Dr. Diana Rennison is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology, Behavior & Evolution at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). She leads the Rennison Lab within the School of Biological Sciences, focusing on mechanisms driving biodiversity through evolutionary and ecological processes. Her work integrates population genomics, field studies, and experimental approaches to study adaptation in threespine stickleback and other organisms. Rennison holds a PhD from the University of British Columbia, where she studied predation-driven adaptation in stickleback. She completed a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship at the University of Bern, investigating parallel genomic differentiation. Since joining UCSD in 2019, she has established a research group exploring visual system evolution, eco-evolutionary genomics, and the role of biotic interactions in diversification. Her research interests emphasize understanding how natural and sexual selection shape evolutionary trajectories, particularly in spectral environments and predator-prey dynamics. Key themes include genomic constraints, microbiota-ecotype associations, and the genetic basis of parallel adaptations. Recent projects highlight the role of haploblocks in climate adaptation and the influence of host ecology on microbial diversity. Lab & Collaborations : The Rennison Lab collaborates widely, leveraging genomic tools and ecological experiments. They emphasize reproducible research and interdisciplinary methods. Current availability for PhD rotations is listed for 2025–2026, though slots are currently closed for all rotation periods.
Hesper Rego is an Associate Professor in Microbial Pathogenesis at the Yale School of Medicine, affiliated with the Boyer Center for Molecular Medicine. She holds a B.S. in Physics from Caltech (2005) and a Ph.D. in Biophysics from UCSF (2011). Her postdoctoral work focused on mycobacterial phenotypic heterogeneity under Eric Rubin at Harvard. Rego's lab integrates advanced microscopy techniques with studies of mycobacterial survival strategies under antibiotic and host stress. Education: B.S., Physics, California Institute of Technology, 2005 Ph.D., Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, 2011 Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard School of Public Health, 2011-2016 Research Interests: Rego's work bridges microscopy innovation and microbial pathogenesis, focusing on mycobacterial physiology. Key areas include: Super-resolution microscopy for live-cell imaging Mechanisms of phenotypic heterogeneity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Cellular responses to antibiotic stress Cell wall synthesis and lipid trafficking Publications: Recent work highlights discoveries in mycobacterial divisome dynamics, CTP synthase filaments, and nucleoid-associated proteins' roles in antibiotic resistance. Themes include bacterial population heterogeneity, structural biology, and host-pathogen interactions. Awards: Pew Biomedical Scholar (2018) Searle Scholar Award (2018) Kingsley Award in Medical Research (2016) Lab & Collaborations: The Rego Lab works with collaborators like Lin Shao, Chunyan Wang, and María Lara-Tejero. Research focuses on live-cell imaging and systems approaches to understand mycobacterial survival strategies. Labsites include the Boyer Center for Molecular Medicine.
Luis Bañeras Vives is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Girona, where he conducts research in microbial ecology with a strong molecular focus. He is affiliated with the Institute of Aquatic Ecology and the Molecular Microbial Ecology Research Group, contributing to both fundamental and applied environmental microbiology. His research interests center on anaerobic microorganisms and their roles in biogeochemical cycles, particularly carbon and nitrogen, with implications for greenhouse gas emissions. He applies advanced molecular techniques—including genetic expression analysis, phylogenetics, and microbial isolation—to study microbial activity, physiology, and adaptation in natural and biotechnological systems. His ongoing research lines include microbial ecology of arid and semi-arid soils, anaerobic bioremediation, production of chemicals via fermentation, and electron transfer mechanisms in bioelectrochemical systems. Earlier work involved post-harvest biocontrol and odor formation in cork. Although no specific publications are listed in the provided text, his work spans environmental microbiology, biotechnology, and molecular ecology, indicating a strong interdisciplinary trend focused on sustainability and microbial applications. Ecology of arid and semi-arid soils (2020–present) Anaerobic bioremediation (2016–present) Chemical production by fermentation (2012–present) Bioelectrochemical electron transfer (2012–present) Nitrogen cycling in natural and artificial systems (1996–2018) He has supervised research within these domains and is likely involved in mentoring students, though specific advisees are not named. He has participated in multiple research projects and contributed to scientific advancements in microbial applications for environmental and industrial challenges. Luis Bañeras Vives is based at the Edifici Ciències, Office 120, University of Girona, and is an active member of the Molecular Microbial Ecology Research Group and the Institute of Aquatic Ecology.
Wei Jiang is a Research Fellow at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability , Technical University of Denmark, specializing in yeast metabolic engineering within the DTU Microbes Initiative. His work focuses on synthetic biology and biomanufacturing applications.
