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Zivile KondrotaiteView profile

Researcher

• Environmental Microbiology
• Wastewater Treatment
• Microbial Ecology
• +5 more

Zivile Kondrotaite is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Chemistry and Bioscience at the Faculty of Engineering and Science, Aalborg University. Her research focuses on environmental microbiology and biotechnology, particularly in wastewater treatment systems. Dr. Kondrotaite's research interests span several key areas in environmental microbiology: Microbial communities in activated sludge systems Wastewater treatment microbiology Metagenomics and metatranscriptomics of environmental samples Ecophysiology of polyphosphate-accumulating bacteria Microbial diversity in wastewater treatment plants globally Resource recovery from wastewater Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on understanding microbial communities in wastewater treatment, with particular attention to specific bacterial groups like Chloroflexota and Leptothrix. Her work combines molecular techniques with ecological principles to illuminate the "microbial dark matter" in engineered water systems. Dr. Kondrotaite has been actively involved in significant research projects including "GLOMICAVE: Global omic data integration on animal, vegetal and environment sectors" (Horizon Europe, 2021-2024) and "Illumination of microbial dark matter" (Villum Foundation, 2017-2024), collaborating with leading researchers in the field. Her research is conducted within the Section of Environmental Microbiology Environmental Biotechnology at Aalborg University, which focuses on advancing sustainable water treatment technologies through microbial ecology insights.

Abu Bakar SiddiqueView profile

Researcher

• Metabarcoding
• Metagenomics
• Metatranscriptomics
• +2 more

Abu Bakar Siddique is a Researcher (Bioinformatician) at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), working within the SLU Bioinformatics Infrastructure (SLUBI) in the Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences. He has held this position since June 2023, providing critical bioinformatics support and training for researchers across SLU. Education: PhD (Dr.rer.nat.) in Molecular Ecology, 2017, Greifswald University, Germany Master of Science in Ecology, 2013, Umeå University, Sweden MS in Plant Pathology, 2010, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Bangladesh Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Agricultural Sciences, 2008, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Bangladesh His research specializes in computational analysis of biological systems, with core expertise in metabarcoding, metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, mycobiome characterization, and environmental DNA (eDNA) applications. This work bridges plant biology, ecology, and microbial community analysis to address biodiversity and environmental monitoring challenges. Dr. Siddique actively contributes to academic training through multiple PhD-level courses including RNA-Seq data analysis, genomic selection in breeding, scientific data visualization, and multi-omics approaches to microbial communities. His teaching emphasizes reproducible bioinformatics workflows using Nextflow and nf-core. Supervision experience includes mentoring interns and co-supervising master's theses: Md Jonaid Hossain (intern, mentor, 2022) Khan R Salehin (intern, co-supervisor, 2021) Abu Bakar Siddique (master’s thesis, co-supervisor, 2021) Anis Mahmud Khokon (master’s thesis, co-supervisor, 2016) As a key member of SLUBI, he develops infrastructure for high-throughput sequencing analysis and collaborates with researchers across SLU's agricultural and environmental science domains.

• Marine Plankton Ecology
• Jellyfish Blooms
• Environmental DNA (eDNA) Metabarcoding
• +3 more

Dr. Tjaša Kogovšek is a Researcher at the Laboratory for Evolutionary Ecology (LEE) within the Center for Marine Research at the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb, Croatia. Her work focuses on marine plankton ecology, with a particular emphasis on jellyfish blooms, environmental DNA (eDNA) applications, and the impacts of climate change on coastal ecosystems. Her research integrates genomic tools—such as metabarcoding and transcriptomics—with traditional ecological methods to study phytoplankton, zooplankton, and microbial communities. Key projects include analyzing long-term data on phytoplankton seasonal patterns, evaluating sampling methodologies for phytoplankton monitoring, and investigating harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the Adriatic Sea. Dr. Kogovšek has contributed to establishing regional reference databases for diatom transcriptomes and eukaryotic plankton diversity inventories. Her studies highlight the ecological roles of jellyfish in modulating microbial dynamics and nutrient cycles, alongside their responses to environmental stressors. She has also explored the biotechnological potential of jellyfish-associated microbiomes and the historical distribution of scyphomedusae in the Adriatic. Her work frequently addresses anthropogenic impacts, including sea warming and anthropogenic nutrient inputs, in shaping plankton communities. Notable contributions include interdisciplinary collaborations on citizen science initiatives for jellyfish monitoring, methodological advancements in eDNA-based plankton surveillance, and ecological comparisons between the Adriatic Sea and other regions like the Inland Sea of Japan. Her research underscores the Adriatic’s unique biodiversity and vulnerability to global change.

