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Professor Peter Banks is a prominent academic in Conservation Biology at The University of Sydney's School of Life and Environmental Sciences. His research focuses on developing humane solutions to invasive species impacts, particularly through understanding predator-prey dynamics and behavioral interventions. He has held roles including Treasurer of the Royal Zoological Society of NSW and editorial board memberships at journals like Oecologia. Education: PhD (2004, University of Sydney), BSc (1991, University of Sydney). His career includes positions at UNSW and University of Turku (Finland). Research interests span animal behavior, ecology, and conservation strategies. Research Themes: Animal behavior and ecophysiology, ecology and evolution, wildlife conservation. Collaborations include projects with Finland’s University of Turku on predator-prey deception and New Zealand’s Landcare Research on pest management. Recent publications emphasize olfactory misinformation tactics, urban tick ecology, and predator learning mechanisms. His work bridges behavioral ecology with applied conservation, exploring innovative methods to mitigate wildlife conflicts.

• Conservation Biology
• Ecology
• Wildlife Management
• +4 more

Sachdev Sidhu is a Research Professor and Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Waterloo. His research focuses on synthetic antibodies, protein engineering, and biotechnological applications. He leads efforts in developing novel therapeutic antibodies, engineered protein systems, and molecular tools for biomedical research. His work spans cancer therapy, viral infection countermeasures, and regenerative medicine. Sidhu is also involved in translational research, bridging academic discoveries with commercial applications through entrepreneurial ventures. Key research interests include synthetic antibody libraries, CAR T-cell engineering, ubiquitin-based therapeutics, and phage display technologies. He has contributed to advancements in targeted therapies for glioblastoma, leukemia, and ocular diseases. His team develops innovative methods for protein design, such as engineered ubiquitin variants and modular antibody architectures. Publications highlight breakthroughs in antibody-based treatments, including synNotch CAR T cells for glioblastoma and neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. His work integrates structural biology, molecular biology, and computational approaches to address complex biomedical challenges. Sidhu collaborates with industry partners to advance technologies into clinical and commercial settings.

• Synthetic Antibodies
• Protein Engineering
• Biotechnology
• +5 more

Dr. Rachel Penczykowski is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Washington University studying disease ecology in changing environments. Her NSF CAREER Award supports research on urban plant pathogens, particularly powdery mildew epidemics in urban heat islands. Combining field observations, lab experiments, and mathematical modeling, she examines how climate, biodiversity loss, and urbanization reshape host-parasite interactions. Her work spans diverse ecosystems—from aquatic Daphnia-parasite systems to terrestrial plant-pathogen networks—revealing how predators, resources, and microclimates indirectly modulate disease spread. Current projects investigate warming impacts on fungal virulence and host resistance evolution in St. Louis-area plant populations. Dr. Penczykowski leads outreach through the PlantSTEM program, engaging K-12 students in pathogen research. She mentors high schoolers via Tyson Research Center apprenticeships and teaches Disease Ecology, integrating modeling with empirical approaches. Her lab collaborates with the Taylor Geospatial Institute to map urban microclimate-disease linkages.

• Disease Ecology
• Host-Parasite Coevolution
• Plant Pathology
• +2 more

George Perry is a Professor of Anthropology at Pennsylvania State University, with research intersections in Biology, Evolutionary Medicine, and Genomics. He is affiliated with the Huck Institutes' Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Ecology, Molecular Cellular and Integrative Biosciences, and Bioinformatics and Genomics programs. Perry directs the Anthropological Genomics Lab , focusing on paleogenomics and evolutionary adaptation. Research areas: anthropological genomics, parasite evolution, human body size transitions, and evolutionary medicine Key collaborations: international teams in Madagascar, Europe, and Africa Leadership: Bioinformatics and Genomics Chair (2019–2023) His 2025–2022 publications span evolutionary responses to invasive species, human migration health impacts, chemosensory gene adaptation, and primate genomic diversity. Notable methodological contributions include ancient DNA recovery and comparative paleogenomics. Perry advises graduate students like Vanessa Garcia and Annette Mercedes, with grants including NIH support for Cuban health disparity studies. Scientific leadership includes tenure-line promotions (2023) and NASA Space Grant collaborations.