Tomas Strucko is a researcher in the Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), specializing in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering with a focus on yeast species including Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Komagataella phaffii . He develops advanced genetic tools for efficient strain engineering, particularly CRISPR-Cas systems. Academic employee at DTU Member of Synthetic Biology section Research Interests: Design and optimization of microbial cell factories Development of CRISPR-based genome editing platforms Metabolic pathway engineering for chemical production High-throughput strain construction techniques Comparative yeast genetics Laboratory evolution for metabolic adaptation Notable Contributions: Co-developed CRI-SPA (CRISPR-based strain production automation), created oligonucleotide-mediated editing systems for Komagataella phaffii, and pioneered gene amplification techniques through DNA repair mechanisms. His work has been cited 15 times across 5 publications in 2023-2024. Students: Supervised PhD candidate Porcayo Loza in yeast-based algal biomass conversion projects. Project Affiliations: Engineered yeast strains for bulk chemicals from algal biomass (2015-2022) Designer yeast library for metabolic engineering (2014-2016) Vanillin production cell factory development (2010-2014)
Jay Keasling is a Professor and Scientific Director at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark. His research focuses on metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, and microbial production of natural products. Primary Affiliation: Technical University of Denmark Research Lab: Yeast Natural Products group Email: JDKeasling@lbl.gov Keasling's expertise spans engineering metabolic pathways in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli for bio-based chemical production. Recent work includes optimizing polyketide synthases, enhancing transformation efficiency, and developing biosensors for high-throughput screening. His publications demonstrate trends in microbial engineering for sustainable chemical synthesis, with subfields including: metabolic flux analysis, plasmid copy number optimization, fatty acid derivatives, and glycosylation pathway engineering. As a PhD supervisor, Keasling has guided students including Jayachandran S., Gadar Lopez A. E., and Lengger B. His lab is part of DTU's broader biosustainability initiative.
Stefan Heinl is a researcher at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). His work focuses on molecular biotechnology, particularly in recombinant protein expression, genetic engineering of lactic acid bacteria, and microbial systems biology. He leads the research project Bioremediation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and has been actively involved in multiple national and industry-funded projects. PhD: Development of a production strain for fumonisin degradation (2003–2008) PostDoc: Genetically engineered lactic acid bacteria (2008–2016) Project Leader: PFAS-Biorem (2024–2027) His research interests include industrial biotechnology, probiotics, synthetic biology, and bioremediation . He has published extensively on Lactobacillus systems, including gene expression, plasmid biology, and glycosylation. His recent work explores the use of recombinant bacteria as vaccine vectors and allergen delivery systems. His publications from 2013 to 2025 show a strong trend toward applied microbial biotechnology , particularly in health-related applications (e.g., immunomodulation, allergy prevention) and environmental solutions (e.g., PFAS degradation). The integration of systems biology and genetic engineering is a recurring theme. He has received scientific recognition including the Houskapreis (1st place, 2014) and WISP10 (3rd place, 2010) . He serves as a reviewer for journals such as Microbial Cell Factories , Journal of Biotechnology , and PLoS One , and has evaluated research proposals for agencies like the Slovenian Research Agency. He has supervised several master’s students and contributed to knowledge transfer through project reports and conference presentations. His work is supported by national industry funding and reflects a strong interdisciplinary approach combining microbiology, molecular biology, and bioprocess engineering.
Lena Wohlschlager is a Researcher at the Institute of Molecular Modeling and Simulation , part of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) . Her work focuses on biocatalysis and lignocellulose degradation through advanced molecular techniques. Molecular modeling and simulation Enzyme interaction studies Biomass conversion research Wohlschlager's research explores enzyme localization and activity on complex biopolymers using surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy , with significant contributions to understanding fungal enzyme systems in lignocellulose breakdown. Her publications since 2018 span topics like heterologous enzyme expression and oxidoreductase mechanisms in biomass hydrolysis. While specific scientific awards aren't mentioned, her work has been presented at international conferences including NextGenBiocat Symposium and Gordon Research Conference . She collaborates with researchers across Europe on biocatalysis projects and has contributed to PhD candidate symposia.
Dr. Tian Zeng is a PostDoctoral Researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology in Potsdam, Brandenburg. Their research focuses on plant-microbe symbiosis, particularly in mycorrhizal interactions. Education: PhD from Wageningen University (2019) Research interests include: Decoding molecular mechanisms of plant symbiosis Exploring effector proteins in fungal-plant interactions Investigating nutrient transport systems in mycorrhizal relationships Studying stage-specific secretomes in arbuscular mycorrhiza development Their publications reveal a consistent focus on: Molecular foundations of symbiotic structures (symbiosomes, arbuscules) Immune system modulation during beneficial fungal associations Developmental stage-dependent mechanisms in mycorrhizal fungi Dr. Zeng contributes to advancing understanding of root biology and symbiotic processes through collaborative research with institutions like Wageningen University and teams at the Max Planck Institute.
