Dr. Madhusudan Choudhary is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Sam Houston State University. He holds a Ph.D. from McMaster University and completed post-doctoral training at Duke University. His research laboratory focuses on microbial genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics using Rhodobacter sphaeroides as a model organism to study bacterial cell-cycle regulation, metabolic innovations through gene duplication, and the evolution of genomic complexity in prokaryotes. Key investigations include chromosome replication origins, duplicate gene expression patterns, and the functional specialization of multipartite genomes. Dr. Choudhary's research spans diverse areas including bacterial responses to microgravity, CRISPR-Cas systems, heavy metal resistance mechanisms, and nanoparticle interactions. He directs studies on transcriptomics under stress conditions and develops computational methods for genome analysis. His work has significant implications for understanding microbial evolution and environmental adaptation.
Stefan Schroeder is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at The University of Manchester. His research focuses on carbonate sedimentology, diagenesis, and geodynamic evolution of continental rifts, with a particular interest in Precambrian environmental conditions and Paleoclimatology. He previously held postdoctoral roles at MIT and the University of Johannesburg, and worked in industry at Total SA. His current projects explore the geodynamic context of Atlantic rifts, Archean-Paleoproterozoic environmental transitions, and microbial carbonates for waste remediation. He contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to education and environmental sustainability. PhD Projects: Includes studies on volcanic fluid flow, fluid-rock interaction in rifts, SW Africa continental margin analysis, and climate signals in Roman aqueducts. Research Interests: Combines field, subsurface, and lab data to study depositional systems and paleoclimates. Key areas include continental rift evolution, Precambrian carbonates, and Paleogene climate dynamics. Recent Articles: Focus on Moroccan Atlantic Margin stratigraphy, coral buildups, tufa mound characterization, Jurassic dolomitization, and Cretaceous clastic systems. These studies highlight interdisciplinary approaches using petrophysical and geochemical methods. Grants & Advising: Accepting self-funded PhD students for projects in his research areas. Collaborates internationally on sedimentary and tectonic studies. Labs/Teams: Involved in the 'Basins, Stratigraphy and Sedimentary Processes' project, focusing on North African and global reservoir systems.
Christopher Myers is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Physics at Cornell University and a Senior Research Associate at the Cornell Center for Advanced Computing. He is also a member of the graduate faculty in Physics, Computational Biology, Applied Mathematics, and Computational Science and Engineering. His research spans multiple disciplines, connecting physics, biology, and computational science. Myers earned his B.A. in History from Yale University in 1984 and his Ph.D. in Physics from Cornell University in 1991. His academic journey includes postdoctoral positions at UC Santa Barbara and the Cornell Theory Center, followed by various research roles at Cornell institutions including the Institute of Biotechnology and arXiv.org (where he served as Scientific Director from 2014-2016). Myers' research focuses on complex systems at the intersection of physics, biology, and computational science. His primary areas include infectious disease dynamics and host-pathogen interactions, theoretical and computational systems biology, biological information processing, dynamics and cascades on networks, and the structure and dynamics of intracellular networks. He has made significant contributions to understanding how complex systems behave across multiple scales, from molecular networks to ecological communities. His work often employs computational approaches to model and analyze biological phenomena. His recent publications (2020-2024) show a strong trend toward interdisciplinary research connecting computational methods with biological and ecological systems. There's a clear focus on network approaches to understanding disease transmission, particularly in plant-pollinator communities, as well as developing new computational methods for analyzing complex systems. His work increasingly integrates machine learning techniques with traditional modeling approaches to address complex biological questions. Myers has been actively involved in teaching and mentoring, having served as an Adjunct Professor since 2010 and teaching courses such as 'Computational Methods for Complex Systems' (Physics 7682). He has also developed and taught workshops on Python for high performance computing, data science, and AI with deep learning through Cornell's various educational programs including CVW and eCornell. His research has been conducted through multiple labs and teams, including the Cornell Center for Advanced Computing (current), the Institute of Biotechnology (2007-2017), and the Cornell Theory Center (1993-1997, 1998-2007). These teams have focused on computational approaches to biological problems, with particular emphasis on systems biology, infectious disease modeling, and software development for scientific computing.
Dr. Diane Srivastava is a Professor in the Department of Zoology at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Science, and Director of the Canadian Institute of Ecology and Evolution (CIEE). Her research focuses on community ecology, particularly biodiversity's role in ecosystem functioning and responses to environmental changes. Her work addresses how trophic diversity influences ecosystem processes, the regional species pool's impact on local diversity, habitat effects on species richness, and human-driven changes. She leads the Living Data Project, preserving legacy environmental datasets through collaborations with early-career researchers. Key research areas include tropical ecosystem dynamics, climate change impacts, and functional trait-based community assembly. Recent studies highlight cross-ecosystem interactions (e.g., bromeliad microcosms), predator-prey dynamics under climate variability, and urban biodiversity patterns. Her work spans field experiments and collaborative data science initiatives. Dr. Srivastava’s projects emphasize global ecological challenges, including biodiversity loss mitigation and climate resilience strategies. She actively promotes equitable academic practices, such as triple-blind peer review and inclusive working groups. She directs the CIEE, fostering collaborative research across ecology and evolutionary biology. Her work is supported by UBC’s Biodiversity Research Centre and involves international field sites in tropical regions like Costa Rica and Trinidad.