• Anthropological Genomics
• Paleogenomics
• Human Body Size Evolution
• +7 more

Dr. Gary Brewer is a Professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with a 60% research and 40% teaching appointment. He has served as department head at NDSU (1997-2006) and UNL (2006-2018). His research focuses on field crops entomology, IPM of pasture cattle flies, salt creek tiger beetle conservation, and pollinator health. He has pioneered a push-pull strategy using coconut oil-derived repellents and led curriculum design for Rwanda’s Conservation Agriculture program. Education: B.S. in Zoology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1974) M.S. in Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1978) Ph.D. in Entomology, Kansas State University (1984) Research Interests: Brewer’s work spans insect ecology, pest management, and conservation. Key areas include stable fly and horn fly control, pollinator protection, and endangered species recovery (e.g., Salt Creek tiger beetle). His lab develops natural product-based pest repellents and evaluates biopesticides for sustainable agriculture. Grants & Contributions: $362,150 USDA grant for undergraduate research in beneficial insect protection (2018) $325,000 USDA grant for multi-tactic stable fly control (2017) NE Game and Parks funded salt creek tiger beetle reintroduction programs Labs & Teams: Brewer’s team collaborates with industry (e.g., Vestergaard Frandsen) and international partners to advance IPM strategies. His work bridges field research with applied solutions for farmers and conservationists.

• Field Crops Entomology
• Insect Ecology
• Insect Pest Management
• +3 more

Pamela Ronald is a Distinguished Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of California, Davis, affiliated with the Department of Plant Pathology within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Her research focuses on understanding and enhancing crop resilience, particularly in rice, through genetic and molecular mechanisms. Key areas include plant immunity against pathogens, climate adaptation, and sustainable agricultural practices. Education and Background: Details on her academic qualifications are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text, but her career trajectory suggests advanced training in plant genetics and pathology. Research Interests: Ronald’s work centers on engineering disease-resistant crops, studying plant-microbe interactions, and developing climate-resilient varieties. Notably, she has contributed to identifying genes like XA21 that confer resistance to bacterial infections and pioneered methods to reduce methane emissions in rice. Her studies also explore the role of sulfated peptides in pathogen virulence and host defense mechanisms. Publications Trends: Her recent articles emphasize molecular mechanisms of plant immunity, genetic engineering applications, and sustainability challenges. Themes include directed evolution of immune receptors, machine learning in genotype-phenotype prediction, and mitigation of agricultural greenhouse gases. Awards and Recognition: While specific awards are not listed here, her leadership in plant genetics and advocacy for evidence-based biotechnology policies reflect significant recognition in her field. Grants and Advising: Ronald has led projects funded by agencies like the U.S. Department of Energy, focusing on bioenergy crops like switchgrass. She collaborates globally on initiatives such as the Rice Protein Tagging Project and the AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems. Labs and Teams: She directs the Crop Genetics Innovation Lab at UC Davis, fostering interdisciplinary research in crop improvement and sustainable agriculture.

• Plant Genetics
• Crop Improvement
• Plant-Microbe Interactions
• +3 more

Britt Koskella is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, affiliated with the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management within the College of Natural Resources. Her research focuses on evolutionary biology, particularly host-pathogen coevolution and microbial interactions, integrating experimental evolution, field studies, and molecular biology. She leads the Koskella Lab, which investigates how microbial communities, phages, and pathogens influence host health and agricultural sustainability. Research Interests: Dr. Koskella explores the coevolutionary dynamics between hosts and their symbionts, including bacteriophage-bacteria interactions in plant microbiomes. Her work bridges ecological and evolutionary principles to address applied challenges in disease management and sustainable agriculture. Key areas include understanding phage-mediated selection in natural populations, the role of microbiomes in host defense, and the spatial/temporal adaptation of pathogens. Advancing Knowledge: Dr. Koskella’s lab employs experimental evolution in greenhouses and lab settings to test hypotheses derived from field observations. Recent studies highlight the indirect role of phages in plant disease protection and the design of synthetic microbial communities for agricultural applications. She collaborates on initiatives like the Joint Berkeley Initiative for Microbiome Sciences (JBIMS), emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches. Lab Team & Contributions: The lab includes students and researchers such as Eli Mehlferber, Asa Conover, and others, advancing projects on microbiome assembly, phage therapy, and pathogen coevolution. Dr. Koskella’s work has been published in high-impact journals like Current Biology , American Naturalist , and Ecology Letters .

• Host-Pathogen Coevolution
• Microbial Ecology
• Bacteriophage Biology
• +3 more

Jeremy Wang, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics at the UNC School of Medicine . His research focuses on applying high-performance computational methods and machine learning to analyze high-throughput sequence data using long-read technologies (e.g., Oxford Nanopore) to advance precision personalized medicine . Key disease areas include Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) Respiratory Infectious Diseases His lab specializes in microbiome analysis , host-pathogen interactions , and computational genomics , working with collaborators in clinical, translational, and computational domains. His publications demonstrate expertise in long-read sequencing applications for Pediatric cancer classification SARS-CoV-2 genomic epidemiology Microbiome spatiotemporal dynamics Murine disease models Drosophilid genome assemblies Metagenomic bias analysis Collaborations span UNC and global institutions, with current work extending to clinical laboratory partnerships for pathogen sequencing and oral microbiome sampling methodology.

