Find Academic Supervisors

Yulia Y TyurinaView profile

Research Professor

• Cell Death Pathways
• Lipid Peroxidation
• Ferroptosis
• +4 more

Yulia Y Tyurina serves as a Research Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the University of Pittsburgh. Her research focuses on the fundamental role of phospholipids and their oxygenated species in cell death pathways including apoptosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, and mitophagy. She discovered that cardiolipin oxygenated species are essential for apoptotic execution and serve as an 'eat-me' signal for mitochondrial quality control via mitophagy. Dr. Tyurina's educational background includes: 1988: Master of Biochemistry from Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia 1995: PhD in Biochemistry from the Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Science, Saint Petersburg, Russia Her research program centers on redox lipid signaling mechanisms in cell death. She has demonstrated that phospholipid peroxidation drives ferroptosis through complex oxidation signatures and identified key roles for 15-lipoxygenase products. This work bridges basic biochemistry with translational applications in cancer, neurodegeneration, and inflammatory diseases, revealing how lipid oxidation products function as death signals across diverse biological contexts. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2020-2022) shows consistent focus on lipid peroxidation in ferroptosis across multiple disease models. Her work spans from cyanobacterial cell death to human pathologies including lung injury, SARS-CoV-2 complications, and cancer, with recurring mechanistic themes involving 15-lipoxygenase, cardiolipin oxidation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Methodologies include advanced lipidomics, molecular imaging, and genetic models. Scientific awards were not mentioned in the provided information. Details about student advising and grant funding were not provided in the available text. Dr. Tyurina operates within a prominent redox biology research group led by Dr. Valerian E. Kagan at the University of Pittsburgh, maintaining extensive collaborations across departments and institutions as evidenced by her co-authorship network spanning immunology, oncology, and infectious disease research.

Carrie LeanaView profile

Professor

• Organization Science
• Economic Inequality
• Financial Precarity
• +6 more

Carrie Leana serves as the George H. Love Professor of Organizations and Management at the University of Pittsburgh, holding secondary faculty appointments in the School of Medicine, School of Public and International Affairs, and Learning Research and Development Center. She directs the Center for Healthcare Management and serves as Academic Director for both the Executive MBA in Healthcare and Healthcare Leadership and Business Fundamentals programs. Her educational background includes: PhD from the University of Houston BA from Baylor University Professor Leana's research spans organization science with concentrated expertise in economic inequality, financial precarity, and social capital dynamics. Her field-based investigations examine authority structures and employment relations across diverse settings including healthcare systems, public schools, and industrial workplaces. Recent work emphasizes the organizational impact of financial stress and the critical role of empathetic care in healthcare safety outcomes, demonstrating how socioeconomic factors fundamentally shape workplace behavior and performance. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a pronounced shift toward healthcare management applications since 2018, with growing emphasis on financial precarity's organizational costs. Her work consistently bridges theoretical organizational behavior with practical social impact, particularly regarding economic inequality's workplace manifestations and care work dynamics in vulnerable populations. Her extensive recognition includes: Academy of Management's Societal Impact Award (2022) Responsible Research in Management Best Paper Prize Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Best Paper Prize in Industry Studies Aspen Institute's Faculty Pioneer Award Fulbright Senior Chair Award Multiple public service honors including the Iris Marion Young Award and Chancellor's Distinguished Public Service Award Professor Leana mentors doctoral students across disciplines while securing major research funding from the National Science Foundation, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Russell Sage Foundation, Heinz Endowments, PA Department of Labor and Industry, Commonwealth Fund, and Wallace Foundation. Her Center for Healthcare Management fosters interdisciplinary collaboration between business and medical schools to improve healthcare delivery systems. As founder and Director of the Center for Healthcare Management, she leads initiatives that integrate organizational science with healthcare practice through research on care flow dynamics, financial precarity impacts, and empathetic care models. The center develops evidence-based executive education programs that translate research findings into healthcare leadership practices.

