Find Academic Supervisors

Jennifer J. PerryView profile

Associate Professor

• Food Microbiology
• Food Safety
• Non-Thermal Food Processing
• +3 more

Jennifer J. Perry is an Associate Professor of Food Microbiology at the University of Maine's School of Food and Agriculture. She holds a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University (2010). Her research focuses on microbial food spoilage mechanisms, non-thermal food safety interventions, probiotic delivery systems, and gut microbiome interactions. She teaches FSN 238 (Applied Food Microbiology and Sanitation) and FSN 438/439 (Food Microbiology/Laboratory). Dr. Perry investigates Salmonella contamination dynamics, ozone-based egg pasteurization, and the impact of dietary probiotics on gastrointestinal microbial communities. Her work emphasizes minimizing food quality degradation while enhancing safety. Recent studies explore novel methods for high-count probiotic incorporation in food products and the genomic responses of GI tract microbiota to dietary changes. Publications (2012–2014) highlight her work on egg safety, non-thermal technologies, and Salmonella thermal resistance under osmotic conditions. She is actively recruiting graduate students for projects involving food safety innovation, with stipend and tuition support available.

Angela FullerView profile

Professor

• Spatial Ecology
• Wildlife Conservation
• Decision Science
• +5 more

Angela Fuller is a Professor at Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), leading the New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. She holds a courtesy appointment in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment. Her research integrates spatial ecology and decision science to address wildlife conservation and management challenges. Fuller earned her Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate from the University of Maine system, reflecting her deep roots in ecological research. Her work focuses on spatial patterns influencing wildlife populations, structured decision-making (SDM), and adaptive management. Key projects include studying human-wildlife coexistence, carnivore ecology, and invasive species detection. She teaches NTRES 4601/6601 Decision Making in Natural Resource Management , emphasizing practical applications of decision frameworks. Recent achievements include the 2020 Cooperative Research Units Leadership Excellence Award and Fellow status in The Wildlife Society (2017). Her lab, the Fuller Spatial Ecology and Decision Science Lab, collaborates on innovative projects such as leveraging canine surveillance for spotted lanternfly detection and analyzing avian influenza in bobcats. Notable publications span topics like spatial capture-recapture modeling and SDM for wildlife harvest decisions. Fuller’s contributions extend to interdisciplinary solutions, bridging ecological and social sciences for sustainable resource management. Her lab actively engages in outreach, including media features on emerging wildlife health issues and conservation strategies.

• Plant Pathology
• Molecular Plant Pathology
• Genomics of Plant Pathogens
• +7 more

Pietro Spanu is a Professor of Molecular Plant Pathology at the Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, within the Faculty of Natural Sciences. His work focuses on understanding plant-pathogen interactions, particularly the genomics and molecular mechanisms of powdery mildews. He leads research into how pathogens manipulate host cellular processes and evade immune responses. Key affiliations include the Agri Futures Lab, Fungal Science Network, and Microbiome Network. His research interests span the genomics of powdery mildews, effector proteins, and host-pathogen communication via extracellular vesicles. He employs cutting-edge techniques like AI-guided discovery and transcriptomics to study pathogen virulence and host defense. Recent work highlights effector interference with endosomal complexes, RNA fragment roles in cross-kingdom signaling, and evolutionary dynamics of plant pathogens. Spanu’s contributions include groundbreaking studies on barley and wheat powdery mildews, revealing mechanisms behind fungal adaptation and virulence. His lab integrates molecular genetics, genomics, and computational biology to address agricultural challenges like crop disease resistance and food security. Collaborations span microbiome networks and interdisciplinary platforms like the Industrial Biotechnology Hub.

