Find Academic Supervisors

Trent BiggsView profile

Professor

• Hydrology
• Water Quality
• Sediment Dynamics
• +3 more

Trent Biggs is a Professor of Geography at San Diego State University (SDSU), affiliated with the Department of Geography within the College of Arts and Letters. His research focuses on land use impacts on hydrology, water quality, and sediment dynamics. He employs satellite imagery, fieldwork, and modeling to address water-related environmental challenges affecting human welfare. Key field locations include the US-Mexico border region, American Samoa, the Himalaya, and southern India. Education: PhD (2003), MA (2000) from University of California, Santa Barbara; B.A. (1995) in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University. Research interests emphasize watershed processes, including sediment budgets, channel morphology, and water quality. Current projects involve studying urbanization effects on the US-Mexico border’s estuaries and collaborating on the NSF Amazon project. His lab (Biggs Watershed Science Lab) integrates remote sensing, modeling, and fieldwork to analyze human-water interactions. Key collaborations include work with regional stakeholders on Blue Gold and the Watershed Science Institute. Advising includes notable students like Margot Mattson (Sea Grant Fellow), Ibisia Jack (AEP Scholar), and Stephany Garcia (CBS-featured). His work bridges environmental science with policy, particularly in cross-border water management and farmworker health. Labs/Teams: Leads the Biggs Watershed Science Lab at SDSU, focusing on human-environment interactions in watersheds. Collaborates with international researchers and local agencies to address water scarcity and sedimentation issues.

Archana AnandView profile

Assistant Professor

• Environmental Microbiology
• Environmental Health
• Wastewater Epidemiology
• +3 more

Archana Anand is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at San Francisco State University (SFSU), joining in 2022. She holds a B.Eng from the National University of Singapore (2007), a PhD in Ecology & Biodiversity from the University of Hong Kong (2019), and completed postdoctoral research at Stanford University and Columbia University. Her laboratory focuses on environmental microbiology, particularly microbe-microbe interactions in environmental reservoirs such as soil, biofilms, and wastewater to safeguard human and environmental health against disease burdens. Research interests include environmental health, wastewater epidemiology, climate change ecology, and microbial ecology. Her work integrates field studies, lab experiments, and computational tools to address global change microbiology challenges. Recent projects explore antimicrobial resistance in wastewater, microplastic impacts on marine ecosystems, and SARS-CoV-2 surveillance through wastewater analysis. Publications emphasize wastewater-based epidemiology, microbial community dynamics, and environmental health implications. Her lab’s interdisciplinary approach bridges basic research with applied solutions for environmental and public health challenges. No scientific awards are explicitly listed, but her active research portfolio indicates potential recognition in the field. Labs/Teams: The Anand Lab at Hensill Hall (offices 722; labs 727,732,734) focuses on global change microbiology, with ongoing projects in urbanized coastal ecosystems, oyster reef microbiomes, and wine terroir research. The lab website provides further details on current initiatives and collaborations.

Benjamin WolfeView profile

Associate Professor

• Ecology and evolution of microbial communities
• Fermented Foods Microbiology
• Microbial Genomics
• +3 more

Benjamin Wolfe is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Tufts University, located within the School of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on the ecology and evolution of microbial communities, particularly in fermented foods like cheese, sourdough, and kimchi. He integrates experimental evolution, metagenomics, comparative genomics, and genome engineering to understand microbial community assembly and function. Education: PhD in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University (2010) MSc in Botany, University of Guelph (2005) BS in Natural Resources/Plant Science, Cornell University (2003) Research Interests: His work seeks to develop microbial community design principles for applications in agriculture, medicine, and industry. Key themes include microbial interactions, genome evolution, and the role of fermented foods in microbial literacy. Recent projects explore fungal impacts on bacterial genomes and the metabolic roles of acetic acid bacteria in sourdough. Grants & Funding: NSF CAREER Award (2020–2025) BII-Design Grant on Biological Resilience (2020–2022) USDA Dairy Innovation Grant (2021–2022) Teaching & Outreach: He teaches courses such as Microbiology Lecture, Microbiology of Food, and Microbiome Research Lab. Outreach includes workshops for cheese guilds and collaborations with chefs to improve microbial literacy through food systems. Labs & Collaborations: The Wolfe Lab collaborates with scientists and food producers. Projects emphasize synthetic microbiome design and microbial community dynamics. The lab also maintains a Microbiome Discovery Center for public engagement.

