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Nikos KavallarisView profile

Associate Professor

• Applied Mathematics
• Mathematical Biology
• Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations
• +3 more

Nikos Kavallaris is an Associate Professor at Karlstad University, specializing in Applied Mathematical Analysis. His research focuses on deterministic and stochastic modeling of biological, ecological, and industrial systems, including chemotaxis, tumor growth, MEMS technology, and uncertainty quantification. He collaborates with institutions like Osaka University and Brown University. He teaches modules such as Optimization and Applied Mathematics for Engineers. Kavallaris holds a PhD from the National Technical University of Athens (2000) and has held academic positions at Aegean University and the University of Chester. He co-organizes the 2024 Equadiff conference’s minisymposium on Nonlocal PDEs. His work bridges theoretical mathematics with applications in biology, engineering, and environmental science. Education: PhD in Applied Mathematics, National Technical University of Athens (2000) Postdoctoral Research: University of Wrocław (EU HYKE project), Osaka University (COE program) Collaborations: Osaka University, Heriot-Watt University, Sorbonne Paris Nord, Brown University Research Interests: Nonlinear PDEs, stochastic modeling in biology/ecology, MEMS device dynamics, and topological data analysis. His work addresses phenomena like tumor growth, DNA methylation, and industrial processes such as ohmic heating and metal welding. He explores quenching dynamics, blow-up solutions, and bifurcation theory in nonlocal models. Publications: Over 50 articles on topics ranging from stochastic MEMS models to cancer immunology, emphasizing nonlinear dynamics and uncertainty quantification. Recent work examines flood exposure in Sweden and immune infiltration patterns in breast cancer. Grants/Awards: Involved in EU Marie-Curie projects and collaborative research initiatives. His contributions span theoretical analysis and application-driven research in interdisciplinary fields. Labs/Teams: Active in international research networks, leading projects on nonlocal PDE applications and mathematical biology.

• Microbial Population Biology
• Evolutionary Genetics
• Ecological Scaffolding
• +3 more

Paul Rainey is a Professor and Director of the Department of Microbial Population Biology at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön, Germany. He also serves as Professor at ESPCI Paris and holds an adjunct position at the New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study (NZIAS). His research spans microbial evolution, ecological scaffolding, and biophysics, supported by the Max Planck Society and collaborations across institutions. University of Canterbury – BSc, MSc, PhD Paul's research focuses on experimental evolution, ecological complexity, and the emergence of individuality in microbial systems. Recent work explores evolutionary rescue, biophysical mechanisms of surface colonization, and the interplay between ecological and genetic factors in adaptation. His publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches, merging microbial ecology with theoretical frameworks for evolutionary transitions. Key themes include stochastic phenotype switching, genome streamlining, and the role of environmental structure in shaping evolutionary trajectories. Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand Member of EMBO Paul leads the Laboratory for Evolutionary Genetics at ESPCI Paris and collaborates with institutions like Kiel University and the CRC 1182. His work addresses microbial community dynamics, evolutionary medicine, and the broader implications of eco-evolutionary feedback in biological systems.

Agathe ChaigneView profile

Researcher

• Cell Division Dynamics
• Abscission Mechanisms
• Cytoplasmic Bridges
• +3 more

Dr. Agathe Chaigne is a Researcher at the Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics , Faculty of Science, Utrecht University , Netherlands. Her lab investigates the role of cell division dynamics and cytoplasmic bridges in developmental biology and evolutionary multicellularity . Education : PhD in Cell Biology (2014, Université Paris Diderot), MSc (2011, same), BSc equivalent (2010, same). Research Focus : Cell Division Mechanics, Abscission Regulation in Stem Cells, Cytoplasmic Bridge Evolution, and Cortical Tension in Development. Scientific Awards : NWO-VIDI Grant (2022) EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowship Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship Lab Members : Postdoc: Dr. My Anh Truong PhD Students: Snježana Kodba, Amber Öztop, Nils Dormanns Technician: Erika Timmers Contact : Email a.e.d.chaigne@uu.nl or follow @agathe.chaigne.bsky.social .

Silvia De MonteView profile

Researcher

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Microbial Systems
• +3 more

Silvia De Monte is a Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön, Germany, and holds affiliations with the Institute of Biology at École Normale Supérieure in Paris, France. She leads the 'Dynamics of Microbial Collectives' group, focusing on the ecological and evolutionary processes underlying collective behaviors in microbial systems. Her work integrates mathematical modeling with empirical observations to explore how selection pressures shape collective functions in heterogeneous cellular assemblies. De Monte's research spans multiple areas, including the eco-evolutionary dynamics of aggregative multicellularity, the role of phenotypic heterogeneity in bacterial populations, and the mathematical modeling of species abundance distributions in planktonic communities. She has collaborated with institutions such as the CNRS, ENS Paris, and the University of Vienna, contributing to interdisciplinary projects at the interface of biology, physics, and economics. Her educational background includes a PhD from the Technical University of Denmark (2004) and postdoctoral training at the University of Vienna and the Max Planck Institute. She has held roles as a Researcher at CNRS (since 2007) and an Attached Lecturer at École Normale Supérieure (2014–2018). Key research projects include investigating the emergence of Darwinian properties in collective systems, the evolutionary stability of microbial symbioses, and the application of game theory to microbial social dynamics. Her work emphasizes the interplay between microscale cellular interactions and macroscale ecological patterns.