• Computational Biology
• Genomics
• Microbiome Research
• +7 more

Professor Dieter Hochuli leads the Integrative Ecology research group in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Sydney. His research focuses on biodiversity conservation in urban environments, with particular emphasis on arthropod ecology, habitat management, and the ecological dynamics of human-dominated landscapes. His work bridges community ecology and landscape-scale conservation strategies. Research interests center on urban biodiversity conservation, insect-plant interactions, ecosystem function in modified environments, and the ecological impacts of invasive species. Current projects examine how urban planning decisions affect biodiversity, the role of green infrastructure in supporting ecosystem services, and human-wildlife interactions in urban fringes. Analysis of recent publications reveals consistent themes: urban pollinator ecology, wildlife disease ecology at the urban interface, experimental approaches to urban green space management, and biodiversity responses to urbanization. His work integrates ecological theory with practical conservation applications. Professor Hochuli leads field-based ecology projects across Sydney's urban environments and collaborates with local councils on biodiversity mapping initiatives. He currently supervises graduate students researching urban arthropod communities, wildlife conservation, and ecosystem restoration.

• Urban Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Insect-Plant Interactions
• +3 more

Dr. Jason Gibbs is an Associate Professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. He also serves as the Curator of the J. B. Wallis / R. E. Roughley Museum of Entomology (WRME), a significant center for the study of bee biodiversity. His work is central to advancing knowledge in wild bee systematics, phylogenetics, and conservation. PhD in Biology, York University, Canada MSc in Botany, University of Toronto, Canada BSc in Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Canada His research focuses on the diversity, taxonomy, and conservation of wild bees , particularly halictid and panurgine bees. He employs integrative taxonomic approaches , combining morphological, molecular, and ecological data to resolve species boundaries and evolutionary relationships. His work extends to pollinator ecology , examining how habitat management, agricultural practices, and landscape changes affect bee communities and pollination services. He is deeply involved in bee conservation , including the rediscovery of rare species and the development of habitat strategies to support pollinators in human-modified landscapes. The trends in his recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on systematics and alpha-taxonomy , with numerous revisions of bee genera and checklists of regional faunas. He frequently uses DNA barcoding and phylogenomics to address taxonomic challenges. Additionally, his work explores pollination dynamics in agricultural systems , particularly in blueberry and other crops, assessing the roles of wild versus managed bees. There is a consistent theme of habitat enhancement and conservation across his research, with studies on floral strips, prairie restoration, and the impacts of land-use change. Dr. Gibbs is actively involved in mentoring and training the next generation of entomologists. His lab includes several graduate students and highly qualified personnel who contribute to his diverse research projects, as indicated by the asterisked names in his publications. He leads the Gibbs Wild Bee Lab, which is dedicated to understanding bee diversity and evolution. The lab combines field research with molecular and morphological analyses, and maintains close ties with the WRME museum, which serves as a vital resource for specimen-based research and education.

• Entomology
• Wild Bee Taxonomy
• Integrative Taxonomy
• +13 more

Charles C. Davis is a Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University and Curator of Vascular Plants in the Harvard University Herbaria. He leads the Davis Lab, focusing on plant diversity through integrative research in systematics, paleobiology, ecology, and molecular biology. His work emphasizes phylogenetic theory, biogeography, and the application of herbarium collections to address global change challenges. Davis is particularly noted for leveraging herbarium specimens to study plant responses to climate change, phenology, and biodiversity patterns. Research interests include plant-insect interactions, genome architecture evolution in parasitic plants, and the ethical use of herbarium specimens. His lab has pioneered high-throughput phylogenomic pipelines (e.g., PhyloHerb) and explored the future of herbaria in the digital age. Collaborations span global institutions, emphasizing digitization, spectral imaging, and AI-driven analysis of biodiversity data. Recent work highlights the impact of anthropogenic change on plant communities, the role of phenology in species survival, and strategies to mitigate collecting biases in herbaria. Davis teaches courses on plant systematics and evolution, and his lab actively participates in public engagement through exhibits like the HMNH’s *In Search of Thoreau’s Flowers*. His research has been featured in *Trends in Ecology & Evolution*, *Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution*, and *Current Biology*, with a focus on advancing methodologies for biodiversity science while addressing ethical challenges in specimen sampling.

