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Kathleen CollinsView profile

Professor

• Biochemistry
• Biophysics
• Structural Biology
• +6 more

Kathleen Collins is a Professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, and holds the Walter and Ruth Schubert Family Chair. She leads the BBS Division and the Collins Lab, which focuses on the biochemistry, biology, and biotechnology of eukaryotic retroelements and their reverse transcriptases. Her research explores non-LTR retrotransposons, RNA silencing, and the engineering of reverse transcriptases for gene therapy and RNA sequencing technologies, supported by an NIH Director's Pioneer Award. Her research interests include understanding the biochemical principles of eukaryotic retroelements, developing novel genomic editing tools, and studying RNA-protein interactions in retrotransposition. Recent work highlights applications of retroelement proteins for safe transgene insertion into human genomes and advancements in ribosome profiling and nanopore-based biophysical analyses. Scientific awards include the NIH Director's Pioneer Award. Her lab's contributions bridge fundamental retrotransposon biology with translational applications in biotechnology. Ongoing efforts aim to engineer site-specific genome editing methods and dissect mechanisms underlying retrotransposon-mediated genetic diversity.

• RNA Biology
• Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Neuronal mRNA Translation
• +5 more

Junjie Guo is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience at Yale School of Medicine, leading the Guo Lab focused on RNA biology and neurological mechanisms. He holds affiliations with the Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Center for RNA Science and Medicine, and Wu Tsai Institute. Education : B.A. in Biology (Peking University, 2006), Ph.D. in Neuroscience (Johns Hopkins University, 2011), Postdoctoral Fellow at Whitehead Institute/MIT (2017). Research Interests : Investigates RNA dysregulation in neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., ALS/FTD), noncanonical mRNA translation in neuronal development, and spatial/temporal regulation of neuronal mRNA transport and local translation. Utilizes genomic, molecular, and computational approaches in stem cells, neuronal models, and mouse models. Recent Article Trends : Focuses on SARS-CoV-2 replication mechanisms, RNA structural biology (e.g., G-quadruplexes and tandem repeats), and translational control pathways. Highlights include CRISPR-based screens for viral dependency factors and discovery of alternative translation initiation roles in synaptic organizers. Awards : McKnight Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Award (2023), NYSCF-Robertson Neuroscience Investigator (2021), NIH New Innovator Award (2018), and multiple fellowships from the Klingenstein-Simons and Damon Runyon Foundations. Advising & Grants : Mentors postdocs (e.g., Zhen Lei), graduate students (e.g., Ata Isiktas), and others. Leads NIH-funded projects on RNA biology and neurological disorders. Collaborates with researchers like Marina Picciotto and Craig Wilen. Labs/Teams : Directs the Guo Lab, part of the Yale Neuroscience community. Engages in interdisciplinary initiatives through the Wu Tsai Institute and Center for RNA Science and Medicine.

Mitchell GuttmanView profile

Professor

• Non-coding RNA
• Gene Expression Regulation
• 3D Nuclear Organization
• +3 more

Mitchell Guttman is a Professor of Biology at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where he leads the Guttman Lab. His research focuses on understanding how long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate gene expression and nuclear organization. He holds a B.S. and M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania (2006) and a Ph.D. from MIT (2012). Before becoming a full Professor in 2019, he served as an Assistant Professor at Caltech and a Visiting Associate. His work has pioneered methods like SPRITE and ChIP-DIP to map 3D genome organization and RNA-protein interactions. Education: B.S., University of Pennsylvania, 2006 M.S., University of Pennsylvania, 2006 Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2012 His research investigates how lncRNAs coordinate proteins, localize to genomic targets, and shape nuclear architecture to control gene expression. Recent breakthroughs include discoveries about nuclear speckles' role in mRNA splicing efficiency and the development of technologies for multiplexed protein-DNA/RNA interaction mapping. His lab integrates experimental and computational approaches, emphasizing collaboration across disciplines. Key Projects: SPRITe: Maps multi-way DNA-RNA-protein interactions in 3D ChIP-DIP: Identifies hundreds of proteins binding DNA simultaneously SPIDR: Maps RNA-protein interactions under cellular stress Labs & Teams: The Guttman Lab fosters an inclusive environment for students and postdocs, emphasizing innovation and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Recent lab members include Paulomi Bhattacharya, Andrew Perez, and Jimmy Guo, who have contributed to high-impact studies on nuclear organization and RNA biology.

