Quantitative Microbial Biomass Estimation Professors and Supervisors

Michelle JungbluthView profile

Adjunct Professor

San Francisco State UniversityUnited States

Michelle Jungbluth is an Adjunct Professor of Biology at San Francisco State University (SFSU), specializing in Biological Oceanography and Molecular Biology. She leads the Jungbluth Lab at the Estuary & Ocean Science Center, focusing on marine ecosystems, microbial diversity, and the application of advanced molecular techniques like environmental DNA (eDNA) and genomics. Her work integrates interdisciplinary collaborations, including studies on deep-sea exploration, microbial extremophiles, and AI-driven environmental solutions. Her research emphasizes food web dynamics, wetland restoration, and biodiversity assessment in marine and estuarine environments. Key projects include collaborations with Dr. Wim Kimmerer on zooplankton studies, Dr. Karen Crow on manta ray distribution via eDNA, and UC Davis on sevengill shark diets. She also develops data standards for genomic and environmental research through initiatives like the MIEM guidelines and FAIR-aligned data frameworks. Research interests span astrobiology, deep biosphere exploration, and synthetic biology applications for environmental challenges. The lab supports M.S. students in Integrative Biology or Computer Science, and volunteers in field and lab settings. Funding sources include grants from agencies like NSF and NOAA, supporting projects on microbial ecology, deep-sea biodiversity, and AI in environmental science. Notable achievements include pioneering eDNA methodologies, characterizing abyssal larval communities, and advancing genomic standards. Her lab’s work contributes to both fundamental understanding of marine systems and applied solutions for ecosystem resilience and conservation.

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Jeremy FoxView profile

Professor

University of CalgaryCanada

Jeremy W. Fox is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Calgary. He holds a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Rutgers University (2000) and a BA from Williams College (1995). His work focuses on community assembly processes, combining experimental and theoretical approaches with microbial systems. Key interests include dispersal effects, ecosystem function, and the dynamics of competitive interactions. Research highlights include challenging the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (2013), quantifying biodiversity's role in ecosystem stability (2013), and analyzing meta-analytic approaches in ecology (2022). His lab explores how environmental fluctuations and species traits influence community structure and stability. Fox has been recognized with awards including the British Ecological Society Early Career Award (2007) and Alberta Ingenuity grants (2005-2007). Teaching includes courses on quantitative biology (ECOL 425, BIOL 315). His work emphasizes experimental rigor, theoretical frameworks, and open science practices. The Fox Lab's research spans ecological restoration, food web dynamics, and evolutionary ecology, with a focus on long-term community processes and their applied implications.

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Harsha RatnaweeraView profile

Professor

Norwegian University of Life SciencesNorway

Harsha Ratnaweera is a full-time Professor of Water and Wastewater Engineering at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), where he has been employed since 2012 (previously as an Adjunct Professor from 2001). He previously served as Director of International Projects and Innovation at the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) from 1991 to 2012. His educational background includes a Dr. Ing. in Civil Engineering from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU, 1992) and an MSc (Hons) in Chemical Engineering from the National Technical University of Ukraine KPI. Harsha's research focuses on modeling and optimization of coagulation, real-time monitoring and control of treatment processes, membrane technologies, virtual sensors, biofilm systems, and digital tools for wastewater systems. He has pioneered work in process automation, sensor validation, and holistic optimization of water systems. His research also extends to harmonizing graduate water education across Asia, Africa, and Eurasia. The 15 most recent publications reflect a strong trend toward digitalization in water treatment, including AI-based fault detection, machine learning for sensor estimation, cloud-based forecasting, and deep learning for process control. There is also significant emphasis on hybrid treatment systems, resource recovery (e.g., phosphorus, metals), and advanced monitoring of micropollutants like PFAS and pharmaceuticals. IWA Distinguished Fellow People’s Ambassador of Shandong Province, China Qingdao International Scientific Cooperation Award High-End Foreign Expert Fellowships (China, multiple) Fellow, European Academy of Sciences Fellow, Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences Vice President, European Water Association (EWA) Director, IWA Board Harsha has led numerous major international research and educational projects funded by EU Horizon, Erasmus+, NORAD, and the Research Council of Norway. He has advised multiple master’s and PhD students and leads the Process Analytics and Water Treatment Group at NMBU. He has also served as Head of Research at the Faculty of Science & Technology and held leadership roles in UNESCO and UNECE initiatives. He is the founder and chairman of DOSCON AS and has led over 20 major international projects, including WaterHarmony.net, MEMPREX, and Water ESSENCE, involving more than 100 universities across 54 countries. He has organized multiple international conferences and serves on scientific advisory boards for Aquateam and EU ERA-NET Water JPI.