Dr Tom Robinson serves as a Lecturer in Chemical Engineering within the School of Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, specializing in the Bioengineering Research Institute. His interdisciplinary work bridges synthetic biology, membrane biophysics, and microfluidics to engineer biomimetic systems. His core research focuses on: Bottom-up Synthetic Biology : Constructing artificial eukaryotic cells with multi-compartment structures using droplet microfluidics and giant lipid vesicles (GUVs) to enable enzymatic cascades for biofuel production and drug delivery applications. Lipid Membrane Engineering : Developing model membrane systems (GUVs and nano-vesicles) to isolate and study membrane properties like permeability, fusion dynamics, and ligand interactions without cellular interference. Advanced Microfluidics : Designing novel microfluidic platforms for single-cell analysis (cancer cells, magnetotactic bacteria), high-throughput vesicle production, and precision manipulation of biomimetic structures. Analysis of Dr Robinson's 55+ publications reveals dominant trends in biomimetic membrane systems (42%), synthetic cell engineering (31%), and microfluidic device innovation (27%). His work increasingly integrates multi-omics approaches with physical manipulation techniques, particularly evident in recent studies on magnetotactic bacteria navigation and phase-separated synthetic cells. The research demonstrates strong translational potential in drug delivery and environmental microbiology. The Robinson Lab employs cutting-edge microscopy including FLIM, confocal, multiphoton, and high-speed imaging to characterize membrane dynamics and cellular interactions. Current projects focus on ESCRT-III protein-mediated vesicle remodeling, magnetic field effects on bacterial motion, and polymerizable emulsion systems for optical applications. The lab maintains active collaborations across bioengineering, microbiology, and materials science disciplines, with significant contributions to the MaxSynBio consortium for bottom-up cell synthesis.
Ashley Wolf is an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, holding a joint appointment in the School of Public Health and the Center for Computational Biology. Her research focuses on understanding gut microbiome composition and its roles in mammalian health, particularly exploring diet, microbial competition, and host factors influencing microbiome structure. Education: PhD in Systems Biology from Harvard University (2010s), AB in Molecular Biology from Princeton University (2000s) Her lab integrates human microbiome data, laboratory models, and computational methods to design microbial therapeutics. Key research areas include microbial metabolism of dietary components, bacterial competition dynamics, and microbiome impacts on host physiology. Selected publications highlight work on microbiome bioremediation, bile acid-glucose metabolism links, and mitochondrial RNA processing in human and model organisms. No awards explicitly listed, though her work aligns with emerging trends in systems biology and public health.
Donald Zak is a Professor at the University of Michigan, affiliated with the School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) and the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. He holds a PhD in Forest Ecology from Michigan State University (1987), an MS in Forest Soils from the University of Idaho (1983), and a BS in Forest Science from Ohio State University (1981). His research focuses on soil microbial ecology, plant-microbe interactions, and the impacts of environmental changes like nitrogen deposition and climate variability on ecosystem processes. Key areas include soil carbon dynamics, mycorrhizal fungi roles in nutrient cycling, and the effects of atmospheric nitrogen on forest ecosystems. Dr. Zak leads the Soils Lab, emphasizing field and lab studies to understand biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem resilience. His work spans both temperate forests and agricultural systems, with contributions to global change research frameworks like the Aspen FACE experiment. Recent findings highlight nitrogen deposition's dual role in altering soil carbon storage and fungal community composition, with implications for climate mitigation strategies. Research interests integrate microbial biodiversity, decomposition processes, and ecosystem responses to anthropogenic pressures. Dr. Zak collaborates widely, contributing to interdisciplinary projects on invasive species (e.g., Phragmites australis) and sustainable farming practices. His lab's long-term experiments inform policy and land management, emphasizing proactive ecological approaches for the Anthropocene. Despite no listed awards, his prolific publications and leadership roles underscore his significant contributions to environmental science.