• Regenerative Medicine
• Cardiovascular Development
• Genomics
• +5 more

Mirana Ramialison is a Professor at Monash University, affiliated with both the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute and Victorian Heart Institute (VHI). She maintains an active research program with significant contributions to cardiovascular development and regenerative medicine. Her research interests focus on understanding the role of non-coding DNA regulatory elements in heart development and disease, formation of boundaries in developing embryos, and molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac function. She employs cutting-edge genomic, computational, and imaging approaches to investigate gene regulatory networks that govern cardiovascular development. Her recent publications demonstrate expertise in spatial transcriptomics, machine learning applications in epigenomics, and the use of vertebrate models like the African killifish to study aging processes. Her work spans developmental biology, genomics, and computational approaches to understand heart development and disease mechanisms. Professor Ramialison leads multiple significant research projects including 'Role of human non-coding DNA regulatory elements (REs) in heart development and disease' as Primary Chief Investigator, and collaborates on projects related to chemotherapy-induced heart damage prevention and bone growth mechanisms. She has produced 71 research outputs with notable recent publications in high-impact journals including Nature Cardiovascular Research, Genome Biology, and Communications Biology, demonstrating sustained scholarly productivity and impact in her field.

• Genome Regulation
• Epigenomics
• Chromatin Architecture
• +5 more

Suhn K. Rhie, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, where she leads the Rhie Lab within the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her research program centers on understanding gene regulation in normal and diseased cells through integrative genomic approaches, with a focus on epigenetic mechanisms in cancer biology. Dr. Rhie's work spans four interconnected research pillars: Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS), Regulatory Elements, Chromatin Interactions, and Transcription Factors. She investigates epigenomic dysregulation in prostate and bladder cancers, with dedicated emphasis on health disparities affecting African American populations. Her lab develops computational tools like TENET for regulatory network tracing and Methyl-Micro-C for multi-omic chromatin profiling, bridging wet-lab experimentation with advanced bioinformatics. Analysis of her 2023-2025 publications reveals consistent innovation in epigenomic technologies, particularly in characterizing DNA methylation signatures across racial groups in prostate cancer, dissecting 3D chromatin architecture in tumorigenesis, and developing methods for simultaneous assessment of multiple epigenetic layers. Her work frequently addresses therapy resistance mechanisms and racial disparities through multi-ethnic genomic studies. Dr. Rhie mentors trainees in her laboratory and secures competitive research funding to advance her agenda on cancer epigenetics and health equity, with publications demonstrating sustained productivity in high-impact venues despite the absence of explicitly listed grants in available materials. The Rhie Lab operates at the intersection of computational biology and experimental cancer research within USC's Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her team leverages cutting-edge genomic technologies to map regulatory landscapes in cancer, with particular focus on translating epigenetic discoveries into clinical applications for personalized cancer care and addressing systemic disparities in cancer outcomes through rigorous molecular analysis.

Susanne GerberView profile

Professor

• Bioinformatics
• Computational Genomics
• Systems Biology
• +2 more

Susanne Gerber is a Professor at iDNA and Adjunct Director at the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), affiliated with the Faculty of Biology's Bioinformatics department. Her academic journey includes an Assistant Professorship in Bioinformatics at JGU (2015-2020) and postdoctoral research at Università della Svizzera italiana. Her educational background comprises a PhD in Biophysics from Humboldt University of Berlin (2011), an M.Sc. in Bioinformatics from Free University of Berlin and Konrad Zuse Institute (2007), and a B.Sc. in Bioinformatics from Free University of Berlin and Max Planck Institute (2004). Dr. Gerber's research spans Bioinformatics, Computational Genomics, Systems Biology, Molecular Evolution, and Neuroinformatics , focusing on developing computational frameworks for genomic analysis, neurodegenerative disease modeling, and microbiome interactions. Her work integrates machine learning with multi-omics data to address complex biological questions in molecular evolution and neural systems. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2024-2025) reveals a strong emphasis on nanopore sequencing applications for RNA modification detection, deep learning frameworks for genomic data enhancement, and neurobehavioral modeling using AI-driven approaches. Key thematic clusters include epitranscriptomics, chromatin dynamics, and computational psychiatry with ethical AI considerations. Her methodological innovations include tools like COMET for network analysis, CCUT for chromatin data enhancement, and ModiDeC for RNA modification classification, demonstrating translational impact across genomics and neuroscience. Dr. Gerber leads research groups at IMB and iDNA focusing on computational genomics, advising students in bioinformatics and securing grants for AI-driven genomic analysis. Her labs develop open-source tools for nanopore data processing and neuroimaging analysis, fostering collaboration between computational and experimental biologists.