Isabelle Benoit GelberView profile

Associate Professor

• Filamentous fungi
• Genomics
• Molecular Microbiology
• +3 more

Isabelle Benoit Gelber is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Concordia University. Her research focuses on filamentous fungi, genomics, molecular microbiology, microbial interactions, and natural products/secondary metabolites. She holds a PhD from Aix-Marseille University (France), an MSc from Louis Pasteur University (France), and a postdoctoral fellowship from Utrecht University (Netherlands). Education: PDF: Utrecht University, Netherlands PhD: Aix-Marseille University, INRA/CNRS, Marseille, France MSc: Louis Pasteur University, Strasbourg, France Her work emphasizes understanding fungal biosynthetic pathways and microbial interactions through genomic and molecular approaches. Recent research includes identifying novel gene clusters in Aspergillus niger. No scientific awards or grants are explicitly listed in the provided text.

Zhisheng ShuaiView profile

Professor

• Mathematical Biology
• Differential Equations
• Dynamical Systems
• +4 more

Zhisheng Shuai is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Central Florida (UCF), Department of Mathematics, College of Sciences. He joined UCF in 2012 after serving as an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Victoria, following completion of his PhD from the University of Alberta. His office is located in MSB 321, and he teaches mathematical modeling courses including Mathematical Modeling of Data and Mathematical Biology. Dr. Shuai's research focuses on mathematical biology, differential equations, and dynamical systems, with particular emphasis on infectious disease modeling, epidemiology, and population dynamics. His work applies graph-theoretic approaches to construct Lyapunov functions for large-scale differential equation systems and develops target reproduction numbers with applications to ecology and epidemiology. He has made significant contributions to cholera modeling, waterborne disease transmission, and community network analysis for disease invasion. His recent publications (2019-2022) show a continued focus on epidemic modeling on networks, population dynamics, and mathematical approaches to disease control. The research spans from theoretical developments in stability analysis to practical applications in infectious disease modeling, with strong connections between graph theory, differential equations, and biological applications. His work frequently addresses spatial aspects of disease transmission through patch models and network structures. Dr. Shuai serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Biological Systems and is part of the Population Dynamics, Ecology and Evolution (PDEE) Subgroup of the Society for Mathematical Biology. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, Simons Foundation, and UCF Office of Research. He actively mentors students, including PhD candidates in mathematics and modeling & simulation, as well as undergraduate researchers. He participates in organizing mathematical contests including the Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) and Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling (ICM), and has organized workshops on mathematical modeling. His Erdős number is 2, connecting him to the legendary mathematician through coauthor John Moon.

Kevin RoseView profile

Associate Professor

• Aquatic Ecology
• Biogeochemistry
• Climate Change Impact on Freshwater
• +4 more

Kevin Rose is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and holds the Frederic R. Kolleck ’52 Career Development Chair in Freshwater Ecology. He serves as Acting Director of The Darrin Freshwater Institute and Director of The Jefferson Project, leading interdisciplinary research on freshwater ecosystems. His work bridges biology, ecology, biogeochemistry, and computational modeling to understand global environmental change. Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology (Miami University, 2011) B.A. in International Relations (Lehigh University, 2005) B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering (Lehigh University, 2004) Dr. Rose’s research focuses on how climate change, land use, and anthropogenic stressors alter freshwater ecosystems. His lab, The Global Water Lab, investigates macrosystem dynamics, including aquatic deoxygenation, lake browning, and UV radiation effects. He employs advanced environmental sensors and modeling to forecast ecosystem shifts. Recent publications highlight aquatic deoxygenation as a planetary boundary threat, climate-driven water clarity changes, and interdisciplinary collaborations. His work spans global lake biogeochemistry, harmful algal blooms, and climate-ozone interactions via the UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel. Scientific contributions include: NSF CAREER grant for freshwater CO2 and oxygen research Leadership in UNEP assessments on ozone and plastic pollution Development of LakeEnsemblR for ensemble lake modeling He teaches courses like Global Environmental Change , Biostatistics , and Advanced Topics in Ecology , emphasizing data analysis and ecological literature critique. His lab fosters collaboration, inclusivity, and interdisciplinary training in freshwater science.

