics, restriction-modification systems, polysaccharide biosynthesis, and host-microbiome crosstalk. His laboratory pioneered genetic tools for manipulating anaerobic pathogens like B. fragilis and C. difficile , revealing mechanisms of DNA damage response critical to antibiotic efficacy. The landmark discovery of BfUbb—a bacterial ubiquitin homologue with antimicrobial properties—established a novel molecular link between gut microbiota and autoimmune disorders such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis through antigenic mimicry. Analysis of his 2013-2019 publications reveals consistent thematic evolution: early work focused on restriction-modification systems and chromosome biology, while later research expanded into microbiome-autoimmunity connections and biotechnological applications like antimicrobial coatings. His studies integrate genomic, biochemical, and clinical approaches across fundamental microbiology, immunology, and materials science. Scientific recognition includes: Wellcome Trust RCD Fellowship Blakely actively supervises PhD students and secures collaborative funding from medical research councils and industry partners. His projects translate basic discoveries into novel biotechnological solutions, including engineered bacterial strains for compound production and medical device coatings that prevent bacterial adhesion. Current grants support investigations into BfUbb's role in autoimmune pathogenesis and development of next-generation antimicrobials targeting anaerobic pathogens. He leads a multidisciplinary research group within the University of Edinburgh's Roger Land Building, maintaining active collaborations with Queen's University Belfast and industrial partners to advance bacterial genetics research toward clinical and industrial applications.

• Spatial Planning
• Demographic Change
• Infrastructure Planning
• +8 more

Dr. Tatjana Fischer is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Spatial Planning, Environmental Planning and Land Rearrangement, part of the Department of Landscape, Water and Infrastructure at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). Her work bridges demographic change, spatial planning policy, and social infrastructure, with a focus on aging populations, rural-urban dynamics, and accessibility. Habilitation in Spatial Research and Planning (2023) Doctoral Degree in Environmental Technology (2005) Research Interests: Infrastructure planning under demographic shifts, transdisciplinary methodologies, and accessibility in tourism and urban development Her recent publications explore residential mobility among the elderly, climate change adaptation strategies, and temporary housing solutions, reflecting her commitment to sustainable spatial frameworks. She has secured funding from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), European Commission, and national ministries for projects addressing flood risk management, social infrastructure, and return migration patterns. Awards include the Alois Mock-Wissenschaftspreis (2024), BOKU Nachhaltigkeitspreis (2023), and multiple grants from the Austrian Federal Ministry for Science and Research. Fischer actively contributes to public discourse through presentations at global conferences on topics like disability-inclusive planning, regional resilience, and demographic trends. Key Projects: Identification and Assessment of Non-Climate Risk Drivers (2026-2028), Accessible Spaces for All (2023-2026), and Regional Resilience in Ötscher Region (2023-2025) Leadership: Project lead in 12+ research initiatives since 2009

• Spatial Planning
• Natural Hazard Risk Management
• Climate Change Adaptation
• +7 more

Walter Seher is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Spatial Planning, Environmental Planning and Land Rearrangement, Department of Landscape, Water and Infrastructure, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). He has been actively involved in research and academic leadership since the 1990s, serving as Deputy Head and former Head of his institute, and contributing extensively to spatial planning, land policy, and climate risk management. Education: Master Degree (1994), Doctoral Degree (1998) – both from BOKU. Career Milestones: University Assistant (1994), Assistant Professor (2004), Head of Institute (2012–2016), Deputy Head (2016–2024). His research focuses on spatial planning in natural hazard risk management and climate change adaptation , with special emphasis on land rearrangement, flood risk, and land policy. He investigates how spatial interventions can reduce vulnerability in flood-prone areas and support equitable land use. His work integrates policy analysis, governance, and interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly in mountainous and urban regions. His recent publications (2022–2025) demonstrate a strong trend toward integrated flood risk management , residual risk mitigation (e.g., the levee effect), policy coordination across sectors , and land policy for affordable housing . These works often employ case studies from Austria and involve collaboration with environmental scientists, engineers, and policymakers. Scientific awards: No specific awards listed in the provided text. Walter Seher has supervised multiple research projects and contributes to advising through collaborative academic work. He has led projects funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), European Commission, and federal ministries. His work often involves interdisciplinary teams across institutes at BOKU and international partners. He is involved in key research initiatives such as the UniNetz - Life on Land (SDG 15) and the GREENET project, and has contributed to policy-relevant outputs including planning guidelines and evaluation reports. He frequently presents at international conferences such as AESOP, IAHR, and EGU, and engages in public knowledge transfer through media appearances and popular science publications.