Mai OudahView profile

Academic

• Artificial Intelligence
• Machine Learning
• Bioinformatics
• +10 more

Mai Oudah is an Assistant Lecturer in the Computer Science program at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), part of the Division of Science. She holds a PhD in Interdisciplinary Engineering (Computing and Information Science – Bioinformatics) from Masdar Institute in collaboration with MIT, an MSc in Informatics (Knowledge and Data Management) from The British University in Dubai (in association with the University of Edinburgh), and a BSc in Software Engineering from Al Ain University. Her research lies at the intersection of artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, and natural language processing. She leads the Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Lab at NYUAD, where her team develops machine learning models for disease screening using gut microbiome data, including applications for Alzheimer’s, depression, autism, multiple sclerosis, and various cancers. She also works on biomedical text mining and Arabic natural language processing, particularly in named entity recognition and machine translation. The recent publications reflect a strong trend in applying machine learning to microbiome-based diagnostics and health informatics, with additional contributions to Arabic NLP and sociological text analysis. Her work spans interdisciplinary domains, combining computational methods with biological and medical insights. Scientific Awards: No scientific awards explicitly mentioned in the provided texts. Advising and Grants: Mai Oudah actively supervises undergraduate research students in her lab, guiding projects on disease detection, microbiome analysis, and AI applications in healthcare. She has advised numerous students who have contributed to peer-reviewed publications. While no specific grants are listed, her collaborative research with institutions like MIT and NYUAD suggests active involvement in funded research initiatives. Labs and Teams: She leads the Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Lab at NYUAD, which focuses on three core areas: (A) Comparative Genomics/Metagenomics and Metatranscriptomics, (B) Biomedical Text Mining, and (C) Healthcare Research. The lab integrates AI, ML, and data analysis to address challenges in computational biology and public health.

• Genomics
• Microbiome Research
• Population Health
• +3 more

Jackie Dekens-Konter is a researcher at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), University of Groningen, specializing in population genomics and microbiome dynamics within the Lifelines cohort study. Her work integrates large-scale biobank data with clinical outcomes to address UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being. Her research focuses on pharmacogenetics implementation , gut microbiome-virus interactions , and pandemic impact assessment . Key projects include the Lifelines NEXT cohort for multi-generational genomics and the Lifelines Corona Research Initiative, which examines SARS-CoV-2's societal and biological effects. She employs metagenomic sequencing, population genetics, and longitudinal survey methodologies to explore host-microbe dynamics in pregnancy, drug response variability, and post-infection recovery. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on translational genomics (60%), microbiome-virome ecology (25%), and pandemic workforce adaptation (15%). Her work bridges basic science with public health applications, notably through the development of clinical-grade pharmacogenetic passports for laypeople. Contributed to 26 research outputs (20 articles, 3 meeting abstracts, 1 editorial, 1 erratum, 1 letter) Key collaborator in Lifelines Corona Research Initiative with national media impact (11+ news outlets, 46+ X posts) Research cited in Wikipedia and Bluesky discussions on pharmacogenetics She actively mentors early-career researchers through the Lifelines NEXT cohort study and secures collaborative grants from Dutch health initiatives. Her lab utilizes the UMCG's high-throughput sequencing facilities and Lifelines' biobank of 167,000 participants. Current work focuses on scaling pharmacogenetic testing for Dutch primary care and elucidating mother-infant viral transmission pathways.