Alison E. MoyerView profile

Teaching Professor

• Molecular Paleontology
• Anatomy
• Microbiology
• +3 more

Alison E. Moyer is Assistant Teaching Professor in Drexel University's Department of Biology, specializing in molecular paleontology and STEM education. She earned her Ph.D. in Biology from North Carolina State University (2016) and B.S. from Drexel (2008). Her interdisciplinary research combines paleontology with molecular biology to study soft tissue preservation in fossils. She leads the SEA-PHAGES program (HHMI/Pitt partnership) where undergraduates discover and sequence bacteriophages, resulting in multiple GenBank genome submissions. Recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 innovator, she implements evidence-based teaching strategies developed during her CASTLE postdoc. Paleontological contributions include: Keratin preservation studies in fossil feathers/claws Analyses of dinosaur soft tissues and melanosomes Co-discovery/description of the titanosaur Dreadnoughtus schrani Her pedagogy research focuses on inclusive, research-centered STEM curricula for large courses.

• Gut Microbiology
• Rumen Metabolism
• Preharvest Food Safety
• +6 more

T.G. Nagaraja , University Distinguished Professor of Microbiology at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, has dedicated his career to Gut Microbiology with a focus on Rumen Metabolism and Preharvest Food Safety . His research addresses the role of gut microbes in cattle health, particularly Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) , Salmonella , and Antimicrobial Resistance in beef production systems. BVSc (1970), MVSc (1972) in Veterinary Microbiology from Mysore Veterinary College PhD (1977) in Microbiology from Kansas State University Nagaraja's work spans basic and applied studies on ruminal acidosis and liver abscesses , collaborating with experts in Epidemiology, Molecular Biology, and Ruminant Nutrition. His lab develops interventions to mitigate foodborne pathogens through dietary modifications and vaccine strategies. Key publications highlight advancements in STEC detection (2018), comparative genomics of non-O157 serogroups (2017), and multiplex PCR assays (2015). Recent articles focus on antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and vaccine efficacy against liver abscesses. Scientific contributions include six US patents for Fusobacterium necrophorum vaccines and detection methods. Teaching responsibilities include Veterinary Bacteriology , Rumen Metabolism , and Rumen Microbiology graduate courses.

Abdul Latif KhanView profile

Assistant Professor

• Biotechnology
• Plant Physiology
• Environmental Sciences
• +6 more

Abdul Latif Khan is an Assistant Professor of Biotechnology in the Department of Engineering Technology at the Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston. He holds a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from Kyungpook National University (South Korea) and has extensive international experience, including roles as Associate Professor at the University of Nizwa (Oman) and Research Assistant Professor in medicinal plant research. His research focuses on plant-microbiome interactions, stress tolerance mechanisms, and agricultural biotechnology, particularly in crop improvement under environmental challenges like flooding, salinity, and heavy metal toxicity. He leads the Microbiome and Genomics Lab, studying microbiome dynamics, genomic sequencing of plants (e.g., Boswellia, date palm), and the role of silicon and phytohormones in plant resilience. Dr. Khan has contributed to over 50 peer-reviewed articles, with recent work on microbiome diversity under climate stress, algal biomass applications, and silicon-mediated stress tolerance. He serves on editorial boards of journals like Journal of Plant Growth Regulation and Frontiers in Plant Sciences . His lab collaborates globally, including visiting positions at the University of Nebraska and Kyungpook National University. Key research themes include genomic analysis of invasive species, phytohormone regulation, and sustainable agriculture through microbial and genomic innovations.