Cathryn Nagler is a Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Chicago, leading research on microbiome interactions with mucosal immunity and food allergy mechanisms. Her work has established foundational links between intestinal bacteria and immune tolerance. Education: BA in Biology (Barnard College, 1979), PhD in Immunology (NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 1986), Postdoc in Immunology (MIT, 1990) The Nagler Lab investigates how commensal microbiota regulates food allergy susceptibility, proposing that modern microbiome changes drive generational allergy increases. Key studies include Lachnospiraceae family bacteria protecting against food allergy and ClostraBio translating discoveries into microbiome-modulating therapeutics. Recent publications (2023-2025) focus on butyrate delivery systems , TLR signaling , and synbiotic treatments for food allergies, spanning immunology, microbiology, and biomedical engineering disciplines. 2020: Distinguished Fellow, American Association of Immunologists 2019: Notable Women in Health Care (Crain's Chicago Business) 2017: Distinguished Faculty Award, University of Chicago Her research has secured continuous NIH funding since 1995, including current grants (2024-2026) on engineered Clostridial consortia. The lab employs gnotobiotic mouse models and human microbiota transplantation to study causal microbiome-allergy relationships.
Laura Ong is a Professor in the Department of Biology at King University, where she teaches a variety of undergraduate courses in biology, microbiology, and human anatomy. She holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Indiana University and a B.S. in Agricultural Biotechnology from the University of Kentucky. Her academic journey reflects a deep commitment to understanding biological systems, especially at the intersection of microbiology and plant defense mechanisms. Ph.D., Molecular Biology and Genetics, Indiana University, 2006 B.S., Agricultural Biotechnology, University of Kentucky, 2000 Her research focuses on microbial pathogenesis, host-pathogen interactions, and plant immune responses, particularly in the context of bacterial infections in plants like soybean and Arabidopsis. She is passionate about exploring how molecular mechanisms of disease resistance can be translated into improving crop resilience. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes accessibility and relevance, evident in her course offerings such as Microbiology for non-majors and Modern Human Reproduction. The recent publications highlight her expertise in bacterial virulence, gene regulation in cyanobacteria, and evolutionary aspects of plant disease resistance. Her work bridges fundamental molecular research with practical agricultural applications, showing a consistent trajectory in understanding microbial interactions across plant systems. Laura Ong has not been mentioned as receiving any formal scientific awards in the provided text. She is actively involved in teaching and mentoring, though no formal advisees are listed. There is no mention of external grants or funded research projects. Her academic service includes teaching a broad curriculum and participating in interdisciplinary seminars. While no specific laboratory or research team is described, her publication history suggests past collaboration with research groups in molecular plant-microbe interactions, particularly during her graduate and post-graduate years.
Carlos M. de Noronha is an Associate Professor in the Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease at Albany Medical College's School of Medicine. His research program focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms of HIV-1 pathogenesis, with particular emphasis on viral protein functions and host-virus interactions. Dr. de Noronha's work aims to identify novel targets for therapeutic interventions against HIV infection by investigating how viral proteins manipulate cellular processes. ScD, Harvard University, 1994 Dr. de Noronha's research primarily investigates how HIV-1 proteins, particularly Vpr, contribute to viral replication and pathogenesis. His laboratory studies the interaction between HIV-1 proteins and host cellular machinery, with a focus on how viral proteins manipulate cell cycle regulation and evade immune responses. Recent work has explored the role of cellular factors like Nrf2, SAMHD1, and p53 in restricting HIV infection, particularly in macrophages which serve as critical viral reservoirs. His team employs molecular virology, cell biology, and biochemical approaches to uncover novel antiviral mechanisms that could inform therapeutic development. Dr. de Noronha's publication record demonstrates a consistent progression from studying viral proteins like Vpr to investigating host restriction factors. His recent work shows increasing focus on cellular pathways that could be therapeutically targeted to enhance natural antiviral defenses, particularly in macrophages. Key themes include the role of ubiquitin ligase complexes in viral pathogenesis, the regulation of SAMHD1 phosphorylation, and how cellular stress responses like Nrf2 signaling can inhibit HIV replication. Dr. de Noronha leads an active research laboratory investigating HIV molecular biology. His work involves mentoring graduate students and research staff in virology and immunology techniques. While specific grant details aren't provided, his sustained research output suggests successful funding from major biomedical research organizations. His laboratory maintains collaborations with other HIV researchers as evidenced by co-authorships across multiple publications. Dr. de Noronha directs a research team employing advanced molecular techniques to study host-virus interactions. His laboratory focuses on macrophage biology and HIV pathogenesis, investigating how cellular factors restrict viral replication. The research environment includes collaborations with biochemists, virologists, and immunologists working toward understanding HIV persistence and developing novel therapeutic approaches.
