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Andrew Spakowitz is a Professor of Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and by courtesy, Applied Physics and Chemistry at Stanford University. He currently serves as the Senior Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Affairs and holds the Tang Family Foundation Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering. His academic career at Stanford spans from Assistant Professor (2006-2014) to Associate Professor (2014-2020) and now Professor since 2020. Dr. Spakowitz earned his PhD in 2004, MS in 2001 from the California Institute of Technology, and his BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1999. He completed postdoctoral training in Molecular and Cell Biology and Biophysics at UC Berkeley from 2004-2006. His research focuses on theoretical and computational approaches to understanding biological processes and complex materials. The Spakowitz lab addresses fundamental chemical and physical phenomena through four main research themes: chromosomal organization and dynamics, protein self-assembly, polymer membranes, and charge transport in conducting polymers. His group employs diverse theoretical and computational methods including analytical theory of semiflexible polymers, polymer field theory, continuum elastic mechanics, Brownian dynamics simulation, equilibrium and dynamic Monte Carlo simulations, and reaction-diffusion modeling. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on epigenetics and chromatin dynamics, with significant work on DNA methylation patterns, nucleosome clustering, and chromosome organization. His research also extends to polymer physics applications in biological systems, particularly in respiratory diseases, water purification membranes, and bacterial phage interactions with human mucus. Tang Family Foundation Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering Professor Spakowitz mentors several graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in the Chemical Engineering and Materials Science departments. His lab members work on diverse projects spanning from chromatin dynamics to polymer membranes for water purification. He teaches multiple courses including CHEMENG 120B (Energy and Mass Transport), CHEMENG 340 (Molecular Thermodynamics), CHEMENG 466 (Polymer Physics), and CHEMENG 467 (Physics of Biomacromolecules). The Spakowitz lab operates from Clark S295 at Stanford University, conducting theoretical and computational research that bridges chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering disciplines to address complex problems across multiple length and time scales.

• Chromosomal organization and dynamics
• Protein self-assembly
• Polymer membranes
• +7 more

Michele Klingbeil is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she leads the Klingbeil DNA Replication Laboratory. She received her PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Toledo in 1996 and previously worked at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine before moving to UMass in July 2007. Her educational background includes: PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Toledo, 1996 Dr. Klingbeil's research focuses on the unique biology of trypanosomatid parasites, particularly Trypanosoma brucei , the causative agent of African sleeping sickness. Her laboratory investigates two main areas: (1) replication of the unusual mitochondrial DNA network called kinetoplast DNA (kDNA), and (2) nuclear DNA replication initiation. Her work on kDNA is particularly significant as this structure is essential for parasite survival but has no counterpart in mammalian hosts, making it an attractive drug target. She employs a combination of reverse genetics (RNAi), cell biology, and biochemistry to understand the replication and repair mechanisms of kDNA, with a special focus on a family of four DNA polymerases related to bacterial Pol I. Dr. Klingbeil's recent publications reveal her laboratory's deep investigation into mitochondrial DNA polymerases in trypanosomatids, with discoveries showing multiple polymerases having specialized functions in kDNA replication and repair. Her research has established that several of these polymerases are essential for parasite viability, opening new avenues for drug development. She has also made significant contributions to understanding the simplified Origin Recognition Complex in trypanosomatids compared to other eukaryotes. Dr. Klingbeil has received the Thomas G. Lessie Distinguished Lectureship Award for her impact on teaching at the graduate level. Her research is funded by the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Joeph P. Healey Endowment, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She has mentored numerous graduate and undergraduate students, including current PhD candidates Dave Bruhn, Jeniffer Concepción, and Juemin Luo, as well as visiting scholar Eva Vidal Rico. Her former students have gone on to positions at institutions including Dana Farber/Broad Institute, Regis College, and Flagship Ventures. The laboratory regularly participates in scientific conferences including the Molecular Parasitology Meeting at Woods Hole and the Kinetoplastid Molecular Cell Biology conference. Dr. Klingbeil teaches several courses including Parasitology (MICRO 590S), Parasitology Lab (MICRO 590L), Molecular Mechanisms of Pathogenesis (MICRO 797P), Advanced Cell Biology (MCB 641), and Writing in Microbiology (MICRO 360). Her laboratory organizes regular social events including pumpkin carving parties and outings to Six Flags New England and Mt. Sugarloaf.