• Spatial Planning
• Energy Spatial Planning
• Climate Change Mitigation
• +7 more

Lore Abart-Heriszt is a researcher at the Institute of Spatial Planning, Environmental Planning and Land Rearrangement, part of the Department of Landscape, Water and Infrastructure at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). She is actively involved in spatial energy planning, climate strategy development, and municipal energy assessments across Austria. Her research interests center on spatial planning for energy transition, renewable energy potential mapping, greenhouse gas emissions analysis, and sustainable urban and regional development. She employs geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial modeling to support evidence-based policy and planning decisions. Her work emphasizes municipal-level data integration and cross-sectoral coordination. The recent articles and presentations highlight a strong trend in energy spatial planning, with a focus on municipal and regional energy concepts, stakeholder engagement, and climate action. Her contributions include developing technical foundations for energy and climate strategies in regions like Styria, Upper Austria, and Lower Austria, as well as updating national guidelines for energy sector planning. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. in relevant field (exact degree not specified, but implied by title) Lore Abart-Heriszt has supervised multiple theses on topics including renewable energy supply, photovoltaic site analysis, regional resilience, and landscape development. She has been involved in knowledge transfer through numerous workshops and public presentations, often in collaboration with regional governments and municipalities. Her work supports capacity building for small and medium-sized communities in delivering sustainable energy strategies. She is associated with research initiatives focused on energy transition and climate action, particularly through BOKU’s engagement in national and regional projects. Her role involves bridging technical research with practical planning applications, fostering science-society interactions in the field of sustainable development.

John MinnaView profile

Professor

• Lung Cancer Research
• Molecular Pathogenesis
• Cancer Therapeutics
• +4 more

Dr. John Minna is a Professor of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UT Southwestern), serving as Director of the Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research. He holds distinguished chairs in Molecular Pulmonary Oncology and Cancer Research. His career spans over four decades, with leadership roles at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and collaborations with institutions like MD Anderson Cancer Center. His research focuses on lung cancer pathogenesis, translational therapies, and genomic-driven treatment strategies. Education: Dr. Minna graduated from Stanford Medical School, completed residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, and held research positions at the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and NCI. His work includes pioneering studies on lung cancer genetics, tumor microenvironment dynamics, and immune checkpoint modulation. Research interests include molecular mechanisms driving lung cancer progression, development of predictive biomarkers (e.g., circulating mitochondrial DNA), and drug resistance pathways. He co-leads the UTSW Simmons Cancer Center’s Experimental Therapeutics Program, advancing personalized medicine strategies. Awards: He has received over 20 major awards, including the ASCO Statesman Award (2007), Baylor College of Medicine’s Helis Foundation Award (2010), and recognition for leadership in SPORE grants. His H-index of 193 reflects profound scientific impact. Grants and Collaborations: He leads multi-institutional initiatives, including NCI SPORE grants and CPRIT-funded projects targeting lung cancer vulnerabilities. His lab investigates metabolic dependencies (e.g., LKB1 deficiency), immune evasion mechanisms, and combinations of immunotherapy with targeted agents. Labs/Teams: His work is conducted in collaboration with the Hamon Center, UTSW’s Department of Pharmacology, and industry partnerships. His team includes researchers like Dr. Fujimoto and Dr. Heymach, focusing on preclinical models and clinical trials.

Filippo StancoView profile

Professor

• Image Processing
• Computer Vision
• Machine Learning
• +7 more

Filippo Stanco is a Full Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Catania. He serves as President of the Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science (since 2017) and Deputy Rector for Technological Innovation (since 2019). His career includes positions as Associate Professor (2014-2023), Assistant Professor (2006-2014), and research fellowships at the Universities of Catania and Trieste. Education: PhD in Computer Science (2003) from University of Catania Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science (1999, summa cum laude) from University of Catania His research spans image processing, computer vision, and machine learning with applications in cultural heritage preservation, medical imaging, industrial automation, and multimedia systems. He leads the Archeomatica Project developing digital tools for archaeology and coordinates multiple national research projects including DREAMIN and CLEAR. Stanco has published extensively on food image analysis, document authentication, video processing, and heritage conservation. His work frequently employs deep learning, 3D modeling, and color science techniques across interdisciplinary domains. Honors: Best Session Paper Award at IPAS 2020 Cookpad Student Travel Grant at CEA 2018 Meritorious Papers recognition in Computers in Biology and Medicine (2016) He coordinates the Archeomatica research group and serves on editorial boards for multiple journals including ACM Journal of Computing and Cultural Heritage and IET Image Processing. Stanco has supervised over 200 theses and teaches courses on multimedia systems, game development, and image processing.