Gregg BeckhamView profile

Adjunct Professor

• Lignin and waste valorization
• Plastics upcycling
• Metabolic engineering
• +4 more

Gregg Beckham is a Senior Research Fellow at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Affiliate Faculty in the Department of Chemistry at Colorado State University's College of Natural Sciences. He leads an interdisciplinary team working on biomass conversion, plastics upcycling, and sustainable bioproduct development. Education: 2007: PhD in Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2004: MS in Chemical Engineering Practice, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2002: BS in Chemical Engineering, Oklahoma State University Research Focus: Beckham's work integrates biochemistry, metabolic engineering, and catalysis to address sustainability challenges. Key areas include lignin valorization for renewable chemicals, enzymatic plastic degradation, development of performance-advantaged bioproducts, and bioprocess optimization for circular economy applications. Publication Trends: His recent articles emphasize enzymatic plastic recycling, lignin conversion to aviation fuels, machine learning-guided enzyme discovery, and catalytic biorefinery processes. This reflects a consistent focus on interdisciplinary solutions for plastic waste and biomass valorization. Professional Roles: Group Leader at NREL (2011-2018) Senior Lecturer at MIT (2007) Fellow at Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (2016-present)

Alan GoddardView profile

Professor

• Membrane Biology
• Biochemistry
• Biotechnology
• +6 more

Professor Alan Goddard is a Professor of Biotechnology at the School of Biosciences, Aston University. He is affiliated with the Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (AIME) as Training and Industry Lead, and the Biosciences Research Group. His research focuses on membrane proteins, lipid membranes, and bioinspired membrane technologies. He holds a BSc and PhD from the University of Warwick and a PGCE from the University of Lincoln. Research interests include GPCRs, transporters, membrane biogenesis, antimicrobial effects on membranes, and industrial biotechnology collaborations. He has supervised over 20 PhD/MSc students and postdoctoral researchers, many now in academic and industrial roles. Key grants include £500k Wolfson Foundation funding for the Wolfson Centre for Membrane Excellence and a £1.7M BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership. He leads projects on bioinspired filtration membranes and membrane protein production optimization. Scientific achievements include developing lipid-based assays, advancing membrane protein purification methods, and characterizing microbial membrane adaptations. A Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, he also contributes to editorial boards for journals like Antibiotics and Membranes.

Maya EndohView profile

Research Professor

• Polymer Physics
• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• +3 more

Maya Endoh is a Research Professor in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering at Stony Brook University, where she has held this position since 2015. Her research focuses on polymer structures and deformation mechanisms, utilizing advanced techniques like X-ray scattering, neutron scattering, and microscopy. She investigates molecular-scale structures of polymeric systems, including crystalline organization in nano-confined environments and adhesion dynamics of composites. Her work extends to biomedical applications, particularly microbial interactions with polymer surfaces. Dr. Endoh earned her Ph.D. in Polymer Physics (2005), M.E. in Polymer Chemistry (1997), and B.E. in Polymer Engineering (1995), all from Kyoto University, Japan. She held roles as Senior Research Scientist at Stony Brook University (2012–2014) and Beamline Scientist at NSLS, BNL (2012–2013). Her career includes postdoctoral research at the University of Tokyo and industry experience at Toyobo Co., Ltd. Her research interests span polymer physics, nanostructured materials, and biomedical applications. Notable awards include the 2024 NY State Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching and a JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship. Her publications explore polymer dynamics, anti-biofouling surfaces, and composite material characterization. Recent work emphasizes protein-resistant polymer architectures and nano-scale dynamics in polymer-filler systems. Her contributions bridge fundamental polymer science with practical applications in materials engineering and biomedicine.