• Herpetology
• Biodiversity Conservation
• Taxonomy
• +3 more

Dr. Glenn Shea is a Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Anatomy at the University of Sydney's Faculty of Veterinary Science. He holds a DVM BVSc (Hons) from the University of Sydney (1983) and a PhD (1992), also from Sydney. His research focuses on reptile systematics, taxonomy, and conservation, particularly in Australian and Pacific species. He has authored influential field guides like *A Field Guide to Reptiles of New South Wales* (2004/2022) and contributed to major conservation efforts such as *The Action Plan for Australian Lizards and Snakes 2017* (2019). His work spans new species descriptions, phylogenetic analyses, and biodiversity policy. Notable projects include surveys of reptile populations on Norfolk Island and IUCN Red List assessments for reptiles. He has secured grants, including an Australian Research Council grant (1999) for scincid lizard systematics. His research frequently intersects with conservation genetics and the impacts of environmental crises like Australia's 2019-2020 Black Summer fires. Media engagements include ABC interviews on blind snake ecology and features in *IFL Science*. Collaborations with international researchers underscore his global contributions to herpetology.

• MRI Technology
• Biomedical Imaging
• Physical Chemistry
• +3 more

Dr. William M Holmes is a Senior Research Fellow and Senior MRI Physicist at the University of Glasgow's School of Psychology & Neuroscience, affiliated with the Glasgow Experimental MRI Centre. He holds a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Nottingham and specializes in advancing MRI techniques for biomedical and physical sciences. His work bridges physics, neuroscience, and clinical applications, with a focus on cerebral blood flow imaging, glymphatic system dynamics, and disease modeling in rodents. Key roles: MRI method development, neuroimaging biomarkers, porous media analysis Leadership: Glasgow Experimental MRI Centre Research interests emphasize novel MRI applications in stroke, neurological disorders, and material science. Over 80 peer-reviewed publications demonstrate contributions to perfusion imaging, biofilm dynamics, and translational MRI techniques. Recent projects include: Quantitative arterial spin labeling methods Glymphatic system's role in multiple sclerosis Non-invasive rodent disease modeling

Volker LipkaView profile

Professor

• Plant Innate Immunity
• Molecular Biology
• Plant-Fungal Interactions
• +3 more

Prof. Volker Lipka is a Professor of Plant Cell Biology at the University of Göttingen, leading research on plant innate immunity mechanisms. His work focuses on molecular dissection of basal defense activation in Arabidopsis thaliana , plant defense against fungal pathogens, and fungal effector molecules. He combines genetics, cell biology, and biochemistry to study complex plant-pathogen interactions. Education and Career: Dr. rer.nat., Technical University Aachen (1999) Postdoctoral Fellow, Sainsbury Laboratory (1999-2000) Postdoctoral Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research (2000-2004) Independent Research Group Leader, University of Tübingen (2004-2007) Independent Research Group Leader, John Innes Centre (2007-2009) Professor at University of Göttingen since 2009 Research Interests: Molecular mechanisms of plant immunity, pathogen entry control, effector molecule interference, and subcellular defense dynamics. His lab investigates chitin receptor signaling, mitochondrial roles in pathogen defense, and fungal-induced stress adaptations. Labs/Teams: Heads the Plant Cell Biology department within the Schwann-Schleiden Research Center, affiliated with the GGNB's Molecular Biology of Cells group and the International Research Training Group 2172 (PRoTECT).

• Glycobiology
• Enzymology
• Synthetic Biology
• +4 more

Warren Wakarchuk is a Professor in the Biological Sciences Department at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Science. His research focuses on enzymology of glycoconjugates, synthetic biology applications for glycobiology, and bacterial protein glycosylation. He investigates enzymes involved in creating glycan mimics in pathogens and their therapeutic applications, including designer enzymes and synthetic operons for biosynthetic pathways. His lab also explores O-mannosylation in bacteria and its evolutionary conservation. Teaching: He instructs BIOL 514 (Advanced Molecular and Cellular Biology), focusing on scientific writing, data visualization, and peer review for graduate students. This course emphasizes practical skills for thesis research dissemination. Research Trends: Recent articles highlight advancements in O-glycosylation engineering for antibodies, polysialic acid modulation, and lipid nanoparticle delivery systems. His work bridges fundamental glycobiology with applied biotechnology, addressing both mechanistic questions (e.g., clathrin-mediated endocytosis regulation via O-GlcNAc) and translational goals (e.g., therapeutic glycoprotein design). Lab Activities: The Wakarchuk lab uses glycoproteomics and synthetic biology tools to study protein glycosylation mechanisms. Current projects include characterizing novel glycosyltransferases, optimizing enzyme activity through screening platforms, and developing bacterial expression systems for complex glycans.