• Artificial Intelligence
• Robotics
• Motion Planning
• +8 more

Maxim Likhachev is a Professor at the Robotics Institute and National Robotics Engineering Center , both within the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). His research focuses on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics , particularly in real-time graph search algorithms , planning under uncertainty , and high-dimensional mobile manipulation . He co-founded TravelWits.com and RobotWits (acquired by Waymo), and his lab develops the Search-based Planning Library (SBPL), integrated into ROS. Research Themes : Graph search-based planning for deterministic and probabilistic domains Decomposition of hard planning problems into sequential graph searches Incremental algorithms for dynamic environments Experience-driven heuristic optimization Scientific Awards : Gold Edison Award (2013) for industrial mobile manipulator project DARPA Urban Challenge Winner (2007) for autonomous SUV navigation Students : Supervises current PhD students including Itamar Mishani , Muhammad Suhail Saleem , and Rishi Veerapaneni , alongside Masters students like Gabriel Olin . Past advisees include Dhruv Saxena (now at Uber), Michael Phillips (now at Uber), and Shivam Vats (now at Waymo). Lab & Projects : Leads the Search-based Planning Laboratory at CMU, working on systems like K-MAX helicopter , PR2 robots , and industrial mobile manipulators for tasks including autonomous paint stripping and aerial navigation.

• Chromatin Biology
• Gene Regulation
• 3D Genome Organization
• +4 more

Dr. Daniel Ibrahim leads a research group at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics (MPIMG) and the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) Center for Regenerative Therapies. His work focuses on the chromatin biology of gene regulatory domains , combining genome engineering (CRISPR-Cas9, RMCE) with functional genomics to study how chromatin structure controls gene expression in development and disease. Primary Affiliation: Research Group Leader, MPIMG Collaboration: BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies Research Focus: 3D chromatin organization, TADs, enhancer-promoter interactions Research Highlights: Dr. Ibrahim's team investigates how structural genomic variations (e.g., TAD rearrangements, CTCF site deletions) lead to gene misexpression in congenital disorders and cancer. They pioneered synthetic biology approaches for BAC-sized transgene assembly and mouse embryonic stem cell engineering to model disease mechanisms. Publications: His work spans 3D genome biology, transcription factor dysfunction in disease (e.g., HOXD13 mutations), and advanced genome editing techniques. Recent studies explore evolutionary conservation of regulatory elements and CRISPR-based transgene integration methods. Team Members: PhD students Blanka Majchrzycka, Mai Phan, Andreas Magg, and Milan Antonovic contribute to ongoing projects in chromatin dynamics and disease modeling.

Dennis GalvanView profile

Professor

• Political Science
• Global Studies
• Institutional Adaptation
• +5 more

Dennis Galvan is Professor of Political Science and Global Studies at the University of Oregon, where he also serves as Dean and Vice Provost for the Division of Global Engagement. With a Ph.D. from U.C. Berkeley (1996) and a B.A. from Stanford (1987), Galvan has built an extensive academic career focused on institutional adaptation, political culture, and culturally sustainable development in the global south. Galvan's educational background includes: Ph.D. from U.C. Berkeley in 1996 B.A. from Stanford University in 1987 His research interests center on the politics of everyday creativity, particularly how ordinary people adaptively transform political, economic, and cultural institutions to suit their changing notions of political morality, heritage, and identity. Galvan examines how individuals engage in what he terms 'creative syncretism' - the process of dismantling and rearranging institutional rules of politics, economics, and culture to create locally meaningful and sustainable forms of development. His work draws on John Dewey's pragmatist deliberation, Michel de Certeau's everyday tactics, and Bruno Latour's actor-network theory to document micro-politics of creating local, vernacular modernities, particularly in post-colonial settings. Galvan's scholarly output includes the award-winning book 'The State Must Be Our Master of Fire: How Peasants Craft Culturally Sustainable Development in Senegal' (University of California Press, 2004), which won the 2005 Best Book Award from the American Political Science Association African Politics Conference Group. He has also co-edited 'Political Creativity: Reconfiguring Institutional Order and Change' (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2013) and 'Reconfiguring Institutions Across Time and Space: Syncretic Responses to Challenges of Political and Economic Transformation' (Palgrave Macmillan). His recent book project, 'Everyday Nation Building,' explores how ordinary people in Senegal and Indonesia creatively rework traditions of kinship and structures of kingship to establish informal bases for cooperation, tolerance, and national belonging. His scholarly contributions have been recognized with numerous awards including the Thomas F. Herman Faculty Award for Distinguished Teaching (2008), University of Oregon's highest honor for teaching among tenured faculty, and the University of Florida Honors Program Professor of the Year Award (2000-01). His research has been supported by prestigious fellowships including a Fulbright Visiting Scholar position at Université Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar, Senegal (2009-10), and grants from the National Science Foundation, Social Science Research Council, and US Department of Education. Galvan has conducted extensive field research since 1986 in West Africa, primarily in a cluster of thirty villages in Senegal's Sine region, and since 1999 in Central Java, Indonesia. His work as a university administrator draws on these field experiences, recognizing university systems as fields of ongoing, improvisational rearrangement rather than rigid behavior-ordering machines. He serves on the Board of Trustees of WorldOregon and previously served on the International Policy Advisory Council of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (2014-2019), co-chairing from 2014-16.