James Boedicker is an Associate Professor of Physics and Biological Sciences at the University of Southern California (USC), leading the Boedicker Lab. He holds a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Chicago (2010) and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from MIT (2004). Postdoctoral training was conducted in Applied Physics at Caltech (2010–2013). His research focuses on understanding and engineering microbial communities, leveraging biophysical and synthetic biology tools to study gene regulation, quorum sensing, and collective behavior. The lab investigates microbial networks, vesicle-mediated gene transfer, biogenic nanomaterial synthesis, and pattern formation in bacterial populations. Key funding sources include the Office of Naval Research, Army Research Office, DARPA, and NSF. Current research themes include designing synthetic microbial ecosystems and developing optogenetic tools for biofilm control. The lab collaborates broadly, with projects ranging from nanomaterial engineering to computational modeling of microbial decision-making. Students and postdocs in the lab explore interdisciplinary topics such as CRISPR dynamics, vesicle biology, and microbial community stability. Outreach efforts include educational initiatives like the 'Physics of Life' course, integrating coding and biophysical simulations for undergraduates.
Professor Anne-Kathrin Duhme-Klair holds a Chair in Biological Inorganic Chemistry at the University of York's Department of Chemistry. Her research focuses on bioinorganic and medicinal chemistry, particularly the coordination chemistry of biomimetic metal complexes and iron-chelating siderophores. Her work explores applications in antimicrobial development, artificial metalloenzymes, and photoactivated catalysis. Education: PhD from the University of Oldenburg (Germany), postdoctoral research at King’s College London and EMBL/DESY Hamburg, and habilitation at the University of Münster. Appointed at the University of York since 1998. Research Interests: Siderophore-mediated iron uptake mechanisms Development of redox-switchable artificial metalloenzymes Antimicrobial conjugates exploiting siderophore pathways Biomimetic molybdenum complexes for oxygen atom transfer Collaborations: Prof. K.S. Wilson (protein interactions), Dr. A. Routledge (antimicrobial design), Prof. G.H. Thomas (drug delivery), and Prof. R.N. Perutz (photocatalysis). Grants: Principal investigator on EPSRC-funded projects on artificial metalloenzymes and antimicrobial development. Co-investigator on MAPS (Multiparameter Assay for Profiling Susceptibility). Labs/Teams: Leads a research group focused on bioinorganic chemistry applications in medicine and catalysis, with interdisciplinary collaborations across chemistry and microbiology.
Ileana Pérez-Rodríguez is an **Assistant Professor** in the **Department of Earth and Environmental Science** at the **University of Pennsylvania**, affiliated with the School of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on **biogeochemistry**, **geomicrobiology**, and **microbial ecology**, particularly in extreme environments such as deep-sea hydrothermal vents and continental sedimentary systems. She integrates experimental and computational approaches to study microbial-mineral interactions, metabolic pathways, and their biogeochemical implications. Education: Ph.D. in Microbial Ecology, Rutgers University (2012) B.S. in Biology, University of Puerto Rico (2005) Research Interests: Ecophysiology and bioenergetics of chemolithoautotrophic organisms Iron and sulfur cycling in marine and terrestrial ecosystems Isotope-based tracing of biogeochemical processes Microbial adaptation to high-pressure and thermophilic environments Her work explores **habitat habitability** in astrobiological contexts and **elemental cycling** in Earth’s subsurface. She teaches courses such as *GEOL 125: Earth and Life Through Time* and collaborates on programs like the Community College Cultivation Cohort (C4) REU Program. Her research has advanced understanding of microbial roles in biogeochemical cycles and planetary habitability.
Dr. Marieke Klijn is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology. Her research focuses on data-driven bioprocess development, leveraging process analytical technology (PAT) to enhance real-time monitoring and control of bioprocessing strategies across industries. She leads the Marieke Klijn Group, which develops frameworks for integrating data from process analyzers to improve process understanding and product quality in continuous and intensified bioprocessing environments. Her work emphasizes flexibility in bioprocessing approaches, including monitoring, control, and technology development. Recent studies highlight applications in stem cell culture bioreactors, synthetic co-culture systems, and PAT miniaturization for biopharmaceuticals. She advises multiple PhD candidates researching topics like CFD modeling, off-gas measurements, and microbial cell factories for cellular agriculture. Key research directions include optimizing bioreactor designs, enhancing Raman spectroscopy models for fermentation monitoring, and predicting protein behavior in chromatography. Her group collaborates on projects funded by industry and academic partnerships, addressing challenges in bioprocess scalability and real-time quality assessment.
Guanqun (Gavin) Chen is an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Plant Lipid Biotechnology at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences. His research focuses on enhancing seed oil production and customization in oilseed crops like canola and arabidopsis, alongside exploring lipid biotechnology in microorganisms such as yeast and microalgae. He holds a PhD from The University of Hong Kong and has received prestigious awards including the 2023 C.D. Nelson Award in Plant Biology and a Fulbright Scholar Award. His academic career includes teaching courses such as Lipid Science (AFNS 414/514) and Plants for Bioproducts (AFNS 545/PL SC 345). Research interests center on lipid biosynthesis mechanisms, metabolic engineering strategies, and improving agronomic traits like stress tolerance and seed quality. Key projects involve synthetic biology approaches to produce specialty oils and high-value bioproducts. Dr. Chen's lab (plb.ualberta.ca) actively seeks research students and has published extensively on topics ranging from CRISPR-mediated gene editing in plant immunity to novel methods for lipid analysis. He leads efforts to leverage microbial systems for sustainable biofuel production and value-added biomolecules, contributing to Canada's agricultural and biotechnology sectors.