• Genome Evolution
• Comparative Genomics
• Organelle Evolution
• +3 more

Andrew J. Roger is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Dalhousie University, Faculty of Medicine. His primary roles include academic research and leadership as the Founding Director of the Institute for Comparative Genomics (ICG) and Canada Research Chair in Comparative Genomics. He has been a department member since 2001. Education: PhD in Biochemistry from Dalhousie University Affiliations: Dalhousie University, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Institute for Comparative Genomics (ICG) His research focuses on genome evolution, particularly in eukaryotic protists. Key interests include: Phylogenomics of eukaryotic super-kingdoms like Excavata Comparative genomics of anaerobic protists and lateral gene transfer (LGT) Evolution of mitochondria, hydrogenosomes, and mitosomes Modeling molecular evolution with computational tools Recent publications (2021–2023) highlight studies on protist organelle evolution, genomic adaptation mechanisms, and novel phylogenetic methods. His lab includes graduate students and postdocs actively researching these areas. He collaborates extensively with statisticians and computational biologists. Lab Members: Tugba Nur Atalay, Min Cho, Marlena Dlutek, Katherine Dunn, Ryo Harada, Joran Martijn, Charley McCarthy, Greg Seaton, Jason Shao, Kelsey Williamson, and others.

Elena Castell-PerezView profile

Professor

• Food Engineering
• Biomaterials Science
• Food Safety Technologies
• +5 more

Elena Castell-Perez is a Professor at Texas A&M University's College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. She holds a B.S. in Food Engineering from Campinas State University (1980), followed by an M.S. (1984) and Ph.D. (1990) in Agricultural Engineering from Michigan State University. Her research focuses on food safety technologies, including antimicrobial packaging systems, biomass pretreatment for bioenergy, and food irradiation applications. She is affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Service. Her work integrates nanotechnology (e.g., ZIF-8 nanoparticles) with food engineering to enhance packaging safety and develop sustainable materials. Key contributions include optimizing electron beam irradiation for pathogen decontamination and advancing predictive modeling for microbial contamination risks in fresh produce. She also explores CO₂ capture innovations for agricultural sustainability. Recent articles highlight advancements in antimicrobial delivery systems, 3D-printed biomass composites, and machine learning for food safety prediction. Her research spans food rheology, smart packaging, and waste reduction within the water-energy-food nexus. Dr. Castell-Perez collaborates on multidisciplinary projects involving food phantoms, Monte Carlo simulations for irradiation dosimetry, and agent-based modeling of microbial cross-contamination. Her labs focus on translating engineering principles into practical solutions for the food industry.

Katherine B. EnsorView profile

Professor

• Data Science
• Environmental Statistics
• Computational Finance
• +9 more

Katherine B. Ensor is the Noah G. Harding Professor of Statistics at Rice University's George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing. She serves as Director of the Center for Computational Finance and Economic Systems (CoFES) and previously led the Kinder Institute Urban Data Platform (UDP). Her expertise spans statistical methods for complex problems in public health, environmental science, and finance. Ensor has a 35-year academic career at Rice, including 14 years as Department Chair. She pioneered wastewater surveillance for pathogens, expanding to monitor 29 communicable illnesses through Houston Wastewater Epidemiology. Education: Ph.D. in Statistics (Texas A&M University), M.S. and B.S.E. in Mathematics (Arkansas State University). Research focuses on high-dimensional time series, spatial processes, Bayesian methods, and computational finance. She leads interdisciplinary initiatives, such as the UDP providing urban data for Greater Houston studies. Research interests include data science applications in public health, environmental analytics, and quantitative finance. Her work bridges academia and community, addressing issues like flood impacts via the Texas Flood Registry and asthma surveillance through collaborations with Houston Health Department. Ensor chairs the National Academies committee on Statistics in Science and Engineering and holds leadership roles in AAAS and ASA. Awards include the ASA Founders Award (2024), AAAS Fellowship (2013), and Texas A&M's Distinguished Former Students honor. She advises on national boards, including NSF's IPAM and ABET's CSAB. Her grants and collaborations drive innovations in statistical methods for societal challenges. Labs/Teams: Co-directs Houston Wastewater Epidemiology and Rice Environmental Statistics & Health (RESH) group with Dr. Loren Hopkins. Active in CoFES, UDP, and the Kinder Institute's urban data initiatives.

