Find Academic Supervisors

Andreas JürgensView profile

Professor

• Plant Ecology
• Infection Dynamics
• Pollination Biology
• +4 more

Prof. Dr. Andreas Jürgens serves as Dean for Student Affairs at the Technical University of Darmstadt, Department of Chemical Plant Ecology. His research focuses on plant-pathogen interactions, floral mimicry, pollination biology, and chemical ecology. He investigates how plants adapt to ecological challenges through mechanisms like carrion/dung mimicry and employs molecular methods to study fungal and phytoplasma pathogens in agricultural systems. Key areas: Phytoplasma infection dynamics, entomopathogenic fungi, pollinator-prey conflicts, and olfactory communication in plants and animals. Notable work includes studies on Cacopsylla psyllids, Botrytis cinerea strains, and the ecological roles of floral scent and color. Research extends to animal behavior, including rhino dung communication and bumblebee learning, demonstrating interdisciplinary approaches. His publications emphasize plant defense mechanisms, pathogen-vector relationships, and evolutionary trade-offs in multispecies interactions.

Richard RandallView profile

Professor

• Virology
• Immunology
• Interferon Signaling
• +6 more

Prof Richard Randall is a Professor (Re-engaged) in the School of Biology at the University of St Andrews. His research focuses on understanding how viruses, such as influenza and paramyxoviruses, evade the immune system's interferon response. He explores mechanisms to develop attenuated vaccines and antiviral drugs. His work has revealed critical insights into viral interactions with innate immunity, including how viruses block interferon signaling and induce protective immunity. Education: Ph.D., University of Leeds B.Sc., University of Leeds Research Interests: Prof Randall’s studies center on viral immune evasion, interferon signaling pathways, and the molecular biology of paramyxoviruses and influenza viruses. His lab investigates how viruses manipulate host defense mechanisms to establish infections and identifies targets for novel therapies. Grants & Projects: Funded by the Wellcome Trust for studies on paramyxovirus interactions with interferon systems (2014–2020). Contributions to research on SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection and vaccine development. Labs & Teams: His research is conducted in the Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, collaborating with experts in virology, immunology, and molecular biology. Key collaborations include work on interferon pathways and viral pathogenesis.

Taylor DonaldsonView profile

Researcher

• Medical entomology
• Veterinary entomology
• Acarology
• +3 more

Taylor Donaldson is an Assistant Research Scientist in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University, affiliated with the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences. His research focuses on tick-host-pathogen interactions, leveraging spatial analyses and modeling to develop integrated tick management strategies. He collaborates with Dr. Pete Teel and contributes to Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension initiatives. Donaldson holds a B.S. and M.S. in Biology from West Texas A&M University, and a Ph.D. in Entomology from Texas A&M University. His expertise spans medical/veterinary entomology, acarology, and spatial modeling. His research integrates field studies with advanced technologies like Raman spectroscopy for tick species identification and fecal analysis. He investigates zoonotic diseases such as tularemia and rickettsioses, examining geographic distribution shifts and host-pathogen relationships. Key contributions include modeling tick infestation dynamics and assessing climate impacts on tick distributions. Donaldson’s work bridges ecological research and applied pest management, addressing both public health and veterinary challenges posed by tick-borne pathogens. He has published extensively on tick biology, spatial epidemiology, and novel diagnostic methods.

Francisco FerreiraView profile

Researcher

• Veterinary Parasitology
• One Health
• Vector-Borne Pathogens
• +4 more

Dr. Francisco Ferreira is an Assistant Research Scientist in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University, affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife Research. He holds a DVM and PhD from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil, with advanced training in Preventive Veterinary Medicine. His research focuses on wildlife disease ecology, vector-borne pathogens, and molecular techniques like metagenomics to study host-vector-pathogen interactions. Education: D.V.M., Federal University of Minas Gerais M.S. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais Ph.D. in Parasitology, Federal University of Minas Gerais Dr. Ferreira investigates how habitat changes influence disease transmission, particularly pathogen spillover from domestic animals to wildlife. He uses cutting-edge methods to study vector competence in mosquitoes and ticks, and collaborates with Dr. Gabriel Hamer’s lab to develop diagnostics for zoonotic viruses. His work bridges veterinary medicine, ecology, and public health through the One Health framework. Research Highlights: Mosquito-borne disease dynamics, tick-pathogen interactions, and molecular surveillance of emerging zoonoses. His recent studies include SARS-CoV-2 transmission in pets and wildlife, avian malaria in Hawaiian birds, and Leishmania diversity in bats. He actively engages in interdisciplinary projects involving metagenomics, transcriptomics, and field epidemiology to address global health challenges. No formal awards are listed in the provided text, but his publications reflect significant contributions to parasitology and vector biology. Labs/Teams: Member of Dr. Gabriel Hamer’s Vector Biology Lab at Texas A&M, contributing to AgriLife’s mission in applied research and extension services.