Michael HochbergView profile

Research Professor

• Population ecology
• Host-parasite coevolution
• Social evolution
• +3 more

Michael Hochberg is a Distinguished Research Director at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) in France, with affiliations including External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute and Section Head at the Faculty of 1000. His career spans over 100 publications and significant contributions to evolutionary biology and ecology. Key roles: External Professor (Santa Fe Institute), Founding Editor of Ecology Letters , Associate Editor at Science Advances Research focuses on cancer evolution, phage therapy, social evolution, and host-parasite coevolution. Received the CNRS Silver Medal (1997) and grants from ANR, INCA, and the McDonnell Foundation. Trained over 50 Masters and PhD students and supervised 10 postdoctoral researchers. Recent work includes ecological modeling of cancer therapy resistance and phage-bacteria networks.

• Evolutionary Biology
• Social Insect Behavior
• Termite Ecology
• +6 more

Judith Korb is a Professor at the University of Freiburg, working within the Institute of Biology I in the department of Evolutionary Biology and Animal Ecology. She leads the Korb Lab, which focuses on social insects, particularly termites, examining their evolution, ecology, and sociobiology. Her research spans multiple areas of evolutionary biology and social insect behavior, with a particular emphasis on termite societies. Dr. Korb has made significant contributions to understanding social evolution, caste differentiation, reproductive division of labor, and the molecular mechanisms underlying social behavior in termites. Her work explores the exceptional longevity of social insect queens, termite mound architecture, chemical communication in social insects, and the genomic basis of eusociality. Dr. Korb's research combines field studies in Africa with molecular and genomic approaches to unravel the complexities of social insect biology. Dr. Korb's publication record demonstrates consistent scientific productivity, with numerous high-impact papers in leading journals across evolutionary biology, ecology, and genomics. Recent work has focused on the genomic basis of social evolution, aging in social insects, and termite ecology, revealing important insights into how sociality reshapes fundamental biological processes like aging and development. Over 200 publications including high-impact papers in Nature Ecology and Evolution, PNAS, and Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Contributor to authoritative references including the Encyclopedia of Social Insects Extensive international collaborations across Europe, Africa, and North America Dr. Korb has supervised numerous students and collaborated extensively with researchers worldwide, contributing significantly to our understanding of social evolution in termites and other insects. Her laboratory employs a range of methodological approaches, including behavioral observations, molecular techniques, genomic analyses, and field ecology to investigate the evolution and maintenance of sociality in insects.

David GoodeView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Cancer Bioinformatics
• Genomics
• Transcriptomics
• +7 more

Dr. David Goode is a Senior Lecturer and head of the Cancer Bioinformatics and Tumour Evolution group at Monash University's Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, affiliated with the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute. His research focuses on applying bioinformatics, molecular evolution, and population genetics to understand tumor evolution and therapy resistance in solid tumors like prostate and brain cancers. He has published 59 peer-reviewed articles (H-index 24) and led pioneering projects in cancer genomics and computational modeling. Key projects include 'GLIMMER' (glioma liquid biopsy monitoring), radiotherapy advancements using microbeams, and bipolar androgen therapy for prostate cancer. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and innovation. Dr. Goode holds significant fellowships, including a Victorian Cancer Agency Mid-Career Fellowship (2018-2023) and NHMRC Early Career Fellowship (2013-2016). Research interests: Cancer bioinformatics, spatial transcriptomics, tumor evolution, gene regulatory networks Collaborations: Global network spanning oncology, genomics, and computational biology