Dmitry FilatovView profile

Professor

• Sex Chromosome Evolution
• Plant Speciation
• Adaptive Radiation
• +3 more

Professor Dmitry Filatov holds a position in Evolutionary Genetics at the University of Oxford, Department of Biology. His research investigates sex chromosome evolution in plants, adaptive radiations, and speciation mechanisms using genomic approaches. Key research examines how colonial legacies and land inequality drive post-colonial insurgency in plants, with focus on Silene latifolia sex chromosomes and Senecio speciation on Mount Etna. Additional work explores phytoplankton diversification in marine environments. Recent publications analyze recombination suppression in sex chromosomes, homoploid hybrid speciation, and tools for DNA polymorphism analysis. Articles demonstrate integration of field studies, genomics, and evolutionary modeling across diverse plant systems.

Tereza JezkovaView profile

Associate Professor

• Population Genetics
• Genomics
• Bioinformatics
• +4 more

Tereza Jezkova is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Miami University. Her research focuses on understanding species' responses to environmental change through interdisciplinary approaches, including population genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, GIS-based spatial analyses, and ecological modeling. Her work addresses how species adapt to climate change via evolutionary and plastic responses, and explores genomic mechanisms underlying these adaptations. Key research questions include species range shifts, local adaptation mechanisms, and genomic signatures of climate-driven evolution. Her lab is located in Pearson Hall, and she maintains an active Jezkova Lab Website . Her research spans diverse taxa, including reptiles (e.g., horned lizards, anoles), rodents, and salamanders. Methodologically, her work integrates computational tools (e.g., the PopGenHelpR package) with field studies and experimental work. Recent theoretical contributions include frameworks for quantifying ecological niche differentiation and modeling species distribution dynamics. Dr. Jezkova teaches courses in Evolutionary Biology (BIO 206/206W), Herpetology (BIO 409), and Evolutionary and Population Genetics (BIO 422W/522). She actively mentors graduate and undergraduate students, with advisees including Ascanio A, Bracken JT, and Farleigh K. Her research has received funding through prestigious grants, including an NSF CAREER award (2022). Notable findings include identifying genetic signals of local adaptation in desert rodents and genomic insights into hybridization in Caribbean anoles. Her work emphasizes the interplay between climate, ecology, and evolution in shaping biodiversity patterns.

Zheng LiView profile

Assistant Professor

• Genome Evolution
• Phenotypic Evolution
• Biodiversity
• +5 more

Zheng Li is an Assistant Professor and Herbarium Director in the Department of Biology at Miami University. Their research focuses on eukaryotic genome evolution, particularly how genomic changes drive phenotypic diversity in plants and insects. Key interests include gene and genome duplication, chromosomal evolution, and horizontal gene transfer. Education: Ph.D., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona (2020) B.S., Botany and Zoology, Miami University (2013) Research explores evolutionary mechanisms such as duplicate gene retention, genome duplication dynamics across taxa, and genomic innovations. The Li Lab is located in Pearson Hall and collaborates with the Cellular, Molecular, and Structural Biology Graduate Program. Recent publications highlight genomic studies in aphids, leafhoppers, and conifers. Lab & Team: The Li Lab investigates biodiversity origins through genomic approaches, emphasizing plant and insect systems. Fieldwork and lab-based studies combine to address fundamental evolutionary questions.