Lorenzo MariView profile

Associate Professor

• Epidemiology
• Ecological Modeling
• Infectious Disease Dynamics
• +4 more

Lorenzo Mari is an Associate Professor at Politecnico di Milano, affiliated with the Department of Electronics, Information, and Bioengineering. He is part of the Ecology group and focuses on quantitative analysis of ecological and epidemiological systems. His research emphasizes spatiotemporal dynamics of diseases like cholera and schistosomiasis, leveraging mathematical models to understand transmission patterns, human mobility impacts, and environmental drivers. He also explores marine plastic pollution, seagrass connectivity, and climate change effects on biodiversity. Key research areas include waterborne disease modeling, metapopulation dynamics, and One Health approaches to pandemic preparedness. He collaborates internationally on projects such as schistosomiasis control in Africa and microplastic pollution in the Mediterranean. Teaching roles include courses on Industrial Ecology and General Ecology for graduate students in Energy Engineering and Sustainable Architecture. Recent publications highlight innovations in epidemic thresholds, spatially explicit models for disease spread, and the interplay between climate change and parasite ecology. His work integrates remote sensing, mobility data, and computational tools to address real-world challenges in public health and environmental management.

Caroline DewarView profile

Lecturer

• Mitochondrial Biology
• Parasitology
• Cellular Mechanisms
• +3 more

Dr. Caroline Dewar is a Lecturer in Parasitology at the University of Lancaster's Faculty of Health and Medicine, within the Biomedical and Life Sciences department. Her research focuses on mitochondrial function in African trypanosomes, aiming to elucidate cellular mechanisms underlying mitochondrial quality control pathways and their implications for human diseases like neurodegenerative disorders and metabolic conditions. Her work also informs potential drug discovery for parasitic infections. Dr. Dewar's laboratory investigates how trypanosomes, which cause devastating diseases in humans and cattle, manage mitochondrial dysfunction. By studying these evolutionarily unique eukaryotes, her research bridges fundamental biology and applied medicine. She actively supervises PhD and MSc students in trypanosome mitochondrial biology and can be contacted at c.dewar1@lancaster.ac.uk for inquiries. Her professional activities include participation in international conferences (e.g., EMBO Workshop on Protein Quality Control, Swiss Trypanosomatid Meeting) and peer-review roles for journals like PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases and Journal of The Royal Society Interface . She is affiliated with the Microbes, Pathogens and Immunity research group and has engaged in outreach activities such as the Furness STEM Show and UlverSTEM festivals. Dr. Dewar's research outputs include studies on mitochondrial protein quality control, ATP synthase structure-function relationships, and the role of mitochondrial DNA in trypanosome biology. Her work highlights the unique adaptations of these parasites and their relevance to broader cellular biology and human health.

Astrid CollingroView profile

Researcher

• Microbial Ecology
• Bacterial Symbiosis
• Evolutionary Biology
• +3 more

Profile Astrid Collingro is a Senior Scientist at the University of Vienna's Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science , within the Division of Microbial Ecology (DOME) . Her work focuses on the evolution and ecology of chlamydial symbionts, particularly their transition from protist symbionts to animal/human pathogens. She joined the university in 2003 and employs comparative 'omics, phylogenetic analysis, and cultivation techniques in her research. Research Interests Chlamydiae symbiosis and pathogenesis Microbial community dynamics in marine and terrestrial ecosystems Genomic adaptations of intracellular bacteria Evolutionary transitions from mutualism to parasitism Recent Research Trends Her recent work emphasizes coral-associated chlamydiae, fish pathogens, and environmental chlamydiae's ecological roles. Key findings include the role of gene gain in symbiont evolution and the coexistence of chlamydiae with other microbes like Endozoicomonas in corals. Grants & Projects Leads the 2020–2024 Towards functional ecology of environmental chlamydiae project (Research funding). Labs & Teams Part of the DOME research group, collaborating on microbial ecology and pathogen evolution studies.