Andrea Di FalcoView profile

Professor

• Nano-photonics
• Metamaterials
• Plasmonics
• +6 more

Andrea Di Falco serves as Professor and Director of Impact at the School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews. He leads the Centre for Biophotonics and maintains an active research group focused on cutting-edge photonics research. His institutional affiliations include editorial work for Photonics and Nanostructures: Fundamentals and Applications journal since 2013. University of St Andrews - School of Physics and Astronomy (Current) Centre for Biophotonics (Current) Photonics and Nanostructures: Fundamentals and Applications (Editor since 2013) Professor Di Falco's research spans multiple photonics domains with particular expertise in nano-photonics, metamaterials, plasmonics, and biophotonics. His work bridges fundamental optical physics with practical applications, especially in metasurface technology and flexible photonics. The research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between physics, materials science, and biomedical applications, contributing to multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals. His recent publication portfolio shows a clear trend toward increasingly sophisticated metasurface applications, with growing integration of machine learning techniques for photonic design. The research spans fundamental optical physics, novel material development, and practical biomedical applications, demonstrating remarkable breadth while maintaining technical depth in photonics. EPSRC Fellowship (2010) for flexible metamaterials and plasmonics research ERC Consolidator Grant (2019) for biophotonic applications of optically trapped photonic membranes Professor Di Falco actively supervises postgraduate research students and has led numerous significant research projects, including the current Holographic Integrated Photonic Platform project (2024-2025). His research program has secured substantial funding from EPSRC, European Research Council, and Medical Research Council, demonstrating strong recognition of his work's significance and potential impact. His group maintains the SynthOpt research website as a hub for their collaborative work. The SynthOpt research group operates within the School of Physics and Astronomy at St Andrews, maintaining strong connections with both theoretical and experimental photonics researchers. The team focuses on developing novel photonic structures with applications ranging from fundamental optics to biomedical sensing and human-computer interaction technologies.

Sébastien TOUZÉView profile

Professor

• Public International Law
• International Human Rights Law
• European Human Rights Law
• +2 more

Sébastien TOUZÉ is a Professor of Public Law at Paris-Panthéon-Assas University, serving as Chairman of the Department of Public Law and Political Science and Director of the Master 2 Human Rights and Humanitarian Law program. He is affiliated with the Center for Research on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (CRDH) and directs the René Cassin Foundation – International Institute of Human Rights. His academic credentials include a Doctor of Law and Associate of Law Faculties qualification. Professor TOUZÉ's research centers on public international law, international human rights law, and European human rights law, with specialized expertise in the European Convention on Human Rights and cross-border protection of fundamental rights. His work critically examines the role of supranational courts in human rights enforcement and normative interactions between European Union law and international legal frameworks. His extensive publication record reveals sustained focus on evolving human rights challenges, including international humanitarian law developments, death penalty abolition, and institutional trust in human rights bodies. These works consistently integrate comparative legal analysis with practical implementation concerns across multiple jurisdictions. As Director of the René Cassin Foundation, he actively shapes human rights discourse while leading the Department of Public Law and Political Science. His administrative leadership extends to supervising the Master 2 Human Rights and Humanitarian Law curriculum, training future human rights practitioners. The Center for Research on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (CRDH) serves as his primary research hub, facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration on urgent human rights issues through academic conferences and policy-oriented research initiatives.

Martin SteinhartView profile

Professor

• Nanotechnology
• Materials Science
• Physical Chemistry
• +4 more

Prof. Dr. Martin Steinhart serves as Professor of Physical Chemistry at the Institute for Chemistry of New Materials, University of Osnabrück, Germany. His office is located at Barbarastr. 7, D-49067 Osnabrück, with contact details including phone (+49-541-969-2817), fax (+49-541-969-3324), and email (martin.steinhart@uni-osnabrueck.de). Dr. Steinhart's academic journey includes: Diploma in Chemistry from University of Marburg (2000) Doctorate in Physical Chemistry from University of Marburg (2003) under Prof. J. H. Wendorff Group leader at Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics (2003-2009) Research stay at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (2006) Professor of Physical Chemistry at University of Osnabrück (since 2009) His research specializes in nanoscale material design, with particular expertise in ordered porous structures, nanofiber morphology, and biomimetic fabrication techniques. Dr. Steinhart's work bridges fundamental physical chemistry principles with practical applications in advanced materials development. His most significant recognition is the 2015 ERC Consolidator Grant for 'Insect-inspired capillary nanostamping,' demonstrating international acknowledgment of his innovative research approach. Dr. Steinhart maintains active research programs exploring novel nanofabrication methods and material properties at the nanoscale, contributing significantly to the University of Osnabrück's research profile in materials science.