Silvie HuijbenView profile

Associate Professor

• Evolutionary Biology
• Infectious Diseases
• Resistance Management
• +7 more

Silvie Huijben is an Associate Professor in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University (ASU), core faculty in the Center for Evolution and Medicine . Her research focuses on evolutionary strategies to combat resistance in malaria parasites and disease-transmitting mosquitoes. She holds a PhD in evolutionary biology from the University of Edinburgh (2010) and postdoctoral fellowships from Penn State University and ISGlobal (Spain). Her lab integrates fieldwork, lab experiments, and mathematical modeling to design resistance management strategies. She collaborates with Prof. Abba Gumel on modeling transmission dynamics. Education Background: PhD in Cell, Animal and Population Biology (Edinburgh University, 2010) MSc and BSc in Biology (Wageningen University, Netherlands, 2003-2004) Research interests include: Insecticide resistance evolution in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes Optimizing antimalarial drug resistance strategies Mathematical modeling of disease transmission Field studies in Mozambique and Guyana Teaching: Regularly instructs courses in Evolutionary Biology (BIO 345), Advanced Evolutionary Medicine (ASB 507), and oversees undergraduate research projects (BIO/MBB 495). Laboratory & Teams: Leads the Huijben Lab at ASU, focusing on evolutionary ecology of resistance. Current projects include: Linking insecticide resistance to malaria epidemiology Designing insecticide resistance management protocols In vitro Plasmodium falciparum evolution studies Field-based mosquito resistance surveys in tropical regions

Kevin LangergraberView profile

Associate Professor

• Primate Behavior
• Conservation Biology
• Genetics
• +3 more

Dr. Kevin Langergraber is an Associate Professor at Arizona State University's School of Human Evolution and Social Change. His research focuses on primate behavior, conservation biology, and evolutionary anthropology, particularly through his leadership in the Ngogo Chimpanzee Project in Uganda's Kibale National Park. This long-term study examines chimpanzee social structures, health dynamics, and ecological interactions, with a strong emphasis on conservation strategies against poaching and disease transmission. Key research interests include genetic adaptation in primates, the impact of human activities on wildlife communities, and behavioral ecology across varying environmental conditions. He has pioneered methods combining genomic analysis, field observations, and machine learning to study ape behavior and biodiversity monitoring. His work integrates socioecological data with physiological measurements to understand aging patterns, reproductive strategies, and disease epidemiology in wild populations. Recent publications highlight advancements in wildlife conservation protocols, primate menopause studies, and innovative datasets for behavior recognition. Collaborations span global institutions to address challenges in primate conservation and evolutionary biology. Dr. Langergraber also engages in public outreach through documentaries and crowdfunding initiatives to fund anti-poaching patrols and support chimpanzee research.