• Parasitology
• Molecular Biology
• Microbiology
• +4 more

Zhe Ji is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at McCormick School of Engineering and the Department of Pharmacology at Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. His research integrates computational and experimental genomics to study gene transcription and RNA translation in cell fate commitment and oncogenic processes, aiming to develop precision medicine strategies. **Education**: Postdoctoral Fellow in Cancer Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School Postdoctoral Fellow in Computational Biology, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard Ph.D. in Computational Genomics, Rutgers University B.S. in Biotechnology, Nanjing University, China **Research Focus**: Keywords include Data Science, Computational Biology, Functional Genomics, RNA, Cancer, Inflammation, and Machine Learning. The lab explores regulatory mechanisms underlying disease, with a focus on translational control, cancer metastasis, and inflammatory networks. **Grants & Advising**: No specific grants or student advisees listed. The lab emphasizes collaborative projects and computational-experimental approaches. **Lab Affiliations**: Zhe Ji’s lab is part of Northwestern’s interdisciplinary environment, bridging engineering and medicine to advance genomic technologies and therapeutic strategies.

• Data Science
• Computational Biology
• Functional Genomics
• +4 more

Sunitha Nagrath is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Michigan, leading the Nagrath Lab. Her research focuses on developing microfluidic and nanotechnology-based tools to isolate and analyze circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and extracellular vesicles (EVs) for cancer diagnostics and personalized medicine. She holds an AIMBE Fellowship and has pioneered technologies like the Graphene Oxide Chip and Microfluidic Labyrinth. Education PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2004) MS in Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2000) B.Tech in Chemical Engineering, Sri Venkateswara University (1992) Research Interests Her lab integrates engineering, biology, and clinical expertise to study CTCs' role in metastasis, develop high-throughput isolation methods, and leverage exosomes as liquid biopsy biomarkers. Key projects include: CTC-based monitoring of therapy response in lung and pancreatic cancers Microfluidic devices for simultaneous CTC and exosome analysis Functional studies of CTC-derived organoids for drug sensitivity testing Notable Achievements AIMBE Fellow (Junior Faculty, Harvard Medical School/MGH, 2008-2010) Over 150 peer-reviewed publications and patents on CTC/exosome technologies Recipient of the 2021-22 Chemical Engineering Staff Incentive Award (via lab member Mina Zeinali) Labs & Collaborations The Nagrath Lab collaborates with clinicians and engineers to translate technologies like the OncoBean Chip and EVOD chip into clinical settings. Current work emphasizes real-time CTC monitoring and exosome-based immuno-oncology strategies.

• Bio-MEMS and Microfluidics
• Nanotechnology
• Circulating Tumor Cells
• +3 more

Craig H. Meyer is a Professor in Biomedical Engineering and Radiology & Medical Imaging at the University of Virginia. He holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and leads the Rapid MRI Research Group, focusing on developing advanced MRI techniques for cardiovascular disease, neural disorders, and pediatrics. His work integrates physics, signal processing, and machine learning to improve MRI acquisition and processing speed. Education: Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Stanford University. Research Interests: Medical and Molecular Imaging, Signal and Image Processing, Biomedical Data Sciences, Biomechanics, and Cardiovascular Engineering. His innovations include fast spiral imaging, conjugate phase reconstruction, and machine learning-enhanced MRI denoising. Awards: Notably includes the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Team Science (2014), Fellowships from NAI (2021), AIMBE (2015), and ISMRM (2013). He also authored two landmark MRI papers recognized as pivotal in the field. Teaching: Courses include BME 6310 (Computation and Modeling in Biomedical Engineering) and BME 8782 (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). He emphasizes translational research, with applications in clinical MRI advancements and collaborative interdisciplinary projects. Labs/Groups: Rapid MRI Research Group focuses on cutting-edge MRI technologies, including real-time cardiac imaging and artifact reduction through deep learning.