Qingling Duan is an Associate Professor and Queen's National Scholar in Bioinformatics at Queen's University, jointly appointed in the School of Computing and Department of Biomedical & Molecular Sciences. She leads the Computational Genomics Laboratory, focusing on genetic and epigenetic mechanisms in multifactorial diseases. PhD in Human Genetics, McGill University BSc in Biology, McGill University Her research integrates genomics, transcriptomics, and epigenomics to investigate gene-environment interactions in asthma, COPD, and drug response variability. Key areas include: Multi-Omics Data Integration Environmental Exposure Effects Pharmacogenomics Microbiota-Host Interactions Developmental Disease Trajectories Recent publications examine epigenetic aging, human milk microbiota, and prenatal exposure effects. Her work has appeared in leading journals like Nature Communications and American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Queen’s National Scholar Award in Bioinformatics CIHR Grant Recipient International Collaboration with CHILD Cohort Study Dr. Duan advises numerous graduate students and postdocs in bioinformatics and biomedical research. Her lab collaborates with Kingston General Hospital, Hotel-Dieu Hospital, and the IMPACTT network.
Paul Esker is a Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology at Pennsylvania State University , where he investigates plant disease epidemiology and sustainable management practices. His work spans biological control, fungicide optimization, and climate change impacts on crop health. Research Interests Plant-microbe interactions in disease suppression Quantitative disease severity and yield loss modeling Climate-adaptive agricultural practices Scientific Contributions include developing tools like the MSE FINDR R application for statistical analysis, advancing global Fusarium databases, and documenting tar spot emergence in Pennsylvania. His publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches to phytopathometry. Scientific Awards NSF Grant for nematology research (2023) Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society Recognition (2025) Land Grant Research Impact Fellow (2025) Research Themes : Fungicide efficacy, microbiome-driven plant health, Fusarium species complex, soybean yield optimization, climate change adaptation, and emerging crop diseases like maize tar spot. Labs : Conducts research at 212A Buckhout Laboratory , University Park, PA, focusing on experimental plant pathology and sustainable pest management.
Prof. Dr. Katharina Höfer is a Max Planck Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg, Germany, where she heads the Research Group for Bacterial Epitranscriptomics. She is affiliated with SYNMIKRO, the Center for Synthetic Microbiology, a collaborative research center between the Max Planck Institute and Philipps-Universität Marburg. Her work bridges molecular biology, biochemistry, and microbiology to unravel the complex world of RNA modifications in bacteria. Dr. Höfer completed her academic journey with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Hannover in 2008, followed by a Master of Science in Molecular Biotechnology from Heidelberg University in 2011. She earned her Dr. rer. nat. from Heidelberg University's Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology in 2017, and continued as a Postdoctoral Researcher there until 2020. Dr. Höfer's research focuses on bacterial epitranscriptomics, particularly the study of NAD-capped RNAs in bacteria using Escherichia coli as a model organism. Her lab investigates how RNA modifications serve as epitranscriptomic mechanisms for gene regulation, exploring the connections between redox biology, gene expression, and regulation. By combining cell biological, biochemical, structural, chemical, and bioinformatic approaches, her team uncovers novel insights into RNA modifications and their functional implications in bacterial systems. Her recent work has expanded into bacteriophage research, examining the enigmatic epitranscriptome of phages and how viral infections alter host RNA modification landscapes. This interdisciplinary approach has positioned her at the forefront of understanding RNA-protein interactions, particularly through discoveries related to RNAylation - the conjugation of RNAs to proteins. The analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on viral ADP-ribosyltransferases, phage engineering, and the functional consequences of RNA modifications during host-pathogen interactions. Dr. Höfer's scientific achievements have been recognized with several prestigious awards, including: ERC Starter Grant (2023) EMBO Young Investigator (2024) Otto Meyerhof Award from the German Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (GBM) (2024) LOEWE Spitzenprofessur from Philipps-Universität Marburg (2024) As an advisor, Dr. Höfer has supervised numerous Master's and Bachelor's students, guiding research on topics ranging from phage infection mechanisms to RNA modifications and protein-RNA conjugation. Her group has received significant funding, most notably the ERC Starter Grant, which supports innovative research at the intersection of RNA biology and microbial systems. She maintains collaborative relationships with researchers across multiple institutions, as evidenced by her diverse publication record. The Höfer Lab, located at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, consists of a diverse team of doctoral researchers, technical assistants, guest scientists, and students. Current members include Elyés Gaaloul, Lydia Garrido Garcia-Dorado, Kitty Johnson, Helene Keuthen, Moritz Weber, Nurseda Yilmaz Demirel, Petra Mann (Technical Assistant), and several others. This collaborative environment fosters interdisciplinary research that combines molecular biology, biochemistry, and computational approaches to tackle fundamental questions in RNA biology.