Jonathan OliverView profile

Associate Professor

• Vector-Borne Diseases
• Tick-Pathogen Interactions
• Lyme Disease
• +2 more

Jonathan Oliver is an Associate Professor in the Division of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health. A public health entomologist, he studies tick-borne diseases, vector-pathogen interactions, and vaccine development. His NIH-funded research examines how microbial communities influence disease transmission and tick range expansion. Research highlights: Symbiont-mediated pathogen inhibition in ticks Environmental drivers of vector-borne disease spread Novel surveillance tools (e.g., nanopore sequencing) Honors include Delta Omega Society membership. He leads projects on Anaplasma phagocytophilum mutations and paratransgenic tick development.

David SwigonView profile

Professor

• Mathematical Biology
• Nonlinear Dynamics
• DNA Mechanics
• +3 more

David Swigon is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Pittsburgh's Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on applying mathematical models to biological systems, including DNA mechanics, protein-DNA interactions, cell migration, and immune system dynamics. He holds a PhD from Rutgers University and maintains a dedicated research website. Research Interests: Swigon's work bridges mathematical theory with biological complexity, with key areas including stochastic modeling of viral infections, nonlinear dynamics of biochemical systems, and biomechanical simulations of cellular processes. His recent projects explore sepsis pathophysiology, cytokine networks, and surgical tissue mechanics. Notable Contributions: His 2025 studies on viral reproductive cycles and DNA topology reveal novel insights into stochastic mechanisms and structural motifs. Earlier work, such as the 2014 model of pneumococcal infection dynamics, demonstrates interdisciplinary integration of immunology and mathematics. Professional Affiliations: Swigon is affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh's Mathematics Research Center and contributes to the Department of Mathematics' academic leadership. His work frequently addresses translational challenges in medicine and ecology.

• Innate Immunity
• Inflammasome Activation
• Cytokine Signaling
• +1 more

Katherine Fitzgerald is Professor and Vice Chair of Medicine at UMass Chan Medical School, holding the Worcester Foundation Research Chair. She directs research on innate immune signaling pathways. Her laboratory investigates: Innate immune receptors and inflammasomes Nucleic acid sensing mechanisms Interferon and cytokine biology Host-pathogen interactions Recent publications focus on cell death pathways, viral immunity, and immune regulation. Notable honors include: National Academy of Sciences membership Milstein Award for cytokine research Thermo-Fischer Meritorious Career Award She mentors graduate students and postdocs through multiple NIH-funded projects on infectious disease and inflammation. Her work bridges basic immunology and therapeutic development.

Sean PragerView profile

Associate Professor

• Entomology
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Vector Biology
• +7 more

Sean Prager is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan, within the College of Agriculture and Bioresources. His research focuses on insect ecology, including both fundamental studies of multitrophic interactions and adaptive traits, and applied work on ecologically sustainable pest management strategies, particularly for disease vectors. He holds an adjunct role in the Department of Biology and collaborates widely on interdisciplinary projects. Education: Ph.D. in Entomology from Brock University (Canada) and B.A. in Biology from Clark University (USA). His research group emphasizes understanding insect behavior, plant-pathogen-vector interactions, and the impacts of biotic/abiotic stressors on ecological systems. Current projects include developing economic thresholds for pea aphid management, evaluating climate change impacts on pest distributions, and investigating plant defense signaling pathways in phytoplasma-infected insects. Led by the Prager Lab, his work bridges fundamental ecology with applied solutions, with a focus on crops like lentil, faba bean, and potato. The lab provides limited virus detection services for plant diseases and collaborates on pollinator protection strategies. Recent publications highlight innovations in molecular diagnostics, pest behavior analysis, and sustainable IPM approaches.

Jessica LightView profile

Professor

• Evolutionary Biology
• Mammalogy
• Parasitology
• +3 more

Dr. Jessica Light is a Professor and Curator of Mammals in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Science at Texas A&M University, part of the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences. She holds a B.S. in Biology and Resource Ecology & Management from the University of Michigan, and a Ph.D. in Zoology from Louisiana State University (2005). Her research focuses on evolutionary biology, mammalogy, parasitology, systematics, phylogenetics, and population genetics, using multidisciplinary methods to study host-parasite relationships and biodiversity conservation. Dr. Light has secured nearly $7 million in National Science Foundation grants, authored 70 peer-reviewed articles, and contributed to two book chapters. She teaches undergraduate courses in natural history and mammalogy, and graduate seminars in evolutionary biology, receiving multiple teaching awards. Professional leadership includes associate editor roles for top-tier journals and active participation in academic societies. Her work emphasizes biodiversity preservation through projects like the digitization of parasite-host associations and natural history collections. She collaborates on initiatives such as the March Mammal Madness educational outreach program. Dr. Light’s research spans topics including bat population genetics, rodent systematics, and the ecology of tick-borne pathogens, with a focus on conservation implications of captive breeding and urban species adaptation.