Gregory J. HannonView profile

Professor

• Small RNA Biology
• RNA Interference
• Cancer Biology
• +7 more

Gregory J. Hannon is a distinguished Professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, renowned as one of the world's foremost authorities on small RNA biology and RNA interference. His research has significantly advanced our understanding of gene regulation mechanisms with profound implications for cancer treatment and genome stability. Hannon's educational background includes training that led to his current position as a leading molecular biologist. His research focuses on the biological roles of small RNAs and the mechanisms by which they operate, with particular emphasis on germ cells (which have the most elaborate set of small RNA pathways) and cancer biology (especially breast and pancreatic cancer). His laboratory's groundbreaking work has identified and characterized major biogenesis and effector complexes for small interfering RNAs and microRNAs, including Dicer, RISC, and elements of the Microprocessor. More recently, his team has made significant discoveries regarding piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) and their role in defending the genome from mobile genetic elements. Among his most significant publications are studies on the structure of human Argonaute protein, mechanisms of transposon defense in germ cells, and how breast tissue 'remembers' a first pregnancy through epigenetic changes. His research has consistently appeared in top-tier journals, with several publications recognized by Science as 'Breakthrough of the Year.' Elected to National Academy of Sciences (2012) NIH MERIT Award from National Institute of General Medical Sciences (2013) National Academy of Sciences Award in Molecular Biology (2007) Geoffrey Marshall Mentoring Award from Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools (2011) Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator Hannon has mentored 12 postdoctoral fellows and 17 graduate students, with exceptional outcomes including multiple prestigious awards for his trainees. Over 60% of his 200+ publications include graduate student co-authorship. His laboratory has developed innovative technologies including RNAi libraries targeting entire genomes and methods used in Neanderthal genome sequencing. He also serves as director of the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, demonstrating his international leadership in cancer research.

Scott V. EdwardsView profile

Professor

• Avian Evolution
• Genomics
• Population Genetics
• +3 more

Scott V. Edwards is a Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology at Harvard University, holding dual affiliations with the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and the Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ). He serves as Chair of the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and leads the Edwards Lab, which integrates fieldwork, museum specimens, and genomic approaches to study avian diversity, evolution, and behavior. His research emphasizes population genetics, systematics, and natural history, focusing on speciation, genome evolution, and ecological adaptation. Education: Not explicitly listed in provided texts. Research interests include avian genomics, convergent evolution, conservation genetics, and the evolutionary basis of morphological and behavioral traits. Edwards advocates for natural history collections as critical resources for modern science and conservation. His lab explores topics like flightlessness in birds, plastic pollution impacts, and genomic underpinnings of adaptation. He teaches courses such as Molecular Ecology and Evolution and Biology and Diversity of Birds. Edwards collaborates globally on projects like the Avian Phylogenomics Project and contributes to initiatives like the Earth BioGenome Project. His work bridges evolutionary theory with applied conservation, emphasizing the synergy between genomic data and ecological insights.

• Molecular Oncology
• Cancer Therapeutics
• Genetic Abnormalities in Tumors
• +3 more

Professor John Lunec, based at Newcastle University 's Faculty of Medical Sciences , is a leading researcher in Molecular Oncology with over 30 years of publications focusing on the p53 tumor suppressor pathway and its interactions with oncogenic proteins like MDM2 . His work spans Cancer Therapeutics Development Genomic Instability in Tumors Drug Resistance Mechanisms RNA Splicing and Retrotransposon Biology Current research emphasizes MDM2-p53 interaction inhibitors for hematologic malignancies and sarcomas, with recent breakthroughs in Siremadlin and ASTX295 drug development Identification of SF3B1 resistance biomarkers Combination strategies with PARP and WEE1 inhibitors Key collaborations exist with Professor Nicola Curtin , Professor Deborah Tweddle , and Professor Herbie Newell , with funding evident through multiple clinical trials and laboratory studies. His work has significantly impacted neuroblastoma and ovarian cancer research, establishing frameworks for Drug sensitivity assays Genotype-phenotype correlations Translational medicine applications