• Medical and Molecular Imaging
• Signal and Image Processing
• Biomedical Data Sciences
• +2 more

John Ford is an Associate Professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Texas A&M University. His research focuses on radiobiology, radiation carcinogenesis, and medical applications of radiation. He holds academic appointments within the College of Engineering and contributes to the Health Physics, Radiation Biology & Medical Physics research group. Education includes a B.S. and M.S. in Nuclear Engineering from Mississippi State University (1982, 1986), a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Tennessee (1992), and postdoctoral training at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (1992–1993). His work emphasizes understanding radiation effects on biological systems, with notable contributions to radiation dosimetry, bystander signaling mechanisms, and dietary modulation of radiation damage. Recent studies explore space radiation monitoring technologies and therapeutic applications of radiation. Awards include the BP Award for Teaching Excellence (2007) and ARRO Educator of the Year (2013–2014). Research spans interdisciplinary areas such as radiation-induced cancer mechanisms, nutritional interventions to mitigate radiation effects, and advanced radiation detection instrumentation. He has advised numerous projects in radiation safety curriculum development and collaborated on NASA-funded studies modeling radiation impacts on astronauts.

• Radiation Biology
• Radiation Carcinogenesis
• Radiation Applications in Medicine
• +3 more

Masato Kato serves as Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center since 2020 and concurrently as Team Leader at Japan's National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology. His academic trajectory includes progressive appointments from Assistant Professor (2004-2014) to Associate Professor (2014-2020) at UT Southwestern, with prior postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School and Nara Institute of Science and Technology. 2020-present: Professor, Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern 2020-present: Team Leader, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Japan 2014-2020: Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern 2010-2014: Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern 2004-2010: Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern 1999-2004: Postdoctoral Fellow, Ellenberger Lab, Harvard Medical School 1998-1999: Postdoctoral Fellow, Hakoshima Lab, Nara Institute of Science and Technology Dr. Kato's research pioneers the biophysical characterization of protein phase separation, particularly focusing on low-complexity domains (LCDs) in neurodegenerative disease contexts. His work establishes fundamental mechanisms of biomolecular condensate formation, including hydrogel polymerization, liquid-solid transitions, and mutation-induced dysregulation in ALS/FTD. Key contributions demonstrate how C9orf72-encoded poly-dipeptides disrupt nucleocytoplasmic transport and how redox states regulate Ataxin-2 phase behavior, bridging structural biochemistry with pathological mechanisms. Analysis of his 22 publications reveals a cohesive research program centered on LCD-driven phase transitions. The most recent 15 articles (2012-2019) systematically investigate pathological aggregation in neurodegeneration, structural basis of condensate formation, and regulatory mechanisms like phosphorylation and oxidation. This body of work establishes LCDs as central players in both physiological RNA granule assembly and disease-associated solidification, with strong emphasis on C9orf72-related ALS/FTD mechanisms. Dr. Kato maintains active leadership within the McKnight Laboratory at UT Southwestern, where his team employs integrated approaches spanning structural biology, cell biology, and biophysics to dissect phase separation mechanisms. His collaborative network includes prominent neuroscience and biochemistry groups, with co-authorship on key studies in Cell, Science, and PNAS.

• Protein Phase Separation
• Low-Complexity Domains
• RNA Granule Biogenesis
• +3 more