Zhilei ChenView profile

Associate Professor

• Protein Therapeutics
• Infectious Diseases
• Drug Discovery
• +3 more

Zhilei Chen, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis & Immunology at Texas A&M University's Health Science Center. His research focuses on advancing protein therapeutics through innovative engineering, targeting infectious diseases such as Clostridium difficile and viral infections. The Chen Lab develops novel approaches like engineered DARPin proteins for toxin neutralization, SMURF technology for membrane protein binders, and artificial viral prophylaxis strategies. Research interests include protein engineering, antiviral therapies, and affordable treatments for infectious diseases. Key projects involve creating broadly neutralizing non-antibody proteins for C. difficile infections and developing viral 'sink' cells to block viral spread. The lab integrates genetics, virology, and imaging techniques to engineer therapeutic proteins. Awards: NSF CAREER Award, TEES Select Young Faculty Award, Air Force Young Investigator Award, NIH New Innovator Award. Lab Highlights: Moved to MREB II in 2023, hosted new graduate students (2025), published breakthroughs in SARS-CoV-2 neutralization (2023) and C. difficile toxin inhibitors. Grants: Funded by NSF, NIH, and the Air Force for protein engineering and prophylactic development. Lab activities emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration, with projects spanning from molecular engineering to clinical translation. Ongoing efforts aim to address unmet needs in infectious disease treatment through novel protein-based solutions.

Jason F HuntleyView profile

Professor

• Microbial Pathogenesis
• Immunology
• Host-Pathogen Interactions
• +4 more

Jason F. Huntley, PhD, is the Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development at the Texas A&M College of Medicine and a Professor in the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis & Immunology. He oversees faculty development programs, promotion/tenure reviews, and retention initiatives. Previously, he spent 14 years at the University of Toledo as a tenured professor and associate dean. Education: B.S., Biology, Iowa State University, 1996 M.S., Veterinary Microbiology, Iowa State University, 1999 PhD, Veterinary Pathology, Iowa State University, 2004 Infectious Disease Fellowship, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 2010 Research Focus: Dr. Huntley investigates host-pathogen interactions in Francisella tularensis (tularemia), tick vector transmission mechanisms, and development of vaccines/therapeutics. He also pioneers environmental biotechnology solutions for cyanotoxin (microcystin-LR) degradation in water systems using natural bacterial strains. Awards: Academic Leadership Development Program Fellow (MAC, 2018-2019) President’s Award for Excellence in Grantsmanship (UT, 2017) Dean’s Award for New Investigator Research (UTCOM, 2016) Administration & Grants: Oversees faculty affairs at Texas A&M College of Medicine, managing policy development, faculty searches, and retention programs. His research has been supported by grants focused on infectious disease and environmental health innovations. Labs/Teams: Active in microbial pathogenesis research within Texas A&M’s Department of Microbial Pathogenesis & Immunology, contributing to both clinical and environmental microbiology initiatives.

Jenny HydeView profile

Associate Professor

• Microbial Pathogenesis
• Immunology
• Infectious Diseases
• +3 more

Jenny Hyde, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis & Immunology at Texas A&M University's School of Medicine. Her research focuses on Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) pathogenesis, host-pathogen interactions, and tick vector biology. She holds affiliations with the Texas A&M Health Science Center and is based in Bryan, TX. Education: BS (Texas A&M, 2000), PhD (Texas A&M Health Science Center, 2005), Postdoctoral training (2005-2010) Research Interests: Investigates genetic mechanisms enabling B. burgdorferi survival in ticks and mammals, immune responses to the pathogen, and virulence factors. Uses molecular genetics, bioluminescent imaging of infections, and in vivo models to study disease progression and inflammation. Awards: 2023 Junior Faculty Research Excellence Award No advised students or specific publications listed in available data. Contact via jhyde@tamu.edu.