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Mathilde Borg DahlView profile

Researcher

UiT The Arctic University of NorwayNorway

Mathilde Borg Dahl is a researcher in the Department of Bacterial Physiology at the University of Greifswald, Germany. She serves as a corresponding author on significant research in molecular ecology and metatranscriptomics, focusing on quantifying soil microbial communities using internal RNA extraction standards and complementary molecular techniques. Her work bridges environmental microbiology and biogeochemistry, with applications in climate change and soil carbon cycling. Research Interests: Her primary research areas include soil microbiome analysis, metatranscriptomics, quantitative microbial biomass estimation, RNA extraction standardization, and the integration of molecular data with biogeochemical models. She investigates how microbial community size and activity relate to soil carbon mineralization, particularly under warming conditions. The recent articles led or co-authored by Mathilde Borg Dahl demonstrate a strong trend in developing and validating quantitative methods for soil metatranscriptomics. Her work emphasizes cross-validation using qRT-PCR, internal standards (e.g., Saccharolobus solfataricus RNA), and biogeochemical measurements (MBC, MBN). The focus is on overcoming biases in RNA extraction and library preparation to achieve reliable estimates of microbial abundance and activity in complex soil environments. Scientific Contributions: Lead researcher and manuscript author on a 2025 Molecular Ecology Resources study on quantifying soil microbiome abundance. Co-author on multiple high-impact publications in microbial ecology and soil science (2015–2024). Active participant in the ForHot geothermal warming experiment in Iceland. Recipient of funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG). Advising and Grants: While no formal students are listed, her leadership in study design and data analysis suggests a mentoring role. She has secured research funding from the DFG (BO 5559/1-1) and collaborated on projects funded by the Research Council of Norway and the Czech Science Foundation. Her work also benefited from EU Horizon 2020 support via the FutureArctic Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. Laboratories and Collaborations: She works within the Department of Bacterial Physiology at the University of Greifswald and collaborates with teams at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, University of Vienna, and the Biology Centre CAS in the Czech Republic. She utilizes the CAPUT server hosted by Prof. Lars Kaderali’s lab for bioinformatics and benefits from technical support across departments.

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Rajib SahaView profile

Associate Professor

University of Nebraska-LincolnUnited States

Rajib Saha is an Associate Professor and Graduate Chair in the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). He holds the Richard L. and Carol S. McNeel Endowed Professorship. His research focuses on systems and synthetic biology, with emphasis on reconstructing genome-scale metabolic models, analyzing 'omics data, and engineering microbial systems for biotechnological applications. His lab, the Systems and Synthetic Biology (SSBio) Laboratory, integrates computational and experimental approaches to study non-model microbes, plants, and microbial consortia for bio-renewable production and environmental sustainability. Education: Ph.D. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Penn State University (2014 and 2011), B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (top graduate). Research interests include metabolic engineering of photosynthetic organisms, genetic tool development, and redesigning photosynthetic apparatus for enhanced carbon fixation. Key projects include an NSF-funded collaboration on melanin as a sustainable material, a MICRA project investigating soil moisture retention through microbial innovations, and studies on plant cuticle design. He has received an NSF CAREER Award and led multi-institutional grants totaling over $2.5M. His lab advises graduate and undergraduate students, with notable mentees like Andrea Goertzen (NSF GRFP awardee) and Mohammad Mazharul Islam. Awards include the 2020 NSF CAREER Award, promotion to Associate Professor with tenure (2022), and recognition for interdisciplinary research in climate-resilient agriculture. His work bridges computational modeling (e.g., ORKA, EuGeneCiD tools) with experimental validation, contributing to synthetic biology, bioremediation, and sustainable materials science.

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Andy DobsonView profile

Professor

Princeton UniversityUnited States

Andy Dobson is a Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University, affiliated with the High Meadows Environmental Institute (HMEI) as part of its Grand Challenges Program. His work bridges ecology, epidemiology, and conservation, focusing on infectious diseases in natural and human-impacted ecosystems. He investigates how pathogens affect endangered species and ecosystems in regions like the Serengeti, California, Malaysia, and Bangladesh. His research integrates field studies with mathematical modeling to address biodiversity loss, disease transmission dynamics, and the impacts of climate and land-use changes. He collaborates extensively with international teams and institutions, including the Serengeti BioComplexity Project. Key themes include wildlife disease control (e.g., rabies in Tanzania), conservation economics, and policy-relevant solutions to biodiversity threats. Research interests emphasize population ecology of infectious diseases, conservation biology, and the interplay between environmental changes and human health. His work is funded by NIH, NSF, and NOAA, addressing topics like Chagas disease epidemiology, zoonotic spillover events, and the ecological consequences of land management. He advocates for integrated approaches to pandemic prevention and sustainable conservation strategies, highlighting the need for economic incentives and policy coherence in environmental and health sectors. Notable collaborations include studies on Yellowstone wolves, tropical dry forests, and lemur population viability in Madagascar. His contributions to theoretical ecology and applied conservation have shaped global discussions on biodiversity preservation and planetary health.

