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Karin ÖbergView profile

Professor

• Astrochemistry
• Planet Formation
• Interstellar Medium
• +3 more

Karin Öberg is a Professor of Astronomy at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, where she explores astrochemical processes influencing star and planet formation. Her research integrates laboratory ice experiments , millimeter-wavelength observations , and astrochemical theory . Research Interests Chemical evolution of interstellar ices Formation of complex organic molecules Sulfur chemistry in protoplanetary disks UV photodesorption mechanisms Isotopic fractionation in astrophysical environments Recent Publications Her recent work focuses on molecular line diagnostics in disks, sulfur molecule distributions, and photodesorption processes in CO/N₂/O₂ ices. Studies include ALMA observations of CS isotopologues and UV irradiation experiments on methanol-rich ices. Awards Harnack Lecture (2022) Recognized for astrochemistry dissertation mentorship (2025) Laboratory The Öberg Astrochemistry Group investigates chemical complexity in space and its implications for planetary composition. The lab develops molecular probes for astrophysical phenomena and studies sulfur chemistry in disks.

• Computational Chemistry
• Astrochemistry
• Atmospheric Chemistry
• +3 more

Hilda Sandström is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Applied Physics at Aalto University, specializing in computational approaches to astrochemical and atmospheric systems. Her work bridges physics, chemistry, and machine learning to investigate prebiotic molecular evolution and extraterrestrial environments. Her research focuses on computational electronic structure theory applied to: Hydrogen cyanide polymerization pathways relevant to life's origins Chemical processes on Saturn's moon Titan Machine learning-driven atmospheric compound identification Thermodynamic modeling of astrochemical environments She develops data-driven methodologies for mass spectrometry analysis and explores molecular self-assembly in cryogenic conditions. Recent publications (2019-2025) reveal a cohesive trajectory in interdisciplinary computational chemistry , with increasing integration of machine learning for: Deciphering atmospheric organic compounds Predicting quantum chemical properties Mapping prebiotic reaction networks Simulating extraterrestrial chemical systems This work positions her at the intersection of astrobiology, planetary science, and computational physics. She is affiliated with Aalto's Computational Electronic Structure Theory research group , collaborating with leading scientists including Patrick Rinke and Martin Rahm across atmospheric chemistry, quantum dynamics, and prebiotic evolution projects.

Adam WattsView profile

Visiting Professor

• Virgo Cluster
• Star Formation
• Molecular Gas
• +9 more

Adam Watts is a Visiting Professor at the School of Physics, Maths and Computing , The University of Western Australia . His research focuses on galaxy evolution, particularly environmental effects on cold gas dynamics in clusters like Virgo. Research Interests: Using observational data (e.g., SAMI-Hi, VERTICO) and machine learning (GalProTE), he investigates Star formation suppression in clusters HI gas distribution and asymmetry Ionized vs neutral hydrogen gas interactions Galaxy rotation curves and stellar mass . Key Publications: Recent work includes studies on bipolar outflows (MAUVE, 2024), environmental evolution of cold gas (VERTICO V, 2023), and H I asymmetry datasets (IllustrisTNG, xGASS, 2020). His articles often integrate multi-wavelength data and computational methods.

• Planetary Science
• Ocean Worlds Research
• Remote Sensing
• +4 more

Dr. Jon Hillier is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute of Geological Sciences within the Department of Earth Sciences at Freie Universität Berlin. He works on the Project Habitat-OASIS • Ocean Worlds/Destiny+ and specializes in planetary science research focusing on extraterrestrial ocean environments and cosmic dust analysis. Dr. Hillier holds a Ph.D. in Physics and has established himself as a specialist in impact ionization mass spectrometry and hypervelocity impact physics. His laboratory work involves creating sophisticated analogues of extraterrestrial materials to simulate conditions found on ocean worlds like Europa and Enceladus. His research interests include: Analysis of ice grains from ocean worlds for potential biosignatures Simulation of hypervelocity cosmic dust impacts Development of analytical techniques for space-based mass spectrometry Characterization of organic and inorganic materials in extraterrestrial environments Interpretation of data from space missions, particularly Cassini Dr. Hillier's publication record shows a concentrated focus on developing methods to distinguish between abiotic and biotic chemistry in extraterrestrial environments. His recent work demonstrates increasing sophistication in laboratory analogues that simulate ice grain composition from ocean worlds, with particular attention to detecting potential microbial biosignatures using advanced mass spectrometry techniques. He is actively involved in international collaborations that bridge laboratory experimentation, theoretical modeling, and analysis of space mission data to advance understanding of planetary systems and the potential for extraterrestrial life. His research contributes directly to the development of instrumentation for future missions aimed at exploring potentially habitable environments in our solar system.