• Microbial Ecology
• Marine Microbiology
• Extremophile Microbiology
• +3 more

Nicole Trefault is a Researcher at Catholic University of the North specializing in microbial ecology within extreme environments. Her work focuses on understanding how microorganisms shape ecosystems through genomic responses, primarily in Antarctic and Arctic regions. She employs molecular genetics, metagenomics, and metatranscriptomics to investigate microbial communities across diverse natural systems including marine habitats, polar soils, and high-elevation deserts. Her research interests center on microbial adaptation in extreme environments, with emphasis on Antarctic sponge microbiomes, Arctic phytoplankton dynamics, and soil microbial responses to climate change. She examines host-microbe symbiosis, trace gas metabolism in desert soils, and vegetation-microbe interactions in warming Antarctic ecosystems. Her methodological approach integrates multi-omics techniques with field experimentation to unravel ecological and genomic patterns. Analysis of her 2022-2024 publications reveals consistent focus on polar microbial ecology, particularly Antarctic marine systems and Arctic ice-edge environments. Key trends include investigation of parasitic dinoflagellates in sponges, phytoplankton vulnerability to sea-ice loss, and microbial biogeography in response to environmental gradients. Her work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between climate science, microbial genomics, and ecosystem functioning. No scientific awards were documented in the provided text. Information regarding student mentorship or research grants was not available in the source material. Her collaborative network includes researchers from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, University of Concepcion, and international institutions, though specific advising roles or funded projects remain unreported. Laboratory infrastructure and research team composition were not specified in the scraped content. Her editorial contributions include 3 edited publications and 2 reviewed publications through Frontiers, indicating active engagement in academic knowledge dissemination despite lacking an editorial board role.

Mary Ann BrunsView profile

Professor

• Soil Biogeochemistry
• Microbial Communities
• Soil Quality
• +7 more

Mary Ann Bruns is a Professor at the Pennsylvania State University 's College of Agricultural Sciences , Department of Ecosystem Science and Management . Her research focuses on the intersection of soil biogeochemistry, microbial communities, and climate-smart agricultural practices. Soil carbon sequestration and tillage reduction Nitrogen cycling and greenhouse gas emissions Manure application and microbial processes like DNRA Research Themes Mary Ann Bruns' work examines trade-offs between agricultural intensification and climate adaptation. Key areas include: Soil microbiome responses to management practices Methane-eating bacteria for carbon capture Degraded land reclamation strategies Scientific Recognition In 2024, she received the Commonwealth Award from the One Health Microbiome Center for her contributions to microbiome research. Her work has been highlighted in multiple climate change mitigation studies, including methane-absorbing bacteria applications and nitrous oxide emission reduction. Contact Email: mvb10@psu.edu Office: 116 Ag Sci & Ind Bldg, Shortlidge Road, University Park, PA 16802 Phone: (814) 863-0779

Wolfgang StreitView profile

Professor

• Microbiology
• Biotechnology
• Environmental Science
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Streit is a faculty member at the University of Hamburg , affiliated with the Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences and serving as Head of the Department of Biology's Microbiology & Biotechnology group. His research spans environmental microbiology, biopolymer degradation, and microbial community dynamics. Institutional Affiliation : University of Hamburg, Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences, Department of Biology, Institute of Plant Sciences and Microbiology Research Focus : Estuarine carbon cycling, synthetic polymer degradation, root-microbe interactions Key research areas include microbial degradation of plant litter along salinity gradients, thermophilic PET hydrolases for plastic recycling, and Bacteroidota carbohydrate-binding proteins . His work addresses both fundamental microbial ecology and applied biotechnology solutions. Publications demonstrate expertise in metagenomics , transcriptomics , and enzyme characterization across marine and wetland ecosystems. Current projects examine climate change impacts on decomposition dynamics and microbial bioremediation strategies. Teaching & Collaboration : Leads research group at Ohnhorststrasse 18 , mentoring doctoral researchers like Samantha Klein and Pablo Pérez-García . Hosts laboratory at the Otto Warburg House with technical team including Inka Sievers-Helling .