James SchiffbauerView profile

Professor

• Paleobiology
• Taphonomy
• Ediacaran-Cambrian Transition
• +3 more

James Schiffbauer holds the Marie M. & Harry L. Smith Endowed Professorship in Geological Sciences at the University of Missouri, where he directs the X-Ray Microanalysis Laboratory. His research investigates early animal evolution during the Ediacaran-Cambrian transition using paleobiological, geochemical, and advanced microscopy approaches. Education: PhD (Virginia Tech), MS (University of Kansas), BS (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) Research examines taphonomic processes governing soft-tissue fossil preservation, with emphasis on early complex multicellular fossils. Analytical techniques include scanning electron microscopy and synchrotron-based X-ray tomography to resolve biological signals from preservational artifacts. Recent publications explore Ediacaran 'death mask' preservation mechanisms, bilaterian gut evolution in cloudinomorphs, and Cambrian SPICE event biogeochemistry. Earlier work established micro-CT approaches for coprolite analysis and volcanological applications. Awards: Marie M. & Harry L. Smith Endowed Professorship GSA Geobiology Division Pre-Tenure Award MU System President's Award for Early Career Excellence NSF CAREER Award Teaches Environmental Geology, Geochemistry, and specialized courses on taphonomy and the Ediacaran-Cambrian transition. Directs the X-Ray Microanalysis Lab supporting interdisciplinary materials characterization.

Ahmad S. KhalilView profile

Associate Professor

• Synthetic Biology
• Systems Biology
• Genetic Regulation
• +3 more

Dr. Ahmad S. Khalil is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Boston University, serving as Associate Director of the Biological Design Center (BDC) and Co-Director of the SB2 NIH/NIGMS T32 Training Program. He holds affiliations with the Wyss Institute at Harvard University and the Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry (MCBB) departments. His research focuses on synthetic biology, systems biology, and genetic regulation, with a strong emphasis on engineering programmable cellular therapies and automated evolution technologies like the eVOLVER platform. Education: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University; M.S. and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from MIT. Key honors include the 2022 Schmidt Science Polymath Award, 2020 DoD Vannevar Bush Fellowship, and 2017 PECASE Award. Research interests include synthetic circuit design for eukaryotic gene regulation, lab-scale evolutionary biology, and democratizing biotechnology tools. His work bridges engineering and biology to address challenges in medicine, climate, and biomanufacturing. Publications emphasize synthetic biology applications, epigenetic control, and automated evolution. He leads a multidisciplinary team with expertise in genetics, computation, and automation, ensuring technologies are accessible to the global scientific community.

• Antibiotic Resistance
• Microbial Biotechnology
• Bacterial Physiology
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Susanne Gebhard is a Full Professor of Molecular Biotechnology at the Institute for Molecular Physiology , Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU) Mainz, Germany, since 2023. Her career spans international institutions, including postdoctoral work in New Zealand and the UK, and a permanent research and teaching position at the University of Bath. She focuses on bacterial physiology, particularly antibiotic resistance mechanisms and microbially induced calcite precipitation for sustainable biotechnology applications. Education: Abitur (1996), University Degree (2003), PhD in Microbiology (2006, University of Otago, New Zealand), Habilitation (2014) Research Interests: Her work bridges two major themes: Antibiotic Resistance : Investigating how bacteria detect antibiotics and regulate resistance pathways, with implications for novel therapeutic strategies. Microbial Biomineralization : Exploring bacterial mineralization processes to reduce cement usage in construction, addressing CO 2 emissions through Solibacillus silvestris and related species. Publications & Collaborations highlight her expertise in Bacillus subtilis , Pseudomonas , and Neisseria systems, alongside contributions to journals like Nature Communications , Cell Reports , and Environmental Microbiology . She frequently collaborates with labs in Oxford, Cologne, and Australia. Scientific Engagement includes: Senior Editor for the Microbiology journal Deputy Spokesperson for the 'Regulation' specialist group of the Association for General and Applied Microbiology Active participation in international conferences and EMBO workshops Lab & Leadership : She leads the Gebhard Lab at JGU Mainz, mentoring students and postdocs while emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration. Her hobbies include horseback riding, gardening, and exploring the intersection of science and sustainability.

• Developmental Biology
• Systems Biology
• Computational Biology
• +7 more

Luciano Marcon is a Researcher at the Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology (CABD) under Pablo de Olavide University. He earned his PhD in Developmental Biology from Pompeu Fabra University, focusing on Turing mechanisms in digit patterning under Dr. James Sharpe. Education: PhD in Developmental Biology (2013), Pompeu Fabra University His research spans Developmental Biology , Systems Biology , and Computational Modeling , with a focus on Turing networks, somitogenesis, and embryoid self-organization. Recent work includes studies on scale-invariant patterning, Nodal signaling feedbacks, and 4D stem cell dynamics. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals trends in Turing pattern formation , embryonic self-organization , and gene regulatory networks , often integrating mathematical modeling with experimental data from embryoids and stem cell systems.