• Astrophysics
• Stellar Formation
• Galactic Structure
• +2 more

Marina Kounkel is a researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Department of Astronomy within the College of Letters & Science. Her research focuses on astrophysics, particularly in stellar formation, galactic structure, binary stars, and young stellar objects. Her recent publications include studies on T Tauri binary systems, protostellar mass-luminosity relations, and kinematic analysis of young stars in Milky Way regions. These works explore topics such as accretion activity, dynamical mass determination in star clusters, and orbital parameter analysis in binary systems. Marina's collaborative projects span multiple institutions and involve the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, TESS mission data, and VLBA observations. While specific awards or formal supervision roles aren't detailed in the provided text, her contributions to time-domain astronomy and galactic mapping through co-authored papers demonstrate active research engagement.

• Atomic-scale simulations of irradiation damage in metallic alloys
• ab initio methods
• molecular dynamics
• +7 more

Charlotte BECQUART is Professor at Centrale Lille Institute, University of Lille, France, and member of the Physical Metallurgy and Materials Engineering team within the Materials and Transformations Unit (UMET, CNRS UMR 8207). Since 1993 she has conducted research on atomic-scale modeling of irradiation damage in metallic alloys using ab initio, molecular dynamics and kinetic Monte Carlo methods. Education & Background Metallurgy and thermodynamics applied to development, modeling and surface treatments. Working at École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Lille since 1993. Research Focus Her work centers on understanding irradiation damage at the atomic scale, particularly embrittlement mechanisms in Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) vessel steels and materials for fusion reactors such as tungsten divertor components. She employs advanced simulation techniques including ab initio calculations, molecular dynamics and kinetic Monte Carlo methods to study deformation, phase change and damage phenomena. Research Trends Recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on multi-scale modeling of irradiation effects in metallic systems, statistical analyses of displacement cascades, nanocavity diffusion in tungsten, radiation-induced segregation at grain boundaries, and development of machine-learned interatomic potentials for complex alloys. The research spans nuclear materials, computational materials science and advanced alloys for energy applications. PhD Supervision She has successfully supervised 12 defended theses since 2012 and currently co-directs 3 ongoing doctoral projects (2022–2025) focusing on mesoscopic scale modeling of irradiated steels, multi-scale modeling of shape memory alloys and oxide-cladding interface characterization for future nuclear fuels. Affiliations & Teams UMET – Materials and Transformations Unit, CNRS UMR 8207, University of Lille. Physical Metallurgy and Materials Engineering research team. Collaborates with EDF, CEA and international fusion programs.

Evgeni V. SokurenkoView profile

Professor

• Bacterial Pathogenesis
• Molecular Evolution
• Microbial Genomics
• +3 more

Evgeni V. Sokurenko is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Washington. His research focuses on molecular adaptive evolution in bacterial pathogens, particularly Escherichia coli, Shigella, and Salmonella. He combines structural biology, molecular dynamics simulations, and genomic analysis to study bacterial adhesion mechanisms and pathogenicity-adaptive genetic variations. Education: M.D. and Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology from Moscow Medical Academy, Russian Federation Research Projects: Structure/functional analysis of E. coli type 1 fimbrial adhesin (FimH) variations affecting host cell tropism Identification of selection footprints in nucleotide polymorphisms of bacterial adhesin genes Genomic tracking of adaptive mutations in Pseudomonas aeruginosa during chronic infections Laboratory Members: Veronika Tchesnokova (Research Scientist/Engineer Sr.) Lydia Larson (Research Scientist/Engineer 3) Debarati Choudhury (Research Scientist)

• Computational Imaging
• Functional Materials
• Geo Materials
• +6 more

Dag Werner Breiby is a Professor in the Department of Physics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). His research focuses on computational imaging, functional materials, geo materials, and advanced microscopy techniques. Research Interests: Breiby's work spans porous media tomography, X-ray diffraction, polymer and composite material analysis, and biomedical imaging. He utilizes neutron and X-ray computed tomography to study fluid dynamics in geomaterials, molecular ordering in thin films, and strain localization in shale. Recent Article Trends: His publications from 2014–2025 emphasize 4D imaging of dynamic processes (e.g., frost heave, drainage in porous media) multiscale X-ray and neutron tomography applications computational imaging in polymers, semiconductors, and biomedical contexts. Key Collaborations: Breiby collaborates with researchers like Kim Robert Bjørk Tekseth, Fazel Mirzaei, and Basab Chattopadhyay, contributing to fields such as CO2 methanation catalysts, perovskite semiconductors, and growth cartilage imaging.