Eira Catharine Lødrup CarlsenView profile

Research Fellow

• Microbial ecology
• Bioinformatics
• Biogeochemistry
• +4 more

Eira Catharine Lødrup Carlsen is a Research Fellow at the University of Oslo, affiliated with the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and the Section for Aquatic Biology and Toxicology. She is a member of the Biogov project and PEAT-THAW, focusing on biogeochemical processes governing boreal carbon cycling. Her research explores microbial ecology , climate change impacts on biogeochemical feedback mechanisms, and the interplay between microbial communities and greenhouse gas dynamics in boreal lakes and soils. She also studies toxicology , particularly the effects of synthetic/natural rubber leachates on marine microbiomes and antibiotic resistance. Recent work includes studies on redox-driven greenhouse gas production in thawing permafrost (2025) and microbial adaptations to rubber-derived chemicals (2024). Her methodological approach integrates metagenomics and metatranscriptomics to analyze microbial functional traits. She contributes to interdisciplinary research bridging environmental science and Iron Age archaeology , with a bachelor’s degree in archaeology focusing on Norse mythology and philology.

• Fungal Genomics
• Genomic Evolution
• Fungal Ecology
• +7 more

Marco Alexandre Guerreiro is a fungal genomicist with a focus on evolutionary biology, ecology, and taxonomy. Currently, he works as a PostDoctoral Researcher in Prof. Eva Stukenbrock's lab at the Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology (Plön, Germany) since 2024, continuing research into the genomic evolution of human fungal pathogens within the Trichosporonales order. His prior positions include PostDoctoral Fellowships at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (2019–2021), where he explored fungal communities in plant leaves, and NOVA University Lisbon (2012–2014) as a Research Associate. Education : PhD in Biology (2014–2019) and MSc in Molecular Genetics and Biomedicine (2010–2012) from Ruhr-Universität Bochum and NOVA University Lisbon respectively; BSc in Biotechnology (2007–2010) from University of Algarve, Portugal. His research spans fungal community ecology, mating-type evolution, and physiological adaptations during lifestyle transitions. Current work employs comparative genomics to unravel genomic signatures of human pathogens and taxonomic diversity within Trichosporonales. Earlier studies addressed biostatistical approaches, denitrification dynamics, and thermophilic fungal isolation. Recent publications highlight his expertise in fungal genomics, including analyses of plant pathogen interactions , effector proteins , thermotolerant species , and meiotic recombination . His work combines multi-meta'omic approaches to link microbial functions to ecosystem processes, such as litter decomposition and niche adaptation on leaves. Scientific Awards : Walter Benjamin Programme Fellowship (2022–2023) from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).

Vikram KapoorView profile

Associate Professor

• Environmental Microbiology
• Water Sustainability
• Wastewater Treatment
• +5 more