Chi Liu is a Professor of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging at Yale School of Medicine . He serves as Associate Director of Biomedical Imaging Technology at the Yale Biomedical Imaging Institute and Director for Research Faculty Affairs in the Radiology & Biomedical Imaging department. Education : PhD from Johns Hopkins University (2008) Postdoctoral Training : University of Washington (2010) Certification : American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine (Nuclear Medicine Physics and Instrumentation) His research focuses on quantitative cardiac and oncological PET/CT and SPECT/CT imaging , emphasizing deep learning algorithms , reconstruction algorithms , data correction , and dynamic imaging . Key clinical applications include early detection of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity , multimodality imaging of heart failure , and motion variability elimination in therapy response assessment . The 15 most recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on deep learning techniques for low-dose imaging , motion correction , and cross-tracer generalizability in PET/SPECT systems. These works span applications in cardiac imaging , neuroscience , oncology , and theranostics . Scientific Award : Bruce Hasegawa Young Investigator Medical Imaging Science Award (2012) Contact: chi.liu@yale.edu | ORCID 0000-0002-7007-1037

• Quantitative PET/CT and SPECT/CT Imaging
• Deep Learning in Medical Imaging
• Motion Correction Algorithms
• +2 more

Laura Solt, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at the Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology in Jupiter, Florida. She also serves as Associate Dean of the Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences. Dr. Solt began her independent research career at Scripps Florida in 2013 and has established herself as a leading researcher in nuclear receptor biology within the immune system. Her research focuses on understanding the biologically relevant roles of nuclear receptors, particularly RORα and REV-ERBs, in the immune system with emphasis on TH17 cell development and autoimmune disease. Her lab employs a multidisciplinary approach combining molecular biology, genetic techniques, and chemical biology coupled with mouse models of autoimmunity and chronic inflammation. Dr. Solt's laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding how nuclear receptors regulate immune cell function, particularly in TH17-mediated inflammation. Her work has demonstrated roles for RORα and REV-ERBs in TH17 cell development and has developed synthetic ligands to these receptors for potential therapeutic applications in autoimmune diseases. Her extensive publication record shows a clear trajectory of research focused on nuclear receptor signaling in immunity, with recent work expanding into applications for cancer immunotherapy, neuroimmunology, and metabolic aspects of immune cell function. Her articles demonstrate expertise in both basic nuclear receptor mechanisms and translational applications. Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (2010-2013) Dr. Solt actively mentors graduate students including Adrianna Wilson (recipient of NIDDK F31 and Scheller Graduate Student Fellowship) and Sarah Mosure (recipient of NIH NRSA F31 award and Wendy Havran award). Her laboratory receives substantial funding from multiple NIH institutes (NIDDK, NCI, NIAID, NIGMS) as well as the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. Current research directions include investigating the roles of NR2F6 in TH17 cells, exploring RORα function in CD8 T cells, and developing novel nuclear receptor modulators for therapeutic applications.

• Autoimmune Disease
• Cancer Immunotherapy
• Immunometabolism
• +5 more

Ruth Etzioni is an Affiliate Professor in the Biostatistics Program and Public Health Sciences Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. She leads the Etzioni Lab, focusing on cancer screening, early detection, and overdiagnosis analysis. Her work integrates statistical modeling, epidemiology, and clinical research to address critical questions in prostate and breast cancer control. Dr. Etzioni holds the Rosalie & Harold Rea Brown Endowed Chair and has received a $7.4M NIH Outstanding Investigator Award. Education: PhD in Statistics (Carnegie Mellon University, 1990), MS in Statistics (Carnegie Mellon, 1987), BS in Mathematics (University of Cape Town, South Africa). Research interests emphasize biomarkers, clinical trials, and epidemiological methods. She leads the Biostatistics Core for the Pacific Northwest Prostate Cancer SPORE and participates in the Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET). Her lab develops models to evaluate screening policies, quantify overdiagnosis, and inform healthcare disparities reduction strategies. Key achievements include groundbreaking work on prostate cancer screening's harm-benefit tradeoffs and contributions to multi-cancer early detection (MCED) frameworks. Recent studies address racial disparities in prostate cancer outcomes, metastasis trends, and the clinical utility of novel diagnostics like PSMA PET imaging. Awards include the Brown Endowed Chair (2020), NCI OIA Award (2023), and recognition for advancing cancer data science. Her lab collaborates with institutions globally and mentors students in biostatistics and translational data science.