Meixia ZhaoView profile

Assistant Professor

• Genome Evolution
• Epigenetics
• Plant-Microbe Interactions
• +4 more

Dr. Meixia Zhao is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Cell Science at the University of Florida. Previously, she held positions at Miami University (2018–2022) and was a postdoctoral researcher at Purdue University (2013–2017). She earned her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, with a visiting PhD in Plant Genetics at Purdue University. Her research focuses on using computational and functional genomic approaches to study genome evolution, epigenetic regulation of meiotic recombination, and plant-microorganism interactions in maize and soybean. Key areas include transposable element function, epigenetic silencing mechanisms, and disease resistance pathways. Her lab investigates mechanisms underlying maize and soybean immunity to pathogens like Phytophthora sansomeana , leveraging comparative genomics, epigenomics, and transcriptomics. Recent studies explore the role of DNA methylation, small RNAs, and histone modifications in regulating plant defense responses. She also examines sex-specific differences in meiotic recombination and the evolutionary consequences of polyploidization. Dr. Zhao has mentored over 20 graduate and undergraduate students, including those in the Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology (PMCB) program. Her work has been published in high-impact journals, focusing on topics like transposable element silencing, epigenetic variation, and crop disease resistance. The Zhao Lab collaborates with other groups to advance understanding of plant-microbe interactions and translational applications in agriculture.

Michael O'NeillView profile

Associate Professor

• Epigenetics
• Genomic Imprinting
• Sex Chromosome Biology
• +3 more

Michael O'Neill is an Associate Professor at the University of Connecticut , affiliated with the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology / Genetics and Genomics . His research focuses on epigenetic mechanisms in neurodevelopmental disorders and sex chromosome biology, particularly the role of X-linked imprinted genes in transgenerational effects and meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI). PhD: University of Texas at Austin Post-doctoral study: University of Melbourne, Princeton University Research highlights include: Elucidating the X Chromosome Imprinting Hypothesis through Turner Syndrome mouse models Discovering the role of Xlr3 in MSCI and its transgenerational consequences Investigating epigenetic transmission across generations Characterizing retroelement dynamics in speciation and genome evolution His recent publications emphasize X-linked gene regulation , retrotransposon activity , and transgenerational epigenetic effects across mammals, fish, and oceanic species. Contact: michael.oneill@uconn.edu | Phone: 860-486-6856

Julia SalzmanView profile

Associate Professor

• RNA Biology
• Computational Biology
• Genomics
• +4 more

Julia Salzman is an Associate Professor at Stanford University, affiliated with the School of Medicine in the Departments of Biomedical Data Science and Biochemistry , with courtesy appointments in Statistics and Biology . She serves as a member of interdisciplinary centers including Bio-X , Stanford Cancer Institute , and Sarafan ChEM-H . Salzman's research focuses on statistical computational biology , particularly RNA splicing , cancer genomics , and microbial systems . Her lab develops algorithms like SPLASH (Statistically Primary aLignment Agnostic Sequence Homing) and SICILIAN for precise splice junction detection, enabling reference-free analysis of genomic data across human , non-model organisms , and planetary health applications (e.g., oceanic systems , plants ). Her 15 most recent publications span 2024–2016, covering topics from cell-free RNA diagnostics to circular RNA in disease . Key methodologies include DEEPEST for gene fusion detection and SQUICH for logarithmic molecular sampling. These works highlight her contributions to cancer biology and viral pandemic response . Scientific Awards include Arc Ignite Investigator (2023) NSF CAREER AWARD (2016) Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow (2014) Baxter Faculty Scholar Award (2014) Salzman's funding history includes NIH Pathway to Independence and NSF grants . She mentors PhD and Master’s students through courses like BIOMEDIN 290 and BIODS 228 , while leading the Salzman Lab in advancing computational genomics and biological modeling .