• Computational Immunology
• B Cell Receptor (BCR) Repertoire Profiling
• Multi-Omics Analysis
• +5 more

Dr. Steven Kleinstein is the Anthony N. Brady Professor of Pathology at the Yale School of Medicine, with secondary appointments in Immunobiology and Biomedical Informatics. He is Co-Director of Graduate Studies in Computational Biology and Biomedical Informatics, and leads the Kleinstein Lab. His research focuses on computational immunology, integrating big data analysis with immunology to study immune responses, including B cell receptor (BCR) repertoire profiling via AIRR-seq and multi-omic studies of infection/vaccination responses. Dr. Kleinstein holds a BAS in Computer Science from the University of Pennsylvania (1994) and a PhD in Computer Science from Princeton (2002). He is a member of the Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Program and the Human and Translational Immunology Program. Education: B.A.S. in Computer Science, University of Pennsylvania, 1994 Ph.D. in Computer Science, Princeton University, 2002 Research Interests: His lab develops computational tools (e.g., Immcantation framework) for analyzing BCR repertoires and immune responses to pathogens like SARS-CoV-2, HIV, and influenza. Key projects include understanding germinal center B cell maturation, antibody specificity prediction via language models, and immune correlates of disease severity in hospitalized patients. Collaborations span clinical and basic science groups to apply these methods to autoimmune diseases, allergies, and cancer. Grants & Collaborations: Active in NIH/NIAID initiatives (e.g., HIPC, PRIME) and industry partnerships. Lab members collaborate with institutions globally on projects like the IMPACC study and malaria vaccine research. Labs/Teams: The Kleinstein Lab at Yale is part of the Center for Biomedical Data Science and the Yale Cancer Center, emphasizing computational and experimental immunology integration.

Shirley GrahamView profile

Research Fellow

• CRISPR-Cas Systems
• Antiviral Immunity
• Nuclease Enzymology
• +2 more

Shirley Graham is a Research Fellow at the University of St Andrews School of Biology, focusing on CRISPR-Cas bacterial immune systems. Her work examines molecular mechanisms of type III CRISPR effectors, antiviral signaling pathways, and nuclease regulation. Key research areas include: Cyclic nucleotide signaling in antiviral defense Structural enzymology of CRISPR-associated nucleases CRISPR system regulation and inactivation mechanisms Bacterial-phage coevolution Recent publications characterize novel CRISPR ancillary effectors, antiviral signaling via ATP-SAM conjugation, and structural foundations of type III CRISPR complexes. Work increasingly explores therapeutic applications for antibacterial strategies and phage resistance engineering. Methodological strengths include structural biology (cryo-EM), bioinformatic discovery of defense systems, and biochemical analysis of enzyme kinetics. Research contributes to the National Center for Smart Growth and integrates computational predictions with experimental validation of immune mechanisms.

Louis LambrechtsView profile

Researcher

• Arbovirus transmission
• Insect-virus interactions
• Mosquito genetics
• +12 more

Louis Lambrechts is a Researcher and Head of the Insect Infection & Immunity Group at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France, within the Department of Virology. His research focuses on the ecology, evolution, and genetics of mosquito-virus interactions, particularly involving Aedes aegypti and arboviruses such as dengue and Zika. He leads a dynamic research team and multiple national and international projects funded by agencies including ANR and EU consortia. His research interests include arbovirus transmission dynamics, vectorial capacity, mosquito genetics, evolutionary ecology, host-pathogen interactions, and the role of microbiota in vector competence. He employs genomics, quantitative genetics, and experimental evolution to understand the mechanisms underlying variation in mosquito susceptibility to viral infection. His work has important implications for predicting and controlling arboviral disease outbreaks. Lambrecht’s recent publications reveal key insights into the genetic and environmental factors influencing arbovirus transmission, including the role of mosquito population variation in Zika transmission in Africa, the impact of endogenous viral elements, and the discovery of antiviral roles for cytochrome P450 enzymes. His research integrates molecular biology, field studies, and computational modelling, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of vector-borne disease systems. He has mentored numerous PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and visiting scientists, fostering a collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment. His lab collaborates widely with institutions across Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Lambrecht’s work is supported by multiple ongoing projects such as CAZIKANO, INTRANZIGEANT, ANR PILGRIM, and LIPOARBO-IVI, focusing on Zika virus transmission, genetic drivers of vectorial capacity, and mosquito-virus specificity. His lab is also involved in broader initiatives like the LabEx IBEID and the Emerging Infectious Diseases program at Institut Pasteur.