• Cancer Screening
• Prostate Cancer Research
• Biomarkers
• +5 more

Preet Singh is a Professor and Associate Chair for Graduate Studies in the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Georgia Tech, with affiliations to the College of Engineering. His research focuses on corrosion science, electrochemistry, and environmental degradation of materials, particularly metals and alloys. Prior to joining Georgia Tech in 2003, he was a faculty member at the Institute of Paper Science and Technology (IPST), where he investigated corrosion issues in the pulp and paper industry. Professor Singh's work explores fundamental mechanisms of material degradation in industrial environments, aiming to develop mitigation strategies against environment-induced failures. Key research areas include corrosion fatigue, hydrogen embrittlement, stress corrosion cracking, and oxidation behavior. His group employs experimental approaches to study material reliability under varying chemical and mechanical conditions. Recent publications demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration across oncology, agriculture, and energy systems, reflecting broad applications of materials science principles. Research trends show increased focus on biomedical materials and sustainable technologies alongside core corrosion studies. Professor Singh advises graduate students including Abdullah Alzubail, Yousif Al Rabie, Sai Shreeya, Yara, and Sean Li. He directs the Corrosion and Materials Reliability Laboratory (CMCRL), which partners with industry to solve practical engineering challenges related to material performance.

• Corrosion Science
• Electrochemistry
• Metals and Alloys
• +5 more

Yu Sun is an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Johns Hopkins University with a joint appointment at the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAI) Institute. His research integrates machine learning, computer vision, optimization, and physics to advance computational imaging frameworks for reliable AI-driven imaging systems. He earned a BEng in electronics and information from Sichuan University (2015) and a PhD in computer science from Washington University in St. Louis (2022), where his dissertation received the Turner Dissertation Award. His academic journey includes a postdoctoral fellowship at Caltech's Department of Computing and Mathematical Sciences. Dr. Sun's research spans biomedical imaging, computational imaging, inverse problems, and machine learning, focusing on interpretable AI integration for next-generation imaging. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications in medical and scientific imaging domains. Recent publications reveal a dominant trend in diffusion models for scientific imaging problems, including plug-and-play priors for reconstruction (NeurIPS 2024) and benchmarks for diffusion-based scientific problem-solving (ICLR 2025 Spotlight), demonstrating cross-disciplinary impact from biomedical engineering to cell biology. Key honors include: Turner Dissertation Award for doctoral contributions Rising Star Award from the Conference on Parsimony and Learning (CPAL, 2025) He serves as a consultant associate editor for the IEEE Open Journal of Signal Processing and actively participates in the IEEE Signal Processing Society’s Computational Imaging Technical Committee. His research is supported by institutional funding through the Hopkins Computational Imaging Group. The Hopkins Computational Imaging Group, which he leads, unites AI, mathematics, and data science to develop principled algorithms for imaging systems, with emphasis on biomedical applications and novel computational frameworks.

• Biomedical Imaging
• Computational Imaging
• Inverse Problems
• +4 more

Montserrat Anguera, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine. Her research focuses on epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation underlying sex differences in development and disease, with particular emphasis on X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) and its implications for female-biased autoimmune disorders. Dr. Anguera investigates how gene expression from the X-chromosome is regulated to ensure dosage compensation between males and females, and how these mechanisms become altered in diseases exhibiting sex-bias. Her laboratory has established novel epigenetic pathways involving the X-chromosome that impact human development, immune responses, and lymphocyte function. She employs advanced techniques including RNA/DNA fluorescence in situ hybridization, immunofluorescence, and allele-specific RNA sequencing to achieve single-cell resolution of epigenetic characteristics of the inactive X chromosome. Her research reveals a consistent focus on the intersection of X-chromosome biology and immunology, particularly regarding sex-biased autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus. Key findings include the discovery that lymphocytes maintain X-chromosome inactivation differently than other somatic cells, with the inactive X exhibiting euchromatic features in female lymphocytes that may underlie female bias in autoimmune disorders. She coined the term 'dynamic XCI maintenance' to describe how T and B cells relocalize Xist RNA and heterochromatic marks to the inactive X chromosome following antigen-mediated stimulation. Dr. Anguera's laboratory includes postdocs Katherine Forsyth and Nikhil Jiwrajka, research specialist Zowie Searcy, graduate students Isabel Sierra and Natalie Toothacre, postdoctoral researcher Nuriban Valero-Pacheco, and PhD student Emma Welter. Together, they investigate epigenetic regulation of X-linked genes in development and disease contexts. She is an active member of multiple prestigious research institutes at Penn, including the Epigenetics Institute, Institute for Immunology, Center for Research on Reproduction & Women's Health, and Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Her work bridges epigenetics, immunology, and developmental biology, providing novel insights into mechanisms underlying female-biased autoimmune disorders.