Gill BejeranoView profile

Professor

• Genomics
• Computational Biology
• Non-coding DNA
• +4 more

Gill Bejerano is a Professor at Stanford University with joint appointments in Developmental Biology, Computer Science, Pediatrics (Genetics), and Biomedical Data Science. His career spans mathematics, computer science, and genomics, with key contributions to understanding conserved non-coding elements, RNA splicing, and genomic disease mechanisms. Ph.D. in Computer Science (Machine Learning in Biology), Hebrew University (2004) B.Sc. Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science (summa cum laude), Hebrew University (1997) His research focuses on genomic evolution , non-coding DNA , RNA splicing , and genomic medicine . He pioneered methods like GREAT for functional enrichment analysis and tools for secure genomic data sharing. Recent publications highlight work on echolocating mammals , RNA splicing prediction , clinical variant interpretation , and genomic privacy . Collaborations span computational biologists, clinicians, and engineers. Scientific Awards : Mallinckrodt Fellowship Sloan Research Fellowship Human Frontiers Fellowship Best Paper & Tomorrow's PI Awards Okawa Foundation Award David and Lucile Packard Fellowship Microsoft & Sony Scholar Awards He advises interdisciplinary trainees and consults for start-ups/Fortune 500 companies, bridging genomics , machine learning , and clinical diagnostics .

Richard A. YoungView profile

Professor

• Gene Expression Regulation
• Transcriptional Regulatory Circuitry
• Biomolecular Condensates
• +5 more

Richard A. Young is a Professor of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Member of the Whitehead Institute where he has been since 1984. His laboratory studies the regulation of gene expression in health and disease, with particular focus on transcriptional regulatory circuitry and biomolecular condensates that control cell identity and function. His work bridges fundamental molecular mechanisms with therapeutic applications in cancer and other diseases. Young received his PhD from Yale University in 1975. His research has fundamentally transformed our understanding of gene regulation, particularly through the discovery of super-enhancers and the role of biomolecular condensates in transcriptional control. His work has revealed how defects in these regulatory mechanisms contribute to cancer, neurodevelopmental disorders, and chronic diseases. Young's laboratory investigates several interconnected research areas including transcriptional regulatory circuitry that controls gene expression programs specifying different cell types, the protein and RNA machinery controlling gene expression during development, and the role of biomolecular condensates in gene regulation. His team discovered that gene regulation occurs within non-membrane-bound organelles called biomolecular condensates, which has changed our understanding of cellular organization and led to new therapeutic concepts for disease treatment. His research publications reveal a consistent trajectory focusing on gene regulation mechanisms, with recent work emphasizing the role of biomolecular condensates in health and disease. His laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding how transcription factors, RNA, and chromosomal architecture work together to control gene expression, with implications for cancer therapeutics, chronic disease mechanisms, and protein compartmentalization. Developed technology to map human genome regulatory circuitry Discovered core regulatory circuitry of human embryonic stem cells Recognized among top 50 leaders in science, technology and business by Scientific American (2006) Elected member of the National Academy of Sciences (2012) Elected member of the National Academy of Medicine (2019) Burroughs Wellcome Scholarship Chiron Corporation Biotechnology Research Award Yale's Wilbur Cross Medal Young has mentored numerous postdoctoral fellows and graduate students who have gone on to successful careers in academia and industry. His laboratory receives substantial funding for research on gene regulation mechanisms and their implications for disease. The lab maintains valuable collaborations with scientists across multiple disciplines including basic biology, chemistry, physics, computing, and medicine, with physician-scientists representing multiple clinical specialties who contribute to the lab's mission of translating basic science discoveries into patient care advancements. The Young laboratory consists of scientists with diverse backgrounds in basic biology, chemistry, physics, computing, and medicine. The team includes physician-scientists who conduct clinical care in Boston's major hospitals while contributing to the lab's research mission. The laboratory maintains extensive collaborations with other talented scientists across multiple institutions and has developed important technologies for mapping regulatory circuitry and understanding biomolecular condensates in cellular function.

Mary Lauren BentonView profile

Assistant Professor

• Computational Biology
• Gene Regulation
• Biomedical Informatics
• +3 more

Dr. Mary Lauren Benton is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Baylor University's College of Engineering and Computer Science. She holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Biomedical Informatics from Vanderbilt University (2020, 2018) and a B.S.I. in Bioinformatics from Baylor University (2015). Education: Ph.D. (Vanderbilt, 2020), M.S. (Vanderbilt, 2018), B.S.I. (Baylor, 2015) Her research focuses on computational biology and gene regulation, particularly how DNA sequences influence genome function and human disease risk through integrated datasets. Recent work explores enhancer-gene interactions, epigenetic mechanisms, and the application of graph neural networks to genomic problems. Selected publications highlight interdisciplinary trends across genomics (e.g., Cis-regulatory landscapes , CTCF motif accessibility ) and computer science (e.g., Dynamic graph attention , Node classification ).