• Physics of Biological Systems
• Soft Matter Physics
• Electrostatics in Heterogeneous Media
• +3 more

Francisco Javier Solis is Associate Professor of Physics in the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences , New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences , Arizona State University . He also serves as an Instructor for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and is based on ASU’s West campus in Phoenix, AZ. Research Interests. Solis focuses on the physics of biological systems , with particular emphasis on soft-matter phenomena driven by electrostatics, elasticity, and thermodynamics. His work spans: lipid membrane morphology and dynamics electrostatic pattern formation in fibers, pores, and nanotubes thermo-responsive hydrogels and polymer gels charged macromolecules and polyelectrolyte phase behavior theoretical and computational methods for heterogeneous dielectric media Across his recent publications, a clear trend emerges toward understanding how competing interactions—electrostatic, elastic, and entropic—shape mesoscale structure and dynamics in biological and soft materials . Studies range from continuum phase-field modeling of multicomponent vesicles to variational formulations that yield true energy minima for charged systems. Scientific Awards & Recognition. While no formal awards are listed in the provided text, Solis is a frequent invited speaker at APS March Meetings, ACS National Meetings, and university colloquia, and has served continuously since 2011 as a grant reviewer for the National Science Foundation and as a referee for Physical Review Letters , Journal of Chemical Physics , and other leading journals. Teaching & Advising. Solis teaches a wide range of undergraduate and honors courses including General Physics, Honors Directed Study, Chaos & Non-linear Dynamics, and specialized individualized instruction. His sustained involvement in directed-study and thesis courses indicates active mentoring of both honors and graduate students. Funding & Labs. He has served as PI or co-PI on NSF awards such as “Kinetic Properties of Multicomponent Charged Systems” (2009-2013) and earlier instrumentation grants for scanning-probe microscopy, underscoring his role in establishing experimental and computational research infrastructure at ASU West.

Tuck Seng WongView profile

Professor

• Protein Engineering
• Engineering Biology
• Biomanufacturing
• +7 more

Professor Tuck Seng Wong is a leading academic in the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering at the University of Sheffield , holding the position of Professor of Biomanufacturing and serving as Director of the UK-South East Asia Vaccine Manufacturing Research Hub (a £7.6M initiative funded by DHSC and EPSRC). He maintains adjunct positions with Thailand's National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) and Indonesia's Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). His educational background includes a BEng(Hons) , MSc , and PhD (Special distinction) , with professional recognition as AMIChemE . Wong's research spans over two decades in protein engineering and engineering biology, with significant contributions to biopharmaceuticals, enzyme biocatalysis, and alternative food systems. Wong's research program focuses on evolutionary concepts for biological system optimization , miniaturized device development for biomanufacturing , and virus-like particle technology for vaccines . His work bridges fundamental science with industrial application, evidenced by his co-founding of biotech spinouts Evolutor Ltd (2022, advanced microbes for biomanufacturing) and ReNewFood Ltd (2024, protein-based flavoring ingredients). His textbook A Practical Guide to Protein Engineering has become a standard reference in the field. His publication record shows consistent output in high-impact journals, with recent work emphasizing sustainable biomanufacturing , vaccine development , and alternative protein systems . The research demonstrates strong regional collaboration with Southeast Asia and a clear trajectory toward commercial implementation of academic discoveries. RAEng | The Leverhulme Trust Senior Research Fellowship (2019) Royal Academy of Engineering Industrial Fellowship (2016) Medical Research Council Career Development Fellowship (2007) JSPS Invitational Fellowship (2023, declined due to hub award) Wong actively translates research into commercial ventures through Evolutor and ReNewFood, while directing a major international vaccine hub. His mentorship includes training under Nobel Laureate Frances H. Arnold and other distinguished scientists. The laboratory maintains strong industry partnerships and focuses on developing scalable biomanufacturing platforms for global health and sustainability challenges.

Roberto RossiniView profile

Research Fellow

• Bioinformatics
• Computational Genomics
• 3D Genome Organization
• +3 more

Roberto Rossini is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Oslo's Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, affiliated with the Paulsen Group. His research focuses on computational genomics and 3D genome organization. Research Interests Computational modeling of DNA loop extrusion 3D genome architecture analysis Development of bioinformatic tools for genomic data Evolutionary genetics and chromosomal dynamics Publication Trends Recent work emphasizes computational methods for analyzing chromatin interactions (hictk), DNA loop extrusion modeling (MoDLE), and stripe detection algorithms (StripePy), with applications in cancer genomics and evolutionary genetics. Laboratory Affiliation Active member of the Paulsen Group at the University of Oslo, contributing to genomic innovation research.