Christopher HeartyView profile

Professor

• Experimental Particle Physics
• Physics beyond the Standard Model
• Dark sector
• +5 more

Christopher Hearty is a Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Faculty of Science, and serves as an IPP (Institute of Particle Physics) Principal Research Scientist. His office is located in Hennings 268 with laboratory space at TRIUMF/Hennings 222, where he conducts cutting-edge experimental particle physics research using major international facilities. Hearty earned his B.Sc. in Mathematics and Physics from Simon Fraser University (1982), followed by a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Washington (1987). He completed postdoctoral research at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory from 1987 to 1994 before joining UBC. B.Sc., Mathematics and Physics, Simon Fraser University, 1982 Ph.D., Physics, University of Washington, 1987 Postdoctoral Researcher, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1987-1994 His research program focuses on direct searches for physics beyond the Standard Model through e+e- collisions, with particular emphasis on dark sector phenomena including dark photons, axion-like particles, and strongly interacting dark matter. As a key contributor to the Belle II experiment, he develops advanced calorimeter calibration techniques, reconstruction algorithms, and trigger systems while mentoring students in machine learning applications for large-scale data analysis. His work bridges theoretical phenomenology with experimental verification in the search for new fundamental particles. Recent publications demonstrate a concentrated effort on dark sector exploration at Belle II, featuring innovative approaches like graph neural networks for photon reconstruction and sophisticated analysis of displaced vertices. The research spans both visible and invisible decay channels, significantly advancing constraints on dark matter models while establishing Belle II's sensitivity to elusive particles through precision measurements of e+e- collision data. Hearty's scientific recognition includes: APS Fellow (2015) Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics (2016) as part of the T2K collaboration He actively supervises graduate students on thesis projects spanning dark photon searches, axion-like particle detection, and detector development, while serving on UBC's teaching peer review committee and as LHCb chief reviewer for CERN's LHCC committee. His mentorship provides students with hands-on experience in international collaborations, detector instrumentation, and advanced data analysis techniques. Based at TRIUMF Canada's particle accelerator centre and UBC's Department of Physics & Astronomy, Hearty leads a research group within the global Belle II collaboration. His team contributes to multiple detector subsystems including calorimetry and tracking systems, while developing novel analysis frameworks for new physics signatures in high-energy collision data.

Jing YangView profile

Professor

• Data Visualization
• Visual Analytics
• High Dimensional Data Analysis
• +7 more

Jing Yang is a full Professor and Director of MS CS Program in the Computer Science Department at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC). She has been actively involved in data visualization and visual analytics research since joining UNCC in 2005 after completing her PhD at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Dr. Yang earned her Bachelor's degrees in Engineering Mechanics and Computer Science from TsingHua University in 1997 and completed her Ph.D. in Computer Science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in May 2005 under advisors Matthew O. Ward and Elke A. Rundensteiner. Her research focuses on developing visual analytics techniques for abstract data including multidimensional data, time-oriented data, networks, hierarchies, text documents, and trajectory data. She conducts design studies for application domains such as sports, bioinformatics, finance, network security, and health, while exploring fundamental visualization topics like interactions, insight management, clustering-based approaches, and animations. Her recent work emphasizes sports analytics, urban data, and multivariate time series visual analytics. Analysis of Dr. Yang's publication record reveals a strong focus on practical applications of visualization techniques across diverse domains. Her work consistently bridges theoretical visualization frameworks with real-world data challenges, particularly in transportation (taxi trajectories), sports (tennis match analysis), financial transactions, and bioinformatics. The publications demonstrate an evolution from foundational visualization techniques to increasingly sophisticated domain-specific applications. Dr. Yang has secured substantial research funding from NSF, EPA, DHS, and industry partners including Google and Bank of America. Her grants portfolio includes significant projects like TrajAnalytics (NSF, $200,950), Visualizing Event Dynamics (NSF EAGER, $75,317), and Visualizing High Dimensional Categorical Datasets (Google Faculty Research Award, $60,000), among others totaling over $4 million in research support. As an educator, Dr. Yang has taught numerous courses including Visual Analytics, Information Visualization, and Database Design. She directs the Charlotte Visualization Center and has mentored numerous students through research projects. Her collaborative approach is evident in her extensive co-authorship network spanning multiple institutions and disciplines. Current research directions include narrative animation for streaming text visualization and advanced techniques for exploring high-dimensional categorical datasets.