• Plant Systematics
• Phylogenomics
• Biodiversity Conservation
• +8 more

Shahid Siddique is an Associate Professor in the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of California, Davis. His research focuses on understanding molecular and applied aspects of plant-parasitic nematode interactions with host plants. He aims to develop sustainable strategies to mitigate nematode-induced crop losses through genetic, biochemical, and biotechnological approaches. His lab is particularly interested in host resistance mechanisms, nematode effector proteins, and biocontrol solutions. Education: MSc, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan PhD, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria Habilitation, University of Bonn, Germany Research Interests: Siddique’s work bridges basic and applied research, including cell surface signaling in plant-parasitic nematode interactions, functional characterization of secretory proteins, molecular diagnostics for nematodes, and biocontrol strategies. Current projects explore recombination hotspots in nematode genomes, CRISPR-based resistance engineering, and redox signaling mechanisms. Teaching: General Plant Nematology (NEM100) in Spring 2020 Labs/Teams: The Siddique Lab focuses on translating molecular discoveries into practical pest management solutions. Collaborations involve genomic analysis, proteomics, and field trials to address global agricultural challenges.

• Plant-Nematode Interactions
• Agricultural Entomology
• Molecular Biology
• +3 more

Professor Eric Morgan at Queen's University Belfast leads parasitology research in the School of Biological Sciences , focusing on climate-driven epidemiology of parasitic infections in animals. His work integrates predictive modeling, parasite transmission dynamics at the wild-domestic interface, and sustainable livestock health solutions. Veterinary parasitology and climate change impact Anthelmintic resistance mitigation strategies AI-enhanced diagnostic systems for animal health Current research students include Anthony George, who investigates Combining alternative approaches for helminth control in grazing livestock . Public engagement initiatives like the BUG Consortium and Poo Patrol translate findings into practical parasite management. His recent publications in 2025 address topics like flood reactors, zoonotic toxocariasis, and precision agriculture tools for parasite risk assessment.

• Parasitology
• Epidemiology
• Climate Change Impact on Disease Dynamics
• +6 more

Martin Kaltenpoth serves as Director at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena since 2020 and Professor for Evolutionary Ecology at Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz since 2015. Previously, he led the Research Group Insect Symbiosis at the MPI for Chemical Ecology from 2009 to 2015. Education: PhD in Biology (summa cum laude), University of Würzburg, 2006 Diploma in Biology (with honors), University of Würzburg, 2003 His research centers on insect-bacterial symbioses , investigating evolutionary, ecological, and chemical dimensions of host-microbe interactions. Key foci include nutritional and defensive symbiosis in beetles, genomic adaptations of symbiotic bacteria, and chemical mediation of symbiotic relationships. His work bridges entomology, microbiology, and chemical ecology to unravel coevolutionary mechanisms. Analysis of recent publications reveals dominant trends in beetle-microbe systems, emphasizing symbiont roles in cuticle synthesis, antifungal defense, and host-plant adaptation. His studies frequently employ genomic, biochemical, and experimental approaches across diverse insect lineages. No scientific awards were documented in the source material. While specific advisees and grants remain unlisted, his leadership of research groups and dual academic appointments indicate active supervision of graduate researchers and externally funded projects in symbiosis evolution. Currently directing research at the Max Planck Institute, Kaltenpoth advances understanding of symbiotic systems with implications for evolutionary theory and sustainable pest management strategies.

• Insect Symbiosis
• Evolutionary Ecology
• Chemical Ecology
• +2 more

Professor Michael W. Shaw is a distinguished academic at the University of Reading's School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, Department of Plant Sciences, with a research career spanning over two decades. His expertise lies at the intersection of plant pathology, disease epidemiology, and sustainable disease management strategies. Shaw's research interests encompass plant-pathogen interactions , particularly focusing on fungal diseases affecting major crops. His work investigates the epidemiology of plant diseases , fungicide resistance mechanisms , biological control strategies , and asymptomatic pathogen infections . He has made significant contributions to understanding pathogen evolution, host specificity, and the environmental factors influencing disease development. His recent publications demonstrate a consistent research trajectory examining the molecular, ecological, and epidemiological aspects of plant diseases. Shaw's work spans multiple pathosystems including Botrytis cinerea (gray mold), Venturia inaequalis (apple scab), begomoviruses affecting okra, and banana Xanthomonas wilt. His research integrates molecular techniques, field studies, and mathematical modeling to address complex plant health challenges. Professor Shaw has contributed significantly to the understanding of fungicide resistance development, particularly in cereal pathogens, and has explored innovative approaches to disease management through biological control agents and integrated strategies. His work on asymptomatic infections has revealed novel insights into host-pathogen relationships that extend beyond traditional disease paradigms. His collaborative research network spans internationally, with co-authors from multiple countries, reflecting the global relevance of his work in plant health and food security. Shaw's research has practical applications for sustainable agriculture and crop protection strategies worldwide.

• Plant Pathology
• Fungal Diseases
• Disease Epidemiology
• +3 more