Matthias HornView profile

Professor

• Microbial Symbioses
• Bacterial Symbionts of Protozoa and Insects
• Evolution of Intracellular Bacteria
• +2 more

Matthias Horn is a University Professor at the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science of the University of Vienna, specializing in microbial symbioses and intracellular bacteria. He leads the Division of Microbial Ecology and investigates symbionts of amoebae, arthropods, and marine organisms, with a focus on genome evolution and host-pathogen interactions. Research Interests: Microbial symbioses (protozoa, insects) Evolution of intracellular bacteria Microbial genome evolution Host-eukaryote interactions Recent Publications explore chlamydiae adaptation, giant virus-host codon mismatches, and symbionts in corals and dinoflagellates. His work is supported by the Austrian Science Fund Cluster of Excellence Microbiomes Drive Planetary Health and previously by the ERC and FWF. Awards: FWF START Award (2005) ERC Starting Grant (2011) Teaching includes courses on molecular microbial ecology, symbiosis, and advanced techniques like FISH. His team comprises postdocs, PhD candidates, and technicians studying microbial interactions.

Shuhai XiaoView profile

Professor

• Paleobiology
• Geobiology
• Ediacaran-Cambrian Transition
• +6 more

Shuhai Xiao is a Professor of Geobiology in the Department of Geosciences, College of Science, at Virginia Tech. His research integrates paleobiology, sedimentology, and geochemistry to investigate Earth-life co-evolution during critical transitions, particularly the Ediacaran-Cambrian period. He directs the Geobiology Lab, advising PhD students on projects ranging from Siberian Ediacaran fossils to Tonian eukaryote evolution. Education: Ph.D., Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 1998 M.A., Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 1996 M.Sc., Geology, Peking University, 1991 B.Sc., Geology, Peking University, 1988 Research Interests: Dr. Xiao explores the environmental drivers of evolutionary innovations—such as the rise of eukaryotes, multicellularity, and animals—and their feedback effects on Earth's systems. His work combines field geology, geochemical analysis, and taphonomic experiments to decode ancient biosphere-environment interactions, with emphasis on the Ediacaran-Cambrian transition. Publications: Recent articles (2024–2025) focus on Ediacaran-Cambrian paleobiology, geochemical proxies (δ 13 C, Li, Ba isotopes), and global-scale events (Shuram Excursion, Marinoan glaciation). Key themes include microfossil preservation, biomineralization origins, redox fluctuations, and geomagnetic influences on early animal radiation. Awards: National Academy of Sciences Member (2023) Mary Clark Thompson Medal (2021) Guggenheim Fellowship (2010) Charles Schuchert Award (2006) AAAS Fellow (2019) Lab & Outreach: Leads a team studying Ediacaran fossils, taphonomy, and geochemistry. Actively contributes to the Virginia Tech Museum of Geosciences and conducts workshops for K–12 educators internationally.

Chandra JackView profile

Assistant Professor

• Plant-Microbe Interactions
• Evolutionary Ecology
• Invasive Species
• +2 more

Chandra Jack is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Clark University, where she leads research on plant-microbe interactions and eco-evolutionary dynamics. She holds a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology from Rice University (2011) and a B.A. in Biology from the same institution (2005). Her research program examines how microbial communities influence plant fitness, functional traits, and population structure, with particular focus on invasive species adaptation. The Jack Lab employs experimental, molecular, and computational approaches to study below-ground ecological processes in agricultural and natural systems. Research publications demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches spanning microbial ecology, evolutionary biology, and invasion science. Recent work explores soil microbiome influences on plant development, rapid evolution in invasive plants, and methodological advances in analyzing plant defensive compounds. The lab maintains an inclusive environment with multiple undergraduate researchers and a graduate student. Current projects include investigations into prairie soil effects on wheat development and habitat-specific microbiome variations in Hypericum perforatum.

Ellen ClarkeView profile

Associate Professor

• Philosophy of Biology
• Philosophy of Science
• Feminist philosophy
• +3 more

Dr. Ellen Clarke is an Associate Professor in the School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science at the University of Leeds , where she leads Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion initiatives. Her research focuses on the metaphysics and epistemology of biological science, particularly the ontology of life and evolutionary theory. She explores questions about biological individuality, the boundaries of organisms, and the role of concepts in evolutionary theory, extending to cultural evolution and social cooperation. Education: BSc Philosophy (Leeds), MA Philosophy & History of Science (Bristol), PhD (Bristol, 2010). Postdoctoral work in Vienna and Oxford preceded her return to Leeds as a Lecturer in 2017. She blogs at philosomama and is active in professional organizations like the European Philosophy of Science Association. Teaching includes Feminist Philosophy, Philosophy of Biology, and introductory courses in logic and science. She supervises PhD students on evolutionary and cultural theory topics, with current advisees Daniel Davis and Katie Prosser. Her work bridges philosophy and biology, analyzing concepts like species, symbiosis, and cooperation. Recent studies apply evolutionary frameworks to cultural systems, treating culture as undergoing selection pressures akin to biological evolution. She emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to conservation and ecological challenges.