Nansen PetrosyanView profile

Professor

• Geometric Group Theory
• Topology
• Algebra
• +1 more

Nansen Petrosyan is a Professor at the University of Southampton's Mathematical Sciences department. He serves as the Programme Lead for single honours programmes in Mathematics. His academic career includes a position as a lecturer at the University of Southampton since 2013, following a postdoctoral fellowship with the Flemish Science Foundation (FWO) at the University of Leuven, Belgium. Professor Petrosyan's research focuses on: Geometric Group Theory Topology Algebra Geometry His current research explores group theoretic Dehn fillings, L^2-Betti numbers, L-infinity cohomology, cohomological characterizations of non-positive curvature, and splittings of groups. His work demonstrates a strong connection between geometric structures and algebraic properties of groups. Professor Petrosyan's recent publications show a consistent focus on geometric aspects of group theory and topology, with particular emphasis on theoretical investigations in manifold theory and geometric structures. His research output has been consistently strong over the past decade with multiple publications in high-impact journals. His scientific achievements have been recognized with: The Emil Artin Junior Prize in Mathematics (2008) Professor Petrosyan is actively involved in academic supervision and currently mentors PhD students Briony Helen Eldridge and Harry Margaret John Iveson in the Mathematical Sciences program. He has secured research funding including an EPSRC First Grant project. Within the department, he teaches the fourth year module Hyperbolic Geometry and Foundation Year Mathematics B, demonstrating his commitment to both advanced and foundational mathematical education.

Rana AdhikariView profile

Professor

• Gravitational Waves
• Dark Matter Detection
• Quantum Metrology
• +6 more

Rana Adhikari is a Professor of Physics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Holding a B.S. from the University of Florida (1998) and a Ph.D. from MIT (2004), he has been at Caltech since 2006, progressing from Assistant Professor to full Professor in 2012. His research focuses on advancing detector technologies for fundamental physics experiments in gravitational waves, dark matter, and near-field gravity studies. Education: B.S. in Physics, University of Florida (1998); Ph.D. in Physics, MIT (2004) Caltech Faculty: Assistant Professor (2006-12), Professor (2012-present) Adhikari's group specializes in precision measurements at the intersection of classical and quantum physics. Key research areas include: Mechanical oscillators and their thermodynamic limits Nonlinear optics for interferometric applications Quantum information constraints in classical sensors Adaptive optics using thermal actuation Cryogenic silicon interferometers for cosmological observations High-quality silicon opto-mechanical systems for LIGO applications Laser gyroscope technology for rotation sensing The group's work on gravitational wave detection has produced numerous publications in leading journals like Physical Review X , Physical Review D , and Optics Express . Their research often combines experimental physics with machine learning techniques for noise cancellation in laser interferometers. Adhikari's team also engages with undergraduate researchers through programs like the International LIGO SURF students, creating opportunities for young scientists in gravitational physics. His publications reveal a consistent focus on gravitational wave detector optimization, quantum metrology, and cosmological observations through advanced instrumentation.

• Porous Materials
• Materials Chemistry
• Hydrogen Storage
• +12 more

Professor Robert Mokaya OBE FRS is Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Sheffield, joining in 2024 after serving as Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement at the University of Nottingham. As Professor of Materials Chemistry within the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, he leads significant research in porous materials for energy applications. His distinguished academic career spans over three decades with major contributions to materials chemistry and sustainable energy solutions. Mokaya received his B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Nairobi (1988) followed by a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge (1992). His academic journey includes a Research Fellowship at Trinity College, Cambridge (1992), an EPSRC Advanced Fellowship (1996), and progressive appointments at Nottingham University culminating in Professor of Materials Chemistry (2008). His research focuses on the design, synthesis and characterization of novel porous materials with applications in hydrogen storage, CO2 capture, and sustainable energy. His work particularly emphasizes templated porous solids, zeolite templated carbons, and mesoporous molecular sieves. Mokaya's research group has pioneered approaches to optimize porosity in carbon materials for enhanced gas storage capacity. Mokaya's extensive publication record demonstrates consistent leadership in porous materials research with recent work emphasizing practical applications for sustainable energy storage solutions. His articles show a clear progression from fundamental materials characterization to applied energy storage technologies, with particular emphasis on optimizing pore structures for specific gas storage requirements. OBE (2022) for services to the Chemical Sciences Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) (2023) Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award holder (2017-2022) President-Elect of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2024-2026) Mokaya has secured significant research funding supporting his work on sustainable materials for energy applications. His leadership extends to capacity building in porous materials research globally, with particular focus on developing nations. He has supervised numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers who have gone on to establish their own research programs in materials science. His research laboratory focuses on the synthesis and characterization of advanced porous materials, with specialized equipment for gas sorption analysis, materials synthesis, and electrochemical characterization. Mokaya leads international collaborations focused on sustainable energy materials, with particular emphasis on creating practical solutions for clean energy storage challenges.