• HIV Structure
• CryoEM/CryoET
• Retroviral Restriction
• +3 more

Barbie K. Ganser-Pornillos is a Research Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Utah, specializing in HIV structure and retroviral restriction by innate immune systems. Her work employs cryo-electron microscopy (CryoEM/CryoET) and other structural techniques to elucidate viral assembly and host defense mechanisms. Education: PhD from University of Utah, BS from Montana Tech of the University of Montana Research Focus: Structural characterization of HIV capsids, TRIM family protein interactions, and retroviral restriction mechanisms. Recent studies analyze capsid maturation inhibitors, ZAP antiviral activity, and the role of cellular factors like Serincs and NUP153 in viral processes. Publication Trends: Over 15 recent articles highlight collaborations with experts in virology and structural biology, emphasizing cryoEM, NMR, and biochemical reconstitution approaches to study HIV assembly, restriction, and capsid dynamics. Labs & Collaborations: Works in the Pornillos Lab at University of Utah, partnering with researchers like O. Pornillos, E.O. Freed, and W.I. Sundquist on HIV structural biology and antiviral strategies.

• Computational Chemistry
• Enzyme Kinetics
• Molecular Dynamics
• +2 more

Johan Lennart Gösta Åqvist serves as a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, conducting cutting-edge research in computational biochemistry and theoretical chemistry. His research spans critical domains including: Computational Chemistry: Advanced molecular dynamics and Empirical Valence Bond simulations for enzyme reaction modeling Enzyme Kinetics: Temperature dependence and thermodynamic activation parameters of catalytic processes Molecular Dynamics: Free energy calculations and mechanistic analysis of enzyme catalysis Biochemistry: Structural and functional characterization of cold-adapted enzymes Theoretical Chemistry: Development of computational frameworks for enzyme engineering Analysis of his 2019-2025 publications reveals a concentrated research trajectory focused on computational enzyme design, particularly for temperature adaptation. His work consistently employs Empirical Valence Bond simulations to dissect temperature-dependent enzyme kinetics, engineer psychrophilic enzymes, and optimize catalytic parameters—demonstrating significant contributions to both fundamental enzymology and industrial biocatalysis applications.

Jonas PaulsenView profile

Professor

• 3D Genome Organization
• Computational Genomics
• Bioinformatics
• +5 more

Jonas Paulsen is a Professor in the Department of Biosciences at the University of Oslo, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. He leads the Paulsen group, established in early 2020, which is affiliated with the Centre for Bioinformatics and the Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology. His research focuses on the three-dimensional organization of DNA within the cell nucleus and its relationship to critical cellular functions including epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Paulsen's research interests center on computational 3D genomics, with an emphasis on understanding how nuclear architecture relates to cellular functions. His work involves developing computational tools and bioinformatics software to explore comparative 3D genomics across cell types, tissues, and species. The Paulsen group utilizes the Hi-C technique as a central technology, building computational tools to analyze these and related data to increase understanding of eukaryotic genome organization. Key projects include Chrom3D (a genome 3D modeling platform), statistical models of genome contact frequency maps, and research on genome domains and their functional and evolutionary basis. His publication record shows consistent output in top computational biology and genomics journals, with a clear trend toward increasingly sophisticated modeling of 3D genome organization. His work spans multiple subfields including chromatin architecture, computational modeling, bioinformatics tool development, epigenetics, and the relationship between genome architecture and disease processes like cancer. The research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly with Philippe Collas and other computational biologists. Paulsen teaches Bioinformatics (BIOS3010) and Bioinformatics for Molecular Biology (MBV-INF4410), continuing his commitment to training the next generation of computational biologists. His group's work has significant implications for understanding fundamental biological processes and disease mechanisms through the lens of spatial genome organization.

Gunnveig GrødelandView profile

Professor

• Adaptive Immunity
• Vaccine Development
• Influenza Virus
• +4 more

Gunnveig Grødeland is a Professor at the Center for Pandemic and One Health Research , affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Oslo. She works within the Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine at Oslo University Hospital. Her research focuses on modulating adaptive immunity to develop vaccines against variable pathogens like influenza and SARS-CoV-2, with emphasis on immunological signatures, vaccine design, and population-specific immune responses. University: University of Oslo Department: Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine Research Themes: Pandemic Preparedness, One Health, Vaccine Efficacy Grødeland's work addresses the limitations of traditional vaccines by leveraging insights from SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines to create next-generation platforms. Her group investigates how age, genetics, and prior infections influence vaccine-induced immunity, aiming to optimize protection against seasonal and pandemic strains. Recent publications highlight SARS-CoV-2 hybrid immunity in transplant recipients, TNF inhibitor impacts on vaccine responses, and computational models for geographic vaccination strategies. Her research spans immunological mechanisms , vaccine development , and clinical translation , with a strong focus on cross-reactive antibodies and immune biomarkers. Key collaborations include the Institute of Immunology and the National Hospital. While no specific awards are listed, her work has generated significant scientific output in high-impact journals like Nature Communications and Clinical Immunology .