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Dan HeathView profile

Professor

University of WindsorCanada

Professor Dan Heath is a leading researcher in environmental biology and aquatic ecology at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER), University of Windsor. His work focuses on fish physiology, conservation genetics, and environmental DNA (eDNA) applications, with a strong emphasis on salmonid species and their responses to environmental stressors. He has pioneered studies on maternal effects on DNA methylation in Chinook salmon, the impacts of noise pollution on fish behavior, and eDNA-based ecological monitoring. Key research directions include understanding how genetic and epigenetic factors influence fish resilience to climate change, optimizing aquaculture practices through probiotic therapy, and leveraging transcriptomics to assess stress and disease in wild populations. His NSERC-funded projects have advanced early warning systems for water quality using microbial communities and explored the ecological implications of invasive species through eDNA metabarcoding. Research Themes: eDNA applications, salmonid genetics, microbial ecology, stress physiology, aquaculture innovation Notable Achievements: Supervisor for award-winning student Kyle Wellband (Governor General’s Gold Medal recipient), developer of novel Chinook salmon cell lines for immune studies Labs/Teams: GLIER’s Aquatic Genomics and Conservation Lab, collaborating with industry and government on eDNA-based fisheries management strategies.

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Michael Allen GoreView profile

Professor

Cornell UniversityUnited States

Michael Allen Gore is a Professor and Head of the Plant Breeding and Genetics Section at Cornell University's School of Integrative Plant Science. He specializes in molecular breeding, quantitative genetics, and genomics for nutritional quality improvement in crops such as maize, oat, cassava, cotton, sorghum, and guayule. His research integrates high-throughput phenotyping, analytical chemistry, and remote sensing to study genetic control of complex traits. Education: Ph.D. (Plant Breeding & Genetics) from Cornell University (2009), M.S. (Crop Physiology) from Virginia Tech (2000), B.S. (Agronomy) from Virginia Tech (1997). He teaches courses on nutritional quality improvement and high-throughput phenotyping, and leads the Gore Lab focusing on crop resilience and precision breeding. Research interests include nutritional genomics, crop stress resilience, and translational breeding. His lab has pioneered methods like hydrogel nanoreporters for in planta water potential measurement and Prospector, a mobile app for NIR spectroscopy. Awards include Fellow of the AAAS (2023), Crop Science Society of America (2022), and multiple early-career recognitions. His work bridges fundamental genetics with applied breeding, emphasizing global crop improvement for food security and sustainability.

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Madeleine OlofssonView profile

Senior Lecturer

Mid Sweden UniversitySweden

Madeleine Olofsson is a Senior Lecturer and Head of Department at the Department of Natural Sciences, Design and Sustainable Development (NDH), Mid Sweden University. Her research focuses on environmental chemistry, soil science, and sustainable development, with a particular emphasis on microbial activity in forest soils and the valorization of industrial byproducts like biofuel ash and forest residues. Doctoral Thesis: Chemical parameters reflecting microbial activity linked to nutrient availability in forest soil (2015) Her work spans diverse areas, including: Fungal biology and ectomycorrhizal interactions in boreal forests Analytical chemistry techniques (e.g., mass spectrometry, chromatography) for soil analysis Conversion of forest residues into food, feed, and biofuels (Foodtech project) Green chemical production from forest resources (GrönaPro) Sustainability initiatives in university operations (HIMUV project) Environmental impacts of biofuel ash amendments Key trends in her publications include: Developing quantitative methods for fungal biomass estimation Investigating nutrient cycling and microbial dynamics in forest soils Exploring sustainable applications of industrial residues Advancing metabolomic studies of ectomycorrhizal fungi Promoting sustainable practices within higher education institutions Assessing heavy metal mobility in forest ecosystems Scientific Awards: Advising and Grants: No explicit information about advisees or grants is provided in the text. She collaborates on research projects like HIMUV and BioRem Fiber, likely involving funding and interdisciplinary teams. Labs and Teams: She works within the Department of Natural Sciences, Design and Sustainable Development (NDH) and collaborates on projects such as BioRem Fiber, Foodtech, GrönaPro, and HIMUV, which involve laboratory work, field studies, and educational initiatives.

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