• Epigenetics
• X-Chromosome Inactivation
• Long Noncoding RNAs
• +6 more

Dr. Nivee Pradip Amin serves as Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and Assistant Attending Physician at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, holding leadership roles as Associate Director for Consultative Cardiology and Director of the Women's Heart Program & Preventive Cardiology. Her clinical expertise spans general cardiology, preventive cardiology, and echocardiography with focus on high-risk cardiovascular prevention. Her educational credentials include: B.A., B.S. in International Studies and Business from University of Pennsylvania (2002) M.D. from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2007) M.H.S. in Clinical Investigation from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2013) Research centers on sex-based disparities in cardiovascular outcomes, women's heart health across the lifespan, and preventive strategies for coronary/valvular disease. She investigates intersections between cardiology and obstetrics/oncology, emphasizing personalized risk assessment and early intervention to improve quality of life. Analysis of her publications reveals consistent focus on women's cardiovascular biomarkers (e.g., breast arterial calcium), obstetric complications as long-term risk factors, and disparities in revascularization outcomes. Her work leverages large-scale database analysis to address gaps in preventive care for high-risk populations including cancer patients and those with cirrhosis. Dr. Amin maintains active board certifications in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases, Nuclear Cardiology, and Echocardiography through the American Board of Internal Medicine, and holds professional memberships in the American College of Cardiology, American Society for Preventive Cardiology, and American Heart Association. She provides inpatient consultative care on cardiac telemetry units while leading the Women's Heart Program, which integrates preventive cardiology services with gender-specific treatment protocols. Fluent in Spanish, she emphasizes culturally competent care tailored to individual patient needs across diverse populations.

• Cardiovascular Disease
• Women's Cardiovascular Health
• Preventive Cardiology
• +3 more

Dr. Vadim Backman is the Sachs Family Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Medicine at Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Feinberg School of Medicine. He holds additional roles as Professor of Medicine (Hematology/Oncology) and Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Associate Director of Research Technology and Infrastructure at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Director of the Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering. He earned his Ph.D. in Medical Engineering from Harvard-MIT and M.S./B.S. in Physics from St. Petersburg Polytechnic Institute. His research focuses on physical and biological science intersections, developing nanoscale imaging and computational technologies to study chromatin dynamics and their role in disease. Key areas include cancer diagnostics/therapeutics, chromatin engineering, and genome nanoimaging. Dr. Backman has published over 230 papers, holds 20+ patents, and leads large-scale projects like NCI Bioengineering Research Partnerships. Education: Ph.D. (Harvard-MIT), M.S. (MIT), M.S./B.S. (St. Petersburg Polytechnic Institute) Affiliations: PhD Programs in Applied Physics and Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Research emphasizes chromatin's role in disease, with clinical translation for diagnostics and therapy. His lab develops technologies like nano-CHIA and ChromSTEM, advancing understanding of genomic organization and epigenetic regulation. Awards include the Cozzarelli Prize and MIT Technology Review's Top 100 Innovators. Awards: Cozzarelli Prize (2017), AIMBE Fellowship (2009), NSF CAREER Award (2003) Grants and collaborations include managing multi-investigator projects and co-founding biotech companies. Courses taught: BME 302 (Quantitative Systems Physiology), BME 429 (Advanced Physical and Applied Optics).

• Physical Genomics
• Chromatin Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• +5 more