Vikram Kapoor is an Associate Professor and Klesse Endowed Professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Management at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), serving as Division Leader of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Undergraduate Advisor of Record. His research integrates microbial ecology, molecular biology, and environmental engineering to advance water sustainability through innovative solutions for nutrient removal, resource recovery, and pathogen mitigation. Education: Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati B.Tech. in Biotechnology, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology University Dr. Kapoor's research spans biological wastewater treatment, microbial source tracking, and stormwater management in karst aquifers. His lab employs molecular techniques, bench-scale bioreactors, and omics methods (metagenomics, metatranscriptomics) to study microbial communities for wastewater resource recovery, contaminant bioremediation, and public health protection. Key projects address Edwards Aquifer recharge zones and hurricane-impacted floodwaters. Recent publications (2022-2025) emphasize stormwater system performance in karst terrain, wastewater-based SARS-CoV-2 surveillance, and microbial ecology of engineered systems. His work frequently analyzes pollutant dynamics in Texas watersheds and develops genetic markers for fecal source tracking. Awards: Gulf Research Program/Early-Career Research Fellowship (2020, National Academies) Advising: Mentors 5 current PhD students (Dipti Anik Dhar, Ahmed Hussian, Carlos Romero Vazquez, Arushi Kapoor) and 1 MS student (Ian Kearney). Alumni include 4 PhD graduates (Arash Jafarzadeh, Sina Vedadi Moghadam, Haya Al-Duroobi, Duc Phan) and 4 MS graduates. Grants: Gulf Research Program fellowship supports Edwards Aquifer stormwater research and wastewater surveillance initiatives. The Kapoor Lab leads the Wastewater COVID Tracking Dashboard and USDA EcoJEDI Program, collaborating on environmental justice and data integration for water sustainability in Texas communities.

Amanda BrownView profile

Assistant Professor

• Microbial Ecology
• Host-Microbe Symbiosis
• Metagenomics
• +4 more

Amanda Brown serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Texas Tech University, where her research program investigates the formation and stability of microbial mutualisms across diverse hosts including humans, plants, insects, and nematodes. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates experimental and computational methodologies to address fundamental questions in host-microbe interactions. Her academic journey includes a PhD in Molecular Ecology and Evolution from the University of British Columbia, followed by postdoctoral training in Population and Comparative Genomics at the University of Montana and Oregon State University, where she was awarded an AAUW Postdoctoral Fellowship. Dr. Brown employs cutting-edge omics technologies including shotgun metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and miRNomics, combined with fluorescence in situ hybridization and advanced bioinformatics pipeline development. Her lab focuses on nutritional symbiosis, metabolic complementation, disease suppressive microbiomes, and microbial community resilience across systems such as plant-parasitic nematode endosymbioses, hemipteran insects, banana endophytes, mosquito viromes, cotton rhizospheres, and human chronic polymicrobial infections in cystic fibrosis. The overarching theme examines how mutualisms influence ecological processes like species invasions, biomass production, and disease outbreaks. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a dominant focus on nematode-bacterial symbioses—particularly Wolbachia and Cardinium in plant-parasitic nematodes—with significant contributions to understanding symbiont evolution, host range expansion, and horizontal gene transfer. Her work increasingly bridges agricultural systems (banana, cotton, sorghum) and clinical contexts (human infections), demonstrating how computational approaches can unravel complex microbiome dynamics across ecological scales. Her scientific recognition includes: AAUW Postdoctoral Fellowship As principal investigator of the Brown Lab, she directs research exploring microbial community dynamics through soil sampling, endosymbiont characterization, and metapangenomic analyses. Her team develops computational algorithms for big data handling in multi-omics networks, with applications in predicting microbiome resilience and developing disease-suppressive strategies for both agricultural and medical challenges.

• Microbiology
• Biofilms
• Quorum Sensing
• +6 more

Dr. Helena Sztajer is a Senior Scientist at the Institute of Microbiology , Technical University of Braunschweig , with affiliations to the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research . Her research focuses on quorum sensing , polymicrobial biofilms , and oral microbiome dynamics , particularly in dental caries and bacterial vaginosis . Education: M.Sc. (1973) and PhD (1984) in Biology/Microbiology from Technical University of Wroclaw Career: Faculty roles at Technical University of Wroclaw (1973-1989), followed by senior scientist positions at HZI and TU Braunschweig Her scientific publications span microbial communication , biofilm formation , and enzyme technology , with notable work on RNA polymerase subunits and interspecies signaling . Awards include the Walkhoff-Price (2016) and ASM Conference 1st Prize (2007) . Research collaborations involve institutions like Cranfield Institute of Technology (UK), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research , and industry partners such as Sigma Israel Chemicals Ltd. and Voco GmbH . Teaching includes Microbiology lectures and lab courses for students at TU Braunschweig.