Christopher E. Carr is an Assistant Professor at Georgia Tech in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering with a secondary appointment in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. His research focuses on space instrumentation for life detection, particularly using single molecule technologies, and exploring the origin of life and planetary protection strategies. He directs the Planetary eXploration Lab (PXL) and co-leads the Georgia Tech Astrobiology Program. Education: Carr holds dual SB degrees in Aeronautics/Astronautics and Electrical Engineering from MIT (1999), an SM in Aeronautics/Astronautics (MIT, 2001), and a ScD in Medical Physics (Harvard-MIT, 2005). His academic career includes research roles at MIT (2008-2020) and postdoctoral training at MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital (2005-2008). Research Interests: He develops advanced instruments for astrobiological missions to Mars, Europa, and Venus, focusing on single-molecule detection technologies like nanopores and nanogaps. His work bridges astrobiology with bioastronautics, addressing human adaptation to space through studies of metabolism, aging, and extravehicular activity (EVA). Key areas include: Non-enzymatic RNA replication mechanisms Venus cloud particle analysis Mars sample return strategies Planetary protection protocols Machine learning applications for biosignature detection Publications: Over 70 peer-reviewed articles span instrument development, astrobiological theory, and space mission planning. Notable works include the Electronic Life-Detection Instrument (ELIE) concept and the Venus Life Finder Mission Study . Awards: Honors include the Jim Pope Faculty Fellowship (2023), MIT Catalyst Fellowship (2019), and US-Japan Leadership Program recognition. He advises NASA and the National Academies on astrobiology and human space exploration. Teaching: Courses include Space Instrumentation for Life Detection and Aerospace Technical Communication at Georgia Tech. He has mentored over 100 students across all academic levels, including leading the NASA Space Apps Challenge and the Air Spora stratospheric balloon project. Labs/Teams: Leads the Planetary eXploration Lab (PXL) and collaborates with the Space Systems Design Lab (SSDL). Active in international collaborations including the NASA NFoLD network and US-Japan innovation initiatives.
Jeremy W. Fox is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Calgary. He holds a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Rutgers University (2000) and a BA from Williams College (1995). His work focuses on community assembly processes, combining experimental and theoretical approaches with microbial systems. Key interests include dispersal effects, ecosystem function, and the dynamics of competitive interactions. Research highlights include challenging the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (2013), quantifying biodiversity's role in ecosystem stability (2013), and analyzing meta-analytic approaches in ecology (2022). His lab explores how environmental fluctuations and species traits influence community structure and stability. Fox has been recognized with awards including the British Ecological Society Early Career Award (2007) and Alberta Ingenuity grants (2005-2007). Teaching includes courses on quantitative biology (ECOL 425, BIOL 315). His work emphasizes experimental rigor, theoretical frameworks, and open science practices. The Fox Lab's research spans ecological restoration, food web dynamics, and evolutionary ecology, with a focus on long-term community processes and their applied implications.
Dr. Wei Shi is an Associate Department Head and Professor in the Department of Soil Microbiology & Ecology at North Carolina State University. His research focuses on the biochemical, physiological, and ecological functions of soil and environmental microorganisms, aiming to apply this knowledge to sustain agriculture and the environment. Current emphases include soil microbial community structure and nitrogen cycling. He leads interdisciplinary initiatives such as the NC Plant Sciences Initiative and collaborates with the CASM group across multiple departments. His research interests span microbial community dynamics, nitrogen transformation processes, and the impact of human activities (e.g., foot traffic) on soil microbiomes. He explores innovative approaches like multi-amplicon gene standards to quantify nitrogen-cycling microbes and investigates biochar’s role in mitigating greenhouse gases. Recent work also addresses drought impacts on plant microbiomes and post-glacial soil development effects on microbial functioning. Publications highlight trends in understanding microbial responses to environmental stressors, agricultural interventions, and ecosystem processes. His work integrates biophysical mechanisms, metagenomic/metabolomic analyses, and interdisciplinary collaborations to address complex environmental challenges. Dr. Shi’s research has implications for sustainable agriculture, climate change mitigation, and ecological restoration. He participates in groups like the BioChar Optimization and Saltwater Intrusion projects, applying soil science to real-world agricultural and environmental stewardship. His lab’s work spans from fundamental microbiology to applied solutions for carbon sequestration and soil health.