Vladimir SverakView profile

Professor

• Partial Differential Equations
• Navier-Stokes Equations
• Fluid Mechanics
• +3 more

Vladimir Sverak serves as a Distinguished McKnight University Professor in the School of Mathematics at the University of Minnesota, where he maintains an active research program and teaches graduate courses in partial differential equations. His office is located in Vincent Hall 236 (206 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455) with contact details including email sverak@umn.edu and phone (612) 625-1899. As of 2020, he continues to instruct courses such as Complex Analysis (Math 5583) and Topics in PDE (Math 8590), demonstrating ongoing academic engagement. Professor Sverak's research centers on fundamental questions in partial differential equations, particularly concerning existence, uniqueness, and singularity formation in fluid dynamics systems. His work focuses extensively on Navier-Stokes and Euler equations, examining behavior in critical function spaces where standard analytical methods often fail. He employs both rigorous mathematical techniques and numerical investigations to explore phenomena like non-uniqueness, blowup scenarios, and scale-invariant solutions, contributing significantly to the theoretical understanding of fluid mechanics. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2012-2017) reveals consistent thematic focus on Navier-Stokes equations, with particular attention to borderline spaces, axisymmetric flows, and singularity analysis. His collaborative approach is evident through frequent co-authorships with leading researchers including G. Seregin, H. Jia, and T. Gallay, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of modern mathematical fluid dynamics research. His scientific recognition includes: Distinguished McKnight University Professor Research support comes from the National Science Foundation (grant DMS 1956092), while his teaching contributions span both foundational and advanced topics. Course materials for offerings like Elementary Partial Differential Equations (Math 5587/5588) and Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations (Math 5525) remain accessible through university platforms, demonstrating commitment to pedagogical resources. Though student advising details aren't specified, his graduate-level course instruction indicates active mentorship within the mathematics community. Professor Sverak's work continues to advance mathematical fluid dynamics through rigorous analysis of nonlinear PDEs, maintaining strong connections between theoretical developments and physical fluid behavior while contributing to both research and education in mathematical sciences.

• Antioxidant Chemistry
• Free Radical Chemistry
• Food Science
• +3 more

Ryan Elias serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences at the Penn State College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University. His research program centers on free radical chemistry in food systems, with particular emphasis on antioxidant and pro-oxidant mechanisms that govern food stability and quality. Dr. Elias's work spans several interconnected domains: Antioxidant Chemistry : Molecular mechanisms of natural/synthetic antioxidants in complex food matrices Free Radical Pathways : Generation, propagation, and termination kinetics in lipid oxidation Beverage Science : Wine and beer chemistry focusing on stability, aroma preservation, and processing effects Emulsion Systems : Interfacial phenomena in oil-in-water emulsions and antioxidant partitioning Recent publications demonstrate consistent innovation in food chemistry, with 2024-2025 studies addressing peptide-copper interactions in beer, vacuum drying optimization for hops, fining agent impacts on wine chemistry, and starch digestion challenges in gluten-free brewing. His research bridges fundamental chemical principles with practical applications across the food and beverage industry. Dr. Elias has received significant recognition including the Outstanding Collaborative Research Team award (2018) . His research has been supported by competitive funding such as the National Institute of Food and Agriculture project 'IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LIPOPHILIC ANTIOXIDANTS THROUGH TARGETED PARTITIONING' (2013-2016). With an h-index of 37 and over 5,914 citations, his collaborative network spans multiple institutions and disciplines. While specific laboratory infrastructure details aren't provided in source materials, his extensive publication record and leadership as department chair indicate a robust research program addressing critical challenges in food chemistry and health-related applications.