• Lateral Gene Transfer
• Genomics
• Bacterial Pathogens
• +3 more

Dr. Julie C. Dunning Hotopp is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She is also a Member of the Institute for Genome Sciences and leads research on bacterial DNA integration into animal genomes, with implications for both evolutionary biology and human health. Primary Appointment : Microbiology and Immunology Additional Affiliation : Institute for Genome Sciences Research Overview : Dr. Dunning Hotopp's groundbreaking work focuses on lateral gene transfer (LGT) between bacteria and animals, notably documenting widespread LGT in invertebrates (Dunning Hotopp et al., 2007 Science ) and investigating bacterial DNA integration into human somatic genomes, particularly in cancer (2013 PLoS Comput Bio ). Her lab explores genomic interactions between pathogens like Wolbachia , Ehrlichia , Anaplasma , and Neisseria meningitidis and their hosts. Scientific Awards : 2010 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award 2010 Leading Women of Maryland (Maryland Daily Record) 2010 Genome Technology Young Investigator 2015 NIH Transformative Research Award Recent Publications examine bacterial integration in Drosophila ananassae , filarial nematodes, and human cancers, alongside developing bioinformatics tools for microbial comparative genomics. Labs & Teams : Her research group at the Institute for Genome Sciences investigates LGT mechanisms and pathogen-host genomics, with projects spanning computational genomics, transcriptomics, and public health implications.

Carolyn ZeinerView profile

Assistant Professor

• Environmental Microbiology
• Microbial Carbon Cycling
• Microbe-Mineral-Metal Interactions
• +3 more

Carolyn Zeiner is an Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at the University of St. Thomas. She holds a PhD from Harvard University, MS from Cornell University, and BS from Bucknell University. Her research focuses on microbial processes in environmental systems, with particular emphasis on fungal contributions to biogeochemical cycles. Her research investigates environmental microbiology through the lens of microbial metabolism and community dynamics. Primary interests include: Microbial carbon cycling in soils and impacts on global change Microbe-mineral-metal interactions during decomposition Metabolite-mediated community dynamics Proteomic and bioinformatic approaches to microbial ecology Her publications consistently explore fungal-mediated biogeochemical transformations, particularly manganese oxidation pathways and carbon utilization strategies across diverse Ascomycete fungi. Recent work expands into urban agricultural systems and long-term soil amendment studies. Dr. Zeiner leads the Zeiner Lab where she investigates microbial processes at molecular scales using advanced proteomic techniques. Current projects examine soil microbial responses to organic amendments in urban gardens and mechanistic studies of fungal metal oxidation.

• Antibiotic Resistance
• Infectious Disease Research
• Antibiotic Biochemistry
• +5 more

Gerard Wright is a distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University's Faculty of Health Sciences. He serves as the Executive Director of the Global Nexus School for Pandemic Prevention & Response and as Scientific Director of the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, which he founded and previously directed. Dr. Wright holds the prestigious Michael G. DeGroote Chair in Infection and Anti-Infective Research and a Canada Research Chair in Antibiotic Biochemistry. Dr. Wright's research focuses on antibiotic resistance mechanisms, infectious disease, and anti-infective drug discovery. His work spans biochemical characterization of resistance enzymes, discovery of novel antibiotics from microbial natural products, and understanding the environmental resistome. He has pioneered approaches to combat antibiotic resistance through enzyme inhibition and antibiotic adjuvants. His laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding glycopeptide antibiotics, aminoglycoside resistance mechanisms, and metallo-β-lactamase inhibitors like aspergillomarasmine A. His recent publications demonstrate continued leadership in the field, with research spanning novel antibiotic discovery (including lasso peptides and lipopeptaibiotics), antifungal development against pathogens like Candida auris, and innovative approaches to resistome profiling. His work bridges fundamental biochemistry with translational applications for combating drug-resistant infections. Canadian Institutes of Health Research Scientist Medical Research Council of Canada Scholar Killam Research Fellowship recipient Member of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences Dr. Wright has advised numerous funding panels for agencies in Canada, the US, and Europe, and consults extensively with the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. His laboratory maintains active collaborations across disciplines, focusing on translating basic research into potential therapeutic strategies against antimicrobial resistance. His work on pandemic preparedness through the Global Nexus School represents a significant contribution to public health infrastructure.