Ottavia RomoliView profile

Researcher

• Vector Biology
• Microbiota-Host Interactions
• Arbovirus Transmission
• +4 more

Ottavia Romoli is a researcher at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France, specializing in vector biology with a focus on mosquito-microbiota interactions and arbovirus transmission mechanisms. Her work primarily investigates Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, examining how bacterial metabolites influence mosquito development, sex ratios, and viral transmission capabilities. Dr. Romoli's research interests center on vector biology and host-microbe interactions, with particular emphasis on nutritional requirements during mosquito development, RNA interference mechanisms as antiviral strategies, and the role of microbiota in vector competence. Her work bridges molecular biology, microbiology, and entomology to develop novel approaches for vector control. Through innovative techniques like germ-free mosquito production and bacterial reconstitution, her research has revealed sex-specific nutritional requirements in mosquitoes and limitations in RNAi-based antiviral strategies. Analysis of her publication record shows consistent contributions to understanding mosquito-virus interactions, with recent work focusing on circadian regulation of gut microbiomes, nutritional sex-specificity in mosquito development, and the multifaceted role of Dicer2 in arbovirus transmission. Her research spans both fundamental vector biology and applied approaches for disease control. Dr. Romoli collaborates extensively with researchers at the Pasteur Institute, particularly with Michel Gendrin's team, and maintains an active publication record with contributions in high-impact journals including Cell Reports , Communications Biology , and iScience . Her work demonstrates methodological innovation in mosquito-microbiota research and contributes significantly to the field of vector biology.

• Molecular Virology
• Viral Evolution
• Norovirus Epidemiology
• +3 more

Professor Peter White is a faculty member at the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences (BABS), University of New South Wales (UNSW), where he leads a molecular virology research group. He serves as an Honorary Consultant Virologist at Prince of Wales Hospital and coordinates the undergraduate course Viruses and Disease . His research integrates virology, bioinformatics, and epidemiology, focusing on norovirus pandemics, antiviral development, and viral discovery in wildlife. He mentors postgraduate students and has secured significant research funding from peer-reviewed and industry sources. Education: B.Sc. Hons in Biotechnology, King's College London (1992) PhD in Molecular Microbiology, University College London (1996) Fellow of the Australian Microbiology Society (FASM, 2011) Research Interests: Professor White's work spans molecular virology, viral evolution, and antiviral therapies. His lab tracks pandemic noroviruses using clinical and wastewater surveillance, identifies novel viruses through metatranscriptomics in animals (e.g., bats, cane toads), and develops broad-spectrum antivirals targeting RNA-dependent RNA polymerases. His paleovirology research explores endogenous viral elements in marsupial genomes as antiviral defense mechanisms. Publication Insights: Recent articles highlight trends in viral epidemiology (e.g., norovirus GII.4 evolution), antiviral compound screening, and metatranscriptomic discovery of pathogens in aquatic and wildlife hosts. Computational approaches using UNSW's Katana supercomputer enable large-scale viral genome analysis and identification of bio-control candidates. Awards & Honors: Titan of Teaching Award, School of BABS (2015) Royal Society Postdoctoral Fellowship (1996) MRC PhD Scholarship (1992–1996) Fellow of the Australian Microbiology Society (2011) Professional Engagement: He chairs committees for the Australian Centre for Hepatitis Virology and serves on UNSW's Institutional Bio-Safety panel. His lab collaborates globally on norovirus surveillance and antiviral research, supported by grants focusing on RNA virus therapeutics and pandemic preparedness. Laboratory & Team: The molecular microbiology lab at BABS utilizes next-generation sequencing, reverse genetics, and cell culture systems for viral characterization. Current projects include antiviral drug repurposing for SARS-CoV-2 and bio-control of invasive species using discovered viruses.