• Digital Archaeology
• 3D Visualization
• Spatial Technology
• +7 more

Nicolò Dell'Unto serves as Professor of Archaeology at Lund University's Department of Archaeology and Ancient History within the Faculty of Humanities and Theology. His research pioneers digital methodologies for archaeological analysis, specializing in 3D visualization, spatial technology, and virtual reality applications that transform how we perceive and investigate the past. Based at Helgonavägen 3 in Lund (Room LUX:A122), he directs the Digital Archaeology Laboratory (DARKLab) and oversees undergraduate/postgraduate digital archaeology programs. His educational background includes: Archaeology studies at University of Rome, La Sapienza PhD in Technology and Management of Cultural Heritage from IMT Lucca, Italy Postdoctoral fellowship at University of California Merced Dell'Unto's research focuses on how laser scanners, photogrammetry, GIS, and virtual reality technologies fundamentally reshape archaeological practice. His work bridges technical innovation with theoretical frameworks in landscape archaeology, emphasizing practical field applications while addressing methodological challenges in data interpretation. Key themes include digital documentation standards, 3D data management, and the cognitive impact of visualization tools on archaeological reasoning. His publication trends reveal a shift toward AI integration in archaeological data interpretation, infrastructure development for 3D data sharing, and cross-disciplinary collaborations examining Mediterranean connectivity. Recent works emphasize practical frameworks for implementing digital tools in fieldwork while addressing sustainability challenges in digital heritage preservation. Award highlights: Einar Hansen Prize for Humanities (2017) Royal Physiographic Society of Lund election (2024) Best Paper Award (2014) Highly Cited Research recognition (2017) Dell'Unto supervises PhD and master's students while leading major projects including RE-OSTRAKON (3D artifact scanning), TETRARCHs (data reuse), and AIR (Archaeological Interactive Report). His DARKLab serves as Sweden's national infrastructure for digital archaeology, collaborating with institutions like University of Oslo's Museum of Cultural History where he holds a visiting professorship since 2019. He actively shapes digital archaeology policy as Domain Specialist for Swedish National Data Service, Board Member for Statens historiska museer, and Open Science Champion at Lund University, driving national standards for archaeological data management and open science practices.

María Natalia UmañaView profile

Associate Professor

• Forest community ecology
• Functional trait ecology
• Tropical forests
• +3 more

María Natalia Umaña is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. Her research focuses on understanding ecological mechanisms in species-rich forest ecosystems across the globe. Education: Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from University of Maryland, College Park M.S. from Universidad de Los Andes, Colombia B.S. from Universidad de Los Andes, Colombia Dr. Umaña's research addresses fundamental questions in ecology about how plant species coexist while utilizing limited common resources (light, water, and soil nutrients). Her work is particularly focused on the challenges of understanding species coexistence in tropical forests, which contain disproportionate numbers of species given their relatively narrow range of environmental conditions. The Umaña Lab integrates performance information (growth and survival) with species and individual-level trait data to understand organism-environment interactions. Her research spans tropical forests from Asia and the Americas as well as temperate forests from the USA. Her recent publication in Ecology demonstrates how stage-specific leaf traits reflect different strategies over plant ontogeny and substantially improve predictability of survival models in tropical forests. This work shows that trait-survival relationships vary across life stages, with conservative traits leading to higher survival rates, and stage-specific traits being better predictors of corresponding stage-specific survival. Advising and Research Team: Graduate Students: Sam Schaffer-Morrison (PhD), Tomas Fuentes-Rohwer, Minh Chau N. Ho (PhD, co-advisor) Postdoctoral Researchers: Tsun Fung Au (Tom), Andrés González-Melo, Peter Williams The Umaña Lab maintains active research programs in both tropical and temperate forest ecosystems, with field sites across Asia, the Americas, and the United States.

Adam FrostView profile

Assistant Professor

• Electron Cryo-Microscopy
• Structural Biology
• Membrane Biology
• +3 more

Adam Frost, MD, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Utah School of Medicine and a member of the Cell Response and Regulation Program at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. His research employs structural biology approaches to investigate fundamental cellular processes with implications for understanding cancer and other diseases. Education: Postdoctoral Fellowship: University of California, San Francisco MD: Yale University School of Medicine PhD: Yale University BS: Brigham Young University Dr. Frost specializes in the molecular and structural biology of membrane trafficking, with a particular emphasis on mechanisms that determine membrane shape and topology. His laboratory utilizes electron cryo-microscopy to obtain molecular-scale views of cellular machinery as it engages with and reshapes cellular membranes. This work has direct relevance to understanding cancer, as several components of the cell division machinery have been genetically implicated in tumor formation. His research bridges structural biology, membrane biology, and cell division mechanisms, providing critical insights into how cellular membranes are dynamically remodeled during essential biological processes. Analysis of Dr. Frost's publications from 2011-2015 reveals a consistent focus on membrane remodeling proteins and their roles in cellular processes. His work spans multiple model systems and employs diverse structural biology techniques, with a particular emphasis on cryo-EM. The research demonstrates how membrane-binding proteins influence membrane topology during critical cellular events, especially cell division. These studies have provided direct molecular insights into cellular machinery that was previously difficult to visualize, opening new avenues for understanding disease mechanisms related to membrane dynamics.